Stranded new head misses her first day of term

Julia Mortimore was due to take over the headship at Andover Road School from Christina Haddrell on Monday, however, her departure from New York to Newbury did not go as she planned.
Ms Mortimore, who had gone over for a new year trip and was due to fly back on Friday, said: “Unfortunately New York was declared a state of emergency so my flight was cancelled.
“The next alternative flight was the start of this week.”
New York and other parts of North America have recently been placed in a state of emergency owing to the cold weather conditions.
Ms Mortimore said: “It was one extreme to another; I have never seen anything so extreme.
“It was very unusual because they are experienced in some extreme weather conditions.”
She added: “Thankfully, because of the wonders of IT, I had my iPad so I was in contact with the school.
“I wrote a message to the staff and the students saying that I’d hoped to have seen them on Monday, but that I would have time to get to know them.”