Around Town Magazine Rayleigh September Edition 2017

H L E I G R AY 0 1 7 0 9 . 2

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CONTENTS 06

on ormed

Mark Francois Political Update

10

Nature Notes

13

Recipe

16

James Blower

22

Rotary Club / Lions Club

24

EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner

Dairy Free Protein Pudding

08

The Savings Guru

26

The wow factor - flood your home with natural light Organisations Around Town

Brochure and free sample A View from the Church available on request Revd Nick Rowan

26

What’s On

28

Sports Page

When and Where...

Focuses on Netball

30

Travel

31

Useful Numbers

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Edition 46

Head Office: Linden House, 30 Linden Road, Benfleet, Essex SS7 4 To advertise contact our Sales Team today, details below. Booking deadline for our October edition is: Thursday 22nd September

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.

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the state of recruitment for the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces.

In an era of record employment, an ageing population, and people staying on in education until 18, the Armed Forces face an increasing challenge in attracting enough recruits. In short, the Army needs around 10,000 recruits a year to maintain its strength but in the year to March 2017 it only recruited just under 7,000.

mark francois conservative Parliamentary mP for rayleigh & Wickford

In July of last year the Prime Minister asked me, as a former Minister of State for the Armed Forces, to conduct a review into

My report, entitled “Filling the Ranks” was submitted this summer and made a number of recommendations for how we can meet this challenge. For instance, we need to encourage more women, who currently make up 1 in 10 of our Armed Forces, to join the ranks. From next year women will be allowed

to serve in the Infantry and even the Special Forces, provided they can pass the same selection tests as men. The performance of our female paramedics in Afghanistan has shown what women can do. We also need to recruit more Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Personnel into the Armed Forces where they currently only make up about 8% of the total.

I believe we should also include the role of our Armed Forces in the National Curriculum, so that our young people are made aware of the importance of the Armed Forces in our society. If you would like to read the report that I have produced you can access it via my Parliamentary website and I would welcome comments from my constituents on its contents.

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Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company

policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle.

Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Rayleigh & Eastwood areas and

manager Chris Miller agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’

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7

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Nature Notes Written by Neil Sumner

Neilsumner123@aol.com twitter.com/neilsumner123 The countryside at this time of year is a rich larder for wildlife and people. I have been nibbling blackberries for several weeks, as they started to ripen early this year. I saw a blackbird eating them while other blackbirds were still feeding young in the nest: an overlap of seasons. This made me curious about blackberries in general – what else eats them? A bit of online research confirmed that they are popular with Foxes, hence the patches of purple poo on the paths in September, as well as Badgers, Squirrels and Dormice.

Blackberries are the fruit of many species of the Rubus genus in the Rosaceae family and grow naturally throughout Europe and much of the northern hemisphere although there are many subspecies and cultivated varieties.

We know the plant as a bramble which is hugely beneficial to wildlife. The pollen and nectar of the flowers provides for many insects including bumblebees, honey bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths – the latter also using it to lay eggs so their larvae can feed on the leaves. It is often adorned with spiders’ webs which look wonderful when sparkling with dew on an autumn morning.

The dense thorns provide protection for Rabbits, Hedgehogs and other small mammals and for the nests of many bird species. Once, late in the summer, I found a Grass Snake on top of bramble bush, giving it a prominent position to bask in the sun, on top of an immediate refuge.

For us, bramble is a mixed blessing. It is easily spread and vigorous and can be a thorny problem. Once a few plants have taken root in a garden it is hard to remove. On nature reserves of unimproved grassland, it is classified as invasive scrub and has to be controlled, so one wildlife habitat is removed to make way for another. I found myself explaining this to two policemen at an Essex Wildlife Trust event.

Their attendance seemed surprising as this event was a peaceful family occasion. Over an ice cream I explained to them that some conservationists want scrub to be controlled to promote rare grasses and wildflowers. And that others want it to flourish as they loved it for its insects and birdsong. “You need to vigilant”, I said. “If someone mentions ‘scrub’, things could start kicking off round here”.

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RECIPE Dairy Free Protein Pudding (2 Servings) Ingredients: 2 large eggs 80g chocolate protein powder 2tsp raw cacao 2 tsp baking powder 1 banana Berries / natural yogurt to serve

Method: 1. Mash the banana in a

4. Microwave on high for about

bowl and then add all the

a minute then repeat once

other ingredients, mixing

or twice more until the top

thoroughly.

is firm and a knife comes

2. Coat two ramekins in coconut oil (this mixture makes two

5. Let the pudding cool, turn out

large or four smaller servings) 3. Add the mixture to the

out clean

and serve with the berries and yogurt.

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which savings acount is the best for my money?

Firstly, I want to say a huge “thank you” to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch after my inaugural column last month. I’ve been very touched by the kind feedback and delighted to hear that some of you found the article useful.

Last month’s column highlighted the fluidity of the savings market. Those of you interested in the Ford Money flexible savings account will have found that the rate had changed between the time of going to print and delivery. Fortunately, the rate had gone up! It is a reminder though the market can move fast so I’d always recommend checking the current rates at www.thesavings.guru for up to date rates before taking any action.

The site is updated daily.

This month I’m going to cover the various types of savings accounts, the pros and cons of saving in them and who we feel are the best providers in the market for that type of account.

Instant or Easy Access Savings These savings accounts allow instant or almost immediate access to your savings. I’m often asked the difference between instant access and easy access. The answer is a simple one and is defined by the regulator. An account can only be called instant access if a customer can access their money straight away. In practical terms this means that they can go in to a branch of a bank or building society and withdraw cash there and then. Those banks without branches therefore use names like easy access or flexible savings because they cannot use the term ‘instant access’.

Pros • Savings can be accessed either immediately or within a few hours • Can often be linked to your current account to make transferring savings back and forth simple

16

Cons • Interest rates tend to be lower reflecting that savers can take their money when they want • Rates are usually variable so can move up and down Top providers: 1) RCI Bank – owned by French car giant Renault, RCI have been consistently amongst the best buys since their launch two years ago.

2) Ford Money – another bank owned by a car giant, Ford have consistently been amongst the top providers since they entered the market in April this year.

Notice Accounts Notice savings appeal to people who don’t need immediate access to their savings, or like the fact that they can’t just dip in to them! Historically, notice period started from 7 days and shorter terms like 14 days, 28 days and 31 days were common in the market. These are much harder to find in the current climate due to banks having to keep more capital back for accounts under 90 days’ notice. Therefore, savers are likely to find 90, 95, 100, 120 days and even 6 months’ notice as more common terms in the current market.

Pros • Interest rates are typically 0.25% 0.50% higher than instant or easy access accounts • Although rates are variable, banks are required to give you the same notice as the terms of your account of any changes e.g. 90 days’ notice of a rate change if you have a 90 day notice account Cons • It is usually not possible to access funds without giving notice so notice accounts shouldn’t be used for monies that might be required in an emergency

• Rates are usually variable to can move up and down Top providers: 1) Paragon Bank – based in Birmingham, Paragon have been in the market since 2014 and have consistently offered competitive notice accounts online.

2) Shawbrook Bank – launched in 2011, Essex based Shawbrook have offered competitive notice accounts since their inception both online and via post.

Fixed Rate Bonds Fixed rate bonds, or term deposits, are savings accounts which provide a guaranteed rate of interest in return for locking your savings away for a pre-determined period. Typically, this is from as little as six months - up to as long as seven years! The longer the term that you commit to locking your savings away for, the greater the return is likely to be. A few banks offer cooling off periods but the clear majority don’t and, once your savings are in, that’s usually it for the term!

Pros • Usually offer the best interest rates for savings • Interest rates are guaranteed and can’t be changed during the term Cons • Once you have invested, it is almost impossible to get access to your savings until the maturity date is reached Top providers: 1) Charter Savings Bank – since their launch in 2015, Charter have had an almost unquenchable thirst for fixed rate bonds and have had some very competitively priced accounts available 2)There are several other banks like Aldermore, Hampshire Trust, Ikano, Paragon and Shawbrook

who are regulars in the best buy tables for fixed rate bonds. The market is very fluid though and typically providers offer bonds for a few weeks – sometimes only a few days! Therefore, it is always worth looking on our website to see who has competitive offers on when you are ready to invest.

Regular Savings Accounts Regular savings accounts allow savers to put a fixed amount of money away each month. These accounts are good for people looking to make a regular commitment to saving and who are looking to build up a savings pot over a period or for those who want to contribute at a specific time of the month e.g. straight after pay day.

Pros • Some banks offer very attractive rates for regular savings accounts – 5% is currently the best rate in the market • Great for getting in to a regular savings habit Cons • Contributions are often capped at quite low amounts e.g. a maximum of £100 / £200 per month • Many regular savings accounts last for at least 12 months and access isn’t always possible during that time Top providers: 1) Saffron Building Society – Essex based Saffron pay 3.50% on adult’s regular savers and 4% on children’s and have been one of the best payers for the past three years 2) First Direct / HSBC / M&S Bank – current account customers of these banks can get a special rate of 5% Cash ISAs ISA stands for Individual Savings Account and is a savings account that pays interest free of tax. Typically, cash ISAs are either instant/easy savings accounts, notice or fixed rate bonds.

At their height, they held almost a quarter of a billion of savings!

However, money has been flooding out of cash ISAs in recent times. This is for two principle reasons: 1) In 2016/17 tax year, the government introduced a personal savings allowance. This means that basic rate tax payers can earn £1,000 from savings interest before paying tax on it (£500 for higher rate tax payers). For 95% of savers in the country, this means they will no longer have to pay tax on their savings interest. This has made cash ISAs much less attractive for savers.

2) There is less competition in the savings market for Cash ISAs and the best interest rates are typically 0.25% - 0.75% lower than standard savings accounts. Without the personal savings allowance, the vast majority of savers can earn more interest in standard tax paying savings accounts

James Blower Founder Savings Guru Ltd

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

This isn’t to say that cash ISAs are of no use. Some savers have built up considerable tax free sums and allowances over the years and don’t want to lose them. Also, some savers have tens of thousands of savings and will go over their personal savings allowance. So cash ISAs still have a place in the market but only a small percentage of the population are likely to be better off saving in cash ISAs. That’s all for this month’s edition. Please do feel free to say hi via hello@thesavings.guru, tweet me at @SavingsGuruUK with your thoughts on the column or topics you’d like me to cover in future months.

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ROTARY CLUB OF RAYLEIGH MILL With the arrival of better weather and longer nights the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mill’s summer programme has progressed apace.

The programme commenced with our first Rayleigh 10k cross country race. The run was an unqualified success with almost 300 runners enjoying exceptional weather and an undulating, variable course on pathways and bridleways through Hockley Woods, Grove Woods, Cherry Orchard Park and Gusted Hall Woods back to the Start/Finish line at Belchamps Scout Activity Centre.

The event raised £1,300 for the club’s Charity Fund.

This event was followed by our main fund-raising event, the “Rayleigh Mill Charity Golf Day” held at the Rochford Hundred Golf Club on Monday 10th July when we celebrated our seventh successive annual golf competition.

Twenty teams took part in a variety of competitions, rounded off by dinner and entertainment in the evening.

This event raised £6500 which will also be added to the club’s Charity Fund.

In addition to our fundraising activities we also have several social events just for our own enjoyment, the last of which was our own golf competitions. We played for the Club Championship at Three Rivers Golf Club on Friday 21st July when Rob Kitchin emerged triumphant and on Friday 11th August we played for the Paul Wellman Trophy at Ballard’s Gore Golf Club when Honorary Member, Howard Pannell, carried the day.

It may look as if we only play golf but we do participate in many more activities.

If you would be interested in seeing what we get up to, both socially and in raising money to benefit communities locally, nationally and internationally have a look at our webpage at www.rayleighmillrotary.org.uk

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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Revd Nick Rowan

Wedding Bells Over the summer I have taken a number of wedding services at Holy Trinity. I enjoy getting to know couples over the months leading up to their big day as I help them plan their service.

It is an enormous privilege to actually take the wedding service and enable couples to make their marriage vows before family and friends.

In recent years the Church of England has done some research on weddings. It was discovered that many people don’t know that they can get married in their local Church of England parish church. You don’t need to be a committed Christian or a regular church goer (though anyone who would like to start coming would be made very welcome).

You can get married at Holy Trinity Church if you can show that: One of you has at any time lived in the parish of Rayleigh for a period of at least 6 months.

One of you was baptised (christened) at one of the Church of England churches in the parish.

One of your parents, at any time after you were born, has lived in the parish of Rayleigh for a period of at least six months.

One of your parents or grandparents was married at Holy Trinity Church If you cannot demonstrate any of the above connections, you could create one, simply by attending one of the usual services at Holy Trinity regularly for at least six consecutive months.

many couples were spoken to about their experience of having a church wedding. In their responses many said that they felt churches are special places and there are some things about a church wedding that you just can’t get anywhere else.

If you are ever considering getting married a church is so much more than simply a venue for a wedding. Unique and special things become part of your marriage, on the day itself and beyond: • A church wedding will add a spiritual dimension to your marriage. The ceremony includes God and looks to him for help and guidance.

God’s blessing is the main attraction for many couples, whatever their beliefs.

• You can make amazing vows, or promises, in a church. Some couples feel that you can only make vows this big in a church. These vows, made in public, will help you to stay together and grow together. God and your church are there for you to help you keep your vows.

• The Vicar who takes your service can help you make it personal, memorable, meaningful and beautiful.

• A parish church offer centuries of history.

Imagine all the couples who have married at Holy Trinity, some of whom may well be your family. You can feel you’re becoming part of that history by marrying in the same place as your relatives. These sorts of connections can make your day even more special.

• For some people, a church simply seems like the proper place to get married. Churches can be described as ‘peaceful’, ‘serene’, or having an atmosphere that makes marrying there a particularly special experience If you are ever considering getting married we would love to hear from you.

Best wishes Nick

While carrying out the research Parish Office 01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk

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NETBALL

One of the most played sports in the UK and yet Netball for some reason doesn’t receive the glory and attention it deserves when it comes to the media in this country.

Locally however, Netball is booming every night during the week and on a Saturday and Sunday morning, rivalling Football, Rugby and any other sports that run parallel to its season.

Southend Leisure Centre, after school matches at the local schools and Basildon Sporting Village are just 3 of the local venues that are guaranteed to have multiple competitive league matches taking place almost daily.

Such a fast paced game which is great for fitness as well as providing a release for the competitor in you, it is easy to see the attraction in Netball as a popular sport.

Surprisingly, Netball is yet to be made an Olympic sport, and perhaps London 2012 would have been the boost needed for the public to start tuning in and ultimately help the national league players push for their sport to be a profession like it is in Australia and New Zealand.

I have been speaking to local netball enthusiasts, one of them being Amber Sudbury who plays for Galaxy NC, who play in the Basildon District Netball league which has twelve divisions, boasting many teams from Rayleigh, Hockley, Thundersley, Rochford, Southend and Eastwood. This all takes place at the Basildon Sporting Village and they play on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights depending on your division. Galaxy is a club with a staggering 18 teams! That is over 160 players playing for the club as a whole.

I asked Amber a couple of questions about Netball locally and how that relates to the bigger picture.

How did you get playing for a local Netball Club and how would you suggest new people to join a team?

“I knew someone who played and my Mum has always

played, so it was quite easy for me to join a team through contacts, and that is how most people get into playing again or for the first time. However, we do have people contact us through our website and through Facebook. The Basildon District Netball league are always welcoming of people contacting them and they will contact certain teams who will be the best fit for them, both in ability and to suit their timetable.

Why do you think that Netball is so popular on our local courts, but does not get the viewers when it comes to the international team and national league club fixtures?

“Football, Cricket, Rugby and Tennis have been established as the main sports for many years now and it is hard to penetrate that popularity on the big sporting television channels. I do think a lot of it is due to the girls and women alike playing netball as a pastime rather than the die-hard passion of winning, therefore following the individual clubs and the national team on the television isn’t number one priority, especially as it is such an effort to find out when it is on and what channel is showing it. However, I personally, think that is the beauty of local sports in general, the balance of competitiveness, enjoyment, exercise and socialising, Netball is the epitome of this.

Having said that it is growing.”

Netball is going from strength to strength locally and let’s hope that feeds through to the national profile of the sport. I certainly feel that a sport that has such a presence in our schools and on the courts of our local leisure centres should be close to the top of the list of our national sports. Watch this space! Please check out the below links if interested. www.basildon-netball.org.uk http://www.galaxynetballclub.co.uk/ www.sdnl.co.uk

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

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29

TRAVEL The DEux SEVRES, FRAncE

return I understand why because the three tolls we pass through total 40 euros. Bear in mind that a tank of

By Tim Saunders – www.travelwriter.biz Vous or tu? The polite and informal ways of saying ‘you’ that can cause social difficulties in France. In English we just have to contend with a simple ‘you’ and do not need to worry about offending anyone. But it’s different in France and we debate this after our game of boules with Tim and Ellen Weir at Les Hiboux in Crezieres, Poitou-Charentes.

“Basically I stick to ‘vous’ unless with close friends or family,” says Ellen, adding: “Some French people prefer to use ‘tu’ after only a few meetings. When we’re invited to a meal Tim and I like to compare notes as to whether the hosts both refer to us as ‘vous’ or ‘tu’ and sometimes ‘tu’ will be used for me and ‘vous’ for Tim,” she smirks. It’s a good way of meeting our hosts during our week’s stay at La Vieille Maison, a charming three bedroom stone cottage that is one of three at Les Hiboux. It’s a luxurious break in an extremely peaceful part of the country and one where guests feel privileged to stay.

With its three acres of gardens that include a sunken trampoline, swings, a slide and playhouse, our children, Harriett (3) and Heidi (1) are in their element. There are two boule or petanque pitches (“boules and petanque are one of the same, much like soccer and football,” says Tim) and a swimming pool.

“So what brought you to this part of France?”

I ask Tim. “I was a scientist in London and wanted a challenge,” he replies, adding that his father has lived in the country for many years. “He doesn’t get as much sun though and greater amounts of sunlight drew us to the Deux-Sevres region, which is famous for its melons, sunflowers and wine. It’s five hours from Cherbourg so within easy reach of the UK and five hours from the Alps so we can enjoy skiing in the winter.”

It takes us a little longer, closer to seven hours in fact, to travel from Cherbourg, because the sat nav in the Kia Sorento I am driving refuses to take us on the toll roads. On our

(Photo by Kevin Mitchell) fuel is 60 euros (gazole is just 1.29 euros a litre) it makes more sense and is far more enjoyable to avoid the toll roads, if you’ve got the time to spare. It is far more sensible to stop half-way and stay in a gite overnight for the same price.

On our arrival we are shattered and it is a joy to be met by really comfortable beds and we all enjoy an extremely good night’s sleep. There are six of us in total because Caroline’s mum and dad, Lin and John, join us.

That first night we spy a baby owl in one of the trees and later learn that Les Hiboux means Owls.

That first day we all enjoy a meal in ChefBoutonne, a place that we find ourselves returning to throughout the course of our break. An evening stroll there introduces us to Chateau Javarzay with its large lake and pleasant grounds.

We find that the French bread tastes nicer from a boulangerie than a supermarket and this is often enjoyed with Camembert for lunch. Good French drinking wine is available from under three euros upwards. We enjoy a lovely bottle or so of Chardonnay for just four euros that would have easily cost three or four times that in the UK. For more information visit: www.leshiboux.com

Tim Saunders is an author, journalist and businessman. He meets celebrities, goes on holiday and road tests cars.

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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

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