Robert Nott
After taking retirement at the age of 50 from his insurance brokerage business, Robert found a new lease of life through learning. His courses included various languages but much of his time was taken up by his involvement as voluntary Chairman of the Bexley Venture Capital Company, which set up no less than 17 businesses.
Having been at school during WW2, his education suffered but, at age 65, he became a full-time student at Canterbury Christchurch University and obtained an MSc in Business Administration; he then became an Adviser/Facilitator for Business Link.
He retired again in 2006 but continued to further his education by taking diploma courses in Psychology in the Workplace, Criminal Psychology, Advanced Psychology and Advanced Counselling. With this added knowledge he worked as a volunteer for some 18 months with a wonderful local charity which helps the mentally fragile obtain employment. He found a number of cases of post-traumatic stress disorderand undertook a special course on its management. It was clear that some people had language difficulties so he obtained a diploma in TEFL to assist when the opportunity arose. This year, Robert successfully completed a course on acupressure which he uses to great advantage to benefit local people.
Robert commented: “None of the knowledge acquired has been wasted, for barely a day passes on which my help is not requested. I am happy about this, as it enables me to put back into the community a little of what the community has given me over the years.”