A schoolgirl from Maldon has won the prestigious Princess of Wales Memorial Award in recognition of her outstanding voluntary work.
Gabriella Sale, 17, is a year 12 student at Plume School and was nominated for the award by one of her teachers.
"I'm excited about getting the award. The school is having a ceremony and I might be able to ask for someone famous to come and present my award. I'm hoping to get Beppe from EastEnders."
Gabriella began working as a volunteer at the age of nine with the help of her mother, who is a nurse at a children's hospital in Rayleigh.
Gabriella is involved in a number of activities, including Shared Care, Maldon District Handicapped Children's Association, Brickhouse Farm and Drapers.
More recently, she joined the Maldon Disability Sports Forum as a volunteer and has been asked by her school to become the first ever sixth form community mentor to year ten students.
Published Thursday, March 21, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article