HARDEEP Singh Kohli is a man who’s passionate about his line of work. What exactly this line of work is, is more difficult to define. The titles writer, broadcaster, comedian, raconteur, columnist and reporter have all been uttered in
CINEMA goers who caught David Mackenzie’s 2003 film Young Adam may not have known it, but they were listening to Alasdair Roberts. The Scottish folk musician played hurdy-gurdy on the soundtrack to the British drama, starring Ewan McGregor and Tilda
ONE of the most terrifying plays ever staged, as well as one of the most successful, arrives at the Palace Theatre on Monday. The touring production of the Woman in Black, by Susan Hill, has a cast of just two – plus a third figure who may
A CAMPAIGNER has collected enough signatures to force a referendum on whether or not Castle Point should have an elected mayor. Colin Letchford, 63, of Maurice Road, Canvey, needed 5 per cent of registered voters in the borough to sign – equivalent to
A MOTORCYCLIST has been rushed to Southend Hospital in a serious condition following a head-on collision with a car. The accident happened in Sutton Road, Rochford, at around 2.50pm today (June 25). The motorcyclist was taken to Southend
A PAEDOPHILE was caught with over half-a-million pornographic images of children. Sanjiv Dale, 38, admitted 12 counts of making or distributing indecent images of children at Basldon Crown Court today. He was caught when police raided
THE boyfriend of a 17-year-old student who suffered serious head injuries after being the victim of a hit and run accident, has told how she is lucky to be alive. Siam McEwan was knocked to the ground after the back door of a council-owned van flung
DON'T miss your Echo on Monday for our four-page investigation to Southend United's financial background including detail on Sainsbury's involvement with the club.
A DILAPIDATED walkway above shops on the Four Rivers Estate in Shoebury is a deathtrap, worried families have claimed. People living in flats and maisonettes in West Road and Avon Way say the first-floor walkway linking the L-shaped block above the
FROM the outside – and indeed the inside – this five-door hatchback looks every inch a conventional Volkswagen Golf. It is not. Yes, the doors shut with that reassuringly weighty clunk, the fit and finish are Germanic in their precision and
WORKERS at a charity shop have hit out at people who fly tip outside their outlet after someone left a dead puppy outside. Volunteers at the Helen Rollason charity shop, in Wickford, said they are struggling to cope with the amount of rubbish left outside
A “SADISTIC” man with a deep hatred of his strict Christian step-father was jailed for 22 years after trying to kill him with scissors. Simon Dowrick, 25, from Grays, repeatedly stabbed 55-year-old William Dowrick at his house in Fir Way, Shiphay, near
CLAMPERS nabbed a woman and ordered her to pay £434 – while she was driving. Jessie Martin was driving in Nelson Road, Leigh, when she realised she had taken a wrong turn. Not being able to make a U-turn in the middle of the road, she pulled into a
In accusing Southend Council of turning huge chunks of our town into a stainless steel hellhole Jackie Callow has hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head (June 17). The City Beach project is just the latest, and, potentially, the most economically
The Echo is correct in saying returning soldiers should merit our gratitude and admiration for extreme bravery and devotion to duty in a war many consider to be contentious (June 16 and 18 ). However, I do not believe the memories of such parades
A THREE-CAR accident in Hamstel Road has blocked the carriageway. Early reports say there is possibly one person trapped and three fire engines are at the scene. A man aged in his 60's is suffering from a neck injury and an ambulance is
It was unbelievable to read that Southend Council is paying a top manager £17,000 per month of our money. That’s more than the Prime Minister earns! The manager is providing sickness cover. I wonder what council leader Nigel Holdcroft thinks
My family have recently been the subject of mindless vandalism. Like countless others, two of our cars were sporting England flags. However, for no logical reason these were broken off. As well as criminal damage, there is also the question
I am astonished by the claim in your editorial that the massive cuts being imposed by the Conservative/ Lib Dem Government are well planned (June 22). Last Thursday, I repeatedly failed to get an answer from the Conservative executive councillor
I am left incredulous by your story Councillors Expenses Are ‘Irregular, Not Fraudulent’ (June 22) If some councillors have been claiming for multiple return journeys from home to the Civic Centre, Southend, when they haven’t set foot outside
ESSEX are now up into second place in the Friends Provident t20 South Division. And they can strengthen their grip on a place in the next round by beating Surrey at Chelmsford this evening. Essex beat Gloucestershire convincingly on Wednesday and will
TIM Lewis and Jamell Anderson will be taking on their own Essex Pirates team at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre tomorrow night. For coach Lewis and forward Anderson are in international duty for Great Britain under 20s this summer.
MILLIONS of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being wasted because Southend Council has not forced developers to build enough affordable homes, it has been claimed. The council’s Independent group says too much money is being wasted housing people in private
PUPILS dressed up as pirates and sailors to celebrate the opening of their new £4,700 nautical-themed garden. The garden was designed by youngsters at William Read Primary School, on Canvey, who helped paint underwater images on the floor. It also features
BASILDON Hospital chiefs say they mean business when it comes to ensuring tragic cases like Kyle Flack are never repeated. A new wave of measures have been introduced at the hospital to improve standards of care for patients with special needs. Improvements
WESTCLIFF-based Richard Morrissey has broken a Havering Mayesbrook Athletics Club record which had been standing for 30 years. The 19-year-old, who is a former Southend High School for Boys pupil, run 48.35 seconds in the 400m at the Southern Championships
I have seen adverts for companies who say they offer free benefits advice and who say they can help you claim backdated benefits on a no win no fee basis. How do they work and are they a good idea? With more than £16 billion in means-tested
A Rayleigh head has been named the best headteacher in the East of England. Jim Fuller, head of The Fitzwimarc School in Hockley Road, Rayleigh, won the award after impressing judges from The Teaching Awards. It means he will now go
A DETERMINED family are holding a fundraising day to create a memorial garden for a beloved wife and mum. Steve Nesbitt, 51, and daughter Paige, 15, are hoping to provide a fitting tribute to Julie Nesbitt, who died of cancer aged 47. The family decided
YOBS went on a wrecking spree, tearing out benches at a nature reserve. Now the Essex Wildlife Trust will have to fork out more than £1,000 to repair the damage at the Stanford Warren nature reserve, off Mucking Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope
SOUTHEND United fans have been expressing their fury at the departures of Adam Barrett and Alan McCormack. Damian Scannell now looks certain to follow the experienced duo out of Roots Hall. And Blues supporters are extremely concerned
SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson is backing England to beat Germany in the second round of the World Cup on Sunday. England set up the eagerly anticipated encounter after beating Slovenia 1-0 in their final group game. And Tilson is sure they can
MORE than 120 cops raided homes in Vange, Basildon, Laindon and Pitsea to smash a drugs gang, known as the Bush Boys. The gang, from North London, are believed to have moved into several homes across Basildon to sell class A drugs, such as
MOTORISTS illegally using a new bus lane as a shortcut will soon be caught on camera. Digital cameras, to snare cheeky drivers, will officially go live on Monday. Linking Ghyllgrove and Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, the bus lane is only
A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD boy has had his motorbike seized after causing a nuisance on Canvey. Police had received a string of calls about the boy riding arousnd the Avenues, Waterside Farm Sports Centre and Winter Gardens areas and causing problems
