Archive
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Eastwood pupils raise a song for the mayor
Children sung their hearts out and raised nearly £50 for the Southend mayor's chosen charity, St John Ambulance. A collection was held among parents and friends after pupils at Edwards Hall School gave an Easter concert in March. Mayor Nora Goodman is
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Colchester charities in Lottery joy
Six Colchester charities were celebrating yesterday after scooping almost £500,000 in lottery grants. Volunteers who help families, disabled and special needs children and former addicts have all benefited from the latest cash bonanza. Open Road Visions
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Braintree man slams New Deal as 'slave labour'
A former bank manager has hit out at the Government's flagship training scheme as "slave labour" - after being promised a wage of 26p an hour. The married 48-year-old Braintree man - who says he is too embarrassed to be named - was told to sign up for
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Black Notley: Fond farewell to favourite postman
Residents of Black Notley got together to give a special send off for village postman, Ernie Roberts who retired last week. Ernie, 64, who lives in Chelmsford, has worked as a postman in Black Notley for nearly ten years. Black Notley postmaster, Mr Piush
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Thieves prey on Clacton woman, 96
A 96-year-old disabled woman may be forced out of her home after being burgled three times in a year. The plucky pensioner, who is virtually blind and deaf, confronted the raider on the last occasion - but her relatives now fear for her safety. The woman
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Southend, Rochford: Save our valley, plead greens
Conservationists have launched a campaign to buy a farm in a green "buffer zone" between Rochford and Southend - amid fears it will be built on. The Friends of Blatches Farm are worried 100 acres of farmland in the Roach Valley will be bought by developers
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Soccer: Iron return victorious
Although it has come too late to guide them towards a promotion spot, Braintree have rediscovered the art of winning with a second consecutive league victory, for the first time in over two months. Saturday's well earned win at Uxbridge followed the four
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Basildon: Living to close axing 59 jobs
Co-op department store Living in Basildon town centre is to close and all 59 staff to lose their jobs. Owner Co-operative Retail Services is selling all 40 of its Living stores nationwide so it can focus on its food and funeral businesses. Basildon Living
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Sailing: Heath brothers net win
The second in Gunfleet Sailing Club's Spring Series was held on Sunday under bright sunshine. However, a stiff breeze made the sea lumpy and for many it proved quite difficult to launch. Eight boats took part and as the fleet headed towards the Kingscliff
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Rugby: Thurrock spoil Burnham's party
Thurrock stole victory in an exciting testimonial match in recognition of Alex Knapton who is stepping down from the number eight position of the Burnham first team after a long and illustrious rugby career. The game started well with Burnham immediately
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Rugby: Rochford spoil Braintree's end of season celebrations
Braintree's end of season celebrations became muted when the first and fifth team's opposition cried off and fixtures for them were unable to be found. With their side bolstered by a large contingent of higher team players, and with the home support egging
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Cricket: Dave hits early season form
Starring roles by Dedham's Dave Baalham and Silver End's Andy Papple were the highlight of the Osborne League action. Baalham took four wickets and scored an unbeaten 95 as he led his Division Three side to a four-wicket win over Tendring. Baalham took
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Athletics: Harriers' girls stake claim
Colchester Harriers Ladies made their debut into Division Three of the Southern League at Southend on Saturday with a fantastic victory. The under-15 girls collected a handful of wins including Catherine Holdsworth in the long jump and 75m hurdles and
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Rochford: Council mops up after poll blunder
Red-faced staff at Rochford District Council had to send out letters to hundreds of householders after a computer put the name of an election hopeful in the wrong ward. Rochford District Council printed a list of candidates for the forthcoming election
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Stanford-le-Hope: £2m damages for devastated actor
A Stanford-le-Hope actor and musician, whose promising career was ended when he was involved in a devastating road crash, has been awarded compensation estimated at almost £2m. Ronald Cullen, now 32, was left severely disabled and unable to lead an independent
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Colchester: What can I didgeridoo?
Wanted - an experienced didgeridoo player to help a Colchester teenager win an award. Lovers of the Australian instrument, made famous by Rolf Harris, are being sought by a 15-year-old Colchester boy to help him qualify for a Duke of Edinburgh award.
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Bradfield: Jobs threat as home goes on the market
Twenty staff are facing redundancy with the sale of a Bradfield nursing home. And 14 elderly people will have to be rehoused if the buyer of Bradfield Place Nursing Home does not continue running it as a home. Sandra Hunt, the home's manager, said: "It
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Westcliff: Fire hero caretaker saves man
A caretaker was today hailed a hero after he saved an elderly man whose clothes were on fire. The victim was having a cigarette in a designated smoking area of a residential home in Ailsa Road, Wesctliff, when his trousers caught alight. Without hesitating
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Basildon: Truants' parents in court
Ten parents at a Basildon school are to be prosecuted as education chiefs get tough on appalling truancy rates. The rare step of bringing in an Essex County Council education welfare team to the newly-formed James Hornsby School was taken earlier this
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Rayleigh inferno
Dozens of businesses were destroyed when fire and explosions ripped through workshops near the Rayleigh Weir early today. More than 60 firefighters risked exploding gas cylinders as the blaze gutted about 40 workshops behind the Blinking Owl cafe on the
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Government set to probe Colchester land blunder
The local Government "policeman" looks set to be called in over a £1.4 million land blunder at Turner Rise in Colchester. Essex County Council lost its entitlement to a free 3.5-acre plot after it failed to complete vital paperwork on time. The plot was
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Cricket: Warwickshire visitors to County Ground
There's no place like home - or so we are led to believe. But try telling that to the Essex players and you will run the risk of having to duck under a few verbal bounces. The county go into today's clash against Warwickshire seeking their first Championship
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Snooker: Triple triumph for cue ace Lisa
Snooker starlet Lisa Ingall of Wickford is celebrating a triple coup. The 18-year-old reached the last eight of the women's World Championships for the first time, became the first female ever to qualify for the Essex under-19s final and has been given
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Rowhedge; Heartbreak for brothers
Two promising young motocross stars could be forced to quit the sport after their specialist racing bikes were stolen. Brothers Paul and Richard Dixon were forced forced to pull out of two Bank Holiday weekend competitions after the machines were taken
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Colchester: Students hit by rubella outbreak
Health bosses are warning people to ensure they have up-to-date vaccinations after a rubella outbreak at Essex University. Forty cases of German measles have been confirmed at the Wivenhoe campus since January. The majority of those affected were Greek
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Braintree: Expansion plans hang in the balance
A businessman told a planning inquiry he would be heartbroken if his company's planning appeal to secure a £2.5 million expansion deal fails. Jack Russell, managing director of Courtenham Warehouse and Distribution, wants to move from his current site
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Soccer: Colchester's popular 33% price hike
Watching the U's in the second division will cost fans up to 33 per cent more next season. But the move has been welcomed by fans hungry for success next season. John Burns, vice chairman of Colchester United Supporters Association said: "Everyone I have
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Boxing: Stuart's pleased as Punch
History-making heavyweight Stuart St John has covered himself in glory by becoming the first ever boxer from Berry Boys to win a senior national title. Now the powerful fighter, who has been with the Pitsea-based club for 12 years, has been picked for
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Braintree and Witham set for holiday fun
Thousands of people are expected to attend two major events in Braintree and Witham this Bank Holiday weekend. In Braintree, the Bocking Village Fayre is being held on Monday and organisers hope it will beat last year's fund-raising total of £8,000. Starting
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Tributes pour in for Jill Dando
Tributes were today paid to BBC presenter Jill Dando, who was murdered outside her London home. Miss Dando, 37, was found by neighbours outside her house in Fulham and died in hospital at about 1pm yesterday. A post mortem examination revealed she died
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Soccer: Morrish strike gives Witham deserved victory
With many changes in their team, due to injuries and suspensions, the Witham line-up at Banstead Athletic on Saturday looked somewhat depleted. However, with several youngsters drafted in, and Town manager George Young also playing, Witham battled well
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Soccer: Maldon beat the champions
Maldon pulled off one of the shock results of the season at Trafford Park on Saturday when they beat the newly crowned champions - and it was a fully deserved victory. Admittedly the home side were without one of two key players, but it was still an impressive
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Soccer: Late goals sink Swifts
Saturday's visitors to Scraley Road, Bishops Stortford, were still battling hard to escape the drop to Division One of the Ryman League. Missing from the Swifts line-up were Wayne Adcock and Colin Wall (both suspended) while Liam Cutbush, Ben Lewis and
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Soccer: Colchester fans want their say
Colchester United fans are pushing to have a representative of their supporters association on the Layer Road board. Managing director Stephen Gage was asked to accept at least one fan as a director of the club. At first Gage joked he would welcome anyone
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Soccer: Bowers keep on course for triple
Brilliant Bowers United are still on course for a historic clean sweep of the three Schweppes Essex Senior League trophies. Having already won the League Cup, Bowers need three points from their last three games, starting at home to Basildon United today
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Running: Brigid steals the show
The popular Canvey Island Five Mile Road Race on Sunday was re-visited by 14 runners from Tiptree Road Runners, half of whom were juniors. Martyn Byford set the standard by running well inside 30 minutes on the fast, flat, out and back course close to
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Basildon Carnival under threat again
The hunt is on for a saviour to keep Basildon Carnival afloat - after cash shortages left the event's future uncertain in the town's 50th anniversary year. Basildon Lions have run the event since 1991, but has been forced to pull the plug on the June
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Film snub to Maldon over famous battle
BBC bosses have delivered an amazing snub to an Essex town, by saying it is not the best place to make a film about its famous battle. Instead of the original location of the Battle of Maldon in 991 on land near the causeway to Northey island, just outside
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Athletics: Braintree's encouraging start
The first East Anglian League meeting was held at Cambridge University track on Sunday. Although the rain held off it was quite a cold day, but even so there were some good performances by Braintree & District Athletics Club members. David Duffus
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River view terrace at St Lawrence Bay
A new viewing terrace, offering panoramic views across the Blackwater Estuary, is to be built at St Lawrence Bay this summer. The £15,000 terrace, which is the first of its kind along the river, will be funded by the Essex Environment Trust, Maldon District
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Soccer: Canvey are kings of Essex
Canvey Island are the soccer cup kings of the county. At Roots Hall on Monday night they overcame brave resistance from a basically young Leyton Orient side to carry off the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in their history. Steve Tilson, back on the
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Leigh: Golf ball thieves slammed
Owners of a Leigh golf driving range are fed up with thieves breaking in and nicking their balls. The range on Leigh marshes has been broken into six times in the past few months, causing damage to fences and resulting in the loss of hundreds of golf
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Athletics: Lara hotfoots it to athletics success
Talented athlete Lara Black is hoping to follow in her famous father's footsteps. Dad is former Southend Athletic Club member Steve Black, who competed for Great Britain as a hurdler in the early 1970s. Lara has just returned to her family home in Sydney
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North Essex: Concern grows for missing yachtsman
A yacht found abandoned in the North Sea was today being escorted into port by the Royal Navy. Yachtsman Peter Bloomer, 51, is missing at sea after his boat was found drifting 130 miles offshore. Mr Bloomer, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, set sail from Neptune
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Colchester: Cameras spot dogowners' dirty work
A dog owner has praised Colchester Council's use of video cameras to catch inconsiderate dog walkers. Kenneth Root was taking his greyhound Elle for a walk off Maldon Road, near Chestnut Field, when he was asked to pay up when an enforcement officer claimed
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Braintree: Firms may quit over travellers
Outraged tenants of a business centre have said they could consider moving out because of continual problems with travellers. Bosses at the Braintree Enterprise Centre said they have reached the end of their tether after travellers this week left the
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Angling: Barnes' stormer sets record
Basildon youngster Bobby Barnes is flying high after the British Record Fish Committee accepted his claim for a new British Record black bullhead catfish. Bobby caught the 1lb 0oz 1dr fish at Billericay's Lake Meadows Fishery on March 20th. The fish was
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Rugby: Nigel hangs up his boots
Sunday's match between a Mistley XV and a President's XV may, to most readers, have seemed just like another annual end-of-season get together. But for one local rugby union character, it was the end of a distinguished rugby career. Nigel Brown, now 42
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Soccer: Injured Southend duo in operation wait
Southend United defender Rob Newman and goalkeeper Martyn Margetson face the prospect of going under the surgeon's knife to clear up their injury problems. Newman, who is Blues' top scorer with eight goals, has missed the Seasiders' last seven Third Division
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Soccer: Just reward for Colchester
Colchester United proved there is some justice in football when they won this vital rearranged second division game. For the U's were leading 3-1 when the original match last October was abandoned at half-time by Woking referee Lee Cable - the same referee
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Clacton: Drawing may be a Renoir
A drawing which could be a Renoir worth £50,000 has been hanging on the wall of a home in Clacton. John Mills, owner of Clacton Auctions in Old Road, visited a retired Clacton man to carry out some valuations and saw the red chalk drawing hanging on the
