Southend-on-Sea
Encyclopedia
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort
in Essex
, England. The district has Borough status
, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell
, Eastwood
, Leigh-on-Sea
, North Shoebury
, Prittlewell
, Shoeburyness
, Southchurch
, Thorpe Bay
, and Westcliff-on-Sea
. The district is situated within the Thames Gateway
on the north side of the Thames estuary
40 miles (64.4 km) east of central London
. It is bordered to the north by Rochford
and to the west by Castle Point
. It is home to the longest leisure pier in the world, The Southend Pier
.
, Southend became a seaside resort during the Georgian era
, attracting many tourists in the summer months to its seven miles of beaches and bathing in the sea. Good rail connections and proximity to London mean that much of the economy has been based on tourism
, and that Southend has been a dormitory town for city workers ever since. Southend Pier
is the world's longest pleasure pier
at 1.34 miles (2158m). It has suffered fires and ship collisions, most recently in October 2005, but the basic pier structure has been repaired each time. There has been significant loss of pier-head facilities since the major fire in 1976.
Southend, like many other British sea-side resorts, went into decline as a holiday destination from the 1960s, since flights and hence holidays abroad became more affordable. Since then, much of the town centre has been developed for commerce and retail, and during the 1960s many original structures were lost to redevelopment. However, about 6.4 million tourists still visit Southend per year, generating estimated revenues of £200 million a year. H.M. Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
, (formerly HM Customs and Excise), are major employers in the town, and the central offices for the collection of VAT
are located on Victoria Avenue. The University of Essex, Southend Campus
has been developed in order to locally provide further education facilities and to assist in boosting the economy. Southend also has over 80 parks and green spaces and 14 conservation areas.
There are nine railway stations on two lines within the borough which connect it to London.
in 1892 with the functions of local government shared with Essex County Council
. In 1913 the borough was enlarged by the former area of Leigh on Sea Urban District. In 1914 the enlarged Southend gained the status of county borough
, exempt from county council
control and a single-tier of local government. The county borough was enlarged in 1933 by the former area of Shoeburyness Urban District and part of Rochford Rural District
.
In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
, Southend became a district of Essex with borough status, however in 1998 it again became the single tier of local government when it became a unitary authority
.
Seventeen wards each return three councillors, a total of 51. Councillors serve four years and one third of the council is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Following the last election in 2008
the composition of the council was:
The council has been controlled by the Conservative Party since they gained control in the 2000 election
. Most day to day decisions are by a 10-member executive headed by the council leader.
The town's 'Per Mare Per Ecclesiam' translates into 'By the Sea and By the Church', reflecting Southend's position between the church at Prittlewell
and the sea as in the Thames
estuary. The town is twinned with the resort of Sopot
in Poland
, and has been developing three-way associations with Lake Worth
, Florida
. Sopot has the longest wooden pier in Europe, Southend the longest iron pleasure pier in the world.
Southend Borough Council was criticised as one of the worst financially managed local authorities in England by the Audit Commission
report for 2006/7 one of three to gain only one of four stars, the others being Liverpool
and the Isles of Scilly
. Areas of criticism were the use of consultants and the spending of £
3.5 million on taxis during the 2006/7 financial year.
at Westminster.
The MP for Southend West
since 1997 has been David Amess
(Conservative
) who replaced Paul Channon
.
Since 2005 the MP for Rochford and Southend East has been James Duddridge (Conservative
), who replaced Sir Teddy Taylor. Despite its name the majority of the constituency is in Southend, Rochford makes up only a small part and the majority of Rochford District Council is represented in the Rayleigh constituency
. Both Southend seats are considered safe for the Conservative Party.
The Department for Communities and Local Government
's 2010 Indices of Multiple Deprivation http://www.imd.communities.gov.uk/ data showed that Southend is one of Essex's most deprived areas. Out of 32,482 Lower Super Output Areas in England, area 014D in the Kursaal ward is 99th, area 015B in Milton ward is 108th, area 010A in Victoria ward is 542nd, and area 009D in Southchurch ward is 995th, as well as an additional 5 areas all within the top 10% most deprived areas in England (with the most deprived area having a rank of 1 and the least deprived a rank of 32,482). http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/31/deprivation-map-indices-multiple Victoria and Milton wards have the highest percentage of ethnic minority population. Southend has the highest percentage of residents receiving housing benefit (19%) and the third highest percentage of residents receiving council tax benefit in Essex.
Save the Children
's research data shows that for 2008/2009, Southend had 4,000 children living in poverty, a rate of 12%, the same as Thurrock
, but above the 11% child poverty rate of the rest of Essex. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/feb/23/child-poverty-britain-map
In 2006, major travel insurance company InsureandGo
relocated its offices from Braintree
to Southend-on-Sea. The company brought with it 300 new jobs for the area.
Southend is served by two lines. Running from Southend Victoria
north out of the town is the Liverpool Street line, a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line
operated by National Express East Anglia. The service operates to London Liverpool Street
via Prittlewell
, Southend Airport
, Rochford
, Hockley, Rayleigh
, Wickford
, Billericay
, Shenfield
and Stratford
.
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
, the Fenchurch Street
line, is operated by c2c
and runs from Shoeburyness
in the east of the borough, west through Thorpe Bay
, Southend East, Southend Central
to Fenchurch Street
in London via Benfleet
and Basildon
or Tilbury
and Barking
. Additionally, two services from Southend Central each weekday evening terminate at Liverpool Street.
From 1910 to 1939, the London Underground
's District Line
's eastbound service ran as far as Southend and Shoeburyness.
Besides its main line railway connections, Southend is also the home of two smaller railways. The Southend Pier Railway
provides transport along the length of Southend Pier
, whilst the nearby Southend Cliff Railway
provides a connection from the promenade to the cliff top above.
(The Southend Arterial Road), via Basildon and Romford
, and the A13, via Tilbury and London Docklands. Both are major routes. However, within the borough, the A13 is a single carriageway local route, whereas the A127 is almost entirely dual carriageway. Both lead to the M25 and eventually London.
(formerly the council-owned Southend Corporation Transport) and First Essex Buses
(formerly NBC/Thamesway). Minor companies include Stephensons of Essex
, and Regal Busways
.
London Southend Airport
was developed from the military airfield at Rochford
, opened as a civil airport in 1935, and now offers scheduled twice daily flights to Waterford and Galway in Ireland and flights to Jersey
on summer Saturdays, corporate and recreational flights, aircraft maintenance and pilot training. A new ATC control tower opened in March 2011 and a new railway station opened 18 July 2011; a new terminal under construction is to be opened alongside the station in late 2011. The runway is shortly to be extended, and a new hotel will be built at the airport. Southend Airport is operated by Stobart Air, a division of the Stobart Group. The airport, and aviation businesses based there, provides a major employment site within the town with more than 1,000 jobs.
, Southend High School for Girls
, Westcliff High School for Boys
and Westcliff High School for Girls
. Additionally there are two single-sex schools assisted by the Roman Catholic Church: St Bernard's High School for Girls and St Thomas More High School for Boys
. Both, while not grammar schools, contain a grammar stream; entrance is by the same exam as grammar schools. The other mainstream secondary schools are mixed-sex comprehensives, including Belfairs High School
, Cecil Jones College
, Chase High School
(formerly Prittlewell High School), Futures Community College
(formerly Thorpe Bay High School), Shoeburyness High School
and The Eastwood School
.
, as well as a number of weekend and evening courses. The university's centre in the town is a single building on the High Street. The university has built its own centre in Southend, next to the college building on the site of the Odeon cinema. These buildings form the first two phases of the Southend Campus. Additionally, there is SEEVIC College
. The East 15 Acting School
, a drama school
, has its second campus there.
Southend has two football teams, one of league stature, Southend United
, managed by Paul Sturrock
. The other, Southend Manor
, play in the Essex Senior League. United competed in Football League One
(the third highest division of the English football league system
) after being relegated after finishing third from bottom of Football League Championship
at the end of the 2006–07 season
. They now Play in Football League Two
having been relegated again after finishing 23rd at the end of the 2009-10 season
There are two rugby clubs with nationwide profile, Southend R.F.C. and Westcliff R.F.C., Southend having the superior men's first team (playing in National League 2 South
). Essex County Cricket Club
play in Southend one week a season. Previously the festival was at Southchurch Park, but it has moved to Garon Park. The only other cricket is local.
The eight-lane, floodlit, synthetic athletics track at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre is home to Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club
. The facilities include all track and field events.
The town is known for its seafront. Southend-on-Sea is home to the world's longest pleasure pier, built in 1830 and stretching some 1.33 miles from shore Since 1986, a diesel-hydraulic railway has run the length of the pier
, replacing the electric service which opened in 1890. The pier has been beset by fires; a fire in 1995 destroyed the bowling alley at the start of the pier and another fire in October 2005 damaged the far end of the pier. The pier was also run through by a boat in 1984.
The Kursaal
was one of the earliest theme parks, built at the start of the 20th century. It closed in the 1970s and much of the land was developed as housing. The entrance hall, a listed building, is a bowling alley arcade operated by Megabowl
and casino. An amusement park, formerly known as Peter Pan's Playground, straddles the pier entrance. Peter Pan's Playground was eventually renamed Adventure Island
as its size and popularity grew, and has since grown into a large amusement park
with over 50 rides. The seafront also houses the "Sea-Life Adventure" aquarium
, owned by the Miller family, who also own Adventure Island.
The cliff gardens, which included Never Never Land and a Victorian bandstand were an attraction until slippage in 2003 made parts of the cliffs unstable, and the bandstand has been removed. The council wants to re-erect the bandstand but a location has to be found.
A modern vertical lift links the base of the High Street with the seafront and the new pier entrance. The older Southend Cliff Railway
, a short funicular
, is a few hundred metres away.
Art on the Railings is a regular exhibition for local artists who display their work on Pier Hill.
The London to Southend Classic Car run takes place each summer and features classic cars which line the seafront.
The Southend Shakedown, organised by Ace Cafe, is an annual event featuring motorbikes and scooters. There are other scooter runs throughout the year, including the Great London Rideout, which arrives at Southend seafront each year.
There are regular vintage fairs and markets in Southend, held at a variety of locations including the Leigh Community Centre, The Kursaal and The Railway Hotel.
A record fair is frequently held at West Leigh Schools, Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh On Sea.
parachute display team and RAF Red Arrows
jet aerobatics team are regular visitors to the show.
Each August Southend Carnival opens along the "Golden Mile" with the lighting of the Southend Illuminations.
The Southend-on-Sea Film Festival is an annual event that began in 2009 and is run by The White Bus who are based at TAP, Old Water Works in Southend. Ray Winstone
attended the opening night gala in both 2010 and 2011, and has become the Festival Patron.
The films shown are a combination of world cinema, independent cinema, documentaries, children’s films, sing-a-longs, popular classics, and British noir. The Festival usually takes place over 5 days in spring, at the Palace Theatre, Park Inn Palace Hotel, and the Southend Central Museum and Planetarium. Fringe events including musical performances take place at a variety of locations in Southend
Leigh Folk Festival is a three day event each summer in Old Leigh, featuring live music by the sea
Leigh on Sea Fishing Festival is held in Old Leigh and is organised by local fishermen. It provides an opportunity to see the port in action and taste the local catch.
Old Leigh Regatta is a family event with stalls, dancing, local food, music, and water activities.
The Southend Central Museum on Victoria Avenue features original Ekco radios, from, E.K. Cole & Co. Ltd. (or 'Ekco') formerly based in Southend, who in the 1930s were one of Britain's largest radio manufacturers.
Leigh Art Trail began in 1997, and each year local artists display their work at a variety of locations through Leigh Broadway and in Old Leigh
Westcliff Art Trail began in 2008 and follows a similar format to the Leigh Art Trail, with local artists showcasing their work in Westcliff shops, cafes and bars.
is a large building to host concerts and performances on ice. The most recent theatre is the New Empire Theatre
. It is, unlike the other two, privately owned. It is used more by amateur groups. The theatre was converted from the ABC Cinema, which was originally a theatre built in 1896. The New Empire theatre closed in 2009. The Edwardian Palace Theatre is a grade II building built in 1912. It shows plays from professional troupes and repertory groups, as well as comedy acts. The theatre has two circles and the steepest rake in Britain. Part of the theatre was a smaller venue called The Dixon Studio.
, These New Puritans
, The Violets
, Errorplains and Neils Children
. Southend has two major venues; Chinnerys and the Cliffs Pavilion
both have hosted appearances from a large number of artistes. The Sunrooms is a smaller venue which opened in 1991, specialising in reggae, funk, electronica and underground dance music. The Railway Hotel is a live music pub, which features a variety of acts, as well as curating the Southend Pier Festival.
Bands and solo musicians that originate from Southend include; The Hamsters
, Procol Harum
, Danielle Dax
, The Horrors
, The Kursaal Flyers
, These New Puritans
, Ipso Facto
, Scroobius Pip, Busted
.
On the 28 March 2008, Southend got its own radio station for the first time which is also shared with Chelmsford Radio formerly known as Dream 107.7 FM and Chelmer FM before that, Southend Radio
started broadcasting on 105.1FM from purpose built studios adjacent to the Adventure Island theme park.
and Arabic, and English and Arabic.
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England. The district has Borough status
Borough status in the United Kingdom
Borough status in the United Kingdom is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district...
, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell
Chalkwell
Chalkwell is an area in the Southend-on-Sea borough and unitary district in Essex, England. It forms part of the built-up area of Southend-on-Sea and is included in the Westcliff-on-Sea post town....
, Eastwood
Eastwood, Essex
Eastwood is a town four miles west of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. It is a suburb of Southend and part of the Southend-on-Sea unitary district. Eastwood is sometimes called Eastwood Park, such as for local elections....
, Leigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea , sometimes called Leigh, is a civil parish in Essex, England. It is part of Southend-on-Sea for administrative purposes. It became a civil parish in 1996. The council tax was increased to support it. A town council was formed. Leigh is the only parish in Southend...
, North Shoebury
North Shoebury
North Shoebury is a district and former village in the north-east of Southend-on-Sea in the English county of Essex.North Shoebury was once an ecclesiastical parish...
, Prittlewell
Prittlewell
Prittlewell is an area of Southend-on-Sea in Essex. Historically, Prittlewell is the original town, Southend being the south end of Prittlewell.Originally a Saxon village, Prittlewell is centred on St...
, Shoeburyness
Shoeburyness
Shoeburyness is a town in southeast Essex, England, situated at the mouth of the river Thames Estuary. It is within the borough of Southend-on-Sea, and is situated at the far east of the borough, around east of Southend town centre...
, Southchurch
Southchurch
Southchurch is now part of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. However, it was an independent parish until 1894 and has a documented history going back to the ninth century AD....
, Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay is an affluent area within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England, situated on the Thames Estuary.Thorpe Bay is situated within the Southend ward of Thorpe. It is around 4 miles to the east of Southend. Originally the area was called Thorpe, but was renamed Thorpe Bay after its...
, and Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea is a suburb of Southend-on-Sea, a seaside resort in the East of England and unitary authority in Essex. It is situated on the northern bank of the Thames Estuary and about 34 miles east of London.-Geography:...
. The district is situated within the Thames Gateway
Thames Gateway
The Thames Gateway is an area of land stretching east from inner east London on both sides of the River Thames and the Thames Estuary. The area, which includes much brownfield land, has been designated a national priority for urban regeneration, taking advantage of the development opportunities...
on the north side of the Thames estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
40 miles (64.4 km) east of central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is bordered to the north by Rochford
Rochford (district)
Rochford is a local government district in Essex, England. It is named for one of its main settlements, Rochford, though the major centre of population in the district is the town of Rayleigh...
and to the west by Castle Point
Castle Point
Castle Point is a local government district and borough in south Essex. The borough comprises the towns of Canvey Island, Hadleigh, South Benfleet, and Thundersley which also provides the site of the council headquarters.-History:...
. It is home to the longest leisure pier in the world, The Southend Pier
Southend Pier
Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. Sir John Betjeman once said that "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier". The pier is a Grade II listed building....
.
History
Originally the south end of the village of PrittlewellPrittlewell
Prittlewell is an area of Southend-on-Sea in Essex. Historically, Prittlewell is the original town, Southend being the south end of Prittlewell.Originally a Saxon village, Prittlewell is centred on St...
, Southend became a seaside resort during the Georgian era
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
, attracting many tourists in the summer months to its seven miles of beaches and bathing in the sea. Good rail connections and proximity to London mean that much of the economy has been based on tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, and that Southend has been a dormitory town for city workers ever since. Southend Pier
Southend Pier
Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. Sir John Betjeman once said that "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier". The pier is a Grade II listed building....
is the world's longest pleasure pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
at 1.34 miles (2158m). It has suffered fires and ship collisions, most recently in October 2005, but the basic pier structure has been repaired each time. There has been significant loss of pier-head facilities since the major fire in 1976.
Southend, like many other British sea-side resorts, went into decline as a holiday destination from the 1960s, since flights and hence holidays abroad became more affordable. Since then, much of the town centre has been developed for commerce and retail, and during the 1960s many original structures were lost to redevelopment. However, about 6.4 million tourists still visit Southend per year, generating estimated revenues of £200 million a year. H.M. Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of taxes and the payment of some forms of state support....
, (formerly HM Customs and Excise), are major employers in the town, and the central offices for the collection of VAT
Vat
Vat or VAT may refer to:* A type of container such as a barrel, storage tank, or tub, often constructed of welded sheet stainless steel, and used for holding, storing, and processing liquids such as milk, wine, and beer...
are located on Victoria Avenue. The University of Essex, Southend Campus
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
has been developed in order to locally provide further education facilities and to assist in boosting the economy. Southend also has over 80 parks and green spaces and 14 conservation areas.
There are nine railway stations on two lines within the borough which connect it to London.
Local government district
Southend-on-Sea was formed as a municipal boroughMunicipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
in 1892 with the functions of local government shared with Essex County Council
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. In 1913 the borough was enlarged by the former area of Leigh on Sea Urban District. In 1914 the enlarged Southend gained the status of county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
, exempt from county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
control and a single-tier of local government. The county borough was enlarged in 1933 by the former area of Shoeburyness Urban District and part of Rochford Rural District
Rochford Rural District
Rochford Rural District was a rural district with an area of 146.01 square kilometres in the county of Essex, England. It was created in 1894, in 1897 the parish of Leigh was removed to create the Leigh-on-Sea Urban District. In 1926 the parish of Canvey Island was removed to create the Canvey...
.
In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, Southend became a district of Essex with borough status, however in 1998 it again became the single tier of local government when it became a unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
.
Council
Seventeen wards each return three councillors, a total of 51. Councillors serve four years and one third of the council is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Following the last election in 2008
Southend-on-Sea Council election, 2008
The 2008 Southend-on-Sea Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Southend-on-Sea Unitary Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party stayed in overall control of the council....
the composition of the council was:
| Affiliation | Councillors |
|
| Conservative Party Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
27 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 12 | |
| Independent | 8 | |
| Labour Party Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... |
4 | |
The council has been controlled by the Conservative Party since they gained control in the 2000 election
Southend-on-Sea Council election, 2000
The 2000 Southend-on-Sea Council election took place on 4 May 2000 to elect members of Southend-on-Sea Unitary Council in Essex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.After the election, the...
. Most day to day decisions are by a 10-member executive headed by the council leader.
The town's 'Per Mare Per Ecclesiam' translates into 'By the Sea and By the Church', reflecting Southend's position between the church at Prittlewell
Prittlewell
Prittlewell is an area of Southend-on-Sea in Essex. Historically, Prittlewell is the original town, Southend being the south end of Prittlewell.Originally a Saxon village, Prittlewell is centred on St...
and the sea as in the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
estuary. The town is twinned with the resort of Sopot
Sopot
Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000....
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and has been developing three-way associations with Lake Worth
Lake Worth
Lake Worth is the name of several places in the United States:*Lake Worth, Florida, a city*Lake Worth Lagoon, a lagoon in Florida*Lake Worth, Texas, a town in Texas*Lake Worth , a lake in Texas...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Sopot has the longest wooden pier in Europe, Southend the longest iron pleasure pier in the world.
Southend Borough Council was criticised as one of the worst financially managed local authorities in England by the Audit Commission
Audit Commission
The Audit Commission is a public corporation in the United Kingdom.The Commission’s primary objective is to improve economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local government, housing and the health service, directly through the audit and inspection process and also through value for money...
report for 2006/7 one of three to gain only one of four stars, the others being Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
. Areas of criticism were the use of consultants and the spending of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
3.5 million on taxis during the 2006/7 financial year.
Members of Parliament
Southend is represented by two MPsMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
at Westminster.
The MP for Southend West
Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)
Southend West is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
since 1997 has been David Amess
David Amess
David Anthony Andrew Amess is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1983, first for Basildon, and since 1997 for Southend West.-Early life:...
(Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
) who replaced Paul Channon
Paul Channon
Henry Paul Guinness Channon, Baron Kelvedon, PC , was Conservative MP for Southend West for 38 years, from 1959 until 1997...
.
Since 2005 the MP for Rochford and Southend East has been James Duddridge (Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
), who replaced Sir Teddy Taylor. Despite its name the majority of the constituency is in Southend, Rochford makes up only a small part and the majority of Rochford District Council is represented in the Rayleigh constituency
Rayleigh (UK Parliament constituency)
Rayleigh was a parliamentary constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. Both Southend seats are considered safe for the Conservative Party.
Demographics
Southend is the seventh most densely populated area in the United Kingdom outside of the London Boroughs, with 38.8 people per hectare compared to a national average of 3.77. As of mid 2006, 18% of the population was aged under 15, with the same proportion being aged over 65. The proportion of people aged 55-64 was 12%.http://www.southend.gov.uk/download/70/southend_joint_strategic_needs_assessment-april_2008The Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
's 2010 Indices of Multiple Deprivation http://www.imd.communities.gov.uk/ data showed that Southend is one of Essex's most deprived areas. Out of 32,482 Lower Super Output Areas in England, area 014D in the Kursaal ward is 99th, area 015B in Milton ward is 108th, area 010A in Victoria ward is 542nd, and area 009D in Southchurch ward is 995th, as well as an additional 5 areas all within the top 10% most deprived areas in England (with the most deprived area having a rank of 1 and the least deprived a rank of 32,482). http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/31/deprivation-map-indices-multiple Victoria and Milton wards have the highest percentage of ethnic minority population. Southend has the highest percentage of residents receiving housing benefit (19%) and the third highest percentage of residents receiving council tax benefit in Essex.
Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
's research data shows that for 2008/2009, Southend had 4,000 children living in poverty, a rate of 12%, the same as Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
, but above the 11% child poverty rate of the rest of Essex. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/feb/23/child-poverty-britain-map
Economy
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Southend-on-Sea at current basic prices published (pp. 240–253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.| Year | Regional Gross Value Added | Agriculture | Industry | Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1,373 | 2 | 305 | 1,066 |
| 2000 | 1,821 | 1 | 375 | 1,445 |
| 2003 | 2,083 | - | 418 | 1,665 |
In 2006, major travel insurance company InsureandGo
InsureandGo
InsureandGo is a private limited insurance company based in the United Kingdom.They mainly specialise in travel insurance, but also provide computer and gadget insurance products...
relocated its offices from Braintree
Braintree, Essex
Braintree is a town of about 42,000 people and the principal settlement of the Braintree district of Essex in the East of England. It is northeast of Chelmsford and west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.Braintree has grown contiguous...
to Southend-on-Sea. The company brought with it 300 new jobs for the area.
Transport
Railways
Southend Victoria railway station
Southend Victoria is one of two major railway stations in the town of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. The station is the terminus of the Shenfield to Southend Line, which is a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line...
north out of the town is the Liverpool Street line, a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
operated by National Express East Anglia. The service operates to London Liverpool Street
Liverpool Street station
Liverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
via Prittlewell
Prittlewell railway station
Prittlewell railway station serves Prittlewell in Southend-on-Sea, England.Prittlewell was actually the first settlement here before Southend diverged from the village, expanded and engulfed it.A nearby place of interest is Prittlewell Priory.- Services :...
, Southend Airport
Southend Airport railway station
Southend Airport railway station is a railway station on the Shenfield to Southend line which opened on 18 July 2011, however the official opening ceremony was enacted by Minister for Transport Theresa Villiers MP on 21 September 2011...
, Rochford
Rochford railway station
Rochford railway station serves the town of Rochford in Essex, England. The station is managed by National Express East Anglia, who provide all train services. It is situated on the line from Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street. It also used to serve London Southend Airport until the new...
, Hockley, Rayleigh
Rayleigh railway station
Rayleigh railway station serves the town of Rayleigh in Essex, England. The station, and all trains calling there, are operated by National Express East Anglia....
, Wickford
Wickford railway station
Wickford railway station is in the town of Wickford in the Basildon district of the county of Essex in the East of England. The station is currently served and managed by National Express East Anglia with services to and from London Liverpool Street station, Southend Victoria and Southminster.The...
, Billericay
Billericay railway station
Billericay railway station is a railway station in the town of Billericay in the Basildon district of the county of Essex in the East of England...
, Shenfield
Shenfield railway station
Shenfield is a major station located in Shenfield in the borough of Brentwood in Essex, England. It lies on the Great Eastern Main Line and links Liverpool Street station in the City of London to places in the East of England. It was first opened by the Eastern Counties Railway on 29 March 1843 on...
and Stratford
Stratford station
Stratford station is a large multilevel railway station in Stratford, east London. The station is served by the National Rail services National Express East Anglia, London Overground and c2c, by London Underground's Central and Jubilee lines, and by the Docklands Light Railway . Stratford is in...
.
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway is an English railway line linking Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London with northeast London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway area of southern Essex. It is currently known as the Essex Thameside Route by Network Rail...
, the Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street is a street in the City of London home to a number of shops, pubs and offices. It links Aldgate at its eastern end with Lombard Street and Gracechurch Street to the west. To the south of Fenchurch Street and towards its eastern end is Fenchurch Street railway station...
line, is operated by c2c
C2c
c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway...
and runs from Shoeburyness
Shoeburyness railway station
Shoeburyness is a railway station located in the small town of Shoeburyness in the borough and unitary district of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. The station serves as the eastern terminus of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London,...
in the east of the borough, west through Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay railway station
Thorpe Bay is a railway station in Southend-on-Sea, on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. Train services are provided by c2c. The station is 37 miles distant on the main line from Fenchurch Street.- Layout :...
, Southend East, Southend Central
Southend Central railway station
Southend Central is a railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. Train services are provided by the National Express Group train operating company c2c...
to Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street railway station
Fenchurch Street railway station, also known as London Fenchurch Street, is a central London railway terminus in the south eastern corner of the City of London, England. The station is one of the smallest terminals in London in terms of platforms and one of the most intensively operated...
in London via Benfleet
Benfleet railway station
Benfleet railway station, or Benfleet railway station for Canvey Island, serves the towns of South Benfleet and Canvey Island in Essex, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by c2c. The station opened in 1855.- Facilities :...
and Basildon
Basildon railway station
Basildon is railway station located in Basildon, Essex, England. The station was opened in 1974. The Station is managed by and all train services are operated by c2c...
or Tilbury
Tilbury Town railway station
Tilbury Town railway station is a railway station located in the town of Tilbury in the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock in the East of England....
and Barking
Barking station
Barking station is a railway station served by National Rail and London Underground services. It is located in Barking in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in east London, England. The station is in Zone 4, has nine platforms, and is managed by c2c. It has been proposed that ownership of...
. Additionally, two services from Southend Central each weekday evening terminate at Liverpool Street.
From 1910 to 1939, the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
's District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
's eastbound service ran as far as Southend and Shoeburyness.
Besides its main line railway connections, Southend is also the home of two smaller railways. The Southend Pier Railway
Southend Pier Railway
The Southend Pier Railway is a narrow gauge railway in the English seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea. It runs the length of Southend Pier, providing public passenger transport from the shore to the pier head.-Operation:...
provides transport along the length of Southend Pier
Southend Pier
Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. Sir John Betjeman once said that "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier". The pier is a Grade II listed building....
, whilst the nearby Southend Cliff Railway
Southend Cliff Railway
The Southend Cliff Railway, or Southend Cliff Lift, is a funicular in the English seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea, constructed in 1912.The line is owned and operated by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, and has the following technical parameters:...
provides a connection from the promenade to the cliff top above.
Road
Two A-roads connect Southend with London and the rest of the country, the A127A127 road
The A127, also known as the Southend Arterial Road, is one of the trunk roads in England linking London with Southend-on-Sea, the other being the A13. It is a dual carriageway for its entire length, rare on a trunk road since the only others are the A14 and the A282, and is known as the Southend...
(The Southend Arterial Road), via Basildon and Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
, and the A13, via Tilbury and London Docklands. Both are major routes. However, within the borough, the A13 is a single carriageway local route, whereas the A127 is almost entirely dual carriageway. Both lead to the M25 and eventually London.
Buses
Local public transport is by two main bus companies, Arriva SouthendArriva Southend
Arriva Southend is a division of Arriva Southern Counties, a subsidiary of transport group Arriva which operates bus services in and around the Southend-on-Sea, Rochford, Rayleigh, Basildon, and Thurrock areas of Essex...
(formerly the council-owned Southend Corporation Transport) and First Essex Buses
First Essex
First Essex Buses Limited is owned by First Group. First Essex carries around 29 million passengers each year on a network of routes serving Essex and the surrounding areas. It arose from an amalgamation of Eastern National and Thamesway Buses, whose yellow/maroon livery has only recently disappeared...
(formerly NBC/Thamesway). Minor companies include Stephensons of Essex
Stephensons of Essex
Stephensons of Essex is a privately owned bus company based in south Essex, in England, operating local bus and contract services in the same areas as Arriva Southend, Ensignbus, First Essex, NIBS, and Regal Busways. It also runs private hire coaches, and has a bus and coach dealership and sales...
, and Regal Busways
Regal Busways
Regal Busways Ltd is a small bus operator established in 2001 and based in Essex. Their services operate through 30 local communities including Chelmsford, Epping, The Hanningfields, Canvey Island, Harlow, Ongar, Pleshey, Toot Hill, Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross and Wickford.-History:Regal...
.
Southend Airport
London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport or Southend Airport is a regional airport in the district of Rochford within Essex, England.During the 1960s, Southend was the third-busiest airport in the United Kingdom. It remained London's third-busiest airport in terms of passengers handled until the end of the 1970s,...
was developed from the military airfield at Rochford
Rochford
Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford...
, opened as a civil airport in 1935, and now offers scheduled twice daily flights to Waterford and Galway in Ireland and flights to Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
on summer Saturdays, corporate and recreational flights, aircraft maintenance and pilot training. A new ATC control tower opened in March 2011 and a new railway station opened 18 July 2011; a new terminal under construction is to be opened alongside the station in late 2011. The runway is shortly to be extended, and a new hotel will be built at the airport. Southend Airport is operated by Stobart Air, a division of the Stobart Group. The airport, and aviation businesses based there, provides a major employment site within the town with more than 1,000 jobs.
Secondary schools
In 2004 Southend retained grammar school system and has four such schools: Southend High School for BoysSouthend High School for Boys
Southend High School for Boys, also known by its acronym SHSB, is a selective secondary Academy Grammar school along Prittlewell Chase in Prittlewell, in the north-west of Southend-on-Sea, England, south-west of the roundabout of the A127 and A1159...
, Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls is a grammar school situated on Southchurch Boulevard in the east of Southend-on-Sea, England. It has students from the ages 11 through to 18 years old. The current headteacher is Mrs A.D. Clewlow.-Academics:...
, Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys is a selective academy grammar school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Westcliff-on-Sea, near Southend-on-Sea, Essex and surrounding areas. In September 2001 the school was awarded "Beacon" status for its breadth of achievements and quality of work...
and Westcliff High School for Girls
Westcliff High School for Girls
Westcliff High School for Girls is a selective non-boarding grammar school for girls in Southend-On-Sea, Essex and surrounding areas.-Admissions:...
. Additionally there are two single-sex schools assisted by the Roman Catholic Church: St Bernard's High School for Girls and St Thomas More High School for Boys
St Thomas More High School for Boys
St Thomas More High School for Boys is a voluntary-aided Roman CatholicMathematics and Computing College located in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. It caters for boys between the ages of 11 and 18 but has a mixed sixth form....
. Both, while not grammar schools, contain a grammar stream; entrance is by the same exam as grammar schools. The other mainstream secondary schools are mixed-sex comprehensives, including Belfairs High School
Belfairs High School
Belfairs High School is a comprehensive secondary school in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England. The current head teacher is John Duprey B.A . The school has held Media Arts Status since 2003...
, Cecil Jones College
Cecil Jones College
Cecil Jones College is a secondary school situated in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, in England. It is a specialist Business and Enterprise College...
, Chase High School
Chase High School
Chase High School is a secondary school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England.HistoryThe school opened in 2006 on the site of the former Prittlewell Technology College, and opened a new extension in April 2009, which included dance and drama studios, an independent learning centre and a cafeteria...
(formerly Prittlewell High School), Futures Community College
Futures Community College
Futures Community College is a Secondary school in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. It was formerly called Thorpe Bay High School. Futures is based next to Southend High School for Girls...
(formerly Thorpe Bay High School), Shoeburyness High School
Shoeburyness High School
Shoeburyness High School is a secondary school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Unusually, it is one of the few partially selective schools in England. The high school celebrated its 70th anniversary in June 2009....
and The Eastwood School
The Eastwood School
-External links:*...
.
Further and higher education
A number of secondary schools offer further education, but the largest provider is South Essex College, in a new building in the centre of town. Formerly known as South East Essex College, the college changed name in January 2010 following a merger with Thurrock and Basildon College. South Essex College offers 30 degree courses matriculated by the University of EssexUniversity of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, as well as a number of weekend and evening courses. The university's centre in the town is a single building on the High Street. The university has built its own centre in Southend, next to the college building on the site of the Odeon cinema. These buildings form the first two phases of the Southend Campus. Additionally, there is SEEVIC College
SEEVIC College
SEEVIC College is a further education college located in Benfleet, Essex and with a second campus in Basildon, Essex. They have approximately 2500 students. They also provide adult education courses for learners of any age....
. The East 15 Acting School
East 15 Acting School
East 15 is a British drama school in Debden, Loughton, Essex. At the main campus, Loughton, it occupies an 18th century mansion, Hatfields, and has its own theatre, the Corbett, which is adjacent. The Corbett Theatre is an adaptation of a 15th-century barn...
, a drama school
Drama school
A drama school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution ; which specialises in the pre-professional training in drama and theatre arts, such as acting, design and technical theatre, arts administration, and...
, has its second campus there.
Sport
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, managed by Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
. The other, Southend Manor
Southend Manor F.C.
Southend Manor is a football team based in Southend. They play in the Essex Senior League.-History:Southend Manor was formed in 1955 by Gil and Doris Medcalf in Southend-on-Sea as a team of 10 and 11 year old boys...
, play in the Essex Senior League. United competed in Football League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
(the third highest division of the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
) after being relegated after finishing third from bottom of Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
at the end of the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
. They now Play in Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
having been relegated again after finishing 23rd at the end of the 2009-10 season
There are two rugby clubs with nationwide profile, Southend R.F.C. and Westcliff R.F.C., Southend having the superior men's first team (playing in National League 2 South
National League 2 South
National League 2 South, known before September 2009 as National Division Three South, is a league at level 4 in the English rugby union system. The league is one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart covering the north of England...
). Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
play in Southend one week a season. Previously the festival was at Southchurch Park, but it has moved to Garon Park. The only other cricket is local.
The eight-lane, floodlit, synthetic athletics track at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre is home to Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club
Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club
Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club is an athletics club based in Essex.The club has one track, which is based at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre....
. The facilities include all track and field events.
Seafront attractions
Southend Pier
Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea. Extending into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. Sir John Betjeman once said that "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier". The pier is a Grade II listed building....
, replacing the electric service which opened in 1890. The pier has been beset by fires; a fire in 1995 destroyed the bowling alley at the start of the pier and another fire in October 2005 damaged the far end of the pier. The pier was also run through by a boat in 1984.
The Kursaal
Kursaal (amusement park)
The Kursaal is a landmark feature in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, which opened in 1901 as one of the world's first purpose-built amusement parks. The venue is noted for the main building with distinctive dome, designed by Campbell Sherrin, and which has featured on a Royal Mail special edition...
was one of the earliest theme parks, built at the start of the 20th century. It closed in the 1970s and much of the land was developed as housing. The entrance hall, a listed building, is a bowling alley arcade operated by Megabowl
Megabowl
Megabowl is a trading name of Tenpin Ltd, a subsidiary of Essenden PLC .The "Megabowl" brand has gradually been replaced by the new "Tenpin" brand, with only a handful of Megabowl branded sites remaining....
and casino. An amusement park, formerly known as Peter Pan's Playground, straddles the pier entrance. Peter Pan's Playground was eventually renamed Adventure Island
Adventure Island (amusement park)
Adventure Island is a free-admission amusement park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK which has 33 different rides and attractions as well as a gift shop and catering outlets. The current site of the amusement park flanks the north end of Southend Pier and has been an amusement park since 1976 when the...
as its size and popularity grew, and has since grown into a large amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
with over 50 rides. The seafront also houses the "Sea-Life Adventure" aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, owned by the Miller family, who also own Adventure Island.
The cliff gardens, which included Never Never Land and a Victorian bandstand were an attraction until slippage in 2003 made parts of the cliffs unstable, and the bandstand has been removed. The council wants to re-erect the bandstand but a location has to be found.
A modern vertical lift links the base of the High Street with the seafront and the new pier entrance. The older Southend Cliff Railway
Southend Cliff Railway
The Southend Cliff Railway, or Southend Cliff Lift, is a funicular in the English seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea, constructed in 1912.The line is owned and operated by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, and has the following technical parameters:...
, a short funicular
Funicular
A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.-Operation:The basic principle of funicular...
, is a few hundred metres away.
Art on the Railings is a regular exhibition for local artists who display their work on Pier Hill.
The London to Southend Classic Car run takes place each summer and features classic cars which line the seafront.
The Southend Shakedown, organised by Ace Cafe, is an annual event featuring motorbikes and scooters. There are other scooter runs throughout the year, including the Great London Rideout, which arrives at Southend seafront each year.
Shopping
On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, Southend hosts a farmers' market.There are regular vintage fairs and markets in Southend, held at a variety of locations including the Leigh Community Centre, The Kursaal and The Railway Hotel.
A record fair is frequently held at West Leigh Schools, Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh On Sea.
Festival events
An airshow, dubbed Festival of the Air in 2009, takes place each May. Starting in 1986 - the first show starred a Concorde flypast whilst on a passenger charter flight - the show is one of Europe's largest free airshows and features high-speed military jets and sports aerobatic displays, which fly over the sea, parallel with the seafront. The RAF FalconsRAF Falcons
The RAF Falcons are recognised as the UK's premier military parachute display team. They perform their unique and colourful aerial display at numerous venues nationwide and are renowned for their famous 11-person non-contact canopy stack display routine....
parachute display team and RAF Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
jet aerobatics team are regular visitors to the show.
Each August Southend Carnival opens along the "Golden Mile" with the lighting of the Southend Illuminations.
The Southend-on-Sea Film Festival is an annual event that began in 2009 and is run by The White Bus who are based at TAP, Old Water Works in Southend. Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
attended the opening night gala in both 2010 and 2011, and has become the Festival Patron.
The films shown are a combination of world cinema, independent cinema, documentaries, children’s films, sing-a-longs, popular classics, and British noir. The Festival usually takes place over 5 days in spring, at the Palace Theatre, Park Inn Palace Hotel, and the Southend Central Museum and Planetarium. Fringe events including musical performances take place at a variety of locations in Southend
Leigh Folk Festival is a three day event each summer in Old Leigh, featuring live music by the sea
Leigh on Sea Fishing Festival is held in Old Leigh and is organised by local fishermen. It provides an opportunity to see the port in action and taste the local catch.
Old Leigh Regatta is a family event with stalls, dancing, local food, music, and water activities.
Art, galleries and museums
The Beecroft Art Gallery on Station Road includes a painting by John Constable.The Southend Central Museum on Victoria Avenue features original Ekco radios, from, E.K. Cole & Co. Ltd. (or 'Ekco') formerly based in Southend, who in the 1930s were one of Britain's largest radio manufacturers.
Leigh Art Trail began in 1997, and each year local artists display their work at a variety of locations through Leigh Broadway and in Old Leigh
Westcliff Art Trail began in 2008 and follows a similar format to the Leigh Art Trail, with local artists showcasing their work in Westcliff shops, cafes and bars.
Theatres
There are three theatres. The Cliffs PavilionCliffs Pavilion
Cliffs Pavilion is a live theatre in Station Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, which seats 1,630 and offers an assortment of variety acts....
is a large building to host concerts and performances on ice. The most recent theatre is the New Empire Theatre
New Empire Theatre
The New Empire Theatre is a historic and current theater in Southend, Essex, England.-History:The New Empire Theatre was built in 1896 by theatre impresario Frederick Marlow. He had owned the public hall previously on the site, and converted it to The Empire Theatre in 1892. A fire on Boxing Day...
. It is, unlike the other two, privately owned. It is used more by amateur groups. The theatre was converted from the ABC Cinema, which was originally a theatre built in 1896. The New Empire theatre closed in 2009. The Edwardian Palace Theatre is a grade II building built in 1912. It shows plays from professional troupes and repertory groups, as well as comedy acts. The theatre has two circles and the steepest rake in Britain. Part of the theatre was a smaller venue called The Dixon Studio.
Music
Junk club which was held at The Royal Hotel and The Sunrooms, spearheaded what became known as the Southend Scene. Junk was regularly featured in the NME, Rolling Stone and Vogue. Bands associated with the scene included The HorrorsThe Horrors
The Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
, These New Puritans
These New Puritans
These New Puritans are a British Art Rock band from the Southend-on-Sea area. The group consists of Jack Barnett , his twin brother George Barnett , Thomas Hein , and Sophie Sleigh-Johnson...
, The Violets
The Violets
The Violets are a post punk/indie/pop band from the New Cross area of London. Formed initially as a bassless garage punk trio, The Violets early gigs saw them playing stark, spiky and minimalist punk that evoked early art-school punk bands such as Delta 5, Prag Vec, and Siouxsie and the Banshees,...
, Errorplains and Neils Children
Neils Children
Neils Children is an English post-punk band, founded by John Linger and Brandon Jacobs .-Career:Neils Children formed in 1999 at Harlow College in Essex, where John Linger and Brandon Jacobs were studying with Richard Hawkins...
. Southend has two major venues; Chinnerys and the Cliffs Pavilion
Cliffs Pavilion
Cliffs Pavilion is a live theatre in Station Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, which seats 1,630 and offers an assortment of variety acts....
both have hosted appearances from a large number of artistes. The Sunrooms is a smaller venue which opened in 1991, specialising in reggae, funk, electronica and underground dance music. The Railway Hotel is a live music pub, which features a variety of acts, as well as curating the Southend Pier Festival.
Bands and solo musicians that originate from Southend include; The Hamsters
The Hamsters
The Hamsters are a band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England.They performed their first live show at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, on 1 April 1987. They initially played in local pubs with no ambitions to take themselves seriously or to turn professional...
, Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
, Danielle Dax
Danielle Dax
Danielle Dax is an experimental musician and producer most active from the late-1970s to the mid-1990s. She was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.- Biography :...
, The Horrors
The Horrors
The Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
, The Kursaal Flyers
The Kursaal Flyers
The Kursaal Flyers were a British pop and country music band, formed in Southend-on-Sea in 1973, who "bridged the gap between pub rock and power pop".-Original members:*Paul Shuttleworth , vocals...
, These New Puritans
These New Puritans
These New Puritans are a British Art Rock band from the Southend-on-Sea area. The group consists of Jack Barnett , his twin brother George Barnett , Thomas Hein , and Sophie Sleigh-Johnson...
, Ipso Facto
Ipso Facto
Ipso Facto is a studio album by the Canadian rock guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1992. It was Emmett's second solo studio album.The album was certified gold in the US by the RIAA, with sales of over 500,000 copies, on April 24, 1993 and Platinum, with sales of over one million copies, on July...
, Scroobius Pip, Busted
Busted
Busted were an English pop band consisting of members James Bourne and Matt Willis and previously Charlie Simpson who left the band in 2005. Busted split up in January 2005 after Simpson decided to leave to join his own band Fightstar. During their run, they released two studio albums, a...
.
Radio
In 1981, Southend became the home of Essex Radio, which broadcast from studios below Clifftown Road. In 2004, the renamed Essex FM, now Heart Essex moved to studios in Chelmsford.On the 28 March 2008, Southend got its own radio station for the first time which is also shared with Chelmsford Radio formerly known as Dream 107.7 FM and Chelmer FM before that, Southend Radio
Southend Radio
Southend Radio is a local adult contemporary radio station broadcasting to Southend on Sea, in Essex, England from studios in The Icon Building on Southend Seafront, owned by the Adventure Radio Group....
started broadcasting on 105.1FM from purpose built studios adjacent to the Adventure Island theme park.
Places of worship
There are numerous churches around the borough catering to different Christian denominations. There are also two synagogues, one for orthodox Jews, in Westcliff, and a reform synagogue in Chalkwell. Three mosques provide for Muslim population; one run by the Bangladeshi community, where sermon is given in Bangla as well as English and the mandatory Arabic. The others, both run by the Pakistani community, provide sermons in UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
and Arabic, and English and Arabic.
York Road Market
Demolition of the historic market began on 23 April 2010 despite the attempts of locals to have the building renovated. The location is now home to a car park. A temporary market is held there every Friday.Notable people
- James BourneJames BourneJames Elliot Bourne is an English singer-songwriter and co-founder of pop bands Son of Dork and Busted. He is currently pursuing a solo career under the name Future Boy. His albums have sold over six million copies...
, singer/guitarist in Son of DorkSon of DorkSon of Dork were a British pop punk band formed by James Bourne after his previous band, Busted, split in January 2005. The name of the band came from a scene in the movie Problem Child where the chant "Son of Dork" is used. Their debut single, "Ticket Outta Loserville", was released in November...
and previously in Busted - Kevin BowyerKevin BowyerKevin John Bowyer is an English organist, known for his prolific recording and recital career and his interest in playing unusual, modern and extremely difficult compositions.-Biography:...
, concert organistOrganistAn organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists... - Gary BrookerGary BrookerGary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
, lead singer of Procol HarumProcol HarumProcol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"... - Dave BrownDave Brown (comedian)Dave Brown is a British comedian, choreographer designer and photographer.He is most famous for his work with The Mighty Boosh.His most prominent role is that of Bollo the ape...
, comedian and actor, The Mighty BooshThe Mighty BooshThe Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the... - Dean ChalkleyDean Chalkley- Early life :Dean Chakley's first years were spent on a farm in Essex where his parents were Labourers. At the age of seven the family moved to Southend-on-Sea where he eventually attended Fairfax High School for boys, in Westcliff-on-Sea....
, photographer - Emma ChambersEmma ChambersEmma G. Chambers is an English actress. Her work includes the role Alice Tinker in the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley and Honey Thacker in the film Notting Hill .-Early life:...
, actress - Jeannie ClarkJeannie ClarkJeannie Clark is a former professional wrestling manager and the former wife of three professional wrestlers, including Stone Cold Steve Austin...
, former professional wrestlingProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
managerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the... - Brian CleeveBrian CleeveBrian Brendon Talbot Cleeve was a prolific writer, whose published works include twenty-one novels and over a hundred short stories. He was also an award-winning broadcaster on RTÉ television. Son of an Irish father and English mother, he was born and raised in England...
, author and broadcaster - Jonathan ClementsJonathan ClementsJonathan Clements is a British author and scriptwriter. His non-fiction works include biographies of Confucius, Koxinga and Qin Shihuangdi , as well as monthly opinion columns for Neo magazine...
, author - Phil CornwellPhil CornwellPhil Cornwell is an English comedian, actor, impressionist and writer. He is probably best known as being part of the Dead Ringers television and radio series...
, actor and impressionist - Snowboy aka Mark CotgroveSnowboySnowboy is a UK-based Afro Cuban percussionist, bandleader, DJ, music critic, journalist and music promoter.Featured in the Who's Who of Latin American Music, Snowboy has released 11 albums and 17 singles in a career that spans over 15 years and has taken him and his authentic Afro-Cuban sound to...
, DJ and Latin percussionist - Tina CousinsTina CousinsTina Cousins is an English singer-songwriter and former fashion model. She has had five singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with others. She has also achieved popularity in Australia. She started her career as a model...
, singer - Gemma CravenGemma CravenGemma Craven is an award-winning Irish actress.She is possibly best known for her role in the Irish TV drama The Clinic as Dr...
, actress - Matthew CutlerMatthew CutlerMatthew David Cutler is an English dancer and former World Amateur Latin-American champion. He was a professional dancer on the BBC dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing.-Early life:...
, ballroom dancer - Danielle DaxDanielle DaxDanielle Dax is an experimental musician and producer most active from the late-1970s to the mid-1990s. She was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.- Biography :...
, musician, actress and performance artist - Warwick DeepingWarwick DeepingWarwick Deeping was an English novelist.Warwick Deeping may also refer to:*HMT Warwick Deeping...
, author - Sam Duckworth, musician, AKA Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
- Warren EllisWarren EllisWarren Girard Ellis is an English author of comics, novels, and television, who is well-known for sociocultural commentary, both through his online presence and through his writing, which covers transhumanist themes...
, comic book writer - Nathalie EmmanuelNathalie EmmanuelNathalie Joanne Emmanuel is a British actress best known for her role in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as Sasha Valentine, which she played from 2006 to 2010....
, actress, HollyoaksHollyoaksHollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill... - Lee EvansLee Evans (comedian)Lee Evans is an English comedian, writer, actor and musician.-Personal life:Lee Evans was born in Avonmouth, Bristol, England to an Irish mother and a Welsh father, Dave Evans, a nightclub performer. He left Bristol at the age of 13 and then went to The Billericay School in Billericay, Essex...
, comedian - Mark FosterMark Foster (swimmer)Mark Andrew Foster is a British professional swimmer, specialising in butterfly and freestyle at 50 metres....
, swimmer - John FowlesJohn FowlesJohn Robert Fowles was an English novelist and essayist. In 2008, The Times newspaper named Fowles among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".-Birth and family:...
, author - Chris Gentry, guitarist of MenswearMenswearMenswear may refer to:* men's fashion* Menswear...
, successful music manager and ex model - Benjamin GrosvenorBenjamin GrosvenorBenjamin Grosvenor is a classical pianist from the United Kingdom. He is also a vegetarian. He won the piano section of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2004 competition. In 2010 he joined BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, which he completes in 2012.- Family :Grosvenor is the youngest...
, musician - Roy Hay, musician, Culture Club
- Joshua HaywardJoshua HaywardJoshua Hayward is a British musician, known for playing guitar in The Horrors. Hayward was born on December 15th, 1984....
, guitarist for The Horrors - John HealdJohn HealdJohn Heald is the senior cruise director of Carnival Cruise Lines and a blogger for the cruise line. He first became a Carnival cruise director in 1990. In 2004, he was named the senior cruise director of Carnival....
, cruise director for Carnival Cruise LinesCarnival Cruise LinesCarnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Doral, Florida, a suburb of Miami in the United States. Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of eleven cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc... - John HuttonJohn Hutton (Labour MP)John Matthew Patrick Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness in Cumbria from 1992 to 2010, and has served in a number of Cabinet offices, including Defence Secretary and Business Secretary...
, politician - Daniel JonesDaniel Jones (musician)Daniel Jones is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his part in the hugely popular Australian pop duo Savage Garden, whose international hit singles included the songs "I Want You", "To the Moon and Back", "Truly Madly Deeply", "I Knew I Loved You", and "Crash and Burn"...
, musician, producer and former member of Savage GardenSavage GardenSavage Garden were an Australian pop rock performance and songwriting duo. Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones formed the group in Brisbane, Queensland in 1994... - Phill JupitusPhill JupitusPhillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
, comedian - Mickey JuppMickey JuppMichael 'Mickey' Jupp is an English musician and songwriter, mainly associated with the Southend music scene....
, musician - Russell KaneRussell KaneRussell Kane is an English writer, comedian, actor and media personality. In June 2006, he became the face of digital station Five US. He has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the main prize in August 2010...
, comedian - Dominic LittlewoodDominic LittlewoodDominic Littlewood is an English television presenter and journalist.-Biography:Littlewood attended St Thomas More High School for Boys, Westcliff-on-Sea from 1981 to 1986. Littlewood was diagnosed as diabetic in his teenage years, and takes insulin to keep his diabetes under control...
, TV presenter, most notably To Buy or Not to BuyTo Buy or Not to BuyTo Buy or Not to Buy was a British reality television series made between 2003 and 2010 for BBC One in the UK. The final series was the eleventh and contained 90 episodes, in one of two formats—either 30 or 45 minutes in length. It aired on both BBC1 and BBC2... - John Lloyd, tennis player
- Robert LloydRobert Lloyd (singer)Robert Andrew Lloyd CBE is an English bass singer.Lloyd was educated at Keble College, Oxford and studied in London with the baritone Otakar Kraus. He made his debut with University College Opera in 1969 as Don Fernando in Leonore, the early version of Fidelio...
, opera singer - Ron Martin (businessman)Ron Martin (businessman)Ron Martin is the current chairman of Southend United Football Club.His development company "Martin Dawn PLC" and "Delancery Estates" together forming "South Eastern Leisure " took control of Southend United in November 1998, from former chairman Vic Jobson owning a 55% issued share captial...
, Southend United chairman, 1998–present - Lee MeadLee MeadLee Stephen Mead is an English musical theatre actor, best known for winning the title role in the 2007 West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat through the BBC reality TV casting show Any Dream Will Do...
, musical theatre actor - Helen MirrenHelen MirrenDame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
, actress - Tris Vonna MichellTris Vonna MichellTris Vonna-Michell is a British artist who performs narratives and constructs installations through the layering of these narratives, photographs and mementos, presented using antiquated technologies and slide projection. Vonna-Michell lives in Southend, UK, and Stockholm, Sweden...
, artist - Dicky MooreDicky MooreDicky Moore is a London based singer-songwriter who also plays guitar with Scritti Politti. Moore formed the band Scintillate in 1994 and enjoyed local success until their split in 2005. Shortly afterwards Moore joined Scritti Politti on guitar after meeting Green Gartside in a Hackney pub...
, singer/songwriter, guitarist in Scritti PolittiScritti PolittiScritti Politti are a British band, originally formed in 1977 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Although there have been various changes to the line-up, Cardiff-born singer-songwriter Green Gartside was the founding member of the band and the only member to have remained throughout the group's... - Bob Parr (producer)Bob Parr (producer)Robert Michael "Bob" Parr is an Emmy Award-winning English-born New Zealander, television personality, private security contractor, counter-terrorism expert and former UK Special Forces operator best known for his role as Team Leader and Executive Producer of "Shadow Force" on the History Channel...
, multi Emmy Award-winning television producer - Annabel PortAnnabel PortAnnabel Port is a British radio presenter who currently acts as a sidekick on Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show, broadcast from Monday to Friday on Absolute Radio from 5 pm to 8 pm. She is known for her witty sense of humour and eccentric behaviour...
, broadcaster - Spencer PriorSpencer PriorSpencer Justin Prior is an English former footballer. He was a central defender who retired at the end of the 2006-07 season, finishing his career with hometown club Southend United, where he began his career...
, footballer - Lara PulverLara PulverLara Pulver is an English actress who has received nominations for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards and 'Whatsonstage' Theatregoers Choice Awards.-Career:...
, actress - Rachel RileyRachel RileyRachel Annabelle Riley is an English television presenter. Since 12 January 2009 she has been the co-host of Countdown. She replaced Carol Vorderman from the 60th series onwards...
, CountdownCountdownA countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
co-presenter - Joy SarneyJoy SarneyJoy Sarney is an English female pop singer. Sarney is best known for a UK hit single, "Naughty Naughty Naughty", recorded in 1977.-Career:...
, singer - Simon SchamaSimon SchamaSimon Michael Schama, CBE is a British historian and art historian. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. He is best known for writing and hosting the 15-part BBC documentary series A History of Britain...
, historian / TV presenter - Jake Shillingford, singer/songwriter, My Life StoryMy Life StoryMy Life Story are a British indie pop group who peaked in the mid to late 1990s, when they were regarded as part of the Britpop movement. Fronted by singer/songwriter Jake Shillingford, the group was formed in London around 1991, and inherited their name from an earlier group in which Shillingford...
- Keith Taylor, politician
- Peter TaylorPeter John TaylorPeter John Taylor is an English football manager and former player and current head coach of the Bahrain national football team...
, football manager - Theoretical GirlTheoretical GirlTheoretical Girl is a female songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Southend on Sea signed to the Memphis Industries record label...
, singer/songwriter - Kara TointonKara TointonKara Louise Tointon is a British actress, best known for playing Dawn Swann in BBC soap opera EastEnders. Tointon was the 2010 winner of BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing.-Early life:...
, actress, EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End... - Hannah TointonHannah TointonHannah Marie Tointon is an English actress. She is best known for playing Katy Fox in the long running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, and Tara in British sitcom The Inbetweeners.-Early life:...
, actress - Robin TrowerRobin TrowerRobin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
, rock-blues guitarist - Rhys 'Spider' Webb, bassist of The Horrors