ONE YEAR AGO

October 3, 2007

A war of words is raging between staff and students at Helena Romanes School, Dunmow, over a controversial change of dress code for sixth-form pupils.

The dispute has seen a group of students condemn changes as being part of a “totalitarian regime”.

Until this academic year, sixth-formers were allowed to wear casual clothing, provided it was not too skimpy.

But now they must wear smart dress, such as shirts and ties for the boys, and skirts and blouses for girls, in a move new head of sixth-form Matt Fletcher said would improve students’ work ethos.

* Regulars at a pub who stripped off for a charity calendar are celebrating after it sold out.

Drinkers at the Horse and Groom pub, Cornish Hall End, bared almost all for the calendar in September – and it has sold 500 copies in just over three weeks, raising money for cancer research.

TEN YEARS AGO

October 1, 1998

Television personality Sir Harry Secombe helped get anniversary celebrations off to a good start when he visited Gosfield Lake Golf Club.

Sir Harry visited the club to commemorate its tenth anniversary, and while there sang an impromptu song to entertain the golfers. He also unveiled a plaque marking the ten-year landmark.

* A Braintree clinic had two reasons to celebrate. Staff wore authentic 1940s costumes for an open day to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NHS and 68 years of the clinic.

40 YEARS AGO

October 4, 1968

When Janet Hunt left school at the age of 16 to become a groom, her headmistress jokingly told her to let her know if she made the Olympic Games.

One of the first things Janet, of Strudwick Close, Braintree, did when she arrived at Mexico City last week was to send a postcard to her old school.

She has gone to Mexico with her employer, a member of the British dressage team at the Olympic Games, as groom to the British horses.

* A second telephone exchange is to be set up in Braintree – at Great Bradfords Farm – to serve the eastern side of the town, Cressing and Stisted.

About 240 subscribers have been given advance warning of the new exchange, which will come into operation in March, as their telephone numbers will have to be changed.

50 YEARS AGO

October 2, 1958

Mr and Mrs Stanley Dance, of Bradford Street, Braintree, are meeting their special friend, jazz musician Duke Ellington, who is visiting Britain.

On his last visit to Britain, the famous musician stayed for a while at their home, Cottesmore.

Mr Dance is a jazz critic of international repute and Mrs Dance formerly worked with Duke Ellington in America.