Oracle Thorpe Bay March 2016

March 2016

Your all-seeing local

ORACLE

Thorpe Bay, Southchurch, the Garrison & West Shoebury

WIN! Tickets for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Could this be the new Miss Essex?

GOLD award-winning business.

Now reaching 2,500 more homes!

c2c responds to residents' complaints!

B E O L I N K M U LT I R O O M

BANG & OLUFSEN OF CHELMSFORD CITY 16-18 New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0SP 0800 612 8315 Photo courtesy of Gabriel DeSouza

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March 2016

£19,974.50

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Official Fuel Economy Figures for the new MINI Cooper Convertible Range: Urban 47.1-47.9 mpg (6-5.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 62.8-65.7 mpg (4.5-4.3 l/100km).

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WELCOME

I am pleased to announce that Oracle has been awarded 'Gold' status by the Southend Business and Community Charter Awards with a unanimous vote from the committee. The BCCA recognises businesses that are supporting the local community through fundraising, volunteering, mentoring, employing apprentices, pro bono work; or anything that helps our local community thrive. If you think your business would be eligible for an award then enter via www.bccawards.org.uk/Southend During the last ten years, since Oracle launched, it has always been my aim to support local businesses, give residents a say, cover local issues and help local charities. Last year, saw Oracle's largest charitable project yet, with the launch of the town's very own cookery book 'Cooking-on-Sea'. To date Oracle has raised a staggering £3,850 for HARP, Southend's Homeless Charity. To buy your copy – now for just £10 – please call the Oracle office.

For this month's competition, win a pair of tickets to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Cliffs Pavilion on Wed 13 April at 7.30 pm. This is one of the world's favourite musicals, which will have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, intrigue and exuberance.

To enter, simply send your contact details by 31st March 2016 to: Oracle/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Competition, 11 Clarence Road, Southend, Essex SS1 1AN or email: info@oraclepublications.co.uk Happy Easter!

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 oracleessex oracle_essex March 2016

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PLUMBING & HEATING CONTENTS Crossing the points

9/10

Local Issues by Chris Atkinson of c2c

Pompadour and circumstance

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Salon advice by Craig Smith

London-on-Sea (Londen-aan-Zee)

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Council news by Cllr Ron Woodley

Big ideas for small gardens

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Get your fingers green with Katrina Kieffer-Wells

Today Essex – tomorrow Miss World? 34 Spotlight on Miss Essex contestant, Emily Evans

One-pot Salmon and Asparagus

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Judy's Recipe Page

Local Letters

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Residents have their say

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01702 218 246 07881785405

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March 2016

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Advertorial

Original Sports – make it happen!

This year sees us celebrating 11 years since our doors first opened.

and badminton rackets. We stock over 300 state-of-the-art rackets.

Our aim then was to create a fantastic ‘destination store’ where customers could view, and in some cases, even road test the latest sports equipment backed up by friendly expert advice. This still applies today at our showroom in Progress Road where we specialise in running, racketsports, rugby and fitness.

Fit for purpose If your passion is running, tennis, badminton, squash, racketball, rugby or general fitness here are 10 reasons to visit Original Sports.

1. 2000 ft2 Showroom – Spacious open plan layout allows customers to browse with ease.

2. Top Brands – All at competitive prices.

3. Free Parking – Hassle-free, right outside in our own car park.

4. Free Video Gait Analysis – Just hop onto our treadmill in our Gait Test Area and Ben or Dan will film you running. By watching the video back in slow motion, they will be able to advise which is the correct running shoe for you.

5. Racket Testing Area – We have a rebound net in our warehouse for customers to try out tennis

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8. The Rugby Room – Protection, headgear, boots, base-layers and accessories – all you need to play the great game.

9. Friendly Advice - With over 30 years' experience, our dedicated team are always available to give the best advice and service to support all levels and budgets.

10. Event Support and Sponsorship – We are always happy to support local events and sponsor several major, local tournaments.

A big thank you to all our customers for their continued support and to all new customers, we hope you will have the opportunity to visit our unique store very soon.

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March 2016

LOCAL ISSUES

Crossing the points We were sorry to read about Daniel’s experience travelling on c2c from Thorpe Bay in last month’s letters page.

We don’t want Daniel, Rosa or any of our passengers to be unhappy with their daily commute. So what are we doing about this?

Daniel is right to say that his trains have been busy since the c2c timetable changed at the end of last year. Put simply, we are carrying a lot more people than we used to.

Train of thought The numbers have really surprised us – we’re currently averaging 8% more passengers in the morning peak, and nearly 10% more in the evenings. The honest answer is that we don’t yet know for sure why there has been such a large increase – the scale of this growth was unexpected, as well as being very real.

What has been particularly striking is that there has been a strong increase, to varying degrees, across the entire c2c route. It isn’t something that is restricted to only a handful of stations or to just one area.

their money locally. It is a strong indicator of a healthy local economy. It does also show that more people are travelling to where they want to get to (or to go to work, which isn’t always the same thing!) and as a transport company, it’s our job to get them there.

Time for change But we know that praising local economic growth isn’t much help if you’re stood reading this on a crowded train. Daniel highlighted the changes we have already made to train times and stopping patterns since launching the new timetable, and those amendments have helped to ensure that we’re making the most of our current fleet of trains.

Yet, given that the increase in passengers has been greater than the extra capacity we have created, the answer is that we need more carriages.

It’s something we’re working very hard on at the moment. We can’t simply resolve it on our own, so we are in active discussions with our partners in the rail industry, and the Government, regarding the different options that are available for getting extra carriages. That work is ongoing at the moment, so we can’t give you firm details or timescales yet. But we will do so as soon as possible.

Track record

Read between the lines

Meanwhile, we’re concentrating on what else we can do to improve your journey.

There are some real positive elements behind this.

Having more people travel means there are more people working, getting paid, and then spending

c2c has long had a strong reputation for providing you with a punctual journey and we’re doing our best to maintain that record.

March 2016

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That's the ticket We’re also backing that up with the promise of more money for you – if you use one of our smartcards for your journey (and a quarter of our annual season ticket holders do, with that number rising fast) then you can now get automatic compensation when your journey is delayed. That starts when your train is just two minutes late and the amount increases for every minute. It’s only a few pence for each minute, but we expect it will add up over the course of your season ticket. If your train is half an hour late, you’ll get 50% of the single ticket back automatically, without having to do anything like fill in forms or submit an application. Obviously we’ll be doing our best to make sure your train does arrive on time but when it doesn’t work out you’ll be getting what you are due.

We’ve got other exciting projects coming up this year too, like our new, flexible season tickets which will provide you with a discount if you’re a part-

time worker. And watch out for the improvements at your local station, as we start a multi-million pound programme of investment across the line.

On the right track So, we are really sorry that you’ve been unhappy with your commute recently. We hope it may have eased already and if not, then rest assured we are doing our best to improve things and we hope you will see the difference soon.

Chris Atkinson c2c Communications and Stakeholder Manager

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Customer Relations We want to hear from you, whether you have any complaints or wish to leave good or bad feedback.

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Advertorial

Young at heart …

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you, if you’re young at heart.

Most of us Baby Boomers are living longer, living more active lives and apart from the odd ache and pain and forgetting what you were talking about, most of us feel that we haven’t changed much since we were in our late teens/early twenties. 70 is the new 60, 60 the new 50!

Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on Earth, to be young at heart! And so it should be – if you have your health and energy, why not enjoy life to the full? For as rich as you are, it’s much better by far, to be young at heart.

Of course, that’s assuming that you are rich, because it’s not so easy to enjoy life to the full if you’re a bit short of money – enjoyment don’t come cheap nowadays! And life gets more exciting with each passing day. And life is either in your heart, or on it’s way. Well, yes – providing you can afford it.

All or nothing at all So, how do you go about making the most of your life, enjoying the autumn of your years and maintaining the living standards you’ve become used to if your pension is dwindling and your savings depleted? Now you have time to enjoy life

but not the means to do so. It’s even worse if you're still paying a mortgage or trying to clear credit cards.

So, what’s the answer?

Pennies from heaven Why not take a look at unlocking the cash in your home? You never know, it may be the answer! For it’s hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind, if you’re young at heart. Just look at the idea with an open mind, it might just be what you’re looking for. And if you should survive to 105, look at all you’ll derive out of being alive! And here is the best part – you have a head start, if you are among the very young at heart.

Come fly with me Equity release is not suitable for everyone and you need independent advice from a specialist in the financial sector who will take into account your uniquely individual circumstances. Someone like Essex Equity Release Advice Centre – a local, familyrun firm, specialising in the financial concerns of retired people for 20 years. , Financial Consultant

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SALON

Pompadour and circumstance

Whether you’re a frustrated Stray Cat, ageing grunger or working class hero for the 21st century, men’s hairstyles are oh-so cool right now.

Going in the opposite direction, a trend inspired

by Jared Leto is the curly, shoulder-length look. Be warned though, as your hair gets longer, the weight will usually create a centre-parting. This is fine if you have an oval face but is best avoided if you don’t.

Fashion may well be a merry-go-round – women’s dungarees back in vogue some 40 years after they were a fashion item cum feminist statement – but on the Milan catwalks, things were really topsy-turvy.

Also, as this is 2016, you need thick, glossy and clean hair. If your hair is thinning or receding, it’s probably best that you don’t try to look like Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder in his early 90s pomp.

At the ModaUomo show, men were styled to look boyish and young lads to appear ‘manly’. The underlying message though was versatility. Men want something that works in the office but also cuts it during the weekend. Echoing trends in women’s hairstyles, guys want to project casual sophistication.

Time works wonders

I'm ready for my closeup

Last year, a funked-up version of the 50s pompadour style made a return. Its popularity with celebs, students, hipsters and businessmen alike means that it’s back for 2016. Essentially, long on top, swept up and backwards with short back and sides, the pompadour can take being razor sharp, or casual and messy. It works with a bespoke suit or with jeans and a leather jacket. Either way, it’s badass.

With films like Kingsmen and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. rebooting that Swinging Sixties vibe, the sideparting is back. This look is given a modern twist by close-cropping the sides up to the parting and using a gloss or matt finish for either a classic or grungier look. Teamed with a beard, this is hip for all ages.

A preppy side-parting also suits chaps who wear glasses. Think Michael Caine as Harry Palmer – way cooler than Bond!

If the 60s parting and beard makes kids look like grown-ups, how about old geezers going the other way? A messy, tousled mid-length cut (with short back and sides) carries a youthful, rebellious air that will knock years off you.

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COUNCIL

London-on-Sea (Londen aan zee) So much is going on in Southend-on-Sea which is good news for the town. Our visitor numbers are growing and the area is now being marketed as a short break alternative to London.

There has been a television advertising campaign in the Netherlands aiming to tempt visitors, using the new air route between Southend and the Dutch city of Groningen, focusing on our tourist attractions.

This will boost trade for our hotels, restaurants and the airport.

Stealing the spotlight Interestingly, Southend was the third most mentioned place in the UK on Twitter in 2015. It could be that the Cliffs Pavilion and the Palace Theatre have something to do with this popularity, having almost tripled their profits in the space of one year, putting the increase down to a growing economy and star-studded names using them as their preferred location.

The golden touch Positive on-going talks with a developer about the Old Gas Works site are taking place and we expect the commencement of the Marine Plaza development in the autumn. This, along with the Seaway Development of a hotel, restaurants, cinema and a leisure centre, will see a transformation of the Golden Mile, a huge boost to the seafront, creating much needed housing and jobs. Also, plans

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to regenerate the Queensway area are well under way, and significant work to revitalise a number of buildings along Victoria Avenue has started.

The real McCoy An independent review/peer challenge has recently been undertaken with the aim of providing an external reality check regarding the future of the council. The result was extremely positive, indicating that the council and its leadership are very well respected in terms of their focus to improve Southend-on-Sea, with a clear corporate plan which is known, understood and repeated often by all employees. Employee engagement was found to be "breath-taking", with staff having a strong desire to improve themselves, their working environment and practices on behalf of the council’s leadership.

Worth every penny Finally, careful budgeting has enabled substantial financial savings of £2.6 million, with a further £2.9 million next year and revised contracts saving a further £4.5 million per year.

Therefore, to summarise, this council is fully engaged, with everyone working together to make Southend-on-Sea a great place to live, work and visit and above all, financially stable.

by Cllr Ron Woodley

O

Leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

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Big ideas for small gardens

GREENFINGERS

I often get asked what planting I would recommend for small gardens. When space is tight, plants need to work hard to prove their worth. Less is more – keep things simple and your space will ooze sophistication.

It will create a more cohesive look and give your garden a feeling of continuity.

A good way to create maximum impact is to select long-flowering perennials. Perennials, also known as Herbaceous Perennials, are the mainstay of garden borders. They can be deciduous (die back each year) or evergreen. They are a great way to plant a garden as they offer seasonal interest and if you plan well and select long-flowering blooms you can enjoy flowers throughout the entire year.

Using blooms with similar tones will create a sense of calm, giving the garden a stylish, glamourous feel. Contrasting colours will enliven a space adding zest and punch. Resist the temptation to buy plant varieties in ones and twos. Instead, plant in big bold drifts for a stunning result. Long-flowering plants that work well in small spaces include Sedum, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Geranium, Salvia Nemorosa, Helenium, Japanese Anemone and Penstemon.

Budding genius There are many perennials that may only give two or three weeks of flowering time. These plants really need to earn their place in a small garden. I tend to only allow one of these ‘attention grabbers’ in a small planting scheme, instead preferring to select five or six long-flowering perennials planted in large blocks for maximum impact. You are better to plant a few long-flowering plant varieties than lots of plants that have staggered, short flowering seasons.

Concept-to-Completion Garden Design & Build to help you realise the garden of your dreams

Positioned among evergreen shrubs, long-flowering plants can create a balanced scheme with yearround interest. Select hardy varieties with good leaf shape and colour to really bring your garden alive!

Blooming marvellous

From little acorns Remember – what your plot lacks in square feet can be made up for with intelligent design. There is always room to create a beautiful garden so be sure to plan carefully before you dig in and you can really make the most of your space.

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SPOTLIGHT

Today Essex – tomorrow Miss World?

Photography courtesy of Gabriel DeSouza

"It's come a long way since the 50s," says potential Miss World, Emily Evans from Thorpe Bay, about the longestrunning international beauty pageant.

Emily, 22, a blue-eyed, blonde-haired HR specialist for an insurance syndicate in London, only recently managed to overcome her lack of confidence and take the first step to fulfilling her ambitions by auditioning for the Miss Essex competition where she was swiftly voted into the finals to be held on the 10th March. Whether successful or not, she will still be in with a chance to become Miss England, Miss UK, and then Miss World.

"It brings young girls into the 21st century on so many levels and gives them an opportunity to showcase all of their hard work," she adds.

Not just a pretty face And hard work it is, for as well as maintaining their photogenic looks, contestants these days compete in charitable fundraising, battles of intellect, talent contests, fashion their own eco-friendly costumes and must survive a gruelling test of physical ability.

Fortunately, Emily is fighting fit, having already run two London marathons, raising over £2,000 for Sponsored by:

34

the British Heart Foundation to support her mum and she's now getting in shape to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the contest.

If she does win, the title and modelling opportunities will allow her to take her efforts to a wider platform and spend a year championing Essex, fundraising and helping those in need. "I'm so passionate about Essex. I believe I'm a good role model and I'd like the opportunity to break down the 'Essex Girl' stigma. So many of us are not like that – it's not who we are."

Sea legs Of course, some traditions do remain and Emily does intend to take part in the optional beachwear round.

"I'll give it a go – it's all part of the fun, isn't it?"

Emily's positive attitude isn't confined to modelling – "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," she says, "people can obsess about their looks but it's often just hiding underlying insecurities. It's important to have other elements in life. Challenge yourself, study, and be the best you can be."

O

If you would like to support Emily, please visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/EmilysKilimanjaroChallenge You can also join her in person for a fundraising Casino Night on Friday 22nd April. Tickets are available at: thearlingtonballroom.co.uk

Tel: 01702 584737 158 The Broadway, Thorpe Bay ss1 3es email: info@hellogorgeousbeautysalon.com www.hellogorgeousbeautysalon.com www.oraclepublications.co.uk

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One-pot Salmon and Asparagus

FOOD

When you are short of time or worn out after a long day, these one-pot suppers are so easy and satisfying. I have added salmon but this works just as well with chicken breasts. You can also leave out the salmon completely and simply roast the vegetables to make a delicious side dish. Grate a little parmesan cheese to add a bit more flavour.

Enjoy!

Method:

Ingredients (serves 2)

6. Scatter over the basil leaves and serve everything scooped straight from the dish.

• 300g new potatoes, halved if large • 2 tbsp olive oil • 8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved • 2 handfuls cherry tomatoes • 1–2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 salmon fillets, about 140g/5oz each • handful basil leaves

1. Heat oven to 220°C/fan 200°C/Gas Mark 7.

2. Tip the potatoes and 1 tablespoon of olive oil into an ovenproof dish then roast the potatoes for 30 minutes or until starting to brown.

3. Toss the asparagus in with the potatoes and return to the oven for 10 minutes.

4. Throw in the cherry tomatoes and vinegar and nestle the salmon amongst the vegetables.

5. Drizzle with the remaining oil and return to the oven for a final 10–15 minutes until the salmon is cooked.

7. Serve with a big pot of mayonnaise or warm hollandaise sauce.

by Judy Barden

To serve –

• mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce

Next month: Chocolate and Raspberry Creams

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Advertorial

Shoeburyness High has the human touch The Humanities faculty at Shoeburyness High School has gone from strength to strength, as last year’s headline results show – 100% A*–C grades at Geography A-Level compared to national results at 82% and 100% A–E grades in A-Level History, RE, Economics and Law. The department – comprising of the subjects; History, Geography, RE, Travel and Tourism, Law and Economics – boasts an enthusiastic team of teachers interested in the well being of every student.

At GCSE 10.8% of RE students achieved an A*–A grade nationally, whereas a massive 26.8% of RE students at Shoeburyness High School achieved this. In History, we also beat national results, with 9.6% of students achieving an A*–A grade, compared with 3% nationally.

Laying down the law With the Government’s focus on students following the EBACC programme at GCSE, which includes Geography and History, we have seen a significant increase in the number of classes in both subjects. Our A-level subjects of Law and Economics have been very popular choices for our sixth form students and the number of students taking Geography, RE and History has significantly increased in recent years.

We have also seen a higher uptake in the numbers of those taking Travel and Tourism at BTEC. Humanities are currently set to add a new qualification in September with the introduction of BTEC Law. In addition, we also have a selection of year 9 students who are studying for a GCSE in Classics.

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Committed to memory Our pupils show real enthusiasm and drive to achieve the best that they can; recently we have seen excellent effort from our Year 7 Geography students producing outstanding weather instruments for homework and then utilising them in different areas of the school to measure the different micro-climates. The Year 9 Academy Group also created a fabulous whole school project

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March 2016

for Remembrance Day which was displayed in the Singleton Centre for the 2 minutes silence. We have very successful revision workshops at GCSE and A-Level, with students and staff giving up their evenings, weekends and holiday time to prepare for the examinations.

To be Frank Within the faculty we pride ourselves on creating dynamic and innovative lessons to boost student progress, which has helped Humanities subjects become an increasingly popular choice at GCSE and A-Level.

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Each year we take part in the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz Project’; a Government run scheme to provide wider awareness of the Holocaust.

Two A-level students independently attend conferences in London and visit Auschwitz working with members of the Holocaust Memorial Trust and students from other schools. They are then required to deliver what they have learnt to the school and the wider community, gaining university credits for completing the project and making an emotional impact on the whole school by delivering assemblies to all years.

About time We have also participated in the HEFA (Higher Education Field Academies) project for a number of years, which is run by the University of Cambridge, providing History and Geography students in Year 9 the opportunity to participate in an archaeological dig. Last year the dig was at Hadleigh and the students received a first-hand archaeological experience guided by experts such as Time Team’s Carenza Lewis. Students write a formal report which is then graded by the University. Last year all students achieved grades A–C.

Trips are integral to our courses with visits to Belgium to visit the war graves, Walton on the Naze to look at coasts and Epping Forest to review flood damage there.

The human touch With dynamic, dedicated staff, focussed, hardworking students and supportive, proactive parents, we anticipate 2016 will be another brilliant year for the Humanities faculty.

Mrs V Gray

O

Curriculum Progress Development Leader Humanities

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Stepping up to the bar We continue to run the Bar Mock Trial competition, where post-16 students analyse legal cases, taking

March 2016

on the roles of ushers, witnesses, barristers and members of a jury and then compete against other schools at The Crown Court in front of top Crown Court Judges. This year we were fortunate enough to have a member of the Queen’s Council working with the team.

schooloffice@shoeburyness.southend.sch.uk www.shoeburynesshigh.co.uk

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HOME FREE Dear Orac le, your m ind?

I've noti ced that home lessn ess has Consult the Ora , cle by sending beco me an even large r prob lem in Sout hend your le bus the on info@o re Cent tt Civic e the rs I went past to: raclepu blicatio ns.co.u the othe r day and there was a home less k man sleep ing on the benc h outs ide! There are a lot of empt y buildi ngs arou nd the town , can' t we set up refug e for them ?

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It's the same few stalls every week. Surely there must be some interesting craftspeople in the area? Artists? What about musical instruments or even just CDs? Anon.

Abel lio Not- so-m uch- Grea ter Angl ia ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Rega rding Da niel's 'Stea m ing Tra ins' letter

in last mont h's Orac le: The poor ra il serv ice is not conf ined to c2c – Abel lio Grea ter Angl ia seem to be comp eting for last place on the Liver pool St line. If it's not signa l fa ilu res, eng ine fa ilu res or works on the line, it's simp ly late a rriva ls or comp lete ca ncell ation s. I now cons ider myse lf lucky if my morn ing tra in is on time more tha n once a week !

And you ca n't even ma ke a ltern ative pla ns or decid e to go home for a b it a nd have a cu p of tea as the comp uteri sed lady who is su ppos ed to g ive usefu l infor matio n does n't know how to add u p – first she says the tra in will a rrive in 15 m inute s, a m inute later , 16, 17, a nd so on! Find ing myse lf locke d out of the lovel y, new, a ir-co nditi oned wa iting room at Hock ley two days runn ing – on both the colde st days of the mont h – certa inly did noth ing to wa rm my mood !

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WHAT’S ON Fund Raising Concert for Freda Parry Saturday 16th April at 7.30pm. St Saviour's Church, Kings Road, Westcliff SS0 8LL. Featuring 2016 winner, Chloe Treharne. Tickets £10/£8. Tel: 01702 580413 / 07890 340279.

Barling & Little Wakering W.I. Every 1st Monday of the month at 2pm. Church Hall, St Mary's the Virgin, North Shoebury Road (near Asda). All are welcome.

Women's Institute Southchurch Village Friends Meeting Every 2nd Monday at 7.30pm. The Hamstel Children & Families Centre, Hamstel Road. 14th March: The Benefits of Aloe Vera – Sarah Hall.

Maskarade March 15th–March 19th. The Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre. Tues to Sat at 7.30pm/Thurs Mat & Sat Mat 2.30pm. Tickets: £11.50–£12.50. Advance bookings: 01702 232683. Box office: 01702 351135. www.eastessexplayers.co.uk BERA AGM Tuesday 22nd March at 8pm. St Augustine's Church, Thorpe Bay. If you have not renewed your membership please bring £10 and a completed renewal sheet with you to the AGM. Refreshments will be available at the end of the meeting.

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