Published:
3:00 PM February 25, 2021
Updated:
3:13 PM February 25, 2021
Two children from Collier Row s Clockhouse Primary School picking up their Easter egg from Keystones Property.
- Credit: Clockhouse Primary School
A school in Collier Row has found a novel way to keep pupils entertained by creating a unique treasure hunt with a local estate agent.
Clockhouse Primary School has developed a strong relationship with Keystones Property over the past year, recently using this connection to give pupils a half-term treat.
Gavin Koten, head of the PA Our Clock House Association (OCA), explained how the joint effort came to be: We wanted to keep the kids busy, particularly during half-term. Scott Jay (owner of Keystones) came to us and asked if we could get something going.”
In Harold Hill, homes in Taunton Road, Barnstable Road and North Hill Drive were badly affected, with some residents asked to be rehoused rather than return to their flooded homes.
On the railways, trains were halted at Gidea Park, due to flooding at Brentwood and line subsidence at Chelmsford. Army lorries conveyed around 2,000 passengers to their destinations with delays up to five hours.
Local farms incurred heavy losses as fields were awash over a significant area. An estimated million pounds worth of agricultural damage had been caused. Livestock was lost and carcasses were found a week later along the banks of rivers, whilst crops that had been gathered were washed away or destroyed.
Students at Havering College and Royal Liberty.
- Credit: Roayl Liberty/Shanise Garner
We ve heard about the the quick changes schools have had to make for home learning and the strain on the teaching staff to carry on as normal, but how is home learning affecting secondary school pupils?
The
Recorder spoke to students from the Royal Liberty, Bower Park Academy and Havering College. This is their take.
Most students agreed the best thing about lockdown was not having to get up and go in to school.
Niamh Scannell, in Year 11 at Bower Park, Collier Row, said: It’s a lot easier to go off and practise as all the work is on Teams and you can email teachers.
Joanna was diagnosed with learning difficulties at age three and held back at primary school.
But, said Keith and Jean, she was “a very jovial and happy child”. She loved music, discos and karaoke.
At around 18, she started having seizures. Neurologists discovered she had epilepsy and sleep apnoea. They told her to start using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine at night.
She responded “marvellously” and “immediately ceased” having seizures in her sleep, they said.
Joanna Bailey was a very jovial and happy child who loved discos and karaoke, said her parents.
- Credit: The Bailey Family
But persistent daytime seizures, alongside her learning difficulties, made it impossible for her to work. Craving independence, she moved to a Romford care home, The Grange.
She explains: But I was sure he wouldn’t be! I started to have pains on the Monday and went into hospital on Christmas Eve. I was pushing for less than an hour and he was here.
“You can’t put the feeling into words, he was so perfect and to arrive on Christmas Day was really special. The staff were unbelievable, there was lots of Christmas spirit and everyone was so lovely. I couldn’t have asked for better.”
After the excitement of their festive arrival, the new family enjoyed their Christmas dinner on New Year’s Day.
Little Luna Martin arrived at 7am on Christmas Day.