FROM a rented garage on an industrial estate, Gerry Hackett never thought his IT auction business could one day generate a turnover of £30million. But 17 years later and RDC in Eastways, Witham, has established itself as the leading IT recycling company
ACCLAIMED author Ronald Blythe will be giving a talk and signing copies of his new book at Red Lion Books in Colchester tomorrow. The writer is best known for his Word From Wormingford articles in the Church Times and in, particular, his book Akenfield
WHILE most people’s idea of romance is far removed from a hot kitchen, frying chips and flipping burgers, two couples have proved they really are “lovin’ it”. Two couples, whose eyes met across a busy kitchen, found love while working at McDonald’s in
Did your readers know that there are currently 700,000 people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, in the UK? It is estimated that there will be more than a million people with dementia by 2025. Caring for a loved one with dementia
I find it very strange that Mrs Tosbell should make a complaint about the state she claims her Colchester Hospital ward was in to the Gazette (July 3), instead of to the nurses and the Colchester Hospital University Foundation Trust. The fact
The county council has found extra money to give us further work on Braintree High Street, starting on August 10. This is just wasting money. If only it had done the work properly in the first place – a solid concrete base with asphalt on top
I own a very small garden from which I derive enormous pleasure and passersby are kind enough to comment favourably upon my efforts. However, I have been informed that I will be compelled to accept two wheeled-bins. I have no space, but I have
I was concerned to read reports an employee of Colchester Jobcentre Plus has allegedly posted derogatory messages online about customers. The blogger claims people attending the Jobcentre are “chavscum” and claims in the summer “the odour in
TERMINATING the contract of the company employed to build Colchester’s troubled art gallery could cost Colchester Council up to £1.4million. Construction consultants Jackson Coles say removing Banner Holding, employing another contractor and restarting
A MUM evacuated two daughters from their Colchester home after a bedroom fire. Annette Kelly had already extinguished a fire on her daughter’s bed, which was believed to have been caused by a faulty phone charger. But two Colchester
FROM county, borough, district, town and parish councils to council-run regeneration companies, regional authorities and executive agencies – they are all spending your money. Taxpayers’ cash is rightly spent by local councils, which are democratically
THE trial of the man accused of murdering Dinah McNicol will have to be rearranged due to his illness. Peter Tobin, 62, has failed to appear in court since Wednesday June 24 after allegedly suffering from shingles and then further illness. The trial
AN initiative which has helped scores of children learn vital safety tips celebrated its tenth anniversary with another workshop. Some 700 pupils, aged ten and 11, from 20 schools took part in the event, organised by Colchester’s Crucial Crew. They
A TEENAGER who survived a crash which killed one of her friends and left another critically ill has said she wishes she could “turn back time”. Danielle Stevens, of Chelmer Road, Braintree, was the back-seat passenger of the red Rover 100 driven by Charmaine
THE family of a pilot who died when his plane crash-landed at Great Oakley said flying was his passion. Cecil Bush, 69, of Manor Road, Great Holland, died when the single-seater plane crash-landed on June 27. Mr Bush was a director of Harwoods department
Colchester United’s pre-season programme will be pivotal to their chances of success next season. That is the view of U’s sports scientist David Carolan, who has been putting Paul Lambert’s squad through their paces. Colchester began
A TEAM of young karate champions is hoping to take on the world’s finest in South Africa – but it needs to raise £20,000 to pay for the trip. Colchester Karate Academy is planning to send 15 children and three adults to the southern hemisphere for the
Colchester Harriers’ Paul Spowage produced two fine runs at Birmingham’s Alexandra Stadium, in the National Veterans Track Championships. He won silver medals in both the steeplechase and 1,500 metres. Spowage had a fine steeplechase, taking the barriers
Tiptree Road Runner Roger Duffield, who is 70 later this year, completed a remarkable sequence of seven races in seven days. Following a five kilometre, five mile and trail race, he began the four-day Tour of Terling with an 8.5 mile trail race. Jim
IF Essex win promotion to division one of the LV County Championship this season, Hashim Amla is likely to have played a crucial role. The South African batsman is only expected to be with the county for the next month, but, such is Essex’s lack of runs
POLICE have stormed up to five Colchester addresses in a series of coordinated dawn raids. The operation took place at 6.30am and marked the beginning of a Day of Action on the Monkwick estate. Police will be joined on the streets by
SWAN lovers have called for urgent work to be done at a popular nesting spot. Mary Hill, of Seafield Road, Dovercourt said she has to visit the town’s boating lake up to five times a day to ensure cygnets are not in danger, after several became trapped
A COUNCIL which once took a man to court for throwing chips out of a car window is launching a new crackdown on litter-lout drivers. Tendring Council has joined forces with Keep Britain Tidy to slam the brakes on messy motorists. People
SHOPLIFTERS and pickpockets face a crackdown from police after the number of offences have risen in Colchester. Officers have seen an increase in incidents, particularly in the number of offences committed by young people. Chief Inspector
LOTTERY chiefs have turned down a £3.5million bid to spruce up Colchester’s Castle Park – because it is already nice enough. Blueprints were drawn up to enhance the Victorian park and preserve its heritage by carrying out a range of improvements
MORE than 2,000 runners, walkers, and an army of volunteers packed the park at the discovery centre in Great Notley, near Braintree, to take part and cheer on those in the Race for Life. Fortunately the weather cooled as women, many in fancy
HUNDREDS of vintage vehicles rolled into Walton for the resort’s seventh annual classic car show. The event was held at Bath House Meadow and saw vehicles from pre-1947 cars to Rolls-Royces, motorbikes, custom cars and American cars.
A SUPER-FIT teacher completed a 14-hour triathlon five years after he was run over by a car. Humanities teacher Mark Doyle took part in the Ironman event in Lanzarote, where he battled through a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km bike ride, and a full marathon
A SUPERMARKET in Stanway has chosen Essex Air Ambulance as its latest charity partner. Staff and customers at Sainsbury’s chose the charity, which will benefit from a number of fundraising activities throughout the year. Jane Gurney, executive director
