Congratulations to the winner of the Tiptree Strawberry Race 2005  - Michael Weller receiving his award from Peter Wilkin, chairman of Wilkin & Sons Ltd, with the television camera recording prime time news coverage for us.  Pickers at the annual Strawberry Race compete to see who can pick the most Little Scarlet strawberries in one hour while raising money for BBC Essex Tea at 3 Appeal for the Essex Hospices.  This year the oldest picker was 91 year old Frank Annell and the furthest travelled had come from Kenya, while a group of visitors from Italy came to watch the event and to pick some strawberries.

Congratulations to Kalle UK Ltd on winning the Sunspice International Dealers' Award for their excellent sales and customer service.  Tony Fenton, Sales and Marketing Director of Kalle UK Ltd received the award from Tom Schaefe, Technical Director of World Pac.  Celebrating their success is Bryan Panton, M.D. of Kalle UK Ltd and Carol Allen who is responsible for customer service.

ClientAct Public Relations worked with the Witham Chamber of Commerce who hosted BC Radio 4's live broadcast of Any Questions in the Spring of 2005.  Tony Benn MP, Iain Duncan Smith MP, Sally Zlotowitz (chairman of the Young Greens), Navid Akhtar (documentary maker) and chairman Nick Clarke provided an entertaining evening.  The programme raised awareness of Witham during the previews and through the two broadcasts; overseas listeners could tune in via the web site.

Congratulations to Wendy Harlow, manager of the Grove Shopping Centre in
Witham (in the photo), the Mayor of Witham and the fundraising team from
Farleigh Hospice on the success of the first Dickensian Market in Witham.
Three patient donkeys, a close-up magician and an enthusiastic town crier
joined in the fun as local charities and organisations raised money for
Farleigh Hospice.

Photo:  Sally Carpenter (chairman Witham Chamber of Commerce) with Wendy
Harlow (manager Grove Shopping Centre)

Sally Carpenter, chairman of Witham Chamber of Commerce, presented Kim Man, the owner of Lian's Restaurant, with the Witham in Bloom Award.  Lian's has an excellent reputation for delicious and well presented food.  The front of their red brick building in Newland Street has a superb display of plants and flowers throughout the year.

"Congratulations to the staff and volunteers of the Museum of Power at Langford Essex on their fascinating exhibition and a chance to see (and touch) the 1908 Bentall car.  The car was built at the Heybridge Works of E H Bentall & Co, coachwork by Munnions of Chelmsford and was carefully restored by Richard Peskett in 1986. 

"Diana Spellman, managing director of Partners in Purchasing, London, was recently awarded the HSBC Food Chain Award, through the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust.  As a Nuffield Scholar Diana will be investigating local sourcing, traceability and supply chain management "from paddock to plate".

Bags of Jam Lids...
International fashion designer, Nicola Grant of Ni-Co, faced the cameras at the Tiptree Jam factory as she introduced her latest designs, using Tiptree jam lids. Nicola specialises in making accessories from waste and recycled materials such as pull rings, film, leather and jam lids - sustainable luxury.

A sample bag will soon be on display at the Tiptree Jam Museum.

Congratulations to Richard Merry on completing two London Marathons and we wish him every success in 2004 when he hopes to finish in 3 hours 15 minutes. Richard is raising money for Cancer Research UK and Blue Cross - Britain's pet charity - donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/merryrun

"Planning for the Future of Essex
.. are we prepared?"

The Essex Property Forum hosted a lively public debate on plans for future housing demands in Essex and highlighting the need for sustainable development in the region.

The speakers:
left to right
Michael Hargreaves, Head of Regional Planning Grow Area Team, Go-East,
Ian Charie, Principal, Development Planning, URS Corporation,
Tony Hall, Professor of Town Planning, Anglia Polytechnic University and Maurice Rozario of MDR Development Ltd.

A summary of the debate can be obtained from pr@clientact.co.uk or www.essexpropertyforum.co.uk

New technology launched in ChelmsfordNetWatch, a new system enabling customers to see live what is happening in the home or factory if they have a security alert when they are away from their premises. Joe Stokes of LANWorks Ltd, computer specialists, recently launched the new system with C E Security Systems Ltd in Chelmsford.

Essex Property Forum faces Flooding Debate

Members of the Essex Property Forum with the new chairman Maurice Rozario before their public debate on flooding. The venue was particular relevant, as the modern Essex County Records Office, is located between the river and the canal in Chelmsford, and could be subject to flooding if preventative measures were not taken.

Across England in one "easy" ride

Congratulations to Fire-fighter Gary Fleming (left) who cycled across England and back on an Audi Quattro bike from Nigel Grogan Audi Chelmsford. The charity ride for CRY (helping to identify cardiac risk in the young) raised over 600.
left to right: Gary Fleming, Paul Chipperfield (Nigel Grogan Audi), Caroline Gard (CRY)

Celebrating Success at Lambert Chapman

Michael Lambert (left) with Lloyd Chapman, founding partners of Lambert Chapman, chartered accountants, toasting the success of the firm during their recent retirement celebrations. Photographed on the roof terrace in the centre of Chelmsford Mike and Lloyd were joined by staff and clients who had worked with them during the last 20 years.

"the lock" opens at Heybridge Basin Essex

The new place to eat this summer is "the lock" at Heybridge Basin, near Maldon in Essex. Built on the sea wall with views over the Blackwater Estuary "the lock" offers traditional breakfasts, interesting lunches and Tiptree cream teas every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the season.

Simon Brown, Colchester United's goalkeeper, joined guests of Wilkin & Sons Ltd for a celebration cream tea at the launch of "the lock" Heybridge Basin is a small hamlet on the edge of the Blackwater & Chelmer canal with two popular pubs, a gift shop and a free car park; it is popular with walkers, yachtsmen and those who just enjoy watching the boats go by.

Simon Brown of Colchester United and Laraine Wright, manager of "the lock"

Award for Nigel Grogan Audi

Mark Siddle, dealer principal of Nigel Grogan Audi Chelmsford receiving an
Award based on customer care, from Martin Butcher of Audi UK. The presentation followed an intense period of assessment by independent consultants TUV of Germany and marks the dedicated team-work of the staff.

left to right:
Paul Chipperfield of Nigel Grogan Audi, Martin Butcher, area sales development manager of Audi UK, Mark Siddle and Lynda Morgan of Nigel Grogan Audi

CONGRATULATIONS...

Couched potato turned marathon man
Couched potato turned marathon man in six months, Adrian Rowley of Kalle UK Ltd achieved his ambition - to complete the London Marathon and to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust. In October 2002 Adrian decided to enter the London Marathon and raise money in memory of his wife Hilary who died of Multiple Sclerosis aged 38. Adrian described himself as a couched potato before he started training and losing weight. After 6 months he achieved his ambition.

Encouraged by family, friends and colleagues from work Adrian completed the 26 miles in 6hr and 49 min - and has not discounted the idea of running in 2004!

ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ONE "EASY" RIDE!

Brentwood HQ fire-fighter Gary Fleming of Braintree, is cycling across England on an Audi Quattro mountain bike to raise money for the children's charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young. Mark Siddle, dealer principal of Nigel Grogan Audi Chelmsford is supporting Gary's bid and recently handed over the Audi Quattro aluminium mountain bike for the ride.

"This bike is ergonomically designed to suit all terrains; and it is light enough that Gary will have no problem carrying it across major obstacles" said Mark. "We wish Gary and his colleagues Richie Farrant and John Moulsen every success. We hope that the special suspension features on his bike will help to speed him past the other riders and give him a stress free ride."

Pedalling from the North East coast near Newcastle through the Peak District to Whitehaven on the west coast is a challenge to most riders; but that is not enough for Gary, he is planning to pedal all the way back towards the North Sea - a total of 300 miles.

INTERIOR ANGLE OPEN ART GALLERY IN CHELMSFORD

Congratulations to Richard and Soo Turner on the opening of the Interior Angle Art Gallery & Picture Framers in Chelmsford. Contemporary art enthusiasts, artists and friends celebrated the recent opening of the stunning gallery in Wells Street with a very special party attended by The Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Maurice Hurrell and Simon Brown of Colchester United.

Interior Angle have a reputation for framing the unusual: a guitar, boots, medals, C.U. football shirt - they like a challenge. A new Art Advice service has been introduced for corporate and private customers who need professional advice on the best use of art in their office, hotel or home.

Contact Soo or Richard on Richard Turner Interior Angles 01245 493100

Photo - Soo and Richard Turner with an unusual framing job

CONGRATULATIONS!...

Roger Lawrence's 25 years as conductor of the Felsted Choral Society was marked by a presentation at the end of a fabulous concert in the Felsted School Chapel. Roger is a master of fine music who has the ability to communicate his knowledge and love of music to singers, musicians and the audience.

An evening of Hayden, Mozart and Mendelsson might sound daunting for the uninitiated, but Roger's inspired selection gave great pleasure to the performers and the listeners. As one of his choir members reported, "he is always striving for perfection and even when you think you have got away with a wrong note, it will have been spotted and he will ask for the phrase to be repeated."

Set in the midst of the Essex countryside, Felsted provides the perfect setting for fine music on a summer evening, thanks to Roger Lawrence.

Andy Wright, dealer principal at Nigel Grogan Volkswagen Colchester presenting Julia Shelter, deputy head of Highwoods Primary School, with a model VW Golf during her classes visit to the showroom.

James Watson and Matthew Blanking of Highwoods Primary School won the fastest car class with their model car in the Nigel Grogan Volkswagen Young Car Designer of 2002 race at Colchester. The challenge for the class of ten year olds was to design and construct a model car that would run across the showroom floor without assistance. Julie and Andy supervised the judging. David Baker, customer adviser , had the difficult role of selecting the best designed car: the winners were Polkadot designed by Katherine Gordon and Fay Northcott.. A display of concept car designs and a collage of parts was displayed at the showroom. Congratulations to Julie and her class for their enthusiasm and innovative ideas.

Tony Fenton, on his appointment as Director of Sales & Marketing of Kalle UK Ltd, food casing manufacturers. Tony been responsible for selling casings to the food industry for twenty five years. Dr Walter Niederstatter, President, and Klaus Schimansky, Sales & Marketing Director of Kalle GmbH, congratulated him during their recent visit to the UK

ORGANIC CHRISTMAS PUDDING WINS AWARD

Which pudding to buy for Christmas?
The Good Housekeeping Institute have selected their favourite pudding during a recent tried and tasted test:
- Wilkin & Sons' Tiptree Organic Christmas Pudding was the GHI favourite for 2002. Handmade and free from artificial preservatives and colouring; we like it because it is light enough to think about a second helping! Congratulations to all concerned.

Congratulations to Clare Frostic who won a huge basket of Tiptree preserves from Wilkin & Sons in the Farleigh Hospice draw at the 3rd anniversary of Witham Farmers' Market .

left to right Clare Frostic who works at the sports shop in the Grove Shopping Centre, Sally Carpenter of ClientAct and Fiona Ward Community Fundraiser for Farleigh Hospice. Many thanks to Wendy Harlow Centre Manager for organising the celebrations and the fund raising.

Well done to the skating Spall family who are celebrating the support of Wilkin & Sons, makers of Tiptree preserves. Left to right: Hollie as Beauty from Beauty & the Beast, her brother Arron as Brave Heart and sister Shauna as Carmen showing off their skills to the press. Congratulations to Arron who has just returned from an international competition in Italy where he was placed 5th. Shauna was placed first in a recent competition in Leicester.

THE ESSEX WAY FOR THE ESSEX AIR AMBULANCE -
81 MILES OF BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE

Congratulations to Ian Thurgood and Nigel Smith of Wilkin & Sons Limited Tiptree on completing the Essex Way Walk - 81 miles in 4 days - for the Essex Air Ambulance.

The Essex Way path stretches across the county from Epping tube station to the High Lighthouse in Harwich through - Ongar, Pleshey, Terling, Coggeshall, Dedham and Mistley. The walk passes along riverbanks and ancient lanes, by woodlands and through hamlets where churches and village greens provide a welcome seat for the weary traveller. Essex at its best . The walkers have raised in excess of 4,500 -

The Essex Way map and book is published by Essex County Council is available at Tourist Information Centres throughout Essex.

MARATHON MEN 2002

Congratulations to those who took part in the London Marathon - especially:

Paul Loxton of Loxton Consulting Ltd (executive training) -3hrs 21 mins for St John's Ambulance
Simon King of Kalle UK Ltd (sausage casing manufacturer) - 3hrs 40 mins for Helen Rowley Memorial Fund
Adam Elwell of Taylor and Company (commercial surveyors) - 4 hrs 5 mins for Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre Appeal.

Flower Power In Industry

Congratulations to Kalle UK Limited

Winner of Witham in Bloom's Best Industrial Premises Shield' for their spectacular hanging baskets and immaculate grounds surrounding their factory.

Close neighbours, Inspectorate Limited were highly commended.

The success of sausage casing producer Kalle and other businesses on the industrial sites at Witham have enabled the town to win coveted 'Anglia in Bloom Award' - the 'Aberol Trophy' for the Best Industrial Areas in a town of this size.

Congratulations to all concerned.