Daughter's top marks justifies mum's faith

11:34am Wednesday 22nd August 2001

A Croydon mother had so much faith in her daughter's A level results she was willing to gamble £1,000 on her daughter getting three straight As.

Alice Lee won £2,400 at the bookies after daughter Kathy got top grade in maths, law and economics, the biggest A level bet ever at William Hill.

The Croham Valley Road resident, who waged a £1,000 bet on her daughter's results whilst her sister Wai Fong Lee risked another £200, said: “The bet was our way of showing we had every confidence in her.”

Singaporean-born Kathy celebrated her 18th birthday party last Saturday and Mrs Lee has promised to present some of the cash to her daughter.

Kathy was taught at Cambridge Tutor's College in South Croydon and will continue the Cambridge connection by studying law at King's College, Cambridge, in September.

Cambridge Tutor's College principal David Lowe said: “She was a very strong student. We were expecting her to get three As.

“William Hill didn't ask us whether it was a good bet, perhaps they should have done.”

Graham Sharpe, a spokesman for William Hill said: “We asked to see her most recent reports a result we thought it was fairly obvious she was talented. We offered even money odds.

“It's the largest bet William Hill has ever taken for an A level result.

“You could say it was a case of an A level student teaching us a lesson.”

He added: “I hope you come back and bet on her getting a first class degree, it's one way of winning our money back.”

Editor's Choice