According to new research out today, a staggering one in five UK workers have faked the death of a loved one at some point in their career to get time off to attend a job interview. But Britain's bosses aren't completely fooled by bogus excuses. Nearly
A second-half half recovery aided by Canvey having their goalkeeper Ashley Harrison dismissed enabled Fleet to keep their FA Trophy prospects alive. Harrison, who had been over-elaborate in dribbling in his own box a couple of times tried showing off
A shop assistant who was forced to hand over cash at knifepoint in a robbery at a Colchester store has warned other shop workers that it not worth risking their life for the sake of cash. Dick Page was getting ready to close up Chris and Dave's Family
A unified approach to dealing with the growing problem of abandoned cars across Essex is being sought by county councillors. At present practice varies from district to district, with some councils waiting seven to fifteen days before taking action, and
Coggeshall's convivial host Bruce Norton, a confidante to many including colourful restaurateur Peter Langan, took the secrets he heard to his grave. The village and its visitors will remember him at the helm of Musketeers Wine Bar and later when he briefly
Two men stole chickens from a store in High Street, Stanford-le-Hope. They escaped in a blue E-registration Vauxhall Cavalier, which had been reported stolen from Gloucester Park Swimming Pool, Basildon. Published Monday January 14, 2002
Despite a recent Ofsted report saying Doucecroft school needed special measures, parents still have a very positive view of the Kelvedon school. The school, which is owned and run by the Essex Autistic Society, was visited by a team of inspectors in November
The workaholic wonderman of south Essex, Doug Acres, has died a few days after his 77th birthday. Happy days - wheelchair-bound Doug Acres tends the plants in his garden The former GP, magistrate and church leader had been wheelchair-bound for three years
A shop assistant who was forced to hand over cash at knifepoint in a robbery at a Colchester store has warned other shop workers that it not worth risking their life for the sake of cash. Dick Page was getting ready to close up Chris and Dave's Family
A Southend student has been waved on his way by pupils from his old school as he prepared for a trip of a lifetime to Borneo. Waving goodbye - Justin says farewell to pupils at his old school. Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY 66AJ91 Pupils at Bournemouth Park School
Tributes have been pouring in for a traffic policeman who died after suffering head injuries when he was in collision with a car on the A12 Colchester northern bypass. Gary Veal Father-of-two PC Gary Veal who was based at Stanway traffic policing unit
Bryan Mathews, who was elected chairman of the newly-amalgamated north east Essex branch in 1990, died at his home in Clacton, aged 65. Mr Mathews was first appointed to the bench in 1978, becoming chairman of the Tendring bench in 1998. He was also a
Colchester boss Steve Whitton expressed his disappointment at not winning this drama-packed, top half of the table clash with high-scoring Tranmere. But as goalless draws go, the incident-packed Prenton Park clash was truly exciting and on paper a point
A remarkable 72-year marriage and a past link with showbiz fame have ended with the death of Southend's Vera Roper - a quiet, family-loving woman who found international fame as "Madam Vere," piano accompanist to radio, TV and film star Frankie Howerd
Basildon and East Thurrock's MP has welcomed police figures showing an increase in 119 officers in Essex between September 2000 and September 2001. Angela Smith has also voiced her support for a new Government task force to examine the way police operate
A crime-cracking campaign on a Southend housing estate is under way with the aim of boosting the quality of life of residents. Poster campaign - the crackdown on crime begins. Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY 6AEN914 A special crime prevention weekend kickstarted
Rachael Carter and Jenni Lawton made a big splash for Southend Swimming Club at the Waltham Forest Winter meeting. In the 100m freestyle, Rachael recorded a new personal best to take top honours in the 11-years age group and Jenni was victorious in the
Thurrock Council's cabinet has backed plans for an employee buyout of its window factory in Grays. A year ago this month the council agreed to sell the factory after agreeing that its ten-year programme of replacing windows in council homes should be
A teacher who found her true vocation working with pupils with learning difficulties has lost her two-year battle against breast cancer. And her young son is now facing his own fight against the disease. While Helen Murray, 36, of Norbury Close, Marks
A police operation to curb town centre crime in Dovercourt during Christmas has been hailed a success. Operation Christmas Cracker was launched in the town in December to help reduce shop theft and disorder over the busy trading time. Extra foot patrols
Teams from the Dr Martens League have left Grays feeling pretty sick these past couple of months. First Hinckley in the FA Cup and now Welling in the Trophy have dismissed Blues from the two cup competitions which matter the most. No question about the
Thurrock Council's cabinet has backed plans for an employee buyout of its window factory in Grays. A year ago this month the council agreed to sell the factory after agreeing that its ten-year programme of replacing windows in council homes should be
Southend's council leader has vowed to avoid cuts in jobs and frontline social services despite a £600,000 cut in crucial Government grants. Charles Latham told how ministers had slashed the council's social services handout by £600,000. In his budget
Councillors stood heads bowed for a minute's silence in memory of Bet Josling, twice mayoress of Thurrock, who has died aged 81. The present mayor, Barrie Lawrence, paid tribute to Mrs Josling at a meeting of the full council before asking colleagues
A firefighter has been banned from contacting his former girlfriend after he bombarded her with threatening and obscene text messages. Nigel Foster was told by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge he will go to jail if he phones, texts or contacts the woman
Self-employed Chelmsford car mechanic Peter Fairhurst lost his courageous battle against bowel cancer six months after first it was diagnosed. Peter, 58, who died at Broomfield Hospital on Thursday, November 22, leaves a widow, Vicky and children Sharon
Roy Ullyett, the king of sports cartoonists, died at the weekend (Saturday) after a short illness. He was 87. Roy was the longest-serving cartoonist in Fleet Street history. His career stretched for more than 60 years, from his days as a music-hall caricaturist
It was a moving farewell to a popular teenager. Weeley crematorium was packed with family and friends for the funeral and celebration of the life of 18-year-old Simon Copeman. The Clacton County High School pupil was remembered by classmates in the sixth
Chelmsford-born IT project manager Paul Steel tragically died following a heart condition last Thursday. Paul, who was 33, leaves a widow Charlotte, to whom he had been married for 13 months. His parents Margaret and Derek, who have a younger son, Philip
Worshippers are wrestling with plans to move their 1,000-year-old Eastwood church to fit in with Southend Airport's multi-million pound development scheme. Many aim to fight the controversial proposals affecting St Laurence's Church in Eastwoodbury Lane
Richard Wright's multi-million pound departure to Arsenal was a sucker-punch for Ipswich. That's the candid verdict of manager George Burley, reflecting on events of the past year at Portman Road. To plug the gap, he invested a club record £5m in Sampdoria
Steve Whitton was still celebrating only Colchester United's third League clean sheet of the season today. U's hero - goalkeeper Steve Brown But the U's boss remained defiantly adamant that his buoyant Layer Road squad were good enough to have turned
Police have confirmed the drugs an Essex teenager took before becoming critically ill were not contaminated but very strong. Fifteen-year-old Michael Pritchard is still in a critical condition in hospital after taking amphetamine, which was bought from
A devoted teacher and keen sportsman has died, aged 53. John Gardner, who was a member of the Clacton Ramblers Cricket Club, Eastcliff recreation ground, lived in Clacton for several years. He died from a heart attack on October 22, following a table
Great Wakering Rovers and East Thurrock United both kept up the pressure on the Ryman League Division Two leaders with narrow away victories at the weekend. Rovers, lying third, began the day six points adrift of title favourites Lewes, and with opponents
A teenager has been robbed of his mobile telephone by two men. The pair approached the 18-year-old as he was walking from Witham's Humber Road across parkland to the town centre. A police spokesman said he was asked for a cigarette and when he said he
Having lived and worked in Afghanistan, Beryl Jonseng spoke to Gazette reporter JEREMY PRICE about the time she described as a "renaissance" for the country Kabul in 1959 became home to newlyweds Beryl and Cyril Jonsen. Mr Jonsen secured a job in the
The FA Trophy reached its third round stage on Saturday, and one of the ties of the round took place at Park Lane where cup kings Canvey Island took on fellow Ryman Leaguers Purfleet. Canvey, winners of the competition last season at Villa Park, entered
A new cafe bar set to open in the centre of Wickford will not turn into another late night take-away, its owner has pledged. Developer Douglas Quirk is pumping £250,000 into opening Bar Centro at the southern end of the High Street. The new venue will
Southend lifeboat station is one of the busiest in the country, new RNLI figures reveal. Busy times - for Southend's lifeboat crew. Picture: MAXINE CLARKE 6AFVZ17 Volunteers at the station were scrambled 106 times last year, a rise of two incidents on
Tributes have been paid to veteran clean-up campaigner Mary Whitehouse, who has died. She was 91. Mary Whitehouse celebrating her Diamond wedding anniversary with her husband Ernest Mrs Whitehouse died at the Abberton Manor Nursing Home, Colchester, after
Perhaps the greatest indication of the success of the bottled water industry is that those who find the very idea of selling the stuff of life absurd - once the overwhelming majority - are now forced to keep their doubts to themselves, terrified of being
The managing director of a Frinton motor firm Max Vinnell has died. He was 58. Mr Vinnell, of Halstead Road, Kirby Cross, died at his home. He had been with Pollendine Motors in Connaught Avenue, Frinton, for more than 30 years. He was one of seven children
Brave Martin Moye, who gained an extra ten years of life after a heart transplant operation, has died, aged 46. Martin Moye Father-of-three Mr Moye, of Ouse Chase, Witham, finally succumbed to an infection while on dialysis for kidney and liver problems
A £1.7m bid for cash to help to conserve one of Thurrock's greatest landmarks has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury, which was built in 1860, has been run for many years by volunteer members of the Coalhouse Fort
A Jaywick couple are grieving the loss of their son - who died after plunging 5,000 ft from a light aircraft. Former SAS man Charles Bruce, 45, had been in a twin-seater Cessna 172 being flown by his friend and co-owner of the plane Judith Haig. The pair
A successful businessman with a passion for dangerous sports fell 15 feet to his death from a balcony after a heavy night's drinking, an inquest has heard. Peter Matthews, a separated father of four young sons, was found under the balcony of a house in
Chaos erupted on Saturday afternoon after an American pick-up truck crashed into the central barrier on the A130. Firefighters from Hadleigh, Rayleigh and a rescue tender from Leigh all attended the scene after the crash which occurred at 1pm. Four engines
Southend United turned league form on its head on Saturday to run out 1-0 winners over high-flying Mansfield Town. A goal on 23 minutes from Blues striker Tesfaye Bramble was enough to seal the points against the visiting Stags, who currently lie third
Worshippers are wrestling with plans to move their 1,000-year-old Eastwood church to fit in with Southend Airport's multi-million pound development scheme. Many aim to fight the controversial proposals affecting St Laurence's Church in Eastwoodbury Lane
Permission for a railway carrying hazardous substances and the demolition of homes is being sought to make way for the massive Shell Haven container port. Objections and comments in response to the Thurrock plans put forward by P&O and Shell are being
A TV and stage actress with strong connections to Leigh has died aged 86. Peggy Mount, who became known to millions as a fearsome battleaxe in the early ITV sitcom The Larkins, died after a long illness at Denville Hall Nursing Home in Northwood, west
Braintree-based actor Malcolm McFee has died after a long illness. Missed- Malcolm McFee at the Wagon and Horses pub in Braintree, which he ran The 52-year-old, who found fame in the school sitcom Please Sir! and was diagnosed with cancer three years
A mother has paid tribute to her "charming, beautiful" son whose "heart was as big as a cathedral". David Perez, 22, a former Colchester schoolboy, died on November 4 when he was in collision with a train at the Hythe. His mother, Spanish-born Katie Richardson
A massive cheque for £30,000 has been presented by the trustees of Hutton and Shenfield Round Table Holiday Home to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. To make the occasion even more special, charity director, Sir Paul Nurse said a merger with Cancer Research
There was praise for union co-operation at Thurrock Council's cabinet last week (Thursday) as members discussed a "vision for customer services." Plans for "same-stop shops and contact centres" meant "we have all got to pull together, different departments
A new cafe bar set to open in the centre of Wickford will not turn into another late night take-away, its owner has pledged. Developer Douglas Quirk is pumping £250,000 into opening Bar Centro at the southern end of the High Street. The new venue will
Police want to trace a motorist who made off without stopping from an accident in which another driver suffered minor injuries. The 30-year-old man, from the Felmores estate, Basildon, suffered shock, cuts and bruises after his Toyota Yaris was in collision
Order was definitely in short supply as Baroness Betty Boothroyd sat at the top table for this year's Colchester Oyster Feast. Baroness Boothroyd, former Bluebell girl and Speaker of the House of Commons, would have done well to calm the boisterous nature
Southend United defender Leon Cort paid tribute to his team-mates' battling qualities after Saturday's 1-0 Third Division win against Mansfield Town at Roots Hall. Goal-getter - Tes Bramble's first-half strike gave Southend United all three points against
An inquest to establish how a former SAS Falklands veteran plunged to his death from a light aircraft over Oxfordshire has been opened. Oxfordshire Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said he was satisfied the body of a man who fell from a Cessna 172 aircraft on
A former Colchester surgeon, who was well-known to patients in the area, has died aged 82. The family of Roland Jones, of London Road, Marks Tey, paid tribute to him today after he lost a long battle against illness earlier this week. Mr Jones moved to
Cash to help recruit teachers will be given to Essex primary schools - then taken off them again. Members of the county council's children and education services select committee were told the new funding had to be given out at first but then, to spend
The funeral will take place on Monday of Mary Andrews, a former Thurrock councillor and tireless worker for the community. Mrs Andrews of Lenmore Avenue, Grays, died peacefully at Basildon Hospital on Friday after a spell of ill health. She was 82. She
An animal lover who had close associations with the countryside has died. Maureen Partridge, of High Garrett, was 59. Life-long friend Janet Ainsworth paid tribute to Mrs Partridge, who she said had a great sense of humour and will be greatly missed.
A "kind and generous" vicar has died. The Rev Paul Harwood Jones, who lived in Braintree, died on Monday, November 19 following a heart attack. Born in Kensington in 1920, the Rev Harwood Jones left school at 14 to work for GEC as an instrument maker.
Billericay Town travelled to Sutton United's Gander Green Lane on Saturday and emerged with a well-deserved point in a 2-2 draw. The Surrey club have experienced something of a resurgence in form of late, and this match was always going to test Town's
Roy Tanner , 80, of Church Street, Sible Hedingham, organised the annual raffle raising funds for Sible Hedingham village hall, which was drawn a day before his death. The raffle was a huge success, raising a record total. Daughter Ann Tanner said: "He
Families, schools and businesses across Essex have been invited to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2002, the UK's biggest and longest running garden bird survey, on January 26 and 27. The survey, organised by the RSPB, aims to find the most commonly
Essex is set to share in a £33.5bn cash injection to ease overcrowding and boost rail services into London. The plan, from the Strategic Rail Authority, seeks to halt "almost three decades of consistent under-investment in Britain's railway." The blueprint
A man has been bound over to keep the peace, following a series of foolish Halloween pranks. Steven Purdy, 29, of Cedar Walk, Canewdon, joined a group of people who were throwing eggs and letting off fireworks, after leaving a local pub. He was bound
George Burley believes his side have successfully returned to basics in a bid to halt their dismal Premiership form. The Ipswich boss said: "We looked fairly solid at the back and a threat up front, both of which were qualities missing earlier in the
Defiant europhile Ted Preedy hopes to convince people that the single currency would be good for Britain - by selling his car in euros. Fistful of euros - Ted wants 5,000 of them for his G-reg Toyota. Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY 6ADNH28 Ted, who works at Rayleigh
Villagers are being warned of a hoax letter which was sent out claiming to be from Tendring Council. Calvin Heal, crime prevention officer at Clacton Police Station, said an elderly resident in Walton received a letter, which appeared to be from Tendring
Bosses at Ongar-based crop science firm Aventis have finalised the sale and handover of the firm's Fyfield Road research & development headquarters. The deal means that the site, which has been home to scientific researchers for more than 50 years
It was not all work and no play for youngsters at a south Essex school when they took part in a project by students from the University of East London. It's your move - Billy Gray, seven, waits for student Kelly Ridgwell to throw the dice Picture: MAXINE
Moves to axe crucial bus services in Southend have sparked angry protests. The Evening Echo's talkback line has been ringing red hot with Echo readers keen to voice their objections after bus operator Arriva announced that Sunday and evening services
The new headteacher at the Harwich School has taken up her post. Jacky Froggatt took over the reins at the secondary school in Hall Lane, Dovercourt, and is looking to build on the improvements made there in the past few years. It is the first time Miss
A quiet little housing estate in South Woodham may soon become the county's number one tourist attraction thanks to a new blockbuster film. The Lord of the Rings book trilogy - J R R Tolkien's legendary tale of hobbits and dwarves, elves and wizards -
Fearless Evening Echo readers have been leading the way back to the skies - calling in their thousands to book holiday flights with Reader Holidays staff. Holidays joy - Sue Roebuck cheers success. Picture: CHRIS SPURR 69G9G1 Phones in the Echo's Basildon
Chelmsford City's recent dip in form continued on Saturday as they fell to a home defeat against relegation strugglers Bath City. Bath had suffered a torrid festive period with a string of results that had seen them tumble back towards the drop zone.
There is something deeply satisfying about a cold and frosty morning in Wivenhoe. The air is beautifully fresh and filled with the tumultuous sound of birds feeding along the estuary mudflats. With a slight breeze, there is also the chiming of the sailboat
An urgent meeting has been called with electricity bosses after the fifth power cut to hit Braintree in recent weeks. Post offices and business in Braintree town centre were blacked out at 9.30am today. The post office and a section of the Quadrant department
Permission for a railway carrying hazardous substances and the demolition of homes is being sought to make way for the massive Shell Haven container port. Objections and comments in response to the Thurrock plans put forward by P&O and Shell are being
It used to be a nightmare. Within two weeks of receiving the GP's referral letter, a patient had to be given an appointment date at an outpatients' clinic. Getting patients involved - Colchester General Hospital's outpatients' manager Pat Wood with her
With high-profile mainstays of the British way of life, such as the railways and the postal service again riven with industrial unrest, seldom since the bad old days of the 70s and 80s have relations between workers and bosses been exposed to the full
A 100-year-old woman has died. Agnes Smith, who lived at the Kilkee Lodge residential home in Coggeshall Road, Braintree, died peacefully on November 7. Mrs Smith, who is the widow of Albert, came from a large family of four sisters and three brothers
The funeral of Wing Commander Malcolm Hinder, OBE, one of county's most dedicated and popular youth leaders will leave from Billericay's Holy Redeemer Catholic Church tomorrow, for Great Burstead Cemetery following a service at 11.15 am. Malcolm who had
Police have called on people living on a Colchester estate to come forward and tell them about problems in the area. The new two-pronged policing system, splitting the community and incident response sides of the job, has been in place for two months
A South Essex school is beating the teacher recruitment crisis by adopting a "grow your own staff" approach. William Edwards School, in Stifford Clays Road, Grays, took up the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) last year when it was unable to fill numerous
Crooks stole a G-registration Ford Escort from Laindon - twice. The car, worth £1,000, was first taken from Whitcroft, Laindon. It was later found in London but was stolen again just days later. Information to Basildon police on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers
Family and friends have paid tribute to a hard-working charity volunteer. Joan Willis, 81, of Bailey Bridge Road, Braintree, died peacefully after a long illness. She worked in a number of shops in the town and also carried out a lot of work for charities
Chelmsford solicitor Paul Young failed to make par on the first hole at Benton Hall Golf Club on Friday, October 12, defending the title he won last year. Having suffered five heart attacks over the last few years and undergoing surgery several times,
Boarding schools are back in fashion. Harry Potter's life at Hogwarts boarding school is the book and cinema hit of the year and the new children's programme 24/7 is proving popular. Living and enjoying a Harry Potter moment are, left to right, New Hall
Manningtree Salvation Army Citadel is to close. The Mill Lane building is to be sold but the 120-year-old corps will continue its work in and around England's smallest town. Plans are being made for the Sunday services at least to be held in Manningtree
A terrified school boy had his treasured bicycle stolen after a hooded robber threatened to break his knee caps. The 14-year-old was cycling home after playing football with friends when he was confronted by three hooded robbers on the Craylands Estate
A referee who gave a team losing 18-1 a helping hand by scoring a goal for them resigned today after being suspended by the Football Association. Brian Savill, 47, from Colchester, said the FA showed it had no sense of humour after he learnt the outcome
A pensioner who was rescued for the third time from her burning Southend home has lost her fight for life, it has been revealed. The death of Mary Light has sparked renewed calls for people to install smoke alarms and prompted fire chiefs to give fresh
Investigations are being carried out after an arson attack ignited a row of derelict cars and damaged a block of flats. Burnt out - the wrecked vehicles at Langham Drive, Clacton. Picture: NIGEL BROWN (19217-5) And Clacton firefighters have now urged
Events surrounding the rape of a 68-year-old woman have been reconstructed for a television appeal. The e-fit of the rapist Actors played out the shocking attack in front of the cameras at the scene on Thursday night, for a Crime Night programme to be
