STOP PRESS! We have hit the target! Within four hours of the launch of this page - you are all absolutely amazing, THANK YOU. The fundraising period is 30 days minimum, which is when the funds will be released for me to pay for the bench. We should all get together and toast the new bench when it arrives! Thank you all again.

As many locals will have now noticed, the memorial bench commemorating Dr Feelgood singer Lee Brilleaux on Leigh Cliffs has mysteriously disappeared. This was a real shock to me and many others - it was the only memorial / marker for Lee in Southend On Sea and it was in the perfect position - relatively private, looking out over both his old manor of Canvey Island and the site where his ashes were scattered. (That's the original bench in my profile pic there - I tried to make it the main picture of this page but computer says no, instead insisting on the default picture of some sparkly balls.)

Anyway, I first spotted the distinct absence of bench a few weeks ago, and immediately got onto the council about it, as I wanted to know whether or not there was a legitimate reason for its removal or whether it had, as I feared, been nicked, before going any further with it.

I discussed this with Dr Feelgood secretary Ann Adley - who with her husband Jerry commissioned the original bench after Lee passed away in 1994 - and Lee's wife Shirley, and after further correspondences with the council between us (thanks to Jacques Gain for his help here) it was concluded that the parks team was not behind its removal and they had to concede it had been stolen.

I'm not even going to comment on how horrible that is - but now we at least know, it's time to focus on a solution! The council have reserved Lee's spot for a replacement bench, which comes in at £809 (including plaque). I'm sure between us we can raise the money for a new bench for Lee! He deserves it.

Thank you all for reading, and for supporting.