ELDERLY people in Brentwood are more at risk during the cold winter months than anywhere else in the county.

So, to make sure elderly couples like Zaza and Eric Walker from Doddinghurst make it safely through to the spring, the Gazette is backing this year's Surviving Winter campaign.

The appeal by the Essex Community Foundation aims to provide elderly and at-risk residents with potentially life-saving aid, from making sure gas bills are paid to providing a hot meal.

Stark figures from an Essex County Council report have shown that help is needed.

Brentwood has the highest rate of winter deaths – between December and March – in the county.

We are hoping our readers can help those suffering during the colder months, not just by raising money to support local charities for the elderly but by also looking out for their infirm neighbours.

Caroline Taylor, director of the Essex Community Foundation, said: "The aim of the Surviving Winter appeal is to help keep elderly people warm, safe and well during the winter."

Full story pages 8&9

THE leader of Brentwood Borough Council has warned critics of the cinema and retail complex development at William Hunter Way against making "dangerous" assumptions about the project.

Louise McKinlay said speculation about the ins and outs of the authority's discussions with Stockland, the Australian developer behind the project, was not helpful given that these negotiations "are necessarily subject to commercial confidentiality".

She added that it was crucial that the council took the time to make sure any deal concluded between the two parties was "the very best for Brentwood", given the fact that the project will be "one of the biggest ever improvements to the town" when it is completed, hopefully by the end of 2014.

Mrs McKinlay spoke to the Gazette in response to claims that Stockland wants to reduce the amount it would pay the council from £325,000 per year to £225,000 a year for the first 15 years following the conclusion of the development.

Separately, a council spokesman said the authority was in "no different a position" from when it began its partnership with Stockland in 2007. He said: "Details of all components of the deal are being finalised.

"The final proposal will only be signed and finalised if it works for Brentwood.

"If it is not in Brentwood's interest to sign, we won't."

As previously reported in the Gazette, Councillor Mike Le-Surf, the leader of the borough council's minority Labour group, has invoked a little-used piece of legislation known as Standing Order 1.4 to publicly quiz the authority about the project at the town hall on November 26.

Yet Mrs McKinlay said this week: "It is dangerous to look at one single and speculative component of the deal and make assumptions, as has been happening.

"Once we have all of the detail and a firm proposal, I will be bringing it first to the cross-party group for review and ultimately on to full council for final approval."

The Tory councillor, who represents Hutton North, added: "The development of William Hunter Way will be one of the biggest ever improvements to our town and that is why it is crucial to make sure we get the very best for Brentwood."

It is hoped that work on the project will begin next summer, although the council is under contract to negotiate with Stockland until December 2013.

When asked if the authority could walk away from any deal before then, Mrs McKinlay replied: "We are legally committed to the current deal until December 2013 and we expect progress before then."

The council spokesman added: "Pulling out before then is legally not an option."

Ongoing discussions between the council and the developer cover, among other things, parking both during the construction period and once the scheme is completed.

"No one part of the scheme should be considered in isolation but the overall proposals looked at in their entirety, once we have them," the spokesman said.

Mrs McKinlay added that it was "important to remember" that a final decision on the deal between the authority and the developer will be taken by full council.

Cllr Keith Parker, the chairman of the council's parking, borough project liaison and highways localism panel, concluded: "Brentwood residents want to see a cinema in the town and that's what we're working towards delivering."

A 4AM shopping trip snatched victory from the jaws of a double baking disaster and helped an 11-year-old land a slot on BBC'S Junior MasterChef.

Joe Stuckey appeared on last week's broadcast battling three other hopefuls in a challenge stage to make homemade fish fingers, tartar sauce and chips, and then on to lamb cutlets, colcannon, baby carrots and blackcurrant jus for his own recipe.

Joe, who lives with parents Julia and Geoff Stuckey in Ashdon Close, Hutton, may have narrowly missed out on a quarter-final slot – blamed in part on a misconceived soggy batch of chips – but that has only made him more determined to make it in the highly competitive world of professional cooking.

He said: "To be a judge on MasterChef would be brilliant but failing that I would really want to have my own restaurant. I want to make cooking a career. I want to be a chef.

"But then again I don't have a choice. It's the only thing I'm good at."

It was the youngster's hearty resolve at home that helped him show off his cooking skills in front of chef John Torode.

Just 32 hopefuls managed to get through to the final stages ahead of more than 1,000 applicants.

After missing the application window for last year's series, Joe was determined to shine for this season's run of programmes.

And so after applying via the BBC website, followed up by a telephone interview, the aspiring chef was asked to impress a BBC panel with some of his cooking.

He was asked to appear before a panel of judges at a production studio in Camden Lock – and bring with him a dish that would impress.

He chose to create an Italian cake, rich with marscarpone – a recipe that had already seen him triumph at a cookery competition at his former school Shenfield St Mary's.

However, the first attempt made by the youngster, who is now a Becket Keys pupil, ended in a burnt sponge. His second creation went horribly flat, due to the wrong type of chocolate.

But so determined was Joe to have a crack on the children's version of the popular cookery programme, he travelled to an all-night supermarket, when most people were in bed, to pick up the all-important ingredients he needed to start over again.

He has his grandmother to thank. She made the late-night dash with him to the store on Gallow's Corner, near Romford.

When he arrived at the studio the sponge was still warm.

Joe, added: "Although I was a bit disappointed not to get through to the next stage, it was a great experience. Just to get through to the first stage and on to TV was great in itself.

"To be fair TJ, who won it, deserved it in the end."

John Torode said of Joe's lamb dish: "I really enjoyed the flavours, the mixture of the lamb with the cabbage spring onions and potato, it was really wonderful."

His mum Julia said: "He was a bit crushed when he didn't make it through, but he's okay now.

"The thing is he's passionate about it.

"Cooking is all he talks about. He lives and breathes it."

BURGLARS stole £4,000 in cash and £10,000 worth of cigarettes from a supermarket in a late night raid.

Two men, one said to be wearing a balaclava, smashed their way into the Co-op, in Rayleigh Road, Hutton, at 11.30pm on Sunday, November 4 before conducting what police described as a "messy search" of the premises.

After grabbing the cash from a safe, and stealing the cigarettes, the raiders fled the store, which had been shut at the time, and made good their escape.

The burglary was reported to Essex Police at 5.51am on Monday, November 5.

Footage from the store's CCTV cameras has been given to police although at the time of going to press, the Gazette had not been able to obtain any still images.

In a brief statement, a Co-op spokesman said: "At around 11.30pm on Sunday, November 4, two people broke into our food store on Rayleigh Road and stole a quantity of cigarettes and cash.

"The store was closed at the time.

"CCTV has been given to the police and as with any incident such as this, we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."

Rumours that the shop's alarm had not been set properly were dismissed by the company. A Co-op spokesman said:"The alarm is set routinely every night, so it would have been set."

The Gazette understands the men were in their early 20s and one of them was wearing a balaclava.

Anyone who has any information about the burglary should call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

AUTUMN cometh and with it, the colder nights.

The leaves are starting to fall off the trees, while the squirrels and other wildlife are desperately looking for food to tide them through the coming winter.

Like the fruit trees in your garden, the wild fruit and acorns are in short supply this year due to the drought conditions at the beginning of 2012 and the extreme wet towards the end.

The weather affected our own harvest as well with yields of corn being at least 20 per cent down on previous years and the bushel weight down as well, sometimes desperately so.

Wheats come in three sorts; bread making, biscuit and feed for livestock.

The bushel weight of bread making quality wheat this year is poor and throughout the world drought or wet has taken its toll, so the price has risen.

This is good for the arable farmer – who has no control over the price as that is decided globally and by speculators – as it helps recoup some of the losses due to the low yields and quality but is bad for the livestock farmer as their feed costs have risen – indeed many, because of the wet land, have started using up their winter fodder already.

All this is bad for you and me as the price of meat and bread will rise in the supermarkets.

It would be nice to think that they could absorb some of this increase.

EPPING Ongar Railway marked Remembrance Sunday with a giant poppy attached to the front of their 1929 locomotive, Pitchford Hall.

The poppy was designed by Trevor Saunders, a carpenter who volunteers on the railway.

General manager Simon Hanney said: "The idea first came about when we were discussing possible ways to mark Remembrance Sunday.

"We joked about how large a poppy would have to be to fit on the front of the train, and ended up with the idea that it would be nice if a train could wear a poppy."

The smaller Class 25 Number D7523 diesel train also had a pair of poppies attached to the front.

The giant wooden flower heads took weeks to build and had to be carefully measured to fit on the trains.

The railway held a two-minute silence on Armistice Day, with the locomotive's whistle marking the start as volunteers and visitors paid their respects.

The Royal British Legion was assisted with their collections by Ongar Rotary Club president Roger King.

Remembrance pages 14&15

A CHILD has been reunited with his cuddly dog thanks to an internet campaign.

William Hobbs, three, lost Teddy while out shopping with his father in Brentwood High Street on Saturday last week.

Dad Geoff Hobbs said: "We spent two hours backtracking through the high street trying to find it.

"We thought that we had dropped it in a charity shop, but when it wasn't there we went back to every place we had visited."

Katie Groves, William's mother, said: "He was never seen without his teddy dog, he took it with him everywhere.

"William convinced me to put a poster in the St Francis Hospice shop window and buy him a new one, but it was absolutely huge; it wasn't the same as Teddy."

Teddy was found outside the Western Road home of Paul Shanley, who decided to set up a Facebook page to reunite the lost dog with his owner.

The sales and marketing manager also made a poster and put it in the front window of his house.

"I know how my daughter feels about her teddies, and I could tell it had been cuddled," he said.

Mr Shanley's Facebook page attracted 20 "likes", however, it was not until a leaflet distributor spotted both posters that Mr Shanley and Ms Groves were introduced.

The woman gave Mr Shanley a contact number for William and his mother before the two were reunited the following Tuesday.

Miss Groves said: "When Teddy was found he was over the moon".

TENTATIVE plans to build a four-storey apartment block on the site of a Brentwood town centre church have left residents horrified.

Householders in Primrose Hill say the proposal, in which a mix of 18 one, two and three-bedroom flats would be built on the site of Breakthru Church, would lead to a loss of privacy and cause parking problems in the area.

They also believe a development of the size proposed would not be in keeping with the character of the area.

Jennifer Daly has lived next door to the church for the past 20 years with her husband John.

Speaking to the Gazette after viewing the proposal at an open day held at the church last week, she said: "We are shocked at the unprecedented height, scale and out-of-character style of the proposed development for the size of plot.

"There is no parking provided for any of the 19 apartments and no consideration has been given to the construction process on a busy junction between Crown Street and Primrose Hill.

"We are very distressed about the loss of privacy that would result from living next door to a proposed four-storey block of apartments only 1.3 metres from our boundaries with windows and balconies directly overlooking our property.

"It is upsetting to think that any developer, which we understand to be Breakthru Church itself, would even consider presenting a plan with such disregard for the impact on the quality of life of the surrounding neighbours.

"We are encouraged to see how other residents equally horrified have immediately rallied round to offer support and have grouped together to campaign for the sensible development of the Crown Street/Primrose Hill site."

She added: "We are keen that the developer will now rethink and come back with some drastically revised plans more in keeping with the area."

Another Primrose Hill resident, Natalie Ludwig, 35, said: "The building proposed would be a monstrosity.

"It is huge and totally out of character for Primrose Hill and it is not in keeping with the other flats in the immediate area."

Dean Kitchener, pastor at the Pentecostal church, said the proposal stemmed from the fact that the church is no longer big enough for his congregation.

In a bid to find new premises, he is working with a Yorkshire-based firm called ProVision UK, which specialises in this field.

Mr Kitchener said: "We are in the pre-planning stage so nothing has been set in stone.

"However, we are in a position where the church is experiencing growth.

"We don't use the church building on a Sunday morning any more because it is too small for us and at the same time we are expanding the community things that we do so the capacity of the church is starting to limit how effective we can be."

He added: "When it comes to a development I don't think you are ever going to make everyone happy so it is about finding the right balance for the site."

Simon Brenchley, managing director of Huddersfield-based ProVision UK, said the firm hoped to submit a planning application for the site to Brentwood Borough Council before or shortly after Christmas.

He stressed the exact mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments had yet to be decided, before adding that the firm had listened to residents' views when the proposal was exhibited at the church last week.

He added: "We wanted to be proactive and we were thanked for doing that.

"We are also very sensitive about this kind of thing and have already taken on board some of the concerns people raised."

Following the proposal, Primrose Hill residents set up a pressure group calling for sustainable development in the area.

For more information, e-mail sensibledevelopment@hotmail.co.uk

Five people have been arrested in connection with the death of Lee Balkwell who was found dead trapped in a cement mixer ten years ago.

Mr Balkwell, 33-year-old Essex county junior golfer, died when he apparently became trapped between the drum and chassis while cleaning out a cement mixer in the early hours of July 18, 2002, at Baldwin's Farm in Upminster.

Officers from the Essex and Kent Police serious crime directorate this morning, Wednesday, arrested a 43 year-old man from Upminster on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and perjury while a 66-year-old man, a 63-year-old woman and another woman aged 49 from Upminster were also arrested for perverting the course of justice and perjury as was another man aged 38 from Southend.

The arrests were made by officers working under the direction of Det Chief Supt Lee Catling from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate (SCD) who has been investigating the circumstances leading up to Mr Balkwell 's death since August 2010.

In January this year a report from the IPCC said police made crucial mistakes in a "seriously flawed" investigation into the death of Mr Balkwell.

An inquest in 2008 returned a verdict of unlawful killing through gross negligence.

MORE than 41 million people visited Essex throughout 2011 spending almost £3 billion in the process, new figures reveal.

The figures from the 2011 Economic Impact of Tourism Report, which were announced at the Visit Essex Conference at Wivenhoe House in Colchester today, also show that more than 50,000 people were employed in tourism roles.

That equates to 8 per cent of all employment in the county.

Chair of Visit Essex, the county council's tourism board,George Kieffer said: "I am delighted that tourism has held up so well in the difficult economic climate.

"The Visit Essex Team have been working hard on behalf of all our members to promote the many and diverse attractions that we have to offer to the rest of the UK and beyond. These figures prove that Essex can compete with other UK tourist destinations and that this county truly has it all in terms of visitor attraction."

 Essex County Councillor Kevin Bentley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Vice Chair of Visit Essex, added: "Once again Essex has shown itself as a popular tourist destination.

"Tourism spend and employment have been up year on year, even during difficult economic times. Essex is a great place to live and visit and I hope that these figures will encourage people to come to the county and see it for themselves."

 In addition to the release of the Tourism Report, Visit Essex also revealed the results of recent research they commissioned into the type of people that visit the county. These findings will guide future marketing campaigns for 2013 and beyond.

According to Arkendford segmentation research, Essex attracts a higher than average percentage of younger visitors, drawn to the area by the exposure that Essex has enjoyed on television as well as its lively nightlife.

However over the year-long study, visitors are increasingly seeing Essex as a place to relax, to enjoy walks in the countryside or along its coastline and to visit the many historic sites, including Stow Maries Aerodrome, the oldest and most complete World War One airfield in the UK and Europe.

Positively, the research also shows that Essex attracts frequent repeat visitors.

 For more information on Visit Essex and the tourism report log onto www.visitessex.com

I recently replied to a Tweet from a fellow teacher, which asked for advice about one of her PGCE students. The problem? Whilst her student is an avid reader, she has begun to over-analyse everything and is no longer enjoying the experience.  This is not un-common. I myself find it difficult to read a book without analysing the author's grammar or looking out for niggling vocabulary choices. For example, after reading the first few chapters of 'The Hunger Games', I couldn't go on. Why? Because the word 'but' had been over-used (in my ever-so slightly warped, snobbish opinion). I know, I know, it's a terrible admission. One of the bestselling books of the year and I cast it aside, refusing to spend any more of my precious reading time on it. 

It is a sad fact that students of English Literature often find themselves in this predicament. I would be the first to admit that I am indeed a book snob. I'm not proud of it, but cannot deny it. So what's the solution? Well, if it's books for children that you are looking for, it's quite simple. Read the book (or an extract at least) to the child and watch for the reaction. A child will give you their honest untainted opinion about a book. They won't harp on about rhythm or the hidden messages found within; they will just tell you whether it's interesting for them.  I was recently sent the proof of a new picture book. My initial response was quite negative.  I felt that the illustrations would be a bit scary and the flow was stilted. However, I decided to 'test it out' on a group of unsuspecting children (cue evil laugh), thinking that they would be bound to agree with me. Was I proved right? In a word, no. They absolutely loved the story and became immediately attached to the main character. I was happy to be wrong (not a frequent admission from me), because I'd much rather stumble upon a book that children enjoy than find something which does nothing for the reader/audience.

The answer becomes trickier if the book is for you. I'd love to tell you that I have overcome my high and mighty ways, but I would be lying. I finished my degree 16 years ago and my MA 5 years ago, but I still over analyse terribly. When looking for a book for myself, I tend to go very much on recommendation from friends these days, although I do read a lot of 'children's' books for myself too! Who's to say what a 'children's book' is anyway? Can you draw a definitive line between books intended for children and those intended for children? That's a whole other debate...until next time.

ONE of the longest serving politicians in Essex and a Freeman of the city of Chelmsford has died after a heart operation that he hoped would give him a new lease of life.

Delmas Ashford, a Chelmsford councillor for 56 years, was still working on city business days before the surgery at the London Chest Hospital.

Speaking to the Chronicle only last month, the 82-year-old of Broomfield, Chelmsford, said of his impending operation: "They tell me the odds are not good, but they are not good either way.

"I want to get on with life and my duties, so I am going through with it."

His widow Joyce Ashford, who runs the village Darby and Joan Club where the jovial white-haired councillor played Father Christmas for many years, said: "He faced it bravely. He had a great life and was fed up with being breathless and incapacitated and so was determined to have the surgery come what may.

"We feared he might be housebound after the operation, which just would not have suited his personality at all. I am taking it well because we had discussed it often and he said the inevitability of dying had to be faced.

"We are all so glad he did not suffer."

Cllr Ashford had served on the present district, borough and city council since 1973, mostly as an Independent but joined the Conservatives in 1998 to get help canvassing, defecting from the party in 2011 and standing successfully again as an Independent.

Five years ago he was honoured with the freedom of the borough for being the longest-serving member.

He joined the council, then a rural district, at an unopposed by-election in December 1956 after the death of Cllr Joe Day of the car firm Days of Broomfield.

He stayed on when councils merged to form Chelmsford district, later borough in 1974.

He relinquished his Independent status and joined the Conservatives in order to get help with election campaigning.

He went back to being an Independent for the last local poll saying: "I didn't like the way Broomfield was run from Saffron Walden now, since the parliamentary changes at the last general election.

"I also had some qualms about the U-turns the Government has made on things like the forest privatisation and the NHS, so I thought it right to stand down."

He leaves behind his wife Joyce of 50 years, three children and nine grandchildren and lived all his life in the village.

When he was nominated a freeman, he said: "I am greatly honoured. I wondered why officials have been asking me 'funny' questions recently.

"I am not really a party political animal but strongly believe it is a privilege to be allowed to serve residents as councillor. In fact, I am a bit of a socialist really.

"That's why I support the maximum amount of affordable housing, so that our next generation can find homes in the borough. I joined the Tories to gain their canvassing backing. It's hard doing it on your own."

As a Conservative administration member he chaired the sometimes controversial development committee, which has seen through the new local plan, now in sight of providing the hundreds of new affordable homes he envisioned in 2006.

In work he was a sales representative in local government supply, educated at Mid-Essex Technical College and School of Art, now Anglia Ruskin University, and did national service in Egypt.

His joy of debate came from being encouraged to serve on the YMCA club committee by mentor Broomfield Quaker Mrs Nora Marriage.

He was a prolific letter writer and watchdog for his area dealing with issues as diverse as pedestrian crossings and post office closures.

He was a supporter of a road route across the Chelmer Valley linking Essex Regiment Way with Broomfield Hospital to reduce congestion in the village on the approach to the medical facility.

In 2002, he was the first to demand publicly that the borough council found land for Chelmsford City FC to move back into town after years in exile at Maldon and Billericay after the former New Writtle Street ground was turned into new homes.

At a planning committee in 2008 he slammed his fist on the council chamber desk to imitate the noise residents would suffer if early lorry deliveries were introduced at Tesco in Wood Street.

Chelmsford council leader Roy Whitehead said: "Delmas was a hard-working and diligent councillor and served the residents of Broomfield well for an amazing length of time that will be hard to beat.

"All members of the council will miss him and mourn his passing and we send our condolences to his wife Joyce and his family."

A minute's silence was held at the request of former mayor Cllr Bob Shepherd in his honour at Thursday's development committee, of which he was a former chairman.

Daughter Glynnis added: "It was always dad's wish to 'die in harness' and he did."

A DRUG dealer who injected his friend with a fatal shot of heroin two days after Christmas has been jailed for three years.

Daniel Spinks, 32, of Porters Field, Braintree, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marc Clapson, who died last year.

Mr Clapson, a father-of-one, died on December 27 at a flat in Davies Court, Rose Hill, after overdosing on the Class A drug.

Sentencing Spinks, who had been sleeping rough at the time of his friend's death, Judge Charles Gratwicke said no amount of remorse could bring back Mr Clapson.

The judge said: "As a result of that fatal injection, a life has been lost – parents mourn the death of a son and a 14-year-old girl mourns the death of a father.

"Dreams have been dashed and those close to him are left with an unfillable void."

The court heard that Mr Clapson had slipped into alcoholism in 2008 after the breakdown of his relationship with the mother of his child.

He had overdosed on heroin before but had stopped using and sought help for his problems with alcohol, attending the Salvation Army-run New Direction shelter in Bocking Road, Braintree.

"The picture that becomes clear is that by November 2011 he was not using any drugs of abuse," said prosecutor Andrew Jackson.

"He was not a heroin user but was an alcoholic, two things that were known to the defendant."

Mr Clapson spent Christmas with his parents, Sandra and Barry Clapson, in Braintree and on December 27 he left their home at 10.30am to buy some beer.

He was due back for lunch but did not return.

The court heard that by 6pm he was at the Davies Court flat with Spinks and two other men, and all had been drinking heavily.

At 6.23pm an ambulance was called to the property and paramedics found Mr Clapson on the floor not breathing, surrounded by needles and syringes.

Attempts to save his life were futile and at 7.27pm he was pronounced dead.

Spinks was questioned by police and told one officer before being arrested: "I might as well tell you, Marc asked for help and I injected him, I think in his right arm, the crook of his right arm."

A postmortem examination on December 28 revealed that Mr Clapson died of alcohol-heroin co-toxicity.

"It's the prosecution's case that Mr Clapson was not a regular user of heroin and the defendant had obtained the drug for him and knew, not only that Mr Clapson was dependent on alcohol, he had been drinking heavily.

"He had then gone on to administer that heroin by injection, as he later admitted to police and other people."

Mitigating Ian Dowty said: "The defendant regarded Mr Clapson as a friend and what happened is the very last thing he wanted to happen. If he could put back the clock he would do so."

His client feels "genuine remorse", he added

The court heard that Spinks had a string of previous convictions, including theft and burglary, and had been sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 for supplying cocaine and heroin.

He had also been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence for possessing an offensive weapon.

As well as the three-year sentence for manslaughter, Judge Gratwicke told Spinks he had to spend a further six months in prison for breaching the suspended sentence.

A TRIO of ex-serviceman from Billericay's Royal British Legion branch recounted some of their tales to a group of youngsters ahead of Sunday's Remembrance Day commemorations.

Mik Dunn, 80, who served with the 8th King Royal Irish Hussars tank regiment, John Bowater, 87, who served in the Royal Navy, and Len Hale, 90 from the RAF Regiment, enjoyed lunch and 1940s-style entertainment at Mayflower High School on Friday.

Students from Year 7, alongside members of the peer support team in Year 10, welcomed the veterans to help commemorate Armistice Day and acknowledge the invaluable work of the Royal British Legion.

Mr Dunn, secretary of the Legion branch, who missed the war, but who served on Conqueror tanks, said: "It's been good to chat to them about what we did in the forces and our experience. They are really good kids."

Among the group of students was Year 10 Matt Pidgeon, 14, from Billericay. He said: "It's been interesting to hear about the training they went through."

Ruth Trevellyan, student support manager, and Karen Bainbridge, librarian of the school in Stock Road, invited the veterans back after a similar visit last year.

Ms Bainbridge said: "At the end of the day, these guys are not going to be around forever, so it's important that younger generations hear about what they did. The lives that these youngsters lead would not be the same without what they did."

Mrs Trevellyan said: "We were delighted to invite the veterans back to the school, following a very successful event last year.

"The Royal British Legion is committed to helping young people understand the issues of Remembrance, conflict and the importance of peace, and our students were fascinated to hear the stories from the representatives of the Legion and their recollections of times past.

"It also allowed our students to appreciate the work undertaken by the Royal British Legion and to realise that its work in standing shoulder to shoulder with all who serve and have served in the past is still as relevant today as it was when it was formed over 90 years ago."

The trip coincides with the first of two visits undertaken by students in Year 9 to the Belgian battlefields of World War I.

The students visited Sanctuary Wood, The Menin Gate and the Passchendaele 1917 Museum, before laying a wreath of poppies at Tyne Cot Cemetery, which lies about five miles north-east of the Belgian town of Ypres.

Mr Richard Maples, head of humanities, said: "This is the British Memorial to the Missing and bears the names of 54,896 of those who died between 1914 and 1917, but have no known grave.

"Each student is given a wooden cross to place at a grave of their choice at Tyne Cot as a vivid reminder of those who have given their lives for the freedom we enjoy today."

IT was Brentwood ladies who claimed bragging rights over their neighbours after this fine win at New Lodge on Sunday.

It was Nikita Whinnett's 14-minute hat-trick that provided the platform for this fully deserved Brentwood victory.

The success, completed thanks to Cristina Fragnito's inaugural goal for the club, means that Brentwood take their place in the draw for the First Round Proper of the premier female knockout competition in the country for the very first time, as well as pocketing £225 in prize money.

Brentwood centre-back Nicole Manning characterised this within two minutes of the start, throwing herself into a crunching tackle on Billericay forward Sophie Whiting to concede a corner.

After both players had received treatment, Nikki Dunsdon was unfortunate to see her header connect with the outside of the right-hand post from Steph Poleyket's flag-kick.

Danielle Kite quickly responded for the visitors, collecting possession from Whinnett and arrowing a driven shot into the gloves of Michelle Bridgeman, who gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Layla Prior rose well to push out Dunsdon's cross above the head of Emma Roberts just before the quarter-of-an-hour mark, and a further opportunity was wasted by the hosts when Dunsdon whacked the ball wide from Whiting's pass.

Brentwood struggled to keep hold of the ball and, when they did launch an attack, they suffered from a lack of bodies in the penalty area in support.

A Billericay counter-attack after Kite had failed to control Whinnett's pass almost led to a goal two minutes later, but Roberts slashed wide from Poleyket's square pass.

There was no profligacy on the half-hour when the favour was returned; Roberts crossed from the right, Whiting helped the ball on and former Brentwood player Poleyket guided her shot beyond Prior to give Billericay the lead.

Having fallen behind, Brentwood were stung into action and an equaliser came within four minutes. Rachel Armstrong and Lucy Faraday were involved in working the ball into the penalty area from the right-hand side and, when it ran loose, Whinnett swooped in anticipation to hoist over Bridgeman and into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Whinnett then latched onto Walker's 60-yard pass to fire underneath the keeper and make it 2-1.

Bilericay Town manager Ian Bent then removed Manning, still struggling with the injury picked up in the opening exchanges, and freshened up the Brentwood side again by bringing forward Fragnito on for Kerri Thomas at half-time.

In the 48th minute Whinnett completed her hat-trick at the end of an exciting move firing her effort into the roof of the net.

Billericay were right back in the game at 3-2 in the 57th minute. Whiting delivered a corner from the right and, although Poleyket's stabbed attempt was blocked, Laura Wheeler rifled the rebound into the net.

Another corner, this time from Poleyket, saw Billericay go perilously close to a leveller as Marie Barker glanced a header inches wide of the left post on the hour and Whiting followed that by skewing wide from Roberts' pass from the resultant goal-kick.

There was some relief when Brentwood restored their two-goal cushion in the 63rd minute.

Like Billericay's second, the goal came from a set-piece as Rose's corner was cleared at the near post. Kite picked up the loose ball and found Fragnito, who forced her effort beyond Bridgeman from close-range to register her first goal for the club.

Brentwood's back-line stood firm to ensure a historic victory.

A METROPOLITAN police officer who got his girlfriend to lie in court for him has been jailed.

PC Michael Turner, 44, of Hawkes Road, Witham, was found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice along with his ex-girlfriend, nurse and Botox practitioner, Nicola Howell, 49, of St Mary's Road, Chigwell.

The pair appeared in Witham Magistrates' Court in September 2010 after Turner, a firearms officer at London City Airport, was caught at twice the legal drink-drive limit.

During that hearing, he claimed that Howell – unbeknown to him – had laced his drinks with vodka to relax him after a stressful day. This was a story that Howell went along with.

After the hearing in 2010, Turner was given an absolute discharge, the lowest form of punishment available to the courts and he kept his driver's licence.

It was only when a police officer in the case became suspicious of their story and interviewed Howell again that she admitted lying for Turner, claiming that she did so because she was afraid of him.

Turner claimed that he would never drink-drive because he relied on his driver's licence to enable him to see his severely autistic daughter, as well as for his job. He said that on the day of his arrest in 2010 he had only drunk two-and-a-half pints of Guinness and he was aware that Howell had in fact called the police to report him being over the limit.

Throughout their trial last month Turner and Howell sat at opposite ends of the dock as details of their "tumultuous relationship" were exposed.

Before sentencing on Friday, Turner's defence, Simon Livingstone, warned that he could be "targeted and even be a trophy", in prison. He added that Turner would lose out on £500,000-worth of salary and pension, as well as up to 65 per cent of his salary contributions.

Turner was jailed for 18 months and was banned from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs.

Howell was also sentenced to a six-month prison sentence and ordered to pay £500 in costs.

Judge David Turner QC said: "This strikes at the very root of the criminal justice system."

He added that there was something profoundly shameful about a police officer conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

GREG Hernandez led the way as Leopards won a tight game 62-59 against Leicester Warriors on Sunday.

The Big Cats survived a late comeback from the visitors before wrapping up their second vcars.co.uk Division One victory.

Taner Adu added 17 points and four assists, while Carl Josey chipped in with ten points and five rebounds.

However, Hernandez stole the show with a 21 point, 15 rebound double-double.

Player/coach Robert Youngblood only managed one point, but added seven assists, nine rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes of action.

Leopards started slowly, with only Adu getting on the scoresheet as Warriors built a 14-4 lead after six and a half minutes.

Adu doubled his tally to bring the Big Cats within six before Hernandez picked up the scoring mantle, hitting five straight points including an and-one as the Leicester lead was reduced to 14-13 at the first break.

Simon Cummings and Lawrence Brown extended the run to 13-0 to put Leopards up by three points before Emile Hopkins broke the tear.

Scores from Josey and Hernandez kept Leopards in front, but it was Eugene Pettaway who scored the final basket of a low-scoring half to cut the hosts lead to 27-26 going into the locker room.

Cummings hit a single free-throw to open the second half before Josey buried a trey and Adu made it a seven point game with 7:28 on the clock.

The Big Cats remained in control, and Josey again scored from downtown to put them 49-38 with 1:31 remaining in the third period only to see Warriors score the final four points, to make it a seven point game going into the final break.

Adu opened the fourth period scoring before Warriors hit six straight points to cut the lead to three. Youngblood's assist to Cummings put his side up by five with as many minutes remaining.

But Warriors again hit back as Pettaway hit two baskets in a 6-0 run to put the visitors 54-53 ahead with 3:43 on the clock.

Leopards' two Americans sparked the run which finally wrapped up the win as Hernandez scored either side of a Cummings basket and a Youngblood block, before Adu completed the 8-0 run to put the Big Cats 61-54 ahead with 87 seconds remaining.

Elliot Sentance drained a three and Pettaway scored a pair at the line as Warriors had one last run, but Youngblood broke the run to wrap up the win.

The Big Cats are without a game this weekend, and return to Basildon Sporting Village on Sunday November 25 when Hemel Storm are the visitors.

MORE than 2,000 people honoured the county's war dead at a poignant Remembrance Day ceremony in Chelmsford on Sunday.

More than 40 wreaths, the first laid by the city's mayor, were placed around the Duke Street war memorial, from representatives of the Royal British Legion, youth groups and the emergency services.

The crowds were joined by two survivors of the Second World War, including 92-year-old James Underwood – who served as a gunnery officer in the Royal Navy.

He took part in the infamous "Murmansk Run" – a 1,600 mile-dash through Arctic waters to supply Britain's Russian allies, bringing the Red Army vital weapons and food.

But the voyage to northern Russia was never routine and the crews faced a constant threat of Arctic ice, venomous storms and attack from German torpedoes or aircraft stationed on the Norwegian mainland.

"It's a bit chilly here today but nothing would ever compare with what it was like in those Arctic waters," said Mr Underwood, whose colleagues have been eulogised by the Soviet Union and Russia for decades.

He joined the Royal Navy in 1935 by lying about his age – he was in fact just 15 when he enlisted – and served on HMS Firedrake and HMS Westcott.

He was injured when his ship was hit by German mortar shells, cracking his skull on the deck, which left him with permanent hearing damage.

"You'll never know what it's like to see your comrades going overboard and knowing they will only have two minutes to live," said Mr Underwood.

Mr Underwood, who was born in Stratford, now lives in a Broomfield care home and attended the weekend ceremony with his daughter Jill.

He is a member of the 'V & W' Destroyer Association, The Not Forgotten Association and has been to Buckingham Palace four times in recognition of his service.

Amazingly, he is also a member of the Russian Convoy Club – and says he still hates fish after his experiences in the Article Circle.

"Once, the convoy to Russia ran out of food so we dropped a depth charge into the sea, which threw up hundreds of fish onto the ice for us to collect them in buckets.

"I haven't been able to stand fish in any form since then," said Mr Underwood.

After the war, he became a docklands police officer and served 26 years before retiring. He lived in Maldon with Grace, his late wife of 55 years.

There are fewer than 200 convoy veterans still alive and their white berets represent the Arctic ice flows.

On Sunday, the formal proceedings were started on the steps of City Hall by Canon Ivor Moody, vice dean of Chelmsford Cathedral.

After Binyon's For the Fallen was read, the Last Post was played and City Mayor, Cllr Christopher Kingsley, recited the Beatitudes, followed by a prayer by his chaplain, the Rev Carol Ball.