A SCHOOLBOY and his much-loved uncle can now sit side by side once again after their grieving family raised more than £1,000 to fund a dedicated bench at Heybridge cemetery.

Before his sudden death a little over three months ago, Marc Wright was a daily visitor to the grave of eight-year-old Ryan Fleming, who was killed in 2011 by joyriding mechanics on the A414.

He would speak often of his wish for a memorial bench so that he could sit and speak with his nephew at the cemetery off Goldhanger Road.

But it is only after tragedy struck the family once more, with Marc's own death from a brain embolism at his home in Braintree in February, that his dream has finally been realised.

"He always said he wanted a bench as he was so tired of sitting on the grass but we just didn't manage it until now," said Melissa, Ryan's mother and Marc's sister, who also lost her former partner Mark Dale.

He hanged himself in his Maldon home after struggling to cope with Ryan's death.

"One day during the trial for Ryan [the drivers of the Porsche were jailed for six and a half years, and 12 months respectively] Marc became upset and just stormed off, we had no idea where he was.

"We searched for him everywhere and then found him just sitting at Ryan's grave drinking a bottle of beer to calm down.

"He told us one day he was going to end up next to him, but we just told him not to be so morbid."

At Marc's funeral in February, friends and family were asked to donate the cost of a drink to fundraise for the bench but by the end of the night parents Maurice and Angeline were astonished to find around £700 had been donated.

With further gifts from loved ones after the event, the family could finally apply for permission from the council to install the tribute on Tuesday.

"We've been amazed at how popular Marc clearly was, we've met so many of his friends we never knew and we know they're often visiting the site where he's buried," said Angeline, who recently recovered from lymphatic cancer.

"His friends will often stop at the cemetery when they've been for drinks and leave him a bottle of beer, or girls will leave flowers and other items we might not know the meaning behind.

"But we're just so grateful to everyone who gave money toward the bench – they've honestly made our dreams come true."

Piled high with teddy bears, stone angels, messages and even a single anonymous rose, the gravestones of Marc and Ryan continue to have daily visits from friends and family.

And now loved ones will be able to sit on the hard-won bench and remember the boys without sitting on wet grass – just as Marc wanted.

AN "EXTRAORDINARY" 11-year-old girl wants to grow up to be a paramedic after winning a national award for saving a man's life when she was just 10.

Jasmine Wakefield-Sterry, from Chelmsford, was shopping in High Chelmer with her four-year-old brother when family friend and diabetic Matt Willoughby went into a hypoglycemic fit.

After shoppers ignored her cries for help, she told the paramedics exactly what the 21-year-old had eaten, how much insulin he needed and that he needed 'Gloco-gel' to give him the sugar boost needed to wake him up.

Twelve months on and she has scooped a Young First Aider of the Year Award from St John Ambulance.

Matt, now 22, said: "It's extraordinary to think that Jasmine didn't panic in that situation. I was the responsible adult looking after her and her brother and yet when faced with this emergency she acted calmly and was able to tell the medics everything they needed to know about my condition.

"Had she not have been there I'm confident I wouldn't be here now. Despite her shouting for help, many people just passed by and didn't come to her aid.

"I owe my life to her and I will always be extremely thankful."

Now 11 years old, Jasmine, of Larkrise Primary School, was one of 14 youngsters to receive a certificate in Clerkenwell, London, on May 18.

She said: "Getting this award means so much to me. It makes me feel special and I'm really pleased I was able to help our friend when he was ill."

Former NHS carer Matt was with Jasmine and little brother Kian last May when he realised his blood sugar levels were low.

"I felt immediately disorientated and said we had to get some food. In Greggs, I had my card in my hand ready to pay but I couldn't see it. I was shouting out because I couldn't see the kids even though they were right by my feet.

"I remember thinking 'I have to eat this quick'. I then have fragments of memories of being on the floor," said Matt, who believes his blood pressure plummeted.

After going into a "hypo", which caused a nerve-injury to his eye, security staff called the emergency services.

Jasmine explained his condition to paramedics, told them what he had had for breakfast, how much insulin he needed, helped administer his drug and simultaneously looked after her little brother.

Jasmine's mother, Becca, 32, who met Matt five years ago while working for a care agency that looks after adults in the community, said: "She is such a lovely girl and so caring.

"When her brother was born she was off school but didn't want to go back because she didn't think I could look after him.

She added: "Now she wants to be a paramedic and Matt is trying to get her into St John Ambulance."

THOUGHTS, ideas, energy and passion are required to support a project aimed at bringing the community together in Wickford.

The Wickford Family Project is an initiative launched by Basildon Borough Council to encourage residents to volunteer in the community to make it a better place.

It aims to utilise people in the town, whatever their talents may be, and wants to get as many residents involved as possible.

Organised by the Basildon Family Steering Group, consultations began in November and the project was launched in March.

Residents have already said that the town would benefit from a café in the Memorial Park, a job club and a youth group run by parents.

Borough councillor Terri Sargent, cabinet member for community services, said: "We need your thoughts, ideas, energy and passion so if you would like to volunteer from just a few hours a month towards making the area a better place to live, this project can even offer training to support you in doing this if required.

"Wickford is one of the areas where we are trying to get things going in the neighbourhood.

"This is an opportunity for families who may not be involved in groups before to be part of something.

"It's a neighbourhood agreement which means that residents can make decisions on how they want things for the area."

Councillor Sargent explained that the project is about partnerships and working with the local community through volunteering.

She continued: "The project will target antisocial behaviour by improving employment prospects and opportunities for young people.

"We already have a number of mums meeting in Highcliffe Children's Centre and that is working well.

"Young mums can go for help and advice in child care."

A family day organised by the council will be held at Wickford Memorial Park in May.

Councillor Sargent said: "It will be a fun day and I hope lots of the public go – it's about improving children's prospects and getting everyone involved."

Grant Taylor is neighbourhood co-ordinator at Basildon Borough Council and is orchestrating the project.

Councillor Sargent said: "When he gets a project he gets really stuck into it and gives it his all – I am sure this will help so many people.

"There are a number of volunteers establishing a job club and a Memorial Park group – it's about taking responsibility for their area.

"We wanted to run the project in Wickford as it is an area that can be overlooked."

Mr Taylor said that community support is lacking in many areas and described the project as a "rallying call" for people to get involved.

He said he believes there is an appetite for this type of project where the community can lead an initiative.

Those wishing to volunteer in a community project in Wickford or who have any ideas for a new group or just want to find out more should attend The Basildon Family Day, which will take place on Friday from noon until 3pm at Wickford Memorial Park in Rettendon View.

CALLING all young singers, bands and musicians – a club in Brentwood wants you to perform at its popular youth centre.

The Hermit Club in Shenfield Road has been running for 25 years and, following a brief closure last year due to funding problems, is now back in action and on the lookout for more young performers.

Peter Sills, 68, restarted the club in January and since then it has again become popular with youngsters in the area.

The club hosts live music on Wednesday and Friday nights and a new event called Neon will start on Saturday nights from June 8 from 7 until 9pm.

Although the audience swells to quite a crowd most evenings, Mr Sills explained that most of the bands are a little older and he is having trouble finding younger groups.

The musician and teacher from Billericay said: "Some performers are a bit intimidated – they think they have to be a really high standard but this is their club and we need them to get more young people coming to the Hermit as it's for teenagers.

"So many schools must have musicians and we hope to attract these younger groups. We are interested in any type of music from indie, rock and heavy metal to ska and folk."

Neon is a disco suitable for school Years 7, 8 and 9.

On Fridays and Wednesdays the club aims to attract 13 to 18-year-olds too.

Mr Sills added: "The older ones can go elsewhere but this gives the younger teenagers somewhere to go.

"We have one wonderful little band, Cloud Nine, who are only ten years old and are starting to play round local schools as well as at the club.

"They write a lot of their own material."

Mr Sills explained why he got involved in the club.

He said: "My big passion is teaching music – for the last 20 years I have done nothing but teach.

"I teach at three music departments for schools in Chelmsford and my background is as a professional musician.

"I was brought up in a jazz club so I didn't really have any other choice," he laughed.

Any bands that are interested in taking part should contact Mr Sills by e-mailing hermitclub@hotmail.com, visiting face book.com/hermitclub or by calling 01277 249313.

THE rapid degeneration of a "death trap" bridge, just metres from a skate park where children play, is worrying residents.

The footbridge at the end of Banson's Lane, Ongar, is used regularly to get into town by those who live in the nearby housing estate.

Boards which run along one side of the structure, which crosses Cripsey Brook, recently disappeared, leaving a two foot-wide gap along its length.

Fay Hewett, 42, of Epping Lane, said: "My children were playing there just the other day – it isn't right that a death trap bridge like that is allowed to go unrepaired.

"The bridge should be repaired quickly and the barriers they have put up, belatedly, haven't really made it safer."

Mrs Hewett, who owns Balloonatics in High Street, continued: "The bridge has a hole on one side and a gaping gap on the other.

"If a kid fell in it would be very dangerous.

"The whole bridge looks like it needs repairing, the railings are in a sorry state – it is just not good enough.

"It is right next to the skate park and is used by mums with prams on a daily basis – it will not be long before there is an accident.

"To think I was letting my children play there when I wasn't aware of the problem.

"They really should have done something much quicker."

The mum-of-three added: "It really isn't on, allowing the bridge to deteriorate in this way.

"My children, or someone else's, could easily get hurt – not to mention any elderly residents or people coming back late at night."

The bridge, which now has roadwork barriers perched around the edge of the gap, was initially left unprotected when the planks first disappeared on May 23.

Diana Roberts, an Ongar Town Councillor, lives just round the corner from the bridge on Millbank Avenue.

She said: "The council are aware of the problem and have reported it.

"It is a shame that the bridge has been damaged in this way.

"The planks have been missing for a couple of days but the bridge has been in a rough state for a while."

Resident Andrew Kaye, of Glebe Road, said: "I think it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse, as there is no protection whatsoever for the unwary, particularly if sight-impaired, and particularly in low light conditions.

"This bridge links a major estate to the High Street and is used by scores of pedestrians every day, including mums with prams and toddlers on bikes."

Aimi Middlehurst, Ongar Town Council clerk, said: "We reported it to Essex County Council and we were made aware of it two weeks ago."

An Essex Highways structures technician said: "Essex County Council is responsible for the public right of way over the bridge in question.

"It is inspected regularly and is monitored.

"At this time, and in accordance with our criteria, it is adequate for pedestrian use."

A POSTMASTER and his wife have retired after 30 years of serving the people of Kelvedon Hatch.

Keith and Anne Keylock, who ran the Village Stores in Church Road, might be savouring their retirement but they admit they will miss their customers.

Mr Keylock said: "We were always about the community.

"It was a hard decision to retire but I needed a knee operation and it was getting about time.

"We had a great relationship with our customers and in 30 years we got to know the whole village.

"We would see people come in who are just children who would end up coming back with their own children years later.

"One customer has moved away from the village but every time he is nearby he drops in to buy a sandwich.

"He tells us we're the only shop that knows his name."

The couple ran the shop with a band of helpful staff whom Mr Keylock affectionately refers to as his "girls".

"We had a great group of girls who helped run the place," he said.

"They were always hard-working and I couldn't have done it without them."

The shopkeeping pair closed up to allow Mr Keylock to have a knee-replacement operation.

"It's a big operation and it took me a long time to recover," the 67-year-old said.

"It never felt like retirement, just a long period of sick leave.

"I have recovered now and it finally feels like it is real.

"We have had few holiday breaks but it has been hard leaving the shop behind.

"I have offered to help out at the shop if the new owner needs it but, all in all, I don't think I could do the seven days a week work anymore.

"It takes up your whole life, running a business like that properly.

"It isn't a job you leave at the door when you get home.

"I used to get up every morning at quarter past four, it is nice to know you don't have to do that anymore and relax."

Mrs Keylock told the Gazette: "It has been a wonderful community to be a part of."

The 66-year-old, whom husband Keith says is "still young", is appreciative of the locals who turned out at their retirement party earlier this month.

"It was amazing to see so many turn up there must have been over 200 people who turned up throughout the day," Mrs Keylock.

"It was very touching to see them show their gratitude in that way. We didn't know what to expect but it exceeded expectations."

Mr Keylock said: "It was organised by some of the girls.

"I just brought along some beer, the important stuff, to keep everyone happy.

"Far more people than I thought ended up attending, including many people who no longer live in the area."

When it comes to their business success, Mr Keylock said: "We offered a personal service that is dying out and made sure that the customer felt valued."

A SCHOOLBOY and his much-loved uncle can now sit side by side once again after their grieving family raised more than £1,000 to fund a dedicated bench at Heybridge cemetery.

Before his sudden death a little over three months ago, Marc Wright was a daily visitor to the grave of eight-year-old Ryan Fleming, who was killed in 2011 by joyriding mechanics on the A414.

He would speak often of his wish for a memorial bench so that he could sit and speak with his nephew at the cemetery off Goldhanger Road.

But it is only after tragedy struck the family once more, with Marc's own death from a brain embolism at his home in Braintree in February, that his dream has finally been realised.

"He always said he wanted a bench as he was so tired of sitting on the grass but we just didn't manage it until now," said Melissa, Ryan's mother and Marc's sister, who also lost her former partner Mark Dale.

He hanged himself in his Maldon home after struggling to cope with Ryan's death.

"One day during the trial for Ryan [the drivers of the Porsche were jailed for six and a half years, and 12 months respectively] Marc became upset and just stormed off, we had no idea where he was.

"We searched for him everywhere and then found him just sitting at Ryan's grave drinking a bottle of beer to calm down.

"He told us one day he was going to end up next to him, but we just told him not to be so morbid."

At Marc's funeral in February, friends and family were asked to donate the cost of a drink to fundraise for the bench but by the end of the night parents Maurice and Angeline were astonished to find around £700 had been donated.

With further gifts from loved ones after the event, the family could finally apply for permission from the council to install the tribute on Tuesday.

"We've been amazed at how popular Marc clearly was, we've met so many of his friends we never knew and we know they're often visiting the site where he's buried," said Angeline, who recently recovered from lymphatic cancer.

"His friends will often stop at the cemetery when they've been for drinks and leave him a bottle of beer, or girls will leave flowers and other items we might not know the meaning behind.

"But we're just so grateful to everyone who gave money toward the bench – they've honestly made our dreams come true."

Piled high with teddy bears, stone angels, messages and even a single anonymous rose, the gravestones of Marc and Ryan continue to have daily visits from friends and family.

And now loved ones will be able to sit on the hard-won bench and remember the boys without sitting on wet grass – just as Marc wanted.

Romford has been shown to be the fender bender capital of Britain.

New research into the types of accidents motorists in the UK have has shown people who live in Romford are the most likely to either be hit in the rear or to hit another car in the rear.

Car insurance specialist Admiral looked at 1.3 million claims over the last five years to see if they were any patterns in the postcode areas where motorists live and the types of accidents they have.

The study showed Scottish drivers top the list for accidents involving lamp posts, people living in Liverpool and Manchester postcodes topped the list for collisions at traffic lights, while those living in the Tonbridge, Redhill, Guildford and Stevenage areas in the Home Counties appeared at the top of the list for accidents involving trees.

Admiral's acting managing director, Dave Halliday said: "The most common type of accidents on the UK's roads are rear end bumps but we wanted to see if there were any trends with the other types of accidents we see as well, and there were some interesting findings."

For motorists who live in inner London it's leaving a car parked up that presents a bigger risk while those living in the west of England, the most common accident are those involving collisions in narrow lanes.

Mr Halliday continued: "The stop-start nature of traffic in Greater London may explain the higher frequency of rear-end bumps of motorists who live there, just as the many country lanes in the west of England may explain the narrow lane collisions.

"However, the results in Scotland and the north west were a little more surprising.  It's a real mystery why Scottish motorists are more likely to hit a lamp post and why those in Liverpool and Manchester are more likely to have a bump at traffic lights."

A DEVICE which uses pedal power to charge a mobile phone and an innovative reading scheme for young children were the winning ideas in a schools' enterprise competition.

The victorious teams from area heats held across Essex in the contest organised by Young Enterprise UK, gathered in Chelmsford to demonstrate to judges their ideas for businesses which they have been running in their spare time since last September.

The one that most impressed was Endeavour from Colchester Royal Grammar School who created a phone charger connected to a bicycle which transfers energy from the pedal action into electricity.

The runners-up were a company from King Edward VI Grammar School, in Chelmsford, called Sentiens Education, who devised a reading scheme for use in primary schools, using bookmarks, certificates and an online review system to encourage children to read more and improve their ability.

The team also won the best company report category.

Their teacher, Manna Singh, head of business studies and economics, said the company had a lot of positive feedback from primary schools to whom they showed the product.

She said: "The interest clearly indicated that there is scope for them in the real business world. Sentiens have been so motivated and determined to do well right from the start of the Young Enterprise programme this year. They have truly enjoyed their business experience and hopefully will take it further.

"The competition gives them a platform to present themselves to eminent people in the business world and develop networking skills. I can guarantee that this valuable experience will keep them one step ahead of many others in the future."

Both teams now go on to represent Essex at the Regional Finals at Queens College, Cambridge on June, 24, 2013.

The winners of this heat will go forward to the national finals in London in July.

Also competing in the Essex final held at Anglia Ruskin University, were teams from Westcliff, Colchester, Harlow and Benfleet, alongside "Infinitas" from Chelmsford County High School for Girls, who sold personalised mugs and clocks that have been laser-cut from old vinyl records into different designs.

Angela Phillips, Essex Young Enterprise manager, said: "Young Enterprise is delighted to be able to support the creativity and enthusiasm of these students."

IT WAS 1933 when farmer's daughter Mabel Speakman opened up her land to pea and fruit-pickers who would camp by the tranquil River Blackwater with their families.

Her father's cattle would graze on the surrounding salt marshes and campers would buy eggs and milk from the family farm, and collect water from a communal well.

Now 80 years later that simple pre-war campsite has grown into a thriving family-owned business boasting acres of luxury holiday homes, six golf courses, and a collection of tipis.

Maldon Osea Leisure Park, off Goldhanger Road, celebrates the milestone birthday this year but despite its transformation over eight decades; it remains owned and operated by the same family who began the business all those years ago.

Current managing director, and great-granddaughter of Mabel Speakman, Janie Robinson said: "I have many memories of my childhood at Osea, whether these are swimming from the beach huts or spending summer in the family's caravan.

"I have particularly fond memories of running around the park on my summer holidays with my brother William. I also remember spending my Christmas holidays painting the toilet blocks ready for the next year."

Today the park is fortunate enough to have visitors who have also remained loyal for four generations bringing their families back time and time again.

Peter Gould, 72, has been visiting Osea Leisure Park for over 65 years after a first visit in 1947, and now returns most weekends with his wife.

"I was seven when I first visited Osea Leisure Park when my family purchased their first caravan at the site. It was a great place for youngsters to visit and we spent a lot of time on the beach and exploring the surroundings.

"The park has changed a lot but it has always been a nice place for families to spend time ," said the keen sailor.

Responsible for the park since 2007, Janie Robinson continues to improve facilities developing an additional 33 acres in order to provide luxury camping, a lodge tent, shepherd huts and exotic tipis.

"Diversifying our business in line with changing consumer needs – such as the trend for 'glamping' – has been an important factor in our success.

"A lot has changed since 1933, but one thing that has remained constant is the need for families to have a place where they can relax, spend time together and be close to nature. We want to offer a home-from-home environment and create the community spirit that has continued to attract holidaymakers year after year to the park. That is the true essence of Osea Leisure Park – family, friends and fun – and the reason we believe we will be equally, if not more successful, during the next 80 years.

"Over the past few years we have heavily invested in the park and its facilities.

"I can't improve the designs of caravans which are produced today, but I can design a park that makes the experience of owning one here even better."

A WALK under the stars will take place in Romford next month to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice.

The annual 10km circular Star Walk will start at The Liberty Shopping Centre, off Western Road, at 10.30pm on July 6.

Participants are invited to dress up as a celebrity or a star or to wear something sparkly.

As well as the walk, there will be entertainment with a dance warm-up, music and massages provided by Brentwood-based beauticians Edge of Eden.

Lauren Josman, the events manager at the Havering-atte-Bower-based hospice, said: "We would like to exceed the £65,000 raised last year as the money enables us to continue making a difference to the lives of local people affected by cancer or other life-limiting illness who need our support."

Entry costs £15 per person to include a T-shirt, a goody bag and medal.

For more information about the event or the hospice visit www.sfh.org.uk or call 01708 771427.

RUNNERS, walkers and joggers took to Weald Country Park for the annual Race for Life in a bid to raise much needed funds for a cancer charity.

The Cancer Research UK event, held on May 25, was for women and children only and attracted around 2,000 competitors, plus a large crowd of spectators.

Breast cancer survivor Jazz Cooper, of Brentwood, is a regular at Race for Life events.

She told the Gazette: "It was a great day and a real success – there were 21 of us in my group, plus my dog.

"I got up on the stage at the start and told everyone about my story and background.

"It was petrifying and I will never be doing that again.

"I hoped to get my dog up there with me but he wouldn't go up the stairs.

"Once I got up there and saw a sea of people I wished I had listened to my dog.

"I really thought I would be all right with talking to everyone but the experience definitely wasn't fun."

When it came to running with her dog, the 44-year-old mother of two decided he wouldn't be coming again.

"When we were doing the warm up he got really over excited.

"He kept jumping up at me and I had bruises all over my legs," she said.

Mrs Cooper, who was running in her sixth race since overcoming cancer, ran with several of her friends and family, including her two daughters, Katie and Amy, who are aged 13 and 15.

"My daughters did the run with me," she said.

"One of them, Katie, went out with the joggers and finished in less than 40 minutes.

"We had a great day out and afterwards had a picnic to celebrate with my entire group."

Breast cancer survivor Davina Hall, 36, also got involved.

The Hornchurch school teacher said: "It was a fantastic atmosphere, really great fun and everyone was motivated to do their best for such a great cause."

After discovering she carried the faulty breast cancer gene BRCA1, Davina opted to have a double mastectomy last year – a procedure that Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie recently underwent.

"I was more determined than ever to do Race for Life this year," she said.

"I'm here today because of life saving treatment."

Gill Burgess, Race for Life event manager for Brentwood, said: "We are so very grateful to all our participants, supporters and wonderful volunteers who helped make Race for Life in Brentwood such an amazing event."

OWAIS SHAH admits he is "excited" to be part of the Essex squad after returning to the Chelmsford fold this week.

The 34-year-old featured in the two crushing YB40 wins against Scotland and Surrey after returning from a stint in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians.

He failed to trouble the scorers in the 125-run triumph over Scotland on Sunday, but smacked 68 from 53 balls – including three fours and four sixes – in the even more convincing win over Surrey 24 hours later.

And he was pleased to be back in the runs for the Eagles so early in his English domestic campaign. "I really enjoyed getting back amongst it and getting a few runs," he said. "It was only my second game of the season after being away and stuff but I was really happy to get into the swing of things so soon.

"I am delighted to get some runs and setting up a decent total which I thought would definitely test the Surrey batting line-up.

"Although scoring wasn't that easy, once you got in, you could score relatively freely and Surrey do boast a very competitive batting line-up."

The Eagles ended up on 312-7 at the Essex County Ground, and after skittling out their visitors for 134, they moved top of Group B.

They already were on course for a competitive total, but when Shah linked up with James Foster for a devastating 3.3 overs which went for 56, the game was already sliding away from Surrey.

Graham Napier then starred with the ball as the home side won by 178 runs, with his career-best 7-32 including four wickets in four balls.

And Shah believes the team are in good shape for the rest of the tournament.

He added: "I'm excited about our future in the campaign. We had a really good performance tonight.

"James and I have both played a fair bit of cricket now, we know what we're trying to do towards the end of an innings, we used our experience.

"Fozzy hits it in really, really funny areas and it's very difficult for their captain to set fields.

"I was more just trying to get him on strike and hit the odd boundary.

"We spoke about our tactics and it really worked nicely against their attack and I was happy with that partnership."

Shah has made a name for himself as a one-day specialist in recent years, but he is still looking forward to donning his whites again when he returns to the LV> County Championship picture against Lancashire next week – as part of the Chelmsford festival.

"I'm very much looking forward to getting back into county cricket and hopefully I'll get into the swing of things and get some runs," he added. Any time you get an opportunity to play in a festival week it's really good fun, good atmosphere, good crowd and we are very well supported here by the Essex crowd."

As well as the IPL, he has played T20 cricket in South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, and while he revels in that part of his career, he is also happy to be part of the squad at Chelmsford and seeing some of the younger players impressing.

He said: "It's amazing! I get to travel everywhere, I get to play cricket in a very fun form of the game, always full houses.

"It's really good fun, but I'm also really excited to be back here with Essex.

"Hopefully, I'll get some runs this summer.

"I'm just enjoying my cricket, it's good to be here, good to be part of a set-up where I've been working with the likes of [Tom] Westley and people like that and it's good to see him come on really well this year.

"I'm really excited to be part of this team for as long as they'll have me."

NEW overseas batsman Hamish Rutherford is relishing the chance to shine in Essex colours.

The New Zealander marked his debut with a century against Scotland on Sunday, and he admits the chance to play more cricket was the main reason for his decision to prolong his stay in England after his nation's Test defeat.

"I'd just be back home in Dunedin for two or three months not doing much so it's good to get some cricket in the winter," he said. "We don't play as much cricket and here there's a lot of overlapping formats, you play a four-day, then a Twenty20 or a one-dayer.

"It'll be a good challenge, to chop and change forms. But if you're in good form, you're going well.

"I want to play a lot of one-day cricket. I haven't played a lot, so the goal is to get into the New Zealand team. I'm here to score some runs and do well at the top. If I can score runs and put the team in winning positions, that's really good."

BENTLEY maintained their unbeaten start to the T Rippon Mid-Essex Cricket League Premier Divison season with a crushing win over Old Chelmsfordians.

Asked to bat first, the home side made 288-7, with Phil Coleman top-scoring with 72, Greg Larkin making 67, and 62 from Damien Larrett.

And in reply, they bundled the visitors out for 120, with Matt Coleman taking 3-27 and Steve Flack 3-33.

That puts Bentley top of the league as previous leaders Springfield were surprisingly beaten by 12 runs at Chignal.

Simon Dance took 5-23 as Springfield bowled out the visitors for 159.

But they came up short in reply despite 53 from Jimmy Simmonds, with Tom Bird's 5-35 helping his side to their first win of the season.

Elsewhere, Stock chased 185 to beat Rayleigh by three wickets, High Roding beat Aythorpe Roding by 138 runs thanks to 90 from Reece Hussain and 5-47 from Mel Hussain, while Hatfield Peverel bowled out Great Baddow for 115 and chased their target for the loss of five men.

CRAIG EDWARDS is meeting a number of potential players this weekend as he begins to rebuild his Billericay Town squad for next year.

The Blues boss has seen a number of players head for the New Lodge exit door since their relegation from the Blue Square Bet South.

But Edwards is remaining positive about his team's hopes for next term as he looks to bounce back from the Ryman League Premier Division at the first time of asking.

"We're having a get-together this week with a lot of new faces but there's nothing concrete," he said. "We'll be having a look at a few new boys this week, get them in and see how we get on.

"It is a rebuild this year, we're not making any secret about it. "We're only keeping four or five from last season, so it will be a rebuild and we will look to see what we can attract and mould into a decent side this year."

Among the departures have been regular centre-back pairing from last season Chris Wild and Rob Swaine, but Edwards admits their departures have not caused him a new headache.

He added: "We have lost players in key positions, but we conceded 90 goals last year so the centre of defence needed addressing anyway.

"We'll look for a big improvement in that area."

One player definitely with the Blues next season is skipper Glenn Poole. The former Brentford man was handed the armband in the latter part of last season, and Edwards is delighted to have him in the ranks again.

"I had Glenn as a young lad on the way up," he added. "I had some great years with him at Ford United, he went on and had a successful career.

"Now I've got him at the other end of his career and one thing that is very evident is the enthusiasm is exactly the same as in his more advanced years.

"He's got a great appetite for the game, he's a great example to all the younger players that we've got here – and we will be a younger side this year."

Edwards is close to finalising his pre-season campaign – although he admits to being "very disappointed" after Chelmsford City pulled out of a potential fixture – and away from the pitch he has spent part of his summer writing his memoirs.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," he added. "We've got a budding journalist at the football club and she wrote some great pieces last year.

"There's a lot of good stories in there. I've had a lot of extremely colourful chapters in my life, very varied, some good, some bad and it'll be nice to get it down on paper.

"If people like it or if it ruffles a few feathers then so be it.

" I'll look back on it and be pleased I've done it."