A group of savvy widows have mastered power drilling and car mechanics at college after realising they couldn’t use their husbands’ toolkits.

Social group The Jolly Dollies, founded by Yvonne Vann, has been trying out DIY  — plaster boarding and putting up shelves — during taster courses at Weston College’s Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE) in Somerset.

Former legal secretary Janet McArdle decided she and her friends needed a helping hand on the DIY front.

The 67-year-old from Weston, said: “Most of us are widows and we’ve all got these tools but don’t know how to use them properly. I used to help my husband but more in terms of holding up a shelf while he drilled — I wish I’d taken a bit more notice now.

“I tried putting up a bird box at home but got confused which size of screw to use.”

Lecturer Matt Postins, who is also the regional chairman of the Guild of Bricklayers, said: “It’s been great to teach them the delights of cordless drilling.

“It’s not about complicated DIY but having a go at basic tasks. Hopefully, after trying these skills the ladies can save the money they may have had to pay to a builder.”

CECE construction service leader, Steve Caldwell, said the taster days meant people could have a go at a practical session and if they enjoyed the activity then they could look at other courses at Weston College.

“Janet’s request was unique so we listened to what the ladies hoped to gain from the session and ran a tailor-made afternoon”, he said.

Since their initial session the women have also taken on car mechanics.

Yvonne started the Jolly Dollies after losing her husband Victor to Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare neurological disease.

“Two years after he died I met up with a woman called June Owens who was in a very similar situation to me,” said the 65-year-old.

“We started to go out occasionally and one night we realised there must be so many women out there in the same social situation as us.”

That was the start of the Jolly Dollies and two years later there are 15 who meet up for dinners, lunches, quizzes as well as going to the theatre and dancing.

“I can’t tell you how difficult it is for women to pick up their social lives after the loss of their partner in life,” said Yvonne.

“What the Jolly Dollies have is a unique understanding of how each other feels and what we have all gone through.

“The one–day courses at Weston College have been good fun. For some widows these courses will be really useful because a lot of husbands did all the house DIY and simple jobs on the car, now we can do it for ourselves.”

She now wants to expand the Jolly Dollies concept nationally and even internationally.

Young chemists in Crewe spent a day testing the purity of paracetamol, using an infra-red spectrometer and thin layer chromatography techniques.

Two groups of A level chemistry students, including Heidi Falvey, 18, (pictured), took part in ‘spectroscopy in a suitcase’ workshops at South Cheshire College.

The sessions were delivered by postgraduate students from the University of Manchester’s chemistry department through the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Dr Katayune Presland, the north west regional co-ordinator for the Royal Society of Chemistry, who helped to deliver the workshops, said: “The infra-red spectroscopy equipment is very expensive and is used by students at the University of Manchester.

“All the students responded well and we look forward to working with the college again in the future.”

Andrew Knott, a chemistry tutor at South Cheshire, said: “Visits like these give students the chance to use equipment they don’t have access to at college. We are grateful to the society – the students have benefited greatly from these sessions.”

Olympic cyclist Lucy Martin went back to her roots when she dropped in on a Cheshire college.

Lucy talked to sport students at Cronton Sixth-Form College, where she studied A levels four years ago, about the commitment and training required to compete at the highest level.

“It was great to go back and see all the fantastic new facilities and new practices the sports department has to offer students, “she said.

“It was lovely to talk to the students and answer all of their questions. I hope I have managed to inspire and to encourage them to follow their sporting dreams.”

She said when she was a student at Cronton, she adapted her timetable to fit in with her training. “All that hard work and support paid off,” she added.

Hollie Bousfield, a national taekwondo champion who is studying a diploma in sport development and fitness at the college, said: “It was brilliant to be able to speak to Lucy and find out exactly what it takes to get to the top of your sport. I’ll be taking all of the advice on board and hope that it will help me follow in Lucy’s footsteps.”

Outdoor activity students in Wales took their first steps towards becoming walk leaders after a gruelling training expedition.

Second–year students at Coleg Gwent’s Usk campus, training for a sports leader L3 BELA award, covered a 45km route in the Black Mountains from Monmouth to Hay–on Wye.

The group spent two weeks planning the trek and carried food, clothes and camping equipment for their three-day expedition. They braved chilly temperatures camping out overnight and were tested to the max, showing their leadership skills to navigate the safest routes through bad weather conditions.

“The ground was wet, the winds were high and the nights were cold. Students showed skill, judgment and fantastic team morale,” said David Windebank, an outdoor activity lecturer.

“Each person showed what is needed from an instructor who plans to work in the outdoor industry, and I look forward to finishing the training course with them.”

The BTec extended diploma sport (outdoor activity) students are now working towards their final assessed three-day expedition to complete the training for the sports leader award.

A London student has scooped the top prize at an awards ceremony for JTL electrical apprentices.

Giannini Chambers, 21, was named the capital’s best apprentice at the training charity’s London Regional Awards for electrical installation. The ceremony was held on HMS Belfast.

As well as being handed a trophy by Denis Hird, JTL’s chief executive, the College of North West London student was also presented with £700.

“You get out of an apprenticeship only what you put in … and the harder you work the more you receive,” said Giannini.

“I am incredibly pleased with my award and am proud of what I’ve achieved so far, but am mindful that where I am is not the end but the beginning.  I am very grateful to those that have helped along the way.”

Giannini has studied electronics, welding environmental technology and, currently, a BTec level four HNC diploma in building services engineering at North West London. He has been at the college for four years.

Pat Leavey, technology head of faculty, said:  “Giannini has high aspirations and is extremely conscientious. He’ll go far.”

Young designers in Durham took over a city centre shop to display sculpture, ceramics, textiles and jewellery.

Applied arts for enterprise students at Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) staged a mini-exhibition at the former Durham City visitor centre as part of a project to make creative use of vacant premises.

They spent two months creating their ‘Artist’s Book’ exhibits, making visual interpretations of their final dissertations.

Mature student Lou Gilmore-George, 34, of Richmond (pictured), exhibited copper sculpture inspired by camping. She said: “It’s been a really sharp learning curve creating an exhibition from scratch, but much more of a real life experience.

“Not only did we have to design and create the exhibits, we were also responsible for planning the space, lighting and marketing using social networking channels.

“The idea behind Empty Shop is so creative and having my work exhibited in the centre of Durham is incredible.”

The scheme was co-ordinated by arts group Empty Shop and Durham County Council to give artists a platform in prime locations.

Two young midland stylists have been awarded a top hairdressing qualification.

Louise Davis, 24, and Sarah Harris, 21, who both work at Tanya Harris Hairdressing in Leicester, recently qualified as Wella Master Colour Experts.

The duo, who have been studying with Wella at their state-of-the-art studio in London for the past year, now join a small group of stylists in the UK who hold the award.

Salon owner Tanya said: “The Wella programme is known throughout the hairdressing industry as one of the best colour courses available. The knowledge that Louise and Sarah have gained is immense and will be a huge benefit to the salon.

“They put a tremendous amount of hard work and effort into it and we are so proud of them both.”

Sarah and Louise both gained qualifications at Leicester College
where Sarah won apprentice of the year in 2010 and Louise won student of the year in 2007.

The instructors at Wella were so impressed with the stylists’ work that they intend to use their portfolios to help teach future students.

A young footballer says his selection to play for England Colleges is the “best birthday” present that his father could have asked for.

Jack Stanger, 18, from Sunderland, received the news on his father’s birthday. “When I got the call to tell me I had been selected I was ecstatic,” he said. “It was the best present my Dad could have asked for.”

The centre midfielder fought off competition from hundreds of young hopefuls to be selected for the team, which will travel to Italy later this year for an international tournament.

He is studying a diploma in sport development, coaching and fitness at Sunderland College’s football development centre. “The college has been a massive help in my development as a footballer and I owe them a big thank you for all their great support,”
he said.

“It really does feel like a dream come true. The selection motivates me to continue to impress until I reach my ultimate goal of winning a professional contract. I am hoping that there will be scouts from top clubs at the games looking for new talent. To play football professionally would be the ultimate achievement for me.”