Twenty years ago, Tamara Salas was living in a shanty town in the shadow of a mountain in Venezuela.

Struggling to survive and frightened for her safety, Tamara resolved to change her fate.

This summer, the 41-year-old will graduate with a degree in sociology from the University of Sussex.

Tamara was among 35 people from 21 countries who pledged allegiance to the Queen at a civic ceremony at Hove Town Hall.

Tamara, who lives in Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton, said: "Life was hard in Venezuela. When my mother and father split up, we moved to a tiny shack. Women invariably go to poverty in that situation.

"I remember sewage running down the hills outside.

"We were not safe there. I was determined to change my life so I moved across the country and found work.

"I then decided to move to Britain to learn English."

That was eight years ago.

Tamara has now settled into life in Sussex with her sevenyear- old son Hadrian.

She said: "To become a British citizen means so much to me. I'm a political person and this means I can now vote.

"I will always be proud to be from Venezuela but now I truly feel I belong here as well.

"Britain is all about opportunities.

You have to be middle class to study in Venezuela and there is no welfare state or support.

"I am dyslexic but the university has supported me all the way through."

A choir of children from 13 schools in the city sang at the citizenship ceremony in front of a picture of the Queen.

The children, who are all members of the Brighton and Hove Junior Choir, sang a medley of traditional British songs, including Greensleeves, and the national anthem.

Footballer Paul Reid came to England from Australia about six years ago on an ancestry visa due to his Scottish grandfather.

Paul, who moved to Brighton and Hove Albion after two years playing for Bradford City, said: "It's an honour to officially become a British citizen.

"My family have settled in Sussex and we love it here.

"It's also great for my children to have British nationality.

"People may ask if I'd rather play for Australia or England but it would always be Australia first because I was born there.

"However, I love the history and culture of this country and this now means we can stay beyond the end of my career if we want to."

Paul, who is due to return from injury next week to help boost Albion's bid for promotion, stayed on after the ceremony to sign dozens of autographs for youngsters from the choir.

The new citizens received their naturalisation certificates from the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Carol Theobald.

Councillor Theobald, who was presented with a bouquet of flowers during the event, said: "Having children welcome new residents is a lovely idea.

"The ceremony is all about newcomers entering into the spirit of Britain and that spirit is embodied in some of those traditional songs.

"It is an honour to welcome these people as the newest citizens of Britain and, particularly, Brighton and Hove."

Citizenship ceremonies hit the headlines this month when a report recommended school leavers should swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen and country.

Former attorney-general Lord Goldsmith, who wrote the report, said it would give teenagers a sense of belonging.

Mother of four Marissa Craig, 36, moved from the Philippines to settle in Saltdean seven years ago.

She said: "Life is different here but I love Brighton and Hove because it is so diverse and alive.

"If I could change anything it would be to make the weather in England a bit hotter.

"Filipinos have to swear to the constitution. I think it is a good thing and it would make teenagers realise the importance of their heritage."

Major-General John Moore-Bick, deputy lieutenant of East Sussex, represented the Queen at the event.

He said: "These ceremonies are very important. We take our rights as citizens for granted but when I come to these ceremonies I meet some amazing people who have escaped torture, violence and war.

"Of course, others are economic migrants, which is fine. The majority of those I meet are working and contributing to society.

"School leavers swearing allegiance is an interesting idea and the debate will continue. I swore an oath when I was a Scout and when I became a soldier.

There is a purpose to it."

Since citizenship ceremonies were introduced by the Government in 2003, the city council has conducted 53 events involving 1,231 people.

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