Oracle January 2023

January 2023

Your all-seeing local

ORACLE Est.2005

Thorpe Bay, Southchurch, Garrison, Shoeburyness, Leigh, Chalkwell, Westcliff & Southend Conservation Area. Circulation: 14,000

POLICE WATCH Men jailed for running Southend drug line SPOTLIGHT A proud achievement

COMPETITION

WIN! 4x tickets to Cirque: The Greatest Show at the Cliffs Pavilion

RECIPE Creamy Tomato Soup

Southend Hospital

needs your help!

Local charity launches new appeal  PAGE 9

8 - 11 FEB

THECLIFFSPAVILION.CO.UK

Caring for

our community Since 2011, the Doris team has provided care to local people and reassurance to their loved ones. We are proud to have become a part of many families’ trusted circles; a service they can rely on to deliver “care as it should be”.

Our homecare team delivers a broad range of care services to clients across the local area, a number of whom are living with dementia or other conditions. Whether helping with personal care, supporting daily routines, accompanying people on outings or simply providing companionship, we do all we can to enrich the lives of those we visit.

If we can help you, a loved one or friend to remain independent and live safely and happily at home, please get in touch for a chat.

Visit our website at www.dorisjones.co.uk, send an email to enquire@dorisjones.co.uk or call us on 01702 472954.

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January 2023

ORACLE

WELCOME

This year Southend Hospital Charity Foundation is launching an exciting new appeal. The appeal's aim is to raise £600,000 to fund a state-of-the-art Surface Guided Radiotherapy Treatment for Southend Hospital. Watch this space, as this new appeal is Oracle's 2023 charity of choice and during the year, I will be urging all businesses and residents to help in any way they can to raise the funds to buy this vital piece of equipment for Southend hospital!

10 % CREAM

Market Leading Services for Market Beating Fees

If you would like to get involved, please either contact the charity on mse.charity@nhs.net or myself. The money raised will only be used to buy this essential piece of machinery which will dramatically improve the quality of cancer treatment plus increase the number of patients being treated. See page 9 for more information on the appeal and how you can get involved.

This month's competition two winners will be drawn, each winning two tickets to see Cirque - The Greatest Show, February 9, 7.30pm at the Cliffs.

Step in the light, Escape with us for a night like no other, where they will take you into a world where musical theatre meets jaw-dropping circus spectacular. For more information visit www.southendtheatres.org.uk To enter the Oracle/Cirque competition visit www.oraclepublications.co.uk/competition.

Closing date Friday, 27 January 2023. Good luck!

Lastly, thank you for your continued support and a very happy and healthy New Year to you!

170 The Broadway Thorpe Bay SS1 3ES

Emma Wynne-Morgan Publisher

01702 393838 Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1AN

www.oraclepublications.co.uk info@oraclepublications.co.uk Oracle is now 100% recyclable

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CONTENTS Charity Appeal

Spray is the way

Public transport power-up

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MP's Column by Anna Firth MP

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Two men jailed for running Southend drug line

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Police Watch by Essex Police

Grey is cool!

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Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

Creamy Tomato Soup

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Recipe by Judy Barden

New beginnings

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Health & Wellbeing by Jacqui Sayer-Noble

Brainbox 48 Useful Numbers

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Advertiser Index

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Advertorials The Bay Wellbeing Sanctuary

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Lasting Power of Attorney?

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White & Co

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Is a Will Enough?

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

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January 2023

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January 2023

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January 2023

LOCAL ISSUES

Charity appeal to revolutionise the treatment of cancer patients in Mid & South Essex

F

ebruary 2023 will see the launch of Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation’s 10th fundraising appeal which will change the lives of patients undergoing cancer treatment in mid and south Essex – and they need your help.

To donate towards the Radiotherapy appeal, contact: 01702 385337 or email: mse.charity@nhs.net

The appeal aims to raise £600,000 to fund state-of-the-art technology known as Surface Guided Radiotherapy Treatment (SGRT). To be based at Southend, this exciting machinery will dramatically improve the quality of treatment we provide for cancer patients.

The benefits of SGRT are extensive and include: l The ability to offer radiotherapy without the need for permanent tattoos; these ‘positioning’ marks are currently commonplace in conventional radiotherapy delivery and are evidenced to have a long-lasting psychological impact on patients. l SGRT equipment is non-contact, non-invasive and doesn’t use any additional radiation. l The potential to improve clinical outcomes through more accurate targeted radiation and the protection of normal, nonmalignant tissue. l Decreased patient treatment time leading to increased capacity for treatment l The improvement of patient safety and comfort – the use of closed mask face coverings will no longer be required; these are known to bring on feelings of claustrophobia to patients receiving treatment for neck and head cancers.

January 2023

In the UK around 385,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, of these, Southend Hospital’s cancer centre delivers approximately 30,000 doses of radiotherapy treatment annually to some 2,500 patients in mid and south Essex.

Nicky Whilde, Head of Radiotherapy Physics at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted that the Charitable Foundation is launching this appeal to allow Southend to be among the first NHS cancer centres to bring SGRT technology to our radiotherapy patients.

Anyone can get involved “The advantages it gives us, in terms of setting patients up in the correct position with the least amount of manual handling, the reduction in closed mask usage, and removing the need for tattoos, while at the same time delivering treatment with the highest level of accuracy; will

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9

LOCAL ISSUES

Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation

revolutionise patients’ experience of radiotherapy. It will also bring a new level of job satisfaction to staff throughout the department.”

To achieve these advances in the delivery of cancer treatment to patients in Essex, the help of local individuals, groups and businesses is needed.

With the help of our community, we can make this happen, we can benefit the experience and care of thousands of cancer patients for years to come.

Whatever you decide, the contributions of our community will make a lasting and positive impact to those receiving radiotherapy treatment.

10

Founded in 1998, the Foundation is run by a group of local Trustees, many of whom are local business owners and key individuals in the Southend community. Together with a shared passion for improving the care provided to patients beyond NHS provision, the Trustees have, over the years raised nearly £5million to benefit patients receiving care and treatment at Southend hospital.

The introduction of this service will be truly life-changing for cancer patients in mid & south Essex

How you can help... l Make a donation or set up a standing order. l Take part in one of our upcoming events. l Encourage your workplace or community group to advertise events, display collection tins or become an official appeal sponsor. l Join us as a volunteer and help us raise funds and awareness through bucket collections and community stalls. l Or you can fundraise yourself in any way you like; whatever takes your fancy, from charity car boot sales to taking on a sky-dive, a sponsored walk to a sporting challenge – the options are endless!

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January 2023

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January 2023

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values have been held dear for a number of years. Since starting the business some years ago Cloudy2Clear have remained true to their core values of supporting the local community by providing a service that saves the public money.

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The Cloudy2Clear service only requires the glass to be replaced and not the whole window once the unit has failed. Chris commented “Cloudy2Clear were able to assist our community through the last financial crisis in 2008 due to the savings that can be made in using our service. Unfortunately we might be going through something similar again soon and the public can rest assured that we will be there to help once again”.

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January 2023

JURY FINANCIAL

SOLUTIONS

Give your child a

he ad start

You want to give your children the best opportunities in life, and few things provide that like a first-class education. We understand that the financial commitment can be daunting. However, the key to meeting school fees is to start saving as early as you can.

We offer a local, friendly service backed by the strength and security of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place Wealth Management. Whether you’re considering tax-efficient ways to save for school fees, spread their cost, or protect funds you’ve set aside for them, we can give you the guidance you’re after. You can’t know what their future holds but giving your children the best possible start in life is priceless.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise.

You may get back less than you invested.

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15

MP'S COLUMN

Public transport power-up

M

y first week of representing the stunning Southend West was dogged by dodgy ticket machines and missing station staff on the C2C line. Two months later, First Essex Buses pulled major services on Easter weekend leaving dozens of elderly residents isolated.

Following these poor experiences which so many other customers have faced, my message in Westminster is clear - a powerhouse commuter city needs a public transport system that can match its resident’s needs.

Subsequently, I have been lobbying C2C and the Department for Transport for a trainline that is fit-for-purpose.

Following conversations with local inclusion activist Jill Allen-King, I helped secure £350 million worth of funding to implement accessibility lifts at Chalkwell Station.

Vital funding This funding is vital to ensure our rail service does not discriminate against some of the most vulnerable in our community. However, I am calling for the project to be expedited as waiting until 2024 for its conclusion is simply not acceptable.

I have also made it my mission to secure contactless for local stations so commuters can tap with ease and not have to bother with arduous

travel cards offered by C2C. Following my campaigning, I am delighted that the Department for Transport will be implementing these measures and hope to provide residents with a delivery date soon.

We also need more services across the board. I have been calling for an expanded timetable across the rail and bus network so commuters can get to work, patients can get to hospital and shoppers can get to the highstreets.

Thus, I was extremely pleased to help secure the recent news that C2C is introducing a new fast train from Southend to London during the morning rush hour.

by Anna Firth MP Conservative MP for Southend West anna.firth.mp @parliament.uk

See Anna Firth MP press release on the news page on Oracle's website

Unleash Southend's full potential Following my meeting with the Commercial Director earlier this year, I am also delighted to inform travellers that First Essex Buses will be rerouting the Number 3 to serve areas previously left without a connection from January.

As you can see, we are full steam ahead for a transport system that can match the needs of residents. I have relentlessly lobbied for these changes, but know the job isn’t done yet. By unclogging our transport arteries, we will unleash Southend’s full potential.

As ever, if you have any issues I can help with, please contact me on anna.firth.mp@parliament.uk.

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January 2023

ESTATE PLANNING

Why do you need

Lasting Power of Attorney?

Loss of mobility or mental capacity can make it difficult to manage your affairs.

What if I am unable to manage my affairs?

There may come a time in your life when you are unable to manage your financial affairs or personal welfare, owing to some form of incapacity and you will need someone to act on your behalf.

Even when we are young, we can find ourselves incapacitated owing to illness or injury and it can be invaluable having a reliable person, who is able to manage your personal affairs and remove the anxiety of having unpaid bills, at a time when you most need peace of mind.

Similarly, as we get older, the need for an attorney increases as we are more prone to illness and injuries.

Trusts, Probate and Funeral Plans. We offer the best possible advice at the time you need it most. Covid compliant, we can arrange an informal chat or meeting via zoom/skype at our offices or in the comfort of your own home. Please feel free to contact me on 01702 393838.

by Clive Rowe, Oracle Estate Planning in association with Countrywide SE LLP

What kind of LPA do I need?

There are two types of LPA: Property and Financial LPA - This type gives your attorney the authority to deal with your property, your bills, bank account and investments. This can be used while someone is still capable but has chosen to delegate to their attorney.

Personal Welfare LPA - This can only be used when you have lost capacity and are unable to make decisions for yourself. It gives someone you trust authority to make decisions about where you should live and what medical treatment you should receive.

Don’t leave it too late!

Instead of preparing while we are physically and mentally fit enough, many of us choose to put off dealing with such unwanted eventualities until the inevitable happens and by then it’s too late.

Who can I rely on for sound advice?

When estate planning, it is important that you can rely on the adviser. Oracle Estate Planning offers a friendly and professional service, including Wills, LPAs,

ORACLE estate planning

In association with Countrywide SE LLP January 2023

Will Writing • Power of Attorney • Trusts • Funeral Plans Will Updating & Storage Facilities • Probate Administration Call Clive Rowe on: 01702 393838 e: crowe@countrywide-se.com w: countrywide-se.co.uk Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend SS1 1AN

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January 2023

January 2023

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19

SPOTLIGHT

A Proud Achievement!

D

rivershields UK Limited is a small family business based in Leigh-on-Sea. We are immensely proud to have received her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Grant of Appointment as winners of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) 2022. Our Grant Certificate was among the last ever signed by Her Majesty. The Queen’s Awards are the globally recognised royal seal of approval for UK companies.

We had recognised a serious safety issue in the driving of passengers with a learning disability, who for their mental health and wellbeing, benefit from visits out into the community. However, for their drivers there was the serious risk of distraction while driving, or worse, physical harm. A study of the specific range of driver needs led to trials of an invention offering a unique solution.

Success of the trials led to application for our invention to be patented. A patent was granted and we now supply across the mobility sector from care homes and individual families to Motability Scheme customers.

The awards ceremony

Phone: 01702 479872 E-mail: info@drivershields.co.uk

20

We enjoy being useful in the community and it is very satisfying to receive the gratitude of so many customers who write to us. Often they refer to life changing experience for loved ones who for the first time can be transported safely and with no risk to driver safety.

The awards ceremony with many dignitaries present, including The Lord Lieutenant of Essex as The Queen’s personal representative, took place at the offices of Leigh Town Council.

Also present were David Hirst, Deputy

Lieutenant; Julie Cushion deputising for MP Anna Firth; Cllr. Kevin Robinson, Mayor of Southend-on-Sea; Debbie Robinson, Mayoress; Helen Symmons, Clerk to Leigh Town Council; Keith Evans Chairman of Leigh Town Council; and Beth Hooper, Cllr. Of West Leigh Ward.

There were 25 additional personal guests including a team from APH 3G from Benfleet with whom we have a close relationship as our manufacturers of the shields. To our instructions the team customise our shields to fit any vehicle.

Your Oracle publishers Emma Wynne Morgan and Clive Rowe were also guests who witnessed the ceremony. From Drivershields UK Limited their team were represented by Nina Lee, Director; John Lee, General Manager and Diane Lambie in charge of sales and customer relations.

The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs. Jennifer Tolhurst made a speech.

Jennifer’s husband Philip Tolhurst read aloud the proclamation contained in the certificate before it was presented to John Lee. Nina Lee gave a vote of thanks and presented The Lord Lieutenant with a bouquet of flowers. Food was then served and Jennifer and Philip Tolhurst stayed for some time mixing and chatting with the guests. This prestigious event will stay in the memory for ever.

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January 2023

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January 2023

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Police Watch

Two men jailed for running Southend drug line

T

wo men have been sent to prison after Essex Police’s specialist antidrug officers were able to prove they were behind the supply of Class A drugs in Southend.

The Op Raptor South team launched an investigation in April 2021 after becoming aware of the ‘Trouble’ line which was advertising to drug users in the city.

As a result of officers’ enquiries, they were able to identify Moteeb Ahmed as a potential suspect.

Through further work, we were able to link the phone number being used by the Trouble line and Ahmed’s personal phone.

Ahmed, 22 of London Road, Morden, SM4, and Elorby, 22, of no fixed abode, were charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and assault.

Both men admitted the charges and were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on 23 November.

Ahmed was sentenced to a total of 60 months in prison while Elorby was handed 53 months in jail. The man whose home had been taken over has been safeguarded.

Between April and June 2021, the two numbers were linked to each other more than 47,000 times.

This is not acceptable

Class A drug user in Southend

He said: “Ahmed and Elorby exploited a vulnerable man in Southend and used his home as their based from which to operate in Southend. They believed they were getting away with their poisonous actions, but they were unaware of the sophisticated investigation being carried out into them which meant when they were arrested in Southend in August 2021 the weight of evidence against them left them very few options but to admit their roles.”

Further investigations suggested Ahmed and another man were using violence and the threat of violence to take over the home of a vulnerable Class A drug user in Southend and were using that property as a base from which to run the drug line.

On 31 August 2021, officers executed a warrant in Chestnut Grove, Southend. During that operation, Ahmed was arrested and a search of the home led to the drug line and more than £1,100 in cash being located alongside Ahmed’s personal phone.

As part of that operation, Anas Elorby was also arrested. Both men were questioned in suspicion of drug offences and were subsequently charged.

Detective Sergeant Rob Maile, of our Op Raptor South team, led the investigation.

DS Maile added: “While our focus can often be on enforcement, this runs hand-in-hand with the work we do to help and safeguard others whose home are being used by these gangs under threat of violence. This is not acceptable, and it truly shows how these gangs exploit vulnerable people.”

Keep up to date with latest from Essex Police in Southend by following the district Facebook page, www.facebook.com/EPSouthend

24

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January 2023

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29

HAIR & BEAUTY

Grey is cool!

A

nyone who follows fashion will know that trends are a circular business. So, I’m not surprised to see oyster grey-coloured hair popping up hither and thither again.

Ironically, I’m not talking about middle-aged or older people, but youngsters in their twenties and early thirties. From the model Winnie Harlow (she’s 28) to the USA footballer Sergiño Dest (22), loads of stars are going grey.

Of course, the hair industry is mindful that the term ‘grey hair’ largely remains being synonymous with ‘old’, so is creating buzzy new names, such as the aforementioned ‘oyster’, along with my personal favourite, ‘pearlescent blonde’.

Is this a clever marketing trick?

Quite possibly, as #silvergreyhair has been viewed a staggering 1.9m times on TikTok. And no, it wasn’t just me searching for videos of myself. Whether it’s due to celebrity influencers or genius advertising campaigns, the younger generations are increasingly embracing a hair colour more readily associated with their parents, or indeed grandparents.

Quite what the psychology behind this is, I simply don’t know. But then,

in the teeth of a long winter, what could be, ahem, cooler than hair that matches the season of frosty mornings, leaden skies and freezing fog?

Another curious aspect of the trend is that younger folks are dyeing their hair in grey tones as an active, aesthetic choice. It’s almost as if they’re experimenting with their own future appearance and, rather than shy away from what for most of us is inevitable and usually covered up by adopting different colours.

by Craig Smith Director of Grateful Heads Hair Salon

Grey hair is trendy and cool The actress and model Julie Fox (photo) caused a stir late last year when she turned up at an event with grey hair and commented: “This is a love letter to getting older.” She’s the ripe age of 32.

Unfortunately, Julia then undid the good work by adding “Getting old is f***ing hot. It is sexy.” I wonder how she’ll feel in three decades time…

On the plus side, right now grey hair is trendy and cool. So those of us who naturally sport this colour are no longer ‘old’, instead we’re super stylish!

Providing expert hair care to Essex for 30 years.

Isn’t it time you made your head grateful?

01702 340965 32 l Alexandra Street, Southend SS1 1BU 30

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January 2023

January 2023

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31

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airs / UPVC / Dry Ridge

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Phone Paul on 07957 388285 or freefone 0800 043 3913 e: paulthegardener@hotmail.com Est. 1994 1994 –– Recommendations Recommendations & & references references available available Est.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

A new year, a new month,

new beginnings M

any of people think of January as a dull bleak month, they feel that all the excitement is over and there is nothing to look forward to. It doesn’t have to be that way it can be what ever you want it to be.

If you feel stuck in a rut? Think of what you really want is that you feel you are in a dead end job there is no motivation and you are bored but you feel comfortable there and afraid that if you changed your job you might be just as bored and even more unhappy. That is just good old fear of the unknown telling you that.

by Jacqui Sayer-Noble

There are always ways Just think of how you could feel if you found the right job, the one that made you want to go to work each day because you enjoyed it so much it made you feel good boosted your confidence and self esteem how good would that feel?

If you feel trapped in a loveless or toxic relationship, there are always ways to move forward, there is help and advice in many forms and sometimes just taking that one step forward can make all the difference.

H.E.A.L.L JSN Therapies 42

You may never know Some people need to heal from past traumas, that are holding them back as they feel every day is a constant reminder of the trauma and have no way of breaking the cycle of constant distress.

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If you don’t look for what you want you may never know or be able to find it!

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If you are suffering from stress or anxiety, I can help you!

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January 2023

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Emergency Electrician Established locally over 25 years Faults our speciality No Job too small Special rates for OAP’s No call out charge

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January 2023

ESTATE PLANNING

Is a Will enough?

Assets not protected by a Trust, face attack from... !

Your home being sold to pay for your long term care costs

!

The chance that your assets won’t reach your children, grandchildren and other relatives, but end up in the wrong hands!

(Bloodline Planning)

!

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!

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!

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Trusts The strategic use of Trusts can ensure that your children and grandchildren are able to benefit completely from the inheritance you want them to receive and at the same time, protect the family home and other assets from being lost to the costs of long term care.

Friendly and professional service When estate planning, it is important that you can rely on and trust the adviser you choose.

Oracle Estate Planning offers a friendly and professional service including

ORACLE estate planning

In association with Countrywide SE LLP January 2023

l Wills l Lasting Powers of Attorney l Trusts l Probate & Funeral Plans We are confidential and reliable and give the best possible advice at the time you need it most.

So, don’t leave it too late! To arrange an informal chat at no cost (we are fully covid compliant) or for any further information or advice, please feel free to contact me on 01702 393838.

by Clive Rowe, Oracle Estate Planning in association with Countrywide SE LLP

Will Writing • Power of Attorney • Trusts • Funeral Plans Will Updating & Storage Facilities • Probate Administration Call Clive Rowe on: 01702 393838 e: crowe@countrywide-se.com w: www.countrywide-se.co.uk Oracle House, 11 Clarence Road, Southend SS1 1AN

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January 2023

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January 2023

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STAY SNUG AND WARM THIS WINTER WITH OUR ENERGY SAVING WINDOWS

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