The Evening Echo of Southend on Sea: Everything to Know
The Evening Echo of Southend on Sea
The Evening Echo has been a part of Southend on Sea for many years. It is a local newspaper that has provided the community with up to date news as well as articles on local history. Whether you are looking for sports, entertainment, or community events, the Evening Echo has it all.
Jim Worsdale’s Life and Work
Jim Worsdale’s life and work have been largely spent in the newspaper trade. He has worked for the Swindon Evening Advertiser and the Southend Star, and in the 1980s started his own weekly newspaper, The Local Review.
He has also been a freelance correspondent for the Miami Daily News and the Copley News Service in San Diego. In the 1960s, he was editor of the Southend Evening Echo, and continues to contribute to the paper after retirement.
Although Worsdale had a relatively unremarkable childhood in Christchurch, New Zealand, the war changed him. By the time he was 19, he had become a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. After a period of training, he was assigned to the 75 Squadron, a pre-war field that specialized in elaborate flying exercises.
While in England, he painted portraits of literary figures and became an actor. He wrote poetry and made numerous ballad operas. Later, he lived in Vevey, Switzerland. There, he met Lord Blayney, a British diplomat. They were married in 1953. However, Godfrey Kneller, who was Worsdale’s employer, fired him.
During World War II, he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and flew a Wellington aircraft that crashed on a mission to attack Germany. This aircraft, armed with eight bombs, went down near the village of Ville-sur-Retourne, in France.
A few of the 35 men on board survived the crash, and one was captured. Others, including Worsdale, were left as POWs, but they were allowed to go to neutral Switzerland.
One of his first jobs was in the British Consulate in Geneva. Eventually, he was employed as a cipher officer. His duties included coding messages for nine months.
At the end of the war, he returned to Europe, where he continued to paint portraits for substantial commissions. He was a friend of Lord Rosse.
For a while, he was a companion to the Lord. He also made his way to the British Embassy in Madrid. But he was soon ordered to leave Switzerland, before the Normandy landings.
He then became a cipher officer for the British consulate in Geneva. During this period, he was a source of a great deal of wartime intelligence. As a result, he was able to escape capture from the Gestapo.
It was during his time in the British Consulate that Worsdale learned about the evacuation of two New Zealand Brigadiers, Reg Miles and James Hargest.
These men had escaped from Italy. Despite the fact that they were under military command, they had been given special duties and were to be accompanied to Switzerland.
Worsdale was able to evade capture, and the threesome walked 400 kilometers from the frontier to the neutral Switzerland. They bypassed the spa town of Bagneres-de-Luchon. They climbed all night to a high valley, and then walked into the night to reach the summit.
Local News from The Town
Southend on Sea is a coastal city in southeastern Essex. It lies on the northern side of the Thames Estuary. In addition to being a popular holiday destination for many, it is also a commercial and administrative centre.
The town has a number of interesting features. It was one of the first places in the UK to have an electronic telephone exchange. It is also the home of the world’s longest leisure pier. Other notable features include the aforementioned Pier and the Cliff Lift.
Another interesting fact about Southend is the borough status it holds. Until recently it was a municipal borough, but this was changed to unitary authority in 1914. This meant the borough was not under the control of the county council.
Although Southend on Sea is not a particularly big city, it has a thriving economy thanks to the local tourism industry. For example, the city is a twinned resort with Sopot in Poland. Since 1999 it has also been a member of Heart Essex, an umbrella organisation of East of England towns and cities.
Southend on Sea has been a dormitory town for workers from London since 1850. Despite its popularity as a holiday destination, the town did not enjoy the fast-paced development of Brighton during the Georgian era. However, in the mid-nineteenth century, a large number of affluent merchants and landowners from the city migrated to the area. As a result, Southend was developed as a burgeoning commercial centre.
Another landmark was the building of the Grand Hotel in the nineteenth century. It was the oldest hotel of its type in the UK, and was built to commemorate Charles III’s visit to the town.
Southend has a large number of museums. There are several small libraries and the Beecroft Gallery, which is located in the old Central Library building.
Among its aforementioned landmarks is the Southend on Sea pier, which is a mile long and includes a fairground. Other features include the Cliff lift and the Sea Life Adventure Aquarium. Besides its recreational activities, the town has an annual carnival.
As far as local news goes, the aforementioned city boasts a daily newspaper. A microsite has been produced by One Southend to help residents tackle the cost of living crisis.
In addition to this, all council-run car parks are free on Sundays until Christmas. Considering that the population of the town is estimated at over a quarter of a million, this should go some way to helping local businesses.
On the other hand, the city has not had the same fortunes as a holiday destination in the 1960s and 1970s. But the area has seen a revival in recent years, thanks in part to the introduction of the Access credit card and the establishment of the London Southend Airport.
Featured Stories from the Evening Echo of Southend on Sea
The Evening Echo has a rich history dating back to 1888. It is the longest running free paper in the U.K., and has a thriving online presence courtesy of the Internet. As with any newspaper, its most dedicated readers know that they can’t always expect the cheapest possible price.
A plethora of free content, along with a few paid options, is the key to a successful subscription campaign. This is a recurring theme for publishers of any kind.
The company also offers an award winning website and a host of free downloadable content to boot. This may be the best way to discover the hidden gems of Southampton and the rest of Hampshire.
Despite being a borough, it is home to some of the best beaches in England. Having said that, the area has its fair share of eel grass and other detritus. Luckily, the good weather is here to stay.
So, if you’re in the neighborhood and on the lookout for an evening frolic, be sure to book your table. We’ll bet you’ll be glad you did!
0 Comments