I was delighted to attend Clara's Graduation from Central School of Ballet and am absolutely thrilled to be able to give you the news that at the ceremony she was given a very special award.

Known as the PACE award, this is given to the student who showed the most "Progress, Achievement, Commitment and Effort". You can imagine how excited we all were and continue to be with this wonderful end to her dedicated three years of training at this prestigious school.

The photos in this article show Clara with her partner for the Blue Ball Pas de Deux from Cinderella, Clara with her friends after they danced the Pas de Quatre from La Fille Mal Gardee and Clara dancing at the FHS School Prize-Giving 2013.

Clara goes to Brussels in September to advance her training still further at the Brussels International Ballet School.

I am sure you will all want to join in congratulating Clara and wishing her continued success. We hope, of course, that she will continue to return to dance with us at Francis Holland whenever possible.

Mrs Valerie Hitchen