Founder member of the Xentricity Theatre group and former JKHS pupil, Jessica Ball has been awarded a coveted place at the London School of Musical Theatre.

Jessica, who is now 23, was born in Lydbrook and moved to Ross when she was eight years old. Her love of singing and drama was inspired and mentored by her mother, Sally Ball, a local teacher who lost her battle with leukaemia in 1999 when Jessica was just 11 years old.

Despite this setback in her life Jessica has risen to the challenge to use her talents. as well as starting the local youth theatre group Xentricity she also perfomed at the Pheonix Theatre. Together with friends and family she has also raised funds for research into the cancer which claimed her mother. Read the full report in this week's Gazette.