Neil Gits To Never Never Land

Last week my blog extolled the virtues of a Springtime walk around Chelmsford, so with another fine day in prospect on Thursday, I decided to head out with my camera to sunny Southend-on-Sea to see what I could find in Essex’s Second City. As you probably know, Gateway is now on the DAB platform there, so maybe this will catch your eye if you live or work in the area and have recently discovered our friendly community station …

I started off at the lovely Southchurch Park, walking right the way along the seafront to the famous Kursaal, where I diverted briefly to Lucy Road, just behind all the amusements and pubs, to reminisce about working and socializing in several of the old nightclubs along there including Tots & Mr B’s, both sadly long gone. Then it was back to Marine Parade, walking under the Pier head past SIX fish ‘n’ chips shops in a row under the arches, and continue on towards Westcliff…

With ideal weather, I took plenty of photos along Western Esplanade (including more with daffodils in !) as I passed the Cliff Lift, Casino, Rossi’s iconic ice cream parlour and ending up at the Cliffs Pavillion, which is undergoing major work, but in its former guise hosted soul & jazz acts such as Junior Walker & The Allstars, Courtney Pine, Odyssey and The Temptations, all of whom I saw there in my concert-going heyday of the late 80s & early 90s. Luckily, the toilets downstairs were fully operational and a visit there set me up for my return trip east, carrying on along Cliff Parade past the Westcliff Hotel & Queen Victoria’s statue opposite, these days in good nick and still pointing out to sea …

I concluded my three hour trek with a stroll up the High Street via the eye catching new murals in Royal Mews and then back through the infamous & less salubrious back streets, crossing the railway line at Southend East station and returning to the car. The highlight of my visit though, being an Old Git who prioritizes nostlagia above all else, was seeing what used to be ‘Never Never Land’. It was situated in “The Shrubbery Garden”across the Esplanade from the old “Peter Pan’s Playground”. I recall being taken there as a child for the annual “Festival of Light” where hundreds of coloured lights would shine on cartoon characters, fairies, smoke-breathing dragons & goblins, but now just their castles remain. As of last year, the site is now Grade II listed (as is the nearby 1930’s sun shelter) and the fairy castles have been restored, looking resplendent in the sunshine with a backdrop of the Palace Hotel and the Big Wheel at Adventure Island…

So now I’ve visited Southend and highlighted some of its many delights, why not hop on a DAB radio and see what Gateway 97.8 has to offer ? If you hanker for the good old days of soul, jazz-funk & disco from the 70s 80s & beyond, you can find it all on my “Old Gits Soul Show” this Monday from 7-9pm – here is last week’s playlist as a taster :

The Tunes – Monday 2nd March 2026

Rick James – Superfreak
Average White Band – Let’s Go Round Again
Groove Association ft Georgie B – Let’s Reminisce
Supremes – Stoned Love
Fantastics – Something Old Something New
Luther Vandross – It’s Over Now
Jonathan Butler – Love Songs Candlelight & You
Kathy Kosins – Magic Island
Mark Fisher ft Dotty Green-Love Situation
Diana Ross – It’s My House
Phil Fearon & Galaxy – What Do I Do (Carnival Remix)
Azymuth – Jazz Carnival
James Hunter Six – Two Birds One Stone
Temptations – Cloud 9
O’Jays – 992 Arguments
Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street
Lisa Stansfield – It’s Got To Be Real
Terri Walker – Missing You
Bill Withers – Lean On Me
Shaila Prospere – Expectations
Chaka Khan – Fate
Lipps Inc – Funky Town
Nite Flyte – Coast To Coast

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – put a post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook, text (01268)833978 or message me via e-mail : [email protected].

The Old Gits Soul Show is broadcast LIVE from 7pm–9pm every Monday, repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, on Gateway 97.8FM in Basildon & East Thurrock, across South Essex on DAB and available nationally via the Radio Player on your TV as well as online via www.gateway978.com You can listen on your smart speaker or your phone too … plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – just search “Cool Soul” !