Latest news with #ClactonOnSea
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Man, 24, who murdered his mother at seaside home
A man who has admitted to killing his own mother has been pictured by police for the first time. Oliver Grange, 24, murdered his mother, Rachel Dixon, 49, at his seaside home on Skelmersdale Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, at around 11.30am on March 21 this year. Police and ambulance crews - including an air ambulance - rushed to the address within five minutes of receiving a call over concern's for Ms Dixon's welfare, but she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Grange was immediately arrested on suspicion of murder but was also taken to hospital in a 'serious condition', which police said was as a result of a separate incident. He was then charged with murder after being released from hospital five days later and was remanded in custody. Grange pleaded guilty to murdering his mother when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, June 26. Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, of Essex Police, said Grange had comitted a 'heinous crime'. He added: 'Our thoughts remain with Rachel's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We know this loss is felt widely. 'I hope the defendant's decision to plead guilty to this heinous crime will help Rachel's loved ones as they move forward.' Ms Dixon's family paid tribute after her death, saying: 'Our beautiful daughter, sister, mother and auntie, who will be greatly missed by all who was taken away from us far too soon.' DCI Rob Huddleston also said previously that the murder had shocked the local community. Grange was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at the same court in August.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Man pleads guilty to murdering his mother in Clacton
A man has admitted to murdering his mother at his seaside Grange, 24, has pleaded guilty to murdering Rachel Dixon, 49, who died after being attacked on 21 March in Skelmersdale Road, Clacton-on-Sea, defendant was arrested at the was remanded in custody following Thursday's hearing and will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court in August. Det Ch Insp Greg Wood, who led the investigation, said: "Our thoughts remain with Rachel's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We know this loss is felt widely."I hope the defendant's decision to plead guilty to this heinous crime will help Rachel's loved ones as they move forward." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Rail disruption continues between Colchester and Clacton after line-side fire
PASSENGERS travelling between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea continue to face major disruption following a line-side fire that broke out near Thorpe-le-Soken yesterday evening. The blaze, which damaged key infrastructure next to the railway line, has caused significant issues for Greater Anglia services running between Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester Town, and Walton-on-the-Naze. Although the fire has since been extinguished by Essex Fire and Rescue Service, the damage to signalling cables has led to severe delays and cancellations across the network. As of Monday morning, Network Rail engineers are still working to repair and replace the affected cabling, but a reduced timetable remains in place. Trains are running at reduced speeds across all lines in the area, with some services delayed by up to 20 minutes or cancelled entirely. Greater Anglia has warned passengers that disruption is expected to continue until further notice, and has urged customers to check live travel updates before setting out. To help mitigate the impact, Greater Anglia has arranged for tickets to be accepted on several local bus routes operated by Konect Bus and First Bus Essex, including: Route 7 between Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze Route 3 between Clacton-on-Sea and Thorpe-le-Soken Routes 74 and 74B between Clacton-on-Sea and Colchester All First Bus Essex services between Colchester and Colchester Town Rail replacement services could not be sourced in time for this morning's peak, although Greater Anglia says it is working to secure buses from further afield and will issue updates as soon as possible. In a joint statement, Greater Anglia and Network Rail apologised for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers: "We're sorry if your journey has been affected by this disruption. Our teams are working as quickly and safely as possible to fully restore services." Advance ticket holders are permitted to travel on earlier or later services if their booked trains are cancelled. Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more may be eligible for compensation. Claims can be made through Greater Anglia's Delay Repay scheme at: For up-to-date service information, visit:
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Vicar from Colchester shocked as stage four cancer 'disappears'
A vicar diagnosed with stage four skin cancer said he was "astonished" after the disease appeared to have left his Reverend Matthew Simpkins, from Colchester, said he had been preparing to die after his diagnosis in there was no sign of cancer on his last five scans, a realisation he told the BBC was "remarkable"."It can come back and I know that, but it's astonishing and I really give thanks for where I am," Mr Simpkins said. He was first diagnosed with acral letiginous melanoma in 2019 and had a toe Simpkins, the vicar of St James in Clacton-on-Sea and St Christopher in Jaywick, later got the all-clear from doctors, before the disease returned two years later. It spread across his body, before Mr Simpkins then contracted aseptic an "extremely rare" reaction to the meningitis treatment meant it started to attack his cancer as well."Halfway through 2024 I had a scan and my jaw hit the floor because the cancer was gone," explained Mr Simpkins, who grew up in Ipswich and Sudbury."It had been on my lungs and on my back and it was gone. I've had five scans since and it's not there."According to Cancer Research UK, 55% of people with stage four BRAF positive melanoma would survive for six -and-a-half years or more. 'Poignant moment' The vicar said his shock revelation followed a year of "preparing people for what was to come next" when his condition worsened."One of the very wise nurses said to me 'You're lucky'," he added. "It's remarkable." Mr Simpkins believed he was the first person to be discharged from St Helena Hospice's home-care team, father-of-two said: "I'm so grateful I had the chance to be the first person looked after by this nurse to thank her in person."I realised as I did it, it was quite a poignant moment."Having already released a song made from the sounds of an MRI scanning machine, the keen musician said hallucinations he had during meningitis treatment inspired his latest released the 11-track album Headwater on 6 June."My cancer helped me go back to music and tell people a little of the human experience of illness and seemingly approaching death," Mr Simpkins added. Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bereaved Clacton mum praises Blumenthal for bipolar film
A bereaved mother who took part in Heston Blumenthal's documentary about bipolar disorder has praised the "super brave" celebrity chef for wanting to end the stigma on mental opened up about his illness and spoke to others about their experience for the BBC film, My Life with them was Natalie McClellan, whose 24-year-old daughter Rebecca had bipolar and died in Ipswich in November 2023."If Heston can say 'I have bipolar but look at what I'm achieving, you can live a fulfilling life', it might change perspectives on mental illness," said Ms McClellan. "He is super brave to do it; he has really put himself out there to help others."I try to do the same, but none of its easy."Since Rebecca's death, Ms McClellan has campaigned for improved mental health provision that could have helped her daughter, who she said felt "abandoned". She shared her story with Blumenthal over several hours at her home in Clacton-on Sea, emotional experience helped them both, she said, particularly as Rebecca and Blumenthal had much in even transpired that he had gone into hospital for his condition when Rebecca died."They had the same sorts of visual disturbances, he's got ADHD and she was awaiting a diagnosis," she said."I showed him videos of her, photos, and one video in particular where she says 'my bipolar is popping'."He said 'that's exactly how it is', I think he found that emotional." The chef also became upset when talking about the impact of his bipolar disorder on his family - an experience that rang true for Ms McClellan."Rebecca didn't always tell us [how she felt], she would mask because she was worried about the effect it would have on us," she said."You just want your loved ones to be well and know what's going on, obviously I would rather worry every day but still have her here."Heston was quite open, he feels he has hurt his family and she [Rebecca] would be the same." The trainee paramedic was left with no GP or psychiatrist when she moved to Ipswich for work, her mother previously told the August 2023, she drove to a mental health unit and begged for help and said she was willing to drive anywhere in Norfolk and Suffolk to see someone, but staff told her to leave and threatened to call police. 'Not complacent' In the film, Blumenthal is shown Rebecca's mobile footage of the incident, which he described as "absolutely shocking"."Since we lost Bex it's been really important for me to push for changes in mental health and the support people get," added Ms McClellan."I will keep going and keep going for people who are suffering in the way she suffered, but it's not easy, it's only been 18 months [since her death] and it's still very raw."The reason Heston was speaking out was he wants to end the stigma. "It's so important to me that I'm part of that message."I was honoured and proud to be part of that process, and I hope he feels proud, too."Rebecca was under the care of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), which was in special measures for several years until January this March it completed a review into the circumstances of her death. A date for an inquest has not been chief Caroline Donovan, who joined in autumn 2023, said it had made "considerable progress" in its work to learn from deaths of patients and thanked Ms McClellan and other families for their "invaluable challenge and support"."We are not complacent and know we have much more to do to transform our services so that everyone receives safer, kinder and better services from us when they need them," she My Life with Bipolar is available on BBC iplayerIf you are affected by any of the issues in this article you can find details of organisations that can help via BBC Action Line. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
