NORMAN Coker is one of Essex's most respected artists, whose 60 year career has produced over 3000 paintings which have been exhibited internationally and include a work hanging in the royal collection (which Norman delivered in person to Buckingham Palace).
"WE deplore the recent hate-mongering headlines (in the Thurrock Enquirer) calling Travellers 'scum' and suggesting that the UK's 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers are all responsible for one pile of rubbish left behind after a single unauthorised encampment. That kind of language does not sit well in a country that considers itself civilised."
A SENIOR Thurrock Conservative councillor has called on Thurrock Council to look at the amount of taxpayer's money spent on organisations such as Trust and ngage before slashing the budget of the Citizen's Advice Bureau.
POLICE are advising motorists to avoid the anticlockwise carriageway of the M25 between junctions 28 and 27 following a two vehicle road traffic collision which has shut two lanes. Officers were alerted at 12.42pm today to reports of a collision between a Rover 75 and a lorry.
COME October, 13 of Aveley’s young people will be setting sail and manning the good ship Faramir. For three days our young people will take over the running of the Faramir and learn some of the skills needed to safely navigate open water under sail. Faramir, a Ketch with a length of 22.35m and a breadth of 5.26, was designed by Marine Architect David Cannell in 1982, specifically for use as a sail training vessel.
THE incident commander reported that the heap was 50% alight when they arrived. Crews used one main jet and two hose reel jets to tackle the fire which was extinguished by 16:13hrs.
POLICE, other emergency services and local authorities are dealing with severe weather conditions in the south east of the county. Heavy rainfall in Southend, Rayleigh and Castle Point districts and Wickford and The village of Ramsden Heath has left some roads impassable with flood water.
A SERIES of events aimed at young people and families is being organised by Thurrock Council and its partners through the school summer break. A series of free outdoor Parkour and Freerunning sessions for 11- to 19-year-olds is being organised by Team Traceur.
IT WAS like the scene from any number of movies. At times it was a bit War of the Worlds and at other times like Independence Day as the sky was twisted and torn in a very dramatic style.
FLOODING was holding up traffic at the North Stifford roundabout off the A13 but apart from that and a few traumatised little dogs, life seems to have got back to normal.
FIRE CREWS tackled a blaze on board a 20,000 tonne ship at Carrier Berth 4 in the port of Tilbury. Crews arriving at the scene at 2pm reported that a JCB is well alight inside the ship and close to a cargo of wood chippings. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used one main jet to tackle the blaze and to damp down the wood chippings to prevent spread.
FIREFIGHTERS using two hose reels and five beaters to tackle a grass fire with flames spread across a two acre field.The location was Buckles Lane, South Ockendon
A13 Essex - One lane closed, queueing traffic and long delays on A13 Stanford-Le-Hope By-Pass westbound in Orsett between Orsett Cock and Tilbury, because of resurfacing work and a fuel spillage. Congestion to Five Bells Interchange.
M25 Kent - M25 closed and delays anticlockwise at A282, Dartford River Crossing toll booths, because of an accident involving four lorries. Congestion to J2, A2 (Darenth Interchange).
