Talented Witham student Simon Palmer, 18, has won a place at a prestigious dance school.

He auditioned for a place at the Leeds-based Northern School of Contemporary Dance and was accepted the same day.

Simon Palmer

Simon, of Elizabeth Avenue, Witham, used to go to John Bramston School but is currently studying an Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education in Performing Arts at Rickstones School and is tipped to get double A grades.

He played the main character in the Conrad Road school's performance of Guys and Dolls.

Head of drama Ann May said: "He's an amazingly talented boy with a wonderful singing voice. It was great because all of a sudden he developed this amazing talent for contemporary dance and decided that was what he wanted to do."

Simon said: "I'm still in shock about just getting in and I can't wait to start in September. Who knows what's going to happen in the future."

Published Tuesday, February 19, 2002