Community News - Thurrock Gazette

16
Thurrock Gazette Thursday February 13, 2014
thurrockgazette.co.uk
COMMUNITY NEWS
SEND NEWS, PICTURES TO: Thurrock Gazette, 91 Orsett Road, Grays, RM17 5EX. thurrockgazettenews@nqe.com
GRAYS
 Charity cheque – Claire Marmion, right, receives the latest donation from the Buddies team
Hair salon hands over another £1,250
A SALON in Grays has handed over
a cheque for almost £1,250 to
Cancer Research UK.
Sisters Sue Wood and Barbara
Jacobs, who run Buddies Hair
Fashion, in Southend Road, have
raised almost £45,000 for the charity
since they began fundraising 37
years ago.
From the start of November until
Christmas, customers are encouraged to donate money and take part
in an annual raffle.
This year, customer Kay Winn,
who makes cards for special occasions, donated £100.
Paula Dorling, Sue, Barbara,
Dannielle Weston and Leanne Uren
A FORMER Palmer’s College student is making waves in the world of
renewable energy.
After graduating from Anglia
Ruskin University with a degree in
business management, Alex Basile,
26, from Grays, was introduced to a
device described as “a fridge that
works in reverse”, which provides
hot water at a fraction of the price
charged by energy suppliers.
Alex set up a meeting with businessman Alistair Smit, who saw
potential in the device, now known
as the Little Magic Box. The two
have since formed the Magic
Thermodynamic Box Company, in
Chelmsford, which specialises in the
manufacture and distribution of
renewable energy products to businesses across Europe.
Alex said of his success: “It’s
amazing, looking back now, how far
we have come over the past year. We
now have distributors in nine countries around the world and in the
past 12 months we have sold several
hundred units.”
A magical year for business
CHADWELL ST MARY
Stan, 86, cycling for charity
AN 86-year-old cycling enthusiast is
jumping on his bike for the 16th year
in a row for charity.
Stan Wall, from Chadwell St
Mary, has raised thousands in recent
years by taking part in the Thurrock
Rotary Club cycle marathon.
Last year, he raised £3,000 and has
begun raising money early to beat
that.
This year he is raising money for
Help For Heroes. The marathon
takes place in July.
 Cycle trophies – Stan Wall
If you want to sponsor Stan, call
him on 01375 842133
Drop in for free advice about housing
tion on homelessness and help to
mediate problems within families
and offer other advice on housing,
benefits and debt.
The centre, in Aveley High Street,
is open Monday to Friday from
10am to 3pm and has information
on a range of matters.
For more information, call 01708
862001.
SOUTH OCKENDON
Chance to learn about volunteering
TWO organisations are inviting people to attend their weekly drop-in
services to find out more about volunteering in Thurrock.
Volunteer Centre for Thurrock
and ngage, a community organisation, offer sessions between 9.30am
and noon every Tuesday at the
 Magic man – Alex Basile
CORRINGHAM
Watch wants to
meet residents
AVELEY
THE Information and Advice
Service at Aveley Youth and Community Centre is running a free
drop-in surgery for housing queries.
It will be held every Wednesday
from 1pm to 3pm and there will be
no need to book.
Each week a trained adviser will be
available to help with general and
specialist housing advice, informa-
handed the cheque for £1,248 to
Claire Marmion, from Cancer
Research UK.
In 2012, Sue and Barbara were
given the charity’s Corporate
Supporter of the Year award. They
started fundraising after losing their
brother Ron to throat cancer when
he was just 30, in 1974.
South Ockendon Community Hub,
in Derry Avenue, encouraging people and organisations to access volunteering opportunities in the area.
For more information, call Laura
Hudson on 01375 389853, or
e-mail her at volunteer@ngage
thurrock.org.uk
CORRINGHAM and Fobbing
Neighbourhood Watch will be
holding a drop-in session on
Saturday, February 22, at the
Corringham Community Safety
Centre, in Fobbing Road.
Residents are invited along to
find out about where they’re living, how the scheme works and
how it benefits the community.
People will also be able to join
up on the day.
The event runs from 10am to
4pm. For more information, contact Neighbourhood Watch on
07806 899640.
STIFFORD CLAYS
Concert set to
boost animals
A CHOIR is putting on a concert
in aid of the Thurrock branch of
the National Animal Welfare
Trust.
The Mosaic Choir, an amateur
adult ensemble, concentrating on
music of a “lighter nature”, is
hosting the event at St Cedd’s
Church, in Crammavill Street,
Stifford Clays.
Tickets for the show, which starts
at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 1,
cost £6 and can be bought by calling 01375 378889.