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Mark Jones

FAMILY and friends of Chippenham teacher Mark Jones who has been caught up in the centre of the Chinese earthquake have paid tribute to his bravery.

Mr Jones, 27, who is working as an English teacher at a university in Chengdu, has had to sleep rough as more earthquake warnings measuring seven on the Richter scale are being given out.

Back home in Chippenham, his mother Susan Badminton and grandparents Ann and Bill Hutchison nervously await news.

Mrs Badminton said: "It is difficult and of course you worry as a parent, but Mark is so strong willed and gets in contact with us as much as possible. The worst period was the weekend when the earthquake hit because we had friends and family members calling us to see if Mark was alright and we had not heard a thing.

"Because so many people were calling the country we could not get through but he did call on the Monday and we were just so relieved. Mark is so selfless and, although there is so much destruction and devastation out there, he is still doing everything possible to help out everyone else.

"I don't think this will change his mind about living in China - he is just so dedicated."

But Mrs Hutchison prays for her grandson to come home. She said: "He is such a caring guy he would never leave those in need. When the first earthquake warning came through Mark was in a classroom teaching and made sure that every single pupil left the building before he left himself."

Mr Jones has asked for funds to be sent to the Red Cross of Chengdu at www.chengduredcross.org

9:27am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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