AS soon as that first, unmistakable piano note is struck, most music lovers know exactly what follows. It is, of course, David Bowie’s delicate vocals on the start of his groundbreaking 1971 track Life on Mars? What many music lovers
IT’S that time of year again when artists from Leigh gear up for their respected art trail. Taking place from June 12 to 20, the trail showcases the work of 40 contemporary artists and designers from the town. But if you literally can
WOMEN’S Institutes, known for jam, Jerusalem, and saucy dates, of the calendar variety, will soon have another claim to fame – the Essex Federation of WIs is making the move into show-business management. Branches from across the county have joined forces
SIGNALLING problems are causing delays on the London Fenchurch Street line. Delays of up to 20 minutes are affecting trains between Fenchurch Street to Pitsea and Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness. Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore
BURGLARS broke into a Westcliff shop and stole more than £1300 of goods. The crooks got into Contemporary & Classic Doors Ltd, in London Road, some time between 5pm on Saturday, May 15 and 8am on Monday, May 17. A silver Apple iMac computer was
A mum who battled cancer and beat the odds to have a second child is raising money for a charity at the weekend. Cheryl Clark, of Hilversum Way, Canvey, is taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life this Sunday at Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend
A NEW chairman has been elected for Rochford. Councillor Derrick Stansby is the new Chairman of Rochford District Council after being chosen at the annual council meeting. He replaces councillor Tony Humphries who finished his year in
A MAN was threatened at knife-point and robbed in a Southend alleyway. The 28-year-old man had been walking through the alleyway leading off Grange Gardens when he was approached by four men who asked for a lighter. While lighting one of
A GRIEVING family were horrified to receive a letter from Southend Hospital asking how their mother rated her stay in hospital – a week after she died Joan Parry who lived in Westcliff, died at the hospital, at the end of April due to complications with
A man has died in hospital following a road crash in Southend. The collision happened in Kenilworth Gardens, Leigh when a blue Ford Mondeo struck traffic lights outside Leigh fire station at 8.30am on Friday, May 14. The 58-year-old
PLANS to banish chewing gum from a popular high street have been approved. Billericay Town Council has approved a £5,000 scheme to scrub up the paving in the town's High Street, removing ugly marks of gum, bird droppings and grease. The scheme will
AFTER more than a thousand years, Leigh is celebrating after finally getting its own boundary signs. The town was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, but currently does not have its own town boundary sign, unlike others
TWO men have been arrested for attempted murder after a man was shot in the head in his own home. Detectives launched an investigation last September after thugs walked into a flat opposite Rayleigh railway station and fired at a man in his forties.
TWO South Essex headteachers from Benfleet and Rayleigh will be going head to head after being nominated as East of England finalists for the prestigious headteacher of the year award. Margaret Wilson, headteacher of the King John School
A TORY MP has welcomed the new government’s decision to scrap Home Information Packs which he said were “a complete disaster”. James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East has previously raised concerns about the packs, or HIPs. The coalition
A TOWN Council has been dealt a blow after being told it cannot put up plaques sponsoring their hanging baskets. Rayleigh Town Council wanted to put up 26 plaques above the baskets which hang from 13 lamp posts in Websters Way car park, part
A CHARITY has been told it cannot let another group use its new £2million centre after councillors refused permission. Disability Essex wanted to allow the southern wing of their new base in Rocheway to be used by Eco Wings, a similar organisation which
A CRASH that left one car stuck on railings in the middle of the road caused delays on a busy Southend road earlier today. At 10.50am a silver Vauxhall Astra was in collision with a black Ford Focus estate in Victoria Avenue leaving the Vauxhall wedged
BUS passengers have been left confused after changes to stops in Southend. Three bus shelters have replaced a former one outside Southend Hospital, in Prittlewell Chase, but there are no signs up to say which bus stops where. Independent councillor
John Beckett (May 17) rightly asks Southend Council leader Nigel Holdcroft to tell us why we need night flights at Southend Airport to the extent currently being considered, which, as I understand it, will be throughout the night, except for
Mrs Ray’s letter about the upstairs at the old Woolworth’s in Southend High Street (May 13) brought up a whole neighbourhood of memories. In a moment, I was walking down past the Bottom Alex, Birn’s, Brightwell’s and the big black barrel outside
When I decide where to take my grandchildren out for the day I do not look for a beach with a Blue Flag award. What matters most to me are the facilities which are available to entertain the children, for example donkey rides or a Punch and
A visit to a local store revealed an absence of trousers with the correct leg measurement, and a visit to another store in Basildon was equally fruitless. Having been advised a delivery was imminent, I was advised to ring in a few days to see
I was interested to read Carl Watson’s concerns that Rayleigh has too many restaurants. Rochford District Council has allowed in excess of 15 hairdressers to be allowed to trade in the Rayleigh area. The council has also allowed so many taxis
ANGRY residents say their lives are being made a misery by the construction of a new £12million road on Canvey. The 1.6-mile Roscommon Way extension linking Northwick Corner with Haven Road has been designed to divert lorries heading for Charfleets,
A DOG rescue centre in Crays Hill is appealing for good homes for its growing ranks of adorable pooches. Essex Greyhound Rescue, at Pipps Hill Farm, in Pipps Hill Road, currently has 20 dogs desperate to be taken in by families. The centre typically
FIREFIGHTERS received several calls yesterday evening about smoke on the A127. Crews from Rayleigh Weir had numerous reports from concerned drivers who spotted smoke near to the A127/A1245 junction. On arrival at Michelin Farm, off Arterial Road, Rayleigh
ONE of south Essex’s best-loved urban music nights is throwing a birthday bash tonight. Bliss will be celebrating two years on the county’s club scene with a party at Storm, in Southend. Brotherly DJ duo Jason and Martyn Raby will be
A TEENAGE cyclist was run over in a hit and run crash. The 14-year-old girl suffered leg injuries following the crash in King Edwards Drive, Grays. The car failed to stop at the scene of the crash which happened at 3pm on Thursday.
FIRE crews were called to help a family whose water pipes had burst. Rayleigh Weir firefighters attended the call at 10.30pm on Thursday to a house in Stirling Close, Rayleigh. Water was coming through the ceiling into the ground floor. Crews turned
NSPIRATIONAL Penni Bubb is celebrating after being named Rochford’s citizen of the year for her outstanding contribution to the district. The 47-year-old set up the Mushroom Theatre Company at Lubbards Farm, in Hullbridge, in 2004. The group integrates
SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson has opted to pull the club’s reserve side out of the Totesport.com Combination League. The Blues boss has decided not to enter a team after a season of naming under strength sides at that level. And Tilson believes
TRAINS are being delayed by around 30 minutes due to problems at Southend Victoria station. National Express East Anglia are reporting problems with line side equipment affecting trains to London Liverpool Street. Engineers are working to restore services
Don't miss today's Echo for our three page special into standards at Basildon Hospital including details of a third death to be linked to Legionnaire's disease.
RISING star Josh Dubovie will be joining the A-list line-up for this summer’s Billericay gala weekend. Josh, who will next week jet off to Oslo in Norway to try and win the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK, will perform at the concert extravaganza
A MAN will appear in court today to face a string of child porn charges. Frederick Taylor, 61 of Mistley Path, Basildon will face seven charges relating to the making and possessing of images involving children and animals.
TWO bouncers have been cleared of any wrongdoing following a brawl at a Southend nightclub. Derek Christie and Gary Hope had been arrested following a punch-up at the former Bakers Bar, in Alexandra Street, which left six men in hospital with cuts and
THEATRE star Lee Mead has spoken about the pressure of his newest role –- as a dad. Lee, 28, and his TV star wife, Denise Van Outen celebrated the birth of daughter Betsy just two weeks ago. And Lee, who grew up in Southend, said he is now looking forward
A YOUNG woman was left with a broken jaw after a thug punched her in the face for no reason. Kelly Pocklington has been surviving on a liquid diet for the past five weeks because of her injury and is in constant agony. The 21-year-old said she was living
SHOPS are being urged to continue to check for identification to avoid selling restricted goods to underage youngsters. A recent operation in Laindon saw Trading Standards officers using an underage youngster, who attempted to buy goods, such as alcohol
A MAN who ilegally rented out rooms in his property has been fined £6,000. Marcus Brade, 38, let out rooms in the three-storey house at 8 Sturrocks, Vange, but failed to licence the house as being of multiple occupation under the Housing Act 2004. Under
