October Thorpe Bay Oracle

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Thorpe Bay

October ‘11

ORACLE Thorpe Bay at a glance Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 4,500

Oracle Competition WIN! Laser Teeth Whitening worth £240 at Utopia Beauty & Spa

Local Issues What is ESU?

Recipe Chocolate and Banana Tart

Oracle Motoring

More Carrot, less Stick for Speeders

Health & Beauty

Grow Older More Gracefully

More people choo choose os Essex Countryside... Countryside e..

because we also offer a service. discreet marketing serv vic 137 The Br Broadway, oadway, Thorpe Thorp pe Ba B Bay 01702 01 702 58324 583244 4 www.essexcountryside.com www .essexcountr yside.co om

Enjoy clear vision Regain your freedom with our complete range of eye treatments

FREE Laser Eye Seminar Thursday 24th November 7.30 to 9.00pm

Your chance to talk directly to our nationally renowned Consultant Surgeons To reserve your place, please call:

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Thorpe Bay

OR ACLE

publisher’s letter

J

ust when we thought we would be packing away our Summer clothes, the much talked/moaned about ‘British weather’ has surprised us all and reminded us how fantastic Southend is when the sun is shining.

New Bathroom? Leaking Tap? Boiler need attention? Call Brian Lacey, Today!

Thank you for all your kind comments on Oracle’s bumper/special edition last month. Local issues article ’A grateful Nation soon forgot’ was well received and the writer, John Lee has been contacted by people who knew and worked with Capt Champion. This month’s Oracle competition has been kindly donated by Utopia Beauty & Spa, Westcliff. They are offering one Thorpe Bay Oracle winner the chance to win a Laser Teeth Whitening treatment (achieving up to 10 shades lighter). The cost of this treatment is normally £240. Check out their website www.utopiabeautyspa.co.uk to see their other treatments.

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To enter, simply send your contact details to:Thorpe Bay Oracle/Laser Teeth Whitening competition. 39 Alexandra Street, Southend. SS1 1BW. Closing date is Friday 21 October. Good Luck!

Call Brian Lacey Gas, Plumbing & Heating for a free Estimate:

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838 www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk www.twitter.com/oracle_essex www.facebook.com/oraclepublications

01702 588886 07788 922658

Tel: Mobile:

Formerly ‘Help 4 Your Home’

Printed by EVONPRINT, Small Dole, Sussex 01273 494631 OCTOBER 2011

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ORACLE

Flat Roofing

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Local Issues What is ESU? By Margaret Jones

9/10

Dye Another Day Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

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Investing in Inflationary Time

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01702 295314 62 Raphael Drive, Shoeburyness Tel. & Fax: 01702 295314 Mob: 07970 746712 estuaryroofing@blueyonder.co.uk

Money Matters by Jacqui Moyies

More Carrot, less Stick for Speeders Oracle Motoring by Stuart Winder

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650 Mile Smile By Nick Robins

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Chocolate and Banana Tart Judy’s Recipe Page

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Grow Older More Gracefully Health & Beauty by Cris Ramis

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Interior and exterior decorating, painting and wallpapering

Professional, friendly and reliable Local Thorpe Bay Decorator Top quality workmanship Guaranteed City and Guild qualified Competitive prices Fully Insured

Landmark Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition 50 Cultured Club by Tracy Jones Sudoku

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Diary Dates

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Useful Numbers Advertiser Index

Advertorials WDC Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic 6 Thorpe Hall School 12/13 Shoeburyness High School 58/59 4

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FOUNDED 1904

ALLEYN COURT

PREPARATORY SCHOOL P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L F O R B OY S A N D G I R L S F R O M 2 ½ T O 1 1 A N I A P S & I S A A F F I L I AT E D S C H O O L

What opportunities do your children deserve? Alleyn Court offers: • An excellent all-round education and broad curriculum. • High academic standards. • Specialist teaching and classrooms. • A friendly, welcoming, family atmosphere. • Excellent pastoral care and supportive staff. • Oustanding art, sport and performing arts. • An extensive extra-curricular programme. • Superb facilities – sports hall, pavilion, art studio, ICT suite and science lab. • A beautiful site and natural environment for learning with a newly developed forest school area. • Confident and happy children. For a prospectus or further information contact the school admissions secretary, Mrs Cain, on

Tel: 01702-582553 or admissions@alleyn-court.co.uk WAKERING ROAD | SOUTHEND-ON-SEA | ESSEX

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Local Issues

What is ESU?

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh , Prince Philip ,with the winners of the ESU Public Speaking Competition for Schools 2010 at the Buckingham Palace ceremony in November last year

I

n 1918, one man's visionary response to the tragedy and destruction of a World War was to create an organisation whose aim was to foster peace and understanding between nations and peoples through the use of the English language. Evelyn Wrench launched the English-Speaking Union on 4 July 1918 and, almost a century later, its ethos and ambitions are upheld in branches throughout the UK and across the globe.

The ESU also networks with a variety of cultural events across the nation and benefits from a beautiful national HQ at Dartmouth House. This Grade 1 listed building in London’s Mayfair has a restaurant and bar and hosts a variety of events open to all members. We were recently delighted to welcome Peter Kyle (previously CEO of the Globe Theatre) as the ESU’s new Director General.

The ESU is an educational charity. For over 90 years it has provided scholarships, bursaries and exchange opportunities to English-speakers around the world allowing young people, teachers, librarians and others to develop their personal and professional skills. It also promotes the skills of public oratory and debating to school and university students worldwide by running speaking and debating competitions in the UK and overseas (details of your local Southend on Sea competition are below).

The Southend-on-Sea Branch of the ESU has an excellent programme of events, with lunches, talks, etc. in the Cliffs Pavilion at Westcliff on Sea interspersed with visits to local places of interest. These are excellent opportunities to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. We are always happy to welcome newcomers and all members are encouraged to bring guests.

Fun and Relaxed At both national and branch level our 5,000 members are tireless fundraisers, working hard to help young people fulfil their potential. The good news is that most of these fundraising occasions are also fun with lunches, garden parties, talks and visits at home and abroad providing a relaxed environment for members to meet, chat and vitally, support their local communities. OCTOBER 2011

Achieving Aspirations At our Christmas lunch on Monday 5th Dec at The Cliffs Pavilion, our ever hardworking Branch President, Sir Teddy Taylor, will make a presentation to Ben Gershinson, an outstanding local music student and the recipient of the branch’s 2011 Florence Warren Award. 18yr old Ben, educated at WHSB and with aspirations in the field of conducting, is now reading music at Downing College, Cambridge.

A key part of the ESU’s educational effort is our acclaimed Public Speaking Competition www.oraclepublications.co.uk T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E 9

for Schools. This is aimed at pupils from years 10 and 11. Winning teams of three pupils progress from branch finals through regional finals to the national final. The overall winners are presented at Buckingham Palace and one member of that team goes on to compete in the International Public Speaking Competition against young people from all over the world. The Southend-on-Sea branch of the ESU resumed holding heats of the Public Speaking Competition two years ago and it has been a great success with each heat being of a high quality and extremely enjoyable for participants and audience alike. Schools from throughout the Borough took part - the current champions are Westcliff High School for Boys. It is important for teachers to know that public speaking skills are applied in many areas across National Curriculum Key Stages 3 & 4. The ESU competition is generally acknowledged as the blue riband speaking competition for young people in the UK. Schools can enter more than one team.

The 2012 Southend branch heat(s)will be held at The Eastwood School, Rayleigh, on the evening of January 19th. The winners will go on to the Regional Final at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge on March 24th . Schools Wanted For entry details please e-mail me at the address below. I will be delighted to visit any school in the area to explain the competition in more detail and to discuss coaching opportunities. I hope to welcome new members to our events and even more participating teams to the Public Speaking Competition. If you would like to know more about the ESU please email me mjones3005@googlemail.com

New members under 27yrs old are entitled to FREE membership. Under 65yrs, membership of the ESU is an absolute bargain at ÂŁ36, with concessions for senior citizens and for family members at the same address. Join your local branch - go to ESU events in the UK and around the world, meeting people for whom we open new horizons - enjoy the facilities at Dartmouth House, London. Further details and a list of events and programmes can be found on www.esu.org

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Margaret Jones Chair The English-Speaking Union Southend-on-Sea Branch Public Speaking O C TCompetition OBER 2011

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Advertorial

Thorpe Hall achieves best ever GCSES – Again! T horpe Hall School’s Headteacher – Andrew Hampton – was delighted to announce that the school had beaten its record at GCSE for the second time in three years.

“97% of our pupils achieved 5 or more A* to C grades, with 94% including Maths and English. Added to that 26% of all grades awarded were A* or A. This is a magnificent achievement for the pupils and staff and I am very proud of them all.” said Mr Hampton. “It is also very gratifying that amongst the girls in that group, 100% achieved 5 or more A* to C grades including Maths and English. I think this all shows that the many strategies that have been put in place over the last four years have been very effective in raising academic standards at Thorpe Hall School.” he continued. Pupils at Thorpe Hall enjoy outstanding facilities and cutting edge use of technology. “I think our use of the Virtual Learning Environment has been particularly useful and popular with the pupils. 12

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All homework in the Upper School is now set on line and this has helped create greater clarity and direction. Pupils can also find many revision and learning resources on line through the VLE and this is preparing them well for working life in the 21st Century.” said Mr Hampton.

Many pupils leaving the school last July have now started their A Level studies at the Grammar Schools in Southend. “It is nice to know that despite not being successful at 11+ some years ago, these pupils have graduated into the High Schools for their A levels anyway.” Thorpe Hall School is open to prospective parents and families from 10.00 am until noon on Saturday 15th October.

01702 582340 Wakering Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 3RD

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OCTOBER 2011

open morning Saturday 15th October from 10am to 12pm Prospective parents and families are invited to join us at our open morning to:Take a tour of our school and its excellent facilities including the 250 seat, fully equipped theatre, state of the art ICT suites, dedicated studios for food, textiles and D&T and extensive sports and recreation amenities. Meet some of our exceptional nursery, lower and upper school staff and find out how we achieve our outstanding results through forward thinking and first class teaching practices. Meet Headteacher Andrew Hampton and learn more about the many ways in which he and his team bring education to life at Thorpe Hall School. Thorpe Hall is a co-educational day school with excellent facilities and outstanding results. With separate nursery, lower school and upper school, it offers parents great flexibility in the paths they choose for their children’s education from early years aged 2-5 years, through preparatory stages aged 6-11 years and all the way to GCSE from 12-16 years.

t 01702 582340 www.thorpehallschool.co.uk Wakering Road | Southend-on-Sea | Essex | SS1 3RD

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OCTOBER 2011

Oracle Hair & Beauty

Dye Another Day My guide to becoming a grey icon

T

he need to turn on the heating signifies the arrival of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Just as summer inevitably gives way to autumn, sooner or later, we all go grey.

Some of us accept and embrace it, whilst others view going grey as something to dye for. Instead of screaming "old", these days grey is becoming trendier, sexy even. Grey glamour puss Dame Helen Mirren is a wonderful role model and for men, George Clooney has to be the ultimate silver fox.

others appear older than their actual age. It’s not just deciding to go grey, but how to do it to ensure you always look your best. Look in a mirror at your skin tone. If it is ‘cool’, in that pinks, blues and white suit you – you can rest assured that white hair will turn you into a silver siren. If you look good in orange, brown or green, colour your hair to look younger for longer.

Work out a plan with your hairdresser – be sure to see them regularly to monitor how the greying process is unfolding, they may suggest adding lowlights and/or glosses for definition and To be factual, grey isn’t really a colour at all. Hair shine. Ensure your hair is regularly trimmed and colour pigments range from shades of white, red, well cut, keep it well conditioned and use the brown and black and this pigment comes from most appropriate products for maintaining your melanin (located in hair follicles). As the human grey hair. body produces less melanin with age, then hair becomes grey as you grow older. Just one note of caution though, if you maintain flame red locks into your seventies, you could find I am often asked, why do some people turn grey yourself fully-booked for Halloween or Macbeth! earlier than others? There are two answers. Firstly, heredity – it’s in your genes and there is nothing For all your hair and beauty issues write to you can do to change it. The second is stress and beauty@oraclepublications.co.uk Sponsored by life situations. Parents who blame their teenaged children for premature grey hairs actually have a point. Stress hormones can interfere with hair cells, making it hard for the pigments which maintain the original hair colour to survive. 32 Alexandra St., Southend SS1 1BU Some people look stunning with grey hair, while 01702 340965

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WE’VE GOT YOUR FLOORING ALL WRAPPED UP THIS CHRISTMAS...

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Money Matters

Investing In Inflationary Times by Jacqui Moyies

I

nflation can cause havoc for your personal finances as it erodes the real value of our money over time. Inflation is creeping upwards and could yet rise above the 5 per cent later in the year.

If inflation ran at the Bank of England’s intended target of 2 per cent, the sum of £100,000 would be worth £67,297 in real terms 20 years later. However at 5 per cent the original sum of £100,000 would be worth just £37,689 in 20 years’ time. Basic rate taxpayers need to earn interest of 5.25 per cent on their savings in order to make a real return on their money once CPI inflation is taken into account. Higher rate taxpayers are in an even worse position, needing returns of 7 per cent to stop the value of their deposits being shrunk by inflation. But with interest rates at rock-bottom levels, accounts paying such high rates are very few and far between. In inflationary times, when the real value of level income payments is eroded over a few years, it is important to find good and increasing sources of investment income. This is the big dilemma for many savers today. Not unreasonably, they do not want to lose a penny of their hard-earned cash. But with increasing life expectancy and potential long-term care costs to consider, they will need their money to work harder for longer – and this is likely to mean taking on more risk.

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The question is where to start? Opportunities for attractive income still exist in the corporate bond market, however investors are having to be increasingly selective. One of the most efficient ways to beat inflation over the longer term is to invest in the stock market and take advantage of the dividends paid by companies. After a couple of leaner years in the teeth of the recession, the earnings of UK companies are looking far more healthy. On the back of those profits the outlook for dividends is more positive. Diversification is also key in balancing risk and returns. Inflation also brings particular problems for people about to retire because even a low level of inflation will seriously dent pensioners’ fixed incomes over a number of years. Inflation and uncertainty go hand in hand, but it is even more marked given the current economic turmoil. It is why investors are going to have to explore all the options to make the most from their savings and investment – and maybe taking a step up the risk ladder. by Jacqui Moyies To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning, contact: Jacqui on 01702 589553 Jacqui.moyies@sjpp.co.uk or visit www.sjpp.co.uk/jacquimoyies

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Carpenter & Joiner JOHN SORRELL - your local carpenter and joiner for over 25 years

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All aspects of woodwork and property maintenance undertaken, including:

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Why not consider a career in fostering? Your commitment to caring for young people in Southend could earn you up to ÂŁ25,000 per Year

Want to find out more If you would like to find out more about joining our team of professionals working to make a difference in the lives of children and young people in the Southend area please get in touch and one of our team will be happy to answer your questions.

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Oracle Motoring

More carrot, less stick for speeders By Stuart Winder ADI

M

ost English and Welsh Police forces have adopted new speeding guidelines that could allow motorists to travel at 86mph - 10% above the limit, plus 9mph – whilst avoiding points on their licence by paying for a speed awareness course.

Previous legislation allowed 10% above the limit, plus 6mph, but 37 of the 44 national forces at a recent meeting of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) agreed to the changes.

Education, not punishment. An ACPO spokeswoman said "Evidence suggests that if people are sent on educational courses, rather than being punished with fines and points, they are less likely to reoffend in the future". Courses could now be offered at up to 42mph in a 30mph zone, a major concern for critics such as Joel Hickman, from road safety charity Brake. "If you hit a child at 30mph, it's the equivalent of that child falling out of a three storey building. Driving at 42mph would give that child no chance of survival”, argued Mr Hickman.

Wrong message

risk losing their licence, so it is quite clear which is the greater deterrent to speeding”, said Mr Hickman. However, ACPO feel there is room for flexibility; "Clearly if someone is breaking the speed limit outside a school at 3.15pm, it's a no brainer and they would be punished. But at 3am when streets are empty, there is a degree of discretion”, said the spokeswoman.

'Get-out-of-jail-free card?' Chief Examiner at the Institute of Advanced Motoring said that they supported the changes, "We don't feel it’s a 'get-out-of-jail-free card' as drivers can only attend one course in a three-year period, so repeat offenders will still be hit with points on their licence.” Essex Police were one of the 37 forces who have endorsed the new guidelines, but the Metropolitan and City of London forces have not. Stuart Winder Planet Leasing

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"It sends out a message that it's ok to speed, which it certainly is not. It results in huge numbers of deaths and casualties, and speeding is a factor in a quarter of all crashes”. "Many people would rather pay £100 for a course than accumulate points and

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A little corner of an English Heaven Savour a drink and good company at the award-winning, traditional, Angel Inn, Free House. at North Shoebury Enjoy the west-facing, beer-garden and extensive views across ripening cornfields. Thatched roof, flagstone floor, exposed timbers, wide range of Real Ales, good wines and excellent food. No gaming machines. No loud music. No TV screens. Heaven! OPEN 11am - 11pm (Closed 3-5:30) Mon-Sat. 12pm - 11pm Sun

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650 mile smile Team members : Nick Robins, Alison Robins, Neil Robins, Garry Nelson, Tracy Reschwamm, Chris Nelson, Andy Metcalf, Dan Garside, Clive Shiret and Mike Whistler.

by Nick Robins

O

n Saturday 1st October, 10 friends from the Southend area will set off to ride 650 miles from Southend (Scotland) back to sunny Southend-on-Sea (Essex), their aim being to complete the ride in 8 days. The event has been organised to raise money for two very worthy Charities, Havens Hospices and The Willow Foundation.

Late last year the idea of doing a long bike ride instead of another marathon was brought up. Wanting to do something a bit different and to end up in in our home town of Southend, a brief Google search uncovered another Southend on the Mull of Kintyre, approximately 650 miles away. After a few chats in the pub, a group of 10 riders was gathered together to start organising the big event. The team fly to Glasgow on Friday 30th September and start the ride the following morning on 1st October. Each day they will be cycling 80 miles on average although day 2 is a gruelling 90 plus miles, including the dreaded hill climb called "The Rest and be Thankful". The route takes them through Glasgow, on to Gretna then across the Yorkshire Moors. On day 5 the group head down through Lincolnshire and on day 7 arrive in Cambridge. The last day, Saturday 8th October, is a mere (!) 65 mile pedal home with a final destination of The Pier. At the time of writing this article, the group has raised a total of ÂŁ5000 towards their target of

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ÂŁ20,000 which will be split equally between the 2 Charities. One of the riders, Mike Whistler, is also riding in aid of the RNLI to help raise money for the new boathouse in Southend. If you would like to sponsor them, please go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiserweb/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?us erUrl=CycleSouthend2Southend&faId=126998 &isTeam=true. You can also follow their progress on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Southend -2-Southend-Charity-Bike-Ride2011/233870516651935 The riders would like to thank Greens Healthfoods and Richardsons Cycles, both of Leigh-on-Sea, for all their help in organising the event. We would also like to thank Linda Nelson and Penny Shiret for looking after us with the support vehicles.

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recipe of the month In the Kitchen with Judy Barden

For the pastry, place the hazelnuts in a food processor and pulse until chopped. Add 40g/ 1 ½ oz of the flour and pulse again until you have a fine mixture. Add the rest of the flour, the icing sugar, butter and a pinch of salt. Whizz’ briefly until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Mix the egg yolk with about 1 ½ tbsp of iced water and add to the mixture. Pulse until it comes together into a clump, adding a little more water if necessary. Turn onto a worktop and knead lightly, now lightly flour the surface and roll out the pastry to line a 26cm/10in loose-bottomed 4cm deep tart case. Do not worry if the pastry cracks just patch it and press together. Prick the base and chill for 30 mins. Preheat the oven to 190c/fan 170c/gas 5 and place a baking sheet in the oven. Line the tart with baking paper and fill with either ceramic beans, rice or crumpled foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are just turning colour. Remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 5 minutes. Remove and brush the base with a little of the egg white to seal it and return to the oven for 3-4 minutes until the base is crisp and golden. Set aside. Lower the oven to 160c/fan 140/gas 3

Chocolate and Banana Tart

T

his is quite a decadent dessert, but handy as it can be made the day before, kept in the fridge and then brought to room temperature before serving. The hazelnuts in the pastry give it a lovely crunch and flavour. This is a large tart that serves at least 12. If you want to make a small tart halve the ingredients and use a 20cm/8in tart tin. Enjoy!

Chocolate and Banana Tart

Place the milk, cream and sugar in a pan over a medium heat and slowly bring to scalding point. Take off the heat and stir in the chocolate until smooth. Lightly beat the eggs, then whisk into the chocolate mixture, then pour into a jug. Peel and slice the bananas and arrange over the base of the pastry case. Pull out the oven shelf halfway and place the tart on the baking sheet. Carefully pour in the chocolate mixture and slide the oven shelf back in. Bake for 35-40 mins until the filling is just wobbly in the centre(it will firm up as it cools). Wait for the tart to get cold, cut into wedges and serve with whipped cream. Next month’s recipe:

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Health & Beauty

Grow Older More Gracefully by Cris Ramis ‘Middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle’. Bob Hope

E

xercise and physical activity are among the healthiest things you can do for yourself, but some older adults are reluctant to get involved. Some are afraid that exercise will be too strenuous or that physical activity will harm them. Yet, scientific studies show that exercise is safe for people of all age groups, and that older adults hurt their health far more by not exercising.

An inactive lifestyle can cause older people to lose ground in four areas that are important for staying healthy and independent: strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance. Regular exercise can help older adults feel better and enjoy life more, even those who think they're too old or out of shape. Increasing strength and endurance makes it easier to climb stairs and carry shopping, whilst improving your balance will also help to prevent falls and increasing flexibility can speed recovery from injuries.

muscles and reduce your risk of suffering a painful injury. Giving yourself an endurance work-out by doing an activity such as walking, swimming, or even raking up leaves or mown grass will increase your heart rate and breathing for an extended period of time. Build up your endurance gradually, starting with as little as five-minutes of suitable activities at a time, if you need to. Even those who are chair or bed-bound can do something. Your local GP will be able to advise you on a whole raft of ideas and exercises. You might be in the autumn of your life but just like the season, it is still a great time of your life to get out there and adore Nature’s gym. Fill your lungs with that crisp air, appreciate the amazing colours of the countryside as you walk the dog, do a spot of gardening or even take up a new hobby. It is all good for mind and body. So no more excuses. Get out there and hold back the years! Find out more at: http://phfblog71.wordpress.com

Strength exercises build muscle as well as increasing metabolism, which helps to keep your weight and blood sugar levels in check. Every year, hospitals experience thousands of admissions due to broken hips caused by falls. Balance training will develop stronger leg

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Virgin of the Rocks was Leonardo’s first major commission in Milan. In 1493 he was engaged to paint the central picture for a carved wooden altarpiece destined to be erected in the chapel of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. After completing this, the artist became embroiled in a financial dispute with the Confraternity and sold the painting elsewhere. This first work is almost certainly the picture that now hangs in the Louvre, Paris. However Leonardo went on to paint another version, and today this second Virgin of the Rocks is a highlight of the permanent collection of the National Gallery, where it has hung since 1880. The two works have never been in the same room together, until now in London.

National Gallery Stages Landmark Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition By Tracey Jones

L

eonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan at the National Gallery, London this autumn (9 November 2011 – 5 February 2012) will represent the most complete display of the artist’s rare surviving paintings ever seen.

This once in a lifetime exhibition brings together many extraordinary paintings and drawings that have never been seen in the UK before. Whilst numerous exhibitions have looked at Leonardo da Vinci as an inventor, scientist or draftsman, this is the first show in the world to be solely dedicated to his aims and ambitions as a painter. Concentrating on Leonardo’s career as a court painter in Milan, when he worked for the city’s ruler Lodovico Maria Sforza in the 1480s and 1490s, almost every surviving picture that he painted in the northern Italian city during this period will be exhibited. Shown alongside them will be a unique collection of his preparatory drawings that demonstrate how Leonardo used them to ‘design’ his masterpieces. A highlight of the exhibition is the chance to see Leonardo’s two versions of Virgin of the Rocks – the first time, quite literally ever, that the two works have been side by side.

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

Another of the stars of Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan will be the Salvator Mundi. This recently rediscovered painting by Leonardo has been missing – thought destroyed - for centuries. The picture painted on a walnut panel depicts Christ as the Saviour of the World (in Latin, Salvator Mundi). It is long known to have existed because more than twenty copies by students and followers of the Renaissance genius bore testament to its existence. Although versions of the picture have occasionally been put forward as Leonardo’s original, none gained a consensus among scholars, until now. Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan will be the first time that Salvator Mundi has been shown in public. The final part of the exhibition features a near-contemporary, full-scale copy of Leonardo’s famous Last Supper – the fresco in the Santa Maria delle Grazie church in Milan. Seen alongside all the surviving preparatory drawings made by Leonardo for the Last Supper, visitors will discover how such a largescale painting was designed and executed. For more information, visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk Leonardo da Vinci 1452 - 1519 The Virgin of the Rocks (The Virgin with the Infant Saint John adoring the Infant Christ accompanied by an Angel) Short title: The Virgin of the Rocks about 1491 - 1508. Oil on wood. 189.5 x 120 cm Bought, 1880 © National Gallery, London

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Advertorial

Records, Records and More Records!

Y

es, for the sixth year in succession we have RECORD results: RECORD GCSE results; RECORD ‘A’ Level results; RECORD attendance figures. Shoeburyness High School continues to move in the right direction.

Our 5 A*-C GCSE’s hit 84%, up another 9%. Our points score per pupil was up again as pupils not only passed more examinations but did so with higher grades, whilst more students gained ‘A’ grades. Maths went from attaining 22 to 29 ‘A’ grades, Science from 23 to 30, Textiles from 5 to 10 and Catering from

8 to 20, to mention just a few of our subject areas. It was a whole year-group effort but here are just a few of our high achievers: Wesley Grout: James Edmonds: Charlotte Page: Sophie Hammond: Alex Farrall: Becky Bolden: Tom Cox: Rachel Hughes:

2A* 6A 9B: AS 2B 5A* 4A 5B 5A 13B: AS B&C 4A 5B 9C: AS B&C 6A 9B 8C 1A* 5A 6B: AS A,B&C 5A 12B: AS B 4A 11B: AS 2C

Have you spotted that some of our Year 11 students have achieved AS Level results as well. This is just one feature of our Fast Track Scheme for highly academic students at Shoeburyness High. We are equally proud that our 8 A*-G grades also rose by nearly 4%. We are proud of all our students’ achievements as we are an inclusive comprehensive school that caters for students of all abilities. We have continued to build progress on the exceptional 9% increase in the ‘A’ Level pass rate last year, by posting RECORD point scores this year. This is even more remarkable because there was a big increase in the

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OCTOBER 2011

number of entries as the school’s Sixth Form continues to grow. Some of our top students are: Josh Watson: Melissa Chapman: Abdul Surat: Josh Robinson: Leanne Richards: Jennifer Allen: Megan Johnson: Luke Smith:

A* A* A A A A A B B A B A B

A A A B B C C C A C B C C C B D

Our third major area of improvement this year has been attendance. Yet again it has improved and, as with our improvements in other areas, it is the result of hard work and a

team effort between staff, students and parents. There is, of course, so much more to achieve: we are focused, as always, on improving results further; becoming an academy; developing our higher learning groups at KS4 and supporting the development of younger high achieving students in the community with our High 5 initiative. As always, of course, we will be having another of our famous shows and we will be repeating our Art Trail and developing more community events. Yes, this is the place to be – A Community on the March. Mark Schofield Headteacher

STOP PRESS! Are you considering your options after Year 11? Then come along to our Year 11 into 12 open evening and meet our post 16 team and see the wide range of opportunities available at Shoeburyness High School When: Thursday 3rd November Time: Between 19:00 and 21:00 We look forward to seeing you there

Shoeburyness High School OCTOBER 2011

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ORACLE Diary Dates

DESIGNED FOR LIVING EKCO 1922-1970 FREE Central Museum, Victoria Ave 8th Oct - 8th Jan Revisiting the World-famous company through the collections of Southend Museums. FAMILY TREASURE HUNT FREE Priory Park 11am Sun 9th Put together a team and join us to find our hidden treasure across the town by solving our clues, by bike or by foot. Prizes to be won! 01702 215003 FIREWORKS SPECTACULARS FREE Southend Seafront 15th, 22nd, 29th October at 8pm The skies over the seafront dazzle, shimmer and explode with colour every Saturday night at this time of year as a fabulous array of fireworks are launched at Jubilee Beach about 100m east of the Pier. HALLOWEEN FREE Southchurch Hall Museum Sat 29 Oct 10-3pm Make a dancing skeleton and miniature woollen pumpkin, as well as wonderful story telling and carving. Children are encouraged to turn up in Halloween fancy dress! FUN FAMILY FRIGHT RIDE Civic Centre Mon 31 Oct 5:30pm Dress up in your spookiest rags and meet at the Civic Centre for a guided family fun Halloween ride around town with surprises! DINNER & DANCE Thorpe Hall Golf Club Sat 5th Nov Charity and fundraising for Epilepsy dinner and dance, 4 course meal and live entertainment. £30pp including reception drink from 7pm. Also the opportunity to book by table. 01702 366058 www.oraclepublications.co.uk www.twitter.com/oracle_essex

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Furniture restoration Services available:-

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Fully-qualified craftsman in an established, local business offering high-quality service. For a free verbal estimate please call:-

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BrooksPaving

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OCTOBER 2011

Air&Back

Airport Transfer Specialists

Air & Back, the airport-transfer specialists, provide an efficient and friendly door-to-door transfer to and from your airport. seaport or ferry terminal, at a reasonable cost. Get your holiday or business trip off to a comfortable start with an effortless transfer from Air & Back.

Polite, experienced and wellpresented drivers Full comprehensive insurance including Hire and Reward Drivers and vehicles licensed by the local authority. Detailed confirmation to you the day before departure

Call today for a competitive quote Air & Back, 75 Mayfield Avenue, Southend-on-Sea Essex SS2 6NR

Tel/Fax: 01702 435722 Mobile 07903 301086

CITY # STANSTED # GATWICK # LUTON # HEATHROW Computer Services Computer Fast - Friendly - Fixed! Full Health Health Check Check Broa Broadband dband Se Sett U Up p Remote S Support upport Data Backup Backup & Recovery

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OCTOBER 2011

New Roofs - Strip & Retile Roof Repairs Chimneys Removed/Rebuilt/Re-pointed Cowls & Bird Guards Fitted Guttering Renewed

M.J. LEA ROOFING Tel: 01702 219648 Mob: 07711916544 Email: mjlearoofing@gmail.com

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01702 353990 Clarence Chambers, 28 Clarence Street , Southend on Sea, Essex, SS1 1BD

useful numbers Associations Burges Estate Residents Association (BERA) 588662 Clubs Charles Dicken’s Fellowship 588069 Cockleshell Clog Morris 479622 Essex Handicrafts Association 479622 Essex Society for Family History 522992 Lower Thames Rowing Club 482205 Thorpe Bay Bowling Club 582074 Thorpe Bay Bridge Club 616145 Thorpe Bay Floral Arrangement Group 585350 Thorpe Bay Lawn Tennis Club 585245 Thorpe Bay Yacht Club 587563 Thorpe Hall Golf Club 582205 Southchurch Park Croquet Club 303957 Southend Photographic Society 332491 Southend Rugby Club 546682 The English Speaking Union 588069 Belfairs Mixed Bowling 475766 Prittlewell Bowls Club 612476 Scout Groups Southend, Thorpe Bay & Shoeburyness 587647 Council Contacts Abandoned Vehicles 215006 Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789321 Central Library 215011 Citizens Advice 0844 4770 808 Civic Centre 215000 Cleansing Dept. (street collection) 215006 Crime Prevention 464199 Damaged Dog Waste Bins 215006 Dog Warden 215000 Dumped Rubbish 215006 Foreshore Inspectors 215620 Graffiti 215006 Grass verge problems 215003 Missed Rubbish Collection 215006 Noise Nuisance 215005 Pest Control Officer 215005 Pier & Foreshore 215620 Recycling Information 215006 Street Cleaning 215006 Street-Lighting Failure 215006 Trading Standards 08454 040506 Waste Collection 215006 Local MP James Duddridge (Con) 01702 616135 Hospitals/Health BMI Southend Private Hospital 01702 608908 Primary Care Trust 01702 224600 Southend General Hospital 435555 Spire Wellesley Hospital 462944 NHS Direct 08454647 National Drugs Freephone 0800 776900 Cruse Bereavement Care 213843 Drugs, Alcohol & Substance Misuse 440400 Southend Blind Welfare Association 342131 HARP (Homeless Action Resource Project) 24 hour Emergency Number 01702 430696

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

Southend Cardiac Support Group 309042 / 293469 Carers Forum 393933 Animal Welfare Downes & Prtnrs., Veterinary Surgeon 584511 RSPCA ROCHFORD 548261 Pharmacies Bansal Pharmacy 587500 178 The Broadway Mon-Fri 9-6.30 pm / Sat 9-1 pm Howells & Brooks 582658 The Broadway Mon-Fri 9-6.30 pm / Sat 9-5.30 pm. Closed 1-2 pm Wed+Sat. Police Stations Shoebury Police Station (Mon-Fri 9-6pm) 293748 Southend Police Station (24 hours a day) 0300 3334444 Thorpe Ward Neighbourhood Specialist Officer Warren Lamb 07976 325346 Victim Support Group 0845 4565995 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Marine Police 01268 775533 Thames Coastguard 01255 675518 Child Protection 534495 Samaritans 611911 Odeon Cinema 0871 2244007 Directory Enquiries BT (15p pm from landline, 40p connection) 118 500 ORACLE PUBLICATIONS UK LTD www.oraclepublications.co.uk ORACLE WEBSITE SOLUTIONS www.oraclewebsitesolutions.co.uk

393838 393838

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coming. ” OCTOBER 2011

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65

Thorpe Bay

01702 277684

ORACLE Index to advertisers ACCOUNTANTS Beelams 56 AERIALS 1st South East Aerials 61 AIRPORT TRANSFER Air & Back 63 52 Chalkwell Cars ANTIQUE CLOCKS 21 It's About Time BI-FOLDING DOORS Essex Bi-fold Door Company 57 BLINDS & SHUTTERS Creative Shutters & Blinds 43 BLOCK PAVING Brook's Paving 62 BUILDERS Broomfield Builders 43 DJ Contractors 60 Piper Construction 41 BUILDING SUPPLIES St. Ann's 20 BUTCHERS Phil Splett 38 CAR BODYWORK Bridge Paintwork 29 CAR DEALERSHIP Volkswagen Van Centre 11 CAR LEASING Planet Leasing 28/29 CAR VALETING Protouch 8 CAR WINDSCREEN REPAIR Chips Away 41 CARER Poppins 60 CARPENTRY & JOINERY John Sorrell 24 CARPETS Andrew Adams Contemporary Carpets 17 Gainsborough Carpets 51 Trade Carpets 7 CHARITY Havens Hospice 34 CARPET CLEANING Gates Services 18 COMPUTER SERVICES Computopia 63 Flashbyte 67 CONSERVATORIES BJ Davis 25 CYCLES Bikebase 35 DECORATORS Classic Décor 8 MK Decorating 4 DENTAL Parmar Dental 45 Royal Mews 37 DOMESTIC CLEANING Maid in Essex 56 DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR Discount Window Clinic 65

Marketing Solutions for the BEST local businesses

EDUCATION Alleyn Court Prep. School Shoebury High School Thorpe Hall School ELECTRICAL SERVICES Dan Waller ENTERTAINMENT Comedy Pod Epic DJ ESTATE AGENTS Essex Countryside Essex Property Centre FINANCIAL SERVICES Anderson Financial FOSTERING Southend Fostering FIREPLACE FITTERS GAT Fireplaces FUNERAL SERVICES A.R. Adams Funeral Services FURNITURE RESTORERS T.S. Baskett HAIR & BEAUTY Grateful Heads HEALTH & BEAUTY Phoenix Health & Fitness Thorpe Bay Clinic GARAGES RS Automotives Service Garage Vanguard Auto Services GLASS MERCHANT Colin's Glass GRANITE WORKTOPS Granite Transformations HANDYMAN Piper Construction HOME SECURITY Savcom INTERIOR DESIGNER Janet Williamson Morris Interiors Paul Newman RT Interiors JEWELLERS

ORACLE 5 58/59 12/13

View the latest issues ONLINE

62 Thorpe Bay

65 65 1 14/15

AV & BV Andrews

KITCHENS Kitchen Base LANDSCAPE DESIGN Greenprint LASER EYE SURGERY Lasersight LAWNCARE Root2Shoot LETTINGS AGENT Martin & Co MARBLE WORKTOPS Abbey Marble OSTEOPATHY Aimée Cox Osteopath OVEN CLEANING Ovenclean

October ‘11

ORACLE Thorpe Bay at a glance Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 4,500

Oracle Competition WIN! Laser Teeth Whitening worth £240 at Utopia Beauty & Spa

October ‘11

Est. Oct 2006. Circulation 5,500

Oracle Competition WIN! Spa Package worth £105 at Utopia Beauty & Spa

Local Issues

Local Issues What is ESU?

What is ESU?

Recipe

Recipe

Chocolate and Banana Tart

Chocolate and Banana Tart

Oracle Motoring

Oracle Motoring

More Carrot, less Stick for Speeders

22

Leigh-on-Sea

ORACLE

Leigh at a glance

Health & Beauty

Grow Older More Gracefully

More Carrot, less stick for speeders

Hair & Beauty Dye another day

More people choo choose os Countryside... Essex Countryside e..

27

because we also offer a discreet marketing serv vic service. 1528 London Road | Leigh On Sea | Essex SS9 2QH tel: 01702 470066 54 Broadway | Leigh On Sea | Essex SS9 1AG tel: 01702 480055 190 London Road | Southend On Sea | Essex SS1 1PJ tel: 01702 341177 163 The Broadway | Thorpe Bay | Essex SS1 3EX tel: 01702 582255

137 The Br oadway, Thorpe Broadway, Thorp pe Bay B 01702 583244 01702 58324 4 www.essexcountryside.com www.essexcountr yside.co om

www.hairandson.co.uk

49 30 61

To advertise in ORACLE call

01702 393838

16 44 31 47 55 40 36 24 54 30 46 42 68 21 26 48 23 2 33 52 33 24 62

PERSONAL TRAINER Dalia PHYSIOTHERAPY Susan White WDC Physio & Sports Injuries PLUMBING & HEATING Brian Lacey Hammond & Sons PUBLIC HOUSES The Angel Inn REMOVALS

HCS Removals

21 61 6 3 65 32 19

RESTAURANTS Mr. Ping RIDING SCHOOL Shopland Hall Equestrian Centre ROOFING SERVICES Estuary Roofing MJ Lea Roofing Sendalls Roofing SKIP HIRE Leigh Skip Hire SOFT FURNISHINGS County Interiors TREE SERVICES

Cozens Gardens

8 53 4 63 61 54 39 46

UPHOLSTERY Peter Weddell VILLA RENTAL Villa for Rent WEBSITE DESIGN Oracle Website Solutions WINDOW CLEANING BC Cleaning

19 19 53 43

ORACLE - the smart, little glossy mags for Southend

Reach over 20,000 readership in Leigh & Thorpe Bay hungry for your business Call for a Media Pack or visit www.oraclepublications.co.uk To advertise in ORACLE call 01702 393838 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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www.oraclepublications.co.uk

OCTOBER 2011

OCTOBER 2011

www.oraclepublications.co.uk

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

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Visit our new showrooms and be inspired!

You can be confident that our prices will always be competitive but quality will never be compromised.

136 High Street, Hadleigh, Essex, SS7 2PB Tel: 01702 552868 Fax: 01702 555518 Email: info@paulnewmaninteriors.co.uk

Paul Newman Interiors have an exciting and extensive portfolio of styles for kitchens and bathrooms from leading manufacturers and stunning locally built handcrafted designs. Attention to detail sets us apart and our team of employed, expert fitters will ensure you are delighted with your new room.

25TH ANNIVERSARY 1984 - 2009

25

www.paulnewmaninteriorsltd.co.uk

PAUL NEWMAN

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