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... Around Towners to YOUR Rayleigh community magazine! Happy Easter everyone! Here at AT HQ we are looking forward to a few days spent with family and a lot of chocolate eating...how will you be spending your long weekend? Rev. Mike Lodge has information on services in the area and the kids will not be left bored with activities on offer ‘Around Town’. Whatever you find yourself doing, we hope you have a great one! On a separate note, with the upcoming elections in May, we understand that politics can be confusing and even perceived as boring to some. However, we have contacted the main party candidates and asked them to offer you information on what changes and policies they would implement, if voted in. We hope you find this information useful and constructive, come voting day -Thursday 7 May 2015.
From the Around Town Team
Features 12 Martin Lewis The Money Saving Expert 15 Nature Notes EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner
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Centre Pages Election Special
General Election- 7th May
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19 Know Your Tradesmen Green Thumb 20 Rayleigh Lions Club / Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill Organisations ‘Around Town’ 24 Around Town Sports Focuses on Triathlon 27 What’s On When and Where... 28 A View from the Church Rev. Mike Lodge 30 Recipe Honey & Apricot Duck 31 Useful Numbers
Why Advertise? We hand deliver 15,000 copies every month to homes and businesses covering the whole of Rayleigh. This includes several thousand copies available from venues throughout the town and an online edition. To Advertise Contact our details below.
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Copyright 2015. Around Town Rayleigh is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in Around Town do not necessarily represent those of the editors of Around Town Magazines. Around Town Magazines are published by Black Square Print Media Ltd produced by Black Square Litho Ltd.
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For those with existing debts there are record deals available right now to let you cut the cost and save £100s or £1,000s. Yet as the old adage goes, banks are companies that’d lend you an umbrella when the sun shines and ask for it back when it rains. So getting cheaper credit when in debt is tricky – however I have developed credit card eligibility checkers which can help you check what debt cutting cards you’re able to get before you apply. If you can lower the interest cost, then more of your repayment clears the actual debt, not just services the interest – meaning you’ll be debt-free far quicker. So here are the key debt cost cutting need to knows… I make no apology for saying… stop borrowing. If you’re struggling, borrowing to make ends meet just elongates the problem - making it even costlier and more difficult. The tips below will help, but if you keep adding to the debt nothing will fix it. So take a deep breath, do a budget and examine all your spending to see if you can cut back. Best buys are only best if you can get them. While there are many great rates on offer, you need to pass a credit score to get them, and many fail at that hurdle. Worse still when you apply it leaves a footprint on your file and lots of those in a short space of time can hit your future credit worthiness. I’ve given evidence to Parliament on this ‘anti-shopping around’ system - little’s been done. So to fight back on my site we’ve built a free eligibility calculator – which tells you which cards you’re most likely to be accepted for. Just as importantly it does this without leaving a footprint on your file that lenders can see – so you can home in on the right one, minimising applications. To try it go to www. MoneySavingExpert.com/eligibility. Shift credit or store card debt to 35mth 0%. A balance transfer’s where you get a new credit card that repays debts on the old credit or store card(s) for you, so you owe it instead at a lower rate. The longest 0% deals for those new to the card company now last nearly three years (a year ago they were 30 months), but as with many things in
life longest isn’t always best. Aim for the lowest fee card, ensuring you’ve enough time to clear it. Top picks and golden rules at www.mse.me/ balancetransfers. Shift your overdraft to 0% too. Debit cards can be debt cards too - if you’re in your overdraft it’s often more costly than credit cards, especially if you bust your limit. So there are two ways to get out of this. a) Switch to a 0% overdraft: Top bank for customer service www.firstdirect. com offers a £250 0% overdraft (you must pay-in £1,000/month) and for accepted new switchers a free £100 which should help reduce the overdraft straight away. For some www. nationwide.co.uk 0% overdraft may be bigger, but it’s only for a year and is 50p/day after. b) Shift it to a 0% ‘money transfer’ credit card. A few balance transfer cards also let newbies ‘money transfer’. This is where it pays a lump sum into your bank account, which can then clear your overdraft so you owe it instead. Top pick is www.mbna.co.uk which gives 24 months 0% money transfers for a one off 2.2% fee (though it’s 22.9% rep APR after the 0% ends). Yet be careful, follow the balance transfer rules above and for more picks and full step-by-step help see www.mse.me/ moneytransfers.
Can you cut the cost of existing loans? It’s complex, as you need to factor in that most loans charge up to two months’ interest to repay them early. - Who should try? Those who can get a substantially lower APR loan (eg, more than a fifth off, so from 10% to 8%), and have a while left to repay. Full options in www.mse.me/cheaploans. - How much can I save? Someone who is 2 years through a 5 year 12% loan for £5,000, paying it off
with a 4.9% loan, could save around £1,000. Don’t pay all debts equally - attack the highest APR. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APRs. Focus all spare cash to clear the highest APR one as it grows fastest, and just pay the min on the others. Once that’s clear, move to the next highest. I’ve never seen a debt crisis that isn’t solvable - don’t give up hope. The solutions above are for cutting debt costs. Yet for some, it’s much worse than that. Do any of these apply to you... - You can’t meet even just the minimum monthly payments. - You have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year’s salary. - You have sleepless nights or serious depression/anxiety over your debts. If so then you’re likely in a debt crisis and that means the solution you need is totally different. The most important thing I can tell you is I’ve never seen a debt crisis that isn’t solvable. It may not always be quick or easy, but there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The first step is to go for free, one-onone debt counselling help from www. adviceguide.org.uk, www.stepchange. org, www.nationaldebtline.org or, if you’re struggling emotionally too www.capuk.org.
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The time of change. If you like walking in the woods and the wider countryside that’s something that comes to mind when you describe April. At the start of the month the woods are transparent and you can see long distances through the bare boughs and admire the crooked shapes of trunks and branches. As the month progresses, the buds on the trees break out into fresh bright green leaf, and our ancient woodlands become canopies over carpets of bluebells.
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It’s good to be in our local woods out at all times in April to see how nature changes. For the bird-watcher, the earlier in the day the better, as the birds are much more active then. Tits sing loudly and chase each other through the trees as they claim their partners, territories and nest holes. The drums of woodpeckers echo through the woods, as do their ‘pick’ calls and harsh shrill chattering as they also mark their patch for the breeding season. Whilst the trees are bare, the woodpeckers can be seen easily and sometimes you might see a profile of one in high in a tree silhouetted against the sky. As the month progresses, they are more hidden, excavating their holes and if you pause whilst walking in a wood, you might hear one tapping away deep in a thick branch or trunk. o ish t
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The song in the woods becomes more varied as blackcaps and other warblers arrive for the spring. Butterflies emerge too, although with the mild March this year, many of us have already seen several species, including the Peacock with the patterns of purple eyes on the wings and bright Yellow Brimstones. A late April favourite is the Orange-tip, a white butterfly although only the male has the orange-tipped wings as its name suggests. It often turns up in gardens as it patrols the area looking for females. this
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Locally, we have several special areas of ancient woodland, around Belfairs, Daws Heath and Hockley. The Essex Wildlife Trust defined these as Living Landscapes, and is working with local Councils and volunteer conservationists to improve and manage these areas for wildlife and for the enjoyment of the community. Part of this management is that parts of the woods are coppiced in rotation. As well as being a sustainable way of generating wood for fuel and other uses, this creates woodland in different stages of growth, giving more diversity of habitat for wildlife. Around Belfairs, the Heath Fritillary butterfly and Dormouse benefit from this management. When coppicing, many large standard oaks are left for the wildlife that needs them such as the Nuthatch which is only found in some of the Essex woodlands, Hockley Woods being one of these. They are often high up but quite noisy birds so can be seen in old oaks, if you can listen and wait.
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Dear Rayleigh Residents, In the General Election you will have an important choice about both the future of the country and the town in which we live. Nationally, we have been through a difficult time financially but our economy is now turning the corner. Given all the sacrifices and difficult decisions which have already been made, I really believe that we should see this through and not “hand back the car keys to the people who crashed the car” by turning to a highly risky Labour Government under
Ed Miliband, perhaps even propped up by Alex Salmond and the SNP.
Academy Status and their desire
Locally, amongst other things, I have sought to oppose overdevelopment in West Rayleigh without infrastructure; to work with Rochford District Council and other authorities to improve our resistance to flooding; I have supported both Sweyne Park and FitzWimarc Schools in their conversion to
and I want to continue working
to establish sixth forms. I have lived in Rayleigh for 15 years on behalf of our local residents. Whatever your personal politics might be, if you want a hard working local MP, I hope you may support me.
MARK BARON FRANCOIS JOHN
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Rayleigh and & Wickford for Basildon Billericay
General Election - Thursday 7
I have worked as a labourer, office clerk, transport clerk and lorry driver, before attending University and becoming a teacher in my 40’s. I went to school in Chelmsford, and University in Colchester.
Recruit 20,000 more nurses, and 8,000 more doctors, and integrate physical, mental and social care into a single system designed to meet patients’ needs and create an NHS fit for the 21st century. Cut taxes for 24 million people with a lower starting rate, and reverse the coalitions’ millionaires’ tax cut.
My priorities for Rayleigh and Wickford and Britain are to stand up for hard working families, the NHS, and the small and mediumsized businesses that are at the heart of our economy.
Provide 25 hours free childcare a week for 3-4 year olds, double the number of places in SureStart Centres, and guarantee local primary care from 8am-6pm at local schools.
Labour would:
Raise the minimum wage to at least £8 an hour by 2020, and end exploitative zero-hours contracts.
Freeze energy prices, to help hard-pressed local families and businesses, but allowing prices to fall. The regulator would have the power to cut prices if the companies are slow to do so.
Labour would also stand up for small business by tackling unfair charges, give the FSB the right to
represent its members in court, cut rates this year and freeze them next, improve access to finance with a British Investment bank with a specific duty to lend to SMEs and improve training and vocational education to equip our young people for the future. Labour stands up for working families and the businesses that are the largest employers in this country. David Hough Labour Party Candidate for Rayleigh and Wickford
Voting Green has not been an option for many people locally before, but now South East Essex have four Parliamentary candidates and roughly 20 Council candidates, we are gaining in support daily as people wake up to the truth that another term of austerity measures cannot be sustained by the vulnerable, elderly, sick or poor. The Green Party are the only party to end Austerity. We pledge to properly close tax loopholes and introduce a small 1-2% tax of those with assets in excess of 3 million. Properly taxing large
corporations and monopolies will not only create a more stable economy but also a level playing field for smaller businesses to thrive. We pledge to end the privatisation of the NHS, keeping it free at the point of use, funding the introduction of more GP’s and community healthcare workers. And want to introduce healthier lifestyle opportunities to help people stay well, active and happy. The Green Party will invest heavily into renewable energy production, Oil and Coal reserves are dwindling,
nobody wants fracking under their homes, or to be held over the barrel by unstable dictatorships. CO2 emissions are causing certain ecological meltdown in the form of Climate Change. Cheaper, cleaner and will never run out, we believe the time has come for renewable energy to become a must. We are the party of the people, and locally I will stand against anything that is not in tune with local community needs.
Sarah Yapp - Green Party
7th May 2015...... you decide THE ECONOMY *In 2010 the UK National Debt was £811 billion. It is now £1.45 trillion (an 80% rise) due to Coalition budget Annual Deficits. UKIP by 2018/19 will bring the Annual Deficit to zero. *Leave the EU saving £20 billion a year. *Reduce the Foreign Aid Budget by £9 billion a year.
*An extra £3 billion a year for the Health Service for frontline services (20,000 new nurses, 3,000 midwives and 8,000 GPs). *Visitors to UK and migrants to have private health insurance as a condition of entry saving the NHS £2 billion a year. £200 million a year to be spent to end Hospital Parking charges in England. IMMIGRATION
*Scrap the HS2 Project saving £70 billion, all green taxes and wind turbine subsidies.
(currently net 298,000 immigrants a year).
*Remove the need to pay income tax on full time minimum wage earnings (approximately £13,500 by May 2015).
*A points based system for time limited work permits.
*Leave the EU and take back control of our borders.
*Abolish Inheritance Tax.
*Migrants only eligible for Benefits (in work or out of work) after paying tax and NI for 5 years.
THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
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John Hayter Rayleigh & Wickford
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and healthy throughout the year, with treatment programmes that can be tailored according to season and weather. Nigel Wright invested into the Southend franchise of Greenthumb, the largest and most recommended lawn care company in the UK, back in 2010 after working for the company temporarily doing estimates for potential new customers. Greenthumb offers care treatments to keep customers’ lawns looking green
Nigel started the business with 190 existing customers, and has since expanded to almost 900. ‘I liked the concept of the business so much I invested my redundancy money into buying the Southend franchise’ he said. ‘I’ve grown the business to 840 customers in the Southend area which covers Wickford, Rayleigh, Hockley, Benfleet, Leigh on Sea, Rochford and the
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whole of Southend’. Both Nigel and his wife Vicki, who works with him in the business, are passionate about what they do and the services the company offers ‘One of our popular treatments is the Oasis treatment for the Spring and Summer, this is great for our customers as it saves them time and money…it reduces the amount they need to water their lawns’. In their spare time, Vicki is a keen horse rider and Nigel enjoys buying and selling old toys.
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ROTARY CLUB OF RAYLEIGH MILL At the beginning of March we had our Founders Night meeting when clubs join together to celebrate the founding of Rotary in 1905. This year the meeting was hosted by Rochford Rotary Club at their meeting venue, Rochford Golf Club. Rochford and Rayleigh members were joined by others from Leigh, Westcliff, Hadleigh and Southend clubs. Along with an excellent meal we were also pleased to be entertained with a dance presentation from The Mushroom Theatre group. This group, which is part of the ‘Equal People’ charity, encourages young people, both able bodied and disabled, in performing arts. The group has recently moved to new premises on the Brook Road Industrial Estate, Rayleigh partly funded by the Rayleigh and Rochford Rotary Clubs. Club members have now started planning our annual Charity Golf event at Rochford Golf Club which will take place on Monday 6th July. We have held this for a number of years with teams from many local companies and organisations competing for the prizes. If you managed a hole in one you would even drive away with a new car! If you would like to have details of the event either to participate or sponsor, please use the contact details below. If you wish to visit us or know more about the Club please contact Andrew Shackleton on 01702 201783 or robertashackleton@googlemail.com. Our website and Facebook page can also help you see what we do. www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubsID=1797 or put ‘Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill’ into Facebook. Our meeting takes place at Mama Romantica Restaurant in Rayleigh High Street at 7.30pm every Monday night.
RAYLEIGH LIONS CLUB The Lions Club of Rayleigh is part of the International Association of Lions Clubs, and our primary aim is to raise and distribute funds within out local area. The Lions Club Of Rayleigh was chartered in 1974 and serves the Rayleigh, Hockley, Hullbridge and Rochford areas. Our club is a Voluntary Service Organisation and a registered charity, we are always looking for people willing to help make their community a better place to live. By visiting our website, you will be able to find out about the work of the international organisation of Lions and the Lions Club of Rayleigh in particular, including our activities and also details of forthcoming events, and who to contact for further information. Our club meets on the 1st (business) & 3rd (social) Tuesdays in every month in Rayleigh. Guests are always welcome. http://www.rayleighlions.org.uk
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After completing a 1 mile swim, a 25 mile bike ride or a 6.2 mile run, I am certain that a great sense of achievement would overcome any feelings of exhaustion or tiredness. The ultimate test in stamina would be completing all three of these back to back. Welcome to the world of Triathlon! With the famous London Marathon fast approaching, more and more people all over Essex will be stepping up their training in preparation for the great event. However, Triathlon is fast becoming the new way to test your stamina and being used all the time to raise money for charities in need. My first exposure to the world of Triathlon was while watching the Sydney Olympics in 2000, a number of people plunged into Sydney harbour with the Opera house glistening in the background, they were starting the first leg of the gruelling event. After the swim a commentator then said “now for the 25 mile bike ride”, my eyebrows immediately rose, but nearly entered a state of shock when I realised it climaxed with a 6 mile run. Now, 15 years later, I can totally see that if you are ready to test yourself to limit that Triathlon not only offers you variety, but pushes your entire body to the maximum. There are people that train individually for such an event and produce great results. However, there is a club in Essex that are tapping into those that like to train within a group of people and also those who thrive the competitive element of sport and wish to compete against and train with peers and friends regularly.
Right on our doorstep here in Rayleigh is The East Essex Triathlon Club. They are the club to join if you are looking to train for events throughout the year. They train every week, Saturday morning they do a long run and on Sunday morning they hit the roads of Essex on their bikes, this all starts from the Market Car Park in Rayleigh. During the week they have Tuesday night track sessions at the Basildon Sporting Village as well as Monday night swimming sessions at Runnymede pool Castle Point and Thursday night at the Basildon Sporting Village again. I have been speaking to Zena, a member of the club about Triathlon and its growing popularity. It seems as though Triathlon is now becoming the ultimate challenge, even rivalling marathons and half marathons? Why is popularity increasing? More generations of 40+ adults are still enjoying sport. Some may have come from other sports such as athletics or swimming and realise they can still be competitive at triathlon, which celebrates winners from age groups in 5 year gaps. Many people start triathlon just for a one off event but stay because they find it a friendly inclusive sport. We have also had Olympic and world championship success with the likes of the Brownlee brothers and Chrissie Wellington which has increased the popularity too. London 2012 no doubt has had a big impact, especially the success of the Brownlee brothers as you have mentioned. With Rio looming, what can we expect from East Essex Club to get more
youngsters taking an interest and giving it a go? We have regular training sessions for any young people wishing to take part in triathlon and also host a number of events each year including the Go-Tri series, which provides a short, low key taster event at Basildon Sporting Village (for adults and children) and can be entered on the day! The East Essex Club offers a chance to train with Triathlon enthusiasts for either a one off challenge or to explore your hobby of competitive running, swimming and biking. The price of annual membership is £33 for adults and £12 for children and with 300 members from 8-80, the club is going from strength to strength. Please see the website for further details. www.east-essex-tri-club.co.uk
ROCHFORD HUNDRED RUGBY CLUB Rochford Hundred Rugby Club is a local rugby club formed by three local residents in 1962 and today showcases rugby across all ages, ability and both genders covering over 20 teams. The 1st XV play in the RFU London 2 North East league and the club’s main focus is developing local players to as high a standard of rugby as it possibly can.
WOULD YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER LIKE TO TRY RUGBY? We are celebrating over 25 years of youth rugby and looking for girls and boys of all ages and abilities to continue into the next 25 years.
3 WEEKS FREE TRAINING TASTER PERIODS FOR ALL TEAMS Year 1 to Year 7 is Saturday mornings 10am - 12pm Year 8 to Year 11 and all Girls is Wednesday evenings 7pm - 8:30pm Year 12 and Year 13 is Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7pm - 8.30pm
COME ALONG AND HAVE A GO - THEY’LL LOVE IT! SOCIAL AND CORPORATE EVENTS
GIRLS AND WOMENS TEAMS
YOUTH AND MINI SIDES FROM UNDER 6
MULTI FUNCTION VENUE FOR ALL EVENTS
FAMILY ORIENTATED CLUB
SENIOR SIDES
Main 1st XV Sponsors (please see below)
- MAGNOLIA ROAD - HAWKWELL - ESSEX SS4 3AD Telephone 01702 544021 - Website WWW.ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM Twitter @ROCHFORDRUGBY - Facebook FACEBOOK.COM/ROCHFORDRUGBY THE RUGBY PARK
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EssexMaintenanceApr14 07 April 2014 15:38:43
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As a company we offer real value to our bathroom customers. We love nothing more than to bring an old tired bathroom back to life, by installing high end to budget products that simply transform your room.
www.essex-bathrooms.co.uk
07712 674877 | 01702 232979
Sweyne Choral Society Sweyne Choral Society Proudly Presents A Gala Concert Celebrating Their 50 Years Of Choral Singing In Rayleigh. The Concert Will Feature Works By Rutter And Vivaldi, With Soloists From The Guildhall School Of Music. The Ticket Price Includes Celebratory Refreshments. Venue: Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Rayleigh Date: Saturday 16 May At 7.30pm Tickets: £10 (£5 Under 16) For Ticket Reservations Contact: 01268 785273 01702 526294 | www.sweynechoralsociety.org.uk If you would like to promote your club or event then please email a maximum of 70 words to admin@ aroundtownmagazines.co.uk. Please ensure that all contact details are included.
ISLAND TO ISLAND MUD RUN - Event Details
The Island to Island mud run is a unique run on the Thames estuary mud going from Bell Warf in Old Leigh to Two Tree Island and back. The mud is very soft and deep in this area making the event very challenging. As such there is an age restriction of 16 plus, but we also have the option of our smaller family fun mud run. BOOK NOW AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT. PRICE LIST Early bird Discount—Available until the end of March £15 Main Route - £5 Fun Mud Run Route Full Price—From April £20 Main Route - £10 Fun Mud Run Route
DECIDED TO TAKE PART?
You can enter by either booking over the phone on 01702 220356 or enter online at www.havenshospices.org.uk/mudrun2015 Once you have entered you will receive a comprehensive information pack with details of the event. Also, on the day booking!!
WHY TAKE PART?
An exciting new route and now one of the most extreme mud runs in the UK! Held in the historic site of Old Leigh through some of the thickest mud in the Estuary. Can you keep clean? Over 16 years only. Places are strictly limited so book now to avoid disappointment. There’s also a Family Fun Mud Run so everyone can take part and enjoy the muddy fun. Book now www.havenshospices.org.uk/mudrun2015
As well as this being an amazing challenge to take part in and a great personal achievement you will also be making every day count for those being cared for by Havens Hospices. At three days old, Rafferty had his first seizure and he was diagnosed with catastrophic epilepsy. “We’d been in hospital for three months just hoping he’d be ok. We needed to be somewhere else for what could be his last moments. “When we arrived at Little Havens, it was very emotional but we were given such a warm welcome.” Rafferty’s Mum, Nina Within a day of staying at Little Havens, Rafferty’s seizures virtually stopped. “We’d been through three months of absolute hell but we went from being told he had a day to live, to taking the entire family to Colchester Zoo. That’s become such a special memory.” Rafferty’s Dad, Jon.
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Resurrection life and new hope for the future… Designed by 20th CenturyFox to show off the wonders of CinemaScope – the new technology of widescreen photography - it was in 1953 that the film ‘The Robe’ was released starring such greats as Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, et al. Richard Burton is the Roman Centurion on duty at Christ’s crucifixion who bets on and wins Jesus’ robe, then spends the rest of the movie agonising about becoming a Christian. But what is the significance of the robe and why Jesus was made to wear it? In contrast to the events of Palm Sunday, where the people were shouting in support of Jesus, crying out, ‘Hosanna’, which literally means ‘save us’, the mood has dramatically changed. Here, Jesus is mocked and spat at – the robe is thrown across his shoulders and a crown of thorns forced onto his head. Later on Jesus was nailed to the cross the reason for his death was also fixed there for everyone to see -
THE KING OF THE JEWS. In today’s world there are many people who are almost totally unaware of who Jesus is – in our society, in this country, in this town, there are many who don’t know what Good Friday is about - they don’t know what Easter really means beyond chocolate eggs. If used at all, Jesus name is used as a term of abuse. The reality is that He is the Christ – the one who came to save his people from their sins, to offer loving forgiveness – to die on the cross in exchange for our lives – to provide hope. This is shown in His rising again from death, celebrated on Easter Sunday, with a clear message of life in all of its fullness - new life in Jesus – a new start to our lives. Acceptance of who Jesus is and what he stands for cannot be underestimated, which also relates to other aspects of our lives, especially when we need to make decisions about matters that concern us. This is highlighted with the approaching United Kingdom General Election, to be held on Thursday 7 May, when those who have the privilege of being able to vote are being asked to choose their local Member of Parliament, a task which no-one can take lightly. To help in this process of selecting their next Member of Parliament, an open invitation is being offered to Rayleigh and other local residents to attend
General Election Hustings in Holy Trinity Church, Rayleigh, on Saturday 11 April at 8.00pm (doors opening at 7.00pm). All the prospective parliamentary candidates have been invited to attend, to answer questions put to them by members of the public about the issues that matter, which will enable informed decisions to be made. Who we vote for in the general Election is always from the standpoint of making an informed decision within a secret ballot, although in the parliamentary elections the final choice is always a majority decision, which, for a large majority, can be a disappointing outcome! In comparison, and with regard to the Christian faith, a choice can freely be made on the basis of asking questions about who Jesus really is with real understanding; a personal choice and not a majority vote, entering into a loving relation with God through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. May I take this moment to wish you all a very Happy Easter, in whatever way you chose to celebrate new life and new hope for the future… Yours in the love of Jesus,
The Revd Canon Mike Lodge Team Rector Parish of Rayleigh 01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk
The Revd Canon Mike Lodge
CALL NOW!
01268 293440 07977 992211 Elm Farm, London Road, Crays Hill, Billericay, CM11 2UZ
All Digger Work - Drainage - Tarmacadam - Hand & Machine Lay - Hot Tar & Shingle/Resin Bonded Block Paving/Concrete - Council Vehicle Crossings Brick Work - White Lining Hot Thermo Plastic & Rubberized Traffic Paints RJB Construction & Lining are a well established family company based in Billericay. We provide a complete service including road reinstatement, driveways and lining work. All our employees are fully trained to high standards, eliminating the need for sub contractors meaning quality of product throughout. We are efficient, ambitious and hardworking and we pride ourselves on carrying out our work to the highest standard.
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Honey & Apricot Duck Serves: 2 Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients: • 2 x Burstead Farm Shop Duck Breasts • 200g fresh spinach leaves (One Bag) • Salt and Pepper • 1 tbsp Of Local Stock Honey • 1 x Knob of butter • 100g Cottage Delight Apricot Chutney
Method: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Pre-heat over to 200C/380F/gas mark 6. Season duck breasts both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a little oil in a frying pan and add the duck breasts, skin side down. Fry until golden and crispy, turn over and brush with honey. Place in the oven for about 10 minutes or 15 minutes if you prefer well done. Remove from oven to rest for 3 minutes. Heat the butter in a separate pan and add spinach, season and cook for about 1 minute until wilted. Remove spinach and place in centre of the plates. Slice duck breasts and arrange on top of the cooked spinach. For the sauce drain a little of fat from the duck pan, and mix with the Apricot Chutney and gently heat. Spoon the chutney sauce around the duck and serve with sweet or sauté potatoes.
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L. McCARTHY
ELECTRICAL Lighting / Sockets Cooker & Hob Installation Fuseboards & Re-wiring Inspection & Testing PAT Testing All Works Fully Insured
USB double socket supplied and fitted for only *
£35 *While stocks last
Downflow heater supplied and fitted for only *
£80 07984 525567 All Aspects of Electrical Work Carried Out
24 HOUR CALL OUT
USEFUL NUMBERS
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BIRTH, DEATH MARRIAGES REGISTRATION
01268 361350 01268 361351
POLICE Rayleigh Police Station
0300 333 4444
HOSPITALS Brentwood Hospital Basildon Hospital Broomfield Hospital Essex Nuffield Hospital Queen’s Romford Southend Hospital Spire Hartswood Hospital
01277 695000 0845 1553111 01245 443673 0800 688699 0845 1304204 01702 435555 01277 232525
HELPLINES Alcoholics Anonymous Childline DIAL Disability Helpline Drugline Essex In Focus (family disabilities support)
Narcotics Anonymous Parentline Samaritans S. Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre Victim Support Essex Women’s Refuge
CHEMISTS Boots the Chemist, Rayleigh 01268 771883 Audley Mills, Rayleigh
01268 776479
Lloyds Pharmacy, Rayleigh
01268 771703
Grange Pharmacy, Rayleigh 01268 784192 Hambro, Rayleigh
01268 781623
Yardley Chemist
01268 743283
BLOOD TEST Booking Line NHS Direct
01245 256147 0800 11 11 11 01268 294400/1 01708 749151 01245 353575 0300 9991212 0808 8002222 08457 909090 01375 380609 0845 4565995 01268 541140
01268 242159 0845 4647
ROAD & TRAVEL UPDATES Essex Travel www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/essex COUNCILS Rochford District Council
01702 546366
Rayleigh Town Council
01268 741880
TRANSPORT Bus Service
0870 6082608
Rail Service
08457 484950
TAXIS Rayleigh Taxi Bestax Abba Cars Cab Call
01268 531888 01268 777300 01268 771666 01268 777300
UTILITIES Anglian Water 0345 145145 Electricity – Power Supply Problems 0800 7838838 Gas – Urgent Calls / Gas Escapes 0800 111999 Minicom – Transco 0800 371787 Thames Water (Supply or Wastewater Services) 0845 9200800 Three Valleys Water 0345 823333 Water – Essex & Suffolk Water 01245 491234 VETS YourVets Vets4Pets Rochford Veterinary Surgery Downes Vets Medivet LIBRARIES Rayleigh
01268 745180 01268 772283 01702 545558 01268 776883 01702 413902
0845 603 7628
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