1:18am Friday 4th January 2008
By Maggie Robbins
THE relationship between two Chinese and Canvey schools was strengthened with the visit of five teachers from the Changzhou Beijiao School in Jiangsu Province.
The delegation visited the island's Furtherwick Park School and were welcomed at Oysterfleet Hotel by Canvey Rotary Club president Bill Dudbridge.
The relationship has flourished since 2005, when John Houghton, deputy head teacher at Furtherwick Park, established a link with the Chinese school.
Since then, Furtherwick Park pupils have learnt Mandarin and also visited China during a summer school in 2006.
Beverley Egan, mayor of Castle Point, and her husband, Eion, greeted the delegation, alongside Rotarians Brian Piccolo and Jonathan Hodgkins.
The Chinese teachers were accompanied by Wendy Missions, headteacher of Furtherwick Park, and Mr Houghton.
The Canvey Rotarians organised a typical English meal, with a roast and wine followed by a popular Chinese import, Highland Whiskey.
Wu Juhong, vice-principal of the Changzhou Beijiao School, said: "We really appreciate being invited to spend a wonderful evening with Canvey Rotary Club members.
"We found out more about the spirit behind the rotary club and the value of their work.
"We also found out how much the educational links between China and England are valued.
"It is important to us the friendship continues between our two countries."
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