A SCHOOL celebrated the end of term with a talk from a former pupil and former top tennis player.

Braeside School welcomed back Christine Janes (nee Truman) to give a talk as part of speech day at the school - an annual end of term event.

The event is held to recognise pupils' achievements in school throughout the year and as well as a buffet lunch there was music as the junior school choir performed.

Mrs Janes, who now lives in Suffolk, spoke about how the founder of the school and her headteacher, Marjorie Wakefield, gave her permission to pursue her tennis career.

Mrs Janes was British junior champion in 1956 and 1957 and made her Wimbledon debut in 1957 aged 16. She reached the semifinals, where she lost to Althea Gibson.

In the 2001 Queen's Birthday's Honours list, Mrs Janes was awarded an MBE for her "services to sport".

More than 200 parents were at the girls school in High Road, Buckhurst Hill, for the event last Wednesday, July 14, the final day of term.

Gillian Haddon, headteacher at Braeside, said: "I was delighted that Christine could join us and her words of encouragement to the current girls were really appreciated".