Let's celebrate

The ceremony, for Northbrook College students, took place on Friday, and saw 497 students clad in gowns and mortar boards walk on stage to collect their diplomas.

Each of the students from the college had passed a university-level course.

Tina Bennett, 21, was celebrating three distinctions and two merits in her HND three-dimensional design course.

She said: "I was really pleased with the result and I'll be going out to celebrate the graduation tonight."

Laura Lorente, 25, returned to Worthing from London, where she is now living and working as an actress.

She got a first in her BA in theatre arts and she thought the course had been "excellent" as it allowed students to form a small theatre company.

She said: "It's strange coming back because it seems like so long ago we finished the course. I was a bit nervous about today but it's been great."

Nurses Carol Oates, 55, Sue Bushby, 50, and Linda Young, also 50, were dressed in cap and gown for the first time after passing the RMA '“ registered managers award '“ and NVQ4 in care management.

Sue said: "It was quite nerve-wracking, because we haven't done anything like this before. It's usually been the other way round, with us in the audience for our children."

Michael Turner, 22, achieved a 2.1 BA in fine arts, but was yet to make plans for the future.

He said: "It's nice to get to this stage because I'm dyslexic and found the writing element of the course a real challenge. I think it's quite a personal achievement." Guest speaker was Prof Julian Crampton, vice-chancellor of Brighton University.