News in Thurrock

A STANFORD-le-Hope schoolboy has been warmly praised by his local community for his latest fundraising efforts.

Last year Nub News reported on the activities of Stanley Jackson, a self-taught crocheter, who boosted the local poppy appeal by making and selling poppies.

MEMBERS of Thurrock Local History Society enjoyed a whistle stop tour of Essex and its notable characters at their latest meeting.

Martyn Lockwood recalled cited many heroes and villains who lived there in county during his talk.

A CAT was rescued by firefighters from a Thurrock flat after a candle started a blaze in a bedroom.

Crews from Orsett and Basildon were called to the second floor flat in Lyndhurst Road, Corringham, yesterday (Saturday, 4 December) after a man heard his smoke alarm going off and called 999.

THE Christmas lights season is now in full swing and across Thurrock many homes have been decorated and viewers invited to make a contribution to local good causes.

In some areas whole communities have come together to light up their neighbourhood with co-ordinated displays for good causes.

THERE was disappointment all round as none of the borough's non-League sides managed a win today ( Saturday, 4 December) - though Tilbury will have ended the afternoon happiest, coming from two down to draw with Grays.

The Isthmian North derby was played out in front of a crowd of 302 at Parkside, who saw a David Knight penalty on 25 minutes and Aaron Gordon's goal just before half time put the Blues in the driving seat.

A THURROCK councillor was on hand for what he hopes will be a final farewell to the blight of HGVs rumbling through his village.

Cllr Fraser Massey was present today (Saturday, 4 December) as the gates were closed at Walsh's tip in East Tilbury after a final delivery of spoil to the landfill site.

IT'S derby day in Thurrock where one of the most anticipated local clashes takes place at Parkside this afternoon (Saturday, 4 December)

Grays Athletic will be playing host to Tilbury in an Isthmian North clash. For Tilbury's recently appointed new manager Keith Rowland, still seeking his first win with the Dockers, it will be a speedy return to Parkside where he spent a couple of successful seasons with Aveley before parting company with them a few weeks ago.

THURROCK-born actor and comedian Russell Brand has joined the campaign to have his home town's Thameside Theatre - releasing a short video promoting local opposition to Thurrock Council's plans to close it and pledging to come back to the borough to do a show in support of the theatre and associated museum in the complex.

The [l}https://www.russellbrand.com/ [L+]award-winning and often controversial star[.L], who has never shied away from political activity and backing his chosen causes, grew up in Grays attended Grays School on Hathaway Road and made one of his first stage performances in a school production of Bugsy Malone at the Thameside. From Grays he graduated to the Italia Conti Academy in 1991 and was soon taking his first steps to international stardom.

"It's with thanks to people like you that we'll be able to be there, providing this specialist care free of charge.".

THE family of a former Thurrock man who was stabbed to death outside his home has thanked dedicated Essex Police detectives for delivering justice as his teenage killer was sentenced to a minimum term of 13 years in detention.

James Gibbons, known as 'Gibbo' and formerly of Stanford-le-Hope, was stabbed four times outside his home in Iris Mews, in Laindon, on Sunday, 2 May.