A YEAR has passed since the greatest show on earth was staged on the county's doorstep, but the Olympic legacy lives on in Essex.

The county was fortunate enough to host the London 2012 mountain biking event at Hadleigh, while the Olympic torch was carried through 17 towns and villages. But in the year that has passed since the London Olympics, sport participation levels are soaring in the county thanks to a host of initiatives and Government grants for sporting projects.

Wheelchair basketball Paralympian Wendy Smith returned to Great Baddow High School to visit Year 7 pupils, exactly a year on from setting up "Be the Best" project inspired by the Games. It aimed to encourage pupils to be their own coaches, raise their self-esteem and strive towards a target, such as getting into a school sports team, or getting a place in the top set of a subject.

The project is tied in with the "Olympic legacy" and is about striving for excellence and aiming to "Be the Best" in everything you do.

Sian Field, personal development coordinator at the Duffield Road school, said: "Throughout the year we have worked with the children on setting achievable goals, recognising obstacles in their way and working through how to overcome them.

"They are quite big ideas we have been working on but the children have done really well with it and have risen to the challenge, they are a very good year group."

Pupil Mark Goss, 12, said: "At the beginning of the year we had to set ourselves a goal. Mine was to get into the A team for football, and I achieved it. I now want to be in the A team again next year."

Fellow pupil Oakley Bromfield, 12, had a double ambition, to get into more than one top set and be the best sportsman he could be. He explained: "I was really inspired by Wendy Smith when she came to our school.

"The doctors told her she couldn't walk but she changed can't into can. She didn't give up and took up wheelchair basketball. I really enjoyed trying the Paralympic sports especially the blind football, as I couldn't believe how hard it was."

This time last year, Mark Springett, a councillor for Moulsham Lodge, was welcoming the world through the gates of the Olympics as part of his role as a Games Maker.

"It was fantastic to see all the smiling faces and great to feel a part of that," he said.

Mr Springett and the other 70,000 volunteers at London 2012 were praised for their integral part in making the Games happen, and according to him, these volunteers is what the county needs to carry on the Olympic legacy properly.

"Volunteers do make up a huge part of running sports clubs and I think that's the sort of people we need to support a growth in sport," said councillor Springett.

"I think they probably think there is not quite as much on offer as they hoped for, but I do think it's affected younger people a bit more than people my age, older people need a bit more encouraging.

"It's promoted an increase in more obscure sports and it is great that there's something different kids can take part in, but with things like swimming it's a bit different."

Clubs which may have had less interest around them before the Olympics are getting bigger, by connecting to people through social networks and offering free trials to people so they can give the sport a go.

Cllr Springett added: "There's the Chelmsford Polo club which I am actually thinking of doing."

Last season: 9th

Manager: Alan Devonshire

Key man: Dan Holman

The Iron made sure that second-season syndrome was not an issue as they improved on their previous 12th-place finish by ending within a whisker of being the top part-time side in the country.

Manager Alan Devonshire has managed to keep the bulk of his squad together and made a few new additions, but again the main aim is to get 50 points and secure a fourth term in the top flight of non-league football.

Last season: 5th (lost in play-off semi-final)

Manager: Dean Holdsworth

Key man: Jeff Goulding

A fourth play-off defeat in five years saw the Clarets part with manager Glenn Pennyfather, and his replacement is former Premier League striker Dean Holdsworth.

Holdsworth has brought in a number of players with Football League experience, and although he is playing down hopes of promotion, his side – on a small budget – certainly look to have the quality in it to be in and around the top five.BURNHAM RAMBLERS Division: Ryman League Division One North.

Last season: 1st, Essex Senior League (promoted)

Manager: Keith Wilson

Key man: Bradley Hunter

The Ramblers are probably the team with the most to look forward to as they ready themselves for their maiden season in the Ryman League.

They can use Witham's experience from last season as an inspiration, and they will hope to be pushing for mid-table at the very least.HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS Division: Ryman League Division One North

Last season: 6th

Manager: Mark Hawkes

Key man: Luke Callander

The Swifts looked certain to claim a play-off place last season, but in the end were helpless as teams below them with games in hand reeled them in.

Mark Hawkes has made some good additions this summer, but most crucially has kept hold of top-scorer Luke Callander, and that is why the Swifts are among the favourites for the title.

Last season: 2nd (lost in play-off final)

Manager: Terry Spillane

Key man: Richard Wray

Last season was a tough one to swallow as after being 15 points clear, they could only watch as Grays went on an unbelievable run to win the title – and then a penalty shoot-out defeat in the play-off final rubbed salt in the wounds.

But Terry Spillane has made some fine additions – such as keeper Richard Wray – and Maldon will be ready to go again.

Last season: 4th (lost in play-off semi-final)

Manager: Garry Kimble

Key man: Rob Whitnell

Witham had a fantastic campaign last season – their first back in the Ryman League – and will want to carry that momentum into this season.

With a string of excellent new acquisitions – including the highly-rated winger Tom Wraight – and most of last season's squad staying, Witham could end up surprising a few people once again.

A TRIO of young showjumpers are celebrating after enjoying recent success.

Olivia Mawson, from Billericay, and Emily Balloch, from Stock, won their individual classes at the Trailblazers Championships.

And there was also success for Chipping Ongar youngster Ryder Hayes Hollington in the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Second Round at the Welsh Home Pony 2013.

Mawson became the first rider to win the same class on the same horse two years running as she and Foxwood Ginger Nova triumphed in the 75cm senior showjumping at the event in Warwickshire.

This time round was not an easy task, with GCSEs and a music tour to Lake Garda and Verona hampering her preparations.

Thankfully, mentor and trainer Francis "Chic" Mummery and her good friend Balloch had already arrived with the horses on Friday afternoon, to settle them in before the Championships commenced.

The first round went well with a clear, but then in the jump-off things did not go according to plan on the final jump as Foxwood Ginger Nova – better known as Boo – clipped the pole.

But even with four faults, Olivia and Boo managed ninth place, albeit very disappointing.

The next day she was 16th in, out of a field of 30-plus, but Boo did not disappoint and they went round clear, to book a spot in the jump-off, and a clear round in a time of 29.14 seconds won the title.

Balloch, 19, has been with Cintra Nova, known as Cindy, for almost two years.

They qualified for Trailblazers at Brook Farm and did not really think they had a chance of going clear, let alone winning.

But she proved everyone wrong as they managed a double-clear on Saturday and came eighth, being the slowest clear in the jump-off.

But on Sunday they went clear again and this time they were also clear in the jump-off with a time which would not be beaten.

Meanwhile, Hollington, 13, had her success on Erinagh Beg.

There were 93 starting combinations in attendance.

Up for grabs at this second round were two direct qualifying tickets for the Blue Chip Pony Newcomers Championship Final at the Horse of the Year Show.

Eighteen riders produced a double-clear to move into the jump-off, and of the three riders who went clear for a third time, Hollington was the fastest, in a time of 42.40.

This meant the pair have booked their place at the Horse of the Year Show event, which will be held at the Birmingham NEC between October 9 and 13.

ESSEX Police have deleted the DNA records of more than 27,000 innocent people, some previous sex-attack suspects, to comply with a landmark court ruling.

Three officers from the county's force laboured for three months to destroy the records of people that had been arrested, but released without charge.

The Home Office say all police forces must delete innocent people's DNA records from October under The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, while critics say the genetic information of people suspected of rape and other violent crimes, is far too valuable to destroy.

Head of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, assistant chief constable Gary Beautridge admits it is regrettable that the force can no longer trace crime-scene DNA to that of a previous suspect held on its database.

"It's devilishly difficult to strike the right balance," the 52-year-old told the Chronicle.

"No one wants to live in a tyranny where someone records your details straight from birth, but then again no one wants to live in anarchy either.

"The UK has one of the largest DNA databases in the world because the threshold to get someone's DNA is quite low.

"In other European countries you have to commit more serious crimes before it is retained.

"But we've had some very significant cases, such as cold-case investigations, where we have arrested someone for a very minor offence before linking them to the most horrendous acts."

Police swab the inside of people's mouths whenever they are arrested, regardless of the offence.

In 2009 Lawrence Button's DNA was found in Wivenhoe woodland where he sexually abused a former University of Essex student.

He had been swabbed over a separate issue six months earlier, and the investigating officer Richard McNamara praised the force's database as a "massive investigatory tool".

"Yet the protection of human rights is an absolute core of any civilised nation," added Mr Beautridge, an officer of 34 years who led the investigation into Vicky Pryce taking penalty points for her husband and former cabinet minister Chris Huhne.

A 2010 Chronicle investigation revealed that three in four innocent people who asked to have DNA deleted was turned down, while Essex police still had the records of 27,285 innocent people.

Yet Mr Beautridge said the force had now deleted all records of innocent people.

Anglia Ruskin University forensics researcher Nathan White believes the new law has been "forced through".

"There was no appeal system to have your DNA removed, and that could be why the regulation is being introduced," said the 22-year-old forensics graduate.

"It needs a lot of work before they delete it. They need to find out information about the suspects' profiles and take it into context.

"And for those charged but then released, how can they rehabilitate if their DNA is still on the database?

"And for those who have even served a prison sentence, how can they rehabilitate if their DNA is still on there?"

A NURSERY that would have celebrated its 25th anniversary this year has instead been shut down "out of the blue".

Little Sparrow's Nursery in Ingatestone High Street is due to close on Friday, leaving members of staff jobless and parents having to make alternative childcare arrangements.

The nursery, which caters for children aged up to four, is run by the Ingatestone Elim Pentecostal Church, which last year welcomed a new pastor, Lee Stephens.

Cara Smith, of Rye Walk, Ingatestone, is the mother of four-year-old Evan, who has attended the nursery for the past two years.

The 41-year-old told the Gazette: "The nursery is a really vital service for the community.

"The staff there are amazing and I don't know what Ingatestone will do without them.

"They left telling the parents to the last minute – we only got told on Tuesday last week that they would be closing.

"It was out of the blue.

"Luckily my son is four so he will not need it anymore but the parents of younger children will be hit by this.

"I think the new pastor is trying to make some changes but we had no idea that the nursery was under threat."

Amanda Lovitt, of The Furlongs, Ingatestone, is the mother of two girls who have both attended the nursery.

She said: "Both of my children have been there for four years in total and my youngest is just coming to the end of her time there.

"Luckily I was only left searching for one week of childcare and my disabled mum was able to step in and help out.

"But others will not be as lucky as me and they will be left scrambling for childcare at the last minute.

"If it is a financial issue then they should have asked us if we could pay more and I am sure a lot of us would have been prepared to."

The 39-year-old continued: "The nursery was a little haven.

"They have always tried to help me when I have had problems – I don't know what Ingatestone will do without them.

"It was also a special needs nursery which I know a lot of people would travel quite far to use, so what those parents are going to do I do not know.

"To leave telling us to the last minute is not fair on the children, the staff or the parents.

"This will really upset a lot of kids."

Deputy manager at the nursery Claire Sheehan, 49, gave 24 years of her life to Little Sparrows.

She said: "I have had four daughters at this nursery and I will be very sad to see it go.

"As for looking for a new job, I can't think about it until this is over.

"We were told on July 29 and had no idea that it was closing before that.

"We knew there were some financial issues but didn't think it would close.

"We had a good bunch of staff who worked here who had a lot of experience.

"I am just sad to see this come to an end after so long."

A spokesman for the church was unavailable for comment as the Gazette went to press.

NEARLY 1,300 extra school places are to be created in Essex thanks to a £13 million cash handout.

Two schools in Chelmsford and two in Witham are among the nine schools that will share the money to pay for extensions or remodelling work to provide space to take extra children.

The four schools are all vastly oversubscribed, are in densely populated areas, and rated as good or outstanding by inspectors from Ofsted.

In Chelmsford, Moulsham Infants School is to have another 150 places. In 2012 the school received 357 applications for its 90 reception places, making it almost four times oversubscribed.

Nearby, Oaklands Infants in Vicarage Road, will gain an extra 60 places. It too was four times oversubscribed last year with 210 families wanting one of its 50 places.

A total of 210 extra places will be created at two of Witham's most popular schools to cope with increased demand from new housing in the town.

Of those 105 will be on offer at Chipping Hill Primary, a school graded as outstanding by Ofsted.

In 2010 the school's status was changed from being an infant to a primary and moved to a brand new build on the other side of the town.

Another 105 places will be formed at Silver End Primary School, which has a good rating from Ofsted.

Essex county councillor Ray Gooding, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning, said: "This is great news for our county's schools and families and an example of our commitment to improving education throughout the county and working towards all children attending a good or outstanding school.

"In many areas of the county there is a squeeze in terms of primary school places and this funding helps us address this issue and ensure that places are available in our schools."

The new places will be available for September 2015 to allow time for the construction of extra classrooms at the schools.

Of the 1,275 total new places, in the county, 630 will be at two brand new schools: in the Braiswick area of Colchester and in Harlow.

A further 120 are to be created at two special schools to cope with the growing demand for specialist education of children with autism. Glenwood School in Benfleet and Marketfield in Colchester are each to increase by 60 places.

The cash comes from the Government's Targeted Basic Need pot which was set up to alleviate pressure on school places in areas most in demand.

These nine successful bids were among 19 bids submitted by Essex County Council.

THE HEAD of a school with "one of the best views in the whole of Essex" has retired.

Sue Grocock, who joined St Mary's C of E Primary in Main Road, Woodham Ferrers, as a job share teacher in 1995, is stepping down after ten-and-a-half years at the helm.

"It's such a lovely school, and the people I work with are so supportive I just did not want to leave," said Mrs Grocock at the school, which overlooks endless fields rolling towards Hyde Hall.

"In education there is always something new coming along, and the next targets to achieve so you never get to the point where you have done everything you have wanted to do.

"I have been in education for 40 years and have seen a lot of changes, some of which have been good and have benefited the children and the teachers. The pace of change is even faster today and I think this school needs a head from a different generation to lead it now."

Originally from Yorkshire, Mrs Grocock trained as a teacher in Leicestershire, before moving to Essex with her husband.

SEVEN years after planning began on the multi-million pound transformation of the Essex cricket ground, work has finally begun on the much-anticipated project.

Construction workers in hard hats and high-visibility vests can now be spotted from Central Park, Chelmsford, as the initial work starts at the site.

And by the end of 2014, it is hoped that the views currently spanning overgrown shrubbery will be transformed into a modern apartment block of luxury flats – the first of four such towers that will provide approximately 350 new homes in the area of New Writtle Street.

"It's been a long process since the applications first went into the council in 2006 and for a long time people probably wondered if it was actually going to happen, even a few weeks ago there was nothing here to show that construction was due to start," said Richard Swift, sales and marketing manager at MCD, the Birmingham-based developers responsible for the construction.

"But now we want to show people that this is going ahead and the plans are being implemented, although it's a long process from start to finish."

Indeed before the arrival of hundreds of heavy duty vehicles at the site carrying cement, machinery, and safety equipment, project manager Simon Mower, and contracts manager Roy Francis must oversee painstaking checks for wildlife or items of historical significance.

Ecologist Gemma Holmes was one such expert to join the project for several days to ensure that stripping away vegetation did not disturb protected species hiding in the area.

"We found a bird's nest which looks at first inspection to belong to a blue tit or similar species so we've fenced the area off, and it could take two to three weeks for the fledglings to hatch so it has to be left until then," said Gemma, from a Colchester-based landscaping firm.

"If we were to find roosting bats or a crested newt for example that would have a more long-term impact."

The group appears more likely to stumble across discarded drinks cans and crisp packets in the neglected undergrowth which will soon be fully cleared to make way for work on 'Tower A', the first phase of the overall development which is valued at approximately £85 million.

And upon entering into Phase Two of construction the three remaining towers, standing several storeys high, will take form, alongside the long-awaited refurbishment of the cricket ground with high-end banqueting facilities, a new pavilion, and extra capacity, from 4,500 to 7,500 seats.

Keith Brown, chairman of the ground development panel of Essex County Cricket Club, said: "Following years in the planning and after overcoming numerous hurdles, to start this development is a huge step forward and very exciting. It will lead to the creation of state of the art facilities for Essex Cricket Club, its team, academy, members and sponsors, with banqueting and meeting facilities for the local community and businesses.

"It will also be able to stage exhibitions and conferences."

A PILOT project has been set up to help thousands of Essex children starting school who cannot speak properly.

Children are starting school without a basic vocabulary, the ability to speak in complete sentences, understand instructions or knowing how to take turns.

But Lawford Mead infant school in Chelmsford is one of two schools in the county trialling a scheme which gives teachers ideas to promote communication.

Sue Scott, the special education needs coordinator at the school in Trent Road, told the Chronicle: "We have become increasingly aware that children are starting school without basic communication skills."

Mrs Scott explained that all staff at the school, including the office workers and dinner ladies have been encouraged to involve the children in conversation.

Special events such as a history week and a treasure hunt had prompted good communication, as had teaching the children basic sign language. Now the school has been awarded the project's "silver award" after it was deemed a huge success.

Carole Webster, a primary school teacher for more than 20 years and special educational needs coordinator in schools, now tutors at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford.

"This is a growing trend and has been for a number of years," she said.

"While we have always seen young children with phonological difficulties – the inability to vocalise what they want to say - we are now seeing more and more children with semantic problems – they cannot say what they want to say because they just do not have a good working vocabulary.

"They are also lacking in their receptive language; that is the ability to understand what they are being told."

The problem has been recognised by the Government which has set up programmes in nurseries, children's centres and SureStart centres.

Without these communication skills children cannot learn to read and write. They can also become frustrated at their inability to communicate which can lead to behavioural issues.

But as to the cause Mrs Webster said she would only comment anecdotally. "Families are very busy these days. As a teacher I would see more and more families where both parents were working," she said.

EVERY week, fans of the spiritual pack out a railway station social club hoping to communicate with those they have lost – and the Gazette went along to meet some of them.

Around 30 people were present for The Spirit of Love and Light's July 29 evening of clairvoyance at Wickford Railway Social Club, which can be found on platform three.

A different psychic is invited each week, while those who attend also get the chance to socialise and make new friends.

Mother and daughter Sue and Mel Smith are behind The Spirit of Love and Light, and have been organising the weekly meetings for the past five years.

Mrs Smith, 59, a spiritualist for 30 years, said: "I have always been aware of spirits, even when I was younger. I knew who was coming to my house before they came through the door.

"I can see spirit, I can feel spirit and I can smell spirit. I don't need a message from spirits, but some people come here who really want a message."

Mrs Smith, who lives in Harlow, continued: "One medium said how lovely the atmosphere was here and how friendly it is."

On July 29, celebrated medium Christina Green was among the audience members.

"I've been all the way to Kent to see her – she's brilliant," said Mrs Smith.

Following an opening prayer given by Mrs Smith, the clairvoyant for the evening, Colin West, was introduced and called to speak.

He greeted the audience before speaking to various members of the group through what he described as spirits, beginning with a general description of the person who was "in spirit".

Many of those in the audience seemed in awe of his every word.

The evening closed with a second prayer and a raffle.

Speaking after the closing prayer, Tina Kearey, 56, a regular visitor, said: "It can get really busy, but it doesn't matter how many people are here. People come to get a message and if just one person does that's enough."

• Reporter Matt Reason's verdict

Clairvoyants, mediums, psychics and spiritual healers all fall into one box for me – charlatans.

Making money from the dead should really be the domain of undertakers and coffin-makers but where there is fear there is always cash.

I wasn't expecting much – I guess there is something in me that could respect the skill involved in duping the audience.

However, I was bitterly disappointed.

The clairvoyant wasn't accurate, clever or impressive.

A formulaic riff of questions followed by the annoying repetition of "can you understand this?" had me struggling to keep my eyes open.

Losing count of the amount of times he was wrong, I wrote down a few notes which slowly drifted into doodling.

I was awoken from my stupor by the words "can I come to the young man in the glasses".

Seeing as most people there were significantly older than me and female, I looked up.

Colin West said: "I am seeing a man who is five feet eight or five nine.

"Can you understand this?

"He has your same smile it is very clear – I am thinking grandad.

"Can you understand this?"

Well unfortunately the answer was always no.

My grandparents are, at the last count, all alive and after several more wildly inaccurate guesses he was saved by someone who said her son looked a bit like me.

Finally the show was over and I could leave the clairvoyant and the audience members to mull over the spirits behind the bar.

Can I understand this?

Well no, I can't.

• And Rachael Hook gives her take on the event

BEING fairly open-minded I was intrigued to see if a clairvoyant could accurately predict details of people's lives and lost ones.

As for communicating with the dead I am very sceptical but I believe everyone is entitled to their own views.

Colin West addressed several people in the audience, mainly women, and at first described the spirit he 'saw' and that wanted to address them.

His portrayals tended to be correct, although they were rather general.

For instance, he would say he saw a man between the height of 5'9" and 5'11" who was of medium build.

He would go on to discuss the message this person wanted to convey and the chosen participant usually seemed in agreement with this.

That was until he chose one Gazette reporter Matt Reason.

After a serious of incorrect readings and an awkward silence Mr West asked if anyone else understood these messages. A woman said she could and the clairvoyant seemed relieved.

This woman explained to me afterwards that Mr Reason looked very much like her son and that this was the reason why the message has been mixed up. I left still sceptical about spiritualism but enjoyed the evening with good company and a warm, friendly atmosphere.

I saw that most who participated were enthralled and a few seemed to take a great deal of comfort from the session – they desperately wanted to hear from their lost companions.

Perhaps this faith is more important than the truth in the words but equally it could be an unfair way of exploiting those who so much want to hear from someone who has died.

Tickets cost £3.50 each.

The group will be holding a charity night on October 21 for Essex Air Ambulance.

Visit http://spiritofloveandlightspiritualcentre.webs.com/ for more information.

VOLUNTEER groups have helped to get the county's small parks recognised as among the best green spaces in the country.

But this year Chelmsford led the way for Essex, with a total of 14 sites winning awards across both the Green Flag and Green Flag Community categories.

Just 14 groups were presented with Green Flag Community Awards in the East of England this year and four of them were from Chelmsford.

Pudding Wood at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve, Marconi Ponds Nature Reserve in Chelmsford and Priory Fields in Bicknacre, all won the prestigious flag, a benchmark of quality.

Marconi Ponds, located in the centre of Chelmsford, has managed to clinch a prestigious Green Flag for the past four years running. Among the activities which contributed to winning the award were an activity trail, sessions for over 100 Beavers, Brownies and Cubs over the past three months, pond-clearing and planting to support a variety of wildlife.

Jane Allnutt, of the friends group that looks after the nature reserve, said: "Since last year we have developed the site even further.

"It took just over a year to build our activity trail and we are very proud of it.

"The site was finished in April and it is well-visited, I've seen children enjoying the activities and the young boys showing off their muscles on the parallel bars."

The group installed five pieces of equipment around the park, ranging from athletic pieces to those erected for leisure.

Friends of Marconi Ponds used the grant award money of £1,000 from Chelmsford City Council's Grand awards scheme, in addition to collections to fund the project.

Jane said: "Our team of 20 to 30 volunteers aimed to install one piece of equipment every month.

"We try to encourage families to come with children because if the kids don't care about the wildlife and nature now they won't care when they're older.

"We're really proud of what we've created, I really didn't think we would get it all done in time, but I think it is this project which impressed the Green Flag judges, plus it was a lovely, sunny day when they inspected the site.

"It is used 24/7, and community groups visit for trail challenges, it is hard to drag them away when they're here."

Jane is unsure about what they are going to do next year to top this year's work, but said it will probably involve building more cycle stands.

"I am very excited to receive the flag, which will be delivered to my house shortly, and we also win a year's membership of the Conservation Volunteers, which helps us with all our insurance and finance queries," said Jane.

Also winning the award was Priory Fields, in Bicknacre, which has now scooped the sought-after flag for the third year running.

Chairman of Friends of Priory Fields, John Bishop, who has been involved since 2007, said: "We didn't do anything major this year, we just wanted to maintain the fields. But we already have things in the pipeline, such as providing an information board by Priory Arch. We wanted to create this board so more people could understand the history of the place.

"We do all the physical work ourselves, the team of five to eight of us, and we get material donations from people so we are grateful for that too."

The Green Flag has also been retained by bigger parks including Great Notley Country Park, in Great Notley and Danbury Country Park in Danbury.

In Chelmsford an impressive ten sites were awarded, including Chelmer Park, Oaklands Park, Admirals Park, Hylands Park and Boleyn Gardens in Beaulieu Park.

A GREAT-GRANDFATHER and successful former cricketer living in Brentwood has been doing his bit to strengthen race relations throughout Europe – and is still working hard at the age of 89.

Dr Tara Mukherjee moved to Leicester from Calcutta, India, in 1948 at the age of 24 and has lived in the UK ever since.

He would go on to play for Leicestershire County Cricket Club, but his placement in the second-class team inspired him to fight to spread the message of multiculturalism.

Recalling his career, he said: "The city wanted me to play cricket for Leicester County.

"I wanted to play first-class cricket but my special registration was refused so I played for a second-class team."

However, he soon proved his worth in his first game against North End County.

He said: "I got a century. The best part was just after when I was walking along the street and a fellow tapped me on the shoulder. He was an Indian and he said he'd treat me to a meal.

"Everyone from the Indian community in Leicester was there at the match – 17 people in total."

Dr Mukherjee is chairman of the European Multicultural Society, a cultural Pan-European association.

He said: "We work to integrate without losing our culture or identity – we are non-political but I meet and speak Prime Ministers."

He explained some of his proudest achievements within the charity: "We separated race from disability, equality and women through Tony Blair.

"My proposal alone created the Equal Opportunities Commission.

"I also proposed to Tony Blair that the Home Office shouldn't be responsible for race as well as immigration.

"He agreed and now the Home Office is not responsible for race; now it has gone into community and cultural."

"These achievements make me better known, as well as through my cricket."

Dr Mukherjee is also chairman of the European Union Migrants Forum (EMF) and explained: "I represent all those people whose culture is outside the EU."

He has met the Prime Minister of Australia and travelled around all the United States in 1996 to see how they made multiculturalism work.

"When I came back I thought something needs to be done in Europe and with my influence with the EMF I could do it."

Dr Tara Mukherjee explained that his intention was to go back to India after a few years: "But I met an English girl the following year and that was that."

They married in 1951 and had two children, Jasmin, who worked as a model in Holland but died in 2008 aged 57, and Karl, 56, who played football for Leicester City and now lives in Eastwood, Leicester.

Dr Mukherjee has two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

"When they were little I asked them what they would call me and they said ancient," he laughed.

The Viking Way resident moved to Essex in 1976 and has been happily married for 62 years.

He said: "I like Essex very much – people are so understanding and friendly and considerate."

He said his wife, Betty Patricia, 82, now lives in a nursing home nearby but they still see each other every day.

Dr Mukherjee added: "I am still very active with the European Multicultural Society and at the moment we have 493,000 Euros and through our partnerships with Austria, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain and the UK we are delivering projects into schools to promote multiculturalism.

"Britain is a human mosaic and all people are accepted here."

Dr Mukherjee was given an honorary doctorate by Middlesex University for his contribution to race relations in 2009.

THE long-awaited, much-delayed and highly expensive Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre will finally open in November, according to the NHS.

The multimillion-pound building will, by the time it opens, have sat empty for nearly 19 months.

During this time, figures obtained by the Gazette show that it will have cost the taxpayer more than £180,000.

Many residents in Ongar take the stance that they will "believe when they see it" – and it is not only the waste of money that has angered them.

Standing on the site of the community built Ongar War Memorial Hospital, some see the demolition of the historic building as unforgivable.

Vocal Fyfield resident of nine years Henry Hart told the Gazette: "I still don't believe it will open.

"We have been told this many times before and what has happened? Nothing.

"They often hide behind the excuse of negotiations being ongoing but it has been this way for too long."

The 78-year-old, who lives in Dacres Gate, added: "The War Memorial Hospital should never have been demolished.

"They had no right to tear down that building. I have every respect for the doctors at the Ongar Medical Centre in Bansons Lane, but the issues with the empty building stretch further than the NHS.

"Someone should be held accountable for the colossal failure that the medical centre has been.

"They should never have built the place before agreeing a tenant. They should have agreed a tenant long before they knocked down the old hospital.

"The NHS has never been open about what is going on.

"They fob us off with statements from 'spokesmen' and never tell the full truth."

A spokesman for NHS England said: "NHS England and its partners are very concerned that the Ongar War Memorial Medical Centre is not yet occupied and open to the public.

"We have been working closely with one of the parties that will occupy the building to resolve a complex legal issue that has delayed all other NHS services from moving into the centre to date.

"We are pleased to report that we have now identified a way forward to resolve the problem and are optimistic that services will be able to move into this excellent building by November this year for the benefit of the whole local population.

"Detailed planning has already begun to facilitate the move by the local GPs and community services into this high quality, modern healthcare facility.

"This work will be led by NHS Property services, together with NHS England Essex Area Team and the West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

"The work is now to complete a revised detailed project plan, which is a very high priority, to make up for lost time, and will be monitored closely on a weekly basis until occupation is complete."

An NHS England spokeswoman also claimed: "With respect to November we are very confident that the building will be occupied by the practices and community services and don't foresee any alternatives being necessary."

They also added that everything was agreed with the prospective tenants and the next four months would only involve the completion of paperwork.

Dr Hugh Taylor, GP principle of the Bansons Lane practice, said: "We have had a very productive meeting last Thursday in which all parties expressed great willingness to get the whole thing sorted in as short time frame as possible."

Fay Hewett, an Ongar resident and owner of Balloonatics in the High Street, said: "The delays are disgraceful and I really hope that they do move in in November.

"I know everyone is very upset and angry at the entire farce. Sooner than November is what is really needed."

BRAINTREE will become "one big hole" under county council proposals to extract more than 20 tonnes of gravel from four sites in the district.

Essex County Council's Replacement Minerals Local Plan proposes that more than half of the gravel extracted across the whole county for the next 16 years should come from new and existing sites at Rivenhall End, Rivenhall Airfield, Rayne and Great Leighs.

The proposals were given the go-ahead at a county council cabinet meeting last week, which identified 23 quarry sites around the county. This plan replaces the Mineral Local Plan adopted by the authority in 1997, and envisages the excavation of 40 million tonnes of material by 2029.

New sites approved include a 90-hectare quarry at Broadfield Farm in Rayne – a former Essex village of the year winner – and a 46-hectare excavation area in Colemans Farm at Rivenhall End, near Little Braxted.

Other plans will see existing quarries at the former Rivenhall Airfield and Great Leighs extended, with vastly bigger capacity to contribute an additional 16million tonnes to the county's production of building materials.

Graham Butland, leader of Braintree District Council, told the Chronicle: "We've made many recommendations but the county council haven't taken any notice of representations.

"There's unanimous opposition to these plans across all parties in the district council. We will go to the inspector of public inquiries and the district will put forward the strongest case we can.

"Under these plans, Braintree will become one big hole."

There was a public consultation earlier this year, with more than 200 responses.

Protests from parish and district councils were overruled as the council approved the plans that will now go before the Government Planning Inspectorate in October.

Councillor Mike Banthorpe, from Rayne, said: "The impact this will have on the houses that back on to the site will be huge, as it's only 100 metres from the properties.

"There's also a lot of concern for the water table as it is quite high in that area. But we're going to fight this and a lot of people in the village are going to attend the public meetings."

James Abbott, Green Party county councillor for Witham, says the plans for all four quarries mean around 800 lorries a week will pass through the district.

"We're extremely disappointed and this is a widespread feeling across Braintree District Council," he said.

"Essex County Council paid no attention whatsoever to the local community, they held consultations but they didn't take any notice of what people had to say.

"We accept the need for gravel and sand and that Braintree needs to contribute. but it's the volume in such a small area that we object to. The impact on the countryside will be huge, despite what developers say – it scars the land, and to have that concentration of lorries flowing onto the A12 and A120 is just madness."

RAILWAY enthusiasts have got the opportunity of a lifetime – to live in a converted railway carriage from the 19th century.

The vintage carriage is up for sale for £55,000 and can be used as weekend retreat or holiday home in the beautiful setting of Barrowmarsh Caravan Park, Heybridge.

The 1880s carriage from the Great Eastern Railway line was bought by Debbie Smith 20 years ago and was lovingly converted to provide a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and sitting room, and can be lived in for up to nine months of the year.

The 60-year-old said: "I must say it is a truly lovely place to live in. It's unique and I love all of the extra features that are bespoke to this carriage. It has tonnes of history to it and would be appreciated.

"Everyone always seems to be surprised at just how much space there is on the inside of the carriage. It is pretty roomy when you get in here – and it may look old but its modern inside."

The original trains used to transport the great and the good around the South East of England on holiday trips to the coast and out to the country for some much needed R and R from smoggy Victorian London.

Most of these carriages were in use until the demise of the steam train, but this particular one is known to have accommodated evacuees during the war.

Steeped in history it is a train spotter's perfect opportunity to have a little piece of the past with the comforts of modern day life.

Debbie said: "Heybridge is a lovely place to live anyway, but living in here has made my time even more special and peaceful, and I love the tranquillity of life here.

"It's easy to see why we have had a lot of interest already.

"You can really feel at home with nature and the environment when you're down here – that combined with the history of the carriage makes this a great place to spend your time."

Debbie commissioned an expert builder for over year to complete the renovation work.

It is understood, the carriage was abandoned at the caravan site in the 1940s and had slowly fallen into disrepair, until Debbie fell in love with the idea of living in a train carriage and renovated it.

She is now choosing to downsize because her mother has a chalet near the site and she spends a lot of her time in London where she works as a as a kinesiologist, somebody who studies the science behind human movement.

She said: "It will be sad to see it go – because it does suit me but it will suit countless other people and couples."

The railway carriage has been authenticated by the Railway Preservation Society as having travelled on the Stratford line of the Great Eastern Railway having been built at Stratford Works and it would have been a great luxury to have travelled in this beautiful carriage in Victorian times.

The property is for sale through John Alexander estate agents.

A TEACHER who has taught tens of thousands of Essex children has retired.

Joy Hopkinson's final term has had a royal touch as she enjoyed a garden party at Buckingham Palace to which she was invited in recognition of her 46 years of teaching.

Mrs Hopkinson, 66, taught biology at King Edward VI Grammar School before joining New Hall, both in Chelmsford, where she has held various posts in the past 25 years including head teacher for a year.

"I've had a fantastic career in fantastic schools," she told the Chronicle.

"When I came to New Hall, initially as a part time biology teacher as my children were still young, the religious community still lived here and I found them to be very inspiring ladies.

"I soon bought into the whole ethos of the school and the community and have loved being a part of it ever since.

"In the 25 years I have been here I have had so many jobs it has always kept me interested."

Mrs Hopkinson stepped down from her current role as deputy principal and house mistress last month.

However, she is not severing all ties with the school and will continue as chair of the New Hall Voluntary Service as well as running the school's confirmation programme.

Mrs Hopkinson will also maintain her role as co-ordinator of the HMC Scholarship Programme, which each year awards teenagers from poorer countries sixth form scholarships to UK independent schools.

Ongar may not be the first place you might expect to be in the midst of an online revolution – yet that is exactly what is happening as more traders in the town head for the internet.

From setting up a website with some basic information, to a full-blown online store operating worldwide, Ongar's high street traders are becoming increasingly tech-savvy.

Everyone from the butcher's to the fish and chip shop is using sites such as Twitter too, keeping their customers up to date on sales and new stock and even warning fellow tweeting traders about shoplifters.

The days of early closing are gone and, with dwindling footfall and parking charges, many believe to be prohibitive, traders are turning to the web to give customers access to their products 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Colin Purcell, who owns When Skies Are Grey on High Street, said: "We started as an online business with the intention of moving on to the high street.

"Being online is absolutely vital for any business today – I can't see how you can survive without.

"The high street shop gives us a shop window for our online business and vice-versa.

"We now offer a click and collect service as well, meaning you can reserve something you spot online and we will hold it for up to a week.

"Footfall in Ongar is not always the greatest – we have a lot of cars come through though.

"However, there a lot of cars and we have boards on our shop advertising our website.

"Shopping online is so much easier and opens your shop up to customers across the country."

The 34 year old stressed the importance of social media.

He said: "It is a great way of keeping in touch with your customers.

"We are on Pintrest, Facebook and Twitter and send out an email newsletter. We keep people up to date on stock or sales and often put pictures of interesting items up.

"A high-street shop has always been about knowing the customers that come through your door, a real community feel. Social media just extends this even further.

"We interact with people – answer their questions and just keep everyone up to date.

"It can really help to drive sales."

Mr Purcell, whose eclectic gift shop opened in October, has even taken to using Twitter to warn others about shoplifters.

He said: "A lot of the other high street shops are on Twitter.

"I decided to post a picture of two people who had shoplifted me to try and warn others and deter them in the future."

Another shop relatively new to the historic high street is boutique children's clothes and toy shop Eeeny Meenie Miney Mo.

Co-owner Natalie McCarthy, of Bowes Drive, Ongar, explained how they decided to go online.

She said: "It was always the aim, to be both online and on the High Street, it brings so much benefit and one will feed off the other.

"On days like today we have taken more online than we have in the shop.

"You can sell to people all over the world.

"We have orders come from as far afield as Sweeden and hits on our website come from all over the world.

"An online shop has the benefit of being open for business all the time and with the footfall on the high street not always being the best, it can be a real boost."

The 28 year old, whose shop suffered a major setback when it was flooded in March, also sang the praises of Twitter.

"It is an amazing way of keeping in touch with people, be that customers or fellow traders," she said.

"You can let people know about sales and new stock which can bring them down to the store.

"I wish we had it when we were flooded as it would have been the best way of telling people when we were going to open and how the rebuilding was going.

"Ongar has a great Twitter community and there are a lot of locals and shoppers who are always online.

"It is great for getting the latest gossip as well."

AN AMATEUR cyclist from Witham rode in Britain's biggest cycling challenge to raise money for Farleigh Hospice who cared for his late mother.

Joe Eley, 27, was joined by sister Ellen and stepfather David Smith in this summer's Prudential RideLondon to Surrey 100, which saw nearly 20,000 riders tackle a 100-mile route, finishing on The Mall in central London.

Lindsay Eley-Smith had breast cancer diagnosed in 2004, a week before Joe's 18th birthday, and was cared for at Farleigh before she died in March.

"I am proud to have taken part with my family supporting Help the Hospices," said Joe. "I would do anything for my local hospice so if our efforts help one person and their family that is more than we could hope for.

"In 2004 my life changed forever when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since that day, a week before my 18th birthday, we had some fantastic times with her and it was nothing short of a miracle that she was with us for as long as she was.

"I applied for a place with Help the Hospices in January and she was equally as thrilled as I was when my place was confirmed.

"My stepfather David and sister Ellen were also so excited that they signed up themselves.

"We would have been lost without the love, care and support that our hospice has provided for us over the years and this was a small way of repaying them for all of their efforts."

The ride started at the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and was part of a series of events in the capital, including an eight-mile FreeCycle around the city's landmarks as well as a Grand Prix for aspiring young cyclists and a 221-kilometre race for the professionals.

Joe and his family have raised about £3,120, with £800 raised within two days of setting up a Facebook group for the challenge.

He added: "It was very challenging but we prepared well for it and was great fun and good to have the freedom of London without traffic or lights.

"If this ride is going on 20 years from now no one can take away from us that we were one of the first to take part.

"It was very emotional under the circumstances, we'd hoped our mum would be there with us, but friends and family where there at the finish line.

"Although we found it really tough we came through it and we knew we'd done mum proud," said Joe.