Ref. 75638-64 Andrei Matache, Jamie Wilson, Chris Jones, Lauren Griffiths, Owen Weller, Joanna Segesser, Becky Wand and Alison Roe THIRTEEN Swindon students have done New College proud by getting offers from Oxford or Cambridge.

It is the second highest number of students from New College to get Oxbridge offers.

The highest was in 1998 when 15 students were given offers.

For 17-year-old Jamie Wilson from Faringdon, who is studying A levels in double maths, physics and chemistry, the offer to study maths and physics at Cambridge is especially impressive as he had glandular fever during his Oxbridge interviews.

Jamie battled through the tough interview process but says he felt exhausted throughout, as he had to take three weeks off college with the illness.

He said: "The interviews were put back a week otherwise I would not even have been able to talk."

Also celebrating is 18-year-old Joanna Segesser, of Old Town, who is studying A levels in history, politics and English literature. She has been offered a place to study politics and modern history at Oxford.

"I got the letter just before Christmas and had to open it by myself because I was so nervous."

Alison Roe, 17, from Lawn, is studying environmental sciences, geography and chemistry and is hoping to study geography at Cambridge.

She said: "I was really excited about getting the offer but I think my parents were more excited than me."

Lauren Griffiths, 18, from Wroughton, is studying A levels in biology, chemistry, physics, maths and further maths and hopes to study natural sciences at Cambridge.

She said: "I'm really looking forward to getting away from home and meeting lots of different people."

Chris Jones, 18, from Grange Park, is studying for A levels in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry. He has an offer to study maths with physics at Cambridge.

He said: "I'm just really chuffed and happy. I felt the interview went badly in places so I was quite surprised."

Owen Weller, 17, from Faringdon, is studying maths, business studies, English and chemistry. He will hopefully be studying natural sciences at Cambridge.

He said: "I'm really happy and I'm going on a gap year to Peru first."

Becky Wand, 17, from Old Town, is studying A levels in chemistry, psychology, maths and further maths. She is hoping to study chemistry at Oxford.

Becky said: "Going to Oxford was a real ambition of mine.

"I'm just really looking forward to the freedom of not living with my mum and dad anymore."

Mature student Andrei Matache, 32, from Romania but now living in Old Town, has been offered a place to study maths at Cambridge.

He said: "Maths is my passion and I am really looking forward to meeting like minded people."

Other students who have received Oxbridge offers are: Ben Barratt, 17, to study history at Cambridge; Chris Lawrence, 17, to study maths and computing at Oxford; Nastassia Martin, 18, to study English at Oxford; Daniel Tredget, 18, to study maths at Oxford; Johanna Shilton, 50, to study law at Oxford.

Diana Milne