Around Town Magazine Rayleigh October Edition 2017

H L E I G R AY N T I O E D I 4 7

Mia’ s

First s Christma

Personalised

hristmas Merry Cummy M xx

Christmas Cards Wrapping Paper Christmas Clothing Canvas Prints

blacksquarelitho.co.uk/shop

OOR TO OOR RVICE

Please telephone us on 01268 763800 NYCER BREAKS to receive aCOACH copy of our brochure!

Quality Quality

LUDED

13 Riverside House, Lower Southend Road, Wickford, Essex SS11 8BB.

Coach Breaks & Holidays Coach Breaks & Holidays

All our holidays Please include

telephone for a • Luxury Coach Travel brochure All our holidays includeon 01268 763800 • Extra Comfortable Seats All our•• holidays include DOOR www.nycercoachbreaks.co.uk Extra Leg RoomTravel Luxury Coach NY • Services of our Tour Manager throughout • Extra Comfortable Seats DOOR DOOR BREAKS • Luxury CoachRoom Travel ostcode COST and comfort TO •• Welcome Extra Legbrunch thend Road, pack on first morning of Free tour 14, SS15, SS16, SS17, RM16, RM17 •x SS11 Extra Comfortable Seats • Deep Tinted Windows DOOR 8BB. • RM20 Onboard Wi-Fi SERVICE M18, RM19, £5 per person • Aircraft-Style Fold • Extra 268 763800 • Leg TintedRoom Windows INCLUDED £10 per person Down TablesFold Aircraft-Style •eaks.co.uk Deep•• Tinted Windows Choice of Seat Please enquire Down Tables • Aircraft-Style Fold Numbers Coach Breaks • Choice of Seat • Tables Complimentary Numbers Down • Complimentary Biscuits • Choice of&Seat Biscuits • Tea Coffee All our holid • Tea & Coffee w Numbers NYCER COACH • Complimentary •BREAKS Luxury Coac 763800 DOOR TO DOOR01268 SERVICE - How it’s worked by postcode 13 Riverside House, Lower Southend Road, SS6, SS11, SS12, CM11, CM12, CM13, CM14, SS13, SS14, SS16, SS17, R www.nycercoachbreaks.co.uk Biscuits • SS15, Extra Comfo Wickford, Essex SS11 8BB. 13SS5, Riverside House, Road, Wickford, SS7, SS8, SS9, Lower RM11. Southend RM12, RM13, RM14, RM15,Essex, RM18, RM19,8BB RM20 • SS11 Extra • Tea & Coffee Please telephone for a brochure on 01268 763800Leg Ro

Qua TO

SERVICE INCLUDED

SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4

D OM E ST IC , CO MME R C IAL , INDU ST RIAL Top bloke, did the finish on mine and the wife’s extension exterior did a brilliant job, no mess and always tidied up after each day, after being let down by another firm our faith in self-employed tradesmen was restored by Ports, so reliable and always on time, he was really helpful and reassuring even from the quotation stage. Highly recommended!

Gordon O’Hara – Basildon Essex “Ports is great; although I can paint I’m terrible with wallpaper and needed my chimney breast papering as my feature wall, after retrieving a few quotes, and finding them a little steep, a family friend recommended Ports, very reasonable, paper was up in no time, came back the following morning to finish the edges once the paste had dried, really happy with it.

Thanks Port Prestigious.”

Jennifer Neilson – Kingston upon Thames

www.portsprestigious.co.uk 0333 321 6811 | 0333 321 6822 info@portsprestigious.co.uk facebook.com/portsprestigious @portsp1895

TRANSFORM TRANSFORM YOUR CONSERVATORY CONSERVATORY IN IN LESS LESS THAN ONE ONE DAY DAY TO TO PP UU

FFFF O O % % 2200 HHISIS T T HH TT NN OO MM

With WithAn AnInsulated Insulated Conservatory Conservatory Ceiling CeilingOr OrTiled TiledRoof Roof Cooler Cooler inin summer summer “Temperatures “Temperatures ininour oursouth southfacing facing conservatory conservatory have havedropped droppedfrom from34 34 degrees degrees to to 2121 degrees.” degrees.”

Tony Tony && Linda, Linda, Essex Essex

Warmer Warmer in in winter “We “We have have installed aa cinema cinema system system in in the conservatory conservatory and andnow now use use itit even even during the the winter” winter” Brooke Brooke & & Adam, Oxford Oxford

Usable Usable allall year yearround round “We “We have have had had the theconservatory conservatoryfor for 1111 years years but but it was it wasalways alwaystotocold cold WeWe used used Soliroof Soliroofand andsosopleased” pleased” Pat Pat && Albert, Albert, Kent Kent

Quiter Quiter in in bad bad weather weather When When itit used used to rain itit was was so so noisy, noisy, Now Now we can use use the the conservatory conservatory 365 days days year year Jemma, Jemma, Essex Essex

Our Our lightweight lightweighttiled tiledroof roofoffers offers8x 8xbetter better insulation insulation than aa polycarbonate polycarbonateroof roofand andwith withU-values U-valuesof of 0.18, 0.18, it it will keep your your conservatory conservatory atata acomfortable comfortabletemperature temperature all all year year round. round.

For For more more information information call: call:

BEFORE BEFORE

AFTER AFTER

01277 01277 280 280 676 676 www.soliroof.co.uk www.soliroof.co.uk

08

CONTENTS 06 Mark Francois Political Update

10

Nature Notes

12

Recipe

18

James Blower

EWT Volunteer Neil Sumner

Parkin Cake

The Savings Guru

22

Rotary Club / Lions Club

23

What’s On

24

Sports Page

26

A View from the Church

27

*Dog Walking *Home visits for all your pets * Pet Transport * Fully Insured

Organisations Around Town

When and Where...

Friendly

Reliable

Professional

are you in Rayleigh, Hockley, Thundersley, Hadleigh, Eastwood or Benfleet and would like your dog to be walked then give us a call

You can find us on Facebook or call Sarah on 07909525379

Focuses on Darts

Revd Nick Rowan

Useful Numbers

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

16

21

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.

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

SID’S LANDSCAPING GARDEN LANDSCAPING BLOCK PAVING • DRIVEWAYS PATHS • INDIAN STONE PATIOS TURFING & ARTIFICIAL LAWNS PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE

*Dog Walking *Home visits for all your pets * Pet Transport * Fully Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

20% DISCOUNT FOR ALL EMERGENCY WORKERS

07782 550 684 | 0800 959 6792 e sidlandscaper@icloud.com w sidslandscaping.co.uk

Friendly

Reliable

Professional

are you in Rayleigh, Hockley, Thundersley, Hadleigh, Eastwood or Benfleet and would like your dog to be walked then give us a call

You can find us on Facebook or call Sarah on 07909525379

Local family run business for 27 years “Leave your car with us while you go to work for the day”

MOTs £39.95

Air con servicing from £40 +VAT.

Servicing, MOT repairs, Welding, Diagnostics for all makes and models.

Rayleigh Station car park, Station Road SS6 7HJ

01268 770404 6

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

#WEAREPRINT

65844o.u4k 01277 squarelitho.c

www.black relitho.co.uk sales@blacksqua y, Essex CM12 0DX

dford Way, Billerica Graphic House, Ra

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

7

disruption that commuters have suffered over the past year.

mark francois conservative Parliamentary mP for rayleigh & Wickford

Like a lot of my constituents, I use the Abellio Greater Anglia service when travelling into London and as a result I am conscious of the amount of

Before

As well as having weekend travel frequently disrupted by engineering works, commuters have had to put up with changes to their journey home after 9:30pm involving bus services to avoid engineering works on the line. After a hard day’s work this is not exactly what commuters want to see. Added to this, Abellio have also suffered a number of issues with reliability of their service, due in part to the age of their train fleet. Abellio point out that they are investing in a complete new fleet of trains which will come in 2019/20 and, in fairness, it is down to Network Rail that these engineering works have to take place.

Nevertheless, it is Abellio to whom season ticket holders have to pay their money and such has been the disruption they have suffered over the past year that Abellio could be said to be turning into something of a bus company as opposed to a rail company.

With this in mind, I am now calling on Abellio to provide season ticket holders with a discount when they renew their season tickets (much as South Western Trains did for their customers because of all the engineering work at Waterloo). Abellio were recently awarded a long term franchise for the Southend Victoria line, I think it is now time they gave something back to their long suffering customers.

After

for only ÂŁ9 per sq metre

19 St. Davids Way, Wickford, Essex SS11 8EX

Call Lionel or Luke

01268 449771 / 07834 897654 / 07817 726966

WWW.SEALINGTECHNIQUE.COM

8

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

advertorial

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.’

So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Chris a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

9

Nature Notes Written by Neil Sumner

Neilsumner123@aol.com twitter.com/neilsumner123 My first view of a live badger was late one evening in autumn from the bedroom window. It was lolloping purposefully from the neighbouring nature reserve towards the side of our house, heading for the back garden. We learnt that badgers have regular foraging routes and this was probably one.

Badgers are sociable animals, living in underground setts in large family groups. Some setts are used for many generations with new entrances and chambers being dug and old ones becoming disused. They will create other smaller setts away from the main sett, perhaps due to family clashes or human disturbance.

There has been an unusual rise in new setts within Billericay recently; one I found is under a hedge we planted a few years ago. It was no easy task getting the plants into the hard and heavy clay which is a testament to the strength of the badgers’ claws.

HANDYMAN DAVE For all your general property maintenance, call Dave! » » » » »

Tiling Plastering Refurbishments Kitchens Bathrooms

CALL FOR

FREE ESTIMATES

NO JOB TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG Call Dave on

07885750744 or 07874225752 deb1956@hotmail.co.uk

If a badgers’ sett appears in your garden and you need advice then please check the Essex Badger Protection Group web site http://www.ebpg.co.uk/.

There are also contact details for you to ring for advice on minimising badger damage in the garden or to report an incident. Badgers are protected by law so it is illegal to harm or disturb them.

Badger’s main food is earthworms. They also eat insects, grubs, nuts, slugs, fruit, roots, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. They occasionally eat hedgehogs and ground-nesting birds’ eggs and young which makes them sometimes unpopular even though these species have lived with badgers for thousands of years. Today the badger has adapted to the man-made modern environment whilst the habitat for those species is shrinking. The solution is to create more, bigger, wilder and joinedup nature reserves.

The greatest conflict is with the spread of Bovine TB, which is disastrous and deeply upsetting when it is found in a herd of cattle. One supposed remedy for this is the highly controversial Badger Cull. Essex Wildlife Trust are completely opposed to this cull and have issued a position statement explaining why http://www.essexwt.org.uk/news/2017/09/16/ badger-cull-position-statement. The Trust had intended to trial a badger vaccination campaign but this was blocked by Natural England. Many scientists state that The Cull is risky, costly and inhumane and after 3 years of culling there is still no evidence that it is reducing bTB. Let’s hope that the evidence will soon prevail and that more effective ways of control of bTB will be deployed without killing this endearing animal.

10

REPAIR SPECIALIST

Glass & Glazing Services Single & Double Glazing Repair Specialist

Like us on Facebook LKE Glass & Glazing Services

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

we uplift your old flooring and dispose we uplift your old flooring and dispose we uplift old flooring and dispose move andyour replace you furniture including kitchen appliances we uplift old flooring and dispose move andyour replace you furniture including kitchen appliances move andinstalled replace you furniture including kitchen appliances all newly areas left clean and vacuumed move andinstalled replace you furniture including kitchen appliances all newly areas left clean and vacuumed all newly installed areas clean and vacuumed we guarantee to beat anyleft genuine written quote all newly installed areas clean and vacuumed we guarantee to beat anyleft genuine written quote we guarantee to beat any genuine written quote we guarantee to beat any genuine written quote

installeded andinstall products allallcomm suppliededand flooringgsuppli ercialfloorin commercial products installeded andinstall products allallcomm suppliededand flooringgsuppli ercialfloorin commercial products

all major brands of all major brands of carpets carpetsof all major brands all major brands of carpets carpets

karndean flooring karndean flooring karndean flooring karndean flooring

amtico flooring amtico flooring amtico flooring amtico flooring

solid woods and solid woodswoods and pre-engineers pre-engineers woods solid woods and solid woodswoods and pre-engineers pre-engineers woods

laminated flooring laminated flooring laminated flooring laminated flooring

cushion flooring cushion flooring cushion flooring cushion flooring

12%OFF OFFALL ALLFLOORING FLOORINGIN INJANUARY JANUARY free estimate and 12% free estimateservices and 01702 200232 measuring

01702 200232 e. sales@hockleyflooring.co.uk e.01702 sales@hockleyflooring.co.uk 200232 w. www.hockleyflooring.co.uk 01702 200232 w.e. www.hockleyflooring.co.uk sales@hockleyflooring.co.uk 9 main road, hockley, essex ss4 4qy

e. sales@hockleyflooring.co.uk 9 w. main road, hockley, essex ss4 4qy www.hockleyflooring.co.uk w.9 main www.hockleyflooring.co.uk road, hockley, essex ss4 4qy 9 main road, hockley, essex ss4 4qy hockley_flooring_a5_flyer.indd 1

measuring services free estimate and free estimate and all our fitting works measuring services all our fitting works measuring services guaranteed guaranteed all our fitting works all our fitting works guaranteed guaranteed 02/03/2015

12:

RECIPE Parkin Cake (Makes 16 Squares) Ingredients: 200g butter, plus extra for greasing 1 large egg 4 tbsp milk 200g golden syrup 85g treacle 85g light soft brown sugar 100g medium oatmeal 250g self-raising flour 1 tbsp ground ginger

Method: 1. Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/ gas 3. Grease a deep 22cm/9in square cake tin and line with baking parchment. Beat the egg and milk together with a fork.

2. Gently melt the syrup, treacle, sugar and butter together in a large pan until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat. Mix together the oatmeal, flour and ginger and stir into the

syrup mixture, followed by the egg and milk.

3. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 mins - 1 hr until the cake feels firm and a little crusty on top. Cool in the tin then wrap in more parchment and foil and keep for 3-5 days before eating if you can – it’ll become softer and stickier the longer you leave it, up to 2 weeks.

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

www.BestsModeller.co.uk

07814 751547

of Rayleigh

Creative, competitive, conscientious

PATIOS • DRIVEWAYS • FENCING • DECKING • PONDS PLANTING • TURFING • CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE

• City & Guilds trained

We at BESTSMODELLER sell all Die-Cast Models, Hornby, Lima, Bachmann Railways, Eddie Stobart products, Corgi Buses and have many other products to sell.

You can also purchase online at our website.

• Free consultation and estimates • Fully insured

Rayleigh Office: 01268 642896 07703 444244 Email: rjm4landscapes@gmail.com

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

13

Let Natural Light Shine Through It was in 1998 when High-Tech Roofing started advertising the LIFETIME guaranteed flat roof system, we have now installed and guarantee approaching 10,000 flat roofs. We have now installed over 1600 skylights and roof lanterns. Let us, a company you can trust transform any room into a stunning orangery.

All roof lights are designed to customer needs

Variations of design and all made to measure

An extension completely reformed

A wide range lanterns and skylights are available High-Tech will carry out all structural works All internal finishing and electrics are included All our skylights comply with building regulations Pilkington active self-clean glass as standard All roofing products will have a LIFETIME guarantee

www.flatroofs.net

Life Gua time r App antee rove d

Maximise your natural light with a skylight With every Skylight High-Tech will install the world leading flat roof system.

A High-Tech roof is dimensionally stable, solar reflective and is unaffected by climate change. Our roofs are maintenance free and resistant to moss and algae. Brochures and further technical information is available on request. When removing roof structure for roof lanterns steel flitch beams are installed for weight loadings. All roofing and building works are carried out by our own craftsman and all labour and products are guaranteed.

The wow factor - flood your home with natural light

Brochure and free sample available on request

For a Free Quotation

Call: 01277 886504 Head Office: Linden House, 30 Linden Road, Benfleet, Essex SS7 4BA

ELECTRICIAN With 34 years experience, we can help with any electrical issues! » » » » » »

Fault Finding Extra Sockets Lighting Showers Fuse Boxes Garden Lighting

CALL FOR

FREE ESTIMATES

EMERGENCY CALL OUTS NO JOB TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG WE DONT CHARGE THE EARTH

Call Dave on

07885750744 or 07874225752 deb1956@hotmail.co.uk

Carpets Direct Established 22 Years

Guaranteed Lowest Prices FREE fitting

FREE home visits

80% wool twist pile specialists heavy domestic man made specialists Carpets • Vinyls • Luxury Laminates

We Come To You In The Comfort Of Your Own Home

WE WILL MOVE YOUR FURNITURE AND FREE UPLIFT/REMOVAL OF YOUR OLD CARPETS PLEASE PHONE FOR YOUR LOCAL RAYLEIGH REPRESENTATIVE

0800 389 0792 Mobile: 07885 256186

www.carpets-direct.co.uk

07500 870309 INFO@ESSEXTREECARELTD.CO.UK

99.8% Positive Feedback

99.2% Positive Feedback

WWW.ESSEXTREECARELTD.CO.UK

16

PRUNING, THINNING, REDUCTIONS, FELLING AND REMOVAL, DEAD WOOD REMOVAL, SITE CLEARANCE, HEDGE MAINTENANCE, FIREWOOD SALES

Call today for your no obligation quote with no hidden extras!

£5 MILLION PUBLIC LIABILITY

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO CHOOSE

A FIX RATE SAVINGS BOND? One of the questions I am asked most regularly is whether the time is right to put money in to a fixed rate bond. Human nature being that nobody wants to lock their money up in a fixed rate, only to find a better offer comes along just after you’ve locked yourself in.

financial crisis of 2008, savings rates have largely decoupled from this. To give an example, in 2007 when the base rate was 5.75%, savers could earn 6.05% on a 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond with Birmingham Midshires and 5.70% on instant access – heady days!

The short answer to this question is that nobody really knows! That might sound strange coming from someone who is supposed to be an expert in this area! The reality is that if you, I or anyone could predict or know with certainty what was going to happen in the financial markets then we’d have more than enough money to be doing something else with our time as we’d be extremely wealthy.

Roll forward a decade and with base rate at 0.25%, this would imply a top rate instant access account of just under 0.25% and a best buy 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond of 0.55%. The actual best buy rates in our tables are 1.26% on Charter Savings Easy Access account and 2% on 1 Year from Bank of London & The Middle East. The intervening period has seen a break of this historic trend of savings rates to broadly follow base rate.

The good news is that there are factors we can use which give us a good indication. The main ones historically being: 1) What is happening to the Bank of England Base Rate 2) Regulatory or political intervention in the markets 3) What competition is there in the market Taking the first one, just as there has been a correlation between the price you pay on your mortgage in relation to what the Bank of England Base Rate is, a similar trend has followed in the savings market. Interest rates on savings have broadly followed (up or down) the base rate. However, since the

18

squeezed. Therefore, it is likely that any increase in base rate will be used by many banks to increase their net interest margin by passing on the increase to borrowers but not savers.

Are there likely to be any political or regulatory interventions in the market?

In recent years, we have seen several changes in the savings market with new types of ISA (individual savings accounts), increase ISA allowances (you can now save £20,000 this tax year in ISAs) changes to taxation of savings interest (the new personal savings allowance) and the governments Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) which has provided banks with substantial sums to lend.

Will we see a Bank of England Base Rate rise this year?

The financial markets and many media commentators are expecting to see an increase in the base rate this year with the consensus being for this to be in November. While this will be of interest to all of us that have mortgages to pay, for the reasons outlined above, it is unlikely to have any positive impact on savings rates - if it happens.

This is a large amount of change and with the work going on to prepare the UK for Brexit and the fact we have a government with a small majority, it is unlikely we will see any real changes to the savings market that may impact on interest rates for savers.

Mortgage rates are at record lows and savings rates are close too.

This means that many banks are seeing their net interest margin (the difference between what they pay in interest to savers and what they charge in interest to borrowers)

What has the competition done for savings rates in 2017?

Competition has had a significant impact on the savings market in 2017. Since the financial crisis of 2008, we have seen over 40 new entrants to the savings market in

So, this leaves us with competition as the hope for an improvement in savings rates.

the UK. This is a mixture of new UK banks, European Banks entering the UK market and some existing banks entering the savings market for the first time. Our best buy tables have been dominated by many of these new banks who have competed hard to attract new savers.

At the start of 2017, the best instant savings rate was 1.10% from RCI Bank (owned by French car giant Renault) whereas today it is 1.26% from Charter Savings Bank (up 15%). Atom Bank was paying 1.40% on a 1 Year Bond where today Bank of London & Middle East pay 2% (43% up). Ikano paid 2.05% for 5 Years in January and Bank of London and Middle East pay 2.50% now (22% up).

What has driven this change is the competition from these new entrants in the market. 2017 has also seen an influx of new entrants with the likes of Ford Money, PCF Bank, Wyelands Bank and Redwood Bank all join the competition for savings.

There are believed to be over 20 new banks in the regulatory process of applying for a licence so competition is only likely to increase.

So, is now a good time to lock in to a Fixed Rate Bond?

At the turn of this year, I was asked by the Daily Mail to predict what would happen this year to rates and I said that I expected savings rates to rise by 0.25 – 0.50% and 10 months in to the year that’s broadly in line with where we are. Given that it is competition, rather than other factors currently driving the market, future increases are likely to be determined by what the existing banks do and the growth in new entrants.

Given the increasing competition in the market now, and likelihood of seeing more newcomers, I wouldn’t be surprised to see similar increases in the region of 0.50% in the next 12 months. If you share my view, now is perhaps not the time to be locking away in long term fixed rate bonds. With the best 1 Year rates paying 1.80% – 2.00%, there’s a significant premium on the best instant savings rate of 1.26% so this may be a good option for those seeing to get a better return now but not wanting to miss out if rates rise in the future.

James Blower Founder Savings Guru Ltd

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

Competition Time – win a £50 restaurant voucher For your chance to win a £50 restaurant voucher, send your answers to the following questions (which can be found on our website) to hello@thesavings.guru by Wednesday 18th October: 1) Which university do we support with scholarship funding?

2) Which financial advice site interviewed us on 27th September 2017 The winner will be announced in next month’s edition!

19

Protect Your World With HomeCover ails!

Call Or Visit Our Website For Det • • • • •

Payments Start From Only £5.95 per month Full System Health Check & Boiler Service Included Various Plans To Meet Your Needs Parts & Labour Included (Silver, Gold & Landlord Plan) Giving You Overall Peace Of Mind!

email: accounts@essex-maintenance.co.uk

www.essex-maintenance.co.uk Telephone: 01702 716354

Project2_Layout 1 01/12/2015 12:14 Page 1

24 HR EMERGENCY

SERVICE

  GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING  GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING GAS●PLUMBING●HEATING   Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced andrepaired

• Tree Pruning • Shaping • Precision Felling • Thinning • Stump Grinding • Ground Maintenance • Dead Wooding

Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced andrepaired Allmakes&modelsofboilersserviced andrepaired CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits andrepaired CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits andrepaired CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades CondensingBoilersandWarmAirUnits AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades Installations AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades AllworkundertakenLeaksUpgrades Installations Installations NoCallOutCharge Installations NoCallOutCharge Installations NoCallOutCharge OAPdiscountsavailable NoCallOutCharge OAPdiscountsavailable NoCallOutCharge OAPdiscountsavailable Fullpublicliabilityinsurance OAPdiscountsavailable Fullpublicliabilityinsurance OAPdiscountsavailable Fullpublicliabilityinsurance  FullyQualifiedEngineers  Fullpublicliabilityinsurance  FullyQualifiedEngineers Fullpublicliabilityinsurance FullyQualifiedEngineers   FullyQualifiedEngineers   FullyQualifiedEngineers Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness 

. Qualified . Licensed . Insured .

Based in Rayleigh Discounts Available for OAP & Disable in the local area

Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience Aprofessionalfamilyrunbusiness Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. Honestandreliablewithover20yearsexperience ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall.. ..fromatapwashertoafullheatingsystemcall..

LOGS FOR SALE

01702435400 01702435400 01702435400 01702 435400

Call us now:

01268 857550

07719 837777

www.tree-king.co.uk

saMuel george fine jewellery ltd

P r e o w n e d f i n e w at c h e s ava i l a b l e .

P l e a s e e n q u i r e f o r P r i c e s a n d m o d e l ava i l a b i l i t y.

Model featured • rolex oyster date 34MM • stainless steel case and bracelet & white gold fluted bezel.

• salMon diaMond & arabic nuMeral dial.

• 2015 • coMplete with box and paperwork.

• rrp: £6,200.00

price £4,950.00

(in stock)

75 high street, wickford, essex, ss12 9aQ

01268 562338 - 07583 295201 e:

saMuelgeorgejewellery@outlook.coM

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

21

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

22

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

S.A.B Book-Keeping & Payroll • Sage and Quickbook • Sales and Purchase Ledger • Bank Payments and Receipts • Petty Cash • Bank Reconciliation • VAT Returns • Debtors and Creditors list as required

Sarah Ambrose ambrose32@outlook.com

07909525379

Basildon & District Rambling Club The group meets every Saturday at 2.00pm. The Saturday walks are 4-5 miles with a rest halfway, we have some longer walks on other days. New members are welcome and membership is only £6 per year which includes all walks. See our website www.basildonanddistrictramblingclub. btck.co.uk for full details Marjie’s Theatre Soc. Club Marjie’s Theatre Soc. Club for SINGLE lively 60 Plus ladies & Gents for Friendships, established 30 years - £15 year Non Profit Making - Half Price

West End Shows with Transport, APPROX £16 RETURN eg “Annie” with Miranda Heart £35, best seats (grp rates) for early booking.

From May onwards: -Woburn Safari, Kennet Horse Drawn Barge cruise with tea, The SHARD, MORE west End Shows etc plus Local Xmas dinner Jersey boys tribute & DANCING PLUS + PLUS LOTS MORE LOCAL LUNCHES AND BAR NIGHTS ONCE A MONTH FOR BOOKINGS - LET US GET TO KNOW YOU. - CONTACT MARJIE 01268 783351 FOR NEWS SHEETS. LEAVE YOUR NUMBER.

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.

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

23

DARTS

Darts still manages to split the sporting enthusiasts as to whether it is a game or in fact a fully fledged sport.

I don’t want to incur the wrath of any local darts lovers by my opening statement, as I mean to provoke debate as an outsider looking in to the challenging world of darts.

A sport by definition is any where an individual or a team compete by way of physical exertion and skill. However, while I accept the concentration levels must be exhausting, as well as the repetitive strain it puts on your posture and arms/ wrists. I struggle to on the other hand accept the physical element.

I will start with the obvious; the level of physical exertion does not seem to be much, especially comparing it to the other more physical sports.

Darts does seem to be changing and the current stars will be replaced with future stars that will perhaps display a healthier exterior, however it is the skill aspect that perhaps leads me to believe darts is more of a game than a fully fledged sport.

I will explain by stating my ‘beginners luck’ theory.

Any sport than have a crack at and on the first time of doing so if I can achieve a high score, surely it has to already be considered easier than other pursuits. Darts I feel falls into the bracket as bowling, we have all had days at Hollywood bowl where it seems to be raining strikes and this is why is it a great game that we can pick up and put

down, still enjoying it each time we go.

A sport and to become a professional sportsperson should surely mean a talent separating you from the rest, years of training of a young age perfecting the art of achieving a high score. I can and have by luck hit high scores in darts having only played a handful of times; however I could not go play a local game of Rugby or Tennis at a club without being considerably embarrassed.

From the above, you may think I am not a darts fan, however quite the contrary, when the darts is on the television I am usually glued, as the rules are simple and the atmosphere is enough to hook anyone in. Also, while Sky Sports insists on showing Poker and fishing, I certainly think it has a place on our sporting channels, I just somehow doubt the physical dedication and sacrifices are anywhere near where they should be to be regarded a professional sportsperson.

However the buzz is undeniable and all over Essex there are local pubs hosting matches and it provides a means of socialising as well unlocking that competitive nature. The Railway Pub in Billericay has a team, as do many others in neighbouring towns. Please visit the website below, to find your local side and find out where they play and on what night. http://www.wddl.org.uk

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

119836 36 ...

English Tuition Teacher of 35 years experience is offering tuition in: • English 11+ examination • English Literature: • KS3 • GCSE • A-level • English Language: • KS3 • GCSE

1-2-1 tuition gives students confidence to succeed, Student’ individual needs are met.

Please ring Mrs. R on 07809722904 for more information

We are a rapidly growing scaffolding company in Essex that has developed a reputation for providing a reliable scaffolding services in Essex and the surrounding counties

Types of scaffolding services that we provide include; • Staircases • Structure Support • Loading Bays • Ramps • Netting, Monoflexing • Designed Scaffolds • Bridging • Chimney Stacks • Temporary Roofs • Edge Protection All Scaffolding Work Guaranteed & Fully Insured Competitive Prices | Friendly & Reliable Service

..................................................................

Free advice & a quote on Office: 01268 763006 or Mobile: 07745 228270 www.up-scaffolding.co.uk | Shot Farm, Southend Road, Wickford, SS11 8RZ

tick box if you are happy to proceed

25

tick box if you are happy to proceed subj PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

Revd Nick Rowan

Give Thanks and Remember As I write we are celebrating Harvest at Holy Trinity Church. We are giving thanks to God for his provision as many generations have done before us.

Today very few, if any of us will actually be involved in agriculture and the gathering of the harvest. Because all this is out of sight it is very easy for us to just take the food on our plates for granted.

A couple of weeks ago we went to visit my wife’s aunt and uncle who live in the countryside. We were sitting in their garden and heard a tractor going up and down in the neighbouring field.

I took our young son to have a look in a gap in the hedge expecting to see the harvest being gathered in. Instead, though, we saw the tractor was going up and down an empty field, churning up the ground. It turned out that they were actually preparing that field to plant seeds for next year’s harvest.

My first thought was how hard farmers have to work all year round. We hadn’t even celebrated Harvest yet and this farmer was preparing for next year. It is all too easy to forget the time and effort that goes into growing and preparing our food when all we need to do is take it from the shelves of our local supermarket.

My second thought was about the wonder of creation. The

farmer was preparing to plant tiny seeds.

These seeds will begin to grow under the earth through the winter and then spring forth as a crop to be harvested next summer.

We have so much to be thankful for. It is good to stop once a year and reflect with thankful hearts on the wonder of creation and all of God’s good provision.

Over the next weeks we will also be preparing to stop and remember the sacrifice of past generations on Remembrance Sunday. We have been working with Rayleigh town council and the Royal British Legion for some months to prepare for this special day.

On Sunday 12th November there will be a parade through the town commencing from Websters Way at 9:40am. This will be followed at 10:15am by parallel services in Holy Trinity Church and the Parish Centre attached to the Church. In the build up to the two minutes silence at 11:00am there will also be a short service outside the Royal British Legion Hall.

At the conclusion of all three services we will gather outside the Royal British Legion for the traditional laying of wreathes and an act of Remembrance at approximately 11:15am.

As we gather to remember the sacrifices of past generations we also pray for peace today.

In 2017 it seems that the relative peace we have enjoyed is under threat.

To return to my visit to the countryside. I had one more thought when I returned to look at that empty field after the tractor had finished its work. It struck me that perhaps there was a lesson for life in that field.

God is at work all the time, sometimes in hidden ways. He is even at work in a field which appears to be empty in the depth of winter; he is at work underground, preparing for a future harvest.

Perhaps there is encouragement and hope in this thought in uncertain times.

Parish Office 01268 742151 info@parishofrayleigh.org.uk

www.parishofrayleigh.org.uk

BOB LEIGHTON’S PAINTING & DECORATING

The

Reliable Local Based Decorator for 30 Years

Quality Interior & Exterior Works Specialist in Wallpapering No Job is Too Small

Clay Cottage CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

Fully Insured

For FREE Friendly Advice & A FREE Quotation Call

01268 693471 07851 974589 USEFUL NUMBERS

THE CLAY COTTAGE

Lubbards Farm, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9QG Sat Nav - SS6 9QW

01268 786162 • www.claycottage.co.uk

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

PLEASE MENTION AROUND TOWN MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTS

27

Your Stove is waiting for you!

Photo for illustration purposes only