 A parade will take place to mark Armed Forces Day this Saturday, 25 June.
It will start at 10.30am on South Street's junction with Arcade Place in Romford Town Centre.
The parade will be led by Royal British Legion band and Corps of Drums, Romford, marching through South Street and turning right through Romford Market and finishing at Tollgate House in Market Place.
Among those marching will be currently serving troops, veterans and cadets, as well as service families.
Earlier this week the Armed Forces Day flag was raised outside the Town Hall (pictured) to mark the start of Armed Forces Week.
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Myplace youth and community centre celebrated its tenth anniversary with a grand party and community day in Harold Hill.
The community centre opened its doors 10 years ago to provide a place for educational, cultural, health and social visits.
It boasts a performance hall, a music room, games room, café and soft play. It is also home to Havering Youth Service.
Over the years it has been the venue for the BBC television programme Question Time on three occasions, hosted Eid events, business breakfasts, charity tea mornings and summer fetes.
It has provided a meeting place for many community groups and clubs and for the past ten years has also hosted holiday activities.
It was built as an eco-friendly building which includes solar panels and air venting systems which earned a Public Sector Sustainability Award.
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A crowd of 1,600 people turned out and contributed to a special atmosphere at the Langtons Summer Concert last Sunday (19 June).
The final event of the borough’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations was more popular than ever with a sold-out crowd (pictured) enjoying music from The Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra.
Staging of the event by Havering Council was made possible thanks to financial support from West and Coe Funeral Directors and the two new co-sponsors, Moore Kingston Smith and Mullis and Peake LLP Solicitors.
On the day, the Friends of Langtons Estate also helped by providing refreshments for guests.
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Around 2,000 school children across Havering are learning important life skills to help keep them safer in their communities.
As part of the annual Junior Citizens Scheme, Year six pupils from primary schools are spending the next two weeks learning how to travel safely on public transport, to being more aware of drugs and knife crime, and what to do in different emergency situations.
The scheme is run by Havering Council’s Community Safety team alongside partners including the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, Safer Transport Police and CGL (Change Grow, Live) who will offer advice around the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
There are workshops where the young people will experience real-life situations and will be asked to role-play in a series of challenges and scenarios.
Each school will be awarded points for their knowledge and for demonstrating what they have learned during the sessions.
At the end of the fortnight, the school with the most points will be awarded with a shield and certificates.
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At last week's reconvened Havering Council AGM, Chairs and Vice-chairs for Council committees were elected.
The two main committees that will examine the work of Havering Council are called Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committees and they will be chaired by opposition Conservative Party councillors.
Also elected last week were councillors who will act as "Member Champions" for certain groups of residents, or issues.
These are the Member Champions for 2022/23:
Voluntary Sector Compact: Cllr David Taylor
Armed Forces – Cllr Barry Mugglestone
Equalities and Diversity – Cllr Katherine Tumilty
Young People – Cllr Frankie Walker
Historic Environment – Cllr Linda Hawthorn
Over 50s – Cllr Mandy Anderson.
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If you are a Council Tax band A to D household who does not pay Council Tax by direct debit, there is now a form that you can complete on Havering Council's website to get the Government's £150 energy rebate.
This will enable you to apply for your rebate to be paid into your bank account or your Council Tax account.
The aim is that these households receive their payment within ten working days of making their online application.
If you know someone who is unable to complete this form online – please help them to fill it in using this link. Alternatively, ask them to contact Havering’s Council Tax customer services team on 01708 433997 and someone will be able to help them complete it.
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Havering Council is looking for volunteers to support young people living in care.
Known as independent visitors, they will provide befriending support to young people up to the age of 18 living inside and out of the borough.
The next training course will run over four evenings from 6pm to 8pm on July 11, 18, and 25, and August 1.
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 Havering Arts Council are holding a summer celebration of music, drama, arts and crafts this Saturday (25 June) in the Walled Garden at Stubbers Adventure Centre, Ockendon Road, Upminster, RM14 2TY.
It's on between 10am and 5pm.
There will be theatrical entertainment, art challenges, dance groups, plus face painting for a small charge.
Groups attending will include The Romford Summer Theatre with excerpts from their new 2022 production of The Tempest, Guildonian Players, Ellen Jane’s School of Dance, and the Chase Players music group based at Thames Chase Forest Centre with a range of singing and instrumental sessions.
It's free entry to the Walled Garden event, but please note that normal Stubbers entry charges will apply.
You are welcome to bring your own picnic, enjoy activities or sit back and relax
in the marquees and the grassed areas of the walled garden.
You can find out more and book your places online.
A Dementia Cafe will be held on Thursday 30 June from 2pm to 4pm at Romford Care Home, 107 Neave Crescent, in Harold Hill.
It's free to attend and it's a chance to unwind and enjoy freshly made cakes and tea or coffee.
The café is designed to support anyone living with, or caring for, someone with Dementia. You can chat, make friends and to get support. The care home's team of specially trained staff are on hand to help with concerns or questions.
The New Dimension Choir (pictured) has been singing since January 2011 and currently has 42 members. It's based in the Ardleigh Green Family Centre in Ardleigh Green Road.
A variety of musical genres and styles is covered by the choir and it stages concerts in the summer and at Christmas.
The choir donates half of all ticket sales to the church that it perfoms in as part of fulfilling its community choir remit.
This year the choir is holding two summer concerts: at 7.30pm on Friday 1 July at Harold Wood Methodist Church, The Drive in Harold Wood; and at 7.30pm on Sunday 3 July at All Saints Church, Ardleigh Green Road in Hornchurch.
Tickets are £7.50 and available at the door at both venues. Under 16s go free.
Towers Infants and Towers Junior schools in Windsor Road, Hornchurch, are holding their summer fete on Saturday 2 July from noon until 3pm.
There will be inflatables, a petting farm, a chance to soak a teacher, traditional games along with a DJ, bar and a gaming bus.
Food on offer will include hot waffles, burgers and pizza.
Entry is just £1 and children go free.
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Havering Concert Orchestra's Summer Concert will be held on Saturday 2 July at Frances Bardsley Academy, Brentwood Road, Romford RM1 2RR.
It starts at 7.30pm and runs until 10pm.
Tickets in advance from the Orchestra's website are £10 (£5 for children or students). Tickets are £12 on the door.
The programme will include popular symphonies and songs performed by soprano Jennifer Tatnall.
Upminster Library provides weekly IT Help and advice sessions. You can get help and advice on laptops, mobiles, iPads and more every Thursday between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
If you attend one of the sessions, please bring your device along with a charging cable. Spaces are limited, so booking is essential.
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Described as an “irreverent, hilarious homage and celebration of the world’s best-loved song contest”, Eurobeat - The Pride of Europe will be staged live for the first time in Romford this summer at the Brookside Theatre.
Featuring new songs and material Eurobeat is set in Liechtenstein and you get to vote for the winner. It's on from 14 to 16 July. See the Theatre's website for more information and ticket booking details.
Harold Hill Library in Farnham Road runs Wiggle and Giggle sessions for children aged from two to four years old on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 2.30pm during school term times.
During these sessions the children sing nursery rhymes and this has been proven to help children develop their language and pre-literacy skills. Using actions with songs also improves hand-eye co-ordination.
These sessions can also be of value for families who have English as a second language. For more information call 01708 434973.
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Local mental health charity Havering Mind is running two summer events to help raise funds for their services for local people who are experiencing problems with their well-being.
The Essex Tribute Fest (poster pictured) will be on Saturday 16 July and Essex Family Fest on Sunday 17 July.
The Tribute Fest is an open-air concert which will take place in Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch. The Essex Family Fest takes place the next day and has something for everyone including a car show, performances and shows throughout the day, a children’s fun fair, petting zoo and even dinosaurs.
Advance tickets are available online for both events.
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Lastly, a Nature fun day for families will be held on Sunday 24 July from 10am to 3pm.
Discover the wildlife on your doorstep at Thames Chase Forest Centre, Upminster, RM14 3NS.
You will be able to go on a wild minibeast safari, discover the aquatic creatures living in the river, follow the nature trail, learn about your discoveries and more.
I's a free drop-in event. Go to the web page for more details and to book your attendance.
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On Havering Council's website you can see details of any applications to change a Premises Licence.
You have a right to object to an application for a new premises licence or club premises certificate, or if an application is made to vary the licence or certificate.
There are currently three applications open for consultation.
These applications come from Queen's Hospital in Romford, Intelligent Trade Limited in Essex Gardens, Hornchurch, and Aveley Leisure Ltd in New Road, Rainham.
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Thanks to Romford BID, this July, Variable Matter, an artist collective led by Romford-based award-winning artist David Shearing, will unveil The Rising Sun - a striking light-responsive public art installation in Romford's market place.
Designed to represent a public house on the outside, inside spectators will be bathed in a haze of light that follows the movements of the sun.
The space will also be filled with a soundscape featuring the moving stories of local people mapping their life journeys of arrival, living, loving, and longing.
The Rising Sun is funded by Arts Council England, Romford BID, and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. It is supported by Havering Changing and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch.
The Rising Sun will be open to the public from 15 to 30 July.
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 Pensioners are being urged to check their eligibility for Pension Credit, to help with the cost of living.
Around a third of those eligible for Pension Credit are not claiming it and could be missing out on extra money each week.
The average weekly amount of Pension Credit is over £65.
A change in circumstances can make someone newly eligible for Pension Credit (for example, bereavement, a change in health or disability). So even if you, or someone you know, have applied before and did not get it, it may be worth another look.
Qualifying for Pension Credit can mean help with other things like a reduction in the amount of Council Tax you need to pay or, if you are over 75, a free TV licence.
The Jack Petchey Foundation has launched a new award to recognise young people working in their communities to protect the environment and build a more sustainable future.
The Jack Petchey Environmental Award is open for the public to nominate any young person aged 11-25 in London and Essex.
Winners will be awarded a certificate, a special badge, a letter from Sir Jack Petchey and the opportunity to apply for an Environmental Award Grant of up to £300 for their project.
A young person can be nominated for a wide range of activities that positively impact their local environment. This may include volunteering in a community garden, taking part in community clean-ups, promoting protecting the environment, or introducing a recycling scheme in their school or local area.
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Next week (27 June to 3 July) it's National Breastfeeding Week.
Everyone has a part to play in helping mums to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding in public may make you feel nervous, but you have a legal right to breastfeed anytime and anywhere.
No-one can ask you to leave a public place while you're breastfeeding.
The NHS has a whole host of tips and advice to help new mothers and mothers-to-be.
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London in Bloom competition judges visited Romford last Friday (17 June).
Romford BID Director Julie Frost welcomed judges Dr Iain Boulton, and Pak Ling Wan from the Royal Horticultural Society, to judge Romford's entry for this year’s competition.
This year, along with the hanging baskets and planters that were judged last year, there was a "living wall" at Romford Station as well as new "pocket" parks to inspect.
The judges spent time with the Friendship Group, who meet at the Romford Shopping Hall, and heard how they were all involved in a workshop to draw and design what planters and plants they wanted at the front of the Shopping Hall.
They were also joined in the pocket park in North Street by students in Year 5 from St Edward’s Primary School (pictured). The children spoke about their involvement with the pocket parks project including using their designs in the stencilling that is on the planters.
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South Street in Romford will be closed between Brewery Walk and the taxi rank in the High Street this Saturday (25 June) between 7am and midday for the Armed Forces Day parade (see article above).
Gas main replacement work taking place in St Lawrence Road, Upminster, near its junction with Station Road, may continue until 26 June.
On behalf of Havering Council, Marlborough Highways are resurfacing part of Marks Road in Romford, from Mildmay Road to Mawney Road, and part of Mildmay Road, Romford, (between Cherry Street and Marks Road), today (23 June) and tomorrow.
The stretch of Corbets Tey Road in Upminster from the junction with St Mary's Lane to number 130, will be resurfaced with overnight work taking place from 27 June to 4 July.
Havana Close in Romford will be closed between its junctions with South Street and Exchange Street between 8am and 5pm on Thursday 7 July for the use of a crane during building work.
Lastly, Faircross Avenue in Collier Row will be resurfaced from 4 to 6 July, Kingsmead Avenue in Romford on 7 and 8 July, and Gloucester Road in Romford on 11 and 12 July.
Public transport
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Due to nationwide industrial action today (Thursday 23 June) and on Saturday (25 June) there will be a reduced service on TfL's Elizabeth line and London Overground services as these services share some track and assets with other rail companies..
c2c trains also expect significant disruption to their services today (Thursday, 23 June) and this Saturday (25 June).
Only travel if essential. If you do travel, expect significant disruption and plan ahead.
c2c are hoping to operate a reduced service from 7am to 6.30pm equating to less than a third of normal service levels. No trains will run via Ockendon or Chafford Hundred.
London Overground will only run from 7.30am until 6pm today (Thursday) and on Saturday. Disruption on lines affected by Network Rail strike actions will continue into Friday 24 and Sunday 26 June. Avoid making journeys on affected services until mid-morning on both of those days. There's more information on TfL's website.
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