Good morning, Southend! I hope you’ve all had a great week.

Let’s get into it… in today’s Southend Spotlight:

• Local artist gains international recognition 🎨

• Fun events for this weekend 🥂

• The Shrimper’s latest signings ✍️

Don’t forget to check out the upcoming events list at the end of this email and to forward this email to anyone you know that may be interested.  

— Tom McCloud

HIGHLIGHTS
🎻 Proms at the Vulcan Returns for 2025

The Vulcan Restoration Trust have announced the return of the of the popular Proms at the Vulcan event.

This summer the Essex Concert Orchestra will be performing a selection of popular and classical music inside a hanger at Southend Airport alongside the historic Vulcan XL426.

• The orchestra is comprised of many of Essex’s top musicians.

• Refreshments will be available to purchase (+ licensed bar)

• Tickets are £24

The event will be on Saturday 12th July 2025, but get your tickets soon as previous years they have sold out quickly.

🎨 Local Artist Nominated for National Award

Local artist Emma Edmondson has been nominated for the 2025 PSSA Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture 

The award recognises the best sculpture or monument installed within the last year in a public space.

• Emma’s project ‘Made from this Land’ celebrates Southend’s historic brickfields, using locally dug clay and traditional techniques.

• Nearly 100 residents helped create over 500 handmade bricks through community workshops.

• Funded by Arts Council England and Friends of Southend Museums, with support from Jewson Southend.

More information can be found here

🎮 New ‘Hang Out’ for Youngsters Proves a Hit

Kasia Zielinski-Rushforth recently opened The Hang Out Venue on London Road, a space for youngsters to chill out, play, read and socialise. After only being open for a few weeks, Kasia says the venue has been a success. 

• The space is designed for those too old for soft-play, and too young to roam free.

• A PlayStation, pool table, chess board and more are all available to use.

• It costs £10.99 for children to spend up to two hours in The Hang Out Venue

The Hang Out Venue is open between 4pm and 8:30pm, Thursdays and Fridays. 9:00am to 8:30pm on weekends and school holidays. 11:00am to 5:00pm on Sundays.

This Weekend

This Saturday head over to The Rose Inn for an evening of craft and fun.

It’s £10 per person, will take place between 7-9pm, and the proceeds will be donated to the Macmillan charity.

More information here and here  

Also this Saturday evening, if a glass of fizz isn’t your thing, head over Bunker 19 for the Big Dry Quiz of the Year.

Perfect for those you taking part in Dry January, or if you’re like me and just love quizzes.

The event is free, food and drinks are available to purchase, darts and pool are available to play after the quiz.

LOCAL HISTORY

THE BLUES

⚽️ Tom Hopper Returns to Southend Utd

The 31 year old striker, Tom Hopper, has returned to Southend on a permanent deal.

Hopper originally joined the Blues from Scunthorpe in 2018 and went on to score seven goals in 14 games.

After sustaining an ACL injury and being out of the game for some time, Hopper signed for Lincoln City in January 2020.

Read more about Tom’s return to the club here 

✍️ Leon Chambers-Parillon Signs

Another goal scorer signs for the Blues!

Leon Chambers-Parillon has joined the club from Slough Town for an undisclosed fee, with a deal that keeps him at the club until summer 2027.

Read more here 

Latest Results

• Saturday 25th Jan

  • Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 Southend Utd

• Tuesday 28th Jan

  • Southend Utd 2-0 Flyde

Next Games

• Saturday 1st Feb — 15:00 (FA Trophy - 5th Round)

  • Southend Utd vs. Sittingbourne

• Saturday 8th Feb — 15:00

  • Maidenhead Utd vs. Southend Utd

Current Position

NEWS

EVENTS

Thanks for reading this week’s Southend Spotlight.

Apologies if this week’s newsletter appears rushed, I’m on holiday this week and have been writing what I can in my downtime. Hope you’ve has a great week!

— Tom McCloud