After 3 years of study, our very own Rita Palmer has graduated as a fully qualified Dispensing Optician.

Rita Palmer never dreamed that as a mother and grandmother she would one day step forward at a graduation ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral wearing academic gown and mortar board. She was of a generation who entered the world of work directly after leaving school. Now, after three years of study, she has the letters FBDO after her name - Fellow of the Board of Dispensing Opticians.

Rita's husband Viv, son Adrian and daughter Jane were in the audience last Wednesday evening as Rita received her graduation diploma from the president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians College at Godmersham near Canterbury, Barry Duncan.

Rita has worked at the Bexhill practice of Barraclough and Stiles for the last eight and a half years. She said, "I had always wanted to have letters after my name so when Barraclough and Stiles gave me the chance to study - the company funded it - I grabbed at it. After attending Bexhill College I did a three year distance learning course with the Association of British of Dispensing Opticians at Godmersham. I had to get assignments in every week and found it really hard to go back to academic learning after all that time but it has all been worth it. I was so nervous going forward to get my certificate. There were about 300 of us graduating and I had to receive my certificate from the president of the board."

Rita said, "I would like to thank Barraclough and Stiles for giving me the opportunity to study. I did get a lot of kind support from my colleagues."