The sculptor of Fallen Deodar, one of the sculptures on display, discusses her background, her practice, and the making processes behind her tranquil, beautiful sculptures. Inspired by, and made from, natural forms, Sutton’s work is on display at various key institutions, including the National Portrait Gallery.

She lives and works by the Dart Estuary in Devon, an environment which only encourages the peaceful nature of Sutton’s practice.

Sculpture at High House Production Park features one sculpture by each of the five artists installed throughout the Production Park’s varied landscape.

A series of curator-led guided tours, artist talks and workshops will also be on offer throughout the duration of the exhibition to encourage the community to enjoy fully the sculptures on display and to experience the various activities that take place at the Production Park. The exhibition and events have been generously supported by the Arts Council England, the Royal Opera House and Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

Sculpture at High House Production Park is the first major exhibition on the site which is also home to the Royal Opera House Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop and the new National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural, opening later in 2012. High House Production Park hopes for the exhibition to advance the charitable aims of furthering education, fostering community development and cohesion and engagement with the arts, heritage and culture.

High House Production Park is also delighted to be able to support an apprentice programme that has seen four apprentices from White Light Ltd work on lighting the displays at the formal launch reception.

Will McKee, Trustee of the High House Production Park said: “High House Production Park is leading the way for the Creative and Cultural Sector in Thurrock and we are thrilled to be showcasing five top international sculptures on site.

“The art work will enhance the landscape of the Park and really add to the creative feel that spreads throughout this exciting project.”

Helen Lax, Regional Director, Arts Council England, East, said: “The exhibition of these high-quality sculptures demonstrates High House Production Park’s continued commitment to fostering great art and culture in the region. We are particularly pleased to see that this exhibition is providing opportunities for young people to have some exciting hands-on experience in the sector.”

Details of all Sculpture at High House Production Park events can be viewed at www.highhouseproductionpark.co.uk, where you can also find details on High House Production Park’s other services and facilities.

There was a lovely warm atmosphere as the band played on and the public sang their hearts out.

All the family are welcome to celebrate the festive season with Carol Singing accompanied by the Tilbury Brass Band, the Christmas Tree lights switch on ceremony and a special performance from the Thurrock Youth Orchestra.

The event will see the first High House Production Park Christmas Tree erected and Jackie Doyle-Price MP is the very special guest who will have the honour of turning on the Lights.

Revellers are invited to dress up in their favourite festive gear to enjoy singing, dancing and merriment. Carol singing will start at 6pm with the Tilbury Brass Band, finishing with the Thurrock Youth Orchestra performance between 6.45pm and 7.15pm. Your MC for the night will be Chairman of the Thurrock Arts Council, John Scowen.

Jackie Doyle-Price MP said: “I am delighted to be turning on the very first Christmas Tree lights at High House Production Park. Watching the transformation and the emergence of a new creative industries cluster here in Purfleet is very exciting. That it is being done in partnership with the local community makes it more special”.

Will McKee, Chairman of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, said: “The High House Production Park is a fantastic and exciting project for Thurrock with the Royal Opera House Set Production Workshop onsite and the National Skills Academy opening early next year.

“We are delighted to celebrate Christmas with the community and look forward to sharing this special occasion with them.”

The Education team in Thurrock delivers a wide range of inspiring community and education projects such as the Thurrock Community Chorus, Youth Arts Leadership and Arts Award in Thurrock and South Essex. Over the last five years, it has offered many hundreds of local Thurrock residents and students across South Essex exciting opportunities to learn new skills and become involved in different aspects of the arts from performance to the production and technical sides of theatre.

YT spoke to one of the new intakes of apprentices, Jamie Ashwell to see how the former Grays school and Palmer’s College student is getting on and what he has learned and achieved so far.

Purfleet=based ex-cop Keith Gale, 52 — now called Karen — was filmed undergoing the 2½-hour surgery as part of a Channel 4 documentary to be shown after the 9pm watershed reports The Sun.

Karen, who was married and has a grown-up daughter, said: “It has been a long journey since I began hormone replacement therapy and I hope my story will inspire others.”

The one-time trucker, of Purfleet, Essex, had the op on the NHS in August. She added: “They are going to show some parts of the operation after the watershed, some will be edited out.”

But campaigners Mediawatch-UK said: “Many people won’t want to see any of this type of surgery. Some of these scenes may not be appropriate for broadcasting. It is vital that Channel 4 make it clear what viewers can expect.”

Girls Will Be Boys and Boys Will Be Girls, which starts this month, follows seven transgender patients aged 22-55. Producer Helen Richards said: “It hasn’t been edited yet. It’s impossible to say what’s in and what’s out.” The series was made by Twenty Twenty Television, behind Generation XXL about obese children. Channel 4 also aired post mortems in The Autopsy in 2002.

High House Production Park welcomes baking fans and lovers of Halloween with the Inaugural High House Production Park Apple Day and Green Halloween in October.

Fans of the Great British Bake off will be able to show off their skills and compete with the community at the HHPP Apple Day baking competition while the whole family will be able to enjoy Apple Bobbing, Apple Crafts and an Apple Hunt as well as Heritage Tours of the High House site.

People of all ages are welcome on the day which starts at 12pm and finishes at 3pm on Saturday 22nd October 2011 or if you are interested in entering the baking competition please contact Rebecca Lownds on 01375 362033 for a registration form.

On Tuesday October 25th and Wednesday October 26th super stories, sparkly stickers and scary masks will all be part of the excitement in a fun-packed spooky programme of half-term activities for children delivered by Creative Blast.

These fun packed sessions will include storytelling, drama and crafts activity enabling children (and parents) to create masks and Halloween costumes from recycled materials! There are two sessions each day, 9.30 – 12.30 and 1.30 – 4.30, each session costs £2.00 per child. Numbers are limited so go along to the High House Production Park reception as soon as possible to pick up your tickets.

Paul Hellen, Operations Manager for HHPP, said: “High House Production Park is a family friendly facility and we’re delighted to hold these events. It promises to be a great few days, I am getting my recipe book ready and can’t wait to make some scary masks.”

Less so, has been the struggle of David Kerr to “live a normal” life following the harrowing ordeal.

Scots-born David, 45, now lives in Purfleet and is determined to help others who have suffered from poor mental health.

David is launching a self-help group called the Journeyman’s Self Help Group that is set to take place at Benfleet Methodist Church on Monday, February 14, 2011, between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.

Once it is established, David will be starting a group in the Thurrock area. It will be £3 to take part and teas and biscuits will be provided.

To book a place, call David on 01708 864997 or 07904 470156. Alternatively, visit www.theplanetmadness.co.uk.

The work of art students at South Essex College is on display at the moment at the hide in the Rainham marshes RSPB centre.

YT went along to see the excellent exhibition and discuss it with the RSPB education officer, Brona Doyle.

A total of 13 winners were selected from 55 finalists. BBC Newsnight economics editor Paul Mason hosted this year’s awards event which focussed on regeneration projects which have improved the social, economic or environmental wellbeing of places and/or communities.

These awards follow the Production Park’s success at the RICS East of England Awards event held earlier this year. The Production Park is the UK’s first national centre of excellence for backstage technical skills, crafts and production for the performing arts and live music sectors.

The Production Park is home to the Royal Opera House Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop as well as the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills, whose new training facility will open in May 2012. The Park is located in Purfleet on the site of the 16th century High House Farm. It covers a 14 acre site and combines the use of 21st century design and construction technologies set within the historic context provided by the refurbished listed farm buildings. The Park includes a walled garden and play area and provides meeting space and conferencing facilities for community groups and businesses.

The High House Production Park is a high profile project delivered by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation. The Park is set to become an internationally recognised hub for the creative industries, and will help raise Thurrock’s profile on the world stage.

Will McKee, Chairman Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation said: “We are absolutely delighted that the High House Production Pak has received this recognition. The Production Park is of strategic importance to Thurrock and is a truly transformational project that will have an enduring and positive impact on the regeneration of Thurrock.

“The 55 finalists were drawn from public and private sector projects across the United Kingdom, so for the Production Park to be recognised in this way is a great achievement for the Development Corporation and its partners.”

Purfleet-based, Urban All Starz Dance Group had been practising for months for their big chance in front of the judges that included Ashley Banjo from Diversity.

But problems began when the producers told them they needed an e-mail from their schools confirming they had authorised absences.

E-mails were sent to the three schools: West Thurrock, Purfleet and Holy Cross primary. The first two schools quickly responded confirming that they were aware of the absences and had authorised them.

Holy Cross in Daiglen Drive, South Ockendon replied that the pupils were out of school without permission and so no authorisation could be given.

Parent, Sandra Kerin takes up the story: “The producers turned to us and said they could not go on. The kids were heartbroken and in tears.

“All they wanted to do was dance and the school took their dream away.”

The remaining eight completed the audition but they failed they did not get through.

Asked why they did not get permission in the first place, Ms Kerin said: “We asked but were told that they would not be given permission so we took the chance and came unstuck.

“There was a hard-heartedness and unwillingness to co-operate right from the beginning.

YT spoke to Holy Cross headteacher, Maria Shepherd.

She said: “I was enforcing policy as laid down by the governors.”

By co-incidence, Diversity’s Perri Kiely is a former pupil of Holy Cross.

The dance troupe have regrouped and will be performing at Trust’s Black History Month event at the Thameside Theatre from 6pm to 9pm on Friday October 7th.

Thousands flocked to the two day sale that was a win-win for everyone. Many shoppers stayed on and enjoyed the lovely environs of the High House facility. On a lovely sunny morning, they surveyed the view and appreciated what a fascinating aspect of the country it was.

YT dropped in on Saturday afternoon and spoke to Head of Costumes, Mal Barton about the sale.

Decorated officer,PC Andy Lawrence has held the role of Community Liaison Officer for the last seven years, covering the Aveley, Belhus, Ockendon and West Thurrock and South Stifford wards, but it is claimed that under the new Essex Police Blueprint, he will be moved to a “back office post” in the Crime and Incident Management Bureau – a move which has angered local residents and politicians alike.

Conservative Ockendon councillor Amanda Arnold said, “It takes time and massive amount of effort to build up the number of high quality relationships that Andy has forged. His work has had a hugely positive effect on the community and he has become the public face of the police. We feel like the rug has been pulled from under our feet.”

Cllr Sue Gray who chairs the South Ockendon Residents Association agreed, adding, “We have been contacted by residents and community groups who are furious about this decision and want to know what they can do to make sure Andy stays.

“The posting notification states that officers have been “skills matched” to their new posts, but no officer had more contacts or had spent more time at community and multi agency meetings than Andy.”

A petition to keep PC Lawrence as part of the Neighbourhood Police Team has been launched by Ockendon Street Rep John Noon, and is expected to be presented to the Chief Constable at the meeting of Full Council on 21st September.

This year there were two extra categories — tallest sunflower, for the under 16s and a separate category for the sheltered housing complex Mulberry Drive — in the competition organised by Thurrock Council’s tenant participation team and the local housing office.

Gardens and balconies on the estate were the two long-standing categories.

The prize-giving was held at the Mulberry Drive complex on Wednesday (17 August) with Cllr Andy Smith, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for housing handing out the prizes.

This year saw many more residents entering the competition and joining Cllr Smith at the prize-giving.

The winner of the tallest sunflower was Mia Grover of Chieftan Drive, second place went to Connie Dean, also of Chieftan Drive.

The winner of best balcony was Steve Sampson from River Court with second place going to Victoria Hare of River Court.

The winner for best garden from Mulberry Drive Sheltered complex was Shelia Mead with June Winsor second.

The winner for best garden on the estate was Mrs Hopper from Chieftan Drive (Mr and Mrs Clough, also of Chieftan Drive were second).