Stephen Metcalfe, the new MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, visited Gateway FM to field questions from a team of Year Seven students from the Basildon Lower Academy.
His visit gave Yvonne Williams a brief opportunity to raise a few queries with him. Immediately the chat finished, Stephen had to rush away to get back to the House of Commons.
Stephen Metcalfe intv with Yvonne 08.06.10
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Local singer Josh Dubovie has proved to the nation something we have long known:- he has real star quality. On BBC1 on Friday evening he won the contest to find the singer to present Britain’s Eurovision Song Contest entry.
A great song and a great performance give a greatly talented singer the opportunity of a lifetime. Not bad for a Basildon boy.
Share on FacebookLocal boy and Voice of St Lukes Hospice 2008, Josh Dubovie is set to sing his heart out on live TV this Friday 12th March in an attempt to represent the United Kingdom for Eurovision 2010.
If he is successful he will be jetting off to Norway in May and singing a song penned by pop legend Pete Waterman OBE.
Josh has been a frequent guest on Gateway FM and we fully support him at this exciting time.
A facebook page has been set up titled “Your county needs you” for people to join. Of course, the best thing that can be done is to watch the show on BBC1 at 8.30pm and cast a vote for him.
You can find out about Josh on myspace http://www.myspace.com/joshdubovie plus there is a short video that’s well worth seeing on the BBC web site www.bbc.co.uk/eurovision/contestants/ycny_2010/contestant_josh.shtml
So please join us in giving Josh your support. He’s a great singer and could just be the guy to make Eurovision 2010 the year for us to celebrate a win at last.
Share on FacebookThe Primary Care Trust (PCT) is reviewing options for a new health centre in Wickford, thanks to a Basildon Council decision to transfer council-owned land at Market Road in return for the existing health centre buildings and land.
Development on the site will require that Wickford Market be moved. Market traders will be consulted and approval sought from the Strategic Health Authority.
Share on FacebookMP presses Minister over tariff transparency
John Baron MP continues to press Minister David Kidney MP on Government plans to make energy suppliers display tariff comparisons on annual statements so that customers can choose the best value tariff.
The Minister praised John’s tenacious campaign on this issue, but claimed the annual statement is in its infancy and the Government will monitor progress.
Share on FacebookThe recent award of our community radio licence by Ofcom opens immediate opportunities to join this really local radio station and make it something very special within our community.
Volunteers can expect abundant training support and the chance to develop skills in areas such as journalism, sports reporting, editing, computing, office administration, presenting, sales, writing for radio, researching, interviewing and teaching.
The atmosphere is friendly and exciting. You could be involved in interviewing a celebrity, going out and about with our roadshow or providing a voice-over. Above all, you can bring specialist knowledge, specialist skills and individual talent to the heart of our community and share in a community enterprise pledged to helping us understand and appreciate the diverse experiences, talents and traditions amongst us.
Just call 01268 521299 to arrange a meeting.
Share on FacebookFairtrade Fortnight (22 February to 7 March) features cook-off and poetry competitions, a Big Brew event and an exhibition where residents can win £200 worth of shopping vouchers.
Throughout the fortnight, a Fairtrade Exhibition will be held at the Eastgate Centre. Residents will be able to enter a free prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £100 worth of Debenhams vouchers and £100 worth of Asda vouchers.
The exhibition will provide more information about Fairtrade and free Fairtrade product samples will also be available on Saturday and Sunday (27 and 28 February).
Schools have also been busy over the last few weeks preparing for their poetry competition and Fairtrade cook-off.
The cook-off kicks off on Friday 26 February with four secondary schools taking part. Pupils from Woodlands, Beauchamps, James Hornsby, and The Billericay School will be cooking against the clock to come up with a Fairtrade menu either from scratch, or by borrowing from proven recipes.
Darren Bennett, owner and Head Chef of the Magic Mushroom restaurant, Billericay, along with Councillors Andrew Baggott and Kevin Blake, will judge the event.
The winner of the poetry competition for junior school children will also be announced during the fortnight.
Cllr Andrew Baggott said: “By using Fairtrade products we are helping to ensure farmers around the world get paid a fair price for their produce. I would encourage everyone to choose Fairtrade products whenever possible.”
The district was officially awarded Fairtrade status on 12 December 2007 following a Council campaign to meet a set of five criteria laid out by the Fairtrade Foundation. Have a listen to Yvonne Williams’ interview with the Council’s Grant Taylor:
Grant Taylor – Fairtrade Interview 16-02-10lq
Share on FacebookTuesday 2nd February
Top singer Peter Andre visited Tescos at Pitsea as part of his nationwide tour promoting his new CD.
Crowds gathered to meet the star, however the star took time out first to talk to Gateway FMs Danny Lawrence and Basildon Upper Academy student Harry Finn.
Listen to the interview.
Some 5000 people were waiting to meet Peter, but few would have known that during his signing session he received the surprise news that his ex, Katie Price, otherwise known as Jordan, has married cagefighter Alex Reid in a reportedly private and simple ’quickie’ Las Vegas ceremony.
Peter subsequently revealed that he has no negative feelings about the couple and just hopes they will be a good influence on his children.
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The reigning Miss Galaxy International, Hayley Mac with champion former javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread MBE, Olympic bronze (1984) and silver (1988) medallist, World Champion (gold, 1987) and silver medallist (1983)
The Selex Club provided the venue for Friday’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ in aid of St Lukes.
The place rocked. The bands provided sound levels to make your ears hum and feet tap.
It was a great show with a welcome surprise guest: Olympic star, Fatima Whitbread.
She joined Hayley Mac, reigning Miss Galaxy International, to present the awards.
The winning band was Eighth Deadly Sin, in second place The Leonhearts and third place went to No Tomorrow.
Interestingly the spead of marks awarded by the judges was quite small, which reflects well on the quality of all the entrants into the competition.
The coveted first prize is a day in Basildon Recording Studio and the opportunity to perform and represent St. Luke’s at a variety of different events through the year, as well as more air time. Of course, all the bands gained terrific exposure, for they had all been featured on Gateway FM’s ‘Live & Loud’ show.
Cllr Sandra Hillier, Vice-Chair of Basildon District Council was joined on the judging panel by Peter Davies, MD of Orion Display and a Corporate Partner of St Luke’s Hospice; Yvonne Williams, MD of Gateway FM; Greg Fidgeon, Editor of the Yellow Advertiser and Mick Finch, guitar and vocals for ‘The Most’. Mick is an experienced professional musician who was able to give valuable advice to the contestants.
Gateway FM’s Breakfast Time presenter, Brian Wesley, lost no time in getting Fatima to the microphone for a brief chat immediately before the winners were announced: click the link to hear what she had to say: fatima interview
For more pictures of the event, visit the picture gallery for ‘Battle of the Bands’ in the media section.
Share on FacebookA members meeting hosted by South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) yesterday covered the closure of Runwell Hospital and the opening of its replacement Brockfield House, Young Carers Campaign, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and future plans.
SEPT is one of the largest NHS providers in the country of health and social care services for people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities.
As an NHS Foundation Trust, SEPT is run locally, not by Government, and must work closely with the local community to develop services in a way that best suits the needs of local people. Members meetings give the local community the chance to ask questions about the Trust and mental health services.
If you would like to become a Trust member, you will find details via the website www.southessex-trust.nhs.uk .
Gateway FM’s Ros Connors interviews Doctor Patrick Geoghegan from the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust about Runwell’s history, the changes expected, and the stigma still surrounding mental health.
Click the link to hear the interview: Dr Patrick Geoghegan intv
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