Let’s hear it for the girl

Oldham students Gemma Knight and Billy Barnes

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AN Oldham girl has made history at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre.

Gemma Knight and fellow student Natasha Hopkins are the only two girls ever to have taken part in a gruelling five-day “Life as a Royal Marine” course.

Eight male and two female students from the uniformed public services course at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale were invited to join the course at the Commando training centre in Devon.

The 18 year old not only impressed the Royal Marines training staff, but also the commanding officer, when she beat all the males in the Royal Marines sit-up test.

Gemma’s brother Chris, now a Royal Marine and also former Hopwood Hall student, said how proud he was of her and her ambition to become an elite navy diver.

Hopwood Hall rugby academy player Billy Barnes, also from Oldham, also excelled at Lympstone by achieving one of the highest scores and winning a place as a potential Royal Marine when he finishes college in June.