Latest news with #Southend
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thrilling Adventure Island ride reopens after two-year closure and £350,000 refurb
A LEGENDARY Adventure Island ride has reopened to thill-seeking visitors after a massive £350,000 restoration. The Time Machine ride has been described as one of the park's most high-octane attractions, stretching 38 metres into the sky. Bosses at the Western Esplanade theme park say the ride is now "better than ever" and have thanked the team of engineers and artists behind its much-anticipated return. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. Philip Miller, Adventure Island's owner, said: 'Fantastic news for all our loyal customers — at long last, the Time Machine is back in action. Thrill - The ride has been described as one of the park's most high-octane (Image: Adventure Island) "This ride is completely unique — originally designed and built from scratch by our talented in-house team over 12 years ago. "It's now fully restored, thoroughly tested, and officially approved by ride inspectors — ready and waiting for you to climb aboard. Read more Tributes paid to talented X Factor star from Southend following tragic death Trust unable to find replacement for south Essex school headteacher before new term Family pay tribute to Southend 18-year-old after suspected drug death in Ibiza "Huge thanks to our incredible engineering team, and a special shout-out to workshop manager Tim Sykes, who's treated this like a personal mission from day one. The team's even started calling it 'The Tim Machine' — and rightly so." Restoration - Adventure Island staff with the newly refurbished ride (Image: Adventure Island) Adventure Island estimates that £350,000 has been spent on the expert restoration of the 38-metre ride, which is taller than the park's existing City Wheel attraction. Following the restoration, it is now able to seat 16 thrill seekers at a time and will also be cycled as a rotating viewing tower on occasion.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mum lied about being my sister until I was 11 then stabbed me in heart with knife – it's like something from EastEnders
IN her own words, Keiley Ibrahim's life has been like something from EastEnders. Until she was 11, she did not know that Kat Goodfellow, the woman she saw as her fun older sister, was in fact her mum. 4 4 And years later, when she tried to bond with her on Mother's Day, Kat stabbed her in the heart with a kitchen knife, leaving her in a coma. Keiley, 34, says: 'I still find it strange to say I survived being stabbed in the heart by my own mother, who lied to me for years, saying she was my sister. 'Until I was about 11, I believed my nan was my mum. "I discovered the truth one night when me and Nan had a row and she screamed, 'I'm not your mum, Kat is'.' Kat had got pregnant at 14, so Keiley's nan said she would bring the baby up together with her other nine children. After Keiley discovered the truth, she would go and stay with Kat, a nightclub dancer in London, eventually moving from Southend to be close to her. But in an exclusive interview, she said: 'She just wasn't fit for motherhood, despite me wanting her to be. She never acted like a mum. 'We didn't have that bond. Our relationship grew toxic. She drank too much and picked fights with strangers and family alike. 'But she was my mum. After I had my little girl, who is now ten, I wanted her to be a grandmother, too.' YouTuber found guilty of wife's murder in shocking Bradford attack 'All hell broke loose' In March 2023, Keiley's grandad died. She says: 'We were both devastated. "After the funeral, my boyfriend at the time and I returned to Mum's house to help her decorate. 'But she started drinking. She was a violent alcoholic.' When Keiley gave her flowers and a card on Mother's Day, two days after the funeral, Kat was furious that her daughter had not also given her a bottle of wine. She just wasn't fit for motherhood, despite me wanting her to be. I'll never speak to her again. I was better off with Nan as my mum Keiley, who worked as a silver service waitress, says: 'All hell broke loose. She was upset, drunk, picking for a fight. 'My boyfriend and I locked ourselves in the bedroom, but she kept screaming. 'He went to try and talk. She turned on him, then me. She stormed off to the kitchen, came back and grabbed me and then I thought she hit my chest.' Keiley breaks down in tears as she recalls: 'After the thud, I realised it really hurt. 'I looked down, blood poured from my chest and mouth and I remember saying, 'Mum, you've stabbed me'. I got out of the house and collapsed in the street. "I remember a neighbour calling 999.' 4 4 In fact, Keiley had been stabbed with a 6in knife, puncturing her heart valve and the sac around her heart. She was in a coma for two weeks and told it was a miracle the surgeons had saved her life. Despite everything, Keiley still spoke to Kat, 48, who was sentenced to 15 months, suspended for two years, and told to undergo alcohol treatment. She says: 'She told me she hadn't stabbed me, but I had stabbed myself. It was like another stab in the heart, no sorry from her, no apology. "I felt ashamed to have her as a mother. I went off the rails a bit then. I couldn't work as I was too ill and I'm ashamed to admit I shoplifted some food.' It was only after meeting husband Ozay, 46, a window fitter, that Keiley, who now lives in Reading, turned her life around. She says: 'I don't know if she meant to kill me. I like to think not. I begged everyone to be lenient on her, not to send her to prison, because she is my mum. "But I gave evidence behind a screen because mentally it was too much for me.' Keiley adds: 'I will never speak to her again. I don't need her in my life. I was better off with Nan as my mum. She is now quite old and frail and it is sad for her that all of this has happened. 'I haven't been able to work since the attack. Mentally, I'm not strong enough. But I am getting there with the help of my husband. 'And I am finally living a peaceful life instead of one with more twists and turns than EastEnders. 'I've forgiven Kat for what she has done, because carrying hate only hurts me. But I will never forget what she did.' Last night, Kat said: 'How is this going to benefit Keiley and how is it going to affect me? 'As far as I'm concerned I've been convicted unfairly.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the undercover duck posing as a penguin for Waddle-on-Sea trail in Southend
Visitors exploring the Waddle-on-Sea trail across Southend may spot an odd one out among dozens of penguins. Quacky Feet, an undercover duck, has joined the Waddle-on-Sea huddle, an art trail in Southend, posing as a penguin. The trail, created by Havens hospices and Wild in Art, is showcasing 31 large penguin sculptures and 72 baby sculptures throughout Southend, including Leigh, until September 3. Among the 72 baby sculptures is the adventurous rubber duck, Quacky Feet, crafted by Sarah Nash, director of finance at Waddle-on-Sea's presenting partner company, Ipeco Holdings Ltd. The unique sculpture is hand-decorated to resemble a penguin, featuring thousands of small gems. Quacky Feet has joined the Waddle-on-Sea huddle (Image: Havens hospices) As the only non-penguin on the trail, it holds an intriguing story for those who discover it. Speaking about Quacky Feet, Ms Nash said: "He wanted to find a huddle and see if he could disguise himself as a penguin to join in the fun. "Luckily, he found a fantastic huddle of penguins in his hometown, so he didn't have far to travel." Anyone who wants to give this special duck a forever home will have the opportunity to bid on Quacky Feet at the end of the trail. Read more German nurse among four killed in Southend Airport 'fireball' plane crash Youngsters killed in south Essex hit-and-run remembered at moving birthday event The trail, which is backed by the Echo, aims to raise funds for Havens hospices. Havens hospices provide free specialist care and support to people of all ages living with incurable conditions and their families across south Essex. Trail-goers can follow the trail by purchasing a map from any Havens hospices charity shop, or other venues including the Pier Information Centre, The Forum, LeighLibrary, and Waddle-on-Sea HQs at The Royals Shopping Centre and 141 Leigh Road. Artist Sarah Nash with Quacky Feet (Image: Havens hospices) Maps are subject to availability. A "Waddle on Sea" app can also be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. This fundraising initiative which launched on Friday helps raise vital funds for the hospices to enable them to continue providing their services free of charge.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everything you need to know ahead of Lazydays Festival in Southend next weekend
A popular music and craft drink festival is set to return to south Essex next weekend. Lazydays Festival will take place in Priory Park, Southend, from July 25 to 27 and promises a weekend of live music, independent drinks, and family-friendly entertainment. The festival features a packed programme of headline performances, including one of the UK's biggest dance music icons, Example. A spokesman for the event said: "One of the UK's biggest dance music icons Example will kickstart Lazydays 2025 with a bang. "With a legacy of chart-topping hit singles, career-defining festival sets, sold-out tours, and multiple platinum records, this is a show not to be missed." Embrace will headline the daytime session on Saturday, fresh from their 20th anniversary tour of their double-platinum, number one album Out of Nothing. Read more Inquest opened into tragic death of Leonna, 7, after Chalkwell Park tree fall Water firm warns hosepipe ban could still be introduced in Essex this summer Peter Doherty, frontman of The Libertines and Babyshambles, will headline Saturday night with a special solo set alongside his band. A spokesman added: "With a new album on the horizon, you can expect a set of new music and classics spanning his back catalogue." Closing out the weekend on Sunday will be double Grammy Award-winning, five-time Brit-nominated Soul II Soul. A spokesman said: "Bringing their full live show and 15-piece band to Southend's Priory Park, expect big soul sounds and R&B vibes from music icon Jazzie B and his musical collective. "They'll get everyone dancing with huge hits including Keep On Movin' and the UK number one single Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)." Lazydays is a fully independent festival focused on music, craft drinks, and community. The licensed maximum capacity of the event is 4,999, however, bosses expect around 3,500 attendees within Priory Park at any one time. Organisers say the best way to get to the event is travelling by train as there is no parking at Priory Park for Lazydays. Limited Blue Badge parking will be available. Priory Park is also well served by bus services. No, outside food and drinks are not permitted at the festival. Visitors may bring in one sealed water bottle or an empty refillable water container. For full details, visit
BBC News
7 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Grass fire at Barling Airstrip in Essex extinguished
A large grass fire at an airstrip has been extinguished by Fire Service was called to the site at Barling Magna, near Southend, at 14:17 BST on Tuesday and had put it out by 20: 37 acres (15 hectares) of grassland was alight, with six crews tackling the flames at the height of the returned overnight and in the morning to check for hotspots and carry out damping down. Southend Airport reopens after Sunday's fatal plane crashThe service said an investigation would take place to establish the cause of the fire, near Little Wakering Creek. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
