TOWYN girl is challenging the stereotype that traveller girls are poorly educated by winning a place at Trinity College, Oxford, to study English literature.
Shelby Holmes, whose family are from a travelling background and work in Towyn’s fairground and leisure industry, gained three A levels.
Her two A*s and a B from St Brigid’s School in Denbigh is made more remarkable by the fact that for 12 weeks a year her and her family take to the road visiting fairs and carnivals up and down the country.
Despite a 68 per cent attendance record at the school she kept up her studies wherever she went.
“I just had to muddle through fitting it in between what I was doing when I found time,” said Shelby who described St Brigid’s staff as “fantastic”.
“My mum and dad have been absolutely brilliant and the travelling background has given me a different mindset to the other students who are all posh.
“Not only am I not posh but I’ve got a work ethic that’s been embedded in me since the age of six.”
Mum Kim explained how she tried to “balance” Shelby’s travelling culture with a modern education.
“She started at St Brigid’s when she was eight and she’s loved the school from day one,” said Kim.
After coming home from school Shelby would help out at the family arcade in Towyn.
“She’s always been academic and she’s not interested in drinking or smoking and she even dumped her boyfriend when she found out she was going to Oxford,” said Kim.
“I’m very proud of her. My parents couldn’t even read and I had to help out with the family business which includes children’s rides, hot dog stalls and selling candy floss.”