Adult education pioneer steps down

Bill Conboy, who has overseen the resurrection of Newbattle Abbey College, Scotland's sole adult residential college, retired yesterday saying there was no longer any question of whether Newbattle was needed, but only over its level of government support.

Ministers axed the college's grant in 1989 but funding for 50 residential students was restored in 1998. Mr Conboy said Newbattle attracted able men and women whose confidence needed bolstering.

Almost half of Newbattle's income comes from local businesses and marketing short courses and conferences. Mr Conboy's successor is Ann Southwood, formerly adult guidance manager for Career Development Edinburgh and Lothians.