July Leigh Oracle 2012

Leigh-on-Sea

July 2012

ORACLE Leigh at a glance

Est. Oct 2006. Circulation 5,500

Oracle Competition WIN! 1st prize Matis facial treatment - £40 2nd prize set of Gelish nails - £20 by beautybystella.co.uk

Local Issues Out of Paw-der!

Travel Expert Why Dubai?

Under the Hammer Bid Business

Recipe Raspberry Shortcake Stacks

Cover photography by Nicola Jane - Portrait Photographer - www.facebook.com/nicola.jane.568

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Leigh

OR ACLE

publisher’s letter

W

e all know that local businesses are finding it very difficult, so please remember when spending your hard earned cash to spare a thought for them as they really need our continued support now.

Oracle’s front cover reflects a cheerful and summery image provided by local photographer/visual communicator Nicola Jane who recently caught the attention of Beecroft Art Gallery and will be exhibiting there from 10 November – 8 December 2012. Entry is free.

Oracle’s competition this month has been kindly donated by ‘Beauty by Stella’ 1st prize win a fabulous Matis Smoothing Peeling treatment for the face and neck which helps reduce skin irregularities, wrinkles, fine lines, roughness and imperfections worth £40.

2nd prize a set of Gelish which is a soak off gel product that is applied like a polish and has the strength of gel. It lasts up to 2-3 weeks on your nails worth £20.

Stella has been a local beauty therapist for over 20 years and consistently updates her knowledge in all beauty areas. She is fully insured and is based in Eastwood. Visit her website and see the selection of treatments offered. www.beautybystella.co.uk To enter simply send in your contact details to, Oracle/Beauty by Stella Competition, 39 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BW or email info@oraclepublications.co.uk closing date 27 July.

See you on the beach!!

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838

39 Alexandra Street, Southend, Essex SS1 1BW

www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk

www.twitter.com/oracle_essex www.facebook.com/oraclepublications Printed by EVONPRINT, Small Dole, Sussex 01273 494631 J U LY 2 0 1 2

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ORACLE

Utopia Travel Independent Travel Agent Established 30 years

contents Local Issues Out of Paw-der!

By Cllr Adam Jones

9/10

Specialising in : Tailor-made holidays Long-haul flights and itineraries Cruises Short-haul flights City-breaks package holidays.

Call in and see us or phone and speak to one of our friendly, experienced members of staff.

01702 478781 www.utopiatravel.co.uk

Nude Sensation Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

14

Business exit strategy Money Matters by Jacqui Moyies

16

Why Dubai?

Travel Expert by Karen Goldman

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76 Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 1AE

Bid Business 22 Under the Hammer by Trevor Cornforth Raspberry Shortcake Stacks Judy's Recipe Page

26

Construction checklist Oracle Planning by Tim Knight

30

Diary Dates

32

Useful Numbers Advertiser Index

36 38

Jewellery Sales, Repairs and re-modelling

Advertorials Kallisto Diamonds Pace PLC 4

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2012

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TOWN AND COUNTRY Half price Estate Agency fees for the "over 60's"

Celebrating the Queens 60th Jubilee and Town and Country’s 60th year of selling homes in Leigh-on-Sea and surrounding areas, we are offering ‘over 60’s’ half price agency fees.

If you want to sell your property and need an accurate, professional valuation,please call Town and Country:

01702 713255

www.townandcountryessex.co.uk

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2012

Local Issues

Out of paw-der!

T

he urban fox, an increasingly common sight on the streets and in gardens of the UK, has evolved into a feral species that is wholly unlike its rural cousin.

Many in the rural community are concerned that conservation policies are becoming increasingly domesticated. What chance then do we have of managing urban wildlife?

The ‘Mr Todd’ of the countryside has an acute sense of smell and as a result, is rarely seen in the open but remains an efficient hunter. Similar to urban foxes, they can easily adapt to a more readily available food source. I keep hens and despite never having seen any signs of a fox near my home, still take great care to protect them from becoming Reynard’s supper after dark.

Southend Borough Council does not at present regard foxes as vermin and therefore has no official strategy to control the expanding population; rather it puts the onus back on homeowners to decide what to do should they believe a fox presents a problem.

However, as readers of Tennyson will know ‘Nature, red in tooth and claw’ is unsentimental and therefore keeps the population down.This is not the case in built-up areas and consequently urban foxes make up 90% of the total British fox population. I believe that without a clear policy to manage the burgeoning fox population and that, I’m afraid could lead to a cull.

The RSPCA has suggested the practice is a rural myth but a pest control officer told me last year that a colleague of his has trapped and released urban foxes. Gamekeepers regularly report that they have shot foxes and discovered them to have been treated by vets; evidenced by shaved www.oraclepublications.co.uk LEIGH-ON-SEA ORACLE 9

In the countryside, foxes are by and large regarded as vermin and, even after the Hunting Act became law in 2002, management of species such as red deer, grey squirrels, rats and now badgers, require an occasionally lethal approach.

JUNE

2012

This leads to an issue I am particularly passionate about but again, hard evidence is virtually non-existent. However, there is mounting anecdotal evidence that people are trapping urban foxes and rather than destroying them, transporting the animals to the countryside and releasing them in fields or woods. I contend this is cruel and should be outlawed.

areas of fur where a drip or stitches had been inserted, or had amputations and, as one keeper put it: “It’s as though they’ve been wearing carpet slippers, they definitely haven’t been doing any digging or scratching about in the wild.” A farmer in Wales shot 14 in just one field and was astounded that each one didn’t attempt to run away, suggesting that they did not regard man as a threat.

Foxes are also territorial and a dominant dog fox will do serious injury to an interloper. Removing a fox from its own habitat and releasing it into a completely alien environment is almost barbaric.

If scavenging in an urban setting is all a young fox knows, it risks starving to death in the countryside where scraps left by humans are few and far between. Furthermore, disregarding the fact that nature itself is wholly unsentimental and those animals lives are shortened by disease and injury - well-meaning individuals patching up wounded or sick animals up and then chucking them into the nearest field could actually be far worse for their welfare than putting them to sleep.

Contact with people in their own homes, including attacks, has been well documented in the media and whilst no such incidents have been recorded in Southend, not planning for a ‘what if’ scenario could be as effective as simply crossing your fingers.

As a Conservative politician, one is always mindful that left-leaning folks like to see some, if not all of us as toffs on horseback, dressed in bright red, gleefully chasing defenceless animals to their death. It’s a convenient and often erroneous cliché. It also avoids the fact that, in the town just as in the country, we need to see beyond foxes’ looks and charisma and take action when necessary.

I’m not suggesting we have packs of hounds and folks in hunting pinks on horseback charging majestically through the Cliff Gardens but I would urge my colleagues at the Council to seriously look at the situation and develop a clear strategy on managing foxes. I would also very much like to see and hear Oracle readers’ ideas and opinions on what they would like us to do.

By Cllr Adam Jones

01702 216658 cllrjones@southend.gov.uk

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www.oraclepublications.co.uk

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2012

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11

Advertorial

Diamonds are Forever K

allisto Diamonds are an independent boutique diamond brokerage for those wishing to buy or sell investment grade diamonds.

Offering a full acquisition service utilising extensive industry contacts, pre-approved buyers are able to take full advantage of specialist knowledge and sourcing, giving you the best choice of investment grade diamonds.

Kallisto Diamonds is backed by a team of experts with a combined industry experience in excess of 75 years, and a specialist dealing team that has in-depth knowledge of mining, processing, and grading.

Established on an ethos of building long term, mutually rewarding relationships with clients, Kallisto Diamonds is the trusted choice for diamond investments.

Whether you are a first time private investor or a leading dealer or collector, Kallisto Diamonds can help you secure the right investment.

When selecting diamonds from our cutting factories in Antwerp, Kallisto Diamonds choose only the exceptional quality natural investment grade stones for its clients. As we source and cut the stones ourselves we are able to eliminate any unnecessary margins that are added in bringing the cut diamond to market, facilitating a truly worthwhile tangible investment with room for our clients to see substantial yields and growth.

to classify our diamonds. Each diamond purchased comes with a detailed certificate that states the cut, clarity, carat and colour of the stone – these are known as the“4C’s.” Each certificate comes with a unique serial number that corresponds to the number laser-stamped onto the girdle of the diamond, meaning one cannot be traded without the other and the entire credentials of the stone are computer registered with the lab partner that originally wrote the certificate i.e the GIA, HRD, IGI, EGL. In addition to the pleasure of collecting these rare jewels, our clients’goals include wealth preservation, diversification, privacy, portability of wealth and a long-term growth strategy of a well-balanced portfolio invested in diverse asset classes.

We strive to provide and maintain a very personal service that places our clients at the heart of our organisation, moving forward with a stable investment in a very volatile unstable financial climate.

For more information to create or expand your existing portfolio please visit our website www.kallistodiamonds.com providing your contact details and one of our experienced Diamond Consultants will be on hand to guide you through the whole of this buoyant low risk market

By also offering a bespoke service whereby our broker and in-house gemologist will visit the client at a place of their convenience, or arrange a meeting room in a central location, we as a company, can save on "unnecessary overheads."

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13

Oracle Hair & Beauty

Nude Sensation Here comes the hot-stepper!

S

ince her Royal wedding, Kate Middleton sorry, the Duchess of Cambridge - has become a genuine style icon and she demonstrated this magnificently by being photographed in nude shoes.

Black used to be the staple shoes for every woman but since nude burst onto the scene these new babies on the block have rapidly become the shoes of choice that go with virtually every and any outfit.

Her sister Pippa was also spotted wearing soft pink, barely-there heels and since then Britain’s women have become nudists. Strictly in the fashion sense, of course! The celebrity world has quickly followed suit, with the likes of Victoria Beckham also daring to bare. However, it would appear that it isn't just because Kate wore them that has seen them flying off the shelves. Fashion experts are now suggesting that nude shoes create the illusion that the wearer has dropped a dress size, compared to what they would look like when wearing other footwear.

Ironically, the nude palette is actually one that extends quite far from cream and peach tones to beige and coffee shades; the neutral palette takes in so many different forms that you’ll find one that matches your skin tone perfectly.

Yes, these shoes actually give the illusion that you are much thinner than you really are. Honey, so long as you follow a magical winning formula…

Here’s the secret! (C + P + H + HW) – AS = S. Confused? Then here's how it breaks down (Colour + Platform + Height + Heel Width) – Ankle Strap = Slimming.

When black or brown shoes are too dark for summer days, or you don’t fancy a vibrant hue that has its limitations, a pair of nude-coloured shoes will bring a fresh look.

Apparently the Duchess of Cambridge has been papped nearly ten times wearing her High Street nude stilettos. So, if they’re good enough for the wife of the future King of England in these cash-strapped times, just think what they could do for you…

Sponsored by

O

This magical formula is then supposed to create the look of a flatter stomach by lengthening the legs, tightening the thighs as well encouraging the torso to be pushed outwards.

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Money Matters

Business exit strategy – Should I stay or should I go?

I

t is extremely important to have an effective Exit Strategy in place for you and your business.

For tax reasons alone, it is essential that every owner of a privately run business should have an exit strategy plan. Yet surprisingly, few business owners actually have one. Normally, they are too busy just to stop and think about what will happen when they finally decide to call it a day.

Very few owners have given serious consideration to the ultimate question – the final realisation of all that they have worked for. Even if a business owner does not have plans to leave the company in the foreseeable future, the consequences of failing to plan ahead can be both considerable and expensive.

Strategic planning is vital if owners want to ensure that they end up with the maximum cash in hand after taxation. With proper advice and planning, taxes can be substantially reduced, deferred or even eliminated in some cases. A well-planned strategy should embrace the owner's personal and business objectives, the value of his or her share in the business, the ability to realise this share when required, and to cope financially should the exit be forced.

There is a range of financial planning tools, which can be applied to the development of an exit strategy. These include international investments, cashflow injections to support the balance sheet

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LEIGH-ON-SEA ORACLE

and facilitate exit plans, retirement planning, corporate protection and capital tax planning which, planned effectively, can reduce or remove the twin threats of Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax. With the right professional advice, owners could unlock some of the wealth currently tied up in the business, allowing it to continue to thrive once they have left. At the same time, it is important to protect the business from the impact of death in service of key people, an important issue often overlooked by SME's.

The days of a 'set in stone' retirement age of 60 or 65 are long gone and these days, all kinds of options are open. Early retirement may be part of the game plan. Or the owner may be enjoying the work so much that they want to carry on.

Whatever demands and pressures are placed on your time today it’s important to start thinking about putting that strategic plan in place.

O

by Jacqui Moyies

To receive a complimentary guide covering Wealth Management Retirement Planning or Inheritance Tax Planning, contact Jacqui on :

01702 589553 Jacqui.moyies@sjpp.co.uk or visit www.sjpp.co.uk/jacquimoyies

www.oraclepublications.co.uk

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2012

10% DISCOUNT

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A wide range of excellent quality, fantastically priced

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19

Travel Expert

Why Dubai?

By Karen Goldman

W

sand dunes – an exhilarating drive in a 4x4, followed by dinner under the stars at a traditional Bedouin camp.

Dubai is teeming with high end accommodation and there is so much choice, from luxury tents in the desert with your own plunge pool, to elegant beachside villas, and rooms with views over the bustling Dubai Creek, to fun-packed hotels like the iconic Atlantis complete with it’s own state-of-the-art water park and Dubai is extremely popular with Brits – with over 3 mil- Dolphinarium. The newly built Downtown Burj Dubai lion visiting last year. One of the main attractions is the boasts a number of excellent design hotels with views hot and sunny weather throughout the year. It has a out to the famous Dubai Fountain. coastline which stretches along the entire Emirate with long stretches of sandy beaches on which to soak You can shop till you drop, and if dad and the kids get bored at the biggest shopping malls in the world, they up the sun. can always visit the Olympic sized ice rink, or have a However, if all that relaxing becomes too much, there session in the indoor ski slope! are plenty of activities to keep you entertained.

Watersports are readily available at any of the beach Food is an important part of the Dubai culture and front hotels – why not try your hand at jet-skiing, every type of cuisine you could wish for is available wind-surfing or water-skiing. If you prefer to see Dubai from Michelin star restaurants to small great value from an aerial view, take a helicopter trip, or try your eateries. Many of the celebrity chefs have opened hand at sky-diving over the marina! No trip to Dubai restaurants in Dubai, including Gary Rhodes, Jamie would be complete without a visit to the spectacular Oliver and Gordon Ramsay. So whether you fancy an authentic Indian Thali in the old part of Dubai, or an ultra- modern Sushi bar, Dubai has it all. hy is everyone flocking to Dubai? With guaranteed sunshine and a flight time of under 8 hours, it makes an ideal holiday destination for everyone from families to honeymooners, and single travellers to groups of friends. In these times it is also one of the safest places to travel to, with virtually no crime.

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21

Under The Hammer

Bid Business Trevor Cornforth

S

ellers are not the only people to ask us for advice. One of the most common questions from potential new buyers is “what should I collect”?

That usually means “what’s going to make me a quick profit” so the answer is “you must decide that for yourself, I can’t guarantee how the market will change”.

Leigh Broadway in the early 1900’s with a trolley bus in the background and shops only on one side. Note the gent in the bowler too!

However, sometimes it’s a more general question from someone looking for a new hobby or more often wanting to get a youngster away from computers and TV. In this instance, at the moment, I would say take a look at local history. Local collectables such as the souvenir wares of the late 19th and early 20th C are generally inexpensive and can be bought in groups to get the collection off the ground quickly. Local postcards are also a great source of fun as well as giving an idea how an area has developed over the years. Who would think, for instance, that Victorian style crinoline dresses were still around in the 1920’s alongside flapper dresses? Take a look at postcards of Southend seafront in that period and there they are!

Just a small part of a group lot of local souvenir wares.

Postcards are also something that can be bought in groups or albums for reasonable money and in both instances collections can then be enhanced and developed at Collectors Fairs or further auctions.As the collection grows it will become more sophisticated but group lots are a great way to start.

If you want something for the walls then 18th and 19th C engravings of the local area are also very affordable and like the other items offer great insight into local and national social history.

O

01702 613260 chalkwellauctions.co.uk

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25

recipe of the month

Filling 284ml pot double cream 300g/10oz raspberries Icing sugar for dusting

In the Kitchen with Judy Barden

Method 1. Pre heat the oven to 190c/ fan 170/ gas 5. Using a processor or hand whisk cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour and maple Syrup and mix to form a ball of dough.

Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile make the maple sauce. Heat the cream, maple syrup and brown sugar in a pan over a low heat, until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a gentle boil and then simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside to cool.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 5mm thickness. Using a 7cm cookie cutter, cut the dough into 18 rounds. Place on 2-3 large baking sheets lined with baking parchment and bake for 8-10 minutes until pale golden in colour.

Cool on a wire rack.

4. When ready to serve, whip the cream for the

Raspberry Shortcake Stacks

T

his dessert is a twist on the classic strawberry shortcake. The addition of maple syrup works really well with the tangy raspberries and also in the crisp biscuits. The biscuits can be made a day or two ahead and kept in an airtight container and the sauce can be made and kept in the fridge, so on the day it is just assembling the dessert, easy.

filling until it just forms stiff peaks. Swirl through half of the maple sauce. Place one biscuit in the centre of a plate, top with a generous spoonful of the maple cream and a few raspberries. Top with a second biscuit and top with a further spoonful of cream and raspberries. Top with a third biscuits.

Repeat with the remaining biscuits to make 6 stacks.

5. Dust each stack with icing sugar and drizzle round the remaining sauce. Serve immediately

Next month’s recipe:

Enjoy!

‘Chargrilled Asparagus, Courgettes and Halloumi'

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Advertorial

Pace scoops Sunday Times Letting Agency Award I

t was great to see a Southend company amongst inner-City lettings agents pick up a prestigious annual Sunday Times Letting Agency Award. PACE plc was in the company of a select few from hundreds of entrants who were fortunate enough to win on the day, scooping the Silver Award for ‘Best Single Office Lettings Agent’ in the South East.

enabled it to collect an impressive 97% of rents due.

With special attention being paid to PACE’s ‘high-quality service’ and ‘robust systems and processes’, Managing Director of PACE, Crystal Horwood, was more than delighted, commenting:

“The Sunday Times Letting Agency of the Year Awards are the longest running and most sought after awards in the lettings industry. We work The awards were announced by four times Olympic exceptionally hard on behalf of our growing Gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent at a lavish portfolio of landlords and tenants and this accolade luncheon & ceremony at the Lancaster Hotel proves the high standards we set ourselves. attended by 500 of the UK's top letting agents.

“As noted by the judging panel, our provision of The competition within the South East category was dedicated property managers and ability to resolve particularly fierce with it being one of the most hotly problems before they become an issue is reflected contended geographic categories inviting entrants by the fact that more than 35% of our managed from across, Berkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, tenants have stayed with us for at least 3 years.”

Kent, Middlesex, Surrey, West Sussex.

PACE sailed through a rigorous judging process to emerge as a winner, which not only involved a written application, but an in-depth interview followed by an unannounced visit from a ‘mystery shopper’.

The judging panel, chaired by The Property Ombudsman Christopher Homer, consisted of renowned individuals from the property world. In reviewing a vast number of entries, the panel agreed that PACE’s ‘devotion to providing everyone with a home made it a worthy silver winner for the category’. Judges were also impressed by PACE’s online payment facility for tenants, which has

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01702 445600 www.paceplc.co.uk

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We cater for

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Oracle Planning

Planning Your Architect submits the drawings to the Local Authority together with all relevant supporting documentation. A fee is due to the council at this stage which is payable on submission.The planning process takes a minimum of 8 weeks during which time your architect may liaise with the planners if required. Once the planners have assessed the project the decision is issued.

Production Information

Construction Checklist T

his is my final article for the time being and as such I will try to provide a simple plan of work for your development or extension to help guide you through the process from start to finish. If you follow this process then hopefully you will realise your aspirations as smoothly and as painlessly as possible!

Project inception

Assuming permission is granted, you are now in a position to deal with the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the development.The planning drawings detail the style, size and layout of the project, the production drawings show how it is to be built. Your architect will produce drawings that detail exactly how the scheme will be constructed. At this time all parts of the construction are considered, from the structural implications through to fixtures and fittings. Your architect should act as lead consultant, liaising with all other professionals, i.e. structural engineers and party wall surveyors.They will produce a package of information to send out for tender to a chosen list of contractors, which your Architect will help formulate

Construction Once tenders are returned and analysed, a contractor is appointed to carry out the work.

Depending on the size and complexity of work, a building contract should be used and signed by you and contractor and administered by your Architect.

They will oversee the contract and monitor the work throughout the agreed works period. They will deal with all statutory consents, certify and value completed work and ultimately hand over your completed dream project

Identify your brief and requirements; establish your budget, timescale and design objectives

Appointments Interview Architects (RIBA and ARB recommended) and gain preliminary information relating to your brief and other design or statutory constraints.

Establish professional fees, gain references, view previous projects and examples and appoint your Architect.

Design With your Architect, prepare the strategic brief and confirm the key requirements;Your Architect should provide initial drawings for your assessment and discuss the design implications. Your Architect will refine the design to ensure all aspects are considered and prepare the planning drawings

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Simple!!!......

‘Development’ however large or small is an exciting and rewarding process, which if undertaken correctly will enhance your life.“God is always in the detail” and if you plan carefully the process should flow smoothly. Have fun, enjoy the experience and maximise your property and your lives within.

Professionals are there to help and advise, use their knowledge, their experience and the help they are able to provide…..with an Architect you are in safe hands

By Tim Knight Sponsored by:

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ORACLE Diary Dates ESSEX HANDICRAFT ASSOCIATION BASICS OF PAINTING 11th July 7.30pm St Barnabas Church Hall, Church Road, Hadleigh Helen Rubenstein talks about views of a very local Artist and she will be demonstrating how she paints.

WESTCLIFF HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS CAR BOOT SALE

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Sunday 8 July 2012, 7.30am to 12pm Cars £6, Vans £8, Buyers 30p Children & Pensioners free Weather permitting, 07990-512386

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OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY Fri 6th July 11am start - The torch will be run down Southend High Street to Pier Hill onto the seafront to City Beach on Marine Parade where its arrival will trigger the start of a whole day of cultural events which have been organised to mark the occasion.

Taking centre stage in the celebration are 2,000 local schoolchildren and members of local Southend choirs, who will sing a song called 'Anthem' specially commissioned for the occasion.

Organic Products Available for Delivery or Collection

SOUTHEND SUMMER SCHOOL FOR PERFORMING ARTS Southend Summer School is a week long activity for children and young people aged 8 upwards.The course takes place at Southend High School for Girls Monday 13th August - Thursday 16th August, and moves to St Bernard's School for the final day (Friday 17th August) and the evening performance. Wide range of arts and drama based activities including singing, bands, dance, arts and crafts, theatre, magic and circus skills.

Participants work towards a final production for Friday evening. £50 (reduced price for siblings) www.southendsummerschool.org 01702 588700

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Air&Back

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Air & Back, the airport-transfer specialists, provide an efficient and friendly door-to-door transfer to and from your airport. seaport or ferry terminal, at a reasonable cost.

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useful numbers

Clint Eastwood DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES BT (15p pm from landline, 40p connection) ORACLE PUBLICATIONS UK LTD www.oraclepublications.co.uk ORACLE WEBSITE SOLUTIONS www.oraclewebsitesolutions.co.uk

ANIMAL WELFARE 118 500 393838 393838

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS Belfairs Golf Club 526911 Belfairs Mixed Bowling 475766 Charles Dicken’s Fellowship 588069 Cockleshell Clog Morris 479622 Essex Yacht Club 478404 Essex Handicrafts Association 479622 Essex Society for Family History 522992 Estuary Social Club 477022 Highlands Badminton Club 476009 Hoy & Anchor Folk Club 715111 Leigh Afternoon Women’s Institute 710232 Leigh-on-Sea Cricket Club 712105 Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club 715111 Leigh Camera Club 478717 Leigh Film Society 07957 129309 Leigh Motor Boat Club 714858 Leigh Sailing Club 476788 Lower Thames Rowing Club 482205 Marine Estate Residents’ Association 710232 Prittlewell Bowls Club 612476 Southend Athletics Club 472195 Southend Photographic Society 332491 Southend Rugby Club 546682 587647 Southend West District Scouts (19 groups) The English Speaking Union 588069 Westcliff Rugby Club 541499 Woodside Bowling Club 525648 COUNCIL & SERVICES 716288 215000 215001 215005 215006 575700

HOSPITALS & HEALTH

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0207 219 3452

POLICE SERVICES

Child Protection 534495 Citizens Advice 0844 4770 808 Crime Prevention 464199 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Cruse Bereavement Care 213843 Pier & Foreshore Inspectors 215620 Drugs, Alcohol & Substance Misuse 440400 HARP 615000 National Drugs Freephone 0800 776900 Samaritans 611911 Trading Standards 08454 040506 Victim Support Group 0845 4565995

BMI Southend Private Hospital Primary Care Trust Southend General Hospital Spire Wellesley Hospital NHS Direct

476404

RSPCA Rochford LOCAL MP David Amess (Con)

ADVICE & HELPLINES

Leigh-on-Sea Town Council Southend Council Civic Centre Council Tax & Benefits Environment and domestic Council Waste Department Jobcentre Southend

Cushing Vadden & Partners

608908 224600 435555 462944 08454647

24 hour Emergency Number Leigh Police Station (Mon-Fri 9-7pm) Southend Police Station (24 hours) Marine Police 01268 Thames Coastguard

01702 430696 431212 0300 3334444 775533 01255 675518

PUBLIC SERVICES Central Library 215011 Southend High Street Post office 391063 Belfairs Post Office 525354 Traveline 0871 200 2233 Arriva Southend 08701 201 088 First 01268 525251 National Express 08705 80 80 80 Odeon Cinema 0871 2244007 Leigh Heritage Centre 470834 SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association) 463113

Open Gardens Charity Day th Sun July Sun15 20 July

2-5 pm Admission: £3.50 Admission: £3 Children FREE

Children Home-made TeasFREE available Home-made Teas available Tel : 01702 299022

South Shoebury Hall Church Road, Shoeburyness (Entrance next to the Church)

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Leigh-on-Sea

ORACLE

01702 277684 Marketing Solutions for the BEST local businesses

Index to advertisers

AIRPORT TRANSFER Air & Back 34 AUCTIONEERS Chalkwell Auctions 22 ARCHITECT Knight Gratrix Architects 30 BEAUTY Renay Smithies 32 BI-FOLDING DOORS Essex Bi-fold Door Co 12 BLINDS & SHUTTERS Art Blinds 17 Worth & Co Blinds 37 BUILDERS Tabor Jones 7 CAKES The Empire Cake Co 19 CAR WINDSCREEN REPAIR Chips Away 6 CARE CENTRE Hallmark Care Centre 23 CHARITY OPEN GARDENS South Shoebury Hall 36 CHARTERED SURVEYORS East of England Surveys 33 CLEANING Maid in Essex 33 COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC PLUMBING & HEATING Essex Maintenance 8 COMPUTER SERVICES IT Helpdesk 31 COMPUTER SOFTWARE TRAINING Train2Game 2 CONSERVATORY CLEANING ECCC 35 CYCLES Velo Virtuoso 6 DIAMOND MERCHANT Kallisto Diamonds 13

ORACLE DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR Cloudy2Clear 31 DRY CLEANERS Ridgeway Dry Cleaners 21 EDUCATION The Educators 27 JJ Tuition 25 Kip McGrath Southend Central 40 St Michael's School 18 Train2Game 2 ESTATE AGENTS RV Hall & Co 21 Town & Country 8 EXHIBITION Studio Eleven 8 FINANCIAL Anderson Financial 16 FURNITURE RESTORERS TS Baskett 34 GARDEN SERVICES Greenfingers 34 HAIR & BEAUTY Grateful Heads 14 HEALTH & FITNESS All Heart Fitness 21 Leigh Fitness Centre 31 HOME ACCESSORIES Gardner's of Thorpe Bay 5 HOME ENTERTAINMENT Bang & Olufsen 15 INTERIOR DESIGNERS Morris Interiors 24 Paul Newman 39 JEWELLERY AV & BV Andrews 4 LETTINGS AGENT Pace PLC 28 LOCKSMITHS KAT Locksmiths 27/33

View the latest issues ONLINE Leigh-on-Sea

July 2012

Thorpe Bay

July 2012

ORACLE ORACLE Leigh at a glance

Thorpe Bay at a glance

Est. Oct 2006. Circulation 5,500

Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 5,100

Oracle Competition WIN! A pair of tickets to see ‘Bobby Davro & friends’ at the Cliff’s Pavilion

Local Issues Out of Paw-der!

Travel Expert Why Dubai?

Under the Hammer Bid Business

Recipe Raspberry Shortcake Stacks

Oracle Competition WIN! July Comp info

Local Issues Out of Paw-der!

Oracle Travel

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Under the Hammer Bid Business

Health & Beauty Straight Up!

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MARBLE WORKTOP Abbey Marble MENSWEAR Uptomen OVEN CLEANING Ovenclean PAINTING & DECORATING AJ Lench Rainbow PET SERVICES A & J Pet Village PUBLIC HOUSE The Angel Inn RESTAURANT Affinity 1777 TRAVEL COUNSELLOR Karen Goldman TRAVEL SERVICES Utopia Services TREE SERVICES Treefella WEBSITE & WEB APP Oracle publications UK LTD

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ORACLE - the smart, little glossy mags for Southend

Reach a 20,000 readership in Leigh & Thorpe Bay hungry for your business Call for a Media Pack or visit www.oraclepublications.co.uk

To advertise in ORACLE call 01702 393838 All rights reserved. No part of Oracle Publications UK Ltd. may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means either wholly or in part without prior permission of the publisher. Oracle Publications UK Ltd. are editorially autonomous and the opinions expressed are not those of the publisher unless expressly stated.

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Summer School Keep your daughter or son switched on during the holidays with the Kip McGrath Southend Central Summer School - experienced professional tuition at our friendly centre for 6 - 16 year olds.

Sessions during August include: English & Maths Improver Sessions Primary School Workshops KS2 Maths Booster Sessions 11 plus Preparation - twice weekly sessions French Starter Course - Year 7 preparation GCSE English & GCSE Maths Workshops

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