A FORMER computer administrator with the Army has marched into a new career with help from a former tutor.

Shane Lazenby, from Darlington, has recently taken up the position of Army learning centre manager at Catterick Garrison, an achievement he credits to his college lecturer.

After having to leave an advanced teaching training course at Darlington College, Mr Lazenby thought his dreams of becoming a teacher were over, until a telephone call put him back on his career path.

"My previous job was as a network systems administrator at Catterick," said Mr Lazenby.

"I enrolled on the adult teacher training certificate programme at Darlington College but had difficulty in getting the practical teaching experience that was essential to the course.

"This meant that I had to leave the course and, I thought, give up my hopes of becoming a teacher."

However, Jill Brannan, who is service programme manager at the college, remembered him and found an alternative course so he could continue his studies.

After qualifying, Mr Lazenby was offered his current position.

He and his team of staff provide a series of Learn Direct courses, ranging from literacy and numeracy to business studies, and NVQ courses for Army personnel, civil servants and contractors who have access to the camps