Grandad still learning at 95
Tessa Watkins • Published 12 Feb 2012 17:00
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James Frost, centre, celebrates his 95th birthday with Jean Nicholls, holding cake, German tutor Carol Flett, with Champagne, and fellow classmates at New Directions in Caversham
THE importance of learning shows no sign of letting up for a Caversham grandfather celebrating his 95th birthday.
James Frost, from Caversham Heights, marked the momentous occasion by sharing tea and cake with classmates from his German class at Reading Borough Council's education service, New Directions.
He said: "I really enjoy the classes - German is a very tricky language but ever since I retired 30 years ago, I've felt I need to do something to keep the brain alive. It's essential really - I go to a computer class too. They call us the silver surfers!"
James, who was a glassblower all his working life and helped to research weapons during the Second World War, is also a keen traveller and hopes to visit South Africa this year. He said: "I've visited more thean 22 countries - New Zealand, New York, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan - and I've taught in a lot of these places too.
"I've done demonstrations at the Science Museum in London and worked at Reading University's chemistry department as a technician. I became quite good at explaining things simply, because my late wife had no scientific knowledge and she would ask a question like 'why is the sun red tonight?' and if I couldn't answer in three minutes, she didn't want to know!"
James was married to Betty for more than 40 years before she died 22 years ago. He said: "She was a good cook and very easy to live with, so I miss her terribly, But I still have my son, Dennis, and my granddaughter, Sophie, who is 14 now, so I'm very fortunate.
"I have lived through some milestones - Winston Churchill was once my MP - but I have lived a very interesting life and I've no plans to slow down just yet."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Feb 12
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