OVERFLOWING with contradictions, audiences at Colchester Folk Club are in for a treat on Monday when Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman come to town. The duo’s style of folk has been hailed as addictive “powerhouse Irish dance-music” with shots of
THE Gazette will be one of the star attractions when comedian Dave Spikey takes to the stage. That’s because stories from local newspapers are a key element to his new tour. It all started with his fascination with newspapers and the
EVER googled your own name? Of course you have, but for psychedelic folk legend Simon Finn, it was the turning point in a career, which first started in the late Sixties. Then he was “just a child” with dreams of making a career as a musician. That
The Hole in the Wall, Balkerne Gate, Colchester. 01206 576392 THE Hole in the Wall has to be one of the town’s most historic pubs. For years it has been the centre of various cool scenes and I know for a fact for quite some time Dermot O
MORE north Essex pensioners could receive free care in their own homes under national plans unveiled today. The Government has announced its final legislative package before the General Election in the Queen's Speech. Pledges to provide
Essex University's Human Rights Centre is getting a prize from the Queen. Its work promoting and protecting human rights across the globe has won it the Queen's Anniversary Prize. It will be presented at Buckingham Palace by the Queen
A BARBER whose shop was damaged when burglars tried to break in has criticised Colchester’s CCTV system. The crooks did £200 damage when they attempted to kick in the front door of Something for the Weekend Sir, by Scheregate Steps, on Saturday night
CINDERELLA left her ugly sisters at home to help sell charity Christmas cards. The star of the Mercury Theatre’s production made a rare appearance at the Colchester Library. The heroine was helping to promote Colchester Cards for Good Causes, which
With the greatest of respect, I feel I must question the chairman of governors at Philip Morant School over her recent press release. How can digging up a public, grassed open space and replacing it with tarmac to create little more than a gated
Your article on the league tables regarding complaints against surgeries (Gazette, November 12) does not tell the whole story and can be very misleading. I have listed some of the things you have missed out in your report. 1. If you take just
Has fish had its chips (Gazette, November 13)? Humans represent the most cruel, uncivilised animals ever to inhabit the planet. Fish are our friends, not food – go vegetarian! Fish are our fellow citizens, with scales and fins. I would never
A shopper in Wilkinson’s, Colchester, on Thursday about 1pm left a bag with her shopping. As I was behind her in the queue, I tried to catch up with her outside, but as I have difficulty in walking I was too late. If you ring me, you can collect
I have noticed a dramatic drop in the number of people visiting the local pubs and clubs in Clacton over the last 18 months or so. I’m not alone in noticing this, I’m sure, but it’s sad to see. I can remember when some pubs were ten-deep at
Moves are afoot to make Colchester a World Heritage Site and a “City of Culture”, on top of the official council policy of making the town a “prestigious regional centre”. Does anyone think these laudable aims are likely to be achieved, if Colchester
Three new dates have been announced for light up a life services in aid of Colchester's St Helena Hospice. Halstead,Mersea and Walton will host events when members of the public make a donation to the charity to remember a loved one. This is represented
A SOLDIER who faces up to 10 years detention for speaking out against the war in Afghanistan will continue to be held in custody in Colchester. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton faces trial on five charges surrounding his role in an anti-war demonstration
A PARAMEDIC who left a father to try and resuscitate his dying son was today struck off. Alan MacFarlane failed to start basic life support on eight-year-old Harry Sherman, who had been suffering from breathing problems at his home in Lethe
OPERATION Christmas Child is in full swing. The annual appeal organises thousands of boxes, filled with small gifts, and sends them to needy children across the world. For many, the shoeboxes filled with pens, colouring books, toothbrushes, stickers
HOLY charity Batman! The caped crusader and Robin swapped their Batmobile for a bus as part of a drive to raise money for the BBC’s Children in Need telethon appeal. Bus passengers in Colchester found themselves being driven around by a motley crew
A MUCH-LOVED theatre has been transformed into a bigger and better venue, thanks to a cash boost. The £800,000 development project has transformed the Lakeside Theatre, at the University of Essex, into a new, contemporary theatre. It
HALSTEAD TOWN defied the odds to force an FA Vase replay against Ridgeons League premier division side Wroxham. Jody Brown’s side endured a three-hour journey to Norfolk for the rearranged second-round tie, with everything stacked against them. They
THE number of paramedics who have been assaulted while answering 999 calls in Essex has more than doubled in the past year. Ambulance crews reported 24 assaults, up from 11 the year before. Of the six counties covered by the East of England Ambulance
Defensive duo Gareth McAuley and Tommy Smith should be fit and available for Ipswich Town’s home date with Sheffield Wednesday. Former skipper McAuley has recovered from the thigh problem that kept him out of Northern Ireland’s weekend friendly with
Midfield dynamo Kem Izzet will be given a special injection in a bid to boost his flagging fitness levels. The long-serving Colchester United player has been laid low with a virus which has sidelined him for several weeks. The 29-year-old has played
IF I was ever to find myself in a fight, I would be more Bruce Forsyth than Bruce Lee. I needed to toughen up. So I accepted an invitation to visit the SD School of Martial Arts, on Moorside, Colchester, to see how their new urban defence class could
A NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch-style-group could be set up in to help keep vandals out of a Colchester Ministry of Defence firing range. Footpath campaigners have mooted the idea for the Middlewick Ranges as an alternative to Ministry of Defence proposals to
A WOMAN was taken to hospital after the car she was travelling in flipped on its roof. The male driver, in his early 20s, was unharmed in the incident which took place in Layer Road, Abberton, about 10pm on Tuesday. Police closed the
BOSSES at fast-food restaurant McDonald’s have splashed out nearly £500,000 on a refit of a Colchester branch. The restaurant, in Cowdray Avenue, now has plush leather seats and improved wheelchair access. Boss Cas Morehen said he hoped the upgrade
