SO, whether you or a relative were there when the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the building in 1960, or if you just have cherished memories from studying there, making lifelong friends or even meeting your future husband or wife, the College would love to hear from you. Your stories, pictures and even video will form part of a new celebratory exhibition, some images will also be shared online. Please name the people in the images where possible.
FROM Wednesday 12th March until the end of April, woodland management work will begin to thin out key areas of the woods, which have become overgrown with sycamore trees during the last century. Sycamore spreads quickly when unmanaged, and leads to other tree, plant and animal species being pushed out – clearing sycamore in key areas over the next three winters will open up the woods for the benefit people and wildlife.
THE Rotary Club of Thurrock Gateway welcomed 10-year-old Monika Jones (Daughter of Member Liz Jones) to their meeting on Monday evening (3rd March 2014) at The Park Inn By Radisson, North Stifford. The most enterprising youngster had hand crafted book marks, pencil top decorations, grips & biscuits and then sold them to her school chums and in the process raised £30.95 towards Rotary Club charities.
The 14 young people who make up Team 6 are all aged between 16 and 24 and raised the money to help finish some of the building work for the Karis-May Darling Community building in Corringham Park so the Karis-May Darling Foundation can open it as soon as possible. On Wednesday,19 February the team finished their sponsored walk from the park to the Civic Offices where they met Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Tony Fish (pictured).
A LOCAL woman and author will be speaking about her journey of trying to make sense of her abuse by her stepfather, and discuses the consequences of that abuse later this month. Thurrock Council’s library service and the South Ockendon Centre have arranged tghat Sharon McGovern, local author of Afraid will be at the centre in Derry Avenue on Thursday, 13 March at 7.30pm.
THURROCK Council’s transport portfolio holder has thanked a local bus firm for “rescuing” people trapped by the shutting down of the Tilbury Ferry last week. Cllr Andy Smith explained: “There was a problem with the gangway to the ferry at the Tilbury side of the crossing on Friday last week (28 February).”
AT the Thurrock Arts Council (TAC) meeting on Monday February 25th, Peggy Randle, on her retirement, was given the honour of becoming Vice President. Peggy was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers by duel acting chairmen, Vic Gray and Mike Rawlinson. This was given in recognition of her work for the TAC.
THE return of public health responsibilities to local councils is already showing results, says Thurrock’s health portfolio holder Barbara Rice. She was praising the Eat Better, Start Better programme which involved the public health and early years teams rolling out the initiative across the borough.
THERE are several ways in which groups and associations can get arts funding from the lottery. Arts Council England (ACE) are sending one of their advisors to Thurrock to help you apply. Lisa Elmer – ACE Relationship Manager for Thurrock will be at Purfleet on Monday 10th March for a public presentation at 6.30pm. Lisa will advise on the different funds, how much is available, and how you can apply.
THE DULCET tones of local saxophonist, Andy Webb entertained diners at The Oriental Pan-Asian restaurant in Chafford Hundred. Well known tracks played included Feelings by Morris Albert, I Just Called by Stevie Wonder, Wings Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler and many more.
ON Friday (21 February) Magistrates at Basildon fined a Grays woman because she had failed to clear up her council house back garden. Terrie King, of Lenthall Avenue, admitted failing “to remove an accumulation of rubbish in her garden that was causing harbourage and attraction to vermin” and not acting on a notice by Thurrock Council’s environmental protection team.
THEIR next bar-setting extravaganza for March 2014 sees the team attempting the dramatic piece 'Trainspotting', a hard-hitting difficult and often frowned upon piece of multicultural art with a disturbing subject matter. Another challenge for the crew. WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND NUDITY.
THIS Sunday, 2nd March, sees the 86th Academy Awards taking place in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and the organisers of the Thurrock International Film Festival are not missing out on the biggest night in cinema. Benjamin Scarsbrook and Natalie Williams will be live tweeting the Oscars from start to, bleary-eyed 5am, finish! And they invite you to join in.
NGAGE, the community organisation and Volunteer Centre for Thurrock are celebrating after winning the 2014 Mayor's Award at the recent Thurrock Civic Awards held...
