Oracle Thorpe Bay June 2017 by Oracle Publications

June 2017

Your all-seeing local

ORACLE

Thorpe Bay, Southchurch, the Garrison & Shoeburyness

Local Issues: Cllr Woodley – Brexit one year on …

Spotlight: Amber Locke – Raw Food, Health & Art

WIN! Family tickets to Village Green worth £60!

Re-elect

James Duddridge

Standing with Theresa May 8th June 2017 Promoted by Mike Steptoe on behalf of James Duddridge, both of 379 Southchurch Road, Southend, Essex, SS1 2PQ. Printed by Oracle Publications, Oracle House 11 Clarence Road, Southend, Essex, SS1 1AN

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June 2017

ORACLE

WELCOME

Recently, I met a very inspiring lady – Amber Locke (also known as the Raw Vegan Blonde). Her love of raw fruit and vegetables has brought her success, working with famous chefs such as Jamie Oliver, publishing internationally-selling recipe books, and creating works of art using fruit and vegetables. I thought you might like to explore Amber’s alternative approach to preparing food – see her article on page 24 – and get ready for her Middle East-inspired Summer Salad recipe, coming next month. A few months ago I asked Cllr Ron Woodley to write the special Local Issues for this edition on page 9. I wanted to know the effects Brexit is having on Southend and local business a year on. Since asking Cllr Woodley to write the article, a general election was called and Cllr Woodley has decided to stand as a local MP. This month’s competition is to win a family ticket worth £60, to go to the Village Green festival on the 8th of July. Village Green is a multi-art form and music festival, produced by arts organisation and charity, Metal, sited in the picturesque grounds of Chalkwell Park (see page 58 for more information). To enter, please send in your name and contact details to: Oracle/Village Green Competition, Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend SS1 1AN or email: info@oraclepublications.co.uk by Friday, 30th June. Good luck!

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838

Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1AN www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk Printed by Printwize Ltd, oracleessex Witham, Essex CM8 3BN oracle_essex 01376 500900 June 2017 www.oraclepublications.co.uk

CONTENTS Putting the X into Brexit

9/10/12

Local Issues by Cllr Ron Woodley

Roses are Red!

Salon advice by Craig Smith

The Sky’s Not the Limit for Local Business

Focus on local business, Super Gutter Vac

The Art of Healthy Eating

Spotlight on raw vegan blonde, Amber Locke

Spring Fish Pie

Judy's Recipe Page

Your Money or Your Life

Money Talks by Clive Rowe

Southend 125 yrs – Worth Writing Home About

Community event by Metal

Brainbox 50 What's On

Useful Numbers

Advertiser Directory

Advertorials High-Tech Membrane Roofing

14/15

Shoeburyness High School

42/43

All rights reserved. No part of Oracle Publications UK Ltd may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means either wholly or in part without prior permission of the publisher. Oracle Publications UK Ltd is editorially autonomous and the opinions expressed are not those of the publisher unless expressly stated.

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LOCAL ISSUES

Putting the X into BreXit When invited to write this month’s article about Brexit for the Oracle, I had no idea that an election would be called and that the article would come out during the election campaign, in which I am standing as a candidate. One thing is for sure – the country has voted to leave the EU and whoever is the next Prime Minister and Government, they should receive our support, as it will be their task to get the best exit deal possible for the country, the economy and most importantly, for the people.

eXplanatory teXt Therefore, over the past month I have been gathering newspapers from the right and newspapers from the left to try and get a perspective of what the reporters, editors and columnists are saying. Basically, they weren’t telling me anything I wasn’t aware of, but I was feeling a bit disconsolate about the way they were reporting the situation. A lot of it was not fact – it was their opinion, and biased in whichever political grouping they belong to, and were reporting for.

and explain how I see the situation ahead for the country, and in particular Southend-on-Sea.

taX & spend I believe we are all aware that the UK’s exit from the European Union is going to have a significant impact, not just on the country, but also on local government and the local economy, creating challenges that will need to be addressed. We should not fear those challenges, as it gives local government opportunities to do things differently. Over the next few years – at least until 2020 – councils across the country will be facing a further central government funding gap of £5.8billion, mostly linked to care costs for the elderly. This is apart from the funding shortfalls in the NHS, Police and Fire services. Treasury figures, however, indicate that there is an annual contribution of £8.5billion

I am aware that in Southend-on-Sea and the rest of the country, of those that voted, the majority of people voted to leave, but we have to be mindful that there were a high proportion of residents who voted to remain, and that can be said for all the political groups apart from UKIP. I will, therefore, try and pen this article with a balanced perspective,

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to the EU, and therefore on leaving the EU, the Government does have choices on how those funds can be redeployed, bearing in mind that the additional funding can only come into play once we have fully left the European Union. Councils, therefore, should be placing as much pressure as possible on the Government, indicating their local communities’ needs before financial decisions are made, and funding starts to disappear down the drain of central government.

fleXible working Where does all this leave local government? This is a big question and I do not have all the answers, but I do have a vision for some of the important issues facing councils in the short and medium time frame. I believe it is necessary to look again at the question of devolution and how to bring new powers to local communities through local democracy. Councils have

the democratic mandate to lead their communities, but they have to be bold enough to grasp the opportunity now presenting itself. It must lead to new legislative freedoms and flexibilities so that local communities, businesses and residents can benefit.

no quick fiX Councils have a critical role to play in bringing communities together. There has been an increase in police recording of crime, most notably violent, hate and knife crime. To reduce this, it is crucial to give councils powers to drive local economic growth, improve skills and education, and build new homes with the adequate infrastructure that is necessary for an area that has aspirations of becoming a city. We have started to build new homes and have plans to drive more home ownership, enabling residents to have secure tenancies which will help bring communities together and add to the economic growth of all our businesses, such as the building industry, airport, tourism, culture, leisure, and the business park, which is currently under construction. Another important strand is the understanding of the impact of leaving the EU on those working in our public services, the NHS, and – equally important – the social care sector, of which non-UK and EU nationals make up 7 per cent of the existing workforce. Even without considering the impact of a UK withdrawal from the EU, the paid adult social care workforce will increase at a slower rate as the demand for social care services increases, thus widening the skills gap in this important sector.

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… continued from page 10.

eXemplary behaviour I believe the referendum also gave Government a clear message from those communities that have felt no benefit from their growth programmes. Further devolution of the adult education budget is vital to tackle this problem. The Government’s approach is costly and fragmented; it fails to address the needs of local residents and employers across the country. A more integrated and localised approach should be based around groups of councils working together with local businesses to create single, place-based strategies, tailored to the needs of people and employers. This transfer of responsibility with funding for employment and skills is vital to help local economies going forward. When I became leader of Southend Council in 2014, officers were instructed to prepare for a major recession by 2020. They were to look at our local economic strengths and weaknesses and break them down into segments, to see where we could strengthen any individual area and, where possible, be more commercially minded on the services we supply to residents, ensuring that the impact on the economic base of the town would be minimised.

At the moment, the current administration is continuing in the same fashion. Yes, there will be variations of the theme – that has to be expected – but generally, the town is in a place where I believe our industries can withstand any major impact, including the decision to leave the EU.

eXtrapolating So, how is the economic situation since the vote to leave? Because of the reduction of the value of the pound, our tourism, culture and leisure sectors have been boosted. The re-development plans of the town are continuing, our skill base will continue to grow, and our businesses should start to see the benefits. Nothing can be future-proofed and my concerns naturally focus on the retail segment and the high street. Residents must remember – we haven’t left yet, but that is another chapter to be written.

by Ron Woodley BERA Chairman and Independent Councillor for Thorpe Ward

01702 588662 e: ronwoodley@hotmail.co.uk

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June 2017

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SALON

Roses are red There’s still a bit of a stigma that comes with being a ‘strawberry blonde’ but times they are a-changing. Thanks to the likes of Prince Harry, Ed Sheeran, Emma Stone, Rupert Grint and Nicole Kidman rocking the red look, standing out from the crowd is now very cool. And here’s Craig’s top tips on how to work it … As beautiful as natural red hair is, it can be incredibly coarse, as gingers actually have fewer (albeit, thicker) follicles on their striking heads.

Boy, is my face red! When it comes to makeup, be proud of your freckles (if you are lucky enough to have them) and show them off. Just some light powder or even mineral foundation is a great way to keep your freckles beautiful. Of course, it all depends on your skin tone as well as the color red you have, but just because you are a redhead doesn’t mean you can’t wear blush – deeper brick and crimson blushes are fantastic on red heads. And a little coral on your lips is a great way to brighten up your face. If you are looking for some eyeshadow that really works for redheads, peaches and browns is the way to go!

Paint the town, Red

Red light

Protecting any redhead’s pale skin from the sun is a year-round job, as they have much less melanin in their skin than the rest of us, so burn far more easily. When looking for a suitable sunscreen, make sure it protects against UVA and UVB light and is at least a minimum of SPF 30.

Over-washing is one of the main culprits for drying out your locks and encouraging coarseness. Of course, it may be tempting to wash your hair every day, but excessive shampooing dries out red hair more quickly, particularly if the product contains harsh chemicals. Space out your shampoo sessions to every three days. This may feel like too long for some, and if so, invest in some dry shampoo on your non-washing days, or just rinse and condition on your off days.

Now you know how to rock your own red, just watch while everyone else turns green … with envy!

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FOCUS

The sky’s no limit for local start-up

When, after 26 years of office-bound work, I was made redundant without warning, I decided that – despite receiving various offers – I wouldn’t be going back to pen-pushing and the London smoke. It quickly became clear to me that whatever I decided to do needed to involve minimal paperwork and definitely had to be outdoors!

A grounded business idea Despite the likelihood for trapped water to cause considerable structural damage, gutter clearing is one of the most overlooked annual household maintenance tasks. Perhaps no surprise when you consider that ladder accidents are a major source of Accident & Emergency visits. If only you could do it safely from the ground …

Getting it off the ground After some searching, I came across SkyVac – basically an industrial-strength Hoover with an onboard, digital camera and lightweight, carbonfibre poles which can reach up to four stories high without losing any of its powerful suction. Because it can be used from the safety of the ground, it negates a lot of the health and safety issues surrounding working at height, which is great for managing agents as I can access difficult-to-reach commercial buildings. Now I had the right tools for the job, I needed a way to let everybody know.

I stumbled across Emma and her team at Oracle and they drummed home the importance of having a recognisable brand and an on-line presence. From start to finish they held my hand and with their professional, friendly, one-to-one service, we came up with Super Gutter Vac – I think the guys in the office must be closet superhero fans! They quickly built me an impressive website, created eye-catching adverts, business cards and flyers, and before I knew it, the phone had started to ring!

Flying high I pride myself on offering a friendly, professional service, and because I don’t have the hassle of ladders, I can do a safer, faster, better job at more affordable prices. I would guestimate that 40% of new jobs are from customer/managing agents’ recommendations, which is great considering I’m still in my first year of business! Family, friends and ex-colleagues were extremely sceptical at the beginning but I now have a few of them looking to help me expand into other areas! I look forward to growing the business over the coming years and would like to thank the team at Oracle, and all of my customers, present and future, for their continued support. by Steve Newland

Director of Super Gutter Vac

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SPOTLIGHT

Amber Locke – the art of healthy eating

Oracle often meets people with bundles of talent but raw vegan artist, Amber Locke, has it in spades, sackfuls and bunches, too … “I come from a family of passionate foodies and was fortunate to grow up with enthusiastic gardeners as parents so we always had a large vegetable plot and a bountiful supply of fresh fruit, vegetables, salad crops and herbs right on our doorstep,” says Amber. “My mother is a wonderfully talented cook and brought me up with an ingrained desire to create beautiful, nourishing food, an appreciation of using good ingredients and the notion that a meal had to contain at least 7 different colours on the plate for it to constitute a proper healthy meal! Unsurprisingly meals at home were lovingly made, super-colourful and seasonal delights and this was the start of my passion for fresh fruit and veg, and healthy food.”

Do play with your food! Not one to hide her light under a bushel, Amber invested her passion into her own bespoke design service specialising in food art and photography. The business quickly grew (readers with allotments may wish to take note): “My work has been commissioned for marketing materials, packaging, magazine and book illustrations, logos and corporate branding. I demonstrate live at events and press launches and also create in-store art installations. I offer food and product consultancy, talks and demonstrations specialising in raw food. Brands I’ve worked with include: Pepsico, Google, Harrods, Jamie Oliver, Blendtec, Anthropologie, Innocent, Fresh Beauty, Leon Restaurant Group and

last year I worked with Sainsbury’s as the UK’s first in-store ‘Vegetable Butcher’!” In 2016, Amber published her first book, Nourish, containing over 100 recipes for salads, dressings, toppings and ‘twists’. It’s worldwide success quickly led to a sequel, Savour, this time serving up a selection of sensational soups to fulfil and fortify. “It’s a joy to use beautiful ingredients and my work aims to showcase their unique qualities and also be a celebration of healthy living. As well as the fantastic health benefits, preparing raw food is also really simple; it’s quick, easy, requires very little washing up, there’s virtually no waste or complicated recipes to navigate. Another bonus is that it’s a diet of abundance that gives you complete freedom, so you can eat as much as your appetite dictates and never have to worry about counting a calorie again!”

Raw recruits If you fancy giving the raw lifestyle a try, Amber says it’s as simple as incorporating more raw fruits and veg into your diet in the form of juices, smoothies or salads, etc. You don’t have to be 100% fully-raw to feel the benefits and starting with just one raw meal a day is a great way to put yourself on the highway to super-health and happiness! You can take a look at Amber’s art on her website: www.ambaliving.com and find her books in all good bookstores. We’ve also got one of Amber’s recipes ready for you in next month’s Oracle, so keep your veg, your fruit, and your eyes peeled!

www.ambaliving.com @rawveganblonde

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FOOD

Spring Fish Pie This is a lovely, large, family, fish pie, topped with new potatoes mixed with cheese, spring onions and chives. You can make it ahead of time but to freeze, make sure the prawns are fresh and not previously frozen. I usually make the whole recipe then split it up into smaller dishes to serve 1 or 2. Enjoy!

Ingredients (serves 8):

• 500ml vegetable or fish stock • 500g skinless salmon fillets • 500g skinless cod fillets • 300g raw or cooked prawns • 175g frozen peas, defrosted • small bunch of dill, chopped • 200g green beans, chopped • 300ml (½ pt) white wine • 200ml double cream • 1 heaped tbsp cornflour For the topping –

1. Heat the stock in a small pan and add the salmon and cod. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave to sit for 5 minutes more. Remove the fish, keeping the stock, and flake into large chunks, removing bones as you go. Spread onto the base of one large or two smaller ovenproof dishes with the prawns, peas, dill and green beans. 2. Pour the wine, reserved stock and cream into a pan and simmer to reduce a little. Mix the cornflour to a paste with a little cold water and whisk back into the sauce, simmering until thickened. Pour over the fish and veg and leave to cool a little while you make the topping. 3. Boil the potatoes in salted water for about 10–15 minutes until tender. Drain and steam-dry for a few minutes, then return to the pan with the olive oil, spring onions and half the cheese and chives. Season, crush lightly with a fork or potato masher, then spoon over the fish. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese and chives.

• 1½ kg new potatoes, larger ones halved • 3 tbsp olive oil • small bunch of spring onions, chopped • 140g cheddar, grated cheddar • 1 bunch chives, chopped 30

Method:

4. To eat, heat the oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/Gas Mark 7 and cook for 25–30 mins until the topping is golden and the filling, bubbling. To freeze, allow to cool, and wrap well. Defrost thoroughly overnight and cook as above, adding 10 minutes to the cooking time. by Judy Barden

Next month: Griddled Courgettes, Pine Nuts & Feta

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June 2017

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Who really knows what I would want to happen next? The Doctor doesn’t, the Local Authority doesn’t, nor does the Sheriff Court. Only my family knows … Whether old or young, capacity to manage your affairs can be lost for many reasons, such as a sudden accident or medical condition. With over 850,000 people in the UK currently living with dementia (and rising), ensuring your loved ones have the ability to make decisions for you is essential, and although many people understand the advantages of having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place to handle financial affairs, they put off instructing a Health & Welfare LPA, seeing it as less important. But ask yourself this: what would concern you most if you were unable to make decisions yourself? Would it be whether your money was being spent wisely? Or would it be where you lived? What you ate? What care and medical treatment you were given? Here is a true account from a client who had not come to us in time to put a Health & Welfare LPA in place: Mum was admitted to hospital and following a lengthy stay, Social Services – along with the Local Authorities – compiled a health report along with an assessment for care. Naturally, her children wanted

ORACLE estate planning

In association with Countrywide SE LLP 36

to be involved in this process and requested that they be consulted with the view to wanting to ensure that the care package would be what Mum would have wanted. Not only were they not invited to any of these meetings to decide Mum’s fate, the authorities also refused to reveal the contents of the health report to her own children. All decisions were made without any of her immediate family being present! This is not an isolated case. Are you happy to allow strangers to make all of the decisions about your care? Or would you rather entrust that responsibility to your loved ones? Only by having a Health & Welfare LPA in place and having communicated your wishes to your Attorneys, can you maximise your chances of having your wishes followed in the future.

A weight off your mind So make yours NOW! – while you still have mental capacity, and sleep safe knowing that your wishes will be carried out by the ones you love and trust. For more information or for friendly, free advice on all aspects of estate planning, please give me a call on: 01702 393838.

by Clive Rowe Estate Planning Consultant in association with Countrywide SE LLP Will Writing • Power of Attorney • Trusts • Funeral Plans Will Updating & Storage Facilities • Probate Administration

Call Clive Rowe on: 01702 393838 e: crowe@countrywide-se.com w: www.countrywide-se.co.uk Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend SS1 1AN

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Expecting excellence at Shoebury High As a result of prolonged and sustained improvement in the performance of its students, Shoeburyness High School continues to be the school of choice for many parents within its community and wider area. For entry into year 7 in September 2017, the waiting list is running at over 130 even though the intake has already increased to over 300 students. This increase in numbers is set to continue and as a result, the school will have a new build ready to receive students in September 2018. September 2016 saw the first ever fully selective form of entry at Shoeburyness and this year, due to the continued increase in the applications for selective places, we will have two full selective forms of entry. This article aims to provide a little flavour

of what is attracting parents and their children to a selective place at Shoebury but if you want the full picture, you will need to attend our Selective Information Evening on Wednesday 14th June.

Off to a flying start The offer at Shoeburyness for our high-ability students starts with High 5. High 5 involves students from across Southend attending once a week to participate in a variety of activities that are designed to develop studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; skills in English and Modern Foreign Languages, alongside Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). These subjects are delivered through an interactive engineering context by our own specialist teachers, including heads of Faculty and Outreach Coordinators using specialist facilities. The teachers are ensuring that they focus on adding value to the excellent learning that the students already receive in these areas at Key Stage 2. If you would like further information about High 5, or have any questions about our programme, please do not hesitate to contact us at: high5@shoeburyness. southend.sch.uk or telephone: 01702 292286.

Star pupils Students who join Shoeburyness on a selective place are placed in our M* group which is our fully selective group. These students follow a challenging curriculum that includes two languages. This year our M* students have already been working through GCSE Maths papers, expanded their creative writing skills and appreciation of literature, stretched their

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June 2017

scientific reasoning skills and have been following the same coursework plan as year 11 GCSE Geographers. Our M* students, together with our other Academically More Able (AMA) students have Individual Challenge Plans (ICPs) and an ICP mentor who provides guidance to ensure accelerated progress in all subjects. During their first half term, students can enrol on our Academy+ groups, which cover everything from Chemistry Club to Music Tuition, Maths plus, Digital Art and Astronomy to Computer Science. STEM students complete bronze and silver CREST awards and enrichment activities for AMA students include challenge days (with groups such as the Small Piece Trust and the Engineering Development Trust) and work with Russell Group Universities. Our AMA programme continues to strengthen and is developing into a linear programme that will challenge and stretch children within Southend East Community Academy Trust (SECAT) schools from the start of KS1. In Years 10 and 11 our curriculum is designed to allow students to study for the full range of English Baccalaureate subjects including Triple Science whilst also allowing them a choice from over 24 other subjects so they can also pursue their other talents be that in Sport, Creative Arts or Technology. In 2016 our GCSE results were once again above the national average in all three core subjects of English, Maths and Science and our high-ability students gained over 220 A and A* grades between them and it doesn’t end in year 11 …

A very good year Shoeburyness High’s post 16 provision is still the biggest within the borough and fully supports high ability students from within Shoebury High and from

other 11–16 providers with over 40 different courses on offer. There are learning groups that are pathway based, including ones aimed at students applying to the prestigious Russell Group Universities. Our Academy Programme also continues into years 12 and 13 with extra, timetabled and staffed, provision that is on top of the usual contact time. This Academy provision is especially important in the very demanding, academic A levels where students are targeted to achieve the highest grades. Shoeburyness High School continues to be a fully inclusive school supporting and challenging all students within our community to reach their potential however vast that may be. We do this with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a positivity that runs through everything we do. It is this ethos that enables our students to reach the very highest levels of attainment possible; no aspiration is out of reach.

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SOUTHEND EAST COMMUNITY ACADEMY TRUST

Shoeburyness High School 01702 292286 schooloffice@shoeburyness.southend.sch.uk www.shoeburynesshigh.co.uk

STOP PRESS! Selective Information Evening Wednesday 14th June from 6.00pm–7.30pm Headteacher’s talk at 6.15pm This evening is to help you decide whether you wish your child to sit the 11+ test in order to gain a selective place at Shoeburyness High School.

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WHAT’S ON Village Green Festival of Arts & Music Sat 8th July, 11am– 9pm. Chalkwell Park, Westcliff SS0 8NA. Children FREE, teens £10, adults £15 (in advance): www.villagegreenfestival.com WI Southchurch Village Friends Meeting Every 2nd Mon, 7.30pm. Thorpe Bay Methodist Church, The Broadway, Thorpe Bay SS1 3HQ. 12 Jun – Peter Layzell: Bobby on the Beat. WI Great Wakering Evening Meeting Every 3rd Mon, 8pm. The Memorial Hall, High Street, Great Wakering SS3 0EF. 19 June – Linda Scholes: Help – I need a Lifestyle Adviser. Dance Exercise Classes Every Mon, 7.30–8.30pm, Holy Trinity, Southchurch Boulevard, Southend SS2 4XA and every Tues, 9.30–10.30am at Christchurch Centre, 56 Colbert Avenue, Southend SS1 3BP. All ages welcome. £5/£7. Call Elaine on: 01702 582231. Leigh Art Trail Sat 10 Jun–Sat 17 Jun, 9am–6pm. Various venues and artists. Visit: www.leigharttrail.com/events Beer and Cider Tasting Evening Fri 9 Jun, from 7pm. Belfairs Woodland Centre, Eastwood Rd North, Leigh SS9 4LR. £10. For tickets, e: belfairs@essexwt.org.uk/call: 01702 477467. Thorpe Bay Horticultural Society Summer Flower & Homecraft Show Sat 10 Jun, from 2.15pm. St. Augustine’s Church Hall, Johnstone Road, Southend SS1 3HB. Stalls and refreshments. 50p, members free. Call: 01702 588297. Essex Business Women’s Experience Fri 16 Jun, 8am– 6.30pm. Park Inn Radisson, Church Road, Southend SS1 2AL. Exhibitors, workshops, networking and shopping. For women at all stages of business. £10 each or bring a friend for £15. Visit: www.essexbusinesswomensexperience.com Parks Angling Club Fri 16 Jun. Reopening of Priory Park and Shoebury Park Fishing Lakes. £8 adults, £4 under 16s. Southend Raft Race FREE to watch Sun 25 Jun, 10am–2pm. Thorpe Esplanade, Southend SS1 3BG. Up to 50 sponsored rafts raising funds for RNLI and other charities. Visit: www. southend.gov.uk/events/event/2181/southend_raft_race Leigh Folk Festival Thurs 22 Jun–Sun 25 Jun. Various events and venues around Old Leigh Town. Visit: www.leigh-on-sea.com/event/detail/leigh-folk-festival-2017 Village Green Festival Sat 8th July. Chalkwell Park, Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff SS0 8NA. Local & international talent from the worlds of music, literature and art. Visit: www.leigh-on-sea.com/event/detail/village-green-2017 Open Garden Railway Sun 9 July, 2pm–5pm. 83 Parkanaur Avenue, Thorpe Bay SS1 3JA. Collecting for St Augustine’s Parish Church Garden Fund. £2.50 per person, children FREE. Italian Piazza Sun 9 July, 11am–4pm. Strand Wharf, High St, Old Leigh SS9 2EN. Over 15 stalls selling Italian produce. Italian vehicles on display. www.oldleigh.com/events

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COMMUNITY

Southend 125 yrs – worth writing home about

To celebrate the 125th year of Southend (official birthday, 19 September 1892), Metal are inviting people of all ages to share a Love Letter to Your Hometown. Whether Southend has been your hometown all your life, or you grew up here and moved away, now’s your chance to share your love. If you once spent the best trip of your life in Southend or have just recently arrived, we’d love to hear about it. All over town – in cafés, libraries, hairdressers and shops – postcards will be waiting for your best creative message. Simply share a few of your tender moments, affectionate thoughts and fondest memories about your town to help us create a mass love letter to Southend. It can be a drawing, a map, a poem, a letter, just a symbol or anything you like. Once they are completed, just post them back to us at Metal (the postcard is already addressed) and they will become part of a huge exhibition at Village Green on Saturday 8th July 2017. Over 3,500 postcards have already been distributed to schools, and further workshops with young people will take place at Village Green: Next Generation on Friday 7th July, ensuring that the voice of Southend’s youth will be represented. Following the huge exhibition of the postcards at Village Green, a selection will be shown at Beecroft Art Gallery and also in one of the artist-designed beach huts on Southend Pier, later in the year. If you, some friends, or a group that meets regularly would like to take part, please feel free to request

some postcards from chalkwell@metalculture.com or call 01702 470700 and we will post you some.

Go green There are lots of other opportunities to get involved in Village Green. To apply to perform, creatively participate, or volunteer to help with the backstage running please visit: www.villagegreenfestival.com Tickets are FREE for 10-year-olds and under, £10 for ages 11–17 and £15 for adults. On festival day (8th July) adult tickets will be £20 and teen tickets will be £15. Tickets are available online 24 hours at: www.villagegreenfestival.com (any issues, call the helpline on: 0333 3010101 Mon–Fri 9am–6pm; Sat 10am–5pm; closed Sun). Metal have also set aside FREE tickets for Southenders on low incomes. These can be secured with Southend Borough Council through their Southend Advantage Card scheme. For more details of how to claim your FREE ticket – call Metal: 01702 470700 or email: chalkwell@metalculture.com Oracle also has one Village Green family ticket available to win – see page 3 for details!

01702 470700 e: chalkwell@metalculture.com www.metalculture.com www.villagegreenfestival.com

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