your benfleet & hadleigh february 2012

www.yourlocalmags.co.uk

February 2012

2 To Advertise Call 01268 696404 or 07974 238657

3 www.yourlocalmags.co.uk

EST 1982

126

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How lovely that we have an extra day this

month! I remember reading somewhere that

someone complained that if we were going to

have an extra day - why couldn’t it be in the

summer so we can enjoy it? I couldn’t agree

more! You can read all about Leap Year Day

on page 6.

We also have our popular Wedding Section

this month starting on page 24. This will be

of interest to any ladies brave enough to pop

the question on 29th February or anyone else

with a wedding planned. There is so much

available in the local area, so why not try to

support your local businesses in the run up to

your special day? Our Healthy Living article

this month also gives you some tips on

coping with “Wedding Nerves.” (page 34)

I have to admit that it has taken some time

for our family to get excited about the

Olympics but now 2012 is finally here - we

Welcome to the January Issue

Published by:

Canvey Island Publishing LTD

Editors: Graham & Angela Owen

Business Address:

11b The Driveway, Canvey Island,

Essex, SS8 0AB

Tel: 01268 696404

Mob: 07974 238657 or 07792 673794 Email: [email protected]

Web: www.yourlocalmags.co.uk

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data

contained in this document is accurate, neither the publisher nor

its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any

liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or

omissions resulting from accident, negligence or any other

cause.

Canvey Island Publishing does not officially endorse any

advertising material included in this publication.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication, including the

advertisements included may be reproduced or stored in any

retrieval system of any form without the express permission of

the publisher.

YOU CAN FIND COPIES OF YOUR

BENFLEET & HADLEIGH MAGAZINE AT:

Benfleet & Hadleigh Libraries

Castle Point Council Offices

Alpine Insurance & K J Green, Hadleigh

are starting to look forward to it. We were

particularly impressed to find that

“Hadleigh Farm” was featured on the

Olympic version of Monopoly that Ben

received at Christmas - it was a race to see

who could land on it first! Our Local News

article on page 18 tells you how you can

get involved in an Olympic bid to celebrate

Hadleigh’s heritage in an initiative called

“Team Hadleigh”

If you have missed a copy of Your Benfleet

& Hadleigh, you can find back issues and

an archive of past articles included in the

magazine on our website:

www.yourlocalmags.co.uk

Best Wishes

Graham and Angela OwenGraham and Angela OwenGraham and Angela OwenGraham and Angela Owen

The Owen Family


Leap Year’s Day - 29th February

I’m sure you know that every year has 365 days! Well, it’s not strictly true - it actually takes the earth 365 and a quarter days to complete a full years rotation around the sun so every fourth year an extra day, known as Leap Day is included at the end of February.

So, why is it called a “leap” year? It is quite

confusing but what happens in a normal year is

that a calendar date that falls on say a Monday

one year will fall on Tuesday the next,

Wednesday the year after that, and so on. But

every fourth year, thanks to the extra day in

February, we would “leap” over Thursday and

that same calendar date lands on Friday instead.

Babies born on 29th February are called

“leaplings” or “leapers.” It was once thought

that leapling babies would be sickly and

“hard to raise,” though no one remembers

why! The chances of being born on Leap

Year Day are around 1 in 1500.

Leap Year Traditions

In Britain, it is a long standing tradition that

29th February is the only date that a woman

can propose to a man. This supposedly dates

back to the 5th century around the same time

that St. Patrick supposedly drove the snakes

out of Ireland. St. Patrick was approached by

St. Bridget, who had come to protest on

behalf of all women the unfairness of always

have to wait for men to propose marriage.

After due consideration, St. Patrick offered

St. Bridget and all other women the privilege

of being able to propose one year out of

every seven. After a fair amount of haggling

it was agreed that women could propose one

year out of four in a leap year. Then,

unexpectedly, as it was a leap year and St.

Bridget was single, she got down on one

knee and proposed to St. Patrick on the spot.

He refused, of course, bestowing on her a

kiss and a beautiful silk gown in consolation.

Another explanation of the tradition states

that according to English law, February 29th

was ignored and had no legal status. People

therefore assumed that traditions would also

have no status on that day so it was

reasoned that since the leap year day existed

to fix a problem in the calendar, it could also

be used to fix an old and unjust custom that

only let men propose marriage. The first

documentation of this practice dates back to

1288, when Scotland supposedly passed a

law that allowed women to propose marriage

to the man of their choice in that year.

Tradition states they also made it law that

any man who declined a proposal in a leap

year must pay a fine. The fine could range

from a kiss to

payment for a silk

dress or a pair of

gloves.

So, if you are fed up

with waiting for

your fella to go

down on bended

knee, why not do it

yourself on 29th

February this year -

there’ll be another

1,461 days to wait

until the next Leap

Year if you don’t!


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Community News

Cats Protection - Why should you get your cat neutered?

The Cat’s Protection branch in Rayleigh covers all of Castle Point and is run entirely by volunteers.

In 2011 they re-

homed 343 cats and

kittens from this

area, as well as providing advice and practical

assistance to people. At this time of year

particularly, the main focus of Cat’s

Protection is to educate pet owners about the

benefits of neutering. It is important to have

both male and female cats neutered, to avoid

unwanted kittens.

Why should I get my Cat Neutered?

Neutering is the key to reducing the vast

number of unwanted cats. Did you know that

a female cat can, in just five years, be

responsible for 20,000 descendants. In one

year alone a healthy female cat, who has not

been spayed, can have up to three litters, with

five or six kittens each time. That adds up to

18 good caring homes to be found each year

just for one cat's kittens.

Financial Benefits: Neutered cats cost less

to feed - especially is you are also having to

feed kittens! They are less likely to get sick or

injured from wandering long distances for a

mate and you may have to visit the Vets if

your cat has been in a fight.

Social Benefits: Once neutered, cats usually

become friendlier. It is also less likely for boy

cats to spray indoors and for girl cats to call

out for a mate causing a nuisance to

neighbours. There are also less unwanted cats

and kittens that need re-homing.

Health Benefits: Neutered cats are

generallly healthier and have much shinier

coats. Females do not suffer from primetra or

cancer of the womb and for the small cost of

neutering, you could save money on frequent

Vet trips with an unhealthy cat.

Act now before it is too late, young cats from

six months of age can become pregnant. Don't

forget “a stitch in time” saves not nine, but

eighteen unwanted cats in one year. If you

are on a low income, you may qualify with

help for the cost of neutering your cat. Call

Yvonne on 01268 750831 to see if you

qualify.

Cat’s Protection always need volunteers - to

foster a cat, to help fund-raise, to transport

and collect donated items for sale or to take

and collect cats to and from the vets. You can

also support them by attending one of their

events - see this month’s events below.

And of course, they are ALWAYS looking

for homes for the cats and kittens they take in.

This Month’s Events

Cat Homing Show Sat 18th Feb - 10.30 - 1pm

Hadleigh Methodist Church Hall,

Chapel Lane, HADLEIGH, SS7 2PQ

Bazaar and Book Sale Sat 25th Feb - 10.30 - 1pm

WRVS Hall, Richmond Avenue,

BENFLEET, SS7 5HE

Lots of home made cakes, cat goods,

books etc

Visit www.catsrayleigh.org.uk for more info


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23 Kents Hill Road (South), Benfleet, Essex, SS7 5PN, Tel:01268 565082 Jackie Lengden: 07986 565664 E Mail: [email protected]


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What’s on in February

On-Going Events

Mondays

Hadleigh Castle U3A Hadleigh Methodist

Church, Chapel Lane

Every 1st Monday 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Tuesdays

Social Dance Ballroom, Sequence and Latin

St Cedds church, Bridgewater Dr, Westcliff

Every Tuesday - 1.45pm Call 07767 406194

Pram & Buggy Club

St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Thundersley

Every Tuesday during term time. 1.30 - 3pm.

Call Janet on 01268 776508 for details

Thundersley Village W.I

Swans Green Hall, Hart Road, Thundersley

Last Tuesday of the month 7.30pm for 8pm

startCall Mary Brockman on 01268 750835

Runnymede Ladies Guild

Runnymede Small Hall, Kiln Road,

2nd Tuesday of every month

7.45pm for 8pm start - New Members

Welcome Call 01268 757795 for details

Benfleet Floral Art Group

Richmond Hall, Benfleet, SS7 5HA

4th Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm

01268 751216. Mrs H A Cade

Flower Arranging Demonstrations

Wednesdays

New Thundersley Townswomen’s Guild

St George’s Church Hall, Rushbottom Lane,

Benfleet, SS7 4DM

1st Wednesday of the month - 1.30pm

Invites residents to attend a Community Breakfast including

Community Information Marketplace

Wednesday 21st

March 2012 9.30am – 11.30am

Hall 1, The Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey Island


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Local History

The Canvey Community Archive was recently given a copy of an illustrated guide to the area dated 1906. The guide, titled “Holland-in-England” includes the following wonderful description of Benfleet Village.

“South Benfleet, formerly the site of a

Danish fortification, is a pretty little village

situated on a creek called Hadleigh Ray. Old-

world cottages and buildings meet the gaze

on every side; these, together with the

church, creek, and beautifully wooded hills

in the background, gives an eye-satisfying

picture to the whole scene, which even the

“iron-horse” snorting through cannot destroy.

The church of St. Mary the Virgin is of

Saxon origin and is built of ragstone and

Saxon brickwork, however, the present

building dates from the Norman period.

Upon the arches in the interior are several

very grotesque corbels and in the north wall

some stone steps formerly used to ascend the

rood-loft. On the south side of the altar is a

cinque-toil headed piscina, where at one time

the water was emptied after rinsing out the

sacred vessels; these objects are most

interesting to any one possessing an

antiquarian turn of mind.

Another beautiful survival to be inspected at

this church is the perpendicular wooden

porch, the finest but one in Essex. Inside are

some richly-carved spandrels, and each side

is filled with mullioned tracery. A unique

interest is also attached to this porch, for

tradition states that at one period it was

repulsively adorned with “tanned hides,” as it

was the custom of the Anglo-Saxons when

they caught their Danish prisoners to flay

them alive and nail their skins to the nearest

church porch. There are two other edifices in

Essex which have been utilised for the same

horrible purpose.

We have not yet fully exhausted the

attractions of this charming village, but space

will not permit further particulars in the first

edition of our guide; but we hope soon to

enter more fully into the subject.

Most charming of seaside places may you yet

know prosperity; may you combine the

poetry and prose of existence for the tired

toiler in cities, who come to be soothed by

the music of your tides and invigorated by

your delicious sea breezes.”

With thanks to Janet Penn of www.canveyisland.org


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Local News

Get Involved In An Olympic Bid To Celebrate Hadleigh’s Heritage

Essex County Council Heritage, Culture and Arts team have been awarded a grant of £48,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to deliver Team Hadleigh, an ambitious project which will engage a wide range of communities with their local heritage through several interlinked projects.

In recognition of this, Eric Pickles MP

awarded pupils from Hadleigh Juniors with

the culture London 2012 Inspire Mark,

making it part of the Cultural Olympiad.

Local schools will participate in a series of

heritage activities to research and document

the history of Hadleigh Country Park and

London 2012 Mountain Bike site. This will

then inform the work of a group of older

residents who will use the schoolchildren’s

research as the starting point for the creation

of large scale textile heraldic banners telling

the history of Hadleigh which will be

displayed next year during the London 2012

Mountain Bike competition at Hadleigh

Farm.

The research will also be the starting point

for the creation of a new guided audio tour

of Hadleigh Country Park and will inform the

creation of a smart phone App and associated

website which will take people around the sites.

These will be available to download by July

2012.

County Councillor Jeremy Lucas, Cabinet

Member for Environment and Culture said:

“This is an exciting project that will showcase

the local talent our county has to offer in

textiles, research, oral history recording and

electronic interpretation. If you would be

interested in taking part in this exciting project,

I welcome you to get in touch.”

For more information and to join the

Wednesday afternoon textile group in Hadleigh

(starting on 22nd February), please contact

Andrew Ward at [email protected]

or call 01245 244615.


01268 799332 5 High Street, South Benfleet SS7 1NA

(Opposite St Mary’s Church)

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22 To Advertise Call 01268 696404 or 07974 238657 Answers on Page 38

1

2 3

4 5

6

7

Valentine Crossword Across

4 Will someone buy you a big box of these? (10)

7 You buy them in bunches for

Valentine's Day (7)

Down

1 It's a shape associated with

Valentine's Day (5)

2 Be my _________ (9)

3 He might put a card through your

letterbox (7)

4 You might want to send one (4)

5 The Roman god of love who carries

a bow and arrow. (5)

6 Pucker up for a ____ (4)


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Local WeddingsLocal WeddingsLocal WeddingsLocal Weddings

Whether you are getting married yourself or simply a guest this time, you can find everything you need in the local area. The next few pages include local businesses who can help make your big day extra special!

Hen Night

Why not treat the girls to a relaxing time at

“Sweet Feet” on Charfleets Estate, Canvey

Island. The Fish Pedicure and Beauty Salon

offers the perfect package for you to relax

and unwind before the big day with

manicures, pedicures, spray tans and much

more. (Page 26)

Catering

Local company “All Occasions” (page 25)

offers the perfect package to suit all budgets

for your wedding day. They can cater for

events of any size and have a wide range of

menus and packages available including

room decoration and equipment hire. For

more details visit

www.alloccasionscaterers.co.uk.

Hair & Beauty

You want to look your best for

your big day and local Hair Studio,

Nail & Beauty Salon

“Cream” (page 26) and “Hobbit

Hair” provides a professional

wedding service and can offer

packages for your whole bridal

party and guests.

Photography

It’s so important to choose the

right photographer to preserve the memories

of your special day. Local photographer Clive

Wilkins (page 27) offers a personal service

and professional, caring approach covering all

venues - church, civil or registry office.

Guests

For unique outfits and accessories at an

affordable prices, pop over to Hadleigh based

“Doonamis” (page 25) where you will find a

wonderful range of ladies and gentlemen’s

fashion. Also in Hadleigh, “Hadleigh Hats” is

a large boutique specialising in mother of the

bride / groom accessories. Back in Benfleet,

Giggles supplies a whole range of outfits for

adults and children.

Accessories

Right next door to “Hadleigh Hats” is

“Wedding Nites” offering everything you

need from lingerie, tiaras, veils, shoes and

nightwear.

Finally, if you are suffering from pre-wedding

nerves, read our Healthy Living article on

page 34 where Rosemary Cunningham gives

you some tips for coping!


∗ Bridal Fabrics Available To Order

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∗ Chair Covers / Ring Cushions


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O P T I C I A N S

Across

7 Greeting used after

midday (4,9)

8 Rogue, usually

homeless (8)

9 Pitch (4)

10 Scholarly (7)

12 Ladle (5)

14 Committee (5)

16 Italian dumplings

(7)

19 Inscribe (4)

20 Adolescent (8)

22 Hotel (8,5)

Down

1 Small bit (4)

2 Establishes a person's

authenticity (abbr) (2,4)

3 Male undergarment

(1-6)

4 Prepared (5)

5 Arch of the foot (6)

6 Medieval exclamation!

(8)

11 Consequence (8)

13 Subject to (7)

15 Plead (6)

17 Pencil (6)

18 Uppermost story (5)

21 Child's play (4)

1 2 3 4 5 6

7

8 9

10 11 12

13

14 15 16 17

18

19 20 21

22

3 4 9 2

7 5 3

9 2 3

6 2 1

4 9

1 8 7

3 2 7

4 6 8

5 3 8 9


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Insurance Arranged For:


February in History

3rd February 1959

A plane crash killed popular musicians

Buddy Holly, (left) Ritchie Valens and J.P.

“The Big Bopper” Richardson. Holly had

contracted the Beechcraft Bonanza plane for

his band to fly

between tour dates

during their Winter

Dance Party tour.

The plane came

down just a few

minutes after take

off. Buddy Holly

and his band, The

Crickets, had just

scored a number

one hit with That’ll

Be The Day.

19th February 1897

Today, the Women’s Institute was founded

in Ontario, Canada by Mrs Adelaide

Hoodless. The WI has become a

fundamental part of women’s lives

throughout the world. The first Women's

Institute (WI) in Britain was founded in -

hope I spell this right -

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlll

lantysiliogogogoch, Wales on 11th

September 1915. Each local Women’s

Institute provides a programme of monthly

meetings of talks and demonstrations. In

addition, members

can take part in other

activities that may

include sport, drama,

craft, cooking and

community projects.

Units 4 & 5 Corton Trading Est, Church Rd, Benfleet, SS7 4QR

01268 7500600

[email protected]

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Healthy Living

Tools to help with wedding nerves

Greetings from Arizona, USA where I’m writing this article at the end of a 10 day trip! When Angela emailed, asking me to write on a wedding theme, I had already decided to write about fear as it’s been something on my mind this last week!

I wanted to do some exploring and my

friend, Charlotte persuaded me to drive her

truck so I can get to all the spots I want to

visit. I’d never driven in America before and

after a short test drive Charlotte waved me

off to face the Friday afternoon traffic of

Phoenix and drive, all by myself, 200 miles

to the Grand Canyon. I was petrified and

took a very large dose of my Emergency

Essence! Nine hundred miles later, I’ve

loved the truck, the solitude and the country

music and even coped with getting seriously

lost in 2 cities at rush hour!

Back to your wedding. Nerves are basically

about fear: fear of what can go wrong, all the

“what ifs”. What if it rains, my fiancé

changes his mind, the dresses don’t fit, our

mothers row? These are all things that can

wake you in cold sweat in the middle of the

night in the lead-up to your wedding.

Fear can be described as False Evidence

Appearing Real. We fear the worst and it’s

not necessarily the truth. Your

brain doesn’t know whether

something is real or pretend/

fantasy and you may be surprised

to know that it can be fooled! I’ve

learnt that we usually attract what

we think about so if you’re

expecting the worst, you’re

literally looking for trouble and

you probably won’t be

disappointed. If you lighten up and

relax, fears can quickly become

much smaller and less real. So,

here are a few simple tools to use to cope

with the unexpected.

Get grounded Feel your feet firmly on the

ground by focusing on them. You can even

imagine that you have roots growing from

your feet into the earth. At the same time,

breathe deeply and imagine you are very

firmly connected to the ground.

Write yourself a new script Instead of

thinking of all the things that could go

wrong, set yourself up to succeed. Imagine

the wedding has already happened and have

a conversation with yourself, your dog or

trusted friend about how smoothly things

have already happened! Imagine your

wedding day is over and you’re telling a

friend how smoothly everything unfolded.

Talk about the detail, the weather was

perfect and how your guests admired your

dress, the gorgeous venue etc. Really feel the

joy of the event as you remember how

wonderfully everything was.

Get a brain break This can be an hour or

a day out of your normal routine, somewhere

without the normal distractions. This could

be losing the children for half an hour and

going for a coffee, a walk in the Park, a soak

in the bath (with flower essences and


essential oils added) or a night away.

Breathe deeply, feel your feet and you’ll get

your focus back and you’ll be much more

productive afterwards.

Get a massage, reflexology or spa treatment These will relax you will calm

your body and mind. This effect can last a

long time.

Aromatherapy When my clients are relaxed,

I get them to choose an essential oil that they

really like. The aroma of the oil can be

associated with that blissful feeling and

whenever you smell the oil, you can learn to

recapture that state of wellbeing.

Flower essences can really help I

recommend these three: Emergency Rescue,

Confidence and Positivity from the Flower

Essences of Australia range which I stock here

in Hadleigh. Rescue Remedy is in most

chemists now too.

Please do try some of these ideas, they’re all

tried and tested! Do get in touch if I can help


We are here to offer support to

individuals in the community who

have suffered bereavement.

Useful Numbers

Police Essex Police 0300 333 4444

www.essex.police.uk

Benfleet Neighbourhood Policing Team

07791 680397

Medical

Basildon Hospital 01268 533911

Southend Hospital 01702 435 555

NHS Direct 0845 4647

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

South Essex Stop Smoking Services

01702 313705

www.southessexstopsmokingservice.nhs.uk

Councils

Castle Point Council 01268 882455

Essex County Council 0845 7585 592

www.essexcc.gov.uk

Rebecca Harris MP 020 7219 7206

House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

[email protected]

Other Numbers

RSPCA 07791 680413

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline

0808 800 5000


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