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We hand deliver door to door in Burnham on Crouch with 3’500 Magazines delivered every month.
Do you have a charity event or community project?
The Focus Magazine is dedicated to being a community led magazine. If you are running an event or a regular community club, let us know. We are always expanding on our charity and fundraising news.
Have You seen our other edition?
The Focus Magazine has also served the community in South Woodham Ferrers and Danbury, Bicknacre and Little Baddow for over a decade.
Pick Up Points
As well as being delivered door to door we also have prominent pick up points. We are working on these and will be able to confirm next month where these will be.
A note from the Editor…
June has arrived, and with it comes a fresh burst of energy across Burnham. The days are longer, the gardens are greener, and our community calendar is blooming with activity.
This month, we’re shining a light on the incredible work of Dengie D-Caf, who continue to provide vital support for those living with dementia in our area. As part of Dementia Action Week, they held drop-in sessions, a safe, welcoming space for anyone affected, whether directly or as a carer. We’re proud to continually support their mission to build a more understanding and inclusive community.
For our green-fingered readers, Jerry is flat out in the garden, and his June to do list is packed with seasonal tasks. Whether you’re sowing, staking, or simply enjoying the flowers, his monthly guidance is not to be missed.
This month we welcome Hannah Banks with her Wine of the Month insight. A must read for wine lovers and beginners alike. We are very grapeful for her time.
We couldn’t sign off without a massive cheer for the Burnham Ramblers, who have made it all the way to the League Cup Final. An incredible achievement the whole town is behind you! Don’t forget the Burnham Ramblers exciting Summer bootcamp, as seen on page 7. Booking is essential as spaces are limited - Hot lunches included.
As ever, thank you for welcoming the Burnham Focus into your home. We love sharing stories, achievements, and news from right here on our doorstep. Your comments and participation are essential and welcome.
Artwork Deadline for the July Issue is Monday 23rd June. Please ensure any artwork or editorial pieces are with me by that date if possible to daniel@pointgraphics.co.uk
Dan
Laura Basham Laura is an integral part of the team dealing with editorial content and fronting our accounts dept.
Nicky Arnold Sales Manager who plays an important role maintaining the success of the Focus.
Lynda Basham Director and Sales Executive with over 25 year experience in sales and customer care.
Stuart Basham Managing Director with over 35 years in advertising, design, print and marketing offering his extensive knowledge.
STOW Maries Great War Aerodrome, the largest surviving World War One aerodrome in the world, is gearing up for a summer of exciting events, as well as launching a brand-new exhibition. The Arts Council England accredited Museum, set in the Essex countryside between Chelmsford and Maldon, features awardwinning exhibitions in original WW1 buildings and modern hangars, period aircraft and The Airmen's Mess café with a superb menu including breakfasts, hot meals, light lunches, cakes and drinks. Normally open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, there will be additional excitement throughout the summer season with a packed programme of special events, including:
Royal Flying Corps Living History, Sunday 15 June –after a highly successful event in May, the living historians return to recreate the aerodrome as it was during World War One.
Back to the WW2 Farm, Saturday and Sunday 21/22 June – linked to the new exhibition, living historians will be recreating life in the Women's Land Army and the Women's Volunteer Service, while the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will fly over on both days (weather permitting).
The Sports Car Show, Sunday 6 July – a new event in partnership with FD Racing, featuring the very best in mods, conversions and fast movers.
Living History Weekend, Saturday and Sunday 19/20 July – living historians throughout the ages, from 11th century to World War Two, on site.
Stow Maries Air Show, Saturday 23 August – one of our most exciting dates, when, weather permitting, a host of aircraft will take to the skies, along with aviation themed ground activities. In addition, our latest exhibition will be opening on Saturday 24 May. Feeding the Nation: Fighting Without Flying will focus on the location’s vital role as a working farm during World War Two, including historical objects and documents from Flambirds farm during the WW2 period.
Admission charges for special events vary, and early booking is recommended, visit https://www.stowmaries.org.uk/events for more information.
Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Hackman’s Lane, Purleigh CM3 6RN is open from 10am until 4pm, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. www.stowmaries.org.uk
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Caring, supportive and professional and here to support you in your time of need
It's that time of the year when adders start coming out hibernation. The relevance of the emergence of adders to us is the consequence of its bite on our pet dogs. We have recently had our second adder bite of the season.
Where are adders found?
• Most of our snake bites come from Bradwell-on-Sea, Burnham-on-Crouch and St. Lawrence sea walls.
When would I expect adders to be active?
• Bites are more frequent in the spring and summer when the snakes are more active and can sometimes be spotted basking in the sun.
• They are active during the day, spending time basking until their body temperature is high enough to hunt for food.
• Snakes generally only bite in self-defence, so normally bites occur when a snake is stepped on or disturbed by a dog.
How will I know if my dog has been bitten?
• If your dog is out for a walk and suddenly yelps, consider that your pet may have been bitten by an adder.
• Adder bites may be difficult to identify; you may see two small puncture wounds that are painful to the touch.
What are the symptoms?
• Reasonably dramatic swelling to the face and limbs is common
• Lethargy, depression
• An increased temperature
• A fast heart rate
• Your dog will show signs of pain and may appear anxious
• Other signs include pale gums, bruising, dribbling, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, restlessness, drowsiness and lethargy.
• Eventually dogs may collapse, have blood clotting problems, tremors or convulsions.
• Bites on or around the face can lead to swelling of the face and muzzle, resulting in breathing difficulties.
• About two-thirds of dogs developed both generalised and local effects, while a third developed local effects alone.
• Initial clinical effects usually occur within two hours, with full recovery typically occurring five days after the bite
What do I do if I suspect my dog has been bitten by an adder?
• Seek veterinary attention quickly if your dog is bitten.
• Carry your dog (rather than allow him to walk) to try and reduce the spread of venom around his body.
• Bathe the wound in cold water to help control the swelling and keep your dog quiet and warm as you transport him to the Purleigh branch of Edgewood Vets.
• The administration of antihistamines immediately postsnake bite is controversial as they may cause drowsiness and therefore may make veterinary assessment more difficult. As antihistamines are only partially effective in dogs, the use thereof may be warranted.
What will happen at Edgewood if my pet has been bitten by an adder?
• Pain relief • Intravenous fluids • Antibiotics
• In some cases, where swelling of the face or neck may compromise breathing, anti-venom may be used. Dogs treated with antivenom showed fewer deaths and swelling resolved more rapidly.
• Cats are less likely to be bitten by a snake. It is more difficult to diagnose a cat snake bite and treatment is often more complicated, depending on where on the body the cat has been bitten.
• Although antivenom is not required for the management of every case of adder bite, it is usually recommended for potentially serious cases, such as those with facial bites, extensive swelling, clotting problems, low blood pressure that is non-responsive to general treatment or heart rhythm disturbances. Adverse reactions to antivenom are uncommon but are taken into consideration when administering antivenom.
Edgewood Vets always stock a bottle of antivenom at the Purleigh branch. If you suspect your dog or cat has been bitten by an adder, do not delay treatment.
Jürgen Theinert BVSc BSc MRCVS
Edgewood Veterinary Group
Wines of the month
Aperitifs and salads
Fresh white wines will work wonderfully, styles such as a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough will pair with a Green Salad or an Allotment Salad. The lightness in body pairs with the lightness of these foods and the green aromatics in each pair well.
Verdicchio has savoury characteristics which will pair with olives and Greek Salads, the acidity will also complement seafood salads.
Roses will also work in this situation especially Provence style. They will work with a Caprese Salad, as the acidity will cut through the mozzarella and olive oil.
Sparkling wines will work with Burratas Salads for a similar reason, the bubbles and acidity cuts perfectly through fats.
Main dishes
Red wines will work as the tannins in the wine complement the proteins in the meats. when choosing think about how heavy your meats will be, if you are going for lamb a classic pairing is Rioja. This is because the body of the meat and wine match, as well as the tannins complementing the meat. However, a Chianti Classico will work better with burgers or sausages due to it being lighter in body and tannin, but this wine still has depth of spices and red fruits complementing the flavours of the meats. If you want a crowd pleaser then go with Primitivo, softer tannins, fruity mixture of dried fruits and green aromas but with a hint of spice and potential oak. White wines, you will need fuller bodied whites to pair with the body of the meats, think Viognier full bodied and rich with an oily texture will complement the fats and flavours in a BBQ, a white Rioja will work as well. An aged dry Riesling will work as the acidity will cut through the fats and the smokey aromatics will complement the BBQ aromas, a white burgundy will work as well especially with chicken dishes. Ready to try an alternative? Then an orange wine will work as the skin contact gives the wine a tiny amount of tannin, fuller body and more flavour creating a perfect food pairing wine, or a darker dry rose is a great alternative, for the same reason.
By Hannah Banks @hannahs_wine_diary
Desserts
Wines
With puddings the wine must be the same level of sweetness as the dish if not more if your having a light fruity dessert such as a fruit salad or eaten mess then a sweet white Muscat pairs very well. For richer desserts look more at fortified wines such as Port or Madeira, this is so the body of each are balenced.
The Only Way Is Essex Wine
Missing Gate Rose £23 from their cellar door
Located just outside South Woodham Ferries, perfect summer rose citrus, floral and most importantly lots of red berries. Perfect aperitif or with salads and seafood.
Martins Lane Pinot Noir £33 form their website or Liquorice Shenfield Located in Stone Maries This wine has more of a darker fruit profile with some tannins Good with burgers and sausages.
Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir £39 avalible at Taylor Wines Brentwood or Grape Britannia Located in Danbury this vineyard is one of the highest recognised in the UK red fruits, ripe acidity and smooth tannins.
Perfect pairing for your BBQ.
Crouch Ridge Premiere Cuvee £42.00 from their cellar door
dishes Red wines wil work as the tannins in the wine complement the proteins in the meats when choosing think about how heavy your meats wil be, if you are going for amb a cassic paring is Rioja This s because the body of the meat and wine match, as wel as the tannns
Located in Althorne along the river Crouch Peach, brioche and honey this wine will work. Perfectly as an aperitif or with seafood and chicken.
Sir John Whittingdale
If you would like to contact John Whittingdale, to ask for help, to set out your views, or to suggest something that he may like to do or see in the constituency, please get in touch. You can do so by coming to one of his regular constituency surgeries in Maldon, Burnham on Crouch, South Woodham Ferrers and Stock or by contacting him by email, telephone or post
If you would like to contact John Whittingdale, to ask for help, to set out your views, or to suggest something that he may like to do or see in the constituency, please get in touch. You can do so by coming to one of his regular constituency surgeries in Maldon, Burnham on Crouch, South Woodham Ferrers and Stock or by contacting him by email, telephone or post By Post: Rt. Hon. Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA By Email: john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk
01621 855663
Website: www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk
Website: www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk
Dengie D-Caf has been busy raising awareness for Dementia Action Week. We have been in Co-op in Burnham and Asda In SWF with our amazing volunteers talking to people about our free support service and how it is possible to live well with Dementia. We meet on the first Friday of each month at Steeple Village Hall, and 2nd Wednesday and 4th Thursday at St Cuthberts in Burnham . All sessions 11-1pm. This month we had the wonderful staff from The LImes in Burnham visit us with an array of plants and compost to plant up some decorated containers. We also arranged a delicious lunch at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham. If you or a loved one is living with Dementia or memory issues, please come along and see how we can help. Visit our website for more information. www.dengiedcaf.org
By
This month has seen the final games of the current season with a mixed but encouraging set of results to conclude a successful season.
The Build.
The Building has now been finally separated from the Sports centre and the roof is underway and the final should be completed by the beginning of the new season in September.
We thank our neighbours and other Users for any Inconvenience caused at this time for this new Rugby Community Resource.
Our Youth Awards have taken place with a wonderful turnout for this years event. The core success of the club is the numbers of young people at Mini , Midi and youth levels and their coaches who enjoy this game every week both at matches and at training.
These members are our future and their involvement and enjoyment is great to see.
The Youth Section has representation at most age groups from 3 yrs old to Colts with a significant number of colts moving on to the adults section this season and into next season. Which is exciting for the future .
Ladies Section
Burnham Ladies travelled to Maldon for a match with their neighbours. Burnham were treated so well tonight by Maldon coach Mike Chandler and his team. It was an absolute joy to be on the field with Maldon ladies. The games were fast paced and a lot of fun. With some superb tries being scored from players seizing great opportunities. Well done Burnham very very proud Team. Coral, Yueli, Lizzy, Becks, Jessica, Scarlett and Specks.
New members always welcome regardless of ability. Ladies and Girls Year 7 and above train Wednesdays 5.45pm to 7pm, excluding School holidays.
Burnham Ladies would like to congratulate our award winners this year:
Most Improved player - Ivy | Players Player - Jessica Player of the Year - April
FUND RAISING
A large part of our time is taken up with fund raising for the new Build and we have come up with a few innovative ways to do this. One of the most popular is “Donate a Brick” campaign .
You can for a small donation get your Family name etched onto the interior doors and glass in the new building. For more details see our flyers or contact our committee at donations@burnhamrugby.com.
Social Events
Our Bar has been very successful and is opening more often to support summer ‘s clubs social events.during the November Internationals and more recently during
Look at our social media posts for the next social function over the summer Including our Pirate party in July.
Training Times and Events
During the summer there are new times and dates for Summer fitness and fun so please see our Website
WALKING RUGBY (MEN & WOMEN) : THURS 7PM
Adults and Colts – Tuesday and Thursdays from 7PM ( Check website for start dates during summer.
Burnham On Crouch Rowing Club
Yet another very successful week down at the Coastal Rowing club in Burnham On Crouch.
End of March we had a very successful 3 boat row to the mouth of the river to see the seals, an absolutely amazing experience for all and then rounded March off with a club night out to the Karaoke down at the Welcome Sailor.
Easter came and brought The Good Friday, Easter Day and Bank Holiday Monday row which were scattered with many treats left by the Easter Bunny.
On 8th May the club sent out two boats to help remember VE day. Rowers came in Union Jack outfits and sat out in the river as the Beacon was being lit and followed this up with the Clubs SILENT DISCO which was well supported and raised money for new oars.
Finally on the 11th May Burnham Coastal Team in rough water came second in the first round of the Nelsons Cup. They were only beaten by a boat which had 2 more rowers in!.
The club is always opening its doors to new members and encourages people to come and try out on the river. If you are interested in this successful social and physically active club please contact us on facebook or instagram
What a scorcher it’s been lately! I’ve been dashing around the garden with a watering can most evenings, trying to keep everything from flopping over. The sun’s been glorious, but it’s thirsty work for the plants—and for me, come to think of it!
It’s one of my favourite times of year. The borders are full of life, the bees are everywhere, and the veg patch is finally starting to pay off. After all that sowing and faffing about with seed trays earlier in the year, it’s lovely to see things coming good.
Keeping Things Watered
With this hot weather, the biggest job at the moment is watering. I try to give everything a proper soak every few days rather than a little splash each night it helps the roots go deeper and makes the plants tougher in the long run. That said, the salad bed is looking at me funny if I miss a day!
In the Veg Patch
The veg patch is a real source of joy right now. The tomatoes in the greenhouse are just starting to flower, and I’ve got courgettes spreading their big leaves like umbrellas. The runner beans are climbing steadily, and I’m picking salad leaves every day, it’s amazing how quickly they bounce back.
I’ve done a second sowing of rocket and beetroot this week, just to keep the momentum going into late summer. If you’ve got a spare patch of soil or even a deep pot, now’s a great time to pop a few seeds in.
I’ve also started feeding the tomatoes and courgettes once a week with a liquid feed once the flowers appear,
they need that extra boost. If you’re growing in pots like I am, they need feeding even more.
Deadheading and Pruning
June’s also the time to deadhead regularly. A quick snip here and there keeps things tidy and encourages more flowers, especially on roses, cosmos, and bedding plants. I do it in the evening with a glass of something in hand. It’s a nice way to wind down after a day.
If you’ve got spring-flowering shrubs like forsythia or lilac, now’s the time to give them a trim. A light prune helps them stay in shape and ensures a good display next year.
Slug Patrol
The slugs are loving this warm, damp spell we had earlier in the month. They’ve had a go at my lettuces already. I’ve been using crushed eggshells and a few oldschool beer traps to keep them in check. Seems to be working, fingers crossed!
Plant of the Month: Alliums
I can’t not mention the alliums. They’re strutting their stuff in the borders right now. Tall, purple and proud. Even when the flowers fade, I leave the seed heads standing. They catch the evening sun beautifully and look great well into autumn.
My Top Tip of the Month
If you’re heading off for a holiday, group your pots in a shady spot and sit them in trays of water. I do it every year and it works a treat. And if you’ve got a neighbour you trust, bribe them with some produce, they’ll keep an eye on your tomatoes while you’re away!
Jerry’s Garden – June in the Garden
Burnham Ramblers Celebrate
125 Years in Style on Easter Monday
Burnham Ramblers Football Club marked a monumental milestone this Easter Monday, celebrating their 125th anniversary with a day of community spirit, footballing triumph, and heartfelt reflection.
Hosted by the legendary Radio Caroline, who broadcasted live from the club’s ground throughout the day, the festivities brought together supporters of all ages to honour the club’s long-standing history and vibrant future.
A poignant highlight of the day was the presence of Anthony Nolan, the stem cell donor charity, who set up a sign-up stand that drew a fantastic response from players and visitors alike. The charity holds a special place in the heart of the club after one of Burnham Ramblers’ own players received a life-saving stem cell transplant—a moving reminder of the power of football to unite for good causes.
The club’s beer garden was transformed into a bustling fairground, with each youth team hosting their own stalls. Cakes, tombolas, raffles, and traditional games such as coconut shy and hook-a-duck entertained families and visitors, with a standout attraction being the impressive beer barrel bar that kept spirits high.
On the pitch, Burnham Ramblers’ first team ended their season on a high note, securing a stunning 4–1 victory over Hoddesdon. The win saw the team finish 11th in the league table—a strong close to the season and a cause for celebration. Adding to the occasion, the club’s youngest stars—its mini kickers aged 3 to 6—served as proud mascots, leading the team onto the field and treating the crowd to a half-time penalty shoot-out.
The celebrations continued into the evening with the first team’s end-of-season presentation. Jordan Hudson was honoured with the Clubman Award, while Jamie Hudson took home both the Manager’s Player and Players’ Player accolades. Will Hayes was named Young Player of the Year, and fan-favourite Manny received recognition for the Favourite Goal of the season.
As the sun set on a day filled with joy, gratitude, and community pride, Burnham Ramblers Football Club showed that after 125 years, its heart beats stronger than ever—on and off the pitch.
Hi, my name is Cathryn and I have joined Nick and the team at Burnham. It has been lovely to have the opportunity to meet so many of you over the last few months and I look forward to getting to know many more of you in the future. Over the years, I have been privileged to treat many people diagnosed with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions. My gentle and holistic approach has been well suited to help ease the symptoms and make living with such conditions more comfortable. So what is fibromyalgia…?
Fibromyalgia
What is Fibromyalgia and the potential Symptoms?
Fibromyalgia is a long term, chronic pain condition, often characterised by having widespread pain. As well as muscle and joint pain and stiffness, people can have heightened sensitivity to pain and things that would not normally be painful like light touch may trigger pain sensations. People often have associated symptoms of chronic fatigue, which can come on suddenly and be particularly draining, sleep disruption leading to a reduction in deep, restorative sleep, issues concentrating, remembering and learning that are sometimes referred to as brain fog, headaches, shortness of breath, palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome leading to constipation and/or diarrhoea, bladder issues and increased susceptibility to infection. Some people will also suffer from dizzy spells, increased clumsiness, reduced ability to regulate temperature leading to feeling too hot or cold, restless legs syndrome, pins and needles in hands and feet, and increased period pain. It can be associated with anxiety and/or depression, which can be part of the initial cause or as a result of long-term discomfort.
What Causes Fibromyalgia and How to Manage It?
Fibromyalgia may be linked with emotional and/or physical trauma. This may be a recent episode or can be something that happened a
Tillingham Cricket Club
A wonderful idyllic situated club found in the middle of the Dengie which boasts 3 Saturday Teams which cover all abilities (Div 1, Div 6 and Div 11).
On top of this the club puts on a Sunday Teams which cover, a T20 team for Tuesdays and the club also have a successful music night in the Summer.
The club has a beautiful pavilion which can be hired for events , artificial pitch, covers, nets frogbox streaming and many other top notch facilities. The first and second team play at Tillingham whereas the thirds play at Purleigh.
The squad of players range from mid 60s all the way down to 14. If you are interested in joining this lovely little club please message Dave on 07989 432563
long time ago that has resulted in long term compensation patterns. Symptoms may be exacerbated by smoking, drinking alcohol and/or caffeine, and taking drugs. These may also inhibit healing. Supplements such as vitamin D, B12, magnesium and zinc may help as part of a well-balanced diet and a nutritionist can provide a personally tailored recommendation. Exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms and enhance overall well-being, leading to a positive cycle of improvement over time. Simply walking in the fresh air and enjoying the scenery may help. Even 10 minutes a day can be a benefit and over time this can be increased. Group exercise classes may be beneficial as the instructor can help ensure exercise is performed in an optimal way and the social aspect can make it more enjoyable.
Sometimesitcanbeweaknessinthehip,soit’saquestion ofexaminingandcomingupwithatreatmentplanto improve these muscles and improve the range of movement.It’salsoacaseofthekneebeingabitsensitive andabitsore.Theaimistobeabletoloadandimprove thestrengthwithoutcausingdiscomfortandimprovethe flexion(howfaryoucanbendyourknees)butbeingableto doitgraduallysothatovertimemoreandmoreweightcan beputthroughthekneesothatyoucanactuallybendit fullywithnodiscomfort.ThisissomethingIhavehelped patientswithovertheyears,soifthissoundslikeyou,feel freetocontactmeforanappointment.
Osteopathy as a whole body, mind and soul approach can be effective in helping people to manage their symptoms and along with exercise and a well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet can help to promote health and improve quality of life.
NickO’Connor,Osteopath 01621786600
If you would like to discuss any aspect of this with us, please do get in touch.
www.holicity.co.uk
Saturday 5th July* On St Mary’s Church Green Southminster Road, Burnham on Crouch CM0 8DA
Sellers arrive 9am to 9.30am Buyers 9.30am to noon
