Archive

  • Powell might nick it for Railwaymen

    A YOUNG midfielder described as the best ever graduate from Crewe Alexandra’s famous academy is likely to be the biggest threat to Southend United in their play-off semi-final. Eighteen-year-old Nick Powell is the man hitting the headlines

  • Portrait of a very different Essex

    THE generation which came of age just after the Second World War has started to write up its memoirs. Most may struggle to match war veterans’ tales of adventure, suffering and derring-do, yet in many ways, their experiences are equally fascinating,

  • Poppy: I was so overwhelmed by my win in the Olympic Stadium

    POPPY Lake said she was overwhelmed to have tasted victory in the Olympic Stadium and in doing so complete back-to-back UK School Games titles. The 16-year-old, Southend High School for Girls pupil followed up her win in Sheffield last year with another

  • Sophie: I was petrified on the Olympic Stadium start line!

    SOPHIE Riches admitted she was “petrified” as she stood on the start line for her 1,500m in the UK School Games at the Olympic Stadium. But she showed little in the way of nerves as she controlled the race and finished way ahead of the field in a time

  • Gutsy Kaylee digs deep to win 800m silver

    KAYLEE Dodd woke up on the morning of one of the biggest days of her athletics career so far fearing the worst. The 16-year-old, from Wickford, had been feeling run-down all week and was worried it would damage her chances of running well in

  • Qannik, the TV dog that counts

    A BARKING brain box is set to wow TV viewers with his intellectual antics. Qannik the super-smart samoyed will be one of the stars on BBC1’s Bang Goes the Theory at 7.30pm on Monday. Qannik – which means snowflake in the Eskimo language – was one of

  • Police probe councillor’s jibe at English Democrats

    A NEW Labour Southend councillor is facing a police investigation over his online pre-election comments. Police have confirmed they are investigating remarks made by Julian Ware-Lane during his successful campaign to win a seat in Milton ward

  • Flavs: Why I think Belford measures up in goal

    DARRYL Flahavan feels Cameron Belford’s fine form in goal for Southend United has again proved size does not matter for goalkeepers. Flahavan impressed during a successful nine-year stint at Roots Hall despite being under six feet tall. And he is now

  • Yobs plague St Clement's Church in Leigh

    A CHURCH is being plagued by nuisance youths who gather outside in large groups on Friday nights. A rowdy group of up to 40 teenagers has been meeting outside St Clement’s Church, in Leigh Broadway. They have been drinking alcohol and leaving broken

  • Ellie’s made up to be BBC presenter

    A MODEL turned stand-up comic has scored a role presenting a show which gives women a dressing down. Ellie Taylor, 28, originally from Basildon, is the new host of the BBC Three show Snog Marry Avoid? after previous host Jenny Frost quit.

  • Wheelie bins will spoil look of streets

    Regarding recent letters concerning foxes and bin bags, I have no problem with the use of bin bags and think the simple bag and food waste bin system operated here in Southend is excellent. I seldom use a black bin liner these days I would certainly

  • We must stand up to Tesco

    Councillor Gilbert is so wrong when he says we need the new Tesco building in Southend as soon as possible (May 8). This building will attract extra traffic to the area surrounding the site, and in due course it could also cause a number of important

  • More front line staff needed

    First of all I would like to thank Dr Rouse, from the Riverside medical centre, Hullbridge, Ian Harvey, the paramedic, and all of the Southend Hospital staff concerned, for the way my 72-year-old mother was treated during a recent heart scare.

  • This cash cow keeps milking

    So the proposed additional average speed cameras along the A127 to the M25 will still allow speeds of 70 mph. How long do you think it will be before the cash-strapped authorities realise that by imposing an unreasonable and unjustified 50 mph

  • Grant chasing another magic Crewe moment

    ANTHONY Grant hopes to be enjoying another Gresty Road highlight this weekend. The midfielder bagged the first goal of his career when Blues memorably won 4-3 at Crewe back in September 2008. And he is now bidding for more of the same

  • Our high street is in need of some more joie de vivre

    Sadly, the time of high streets as we know them may be slowly coming to an end. But instead of apathetically endorsing this slow and painful natural death, we could get involved in regenerating the heart of Southend, thinking of some new ideas

  • Timlin: I want happy return to Wembley

    MICHAEL Timlin wants to banish his play-off blues by helping Southend United win promotion this season. The influential midfielder was an unused substitute when Swindon Town lost the League One play-off final against Millwall in 2010. And he is now

  • How Steve is making sure workmates can speak his language

    A DEAF hospital porter has been helping colleagues improve the way they treat patients – by teaching them sign language. In the four years Steve Hartman has worked at Basildon Hospital he has taught 60 co-workers how to “sign”, allowing them to make

  • Sturrock says: We're up all for play off clash

    STEREOTYPICALLY teams who go in to the play-offs having just missed out on automatic promotion are normally quite down and despondent – but that is certainly not the case here. We’re certainly not on a downer because we actually did well to get back

  • Southend Airport...Why?

    EASYJET’S UK director originally demanded to know “why would we want to do that?” when he was told about plans to start flights from Southend Airport. Speaking after the budget airline’s half-year results showed a pre-tax loss of £112million

  • Elderly heart patient had to wait 2 weeks to see GP

    A HEALTH trust has apologised after an elderly patient with a heart condition had to wait two weeks for an appointment with a GP. George Scott, 86, saw his doctor and was prescribed new tablets for his condition. But after suffering side effects he

  • Hendrix of the fiddle world’s Wat Tyler gig

    HE’S played in major acts Steeleye Span and Feast of Fiddles, but fiddle-player extraordinaire Peter Knight admits his heart is given over to his trio Gigspanner – who come to Wat Tyler Country Park on Saturday. “There’s obviously Steel Eye Span,” says

  • REVIEW: I Dreamed a Dream

    WHEN Susan Boyle remarked in a Radio Times interview that a Scottish actress called Elaine C Smith would do a good job of playing her in a story of her life, she wasn’t far wrong. Best known for playing Mary Doll from BBC’s Rab C Nesbitt, Elaine takes

  • REVIEW: Ovation for Aida’s opening night

    THAT rarity, a spontaneous opening night ovation, said it all about Aida. Leigh Operatic and Dramatic Society took a risk, going where neither amdram nor professional company has gone before, when they committed to this musical. Unusually

  • Driver overturns Southend car parking fine

    A MAN has claimed victory in a battle with a parking company after he was wrongly accused of leaving his car at Southend Airport Retail Park for more than a day. Barry Green, 40, visited the retail park on Wednesday, April 18, at 7.12pm

  • Towie’s Arg to open Southend seafront restaurant

    A REALITY TV star will officially open a new £2million restaurant on Southend seafront, creating 50 new jobs. James “Arg” Argent from ITV2’s the Only Way is Essex will be at Feelgoods at Adventure Island which opens tomorrow. The new