A VILLAGE football club, founded in 1903, has raised nearly £300,000 for a new clubhouse.

Hatfield Peverel FC was told five years ago by the parish council to leave its home on the Recreation Ground in Maldon Road.

The 170 children making up the junior teams moved to new pitches on Wickham Bishops Road, called the Keith Bigden Memorial Ground.

However, without a clubhouse and proper changing facilities at its new home, the club was hampered in its league aspirations and development.

Hatfield Peverel FC has since raised £285,000 to build a clubhouse, to include changing rooms and a bar.

The owners say the money has secured the future of the club, which also provides football for four men's teams, made up of 65 players, and a team for the 'golden-oldies'.

"It's been a long journey," said Aaron Haydon, vice-chairman of the club.

"It's fantastic because we've spent years trying to get this.

"It's a huge relief that we can finally deliver something for the kids.

"They have somewhere to play and will not have to find another club."

It also means that the club can throw open its doors to disabled football players and run more girls' teams.

The new clubhouse was designed for free by Aaron's father, 69-year-old Ronald Hayden, a retired architect of Stanford Rivers, near Ongar, who watches his grandsons George, 15, and Thomas, 11, play for Hatfield Peverel every week.

"He did it because he loves the club," said Aaron, "and he loves watching his grandsons play every week.

"He loves football and played the game for 40 years – he has given so much of his time and I'm so proud of him. Without Ron, none of this would have happened."

The money was raised through grants from national organisations. The Football Foundation gave £191,000, Sport England £54,000, and £10,000 from the FA.

The club also raised £30,000 on its own, through casino nights and a well-used members' bar.

"We're a family-run club and everyone chips in and everyone pulls their weight," added Aaron.

On the 3rd and 4th November the Wilderness Foundation UK and Strutt & Parker Farms hosted their first of several community tree planting day. The event was open to the general public and began at 10am on both days.

Around 80 people attended the events and over 1,200 trees were planted. A diverse range of people attended and everyone had fun in a very warm and community spirited atmosphere. Visitors commented on how therapeutic the day was and how they were so pleased to be leaving a legacy for their children to enjoy.

The tree planting is part of a new 12,000 tree woodland to the north of Chatham Green to celebrate HRH The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Due to the size of the woodland, we have been granted 'Diamond Status' by the Woodland Trust and are one of sixty new 'Diamond' woods in the country.

The woodland forms part of the Wilderness Foundation UK and Strutt & Parker Farms' new 'Chatham Green Project'; a conservation and education project focusing on balancing the 21st century needs of farming, nature and communities.

The tree planting will continue for another four months with several more community days. Schools, colleges, community groups and businesses can also book a free tree planting session up until March 2013. After March 2013, the Chatham Green Project will be launching their education programme open to schools and will be inviting pupils to come and learn about farming, nature and sustainability.

Our next community tree planting event will be held on the 24th November from 9am to 12noon. For further details please visit:

www.wildernessfoundation.org.uk/chatham-green-project

or contact Jake Sales:

jake@wildernessfoundation.org.uk

01245 443073

TWO Iron players who are bitterly disappointed at losing out on the big game are central defender Dean Wells and right-back Ryan Peters.

Wells, still out with a dislocated shoulder and who has been outstanding for Braintree this season, said: "I'm gutted because like any player at our level you want to have the chance to play against a Football League club in the cup. I'm recovering but it's too early to make a comeback although I really want to play and I'm really upset at missing out."

Peters, likely to be out for another two weeks, has sampled the glory of an FA Cup when he was a youngster at Brentford and was in their team that reached the fifth round a few years ago.

"It was fantastic and my best moments in football and I'm bitterly disappointed to be missing out again at this club," he said. "Hopefully we can get through this round and I can then be fit enough to play in the next round.

"I know all the lads will be out to do their best and who knows what might happen because we have nothing to lose.

"We have the advantage of playing at home and they won't like coming down here on a Sunday and taking on a little non-league club like us."

A TEENAGER from Chelmsford put down his building tools and took a trip to the House of Commons last week, to receive a reward for his hard work in transforming his life.

Ryan Andrews, 15, was one of five youngsters, aged between 14 and 16, to be nominated as the UK Youth Builder 2012, after joining Youthbuild – a vocational training scheme aimed at youngsters who under-performed at school.

"It was one of the best days of my life," said Susan Andrews, Ryan's mother.

"He was over the moon that he was worthy of being nominated. He doesn't have a lot of self-confidence and this has changed his life."

The annual awards ceremony at the House of Commons on October 18, celebrated the Young Builder of the Year, after nominations from training providers.

Ryan was unable to cope with mainstream school due to juggling Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and the pressure of bullies.

However, his teachers at Hylands School encouraged him to join Youthbuild, based in Montrose Road.

After help from the group, Ryan has been integrated back into school for two mornings a week, to study for his basic GCSEs.

"Youthbuild do amazing things for kids who have nothing," added Mrs Andrews.

"Ryan is lucky to have supportive parents, but others don't have that advantage.

"He has come on leaps and bounds."

Youthbuild UK is a registered charity and aims to deliver construction training to young offenders and other vulnerable young people, to help improve their chances in life.

Youthbuild UK manager Carol Milner said: "We try to break down the barriers for engagement and build confidence within our young people.

"Ryan is a real success story.

"After his initial struggle, he is now prepared to accept his problem and overcome it. He works really hard."

Mrs Andrews added: "Without Youthbuild, Ryan wouldn't be where he is today. They are truly wonderful people."

A FEMALE detective chief inspector has been recognised for her outstanding work for domestic abuse victims in Essex.

DCI Denise Morrissey, of Essex Police, was rewarded at the National Police Bravery Awards for her outstanding contribution to supporting victims and witnesses.

While serving as temporary chief inspector in 2009, she worked on projects linked to serious sexual crime and domestic abuse, and played a major role in launching sexual assault referral centres (SARC).

"I have been thrown into the forefront when actually I like to be in the background, as I am a shy one," said Ms Morrisey, 38, of Chelmsford.

"I have been receiving texts from everyone saying how proud they are of me, I really do feel privileged to have received this award.

"It is a male-dominated profession, so I am proud of myself to get this far.

"I joined the job 15 years ago, having been to university.

"My dad used to be an officer, he was a chief inspector of the Met Police, so it has always been in the back of my mind."

DCI Morrissey was nominated for the award by Victim Support Essex and Hertfordshire Division, who believed she "would be a most worthy recipient" of the award.

She started off her career in Harlow in 1997, where she learnt her trade, and then moved all over Essex, before finally settling in Chelmsford with her partner and child.

"I have been in uniform for eight years and I wanted to get involved with more serious crime investigations," she said.

"I am most proud of my work in setting up the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub.

"I joined the job to help people and that is exactly what I do.

"I think the test is, what would you want if it was one of your loved ones, what service would you expect?

"We make sure that these victims, who are the most vulnerable, get a quality service from us.

"Currently there is a paper-based system which is a 27-page document and takes a lot of time to fill out.

"The Central Referral Unit aims to make this more efficient, so it will all be done electronically from the site, to safeguard as many people as we can."

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, said: "We are grateful to Victim Support for sponsoring this award category. DCI Morrissey is a commendable winner and a credit to the police service."

A SHOPPING centre in Chelmsford has donated dozens of flags from their Olympic displays to a local primary school.

Pupils from Mildmay Infant and Nursery School visited the High Chelmer Shopping Centre last week to collect the flags of the countries who competed in this year's Olympic games. And the display which adorned the shopping centre's walls will now help the little learners find out more about other cultures.

Carley Beck, deputy manager of the shopping centre, who presented the flags to the school said: "We were delighted to donate the flags which will be used to support teaching at Mildmay." The school has spent the summer term teaching the children about the Olympics and the flags will be used to enhance the students understanding of other countries.

A spokesperson for the school, said: "The children at Mildmay Infant & Nursery School have had a busy summer focussing on the Olympics and learning about different countries and cultures.

"The children produced some amazing work and we are delighted that The High Chelmer Shopping Centre is donating flags from their Olympic celebrations to us to support our continued learning about the world around us. Mildmay Infant & Nursery School is committed to ensuring that every learner participates in a curriculum that takes full account of the richness and variety of the world's cultures which enables every individual to fulfil his or her potential to the highest possible standard."

THE lives of more ex-servicemen are set for a much-needed boost, after Royal British Legion volunteers took to Brentwood High Street to launch this year's Poppy Appeal.

Every year the RBL asks for support and Brentwood responds by taking fundraising levels to new heights with its generosity.

More than £48,000 was added to the coffers in the past 12 months, a new record on the year before.

But Appeal organiser, Eunice Woolmore, from Hutton, says it is vital that people continue to donate what they can afford to offer some hope to the many young soldiers, sailors and airmen who are forced out of active service through injury.

She said: "People have always been great, so please continue to donate and let's see if we can beat our £48,000 record.

"This is not just for the 'old boys', as people say, it's for young people too, for all the young servicemen and women who are coming back from abroad injured.

"It is the Legion that helps people in that situation, when they need it, and we help with all sorts, such as house modifications and retraining."

Mrs Woolmore, who has been the leader of the appeal in Brentwood for the past 12 years, and who has been collecting for more than 30 years, is looking for more volunteers to carry a tin, particularly in Shenfield. Tins have already been delivered to shops, banks, pubs, schools, health clubs and funeral directors. As well as the traditional red paper symbols, enamel badges, large silk flowers, wristbands, car poppies and for the first time magnetic car poppies, will be available.

If you are interested in helping or making a donation call Mrs Woolmore on 01277 655393 or visit her 9am-3pm from November 5-9 at St Thomas' Church Centre in St Thomas Road, Brentwood.

A MAN from Rainham on trial for robbery "foamed at the mouth" as he sexually assaulted and threatened to kill a mother-of-one in her own home, a court has been told.

Petros Marozas, 40, is said to have forced the 28-year-old woman to the ground before covering her nose and mouth so she could hardly breathe.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that when the victim tried to cry for help, Marozas issued the chilling threat: "If you start screaming I will hold you until you are here for ever."

The defendant is also accused of groping the woman's thighs and bottom and robbing her of a £650 gold necklace during the alleged ordeal in Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, East London, on February 23 this year.

Jurors heard how the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffered scratches to her eyelid, wrist and neck, and bruising to her back.

Giving evidence behind a screen, she broke down in tears as she told how Marozas' face was "full of anger" and that he repeatedly called her a bitch.

"The victim had been working a night shift and was in bed when he came to the front door,"' said prosecutor Nick Wayne.

"As she opened the door, the crown say the defendant pushed her backwards in the hallway and locked the door.

"He grabbed her arms and pushed her to the ground.

"He then knelt over her and put his hand over her mouth and nose, causing her to struggle to breathe."

Marozas then groped her thighs and bottom, the jury was told.

Mr Wayne continued: "She tried to scream and his response was to say 'If you start screaming I will hold you until you are here for ever'. She was trying to get to her feet but he pushed her to the floor.

"After a short while he then lifted her up off the floor before pushing her again, causing her to fall to the floor again."

Marozas was then said to have torn off the gold necklace the woman was wearing, before demanding her phone.

The court heard how the ordeal ended after the woman persuaded him to allow her to go to the bathroom, from which she escaped to a neighbour's home.

When Marozas was eventually arrested he claimed the woman owed him £2,000.

He said he had grabbed her shoulders and said: "Please pay me my money back".

The woman later gave him a gold chain, a TV and a printer, he told police.

Marozas, of Mungo Park Road, denies robbery, sexual assault and making a threat to kill.

The trial continues.

THE Glorious Dead, not to mention those who have died serving Britain in contemporary wars, will once again be commemorated in North Weald on Sunday, 94 years to the day since the guns fell silent on the Western Front.

This year, Remembrance Sunday will be marked by four events in the village, starting with the Royal British Legion's Act of Remembrance at the parish war memorial in St Andrew's Churchyard at 10.45am.

A bugler will play the Last Post, following which a special service will be held inside the church. Then at 12.15pm, the parish council will lay a wreath at North Weald's airfield memorial in Hurricane Way.

This ceremony will then be followed at 1.15pm by a ticket-only Community Remembrance Day Luncheon for 65 people at the village hall in the High Road.

The lunch will be hosted by Cyril Hawkins, the chairman of North Weald Bassett Parish Council, and, with a nod to the contribution that Norwegian servicemen made at the airfield during the Second World War, Navy Commander Senior Grade Hanne Johnsloev will be in attendance representing the Norwegian defence attache.

Mr Hawkins told the Gazette he hoped that between 200 and 300 people would attend Sunday's services.

He added: "It isn't only the soldiers who died.

"There was the Blitz and people in North Weald who got killed too, so I think it is very important that we keep all of their memories alive."

Peter Collins, the chairman of the North Weald branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "People should come along to continue the Remembrance not only of those who died in the First and Second World Wars, but also those who have died in modern conflicts."

North Weald's MP Eric Pickles is not able to attend Sunday's ceremony as he will be marking Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in his capacity as a government minister.

However, he said: "North Weald has got some tremendous history with the Battle of Britain and indeed the fate of our nation was decided in the skies over the airfield so I hope as many people as possible will be able to attend."

Meanwhile, Tory councillor Anne Grigg, who will be representing Epping Forest District Council on Sunday, said: "I understand that not everybody will be able to attend but the service will be moving and it shows our respect for and our pride in those who fought for this country and lost their lives."

MAJOR questions are hanging over the future of the multimillion-pound Ongar Memorial Medical Centre – languishing empty since building work finished in May.

The £6.7 million facility in Fyfield Road had meant to be a beacon of community medical support but six months after builders handed over the keys to NHS West Essex there is still not a single doctor or nurse working there.

The inactivity is causing serious concern for one resident, who says his own investigations have been met with a wall of silence.

Henry Hart, a 78-year-old Fyfield resident, said: "A large percentage of the population is affected by this.

"It was meant to have opened months ago. But it remains closed. Why is that?

"Someone somewhere is culpable for what has happened. Whenever I ask I have been met with a wall of silence.

"Something has gone dramatically wrong.

"A beautiful centre has been opened. But at the end of the day what is the point of it? It hasn't been opened. This just cannot go on like this.

"We are talking about a substantial amount of money here.

"Any development needs to be carefully planned. When looking at this type of building project every step has got to be accounted for. from start to finish.

"When they started this project the people behind this should have known when it was due to be up and running before they even put a spade in the ground."

Before its reconstruction, it was known as the Ongar and District War Memorial Hospital, built by public subscription after the war as an alternative to a traditional stone memorial.

Mr Hart, who has lived in Fyfield for eight years, added: "Since there is bound to be financial recourse bearing heavily on the public for the unoccupied centre which, although empty, must have a daily upkeep cost, combined with organisational mishaps which have taken place, we are entitled to have an understanding where this fiasco originated. Being told it's currently in the hands of solicitors is of very little consolation to the public at large."

Despite several attempts from the Gazette to find out an exact opening date for the centre, the primary care trust could only say that the negotiations to set up leasing arrangements are complex and there is no change in the plan.

John Henry, assistant director of estates, said: "The new centre at Ongar will offer a range of health services all working together and the potential for real innovation for local people.

"Because the negotiations to set up the leasing arrangements are complex, they need more time to reach completion, but there is no change in the plan for services at Ongar."

JUST 29 per cent of compensation claims to Essex County Council in respect of pothole damage to cars have been successful in the past three years.

Between April 2009 and April 2012, the authority settled 1,502 claims totalling £501,494.66.

During the same period, the council rejected 3,747 claims, paying out nothing.

At the time of going to press, a further 369 claims remained open.

The figures were uncovered by Liberal Democrat county councillor David Kendall and come in the wake of the council spending £11 million in pothole repairs across Essex since June.

Mr Kendall, who represents Brentwood South, also said that the council had only spent £7.88 million on pothole repairs – including £1.444 million in Brentwood – over the same period.

He said: "These figures show the true scale of the problem and prove that Essex County Council is still struggling to repair roads after years of neglect by the Conservative administration.

"Whilst I am pleased to see that 1,500 residents have received some compensation from the council, I am concerned that there are thousands more who have made claims over the same period and will probably end up getting nothing.

"These staggering figures may have forced the Tories into investing £11 million in emergency pothole repairs just eight months before the county council elections but for many long suffering Essex motorists the repairs will be too little, too late."

A county council spokesman said: "We are determined to fix as many as possible and ensure that they don't return in future.

"It is disappointing to have to compensate motorists for damage to their vehicles, but it should also be taken into account that Essex has one of the largest road networks in the country.

"All compensation claims received are investigated fully and costs are only paid if the council feels it is liable."

Tory councillor Derrick Louis, county council portfolio holder for highways and transportation, was less diplomatic.

He said: "Cllr Kendall clearly has no aptitude for county council finances and bearing in mind that the last time the Lib Dems were in control at County Hall they nearly bankrupted it, this should be of no surprise.

"The figures he is quoting don't add up, with the actual total being £25.5 million and not £7.88 million.

"He also is only referring to the amount of money spent 'fixing' potholes, not the total spent on road maintenance, which over the previous three years is in fact £94.5 million not £7.88 million."

He added: "Essex County Council put an additional £11 million into road maintenance after the unprecedented weather last year; fixing nearly 40,000 potholes since June."

IT WAS a case of the late, late show for the Boro on Saturday with their winner coming deep into injury time courtesy of a Nick Reynolds header.

Boro fully deserved their victory which keeps them handily placed just outside the promotion play-off places but as manager Paul Martin acknowledges there's still a long way to go before the end of the season.

Romford dominated play in the first half and were unlucky to go in level at the break.

Matt Toms up for a corner volleyed a shot that hit the outside of the post and went wide on 17 minutes.

Potters Bar went close minutes later when Josh Urquhart shot just over from distance.

On 28 minutes Ryan Imbert set up Hussein Isa but his shot went just wide, before two minutes later Imbert himself forced Potters Bar keeper Ed Thompson into a fine save when his powerful shot.

Romford earned many corners and one of these was only half cleared to Jack Barry who put the ball back in the mixer and Toms header just over.

It was Toms again who nearly broke the deadlock when his shot was blocked yards from goal after Isa's headed was cleared off the line on 37 minutes.

Another Romford chance just before half-time with Isa fizzing a shot just wide of the goal.

Romford started the second half the same way they ended the first half on the attack and Tom Richardson put a great cross into the far post to Paul Clayton but Liam Maewood just got to the ball first to stop the Boro midfielder heading home.

On 50 minutes Isa shot from distance dipped just over the bar with Thompson stranded out of his goal.

Potters Bar counter-attacked and James Gersfield went down in the box under a challenge from a Romford defender but the referee did not point to the spot despite the incident looking pretty clear-cut.

Potters Bar did get a penalty on 63 minutes but this time fortunately when Gersfield went down easily after being challenged by Barry.

Gersfield netted from the penalty spot.

Manager Martin made a change and introduced Lewis Francis and changed formation and it proved successful.

The substitute equalised for the Boro on 74 minutes from the penalty spot after Imbert had been brought down by Billy Witham.

With 10 minutes to go Barry's free header from a Francis corner went wide and a minute later Imbert had his legs clipped in the box when about to shoot from six yards out but the referee gave a corner instead of a penalty.

In injury time Romford scored the goal their play deserved even though it was right at the death.

Richardson picked the ball up wide and ran towards the area before being brought down.

Joe Oates swung the free-kick under the bar and Reynolds and the keeper Thompson both went up but thestriker managed to get a slight touch to find the net.

A HANDYMAN who helped set up a major cannabis-producing farm has been ordered by a court to hand over £123,000 of his ill-gotten gains.

Michael Horsnell, 47, of The Pantiles, Billericay, was snared after police found entries in a secret diary his wife kept of his business affairs.

Her aim was to use the information in possible divorce proceedings.

However, Chelmsford Crown Court was told that the entries revealed the involvement of Horsnell, formerly of Tor Bryan, Ingatestone, in a massive £1 million skunk producing operation.

Horsnell was said to have made £385,000 as a result of his work in helping set up the plant.

Some money was found by his wife Wendy under their daughter's bed and as well as noting it in the diary, she took photographs.

Horsnell was found guilty of conspiring to produce cannabis and two offences of possessing criminal property involving £55,000 and £200,000.

He was jailed for six years last July by Judge Karen Walden-Smith, who said: "Plainly this was going to be a very profitable business.

"You carried out the works needed to create the cannabis factory. Significantly, you were also involved in hiring generators, although I accept you were not a major organiser.

"Cannabis was discovered by police on November 6, 2009.

"It was a sophisticated and well-organised operation."

Entries in his wife's diary detailed two sums of cash totalling £255,000 found by his wife at their then home in Ingatestone.

The diary came to light during a police investigation into a cannabis factory at Blunts Farm, Theydon Bois.

Mrs Horsnell wrote that she had found £55,000 underneath her daughter's bed, which she thought "inappropriate", and had moved it to the garage.

She later discovered £200,000 in a wardrobe in her husband's bedroom.

Horsnell had been involved in setting up one of the largest cannabis factories Essex Police have found in recent years, containing almost 3,500 cannabis plants producing up to £835,000 worth of skunk in each crop.

A THUG who bit his sister's boyfriend's ear off in a "barbaric piece of violence" has been jailed for 11 years.

John Gregory, 29, of Maxey Road, Romford, ripped off the top part of Shahzad Qureshi's left ear before spitting it on the ground.

Mr Qureshi suffered immense pain in the attack that happened on December 3 last year, and needed plastic surgery to correct the permanent disfigurement, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The IT consultant was also forced to take two months off work and had to endure the taunts of colleagues and friends.

Mr Qureshi claims he has suffered nightmares and feels insecure about his appearance as a result.

A jury had already convicted Gregory of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and of stealing Mr Qureshi's watch during the beating.

It emerged Gregory was jailed for biting a bus driver during an unprovoked attack in 2008.

Passing sentence, Judge Murray Shanks described the attack as "a shocking and barbaric piece of violence".

The judge told Gregory: 'This was a sustained assault and there was the use of the equivalent of a weapon – your teeth.

"This has had an ongoing effect on the victim and it was gratuitous degradation of him.

"This is not the most serious grievous bodily harm but it's up there."

He branded Gregory a danger to the public and jailed him for 11 years with an extended three-year licence period.

Gregory had stormed into his sister's flat in Erkenwald Road, Barking, where he began raining blows on Mr Qureshi, punching him repeatedly in the head.

As his terrified victim begged him to stop, Gregory pulled him off the sofa and headbutted him before kneeing him in the face.

Gregory then dragged Mr Qureshi outside "like a dead body" and tried to throw him down the stairs and through a window, before smashing his head against a wall.

Having sunk his teeth into Mr Qureshi's ear, he calmly walked away and spat out the piece of flesh.

Mr Qureshi said he feared for his life during the ordeal.

He added: "I could see a reflection of myself in a window and I saw him standing behind me.

"The next thing I remember is him leaning over and he ripped my ear off with his teeth.

"I was looking in the reflection and thinking 'Oh my God, he has literally just bitten my ear off'.

"Then he just casually walked off with his back to me then spat the ear out on the floor."

" couldn't believe this was happening, it was completely out of the blue, even at that point I didn't expect him to bite my ear off.

"I thought I was just going to be beaten the hell out of but he bit my ear off."

Gregory initially denied all knowledge of the attack, claiming he was at his girlfriend's house at the time of the attack, but later changed his story.