essex next the netherlands

5 posts / 0 new

Sun, 2012-08-19 22:09

As an Essex boy and occasional cricket fan I read with interest a piece in the Observer which states that Ravi Bopara, who has had a short break from cricket for personal reasons, was due to play today "in Essex's local derby against the Netherlands."

Now I am pretty geographically inept, but Essex / the Netherlands / local derby? Did Holland invade Suffolk while I was having my bath?

Mon, 2012-08-20 07:24

Insertponceyfre...

I am in Suffolk, and looking out of the window right now, I can't see anything remotely Dutch. Hope that helps!

Mon, 2012-08-20 18:43

Terrence Oblong

Thanks for the reassurance insert, Suffolk is strange enough as it is without suddenly becoming dutch.

Mon, 2012-08-20 20:40

h jenkins

Well, Terrence, Holland is actually IN Essex. The village of Great Holland is just to the west of Frinton and Holland-on-sea is between Clacton and Frinton. It's to do with dutch engineers being brought over to drain some of the marshlands of East Anglia. Helvigo Jenkins

Helvigo Jenkins

Mon, 2012-08-20 20:45

Terrence Oblong

They obviously called it Great Holland so as not to confuse it with the other one. I have never heard of Great Holland, and I have driven from Clacton to Frinton, I must have had my eyes closed at the time.