Oracle on-Sea September 2019

February 2018 September 2019

Your all-seeing local

OR CLE ORACLE

Leigh, Chalkwell, Thorpe Bay, Southchurch, Westcliff & the Garrison Southend Conservation & Shoeburyness Area

COMPETITION! Afternoon tea for 2 at Holiday Inn Southend - £50 LATEST HOLIDAY OFFERS! Latest Travel Offers p36 LOCAL ISSUES! Addressing homelessness in Southend BE INVOLVED! Southend Oracle Directory page 6/7

Going live October 2019 - Call 01702 393838 for introductory offers Cover image ‘The Gypsie Bridge’ by Daniela Gibbins - Oracle Photographic Competition 2019 winner

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September 2019

ORACLE

WELCOME

14 years ago this month, the first Oracle landed on your door mat. The magazine now commands a loyal and strong readership and continues to attract clients who are looking for local effective print advertising.

However, in business one can’t be complacent and the new online directory launching at the end of this month has been a huge but necessary investment. Online for many businesses is the way forward and is very much part of their company’s media strategy.

Clients and readers alike have been asking when Oracle would go online. I felt that now was the right time to launch the new Southend Oracle Directory. This new site will not be replacing the magazines as they still very much have a role to play but the new directory will enable business to have an online presence without spending a fortune. For more information on this new service please turn to page 7 or give me a call.

This month’s competition, Holiday Inn Southend are offering an afternoon tea for two including a glass of Prosecco worth £50. Enjoy your tea for two at the 1935 Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, awarded AA Rosette and offering the best views over the airport.

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To enter Oracle/Holiday Inn Southend competition, please visit Oracle’s competition page on the website or send your entry by post to Oracle’s offices, please see address below. Just send in your full name and contact details, the closing date is 30 September 2019.

Good luck!

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 Publications and Creative Media @oracle_essex September 2019

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3

F TIM REE AT ES !

ES

CONTENTS

Photo competition entry by David & Janine Rawlins

Addressing homelessness in Southend 9/10 Local Issues by HARP Southend

The Old Leigh Regatta

14

Editorial by Tony Prior

World Zombie Day-on-Sea

Photographic Competition Winners 2019 20/21 Editorial by Keith Hoskins

Fish and Prawn Gratins with an Oaty topping 24 Recipe by Judy Barden

28

Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

Brainbox

30

What’s On

34

Advertiser Index

38

Advertorials Southend Oracle Directory

6/7

TaxAssist Accountants

12

Abbey Marble

19

Crown Vocational Training

22

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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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September 2019

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September 2019

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September 2019

Don't despair!

If you have a business, then more than likely you’ll have a website. Building a new website is just the beginning and once built it then needs to be found by potential customers.

Getting your site found online and in front of a potential customer is always a challenge unless, of course, your business has unlimited amount of funds to spend on SEO and/or a Google AdWords campaign.

Not every business has the luxury of having unlimited financial resources to constantly try and improve the performance of their website.

Having launched Oracle Publications 14 years ago this month, Oracle’s website has grown in strength and has a strong presence online.

As a result, I felt there was an opportunity to support local business websites that don’t have such a strong ranking. Having listened to my client’s issues with other online directories, I decided to invest and develop Oracle’s own online service directory called ‘Southend Oracle’. Our sister company, Oracle Creative Media has spent many months building this complex site which will ‘piggyback’ Oracle’s main site.

Members have complete control Southend Oracle Directory will allow all members to have their own unique login which gives them complete control of their online web-vert, display their services, promote offers, manage reviews, be listed under 3 different categories and much more.

September 2019

Huge marketing support!

I realise that no new business venture is successful without marketing. Therefore, I have planned a huge advertising campaign to support Southend Oracle and as part of the media mix there will be a 116,000 door drop that will be a mixture of Oracle advertising plus a 60,000 door-drop, planned for October and November, to be distributed outside of Oracle’s catchment area. Southend Oracle’s aim is to give residents in Southend and further afield an opportunity to tap into Oracle’s ever-expanding client base of reputable businesses and at the same time make online affordable to all businesses with a trusted local company.

From 1st October, residents will be able to view the businesses (members) who have joined the site and who have wisely taken advantage of the great introductory offers available at the moment, so please ask!

For more information on how you can become a member of Southend Oracle and boost your visibility online, enjoy favourable rates, have the ability to amend your online web-vert as your business dictates, promote offers and much more.

If you would like a no obligation, informal chat for further information then please call.

Emma Wynne-Morgan 01702 393838 info@oraclepublications.co.uk

www.oraclepublications.co.uk

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September 2019

LOCAL ISSUES

Addressing homelessness in Southend Homelessness is a widely talked-about and controversial topic in Southend, particularly rough sleeping, which is the most visible end of the homeless spectrum. However, it is not just about people sleeping on the streets. It all begins with addressing the causes of homelessness in the first place.

homelessness are as unique as the individuals

This is why HARP supports people who are at

who would help out in times of need, but not

risk of homelessness, as well as those who are

everyone has this kind of support available to

already rough sleeping and want to get off the

them.

streets.

Complex needs

who come to us for help.

They can include relationship breakdowns, health problems leading to being unable to work and pay the rent or mortgage, or another reason for loss of work or income. The thing many homeless people have in common is the lack of a support network. Many of us have family or friends

So how does HARP help?

Although not every homeless person has an

HARP has been working with homeless people

addiction or mental health issue, these can go

in Southend for over 15 years, growing from a

hand-in-hand, creating a complex and vicious

day centre and night shelter, to a full service

cycle.

operating over 200 beds each night, an active

As Lindsey*, a former HARP service-user who

day centre offering hot breakfasts and support

became homeless after a violent attack left her

and advice, and outreach workers who go out

with post-traumatic symptoms, said: “Living

onto the streets to speak to homeless people.

on the street was making the symptoms of my

HARP’s accommodation caters for people at

psychosis worse because it was triggered by the

different stages of their homelessness journey.

trauma of my attack, which took place at night.

Our goal is to help people move through the

Sleeping outside at night brought it all back.

different types of housing and levels of support

"Eventually the council became aware of my

until they are ready to live independently.

situation and referred me to HARP, where I got

What causes homelessness?

accommodation. The mental health team would

People often ask what causes homelessness, and it’s easy to make assumptions that there are drugs or alcohol involved, but the reasons for September 2019

come and see me there, as well as the clinical nurse. I started having counselling again, and my key worker was helping me and signposting me

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9

to different resources.”

of homelessness or worried about their housing

At HARP we treat everyone as an individual and

situation are welcome between 1pm and 4pm.

help them to access the support they need to get

And if you’re concerned about someone who

– and stay - off the streets or to avoid becoming homeless in the first place.

Working with other organisations HARP’s team are also able to regularly sit at the table with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and other agencies to make sure that all parties

you think is sleeping rough, you can use the StreetLink app or website to report the location where you’ve seen them. StreetLink then send the details to organisations like HARP so that our outreach workers can find them and offer support.

are aware of the services available. That makes

For more ways in which you can support

it easy for them to refer homeless people to the

homeless people in Southend, visit

help and support they really need.

www.harpsouthend.org.uk

HARP also regularly refers to organisations

*Name changed for privacy reasons

like STARS (Southend Treatment And Recovery Service), mental health organisations, and to other shelters or housing organisations if we don’t have space or if they are better suited to people’s needs.

So what can I do to help?

Most people want to know if they should give money to a homeless person. That’s completely your choice, but in HARP’s experience what people need is real change, not loose change.

Showing care and compassion to those in crisis is a wonderful thing to do; but please be careful and remember that not everyone that asks for money is homeless, and not everyone that is homeless is out on the streets asking for money.

If you do want to give money to support homeless people, it’s easy to make a donation to HARP through our website, either as a one-off or on a regular basis. You can be sure that your money will be going towards supporting vital, life-saving services in Southend.

If you speak to someone who is sleeping rough, you can always ask if they’ve been to HARP’s Bradbury Day Centre on York Road, which is open Monday to Friday. Rough sleepers can come along from 9am - 1pm, and those at risk 10

HARP Southend 01702 430696 www.harpsouthend.org.uk

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September 2019

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Here to help Accountancy and tax matters are key in the day-to-day management of any successful business. These raise serious obligations and for many small businesses the time and cost of fulfilling these necessities can be a burden.

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Business Start-Up. At TaxAssist Accountants we encourage people who are about to start in business to come and talk to us first. We can help you get the business off the ground and maximise the chances of success. We can discuss your options in relation to business structure, record keeping, VAT and tax.

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September 2019

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The Old Leigh Regatta The origins of The Old Leigh Regatta are lost in the mists of time but there are faded photographs dotted about the public houses in the old Town which depict sailing races which too place as part of its festivities almost a century ago.

have put paid to the reckless antics that took place in the past, the Old Leigh Regatta is still as vibrant and exciting event as ever, with plenty of activities to keep those of all ages occupied and entertained.

By the early 1950s the event had become a national treasure with the local police taking part in the annual football matches on the mud and a greasy pole competition with an old ship’s bowsprit reaching out over the water from Bell Wharf.

This year, the Old Leigh Regatta will be held on Sunday 15th September. There’ll be five stages areas with varied entertainment programmes ranging from local bands through singing Princesses to salsa dancers and barbershop singers. There’ll be children’s entertainment and competitions, real ale bars, food stalls, barbecues and a host of competitions including sailing races, the traditional tug-o-war, cockle-eating, welly-hoying and a scouts’ crazy kitchen.

Traditionally run by the scouts Traditionally, the event was run by the Scouts over two days at the end of summer. It was the various Scout group’s annual opportunity to showcase their talents and raise much needed funds to keep their sailing boats afloat. In those days, everyone in the old Town pulled together to make the Old Leigh Regatta the biggest and best event of the year with dozens of stalls littering the car park of the Peter Boat, welly-hoying on the beach at low tide and a cockle eating competition by the Mayflower fish & chip shop. Somehow the greasy pole had migrated along the cinder path and became a perpendicular test of endurance and strength whilst the bowsprit was now used for public pillow fights between differing factions of Scouts from the Old Town.

Since 2015 the Old Leigh Regatta has been run by the Lions Club of Leigh on Sea in conjunction with Scouts from the 3rd Chalkwell Bay and 4th & 6th Leigh on Sea Groups together with other local volunteers. Some might suggest that the advent of risk assessments and event management plans has heralded a quieter and more subdued era for the Regatta but whereas health and safety issues might

14

2019 Old Leigh Regatta

The day will start at around 11.00 am, then its take your pick – try your hand at rowing a skiff with the Lower Thames Rowing Club, watch the sailing races from Victoria Wharf or visit one of the historic little Dunkirk ships, the Endeavour, moored by Bell wharf, where the Hoy Shanty Crew plan an impromptu performance of sea songs around high tide.

To add to the colour and atmosphere, the Crooked Billet and Peter Boat pubs will independently be providing live entertainment from local bands over the weekend and through the generosity of C2C, there will be free parking behind Leigh-on-Sea Railway Station on Sunday.

For more information about Leigh Regatta 2019, Contact Tony Prior: 01702 715111 07805 641797 tony@priority.ms

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September 2019

WE NEED YOU! JOIN YOUR LOCAL TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS FOR GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL CHILDREN’S CHARITY. As part of a friendly volunteer team together we will raise support for the charity and the amazing work of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Whether you can fundraise, assist at events or occasionally volunteer, your help will make a huge difference.

With your support, we can continue to help fund vital services, such as our family accommodation close to the hospital.

Contact Martin Harris on 020 3841 3066, email martin.harris@gosh.org or visit www.gosh.org/ambassador to find out more.

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Photo by Dafydd Owen

World Zombie Day-on-Sea “Bite back” against homelessness with apocalyptic fundraiser, shuffling into Southend on 5 October 2019…

with pets. Charlie Boy’s Angels were chosen for the

Inspired by the horror films of George A. Romero,

in just four days.

World Zombie Day is a charity fundraising event that

There are two parts to World Zombie Day-on-

was incepted in 2006, created to help fight world

Sea. The event will kick-off with a sponsored

hunger and homelessness. The first ever WZD event

zombie shuffle through central Southend, in which

was staged in the iconic Pittsburgh shopping mall,

participants of all ages are invited to dress up as

setting of the 1978 zombie classic Dawn of the

zombies for a fun afternoon stroll.

Dead.

occasion after winning a poll on the event’s official Facebook page, accruing an astonishing 1,409 votes

Since then, the event has literally exploded into

Evening gig

a global phenomenon. More than 50 cities play

This will be followed by a charity gig in the evening,

host to zombie parades in October every year.

at the seafront venue Chinnerys. Four bands have

London (since 2008), Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Paris,

been confirmed to play: local metal heavyweights

and Tokyo are just some of the locales that see

Walk in Coma, London sci-fi rockers Death Ingloria

thousands of dresser-uppers gather on an annual

(who mix animation with music), humorous death

basis, stumbling along on organised routes, and

metallers Grave Existence, and Okuri Okami, an

sporting grisly make-up and creepy costumes.

instrumental band revered for their atmospheric

Now reaching South Essex

shows. All profits go to charity.

Despite its growing popularity, the zombie bug had

Sea, or if you’re a business looking to get involved

never spread to South Essex…until now. Reaching

in sponsorship of the event or donate prizes, please

out to the official WZD organisers for support,

contact Vanessa Daly on ness.daly@gmail.com or

Leigh-on-Sea residents Vanessa Daly and Stephen

Stephen Daultrey on Stephen.daultrey@gmail.com,

Daultrey (of rock band Okuri Okami) decided to

or search for World Zombie Day On Sea on Facebook

create the inaugural World Zombie Day-on-Sea,

for more details.

If you want to take part in World Zombie Day-on-

which will take place in Southend on Saturday, 5 October 2019.

The duo’s aim is to raise money for Charlie Boy’s

Stephen Daultrey Stephen.daultrey@gmail.com

Angels, a local charity supporting homeless people

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September 2019

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September 2019

Helping you improve your home Abbey Marble was established in 1998, named after our daughter born the same year. We are a family run business with over 30 years’ experience in the trade.

We pride ourselves in our workmanship and provide a full service from advice, to templating and fitting kitchen worktops and much more. We manufacture for made to measure kitchens, bespoke fireplaces, bathroom vanity tops, bar and table tops plus BBQ areas and outdoor kitchens!

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September 2019

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Southend Beach looking to pier with man fishing

by Kim Tobin Competition Entry

Photographic Competition Winners 2019

SPOTLIGHT

The Oracle Photographic Competition 2019 is over and the standard again this year has been even more amazing than last year! Expert adjudicator, Keith Hoskins of Picture Perfect photographic studio, offers feedback on his chosen few ‌

by Gemma Rogers Wildlife Age Commended Well done Gemma, a great moment captured of this Robin landing. A tip for you would be to crop this photo if you can so that the bird is in the point where the thirds cross at the bottom left of the frame. Keep photographing as much as you can - and try to make a note of the camera settings - practice makes perfect.

Brown Argus Butterfly on Golden Rod

by Jonathan Yeatts - Wildlife Commended

Summer Visitor by Phil Wingfield Wildlife Winner Great detail in this and I do like the contrast of textures while maintaining a complimentary tone.

A worthy winner.

20

This is very pretty but lets itself down by lack of quality of the image, being very pixely. Its hard to get these shots and i've never been really happy with any of the ones i've shot over the years so I have great sympathy. Again keep going as if this had been better quality who knows where it would have come?

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September 2019

The Gypsy Bridge by Daniela Gibbins - Architecture Winner This is no accident, this is patience. As always there was more than one entry showing this bridge but this one not only stood out from the otheres but also from all the other entries in this category, by a mile! I can't fault any aspect of the composition or exposure.

I love it!

Southend Sunrise by Mark Stennett - Landscape Winner Of all the very many photos of Hadleigh Castle i've seen and taken, i've never seen this. Not just the point of view but also the time of day, contrasting tones from blue to orange and a really good sense of the ruins' location.

Monochrome-on-Sea by Phil Wingfield - Landscape Commended Beautifully composed, edited and filtered, bringing the drama alive - and all with a good pair of wellies on I'm sure - essential photographers kit!

Landscape or Skyscape by Lucy Rose - Landscape Age Commended Wonderful sky and cloud well captured, again for a younger photographer this is a well taken shot and I see something new each time I look at it - well done and do please keep it up.

Keith Hoskins Photography SWPP/BPPA NPS Multi Award Winner

Portraits • Weddings Events • Commercial

September 2019

01702 474079 or 07931 593241 e: new@PicturePerfect.pro www.PicturePerfect.pro Suite 7, Businessland, 8 Madeira Avenue, Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 3EB

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21

Apprenticeships and Training with Crown Vocational Training Are you or do you know a school/ college leaver?

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September 2019

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DIRECT FROM OUR FACTORY = UPVC AND ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS = WIDE RANGE OF COLOURS/FINISHES = COMPOSITE, FRENCH, PATIO & BI-FOLD DOORS = THERMALLY EFFICIENT FRAMES = REHAU APPROVED PARTNER = SECURITY LOCKING = SECURED BY DESIGN PRODUCTS = 10 YEAR PRODUCT GUARANTEE Find us on Facebook and Instagram

Climatec Home Improvements Ltd is part of the Climatec Group Fletchers Square, Temple Farm Industrial Estate, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 5RN

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FOOD

Fish and Prawn Gratins with an Oaty topping

A quick and healthy midweek supper that you can make in a flash. I love the spinach in the bottom of the gratins and it works really well with the cheats tomato sauce. You can change the fish to suit your own tastes.

Enjoy!

Method

Put the spinach in a large colander and pour over boiling water. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze out any excess water, then season.

Ingredients:

Tip the tomatoes into a frying pan with some

340g/12oz bag baby spinach, roughly

seasoning, salt pepper and a good pinch of

chopped

sugar, and simmer for 5 mins to thicken. Add

400g/14oz can chopped tomato with

the fish and heat for 1-2 mins – it doesn’t

garlic and herbs

need to be fully cooked at this point. Stir in

225g/8oz sustainable white fish fillets,

the prawns and the basil.

chopped into large chunks

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Divide

small bunch basil, shredded

the spinach, fish, prawns and tomato sauce between 2 gratin dishes. Mix the Parmesan,

100g raw peeled prawns

breadcrumbs and oats together and sprinkle

2 tbsp finely grated parmesan

over the top. Bake for 20 mins until golden

2 tbsp breadcrumb

and bubbling. Serve with cooked broccoli or

2 tbsp oats 170g broccoli or french beans boiled or steamed, to serve

green vegetables of your choice.

Serves 2

by Judy Barden Next month: Apple Streusel Cake

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The Problem The Solution Always 100% committed to customer care and satisfaction September 2019

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HAIR & BEAUTY

The thick of it As a hairdresser I never really switch off.

So, when I was enjoying a post-work drink with friends in my local the other evening, I couldn’t help but notice that there were two distinct types of middle-aged bloke; those who are bald/ing and those still with a thick head of hair.

Losing your hair When you reach a certain age and begin to lose your hair, the solution is simple – reach for the clippers. But for older guys, thick hair can pose a few dilemmas.

Obviously, you have a greater number of styling options - but what looks great on a twentysomething may look really weird on someone old enough to be the young fella’s dad.

Thick hair isn’t uniform either. It can be wavy, straight and everything in between. For me, the key to making the most of your barnet, is choosing the right style to complement your hair type and lifestyle.

Of course, thick hair allows a chap to experiment with different lengths and cuts, from messy layers, to shoulder-length surfer or rock star locks to choppy crops.

Now, this might sound daft, but having thick hair can have its own problems. It can be harder to style and,

depending on the cut, harder to keep under control.

Remember, shorter styles need regular/frequent maintenance to retain their ‘sharp’ look.

Also, thick hair can be harder to shape, while thinner hair is easier to ‘build up’ with careful use of styling products.

Factor in your lifestyle I mentioned lifestyle being an important factor and you might like to factor in your hobbies or sports pursuits as part and parcel of your haircut considerations.

For example, MAMILS will be familiar with two styles that are popular with professional cyclists, the High Skin Fade and Taper Fade. Both suits guys with curly hair, as the sides are kept neat and trim, allowing the longer length on top to show off your curls.

Conversely, if you’re a massive Game of Thrones fan, growing your hair long and curly, will almost certainly get your Jon Snow swag on.

Your face shape should also influence your choice of cut. For me, the classic French crop is ideal. It is the go-to style for the likes of Dermot O’Leary and Gary Barlow and was made globally famous by George Clooney during his time playing Dr. Doug Ross in the medical drama E.R. And this style didn’t harm their careers, now did it?

by Craig Smith Director of Grateful Heads Hair Salon

Providing Providing expert expert hair care hair care to Essex to Essex for 30 foryears.

30 years.

Isn’t Isn’t it time it time you made you made your your headhead grateful? grateful?

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WHAT’S ON LEIGH-ON-SEA TOWN COUNCIL OVER 60'S SOCIAL CLUB TIME 10:00 - 12:00

DATE 11th September 2019

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THORPE BAY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY FLOWER AND HOMECRAFT SHOW DATE 14th September 2019

TIME 14:15

VENUE St. Augustines Church Hall, SS1 3HX, Johnstone Rd Returning for it's 31st year, The Southend Pier Puppet Festival is an annual event not to be missed. A free event but Pier admissions apply.

LEIGH FARMERS MARKET DATE 20th September 2019

TIME 09:00 - 15:00

VENUE Leigh-on-Sea Community Centre, 71 Elm Road One of the longest running markets in the Essex area which prides itself on delivering local produce to residents and providing a range of stalls selling various types of homegrown produce. If you are interested in hosting a stall, call 01702 716288 or email council@leighonseatowncouncil.gov.uk.

VISIT THE VULCAN 2019 DATE 22nd September 2019

TIME 10:00

VENUE Southend Airport Come and see Vulcan XL 426 up close at London Southend Airport at our first Visit the Vulcan Day of 2019. £5, under 16's free.

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SOUTHCHURCH VILLAGE AND FRIENDS WI DATE 9th September 2019

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VENUE St Nicholas Church, Great Wakering A musical evening including Proms Traditions & Village Voices.

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