Eighteen people were recognised at a ceremony in October organised by the Essex Chronicle Media Group. The Essex Achievement Awards were presented to people for exceptional service to their community during the year. Among them was Jane Head, an aerobics teacher who has led the warm-up session for thousands of women taking part in the Race for Life event in Hylands Park. She has encouraged women to raise money for Cancer Research and been an inspiration to those facing cancer themselves.

The event this year was extra special for Jane who was celebrating a decade of being clear of cancer herself. Jane is, of course, well known to many parishioners as the clerk to the Galleywood Parish Council.