A MIDDLESEX University student presented a speech to Princess Anne today about her work as a volunteer at a South African school.

Linda Bloomfield, from Barnet, was selected for the honour by charity Lattitude Global Volunteering, which organised the trip to the remote village of Ingwavuma.

The community was overwhelmingly HIV positive and many of the children were orphans.

Ms Bloomfield continues to sponsor a girl at the school and fundraises to cover the £250 school fees, while at the same time funding her own university studies.

Princess Anne is a patron of Lattitude, which runs gap year projects for teenagers.

Ms Bloomfield said: “When I applied to Lattitude I had no real idea of what I wanted to study at university and hoped the volunteering would help me to make up my mind.

"Teaching in South Africa and living in Ingwavuma opened my eyes to the Zulu culture and gave me a real passion for Africa.

"I get letters and drawings every week from my classes and I can’t wait to go back to South Africa to visit them next year.”

While teaching, Ms Bloomfield prepared two of her students to take A-level theatre studies and they were both accepted to university.

She is now studying theatre at Middlesex University and plans to return to Africa after she graduates to open a theatre programme for disadvantaged children.