SUCCESSES and milestones in 12 months at Askham Bryan College were looked back on by the principal, Professor Gareth Rees, at the college's annual prizegiving.

Hundreds of students received a range of awards at Saturday's ceremony, attended by Sally Robinson, of lingerie company Ample Bosom, and Bryan Moore, of AB Moore Farmers Ltd.

In his speech, Professor Rees said it had been an exciting year for the college with successes including the horticultural team winning at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, the start of work on the equestrian centre, rebuilding of the dairy unit and the opening of the veterinary nursing unit.

He said the number of further education pupils had increased and he looked forward to finding out whether the college had been chosen to become a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Food Bioscience.

He said: "It is very rewarding for all the staff at the college to know that our investments, along with the professionalism and commitment of the teaching team and indeed all those who support our students, have paid off.

"Of course, at the end of the day, our students have succeeded because they have worked hard and they all deserve our congratulations."

A presentation was made to Peter Smith, the former chairman of the Askham Bryan College Corporation, who recently retired.

Updated: 10:50 Monday, October 13, 2003