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'{{Short description|City and unitary authority in Essex, England}} {{Redirect|Southend|other uses|Southend (disambiguation)|and|Southend-on-Sea (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=October 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Southend-on-Sea | native_name = | nickname = | motto = ''Per Mare Per Ecclesiam''<br /><small>(By Sea, By Church)</small> | settlement_type = [[List of cities in the United Kingdom|City]], [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority area]] and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] <!-- images and maps ----------->| image_skyline = {{multiple images|perrow=1 2 1|border=infobox|total_width=260 |image1= View north along Southend High Street (geograph 7675871).jpg |caption1= The High Street |image2= Southend Pier with train.jpg |caption2= [[Southend Pier]] |image3= St Mary, Prittlewell - geograph.org.uk - 3944549.jpg |caption3= [[St Mary's Church, Prittlewell|St Marys Church]] |image4= Westcliff-on-Sea, - Western Esplanade (geograph 7675875).jpg |caption4= Western Esplanade }} | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = Arms-southend-transparent.png | blank_emblem_type = Southend-on-Sea City Council<br />(Civic arms of Southend-on-Sea) | blank_emblem_size = 150px | image_map = Southend-on-Sea UK locator map.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Shown within Essex | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = <!-- name of a location map as per Template:Location_map --> | pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United Kingdom<!--the name of the country--> | subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]] | subdivision_name1 = England | subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]] | subdivision_name2 = [[East of England]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial county]] | subdivision_name3 = [[Essex]] | subdivision_type4 = Admin HQ | subdivision_name4 = Southend-on-Sea <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government -->| seat_type = | seat = | parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> | parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> | parts_type = Areas of the city<br/> | p1 = [[Chalkwell]] | p2 = City Centre | p3 = [[Eastwood, Essex|Eastwood]] | p4 = [[Leigh-on-Sea]] (Town) | p5 = [[North Shoebury]] | p6 = [[Prittle Brook]] | p7 = [[Prittlewell]] | p8 = [[Shoeburyness]] | p9 = [[South Shoebury]] | p10 = [[Southchurch]] | p11 = [[Thorpe Bay]] | p12 = [[Westcliff-on-Sea]] <!-- Politics ----------------->| government_footnotes = | government_type = [[Unitary authority]] | leader_title = [[Local government in England#Councillors and mayors|Leadership]] | leader_name = Leader & Cabinet | leader_title1 = Governing Body | leader_name1 = [[Southend-on-Sea City Council]] | leader_title2 = Executive | leader_name2 = {{English district control|GSS=E06000033}} | leader_title3 = [[List of MPs elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election|MPs]] | leader_name3 = [[Anna Firth]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]<br />[[James Duddridge]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]] | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = <!-- Settled --> | established_date = | established_title1 = <!-- Incorporated (Town) --> | established_date1 = | established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> | established_date2 = | founder = | named_for = <!-- Area ---------------------> | area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink --> | unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric--> | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 41.76<!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> | area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion--> | area_water_km2 = | area_total_dunam = <!--Used in Middle East articles only--> | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Elevation --------------------------> | elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref> tags--> | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation_max_m = | elevation_max_ft = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_ft = <!-- Population -----------------------> | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = [[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{English district rank|GSS=E06000033}}]]<br />{{English district population|GSS=E06000033}} | population_density_km2 = {{English district density|GSS=E06000033}} <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto --> | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = <!-- demographics (section 1) --> | demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span> | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000033|title=Southend-on-Sea Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> | demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]] | demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list | 87.5% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]] | 5.5% [[British Asians|Asian]] | 3.1% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]] | 2.9% [[Black British people|Black]] | 1.1% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]] }} <!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span> | demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/> | demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]] | demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list | 44.9% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]] | 42.6% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]] | 9.5% [[Religion in England|other]] | 3% [[Islam in England|Islam]] }} | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> | timezone = [[GMT]] | utc_offset = +0 | timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time]] | utc_offset_DST = +1 | coordinates = {{coord|51.55|0.71|type:city_region:GB-ESS|display=inline,title}} | postal2_code_type = [[Post town]] | postal2_code = {{Smallcaps|southend-on-sea}} | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = [[SS postcode area|SS0-SS3]] | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling code]] | area_code = 01702 | blank_name = Grid reference | blank_info = {{gbmappingsmall|TQ883856}} | blank1_name = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]] | blank1_info = 00KF (ONS)<br />E06000033 (GSS) | blank2_name = | blank2_info = | website = {{URL|https://southend.gov.uk}} | footnotes = | official_name = | leader_party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] }} '''Southend-on-Sea''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-SouthendOnSea.ogg|ˌ|s|aʊ|θ|ɛ|n|d| |ɒ|n| |ˈ|s|iː|}}), commonly referred to as '''Southend''' ({{IPAc-en|s|aʊ|ˈ|θ|ɛ|n|d|}}), is a coastal city and [[unitary authorities of England|unitary authority area]] with [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in southeastern [[Essex]], England. It lies on the north side of the [[Thames Estuary]], {{convert|40|mi}} east of central [[London]]. It is bordered to the north by [[Rochford (district)|Rochford]] and to the west by [[Castle Point]]. It is home to the longest [[pleasure pier]] in the world, [[Southend Pier]].<ref name="lonely planet">{{cite book |title=England |series=Lonely Planet travel guide |editor-first=David |editor-last=Else |edition=5th |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-74104-590-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781741045901/page/445 445] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781741045901/page/445 }}</ref> [[London Southend Airport]] is located north of the city centre. Southend-on-Sea originally consisted of a few poor fishermen's huts and farms at the southern end of the village of [[Prittlewell]]. In the 1790s, the first buildings around what was to become the High Street of Southend were completed. In the 19th century, Southend's status as a [[seaside resort]] grew after a visit from Princess [[Caroline of Brunswick]], and Southend Pier was constructed. From the 1960s onwards, the city declined as a holiday destination. Southend redeveloped itself as the home of the [[Access (credit card)|Access credit card]], due to its having one of the UK's first [[Electronic switching system|electronic telephone exchanges]]. After the 1960s, much of the city centre was developed for commerce and retail, and many original structures were lost to redevelopment. An annual seafront airshow, which started in 1986 and featured a flypast by [[Concorde]], used to take place each May until 2012. On 18 October 2021, it was announced that Southend would be granted [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]], as a memorial to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] Member of Parliament for Southend West, [[David Amess|Sir David Amess]], a long-time supporter of city status for the borough, who was [[Murder of David Amess|murdered]] on 15 October 2021.<ref name=City>{{cite news|date=18 October 2021|title=Sir David Amess: Southend to become a city in honour of MP|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58956615|access-date=19 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=18 October 2021|title=Southend to become city in honour of Sir David Amess|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/oct/18/southend-to-become-city-in-honour-of-sir-david-amess|access-date=19 October 2021|website=The Guardian}}</ref> Southend was granted city status by letters patent dated 26 January 2022. On 1 March 2022, the letters patent were presented to Southend Borough Council by [[Charles III|Charles, Prince of Wales]].<ref name="charles">{{cite news |date=1 March 2022 |title=Southend: Prince Charles presents city status document |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-60568792 |access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CrownOffFOIDs/status/1509588961844473860#m |publisher=Crown Office |title=Warrant to prepare Letters Patent for conferring city status on Southend-on-Sea |access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> ==History== Originally the "THE RIZZLER" of the village of [[Prittlewell]], Southend was home to a few poor fishermen's huts and farms at the southern extremity of [[Prittlewell Priory]] land. In the 1790s, landowner Daniel Scratton sold off land on either side of what was to become the High Street. The Grand Hotel (now Royal Hotel) and Grove Terrace (now Royal Terrace) were completed by 1794, and stagecoaches from London made it accessible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navalmilitaryclubsouthend.co.uk/southendhistory.php |title=A Brief History of Southend |publisher=Naval & Military Club, Southend-on-Sea |access-date=14 June 2015 }}</ref> Due to the bad transportation links between Southend and London, there was not rapid development during the [[Georgian Era]] as there was in [[Brighton]], although Southend is mentioned in [[Jane Austen]]'s novel ''Emma'' of 1815. However, after the coming of the railways in the 19th century and the visit of Princess [[Caroline of Brunswick]], Southend's status as a seaside resort grew. During the 19th century, Southend's pier was first constructed and the Clifftown development built,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clifftowntheatre.co.uk/aboutus.html|title=History – About Us – Clifftown Studios & Theatre|access-date=29 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703084121/http://clifftowntheatre.co.uk/aboutus.html|archive-date=3 July 2014}}</ref> attracting many summer tourists to its seven miles of beaches and sea bathing. Good rail connections and proximity to London mean that much of the economy has been based on tourism and that Southend has been a dormitory town for city workers ever since. [[Southend Pier]] is the world's longest pleasure [[pier]] at {{convert|1.34|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="lonely planet"/> It has suffered fires and ship collisions, most recently in October 2005,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4320000/newsid_4326300/4326378.stm |title=Fire burns through Southend Pier| date=10 October 2005|journal=CBBC Newsround|access-date=27 March 2011}}</ref> but the basic pier structure has been repaired each time. As a holiday destination, Southend declined from the 1960s onwards, as holidaying abroad became more affordable. Southend became the home of the [[Access (credit card)|Access credit card]], as it had one of the UK's first electronic telephone exchanges (it is still home to RBS Card Services – one of the former members of Access), with offices based in the former [[EKCO]] factory, Maitland House ([[Keddies]]), Victoria Circus and Southchurch Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accesscreditcard.info/offPriory.aspx|title=The Access Credit Card Offices: Priory Crescent|website=Access Credit Card|access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> Since then, much of the city centre has been developed for commerce and retail, and during the 1960s many original structures were lost to redevelopment – such as the Talza Arcade and Victoria Market (replaced by what is now known as The Victoria Shopping Centre) and Southend Technical College (on the site of the ODEON Cinema, now a campus of South Essex College).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southessex.ac.uk|title=skills education careers – South Essex College|website=www.southessex.ac.uk}}</ref> However, about 6.4 million tourists still visit Southend per year, generating estimated revenues of £200 million a year. [[Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs|H.M. Revenue & Customs]] (HMRC), (formerly H.M. Customs and Excise), were major employers in the city, and the central offices for the collection of [[VAT]] were located at Alexander House on Victoria Avenue. Staff were finally relocated to Stratford in December 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23938143.alexander-house-flats-bid-images-revealed-plans-submitted/|title=Alexander House flats bid images revealed as plans submitted|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=21 November 2023}}</ref> An annual seafront airshow, started in 1986 when it featured a flypast by [[Concorde]] whilst on a passenger charter flight, used to take place each May and became one of Europe's largest free airshows. The aircraft flew parallel to the seafront, offset over the sea. The [[RAF Falcons]] parachute display team and RAF [[Red Arrows]] aerobatics team were regular visitors to the show. The last show was held in 2012; an attempt to revive the show for September 2015, as the Southend Airshow and Military Festival, failed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendairshow.com/|title=southendairshow.com|access-date=10 November 2016}}</ref> On 15 October 2021, the Member of Parliament for Southend West, Sir David Amess, was [[Murder of David Amess|fatally stabbed]] during a constituency meeting in [[Leigh-on-Sea]]. On 18 October 2021, the Prime Minister, [[Boris Johnson]], announced that [[Elizabeth II|the Queen]] had agreed to grant Southend-on-Sea with [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] as a memorial to Amess, who had long campaigned for this status to be granted.<ref name="City" /> Preparations, led by Amess, for Southend to enter a competition for city status in 2022 as part of the Queen's [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Platinum Jubilee]] were underway at the time of his death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend-on-Sea's City Status |url=https://yoursay.southend.gov.uk/southend-on-sea-city-status|website=Southend-On-Sea Borough Council|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Emes|first1=Toby |title=Bid to make Southend a city officially launched|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19595744.bid-make-southend-city-officially-launched/|website=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo|date=22 September 2021}}</ref> A "City Week" was held throughout the town between 13 and 20 February 2022,<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend City|url=https://southend.city/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=southend.city}}</ref> beginning with the inaugural "He Built This City" concert named in honour of Amess.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pictures: 'Emotional' concert held at the Cliffs in honour of Sir David Amess|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19923898.pictures-emotional-concert-held-honour-sir-david-amess/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Echo|date=14 February 2022 }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=What you need to know about week long celebrations to mark Southend city status|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19903520.southend-city-week-start/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Echo|date=7 February 2022 }}</ref> The concert was held at the [[Cliffs Pavilion]] and included performers such as [[Digby Fairweather]], [[Lee Mead]], and [[Leanne Jarvis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Stars of Amess memorial concert: "we're going to do a lot in the city in Sir David's name"|url=https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/essex/news/amess-memorial-southend-city-concert/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Greatest Hits Radio (Essex)}}</ref> Other events such as a city ceremony and the Southend LuminoCity Festival of Light were held during the week. [[Sam Duckworth]], who knew Amess personally, performed at some of the events.<ref name=":1" /> On 1 March, Southend Borough Council was presented letters patent from the Queen, by Charles, Prince of Wales, officially granting the borough city status.<ref name="charles"/> Southend became the second city in the ceremonial county of Essex, after Chelmsford, which was granted city status in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/essex-could-second-city-2021-3758807|title=Why Essex could have a second city in 2021|first=Brad|last=Gray|date=23 January 2020|website=EssexLive}}</ref> ==Governance== {{main|Southend-on-Sea City Council}} There is just one tier of local government covering Southend. The city council performs the functions of both a county and district council, being a [[unitary authorities in England|unitary authority]]. There is one [[civil parish]] within the city at [[Leigh-on-Sea]]; the rest of the city is an [[unparished area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/southend%20on%20sea.html|title=Southend on Sea Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> ===Administrative history=== Southend's first elected council was a [[Local Board of Health|local board]], which held its first meeting on 29 August 1866.<ref>{{cite news |title=Southend |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=26 May 2023 |work=Chelmsford Chronicle |date=31 August 1866 |page=5}}</ref> Prior to that the town was administered by the [[vestry]] for the wider parish of [[Prittlewell]]. The local board district was enlarged in 1877 to cover the whole parish of Prittlewell.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yearsley |first1=Ian |title=Southend in 50 buildings |date=2016 |publisher=Amberley Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-1-4456-5189-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DB2tCwAAQBAJ&dq=southend+prittlewell+local+board&pg=PT8 |access-date=26 May 2023}}</ref> The town was made a [[municipal borough]] in 1892. In 1897 the borough was enlarged to also include the neighbouring parish of [[Southchurch]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 7) Act 1897 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/60-61/72/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> The borough was enlarged again in 1913 to take in the former [[Leigh on Sea Urban District]]. In 1914 the enlarged Southend became a [[County Borough of Southend on Sea|county borough]] making it independent from [[Essex County Council]] and a single-tier of local government. The county borough was enlarged in 1933 by the former area of [[Shoeburyness Urban District]] and part of [[Rochford Rural District]]. On 1 April 1974, under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], Southend became a district of Essex, with the county council once more providing county-level services to the town. However, in 1998 it again became the single tier of local government when it became a [[unitary authority]].<ref>{{cite book | title=Essex | series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides: The Buildings of England]] | first=James| last=Bettley | editor-first=Nikolaus | editor-last=Pevsner | publisher=[[Yale University Press]] | year=2007 | isbn=978-0-300-11614-4 | pages=690–691 }}</ref> Upon receiving city status on 1 March 2022, the council voted to rename itself '[[Southend-on-Sea City Council]]'.<ref name=charles/> [[File:Southend - Civic Centre.jpg|thumb|[[Southend Civic Centre]], autumn 2007]] The Latin motto, 'Per Mare Per Ecclesiam', emblazoned on the municipal coat of arms, translates as 'By [the] Sea, By [the] Church', reflecting Southend's position between the church at [[Prittlewell]] and the sea as in the [[River Thames|Thames]] estuary. The city has been twinned with the resort of [[Sopot]] in Poland since 1999<ref name="sopot">{{cite web | url=http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200410/historic_southend/331/town_twinning | title=Sopot – Southend's Twin Town | work=Southend-on-Sea Borough Council | access-date=18 February 2015}}</ref> and has been developing three-way associations with [[Lake Worth Beach, Florida]]. [[Southend Civic Centre]] was designed by borough architect, Patrick Burridge, and officially opened by the [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Mother]] on 31 October 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://modernmooch.com/tag/southend-civic-centre/|title=Southend Civic Centre|date=14 June 2020 |publisher=Modern Mooch|access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref> ===Members of Parliament=== {{main|Rochford and Southend East (UK Parliament constituency) |Southend West (UK Parliament constituency) }} Southend is represented by two [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) at Westminster. The MP for [[Southend West (UK Parliament constituency)|Southend West]] was [[Sir David Amess]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]), who served from 1997 until [[Murder of David Amess|his murder]] in 2021. [[Anna Firth]] has served as the MP for the constituency since the following [[2022 Southend West by-election]]. Since 2005 the MP for [[Rochford and Southend East (UK Parliament constituency)|Rochford and Southend East]] has been [[James Duddridge]] (Conservative), who replaced Sir [[Teddy Taylor]]. Despite its name the majority of the constituency is in Southend, including the centre of the city; Rochford makes up only a small part and the majority of Rochford District Council is represented in [[Rayleigh (UK Parliament constituency)|the Rayleigh constituency]]. ==Demography== [[File:SouthendOnSeaBUA.png|thumb|right|400px|Map of the Southend Urban Area with subdivisions]] Southend is the seventh most densely populated area in the United Kingdom outside of the London Boroughs, with 38.8 people per hectare compared to a national average of 3.77. By 2006, the majority, or 52% of the Southend population were between the ages of 16–54, 18% were below age 15, 18% were above age 65 and the middle age populace between 55 and 64 accounted for the remaining 12%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southend.gov.uk/download/70/southend_joint_strategic_needs_assessment-april_2008 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316194929/http://www.southend.gov.uk/download/70/southend_joint_strategic_needs_assessment-april_2008 |archive-date=16 March 2012 }}</ref> [[Save the Children]]'s research data shows that for 2008–09, Southend had 4,000 children living in poverty, a rate of 12%, the same as [[Thurrock]], but above the 11% child poverty rate of Essex as a whole.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/feb/23/child-poverty-britain-map|title=The child poverty map of Britain|last=Ramesh|first=Randeep|date=23 February 2011|website=The Guardian|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> The [[Department for Communities and Local Government]]'s 2010 Indices of Multiple Deprivation [https://web.archive.org/web/20110904051633/http://www.imd.communities.gov.uk/ Deprivation Indices] data showed that Southend is one of Essex's most deprived areas. Out of 32,482 Lower Super Output Areas in England, area 014D in the Kursaal ward is 99th, area 015B in Milton ward is 108th, area 010A in Victoria ward is 542nd, and area 009D in Southchurch ward is 995th, as well as an additional 5 areas all within the top 10% most deprived areas in England (with the most deprived area having a rank of 1 and the least deprived a rank of 32,482).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/mar/31/deprivation-map-indices-multiple|title=Deprivation mapped: how you show the poorest (and richest) places in England|last=Rogers|first=Simon|date=31 March 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> Victoria and Milton wards have the highest proportion of ethnic minority residents – at the 2011 Census these figures were 24.2% and 26.5% respectively. Southend has the highest percentage of residents receiving housing benefits (19%) and the third highest percentage of residents receiving council tax benefits in Essex. The [[urban area]] of Southend spills outside of the borough boundaries into the neighbouring [[Castle Point]] and [[Rochford District|Rochford]] districts, including the towns of [[Hadleigh, Essex|Hadleigh]], [[South Benfleet|Benfleet]], [[Rayleigh, Essex|Rayleigh]] and [[Rochford]], as well as the villages of [[Hockley]] and [[Hullbridge]]. According to the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]], it had a population of 295,310,<ref name="BUA">{{cite web | url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx|title=2011 Census – Built-up areas| publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] | access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref> making it the largest urban area solely within the [[East of England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011census|title=2011 Census – Office for National Statistics|website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref> ==Economy== This is a chart of the trend of regional gross value added of Southend-on-Sea at current basic prices [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.&nbsp;240–253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of [[Pound sterling|British Pounds Sterling]]. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year || Regional Gross Value Added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref> |- | 1995 || '''1,373''' || 2 || 305 || 1,066 |- | 2000 || '''1,821''' || 1 || 375 || 1,445 |- | 2003 || '''2,083''' || – || 418 || 1,665 |} In 2006, travel insurance company [[InsureandGo]] relocated its offices from [[Braintree, Essex|Braintree]] to Maitland House in Southend-on-Sea. The company brought 120 existing jobs from Braintree and announced the intention to create more in the future.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/777860.300-new-jobs-for-southend/|title=300 new jobs for Southend|date=31 May 2006|website=Echo|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> However the business announced the plan to relocate to Bristol in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/14031031.More_than_100_jobs_to_go_as_call_centre_leaves_Southend/|title=More than 100 Insure & Go employees face redundancy in Southend – Evening Echo p.16 Nov 2016|date=16 November 2015 |access-date=10 November 2016}}</ref> The building is now home to Ventrica, a customer service outsourcing company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ventrica.co.uk/our-facilities|title=Centrica – Our Facilities|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16415158.business-set-to-offer-200-new-jobs/|title=''Ventrica, Southend, set to offer 200 new jobs'' – Evening Echo Cornell.A p.13 August 2018|date=13 August 2018 |access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref> Southend has industrial parks located at Progress Road, Comet and Aviation Ways in Eastwood and Stock Road in Sutton. Firms located in Southend include [[Olympus Corporation|Olympus Keymed]], [[Hi-Tec Sports]] and [[MK Electric]]. Southend has declined as a centre for credit card management with only [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] card services (now branded [[NatWest]]) still operating in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/nov/03/hsbc-cuts-jobs|title=HSBC cuts 1700 jobs |work= The Guardian |date= 3 November 2009|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref> A fifth of the working population commutes to London daily. Wages for jobs based in Southend were the second lowest among UK cities in 2015. It also has the fourth-highest proportion of people aged over 65. This creates considerable pressure on the housing market. It is the 11th most expensive place to live in Britain.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Swinney|first1=Paul|title=Southend is Britain's only high-wage, high-welfare city. What gives?|url=http://www.citymetric.com/business/southend-britains-only-high-wage-high-welfare-city-what-gives-1832|access-date=15 February 2016|publisher=City Metric|date=15 February 2016}}</ref> Southend-on-Sea County Borough Corporation has provided the borough with electricity since the early twentieth century from the Southend power station. Upon [[nationalisation]] of the electricity industry in 1948 ownership passed to the [[British Electricity Authority]] and later to the [[Central Electricity Generating Board]]. Electricity connections to the [[National Grid (Great Britain)|national grid]] rendered the 5.75 [[Watt|megawatt]] (MW) power station redundant. Electricity was generated by diesel engines and by steam obtained from the exhaust gases. The power station closed in 1966; in its final year of operation, it delivered 2,720 [[Kilowatt hour|MWh]] of electricity to the borough.<ref>''CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1965, 1966''. CEGB, London.</ref> ==Transport== ===Airport=== {{main|London Southend Airport }} [[File:Southend airport.jpg|thumb|left|Southend Airport, prior to the runway extension]] London Southend Airport was developed from the military airfield at [[Rochford]]; it was opened as a civil airport in 1935. It now offers scheduled flights to destinations across Europe, corporate and recreational flights, aircraft maintenance and training for pilots and engineers. It is served by [[Southend Airport railway station]], on the [[Shenfield–Southend line]], part of the Great Eastern Main Line. {{-}} ===Buses=== [[File:Arriva Southend bus 5404 (H264 GEV), 2009 Clacton Bus Rally.jpg|thumb|left|An Arriva Southend bus]] Local bus services are provided by two main companies. [[Arriva Southend]] was formerly the council-owned Southend Corporation Transport and [[First Essex|First Essex Buses]] was formerly [[Eastern National Omnibus Company|Eastern National]]/Thamesway. Smaller providers include [[Stephensons of Essex]]. Southend has a bus station on Chichester Road, which was developed from a temporary facility added in the 1970s; the previous bus station was located on London Road and was run by Eastern National, but it was demolished in the 1980s to make way for a Sainsbury's supermarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendtimeline.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=136131382|title=Eastern National – southendtimeline|access-date=10 November 2016}}</ref> Arriva Southend is the only bus company based in Southend, with their depot located in Short Street; it was previously sited on the corner of London Road and Queensway and also a small facility in Tickfield Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.signal-training.com/ebeg/lrd-bye.htm|title=The closure of Arriva Southend's London Road Garage – 2000 By Richard Delahoy|access-date=10 November 2016}}</ref> First Essex's buses in the Southend area are based out of the depot in [[Hadleigh, Essex|Hadleigh]] but, prior to the 1980s, Eastern National had depots on London Road (at the bus station) and Fairfax Drive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/4137197.end-of-the-road-for-busman-denis/|title=''End of the road for busman Denis'' – Evening Echo p.19 February 2009|date=19 February 2009 |access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref> {{-}} ===Railway=== <gallery> 357036 at Southend Central.jpg|A c2c train at Southend Central station Southend Victoria railway station.JPG|Southend Victoria station Southend Cliff Railway in 2008.jpg|Southend Cliff Railway </gallery> Southend is served by two lines on the [[National Rail]] network: * Running from [[Southend Victoria railway station|Southend Victoria]] north out of the city is the [[Shenfield–Southend line]], a branch of the [[Great Eastern Main Line]], operated by [[Abellio Greater Anglia]]. Services operate to [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]], via {{rws|Shenfield}}. * Running from {{rws|Shoeburyness}}, in the east of the borough, is the [[London, Tilbury and Southend line]] operated by [[c2c]]. It runs west through {{rws|Thorpe Bay}}, {{rws|Southend East}}, {{rws|Southend Central}} to [[Fenchurch Street railway station|London Fenchurch Street]], either via {{rws|Benfleet}} and {{rws|Basildon}} or {{rws|Tilbury Town}} and {{rws|Barking}}. Additionally, one service from Southend Central each weekday evening terminates at Liverpool Street. From 1910 to 1939, the [[London Underground]]'s [[District line]]'s eastbound service ran as far as Southend and Shoeburyness.<ref>{{cite book | title=The story of London's underground | author=John Robert Day, John Reed | edition=9 | year=2005 | publisher=Capital Transport | isbn=978-1-85414-289-4 | page=66 }}</ref> Besides its main line railway connections, Southend is also the home of two smaller railways. The [[Southend Pier Railway]] provides transport along the length of [[Southend Pier]], whilst the nearby [[Southend Cliff Railway]] provides a connection from the promenade to the cliff top above.<ref name=tht>{{cite web | title = Southend Cliff Railway | publisher = The Heritage Trail | url = http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/cliff_trams/southend_cliff_railway.htm | access-date = 15 May 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090607134735/http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/cliff_trams/southend_cliff_railway.htm | archive-date = 7 June 2009 }}</ref> ===Roads=== [[File:Arterial road 220608.jpg|thumb|right|A127 Kent Elms looking west]] Two A-roads connect Southend with London and the rest of the country: the [[A127 road|A127]] (''Southend Arterial Road''), via Basildon and [[Romford]], and the [[A13 road (Great Britain)|A13]], via Thurrock and [[London Docklands]]. Both are major routes; however, within the borough, the A13 is now a single carriageway local single-carriageway route, whereas the A127 is an entirely dual-carriageway. Both connect to the M25 and eventually London. ==Climate== [[File:Seals off Southend.jpg|thumb|Seals off Southend]] Southend-on-Sea is one of the driest places in the UK. It has a [[oceanic climate|marine climate]] with summer highs of around {{convert|22|C|F}} and winters highs being around {{convert|7.8|C|F}}.<ref name="Southend-on-Sea climate averages">{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/u10t0nxqf|title=Southend-on-Sea climate averages|publisher=Met Office|access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref> Summer temperatures are generally slightly cooler than those in [[London]]. Frosts are occasional. During the 1991–2020 period there was an average of 29.6 days of air frost. Rainfall averaged {{convert|527|mm|in}}. Weather station data is available from [[Shoeburyness]],<ref name="Southend-on-Sea climate averages"/> which is adjacent to Southend in the eastern part of the urban area. <!-- Shoeburyness is part of Southend urban area - do not remove. --> {{Weather box |location = Shoeburyness, in eastern part of Southend Urban Area, 2m asl, 1991–2020 |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan high C = 7.8 |Feb high C = 8.3 |Mar high C = 10.6 |Apr high C = 13.5 |May high C = 16.6 |Jun high C = 19.8 |Jul high C = 22.3 |Aug high C = 22.4 |Sep high C = 19.4 |Oct high C = 15.3 |Nov high C = 11.1 |Dec high C = 8.4 |year high C = |Jan low C = 2.7 |Feb low C = 2.4 |Mar low C = 3.7 |Apr low C = 5.4 |May low C = 8.3 |Jun low C = 11.2 |Jul low C = 13.6 |Aug low C = 13.8 |Sep low C = 11.5 |Oct low C = 8.9 |Nov low C = 5.5 |Dec low C = 3.2 |year low C = |Jan precipitation mm = 43.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 36.1 |Mar precipitation mm = 32.7 |Apr precipitation mm = 36.1 |May precipitation mm = 41.6 |Jun precipitation mm = 44.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 41.1 |Aug precipitation mm = 48.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 43.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 57.8 |Nov precipitation mm = 54.0 |Dec precipitation mm = 48.8 |year precipitation mm = |Jan rain days = 9.5 |Feb rain days = 8.3 |Mar rain days = 7.8 |Apr rain days = 7.5 |May rain days = 7.5 |Jun rain days = 7.8 |Jul rain days = 7.3 |Aug rain days = 7.1 |Sep rain days = 7.5 |Oct rain days = 10.2 |Nov rain days = 10.6 |Dec rain days = 10.7 |year rain days= |Jan sun = 70.5 |Feb sun = 88.9 |Mar sun = 136.8 |Apr sun = 200.4 |May sun = 241.2 |Jun sun = 243.3 |Jul sun = 257.0 |Aug sun = 212.2 |Sep sun = 162.4 |Oct sun = 130.0 |Nov sun = 84.7 |Dec sun = 56.9 |year sun = |source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/shoeburyness#?tab=climateTables|title=Shoeburyness Climatic Averages 1991–2020|publisher=Met Office|access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref>}} ==Education== <gallery> File:P1020316.JPG|[[University of Essex]] accommodation in Southend File:Cecil Jones College - geograph.org.uk - 307915.jpg|Cecil Jones Academy File:Westcliff High School for Boys.jpg|[[Westcliff High School for Boys]] File:Southend - University of Essex..JPG|[[South Essex College]] Southend Campus File:Southend Adult Community College - geograph.org.uk - 700459.jpg|Southend Adult Community College </gallery> {{See also|List of schools in Southend-on-Sea}} ===Secondary schools=== All mainstream secondary schools are mixed-sex comprehensives, including [[Belfairs Academy]]; [[Cecil Jones Academy]]; [[Chase High School]]; [[Southchurch High School]]; [[Shoeburyness High School]] and [[The Eastwood Academy]]. In 2004, Southend retained the [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar school system]] and has four such schools: [[Southend High School for Boys]]; [[Southend High School for Girls]]; [[Westcliff High School for Boys]] and [[Westcliff High School for Girls]]. Additionally, there are two single-sex schools assisted by the Roman Catholic Church: [[St Bernard's High School, Westcliff-on-Sea|St Bernard's High School]] (girls) and [[St Thomas More High School]] (boys). Both, while not grammar schools, contain a grammar stream; entrance is by the same exam as grammar schools. ===Further and higher education=== The main higher education provider in Southend is the [[University of Essex]] which has a campus in Elmer Approach on the site of the former Odeon cinema. It also operates the East 15 Acting School Southend campus at the Clifftown Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clifftowntheatre.co.uk/east-15-acting-schoo/|title=East 15 Acting School|website=Clifftown Theatre|date=23 January 2023 |access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref> In addition to a number of secondary schools that offer further education, the largest provider is [[South Essex College]] in a purpose-built building in the centre of town. Formerly known as South East Essex College, (and previously Southend Municipal College) the college changed name in January 2010 following a merger with Thurrock and Basildon College.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarfend.co.uk/southendnews/2009/11/south-essex-college-merger-approved.html|title=South Essex College Merger Approved|date=30 November 2009}}</ref> Additionally there is [[PROCAT]] that is based at Progress Road, while learners can travel to [[USP College]] (formerly SEEVIC College) in [[Thundersley]]. The [[East 15 Acting School]], a drama school has its second campus in Southend, while the Southend Adult Community College is in Ambleside Drive. Southend United Futsal & Football Education Scholarship, located at [[Southend United]]'s stadium [[Roots Hall]], provides education for sports scholarships. ==Sport== [[File:Southend - Leisure and tennis.jpg|thumb|Southend – Leisure and Tennis Centre]] Southend has two football teams, one of professional stature, [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]. United currently competes in the [[Vanarama National League]]. The other, [[Southend Manor F.C.|Southend Manor]], plays in the [[Essex Senior League]]. There are two [[rugby union]] clubs [[Southend RFC]] which play in London 1 North and [[Westcliff R.F.C.]] who play in London & South East Premier. Southend was formerly home to the Essex Eels rugby league team. Southend was home to the [[Essex Pirates]] basketball team that played in the [[British Basketball League]] between 2009 and 2011. [[Essex County Cricket Club]] plays in Southend one week a season. Previously the festival was held at [[Chalkwell Park]] and most recently [[Southchurch Park]], but it has now moved to [[Garons Park]] next to the Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre. The only other cricket is local. The Old Southendians Hockey Club is based at Warner's Bridge in Southend. The eight-lane, floodlit, synthetic athletics track at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre is home to [[Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club]]. The facilities cover all track and field events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southend-on-sea-athletic-club.co.uk/|title=Southend on Sea Athletic Club &#124; Founded 1905|website=www.southend-on-sea-athletic-club.co.uk}}</ref> The centre has a 25m swimming pool and a world championship level diving pool with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10m boards, plus springboards with the only 1.3m in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southend.gov.uk/directory_record/266/southend_swimming_and_diving_centre_at_southend_leisure_and_tennis_centre |title=Leisure Centres Directory - Southend Swimming & Diving Centre at Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre &#124; Southend-on-Sea Borough Council |access-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528200146/https://www.southend.gov.uk/directory_record/266/southend_swimming_and_diving_centre_at_southend_leisure_and_tennis_centre |archive-date=28 May 2015 }}</ref> ==Entertainment and culture== ===Southend Pleasure Pier=== {{main|Southend Pier}} [[File:Southend from Southend Pier.jpg|thumb|Southend on Sea from one mile out along the [[Southend Pier|pier]], the world's longest pleasure pier]] Southend-on-Sea is home to the world's longest pleasure pier, built in 1830 and stretching some {{convert|1.34|mi|km}} from shore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200306/southend_pier/84/history_of_southend_pier|title=History of Southend Pier|website=Southend-on-Sea Borough Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317234401/http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200306/southend_pier/84/history_of_southend_pier|archive-date=17 March 2016|access-date=17 October 2018}}</ref> ===Kursaal=== {{main|Kursaal (amusement park)}} The Kursaal was one of the earliest theme parks, built at the start of the 20th century. It closed in the 1970s and much of the land was developed as housing. The entrance hall, a listed building, used to house a bowling alley arcade operated by [[Megabowl]] and casino, however the bowling alley closed in 2019 and the casino closed in 2020. The building currently stands unused. [[File:Kursaal Ballrooms - geograph.org.uk - 30246.jpg|thumb|The Kursaal]] ===Southend Carnival=== Southend Carnival has been an annual event since 1906, where it was part of the annual regatta, and was set up to raise funds for the Southend Victoria Cottage Hospital. In 1926, a carnival association was formed, and by 1930, they were raising funds for the building of the new General Hospital with a range of events, including a fete in Chalkwell Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carnivalarchive.org.uk/southend#.XPUsheSP5dg|title=Southend – Carnival Archive|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16405814.southend-carnival-week-starts-friday/|title=''Southend Carnival week starts Friday'' – Evening Echo Buckley.K p.8 August 2018|date=8 August 2018 |access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref> The parades, which included a daylight and torchlight parades were cut down to just a torchlight parade during the 1990s. ===Cliff Lift=== {{main|Southend Cliff Railway}} A short funicular railway, constructed in 1912, links the seafront to the High Street level of the town. The lift re-opened to the public in 2010, following a period of refurbishment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Historic cliff lift reopens following refurbishment|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/essex/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8703000/8703018.stm|access-date=12 March 2013|newspaper=BBC Essex|date=25 May 2010}}</ref> ===Other seafront attractions=== [[File:Southend on Sea-sunset.jpg|thumb|The sunset in Southend, a view of Adventure Island in 2007]] An amusement park [[Adventure Island (amusement park)|Adventure Island]], formerly known as Peter Pan's Playground, straddles the pier entrance. The seafront houses the "Sea-Life Adventure" [[aquarium]]. The cliff gardens, which included [[Never Never Land]] and a Victorian bandstand were an attraction until slippage in 2003 made parts of the cliffs unstable. The bandstand has been removed and re-erected in Priory Park. Beaches include Three Shells and Jubilee Beach. A modern vertical lift links the base of the High Street with the seafront and the new pier entrance. The older [[Southend Cliff Railway]], a short [[funicular]], is a few hundred metres away. The London to Southend Classic Car Run takes place each summer. It is run by the South Eastern Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club and features classic cars which line the seafront.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.essexclassicvehicles.co.uk/Page1.php|title=South Eastern Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club|access-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> The Southend Shakedown, organised by [[Ace Cafe]], is an annual event featuring motorbikes and scooters. There are other scooter runs throughout the year, including the Great London Rideout, which arrives at Southend seafront each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/8993940.bikers-ride-into-town-for-southend-shakedown/|title=Bikers ride into town for Southend Shakedown|website=Echo|date=26 April 2011 }}</ref> ===Festival events=== The Southend-on-Sea Film Festival is an annual event that began in 2009 and is run by the White Bus film and theatrical company based at The Old Waterworks Arts Center located inside a Victorian era Old Water Works plant. [[Ray Winstone]] attended the opening night gala in both 2010 and 2011, and has become the Festival Patron.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southendfilmfestival.com/latest_news.html |title=Latest News |access-date=4 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823093051/http://www.southendfilmfestival.com/latest_news.html |archive-date=23 August 2011 }}</ref> Since 2021, the city has hosted a Halloween parade in October, while the Leigh Art Trail runs during July. Two events that started in 2022 was Southend City Jam, a street art festival, and LuminoCity, a light festival,<ref name=guard2023/> however LuminoCity was announced to be cancelled for 2024 due to budget cuts at Southend City Council.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24031501.luminocity-southend-look-back-festival-cancelled/|title=LuminoCity Southend: a look back after festival cancelled|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=6 January 2024}}</ref> The Old Leigh Regatta takes place every September,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leighlions.co.uk/leigh-regatta-2017|title=Old Leigh Regatta|website=Leigh Lions|date=29 March 2023}}</ref> while Leigh Folk Festival has run since 1992, though will be taking a break in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23952520.leigh-folk-festival-organisers-cancel-2024-event/|title=Leigh Folk Festival: organisers cancel 2024 event|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=28 November 2023}}</ref> The Southend Jazz Festival has been run since 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23770126.southend-jazz-festival-returning-fourth-year/|title=Southend Jazz Festival returning for a fourth year|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=6 September 2023}}</ref> Between 2008 and 2019, Chalkwell Park became home to the Village Green Art & Music Festival for a weekend every July,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11814372.Village_Green_festival_keeps_entry_charge_as_details_for_2015_bash_are_revealed/|title=Village Green festival keeps entry charge as details for 2015 bash are revealed |work= Evening Echo |date=24 February 2015|access-date=30 March 2015}}</ref> but has not run since 2019 due to covid. ===Shopping=== [[File:Southend high street - geograph.org.uk - 1175275.jpg|thumb|High Street, looking North]] Southend High Street runs from the top of Pier Hill in the South, to Victoria Circus in the north. It currently has two shopping centres – the Victoria (built during the 1960s and a replacement for the old Talza Arcade, Victoria Arcade and Broadway Market)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendtimeline.com/victoriashoppingcentre.htm|title=Victoria Shopping Centre – Southend Timeline|access-date=5 June 2015}}</ref> and The Royals Shopping Centre (built late 1980s and opened in March 1988 by actor [[Jason Donovan]], replacing the bottom part of High Street, Grove Road, Ritz Cinema and Grand Pier Hotel).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southendtimeline.co.uk/southend-timeline-1980-1989-history-of-southend-on-sea.html|title=The Royals Shopping Centre|publisher=Southend Timeline|access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> Southend High Street has many chain stores, with Boots in the Royals, and Next anchoring the Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarfend.co.uk/shopping.html|title=Shopping in Southend-on-Sea – Sarfend.co.uk|access-date=5 June 2015}}</ref> This was not always the case with many independent stores closing in the 1970s and 1980s – [[Keddies]] (department store), [[J F Dixons]] (department store), [[Brightwells]] (department store), Garons (grocers, caterers and cinema),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/51508|title=Garons Cinema – cinematreasures.org|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/18552/page/287/data.pdf|title=The Edinburgh Gazette 11 April 1967|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref> Owen Wallis (ironmongers and toys),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/58335675@N08/8426296551/|title=Owen Wallis & Sons, Southend – Flickr|date=14 January 2004|access-date=5 June 2015}}</ref> Bermans (sports and toys),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarfend.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1288393165|title=Old Shop Fronts & Names – Sarfend.co.uk|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref> J Patience (photographic retailers)<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hTciAQAAMAAJ&q=%22J+Patience%22+southend|title=Essex|journal=The British Journalof Photography|volume=132|date=1985|page=257}}</ref> & [[R. A. Jones]] (jewellers) being the most notable. One of Southend's most notable business, Schofield and Martin, was purchased by [[Waitrose]] in 1944 with the name being used until the 1960s. The Alexandra Street branch was the first Waitrose store in 1951 to be made self-service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitrosememorystore.org.uk/page_id__238.aspx?path=0p1p|title=Acquisition of small food chains – Schofield and Martin|work=waitrosememorystore.org.uk}}</ref> Southend is home to the largest store in the Waitrose portfolio. The longest surviving independent retail business in Southend was Ravens which operated from 1897 to 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/15365918.southends-oldest-department-store-to-shut-after-120-years/|title=Southend's oldest department store to shut after 120 years|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=23 June 2017}}</ref> A Southend business that started in 1937 and is still active in 2022 is [[Dixons Retail]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ravensltd.co.uk/about-us-i1|title=About Us|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071042/http://www.ravensltd.co.uk/about-us-i1|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/8369051.Fifth_generation_of_family_joins_Ravens/|title=Fifth generation of family joins Ravens – Evening Echo p.3 Sept 2010|date=3 September 2010 |access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/15365918.Southend_s_oldest_department_store_to_shut_after_120_years/|title=Southend's oldest department store to shut after 120 years – Evening Echo p.22 June 2017|date=23 June 2017 |access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> The city of Southend has shopping in other areas. Leigh Broadway and Leigh Road in [[Leigh-on-Sea]], Hamlet Court Road in [[Westcliff-on-Sea]], Southchurch Road and London Road are where many of Southend's independent businesses now reside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/shopping/|title=Visit Southend – A Shopper's paradise|access-date=5 June 2015}}</ref> Hamlet Court Road was home to one of Southend's longest-standing business, [[Havens (department store)|Havens]], which opened in 1901. In May 2017, the store announced they would be closing their store to concentrate as an online retailer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/15281204.End_of_an_era_as_Havens_store_prepares_to_close_after_almost_100_years_on_the_high_street/|title=End of an era as Havens store prepares to close after almost 100 years on the high street – Evening Echo p.12 May 2017|date=12 May 2017 |access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> There are regular vintage fairs and markets in Southend, held at a variety of locations including the Leigh Community Centre and [[Garon Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/event/the-big-southend-vintage-retro-fair-2/|title=The Big Southend Vintage & Retro Fair|website=Visit Southend|date=19 March 2023 |access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref> A record fair is frequently held at West Leigh Schools in Leigh on Sea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/recordfairsuk/|title=Record Fairs UK|access-date=5 June 2015}}</ref> ===Parks=== Southend is home to many recreation grounds. Its first formal park to open was [[Prittlewell Square]] in the 19th century. Since then [[Prittlewell Priory|Priory Park]] and Victory Sports Grounds were donated by the town benefactor [[R A Jones]], who also has the sports ground Jones Corner Recreation Ground named after his wife. Other formal parks that have opened since are [[Chalkwell Park]] and [[Southchurch Hall]] along with [[Southchurch Park]], [[Garon Park]] and [[Gunners Park and Shoebury Ranges|Gunners Park]]. <gallery> File:Southend Cliff Gardens - geograph.org.uk - 734118.jpg|Southend Cliff Gardens File:Southend-on-Sea, UK - panoramio - cezma.jpg|Priory Park File:Prittlewell Square.jpg|Prittlewell Square </gallery> ===Conservation areas=== Southend has various [[List of conservation areas in Southend-on-Sea|Conservation areas]] across the borough, with the first being designated in 1968. ===Art, galleries, museums and libraries=== Focal Point Gallery, based in [[The Forum Southend-on-Sea|The Forum]], is South Essex's gallery for contemporary visual art, promoting and commissioning major solo exhibitions, group and thematic shows, a programme of events including performances, film screenings and talks, as well as offsite projects and temporary public artworks. The organisation is funded by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Arts Council England.<ref name=guard2023>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/mar/22/an-arty-weekend-in-southend-on-sea-essex|title=An arty weekend in … Southend-on-Sea, Essex|newspaper=The Guardian|date=22 March 2023}}</ref> Southend Museums Service, part of Southend on Sea City Council, operates a number of historic attractions, an art gallery and a museum in the city. These include: [[Beecroft Art Gallery]], [[Southchurch Hall]], [[Prittlewell Priory]], [[Southend Pier|Southend Pier Museum]] and the [[Southend Central Museum|Central Museum on Victoria Avenue]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend Museums|url=http://www.southendmuseums.co.uk/|publisher=Southend Museums Service|access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref> The Jazz Centre UK, a jazz cultural centre, has operated out of the Beecroft Art Gallery since 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65764376|title=Southend-on-Sea: Jazz Centre set to remain in Beecroft Gallery home|website=BBC|date=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.jazzwise.com/news/article/the-jazz-centre-uk-wins-fight-to-stay-at-beecroft-art-gallery-location|title=The Jazz Centre UK wins fight to stay at Beecroft Art Gallery location|magazine=JazzWise|date=14 July 2023}}</ref> The Old Waterworks Arts Center operates on North Road, Westcliff in the former Victorian water works building. It holds art exhibitions, talks and workshops.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/echo/10162225.VIDEO__Westcliff_TAP_gallery_opens_its_doors_after_revamp/|title=Westcliff TAP gallery opens after fire |work=Southend Standard |date=17 January 2013|access-date=30 March 2015}}</ref> Metal, the art organisation set up by [[Jude Kelly]] OBE has been based in Chalkwell Hall since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/culture/2579/Metal/|title=Metal – visitsouthend.co.uk|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221322/http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/culture/2579/Metal/|archive-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> The organisation offers residency space for artists and also organises the Village Green Art & Music Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/jul/23/southend-essex-seaside-arts-festivals-seaside-family-holidays|title=Southend-on-Sea: the arty way is Essex – The Guardian – Joanna O'Connor p.23 July 2017|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=23 July 2017|access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> The park is also home to NetPark, which claims to be the world's first digital art park.<ref name=guard2023/> Southend has several small libraries located in Leigh, Westcliff, Kent Elms and Southchurch. The central library has moved from its traditional location on Victoria Avenue to [[The Forum Southend-on-Sea|The Forum]] in Elmer Approach, a new facility paid for by Southend Council, South Essex College and The University of Essex. It replaced the former Farringdon Multistorey Car Park. The old Central Library building (built 1974) has become home to the Beecroft Gallery and the Jazz Centre UK.<ref name=guard2023/> This building had replaced the former [[Carnegie library|Carnegie funded free library]] which is now home to the [[Southend Central Museum]]. <gallery> File:Southend-on-Sea Museum - geograph.org.uk - 560855.jpg|Southend Central Museum, Victoria Avenue File:Beecroft art gallery.JPG|Former home of Beecroft Art Gallery </gallery> ===Theatres=== There are a number of theatres. The Edwardian [[Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea|Palace Theatre]] is a Grade II [[listed building]] dating from 1912. It shows plays by professional troupes and repertory groups, as well as comedy acts. The theatre has two circles and the steepest rake in Britain. Part of the theatre is a smaller venue called The Dixon Studio. The [[Cliffs Pavilion]] is a large building that hosts concerts and performances on ice, as well as pantomimes at Christmas opening in 1964. They are both owned by Southend Council and run by Southend Theatres Ltd. The most recent closed theatre was the [[New Empire Theatre]]. It was, unlike the other two, privately owned. It was used more by amateur groups. The theatre was converted from the old ABC Cinema, which had been the Empire Theatre built in 1896. The New Empire Theatre closed in 2009 after a dispute between the trust that ran the theatre and its owners. The building was badly damaged by fire on Saturday 1 August 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/13525054.Fall_of_the_Empire___burned_out_theatre_in_pictures/|title=Fall of the Empire – burned out theatre in ictures |work=Evening Echo |date=3 August 2015|access-date=13 August 2015}}</ref> and was demolished in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/15134920.Cinema_demolition_is_finally_underway/|title=Cinema demolition is finally underway|website=Southend Standard|date=6 March 2017 |access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref> The [[Cliff Town Congregational Church|Clifftown Theatre]] is located in the former Clifftown United Reformed Church and as well as regular performances is part of the East 15 Acting School campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clifftowntheatre.co.uk/|title=Clifftown Theatre|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> <gallery> File:The Cliffs Pavilion - geograph.org.uk - 734107.jpg|The Cliffs Pavilion File:New Empire Theatre, Alexandra Street, Southend-On-Sea.jpg|The former New Empire Theatre File:Cliff Town United Reformed Church - geograph.org.uk - 793477.jpg|Clifftown Theatre - part of East 15's Southend campus </gallery> ===Cinema=== Southend has one cinema – the Odeon Multiplex at Victoria Circus which has eight screens. The borough of Southend had at one time a total of 18 cinema theatres,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southendtimeline.com/|title=Southend Timeline|website=Southend Timeline}}</ref> with the most famous being the Odeon (formerly the Astoria Theatre), which as well as showing films hosted live entertainers including the [[Beatles]] and [[Laurel and Hardy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://piley.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-memories-of-southend-cinema.html|title=Start The Revolution Without Me: More Memories of Southend Cinema!|date=23 August 2010}}</ref> This building no longer stands having been replaced by the Southend Campus of the University of Essex. There are plans to build a new 10 screen cinema and entertainment facility on the site of the Seaway Car Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10160719.New_ten_screen_cinema_planned_for_Southend/|title=Ne Ten Screen Cinema Planned for Southend |work=Evening Echo |date=16 January 2013|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/11660630.REVEALED__First_look_at_what___50million_Southend__fun_palace__looks_like/|title=REVEALED First Look at What £50 Million Southend Fun Palace Looks Like – Southend Standard |date=6 December 2014|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> Southend has appeared in films over the years, with the New York New York arcade on Marine Parade being used in the British gangsta flick ''[[Essex Boys]]'', the premiere of which took place at the Southend Odeon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Essex Boys premiere saw A-listers head to Southend's Odeon |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18782862.essex-boys-blockbuster-premiere-saw-a-listers-head-southends-odeon-cinema-2000/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |website=Echo |date=11 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Southend Airport was used for the filming of the [[James Bond]] film [[Goldfinger (film)|''Goldfinger'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Look back on the day Sir Sean Connery flew into Southend for Bond filming |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18846629.day-sean-connery-flew-southend/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |website=Echo |date=4 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Part of the 1989 [[black comedy]] film [[Killing Dad]] was set and filmed in Southend.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Killing Dad |url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/killing-dad |access-date=19 July 2022 |website=Time Out Worldwide |date=10 September 2012 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Southend and the surrounding areas were heavily used and featured in the Viral Marketing<ref>{{cite web |title=Jurassic World Dominion Dinotracker |url=https://www.dinotracker.com/ |access-date=15 June 2022 |website=www.dinotracker.com }}</ref> for the Universal Pictures 2022 American [[Science fiction film|science fiction]] [[action film]] sequel ''[[Jurassic World Dominion]]'', with a number of the featured videos on the DinoTracker website filmed in the Southend area<ref>{{cite web |last=England |first=Sophie |date=25 June 2022 |title=Jurassic World marketing campaigns filmed in Southend |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20233533.jurassic-world-marketing-campaigns-filmed-southend/ |access-date=25 June 2022 |website=Echo News}}</ref> doubling for locations around the world. This is due to the fact that local resident and Jurassic World Franchise marketer Samuel Phillips utilised the area for both videos and imagery.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 June 2022 |title=Jurassic World marketing campaigns filmed in Southend |page=1 |work=Echo Essex |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20233533.jurassic-world-marketing-campaigns-filmed-southend/ |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref> <gallery> File:New Empire Theatre, Alexandra Street, Southend-On-Sea.jpg|The former ABC Cinema File:Two buses in Southend-on-Sea - geograph.org.uk - 2756114.jpg|Former Astoria/Odeon cinema - High Street, Southend File:The ever changing face of Victoria Circus - geograph.org.uk - 533002.jpg|The current Odeon </gallery> === Music === [[File:The old Plaza Cinema, Southchurch Road - geograph.org.uk - 973645.jpg|thumb|The Plaza Centre]] Southend has three major venues; Chinnerys, the Riga Club (formerly at the Cricketers Pub London Road) at The Dickens, and the [[Cliffs Pavilion]]. Concerts are also shown at the Plaza, a Christian community centre and concert hall based on Southchurch Road,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200308/culture_in_southend/94/concert_series|title=Concert Series – Southend Borough Council|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> which was formerly a cinema.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southendchristianfellowship.org.uk/about-us/the-plaza-centre/ |title=The Plaza Centre – Southend Christian Fellowship|access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref> Junk Club, at one time a centre of Southend's music scene, was predominantly held in the basement at the Royal Hotel during the period of 2001–06. Co-run by Oliver "Blitz" Abbott & Rhys Webb, of The Horrors, the underground club night played an eclectic mix from Post Punk to Acid House, 1960s Psychedelia to Electro. It was noted as spearheading what became known as the ''Southend Scene'' and was featured in the NME, Dazed & Confused, ID, Rolling Stone, Guardian and Vogue.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/sep/01/popandrock2|title=The beach boys|date=1 September 2006|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Acts associated with the scene included: [[The Horrors]]; [[These New Puritans]]; [[The Violets]]; [[Ipso Facto (band)|Ipso Facto]]; [[Neils Children]] and The Errorplains. There have also been a number of popular music videos filmed in Southend,<ref>[http://www.lovesouthend.co.uk/landmarks-attractions/top-10-music-videos-shot-southend.html "Music Videos Shot in Southend"], ''Love Southend''</ref> by such music artists as [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]; [[Morrissey]] and [[George Michael]]. Bands and musicians originating from Southend include [[Busted (band)|Busted]]; [[Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly]]; [[Danielle Dax]]; [[Eddie and the Hot Rods]]; [[Eight Rounds Rapid]]; [[The Horrors]]; [[The Kursaal Flyers]]; [[Nothing But Thieves]]; [[Procol Harum]]; [[Scroobius Pip]]; [[These New Puritans]] and [[Tonight (band)|Tonight]].{{cn|date=September 2022}} Southend is mentioned in a number of songs including as the end destination in [[Billy Bragg|Billy Bragg's]] "A13, Trunk Road to the sea" where the final line of the chorus is "Southend's the end".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billy Bragg - A13 Trunk Road to the Sea Lyrics |url=https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107859516425/ |access-date=26 July 2022 |website=SongMeanings |language=en}}</ref> === Radio === In 1981, Southend became the home of [[Essex FM|Essex Radio]], which broadcast from studios below Clifftown Road. The station was formed by several local companies, including Keddies, Garons & TOTS nightclub, with David Keddie, owner of the Keddies department store in Southend, becoming its chairman.<ref>{{cite web|title=Keddies|url=http://www.sarfend.co.uk/insouthend.html|website=In and Around Southend-on-Sea|publisher=Sarfend.co.uk|access-date=17 September 2014}}</ref> In 2004, the renamed [[Essex FM]], then [[Heart Essex]] moved to studios in Chelmsford. It is now part of [[Heart East]]. The [[BBC Local Radio]] station that broadcast to Southend is [[BBC Essex]] on 95.3 FM from the [[South Benfleet]] transmitter.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/map-station.php?mapid=28 | title=Mb21 - Transmitter Information - BBC Essex }}</ref> On 28 March 2008, Southend got its own radio station for the first time which is also shared with Chelmsford Radio (formerly known as Dream 107.7 FM and Chelmer FM before that), [[Southend Radio]] started broadcasting on 105.1FM from purpose-built studios adjacent to the Adventure Island theme park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarfend.co.uk/southendradio|title=Sarfend.co.uk's page on Radio in Southend|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326181754/http://www.sarfend.co.uk/southendradio/|archive-date=26 March 2008}}</ref> The station merged with Chelmsford Radio in 2015 and became [[Radio Essex]]. === Television === Southend is served by London and East Anglia regional variations of the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. Television signals are received from either [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] or [[Sudbury transmitting station|Sudbury]] TV transmitters.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Crystal_Palace | title=Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sudbury | title=Sudbury (Suffolk, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref> The area can also pick up [[BBC South East]] and [[ITV Meridian]] from the [[Bluebell Hill transmitting station|Bluebell Hill]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Bluebell_Hill | title=Bluebell Hill (Medway, England) Full Freeview transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref> Southend has appeared in several television shows and advertisements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendtimeline.com/tvstar.htm|title=Southend Timeline – TV Stars|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> It has been used on numerous occasions by the soap ''[[EastEnders]]'' with its most recent visit in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10714703.Video__Eastenders_stars_take_to_the_streets_of_Southend_for_filming/|title=EastEnders starts take to Southend Streets |work= Evening Echo |date=3 October 2013|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20022862.eastenders-times-filmed-city-southend/|title=EastEnders: Times they have filmed in the city of Southend|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=26 March 2022}}</ref> Southend Pier was used by [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] show [[Minder (TV series)|''Minder'']] for its end credits in season 8, 9 and 10,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minder.org/locations/loc_endcredits_openingtitles.htm|title=Minder titles & Credits|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> and since 2014 has been home to ''[[Jamie & Jimmy's Friday Night Feast]]''. Advertisements have included Abbey National, CGU Pensions, National Lottery, the 2015 [[Vauxhall Motors|Vauxhall]] Corsa adverts featuring Electric Avenue, a seafront arcade<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11737254.Southend_is_backdrop_for_new_prime_time_ad/?ref=mr|title=Southend is backfrop for new prime time ad |work=Evening Echo |date= 21 January 2015|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref> the 2018 Guide Dogs for the Blind campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=https://marcommnews.com/guide-dogs-new-drtv-ad-reveals-inspirational-ambitions-of-a-tattoo-artist-following-sight-loss/|title=Guide Dogs' new DRTV ad reveals inspirational ambitions of a tattoo artist following sight loss|publisher=Marketing Communication News|date=4 October 2018|access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref> and for the promo for [[David Hasselhoff]]'s [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] programme ''Hoff the Record''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/hoff-the-record/|title=Hoff The Record – Dave Channel – UKTV.co.uk|access-date=13 August 2015}}</ref> ===In fiction=== Southend is the seaside vacation place chosen by the John Knightley family in [[Emma (novel)|''Emma'']] by [[Jane Austen]], published 1816.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pemberley.com/images/landt/maps/emma/SouthEnd.html|title=South End, Essex – Jane Austen Gazetteer – pemberley.com|access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref> The family arrived by stage coach, and strongly preferred it to the choice of the Perry family, [[Cromer]], which was 100 miles from London, compared to the easier distance of 40 miles from the London home of the John and Isabella Knightley, as discussed at length with Mr. Woodhouse in the novel in Chapter XII of volume one. In ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' by [[Douglas Adams]], after being saved from death in the vacuum of space, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect find themselves in a distorted version of Southend (a consequence of the starship ''Heart of Gold'''s Infinite Improbability Drive). Dent briefly feared that both he and Prefect did in fact die, based on a childhood nightmare where his friends went to either Heaven or Hell but he went to Southend. ''[[Dance on My Grave]]'', a book by [[Aidan Chambers]], is set in Southend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmuforia.co.uk/summer-of-85-2020/|title=Summer of 85|website=filmuforia.co.uk|date=17 October 2020|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> Chambers had worked as a teacher in the city's Westcliff High School for Boys for three years.<ref name=chambers>{{cite web|url=https://literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/aidan-chambers|title=Adrian Chambers|website=British Council.org|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> In the novel [[Starter for Ten (novel)|Starter for Ten]] by [[David Nicholls (writer)|David Nicholls]], the main character Brian Jackson comes from Southend-on-Sea.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/12/fiction.geraldinebedell|title=Geek is the word|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 October 2003}}</ref> The book was adapted into a [[Starter for 10 (film)|2006 film]] directed by Tom Vaughan. === Places of worship === There are churches in the borough catering to different Christian denominations, such as [[Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen's Church, Westcliff-on-Sea|Our Lady Help of Christians and St Helen's Church]] for the Roman Catholic community. There are two synagogues; one for orthodox Jews, in Westcliff, and a reform synagogue in Chalkwell. Three mosques provide for the Muslim population; one run by the Bangladeshi community,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php#/mosque/815|title=Google Mosque Map – UK Mosques Directory|website=mosques.muslimsinbritain.org|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> and the others run by the Pakistani community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php#/mosque/2255|title=Google Mosque Map – UK Mosques Directory|website=mosques.muslimsinbritain.org|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php#/mosque/2256|title=Google Mosque Map – UK Mosques Directory|website=mosques.muslimsinbritain.org|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> There are two Hindu Temples, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baps.org/Global-Network/UK-and-Europe/Southend-on-Sea.aspx|title=BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir|website=BAPS Charities|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> and Southend Meenatshe Suntharasar Temple,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/southendmeenatshsuntharasartemple.suntharasar|title=Southend Meenatshe Suntharasar Temple|website=Facebook|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> while there is one Buddhist temple, Amita Buddha Centre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/12877994.mayor-to-open-towns-first-buddhist-temple/|title=Mayor to open town's first Buddhist temple|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=8 April 2015}}</ref> === York Road Market === Demolition of the historic covered market began on 23 April 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarfend.co.uk/southendnews/2009/10/southend-york-road-market-closed.html|title=Southend York Road Market |work=Sarfend.co.uk |date=21 October 2009|access-date=15 December 2014}}</ref> The site became a car park. A temporary market was held there every Friday until 2012 after the closure of the former Southend market at the rear of the Odeon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/8116980.workmen-move-in-to-demolish-market/|title=Workmen move in to demolish market|website=Echo|date=23 April 2010 }}</ref> As of 2013, a market is now held in the High Street every Thursday with over 30 stalls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10993406.southend-town-centre-market-to-double-in-size/|title=Southend market to double in size|website=Echo|date=6 February 2014 }}</ref>{{needs update|date=September 2022}} == Twin town == Southend-on-Sea is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with: * {{Flagicon|Poland}} [[Sopot]], Poland, since October 1999<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200410/historic_southend/331/town_twinning|title=Town Twinning|last=Holmes|first=Katherine|website=www.southend.gov.uk|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> == Notable people == <!-- Please maintain list in alphabetical order by surname and with references --> {{Div col|colwidth=35em}} * [[David Amess]] (1952–2021), British politician and local MP [[Murder of David Amess|who was murdered]] in 2021; Southend was [[City status in the United Kingdom|named a city]] in his honour.<ref>{{cite news |last=Webber |first=Esther |title=UK MP David Amess dies after stabbing attack |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-mp-david-amess-dies-in-stabbing-attack/ |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=Politico |date=15 October 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016183551/https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-mp-david-amess-dies-in-stabbing-attack/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[Jasmine Armfield]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metro.co.uk/2019/05/28/jasmine-armfield-age-and-career-including-eastenders-role-as-bex-fowler-9713830|title=Jasmine Armfield Age and Career including Eastenders role as Bex Fowler – Metro.co.uk|date=28 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Trevor Bailey]], cricketer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-13975823|title=Former England cricketer Trevor Bailey's death in fire 'accidental' – bbc.co.uk|work=BBC News|date=30 June 2011|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[John Barber (businessman)|John Barber]] (1919–2004), former Finance Director of Ford of Europe & Managing Director of [[British Leyland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aronline.co.uk/news/obituary-john-barber-2/|title=Obituary – John Barber|publisher=aronline.co.uk|date=13 November 2004|access-date=30 September 2020}}</ref> * [[Mathew Baynton]], musician, writer, actor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprotagonistmagazine.com/performances/mathew-baynton|title=MATHEW BAYNTON On Good and Bad Comedy – The Protagonist Magazine|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[David Bellos]], professor/translator<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.princeton.edu/news/2012/02/09/language-expert-bellos-explores-art-and-science-translation|title=Language expert Bellos explores the art and science of translation|website=Princeton University}}</ref> *[[Angie Best]], ex-wife of [[George Best]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/the-next-best-thing-26452391.html|title=The next Best thing|website=Independent.ie|date=7 June 2008 |access-date=16 December 2018}}</ref> * [[Brinn Bevan]], artistic gymnast<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teamgb.com/athletes/brinn-bevan|title=Brinn Bevan profile |website= TeamGB.com|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[James Booth]], actor<ref>[http://www.hadleighhistory.org.uk/page_id__36.aspx The Hadleigh and Thundersley Community Archive] Retrieved 21 October 2016.</ref> * [[James Bourne]], musician, singer [[Busted (band)|Busted]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/14021406.busted-to-return-for-a-reunion-tour-with-southend-singer-james-bourne/|title=Busted to return for a reunion tour with Southend Singer James Bourne – Southend Standard|date=10 December 2015|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Tim Bowler]], children's author<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.achuka.co.uk/archive/interviews/tbsg.php|title=ACHUKA – Children's Books UK – Tim Bowler|website=www.achuka.co.uk}}</ref> * [[Kevin Bowyer]], concert [[organist]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sound-scotland.co.uk/profile/kevin-bowyer|title=Kevin Bowyer profile – sound Scotland.co.uk|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Gary Brooker]], lead singer of [[Procol Harum]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Johansen|first=Claes|title=Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale|publisher=SAF Publishing|year=2000|isbn=978-0-946-71928-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/procolharumbeyon00joha |page=14}}</ref> * [[Dave Brown (comedian)|Dave Brown]], comedian and actor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wsimag.com/art/5608-behind-the-boosh-photographs-by-dave-brown|title=Behind the boosh photographs by Dave Brown - wsimag.com|date=13 October 2013|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Cameron Carter-Vickers]], American soccer player<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/23144518.usa-defender-cameron-carter-vickers-first-spotted-leigh/|title=USA defender Cameron Carter-Vickers first spotted in Leigh|date=23 November 2022}}</ref> * [[Dean Chalkley]], photographer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetrawler.net/blog/detail/dean-chalkley.html|title=Dean Chalkley – The Trawler|date=28 November 2016|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Aidan Chambers]], [[Author]]<ref name=chambers/> * [[Jeannie Clark]], former [[professional wrestling]] [[manager (professional wrestling)|manager]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article119090563.html|title=P1: Jeanie Clarke/Lady Blossom pens 'Through the Shattered Glass'- Miami Herald|website=[[Miami Herald]] |date=5 December 2016|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Brian Cleeve]], author and broadcaster<ref>Burke, Sir Bernard, ''Burke's Irish family records'', Burke's Peerage, 1976</ref> * [[Dick Clement]], screenwriter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/homage-to-clement-and-la-frenais-the-writing-duo-who-transformed-british-comedy|title=Homage to Clement and La Frenais the writing duo who transformed British comedy – The Spectator|date=26 September 2019|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Dorothy Coke]], artist<ref name="PDunford">{{cite book|author=Penny Dunford |publisher=Harvester Wheatsheaf|year=1990|title=A Biographical Dictionary of Women Artists in Europe and America since 1850|isbn=0-7108-1144-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict0000dunf}}</ref> * [[EKCO|Eric Kirkham Cole]], businessman<ref>[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]: Cole, Eric Kirkham by Rowland F. Pocock</ref> * [[Peter Cook (architect)|Peter Cook]], architect<ref>{{cite web|title=The Knighthood of Professor Peter Cook |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0706/07062201 |publisher=[[University College London]] |date=22 June 2007 |access-date=2 November 2014 }}</ref> * [[Phil Cornwell]], actor and impressionist<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2731660/Portrait-of-a-driver-Phil-Cornwell.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2731660/Portrait-of-a-driver-Phil-Cornwell.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Portrait of a Driver Phil Cornwell – The Telegraph|date=20 November 2004|access-date=30 May 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * [[Tina Cousins]], singer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/5527012.southend-tina-gets-the-home-town-nerves/|title=Southend Tina gets the home town nerves – The Daily Gazette|date=13 July 1999|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Gemma Craven]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/5513519.southend-gemma-of-a-daughter/|title=Southend Gemma of a daughter – The Daily Gazette|date=10 April 2000|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Rosalie Cunningham]], singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/prog/20190920/283313229150555|title=Rosalie Cunningham|magazine=Prog|author=Glass, Polly|date=20 September 2019}}</ref> * [[Matthew Cutler]], ballroom dancer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/11/21/strictly_dancing_essex_feature.shtml|title=Strictly Dancing Essex Feature – bbc.co.uk|date=28 October 2014|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Danielle Dax]], musician, actress and [[performance artist]]<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|page=144/5}}</ref> * [[Warwick Deeping]], author<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k8yZdR7aR2oC&q=%22Warwick+deeping%22+southend&pg=PA66|title=The Ordeal of Warwick Deeping: Middlebrow Authorship and Cultural Embarrassment|first=Mary|last=Grover|year=2009|publisher=Associated University Presse |isbn=978-0-8386-4188-0|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Richard de Southchurch]], knight and landowner.<ref name="IPM">{{cite book | last = Public Record Office | author-link = Public Record Office | title = Inquisitions Post Mortem, vol. III, Edward I | location = London | year = 1912 | pages = 109–10 }}</ref> * [[Andy Ducat]], cricketer, footballer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/19991494.remarkable-story-southends-sport-star-andy-ducat/|title=The remarkable story of Southend's sport star Andy Ducat|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=14 March 2022}}</ref> * [[Sam Duckworth]], musician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sam-duckworth-interview-get-cape-wear-cape-fly-recreations-beaches-aint-shit-a7357926.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sam-duckworth-interview-get-cape-wear-cape-fly-recreations-beaches-aint-shit-a7357926.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sam Duckworth interview: 'I love making music and without sounding corny it feels like this is what I'm meant to do'|work=The Independent |date=12 October 2016|access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref> * [[Warren Ellis]], novelist and comic writer<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/warren-ellis|title=Warren Ellis: On cannibalism – wired.co.uk|magazine=Wired UK|date=5 July 2010|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Nathalie Emmanuel]], actress<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/02/05/arts/ap-us-celeb-birthdays.html?_r=0|title=Celeb Birthdays for the Week of March 1–7|work=The New York Times|date=26 February 2015|access-date=4 April 2015}}</ref> * [[Digby Fairweather]], jazz musician, author, founder of the National Jazz Archive.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/13652955.digby-fairweather-marks-the-20th-anniversary-of-his-band-the-half-dozen/|title=Digby Fairweather marks the 20th anniversary of his band the Half Dozen|newspaper=Daily Gazette|date=27 September 2015}}</ref> * [[Mark Foster (swimmer)|Mark Foster]], swimmer<ref>{{cite news|author=Lamont, Tom|title=Local heroes: Mark Foster|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/feb/01/swimming|work=[[The Observer]]|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]|date=1 February 2009|access-date=17 August 2012}}</ref> * [[John Fowles]], author<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fowlesbooks.com/bbc-interview-with-john-fowles-from-october-1977/|title=BBC interview with John Fowles from October 1977|date=4 October 2007|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Becky Frater]], first female helicopter commander in the [[Royal Navy]] and female member of the [[Black Cats (Royal Navy)|Black Cats]] display team<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2010/southend-air-festival/|title=''Southend Air Festival May 2010''|publisher=UK Airshow Review|access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> * [[John Georgiadis]], violinist and conductor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classical-music.uk/news/article/john-georgiadis-former-lso-leader-dies-aged-81|title=John Georgiadis, former LSO leader, dies aged 81|website=Classical Music}}</ref> * [[Edward Greenfield]] (3 July 1928 – 1 July 2015) chief music writer in ''[[The Guardian]]'' from 1977 to 1993 and biographer of [[Andre Previn]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11716680/Edward-Greenfield-writer-obituary.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11716680/Edward-Greenfield-writer-obituary.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Edward Greenfield Writer Obituary|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=3 July 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * [[Benjamin Grosvenor]], pianist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalculture.com/projects/anthem-2012/|title=Anthem 2012 – Metal culture.co.uk|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Daniel Hardcastle]], author<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08142696/filing-history?page=2|title=NERD CUBED Limited – Companies House|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Roy Hay (musician)|Roy Hay]], musician<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.culture-club.co.uk/content/biog_roy_text.htm|title=Roy Hay – culture club.co.uk|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> * [[Joshua Hayward]], guitarist for The Horrors<ref name=horrors>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/interviews/the-horrors-joshua-hayward-interviewed|title=The Horrors' Joshua Hayward on new album V|magazine=The Skinny|date=22 September 2017}}</ref> * [[John Hodge (engineer)|John Hodge]], aerospace engineer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19340655.heading/|title=NASA pays tribute to Leigh's John Hodge|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=1 June 2021}}</ref> * [[John Horsley (actor)|John Horsley]], actor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-john-horsley-actor-2002690%3f|title=Obituary – John Horsley, actor|publisher=The Scotsman|date=16 January 2014|access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref> * [[John Hutton (Labour MP)|John Hutton]], politician<ref name="Northedge">Richard Northedge [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/migrationtemp/2812614/Hutton-dressed-as-lamb.html "Hutton dressed as lamb?"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 22 July 2007</ref> * [[Dominic Iorfa (footballer, born 1995)|Dominic Iorfa]] , football player<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/13643851.southend-born-dominic-iorfa-trains-with-full-england-squad//|title=Southend born Dominic Iorfa trains with full England squad|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=3 September 2015}}</ref> * [[Wilko Johnson]], singer, guitarist and songwriter; Game of Thrones actor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-47230292|title=Wilko Johnson backs campaign to save Southend music venue|website=bbc.co.uk|date=19 February 2019|access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref> * [[Daniel Jones (musician)|Daniel Jones]], musician, producer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/pg/danieljonesfans/about/|title=Daniel Jones Fanclub|website=facebook|access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref> * [[R. A. Jones]], store owner and town benefactor<ref>{{cite news|title=Bring Southend's R A Jones clock back to life|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/9596248.Bring_Southend_s_RA_Jones_clock_back_to_life/|access-date=14 March 2013|newspaper=Echo|date=17 March 2012}}</ref> * [[Phill Jupitus]], comedian<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/phill-jupitus-you-ask-the-questions-9269204.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/phill-jupitus-you-ask-the-questions-9269204.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Phill Jupitus you ask the questions|work=The Independent|date=13 March 2003|access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref> * [[Mickey Jupp]], musician<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/13877055.i-needed-to-chronicle-the-truth-about-a-southend-rock-legend-mickey-jupp/|title=I needed to chronicle the truth about a Southend rock legend Mickey Jupp|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=18 October 2015}}</ref> * [[Russell Kane]], comedian<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/4834042.comedian-to-tie-the-knot-in-southchurch-hall-ceremony/|title=Comedian to tie the knot in Southchurch Hall ceremony|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=6 January 2010}}</ref> * [[Dominic Littlewood]], TV presenter<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/3581945.dom-littlewood-im-still-a-southend-boy/|title=Dom Littlewood: I'm still a Southend boy|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=8 August 2008}}</ref> * [[David Lloyd (tennis)|David Lloyd]], tennis player<ref name=argus/> * [[John Lloyd (tennis)|John Lloyd]], tennis player<ref name=argus>{{cite news|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14112315.amp/|title=The Murray brothers go one step further than Southend's Lloyd brothers and win the Davis Cup|newspaper=The Argus|date=30 November 2015}}</ref> * [[Robert Lloyd (singer)|Robert Lloyd]], opera singer<ref>{{cite book| editor-last = Adam| editor-first = Nicky | year = 1993| title = Who's Who in British Opera| publisher = Scholar Press| location = Aldershot| isbn = 0-85967-894-6| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/whoswhoinbritish0000adam}}</ref> * [[Ron Martin (businessman)|Ron Martin]], Southend United chairman, 1998–present<ref name="Tallentire-22Aug2010">{{cite news |last1=Tallentire |first1=Mark |title=Southend's new manager fighting against tide to keep Shrimpers afloat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2010/aug/22/southend-paul-sturrock-roots-hall |access-date=21 April 2021 |work=Guardian |date=22 August 2010}}</ref> * [[Frank Matcham]], English theatre designer, retired and died in Southend<ref>{{cite web|url=https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/architects/frank-matcham|title=Frank Matcham|website=Manchester Victorian Architects|access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z3FN4VL5lEwC&dq=%22Chalkwell%22+essex&pg=PA716|title=Essex: The Buildings of England|author=Pevsner. N|date=2007|isbn=978-0-300-11614-4|page=716|publisher=Yale University Press }}</ref> * [[Lee Mead]], musical theatre actor<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/relative-values-lee-mead-and-his-mother-jo-5m92zk5q977 |title=Relative Values: Lee Mead and his mother, Jo |work=The Times |date=18 November 2007 |access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref> * [[Jon Miller (TV presenter)|Jon Miller]], TV presenter<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jon-miller-boffin-presenter-of-how-887149.html|title=Jon Miller: Boffin presenter of 'How'|newspaper=Independent|date=7 August 2008}}</ref> * [[Helen Mirren]], actress<ref name=autobiography>{{cite book |title=In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures |first=Helen |last=Mirren |date=25 March 2008 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |location=London |isbn=978-1-41656-760-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/inframemylifeinw0000mirr }}</ref> * [[Jack Monroe]], blogger, campaigner<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|url=http://cookingonabootstrap.com/2014/05/07/jack-monroe-biography|title=About Jack|first=Jack|last=Monroe|date=7 May 2014|work=Cooking on a Bootstrap|access-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201220144/http://cookingonabootstrap.com/2014/05/07/jack-monroe-biography/|archive-date=1 February 2016}}</ref> * [[Peggy Mount]], actress<ref>Hayward, Anthony. [http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:UKNB:TND1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=132A8D09412BFCE0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=102CDD40F14C6BDA "Obituary – Peggy Mount"], ''The Independent'', 14 November 2001, p. 6</ref> * [[Tris Vonna Michell]], artist<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/tris-vonna-michell-11893|title=Tris Vonna-Michell|website=Tate|access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> * [[Maajid Nawaz]], former Islamist activist who now campaigns against extremism<ref>{{cite news |last=Shariatmadari |first=David |title=Maajid Nawaz: how a former Islamist became David Cameron's anti-extremism adviser |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/02/maajid-nawaz-how-a-former-islamist-became-david-camerons-anti-extremism-adviser |newspaper=The Guardian |location= London |access-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161022032948/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/02/maajid-nawaz-how-a-former-islamist-became-david-camerons-anti-extremism-adviser |archive-date=22 October 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> * [[Julian Okai]], English footballer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-soccer/2015-16/bios/okai_julian_pxto|title = Julian Okai}}</ref> * [[Michael Osborne (cricketer)|Michael Osborne]], first-class cricketer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wisden.com/players/michael-osborne|title=Michael Osborne|website=Wisden|access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> * [[Annabel Port]], broadcaster<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mirror+Works%3A+Port+with+stilts+on%3B+HOW+ANNABEL+BECAME+A+RADIO+STUNT...-a0110333878|title=Mirror Works: Port with stilts on; HOW ANNABEL BECAME A RADIO STUNT QUEEN|newspaper=The Mirror|date=20 November 2003}}</ref> * [[Stephen Port]], serial killer<ref>{{cite news|last=De Simone|first=Daniel|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38045742|title=How did police miss Barking serial killer Stephen Port?|work=[[BBC News]]|date=24 November 2016|access-date=25 November 2016}}</ref> * [[Spencer Prior]], footballer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/prior-is-the-new-coach-for-womens-national-soccer-team/|title=Prior is the new coach for womens national soccer team|newspaper=Papau New Guinea Post Courier|date=23 November 2022}}</ref> * [[Lara Pulver]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/lara-pulver|title=Lara Pulver|website=London Theatre|access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> * [[Rachel Riley]], ''[[Countdown (game show)|Countdown]]'' co-presenter<ref>{{cite web |title=More Success for Rachel Riley |url=http://thorpehall.site-street.co.uk/page.php?main=16&news=33 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118152018/http://thorpehall.site-street.co.uk/page.php?main=16&news=33 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |access-date=2 January 2022 |website=[[Thorpe Hall School]]}}</ref> * [[Simon Schama]], historian / TV presenter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejc.com/112351/simon-schama-interview|title=Simon Schama Interview &#124; The Jewish Chronicle|publisher=Thejc.com|date=12 October 2013|access-date=26 August 2014}}</ref> * [[Anne Stallybrass]], actress<ref name="TimesObit">{{cite web |title=Anne Stallybrass obituary |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anne-stallybrass-obituary-jbbrwcpd0 |url-status=live |website=[[The Times]] |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210804085441/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/anne-stallybrass-obituary-jbbrwcpd0 |archive-date=4 August 2021 |date=4 August 2021}}</ref> * [[Vivian Stanshall]], musician<ref name="BBC Radio 4 1994">''Vivian Stanshall: Essex Teenager to Renaissance Man'' (1994), BBC Radio 4</ref> * [[Sam Strike]], actor<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/10113250.southend-teen-to-star-in-tv-spy-show/|title=Southend teen to star in TV spy show|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=13 December 2012}}</ref> * [[Keith Taylor (British politician)|Keith Taylor]], politician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greenworld.org.uk/article/keith-taylor-obituary|title=Keith Taylor obituary|website=Green World|access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> * [[Peter John Taylor|Peter Taylor]], footballer and football manager<ref>{{cite book|title=Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989|author=Mike Purkiss & Nigel Sands|year=1990|page=89|publisher=Breedon Books |isbn=0-907969-54-2}}</ref> * [[Theoretical Girl]], singer-songwriter<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/4516243.good-music-not-fame-drives-me/|title=Good music, not fame, drives me|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=29 July 2009}}</ref> * [[Steve Tilson]], footballer – voted [[Southend United]]'s greatest ever player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/article/170414-tilson-a-southend-great-1493571.aspx|title=#FL125: Tilson a Southend great – southendunited.co.uk|access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref> * [[Kara Tointon]], actress<ref name=toin>{{cite web|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/echofeatures/echowoman/8444756.Dad_s_pride_in_his_two_TV_star_daughters |title=Dad's pride in his two TV star daughters |publisher=Echo-news.co.uk |date=11 October 2010}}</ref> * [[Hannah Tointon]], actress<ref name=toin/> * [[Robin Trower]], rock-blues guitarist<ref>{{Cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |date=1997 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=1-85227-745-9 |editor-first=Colin |editor-last=Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |edition=Concise |pages=1192/3}}</ref> * [[Gary Vandermolen]], footballer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Sports/Interview-The-Englishman-who-won-over-Jerusalem|title=Interview: The Englishman who won over Jerusalem |author=Jeremy Last |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=21 March 2008|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> * [[David Webb (footballer)|David Webb]], football manager<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/19585827.catching-former-southend-united-torquay-manager-david-webb/|title=Catching up with former Southend United and Torquay Manager David Webb|newspaper=Evening Echo|date=16 September 2019}}</ref> * [[Paul Webb]], musician, bassist for [[Talk Talk]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/02/classic-album-talk-talk-the-colour-of-spring/|title=Classic Album: Talk Talk The Colour of Spring|magazine=Classic Pop|date=25 February 2021}}</ref> * [[Rhys Webb (musician)|Rhys "Spider" Webb]], bassist of The Horrors<ref name=horrors/> * [[Michael Wilding (actor)|Michael Wilding]], actor<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flint |first1=Peter |title=Michael Wilding, British Movie Star |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/07/09/michael-wilding-british-movie-star/535b8c0f-8fab-43c5-bf97-44cfd0bdbabb/?noredirect=on |access-date=10 April 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=9 July 1979}}</ref> * [[David Witts]], actor<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10184000.Eastenders_star_David_Witts_thanks_former_Southend_High_School_for_Boys_teacher/|title=Eastenders star David Witts thanks former Southend High School for Boys teacher|last=Thomas|first=Emma|date=27 January 2013|work=Echo|publisher=Newsquest|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> * [[Charles Romley Alder Wright|C. R. Alder Wright]] (1844–1894), scientist - founder of the [[Royal Institute of Chemistry]] and inventor of [[Heroin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalogues.royalsociety.org/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=NA1457|title=The Royal Society}}</ref> * [[Ian Yearsley]], local historian and author<ref>"Ingatestone & Fryerning: A History" by Ian Yearsley, p.1</ref> * [[Nothing But Thieves]], musicians<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.echonews.co.uk/news/11342998.We___ve_just_been_signed_to_the_same_record_label_as_Pharrell_Williams_and_David_Bowie/ |title=We've just been signed to the same record label as Pharrell Williams and David Bowie |website=echo-news.co.uk |access-date=11 May 2015 |first=Kelly |last=Buckley |date=17 July 2014 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116075622/https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11342998.weve-just-been-signed-to-the-same-record-label-as-pharrell-williams-and-david-bowie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Div col end}} ==Freedom of the City== The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City]] of Southend-on-Sea. {{Expand list|date=August 2023}} ===Individuals=== * David Stanley {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|BEM|}}: 24 July 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-66274887 |title=Founder of Southend's Music Man Project given freedom of city |last=Peter Walker and Christine Sexton |date=24 July 2023 |website=BBC News Essex |access-date=2 August 2023 }}</ref> * [[Kevin Maher]]: March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck507zxn63jo |title=Blues boss to receive Freedom of the City accolade |last=Sexton |first=Christine |date=16 December 2023 |website=BBC News Essex |access-date=16 December 2023 }}</ref> ===Military Units=== * 1st Battalion The [[Royal Anglian Regiment]]: 17 June 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Anglians given freedom of Southend |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10339564 |website=BBC News Essex |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=2 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{commons category|Southend-on-Sea}} {{Wikivoyage|Southend-on-Sea}} * {{official|http://www.southend.gov.uk/ }} * {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Southend-on-Sea |short=x}} * {{curlie|/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Essex/Southend-on-Sea/}} * [http://www.southendpunk.com Southend Punk Rock History 1976 – 1986, a detailed site containing information on the Punk Rock explosion as experienced by Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK] {{S-start}} {{succession box | title=[[Local Government Chronicle|LGC]] Council of the Year| before=[[Blackburn with Darwen]] | after= | years=2012}} {{S-end}} {{Essex}} {{East of England}} {{UK cities}} {{Unitary authorities of England}} {{London commuter belt}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Southend-on-Sea (town)| ]] [[Category:Southend-on-Sea (district)| ]] [[Category:Towns in Essex]] [[Category:Beaches of Essex]] [[Category:Local government districts of the East of England]] [[Category:Local government in Essex]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Essex]] [[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]] [[Category:Seaside resorts in Essex]] [[Category:Unitary authority districts of England]] [[Category:Former civil parishes in Essex]] [[Category:Cities in the East of England]] [[Category:Boroughs in England]]'