Near-death experiences, the history of toilets and the films of Stanley Kubrick are among the topics keeping Oxford’s older generation on their toes.

More than 30 of the city’s senior citizens have been researching topics of their choice as part of the Searchers project.

The free scheme, which is funded by Oxford City Council, aims to keep older people learning by asking them to research any topic they choose, no matter how diverse or broad.

It has proved such a success that the membership has quadrupled in six months, and a similar scheme will be rolled out in Banbury next year.

Tutor Katherine Hughes said: “It is what older people want. They don’t want to sit in, watching TV. They want to keep their brains active.

“One woman said to me it makes her feel part of the real world again.”

Ms Hughes teaches basic IT skills and interviewing techniques, and demonstrates how to give presentations at weekly Searchers classes at the Town Hall.

Members, whose ages range from early 60s to mid 80s, are then encouraged to do their own research on the internet or by visiting libraries.

There are no guidelines on how much or how little research members should do each week, although they are asked to provide one piece of written work at the end of each term.

Grandmother-of-six Hilary Pye has been researching the way police procedures are described in crime novels. Mrs Pye, 64, of Squitchey Lane, North Oxford, said: “It is quite easy to vegetate, sit back, watch the TV and not bother to go out. Anything that keeps your brain working once you have retired is good.”

Council community development worker Dawn Williams said: “It has been fantastic — a bit of a whirl.

“We only started off with a handful of people. It just seems to have snowballed.

“We are hoping to have a conference or a showcase where people can show what they have done and also get the people taking part to talk to older people in the city.”

To find out more about Searchers, call 01865 252245.

ghamilton@oxfordmail.co.uk