Parade glory for college's top students

ON the march . . . Hopwood Hall Uniformed Public Services passing out ceremony

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OLDHAM students passed out with pride at a special Hopwood Hall College ceremony.

Gemma Knight, Mary Akram and Billy Barnes, all 18 and from Oldham, took part in the Uniformed Public Services event to mark the end of the academic year.

Gemma is joining the Royal Navy, Mary is starting a police apprenticeship and Billy is joining the Royal Marines.

Over 1,000 guests enjoyed the day's activities, including proud families, former students who have joined the uniformed services or gone on to university and many senior uniformed services officials.

Special guests included Rochdale's Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ian Duckworth, the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester George Almond CBE, and Middleton and Heywood MP Liz McInnes.

200 students marched onto the parade ground to the beat of a full military marching band at the Middleton campus of Hopwood Hall College.

Guests were then treated to a series of impressive student displays showcasing the skills they had learned whilst on the course including fitness demonstrations, team competitions such as tug-of-war and an assault course.

"The day is about celebrating our students and their achievements over the last year," said Terry Morley, centre director for sport and public services at Hopwood Hall College.

"We have had a great year who have achieved a lot and that we are all very proud of. The parade is an excellent way to end their college year.

"Our students not only succeed but succeed at the highest level. Students will now either carry on with their further education on the course or head off for careers in the armed and civilian services.

"Some students will go off to university to study subjects such as criminology, forensic science and policing."

The course prepares young people for work in a wide range of services including police, fire and rescue, the ambulance service, Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the RAF, the Prison Service and HM Customs and Excise.