Radio Features

My name is Tom Foster and I am the presenter of a new series on BBC Essex called 'Essex and Proud'. 

It features people and places from around the county, celebrating what is great about Essex; and hopefully reverses a few people's attitudes to our often mocked and over derided county.

Tom interviewing at the Essex County Ground

I was born in Essex in a little village called Steeple Bumpstead, and now live on the Essex coast, having lived and worked in other places. 

Having come home to roost, I can see that nowhere is quite like Essex; with such a rich diversity of places, histories, people and communities. 'Essex and Proud' will take us to a few of these places and meet some of the people with interesting stories to tell.

Similar to how 'Down Your Way used to be, I'm planning to visit Coggeshall, Hopefield Animal Santuary, The Maldon Crystal Salt Company, the Southend Sorcerers Society, Tollesbury, and my own birthplace, Steeple Bumpstead, to name but a few.

If you have a story, or know of a place or person that I should also feature in this new series please contact me, as I’d love to hear from you. 

Whether known or unknown, on or off the beaten track, your advice will make this the informative and engaging series that I plan it to be.

A one-off special from the Essex County Cricket Ground goes out this Good Friday, and Easter Monday. You can hear from the grounds-men, stewards and other background staff, who make the home of Essex's number one sports club what it is.

The rest of the series starts in May and will run weekly until August.