21/11/2010
A Whale at Wivenhoe
Here’s how some of our Essex ancestors wrote about seeing a whale in the 17th century.
“On the 23rd of this present month April, the neighbouring inhabitants to a fair river in Essex, known by the name of Wivner River (whose mouth opens to the sea) perceived a great disturbance in the water. Country men threw down their shovels and spy’d the back of a fish of an extraordinary size who seem’d to quarrel with the river for more elbow-room. She sometimes threw her prodigious head above
the waves, at other times, with her spreading tail, shovelled the sands so high, that part of them fell on the spectator’s heads. While she floundered, they beheld the greatest part of her body, and with the ponderous squelch of her large bulk falling into the water, she made the depressed waves out-swell their banks and threaten an over-flow of the Neighbouring meadows. In this discontented motion she continued to go up the river till she came within six miles of Colchester, where the sands being washt away by the proceeding tide, she was fain to struggle for life in a low water. With her extraordinary endeavour to quit herself, she brake off part of her tail and with a deluge of blood, coloured the whole stream.
“At length, for want of both breath and blood, she dyed in the water, being of so large a bulk that the river could not cover her. Her body strutted out of the waters like a hill, and when she was drawn out of the river and came to be measured, she was found to be no less than fifty foot in length, and twenty eight in thickness.”
Author - Christopher Thompson
17/08/2010
Some immigrants to our area
Immigration is a recurrent issue of political concern to modern governments. Widely differing views are held on how to tackle the question depending on the standpoint of those worried by the phenomenon. But immigration is not a new issue, whether it originates from other parts of this country or, indeed, from other parts of the world. Our parish registers, which for several centuries recorded births, marriages and deaths, provide ample evidence of this.
At Vange, in February, 1711-12, John Tulopp, “a black”, was baptised; in January, 1721-22, a fourteen year old black boy called Joseph, who was servant to Nathaniel Grantham, was similarly baptised in West Thurrock’s parish church. The case of the black man baptised in Grays in September, 1734 was more unusual because we know that he was about twenty five years of age and came from Guinea, presumably on the west coast of Africa rather than from further east. Captain Towers’s negro servant, Francis Spenders, had three prominent local figures as his godparents when he was baptised at Pitsea in August, 1745. And “John, a blackamoor, servant to Mr Phillips, Brewer, at Ratcliffe Cross, London”, who was baptised in Fobbing in July, 1753, must have had some long-standing local connection: he was given the surname “Stanford”.
These examples remind us of the importance of this area as a crossroads for travellers seeking to cross the Thames to and from Kent and as a thoroughfare for merchants and others sailing to and from London. These factors endure as, indeed, does immigration itself.
Author - Christopher Thompson
12/08/2010
RIP – Geoff Percival
Henry was very sad to hear today of the death of Geoff Percival.
Geoff was the political reporter of the Evening Echo, the daily paper covering Southend and south Essex, and part of the same group as the Thurrock Gazette.
Chris Hatton (Evening Echo) has kindly let Geoff’s friends know that he died in the early hours of this morning, following a short but dignified battle against lung cancer.
Geoff was unique - a legend in his own lifetime. He had his own style of political reporting, and could truly be described as of the old school of newspapermen.
He was pretty unique in another way too - he was a Conservative, and there are not too many of those in journalism. His roots went back into the good old days of Young Conservatism in Essex and the Eastern Area.
Henry recalls once inviting Geoff to speak at a political supper club on the western side of Essex. It was quite clear Geoff was enjoying himself, and he gave the audience a good evening’s entertainment, beaming at them from his heavy spectacles. When the time came to go home, he was, perhaps, a little the worse for wear. So Henry drove him through the night to Wickham Bishops, giving rise to another hour of political anecdotes.
Geoff Percival will be much missed in Essex, and by his old friend, Henry.
19/07/2010
Tilbury man shot Norwegian thinking he was German parachutist
This being the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a splendid website has been started called “1940 Chronicle”, which highlights each day matters that occurred on that date during that summer of 1940.
Today a splendid piece caught Henry’s eye, when he saw the word Tilbury:-
“Stanley V. Humphrys, 30, of Tilbury, Essex, who shot and wounded a drunken Norwegian seaman who he suspected of being a German parachutist, was sentenced at Gray’s (sic) Police Court to one day’s imprisonment, which meant immediate release.”
Good old Tilbury - there was a man rushing to do his duty and arrest a German, but unfortunately he must have mistaken Norwegian drunken ramblings for German ones. Perhaps a case of don’t shoot first and ask questions afterwards.
Here is the link to the full story, and it is worth bookmarking the website.
15/06/2010
Full marks for a job done quickly and well
Henry had planned to go to the Oyster Fayre in Colchester on Sunday, but, as bad weather was forecast, decided to go on Saturday instead. Just as well as it turned out.
At about 1.15pm, the telephone rang. A female voice said, “This is the emergency alarms service at Thurrock Council.” It turned out that an elderly friend had fallen over in the house, and Henry was contacted as a keyholder.
Henry reached the house in about ten minutes. It was clear that the ambulance service would be needed, as his friend was sprawled on the floor just inside the front door, with cuts and abrasions on the face, (quite a lot of blood dripping down), and hands. He asked for help to get up. Henry couldn’t have moved him because he was a dead weight, and, anyway, it is better to leave him in case any bones are broken.
Henry dialled 999, and asked for the ambulance service. A very pleasant, helpful lady came on the line, and talked through the situation, whilst assuring that the ambulance had already been alerted. She said to leave him as he was, reassure him, and have all his medications ready to show the paramedics. She ended by saying the ambulance was on its way.
A couple of minutes later, a lady from the Council’s service arrived, just to check that everything was OK. She waited until the ambulance arrived, which was in under ten minutes.
The paramedics examined Henry’s friend carefully, and decreed there were no broken bones. They cleaned and dressed the cuts, and checked everything, including blood pressure, and sugar levels. They then helped him up, and got him into his armchair in the sitting room. They were so confident, friendly and reassuring to him. They said he did not need to go to hospital unless he wanted to - he certainly didn’t. They left a paper giving details of what they had done, and emphasized that we were to call 999 again if there were any recurrence.
Henry’s friend was very white and shaken, but a good cup of tea and a visit from a neighbour helped, and soon his colour came back.
Not what Henry had planned to do on that Sunday afternoon, but -
Full marks and all credit to Thurrock Council’s emergency alarm system staff and to the Ambulance Service paramedics for a quick response and a job very well done.
Another great new idea from Essex
Essex County Council continues to show itself to be a most innovative institution.
Its latest project is designed both to help young people towards a qualification which will lead to a career path with potential high earnings, and also to help preserve an industry with an ageing workforce, which could lead to its dying out.
The project is the setting up of engineering apprenticeships, in partnership with three Colleges: Harlow, the Colchester Institute and the Basildon Campus of South Essex College. There is more about the project here, including an article in today’s Guardian.
Well done to Essex for another great idea.
06/05/2010
Vote Conservative Today
Message from David Cameron
Today, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn our country around.
This one day will decide Britain’s future at a crucial time for our economy, our society, and our politics.
We all know that it’s time for change, after thirteen years of this Labour government. But there’s only one way to bring change – and that is to vote Conservative.
Any other vote could mean we are left with another five years of Gordon Brown – and the uncertainty of a hung Parliament could kill the recovery.
Earlier this morning Sam and I voted in our constituency. I believe it is vital that you vote too.
There is so much at stake today.
Only by voting Conservative today will Britain have a fresh government tomorrow that can roll up its sleeves and start to clean up the mess.
So please take the time to vote – and please do pass this message on to your friends too.
Together, we can bring the change our country needs.
Here’s what the Polling Day newspapers have to say.
20/04/2010
Election news from a quiet target seat
The western half of Thurrock, the bit in the Thurrock parliamentary constituency, is a seething maelstrom of electoral inactivity. It is a Labour/Conservative target seat, and I was told this morning that the Conservatives must win it to have any chance………
Yes, I know, I could get out there and campaign for somebody, but after all Henry’s getting on a bit, and his armour is rusty.
The Thurrock Gazette is doing its bit, and should feel proud of itself. It has been publishing regular photographs of the Labour candidate for at least a year, before ever he was selected. That’s the beauty of being a local councillor. There is an excuse for the Gazette to publicise you.
Yesterday something very strange happened. Henry was canvassed by the Conservative candidate. There was a knock on the portcullis of his castle, and there she stood. That’s the first time for many years, possibly ever, that this castle has been canvassed by the Conservatives.
Several bits of red paper have arrived by hand delivery from Labour, and the Conservatives are the first off the block with the freepost election address which arrived several days ago. No communications from anyone else.
So now Henry awaits the Whigs, (he means the Liberals who are not a shiny new untried party, but have actually been around for as long as the Tories), the BNP and UKIP.
17/04/2010
Manhole madness
There seems to be an epidemic of manhole theft going on. Strange, but apparently the metal is worth selling for scrap.
59 covers have just been stolen in the Maldon area, some of them from quiet villages.
What a shame it is that those who perpetrate these crimes - because that’s what they are - never think about the consequences.
A car hits one of these spots, may end up grounded in the hole as manholes are quite large, or could bounce and shoot across into an oncoming vehicle. At the very least might burst a tyre or damage the springs. Motor cyclists and cyclists could be thrown off their machines. Pedestrians trip and injure themselves, or fall down the hole. So could cats and dogs.
Not just property crime, but very dangerous.
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