+ THE JOURNAL MONDAY, MARCH 24,2014 7 NEWS Michael Brown Reporter [email protected] CHOOL staff have spoken of their sadness after police confirmed they had discovered a body in the search for missing deputy headteacher Mark Bushnell. The 50-year-old disappeared from his home in Durham City two weeks ago - but over the weekend officers confirmed a discovery had been made on a beach close to where the Durham School teacher’s car was found. Durham Police said it appeared the body of a middle-aged man “had been in the water for some time:’ and while no formal identification had been made, Mr Bushnell’s family had been informed. Following the find, at Blackhall Rocks. near Peterlee in County Durham, col leagues and parents of former pupils paid tribute to the dad-of-three. Laura Connelly, who worked as a chef at Durham School for more than two years, described him as a “genuine” man. “He was one of the nicest men I’d met:’ the 25 year-old said. “He always had time for everyone and he was a model teacher. “The students and staff respected him and he would always be there for the pupils. “He would often come into the kitch en and he was always very friendly7 David Stoker, a councillor for Durham South, said Mr Bushnell had taught his son Nicholas, now 34, and was “a bril liant teacher and well-liked by everyone who knew him’: “He was a well-known figure and when he taught my own son he showed a high quality and professionalism and earned a great level of honour among all that knew him, including both par ents and children:’ Mr Bushnell left his home two weeks ago today with some dirty laundry, after the family’s washing machine broke. He had recently been to a rugby tour nament in London, where the under lOs school rugby union team were beat en in the semi-final of the NatWest School cup. His eldest son lacob, who is in the upper sixth form at the school, played in the game. He was last seen by a walker near to the picnic site at Blackhall Rocks, in Blackhall, later that day, where his car — a grey Citroen C3 was also found locked. Following his disappearance, Martin George, headteacher at Durham School, begged his colleague to come home. He said: “This is where you belong, every one loves you here. Please get in touch:’ A Durham Police spokesman said Mr Bushnell’s family, which includes his wife Joanna and sons Jacob, Nathan, and Jonathan, had been informed of the discovery. “Police searching for missing Durham teacher Mark Bushnell have been alert ed to a report of a body on the beach close to where Mr Bushnell was last seen:’ she said. “A formal identification has yet to be carried out and Mr Bushnell’s family have been informed.” Superintendent Bill Dutton thanked the public for their help with the search over the past fortnight, saying that the the force had received an “overwhelm ing” amount of information from the public. — I, • II • I— I — I.’ — • I University coach in top award NEWCASTLE University’s rowing coach has become the first person to be honoured with a prestigious new award from the sport’s gov erning body. Angelo Savarino was presented with the British Rowing Special Award in recognition of his out standing contribution to the sport and the development of young rowing talent in the North East and UK. Angelo, who began his career at the university in 2005, said: “1 was surprised and honoured when I heard I was to be presented with this award, “A coach is only as good as his athletes and the support that he has. ‘This award wouldn’t be possi ble without the commitment and dedication from my athletes and colleagues alike. In fact, I feel lam being rewarded for other people believing in me:’ Since his arrival at Newcastle in 2005, Angelo’s efforts have seen the boat club grow from a small team of nine senior men and five senior women, to one of 30 and 20 seniors respectively. He has also developed a strong coaching team to support the rowers in their ambitions, Body found in hunt for missing school teacher 9 Mark Bushnell, whose body is thought to have been discovered on the beach at Blackhall Rocks II I -U Before ‘I T9neside Home Improvements feel privileged that the majority of companies throughout the region are passing off images of our work as their own, but we warn consumers to check out any conservatory roof companies claims to have done these by asking to view some work and speak to clients. After All pictures are our own work r I North East’s only registered installer of the supalite structural roof system Unit 14 Royal Industrial Estate, Jarrow, NE32 3RR TEL: (0191) 4895063 www.tynesidehomeimprovements.co.uk FENSAI C- Cleveland Mountain Rescue and the police scoured the area near Crlmdon Dene and Blackhall Rocks in the search for Mark Bushnell