A FORMER Abbeyfield headboy will be able to fulfil his dream of becoming a GP after the Chippenham Borough Lands Charity agreed to sponsor his second degree with a £20,000 grant over four years.

Jonathan Martin from Pewsham was worried that the lack of funding for second degrees would prevent him from going on to study his medical degree at Kings College in London but was delighted when the charity agreed to sponsor the cost of half his course.

"Borough Lands have been incredible," the 25-year-old, who also has a degree in Physiology from the University of Bristol, said. "I am starting my medical degree at the weekend and as it is my second degree, there is no funding available so I approached Borough Lands and because my skills could be used to help the people of Chippenham, they agreed to support me.

"The human body is fascinating and I have been working as a care assistant in a GP's in Trowbridge doing bloods and other things and each day you meet someone new and it is just another person with another story that you can help."

Mr Martin, who won't have to make the choice about which direction to take his medical career until five or six years time, said the rest of his £9,250 a year course will be self-funded through his savings and his parents.

"I cannot wait to go," he added. "It has been a dream for a few years now and I can't wait to get cracking with it all. Thank you to Borough Lands, I am so grateful."

Laura Graham-May, education and grants officer at Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, said: "‘We are delighted to be able to support Johnathan in his determination to become a doctor.

"As someone who has already proven himself to be suited to the profession, and with glowing personal and professional references, we feel that he is a worthy cause. As this is his second degree, it meets our criteria and all of the trustees felt that the evidence for support was incredibly strong.

"As it is clearly a difficult profession, we felt that someone who is as determined as him should be encouraged to take on the training that he has been offered.

"A former Head Boy at Abbeyfield School, Johnathan’s reputation as a community spirited and hard-working person was obvious. We wish him all the best for what we’re sure will be a bright and fulfilling career."