Archive
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PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Her Majesty's Theatre Evening show Tuesday May 13 £52 Shopping + Matinee Sat June 14, September 6 £54 With some of the most lavish sets, costumes and special effects ever to have been created for the stage, this haunting musical traces the
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Baby love at wildlife park
NEWBORN triplets have surprised keepers at a wildlife park. Staff are celebrating the birth of three Geoffroy's marmosets at Tropical Wings World of Wildlife, in South Woodham Ferrers. They were born eight days ago during the snowy Easter break. The
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Just 12 calls to abuse line
A GROUND-breaking helpline to allow people to report abuse in care homes has been labelled a mixed success, after it received just 12 calls. In October last year, Essex County Council joined forces with Action on Elder Abuse, Southern Cross Healthcare
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Hospital call costs patient £72
A HOSPITAL patient was left confused and angry after getting an enormous phone bill for making a routine appointment. Wayne Marshall, 30, was charged £72.27 for a 28-minute call, made on March 14 during the day, to the 08448 220002 switchboard number
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Mirror carp is the toast of Mead
THE spring-like weather certainly gave the fishing at Rochford's Doggetts a boost last week. Danny Mead from Rochford had a short session on the South Bank when his only carp run proved to be a superb 30lb 8oz mirror. Unable to believe is own eyes,
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Five cars involved in crash
Five cars have been involved in a pile-up. The crash happened outside the Anne Boleyn pub in Southend Road, Rochford at about 3.45pm today (Wednesday). The cars involved in the minor crash were a red Leyland Box van, a gold Vauxhall Omega, a silver
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Nurse accused of 'you'll die' e-mail
A NURSE told a hospital consultant "you are going to die" in an abusive e-mail, after wrongly claiming he had been involved in a plot to sack him, a hearing was told. John Adams-Hughes, 49, a nurse at Basildon Hospital, allegedly left Dr Michael Imana
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Court hears girl’s rape allegations
A YOUNG woman wept as she told a jury how she was sexually abused on a weekly basis. The alleged victim, now in her twenties, said she was just eight when Wayne Bruce started to sexually abuse her in Vange. She told the jury at Basildon Crown Court
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Gun gangs raids house
A GANG armed with handguns and a knife raided a home yesterday morning. Four men broke into the house in Ravenscourt Drive, Basildon, at about 2am and stole a safe containing a four-figure sum of money and financial documents. A man, one of three occupants
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Grieving mum: My burglary sadness
A BEREAVED mother has spoken of her heartbreak after thieves raided her home and stole a lock of hair taken from her six-year-old son, who died 20 years ago. Crooks broke into Wendy Ellegard's home in South-bourne Grove, Westcliff, while she was on
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Thanks Bernie, our down to earth doc
BERNARD Ribeiro has imparted his medical wisdom to thousands of young trainee doctors. To those young NHS recruits, however, he is more than just a remarkable doctor and teacher - he's a much-loved father figure who's always on hand to help. The 64-
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Farewell to great man of the Echo
IT was standing room only at Southend Crematorium when friends, relatives and work colleagues said goodbye to former Echo employee Ken Rolph. Born Kenneth Morgan Rolph on October 28, 1930, he was the youngest of four brothers and was raised in Rochford
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Cook eyes up shock promotion
SSEX and England star Alastair Cook is backing his county colleagues to shock the cricketing world by winning promotion to Division One of the LV County Championship this summer. The 23-year-old opening batsman has played just 10 championship games for
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Road scheme could cost council £3.5m
SOUTHEND Council could be faced with a £3.5 million bill if the controversial Priory Crescent road-widening scheme goes ahead, campaigners claim. Protesters at Camp Bling, set up to oppose the road scheme, believe the council will have to pay £1.5million
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Confident Bopara is setting high targets
GETTING his place back in England's Test side, securing promotion to LV County Championship Division One and ending the season as Essex's leading run-scorer. Ravi Bopara's pre-season aims are not exactly what you would call modest. But then, nor is
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Kids love clowning
YOUNGSTERS learnt plate spinning and music making at a fun clown workshop. Sandow Clowns Fabulous Circus Party was performing at the Paddocks community centre in Long Road, Canvey. The event was run by Sheila Bratby and her husband Thomas and involves
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We've tidied up our messy street
TWO litter pickers put messy residents to shame by pulling on rubber gloves to clean up their community. Kylie Legate, ten, and her friend Kaitlin Allen, nine, decided to take a stand against rubbish littering North Avenue, Canvey, where they both live
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Redevelopment for ex-cinema
A LANDMARK former cinema could be knocked down to make way for new shops and flats, it has been revealed. The former Palace cinema, in Ness Road, Shoebury, had been used by Essex-based firm Camping and General until early this year. The building has
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Hampel in for Hammers’ AJ
LAKESIDE Hammers commence a hectic schedule of three league meetings in as many days when they take to the Wimborne Road track to take on fellow title favourites Poole this evening. They then move on to engage Swindon at Blunsdon tomorrow before returning
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Darren’s tickled pink at running the marathon
DARREN Smith will certainly stand out in the crowd of 37,000 runners at the London Marathon on Sunday after dying his hair pink especially for the event. The 42-year-old, of Arterial Road, Rayleigh, hopes to raise more than £2,200 for the Havens Hospices
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‘2008 will be better’ – Pettini
ESSEX skipper Mark Pettini has vowed his Essex side will be a much improved outfit this season. The 24-year-old, who took over from Ronnie Irani midway through last season, endured a tough start to life as a leader as Essex were relegated in the Natwest
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Postie praise
WESTCLIFF postman John Campbell has been given a well-deserved award for the many times he has helped out in accidents while on his rounds. It just shows how much we still need postmen. You don't get that sort of value-plus with e-mail.
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Rebels without a cause
CAMP Bling campaigners claim it will cost Southend Council £1.5million to evict them - and they may well be right. However, the real argument lies elsewhere and involves the future of the camp, rather than the planned dual-carriageway in Priory Crescent
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"We must finish in the top-half" - McCartney
WEST Ham defender George McCartney has insisted that the Irons will re-group and ensure they finish the season inside the Premier League's top-ten. The Hammers have been 10th since November 25 last year, but a recent run of just two wins in their last
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Church leader quits after affair
THE founder of the high-profile Peniel Church has resigned - after having an affair. Married Michael Reid, a former insurance salesman, confessed he had "sinned" and had no choice but to resign from the church board and from the position of principal
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Power-ful taste of Deep Scouse
BLUES conjured up on the banks of the Mersey, performed in a Southend shoebox, is about as far removed from Memphis as you can get. But John Power's one-man taste of the Deep Scouse held a captive Railway Hotel audience, freshly squeezed around the tiny
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Prunella's painful but clever slice of drama
WITH more than fifty years in showbusiness Prunella Scales is easily categorised as one of the country's best loves actresses. She's trodden the boards all over the world, graced many screen and even delighted a generation as the lovable Dottie in
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Coming out of the time travelling closet
MOTHS Ate My Doctor Who Scarf could have been the story of my own life. A feverish child, teen and adult obsession with build your own Dalek blueprints, collectable Radio Times front covers, Target novels and Sonic Screwdrivers. Fanatical hoarding and
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Old pals act is a winner
LORRY driver Nigel Connor has a chance meeting with an old school pal to thank for his new personal best 24lb 12oz common carp. Connor, who had not fished for more than 15 years, had taken his young son to the Northlands Park playground when he spotted
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Confident Bopara is setting high targets
GETTING his place back in England's Test side, securing promotion to LV County Championship Division One and ending the season as Essex's leading run-scorer. Ravi Bopara's pre-season aims are not exactly what you would call modest. But then, nor is
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Last moments of troubled Megan
A TROUBLED schoolgirl had drunk heavily and taken a cocktail of drugs before she laid down in the road and was run over by a car, an inquest heard. Megan Cowell, 15, died after she was run over by a taxi and carried for 11m along Clay Hill Road, Vange
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Home made over in an hour
A COUPLE got the surprise of their life when their home was given a £22,000 makeover - completed in just one hour for a daytime TV show. Clive and Linda Attwood, of Marian Close, North Stifford, were stunned to return home and find that son Matthew and
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Annabelle lands Billy Elliot role
A PUPIL at Leigh North Street Junior School is the latest local youngster to make her debut on the West End stage. Annabelle Sanders, nine, of Wellstead Gardens, Westcliff, has just battled through an audition to win a part in Billy Elliot. She is anxiously
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Marginal candidates’ all set for showdown
THE seven candidates fighting a marginal seat on Southend Council will be asked to face the public at a special hustings. St Luke's was always regarded as a Labour stronghold but in recent years, elected two Tories leaving only one Labour member. This
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Golf club to toughen up course
A GOLF club in Hullbridge is hoping to make some of its holes more challenging. Lords Golf and Country Club in Hullbridge Road has asked Rochford District Council for permission to reshape part of the course. Leij Palmer, spokesman, said the improvements
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£40million housing revolution begins
THE first phase of a £40million project to improve council homes in Rochford is under way. Rochford Housing Association, which took over responsibility for the district's 1,750 homes in July last year, is investing £27million during the next five years
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Curbs: No excuses for latest setback
ALAN Curbishley was offering no excuses after his stuttering West Ham side plunged to their fifth defeat in seven matches last night. Niko Kranjcar's 61st minute strike was enough to fire FA Cup finalists Portsmouth to a narrow 1-0 win at Upton Park.
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What is causing ‘toxic’ fumes?
WORRIED workers have claimed nasty smelling fumes from nearby factories are making them ill. Some people who work in Sutton Road, Southend, have even started wearing masks, to filter out the chemicals they say are being emitted from incinerators, near
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I was stabbed and tied up by robbers
A BUSINESSMAN was coshed over the head, stabbed and tied up by armed raiders who stole cash from his home. Chris Steele, 47, of Gloucester Terrace, Thorpe Bay, was jumped on by two men in the early hours of the morning as he left his home. He was responding
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Kranjcar goal keeps Irons stuck in 10th
FOUR and a half months ago, Niko Kranjcar was part of the Croatia side that ended England's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 with a 3-2 win at Wembley. That very same week, West Ham drew at home with Tottenham and gained a point that put them 10th in
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Nearly There!
SOUTHEND United captain Adam Barrett fired his side to a crucial 2-0 win over Brighton at Roots Hall last night and believes Blues need just three more points to make sure of a place in the play-offs. The centre back brilliantly lashed home a 20-yard
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Four car crash blocks A127
LONDON bound drivers suffered major delays following a rush hour crash on the A127 this morning. Four cars collided as they approached the slip road for the A130 at the Fairglen Interchange around 8.15am. A Ford Transit tipper, a Vauxhall Corsa van,
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Ambitious plans for historic farm site
PLANS to breathe new life into a a historic site have been announced. The Grade II-listed High House farm buildings in Purfleet will become part of the ambitious revamp, if Thurrock Development Corporation plans come to fruition. Conservation architects
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‘Thanks for saving my wife and baby’
A DAD is steeling himself to push his body to the limit to raise money for Basildon Hospital doctors who saved the lives of his wife and daughter. Richard Ellis, 37, will run 10km to his bike then cycle a further 10km to Grangewaters outdoors pursuits
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Boy injured in crash
A 12-year-old cyclist was seriously injured last night when he was in collision with a car in Canvey Road, Canvey. The boy, from Canvey, was taken to Basildon Hospital with serious injuries following the accident which happened at 7.20pm. His parents
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MP's expenses row rumbles on
The antiquated House of Commons expenses system has recently and rightly come under scrutiny and now faces reform, but there appears to be confusion among recent correspondents (March 20 and 25). John Haran refers to MPs' allowances, but fails to mention
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Long live our Press freedom
Mr Justice Andrew Collins felt there had been "poisonous national and local media coverage of the Dale Farm issues". He should actually have been praising the local press for its in-depth coverage of both sides of the story. There have been numerous
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I'll use my vote for local issues
James Dudderidge MP has sent me a letter suggesting as I voted Conservative in the last general election I should vote Conservative in the local elections "so that we send a message to No 10 about dissatisfaction with Labour". I cannot believe the sheer
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Daytrippers are now long gone
I and many other Southend residents, will agree with Chris Jones's letter about Southend's disappearing image of a once great seaside resort (Letters, April 2). Are those in charge going to wait until our town ends up with nothing but tower blocks and
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Ekco idea will never come off
What imaginative thinking by Marj Playle in her letter regarding the use of the Ekco building in Priory Crescent, Southend, to house the treasures of the Saxon king. How about extending that idea to house the gorgeous collection of radios, televisions
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Careful what to call a barmaid
I have read the ludicrous and latest directive from Brussels, regarding pub customers and what they can call barmaids and barmen. You cannot address them as dear, darling, sweetheart, babe, or any other endearing terms for fear of causing offence and
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Yes, I will get on my bike
As porttfolio holder for transport at Southend Council, I will continue to seek better bus services, but that does not preclude me from also looking to improve cycling and walking opportunities. In response to the letter writer who questioned it, yes
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My fears for our recycling
The publication of Recycling News by Rochford Council is, in my view, too little too late. The cost of postage and printing must be offset by stringent cost effective measures. My biggest concern is disposal of plastic which can take up to 500 years
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Glad we live in a street of such good neighbours
I look down my street and I see on both sides houses built in Edwardian times, with tradesmen calling at the back door. We have the back alleys to prove it. Today, buy-to-let landlords have moved in and converted family homes into flats with people
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My blaze heartbreak
A MAN who was restoring a car for his son is devastated after it was destroyed in a blaze which gutted his three workshops. Steve Kemp, 49, from Hovefields Drive, Wickford, is counting the cost of the fire, which ruined the outhouses in his garden.
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Will our pier ever be fixed?
David Payne is spot on regarding the apparent lack of money, and lack of interest and commitment re- garding the pier shown by present, and past, members of Southend Council (Letters Apr 4). However, the only place he is likely to get a straight answer
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Bikers take over car park
So yet another brilliant scheme bites the dust. The small car park in the centre of the roundabout by Basildon rail station was, until earlier this year, free for one hour, and there were generally a few spaces available for short term parking. Last
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Prostate cancer needs publicity
I was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer just over a year ago and try to keep informed of trials for new treatments. Prostate Cancer Awareness week last month went unnoticed in the Echo. However, the paper carried an article on ovarian
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Sports village no vote winner
I have carefully studied Mr Tucker's personal view that he believes 99.3 percent of people are in favour of the new sports village at Basildon's Gloucester Park. He is no doubt aware there are local council elections coming up on May 1, and this could
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Committed to cleaner hospitals
Following articles on the cleanliness of South- end Hospital (March 31 and April 1), I believe it is important to emphasise the steps that have been taken to create a safer, cleaner hospital. South East Essex Primary Care Trust works closely with hospital
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Journey on the buses was a right old carry on
On Sunday, March 30, my husband and three friends joined me taking part in the Great Pier Walk in aid of StrokeBusters, Southend Hospital. Deciding to be environmentally friendly, we travelled from Hockley by bus. The journey into Southend was fine.
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Crash victim is airlifted to hospital
A MAN was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after his car smashed into a wall. The crash happened at about 3.45pm yesterday, when a blue Kia Sorrento sped off Kiln Road, outside Castle Point Council offices, in Thundersley. The car sped
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Travellers must leave East Beach site today
TRAVELLERS have been given until today to leave a field in Shoebury or face police action. Southend Council secured a court order yesterday, requiring the group of caravans to leave the site on East Beach. If the travellers do not leave the field today
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Lottery windfall for groups who help the disabled
TWO vital groups which improve the lives of disabled people are celebrating after securing lottery funding. The Pavis Foundation for Visually Impaired People, in Basildon, received about £225,000 from the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme
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Police failed to take our burglary seriously
POLICE have apologised to a businessman after failing to fully investigate a burglary which cost him more than £1,000. Thieves smashed their way into Stoko Scaffolding Services, on the Bonville Farm Industrial Park in Arterial Road, North Benfleet, overnight
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Hear the latest at your area forums
RESIDENTS who want to hear the latest on issues affecting them should go along to the next meeting of Essex County Council's south Essex Area Forum. The forum will be held at 2pm on Monday, April 14, at the Oysterfleet Hotel, on Canvey. Topics under
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Church in SOS
A RAWRETH Church has started £21,000 of repairs on a subsiding wall, with only £3,500 in the kitty. To raise the remaining £17,500, St Nicholas Church, in Church Road, has launched a desperate appeal for donations - led by the Rev Paul Trathen. He said
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Commuters back footbridge
COMMUTERS have welcomed plans for a new £1.9million footbridge between the c2c station at Limehouse and the Docklands Light Railway. The new link, funded by Transport for London and the Department for Transport, will allow swift and easy access from
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Quiz night to buy smellies for patients
THE Smellies for the Sick appeal has been boosted by the proceeds of a quiz night. The charity supplies toiletries for patients at Southend Hospital who do not have their own toiletries when they are admitted to hospital. Christine Mason organised a
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Club mess hit for six
MEMBERS of Benfleet Cricket Club spent their weekend spring cleaning and repairing their facilities at their ground in Woodside Park. Work at the club, in Manor Road, involved painting and decorating the club house, fitting a new kitchen and the installation
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Flower growers’ show time
THE Canvey Horticultural Society held its first event of the year on Saturday at its new show venue. The show took place at the Baptist Church hall in the High Street, Canvey, and was a resounding success with 79 entries. This year, exhibitors were
