NEWS FOR BROXTED & CHICKNEY

from the Five Parishes' Magazine

FEBRUARY 2007

CANDLELIGHT CRIB SERVICE

The Crib Service in Broxted church on the 17th December was well attended, in fact every pew was filled. The church looked magical, decorated with white flowers and white candles and a beautiful Christmas tree. During the service the Crib was ‘furnished’ by the children, placing the various people and animals in their appropriate places. Afterwards everyone enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies before returning home. Thanks go to everyone involved in arranging the service and to all those who came to give it their support.

CAROL SINGING

The following evening everyone gathered in the Prince of Wales to sing carols for an hour. It was a lovely occasion and a warm welcome was given by landlord Peter and his staff for which many thanks. During the interval a collection was taken for the Children's Society, raising the sum of £83.07.

CHILDREN'S SOCIETY

On this subject, Yvonne Rodliffe will be holding the usual annual coffee morning at Fistral on Wednesday 7th March from 10.00 am to 12 noon.

HONOUR FOR OUR RECTOR

As we go to press we hear that the Revd Gillian Greenslade is to be installed as a non-residentiary Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral on the 24th February at 5.15 pm. We share in her delight at this appointment and send her our congratulations.

BROXTED PARISH COUNCIL

At its meeting on the 10th January, the Council recorded, with sadness, the death of Les Carr. He had served the village, and Chapel End in particular, for thirty-five years as a Parish Councillor.

It was reported that the new notice boards had been delivered. Approval from the Council's insurer is still awaited in respect of the rebuilding of the Brick End bus shelter. Following the icy weather in December, and a number of minor accidents in Brown's End Road, it was agreed to try and obtain two new grit bins.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 14th February at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall. The Council always welcomes members of the public to its meetings. The minutes of the Council meetings are posted on the village notice boards, and can be viewed on this website.

BROXTED & DISTRICT COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Quiz

The Community Association is holding another of its popular quizzes on Saturday 10th February in the Village Hall at 7.30 for 8.00 pm. Tickets are priced at £6 which will include a hot supper, but please bring your own drinks. Teams of 6/8 are welcome to take part, but if you don't have a team come along anyway, join in the fun and meet your neighbours! Bookings and details from Jenny Oliveira on 01279 850348.

Community Christmas

On the 10th December the Community Association gave their usual Christmas Party for local children. They had a lovely time, with a delicious tea and lots of games. They were visited by an entertainer who kept them enthralled and the afternoon was completed with a visit by Father Christmas who arrived with a gift for every child.

Later in the month Association representatives visited the ‘oldies’ with a wonderful gift of goodies for which they say a sincere Thank You. Most were delivered by two pretty girls and a charming young man, which added to the spirit of Christmas!

Broxted's Community Association really does look after the young and old of the village.

PRINCE OF WALES FUN QUIZ

There will be a fun quiz in the pub on Pancake Day, Tuesday 20th February at 8.00 pm at the Prince of Wales. Come as a couple or make up a team – everyone is welcome. Entry is just £3 a head, and there are prizes for the winners. All proceeds to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

THE BROXTED SSE QUIZ 2007

Phyllis and Roger Clark are organising another of their annual quizzes to raise funds for SSE. The date is Saturday 10th March at 7.30 for 8.00 pm in Broxted Village Hall. Teams of six are invited to enter, the price is £9 each to include supper, but please bring your own drinks.

Space is limited so please book your team as soon as possible with Roger and Phyllis on 01279 850638, or at clarkatbroxted@hotmail.co.uk.

PEOPLE

CONDOLENCES

As referred to in the Parish Council report, Les Carr passed away in December. At the Memorial Service held following a private cremation, Broxted church was filled to capacity with people, some of whom had travelled long distances, to pay their respects to the memory of a much respected and loved man. He had been born and bred in Broxted and Clive Welch, who had known and worked with him for many years, spoke of the many facets of his life, raising some laughs as he recounted events they had experienced while carrying out house clearances. He will be sorely missed and love and condolences are offered to Winnie, his wife of 53 years, his brother Ron and all his family.

We are also very sorry to learn of the death of George Wright at the age of 68. George was born at Hatfield Broad Oak, but his family moved to Broxted when he was about 3 years old. His first job was at Flemings Hill Farm. He then moved to work at The Old Vicarage for Mr Arnold Willis as a gardener and, later, also as a driver. He kept the gardens in beautiful condition, making sure there was always something in bloom and supplying the house with delicious fruit and vegetables. He had several talents: one, envied by many, being the ability to reverse and manoeuvre a trailer!

When Arnold and Gladys Willis moved to a smaller house in Thaxted, George moved to a bungalow nearby, continuing to look after them in their old age. He was always on hand to drive them and keep their smaller garden in colour. After the death of Arnold, George continued to care for Gladys until she too passed away. Sadly, not long after, he became ill himself and spent some time in Addenbrookes Hospital, followed by frequent visits for treatment. He was always cheerful, treating his hospital visits as ‘trips out’ and enjoying cheery banter with the staff.

Sadly, he recently suffered from a fall and spent his last weeks firstly in Addenbrookes and then Saffron Walden Hospital. He passed away on the 5th January and we offer love and condolences to his brother and sister-in-law, Alf and Lesley, who have been a tower of strength to George, and to his sister and brother-in-law, Winnie and Stan. His funeral took place at Broxted on the 16th January.
THANK YOU

Valerie Felgate would like to thank all those who sent cards, love and prayers which have helped greatly in assisting recovery from her recent illness.
WELCOME

We send a belated but sincere welcome to Father Martin Nott, who took up the post of parish priest at the Catholic Church of Our Lady and St Anne Line in Great Dunmow just before the end of 2006.
BELATED CONGRATULATIONS

To Russell and Debbie Beattie on the arrival of their daughter, Lauren, who was born on the 26th April 2006. We all join in sending our very belated congratulations. Nanny Cathy is looking forward to having Lauren to help her with her catering tasks in a few years' time!

THE FRIENDS OF THE FIVE PARISHES

The trustees will be progressing plans this year's events at their meeting at the end of January. These events include another party at Easton Farm by kind permission of Bob Trembath and, of course, the Magic Evening in October. More details will be given in the March issue.

THE FRIENDS OF THE FIVE PARISHES 50% CLUB

The 50% Club continues to grow and now has 132 members. It is not too late to join! From February there are still seven chances to win. Just send a cheque for £7 to Fran Woodrow at Windy Ridge, Duton Hill, Dunmow, Essex. Please make the cheque out to ‘The Friends of the Five Parishes 50% Club’. The 50% Club is a fundraising arm of The Friends of the Five Parishes. Money raised by the 50% Club goes towards the maintenance of our churches in the Five Parishes. The winner of the December draw was Mr Reed.

UDC PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

For the next stage in planning the future development within Uttlesford, the District Council is producing a consultation document on Policy Choices and Options for Growth, setting out its vision for the District for 2021 and suggesting planning policies to achieve this vision. The Council wants to know if you agree with these policies and, if not, how they should be changed.

The second part of the Document looks at nine different options for growth, setting out the issues facing each option, and asking you which of the options you favour and which should not be considered. Your comments will help the Council decide its preferred option.

The suggested growth options include concentrating development at one or more of the District's main settlements of Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow or Stansted Mountfitchet; or to concentrate development in a single new settlement. Dispersed growth options include distributing development in villages along the West Anglia Rail corridor; distributing development along the A120 corridor and in Dunmow, distributing all development in villages around the District or a combination of these.

The document will be available for you to look at from mid January, and will be available on the Council's website www.uttlesford.gov.uk or by phone on 01799 510454 or 510461.

UTTLESFORD CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SEEKS NEW VOLUNTEERS IN GREAT DUNMOW

Do you enjoy talking to new people and have you got an active enquiring mind? Would you like to do some interesting part time work that fits in around other commitments? Would you like to contribute to your local community and help people solve their problems? If so becoming a volunteer advisor at the Uttlesford Citizens Advice Bureau may be just what you are looking for.

The service in Dunmow is being expanded and local people are being sought to join the team. Free impartial advice is given to anybody in the community; clients coming from all walks of life and of all ages. Typical enquiries concern benefits, employment issues, consumer problems, relationships and personal debt.

The CAB is a charity entirely dependent on the generous donation of time from its volunteers. Full training and support is given. Advisors usually volunteer for 1 day per week (9.30 am to 3.30 pm) and most get enormous satisfaction from the role. If you are interested but are not in a position to volunteer so much time, financial contributions and offers of help for the fundraising team are welcome.

To find out more please contact the Bureau Manager John Willoughby on telephone 01799 526557. The Advice Line number is 01799 526582 and the CAB in Barnards Yard, Saffron Walden is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm and on Wednesday for specialist appointments only.

GREAT EASTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

One of the things that we are really proud of at our school is our Walking Bus. This is run by a team of parents coordinated by Sarah Cousins. It leaves the Village Hall in Great Easton every morning at 8.30 am and returns at 3.30 pm. It is a very healthy and environmentally friendly way to travel to school. We have over forty children who use the bus; some daily and some as a change from other modes of transport. We probably hold the record in Essex for the number of years that we have run our bus; many schools have tried walking buses but often they flounder after the initial interest, this is not true at Great Easton. The ‘bus’ travels across two fields from the Village Hall car park and enters the school playground via a gate from the footpath. The children are then able to remove their wellies in our purpose built playground shelter before entering school. We have just one problem – dog owners who allow their pets to foul the footpath, particularly at the Village Hall end of the route. If you are a dog owner, please clear up any mess and take it home with you, it will be very much appreciated by the parents and children who use these paths everyday.

The rehearsals are now under way for our concert that will take place at the end of March. We are going to perform our own version of Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo; this will involve singing, dance and drama. Every child in the school will be on stage for the whole performance. Children are auditioning for the main characters and each class will have a special part to perform.

I shall be holding a Coffee Morning after February half term for parents of children who are due to start school in September 2007 and have put us down on the Essex application form as one of their preferences. If you have not yet received an invitation or maybe you have not completed an application form, please ring us on 01371 870219 as we would love to see you.

Gill Hopkins

Headteacher

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sunday 4th February	SSE Community Conference, Stansted
Monday 5th February	Monday Evening Group meeting at Rectory
Monday 5th February	Tilty Church Committee Meeting
Wednesday 7th February	Children's Society Coffee Morning, Broxted
Saturday 10th February	Broxted Community Assoc Quiz
Tuesday 20th February	CFT Pancake Day Quiz, Broxted
Saturday 10th March	The Great Broxted Quiz 2007
Saturday 17th March	Race Night, Little Easton
Saturday 17th March	SSE Jumble Sale, Henham
Sun/Mon 26th/27th August	Countess of Warwick's Country Show