A shaggy dog story and a dream come true for one little girl

A dog-lover thanked Suffolk residents for helping to reunite her with missing pet who had been on a 25-mile adventure. Heidi Copping, of Gosbeck, discovered her canine friend Cody the husky, two, was missing and fearing the worst, Miss Copping took to social networking site Facebook to appeal for help.

A soldier from Hadleigh organised a race to raise money for charity while serving in Afghanistan. Corporal Matt Smee, 33, of 662 Squadron Army Air Corps, based in Wattisham, wanted to help when he heard about a fellow soldier’s story. He organised a fundraising auction and a 5km race, and £5,000 was raised for the Children’s Heart Unit.

Members of the Bentley Essex owners’ club took part in a special trip from Essex to Aldeburgh where they enjoyed some locally-caught fish and chips by the sea. After coffee and pastries in Colchester, the participants set off for the Suffolk town where they were welcomed by staff at the White Lion Hotel.

After more than a century echoing to the sounds of music, dance, drama and comedy, the Spa Pavilion was silent this week, doors locked, its future shrouded in uncertainty. As another panto run came to an end, the emotion and reality of the occasion hit home and there were tears on stage and off as the Spa Pavilion was formally closed following 103 years as a venue for seafront entertainment.

Two youngsters who have been fighting serious illnesses got the chance to experience the life of a fighter pilot at RAF Lakenheath in west Suffolk this week. Dawson Davidson and Jake Snowling visited the US Air Force base yesterday for a day packed full of surprises, including specially-made flight suits, and close-up viewings of an F-15 Eagle and HH-60 Pave Hawk.

Founder of The Eden Rose Coppice charity, Rob Brooks held an evening event where more than 100 lanterns were placed among the trees and children were invited to pet a barn owl and a number of reindeer. More than 150 children attended, many with special needs.

Hard-working students have reached a significant target in their quest to leave a London 2012 Olympic legacy by completing 2,012 hours of community sport volunteering. The sixth form sports leaders from Alde Valley School in Leiston came up with the idea of contributing 2,012 hours of community sport volunteering in the last calendar year.

A rare collection of Ipswich Town memorabilia – dating back to when the club formed in the 1880s – has come to light. The 57 items, to be sold at a one-day sale at Stacey’s Auctioneers and Valuers in Rayleigh, Essex, on Monday, February 11 could sell for £7,235. The collection includes six Ipswich Town minute books from 1880-1957 covering every detail of the club on a day-to-day basis.

Schools Minister David Laws has written to a number of primary schools in the region praising them for their pupils’ test results. In Suffolk, eight schools which achieved 100% in three key performance measures received letters. In north Essex, three schools which achieved a clean set of results were singled out for praise by the Minister.

Beaming Brooke Lawrance’s first day back at school was one she had dreamed of and the seven-year-old was desperate to walk through the school gates for the very first time. Brave Brooke, who suffers from cerebral palsy, proudly strolled into Britannia Primary School this week after undergoing pioneering surgery in the USA last month.