News in Thurrock

MANY tributes have been paid to David Staines, a founder member and longstanding coach at Thurrock Harriers Athletics Club, who died on Tuesday.

Mr Staines' health had declined over recent months and he died at home with his partner Ann and daughter Naomi by his side.

A VILLAGE community will get the chance this week to pay respects to a much-loved local resident.

Hazel Swift passed away last weekend, just a few months after her husband Godwin, who died in January aged 90. Residents have described Hazel as 'The Queen of the village'.

ONE of Thurrock's former MPs has paid a tribute to the life and contribution to Thurrock of former Mayor Barry Palmer, who died in the week.

Andrew Mackinlay, who was MP for the borough from 1992 until he stepped down at the 2010 general election, says Mr Palmer, whose death was reported on Thurrock Nub News, was a man held in great esteem.

TRIBUTES have been paid this evening to former long time Thurrock councillor and ex mayor Barry Palmer who has passed away.

Mr Palmer first became active in local politics in the seventies and was a stalwart member of the Labour Party for many years. He was first elected in 1984 and became mayor of the borough in 1994.

FRIENDS and colleagues of South Essex paramedic Neil Ruch have produced a musical tribute to their colleague who lost his life after contracting Covid-19.

Neil, a senior paramedic, passed away on 18 May after a brave fight with coronavirus.

MANY tributes have been paid to much-loved Ian Evans, who passed away this week after a battle with cancer, aged just 37. Ian was widely known through his work with the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living and his friend and colleague Kelly Woolley has written this tribute:

AFTER a lengthy battle with illness, much-loved Thurrock priest Fr Paul Dynan, died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of today (Sunday, 17 May).

Until the 31st October 2019, he was the parish priest of both Our Lady Star of the Sea, Tilbury, and of Our Lady & St Joseph, Stanford-le-Hope. He was priest, concurrently, of both parishes for 10 years.

THURROCK'S MP Jackie Doyle-Price has paid a personal tribute to three much-loved and respected of the borough's ex-service community who have passed away recently.

Over the weekend Thurrock Nub News reported on the deaths of three members of the Thurrock branch of the Royal Air Force Association, whose local HQ is on Southend Road, Grays.

FURTHER tributes have been paid to Tilbury stalwart Peter Hewitt MBE, whose death was reported on Thurrock Nub News yesterday , Thursday, 7 May.

Former Thurrock MP Andrew Mackinlay spoke warmly of a man he described as 'Mr Tilbury'.

TRIBUTE has been paid to one of Tilbury's most popular figures.

Peter Hewitt, MBE, died in the early hours of Thursday morning (7 May), passing away peacefully at Basildon Hospital.