AN American woman who studied in Worcester almost 40 years ago has returned to see how the city has changed.

Ruth Van Voorhees spent one semester at the former college of further education – now Worcester University – in 1970 as part of her studies at Trenton State College, America.

“I was looking at the British educational system and comparing it to the US,” she said. “I absolutely loved my time at Worcester. In many ways it has shaped the life I have today.”

Mrs Van Voorhees, whose maiden name was Jurman, called in at the university this week as part of a recent trip to Britain with her husband Robert, pictured here with Mrs Van Voorhees.