Archive
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Life give an acoustic twist to rap and hip hop
WHEN you think of rap and hip-hop, you don’t usually think think of saxophones and acoustic guitars. But Basildon outfit Life are out to change that, with a unique blend of soul and hip hop, which they’ll showcase at Southend store DNA Wear this weekend
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Back my girl Kara to win Strictly says dad
THE proud dad of Strictly Come Dancing star Kara Tointon is urging the residents of south Essex to back the former Westcliff schoolgirl as she bids for the series’ crown tomorrow night. Kara, 27, is favourite to win the popular BBC One dancing competition
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Updated: Man charged with burglary in connection with body found in cannabis factory
Police investigating the discovery of a man's body at a cannabis factory in Redhills Road, South Woodham Ferrers, have charged a man with burglary in connection with the incident. Abdi Hassan, 21, of Park Grove, West Ham, London, has been charged with
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X Factor star Paije to sing at Mayhem
HE left the X Factor following a tense sing-off with Cheryl Cole’s girl Cher Lloyd, but tonight soul singer Paije Richard-son will be coming to Mayhem to make a special appearance. Paije is one of a string of X Factor finalists to appear at Mayhem on
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Singing out at Christmas
BASILDON’S resident choir celebrates Christmas tonight with its annual concert of seasonal music. Basildon Choral Society’s programme is modelled on the famous service of nine lessons and nine carols held at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge. The music
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Three arrested in crime clampdown
THREE people have been arrested as part of an operation designed to hound burglars in the run up to Christmas. Police have been taking part in Operation Bright Shadow which sees them following their most prolific offenders as they go about their day-to-day
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Two arrested after helicopter circles over Billericay
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of trying to steal metal from an industrial estate. The police chopper hovered over Billericay at about 11.30pm yesterday in an effort to track down the suspects. It is believed they were trying
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Library service may be run as a trust
ESSEX County Council’s award winning library service could be transferred into a trust to save almost £1million. The library service has repeatedly considered the financial benefits of setting up a trust, but is concerned about the loss of control over
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Jessica and Sophie win gold for Essex
JESSICA Judd and Sophie Riches continued their fine cross-country form by winning southern intercounties titles. Rayleigh’s Riches, who runs for Chelmsford, won the under 15 girls race by eight seconds from Surrey’s Harriet Preedy and led her Essex
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Mayor stops critic speaking at debate
A ROW has erupted over whether a mayor broke council rules by refusing a resident permission to speak at a meeting. Mayor David Cross barred Colin Letchford from asking why the Castle Point Council had not made a safety assessment for a tidal paddling
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170 pupils – and not a day off among them!
KEEN Canvey schoolkids have been rewarded for not missing a single day of school. Some 170 of Cornelius Vermuyden School’s 920 pupils have earned bronze badges for 100 per cent attendance this term. The school, in Dinant Avenue, operates a scheme under
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Community suggestions for savings are revealed
SOUTHEND Council has revealed that residents in Southend want to see services including adult care and rubbish collections protected from cuts. Next year the council will get £64million funding, down nine per cent, and £58.75million the following year
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Easton: Blues are back on track
SOUTHEND United skipper Craig Easton believes Blues are back on track after winning at Cheltenham Town on Tuesday. Paul Sturrock’s side produced one of their best performances of the season to see off the Robins 2-0. And Easton now wants
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Basildon Council staff wait for job axe to fall
ANXIOUS council workers are still waiting to hear their fate after it was announced 100 jobs will be axed. Basildon Council is looking to slash 10 per cent of its workforce by March 2012 after the Government cut its funding by £2.3million.
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Cafe boss quits over contracts row with council
A POPULAR park could be without its cafe for some time after its owner decided to quit in a row with the council. Tony Griffiths, 62, will call time on his six years at the helm of the cafe in Billericay’s Lake Meadows, after the council decided to
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Frosty brings Seasiders some early Xmas cheer
SOUTHEND Rugby Club coach Jamie Connors wants his side to sign off for the Christmas break in style with a win over struggling Hinckley at Warners Bridge tomorrow. After this Saturday, the Seasiders are not in action for three weeks. And Connor therefore
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Teen stars learn from Olympic champion Kelly
A TRIO of south Essex runners were selected by Dame Kelly Holmes to take part in a mentoring programme held by the double Olympic champion herself. Basildon AC’s Gemma Kersey and Kaylee Dodd plus Rayleigh’s Sophie Riches attended the “Future Stars with
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Derby day looms for local rugby
IT is derby day for south east Essex rugby tomorrow as Westcliff take on Thurrock in London One North and Canvey Island host Rochford Hundred in London Two North East. Westcliff are enjoying a fantastic season and are currently 12 points clear at the
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Fury as new vans stripped of catalytic converters
A BOSS has hit out at thieves who put his brand new fleet of vans out of action – and left him thousands of pounds out of pocket. Paul Standen, general manager at Thermoshield Windows, blasted the crooks after they stole four catalytic converters
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Gachette enjoying emergence at Pirates
ZACH Gachette is revelling in his emergence at the Essex Pirates this season. The 20-year-old, who is a product of the club’s educational AASE system, played just a bit part for the Southend based side last term. But Gachette has now become a regular
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Programmed not to share
John Bathurst propounds the need for a world of serendipity by the equal distribution of its resources (December 9). Unfortunately, there is one group which does not subscribe to this view. The name of this group is homo sapiens. W H Diment
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Uni is not be all and end all
I attended a fee-paying school as my parents believed it would give me better opportunities in my career. At the end of each school year, a notice was placed in the assembly hall detailing the various careers and employments the sixth formers
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Masterplan is opportunity to transform town centre
Joyce Backham questions the cost of the Basildon town centre masterplan and moving from the Basildon Centre, (Huge Cost of Master Plan, December 14). Let me reassure her and other residents this agreement with Barratt Homes/Wilson Bowden is
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Winging in praise
On behalf of the trustees of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust I wish to thank all the servicemen and women involved in the recent outstanding concert at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, performed by the Central Band of the RAF, the Salon Orchestra
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Southend accent?
I was annoyed to read of yet another vicious and unwarranted attack on a young chap and his mate in Southend by a three thugs who got away with an iphone and a wallet. The description of the trio being of mixed race was easy enough to understand
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Anna, listen to town residents
Yet again councillor Anna Waite knows what’s best for Southend, despite the wishes of most of its residents. She wanted to build on the beaches at Westcliff but this was repelled. As cabinet member for transport, she set back the infrastructure
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Betsy: Blues never saw the best of me
KEVIN Betsy returns to Roots Hall tomorrow insisting he never showed his best form for Southend United. The Wycombe Wanderers winger made 50 appearances for Blues during an 18 month spell before joining the Chairboys last January. But he does not
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Grant fit to face Wycombe
ANTHONY Grant insists he will be fine to face his former Wycombe Wanderers side tomorrow. The Southend United midfielder picked up a back problem during the midweek win at Cheltenham Town. But he returned to training yesterday and is
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No snoods is good snoods for Sturrock
TOMORROW’S clash at Roots Hall is again likely to be played in freezing conditions but Southend United manager Paul Sturrock does not want his players to be wearing too much warm weather gear. A number of Premier League players, including Manchester
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* UPDATED - SATURDAY'S NON-LEAGUE PREVIEWS: Dan aims to be Rovers' man for years to come
RYMAN ONE NORTH * ALL games involving Echosports' non-league teams have now been postponed because of the bad weather. AS with many non-league stars, Dan Trenkel has story of a shot at the big time which got away from him. Great
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Career prospects looking brighter in 2011, say local workers
Despite difficulties in the job market over the past couple of years, workers in the South East are feeling positive about the coming 12 months. Research from our training provider Home Learning College shows that 52% of local residents in employment
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Train delays due to overhead wiring problems
TRAIN services have been disrupted between Shoebury and London Fenchurch Street due to wiring problems. Engineers are working on the scene after wiring problems were reported between Barking and West Ham. Short notice alterations, cancellations and
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Wanted man sent back to prison
A MAN has been sent back to jail following an appeal in the Echo. Jason Shaw, 32, was wanted by police for breaching the terms of his release from prison. He had previously been jailed for 12 months in August this year for theft.
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Man has Christmas fund stolen
A MAN had his Christmas fund snatched out of his hand. He had been counting out the cash in Darenth Lane, South Ockendon, when a thief barged into him and grabbed it. The victim, who is in his thirties, was left in a state of distress
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Two in court on cannabis charges
TWO men accused of growing cannabis will appear in court today. Hung Van Nguyen, 18 and Dung Van-Bui, 25 - both of who have not given an address to police - were arrested in Eldon Way, Hockley on Thursday. It follows the alleged discovery of 2,500
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£3.5m nursing plan at former hotel site
RESIDENTS have given a tentative approval to a £3.5million plan to build an 80-bed nursing home on the site of a former hotel. The Balmoral Hotel, in Valkyrie Road, Westcliff, closed in July after becoming economically unviable, and subsequent plans
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I’m an author, aged 12 – thanks to my school
A young author has had her first book published at the age of 12. Thorpe Bay youngster Sophie Powell wrote Princess and Floppy Ears, the story of a pony and a rabbit, after being inspired by her former home on a Surrey farm. The book
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Hospital pays out millions on agency staff
SOUTHEND Hospital spent more than £8.2million on agency staff last year and a lack of joined-up planning is being blamed for the bill. In the first six months of this financial year it has already run up a bill of almost £4.5million. The figures have
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Sturrock: Time to sort out home form
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock wants his side to sort out their home form, starting with tomorrow’s clash at Roots Hall against Wycombe Wanderers. Blues have won just three of their eight league matches on their own ground so far this
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Widdrington departure for footballing reasons
TOMMY Widdrington’s departure from Southend United was purely down to footballing reasons. The former Salisbury City boss parted company with Blues on Wednesday and mystery initially surrounded his departure. The club issued only a short
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Darts: Maish bows out of PDC World Championships in first round
SOUTHEND darts professional Steve Maish crashed out of the PDC World Championships at the first hurdle with a straight sets defeat to Mark Webster. The Welsh player, who finished third in the World Championships earlier this year, claimed the
