Broadcaster Maggie Philbin visits City College Birmingham

Nov 26 2009 by Tony Collins, Birmingham Mail

By Tony Collins

BROADCASTER Maggie Philbin visited a Birmingham college to applaud students for their achievements.

The former Tomorrow’s World and Swap Shop presenter is a technology specialist for the BBC.

She joined City College Birmingham for a further education awards ceremony at its new Fordrough Campus in Bordesley Green. Among the students who collected their awards from Maggie were mother-of-three Kay-Dionne Green, 36, from Davey Road, Perry Barr, who completed her child care course at the college while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

She is now well on her way to her chosen career and is considering university as her next step in that direction.

The awards evening was preceded by an event at the Paragon Hotel, Digbeth, to celebrate the achievements of the college’s higher education students.

Maggie said: “It’s really inspiring to hear the stories behind the young people these awards are going to.

“Their experience emphasises how courses at City College are not just about collecting certificates but about developing self-esteem and confidence. Many will have walked through the doors with doubts about their learning abilities but, by the time they leave, will have surprised themselves with their own talents and abilities.

“They’ll take that confidence on to their new careers or university courses and it will be with them for the rest of their lives. It teaches us that we can tackle whatever difficulties come our way.”