Kay’s out of this world success

Kay Hunting, 69, spent months studying the skies as part of her distance learning course.

She turned to a website called Star Learner after discovering the subject was not offered at any local colleges.

Grandmother Kay said: “I think it was probably the most difficult way to do a course, especially that kind of course.

“It was very heavy in fact learning.”

For a course assessment, Kay had to study sun spots - something made somewhat difficult by the British weather. She said: “I was confronted by almost continuous cloud for a fortnight!”

And getting up in the middle of the night to observe meteor showers proved equally hazardous in terms of weather conditions.

Kay had to travel to Dartford to write up her assessment and Brighton for an exam.

Kay, who is the practice manager at Alan Hunting Associates, Architects and Surveyors, says she is not planning on taking a A Level in the subject as this would involve travelling into London.

The course also focuses heavily on maths and physics, which Kay says is not her forte.

Kay, who developed an interest in astronomy aged 60, says she feels the subject is very important and should be offered as an option to schoolchildren.

Speaking about her adult learning experience, she said: “Kids know how to learn because they do it naturally.

“But coming to it later in life is tricky - but well worth doing. It keeps the grey matter going.”

Kay is using her skills to set up an Astronomy Day to take place on October 9 2016, to coincide with the commemoration of the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

To find out more, email [email protected]

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