Burmese nurse is loving life

Jun 10 2009 by Iain Pollock, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A BURMESE woman who attended evening classes taught by Provost Jack Groom at Dumfries and Galloway College has landed her dream job as an Auxiliary Nurse at the Dumfries and Galloway Infirmary.

Aye Aye Mortimer and her husband Graham moved to the UK in 2001 and eventually settled in Dumfries one year later. Aye Aye, who had worked as a school teacher in Burma, was keen to improve her English and brush up on her IT skills and began looking for courses available locally.

“I started to learn by dropping in at the Learning Shop in July 2002, where Jack Groom, now the Provost of Dumfries, was a Facilitator. I wanted to improve my English and work towards the European Driving Licence IT qualification. I worked in a care home full-time and went along for classes when I finished work.

“Attending the classes with Dumfries and Galloway College put me on the road to learning in the UK.

“Although I was a school teacher in Burma I found that I really enjoyed working in the care home in Dumfries, therefore I decided to go into nursing.

“I graduated from the University of West of Scotland with a Degree in Adult Nursing earlier this year.

“Provost Jack Groom was present at the graduation ceremony which was a lovely surprise.

“I am now working as a staff nurse at the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and I absolutely love it!

“Every day is different and I enjoy my job so much. I would recommend anyone who is interested in gaining new skills to try out a course at the college – it could lead to the perfect job!”

Provost Jack Groom, who left Dumfries and Galloway College in 2007, said: “It was a surprise and a delight to see Aye Aye at the graduation ceremony. She started coming to the Learning Shop when she was new to Dumfries for help with IT and English and I am extremely proud of how well she has done.

“The help Aye Aye received from us helped her develop the confidence she needed to pursue further studies and find a new career.

“She is a lovely woman and it is absolutely wonderful that she has gained a degree and is embarking on a whole new career. I am proud to be associated in any small way with her success.”

For more information on community-based learning courses available at Dumfries and Galloway College contact John Magill on 01387 734 194 or email magillj@dumgal.ac.uk