Wickford Town News - Issue 22 September 2024

ISSUE 22 Rotary gets up to Fun and Games!

Find out more on page 4

Discover Your Community Hub Find out more on page 6

Wickford Christchurch 50th Anniversary Find out more on page 16

Wickford & Runwell Team Ministry Find out more on page 24

Find Your Active

Find out more on page 36

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Wickford Town News

Community spirit and practical advice with your Wickford Town News Magazine!

As summer draws to a close, we continue to bring you a packed edition filled with community events, helpful tips, and local news.

This month, we learn more about the Nevendon Centre in Wickford and we have a lovely recap of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Christchurch. As always, we encourage readers to stay active and healthy with Find Your Active Essex, and we check out all the upcoming events with the Wickford & Runwell Team Ministry. The Wickford Rotary Club continues its impactful work following their Hyde Hall Live weekend and we have a lovely poster from Basildon MIND offering Wickford residents mental health support.

Gardeners will find the latest advice in our what to do in September, while foodies can explore quick and nutritious recipes for the month.

Whether you’re looking to stay informed, get involved, or simply enjoy your community, this issue has something for everyone!

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

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Rotary gets up to Fun and Games!

After the excitement last month of the Hyde Hall Live weekend, Rotary Wickford hasn’t stopped for a break.

On the basis of our mantra of “Fun, Fellowship and Fundraising”, members got together for a relaxing evening of games in the garden of one of our members’ homes.

A beautiful evening, during which we took part in various games resulted in a convivial evening of gentle rivalry. One of our members was introduced to darts, which he had never played before, and we discovered just how cutthroat some of our members could be during the croquet match, when some pretty dastardly tactics were employed to stop people from winning! Meanwhile, some just lazed and watched the play from the shade of a nearby tree.

However the “Fundraising” was addressed too, as the event raised £350 to support Shelterbox (www.shelterbox.org). Rotary Wickford are proud to be Silver partners with the charity which supports people around the world caught up in conflict or are victims of natural disasters, currently helping people struggling with the after effects of flooding in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Malawi, and conflict in Mozambique, Syria, Sudan and most recently in Gaza.

SAVE THE DATE We’re hosting a Barn Dance on Saturday 19th October at the Nevendon Community Centre, dancing to the brilliant St George Barn Dance Band, tickets £10 per head. More of this in the future!

Would you like to know more about what we do and the events we’re putting on going After the fun and games were over, we then forwards? If you tried scanning the QR code enjoyed a barbecue with a difference, where in last month’s Town News we apologise; we all cooked our own food on tabletop grills. we had a technical hitch, but be assured A really enjoyable time underlining the “Fun that this one works! Just scan the QR code and Fellowship” of Rotary. to add your name to our mailing list for very occasional news about our events.

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christenings, wakes, retirements, and business

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Discover Your • Main Hall: Fully air-conditioned with Community Hub in direct access to a private bar, ideal for Wickford at the Nevendon large gatherings.

• Lounge: A cosy, air-conditioned space, Centre The Nevendon Centre is the vibrant home of the Wickford Community Association (WCA), a registered charity run by a dedicated voluntary Management Committee.

This centre is more than just a venue— it’s a bustling hub for the entire Wickford community, offering a variety of clubs, organisations, and activities that cater to all ages and interests.

Why Join the WCA?

Becoming a member of the WCA is a fantastic way to connect with your community. Whether you’re a local resident or live outside the area, everyone is welcome to join. Membership fees help support the centre and ensure it continues to be a space where people can come together, learn, and celebrate.

Signing up is simple! Just visit the office in the reception area during office hours (9:00am to 1:00pm, Monday to Friday), or speak to one of the friendly Caretakers or Bar staff at any other time. Memberships run from September 1st to August 31st and are renewable annually.

Host Your Event at the Nevendon Centre Planning a special event? The Nevendon Centre offers a variety of halls and meeting rooms available for private hire, perfect for weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries,

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perfect for smaller social events.

• Extended Lounge: With a movable dividing wall, this space can accommodate up to 100 people, making it great for parties and larger social functions.

• Meeting Rooms: Two versatile rooms, ideal for group meetings or one-on-one sessions.

• Small Hall: Available after 6:30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.

There is no access to the Bar, but there is a small kitchen available. This room is perfect for fitness and yoga classes.

Join Us at the Nevendon Centre

The Nevendon Centre isn’t just a placeit’s the heart of the Wickford Community Association. With flexible spaces for hire, a wide range of activities, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to bring people together.

Visit us at Nevendon Road, Wickford, Essex, SS12 0QG (behind the fire station and Eve Belle nursing home). For enquiries, call 01268 732236 or email admin@wickfordcomc.co.uk.

You can also check out their website at www.thenevendoncentre.co.uk for more details.

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New website providing latest information on end-of-life care to clinicians and patient The health and care needs for end of life and palliative care can be complex.

For example, you can find articles on common conditions such as dry mouth and breathlessness based on the best national guidance and expert advice. Other articles and features include: • the importance of advance care planning and thinking about care needs and wishes for the future

• guidance for people facing bereavement It can affect many different areas of a person’s and grief health and wellbeing at a time when their • Pain killers and pain management focus and priorities may be on other things.

• local service directory offering detailed To make sure information and support is profiles on a range of healthcare services as clear and easy as possible to find, a new available in mid and south Essex, website is launching in mid and south Essex including pharmacies, helplines, charities, so local residents and clinicians can access and support groups information as and when they need it.

• a search engine that can help with The website aims to support anyone living in finding services quickly and easily by mid and south Essex who needs palliative or location and topic end of life care. The information provided can • a regular email newsletter for keeping help whether care is at home or at a hospice, up with events, compassionate as well as providing invaluable support for communities updates and new articles carers, family and loved ones.

• a short online survey to help improve the The comprehensive and user-friendly website’s content platform provides information in bite-sized and easy-to-read snippets. You can try out • for clinicians, the site offers more some of the articles now by visiting the HPAL medically focused articles such as Mid and South Essex (MSE) website via different medication conversion charts. mse.medindex.co.uk/p The HPAL website is the brainchild of Dr Ros The articles on the website cover a Taylor MBE, (Medical Director, Harlington diverse range of topics such as like pain Hospice), and Dr Poppy Freeman, (award management, wellbeing and care at home. winning London GP). It first launched across northwest London in 2022.

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Essex residents move food waste from plate to purpose Essex County Council’s Love Essex team has successfully rolled out a year-long food recycling project to over 375,000 households in Essex.

Eligible households were delivered a one-off roll of compostable liners, an information leaflet about the benefits of recycling food, and a sticker was applied to wheeled general waste bins. This was coupled with county-wide and area-specific communications across the county.

More residents utilising the food recycling service not only reduces the amount of harmful greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere, but it also reduces transportation and disposal costs via landfill.

This means money can be better spent on other vital council services across the county.

The project has already witnessed encouraging results, including an increase in residents requesting new or replacement food recycling caddies from their local councils. Within the first three months of roll-out, there has been an average increase of 21% of food recycled at kerbside across the three phases in comparison to the previous year.

In Essex, a whopping 25% of all rubbish thrown away to landfill is food. Love Essex first promotes ways in which residents can avoid food waste in the first place but are eager to continue encouraging residents to compost and recycle too. Reducing, recycling, and recovering promotes a circular economy which is in line with the Council’s strategic goals and the Waste Strategy for Essex.

This is more than double the initial target the council set out to achieve.

This means that more Essex residents are making the most of their free weekly food recycling collection service and transforming their food into energy and fertiliser via an anaerobic digestion facility.

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A focus on food recycling remains at Essex County Council with continued work to reach more households across Essex and encourage the use of food recycling services.

Find out how you can get started with food recycling or read more about the food recycling project at www.loveessex.org/ideas/food-recycling/ food-recycling-project

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News from Wickford Town Council

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Wickford Christchurch 50th Anniversary Celebrations On a sunny Sunday afternoon July 21st , a service in Celebration was held for the 50th Anniversary of Christchurch in Wickford.

50 years ago the combination of the Congregational and Methodist churches was brought together to form the United Reformed Christchurch. The service was led by the Minister, the Reverand Moses Agyam and the preacher was the Reverand Lythan Nevard, the Moderator of the United Reformed Church Eastern Synod.

The celebration was well attended, the singing was uplifting and the offerings from the service, which amounted to over £520, was donated to the Gateway Project, a local ecumenical outreach programme project which supports families and those struggling in our community.

Afterwards, a buffet with refreshments was held and it was good to meet up with ‘old’ members of the church, not forgetting past Brownie, Guide and Scout leaders.

It was agreed that a memorable time was had by all.

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News Around Farmers urged to prioritise fire safety by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) is calling on farmers to prioritise fire safety, in order to protect their businesses and the livelihoods of future generations.

Oliver Everott, ECFRS’s Rural Engagement Officer, has spoken out on issues that Essex farmers need to implement to prevent devastating fires which could destroy their business and endanger lives. A serious fire on a farm can affect the financial stability of even the most well managed business.

From June 2023 - June 2024 – ECFRS responded to 396 incidents at farms in Essex.

Additionally, ECFRS attended 767 wildfires, many of which involved farmland.

Essex is one of the only counties that has a dedicated Rural Engagement Officer.

Oliver Everott brings professional fire safety qualifications and has an extensive farming knowledge from his farm management background. This unique combination makes him exceptionally well-equipped to address fire safety challenges specific to farms.

Essex farmers are strongly encouraged to take proactive steps with fire safety by booking a visit from Ollie, completely free of charge. To book a visit contact Ollie, by phone 07500 105715 or email oliver.everott@essex-fire.gov.uk

Essex has a new waste strategy!

On Tuesday 23rd July, Essex County Council (ECC) adopted the new Waste Strategy for Essex.

The strategy sets out the shared vision of the Essex Waste Partnership (EWP) and the targets 18

for managing recycling and waste in the county for the next 30 years. The partnership developed ambitious plans for how Essex councils, businesses and residents will work together to reduce waste, reuse and recycle more. This will help reduce the impact on our environment from dealing with the things we throw away.

Last year, ECC hosted a public consultation on behalf of the EWP. Over 4,500 people had their say on the draft Waste Strategy for Essex.

Consultation findings showed that there was a good level of support across the county, and feedback was used to develop a final version of the strategy.

ECC formally adopted the new Waste Strategy for Essex at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 23rd July. Other councils in the partnership will be taking decisions throughout the summer.

Find out more information about the new strategy and how it will affect you via www.loveessex.org/waste-strategy-essex

Heart patients’ 24/7 support is changing lives

Over 100 patients with heart issues in Essex can lead more normal lives thanks to being given round-the-clock support to manage their condition.

Heart specialists based at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) have expanded a service that remotely monitors how well a patient’s heart is working

Wickford Town from data that is constantly sent by a device implanted in the heart.

If it detects any issues, it sends an alert to the cardiology team, made up of staff based at the CTC and in the community, who can contact the patient within 24 hours to check on their wellbeing. If needed, clinical staff can then change the patient’s medication, schedule an appointment, or give advice about eating and drinking.

There are around 100 active patients currently supported by the service at Basildon Hospital, with more set to benefit as the service plans to expand across mid and south Essex.

Such early intervention stops conditions such as heart failure from getting worse, preventing patients having to be admitted to hospital in an emergency.

As well as remote monitoring of a heart’s condition, the device can also support hearts in traditional ways, including acting as a pacemaker or restarting a heart if it stops.

Movement approach. This would introduce a more flexible way to categorise roads and streets in Essex.

You can have your say on the Essex Transport Strategy until Sunday 22nd September 2024 via consultations.essex.gov.uk/essexhighways/essex-transport-strategy Another consultation, expected early next year, will focus on the full strategy draft. This is in addition to a programme of planned investment for different parts of Essex.

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Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) is a registered charity that has been at the heart of rural Essex for more than 90 years. It works to help local communities build a thriving and sustainable future focussing on issues such as social isolation, access to services and the shortage of affordable housing that impact on the life chances of people who live and work in the villages and rural towns of Essex today.

RCCE is looking to recruit some new Trustees to join its governing body in readiness for its 2025 AGM. It would be interested in hearing from anyone who shares its passion for rural communities, can offer relevant skills and experience and has some time to give.

RCCE has published some ‘Guidance for Applicants’ which explain more about what it is looking for, what is involved in serving as a Trustee, which is a voluntary, unpaid position, and how you can register your interest. Head to www.essexrcc.org.uk/news/interestedin-joining-us-and-using-your-skills-tosupport-rural-communities-in-essex to find out more.

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Wickford in Bloom As we move into late summer the group have been diligently watering, feeding and deadheading to keep the flowers looking their best for as long as possible.

We use peat free compost and have found that despite using water retaining granules it dries out quite quickly and the plants need more water and feed. Having said that, lack of water and feed doesn’t seem to have affected the white petunias which are trying to overwhelm everything else so we have been trimming these back to give the other plants a bit of space to bloom.

Recently we have received even more compliments and messages than usual from people saying how lovely the flowers are and how much better the High Street looks. The group really appreciates this and it makes us very happy to know our efforts are giving so much enjoyment.

Of course, we have to mention the hanging baskets as well. They were a bit late going up and started off looking a rather sparse but now they are really lovely and abundant.

Each basket has a small sign giving the name of the sponsor and we have to thank them for their generosity in paying for one or sometimes two baskets.

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Some of you may have noticed that the Willowdale Centre tree in the big planter has died and we are planning to replace it in the Autumn.

Wickford in Bloom’s activities follow the seasons and as we move into late summer and early autumn, the group is beginning to think about winter planting and spring bulbs.

It has become very clear this summer just how much enjoyment the flowers give to people and we really want to continue this so aim to fill the planters with daffodil and blue hyacinth bulbs for a lovely spring display.

As usual we have very little money so we decided we would ask Wickford residents if they would be able to donate a few daffodil and hyacinth bulbs to be planted in the High Street. To make this as easy as possible, Halls whose shop is 71 High Street, have agreed to help by having on sale suitable small bags of bulbs that people can pay for and leave in the shop for us to collect. The bulbs generally go on sale in September so please ask in the shop or look out for a display.

The Wickford in Bloom Cemetery group are going from strength to strength. They have been very busy and have several new volunteers and recently we were introduced to Sharon who, with Council permission, has created a Jubilee garden on a shared green space outside her house (pictured above). She has spent many hours working on the garden over several years and it has grown considerably in that time. It is really beautiful and Sharon has been able to use her gardening and topiary skills to create a very different garden using donated plants, cuttings, seeds and fund raising to buy plants.

The garden is in Carroll Gardens off Park Drive and visitors are very welcome.

As always we are always happy to see new volunteers to help with the watering a deadheading on Wednesday evening or Sunday morning.

There is a reasonable amount of walking involved but all age groups are very welcome.

For any further information please email Wickfordinbloom@virginmedia.com, find on Facebook at @WickfordinBloom or if you see us out and about in our green hi-vis come and talk to us.

Donations are always welcome as we are a small group totally dependent on grants and donations. We are grateful for any amount however small and donations can be made at www.paypal.me/WickfordinBloom or www.gofundme.com

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Please note that weekend meetings are offered at no extra cost 6MÄJL! 01268 761022 4VIPSL! 07901 948745 1 Nesbit Close, Wickford, Essex SS12 0PT

ENGLEMAN WILLS

+ POWERS OF ATTORNEY + PROBATE 23

Wickford & Runwell Team Ministry Upcoming autumn events.

We have a packed programme of varied and interesting events this autumn including a new art exhibition, heritage displays from Basildon Heritage, concerts, our Unveiled arts and performance events, a Quiet Day, plus two new events - a local history day at St Catherine’s and a Craft Fayre at St Andrew’s.

Exhibition: ‘Trials and Tribulations’

paintings that range from symbolism to landscapes and portraits. This exhibition focuses on his modern interpretations of Eastern European religious iconography.

More information about him and his work can be found at www.jpbarrettart.com.

Unveiled

Unveiled ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ at St Andrew’s Church, ϳ͘ϬϬ – ϵ͘ϬϬ Ɖŵ ϭϭ >ŽŶĚŽŶ ZŽĂĚ͕ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ͕ ƐƐĞdž ^^ϭϮ Ϭ E ^ĞĞ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞ ĨŽƌ ŽƵƌ ƵƚƵŵŶ ϮϬϮϰ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ŚƚƚƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁŝĐŬĨŽƌĚĂŶĚƌƵŶǁĞůůƉĂƌŝƐŚ͘ŽƌŐ͘ƵŬͬǁŚĂƚƐͲŽŶ͘Śƚŵů ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ

džŚŝďŝƚŝŽŶƐ͕ ŽƉĞŶ ŵŝĐ ŶŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐ͕ ƚĂůŬƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ͊

A regular Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church, 7:00 – 9:00pm - 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN See below for our Autumn 2024 programme and www.wickfordandrunwellparish.org. uk/whats-on.html for more information.

Exhibitions, open mic nights, performances, talks and more!

• Unveiled – a wide range of artists and

performers from Essex and wider,

including Open Mic nights (come and

have a go!).

• Unveiled – view our hidden painting by

acclaimed artist David Folley, plus a range

of other exhibitions.

Autumn Programme 2024

Modern Interpretations of Iconography 13th September to 20th December 2024, St Andrew’s Church - 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN. The arts programme at St Andrew’s Wickford continues in the autumn with an exhibition

by Leigh-on-Sea-based artist John Paul Barrett called ‘Trials and Tribulations’. The exhibition will run from 13th September to 20th December 2024 at St Andrew’s Wickford.

John Paul Barrett specialises in mixed media paintings, using acrylics and oil pastels on 24

• Trials and Tribulations.

13th September (7:00pm)

Exhibition viewing evening. Meet

John-Paul Barrett, see his exhibition and

hear him interviewed. This Leigh-on-Sea

based artist creates modern

interpretations of classic iconographic

images and scenes.

• Dave Crawford in

concert.

27th September (7:30pm)

Popular local musician,

Dave Crawford writes

engaging/melodic songs

in Americana/Alt-Rock/

Indie-Folk. He has

performed at the Leigh

ĂǀĞ ƌĂǁĨŽƌĚ ŝŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚ &ƌŝĚĂLJ Ϯϳ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ ϳ͘ϯϬ Ɖŵ St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

“/ Ăŵ Ă ƐŝŶŐĞƌͬƐŽŶŐǁƌŝƚĞƌ͕ ŵƵƐŝĐŝĂŶ ĂŶĚ ǀŝƐƵĂů ĂƌƚŝƐƚ ĂŶĚ ǁĂƐ ďŽƌŶ ĂŶĚ ďƌĞĚ ŝŶ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ͘ / ŚĂǀĞ ŝ WŽůĂƌ ŝƐŽƌĚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŵLJ ůĂƐƚ ƐƉĞůů ŽŶ Ă ƉƐLJĐŚŝĂƚƌŝĐ ǁĂƌĚ ǁĂƐ ϰ LJĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ͕ ĂĨƚĞƌ ǁŚŝĐŚ / ƐĞƚƚůĞĚ ďĂĐŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽǁŶ͘ /ΖǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ǁƌŝƚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐŽŶŐƐ ĨŽƌ ŽǀĞƌ ϯϬ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ϰ LJĞĂƌƐ ŝŶ ƉĂƌƚŝĐƵůĂƌ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ǀĞƌLJ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚŝǀĞ͘ ůů ƚŚĞ ƐŽŶŐƐ / ǁŝůů ďĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŽŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚŝƐ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƚ ǁƌŝƚƚĞŶ Žƌ ĨŝŶŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϮϯ͘”

Unveiled

Part of ‘Unveiled’, the Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church

EŽ ƚŝĐŬĞƚ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ – ĚŽŶĂƚŝŽŶƐ ƌĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŶŝŐŚƚ

Folk Festival, Pin Drop

Sessions, and Music for Mind together

with Kev Butler. This will be Dave’s

second concert at Unveiled. We have

also enjoyed his powerful vocals and

guitar at our Open Mic Nights.

• Re-enacting the ZĞͲĞŶĂĐƚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ EĂƉŽůĞŽŶŝĐ tĂƌƐ

Napoleonic Wars.

11th October (7:00pm) Robson Coke (2nd 95th

Rifles and Drum Major of

the Band of 1st Foot

Guards 1815, Napoleonic

Association) will talk

about the Napoleonic

Wars, explain how

re-enactments are organised and show

costumes and equipment used in

re-enactments. &ƌŝĚĂLJ ϭϭ KĐƚŽďĞƌ͕ ϳ͘ϬϬ Ɖŵ

St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

ZŽďƐŽŶ ŽŬĞ ;ϮŶĚ ϵϱƚŚ ZŝĨůĞƐ Θ ƌƵŵ DĂũŽƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂŶĚ ŽĨ ϭƐƚ &ŽŽƚ 'ƵĂƌĚƐ ϭϴϭϱ͕ EĂƉŽůĞŽŶŝĐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƚŝŽŶͿ ǁŝůů ƚĂůŬ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ EĂƉŽůĞŽŶŝĐ tĂƌƐ͕ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶ ŚŽǁ ƌĞͲĞŶĂĐƚŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ Θ ƐŚŽǁ ƵŶŝĨŽƌŵƐ Θ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ƵƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƌĞͲĞŶĂĐƚŵĞŶƚƐ͘

Unveiled

Part of ‘Unveiled’, the &ƌŝĚĂLJ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĂƌƚƐ Θ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ at St Andrew’s Church

• Eva Romanakova in

concert.

25th October (7:30pm)

Eva Romanakova sings a

wide genre of music;

Musical Theatre, Arias,

Pop, Jazz, Movie Songs and also Folk. She will

sing music from various

countries and different times. She is

performing with accomplished pianist

Andrew Palmer.

• Open Mic Night.

8th November (7:30pm) at St Andrews Church, 11 London Road, Wickford, SS12 0AN

Everybody is

welcome to come

along and play, read, sing or just

spectate. See you there for a great

evening of live performance!

• An evening with Steven ^ƚĞǀĞŶ dƵƌŶĞƌ ŝŶ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƚŝŽŶ

Turner.

22nd November

(7:00pm) –

Hear about the career of

local dancer Steven

Turner, who has trained

in a variety of dance

styles, including

contemporary, street, mime and moving &ƌŝĚĂLJ ϮϮ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ͕ ϳ͘ϬϬ Ɖŵ

St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

DĞĞƚ ůŽĐĂů ĚĂŶĐĞƌ ^ƚĞǀĞŶ dƵƌŶĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂƌ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ h< ĂŶĚ ƵƌŽƉĞ͕ ŚŝƐ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĐƌĞĂƚŝǀĞƐ EĞdžƚ ^ƚĞƉ ƌĞĂƚŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĐŚŽƌĞŽŐƌĂƉŚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ĂŶĐĞ Ϯϭ͕ ;Ă ĚĂŶĐĞ company for children and young adults with Down’s syndrome).

Part of ‘Unveiled’,

ƚŚĞ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ at St Andrew’s Church Unveiled

with props. Steven founded his own

organisation, Next Step Creative, to

promote collaboration between dance and other creative arts. He also regularly

choreographs and teaches for Dance 21

(a dance company for children and

young adults with Down’s syndrome). He

has performed across the UK and Europe

including Switzerland, Netherlands,

Denmark, Germany, and France.

• Broomfield artists in the Basildon Deanery.

6th December (7:00pm)

Find out about artworks in

Basildon and Nevendon by

Thomas Bayliss

Huxley-Jones and

Rosemary Rutherford. An

illustrated talk by Jonathan

Evens.

ƌŽŽŵĨŝĞůĚ ĂƌƚŝƐƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƐŝůĚŽŶ ĞĂŶĞƌLJ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ϲ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ͕ ϳ͘ϬϬ Ɖŵ

St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

&ŝŶĚ ŽƵƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ĂƌƚǁŽƌŬƐ ŝŶ ĂƐŝůĚŽŶ ĂŶĚ EĞǀĞŶĚŽŶ ďLJ dŚŽŵĂƐ ĂLJůŝƐƐ ,ƵdžůĞLJͲ:ŽŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ ZŽƐĞŵĂƌLJ ZƵƚŚĞƌĨŽƌĚ͘ ZƵƚŚĞƌĨŽƌĚ͕ ,ƵdžůĞLJͲ:ŽŶĞƐ Θ 'ǁLJŶŶĞƚŚ ,Žůƚ ǁĞƌĞ ĂƌƚŝƐƚƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƌŽŽŵĨŝĞůĚ ǁŚŽ ƵŶĚĞƌƚŽŽŬ ŵĂŶLJ ĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƐƐĞdž͘ Ŷ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ƚĂůŬ ďLJ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ǀĞŶƐ͘

Unveiled

Part of ‘Unveiled’, the &ƌŝĚĂLJ ŶŝŐŚƚ ĂƌƚƐ Θ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ at St Andrew’s Church

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 www.wickfordandrunwellparish.org. uk/whats-on.html for fuller information.

Other events Basildon Heritage displays We will be showing two heritage displays prepared by Basildon Heritage this autumn.

Following on from our recent Unveiled talk about Depeche Mode, the first display, ‘Sounds of Basildon’, will be on the Basildon music scene in the 1980’s, i.e. Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure, and will be at St Andrew’s from 9th September to 7th October. The second display, linked to our Local History Day, is on ‘Wickford’s churches’ and will be at St Catherine’s from 2nd October to 30th October.

Underfret in concert Saturday 21st September 2024, 2:00pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford ŝŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚ SS12 0AN.

^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ Ϯϭ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϮϰ͕ Ϯ͘ϬϬ Ɖŵ

St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

A fundraiser for St Catherine’s tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ ;ǁŚĞƌĞ ƐƵďƐŝĚĞŶĐĞ ŚĂƐ ĐĂƵƐĞĚ ĐƌĂĐŬƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĂůůƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌŝŶŐ ƵŶĚĞƌƉŝŶŶŝŶŐͿ Ͳ Ă ƌĞƚŝƌŝŶŐ ĐŽůůĞĐƚŝŽŶ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚĂŬĞŶ

hŶĚĞƌĨƌĞƚ ĂƌĞ Ă ƐŝdžͲƉŝĞĐĞ ƵŬƵůĞůĞ ďĂŶĚ͕ ƉůĂLJŝŶŐ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ϭϵϲϬΖƐ ŽŶǁĂƌĚ Ͳ ŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬ​ͬǁǁǁ͘ŝŶƐƚĂŐƌĂŵ͘ĐŽŵ ͬƵŶĚĞƌĨƌĞƚͬ

Underfret are a six-piece ukulele band, playing music from the 1960’s onward - www.instagram.com/underfret. A fundraiser for St Catherine’s Wickford (where subsidence has caused cracks in the walls requiring underpinning) - a retiring collection will be taken.

25 ŚƚƚƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁŝĐŬĨŽƌĚĂŶĚƌƵŶǁĞůůƉĂƌŝƐŚ͘ŽƌŐ͘ƵŬͬŝŶĚĞdž͘Śƚŵů

Difference Course We will be running this course, which “explores what it means to follow Jesus in a complex and divided world, seeing transformation through everyday encounters”, on the following dates: Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm at Roger’s on 25th September, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd October; and Thursdays, 7:30-9pm in St Andrew’s church on 26th September, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th October. Each week includes films of stories from Christians facing conflict, Bible study, interactive exercises, prayer and discussion.

While it is preferable to attend each week it is not mandatory. A Participant’s Guide is available at a cost of £3.50 for those that would like to purchase one. SIGN - UP sheets available soon. RLN Difference is a part of the Reconciling Leaders Network. Archbishop of Canterbury’s Reconciliation Ministry.

YƵŝĞƚ ĂLJ͗ dŚĞ ϳ S’s of the Nazareth Community Quiet Day The 7 S’s of the Nazareth Community, Saturday 28th September, 10:30pm – 3:30pm, St Catherine’s Wickford.

Consider Silence, Sacrament, Scriptures, Service, Sharing, Sabbath, and Staying as a personal Rule of Life. Learn about the Nazareth Community based at St Martin-in-the-Fields and its growth through the Companions of Nazareth. Reflect in the quiet space of St Catherine’s, a small country church originally serving a village community which still seems, in church and churchyard, to retain an atmosphere of the rural heritage of Wickford’s past. Led by Revd Jonathan Evens, Team Rector, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry. Cost: £8.00 per person, including sandwich lunch (pay on the day). To book: phone 07803 562329 or email jonathan.evens@btinternet.com. ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ Ϯϴ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ ϭϬ͘ϯϬ Ăŵ – ϯ͘ϯϬ Ɖŵ͕ ^ƚ ĂƚŚĞƌŝŶĞ’Ɛ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ

Local History Day >ŽĐĂů ,ŝƐƚŽƌLJ ĂLJ Saturday 5th October 2024, 10:00pm – 4:00pm, St Catherine’s Church, 120 Southend Road, Wickford SS11 8EB. View our registers (baptisms, weddings, burials etc,), meet re-enactors from the Napoleonic Association, see a display on Wickford’s churches from Basildon Heritage, tour the church and churchyard, take part in a Scavenger Hunt, support our fundraising appeal, enjoy refreshments in our Church Hall. See our: Commonwealth War Graves; War Memorial for Wickford; William Butterfield reredos; 15th century font; Medieval chancel ceiling; and Stained glass commemorating local characters. ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ ϱ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϮϰ͕ ϭϬ͘ϬϬ Ăŵ – ϰ͘ϬϬ Ɖŵ

^ƚ ĂƚŚĞƌŝŶĞ’s Church, 1ϮϬ ^ŽƵƚŚĞŶĚ ZŽĂĚ͕ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ ^^ϭϭ ϴ

sŝĞǁ ŽƵƌ ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌƐ ;ďĂƉƚŝƐŵƐ͕ ǁĞĚĚŝŶŐƐ͕ ďƵƌŝĂůƐ ĞƚĐ͕Ϳ͕ ŵĞĞƚ ƌĞͲ ĞŶĂĐƚŽƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ EĂƉŽůĞŽŶŝĐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ƐĞĞ Ă ĚŝƐƉůĂLJ ŽŶ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ’Ɛ ĐŚƵƌĐŚĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂƐŝůĚŽŶ ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ͕ ƚŽƵƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ĂŶĚ ĐŚƵƌĐŚLJĂƌĚ͕ ƚĂŬĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŝŶ Ă ^ĐĂǀĞŶŐĞƌ ,ƵŶƚ͕ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ŽƵƌ ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĂƉƉĞĂů͕ ĞŶũŽLJ ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ŚƵƌĐŚ ,Ăůů ŚƚƚƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁŝĐŬĨŽƌĚĂŶĚƌƵŶǁĞůůƉĂƌŝƐŚ͘ŽƌŐ͘ƵŬͬŝŶĚĞdž͘Śƚŵů

^ĞĞ ŽƵƌ͗

• ŽŵŵŽŶǁĞĂůƚŚ tĂƌ 'ƌĂǀĞƐ • tĂƌ DĞŵŽƌŝĂů ĨŽƌ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ • tŝůůŝĂŵ ƵƚƚĞƌĨŝĞůĚ ƌĞƌĞĚŽƐ • ϭϱƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƵƌLJ ĨŽŶƚ • DĞĚŝĞǀĂů ĐŚĂŶĐĞů ĐĞŝůŝŶŐ • ^ƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŐůĂƐƐ ĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƚŝŶŐ ůŽĐĂů ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌƐ

Craft Fayre A wide range of handmade crafts from a variety of different stalls. Refreshments also available. Saturday 26th October 2024, 10:00pm – 3:00pm, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

Craft Fayre

ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌ ^ŝůĞŶĐĞ͕ ^ĂĐƌĂŵĞŶƚ͕ ^ĐƌŝƉƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ͕ ^ŚĂƌŝŶŐ͕ ^ĂďďĂƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ^ƚĂLJŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ZƵůĞ ŽĨ >ŝĨĞ͘ >ĞĂƌŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ EĂnjĂƌĞƚŚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ďĂƐĞĚ Ăƚ ^ƚ DĂƌƚŝŶͲŝŶͲƚŚĞͲ&ŝĞůĚƐ ĂŶĚ ŝƚƐ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ EĂnjĂƌĞƚŚ͘ ZĞĨůĞĐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƋƵŝĞƚ ƐƉĂĐĞ ŽĨ ^ƚ ĂƚŚĞƌŝŶĞΖƐ͕ Ă ƐŵĂůů ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ŽƌŝŐŝŶĂůůLJ ƐĞƌǀŝŶŐ Ă ǀŝůůĂŐĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ǁŚŝĐŚ Ɛƚŝůů ƐĞĞŵƐ͕ ŝŶ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ĂŶĚ ĐŚƵƌĐŚLJĂƌĚ͕ ƚŽ ƌĞƚĂŝŶ ĂŶ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌƵƌĂů ŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚΖƐ ƉĂƐƚ͘

>ĞĚ ďLJ ZĞǀĚ :ŽŶĂƚŚĂŶ ǀĞŶƐ͕ dĞĂŵ ZĞĐƚŽƌ͕ tŝĐŬĨŽƌĚ ĂŶĚ ZƵŶǁĞůů dĞĂŵ DŝŶŝƐƚƌLJ ŽƐƚ͗ άϴ͘ϬϬ ƉĞƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƐĂŶĚǁŝĐŚ ůƵŶĐŚ ;ƉĂLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJͿ

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ŚƚƚƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁŝĐŬĨŽƌĚĂŶĚƌƵŶǁĞůůƉĂƌŝƐŚ͘ŽƌŐ͘ƵŬͬ

A wide range of handmade crafts from a variety of different stalls.

Refreshments also available.

Saturday 26 October 2024 10.00 am – 3.00 pm

St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN

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Ian’s Curtains & Blinds

Covering the whole of Essex Professional & Reliable

Family run business Made to measure curtains and blinds First class fitting service available Over 36 years of experience All work guaranteed

DRIVEWAYS PATIO SLABS RED/BLACK TARMAC BLOCK PAVING – SURFACE DRESSING ALL DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS INDIAN SANDSTONE PATHWAYS-FENCING ARTIFICIAL GRASS – TURFING RAILWAYS SLEEPERS – SHED BASES SHINGLE – GRAVELLING RESIN BOND – BRICK WALLS ... AND MORE

01268 976779 07743 562384 Ian.dipple@yahoo.com www.ianscurtainsandblinds.co.uk

Think your photo would look good on the front cover?

*preferably above 1mb file size Please mention Wickford Town News when responding to advertisements

W i c k f o r d Town News

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Wickford Classified Ads Advertise in our classified section for £54+VAT per month triple7cars@outlook.com www.triple7cars.co.uk

Please call 01843 523030

LOVE WICKFORD? Delivered to 12,000 homes monthly

Do you have a local story or know a local charity/community group that would love to feature in our magazine FREE of charge? ur o y rtises with e v Ad ines cal bus our lo ity y mun com

Drop an email to: enquiries@community-publishing.org for consideration!

Call 01843 523012

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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 contact via Town Council Councillor Eunice Brockman 07594 216528 Councillor Nigel Dermott contact via Town Council Councillor Lee Dodds contact via Town Council Councillor Graeme Ellis 07814 814844 Councillor Louise Gann contact via Town Council Councillor Clare Gregory 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 Stephen Oakes contact via Town Council Councillor Geoff Randall contact via Town Council Councillor Geoff Whiter contact via Town Council

Basildon Borough Councillors Wickford North Councillor David Aldridge contact via Basildon Borough Council Councillor Eunice Brockman 07954 216528 Councillor Trevor Hammond 01268 573811/07743 753590 Wickford Castledon Councillor Stuart Allen 01268 284225/07415 440873 Councillor Alex Myers 07847 126792 Councillor Terri Sargent 01268 288766 Wickford Park Councillor Alan Ball 01268 562851 Councillor David Harrison 07305 614967 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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What’s On Navarro Live! at The White Swan Friday 6th September, 8:30pm at The White Swan, Wickford

Come on down and watch some live music.

You will hear the likes of Queen, ABBA, Bon Jovi, Blondie, The Foo Fighters, Stereophonics, The Killers and many more! See you soon!

Navarro.

Saturday Solace

Saturday 7th September, 9:30am – 12:00pm at St Catherines Church In need of rest and renewal?

Find out about and experience Christian Mindfulness by joining us at during the Coffee Morning at St Catherine’s Wickford on the first Saturday in the month (9:30am to 12 noon) and also at one of our regular 10-minute reflection and Christian mindfulness sessions between 10:00am and 12 noon at St Andrew’s Wickford on the second Saturday in each month.

GOTCHA! @ Wickford Railway Club

Saturday 7th September, 8:30pm at Wickford Railway Social Club NEW to WRC! Playing high-energy party hits in the way that only GOTCHA! can.

Expect some Madness, Blur, and maybe even something for the Swifties! £1 entry for non-members before 7pm, £3 after.

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Evening of Mediumship

Tuesday 10th September, 7:30pm till 9:00pm at Wickford Community Association Join Katy Pearson and Clare Watson for an evening of spirit messages.

These evenings are truly magical - come and experience the beautiful energy that’s created when the two worlds draw closer together for this brief time. We don’t just pass on messages but we give evidence that the soul of your loved one lives on after physical death, validating and proving the existence of the spirit world. There is life after death, why not come and witness it for yourself.

Booking is essential as this will be a smaller group so please email katypearson23@ outlook.com to reserve your seat then pay the £10 in cash upon arrival to the venue.

Pacer Day

Saturday 14th September, 9:00am – 10:30pm at Wickford Memorial Park The popular pacer event is taking place so head along and join in.

Please email wickfordmemorial@parkrun.com to be a Pacer. There are slots from 18-45 minutes available.

Wickford Town Carnival

Saturday 14th September, 12:00pm in Wickford Leaving Runwell park in Church End Lane at 12pm on Sat 14th Sept, destination Nevendon park, Wickford. Free entry!

Full Moon Circle with Jodie Merritt

Wednesday 18th September, 7:00pm – 9:00pm at Kallima, 122 Alderney Gardens, Wickford, SS11 7JP Join Jodie and Kallima each month to harness the gravitational energies of the

Wickford Town moon to illuminate all areas of your life. Each month you will learn about the current full moon and the special energies that particular moon holds. You will learn how to get the most out of the full moon while meeting with other witches to work on different areas of your life.

We will perform a different ritual/spell each month or craft something for you to use for your full moon workings at home. No one circle will be the same.

Whether you are a beginner witch or a seasoned witch we can all benefit from the lunar energy and everyone is welcome.

Included in the workshop will be a Full moon booklet for you take home (for the current full moon for that month) We have done our best to get the actual night of the full moon or as close as we could.

If it doesn’t fall on the actual night Jodie will supply a ritual and materials for you to perform at home.

Cost of the workshop is £16.00 - which includes all materials.

Magic Evening

Saturday, 28th September from 7:00pm at South Hanningfield Village Hall The tickets cost £8 each adult and £3 for children over 10 years. Bring your own drinks and snacks. There will also be a Raffle. For further information, email vallisc@aol.com or phone 07891 653238.

Nevendon Indoor Boot Sale in aid of charity 301241

20th October 9:00am – 2:00pm, £1 entry, Nevendon Centre, SS12 0QG Sellers from 8am. Tables provided 6ft £12, 4ft £10. Sellers should pre-book on 07792 350024.

Wickford Crafty Arts Fayre Christ Church, SS12 9FW

Sat 21st September 10am to 3pm Craft and gift stalls with handmade items made by local craftsmen and women FREE ENTRY REFRESHMENTS CAKE WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY PLENTY OF PARKING craftyarts22@hotmail.com

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What to do in the garden in September

In the flower garden

September is here, and there’s plenty to be done while you’re outside enjoying the last of the year’s warmth.

Harvesting crops will keep you busy this month, and there’s plenty of work to do tidying and maintaining plants and equipment.

Read on for a comprehensive list of garden jobs to get on with this month:

Timely Tips

• Continue to feed and deadhead hanging basket and container annuals — they will often keep going until the first frosts.

• Keep deadheading annuals and perennials to extend their performance.

• Prune any late-summer flowering shrubs, such as the rock rose (Helianthemum).

• Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they’ve finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowering varieties, in which case leave them until later in the year).

In the vegetable garden

September isn’t the time to take your eye off the ball in the garden. Here are some of the main jobs: • Net ponds now before autumn leaf fall gets underway to reduce the amount of

debris entering the water.

• Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ahead of autumn sowing and growing.

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs now, such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, for glorious colour next year.

• Keep on top of weeds as they compete with your crops for nutrients and water.

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• Start planting garlic sets at the end of the month for cropping next year.

• Plant autumn onion sets this month.

• Plant out any spring cabbages, like ‘Advantage’, sown during the summer.

• Pot up some mint and parsley for the kitchen windowsill for fresh herbs through the winter.

Looking after your lawn

• Create compost bins in preparation for all the fallen leaves and dead plant material which you’ll be collecting over the coming months.

• Create a new lawn from turf or seed autumn weather is favourable for good lawn establishment.

• Raise the height of your mower blades as grass growth slows down.

• Carry out essential lawn maintenance to avoid waterlogging and compaction.

• Apply a special lawn top-dressing after carrying out maintenance work. Follow the instructions on the packet carefully.

• Feed your lawn with an autumn fertiliser which is rich in potassium and low in nitrogen.

Other jobs about the garden

• Install water butts to collect rain this autumn and winter. Rain water is great for watering ericaceous plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias.

Gardening tips supplied by Thompson & Morgan. For a full list of what to do in the garden in September and beyond please visit their website: www.thompson-morgan. com/in-the-garden-this-month

• Improve clay soil before it becomes too wet or frozen by incorporating organic matter and/or horticultural grit.

• Raise pots off the ground for the winter by using bricks or ‘pot feet’, to prevent waterlogging.

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September Simplicity with Quick and Nutritious Recipes As September rolls in and the kids head back to school, busy schedules return, making mealtime planning essential.

This month, Wickford Town News brings you four easy and delicious recipes tailored for the ‘back-to-school’ season. Whether you’re packing lunches or preparing quick dinners, these recipes will help you serve up nutritious, homemade meals with minimal fuss, ensuring your family is well-fed and ready for the busy days ahead.

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Bake Ingredients 2 chicken breasts, diced 300g broccoli florets 200g pasta (penne or fusilli) 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 300ml milk 150g grated cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons plain flour 2 tablespoons butter Salt and pepper, to taste Fresh parsley, to garnish

Beef and Veggie Stir-Fry with Noodles Ingredients 300g beef strips 200g egg noodles 1 red pepper, sliced 1 yellow pepper, sliced 150g green beans, trimmed 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil Fresh coriander, to garnish

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).

2. Cook the pasta in a pot of boiling water according to the package instructions.

Drain and set aside.

3. Steam the broccoli florets for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp. Set aside.

4. In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until softened.

5. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute, then gradually whisk in the milk.

Continue stirring until the sauce thickens.

6. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in half of the grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Combine the cooked pasta, diced chicken, and steamed broccoli in a large mixing bowl. Pour over the cheese sauce and mix well.

8. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, and bake for 20 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

9. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Method 1. Cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat.

3. Add the beef strips and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.

4. In the same pan, add the minced garlic, sliced red and yellow peppers, and green beans. Stir-fry for 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.

5. Return the beef to the pan and stir in the soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the flavours to meld.

6. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and toss to combine. Drizzle with sesame oil.

7. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.

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Veggie-Packed Mini Frittatas Ingredients 6 large eggs 100ml milk 1 red pepper, diced 1 courgette, grated 50g spinach, chopped 75g feta cheese, crumbled 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste Fresh chives, chopped, to garnish Method 1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan).

Grease a 12-hole muffin tin with olive oil.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Add the diced red pepper, grated courgette, chopped spinach, and crumbled feta cheese to the egg mixture.

Stir to combine.

4. Pour the mixture evenly into the prepared muffin tin.

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the frittatas are set and slightly golden on top.

6. Allow the frittatas to cool slightly before removing from the tin.

7. Garnish with fresh chives and serve warm or cold. These mini frittatas are perfect for packed lunches or a quick breakfast.

Apple and Berry Crumble Ingredients 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 150g mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries) 100g plain flour 75g rolled oats 100g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed 75g brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Vanilla ice cream or custard, to serve Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).

2. In a baking dish, combine the sliced apples and mixed berries. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon.

3. In a mixing bowl, rub together the plain flour, rolled oats, cubed butter, and brown sugar until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

4. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the fruit.

5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the fruit is bubbling.

6. Serve the apple and berry crumble warm with vanilla ice cream or custard.

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Find Your Active Essex It’s time to explore the endless possibilities that new forms of movement and activity can offer!

Step out of your comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar on your movement journey, as trying something new can transform your approach to physical activity.

The beauty of trying something new is that there’s no restrictions. Age, background and ability will only help filter what activities are on offer, not cause barriers! Active Essex have a range of resources online that are a helping hand in identifying activities that will fit your lifestyle and routine.

The How Do I Get Started page alongside other resources for those with more specific needs are great starting points (www.activeessex.org/how-do-i-getstarted).

These pages could direct you to a local group where you can move with like-minded residents and make new friends or to videos 36

online that you can delve into whenever suits you, dance workouts could be for you, the fun is in giving it a go! Experimenting at home with the online resources can encourage taking this activity further by joining a class or group, reducing the fear of judgement or lack of knowledge.

At Active Essex, it’s important residents embrace the joy of exploring activities. This was reflected at the Essex School Games, it was an opportunity for pupils from across Essex to experience activities they may not have heard of or had the chance to

participate in. Alongside the competitions for medals, there were carousel sessions incorporating outside dance, taekwondo, archery and more! Events outside the school environment could spark a passion that can be carried into adulthood.

Busy lifestyles with work, family and other commitments can often appear as a barrier to physical activity, however adopting a routine where movement is a priority can make daily stresses manageable. Cycle to Work Day occurs at the start of August and could be a catalyst for trying something different that increases active minutes in the day. Actively commuting to work, parking further away to increase steps or turning meetings into walking ones are all new changes that can not only help physical wellbeing but gives you time back to reconnect and refresh to boost your mood and mental health. Reshaping your routine by adding in these active changes can help you add variety to your day and you will notice the difference this can have on your wellbeing.

Finding something you love and refreshing your routine can help you foster a deeper connection with your physical and mental wellbeing.

Make sure to share your journey with others as well as your own discoveries could inspire others!

Go online and visit: www.activeessex.org/find-your-active www.activeessex.org/move-with-us 37

Look out for motorbike riders so everyone can stay safe on our roads this summer Latest advice from Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit..

Over the summer months, riders will be pulling on their leathers and heading out to meet up with fellow riders, to enjoy the Essex countryside and coast.

Roads Policing Unit officers routinely patrol our towns and cities alongside our more rural locations to make the roads in Essex safe for everyone, keep them moving and prevent crime and collisions.

As expert riders, our officers have been engaging with riders in an effort to advise how to stay safe and be seen.

Motorcyclists are considered vulnerable road users, alongside pedestrians, pedal cycles, pedestrians, and horses.

Both riders and motorists are asked to be vigilant to road hazards and aware of other road users, keep to the speed limits and use your mirrors.

If you’re in a more rural area, please be aware that there may be hazards around that bend or up ahead. Look for places to pass each other safely, allowing plenty of space between a vehicle

and a motorbike. With horses, always pass wide and slow so as not to frighten.

Watch out for hidden entrances to farms and tractors at this time of year: if there is a farm nearby, harvesting could be taking place.

Be aware that uncut bushes at the roadside could hide important warnings.

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If you’re in a built-up area, you could encounter bigger vehicles, lorries and buses, so please, anticipate, be prepared to slow down or stop and all the while, look out for advance warnings of hazards ahead, including junctions.

Before you manoeuvre, remember to check your mirrors. We’d encourage drivers to take a little extra time to make sure they’ve seen that bike and rider.

The Roads Policing Unit continue to work with partners to support road safety campaigns.

Riders who want to improve their riding skills, can attend a course led by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in conjunction with Essex Police, called FireBike.

For more information on this free course, visit www.essex-fire.gov.uk/ firebike.

For information about how youcan improve your driving and take the Vision Zero Pledge, visit www.saferessexroads.org/ visionzero