FIVE pupils from Royal Liberty School in Romford will be jetting off to Paris next month to represent the UK at the Paris Air Show in the International Rocketry Challenge.

Matthew Batson, Luke Chandler, Dumitru Vulpe, Chandler Benstock and Josh Compton, all aged between 14 and 15, will compete against winning teams from the US and France after they beat 19 other teams to win the UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge and £1,000.

Each of the competing teams had to design, make and successfully launch their rockets to an altitude of 750 feet, with an egg inside, then land their rocket, with egg intact, safely back on the ground.

The challenge, organised by the ADS group, an aerospace trade organisation, took place on Wednesday 8 May at a site in Farnborough, Hampshire.

Head teacher of the Royal Liberty, Julia Deery, said: "We are so proud of the boys for their fantastic achievement. To beat 19 other teams of talented young science enthusiasts is impressive but it's the icing on the cake that they now get to compete internationally.

"I know they will have a great time at the Paris Air Show and will do everything they can to make the UK the international champions."

The Royal Liberty pupils also won a trip to Disneyland Paris and a tour of the Airbus A380 facility in Toulouse.

ALEXANDER BURFORD-FULLER continues to impress in his first year of MSA Kart racing, with yet more good results in the latest round of meetings.

However, it has not been all plain sailing and Hutton-based Burford-Fuller has also experienced low points, with severe mechanical issues plaguing him on occasions.

His first piece of misfortune occurred in the first qualifying heat of the latest round of the Club 2000 Championship at Red Lodge, Suffolk, when lying second with two corners left on the last lap an over-ambitious manoeuvre by another driver resulted in both karts ending up off the track.

Burford-Fuller bounced back with two superb drives in very contrasting conditions and situations.

The first was a masterclass in overtaking when starting from last on the grid to claim a fourth place finish, and the fastest lap of the race.

Before heat three a shower left the track very greasy, but Burford-Fuller enhanced his reputation of being one of the best drivers in the wet in his class when he stormed to victory, winning by a five-second margin.

Bad luck struck again in the final when on lap three he lost his front bumper, and he had to retire from the race.

Despite these setbacks Burford-Fuller maintains his second place in the overall championship.

The fourth round of the Junior Rotax Championship at Rye House was a day Burford-Fuller will not forget quickly, but for all the wrong reasons.

The drama started in heat one when, after taking the lead on the first lap, he immediately built up a substantial lead, but shed a chain.

A steady second race resulted in a fourth place finish, but then disaster struck big-time in the third heat when holding third place on lap five his engine seized solid.

This meant he had to withdraw from the meeting, with a large loss of points, resulting in him slipping two places down to fourth in the overall championship.

The following weekend was the fifth round of the tough Junior Championship at Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, and with his own engine unavailable Burford-Fuller gratefully accepted the loan of an engine from local tuner Ricky Grice of Grice Motors.

In the first two qualifying heats Burford-Fuller achieved two solid mid-pack finishes, and reduced his fastest lap time for the track by three-tenths of a second.

A number of tweaks were made on the kart by team principal Gary Cooper before the start of heat three, and they were immediately successful when Burford-Fuller finished third in the last heat, his highest finishing position at the track. He followed this with an even more impressive drive in the final when finishing a clear fourth, more than four seconds ahead of the next driver.

The result moves Burford-Fuller up to fourth in the overall championship, and only one point behind third.

AT ONLY 19 years old, bubbly teenager Sue Rowen knew she would one day go blind.

"My first reaction was one of shock and complete despair – no one could tell me when I was going to go blind.

"The day I did go blind – well I knew it was coming – but it was still a very difficult bridge to cross," said Sue.

After contracting the inherent Retinitis Pigmentosa disease as a youngster, the now 53-year-old did not descend into complete darkness until four years ago.

Yet knowing the time was looming ever closer, she teamed up with her guide dog Layla.

Sue, now an engagement officer for Guide Dogs, proudly strolled side-by-side with her trusty companion at the 83-year-old charity's first ever Go Walkies Fun Day at Hylands Park in Chelmsford on Sunday.

"Layla offers me a unique lifestyle and she is not only a brilliant dog that gets me out and about but she is, of course, a great companion. It's also very sociable."

More than 1,000 people visited the event, which boasted inflatables, dog-lover Debbie Douglas from The Only Way Is Essex TV show, a sensory tunnel, two Miss Teen Commonwealth International princesses, a sponsored walk and various pooch-related stalls.

Speaking to mobility team leader and event co-organiser Karen Mumford, she said the aim of Sunday was to tell the guide dog story.

Guide Dogs have about 5,000 users nationwide – yet there are about two million registered blind.

The canines require over a year's worth of training and cost the charity about £50,000 to leave in the hands of a client. Yet the charity asks for just a minimum 50p donation from the user.

Karen said: "The reason we do that is because we don't want to prejudice anyone or discriminate in any way."

Miss Teen Commonwealth International princess Sasha Wright said: "It's been a great event and a great charity and it's a really fun day out."

Guide Dogs ambassador and former TOWIE star Debbie Douglas, an animal enthusiast, said she felt closer to the charity after experiencing the dogs first hand.

After she was blindfolded and taken for a walk by trusty canine 'Delphi', she added: "I fully trusted Delphi whilst walking around but being blindfolded felt peculiar and made me very emotional."

ALEX LYNN claimed a maiden win in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship at Brands Hatch on Saturday.

The 19-year-old led from start to finish under constant pressure from Ferrari Driver Academy protégé Raffaele Marciello, his team-mate in the Prema Powerteam squad.

Lynn claimed pole position for all three races – the first time this has been done in FIA European F3 history – in his Mercedes-powered Dallara. He then fended off a challenge from Marciello at the first corner, setting the fastest lap on his way to victory by the narrow margin of 0.680 seconds.

That was despite difficulties caused by the constant demands of overtaking lapped traffic on the short Brands Indy circuit.

"It was a fairly eventful race, certainly more so than I'd like," the Great Dunmow driver said. "I made a good start and I was just trying to get a gap – and every time I tried to pull a gap out I caught other cars. I was on the radio to my engineer, trying to make sure he would get the officials to wave blue flags, but the thing is every group of cars we caught were battling – you just have to stay calm and defend where you need to.

"With eight laps to go 'Lello' got very close, but I knew it would be difficult for him to overtake around the outside so I just concentrated on taking the inside line.

"It feels so good. When something like this happens… you've planned it through your head millions of times, and now there's the realisation that it's done. It's important to get that first win out of the way."

Lynn, who added this victory to a British F3 win at Silverstone last September, was to be denied in his bid to win the second and third races.

In race two he was beaten away from the start by Marciello, and held second place all the way to the finish. Alex slashed into the gap when Marciello caught back-markers, but was never close enough to challenge for the lead.

"Raffaele's always really good at the starts and mine wasn't good enough, so he deserved to win," said Lynn. "Well done to him. My pace wasn't as strong this time; the car balance wasn't to my liking."

In the third race, Lynn and Marciello went side by side to the first corner, and again the Italian grabbed the advantage. Alex chased hard and was trying to keep the pressure on when he spun at Paddock Hill Bend. Unfortunately, he was then clipped by another car and forced to retire from the race.

"I made a really good start, but obviously it wasn't quite good enough," he said. "My pace was really strong, and I was just trying to get close enough so that I could challenge when we got to lapped traffic, but I made a small mistake trying to stay with him."

He added: "It was a disappointing end, but I can take a lot of positives out of the weekend," he said. "We just have to sit down and have a look at the starts but I'm sure I can challenge for more wins."

A PROUD mother to two young boys, Roselle Moss could not bear the thought of never carrying a child again.

Although she and husband Ken were not looking for a sibling to brothers Rowan and Dylan, Roselle found herself saddened by the thought of not being pregnant any more – an experience she had loved.

So when she stumbled across the British Surrogacy centre, based in Maldon, it seemed the perfect opportunity to give another couple a family they so desperately wanted.

And on Friday, that "amazing journey" came to an end as twins Max and Lena were delivered by caesarean section at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. Parents Harneeta and Omar Hilal were delighted and Roselle, their surrogate mum for the past nine months was equally happy.

"It's been the most incredible and difficult experience of my entire life," said Roselle, 33.

"Friday was simply an amazing day and so emotional. The operation was quite violent, there was a lot of pushing and pulling around and then suddenly there was a baby crying.

"Both twins were born healthy and gorgeous, at six pounds each.

"Of course normally when you give birth you're the first to hold them, but this time around I asked for the babies to be taken straight to their parents.

"They were so happy."

Roselle, who lives in Bocking, took the daunting decision to carry a child for the couple in June last year.

"I couldn't stand the thought of not being pregnant again so when I saw a Facebook post from the surrogacy centre saying there was a couple desperate for a baby who were unable to carry their own, I got in touch as I just wanted to help them," she said.

"The first meeting was a little intimidating but Barrie [who set up the British Surrogacy Centre with husband Tony Drewitt-Barlow] wanted to check I could handle some pressure.

"Harneeta and Omar were the most amazing couple and we quickly built up a really great relationship.

"Following the [IVF] treatment we heard that two embryos had attached and from then on it was just like a countdown to Christmas."

Roselle, who believes she is the first surrogate mother to give birth at the hospital, thinks the experience has set a good example to her sons.

"I think it's really important for them to see someone so close to them do something selfless for another person," said Roselle, who is recovering from the operation at home.

"Dylan, who is just four years old, was so gentle during the pregnancy and avoided the bump – I think they can both understand.

"They've already met the babies and we're hoping for a big reunion this Bank Holiday Monday, the boys will be like cousins to the twins."

The emotional and physical intensity of the experience has left Roselle reluctant to consider a second surrogacy, but she is passionate about raising awareness.

"I wouldn't do it again as it's been hard work for my whole family," she said. "But it's been the most amazing journey and I've been so surprised at how little surrogacy is talked about.

"It's been life-changing, and I know that the twins and their parents will be a part of our lives forever."

A BRAINTREE man is desperate to find a brother and sister he never knew existed after discovering their birth registration documents buried in his dead mother's paperwork.

Ian Sharp, who has lived in the town all his life, was shocked to find the proof of twin siblings just two months ago, despite being raised to believe he was an only child by his mother Joyce.

Now the 47-year-old, who has no children or partner, is focusing all his efforts on being reunited with his long lost family whom he believes could be living somewhere in Essex.

"It was always just me and my mum growing up but I often had a feeling I might have siblings she didn't talk about," said Ian, who has recently had to leave his job at Braintree District Council as a result of debilitating arthritis.

"When we would argue she'd occasionally make comments about a brother and sister but she'd refuse to talk about it any more than that.

"She passed away a few years ago but I found these registration documents just recently as I was sorting through her things – it was such a huge shock."

Ian believes his twin brother and sister were born with the names Karen and Mark Sharp in December 1966 but has "no clue" about their lives beyond that.

He has heard from neighbours that they may have been temporarily taken in by a family living in Panfield Lane, but nobody has given him any indication as to why his mother decided not to keep her children.

"There is a gap between their birth and the registration, which makes me wonder whether she was in two minds," added Ian, who lives in Progress Court, Braintree.

"I lived with my aunt for a short while before they would have been born so I wonder if she took that time apart to make her decision.

"But it's something she never talked about even though we were close."

Since the shocking discovery, Ian, whose father committed suicide when he was ten years old, has talked to neighbours, visited the registry office, and even applied to appear on ITV show Long Lost Family in the hope of locating his brother and sister.

"I really want to find them even if it turns out they don't want to know me," he said.

"I don't have children and there isn't really anyone else. To be honest, this is occupying a lot of my time at the moment, I'm desperate to find them.

"And you never know – they might be searching for me too."

FLIP-FLOPS, bottles of water and a safe refuge will soon be provided for the vulnerable in Billericay late at night, when so-called street pastors start to patrol its thoroughfares later this year.

Resident and former police officer Phil Norton, 48, made the announcement at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting at Billericay Town Football Club, in Blunts Wall Road.

Under the scheme, which already operates in Brentwood, those who find themselves in trouble in the street through drink, drugs or any other reason will be given a helping hand.

The pastors will work on Friday and Saturday nights, giving support as well as providing bottles of water, finding people a safe way to get home and giving women who are struggling with high-heeled shoes flip-flops to protect their feet.

Mr Norton, a father of three, also told residents about the Basildon SOS Bus, which provides a safe refuge and place to help those finding themselves in need.

The bus is usually stationed at the Festival Leisure Park in Basildon but he wants it to be used in Billericay too.

Mr Norton, who has lived in Billericay for 26 years, works part time for both Southend YMCA and the Open Road Centre in Colchester.

He told the Gazette this week why he wanted to get involved in the street pastors scheme.

"I wanted to use my skills and start to help out in the community," he said.

"The ethos is to be out and about trying to find people that are vulnerable – it may be because they are drunk, have taken drugs or are lost.

"It's not just about religion – it's about just being there for people and helping them out in their time of need.

"We're not there to judge – we know people will get into trouble but when they do we will make sure we will do something for them and get them home safely.

"Billericay High Street will be getting busier and busier at night with pubs and bars opening later – there will be quite a lot of people in our High Street.

"We won't just be for young people it's for everyone that we find that's in need."

He added: "Street pastors will have to go through at least 10 different training seminars which will help them deal with what they will find."

The pastor operation will be run out of St Mary's Church on High Street, where people can come to find a safe refuge.

It will also be the site of the prayer base where those who find themselves in trouble will be prayed for by a team of volunteers.

Mr Norton, who was a member of Billericay Baptist Church for 25 years and who now goes to the town's Christian Growth Centre, said: "It will be like the SOS bus in a church.

"We will have a safe quiet place with tea, coffee and water.

"We have a support team with different churches including Emmanuel Church, Christ Church, Billericay Baptist Church, the Christian Growth Centre and Billericay Methodist Church – they are all up for it."

Training for the street pastors will be starting in the coming weeks and the initiative will start in September. The voluntary team will work with police, pubs, bars and residents in the town.

Reverend Warner Pidgeon, of Christ Church on Perry Street, was keen to get involved in the project.

He said: "Having seen what a difference it can make in a local community in other areas and having heard local police and councillors in other areas talk so highly of street pastors, I think it's a good thing.

"When I spent an evening out with Chelmsford street pastors I was bowled over by what great work they do and how supportive and how impressed the local police and door staff were."

A launch event will be held at 7.30pm on June 14 at St Mary'.

For more information on how to become a street pastor you can contact Mr Norton at noisyphil@gmail.com

A KARATE kid has his sights set on becoming world champion after a top-three finish at a national tournament.

Black-belt Toby Kidd, 11, who attends Brentwood Preparatory School, travelled to High Wycombe to challenge rivals who were two years older than him at the National Prep School Karate Championships.

Speaking after the competition, Toby, who will join Brentwood School this summer, told the Gazette he has high hopes for the future but insisted his schoolwork will not be getting the chop.

Toby's father Simon Kidd is a former national champion and the youngster is coached by current England champion, Ryan Lambert.

Toby said: "Since I was four my dad used to tell me what he used to do when he was champion.

"From the beginning of the tournament I thought I was going to do well. At first I was a bit nervous but my dad and Ryan kept telling me I could do it and that I'm good enough.

"Because I'm taking my SATs now I've been putting in even more effort.

"I want to do what my dad did, become world champion and eventually – with karate possibly going into the Olympics – become Olympic champion."

Tom's school teammates, James Henderson, ten, and Oliver Mayes, eight, added to the success as the team finished fourth overall.

The team is also coached by Lambert and the former national champion Toby's father, Simon Kidd.

Mum Faye Kidd, 40, was pleased for her son but confessed to not being able to watch his bouts.

She said: "To be honest I leave that to his dad.

"I don't go to watch, especially when he's fighting boys two years older than him.

"Let's just hope he doesn't do boxing because that'd kill me."

However, she does think the sport has had a positive impact on her son's character.

"It means so much because of how much it means to him," she said.

"He trains so hard.

"He's really dedicated and he has a good outlook on life.

"His ethos is you get out of life what you put in.

"It's taught him some important life skills."

Mr Lambert, a three-time national champion, said: "They have been training so hard and this achievement is what they deserve after all the effort they have put in.

"I've been training this group for around six months – they all get on great and it's very rewarding to see them fight so well."

THE father of a convicted drug dealer who accidentally overdosed on heroin at Christmas is struggling to come to terms with his son's death.

Former Chelmsford schoolboy Scott Bolden, 33, was found dead in his bed by his friends on December 22 last year.

His father Mr Kenebel said: "He never said he would take his own life and in fact he was quite happy at the time, which makes a change.

"There was no real reason for it that I can understand and, unfortunately, he was his own man.

"I am still trying to get to grips with it – still trying to get to grips."

The former Linnet Drive resident, who went to Moulsham High School, was found dead at his Colchester home after friends said he had "not been himself" at Christmas.

After worrying about his absence, friends knocked on his door on December 21 but, because his dog did not bark, they assumed he was out.

Yet on December 22, using a spare key, they discovered his body.

A post-mortem examination in January confirmed the cause of death was the 68mg of morphine and heroin, along with the 0.063mg of cocaine, that he had taken.

His father and his father's wife were expecting to see him on Christmas Day.

"It was a sudden and unexpected death," said coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray.

She added: "I have considered suicide but I would have to be sure he took his own life, knowing it would result in his own death.

"I am not going to say suicide.

"It was an accident, and a tragic accident, and I will record a verdict that he died as a result of an accident.

"He was clearly much loved by you and your wife, and I would like to express sympathy to you and I hope you can look back fondly at the happy memories."

In December 2008, Mr Bolden, who formerly lived in Braintree, was jailed for three years and three months as part of a huge crackdown on the supply of cocaine and heroin in the town.

A TRADE exhibition is returning to Romford to help entrepreneurs increase their business. Love Business Expo is being held on Thursday June 13 at Harefield Manor Hotel in Romford and is free for all pre-registered visitors.

There will be more than 200 visitors attending throughout the day from a variety of industries including Time 107.5 FM, RM Business, Havering Chamber of Commerce, Royal Bank of Scotland and many others that can perhaps help people to grow businesses.

As well as the exhibition itself, which starts at 11am, various business skills workshops will run throughout the day to give those in business advice and tips that they can implement.

There will also be an evening networking event from 6pm to 8pm.

Both the Expo and the evening networking are free for pre-registered visitors to attend and pre-registration can be done online at www.lovebusiness expo.biz

Organiser Jade Stoner said "The Expo is an ideal way to connect with others in business, meet new suppliers and joint venture partners, raise the profile of yourself and your company and just to be kept up to date with the latest in the business world.

"Business is all about people and relationships, and more so now than ever before, people buy from people that they know, like and trust.

"I encourage all businesses regardless of size and industry to attend.

"You never know who you might meet and where that could lead."

Pre-registration is a must for free entry to the exhibition or there will be a £10 charge on the day which will be donated to Love Business Expo's Charity Partner for the June event, Anchor House.

Pre-registration is also required for the evening networking event due to limited spaces.

For more information about Love Business Expo, visit www.love businessexpo.biz

MORE than 200 cadets from the Combined Cadet Force of King Edward VI Grammar School which includes some girls from Chelmsford County High School for Girls took part in their biennial inspection.

Led by sixth former Matthew Trembath, the parade was reviewed by Colonel Peter Christian from 49 Brigade. He spoke to a number of cadets before a march-past, and led a salute to 60 guests who included regular serving soldiers, governors and parents.

The parade concluded with a display by the Corps of Drums, led by drum major Daniel Robinson.

During the afternoon, the cadets demonstrated the training they undertake every Monday evening, which goes towards the Army Proficiency syllabus that all cadets follow.

KEGS CCF is open to students from both schools from Year 8 upwards, and is funded largely by the Ministry of Defence.

The contingent commander, Major Alison Brown said: "The cadets, in particular the seniors, have put in hours of work to ensure that the day went well.

"I was extremely proud of them all."

SPRINGFIELD Library has opened its doors after more than 20 years of planning.

The library on St Augustine's Way was part of a joint venture between Essex County Council and Springfield Parish Council which together raised around £1.4 million for the project.

The land was donated by the county council which paid 60 per cent of the building costs, while the parish council contributed the remaining 40 per cent.

It is the first new library to open in Essex for 25 years and will be staffed day-to-day by a team of ten volunteers, with 20 more eager helpers on the waiting list.

Around 250 people visited on the first day, reflecting the strong local support for the facility.

Library group manager Lee Shelsher, 44, said: "Today has been really busy and we know this is going to be a real resource for the community of Springfield.

"They've watched it growing and they couldn't wait for it to open."

Its completion comes more than two decades after the idea was first suggested as it was continually delayed due to a lack of funds.

In 1995, the project was estimated to cost around £650,000, but it was postponed as a result of county budget restraints.

Following Essex County Council's failed Lottery Fund bid in 2007, the future of the library was uncertain.

However, in 2009 the scheme was endorsed after public consultation and the county and parish council agreed to jointly finance the building work, which began in July last year and finished in March.

Prior to this, Springfield was the most populated place in Essex without a dedicated library to serve its residents.

Maxine Talbot, 36, a mother from Beaulieu Park who visited on the day with her three children, said: "This is great for us as we live opposite; it is so much closer than the Broomfield Road library."

The long-awaited library is at the heart of the community in the Springfield Parish Centre building, which is shared with Springfield Parish Council.

Cllr John Jowers, Essex County Council's cabinet member for libraries, communities and planning, said: "This belongs to the taxpayers of Chelmsford.

"It introduces children to something that will stand them in good stead all of their lives, and it is egalitarian – there is no bar to anyone."

IF the council does not put in place plans for 4,410 homes over the next 15 years the district could be left vulnerable to government intervention, councillors say.

The backing of the new topline figure for the Maldon Local Development Plan was expected to be agreed by full council at a special meeting adding 700 homes to the revised total.

The decision follow months of public consultation in 2012 although just a fraction of residents contributed to the findings with only 807 responses received in the required time.

"If we don't get a plan put in place then something will be imposed upon us," Cllr Brian Beale told the meeting at Maldon council offices in Princes Road.

"We have carried out the consultation, however, you can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink – what more can we do?"

District councillors of the Planning and Licensing Committee on Tuesday endorsed plans to build 294 homes per year over a 15 year period, which includes a minimum 700 additional homes in the district.

Areas to be "tested" for potential growth will include Southminster, north Heybridge and Latchingdon, despite councillors admitting it represented perhaps the busiest through road in the Dengie.

Prior to the decision Cllr Durham, who was not sitting on the committee, voiced concerns over too much weight being given to the few hundred residents who had responded to the plans.

"We are in grave danger of making changes to the plan because of a very vocal minority," he said.

"Can this number of consultations be enough of a guide?"

Yet a few miles away in Burnham on Crouch a crowd of residents were ensuring their voices were fully heard at a town council meeting to discuss the impact of the plan upon their local area.

There was standing room only in Burnham's council chambers as an angry crowd listened to plans from developers to construct 450 homes to the west of the town, with proposals for a major supermarket and 25 acres of sports facilities.

"By its nature Burnham is a remote rural town, it is on a peninsular. The roads from Burnham to South Woodham or Maldon are notoriously bad and couldn't cope with thousands more cars, and the huge lorries needed for building materials and supermarket supplies," said resident Vicky Hitcham.

In addition to the 450-house development already planned for Burnham, officers will now test the potential for concentrated growth in four other locations around the town to meet its housing targets, although these won't all be taken forward.

A full public consultation of the draft LDP is expected to take in August or September this year and councillors have proposed directing funds from the New Home Bonus towards its progression in order to prevent any "slippage factor".

MORE than £1,500 has been collected for a charity that raises awareness of cardiac problems in the young following the shock death of an 18-year-old from Gidea Park.

To date, £1,566 has been raised for Cardiac Risk in the Young following the death of Squirrels Heath Lane resident Aashi Sinha, who died at Queens Hospital in Romford on May 8.

An inquest into her death has been opened and adjourned with a full inquest expected later this year.

A Facebook tribute group for Aashi, who was a student at Forest School in Snaresbrook, has so far gained 448 members.

Several people have donated to a Just Giving page which is asking people to donate to Cardiac Risk in the Young in her memory.

In a message with her donation on Just Giving, Justine Venditti wrote: "No one who ever met you will ever forget you, Aashi; you were a very special young lady."

Anna Feldman wrote: "What an amazing, intelligent, young lady you were Aashi. Your smile was infectious and touched the lives of so many."

Penelope Anne Goodman wrote how Aashi was always thoughtful and positive.

A two-minute silence was held at the school on the day after Aashi's death and there was a remembrance service to coincide with her funeral on Wednesday.

Each week at least 12 young people in the UK die suddenly as a result of undiagnosed heart conditions.

Cardiac Risk In the Young aims to save young lives and to help those affected by the sudden cardiac death by providing support, information and screening.

CHELMSFORD Chieftains have parted company with star forward Danny Hammond.

Player-coach Gary Clarke said it was a tough decision to make and praised Hammond for what he has done for the club.

"It is not often that you have a player that is from Chelmsford and has the impact that Danny Hammond has had over his time here," Clarke said. "It is very hard to make decisions that essentially count that player out of plans moving forward. Hammy is a great guy and someone I have a lot of respect for, however, I like the team to play a certain way and that way does not suit Hammy.

"It's a role he doesn't thrive in and therefore I feel it is best we part company. Hammond is a massive individual talent, he will be an asset on any team in our league. I know that deep down he will be back wearing a Chieftains jersey once more in the future.

"These decisions are not easy for anyone involved. In fact the decision was so difficult that it took a significant amount of time after the season had ended for me to make it, but for the good of the team going forward and I do believe it is the right decision."

Clarke added: "Obviously we have had a very successful trophy run over the last couple of years and Hammy put up unbelievable numbers at times across that stint. He is a high calibre player with an unusual combination of speed and skill.

"Unfortunately, athletes do not work in normal employment conditions where status quo is often the most productive strategy for trying to repeat success. We believe that even in the context of back to back multi trophy seasons, we cannot stand still and leave everything untouched because not one other team trying to knock us off will be standing still."

At present the only name on the Chieftains team sheet for 2013-14 is Clarke himself in what will be his third season in charge of the Riverside team.

The club will be making more player announcements over the coming weeks and months as they build towards the new campaign where Clarke will be leading his team to defend their league and play-off double and will be looking to add to their silverware with the cup competition the elusive trophy this past season.

A HEAD teacher will be swapping her car for a boat to commute to work from September.

After seven years at the helm of Broomfield Primary School, Linda Todd is leaving to lead the only school on the Isles of Scilly.

She has been appointed as head teacher of Five Islands School, featured in the first four series of BBC2's An Island Parish.

As well as leading a school for three to 16-year-olds on the main island, Mrs Todd will also be in charge of its bases for primary aged children on the other islands, to which she will travel by boat.

The school, currently led by an acting head teacher, was downgraded by Ofsted late last year, and has been flagged up as "requiring improvement".

Mrs Todd, who is married with two sons aged three and eight, admits life will be quite different from her current one.

She said: "Five Islands School has been through a tricky time recently and I will be joining it at an exciting point in its journey. It is certainly going to be an adventure.

"We love the outdoors and the sea and will be living in a beautiful location with a beach at the end of the garden."

The Isles of Scilly are a collection of five inhabited islands 28 miles from Lands' End in Cornwall. They have a population of around 2,200 people.

This will be Mrs Todd's third headship. Prior to joining Broomfield in 2006, she led Newport Primary in north Essex near Saffron Walden for eight years.

Originally from Scotland, Mrs Todd moved to Essex after qualifying as a teacher 24 years ago at Liverpool University.

She has stayed in the county apart from spending some time teaching in Singapore.

She added: "I will really miss Broomfield Primary. The staff here are fantastic.

"They are committed to the children and very hard-working but they also know how to have fun. We are always more than happy to embrace dressing up, singing or performing.

"I'm very proud of what I have achieved at the school. It had been judged satisfactory by Ofsted before I arrived and it is now a good school with many outstanding features. I always felt supported by everyone."