Care Network meets modern technology

West Bergholt Care Network

The following update has been received from The Care Network:

For over twenty-five years The Care Network has operated in the village to help residents with transport to medical and other important appointments. Throughout this time we have relied on a system of telephone contacts, one for each day of the week, who arrange the transport. In some cases the same ladies have been involved for most of this time.

During this period technology has moved on apace and we are now able to offer what it is hoped will be an improved service. We now have a single contact number which will hopefully be easier for users to retain. The same contacts will have the calls transferred to them on their respective days and will arrange the transport. One bonus is that if a particular contact is not available the call will transfer to the next day’s contact thus eliminating the need for the user to dial again.

If you live in the village and need help with transport for a medical or important appointment please contact us on

0300 777 3100

Calls are charged at local land line rates

If you feel able to volunteer and offer some time as a driver please contact Harry Stone on 241026.

July 29, 2014

Action for Children 2014

As last year, the Methodist Church in West Bergholt are organising their annual house-to-house collection for “Action for Children” (formerly National Childrens Homes) , the Methodist children’s charity, from 1st to 13th September. Last year they nearly reached £1,000 (£934.79 to be precise), and would dearly love to break that barrier this year. To help them make this, they would be delighted to have some more helpers to do rounds, so they can cover as much of the village as possible. If you can help, even for only a small round, please contact Sylvia Wilks, 76, Mumford Road (01206 242511) as soon as possible.

Action for Children is a national charity founded over 140 years ago. It is dedicated to supporting and speaking out for the UK’s most vulnerable and neglected children and young people, for as long as it takes to make a difference in their lives… In short they:

work directly with over 300,000 children, young people, parents and carers (a 20% increase over last year!);
run more than 650 services across the UK; and
tackle issues such as child neglect and abuse.

Their vision is:

For a world where all children and young people have a sense of belonging and are loved and valued. A world where they can break through injustice, deprivation and inequality to fulfil their potential, shape their own destiny and experience the joy of life.

June 30, 2014April 6, 2022

Open Gardens a success

Nicola and Richard Bowdidge — Nicola & Richard Bowdidge

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.

May 21, 2014

Abseil, support Children’s Hospices?

Join a sponsored Abseil down Colchester Town Hall on 13th July 2014

This is just one of many events that East Anglian Children’s Hospices (EACH) are organizing to support their work supporting families and providing care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. They provide care and support wherever the family wishes – in families’ own homes, in the community or at one of their hospices in Ipswich, Milton and Quidenham. Their care teams help children and their families with the emotional and physical challenges they face, helping them to make the most of life.

EACH had already arranged an abseil at Colchester Town Hall in June and that has already sold out so they are now organizing this extra date to Abseil approx 100ft from the roof of Colchester Town Hall!

Entry fees £15 per person, plus minimum sponsorship of £85 for participants aged 17 yrs and over, and £30 for those aged 16 yrs and under (payable on the day or via an online fundraising page).

Minimum age 14 years.

For more information please contact the Essex fundraising team on 01206 848450 or email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or, if you are already convinced, enter with their online entry form.

If abseiling is not for you then to find other events visit the EACH events pages.

May 13, 2014May 8, 2015

Open Gardens 2014

West Bergholt Open Gardens Day, organized by the West Bergholt Gardeners Association, is taking place on 22nd June from 1pm to 5pm. Admission is by programme available from the Methodist Chapel Hall, St Mary’s Church Hall and any of the open gardens on the day. We are asking for a small donation of £4 (accompanied children free). Proceeds from the event will go to our nominated charity “The Teenage Cancer Trust”, who supported a local young man through his terminal illness.

As well as 13 gardens to view you will also be able to pick up handy hints from our own keen “Allotmenteers” and see donkeys in one of the gardens! We will also be offering the opportunity to purchase refreshments at the church halls as well as at some of the open gardens.

Ample parking will be available at the Orpen Hall.

More information from either [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or www.opengardens.co.uk.

April 23, 2014

Cancer Drop-In Day

Free 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.

March 19, 2014June 25, 2021

Deanna Walker BEM & other news online

The latest Village Bulletin is now on-line and available for download/reading on-line on the Village Bulletin page. News updates not previously reported here include:

Deanna Walker BEM

A West Bergholt woman has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours awards for her services to Higher Education. Deanna Walker has been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for her work at the University of Essex where she is administrator in the Registry Department. She joined the university staff 25 years ago in the Admissions Department working in several administrative roles before reaching her present position as Senior Academic Officer. Her work has included mentoring junior colleagues which, she believes, also contributed to colleagues recommending her for the award.

Deanna is modest about her achievements. She says:

The award came out of the blue. When the letter came notifying me, I couldn’t understand why I was chosen as I just do an ordinary working job.

[More… in the Bulletin]

Concert Band’s Christmas Concert raises £1,500 for St Helena Hospice

The Concert Band’s 2013 Christmas Concert was a huge success, as one audience member commented:

the most enjoyable Christmas Concert I’ve been to in many, many years.

The report continues to tell how they have raised nearly £30,000 in recent years and about their plans for 2014.

[More… in the Bulletin]

Voluntary Group & Club Updates

Well, there were quite a few including:

Friends of St Mary’s Old Church;
Hillhouse Wood;
Care Network;
Friendship Club;
Women’s Institute;
History Group;
Bergholt Heath YFC;
Workers’ Educational Association;
Gardeners;
Indoor Bowls;
First responders;
Allotments;
Badminton;
Churches; and
Orpen Players.

[More… in the Bulletin]

Last, but not least, the weather

As if we needed reminding, 2013 was pretty much the wettest we can recall – the following chart tells you just how wet West Bergholt was:

December 31, 2013December 31, 2013

Christmas fun & fundraising

The Methodist Church had a busy run-up to Christmas

Carol Singing Friday 20 December

A hardy band of carol singers were outside the Coop store from 18.00 to 19.30. They entertained shoppers and Coop staff with a range of popular carols. Thanks to the generosity of the shoppers, and the singers, the sum of £52 was raised for Action for Children. The hot drinks and mince pies enjoyed after the singing were most welcome.

Candlelight Carols Sunday 22 December

The service by candlelight provided a very special Christmas celebration atmosphere with a mix of traditional carols and readings. Many of the congregation were also able to enjoy a chat with coffee and mince pies in the hall after the service.

Coffee and Craft Monday 23 December

Building on the events held in the summer this proved to be a popular morning for families. Twenty-four children, together with accompanying adults, enjoyed a range of Christmas crafts including make your own Nativity Scenes, Snow scene domes and flying reindeer complete with sleighs! There was also time to enjoy a chat and the drinks and cakes proved popular also. Encouraged by the response we will be looking to provide further Coffee and Craft mornings in the Easter school holidays – look out for our publicity nearer the time.

Thanks to all who supported and worked to make possible the above events, and best wishes for the New Year.

November 6, 2013November 6, 2013

Coffee for St Helena Hospice

Poster for St Helena Hospice coffee morning November 2013 The Final Push is almost here! On Tuesday 19 November there will be a Coffee Morning with a Christmas theme in aid of St. Helena Hospice, at St. Mary’s Church Hall, West Bergholt from 9am – 12pm.

As well as a play area for small children, we will be serving hot and cold drinks and offering a selection of scones – donations of £2 are requested for a drink and scone.

There will also be an opportunity to buy Christmas foods, decorations, tickets for a grand raffle, St. Helena Hospice Christmas cards, diaries and calendars.

Our goal is raise about £600 to bring the total of money raised for St Helena Hospice in 2013 to £4,000, in memory of our friend Maria. Please come and support us.

We look forward to welcoming you.

October 23, 2013

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

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.