Billericay January 2015 Edition by Black Square Print Media Limited

www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk January 2015 Edition 26

“WE’VE GOT YOUR TOWN WRAPPED UP!”

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

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Specialists in the installation, servicing and maintenance of:

• Domestic & Commercial Gas • LPG for boats & caravans • Solid fuel • Ground source and Air source heat pumps • Micro-regeneration • Solar Panel • Under floor heating • Aga’s & Range cookers All aspects of Domestic & Commercial installation undertaken, breakdowns, servicing, landlords certification.

FREE QUOTATIONS. Tel: 01268 710694 Website: www.tiffenheating.co.uk Email: sales@tiffenheating.co.uk

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Lord of London offer a totally bespoke service of handmade diamond Jewellery. Old Jewellery can be broken down and made into new pieces of Jewellery in your choice of metals. We offer a free re-design service and can make anything you want, sourcing the highest quality diamonds and gem stones. Prices Vary, and we do work to and within your budget. We also offer a full Watch & Clock repair service, repairs, and restoration and valuations!

For enquiries call - 01277 656 280 Email: sarah@lordoflondon.com 74b Billericay High Street Essex CM12 9BS

WWW.BASILDON.GOV.UK / RECYCLING

Compost your tree for FREE! If you buy a REAL Christmas tree, it’s easy to make sure it‘s recycled.

Please remove all decorations, pot and stand and leave your Christmas tree out for collection on your revised green bin collection day, from the week commencing 5th January 2015.

Leave the tree where your wheeled bin would be collected, by 7.30am. Trees with trunks bigger than 4 inches in diameter will not be accepted. If you have a larger tree visit www.basildon.gov.uk/ recycling for more information.

Alternatively you can take your tree to either Barleylands Recycling Centre or Pitsea Recycling Centre for Household Waste and put it in the garden waste area.

For more information, www.basildon.gov.uk/recycling

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... Around Towners to Billericays’ leading community magazine! Happy New Year Around Towners! We hope you’ve enjoyed a well rested & joyous festive period and are now back in full swing for the year ahead! 2014 was a great year but we’re sure 2015 will be even better! And what better way to start, than by getting fit. ‘New Year, New You’ is probably one of the most common phrases used in January, due to over indulging on the glorious food in December. Our new guest writer Zoe Harcombe explores the differences and importance of fats in our diets. As always, we want to hear your thoughts on Around Town Magazine – whether it’s constructive criticism, complementing our editorial content or if you’ve had an experienced with one of our advertisers, please get in touch to let us know (details below).

From the Around Town Team

Features 09 **Guest Writer** Zoe Harcombe The Truth About Fat 15 Nature Notes EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner 19 Know Your Tradesmen Cedar Tree Care 23 John Baron MP Political Update 25 A View from the Church Rev. Paul Carr 27 Round Table / Rotary Club / Lions Club Organisations ‘Around Town’ 31 Martin Lewis The Money Saving Expert 33 Around Town Sports Focuses on Ice Hockey 36 What’s On When and Where...

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

38 Recipe Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast 39 Useful Numbers

Why Advertise?

Contact our Sales Team today, details below. Booking deadline for our February edition of Around Town is: Thursday 15th Jan.

Copyright 2014. Around Town Billericay is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in Around Town do not necessarily represent those of the editors of Around Town Magazines. Around Town Magazines are published by Black Square Print Media Ltd produced by Black Square Litho Ltd.

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

01277 658444 www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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Opening Hours Mon-Thursday | 9am - 7pm Friday | 9am - 6pm Saturday | 8am - 6pm Sunday | 10am - 2pm

18th - 20th & 22nd February 2015

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To book your tickets, call the Towngate Theatre: 01268 465 465

Come and join a host of local Scouts and Guides for one of the most succsessful Gang Shows in the UK. We’re performing for you in an “Out of this world!” , fun filled variety show for all the family.

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Health the

HARCOMBE WAY The truth about fat by Zoe Harcombe, www.zoeharcombe.com Thirty years ago we demonised ‘fat’ – saturated fat especially. Only it wasn’t fat that we demonised. We called biscuits, cakes, confectionery, crisps, ice cream, pastries, pies, savoury snacks etc “saturated fat”. They are, of course, junk food; predominantly carbohydrate and, perhaps surprisingly, invariably containing more unsaturated than saturated fat.

Nutritional gold mines – meat and dairy products – were put on the same list, rather like lumping Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker together. They could not be more different. So let’s state some facts about fat and I mean real fat – not processed food or carbohydrates or anything else that we have got terribly wrong... 1) Fat is utterly life vital There are three fats: saturated; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. We would die without these fats and we must consume them in our diet. Fat provides the two essential fats (omega-3 and omega-6) and the four fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. From eyesight to bone density to cell viability to blood health – every fat soluble vitamin is utterly vital for our survival. 2) We need to eat more fat The UK government’s own data confirms that we are dangerously deficient in fat soluble vitamins. The UK Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) are inexplicably low compared to American nutritional standards. The average UK citizen is getting 2.78mcg (micrograms) of vitamin D from household food. The UK RDA is a paltry 5mcg. The USA upgraded their RDA from 10mcg to 15mcg in 2011. Hence UK citizens are getting half the UK requirement for vitamin D, or one sixth of a much wiser minimum. It’s no wonder that the UK has seen a re-emergence of rickets in children. 3) Every food that contains fat contains all three fats... ... there are no exceptions. Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, avocados, oils, nuts and seeds – all of these foods contain all three fats – saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. The only thing that varies is the proportion of each fat. It is therefore impossible to avoid one fat and consume another. This alone makes nonsense of the idea that saturated fat is bad and unsaturated fat is good – why would they always be found together, without exception? 4) Only one food group contains more saturated than unsaturated fat Dairy products are the only food group with more saturated than unsaturated fat. Meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds and even lard – all have more unsaturated than saturated fat. Not that any real fat is better or worse than any other, but just to set the record straight.

If you think that Mother Nature is trying to kill you – by all means avoid dairy produce. But you have no reason to avoid any other real food – offal, red meat, seafood, eggs etc. And you had better eat over 200g of fish (with bones) daily (or 39 eggs!) to get just the vitamin D, let alone the calcium and phosphorus, so vital for bone health. 5) Dietary advisers don't know their fats from their elbow! How often are we told to consume olive oil and to avoid red meat? Olive oil is pure fat – it contains no water, protein or carbohydrate. In 100g of olive oil 73g is monounsaturated fat, 14g is saturated and 11g is polyunsaturated (trace elements make up the rest). Pork is 75g water, 21g protein, 1.8g monounsaturated fat, 1.5g saturated and 0.5g polyunsaturated fat. So, olive oil has 25 times the total fat of pork and over 9 times the saturated fat content. Bet you didn't know that! We are told to eat oily fish and avoid red meat. Mackerel has twice the overall fat of sirloin steak and one and a half times the saturated fat. 6) Fat has not made us fat The average UK person consumed 51.7g per person per day of saturated fat in 1975 and 28.1g in 1999. Intake of all fat, butter, meat, whole milk and eggs fell. Dramatically in some cases – the UK eats half the number of eggs that we used to and one fifth of the butter and whole milk. During this time obesity increased from 2.7% for men and women in 1972 to 22.6% for men and 25.8% for women in 1999 – almost a tenfold increase in obesity, as saturated fat intake all but halved. 7) Saturated fat has never even been on trial In the 1984 document that first demonised saturated fat, the following confession is made: “There has been no controlled clinical trial of the effect of decreasing dietary intake of saturated fatty acids on the incidence of coronary heart disease nor is it likely that such a trial will be undertaken.” They may be even more astonished to know that the trial has still not been done nearly 30 years later. The UK Food Standards Agency admitted in 2009: “The ideal controlled dietary trial for prevention of heart disease has not yet been done and it is unlikely ever to be done.” Common sense should tell you that the experiment doesn’t need to be done. Nature didn’t provide food, containing all the essential fats, protein, vitamins and minerals that we need for survival and then lob in something harmful at the same time. Will biscuits, cakes, confectionery, pastries etc make you fat and sick? I have no doubt. But they are not fats – they are junk food carbohydrates. If you think that 60% of the few grams of fat in your steak are trying to save you while the other 40% is trying to kill you – may the force be with you!

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I am in an area south-east of Danbury Ridge, which is a distant wooded rise on the horizon. The Ridge was described many years ago by local naturalist J A Baker as ‘like the low hull of a submarine’. The landscape here gently undulates away from The Ridge as it drops towards The River Crouch. It is a landscape of broad fields bounded by hedgerows punctuated with tall oaks. From the Ridge where I am, this place looks like any part of Essex farmland. But it is no ordinary farm. It is not just the old buildings and flat grass fields that differentiate it, but the patches of scrub, the long strips of dead stalks of annual plants topped with seed heads, and a field of ploughed stubble where one hundred corn buntings and yellowhammers rise and fall in the biting winter wind. This is Stow Maries Aerodrome, featuring a World War 1 museum as well as being managed for its wildlife. The site has featured in many TV documentaries, which showed stunning views of Owls, Kestrels and Brown Hares in frosty settings. The BBC Winter Watch team are here today to add to the footage. Our guide is Russell Savory, industrious conservationist and photographer, and he tells of the five species of owls and of the many breeding and migratory songbirds that he has seen. He speaks of a wealth of reptiles, as it is a receptor site for snakes and lizards translocated from land being developed for housing or roads. And he tells proudly of the Water Voles in his ponds. There are many conservationists here today, meeting to discuss Turtle Doves. These birds do breed here but, as they are a summer visitor, we won’t see them now. In the last few weeks you may have heard it sung that two of these were a gift on the second day of Christmas. As this bird has declined by 98% since 1970 it would be a very rare gift indeed. Turtle Doves need tall thick hedges to nest in, standing water to drink and bathe, and they need seeds on which they feed exclusively. The rough patches of weedy ground where they can find these seeds is not a feature of modern efficient and tidy farming. So we are encouraging landowners to plant strips of a special wildflower mix which will provide food for Turtle Doves and other farmland birds too. We will return in the summer to review our progress and we hope that we will hear the purring of Turtle Doves and talk of new plots of wildflowers that might arrest their demise. Russell Savory is showing some of his photography in Billericay on 5th February – www.millmeadows.org.uk for details. My thanks to ‘Wildlife Kate’ for the picture of the Water Vole goo.gl/wpYM2B.If you aren’t enamoured with Water Voles just yet, try this link: goo.gl/Av8LmW .

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

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Go to my website for the latest tips and recent jobs

Boiler Repairs Power Flushing Landlord Certificates Servicing and Installation

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RJB Construction & Lining are a well established family company based in Billericay. We provide a complete service including road reinstatement, driveways and lining work. All our employees are fully trained to high standards, eliminating the need for sub contractors meaning quality of product throughout. We are efficient, ambitious and hardworking and we pride ourselves on carrying out our work to the highest standard. o ish t

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is conducted carefully and thoroughly, with the trees’ health being the top priority. James Tabram runs Cedar Tree Care, an Upminster based company that provide tree surgery service to domestic and commercial clients across Essex and London. Since starting the company, the business has grown and James now works with a team of expert tree surgeons to ensure all work

Cedar Tree Care pride themselves on the expertise they bring to their work and the specialised service they can offer their customers. James said ‘We strive to provide all our clients with an affordable, reliable and expert service…we aim for 100% customer satisfaction and a lot of our work comes

To feature your business contact:

from repeat business and recommendations’. Cedar Tree Care will also ensure once the task in hand is complete the area is left clean and presentable. They are happy to provide free estimates and advice for any enquiries regarding your trees, hedges and shrubbery. Telephone them on 01708 301 371 or visit www.cedar-treecare.co.uk for further information.

01277 658444 sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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INTRODUCING THE NEW

FORD FOCUS · Active City Stop · SYNC 2 with 8” touchscreen, DAB · Rear parking sensors audio system with enhanced voice · Cruise control with speed limiter control and Emergency Assistance · Ford Keyless start

The new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to offer SYNC 2. Ford’s advanced in-car connectivity system features a highresolution, 8-inch colour touchscreen and advanced voice control for easier access to audio, climate control and compatible mobile phones. This enhanced system is also available with the latest in-car navigation technology making your journeys even easier.

The current Focus introduced parallel parking aid Active Park Assist that, at the push of a button, uses ultrasonic sensors to locate parking spaces and steer the vehicle while the driver controls the accelerator and brake. The addition of two new sensors to the rear of the new Focus enables Perpendicular Parking to operate in the same way, helping drivers reverse into spaces alongside other cars.

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SUPPORTING PUBS INDEPENDANCE BILL

Pubs are an integral part of British life, and are at the heart of our communities. This makes it all the more troubling that, across the UK, an estimated 30 pubs close down each week.

This is why I, in opposition to my own Government, recently supported an amendment in Parliament to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. The amendment, which was supported by the Campaign for Real Ale and the Federation of Small Businesses, will allow landlords tied to large pub companies the option of an independent rent review at regular intervals, and will also

By John Baron MP allow them to buy their beer on the open market. Though opposed by the Government, the amendment was passed with cross-party support by 284 votes to 259. The measures contained within the amendment should start to address the issues which have led to the closure of so many pubs. The freedom to buy beer on the open market should benefit publicans and

pub-goers alike, cutting out the mark-up landlords often have to pay to the pub companies and increasing choice at the pumps. In addition, the ability to request an independent rent review should help protect landlords from having to pay abovemarket rates. The Bill has now left the Commons for the House of Lords, where it will be further scrutinised. However, I will continue to support our pubs as the legislation passes through Parliament, and look forward to a pint in one of our locals to celebrate!

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If Tomorrow Never Comes Each one of us are experts at putting things off until tomorrow - and that’s especially so at this time of year. Research suggests that less than 10% of New Year resolutions make it through to the end of January and only 1% through to December. Are you putting off for tomorrow what you could, or should, be doing today? As I reflect on this myself, I’m determined not to make the same mistakes as last year. The words of this poem by Norma Cornett Marek might enable all of us to make a wonderful start to 2015 and not ‘put off’ the important things in life:

If I knew it would be the last time that I’d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more. If I knew it would be the last time I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute To stop and say “I love you,” instead of assuming you would know I do. If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, Well I’m sure you’ll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. For surely there’s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, And we always get a second chance to make everything just right. There will always be another day to say “I love you,” And certainly there’s another chance to say our “Anything I can do?” So, just in case tomorrow never comes, and today is all I get, I’d like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight. So if you’re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you’ll surely regret the day, That you didn’t take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss And you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you’ll always hold them dear Take time to say “I’m sorry,” “Please forgive me,” “Thank you,” or “It’s okay!” And, if tomorrow never comes, you’ll have no regrets about today. May God’s richest blessing be upon you & your family in the year that lies ahead. Web: www.emmanuel-church.info | Email: paul@billericaychurches.org | Tweet: @EmmanuelCM12

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MAYFLOWER ROTARY CLUB The Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower wishes all readers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thanks Around Town Magazine for its support in 2014. Billericay Christmas Market Sunday Dec 7 Another successful Christmas Market despite the weather which reduced the number of visitors. Early indications are that charities will benefit by somewhere in the order of £17,000. The Caledonian Pipe Band was well received leading Santa to his Grotto run by Billericay Lions, where children enjoyed an audience with him and a free gift courtesy of Harlequin Montessori Nursery with free face painting by St John School and balloon entertainment by Partyman. Visitors enjoyed the additional street entertainment provided by the increased number of circus acts, flashmobs and a brass band. Despite the lower attendance there was still a great atmosphere generated in the High Street by the 140 stalls, 80 shops, traditional Christmas Fayre and two stages of live music. There was more free entertainment in the Reading Rooms where Punch N Judy provided a seasonal knockabout courtesy of Billericay District Residents Association. Fairground and Pony rides were available in the Car Park and a great day was had by all. Unfortunately the ‘Downton Abbey’ Carousel was not in attendance due to the death of its owner earlier in the week. We send our condolences to his family and are sorry for any disappointment that the carousel’s absence caused. 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 Why not join Mayflower Rotary? Applications welcome from all ages and genders. Why not use your energy, skills and enthusiasm to help raise funds for charitable causes? Join Mayflower Rotary and be a part of the team that delivers Christmas Market, Summerfest and many other events like the Quiz, Magic Night and Bell Boat Racing while enjoying social evenings in the company of like minded people. We meet 8pm every Thursday at Burstead GC. Email: andy.hunter@perficiam.com

BILLERICAY LIONS CLUB Hello again, Happy New year to you! It’s always difficult writing the January edition of Around Town, because of fitting the printing schedules, as I have to do it before Christmas. In fact, as I write, we have only just started the Christmas Sleigh routes, so I can’t even tell you how much we raised or whether the weather was bad or any of the unlikely tales that befall us. Every year seems to bring up a new story; in the past we have interrupted a full fancy dress party with all of the party goers in skimpy costumes (at least I think it was a fancy dress party!) There was the time that one of our members fell and broke his ankle as we tried to turn the sleigh round and of course countless stories of young folk trying to get a ‘selfie’ with Santa. There was even the year when your correspondent fell into a snow drift up to my waist whilst collecting the sleigh from its summer stables in Bulphan. I was not best pleased! This year once again we were very grateful to Essex Ford who supplied us with a brand new Ford Kuga to act as Santa’s reindeers and was responsible for our safe journeys around the streets of the town. Many thanks Essex Ford – we are sorely indebted to you! So, what can we look forward to for 2015? Well it seems that our little soiree at the Taste Night in April will be a raging success – we sold out with over 100 bookings at the beginning of December! And I can’t believe that the Sixth Billericay Beer Festival has to be decided soon. Anyway, more of that next time. For details of all Lions events please visit our website www.billericaylions.com or telephone 0845 833 9849.

By the time you read this article, the remains of the Christmas turkey will have been eaten, you’ll have had your fill of the usual Christmas movie favourites on the tv, and you may be trying to work out when the appropriate time is to take down the decorations! With each New Year that comes, most of us tend to find ourselves being slightly reflective where we are going with our lives – hence the New Years resolutions that so many of us make, some realistic, and some somewhat optimistic! Here’s an idea for a New Years resolution that you could make that we’re pretty sure you’d find very rewarding and very achievable – become a Billericay Round Table member and make sure that 2015 is a year you’ll never forget! Round Table is for men between the ages of 18 and 45, and it doesn’t matter what your background is, so long as you enjoy having a few laughs and some banter, challenging yourself to achieve things you might not have thought possible, making a real difference to the local community, oh, and having a few beers along the way too no doubt! We are a bunch of ordinary guys doing extraordinary things, and if you feel like trying something different this year, we’d love to hear from you. So what sort of things do we do? Every year we run the Billericay Fireworks display at Lake Meadows and we help out at all sorts of other events in the local area. In recent years we have been skydiving, gone sailing, rock climbing, go-karting, paintballing… the list goes on! If you’d like to find out more, email us at membership@billericayroundtable.co.uk and we’ll let you know when our next meeting is. If you’re female and feeling a little left out, we’re hoping to start a Ladies Circle group in Billericay very soon, so watch this space!

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We are a close knit friendly team of Accountants in Essex. We have been helping individuals, small business and contractors manage their accounting and compliance requirements since 1998. Apart from the more general accountancy services we can also assist you with your business development and specialist tax services or help you see through the CIS taxation terminology and self-employed tax. As you are probably aware your completed Online self-assessment form needs to reach the HMRC by the 31st January 2015, so don’t delay and take the risk of being fined. If you are a landlord you will be aware that any profit from letting a property is subject to UK income tax, this needs to be included in your return. HMRC are currently targeting residential landlords by means of its Let Property Campaign in an attempt to recover the £500,000,000 it believes is being underpaid. Or as a sub contractor, if you don’t deduct the right amount of CIS tax you will still remain liable for that tax to the HMRC. Clients prefer us because our passion shines through everything we do. We are dedicated to finding new ways to generate value for our clients. We talk to our clients and get to know their needs in order to provide the highest quality of service. Most member’s of the team have responsibility to manage their portfolio of clients making them not just the client’s accountants but a business partner. If worried about emailing or storing important documents we have a solution with easy access from our website. If you would like some advice on your business whether it be tax and accounts or general financial advice, call our free phone number 0800 141 3393 and one of our team will be happy to help you out.

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Savings rates are spit-worthily low; but it could get even worse as the UK base rate doesn’t look likely to rise till late 2015 and ‘swap rates’ - which influence fixed saving rates - have plummeted recently. Yet there are weapons in a saver’s arsenal - most don’t use them, it’s time to change that. My savings fountain is designed to maximise your interest on every penny of your cash. It works because different types of savings have different rules on how much you can put in and when. Think of it like a champagne fountain - put your cash into the best-paying savings vehicle possible, then when that’s full and overflowing, fill up the next best, and so on. The top tier... earn up to 5% easy-access via ‘bank account’ savings. Some bank

accounts’ in-credit rates now smash easy access savings accounts and ISAs. They’re done as a loss leader to entice new banking customers - yet if you’re prepared to switch account, you gain. - Earn 3% AER on £3,000-£20,000: With the www.santander.co.uk 123 account. There’s a £2/mth fee, but this is usually more than covered as it also pays cashback on bills. - Earn 4% AER on £4,000-£5,000: With the www.lloydsbank.com Club bank account. - Earn 5% AER for a year on £2,500: With the www.nationwide.co.uk FlexDirect account.

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savings accounts often pay high interest as it’s only on a small amount for a short time. While the top rate’s slightly more than bank accounts, because you need to put cash in each month, you’d need to trickle it across from your top savings account anyway - hence why it’s second.

- Bank linked 6% regular savings. If you’re a First Direct bank customer, it offers a linked regular savings account at 6% AER fixed for a year - you need to put £25-£300 in per month and can vary that each month. The Lloyds current account has a similar linked account at 4%. - Anyone can earn 3.05%. The www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk Regular Saver pays 3.05% AER variable if

you pay in £50 to £250 every month for a year.

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With fixed-rate cash ISAs, unlike normal savings, you can access the cash within the term - though you’ll lose some interest in penalties. Yet even if you withdraw early, these can still be winners. - Top fixed-rate cash ISA: www. coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk pays 2.6% AER fixed for four years, but you can withdraw by closing the account early and the penalty is just 120 days’ interest. So withdraw after 1yr and you’d get 1.75%, after 2yrs 2.18% and after 3yrs 2.32%. This means as long as you keep cash in for 10 months, you’d earn more than the best easy access deal anyway. - Top fix for cash ISA transfers: All those that allow you to transfer old cash ISAs in as well as new money have heftier penalties. So here the aim should be to fix for a length you need. Top 1yr is www.postoffice.co.uk at 1.7% AER, 2yr is Barclays at 2.02% AER, 3yr is Virgin at 2.15% AER. - Need access to your cash, 1.55% easy access cash ISA. www.bmsavings. co.uk allows new money and lets you transfer in old cash ISAs, of its 1.55% AER variable interest 1.05% is a bonus for a year.

“THERE ARE WEAPONS IN A SAVER’S ARSENAL - MOST DON’T USE THEM, IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THAT.” Now consider locking cash away - earn 2.5% in fixed rate savings. If you’ve still

money, next consider whether you’re prepared to lock it away without access - if so, you can fix with a locked-in rate that’s usually higher.

Top fixed-rate savings: www.krbs.com 1yr fix pays 1.9% AER, min £1,000. The top 3yr fix is www.investec.co.uk (min £25,000), which pays 2.5% AER unless the Bank of England

base rate plus 1% is higher, in which case you get that. If you’ve less, www. shawbrook.co.uk Bank is a 3yr fix at 2.5% AER (min £5,000). Got any left? Earn 1.4% in the top easy access normal savings. Now we’re down to the bog standard easy access payers. Here you can put in big amounts and withdraw cash at leisure. Top normal savings: The Post Office pays 1.4% or over-50s can get 1.55% with www.saga.co.uk (min £1,000). Before you rush off to pour cash in the fountain, a few key tips... You pay tax on savings interest (if not in an ISA). Higher rate taxpayers lose 40% of their interest to the taxman, basic rate 20%. Non-taxpayers - cash ISAs may still be worth it. There’s no tax gain, but they often pay higher rates than equivalent savings, cash ISA fixes have more access and if you become a taxpayer again, the cash will then be protected. Part of a couple? Put savings in name of the lower-rate taxpayer. If one of you pays tax at a higher rate, providing you trust each other put non-ISA savings in the name of the lower taxpayer and you’ll take home more. For those who aren’t married/civil partners, there is a tiny risk if one of you died within seven years of this that there’d be inheritance tax on it. Know your savings safety. Provided your money is in a UK-regulated savings account, the first £85,000 per person, per financial institution is Government guaranteed. If you’ve got more, spread it.

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When I Googled ‘Ice Hockey for dummies’, an ex professional described it as “figure skating in a War Zone”. I think he was aiming to capture the artistry of a skilful, fast paced, yet brutal and tough game. Having watched the game on the odd occasion I wanted to see what Ice Hockey was like on the local scene. There is a team, a short drive from the Billericay area, in Chelmsford that has been flying the flag for Ice Hockey in Essex. They are called the Chelmsford Chieftains and they play in the National Ice Hockey League Division 1 South (NIHL). The league has ten teams in total and the away fixtures are at times as far south as the Isle of Wight, as far West as Cardiff and as far North as Milton Keynes, it is a National standard competition. The club train twice a week on a Tuesday and a Thursday from 10:15pm until midnight. The reason it’s so late is due to the availability of the ice at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford. They also play two games at the weekend,

Saturday and Sunday, one away game and one home game. When I asked a member of the management team, Andy Driver, he said that this added to the team solidarity and morale. The fact that some of these players come from as far as Peterborough and have full time jobs to attend to in the morning is the staple of how the club has been going for so long, they have pure dedication to their sport. Home games are continuing to draw a crowd, anywhere between 500 and 900. The ticket price is £10.50 adult / £5.50 under 16 / Family (2+2) £27 / Students £6.50. I continued to ask Andy some questions to get his view on the sport in general. From a spectator’s perspective, Ice Hockey is exciting, fast paced, physically brutal at times and certainly gets the adrenalin pumping. Why do you think it fails to capture a British audience and why is it not on our screens as regularly as the NFL and NBA seem to be? “A very good question, but I guess the failure to capture the British audience is down to our nations love of football which dominates our sports pages every day. Ice Hockey is a great game to watch live but maybe not great for TV as the small puck can sometimes be difficult to track because of the speed it travels. But saying that the Premier Sports Channel has great coverage of both the domestic game and the NHL.” I did an article on American football last month and that is benefitting from the Wembley games and TV coverage is on

the up. Do you think this will help raise the profile if the NHL in this country is for example the O2 started hosted such events with more frequency? “The NHL did come to London a few years ago and the O2 was sold out, but the games didn’t capture the media’s attention in the Football driven sports pages. But as a club we are not interested in raising the profile of the NHL but of the sport in the UK. The NFL is watched by thousands on the TV in this country, but those armchair fans don’t boost the gates for the many UK clubs that play throughout the summer months.” The Chieftains are ‘The’ Essex team for Ice Hockey and the Chelmsford Ice Hockey Academy really do cater for all when it comes to getting involved. They have a under 18 team called the Chelmsford Warriors and the academy run teams for Under 10’s,12’s,14’s,16’s and 18’s. If you are over 18, want to play and not up to Chieftains or Warriors standard there are recreation teams such as the Mischiefs and Nighthawks. The ladies are not left out either as the Chelmsford Cobras play in Women’s Division 1 South, so there really is a team for everybody. If you are keen to play or attend a game then check out the website below or the official Facebook page. www.chelmsfordchieftains.com

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

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on in January 2015? The Railway Wednesday 7th January - Quiz Night (8pm) Sunday 18th January - Dance til Dawn (3pm) Wednesday 21st January - Quiz Night (8pm) Thursday 22nd January - The Glenn Parrish Band (8.30pm)

Billericay Baptist Church What is life all about? Alpha helps to answer this question Come along on TUESDAY JANUARY 13th 2015 7.30pm- 9.45pm, Billericay Baptist, 140 Perry Street, Billericay, CM120NS To find out more visit the church website, billericaybaptist.net/alpha or contact church office, admin@billericaybaptist.net, 01277 654316

BRFC 10th January 2015

Billericay vs Old Brentwoods

17th January 2015

Billericay vs Sudbury

31st January 2015

Billericay vs Canterbrigian

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01277 658444 sales@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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OLDBARNCOURT,HIGHSTRE T, Bo kingEs ential BIL ERICAY,ES EX,CM129BY TELEPHONE:0127 630120

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 Antonio and the team.

Stock Rd, Chelmsford Essex CM2 8LB Full A La Carte Menu Monday to Saturday Lunch and Evening

Valentines

Saturday February 14

With Christmas and New Year over, Antonio and the team are working on a spectacular menu for Valentines Evening. Check the website for details and don’t miss the opportunity to impress your loved one on this special occasion, when only the best will do … Booking Essential

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

Menu Changes Changes at at La La Toscana Toscana Menu

To To reflect reflect the the change change in in season season and and to to ensure ensure we we always always offer offer the the very very freshest freshest produce produce to to our our customers, customers, all all our our menus’ have been revamped by Antonio and the team. menus’ have been revamped by Antonio and the team.

Valentines Valentines

th Saturday Saturday February February 14 14

With With Christmas Christmas and and New New Year Year over, over, Antonio Antonio and and the the team team are are working working on on a a spectacular spectacular menu menu for for Valentines Evening. Check the website for details Valentines Evening. Check the website for details and don’t miss the opportunity to impress your and don’t miss the opportunity to impress your loved loved one one on on this this special special occasion, occasion, when when only only the the best best will will do do … … Booking Booking Essential Essential

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

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

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Naturally good...

Pecan crusted chicken breast stuffed with roasted butternut squash and goats cheese served with a white wine and pancetta cream sauce

1. Pre heat the oven to 380F/180c. 2. Place the butternut squash onto a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place into the oven to bake until cooked through and starting to turn golden brown; this should take For the stuffed chicken approximately 15 to 20 minutes. 4 chicken breasts 3. Using a small knife, make an incision into the side of each chicken 170g butternut squash (peeled and breast. Move the knife around horizontally inside the breast to create a diced) pocket for the filling. Try to keep the incision no wider than an inch in 1 tbsp freshly chopped thyme length to keep the filling from spilling out when cooking. 100g soft goats cheese 4. Fill each breast with equal amounts of goats cheese and butternut Sea salt and freshly ground black squash by pushing them through the incision. Close the incision with a pepper cocktail skewer. Save some roasted butternut squash to garnish the tops 250g toasted pecans, finely chopped of the chicken breasts when they are cooked. 3 free range eggs, beaten 5. Sprinkle each filled breast with the chopped thyme and season 50ml olive oil generously with sea salt and black pepper. For the sauce 6. To prepare the pecans take whole pecans and pulse them in a food ¼ white onion (finely diced) 4 slices of pancetta or smoked streaky processor until they resemble course breadcrumbs. 7. Beat the eggs with ¼ tsp of salt (which helps to break down the egg bacon, chopped making it easier to dip the chicken in) and place the chopped pecans into 1 tsp freshly chopped thyme a bowl. Then dip each cutlet into the egg mixture and then the pecans 1 clove garlic, crushed and make sure they are well coated. 180 ml double cream 8. Place the chicken breasts onto a tray drizzled with olive oil and then 120 ml dry white wine drizzle each breast generously with more olive oil and season once more. 4 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated Place into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown. 9. Garnish the escallops with the remaining caramelized onions and freshly chopped parsley, don’t forget to remove the cocktail skewers before serving! 10. To make the sauce start by sautéing the pancetta or bacon until crispy and then add the onions and cook through until softened. At this point add the garlic and thyme and continue to cook for another minute to release the flavors. 11. Add the white wine and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until almost all of the wine has evaporated. Then add the cream, parmesan and seasoning. Continue to simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. 12. To serve, place each chicken breast onto a serving plate (don’t forget to remove the cocktail skewer) and spoon over the sauce. Top with some of the remaining butternut squash and some roughly chopped pecans and Ryan Turner, real food and low-carb a sprinkle of parsley. chef - www.thefoodbible.com

Ingredients for 4 servings:

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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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