AFTER three years of hard studying, a Tavistock student celebrated recently after graduating from Plymouth University with a 2.1 degree in Sociology with International Relations.

Heather Siewruk is registered blind, so her degree is a substantial achievement as during her three years at university, she had to cope with eyesight problems resulting in more operations.

In December 2010 Heather received her first guide dog, which meant she had to miss university for a while as she had to go away to do training with the dog.

Heather's mother Tanya said: 'She has had to spend more time studying than most, with helpers doing note taking in seminars, and any exam that was four hours long meant that she needed eight hours.

'Not something I would relish in doing.

'My husband John and I, and her sister Kimberley attended the ceremony, and we are so immensely proud of her, yet she takes it in her stride as if it was an everyday event.'

FORMER Tavistock College pupil Catherine Rich, was pleased to graduate as a Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing recently, from the Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth University.

Catherine has now accepted a post as a staff nurse on the orthopaedic trauma ward at Musgrove Hospital in Taunton.