essex central magazine issue 6 april 2014

COVERING THE ESSEX TOWNS OF THE CENTRAL LINE AND BEYOND

CENTRALYOUR LOCAL LIFESTYLE GUIDE - ISSUE 6 APRIL 2014

FREE

...a whiter smile withWIN!

EASTER FUN

EASTER FUN

Ideas To Entertain The Kids

Ideas To Entertain The Kids

CLUB FOCUS

CLUB FOCUS

Woodford Green Athletics Club

Woodford Green Athletics Club

SPRING FASHIONSPRING

FASHIONTop Ten Pretty PastelsTop Ten Pretty Pastels

SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA

Our Featured Travel Destination

Our Featured Travel Destination

Try something new...

Get into golf

It doesn’t matter if you have never played golf or haven’t picked up a club since your school days or an almost-forgotten holiday.

You can get started by taking advantage of the low cost beginner courses across Essex from the County Golf Partnership, supported by Sport England and funded by the National Lottery.

You will receive a basic introduction to golf from PGA professionals, together with information about follow-on coaching and playing opportunities.

Equipment will be provided so all you have to do is book and turn up on the day in comfortable clothing.

To find a session near you go to getintogolf.org/essex or call 0800 118 2766

4 weeksbeginner course

only £20

Epping

Theydon Bois

Ongar

Loughton

Woodford

North Weald

Buckhurth Hill

South Woodford

ON THE COVER18 Easter Fun28 Pastel Power48 Sri Lanka Travel57 CompetitionWin a Diamond Whites Smile66 Club FocusWoodford Green Athletics Club

COMMUNITY6 Your Comments10 Local News14 Meet the Locals16 Union Care52 What’s On55 The Holiday Homes TrustCharity feature

HEALTH & FITNESS21 E-Bikes23 Do You Have Gum Disease?25 Q&A with Michael Jelbart FASHION & BEAUTY30 Chocolate Beauty Buys33 DIY Pedicure HOME & GARDEN36 Space Savers41 Blooming MarvellousFloral home inspiration43 April Gardening Guide FOOD & DRINK44 Recipe & Wine Pairing FUN & GAMES56 Puzzle Corner60 Entering Fatherhood Without a Map Comical diary of a new Dad PROPERTY63 Why Choose Epping?

18

48

Editor: Darren PerryEmail: [email protected]: 01279 319 318Advertising: advertising@essexcentral magazine.co.uk

Features Editor: Victoria GraceJournalist: Devon-Elizabeth TabershamDesign: Sharon Butler-Felby @SketchDesignWeb Design: Alex Collard www.aj-computing.co.uk

Contributors: Carrie Feagan, Dr Ash Parmar, Michelle Harris, Victoria Robertson, Amanda Anastasiou, Toby Webster, Wendy Barritt.

Publishers: 3 Blue Worldwide LtdPrinted by: The Magazine Printing Company

Facebook: EssexCentralMag Twitter: @EssexCentralMag23,000 copies distributed to homes, businesses and station locations, along the Essex section of the Central Line and surrounding areas: South Woodford, Wanstead, Snaresbrook, Woodford, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, North Chingford, Chigwell, Theydon Bois, Epping, North Weald & Ongar.Although every care has been taken to ensure accuracy, 3 Blue Worldwide Ltd take no responsibility for any errors, or the advertisements within this magazine.

I’m pleased to say that spring is finally here… The recent warmer weather has been lovely and we now approach the time when many of us will gorge ourselves on Easter eggs!

Let’s hope the warm weather continues into a lovely summer. In this issue we explore Sri Lanka, go on an Easter egg hunt, show how to maximise your living space, have a Q&A session with our new fitness columnist and ‘Meet the Locals’ is back, along with our regular gardening , fashion, dad’s diary, puzzles and much more. We’re also giving three lucky readers the chance to win a Diamond Whites smile in this month’s competition.I wish you all a great Easter and shall see you again in May!RegardsDarren PerryEditor

4 ESSEX CENTRAL

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Good Afternoon,I am writing to

say how much I have enjoyed reading the March issue of your magazine. You have included a great mix of articles and I particularly enjoyed the piece about the Winston Churchill statue as I have lived in Woodford for years but knew hardly anything of its creation and found the whole article very interesting.SincerelyJonathan Hurn

‘Epping Forest’

Judith O’Connell, C

higwell

CONTACT USAddress: Essex Central Magazine, Brickfield Business Centre, High Road, Thornwood, Epping, Essex CM16 6TH

@EssexCentralMag

EssexCentralMag

[email protected]

COMMUNITY

Each month we trawl through our mailbox and social media sites to see what you are thinking. Here are a few of our favourite messages that we have received recently. Keep your comments coming in for a chance to win £20 if we pick you as our ‘Star Comment’ and £10 for the ‘Reader’s Photo’.

COMMENTSYOUR

We love hearing from you!

READER’S PHOTO

Congratulations to Catherine Donovan from Woodford Green (below) who was the winner of our ‘Hair Makeover’ competition.

Fab new issue out NOW. Exclusive offers, business/

community news & a lovely team! @Marcomedia_s

Just to let you know, that your traffic tweet about the

M11 was used in our smartphone app today @tritraffic_

Thank you for the wonderful article and helping us spread the

vision of Michael Norgrove. Michael Norgrove Foundation

Day off from baking today, lovely walk with my baba in

the sun. Sarah Ward

STAR

Dear Darren,I was alarmed to find the article in the Home and Garden section of the March magazine that relates to Pest Control and the Chafer Grubs. These grubs look exactly like the Stag Beetle Larvae - which are endangered.

If these are found in dead and/or rotting wood then they will be the Stag Beetle Larvae and should be left alone. I appreciate the article states that they are found in soil or under loose turf but the majority of amateur gardeners would see this grub and not be able to distinguish between the two.

Please put something in your next issue regarding this as the Stag Beetles are endangered and their larvae take between 4-6 years to mature into adult beetles.Thank You.Dee HortonThank you for bringing this to our attention Dee, we hope our readers are now aware of the

different living environments of both species and will help to protect the Stag Beetle. Darren Perry - Editor

ESSEX CENTRAL 7

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COMMUNITY

LOCAL

An exciting new brand has launched called Minimis, selling mini me styling for babies and children online. Founded by best friends from the Epping and Woodford area - Jennifer Martin, a Nanny and Samantha Barclay, a Fashion Buyer. Both have always dreamed of being entrepreneurs. Samantha said, “We met on holiday 7 years ago and have always spoken about starting our own business, we wanted to do something

we both felt strongly there was a gap in the market for and that we really believed in. We have such high standards with Minimis, we believe in consistency across all aspects of our brand and have very high standards in

the brands and products we choose.”Minimis unique selling point

is selling age appropriate, high fashion, vibrant catwalk trend and classic pieces for babies, boys and girls aged newborn to 7 years.

They have now unveiled their first Spring Summer 2014 collection, designed for the modern, style conscious parent that wants to dress their mini me in amazing style that emulates their own wardrobe.

Big brand names such as Timberland, Mini Melissa and Baby Graziella are mashed together with cool French labels, fun American designers and Minimis own boutique range to give you a strong mix of fashion and tailoring.Shop the collection now on www.minimis.co.uk

Following their runaway success with Seasons Greetings in October 2013, Chigwell Row Operatic and Dramatic Society (CROADS) are delighted to be performing Acorn Antiques, The Musical!, the stage musical version of Victoria Wood’s spoof soap opera about the goings-on of an antiques shop in Manchesterford involving Miss Babs, Miss Berta and their loveable cleaner Mrs Overall.

Acorn Antiques was first seen on TV over 20 years ago and has continued to be fondly remembered ever since, renowned as it was for poor acting, wobbly

sets and missed cues. Well CROADS can promise all of that and more!

The musical, which satirises other musicals, follows Miss Babs and her fight to keep her antiques shop open while the stores around her are taken over by corporate franchises such as Hong Kong Thongs and The Guilty Bean. From start to finish Acorn Antiques delivers, jokes, parodies and hilarious songs, with saucy lyrics that are trade mark Victoria Wood. She said herself that she wanted to give a, “Lovely happy evening at the theatre,” and that’s just what

CROADS are hoping to do with their performance.

Jenny Witchell, Co-Musical Producer has said, “We are branching out to try something a bit different for CROADS, something a little adventurous, tongue in cheek and slightly off the wall. With members of all ages we are going to do this very funny comic piece great justice.” Performances are at Victory Hall, Chigwell from 9th - 12th April at 8pm.Tickets are £9 and available at www.croads.ticketsource.co.uk, [email protected] or Tel: 07922 617930

CHIGWELL ROW OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY PRESENT ACORN ANTIQUES

MINIMIS HAS LANDED IN ESSEX

Tip top tap rehersal in progress

10 ESSEX CENTRAL

Samantha Barclay and Jennifer Martin

ESSEX CENTRAL 11

NEWSLOCAL CHIGWELL

RESIDENT’S MARATHON EFFORTGill Punt is seeking to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK by putting herself through the challenge of running the London Marathon in April. This will be the second time that Gill has run the Marathon in aid of Cancer Research, the first being fifteen years ago, a month before her father sadly lost his battle with the disease.

Gill, who is the wife of Chigwell Schools Headmaster Michael Punt, said, “In the Chigwell community a number of pupils, close friends and colleagues have experienced cancer and I wanted to do my bit to ensure that, one day, others will not have to suffer as they have. I am running for Cancer Research UK and hope to raise as much as I can.”To support Gill please donate online at: www.justgiving.com/GillyHeyho

On the 10th October this year Lesley Maeda and Nina Maskell plan to trek Machu Picchu in Peru to raise money for their chosen charity HemiHelp. They are two mothers from Woodford Green and Buckhurst Hill who have never trekked before and hope to raise £8.000! The trek is organised by Charity Challenge and involves trekking from Cusco through Lares Valley and on to Machu Picchu.

They have chosen HemiHelp as Nina’s nine-year-old son Thomas suffers from Hemiplegia, a condition which causes weakness down one side of the body. Childhood Hemiplegia is a common condition affecting one child in 1,000. Life can be difficult for children and young people with Hemiplegia who want to do the same things as other children. They tire easily and the effort involved in simple tasks can be considerable. Apart from offering vital support for parents, HemiHelp brings children with Hemiplegia together for Fun days and music workshops where they are encouraged to try new sports

and musical instruments that they would not normally have the confidence to try. Possibly the most important part of these events is that these children realise they are not alone in having this condition.

They kicked off their fundraising efforts with a cake sale in December which raised £603. The 16th Woodford Brownies held a “bring and buy sale” and raised £65 and the 43rd Woodford cubs pack have raised over £45. On 27th February a pub quiz at the Horse and Well, Woodford Green raised £365.

In the next few months a number of events will be taking place including; a Race Night, a Fun Day, a Dinner and Auction evening, a Michael Buble tribute night at Seasons Bar in Woodford, a school fun run and a psychic night.

To donate visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/NinaandLesleysMachuPicchutrek or keep up to date on events on Twitter: @ninaandlesley

A short roundup of what’s been going on

TREKKING FOR CHARITY

Left to right: Thomas, Toshiro, Luke, Miyako, Lesley and Nina at the cake sale.

Gill Punt

12 ESSEX CENTRAL

Under NewOwnership

13 Coopersale Common, Coopersale, Epping, Essex CM16 7QS

Tel: 01992 560211E-mail: [email protected]

LIVE MUSIC

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Every weekQuiz nights All our ales are cask marked

Special Menu nights

THE GARNON BUSHES

2 for 1lunchesEvery Wednesday

throughout April for OAP’sAll food served is home cooked and available 7 days a week

Pauline and Mark extend a warm welcome to this lovely village pub.

ESSEX CENTRAL 13

14 ESSEX CENTRAL

Show your support for our local businesses! This family run business may well be part of a

national lawn treatment franchise, but make no mistake, it’s very much a locally run set up with a father and son partnership leading the way. Steve and Nick are joined by their partners and together they take great pride in their work. “We currently have about 900 customers and this year we want to hit the big 1,000,” said Steve. He explained that 90% of the business growth comes via referrals, saying, “To us everyone is a valued customer, no matter how big or small. We visit town houses to mansions and treat every lawn with the upmost care and professionalism.” It’s clear from being around them both that they are very personable and you can see why the customers warm to them, plus, as they’re both former policemen then you know your garden couldn’t be in safer hands! Nick explained further, “We took over the franchise three years ago and it’s just so satisfying to take a lawn from a run-down state into something healthy a thriving. This job can really give us so much satisfaction I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”

So, if your lawn is in need of some TLC heading into the summer then call them right away, you will be glad you did!Tel: 01992 522 214

Steve and Nick

WHEN SKIES ARE GREY85 High Street Ongar, CM5 9DX

This quirky little gem of a shop is hidden at the end of Ongar high street and well worth

the journey. Upon entry there’s vintage music playing in the air and an amazing floor with the print of old wooden crates.

Run by Colin and Sara for just over a year, the shop already has a strong personality selling individual gifts and home accessories. Upon talking to Colin it’s clear he loves to try and offer his customers something a little different, “I travel to various trade shows across the country, looking for unique items to put in the shop, something that will catch the eye of people and stands out from the norm,” he said.

As we head into Easter they are stocking a selection of ‘Bake at Home’ and ‘Easter Jar’ kits. These look like great fun for the family and something you’d struggle to find in many other shops.

They are open 7 days a week and are looking to expand more online but already run a ‘click and collect’ service which means customers can make sure that special item ends up in their hands. If you want something a little different for the home, or as a gift, then pop down and see what Colin and Sara can offer you, you won’t be disappointed! Tel: 01277 500 207Website: www.whenskiesaregrey.com

Colin Purcell

THE LOCALSMEET

GREEN THUMB CHIGWELL

ESSEX CENTRAL 15

We have known Dave, the owner of Epping Roofing, for about a year and can

genuinely say he is one of the nicest people you could wish to meet, and were saddened to hear he suffered a terrible injury before Christmas. However, he has spun this into quite a positive that has really pushed the company forward. Dave explained, “The leg break was actually a blessing in disguise as I had to stay in and work from home. It enabled me to catch up on a lot of admin, book in work and oversee the running of the business instead of being up on a roof all day.”

Dave’s eldest son Connor has taken over his role on roofing jobs. Dave said proudly, “Connor has really stepped up to the plate, he has been immense and alongside the other two workers Jake and Jay, they have been superb. It’s my plan to pass the business over to Connor in the future and he has a great work ethic, plus unlike me he’s as fit as a butchers dog, in fact he’s actually running the London Marathon this year for the World Wildlife Fund.” We wanted to meet the man himself, so drove down to see Connor on site, literally, on the roof! The roof itself looked great and a passing resident remarked how considerate they had been in not parking on the grass verge.

It’s clear that Dave’s professional yet friendly approach has been inherited by Connor and the company looks like it will be going strong for another 30 years as the third generation takes over the running in the future.

As part of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, plus approved Kemper Systems contractors you know you will be in professional hands with the Epping Roofing Company.Tel: 01992 575 241 or 07973 532125Website: www.eppingrc.co.uk

EPPING ROOFING COMPANY

Hainault Road, Essex, RM6 5SS MOTECH VEHICLE SERVICES

Since re-establishing ownership of the business just a few weeks ago it’s been something of a

whirlwind for Tony and his wife Alison, but one they are handling superbly. “It’s been hectic, certainly, but we’re loving every minute of it,” said Tony. He has been at Motech for 20 years, running the company early on then stepping back to become more hands on, until he recently took over the reins once more as the previous owner departed. On my visit it’s clear that there is very much a ‘yin and yang’ set up in the office, Alison is greeting the customers warmly whilst Tony is busy ordering parts and overseeing the mechanics in the garage. It works perfectly and Alison tells me more, “It’s certainly a family run business now, there’s a warmth to the place and the public have remarked how happy they are with

our service which is great to hear.” As part of the ‘Good Garage Scheme’ they are often blind checked by anonymous customers only to find out after that they have passed once more to keep their status, which is great for any customer to know. They service all vehicles, from cars and vans, to quads, caravans and black cabs. Tony mentions, “We want to build up our regular customer base and know if we continue to offer a good service the business will continue to grow.” It’s a new dawn at Motech and its looks like there are great things to come, if you ever need a service or repair then pop down as all Essex Central readers get a free pick up, delivery and MOT with every full service. Tel: 020 8559 0102/6767Website: www.motechvehicleservices.co.uk

THE LOCALS

Keith, Alex, Alison and Tony

Connor, Dave, Jay and Jake

16 ESSEX CENTRAL

Thanks to all of our Care Workers!

COMMUNITY UNIONCARE

U nion care is an independent, family run domiciliary care provider based in Chigwell, covering the West Essex area. Managing

Director Paul Lane and Care Manager Sarah Allman are determined to make significant changes to how home care is received and ensuring care workers are highly trained, motivated and supported.

Paul says, “The media reports on home care invariably focus on negative examples where negligence or abuse has taken place. These issues are very serious and we must not be complacent towards them, but I feel this deflects from the fantastic job care workers do in the community and this must be celebrated and promoted equally.”

“Our Care Workers are completely dedicated to delivering care and assistance to a high standard and are

incredibly hard working and for this they deserve our upmost respect and praise.”

Sarah adds, “At Union Care we are seeing a significant trend of new clients requesting our services via recommendations of existing clients or their family and friends. Again this is down to the brilliant work of our Care Workers who deserve this recognition.”

Everyone at Union Care wishes our newest member to the team Victoria Barton-Fisher all the best of luck for the London Marathon! www.justgiving.com/Shanna-Barton-FisherIf you require any information regarding care or assistance at home, do not hesitate to contact Union Care on Tel: 020 3393 9660, Email : [email protected] or Website: www.unioncare.co.uk

New team member Victoria Barton-Fisher

ESSEX CENTRAL 17

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Thinking of training to work in Hairdressing or Beauty? We offer a full range of full and part-time courses. Call (020) 8502 8633 or visit www.efc.ac.uk to order your course guide.

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18 ESSEX CENTRAL

With Blossoms Nursery

Easter egg hunts

are brilliant fun, and can be tailored

to children of all ages. Gather them together to decorate baskets or

paper bags whilst someone hides the eggs. You could

use chocolate eggs or plastic ones which can be filled with a variety of healthier treats such as dried fruit or even small toys.

Place the eggs around your home or garden; spread over the lawn, hide under flowerpots or up trees and hide around the house. Older children will enjoy following clues to lead them

to each hiding spot. If you have a mixed age group get them to hunt in pairs

so older children can help the youngsters or set a limit to how many eggs each child

can collect to keep it fair.

FUNEASTER

Blossoms Nursery offers a caring, supportive home from home environment where children aged 3 months to 5 years can learn, play and develop social skills. Here they share some

crafty ideas to keep your little ones entertained over the

Easter holidays.EASTEREGG HUNT

CHOCOLATE

NESTS

ESSEX CENTRAL 19

Making Paper

Mache eggs is a great way to

incorporate ‘messy play’ with a craft activity.

Mix 2 parts PVA glue with 1 part water. Tear newspaper

into strips or squares and blow up a balloon. Dip the newspaper

pieces in the glue mixture and cover the balloon at least 3 times (allow

to dry in between). Once completely dry pop and remove the balloon. This is your basic egg that you can use in a

variety of ways; cut in half to make cute bowls for nibbles or add a handle to

make an Easter basket. Hang them up as decorations or fill with sweets (cut

a small hole before decorating, fill and patch with more

Paper Mache) to make a piñata. Decorate with

paint or coloured tissue paper.

These tasty treats

are quick and simple to rustle up

and a great way to get the kids involved in the

kitchen. All you need is a bowl, wooden spoon, paper cases, chocolate, cereal of

your choice, such as Cornflakes, Bran Flakes or Rice Crispies (the

Blossoms children used Shreddies) and decorations.

Firstly melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water or in the microwave then add the cereal

and mix well. At this point you can add any other ingredients you wish

like sultanas, dried fruit or even mini marshmallows. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and decorate

with mini chocolate eggs. Leave to set in the fridge for

about an hour before serving.

PAPER MACHE

EGGS

Blossoms Nursery Ltd, Horse Shoe Farm West, London Road, Thornwood Common, Epping, Essex, CM17 9LH Website: www.blossomsnurseryltd.co.uk Tel: 01279 429937

CHOCOLATE

NESTS

20 ESSEX CENTRAL

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What better way to indulge on chocolate and join in with the egg hunts than Easter time?

I Heart Candy UK, is an online confectionery store, selling an array of sweets from RETRO • TRADITIONAL • AMERICAN CANDY • HAMPERS

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Prices for our Easter bunny bags and Easter boxes are £6.50

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Enjoy eating

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guilt free chocolateAt I Heart Candy you can treat yourself, the little ones

(or big ones) to some deliciousAssorted truffle chocolates or the Easter bunny bags

and Boxes filled with miniature eggs, and other delights.

ESSEX CENTRAL 21

WHY CHOOSE AN ELECTRIC BIKE?

ANSMANN E-bike Centre ,Unit 12, RO24,Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5QB

SPECIAL OFFER VOUCHER!As a new season of cycling draws closer, we have a fantastic deal to help blow away the cobwebs of Winter and get everyone up, out and enjoying cycling!Simply come along to our E-bike centre for a free, no obligation test ride, present this voucher and recieve 10% OFF any Electric bike in our range.

Voucher Code: ESCEN0001

Terms & Conditions apply

A chance to get fitterE-bikes make journeys, especiallythose involving hills, less dauntingthan they would be on a conventional bike encouraging more regular use

Cheap to runOnly costs a few pence to fully chargethe battery & every journey you take bybicycle, leaving the car at home, is a huge amount of petrol saved

Ride furtherElectrical assistance will extend therange that you can cycle before youget tired, making it an option forjourneys that you might formerly onlyhad considered doing by car

Tel: 01279 434 179Email: [email protected]: www.ansmann.co.uk

ANSMANN Bring E-bikes to the UK

CYCLINGTHE FUTURE OF

A NSMANN are bringing a fantastic range of German built electric bikes to the UK at a time of real

buoyancy for cycling.ANSMANN electric bikes are

ideal for those riders who enjoy cycling, but find certain aspects of riding challenging. This could be due to advancing years, physical disability or a couple who enjoy riding but one of them finds it difficult to keep pace.

“The benefits of owning an electric bike are numerous” advises

Lenny Wood, Marketing Manager of ANSMANN UK. “Electric bikes promote health and wellbeing through exercise, are cheap to run and kind to the environment.”

ANSMANN E-bikes are designed to assist the rider up to a maximum speed of 15mph, making light work of inclines and helping with longer journeys.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has already embraced this technology with London adding electrically assisted bicycles to an already successfully

cycle hire scheme.ANSMANN are located in Harlow

due to its renowned cycle network and excellent Harlow Council green policies.

The ANSMANN E-Bike showroom is open Monday to Friday and provides free test rides and great information about the electric bike industry.ANSMANN E-bike Centre, Units 11-12, RO24, Harlow Business Park, Harlow, Essex, CM19 5QBEmail: [email protected]: 0870 609 2233

HEALTHFITNESS &

22 ESSEX CENTRAL

CBG

ESSEX CENTRAL 23

DO YOUHEALTHFITNESS &

I had an interesting chat with a patient of mine recently. We were reviewing his X-rays and I explained to him that he had lost a lot of bone around his

teeth i.e. he had moderate gum disease which he had not been aware of. This patient did not previously clean between his teeth and had accumulated a lot of tartar deposits beneath the gum levels. This harmful plaque and tartar is the main cause of gum disease, which is a slow and painless process.

GUM DISEASE AND BAD BREATHGum disease and bad breath are linked. This can be a social problem, unpleasant for others and embarrassing for the person that has it. In 9 out of 10 cases the problem originates in the mouth and not the stomach, as many people believe. Even in the cleanest mouth there are both good and bad bacteria. These bacteria live off food debris and dead skin cells and create odour-causing

compounds called Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs), which cause the bad breath.

GUM DISEASE AND GENERAL HEALTH PROBLEMSScientific research has shown that if someone has gum disease, then they have a higher risk of getting heart problems, as well as diabetes. Also, people that smoke have a higher risk of gum problems.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF GUM DISEASE?The main effects of gum disease include bleeding gums, bad breath, loosening of teeth, and movement of the front teeth leading to gaps between the teeth (i.e. poor appearance). As gum disease progresses, there is a higher chance of getting gum infections, ultimately leading to the loss of teeth.

Q Brush your teeth at least twice a day Q Clean between the teeth every day with floss or small brushes - this will remove the plaque and bacteria that build up.Q Gently cleanse the tongue with a tongue cleanserQ Gargle with Ultradex mouthwash. This is an alcohol free mouthwash containing chlorine dioxide, which is scientifically proven to remove the VSCs. Q Visit your Dentist and/or Hygienist regularly. Bad breath can be an indicator that there is a problem with the gums.

HAVE GUM DISEASE?By Dr Ash Parmar of Smile Design By Ash

READER OFFERFREE scanning large X-ray worth £35 and a complimentary initial consultation. Plus 50% off the fee for the first 1-hour Hygienist visit. Quote reference EC 0314.Tel: 020 8500 0544www.smiledesignbyash.co.uk

HOW TO PREVENT GUM

DISEASE AND HAVE FRESH

BREATH

Dr Ash Parmar

24 ESSEX CENTRAL

Get Insanely Shredded with our NEW Insanity Extreme Fitness Class!

All classes are suitable for ALL levels with modifications

Please contact Mandy at [email protected]/07904190047 to book and secure your place!

One of the 1st UKInstructors!

Wednesday 10am - Trinity Church Hall, Mannock Drive, Loughton, Essex, IG10. Tuesdays 7pm, The Murray hall, 106 Borders Lane, IG10 3DS.

Classes are £24 per month (1 class per week) Walk ins £8. If participating in more than one class per week, rates will be further discounted!

ESSEX CENTRAL 25

GOING BACK TO HIS

ROOTSWHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO? My name is Michael Jelbart and I run a local business called Functional Roots from a private practice located in the Redbridge area. I am a Movement Specialist, an Advanced Personal Trainer and a NG360 Golf Performance Specialist.

WHAT IS A MOVEMENT SPECIALIST?A Movement Specialist is someone who understands how the human body performs and functions on an optimal level. This enables one to analyse, assess, rehabilitate, restore, train and condition individuals of all levels and abilities, including professional sports.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE SERVICES? Whether it’s to improve body shape, fitness, injury prevention/rehabilitation or to maximise ones sporting potential, everyone can benefit.

WHERE DO YOU TRAIN PEOPLE?I currently have a private practice located just off of the Redbridge roundabout and also offer home visits to all surrounding areas in West Essex and East London.

WHAT MAKES THE FUNCTIONAL ROOTS APPROACH UNIQUE? The Movement Specialist role is relatively new to the UK; its foundations largely originate from cutting-edge developments made in the U.S. So when combined with Personal Training and NLP, it has evolved into a more accomplished and diverse programme that can suit the need of any individual.

I predominantly use a weight-bearing approach to movement and fitness because everyday sport and activities often occur in the very same way. The assessments and training should always look and feel like the task in hand. This is something I strive to achieve for fast and effective results.

Putting the ‘FUN’ in Function is a term I often use because a huge part of the Functional Roots process is to create exciting tasks and challenges that will rekindle that love and appreciation for the ‘effortless movement’ we all once had as children. WHAT MADE YOU GET INTO THIS PROFESSION?I’ve always had a great fascination with how things work (on a scientific level) and I’m immensely passionate about people, so it genuinely felt like I was made for a role such as this. The human body is such an amazing feat of engineering and is something that I want to contribute towards and continue for the rest of my life. For more information or to arrange a consultation please visit the Functional Roots website or contact Michael directly.Website: www.functionalroots.comTel: 07956 450001, Email: michael @functionalroots.comPractice address: No.4 Royston Gardens, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3SX

Movement Specialist and Personal Trainer Michael Jelbart tells us all about his business Functional Roots and how he can help us all maximise our body’s potential.

HOMEGARDEN &

26 ESSEX CENTRAL

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Largest Golf SuperStore in Herts and Essex

Custom Fitting specialist GC2 and Flightscope launch monitors 12 Championship Course Simulator Golf Library

Service Centre

Fitting Specialist

St James Centre, East Rd, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2SX www.totally-golf.com Tel: 01279432288

“The best kit and golf clothing”

28 ESSEX CENTRAL

PASTELPOWER

4

FASHIONBEAUTY &

Put a spring in your step with this season’s top 10 items.

By Carrie FeaganThis season we’re swapping our dark and dreary clothes for pretty pastels. Spring is all about pastel shades this year, so whether you’re going all out with a bold orange

or staying subtle with a light blue bag- there’s something for everyone. The best part is you can pick up this

springs hottest trend all from the high-street.

9 Light Blue Leather Metal Tote Bag River Island £70.00 10 Embellished Cuff Shirt Miss Selfridge £32.00

1

3

2

5

6

7

8

9

10

1 Pink Batwing Slouch Sweater New Look £12.99 2 Light Pink Crepe Oversized Blazer New Look £24.99

3 Organza Wrap Skirt Topshop £40.00 4 Light Orange Peep Toe Platform Sandal River Island £55.00

5 Stitch Cigarette Trousers Topshop £30.006 Yellow Cropped Jumper River Island £30.00

7 Shift Dress by Love Topshop £28.00 8 Gingham A-Line Dress Topshop £55.00

To find out more or to book a consultation:

01279 602 644w w w . r i v e r s - h o s p i t a l . c o . u k

High Wych Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0HH

Think you have tried every weight loss solution?

For some people, body weight is a serious issue. If all of the regular measures for weight loss have been unsuccessful, surgery is an option. Successful weight loss is also down to the support network that you have. Weight Loss SurgeryAt Rivers Hospital we offer weight loss surgery procedures along with the support you need to help you accomplish your goals. Our expert, friendly and professional team offer motivation and support from the outset, from your first consultation with a consultant surgeon, through to achieving your goal.

Your new life could start today – call now for more details.

ESSEX CENTRAL 29

To find out more or to book a consultation:

01279 602 644w w w . r i v e r s - h o s p i t a l . c o . u k

High Wych Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0HH

Think you have tried every weight loss solution?

For some people, body weight is a serious issue. If all of the regular measures for weight loss have been unsuccessful, surgery is an option. Successful weight loss is also down to the support network that you have. Weight Loss SurgeryAt Rivers Hospital we offer weight loss surgery procedures along with the support you need to help you accomplish your goals. Our expert, friendly and professional team offer motivation and support from the outset, from your first consultation with a consultant surgeon, through to achieving your goal.

Your new life could start today – call now for more details.

30 ESSEX CENTRAL

CHOCOLATEZero Calories

FASHIONBEAUTY &

30 ESSEX CENTRAL

INDULGENCEForget Easter eggs, these chocolate treats are what your skin really wants, these products are sure to satisfy any cravings you may have in the most luxurious of manners. Not stopping at beauty products, these treatments are the most delicious on the market, a perfect accompaniment to the Easter festivities.

Make like Augustus Gloop and enjoy your very own chocolate bath, lie back and let yourself be immersed in this sumptuous concoction. Philip B Chocolate Milk Bubble Bath, £25, www.uk.spacenk.com

It says it all in the name, but this massage is preceded by

a great exfoliating body scrub, leaving skin illuminated. Chocolate Indulgence

Full Body Massage, £51, Bannatyne Spa,

Chafford Hundred www.bannatyne.co.uk

Indulge in this delicious facial, bursting with antioxidants; this is perfect for brightening dull complexions. Chocolate Facial, £45, Lamia Hair and Beauty Salon, Hainault www.laima.co.uk

A treat for the legs in decadent surroundings.Chocolate Hazelnut Wax, price varies dependent on area, Strip Wax Bar and Boutique, Loughton www.stripwaxbar.com

One of the best cleansing masks on the market, and it smells good enough to eat.Lush Cupcake Chocolate

and Mint Fresh Face Mask, £5.95,

www.lush.co.uk

An intensely moisturising treat for the lips.Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Dark Chocolate and

Cherry Lip Butter, £1.99, www.boots.com

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s

s

Notes of cacao make for a

luxurious and sensual fragrance, perfect for spring.

Jo Malone Blue Agava and

Cacao Cologne, £39, www.jomalone.co.uk

s

s

s

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By Devon-Elizabeth Tabersham

ESSEX CENTRAL 31

WE CATER FOR PARTIES & EVENTS TOO. PLEASE CALL TO DISCUSS YOURS.

T: 020 8505 4400

[email protected]

DEVOURED

www.greenowlcafe.co.uk

44 Queens Road Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5BY

PREPAREDMon - Fri 8am - 5pm

Sat 8am - 5.30pmSun 8.30am - 5pm

lovingly

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Only the finest ingredients, all locally sourced and

freshly cooked by us every day!

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ESSEX CENTRAL 33

STEP 2: Using a pumice stone first, exfoliate in a circular motion, paying special attention to heels of your feet and then finish off with a foot scrub. Rinse well and pat dry with a towel. Amanda Recommends: Neal’s Yard Remedies Pumice Foot Scrub,£14.75, www.nealsyard remedies.com

STEP 3: Apply moisturiser and cuticle remover cream around your cuticles. For added relief, massage the arches of your feet by working your thumbs in with firm pressure, then gently push cuticles back with a cuticle pusher. Amanda Recommends: Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover Gel £6.45, www.boots.com and All That Jazz Hand & Foot Cream, £16.94, www.allthatjazzuk.com,

STEP 4: Clip and file each toenail into a square shape, buff the tops of each nail to ensure a smooth surface for the polish. Avoid cutting your nails in a rounded shape, as this can promote ingrown toenails.

STEP 5: Swipe an acetone-soaked cotton wool ball over each toenail to remove excess oil and moisture.

STEP 6: Apply a thin coat of a base polish and let it dry. Amanda Recommends: All That Jazz Base Line £11.99 www.allthatjazzuk.com

STEP 7: Apply 2 coats of your chosen colored polish, waiting 5 minutes in between each coat.Amanda Recommends: All That Jazz Polish Range £9.98, www.allthatjazzuk.com

STEP 8: Apply a super quick dry top coat and let your toe nails dry for at least half an hour before wearing you favorite sandals.Amanda Recommends: All That Jazz Top Note £10.99, www.allthatjazzuk.com

STEP 9: Finish off with a cuticle oil, massage it in to your toes thoroughly to leave your skin moisturised for hours! Amanda Recommends: Nourish Cuticle Oil by Nail Harmony, £7.99, Finesse Hair & Beauty in Chingford.

PREP YOUR FEET FOR

SUMMERHow

to do the Perfect

Pedicure

How to do the Perfect

Pedicure

FASHIONBEAUTY &

By Nail Harmony Master Educator Amanda Anastasiou, owner of Finesse Hair & Beauty in Chingford. If you would like to have your nails done by Amanda, please visit www.finessesalon.co.uk

Summer’s nearly here and we don’t know about you but we can’t wait to free our feet and start wearing

sandals again! With gorgeous sandals hitting the shelves, it’s no time to be shy about getting your toes out. You could get yourself booked in to your local beauty salon for a luxury pedicure but for those that don’t have the time, fortunately, celeb-trusted nail pro Amanda Anastasiou is sharing her top tips for pampering your feet.

STEP-BY-STEPSTEP 1: Soak your feet in an Epsom salt-infused bath of warm water for 5 -10 minutes. Sit back, relax and enjoy!Amanda Recommends: Boots Epsom Salts, £1.49, www.boots.com

YOU WILL NEED: _ Large soaking bowl _ Epsom Salt _ Pumice Stone or foot scrub_ Base and top coat _ Your favorite polish _ Moisturiser _ Cuticle Pusher _ Cuticle Oil_ Buffer Block _ Nail Clippers_ Nail File _ Towel

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36 ESSEX CENTRAL

A s house prices continue to soar and moving home becomes increasingly difficult – a lot of people are now looking for

ideas to help them turn their home, into the evolved space they need. Life changes but sometimes our finances cannot cope with our new requirements such as working from home or a new baby. Or even the grown-up children who cannot afford to leave!

So how can we make our rooms feel bigger and more practical for our changing needs? The first step is to look at the room with a creative and intuitive thought process without being hindered by how the room looks in its present state.

There are so many ways in which

ideas can be turned into functional, exciting and interesting practicalities through a whole remit of unique solutions.

Most builders when renovating a room go back to the brick. Theoretically and creatively, you need to do this too. Imagine the room at its bare minimum take very careful measurements of the room itself and of the furniture required and then prepare a drawing. If looking for bespoke furniture which has to have exact (but not standard) measurements, it may be worth considering having the furniture made.

If you have a small space for a wardrobe but a phenomenal clothes collection, taking the wardrobe from floor to ceiling with various gadgets and devices to increase the storage

SPACESAVERS

Enhancing the quality of home design and lifestyle

a potential “There is always

know what can solution if you

be possible.”

ESSEX CENTRAL 37

facilities is an interesting possibility. For most situations where an improvement is required - there is always a potential solution if you know what can be possible.

Perhaps the biggest room most of us have - is our garden! However this space is frequently under-utilised. So thinking of this ‘room’ as potential for most of our summertime entertaining, certainly adds an exciting dimension to the home/garden experience and also helps to keep the house tidier. It doesn’t matter about crumbs, mess, things getting broken and also facilitates lots of water fun too. So for family entertainment, having the right furniture: dining chairs/table and relaxing loungers, can certainly enhance the amount of space you have to live in and enjoy, whilst at home.

The Highlux team improve the quality of an office and home, lifestyle experience. Leading a team of talented engineers, interior designers and carpenters, the directors are committed to an international calibre of design and furniture building expertise - whilst retaining a locally priced fee structure. Highlux are currently moving to an exciting new showroom in Epping, Essex.

For more information please visit the Highlux website www.highlux.co.uk. For a free initial consultation call Martin Radels on 07597 144 684 or email [email protected].

Words by Michelle Harriswww.starcopywriting.com

HOMEGARDEN &

WITH THE APPROPRIATE EXPERTISE, IT IS AMAZING WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED TO MAXIMISE SPACE USING IMAGINATION AND STYLE

Q Having a specially made bed to fit

the bedroom and then removing wardrobes to maximise space. Perhaps building an entrance through a wall and into a wardrobe in an adjacent room.

Q A hand-crafted

circular staircase instead of a loft ladder adds an interesting feature than a standard unattractive ladder coming out of the ceiling.

Q Making a smallish

bedroom feel bigger by building wardrobes to a smaller depth

rather than standard.

Q Dining furniture built to exactly the

right size for the room.

Q A French Provençal kitchen

with all the appliances built in, so traditional feeling but powered with latest technology.

Create a garden room with bespoke furniture

Ingenious storage solutions utilise all available space

38 ESSEX CENTRAL

ABRIDGE INTERIORS

UPHOLSTERY MANUFACTURERS

1 Market Place, Abridge, Essex, RM4 1UA | Telephone: 01992 812 323www.abridgeinteriors.co.uk | [email protected]

Abridge Interiors is a locally run family business with over 40 years upholstery experience.

Our showroom is in the middle of Abridge, (see map below) we also have our own local workshop we can make you a brand new sofa, sofabed, corner unit, chairs, stools, headboards in a choice of fabrics and sizes to suit your requirements. We can also reupholster your existing furniture to look like new in a wide range of fabric or leather.

Customers can now visit us to see our range of soft furnishings, mirrors, dressing tables, console tables and much more.

D Sofas & Sofa BedsD Corner UnitsD Chairs

D Re-Upholstery SpecialistsD MirrorsD Console TablesD Dressing Tables

Save Money Just Replace Doors, Drawer Fronts & Worktops!

...in under 3 days!

Very little disruption

or mess!

01992 577 737First Floor, 233-235 High Street, Epping, CM16 4BP Visit Show Room

ESSEX CENTRAL 39

ABRIDGE INTERIORS

UPHOLSTERY MANUFACTURERS

1 Market Place, Abridge, Essex, RM4 1UA | Telephone: 01992 812 323www.abridgeinteriors.co.uk | [email protected]

Abridge Interiors is a locally run family business with over 40 years upholstery experience.

Our showroom is in the middle of Abridge, (see map below) we also have our own local workshop we can make you a brand new sofa, sofabed, corner unit, chairs, stools, headboards in a choice of fabrics and sizes to suit your requirements. We can also reupholster your existing furniture to look like new in a wide range of fabric or leather.

Customers can now visit us to see our range of soft furnishings, mirrors, dressing tables, console tables and much more.

D Sofas & Sofa BedsD Corner UnitsD Chairs

D Re-Upholstery SpecialistsD MirrorsD Console TablesD Dressing Tables

40 ESSEX CENTRAL

When Skies Are GreyTreat yourself to a little happy

Eclectic Gifts&

Home AccessoriesCushions & ThrowsScented Candles &

Diffusers

Pantry & Accessories

Cards & Gift Wrap

01277 500207

Open 7 Days a Week

85 High St, OngarCM5 9DX

whenskiesaregrey.com

We Won’t be beaten on price!

Great Selection of furniture

MirrorS & GiftS l PictureS

liGhtinG & chandelierS

hand Made KitchenS

Granite WorKtoPS

VariouS finiSheS

Stained & lacquered

Stained & hand Waxed

SPray Painted

l

l

l

l

l

l

l

l

l

Visit our Website for a Virtual Tour of our HUGE Showroom!

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 4pmSaturday - 9am - 5pm Sunday - 10am - 4pmSee the virtual tour on our website!

E: [email protected]: www.somethingfurniture.co.uk

T: 01992 573 111A: Esgors Farm, High Road, Thornwood Common, near Epping, Essex, CM16 6LY1 mile from M11 Roundabout, Junction 7 on B1393 - between Epping and Harlow.

Specials made to order

SALE MANY ITEMS TO CLEAR

AT CRAZY PRICES!

Ample Free Parking | Items ready to go!

Come along and browse our

8,000 sqr ft showroom

ESSEX CENTRAL 41

MARVELLOUSBLOOMING

HOMEGARDEN &

Add a touch of floral flair to your home this season.

Glass Floral Double Coat Hook £16.00www.oliverbonas.com

Set of 2 Flower Plaques £35 www.next.co.uk

Mulberry Flower Collection Teabag Tidy £1.99 www.dunelm-mill.com

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s

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Floral Tub Chair £129 www.argos.co.uk

s

Flora Flower Cushion £12.99 www.dunelm-mill.com

PiP Studio Big Flower Mug £10 www.johnlewis.com

Retro Floral Door Stop £18.99 www.dottybrown.com

s

s

s Meadow Breeze Bedlinen Collection from £11.99 www.dunelm-mill.com s

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This month you will see that the garden is slowly starting to come to

life again. Lawns now need a regular mow, vegetable and flowering seeds also need to be sown! April is the perfect time to plant some lovely summer flowering bulbs such as Alliums, Agapanthus and Canna. Bulbs are ideal for patio containers and will add colour to mixed borders without taking up much space.

Make room in your garden for some herbs, there’s nothing like the taste of freshly picked herbs that have come straight from your own garden! Herbs are relatively easy to grow and not only do they taste great in food, they provide us with a number of health

benefits too. Growing herbs will also attract plenty of wildlife such as birds, bees and butterflies. Sage, Parsley, Thyme, Fennel and Rosemary are some of the most highly scented herbs and will fill your garden with a fantastic aroma.

Before planting your seeds enrich the soil by using some well-rotted compost. Sow your herb seeds in shallow drills at least 30cm apart at regular intervals of three to four weeks to ensure a continuous supply of fresh leaves. Place in a sunny position as they will not grow well in shade. They look great growing in beds, borders, containers, window boxes or even indoors on your kitchen windowsill. Inside you can grow many varieties such as; Chives,

Parsley, Basil, Coriander, Marjoram and Mint.

Herbs can also be grown vertically in your garden especially if space is an issue you can grow them inside a shoe organiser. Just make a few small holes in the bottom of each pocket. Hang it on a sunny fence, shed or wall. Place in a handful of small stones, fill with soil and sow the seeds.

You can easily make an ornamental herb garden by combining the silver-grey foliage of Sage with the blue flowers of Borage and other variations in colour such as Basil and Thyme.Written by Amenity horticulturalist & gardening committee member of Copped Hall and Epping Horticultural Society Victoria Robertson

PEST CONTROLAphids can be found on soft new growth. Look at buds, tips or stems and the undersides of leaves. Aphids come in many different colours from blackfly to yellows, browns and greenfly. Spray them with a little amount of washing up liquid mixed with plenty of water as an organic form of control.

WILDLIFE WATCH Look at frogspawn if you have some in your pond as it will normally start to hatch during this month. Do not move spawn or tadpoles into a different pond as this can spread disease. Frogspawn likes to be exposed to both light and warm conditions and instead of hatching it can sometimes turn into mush. If this happens it can be quite hard to find a reason as to why it didn’t develop properly.

WITH VICTORIA ROBERTSONGARDENING

A seasonal guide to help you get the most out of your garden.

Victoria Robertson

HOMEGARDEN &

like the taste There’s nothing

picked herbsof freshly

44 ESSEX CENTRAL

Queens British Grill in Wanstead is a true British steakhouse that

prides itself on serving only the finest meats. All of their steaks are rare breed, 28 days aged and supplied by S.R. Cooper Meats Ltd who source their products from sustainable family run farms where the animals

are reared under non intensive conditions.

Here is their recipe for the tastiest steak you are ever likely to cook.METHOD1. Cook the carrots, peas and French beans and leave to cool.2. To make the curry paste: grind the garlic and curry powder in a pestle

and mortar. Once they

are a smooth paste add the rosemary, thyme and olive oil and mix well. Finally add the parsley, salt and pepper and mix to a uniform paste.3. For the sirloin steak: to start you will want to sear the outside of the steak a bit; to do this, after the grating is hot put the steak on for about two minutes on each side.

After you have seared the steak put it back on for about five minutes on each side if you wish to cook it rare.

Leave it another 2 minutes for medium rare, or 6 more minutes for medium to well done (this all depends of the thickness of the steak).4. Leave the steak to rest for about 1 minute, so that

BEST SERVED WITH...The Languedoc-Roussillon, the vast one-time wine factory that stretches from the estuary of the Rhône to the Spanish border has transformed itself into the nursery of some of the world’s most

exciting winemaking talent, and it here that we will effortlessly go in search of a bottle or two suitable for this month’s dish. Juicy steak calls out for a juicy red, and this is the home of some of the juiciest red wines made anywhere.

The movement away from the high-yielding

industrial vineyards of the Mediterranean plain and into the far more ancient and qualitatively significant garrigue lands in the foothills of the Cévennes mountains has exposed some particularly thrilling terroirs, and there are none more so than the Terrasses de Larzac, an area of wild and scenic limestone shale. This area of a few square miles has attracted some of the most prodigious of that aforementioned talent, amongst them a Brazilian former agronomist Marie Chauffray, and her ex-rock musician and wine merchant husband, Frédéric, who bought some 30 acres of old Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah vines high up above the little village of Arboras in 2004. They farmed their vines

FOOD & DRINK QUEENS BRITISH GRILL

By Queens British Grill

SIRLOIN

STEAK

Toby Webster of

Black Dog Wines

ESSEX CENTRAL 45

Sous Chef Attila Koszegi and Head Chef/Owner Adebola Adeshina

Be the first to own one of two beautiful, 3 bedroom

villas available in the lovely town of

Mersin Tasucu on the Southern Turkish coast

£55,000 eachor both for £100,000

Mediterranean Villas

For further information please call Semih on 07460 850 000

FOR SALEBRAND

NEW

LONG SANDY BEACH, CLOSE TO ALAYNA AND CYPRUS IS A SHORT BOAT RIDE AWAY.

INGREDIENTS8oz Sirloin SteakFor the Curry Paste: 10g Curry Powder2 cloves of Garlic1 string of picked Rosemary1 string of picked Thyme50g chopped Parsley25ml Extra Virgin Olive OilSalt & Pepper

For the Salad: 1 sliced PineappleMixed Leaf SaladCarrots, Peas & French BeansPineapple JuiceOlive OilSalt & Pepper

organically from the outset, and make their wines according to natural principles, hand-picking the grapes and allowing them to ferment under the yeasts that occur naturally in the vineyard. We have just shipped their vibrantly wonderful 2012 ‘SanSoo’ (£12.45 each, £11.60 if you buy 6), a bottling that takes place without the addition of any sulphur and is only sold in the spring, and the 2010 La Réserve d’O (£13.65/£12.70) which is full

of juicy red and black fruits, marked by a marvellous freshness and energy. Either will handsomely compliment your steak.

These and many other artisan made wines are available from The Black Dog Wine Company at Ashlyns Farm Shop in North Weald. www.blackdogwines.co.uk, Tel: 01992 525009.

it absorbs all the juice back into the meat.5. Meanwhile, cut the pineapple into 1 cm slices, and grill it for about 1 minute, until it takes a nice colour of the grill.6. Once the vegetables are cooled down, place them in a bowl with the mixed salad, a touch of pineapple juice, and season with salt and

pepper. Add Olive Oil as required.7. Once the steak has rested, smear the curry paste on both sides, ready to serve.Queens British Grill, 63 New Wanstead, London, E11 2SA, Tel: 020 8530 8861, Website: www.queensbritishgrill.co.uk

46 ESSEX CENTRAL

Quality & ExcellenceAward Winning Family Butchers

& Pie makers

Spring is hereand Summer is justaround the corner.

Have you tried one of our award winning pies?

COME IN AND SEE OUR NEW RANGE

OF MARINADES (some are Gluten Free)

Free local delivery’s01992 813283

www.qualityandexcellence.co.ukFind us on Facebook Quality-excellence Butchers

Now stocking boereworsand Braai Sault.

12 Forest Drive, Theydon Bois,

Essex CM16 7EY

ESSEX CENTRAL 47

117 High Rd Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6QQTEL: 020 8500 6282

www.thebluebellrestaurant.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFER!20% off 3 course set lunch Tuesday - Saturday and 20% off 3 course dinner Tuesday to Thursday throughout April. Diners MUST mention ‘Essex Central 20% Offer’ at time of booking.

The Bluebell restaurant is located in the heart of Chigwell, Essex and represents the fi nest in modern British and European cuisine. We pride ourselves on The Bluebell’s elegantly relaxed atmosphere, beautifully and simply presented food and fi rst class service.

Housed within a lovingly restored fi ve hundred year old building, The Bluebell is deceptively large on the inside. Part of the restaurant’s charm are the two separate dining areas; at the front a cosy and intimate space whilst at the rear you will fi nd a larger sophisticated dining area.

The Bluebell is perfect for business entertaining, intimate evenings, delicious lunches or even a family celebration. Whatever the event we will do our utmost to make sure you have a truly special experience in a relaxing and elegant environment.

Tuesday to Thursday throughout April.

“Now owned by head chef Gavin Maguire”

48 ESSEX CENTRAL

WONDER OF

ASIA S ri Lanka is a destination for

an immersive holiday, a place of intense and permanent memories. It is an island of

stunning beaches, arid plains, lush vegetation in the low hill country and stunning expansive estates in the high tea country British colonial heritage is everywhere, the influence of Dutch and Portuguese settlers and a deep cultural & Buddhist religious heritage is felt throughout the island and its culture. Sri Lankan cuisine blends the best of vegetarian, meat and fish with aromatic spices and abundant locally grown produce, to create an explosion of taste. All of which means there’s a mix of things to experience, from landscapes and wildlife to culture, food

and relaxation.The best months to travel to the

west coast are December to April or July to September. The east coast is best experienced between May and November. Climate is sub-tropical, with year round temperatures of 26-32C. It’s possible to fly direct from London on Sri Lankan airlines, but other options, including stopovers in Dubai or the Maldives, are available.

August sees the ‘Grand Perahera’, a 10-day religious festival with a nightly parade of elephants clad in embroidered silk and travelling between temples. The circuits grow in length as the days elapse, with the climatic ‘Randoli Perahera’ involving 100 or more animals.

Abbotts Travel offer a variety of hotels

Sri Lanka is so much more than just a beach holiday.

The Buddhist festival Kandy Perahara at the

Kandian Tooth Temple.

ESSEX CENTRAL 49

T R A V E LS R I L A N K A

DAYS 1-3Arrive in Colombo, and transfer to Vil Uyana, a boutique hotel located in the cultural triangle and named by Harper’s Bazaar as Best Eco Luxury Hotel in Sri Lanka.

Tour Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, and spend time on the Minneriya

Elephant Jeep Safari, witnessing herds gathering around a third century reservoir to drink.

DAYS 4-6Transfer to Kegalle for three nights at Rosyth Estate House, a former planters bungalow set in a 62-acre private estate, and which comes with impeccable reviews.

Tour Kegalle and visit a range of sights from a tea factory and elephant orphanage to Kandy Tooth Temple and also the Botanic Gardens. Spend the rest of your time at leisure.

DAYS 7-8From Kandy, take the train to Nan Oya and visit Horton Plains National Park on the way to Nuwara Eliya, where a car and driver will meet you.

On arrival, visit the Tea Factory, a gorgeous conversion which, as the name implies,

lets you pick your own tea from the plantation.

DAYS 9-10 Transfer to Yala for two nights at the luxury Jetwing Yala, set close to one of the best wildlife destinations in Asia.

The highlight will be a Leopard safari, because Yala has one of the highest concentrations of these beautiful big cats of anywhere on Earth.

DAYS 11-15Transfer to Kogalla for five nights of relaxation at the Fortress Hotel.

Take a tour of Galle City and spend a morning whale watching. The rest of your time can be spent experiencing the hotel’s incredible spa

treatments or taking the sun on its pristine beaches, letting the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lap at your feet!TIP: When planning an itinerary don’t be fooled by distances. Roads and progress can be slow so avoid one night stops, unless you are looking for a nonstop driving holiday. Alternatively, let Abbotts help plan your perfect trip.

from basic to luxury, but to get the best from this wonderful country they recommend boutique and authentic properties like Rosyth Estate House. Set in a working tea and rubber estate, guests can visit the local tea factory, chill by the pool, laze in the library or take in the stunning views of this private paradise in the hills. Every guest who books two nights here between May and June or October and November will receive a third night free, as a thank you.Abbotts Travel, 134 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1BA (open Monday-Saturday). Tel: 0208 989 9445. Track more exclusive offers and receive your free monthly newsletter online at www.abbottstravel.com Twitter: @abbottstravel.

SAMPLE ITINERARY FOR 15 DAY SRI LANKAN HOLIDAY

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ESSEX CENTRAL 51

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Snaresbrook, South Woodford, Woodford, Wanstead, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Theydon Bois, Abridge, Epping,

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WHEN: Third Monday of the month. 5.30pmWHAT: Vojan Cooking Club, £30. Contact: Sharon Butler-Felby 07850 864 799WHERE: The Vojan, Ongar.

WHEN: First Tuesday of the month. From 7.30pmWHAT: The Vojan Business Networking Group - No membership fee, just £15, includes dinner, some drinks and social media support. Contact: Sharon Butler-Felby 07850 864 799WHERE: The Vojan, Ongar

WHEN: First Sunday every month, ending 7th September.WHAT: Copped Hall Open Gardens. Tea & coffee, homemade cakes, biscuits and shop. Entry £3.50, free to Friends & children under 14. Gates open for entry between 2.00pm and 4.00pm, gardens close at 5.00pm.WHERE: Copped Hall, Epping

WHEN: Tuesday 8th April, 8pmWHAT: North east London RSPB talk on ‘The State of Nature: What can we do?’ Admission £3.00 for RSPB members, £3.50 for non-members. For more details phone David Littlejohns on 020 8989 4746 or email [email protected]: St. Mary’s Church, 207 High Road, South Woodford, E18 2PA

WHEN: Wednesday 16th April, 7pm-9.30pmWHAT: Bat walk - Learn about the bats in the forest, see bat specimens close up and have a chance to spot some bats. Aimed at families; children must be accompanied by an adult, ages 7+. £6 per person. Booking required - ring 020 8502 8500 or email [email protected]: Epping Forest Field Studies Centre, Pauls Nursery Road, High Beach

WHEN: Friday 18th - Monday 21st AprilWHAT: Easter Beer Festival - Over 20 Real Ales, BBQ, live music and special guests.WHERE: Theydon Oak Pub, Epping

WHEN: Sunday 27th AprilWHAT: Woodford Bowling Club open day. Tuition given and equipment supplied. Over 16’s. Wear flattish footwear. For more details ring Alan on 020 8505 6002 or John on 020 8504 1196WHERE: Woodford Bowling Club, The Green, Kings Avenue, Woodford Green

WHEN: Friday 9th May, 7pm for 7.30pmWHAT: Gator ABC present a ‘Grand Dinner Boxing Show’. Informal dress. Admission £35. Contact Keith: 07802 936 432WHERE: Prince Regent Hotel, Manor Road, Woodford Bridge, IG8 8AE

WHEN: Saturday 10th May, 11am - 4pm WHAT: Nina and Lesley fund raising FunDay in aid of HemiHelp - U 9’s football, Senior and Youth Rugby & Netball tournaments. Bouncy castles, go karts, face painter, craft stalls, music, beer festival, hot and cold foods, and special guests and celebrities to open various tournaments.WHERE: Upper Clapton Rugby club, Upland Road, Epping, CM16 6NL

WHEN: Saturday 10th May 7pm - lateWHAT: Nina and Lesley Charity fundraising dinner and auction for 200 in aid of HemiHelp. Three Course dinner with celebrities, auction with some fantastic prizes from 5* holiday home in Marbella to celebrity chauffeur and sports car for the day. Tickets £60pp. For tickets please email [email protected]: Upper Clapton Rugby club, Upland Road, Epping, CM16 6NL

WHAT’S ON

GET OUT AND ABOUT IN

ESSEX

ESSEX CENTRAL 53

THEYDOND i n i n g & P u b

OAK

Beer FestivalEaster18th-21st April 2014LIVE

MUSICBBQ ALLWeekend

&Special Guests

THE BEASTIESJIM STAPLEYPHEONIX UKULELE BANDand more...

Over 20 Real Ales and many Beers to try.

9 Coopersale Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 7Q J T: 01992 572618 E: [email protected]

EASTER FUNDAY AT THEYDON OAK

COME AND JOIN IN WITH ALL THE FUN

Easter Sunday

20th April From 1pm

Meet The

Easter Bunny

FREE ENTRY

Face Painting & Much More!

Celebrating our 1st year anniversary of opening our fully enclosed children’s playground

54 ESSEX CENTRAL

SPECIALISTS IN WETROOMSMade to measure Vanity UnitsFamily Business Established 25 yrsReferences and Portfolio AvailableFull Design and Plan ServiceEverything From Tile to Paint

Marble Granite and StoneFull Electrical and Plumbing ServiceAll Work to a Very High StandardSpecialist Interior Design ConsultantBespoke Carpentry and Joinery

To Find Out More Please Contact

Tel 020 8502 0041 Mob 07760 776 831

ESSEX CENTRAL 55

The Holiday Homes Trust is a Lottery funded charity offering affordable family holiday accommodation.

Each of their homes is wheelchair accessible and they offer a wide range of facilities, ensuring fun for all the family. Holiday homes are available in Yorkshire, Norfolk, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and South Wales.

The Holiday Homes Trust was founded with deep rooted family values, in the late 60s, after installing a wishing well in his front garden, Charles Porter, a former Scout, took the funds from this and bought a caravan for which his disabled great nieces could enjoy a fun-filled holiday without the stress of finding a destination with wheelchair accessibility. Porter then decided that every family with disabilities should be able to enjoy the same luxury. In 1969, a group of former Scouts, including Porter founded the Scouts Holiday Home Trust upon the belief that

everybody is entitled to the same quality of life and deserve the freedom to have fun and relaxation. Since then, nine caravans and one chalet have been built in holiday parks across the country.

These caravans offer lower prices than the holiday parks, including an entertainment pass, making a holiday more affordable for families who have been affected by disability. Since it’s founding, more than 6,000 families have been able to enjoy their stay and it is clear from the visitor’s testimonials that The Holiday Homes Trust provides well equipped accommodation and caters to every individual within a family in order to ensure that all involved enjoy their stay. One guest writes, “The accommodation was brilliant with a big bathroom which was great for my disabled husband. The Park facilities were all good and my two teenagers had a lovely time windsurfing.”

This charity offers families with limited finances due to the

stresses of disability the chance to enjoy a holiday with the dignity and enjoyment which everybody deserves. While The Holiday Homes Trust receives funding from the Lottery for its efforts, it still requires fundraising and patronage in order to maintain the caravans, some of which are calling for refurbishment so that they can be enjoyed by guests for years to come. It is essential to this charity to continue being able to provide holiday homes for disabled families, if only to provide a restful week away from the home environment, building family relationships and reducing stress induced from their disadvantages.

The trust recently held a wine tasting evening at The Hall on the Green in North Chingford and raised a valuable £751 which will go towards renovating one of their caravans.To find out more information about the Holiday Homes Trust, book a holiday or make a donation please visit: www.holidayhomestrust.org

Making holidays accessible to all

COMMUNITY

TRUSTTHE HOLIDAY HOMES

By Devon-Elizabeth Tabersham.

56 ESSEX CENTRAL

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WORD SEARCHFind these Easter related words: ?

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?

?

SUDOKU Difficulty: Medium

Hot Cross BunChocolate EggsBunnyCelebration

ChickReligionEasterEgg Hunt

Good Friday ColourfulSpring

For puzzle solutions please visit www.essexcentralmagazine.co.uk

CORNERPUZZLE?

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56 ESSEX CENTRAL

CRISS-CROSSFit these birds into the grid.

5 LETTERS QuailSwift

MacawGooseGrebeFinch

6 LETTERSBudgieCanaryCuckooFalcon

7 LETTERSSeagullSwallow

8 LETTERSFlamingo

9 LETTERSGoldcrestBlackbird

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you spot 6 differences between these two pictures?

Which word is missing?

ESSEX CENTRAL 57

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We have teamed up with Diamond Whites to offer three lucky winners a whiter, brighter and more confident smile.

Diamond Whites offer revolutionary non-peroxide teeth whitening treatments carried out by fully trained and qualified technicians, using the most up to date and advanced technology available.

The procedure is entirely safe, non-invasive and the Diamond Whites LED system will give you the results you have always wanted. Following application of a cleansing paste, whitening gel is applied to the teeth then activated by the Diamond White LED light. The system soothes heals and de-sensitises at the same time as activating the product to achieve exceptional results.

The first two entries picked at random will receive a 45 minute LED Teeth Whitening session in the comfort of their own home or at the Epping or Chigwell salons, worth £89.99, and the third winner will receive a Home Whitening Kit worth £39.99.

PUZZLESCOMPETITION &

WIN!Win a Diamond Whites Smile!

TEETH WHITENING COMPETIT ION

NAME:

ADDRESS:

TEL:

EMAIL:

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To enter simply fill in the entry form and send to: Essex Central Magazine, Brickfield Business Centre, High Road, Thornwood, Epping, Essex CM16 6TH or email your details to: [email protected]. Closing date: Three winners will be selected at random on 17th April 2014. *By entering this competition you agree to provide a picture for publication if you are picked as a winner.Website: www.diamondwhites.co.uk

58 ESSEX CENTRAL

Hayley Lana Nikki

Due to the great success and overwhelming demand of our recent promotion, we have extended 2 fantastic offers from Tikadi Ongar when

you book in with our stylists Hayley, Lana or Nikki during April

ONGAR 01277 366775 THEYDON BOIS 01992 815700 www.tikadi.co.uk

£25£25 £60£60Cut & blow dry Full head of

highlights with cut &

blow dry

T & Cs Cannot be used with an other offer or discounts and is valid until 30/04/2014 Present voucher to validate the offer. EC/2014

T & Cs Cannot be used with an other offer or discounts and is valid until 30/04/2014 Present voucher to validate the offer. EC/2014

During April 2014 with one of the following stylists at Tikadi Ongar: Hayley, Lana or Nikki

During April 2014 with one of the following stylists at Tikadi Ongar: Hayley, Lana or Nikki

SPECIAL OFFER SPECIAL OFFER

ESSEX CENTRAL 59

60 ESSEX CENTRAL

We understand that leaving your precious assets in somebody elses hands is a tough choice for a parent to make. Blossoms Nursery provides a stimulating, caring and education-based environment for children in which their natural curiosity is encouraged and their individuality is respected.

Located between Harlow, Ongar and Epping our beautiful nursery features inviting playgrounds a senory room, a cosy library room, plus a very large safe outdoor two acres area in which children will have great fun playing and learning in a natural home envioronment with high quality care!

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ENTERING FATHERHOODWITHOUT A MAP

DAD’S DIARY

...TO BE CONTINUED

A s Diddy Man continues to move around we felt the time was right to start letting him walk more

outside and so purchased his first pair of trainers. Although a little awkward at first he was soon back to his delighted self as we set off for a sunny countryside walk. It was becoming a little hard to control his enthusiasm as he attempted to walk ahead in the pursuit of eating butterflies and rabbits but we managed to keep up (whilst gasping for breath). Unfortunately his new found hiking skills had come at a price, when we removed the new footwear it showed his big toe had swollen to the size of a space hopper. He was still giggling as I looked at him with a sense of disbelief and fear (this kid is clearly tougher than me) and he just smiled back. The doctor calmly informed us that a short course of antibiotics would have everything looking normal again, however, the next day his sock came off….along with his entire toenail! We’ve been told it grows back though (don’t worry new parents!).

Aside from losing toenails he has also been starting to sleep a little better as his recent chest infection seems to be passing. This is great news for us as we would often bring him into our room to get him back off to sleep, but his snoring was like sharing a bed with Darth Vader. I lay there with eyes wide open, him, on my arm, whilst I looked at the ceiling, waiting for him to say in that Darth Vader voice, “Father,… I am your father,” … aaaghh! It was a nightmare each evening. But thankfully he now seems to be back to full health.

His balance also went a little bit ‘Matrix’ yesterday, he started to fall

a snooze button on a smoke alarm. So anyway, he grabs, (and it’s the lazy ginger one) she simply slumps to the ground with a resigned look of, “Well, I guess we’ve all gotta be eaten sometime,” seems to portray a mild shrug and accepts her fate. His salivating mouth closes in on her furry tail as I launch across the room just in time to palm my hand between mouth and moggy like some mid-air karate chop. I place his hand across her back in the pointless hope he will gently run it back ‘n’ forth through her fur, but instead he begins slapping her like a big ginger bongo, and again she just lays there as if trying to recall the tune being pummelled away across her back. As I pull our boy away he clearly wants to remember this joyful musical moment so reaches out for a small memento - a huge clump of fur (again, she’s motionless and unfazed). Before I have a chance to empty his hand the fur is already in his mouth. It looks like his just finished eating Bungle from Rainbow and then smiles with the hairiest mouth I’ve ever had the misfortune to look at. Our cat simply gets up and strolls off like nothing has happened. Perhaps she was mother Theresa in a former life, who knows, but she has the patience of a saint.

It’s his birthday later this month and aside from buying him a new toe and a plastic set of keys, we’re not quite sure what to go for. A bouncy castle idea is a possibility but I can imagine him gnawing through the canvas and slowly enveloping the other kids with a huge deflating castle, so I guess I will have to let you know in the next issue what we went for…

In Partnership with

but stabled himself mid drop and held the pose, as if to say, “Hey Dad, check this out,” and slowly righted himself again into correct posture. If I tried the same I think I’d be able to hold the pose, sure, but through no desire or effort on my side, I’d simply be stuck, “Hey, check me out Son… walk away now Son, don’t keep looking at Dad… I will rise again when you’ve left… please go.”

I’ve also noticed his growing lust for keys, picking them up and trying to eat them at every opportunity, this can make getting into the home or car quite tiring when the key is constantly sliding past the lock due to the excesive saliva it’s been coated with. But it’s not just keys, he picks up everything and tries to eat it, baby wipes, remote controls, any form off paperwork and generally much more besides, in fact an X-Ray of his belly would probably look like a car boot sale. His other current obsession are our poor cats, as well as trying to eat their food (obviously) he likes to try and eat their tails, luckily his teeth have never bitten them but his eyes go wide with hungry joy as they stroll past. He thrusts out a greedy palm and grips the tail… in fact, before I continue I need to explain our cats; one is very much outdoors and streetwise, wary of humans and generally harder to bond with for strangers, the other is the most docile lazy blob you will ever come across, she’s like an exhausted Garfield and would have

“An X-Ray of his belly

like a car boot sale.”would probably look

ESSEX CENTRAL 61



l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours



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l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours



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l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours



BlossomsNursery





l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours



BlossomsNursery





l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours



BlossomsNursery





l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours




BlossomsNursery




l Ofsted registered

l Open 7am - 7pm




l EYES Curriculum

l Flexible hours




BlossomsNursery


Minibus Collection and Drop Off Service from Church Langley to Nursery

62 ESSEX CENTRAL

The Carpentry & Joinery Company

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The carpentry and joinery company that comes to you

Tel 020 8502 0041Mob 07760 776 831

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ESSEX CENTRAL 63

Why choose Epping - Epping is a place where people are born, grow up and choose

to live their whole lives. It is a vibrant town which keeps pace with modern living whilst maintaining its’ original market town charm. Epping has been in existence since before William the Conqueror (according to our church website). It has all the modern conveniences that you may require, including: a gym, hospital, fire & ambulance services, doctors, dentists, coffee shops, public houses, petrol station, supermarkets and primary & secondary schools, alongside one of Essex’s oldest churches, a regular weekly market and lots of original architecture. It also has the pleasure of being surrounded by Epping Forest and farmlands, whilst being at the end of the Central Line & a stone’s throw from the M11 & M25.

All of which are the reasons that Nicholsons chose to settle here, as well as the fact that Epping has a very stable property market. Established in 1982, Nicholsons Sales & Lettings opened its’ doors in Epping and, unlike many other Agents of that time, the doors are

still open today. We are a small independent family run company, who provide all of our clients with a personalised friendly service, backed up with local knowledge and by many years of experience. This we are sure is the reason our landlords and tenants are happy to recommend us and come back to us year after year.

I’m Wendy Barritt, I own and have run the business for the last 3 years, prior to which I had worked for Nicholsons since the millennium. I take great pride in getting to know & understand our clients’ needs so I can put the right person in the right property, as I believe each landlord, tenant, & property are individual.

As well as myself we currently have a team of 4 members of staff, Debbie Whitworth who is the heart of the office, dealing with all enquiries and the majority of the property administration, Michael Millard who has been a consultant for the company since 2002 and deals mostly with resolving any issues that arise and organising any work that needs to be carried out at any of our properties, Nicola Osborne looks after all the office

administration as well as the book keeping and dealing with company finances & Nick Barritt who is studying Law at University in London and works for the family business on a part-time basis, dealing with our marketing campaigns, as well as our customers, landlords and tenants. We are currently also looking to recruit a new member of staff to become our Trainee Lettings Negotiator.

So in answer to that question, we love Epping, it’s a great place be...By Wendy Barritt132 High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4AG, Tel: 01992572551 www.nicholsonsestates.com

When looking for somewhere to live, whether buying or renting, most people ask the question, ‘WHY’ a particular area.

PROPERTY

EPPINGWHY CHOOSE?

a very stable “Epping has

market.”property

Mike Millard, Wendy Barritt, Debbie Whitworth, Glenn Bates (no-longer with the company), Nicola Osborne & Nick Barritt

64 ESSEX CENTRAL

nicholsonssales&lettings

01992 572 551

forSALE

www.nicholsonsestates.com

Building nests since 1982

ESSEX CENTRAL 65

nicholsonssales&lettings

01992 572 551

forSALE

www.nicholsonsestates.com

Building nests since 1982

66 ESSEX CENTRAL

Founded in 1908, Woodford Green Athletics Club with Essex Ladies is one of the most successful

Athletics Clubs in Essex, competing in Division One in the British Athletic League. Since its founding, the club’s longest running member, Ken Bray has seen WGAL crowned Essex Steeple Race champions in 1954 as well as numerous victories since.

When Bray first joined the club in 1952, the club had only a grass track, then developed into a cinder track. However upon news that the M25

would be built so close to the club, situated at Ashtons Playing Fields, the track was brought up to the top table and he formed a committee in order to persuade the council that an all-weather track was essential for the club’s future. Once the all-weather track was in place, a clubhouse was built, an operation which required fundraising, a vital organ in the club’s community spirit. Ken Hollingworth, the club’s President and Secretary continues in his community efforts,

organising the annual Roding Half Marathon, raising money for the club.

The club offers facilities such as running, hurdling, jumping and throwing, an indoor exercise area was built also, making hurdling training and throwing possible all year round.

In 2008, to mark its centenary anniversary, Ken Bray, John Hayward and John Baker raised the money in order to build a museum on site celebrating the first hundred years of the club.

The Athletics Club is open to all, the prominent demographic is young athletes from the ages of 12-20, the British Athletics League team is managed by Gladys Bird, a former international 400m hurdler and this team is prominent in its division, the club competing nationwide. Club members have also gained worldwide credentials, one athlete Daniel Awde competed in the Beijing Olympics in the Decathlon event. The Ladies team manager is Keith Hopson and they compete in Division Two in the UK Women’s Athletics League, also travelling nationwide to compete. Another league in which the club competes is the Southern Athletics Team, a unisex squad managed by Paul Manson.

The club hosts open graded meetings around four times a year, inviting runners to compete against their peers. Children are also invited to join a group known as the WASPS, and compete in the Youth Development League, where Helen Finch, Wendy Fuhr and Colleen Wint take the helm in creating the athletes of tomorrow.For more information please visit the club website: www.wgel.org.uk

CLUB FOCUSWGAC

By Devon-Elizabeth TabershamWITH ESSEX LADIES

WOODFORD GREEN ATHLETICS CLUB

Essex Ladies crossing the stream

Peter Kirabo

Ryan McKinlay

Chris Lingue

Jenny Thomas

ESSEX CENTRAL 67

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essex central magazine issue 6 april 2014

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