Wickford Town News - Issue 11 September 2023

Wickford Town News

September 2023

Sign up to renewable electricity and fix your tariff Find out more on page 4

Freegle in Essex

Find out more on page 20

The latest from Mid and South Essex NHS Find out more on page 26

‘From Hong Kong To Wickford’ Exhibition Find out more on page 38

October's Culinary Magic Find out more on page 42

ISSUE 11

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Town News

Q O U TE

Embrace Autumn’s Arrival in Wickford Town News As the golden hues of autumn begin to grace our town, we’re thrilled to present the late September till late October issue of Wickford Town News.

This edition is brimming with stories that mirror the rich diversity and vitality of our beloved community.

From a special feature on Life Chiropractic Clinic and an enchanting insight into the world of Tiny Toes Ballet, to the unveiling of the “From Hong Kong to Wickford” exhibition, we’re celebrating the people and businesses that make our town unique.

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September 2023

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Plus, stay informed with essential updates, including the Morrisons Consultation and upcoming Wickford Community events. We’re committed to providing you with updates that matter, from innovations like FireCar to efforts in strengthening healthcare services and the launch of the new waste service this autumn.

As the season turns, let our stories inspire and connect you to the heart of our town.

Editor of Wickford Town News enquiries@community-publishing.org

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KAS Community Publishing hold no affiliations with the advertisers presented within this magazine and do not endorse any of the products and services advertised.

Please direct all enquiries regarding the publication of Wickford Town News and its editorial to: enquiries@community-publishing.org Our thanks go out to all of the fantastic local businesses for supporting Wickford Town News by advertising.

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W i c k f o r d Town News

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Sign up to renewable electricity and fix your tariff as the Essex Energy Switch returns

Savings, or where there are no savings, are displayed in the personal offer received.

The Essex Energy Switch is back, helping local communities come together to take the hassle out of searching for a better energy rate.

Registration for the Essex Energy Switch is free and only takes five minutes.

Pre-approved energy companies will bid at an auction to see who can offer the lowest energy tariff. Those registered will receive an offer once the winning bidder is chosen. There’s no obligation to switch.

For customers who decided to proceed, the process is taken care of by the winning supplier.

The Essex Energy Switch is a group buying scheme for gas and electricity. It is free to register and there is no obligation to accept an offer. The more people that register, the greater the collective buying power of the group.

All Energy Switch suppliers must provide 100% renewable electricity. This will help to reduce carbon emissions in the county.

Registering for the Energy Switch is quick and easy. Taking part helps you avoid searching for the best deals as all the hard work is done for you.

The amount of money saved varies depending on factors such as the current tariff, payment method and consumption.

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W i c k f o r d Town News

While there is no guarantee that an offer will be the cheapest, the model aims to ensure most people are offered lower annual energy bills than they are currently paying or are available at the time of the offer.

Register online via www.bigcommunityswitch.co.uk/essex/ landing or by calling the Big Community Switch registration line on 0800 048 8439 to register and receive correspondence by post. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5:30pm. Those looking to sign up should have a recent energy bill to hand.

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Morrisons Consultation Proposed Mixed-Use Development at the Former Co-op, Wickford

We would like to hear your views

Heriot UK will soon be submitting a revised planning application to Basildon Borough Council for the redevelopment of the former Co-op site, Wickford, and would like to hear your views on the new proposal.

The Development

The new plans will still deliver a new modern food store, but this will now include the addition of 134 no. affordable flats above, which will hopefully be owned and managed

by The Guinness Partnership, subject to their internal approvals. The building height will be between 5 and 7 storeys and will include a large amenity area at first floor, basement car park for residents and a landscaped public area to the front of the building.

The proposal will also reconfigure and resurface the existing car park for the benefit of all users of the town centre. It will also improve pedestrian access and provide landscaping and replacement trees.

Key Elements:

The site presents an excellent opportunity to promote and enhance the vitality of Wickford town centre and aid its regeneration.

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It will deliver a modern food store and a significant number of much needed affordable homes on a brownfield site in a sustainable location of the borough. The affordable homes to be managed by one of England’s largest and most reputable providers, The Guinness Partnership (subject to their internal approvals).

How do I comment on the proposed development?

Before any decision is made, Heriot are inviting local residents to have their say through a consultation website following the public consultation exhibition held at The Nevendon Centre on Thursday 31st August and Friday 1st September.

If you were unable to attend you will be able to find further details on our project webpage www.peacockandsmith.co.uk/consultations Comments can also be made to Peacock + Smith by either post or email: • Post: Peacock + Smith, 8 Baltic Street, London, EC1Y OUP • Email: wickford@peacockandsmith.co.uk Any correspondence should be clearly marked with the reference ‘Wickford’.

Please send us your comments by the 21st September 2023.

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New government guidance launched on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools Latest regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools:

school term. We are working tirelessly with the school to find an appropriate solution as quickly as possible.

“The remaining 39 schools are academies, for which the academy trust is the responsible body. We have been working closely with academy trusts and the DfE to understand the impact and provide support where necessary.

“The council has always been diligent in ensuring that we have surveyed schools Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council and ensured that when RAAC issues have Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, been identified we have taken necessary Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: action. We are confident that there are no “Essex is a large county and, collectively, additional maintained schools that have we have responsibility for educating circa RAAC. In light of changing guidance and 220,000 school aged children and young the latest information, like many other people, across an estate of circa 550 schools. Local Authorities we will be reviewing our data and undertaking further surveys if “54 schools are currently identified as having known RAAC within Essex, requiring necessary to ensure all RAAC is identified and then addressed. We expect academy immediate action as a result of the change trusts will do the same. in Department of Education (DfE) policy made on Thursday 31 August 2023. Up “I would like to acknowledge that for until that date, for schools for which Essex pupils, parents, school staff and education County Council is the responsible body, we colleagues at the council this isn’t the had been working with the DfE to manage start to the Autumn term you expected RAAC in these settings. or will have wanted. I can reassure you that across the council we are doing all “We have been working over a number of we can to support schools to manage the years to understand the extent of RAAC situation and get affected children safely across the maintained school education into schools and learning as quickly as estate and take action when it has been possible.” identified.

“Of the 54 schools on the list, 15 are local

authority-maintained schools. 14 of these schools are able to open due to mitigation measures having been put in place.

“Unfortunately, one maintained school will need to close temporarily due to the severity of the RAAC across the school building. Parents have been communicated to around arrangements for the start of the

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To see a list of the affected schools in Essex check out www.essex.gov.uk/news/2023/ new-government-guidance-launchedreinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concreteraac-schools This is a definitive list as of 5th September at 9am. It precedes any other information that is in the public domain.

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New waste service launching this autumn From Monday 27th November 2023, Basildon Council will introduce black wheelie bins and reusable sacks for all households in the Basildon Borough.

Distribution will begin mid-September and every household will receive a 180-litre black wheeled bin for non-recyclable residual waste. The two-weekly collection will replace your weekly black sack service.

We are introducing black wheeled bins to significantly increase the amount of waste in the borough being recycled and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Households will also receive two reusable sacks - one white for plastics and cans and the other blue for paper and cardboard, which will replace your weekly pink sack service. The new reusable sacks, which are collected every week, will separate recycling to meet new government legislation, and are carefully designed to not only secure your waste effectively but also to be durable and sustainable, ensuring long-lasting benefits for our environment.

Councillor Kevin Blake, Cabinet Member for Environment, Carbon Reduction and Waste Enforcement said “I am pleased we have made the decision to introduce black wheelie bins and reusable sacks - the new services aim to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill by 25%, a massive reduction in the amount of emissions the borough produced by its waste. This will be a massive step towards reaching the Council’s 65% recycling rate target by 2035.

“Residents told us they were in favour of wheelie bins during consultations in summer 2022 and winter 2023. The new containers will reduce the amount of litter on our streets through reducing split bags, and will encourage residents to change behaviour and recycle their waste. If residents recycle all they can, there should be very little left to go to landfill.

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W i c k f o r d Town News

“The larger reusable sacks eliminate the need for single-use pink plastic bags.

These reusable sacks are designed to stay grounded, reducing the risk of litter and promoting a greener environment. This removes 10 million single use plastic bags from production every year. We will keep residents updated on their new containers and how to use them ahead of launch in November.”

Residents are being asked to store their new bin until the new service begins. Waste and recycling services remain the same until Monday 27th November 2023.

There are no additional charges for this service.

Find out more here www.basildon.gov.uk/collectionchanges Regular information will be shared in the coming months - stay up to date by signing up to our free email newsletter at www.basildon.gov.uk/keepintouch For updates and reminders on your waste and recycling service, download the free Our Streets Basildon www.basildon.gov.uk/ourstreets

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FireCar

FireCar is a road safety programme aimed at engaging and educating road users.

Our FireCar is an Audi S3 performance car generously donated by Group 1 Automotive.

This valuable partnership allows our road safety team to engage with our target audience which primarily (although not necessarily exclusively) is young 18 - 35 year old performance car (‘cruiser car’) enthusiasts, who are amoung the highestrisk road user groups. FireCar is a unique programme in Essex to directly engage with this target audience.

Essex has significant and growing issues with street racing activities, which have required Police enforcement activities. These activities are a risk not only to the drivers but also to others who often gather in significant numbers to watch.

FireCar has provided the opportunity to positively engage and educate these road users, using the publicly respected and trusted Essex County Fire and Rescue Service brand.

The purpose of the FireCar is to attract the interest of road users (predominantly male) who aspire to own this kind of vehicle, to start a discussion about the car and its potential performance and then to educate and inform the audience about risk and consequences while driving on the roads.

The FireCar is used with the intention of achieving a genuine two-way dialogue with drivers, passengers and event spectators and influencing behaviour around the following messages: • Being a responsible driver • Understanding risk and consequence • Sharing the road • Avoiding inappropriate road behaviour • Preventing anti-social and dangerous driving If you are holding an event and would like our FireCar to attend, please contact our road safety team at rtc.reduction@essex-fire.gov.uk

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Health Inequalities Fund Launch for Basildon and Brentwood We are pleased to announce Brentwood CVS and Basildon, Billericay and Wickford CVS have partnered with The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Partnership.

To offer an exciting funding opportunity for local voluntary and community groups to support projects that take an innovative and collaborative approach to reducing health inequalities and the unwarranted variation that exists in Brentwood and Basildon boroughs.

The Health Inequalities Fund 2023-24 aims to improve population health and health care, tackling inequalities in outcomes and helping NHS to support broader social and economic development in line with the Core20PLUS5 approach.

Funding will be available to non-profit voluntary and community organisations based in Brentwood and Basildon for projects that address the underlying causes of health

inequality at a local level. There is no limit to the amount of funding applied for and the projects should be completed by end of March 2024. They should target and reach out proactively to the most deprived communities and develop solutions that are population focussed – breaking down barriers between statutory and non-statutory organisations and the residents they serve.

A joint statement from both Brentwood and Basildon CVS CEOs – “This is a wonderful opportunity for our local groups in Brentwood and Basildon to apply for project funding that addresses the health inequalities in our neighbourhoods to build stronger, healthier and thriving communities”.

For more information and guidance notes please visit www.bbwcvs.org.uk/ fundingdev/health-inequalities-fund or contact Arsen at funding@brentwoodcvs. org.uk if you are based in Brentwood or Pippa at admin@bbwcvs.org.uk if based within Basildon.

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Strengthening healthcare services for our community this winter As part of the NHS’s winter preparations, senior clinicians and partners across the health and care system have been developing plans to make the best use of healthcare facilities and resources this winter.

Plans include changes to: • increase and reconfigure inpatient community rehabilitation beds that support people who need short-term bed-based rehabilitation services after a spell in hospital. This includes stroke and more generalised rehabilitation beds.

• relocate the birthing unit run from St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon – which sees an average of six births a month – to the William Julien Courtauld Birthing Unit (WJC) in Braintree.

Increasing and reconfiguring inpatient rehabilitation community beds

Inpatient community beds are used to support people who are not yet well enough to go home and to care

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for people who need additional rehabilitation, including those who need support following a stroke.

These services need to meet the changing needs of our residents and ensure they receive the right support at the right time and in the safest place for them.

The changes will see an overall increase in the number of beds used for stroke rehabilitation meaning hospital beds will be freed up for patients who need urgent care.

Sustaining a safe and high-quality service is no longer possible at St Peter’s due to the condition of the building. It has deteriorated in recent years and is no longer the best place to deliver inpatient care. Bayman Ward at Brentwood Community Hospital will therefore provide 25 beds for stroke rehabilitation in modern, high-quality accommodation replacing the 16 beds at St Peter’s.

Outpatient services such as diagnostics and screening will still be provided from St Peter’s for the local population in Maldon.

Relocating midwife-led births

Maternity outpatient appointments will continue at St Peter’s in Maldon, but people wanting to give birth in a midwifery-led unit

will use the Willian Julien Courtauld (WJC) birthing unit in Braintree or Broomfield Hospital instead.

Midwives will continue to support families to choose the best place to deliver their babies.

Deborah Goldsmith, Director of Midwifery at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We want to provide families with the best experience when they are having their babies, and the modern, purposebuilt facilities in Braintree will allow us to do exactly that. Unfortunately, we had to regularly close the facilities at St Peter’s, but using the birthing suite at WJC means we will be able to offer a safer and more reliable service.”

Local staff will be front and centre of transition plans to ensure all patients’ needs are met.

The changes are scheduled to take place in the autumn of 2023 in preparation for the winter when demand for care is expected to increase and the NHS will be under the most pressure.

Dr Matt Sweeting, Interim Medical Director at Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board and a Consultant Geriatrician, said: “We owe it to patients and the public to get this right. This plan comes as part of comprehensive and collaborative efforts to improve healthcare facilities and resources this winter. The changes offer several advantages, including being able to accommodate a larger number of patients and ensuring that they get the care they need in the right place, at the right time.

“Our main aim is to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients in high-quality facilities.”

Residents who would like to be included in any future conversations around the longer-term plans for stroke rehabilitation, intermediate care, and maternity services, should email mseics.getinvolved@nhs.net

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News Around Parking permits - South Essex Parking Partnership

The South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP) is responsible for on-street parking enforcement and resident parking schemes across South Essex. Chelmsford City Council is the lead authority acting on behalf of the partnership to implement and administer the operation.

Resident Permits, Season Tickets and Visitor Tickets are available for car parks in the following locations: Basildon Brentwood Castle Point Chelmsford Maldon Rochford Permits are available online at the South Essex Parking Partnership MiPermit Portal via secure.mipermit.com/southessex/ application/home.aspx

Small grant applications open for £7.5m public health programme

Applications are now open for the small grants element of the Essex Public Health Accelerator Bids (PHAB) programme.

PHAB is a new £7.5 million grant programme.

Grants are available to voluntary groups, charities, NHS bodies, councils, schools and more.

Organisations can now apply for a small grant between £500 and £15,000. These will be awarded to projects that improve the health 18

of residents across Essex. Project should align with the priorities in the new Essex Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Business Plan (www.essex.gov.uk/adult-social-care-andhealth/health-and-wellbeing-services).

There is no deadline to submit a small grant application. This may change depending on the volume of small grant applications received.

The major grants element of PHAB was launched during the summer, attracting interest from 75 organisations across Essex.

A number of these will now go through to submit a second stage application. The first major grants will be awarded in November.

The second round of the PHAB major grants scheme opens on Monday 6th November and closes on Friday 1st December.

Find out more about PHAB or submit an application at www.essex.gov.uk/phab

Local residents set to benefit from tailored support to prevent fractures

As the adage goes prevention is better than cure, and now a ground-breaking scheme is set to improve bone health and reduce the risk of fractures for residents across mid and south Essex.

A new Fracture Liaison Service, supported by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, aims to prevent hundreds of fractures, helping people over 50 years old to have stronger bones.

Across mid and south Essex (MSE), there are estimated to be between 8,000 – 10,000 osteoporosis related fractures per year.

Osteoporosis weakens bones to the point that they can break easily. Fractures are the fourth worst cause of early disability and death in mid and south Essex.

The new pioneering service will help increase the quality of life for local residents, ensuring over 50s at risk of osteoporosis (fragile bones), receive a comprehensive assessment and care

Wickford Town plan tailored to their needs. Ongoing support and education will also ensure residents are armed with knowledge about fracture prevention and self-management strategies.

Nurse training programme recognised with national award

A programme that prepares new and internationally educated nurses to work in hospital has won national recognition.

The Professional and Commissioned Education team at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust were awarded the national Interim Quality Mark by NHS England for their Preceptorship Programme.

The 15-month programme is for newly registered nurses and nursing associates, helping them at the beginning of their career to develop as an accountable professional.

They learn to advocate for patients through leadership, understanding teamwork, the art of delegation and emotional intelligence. It also promotes a culture of patient safety, risk awareness and high-quality care.

More than 330 nurses have completed the course since it began, with over 700 having enrolled so far. It is open to newly qualified nurses, as well as those who were educated overseas before joining the Trust.

The team are the first in the east of England to be given the award, and were presented with their certificate by Catherine Morgan, Chief Nurse for the region.

Virtual reality to improve patient care

A UK-first virtual reality (VR) tool for doctors is helping train them to become more confident carrying out advanced and complicated procedures.

Doctors at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust can practise clinical procedures on life-like virtual avatars, allowing them for the first time to use a VR system to carry out a complete procedure from start to finish.

The technology is used to simulate different clinical situations and perform a range of advanced medical and emergency procedures, preparing medical staff before they see real patients.

The Trust began using this tool in June and currently has six virtual reality simulator units for the doctors’ training.

The VR system is a cloud-based platform and has regular updates, with more complex procedures set to be added to the platform in the future.

Basildon Council recovers possession of town centre cinema

On Friday 25th August, representatives of Basildon Council recovered possession of the cinema complex at East Square, Basildon, thereby forfeiting the lease with Empire Cinemas and allowing the council to secure a new operator for the space.

Following advice, Leader of Basildon Council, Cllr Andrew Baggott, instructed officers with his decision on Thursday 24th August.

On Friday 7th July 2023, Basildon Council received notification that Empire Cinemas Group (UK) Limited had entered administration. Since then, the council has been closely monitoring the situation in order to better understand the implication on the Basildon development.

As of Thursday 24th August 2023 the council had received no formal notification of any significant developments and thereby began formal proceedings to safeguard the premises and protect the interests of the council and local taxpayers.

Basildon Council will now begin the marketing process in order to secure a new operator for the cinema - presenting a report with prospective tenants at a future meeting of Basildon Council’s Cabinet.

19

Freegle in Essex Welcome to Basildon-Freegle - Give & receive unwanted items for free!!

What is Freegle?

Freegle is an online platform with a huge social, economic and environmental benefit - it allows you to give and get items for free in your local community. It’s easy to sign up and really simple to use. Best of all though, it’s kind to the planet as it can save pre-loved items from going to landfill. These items can range from children’s toys, to bicycles, mattresses and furniture.

Ways to donate your items

We all have stuff cluttering our homes, but it’s quick and easy to donate your items to great causes or to people in your local community in Essex. From furniture and white goods to clothing and toys, you can pass on almost anything.

For smaller items such as clothing, toys, books and bric-a-brac, you could donate to your local charity shop. They are always happy to accept good quality second-hand items when open.

There are currently 13 local Freegle groups across Essex, with over 85,000 members.

In 2022, 408 tonnes of ‘stuff’ was reused through the platform, saving an estimated 208 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

How does it work?

First of all, find your local Freegle group.

The Freegle group closest to Wickford is the Basildon Freegle.

Once signed up: • Post a message offering an item • Other people will see it and can reply to you • Choose who to give it to and arrange collection with them • You’ve decluttered, made someone’s day and saved an item from landfill!

You can also search or browse the items offered, or post a request for something that other people might have.

Please keep it Free and Legal - All items must be offered and requested for free, and all items must be legal to give away.

Join the Basildon Freegle community today via www.ilovefreegle.org/ explore/basildon-freegle For larger items such as furniture, white goods and electrical items you can call your local furniture project. They may even be able to collect from you.

20

Each furniture project will have a slightly different purpose, from supporting low-income families in the community to providing jobs and training opportunities.

A local furniture projects in Basildon worth considering is the British Heart Foundation Furniture & Electrical Store.

What to do with old electricals

Every year an estimated 2 million tonnes of electrical items are thrown away in the UK. These are products that either have a plug or need batteries to work.

For more information on finding a great cause to pass on your electrical items and where to recycle electrical items head to www.loveessex.org/news-and-ideas/makethe-most-of-old-electricals

How to love your clothes

Love Essex want to reduce the amount of clothes and textiles thrown away in Essex.

It’s estimated that in each Essex home about £1,200-worth of clothes lies forgotten and unworn. This clothing could easily be reused or recycled in Essex.

Please do not dispose of textiles in your general rubbish bins – unless you have stuffed textiles such as duvets and pillows which cannot be cleaned or donated.

Think before you buy. Do you really need it?

If yes, consider purchasing something pre-owned or investing in good-quality

clothing that will last longer. If you are thinking of throwing something away due to a hole or frayed seam, why not try and repair it yourself?

If you have good-quality clothing that you no longer want, please consider: • donating to charity • depositing at a local bring bank • selling online on sites such as eBay and Gumtree • selling at a boot sale • holding a clothes swap event – where you can swap items with friends.

Some local councils may also offer a kerbside collection of textiles - Basildon Borough Council textiles collection can be accessed via www.basildon.gov.uk/justletgo

To find out where to dispose of your goods quick and easy then check out secureapps. essex.gov.uk/DisposalServices/Search

21

News from Wickford Town Council Wickford Town Council Contacts

www.wickfordtowncouncil.gov.uk www.facebook.com/WickfordTownCouncil Town Clerk Tory Melhuish 01268 858979 clerk@wickfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

Wickford Town Councillors Chairman Councillor Derek Harrison contact via Town Council Vice Chairman Councillor Graham Bradley contact via Town Council Councillors Councillor Alan Ball 01268 526851 Councillor Simon Blake 07748 776655 Councillor Eunice Brockman 07594 216528 Councillor Lee Dodds contact via Town Council Councillor Gerald Douse contact via Town Council Councillor Graeme Ellis 07814 814844 Councillor Louise Gann contact via Town Council Councillor David Harrison 07305 614967 Councillor Nicola Hoad contact via Town Council Councillor Stewart Mott 07964 077058 Councillor Andrew Neil contact via Town Council Councillor Kim Oakes 01268 761899 Councillor Andrew Stead 07769 833586 Councillor Geoff Whiter contact via Town Council Councillor James Wood contact via Town Council Councillor Matthew Wright contact via Town Council

22

Basildon Borough Councillors Wickford North Councillor Carole Morris 01268 457488 Councillor Peter Holliman 07956 395818 Councillor Eunice Brockman 07954 216528 Wickford Castledon Councillor Don Morris 01268 457488 Councillor Alex Myers 07857 865598 Wickford Park Councillor Yvonne Child N/A Councillor George Jeffrey 07570 282997

Essex County Councillors Wickford Crouch Councillor Tony Ball 07867 676469 cllr.tony.ball@essex.gov.uk Councillor Malcolm Buckley 01268 472586 cllr.malcolm.buckley@essex.gov.uk

Member of Parliament

Mark Francois 01268 742044 Mark.francois.mp@parliament.uk

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Wickford at Christmas Each year a small group of around six people get together to arrange the Wickford at Christmas Street Fayre in the High Street and Market Road. Until now they also provided the Christmas lights.

This year Wickford Town Council are providing the Christmas lights, whilst Wickford at Christmas are providing the Christmas Fayre.

This year’s Wickford at Christmas Street Fayre will take place on Sunday 26th November from 12noon until 5pm.

Essex – King Charles representative for The County of Essex – visit the Fayre and to switch on the Christmas Lights at 4.30pm on the day.

Wickford at Christmas will need some volunteers to help set up in the morning, and assist with the closure of the event, as well as some during the day to help with the bucket collection.

If you can help - Tel:- 07791 911 914 or email wickfordatchristmas@gmail.com

The group – Dawn Hutson, Eunice Brockman, David and Linda Harrison, Jade Hill, and Alan Ball - will once again rely on donations and some sponsorship so that the people of Wickford can have a great time.

The hard work starts at the beginning of June each year to arrange the stalls, the stage and entertainers, the fun fair rides and ensuring that Father Christmas has the date in his diary to be at his Grotto.

In addition, arrangements have to be made to have the High Street and Market Road closed - which is expensive!

This year’s event will be having over 40 stalls – gifts, food and drink, charity, crafts etc, and will start with Santa’s Parade from the railway bridge at 12noon.

Entertainment will on the Main Stage in front of Iceland with AJ/DJ. Wickford at Christmas has arranged for Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, The Lord Lieutenant of 24

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The latest from Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Heart care app success means patients don’t need hospital visits.

Hundreds of patients who need their heart rhythm monitored have been having it done remotely thanks to an app that is helping avoid regular trips to hospital.

More than 200 patients at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC), part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, have benefitted so far.

FibriCheck is a smartphone app that measures an irregular heart’s rhythm after a patient’s procedure and shares the recording with hospital staff. They can then give guidance or suggest changes to medication all whilst the patient is at home.

One of those patients is Sheila Le Mare, a retired commercial property professional from Canvey Island, who said: “I’ve had multiple heart procedures now and hospital staff were able to get my readings through the app remotely and show the results to a consultant.

“This helped the hospital understand my symptoms sooner, so my experience of using FibriCheck has been amazing

26

because I didn’t have to wait long to get treated. For me, using this app was a big relief.”

The technology uses light to pick up blood flow in the patient’s finger, accurately recording variations in the heart rate to indicate any complications.

Patients don’t have to visit the hospital to have their heart rhythm checked, which means they have less stress, no travel, it cuts down on unnecessary heart tests and frees up staff to spend time with more unwell patients.

Sharon Toora, Lead Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist at the Trust, said: “The FibriCheck app has completely transformed how we care for our arrythmia patients. It benefits our patients through seamless care and prompt management of their conditions while they are in the comfort of their own homes.

“This success has gained national and international recognition, and I’ll be presenting about it at conferences in Seattle and Birmingham this autumn, helping put the care we give our patients here in Essex on the world stage.”

FibriCheck was funded by Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity during its initial trial, with further funding from the Charity and Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board.

Brother and sister treated in new specialist heart lab More patients are reaping the benefits of a life-saving heart procedure, thanks to a new catheter lab opened at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC).

Over 600 patients, including a surprise brother and sister duo, have benefitted from the procedure, known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

The opening of a new catheter (cath) lab has doubled the capacity of the CTC, part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, to carry out the procedure, and the time patients wait for the treatment has halved.

Among the patients who have benefitted are Frederick Allsop and his sister Jeanette Pepper from south Essex, who had the procedure on the same day. Doctors were surprised to find out they were siblings only after the surgeries had finished.

Frederick, a retired surveyor, said: “The doctors and staff were brilliant. The surgery wasn’t until the end of August, but I got lucky and had it in early July. It was a total surprise because we didn’t know my sister would be there.”

Jeanette, a retired accounts professional, said: “I can only say, it was a miracle.

People see me and can’t believe how well I am now compared to where I was before.

“

The CTC staff were absolutely amazing.

They explained everything to me and were very helpful and kind.”

TAVI involves replacing a diseased valve in the heart by inserting a new valve via a blood vessel in the leg.

Dr Chris Cook, Consultant Cardiologist at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The new cath lab has transformed our service, allowing us to provide more life-saving TAVI procedures much faster.

It was a pleasant surprise treating two members of the same family as backto-back cases, and our entire team wish Frederick and Jeanette the best now that their heart condition has been cured.”

The TAVI service is led by Dr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Dr. Rohan Jagathesan, and Dr. Christopher Cook and supported by the TAVI specialist nurses Sheila Smith, Iveta Crawford, Helen Hounsell, and Emma Bishop.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

27

Celebrating our 5th Anniversary at Life Chiropractic Wickford

Hello residents of Wickford.

I’m Dr Stefan Gospodinov, a Doctor of Chiropractic and the Director of Life Chiropractic Clinic in Wickford, which is on London Road.

Since graduating, my wife Abbie and I, along with our amazing chiropractic team, have been successfully treating thousands of clients across the area and are proud to serve the Essex Community.

At our state-of-the-art clinic, you can expect outstanding patient care from our experienced team of professionals, as well as: • On-site X-ray facilities • Free on-site parking • Modern & comfortable treatment rooms • High-end chiropractic and massage equipment • Fully equipped rehabilitation centre for treatment of injuries • Brand new Shockwave therapy equipment for joint pain, tendons and other soft tissue problems.

• Easily located on bus and train routes

Historically, our clinic building was one of the main GP practices in the area - The London Road Surgery. Since then, we have made some major improvements to the building and invested a great amount of energy, effort, and passion, to make the environment welcoming and inviting for our clients.

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The opportunity to open this exciting new clinic presented itself at the perfect time.

Our priority was to find a location where we could offer the very best chiropractic services for the local community.

Our services have helped clients of all ages from babies to those in, or approaching, their senior years.

If you want to be more functional and live a healthier life here are some of the things we may be able to help you with: • Back Pain • Headaches • Sciatica • Neck Pain • Arthritis • Hip Pain • Fibromyalgia • Knee Pain • Shoulder Pain • Heel Pain • Posture Problems

It has been wonderful meeting so many local people, both in the clinic and at the variety of events we attend in the area.

Abbie and I, along with the rest of our Wickford team, would like to welcome you into our clinic with a fantastic offer...

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Reader Submission Having recently moved into the village a couple of years ago I stumbled across the Ingatestone Bowls Club and found not only a new great game to play in the fresh air and something I really enjoyed doing, but I also met a great bunch of guys and ladies who were so welcoming.

This must be the best kept secret in and around Ingatestone. Even as a beginner there was great fun to be had plus plenty of coaching. I would wholeheartedly recommend anybody who wants to get out of the house and meet new friendly locals (who don’t bite) to pop up to the club behind the Tennis club at the Community Centre in the High Street OR have a look at the website. www.ingatestonebowlingclub.co.uk Non-bowlers are especially welcome, however age limits do apply, from 20 to 120 years old.

See you up there on the green and ask for me, the worst player in the club, but I love it!

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Wickford Town Council Events Wickford Town Council Events The Town Council has hosted a number of Free events during the summer months.

Summer Fun in the Memorial Park

Week 1 was Mrs Back to Front (Punch and Judy) and Mikes Dodsworth (Storyteller) Then week 2 and 3 was Moji entertainers.

All of these events were free to attend and were enjoyed by lots of families.

The Town Council has planned to hold these events again next summer during the six week school holidays.

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Community Showcase – Saturday 19th August Well – what a good turn out for this event.

Over 40 community groups stalls and entertainment stage with local acts performing.

More information about Town Council events can be found on our website. www.wickfordtowncouncil.gov.uk

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Introducing Miss Gaby: Unleashing the Magic of Dance and Confidence Meet the enchanting Miss Gaby (Gabrielle Noble), a dance virtuoso whose passion for performance has been the heartbeat of her life since childhood. With a background in ballet, tap, and modern dance, Miss Gaby’s journey reached a crescendo when she earned a coveted spot at the illustrious Royal Ballet School in London, an honour achieved by only a select few from thousands of aspiring dancers.

After a spellbinding performance with the Royal Ballet Company in ‘The Nutcracker,’ Miss Gaby watched Darcey Bussell and realised her heart yearned for a different stage. She bid farewell to the ballet world, embracing the allure of West End musical theatre.

In Miss Gaby’s classes, every child is celebrated, not judged. There’s no pressure to conform to an elite standard. Instead, there’s encouragement, praise, and heaps of fun packed into every 40-minute session. Tiny Toes Ballet welcomes even the youngest dancers to experience the joy of movement and meet Miss Gaby herself.

Join us and witness the magic as your little one takes their first steps towards a world of dance and self-assuredness. With Miss Gaby and Tiny Toes Ballet, every child is a star, and every step they take is a leap towards building confidence and having a blast along the way. Don’t miss this chance to be a part of something truly extraordinary.

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Miss Gaby’s journey led her to establish the largest part-time performing arts schools in West London. But her heart beckoned her back to Essex, where she embarked on a new mission teaming up with Tiny Toes Ballet, along with a vision to nurture children’s confidence through dance.

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What’s On Macmillan Coffee Morning

Saturday 30th September, 10am – 3pm at Alpha Garden Centre Come to Gallerie Schmetterling in Alpha Garden centre to support this most deserving of events.

There will be cake and raffle prizes and 10% of sales will go to charity.

From Hong Kong to Wickford: A Multifaceted Pictorial Display with Stories

25th September - 16th December at St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN The multifaceted pictorial display created

by Wickford-based composer Ho Wai-On features stories of a lifetime of interaction with UK-Hong Kong based artists/ people that have resulted in many creative works. Includes work by Clark Ainsworth, Juliet Chenery-Robson, Ruth Cutler, Polly Hope, Kitty Kwan, Martin Singleton, Albert Tang, Marcus West, Benson Wong, among others.

Exhibition viewing evening - Friday 6th October, 7pm-9pm.

St Andrew’s is usually open: Saturdays from 9am to 12:30pm; Sundays from 9:30 am to 12 noon; Mondays from 2pm to 3:45pm; Tuesdays from 1pm to 4:30pm; Wednesdays from 10am to 12 noon; and Fridays from 10am to 10pm.

Wickford Town Council and Committee meetings

All meetings are held at The Wick Community Centre and start at 7pm, unless otherwise stated 36

Planning and Infrastructure Committee – 2nd October Environment and Leisure Committee – 16th October

Angels and Warriors Annual Gala Ball and Casino Night

Saturday 7th October, 7pm at Stockbrook Manor Join us for a night of glitz and giving back!

Our Annual Charity Black Tie Dinner and Casino Night in aid of The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK includes a threecourse dinner, drinks, entertainment, raffle and auction, and a fun casino with prizes.

Tickets £60 per person. Book now via www.fornannyandbobby.co.uk/eventdetails/annual-black-tie-dinner-casinonight

Climate Awareness Train with walks and crafts

Sunday 8th October, 10:06am at Wickford Railway Station

A fun morning where the whole family can understand issues around climate change.

The event includes return train travel from Wickford to North Fambridge, a gentle walk to Blue House Farm Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve followed by family crafting activities in the village hall.

Train departs from Wickford – 10:06am and arrive at North Fambridge 10:20am Tickets cost £5 per adult and £3 per child For more information visit our website www.esscrp.org.uk/events

Wickford Town Walk & Talk – SEN Parent Support Group

Thursday 19th October, 10am – 12pm at Wickford Memorial Park Calling parents of children with SEN, whether they are autistic, ADHD, or have dyspraxia, dyslexia, sensory processing issues or anxiety (formal diagnosis of any of these conditions is not necessary - we know it takes forever to get one!)

Join the MyOTAS team for a relaxing walk around Memorial Park, Wickford, followed by some time to talk and enjoy free refreshments at Hutton’s Cafe. If the weather is too wet or cold we will forget the walk and just sit in the warm cafe instead!

Get fit, make friends, find support, chill out and eat cake! What more could you want?

These walks are funded by Community 360 Meet at Hutton’s Cafe from 9.50am. Vicky from our Family Support Team and other volunteers from MyOTAS are coming along to offer support and with any problems you are facing.

Places are strictly limited so please book a place via www.ticketsource.co.uk/myotas

Wickford Indoor Craft Fayre

Saturday 21st October, 10am – 3pm at Wickford Indoor Market, Christ Church Hall Head along to the regular indoor markets to buy unusual and personal homemade crafted goods made by local people. David’s Kitchen will be present with the full range of jams, alcoholic jams, relishes, cordials, some of the hottest and finest chilli sauces in the South East, and other seasonal delights from the kitchen. Refreshments available.

and fancy dress if you dare! Please email wickfordmemorial@parkrun.com to be a Pacer. We have slots from 18-45 minutes available.

Barn Dance

SATURDAY 28TH OCTOBER 7:15pm-11:00pm RUNWELL VILLAGE HALL Church End Lane Wickford Essex SS11 7JE

TICKETS £10 Bring your own drink and nibbles Contact David: 07785 914054 or Gerry: 07957 482005 Money raised from the event will go towards the Spotlight Radiotherapy Appeal, which is raising £600,000 to provide Southend Hospital with cutting-edge radiotherapy equipment by 2025 Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation www.spotlightappeal.org

Kinectic – Live at the Royal British Legion

Saturday 28th October, 9pm at Wickford Royal British Legion Join us for all your favourite Indie/Rock covers at The Royal British Legion, Wickford!

Halloween Pacer event and fancy dress Saturday 28th October, 9am at Wickford Memorial Park Join us for a double whammy of pacer

37

‘From Hong Kong To Wickford’ And ‘Unveiled’ FROM HONG KONG TO WICKFORD A Multifaceted Pictorial Display with Stories is an exhibition by Ho Wai-On (Ann-Kay) and Friends running from 25 September – 16 December 2023 at St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN. Dr Ho Wai-On: Surname Ho, known to colleagues as Wai-On. She comes from Hong Kong where the surname is followed by the given name that represents the individual.

She has lived in Wickford for about 15 years and is known to locals as Ann-Kay (her childhood name). Before moving to Wickford, she lived in London for more than 30 years.

Best known as a composer and creator/ director of combined-art works and projects, this multifaceted pictorial display features her lifetime of interaction with UK and Hong Kong based artists/people that have resulted in many creative works. It also tells the stories of these people and their work.

The Display features the following: • ‘Acis & Galatea’: Dance-opera directed by Ho Wai-On for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts • ‘Blessed’ – Stations of the Cross with Beatitude: An offering to St. Andrew’s from Ho Wai-On • Clark Ainsworth (UK-HK): Hong Kong photographs • Dr Juliet Chenery-Robson (Sunderland): Visual artist • Ruth Cutler (Ramsgate): Mixed media • Graham Ekins (Boreham): Hong Kong birds photographs • Ho Wai-On (Ann-Kay HK-UK): Music

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videos; combined arts; design and photographs • Inter-Artes: Performing group formed by Ho Wai-On • Polly Hope (London): Artist • Herry Lawford (Stockbridge): Chelsea Flower Show photographs • Professor Stephen Matthews (UK-HK): Hong Kong birds photographs • Ben Rector (Wickford): Photographer • Roy Reed (UK): Photographer • Martin Singleton (Wickford): UK birds photographs • Albert Tang (HK-London): Stage/ costume/poster/cover design and more • “THEME HONG KONG“: Project • Dr David Tong (Sidcup): Poetry • True Light Old Girls (Ho Wai-On’s old school): • Choy May-Chu (HK-Taiwan) drawings/paintings; • Kitty Kwan (HK-UK-AU-US) photos; • Toby Man (HK-US) drawing • Marcus West (Cardiff): Computer graphics • Benson Wong (HK-UK-HK): Fashion/ textile/jewellery design & digital portraits N.B., ( ) indicates residency. E.g., (HK-UK-AUUS) = From Hong Kong, then lived in the UK, Australia, now lives in the US. Ho Wai-On says: “My memory of life in Hong Kong is about 15 years, which is about the same as I have been living in Wickford. In between, for more than 30 years, I lived mostly in London and went back to Hong Kong from time to time.

With UK-based professionals in creative and performing arts, I created and staged performances of works/projects that combine music, dance, drama and visual art across different cultures, sometimes with relevant displays. This multifaceted

pictorial display at St. Andrew’s Church features stories of my lifetime’s interaction with UK-Hong Kong based artists and people and the resulting creative works, and tells you about these people and their work. I hope this might encourage audiences’ interest in getting to know more.”

Special opportunities to view the exhibition include: • Mid-Autumn Harvest Moon Celebration Viewing with Refreshments, Friday 29th September, 7:00am – 9:00 pm: Friday 29th September is the MidAutumn Festival (Harvest Moon to the English) - one of the most important festivals celebrated by ethnic Chinese, and also celebrated in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other countries in East and Southeast Asia. People, and especially family members, gather together to eat and to look at the moon at its brightest and roundest in a year.

Rod Reed’s photos of “Mid-Autumn in London Chinatown”, commissioned by Inter-Artes, are featured in the Display.

• ‘Flying Wild – Beautiful Birds and Insects’ talk by Martin Singleton (Wickford Wildlife Society) with exhibition viewing, Monday 2nd October, 7:30 pm: Martin Singleton will talk about the creatures found with his photographs which are included in the Display.

• Unveiled exhibition viewing evening, Friday 6 October, 7.00 – 9.00 pm: Meet Ho Wai-On and hear about the exhibition, her career and her creative projects.

Ho Wai-On’s Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@AKLHWO/videos Ho Wai-On’s Website www.howaion.co.uk

Unveiled

The autumn programme at St Andrew’s Church also includes our fortnightly Unveiled arts and performance evenings (with the exception of a 7.30 pm start for the Open Mic Night, all begin at 7.00 pm): • 22nd September – Poetry and Prayer: Hear Jonathan Evens speak about and read poems about prayer and poems that are prayers. Enjoy poems by John Berryman, John Donne, Carol Ann Duffy, George Herbert, Ann Lewin and Mary Oliver among others.

• 6th October – From Hong Kong to Wickford: See the multifaceted pictorial display at St Andrew’s created

by Wickford-based composer Ho Wai-On. It features stories of a lifetime of interaction with UK-Hong Kong based artists/people that have resulted in many creative works. Hear Wai-On speak about the exhibition, her career and her creative projects.

• 20th October – An evening with the Ladygate Scribblers. Hear poetry and prose from a long-established Wickford-based writers’ group.

• 3rd November – Wickford Heroes: Hear Steve Newman of the Wickford War Memorial Association and author of ‘Wickford Heroes - The Wickford & Runwell Roll of Honour Book’ speak about the War Memorial & some of those from Wickford & Runwell who made the supreme sacrifice in the World Wars.

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• 17th November – Rev Simpkins in concert featuring songs from ‘Pissabed Prophet’ – “Melodious, chaotic, gloriously energetic, the fruit of the fevered musical imaginations of Matty Simpkins (Rev Simpkins) and Ben Brown (Dingus Khan, SuperGlu).”

• 1st December – Mission to Seafarers evening including Sea Shanties: The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewmen and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. Hear more about their work from Paul Trathen, Port Development Manager.

Also enjoy a selection of sea shanties from local singers led by John Rogers.

• 15th December – Film Night: It’s a Wonderful Life. The story of dejected and desperate George Bailey, who’s spent his whole life in the small town of Bedford Falls, but longs to explore the world. Reaching rock bottom, he starts to believe that everyone in his life would be better off if he had never been born.

An angel shows him how important a role he’s had in the lives of friends and family.

These events do not require tickets (just turn up on the night). There will be a retiring collection to cover artist and church costs.

See wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/ whats-on for more information.

Contact Revd Jonathan Evens Team Rector, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry Area Dean, Basildon Tel: 07803 562329 Email: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com Web: www.wickfordandrunwellparish.org. uk Twitter: @jevens / @wickfordrunwel2 Blog: joninbetween.blogspot.com

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October’s Culinary Magic: Spooktacular Recipes For Families As the leaves turn and Halloween approaches, we’re delighted to present a selection of delightful recipes perfect for busy families with children.

From spine-tingling Spooky Mummy Meatloaf to comforting Pumpkin and Sage Risotto,our collection offers something for everyone. Dive into the world of delicious treats,including the Vegan Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-o’-Lanterns and the Chocolate Spiderweb Cupcakes – all crafted with passion and precision. These step-by-step guides will help you conjure up unforgettable, Halloween-themed dishes that will leave your family spellbound.

Spooky Mummy Meatloaf Ingredients 500g ground beef 1 onion, finely chopped 1 egg 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup ketchup 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tube refrigerated croissant dough Sliced black olives for eyes

Vegetarian Recipe: Pumpkin and Sage Risotto Ingredients 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice 1 small pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and diced 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup white wine (optional) 4 cups vegetable broth, kept warm 2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, chopped 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper, to taste Olive oil

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Method 1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. In a bowl, combine ground beef, chopped onion, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.

2. Shape the mixture into a mummy-shaped loaf on a baking sheet.

3. Unroll the croissant dough and cut into thin strips. Wrap the strips around the meatloaf to make it look like a mummy, leaving gaps for the eyes. Place two sliced black olives on the mummy for eyes.

4. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the meatloaf is cooked through and the pastry is golden brown. Serve with spooky sides for a Halloween-themed dinner.

Method 1. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, and sauté until translucent.

2. Add Arborio rice and cook for a couple of minutes until it’s lightly toasted.

3. Pour in the white wine (if using) and cook until it’s mostly absorbed.

4. Begin adding the warm vegetable broth, one ladle at a time, stirring frequently. Wait until each ladle is mostly absorbed before adding the next.

5. After about 15 minutes, add the diced pumpkin and continue cooking and stirring.

6. When the rice is creamy and the pumpkin is tender, stir in fresh sage, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.

Serve hot, garnished with extra sage leaves and a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Vegan Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Jack-o’Lanterns Ingredients 4 orange peppers 1 cup cooked quinoa 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen) 1 cup diced tomatoes 1/2 cup diced red onion 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp chili powder Salt and pepper, to taste Olive oil Vegan cheese for garnish (optional) Method 1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds and membranes. Carve jack-o’-lantern faces into the peppers using a small knife.

2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic and red onion until softened.

3. Add diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, and cooked quinoa. Season with chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes until everything is well combined.

4. Stuff each bell pepper with the quinoa mixture and place them in a baking dish.

5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 25-30 minutes until the peppers are tender. If desired, garnish with vegan cheese for a gooey topping.

Chocolate Spiderweb Cupcakes Ingredients 12 chocolate cupcakes (store-bought or homemade) 1 cup chocolate ganache (melted chocolate and cream) 1/2 cup white chocolate chips Black icing gel Method 1. Dip each cupcake into the chocolate ganache to coat the top.

2. While the ganache is still wet, use a toothpick or skewer to create a spiderweb pattern by starting from the centre and drawing circles outward.

3. Place three white chocolate chips in the centre of each cupcake to resemble spider eggs.

4. Use black icing gel to draw legs on the “spiders” coming out from the chocolate chips.

5. Allow the ganache and icing to set. Serve these spooky cupcakes at your Halloween party!

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The Accidental Manager feature interview The Uncomfortable Truth About Junior Football.

There’s a layer beneath the surface of the Junior Football experience…

Written by ‘Accidental Managers’ and parents from Essex, Simon Compton (Billericay) and Mark Jones (Wickford), peel back the veneers of ‘overenthusiastic’ support from the side lines and the systems in place to present an stark and honest look at the environment at leagues up and down the country.

We had the pleasure of speaking to both Simon and Mark where we discussed their backgrounds in football, the highs and lows of managing junior football teams and the fantastic feedback they have had from the book…

For readers who may not know, can you explain what The Accidental Manager is all about?

The book is about our own experiences in junior football. Our own personal accounts and experiences of the good and bad times, dealing with parents, clubs and league officials and the enjoyment of coaching and working with kids. We wanted to raise awareness of what really happens in junior football, the reality of what goes on each week.

What is your own background in football, and do you have fond memories of when you were coached and part of a junior team?

MJ - My background in football was playing at grassroots level from the age of six then carrying on into adult football eventually stopping when I was 32, that’s when I became a coach for my sons’ team. I loved my time playing football and still remain friends with quite a few teammates from years back.

SC – I played junior football as a teenager and on and off as an adult, was playing 5 aside locally up until a few years back when I went into management! When I started managing my sons’ junior team.

Good memories of playing junior football, I remember playing in a cup final, travelling on a team coach to the game and playing at a proper ground with changing rooms and stands, pretending to be professional footballers for the day, and we won. Great times!

How much did you enjoy writing this book and has the feedback and support from former pro footballers etc surprised you?

MJ - When Simon asked me to get involved in writing the book I jumped at the chance, I always said to my wife there is a book in junior football and thought it would go down well with people but the comments we have received have been brilliant, mainly 5-star ratings and reviews from other coaches and managers which means a lot to us.

SC – It was hard work writing the book, trying to find some time between work and family but it was a great experience. In some ways the harder

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part was once the first draft was completed, the proof reading, the printing, media work, personally learning how social media works was the hardest part! The feedback and support have genuinely meant everything to us, it has been so positive and hearing the same stories and experiences all over the UK has been so interesting. The biggest compliment that we keep getting is that the book is ‘relatable’ and ‘true to life’. More than anything else we made sure we were 100% honest on everything (good and bad), for this to be appreciated is great. Support from professional players has been wonderful, a big thank you to my friend Ricky Modeste who also wrote the foreword in book and Ray Parlour who did a video supporting us recently on social media.

From your own experience, what would you say are the highs and lows of managing junior football teams?

The highs are definitely coaching the kids, watching them learn and develop into young adults. Improving at football and of course playing in cup finals and winning trophies but most of all making lasting friendships. We are close friends with many ex-players and parents, that is the important thing.

The lows would be some parents, we only had a couple over the years who were very difficult, but they were enough to spoil the enjoyment at times and create an atmosphere on the sidelines. Parents of other teams were often a problem, being abusive and aggressive to anything from officials and other parents to the actual kids playing. Some managers and club officials could cause issues, you quickly realise not all ‘volunteers’ are volunteering for the right reasons. Too many egos and power trips sometimes!

In your opinion, how can junior football be improved across the county not only to help player’s development but also to make this an enjoyable sport where players can have a smile on their face?

Kids just want to play football while their parents watch and encourage rather than shout out instructions or criticise them from the sidelines. The whole culture needs to change so that it is unacceptable for any adult to be abusive around kids at football.

In any other environment you would get arrested if you started screaming abuse at a kid, why should it be normalised because we have a field with two goals on a Sunday morning.

The FA and clubs have to do much more to change the current situation, they could start by implementing the existing Code of Conducts already in place.

Has this book given you the bug to write more books on the sport of football?

We are not sure it given us the bug to write more books in the future, although we do have plenty more stories to tell and many other coaches and managers have contacted us asking to be involved in future books so who knows!

Moving forward, are you still managing junior football and what do you enjoy most about living in Billericay/Wickford?

SJ - We are not managing now; our sons are now young adults. We miss working with the boys, the training, match days and trips away but certainly do not miss all the other parts!

I like living in Billericay, it has a nice mix of country and town life.

MJ – I really like living in Shotgate Wickford, the best part is the local people and community, it is a nice place to live.

You can purchase The Accidental Manager online via www.theaccidentalmanager.uk

Excerpt from the book:

to carry out their “Too many parents want h their children. throug s career ll failed footba It is the dark side of the crazy football bug we all have. They honestly believe that they ‘could have made it’ and were brilliant in their prime – before they discovered ‘beer and birds’ and ‘did their cruciate.’”

Events in the ParkFriends of the Wickford Memorial Park Volunteer Group

We also run Easy Walking Tours of the Park which includes a talk on the history of the park and explanation of the work that the Friends are involved with. We have also given presentation talks on the park at St Andrews Church and the Wickford Horticultural Society, both of which proved very popular.

Continuing articles on the Wickford Memorial Park- this month we will be looking at what goes on in the park and the various events that the ‘Friends Group’ run.

We manned a stall at the Community Showcase Day, with a Tombola, we had a very successful day and networked with other Community Groups in Wickford.

The ‘Friends Group’ is more than a pure gardening group. We run lots of events throughout the year aimed at promoting our lovely park and organising lots of different events for our volunteers and visitors.

During the Summer our work in the park is normally focussed on watering and weeding the well established beds and borders. Our main tasks for Autumn into Winter will be;

The volunteers are a friendly group, and have organised a number of social events for them. We have a Christmas Thank You Event in December and have had afternoon teas to get together.

A very successful fundraising Quiz Night was run in July, which proved very popular amongst the Group and their friends and families. Another will be planned sometime in 2024.

This year we joined the RHS Hyde Hall as an Affiliated Group which enabled us to take up to 55 members for a visit to Hyde Hall. It was a lovely day out.

One of the most well attended Events was our evening Bat Walk in August, for which over 50 people attended. It was a warm, clear night and we saw lots of bats and heard them on sonar equipment supplied by our expert ‘bat man’ Frank Street. He was a font of knowledge, and it was fascinating to hear all about the different species of bats in the park.

We will definitely run another one!

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W i c k f o r d Town News

Mulching the Orchard • Planting Bulbs- everywhere • Replanting the Raised Bed in the Home Front Garden • Hosting an Open Day for the New Reflection Garden • Poppy displays around the Memorial Trees and Knitted Poppy display for the Beacon, in time for Remembrance Weekend.

Please look out for future events on Facebook using the Events Tab. We run our gardening groups every Wednesday and Saturday mornings if you’d like to come along, no gardening experience necessary and there are tasks for all abilities.

There are three car parks: Runwell Road (main entrance); Rettendon View and Highcliffe Road.

Please visit our website: www.friendsofwickfordmemorialpark.co.uk Or Facebook: Friends of the Wickford Memorial Park

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