I was 69 years when I retired from the film industry. My last job was to work on Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse.’ I learnt about the danger of horses, so many horse accidents, apart from the fact that they trampled a wasp’s nest causing the two armourers who were collecting weapons from boy soldiers on horseback to be stung multiple times. One of them collapsed with anaphylactic shock. Luckily, we managed to save his life.

I wanted to retrieve my family life. The film industry is dangerous and can destroy marriages.  I had had enough of being away from home for so long working 15 hours a day. At first it was exciting a whole new life and I think invigorated our marriage. Yet in the end, it is the marriage that is important. It gives stability.

Nut, I could not do nothing.

A university accepted me as a student. I went as a full -time student, thinking I was a bit old and I had better do it quickly. It was a BA in social anthropology. Well, I nearly died of fright. There were so many young people that understood the lingo. I had no idea what they were talking about This was academic language. I had not had a constant education going to 15 schools. These A level students seemed so confident and I was lost. I ran away. I got into my car and drove home. I was more comfortable with cooking supper.

I took a year out and studied computing which I have now quite forgotten.

A kindly professor suggested that I should come back part time which I did the following year.

After seven years I achieved a first class degree in social anthropology.