ONE in five students plan time out for a taste of "real life"-- mostly enjoyed abroad -- between A-levels and their degree courses.

Young Boltonians are among scores of fledgling adventurers who are now getting ready to fly the nest in search of freedom and fun.

Gap years are seen as a chance to impress university admission staff and improve the CV, rather than a delay in finishing education.

Yet there's nothing new under the horizon -- as these youngsters' parents in fact pioneered the gap year experience in the swinging sixties! TRAVELLING in Europe, hitchhiking and spending a few weeks on a kibbutz in Israel gave Keith Hargreaves itchy feet in the Sixties.

So when he graduated from university in 1968, he signed up with the VSO and went off to the Sudan in North East Africa.

For 12 months, the 21-year-old law graduate taught English to local boys and enjoyed being part of the local community.

It changed his career path forever and to this day he is involved in the business of English as an additional language, as Head of Service for Bolton Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (BEMAS).

The service is based at the Castle Hill Centre in Castleton Street, employing 50 full-time staff in schools across Bolton to raise the achievement of ethnic minority pupils up to the age of 16.

Keith's year out clearly made a big impact on him, taking place in what seemed a more innocent time when hitchiking was considered safe, organisations like the VSO were in their infancy and young people went abroad with ideals.

As a volunteer, Keith's philosophy was about "offering something, volunteering something".

Then, there was his curiosity -- "the desire to go overseas and experience a different culture, get beneath the surface".

"And," he added, "I wasn't sure what to do after university."

Remembering his signing up with VSO, Keith said: "It wasn't a very mature organisation. "Perhaps I was lucky in that respect -- they weren't too selective about people they sent to teach English."

Neither was Keith too selective about his destination.

Whereas most people requested "beach havens in the Pacific", Keith was happy being sent to the Sudan, acclimatise in Khartum and cross the desert to the second city of Wasmeani.

At a boys' secondary school there, he found himself part of "a very cosmopolitan department" comprising different ethnic groups, and ended up sharing a house with an Egyptian ex-pat colleague.

Sudanese school days included a break for breakfast of boiled eggs and beans with lemon and time off for a siesta in the afternoon. After work, it was a case of "make your own entertainment", said Keith.

"But I was lucky enough to be able to mix socially with a range of people," he said.

Keith also managed to travel around in the school holidays, even making a long trip down the Nile on a steamer which, to this day, "stands out" in his memories.

His only regret is not having stayed in the Sudan longer and having lost touch with people there.

"I think you remember the good things and perhaps forget the inevitable stomach bugs you get in hot countries," said Keith. "But I felt it was a worthwhile year.

"It has also helped me in my work here to have experienced diversity. It enables you to broaden your outlook."