WHAT a night the Milestones celebration turned out to be last year for childminder Susan Hill.

She was in the spotlight for winning the Community Learner of the Year Award and being a runner-up in the Lifetime Achievement category.

Fifty-year-old Susan has well and truly made up for feeling she didn't do well enough during her school years when exam nerves let her down.

Since leaving school, she seems to have done nothing but take exams and still has in mind studying for a BA Honours degree in childhood and youth studies - and achieve it.

Susan, who lives in Oakley, has taken O-levels, RSA qualifications and a range of courses compatible with her work as a childminder.

And the gain for her has been "more knowledge, insight, confidence, increased self-worth, personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement".

Her nominator, William Hewitt, cites Susan as an inspiration to show others that anything is achievable by anyone, and proof that learning is a lifelong process which can be enjoyed by all.

HNC business Studies Group, in Basingstoke were runners-up in the Community Learner of the Year Award.

Ros Arnold collected the group's certificate. They studied 10 key subjects which covered marketing, organisational behaviour, managing people, economics, law, quantitative methods, finance and management accounting and business strategy.

The group award followed two years of part-time study at BCOT. Nominator Phil Howe said: "Higher National students are team leaders and the managers of tomorrow. They share their experience and expertise and disseminate current business thinking and best practice."

ALSO taking honours as runners-up were nearly 40 Adelphi Place students involved in the Learndirect Maths Course and Numbers Game.

Nominator Sarah Douglas said: "Learning has opened doors for the nominees and given them motivation to further their educational goals and life skills.

"The achievement has given everyone a boost and has re-activated self-respect and self-esteem."

Sarah Lock collected the certificate.