Station Manager becomes 21!
From all the Gateway 97.8 team we say a very Happy 21st Birthday to Jack Sullivan today.
you get the keys to the studio!
Jack during Halloween But jack its radio!
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Firefighters tackle huge blaze at Langdon Hills Triangle shopping parade
Five businesses have been destroyed in a ‘devastating’ fire at a shopping parade, which went up in flames after a huge blaze broke out in a row of shops, involving a series of small explosions, which caused the roof to collapsed.
The fire at The Triangle Centre, in High Road, Langdon Hills, Basildon, which included the Elizabeth Louise Hair and Beauty Salon, McColl’s convenience store, a chip shop and a computer company, is believed to have started because of a technical fault in the roof of Hong Kong House Chinese take-away.
Explosions believed to be from alcohol and cannisters, could be heard coming from the businesses, which were all destroyed in the blaze.
Around 20 firefighters from Basildon, Rayleigh Weir and Orsett were called to the scene, which started just before 2pm. A special platform was also used to soak the fire from above.
The Hyde in Langdon Hills was closed off in both directions at the Delmores junction, which also affected High Road between Valence Way and Delmores, while firefighters battled the flames from all angles.
60% of the roof was alight when the fire service arrived, and by 3:20pm it had spread to the entire roof of the shopping centre. Nobody was hurt as a result of the fire.
Gonzo spoke earlier to witness Charleigh Sullivan, about what kind of people used the shops: “A lot of people do, especially local people, old and young.
“It’s sad to see the salon go, because that is the most local salon other that the town, so now we will have to go to the shops at the Laindon Centre.
“It’s not good because they were family businesses.”
Assistant divisional officer Mark Earwicker, in charge of the operation, advised local residents, and people living nearby to keep their windows and doors shut because of thick smoke coming from the building.
Speaking from the scene he said: “When crews arrived they were faced with a well developed fire in the roof of the building, which quickly spread across the centre which houses three units.
“Crews have worked extremely hard and have done an excellent job in getting on top of this fire.
“The fire involved a number canisters and a quantity of alcohol which caused a few small explosions within the building, nothing which caused us any real problems.
“The roof has now collapsed into the building and has covered the fire creating pockets of fire in the building which are proving hard for crews to get at.
“We will be here for many hours yet to come turning over and damping down.”
Basildon Council sent their own officers to The Triangle to provide support to residents, and their corporate property team and building surveyors were also on hand to offer help and advice to the shop tenants.
Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene into the night. A full level 2 investigation will take place to establish the cause of the fire.
See dramatic pictures from the fire that devastated the Triangle shopping parade at Langdon Hills near Basildon below. Pictures courtesy eyewitness Charlie LadyLee and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
Langdon Hills Report on Drivetime:
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read moreThe Only Way Is Eastgate for Amy Childs
The Only Way Is Eastgate this weekend, as Big Brother star, Amy Childs, will be officially opening her new boutique store in Basildon this Saturday, signing products and greeting fans.
If you’re a fan of The Only Way Is Essex and Amy Childs, she will be at the Eastgate Shopping Centre to cut the ribbon and open the boutique on The Upper Mall in between Next and The Art Gallery between 12:45pm and 2pm.
Amy already has a boutique store in Billericay, along with a tanning salon, her own perfume and more, and this Saturday she promises customers they will find everything they need for the party season, whether it’s dresses, gift boxes, hair and beauty.
So far this week, Amy has purchased her own personalized number plate worth £80,000 for her jeep, named after her famous saying “WE11 JEL”.
read morePrimrose Hill on Drivetime with Jack Sullivan
Every once in a while, a pop band comes along that really jumps out. Maybe they look different. Maybe they sound different. Maybe their attitude is different. Maybe all three. Primrose Hill are that band. They joined joined Jack Sullivan live on Drivetime between 4pm and 7pm on Wednesday 29th August.
Comprised of Rhiannon from North London, Evi from Bedford and our Local girl Meisha from Billericay, these girls are not your average X Factor wannabes, or formed by some pop svengali with an eye on a gap in the market. The girls met whilst still at school, instantly clicked and formed a band. Simple as that. No auditions, no input from over-bearing parents, no stage school training.
Four years on, and still only 15, the girls have honed their sound, and worked on their style naturally. It is hardly surprising then that the result is refreshingly different from the contrived alternatives out there.
Working with writers and producers such as the White N3rd (Wretch 32, Loick Essien), Lucas Secon (Pussycat Dolls, The Wanted), Illionaires (fresh from providing the first single to new young rap crew The Rascals) and Will Simms (Nicki Minaj), it is no surprise that the girls’ natural charm blends with attitude, and produces a sound that is sophisticated yet instant. Check forthcoming single ‘Candy Rain’ – a cover of Soul For Real’s 90’s smash – that mixes a perfectly delivered soulful topline with a cool but effervescent rap.
Their forthcoming album is a lyrical journey into teenage lifestyle and pressures in 2012.
Make no mistake, this is gonna pop, big time!
You heard it first! Primrose Hill.
Get In Touch with Primrose Hill:
www.facebook.com/primrosehillofficial
@PrimroseHillHQ
www.youtube.com/user/primrosehillchannel
BBC's The Voice UK singer Jessica Hammond on Drivetime
About Jessica:
Jessica Hammond, age 18, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who to date has seen TV Success on Hit Disney channel show “My Camp Rock” and more recently on BBC’s new talent show “The Voice”, where she teamed with Jessie J, after all four coaches had fought for her to join their team after her live audition. It was amazing to have her live performance chosen to open the first ever episode of “The Voice” UK. Additionally, she won Northern Ireland’s “Young Star Search” in 2010 and is so proud to have received a PRS Songwriters Award in 2012 for her original song “Thinking of you”.
She joined Jack Sullivan live on Drivetime between 4pm and 7pm on Friday 24th August.
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By 6 years old she was singing, by age 10 Jessica had completed vocalist grades 1, 2 and 3 with the British School of Music, and by 12 years old, she was playing the guitar.
Her song writing and heart felt lyrics, seem to have struck a chord with her 20,000 Twitter Friends, and her you tube channel and video’s have seen over 2 Million hits. Jessica has written songs: Try Again, No Doubt, My Boyfriend, Star and Cheater.
Listen Again:
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Currently she has finished A Levels in Music, Media and Drama and has now given her London based Manager, Julian White, the green light, which has her now fulfilling her dream, working with Fabulous multi platinum selling, and award wining Producers and Songwriters.
These truly are exciting times, which she has worked so hard to see realised, she remains dedicated to her dream!
Get In Touch with Jessica:
www.facebook.com/JessicaHammondMusic
@JessicaHammondX
www.youtube.com/MissJessicaHammond
10-year-old boy sends his medal to distraught Olympians
A ten-year-old boy’s charming and touching gesture has made him famous around the world after he tried to comfort four of his country’s failed Olympians.
Elijah Porter was distraught when Canada’s 4x100m relay team were stripped of their bronze medal following the final in London, a decision which was taken when video replay evidence showed that Jared Connaughton stepped out of his lane during the race.
But rather than simply feel sad for his idols, Elijah decided to do something to try and cheer them up: he sent the quartet a medal he had won in a recent football tournament so that they didn’t finish their summer empty handed.
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