Around town magazines rayleigh november 2014 edition

www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk November 2014 Edition 12 Delivered to 15,000 Homes & Businesses in Rayleigh

1 ANN “WE’VE GOT YOUR TOWN WRAPPED UP!”

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... Around Towners to YOUR Rayleigh community magazine!

Features

Let loose the balloons, grab your party poppers and let’s celebrate! Around Town Magazine is 1 year old this month and we’d like to say a great big thank you to all our readers, contributors and advertisers for helping us get here! So here’s to the future and another great edition of the no1 magazine ‘around town’.

12 Rayleigh Lions Club / Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill Organisation ‘Around Town’

At this point, it seems like a good time to announce a new column. ‘Around Town Sports’ highlights local sports clubs and non mainstream sports. This month we are focusing on netball. If you manage or are a member of a club and would like to be reviewed, please check out the article on p25.

22 Know Your Tradesmen Constable Landscapes Ltd

Until next month, read on and enjoy.

From the Around Town Team

10 The Cook Report Rayleigh Flooding

15 Mark Francois MP Political Update 17 Martin Lewis The Money Saving Expert 20 Nature Notes EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner

25 **NEW COLUMN** Around Town Sports Focuses on Netball 28 A View from the Church Rev. Mike Lodge 30 Interview with a Chef La Bottega’s Village 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.

Sales

Team

Booking deadline for our December edition of Around Town is: Friday 14th November.

Copyright 2014. Around Town Billericay 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.

Around Town Magazines Graphic House, Radford Way, Billericay CM12 0DE

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Rayleigh Residents finally get their say and get action against flooding Following two summers of typically British wet weather, which has seen extensive damage to properties in Rayleigh and surrounding areas, Rochford Council are finally listening to residents’ concerns and taking action against flooding in the local areas.

Both this year and last year, flash flooding has proved a real problem in the area, with streets and gardens turning into rivers, homes swamped with flood water, and repair costs running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, following a push from the general public, Rochford Council have formed a committee to drive improvements forward to tackle local flooding issues in the District.

Anglian Water, the Environment Agency and Essex County Council Flood Management Team.

Since then the committee have met at least once a month, to discuss the problems affecting residents, and establish who is responsible for different watercourses, ditches and drains.

Chairman of the Forum, Councillor Terry Cutmore, Rochford District Council’s Leader, said ‘The Forum is designed to bring together the various agencies, to ensure we are all pulling in the same direction. The last meeting was extremely successful in that we pinpointed more than 30 locations where work is either being carried out or further maintenance is required’.

The Forum for Surface Water Flooding Issues, was initiated by the Council back in August, and brings together groups including Essex Highways,

Improvements planned include digging a new drainage ditch to the rear of Blower Close, which in the event of major rainfall currently sees gardens

and homes flood. In addition, work has recently been carried out at Turret Open Space to clear ditches and to clean and repair screens, to prevent surface water run-off from agriculture and park land.

The meetings, which have been being held at Civic Suite, Rayleigh, are open to the general public and continue to be strongly supported by those living in the area. Vice Chairman of the Forum, Rochford Council’s Deputy Leader said ‘I’m pleased to see so many residents attending these meetings, as they are providing us with detailed local knowledge, and it’s important for us to hear whether these improvements are KVS Facilities working’.

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11

RAYLEIGH LIONS CLUB On the 8th October The Lions Club of Rayleigh celebrated their 40th Anniversary with past and present members at the Tandoori Parlour, where everyone reminisced of the fun they had and the amounts raised at various events over the years.

Our main event on the horizon is our Firework display on the 8th November at King Georges Playing Field. Tickets are now on sale and available from Hattons Newsagents and Rona Estate agents, our members will also be in Rayleigh High Street on the 25th October and the 1st and 8th November. Tickets also Will be available on the gate.

We are looking at having an Open evening in the near future where like minded people who may be interested in becoming a member to assist us raise funds for our community can speak to our current membership to find out what being a lion is involved, the events that we hold, the events we are looking to hold in 2015, and would welcome any enquiry to our membership Secretary on membership.rayleighlions@gmail.com, and we will arrange a mutual time you can come to visit us.

ROTARY CLUB OF RAYLEIGH MILL Meetings over the last month have involved discussions on this year’s Concert in the Park. Unfortunately, due to the fact that this event made a loss for the first time in sixteen years, it is highly unlikely that we will be holding a concert next year – a sad loss for the area.

One of our annual events is to present pictorial dictionaries to all Year 6 pupils in Rayleigh, Hullbridge and Hockley primary schools. This year nearly 640 dictionaries will have been presented to these children. The ‘Dictionary 4 Life’ is part of a literacy programme supported by Rotary International. It is hoped that the dictionaries will help the children through the rest of their school years.

One of our members is lucky enough to spend our winter months in his ‘second home’ in South Africa where he is a member of the Plettenburg Bay Rotary Club. He has been instrumental in bringing one of their charity projects to Essex. The Masiane Children’s Shelter started in 2007 and is now helping 120 vulnerable children, many of whom have been left to survive on their own from an early age. Following presentations about the project to other clubs around Essex we are accumulating a significant donation to enhance the Shelter’s ability to support these children’s life and education. We are currently developing an ‘Associate’ membership programme aimed at helping potential Rotary members understand how the club operates, how charity programmes are run and particularly the fun and social side of the club without having to make the commitment to full club membership. We meet at Mamma’s Romantica Restaurant in Rayleigh High Street at 7.30pm on Monday nights. If you wish to visit us or know more please contact Andrew Shackleton on 01702 201783 or robertashackleton@googlemail.com. Our new website and Facebook page can help you see what we do. www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage. php?ClubsID=1797 or put ‘Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill’ into Facebook.

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RAYLEIGH TOWN COUNCIL ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE - OFFICIAL! Our Town Council in Rayleigh has recently been named ‘Council of the Year’ out of 274 Town and Parish Councils across the County of Essex.

This award was bestowed by the Essex Association of Local Councils (EALC) who have judged the Town Council very highly, based on their commitment to the community and their involvement in popular projects such as Anglia in Bloom and the Rayleigh Christmas Lights (the latter of which now draws thousands of supporters into Rayleigh High Street every year).

In addition, a couple of years ago the Town Council helped

East End.

By Mark Francois MP move the old Rayleigh Market, which was basically dying on its feet, from the car park at the top of the High Street (next to the Council offices) down into the middle of the High Street. The market has now been revived in its new location, where it has proved very popular with local residents. Some senior citizens have even told me it now reminds them of street markets they used to frequent in the old

I believe we are lucky in Rayleigh to have such a proactive and dynamic Town Council that have helped to make Rayleigh a good place to live and I hope that the townsfolk of Rayleigh will join me as the local MP in congratulating our Town Council on what they have done and on their very worthwhile award. It is always nice to come top and in this case, Rayleigh have certainly done that.

Rt Hon Mark Francois Member of Parliament for Rayleigh and Wickford

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Don’t forget your holidays. No I’ve not got all romantic with a yearning for sun kissed memories, I’m still on-message about saving money.

them in the exchange rate. Most debit and credit cards add 3% loads, so £100-worth of euros costs you £100 plus a £3 charge.

If you took a break over the summer, some simple checks could help you save money now and for future holidays (a nice thought to get over the back-to-work blues). So here’s my holiday hangover checklist.

Instead grab a specialist load-free credit card just for spending abroad as they give near-perfect, bureauxbeating rates every time, in every country.

Flight delayed by over 3hrs this summer (or any time since 2008)?

EU reg 261/2004 means you’re entitled to £100-£480 per person compensation, regardless of the cost of the trip, even for flights going back to 2008, if it:

Check the PAO number on your suncream before throwing it away.

The period after opening (PAO) number will be on the bottle - many are safe to use up to 18 months later, provided they’re stored right - so don’t chuck it unnecessarily.

- Was an EU flight - ie, any from an EU airport or to one if an EU airline.

- Arrived over 3 hours late or was cancelled.

- Was the airline’s fault, which covers pretty much anything barring extraordinary circumstances such as air-traffic strikes, bad weather and volcanoes.

Free templates, help and what to do about airline excuses (eg, “there’s a court case”) in my www.mse.me/ flightdelays compensation guide.

And the results can be large, as Pat contacted us, “Read your info and decided to contact Etihad about our 14.5hr delay from Heathrow to Sri Lanka in 2011. We’ve received a total of £2,010 between four of us... great”.

Shocked by bank/card currency charges on your statement? Fight back. My dad called me outraged at the ‘new’ foreign exchange charges on his bank statement for using his card abroad - nearly £50 in total. Yet banks and credit card providers have always levied these (and I’ve always nagged him to sort it, but he’s my father, he’ll never listen to me, I hope you will).

The shock comes from the fact banks have now been forced to split charges out on statements, not hide

Got Euros, dollars or even colón left over from the summer? Changing currency back is very expensive, especially for small amounts. So if it’s a country you’ll revisit even in a couple of years, it’s likely best to hold onto it (worth putting it in your overseas wallet (yes, I’m that nerdy).

If not, there are two tricks to changing it back for the best deal: - Use my the buyback comparison at www.travelmoneymax.com to find best rates

moneymaxim.co.uk. Full help on cutting costs in www.mse.me/carhire.

Run up card debts on your holiday you can’t pay off in full? It’s never a good idea, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. If you can’t clear the debt this month and you’re paying hefty interest, then ensure you do a balance transfer to slash the cost, so your repayments clear the actual debt not just service the interest. Full help and best buys at www.mse.me/bts.

Check your passport and EHIC sell-by dates now. Thousands were hit by passport office delays this year, causing some to miss their breaks.

If your passports nearly at renewal, do it now while you’ve plenty of time before you next go (you’ll get the extra months added on). It’s one less thing to sort, and once it’s done, you’re good for the next ten years. While you’re at it, check the ‘valid by’ date on your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) - if it goes before your next holiday renew it now.

The big rule for renewing though is DON’T GOOGLE - for both these, imposter sites unnecessarily charge you more than you should pay.

Instead the official sites to use are www.gov.uk/renew-adult-passport and www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/ Healthcareabroad/EHIC.

- Find a friend/colleague who’s going where you went, and offer to exchange with them. Use the spot FX rate at www.xe.com and you both win.

Stung by hefty insurance when picking your car hire up? Let me guess, you booked cheap car hire, turned up and they fear-sold you into paying 10 euros a day extra for car hire excess insurance? It happens all the time.

The way round it is to get a standalone policy before you go (you can even get an annual policy to cover the whole year’s hire). To find the cheapest, use www.

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Essex has 350 miles of coastline so it is not surprising that some of our best nature watching is around the coast, especially in winter when large flocks of duck, geese, waders and gulls gather in the estuaries and along the shorelines.

We have a large choice of places to enjoy winter birds, as the RSPB and Essex Wildlife Trust are creating, managing and enhancing coastal nature reserves, from the Thames at Rainham to the Colne at Fingringhoe.

And its not just on the reserves where the attractions are; along the promenade near Southend you can identify up to 6 species of gull and get close views of shorebirds, especially just after high tide when they feed furiously as the water recedes.

Perhaps our best coastal spectacle is of the Brent Geese flocks at sunset, when they fly from the fields to the rivers and estuary inlets to roost. You can stand on the sea wall as they fly above you in a cacophony of calls and wing beats. It’s a terrific end to a day spent admiring the scale and colour of flocks of duck, watching waders in the mud and scanning the marshes for birds of prey.

One of the less common wintering birds of prey I always want to see is a Hen Harrier, one of our most graceful raptors, nick-named the Skydancer. They spend spring and summer on moorland, and that is a problem for them, as they come into conflict with grouse moor managers.

In England there is sufficient habitat for around 300 pairs to breed, yet this year there have been just 4.

The return of raptors to our countryside has been one of the good stories of the last 40 years, but illegal killing and disturbance still happens, including around grouse moors. Grouse shooting is very lucrative, as wealthy shooters will pay thousands of pounds for a day’s shooting, and the whole management regime for driven-grouse shooting is to maximise the number of grouse. This has adverse side-effects on the ecosystem, especially resulting from burning which is carried out to boost young shoots of heather on which the grouse feed. It would be better to follow the National Trust’s Vision for the Dark Peak which leaves room for shooting, but with less intense management, and benefits more wildlife and more people by providing areas for recreation and enjoying nature.

Happily, Hen Harriers and other raptors are hardly at risk on our coasts, although numbers do fluctuate each winter depending on the weather and the availability of food. There are too many good coastal sites for viewing winter birds to list here, but please feel free to email me for recommendations.

Neilsumner123@aol.com follow me twitter.com/neilsumner123

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in Hockley, are longestablished in the local area and offer a wide range of landscaping services, from full renovation to garden maintenance to clients across Essex. Sam said ‘We are still going strong after all these years and I think that’s down to our great reputation and the fact that our clients know we can be relied upon and trusted.’

Constable Landscapes has been offering landscaping services to private and commercial customers for almost thirty years, and is run by Sam Truss, and more recently, business Partner Richard McMeakin.

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As with all successful business owners, Sam and Richard’s busy work schedules mean they have a little time to pursue hobbies or other interests. However, any spare time they do get they like to spend with their families and friends. Sam said ‘The best way to chill out is relaxing with my family and socialising with friends’.

01277 658444 sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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23

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 clubs main focus is developing local players to as high a standard of rugby as it possibly can.

Main 1st XV Sponsors (please see below)

Upcoming 1st XV Home Fixtures in November Saturday 15th November vs Saffron Walden 2pm kick off Saturday 6th December vs Holt 2pm kick off Saturday 20th December vs Basildon 2pm kick off

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One of the most played sports in the UK and yet Netball for some reason doesn’t receive the glory and attention it deserves when it comes to the media in this country.

Locally however, Netball is booming every night during the week and on a Saturday and Sunday morning, rivalling Football, Rugby and any other sports that run parallel to its season.

Southend Leisure Centre, after school matches at the local schools and Basildon Sporting Village are just 3 of the local venues that are guaranteed to have multiple competitive league matches taking place almost daily.

Such a fast paced game which is great for fitness as well as providing a release for the competitor in you, it is easy to see the attraction in Netball as a popular sport.

Surprisingly, Netball is yet to be made an Olympic sport, and perhaps London 2012 would have been the boost needed for the public to start tuning in and ultimately help

the national league players push for their sport to be a profession like it is in Australia and New Zealand.

I have been speaking to local netball enthusiasts, one of them being Amber Sudbury who plays for Galaxy NC, who play in the Basildon District Netball league which has twelve divisions, boasting many teams from Rayleigh, Hockley, Thundersley, Rochford, Southend and Eastwood. This all takes place at the Basildon Sporting Village and they play on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights depending on your division. Galaxy is a club with a staggering 18 teams!

That is over 160 players playing for the club as a whole.

I asked Amber a couple of questions about Netball locally and how that relates to the bigger picture.

How did you get playing for a local Netball Club and how would you suggest new people to join a team?

“I knew someone who played and my Mum has always played, so it was quite easy for me to join a team through contacts, and that is how most people get into playing again or for the first time. However, we do have people contact us through our website and through Facebook.

The Basildon District Netball league are always welcoming of people contacting them and they will contact certain teams who will be the best fit for them, both in ability and to suit their timetable.

Why do you think that Netball is so popular on our local

courts, but does not get the viewers when it comes to the international team and national league club fixtures?

“Football, Cricket, Rugby and Tennis have been established as the main sports for many years now and it is hard to penetrate that popularity on the big sporting television channels.

I do think a lot of it is due to girls and women alike playing netball as a pastime rather than the die-hard passion of winning, therefore following the individual clubs and the national team on the television isn’t number one priority, especially as it is such an effort to find out when it is on and what channel is showing it. However, I personally, think that is the beauty of local sports in general, the balance of competitiveness, enjoyment, exercise and socialising, Netball is the epitome of this. Having said that it is growing.”

Netball is going from strength to strength locally and let’s hope that feeds through to the national profile of the sport. I certainly feel that a sport that has such a presence in our schools and on the courts of our local leisure centres should be close to the top of the list of our national sports. Watch this space!

by Zaki Hasan For further information. www.basildon-netball.org.uk www.galaxynetballclub.co.uk www.sdnl.co.uk

Put the spotlight on your local sports team, contact Zaki Hasan, via email, zaki@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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Festive A�ernoon Tea

Enjoy our seasonal afternoon teas, accompanied with a glass of chilled champagne or mulled wine.

What better way to start the festive season?

17th November 2014 - 1st January 2015 Enjoy our seasonal afternoon teas accompanied with a glass of champagne, or mulled wine. £18 per person (£14 per child) Available Monday - Saturday - 12.00am to 4.00pm Sunday - 12.00am to 3.30pm

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Saturday 29th November Live music from Greg Martin Live music every Saturday in December DJ Every Friday night in December

New Owners – New Menus – New Ideas The Grey Goose Bar and Restaurant 7-9 East Street | Rochford | Essex | SS4 1DB 01702 544797 | www.thegreygooserochford.com

26

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BYFORDS TRADITIONAL f r e s h

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Byfords Traditional fresh foods of rayleigh are now taking orders for Christmas

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With newly refurbished premises our restaurant looks better than ever. We also have a large function room for hire, perfect for casual relaxed dining, corporate formal business discussions or celebrational events. We have fully installed disabled access. Here at Yings our staff are committed to offering customers a wonderful, personal dining experience with a flavour of oriental cuisine.

Takeaway & delivery service available. reservations@yings.co.uk | www.yings.co.uk | C /YingsChineseRestaurant PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

27

Remembering…

With the 4th of August 2014 marking the 100th anniversary of the day Britain entered one of the costliest conflicts in history – the First World War – with fighting continuing until the 11th of November 1918, Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday holds an even more poignant reminder of the importance of remembering all who have given their lives for others. Not just those on the front lines, but all the millions of people who work hard at home and abroad in a support role.

It’s vitally important that we always remember before God those who have died as a result of war.

You would think that mankind would learn from the reality and effects of war, finding ways to avert the destruction of lives which results. We all know that in war there are no winners, only losers. But, as it has been said, ‘The wars that rage within the world are a reflection of the wars that rage inside people.’ (Leighton Ford).

You could say that this sums up the character of Mick Travers, played by Malcolm McDowell in the controversial 1968 film ‘IF…’ There was a war raging inside him and as a result he expounded a philosophy of power in the words, “One man can change the world with a bullet in the right place.”

We live in a world that seems to expound a similar philosophy.

To change the world with a bullet

The Revd Canon Mike Lodge

in the right place. Is this what’s happening across the world where wars have persisted since the end of the First and Second World Wars? Where they are fired, will these bullets change the world? Where lives continue to be destroyed, will those bullets or terrorist action change the world? I don’t believe that bullets or the results of terrorism can change the world in a positive sense.

But I do believe that Jesus, and the message of good news that he brings, can, if only the world could take some time to understand this.

Jesus entered into the world, into a country that was occupied and oppressed. As Jesus grew up the people around him were looking for someone to save them. They were looking for someone who would, in a sense, fire the first bullet in a revolution against their oppressors… Jesus didn’t arrive with weapons of war, but in his actions demonstrated that his aim was to improve the lives of people through a message of love and compassion, new life and justice.

In the Bible, Jesus clearly sets out what he expects from those who decide to follow his way of living in a world of need, then and now (Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-11). He speaks about the way in which we should behave

towards one another, showing mercy and making peace, especially when we are persecuted. The question I am left with today is, ‘what message do we take out into the world through our own lives and action?’

I believe that it’s through transformed lives that the world will be changed; not a philosophy of the bullet, but that of peace. As we remember all who have died and have served their country, let us also remember that one man came into the world, to change the world, not with bullets, but with nails; nails which fixed him to a cross, for you, and for me, and for the world...

Yours in the love of Jesus…

01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk

Congratulations Around Town Rayleigh On your First Anniversary From the Parish of Rayleigh

And it‛s another First for Rayleigh with its very own Christmas Tree Festival at Holy Trinity Church Thursday 27 November to Sunday 30 November More details on our website: www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk or email: info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk or telephone: 01268 742151 PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

29

INTERVIEW with the Chef...

La Bottega, based in the Craft Village at Barleylands, is an authentic Italian Caffe and Deli, serving traditional cuisine and ingredients. Their aim is to deliver outstanding quality in their food and cater for parties, special events and bespoke food hampers, ideal for picnics or as a gift. I have eaten here a few times, since they opened in 2012, and I was keen to catch up with the chefs in the kitchen, Samuel Beggi, 17, and Fabio Miani, 21, to discuss their passion & influences , but also to discover how these young chefs have helped towards the success of this family run business.

What inspired you to be chef? Have you always been passionate about cooking?

Fabio - Since I was a child, I’ve always watched my father cooking and I liked it. Growing up I’ve cultivated this passion! I got my first job when I was 16 in a 4*star Hotel in Tuscany on the Elba Island for a Summer season and this has been my first season away from home.

Samuel - I’ve always liked great food and probably that’s why I decided to become a chef. When I was a child, I used to help my grandmother cooking, creating

many different things. I got my first job where I lived in Italy at “la locanda di Orta”.

Today we are inundated with ‘celebrity’ TV chefs…what do you think about this?

How did you get to the level you are now? Were there many obstacles along the way?

Fabio - I always had just one big inspiration who was my teacher when I was at school “Roberto Iossi”! About all the different TV chefs, I really admire some of them, mainly the ones who have worked hard and deserve the success they have now.

Fabio - After studying for 3 years at “Erminio Maggia”, a Food Academy in Italy, I started working and travelling, meeting many people and working in different Michelin Star restaurants throughout Italy. I’ve learned about different types of food and styles of cooking with many colleagues.

I worked my way up in big restaurants and hotels learning, what we call “the massive range kitchen” with large amounts of customers and this has given me a lifetime of experience!

Moving to England I found a job in Piccadilly Circus “The Criterion Restaurant” where I worked for a year learning the typical English food base.

Samuel - After studying for two and half years in the catering industry, I was fortunate enough to be headhunted - a job in a renowned restaurant in my local village in Italy where I had the opportunity to learn lots of basic Italian cuisine. I am very ambitious and still at the beginning of my career, but I believe that with the experience I have gained already, I can achieve my dream. Once I decided to move to England and expand my career opportunities by working at “La Bottega” with my sister for the past year and enjoying creating new dishes for new food lovers.

What has been your proudest moment?

Fabio - I haven’t got one single “proud moment”, I’ve always been proud of my kitchen and the way I cook, probably because I always enjoy doing it.

Samuel - When I have good reviews from people because they liked my food.

Samuel - I don’t mind Gordon Ramsay in the TV industry but I am an individual and I would like to believe I can be my own inspiration in the dishes I put together and I hope people like them!

What is your favourite dish to cook and (more importantly!) what is your favourite thing to eat?!

Fabio - Probably my favourite dishes to cook are all different kind of meats, but I’m always influenced by seasonal and local ingredients from the territory! My favourite thing to eat? Absolutely is homemade fresh pasta!

Samuel - My favourite dishes to cook is pasta, pizza and focaccia, which takes me back to my childhood. My favourite thing to eat is our homemade ice-cream!

USEFUL NUMBERS

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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31

Dreams

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01268 561984