A WHITCHURCH family had more than one reason to celebrate in an exceptionally busy weekend this summer.

Five graduations, a wedding and a birthday were part of a packed programme for Athony and Caroline Jenks during July.

Their two daughters, Helen and Sarah, who grew up in Tavistock, both attended their graduation ceremonies at Oxford University on the Saturday. Sarah read German and Russian at Trinity College and is now commencing a masters in vocal performance at Guildhall in London as part of her training to become an opera singer.

Helen gained her BM and BCh as a doctor while at Green Templeton College and now works at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

She graduated alongside her new husband, Andrew Tyrrell, and his best man, William Unsworth, who were both conferred with a doctorate in organic chemistry. Andrew is now a pharmaceutical researcher with a company in Reading.

Helen and Andrew were married the previous day in St. Giles' Church.

The bride was given away by her father and, during the Signing of the Register, Sarah sang Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate.

The reception was held in Somerville College, where Helen had been an undergraduate, and was followed by a ceilidh in the evening. Andrew is the eldest son of Dr David and Dr Marion Tyrrell of Saffron Walden.

The bride wore a diamond white gown with lace jacket and cathedral train. She was attended by three bridesmaids: her sister, Sarah, and her student friends Sian Alexander and Katrina Pavelin. They wore pale green dresses and carried bouquets of pink roses.

Sian also qualified as a doctor with Helen that weekend.

To complete the festivities, Saturday was also the groom's 27th birthday!

The couple, who met on an Oxford University Walking Club expedition, spent their honeymoon in Iceland and are now living in Reading.