JAMES Edwards was dubbed the choir boy' when he worked as a waiter at the Arches cafes on Southend seafront. Little did they know that one day he would become an acclaimed tenor, performing at the Royal Opera House and prime venues across Europe.
THE Millers went into this match knowing that a win would dent Edgware's play-off ambitions. As it was the 3-2 victory meant that the hosts moved up a place to fifth, while Aveley remain in 10th place.
THE Dockers badly needed to pick up points against Waltham Abbey at Chadfields. Instead they lost by the odd goal in seven to leave themsleves embroiled in the relegation battle. Third from bottom Tilbury were fortunate that the Waltham Forest side
ROVERS made it five defeats in a row as they went down 2-1 to relegation haunted Ilford at Burroughs Park. Victory would have virtually condemned the visitors to the drop, but they three points they picked up proved vital as the bottom of the table team's
CANVEY'S goal spree dried up as they went down 1-0 away to Bury Town. The Gulls had hit the back of the net nine times in their last two games to give themselves an outside chance of making the Ryman One North play-offs. But they were unable to make
ROCKS bid to avoid relegation from the Ryman Premier division goes on following a 2-1 defeat to play-off hopefuls AFC Hornchurch. East Thurrock remain second from bottom with only doomed Leyton below them. AFC Hornchurch stay fourth in the table.
BILLERICAY'S hopes of reaching the Ryman Premier play-offs took another blow as they made it four defeats in the last five games. The 2-1 win ensured the Dons remained in second place behind champions elect Chelmsford City. Billericay slipped a place
THURROCK remain 12th in Blue Square South following a 3-2 win over second-placed Eastbourne Borough at Ship Lane. Atkin opened the scoring for Borough in the 33rd minute but his goal was cancelled out by Bryant in the 41st minute. Eastbourne regained
GRAYS moved up two places to tenth in the Blue Square Premier table as they beat play-off hopefuls Burton Albion 3-2. Cogan bagged two for Mike Woodward's side and Taylor netted a third, while Jamie Stuart's own goal and a Williams strike accounted for
LEE Barnard bagged a brace and strike partner James Walker also scored as Southend beat Crewe 3-1. But the real hero was goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan, who blocked two penalties to ensure the visitors picked up another three points. Barnard put the Shrimpers
A FIRE broke out at an industrial unit used by a magazine packing company. Firefighters were called to the former Bata shoe factory in Thames Industrial Estate, in Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, when a stack of magazines caught alight. Five
MORE than 100 diners tucked in to a curry to help raise money for a charity that highlights the dangers of drugs. The Tandoori Parlour, in Hart Road, Thundersley, agreed to donate half its profits from the special all-you-can-eat buffet on Thursday night
A PLAY session will be held for parents or carers and their pre-school children. Children can play and listen to stories while adults enjoy a chat over tea or coffee. It will run from 10.45am until 11.45am on Tuesday, April 15, at St Clement's Church
A CHILDREN'S Bible club will meet at the Salvation Army, in Elm Road, Leigh, for activities including games, crafts, videos and music. The club is for children aged four to 11 years and costs £1. It will run from 10am until noon on Saturday, April 19
A MAY Day celebration will be held on Strand Wharf in Old Leigh on Monday, May 5. It will start at 1pm and there will be maypole dancing by the Brownies, Borderdash Morris Dancers, Thameside Mummers, a Slow Loris Folk Band, and the crowning of the May
A BIRDWATCH walk along the seafront will take place on Saturday, April 12. The RSPB is organising the two-hour walk looking for swallows and housemartins. The group is meeting at Victoria Wharf, in Old Leigh, at 10am. The cost is £3 for adults and
BILLERICAY MP John Baron talked politics with more than 100 sixth-formers at the Mayflower School, Billericay. He addressed pupils on AS and A-Level general studies courses and afterwards said: "It was a good session. We looked at the political system
THURROCK'S annual cycle marathon has been given a £5,000 boost by the Thames Gateway Development Corporation. The corporation is sponsoring this year's event, which is organised by the Rotary Club of Mardyke Valley in association with mayor Diane Revell
GRIEVING families my soon have to go all the way to Chelmsford to discuss inquest arrangements with coroner's officers. Essex Police and the county council are looking at plans to move Hadleigh-based officers to the county town. At present, arrangements
LONDON Three North East rivals Rochford Hundred and Westcliff go head to head in the Essex Intermediate Cup tomorrow. Westcliff have already wrapped up the league title, beating their near neighbours twice along the way, and they are keen to make it
JAY Howard will be aiming to cross the finishing line when he contests the second round of the IndyCar Series in Florida tomorrow. Howard, who was born in Basildon, saw his debut in the series end a quarter of the way through the opening race at Homestead-Miami
BENFLEET Running Club's Kirste Snellgrove will be one of 80 people carrying the Olympic torch across London tomorrow. She has been invited to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay which includes celebrities such as Dame Kelly Holmes and
WICKFORD Tennis club members will be going all out to become champions tomorrow when the club holds its winter finals. The men's singles showdown will see sibling rivalry again as brothers Craig and Neil George lock horns. Sandra Ellis and Glynis Exley
FIREFIGHTERS were called out to a tree on fire in Blenheim Park, Leigh. The fire started in a hole in the tree and firefighters arrived at 7.30am and flooded it to put it out.
A FENCE was set alight at Waterside Farm Golf Course. Firefighters from Canvey arrived at midnight to find a pile of rubbish had been set alight by the fence. They had to gain entry to the golf course in Somnes Avenue, Canvey, before they could put
FIREFIGHTERS had to break into a shop after a handbag caught alight. The fire started in Glances, in the Broadway, Leigh, after the bag was left on a spotlight and started to smoulder. Fire crews from Leigh and Hadleigh arrived at 8pm on Friday and
GARY Brooker, the lead singer Procol Harum, has spoken of his relief after winning his court battle to reclaim full royalty rights to the worldwide hit A Whiter Shade of Pale. Southend-born Mr Brooker went to the Court of Appeal in October after Matthew
FOSTER carers are still needed across the county. Essex County Council has launched a new appeal for people to come forward and become foster parents as part of a countywide recruitment campaign being led by existing foster carers. Ray Gooding, deputy
ECHO devotee David Harvey has read every copy of his favourite paper since it was launched back in 1969...except one. Mr Harvey, 67, and his wife Beryl even have the paper delivered while they are on holiday so they don't miss any of the local news and
