President’s Welcome
What is it about Southend and Westcliff that makes our town so special? Is it the sea air? Is it the less frenetic pace of life? What is it that makes us tick? The answer is that we are a happy vibrant community comprising over 700 families.

We tease family and friends in London saying that to travel from London to Southend is twice the distance from Southend to London! They do not realise how easy it is for us to get to London. It takes me under an hour to get to my family in Elstree by road and just a little longer to get to Hendon. Our excellent train service only takes forty five minutes from Westcliff into Fenchurch Street station (which is about the same time that commuters need to reach the City from NW London).

But surely you say, Westcliff is a bit of back water? Hardly! There are numerous excellent shops and major stores around the town, and Bluewater and Lakeside are close by. We have our own brand new Kosher Butcher, Baker and Deli within the Shul complex. There are four (two for girls and two for boys) grammar schools in Southend and Westcliff which are among the top publically funded schools in the country. Incidentally, both my sons went to Southend High for Boys and achieved grades at GCSE and A level sufficient to take them to major universities.

The Palace Theatre and the Cliffs Pavilion stage major West End Shows and host national and international stars. …more