Gemma Knight and Natasha Hopkins make history at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre

Gemma Knight in the Royal Marines' water tank

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For the first time ever, female students were invited to participate 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 were invited to attend the course at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon last month. Another 30 males from other colleges in the North West also attended.

Gemma Knight and Natasha Hopkins, the only two females to ever take part in this course, took part in a pre-fitness assessment at the College to secure their place and make history.

18-year-old Gemma, pictured in freezing temperatures in the water tank at Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, 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 and scoring higher than the majority of males from the other Colleges.

Gemma’s brother Chris, who is now a Royal Marine and also an ex Hopwood Hall College student, said how proud he was of her, he hopes that she achieves her career goal to become an elite Royal Navy Diver after finishing the course.

Also pictured with Gemma, is 17-year-old Billy Barnes, who plays for Hopwood Hall College Rugby Academy and, like Gemma, excelled whilst at Lympstone. Billy impressed the staff, achieving one of the highest scores and securing his place as a potential Royal Marine when he finishes college in June.

College staff members Tom Kellaway and Holly Espie said how proud they were of the students and how they all performed to such a high standard, achieving enough points to start a career in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Terry Morley Centre Director for Sport and Public Services at the College said: “This is just another example of how well prepared our learners are for joining any of the uniformed services and it was such a privilege to see our female students complete and excel on this course.”