A PAIR of prominent former councillors have made a triumphant return to Southend council while one of the longest-standing council members lost out. Former Conservative party leader James Courtenay is celebrating after winning the Chalkwell ward two years after his exit. While James Moyies, former Vote Leave regional director for the east of England, is also back after winning Shoebury ward. Mr Courtenay, who was also Southend’s education boss, dramatically lost his seat in 2019 after finishing behind both an Independent and a Labour candidate. He said: “I’m delighted to return to the council and it’s great that it’s for Chalkwell where I grew up.
May Hamilton, 81, helps drive patients to their appointments. She said: “I’m on my own, so this gives me chance to meet other people and a real reason to get up in the morning. I just love doing it and the social side of it, they’re helping you and much as you’re helping them.” Volunteer manager at mid and south Essex hospitals, Jane O’Connell said: “Our volunteer driver scheme, Carecars, has always been hugely popular with patients who are unable to drive. David Storey, 68, from Prittlewell, has been a Carecars driver since August 2018 and also finds the volunteering very rewarding. He said: I was always brought up to help other people and I’m just continuing to do that.
Giants - elephants at Southend Hospital in 1937 From Hollywood stars to elephants, south Essex had a totally different atmosphere back in 1937. We have blown the cobwebs off our old records to take you on a journey back to the days of waved hair and smart style. Taken just two years before the Second World War got underway, our photographs show youngsters taking part in toddler competitions and carnival queens dressed for the occasion. Westcliff actor Don Stannard is pictured at Leigh station ahead of departing for Hollywood, where he had secured a seven-year contract. Meanwhile, Australian actress Lucille Lisle headed from the outback to Chalkwell Park for a Beautiful Toddler competition and elephants were unlikely visitors to Southend Hospital 84 years ago.
A MAN suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body after a gang set him on fire with petrol, a court heard. Basildon Crown Court heard that four people allegedly tried to murder the man in Southchurch Avenue, Southend on October 30, 2019. Shocking police body cam footage showed PC Rebecca Halifax attending an emergency call and finding the man with severe burns across his body sat in a bedroom. Alan Archer, 33, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, Paul Pruns, 53, of York Road, Southend, Ben Ince, 41, of no fixed address, and Jane Reilly, 53, of Trowbridge Road, Harold Hill, deny attempted murder. A jury was told the attack was carried out in the early hours of the morning, with the alleged victim returning to his home at 1.34am.
1/1 A MAN suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body after a gang set him on fire with petrol, a court heard. Basildon Crown Court heard that four people allegedly tried to murder the man in Southchurch Avenue, Southend on October 30, 2019. Shocking police body cam footage showed PC Rebecca Halifax attending an emergency call and finding the man with severe burns across his body sat in a bedroom. Alan Archer, 33, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, Paul Bruns, 53, of York Road, Southend, Ben Ince, 41, of no fixed address, and Jane Reilly, 53, of Trowbridge Road, Harold Hill, deny attempted murder. A jury was told the attack was carried out in the early hours of the morning, with the alleged victim returning to his home at 1.34am.