Children were able to return to the classroom this week, but many people forget evening classes have also been put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.
Back in the 1970s, evening classes were incredibly popular with adult learners across south Essex.
Mature students headed to the likes of Shoebury High School to get to grips with learning new skills.
These photographs, from the Echo archive, were taken in 1970 and 1971, with night school students learning a variety of subjects in Southend and Basildon.
Guitar - a student and teacher discuss music
Along with sewing, millinery, pottery and guitar classes, one of the most unusual courses on offer was navigation for small boats. It proved to be a surprisingly popular choice among adult learners.
Scroll down to see more eye-catching photos from the past.
Cottoning on - Norma Higgleton gets to grips with her sewing machine
Getting stuck in - an evening class held at Shoebury High School in the 1970s
Making music - guitar lessons proved to be some of the most popular among Southend and Basildon residents
Pottery fun - Jean Guntrip and Gwen Holmes show their creativity
Read more:
- IN PICTURES: How Southend seafront’s beach huts have stood test of time
- Looking back at Southend's long lost trams and retro buses
Teamwork makes the dream work - two ladies take part in a millinery class
Artistic - Grant Johns at a pottery class
Potty about crafts - students try the potter’s wheel
Direction - a tutor leads a navigation for small boats evening class
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel