MANY people have unusual hobbies, but John Jacomb’s is almost out of this world.

John, 62, from Shoebury, has made hundreds of rockets since becoming addicted when his wife Dorothy, also 62, bought him a kit when he went away on holiday.

Now he has received a medal from the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers in recognition of his work visiting schools in the Southend area to teach children how to make rockets as part of their science curriculum.

The former civil servant, who worked at the Ministry of Justice for 37 years, said he always used to do something creative when he went away on holiday to keep him occupied, but he caught the rocket making bug when he visited the Marple in Greater Manchester.

He said: “It all started when I went on a narrow boat holiday with friends and when I went away I would do something creative.

“My wife gave me a rocket kit when we were away on holiday and she has regretted it ever since. I built it and launched it when I was on the narrow boat holiday and I have been interested ever since.”

He started a rocket club while living near Portsmouth and has continued to pursue his passion, creating rockets which can soar up to 3,500ft in the air and can carry toys including Scalextric cars, a Teddy Bear picnic, a submarine and steam locomotive, which descend back to earth by parachute.

A solid fuel, which can be bought from toy stores, is used to power the rockets, which generally reach heights of between 100 and 150ft.

The former court clerk said his hobby had taken him on visits to schools where he has taught a variety of different age groups from year seven and eight up to older children who are due to be competing in international tournaments.

Mr Jacomb, who grew up in Enfield, has also been part of the British team which has competed at the international Space Modelling World Championships, European championships and world cups, where they have faced teams from the US, Japan, China and eastern Europe.

Of his medal, he said: “It is an honour. It is a new award so it is actually quite an honour to get it and to be the first person awarded it is particularly satisfying because it has got no history behind it.”