News in Thurrock

MANY members and visitors to a Thurrock golf club have been remembering singer and entertainer Kenny Lynch whose death at the age of 81 was announced today.

Kenny shot to fame in the early 1960s as the singer of top 10 hits including Up On The Roof and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You.

VOLUNTEERS from the DP World London Gateway sites on the Thames at Corringham have been thanked for their efforts to help borough people in need.

Sandra Sawle, business co-ordinaries based at the Foodbank centre in Corringham took to social media to express her thanks.

THURROCK Adult Community College, in Grays, has launched an exciting new range of daytime and evening classes for adults to do something different and learn a new skill.

Copies of their Adult Learning 2020 course guide are now available at Thurrock Libraries/Hubs and Children's Centre plus other local community groups including the Beehive, Walton Hall Farm and Hardie Park Café.

A LEADING Thurrock councillor says he is 'over the moon' after the borough council hit seven out of ten improvement targets.

Thurrock Council's investment into Clean It, Cut It, continues to make strides, with improvements made in more than half of its green and clean service areas in the past year, according to a recent inspection by Keep Britain Tidy.

THE true spirit of Christmas is exemplified by an eight-year-old Tilbury girl who has won praise from family and friends and her local community for her efforts to help others.

Dotty Willis has been making and selling Reindeer food in festive packaging in the town - with all proceeds donated to help other children in need in the local area.

A CAR being pursued by police officers hit another police vehicle in a dramatic incident in Stanford-le-Hope last night (Tuesday, 17 December).

Police had been alerted shortly before midday with reports that a recovery truck had been stolen from outside an address on Brock Hill in Runwell.

THE 'moral fibre' and questionable tactics of Thurrock Council traffic enforcement officers has been questioned after they turned up to target a local school today (Tuesday, 17 December).

Though some parents have applauded the action against rogue parkers outside Lansdowne School in Tilbury a significant number have taken to social media to say the action is unfair - and a neighbouring business has been blasted for contributing to parking problems.

A HOST of festive activies are planned at Davy Down country park at North Stifford next week.

From 11am to 1pm on Monday, 23 December at the park's visitor centre residents can try festive rock painting, making Christmas decorations, festive sports – indoors, or hopefully outdoors if dry.

THURROCk library service has organised two events for youngsters to help with the festive spirit.

Children under five can listen to festive, fun stories for free at Stanford-le-Hope Library on Thursday 19 December at 10.30am.

A WEEK or so ago this reviewer was somewhat testy about the production of Dick Whittington at Basildon's Towngate Theatre – a production that is always well-visited by the Thurrock public.

It was – and remains – a superb show but I did not get a true sense of pantomime. Some of the traditional magic was missing and it didn't quite feel like Christmas.