A SCHOOL rolled out the red carpet to welcome the Bishop of Brentwood as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. Staff and pupils from St Teresa’s RC School, in Elsenham Crescent, Basildon, were proud to receive a visit from bishop, Thomas McMahon
BASILDON and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith has backed a bill she hopes will lead to more convictions through CCTV spy camera footage. Mrs Smith is one of ten MPs who sponsored the Closed Circuit Television Monitoring and Promotion Bill. The private
Robert Drake Primary School in Benfleet came alive to the sight and sound of pirates as part of a fun day enjoyed by hundreds of pupils as an end of term treat.
A QUICK-THINKING office clerk saved an elderly woman who had fallen at home. Sam Miles, 23, who works in the district nurse liaison department for South East Essex Primary Care Trust, answered the phone to a distressed woman who had phoned
A COUNCILLOR has used his own money to buy a DVD player for Southend Council to use after he was told it did not have the facility to play DVDs. Mike Assenheim, Independent councillor for Shoebury, claimed to have filmed evidence of weeds growing up
An elegant old former Westcliff hotel, is destined to be demolished to make way for another horrendous block of flats which has destroyed the very social fabric of the area. Other more premier seaside resorts realise how important heritage is to their
Reading the article about plans for Southend seafront and Victoria Circus etc (July 11), we wonder what is the council going to waste our money on next. The High Street and Victoria Circus have only just been refurbished. The seafront needs the parking
I first met Dean Macey (July 16) as a five year old. I was running a football team and my wife was working at the Amelia Blackwell playschool on Canvey. I was always on the lookout for youngsters to play football. My wife came home one day, and said
Recently the founder of Childline, Esther Rantzen, was quoted as saying she blames herself for the current insane state of affairs unintentionally caused by the efforts to safeguard children from abuse. Since the motive behind BBC TV’s Childwatch, and
I believe the proposed new Tesco development would be good for Southend, but I am not so sure it is good news for the sorting office. I went on a guided tour of this office about two years ago, just after the Tesco development was first mentioned and
Billericay residents have contacted me concerning micro-chips in green waste wheelie bins. Cynics that we are, we question the motives and intentions of councils, being aware of councils who charge or have been charging residents for the amount of waste
How shortsighted some people are (July 14)! “Real capitalism” is fine, and as a former business owner, I agree to a point. However, it’s all very well implying “I work hard and can afford any holiday at any time,” but that’s missing the point. There
Following my announcement that former members of the Women’s Land Army and the Women’s Timber Corps are to be awarded a badge of honour, I hope those who served have applied for theirs. We have had 30,000 applications so far. Next Wednesday, 50 former
I was disappointed there has been little follow-up to your story, Flood risk threat to house sales (Echo. June 25). Is there a flood risk or isn’t there? Is there a threat to house sales, particularly if people are unable to insure their homes? These
Having attended the consultation exhibition for the proposed Victoria Circus/Queensway/London Road development, I was disappointed to find the opinion forms contained a potentially significant error. The forms had a series of questions regarding the
FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a blaze in a welding bay at the Calor Gas terminal on Canvey this afternoon. Crews were called to the incident just after 3pm and had extinguished the fire by 3.45pm. But firefighters were remaining
It was with interest that I read the report on the proposed Tower Radio site in Rochford Road, Southend. Within the article was a quote from the planning consultant: “In isolation, the building’s form is no problem. But, if you see it in context
Sutton Road, from Purdeys Industrial Estate, Rochford, to just before Southend Ceme-tery, has always had a speed limit of 60mph, which was obviously highly dangerous, but driving along this road last week, I noticed the speed limit has been reduced to
I have to reply to Mr Diment’s suggestion (July 4) that National Service would be the answer to youth crime, especially that servicemen would merely go out and cause trouble at night. I was conscripted at 18, determined not to conform, but it dawned
The proposals for 1,600 new homes on Canvey (July 11) should never be contemplated without the removal of the hazardous industrial sites and building of a third road. Castle Point chief executive David Marchant’s determination should be focused towards
The Government, distancing itself about as far as you could get from the recommendations of Islamic law, came up with (and quickly dropped) the novel idea of sending knife-wielding little scumbags into hospitals to see the sort of damage they can inflict
A new open air site for a market near Southend town centre is urgently needed when the present one at Roots Hall closes as the football club moves to Fossetts Farm. Traders need to know now where a new market will be or we shall lose them. Last week
Why is this country dominated by communist attitudes? Why do people expect businesses to have their retail prices capped? Why restrict a business from charging what they like, when they like. Nobody is forced to use them. If families can’t afford holidays
Avril Jo Mulcahy seems to have a dislike of pensioners’ “free” bus passes (June 23). All the pensioners I know pay full council tax, including one lady of 86. We are all contributing to our bus passes, those waiting in the wings will, hopefully, get
Margaret Hathaway, project director, SE Essex Primary Care Trust, fails to answer the concerns of GPs about superclinics and the plans to hand over NHS GP services to private companies (July 9). In dealing with Leigh Primary Care Centre, she points out
BEING raised in the county tarnished by the white stiletto stereotype has helped make Sarah White the woman she is today. Battling preconceptions of people is now all in a days work across the other side of the world for the former Westcliff
A FIRE broke out at an industrial estate this (Monday) morning. Firefighters from Rayleigh and Hadleigh stations were called to the Amwood Lodge Industrial Estate, in Arterial Road, Rayleigh, at 6.55am. On arrival, they discovered a
LOVEBIRDS Ernest and Ellen Abrahall celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at a family garden party. Daughter Linda threw the bash at her home, in Waverley Crescent, Wickford, which also celebrated Ernest’s 90th birthday. Eastenders Ernest
Basildon council chiefs say human rights will not stop them buying up a Royal Mail delivery office, an Indian restaurant and several garages. Private former council garages stand in the way of the third phase of the Five Links regeneration in Laindon
THUGS robbed a young boy of his bike in a violent street attack. The boy was riding along Brackendale Avenue in Pitsea when he was approached by two teenagers, who asked for directions to Pitsea Market. Without warning, one of the youths ordered him
A COUPLE who were teenage sweethearts are celebrating their Platinum wedding anniversary after being hitched for 70 years. John and Ellen Savage, both 88, marked the achievement with a huge party, at their son’s home in Steepleview, Basildon, attended
A UNIQUE council house has been swamped with applicants wanting to live there. A short-list has had to be drawn up after 40 people applied to Rochford District Council to take over the tenancy of the Dutch Cottage, Rayleigh. Whoever is chosen to take
ESSEX Fire Service spent about £3,000 sending two senior officers on a training course to Texas. But the service said the course was recognised as one of the best in the world and worked out cheaper than the UK-equivalent, which costs £2,000
A TEENAGER was left with a broken jaw after being savagely beaten by a gang in broad daylight. Police are hunting five teenagers after the attack in Benson Road, Grays. The thugs accosted the 14-year-old boy and punched and kicked him while he lay on
THURROCK Citizens Advice Bureau is appealing to hard-up families in the borough to tell their story to help end child poverty. Citizens Advice is running a nationwide campaign with the aim of making sure the Government sticks to its pledge to halve child
CHILDREN from a Thurrock school wore some fancy footwear to raise £115 for St Luke’s Hospice. A crazy socks day was held at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, in Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon, to rake in funds for the Basildon-based hospice. Pupils
PUBLIC sector workers’ union Unison is highlighting Thurrock Council's policy of employing agency workers and says it is wasting taxpayers’ money. As its members completed the second day of a two day strike, in search of a pay increase, Unison issued
THE Government has called Rochford’s 33 per cent reduction in crime a “monumental achievement”. Since April 2004, recorded crime in Rochford District has dropped by 32.9 per cent, giving the area the highest crime reduction rate in the Eastern region
THE cream of UK comic talent takes centre stage at the Cliffs Pavilion over the next few months. Lee Evans, Jimmy Carr and Steve Coogan are all putting in performances at the Westcliff venue, between August and October, with tickets sure to be in
A GOAL from West Ham United striker Freddie Sears was not enough to stop England being knocked out of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Sears struck with a 68th minute penalty as the Young Lions thrashed Greece 3-0 in Liberec, but the victory
POLICE using pepper spray were called in to break up disturbances as violence marred West Ham United's friendly with MLS side Columbus Crew. Trouble broke out at half-time during Sunday evening's match – which the Premier League outfit went on to win
HAVING to earn a Christmas crust in the backyard of old Any Dream Will Do sparring partner Lee Mead doesn’t bother Chris Crosby. And why should it? Crosby is fast making a name for himself as the Mr Flexible of the entertainment world, turning his
DANISH Kaneria has re-committed his international future to Pakistan. The Essex leg-spinner clarified comments published in the Echo last week in which he admitted he would “think over” switching his allegiance to play for England if he were continually
RYAN ten Doeschate produced a magnificent performance with the bat to salvage a tie for Essex in their Pro40 League match with Leicestershire at Grace Road. The all-rounder struck a brilliant and unbeaten 99 from 66 balls after his side had lost half
JULIEN Faubert claims he and Craig Bellamy have the pace to speed West Ham to glory this season. The flying West Ham winger, nicknamed the “High Speed Train” in his native France, was restricted to just eight appearances in his debut term at Upton Park
SKIPPER Adam Barrett made no excuses for the Shrimpers’ poor showing at Braintree Town on Saturday. But he also refused to be too concerned by the 2-0 pre-season friendly defeat at Cressing Road. Steve Tilson’s side were well below par against their
BILLERICAY Town were delighted with an 806-strong crowd for their pre-season opener at New Lodge where they faced West Ham United’s academy line-up. Town have launched Nathan Elder and Chris Whelpdale on highly-successful Football League careers over
SOUTHEND United boss Steve Tilson was left questioning his side’s attitude following a dismal 2-0 defeat at Braintree Town on Saturday. With less than three weeks to go until the start of the League One season, the Shrimpers failed to impress against
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CANVEY campaigners have relaunched their campaign to block huge new gas storage tanks. Calor Gas is reviving plans to store 108,000 tonnes of liquid natural gas on the island, the equivalent of 5 per cent of the country’s supply. Action
RESIDENTS fear Shoebury’s services are being taken away one by one, after its only bank announced it is to close. Barclays’ decision to shut its Ness Road, Shoebury, branch has astonished customers, as it is the closest bank to the rapidly-expanding
A MAN and woman who admitted selling drugs have been given the chance to turn their lives around. Gervaise Bell, 20, and Samantha Burke, 26, were caught during Operation Iron Maiden, which was set up to target drug dealers in Southend.
ONE of the first children to attend a Rochford day nursery has helped staff and children celebrate their 15th year in business. Hall Road Kindergarten held a party with face painting and a magician to mark their birthday. Luke Osborne, now 17, joined
POLICE have targeted antisocial behaviour by stepping up patrols in parks in Southend and Leigh. Officers claim graffiti and underage drinking levels in Priory Park have dropped since the launch of Operation Egg in June. It was introduced
A leading figure in the battle against illegal traveller sites has quit his parish council seat after in-fighting among fellow campaigners. John Dornan has resigned from Ramsden Crays Parish Council, following a row with Crays Hill Residents
COUNCILLORS have branded a blueprint for the multimillion pound improvement scheme at Priory Crescent as a waste of money. Southend Council has submitted a business case to the Government to improve junctions at Progress Road, Cuckoo Corner
Havens Hospices has been held up as a shining example for its care for people at the end of their lives. The charity, which incorporates Fair Havens hospice in Westcliff and Little Havens children’s hospice in Thundersley, was named in a new Government
A REWARD of £1,000 is being offered by c2c for information about anyone committing crime on the railways. Traditionally, offences such as trespass, throwing stones, putting obstructions on rail tracks and vandalism, increase over the summer
A WELL-KNOWN centenarian who lived in the same Benfleet home for nearly 90 years has died. Rosina Lewis, who was 102, lived in Eversley Road since she moved there, aged 13, from West Ham, London, where she was born. Mrs Lewis married
THE problem with children is they don’t come with an instruction manual. But help to become a good parent is at hand. Parents at Blenheim Primary School, in Leigh, signed up to a six- week course run by the National Open College Network.
AROUND 40 people, including a well-known TV actor, pulled on their walking boots to raise cash for charity. Rene Zagger, best known for his role as PC Nick Klein in the Bill, led the way on a sponsored ten-mile walk along Southend seafront,
PLANS to use a security firm to provide emergency fire cover during strikes or major disasters have been ruled out in Essex. The Government and the Chief Fire Officers’ Association have drawn up plans to award a £100 million, ten-year contract
