Around Town Magazine Billericay April Edition 2016

AY ERIC BILL 016 04.2

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Open Mornings Mornings Open Tuesday8th 8thMarch March 2016 2016 and and Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday 26th 26thApril April2016 2016 Tourscommencing commencing at at 9.30am Tours 9.30am and and 10.30am 10.30am Saturday 18th 18th June June 2016 2016 10am Saturday 10am to to 12.30pm 12.30pm Call ourRegistrar Registrarfor for further Call our Registrar for further enrolment enrolment information Call our enrolmentinformation information

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18

CONTENTS 11 Martin Lewis

Money Saving Expert

21

Nature Notes

22

John Baron

28

Recipe

36

A View from the Church

38

What’s On

42

Rotary Club, Lions Club & Round Table

44

Around Town Sports

46

A Voice From Billericay

47

Useful Numbers

St Luke’s Hospice Your Hospice - caring for you when & wher

e you need it most

EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner

Political Update

Cheesey Bake

Rev. Paul Carr

When and Where...

Is Gaming A Sport?

By Alan Talboys & Mike Simmons

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

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All our tilesAppeal are unique and exc Memories 2016 at a price you c

Join us this May to dedicate a sunflower to someo you love, and help St. Luke’s Hospice to sow the s of care for the patients and families we support.

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You can dedicate a leaf by picking up a leaflet from the St. Luke’s Ho Charity Shop in Billericay High Street, visiting the www.stlukeshospi or by contacting Legacy and In Memory Coordinator Ed Pearce on 01268 524 973 or email edpearce@stlukeshospice.co.uk

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yellow sunflowers this May Join by April Copyright 2016. Around Town - Billericay is an27th 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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STUDENT LOAN There’s been a furore in Parliament about the scrapping of student grants. And every time politicians get lairy over such issues, the news focuses on the scrap and the real truth of what’s actually happening gets lost.

I’m going to focus on the situation for students who started in or after 2012 in England, for elsewhere in the UK the loans tend to be smaller.

I’ve been swamped with panicked questions about student grants from students, future students, graduates and their parents, so I want to mythbust what’s really happening. In many ways people are panicking unnecessarily about the grant changes, but missing the really damaging change, which is a retrospective hike in student loans.

A: Until now, students from lower income families (roughly below £43,000 income) had some of their loan replaced by a non-repayable grant for up to £3,400.

Student finance: the basics

1) This only applies for new starters starting from 2016. Those already at university and getting grants will keep getting them.

When you go to university, if you’re a first time UK undergraduate you don’t need to pay upfront.

The Student Loans Company pays your tuition fees for you and gives you money for living, then you owe it.

- You only start repaying when you leave university and, even then, only if you earn over £21,000. If you don’t earn over that you don’t repay.

- The amount you repay is proportionate to earnings. You repay 9% of everything above £21,000 (eg, earn £31,000 and, as it’s £10,000 above the threshold, you repay £900 a year).

- If you haven’t cleared what you owe within 30 years, the debt is wiped.

- If you never earn over £21,000, you never repay.

In many ways, financially it’s a no win no fee education. An easy way to think of it is a bit like an extra income tax, with the one difference that once you have repaid what you borrowed (plus interest) it stops. For far more help on this, see my full 20 student loan mythbusters guide atwww.mse.me/studentloan.

I’m going to use examples for English students studying in England. For students from Wales, whether you go to university in Wales or elsewhere in the UK, the amount you borrow tends to be less, but the way you repay is the same.

Q. So what’s happening to student grants?

From September 2016 grants are being scrapped in England and Wales. Yet there’s much confusion about this. There are two big things to note:

2) This doesn’t mean they’ll have less money coming in. New 2016 starters will get a bigger loan to replace what they would’ve got in grants.

In fact, the loan figures for new starters (not continuing students) have been upped by a chunk. This is useful, as often the big issue that hits students isn’t the size of the loan, it’s that they don’t have enough money to live on day-today. Rents alone eat up much of this

IF YOU NEVER EARN OVER £21,000 YOU NEVER REPAY. Q. Isn’t this likely to really hit poor students hard?

A: You may be surprised that I’m going to say no.

In many ways the big problem is the confusion and psychological deterrent, not the practical finances. For most students it makes no practical difference. The replacement of a grant with a loan will ONLY cost more for those who leave university and have long-term very high earnings.

That’s because if you compare the current and new system, the fact it’s a loan and not a grant

would only cost you more if you would’ve repaid your entire tuition fees, remaining maintenance loan after the grant, and interest in the 30 years before the debt wipes anyway.

Most students won’t, so there’s no cost to them.

In fact, my calculations estimate only those on STARTING salaries of £35,000 and up, and then above inflation pay rises would actually pay more. So if the system remains as it is now, it’s only those from poor backgrounds who go on to be big earners who this is negative for.

However, the big question is ‘will the system remain unchanged?’

Q. What’s this retrospective hike to student repayments?

A: As I explained earlier, since 2012, graduates only repay 9% of what they earn over £21,000.

The government had said this threshold was due to rise each year from April 2017 in line with average earnings.

Yet the Government has now decided to freeze it for at least five years, meaning many low- and middle-earning graduates will pay thousands more back than they thought they would when they signed up. After all, if we go back to thinking of it like a tax, if you were to pay 9% of everything earned above £22,000, but now repay everything above £21,000, that’s a hike.

It’s received little publicity though, as it doesn’t immediately seem such a big problem. Here I need to declare an interest: I was head of the Independent Taskforce on Student Finance Information in 2012 when the system changed.

The Government repeatedly told me the threshold

martin L E W IS Money Saving Expert

would rise, and I, of course, told people, and used it in all my cost calculations.

Well I refuse to missell these loans in hindsight.

So I am actively campaigning on it – I’ve written an open letter to the Prime Ministerand have personally hired lawyers to see if it can be challenged (read it at www.mse.me/ studentloanhike).

The big problem, even more important than the additional cost, is the message this sends. The Government is not just freezing it going forward, it’s freezing it for everyone who signed up since 2012 - effectively changing the contract after people have signed up.

The regulator would not allow any commercial lender to change its terms this way. This could destroy any trust current and future generations can have in the student finance system, and perhaps, even more widely, in the political system as a whole.

I said above that the impact of replacing grants with loans isn’t actually as bad as many think under the current terms. Yet the real concern is, as the Government has shown it’s willing to change loan terms even after you’ve got them, who knows what may happen in the future.

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Nature Notes Written by Neil Sumner

Neilsumner123@aol.com twitter.com/neilsumner123 The idea of putting woody debris into a river may seem strange to some but it is actually good for the river and its adjoining banks. During the winter, Essex Wildlife Trust led a work party along Nobles Green Ditch near Rochford, with the Friends of Cherry Orchard Country Park, volunteer river wardens and the Environment Agency. At selected spots, where the river was shallow enough to wade in wellies, we fixed wood to the bank then drove wooden pegs into the river bed to hold it in place. The wood will cause the flow of the water to speed up around the wood and deposit silt behind it, which reduces the amount of silt washed downstream. It also increases oxygen in the water, cleans the gravel in the bed and helps small pools to develop. The gravel is good for fish spawning and insect larvae and the small pools are good for the fish – all of which contribute to the food chain. You may spot similar woody debris structures as you walk along the Crouch in Wickford Memorial Park and the Wid at Buttsbury Wash near Billericay.

This is part of the Essex Rivers Hub project, a partnership which includes the water companies among many other bodies. Its aim is to improve water quality in our rivers in line with the European Water Framework Directive which became law in 2003. Our ditches and streams flow into the seas which we rely on for food and other resources. Installing these pieces of wood contributes to the wider picture of a healthy environment: we are thinking globally and acting locally.

In April, the scrub and trees along the Nobles Green Ditch will burst into leaf. Our native birds will be joined by some back from Africa. Whitethroats will perform their dancing song flights, Swallows will fly across the grass around the rivers to pick off the insects and Bluebells will carpet the nearby ancient woodlands.

With so many pressures facing our wildlife I try to be grateful for any time enjoying nature. I am grateful also to Stu, our outgoing Sales Manager, for giving me the chance to write about our natural environment in Around Town, and wish him well in his new job. I hope to continue here to spread the word about our natural world which, according to Professor John Lawton, is ..”not a luxury, but essential to our health, well-being and economy”. http://essexrivershub.org.uk/ http://www.friendsofcherryorchardpark.org/ photo courtesy of Samantha Dyer

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21

John Baron Conservative Parliamentary MP For Basildon and Billericay

Late last month the Prime Minister unveiled the final version of the EU renegotiation agreement before the forthcoming referendum on 23rd June.

Having led the campaign in the last Parliament for a referendum, I had hoped for a meaningful renegotiation which addressed the central issue of national sovereignty. Instead, the Prime Minister’s agreement merely tinkers at the edges, and our freedom to oversee our own affairs has not been secured. I will therefore be voting to leave the EU.

Supporters of a ‘remain’ vote claim the EU guarantees our security. I do not agree, as a member of NATO and with a Permanent Seat at the UN we already hold significant strength on the international stage. If security were a real concern, the Government would spend more on defence – perhaps funded from our annual £10bn net contribution to the EU.

Under the renegotiation agreement, our Parliament remains unable, by itself, to stop unwanted EU taxes or laws. The Prime Minister’s innovation of a ‘red card’ system, whereby national parliaments can club together to stop EU initiatives, resembles a football referee having to get 14 other officials to agree with him before any action were taken – by which time the match will have ended.

I believe the choice for the British people is very clear: we either leave the EU and thrive outside whilst saving ourselves billions in annual contributions, part of which could be returned to each household, or we remain on the escalator towards ever closer union - unable to guarantee control over our borders, fisheries or regulations.

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Method: Begin by buttering the dish and preheating the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190C. For the spinach, you can either cook it in the microwave as per packet instructions or empty the spinach contents into a colander over the sink. After boiling the kettle, pour the boiling water over the spinach and leave to wilt.

Then begin to make your cheese base by breaking up the eggs into a food processor bowl. Proceed to add the milk, the mustard and a tsp of salt.

Break up all of the bread (including the crust) and whizz it all together until the mixture is smooth.

Pour the mixture into a large bowl and grate 3 quarters of the cheese in. Once you have done this, to get rid of all the water, squeeze the spinach. Then put the spinach within the cheese mixture and stir in before pouring the finished mixture into the dish.

Once this is done, grate over the rest of the cheese on top. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes until risen and golden. Allow to cool.

If you would like your recipe to appear in Around Town Magazines then contact our sales team on: 01277 658444 or email: sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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You can dedicate a leaf by picking up a leaflet from the St. Luke’s Hospice Charity Shop in Billericay High Street, visiting the www.stlukeshospice.com or by contacting Legacy and In Memory Coordinator Ed Pearce on 01268 524 973 or email edpearce@stlukeshospice.co.uk

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Project2_Layout 1 01/12/2015 12:14 Page 1

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35

Preparing For The Journey

Many of you will be familiar with the story of the Mayflower setting sail from Plymouth with the Pilgrim Fathers to explore the New World on 16 September 1620 - it’s intrinsic to the history of Billericay! However, you may not be so familiar with Sir John Franklin’s expedition which sailed from Kent on 19 May 1845 with two ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, manned by 138 of England’s finest sailors. Their task was to chart the Northwest Passage around the Canadian Arctic to the Pacific Ocean.

Franklin hoped that this effort would be the turning point in Arctic exploration. And so it was, not because of its success, but because of its failure. The ships never returned and every member of the crew perished. The lesson that each ensuing Arctic expedition would learn was simply this: ‘Be prepared for the journey.’

Apparently, Franklin wasn’t. Though the voyage was expected to last for two or three years, he carried only a twelve-day supply of coal for the auxiliary steam engines. But what he lacked in fuel he made up for in entertainment. Each ship carried a 1,200 volume library, a hand organ, china place settings for officers and men, cut glass goblets and sterling silverware. The sailors carried no special clothing to protect them from the cold, only the thin blue uniforms of Her Majesty’s fleet.

The two ships had sailed ill prepared into freezing waters and, of course, the inevitable occurred. The seas froze and the ships became trapped. The sailors set out for help, wearing their inadequate uniform, carrying their belongings and dragging a wooden boat across the ice. Remains of the expedition have been found all over the frozen sea for many years. The silver cutlery, so ornately designed, was found near a clump of frozen

www.billericaychurches.org

cannibalized bodies. Franklin died on the boat. Search parties would later find a piece of the backgammon board Lady Franklin had given her husband as a farewell present.

It is strange, isn’t it? How men could embark upon such a journey ill-prepared, more equipped for afternoon tea than for the open sea. Stranger still, is the way many people act in the same way as they travel on their hazardous journey from this world to the next.

If truth be told, we can sometimes act as if life is a retirement cruise. We have little fuel but lots of entertainment. We give more thought to the silver cutlery than surviving the journey.

And so when the big freeze comes, we step out onto the ice with the spiritual equivalent of forks, games and skimpy clothing, passing our final days walking against the wind and often blaming God, to quote Laurel and Hardy, for: “Another fine mess you’ve got me into!” When, in fact, we only have ourselves to blame.

One way you can be better prepared for your journey through life is to learn more about the Christian faith. there are some great churches in Billericay who would be willing to help you. Another way might be to download, and read, some of the handouts for the Lent Course the Anglican Churches in Billericay have just finished, entitled ‘A Deeper Walk’ which looked at ways to strengthen our Christian faith through what we call the ‘Spiritual Disciplines’ of Worship, Confession, Solitude, Simplicity, Bible Study and Prayer.

You can find these on the news pages of the Emmanuel website at emmanuel-info.org One of my favourite films is ‘Gladiator’. Do you remember those immortal words spoken by Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe)?

“What we do in life echoes in eternity!”

And that is so true. Can I encourage you to make the effort to be better prepared for the journey through life you are facing?

With my best wishes to you all paul@billericaychurches.org @revPACman

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Billericay Arts Association The image musical theatre presents “The Railway Children” by E Nesbit Friday 1st April 2016 Time: 2.30pm - 4.20 pm IMAGE MUSICAL THEATRE presents this wonderful adaptation of the original book by E. Nesbit, “The Railway Children” as their upcoming participation musical Tickets: £5.00 for children and £8 for adults Do visit Reception to obtain your tickets or ring the Fold on 01277659286 Billericay Community Cinema BillericayCine is a Community Cinema: cinemas run locally as a voluntary / not for-profit group by residents for the community.

month will be going to the British Heart Foundation.

There is no need to book.

01277 622297.

Billericay WEA A Wednesday evening 8 week course beginning 4th May – 29th June (excluding 1st June) 7.30 – 9.30 At the Reading Rooms, Billericay.

“We’ve Got the Power” tutor Bill Tamblyn - a study of vibrant worldwide music that has given people a voice in times of poverty and oppression. Tea break included.

First session “taster” free. Course fee £49. Contact Geoff Taylor 01277 625351 geoffT33@outlook.com Essex Wildlife Trust Plant Sale

FILM SCHEDULE - THURSDAY SHOWS – ALL START AT 7PM 14 April: Romeo and Juliet 19 May: Blues Brothers 16 June: Independence Day

Plant Sale at Thorndon Countryside Centre from Saturday 30th April to Monday 2nd May, open every day 10.00am to 5.00pm.

FAMILY SUNDAY – ALL START AT 2.30PM 24 April: Big Hero 6 22 May: Cinderella (2015) 26 June Minions

The centre is located at Thorndon Park North on The Avenue, Brentwood CM13 3RZ. There will be a wide range of quality plants at reasonable prices and a craft table with cards and small gifts. If you have any plants for sale please contact John Allen on 01277 231305.

Ticket prices are affordable too, with ticket to ‘Film Thursdays’ priced at £5, while the family films are just £3 per ticket or £7.50 for a family group. Tickets are available from Billericay Library and www. billericaycine.com Billericay Methodist Church There is a Charity Lunch on Saturday 12th March from 12.30 - 1.30pm. All welcome to come along to the Church in Western Road for a snack lunch and drink costing £4. The proceeds this

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Greenway Ramblers Come and join us for our annual Quiz Night at Stock Village Hall on Saturday 9th April, starting at 7-30 pm. There will be prizes for the winning table and many individual and raffle prizes.

Entry per person is £5-00 and

all are welcome. Parking is free. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. For further information phone Viv. on 01268 782135.

Grenfell Preschool OPEN DAY Sunday 17th April: 10.00 - 12.00 South Green Memorial Hall, Southend Rd, Billericay, CM11 2PR. Come and find out about learning through play in our long established family run group rated GOOD by OFSTED. Admission free, everyone welcome. Some free places still available.

Visit our website grenfellpreschool.ik.org Jazz At The Fold Date: Friday 22nd April 2016 Time: 8pm-10pm Event: Critchinson Quartet Location: The Fold, 72 Laindon Road, Billericay, CM12 9LD John Critchinson spent 20 years of his professional career playing with Ronnie’s various groups until Ronnie’s died in 1996. In Ronnie’s last band, with John, was a young tenor sax player – He plays regularly with his own trio as well as with a number of groups featuring Art Themen, Simon Spillett, Jacqui Hicks and with Mornington in the Ronnie Scott Legacy Band.

Tea and coffee available, bring your own beverages.

Cost: £10 Contact: Tel Fold : 01277659286 Norsey Wood Society Norsey Wood Society will be holding its next free Open Meeting on Monday, 11 April

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2016 in the Day Centre, Chantry Way (behind The Chequers) starting at 7.45pm.

Jim Buttress, holder of the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour (Horticulture) will be entertaining us with ‘Anecdotes of 65 years in Horticulture’.

Everyone welcome. Phone Ken 01277-651125, if more detail required.

Ride For Helen Cycle Ride Sunday 8 May. Four circular cycle routes through the Essex countryside of 6, 15, 35 and 65 miles, starting and finishing at Hatfield Peverel, near Chelmsford.

This event raises funds for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity who support people living with cancer.

Adults from £15, with one FREE Junior with each Adult, and Juniors £8. Register at www.rideforhelen. co.uk.

For more information call 01245 380719.

Rosebay womens’ institute A new afternoon W.I. comes to Billericay. We meet on the 4th Wednesday each month at 1.30pm until 3.30pm at Canon Roche Hall, Laindon Road, Billericay.

All ladies welcome. Further details from Madge 01277 623278 April 27th: AGM, also craft afternoon May 25th: Afternoon tea for new members Rotary Club of Billericay Inaugural Soapbox Charity Derby, Monday, May 2. Racing from 10.00am to 4.00pm down London Road, Billericay from Sun Corner.

Over 50 entries All ages. Wacky

Races. Family fun day – car displays, food outlets, children’s entertainments. Programmes: £3.00 or £10.00 (family of 4) Sale on line or at selected outlets or on the day.

See our website: www.billericayrotary.org.

All proceeds to Rotary-supported charities. Including Little Havens Children’s Hospice and Hope & Homes for Children.

Soroptimist International Chelmsford 3rd Thursday every month, 7.30pm, the miami hotel, chelmsford soroptimist international the world’s largest women’s service organisation aiming to make lives better for women & girls, holding consultative status at the united nations to help do this.

Come along to one of our meetings to find out about joining and help make a difference to women & girls lives locally, nationally and globally.

Call to let us know you if you want to come along - 07528 789991.

Spring Shopping and Pamper Evening Saturday 2nd April – Stock Village Hall - 6.30pm – 9.30pm Come along and enjoy our Spring Shopping and Pamper Evening brought to you by Remus Horse Sanctuary with gifts and treatments for all. Shop for yourself and Spring, followed by treatments of your choice.

Tuesday 5th April – Kids Winter Fun Day - 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Venue – Remus Memorial Horse

Sanctury, Little Farm, Buttsbury, Nr. Ingatestone, CM4 9NZ £40 – must be booked either from our website www.remussanctuary.org or ring 01277 356191 for more information Children must be 7yrs – 11 yrs old. They will meet all the animals, enjoy a walk and some fun arts and crafts activities.

They will need to come with a warm coat and outdoor clothes, wellies and a packed lunch.

St Edith’s Bridge Club We are a small, friendly and sociable Bridge Club, completely free of the hassle of some of the larger Clubs, and we are based in the centre of Billericay. New members / visitors are always welcome.

We meet at the WI Hall in St Edith’s Lane, CM12 9BU, at 7.25 for a 7.30 start on Wednesday evenings, EXCEPT, usually, not on the first Monday of the month.

For more information please contact Alaric Cundy on 01277 622359.

The Inner Wheel Club Of Billericay We invite you to a talk on LIVING WITH DEMENTIA with Rosemary Spence from Dementia Friends to be held at St Mary Magdalen Church, High Street, Billericay on Friday 29th April at 10.30am. The talk will be of all types of dementia and the services available.

After the meeting any questions or queries can be raised with our speaker. There will be refreshments available and the admission is free, so please join us for a most informative talk.

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.

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39

Roy Keily on:

07811 123999 will.associates/roykeily

LOWER BARN

LANDSCAPING & BUILDING

BILLERICAY ROTARY CLUB We can safely say we are now “geared up” for our event of the year, the inaugural Spectacular Soapbox Derby on Monday, May 2. , based on the TV famous Red Bull series. An entry of almost sixty karts of every size and shape will be lining up at Sun Corner from 10.00am ready to race down London Road for cash prizes – all proceeds from the day to go to Rotary-supported international and local charities.

Barriers along the course guaranteed to protect racers and the anticipated 3,000 plus viewing spectators Programmes in advance on line or from selected shops and High Street pubs or on the day, £3.00 or £10.00 for family of four.

Family day out. Classic and modern car display by main sponsor Toomey Motor Village Basildon, food outlets, children’s entertainment plus line-up of entries on Sun Corner field. Club president, Ed Harrison says: “Support us. A major community and charity event – we hope the first of many.”

For more details of the event and our club, see website: www.billericayrotary.org/ www.facebook.com/BillericayRotary or call secretary Mike Ginn: 01277 654882.

BILLERICAY LIONS CLUB

As we enter the spring season of events, the Lions Club of Billericay can look back on some fund raising successes in March. As ever, tickets for our ‘Taste of” evening were oversubscribed. This time featuring the country of Brazil, the event was extremely well received by all attendees, and funds raised will primarily go to local good causes. We were also able to assist our friends at Marie Curie by collecting almost £600 for the cancer charity. Next month Lions will be providing support for Billericay Rotary Club’s Soapbox Derby on Bank Holiday Monday, and don’t forget our own Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra Concert on 7th May at Emmanuel Church, Laindon Road, CM12 9LD. There are still some tickets left at £10 so contact us on 0845 833 9849 or EYJO@billericaylions.com.

Talking of good causes, in addition to providing a laptop for the Grapevine charity, Lions were also able to fund a ‘Paddington Bear’ film show for BOSP at the Billericay Community Cinema. This allowed us to put on an enjoyable evening for local young people with physical and learning difficulties.

Looking forward, our main social occasion in the next couple of months will be our Chartership Lunch in May. This annual event allows members and their partners to celebrate our achievements at the end of the Lionistic year.

For details on all Lion’s events please visit our website www.billericaylions.com or telephone 0845 833 9849, and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/billericay.lions.

It’s amazing how quickly a year goes round, and as April starts, we are making our last preparations before our AGM. Looking back at the past year, it’s amazing to think how much we have packed in! Here are some of the highlights and headlines: • £68,000 raised from the annual Billericay Fireworks display, all of which goes back into the local community to help with local charities and good causes.

• Santa Sleigh routes in December, bringing festive fun and cheers to families across the town, along with the erection of the towns Christmas tree outside the Police Station.

• The inaugural “Quadralcothon Challenge” – look this up on YouTube if you want to find out more, but think swimming, cycling, running, bouncing on space hoppers up the High Street, mixed in with a few alcoholic beverages!

• Competing in the Nuclear Rush mud race alongside our friends at the charity BOSP. • Countless nights of fun and fellowship, going places we haven’t been before, and trying things we haven’t tried before!

The list goes on, but suffice to say, we’ve had an amazing year, so a huge thank you to our Chairman Seb Roberts, and good luck to our incoming Chairman, Marcus Bennett.

So what have we got coming up in April? Quite a lot! Here are the highlights: • Wednesday 6th April – Bowling at Hollywood Bowl in Basildons Festival Leisure Park – Always a good laugh going ten pin bowling, getting a strike seems to be more down to luck than skill for most of us!

• Saturday 23rd April – Paintballing at Skirmish – After our AGM, some of us are heading paintballing, and there is a sneaking suspicion that incoming Chairman Marcus Bennett, may well be the target of quite a few of the shots!

If you’re male and between the ages of 18-45 and any of the events above are of interest to you, why not get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you and love you to come along and join in the fun! To find out more about these events or about what Round Table is all about, please email us at domore@billericay. roundtable.co.uk or contact us via Facebook!

So what are you waiting for? Be Part Of It!

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A VOICE FROM BILLERICAY Written By Alan Talboys & Mike Simmons

Residents Fight Back Against Speeding Motorists A group of residents are campaigning to

Lane such as pedestrians, school children

reduce speeding in Greens Farm Lane,

cyclists and wheelchair users.

Billericay. The speed limit in the residential section of the road is 30mph, however it

In order for the campaign organisers to prove

is very obvious to most residents that the

the extent of concern regarding the speeding,

majority of motorists simply ignore the limit.

500 residents have signed a petition.

The feelings of the residents are supported

The petition, along with a number of other

by official statistics. A traffic/speed survey

documents, has now been served by the

conducted for 7 days in September 2015

campaign organisers to Kay Twitchen, Essex

by Essex Highways, reveals that a daily

County Councillor for Billericay and Burstead.

average of 180 vehicles exceed 45mph, and

These documents propose a number of

a staggering 2200 vehicles exceed 35mph.

suggestions for potential solutions to address

According to Essex Highways, ‘the posted

the speeding issue.

speed limit of 30mph was exceeded by 72% of southbound vehicles, and 68% of

The campaign organisers hope that Ms

northbound vehicles’.

Twitchen will be able to guide the campaign in achieving its primary objective, namely for

Amongst the local residents, there is genuine

appropriate action be taken to ensure that the

concern that such speeding will result in

majority (rather than the minority) of motorists

serious injury or worse, involving other

do not continue to endanger lives and do not

motorists and/or other users of Greens Farm

continue to break the law.

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45

IS GAMING A SPORT? While scanning the channels the other day, I came across the common problem, I pay for all these channels and there is never anything on. As a big sports enthusiast, my “go-to” channels are usually the Sky Sports channels to see if any live sports or perhaps even repeats can pass another half hour before my girlfriend decides what we are actually going to watch.

To my surprise I came across the Fifa Interactive World Cup!? I thought that this was something new, possibly youth football related; however when I selected the channel and watched it for 5 minutes it soon became clear... I was watching people play The FIFA Football computer game live on Sky Sports.

There were commentators describing the game play as if it were the real thing and we had two guys battling it out with console controllers in hand. Money has obviously been thrown at this, considering they have pundits like David Villa (Spain’s all time leading goalscorer), studio audiences and one of the world’s leading sports channels providing coverage.

Each to their own I suppose, and a few months ago I spoke about Darts not being a sport in the true sense of the word, but this is a step too far.

Gaming is huge and sports games are huge, however for our sports channels to be dedicating prime time slots to people playing sports games is surely not only wrong, but it is setting a bad example for kids all over the globe.

As a parent I am dreading the day I have to get my children off the consoles and get them outside either playing a sport or at least socialising and now the fact there seems to be so much money to be made in gaming makes it all the more hard for us parents and families to justify our preference.

Imagine telling your child to get out and go play football rather than play on FIFA all day, for them to tell you “if I get good at this, I could earn six figures in a year”.

Before my sports page becomes a Victor Meldrew style rant, I must stop and point out that it is worth tuning in and watching this for 5-10 minutes at least to see what I am talking about.

Our sports channels are governed by what makes money, this is the reason why Poker and now gaming has a regular slot, however I feel they should be elsewhere, not on Sky Sports.

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

USEFUL NUMBERS POLICE Billericay Police Station

01277 631212

HOSPITALS Brentwood Hospital Basildon Hospital Broomfield Hospital Essex Nuffield Hospital Mayflower House Queen’s Romford Southend Hospital St. John’s Spire Hartswood Hospital

01277 695000 01268 524900 01245 443673 08453 143350 01277 621130 08451 304204 01702 435555 01245 491149 01277 232525

HELPLINES Alcoholics Anonymous Childline DIAL Disability Helpline Drugline Essex Home Start

01245 256147 0800 11 11 01268 294400/1 01708 749151

(Helping families under stress) 01277 263325

In Focus

(family disabilities support)

Narcotics Anonymous NHS non-emergency Parentline Samaritans S. Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre Victim Support Essex Women’s Refuge

BIRTH, DEATH MARRIAGES REGISTRATION

TAXIS Advanced Taxicall Billericay 01277 800001 Mayflower Cars 01277 624000 Swift Cars 01277 757473

CHEMISTS Boots the Chemist, Billericay Filmcroft Ltd, Billericay Lloyds Pharmacy, Billericay Moss Pharmacy, Billericay Shadforth M.W Billericay Shadforths Pharmacy, Billericay Shadforths Pharmacy Ingatestone

UTILITIES Anglian Water Electricity – Power Supply Problems Gas – Urgent Calls / Gas Escapes Minicom – Transco Thames Water (Supply or Wastewater Services) Three Valleys Water Water – Essex & Suffolk Water

0845 6037632 01277 233565 01277 221155

BLOOD TEST Booking Line

01277 655233 01277 624862 01277 622828 01277 653035 01277 622927 01277 652241 01277 352125 01268 242159

ROAD & TRAVEL UPDATES Essex Travel www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/essex

01245 353575 01277 655352 111 0808 800 2222 08457 909090

COUNCILS Basildon Billericay Town Council Chelmsford Ingatestone Stock Parish Council

01268 533333 01277 625732 01245 606606 01277 353315 07757 114952

01375 380609 0845 4565995 01268 541140

TRANSPORT Bus Service Rail Service

0870 6082608 08457 484950

VETS Best Friends Veterinary Surgery House & Jackson Ingatestone Veterinary Centre Summerdale Veterinary Centre Vet Savers LIBRARIES Basildon Billericay Ingatestone Wickford

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01277 651009 01277 655524 01277 353612 01277 631889 01277 652100 0845 603 7628 01277 624624 01277 354284 01268 561963

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e f i L e c n e i r e Exp AS A MEMBER OF The Burstead Golf Club From the 1st of March to the 31st of April 2016 you will be able to experience a day in the life as a member of our forward thinking and innovative Golf Club for just £25.

We have pleasure in offering you the unique opportunity to join our family here at The Burstead Golf Club.

Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our head professional Chris Nunn along with a complimentary coffee and bacon roll. Prior to your allocated tee time you will be able to spend time with Chris on the practise area to help you loosen up before your game.

After you have completed your round, head back to the clubhouse where you can share the experience of your day with Chris over lunch, with our compliments!

YOUR DAY AS A MEMBER AT A GLANCE: • • • • •

Coffee and a Bacon Roll Crested Pitch Mark Repairer and Ball Marker 18 holes of golf Complimentary Golf Buggy where available A meal and drink in the bar

If you decide to become a part of our thriving membership not only will we discount the cost of your day we will also provide you with a club crested shirt and balls so your day won’t have cost a penny!

Contact the Club on:

01277 631171

chris.nunn@thebursteadgolfclub.com