History

A GRAYS man made a startling discovery while working on some floorboards at his home. David Dalton of Elm Road, Little Thurrock, found a small medallion with sporting figures on one side and some wording including “Children of Grays” and a date 1901.

IN MANY WAYS, it feels like a school that could be a hundred or a hundred and fifty years old but instead it is "just" fifty. But what a fifty years it has been! Two hundred of the school's finest gathered together at the Civic Hall to celebrate the past, the present and the future. There was an amazing medley of songs at the start with hits from Sept 1962,72,82,92,02 and 12.

Once again, there was a horde of interested visitors but many, this time, were drawn to the old railway station, that could, just could, be set for a rebirth.

On Saturday October 13th, the Essex Record Office and the Essex Cultural Diversity Project will be hosting Workers of the World Unite!, a special one-day celebration of Essex’s cultural diversity as part of Black History Month 2012.

Fifty-five-year-old Bragg has a music career spanning 30 years blending elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs. He was brought up in Barking and had travelled up and down the A13 so when challenged to write a road song “as good as Route 66” he produced the A13 Trunk Road To The Sea which names the towns on the road from Wapping to Southend and including Grays Thurrock on the way.

THERE IS CORNER of a Chadwell St Mary cemetery where a memorial stands in the memory of Neil Robin Wright. And the Tilbury man, who went west to seek his fortune, perished alongside many of his colleagues at Cantor Fitzgerald on September 11th, 2001 in New York City.

“We know that the battles in the Far East were fought in brutal and harsh circumstances and thousands of brave men lost their lives who came out from Great Britain and the British Commonwealth. This Remembrance Day demonstrates the sacrifices and terrible hardships endured by our brave soldiers, are acknowledged and appreciated by our grateful nation.

However, what made this day so very, very special for all those whose lives have centred around Bata for close to a century was the presence of Mr Charles Pignal, the great grandson of Tomas Bata. Staff and volunteers were deeply moved by both his grandmother’s personal messages, sent earlier in the day via email, and his presence, honouring both the family and the staff for their commitment to the organisation.

With the book priced at only £6.00, this is sure to be highly sought after and a fantastic addition to any supporters' collection.

This local Band entertained the residents by playing famous musical tunes from the 1960s onwards for half an hour which were throughly enjoyed by everyone. Thurrock Asian Association Bollywood dancing group of girls thrilled the audience with their artistic performance. This was followed by the singing of the Asian Adult Music Group who sang beautiful love songs in Asian Languages, much appreciated by everyone.

THERE IS ALWAYS such a sense of occasion in Orsett and the Diamond Jubilee was no exception as the whole of the high street was dominated by the street party.

IT HAS BEEN a busy few days, trying to document, film, photograph and write about nearly every diamond celebration in the borough.

YOU JUST KNEW that the Stanford-le-Hope community would have a sense of occasion and the Diamond Jubilee was to prove no exception.

IT WAS a wonderful occasion over in Chadwell St Mary as the residents of Seaborough Road put on a fantastic party. In many ways it was a throw back to 1977 but in other ways it shows what one street can do.

A BEACON AT Tilbury fort was on of 2600 lit to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen Elizabeth 2. The beacon was lit at 10.15pm on Monday night as part of a co-ordinated event across the country.