TEENAGER Simon Gray has never let profound deafness hold him back, and now he is aiming for the stars - quite literally!

The physics and maths whizz has his sights set on a career as a NASA scientist at mission control after landing a place at the University of Salford.

Simon (18), of Bosworth Close, Whitefield, was over the moon when he passed his A-levels at Bolton College and is gearing up to study for a BA degree in physics with space technology.

He said: "I am really looking forward to going to university and learning more about different aspects of physics - and enjoy the social life, of course!

"My ambition is to be a scientist in the control room of a space programme. This will be my first step towards getting there." And he didn't have too far to look for inspiration as his sister, Sarah (22), who is also deaf, graduated with a 2.1 in psychology last September and is working for the Royal School for the Deaf. Their mum, Joan, said: "They both wanted to do well and they realise the way to do this is to get qualifications, especially if you are deaf.

"Simon knows it is going to be a lot of hard work but I think he is very determined. However, at the moment he is just relaxing before he starts."

Simon used a communicator from SUDS - the college's Support Unit for Deaf Students - to help with taking notes for his studies. He is now hoping to receive funding from Bury Council so that he can have the use of one at university.

His mum added: "He would not have been able to do the course without it.

"The support that he got at Bolton really helped him to get his A-levels."

Simon added: "I have made lots of good friends at Bolton and the lecturers have all been very helpful. I would like to thank all the SUDS Unit for their support."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.