Archive

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Getting concerned about childbirth? Try hypnobirthing

IN the words of one dad-to-be: “I would have been petrified for Clare if we had not got the other viewpoint.” The “other viewpoint” was hypnobirthing, and Adam Edwardson’s terror was a result of ante-natal classes he and wife Clare attended as they

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Big pamper evening fights breast cancer

A GREAT grandmother’s inspirational fight against breast cancer has inspired her family to raise money for a Colchester hospital. Sarah Smith, 93, needed a seven-week course of radiotherapy at Essex County Hospital to recover from a tennis-ball sized

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Please sir, can we have some carnival clothes?

A QUEEN, two princesses and a prince have been chosen to represent Colchester and star in the town’s first carnival for ten years. The lucky youngsters were chosen from dozens of hopefuls by judges, but like many queens and princesses in fairytales,

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Essex sign opener Godleman from Middlesex

Essex have bolstered their batting by signing Middlesex opener Billy Godleman on a three-year contract. The 20-year-old was originally signed on loan by Essex, but the deal has quickly been made a permanent one. He said: “I am looking forward to my

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Savings roll in from council house works

TAXPAYERS have saved tens of thousands of pounds every month since Colchester Borough Homes has taken over the maintenance of council houses. Bills for relettings, gas services and repairs fell since the company took over maintenance of the town’s council

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More student flats may be build near homes

RESIDENTS won a battle to cut the number of student flats being built near their Colchester homes – only to find a fresh application might be on the way. Borough councillors have narrowly voted to allow new student flats in Avon Way, Greenstead, because

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Pervert broke his offender's ban

A MAN has been put under a curfew for breaching his sex offender’s banning order. Damien Chandler, 22, of Fronks Road, Dovercourt, befriended a mother-of-four and ended up playing cards and watching TV with the woman and her three-year-old daughter.

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Mum's terror as car hits son's buggy on zebra crossing

A TODDLER had a lucky escape after being hit while crossing a controversial zebra crossing in Colchester. Three-year-old Edward Stewart was crossing Harwich Road, outside the Co-op store in his pushchair with his mum when a car careered into the buggy

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Don’t demonise the devil weed

After years living, growing up and working on Moverons Farm, Brightlingsea, the hype over what we called thorn apple (Gazette, August 13: Devil Plant Growing in Greenstead) amazes me. Back in the Seventies and Eighties, we played around Dtura

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Pothole repairs were down to my lobbying

Regarding the letter from Jenny Hughes on resurfacing work on roads in Wivenhoe (Gazette, Wednesday). She rightly says the much-needed work on the Vine Farm estate was long overdue. But what she fails to understand is that highways is a county

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Dog attack has left its impact

On a Saturday evening, while taking my little dog for a walk over the fields at Layer Marney – fields I have walked many times with my wife – I had the misfortune to be attacked by two black and white collie dogs. These dogs were muzzled at

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Park and ride by train is answer for the east

On the subject of park and ride, my comments in Wednesday’s article do not explain our true position. The fact is we are in favour of the approved scheme for park and ride for Tendring, ie having an improved rail service into Colchester, with

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Only a fine can deter bad riders

So a couple from Dovercourt, a Mr and Mrs Labbett, are fed up with people riding bikes on the path. We can see the police response – we will give them a verbal warning or a fixed penalty fine. Sorry, but the police should say they will fine

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Public told to say how it wants park cash spent

RESIDENTS have been given the chance to say what improvements they want at Colchester’s Castle Park. But Colchester Council bosses have revealed they only have what is understood to be a low six-figure sum available. Other schemes would need to be funded

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Dumbing down of A-levels? I fear we are setting up kids for a big fall

I AM about to become very unpopular, or even more so, some might say. Teachers across the county will soon be spitting their cornflakes into their beards and rubbing the leather patches on their jackets to the bone. Although in truth, there

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Bank holiday strike threat at airports

Baggage handlers and other workers at Stansted and Gatwick airports have voted to strike in a row over pay, it was announced today. Members of Unite and the GMB unions have voted for action, though strike dates have yet to be confirmed. Unite said it

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Whether the weather is hot or not

WEATHER warning leaflets are being handed out to residents in a bid to make them better prepared. Tendring Council has joined forces with the Met Office to produce six leaflets covering severe heat and sun, heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning, dense

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Mum’s plea for her camera full of precious memories

A HEARTBROKEN family has made an appeal for the return of a camera containing precious photographs. Lindsey Chadwick and her partner Craig Scott went into Colchester General Hospital last Monday so their baby could be induced. At 8.20pm that night Lindsey

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Hunt for new U's boss is stepped up

The pace of Colchester United’s hunt for a new manager could speed up. Caretaker boss Joe Dunne feels David Perkins’ transfer request and a need to bolster the U’s squad may accelerate the club’s decision over who will take the reins on a permanent

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Wright's mixed weekend

Richard Wright admitted having mixed feelings after Ipswich Town’s dismal defeat at West Bromwich Albion. The Blues produced another sub-standard performance and were never in contention during Saturday’s 2-0 setback. Wright’s performance was the main

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Brass band's new CD

A BRASS band has just released its first CD. Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band has produced the 16-track disc, Brassed Off in Harwich, with financial support from the Arts Council. Jane Gibson, who plays in the band, said: “Now it’s finally ready

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Manningtree Sports Centre gets all-clear after Legionella alert

CHANGING rooms at a sports centre have been reopened after legionella bacteria was discovered in a water tank. One of the changing rooms at Manningtree Sports Centre was closed last month after low levels of the bacteria were found during routine checks

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Dunne: we did our best

The morale-boost that had been provided by Tuesday’s win against Gillingham couldn’t be repeated at stadium:MK for Joe Dunne's Colchester United. Scott Vernon’s second-half header wasn’t enough to overcome a two-goal deficit, but caretaker boss Dunne

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Essex beaten in last ball thriller

Daryl Mitchell and Ian Fisher were Worcestershire’s heroes as they claimed a thrilling last ball victory against Essex in their NatWest Pro40 Division One battle at Colchester. They put together an unbroken partnership of 47 in the final five overs to

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£500,000 'gift' to council from developer ends park stalemate

A DEVELOPER’S £500,000 “gift” to a council means a country park can finally be opened up to the public. Kevin Britton made the donation to Tendring Council to allow Brook Country Park, Clacton, to open. The park is part of Britton Construction’s £30million

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Summer fun for kids and mums

SCORES of youngsters enjoyed a summer fun day at a Colchester children’s centre. Tots and their parents enjoyed art activities rhythm and rhyme sessions, messy play and other activities at the Mulberry Tree Centre, in Colchester’s High Street

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Travellers scale down site plan

PLANS for a controversial traveller site have been scaled down. Two Irish traveller families applied to site four caravans on land next to the pumping station in Clacton Road, Elmstead Market. The plans were then withdrawn and a fresh application put

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V festival Pictures

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History author's death prompts tributes

A HISTORY enthusiast who “had time for everyone” has died at the age of 66. David Possee, of Stubbs Lane, Braintree, was a grandfather of four who had a particular interest in the history of Braintree, where he lived since coming to the town

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Clamping ban would lead to anarchy says enforcement boss

A CAR clamping boss claims a ban on private clampers would lead to “anarchy and chaos”. Tony Fithon, managing director of Colchester clamping firm, Impact Security Services, says AA calls for a ban are unnecessary and would leave the police

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Town centre plunged into blackout chaos

A POWER CUT sparked chaos for two hours as it shut down a town centre. The blackout affected businesses in Braintree, with 1,900 EDF Energy customers left without power. It caused problmes for banks, shops and a hotel, which was hoping to