Billericay December Edition 2014 by Black Square Print Media Limited

www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk December 2014 Edition 25

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Delivered to 22,000 Homes in Billericay, Ingatestone, Ramsden & Stock

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Lord of London welcomes you to our newly refurbished shop. This Christmas we are boasting many beautiful gifts, in Sterling silver, Platinum & Gold, diamond and gem stones. Lord of London are here for all your Jewellery requirements, valuations, Watch & Clock restoration, servicing & reforming and specialising in bespoke Handmade jewellery.

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... Around Towners to Billericays’ leading community magazine! It’s Christmaaaaas! With good cheer buzzing ‘around town’ and the High Street shining bright with its Christmas lights, hanging down from the lamp posts, all we are missing is the big fella dressed in red and several reindeer pulling his sleigh. If you’re not quite in the festive mood just yet, don’t miss these 2 events that are sure to see you singing carols and pulling on a Christmas jumper. The Billericay Christmas Market - Sunday 7th December between 11am – 5pm and Ingatestone Victorian Evening – Friday 5th December between 6pm – 8:30pm are both fantastic events and are great opportunities to start your Christmas shopping and to support our local businesses. Ordering presents online takes away the magic of Christmas - So let’s get back into our High Streets and buy local this December! From everyone at Around Town Magazines, we wish you all a very merry, warm & relaxing Christmas time– see you next year!

From the Around Town Team

Features 08 The Cook Report Getting into the spirit of giving this Christmas 12 Round Table / Rotary Club / Lions Club Organisations ‘Around Town’ 14 Nature Notes EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner 20 Know Your Tradesmen L. McCarthy 29 Around Town Sports Focuses on American Football 33 Martin Lewis The Money Saving Expert 34 A View from the Church Rev. Paul Carr 40 Recipe Turkey Goulash 44 What’s On When and Where... 45 John Baron MP Political Update 47 Useful Numbers

Why Advertise? We hand deliver 22,000 copies every month to homes and businesses covering Billericay, Ingatestone, Ramsden & Stock. This includes several thousand copies being available from venues throughout the towns and an online edition. To Advertise Contact our Sales Team today, details below. Booking deadline for our December edition of Around Town is: Friday 12th Dec.

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.

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The land which is now Lake Meadows was originally part of the Petre Estate owned by Lord Petre of Ingatestone Hall. On this land stood Hill House, a hunting lodge for Lord Petre’s estate on what is now Stock Road, and seventy acres of the surrounding land which formed Hill House Farm. Early in the 19th Century the Petre Estate started to sell off parcels of land. On 12th April 1831 a Major Thomas Jenner Spitty, formerly of the Essex Rifles Regiment of Militia, purchased the seventy acres of Hill House Farm from the Petre Estate. In the 1840’s he bought another parcel of land from the Estate to the southwest of Hill House, and these forty seven acres eventually became Lake Meadows. In the 1870’s there was a run of disastrously unfavourable seasons with delayed growth in spring and wet and late harvests. This combined with increased imports of food at lower prices, particularly cheap corn from the Americas, meant that the income for farmers dropped significantly and caused mass unemployment among farm workers. As a reaction to this Major Spitty employed many of the local jobless farm workers to dig out a lake on the land which is now Lake Meadows. Spitty was keen on shooting and he thought that a lake on his land would encourage more wildfowl to the estate to enhance his shoot. Thus during 1893 and 1894 many local unemployed agricultural workers dug out

the lake by hand, being paid a shilling a day for all the hard work. When finished the lake was known as “The Moat. By this time the time Major Spitty had moved from Hill House to Hurlocks in the High Street and he had a lookout tower on the roof so that he could, through a telescope, monitor progress on the lake without leaving home. The lake as originally built was larger and deeper than we see today and was reputed to have been up to twenty feet deep in places. The lake did as Spitty had hoped and attracted wildfowl such that he was able to hold elegant shooting parties on his Hill House Estate and Lord Kitchener of Khartoum is said to have been a regular visitor. On 26th January 1898 Major Spitty died and the beneficial ownership of the land passed to his wife. However as he had no children his will specified that on the death of his wife the land was to pass to his niece, Cornelia Gertrude Scudamore Reade, the widow of Canadian born Surgeon General Herbert Taylor Reade V.C.. Mary Ann Spitty died on 29th April 1908 and the land passed to Cornelia. Cornelia died in 1916 and as she was childless the Estate was held by Trustees as specified in Major Spitty’s will for the benefit of a number of named individuals. The Trustees sold the Estate the following year to John Robert Spurling, the owner of Norsey Wood. He later started to sell off parts of the Estate in smaller lots and in 1921 thirty seven freehold plots were

sold to developers which would become the Lake Avenue and Caterwood we know today. At around the same time a further portion of land was sold to St John’s School and forms the premises we see today in Stock Road and Hill House Farm was sold to William Alexander Cater, after whom the Cater Museum in the High Street is named. In 1936 Lake Meadows passed into the hands of the newly formed local authority, Billericay Urban District Council and it became public parkland. Over the years the park has hosted a number of events including the Coronation Pageant of 1953, the Christ (an Easter Passion Play) of 1982, Firework displays and Summer Concerts as well as being used by local residents for every day. The lake still attracts large numbers of wildfowl with many geese visiting at various times of year so things have not changed since Major Spitty’s original vision. By David Bremner & Jim Devlin www.billericayhistory.org.uk

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MAYFLOWER ROTARY CLUB Billericay Christmas Market Sunday December 7 Billericay High Street 11am to 5pm The 140 stalls are in place, the 100 shops are open, Santa’s in his sleigh, Punch and Judy await, the local acts are ready at the two live music stages, the ‘Woolworts’ car park is ready with kiddies rides, the ‘Downton Abbey’ Carousel and pony rides, the Hogs have been roasted, the mulled wine prepared, it only needs you and your friends to join us in Billericay High Street to create the great atmosphere that is Billericay Christmas Market, so let the Christmas Season begin. It’s FREE – Free Parking [thanks to NCP], Free Entry [Thanks to Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower and their sponsors], Free visit to Santa’s Grotto and gift [Thanks to St John’s school and Harlequin Montessori Nursery] Free Punch & Judy [Thanks to Billericay District Residents Association]. Santa’s Parade & Grotto starts at 11am The Chelmsford Caledonian Pipe Band will lead Santa from Western Road along the High Street to Sun Corner and back again to his grotto in the Community Day Centre behind the Chequers Pub. Thanks to Sponsors Platinum: Essex Auto Group, Burstead Golf Club, Para Bar Estates, Paul Robinson Solicitors Gold: Waitrose and Hallmark Homes Silver: Fish n Chickn and Billericay Brewery

BILLERICAY LIONS CLUB Hi there Many thanks to all those of you who supported our Fund Raising quiz in November. We managed to raise nearly £600 with a sell out crowd and all monies will go to local worthwhile causes. By now of course our sleigh has been spruced up for this year’s outings and routes have been decided. You should be able to see these on our website detailed below and we hope to see you all soon. This year we will start the sleigh run a little earlier than in the past to give the very young children an opportunity to see Santa (and to calm down again!) before bedtime. Our own social activity continues apace within the club with guest speakers, games nights and outings coming thick and fast. We were given a presentation by the local group of Street Pastors recently, a group dedicated to safeguarding those needing a little help around the town. They provide a little warmth and comfort for those needing a little extra help during the weekend evenings and ensure that they get home safely. The card sharks among us were treated to an evening of whist recently. All in the name of fun of course – I was lucky to leave with my shirt still on! Our Christmas dinner was held at the local restaurant La Toscana, for which we must thank the proprietor. A great evening was had by all and it was an opportunity to hand out our Christmas cards to fellow members of the club. Well, space is running out so it leaves me only to give you all best wishes for the coming festive season from The Billericay Lions. For details of all Lions events please visit our website www.billericaylions.com or telephone 0845 833 9849.

Thank you so much if you were one of the thousands of people who came and joined Billericay Round Table at our 45th Annual Fireworks Display! Despite the horrendous weather in the build up to the display, you wonderful people stuck it out until the end, and we hope that you and your loved ones enjoyed the evening and will be back to join us again next year! There were several changes to this years display, including online ticketing and a smaller secondary firework display earlier in the night that we hope our younger visitors really enjoyed. On top of the changes to the event, we welcomed back Martin and Su from Heart FM to present the evening, and we were lucky to have some really fantastic up and coming acts live on stage during the build-up to the display. As well as all that, there was the usual torchlight procession to light the enormous bonfire beside the lake! Food stalls, light sticks, a mini funfair... the list goes on! We’ve had plenty of feedback from the event and will look to make next years event even better – the Round Table motto is “Adapt, Adopt, Improve” and each year that is exactly what we try to do to make sure that the Billericay Fireworks is one of the best displays you could see anywhere in the Country. On top of the fact that we hope you had a fantastic nights entertainment and made lots of happy memories with your loved ones, the other fantastic thing is that by attending the display, you help us to really make a real difference to the local community, as all the profits from the event go straight back into the local area, helping charities and local good causes. If you’re male and aged between 18 and 45, you could be helping us run next years event, so what are you waiting for? Contact us via www.billericay.roundtable.co.uk and Be Part Of It!

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When is wildlife in Britain not British? Over the centuries new species have arrived and spread themselves amongst our native wildlife, either by accident or design. Many have found their place in the ecosystem without causing undue damage but others are less welcome. Of the many game birds and geese and duck that we have gained, some are deliberate introductions, such as the RedLegged Partridge, others escaped from collections. Some are numerous, others remain locally rare and exotic like the Mandarin Duck (pictured) that used a kestrel nest box near Galleywood this year.

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We certainly didn’t mean to bring in Zebra Mussels, which came up the continental canals on boats and are now a cost to our economy, clogging up pipes and drains. New colonisers have been hitching a ride with us for years. The Brown Rat, according to the newly published ‘Mammals of Essex’, arrived in 1728 in shipments from Russia, displacing the Black Rat, now almost extinct in our county. The Brown Rat is highly successful but unpopular, unless you are a predator. Barn Owls find them to be a useful food source and I saw a Heron catch by one by the Wid recently and swallow it whole. Generally, unnatural introduction is risky. The American Mink escaped from fur farms and are now a problem as they predate local wildlife that has little defence against them. Without the efforts of the Water for Wildlife programme controlling mink we would probably lose our Water Voles. Also along the riverbank, that pink Himalayan Balsam may look very attractive but shades out native vegetation which in turn causes bank erosion. The Grey Squirrel is an American import which was deliberately introduced, displacing our Red Squirrels, which died out in Essex in the 1970s, although attempts are being made now to re-introduce them. Muntjac Deer may be a pleasing site in small numbers but they remove the lower vegetation, saplings and coppice shoots in the wood, so we lose nightingales and dormice and the woodland itself will not re-generate. Natural colonisers, such as the Cettis Warbler and Little Egret are responding to our warming climate and new wetland nature reserves. We can expect more too, like the Great White Egret that has been enjoyed by birdwatchers recently at Wat Tyler Country Park. Mediterranean Gulls are regularly seen along the beaches at Southend where Anchovies were caught for the first time this year. The Ivy Bee is exercising its right for movement in Europe, now being seen in Essex and, being a bee, its workers should benefit our economy. Will there be a detrimental impact? We don’t really know but generally the natural colonisers can simply be enjoyed.

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Recycle more than ever this Christmas ALL IN YOUR PINK SACKS! As well as recycling cans, paper and plastic, remember you can now recycle Longlife juice and milk cartons (such as Tetrapak), lids of plastic bottles, jam jar lids and aluminium foil. For more info visit: www.basildon.gov.uk/recycling

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on the quality of his work and gains a lot of his business through recommendations, largely because of his extensive experience. ‘I set up on my own after completing two large roofing projects at Gatwick and Heathrow airports. I ensure each job gets a special level of attention and care to ensure its completed in

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specialists working with narrow access & confined spaces £2M PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE - FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE

01277 352033 | 07973 202400 info@treesplus.co.uk Ingatestone Garden Centre, Roman Road, Ingatestone CM4 9AU PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

• REPAIRS • RE-ROOF • LEAD FLASHING • FASCIAS, SOFFITS & GUTTERING for a free estimate or advice contact

Dean Smith

Tel: 01277 636216 Mobile: 07912 978507 Email: dean@dlsroofing.co.uk

D. Laughlin Builders Est. 1987

ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING UNDERTAKEN PAINTING & DECORATING SERvICES AvAILABLE

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01277 634756 07889 313646 01268 546 011 0800 695 0080 07400 566 633 07788 244 751

Specialists in all types of paving and building services COMPETITIVE PRICES! We will beat any like for like quotes - DRIVEWAYS - PATIOS - GARDEN DESIGNS - FENCING - BLOCK PAVING - BRICKWORK - JET CLEANING

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All Plumbing and Heating work undertaken

• Local Plumber • Free Quotes • Public Liability • No Call Out Fee • 24 Hour Service • No Job Too Small • Reliable Service • No Hidden Charge

Bathrooms from

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01277 220480

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Perfectly crafted timber windows and doors Come along to one of our showrooms to see more... Ingatestone The Old Forge, 53 High Street, Ingatestone Essex CM4 0AT. 01277 350950 Bury St Edmunds 8 Fornham Business Court, Hall Farm, Bury Drift Fornham St Martin, Suffolk IP31 1SL. 01284 760222 Woodbridge New showroom opening Spring 2014 at Notcutts Garden Centre, Woodbridge.

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SPECIAL OFFER:

STANDARD QUALITY NON DROP NORDMANN ANY TREE 6ft - 8ft £30

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www.mobileupholstery.co.uk

07889 368706

Before

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After

Pvcu cleaning service Guttering & Fascia boards Soffits & Cladding Window & Conservatory frames Conservatory roofs

CCTV recorder fitted to our Gutter vac system, you can see your gutters being cleared

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Technology Solutions

Est. 1987

QualiĂ&#x17E;ed Technician

TV Distribution & Multi-Room Sound systems Custom Install, Setups & Tuning! TV wall hanging service with discreet cabling Aerial & Satellite Services

Call Trevor on!

01268 696572

07954 424645

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www.trevange.co.uk info@trevange.co.uk @trevange #Liveinstall winner 2013

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12 MONTHS FULL RESIDENTIAL

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FULLY FURNISHED PARK HOMES & LODGES

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A storm is gathering above sports enthusiasts all over the country as American Football is starting to increase in popularity by the day. Wembley, the home of Football as we know it, is seized upon at least 3 or 4 times a year by followers of the pulsating, tactical and extremely physical game. The sell-out crowd is forcing the NFL in America to keep renewing their contracts to stage more matches here in England and that same demand and popularity is happening on our doorstep in Essex. I have been lucky enough to catch up with the Essex Spartans who play in the British American Football Association National League (BAFANL). Their home ground is at Hannakins Farm in Billericay and not only are they playing as a recreation, they are attracting a regular crowd who willingly pay to watch, a sure sign of the popularity increasing. Essex Spartans have evolved over many years and now have an academy ranging from ages 14 to 19 as well as the senior team. I was lucky enough to catch up with a few of the players, Danny Shilling, Mikey Porter, Oli Huke and Wes Bourke. I got to ask them some questions that, I feel, are burning issues within the sport locally and nationally. With

the

Wembley

matches occurring with more frequency now and coverage increasing on our sports channels, is this having a positive effect on the sport locally? Danny said “Yes as people are gaining more exposure to the sport whilst playing at Wembley makes it accessible to more and more people to actually go and watch professionals play (I think I saw the average attendance is 88k since 2007 when it started, and yet England Football games rarely breach 70k!) Interestingly when asked the same question, Wes gave me a very different answer. This I feel shows how the sport is really sparking debate amongst its faithful in this country. Wes said “I disagree totally, its now more so a spectator sport, because of the Wembley games! Sky has been covering NFL for years and Channel 4 before that. When I was playing in the early 90’s, Sky were up and coming and we, as UK teams, were promised that the local game would get more coverage and would gain massively from that extra TV coverage by Sky. 20 years later, we are still struggling outside of the main large cities to get new blood into the sport.” How did you get playing/coaching for the Spartans? Oli told me “I was recruited by my university team (Coventry) knowing reasonably little of the sport at the time. After a winter of playing in the midlands I fell in love with game so looked up my local team the moment the university season ended. It was welcoming and well run so I kept coming back” Basketball is considered an American sport and is played regularly in schools, do you think American football has a place in our

local schools and why do you think it hasn’t yet been included? Mikey answered with “The fundamental problem with the sport being played in schools is the cost. The schools not only need to buy equipment but also need to train PE staff. It is a technical sport that requires proper coaching. The health and safety aspect alone is a huge barrier. Schools often only have a limited amount of staff to coach other collision sports such as rugby. I know the school I work at did have some lessons last year and did try some contact games with rugby tackling rules. I think if the game is to spread into schools it needs to compete with basketball and other indoor sports rather than football and rugby.” The Spartans are certainly raising the profile of the game within Essex and while it is growing on a national stage I think the juggernaut that is American Football will continue to capture the audiences here in England and Essex. The Essex Spartans welcome anyone to come along and watch them in action and also any people that wish to have a go and play. Please see below their website that has all details of games, training days and events alike. Seeing as all money for programmes and merchandise go to charity I say we all take a look and try and see what the fuss is about.

By Zaki Hasan www.essexspartans.co.uk www.facebook.com/pages/EssexSpartans-American-Football-Team

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

Aaron Paving

over 30 years. Our driveways and patios will add style and value to your home.

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At Cedat Tree Care we offer the following services:

Whatever your tree surgery needs talk to us today

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LOCALLY BASED COMPANY IN BRENTWOOD WITH OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. NO JOB TOO SMALL!

24 HOU EME R

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FREE ESTIMATES WITH NO OBLIGATION. We also offer general maintenance and building works.

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OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE:

• ALL ASPECTS OF DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL AND ELECTRICAL WORK CARRIED OUT • SECURITY SYSTEMS AND ALARMS • REPLACEMENT CONSUMER UNITS • PERIODIC INSPECTION & TESTING • FULL REWIRES / PAT TESTING / FAULT FINDING

THERMAL IMAGING, LOFT INSULATION, ALL GUTTER/ROOF WORKS, DRAINS, PLEASE CALL US WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS. Tel: 01277 810005 Email: t-p-s-l@btconnect.com www.timminspsl.co.uk Unit 15 Cockridden Farm Estate, Brentwood, Essex CM13 3LH

• Manufacture And Installation Of Quality Gates, Railings, Balustrades, Structural Steelwork, Fire Escapes, Security Grilles, Car Park Barriers • Gate Automation, Access Control Systems, CCTV • Mobile Welding Unit 3 Daniels Farm, Wash Road, Basildon, Essex SS15 4AZ Email: ampmfabrications@btconnect.com

Tel: 01268 285115 Fax: 01268 285117 www.gatesandrailings-essex.co.uk | www.ampmgroup.co.uk

This is an exciting local opportunity for someone with experience to join our sales team. Please forward CV’s with a cover letter to Black Square Litho, Graphic House, Radford Way, Billericay, Essex, CM12 0DX or email adamyoung@blacksquarelitho.co.uk

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Brrrr... The mercury has started to tumble, summer’s warmth seems a distant memory and the central heating is starting to kick into gear. As it’ll only get colder, now’s the time to ensure you’re set up for winter to keep the cost down and the heat up. Here’s my checklist… Find out where your stopcock is. Everyone should know where their mains water off switch is. Frozen pipe bursts create an average £7,000 of damage, made worse if you can’t find the off switch as your home floods. As Angie wrote on my Facebook page: “I know where mine is but only due to a burst pipe and collapsed floor a few years ago. Took us & the council 2hrs to find.” So find it now before you’ve problems. Mine is behind a kitchen cupboard, but you’ll also typically find yours in bathrooms, shared corridors in flats, boiler cupboards and more. To help locate yours there’s a nice Thames Water video at www.mse.me/stopcock. Switch energy now and you could get £100s back. This is a great time to switch energy supplier if you pay by direct debit, as it’s likely you’re in credit after the low use summer months. Therefore switch now, and provided you ask for it – so ask - you’ll likely be given cash too (switch after winter and you may be in debt). Yet while the switch-over takes time, the work to compare and activate a switch doesn’t. For fun, I put a stopwatch on four new members of my team trying to compare and switch - the quickest took 202 seconds, the longest 376 seconds. The average was 310 seconds with a £226 saving. When comparing you may’ve heard of the recent scandal about ‘hiding top deals’ on some comparison sites. This is true – though my own www. cheapenergyclub.co.uk always shows all tariffs. Yet it means if you are using a different www.ofgem.gov.uk approved comparison site, when you get to the “Do you only want to see tariffs you can

switch to today” question – say ‘no’ – that way all will display. Switching isn’t a big deal, it’s the same pipes, gas, meter and safety scheme - the only difference is price and customer service. You can do it even if you’re on a prepayment meter/ electricity only/ Eco 7. Paying energy by monthly direct debit is cheaper. It discounts your bill by up to 6%. Firms then estimate your annual usage and divide it by 12 so you’re likely to build up credit after summer and be a little in debt after winter. Always do regular meter readings for accuracy, as your bill is estimated. And if they try to push your direct debit up unfairly (eg, you’re heavily in credit) you’ve a right for it to be fair, just call and ask for it to be lowered. Full service car breakdown cover £40. Breakdown is more likely at winter, and the consequences more severe. Yet policies can be very cheap. For breakdown, home start and onward travel www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk is £40 a year, though it’s a ‘pay and claim’ policy so here it sends a local pick-up truck that you have to pay, then you can reclaim the cash later. Feedback and call out times are good, though you need to remember to claim.

If you’ve got cover and are at renewal, then HAGGLE - 90% of AA customers and 78% with the RAC lowered their rates by bartering. For more deals see www.mse.me/breakdown. Cut boiler costs by £100s - you don’t need your energy firm’s cover. Many energy firms use our fear of losing heating to charge hefty insurance costs. They also want us to think there’s some link between our energy provider and our boiler cover. There isn’t - you’re not locked in. In short… a) Renters usually don’t need it,

as their landlord’s likely responsible. Check. b) Ensure you know what cover you need, choose between boiler-only, or central heating cover. c) To find the cheapest compare via www.uswitch.com and if you have more time add www.energyhelpline. com and www.moneysupermarket.com for a wider comparison. More help in www.mse.me/boilercover. Are you entitled to any extra winter help. Winter is a tough time for many as the cold sets in. Therefore there are some funds which may help... a) Winter fuel payments. If anyone in your house was born on or before 6 Jul 1952 and gets a state pension, pension credit or jobseekers allowance you automatically get the up to £300 winter fuel payment (providing you met this qualifying criteria by 21 Sept 2014). Some on other benefits may be eligible too, but will need to claim if new to it. b) Cold weather payments. Anyone on specific income support/jobseeker’s allowance/pension credit gets £25 for every 7 days it’s sub-zero. It’s paid automatically from 1 Nov 2014. c) Choosing between heating and eating? If you’re seriously behind, or in general financial hardship, you may be eligible for special tariffs/help. Try the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.

The Christmas Truce The truce wasn’t organised. Nobody sat down and negotiated it. It was a spontaneous act, replicated in dozens of places all along the front line. In each of them, the truce depended on ordinary soldiers taking a chance and trusting the enemy. They had to believe that when someone said they wouldn’t shoot, they would be true to their word. They had to believe that the men who had been trying to kill them yesterday would not try to kill them today.

read each other’s letters. Many of them expected the war to be well and truly over by New Years day!

And then, on the morning of 25th December 1914, they had to do something incredibly bold, something against all their instincts, something that broke all the rules of trench warfare. They had to stand up, and put their heads above the parapet. If there was going to be peace, someone was going to have to put their life on the line. Somebody had to make the first move.

When God entered our world as a helpless baby that first Christmas, he was called ‘The Prince of Peace’ and he was taking that first step towards us, into the no-man’s land of our broken world, risking everything on the possibility of peace. It was to cost Jesus his life, but in his death and resurrection, the truce was sealed. Not just a temporary respite for a day, but a new start, an eternal peace. “His government and its peace will never end,” Isaiah prophesied. “He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.”

Sometimes it was a German soldier, sometimes an Englishman. We know some of their names: John Adams, Josef Sewald, Frank Collins, Rudolf Zehmisch. They were ordinary men: a postman, a chaplain, a chef. They each signalled their intentions as best they could by raising their hands or waving a white handkerchief. They brought gifts, a peace offering of cigarettes, beer, or jam; whatever luxuries were to hand. They exchanged photographs of wives and families and, as best they could,

These men were all different, but they had a few things in common. They all believed in the possibility of peace. For each of them, their hope for peace was stronger than their fear of death. Jesus had a special blessing for such people in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ when he said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

As the news headlines remind us on a daily basis, that’s a work in progress. Ours is not a peaceful, quiet world. Not yet. And that’s why the Bible calls each of us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and be peacemakers ourselves. To be those willing to step out, in hope and faith. It may cost us. Sometimes the offer of peace will be rejected. But we

can be strong in the confidence that the truce is already won, because Jesus has gone ahead of us. The angels know this, it’s why they sang “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men.” May I encourage each of you to ‘put your head above the parapet’ this Christmas and join with us here at Emmanuel (or one of the other churches in Billericay) to celebrate the birth of Prince of Peace? May God’s richest blessing be upon you and your family this Christmas season. Web: www.emmanuel-church.info Email: paul@billericaychurches.org Tweet: @EmmanuelCM12

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 

Family Nativity The Musical

 

at 10.30 am



A ‘spontaneous’ Family Nativity for children of all ages. Organised chaos at times, but always great fun!

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 

Annual Toy Service

Christingle Service

at 10.30 am

at 4.00 pm

We collect toys for Basildon Women’s Aid. Bring along an unwrapped gift to be placed under our Christmas tree.

An opportunity for the whole family to spend time together before the excitement of Christmas night. This service always has a lovely atmosphere with a Christingle orange for children of all ages!

 

Communion by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight

at 11.15 pm

at 7.00 pm

The first Communion of Christmas. (Followed by Sherry and Mince Pies)

Our Community Carol Service with Nine Readings And Carols, with the Billericay School Orchestra. (Followed by Sherry and Mince Pies)

 

 

Family Communion at 10.00 am

Lunchtime Carol Service

A relaxed and fun Christmas celebration for the whole family.

at 12.30 pm at Saint Mary Magdalen The Church in the High Street

 

A service designed with busy sales staff and shoppers in mind - although everyone is invited! Guaranteed to last 45 mins. Share in a festive buffet lunch before, or after, you enjoy your favourite Carols.

 Music For A Winters Evening at 7.30 pm

With Alisdair Hogarth Piano & Joyce Hogarth Soprano (www.alisdairhogarth.com). This event is raising funds for Emmanuel Church. Tickets £12, Concessions £10 (£15 & £12 on door). Please contact christine.coe@billericaychurches.org or 01277 651972 for tickets and/or more information.

Family Communion at 10.00 am

A relaxed and fun service for the whole family, as we look forward to all that a New Year will bring. Offerings from all our Christmas services will be shared between these three organisations, all of whom are working with vulnerable children: Just Care Providing Education, Food & Housing for Orphans in Uganda Luke’s Counselling A Community Bereavement Service based in Basildon Operation Christmas Child Distributing shoeboxes in Eastern Europe

Emmanuel Church is situated on Laindon Road, CM12 9LD (Opposite the Fire Station).   

   T

01277 632120  emmanueloffice@billericaychurches.org www.emmanuel-church.info @EmmanuelCM12

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Latte Cappuccino Milkshakes Panini Bagels Finest ice-creams

A coffee experience with an edge serving fresh quality hot & cold drinks and snacks. 134 High Street, Billericay 01277 655560

Tye Common Road Little Burstead, Billericay Essex CM12 9SB 01277 637150

www.bursteadfarmshop.co.uk bursteadfarm bursteadfarm

Our free range Turkeys are reared to the highest welfare standards and are slowly brought to maturity being fed on a GM free cereal diet without any antibiotics or growth promoters added. Our free range Bronze Turkeys are oven ready and are sold in a presentation box, with cooking instructions, cooking timer and a sprig of rosemary. The flavour and texture of the meat is superb and is sure to impress your guests at the dinner table. Also, why not try our suffolk boneless cooked hams. Ask staff for further details.

CHRISTMAS

TREES SOLD HERE 36

CHRISTMAS GIFT HAMPERS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Christmas

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Stock Rd, Chelmsford Essex CM2 8LB

Est 1974

Oriental Cuisine To Take Away

www.kamble.co.uk

HOME DELIVERY AVAILABLE

£1 charge under £15 . Delivery Charges will apply to some areas

Opening Hours

Sunday to Thursday 5:00pm - 11:30pm Friday & Saturday 12:00pm - 2:00pm / 5:00pm - 12:30am Upon mention of AROUND TOWN Excludes alcohol. Photocopies not accepted. Valid until 31st December 2014 *

UNLIMITED USE within time period*

OFF LICENCE We sell Wine and Beer

18 High Street, Billericay, Essex CM12 9BQ

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Menu Changes at La Toscana To reflect the change in season and to ensure we always offer the very freshest produce to our customers, all our menus’ have been revamped by Tony and the team. Full A La Carte Menu Monday to Saturday Lunch and Evening

Christmas at La Toscana We are now accepting reservations for the festive season so if you want that special venue for this great occasion - book now Throughout December (except Saturday Evenings), we are offering Lunch: 2-Courses £16.95; 3-Courses £19.95 Evening:2-Courses £21.95; 3-Courses £24.95 For parties of 6 or more, a £10 per head non-refundable deposit will be required

Lunch Set Menu Monday to Saturday 1 Course £7.95; 2 Courses £10.95 Evening Set Menu Monday to Friday 2 Courses £19.95 Sunday Lunch 2 Courses £19.95; 3 Courses £23.95

Check our website for full details at www.latoscanabillericay.co.uk Book by telephone or call into the restaurant OLD BARN COURT, HIGH STREET, BILLERICAY, ESSEX, CM12 9BY TELEPHONE: 01277 630120

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Turkey Goulash Stuck for ideas about what to do with all that left over Christmas turkey? Create this gastronomic goulash - it’ll go down a treat with the family! Serves: 4 people Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 level tsp paprika • 1 x 397g/14oz can chopped tomatoes • 227g/8oz button mushrooms, sliced • 1 green pepper, deseeded and sliced • 460g turkey breast, skinned and boned • 198g/7oz fat-free natural fromage frais • salt and ground black pepper

Method: 1. Dry fry the onion, then add 2 level tsp of paprika and cook over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes. 2. Add the tomatoes, mushrooms and green pepper and simmer gently for 10 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, cut the turkey into fine strips and dry fry with the remaining paprika until cooked through. Mix the turkey into the vegetables. 4. Add the fromage frais and season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat through very gently, without boiling. Could be served with pasta or your choice of potatoes and green beans.

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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e or im k h T l rin ink nc cia D Dr Lu Spe ips &ap & h r 0 , C W .5 er n 4 rg cke ÂŁ B u hi C

MAN G AL Express Charcoal Grill & Meze

Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from all at Mangal Express Mangal is the quintessential Turkish ocakbasi (open hooded grill, the mother of all BBQs)

Opening Times:

Monday - Saturday 12am - 11pm Sunday 4pm - 11pm

Telephone orders welcome

01277 625577 1 Radford Way | Billericay | CM12 0AA

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bcm ad A5 2014 copy.pdf 15/10/2014 17:22:11

Fine Indian Cuisine Monday - Thursday Meal Deal Eat-in only. 4 Courses. ONLY £12.95pp

CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN!

CMY

Open 7 days a week Free home delivery 61 High Street, Billericay 01277 624 996 / 623 440 www.kosthureebillericay.co.uk

the CoaCh & horSeS Chapel Street, BilleriCay, CM12 9lU

Steak & Stogs Stew

01277 622873

Salmon Fillet

“BILLERICAY’S PREMIER ALEHOUSE & EATERIE”

Curry Night Sharing Starter

Steak & Kidney Pudding

New Courtyard

Smoked Haddock Hash

20% OFF all lunChTime food...

monday - saTurday, ThroughouT January 2015 wiTh This adverT

merry ChrisTmas from dave and all The sTaff aT The CoaCh & horses C /TheCoaChandhorsesBilleriCay PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

What’s on in December 2014? The Railway Wednesday 3rd December - Quiz Night 8pm start Sunday 7th December - Christmas Market - Christmas Carols & Christmas songs with Mena from 3pm Sunday 21st December - The Law (3pm)

The Chequers Sunday 30th November - Christmas Acoustic Afternoon (3pm) Thursday 4th December - ‘the most’ great mod band Sunday 7th December - Christmas market Tuesday 9th December - Andrews 40th!!! Thursday 11th December - ‘medicine’ folk rock Christmas ceilidh! Sunday 14th December - ‘the fat penguins’ (4pm) Thursday 18th December - ‘the blox’ Boxing Day Night - Karaoke! New Years Eve - ‘Mena & the Mojos’ plus DJ (Tickets on sale 1st Dec)

La Bottega Friday 12th December - Wine taster with a 7 course meal, Tea and coffee included £45 per person.

To advertise your events contact

01277 658444 sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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EUROPEAN UNION It is an undeniable fact that the European Union has fundamentally changed since we joined the European Economic Community in 1973. What was ostensibly a free-trade area has since morphed beyond all recognition into the current EU, an organisation bent upon political union. The British people never signed up to this, and rightly feel aggrieved.

decades – with some justification it could be labelled a ‘prosperity tax’. There are many questions that need answering about this sorry affair.

The past few weeks have raised other sore points. The sudden demand for £1.7bn towards the EU budget was unacceptable. This was a huge sum – larger than the Foreign Office budget – based upon the relatively strong performance of the British economy over the last two

The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is also up for up for renewal, following the Government’s decision to opt back into it – having opted out last year. The EAW is potentially damaging to the traditions of British liberty, as it allows our citizens to be extradited on scant

By John Baron MP

or questionable evidence to EU countries whose legal systems fall short of British standards. Many MPs, including myself, have grave reservations about its operation, and will closely scrutinise it when it comes before Parliament. These issues underline the necessity of an in/out referendum on our continued EU membership. At the moment, only the Conservatives are willing and able to deliver one – Labour and the Liberals will not, and UKIP cannot. Finally, as this is my final column of 2014, may I wish all my constituents a merry and peaceful Christmas.

to the newly refurbished Family Friendly Beer Garden New Chef Daily Specials Food served 7 days a week 12-3pm & 6-9pm Traditional Sunday Lunch 12-5pm Real Ales – local and national

Now taking Christmas bookings 01268 711625 | Church Road, Ramsden Heath, Essex, CM11 1PW PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Best Friends Vets 5 The Pantiles, Queenspark, Billericay, CM12 0UA

Tel: 01277 651009 Open: Mon – Fri 9am – 7pm

! !

Booster Vaccines Cats £15.99* & Dogs £19.99

! !

Vaccine Courses Cats £29.99 & Dogs £39.99

Neutering from £27.99 * From price dependant on species, sex, weight or vaccines chosen

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 0845 1553111 01245 443673 0800 688699 01277 621130 0845 1304204 01702 435555 01245 491149 01277 232525

HELPLINES Alcoholics Anonymous Childline DIAL Disability Helpline Drugline Essex Home Start

01245 256147 0800 11 11 11 01268 294400/1 01708 749151

(Helping families under stress) 01277 263325

In Focus

(family disabilities support)

Narcotics Anonymous 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 0345 145145 Electricity – Power Supply Problems 0800 783 8838 Gas – Urgent Calls / Gas Escapes 0800 111999 Minicom – Transco 0800 371787 Thames Water (Supply or Wastewater Services) 0845 9200 800 Three Valleys Water 0345 823333 Water – Essex & Suffolk Water 01245 491234

0845 6037632 01277 233565 01277 221155

BLOOD TEST Booking Line NHS Direct

01277 655233 01277 624862 01277 622828 01277 653035 01277 622927 01277 652241 01277 352125 01268 242159 0845 4647

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

01245 353575 01277 655352 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

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

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Dreams

www.hometec.co.uk

do come true with D VOTE NO.1 X SE IN ES IN AGA

Hometec

Hometec Conservatory Village Open every day

Full comprehensive service from design to completion Free photo 3D and CAD drawings Highest specification of products Showroom & Factory

Complete written quotation

401 Rayleigh Road Eastwood Leigh-on-Sea Essex SS9 5JG Opening Times Mon - Fri Saturday

09.00 - 17.00 10.00 - 16.00

Showroom Conservatory Village View Garden Centre Old Chelmsford Road Rawreth, Essex SS11 8SJ Opening Times Mon - Fri Saturday Sunday

09.30 - 16.30 09.30 - 16.30 10.00 - 16.00

01268 561984