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Colin Firth applauds Barton Peveril College
Colin Firth once cited his mother, his wife and Jane Austen as the women in his life, but the influence of Eastleigh teacher Penny Edwards was also acknowledged when the international film star and former Barton Peveril student received an award highlighting the vital role further education played in his career.
Penny – who taught Firth Drama and English and retires as head of the arts faculty at Barton Peveril this summer – joined college principal Jonathan Prest, Firth’s parents and Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne at a House of Commons ceremony for distinguished alumni of further education colleges, organised by the Association of Colleges’ Charitable Trust.
Each year the Trust presents Gold Awards to a select number of former college students in recognition of the vital role further education played in their careers and continuing achievements.
It also invites a current student showing promise in a similar field to meet their college’s award winner – an accolade which went to aspiring actor Mike Parker (17) from Hedge End.
A versatile and mature performer, Mike has been recalled for further auditions at LAMDA, Central and RADA drama schools and sat one of his last A-level exams on the morning of his day as a ‘mini me’.
“Meeting Colin Firth was truly inspirational – it was an amazing day,” said Mike, who is a former pupil of Wildern School and has spent the past two years following A-level courses in drama, film and media studies together with a BTEC National Award in Performing Arts at Barton Peveril.
“Colin described the teaching and encouragement he received at Barton Peveril as ‘fantastic’ and, more than 30 years on, it’s the same for me.
“I feel extremely privileged to have been chosen as Colin’s ‘mini me’ and can only hope that, one day, my achievements will be seen in as distinguished a light as his.”
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