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CONTENTS 06
John Baron
08
Recipe
Political Update
Lemon Meringue Pie
ON M OD OOWOCarr 10NERev.WRPaul AMAZON T W www.amazonwindows.co.uk EN R ON B H S G IRotary Club, Lions Club &
A View from SO the Church
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IN EN Round Table P O
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Nature Notes
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Martin Lewis
EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner
Money Saving Expert
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John Baron Conservative Parliamentary MP For Basildon and Billericay
Revelations in recent years have uncovered unacceptable practices, such as phone-hacking, amongst some parts of the press, for which
s 35 Year
ce xperien E l a n io Profess &
rcial Comme tic Domes
some journalists were rightly sent to prison and which led to the closing down of the 168-year old News of the World.
sued the paper for something it had written about them, even if the paper’s story was demonstrably true and accurate and it won the case.
As part of the response to these revelations, the Government passed the Crime and Courts Act 2013. This put into law some of the recommendations of the Leveson Enquiry, and I reluctantly supported it given the Opposition was angling for a much tougher set of press regulations, which I feared would have a more detrimental effect on overall press freedom.
In these circumstances, it is not hard to see the potential chilling effect on journalism, with editors, especially of smaller papers, wary of breaking stories about corruption or wrongdoing for fear of legal costs which could bankrupt their publication. It is difficult to see how this would be in the public interest.
In particular, the Act includes the currently dormant Section 40, which would make a newspaper which has not chosen to subject itself to a stateapproved press regulator liable for the legal costs of both the defence and the prosecution if an individual
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RECIPE
Lemon Meringue Pie (8 Servings) Ingredients: Pastry 150g plain flour Pinch salt 75g Butter Cold water to mix Filling 50g cornflour 300ml cold water 75g caster sugar Zest and juice of 3 lemons 2 medium egg yolks Meringue 2 medium egg whites 100g caster sugar
Method: Pre-heat to fan 170C/190C/gas5
to the boil.
Prepare the pastry following conventional method and use to line a 20cm greased flan dish. Bake blind, remove from oven then reduce the oven temperature to fan 130c, conventional 150c, gas 2.
Cook the lemony mixture for 2 minutes then remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before adding the sugar and egg yolks. When cool, tip into the partly cooked pastry case.
to make the filling, first blend the cornflour with a little water to make a smooth paste. in a small pan, heat the remaining water, lemon zest and juice, stir in the cornflour paste and stir until you bring
Whisk the egg whites until very stiff then gradually add in half of the sugar. then gently fold the rest of the sugar. spread the meringue mix over the lemon and swirl and bake for a further 35 minutes to crisp the meringue. allow to cool before serving.
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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policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service Billericay, Ingatestone, Ramsden &
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9
hn Lennon seem to be everywhere this time of year: “So this is Christmas ne?” I’d like to change this slightly: “So this is Christmas and what will rate that Jesus was born to be our Saviour? It is, after all, what makes ating and, just like those amazing events in the summer, it can be life but only if you make the time to enjoy the celebration.
Billericay’ extend an invitation to worship s season. Why not put a date in your o miss out on the greatest Christmas
“Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off To of theWork local Church Services the Christmas period. We over Go!”
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ricay & Little Burstead Team Ministry)
How do (or did) you usually feel on your journey to work? In Disney’s ‘Snow White’ the Seven Dwarfs 2nd December ‘Annual Service’ at 10.30am go off to- the mineToy each morning happily singing: “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we at go!” However, December - ‘Carol Service by Candlelight’ 7.00pm their joyful enthusiasm is far removed from most 19th December Carol at 12.30pmpaid, people’s- ‘Lunchtime experiences ofService’ work (whether atunpaid Saint Mary Church or Magdalen voluntary). Perhaps those Monday intensify with overcrowded trains ay 23rdmorning Decemberblues - ‘Family Nativity’ at 10.30am and tubes, congested roads and ill-mannered ristmas Eve - ‘Christingle Service’ at 4.00pm drivers. And, on reaching work, you’re confronted ‘Communion Candlelight’ at 11.15pm with a by pile of admin/letters and a huge inbox Thewaiting first Communion of Christmas. to be cleared - all marked urgent! There the- ‘Family usual busyness andat stress of the workplace, stmas isDay Communion’ 10.00am the overwhelming expectations of your boss, opportunistic colleagues, demanding clients, office politics and long working hours.
Emmanuel Church
The beginnings of human work began when God told Adam and Eve to ‘subdue and rule over’ his creation (Genesis 1:28-30). It could be argued this mandate had more to do with stewardship than ownership and was to be a collaboration between human beings and God. One of the first questions we ask someone when we meet them for the first time is: “What do you do for a living?” Many of us make instant judgments about people based on their occupation, don’t we? And work is just as much a source of identity for us as it was for Jesus. Remember that Jesus followed in his father’s footsteps working in the family building firm - presumably until the age of 30 when he began his ministry - and Jesus was recognized by others because of this: He was known as ‘The Carpenter’s Son.’ Three men were working on a building site. The first man was asked: ‘What is it that you are doing?’ He replied: ‘Earning some money to pay my bills.’ The second man was asked: ‘What is it that you are doing?’ He replied: ‘Building a wall, what does it look like?’ The third man was asked the same question: ‘What is it that you are doing?’ He replied:
www.billericaychurches.org
‘Building a Cathedral.’ What is your perception of work? Money? A mundane task? Or building something significant? Jesus considered his ministry to be ‘work.’ We see this in His prayer in John 17:4: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” Work was initiated by God to make us wholesome and productive beings. It should give us the opportunity to develop our skills and give us the joy of achievement and personal satisfaction. Work isn’t a bad thing – no matter what we might think to the contrary. The economist E.F. Schumacher, in his 1973 ground-breaking book ‘Small is Beautiful’ suggests that work has a threefold purpose: 1) To provide necessary and useful goods and services; 2) To enable every one of us to use and thereby perfect our gifts like good stewards; 3) To do so in service to, and in co-operation with, others. Schumacher wasn’t a Christian but these three values are deeply rooted in the Bible. Maybe we need to look at work differently and view it as using the talents God has given us, in cooperation with Him, for the benefit of others. However, there is also a clear need for the world at large to re-introduce, and implement, Biblical principles of fair distribution of employment, equal wages and to value the serving of the community rather than oneself. Throughout creation God repeatedly suggested that his ‘work’ was good or, in the case of human beings: very good (Genesis 1:31). In a sense, we are all called to be co-workers with God as we use our talents and skills in a creative way. In Ecclesiastes 3:13 the writer suggests it is good that people: “… should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labour, for these are gifts from God.” And so they are! But don’t forget that God rested on the seventh day after his work of creation (Genesis 2:2-3) so be sure to take regular days off to rest and spend valuable time with your family and friends too! With every blessing in Jesus’ precious name
revpacman.wordpress.com paul@billericaychurches.org @revPACman
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MOT CHANGE There goes a minister, I must remember to thank him. But why? Well, ministers are proposing an act that could save drivers an estimated £100 million a year. Admittedly, it is a saving that only 2.2 million drivers will reap the benefits of. This is because they are in the market segment that buy new cars and keep them for 3 or 4 years before looking for alternatives. So what is this proposal about? It is actually something that has been discussed for a number of years, but it has, at last, moved closer to reality. At present new cars don’t need to have a Ministry of Transport Test, an MOT to you and I, until they are 3 years old. If the
new proposal goes through it’ll change to 4 years. This act will bring England, Wales and Scotland in line with Northern Ireland and many European countries, including France and Spain. The proposal has been brought about by the Transport Minister Andrew Jones, “new vehicles are much safer than they were 50 years ago and so it is only right we bring the MOT test up to date to help save motorists money where we can.” With an average cost of £50, the potential extra years grace will be a welcome one. The only downside is that if not checked properly, there will potentially be some illegal tyres and faulty lights not being discovered as soon as they might have been.
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BILLERICAY ROTARY CLUB Having established a successful RotaKids Club at Quilters Junior School two years ago, the Rotary Club of Billericay is proud to announce the launch of a second RotaKids Club at Buttsbury Junior School. This was confirmed in January when club officials Peter Greene and Rev Margaret Fowler established the project with Buttsbury Deputy Head., Sally Lavelle Margaret Fowler, cleric in charge at Christ Church, Perry Street will be the liaison between school and Club. The project pupils on the RotaKids committee will receive their Badges of Honour from Rotary Club president Mike Sinclair after the February half-term. Entries for our second Spectacular SoapBox Derby on May 1, 2017 have now reached 60 – massively up on last year. And we are still counting! The event which raised £26,000 for Rotary appointed charities in 2016 will again be staged down London Road from Sun Corner on Bank Holiday Monday. Plans are well in hand and an additional attraction for the Family Fun day will be the erection of a large screen on Sun Corner Field to allow those not able to see the racing “live” can watch all the action. Full details of entry, promotion, sponsorship and advertising opportunities are on the website: www.billericaysoapbox.co.uk or to SPD chairman, Peter Greene on: webmaster@billericayrotary.org For membership and other Club news and information see our general website:www.billericayrotary.org, also on: www.twitter.com/ BillericyRotary and www.facebook.com/BillericayRotary. We welcome all new members.
BILLERICAY LIONS CLUB
Our Christmas sleigh had another great year and collected a near record total of £8,165. We are, as ever, grateful for the generosity of local people in raising this amount. This event is always great fun for us because of the friendly reception we receive from nearly all of the people we meet and the sheer joy and wonder on the faces of the children who come to see Santa – thank you all.
After all that effort and the Christmas and New Year celebrations, January is a quiet month for the club. We have some social activities planned – a meal out at the end of January, a trip to Romford greyhound racing stadium in February and a ten pin bowling night in March – and are making plans for the year ahead. In March we will be helping out with the Marie Curie daffodil collection, distributing collection boxes to local businesses and afterwards paying the proceeds over to the Marie Curie organisation. Meanwhile, we continue to assess and respond to local charitable needs with appropriate donations. Our next fundraising event is our Taste of the British Isles – 5 taster courses with quiz questions between courses – on the 11th March at the Emmanuel church hall. Tickets are on sale now at £15 for this popular event; please see our website for full details. For details of Lions events or if you are interested in joining, please have a look at our website www. billericaylions.com
It is probably fair to say that the Round Table team are just about recovered from quite an intensive couple of months. Obviously our Fireworks display was a massive undertaking for the guys, but then we got straight back into the swing of things for December. The tree outside the Police station goes up first and then we are assisting at the Christmas market and running our own drinks stall. Shortly after this, we take up the reins with our Santa sleigh visits to four local estates across two weekends. We are ever grateful for the helpers we get on these events and this year it was the ATC and Cricket club members who joined us in being able to put some smiles on the kids’ faces and raise a bit of cash for some local good causes. Looking forward, we are back into the regular routine of our monthly social/sports events and reviewing donation requests. As ever, we are looking to attract new members who are up for a bit of fun and looking to do some extra-ordinary things - things which you would not typically arrange with your normal mates! Check us out at www.facebook.com/billericayroundtable and www.billericayroundtable.co.uk or contact us directly on bepartofit@billericayroundtable.co.uk. We would also really like to hear about any special causes which we might be able to offer monetary support for – no matter how small or large the value, we treat all cases individually and in confidence. We are a registered charity and have been able to help many local people over the years and we want to continue so – please check out the request form here:www.billericayroundtable.co.uk/funding
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Nature Notes Written by Neil Sumner
Neilsumner123@aol.com twitter.com/neilsumner123 Around a 24 hour superstore, next to the busy A13, what do you expect to see? Vehicles parked, and coming and going, perhaps? People pushing trolleys laden with groceries? And Bird-watchers on the grass verge in coats and woolly hats, looking through cameras, telescopes and binoculars? The latter is a surprise to the shoppers and many are amused at the incongruity. But the bird-watchers are unconcerned, just pleased that this is a year when we are being visited by Waxwings. One of our most colourful birds, Waxwings have a smart black and reddish-brown mask, a bright yellow tail and a distinctive swept-back crest. The crimson feathers on their wings apparently look like sealing wax, hence the name. Waxwing numbers coming to Essex vary each year, depending on the availability of berries closer to their breeding grounds in northern forests across Scandanavia and Russia. If they have had a productive breeding season and berry stocks are insufficient they make the journey across to our shores. Supermarket car parks and roundabouts provide food when they are planted out with very berry-bearing shrubs. The Waxwing favourite is the rowan, but they will also eat other berries including pyracantha, hawthorn, cotoneaster and rosehips.
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Otherwise, in the inland countryside, winter visitors for the bird-watcher have been patchy. There are flocks of thrushes but the little parties of finches are few and local, apart from the now ubiquitous Goldfinches. As I write the ground is hard under a sharp frost there are little signs of Spring. A Blue Tit inspects a nest hole then makes its ‘parachute’ territorial display and the two-note calls of Great Tits ring through the woods like bells. Their plumage is already smart in the winter sun. At the lake in the park, the heads of Black-Headed Gulls are darkening in readiness for the breeding season. But on the coast it is winter that is most in evidence. Brent Geese, Wigeon and Golden Plover are in their thousands around the Blackwater, along with many other interesting species, including Great Northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck and Shorteared Owls. These Essex coastal spectacles can be enjoyed at a weekend this month on board the iconic Fellowship Afloat lightship at Tollesbury. http://tinyurl.com/zwc78tr for more details.
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CHILD SAVINGS This Christmas, instead of piling present after present many parents, and especially grandparents, have switched to opening savings accounts for little‘uns and giving cold hard cash instead. So, I want to give you a kid’s savings masterclass - the best ways to save for your child or their future. Before I start though, a thought. Don’t do this all for children. Instead do it with them, get them involved as early impossible. Everyone knows I’ve campaigned for years to get financial education taught in schools, but it can be taught at home too. It’s not just about saving, but also where to save to get the most from their money. So, if they’re old enough, sit down with them, and pick the savings account together, running through the pros and cons of each. Turn it into a fun financial game. And make them responsible for monitoring the rate afterwards in case it drops, and you need to ditch and switch. Which are the best-paying savings accounts?
children’s
to open it for them, and you can only do that if you’ve your own Santander current account. - Alternatively, www.HSBC.co.uk’s My Savings account pays 2.75% AER on up to £3,000. Any child aged over 7 can manage this on their own. - For larger sums, the www.Nationwide.co.uk Smart Limited Access account pays 2.25% AER on savings up to £50,000, though it only allows you to withdraw cash once a year. Are there any accounts grandparents can open? For younger children, an adult needs to open the account on the child’s behalf and be a trustee or signatory. (Children don’t usually need to be present but you’ll need ID for them, such as a passport.) Your name will then be on the account with the child’s, but it’ll be your signature that controls it, not theirs. Some accounts are parents only, but grandparents can do this with the Santander, Halifax and Nationwide accounts.
The www.Halifax.co.uk Kids’ Regular Saver pays 4% AER fixed for a year, but you can only pay in between £10 and £100 per month, and can’t withdraw any money until the year’s up. The www.SaffronBS.co.uk’s Children’s Regular Saver is similar and lets you withdraw from it whenever you want.
What about Junior ISAs (JISAs) – should I open one of these?
After a year, the rates on both accounts will drop, so get your child to set a diary reminder to move their money to a better account when it does.
“YOUR CHILD WILL EARN MORE THAN £16,000...”
I need to save a lump sum though?
The money is locked away until your child’s 18th birthday. After that though, it’s theirs to do what they want with – so if you’re thinking it’s a ‘uni fund’, they may prefer to spend it on a car, a holiday, or following One Direction round the world.
The regular savings accounts don’t suit if you want to put in a stash of cash in one go. - The top payer is the www.Santander.co.uk 123 Mini current account at 3% interest on between £300- £2,000. Any child over 11 can open this and they get a debit card to use in shops. However, if they’re younger, you’ll need
JISAs are special savings (or investments) that let you save £4,080 with tax-free interest for under 18s.
If you’ve got a JISA already, check its rate. If it’s poor, you’re not locked in, you can transfer it to a new provider – just open it
and fill out their transfer forms. The paying JISAs for savings come from CoventryBuildingSociety.co.uk, which 3.25% AER variable. The next best is Nationwide.co.uk paying 3%.
bestwww. pays www.
So, is there any point in a Junior ISA? For most people, no, unless it’s paying higher interest than standard savings. Yet there are some exceptions…
My children have a Child Trust Fund instead?
- You want the cash to be locked away until your child is 18.
Children currently aged roughly aged 5 to 14 got a Child Trust Fund (CTF) instead of a Junior ISA. These are now defunct products, they don’t offer the best rates, yet since 2015 you’ve been allowed to transfer these into a Junior ISA. Just follow the ‘how to transfer’ info above.
- You’re going to give your child enough money that they go over the £100-a-year interest threshold, in which case these taxfree savings accounts stop that.
Aren’t kids’ savings tax-free anyway? No. Children pay tax just like adults. Yet unlike most adults they don’t earn from work, if they have any income it’s only from savings. And if anyone, child or adult, only has savings interest and has under £17,000 a year then no tax is taken. (This is made up of the £11,000 personal allowance, £5,000 starting rate for savings and an additional £1,000 personal savings allowance.)To put that in perspective, to earn £17,000 in savings interest in the top accounts, you’d need over £1,000,000 saved. However, there is a rule that says kids can only earn £100 interest a year from money given by each parent – so that’s about £4,400 saved in the top easy-access account. Above that, it’s counted as the parents’ income and taxed at their rate. Though as most parents don’t pay tax on savings anymore either, that isn’t such an issue (unless they’re higher rate taxpayer or have a shedload).
martin L E W IS Money Saving Expert
- They’ll save enough cash over the years that they’d have more than the £15,480 adult cash ISA limit when they hit 18 (though it’s rising to £20,000 from next April). When that happens, the money automatically converts into an adult cash ISA. - Your child will earn more than £16,000 in savings interest and income in the tax year and earn more than their £1,000 personal savings allowance and will pay tax.
Martin Lewis is the Founder & Editor in Chief of Money Saving Expert. To join the 11 million people who get his Martin’s Money Tips weekly email, go to www.moneysavingexpert. com/latesttip
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We are based in Billericay and cover most of Essex for bathroom installation services. Please contact the Showroom TODAY for details of these and the many other services we can provide for you. We offer both Supply & installation or Supply only.
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Basildon & District Ramblers Club The group meets every Saturday at 2.00pm with some longer walks on others days. The Saturday walks are 4-5 miles with a rest half way. New members are welcome. See our website www. basildonanddistrictramblingclub.btck. co.uk for further details. Belvedere Jazz & Music Club 15th February ‘Oscar Peterson’ Craig Milverton Quartet 8pm -10:30pm. £12.50 22nd February ‘Spirit of Stephane Grappelli & Django Reinhart – Mike Piggott Qrt 8pm -10:30pm. £12.50 www.belvederejazz.co.uk or 07850 607075 The Chichester Hotel, Old London Road, Rawreth, SS118UE Billericay and District Philatelic Society Meets at The Fold, Laindon road, Billericay, at 7-30pm the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month (except August). There is a varied programme of displays and speakers and set - to interest, both beginners and the more specialist collectors. Visitors are always welcome, so come along and meet fellow collectors of a wide range of postal material. Contact no. 01268 410258. or e-mail: rms.alexander@googlemail.com Billericay Archaeological & Historical Society The Society meet every second Monday of the month at 8pm at The Fold, Laindon Road, Billericay We have interesting talks which are mostly historical.
to10pm. We have a program that members can follow or just come along and do your own project. You can find more information on www.essexinfo. netbillericay_art_club or phone 01277 656877. New members welcome, come along for a few weeks free of charge and see if we are the club you are looking for. Billericay Badminton Group The group will move to Billericay School Sports centre as from Wednesday 4th January 2017. The facilities and the sports management staff are very good and we invite newcomers to badminton as well as more competitive players. We would particularly welcome students. Play is held Wednesday nights 8.0 -10.00pm. Barry Fagg 07831509132 Billericay Community Cinema BillericayCine is a Community Cinema: cinemas run locally as a voluntary / not for-profit group by residents for the community. 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 Community Housing Association bcha-uk.org.uk Despite the fact that we are in Norsey Road, not many local people seem to know about us. We are a nonprofit making organisation, run by a committee of local people, who do it all for love. Our website will tell you more of what we do, but if you could give us a mention I would be really grateful.
Contact Pam on 01277 624764
I must re-iterate that it is only for residents of Billericay or those who have close family living here – I’m thinking of sons and daughters living in Billericay whose parents may be in London or further away, who would like their parents living close by.
Billericay Art Club
Billericay Ladies Probus Club
Billericay art club meet every Thursday at Great Burstead church hall from 8pm
The Club meets for lunch at 12.00 on the second Monday of each month at the
Our website billericayarchandhistsociety. co.uk gives details of talks and visits
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Mount Avenue Banqueting Suite, Hutton CM13 2NS. Where a three course lunch is served. New members are always welcome, come along and make new friends. If you would like any further information please contact. Jenny: 01277 633115 Billericay Men’s Probus Club Have you heard of us we are a group Of men who get to-gether for lunch on the last thursday of each month. Come and enjoy a three course lunch, usually followed by a speaker, we also have coach trips and special events Why not come along and join us at The Banqueting Suite, Mount Avenue, Hutton CM13 2NS If you are interested Call ron on: 01277 633115 firefighterrpm@btinternet.com Billericay Methodist Church Charity Lunch on Saturday 11th February from 12.30 – 1.30pm. A snack lunch and drink for only £4. The proceeds this month are going to Chernobyl Children Lifeline, providing holidays for children who still suffer the after effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster of 1986. There is no need to book. Billericay Methodist Church, Western Road CM12 9DT. Billericay Society We meet third Wednesday of the month at the day centre in Billericay behind the chequers Pub in the High Street at 19,30 we normally have a guest speaker, members £1 guests £1.50. The aims of the society is to oppose inappropriate developments, to conserve the towns heritage, safeguard access to the surrounding countryside, footpaths public rights of way, support projects for improving our town, we erect town signs and maintain them, and we are affiliated to campaign to protect rural England. All welcome. Billericay WEA Saturday 18th March Our next One Day Course is ‘Oscar Wilde – Nothing to declare but His Genius’ with tutor Margaret Mills.
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At Billericay Reading Rooms in the High Street. 9.30 – 15.45. Tea breaks included. Lunch- we head to the High Street or bring our own. Fee £15. Find out about the life and times of this fascinating man. Contact Geoff Taylor 01277 625351 or geoffT33@outlook.com Buttsbury (Billericay) W.I. We are a friendly group who meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month, 8pm for 8.15pm start. Each month we have a varied programme of Speakers, Craft Nights and Social Events. We meet at Canon Roche Church Hall, Laindon Road, Billericay CM11 9LL. For more information please call Jan Nash on 01277- 630147. Chelmsford & District Welsh Society Membership is open to anyone with Welsh origins or connections, or to anyone with an appreciation of Welsh heritage and traditions. Visitors and guests are warmly welcomed to attend our meetings. The Society’s monthly meeting is held in St Cedd’s Hall, Cathedral Chapter House, Chelmsford, CM1 1NX, and is usually on the fourth Thursday of every month. For more details please contact Gwenno on 07724144432 www.chelmsfordwelsh.org.uk www.facebook.com/chelmsfordwelsh Chelmsford Jazz Club Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford Doors Open: 11.45am Gig starts: 12.15pm Advance booking: 01245 606505 Sunday 5th March 2017 (£12 / £16) Pete Neighbour with the Ted Beament Trio Sunday 2nd April 2017(£12 / £16) Picante featuring Derek Nash, Dominic Ashworth, Neil Angilley, Andy Staples, Marc Cecil, Robin Jones Folk at The Fold Folk music session at Billericay Arts Association, 72 Laindon Road, Billericay CM12 9LD. 8.15 on the last Friday of the month
(except in December). Admission £2; please bring your own drink. Clive Hammond 01277 622793. Friday Swimmers Friday 10th & 24th February We swim every Friday during school term at Mayflower School from 19.30 to 20.45. Do you want a bit of exercise. We are a small group of social swimmers (adults only). Lifeguard in attendance and the cost is £4.50 p.w. New members are welcome come along for a free trial session or contact Derek or Angela on 01277 655652 for further information. Good Friends French Polishing Group We are a friendly group of amateur French Polishers/Furniture Restorers/ Upholsterers who meet every Monday morning at the Scout Hall in Laindon Road, Billericay. We instruct and teach and now have a few vacancies. For further details please contact Bob Woodcock at 01277 659749 or e-mail: bobwoodcock@hotmail.co.uk Greenway Ramblers The group meets at 10am every Tuesday (5-6 miles) and Sunday (longer walks of 10+ miles with a break for lunch) New members are welcome. See our website at www.greenwayramblers.org .uk or phone Joe lawton on 01277 631119. History in art TUTOR: Margaret Mills Friday afternoon 2.00pm - 4.00pm DURATION: 5 weeks starting 24th February - 24 March FEES: £32 Non-member, £20 Member Portraiture in the 18th & 19th Centuries. Please ring the Fold for further information on 01277 659286 or visit Reception between 9.30 and 4 pm at The Fold , 72 Laindon Road , Billericay Essex. Cm12 9 LD
Cameron, keyboard, Ted Simkins, bass and host Dave Grant, drums. Doors open 8 to 1030pm. Admission £10.00 Tel. No. 01277 624016 or 07935 441616 www.jazzatobs.co.uk Lewis & Leigh LIVE Americana UK nominated Lewis & Leigh play Saint Mary’s in Billericay High Street on Saturday 25 February at 7.30 pm. Lewis & Leigh have been receiving great press on the UK folk scene over the past several months and are currently undertaking a National and European tour promoting their debut album ‘Ghost.’ We’re very pleased they’ve agreed to squeeze in Billericay, their only Essex show. There will be general ‘Café Style’ seating. TICKETS Are £12, under 16s £6, plus Fees (Door £14/7 - if not sold out) and are available from https://revpacman. wordpress.com/2016/12/28/live-at-stmarys-lewis-leigh/ and check out their website www.lewisandleigh.com Rosebay (Billericay) W.I. We meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 1.30pm in the hall behind The Most Holy Redeemer Catholic church, Laindon Road, Billericay. We hold social events between meetings. Visitors/new members are made very welcome. Further details from Madge 01277 623278 Who Let The Dad’s Out? For all Dads, Granddads and Male Carers with pre-school Toddlers takes place on the FIRST SATURDAY of every month at Emmanuel Church, Laindon Road from 8.30 to 10.00 am.
next gig at Old Brentwood’s Club Ashwells Road, Brentwood CM15 9SE. The last Tuesday of each month.
At WLTDO? We aim to provide a fun place for blokes to spend time with their kids, with plenty of toys, games, refreshments and story times. WLTDO? is also a great place to get to know other blokes and enjoy an early morning coffee and bacon roll. volunteers are great with children and are CRB/DBS checked
Tuesday, 28th February, 2017 GRAHAM PIKE, sensational sounds of horns and harmonica with Hilary
For more information, contact Tony Wallace on tony.wallace@ billericaychurches.org
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Showtime Special with Dominic Kaye Thursday, March 9th
Restaurant Refurbishment
We will be undertaking a full interior refurbishment from Monday 27th February until Monday 6th March. The restaurant will be closed temporarily during this time. Check our website for details of these events 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
To celebrate the re-opening of our fully refurbished restaurant, we are welcoming back Dominic Kaye to entertain us with the best songs of the 60’s whilst you enjoy a fabulous 3-Course meal. We recommend you reserve your table now!
£42.50 pp
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Gourmet Evening - Friday May 5th A unique evening - not to be missed! A seven course “taster” menu, each dish accompanied by a specially selected wine. This special event will be hosted by the celebrated Master of Wines, Mark Bingley
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WICKFORD TRAMPOLINE CENTRE Trampolining is something that I have always considered great fun and a fantastic thing to do in your garden on a hot day. I have been guilty of only considering a trampoline as a garden toy. Of course Trampolining has been an Olympic sport for many years and has never been so topical here in this country as it is now. Bryony page jumped to Silver medal glory at the Rio Olympics and the shock medal was a headline grabber overshadowing some mainstream sports. In little old Essex, Gymnastics has also been given a huge boost thanks to the heroic performances of Max Whitlock and there is a club nearby offering the chance for our children to jump behind Bryony on the path to Olympic glory on the Trampoline. We know of the many fun places you can go to jump on Trampolines. The Trampoline parks offer fun for an hour or two, but The Ultima Wickford Trampoline Centre offers fun for every member as well as group and one to one coaching. From ages as young as 5 welcome, the centre have teamed up with local schools to get more children involved and the response has been amazing. I spoke to the mother of a regular Ultima student “My daughter is 5, soon to be 6 and she attends
Abacus Primary school in Wickford. She loves trampolining, and we signed up to give it a trial run. She absolutely loves it and especially enjoys the learning element. She goes home and wants to show her Dad her new skills and above all she looks forward to her lesson every week. Her teacher is fantastic and makes her feel at ease with her learning and it doesn’t matter if the children are at different levels of ability, it is such a nice thing to see her do.” Ultima have taken on the huge responsibility in keeping young people in the sport, helping them achieve their goals and develop their skills and maybe making them champions/coaches of the future. The beauty of this local centre is that they have trained national champions and continue to nurture amazing talent, but there is still a local feel to the place that allows freedom of expression and fun. They are open to public 52 weeks a year ‘come rain or shine’ and even cater for children’s parties for those kids who especially love trampolining and want to share their enjoyment with friends. Take a look at what they have to offer on the website below. http://www.ultima-tc.club/ Advert on page 46
Put the spotlight on your local sports team, contact Zaki Hasan, via email, zaki@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk
ON
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We Offer Coached Classes for All Ages to Learn the Sport Disability & Special Needs
Pre School Classes Under 5’s
Adult Classes Recreational
Keep Fit Classes Parent/Toddler
We clean all oven types, extractor hoods, oven hobs, stove hobs, microwaves and BBQs Environmentally friendly, non toxic and fume free Fully trained and insured technicians Fixed pricing so no hidden surprises
Competition & Development Groups Bo the ok to International Level B Best
irth Par day ties
Contact us for more information 1a London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AW info@ultima-tc.club www.ultima-tc.club 01268 906269 Ultima Trampoline Club is a reg CASC
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