NGAGE, the Community Organisation and Volunteer Centre for Thurrock, has organised a drop in volunteer morning on Tuesday 11th February between 9.30 -12pm at the South Ockendon Community Hub in Derry Avenue. The aim of the event is to promote the VCLocal project and there will be free cakes and refreshments available, aswell as someone to talk to regarding volunteering and the local area.
PRESIDENT Margaret Clamp welcomed Tony Hogger from Occasions Cake Studio as our speaker this month. Tony has been designing and decorating cakes for over thirty years and he brought two of his cakes to show members the best way to decorate and how to cut it the cake without making it lopsided.
RESIDENTS in South Ockendon are urged to be on the look-out for a man missing for several days from west Suffolk. Gary Aris has not been seen for the past week or made contact with his family.
ON WEDNESDAY January 29th, the Thurrock branch of U3A held its thirteenth Annual General Meeting
meeting at the Civic Hall, Grays. Chairperson Maggie Whitbread reported that the branch enjoyed a bumper year with membership topping 500 with a waiting list policy in operation.
OVER a dozen members of the Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions (TLS) undertook an arduous Firebreak course at Corringham Fire Station recently. The course taught first-aid, working as a team and to have confidence in yourself.
THE PAN-Asian Oriental restaurant in Chafford Hundred brought in the Year of the Horse in fine style with an exhibition from a chinese dragon. A packed restaurant witnessed a vibrant and dynamic dance from the dragon as it passed by each table.
THE traffic problems at Southend Road, Grays has been well-documented. The main problem seems to be the number of cars reversing from the car parks at the Tesco and Co-Op onto the main road. For many residents it is a serious or perhaps fatal road traffic collision waiting to happen.
ESSEX Wildlife Trust will start important conservation work in February, to benefit valuable wildlife in Chafford Gorges. Grays Gorge, within Essex Wildlife Trust’s Chafford Gorges Nature Park, is officially designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - meaning that it is recognised as one of the country’s best wildlife sites – due to its array of invertebrates, which rely on there being a diversity of wild flowers.
THERE IS something about the art work of Stanford-le-Hope artist, Roy Tyson. In many ways it reminds this reporter of the beginning of the David Lynch film Blue Velvet (youtube it) when the camera goes down into the grass roots to discover a new world entirely.
AS part of a series of business profiles, we sent Tanya McPherson down to interview Thurrock fitness guru, Veronica Briones. Needless to say, Veronica was in between sessions at Absalute Gym in West Thurrock, whilst having an eye on the clock, when she would pick up her two children!
THREE of Thurrock Council’s libraries are running three bedtime story events for children aged four and above. Young children and their families are invited to take their pillow and teddy bears along to a bedtime story night at their local library - Blackshots Library (Friday, 28 February) Stanford-le-Hope Library (Tuesday, 4 March) and Aveley Library (Thursday, 6 March) all at 6pm.
Laura Hudson, Volunteer coordinator for ngage said “We were overwhelmed with the fantastic response and it was encouraging to see so many people come along to find out more about volunteering”. Eighteen organisations were there to promote their volunteering opportunities including representatives from Thurrock Council, Grays First Responders and Inspiration Youth Call and found the morning useful and enjoyable.
BUGLIFE has secured £58,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the exciting Thurrock Stepping Stones project. The project will help protect Thurrock's nationally important populations of invertebrates and bring people closer to the special wildlife on their doorstep, building on a £31,800 grant from the Veolia North Thames Trust.
COUNCILLORS were urged to nominate someone for a Civic Award at Wednesday (22 January) and told if everyone did they would “almost double” the numbers.
The council has now announced a one week extension to the nomination deadline and they have to be received by Thursday, 6 February. Nomination forms are available via the council’s website and in the borough’s libraries.
THE two Districts were pleased to welcome the Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr. Tony Fish and Mayoress Sue Bradish, Jack Petchey Foundation Grants Officer Nikki Casey, Thurrock Scouts President Margaret Jones and husband Merlin and Thurrock Vice-President David Butcher and wife Heather. Also present were Stanford-le-Hope and Thurrock’s District Commissioners Peter Cobley and Graham Monk, the latter of who was Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
