ESSEX’S Black History Month looks set to be bigger and better than ever this time around. A programme of music, discussion, film, dance and art has been organised for the area to mark the worldwide celebration of African and Afro-Caribbean culture, which
HE’S worked with some of the biggest names in the music business, including Victoria Beckham and Craig David, now soul and UK garage singer Robbie Craig is set to wow clubbers in Colchester. Robbie will be at Route nightclub tomorrow at a special Girls
COLCHESTER’S diverse heritage will be the centre point of a weekend of events taking place as part of Gift. Directed and managed by Dorian Kelly, of Illuminati, Colchester’s Global Heritage event is completely free and takes place tomorrow
COLCHESTER’S airborne medics celebrated their birthday, as they pass from recovery from last year’s tour of Afghanistan to preparation for next year’s return. 16 Medical Regiment held a parade and family day yesterday, to mark ten years since the unit
As the portfolio holder responsible, can I correct a number of factual errors in the reporting of the situation regarding the Colchester secondary schools reorganisation? 1) The position of the cabinet and the council, as shown in council records
Firstly, I would like to express my condolences to Angela McGee and her family on the tragic death of her son Jason, who, it would appear, has taken his own life due to the affects of bipolar disorder. Mrs McGee refers to bipolar disorder
Alternative uses for councils’ green slop buckets for people’s kitchens: Gordon Brown’s new, improved military helmets for Afghanistan; a Tommy Cooper hat; stage props for Bill and Ben (Hilary Benn, that is); a paint bucket; and a plant pot.
I read with interest your article regarding the new Colchester Waitrose and staff parking. It is not just the residents of St Andrew’s Avenue and St Andrew’s Gardens who are affected by the opening of this supermarket and where the staff are
HUNDREDS of poems and artworks hung on trees by schoolchildren to help build community spirit have been destroyed by drunken teens. Children, aged from five to ten, at St John’s, Colchester, wrote and designed poems to display on trees at St Christopher
A DENTIST who was allowed to keep working after telling a patient to take a potentially lethal drug overdose has been suspended amid fresh allegations. Colchester-based Dr Sayed Hossain Faghany is serving an 18-month interim suspension while
A CHARITY has slammed crazy “health and safety” laws which mean police cannot supply them with bikes that need repairing – because they need repairing. Re-Cycle, based in Moorside, Colchester, collects old bikes, repairs and overhauls them before shipping
A GARDENER is going for gold in a contest to design a garden for the 2012 Olympics. Rachel Read, from Layer-de-la-Haye, has reached the shortlist of six in the Royal Horticultural Society competition. If she wins an online public vote, she will see
A COUNCILLOR has hit out at his “greedy” County Hall colleagues for spending £79,000 on food. Earlier this year, the Gazette revealed £79,442 had been spent on meals and drinks for county councillors at the members’ restaurant, at County Hall, in Chelmsford
A TEENAGER has been making friends in high places. Jack Rivers, 16, met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the Labour Party Conference, in Brighton, this week. Jack, of Wickham St Paul, had a call from the premier’s office when he was at Hedingham School
FIREFIGHTERS from across north Essex have protested against changes to the way the fire service is run. The first stage of plans to overhaul Essex County Fire and Rescue Service came into force yesterday at Colchester, Chelmsford and Harlow fire stations
Colchester United's transfer-listed midfielder David Perkins has joined Coca-Cola League Two side Chesterfield on a month's loan. The former Rochdale man handed in a transfer request in August as he wanted a move back up north and will now link up with
Roy Keane insists his struggling Ipswich Town side must not get “bogged down” by their position at the foot of the Championship. The Blues are still without a win this season and slipped into the basement position after drawing 3-3 at Sheffield United
Robbie Cowling has urged Colchester United followers to put the Layer Road years behind them. And the U’s chairman wants them to embrace an exciting new era for the U’s. Colchester are hoping for another bumper home crowd tomorrow for the visit of Huddersfield
Colchester United’s on-going quest to receive compensation for the departure of former manager Paul Lambert looks likely to end in a tribunal, according to chairman Robbie Cowling. The U’s have been seeking to come to an agreement with Coca-Cola League
BUDDING artists impressed a county councillor with their canvases and postcards. Bonnie Hart, chairman of Essex County Council, visited the Platform art gallery, at Mistley station, to see the canvas art prints made by the group of eight to 19-year-olds
THE company redeveloping a former school fears it could miss out on a £3million Government grant. Hallmark Developments is building 87 retirement homes, a 60-bed care unit, and a community centre, at Priory Hall, the site of the former girls’ grammar
THE closure of two shops in Colchester town centre has been mourned as “two more holes in the town”. It is understood at least 12 jobs will be lost with the closure of Blacks, in High Street, and Millets, in Short Wyre Street. Seven
ESSEX firefighters have flown to Sumatra to help with the aftermath of the earthquake. Members of the UK International Search and Rescue team are helping in the search for survivors after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday. A
Labelling Jaywick as a “special case” would be patronising to residents, according to leading councillors. Tendring Council’s community leaderships and partnerships committee criticised Essex County Council for spending £7million on Brentwood
ROY Keane can win over the “vocal minority” who feel he is on borrowed time at Ipswich Town. That’s the view of Blues chief executive Simon Clegg, responding to mounting pressure on the former Manchester United legend. Keane’s side have failed to win
A MEDICAL student who is running a half marathon for cleft palate research has exceeded her £600 target. Emily Shrimpton, of Wickham St Paul, was born with a cleft palate, but had years of operations to minimise its effects. The 22-year-old is gearing
CAB drivers are being warned not to leave cash unattended in their cars. The reminder comes after thieves smashed the front offside window of a silver Citroen Estate minicab, and stole a black leather bumbag, containing £450, which had been left in the
COUPLES who tied the knot in a church now used as an arts centre and music venue were invited along to an event to celebrate marriage. More than 50 people who got married in the old St Mary’s at the Walls church, now Colchester Arts Centre, revisited
RESIDENTS have been urged to shop car tax dodgers on a special hotline. Tendring Council has been given new powers to tow away untaxed vehicles found on roads and car parks. It already had the power to remove abandoned vehicles, but now it is targeting
A FUNDRAISING duo are back on track for their 11th charity cycling challenge. Norman Starrs and Keith Hockley were forced to postpone a 300-mile, six-day ride around South Africa earlier this month because of a lack of fellow riders. Now they are rescheduling
A CLACTON couple who met at a local dance have waltzed their way though 50 years of marriage. Joan and Brian Baines, who have lived in Watson Road all their married life, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the weekend with a surprise event
WHILE others will get dressed up for a big night out this New Year’s Eve, Robin Brown will be spending the night in a lorry. That’s because the BT worker will be heading for one of the most poverty-stricken parts of Europe, with temperatures of about
A CHARITY is holding a mistletoe ball to raise money. Colchester-based Headway Essex, which cares for people with brain injuries and their families, is holding the event at the Fennes Estate, Bocking, on November 27. Guests will enjoy a three-course
A CLACTON couple, who met through their love of showbusiness, are in the spotlight now for their golden wedding anniversary. Bob and Rita Young, of Coolyne Way, Great Clacton, have enjoyed a lifetime of entertainment together staging charity shows and
NORTH Essex MP Bernard Jenkin has backed a campaign calling for more affordable homes in rural areas. The Conservative MP signed a Commons Early Day Motion supporting the campaign by the National Housing Federation. He said: “I am concerned Government
