Radio Features

All eyes to the skies

Another great week of weather, May really is a lovely month. But be warned, the forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend isn't good. So it looks like another damp weekend at the Southend Airshow.

Eyes to the skies, doors to automatic!

I'll be part of the commentary team for Radio Airshow on BBC Essex - and along the seafront - with Ian Wyatt and Steve Scruton from 13.00 on 1530AM on both Sunday and Monday.

Someone seems to think that I know stuff about aircraft. I know in theory, they take off and land and I've always been intrigued by the onboard announcements like "doors to automatic" but I think I'll just leave the technical stuff to the experts. 

The way we were

We were talking on The Ray Clark Breakfast Show about the big Man U v Chelsea football match in Moscow.

Claire Sawyer, our voice of the news has been to Moscow, when it was 35 degrees below freezing. "It was so cold my eyebrows and eyelashes froze," is what she told us and even brought in a photograph to prove it.

Claire becomes the Ice Maiden

While we're talking of photographs, another topic this week was 'to dye those grey hairs, or not'. Apparently, according to Claire my hair's not grey," it's sparkly".

I think she can stay working on our team!

Anyway, all this talk of hair led me to mention the days when I had a full head of dark hair. When I was 'Essex Bonny Baby of the Week' in the Essex Weekly (picture below). Notice the 'kiss curl', although Claire was calling it 'a cows lick' - not too sure about that.

'You're nicked!'

Arrest that man

Tom writes: "Roger Roger, Tango Whisky - I am almost writing this from Wormwood Scrubs after a frightening incident with our local boys in blue. There I was, just casually mugging one of Essex's MP's, and they arrested me!

"To be fair, I was expecting it, as I was putting officers in Basildon Town Centre through their paces. They've been issued with new 'helmet cams' to help in the fight against crime and all my naughtiness was caught on film for all to see.

"They were really good guys and although they grabbed me and slapped the hand cuffs on, it was actually a pleasure to be arrested by them as they were very nice about the whole thing.

"To be fair, had I have been a real criminal mastermind they probably wouldn't have been quite so jolly.

Ray with 'kiss curl' or 'cows lick'

"Anyway, I gave them Ray Clark's address and some anonymous information about illegal potatoes and they said they'd raid him when he was least expecting it so stand by everyone.

"10-4 Bloggers. Over or Out."

... Look out, here comes Alison

Allie writes: "Keeping these chaps in check is hard work... especially when they're on the loose from BBC Essex...

"This week Tom was nearly mobbed by adoring fans in one part of Essex when we were all meeting for a quiet bite to eat.

"And by the time we'd finished our meal, there were so many people gathering who'd heard that Ray Clark was also in the restaurant, we all had to run out of the fire escape. There were so many paparazzi! Exciting times!

"Hey, only joking!"

The story 'wot' you write

Another great story this week, even if it was a little quirky. Thanks to Angie, Sandra, Dave, Adrian and The Story Lady - and the real Claire Sanders, no relation to the star of this weeks story, who wins the coincidence of the week award. *Please note: this wasn't an award and no prize was offered!

Where in Essex

Here are this week's clues.

A gerbils night (anagram) = Brightingsea
Fergies team at home to Millwall = Manuden (Man U and The Den)
Take steps to stop yawning = Great or Little Wakering (Wakering = steps)
The furthest part of the highest branch = Tiptree
Fleet help a diver (anagram) = Hatfield Peveral