Open Gardens 2018

Open Gardens 2018Open Gardens 2018

The Open Gardens 2018 event is on 1st July with over 20 gardens (see below) and the allotments being open from 11 am to 5.30 pm.  Some gardens and the church halls will be selling refreshments and there will be local artists exhibiting.  Morris Dancers will perform at two gardens and “Quire” will be singing songs from around the world at Continue reading “Open Gardens 2018”

Prostate & Helen Rollason Charity Appeals

Prostate & Helen Rollason Charity Appeals

We have three different charity events coming up that would benefit from locals digging deep into their pockets.  First up:

A Shave for Prostate – 26th April

No, this isn’t a take on Movember, but local student Caitlin Williams-Macklin who will be shaving her hair on Thursday 26th April at the 6th Form College.  As she says: Continue reading “Prostate & Helen Rollason Charity Appeals”

Treasure Hunt

Treasure-HuntTreasure Hunt

West Bergholt Cricket Club are organizing a Treasure Hunt in support of the Tom Bowdidge Foundation on Sunday 28th June.   Starting from their pavilion (Manor Road, West Bergholt, Colchester. C06 3JQ) at 2pm, the event promises an afternoon of fun and adventure for everyone.

The event costs £10 per car and registration is now open, closing at 5pm on 18th June.  Registration is by email – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].  All enquiries to 07702 344679 or by email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].  50% of proceeds will be donated to the Tom Bowdidge Foundation, a charity registered in England & Wales, 1156553, which has been established in Tom’s memory to support teenagers and young people with cancer.

Open Gardens a success

Nicola and Richard Bowdidge
Nicola & Richard Bowdidge
Tom Bowdidge Team at Open Gardens 2014
Tom Bowdidge Team at Open Gardens 2014

Open Gardens 2014

Sunday 22nd June was a glorious day.  The sun shone and over 400 people turned out to visit 13 open gardens and the allotments in West Bergholt.  Apart from the beautiful gardens, some small, some large, there were donkeys to feed, a vintage Jaguar to admire and a 1960’s jukebox to listen to.  The church halls laid on refreshments, as did Garlands Farm.  Plants and other produce were on sale at the allotments and some gardens.

Fantastic Fundraising

The event, organised by the West Bergholt Gardening Association, raised over £3,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.  In addition Tom Bowdidge’s family raised over £400 for the Tom Bowdidge Foundation at his grandparents open garden. To find out  more about these charities visit   www.teenagecancertrust.org or www.facebook.com/thetombowdidgefoundation.

Far flung visitors

The event drew visitors from other villages and even from far flung places such as Ipswich (a charabanc full from their allotment society!) and Leigh-on-Sea.  The organisers would like to thank everyone who took part including the visitors.  They welcome comments, both positive and negative, please send to [email protected].

The Association are looking to make this an Annual Event .   Watch this space!!!

Gardeners Association Meeting

The club’s next meeting will be on the 15th September when DEBORAH HART will give a talk on Hanging Baskets and Winter Containers. 7.00 for 7.30pm.   Why not come along to the Orpen Hall, all are welcome.   There is a small charge of £3 including refreshments , also gardeners raffle.

Care Strategies and more from NHS

NHS North East Essex - Clinical Commissioning Group - Embracing better health for allThe NE Essex CCG have recently published a new strategy for caring for adults, their families and carers who are facing conditions with limited life expectancy.  This is part of a whole series of initiatives designed to customise NHS Service Provision for NE Essex’s needs – more can be found on their website at www.neessexccg.nhs.uk.

Part of the introduction of this end-of-life strategy document makes clear its objectives:

This document is a 5 year strategy detailing the future commissioning of end of life services across the health and social care economy. The document identifies the importance of raising the profile of achieving ‘a good death’ and putting mechanisms in place to achieve this.

The Department of Health End of Life Care Strategy acknowledges that there are many challenges to be overcome to ensure that everyone attains ‘a ‘good death’ irrespective of their background. The focus for the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group End of Life Strategy is to ensure that all patients achieve ‘a good death’ and their families and carers feel supported.

The full document can be downloaded here –  NHS NE Essex CCG End of Life Strategy 2014.

Cancer Drop-In Day

We Are Macmillan Cancer SupportFree Health And Wellbeing Event For People Living With And Beyond Cancer

Colchester’s Mayor Cllr Colin Sykes, and his wife Cllr Laura Sykes, will open the event at 10.30am

For the first time in North Essex and surrounding areas cancer patients and their families who are living with and beyond cancer are being invited to a free health and wellbeing drop in cancer information day taking place on Saturday 26 April at the St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Close, Colchester, CO4 OHP between 10.30am and 3.30pm to find out about all there is available for those affected by cancer.  There will be free parking and refreshments.

Macmillan Cancer Support and Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust have joined forces to host this major cancer event to provide people, who have undergone or completed treatment for cancer, no matter how long ago or for what type of cancer, with the opportunity to find out about what support, information, advice and facilities are available, to help them adjust to life with, and beyond, cancer. This event is linked to a new Self-Managed After Care service launched on the 1st April by the Trust and Macmillan Cancer that will provide one of the most comprehensive support and information services to cancer patients and their families in the UK.

The event is funded by Macmillan Cancer and supported by more than 20 local organisations such as Macmillan Welfare Benefits, CHAPS – Men’s Health, Age UK, Breast Care, St Helena Hospice, Health Professionals, Equipment Suppliers, Cancer Support Groups, Marie Curie, St John’s Church Community Centre, Essex Carer Support and many more. The day will include four 45 minute presentations and question times on Benefits Advice, Counselling, Men’s Health, Physiotherapy & Exercise.

Peter Carrington, Lead Volunteer at the Macmillan Cancer Support, Drop-In & Information Centre, based at Essex County Hospital, said:

 We are encouraging people and their families affected by cancer to come along to the event, so they are better informed about how they can make a positive difference to their every-day life. No one with cancer should have to face it alone; they should have easy access to high quality care, treatment, information and support, to meet their medical, practical, emotional and financial needs. Research has shown how important health and wellbeing is to the recovery and long-term health of cancer patients. For more information please phone 01206 744401.

Debbie Farthing, Macmillan Information & Support Manager said:

The cancer journey can be a particularly difficult time for many patients and their families and they need to know there is a robust safety net of support throughout diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, rehabilitation and beyond enabling them to return to everyday life and activities. This event will empower people to live more independently knowing our support and help is always available no matter when on how they need our help. We meet or talk to approximately 5,000 people, families and health professional per year and give out 18,000 plus information booklets with 309 patients and their families receiving on-going daily support from our volunteers with fast track access to health professionals where needed.

Self-management scheme for cancer survivors

NE Essex CCG issue cancer survivors self-management
We Are Macmillan Cancer Support

New, improved self-management scheme

For those who have survived breast or colorectal cancers

The NHS in North East Essex, in partnership with Macmillan cancer charity, is launching a pioneering new service on the 1st April to better support survivors of cancer. It has been designed with the active involvement of patients from the cancer service user-groups.

This new scheme is designed to take some of the national ideas and build a new local service to better support people to manage their own medical and wider recovery process.

The scheme is specifically for those who have survived breast or colorectal cancers and who are now judged as at lower-risk of relapse, with the intention to learn from this to potentially expand the service to survivors of certain other cancers. Higher-risk patients, such as those who have suffered from aggressive forms of the disease, will continue to need and get a different, more medically intensive follow-up programme.

Dr Linda Mahon-Daly, a GP at Shrub End in Colchester, leading the collaboration with Macmillan, said:

We will be providing an improved service for patients ensuring that every patient has real, continuing practical and moral support. National research and planning is all pointing towards similar services, but we are making it work practically for these patients, who often face very challenging circumstances. There is also the benefit of freeing up hospital doctors’ time, allowing them to deliver more services.

Many people, once their treatment is successfully concluded for these cancers, can find themselves without effective follow-up support. There are about 200 new lower-risk patients each year in NE Essex for each of these cancers. Under the new scheme, they and their families will be invited to attend a workshop specific to their type of cancer, which will help them understand and prepare for problems they may face, for instance certain physical side-effects that may follow. Patients will then be discharged from routine outpatient appointments; they will be assigned a Macmillan “buddy”, a trained volunteer with experience and interest in this type of cancer.

There will be a clear, rapid procedure to get the patient back under consultant care if needed and patients will still be able to contact their clinical nurse specialist (CNS) for advice on medical problems.

Michelle Bath, Macmillan Development Manager for Essex, said:

Following active treatment many patients tell us they feel alone and try to ‘get back to normal’ but their cancer experience has had such a big impact that they’re no longer sure what their ‘normal’ is. By training volunteer buddies we are aiming to give patients a support network and somebody to speak to about their concerns. This will give patients a listening ear that isn’t a member of their medical team but they will know how to access medical support if they suspect a change or recurrence of their cancer.

Clinically proven effective follow-up medical investigations, such as regular colonoscopy and mammography will still be carried out, as at present, to ensure that any problems are found and dealt with quickly.

Donna Booton, Matron for Cancer Services at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, said:

This is an exceptional scheme for the patients of North East Essex. It will reduce their fears and give them the support and knowledge they have not received before in order to be able to move on with their lives. This is also an example of excellent collaborative involving Colchester Hospital Trust, North East Essex Clinical Commissioning and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The volunteer buddies are initially funded and trained by Macmillan offering patients their wide experience, good information and non-medical advice. Perhaps crucially they will offer support for the patient, if needed, with re-building life routines, such as finding a job and other services. Patients will know they have continuing support and quick, easy access to further help as needed. Each patient will get the support they need as an individual, rather than the current system of routine out-patient appointments at hospital for everyone.

Dr Shane Gordon, Clinical Chief Officer at NE Essex CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) said:

This is a brilliant scheme; it will directly support many cancer survivors to rebuild their lives successfully. It is an excellent collaboration between Macmillan and the NHS which meets the support needs of patients at any time and links effectively with professional clinical services.

A lot of work has been done in the NHS nationally to understand why so many people who have been successfully treated for cancer, don’t feel they get effective follow-up support. There is good evidence too that the current routine follow-up appointments are not the most effective way of picking up any symptoms of recurrence of the disease, but patients do need help with any side-effects of treatment and sometimes with re-building their lives after treatment.

There will be an ongoing series of general cancer workshops, run and funded by Macmillan, on topics such as finance, diet and exercise and sexual health, which will be available to all cancer patients. Pilot workshops will be held and then evaluated, with the patient groups defining the feedback questionnaire which will be used.

NHS Warn of Cancer Hoax

NE Essex CCG issue cancer hoax warningNE Essex CCG issue cancer hoax warning

At least two GP practices in NE Essex have had patients phone in worried about a hoax email. The email looks as if it has come from NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and people are advised not to open it, and not to click on any links.

NICE says the contents are likely to be distressing and has reported the hoax to the police.  It is not clear exactly how many people are affected, but based on the high number of calls to the organisation it is thought to number thousands nationally.

Sir Andrew Dillon, the chief executive of NICE, said:

A spam email purporting to come from NICE is being sent to members of the public regarding cancer test results.

This email is likely to cause distress to recipients since it advises that ‘test results’ indicate they may have cancer.

This malicious email is not from NICE and we are currently investigating its origin. We take this matter very seriously and have reported it to the police.

NICE is advising people who have received the email – the subject line of which is important blood analysis result – to delete it without opening it and not to click on any links.

The NHS national website has information, as does the NICE national website and Twitter feed.

Gazette pays tribute to Inspirational Tom Bowdidge

The following article has been reproduced here with kind permission from the Gazette.

Inspirational Tom, 19, passes away after raising £100,000 for charity

Inspirational Tom

THE PROUD family of a fun-loving teenager have praised their “phenomenal” son.

Tom Bowdidge, 19, died on Friday. He had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive stomach cancer last summer.  While undergoing treatment the West Bergholt resident raised £100,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.  As well as shaving off his hair for the charity, he organised fundraising events and even featured on a song to raise awareness.

Proud parents Nikki and Richard Bowdidge and sister Emma were at his side when he passed away on Friday.

Mum Nikki said:

I asked him what we were going to do without him and he said ‘you’re going to crack on’.

We were privileged to be able to say goodbye to him.

The fact we were able to hold his hand when he took his last breath, there’s something comforting in that, that we talked him through it.

Tom had come to terms with it, he was at peace. He said ‘we have been dealt these cards and now we have got to get on with it’.

There was one clear message when Tom was feeling poorly, he said ‘I never want to see it written I lost my battle with cancer.  I haven’t lost anything, it no longer has a body to live in so the cancer committed suicide’.

Tom’s final wishes were that we were to ‘crack on’ and we are going to endeavor to do that.

Tom, a former Colchester Royal Grammar School sixth-former, was at work last summer when he collapsed.  Doctors initially thought he had appendicitis.  Less than 24 hours later they broke the news he had a large tumour in his abdomen.  He underwent several lengthy bouts of chemotherapy, all the time continuing to fundraise.

Teenage Cancer Trust has ringfenced the money Tom has raised to spend on refurbishing the ward where he received his treatment, at University College London Hospital.

Dad Richard said:

We are overwhelmingly proud of Tom and couldn’t be more so.

I’m going to carry on fundraising. From my perspective Tom’s legacy is that the work and support the Teenage Cancer Trust provided Tom and us with carries on for other people who go through this, no matter what road they take.

He got to see the plans and even put his own influence on them, which meant a lot to him.

Tom’s funeral will be held at St Mary the Virgin Church, West Bergholt, on Wednesday, October 30 at noon.

Everyone has been asked to wear a hint of blue, Tom’s favourite colour.

Nikki added:

Tom often used to say ‘carpe diem’. And he’s right, you should seize the day.

Tom’s legacy is also about not worrying what the future holds, living every day for today.

He was absolutely phenomenal.

Since Tom’s death wellwishers have gone to his fundraising page to donate in his memory.

To sponsor him go to justgiving.com/Tom-Bowdidge.

Tom Bowdidge – BHYFC mark their respect on 20th October

Tom Bowdidge
Tom Bowdidge – passed away Friday 18th October

Tom Bowdidge – sadly missed

Firstly this week it is with great sadness that Bergholt Heath has to report that one of our ex-players, Tom Bowdidge, passed away on Friday morning after a brave fight against cancer, at just 19 years old. Tom will be greatly missed by all those that knew him around the village and beyond.  As a mark of respect all three Bergholt Heath teams wore black armbands during this weekend’s matches.  Tom started a cancer charity “Teens Against Cancer Baby” last year and spent the last year of his life bravely raising money for his charity at every opportunity. Should anyone wish to donate to the charity in Tom’s memory, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tom-Bowdidge.

The following message is on Tom’s Facebook page (linked above and from picture):

We have organised Tom’s funeral now. It will be on Wednesday 30th October at 12 noon in St Mary the Virgin Church, New Church Road, West Bergholt, Colchester, CO6 3JF.  It was Tom’s wish that he had a massive funeral so we would be delighted to welcome as many of you as are able to attend.  We would like it to be a time when we mourn his loss but also celebrate his life. Dress code will be dark but we hope people will wear a touch of blue which was Tom’s favourite colour.
With our love as always xxxx

On to the football:

BHYFC Results 20th October

Brooklands vsBHYFC Under 9s

Bergholt Heath Under 9s faced their toughest game of the season today against unarguably the best team in the league, Brooklands.

Before the game started the Bergholt team put on black armbands in respect of Tom. After the torrential rain that preceded it, the game kicked off in sunshine and began brightly for both teams with Bergholt matching the hosts for possession.  Brooklands then started to take charge of the game, but try as they might they could not break through the Bergholt defence with the boys battling for everything and if they did get any shots on target, then Daniel’s handling was faultless.

For all their performance Bergholt fell behind with a well-taken goal.  This didn’t get the boys disheartened and they tried to get back on level terms and Thomas L, with his usual once-a-game long range effort, came close to finding the net but the keeper got down well for the save. With the half-time whistle imminent, Brooklands went further ahead when a powerful long range fizzed right through a crowded penalty area and with Daniel unsighted, found the corner of the Bergholt net.  HT 0-2.

As with the first half, the beginning was fairly even with Bergholt almost getting on the score sheet but James’ effort was just held by the Brooklands keeper.  However, minutes 30-36 will be 6 minutes that Bergholt will want to forget.  Once again, Bergholt’s luck deserted them as Brooklands extended their lead when a deflected shot caught out an unlucky Daniel.  From this, another 3 goals rattled in quick succession as Brooklands tried their luck from outside the box – each shot gave Daniel no chance.  The last 4 minutes, Bergholt managed to regroup themselves and see the game out without further loss.  FT 0-6. Although Brooklands were the better team and deserved their win, the scoreline was particularly harsh on Bergholt who played really well.  Credit should go to the defence today who were superb and didn’t deserve to be on the end of that scoreline.

Bergholt Heath player of the match: Thomas Lloyd – a captain’s performance with some excellent tackling and energy.

BHYFC UNder 11s vs Halstead Town Reds

The Under 11s were the only team at home this week and comfortably beat Halstead Town Reds 5-1 with goals coming from Jonah Murray and Richard Frost with two each and one more from Tyler Webb.

Stanway Rovers vs BHYFC Under 15s

Following last weeks league cup win, the Under 15s were in round two action of the Essex Cup, but luckily  – with the whole of Essex to be drawn against – their away match was only a couple of miles up the road to play Stanway Rovers, their local rivals in the A league!

Bergholt started slowly, which seems to be a trend so far this season, and in the first 10 minutes they allowed the home side to have several tester shots at goal – but luckily Connor comfortably handled anything that came his way.  Just before the quarter of an hour mark Bergholt got forward to create something for the first time in the match.   Stanway gave away a free kick on the left, Ollie Sanderson played the ball diagonally into the box, James Holden got a flick on and Sam Clark finished at the far post – only to find that the linesman had raised his flag!

However Bergholt were not to be denied and within a minute another attack saw a corner conceded and Sam rose high at the far post to loop his header back over the Stanway ‘keeper and into the roof of the net.  These two quick fire attacks and the goal spurred Bergholt into life and they restricted the hosts to long range attempts for the rest of the half.  Half time: Stanway Rovers 0 -1 Bergholt Heath

The second half started in completely the opposite manner to the first and within 2 minutes Bergholt were further ahead.  Leo Tiffney picked the ball up centrally just outside the Stanway area.  Owen Bernhardt ran in from the right and called for the ball to be played through, Leo picked him out superbly and Owen comfortably slotted the ball into the far corner.  A brilliantly worked goal.  Within 2 minutes Bergholt scored their third goal.  James chased a long ball into the left of the area and under his pressure the defender handled the bouncing ball. Penalty.  With Ollie now off the pitch resting having been ill during the week, Captain Jamie Bowden took the spot kick and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to score his now customary goal against Stanway Rovers.

The game was now being controlled by Bergholt, however the hosts got on the score sheet with around 10 minutes remaining.  An attack was cleared into the midfield but was stopped by an alert Stanway player who immediately played it back.  The ball evaded the Bergholt midfielders and as Sam came across to cover the obvious gap, the striker flicked it though to his partner who had the run on the blind side of Jamie and he finished well as Connor tried to close the angle. However this was the one and only clear cut opportunity for the hosts and Bergholt saw the match out comfortably to move into round three of the Essex cup, when they will be at home to the Romford Flyers.  Final score: Stanway Rovers 1 – 3 Bergholt Heath.  Bergholt man of the match: Jamie Bowden.

Next week’s matches Sunday 27th October:

  • Under 9 vs Long Melford, KO 11am
  • Halstead Town Reds vs Under 11
  • Under 15 vs Bures, KO 10.30am
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