MUSICIAN turned furniture designer Larry Gott has seen his fair share of ups and downs in the cut-throat world of the music industry. Larry was in Indie band James from 1984 to 1995, before they reunited in 2007. The group play at the Cliffs Pavilion
SAXOPHONIST Snake Davis is joined by three of his favourite musicians at Churchill’s in Southend this weekend. The session musician has performed with some of the great soul artists, and is bringing his band, Burden of Paradise, to the town centre venue
THE boys are back in town...yes, it’s Limehouse Lizzy. Formed to celebrate the music of the late Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy, Limehouse are one of the UK’s leading tribute acts and promise a night of energetic rock. The four-piece will perform at the
A MUSIC and military-themed event is being held this weekend to raise money for Help for Heroes charity. The two-day event, at the Exhibition Inn, Great Wakering, will include live music on Saturday from noon until 6pm and a military fancy dress party
WORCESTERSHIRE reached 176-4 on the first day of their friendly with Essex at Chelmsford today. David Masters, Chris Wright, Ryan ten Doeschate and Maurice Chambers took a wicket each as Moeen Ali posted 68 not out and Ben Smith an unbeaten 40. Play
EAST Thurrock ladies had to dig deep to reach their second consecutive League Cup final, beating Barking reserves 3-1. The Rockettes entered the game following a 3-0 defeat of Barking in the league just two weeks ago and a sensational 36-0 drubbing
THE fishing at Doggetts has dramatically improved this week with good bags of roach bream. And some excellent tench have been landed at the Rochford water, although maggots are still essential for continual sport. The carp anglers saw fish moving on
POLICE are appealing for information after an armed robber held up two security guards outside a supermarket in Shoebury. The attack happened near to the ATM machines at Asda in North Shoebury Road, shortly before 2pm this afternoon.
COMMUTERS faced travel chaos as trains between London and Southend were cancelled due to signalling problems. c2c, the train company which operates services between London Fenchurch St and Southend, via Basildon and Grays, was forced to cancel
IN the face of constant criticism, a death threat and relentless personal attacks, most people would retreat, pack up and go home. Not Anna Waite, surely the most controversial figure in Southend politics in years. As councillor responsible for transport
Enjoy a suitably spooky day out with a morning visit to the London Dungeon, followed by free time for lunch (not included) and a guided afternoon ghost walk, which unfolds against the backdrop of London's oldest, eeriest and most haunted quarter
A POLICE office has opened in Hockley to help local bobbies get out on the beat. Officers will use the building opposite Somerfield, in Spa Road, as a place to set off on regular circuits of the town. It will not have a front desk for members of the
THERE was more success for members of the Basildon-based Phoenix Club at the third weekend of Essex’s premier event, the County Championships. Once again Phoenix’s swimmers travelled to Braintree to compete in more events with fine results that maintain
A TRIO of south Essex racing drivers are gearing up for a championship charge as the Formula Renault season gets ready for the green light. Robert Foster-Jones and Tom Armour, from Thorpe Bay and Biller-icay respectively, will be competing in the first
FIREFIGHTERS used cutting equipment to release an injured driver from his car following a crash. The incident happened at 8.30am today on Dunton Road, Basildon, when one car slammed into the back of another. The collision sent the front car into a ditch
TWO years ago, Iain Letch was paralysed from the neck down and facing life in a wheelchair, now he is about to run the London Marathon. Miracle man Iain, of Friern Walk, Wickford, intends to complete the 26.2 miles within four hours.
A WIND farm could be set up on a Canvey wildlife haven. Supermarket chain Morrisons wants to put up a 60m tall mast to measure wind speed and direction on Canvey Wick. It will test whether or not a wind farm would be effective on the green belt site
DRINKERS left in the dark after the sudden closure of a Leigh pub have welcomed news it will reopen. The Carlton, in the Broadway, has not been open since the beginning of last week, leaving punters scratching their heads about what was going on. But
A MAN arrested in connection with a rape on a busy main road in Leigh has been bailed pending further enquiries. A 46-year-old woman had called police to report she had been attacked in London Road near to its junction with Tattersall Gardens between
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to abduct an 18-year-old girl at Prittlewell railway station. The victim, who is from Southend, was standing outside the station waiting for a friend when a van stopped beside her and the driver
A MUM says her “superstar” daughter saved her life and that of her unborn baby. Lorraine Macgregor was six months pregnant with her second child when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis was only made after daughter Chelsea
WORK on Southend airport's new £12million railway station has reached another milestone as a footbridge was winched into place. The new station was begun in February and should be completed by July, linking the airport to the London Liverpool
THE green shoots of spring will be firmly in evidence in Southchurch as new trees are planted at sites across the ward. Young trees have been planted at Bournes Green roundabout to help protect verges from problem parking, and the new cycleway in Royal
THE health trust which serves Basildon and Thurrock has been praised for its customer care, clean clinics and standard of service. Health regulator the Care Quality Commission has given NHS South West Essex Primary Care Trust the all-clear when it comes
AQUATELS has picked up with the better weather and has seen fish being caught from different parts of the lake. Jack Cox had the biggest fish of the week with a 30lb 9oz ghostie from the beach at range. New season ticket holder Liam Graham fished
TWO men and a teenager will appear in court today accused of several robberies and a stabbing. Jazz West, 18, of Stanway, Colchester, Ben Ling, 24, of Colchester and a 16-year-old boy from Colchester, are all charged with five counts of robbery - including
PUPILS and staff celebrated the opening of a £1.4million swimming centre at a special school in Westcliff, marking the culmination of years of planning and fundraising. The new hydrotherapy swimming pool at Lancaster School was opened by Phil Lane,
A NUMBER of Essex’s star names will be missing as the club edges closer to the new cricket season. Essex face Worcestershire at the Ford County Ground, Chelmsford in a two-day friendly, starting today at 11am. And they will be without recent England
ESSEX Pirates star Taner Adu wants his side to maintain their momentum for the remainder of the season. The Southend-based team bagged back-to-back wins for the first time this term last weekend as they beat both Guildford Heat and London Capital.
PUPILS of Southend High School for Boys have been given a shock of huge proportions, courtesy of the Essex Pirates. Students in the year 11 basketball team had been expecting to take on the school’s staff in a game to raise funds for Whizz Kids, who
MORE than £1million of taxpayers’ money has been spent by a health trust over the past three years on the salaries of staff who have been suspended. South Essex Partnership Trust, responsible for mental health services, spent the money in the
THREE people had to be rescued from the windows of their homes after a blaze broke out in flats. The fire is thought to have started in the communal stairwell of the flats in Crouch Street, Noak Bridge at 10.30pm on Tuesday evening. Fire crews had to
THE boyfriend of a woman behind a £500,000 benefits scam said they have been treated “dreadfully” by authorities. Kevin Carlin, 32, is protesting the innocence of his girlfriend, Donna Connolly, who has been jailed for four years for her part in the
SEAL-watching trips from Southend Pier could be available from the summer if a former City worker achieves his dream. Graham Manning, 51, wants to set up the trips because he has been made redundant three times since 2008. The first
A COUNCILLOR organised a charity tea party to honour the memory of her mum who died of ovarian cancer. Maryse Iles was joined by members of the Castle Point Conservative Association to host a coffee morning at Hadleigh Conservative club, in the High
A £23MILLION project to refurbish Southend’s Civic Centre has been scaled back because of the recession, it has been revealed. Southend Council wants to revamp parts of the 40-year-old building, including making the tower block more eco-friendly
A FORMER factory worker, who is working hard to overcome dyslexia, has been recognised with a special award. Reece Burgess, 20, who is studying an exercise and fitness apprenticeship at Seevic College, has been named an outstanding achiever by the Jack
