Barry boy to fly the flag for Bangor on University Challange! (From Barry And District News)

Barry boy to fly the flag for Bangor on University Challange!

8:40am Monday 28th January 2013 in News

A FORMER Barry schoolboy is set to appear on University Challenge.

Former Ysgol Sant Baruc pupil Adam Pearce, 25, will feature for Bangor University in the second round of the academic quiz show, to be screened tonight (Monday, January 28).

Adam, who grew up on Romilly Road, will be flying the flag for Wales as Bangor are the last Welsh university left in the competition.

They face the University of Durham in a bid to clinch the last remaining place in the quarter-finals.

They have already featured on TV in the first round, when they beat Scotland's oldest university, the University of St Andrew's, in September 2012.

Adam, who is studying for a PhD in Translation Studies, said: "More than 100 students competed for a place in the Bangor team, so I feel privileged to be a member.

"The team had to go through a rigorous selection process even to get on TV - with several rounds of questioning, both at Bangor and at the ITV studios in Manchester where filming takes place."

And he said that he is enjoying his studies in North Wales, where he has already completed a degree in Welsh and English and a Masters in Translation Studies.

"I sometimes miss home in Barry, but the great thing about Bangor is that we're by the sea here as well!" he said.

Proud dad Tim Pearce said he was 'thrilled' that his son had made it through to the University team.

"It's very competitive to get on to the team," he said.

"This time around they wanted to get the strongest team possible and it's paid off, and they are competing at a high level."

And he said Adam had shown a keen interest in learning from a young age.

"When he was very young I remember him reading the children's encyclopedia in Welsh from cover to cover," added Tim.

"I'm not sure if it was a bet or not!"

Adam has recently published his first book, Fireside Tales, which features the English translation of short stories by the Welsh author Daniel Owen.

* University Challenge is on BBC2 Wales at 8pm today (January 28).