Archive
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Southend: Iron bar attacker gets life
Thug Stephen Evans was today starting a life sentence for beating a man over the head with an iron bar in a row over a computer disk. Evans, 44, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Kevin Beale, a fellow student at South East Essex College
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Stansted: Tanks for nothing!
Campaigners fighting plans for more runways at Stansted chased off a tank which had a historic pub in its sights. Organised by the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) group, the PR stunt marked the start of a month-long protest against plans for further runways
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Braintree, Witham: Locals push for safe A12
Residents will be meeting Braintree and Witham MP Alan Hurst tonight to discuss possible solutions for traffic problems caused by the A12. The meeting has been organised by the MP and will be attended by members of Kelvedon and Feering Parish Council,
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Ramsey: Security guards for playground?
Private security guards could be hired to patrol a children's playground which is being ruined by thugs. The children's play area at Ramsey Recreation Ground has been threatened with closure because of increasing vandalism. Condoms have been found at
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Southend: Court's video link to county's prison
A new hi-tech video link system is being introduced at Southend Magistrates' Court so dangerous criminals can be tried without leaving their prison. The equipment will allow a direct link from a courtroom at the building in Victoria Avenue to Chelmsford
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Tendring: Police warn over danger scooter fad
Police today issued an urgent warning to parents and youngsters over the danger of new powered scooters being ridden on the roads and pavements. Officers have spoken to a number of teenagers about the situation and fear it is only time before someone
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Rugby League: Luton Vipers 40 - 38 Essex Eels
A battling display from Essex Eels could not spare them from defeat at Luton -- and they now face an uphill struggle to make the play-offs. But after a disastrous start, which saw the Basildon-based side trailing 28-0 after half an hour, coach Stuart
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Soccer: Betts set to quit country
Darlington's former Colchester United Wembley play-off hero Simon Betts is ready to quit English football for a new life in America. The Quakers utility-man told the Evening Gazette today he will pack his bags for a coaching role in Los Angeles if he
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Chelmsford: Combating fear of crime
Fighting the fear of crime is one of the main aims of a Crime Reduction week starting in Chelmsford today. Organisers hope people will use the information available to help combat crime and the fear of it. The four-day event has been organised by the
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Southend: Baby death - Man will not be charged
Police will not charge a 36-year-old man arrested in connection with the death of 18-month-old baby Ryan Onley. Ryan died on May 31 after being taken to Southend Hospital for treatment. The man is now being interviewed as a witness in the case. The baby's
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Motorsport: McCarthy starts Le Mans from third
Perry McCarthy will start tomorrow's Le Mans 24-hour race from third on the grid following final qualifying last night. The Billericay driver -- contesting the French endurance race for Audi Sport UK with three-times winner Frank Biela and Mika Salo -
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Stansted: Profitable news for airport
Stansted airport has seen a £5.3m increase in its profits, BAA has announced. The airport operator has announced its end-of-year figures for March 2002 to March 2003. BAA said operating profits at Stansted had risen to £43.1m, representing an increase
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Great Clacton: Church hits half-million pound target
The appeal fund to restore an historic 1,000-year-old village church to its former glory has finally reached its target Fundraisers at St Johns in Great Clacton have hit the £500,000 mark in just four years. Now the final phase of the scheme - costing
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Stansted: Coffee staff down the Tube!
Staff from a Stansted coffee shop are going down the line to raise money for charity. Five employees of Starbucks will be attempting to travel on all 13 lines of the London Underground in one day. The tube-ride will take place on August 12, and the five
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Cricket: Premier clash sees Hadleigh shake-up
There are three changes to Hadleigh's starting XI for their Essex League Premier Division trip to Colchester -- who could have former Essex and England spinner Peter Such in their side. "He's on their books and has played this year -- obviously he could
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South Essex: Workshops to hammer home childrens' glee at learning
Nearly 100 primary school pupils from five different schools joined together in workshops for the second Annual Pupil Attendance Forum. Pupils from Cherry Tree, Bardfield, Fairhouse, and Whitmore Junior and Primary Schools joined Year Seven students from
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Dovercourt: Station clean-up may be accompanied by classical music
A call has been made for a railway track to be cleaned up Dovercourt Railway Station's track has been littered with cans and rubbish. Harwich town councillor Garry Calver has called on the companies responsible to do something about the problem. Trashed
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Motorsport: Seton rides through pain barrier
Motorcycling ace Phil Seton rode with a broken wrist in order to keep his title quest alive in a top competition. The 28-year-old refused to let the fracture stop him taking part in rounds four and five of the BMCRC King of Clubs Championship in Lydden
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Walton: Skateboarders organise fun day
Young skateboarders have been praised after organising their own fundraising event. They impressed town councillors by forming their own committee after the new £55,000 skatepark at Walton opened in March. A group of teenagers set up the committee to
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Benfleet: Congestion claims at store
Lorries queuing to deliver goods to a DIY store are causing serious congestion and are a danger to pedestrians and motorists, it has been claimed. Derek Hill, of Louisa Avenue, Benfleet, said something has to be done to tackle the problem of the lorries
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Colchester: Eddie does show on town stage
He dresses in women's clothes, has been known to do his stand-up routine in French and not so long ago, made an appearance at the Colchester Arts Centre as a fledgling comedian. Now the award-winning stand-up, film star and general national treasure that
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Stansted: Airport hits the 17m mark
Despite a drop in air transport movements at BAA's seven UK airports, Stansted is still bucking the trend. Over 17m air travellers used the airport in the 12 months ending May 2003; the rise in the number of passengers equates to an 18.5 per cent increase
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Dovercourt: Youths to get a taste of Fame
A new theatre group for young people will be set-up in Dovercourt. It is hoped Fun and Musical Expression (Fame) will be running from July for children aged between eight and 18-years-old. The idea was a collaboration between primary school teacher Lisa
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Basildon: We're lucky to live here
We must talk Basildon up not down, was the message from Stuart Geddes last night. The councillor joined Basildon Council last month and he used his first speech to set out his vision for the district. The Pitsea South East representative explained that
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Moreton: Midsummer village festival
Music, dance and merriment is set to takeover Moreton this weekend when it holds its annual Midsummer Festival. The two day event from Saturday, June 14 to Sunday, June 15, will see a whole range of events being staged across the village including the
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Dovercourt: Designs on Bathside Bay
A website designer has come up with a novel way of supporting the Bathside Bay development. Eric Bramhill, 55, of Larksfield Crescent, Dovercourt, has used his website to create a graphic of the planned terminal showing the port gradually being built
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Snooker: Bingham blitz ends Pollock's winning streak in the decider
Basildon's tournament snooker star Stuart Bingham made light of having to give Wickford A opponent Chris Pollock a 49 start in each frame to win the Vic Harris League Division One singles title. Pollock, the most consistent League player over the past
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Hockley: Prison clampdown follows roof protest
Prison chiefs have tightened security after an inmate climbed onto a roof and kept guards at bay for five-and-a-half hours. The woman prisoner got onto a roof at Bullwood Hall prison, in Bullwood Approach, Hockley, on Tuesday because of a dispute about
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Chelmsford: Death plunge man named
A man who plunged to his death from the High Chelmer multi-storey car park in Chelmsford has been named. He was Terence Rainbow, 44, of Woodland Road, Chelmsford. Paramedics were called to the scene on Tuesday at the Victoria Road South end of the site
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Laindon: Families mop up tank flood
Families mopped up today after a rooftop water tank overflowed, sending hundreds of gallons of water into their flats. Tenants were evacuated and thousands of pounds in damage caused to homes and possessions at the council block in Danacre, Laindon. Firefighters
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Canvey: POW waits for pension
Former prisoner of war Frederick Withey today told of his long battle for a war pension. Fighter - Frederick Withey has been told he can't have a war pension Picture: TERRY BUNCH The 83-year old, from Namur Road, Canvey, said: "I applied three years ago
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East Hanningfield: Villagers to open post office
East Hanningfield villagers reverse a trend tomorrow - they are opening a post office instead of closing one. The post office, to be housed in an extended community centre, is the first permanent site for the villagers since 1996. Back then the old post
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Chelmsford: Bishop retires
The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd John Perry, retired this week after seven years as the diocesan bishop. Following Sunday's Evensong at Chelmsford Cathedral, the Bishop joined in a special celebration attended by guests including Essex Lord Lieutenant
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Essex: We'll still name and shame
Essex Police today claimed a long-term victory in their battle to name and shame criminals in a poster campaign. This is despite a setback in the High Court yesterday, when the Force accepted it would not be able to use 28-year-old burglar Gary Ellis
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Brentwood: Lasting tribute to Darren
Pupils at a Brentwood school have created a sanctuary of peace as a lasting tribute to a friend who died from meningitis. Friends of Darren Brooks joined his mother for an emotional gathering at a new summer house tucked away in a quiet quadrangle at
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Chelmsford: Driving ban for window cleaner
A 27-year-old window cleaner has been convicted of dangerous driving following an incident at a Chelmsford roundabout. Steven French, of Baddow Hall Crescent, Great Baddow, denied but was found guilty of the charge after a two day trial at Chelmsford
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Colchester: Transport boss scraps town's bus lanes
Both the controversial North Hill and St Botolph's Street bus lanes are to be scrapped under plans by the council's new transport chief. Less than a month after taking office, Richard Gower, Colchester Council's new portfolio holder for transport, has
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Soccer: Pompey talks for Holland
Matt Holland was due at Portsmouth today to discuss a possible £750,000 move to Fratton Park. The Ipswich Town skipper - just back from international duty - is travelling to Hampshire to meet Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie. Manager Harry Redknapp
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Burnham: Mayor Rosie gets on her bike
Burnham has no official car for its mayor, so the town's new first lady is getting on her bike. A keen cyclist, parish councillor Rosie Buck uses her bike to get to council functions. Mayor Rosie Buck uses pedal power to get to council functions Cllr
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Southend: Blaze blamed on candle
Firefighters spent nearly two hours fighting a serious flat fire last night. Two appliances were called to the first floor flat in Trinity Road, Southend at just after 6pm. Sub officer Kevin Playfair said the fire was caused by a scented candle left burning
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Basildon: Targets set to make area a decent place
A set of aims has been drawn up by town leaders with the sole intention of making the Basildon district a better place in which to live. The plan is to make the most of investment heading into Basildon with the Thames Gateway regeneration scheme, to bring
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Soccer: Blues box bookings
Southend United are taking executive box bookings for their hectic programme of pre-season Roots Hall friendlies. First Division Ipswich Town provide the first opposition on Tuesday, July 15, and a box is £250. Gillingham cross the Thames on Tuesday,
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Harwich: Call for building to be listed
Conservationists have turned up the heat on a campaign to get Harwich's sixth form centre listed. The Harwich Society is not happy with the Harwich School's plans to sell the Grange, which would release funds for new education facilities. It wants the
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Billericay: Horses cause road chaos
A motorist was left with a damaged car and in shock after he hit two horses on the A127, killing one and leaving the other so badly injured it had to be put down. Police were alerted at just before midnight yesterday by drivers saying two horses were
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Stansted: Groundstar jobs drive
A Stansted-based ground services company has joined forces with job centres across Essex to raise the profile of its fast-growing operation. Groundstar has launched a series of open days in a bid to encourage people to consider a new career as a passenger
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South Essex: Now it's Dame Helen Mirren
There's nothing like a dame - especially if she is former south Essex schoolgirl Helen Mirren. The star of stage, television and cinema is tomorrow due to become a dame in the Queen's birthday honours. The Prime Suspect star has been famed for stripping
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Colchester: Most soldiers return homeMost soldiers return home
All but a small handful of Colchester troops sent to Iraq are now home. About 2,500 troops from the town were sent out to the Gulf earlier this year to take part in the military operations in Iraq. They are now nearly all home, much to the relief of families
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South Essex: Petrol station ramraids' link
Detectives were today linking two ram-raids by masked men at petrol stations virtually opposite each other. The first was when a red Ford Fiesta smashed into the doors of the Texaco garage on the A127 near the Fortune-of-War roundabout on Sunday. Officers
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Chelmsford: Fund-raising event hit by thieves
A primary school's major fund-raising event has been hit by thieves who wiped out weeks of hard work by pupils and parents. The thieves broke into a shed at Newlands Spring primary school in Copperfield Road, Chelmsford, and stole hundreds of bottles,
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Colchester: How to deal with anti-social issues
A guide is being produced to show people in Colchester how to deal with anti-social behaviour. As part of its contribution to the town's crime and disorder reduction partnership Colchester Council has developed a manual to help groups clamp down on problems
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Cricket: They're all raving about Ravinder...
There are excited whispers coming out of Chelmsford about a precocious teenager who has caught the eye in recent weeks and is being hotly tipped for big things. Ravinder Bopara this week shone under the floodlights as Essex beat Pakistan by 50 runs in
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Boxing: Fighter Dainty strikes gold in the ring
Boxer Aaron Dainty capped a fine season by claiming a gold medal at the Cadet Multi-nations Tournament in Edinburgh. The Canvey Boxing Club fighter scored a points victory over Welsh champion Chris Jenkins in the final of the under-42 kilos category.
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Cricket: Ronnie ready to return
Ronnie Irani is expected back to lead Essex when they go into one-day action against Surrey and Warwickshire over the weekend. And he may be joined by Nasser Hussain who is available once more after successfully leading England to a 2-0 victory in the
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Colchester: Mast demo a success
Residents who formed a human shield against a mobile phone mast have been told other sites are being considered. Hutchison 3G wants to install a 10m high phone mast in Lethe Grove, Colchester. It won planning permission last year. But residents in the
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Tolleshunt Knights: Jubilee coins for village children
Children in Tolleshunt Knights are to receive a £5 coin commemorating the Queen's jubilee, thanks to a generous donation from a villager The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, gave £1,200 to the parish council to be spent on the limited edition coins
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Great Leighs: Course in the final furlong
One final hurdle is all that stands in the way of the UK's first new racecourse in 75 years being established in mid Essex. The £40million project to turn the Essex County Showground in Great Leighs into the landmark development is waiting on final licence
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Braintree: Couple pipped at post for TV nuptials
A Braintree couple narrowly failed to win the UK's first interactive wedding. The result was announced live on ITV1's GMTV today and saw a couple from Nuneaton chosen as the winners instead. Robert Jones, 36, and Sam Smith, 20, of Cressing Road, Braintree
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Harwich: Lifejackets may have saved crew
The lives of four trawler crew, who died in an accident, could have been saved if they had been wearing lifejackets A major investigation has highlighted the serious dangers associated with beam trawlers and the need for all those working on deck to wear
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Rayleigh: Horse bolts after gunshot
Police are investigating an incident which left a girl needing hospital treatment after the horse she was riding bolted on hearing a gunshot. The 15-year-old was thrown from her horse as she rode near the Drive, in Rayleigh at 5.45pm on Tuesday. She suffered
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Canvey: Cooking up a classic feast
Hungry music fans attending the Proms this summer will be fed by chef James Buckley. The 24-year old, of Grasmere, Canvey, has just started work at the Elgar Room - one of the two restaurants at the Royal Albert Hall, in London. James, a former pupil
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Witham: Town pub changes hands once more
A Witham pub will be sold off as part of a £10 million deal by current owners JD Wetherspoon. The Little Elms, in Dorothy Sayers Drive, is part of a 17-pub package being sold to the Laurel Pub Company, which plans to operate it under its Champion estate
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Soccer: Thanks but no thanks
England under-21 goalkeeper Rhys Evans confirmed today he was unlikely to be pulling on his gloves for Southend United next season. He played for the Three Lions' youngsters in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Slovakia at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in the
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Tendring: Keep homes secure for summer warning
A Warning is being made to residents to make sure doors and windows are secure if opened during the hot weather. It comes after a number of reports where opportunist thieves have got into cars or houses where windows or doors were left open. At Eastern
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Colchester: Truck ban to protect pupils
Developers have been advised to avoid having construction or delivery traffic near a primary school at the start and end of the school day. A scheme for five detached houses, garages and a private drive at land off Bullock Wood Close in St John's, Colchester
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Soccer: Decision time for rebel Rawle
Contract rebel Mark Rawle should make a final decision about his Southend United future on Monday. The 24-year-old striker is holding out for bigger wages and has so far refused to commit himself to a new one year Roots Hall deal. And Rawle's agent, Clive
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Benfleet: Move park swings to deter boozy yobs
Green campaigners have called for a children's play area to be dismantled to save a future nature reserve from being destroyed by boozy youths. Angry - Graham Skinner wants these swings moved Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Members of the Castle Point Wildlife
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Westcliff: We're two metres too close for free travel
A mother-of-four is facing a battle to get her disabled children to school because she lives two metres too close. Sharla Winchester, 31, of Mendip Crescent, Westcliff, has managed to get her four-year-old twin boys places in the speech and language unit
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Soccer: Non-league international for Purfleet
Purfleet have started their rebuilding programme by signing a former England non-league international goalkeeper and a one-time Charlton player. Former Dagenham custodian Paul Gothard is to replace Alex O'Reilly and defender Dave Collis, who began last
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Stansted: Ryanair enjoys record growth
Irish airline Ryanair has announced soaraway profits and traffic growth for the year ending March 2003. Net profits for the Stansted-based carrier were £172m (239.4m Euros), an increase of 59 per cent on the previous year, and a record for Ryanair. Ryanair's
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Athletics: Mitchell makes Belfast glory bid
Southend AC's 17-year-old long jumping star Mitchell Wilkin travels to Belfast this weekend to compete in the Northern Ireland Junior Championships. He was invited to join a small party from Scottish athletics that will represent their country in these
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Colchester: Phil stuck to his guns and the shop counter
A man who glued his hand to a store counter in a dramatic protest about their customer service today explained his actions to the Evening Gazette. Phil, 35, of Mile End Road, Colchester, described how a string of excuses from the Power House electrical
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Canvey: Volunteer Joan's dedication is rewarded with a trophy
A dedicated volunteer was lost for words when she was awarded the Valerie Wells trophy for her services to the community. Joan Spye has worked as a volunteer for Age Concern, Canvey, since it opened eight years ago, helping out in the office, organising
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Braintree: How low can you get?
A coat laid down by a good samaritan to help a woman seriously injured in the Braintree runaway car accident has been stolen. Police said they could not believe any criminal would stoop to such depths. The denim jacket, containing cash, was laid on top
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Colchester: Judges recall Maria for a taste of Fame
Fame Academy-hopeful Maria Eracleous has been singled out for praise by judges. Singer and guitarist Maria auditioned for the London heats for the second series of BBC Television's hit show. Judges praised Maria, 27, for her song-writing ability and invited
