Each year, thousands of cats and dogs in animal shelters must be killed because there aren’t enough good homes for them. Other animals are abandoned on the streets, where they starve to death, are injured or killed by vehicles or fall prey to abuse. The Dogs Trust’s Stray Dog Survey 2012 revealed that a shocking 119,000 stray and abandoned dogs were picked up by local councils across the UK over the previous 12 months – a staggering 325 stray dogs found every day.

“As a Nazi concentration camp survivor, my dad always used to tell us that life is one big concentration camp for animals”, says Sharen Pledger. “Having seen so much cruelty during the war – even bombs being dropped on animals – made my amazing dad turn his back on all forms of cruelty for the rest of his life.”

Sidney Pledger was on board the SS Orama when it was sunk by the German cruiser Admiral Hipper in 1940. He was interned at Sandbostel Concentration Camp and moved to Milag Nord Prisoner of War Camp along with author PG Wodehouse, who mentions the good-humoured Orama sailors in his memoirs. Upon his return to Britain, Pledger vowed to show compassion and respect towards all those capable of suffering. This led him to adopt countless animals in need. People who are willing to commit the time, love and money that are required to take care of an animal companion properly can follow Pledger’s example and save lives by adopting from a local animal shelter.

The next meeting will be

on WEDNESDAY 12TH JUNE 2013

At

Herringham Primary Academy Starting 19.00hrs.

Guest Speakers:

Cllr Barbara Rice on Public Health;

Kristina Jackson, Chief Executive of Thurrock CVS on Community Hubs;

Al Hanagan, Sustainable Relations Ltd, on the proposed development at Heath Place

In attendance subject to duties:

Councillors;

Members of local Policing team;

Bill Sargent, Local Estates Manager

Please note earlier start-time and come along, everyone is welcome!

See our website at www.chadwellcf.org.uk Or email info@chadwellcf.org.uk or
phone 07926-361002 for further information

The event will be held on the school fields at Chadwell Road.

Starting at noon and running until 3pm, there will be a variety of stalls and games including a raffle, tombola, lucky dip, beat the goalie and many more.

Paladin Capital are described on their website as:

“Founded in 2009, we have quickly established a strong presence in the UK property sector and are able to offer our clients a range of unique investment opportunities that can support regeneration and increase renewable energy in local areas.”

The proposals for the area near to Heath Place Farm in Chadwell St Mary is described as follows: “This site is directed to absorb some residential growth since it falls within the Essex Thames Growth Gateway Area, a national/regional priority area for urban regeneration. This is greenbelt land but provision is made for specific releases to accommodate new developments.

Land type/description:

Current use is arable, agricultural and the site falls within greenbelt land.

Total area:

Approximately 38 acres.

Location:

Chadwell-St-Mary is in Thurrock, Essex, close to London and with good access to both Kent and Essex via the M25 and Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

Proposed use:

Mixed use development with residential dwellings and community uses.

Development credentials:

The site is within the Essex Thames Growth Gateway Area, a national/regional priority area for urban regeneration within the Sustainable Communities Plan. The site falls within greenbelt land and the Core Planning Strategy Framework does not formally accommodate strategic scale releases from the greenbelt but it does make provision for limited, specific releases to accommodate new developments. Planning consents on greenbelt land have recently been granted, on appeal, by Thurrock Council. Allocating this site for development will help to address local housing needs, ensure a deliverable supply of housing sites and deliver wider community benefits.

Progress report:

The developer is currently focusing on devising a planning strategy, which incorporates the wishes of the community in order to gain local support from the outset. The project team is being assembled with a view to submitting a planning application in September 2013.

Developer:

CJC (Employment) Ltd.

Local council:

Thurrock Council.

Ken Philp won £1000 last week in a charity lottery with the National Kidney Federation.

The 50-year-old knows about the good work the NKF does firsthand after having three kidney transplants, including with organs from his own mother and sister.

NKF is part of the Unity lottery, run by Sterling Lotteries, in which players pay £1 a week for a six-digit number with 50p going to the good cause involved.

Winners like Mr Philp are drawn every week, with a top prize of £25,000 up for grabs.

Mr Philp, who lives with his wife Deborah, said: “I came home from work and I saw one of the cheques and I thought it was probably a fiver, because I have won the £5 one before.

“When I opened it and I had got £1000 I couldn’t believe it. I am just digesting it really.”

Although he had not yet decided what to do with the money, Mr Philp said he and Mrs Philp may spend the winnings on treating themselves to a holiday.

Mr Philp had his first transplant in 1987 with an organ from his sister which he kept for three years.

He had a second transplant with a kidney from his mother that lasted for 16 years, before having a third kidney transplant from an unknown donor.

Richard Dixon, managing director of Sterling Lotteries, said: “I am very happy to hear Ken’s good news, it gives us a lot of pleasure at Sterling when we learn our lotteries are making people happy and helping good causes at the same time.”

Peter Revell, head of fundraising at the NKF, said he was very happy to hear Mr Philp’s good news and he hoped it would encourage more people to sign up to the lottery, which has been helping contribute to the charity’s work for the last four years.

People can find out more about how the Unity charity lottery can help them fundraise by going to join.unitylottery.co.uk

This year, local residents can enter the competition, as well as the schools and OAP complexes.

Residents can enter a front-garden, a hanging-basket/floral-tub or both, and judging will take place during the week commencing July 15th.

Gold, silver and bronze awards will be made for the best entries in each category.

Please contact Brenda Packer on 842793 for further information and an application form, or download an application from our website www.chadwellcf.org.uk or phone 07926-361002.

Glen Daly, 24, of Chadwell St Mary, died when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a lorry on the Greek island in June 2009.

Glen’s mother and father are “angry” the trial of a lorry driver accused of his death has been delayed.

The lorry driver has been charged with negligent homicide.

His parents Les and Dorothy Daly have seen the trial dates postponed on several occasions, most recently in February.

But they have now been given a date of April 18th.

Dorothy Daly said:” We have been told that the new date is 18th April. We could not believe how quickly the new date has came through, as we had prepared ourselves for another year for waiting.

Now we hope we will get the justice that Glen so rightly deserves, despite the fact it won’t bring Glen back, but at least it won’t let Glen be another number, or another name in a filing cabinet.”

All residents of Chadwell St Mary can come along, and volunteers to join the committee would be particularly welcome.

There will be various displays and information portals available, and light refreshments will be provided.

To find out more about the Forum and volunteering please call 07926-361002 or email info@chadwellcf.org.uk.

Stanley, 86, has cycled at nearly every Thurrock charity event for the last seventeen years. It is quite a sight at the Thurrock cycle marathon to see the youngsters “walk” their bikes up the North Ockendon hill whilst Stanley. glued to the seat, passes them by a la Sir Bradley.

YT went round to Stanley’s Chadwell home to see his collection of trophies and medals.

Chadwell community forum chair Peter Saunders has placed a petition on e-petition.

It reads:

“The X1 bus service run by Ensign Bus Co links Thurrock to Basildon, especially to Basildon Hospital. Ensign intend to cancel it from 19/4/2013, but this will cause hardship to residents of Grays and Chadwell St Mary who don’t own cars and who need to access the hospital as out-patients or to visit family and friends who are in-patients.

“We therefore ask the DfT to investigate ways to enable this service-route to be retained, either provided by Ensign Bus Co or another bus company.”

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/47005

THERE was a festive air to the TWC evening out this month, members all agreed they had a good evening out at The Dog & Partridge in North Stifford. There was a good variety of food to choose from service was quick and everyone enjoyed it.

Tina Thompson is looking to find a venue for a Writing Weekend later this year, unfortunately our venue at Ipswich that we have enjoyed for the past three years owing to cuts is no longer available.

Preparations are being prepared for the Writers Festival that will be held at Grays Library on May 18th 2013 details of short story and poetry competitions from Grays Library.

Prizes to be arranged from Waterstones.

Cindy Barber showed members how to put a short story together by reading out a story in separate ways this was a good exercise, after writing a similar short piece we then read them out and discussed the points being made.

There have been inquiries about our meetings if anyone would like to come along and see how we work they would be welcome.

Next Meetings: 6th – 20th March at The Hugh Delargy Close Hall Chadwell St Mary Grays 7-30pm-9-30pm.

The home is one of four operated by Runwood Homes under the Kathryn homes banner and is well known for its work in the community.

The home was originally built in 2002 and the new extension has added eight rooms as well as extra bathrooms and lounge areas for the residents.

A new cafe called Gracies’ Tea Room, named after the homes oldest resident, Grace Sharman, who was 105 last year, was also opened.

Regional director Sue Smith said: “We are delighted to open the extension and so pleased that Grace allowed us to name it after her.

“We are very proud of our reputation in making every home a real home.

“The cafe has been designed around a real old fashioned tea room, where residents can relax and socialise with each other, or spend time with their families.”

Congratulations were given this month to Chairman Joy Ridgewell for winning the

Thurrock Writers Circle Christmas Short Story Competition with second prize going to Barbara Spencer.

We are sorry to lose our secretary Denise Manning who is unable to continue in this post owing to family commitments and thank her for her hard work over the past few years, Steve Davis is to be the new secretary and we wish him well in his new position.

Cindy Barber Vice Chairman of the TWC is arranging our programme for the next six months to enable our group to try out different and varied aspects of creative writing. Our first meeting went well and was enjoyed by everyone.

Tan Dhillon an active member of the TWC has opened a bookshop he was wished good luck and every success for his new business.

Members will be a out for a social evening on 6th February.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th February 2013
at Hugh Delargy Close Hall, Chadwell St Mary Grays Essex at 7-30pm.- 9-30pm.