Looking back: The Gazette's review of the year Part 2

So here is the second part of the Gazette’s run down of the biggest stories affecting our readers over the past 12 months.

This edition features the biggest and best stories from July to December, including Butlers in the Buff, England’s World Cup heroics and Colchester’s over-the-top celebrations, the Ipswich Road roadworks and much much more.

To read more about these or any of our other big stories from 2018, visit www.gazettenews.co.uk.

July 

•  WORLD Cup fever gripped Colchester as Gareth Southgate’s England squad reached the semi-finals of the tournament in Russia… but some revellers got a little too excited. Over-enthusiastic fans got themselves in trouble after being caught destroying a bus stop in Head Street and Three Lions legend Peter Shilton, who lives on Mersea Island, told fans to keep their heads and celebrate respectfully. England crashed out of the tournament after losing 2-1 to beaten finalists Croatia, however the world cup gave both businesses and English football fans a much-needed boost.
•  A DEVASTATED family paid a heartfelt tribute to a “happy and loving” teenager who died after getting into difficulty in the sea near Clacton Pier. The body of Ben Quartermaine, 15, was found almost two days after he went missing. An RNLI lifeboat crew managed to pull a second teenager from the water, however the search for Ben was called off when police announced a body had been discovered on the seafront. His family said in a statement about the youngster: “He was a happy, loving and independent boy who would go out of his way to make others laugh and smile.”
•  MORE than 30 community sports clubs were kicked out of the gym at Colchester Garrison to make way for hundreds of police officers tasked with protecting US President Donald Trump. Youngsters were left disappointed when their tournaments were cancelled at extremely short notice and some sports coaches were out of pocket after losing work.

August 

• POLICE launched a murder investigation after a man was found dead with stab wounds to his head and back at his home in Colchester. Gordon McGhee, 52, who was described by his family as a “quiet, private man who was loved very much”, was found dead in Forest Road. Danny Bostock, 32, of Berberis Walk, Colchester, was later charged with murder and attempted arson with intent to endanger life. He denies the charge.
•  A SERIAL burglar who tied up women in their homes as part of a four-year campaign of terror was jailed for 12 years. Conor Ashton, 23, of Purcell Close, Colchester, nicknamed himself the Stalking Ransacker and claimed he had been inspired by notorious American serial killer Richard Ramirez before carrying out his horrific raids at addresses across the area. Ashton tagged homes with bizarre graffiti before targeting them.
•  PARENTS of a bubbly baby boy who died suddenly in his cot just five months after being born launched a fundraising drive in his honour. Brave couple Katie and Sam Jones began raising money for other parents to learn CPR after losing baby Johnny – described as “the most adorable, loveliest baby” - to the condition Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

September

•  RESIDENTS began bracing themselves for 15-months of roadworks misery as Essex County Council announced its plans to revamp the roundabouts at two of Colchester’s busiest junctions. Essex Highways kicked off its £10 million scheme to improve the junctions at Ipswich Road and Harwich Road, however campaigners labelled the expensive plans, which were initially set to finish towards the end of 2020, “unnecessary”. Businesses were left counting the cost of huge delays across the town and a petition launched by residents gained more than 4,000 signatures within a matter of a few days.
• TEMPERS flared over the proposed development of Colchester’s so-called town centre Cultural Quarter. Alumno’s plans for the Painter’s Yard area of Colchester, which include 340 student rooms, public space, a hotel and several retail units, were much maligned by protestors, who labelled them “Cultural Slaughter” not Cultural Quarter. But council deputy leader and business boss Tim Young defended the plans claiming they would “regenerate a part of Colchester that has, for too long, been neglected”.
•  A 24-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist was killed after a collision involving a lorry on the A12 at Colchester. The London-bound side of the dual carriageway was closed for around six hours while Essex Police’s Serious Crash Investigations Unit investigated the scene of the collision. The motorcycling community came together and held a memorial ride in honour of the Liam Holding.

October 

•  DEVELOPERS behind plans to overhaul Colchester’s iconic old Odeon were sent back to the drawing board after admitting their scheme was not financially viable. Blumarble Property’s £10 million plans to create 57 apartments in the historic Crouch Street building were approved in April, however Colchester Council was forced to step in when the site continued to fall into disrepair.
•  CARE home residents were served up some cheeky dinnertime entertainment when a group of butlers in the buff came to visit. Milton Lodge retirement home invited the scantily clad young men, who work for a company called Hunks in Trunks, to attend as part of its Sparkle initiative, where staff raise money to grant wishes of the residents. News spread of the evening, which had been initiated by 89-year-old Joan Corp, and the story was picked up both nationally and internationally.
•  DOZENS of firms involved in building Colchester’s new Curzon cinema were left thousands of pounds out of pocket after a contractor went into administration. Ispace Corporate Interiors were the firm tasked with overseeing the contracts for the new Queen Street premises, however documents showed more than 100 companies across the country were owed a total of £2 million.

November 

•  A UNITED Nations delegation visited Jaywick as part of an investigation into poverty across the UK. Delegates from the international aid organisation, which is more commonly associated with war zones and famine-stricken countries, met with residents and officials in the seaside town to examine the effects of austerity measures on the population. The visit came just days after a Republican Congress candidate in the US used a picture of Jaywick as a warning to voters of what could happen if they refuse to back Donald Trump.
•  COUNTY Hall announced it was set to consult on plans which could see as many as 25 of Essex’s libraries closed for good. Blaming the “collapse of traditional library usage” Essex County Council bosses announced they wanted to close facilities, including those in Prettygate, Kelvedon and Wickham Bishops, in a move which would save them about £2 million. Nineteen other libraries, including Tiptree, Wivenhoe and West Mersea, were at threat of closure within the next two years if community groups did not step in to run the services. 
•  “SERIOUS Failings” at Colchester Hospital led to the death of a 14-yearold girl from pneumonia, according to Essex’s top coroner. Josie Cotier died at her home in Clacton just two days after visiting the hospital’s children assessment unit despite showing signs of the condition sepsis. At an inquest hearing at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court, Area Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “If appropriate care and treatment had been provided she might have survived.” Dr Andrea Turner, clinical director at Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals, apologised to Josie’s family and said the tragedy had led to a complete overhaul in children’s assessment unit’s management of sepsis.

December 

•  A PREDATORY rapist who plied his young victim with free alcohol from the restaurant where he worked was jailed for seven and-ahalf years. Manager of the Tandoori Villa restaurant in Stanway, Shibbir Ahmed, 58, was found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault against a separate young girl. Ahmed, of Coronation Avenue, Colchester, was jailed for seven and-a-half years.
•  THREE killers involved in the death of rough sleeper Martin Dines were branded despicable and twisted by a senior police officer. Alcoholics Darren Miller, 46, and Mark Hartley, 32, were convicted of Mr Dines’ murder after his body was found inside St Mary’s car park in Colchester. Heidi Kennedy, 47, was also convicted of manslaughter after a six-week long trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
•  A HEROIC eight-year-old steered his mum’s car to safety when she had a seizure at the wheel on a busy dual carriageway. Lauren Smith was driving on the A120 towards her Colchester home when she blacked out, began shaking and crash her Ford Ka into the central reservation. Chase Lane Primary School pupil Ben, stepped in and steered the vehicle safely to the side of the road.