NEWS
FOCUS
CHURCH AND SCHOOL JAZZ BAND RAISE OVER £3,000 for HAVENS HOSPICE APPEAL
IN ONE NIGHT
THE LOCAL roads around Leigh Road Baptist Church (LRBC) ground to
gridlock on the evening of the 23rd February, as WHSB Big
Band returned by popular demand with Soprano singer Vanessa Cozens for
Jazzin’ Up the Sanctuary III. The sell out concert squeezed parking
provision tightly but the battle to get to the occasion was well worth
it raising over £3,000 towards the Havens Hospice Appeal.
The proceeds
were intended to be split between the LRBC and Havens Hospices but after
hearing of the emergency appeal for extra funds launched by the hospice
the church decided on the night that the least we could do would be let
Havens Hospice take all the proceeds to help them with the amazing work
they do.
The
sell-out evening which had over 280 pre-ticket sales and was organised
by LRBC member Kay Duel was hailed as a roaring success. The aim of the
evening was to build on the success of previous years by being
entertained with quality sounds from local talent, engage with the local
community and raise money for Havens Hospices and LRBC. We were not let
down on all accounts.
The WHSB Big Band headlined under the impressive lead of WHSB music
teacher Howard Ebden, whose relaxed and informal style set the evening
off on the right note. The roof was lifted, as the 25 strong band of
boys took us on a journey of contemporary and classic big band tunes.
The fun banter between the band and their conductor evident of the joy
the band got from playing for their admiring audience.
LRBC member and Soprano Vanessa Cozens who has recently sung with the
BBC’s ‘Any Dream Will Do’ winner Lee Mead, shared the limelight.
Vanessa’s angelic voice complimented the band perfectly with a selection
of solos accompanied by LRBC’s Andrew Palmer on piano.
Organiser, Kay Duell said, “Once again it was a fantastic evening, with
so much God given talent on show. Church members mingled with new faces
and parents from WHSB and we managed to raise a fantastic amount of
money for our local much deserving Hospices. Thank you to all who took
part and supported the evening!”
The amount raised via ticket sales and donations on the evening was over
£3,000 which means that over £10,750 has been raised by these events in
the last 3 years. This £3,000 will go towards Havens Hospices a
Christian charity which incorporates Fair Havens Hospice and Little
Havens Children’s Hospice. Fair Havens is the adult hospice based in
Westcliff on Sea, caring for those suffering from cancer and other
life-threatening illnesses within the Southend, Rochford and Castle
Point area. Little Havens is the Children’s Hospice in Essex offering
regular respite and end of life care to children and their families who
are affected by life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses.
FARMERS' MARKET
Farmers’ Markets are now an
established way for people to buy food products from
farmers or producers as freshly as possible, cutting
out the ‘middleman’.
These markets now cover the
whole country, and have grown considerably in this
part of Essex. Leigh, however, had the first
Farmers’ Market in this area and, we think it is
still the best, being small and friendly, but still
having a wide range of products for all.
A television programme worked out the miles that
food had travelled for a normal meal, with bacon
from Denmark, beans from Kenya, potatoes from Cyprus
etc. etc. Just think how much energy was used in
getting that food to the table, and the time taken,
compared with products bought at a Farmers’ Market
The Leigh Farmers’ Market maintains its original
principles in terms of the distance producers
travel, the requirement that only the producers are
allowed at the market and agents or third parties
are not allowed. We do not, and will not diversify
onto non-foodstuffs or non locally produced
products.
Run by Leigh-on-Sea Town Council at
Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road from 9.00 am to
12.00 noon, market dates for 2008 are:
Friday 15th
February
Saturday 15th March
Friday 11th April
Saturday 17th
May
Friday 20th
June
Friday 18th
July
Friday 22nd
August
Saturday 20th September
Friday 31st
October
Saturday 22nd
November
Regular stallholders at the Leigh market are:
Wildfield
Farm from Tolleshunt D’Arcy, who have a wide range
of quality assured vegetables in season.
Dick and Margaret Thomas from Thorpe Bay have 50
beehives around south east Essex, and produce both
run and set honey, beeswax candles and other
products using honey instead of sugar.
Highfield Farm bring beef joints, steaks, mince etc.
from their their own rare breeds cows.
Andrea
Halsall from Kiddles Farm in Dedham sells excellent
herbs when in season.
Margaret and Mark Whetton sell fine home baked cakes
from their family business.
During late summer and autumn, we have apples from
Hilltop Farm in Benfleet, and at seasonal times,
soft fruit and asparagus are at the market.
Pork and bacon come from the Gloucester Old Spots,
Saddlebacks and Large Blacks of Rhyne Park Farm.
Layer Marney farm in north Essex have a wide variety
of meats, including lamb and venison.
The Cookie Sisters produce fresh, wholesome Brownies
and cookies with no GM products, artificial
additives or preservatives.
Valerie Stanton brings her own hens’ eggs, which
always sell out early.
The Samosa
Shack brings in high quality samosas produced in
Shoebury.
The
Chilli Chutney man has a range of high quality
chutneys and sauces with chillies made in
Leigh-on-Sea.
Springstep Dairies from near Maldon have a herd of
goats, from which they produce the best goats milk
(whole fat, skimmed and semi-skimmed) and a range of
cheeses. The goats are looked after to the highest
standards, eating natural grass and silage.
Le Moulin Bakery from Hornchurch provides a wide
range of bread and pastries freshly made for the
market using only the best quality flour and other
ingredients.
For more
information about the Farmers' Market, please ring
01702 716288 or e-mail:
leighcouncil@btconnect.com
RESOLVE TO SAVE LIVES IN 2008
The National Blood
Service is appealing to people across Essex and East London to make an extra New
Year’s resolution: to save lives in 2008 by becoming a blood donor.
Every day across the
region more than two three hundred people donate blood to provide lifesaving
transfusions for patients in local hospitals. However, new donors are always
needed to replace people who have to stop giving for reasons such as reaching
the upper age limit for giving blood, or for health reasons.
Gareth Bell,
spokesperson for the National Blood Service, said “We are very lucky to have
some wonderfully dedicated donors in this region who have continued to give
blood throughout the Christmas period, helping keep blood stocks healthy.
However, patients do need blood whatever the season and we always need new
donors. I would like to encourage everyone to make giving blood their top New
Year’s resolution.”
He added “Giving
blood is a really positive thing almost anyone can do to help others and by
booking an appointment it only takes about an hour of your time. It’s a good
excuse to sit back, relax, and take a well deserved break after the stresses and
strains of Christmas and the New Year!”
Anyone aged 17 – 59
weighing over 7st 12lbs (50 kg), in general good health, could start saving
lives by becoming a blood donor. For more information on becoming a blood donor
including details of your nearest session, call 0845 7 711 711, alternatively
log on to
www.blood.co.uk
Blood donation facts:
- The NHS needs
7,000 voluntary donations of
blood daily
-
Only 4% of the eligible population
are active blood donor
- Whole blood donors can give every
16 weeks, that’s three times per year
- There are 4 main blood groups – O, A, B and
AB. Group O is the most common and therefore the most in demand. Over 95
per cent of the blood collected is processed into its main components – red
cells, platelets and plasma. A regular supply of blood is vital – red cells
last only 35 days and platelets only 5 days.
National
Blood Service
The National Blood
Service is a part of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), a Special Health
Authority within the NHS responsible for managing the National Blood Service,
Bio Products Laboratory, and UK Transplant. NHSBT is responsible for optimising
the supply of blood, organs, plasma and tissues and raising the quality,
effectiveness and efficiency of blood and transplant services.
2008 Blood Donor Sessions
Throughout 2008, Blood
Donor sessions will be held at the following two locations in Leigh-on-Sea. For
full information about session dates and times, please click on the 'Session
information' link shown below each location.
For more information please call the National Contact Centre
on 0845 7 711 711 or visit:
www.blood.co.uk
LEIGH ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE OF
SOUTH EAST ESSEX
GIVE MASSIVE
BOOST TO AID FOR NEEDY CHILDREN THIS
CHRISTMAS
One of Britain’s biggest annual relief this month and Leigh Road Baptist
Church (LRBC) and the people of Leigh have pitched in to make a major
contribution towards its success.
Operation Christmas Child (OCC), the Christian relief project which
delivered over 1.3 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children in
Eastern Europe last Christmas along with LRBC, called on schools, other
churches, organisations and individuals
to
build on the help they gave in 2004-06 to ensure the 2007 campaign brought
much needed joy to underprivileged children. The gift boxes will go to many
countries in Eastern Europe, including Bosnia, Serbia and Azerbaijan – some
have already gone from this area Kurdistan.
Last
year over 2,500 were donated from people and friends of LRBC,
and this year local organiser Stephanie Nobes saw another great amount be
delivered to the church over the past few weeks. This year we have already
seen just short of 1,000 boxes leave LRBC. The success of the past few
years, with many more churches and schools joining in the campaign has meant
that LRBC and OCC has had to create more depots for collection across the
area. Pick up points have stretched from Shoeburyness to Corringham and from
Canvey Island to Chelmsford. This has meant that over 35,000 individual
leaflets have been distributed at the request of people wanting to send in
their decorated shoebox. Yes, that means that a potential of 35,000 boxed
presents from our area will be received by needy children across the world
from our area alone this Christmas. The people of South-East Essex are
tremendous!
“The people of Leigh did a fantastic job contributing last year, and this
year, along with the rest of Southend the effort has been tremendous.”
stated Stephanie Nobes. “Sadly, there are still large numbers of
children in many countries where war, poverty and natural disasters have
left them with nothing. We deal with families living in awful conditions –
in old railway trucks, buildings partly destroyed by shellfire and even with
street kids who live in sewers.”
“The tremendous impact that a shoebox containing some simple gifts has upon
a child with nothing - and their family - cannot be over emphasised. The
gift box brings toys and clothes to brighten difficult lives and most
importantly, hope and love from the person packing the box here in Britain.
It is very much a gift from someone here direct to a child who greatly
appreciates what they receive.”
“Our thanks go out to the many schools, churches, cub groups, businesses,
organisations or individuals that have taken part in Operation Christmas
Child this year. If you still want to help call Operation Christmas Childs
helpline on 0870 011 2002 and you will be sent the simple set of
instructions on what they need to do.”
“The leaflet provides guidelines on what to put in the shoebox, how to pack
it and where to send it for collection and onward transportation. All we ask
is for a two pound contribution towards promotion, transport, processing and
distribution. At the final destination, the boxes are distributed to needy
children regardless of their” nationality, political background or religious
beliefs.
“It
is a simple process, yet means so much to the children.”
'CHILDREN IN NEED' FUN
PARTY
Leigh Road Baptist
Church (LRBC) Dads & Kids Group had a great time on Friday 16th
November when they hosted a PUDSEY
TODDLER & PARENT FUN PARTY!
Over 50 parents
and their children attended the event held at Leigh Road Baptist Church
Hall, on Marguerite Drive in Leigh. They had great fun face painting,
Pudsey painting & colouring and filling their belly’s with Pudsey
biscuits, cakes and drinks as well as playing with many other games and
activities.
Volunteers from
the Church got involved to host the event which was hailed as fantastic
success raising over £60 for the BBC’s Children in Need.
Alan Cook,
organiser of Dads & Kids at LRBC said “It was tremendous to see so much
fun be had by children and parents alike. Such generosity meant that in
just 1 ½ hours we raised a fantastic amount for Children in Need.”
LEIGH FIRST RESPONDERS
Become a
life saver in Leigh and the local community
Are you looking for
something to do that will really make a difference in our local community? If
you live or work in or around Leigh, the Essex Ambulance Service First Responder
Team based in Leigh would like to hear from you.
First Responders are
volunteers who get training from Essex Ambulance Service in Basic First Aid, how
to administer oxygen and how to use a heart defibrillator. After the training
you become part of the group providing cover for our local community. We are a
vital part of the Ambulance service, often providing an early response to
patients with heart problems, chest pains, breathing difficulties, choking and
unconscious patients. In emergency cases getting care to the patient in the
first few minutes, whilst the Ambulance is on its way, can be vital and First
Responders can provide that link. If you speak to the people who are First
Responders they will tell you it is extremely satisfying and can literally save
a life.
You can give as much or as
little time as you want to the team - it could be anything from a few hours per
month, up to several days - it's up to you. We aim to offer 24 hours a day, 7
days a week cover for our local community but we are only able to do this with
more volunteers. Even if you work outside Leigh and only home in the evenings
and over the weekend we would still like to hear from you.
If you would like to find
out more about joining the First Responder Team and going "on call" please ring
Steve on 01268 773476 or send an e-mail to
zulu53@hotmail.co.uk to arrange an informal chat.
SHOP
ONLINE AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE COMMUNITY WORK
OF LEIGH ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH
Leigh
Road Baptist Church is celebrating the success of its online fundraising
webshop.
Leigh Road Baptist
Church is asking its supporters and local community to shop online at
www.buy.at/leighlife and raise money at no extra
cost, with proceeds going to the community work of Leigh Road Baptist Church.
Over 100 retailers
are accessible through the webshop, including
Tesco, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, BT, Ethical
Superstore, HMV and RAC. Many retailers provide exclusive offers to the
webshop, such as discounts or offering free
delivery to the customer, providing more reasons for supporters to buy
products through the webshop.
The
webshop is straightforward to use and no technical
knowledge is required. A webshop can be opened to
support other clubs, charities, organizations and schools in minutes, simply
fill in a form at
www.fund-raising.at/leighlife and groups can fund raise with help from
retailers such as Tesco who offer £5 for every new
customer who makes a groceries transaction.
David Elcock who set
up the webshop for Leigh Road Baptist says: "The
webshop facility is such a simple but effective
idea. We receive a commission on each purchase you make. Donating to our
organisation couldn’t be easier!"
The online shop has
raised over £600.00 since it has been set up, which has helped fund things
like LRBC’s bringing a live farm to the switching
on of the Leigh-on Sea Christmas lights, schools exhibitions and workshops as
part of the Leigh Art Trail and community Fairtrade events.
LRBC does encourage
people to use local traders where possible; however the online shop enables
purchases only available further a field to bought online and support the work
of the church.
SOLAR POWER IN SOUTHEND
Many people may not be aware of the fact that Southend Borough
Council is running a scheme called SOUTHEND SOLAR in partnership with the Essex
Energy Efficiency Advice Centre.
Grants are available to Southend residents which could help
cover half the costs of installing solar water systems - which would then
provide more than 60 per cent of their hot water for free.
Further information is available on the
Southend Borough Council website or by
telephone the number shown below.
