Around Town Magazine Upminster April Edition 2019

ION EDIT 49

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CONTENTS 08 Marketing for Businesses

By Richard Pond

13

Thames Chase Trust Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

14 James Blower The Savings Guru

18 21

With the clocks springing forward, we now have lighter evenings. That means summer is on its way! Hopefully the mini heat wave we experienced over Easter weekend will be a regular occurrence!

If you managed to get away for a break, we hope you had a great time, and that the sun was shining for you.

We have a new editorial writer this month; Richard Pond will be providing regular marketing tips for small businesses, so please keep checking back for the next instalment.

If you would like to write for us please do get in touch as we are always looking for more editorial!

What’s On

There was a recent post about our magazines on Facebook. To say we were blown away by all of the positive comments is an understatement! Thank you to everyone who left kind works!

Julia Lopez

As always, please mention our advertisers when responding to adverts!

When and Where...

Political Update

Copyright 2019. Around Town Upminster 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.

From everyone at Around Town Magazines

Advertise in Around Town Magazines to put your name infront of homes and businesses in Upminster and the surrounding area

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

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

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Marketing for Businesses I have the pleasure to announce that Around Town Magazine has asked me to run a series of marketing tips in this fantastic monthly magazine.

Over the next 12 months, I will be bringing you a series of lead generation tips that you can implement into your marketing plan to help you grow your businesses.

My name is Richard Pond and I have been working in the marketing industry for over 20 years now. Over that time, I have seen many changes in the way we market our companies including the introduction of email, the internet for mainstream businesses, social media, smartphones and self-shot marketing videos to name just a few.

The big question I get asked on a weekly basis is what I should be doing to market my business online. I have been really lucky over the last few years to work closely with some of Billericay’s fantastic businesses both at my training courses and on a 1-2-1 basis.

Over the course of the next year I will be covering a number of subjects within this magazine including: How to create a marketing plan, how to define your ideal client or clients, Facebook for business, using video in your marketing, how to measure everything you do online, email marketing, how to write a killer headline that gets your posts and emails opened and much more.

Running a small business isn’t easy you have to wear a number of hats, but with my monthly tips, hopefully, marketing and lead generation will start to become a bit easier.

If you have any suggestion on specific things you would also like me to cover then please get in touch with either myself or Around Town Magazines and I will try my hardest to include these in the monthly articles.

RICHARD POND 07702 843434 www.richardpond.com richard@richardpond.com facebook.com/richardpondmarketing

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learning garden.

RESTED IN TRIATHLON OR MULTI-SPORTTheDISCIPLINES? Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers are supporting a number of

RI.CO.UK

projects throughout the Thames Chase Community Forest. At present the INTERESTED IN TRIATHLON OR MULTI-SPORT DISCIPLINES? THAMES the natural world close to their classrooms. CHASE INTERESTED TRIATHLON OR DISCIPLINES? INTERESTED ININ TRIATHLON ORMULTI-SPORT MULTI-SPORT DISCIPLINES? INTERESTED IN TRIATHLON OR MULTI-SPORT DISCIPLINES? HELP A recent project was VOLUNTEERS at Drapers Maylands School in Harold Hill, where over the course of four days our Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers SCHOOLCHILDREN delivered an exciting project creating a fantastic outdoor learning area CREATE within the school grounds.

This was facilitatedAN through aOUTDOOR Community Action Fund grant from a Heritage Lottery Grant under an extensive LEARNING GARDEN. project entitled ‘The Land of the Fanns’

teams are working with schools to provide learning opportunities about INTERESTED IN TRIATHLON OR MULTI-SPORT DISCIPLINES?

K.A.S. A.S. K.A.S. K.A.S. K.A.S.

HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK NGTRI.CO.UK HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK

ThetheThames Chase Conservation The school children helped teams of volunteers over four days to transform the area. AVolunteers wildlife pond was hand dug with spades, linedhelp and a are supporting Thames Chase volunteers Thames Chase volunteers help Thames Chase volunteers help filled with water. A pond dipping platform was designed and constructed schoolchildren create an number of projects throughout schoolchildren create create an anoutdoor outdoor schoolchildren outdoor and safety fencing wasthe built around the pond and platform. Community Hand crafted learning garden.

Thames Chase learning garden. learning garden. benches and a table were built and installed by the volunteers.

HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK HAVERINGTRI.CO.UK

K.A.S. K.A.S. K.A.S.

The Thames C projects throu ADULTSLEARN LEARN TO SWIM AND IMPROVER ADULTS TO SWIM AND IMPROVER LESSONS teams are wo KASUK.CO.UK KASUK.CO.UK ADULTS LEARN TO SWIM AND IMPROVER LESSONS A recent project was at ADULTSADULTS LEARN TO SWIM ANDTO IMPROVER LESSONS The children also helped with planting up the many aquatic plants in LEARN SWIM AND IMPROVER LESSONSthe natural wo Forest.

At present teams are The Conservation Volunteers are aanumber TheThames ThamesChase Chase Conservation Volunteersthe aresupporting supporting numberof of The Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers are supporting a number of projects the Chase At projectsthroughout throughoutwith theThames Thamesschools ChaseCommunity CommunityForest.

Forest.provide Atpresent presentthe the working to

projects throughout the Thames Chase Community Forest. At present the The school children and their watched in delight as theopportunities area was about teams are working schools teams areteachers workingwith with schoolsto toprovide providelearning learning opportunities about teams are working with schools to provide learning opportunities about learning opportunities the world tototheir transformed into a haven for wildlife.

Some children had a practiseabout at pond thenatural natural worldclose close theirclassrooms. classrooms. the natural world close to their classrooms. natural world close to dipping although it willthe be a little while until the wildlife moves in.

AArecent Drapers recentproject projectwas wasat DrapersMaylands MaylandsSchool SchoolinininHarold HaroldHill, Hill,where where A recent project was atatDrapers Maylands School Harold Hill, where LESSONS classrooms.

However, they were their happy just catching leaves in Chase their nets and Volunteers over course ofoffour days Thames overthe the course fourfallen daysour our Thames ChaseConservation Conservation Volunteers over the course of four days our Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers ananexciting creating delivered exciting project creating outdoor learningarea area learning about some ofdelivered the animals thatproject will soon liveaaafantastic infantastic theiroutdoor pond. learning delivered an exciting project creating fantastic outdoor learning area within withinthe theschool schoolgrounds. grounds.This Thiswas wasfacilitated facilitatedthrough throughaaaCommunity Community within the school grounds.

This was facilitated through Community Action ActionFund Fundgrant grantfrom fromaaaHeritage HeritageLottery LotteryGrant Grantunder underan anextensive extensive Action Fund grant from Heritage Lottery Grant under an extensive

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project Land the projectentitled entitled‘The ‘TheMaylands Landof theFanns’ Fanns’ project entitled ‘The ofofthe Fanns’ baskets for the pond Drapers (kindly donated byLand Latchford Aquatics,School Upminster) CONTACT KAY HAMILTON 07957 567915 CONTACT KAY HAMILTON 07957 567915 in Harold Hill, where over The school the of volunteers over The schoolchildren childrenhelped helped theteams teams volunteers overfour fourdays daysto to and planted some locally grown native trees around the pond area.

The school children helped the teams ofofvolunteers over four days to transform the pond was with lined transform thearea. area.AAAwildlife wildlife pond washand handdug dug withspades, spades, linedand and the course of four days our transform the area. wildlife pond was hand dug with spades, lined and filled filledwith withwater. water.AApond ponddipping dippingplatform platformwas wasdesigned designedand andconstructed constructed filled with water.

A pond dipping platform was designed and constructed having planting trees as part offencing afencing Community Forest Project, forHand Thames Chase Conservation and safety was built the pond platform. and safety was builtaround around the pondand andTrees platform.

Handcrafted crafted CONTACT HAMILTON 07957 567915 ADULTS KAY LEARN TO SWIM AND IMPROVER and safety fencingLESSONS was built around the pond and platform. Hand crafted Learning, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural benches and were built and bybythe volunteers. benches anda atable table were built andinstalled installed the volunteers.

Volunteers delivered an benches and a table were built and installed by the volunteers.

CONTACT KAY HAMILTON 07957 567915 Affairs the children are very happy to take care of the creating area and look exciting project Theschool schoolchildren childrenand andtheir theirteachers teacherswatched watchedinindelight delightasasthe thea areawas was The area The school children and their teachersprogramme. watched in delight as the area was forward to using it regularly as part of their learning transformedinto intoa ahaven haven forwildlife. wildlife.Some Somechildren children hadaapractise practiseatarea atpond pond transformed for had fantastic outdoor learning transformed into a haven for wildlife. Some children had a practise at pond dippingalthough althoughititwill willbebea alittle littlewhile whileuntil untilthe thewildlife wildlifemoves movesin. in. dipping dipping although it will be a little while until the wildlife moves in. within the grounds.

Projects such as this are fundamental tohappy theschool work of the Thames However, theywere were happy justcatching catching fallen leavesininChase theirnets netsand and However, they just fallen leaves their

KASUK.CO.UK DWIM IMPROVER LESSONS AND IMPROVER LESSONS A recent proje KASUK.CO.UK TS LEARN TO SWIM AND IMPROVER LESSONS over the cour UK.CO.UK KASUK.CO.UK KASUK.CO.UK CONTACT KAY HAMILTON 07957 567915 delivered an e

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However, they were happy just catching fallen leaves in their nets and

If you 567915 would like help with a HAMILTON 07957 567915 CONTACT KAY HAMILTON NTACT KAY HAMILTON 07957 07957 567915 project such as the one above Trust, who manage thelearning Community Forest arethat hugely grateful to the learning aboutsome some theand animals that willsoon soon liveinintheir their pond. about ofofthe animals will live pond. learning about some of the animals that will soon live in their pond. fantastic teams of volunteers and their leader, Becky Gibson, who yet plants againin Thechildren childrenalso alsohelped helpedwith withplanting plantingupupthe themany manyaquatic aquaticplants The in The children also helped with planting up the many aquatic plants in demonstrate their excellent skills, and team work on another basketsfor forthe theknowledge pond(kindly (kindlydonated donated Latchford Aquatics, Upminster) baskets pond bybyLatchford Aquatics, Upminster) baskets for the pond (kindly donated by Latchford Aquatics, Upminster) andplanted plantedsome somelocally locallygrown grownnative nativetrees treesaround aroundthe thepond pondarea. area. very successful project.and and planted some locally grown native trees around the pond area.

ON 07957 567915

or would like your school to

havinginvolved planting treesasaspart partof ofa aCommunity Community Forest Project,for Treesfor for be in the ‘Trees having planting trees Forest Project, Trees If you are interest in joining our army working throughout having planting treesofas volunteers part of a Community Forest Project, Trees for Learning,funded fundedbybythe theDepartment Departmentfor forEnvironment, Environment,Food Foodand andRural Rural Learning, the Forest or at the Forest Centre, get in touch.

(Email below) Learning, funded please by theProject, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Learning’ please email Affairs the children are very happy to take care of the area and look

Affairs the children are very happy to take care of the area and look

Affairs the children are very happy to take care of the area and look forwardtotousing usingititregularly regularlyasaspart partofoftheir theirlearning learningprogramme. programme. enquiries@thameschase.org.uk forward

within the sch Action Fund g project entitle

forward to using itsuch regularly as part of above their learning programme.

If you would like help with a project as the one or would like Projects suchas‘Trees asthis thisare arefundamental fundamental thework workofplease ofthe theThames Thames Chase Projects totothe your school to be involved insuch the Learning’ emailChase Projects such as this arefor fundamental to Project, the work of the Thames Chase Trust,who whomanage managethe theCommunity CommunityForest Forestand andare arehugely hugelygrateful gratefulto tothe the Trust, enquiries@thameschase.org.uk Trust, who manage the Community Forest and are hugely grateful fantastic teams of volunteers and their leader, Becky Gibson, who to yetthe again

THE THAMES CHASE TRUST For more information: Thames Chase Trust: www.thameschase.org.uk

The school ch the and PRESS TrailNet. The Minister transform also RELEASE had the opportunity to try out one filled with wat of the adapted bicycles. and safety fen The visit also promoted the ongoing work and achievements of benches the and a

fantastic teams of volunteers and their leader, Becky Gibson, who yet again fantastic teamstheir of volunteers and leader, Becky Gibson, who yet again demonstrate excellentskills, skills,their knowledge andteam team workon onanother another demonstrate their excellent knowledge and work demonstrate their excellent skills, knowledge and team work on another verysuccessful successful project. very project. very successful project. youare areinterest interestininjoining joiningour ourarmy armyofofvolunteers volunteersworking workingthroughout throughout If Ifyou Ifthe youForest are interestthe in joining our armyplease of volunteers working throughout ForestCentre, Centre, getinintouch. touch.

(Email below) the Forest ororatatthe Forest please get (Email below) the Forest or at the Forest Centre, please get in touch. (Email below) The Thames Chase Trust had great pleasure in welcoming the Rt Hon Michael Ifyou youwould wouldlike likehelp helpwith witha aproject projectsuch suchasasthe theone oneabove aboveor orwould wouldlike like IfGove MP like (Secretary Statesuch forasEnvironment, and Rural Affairs) and Ifyour you would help with aof project the one above orFood would like school to be involved in the ‘Trees for Learning’ Project, please email your to be involved in the ‘Treesand for Learning’ Project,toplease Juliaschool Lopez (Hornchurch the email Thames Chase Forest your school to MP be involved in the ‘Trees for Upminster) Learning’ Project, please email enquiries@thameschase.org.uk enquiries@thameschase.org.uk Centre. enquiries@thameschase.org.uk

The Thames Chase Trust had great pleasure in welcoming the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and Julia Lopez MP The Board of Trustees shared and promoted the work of the Thames Chase (Hornchurch and Upminster) Trust, to the the wider Community Forest and its Thames Chase Plan. Particular was placed on the relationship between the Thames Chase Plan and Thames Chase Forest Centre. emphasis Heritage Fund Land of HM Government’s 25 Year Plan toLottery Improve the Environment. the Fanns Landscape Partnership During the visit, the Secretary of State officially opened the adapted bathroom The Board of Trustees sharedand and For project the has community, associatedScheme. facilities. This valuable been delivered in The school ch partnership with Positive Parents - a parent forum in Havering representing promoted the work of the Thames Land ofwiththe Fanns isNeeds a five year children and young people Special Educational and Disabilities, and TrailNet. The Minister also had the opportunity to try in out one of the Chase Trust, the wider Community programme that began 2017 transformed in adapted bicycles.

Forest and its Thames Chase Plan. that will deliver 27 individual The visit also promoted the ongoing work and achievements of the Heritage dipping althou Particular emphasis was placed projects aimed atPartnership engaging Lottery Fund Land of the Fanns Landscape Scheme. local For the community, of the Fanns is a five year programme that began in 2017 on the relationship between the Land communities with their local natural, that will deliver 27 individual projects aimed at engaging local communities However, the Thames Chase Plan andwithHM and archaeological their local cultural, natural, cultural,built built and archaeological heritage. The Scheme also aims to bring together a range of people and organisations to work Government’s 25 Year Plan to togetherto acrossheritage. the landscape. The Scheme also aims learning about Improve the Environment. bring together a range of people The Minister celebrated his visit by planting a tree from the Thames Chase and organisations tothanked workthetogether Community Tree Nursery and before departing, Community Forest trustees, staff & volunteers, and partner organisations for an During the visit, the Secretary across the landscape. inspirational visit.

The children a of State officially opened the adapted bathroom and associated by Notes to editor: The Minister celebrated his visit baskets for th facilities. This valuable project has planting For more information, please visit: a tree from the Thames and planted so been delivered in partnershipThames with Chase Community Tree Nursery Chase Trust: www.thameschase.org.uk Positive Parents - a parent Land forum before departing, thanked the of the Fanns:and www.landofthefanns.org in Havering representing children Community Forest trustees, staff & Positive Parents: www.positiveparentshavering.org.uk and young people with Special volunteers, and partner organisations TrailNet: www.trailnet.org.uk having planting Educational Needs and Disabilities, for an inspirational visit.

Learning, fund Affairs the chi PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS 13 forward to us

April Savings Round Up

I

t’s been a busy few weeks in the savings market and at Savings Guru HQ with a host of rate changes, two new banks entering the market and an awards evening!

New easy access table toppers As we predicted, Family Building Society withdrew their table topping premium saver account, paying 1.51%. In fairness, it lasted a little longer than we expected. Fortunately, no sooner had it ended, Kent Reliance were launching a 1.50% easy access account joining Marcus and Virgin Money at the top of our best buy tables.

While all our best buys are online only account opening, Kent Reliance has launched a 1.40% easy access account that is available through its branch network in the South East and by post.

RCI Bank secures UK Banking licence A mainstay of our easy access tables over the past few years has been RCI Bank, owned

by French car manufacturer Renault. It has Brexit proofed its business by obtaining a UK banking licence and coming under the protection of the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme, rather than the French equivalent which its savers deposits were previously covered under.

Two new banks enter the UK savings market Banks were like buses in the last month. Having only seen the launch of Marcus since 2017, Arbuthnot Direct and Smart Save Bank, owned by Chetwood Financial, joined the market. Arbuthnot launched with competitively priced 3 Year (2.40%) and 5 Year (2.50%) Fixed Rate Bonds.

Smart Save Bank launched with a 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond paying 2%, the best outside of the Islamic Banks dominating the top of our one year tables. Unsurprisingly, that rate lasted less than two weeks before being withdrawn. The online application process was impressively simple and easy though, so we look forward to seeing future product launches.

14

Zopa Bank to be next?

We don’t expect this flurry of new launches to end anytime soon. Peer to peer lender Zopa obtained a banking licence at the end of 2018 and is in a testing period known as mobilisation.

We expect to see Zopa launch fully in the summer and, given the impact it has had on the peer to peer lending market, with over £3bn lent, we anticipate big things.

Monzo partners with OakNorth for savings accounts Fintech darling Monzo has partnered with OakNorth to enable the later to provide savings accounts to its 1.6 million current account customers. Monzo had previously launched savings accounts with Investec in November 2019 but these were closed to new customers in February this year.

The tie up with OakNorth sees four savings accounts launched: • • • •

Instant savings - 1% 6 Month Fixed Rate Bond -1.36% 9 Month Fixed Rate Bond - 1.46% 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond - 1.53%

There’s also two ISAs – an Instant Savings Cash ISA 1.14% and a 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond ISA 1.38%.

The accounts can all be opened and managed via Monzo’s mobile app and come with a £500 minimum opening balance, so are accessible and very easy to use for their customers. However, the convenience comes at a price with OakNorth offering around 0.35% better rates for the same products direct. Monzo customers will also be able to find other providers paying around 0.50% more.

This is definitely a step forward for Monzo customers, but we expect that there will be other savings partnerships for their current account holders going forward and their prospective savers will probably be hoping that the rates on offer get closer to the market leaders.

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Government savings schemes flop With Brexit dominating the political agenda, one piece of news slipped out from the Office of Budget Responsibility almost uncovered. The budget watchdog announced that the £845m the government expected to be used to top up payments for Lifetime ISA (LISA) savers by 2021 has been halved from £845m to £420m.

What are the best rates currently?

The savings market does move quickly, so we always recommend that you check our website for the latest rates. At time of print, our best personal savings rates are: Term

Interest Rate

Provider

Similarly, just over 90,000 savers have joined the Help to Save scheme, where the government gives 50p extra for every £1 lower income earners save.

This is substantially under the 195,000 forecast.

Instant Savings

1.50%

Marcus, Virgin Money, Kent Reliance

Notice

1.90%

Charter Savings Bank

Both schemes have been launched with good intentions but have been poorly executed. LISAs are far too complex and confused with the dual but fundamentally completely different savings objectives of house purchase and retirement. Help to Save is a noble idea but incentives aren’t the reason why the poorest fail to save, lack of money to spare is.

1 Year

2.20%

Bank of London & Middle East

18 Months

2.32%

Al Rayan Bank

2 Year

2.45%

Gatehouse Bank

3 Year

2.52%

Al Rayan Bank

4 Year

2.52%

Vanquis Bank

5 Year

2.75%

Gatehouse Bank

British Bank Awards Savings Guru finished runner up in the Consultancy of the Year category of the British Bank Awards, beating global heavyweights including Deloitte, Capco and CapGemini. Congratulations to winners 11:FS and thank you to every one of you who took the time to vote for us.

That’s all for this month. If you don’t want to wait for next month’s update, then you can subscribe to our newsletter by submitting your email address on our website!

James Blower Founder Savings Guru Ltd

www.thesavings.guru hello@thesavings.guru @SavingsGuruUK PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

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ACS Dance Centre Ballroom dancing weekly class to learn something new, have fun and get fit! Beginners welcome Fridays 7.30-8.30pm at ACS Dance Club, 66 Albert Road, RM1 2PP. Experienced dancers Tuesdays 8.30pm or Mondays 8.30pm- please Call Diana 01708 783576 for details Chelmsford & District Welsh Society presents their annual concert featuring the Bridgend Male Voice Choir, and the talented trio Serin. To be held at Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday 8th June, 2019 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £17.50.

For more details or tickets please contact Gwenno on 07724144432 www.chelmsfordwelsh.org.uk/home www.facebook.com/ chelmsfordwelsh Twitter@chelmsfordwelsh Clockhouse Bowling Club The Club welcomes new members, either existing bowlers or beginners. Our green is situated in Clockhouse Gardens, St Marys Lane, Upminster, close to Waitrose, in delightful surroundings. 2019 Club Open days will be held on Wednesday 1st May 3.00 - 7.00pm and Saturday 4th May 10.00am - 4.00pm. Bowls and equipment will be available, the only requirement is flat soled shoes. So why not join us. Details on: www. clockhousebowlingclub.co.uk. email: clockhousebowlingclub@ gmail.com.

Cranham Art Society If you would like to join a friendly Art Club why not give us a try. We meet every Tuesday in Cranham Community Centre in Marlborough Gardens every

18

Tuesday between 10am & noon.

Whatever your standard you will be made welcome.

Ring Gordon Setter on 01708 225612 for more information.

Cranham Community Library Come along to our new style Library at Cranham Community Centre in Marlborough Gardens.

We have a great range of jigsaws and fiction books to borrow. We are open Tuesday to Friday 10.00 to 12.00 and Monday 1.30 to 3.30.

Volunteers wanted ring Janet 01708 222665 for information.

Cranham Over 60s Club Covers Upminster and Cranham.

Every Thursday 1’00pm ‘till 3.00pm.

Cranham Social Centre.

Good company, tea and biscuits, entertainment, dancing free raffle, bingo. Car parking at the rear.

Access for the disabled.

All welcomed. £4.00 each.

Just turn up, or ring 0208 5935 625.

Eastbury Concert Band Eastbury Concert Band. We are a military band that rehearses at Havering-atte-Bower every Friday evening and are currently seeking wind and percussion musicians of any age and standard to join us.

No auditions, no marching, wide variety of music, mainly local charitable performances.

So if you enjoy making music in a friendly environment call Jeff on 01708 767145 or visit our web site http://www.eastburyconcertband. com. for more details.

Friends of Parklands The aim of our “Friends” Group is to maintain Parklands Open Space as a pleasant place to walk and relax, surrounded by a

natural environment.

We arrange Working Parties to keep Parklands tidy and to help control any excessive overgrowth. The Working Parties meet for a couple of hours, at 10 a.m., on the second Wednesday of every month.

If you would like to join us please visit our website, www.friendsofparklands.org.uk, for further information, or email our Working Party Organiser, Andy Brett, at: upminsterbrett@gmail.com Friends Of Upminster Mini Golf Course We are a recently formed group with the aims of promoting the Mini Golf Course in Hall Lane, Upminster and working in partnership with Havering Council to improve amenities and to encourage people of all ages to participate at the course. Find us on Facebook.

Why not come and give it a go. Equipment is supplied and the course suits all abilities from novices to experienced golfers looking to improve their short game.

More information on the Councils website: www.havering.gov.uk/ Pages/ServiceChild/Hall-Lanegolf-course.

Friends of Upminster Windmill Volunteers are sought to help us develop and maintain an attractive garden area around the new visitor centre at Upminster Windmill. Our small friendly group meets on Tuesdays. If you would like to help email info@ upminsterwindmill.org or enquire at the site on a Tuesday.

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‘Gone Too Soon’ 20th May Bereavement Support for Parents who have lost a Son or Daughter, all ages. Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday of each month, at Reids, 66-68 Laindon Road, Billericay CM12 9LD from 7.00 p.m,. – 9.00 p.m.

There is ample free parking.

For further details please contact Lyn on 07387 805406 or email lyncurrie@hotmail.co.uk Greenfingers Gardening Club We are a friendly group and meet at the Cranham Community Centre, Marlborough Gardens, Cranham. 7.30pm First Monday of the month, but if this falls on a Bank Holiday we meet on the following Monday. No meetings in August.

Horticultural speakers, raffle and free refreshments.

Come & join us you will be very welcome. Info from Sheila Woodrow 01708 228752 Havering Museum The Museum tells the remarkable story of Havering from pre-history to the present day and celebrates the achievements of local people while exploring how the areas that make up the Borough were formed and developed.

Currently exhibiting; Titanic Honour and Glory. It tells the story of the Titanic disaster through artefacts and includes stories from local people, who have a connection to the ship.

We also have various family events, talks and events on throughout the year.

See website for details www.haveringmuseum.org.uk

or phone 01708 766571 Registered charity no109376 “Learn, Laugh and Live!”

Havering U3A meets at 2:30pm second Wednesday of the month at St. Michael’s Church Hall, Main Road, Gidea Park. May 8th Lionel Bart by Geoff Bowden.Interest groups run throughout the month.

Doors open 2:15pm. For more information come along or see our website. www.u3asites.org.uk/havering Liberty of Havering Outdoor Bowling Club Open Day Saturday 4th May 2019 10am 4pm. The Club are looking for members especially LADIES and invite you to ‘Come and have a Go’ No experience required.

Sociable & good for your health Please wear flat shoes or trainers.

Refreshments will be available.

The Club is located at the rear of the sports Centre in Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch Contact Anne Phillips 01708 470370 or Sheila Burton 07949307336 Pilates for a Healthier Spine Experienced Sports & Remedial Massage Therapists Charlene & Neil Carpenter teach traditional Pilates in private sessions and also to small groups in Upminster & Cranham.

For further information or to book a course or trial class please visit www.upminstersportsmassage. co.uk or call Charlene on 07411 826721, or email upminstersportsmassage@gmail.com Romford Ladies Probus Luncheon Club We are a friendly club which meets on the fourth Wednesday

of the month at the Masonic Hall, Deyncourt Gardens, Upminster.

We offer a homely three course meal and a range of interesting speakers. If you are interested please call Wendy on 01708 450170 or Sandra on 01708 551067 Upminster and District Horticultural Society On Tuesday 14th May we have Jim Buttress speaking about the time he was managing some of the Royal Parks in central London.

We also have the Society’s plant sale, where members sell at bargain prices, the plants that they have grown. All proceeds will go to our chosen charities, St Francis Hospice and Jack’s Place Charity. The lectures are held in the New Windmill Hall, St Mary’s Lane, Upminster from at 7.45pm until 9.45pm.

Entrance is free to members and is £2 for non-members.

For more information visit www. upminsterhorticulturalsociety.co.uk Upminster and District Probus Club Retired with free time during the week - Upminster and District Probus Club. Luncheon club, with talks and outings, for retired men, covering art, crime, gardening, history, music, sport and transport etc. Meet on the last Wednesday of the month at the Cranleigh Restaurant, Hornchurch.

Outings planned 2019: Royal Opera House Backstage Tour, D-Day in Portsmouth, Orwell Cruise and Royal Landscape Heritage Tour Secretary: Barry on 01708 703783 secretary@upminsterprobus.com www.upminsterprobus.com and www.facebook.com

If you would like to promote your club or event for Apr/May then please email a maximum of 70 words to:

admin@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk Please ensure that all contact details are included.

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Julia Lopez Member of Parliament for Hornchurch and Upminster I start my Around Town column with the frustrating news that our bid for Access for All funding to get a lift to Platform 6 at Upminster Station was unfortunately not successful. My team and I are terribly disappointed by this news as we had secured a huge amount of support from the Upminster and Cranham community via our petition, plus endorsements from local community groups, and thought we had a strong case.

The idea was to make journeys to Romford on the Overground branch much easier for residents with push chairs, luggage or wheelchairs in time for the opening of new Crossrail services. However, the Department for Transport must weigh our bid against equally strong bids at railway stations across the country and unfortunately it was not to be. We shall nonetheless continue to look out for other opportunities to make it easier for those with mobility issues to travel as we think it is so important to help people lead as independent and fulfilling lives as possible.

Policing continues to be a concern for residents, and we recently dealt with a spike in correspondence about street crimes. We took these reports up with police immediately and arranged a meeting between offcers a nd a n a aected r esident at my recent Upminster surgery. We have been assured by the local ward inspector that additional resources have been put into the area and his offcers are trying to cover all areas

where constituents have reported drug dealing with both marked and unmarked patrols. Meanwhile the police put in place Easter end-ofschools plans which saw their schools offcers on patrol in the crime hot spots, while neighbourhood teams undertook plain clothes patrols, stop and search and weapons sweeps.

I have continued to meet local charities involved in youth violence work to see how we might feed into the council’s new Serious Violence Strategy to deter young people from criminal paths.

The police have asked that I highlight again and strongly encourage residents to attend their ward offcers’ r egular w ard p anel meetings. These are a good forum for raising concerns and ensuring local needs can be met. Local contact sessions are advertised on Twitter (@ MPSUpminster or @MPSCranham) and the neighbourhood website (www.met.police.uk/a/your-area/ met/havering/upminster/), and leaflet drops are carried out when there may have been some police activity, such as a warrant that may have been executed under the Misuse of Drugs Act. In other news, I recently met representatives from Santander about their proposed closure of their Upminster branch and how we might mitigate the impact from the loss of services. I am very pleased to report that eight schools in our constituency

have been successful in bids to the Department for Education for facilities improvement cash, including Upminster Junior School and Sacred Heart. I picked up casework issues when out doorknocking in Cranham recently, including concerns about private lanes in the area being visible on Google streetview. My team have made representations to Google to request that these are blurred out to ensure back access to people’s homes is not on view.

Finally, every young person in our borough has access to a place at Havering Sixth Form College on Wingletye Lane, and I recently attended a packed parliamentary debate about the funding of further education colleges to highlight the challenges facing standalone sixth forms like the College. Funding per student aged 16 to 18 has seen the biggest squeeze of all stages of education in recent years, and we are keen to get that rectified at the forthcoming Spending Review so that the College can better gear students for the next stage of their careers or education.

As ever, if you have a problem you think my team and I can help you with, please drop us a line! Or if you would like to come and have a look around parliament, we can book you in for a complimentary tour.

Julia.Lopez.MP@parliament.uk 0207 219 2631 www.julialopez.co.uk Twitter: @julialopezmp House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

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