FORMER pupil at Newent Community School, Philip Biggin, has been made professor of computational biochemistry at the University of Oxford.

The 45-year-old attended the Watery Lane School from year seven through to sixth form and the promotion is a result of his work using computer models to improve understanding of brain-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and autism.

Prof Biggin said: “ I had a fantastic time at Newent and definitely have some great memories. Perhaps unsurprisingly my fav­ourite subjects were chemistry, biology and physics. I still recall to this day many of the anecdotes that Mr Latham, my chemistry teacher, told us. He was particularly memorable and probably the biggest influence on me in pursuing chemistry at undergraduate level. I must also credit Mr Des Marshall, my sixth form tutor, who had his little library of biology books and encouraged us to dive in for ourselves and read around the subject a bit. This was the first taste of how things might work at university and I thought that was great.”

“I was very lazy as a pupil, which of course all the teachers spotted and they kept dropping unsubtle hints in my reports which I still have at home.”

Congratulating the past pupil on his promotion and success, Newent Community School Principal, Alan Johnson, said: “No school in the world is better than its teachers, and our teachers are some of the best.

“Each time I hear about some of the tremendous achievements of our ex-students it makes me incredibly proud of our staff and our school. I am equally proud that we have helped pave the way for Philip’s research into brain-related conditions which will undoubtedly help so many people.”