FORMER Suffolk cricket captain Bob Cunnell is set for a glittering ceremony to celebrate his leadership in teaching this week.Mr Cunnell, a maths teacher at Chantry High School in Ipswich, picked up a lifetime achievement award at the Teaching Awards ceremony for the eastern region.

FORMER Suffolk cricket captain Bob Cunnell is set for a glittering ceremony to celebrate his leadership in teaching this week.

Mr Cunnell, a maths teacher at Chantry High School in Ipswich, picked up a lifetime achievement award at the Teaching Awards ceremony for the eastern region.

Now he will be up against winners from around the country at the national awards in London next week.

Mr Cunnell, 60, was honoured for his 39 years in teaching which began in the PE department, but continued with equal enthusiasm in maths.

Among may tributes paid to him at the Eastern Region ceremony, pupils recalled regarding Mr Cunnell as more of a friend than a teacher.

One ex-student remembered how the kindly teacher bought her a pair of special shoes to replace her tatty old plimsolls.

Mr Cunnell won a £2,000 cash grant and £1,000 of computer equipment for Chantry High.

But if he is successful at the national awards, hosted by Carol Smillie at the Theatre Royal, in Drury Lane, he could pick up prizes up to the value of £25,000.

The ceremony will also be broadcast by the BBC on Sunday, November 3. Last year's TV audience was 3.5million viewers.

Mr Cunnell captained Suffolk to triumph in cricket's Minor Counties Championship in 1977 and 1979.

He played 262 innings for the county scoring 5,376 runs and taking 242 wickets.

If you would like to nominate a teacher for the 2003 awards, entries are open at www.teachingawards.com.