IT’S a well-known fact that girls outperform boys at school. Every year when GCSE and A-level results are published, there is a clear disparity between the achievement of the two sexes. At GCSE level last year, 62 per cent of girls in Essex got five
ESSEX closed the opening day of their County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Chelmsford on 66 without loss after the visitors, who won the toss, had been bowled out for 275 with Graham Napier taking 4-50. The visitors’ total owed much to the
BILLERICAY Town continued their pre-season build-up with a 3-0 home win over Ryman One North Redbridge last night. With tomorrow’s New Lodge encounter with Southend United looming (7.30pm), Ryman Premier Town rested a number of first-teamers, but took
The ECB Cricket Roadshow will visit Garon Park on Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1 between 10am and 6pm. Youngsters and their parents will be able to test their skills at batting, bowling, throwing and catching – all under the watchful eyes of
THE A13 has been shut in both directions after a lorry began leaking corrosive chemicals near the M25 turnoff The lorry driver pulled over into a layby abouth half-a-mile from the M25 junction after he noticed the leak. Emergency services were called
A NEW five-a-side football league will be starting at Rayleigh’s Sweyne Park School next Wednesday, July 23. The matches will run between 7pm and 8.30pm at the school in Sir Walter Raleigh Drive and a few places are still available. Contact Jeff Shepherd
EIGHT local clubs will provide youngsters for the Adventure Island Under-11 Kwik Cricket Tournament. The competition will run at lunch-time during the first three days of Essex’s LV County Championship clash with Glamorgan at Garon Park. Hadleigh will
SOUTHEND-based Trinity YFC are looking for footballers to play at all positions for their new under-nine team. The club wants to hear from players who will be in school year four from September who want to join Trinity’s new third team. They will compete
HULLBRIDGE Sports want new players for their under-11 side in the Premier Division next season. Anyone interested must be going into school year six in September and should call Mick on 01702 231694 or 07788 410535 for more details.
An astonishing medal haul for SHSB emphasised the school’s dominance with twelve gold, ten silver and eleven bronze medals over the three days of the Essex Clubs 3AAA’s championships. Twelve county champions! The athletes also secured a clean sweep
Many of our World Challenge fund-raisers set off to Surrey to compete with up to a thousand others in a 15km ‘Fun Run’. The SHSB competitive spirit remains strong even in these circumstances, and David Masson romped home in first place!
Our linguists have been ‘performing’ in the Have Your Say competition, which requires competitors to demonstrate their prowess in speaking a modern foreign language. With somewhere over a 1000 competitors at the outset, 30 boys from SHSB had qualified
Furtherwick Park School, A Specialist College for the Media Arts held an Age Concern Lunch on Thursday 10th July 2008. Members from Age Concern were treated to a two course dinner served by some of our students who are: Haydn Plumb Year 18, Dax Rice
Furtherwick Park School, A Specialist College for the Media Arts have been presented with The Inclusion Quality Mark Award. This national award is given to schools that ensure that all students have a chance to be involved and succeed in school. After
Furtherwick Park School, A Specialist College for the Media Arts held a Community Day on Friday 11th July 2008. Year 8 students took part in a variety of activities which gave them greater understanding of themselves and the wider community. During
IN 2010, Essex will call Southend home. Well, one of three temporary homes to be exact, but home nonetheless while the county’s permanent headquarters at Chelmsford undergoes a multi-million pound renovation. For that reason alone, the Essex AutoGroup
IT was a moment of history when Southend High School for Girls pulled off the double at the English Schools Track and Field Cup national final at the Costello Stadium in Hull. The Southchurch Boulevard girls won the intermediate title for the first time
Some years ago I read an extremely plausible explanation of how World War Two could be attributed to Hitler’s relationship with his father. With this in mind, I take the argument that nations which cherish a traditional glorification of war will subconsciously
I am sick of our MPs claiming my tax money for their second homes. What justification has an MP based in Southend to take this money? They say it’s in the rules, but that does not mean its morally justified. Laura Davidson Bournemouth Park RoadSouthend
I watched an inspiring programme on TV. A few schools in the UK are dualling with schools in China and adopting some of their principles of an exercise regime. It showed children in the playground before lessons doing aerobic exercises all in harmony
I enjoyed the letter by Sally Edward (July 11), when she preferred Southend Pier to be a place of tranquility without a rollercoaster. I, too, would like that prospect, but all the options she listed would not be enough to make the pier an attraction
Gas main replacement is being carried out throughout Rayleigh and on July 27 the High Street will be closed as part of this scheme. Apart from notices advising this closure, I have been unable to find any references to contingency plans to deal with
NEW windows and doors have been installed at a historic town centre church to give it a more welcoming feel. St John’s Church, in Church Road, Southend, recently underwent a £500,000 refurbishment to update the building, built in the 19th century. Last
ANOTHER flats development planned for Canvey is set to be scuppered by the ongoing flood plain problems. An application for the 50 flats, in Long Road, was agreed in 2003, as long as the developer contributed £100,000 for affordable housing. But when
HIGH street stores are using misleading signs and slogans to entice shoppers, a consumer watchdog has said. Shops in Southend and Basildon town centres are displaying cleverly-worded banners which could be misread to suggest they have closing
A TEENAGER who stole a three-piece suite and burgled his own mum’s house has been locked up for 16 months. Recovering alcoholic Aaron Cullen, 19, broke into a flat in Hermitage Drive, Basildon, and stole £750 worth of goods. The haul included a leather
A SCHOOL is celebrating after a host of pupils were awarded the Diana, Princess of Wales Anti-Bullying Award. A total of 31 Mayflower High School pupils, from years ten and 12, were chosen for their outstanding contribution to tackling bullying in the
Woodlands School proms picture special -- only in your Wednesday Echo * PLUS £600 of barbecue prizes to be won
Two fund-raising events will be held in honour of Havens Hospices to coincide with the Southend Cricket Festival. The first, a Fun Quiz and Disco Night, will take place at Garon Park on Thursday, July 31, from 7.30pm. Tickets, which cost £8 each including
A MULTI-million pound scheme to provide new homes for elderly and vulnerable people has been given the go-ahead. Shaftsbury Court, in Rectory Road, Pitsea, will be redeveloped with an £11million pound scheme announced yesterday. It is part of an £80m
A FIRE broke out at a Kentucky Fried Chicken takeaway in Prittlewell this (Tuesday) morning. Crews from Southend and Leigh stations were called at 11am after an oil burner being used to cook chicken overheated and caught light. The blaze
FREE tickets to the Southend Cricket Festival are still available to local schools, charities, clubs and community groups. The Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST) charity and Southend Council have teamed up off offer £10,000 towards the cost of the
DAZZLING floral displays, green open spaces and a choice of activities for children and young people has earned six parks in south Essex a top national award. Green Flag awards are handed out once a year to the best parks in the country. This year
TO celebrate a successful year at Southend School Sport Partner-ship, the SSCo team took 16 children from four schools to Adventure Island on Southend seafront. The children were selected because they were good role models and showed leadership skills
NEW windows and doors have been installed at a historic town centre church to give it a more welcoming feel. St John’s Church, in Church Road, Southend, recently underwent a £500,000 refurbishment to update the building, built in the 19th century
WEST Ham manager Alan Curbishley has claimed that Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil moved to Fulham due to a lack of first-team opportunities at Upton Park. Striker Zamora played an influential role in helping the Irons stave off relegation from the Premier
PICTURE the scene: A pupil confides in a teacher about problems at home. The girl has to care for her parents because they are ill. The family are not getting the benefits to which they are entitled. Normally, teachers would then
RICHARD Wright has admitted he was “desperate” to leave West Ham United and return to hometown club Ipswich Town. The 30-year-old goalkeeper re-joined the Championship side – where he started his career and made 291 appearances between 1995 and 2001
CONCORD Rangers are likely to give another chance to a man who could become a giant presence at the club when they host Blue Square South outfit Thurrock (7.45pm) tonight. Giant defender David Obaze has just been released from Southend United’s youth
BELHUS' fourth team suffered a four-wicket defeat against Goresbrook thirds. Belhus batted first and hit 162, but Goresbrook passed the total for the loss of six wickets. The under-13s were also beaten by Wickford in the South Essex League. Belhus
SOUTH East Essex College has been praised for its “strong and visionary leadership” in its latest Ofsted report. However, a small number of courses need to be brought up to standard, according to inspectors who visited the college in May. Staff have
RONNIE Irani believes Essex’s fine 2008 season is a clear vindication of his decision to name Mark Pettini as his chosen successor as county skipper. Pettini was surprisingly handed the captaincy following Irani’s sudden retirement through injury last
HADLEIGH and Thundersley CC will host their annual International Festival at John Burrows recreation ground today, with play starting at 2pm.
Canvey Island had three trialists in their line-up last night as they drew 1-1 at home to Blue Square South Braintree. Ian Luck, who hit the bar late on, put the Ryman Premier hosts in front after 41 minutes, with Bradley Quinton equalising on 72 minutes
LUCAS Neill is going nowhere. The West Ham United captain is adamant that his future lies at Upton Park, despite speculation linking him with a move away from the club. The Australian’s £60,000-a-week wages and indifferent form last season raised suggestions
ESSEX will hope to leave Gloucestershire in a spin when the pair’s LV County Champ-ionship Division Two clash gets under way in Chelmsford this morning (11am start). The hosts will field two spinners on a dry pitch at the Ford County Ground. And the
IN stark contrast to the previous week’s washout, all Active Southend Evening Cricket League matches went ahead without interruption from the weather. In the Premier, Prittlewell lost their unbeaten record, going down to Rankins by 16 runs. Batting
RAYLEIGH’S FitzWimarc School year 10 cricket team have reached the final of the County Schools’ Cup for the second year running. They will be bidding to overturn last season’s defeat when they take on title holders Shenfield, but due to a difference
WEST Ham central defender James Tomkins took time off from preparations for England under-19’s European Championship challenge to present the awards at his old school, Chavedon. It was the inaugural sports awards night at the Chalvedon and Barstable
Division One: Hadleigh & Thundersley took 11 points from their drawn match away to Westcliff on Sea. The visitors made 224 all out with K Klein contributing 122 runs and P Shaw taking 5-62. P Fosh (72) and L Hurley (59) led the Westcliff reply, which
SHOEBURYNESS High School athletes are celebrating their best results for many years. The girls enjoyed a particularly successful Borough Sports by finishing third overall. They were second in years seven and eight, third in year nine and fourth in year
Premier Division: Basildon & Pitsea remain third from bottomfollowing a 57-run defeat to Hainault & Clayhall. Hainault batted first and declared on 237-9. Despite Mark Amos’ 100, Basildon finished on 180 all out, with Hainault bagging themselves 20
Division One: Saffron Walden were victorious over hosts Horndon with a 48-run win, causing Horndon to suffer their thrid consecutive defeat. Saffron Walden batted first and saw T Prince score a fine 121 alongside B Sindell (79) and declared on 253-4
TWO sisters will cross London’s bridges in a fancy dress fundraising mission. Student Laura Packer, 21, and her sister Emma, 25, are hoping the money raised from the 10.5-mile walk across ten bridges will help Laura travel to South America, where she
ROAD safety is set to be improved around four schools with the introduction of a 20mph speed limit. The schemes are set for outside the two Westcliff High Schools, Darlinghurst Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School.
A BUNGALOW caught alight from a burning shed in Eastwood last (Monday) night. Firefighters from Leigh station were called to the fire in Eastwood Old Road about 11.40pm and spent two hours at the scene. Firefighter Dan Hawkins said the fire was started
WEST Ham United and Columbus Crew have both played down the half-time disturbances that marred Sunday’s friendly between the two sides. One Irons fan was arrested following an altercation between sets of supporters at the Crew Stadium, while police
PITSEA Junior School, which was once classed as failing, has received a glowing Ofsted report. The school was in special measures in 2000 and only received a “satisfactory” rating when it was last assessed in 2002. Headteacher Alison Blant says she
A WOMAN who glassed a fellow pub-goer in the face has failed to get her conviction quashed. Carley Dempster, 23, smashed a pint glass into the face of Paris Stuart in the Queen’s Pub, Grays, in October 2006. She was found guilty of actual bodily harm
A GROUNDBREAKING initiative uniting schools and councils is hoping to boost standards of education. Rochford District Council has teamed up with two schools to set up the Rochford District Schools Partnership Trust, which will work with education authority
A FORMER nurse has been fined for using threatening behaviour towards police officers in Leigh Broadway, after she lost her job. Police were called after Jane King, 28, was seen walking in and out of traffic in the Broadway at 8.40am on Sunday. Officers
ROAD safety is set to be improved around four schools with the introduction of a 20mph speed limit. The schemes are set for outside the two Westcliff High Schools, Darlinghurst Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School. As well
COASTGUARD staff went on strike for 48 hours, but emergency responses were not affected. Picket lines were set up at Thames Coastguard at Walton on Naze where services are co-ordinated for rescue operations for Southend and Canvey. The row over pay
TRAFFIC conditions outside Southend Hospital are set to be improved with a raft of measures, including a new layby so that cars queuing to get into the hospital won’t have to wait in the road. A £10 million multi-storey car park is currently
POLICE have appealed for two motorists involved in a car crash in Southend to come forward. The accident happened as marked police car was following a silver Ford Focus along Queensway, towards the seafront at 4.05pm on Tuesday last week.
RAIL company c2c has won a national award for its fleet of environmentally-friendly trains. The company, which runs services between Shoebury and London Fenchurch Street, was highly commended at the National Transport Awards ceremony in London. The
A CHARITY sale has raised £2,408 for Southend Hospital’s StrokeBusters appeal. Fundraiser Joyce Long held the sale at her home in Park Road, Thundersley, from Monday, July 14, to Friday, July 19. She sold china, crockery and other household goods donated
TRADERS are bracing themselves for more roadworks misery when the second stage begins of the gas pipe replacement programme in Rayleigh. They are already concerned they will lose business when the north end of Rayleigh High Street closes for
THE trial of Grays Athletic footballer Jamie Stuart has been adjourned again – after the prosecution requested more time to prepare its case. Stuart, 30, who is charged with breaking the jaw of York City player Chris Beardsley last season, was due to
A MAN has been sent for trial, accused of murdering a homeless man. Paul Tobin, 38, is accused of killing Mark Woodley, whose body was found by a council worker in a disused Scout hut in Kingswood Park, off Clayhill Road, Basildon, in April
TWO sisters will cross London’s bridges in a fancy dress fundraising mission. Student Laura Packer, 21, and her sister Emma, 25, are hoping the money raised from the 10.5-mile walk across ten bridges will help Laura travel to South America, where she
A BUTTERFLY boom on Canvey is brightening up the hopes of nature lovers across south Essex. The island’s RSPB reserve is proving to be one of the most important nature sites in the UK for breeding rare and protected butterflies – despite only
DAZZLING floral displays, green open spaces and a choice of activities for children and young people has earned six parks in south Essex a top national award. Green Flag awards are handed out once a year to the best parks in the country. This year
A WOMAN was seriously injured in a head-on car crash in Southend which brought traffic chaos in nearby roads. Priory Crescent was closed at 1.15pm yesterday after a Nissan Micra and a white Nissan van collided. Firefighters from Southend
JAMIE Clapham is the latest left-back to join Southend United on trial. The experienced 32-year-old, who has made more than 400 appearances during his career, trained with the Shrimpers yesterday. Clapham will feature in either this Thursday’s friendly
A MAJOR shake-up of the benefits system could force disabled people into low-paid menial jobs, or on to the streets, a disability campaigner fears. The radical plans to get hundreds of thousands of people off benefits and into work were launched
A COMMUNITY came together to enjoy a day of fun-packed entertainment. Rayleigh churches organised the fun day at King George V Playing Field in Bull Lane, Rayleigh. There were a wide range of free activities for visitors including bouncy castles, a
CHILDREN across Canvey will be presented with new dictionaries, thanks to the Rotary Club. Every child in Year 6 at school on the island will receive an Usborne Dictionary for Life, which has a user’s guide, parts of speech and a history of the language
