Around Town Magazine Rayleigh November Edition 2017

H L E I G R AY T I O N E D I 4 8

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06

CONTENTS 08 A View from the Church Revd Nick Rowan

08

Mark Francois

10

Recipe

20

Rotary Club / Lions Club

22

Nature Notes

23

4 Years and Counting

24

James Blower

27 27

Political Update

Bone Broth

Organisations Around Town

EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner

4 Year Anniversary

The Savings Guru

18

14

• Block Paving • Walls • Drainage Che ape r th a • Tarmac • Natural Stones • Resin Bonded Drives Your Stove is waiting for ALL WORK UNDERTA FULLY INSURED • NO DEPO Keep

What’s On When and Where...

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Cal .

Copyright 2017. Around Town Rayleigh 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. Photo for illustration purposes only

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this special season in their songs, readings and pictures.

Revd Nick Rowan

As I write we are preparing for all the different events that happen in church through Advent.

Our Advent season kicks of in Holy Trinity Church with the Friends of Holy Trinity’s fourth annual Christmas Tree Festival. Across Rayleigh, local playgroups and schools (including Parent Teacher Associations), shops, businesses, charities, clubs and societies are being invited to decorate a Christmas tree. These trees will be displaying in church and are a wonderful way of creatively sharing the joy, awe and wonder of the Christmas season.

The Christmas Tree festival will open on Thursday 30th November, when the church will be open from 3:30pm until 7:00pm to coincide with the evening of the Rayleigh Christmas Lights switch on. It will also be open at various times on Friday 1st – Monday 4th December.

There is free entry to the church. You will be offered the opportunity to purchase a voting slip for 20p to vote for your favourite tree. All funds raised will go towards the upkeep of our historic church building.

Later on in December I am very much looking forward to hosting carol services for RRAVS, Glebe Primary School, Grove Wood Primary school, Edward Francis Primary School, Rayleigh Primary School, Fitzwimarc School, Sweyne Park School, the Cubs of Crouch Valley District and the Cubs, Brownies, Beavers and Rainbows based at Holy Trinity.

It is amazing how each group captures a different aspect of

For many Advent is seen as simply a count down to the celebrations on Christmas day. Within church tradition advent is a season of expectation and preparation. During Advent the Church prepares to celebrate the coming (adventus) of Jesus Christ at his birth in Bethlehem. There is a sense of getting ourselves spiritually ready to join in with this celebration of God’s son being born as one of us.

During Advent the church also looks forward with expectation to Jesus Christ’s final coming (advent) as judge at the end of time. Part of this looking forward with expectation involves Christians taking stock of our lives and of the world we live in. Reflection should lead to change and to prayer.

Finding space for reflection amidst all the acitivity can be difficult, but it is both important and meaningful. A traditional Advent prayer can be summed up in the Aramaic word ‘Maranatha’. (Aramaic is the language Jesus would have spoken). ‘Maranatha’ means both ‘Our Lord has come’ and ‘Our Lord, Come!’

This dual meaning reflects both preparing to celebrate what has already happened on that first Christmas and also looking forward with expectation to what will happen.

I hope that amidst the business of preparing for Christmas festivities and celebrations you will have the opportunity to stop and reflect this Advent. It is a good opportunity to reflect on our lives; our priorities, our commitments, our past words and actions and our future hopes and aspirations. If you are able take stock of your life and the world around you, I hope that that Our Lord will come, and that you will know light, joy, peace, transformation and healing in your life.

Best wishes Nick Parish Office 01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk

www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk

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7

Downhall and Rawreth ward (in which I happen to live) sadly passed away recently after suffering a sudden heart attack.

Chris was the longest serving councillor on Rochford District Council, having first been elected as far back in 1984. He was also the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Council from 19931995 and then from 2002-2017.

mark francois conservative Parliamentary mP for rayleigh & Wickford

I was very sad to hear the news recently

that

Councillor

Chris

Black, the 59 year old Liberal Democrat

Councillor

for

the

Not only was Chris Black the longest serving Councillor on Rochford District Council, he was also one of the most respected. He had a thorough grasp of local issues and always worked very hard on behalf of his constituents in the Downhall and Rawreth ward.

Although he was in a different

party from me, as the local MP I always had a very high regard for Chris because of his strenuous efforts on behalf of the people he represented. He was very knowledgeable and brought his experience to bear for the benefit of the whole Council. In my 16 years as the local MP, whilst we sometimes disagreed on politics, I don’t think we ever had a seriously crossed word about anything.

I recently attended Chris’ funeral service at Holy Trinity Church in Rayleigh along with many other people who had come to pay their respects to such a wellrespected man. My sympathies remain with his widow Elena and their son Sasha and I can honestly say that our community has lost one of its best.

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RECIPE Bone Broth Ingredients: 4lbs beef or chicken bones 12 cups water 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 3 large carrots, chopped 2 leeks, chopped 3 bay leaves 4 sprigs fresh rosemary 6 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon black peppercorns

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 200c and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the bones on the sheet and roast for 40 minutes. Flip them halfway through.

5. For beef bone broth simmer for 48 hours, for chicken 24 hours.

2. Once they’re cooked, break them down and place in a large stockpot. Cover with the water and vinegar and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

7. Transfer the broth to an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-6 hours or overnight. This will allow the fat to rise to the top and solidify.

3. Add the chopped vegetables and add to the stockpot. Bring to a rolling boil and then lower to a simmer.

4. For the first 2-3 hours make sure you skim off any foamy layer that develops on the top and discard.

6. Allow to cool slightly and strain.

8. Scrape the fat off the top with a spoon. This will leave you with a gelatinous bone broth when cold.

9. Store in an airtight mason jar or freeze until ready to use then slowly warm the broth over a low heat or drop straight into soups and casseroles.

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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ROTARY CLUB OF RAYLEIGH MILL Another busy period for the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill that has seen members of the club present Dictionaries for Life to all Year Six pupils in all of Rayleigh, Hockley and Hullbridge’s 12 Primary Schools.

President Carl Watson, on behalf of the club, presented a, much needed, computer to the Rayleigh branch of the Citizen Advice Bureau.

In the interim the club has presented cheques to Belchamps Scout Activity Centre, Rayleigh Air Training Corps and our own Ladies Inner Wheel club for their help in organizing and running our first Rayleigh 10k Run. On his visit to the club, President Carl, presented a cheque for £600 to District President, Nick Sillitoe, in aid of his nominated charity BuildAid, a charity dedicated to providing new-build and re-construction projects in areas of the world in desperate need.

On the social side of our activities we have enjoyed an indoor bowling night at the Rayleigh Leisure Centre, a Pauper’s Supper at Squire’s Coffee Shop where we were entertained and enlightened by an interesting talk on the career of Horatio Nelson by Clinton Lee, and our Rayleigh Mill Golf Team narrowly won the annual Tony Bakonyvari Golf Tournament between our club and Rochford Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill has an interesting and variable diary of events, both social and charitable.

If you would be interested in participating, or are just curious, please see our website at www.rotary-ribi. org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1797

RAYLEIGH LIONS CLUB The Lions Club of Rayleigh is part of the International Association of Lions Clubs, and our primary aim is to raise and distribute funds within out local area.

The Lions Club Of Rayleigh was chartered in 1974 and serves the Rayleigh, Hockley, Hullbridge and Rochford areas. Our club is a Voluntary Service Organisation and a registered charity, we are always looking for people willing to help make their community a better place to live.

By visiting our website, you will be able to find out about the work of the international organisation of Lions and the Lions Club of Rayleigh in particular, including our activities and also details of forthcoming events, and who to contact for further information.

Our club meets on the 1st (business) & 3rd (social) Tuesdays in every month in Rayleigh.

Guests are always welcome. http://www.rayleighlions.org.uk

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November is a good time to look for Goldcrests.

Autumn walks in the woodlands are spectacular and colourful but can be very quiet for a period. That is, until you chance upon a feeding party of small birds and the trees are then alive with high-pitched calls of birds in the Tit family: Long-tailed, Blue, Great and, sometimes, Coal Tits.

Very often a Goldcrest or two will be amongst these.

Look for the tiny, dumpy restless bird with a thin beak. Or, if your hearing is good, stop by any patch of conifers or holly and listen for the high pitched ‘ze ze ze’. That call can also be heard on a walk to work through the suburbs. Goldcrests visit gardens too and have distinct preference for conifers. They will hunt for food in those large Leylandii highly favoured for garden hedging. To get them in the garden try sprinkling cheese on a conifer. One year I attracted one to our old Christmas tree.

SELBOURNE ROAD

A13

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We buy clean and dry mens, ladies, childrens clothing and shoes including curtains, bed linen, towels etc

The Goldcrest makes very high pitched songs and calls, so is inaudible to many of us.

It is tiny, weighing less than a teaspoon of sugar, and is one of our two smallest birds, the other being the much less common Firecrest. Goldcrests are found here all year round but they are more common in late autumn and early winter when their numbers are swelled with visitors from Scandinavia. So these tiny birds have to endure flights across the North Sea.

Another attraction at this time of year is fungi. You can find fungi in the woodlands but to find the best varieties, especially the colourful waxcaps, it is best to look in old churchyards, or unimproved pastures such as those around Daws Heath, Sweyne Park and Cherry Orchard. Children are better at finding fungi than adults as their eyes are sharper and closer to the ground. But some fungi are poisonous so always wash hands well after collecting them and only forage with an expert in identifying edible mushrooms.

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4 YEARS AND COUNTING! For 48 consecutive months Around Town Magazine has been dropping through the doors of Rayleigh and we wanted to thank you for your continued support.

It is hard to believe that over 1,000,000 copies have been delivered since the magazine was started and we are both proud and dedicated in producing the number one local community magazine for your area.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our advertisers and readers. While we work hard to produce this magazine on a monthly basis, it would not be possible without the constant support of the loyal local businesses who continue to believe in our community publication as a way of achieving more business for their company.

We would also like to thank the people of Rayleigh who use our magazine on regular basis whether it be for a local tradesman for home improvement work or to book a table at a local restaurant or perhaps attend an upcoming event within the area.

And finally a big thank you to our regular contributors, who are happy to dedicate their personal time helping our community magazine be an interesting read as well as a great source of useful trades and businesses.

01277 658444

H E I G Y L R A

admin@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk

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HOW HOWCAN CANIISTART STARTSAVING SAVINGIF IF IIDON'T DON'THAVE HAVEANY ANYSAVINGS? SAVINGS? Firstly, Firstly,if ifyou youfind findyourself yourselfin inthis this situation, situation, you you areare notnot alone. alone.

Over Over 40% 40% of ofpeople peoplein inthetheUKUKeither eitherhave havenono savings savings at at allall or or just just a small a small amount amount of ofcash, cash,less lessthan than£500, £500,putputaway. away.

Many Many people people have have had had nono pay pay rise, rise, or orbelow belowinflation inflationsalary salaryincreases, increases, since sincethethefinancial financialcrisis. crisis.With Withthethe cost costof ofgoods goodsand andservices servicesrising, rising, many manywould wouldbebesavers saverswould wouldlove love to to bebe in in thethe position position of ofhaving having spare spare cash cashto toputputaway awayevery everymonth monthbutbut simply simply don’t don’t have have any any money money leftleft over over at at thethe end end of of thethe month. month.

There There areare plenty plenty of of financial financial advice advice sites sites and and blogs blogs that that willwill telltell you you to to give give upup that that expensive expensivegym gymmembership, membership,take takea a packed packed lunch lunch to to work work and and stop stop buying buying coffees coffees and and you’ll you’ll have have loads loads of of spare spare cash. cash.I certainly I certainlyadvocate advocatereviewing reviewing thethe standing standing orders orders and and direct direct debits debits that that come come outout of of your your account account to to make make sure sure you you areare stillstill using using them. them.

It is It is often often enlightening enlightening also also to to analyse analyse what what you you actually actuallyspend, spend,rather ratherthan thanwhat whatyou you think thinkyou youspend, spend,ononentertainment, entertainment, clothes clothes and and eating eating out. out.

However, However,wewedon’t don’tallallhave havethethetime time forfor this this and and forfor many many that that coffee coffee outout with with a friend a friend is is a pleasure, a pleasure, that that gym gym membership membership is is good good forfor their their health health and and thethe thought thought of ofpacking packing lunch lunch to to work work asas well well asas everything everything else else that that needs needs to to bebe done done in in thethe morning morning is is tootoo much! much!

Fortunately, Fortunately, there there is is another another way! way!

In InSeptember September2013, 2013,a anew newservice service called called thethe Current Current Account Account Switching Switching Service Service (CASS) (CASS) - www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk/ www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk/ - came came in in to to being. being.

The The reason reason forfor this this was was that that in in thethe UKUK wewe areare statistically statistically more morelikely likelyto togetgetdivorced divorcedthan than weweareareto tomove moveourourbank bankaccount. account.

The Thegovernment governmentlooked lookedin into towhy why this thiswas wasand, and,forformany, many,it itwas wasthethe fear fear of ofsomething something going going wrong wrong or or aa payment paymentbeing beingmissed. missed.CASS CASSwas was

24 24

introduced introduced to to stop stop this this byby putting putting thethe banks banksin incharge chargeof ofthetheprocess processof of switching switchingeverything everythingforforyou, you,rather rather than than thethe individual individual having having to to change change payments payments or or setset upup new new direct direct debits debits and and standing standing orders. orders.

Now, Now,it itis ispossible possibleto tomove movebank bank accounts accountsin inasaslittle littleasasseven sevendays. days.

You Yousimply simplyapply applyforforyour yournew new account, account, ask ask your your new new bank bank to to move move your your oldold account account using using CASS CASS and and telltell them them which which date date you you want want to to switch switch onon and and thethe rest rest is is done done forfor you! you!

You You willwill getget any any new new cards, cards, and and internet internet banking banking loglog insins ahead ahead of of your your switch switch and and your your balance balance willwill bebe transferred transferred ononthetheagreed agreeddate datewith withallallyour your payments payments setset up.up.

asashaving having£1,000 £1,000paid paidin inper permonth month (typically (typically forfor most most people people this this willwill bebe done donebybyhaving havingtheir theirsalary salarypaid paidin)in) and and loglog onon to to your your new new account account viavia thethe mobile mobile app app or or online online banking. banking.

The The account account pays pays 0.25% 0.25% interest interest and and comes comes with with anan instant instant savings savings account account paying paying 0.50%.

0.50%.

There There areare better better rates rates ononthethemarket market(the (thecurrent currentbest bestbuy buy onon www.thesavings.guru www.thesavings.guru pays pays 1.30%) 1.30%) butbut forfor those those who who want want to to keep keep their their savings savingsin inthethesame samebank bankasastheir their current current account, account, it does it does at at least least pay pay some some interest. interest.

Further Furtherinformation informationand andapplications applications can can bebe found found at:at: www.youandb.co.uk www.youandb.co.uk

Halifax Halifax Those Those switching switching to to thethe Reward Reward Current Current Account Accountwillwillsee see£125 £125credited creditedto to their their account account within within three three days days of ofthethe completed completed switch switch and and willwill also also bebe paid paid £3£3 a month a month just just forfor being being a customer. a customer.

PutPut these these in in to to a savings a savings account account and and you willwill have have £161 £161 at at thethe end end of ofyour your AllAllthethemajor majorbank bankaccount accountproviders providers you first year year plus plus interest. interest. areare covered covered and and almost almost allall thethe market market first participates participates and and over over 3 million 3 million people people minimumof of£750 £750must mustbebepaid paid have have successfully successfully switched switched bank bank A Aminimum in ineach eachmonth monthsosothis thismay maybebemore more accounts accounts using using thethe service. service. attractive attractive forfor switchers switchers onon lower lower salaries. salaries.

Why Whyis isthis thisrelevant relevantif ifI have I havenono Further Furtherinformation informationand andapplications applications savings? savings? canbebefound foundat:at:www.halifax.co.uk/ www.halifax.co.uk/ The The introduction introduction of of CASS CASS means means banks banks can bankaccounts/cur rent-accounts/ rent-accounts/ arearecompeting competingharder harderforforswitching switching bankaccounts/cur reward-current-account/ customers customersand andthere therearearesome somegreat great reward-current-account/ incentives incentives onon offer offer – both – both to to switch switch and and HSBC byby way way of of perks perks in in thethe new new account. account.

UpUp HSBC Switchingto toHSBC’s HSBC’sAdvance AdvanceBank Bank to to £250 £250 is is payable payable - just - just forfor switching! switching! Switching Account or or Premier Premier Banking Banking Account Account This This is money is money that that you you could could use use to to kick kick Account rewardedwith with£150 £150forfor start start your your savings. savings.

Here’s Here’s ourour runrun down down willwillbeberewarded switching and and another another £50 £50 if ifyou you areare of of some some of of thethe best best offers offers in the in the market. market. switching stillstillusing usingthetheaccount accountand andmeeting meeting thethe criteria criteria at at thethe end end of of1212 months. months.

Clydesdale Clydesdale / Yorkshire / Yorkshire Bank Bank The main main ones ones areare paying paying in in £1,750 £1,750 aa The Thebest bestfinancial financialoffer offerto toswitch switch The month, having having two two direct direct debits debits and and comes comesfrom fromthetheB Baccount accountoffered offered month, registeringforformobile mobileand/or and/oronline online bybyClydesdale Clydesdaleand andYorkshire Yorkshirebanks. banks. registering banking.

The The account account also also entitles entitles you you £250 £250 is is credited credited to to your your account account within within banking. opena aregular regularsaver saverwhich whichpays pays 7070 days days of ofyour your switch. switch.

You You dodo need need to toopen onon contributions contributions from from £25 £25 – £300 – £300 to to meet meet criteria criteria forfor thethe account account such such 5%5% What’s What’s the the catch? catch?

There There isn’t isn’t one one – it– is it is even even guaranteed guaranteed that, that, in in thethe unlikely unlikely event event that that something something goes goes wrong, wrong, that that any any charges charges or or interest interest incurred incurred willwill bebe refunded refunded to to you. you.

per month for 12 months.

Further information and applications can be found at: www.hsbc. co.uk/1/2/current-accounts/hsbc-advance First Direct First Direct is an internet and telephone bank that prides itself in its customer service and phones are answered by a person, not a machine to direct you. They win pretty much every banking customer service award going but are also owned by HSBC so customers can use their branch network as well. They currently offer £100 to switch to their 1st Account and £100 if you are not happy and leave after six months but before a year has passed.

You must pay in £1,000 in the first 3 months to qualify.

They too offer a linked 5% regular savings account, like HSBC, and offer some of the cheapest loan rates in the market plus an overdraft of £500 with the first £250 of that being free.

Further information and applications can be found at: www. firstdirect.com/1/2/banking/current-account Nationwide Although Nationwide do not offer an incentive for switching, they do pay 5% interest on their Flex Direct account on balances up to £2,500 for the first 12 months for customers who pay in at least £1,000 a month.

For those who have their salary paid in to their account and then pay out gradually over the month, this may prove attractive. For example, if you have £2,500 paid in at the start of the month and gradually use that over the course of the month, you may average a balance of around £1,000 over the course of the month which could earn you £50 or so of interest throughout the year.

Further information and applications can be found at: www. nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexdirect/featuresand-benefits Some of the links on this page are quite long and you may not want to type them in. You can access this article on our website at www. thesavings.guru and click through direct to the websites mentioned.

That’s all for this month. As always, please feel free to contact us at hello@thesavings.guru on any topics you’d like us to cover in future months.

James Blower Founder Savings Guru Ltd

www.thesavings.guru hello@thesavings.guru @SavingsGuruUK

Competition Time: Last month’s winner was Adrian Plummer from Billericay who won a £50 to spend at Giggling Squid – one of our favourites too!

Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a picture before print deadlines but it will be on our website by the time you read this!

For a chance to win a £50 restaurant voucher this month, send your answers to the following questions by Wednesday 22nd November: 1) Which journalist interviewed us about Pensioner Bonds on 23rd October?

2) Which client of Savings Guru is also part of a world-famous department store?

Good luck!

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Visit nspcc.org.uk/Santa

The Salvation Army Christmas Fayre A Christmas Fayre is being held at The Salvation Army in Rayleigh on Saturday 25th November from 10.00am until 2.00pm.

There will be various stalls including cakes, gifts, knitted items and books. Children can visit Santa and enjoy various activities.

Refreshments will also be available. For more information please phone 01268 771752 Rayleigh Operatic & Dramatic Society (RODS) We are RODS, a long standing amateur operatic and dramatic society who rehearse and perform in the Rayleigh area. We are getting in touch to let readers know about the exciting news of our forthcoming annual pantomime taking place at the Mill Arts &

Events Centre in Rayleigh. Rayleigh Operatic and Dramatic Society (RODS) present the family pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ 30th November to 2nd December 2017 at The Mill Arts and Events Centre, Rayleigh.

Performances take place on Thursday and Friday at 7.30pm, and Saturday at 1pm and 6.30pm Tickets are available from 01268 771751 or 07580 532068 All tickets £10 For more information visit our website at www.rods. org.uk We are a friendly group and always pleased to welcome new members so if you fancy becoming part of RODS and would like to know more please visit our website at www.rods.org.uk Kind regards Karen Barton Publicity contact on behalf of RODS.

If you would like to promote your club or event then please email a maximum of 70 words to admin@aroundtownmagazines.co.uk or fill in the form on our website www.aroundtownmagazines.co.uk Please ensure that all contact details are included.

USEFUL NUMBERS

BIRTH, DEATH MARRIAGES REGISTRATION

01268 361350 01268 361351

POLICE Rayleigh Police Station

0300 333 4444

HOSPITALS Brentwood Hospital Basildon Hospital Broomfield Hospital Essex Nuffield Hospital Queen’s Romford Southend Hospital Spire Hartswood Hospital

01277 695000 01268 524900 01245 443673 08453 143350 0845 1304204 01702 435555 01277 232525

HELPLINES Alcoholics Anonymous Childline DIAL Disability Helpline Drugline Essex In Focus (family disabilities support)

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

CHEMISTS Boots the Chemist, Rayleigh 01268 771883 Audley Mills, Rayleigh

01268 776479

Lloyds Pharmacy, Rayleigh

01268 771703

Grange Pharmacy, Rayleigh 01268 784192 Hambro, Rayleigh

01268 781623

Yardley Chemist

01268 743283

BLOOD TEST 01245 256147 0800 11 11 11 01268 294400/1 01708 749151 01245 353575 0300 9991212 111 0808 8002222 116 123 01375 380609 0845 4565995 01268 541140

Booking Line

01702 746511

ROAD & TRAVEL UPDATES Essex Travel www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/essex COUNCILS Rochford District Council

01702 546366

Rayleigh Town Council

01268 741880

TRANSPORT Bus Service

0870 6082608

Rail Service

08457 484950

TAXIS Rayleigh Taxi Bestax Abba Cars Cab Call Cab 24/7

01268 531888 01268 777300 01268 771666 01268 777300 01268 778877

UTILITIES Anglian Water 0345 145145 Electricity – Power Supply Problems 0800 7838838 Gas – Urgent Calls / Gas Escapes 0800 111999 Minicom – Transco 0800 371787 Thames Water (Supply or Wastewater Services) 0845 9200800 Three Valleys Water 0345 823333 Water – Essex & Suffolk Water 01245 491234 VETS YourVets Vets4Pets Rochford Veterinary Surgery Downes Vets Medivet LIBRARIES Rayleigh

01268 745180 01268 772283 01702 545558 01268 776883 01702 413902

0845 603 7628

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