2000
Colchester Wins July 2000.
A MORI poll conducted on behalf of the East of England Development Agency in a bid to gauge public perceptions of the region resulted in some interesting statistics for Essex. Colchester was singled out as one of the most important towns in the whole of eastern England and Essex was branded the best known county in the whole of the eastern area.
Ninety-two per cent of Essex residents have said they were happy with the county as a place to live. Many saw proximity to London and Stansted airport as major strengths.
Unfortunately outsiders prefer Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Norfolkare, possibly because they associate it with the Essex girl or man stigmas.
Colchester came out in fifth place as a major strength with almost a third of the region's residents, behind the Norfolk Broads, Norwich, Cambridge and the Suffolk coast.
The Essex coast was hot on its heels in sixth place.
2001
Skiing: Essex girl swaps desk for the ski slopes March 2001.
Nineteen-year-old Karen Milton from Chelmsford, just finished her second season as one of the country's youngest ski instructors.
A former Moulsham High School pupil, Karen started her working life in an office. But a skiing holiday at St Wolfgang in Austria's famous lake district changed all that.
"This beats working in an office any time." She said.
Essex: Germaine's show March 2001. Germaine did a talk on Essex girls..... Beginning the talk with a few Essex girl jokes, she continued to paint a pleasing picture of the Essex girl as "a defiant and heroic figure, deliberately vulgar and brassy".
April 2001 saw Denise Van Outen first play Roxie Hart of the hit West End show, ‘Chicago’ at the Adelphi Theatre. She did a 20 week run and the show was a sellout – Denise very much suited the sexy show and was a hit. She then played the part over in Broadway for 5 weeks in 2002 and received excellent reviews.
Standing up for Essex July 2001. A major four-year plan on ways to move away from Essex's "white stilettos and handbag" image has been welcomed by south Essex council leaders.
The draft plan, focusing on how to improve the image of the county and make it a better place to live, was discussed by members of Essex County Council during a full meeting.
Aspects covered in the document include education, children and young people, older people, improving working lives, heritage and culture, and communications.
Castle Point mayor Liz Brett (Lab, Canvey Central) said: "I thought we had got away from the white stilettos and handbag image anyway. There are a lot of clever women in Essex who are living in a man's world and doing men's jobs.
Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith - who has lived in Basildon since she was a child, said: "If this is a serious attempt to portray <placew:ston>Essex people as they really are then I am in favour of it. Many people are trying to make fun but I think it is wearing off now."
"White stilettos are not part of a personality, we are just the same as everyone else."
Essex girl talk on radio 4 October 2001
As Essex County Council attempts to sell the county as a unique mix of culture, education and business opportunities, instead of the habitat of vulgar Essex Man and Essex Girl - Woman's Hour asks what ever happened to Essex Girl?
And Jenni is joined by Dr Pamela Cox, Social Historian from Essex University and Dee Ivens from Essex.
As the Essex Council wants to rebrand the County and take the ‘sex’ out of Essex .
‘In the early 80’s, she had bleached blonde permed hair, dim, mini skirt, white stilettos, white convertible escort, drank Malibu and pineapple, and had a boyfriend called Darren or Kev, who was preferably a footballer. But some parts of Essex have recently been described as offering the best quality of life in Britain’
Local MP Andrew Rosindell shows Jo Morris around the town of Romford and describes his Essex.
As Andrew talks about the past when there were cattle in the towns market, Jo said that the County still has a reputation as a ‘cattle market’ (in the other sense of the word obviously) and his reply was that ‘yes, it’s a lively place’.
Although Andrew kept a very serious tone to the interview, Jo was rather funny when talking about the essex image. Jo said that one paper said that the re-branding came from trying to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex. She asked him (smirking) ‘Does Essex have too much sex?’ They then went on to interviewing the public of Romford to ask about the Essex image situation……
One man said that ‘He likes a few loose characters’ which brought more laughter, but also that ‘The essex girl image is dying’
Some ladies were saying that they have to get their glad rags on, on a Saturday night. They wear ‘low cut tops, white long boots and belts (meaning skirts)’
One man said that he believes that some Essex girls still are…. ‘the name fits, the blonde bimbo’
When interviewing one lady, Jo asked her what she thought of the papers saying that the council wanted to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex, the lady said ‘oh no, I wouldn’t like that – what do they wanna do that for?’ Very funny….. Should we rest our case there?
When asking a lady who was in the culture in the 80’s, who admits to being the origin of the species, to describe herself, she said ‘I have to admit that I did actually have a white XR3, but they were quite fashionable at the time, I remember wearing the pink canvas rushed boots with the snow-washed denim, the highlighted hair, all layered and curled, frosted pink lipstick and white stiletto’s’…. She also admitted to ‘dancing round the handbag sometimes’. She says that she doesn’t mind the essex girl jokes…..
Another lady said that she reckons the ‘Essex girl jokes’ came imported from the ‘valley girl’ jokes from America
Heybridge: You are an Essex girl ... goodbye! November 2001. Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl.
The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs Thomson of Steeple Close, Heybridge, being an Essex girl when she appeared on the BBC2 show last night.
But Mrs Thomson was not flustered by the taunts and proved her general knowledge prowess to make it through to the head-to-head final stage of the tough contest.
Essex girls' image is rebranded Feb 2002
A Coggeshall advertising company was joined by Essex boys and girls to shake off the image of boy racers and second hand car salesmen and stiletto wearing dumb blondes.
College students across the county took snaps of what modern life is really like in the county. The pick of their photos was included in a glossy coffee table book published by Focus Advertising and Communications, based in Coggeshall.
While it was going to be difficult not to include pictures of the odd boy racer in his Ford Escort, the aim was to consign the myth that all Essex lads are used-car salesmen to the scrapheap.
Focus' managing director James Mercer had the idea for the book after he was teased about being from Essex while on holiday in Menorca.
"I've increasingly become fed up with people taking the mickey out of our county and its people," he said.
"Enough is enough. We're going to fight back. The aim of the book is to show Essex as it really is."
The book was titled 'White Socks and Handbags ? Not!'.
Greer speaks up for Essex people Feb 2003
Feminist Germaine Greer said that second and third generation East London "Essexers" needed a celebration for the rich working class culture of loud enjoyment they bring.
She told her audience of local government officials and a sprinkling of councillors: "I love Essex for its honesty. It is less churchy, less self-congratulatory and more open than another county - Cambridgeshire - that I know well.
"There, people you meet one day will pretend they don't remember you the next, whereas in Essex they always say ''Yuh, right!''
"Essex has never been a dainty county where people go to die or clip the hedge. Are we proud or do we apologise? Essex Girl is wonderful. She is loud, determined to have a good time and she won't take no s***. I love her.
"And while we are about it let's have the poppy as the Essex flower. It's bright, brash and right on just like Essex Girl."
Denise Van Outen April 2003
Denise Van Outen, 28, makes a return to the West End this week with her one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
The TV presenter turned stage actress is starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of the hit 70s musical, in which she plays an Essex girl looking for love in New York.
Joyce Long meets David Beckham November 2003
Joyce Long, from Thundersley, Essex, is a fundraiser for Southend Hospital. Already, she has raised over £500.00. She rubbed shoulders with soccer superstar David Beckham as she was made an MBE by the Queen following years of charity work.
She said the she saw David Beckham, at the palace, who was being made an OBE, and introduced herself to him as an Essex girl!
She even asked if she could have an autograph to auction in her next sale for the hospital and he said ‘yes’.
Helen Mirren goes back to her roots June 2004
Helen Mirren headed back to her come county, Colchester, to pick up an honorary degree.
The Essex image is obstacle to business September 2004
The "Essex image" is a major obstacle when it comes to attracting investment from other parts of the UK.
"It is one of our biggest frustrations," says Richard Bailey, of the Essex Inward Investment Office.
The county council agency is geared up to attract firms from home and abroad. Richard Bailey said: "It does not affect those overseas who only see the benefits of the infrasture and access. But UK companies have this image of Essex which is sometimes hard to overcome."
But he added: "Once we get them to visit us here, they are often surprised that it is not as they imagined - not like the Essex Girl thing."
The office, currently being renamed the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, is on target to meet its quota of overseas investors - up on last year's seven companies, ranging from a pharmaceutical firm to an IT organisation.
Culture officer to promote Essex pearls January 2005
A culture director was appointed in Essex to put forward positive images of the county.
The move came as Essex prepares to attract tourists to a county brimming full of culture after winning cash from the Arts Council.
Nineteen-year-old Karen Milton from Chelmsford, just finished her second season as one of the country's youngest ski instructors.
A former Moulsham High School pupil, Karen started her working life in an office. But a skiing holiday at St Wolfgang in Austria's famous lake district changed all that.
"This beats working in an office any time." She said.
Essex: Germaine's show March 2001. Germaine did a talk on Essex girls..... Beginning the talk with a few Essex girl jokes, she continued to paint a pleasing picture of the Essex girl as "a defiant and heroic figure, deliberately vulgar and brassy".
April 2001 saw Denise Van Outen first play Roxie Hart of the hit West End show, ‘Chicago’ at the Adelphi Theatre. She did a 20 week run and the show was a sellout – Denise very much suited the sexy show and was a hit. She then played the part over in Broadway for 5 weeks in 2002 and received excellent reviews.
Standing up for Essex July 2001. A major four-year plan on ways to move away from Essex's "white stilettos and handbag" image has been welcomed by south Essex council leaders.
The draft plan, focusing on how to improve the image of the county and make it a better place to live, was discussed by members of Essex County Council during a full meeting.
Aspects covered in the document include education, children and young people, older people, improving working lives, heritage and culture, and communications.
Castle Point mayor Liz Brett (Lab, Canvey Central) said: "I thought we had got away from the white stilettos and handbag image anyway. There are a lot of clever women in Essex who are living in a man's world and doing men's jobs.
Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith - who has lived in Basildon since she was a child, said: "If this is a serious attempt to portray <placew:ston>Essex people as they really are then I am in favour of it. Many people are trying to make fun but I think it is wearing off now."
"White stilettos are not part of a personality, we are just the same as everyone else."
Essex girl talk on radio 4 October 2001
As Essex County Council attempts to sell the county as a unique mix of culture, education and business opportunities, instead of the habitat of vulgar Essex Man and Essex Girl - Woman's Hour asks what ever happened to Essex Girl?
And Jenni is joined by Dr Pamela Cox, Social Historian from Essex University and Dee Ivens from Essex.
As the Essex Council wants to rebrand the County and take the ‘sex’ out of Essex .
‘In the early 80’s, she had bleached blonde permed hair, dim, mini skirt, white stilettos, white convertible escort, drank Malibu and pineapple, and had a boyfriend called Darren or Kev, who was preferably a footballer. But some parts of Essex have recently been described as offering the best quality of life in Britain’
Local MP Andrew Rosindell shows Jo Morris around the town of Romford and describes his Essex.
As Andrew talks about the past when there were cattle in the towns market, Jo said that the County still has a reputation as a ‘cattle market’ (in the other sense of the word obviously) and his reply was that ‘yes, it’s a lively place’.
Although Andrew kept a very serious tone to the interview, Jo was rather funny when talking about the essex image. Jo said that one paper said that the re-branding came from trying to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex. She asked him (smirking) ‘Does Essex have too much sex?’ They then went on to interviewing the public of Romford to ask about the Essex image situation……
One man said that ‘He likes a few loose characters’ which brought more laughter, but also that ‘The essex girl image is dying’
Some ladies were saying that they have to get their glad rags on, on a Saturday night. They wear ‘low cut tops, white long boots and belts (meaning skirts)’
One man said that he believes that some Essex girls still are…. ‘the name fits, the blonde bimbo’
When interviewing one lady, Jo asked her what she thought of the papers saying that the council wanted to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex, the lady said ‘oh no, I wouldn’t like that – what do they wanna do that for?’ Very funny….. Should we rest our case there?
When asking a lady who was in the culture in the 80’s, who admits to being the origin of the species, to describe herself, she said ‘I have to admit that I did actually have a white XR3, but they were quite fashionable at the time, I remember wearing the pink canvas rushed boots with the snow-washed denim, the highlighted hair, all layered and curled, frosted pink lipstick and white stiletto’s’…. She also admitted to ‘dancing round the handbag sometimes’. She says that she doesn’t mind the essex girl jokes…..
Another lady said that she reckons the ‘Essex girl jokes’ came imported from the ‘valley girl’ jokes from America
Heybridge: You are an Essex girl ... goodbye! November 2001. Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl.
The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs Thomson of Steeple Close, Heybridge, being an Essex girl when she appeared on the BBC2 show last night.
But Mrs Thomson was not flustered by the taunts and proved her general knowledge prowess to make it through to the head-to-head final stage of the tough contest.
Essex girls' image is rebranded Feb 2002
A Coggeshall advertising company was joined by Essex boys and girls to shake off the image of boy racers and second hand car salesmen and stiletto wearing dumb blondes.
College students across the county took snaps of what modern life is really like in the county. The pick of their photos was included in a glossy coffee table book published by Focus Advertising and Communications, based in Coggeshall.
While it was going to be difficult not to include pictures of the odd boy racer in his Ford Escort, the aim was to consign the myth that all Essex lads are used-car salesmen to the scrapheap.
Focus' managing director James Mercer had the idea for the book after he was teased about being from Essex while on holiday in Menorca.
"I've increasingly become fed up with people taking the mickey out of our county and its people," he said.
"Enough is enough. We're going to fight back. The aim of the book is to show Essex as it really is."
The book was titled 'White Socks and Handbags ? Not!'.
Greer speaks up for Essex people Feb 2003
Feminist Germaine Greer said that second and third generation East London "Essexers" needed a celebration for the rich working class culture of loud enjoyment they bring.
She told her audience of local government officials and a sprinkling of councillors: "I love Essex for its honesty. It is less churchy, less self-congratulatory and more open than another county - Cambridgeshire - that I know well.
"There, people you meet one day will pretend they don't remember you the next, whereas in Essex they always say ''Yuh, right!''
"Essex has never been a dainty county where people go to die or clip the hedge. Are we proud or do we apologise? Essex Girl is wonderful. She is loud, determined to have a good time and she won't take no s***. I love her.
"And while we are about it let's have the poppy as the Essex flower. It's bright, brash and right on just like Essex Girl."
Denise Van Outen April 2003
Denise Van Outen, 28, makes a return to the West End this week with her one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
The TV presenter turned stage actress is starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of the hit 70s musical, in which she plays an Essex girl looking for love in New York.
Joyce Long meets David Beckham November 2003
Joyce Long, from Thundersley, Essex, is a fundraiser for Southend Hospital. Already, she has raised over £500.00. She rubbed shoulders with soccer superstar David Beckham as she was made an MBE by the Queen following years of charity work.
She said the she saw David Beckham, at the palace, who was being made an OBE, and introduced herself to him as an Essex girl!
She even asked if she could have an autograph to auction in her next sale for the hospital and he said ‘yes’.
Helen Mirren goes back to her roots June 2004
Helen Mirren headed back to her come county, Colchester, to pick up an honorary degree.
The Essex image is obstacle to business September 2004
The "Essex image" is a major obstacle when it comes to attracting investment from other parts of the UK.
"It is one of our biggest frustrations," says Richard Bailey, of the Essex Inward Investment Office.
The county council agency is geared up to attract firms from home and abroad. Richard Bailey said: "It does not affect those overseas who only see the benefits of the infrasture and access. But UK companies have this image of Essex which is sometimes hard to overcome."
But he added: "Once we get them to visit us here, they are often surprised that it is not as they imagined - not like the Essex Girl thing."
The office, currently being renamed the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, is on target to meet its quota of overseas investors - up on last year's seven companies, ranging from a pharmaceutical firm to an IT organisation.
Culture officer to promote Essex pearls January 2005
A culture director was appointed in Essex to put forward positive images of the county.
The move came as Essex prepares to attract tourists to a county brimming full of culture after winning cash from the Arts Council.
"This beats working in an office any time." She said.
Essex: Germaine's show March 2001. Germaine did a talk on Essex girls..... Beginning the talk with a few Essex girl jokes, she continued to paint a pleasing picture of the Essex girl as "a defiant and heroic figure, deliberately vulgar and brassy".
April 2001 saw Denise Van Outen first play Roxie Hart of the hit West End show, ‘Chicago’ at the Adelphi Theatre. She did a 20 week run and the show was a sellout – Denise very much suited the sexy show and was a hit. She then played the part over in Broadway for 5 weeks in 2002 and received excellent reviews.
Standing up for Essex July 2001. A major four-year plan on ways to move away from Essex's "white stilettos and handbag" image has been welcomed by south Essex council leaders.
The draft plan, focusing on how to improve the image of the county and make it a better place to live, was discussed by members of Essex County Council during a full meeting.
Aspects covered in the document include education, children and young people, older people, improving working lives, heritage and culture, and communications.
Castle Point mayor Liz Brett (Lab, Canvey Central) said: "I thought we had got away from the white stilettos and handbag image anyway. There are a lot of clever women in Essex who are living in a man's world and doing men's jobs.
Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith - who has lived in Basildon since she was a child, said: "If this is a serious attempt to portray <placew:ston>Essex people as they really are then I am in favour of it. Many people are trying to make fun but I think it is wearing off now."
"White stilettos are not part of a personality, we are just the same as everyone else."
Essex girl talk on radio 4 October 2001
As Essex County Council attempts to sell the county as a unique mix of culture, education and business opportunities, instead of the habitat of vulgar Essex Man and Essex Girl - Woman's Hour asks what ever happened to Essex Girl?
And Jenni is joined by Dr Pamela Cox, Social Historian from Essex University and Dee Ivens from Essex.
As the Essex Council wants to rebrand the County and take the ‘sex’ out of Essex .
‘In the early 80’s, she had bleached blonde permed hair, dim, mini skirt, white stilettos, white convertible escort, drank Malibu and pineapple, and had a boyfriend called Darren or Kev, who was preferably a footballer. But some parts of Essex have recently been described as offering the best quality of life in Britain’
Local MP Andrew Rosindell shows Jo Morris around the town of Romford and describes his Essex.
As Andrew talks about the past when there were cattle in the towns market, Jo said that the County still has a reputation as a ‘cattle market’ (in the other sense of the word obviously) and his reply was that ‘yes, it’s a lively place’.
Although Andrew kept a very serious tone to the interview, Jo was rather funny when talking about the essex image. Jo said that one paper said that the re-branding came from trying to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex. She asked him (smirking) ‘Does Essex have too much sex?’ They then went on to interviewing the public of Romford to ask about the Essex image situation……
One man said that ‘He likes a few loose characters’ which brought more laughter, but also that ‘The essex girl image is dying’
Some ladies were saying that they have to get their glad rags on, on a Saturday night. They wear ‘low cut tops, white long boots and belts (meaning skirts)’
One man said that he believes that some Essex girls still are…. ‘the name fits, the blonde bimbo’
When interviewing one lady, Jo asked her what she thought of the papers saying that the council wanted to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex, the lady said ‘oh no, I wouldn’t like that – what do they wanna do that for?’ Very funny….. Should we rest our case there?
When asking a lady who was in the culture in the 80’s, who admits to being the origin of the species, to describe herself, she said ‘I have to admit that I did actually have a white XR3, but they were quite fashionable at the time, I remember wearing the pink canvas rushed boots with the snow-washed denim, the highlighted hair, all layered and curled, frosted pink lipstick and white stiletto’s’…. She also admitted to ‘dancing round the handbag sometimes’. She says that she doesn’t mind the essex girl jokes…..
Another lady said that she reckons the ‘Essex girl jokes’ came imported from the ‘valley girl’ jokes from America
Heybridge: You are an Essex girl ... goodbye! November 2001. Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl.
The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs Thomson of Steeple Close, Heybridge, being an Essex girl when she appeared on the BBC2 show last night.
But Mrs Thomson was not flustered by the taunts and proved her general knowledge prowess to make it through to the head-to-head final stage of the tough contest.
Essex girls' image is rebranded Feb 2002
A Coggeshall advertising company was joined by Essex boys and girls to shake off the image of boy racers and second hand car salesmen and stiletto wearing dumb blondes.
College students across the county took snaps of what modern life is really like in the county. The pick of their photos was included in a glossy coffee table book published by Focus Advertising and Communications, based in Coggeshall.
While it was going to be difficult not to include pictures of the odd boy racer in his Ford Escort, the aim was to consign the myth that all Essex lads are used-car salesmen to the scrapheap.
Focus' managing director James Mercer had the idea for the book after he was teased about being from Essex while on holiday in Menorca.
"I've increasingly become fed up with people taking the mickey out of our county and its people," he said.
"Enough is enough. We're going to fight back. The aim of the book is to show Essex as it really is."
The book was titled 'White Socks and Handbags ? Not!'.
Greer speaks up for Essex people Feb 2003
Feminist Germaine Greer said that second and third generation East London "Essexers" needed a celebration for the rich working class culture of loud enjoyment they bring.
She told her audience of local government officials and a sprinkling of councillors: "I love Essex for its honesty. It is less churchy, less self-congratulatory and more open than another county - Cambridgeshire - that I know well.
"There, people you meet one day will pretend they don't remember you the next, whereas in Essex they always say ''Yuh, right!''
"Essex has never been a dainty county where people go to die or clip the hedge. Are we proud or do we apologise? Essex Girl is wonderful. She is loud, determined to have a good time and she won't take no s***. I love her.
"And while we are about it let's have the poppy as the Essex flower. It's bright, brash and right on just like Essex Girl."
Denise Van Outen April 2003
Denise Van Outen, 28, makes a return to the West End this week with her one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
The TV presenter turned stage actress is starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of the hit 70s musical, in which she plays an Essex girl looking for love in New York.
Joyce Long meets David Beckham November 2003
Joyce Long, from Thundersley, Essex, is a fundraiser for Southend Hospital. Already, she has raised over £500.00. She rubbed shoulders with soccer superstar David Beckham as she was made an MBE by the Queen following years of charity work.
She said the she saw David Beckham, at the palace, who was being made an OBE, and introduced herself to him as an Essex girl!
She even asked if she could have an autograph to auction in her next sale for the hospital and he said ‘yes’.
Helen Mirren goes back to her roots June 2004
Helen Mirren headed back to her come county, Colchester, to pick up an honorary degree.
The Essex image is obstacle to business September 2004
The "Essex image" is a major obstacle when it comes to attracting investment from other parts of the UK.
"It is one of our biggest frustrations," says Richard Bailey, of the Essex Inward Investment Office.
The county council agency is geared up to attract firms from home and abroad. Richard Bailey said: "It does not affect those overseas who only see the benefits of the infrasture and access. But UK companies have this image of Essex which is sometimes hard to overcome."
But he added: "Once we get them to visit us here, they are often surprised that it is not as they imagined - not like the Essex Girl thing."
The office, currently being renamed the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, is on target to meet its quota of overseas investors - up on last year's seven companies, ranging from a pharmaceutical firm to an IT organisation.
Culture officer to promote Essex pearls January 2005
A culture director was appointed in Essex to put forward positive images of the county.
The move came as Essex prepares to attract tourists to a county brimming full of culture after winning cash from the Arts Council.
Essex: Germaine's show March 2001. Germaine did a talk on Essex girls..... Beginning the talk with a few Essex girl jokes, she continued to paint a pleasing picture of the Essex girl as "a defiant and heroic figure, deliberately vulgar and brassy".
April 2001 saw Denise Van Outen first play Roxie Hart of the hit West End show, ‘Chicago’ at the Adelphi Theatre. She did a 20 week run and the show was a sellout – Denise very much suited the sexy show and was a hit. She then played the part over in Broadway for 5 weeks in 2002 and received excellent reviews.
Standing up for Essex July 2001. A major four-year plan on ways to move away from Essex's "white stilettos and handbag" image has been welcomed by south Essex council leaders.
The draft plan, focusing on how to improve the image of the county and make it a better place to live, was discussed by members of Essex County Council during a full meeting.
Aspects covered in the document include education, children and young people, older people, improving working lives, heritage and culture, and communications.
Castle Point mayor Liz Brett (Lab, Canvey Central) said: "I thought we had got away from the white stilettos and handbag image anyway. There are a lot of clever women in Essex who are living in a man's world and doing men's jobs.
Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith - who has lived in Basildon since she was a child, said: "If this is a serious attempt to portray <placew:ston>Essex people as they really are then I am in favour of it. Many people are trying to make fun but I think it is wearing off now."
"White stilettos are not part of a personality, we are just the same as everyone else."
Essex girl talk on radio 4 October 2001
As Essex County Council attempts to sell the county as a unique mix of culture, education and business opportunities, instead of the habitat of vulgar Essex Man and Essex Girl - Woman's Hour asks what ever happened to Essex Girl?
And Jenni is joined by Dr Pamela Cox, Social Historian from Essex University and Dee Ivens from Essex.
As the Essex Council wants to rebrand the County and take the ‘sex’ out of Essex .
‘In the early 80’s, she had bleached blonde permed hair, dim, mini skirt, white stilettos, white convertible escort, drank Malibu and pineapple, and had a boyfriend called Darren or Kev, who was preferably a footballer. But some parts of Essex have recently been described as offering the best quality of life in Britain’
Local MP Andrew Rosindell shows Jo Morris around the town of Romford and describes his Essex.
As Andrew talks about the past when there were cattle in the towns market, Jo said that the County still has a reputation as a ‘cattle market’ (in the other sense of the word obviously) and his reply was that ‘yes, it’s a lively place’.
Although Andrew kept a very serious tone to the interview, Jo was rather funny when talking about the essex image. Jo said that one paper said that the re-branding came from trying to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex. She asked him (smirking) ‘Does Essex have too much sex?’ They then went on to interviewing the public of Romford to ask about the Essex image situation……
One man said that ‘He likes a few loose characters’ which brought more laughter, but also that ‘The essex girl image is dying’
Some ladies were saying that they have to get their glad rags on, on a Saturday night. They wear ‘low cut tops, white long boots and belts (meaning skirts)’
One man said that he believes that some Essex girls still are…. ‘the name fits, the blonde bimbo’
When interviewing one lady, Jo asked her what she thought of the papers saying that the council wanted to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex, the lady said ‘oh no, I wouldn’t like that – what do they wanna do that for?’ Very funny….. Should we rest our case there?
When asking a lady who was in the culture in the 80’s, who admits to being the origin of the species, to describe herself, she said ‘I have to admit that I did actually have a white XR3, but they were quite fashionable at the time, I remember wearing the pink canvas rushed boots with the snow-washed denim, the highlighted hair, all layered and curled, frosted pink lipstick and white stiletto’s’…. She also admitted to ‘dancing round the handbag sometimes’. She says that she doesn’t mind the essex girl jokes…..
Another lady said that she reckons the ‘Essex girl jokes’ came imported from the ‘valley girl’ jokes from America
Heybridge: You are an Essex girl ... goodbye! November 2001. Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl.
The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs Thomson of Steeple Close, Heybridge, being an Essex girl when she appeared on the BBC2 show last night.
But Mrs Thomson was not flustered by the taunts and proved her general knowledge prowess to make it through to the head-to-head final stage of the tough contest.
Essex girls' image is rebranded Feb 2002
A Coggeshall advertising company was joined by Essex boys and girls to shake off the image of boy racers and second hand car salesmen and stiletto wearing dumb blondes.
College students across the county took snaps of what modern life is really like in the county. The pick of their photos was included in a glossy coffee table book published by Focus Advertising and Communications, based in Coggeshall.
While it was going to be difficult not to include pictures of the odd boy racer in his Ford Escort, the aim was to consign the myth that all Essex lads are used-car salesmen to the scrapheap.
Focus' managing director James Mercer had the idea for the book after he was teased about being from Essex while on holiday in Menorca.
"I've increasingly become fed up with people taking the mickey out of our county and its people," he said.
"Enough is enough. We're going to fight back. The aim of the book is to show Essex as it really is."
The book was titled 'White Socks and Handbags ? Not!'.
Greer speaks up for Essex people Feb 2003
Feminist Germaine Greer said that second and third generation East London "Essexers" needed a celebration for the rich working class culture of loud enjoyment they bring.
She told her audience of local government officials and a sprinkling of councillors: "I love Essex for its honesty. It is less churchy, less self-congratulatory and more open than another county - Cambridgeshire - that I know well.
"There, people you meet one day will pretend they don't remember you the next, whereas in Essex they always say ''Yuh, right!''
"Essex has never been a dainty county where people go to die or clip the hedge. Are we proud or do we apologise? Essex Girl is wonderful. She is loud, determined to have a good time and she won't take no s***. I love her.
"And while we are about it let's have the poppy as the Essex flower. It's bright, brash and right on just like Essex Girl."
Denise Van Outen April 2003
Denise Van Outen, 28, makes a return to the West End this week with her one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
The TV presenter turned stage actress is starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of the hit 70s musical, in which she plays an Essex girl looking for love in New York.
Joyce Long meets David Beckham November 2003
Joyce Long, from Thundersley, Essex, is a fundraiser for Southend Hospital. Already, she has raised over £500.00. She rubbed shoulders with soccer superstar David Beckham as she was made an MBE by the Queen following years of charity work.
She said the she saw David Beckham, at the palace, who was being made an OBE, and introduced herself to him as an Essex girl!
She even asked if she could have an autograph to auction in her next sale for the hospital and he said ‘yes’.
Helen Mirren goes back to her roots June 2004
Helen Mirren headed back to her come county, Colchester, to pick up an honorary degree.
The Essex image is obstacle to business September 2004
The "Essex image" is a major obstacle when it comes to attracting investment from other parts of the UK.
"It is one of our biggest frustrations," says Richard Bailey, of the Essex Inward Investment Office.
The county council agency is geared up to attract firms from home and abroad. Richard Bailey said: "It does not affect those overseas who only see the benefits of the infrasture and access. But UK companies have this image of Essex which is sometimes hard to overcome."
But he added: "Once we get them to visit us here, they are often surprised that it is not as they imagined - not like the Essex Girl thing."
The office, currently being renamed the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, is on target to meet its quota of overseas investors - up on last year's seven companies, ranging from a pharmaceutical firm to an IT organisation.
Culture officer to promote Essex pearls January 2005
A culture director was appointed in Essex to put forward positive images of the county.
The move came as Essex prepares to attract tourists to a county brimming full of culture after winning cash from the Arts Council.
Standing up for Essex July 2001. A major four-year plan on ways to move away from Essex's "white stilettos and handbag" image has been welcomed by south Essex council leaders.
The draft plan, focusing on how to improve the image of the county and make it a better place to live, was discussed by members of Essex County Council during a full meeting.
Aspects covered in the document include education, children and young people, older people, improving working lives, heritage and culture, and communications.
Castle Point mayor Liz Brett (Lab, Canvey Central) said: "I thought we had got away from the white stilettos and handbag image anyway. There are a lot of clever women in Essex who are living in a man's world and doing men's jobs.
Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith - who has lived in Basildon since she was a child, said: "If this is a serious attempt to portray <placew:ston>Essex people as they really are then I am in favour of it. Many people are trying to make fun but I think it is wearing off now."
"White stilettos are not part of a personality, we are just the same as everyone else."
Essex girl talk on radio 4 October 2001
As Essex County Council attempts to sell the county as a unique mix of culture, education and business opportunities, instead of the habitat of vulgar Essex Man and Essex Girl - Woman's Hour asks what ever happened to Essex Girl?
And Jenni is joined by Dr Pamela Cox, Social Historian from Essex University and Dee Ivens from Essex.
As the Essex Council wants to rebrand the County and take the ‘sex’ out of Essex .
‘In the early 80’s, she had bleached blonde permed hair, dim, mini skirt, white stilettos, white convertible escort, drank Malibu and pineapple, and had a boyfriend called Darren or Kev, who was preferably a footballer. But some parts of Essex have recently been described as offering the best quality of life in Britain’
Local MP Andrew Rosindell shows Jo Morris around the town of Romford and describes his Essex.
As Andrew talks about the past when there were cattle in the towns market, Jo said that the County still has a reputation as a ‘cattle market’ (in the other sense of the word obviously) and his reply was that ‘yes, it’s a lively place’.
Although Andrew kept a very serious tone to the interview, Jo was rather funny when talking about the essex image. Jo said that one paper said that the re-branding came from trying to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex. She asked him (smirking) ‘Does Essex have too much sex?’ They then went on to interviewing the public of Romford to ask about the Essex image situation……
One man said that ‘He likes a few loose characters’ which brought more laughter, but also that ‘The essex girl image is dying’
Some ladies were saying that they have to get their glad rags on, on a Saturday night. They wear ‘low cut tops, white long boots and belts (meaning skirts)’
One man said that he believes that some Essex girls still are…. ‘the name fits, the blonde bimbo’
When interviewing one lady, Jo asked her what she thought of the papers saying that the council wanted to take the ‘sex’ out of Essex, the lady said ‘oh no, I wouldn’t like that – what do they wanna do that for?’ Very funny….. Should we rest our case there?
When asking a lady who was in the culture in the 80’s, who admits to being the origin of the species, to describe herself, she said ‘I have to admit that I did actually have a white XR3, but they were quite fashionable at the time, I remember wearing the pink canvas rushed boots with the snow-washed denim, the highlighted hair, all layered and curled, frosted pink lipstick and white stiletto’s’…. She also admitted to ‘dancing round the handbag sometimes’. She says that she doesn’t mind the essex girl jokes…..
Another lady said that she reckons the ‘Essex girl jokes’ came imported from the ‘valley girl’ jokes from America
Heybridge: You are an Essex girl ... goodbye! November 2001. Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl.
The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs Thomson of Steeple Close, Heybridge, being an Essex girl when she appeared on the BBC2 show last night.
But Mrs Thomson was not flustered by the taunts and proved her general knowledge prowess to make it through to the head-to-head final stage of the tough contest.
Essex girls' image is rebranded Feb 2002
A Coggeshall advertising company was joined by Essex boys and girls to shake off the image of boy racers and second hand car salesmen and stiletto wearing dumb blondes.
College students across the county took snaps of what modern life is really like in the county. The pick of their photos was included in a glossy coffee table book published by Focus Advertising and Communications, based in Coggeshall.
While it was going to be difficult not to include pictures of the odd boy racer in his Ford Escort, the aim was to consign the myth that all Essex lads are used-car salesmen to the scrapheap.
Focus' managing director James Mercer had the idea for the book after he was teased about being from Essex while on holiday in Menorca.
"I've increasingly become fed up with people taking the mickey out of our county and its people," he said.
"Enough is enough. We're going to fight back. The aim of the book is to show Essex as it really is."
The book was titled 'White Socks and Handbags ? Not!'.
Greer speaks up for Essex people Feb 2003
Feminist Germaine Greer said that second and third generation East London "Essexers" needed a celebration for the rich working class culture of loud enjoyment they bring.
She told her audience of local government officials and a sprinkling of councillors: "I love Essex for its honesty. It is less churchy, less self-congratulatory and more open than another county - Cambridgeshire - that I know well.
"There, people you meet one day will pretend they don't remember you the next, whereas in Essex they always say ''Yuh, right!''
"Essex has never been a dainty county where people go to die or clip the hedge. Are we proud or do we apologise? Essex Girl is wonderful. She is loud, determined to have a good time and she won't take no s***. I love her.
"And while we are about it let's have the poppy as the Essex flower. It's bright, brash and right on just like Essex Girl."
Denise Van Outen April 2003
Denise Van Outen, 28, makes a return to the West End this week with her one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
The TV presenter turned stage actress is starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of the hit 70s musical, in which she plays an Essex girl looking for love in New York.
Joyce Long meets David Beckham November 2003
Joyce Long, from Thundersley, Essex, is a fundraiser for Southend Hospital. Already, she has raised over £500.00. She rubbed shoulders with soccer superstar David Beckham as she was made an MBE by the Queen following years of charity work.
She said the she saw David Beckham, at the palace, who was being made an OBE, and introduced herself to him as an Essex girl!
She even asked if she could have an autograph to auction in her next sale for the hospital and he said ‘yes’.
Helen Mirren goes back to her roots June 2004
Helen Mirren headed back to her come county, Colchester, to pick up an honorary degree.
The Essex image is obstacle to business September 2004
The "Essex image" is a major obstacle when it comes to attracting investment from other parts of the UK.
"It is one of our biggest frustrations," says Richard Bailey, of the Essex Inward Investment Office.
The county council agency is geared up to attract firms from home and abroad. Richard Bailey said: "It does not affect those overseas who only see the benefits of the infrasture and access. But UK companies have this image of Essex which is sometimes hard to overcome."
But he added: "Once we get them to visit us here, they are often surprised that it is not as they imagined - not like the Essex Girl thing."
The office, currently being renamed the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, is on target to meet its quota of overseas investors - up on last year's seven companies, ranging from a pharmaceutical firm to an IT organisation.
Culture officer to promote Essex pearls January 2005
A culture director was appointed in Essex to put forward positive images of the county.
The move came as Essex prepares to attract tourists to a county brimming full of culture after winning cash from the Arts Council.
And Jenni is joined by Dr Pamela Cox, Social Historian from Essex University and Dee Ivens from Essex.
Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl.
The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs Thomson of Steeple Close, Heybridge, being an Essex girl when she appeared on the BBC2 show last night.
But Mrs Thomson was not flustered by the taunts and proved her general knowledge prowess to make it through to the head-to-head final stage of the tough contest.
Essex girls' image is rebranded Feb 2002
A Coggeshall advertising company was joined by Essex boys and girls to shake off the image of boy racers and second hand car salesmen and stiletto wearing dumb blondes.
College students across the county took snaps of what modern life is really like in the county. The pick of their photos was included in a glossy coffee table book published by Focus Advertising and Communications, based in Coggeshall.
While it was going to be difficult not to include pictures of the odd boy racer in his Ford Escort, the aim was to consign the myth that all Essex lads are used-car salesmen to the scrapheap.
Focus' managing director James Mercer had the idea for the book after he was teased about being from Essex while on holiday in Menorca.
"I've increasingly become fed up with people taking the mickey out of our county and its people," he said.
"Enough is enough. We're going to fight back. The aim of the book is to show Essex as it really is."
The book was titled 'White Socks and Handbags ? Not!'.
Greer speaks up for Essex people Feb 2003
Feminist Germaine Greer said that second and third generation East London "Essexers" needed a celebration for the rich working class culture of loud enjoyment they bring.
She told her audience of local government officials and a sprinkling of councillors: "I love Essex for its honesty. It is less churchy, less self-congratulatory and more open than another county - Cambridgeshire - that I know well.
"There, people you meet one day will pretend they don't remember you the next, whereas in Essex they always say ''Yuh, right!''
"Essex has never been a dainty county where people go to die or clip the hedge. Are we proud or do we apologise? Essex Girl is wonderful. She is loud, determined to have a good time and she won't take no s***. I love her.
"And while we are about it let's have the poppy as the Essex flower. It's bright, brash and right on just like Essex Girl."
Denise Van Outen April 2003
Denise Van Outen, 28, makes a return to the West End this week with her one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
The TV presenter turned stage actress is starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of the hit 70s musical, in which she plays an Essex girl looking for love in New York.
Joyce Long meets David Beckham November 2003
Joyce Long, from Thundersley, Essex, is a fundraiser for Southend Hospital. Already, she has raised over £500.00. She rubbed shoulders with soccer superstar David Beckham as she was made an MBE by the Queen following years of charity work.
She said the she saw David Beckham, at the palace, who was being made an OBE, and introduced herself to him as an Essex girl!
She even asked if she could have an autograph to auction in her next sale for the hospital and he said ‘yes’.
Helen Mirren goes back to her roots June 2004
Helen Mirren headed back to her come county, Colchester, to pick up an honorary degree.
The Essex image is obstacle to business September 2004
The "Essex image" is a major obstacle when it comes to attracting investment from other parts of the UK.
"It is one of our biggest frustrations," says Richard Bailey, of the Essex Inward Investment Office.
The county council agency is geared up to attract firms from home and abroad. Richard Bailey said: "It does not affect those overseas who only see the benefits of the infrasture and access. But UK companies have this image of Essex which is sometimes hard to overcome."
But he added: "Once we get them to visit us here, they are often surprised that it is not as they imagined - not like the Essex Girl thing."
The office, currently being renamed the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency, is on target to meet its quota of overseas investors - up on last year's seven companies, ranging from a pharmaceutical firm to an IT organisation.
Culture officer to promote Essex pearls January 2005
A culture director was appointed in Essex to put forward positive images of the county.
The move came as Essex prepares to attract tourists to a county brimming full of culture after winning cash from the Arts Council.