Archive

  • Bowie's high praise for Fanfarlo

    THEY’RE David Bowie’s new favourite band and have just finished touring with Snow Patrol. Now Fanfarlo are about to demonstrate why they are attracting such a prestigious line-up of fans with a gig at the Colchester Arts Centre this weekend. Following

  • Preview weekend heralds arrival of charity May Fair

    IT’S all go for this year’s Wivenhoe May Fair, but if you can’t wait until the bank holiday, organisers have a few gigs to whet your appetites. A series of warm up gigs and fundraising events will be taking place this weekend spread around the pubs in

  • Line up for ska-funk night

    ESSEX Rocks is back this weekend with another line-up of local bands. Taking place at Top Bar at Essex University the bands include Gargamel and Goliath, Curly Circus and Red Faced Robot for a special ska and funk night. It follows a whole series of

  • AloneMe returns to revel in album glory

    THEY are one of the county’s most popular groups and they make a more than welcome return to the AcoustiCity club night at the Headgate Theatre. AloneMe originally started out as duo, Sarah Springett from Maldon, and David Booth, from Great Leighs, before

  • Adaptation promises funny show for kids

    IT’S a story that was written to get one boy to read. But now Wagstaffe the Wind-Up Boy is about to entertain hundreds of youngsters in Colchester in a theatrical adaptation of the work about to take place at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Wagstaffe

  • Mediaeval Baebes’ unique sound on its way to Essex venue

    A UNIQUE band of musicians are performing at the High Barn. The Mediaeval Baebes will perform at the Great Bardfield venue next Wednesday as part of a five date UK tour. It coincides with the launch of their sixth studio album, Illumination, which has

  • Get ready to rock at celebration of metal

    THEY will be rocking out at Essex University this weekend with a special metal night. The Deranged Live Metal Night takes place in the Level 2 bar on the Wivenhoe Park campus with Colchester’s freshest and busiest heavy metal quintet, Sower. As well

  • This cafe's full English breakfast is in a class of its own

    The Food Company cafe, London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, 01268 732622 THE first rule of dads’ club is you don’t talk about dads’ club. The second rule is you most definitely don’t write about it, but then I’ve never been a stickler for rules

  • Cafe is to start accepting euros

    FAMILIES who can not afford to go abroad this summer can spend their Euros in a Colchester cafe instead. Minstrels Cafe in Osborne Street has started accepting the currency, and one euro will be worth £1. With the exchange rate close to an all-time

  • Double blow for Gunleet Sands wind farm

    THE project to create a wind farm off Clacton has suffered a blow, with the news the company building it has gone into liquidation. Aberdeen-based Oceanteam, which specialises in offshore construction support vessels and barges, is being wound

  • The Echo takes the plunge to check on pool safety

    COUNCIL officials are investigating an incident in which a seven-year-old girl was stuck underwater at Canvey’s Waterside Farm swimming pool, when her hair was sucked into a vent. Reporter PAUL OFFORD put on his trunks and went swimming at Waterside

  • Colchester: Muggers kick man in the head

    A GROUP of robbers knocked a man to the floor before repeatedly kicking him in the head and legs. It happened at about 9.40pm yesterday as the victim was walking along Flagstaff Road, near the garrison, in Colchester. The 27-year-old, who is from

  • Claire didn't need a leap of faith to help out Essex churches

    CHURCHES come in all shapes, sizes and ages, but in Essex they all share the same friend. The Friends of Essex Churches Trust raises money to fund repairs to churches across the county and into East London, whether they are Church of England, Roman Catholic

  • Parkeston: Village cordoned off after chemical spill

    EMERGENCY services have cordoned off a village after a large chemical spill. Parkeston Quay and Ramsey Roundabout were closed by police while the fire services deal with the incident, which happened yesterday at about 8.40am. Ambulance

  • Inquiry call over waste plant

    BRAINTREE Council’s leader is urging the Government to call in plans for a massive waste facility at Rivenhall and hold a public inquiry. Graham Butland has written to Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, urging her

  • Why isn't their home fixed six months after the fire?

    A RETIRED couple left homeless when fire ripped through a neighbour’s house are still in temporary accommodation six months later. The couple’s son, Terry Dix, has hit out at the organisation which manages Colchester’s council housing for failing to

  • Welcome for church's new look

    A CONTROVERSIAL church facelift has won the backing of worshippers – in the face of concerns centuries of tradition were being banished forever. Plans to strip out the wooden pews from Lawford’s St Mary the Virgin Church, to make way for modern seating

  • Lambert: changes are essential

    Paul Lambert has said it is essential he makes changes if Colchester United are to be a force in Coca-Cola League One. The U’s boss (pictured) has held meetings with each of his squad members, as he plans for the forthcoming campaign. Some players have

  • De Silva does it with bat and ball

    AN all-round display of high quality by Greg De Silva helped Colchester and East Essex successfully begin their Shepherd Neame Essex League premier division campaign. Colchester beat Woodford Wells by 64 runs at Castle Park to give them the best possible

  • Josh breaks Eight Ash Green record

    Neither a slow start nor a painful blow to the shoulder could stop Josh Lennard-Jones re-writing the Eight Ash Green history books in the PDQ Cars North Essex League. Lennard-Jones struck an unbeaten 116 in his team’s division four clash with North Springfield

  • Williams blasts century in draw

    Namibian international Craig Williams blasted 154 not out but Clacton had to settle for a draw against Godmanchester. It was a high-scoring day at Vista Road on Saturday. Godmanchester opening pair Michael Lloyd and Wayne Bradley put together an EAPL

  • Pegasus win Thornavon Cup

    An early setback didn’t deter AFC Pegasus as they returned from a first-minute deficit to win the Thornavon Knockout Cup with a 3-1 defeat of Real BTS. BTS made a great start with a lob over the keeper into the back of the Pegasus net in the opening

  • Tendring throws lifeline to keep river patrols afloat

    VITAL river patrols have been kept afloat. Tendring Council is paying £11,000 for Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners to continue its river patrols, after Colchester Council cut the service from its budget. The money will fund 300 hours of river patrols

  • Everson's day to remember

    Russ Everson had a day to remember – in more ways than one – as Frinton secured a thrilling tie from their division one encounter with Mildenhall. The coastal club’s skipper was unable to be there because he was attending his sister’s wedding

  • Best foot forward!

    TOTS have tramped three times round a park to raise nearly £1,000 for a good cause. Youngsters from the Avenue Playgroup, based in Wivenhoe, circled the town’s King George Playing Field as part of the Barnardo’s Big Toddle, an annual national fundraising

  • Ready, steady, learn!

    BUDDING Jamie Olivers and Delia Smiths had the chance to get baking and even devise their own cookbook. Pupils with learning difficulties at Edith Borthwick School, Braintree, and Southview School, Witham, have been cooking up creations as part of a

  • Politicians come clean about their expenses

    THE Gazette can reveal details of MPs’ allowance claims as the storm over the expenses scandal continues. We offered MPs the chance to take part in our amnesty and own up to what they have claimed before it is officially made public. North Essex Tory

  • Malaya war veteran calls for official recognition

    A VETERAN of a “forgotten war” is calling for his and other soldiers’ sacrifice to be officially recognised. More than 2,200 British and Commonwealth troops were killed and another 2,300 wounded in the Malayan Emergency which started in 1948

  • Brightlingsea marina development gets there slowly

    A NEW development to transform a small town is in a state of limbo after developers revealed they had been unable to sell some of the 250 flats and town houses being built. Work on the Waterside Marina, in Brightlingsea, to build flats, town houses,

  • Long-serving firefighters rewarded at medal presentation

    ELEVEN men and one woman from north Essex have been rewarded for their long service to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. The group, who are made up of firefighters and staff, were given awards for 20 years’ service. The Long Service