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Search forDuffield triplets each win a place to study at Oxford
Friday, August 15, 2008, 07:30
The 18-year-olds from Duffield are thought to be the first triplets in the history of the prestigious university to each win a place at its colleges.
Andrew, who is due to study philosophy and theology at Lady Margaret Hall, said they tensely awaited yesterday's A-level results together.
He said: "We couldn't start celebrating until we knew we were all in."
The triplets' success has been described as a "truly remarkable achievement". A spokesman for the university said there was no record of any other triplets winning places together.
Rebecca will be going to Worcester College to study French and German, and Toby will go to Hertford College to study history.
The triplets attended Duffield's Meadows Primary School until the age of 11 and since then have been pupils at Ecclesbourne School.
Parents Sarah and Timothy Wilton, who is a Derby orthopaedic surgeon, both attended Oxford University, as well as their three older siblings.
Mrs Wilton said she was delighted the triplets had succeeded in getting their grades.
She said: "We weren't sure what would happen if they didn't all make it.
"But now they have, we are very proud, although it will be very quiet when they leave home in September."
Andrew gained A grades in religious studies, English literature and maths; Rebecca in French, German and English literature and Toby in history, geography and English literature.
An Ecclesbourne spokesman said: "We are absolutely delighted for Rebecca, Andrew, Toby and their family. Their achievement is truly remarkable and utterly deserved.
"It is always a joy for students and their teachers when the grades for which they have worked so hard are attained."
The trio had been on tenterhooks following conditional offers from their respective colleges at the university, which asked for three A-grade A-levels from each of them.
Andrew said things had got tense 24 hours before the results were due.
He added: "I think we were all conscious that, if any one of us failed to get the right results, it would be difficult for the others to be happy about getting in.
"We checked online first thing yesterday morning to see if we had been awarded places.
"I was the last to look after the others knew they were in.
"We couldn't start celebrating until we knew we were all in. That was a long few minutes."
Andrew said that, although the triplets were close, they were competitive and mixed in different social circles.
He said: "Our competitiveness is really in sport. Becky likes to play netball, I play golf and football and Toby also enjoys football.
"We don't compete against each other but we compare how well each of us is doing in our respective sports."
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