THE most recent Ofsted inspection for South Nottinghamshire Academy judged the school to be 'good' overall – the next to best category in the new Ofsted framework.

Dan Philpotts, who will take over the reigns from Michael Dennison as head at the academy from September, said he hoped the school would be judged 'outstanding' in its next report.

He said: "My aim is to get the school to the 'outstanding' level and I think this is certainly achievable by the time of our next inspection.

"Part of how we will achieve this is showing that we can sustain our good progress and high levels of performance over time. Another part is around our community involvement and bringing the community into the school as much as possible."

The school will be totally rebuilt in 2016 with brand new buildings. The local community is currently being consulted about how they would like the school to look and what they would like it to provide.

The Ofsted report follows the announcement of a new management team and leadership structure at the academy, including the appointment of Mr Philpotts as head of academy.

Andrew George has been appointed as joint principal for South Nottinghamshire Academy and South Wolds Academy, while Deborah Giles has been elected as the chairman of the local governing body, taking over from Tina Brooke, who has stepped down after two years.

Mr Philpotts added: "I live near the school and I have two young children. My attitude has always been 'Would the school be good enough for my children? If it is then we are going in the right direction, as I'm certain we are at the moment."

A SOUVENIR programme commemorating the Armed Forces Day national event in Nottingham will go on sale from this weekend.

The programme, priced £3, can be bought at venues across the city, including city council buildings.

Programmes will also be on sale during the Cycle Live event which takes place this weekend at Victoria Embankment and at the Armed Forces Day Football match at Hucknall Town Football Club on Thursday, as well as on the day itself.

The programme, which has been produced by Nottingham City Council with contributions from the Ministry of Defence, includes information on the services, veterans, reservists and cadet forces along with details of the parade and air show.

There are details of attractions as well as food and drink offers as part of the Big Night Out planned for Saturday, June 29.

Councillor Dave Trimble, the city council's portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Nottingham City Council, said: "It will make a fantastic keepsake and is our way of recognising the contribution made by service personnel. Nottingham is honoured to host the 2013 Armed Forces Day national celebrations."

The programme is available from:

Loxley House, Station Street.

Tourist Information Centre, Smithy Row.

Nottingham Castle.

Newstead Abbey.

Wollaton Hall.

Central Library, Angel Row.

Council House, Old Market Square.

Rushcliffe Borough Council, Rushcliffe Community Contact Centre.

Notts County Council, County Hall, West Bridgford.

THOUSANDS of teenagers across Notts are currently coming to the end of a gruelling exam period.

They have been sitting their final GCSE exams in subjects ranging from English and maths to Spanish and physics, after completing modular exams in most subjects and handing in coursework in the form of essays, projects and investigations.

But this system is set to change by as early as 2015 if Education Secretary Michael Gove has his way with his proposed reforms.

Mr Gove wants to scrap the modular exams which students sit at set periods throughout Years 10 and 11 and replace them with one big exam in each subject at the end of Year 11. And coursework will be scrapped too.

Students at The West Bridgford School – which achieved an 'outstanding' report when inspected by Ofsted last year – don't like the sound of the plans.

Manni Gill, who is 15 and coming to the end of Year 10, halfway through her GCSE studies, said: "I think the younger years, the students say in Years 7 and 8 now, are going to have a much harder time than my year group. And I think we are having a harder time than year groups older than us.

"The modular exams and coursework are a friendlier approach in my opinion. Controlled assessments through the year are helpful because you can absorb the knowledge instead of just cramming it into your head for one exam."

Mr Gove is also proposing a stricter approach to grammar, spelling and punctuation in the National Curriculum – something which 15-year-old Arran Singh said he thought a bit unnecessary.

"We already know our correct grammar and spelling when we come to secondary school so I don't think everyone should be made to focus on it again.

"Also, exams are hard enough as they are at the moment and, for people who are easily distracted, one big exam at the end of the year is not going to be a good thing."

Head teacher at The West Bridgford School, Rob McDonough, echoed the views of his students.

He said he thought the aim of seeking excellence for students in their teaching and learning was a commendable aspiration on behalf of Mr Gove but he didn't agree with the idea of removing coursework and modular exams.

"The reforms seem to me as if they are taking the curriculum back to the sort of exam system that was in place when I was at school," he said.

"Modules really do benefit many students because it gives them the time to process what they have learned.

"Mr Gove is also proposing to make the exams harder, which is a decision based on the fact that more and more students are hitting the higher grades – so people assume they are getting easier. But that could well just be a reflection of very high standards of teaching."

He added that the new system could deepen the divide in educational success between advantaged and disadvantaged demographics.

"Some students who are not as academically minded may well struggle with the pressure on them from one big exam. If they don't have the space or time to revise then it could result in schools which are struggling to meet standards slipping even further down the league tables."

Deputy head and curriculum manager at the school, Tim Peacock, added: "It is too early to say exactly how the difference between Mr Gove's new curriculum and the existing one, in terms of content, will manifest itself.

"Education is changing faster than it ever has before. We will assure that no matter what changes come in our students get as much choice as possible with their curriculum and we will look more carefully at what we can offer students.

"We are in the middle of a huge change process at the moment and, as with many education reforms such as the baccalaureate which have been shelved over recent months, it is not easy to predict what the exam system will look like in the future."

ON June 11 Mr Gove made a statement to Parliament about the future of exams. He said he believed there is widespread consensus that Britain needs to reform its exam system in order to restore public confidence in the way children are being educated and tested.

He said: "The new subject content published today has been drawn up in collaboration with distinguished subject experts.

"In line with our changes to the National Curriculum, the new specifications are more challenging, more ambitious and more rigorous.

"That means more extended writing in subjects such as English and history, more testing of advanced problem-solving skills in mathematics, more testing of mathematics in science GCSEs to improve progression to A-levels, more challenging mechanics problems in physics, a stronger focus on evolution and genetics in biology, and a greater focus on foreign language composition so that pupils require deeper language skills."

For primary schools, Mr Gove's changes include recommendations that English lessons should put more emphasis on spelling, punctuation and grammar.

They also say that children should know their times tables up to 12 by the age of nine and start learning about algebra and geometry by the time they leave primary school.

Meanwhile, changes are also afoot in history, with children learning more about how Britain has influenced the world.

And children will, for the first time, have to learn a language – either ancient (such as Latin) or modern – from the age of seven, if Mr Gove's proposals are approved.

FROM the age of four, in 1927, I went to Byfield Council School near Daventry. It was an absolutely marvellous school. I found it interesting and stimulating. I just enjoyed learning.

It didn't seem strict at the time but, looking back, you weren't allowed to fool around.

Then when I was ten, in 1933, we moved. My father was a railwayman and we moved to Doncaster for his work.

I had already taken the 11-Plus to go to Towcester Grammar School so I went to Doncaster Grammar School instead. It was a very good school. It was a little bit rough at times but the quality of the teaching was very good. It was stricter, but I never got the cane.

We were streamed and I was in the top stream, but after the third year this meant I was in the classics stream and I didn't like Greek. So I asked to do German, in the middle stream, but I couldn't, so I went into the last stream – to do chemistry and physics.

I was working towards my O-levels, but in 1937 we moved again, to March in Cambridgeshire, and I went to March Grammar School. It wasn't the same quality teaching but I was back in the countryside, which I had missed up in Doncaster.

I took O-levels a year early, at 15, and went into the sixth form, but I didn't settle very well. I was a very confused 15-year-old. I didn't know what I wanted to do or where I was going. But then I was offered an apprenticeship in retail pharmacy at Boots in March. I left the sixth form after two terms when I was still 15.

Later I went to do a degree in pharmacy at University College in Nottingham (now the University of Nottingham).

I had an excellent all-round education but there wasn't anything to point you towards a future job. You had to work it out yourself.

THE region's leading racing circuit is throwing open its doors to allow runners and cyclists on to the course.

Donington Park is welcoming manpower rather than horsepower, with a series of running and cycling evenings.

The events start on June 27 with cycling.

The event will allow fitness fanatics to jog, walk or cycle away from the main roads in one of the country's most famous sporting venues.

One loop of the Donington track totals two and a half miles, allowing simple tracking of personal bests and miles completed.

Donington Park managing director Christopher Tate said: "The track here at Donington Park is steeped in motor racing history and holds its place as one of the most famous sporting venues in the Midlands.

"But as well as hosting big sporting events like the British Touring Car Championship and World Superbikes, we really want to show that Donington Park can be many different things.

"The next phase for Donington Park is to diversify the range of events we hold here – so in the near future we'll be thinking of new and exciting ways that we can open up our facilities to the public.

"In the past we have held a charity cycle ride for Hope Against Cancer at the circuit, and a charity run in aid of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor – so we thought it would be a great idea to make the track available for similar activities throughout the summer.

"The Olympics last year really invigorated the public's love for sport, so we want to offer a safe space away from the hustle and bustle of traffic to really encourage the local community to get active and learn to love sport in all forms. Who knows, we might be welcoming a future Bradley Wiggins or Jessica Ennis to the track."

The dates for the "Cycle In The Park" events are Thursday, June 27, Thursday, July 18, Monday, August 5.

The "Run In The Park" dates are Thursday, July 4, Thursday, July 25 and Monday, August 12. The course will be open to people of all ages and fitness levels, with doors open from 5.30pm to 8pm.

The course is asking for donations of £1 per person.

Gemma Toogood, head of commercial sales and marketing, said: "Our cycle and run in the park evenings offer a safe, off-road route for cyclists and runners, something which is increasingly hard to come by.

"We hope these evenings will help instill a real sense of community – and they are perfect for running or cycling clubs looking for something a little bit different. Just last year we hosted a ride the curves event for Hope Against Cancer which saw an army of cyclists have a great time flying around the circuit, and this new scheme will offer a regular chance for everyone to get involved and get fit for the summer."

WORK has started on a £340,000 extension to Carnarvon Primary School to help meet increasing demand for school places in Bingham.

Notts County Council is paying for the project as part of a programme to upgrade schools all over the county.

A two-classroom building is being built at the school at Nursery Road in Bingham.

It will increase capacity from 420 to 480 pupils, with numbers increasing by ten per year for the next six years.

The development – which benefits from under-floor heating, natural ventilation and sustainable energy features – uses the innovative Connect Classroom design, intended to speed up construction and permit adaptable class sizes.

Sam Bradley, who has a daughter in Year 2, said: "I am pleased to see this new learning environment that to benefit current and future pupils ."

Work is scheduled to be completed by August 30 in time for the start of the 2013-14 school year.

Head teacher Jonathan Cunliffe said: "We are extremely keen for every child from Bingham to have the opportunity to go to school in Bingham, so I am very supportive of these plans.

"I am delighted that the latest sustainable energy features have been designed into the building, which will benefit the environment and reduce running costs by making it much more energy efficient."

Parent Carolyn Mees, who has a son in Year 4, added: "Carnarvon is such an outstanding school that I feel sorry for children who can not get a place here.

"So it is wonderful that this will open up that opportunity for more children."

The scheme is being managed by the council with local authority-controlled firm Scape, contractor GF Tomlinson and Derbyshire County Council.

Councillor David Kirkham, chairman of finance and property at Notts county council, said: "There is a growing demand for school places throughout Nottinghamshire and the county council has plans in place to increase capacity at a number of schools across the county in time for the next school year.

"As well as increasing capacity at schools, we are committed to providing our children and young people with the best possible learning environment to help further improve educational attainment, which is already on an upward trend."

THE four-hour waiting time in emergency departments up and down the country has featured heavily in the news lately – but what does this mean and why do you wait?

The children's emergency department at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) saw 44,000 children and young people from Nottingham and the surrounding areas last year. This is, on average, 125 patients a day.

Children and young people come to us with a range of injuries and illnesses. Most of them are seen, investigated, treated and sent home from the emergency department itself.

The numbers that we see vary during the year – with the summer months generally not as busy as the winter.

This is due to less cough and cold infections in the summer and families being away on holidays.

The four-hour target means that 95 out of every 100 children and young people that come to the emergency department need to be seen, investigated, treated and admitted to a ward or discharged home within four hours.

This target is for all children and young people who come to the department – whether they have suffered a minor injury or major trauma.

Currently, the children's emergency department is managing to meet the four-hour target for 99 out of every 100 children and young people we see.

Although we are meeting the four-hour target, however, we know there can be occasions when there is a long wait to be seen, especially if there are more seriously ill or injured children who arrive and need to be seen urgently.

When you are waiting in department and someone gets called ahead of you, that you thought arrived after you, it usually means they are either in a different area of the department or have a more serious problem.

We know that waiting can be frustrating, so it is important to make sure that it is emergency that you need to visit. It may be better to be seen by your GP practice, or a walk-in-centre, or to get advice from 111 or a local pharmacy.

SPORTS clubs have to find a new home after a decision to close the National Water Sports Centre's sports hall.

The centre's new managers, Serco Leisure, have informed users of the hall that it will be closing at the end of July.

It is planned for the hall to be turned into offices as part of a wider multi-million pound redevelopment of the centre.

But club leaders say the decision could affect the teaching of grassroots sport in the area.

Rob Manning has held training sessions for South Notts Shotokan Karate Club at the sports hall for the last decade.

It currently has around 60 members.

He said: "The upshot of it all is the changes are involving some casualties, and they are grassroots sports clubs."

Notts County Council struck a deal in January with Serco Leisure to redevelop and run the site. The company took over managing and maintaining the centre in April and is planning a £6.7m redevelopment over the next 21 years.

It includes a £1.6 million contribution from the council.

New features planned include an outdoor laser tag game, Segway scooter hire and state-of-the-art gym facilities.

The 2,000 metre regatta lake, and slalom and rafting course, will be retained, while improved catering and conferencing facilities are planned.

Mr Manning said he is searching for a new home for his group, which he has run for 28 years. "We are trying to enhance the characters of youngsters and people of all ages. That is being sacrificed," he said..

Brian Taylor, chair of the Holme Pierrepont Leisure Trust, which operates the National Water Sports Centre, said: "We are committed to protecting and enhancing the National Water Sports Centre's superb facilities for both top athletes and the local community.

"While this is great news for the site and the region, unfortunately it also means that the small number of clubs who currently use the sports hall will need to find a new venue from August. Our management team has been in close contact with the affected clubs to provide advance warning of the change as well as help them find alternative accommodation locally."

AS the mother of a 15-year-old daughter who is constantly glued to the internet I'm acutely aware of the dangers of online predators.

Parents are advised to cast a watchful eye over their child's shoulder while they're on the PC or laptop – but now many youngsters use their mobile phones, so it's impossible to see what's happening onscreen.

As soon as my daughter signed up to My Space, Bebo and then Facebook we drummed into her the importance of only 'talking' to people she knew – and hopefully three years later this has stuck.

There have been a few dodgy messages – which reassuringly she has run past us.

The minimum age limit for signing up to Facebook is 13 but we bowed to peer pressure and gave in when she was 11 – on the condition that she allowed us to be her 'friend'.

Some of her friends sent me and her dad friend requests – I accepted but it says a lot about our sad society that my husband didn't, since he felt uncomfortable about befriending teenage girls even if it was genuinely innocent.

On several occasions I was ticked off for being embarrassing and 'stalking' her friends after leaving witty comments on their statuses.

Now at 15, it's obviously hugely uncool to have your mum as a Facebook friend so I rarely comment.

I think it's important to talk to your children at an early age about the online danger of people who may not be what they seem.

After all, you'd warn them about stranger danger on the streets.

Like many readers, I have been amused by scam e-mail - my American bank account needs 'verifying' or get in touch as I'm the sole heir to a fortune.

Earlier this year, my e-mail account was hacked, and an email sent saying we were on holiday in Italy, we had been mugged and all we had with us was our passports - the hotel manager wouldn't let us leave until we settled the bills.

Recipients were asked to send money, to help us get home. Most spotted the hoax, but there were those who wondered if it was genuine.

Some good friends were on the verge of sending money- but others warned them in time.

We received phone calls from friends in every walk of life in many different countries, the first being my brother in New Zealand. It was moving to know so many were concerned and we took more than 50 concerned phone calls.

I also received two messages from Nottinghamshire Police, one from the Chief Constable's office enquiring about our welfare, another warning others of the hoax.

Needless to say, it was necessary to change my password and make other safety adjustments.

Many people world-wide suffer from the criminal activities of scammers and many people don't report hackers because they are embarrassed.

Investigating hacking is now a highly specialised activity, to be dealt with by police forces nationally and internationally. We are reminded again policing can no longer be thought of only in a localised way.

I am reminded of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who preached around the British Isles and beyond during the 18th Century.

He said, 'The world is my parish.' He realised that changing people's ways could not always be challenged only at a local parish level.

In the same vein, criminality cannot be tackled from a local point-of-view alone, but needs to be dealt with on a world-wide setting.

HUNDREDS of cycling enthusiasts turned out at the Victoria Embankment last night for the first of this weekend's Experian Cycle Live events.

The event is a three-day festival of cycling culminating in the Great Notts Bike Ride on Sunday.

The festival kicked off with a Nottingham Grand Prix, with teams of elite riders going head to head, with a Youth Race and a Corporate Relay cycling race.

Nottingham-born Bryan Steel, who represented Team GB at four Olympic games between 1992 and 2004, was in attendance along with Councillor Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council – a keen cyclist himself who rode for the Experian team in the Corporate Relay.

The winners of the Corporate Relay were the Nottingham Building Society and Raleigh, a joint team who cycle together at events throughout the year.

Making up the four-man team were James Rushton, of West Bridgford, Ben Hillsdon, from Beeston, Geoff Giddings, of Ilkeston and Phil Binch, from Lincoln.

After completing 18 laps in 45 and a half minutes, they fought off competition from 52 riders from 13 other teams to take first place ahead of Army Longdale Lightweights and Quora Ltd, who finished second and third respectively.

"It was absolutely fantastic," said Phil Binch. "We were worried at the start when the Longdale team flew ahead."

Ben Hillsdon was the new addition to the team, that retained the title they won last year. He said: "This team's a great bunch of lads. The others helped calm me down."

"This year was a lot more competitive than last," said James Rushton.

"Everyone had slightly different tactics, so we're really glad to have come out on top."

Former Olympian Bryan Steel said: "It's been a great event so far, and this is just the start.

"It's all about bringing people from the city together, old and young.

"Being a Nottingham lad, to see Nottingham people enjoying cycling on Nottingham roads is just amazing."

Councillor Jon Collins added: "This event is something we are looking to keep building over the years. Cycling is continuing to grow around th country, but Nottingham in particular is fast becoming a hub.

"It's the home of Raleigh after all and we have more people participating in the sport than ever before."

Experian Cycle Live continues over the weekend with the family orientated City Rides on Saturday and 25, 50 and 100 mile routes on Sunday's Great Notts Bike Ride.

All the events are centred around the Victoria Embankment, where there are a number of stalls, refreshments on sale and free activities.

MOTORISTS will face £60 fines for using one of the main roads near Nottingham Station this summer.

From tomorrow, drivers won't be able get to Station Street from London Road without risking a fine.

Nottingham City Council is introducing the restriction so the road can be used by rail replacement buses during six weeks of disruption at the station from next month.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis and bikes will be the only vehicles able use the road.

Up until July 14, drivers will be given warnings. But, from July 15, £60 penalties will be issued.

Liam Woodgates, director at Hopkinson Vintage, Antiques and Art Centre, in Station Street, said: "I've been driving down this road for seven years and will, like other people, probably still do it from habit.

"I think it's fair enough warning people to begin with, and the earlier the warning people have the better."

The major resignalling works at Nottingham Station mean most services will not run between July 20 and August 25, while a £100m project to renew signals, track and junctions takes place.

Other vehicles will still be able to use Station Street via Trent Street, off Canal Street, and will also be able to exit on to London Road.

Mr Woodgates added: "It's not ideal but they have to implement something to allow for the changes to take place."

No trains will run on the Robin Hood Line for nearly six weeks, and East Midlands Parkway station will be used as the main alternative for passengers heading to London, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.

Between 25 and 35 buses will leave the station every hour, transferring passengers to connecting trains at nearby stations. A bus lane will be introduced on Sheriffs Way.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, the city council's portfolio holder for planning and transport, said: "We are working very closely with Network Rail, East Midlands Trains and other partners to help minimise any disruption to the travelling public as a result of the signal improvement works over the summer. We are supporting their arrangements by providing space on the road network and access at the station for replacement bus services and ensuring clear, up-to-date information is available to help people make the appropriate journey choices.

"I would encourage anyone who normally travels to Nottingham by train to think now about the alternatives that might be available to them."

AS she stood in front of an original 1963 fruit machine, Helen Nelson recalled her first day working at Bell-Fruit.

"When I first started we used to come down the production line and play the games," she said.

"It's been fun working here. I've seen a lot of changes over the years."

Helen joined Bell-Fruit Manufacturing, as the firm was known then, as a 15-year-old administrator after leaving Cottesmore Girls School, in Lenton, in 1968.

Fast forward 45 years and Helen, now 60 and living in Beeston, is its longest-serving employee.

She said: "It's always been like a family. There weren't many people at first, but it's grown and grown."

The company threw a party for around 200 employees at its headquarters in Leen Gate, Lenton yesterday, to celebrate the anniversary, with some dressed in 1960s clothing for the occasion.

Videos of life at Bell-Fruit over the years were screened, while a specially recorded video of Deal or No Deal host Noel Edmonds singing Happy Birthday was also played.

The TV show is among the host of games adapted for Bell-Fruit's machines that are played in pubs, arcades, bookmakers, and motorway service stations up and down the country.

The assembly area at the factory was also taken over by games of a different variety for the day, as staff queued up to play crazy golf, basketball, and take part in Space Hopper races.

John Lowton started out on the production line at Bell-Fruit 33 years ago. The 58-year-old, of Woodthorpe, is now the company's operations director.

He said: "My older brother, Bill, was working here at the time and he said I should come along. My first job was testing the machines and I've progressed from there over the years.

"My younger brother, Dave, and son, Sam, now also work here for our other company, Mazooma Interactive Games.

"People ask me how I can stay at one business that long, but it's always changing. The games industry is always reinventing itself. I'm proud we've reached this milestone."

At the height of its manufacturing pomp in the 1970s, Bell-Fruit had around 800 workers going through the doors of its factory at the former tannery in Leen Gate. The company is now based across the road from its original site, and owned by Austrian gaming giant the Novomatic Group.

Bell-Fruit managing director John Austin, 65, of Hucknall, first joined the company in 1969 and has spent three spells working for the company.

He said: "I first joined as a design draughtsman, making fruit machines and manufacturing jukeboxes.

"This is a major milestone for our company, whose association with the city of Nottingham goes right back to the very beginning of the business.

"Our workforce is incredibly loyal and long-standing.

"More than 22 per cent of our employees have been here over than 25 years."

Of the future, he added: "We're now starting to see a real move towards digital machines.

"Technology is always changing and the next big thing is games online and on mobile phones. It's something we are looking at."

THE blue eyes of Jon Cusick look startled and confused as he stares through a pair of frosted spectacles designed to help him with his double vision.

Lying on a bed in a room of his own on Seacole ward at Nottingham City Hospital he can only gaze at those who gather round his bedside.

Three strokes caused by blood clots that struck one of the main arteries to his brain have left Jon, who used to cycle at least 100 miles every weekend, paralysed from head to toe.

Doctors have diagnosed him with locked-in syndrome.

"He has good days and bad days," said his wife of 19 years, Kate. "Sometimes he cries because of his situation. It's been a shock for all of us to deal with."

But in the 12 weeks that Jon has been in hospital he has taken small but promising steps.

"To begin with his face looked like a mask with only his eyes that could move. But as the weeks have gone by he has been able to move his head slightly, and he can now smile," said Kate, 44.

Consultant physician Dr Sunil Mushi said it was "extremely rare" for men of Jon's age to suffer a stroke of such a scale , and 80 per cent of those who do usually die.

He said: "Witnessing the fighting determination of Jon, and the support of his wife and his family, really has been an eye-opener.

"I think they have been amazing."

Jon and Kate have had to learn to communicate from scratch, using a tool which colour-co-ordinates letters.

"He has to spell out words with his eyes," said Kate, who has had to have time off from her job at Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust.

"The whole thing has taken a lot of getting used to, but we're making progress.

"In less than 48 hours my husband had gone from someone who had never smoked, didn't drink to excess, ate healthily and cycled 100 miles at weekends, to a patient on a critical care ward with a very uncertain future," she said.

Since the strokes, which happened over two days in late March, Kate and Jon's mother Wendy have been making contact with other people who have suffered from locked-in syndrome to ask for advice and tips on how to cope.

"We made contact with Kate Allatt, who had locked-in syndrome, and she has made a full recovery.

"Doctors just don't know how much Jon will improve at this stage," said Kate.

Cycling enthusiast Jon has even had a handwritten "get well" message from Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy, and his friends visit him and read him passages from Bradley Wiggins' autobiography.

Today John celebrated his 46th birthday in hospital and, while he was spending time with friends and family, members of his spinning club – Revolution Fitness in Eastwood – were cycling 80 miles to raise money for the Stroke Association.

Friends recently took part in a sponsored walk at Rufford Abbey and raised more than £1,000 for the charity.

Louise Knight, Stroke Association fundraising manager, says: "We rely on people like Jon's friends and family to help us change lives.

"The money raised will go to help prevent strokes and reduce their effect through campaigning, education and research, and also to help support the 88,000 people adjusting to a life after stroke in the East Midlands."

To find out about local Stroke Association events or fundraising, contact eastmidsfundraising@stroke.org.uk or call 0115 871 2471.

A MAN has been jailed after he repeatedly punched his ex-girlfriend, breaking her nose.

Richard Hudson had been drinking when he attacked Zoe Bestwick at his home in Attenborough Lane, Attenborough.

He punched her in the nose as she left his house with some of her belongings in February, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

He grabbed her as she went downstairs and dragged her back upstairs, where he punched her a number of times. Hudson then stopped the attack and allowed her to leave.

She called police and he was arrested in his home, which was strewn with beer cans, the court was told.

At court, Hudson admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

She suffered a broken nose, cuts and bruising.

Judge Michael Stokes QC, the Recorder of Nottingham, sentenced Hudson to two years and three months and imposed a five-year restraining order.

"The court will not tolerate women being beaten in this vicious way by drunken men with whom they are in a relationship."

Hudson, 39, and 22-year-old Miss Bestwick spit up after being together for six years, the court heard.

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, said: "There were problems in the past in the relationship. She received black eyes and bruised lips and a fracture to her cheekbone.

Police had been called a number of times.

"She had not pursued what should have been complaints."

Even though the couple separated in November 2012, they stayed in contact by text messages.

When she visited him on February 26, she arrived unexpectedly to collect some shoes.

She stayed for some time, put the shoes in a bag, but couldn't find other belongings.

"She told him she was leaving and tried to put some beer cans she had in a bag. They were having a drink at the time.

"This defendant approached her, clenched his fist to her face. Words were exchanged and he punched her to the nose. She picked up her bags and got downstairs. The defendant grabbed her and dragged her back upstairs and punched her in the face a number of times."

Hudson had a previous conviction for battery on Miss Bestwick in 2009.

Hudson had also sent abusive text messages to her mother's new partner, which resulted in Hudson being banned from contacting him.

In mitigation, Matthew Smith said Hudson was now in a new relationship that was free of violence.

A 46-YEAR-OLD man who cycled 100 miles every weekend has been diagnosed with locked-in syndrome – after he suffered three strokes in two days.

Shop-fitter Jon Cusick from Kimberley has been rendered mute by the strokes and can only communicate by blinking.

Mr Cusick has been unable to talk or move for the past 12 weeks, and is currently bed-bound at Nottingham City Hospital.

The strokes were caused because he had an undiagnosed arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. This caused a blood clot which blocked one of the main arteries to his brain.

Consultant physician Dr Sunil Munshi said the type of stroke Mr Cusick had was "extremely rare" for men of his age.

Mr Cusick was taken to hospital by his wife Kate on March 28 after he became violently sick. Medics discovered his heart was beating at an irregular rate, and it was while they were working on him that the left side of his face dropped and he suffered his first stroke.

A high-risk operation was carried out at the Queen's Medical Centre, which was a success, and when his wife visited him that evening he could talk.

But later that night he suffered a second stroke and then later that day doctors said he had a third episode, the effects of both left him unable to move his entire body or breathe unaided.