THREE years ago, Shirley Lancaster married her long-term partner Simon, after 17 years of living together. Two aspects of this wedding set it apart from normal marriages. The first was that a union such as this had been illegal in the UK only weeks
WHEN artist Paul Miller became a dad at 59, he felt the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. And he recorded his experiences in an illustrated book for his daughter Dulcie, now two years old, to serve both as a record and a memento for her
FOUL-mouthed Second World War pilots and accident-prone culture buffs are just some of the favourite characters who’ll be coming out of the dressing-up box when TV duo Armstrong and Miller perform live at the Cliffs Pavilion on Sunday. Ben Miller and
AS a child, comedian Joe Pasquale choked on a whelk on a family trip to Southend. But, hopefully, he’ll manage to stay upright and avoid the Heimlich manoeuvre when he comes to the Cliffs Pavilion later this month. The much-loved Grays funnyman will
A RETIRED police officer served up a haunted house as well as home cooking to win a £1,000 prize on hit TV show Come Dine With Me. Kerry Tolliday, from Stambridge Road, Stambridge, enlisted the help of her psychic friend to seek out ghosts
A POPULAR spiritual healer from Wickford has been killed in a car crash. Vera Charlick, 68, was a passenger in a car when it collided with another vehicle in Rainham. The mother-of-two, of Ethelred Gardens, was a back-seat passenger
THERE will be free parking in Rochford in the run up to Christmas Rochford Council has agreed to free parking in its car parks all day on the four Saturdays before Christmas. On November 27 and December 4, 11, and 18 residents will be able to park
A PIGEON shed was raided by police who discovered cannabis. Officers burst into the house in Bellhouse Crescent, Leigh, and conducted a thorough search of the garden sheds. They found a hidden doorway from a shed into a second shed, which used to house
SOUTHEND captain Chris Green will be back for his side’s trip to Dings Crusaders tomorrow. Green missed last weekend’s shock defeat to Clifton with a slight back problem. And the Seasiders head coach Andy Holloway is pleased to be restoring him to
POLICE investigating a double death have named the couple involved. The tragedy began to unfold on Wednesday morning with the discovery of a man's body hanging from scaffolding in Clifftown Road, Southend. Officers investigating the
INVESTIGATIONS into an alleged sexual assault in a Southend underpass have been dropped after it was found no offence had been committed. Officers had taped off the Queensway underpass after reports an 18-year-old woman had been attacked at 5pm on
TOWN councillors in Leigh have vowed to find savings across the board with possible tighter budgets for security measures at Manchester Drive allotments and new bus shelters. Leigh Town Council has begun working on its draft budget for next year, which
PLANS by McDonald’s to put a 16ft totem pole outside its restaurant in Hadleigh have been refused. The chain wanted to place the sign, which would have had the famous golden arches logo on top of it, outside the front of its store in High Street as
PUPILS and staff at an infant school are mourning the loss of an inspirational headteacher, who died of pneumonia aged just 51. Jenny Keeley, headteacher of Thorpe Greenways Infant School in Southend, became ill over the summer and died last
IT’S back to a full programme of league action tomorrow and – with barely a cigarette paper between our top three teams – it’s all set for another fascinating day in the Ryman’s top division. Newly-promoted CONCORD currently enjoy the local
YOBS armed with fireworks went on a rampage wrecking nine cars. Four people were arrested after the trashing spree which saw over £700 damage caused to the vehicles. Police were called to Lake Meadows, in Radford Crescent, and the Queens Park estate
PETER Gilbert thought his team-mates were initially winding him up when they told him Tuesday night’s game at Cheltenham Town had been abandoned. The Southend United left-back had missed the match at Whaddon Road because of a one match suspension.
CUSTOMERS of a double glazing firm have been left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after it was forced into liquidation over unpaid debts. Homeseal UK Home Improvemnets, which had a showroom in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, was wound up at the
MANAGER-of-the-month Ryan Wilkinson takes his in-form side to promotion hopefuls Heybridge Swifts. GREAT WAKERING’S stunning October has seen them move within touching distance of the play-off places. Swifts occupy the last play-off
HIS fans include Elton John, Tom Cruise and even Prince Charles, and tonight, London DJ Ironik will be playing his new track live at Element nightclub in Southend. Falling in Love, featuring Jessica Lowndes from hit TV show Beverley Hills 90210
BASILDON Council was right to offer bricks and mortar accommodation to travellers facing eviction from an illegal site, a judge has said. John and Mary Flynn and John and Barbara Sheridan launched a county court appeal after the council offered them
THURROCK boss Greg Lincoln has said good riddance to Cliff Akurang, claiming the club is better off without him. The striker left Fleet and joined Maidenhead this week after being over-looked for the manager’s position at Ship Lane when it became available
HULLBRIDGE SPORTS will look to build on last week’s fine win over Sawbridgeworth Town when they welcome Eton Manor to Lower Road tomorrow. Manor are fifth in the table and have a formidable away record this season, with maximum points from three
POWERS to force traders from a parade of shops in Roots Hall to make way for the new Sainsbury's development have been given approval. At a meeting last night, Southend Council agreed that compulsory purchase orders could be used to remove the shops,
A COUPLE who beat all the odds, and a bout of amnesia, to find true love the second time round have had their heartwarming story recognised with a national award. Jane and Kevin Whitehead, from Southend, dated as teenagers for a while, but went their
OUR Reader Travel service has tickets for the Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes Bowl, Saturday and Sunday July 2-3. £86 for ticket and coach. Call 01268 270027
ESSEX Pirates travel to Worcester Wolves tomorrow night hoping to finally bag their first victory of the season. The Southend based side have been seen off in their opening 10 games of the new campaign. And coach Tim Lewis knows it will be tough to end
PAUL Sturrock will take his time before deciding who to play at left-back against Macclesfield Town tomorrow. The Blues boss is missing the injured Chris Barker and the suspended Peter Gilbert for the FA Cup clash. And Michael Timlin, who started
SOUTHEND United skipper Craig Easton wants to come back with a bang at Macclesfield Town tomorrow. The Blues midfielder has been sidelined for almost two months with a calf problem. But he resumed full training yesterday and could return to the starting
A BUSINESSMAN faces a lengthy prison sentence after he was found guilty of rape and other sexual offences against women. It took members of the jury four days of deliberating to find Jason Levins, 25, guilty of raping a 20-year-old woman at a house
SHOPS operating in Southend’s Pier Arches may have to close for up to three months while work is carried out to stop water seeping into them. Southend Council must carry out the work at the 11 businesses as part of a £400,000 project to stop
SOUTHEND is set to have a starring role when a programme featuring funnyman Russell Kane in his hometown is aired this weekend. Russell was filmed doing a special set at the Palace Theatre as well as introducing the world to some of his favourite
STUCK for Christmas present ideas – why not buy your loved one a voucher to be eaten alive? Handing over hard-earned cash to have your skin gnawed and nibbled piranha-style, is not most people’s idea of relaxation. But visitors to the
A REFORMING Prime Minister craving just five more years, doctors struggling to understand a mysterious mental illness and political wrangling that wouldn’t look out of place in the House of Commons today. The Madness of George III may be set in 1788
