Anne Suslak

Hundreds of Porsches, spanning models from 1948 to 1998 and including late air-cooled cars, are expected at Classics at the Castle at Hedingham Castle on Sunday, September 13. Organized by Porsche Club GB, the event will include displays of classic and contemporary models, a parts and memorabilia swap meet, food and drink vendors, live entertainment, and public parking. Advance tickets are available through the club’s website.

Mistley Rugby Club will host its fourth annual pram race at Furze Hill on Sunday, August 30. The event will include junior and adult races, themed costumes, children’s activities, a dog show, food and craft stalls, and live music. Proceeds will support Manningtree First Responders, while the event will also feature a tribute act and the band Keystone.

Harwich Runners delivered strong performances across multiple events, including the Ipswich Twilight 10k, the run Italia 10k in London, and the Arthur Whiston memorial race in Colchester, with several athletes achieving personal bests. Four members also competed successfully in the Felixstowe Super Sprint Triathlon, earning notable placements in their age categories.

A new Greater Essex Local Skills Improvement Plan for 2026–2029 has been launched to address skills shortages, improve productivity, and align education and training with employer needs across Essex, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock. Led by the Essex Chambers of Commerce and supported by the UK Government, the plan was shaped through extensive engagement with businesses and education providers. Chamber leaders Ruth Gilbert and Joanne Giles emphasized its focus on building a future‑ready workforce and strengthening collaboration between employers and training institutions.

A community garden at Manningtree Park was created through a collaboration between former Blue Peter presenter Lee Connelly, property developer City and Country, and charity Acorn Village. Residents with learning disabilities co-designed and planted the garden during workshops, with organisers highlighting the project's impact on confidence, creativity, and inclusion. The initiative represents an ongoing partnership and reflects a commitment to fostering inclusive community spaces.

Children from Little Pumpkins Nursery participated in a hands-on gardening session at City and Country’s Manningtree Park development, planting seed bombs and learning basic environmental care under the guidance of gardening coach Lee Connelly. Staff described the event as a valuable learning experience, and the session marked the start of a broader collaboration aimed at encouraging engagement with nature across all ages.

Free summer parking is being offered at Orwell Place Car Park in Dovercourt while works on Kingsway proceed as part of Essex County Council’s public realm improvements. Tendring Council temporarily extended its Householder Parking Permit scheme for July and August to ease pressure caused by the closures and encourage continued visits to the town centre. Councillor Ivan Henderson emphasized the measure’s limited scope and its role in supporting residents and businesses during the broader £9 million regeneration programme, which includes new social housing, library redevelopment and seafront improvements. Residents without permits can apply through the council’s website or by phone.

Residents in Tendring are invited to vote in the People’s Choice Award as part of the Tendring4Growth Business Awards, sponsored by Surya Hotels. All consenting nominees are automatically entered, and voters may select three favourites until July 26. Tendring Council’s deputy leader Ivan Henderson highlights the importance of recognising local businesses for their contribution to the community. Due diligence checks will be carried out on shortlisted nominees, and the winner along with the runner-up will be announced at the awards event.

Harwich Runners recorded a series of strong performances across multiple events, with club members achieving personal and season bests in the 5k handicap race and junior race. Additional successes followed at the Great Bentley five‑mile event, where several runners secured top age‑group results, and at the Holkham Hall 10k and triathlon, where category victories and podium finishes further highlighted the club's standout weekend.

A new Essex Growth Agency website funded by Essex County Council consolidates business support, funding options, skills training and career resources into a single platform. Council leader Peter Harris says the site addresses the fragmented nature of existing support services. The platform highlights opportunities in key sectors and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the county’s economic growth system through programmes that assist both businesses and residents.

Harwich Haven Authority, Entopy and the University of Essex jointly won the AI SME Business of the Year award at The AI Summit London for developing Capella, a digital‑twin system that predicts vessel movements to support operations at the Port of Felixstowe. Leaders from Entopy and Harwich Haven Authority praised the technology’s impact on planning and real‑time navigation at one of the UK’s most critical ports.