Coffee & Craft Update

With the end of the school holidays the Methodist Church has come to the end of their Coffee and Craft mornings for now. The three mornings held during the school holidays were very popular and proved to be a busy and happy time for all involved. Families enjoyed a wide variety of craft activities across the three mornings. The selection of cakes also proved popular! Thanks are due to all who supported these mornings.

The Church promises to be back for a one morning only Christmas Coffee and Craft – so do not miss it! This will be on Monday December 22 from 10.30 to 12.00 in the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane. Please look out for posters and further information nearer the time.

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.

July 18, 2014

Summer Coffee & Crafts

Summer Fun with Coffee & Crafts

West Bergholt Methodist Church are holding some more of their popular fun activity mornings for young families during the school holidays. The Coffee and Craft sessions will all take place on Monday mornings from 10.30 to 12.00 in the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane, West Bergholt.

There will be a variety of craft activities and free coffee, tea, squash, biscuits and cakes will be available. There will be an entrance fee to cover the cost of craft materials of £2-50 per family (any number) but please note that, sorry, we are unable to accept unaccompanied children.

Each morning will follow a different theme, which will be reflected in the craft activities. The dates of the mornings are:-

Monday July 28^th 10.30 to 12.00 – Seaside Fun
Monday August 18^th 10.30 to 12.00 – Carnival Time
Monday September 1^st 10.30 to 12.00 – Animals

All are welcome.

July 14, 2014December 4, 2014

Exhibitions at St Mary’s Old Church

Bluebells Pre-School contributions to the Exhibition — Bluebells Pre-School contributions to the Art Exhibition

St Mary’s are hosting 2 exhibitions in the coming month, one of art by local artists and another staged by the local History Group.

Art Exhibition

Currently being exhibited, are some large paintings which were painted by village resident, John Newman. They were displayed in St. Mary’s Church in New Church Road during West Bergholt’s Open Gardens weekend. The paintings feature gardens that were mentioned in the Bible including the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane. Appropriate verses from the Bible and information about these gardens are displayed alongside the paintings.

There is also some art work created by the children at Bluebells Pre-School. This exhibition will be displayed in the church for the next two weeks.

History Exhibition

The second exhibition is being staged by the West Bergholt History Group to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the start of WW1. This will be a small display from 2nd – 9th August.

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.

April 6, 2014

St Mary the Virgin to get a new priest

The Archdeacon of Colchester, the Venerable Annette Cooper, has recently issued the following announcement which affects St Mary’s Church:

I am pleased to let you know that The Revd. Mandy Elmes has accepted my invitation to become the Priest in Charge of Langham with Boxted and West Bergholt with Great Horkesley. Please make this announcement in all of your churches on Sunday morning. It is of course subject to the completion of all the necessary legal checks. Currently Mandy is serving as a Self-Supporting Associate Priest in the West Mersea benefice. Mandy, who is married to Paul will be moving to the Rectory at West Bergholt in the early summer following her holiday already booked in the first half of July.

March 24, 2014

Easter coffee & craft

Following the popularity of the Christmas Coffee and Craft morning, West Bergholt Methodist Church will be holding an Easter Coffee and craft morning for young families in the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane.

This will be for one morning only, so do not miss it, on Monday 14th April from 10.30am -1200.

All families with children aged 0 – 11 are welcome.

For more information please contact Rev Ruth Ridge on 01206 242183.

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.

December 11, 2013

Festive crafts as Christmas Coffee & Craft is back

Festive crafts & coffee

As promised in September, Coffee & Craft is back for families in West Bergholt. Organized by the Methodist Church and running in their church hall between 10:30 – 12:00 on Monday 23rd December what better way to kick off the holidays with coffee & cake whilst the kids get to try a range of festive crafts. Catering predominantly for 0 – 11 year olds it is also great value at just £2.50 per family!

For more information please contact Rev Ruth Ridge on 242183.