Arsenal are set to make a shock swoop for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
The 31-year-old, who is in Spain's squad for the World Cup, had been expected to complete a permanent move to Napoli after his loan spell.
But the Italian side have been priced out of a deal according to Reina's agent.
Manuel Garcia Quilon is quoted as saying in the Express: "From June 30 he will return to Liverpool because they want to maximise his sale and Napoli are not willing to spend what is required."
The Gunners are on the lookout for a new keeper after Lukasz Fabianski's move to Swansea and the continuing question marks over Wojciech Szczesny and the experienced Reina, who almost moved to the Emirates four years ago, would fit the bill.
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Arsenal consider shock move for Liverpool World Cup ace
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JustGiving page set up in memory of tragic Southend half-marathon runner Nick Palmer
Friends and family of the runner who died after collapsing at the end of the weekend's Southend Half Marathon are hoping to create a "legacy" for Great Ormond Street in his memory.
Father-of-one Nick Palmer, of Great Wakering, died hours after crossing the finish line of the race on Sunday (June 8) with his team Southend Flyers.
A JustGiving page has since been set up in his memory and has since raised more than £1,400 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Tributes have also flooded in for the Tottenham Hotspur fan.
A statement on the page reads: "His family and friends are shocked by his sudden passing, he leaves behind many friends, colleagues and close family.
"His son George spent some of his years under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital and the family feel it would be right that a fund for them in Nick's memory should be created, as a reminder to the bright shining light Nick has left with us and a fitting tribute to remember him.
"The family and friends would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the public for the kind words during this difficult time, comforted by the fact Nick died doing what he loved."
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Ex-firefighters summonsed over historical initiation ceremony sex abuse claims
TWO former firefighters have been summonsed to court over sex abuse claims within Essex Fire Service dating back to the 1980s.
Anthony Benham, 49, from Stanford le Hope and Ian Maguire, 55, from South Benfleet, have been asked to appear before Basildon Magistrates' Court on July 17.
The two men previously worked at Tilbury Fire Station, which closed down 16 years ago
Essex Police have been investigating allegations of "serious criminal activity" and have interviewed over 100 people across Essex since June last year.
A spokesman for the force said: "Detectives investigating complaints concerning allegations of criminal offences at the former Tilbury Fire Station, between the 1980s to 1990s have completed their enquiries.
"They have interviewed over 100 people in this large and complex investigation.
"A full file of evidence was sent to the East of England Crown Prosecution Service's Complex Casework Unit who has advised that two men should face prosecution."
In June last year Colchester firefighter Martin Sibley, 48, was found hanged at his home in Keymer Way after he had been quizzed by police investigating the allegations which related to fire service initiation ceremonies.
An inquest in October 2013 recorded an open verdict into the death.
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Mum's charity bid in aid of paramedics who saved baby son on 'terrifying night'
A MUM is raising cash for the specialist ambulance service that helped save her son's life when he was born two months prematurely and "black and blue".
Laura Reed, 32, of West Avenue, Melbourne, gave birth to her son Luke at Broomfield Hospital two years ago.
"When he was born he was not breathing for 15 minutes," said mother-of-two Laura, recalling the terrifying night.
"Then they took him to the neonatal intensive care unit to try to stabilise him and get him breathing. He was black and blue – it looked like he had been in a fight. I was not allowed to see him for about two hours."
Staff at Broomfield Hospital soon discovered that her newborn son had a myriad of problems.
He was suffering from the potentially fatal blood poisoning sepsis, ruptured membranes, hypertension and bruising of the body sparked by a potassium overload and kidney failure.
"I was scared," added Laura simply. "They did not know how to treat Luke because they had never seen it before, so they were in constant calls with Addenbrooke's Hospital and Great Ormond Street."
In the end, just a day after Luke's birth, he was transported on blue lights from Broomfield Hospital to Luton's NICU by the specialist Acute Neonatal Transfer Service (ANTS).
"They were amazing," said Laura. "The nurse and doctor were fantastic from the moment I met them. They went through every single thing with me, even telling me it takes hours to make sure he's stable and safe. They gave me a leaflet that contained everything I needed to know.
"They helped to save his life. If they were not around, at the end of the day, Luke would not have got the treatment that he needed. He needed two full-body blood transfusions. He's our world."
But now at the age of two, Luke's problems are still not over. He suffers from cerebral palsy and also has swallowing problems.
And just last week, Laura took Luke to Great Ormond Street Hospital to have tests run to see if he could become blind in the future. He even has to permanently wear a helmet to avoid him bumping his head as he his prone to seizures.
But despite this, Luke is still remarkably positive about life.
"Luke looks like a normal two-year-old – he has just started walking. He is always very happy and very friendly to everybody," said Laura.
Speaking about his ten-year-old sister, Leah, she added: "She loves him – they have a great bond."
Earlier this month, Laura raised £800 in a sponsored head shave for ANTS at the Rising Sun pub on New London Road – but is still looking to raise more via a quiz night at the pub next month to help get a travelling incubator for their ambulance.
"You never know if a person is going to be in that situation and needs the ambulance team to take their daughter or son to get them help and hopefully save their life," she said.
To donate to Laura for ANTS, visit here.
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Firefighters respond to wooden building on fire in Chelmsford street
Fire crews responded to a wooden building on fire in Chelmsford last night.
The outbuilding, in Grove Road, was spotted alight at around 9.58pm, when the fire brigade were called.
Two engines from Chelmsford attended and crews wore breathing apparatus and used two hose reels to put out the blaze by 10.20pm.
Crews reported that the building was made of wood and used for storage.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but the fire service will carry out an investigation.
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Bands, floats and dancing wow revellers at Braintree Carnival
SCHOOLCHILDREN dressed as dogs, young karate students and Grease characters were just a handful of the personalities on the floats that snaked their way through Braintree for its 51st carnival.
Floats trundled from Lakes Road via the High Street to Meadowside on Saturday – and hundreds of people cheered them on their way before enjoying the attractions and rides at the field in Coldnailhurst Avenue.
"It was fantastic, I think there was more people than last year, at one point I couldn't move through the crowd because there was so many people," said organiser Martin Green, 33, of Perryfields, Braintree, and the chairman of the carnival committee.
"The weather was great as well, I think the early storm meant people didn't go off to the coast in the morning, so when it was sunny in the afternoon they came to the carnival.
People crowded in amongst the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, helter-skelter, inflatable fun house, side shows and food stalls to enjoy the atmosphere, cacophony of noise and sunshine.
There was also an arena with acts including the Essex Caledonian pipe band, kung-fu dancing, 1960s music and the Jez Avery Stunt Show, featuring a dirt-bike doing wheelies.
There were traditional stalls, coconut shies and teddy bear stalls. Outside of the main enclosure, the Benson School of Motoring were displaying a red Jaguar E-Type, while a hireable fire engine was keeping children entertained.
Vicky Dudman, 34, from Bocking was standing by a colourful Ferris wheel waiting for her six-year-old daughter Lucy.
"It has been really good – I have not been for years and years, but it's good to remember memories of when I was younger," she said.
"I really liked the animal float with kids dressed up as dogs – it just looked like they had done a lot of effort for it."
When asked what her daughter's favourite bit of the day had been, she said the "fun house", complete with an inflatable giraffe, elephant and zebra on the side.
Over 40 floats made up the procession – and Paula Hood, 46, was on the float for Yong Gi Do martial arts karate.
"It was fun," she said. "Our theme was Grease and we all dressed up like pink ladies. The little ones had their jackets and jeans. We had pom poms and were shaking them all around. We had to sit on there with the children. People were throwing money. It was a cracking day."
Another float participant was nine-year-old Aaliyah Williams, who was on the float for Xpect Gym.
"We won first prize for presentation," she said. "We chucked out sweets when we saw the children – it was fun. I'm going to do it again next year."
Her dad Russell, 30, of Portersfield in the town, said: "We have come to it every year for the last 12 years. There's more people there this year – it's a once-a-year thing so everyone comes here."
Lewis Henson and Kerry Swallow, both 25 and living in Grenville Road, were attending the carnival for the first time.
"It's better than the Bocking one," said Lewis. "I think the Bocking one is too crowded in a small space, it's more like a car boot sale."
Money donated throughout the day and raised through the many stalls went towards BENS Homeless Shelter, Essex Dementia Care, the Archer Community Centre and Cancer Research UK.
Mr Green added: "The carnival is one of those traditions that's become a big part of people's year – like Christmas.
"People come to the carnival, then have a barbeque and then come back in the afternoon.
"It's great that the people of Braintree have kept the tradition of the carnival alive. There's not many left and it's a brilliant way to meet up with neighbours and have a real community event."
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Bicknacre man charged over indecent child images and animal pornography
A man has appeared in court accused of having thousands of indecent pictures and hundreds of indecent movies of children, scores of bestiality images and causing a 13-year-old to take an obscene picture of herself.
John Hanning, 61, of Lyndhurst Drive, Bicknacre, went before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (June 4) charged with 14 offences.
Across a number of electronic devices between June 2008 and February last year, he is said to have had 8,491 indecent images of children, 162 indecent movies of children and 168 of pictures of people having sex with animals.
Hanning also faces a charge of inciting a 13-year-old girl in 2011 to take an obscene picture of herself with explicit words written on her legs specifically referring to him.
He was bailed to reeappear for a plea and case management hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, June 24.
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Summer is here! Essex set for the warmest day of the year, according to Met Office
Essex is set to sizzle in what could be the highest temperatures of the year so far by the end of the week, according to the Met Office.
Temperatures are in line to top the 26.5C recorded at Writtle College in Chelmsford on Monday by the time we reach Friday.
It will be dry and bright today and tomorrow, with any cloud clearing to leave bright, clear and hot afternoons with temperatures peaking at 24C on Thursday afternoon.
And with the warmer temperatures on the horizon, the East of England Ambulance Service has issued a plea to sun lovers to ensure they're staying safe.
"In the summer we see increases of calls to people enjoying the outdoors such as coastal areas and open waters and, with schools closed for the summer soon, many of these will be children, said the service's locality director Matt Broad.
"We also host events like the V Festival and Latitude where people suffering from drink, substance use and heat exhaustion could have prevented a problem with more care.
"Please use common sense if spending a day out in the sun, think about drinking sensibly by having plenty of water and soft drinks, and watch out for hazards or unsafe areas around crowds and on roads that might be busier than usual on a good summer's day.
"Once you have to ring 999 because of something you could have prevented, you turn your summer into something memorable for all the wrong reasons."
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Swapping V Festival tips? Olly Murs bumps into Justin Timberlake at O2
He's admired by millions all over the world but forthcoming V Festival headline act Justin Timberlake met one of his biggest fans at the O2 arena last night.
Witham singer Olly Murs was among those to watch the American superstar perform during his latest tour.
The former X Factor star appeared to enjoy every minute of the show.
Watched something very special tonight by one of the greatest performers of our generation @jtimberlake at the @TheO2 WHAT A NIGHT!!
— Olly Murs (@ollyofficial) June 10, 2014
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Nik Nak's Weekly Teaser — 11th June, 2014: Down Under
It seems Captain Cook couldn't steer: cue ten questions!
Q1)11th June, 1770, saw Captain Cook run aground: on which Australian landmark … ?
Q2)More to the point, off the coast of which Australian state … ?
Q3)Name any of the other seven Australian states …
Q4)What's the landmark made of … ?
Q5)In what year was it declared a World Heritage Landmark: 1981, 1983 or 1985 … ?
Q6)What naval rank did Cook hold, during this expedition … ?
Q7)Cooks River flows in which well know Australian Bay … ?
Q8)Cook found the bay — and ran aground — in which ship?
Q9)Earlier in the expedition, crew-members were the first Europeans to come across what animal: a kangaroo, koala or wombat?
Q10)Finally … Cook, his officers and crew, managed to reduce scurvy by eating what: citrus fruit, sauer***** or fresh beef?
Here's last week's questions and answers …
Questions.
Q1)4th June was the last day of the evacuation of Dunkirk. During which war … ?
Q2)In which year of the war was the evacuation: 1940, 1941 or 1942 … ?
Q3)What was the evacuation code-named: Dynamo, Generator or Grinder … ?
Q4)What name was given to British forces evacuated from Dunkirk … ?
Q5)Who was the general in charge of that force … ?
Q6)Roughly how many were evacuated: 338000, 438000 or 538000 … ?
Q7)How many private boats were in the flotilla of Little Ships: 500, 600or 700 … ?
Q8)The one Royal Navy cruiser that took part was the HMS … what … ?
Q9)Spell 'Dunkirk'. In French.
Q10)Finally … What's the name of Churchill's speech to the House Of Commons, about Dunkirk?
Answers.
A1)World War 2.
A2)1940.
A3)Dynamo.
A4)The British Expeditionary Force.
A5)Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, CBE, DSO and two bars, MVO, MC. (Right, who said Alphabetti Spaghetti … ?)
A6)338000.
A7)700. (The smallest was a 15' fishing boat called the Tamzine.)
A8)The HMS Calcutta.
A9)Dunkerque.
A10)'We Shall Fight On The Beaches'.
If you want a frequent challenge, you can visit Nik Nak's Old Peculiar, and try the Daily Teaser: today's is at the top.If you need quiz questions in a hurry, you're also welcome: you'll find the free Friday Questions Sets — covered by the Creative Commons License* — very handy.Movie fans are welcome, too: as are Dr Who fans. I tend to write about them, too.If you enjoy what I do, and wish to contribute, feel free to click the PayPal Donate button in the Old Peculiar's sidebar. Every penny is gratefully received.
Enjoy the week, folks.
* All that means is that you're free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets. All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event's flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license. A link back to the site— and to the Gazette's, if that's where you've found these — would be appreciated.
Q1)11th June, 1770, saw Captain Cook run aground: on which Australian landmark … ?
Q2)More to the point, off the coast of which Australian state … ?
Q3)Name any of the other seven Australian states …
Q4)What's the landmark made of … ?
Q5)In what year was it declared a World Heritage Landmark: 1981, 1983 or 1985 … ?
Q6)What naval rank did Cook hold, during this expedition … ?
Q7)Cooks River flows in which well know Australian Bay … ?
Q8)Cook found the bay — and ran aground — in which ship?
Q9)Earlier in the expedition, crew-members were the first Europeans to come across what animal: a kangaroo, koala or wombat?
Q10)Finally … Cook, his officers and crew, managed to reduce scurvy by eating what: citrus fruit, sauer***** or fresh beef?
Here's last week's questions and answers …
Questions.
Q1)4th June was the last day of the evacuation of Dunkirk. During which war … ?
Q2)In which year of the war was the evacuation: 1940, 1941 or 1942 … ?
Q3)What was the evacuation code-named: Dynamo, Generator or Grinder … ?
Q4)What name was given to British forces evacuated from Dunkirk … ?
Q5)Who was the general in charge of that force … ?
Q6)Roughly how many were evacuated: 338000, 438000 or 538000 … ?
Q7)How many private boats were in the flotilla of Little Ships: 500, 600or 700 … ?
Q8)The one Royal Navy cruiser that took part was the HMS … what … ?
Q9)Spell 'Dunkirk'. In French.
Q10)Finally … What's the name of Churchill's speech to the House Of Commons, about Dunkirk?
Answers.
A1)World War 2.
A2)1940.
A3)Dynamo.
A4)The British Expeditionary Force.
A5)Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, CBE, DSO and two bars, MVO, MC. (Right, who said Alphabetti Spaghetti … ?)
A6)338000.
A7)700. (The smallest was a 15' fishing boat called the Tamzine.)
A8)The HMS Calcutta.
A9)Dunkerque.
A10)'We Shall Fight On The Beaches'.
If you want a frequent challenge, you can visit Nik Nak's Old Peculiar, and try the Daily Teaser: today's is at the top.If you need quiz questions in a hurry, you're also welcome: you'll find the free Friday Questions Sets — covered by the Creative Commons License* — very handy.Movie fans are welcome, too: as are Dr Who fans. I tend to write about them, too.If you enjoy what I do, and wish to contribute, feel free to click the PayPal Donate button in the Old Peculiar's sidebar. Every penny is gratefully received.
Enjoy the week, folks.
* All that means is that you're free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets. All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event's flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license. A link back to the site— and to the Gazette's, if that's where you've found these — would be appreciated.
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Tour de France: Road closures in Chelmsford, places to park, and affected bus routes
Full and confirmed road closures in Chelmsford have been announced for the day of the Tour de France on July 7.
Thirteen miles of the tour route will pass through Chelmsford as part of the Stage 3 Essex leg of the event.
The route will enter the Chelmsford City area on the Felsted Road (B1417), just south of Hertford End, before joining the B1008 for a few hundred metres, and then passing through Howe Street, Great Waltham and the Parish of Chignal.
Then, the race will pass through West Chelmsford on the Chignal Road for around one mile before turning right onto Roxwell Road.
The route will then leave Chelmsford via the A1060 as far as the Hare Public House.
Cyclists will then follow country lanes via Roxwell, towards Willingale and then on to Epping.
As a result, there will be road closures in Chelmsford as the route takes in the following roads from 8am until 5pm.
- B1417
- B1008
- Main Road
- South Street
- Breeds Road
- Woodhall Road
- Chignall Road
- Roxwell Road
- A1060
- Vicarage Road
- The Street
- Screen's Park Road
- Elms Road
- Shellow Road
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Jesse Ryder stars for Essex in Kent draw
Jesse Ryder was the star of another rain-affected draw in which neither Essex or Kent could force a Championship win at Canterbury.
Ryder took best-ever match figures of 10-110, his first ever ten-wicket haul.
On a decent Canterbury track, Kent won the toss and elected to bat on Saturday. Ryder made early inroads, taking the wickets of Rob Key (10) and Sam Northeast (2), before Brendan Nash joined Daniel Bell-Drummond (26) at the crease. The pair put on a partnership of 113 when Nash fell for 82 off the bowling of Tymal Mills.
Darren Stevens proved to be the glue to stick the Kent innings together, hitting 105 in 151 balls to push the hosts score on. He became Ryder's fifth wicket of the innings, with the New Zealander finishing on figures of 5-54, his first ever five-wicket haul.
Essex managed to bowl out Kent for 387 and set about chasing the lead down in confident fashion. Nick Browne (8) fell early to Mitch Claydon, but that brought Ravi Bopara to the crease. He and Tom Westley never looked trouble and both moved on to impressive centuries. Westley eventually was caught on day three for 116, but Bopara moved onto 162 before he was eventually out.
James Foster (46) pushed the score along, with Mills hitting a quick-fire 30 to give Essex full batting points and finish on 440.
With rain taking away too many overs, only a Kent capitulation with the bat could force a result. But once again Bell-Drummond seemed a hard man to dismiss as he moved struck 92 in 257 balls. Key (37) and Stevens (47) ably supported the 20-year-old as Essex were unable to make sizeable inroads.
There was still time for Ryder to take his second five-wicket haul, claiming 5-56 has the two skippers shook hands for the draw with Kent on 255-8.
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Man, 26, arrested over alleged rape of woman under Heybridge Approach near Tesco in Maldon
A man has been arrested after an allegation of rape in Heybridge.
Essex Police was contacted shortly after 10.30pm yesterday (June 10) after a woman was reported to have been sexually assaulted under the Heybridge Approach (A414) off Creasen Butt Close.
The 26-year-old suspect was detained at his home nearby after the incident and remained in custody at Chelmsford police station this morning (June 11).
The pathway, called Mill Lane, runs adjacent to the River Blackwater and links Tescos and McDonalds at Fullbridge with Creasen Butt Close. The area has been cordoned off by police.
The woman involved was taken to the county's sexual assault referral centre, where she is being spoken to by medical professionals and rape offence officers.
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World Cup 2014 quiz: Test your knowledge
You've probably drawn a team in your office sweepstake, or you are just excited that the World Cup is finally here after the endless build-up.
So why not test your knowledge of the greatest football tournament on earth with our relatively simple quiz.
The opening game of the tournament, Brazil vs Croatia, takes place after the opening ceremony on Thursday (May 12). England kick off against Italy on Saturday (May 14)at 11pm (BST).
Simply select the correct answer from the 10 multiple choice questions below and you'll be an international football expert quicker than you can say Shusaku Nishikawa (Japan's goalkeeper).
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Witham in Bloom open gardens event raised £2,000 for hospice
PLANTS and gardens of all shapes and sizes were on show as green-fingered Witham residents opened their gardens to the public.
The Witham in Bloom event, held in gardens across the town, began at 11am on Sunday and ran until 6pm.
It saw 14 gardens throwing open their gates to the public to raise money for Farleigh Hospice as well as keeping the event going for future years.
"It was a really fantastic day with many visitors, all gardens were very well attended," said Annie Northfield, organiser and sponsorship coordinator of Witham in Bloom.
"There were lots of people in my garden, at the end I thought they'd all gone but there were a few still walking about and everyone seemed to enjoy it."
Witham MP Priti Patel and town mayor, Cllr Janet Money, joined Annie at the launch of the day at her garden in Avenue Road, Witham.
Over £2,000 was raised on the day with the sale of cakes, ploughman's lunches, cream teas and strawberries and cream, plus teas and coffees.
The money will be split between Witham in Bloom and Farleigh Hospice and events are held throughout the year to help raise money to pay for plants so the annual Witham in Bloom event can continue.
"A big thank you to everyone who helped out and opened their gardens, I'm really grateful to everyone, it was a lovely day – we were lucky with the weather which was beautiful," added Mrs Northfield, 65.
Gardens were also on show in Powers Hall End, Chipping Hill, Collingwood Road, Cut Throat Lane Allotments and Witham United Reformed Church in Newland Street.
Volunteer Mel Foster helped Annie with planting around the town in the build up to the open gardens, including at the station and the old magistrates court.
Witham in Bloom also hosts children's awards on July 9 at Maltings Academy that also sponsor the event.
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Chelmsford's Kirkham lift
GLENN KIRKHAM believes Chelmsford Hockey Club can be back where they belong in the next few years.
The former England captain has joined the club as director of coaching – a role he will combine with playing for East Grinstead in the England Hockey League Premier Division.
The new role will see him work closely with the head coaches of both the women's and men's teams, David Messham and Dillet Gilkes, reviewing video footage and working on tactics in a weekly session.
And Kirkham believes the new structure, put in place by chairman of the playing committee Owen Thom, should help the club's first teams as they strive to compete in the top flight of the national leagues.
He said: "The aim is for the club to become a consistent national league side.
"It is only six or seven years ago that the men were competing in the national league, but there has been a huge change of players and the club is now competing in the East Premier Division.
"The first aim is to try and get them challenging to get up to the national conference, because they were mid-table last year."
And Kirkham believes the ladies can also push for the top flight under their new coach, with the double Olympian already aware of the team through his wife Marie, who is a current member of the squad.
He said: "The ladies have traditionally been one of the strongest clubs in England, but they flirted with relegation last season.
"But with David Messham the aim is to try and help them go for promotion, which I believe is achievable."
One other thing that Kirkham is keen to drive is a local ethos throughout the club, adding that he will look to help improve the coaching for all senior and junior teams in his work with all coaches at the club.
He said: "There are great facilities at the club and there is the potential there, and I am looking forward to getting involved and helping the club progress."
Kirkham's role will officially start on August 1.
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Entries welcomed for popular Week
ENTRY is now open for Burnham Week – one of the East coast's premier regattas.
The popular family regatta that offers challenging racing and a festival shoreside spirit, is not only one of the major regattas of its type, but is also one of the oldest in history, dating back to the early 1900s.
The success of the three-part regatta format, introduced several years ago to encourage a more healthy participation at the event, and the introduction of Quay Day last year that resulted in hundreds of extra visitors to the town, means the organisers, Joint Clubs Committee (JCC) – are optimistic about the future of the event, which this year is between August 23 and 30.
Jo Barker, chairman of the JCC said: "The move to adapt to increasingly busy lifestyles, proved successful because we have seen a gradual increase in entries over the last few years which wouldn't have been the case had we continued to run it as one entire series.
"The popular flexible format we now have means that those with limited time still have a chance to enjoy fun, vibrant racing."
While the number of entries and the size of yachts competing at Burnham Week will probably never reach the event's heyday of the 1960s and 70s when big, ocean racers headed to Burnham for the final regatta of the season after completing the Fastnet Race, the variety of classes and the opportunity to take part, has never been better.
The format gives competitors the chance to race one or all three independent sections (first bank holiday weekend series, week series, and final Saturday) or participate in the entire week.
In addition to IRC and local handicap fleets, class racing is possible for International Dragons, multihulls, RS Elites, Hunter 707s, Sonatas, Squibs, Sandhoppers, Stellas, Royal Burnham One-Designs, Royal Corinthian One-Designs, East Coast One-Designs or any class that can muster six or more boats. There is also a White Sails class for non-spinnaker boats aimed at those new to racing, and a dinghy section, including Ospreys and Phantoms, as well as a fast and slow handicap fleet.
Big boats are expected to turn out en masse at the weekends with the first incorporating the Burnham stage of the IRC Sail East Regatta Series, and the final Saturday IRC class one will compete for the Town Cup and, class two, the Commodores Cup.
The introduction of Quay Day last year was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors, and it is hoped that this year's one-day festival on bank holiday Monday (August 25) will be even more popular.
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Proud moment for KEGS teacher as students build cosmic ray detector
IT'S taken five years, more than £5,000 and the brain power of 20 top-class students but the result has even impressed Cambridge University boffins.
King Edward VI Grammar School is thought to be the only school in the country which has built its own cosmic ray detector.
Usually the preserve of the science departments of the best universities, the detector can pick up on cosmic rays which travel through objects and people, believed to come from far-off galaxies.
The completion of the detector is a proud moment for the Broomfield Road school's head of physics David Hall, who came up with the idea of building one in 2009.
He and a small group of sixth-formers met every Thursday to work on the project, which at first led to a lot of head-scratching.
Mr Hall said: "In the first two years we did not get very far, but in the last two years progress has been much faster. Around 20 students have been involved in the project, many of whom have now left the school. They did all the work while I made some suggestions.
"We consulted Bristol University, which kindly gave us some parts, and Cambridge University. When we told professors there we had finished the project and it was working, they wrote to congratulate us saying this was a project usually only undertaken at universities."
It will now be used to teach pupils at the school about the rays, which are a harmless phenomenon only discovered in the 1920s. It is also expected to be a crowd-puller at the school's open days.
The project has been helped by a grant of £2,000 from the Royal Society, and a £1,500 donation from the school's parents' association.
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Firefighters to strike in a dispute on pensions
ESSEX firefighters are set to strike for 24 hours later this month in a continuing dispute over pensions.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union are set to stop work between 9am next Thursday to 9am Friday – the longest strike period in the three-year dispute over rising pension payments.
In a statement, the union said that "between the two strikes firefighters will not carry out any voluntary overtime — which is routinely needed by many fire and rescue services to maintain fire cover — or conduct training of strikebreakers".
Speaking about the reasons, the union said that before 2010, firefighters already contributed "one of the highest proportions of their salary towards their pensions (11 per cent), and in April this increased for the third year running".
Now, it said that firefighters pay over £4,000 a year from a £29,000 salary, with increases expected by 2015.
The union also highlighted concerns that firefighters who are forced to retire before the age of 60 will have half their pensions taken away.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "It is as ever a difficult decision for us to take strike action, but the only way for us to resolve this unnecessary and costly dispute is for the government to start listening to reason."
Another strike has also been announced for Saturday, June 21 between 10am and 5pm.
The two strikes will be the 13th and 14th over pensions since September last year.
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Firefighters set to strike in ongoing pension row
ESSEX firefighters are set to strike for 24 hours later this month in a continuing dispute over pensions.
Members of the Fire Brigades Union are set to stop work between 9am next Thursday to 9am Friday – the longest strike period in the three-year dispute over rising pension payments.
In a statement, the union said that "between the two strikes firefighters will not carry out any voluntary overtime — which is routinely needed by many fire and rescue services to maintain fire cover — or conduct training of strikebreakers".
Speaking about the reasons, the union said that before 2010, firefighters already contributed "one of the highest proportions of their salary towards their pensions (11 per cent), and in April this increased for the third year running".
Now, it said that firefighters pay over £4,000 a year from a £29,000 salary, with increases expected by 2015.
The union also highlighted concerns that firefighters who are forced to retire before the age of 60 will have half their pensions taken away.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "It is as ever a difficult decision for us to take strike action, but the only way for us to resolve this unnecessary and costly dispute is for the government to start listening to reason."
Another strike has also been announced for Saturday, June 21 between 10am and 5pm.
The two strikes will be the 13th and 14th over pensions since September last year.
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