An inspiring 80-year-old grandmother has become one of the UK’s oldest students after enrolling at Kingston University to help put the finishes touches to her debut romantic novel.

Retired businesswoman Hilary Chalkly began studying for her postgraduate degree in creative writing at the university this week, in the hope the course will prove the final step towards getting Through the Manor Gate published.

Mrs Chalkly says she has always led a busy life, including running a nightclub with her late husband Chris, but was encouraged to take up the course by her daughters.

She said: “I was sitting at the kitchen table with my two daughters and they said, ‘Mum, you’ve always led an active life, now you’re vegetating.’”

“I’ve always loved writing. I saw several places that were doing creative writing and I heard about Kingston and I knew it was a good one.”

Mrs Chalkly, of Swing Gate Lane, in Berkhamsted, left school aged 15 with just one O-level, having been forced to quit education due to illness and her father’s death.

She has enjoyed writing since her 30s and recently wrote Through the Manor Gate, a romantic novel inspired by the summers she spent at her grandparents’ manor house as a child.

She is also writing a sequel that she hopes to publish alongside the novel.

She added: “It’s not my life story, but it’s been inspired by the historical manor house that I grew up in. It’s definitely a romance but with a lot of drama in it.

“Kingston will put the finishing touches. I’m an older person so you need to have things pushed into your head every now and again.

“I want people of my generation to realise there’s a whole life to continue living. It’s never too late to learn.”

Mrs Chalkly has already attended her first lecture, where she was given a copy of the University’s chosen novel for first years, The Humans by Matt Haig.

Despite enjoying the story of an alien being teleported to Earth, she says it unlikely the text will influence further novel.

She added: “I’m not venturing with aliens, I’ve got another three books in my mind.

“It’s really so exciting, I’ve loved it. I’ve been to one lecture right away and everyone was so friendly and helpful.”

“There are a few mature students but I’m sure I’m top of the list.”

“I feel I’ve got a very important lesson which is to keep learning because life can be dull. Lying on sofas all day and sitting on chairs can be very dull.”