Being a Tuesday I was once again joined by Margaret Mills.

This week Margaret moved over from Witham to South Woodham Ferrers to consider whether an existing town could accurately be described as a “New Town”.

South Woodham Ferrers had existed from at least 1889, when a railway station had been opened with a few nearby cottages.

At this time the area was known as Woodham Fen.

For many years there was little development but in 1972, Essex County Council announced plans for a “New Riverside Country Town”, which ultimately became christened, South Woodham Ferrers – but could this really be classified as a New Town, like places such as Basildon or Harlow?

Listen here to what Margaret told me and make up your own mind:-

We also reported on the Bulgarian football club who have been forced to apologise after they held a minute’s silence for a former player, who it turned out was still in the land of the living!

I won’t bother trying to pronounce the name of the team or the town where they’re based but I can tell you that they are in the country’s top division.

Nevertheless somewhat embarrassingly, just before the kick off, both teams duly lined up near the centre circle, bowing their heads in tribute to mourn a previously well known player for the team.

Just before the match ended, they received news that the player being honoured was in fact still alive, forcing the club to offer their apologies to the player and his family for the incident, and expressing their hope that he would enjoy many more years of good health.

Well at least he knows he was well thought of and could hopefully expect a similar send off, when more accurate news of his demise is received.

Assuming we’re all still very much alive, I hope you will be able to join me once more from 1pm next Monday,
Scott