SATURDAY night drinkers at a Great Baddow pub enjoyed the dulcet Cockney tones of one half of 'rockney' pairing Chas and Dave last weekend.

Chas Hodges came to The Blue Lion pub with his band to sing old-time favourites such as Rabbit, Gertcha and the Sideboard Song to 120 people at the event, which had been a year in the making.

Main organiser and self-styled biggest fan Ben Whitehead, 33, said: "He brings so much energy and he has the crowd in the palm of his hand.

"I've seen him 100 times and you don't understand the happiness that he brings to the crowds until you are at one of his gigs.

"It's the second time I have met him but it was the first time I have been able to talk to him.

"We were talking about his past – he's worked with Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton and The Beatles.

"He was very, very down to earth.

"I was very nervous about meeting him but it's just like talking to another local."

Chas also changed the lyrics to one of his trademark songs Down to Margate to "down The Bluey", which proved a hit with the crowd, who danced, whistled, cheered and applauded throughout the gig.

The main show, which lasted 75 minutes, was called a "dream come true" by Mr Whitehead, who hopes to host a similar event at the pub in the future, while making it "bigger, better and grander".

Edmonton-born Chas, who was supported by band Midlife Crisis who did a 90-minute set to get the event started, said that the crowd were fantastic and he hoped that he would work with Ben and the Blue Lion again in the future.

Mr Whitehead said: "It was fantastic – if I could do it again tomorrow, I would."

The 33-year-old, who now lives in South Woodham Ferrers but is originally from Great Baddow, first started buying Chas and Dave's music ten years ago and has been hooked ever since.

Chas Hodges is one half of the group Chas and Dave – the other half being David Peacock.

The cockney rock duo started in 1975 and some of their most famous hits include Rabbit, Down to Margate and the Sideboard Song.

THE sister of an inspirational autistic man who died in a motorcycle accident is paying tribute to him – by taking his place in the Great North Run on Sunday.

Robyn Hadley, 20, of Shirebourn Vale, South Woodham Ferrers, will run the famous 13.1 mile route from Newcastle to the nearby town of South Shields in memory of her brother Skyler who died in May.

The 22-year-old, who had moved from Essex to Bristol with his girlfriend Caroline and worked in a pub there, was a keen runner and had finished the London Marathon just a matter of weeks before his death – a memory that Robyn holds dear as she stood at mile 20 to cheer him on.

"The last time I saw him he was him running up the road – I was screaming 'Skyler!' and he looked as fresh as a daisy, as if he had gone for a run in the park," said Robyn, who is also a keen runner.

The family heard about Skyler's death in a crash in Bristol on the same day that they discovered he had been accepted for the Great North Run.

"Caroline, Skyler's girlfriend, asked me personally to run," said Robyn.

"I was not going to tell the lady that I was not going to do it – it was an honour to be asked."

The siblings had a close childhood: "We were born less than 18 months apart from each other – we went to the same primary school and we grew up together," said Robyn.

"I have vivid memories of when the upstairs of our family home was turned into Hogwarts from Harry Potter.

"We were absolutely convinced that we were going to be the next Harry and Hermione.

"With Skyler, he was 22 – he was older than me but with autism you sometimes become younger in mental age.

"I could work out when people were upset but he sometimes did not have the capacity to understand people on an emotional level.

"At the time of his death he was 22 mentally – he had a job, he was riding his motorcycle."

Skyler ran the London Marathon for the National Autistic Society, something that is close to the family's heart.

"He was a member of the National Autistic Society – we got a lot of support from there growing up," said Robyn.

"I've been running ever since – it's kept me sane.

"When I run, I think Skyler's with me. It's special, it's something we both had in common and when I am running, he's there.

"If I'm struggling at mile eight, I will say 'Come on, get me through this'.

"I have seen him run 26.2 miles – I can run 13.1.

"Skyler signed up to do it and we haven't let anyone down because it's being completed.

"It will be a challenge. I'm trying to focus on my pace more than thinking about what it will be like on the start line and my nerves. It will be emotional. I'm not going to find it easy."

She even had a helping hand in her training from former 'Sporty' Spice Girl Mel C after entering a contest with BUPA, the organiser of the run.

"She said it was an inspirational story and it was incredible that I was doing it," added Robyn.

Her target of raising £700 for the National Autistic Society has been smashed. This week the total stood at £1,032.

To donate, go to www.justgiv ing.com/robynhadley

A TALENTED teenage singer who has been likened to Frank Sinatra has vowed not to let his diabetes get in the way of his pursuit of a music career.

Tom Newman-Clark, 13, of New Moor Crescent, has battled with type 1 diabetes all his life and recently discovered he couldn't follow his dream of becoming a soldier because of the condition.

But now the Ormiston Rivers Academy pupil, who has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the O2 Arena and for Children in Need, is gearing up for a 20-minute slot at the Burnham Carnival on September 28.

"I want to prove to the entire world that just because I'm a diabetic it doesn't mean I can't do things – it will not get in the way of my life. If I can't be in the army then I'll do my best to become a performer," said Tom, who lives with mum Kim, 47, dad Steve, 48, and sister Rose, 16.

His vocal talent took him to the recording studios of Universal records in Kensington recently where he recorded a song singing for the Royal British Legion Choir.

Proud mum Kim said: "I found it quite overwhelming but Tom didn't, he looked and sounded the part."

Tom, who juggles singing with playing rugby, cricket, drama and performing arts classes, and being a cadet, added: "People say that my voice sounds like a mix between Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble, and that's fine by me.

"I just love Frank's music and I love performing on my own instead of as part of a group – that way everything is down to me in the performance, if anything goes wrong it's my fault.

"I can't wait to perform at the Burnham Carnival this year. I have performed at the carnival as part of a group but now I'm performing as a solo artist, which is really exciting."

Mum Kim, who works as a complementary therapist, knew that Tom had an "exceptional voice" since he was seven or eight-years-old.

"The first time I saw him perform live I cried my eyes out – and I still do cry every time he performs as he gets so involved with the music," she said.

A SYRIAN man living in Brentwood has spoken of his sadness and anger at the decline of his country into civil war, laying the blame firmly on the ruling regime.

Paul Sabbagh, of Brentwood, has returned to his homeland many times since coming to Britain 30 years ago.

On his most recent trip, the Aleppo-born businessman found a divided city, torn apart by shells and fighting.

Mr Sabbagh said: "It is sad, yes, to see my country and my home plunged into war. Half of Aleppo is rebel-held and you risk your life to enter there.

"There could be a shelling at any minute and snipers hide on the streets all over the city. It could be anyone, a regime sniper, a rebel sniper, it could even be a sadist.

"In every war you get people who just enjoy the killing, Syria is no exception. There are sadist snipers who shoot anyone dead for no political reasons at all.

"The regime made the decision early on to try to beat the rebels with force, but it was already too late.

"The majority of Syrian people support the rebels – the regime is not democratic. It pretends to be, but it is an oppressive regime. It has long used force against its own people and that is not right; it has made people angry."

The Christian, who is part of the minority in the predominantly Islamic state, made it clear that there was only one way President Bashar Al-Assad would fall.

"He will not run, he will not surrender and he will not make peace. The only way his regime falls is when he dies and his son can't take the presidency," he said.

"It is like a royal family but with real power, his father was in power before him and he will only stand down to hand it over to his son. At the moment, his son is far too young to take power."

Regarding the recent use of chemical weapons, Mr Sabbagh was in no doubt who was responsible: "There is only one person who decides if they use the chemical weapons, Assad decides if they use them.

"The attack in Damascus came just days after the assassination attempt on his life. It was a fight back against the rebels.

"It was saying to the rebels 'get out of Damascus'. The city is the centre of the regime and all the main government buildings and institutions are there.

"The rebels want what everyone wants – they want a real democracy. I know that when there is one, which won't be for many years, an Islamic party will win.

"I am not happy with this, but it is what the people want, which is how democracy works. People should be allowed to choose their government in free elections."

Mr Sabbagh, a father of two British-born children, believes that, as in Libya, military intervention will help in Syria.

He said: "The regime has the chemical weapons – it drops these from planes and helicopters. The rebels don't have the planes and helicopters.

"A no-fly zone, where they shoot down the planes, will help the rebels. It will stop them being shelled in their homes. It would stop Syrians being shelled in their homes.

"It isn't right, it is wrong, it makes me angry that Assad uses weapons on citizens. In a war, you kill people on the other side. He isn't just doing this, he is killing the citizens. As a Syrian this makes me sad."

What do you think? Write to us at editorial@gazettenews.co.uk

Brian Lynch: Cameron stood up to an evil dictator page 25

TRAVELLERS occupying green belt land in Stapleford Tawney could face criminal proceedings from the council.

Epping Forest District Council is preparing to take "contemptuous" travellers to the High Court to ensure they vacate its land.

At a meeting next week, councillors are expected to press ahead with plans to pursue legal action to see the group of about ten caravans moved off the Birch Field site, off Epping Lane.

An 11-page report says that the travellers are the same ones who moved on in 2006 after drawn-out legal proceedings. As a result of the Irish travellers' previous four-year stopover, both a High Court injunction and an Enforcement Notice already exist on the land. These are both still binding and the council is set to approve committal proceedings at the High Court.

The number of travellers on the site is currently around 35, however that number is expected to rise to around 73.

In a list of occupants supplied by the travellers' legal representative, over half of the expected inhabitants are children. Three women in the group are pregnant.

The report says: "The balance between adults and children is changing daily. It seems likely the situation will eventually be as described in the schedule submitted."

The report says the occupation of the land is contempt of court. It said: "The current occupiers of the site are named on the injunction and are aware of its terms. They have confirmed to officers that they recognise that their occupation of the site is (in) breach of the terms of the injunction.

"Consequently, the breach is particularly flagrant and amounts to a contempt of court.

"Such wilful and flagrant breaches of the terms of the injunction should be brought to the attention of the High Court save where there is a good reason for not doing so.

"Officers do not consider that any such reason exists in the present case."

The council officers have made several attempts to ascertain the needs of the travellers, including sending out questionnaires and making appointments to see them.

At this point the questionnaires have not been returned despite being delivered to the travellers two weeks ago. None of the appointments were kept.

The report gives reasons why the site, situated next to the M25, was and remains entirely unsuitable for habitation as a travellers' site, including noise and air pollution.

It confirms that any planning application for a site would be refused on multiple grounds.

The Gazette attempted to reach several councillors on the relevant committee but unfortunately could not get through before press deadline on Tuesday.

An Epping Forest District Council spokesman said: "Officers do have authority to enter the land pursuant to section 178 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. However the council is required to carefully consider all reasonable courses of action available before exercising such powers.

"The council must act within the law and has sought counsel's advice on the best way to proceed. Officers were advised to refer the matter to the Plans East sub-committee on September 18."

Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, confirmed he was aware of the situation but said he was unable to comment any further.

The council meeting will be held next Wednesday, September 18, at the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, on High Street, Epping.

IT IS a double celebration for a Burnham school which has been given a glowing endorsement by Government inspectors and is about to undergo a £10.7m revamp.

On Monday, planners rubberstamped a major project which will touch almost every area of the Ormiston Rivers Academy in Burnham.

Builders move onto the site of the school, formerly known as St Peter's, in November to construct a new performing arts block, multi-use sports pitch, and undertake a remodelling of the school.

The revamp comes as principal Joan Costello was able to tell pupils when they returned for the new term that the school had now been graded as good all round by Ofsted.

She told the Chronicle: "We are all really chuffed with Ofsted's verdict – it is what we had hoped for and have worked towards.

"We are delighted that Ofsted highlighted the fact that the progress students are making is remarkable, and that more than 80 per cent of teaching is good or better – that is a very high percentage.

"We are also pleased with their comments on student's excellent behaviour, their attitudes to learning and the support parents have for the school."

Inspectors undertook a routine check-up in July and their report out on Monday shows they noted big improvements since their last visit in February 2011, when the school was graded as just satisfactory.

Mrs Costello joined St Peter's in April 2009. Six months later it was placed in special measures, a label which was removed in February 2011.

She said: "I inherited a school that had challenges, of which I was well aware, and it was my aim to ensure it became a good school. Now that dream has come true and our next step is to make it outstanding.

"Inspectors indicated that they felt we were on the way to achieving that but as a new academy it is too early to measure some of the initiatives we have put in place."

Now the school is preparing for the revamp, being paid for by cash provided when it became a sponsored academy in 2011

Mrs Costello said: "We have wonderful, extensive premises and fantastic grounds, and now they are to be totally refurbished to give the school, a bright, fresh look.

"We will have a brand new dedicated performing arts block, revamped sports facilities including an all-weather, multi-use pitch.

"New science labs will be built within the school, and a new learning resource centre which is a state of the art library.

"We are also able to buy racked seating for our main hall, which is a big boost not only for the school but also the community, who will be able to hire this facility."

The contractors move on to the site in November and the work is expected to be completed by January 2015.

A TEAM of dedicated cadets from Billericay has transformed the neglected garden of a care home into a beautiful outdoor space.

The Royal Air force Cadets 2393 Squadron (Billericay) have been working on the project since the start of the year and were pleased to show the Gazette the outcome of all their hard work.

The 30 members, from 13 to 18 years of age, took on the make-over of the garden of Church View care home in Laindon Road so that it could become a usable space for staff and residents to enjoy.

Peter Kent, civilian instructor for the group, said: "They care for severely disabled people and the staff work with them 24 hours a day.

"During the summer months they like to come outside but it was a bit of a mess for them before. Now it is completely transformed.

"The cadets cleaned up the rubbish and junk in the garden and dug out the areas they wanted to plant in. They tidied up the swing seat which was in a poor state and the table so that residents can sit outside and enjoy the garden.

"The team has done lots of gardening and have been busy planting flowers."

The project started in January where they carried out an initial review of the area and discussed what needed to be done to improve the outdoor space.

Mr Kent continued: "The staff are delighted they can now use the place.

"Once it is completed we will set up a maintenance programme so the area is kept in a good condition."

Mr Kent explained that each member is expected to play their part in community work.

The cadets also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and this sort of project counts towards the qualification.

Mr Kent said: "We try to teach them a little about gardening as half of them have never put a plant in the ground, so it is a training programme as well as a community project.

"We do have lots of fun and take part in many different activities. We take them flying – gliding at the RAF camps and join in with the servicemen.

"And we take them here, there and everywhere – for instance we will be taking the group to Snowdonia where we will be hill walking, climbing and doing water sports.

"If they pass all their exams with us they come out with a BTEC in Aviation Studies which is an added bonus."

Brian Gennings, the chaplain of the cadets, added: "They are a very good group and do an awful lot for the community. It builds up young people to be good citizens and be caring."

Care home support worker Michelle Clapp said the appearance of the garden had been "transformed" by the volunteers. She said: "Before the cadets arrived the garden was overgrown with very few flowers.

"Now there are lots of flowers and it looks neat and tidy for everyone to go out and enjoy."

There will be an open day on Thursday, September 12 for those interested in becoming a cadet. Members only have to pay a small sum in subs and those interested in joining and taking part in the open day should call 01277 652794.

RESIDENTS have voiced their anger at Braintree District Council after construction began on a new cycle path that ripped through the middle of a picturesque nature reserve.

Blackwater and Bocking Nature Reserve contains wildflower meadows, grassland, scrub areas, wetland habitats, a wooden boardwalk and play sculpture, plus old trees and a range of different plant species.

But at the end of August work began on the 1.2 kilometre £227,000 pathway, jointly funded by Braintree District and Essex County Councils.

The cycle path, along the Fairview estate in Braintree, connects Vernon Way to River Mead, and according to the council, improves links for cyclists and pedestrians to the Bocking and Blackwater reserve, Braintree College, schools and the Marks Farm Tesco store.

But residents of adjacent Vernon Way are furious at, as they see it, the council's lack of consultation with local people.

A petition has gathered pace with hundreds of signatures by those upset at the sight of tarmac trailing through their beloved grassland.

They believe the route planners who constructed the path should reconsider its layout as the area is prone to flooding.

Jim Konig, chairman of Convent Lane and Broad Road Action Group, has spearheaded this campaign.

He told the Chronicle: "This plan goes against what the council say about conservation and protecting open spaces.

"The route the cycle path is being built on cuts right through the nature reserve. What we are saying is there are alternatives to this that wouldn't have done so much damage. The council are hoping lots of people will be motivated to stop using their cars and start using bikes and the council say they've had great success – but there's a lot of problems with this cycle way. We are worried it's going to be used by kids on BMX bikes and we're worried that because the cycle path is built so high it will become dangerous, especially for people on mobility scooters.

"I think if the council had consulted with local people this could have been avoided and they've chosen the most expensive way of doing this."

A website entitled "Carnage at Blackwater" has also been set up showing the before and after images of the reserve, as well as the height of the cycle path from ground level.

In a post on the authorities' Facebook page in reply to a complaint about the cycle path, Cllr Jo Beavis, cabinet member for people and participation, said: "Braintree District Council would like to apologise for commencing work on the construction of a new cycle path between Vernon and Rivermead without notifying all residents in advance. The council has, however, consulted with the Friends of Bocking and Blackwater on a regular basis to share the design route.

AN INJURY caused by the movement of "weighty objects", a slip on water accumulated on some steps and a trip on an uneven path are among the compensation claims at Essex schools that cost the county council £75,000 in the past three years.

A Freedom of Information Act request reveals the authority has paid out £75,717.29 for 14 claims in the past three years, although students and teachers tried to claim £861,202 for 79 incidents in the same period.

Some compensation claims took up to six years to settle, so many could still be outstanding.

Of the paid out money, a teaching assistant at the Columbus School and College in Chelmsford got £600 after a child "ran into them".

Two students in Halstead's Ramsey Academy received compensation.

One was awarded £594 after they were pushed through a window by another student, and a second was given £16,410 after they tripped on raised flooring in the toilets.

Other large payouts included a student in The Harwich School, now called Harwich and Dovercourt High School, who got £16,812 due to slipping on water on stairs, while a student in St Benedict's College in Colchester received £10,509 after tripping on an uneven path.

A member of staff at St John's Church of England School in Epping got £10,250 after sustaining an "injury due to movement of weighty objects", while a Longwood Primary School student in Harlow also got £7,148.60 after tripping on a "low bench" in the playground.

Claims that resulted in no pay out included an "injury due to slipping on wet grass whilst descending a grass verge", and a slip on a wet floor with no warning signs.

A RETIRED taxi driver whose quick thinking stopped phone scammers getting access to his life savings is urging other people to be vigilant.

Tony Carter, 69, was eating his lunch when his home telephone rang early on Monday afternoon, purportedly from Barclays Bank advising him that there were some unusual transactions on his three bank accounts, before they also posed as fraud police.

"They claimed to be calling from Visa Verified," said former taxi driver Mr Carter, who lives in Meon Close, Springfield.

"This guy who called me said his name was Ian Gibson and he informed me that some unusual activity had been detected on my bank account."

The man told Mr Carter that a sum of £1,200 had been spent on one transaction in Bolton and £400 on another in Leeds.

"The guy then went and said that they wanted to put a block on my account – I told them that nothing had happened," said Mr Carter.

"They wanted to confirm how much was in my account and asked me to go online and see how much I had. But I knew that banks do not tell you to do this."

The caller then told Mr Carter to ring the telephone helpline number on the back of his bank card to confirm that it was the bank to which he was speaking.

When he rang the number on the back of the card, he heard the same voice, so then phoned the police non-emergency number on 101.

"I rang off and a voice said: 'This is Sergeant Simon Taylor of Essex Police'. But I could tell it was the same bloke."

"I rang off and then rang the 101 number on my mobile phone and police are investigating.

"What the scammer wanted to do was to close three accounts, but I had not given them any information and they were going to issue me with three new account numbers that I could transfer the money in. I would have been quite out of pocket."

The scam is well-known where fraudsters do not disconnect the call so when the potential victim hangs up and then calls their real bank or the police, the conman is still on the other end of the line. Some even play recorded dialling tones down the phone to make the victim think the phone has been put down.

Mr Carter, who describes himself as 'naturally suspicious', hopes that his story will help others not be conned into giving away their hard-earned money.

"I feel quite elated as I've got one over on them," he said.

"There are a lot of elderly people out there who could have easily been caught out. It was quite believable initially."

SIX months after a gas explosion tore through their building causing devastation, members of Chelmsford Rugby Club gathered together to officially reopen their clubhouse.

The incident in March this year, which occurred when a gas cylinder malfunctioned in the club's kitchen, left the clubhouse in Timsons Lane in ruins and its members lucky to be alive.

But after a £200,000 refurbishment, completed just in time for the new rugby season, the building was reopened at a ceremony on Saturday by former England woman's rugby captain Catherine Spencer.

Club president Andy Green, one of 40 lunch guests evacuated from the building after the incident, said: "That explosion did a hell of a lot of damage; it shook the foundations of this building shattering windows, and causing cracks in the walls. The bar and kitchen were completely unusable."

The incident had left chef Alan Thornton, who had been cooking meals for the vice-president's lunch, suffering from burns and facial injuries after he was forced to crawl to safety in semi-consciousness.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and, complete with thermal-imaging cameras, spent nearly an hour cooling the three cylinders in the kitchen.

"It's just lucky nobody was more seriously injured. We had played the last game of the season when it happened but we had to be ready for the start of the new one, so there was a difficult deadline to meet. We managed it just in time," said Andy.

"I've only been to the club once before just after the explosion and to see it now it's clear they must have had to work really hard," said women's rugby star Catherine, who has 64 England caps.

"It seems like a really nice club, so it's great to be asked here today."

With a quick cut of the ribbon alongside long-serving member Robin Smylie the launch was official – the third re-opening of the building in just five years after the construction of the building in 2008, and a further extension in 2010.

Kicking off the new season with a friendly against Tabard rugby club, the Chelmsford Ladies first team took to the pitch in front of their brand new clubhouse in the afternoon.

Player Ali Ewers said: "We know how hard people have been working over the summer to get the building finished. It's great."

TRADING Standards is warning people in the county to beware of rogue traders after an elderly woman from Braintree was conned out of hundreds of pounds for "shoddy" work to her driveway.

Essex County Council's is urging the public, especially those in the Braintree district, to be on their guard for cold-callers offering to do work at inflated prices.

Malcolm Shead, head of trading standards in the county, said: "This is only one victim reporting an incident, but for us it's just another example of how much we must continue to get the message across that you shouldn't be doing business at your doorstep.

"It's really difficult for us because we try and try to raise awareness but yet we're still finding victims of these scams."

In the latest case, an elderly woman was approached by traders at her home who offered to do maintenance work on her driveway.

Trading standards says the woman, who does not want to be identified for fear of reprisals, paid inflated prices for "shoddy work".

Mr Shead added: "These rogues often target gullible people, and I don't mean that badly because they're not stupid people, but they are vulnerable and are susceptible to this kind of scam.

"They will often knock at your door and say they've noticed your driveway needs cleaning, and that they could also repoint the paving or repair some edging bricks too.

"On many occasions people are too fearful of the traders and fear retribution if they tell them to go away, or that the work isn't good enough, and many are frightened.

"But I want to make clear that if people do think they are the victim of a scam and need some moral support just to tell the tradesmen to go away, then they can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506 who will put them straight through to us in Essex, and we can have someone there within half an hour."

Mr Shead says people should follow some simple tips to avoid falling victim to rogue traders, but also urged neighbours to keep an eye on their elderly or vulnerable neighbours.

Cllr Roger Walters, cabinet member for trading standards, added: "I am urging residents not to do business with people they neither know nor trust or with those who just knock at the door.

"Rogue doorstep traders can be extremely persuasive and be very convincing and it is easy to be taken in but only look to recommended reputable traders if you need work carried out."

If you think you, a friend or family member has been targeted by a rogue doorstep trader please call Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506 or Essex Police on 101.

THE mother of a girl seriously injured by a driver almost twice the drink-drive limit says she was lucky to survive.

Matthew Parkinson, 37, of Melbourne Avenue, Chelmsford, died when he lost control of his Citroen Picasso and strayed into the opposite lane crashing head-on with Megan Gooch's Volkswagen Caddy on the A414 Ongar Road near Writtle.

At an inquest into his death at New Bridge House in Chelmsford on Thursday, it emerged Mr Parkinson was twice the legal drink-drive limit, was not wearing a seatbelt and had been seen by a witness overtaking a number of vehicles dangerously.

Miss Gooch's mother Brenda, who attended the inquest, said: "It was a silly thing to do – he could have killed her really.

"I offer my condolences to his family and his partner – it's a real shame for them."

Megan suffered a broken fibula, tibia and a crushed ankle in the collision as she was returning from Hobbycraft and a florists preparing for her wedding, which she attended in June still wearing a protective boot.

"She has started to walk again with her boot on – so she is doing a lot better than she was," said Ms Gooch, who attended with Megan's father Graham.

Mr Parkinson was flung through his front windscreen in the crash on Friday, February 1, at 6.45pm, when he lost control while trying to negotiate a right hand turn on the road. He died of multiple injuries.

PC Stephen Perrett told the inquest that Mr Parkinson's car was travelling within the speed limit at 48mph, but added: "In my opinion, Mr Parkinson could have survived the crash if he had been wearing his seatbelt.

"Although this is very hard to say, in my experience he could of survived this crash."

Coroner Caroline Beasley Murray recorded a verdict of death by "road traffic collision".

A COUPLE faces being made homeless after it took Essex County Council officials weeks to confirm an eviction order on the caretaker's house they currently live in.

Trevor Rackham, 57, has been off work since September last year suffering serious osteoarthritis of his knee that has left him immobilised and unable to work as the caretaker of Larchwood Primary School in Pilgrims Hatch.

He has been on morphine for the pain since January 23.

On Friday last week the couple had a phone call from Essex County Council to say they were facing court proceedings to evict them.

Following a series of unsuccessful operations on his knee, the first on September 21 last year, Trevor Rackham eventually had his employment terminated with Essex County Council at the end of July this year.

Trevor and Angela Rackham have been pushing the county council to confirm in writing their eviction from Caretaker's House – a property next to Larchwood Primary School that comes with the job of caretaker for the school.

Without it, Brentwood Borough Council has said it was impossible for the couple to start bidding for a council house, even though Mr Rackham is unable to work and the couple are reliant on Government benefits and his 55-year-old wife's meagre salary.

Despite several requests to Essex County Council to send through the notice to quit – knowing that he would most likely be asked to leave on September 6 – the letter confirming the eviction only dropped through the door on Monday – giving them just five days to apply to Brentwood Borough Council and be allocated a home.

Although the borough council said confirmation with an electronic copy should suffice, Mr Rackham was later told that they needed the original copy.

Essex County Council said it had completed the eviction notice on August 1, but the letter was only delivered on September 2, and was dated August 13.

Angela Rackham, who moved from Buckinghamshire with her husband 18 months ago, said: "I just think it us is unbelievable the way we have been treated –it's terrible.

"We were meant to have moved out on Saturday. But we have nowhere to move to.

"They are treating us like he lost his job on purpose.

"We have enough anguish with my husband not being able to walk or drive – never mind losing his job.

"But after that we now have to worry about not having anywhere to live."

The letter from Essex County Council said: "In the circumstances the council requires you to vacate the property on September 7.

"Until September 6 you will be required to continue to pay the monthly sum of £130.81 to the council in relation to the accommodation charge and water rates as provided under the terms of the Service Occupancy Agreement.

"The council will claim the same rate of £130.81 per month from September 7 until the date you vacate the property."

Mrs Rackman added: "Basically we do not have enough housing points or are classed as a priority because we haven't got the notice to quit – the whole thing is ridiculous.

"How can people treat us like that? We have worked hard all our lives and now we have nowhere to go."

A YOUNG man, whose life was on the line when his heart stopped for 25 minutes, has since recovered to campaign for a potentially life-saving machine at a football club.

Tim Butt, 24, collapsed and went into cardiac arrest in May, and was put onto life support for two days.

The former Mayflower High School student found he had long QT syndrome, a hereditary heart condition, but thankfully his health is now under control.

Mr Butt raised funds on Saturday, September 7 at Billericay Town Football Club's home game against Bognor Regis Town. He hopes to raise enough so that the club can purchase an automated external defibrillator, a machine which helped save his life.

Mr Butt who lives in Rosebay Avenue, Billericay, with his mother, Sue, and father, Andy, said of his ordeal: "It was touch and go – not many people make it through 25 minutes with no oxygen to the brain without brain damage."

The cycling enthusiast, who has one sister, Verity, 21, had been in Portugal training and had aspirations of becoming a professional road cyclist.

But after coming home in May, he collapsed and began having a fit, but luckily his mother was with him and called an ambulance. He regained consciousness at Basildon Hospital, but then went into cardiac arrest and was transferred into A&E.

Mr Butt said: "I was without a pulse for 25 minutes, and they continued doing CPR and I had defibrillator shocks.

"I was resuscitated and put on life support and was eventually woken up two days later.

"I don't remember anything that happened – my last memory was from the day before. It was scary waking up not knowing what had happened. I thought I had hurt myself in a cycling accident.

"It's been a bit of a life change – I had never collapsed or fainted before. I had no idea I had the condition, my family have no history of it.

"Being a professional cyclist is no longer an option, as competitive sport would put too much pressure on my heart.

"It was a big blow for me as it's what I've wanted to do all my life, but although I may not have thought it before, there's more to life than riding a bike."

Since being discharged from hospital Mr Butt has been fitted with a heart regulator.

He said: "This is my life support and back-up. It was fitted through an operation and sits inside my chest – it's about the size of a tape measure."

The Billericay Town Football Club supporter added: "I have always been down at the club and when I heard about the scheme the Football Association (FA) were doing with the British Heart Foundation I wanted to get involved. They will provide a defibrillator for a subsidised cost to football clubs and, having seen how vital they are first hand, I thought it would be good to get one in Billericay.

"The scheme was inspired by [former professional footballer] Fabrice Muamba, and from what I've been through I really wanted to support the cause."

Mr Butt added that Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is also involved. It was a charity he wanted to support, so once £400 is generated for the defibrillator any further money raised will go to this cause.

Mr Butt, who attended Swansea University and studied geography before taking a master's degree in environmental studies, added: "This is the first fundraising I have done but I hope to do other things in the future."

To donate visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving. com/team/timbuttCRY

A DISABLED Romford resident who was told she would never walk again has taken part in a triathlon for disabled people on the anniversary of the Paralympic Games.

Nicole Evans, 26, who has cerebral palsy, swam 400 metres, used a hand cycle for the 15km bike ride and pushed herself round a 5km course in a manual wheelchair in the Tri Together, an award-winning triathlon run by the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Tri Together London, now in its third year, was held at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday, September 1.

Nicole, who walked the London Marathon in four days on her crutches, said: "I had a great day and really enjoyed myself.

"Tri Together was my fifth Paratriathlon this year and a brilliant way to end the season.

"It was a personal best finish time for me, so I am absolutely delighted.

"I was told by my consultant that I would not walk again.

"But since I have taken up sport in the last year, I am feeling so much healthier and can even walk short distances. I am absolutely thrilled."

Sarah Ball, the events manager at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: "I would like to thank each one of our competitors, volunteers, sponsors and support crew for making Tri Together London an inspirational day.

"Regardless of whether participants were disabled or non-disabled, for over 70 per cent of those taking part this is their first triathlon. It was a big day, and a huge personal challenge for people whatever their ability."

To find out more, see results, timings and photographs and to register for next year's event or for Tri Together Glasgow please visit www.lcdisability.org/tritogether

DOCTORS from Broomfield Hospital helping to teach medical staff at a Zambian hospital how to fight malaria, HIV and tropical diseases have been asked to roll the project out across the country.

The 'Lusaka Link – Out to Africa' project was originally set up by consultant surgeon Tom Browne three years ago to help benefit the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Zambia's capital city.

The project not only aims to reduce the HIV and malaria rates in the country, ranked 182 out of 191 countries in the World Health Organisation's grading of the earth's health systems, but also to teach the staff how to recognise and treat pain effectively.

It is hoped UTH can become a centre of excellence.

Julie Godfrey, who has worked at Broomfield Hospital for 20 years and is currently an intensive care sister, helped set up the Pain Management Programme with her colleague, anaesthetist Dr Niven Akotia.

Julie, 38, said: "We're out there for two weeks, but it's an intensive two-day training programme.

"We do it every three months. We teach them how to recognise pain, treat and manage it safely with the treatment they have – we've had to start from scratch. We have trained about 250 people and every time we go we add around 50 more.

"Culturally, they believe that you should be strong enough to deal with the pain that you suffer.

"One thing we do is to try and break down the barriers; we teach that paracetamol and brufen can be used.

"They have a big fear of morphine and opiates – they believe people will die, but it is one of the safest drugs if you know how to use it."

Thanks to the pain management team's intervention, use of pain relief is up by three per cent.

"People aren't scared of going to the hospital now," added Miss Godfrey.

"The patients are getting better because they do not have to stay as long – and they're not in pain. Hopefully, it will become a national programme to the point where pain management will become an integral part of care."

The doctors on the programme take annual leave in order to travel to Zambia and use their own funds while staying in the country – it costs around £3,000 per two week trip for Miss Godfrey and Dr Akotia, a total of £9,000 a year for the pain management programme alone.

To help fund this work, the group held a free fun day in August to bring staff, patients and visitors together and had entertainment from a bouncy castle to a bungee run, classic cars and even Zambian craft stalls.

The hospital made over £2,000 in donations.