AT 88-YEARS-old Joan Barnes has no plans for slowing as she continues to teach youngsters the skills of drama.

Mrs Barnes, from Hazlemere, has been teaching drama since 1968 and was the founder member of the Hazlemere Players.

If you have ever studied drama in High Wycombe you have no doubt come across her and she has held her classes in various venues, including The Crown at Hazlemere.

Her talents shine through and a past pupil of hers went on to form the Guildford Shakespeare Company.

Nowadays Mrs Barnes holds smaller classes in her home at Green Street and has recently helped her girls who have recently taken their London Academy and Dramatic Art medals.

Holly Towner, Holly Hewlett, Joanna Trendell and Laura Ho have been with Mrs Barnes since they were seven and attend Beaconsfield High and Wycombe High School.

They are now heading off to university so to say a big thank you to Mrs Barnes they took her to Wycombe Town Hall to see the play, The Odd Couple.

Mrs Barnes will continue to teach as she still has younger pupils coming through and continues to be an inspiration to them all.