Emma Palmer, Braintree and Witham Times Journalist Profile

Articles

Southend's old ‘eyesore’ water chute - where dead bodies kept being discovered

1 month ago | echo-news.co.uk | Emma Palmer

Southend's old ‘eyesore’ water chute - where dead bodies kept being discovered (Image: Newsquest) SOUTHEND’S City Wheel, with its skyscraper views and amazing lights, has become a landmark tourist attraction to our city as its newest attraction. But while this exciting seafront ride is attracting the crowds, there was once a water ride in Southend that was destined to become iconic - but ended up being more of a damp squib.
Hugo Peter: the Essex Puritan aided King Charles' downfall

1 month ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Palmer

Hugh Peter certainly led a great life – on both sides of the Atlantic. From Laindon to Salem he carved out an exciting life for himself in the New World, even helping to establish Harvard College.
Janette Manrara on her latest tour, A Night to Remember

1 month ago | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Palmer

Strictly Come Dancing legends Janette Manrara and Aljaž Škorjanec are sashaying up and down theatre stages across the nation with their latest tour, A Night to Remember. The married dance duo are promising audiences an unforgettable evening of dancing, great music and laughter when they bring the elegant, spectacularly choreographed production to Southend this month.
Photos bring back memories of south Essex's notorious ‘Invacar’ in ‘70s and ‘80s

Mar 29, 2025 | echo-news.co.uk | Emma Palmer

End of the line - A factory manager with a long line of finished cars (Image: Newsquest) These nostalgic photos will steer you back in time to when south Essex manufactured disability cars. The images show vehicles coming off the line at the Invacar factory in Thundersley, then being tested on local roads, in 1973. The Invacar (abbreviated from “invalid carriage”) was a small single-seater microcar vehicle designed for use by disabled drivers.
The 130 year old building that remains an integral part of one Kent community

Mar 18, 2025 | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Palmer

From a smoky village smithy where the sound of hammering and smell of burning would have filled the air round the clock to a plush post office and general store, the Forge at Penshurst has been around for 130 years. Thank goodness this historic building is not only still standing, but remains an integral part of one Kent community… There was a time when every village had a blacksmith’s forge and the smithy would be a highly skilled, respected member of the community.
The daughter of a Ramsgate vicar who became a star of both stage and film

Mar 12, 2025 | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Palmer

In a male-dominated industry that could be cruel to women, Lillian Braithwaite carved herself out a career as a hugely successful actress and proved time and time again that she could role with the punches during the golden age of Hollywood Lilian Braithwaite was as great at delivering her own lines as she was at reading words off a script.
The true stories behind some amazing women from Essex’s history

Mar 8, 2025 | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Palmer

International Women’s Day returns on March 8, so here are the true stories behind some amazing women from Essex’s history. These early Essex girls broke down barriers, made their voices heard and, above all, stayed true to themselves… THE QUAKER ABOLITIONIST – Anne Knight Social reformer, feminist and one feisty Essex lady, Anne Knight spent her life trying to abolish the slave trade and also laid the foundations for the Suffragette movement.
Nine nostalgic photos show crowds line streets at Rayleigh's annual cycle race

Mar 5, 2025 | echo-news.co.uk | Emma Palmer

Crowds - The streets were lined with spectators (Image: Echo archive) These wheely nice photos from our archive, bring back memories of the annual cycle race that used to be held in Rayleigh. It was a mammoth event and saw crowds in their hundreds lining the street to watch as cyclists and rollerskaters took part in a number of different races.
Jon Culshaw on his new national tour: Imposter Syndrome

Feb 28, 2025 | greatbritishlife.co.uk | Emma Palmer

You know him for his supreme impressions which have seen him mastering the voices of famous faces from Liam Gallagher and Ozzy Osbourne to Patrick Moore and David Cameron. Now the actor and TV, radio and stage star of such delights such as Spitting Image, BBC’s Dead Ringers, The Impressions Show as well as Channel 4’s Partygate is bringing his new tour on the road following a sold out and critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival.
The south Essex film star hailed one of finest actors - who said no to playing Bond

Feb 12, 2025 | echo-news.co.uk | Emma Palmer

Romantic lead - Richard with his then wife Kim Novak (left) and Lilli Palmer in The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, 1965 (Image: Archive) Richard Johnson was undoubtedly one of Britain’s finest actors from the 1950s until his death in 2015 at a good old age of 87, his ashes being buried in the family tomb in St Mary’s churchyard in Little Burstead.