Grace Capel

Sixteen-year-old Lilly Wingar is organizing a free, inclusive prom in Colchester for home-schooled students and young people with special educational needs or disabilities who missed their school proms. The August 28 event, funded by Essex Youth Service, will offer music, food, photographs and a welcoming social experience for attendees aged 14 to 17. Wingar says schools should adapt to support students rather than expecting students to fit an unsuitable system, while her mother praises her determination and community focus.

Lexi Brown, a previously healthy teenager from Clacton, suffered a spinal stroke at age 14 shortly after having flu, leaving her paralysed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator. Doctors could not identify a definitive cause but suspected the infection may have triggered the stroke. Lexi remains in hospital, and her family is seeking suitable accessible housing and fundraising for travel, private physiotherapy and other care costs.

Several newly installed bus shelters in Colchester were removed as a safety precaution after Bauer Media Outdoor identified incorrect end panels and roof deflection beyond permitted tolerances. Essex County Council said seven shelters linked to the Colchester Rapid Transport System were affected, with temporary shelters being arranged while the issue is investigated. Permanent replacements are expected by October 31, and Bauer Media Outdoor will cover the costs rather than the council or taxpayers.

Hundreds of people attended the ninth annual Colchester Pride in Essex, which included a parade along Colchester High Street and celebrations at Firstsite. The event featured live entertainment, craft and food stalls, LGBTQ+ charities and community groups, highlighting the growth and continuing volunteer-led work of Colchester Pride since its founding in 2017.

Councillors from Ramsey and Parkeston Parish Council and Harwich Town Council gathered at the Captain Fryatt Memorial at All Saints' Church to mark the anniversary of Captain Charles Fryatt's execution during the First World War. Fryatt, a civilian master of the SS Brussels, was captured after attempting to ram a German U-boat, court-martialled and executed by a German firing squad despite protections under international law. His later burial in Dovercourt followed a state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral. The service also recognized Tanya Ferguson's efforts to preserve his memory, including participation in a plaque dedication at St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres.

India Hanson, 21, achieved one A and two Bs at Colchester Sixth Form after joining college without GCSEs following years of disrupted schooling and limited support related to her autism diagnosis. She credited the sixth form's staff and its Advanced Foundation Programme with helping her succeed. She will study English literature and creative writing at the University of Essex and hopes to raise awareness of the programme.

Eighteen-year-old Harwich runner Violet Mills has launched Endurance Angels, a free women-only running club designed to make running feel less intimidating and help participants build confidence, improve fitness and make friends. The club meets on Sundays for a 5km route near West End Lane car park and welcomes women of all ages and abilities. It had attracted 100 members before its first session.

A fire at Middlewick Ranges near Colchester prompted renewed calls from the Friends of Middlewick and the Save the Middlewick campaign for a comprehensive management plan. More than 45 firefighters attended the blaze, while the Ministry of Defence installed firebreaks. Campaign chair Caroline White said coordinated action involving the Ministry of Defence, Colchester Natural History Society and Essex Wildlife Trust is urgently needed to improve fire resilience while protecting habitats for skylarks and other wildlife.

St Osyth Summer Sounds has expanded from a single-stage event four years ago into a six-stage festival attracting a record 10,000 people. Founder Martin Collins brought his festival-planning experience back to his hometown, with this year’s free event supported by National Lottery funding. The festival offered music, food, art installations, audience participation areas and a market featuring more than 40 stalls, while Community Volunteer Services Tendring supplied 33 volunteers. The event was presented as a strongly community-focused festival held at St Osyth Priory.

The annual Naze Kite Weekend brought dozens of colourful and unusual kites to Walton’s Naze, with displays by East Anglian Kite Flyers above the Naze Tower and cliffs. Organized in coordination with the Essex Wildlife Trust, the event attracted hundreds of visitors and included workshops where families and children could decorate and fly their own kites despite rainy weather.

Colchester-based nurses from the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust were recognised for rapidly fitting specialist respiratory equipment for paratroopers deployed to Tristan da Cunha to contain a deadly Hantavirus outbreak originating from a cruise ship. Their work enabled the first humanitarian military parachute mission on the island. Brigadier Ed Cartwright commended the team for their professionalism and swift coordination, which contributed directly to operational readiness and lifesaving support in the remote territory.

A long-damaged wall at Colchester Cemetery is being repaired after more than a year, following repeated calls from councillor Dave Harris. Repairs are underway and expected to finish within the week, with additional work on coping stones planned later. Colchester Council emphasized the wall’s importance to residents, stated that the broader structure is regularly inspected, and noted that wider repairs depend on available resources and asset‑management priorities.

An optician at Specsavers in Colchester identified signs of dangerously high intracranial pressure in 18‑year‑old Isobelle Evans during an eye exam, prompting immediate referral to hospital. Subsequent tests confirmed raised intracranial hypertension, likely triggered by a rare reaction to an acne antibiotic. Early intervention and treatment restored her vision and improved her condition, with doctors expecting a full recovery.

A new Epic screen at Colchester’s Vue Cinema offers a large-format immersive experience featuring reclining seating, Dolby Atmos sound and strong visibility from every seat. A family-and-friends screening of Project Hail Mary highlighted the theatre’s comfort, organisation and visual quality, reinforced by management enthusiasm for the venue’s opening.

Christina Collison of Colchester received a national Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Award for her work supporting dementia carers through Dementia Help, a platform she founded after caring for her mother Hazel. She provides articles, resources, and training to help families understand the wide-ranging effects of dementia. The recognition reflects her ongoing commitment to improving support for carers amid rising dementia rates in the UK.

TikTok food reviewer GainsWithDan describes leaving his telecommunications job to pursue full-time content creation, gaining more than 460,000 followers in a year. He highlights the satisfaction of helping independent and larger food businesses gain exposure, with venues such as Wok Wraps experiencing significant boosts after his reviews. His recent activity includes reviewing the new Miss Millies in Colchester.

A newly opened nine‑screen Vue cinema in Colchester has received enthusiastic local feedback, with general manager Tom Schofield highlighting features such as Barco laser projectors, reclining seats, an Epic premium screen and a new self‑checkout system. Schofield describes strong community excitement and looks forward to future releases including Toy Story 5.

Plans have been submitted for five single‑storey, three‑bedroom bungalows on land behind Stoney Acres on Robinson Road in Brightlingsea, designed to avoid overlooking nearby homes. Tendring Council will decide on the application, which can be viewed under reference 26/00681/OUT. The article also notes a government consultation on licensing reform that could end the requirement for alcohol licensing notices to appear in print newspapers.