WHY not start the New Year by learning something new? Enrol on one of the FREE ACE training courses for informal bite size learning. In January we have a number of courses available including job interview skills, Introduction to British sign language, computers for beginners and many more. Other trainings include Step into Business, Customer Service skills, Basic Computer skills, First Aid, Debt Management & Borrowing wisely.
ngage, the community charity are holding their annual Christmas Fun Night this year on Wednesday 12th December between 4.00pm and 7.30pm at the Civic Hall, Blackshots, Grays. The event is completely FREE and includes free entertainment, craft and play activities for the children, mince pies and refreshments and much more. To top it all, Father Christmas has promised to drop in on his sleigh with a free gift for children under the age of 10 (limited to first 200).
A PROGRAMME of monthly housing surgeries has been rolled out in Purfleet and Stanford to replace the closure of the local offices in those areas.
These surgeries are part of the council’s aim to deliver a more personalised and flexible service for tenants as well as to lessen the amount of time housing staff spend in the office, so that more time can be spent with tenants on the estates and in their homes.
Chairperson Maggie Whitbread announced that as the Corringham swimming pool was now open again the Aquarobics group is to re-commence its meetings there from November 5. The speaker was Terry Taber, recounting his 'Life in Ladies Underwear'. This was an account of a career in th e retail trade and contained many anecdotes of humorous incidents.
ORSETT residents are vigilant after a number of suspicious incidents in the village last night (Tuesday). Police were called to Medbree Court after a report that a number of men dressed all in black were acting in a suspicious manner.
THE THURROCK African Group celebrated Black History Month with a dazzling mixture of dance, poetry, rap and song at the Thameside Theatre. The Mayor of Thurrock, cllr Yash Gupta was among the revellers and he was joined by the portfolio holder for communities, cllr Lynn Worrall.
OFFICIALS at the under-threat Pegasus Club in Corringham are still hopeful that the sports and recreation club will remain open. A club spokesperson said: "The club is continuing to its negotiations with Price Waterhouse regarding the future of the club.
AT the seventeenth anniversary of the Thurrock Writers Circle AGM Joy Ridgewell was voted for and returned to the Chairman. Congratulations were given to Mary Vear for having one of her children’s stories published in Irelands Own Magazine.
SHOPKEEPERS AND residents are mounting a protest against plans for an open market in Corringham shopping centre. The plans for the market have been submitted to Thurrock Council.
AVELEY'S Christmas Market returns to the Village this year. Sunday 2nd December will see Aveley High Street taken over with a FREE Skating Rink, Father Christmas, entertainers and a range of stalls to help you find just the right Christmas Presents. The fun starts at 11am and goes on to 3pm. The High Street will be closed to traffic to create a safe environment for all (diversions will be signposted).
AS an Essex Boys and Girls Club member, Orsett Cricket Club are hosting a RESPECT project at the club again this winter. This is the fourteenth project run in Thurrock over the last seven years and Orsett Cricket Club have hosted the life skills part of the project for the majority.
NGAGE, the community organisation and volunteer centre for Thurrock are organising a ‘Fun Autumn Clear Up Day’ in partnership with Thurrock Council on Saturday 27th October, between 10am-2pm and are inviting local residents and volunteers to come along and help make a difference.
OCTOBER has been a very busy month for members of Bulphan WI: there was a hugely enjoyable coach visit to Kensington Palace and many of us have been meeting weekly for our hilarious singing lessons with Doreen Potter. We decided we would feel more like a choir if we were colour-co-ordinated, so we were visions in pink, then purple, then red and finally black and white. Doreen not only improved our musical skills, but provided inspirational anecdotes between songs: a wonderful lady.
SPORTS clubs that have used the South Ockendon Recreation Ground facilities in the past and have found them to be dilapidated and antiquated can now look forward to enjoying first class changing rooms, toilet facilities and kitchen and social areas thanks to the Veolia Mardyke Trust providing the funding to refurbish and extend the Sports Pavilion.
