THERE’S no statue in the town centre or little blue plaques dotted about the place, but Basildon is a Mecca to fans of its most famous sons Depeche Mode. When Deb Danahay, who is planning a massive event to celebrate the band’s legacy, announced the
GOOD old-fashioned, delicious home cooking, no frills, big portions, pleasant, rustic surroundings and great value – that was the opinion of myself and my Taste Test dates who came to Spaghetti Junction in London Road, Westcliff with me.
HE forged a reputation working with the likes of Paul Weller, Gilles Peterson and Paul Oakenfold and has played gigs everywhere from Ibiza to London Zoo, but Chris Bangs is back in town for a DJ set at the Westcliff Hotel. It’s a special visit for Chris
HE’S just released a new single, the first off his upcoming album, and there’s plenty else that’s keeping Southend musician Sam Duckworth busy at the moment. We caught up with the Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly man ahead of his album release and UK tour and
THEY’VE been perfecting their sweet ska sound for years and have built up a loyal band of followers, both locally and further afield, and Southend outfit Goldmaster Allstars could be about to gain massive recognition after finding themselves in the running
YOU could still be in with a chance of a pass to one of the summer’s hottest events as V Festival organisers have announced extra tickets will go on sale on Friday. As well as the extra ticket release, they’ve a host of additional names for the star-studded
A HAILSTORM could not spoil the Leigh & Westcliff’s Winter Finals at Kent Elms TC on Sunday. Westcliff Hard’s pairing of Joe Levey and Josh Onion triumphed over Hadleigh Park’s Jason Watkins and Jack Vile in three hard-fought sets to claim the men’s
IF I asked you to name three Newton Faulkner songs, you might struggle. But if I played you a few, they would almost certainly ring a bell. Faulkner, 27, has mastered the art of dominating mainstream music while still being a bit under the radar.
POLICE have released the details of a suspected knife-wielding thief two targeted two Tilbury taxi drivers. A cab driver stopped to pick up a customer in Thackeray Avenue, Tilbury, before the man threatened him with a knife and robbed him of
COMMUTERS were left stranded on their train after a passenger became ill. The 5.35pm c2c service from London Fenchurch Street had to wait at Basildon station whilst an ambulance made its way to the scene. This had a knock-on effect on later trains which
SOUTHEND musicians Phillious Will- iams and Hookah will be among those jamming for a good cause this week. Band4Life will feature acoustic music at the Squeeze Cafe, in Leigh, to raise money for the Able Kidz Educational Trust for disabled children
Rochford Hundred held two medals over the weekend which counts for the top eight each day as a qualifier for the Hodson Peace matchplay. Saturday saw some terrific scoring across the men’s section. Andrew Frye (69-4=65) took the honours
IT’S a bit overwhelming performing with your musical heroes – even when you’re Phill Jupitus. He’s already had a bit of a taste of that singing on stage with Ian Dury’s legendary backing group, the Blockheads. The Essex comedian and presenter was at
ESSEX'S LV County Championship Division Two four-day game against Northamptonshire – which was due to start yesterday – never got underway. Rain delayed the start of the match and by mid-afternoon any hope of playing was abandoned when an inspection
BY day he was Dr Kay, but by night Adam Kay was taking off the white coat to unmask an altogether different talent – a penchant for penning hilariously smutty songs and regaling comedy club audiences with the results. “I was like a sort of low-rent Superman
SENIOR politicians are holding a meeting at the House of Commons to discuss a £50billion plan to build an airport in the Thames Estuary. Two Tory MPs, Mark Reckless for Rochester and Strood and David Amess for Southend West, will meet leading
LEOPARDS completed a treble as England Basketball announced their Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year awards for Division One. The Big Cats’ excellent form which helped them with the Division One regular season title and the National Cup has
I THINK it has all the makings of a really good game when we go to Oxford this weekend. For me they are one of the best teams we have played this season. And, like ourselves, they still have plenty to be playing for as they aim to secure a place in
BURGLARS stole at least £1,000 in cash after breaking into Specsavers. They forced their way into the branch in Southend High Street through a fire exit door. They then got into the manager's office to steal the cash on the night of Thursday, April
BOBBY Barnes has been appointed as Basildon United’s new manager and says the club will compete in next season’s Essex Senior League. The 27-year-old from Langdon Hills, who was in charge at Olympian side Ramsden last season, was unveiled as
SOUTHEND United skipper Chris Barker wants to end a decade-long goal drought to help boost his side’s promotion push. The 32-year-old has gone 415 games and 622 hours of action since last hitting the back of the net. But he would love that to change
AUSTRALIAN bowler Peter Siddle has been ruled out for Essex County Cricket Club’s Friends Life t20 campaign. Essex were expecting Siddle to arrive for the t20 matches starting in June but he returned early from the Aussies’ tour of the West Indies with
A POPULAR children’s playground could be given a new lease of life after a private leisure company stepped in to run it. Entrepreneurs Helen and Darren Lattimer, of High Road, Benfleet, will be taking on responsibility for the Paddocks Playground, in
Am I the only one horrified at the salaries chief executives are receiving across Essex? In Southend it is £171k a year; in Basildon £233k a year, Castle Point £180k a year, Rochford £133k a year and Essex County Council £210k a year. This is compared
While canvassing for the local elections on May 3, it was brought to my attention by an elderly Kursaal resident there are plans by Southend Council to demolish Queensway House which houses the “60 club”– an invaluable meeting place for senior
While we are delighted our event received excellent coverage in the Echo, we would like to point out there was not just a parade from the Naval and Military Club in Southend to St John's Church, but also a full church service attended by the
I read with interest the article (April 20) about possible weekly markets. Quite clearly Southend High Street needs to have something to attract customers that does not entail £1 or 99p stores, but that has a genuine appeal across the community
How cowardly that the local LibDem candidate is hiding behind the support of the Independents for her election campaign. The other parties, including myself are self-reliant and not compromising votes promised to us by the electorate before the
Forgive me if I am wrong, but after reading about the expansion of the terminal at Southend Airport (April 23), and the increase in the number of flights this will need to make such an investment viable, I can’t see how Stobart, which is also sponsoring
I am searching for seven cousins who moved to Basildon around 1960 from Gainsborough Road, London E15. They all attended my wedding in Walthamstow in 1956. Their father’s name was William James David Murray, who was my father’s brother. There was
We do so agree with Sarah Hamm’s letter (April 24), regarding the state of Lee Chapel North. Ms Hamm has noticed the deterioration in the ward after just three-and- a-half years. Imagine the changes we have seen in 38 years! Lee Chapel North used
How refreshing to read councillor Tony Cox was calling for free parking in West Road, Shoebury, to help shops and businesses in that area (April 23). It is a shame the council does not adapt the same attitude to the rest of the borough. I am
I am filled with despair when I read the articles and letters from residents who are pleading with Rochford Council not to build on green belt land. All the pleading and court action will be of no avail, as I suspect Rochford Council had decided
Since the news of my support for Lib Dem’s Graham Longley, (April 21), I would like to have the best councillors from all political groups working together without political affiliation for the future of our great town. I therefore challenge all
The recent issue of Focus, circulated by the Lib Dems to the residents of Prittlewell, includes a pledge by Mary Betson she will work to turn Victoria Avenue in to an attractive approach to our town centre. If Mrs Betson believes this to be an
Thursday, and the Ashingdon Road is congested due to refuse collection. Isn’t it about time the collection debacle was debated? Rochford Council is proud of its environmental credentials with recycling and reducing its carbon footprint. However
A PRIVATE security firm brought in to clean up our streets has started work. Xfor, which is run by former soldiers and police officers, is patrolling Basildon, Wickford and Billericay. This means residents and shoppers could now be fined £75 if they
A MAN has been arrested following an attack outside a Canvey pub. Police are appealing for witnesses after a man in his twenties was assaulted by the Monico Pub,in Eastern Esplanade. He was left with minor facial injuries. It happened at about 11.15pm
TWO people have been arrested following a drugs bust on Canvey. Police stormed a house in Southfalls Road, Canvey,and found 16 cannabis plants growing inside. They also found several bags containing herbal cannabis during the raid on
TWO men have been arrested following an appeal to identify four men police wanted to speak to about a serious assault. A 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old man, both from Westcliff, have been arrested on suspicion of GBH following a serious
A DEVELOPER could build 200 homes on land near Laindon after Basildon Council failed to make a decision on the plans within a set time frame. Bellway has applied to build more than 200 homes on land at the Ford Dunton research centre. Basildon Council
A TEENAGER who died following a car crash in Billericay dreamed of becoming a police officer, his family have revealed. The parents of Dale Carlier, 18, have paid tribute to their son, who died after the black Ford Fiesta he was travelling
LAST year, when Peter Stevens was four, he completed four laps of a charity bikeathon in memory of his mum, who died of leukaemia. This year, he’s five – and aiming to go one better. Peter, of Birch Green, Wickford, is one of many south
SOUTHEND has been named as one of the best, and safest, places to enjoy a night-out in the UK. The town has become the first in Essex to receive Purple Flag status for being a safe place to visit after dark. It joins the likes of Oxford
Some people choose to run marathons for charity. Others sit in baths of baked beans, while for some, its enough simply to rattle a tin the local high street. Donna Adams had her sights set on something rather more spectacular when she decided
GOLD, silver and bronze trees could form part of a new landmark garden to make Canvey more attractive to Olympic visitors. Castle Point Council is set to spend £37,000 sprucing up two-acres of scrubland next to Benfleet Creek, off Canvey Road, in an
HAVE you ever fancied trying your hand at stand-up? If so, pop down to the Three Flying Ducks comedy club in Old Leigh tonight (April 26). More used to hosting appearances by top-notch comedians, including Phill Jupitus, Michael Smiley and this month
