On a positive note...
I have always found that the folks in ATC at Southend are almost without exception very helpful and friendly and some are GA type people themselves.
Talk to them and they will do their utmost to ensure you get a good service.
There have been many incidents of people "exercising their rights to the airspace" in the vicinity in the last few years who have caused problems by not thinking about what might be going on around them. Just because some airspace is uncontrolled doesn't mean you should use it without thought of what else might be there.
I fly in this airspace quite frequently and have always spoken with Soutehnd even when I haven't had to.... they have always been most helpful.