BBC Essex: Recent Episodes
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Listeners Emily & Pauline are heading to Brussels to investigate whether we'd be better off 'IN' or 'OUT' of the EU
Simon Shelley tells us his eighty six year old mum, from Burnham on Crouch, was neglected by social services for three weeks.
Grassroots Tory, Dyleth Miles from #Clacton, takes on Sir Eric Pickles as the EU debate rumbles on.
The #Essex student who says a shop thought she was her friend, because they both have the same skin colour.
After a furious reaction on social media from passengers who use C2C trains, Managing Director, Julian Drury, joined James to answer commuters' questions.
Diagnosed with Liver Cancer, his prospects were not good. Then doctors suggested one of his sons MIGHT be able to donate part of their liver to him - and save his life. Dr. Naresh Aggarwal tells Ian Wyatt his side of the story
Che Chesterman and Louisa are hoping for an All-Essex X-Factor Final. We had exclusive access to The Sugar Hut for #XFactor filming.
Con Donovan was an Eastender and started in retail selling skirts. He rose to become one of Essex's most successful businesmmen, founding the Choice Discount store chain, with 19 shops. He was also a philanthropist. Here Kath his wife of 58 years and his son Neil remember "a true legend."
Dyanne Lambert has told BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast presenter Peter Holmes how hard life is without her daughter Laura Davies. Laura was stabbed to death outside the Essex Horse and Pony Society in Pitsea where she worked in July. A man is awaiting trial, charged with her murder.
BBC #Essex hears from #SamCallahan, #NextofKin, and #JamesGraham from #StereoKicks to find out if the #XFactor has helped their careers.
Another chance to hear Essex Poet Shirley Baker's ode to our feline friends from last Sunday's Mark Punter Show (Just click on the play button) Tune in this Sunday from 11.30am to hear Shirley's homage to the Little Ships Of Leigh-On-Sea ...
Another chance to hear Essex Poet Shirley Baker's ode to our feline friends from last Sunday's Mark Punter Show (Just click on the play button) Tune in this Sunday from 11.30am to hear Shirley's homage to the Little Ships Of Leigh-On-Sea ...
Another chance to hear Essex Poet Shirley Baker's ode to our feline friends from last Sunday's Mark Punter Show (Just click on the play button) Tune in this Sunday from 11.30am to hear Shirley's homage to the Little Ships Of Leigh-On-Sea ...
Missed last Sunday's Poetry Corner on The Mark Punter Show? Here's the toast of the Southend Poetry Group, Shirley Baker, with another chance to hear her homage to the queens of the May. Just click on the play button and tune in this Sunday from 11.30am to here another ...
PS: If you've written a poem you'd like Shirley to read to the county (Teenage Poetry always a treat! ;)) e-mail mark.punter@bbc.co.uk
Sadie asked for stories of "Getting your own back". Needless to say, Christie's story was too much for Sadie to handle...
If you missed last Sunday's, another chance to hear Shirley Baker of the Southend Poetry group as she looks to give James Bond a run for his money! Just click on the play button and tune in this Sunday at 1.30pm to hear Shirley's poetic take on TV's 'Wolf Hall'.
Another chance to hear last Sunday's gem from Southend Poetry Group star Shirley Baker. (Just click on the play button) Then tune in this Sunday to hear how Shirley might be giving James Bond a run for his money! 11.30am on BBC Essex.
Click on the play button to listen again to Essex Poet Shirley Baker's homage to the great British dustmen, and tune in to Mark Punter on Sunday from 11.30am to hear another - This week with a Mother's Day theme.
Fancy Punter's Prize Pen plus a pair of tickets to see the fabulous John Challis (aka Boycie from Only Fools And Horses) in his one-man show at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon on the 18th? Just answer more General Knowledge questions correctly than anyone else on Sunday between 12pm and 1pm. Your 'starter for ten' - Identify singers or song title from this classic 60's pop song intro .... Call from 11.30am with your answer - 0300 200 40 41.
GOOD LUCK!
Listen again to Leigh On Sea poet Shirley Baker's homage to the mighty Walton Tower on last week's Mark Punter Show ... (Just click on the play button) ... And tune in this Sunday at 11.30am for another gem.
If you missed, here's another chance to hear Shirley Baker from the Southend Poetry Group and her poetic musings on the historic Walton Tower. Just click on the play button, and tune in on Sunday from 11.30am for more...
BBC Essex's Dave Monk catches up with four-year-old Finley and his mum Rhys to find out if a cure has been found for a condition which means he can only eat crushed ice.
BBC Essex's Dave Monk hears the incredible story of the Southend teacher who donated a kidney to one of his pupils.
Ah, babies - Don't you just love 'em?! Listen again to Essex poet Shirley Baker's take on the little darlings from last Sunday's Mark Punter Show and tune in to hear another gem this week from 11.30am. Just click on the 'play' button ...
Having trouble sticking to your New Year Resolutions? Shirley Baker knows how you feel! Click on the play button to listen again to last week's Poetry Corner, and tune in this Sunday from 11.30am to hear another gem from the lovely lady of the Southend Poetry Society.
Another seasonal gem from our high priestess of poetry - Leigh on Sea's own Shirley Baker from The Southend Poetry Society. Just click on the play button to listen again, and tune in this Sunday from 11.30am for another.
Click on the play button to hear last Sunday's Poetry Corner on The Mark Punter Show from the great Shirley Baker of Leigh on Sea. This one reflects on the age-old tradition of the Office Christmas Party! ... Another this Sunday. Tune in from 11.30am ...
The UK Independence Party deputy chairman, Neil Hamilton, tells BBC Essex that he has pulled out of the race to stand as MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock.
Click on the play button to hear again last Sunday's Poetry Corner on The Mark Punter Show. The fabulous Shirley Baker from Leigh with her take on the Christmas Nativity ... Another one tomorrow. Tune in from 11.30am!
If you missed last Sunday's Mark Punter Show, here's Essex Poet Shirley Baker with another gem called The Mirror ... Hear another this Sunday from 11.30am.
Another gem from Shirley in today's Poetry Corner on The Mark Punter Show. Have a listen! ...
BBC #Essex can reveal that there have been nearly 40 times as many complaints about the removal of a Banksy mural in #Clacton than there were about the mural itself.
Having fireworks this weekend? Get in the mood with another chance to hear Mark Punter's Poetry Corner, featuring Leigh-On-Sea's answer to Pam Ayres, Shirley Baker ! ... Let us know what you think, and hear another this Sunday morning from 11.30am.
Figures obtained by BBC Essex show around one teacher a day is attacked by a pupil in our county's schools. Stephen Drew - star of Channel 4's Educating Essex and Headteacher at Brentwood County High school comments.
James Whale hears if you agree with Essex County Council's decision to ban Chinese Lanterns from council land, and we hear from one lady whose garden was set alight by a rouge lantern.
Hear what happened when James Whale was joined by a real Witch from Canvey Island. #Halloween
A man who is thought to be an #RAF pilot can be heard warning the plane that if it does not respond immediately to orders, it will be shot down.
For the first time in three years - the famous Southend Air show is back! Southend Borough Council voted to stop funding it in 2012. But now a group in the area have raised enough money to save it. Tom Curtis is one of the organisers from the #Southend Airshow group and spoke to James Whale this morning.
BBC Essex weekday breakfast show presenter, James Whale, speaks to Essex Police about their new Community Messaging initiative.
Full interview of when James Whale visited a family in #Basildon who appeared on last night's #DIYSOS.
An #Essex mother is calling for more help for children who've witnessed domestic abuse, after her young son was denied therapy despite witnessing years of violence. Be warned, this report by James Melley, begins with a recording of a graphic 999 call
Listeners share their #epilepsy experiences with James Whale on a special BBC Essex Breakfast Programme this morning.
BBC Essex Breakfast Show presenter, James Whale, finds out more about Epilepsy in a special programme on Friday.
The Chief Constable of Essex Police, Stephen Kavanagh, gives BBC Essex his reaction after an inquest into the death of Maria Stubbings found a catalogue of failings by the county's Police force.
Tendring District Council are defending their decision to erase a Banksy artwork from a wall in Clacton, after they received a complaint that it might be racist. Tom Barton reports from the scene before Nigel Brown from TDC tells BBC Essex's Paul Hawkins why the artwork was removed.
The BBC's Jonathan Head, who's in Bangkok, tells James Whale the latest on the investigation into the murders of two British tourists - one a University of Essex student - on the island of Koh Tao in #Thailand.
Rachel from Ashingdon calls @bbcessex and tells Sadie how she helped comfort a woman who'd been crushed under a lorry. Part of BBC Essex's day of coverage about the work of the Air Ambulance.
The chairman of South Asian Concern, a Christian organisation with many Essex members representing South Asians living and facing hardship here and around Britain, is backing a bid by the Afghan Sikhs who arrived in a container at Tilbury to remain in the country.
Tilbury Port chaplain Wojciech Holub, of the Apostleship of the Sea charity, tells BBC Essex that he's blessed the spot inside a container on board a cargo ferry in which a Sikh asylum seeker died.
Brian Southall who lives in Chelmsford is the man responsible for giving 1970s singer Kate Bush her big break into the music industry. Brian has been telling BBC Essex about discovering her talent as she prepares for her first concert since 1979.
James Whale speaks to John Wraw, The Bishop of Bradwell, about Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Jewish leaders who are joining together to call on the Government to work towards a UN Security Council Resolution, after an American journalist is murdered.
Andy Smerdon from Chelmsford speaks to James Whale about commemorating World War One by recreating a 125 mile journey on horseback, which thousands of men didn't return from.
The county's fire service will launch a review into its savings plans... after it revealed an accounting error has led to a debt of nearly 15 million pounds. The deficit built up over an eight year period following changes to the pension system. It was repeatedly missed by independent auditors and the government. James Whale spoke to Essex Fire Authority Chairman, Tony Hedley.
Remember last week the story of Reece Hawley? The 21-year old from Basildon found out last year he has terminal brain cancer.... chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment has so far failed to halt the progress of the disease. Reece's friends, family and even complete strangers immediately started a fundraising campaign to raise the money he'll need to fund the cancer drug Avastin which could prolong his life.
More than 250 young Catholics from the Brentwood diocese helped more than two hundred sick and disabled people on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Father James McKay, Brentwood diocesan youth chaplain recorded their thoughts throughout the week for BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast
The Independent leader of Southend Council Ron Woodley tells BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast's Peter Holmes why council tax payers' money should be used bringing the Royal Hotel, one of Southend's few Georgian buildings back to its glory. Claire Hunt, Southend Council's Curatorial Manager on how important the Royal Hotel is
Annesley Hardy of Colchester has spent three days asking people outside Essex County Hospital what should be done with it. It's to be sold off by March next year. She speaks to BBC Essex reporter Richard Smith
The story of Gillie, the 12 year old Yorkshire terrier who went missing from master eighty two year old John Bond's house in Corringham and was found two weeks later and after a facebook campaign by grand daughter Joanne Smith - they speak to BBC Essex's Mark Hardie for Saturday Breakfast
Season five of the Great British Bake Off ..kicked off with a "Swiss Roll, perfect mini traditional cakes and the Show Stopper last night. Paul Hollywood joined James Whale to discuss the new series
BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast has discovered that gluten free hosts have become widely available in Catholic and Anglican churches in Essex. Father Graham Smith of St George's Catholic Church in Shoeburyness reveals there is a grain of wheat in a gluten free host
The Dangerous Wild Animal Rescue Facility in Great Wakering near Southend which was facing closure because of a 20 thousand pounds electricity bill - is to stay open according to centre owner and founder Iain Newby and centre worker Alex Salmon...due to public support
Five centenarians and the Anglican Diocese of Chelmsford each have something in common. They're a hundred. To celebrate they've taken tea with the Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell
The Harwich Society talk about their plans for the future of the High Lighthouse they've taken over from Tony O'Neil who's run it as the National Vintage Wireless & TV Museum. His collection is now on board the LV18
Former managers of the Cliffs remember the 70's & 80's at the Cliffs Pavilion which is 50 this month
The heatwave is thought to have brought anchovies from the Mediterranean to the seas off Essex for the first time. Angler Richard Holgate has been fishing for 40 years and says it's a first
Essex Fire and Rescue has told BBC Essex whilst fire deaths are dropping, deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are increasing. It says it's getting more call outs to incidents of the poisonous gas, produced when fuels such as oil, coal or wood do not burn fully. Interview is with Neil Fenwick, who is responsible for community safety at the Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
Douglas Bevington - Smith was an Essex farmer and a Quaker who wouldn't fight in WW1 ....but thought of another way of helping those affected by war. His grandson Jonathan Hodgkin tells his story to BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast
Horses at Remus Horse Sanctuary at Brentwood are no longer fed any sugar.....and as a result laminitis and ppid have virtually disappeared. Here's the founder of Remus Sue Burton
Southend ice cream maker Rossi is hoping to get 3,000 ice cream lickers in a chain to beat the world record and raise money for Cancer Research. Nancy, Rossi's oldest ice cream seller and MD Colin Gray are involved
Chelsea flower show award winner Suzanne Gaywood creates a tropical island for the Chelmsford Cathedral Flower Festival. Dean Micholas Henshall examines the Marconi and Ford display and BBC Essex also talks to visitors
Anne Brown, Conservative Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care, speaks with James Whale about how Essex County Council has prevented 78 care homes from taking in new residents in the last 5 years because of concerns about the care they would receive.
Dr Lucy Moore, the Chief Executive at Colchester Hospital, speaks to James Whale about criticism from inspectors at the Care Quality Commission.
The Catholic Bishop of Brentwood told St George's Catholic Church in Shoeburyness that his bishop's ring was missing after he'd played with his cat. The story is taken up here on BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast by Father Graham Smith followed by Bishop Alan Williams revealing how it had disappeared
87 year old Ron Hurrell unseated the Conservative leader of Castle Point Council in May's local elections. The UKIP councillor says he's getting used to local authority politics and tells BBC Essex's Peter Holmes that his major campaign is to stop humans becoming dehumanised
Brian and Heather Houssart from Southend say they're heartbroken that the 43rd annual day trip to Clacton for children with disabilities courtesy of the town's cabbies is off. They've told BBC Essex's Peter Holmes the cab companies can't find the cars
The Car Wash Association based in Coggeshall says it's monitoring and reprting car wash companies where slave labour is found Dawn Fraser speaks to BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast's Peter Holmes about the problem
A GP practice in Essex says it's having to lose a full-time GP as a result of funding cuts. Dr Haroon is that GP and he spoke to The James Whale Breakfast show about the NHS cuts in Essex.
Saint Mary and Saint Lawrence in Great Waltham and Saint Andrew's Anglican Church in Melbourne in Chelmsford prepare to throw open their doors for the Tour de France. Reverend Caroline Brown is vicar of Saint Mary and Saint Lawrence in Great Waltham and is preparing a gala of events with organiser Keith Derry and Paul Greenland is vicar of St Andrew's
Right Reverend Alan Williams gives his first interview as Bishop to BBC Essex, along with his mother and sister who were at his episcopal ordination and Cardinal Vincent Nichols, plus a montage of the ceremony's best bits
The Recoil Training Club at Warley near Brentwood is preparing for its biggest day of the year on July 13 when a number of disabled people come together to bounce on their trampolines. BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast presenter Peter Holmes has been to the only dedicated trampolining club in the eastern region
Do you know what a collective term for a group of peacocks is? Well James and the team have been learning about animals in this weeks Quiz. Hows your knowledge take the quiz and see if you can beat the breakfast team....
Bishop Thomas McMahon, the Catholic Bishop of Brentwood, gives his last interview to BBC Essex as Bishop. On Tuesday July the First he is succeeded by Father Alan Williams
The Salvation Army's Rare Breeds Farm at Hadleigh has given temporary refuge to Valliant, Coco and Fudge after they were subjected to cruelty at Pitsea's Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea. Home Farm's manager Emma Sayer spoke to BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast's Tim Gillett
Essex Rail Passengers are promised better services ...with the awarding of a new, 15-year franchise, to current operator C2C.
Rail Minister Stephen Hammond spoke to The James Whale Breakfast Show.
Essex County Council is calling for 'urgent measures' to improve the A12!
Conservative MP for Witham Priti Patel and David Birch from the Essex Chamber of Commerce have been talking to The James Whale Breakfast Show on BBC Essex today about what can be done to improve the A12. Then we opened the phones to your thoughts....
Ben, from Little Oakley FC under 12s, has been BBC Essex's World Cup reporter on Breakfast, and has lots to say about the Luis Suarez biting incidents from last night's game.
He was joined by Danny Cowley, a football manager who has encouraged his Essex team Concord Rangers, and Mickey Cook who is the Educational Development Manager from Brightlingsea FC.
It's now a week since 31-year old Saudi Arabian student Nahid Almanea was stabbed on a footpath near Avon Way in Colchester.
Her death comes just three months after the murder of James Attfield in the town.
No motive has been found for either murder - 300 officers are working on the investigations.
Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Worron, head of serious crime told BBC ESSEX they are following up all leads AND they need public help.
Iain Newby, who for 23 years has run the Dangeour and Wild Animal Rescue Facility at Great Wakering says it'll have to close as he can't pay the £22 k electricity bill. Here he talsk to BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast's Peter Holmes
Bishop elect Alan Williams has decided to live in a small cottage in the grounds of the Brentwood Diocesan House of Prayer at Abbotswick, home of the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham and Mother Superior Sister Camilla who speaks to BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast's Peter Holmes
Listen to our sport Quiz and find out what weird games are played around the world with James Whale Sonia Watson and Ben Fryer.
The Bishop of Bradwell, the Right Reverend John Wraw, tells BBC Essex how his faith is helping him cope with cancer. He thanks all those who are praying for him.
Edward and Edna Pratt from Leigh on Sea talk about fostering over 35 years and their delight at being named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list
An Essex optician says one in twenty children is likely to have some form of vision loss by the age of four. Ian Templeman is urging parents and grandpraents to get their young children's eyes tested
The vicar of St Paul's Anglican Church says providing shelter for the homeless in the churchyard and offering tents, sleeping bags and blankets is putting Christianity into action. But some of the tents have been "knifed and burnt."
It's the age old problem....if you don't eat it all in the first few days.....the lettuce has gone limp. But Essex horticulture student Daniel Bright may be about to discover how to keep the leaves lively
How good are you at recognising phobias? Join Ian Wyatt and the Breakfast team to test you knowledge of different and unusual fears....
See how good you knowledge is of every day things you may not know have actual names...
This comes after yesterdays shock revelation that James Whale didn't know that sea defences where called Groynes. The team took a test on some other words. How many can you get take our Quiz.
This morning James Spoke to Madeleine Tricker a pupil at Tendring Enterprise Studio School and a keen Archer.
She found the medals given out in local competitions weren't up to scratch, so she started up her own business making better ones!
Gustav Holst looked up at the sky over Thaxted in the back garden of his home in the Essex town a hundred years ago and wrote the Planets suite. He wrote I Vow To Thee My Country for the choir at the parish church. Sybil King takes BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast's Peter Holmes around Holst's Thaxted
Nigel Farage speaks to James Whale and Political Reporter Tom Barton on BBC Essex today, after UKIP candidates win their first seats across the county.
You can hear what the leader of that Uk Independence Party had to say about the campaign and their success in the elections.
Essex County Council says it's shelving plans to axe a number of school crossing patrols across the county ... after a number of campaigns were launched.
Thomas Magill is outside a school in Brentwood this morning.
The Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell & Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tell BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast's Peter Holmes they're asking Home Secretary Theresa May why a group of trainee priests from Kenya have been denied visas to visit the Chelmsford diocese on an exchange trip
Essex County Councillor Rodney Bass has told BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast that some street lights may have to be switched back on. He was responding to criticism from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Chairman of the Basildon Private Hire Taxi Association. Here are all 3 interviews with Kevin Clinton from ROSPA, Dave Downton from BPHTA and County Councillor Rodney Bass
After the show James Whale and Sonia Watson had a go at speaking in a foreign language....with interesting results.
This is all because The British Council suggests 78% of Brits can't speak a foreign language while on holiday and have a bad reputation for not bothering to use foreign languages
But one Essex school, in Godfield, is trying to change this in the future by launching "language tables" where pupils are only allowed to speak in either French or Spanish.....
A group of young farmers from Essex have got in to the official single chart, with their charity record to help farmers living in rural isolation with mental health issues.
"Put That Hoedown", was put together with the help of Essex company Audio network at the world famous Abbey Road studios, and it featured Chesney Hawkes, who had a Number One with The One and Only.
James Whale spoke to Jess Roche, from the Essex Young Farmers and you can hear the song....
Dave Bruton, the President of the Spiritualists' National Union, speaking to BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast presenter Peter Holmes at Stansted Hall, the Essex headquarters of the union set up by former Essex spiritiualist Arthur Findlay.
A resident living at Shoeburyness East Beach says a cctv camera which was to be put up in the neighbouring car park would have seen the inside of their home. Southend Council says the installation has been delayed until it's assured residents their fears are addressed.
Mick Norcross plans to restore Leigh on Sea's landmark The Grand into a top nightspot after his success with the Supgarhut in Brentwood. Leigh on Sea Council Chairman Caroline Parker calls on him to start the work
Andy Wilmott notes down every mile he runs - how many has he run in total ahead of the 600th in Halstead tomorrow ?
Nigerians from Essex are heading to London today to add their voice's to a rally outside Nigeria House to demand the release of more than 200 kidnapped school girls. The girls were taken by Islamist militants from their school in northeastern Nigeria last month.
Tomi Popoola and Tomi Olopade are two students from the University of Essex's Nigerian Society and they spoke to Ian Wyatt ahead of going to the rally
Essex Police came in to talk about their campaign to crack down on bad driving on Essex roads. Adam Pipe spoke to Ian Wyatt.
Well if you don't you could suffer from cynophobia, a phobia of Dogs. Brentwood-based dog trainer, Roy Dyer, has been developing a non-clinical method of helping children suffering from cynophobia, which has impressed some psychiatrists so much it's going to be discussed at a national psychiatry conference in Cardiff in September. He spoke to Breakfast presenter Ian Wyatt
Preparations are being made at Chelmsford Cathedral and Felsted School ahead of a visit by the Queen. You can hear how they are getting ready with Ian Wyatt who is sitting in the James Whale all this week...
It's as big as a small dog, it was spotted by golfers at North Weald golf course in the bunker....and it's from Argentina !
As an Independent candidate calling himself ABC stands for election in the St Luke's ward of Southend, BBC Essex asks him why he's standing under an abbreviation and speaks to all the other candidates - Sally Carr Con, Caroline Endersby Ind, Gray Sergeant Lab, Pamela Waldie Lib Dem
The Care Quality Commission says inspections at homes for elderly people in England should be more robust, following revelations that residents had been mistreated at the Old Deanery in Braintree.
Norman Lamb - Minister of State for Care and Support Spoke to James Whale on BBC Essex
The Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell and the Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral Nicholas Henshall on the Queen's visit
Thomas Morris, who's studying Physics at the University of Leiecester says his scientific calculations have shown that Noah's ark could have floated loaded with all those animals
Southend Council hoped their £20,000 + beach huts would be vandal proof. Outlandish design using different materials to those normally in beach huts, owner of No.7 Trevor Smith says his has suffered some vandalism
Children at Robert Drake School in Thundersley have been finding out about the man their school is named after
The Essex Wildlife Trust says the Spanish bluebell is threatening the English bluebell in ancient woods across England. David Harris from Pound Wood in Thundersley says the Spanish species is grown in people's gardens
Hawkwell Athletic FC is hoping to change perceptions, by launching the county's first football team for blind and partially-sighted players. Craig Leverington, and his cousin, Matthew Leverington, who's from Hockley and lost eighty per cent of his sight around eighteen months ago spoke to James Whale
Father Alan Williams, who runs the Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham is to become the seventh Bishop of Brentwood. He succeeds Bishop Thomas McMahon and will be installed at Brentwood Cathedral in July
Aris Ali charges £9.50 for ladies' and men's haircuts at Cut U Up. But Garry Mielle of Legend also in Southend says cheap haircuts are like "a clapped out Ford Fiesta."
In business, handshakes can be very important. 'Performance Coach' Damian Culhane came in to teach James about how to shake hands.
The Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford Stephen Cottrell & the Catholic Bishop of Brentwood Thomas McMahonvisited Chelmsford foodbank situated in the Oasis Church at the Waterfront.
Essex County Council archivist on a recording of Paul Simon at the Essex Folk Club at the Railway Hotel in Brentwood in 1964 and Marc Eliot, Simon's biographer on how important the Essex years were
The James Whale Breakfast show is getting behind our producer Faye Hackwell who is running in the London Marathon...dressed as a Flamingo. She spoke to James with Colchester physiotherapist Alasdair Jones....
Lorry driver Bob Baker speaks to BBC Essex about taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
How difficult is it to get enough fruit and veg in your diet?? Researchers now say we should aim to eat at least SEVEN portions of fruit and vegetables a day. James Whale and Sonia Watson discuss....
James and the team took comments and suggestions from you this week on an alternative theme. You can hear the best bits with Sonia and James here....
David Fullick from Harlow found a cardamom pod in a bag of rice. He popped it in a pot and now it's 12 feet. The Sun's horticulturalist Steve Bradley can't believe it and the local Indian restaurant is interested !
Two giants of broadcasting in Essex and their teams take on each other on an exercise bike at BBC Essex as they attempt to cycle virtually from Colchester United's Community Stadium to Southend United's Rots Hall
BBC Essex hears that four in five homes waiting to be built in Harlow have had planning permission for more than two years.
Reverend Mark Kenny, the assistant priest of St Gabriel's of Aldersbrook has started a national petition calling for the Anglican Bishops to rescind their recent statement on same sex marriage. Father Louis Darrant of St Mary's Anglican Church In Maldon talks about signing it and being gay. Bishop of Bradwell John Wraw defends the traditional teacjing and canon laws of the Church of England
Billericay's 5th Burstead Guides celebrated their centenary by interviewing BBC Director General Tony Hall. Tony was visiting staff at BBC Essex. Rebecca, Rachel and Megan were led by Brown Owl Julie Dawes
The veteran Labour politician, Tony Benn, has died at the age of eighty-eight.
James Whale spoke to Baroness Angela Smith former Labour MP Basildon and East Thurrock...
James Whale spoke to Nick Burston, protecting people at risk Inspector AND Nick Alston, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex on the Breakfast show.
In six months' time, all 4, 5 and 6 year old's will be entitled to free hot dinners at school.
Lib Dem MP for Colchester, Sir Bob Russell spoke to James Whale on the BBC Essex Breakfast Show
The story of the Chrsitians from Westcliff who met at an Alpha course and, after it finished, decided to meet on Tuesdays regularly to continue their prayer meetings
The first of a six part Lent series in which Essex people relate the cross, the burden they carry. A reflection of a Station of the Cross and a prayer accompany each piece
A 3 day cruise from Tilbury aboard the Marco Polo this August will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Radio Caroline
A garden for people with dementia designed by Chelsea Flower Show award winner Sean Butler from Chelmsford opens at Saint Martin's Care Home in Westcliff run by the Southend Darby and Joan organisation
52 year old Patrick Byrne only started singing as Elvis ten years ago, the ge the real Elvis died. Patrick was on the verge of a heart attack but has gone on to win a 12 week residency at Britain's Las Vegas...Blackpool Pier
Reverend Rob Sefton, minister of Maldon Elim Pentecostal Church tells BBC Essex Sunday Breakfast that the floods were God's judgement on the British people for turning away from him
Doctor Viv Newman of the Essex based Cambridge Society tells the story of Alexandra Grantham of Beeleigh Abbey who lost her husband and son in the First World War
Castle Point Motors and other companies on the Manor Trading Estate say they're overwhelmed by the response to collect for flood victims in SOMERSET AND KENT
Chelmer Canal Trust says the Environment Agency has hinted it may not be able to afford to carry out a full maintenance of the automatic weir gates at Wharf Road. It's led to fears that waterway levels in Chelmsford City Centre could be altered.
Research by a campaign group has found there are more children living in poverty in Basildon than almost anywhere else in Essex.
James Whale spoke to Gavin Callaghan, who's also Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for Basildon & Billericay
France has started campaigning to end the culture of 'food porn'. They want people to stop taking photos of their dinner in restaurant and posting them on social media sites.
An Essex Catholic priest says the new English translation of the liturgy used in Mass is difficult to understand and say.
As the Essex Gang Show prepares to take to the stage next week at Westcliff's Palace Theatre, BBC Essex reveals that the Gang Show was the idea of a soldier based at Shoeburyness Garrison in the 1930's
It's a debate that's been troubling the Conservative Association in Saffron Walden, where the local MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst, wants to stand for re-lection at the age of 77
Road safety campaigner Sophie Morgan is visiting the Colchester Institute to talk to young driver about the dangers of being irresponsible behind the wheel.
Border collie Carrie rescued from the wreckage of the Clacton houses, over 48 hours since they were destroyed in an explosion. The daughter of Carrie's owners, Erica Wise, gets to say thankyou to the rescue dog handler who helped saved Carrie.
This morning on the James Whale breakfast show, we took a call from Steve who has just been fined for taking his autistic child out of school during term times.
To celebrate what would have been Roger Lloyd Pack's 70th Birthday, BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast presenter Peter Holmes called everyone Dave
Barrie Masters, lead vocalist of the Canvey Island rockers tells BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast presenter Peter Holmes about the legacy of Dave Higgs who's died from cancer at 63
It's been in Essex since the Ice Age but the signals for its future aren't good as the American Signal Crayfish marches in. Secret locations have been set up to save the native...as the EWT tells BBC Essex Saturday Breakfast presenter Peter Holmes
This morning we were all ready to go, on the James Whale Breakfast Show. All our guests where lined up and audio ready to play. Then the rain fell and Essex flooded leaving a lot of people wondering how they would get to work and school.
Hear the travel chaos as James went to the phone lines...
The resident of one of the homes that was destroyed by an explosion at a house in Clacton on Wednesday tells BBC Essex about her lucky escape.
Essex County Council is no longer proposing to put up council tax, because it says it's found the money needed elsewhere.
On the James Whale Breakfast Show this morning we found the answer to the question above! To read more on this story: http://bbc.in/N0KmT5
On the James Whale Breakfast show David Cameron has overruled the Home Office and ordered a rethink to ensure that pubs can stay open longer for England's World Cup fixture against Italy, which will be screened at 23:00 later this year.
A Tendring councillor has been found guilty of breaching conduct rules after sending an allegedly racist tweet. Danny Mayzes, who represents the Conservatives on Tendring District Council, has apologised for breaching the Members' Code of Conduct. It comes after he posted a message about immigration on the social networking site Twitter. He's been speaking to BBC Essex Political Reporter Tom Barton.
A group of residents in Brentwood are campaigning for the area around the local railway station to be tidied up.
Labour Leader of Thurrock Council John Kent Spoke to James Whale on the Breakfast Show
The BBC Essex Quest Master has been evicted from the lair by officials who condemned his lair as unfit for human habitation. His crows have gone too. The Essex Quest Mistress has taken over. Here's the moment he was recorded being removed
8-year-old Daniel Akomolafe from Braintree is keeping the tradition of letter writing to a friend over seas alive. Recently, he's been out to an impoverished part of the Dominican Republic, to visit his penpal. He has been telling Ray Clark all about it....
A new Women's Institute group, set up in Chelmsford, has attracted a record-breaking number of people to its first meeting.
The New City Girls got the largest number of women ever to turn up to an inaugural meeting of a WI group in Essex.
Now, they just need a venue big enough to fit everyone in!
Thea Gaunt, who help to set up the group, Spoke to Ray Clark.
This morning we were talking potholes again -- as Essex County Council revealed it was aware of almost sixteen THOUSAND potholes that needed fixing at the end of last month.
But while the number of potholes on the busiest and quietest roads has gone up, the figure for defects on the intermediate roads (that's roads linking main roads with quieter roads) has gone down slightly.
Ray Clark spoke to Rodney Bass, who's the Conservative councillor responsible for highways and transportation at Essex County Council...
This morning on the Ray Clark Breakfast show, Relatives of residents living at two care homes in Essex say they'd be heartbroken if the homes were to close.
The Drummonds Centre in Feering and Wakes Hall at Wakes Colne cater for adults with complex physical and learning disabilities.
The disability charity Scope, who runs the centres, are considering closing them because more people are able to be supported in their own homes.
Ray spoke to a mum whose daughter lives at one of the homes, as well as John McLachlan, the area manager for Scope.
A member of staff at Lakeside ended up delivering a baby outside the Primark store.
Bosses at Lakeside say the newborn is fit and well ...and it's the first time anyone has given birth at the shopping centre.
Paul Lancaster is the Regional Centre Director for Intu and is based at Lakeside. He was speaking to Ian Wyatt this morning on BBC Essex....
The amount you pay for the police in your council tax will go up by three point five percent next year, under plans announced by the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Ray Clark was joined by Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Nick Alston this morning on BBC Essex.....
Tim’s teaser on Saturday 18 January was an A To Z of Museums – these were BBC Essex listeners’ suggestions
Is Norman Machin of Brentwood the oldest person in the world to be confirmed an Anglican at 99 ?
It's amazing the deals you can get on the internet, cheap pair of shoes, second hand computer …..or a football stand!
Well that's exactly what Brightlingsea Regent have done as they have bought a new stand from an internet auction site in preparation for their Fourth round match in the FA Vase and if they win then they'll be just three games from a Wembley final if they win.
BBC Essex Ben Fryer has been to find out more…
This morning on the Ray Clark Breakfast show we bought you the news that…
Essex has topped a list for the number of teachers and school staff accused of having a relationship with a pupil between 2008 and September 2013.
NOT ALL COUNCIL RESPONDED...but in Essex the figures show 116 cases, 27 went on to face police charges.
This morning I spoke to Donald Findlater from the Lucy Faithful Foundation, which is a national charity for the protection of children and I also talked to Jerry Glazier, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers in Essex.
There are calls for licensing and registration of puppies to be toughened up, to stop illegal trading and puppy farming in Essex and elsewhere.
The East of England MEP, Richard Howitt, says he's joining with the RSPCA to try to tackle the problem.
And for BBC Essex, our reporter Jodie Smith went to find out best puppy practices....
This morning on the Ray Clark Breakfast show… A north Essex resident who previously complained about potholes on BBC Essex has won his case for compensation against Essex County Council.
Thomas Magill went down to Colchester to meet him but before he did Ray, Sonia and Ben took the opportunity to resurrect their favoured game of Pot hole Bingo....
It's emerged almost two hundred injured or ill people had to be taken to hospital by Essex Police last year, because there weren't any ambulances available.
The East of England Ambulance Service admits it doesn't have enough of ambulances to respond to all emergency calls, and says it's trying to recruit more paramedics.
Laurence Cawley obtained the figures for BBC Essex and Spoke to Ray Clark this morning on the Breakfast Show.
Mark Punter's resident poet from Leigh on Sea Shirley has another instalment for this week's Poetry Corner.
A Loughton woman who spent £100s on parking permits during her husband's illness is calling for free parking for all health professionals.