“The 200 bus service in Stifford Clays provided a straight through service to Orsett then Basildon. First Essex gave us very short notice that they were withdrawing this service and re-routing this in favour of a more commercially viable route. This effectively means our residents have no through service to Basildon. We have many elderly residents that relied on this service to attend hospital appointments and additionally residents who used this service to get to work. We have already written to First Essex but feel that a petition may show them how many residents have been affected and persuade them to think again.”
She explained that the children’s centres at Tilbury, Thameside, Aveley, Ockendon, and Stanford would continue to be run by the council.
A further four centres — Chadwell St Mary, West Thurrock (covering the whole West Thurrock and South Stifford ward), Chafford Hundred, and East Tilbury — will be “commissioned out”.
The main service was in Grays. It was led by Rev Darren Barlow from St Peters and St Pauls church.
Once again, it was a seamless service, perfectly pitched and superbly organised. The most poignant site was the presence of private Alex Stringer who some months ago returned from Afghanistan with terrible injuries.
ON SATURDAY, THE BBC asked the country to record what they were doing as part of a mass observation project. They will take all the video footage and weave it into a documentary to be published on the BBC in 2012. YourThurrock has been making films every day for over three years.
The aim behind Yesteryears is to provide Thurrock Council’s sheltered housing with a platform to promote the service and an opportunity for tenant participation and sheltered housing to work jointly with tenants.
Cllr Andy Smith, who opened Friday’s event, said: “The perception of sheltered housing in the past has not been that of independent living, but more of a residential care setting.
"The opportunity to meet the needs of people from within our communities, who are in desperate need of food, is one that we cannot turn our backs on. The experience of Foodbank around the country is that they are enthusiastically supported by Churches and the public, and have a powerful impact upon the recipients of this generosity. In addition, they reflect brilliantly upon the Christian churches and communities which run them.
The resulting film and online archive will be a powerful and moving snapshot of the UK today, premiered in cinemas and broadcast on BBC Two for a general audience, ahead of the London Olympics.
This is your chance to express yourself. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, your footage will feature in our online archive, and the more memorable your recording, the greater the chance of your material being included in the final film.
Cllr Lynn Worrall, portfolio holder for Sport and Culture in Thurrock, added: “The Olympics are a massive cultural event for our nation, a chance to show ourselves off to the world. The fact that the Olympic Torch Relay is coming to our borough is something we should all celebrate.
The ngage Volunteer Centre are looking for Thurrock volunteers from all walks of life, who are passionate about Essex, a people person that is keen to be involved in the London 2012 Games and know you have what it takes to become an Essex Ambassador.
IT IS something that the borough does particularly well. On Sunday, all across the borough, people will attend remembrance services and stand to attention to mark their respects for those who have given their lives in service of their country.
The London 2012 Olympic torch relay begins on 19 May 2012 at Land's End and ends 70 days later on 27 July at the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. It will pass through Grays on July 6th (Day 49) on a circuitous route that takes on Ipswich, Southend and Chelmsford.
Mike and May are volunteers at the Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre in East Tilbury Library which is celebrating its tenth anniversary next year. An open day will be held on April 18. Several members expressed an interest in visiting the centre then. Pat Arnold gave an appreciative vote of thanks.
STIFFORD Community Forum's next open meeting and AGM will take place on Monday 7th November, the venue is the Baptist Church Hall, Premier Avenue,Sockets Heath, Grays commencing at 7-30 pm.
