Anne Suslak

Notley High School in Braintree achieved its best-ever GCSE results, with the proportion of students attaining Grade 5 or above in English and maths rising by 10% year on year and Grade 4 or above increasing by 9%. Among students receiving free school meals, Grade 5 attainment rose by 18%. Several students achieved outstanding results, including Grayson, Lara, Ruby and Sonny. Headteacher Mark Barrow attributed the success to the students’ hard work, staff dedication and family support, following strong sixth-form results earlier in the summer.

Students at Lift New Rickstones Academy are celebrating their GCSE and vocational results, with many progressing to sixth form, college, apprenticeships or employment. Ava Ward achieved seven grade 9s and one grade 7, while Oscar House, Rosie Gratton, Jessica Lynes and Sergiu Turkanu were also recognised for high results. School leaders Karen Jones and Gemma Frost praised students' hard work, resilience and achievements, as well as the staff who supported them.

Students at Lift Maltings are celebrating strong GCSE and vocational results after receiving extra lessons, mentoring, holiday study sessions and revision support. Ben achieved five grade 9s and will study A-levels at King Edward VI Grammar School, while Stanley and Oliver will also attend King Edward. Jessica and Chloe achieved high grades and will continue to Colchester Sixth Form. School leaders Leanne Abbott-Jones and Gemma Frost praised the students’ dedication and staff support as pupils progress to A-levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and other further-education routes.

Kelvedon St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy received a £1,500 donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes to buy new sports kits and equipment for football, cricket, rugby, running and netball, along with winter jackets. The donation is part of the developer’s community support near its Roman Gardens development in Kelvedon. The school says the kit will boost pupils’ pride, teamwork and participation in competitions while supporting its focus on healthy, active lifestyles.

Witham Running Club had 32 runners competing at 16 parkrun venues, with Andrew Smith breaking the 20-minute barrier at Walton and Annalise Etherington recording a course personal best at Maldon. Several members achieved personal bests at the ATW Colchester Friday Night 5k County Championships, while David Jobling established an eight-year club record for the M70-74 category. The club was also represented at trail and road events in Cold Norton and Lawford, with Terry Alabaster finishing second in the Cold Norton 10k.

Braintree Village is marking a decade of partnership with the First Stop Centre, which has supported 581 people facing homelessness, financial hardship and employment barriers. The partnership has contributed more than £136,000, helped 50 people secure full-time work, distributed thousands of gifts and winter wellness packs, and provided workshops and mentoring. Landsec has additionally awarded the charity £75,000 and pledged £60,000 more, while new sustainability initiatives include beehives and a planned beekeeping academy for beneficiaries.

Students and staff at Lift New Rickstones are celebrating strong A-level and Level 3 vocational results. Renee Whitson-Bell achieved two A grades and a B and will study theatre and performance studies at the University of Warwick, while Charlie Newley, Jess Bayley and Ciara Kennedy also secured places at the University of Essex after earning high grades. Principal Karen Jones attributed the results to students’ ambition, resilience and hard work, supported by revision sessions, careers guidance, pastoral care, holiday classes and small-group teaching. Lift Schools leaders praised the school community and highlighted university, technical training, apprenticeship and employment pathways as options for students.

Witham Town Council has applied to Braintree Council for a premises licence covering up to eight annual events in public spaces across Witham, including Newland Street, shopping-centre areas, Lockram Lane car park and Witham Town Park. Proposed events could include performances, films, live or recorded music and dancing, operating between 9am and 10pm. Members of the public can inspect the application and submit representations to Braintree Council by September 1, 2026.

Churchill Living will host a Picnic on the Patio event for people aged over 60 and their families at Mill Green Lodge in Witham. The August 14 gathering will include live music, picnic food, cocktails, garden games, and opportunities to meet current residents and the sales team. Mill Green Lodge offers one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments for rent or purchase, communal facilities, on-site management, and a 24-hour emergency careline.

Witham MP Priti Patel officially opened a new wing at St Dominics Residential Home in Kelvedon after touring the facility, meeting residents and staff, and speaking with the family-run home's operators. The expansion adds facilities for residents and families, while the home also provides specialist dementia care, including a sensory room and mobile sensory screen. St Dominics has achieved Platinum status under the Gold Standards Framework Quality Hallmark Award and is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission. Patel praised the home's staff, community connections and personalised care.

Coggeshall’s St Peter ad Vincula Church will host its 38th annual flower festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Themed “The Women Who Made Us Bloom,” the event will feature more than 22 floral displays created by about 30 arrangers, along with musical recitals, historical talks, refreshments, stalls, crafts, plants and children’s activities. Admission is free, with donations requested for church upkeep.

External restoration work has been completed on Rayne’s Grade II-listed Old School Room, a 17th-century building used for community events and activities. The project repaired, treated and repainted its external timber structure and window frames. Braintree Council provided a £10,000 grant through the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund, while the charity managing the building contributed £12,584. The project formed part of a wider £156,000 allocation supporting 18 district projects.

Four Bellway site managers in Essex received National House Building Council Pride in the Job Quality Awards for their work on local housing developments. Adam Hawkes and Joe Gracey each secured their third consecutive award, while Gary Wells and Ben Wilson earned their first. The managers highlighted teamwork and project challenges, and Bellway’s construction director commended their commitment to meeting rigorous industry standards.

Pizza GoGo in Braintree has applied for a new licence to extend its operating hours to 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends. The application, submitted by My Pizza Ltd, is available for public inspection at the Braintree District Council offices, with public comments accepted until August 7, 2026. Making false statements in connection with such applications can result in a fine of up to £5,000.

Multiple road closures and restrictions are scheduled across the Braintree district for maintenance work, affecting areas including Cressing Road, Harebell Drive, Beazley End, Duck End, Goldingham Drive and Long Green. Some closures will last several days beginning in late July or early August, with specific routes and alternative diversions provided. Works may continue for up to 18 months, with some roads reopening between phases.

A £5,212 grant from Braintree Council through the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund enabled new historical displays and building improvements at the Montefiore Institute in Stisted. The project includes curated exhibits, restored parquet flooring, and upgrades to support community use. Trustees expressed gratitude for local support, noting that the enhancements help preserve the institute’s heritage and provide an accessible cultural space for residents and visitors.

Chelmsford councillor Roy Whitehead was granted the honorary title of Freeman of the City in recognition of decades of service, including his leadership of major redevelopment projects and contributions to achieving city status. Council leaders and colleagues praised his long-term impact during a ceremony where he affirmed his commitment to supporting the city.

New members of the Witham Carnival Court were crowned during a ceremony at the Witham Grove Centre, marking the 50th anniversary of the Witham Carnival Association. Mayor Paul Heath took part in the handover from the retiring court, with Natasha, Shanola-Grace, Ella-Mae and Mia-Rose named to their respective roles for the 2026 carnival.

An engineer from Braintree, Felix Stock, cut his long hair to raise funds for Dentaid The Dental Charity, which provides dental care to people facing homelessness and hardship in the UK and abroad. Supported by his employer Dental Hygienics, the fundraiser increased awareness of Dentaid’s outreach work. Colleague Bilal Khan praised Stock’s initiative and community spirit, noting that the effort was entirely self‑motivated.

The Maldon Festival of Music, Arts and Culture will run from September 11 to 26 with more than 50 events across venues in Maldon, featuring performances in classical, folk, jazz, opera and theatre alongside visual arts and community activities. The programme includes preview events in July, an opening night of live music, the Maldon Regatta and the Maldon Classic Car Show. Headline acts include The Mighty Bosscats and singer-songwriter Florence Sommerville, with tickets available from July 17.

Witham Running Club delivered strong performances across several recent events, including standout finishes in the Springfield Striders Friday Night 5 Miler and the John Roberts 5k. Multiple runners achieved top placements in their categories, and the club showed broad participation in local park runs and endurance events, highlighting strong depth and consistency across its members.

An 18‑month refurbishment has upgraded Broomfield Hospital’s ICU with expanded bed spaces, modern equipment and ceiling‑mounted medical gas systems to improve patient care and staff efficiency. The redesign supports more awake patients in recovery and provides a calmer environment through improved layouts and lighting. The project was delivered through the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust’s equipment replacement programme and serves around 75 patients each month.

Marie Goldman outlines efforts to address local issues including ongoing concerns about inadequate progress at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, safety issues raised by constituents, and problems involving restrictive covenants. She highlights meetings with police leadership on community policing and public concerns about illegal e‑scooters and antisocial behaviour, and describes hosting a town hall to help residents understand their rights. She pledges to continue pressing government and working with other MPs to resolve these matters.

Community organisations in Essex and Hertfordshire will share £30,778 in grants from the Stansted Airport Community Fund, supporting 11 projects that enhance local facilities, community wellbeing and youth initiatives. Funding includes improvements to a Stebbing orchard, a new bistro trailer for Birchwood High School, solar panel upgrades for the Silver Leys Scout Group and a tractor for The Gibberd Garden. Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support, which targets projects within a 10‑mile radius of the airport to deliver long‑term local benefits.

Ed Welch, volunteer manager at Audley End House and Gardens, won Visit Essex’s 2026 Tourism Superstar Award for his work improving accessibility and community engagement. Tim Sykes of Adventure Island and Sam Edwards of The Three Horseshoes pub were named runners‑up for long-term service and contributions to local tourism. Essex County Council praised the winners for strengthening the county’s visitor economy.

Tina Townsend, chairwoman of the Witham Hub, will receive the British Citizen’s Award at the Palace of Westminster in recognition of her extensive community service. After surviving two strokes in 1999, she founded the Witham Hub to support residents facing challenges such as food insecurity, mental health issues, homelessness and social isolation. Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded its services and partnerships and installed 18 public defibrillators across multiple towns. Colleagues praise her impact on the Witham community, and the hub plans further growth in 2026.

A new Andy's Man Club support group will open in Great Dunmow on July 6 as the charity marks its tenth anniversary. Founded in memory of Andrew Roberts to address the stigma around men's mental health and suicide, the organisation has grown from one meeting in Halifax to more than 350 groups across the UK. The Great Dunmow group will meet weekly and offer free peer‑to‑peer, non‑clinical support for men aged 18 and above, with further information available through the charity's website and social channels.

Priti Patel voices support for National Lorry Week, highlighting the importance of the haulage and logistics sector to the local and national economy. She praises Witham’s logistics businesses and outlines industry challenges including rising fuel costs, business rates, national insurance increases, skills shortages, freight crime, and inadequate parking. Patel criticizes the Labour government for policies she says increase costs and restrict growth, pledging continued advocacy for local logistics firms that underpin UK supply chains.

Healthcare workers and volunteers from across the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust have been named finalists in the 2026 NHS Shine Awards, selected from more than 1,000 nominations across ten categories. Leaders praised the dedication and professionalism of staff and volunteers. Winners will be announced at the October ceremony, with sponsorship provided by HW Wilson Limited and additional support from several partner organisations.

A £500 donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes is enabling the Kelvedon and Feering Scout Group to undertake a residential trip to Wales, including climbing Snowdon and participating in outdoor skill‑building activities. Scout leaders expressed gratitude for the support, which will help all members take part in the programme designed to promote teamwork and leadership.