Different entertainment each week, plus arts and crafts, games, and more!

Once a month, Wednesdays in term time, 4.30pm-7pm,

 18th Jan, 22nd Feb, 21st Mar, 18th April, 16th May, 20th June, 18th July

Includes exclusive use of Megaplay, 6pm-7pm, for 0-11 year olds.

Free entry! (funded by The Big Lottery Fund-Awards For All)

The Megacentre, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh, Essex, SS6 7UT

For more info, contact Jan, Family Support Worker

01268 779100, 07910 353 877, jan.baugh@megacentrerayleigh.co.uk

The first meeting will be on 7th September at 2pm. Then on the 1st Wednesday of each month.

For more information and to register your interest please contact Rayleigh Library on 01268 775830

The new facilities, made up of three mini football pitches, two junior pitches as well as toilet facilities were officially opened yesterday (Wednesday, 23 March) at a special ceremony.

Schoolchildren from St Nicholas’ Church of England School celebrated with several guests including Rochford District Council’s mascot, Max the Dragon and Southend United FC’s mascot Sammy the Shrimp.

The project was identified and funded as a partnership between Essex County Council’s 2012 Legacy Sports Facility Capital Fund, Rochford District Council and the Essex County Football Association.

Other highlights included young people visiting Britton Court to record older people’s memories of the area, artworks on display in High Street shops, a film night, dance and drama workshops for babies and toddlers and a jazz concert at Rayleigh Library.

For the first time, the festival was extended over one week to give local arts groups the opportunity to put on their own events as part of the Festival.

Derek Adams of Adamantine, a group of poets that performed an evening of poetry at the Rayleigh Windmill: “This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to raise our profile and reach new audiences.

It’s been a great Festival and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event.”

Do you shop in Rayleigh on a Friday morning?

Fancy a free tea or coffee and a sit down?

Perhaps you use the Library on a regular basis and could meet up with friends for a tea or coffee break.

Local community groups regularly come along to give out useful information, previous groups have included Trading Standards, NHS, Police, Neighbourhood Watch and Revenue and Benefits.

For further information contact Rayleigh Library on 01268 775830

The Council Officers were called to a bench in Eastwood Road where a colony of bees had swarmed and landed on the leg of the bench. As they presented a potential danger to the public, the Council were notified.

The brave officers kept the public away from the immediate area and called in a reputable bee keeper to collect the swarm and move it to a place where the bees would be safe to make honey all day long.

No members of the public were harmed during the operation, however, it didn’t run completely smoothly. One of Rochford District Council’s Contract Monitoring Officers was stung on the arm, and although it is still slightly swollen, he is absolutely fine.

Rochford District Council’s Head of Environmental Services, Richard Evans, added: “Although this was one of our more unusual requests we were concerned about the potential of someone being stung and took the necessary action to protect the public.

Whether it’s bees trying to make a nest in a very public place, or any other public health concern, we depend on members of the public calling us to let us know what is happening so we can take action as soon as possible. If you do need to contact us, you can telephone 01702 318111.”

As for the bees, there is a sting in the tale. Far from being told to buzz off entirely, they have now been relocated by the bee keeper to a safe area where it’s hoped they will nest and create a viable honey-making colony.

More than 500 people have already enjoyed visiting the Rayleigh Windmill since it reopened for the summer.

The Windmill’s reopening was given an extra boost after it received recognition from the national tourist body Visit England who gave it a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction award.

Visit England is the national tourism body that assesses visitor attractions throughout the country.

The award sits proudly next to the Windmill’s Accreditation status from The Museums, Libraries and Archive Council (MLA) – the national agency responsible for developing museums, galleries, libraries and archives.

Visitors have enjoyed a host of new displays including a listening post that holds oral history interviews and a new film about the Windmill.

The award-winning hidden gem of south Essex is open through to and including September on Wednesdays: 10am to 1pm and Saturdays and Sundays: 1pm to 4pm. Although do check www.rochford.gov.uk/windmill and the noticeboard outside the Windmill to confirm opening times.

There’s also the opportunity for you to get involved in the continuing success story of the Windmill; the
team are always looking for new volunteers to join them.

Call the Leisure Team on 01702 546366 for more details on how you can get involved.

The visitors enjoyed a host of new displays including a listening post that holds oral history interviews and a new film about the Windmill.

Don’t worry if you missed out though, south Essex’s hidden gem is open through to and including September on Wednesdays: 10am to 1pm and Saturdays and Sundays: 1pm to 4pm. Although do check www.rochford.gov.uk/windmill and the noticeboard outside the Windmill to confirm opening times.

The Windmill has had a busy winter following a packed year of Heritage Lottery Funded “Sails in the Wind” events celebrating its 200th birthday.

It received recognition from the national tourist body Visit England who gave the Windmill a Quality Assured Visitor Attraction award which sits proudly next to its Accreditation status from The Museums, Libraries and Archive Council (MLA) – the national agency responsible for developing museums, galleries, libraries and archives.

The Windmill was also shortlisted for an Essex Tourism Award for operators who see themselves as part of the local tourism industry attracting both Essex residents as well as welcoming tourists from outside the county.

The Windmill was shortlisted in the categories of ‘Leisure & Recreation’ and ‘Best Tourism’ experience.

There’s also the opportunity for you to get involved in the continuing success story of the Windmill, the team are always looking for new volunteers to join them. Call the Leisure Team on 01702 546366 for more details.

Visit England is a national body that assesses visitor attractions throughout the country.

The report praised the warm welcome offered by the volunteers as well as their enthusiasm and knowledge.

The Chairman of Rochford District Council, Councillor Tony Humphries (pictured with volunteers from
the Windmill), said: “To receive accreditation from such a prestigious national body is a credit not only to the District, but also the wonderful volunteers who help run this historic gem of south Essex.”

There are plenty of events to enjoy

The celebrations for the 200th birthday of the Windmill are continuing with more Sails in the Wind projects
being completed over the winter thanks to funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

New exhibition pieces are being researched and developed to be installed in the museum in time for the reopening on Sunday 4 April. Local artist Louise Best is creating a scrap book to record all the memories and events of the anniversary year.

South Essex Filmmakers are putting the finishing touches to an educational film about windmills and Essex Records Office have produced a classroom resource pack for local schools.

This year we have also arranged for several other exhibitions to be held on the second floor of The Windmill, these include an exhibition celebrating diversity in Essex called ‘One World’, local artists and a centenary celebration by a local Girl Guides Group.

Over to you… Rayleigh Windmill will reopen again on Sunday 4 April (Easter Sunday) through to and including September (subject to closures for private functions) on Wednesdays: 10am -1pm and Saturdays and Sundays: 1pm-
4pm. New volunteers are always welcome, see below for details. For more information about the Windmill and volunteering please contact the Leisure Team on 01702 546 366 or email: leisure@rochford.gov.uk

For more information on Sails in the Wind or Oral history interviews visit: http://www.rochford.gov.uk/windmillcelebrations or contact Roxie Curry on 01702 318171 if you or someone you know would like to be interviewed.