Archive
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Carnival is ready to roll
IT promises to be the event of the year and certainly one the people of Colchester have waited for long enough. It’s the return of the Colchester Carnival. Once a firm fixture in the town’s social calendar, it has been non existent for
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Same initials, but with a new sound
A THIRD Wish is back in the limelight, but this time with a new name, a new band member and a new sound. After a break of about seven months, band members Yan Baker (lead vocals/guitars/synths), Austin Holliday (bass) and Dom Sakal (pots and pans) have
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Charity talent search starting
A TALENT search is on following a charity gig. Rock guitarist Robbie Gladwell, formerly of Steve Harley’s Cockney Rebel, played a concert with his friends at St Andrew’s Church, Bulmer. The success of the event earlier this year, held in aid of Age
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Blow Monkeys on tour with new album
IT appears to be all the rage at the moment. But while groups like Spandau Ballet have been making a big noise about their reformings, the Blow Monkeys have been much quieter. Starting out as a new wave-oriented act in the Eighties, before moving into
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Joyful week starts with a night of jazz
TEN years on and Little Totham Music Festival is more popular than ever. The event, which runs from this weekend until September 12, will feature professional musicians as well as amateur performances. The festival began when the parish church decided
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Roman River world music festival
THE combination of world music performed in some of the area’s most atmospheric riverside churches will mark the tenth anniversary of a festival. The Roman River Music Festival, from October 7 to 11, will be played in churches in Copford, Peldon, Layer
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Sower shows bands how to perform
FRESH from the stage of the Bloodstock Open Air Festival, Sower are heading this way for gigs in Witham and Colchester. The five-piece metal outfit recently played the unsigned stage at the Derby festival, which regularly sees an attendance of 10,000
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Mourning the Polish 'president' who made Colchester his home
POLISH patriots are mourning a Colchester-based count who was said to have been the country’s “president in exile” during the communist era. Hundreds of people are expected to attend celebrations in Poland of the life of Count Juliusz Nowina Sokolnicki
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Glassy look at history
IT’S their gift to the town, not only shedding light on Colchester’s heritage and culture, but an unsung art form as well. The exhibition of stained glass panels, 30cm by 30cm in size, also provides a precursor to the Gift series of events,
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Council defends cost of oyster ceremony
AHEAD of Friday’s ceremonial shucking of the first Colchester native oyster of the season, Colchester Council has defended the cost of staging the historic event. Dignitaries and guests will sail in to Pyefleet Creek for mayor Henry Spyvee
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Excuse me, how can I buy Jaywick beach?
A PRIME piece of real estate is sitting unclaimed and ownerless, according to a resident who wants to snap it up. Mick Masterson believes Jaywick’s white sands have no legal owner. He has launched a legal bid to register ownership of the beach on behalf
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Animal welfare protester plans to picket Great British Circus
A CIRCUS that sacked a groom for hitting elephants with a metal hook is pushing ahead with plans to come to Colchester. The Great British Circus faced condemnation when campaign group Animal Defenders’ International released a video of the
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Bungee jumpers take the plunge for charity
TWELVE customers and workers from the Swan pub, in Stanway, proved they had the bottle to bungee jump for charity. The daring dozen were strapped into a harness, before being winched in a metal cage 200ft above the ground for their jump. Landlord
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Let’s make the U’s as great as we can
So, here we go again! Another manager lost to an East Anglia rival. In my opinion, there really is only one way to prevent this, and the good thing is, it’s in our hands! Fill the community stadium. I detest the lack of
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It's just one law for some
The council watched Mr Moonflower (Couple Told To Knock Down Dream Home, Gazette, August 27) restoring derelict cottages and let him spend his savings on this project. He has converted an eyesore into a pleasant looking dwelling. The purpose
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Stop these do-gooders
A few weeks ago I highlighted the persecution of Connaught Avenue businesses by do-gooders representing Frinton groups. Councillor Terry Allen seems prominent in this action, but he surely is not alone. I wonder who else is involved and who they
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Can Mr Castle rethink plans to shut schools?
Now Lord Hanningfield seems to have withdrawn from the great secondary schools debate to spend more time with his finances, maybe the rest of us have a chance of persuading the new spokesman, Stephen Castle, that Lord H’s idea to have no secondary
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Colchester outgrows the rest of the UK
COLCHESTER is the fastest growing borough in the country, new figures have revealed. Migrants from inside and outside the UK, students, soldiers and a high birth rate pushed the population of Colchester and its surrounding towns and villages to 181,000
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Why do councillors object to al fresco dining?
What the devil is the matter with our councillors that they object to tables and chairs being placed on the pavement in Frinton? Don’t they realise that Frinton-on-Sea is a holiday area, and the show of tables and chairs outside our shops bring
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Wrong focus on Lybian decision
Perhaps if we were less focused on mercy and more focused on justice, the Lybian bomber would have died in jail, as was his sentence. Colin Rossini Coggeshall Road Bradwell
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Next stop for kids’ clothes?
It's great news that Next is coming to the outskirts of town in a larger premises. I hope that, with the extra space, they will be able to offer a wider selection of children’s clothes, especially for older kids. At present there is nowhere to
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Hotel in St Botolph's? Your'e having a laugh
With reference to the front page, Gazette, August 26. Have you checked your calendar? It’s not April 1. You’re truly having a laugh... A 90-bed hotel to be built in St Botolph’s Street – you show the old Keddie’s building, at the top
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Wrong focus on Lybian decision
Perhaps if we were less focused on mercy and more focused on justice, the Lybian bomber would have died in jail, as was his sentence. Collin Rossini Coggeshall Road Bradwell
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Congratulations on a fine season
I felt I must write and congratulate the actors and production staff for this year’s plays at Frinton Theatre. I have been going to the little theatre for the past 25 years and have seen many changes, including the passing of Jack Watling who
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Clacton train in UK top 5 for overcrowding
A TRAIN journey to Clacton had 50 per cent more passengers then it should have. Information from the Department for Transport reveals the 6.22pm from London Liverpool Street to Clacton was the fourth most crowded journey across the country
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Boothroyd makes first signing as U's boss
Colchester United boss Aidy Boothroyd has returned to his former club to sign midfielder John-Joe O'Toole. The midfielder has joined the U's on loan until the start of January and will go straight into their squad for the trip to play Southampton
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Park-and-ride is not very green
Tony Baxter (Gazette, August 19) is right to worry that an East Colchester park-and-ride might encourage people to drive to Colchester instead of taking the train. Indeed, research evidence does not suggest that park-and-ride schemes reduce
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Travelling circus causes distress
People who campaign against animal circuses have long been aware of the distress caused to the animals. Each time the circus moves to another venue, the animals are loaded into the confines of the best wagons while the site is dismantled, and
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Maintain this charming town
With reference to your article on Walton (August 19), I am a newcomer to Walton and, in spite of it being “rundown” in some parts, I find the “locals” make up for this by their welcoming nature. The town suffered when Woolies went and I hope
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Please help find our Smartie
Could I please appeal to the residents of the Dutch Quarter, colchester, to keep a watchful eye for our much-loved cat Smartie. We moved here three weeks ago. He went out with his brother and sister after a week’s “house arrest”, to get him used
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New Colchester United boss Boothroyd praises Cowling
New Colchester United manager Aidy Boothroyd said chairman Robbie Cowling was the main factor in him deciding to take the post. Boothroyd was unveiled as the U’s new boss at a press conference at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this afternoon. Boothroyd
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Let's celebrate British standards of education
Reading the opinions of James Wills (Gazette, August 24) I would like to challenge him to reveal the evidence to back up his alleged claims about the poor education standards in England. The 2008 “Trends in International Mathematics and Science
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'We will do everything we can to stay in the village'
JAM factory owners have pledged to do everything they can to stay in Tiptree despite failing to agree on sites for housing – a key element of their expansion plans. Bosses at Wilkin & Sons revealed proposals in April to replace their Factory Hill base
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Hidden costs add to the burden
According to the council tax action group, Isitfair, (www.isitfair.co.uk) reports about the number of council employees being paid £50,000, or more, do not tell the full story with regard to the total, taxpayer-funded cost of employing these
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Police patrols to keep A12 moving
POLICE have taken to the road for the first time as part of the new A12 Alliance Patrol. The team of 18 officers was unveiled yesterday, as the first stage in a series of proposals to clear congestion on the A12. Split into three shifts, made up of
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'Miracle' progress of car smash teen
THE parents of a teenager, who suffered brain damage and broken bones in a crash, have described her dramatic improvement as a miracle. Romaine Lee ended up in the intensive care unit, at Chelmsford’s Broomfield Hospital, after the accident in Braintree
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Colchester United to appoint Boothroyd
Colchester United will announce the appointment of Aidy Boothroyd as their new manager at lunchtime. The former Watford boss will be confirmed as Paul Lambert's successor, at a press conference at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. For all of the latest
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Would-be MP: I won’t claim food expenses
A WANNABE MP has vowed not to claim a penny for food or furniture if he is elected next year. Will Quince, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Colchester, says he will never vote to increase his salary, never employ a member of his family and
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Fun and games at Myland Parish Council's anniversary fete
RESIDENTS soaked up the bank holiday sunshine with an afternoon of fun. Myland Parish Council organised a fete at the recreation ground in Fords Lane to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Up to 2,000 people attended and raised more than £1,500, which
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New era of education begins for sixth form students
a new multi-million pound sixth form centre opened for the first time today after years of planning. The first students at Braintree Sixth Form, at the Notley High School site, in Notley Road, Braintree, began their new school term this morning. The
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Fun in the sun for William
A COMMUNITY pulled together to enjoy two days of fantastic fundraising events for a little boy with a rare disease. More than 500 people flocked to the fun days for Halstead toddler William Martin on Sunday and Monday, in Earls Colne. William, who is
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Row for a reason is back to raise cash
THE Row 4A Reason five-mile race around Northey Island from Heybridge Basin is back. A signed bat from England cricket legend Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff is up for grabs in a charity auction. To date, the rowing race has meant local and national charities
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Old-style print is alive and well in new museum
OLD-STYLE printing methods being kept alive in Heybridge are proving popular with the community. Enthusiast Len Friend, 63, recently moved a rare collection of old printing presses and machines from their former home at Anchor Press, in Tiptree, to the
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Park revamp goes ahead despite funding setback
A SCHEME to update a town park is forging ahead, despite an application for a grant being turned down. Braintree Council is calling for support for its project to revamp the Maldon Road park, in Witham. Two years was spent trying to secure almost £2
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DJ Wyatt gets on his bike
A COLCHESTER DJ has begun his epic cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise money for armed forces charity, Help for Heroes. Heart FM breakfast show presenter Wyatt Wendels began his 874-mile trip yesterday and is aiming to complete the ride
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Council staff support U’s bid to sell out at home
COUNCIL workers are helping to swell the crowd at Colchester United matches after bosses signed up to the U’s Target 10,000 initiative. Club chiefs have embarked on a huge promotional drive – backed by the Gazette – to attract sell-out crowds to home
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Gardeners praised for their beautiful blooms
GREEN-FINGERED residents were praised for their beautiful blooms in a gardening contest. Colne Housing Association handed out the prizes in its gardening competition, which has been relaunched after five years, following a final round of judging
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Runners on their marks to raise cash
IT’S a case of get, set and almost ready to go as the Gazette team start training for the 2009 Halstead fun run. Veteran fun runners Anna Faro, Mariam Ghaemi and Alison Griffiths will take to the five-mile route for their third year running, on Sunday
