September Thorpe Bay Oracle 2012

Thorpe Bay

September 2012

ORACLE Thorpe Bay at a glance Est. Sept 2005. Circulation 5,100

Oracle Competition WIN! ÂŁ100 Voucher with Andraste Medispa

Local Issues

Is our local ecology and coast under threat?

Travel Expert

Las Vegas for the girls

Under the Hammer Bank on it!

Health & Beauty Cracking down on Cholesterol

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publisher’s letter

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his month’s Local Issues has been written by Ron Woodley on a very important local environment issue that everybody should be made aware of and is a real concern for Southend’s foreshore.

Ron also asked me to inform everyone of BERA’s EGM taking place on 25th September at St. Augustines Church at 8pm. All BERA members welcome.

Oracle’s competition this month has been kindly donated by Andraste Medispa who are a ground breaking specialist spa who specialise in non invasive anti ageing treatments for the face and body, using state of the art high tech equipment with guaranteed and immediate results. One lucky winner will be given a voucher worth £100 to spend on any of their treatments. Please check out their website www.andrastemedispa.co.uk or call 01702 333540 for further information.

To enter simply send in your contact details to, Oracle/Andraste Medispa, 39 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BW or email info@oraclepublications.co.uk closing date 28th September.

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ORACLE

Call Today For FREE Advice & Estimates

contents

All Tiling Undertaken To The Highest Standards.

Local Issues Is our local ecology and coast under threat?

By Ron Woodley

G. PERKS TILING SERVICES

9/10

Las Vegas for the Girls Travel Expert by Karen Goldman

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Caught in the Middle Hair & Beauty by Craig Smith

16

Threat of Inheritance Tax

22

Bathrooms, Kitchens, Conservatories...

Completed To A Show Room Finish.

Superior Quality Work at Competitive Prices.

Highly Recommended & Fully Insured.

Established since 1991.

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Money Matters by Jacqui Moyies

Herbal Health

by Jane Robinson

26

Toad in the hole Judy's Recipe Page

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Now Stocking Bridal Dresses Please phone for an appointment

Bank on it!

40 Under the Hammer by Trevor Cornforth Cracking down on Cholesterol Health & Beauty by Cris Ramis

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Sudoku

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Diary Dates

52 60 62

Useful Numbers Advertiser Index

Advertorials The Cherry Tree Thorpe Hall School Shoebury High School 4 T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

01702 482605 / 07818455606 6/7 32/33 54/55

1735 London Road,Leigh on sea,Essex SS9 2SW www.thedresscompany.co.uk Retail and Hire Prom, Evening Wear and Mens Tux

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SEPTEMBER 2012

ED H IS BL TA ES

Carpets, Vinyls, Rugs

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RS A YE

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Advertorial

Cherry picking he Cherry Tree in Rochford has long stood as a prime example of traditional country pub style.

Sunday from 12 till 8. Now Open all day for food and drink, it is the destination for anyone with a love of simple and delicious food.

Built in the 19th Century, The Cherry Tree is a grade II listed building packed with original features, as you walk in the original bar is dominant with fireplaces either side, perfect for winter nights. Built onto this unique bar, is a modern style conservatory which offers a light and airy place to sit and eat lunch/dinner.

Accompanying the good old pub grub is a wine and spirit list to challenge the traditional, with trends in wine ever changing, so does the list at The Cherry Tree.

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If you are ever looking for a stay in a rural location with fabulous food and a warm welcome, The Cherry Tree also has 4 star It has recently been taken over by two accommodation in four separate chalet style ambitious young people, Daniel and Amanda. en-suite bedrooms. Uniquely decorated rooms, With an aim to bring local produce and all on ground floor level with their own entrance traditional cooking techniques back to Essex stepping right onto the garden.

Pubs. The Menu is designed with taste in mind, created by Daniel Merry a local Leigh-ite and trained by Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller, and Raymond Blanc. Highlights of this menu include Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Roasted Apricots and Shallots, with locally sourced produce in the forefront.

Another aspect The Cherry Tree is famous for is the Sunday Roasts, with slow braised Salt Marsh Lamb, Scotts Hall Pork, and Fore Rib of Beef, enough to make your mouth water, served every 6

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SEPTEMBER 2012

We offer Dinner and Stay options with taster that runs the second Saturday of every month menus available and Special Sunday rate. Room from 9am, everyone is welcome (even without rates start from £79.50 per night with full English a classic car) it is fun for all the family. breakfast included.

Live music night happens the last Thurs of The Cherry Tree prides itself on being family every month from 7.30pm, with Khalil our friendly, with a children’s menu, highchairs a brilliant acoustic guitar singer, as well as regular plenty and pushchairs welcome we can wine tasting evenings. accommodate all shapes and sizes.

To conclude if you are looking for a traditional, If value for money is what you look for don’t look comfortable inviting venue for a bite to eat, any further than The Cherry Tree we also have a think of nothing more than The Cherry Tree in £12.95 two course special that runs from 12-9.30 Rochford. Quality locally sourced food, all every Monday to Thursday, alongside the main home-made right down to the pickles. menu.

With everything made in house, down to hand-cut chips and home-made sauces/ relishes our menu is definitely unique. With wedding season in full swing The Cherry Tree is the perfect venue for an intimate gathering, the function room seats 57 with multiple seating arrangements available we can offer buffet options or a full sit down meal whatever is more suitable for your day.

With all that going on could there be more? We also run a breakfast club for classic car enthusiasts SEPTEMBER 2012

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01702 544426 www.thecherrytreestambridge.co.uk

Rochford, Essex, SS4 2AF

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226a Station Road, Westcliff SS0 7SD 01702 808253 Over the railway line at the bottom of Valkyrie Road

A previously loved tradition returns to Westcliff Steve’s Salt Beef Bar and Deli, eat in, takeaway or delivery Serving traditional, mostly homemade favourites, including: Our famous Salt Beef & Latkes, currently enjoyed at our sister establishment Waters Edge Café under the arches on Westcliff seafront.

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• Lokshen soup with Kneidels (Matzo balls) /

• Also a comprehensive dinner

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• Open for Lunch, afternoon tea

Fried Gefilte Fish

Smoked and Poached Salmon / Fish fried in Matzo Meal (Hot or cold)

menu when eating in.

• Worsht / Vienna’s / Chopped Liver / Egg and

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• Pickled Cucumbers / Olives /

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• • Bagels / Rye Bread / Matzo

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Onion / Pickled/chopped Herring

Mediterranean salad / Tomato & Onion Salad Potato Salad / Coleslaw / cold Chicken & Turkey

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and Dinner, 6 days a week.

Open from 9am Sunday for your deli needs, including fresh bagels and platzels.

Telephone in any deli orders for collection, at your convenience.

Alternatively e-mail orders to shalfteck@hotmail.com SEPTEMBER 2012

Local Issues

Is our local ecology and coast under threat?

T

he Thames Estuary is a finely balanced natural habitat that has developed over millennia where eroded mud and sand from North Sea coastal regions and elsewhere is deposited by tidal currents and flows. Much of the sand and mudflats off Southend are designated as SSI areas, sights of Special Scientific Interest. The Estuary mudflats contain all manner of life including small crustaceans, worms and shellfish.These are sources of food for much wildlife including many species of fish and birds, many of which migrate to the estuary specifically for the food it provides. The Thames has also been a source of food supply for people over thousands of years.

Fish caught by local fisherman spawn in the mudflats and in the past the Burges Estate included Oyster beds in the Estuary. Even now residents can harvest oysters providing they are for personal consumption. However, recently councillors and residents have complained about gangs stripping oysters from the mudflats on an industrial scale and leaving behind razor sharp shells for any unsuspecting person walking out to the sea having the possibility of having their feet badly cut.

SEPTEMBER 2012

This practice of industrial harvesting of our oyster beds has coincidentally raised and possibly revealed a far larger problem. It would seem that the reason oysters are more vulnerable is that they are more exposed and visibly prominent than before. Normally they are buried away in the mud but it now appears that the mud and sand is disappearing. Simple observation from the shore reveals that the mud is being eroded on a huge scale which in certain areas has revealed the natural pebble core. I would advise anyone to go and look at the changes around the Crowstone area at Westcliff where virtually all the mud has disappeared.

The Crowstone area is not the only place where changes are taking place, I recently walked out to the Mulberry Harbour; something I have not done for a couple of years. There appear to be more pockets of holes in the mud and sand and when out there the sand around the harbour was soft in places and ankle deep instead of being firm to stand on. This was not previously the case.

At the same time local in-shore fisherman are reporting that the quantity and quality of fish is

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severely depleted with some species disappearing. Local cockle fishermen are reporting that over the past 2 seasons much of the cockle spat (the newborn) has died and those that are there are small and full of sand, a sign of stress. There is a large shellfish industry in Leigh dependent upon the cockle harvest. As well as the financial concerns for our local economy there is the potential death of a fantastic natural habitat which depends upon the mud and sands as a source of food. We desperately need to address this now and try to determine exactly what is happening. I hope that this article and recent coverage of this situation in the local press will raise the profile of this huge problem.

The concerns are so great that the Environment Agency is now investigating the cause and have stated that there has been a significant loss of mudflats at Leigh, Chalkwell and Thorpe Bay.They are taking the unprecedented step of asking people what changes they have noticed along the foreshore by way of a public notice.There is a suggestion that this could be to do with the weather and the diminishing silt may well be a natural situation caused by rising sea levels, but Is it a coincidence that these severe and there is scepticism about this. potentially disastrous changes to the Thames Estuary and our foreshore have happened following the dredging of a 300 metre wide channel from the former Shell Haven Oil Refinery to the Maplin Sands for the new container port near Stanford-le-Hope? Some side effects were forecast and fishermen in the Canvey area have been compensated but this could potentially be a far bigger problem if a link is established.

Importantly, we need to remember that the mudflats also provide a natural “damper� for wave action and help protect the beach and foreshore infrastructure from erosion.Maybe one of the other questions we should be asking is this the real reason why our shore defences along Shoebury Common and other areas need to be reinforced?

Ron Woodley Chair, Burges Estate Residents Association.

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Offering specialist blinds:- Venetians, Verticals, Roller and Roman blinds, ready made or made to measure.

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Travel Expert

Las Vegas for the girls

By Karen Goldman

L

as Vegas is an ideal destination for a Once you have been pampered from top to toe, birthday celebration or a hen weekend. you can hit the shops, where you will find everything from huge shopping malls, to designer Even without a celebration, it is a great holiday boutiques and speciality and outlet stores. The away with the girls.There are so many things to see opening of the Fashion Show Mall, just opposite the and do that you can be guaranteed to be Wynn Hotel, means that Las Vegas is becoming a entertained throughout the day and night. rival to the New York shopping scene.

When it comes to choosing a hotel in Las Vegas there is something to suit all budgets. Most are resorts in their own right with shopping malls, spa facilities, theatres and the odd gaming table or two ! I find the Wynn and Bellagio hotels are the most popular. These are both very central and offer fantastic facilities and luxurious furnishings.

The Wynn has 45 treatment rooms in their Spa, offering massages, body treatments, facials and hydrotherapy. There is also a gymnasium, swimming pool and sauna.

Las Vegas really comes to life in the evening with hundreds of shows and concerts to choose from, as well as a huge amount of restaurants, bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes.You can also try your luck at the vast number of casinos all along the Strip.

The most popular excursion is of course The Grand Canyon. You can take a helicopter over the Hoover Dam and onto to the Grand Canyon – spectacular !

A number of the trips also include a night time ride over The Strip on the way back.

The pound is strong against the dollar at the moment and therefore it is a good time to visit the USA as it is very good value.

Both British Airways and Virgin now have direct flights to Las Vegas.

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Oracle Hair & Beauty

Caught in the Middle E

very once in a while comes a trend that inspires us to step out of our comfort zones and take a walk on the wild side. Currently in Hollywood, the bare midriff is the hot look as it flaunts one of the most desired symbols of beauty and health today: flat, toned abs.

Yes, the thought of bare bellies can be terrifying to most of us who don’t spend 4-hours each day in the gym, but a midriff-revealing ensemble can translate into a sophisticated and chic look even if you don’t have a Jessica Ennis style 6-pack. You don't have to go all out Britney or Shakira and expose your entire stomach to pull off this sultry clothing trend. As Kristen Stewart demonstrated at the Snow White and the Huntsman premiere, it's all about showing just a hint of skin. It's enough to turn heads and make a statement, without being overly revealing.

having sexual connotations and is traditionally a mark of modesty.

So if you’re not a gym bunny, how do you go about pulling off this trend without making yourself look ridiculous? Admittedly, putting together a bare-midriff ensemble seems simple enough—just pair a crop top with a skirt or trousers. But if it's a sophisticated and chic look you're after, there are a few specifics you should note.To avoid looking too casual, you'll want to choose a top that is fitted (but not in a fabric that is clingy or stretchy – unless you are deliberately aiming for the My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding look).

Modest dressers will want a top that hits a few inches below the bust line or lower. A high-waisted bottom is key – perhaps go for a skirt with a longer hemline than normal as that balances things up. And colour wise, if you are worried about being a little porky round the middle, then black is – and always will be - the most slimming of all colours.

There’s actually nothing new about revealing the midriff, it was introduced to fashion in 1932 by French designer Madeleine Vionnet when she offered an evening gown with strategically cut openings at the waist. Through the 1960s' sexual Sponsored by revolution, the popularity of halters, tube tops and crop tops in the 1970s, Madonna in the 1980’s and so onwards through naval piercing to today. But that’s just Western culture - the cholis (the blouse under the sari) worn by some Indian women also exposes a thin section of midriff, usually 3 to 4 inches, though the garment is not known for 16 T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E www.oraclepublications.co.uk

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Money Matters

Do you have the Will to protect your wealth from the ever-present threat of Inheritance Tax?

I

t seems like a long time since the Conservative Party said it would raise the Inheritance Tax (IHT) threshold, above which deceased estates are taxed at 40%. Since forming the coalition government they have yet to turn those words into action and have confirmed the threshold will remain unchanged until at least 2015. Indeed, in their first year of office IHT receipts rose by 14% (Source: Telegraph 28/4/12).

The days are long gone when IHT could reasonably be regarded as a tax only for the very wealthy. Many of us still think that we are unlikely to be affected by it, but many of us would be wrong. The IHT threshold – officially known as the ‘nil rate band’ – currently stands at £325,000. Consider what your house is worth today. For many people, this alone is enough to exceed the threshold.

Married couples and civil partners can pass assets to each other without paying IHT, while they are alive or on their death. It is now possible for the surviving spouse or partner to leave assets of up to £650,000 before IHT becomes payable. (It’s important to remember that the full nil rate band of £650,000 is not available to unmarried couples.)

Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to reduce any liability. A good place to

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

start is with your Will. Everyone should consider having a Will and, just as important, one that is IHT-efficient. If you own a business, your Will should cover your business assets unless you have made appropriate succession plans with your partners. And you should review it whenever your circumstances change – a subsequent marriage, for example, automatically invalidates a Will.

There are other well-proven methods to reduce IHT, and one is making gifts during your lifetime. These reduce the size of your estate and therefore the size of any IHT bill.

Potentially the most generous exemption for IHT purposes, however, is the one that allows you to make regular gifts as part of normal expenditure from your income. Remember that IHT is a complex area and, without professional help, it can be very easy to get things wrong.

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

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Herbal Health F

or thousands of years we have depended on plants to provide the essentials of life, from food and clothing to fuel and medicine. For most of the world’s population, plant medicine is still the norm.

Now in the more developed world people are looking again at ways in which plant medicine can offer them a naturally healthy life.

Many people are returning to growing their own food and using organic and sustainable products especially as modern life poses many challenges including stress, pollution, toxicity, allergies and diseases of affluence.

Alongside this we now have a vast understanding of human physiology, which means we are better informed as to how we can protect and nurture our health and well being.

It is therefore not surprising that many people look to the benefits of Herbal Medicine which can be an effective way to treat many minor and major health problems in a gentle and natural way. Medical Herbalists are trained to look at health problems with clinical depth and understanding seeking to treat the person and their medical problems from a holistic perspective. Remedies made from whole plant extracts are prescribed to patients of all ages for most conditions for which you would normally visit your GP.

26

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

The balance of our health may worsen or improve at different times of the year. Certain conditions like Hay Fever and Asthma can become worse in spring and summer whilst conditions like Arthritis can become worse in winter months.

There are many Herbal Medicines that may be of benefit for example Elderflower or Ginkgo for Hay Fever and Ginger or Devils Claw for Arthritis. A Medical Herbalist will prescribe tinctures (liquid herbal extracts), capsules, teas and creams according to a management plan drawn up in co-operation with a patient.

As we try to create a better quality of life and improve our health using the information, knowledge and resources available to us it is reassuring to know there are natural alternatives available and we have a choice to explore the options.

by Jane Robinson Medical Herbalist Bsc MNIMH

O

01702 588831

www.kentesphysio.co.uk Kentes Clinic, 38 Barnstaple Road, Thorpe Bay

www.oraclepublications.co.uk

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Advertorial

Where every child shines!

O

ver 2000 people visited Thorpe Hall School on Thorpe Hall Day in July, so the Oracle caught up with Headteacher, Andrew Hampton, to hear his thoughts on education and why Thorpe Hall is attracting such interest amongst families in Thorpe Bay. “It was genuinely thrilling to see so many people coming to Thorpe Hall Day, many of them visiting the school for the first time, just to see our facilities and meet the children. It made me think again about the differences between state and independent education and what a school like Thorpe Hall has to offer. Sir Ken Robinson, education guru and advisor to central governments, recently said, 'A big problem for linear, standardised systems of education is that human life is neither.' The huge advantage of independent education is that it is largely free of government interference and is therefore able to create a daily experience for children that is based on what they want and what they need.

Thorpe Hall is a school that is teeming with opportunity - I believe that children want school to be exciting and challenging, not humdrum and predictable. They want to know that their effort and achievements will be rewarded and that there is always something to look forward to the annual musical, another sporting tournament, a residential trip, a drama festival.

32

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

They want to have strong friendships and to feel proud of their school.

Children want to be noticed and known by their teachers and need their teachers to care deeply about guiding their learning and progress. Most children enjoy every moment at Thorpe Hall and their parents feed that back to me often; but inevitably there are times when children struggle a bit at school - struggle with the learning and struggle with the social side of school life. For them we show compassion and support, we help them find their feet by recognising them for who they really are - seeing their strengths and ambitions and making sure they have the space and time to succeed in their own way.

I believe that every child has the right to thrive and flourish, to be heard and be praised; I believe a school should be small enough to care about each individual but big enough to provide opportunities to stimulate and challenge. “

07795 577553 Wakering Road, Southend-on-Sea Essex, SS1 3RD

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SEPTEMBER 2012

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.

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Our aim is to bring life to education as well as bringing education to life.

Thorpe Hall - for girls and boys from nursery to GCSE

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35

recipe of the month

For onion gravy 25g unsalted butter 2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced ½ tsp sugar 1 tbsp plain flour 600ml fresh beef stock or made from 2 cubes 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce ½ tsp English mustard 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

In the Kitchen with Judy Barden

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan200°C/gas 7. Pour 1 tbsp olive oil into a 1.5-litre shallow roasting tin and preheat in the oven. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre, add the eggs and milk, and whisk to a smooth batter.

2. Wrap 8 rashers smoked streaky bacon around 8 pork sausages. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and cook the sausages for 5 minutes, until browned on all sides.

3. Meanwhile make the gravy. Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add the onions and sugar and cook over a medium heat, stirring now and then, for 20-30 minutes until very soft and nicely browned.

Stir in the flour and cook for a few seconds, then slowly add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and thyme leaves. Season, then simmer for 20 minutes.

Toad in the hole with Tomatoes and Rosemary

T

oad in the hole is a family favourite.

The key to making the yorkshire pudding puff up is ensuring that the fat is really hot, so make sure the oil is shimmering hot before you add the batter. A quick transfer to the oven is also key. Serve with good mash.

Enjoy!

4. Arrange the browned sausages in the preheated dish and pour the batter around them.

Dot the batter with a handful of vine-ripened cherry tomatoes and a few rosemary leaves and return to the oven for 20-25 minutes, until risen and browned.

Next month’s recipe:

‘ Thai Chicken Burgers with Cucumber Relish' Sponsored by

Ingredients 2 tbsp sunflower oil 250g plain flour, ½ tsp salt 4 eggs, lightly beaten 300ml milk 8 rashers smoked streaky bacon 8 pork sausages A handful of vine-ripened cherry tomatoes A few rosemary leaves

36

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

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Under The Hammer

Bank on it!

By Trevor Cornforth

A

s the auction market has changed, and it does on a very regular basis, the importance of some of the specialist auction rooms around the country has been reduced. Live internet sales are the main reason because sales such as ours have access to exactly the same customers as the major auction houses. The important difference for both sellers and buyers, though, is that we charge less commission and have much more regular sales.

Recently we were given instructions on a couple of specialist collections and the sellers were very pleased with the results. The first was an unusual retirement collection of mostly modern postage and commemorative stamps but with incredible amounts of printing details. Not long ago it would have been hard to access the right buyers, and even now I was a little uncertain, but sure enough they found us and fought tooth and nail for what they wanted and, let’s face it, that’s what you need in an auction.

An album of British and Commonwealth stamps sold at £550 The following sale we were presented with coins and bank notes and once again they found their mark. With thousands of people viewing each auction online I guess it isn’t surprising though and the lots have now set off to their new homes around the world. Militaria and collections of medals are also very sought after at the moment so ideally suited for sale by auction.

So, don’t forget if you need advice on single items, collections or a full estate then we are only a short drive or a phone call away.

O

A 19th C Bank Note Designer's business "card" in the form of a bank note sold at £50.

01702 613260 chalkwellauctions.co.uk

2 Baron Court, Chandlers Way, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS2 5SE

40

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

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SEPTEMBER 2012

We cater for

Private Fun ctions

Please contac t the Angel In n for further de tails

A little corner of an English Heaven

Savour a drink and good company at the award-winning, traditional, Angel Inn, Free House. at North Shoebury

Enjoy the west-facing, beer-garden and extensive views across ripening cornfields. Thatched roof, flagstone floor, exposed timbers, wide range of Real Ales, good wines and excellent food.

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T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

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43

Health & Beauty

Cracking down on Cholesterol C

holesterol is a fatty substance carried in your blood by proteins that are vital for the normal functioning of the body.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) carries cholesterol from your liver to the cells that need it. If there is too much cholesterol for the cells to use, it can build up in the artery walls, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is why LDL is known as "bad cholesterol."

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it is either broken down or passed out of the body as a waste product – therefore it’s "good cholesterol.”

So how can you reduce your cholesterol levels?

Get lots of Omega-3 This essential fatty acid, found in oily fish, flaxseed and walnuts, has been found to increase HDL cholesterol.

Pile on the onions Research suggests that half of a raw onion a day may raise HDL levels by as much as 30%.

Drinking A glass of red wine a day might help to increase HDL levels. This theory is based on the fact that red wine contains antioxidants which help to slow down the oxidation of HDL and LDL cholesterol. That’s one glass per day, not a bottle per night! More than a glass will do more damage than good.

Exercise

Quit smoking

The kind that raises your heart rate for an extended period of time (20-30 minutes) can increase your HDL if done regularly i.e. circuit-training, running, cycling, swimming or skipping etc. Mowing the lawn with a hand-mower or digging over your veg patch also helps.

Another way to increase HDL levels.

Consider taking niacin: Niacin (vitamin B3) may be an important tool to normalize cholesterol.

Several studies have found that this vitamin can increase HDL by 30% while lowering total cholesterol by up to 25%.

Eat the right fats

Cris Ramis

Avoid unhealthy trans fats found in margarine, fried foods and doughnuts that lead to clogged arteries and heart disease. Replace them with healthier fats found in coconut oil, nuts, seeds and avocados.

44

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48

HERBAL MEDICINE For all chronic & acute conditions National Institute of Medical Herbalists

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51

ORACLE Diary Dates BERA’S EGM 25th September at St. Augustines Church 8pm THORPE BAY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Autumn Flower and Homecraft Show Sat 8th September, 2.15 pm St. Augustine's Church Hall Refreshments, Bric a Brac, plant sales etc Entrance 50p Members free A HISTORY OF ISLAND KNITTING Wed12th September, 7.30pm St Barnabas Church Hall, Church Road, Hadleigh Essex Handicraft Association EPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING Mon 24th September, 7.30pm Southend Adult Community College, Ambleside Drive, Southend An opportunity for people to meet, discuss and share their experiences in addition to providing information and raising general awareness.

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING Sat 29th September from 10.30am At Beach Hut 503 (On the promenade close to car park & Uncle Tom's Cabin Thorpe Bay) Delicious Cakes and Coffee, Raffle - All proceeds to Macmillan Nurses SOUTH ESSEX NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 01702 588 115 Global History of Otters Thurs 20th September 7.30pm, Southend Central Museum Talk given by Dr Daniel Allen.

Rainham Marshes Sun 16th Sept 10.30am Meet at RSPB car park. Free to RSPB members, otherwise, £2.50 for adults.

Moth Night Vera Tring's, Call SENHS for more information.

Exact date to be announced. www.oraclepublications.co.uk www.twitter.com/oracle_essex

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Advertorial

Shoeburyness High School – Community News FUNTASTIC Holiday club out and about

N

ormally at this time of year I have the pleasure of writing an article about Shoebury Fair which was set for Saturday 16th June but unfortunately we had to take the decision to cancel the Fair this year due to the forecasted adverse weather conditions including high winds with gusts up to 45 mph!

This decision was not taken lightly; the Fair has been running for 26 years and has only been cancelled once in the past – we are looking forward to Shoebury Fair 2013.

Following on from the successful launch last year of the Shoeburyness Children’s Art Trail “Beginning of the Line” Shoeburyness High School and Primary schools of Shoeburyness once again mounted an outstanding exhibition of students work ranging from Key Stage 1 (ages 5) to Key Stage 5 (age 18).

The Shoeburyness schools each mounted their own exhibition of their student’s work which was open to the public plus we had displays at ASDA Shoeburyness, Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church and the Art Rooms & B-Lab at Shoeburyness High School.There is so much creativity and hard work that goes in 54

T H O R P E B AY O R A C L E

to the young people’s art work over the school year; it was great to be able to share this with the community through the Art Trail.

Please see the Beginning of The Line website which has been designed and run by 3 Year 7 students at Shoeburyness High School – www.beginningoftheline.co.uk.

Every school holiday time we run the FUNTASTIC Holiday Club at Shoeburyness High School. We offer an exciting range of sport, art & drama activities for young people of various ages; new for summer 2012 we had some ‘FUNTASTIC out & about adventure days’ featuring zorbing, archery, bridge building and scuba diving (not all on one day though!). At Extended Schools we also run some term time Clubs including Gymtastics, Street Beats, Fencing and Judo.

On Tuesday 25th September we have a job club starting in the community of Shoeburyness called JobWise. This is a free service to be held at various venues, on various days and at various timed throughout Shoeburyness. This is open to all and we are

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SEPTEMBER 2012

here to give friendly support and advice on CV writing, application forms, preparing for interviews and free use of computers for searching online for jobs. Please either contact me on 01702 292286 Ext. 181 or Dawn on 01702 293882.

At Shoeburyness High School we appreciate it is a big step from Year 6 into Year 7 and we strive to make this as easy as possible for both the student and parent. During August we ran a transition summer programme giving an opportunity for our new Year 7â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to familiarise themselves with the school and some of the staff, enabling them to settle into secondary school life with more confidence and less anxiety. The young people were involved in various fun based curriculum activities experiencing 100 minute sessions to replicate the actual lesson length at Shoeburyness High School. A full tour of the school was given with the opportunity to meet with their Year Manager and some of their Year 7 Subject Teachers.

We run our Living Room Youth Club once a month for Year 6 young people; a fun two hour session for a nominal charge of ÂŁ1 offering another opportunity to experience Shoeburyness High School and meet some new friends and staff.

We are looking forward to Debate Shoeburyness V on Friday 25th January 2013; our annual opportunity for young people from Shoeburyness Primary schools and Shoeburyness High School to discuss and support their community which has led to successful outcomes for their community.

Karen Stock MBE Extended Schools Co-ordinator Shoeburyness High School

Following on from the success of the Science, English & Maths adult evening GCSE courses run for 2011/12 we are offering this opportunity once again for the 2012/13 academic year.

Cast of Bugsy Malone:summer FUNTASTIC Holiday Club

Shoeburyness High School 01702 292286 Ext. 181 karenstock@shoeburyness.southend.sch.uk extendedschools@shoeburyness.southend.sch.uk www.shoeburynesshigh.co.uk/community/extendedschools SEPTEMBER 2012

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Working in partnership, both The Freight House and The Mill Arts and Events Centre offer you all you need for your perfect event. Our range of function suites are available on a venue hire basis only, at very competitive rates. Leaving you the freedom to arrange everything else just how you’d like it! Easy accessibility from the M25, A127, A130 and mainline train services make The Freight House and The Mill Arts and Events Centre the perfect choice. All you have to do is decide which one!

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Thorpe Bay

ORACLE Index to advertisers ACCOMODATION Holiday Inn 64 ACCOUNTANTS Beelams 23 Wilkins Kennedy 30 AERIALS 1st South East Aerials 56 AIRPORT TRANSFER Air & Back 51 ANTIQUE CLOCKS It's About Time 45 AUCTIONS Chalkwell Auctions 40 BI-FOLDING DOORS Essex Bifold Door Company 34 BLINDS Worth & Co 49 BLOCK PAVING Brooks Paving 58 BUILDERS AJ Properties 25 Cortes 27 DJ Contractors 52 TG Elmes Property & Refurbishment 35 BUSINESS ADVISORY Grey Marbles 15 CAR DEALERSHIP VW Vans Centre 63 CAR WINDSCREEN REPAIR Chips Away 27 CARPENTRY & JOINERY John Sorrell 24 CARPETS Gainsborough Carpets 39 Trade Carpets 5 CARPET CLEANING Gates Services 28 CHAUFFEUR & WEDDING HIRE Silver Executive Hire 8 CLEANING Maid in Essex 61 CLOCKS Watch your Clock 56 COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC PLUMBING & HEATING Essex Maintenance 23 COMPUTER SERVICES Computopia 50 Tech for Seniors 24 CONSERVATORIES BJ Davis 18 CONSERVATORY CLEANING ECCC 38 DECORATORS BMS Decorating 35 RSC Decorators 56 DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR Cloudy 2 Clear 17 DRESS MAKERS The Dress Company 4 DRIVING SCHOOL 1st Advantage 46 EDUCATION Kumon 1 Shoebury High School 54/55 St Michael's School 43 Thorpe Hall School 32/33

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ORACLE View the latest issues ONLINE

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Thorpe Bay

Thorpe Bay at a glance

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H

aving been open now for getting on three years Volkswagen Van Centre Chelmsford are delighted to announce that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have awarded Chelmsford Van Centre Tour Dealer status from January 2012.

opening. We are really excited to now be able to offer this fantastic vehicle to Essex and the surrounding area".

For further information with regard the Volkswagen California or any other exciting Commercial vehicle products please call.

This is a tremendous achievement for such a young Van Centre and has really now given the Van Centre the ability to offer the full range of vehicles imported by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK. Chris Bunce, Head of Business at Chelmsford says: "Having the ability to now sell this prestigious product is a great credit to the way the van centre has grown and developed in its short time since SEPTEMBER 2012

01245 216456 Westway Chelmsford Essex CM1 3BH www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/chelmsford Paul.higham@ir.inchcape.co.uk

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77 Eastwoodbury Crescent, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS2 6XG

77 Eastwoodbury Crescent, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS2 6XG