Issue 35
Cover photo by Jon Sturdy Photography
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Br icklesea Bygon es Fix it and Services in the Fifties and Sixties Just a few weeks ago I was in the Car Park behind the Council Chambers waiting for the Lloyds Mobile Bank to make its twice weekly visit to town, this little van we have nicknamed “The Noddy Bank”, when an old friend appeared and vented his anger about how this Town was Self Sufficient seventy or so years ago” when we had our own Water Works, Gas works, Electricity, Sewerage Works, Council Offices and Workforce, Fire Brigade, Ambulance, Red-Cross and Doctors who managed their own Surgery and much more”. This took my thoughts back to the Brightlingsea I knew in my childhood. Compared to the present day when we might scrap a home appliance when it breaks down as repair sometimes is just as much as replacement, things were so different in the fifties and sixties, not just appliances but the smaller items of household and daily life repairs. Our little Town had many shops and handymen all in the Town who mended and fixed whatever let you down, some even came to your doors via Horse & Cart—Hand Cart— Trade Bike and Shank’s Pony and some even offered the little red books to pay your bill weekly, in fact our first home at 42 New Street was part furnished including the TV on “the little red books” in which not a penny was charged in interest. As I mentioned earlier with the main service’s they all had shops and offices in town and their own workforce, I even remember Stan Norton cycling around every late afternoon lighting the gas street lights with his pole and hook. If we had problems with gas or electric appliance these two services had their own workmen, there were
no other companies. Dickerson and Langley (fork and wine) repaired Radios, Tv’s and electric kettles and Peter Scott was the TV aerial erector and proudly erected the very first aerial on top of Baileys Fish and Chip Shop in New Street (Winkies). Going back further into my earlier years I can remember the man on his what I would call his back to front Tricycle he was the knife sharpener who called once a year in the spring time to sharpen my uncle Fred’s gardening tools, his shears, scythe, pruner, lopper and axe. He swung his saddle around backwards and peddled his variety of rotary stones to sharpen uncles’ tools, I can only remember him calling a couple of times but it was circa over 60 years ago. Also I recall the Rag and Bone man calling on his horse and cart shouting and ringing his bell, collecting old clothes, scrap metal and old meat bones that had seen their time in the stew pot and now headed to the bone meal fertilizer sack, This scruffy elderly cheery chap frightened me to bit’s, this must seem unreal to today’s youngsters. Bikes were the main source of transport in those days for the min workforce in town which was at the two Shipyards at the Waterside and at 7-30 am 12 noon 1pm and 5pm when the workforce started-had lunch and finished their working day by the Yards whistles and hooters causing the clutter of bikes rushing all over town, As with all bikes they occasionally broke chains, had punctures, and all the usual bike problems and that’s when the two Cycle Shops were commissioned to fix the problems, Lungley’s in Victoria Place and Ted Price in Tower Street and a part time bike fixer who lived in New Street.
There were many other men taking up part time jobs such as Chimney Sweeps and Window Cleaners to raise a bit of extra cash, after all just after WW2 and times were hard in most homes with many little businesses springing up all the time. Only recently a well known Brightlingsea Lady told me of one enterprising business man delivered Single Tub washing
machines to housewives at breakfast time and collected them at noon to take to another client, wow what an excellent idea it was in hose days. Whatever broke there was always someone in Town who could fix it for probably just a few shillings or as we used say “A couple of Bob.” Roy Birnie
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Issue 36: 21/05/19 Issue 37: 21/06/19
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Lega l Up d a te
by Jane Pleass Your friendly local solicitor
Before I sign off, there are a couple of matters that have been the subject of recent articles that I should update you on. (Both neither happy or good news I’m afraid!)
Probate Fees I was surprised to find that I have been writing these articles since September 2016, and therefore have made over 30 contributions to this magazine. I am afraid that the time has come for me to put away my quill pen and inkpot as I feel that I have exhausted the various topics and find that I am in danger of repeating myself. Looking back over the articles, I realise that, in the main, they have not been full of happy good news stories but, I guess that if everything was perfect and rosy there would be no real need for lawyers in the first place.
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Back in November 18, I wrote about the likelihood of a huge rise in fees for Probate applications. The increase, which was scheduled to be introduced from 1st April has not materialised, (yet). Currently the legislation is still awaiting Parliamentary approval and, since the House of Commons has been rather preoccupied recently, it has not yet been scheduled to come before the House. If the proposed increase is eventually agreed, then there will be at least 21 days notice before it is introduced. All the talk of increased fees has encouraged a rush of applications, just at a time when the Probate
Registries were introducing a new computer system, which they are struggling to get to grips with, and an announcement that a large number of the regional Registries are to be closed. The result is that applications from solicitors that used to take 6 -7 working days, are currently taking up to six weeks, leading to frustration all around. Personally, I do believe that, despite objections from a number of MP’s, that the new fee structure will be introduced and would advise that should you find yourself dealing with an estate that needs a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration that you proceed with all haste.
Stamp Duty Land Tax I recently spent several hours shut in a room in central London, learning all about the absolute minefield that Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) has become. This is the tax imposed on most property purchases and which, following changes made back in 2016, has become so complicated that even the Revenue, who wrote the rules, seem to be having difficulty in interpreting them. The course notes, written by an expert as a summary of the main issues, were 66 pages long! Originally introduced in 2003, SDLT was initially relatively straight forward to calculate until, that was, Parliament started to make changes to it. The first changes came in 2014 but the
biggest and most complex changes were made in April 2016, with the 3% surcharge for second homes and buy to let investments being introduced. Three years on, and it is apparent that many do not fully understand the rules which has resulted in a large number of people either underpaying, or overpaying SDLT. (In the event of an overpayment you generally have up to 13 months in which to apply for a refund) It would not be possible to detail the rules, and exceptions to those rules, in an article such as this but, suffice it to say, it is very important to consider the SDLT position of any property purchase at a very early stage, as it can lead to a very significant additional tax bill. It is also fair to say that many solicitors are advising clients to take advice from specialist Stamp Duty adviser firms, as it really has become that complicated.
Farewell I have been gratified to receive many positive comments about my articles over the last 2 ½ years which encouraged me to carry on for as long as I have, but as they say, all good things must come to an end. Rest assured, I am very definitely not giving up the job that has been my life for over 30 years and I fully intend to remain your friendly local lawyer for some time to come.
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Br igh tlin gsea Lid o – A New Sea son Brightlingsea Lido is gearing up for its second year as a community run facility with improvements and new attractions to build on our success of 2018. We have appointed a new manager, local man Clive Edwards who will take forward the new developments on a day to day basis supported by the trustees and volunteers. The plant room is undergoing a major overhaul, thanks to a grant from the Coastal Revival Fund, which will make a huge difference in the efficiency of how the water quality is managed while saving energy in the process. The ambitious new café will provide a greater range of food and drinks than before, will have indoor and outdoor seating and improve the customer experience. The locally crowd-funded ‘wipe-out’ style inflatable will provide some fun and frolics for the young & young at heart and hopefully attract more visitors to the Lido.
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We had a fantastic turnout of potential volunteers in April but we always need more! We need help with getting the Lido ready for opening, front of house, the café and of course lifeguards. Young people doing voluntary service for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards are particularly welcome. If you think you can help please come down to the lido, especially on a Saturday in May or email brightlingsealido@gmail.com The opening day will be May 25th, so fingers crossed for a sunny bank holiday weekend. Exact hours will be posted at the Lido and on our social media sites, so look out for adult only swims, aquacise and other events. One for your diary is the great party band Soul Kitchen who will be playing at the Lido on June 22nd, tickets are on sale now at Spirals, Toggs in the High St and online at eventbrite.co.uk
Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle Sp r in g Bon a n za for Br igh tlin gsea Food b a n k
“We are so grateful to the Co-op for allowing us to do this again, and for the terrific generosity of Brightlingsea people. They gave so willingly to this cause.
appropriate help organisations, so they can start to tackle their issues.” Brightlingsea Foodbank opens every Wednesday morning from 10:30am until 12:30pm at the Parish Hall, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, CO7 0BP. Brightlingsea Foodbank, launched in December 2015, is a partner of Colchester Foodbank. As well as food donations, cash is also vitally need to pay for the rental of the warehouse to store the donated food. The running costs are around £1,600 per month. Colchester Foodbank, in partnership with Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Foodbanks, is currently raising money to buy its own premises, which will benefit everyone.
If you would like to donate to this appeal, please contact Michael Beckett, Chief Operations Officer at Colchester “All the donated food items are taken Foodbank, on 01206 621998, or to a warehouse in Colchester where at 33 Moorside Business Park, East they are securely stored and sorted into Gates, Colchester, CO1 2ZF. For more emergency food parcels for families information about Brightlingsea and individuals in Brightlingsea, Foodbank please call: Win or Frank Wivenhoe and Colchester facing on 07970 480968, or drop into the an unforeseen crisis. “Our job is to foodbank on a Wednesday between help meet their immediate need for 10:30am and 12:30pm at the Parish Hall, SmithsButchers_Quarter_Page_Apr2019.ai 1 02/05/2019 12:17:15 food and signpost them to the most Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, CO7 0BP.
£5 OFF when you spend over £25 valid until end of June
OPENING HOURS Monday
Closed
Friday
8am – 4pm
Tuesday
8am – 4pm
Saturday
7.30am – 3pm
Wednesday
8am – 4pm
Sunday
Closed
Thursday
8am – 4pm
Tel: 01206 302939 14 High Street, Brightlingsea, Essex CO7 0AE
ACROSS 1 City of ancestral suffering (9) 6 Evasive about son being comfortable (4) 9 Sue assumes two fellows in charge to be enough (7) 10 Disrupted most of literary film preview (7) 11 Blades appearing when people have a row (4) 12 Note lack of talk about one displaying toughness (10) 14 B in test characteristic of a certain group (6) 15 Calming drug is vet’s idea possibly (8) 18 Reliable-sounding Scottish city (8) 19 They work with a tool (6) 22 Applaud – yes, one goes wild, see (4,4,2) 24 Encourage some of our generation (4) 26 A complex plot’s beginning to engross Peter perhaps (7) 27 Loose rocks by church make an unpleasant sound (7) 28 Advance payment for poet first off (4) 29 Former Blue Peter presenter wearing vest? (9) DOWN 1 Stick it to the end, leaving after the others (4,3) 2 Tent fire destroyed one Egyptian queen (9) 3 A family related by blood (4) 4 Two letters read aloud in tent (6) 5 Crooked Eritrean lawyer may ask for one (8) 6 Generous cleaner’s given one board (10) 7 Ring lost in bar or beauty parlour (5) 8 Country producing oil we hear (6) 13 Middle name put first in place for telephone operators (4,6) 16 I close home – that’s serious (2,7) 17 E.g. insert mobile numbers (8) 18 For example, American backed Charles (4,2) 20 Chap is to walk with female (7) 21 Relative keeps us in money (6) 23 Decorate for a party with sailors (5) 25 Exam offers alternative to a student (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 Lancaster. 6 cosy. 9 suffice. 10 trailer. 11 oars. 12 resilience. 14 tribal. 15 sedative. 18 Stirling. 19 pliers. 22 clap eyes on. 24 urge. 26 apostle. 27 screech. 28 ante. 29 singleton. DOWN: 1 last out. 2 Nefertiti. 3 akin. 4 teepee. 5 retainer. 6 charitable. 7 salon. 8 Greece. 13 call centre. 16 in earnest. 17 integers. 18 such as. 20 Stephen. 21 cousin. 23 adorn. 25 oral.
Huge-hearted Brightlingsea shoppers have just donated a whopping 260kg of groceries for people in need. They generously gave these items at the recent food drive at Brightlingsea Fiveways Co-op. This is the biggest food drive total ever collected by Brightlingsea Foodbank volunteers. They were stationed at the store door from 9am until 4pm and invited customers to add an extra tin or packet to their regular shop, to give to the foodbank. Win Pomroy, coordinator of Brightlingsea Foodbank volunteers said: “It was amazing. The goods poured in all day long.
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Clim a te ch a n ge is h a p p en in g Climate change is happening. It may be uncomfortable news to hear, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The last four years were the hottest four Bernard Jenkin years on record, and the hottest nine years ever recorded all took place this century. Only last month were we treated to a lovely – but unseasonably warm – bank holiday weekend, now confirmed as the hottest ever. Some all too readily seize on individual events to prophesy doom, but there is now an overwhelming accumulation of evidence and a consensus of scientific opinion which suggest that the risks of climate disaster means action needs to be taken. For those saying that humans aren’t to blame – I would encourage them to look at successive reports of the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Yes, there is plenty still to contest, but we cannot afford to wait for certainty. We know what gases causes global warming. Carbon emissions, mass-produced by industrialised economies, have raised the concentration of carbon dioxide
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in the atmosphere from a historical average of ~280 parts per millions to a record of 410ppm since the start of the industrial revolution. The consequences are potentially vast. They will affect people in the United Kingdom and around the world. Rising sea levels threaten parts of Essex and our coastal communities, and some whole nations. Desertification increase. The whole of North Africa will run out of ground water by the middle of this century. Warming will expand habitats for insects, such as mosquitos, carrying infectious diseases. Habitat and biodiversity destruction will lead to more mass migration, as people seek escape from increasingly inhospitable areas, in search of water and food security, as well as jobs and prosperity. This has coincided with the fastest period of temperature rises for thousands of years. While the UK has done an admirable job of combatting climate change – reducing its carbon footprint by approximately 40% since 1990 – more must be done. As the young climate activist Greta Thunberg pointed out when she visited Parliament after Easter, much of this reduction has been brought about by
simply relocating the country in which UK carbon is emitted. While it may flatter the UK’s statistics if particularly carbon-intensive goods are no longer made here, making them on the other side of a border doesn’t change the global picture. This isn’t to say that serious progress hasn’t been made. The UK has hugely reduced its reliance on coal – producing nearly one tenth as much energy with the fuel now as it did in 1990. In that time, the amount of renewable energy: solar, wind and tidal, has skyrocketed. Businesses have also played their part: about one third of the reduction
has come from carbon savings there. But more needs to be done, and it needs to be done at an international scale. The United States and China are the two biggest contributors in the world, and India has had the fastest rate of international growth of any major economy. There are serious arguments to be made about the payoffs between rapid industrial development and decarbonisation, but the key point is that we need both. Without economic growth, the world will shrink from the investment that decarbonisation needs. By Bernard Jenkin
01621 893834 07900 332795
Ca stle Pa r k Ba n d sta n d Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle con cer ts r etu r n A great programme of free concerts is once again taking place at Colchester Castle Park’s iconic Victorian bandstand. Every year, Colchester Borough Council offers a varied musical programme at the bandstand in Upper Castle Park. This year’s concerts include performances from 17 bands including swing, contemporary and brass. All this year’s concerts will take place from 3-5pm, except for the Essex Concert Band on 23 June, which will start at 3.30pm. All concerts are free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and a picnic. Dates for the upcoming 2019 concerts are: 12 May – Essex Yeomanry Band
11 August – The Colchester Band
19 May – Harmonie Concert Band
18 August – The Harmonettes
25 May – The Lisa Graham Duo
24 August – Colne Endeavour Band
26 May – Tilbury Band
25 August – Chelmsford Silver Band
16 June – Sid Bolan Big Band
1 September – Essex Police Band
23 June – Essex Concert Band
8 September – Sweeting Swing Band
30 June – Band of the Parachute Regiment
15 September – St Peter’s Band
ACROSS 1 Mostly training and skill show how easily something can be done (14) 9 Admires new weapon (7) 10 Company chief ordered to get a small house (7) 11 A fool rejected Turner perhaps (4) 12 Transaction includes black fur (5) 13 Endlessly show respect by going down on one? (4) 16 Cut head off...cut head off exotic flower first (7) 17 Get together for prayer (7) 18 A very short dance? (3-4) 21 The weather worried Tim and Alec (7) 23 Transport for vagrant mostly (4) 24 Embargo on nobleman (5) 25 God whose reflection is seen in canal (4) 28 Spoke but spoke indistinctly first off (7) 29 He worked with vicar to keep records (7) 30 Deborah started changing act (5,3,6) DOWN 1 Launch sailing vessel and celebrate lavishly (4,3,4,3) 2 Composition by an Italian poet (7) 3 Melt some of the path away (4) 4 Announcer on the radio for match (7) 5 Rustic leaders of British union get tummy ache (7) 6 Permit takes time for Latvian (4) 7 Apprentice from Aintree messed up (7) 8 Again advanced smaller sum to head, showing persistence (14) 14 Damp has to destroy finally (5) 15 The King lives – that’s crazy! (5) 19 One demands former thespian (7) 20 I put lad off with praise (7) 21 Piece of music for choir at end of perfomance (7) 22 Studio is refurbished late – that’s right (7) 26 River associated with a waste product (4) 27 Copy Spain and Switzerland, love (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 practicability. 9 sidearm. 10 cottage. 11 Tina. 12 sable. 13 knee. 16 execute. 17 collect. 18 one-step. 21 climate. 23 tram. 24 baron. 25 Zeus. 28 uttered. 29 archive. 30 tread the boards. DOWN: 1 push the boat out. 2 andante. 3 thaw. 4 compare. 5 bucolic. 6 Lett. 7 trainee. 8 relentlessness. 14 musty. 15 Elvis. 19 exactor. 20 plaudit. 21 chorale. 22 atelier. 26 urea. 27 echo..
01206 564179 01473 780477
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W h a t’s n ew a t th e Zoo!
Colchester Zoo is home to over 240 species, so when we welcome new arrivals it’s an exciting time for us and our visitors. Back in December we welcomed 3 adorable bush dog pups! Since their arrival mum Nina and dad Nico have been very attentive and keepers have also been keeping a close eye on this growing family. The pups were
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recently given their vaccinations and their sex has also been confirmed as male! As they continue to grow the trio have now started to explore their outdoor area with the rest of the family and are being shown the ropes by older sibling’s Oakley, Ozara and Octavia. Bush dogs are a rare and unusual canid, with short legs, a bushy tail, a rounded muzzle and webbed feet! The birth of the pups is extremely important to not only Colchester Zoo but also to this species which is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
In January a Fiji banded iguana was transferred from Germany and we delighted that he has settled nicely into his new home. We are excited to welcome this seriously endangered iguana to Colchester Zoo in the hope that he would join our breeding program. The Fiji banded iguana is spectacularly beautiful, the males have a emerald green body with vertical blue and light green stripes on his body and long tail. They can grow up to 80cm in length with their tail that makes up more than two thirds. They use their
tail for balance as it climbs amongst branches. With so much to see and do Colchester Zoo is a great place to visit all year round!
Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle Leisu r e Wor ld stocks
sw im w ea r m a d e fr om ocea n w a ste
Leisure World Colchester is now stocking Zoggs EcolastTM swimwear in its Zoggs Shop.
ACROSS 1 Darling, principally I’m a comedian but I’m not very bright (6) 5 Editor in charge absorbed by manuscript for doctors (6) 9 Old mule spilled sulphuric acid (5) 10 See 25 Down 12 Scary story from German poet needing no introduction (7) 13 See 8 Down 14 Backward boy Edward pried (5) 16 Thus a popular time is needed for TV series (4-5) 18 Her voting changed in a short space of time (9) 21 Some frown at allegation of birth (5) 22 Crazy for fruit (7) 24 Reaches a turbulent river second (7) 26 Henry’s first pal made off with car part (8) 27 Bird starts to collect eggs from here (5) 28 Son wastes talents (6) 29 Former model’s show (6)
Zoggs’ EcolastTM range is made from abandoned fishing nets, carpet and industrial waste which are rescued from the oceans and landfill through a partnership with Healthy Seas. Healthy Seas is a notfor-profit initiative with a mission to protect our oceans and marine life by collecting abandoned fishing nets that are then transformed into sustainable products.
responsible for the retrieval of ghost fishing nets, raising awareness of the environmental damage these nets cause. It’s estimated 640,000 tons of fishing equipment is discarded in our oceans every year, each taking hundreds of years to decompose. The Healthy Seas initiative also collaborates with fishermen, fish farms and local communities to prevent these nets ending up in the sea by helping to source responsible solutions. Zoggs also donates 10% of profits from Ecolast™ swimwear to the Healthy Seas initiative. The Zoggs Shop at Leisure World Colchester is open 6am-10pm (Mon to Friday), 7am-9pm (Saturday) and 8am-8pm (Sunday).
Working with divers, schools, NGOs and governments, Healthy Seas is
DOWN 2 Old tribe bringing diamonds to Northern Ireland (5) 3 Where racketeering goes on in the courts? (9) 4 Wot’s up? A road’s approaching (7) 5 Girl’s aimless wandering (7) 6 Tea towel perhaps is not so damp (5) 7 Con men opt out in part (9) 8,13 Across “Surely you jest?” famously addressed to judge in court (3,6,2,7) 11 Settled Sheila’s debt somehow (11) 15 One US writer or another by stream (9) 17 Now his rep gets busted for possession (9) 19 They talk incessantly of balloons (7) 20 MP later resolved to tread roughly (7) 23 Boy, a new rising 3 Down champion (5) 25,10 Across Evening Star is going to set out aims for 3 Down champion (5)
SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 dimwit. 5 medics. 9 oleum. 10 Williams. 12 chiller. 13 serious. 14 nosed. 16 soap-opera. 18 overnight. 21 natal. 22 bananas. 24 arrives. 26 headlamp. 27 hence. 28 skills. 29 expose. DOWN: 2 Iceni. 3 Wimbledon. 4 towards. 5 Melissa. 6 drier. 7 component. 8,13 Across YOUCANNOTBE. 11 established. 15 Steinbeck. 17 ownership. 19 gas-bags. 20 trample. 23 NADAL. 25,10 Across venus.
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WALK ON THE W ILD SIDE THIS MAY Come and enjoy the walking events and activities taking place in the borough’s parks and countryside spaces. May is National Walking Month and the perfect time to come and enjoy the walking events and activities taking place in the borough’s parks and countryside spaces. The Introduction to Volunteering Day taking place 10.45am - 3pm at High Woods Country Park on 11 May is ideal for those who enjoy being active and outdoors and working with others. Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more on the Council’s website and is asked to express their interest in this event by contacting countrysidevolunteers@ colchester.gov.uk by 8 May.
For those who would like to “try their hand” at a traditional craft, there’s the free Pole Lathe Day at High Woods Country Park on 19 May which visitors can drop-in to any time between 10am – 3pm. Pyrography will also be available at this event for a small fee. The event is suitable for children, providing they are supervised. If you’d like to spot wildlife on your walk, then the free family-friendly Gosbecks Archaeological Park Wildlife Walk from 10.30am - 12.30pm on 26 May is ideal. Join the ranger to discover what wildlife can be seen across the conservation grassland which should include Skylark singing, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and, hopefully, Corn Bunting. Visitors are encouraged to bring any Field Guides, ID books or binoculars, they have with them and wear footwear
appropriate footwear for rough ground. Please be aware this event is weather dependent. The family-friendly Butterflies and Beasties event taking place in High Woods Country Park during May half term is a great opportunity for the kids to search for all things butterfly, bug and mini beast related in the park. There will also be themed games and a chance for children to make their own clay creature or mini beast hotel to take home too. This event takes place 10am – 12pm on 29 May and is suitable for ages 4+. Booking for this event is essential and costs £4.40 per child. Health Walks also regularly take place at High Woods Country Park all year round and are led by trained Health Walk Leaders. They are an
ideal way to improve fitness or mobility in a sociable atmosphere and refreshments are available afterwards for a small fee. Booking is not essential but visitors are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes early for a brief introduction. For more information, please visit the Council’s website. Tickets for bookable events can only be purchased through the Visitor Information Centre in Hollytrees Museum, in person at Hollytrees Museum, Castle Park, CO1 1UG or by telephone on 01206 282920, purchases cannot be made at the events. You can also take a self-guided walk around any of our countryside locations. For more information visit colchester.gov.uk/parks
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Coln e Med ica l Cen tr e Tip s to h elp w ith h ayfever There’s currently no cure for hay fever and you can’t prevent it. But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high. Do:• put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen • wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes • shower and change your clothes after you’ve been outside to wash pollen off • stay indoors whenever possible • keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
You do not need a prescription for hayfever medicines. Many treatments are available for little cost from your pharmacist who can give advice and suggest the best treatments, such as antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays to help with: itchy and watery eyes and sneezing or a blocked nose
• vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth • buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a special HEPA filter Don’t:• cut grass or walk on grass • spend too much time outside • keep fresh flowers in the house • smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse • dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen • let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors Please note the practice will be closed for the Bank holidays on Monday 6th May and Monday 27th May and for staff training on the afternoon of 16th May. Thank you for reading. Caroline Bowden, Practice Manager
Usefu l Ph on e Nu m b er s
OW Ls Mon th ly New s New title for magazine – same title for OWL’s, still bringing you local information that we hope is helpful. One area we would like to highlight this month is the Home Library Service. This is a great service for housebound people who still like to read or listen to books. There is a wide range of large print books and recorded novels and there are a couple of volunteers who would be happy to bring books or CDs of your choice. If you are interested or know someone could either make use of this service or become a volunteer, please contact the Library on 0345 603 7628. Another interesting development is a monthly meeting about Hearing Loss and Tinnitus. This is held usually on the 3rd Friday of the month in the Parish Hall from 11.00 – 13.00. (different week in June & Dec.) It is a free event and you can get a hearing check as well as information on how to tackle Tinnitus and communication difficulties, plus support and equipment that is available. It also
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gives you the chance to socialise with other people who have the same problems. You can find out more by contacting Todorina Hammond on 07442 538 939 or todorinahammond@ hearingloss.org.uk. OWLs were extremely honoured to receive a Pride of Tendring Award which was presented at a ceremony at the Princes Theatre in Clacton. When you visit the Parish Hall you will be able to see the trophy and certificate. We hope to continue bringing you information and advice that might help in our latter years. So if have anything that you would like to share or would like us to find information for you, do contact us as usual on 01206 303375 or youwalk@btinternet.com
Boots Pharmacy .............................................................................01206 302029 Brightlingsea Museum ....................................................................01206 303286 Brightlingsea Sports Centre.............................................................01206 304946 Brightlingsea Swimming Pool .........................................................01206 303067 Brightlingsea Town Council ............................................................01206 303535 Colchester Hospital..........................................................................01206 747474 Colne Yacht Club .............................................................................01206 302594 Colne View Dentist ..........................................................................01206 302307 Dentist ............................................................................................01206 305080 Doctors surgery ..............................................................................01206 302522 Ferry Mobile ...................................................................................07981 450169 Harbour Office ................................................................................01206 302200 Library ............................................................................................01206 302399 Post Office ............................................................................. 01206 302600 Rail Enquiries ..................................................................................08457 484950 Tendring District Council .................................................................01255 686868 Community Police ...........................................................................07801 316879 Fire Safety Officer ..........................................................................07779 129888 Affinity Water ..................................................................................08451 489299 All Gas Emergencies ..........................................................................0800 111999 All Power cuts .................................................................................0800 3163105 Doctor’s Surgery ..............................................................................01206 302522 Pharmacist @ Boots ........................................................................01206 302029 Minor Injuries Clinic ........................................................................01255 201594 Local Police (non emergency) ..........................................................................101
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