A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Malpas has graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in Surrey.

During his training, William Davies endured some of the toughest military training in the world.

His parents Jinny and Charles watched as he was commissioned at the Sandhurst Passing Out Parade – one of the most highly regarded parades in the military calendar.

One of the youngest to graduate, William, known as Will, will now join the Royal Corps of Signals as a troop commander where he will be responsible for managing a team of highly skilled soldiers.

Now a second lieutenant, he said: “I’m delighted to have successfully completed the training at Sandhurst.

“It has been incredibly tough but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and I can’t wait to now join my regiment and start working with my team.

“The road to becoming an officer has been challenging, but I’ve had a lot of fun and made some great friends.

“Officers have an unrivalled level of responsibility and I’m looking forward to starting my career.”

Just 188 officer cadets passed the intensive 44-week long officer-commissioning course, of which 16 are from the North West.

North West army careers advisor Colonel David Thornycroft provided advice to Will when he was first thinking of becoming an officer.

He said: “The training at Sandhurst is extremely challenging. It has to fully prepare cadets for the responsibility of leading a team in some of the most inhospitable environments in the world. Will should be extremely proud of himself.”

Allison Dickinson