A DAD who lost his job with Vodafone has written a humorous book about call centre life. Duncan Stonehouse, 25, was one of 60 staff laid off when the communications giant closed its call-handling base in Wyncolls Road, Colchester, last year. Although
IF you need any help to mark the golden anniversary of the Fab Four, go to Colchester’s Charter Hall tomorrow. Celebrating 50 years of the world’s most famous group, the Magic of the Beatles is a two-hour spectacular. It recreates the live concert shows
YOU may leave the theatre, but the theatre never leaves you. Just ask Colchester director Wendy Smith. After a break of more than six years, Wendy is back with the Colchester Theatre Group, leading its members through their latest show. Wendy has lived
IN FRIDAY'S GAZETTE: Picture special on the amazing crowd scenes as H&M opened it doors at Colchester's former Woolies WIN six windows and a door worth almost £4,000 EXCLUSIVE: Violent burglar's elderly woman victim
FOOTBALL bosses have offered to end a row which has locked them out of their ground, by handing over £10,000 in backdated rent. Wivenhoe Town had been banned from entering Broad Lane by ground management company, Wivenhoe and District Sporting Facilities
COUNCIL bosses want Colchester town centre to change radically in decades to come. A new shopping centre, a focal point for anyone with an interest in the arts and clean, well-lit streets which are not gridlocked with vehicles are all on their wish-list
A FRUSTRATED shop owner in Colchester’s “kebab alley” has put in a bid to turn his stationery store into a takeaway. Steve Miller says the ongoing recession means he does not know when, or if, the forthcoming Vineyard Gate shopping centre will mean Miller
Colchester United are hoping that defender Paul Reid will still be able to play a part in their season run-in. The U's centre-half has experienced an injury-hit season, having recovered from a long-term knee injury. Reid has started
GOVERNMENT ministers have inspected the progress made by Essex soldiers in southern Afghanistan. During the recent Operation Moshtarak soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, which recruits locally, secured Khowshhal Kalay. Defence Secretary
LORD Hanningfield, former leader of Essex County Council, appeared in court yesterday charged with making false expenses claims. Wearing a grey suit, the 69-year-old appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court and said he would deny charges of
A Clacton man who stabbed a neighbour in a row over a dog has been jailed for eight and a half years. Graham Nesbitt, 34, formerly of Empire Court, Warwick Road, Clacton, denied attacking 48-year-old gas fitter Raymond Mayo, blaming it on two
I feel Great Tey Ward, in Colchester General Hospital, should be praised to the hilt. During the last two years, I have been on the ward six times, once for six weeks. My last visit was for three weeks, when I underwent major surgery, and returned
On January 22, you were kind enough to publish my letter seeking information about the multifarious health authorities. Five weeks have elapsed with no response of any kind from anyone – not even from our new “health boss” Dr Paul Watson. Does
It gave me a warm feeling inside as, in my car, I negotiated the many deep potholes currently awaiting repair along the Avenue of Remembrance in Colchester, to see the workmen putting down a nice, new, shiny surface on the littleused cycle track
As a former employee of Kent Blaxill for many years, based in Layer Road, I was shocked to read of their “closure” in your report in last Thursday’s Gazette, which referred to “the former Kent Blaxill site”. However, having rushed there in an
I have to admire the honesty of former Tory Ron Levy, who has decided to join UKIP following his berating of the Tory party. It just shows the new Colchester Tory leadership under Kevin Bentley and Dennis Willetts is rudderless and in disarray
I want to thank all the Mile End and Braiswick residents who made the effort to attend the North Station Masterplan consultation on Saturday. It was good to talk to many of you. The initial plans are certainly a start in trying to resolve the
Our council has asked for ideas as to how to make the people of Colchester “love” the Visual Arts Facility. My thoughts were, and still are, to be more positive in its presentation. True to form though, our so-called civic leaders, who should
Colchester United are expected to offer midfielder David Prutton a longer-term deal. The 28-year-old has made a positive impression for the U's after joining them from Coca-Cola League One rivals Leeds United, in January. He initially arrived on a deal
A FILM director from Colchester has won 30,000 euros to make a comedy flick for a prestigious festival. Toby Roberts plans to go on location in Wivenhoe to shoot the short film, about a young man who robs a post office. The 41-year-old
RESIDENTS are demanding better medical facilities to serve their fast-growing neighbourhood. Until 2003, there was a GP surgery at Hythe Community Centre, in Ventura Drive, Colchester. After standing empty for six years, the surgery space has now been
Essex County Cricket Club have confirmed they have held talks with New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori. Essex are seeking an overseas replacement for Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria who is only expected to be available for the first three months
The Indian Premier League is set to start and Graham Napier is hoping to make a bigger impact on the competition than he did last year. Essex all-rounder Napier is in the Mumbai Indians squad for the second year running and they begin their campaign
Goal king Daryl Murphy is enjoying a “new lease of life” at Ipswich Town, according to manager Roy Keane. The striker, on loan from Sunderland, netted twice in Tuesday’s 2-0 Championship success against Cardiff City at Portman Road. It took his tally
JOHN Ward believes Colchester United’s players will have something to prove this weekend. And the U’s number two fully expects a positive reaction from them at former club Carlisle United. Colchester’s disappointing display against Brighton and Hove
A FURIOUS father has slammed the 21-month prison sentence given to a man who left his son with brain damage. Barry Jervis was felled with one punch and left with serious head injuries after a night out with friends. He is unlikely to ever work or lead
A FOOTBALL club’s future is in doubt after they got the red card from using their home ground. The trust which manages Wivenhoe Town’s Broad Lane base has locked up the gates and claims it is owed £10,000 in rent. The cash-strapped side could face eviction
ANGEL Court, the home of Colchester Council's customer service centre, has been sold. Local developer City & Country Group has bought the High Street office. The council has reached a leaseback arrangement for the Customer Service Centre and the CCTV
AN MP who claimed his one-bedroom house in Colchester was his family home is being investigated over his parliamentary expenses, it was claimed today. A national newspaper said the Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal inquiry into Leyton and Wanstead
