A SERVING soldier, who lost a leg in a bomb explosion in Iraq which killed two of his friends, was spared jail yesterday after he admitted carrying out a bottle attack on two men. Lionel O’Conner, 24, of Kingsbridge Close, Bocking, had suffered post
A ROMAN from the Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service helped Lord Seb Coe to launch an Olympic event. Alison Naylor was in London’s Trafalgar Square to promote events at the London 2012 Open Weekend, from July 24 to 26. As part of the event, the museum
THERE is a wealth of local musical talent being lined up at River Lodge, in Colchester, in the next few weeks. It plays host to Next of Kin this Friday, made up of brothers Nathan, Mark and Keiron Bass, who, as well as playing a mixture of Indie and
MAJOR names in music from days gone by will be arriving in Essex this weekend. This year’s annual Champagne Picnic concert will feature the original Animals, Heatwave and Herman’s Hermits. The event will also see the American Four Tops Motown Show
A BRAINTREE bass player has found fame online. Musician Andrew Austin has been overwhelmed with the success of his musical comeback, which has seen his music attract thousands of hits on the Myspace website. His Myspace page has been viewed by more
US Blues singer, Brooks Williams, is coming to the Red Lion in Manningtree. The Georgia-based singer has released more than 16 albums, combining both traditional blues and his own original material. His single, the Time I Spent With You, released
lCOLCHESTER’S first Muslim and Jewish music festival kicks off this weekend. The event is raising cash for Medicins Sans Frontieres for its work in the Palestinian territories. It starts on Saturday at Colchester Arts Centre, with a performance from
A SINGING pensioner has wowed judges on TV talent show X-Factor. William Hooper, aged 82, of Imperial Court, Clacton, impressed the show’s celebrity judges with his Sinatra renditions. He recently sang the Frank Sinatra songs You Make Me Feel So Young
MALDON TOWN could face former winners Kingstonian in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy. Stuart Nethercott’s side will travel to play Metropolitan Police in the preliminary round of the competition, on October 3. And if they win, they will
AS revelations over MPs’ expenses draws to a close, attention has turned to those MPs who earn another income from a second job. Tory leader David Cameron has said his shadow cabinet ministers will have to give up their second jobs by December
A COLCHESTER man burst into his ex-partner’s home and threatened to kill her and her children, a court heard. Daniel Atkinson, 23, of Brook Street, brandished a knife while at the home of pregnant Zoe Gonthier at 6am on July 14 last year, Chelmsford
TAXPAYERS could foot the bill for a new £7million swimming pool and sports centre in Witham. Two options are being considered by councillors, both of which would replace the Bramston Sports Centre, which was built in 1974. One option would see a 25
A COLCHESTER health club and spa relaunched its restaurant by serving up an edible tree. The whacky creation was served up by Paul Boorman, award-winning chef at Clarice House’s Juniper restaurant. Paul was named Colchester Chef of the Year in 2007
Job Title: Area Supervisor An exciting opportunity exists in our Newspaper Sales Department for a Area Supervisor who will be responsible for controlling the sales of the Echo within their allocated
A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy was attacked by a rottweiler in a park in St Osyth. The large, brown r ottweiler, which was on a lead, approached the boy and bit him on the back, leaving three teeth marks. The incident happened at Cowley Park, The Bury, between
It must be hard being a Wivenhoe town councillor, being obliged to spend exorbitant sums of money on such things as the proposed replacement of the flooring in the William Loveless Hall, despite the fact the present one is in good condition.
As a supporter of the Changing Places campaign, I think it is a disgrace that Colchester Borough Council doesn’t provide public toilets that meet the needs of people with severe disabilities and their carers. People with profound and multiple
The main reason for the very different conclusions which Noreen Buckley (How we can help ME sufferers in north Essex, Letters, Gazette, June 23), and I, a research psychologist and veteran ME sufferer of 21 years, come to about the treatments
Isn't it about time those who suffer from alcohol and related conditions which necessitate hospitalisation should pay something towards their treatment? Why should those of us not involved in these excesses be made to suffer for these creatures
Following the popularity of the recent BBC TV series, Mary Queen of Charity Shops, I’m writing to encourage local businesses to sign-up to retail guru Mary Portas’ idea of hosting a D-Day (Donate, Don’t Dump) in support of Sue Ryder Care. Endorsed
Five to six years ago, the town was buzzing with proposed plans to alter St Botolph’s corner, John Lewis coming to town plus a new bus park. A lot of money may have been spent looking into the feasibility of this exciting programme, so I feel
COLCHESTER MP Bob Russell has expressed concerns over landscaping near a new supermarket. Waitrose is developing a new shop in St Andrew’s Avenue, at the site of the former Glyn Webb building. As part of the planning consent given by Colchester Council
A CHARITY walk in Colchester has raised almost £9,000 for Cancer Research UK. After missing out on a place in the London Moonwalk, Nicky Withycombe decided to organise her own walking event. She was joined by 136 people, who all completed the 13-mile
Clacton Golf Club welcomed some of the county’s brightest talent when they staged the Essex Amateur Championships. And it turned out to be one of the most exciting and dramatic championships for some time. Thorpe Hall’s Matthew Southgate, who plays
Elmstead Grasshoppers moved out of the division one relegation zone courtesy of a stunning eight-wicket success against title-hopefuls Sudbury. Adrian Garnham’s men have been in the bottom two all season but put their drop fears to one side as they breezed
Clacton are beginning to struggle and their dwindling confidence was highlighted again during Saturday’s draw with Bury St Edmunds. The Seasiders lost the toss and were asked to field. Conditions were excellent for batting and Bury’s opening pair of
Colchester United are set to complete the signing of Dagenham and Redbridge defender Magnus Okuonghae today. Colchester have fought off a host of rival clubs in order to sign the defender. Phil Parkinson’s Charlton Athletic were also
THE Government may have grounds to terminate National Express's rail franchises in Essex, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said today. They are the National Express East Anglia line linking Essex with London Liverpool Street and the London,
A RIDER who survived a collision with a car, but had to watch her horse be shot at the roadside, is said to be traumatised. Gill Humphreys, from Dovercourt, was riding in Wix, when a car collided with her horse and left her with broken bones
A PARK manager was left sickened after discovering two rabbits left hanging from children’s swings. The wild rabbits were found with their back feet wedged in the chains of children’s swings in Bayard Recreation Ground, in Regent Road, Brightlingsea
PEOPLE in north Essex are significantly more likely to die in car accidents than residents in other parts of the country. Regional health maps published by the Government today show people across the county are generally fitter and more robust
A LIFEBOAT shop is desperately appealing for more volunteers. The shop, which is part of the RNLI Harwich Lifeboat Station, can only open daily if there are enough people behind the counter. But staff have found themselves covering more shifts than
