The last time I was at Southend was maybe around 6 years ago when the airport was using the wooden terminal which I thought was great. There were just a few spotters in the terminal's cafe and no passengers.
Was surprised me for an airport that then had just the odd weekend service was the number of airliners scattered around the airport hidden away in nooks and crannies as well as on the main apron. I thought the place was fantastic. Sorry to hear that everything has now gone as I didn't know how bad things had become.