Hundreds of people were tonight expected to pay tribute at a special memorial service for a former Benfleet headteacher.

The service will be a celebration of Cyndy Batty's career. She was head of South Benfleet primary school for 18 years and died aged just 54.

Acting school head, Dominic Carver, Castle Point MP Bob Spink and Benfleet vicar Bob Richards will speak during the service at Chelmsford Cathedral.

The school's choir will perform and youngsters will read out their own penned thoughts and memories of the popular head. Mr Carver said: "It is going to be a celebration of her working life and will focus on her 18 years at our school."

Miss Batty, who lived in Billericay, died in St Luke's Hospice, Basildon, in August six weeks after becoming terminally ill.

Published Friday, January 17, 2003

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