A 63-year-old grandmother celebrated her graduation from the General Education Development Program (GED) yesterday.

Alice Paynter, from Warwick, never completed her High School studies, but was inspired to return to education later in life by her granddaughter Antonia, 10.

?I wanted to do this course to be familiar with what?s going on so I can help my granddaughter who will be going to Middle School soon,? she explained.

Passing the program after several failed attempts over the past two years of study, she is the first senior ever to graduate from the Southampton GED Community Outreach Program at Southampton Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Joining her in the celebrations yesterday were a group of men aged in their teens and early twenties: Andr?, Rajiv Bailey, James Wade, Daniel Baker, Delonte Dunlop and Adrian Lowe.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony in which the graduates picked up their certificates from Minister of Education Randolph Horton, Mr. Bailey, 19, from Somerset, said: ?I feel good. It?s fairly easy once you put your mind to it?. Currently a Lance Corporal in the Bermuda Regiment, he hopes to join the Police in future.

In his address to the successful students, Mr. Horton said: ?I would like to congratulate you for taking the step you have taken. I would like to encourage you to dream ... whenever I work with young people the thing I always try to do is just get young people to feel good about themselves.?

Addressing Ms Paynter, he added: ?And when I say ?young people? I?m also talking about you. You have a young spirit. To see you here this afternoon gives me much life as well.?

The GED Program comprises five subjects: literature, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. The Southampton community school was launched in 2004.