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The Unexpected Guest

… a thriller by Agatha Christie is the Orpen Players Autumn production directed by Mike Poole. Lost in the fog, Michael Starkwedder stumbles into Richard Warwick’s house to find him dead and Richard’s wife, Laura, standing near him with a gun – but did she kill Richard?

The characters and cast are:

  • Richard Warwick – Paul Michaels 
  • Laura Warwick – Debra Hornigold 
  • Michael Starkwedder – Kevin Topple 
  • Jan Warwick – Ben Maytham 
  • Mrs Warwick – Jo Austin 
  •  Miss Bennett – Chrissie Wenden 
  • Henry Angell – Brian Butcher 
  • Sergeant Cadwallader – Keith Sparrow
  •  Inspector Thomas – Robin Warns
  •  Julian Farrar – Will Parrick 

Running for three nights only between 27th & 29th October tickets are available from Ash’s Store, Colchester Road, by calling Roger Milne on 01206 241048 or you can also pay on the door. Find out more more on the Orpen Players website.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Women’s Institute – Quarter Update

Emmeline Pankhurst in
 less-fashionable
Prison attire

June was an ‘Open Meeting’ with the president Pat Moran welcoming visitors from other W I’s. During the refreshment break everyone was able to view the displays of press cuttings on our 90th birthday celebrations, together with old programmes and minutes.

Ex mayor, Sonia Lewis, talked about her mayoral year and included a typical day. She spent none of the council’s money whilst in office and her audience were keen to hear about her various outfits worn for the variety of official duties she carried out. Two walks were organised and members then enjoyed a lunch at Barn Plants.

The July outing was a visit to Perrywoods garden centre where members enjoyed browsing around the extensive area before lunch.

August‘s meeting was an ‘Open Meeting’, vice-president, Bea Girkin, welcomed members and visitors. Mrs Louise Reed was introduced as Emmeline Pankhurst. She wore the fashion of the 1920’s and gave an in-depth insight into life in prison and the traumas of trying to obtain suffrage for women.

The West Bergholt WI are looking forward to meeting past members on 15th September in the Methodist Hall from 2pm to 4pm to celebrate their 90th year. Invitations will be distributed this month.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Brownies raise money for LEPRA

1st West Bergholt Brownies recently turned a badge challenge into a fund-raising opportunity.

In performing to  family and friends in order to win their Entertainers Badges they raised a wonderful sum of £120.00 for LEPRA (a Colchester-based charity specialising in fighting diseases of poverty principally in the 3rd world) .

Well done girls!
This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Gardening – Beeleigh Update

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens

An historical and peaceful retreat of three acres of riverside gardens in a delightful setting dating from the 13th century was enjoyed by 32 members of teh west Bergholt Gardeners Association on their July evening visit to Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon.  The original abbey was founded in 1180 for white robed canons of the strict Premonstratensian order.  The energetic commitment to Beeleigh by the owners and their staff was reflected in the splendid show of English old roses; mixed borders; cottage garden; wild flower meadow; river walk; vegetable and fruit production and water features.

Interested in visiting the gardens? They are next open on 8 & 22 July; 5 & 19 August and 2 & 30 September 10.30am to 4.30pm – entry £4. Refreshments available/ free parking. Information available on http://visitmaldon.co.uk/beeleigh-abbey/ – telephone: 07779 223321.

For details on the Gardener’s Association’s meetings and outings contact Valerie Lofthouse, Chair: tel. 01206 855450 – [email protected] or Terry Claydon, Treasurer: tel. 01206 242124 – [email protected].

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Summer Wildlife Walk at Hillhouse Wood


Joe Firmin and Philip Smith will lead this walk starting at the Old Church at 10am on 10th July.  Being in and near the wood the walk offers a chance to see butterflies (including whiteletter hairstreaks), dragonflies, damselflies and other colourful insects, as well as summer wildflowers and resident birds.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Gershwin to Gaga

is the theme of the next West Bergholt Concert Band concert.  Featuring music from the likes of Gershwin, of course, Coldplay, John Williams, Stevie Wonder, Wicked & Gaga the concert will be held on Saturday July 16th, 7:30pm, in St Mary’s Church Hall to mark its re-opening.

As always, all of the band’s concerts are raising money for local & national charities. This year’s charities will include Myasthenia Research, Coggeshall Youth Work Trust, Clacton Family Support, Headway, Lepra and our local Church Charities.

To find out more check out the Band’s website.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Ebullient & exuberant gardens

Ebullient and Exuberant – aptly described the Old Vicarage Gardens, East Ruston when 52 members and guests visited this week. As we left one beautiful ‘themed’ garden we were enticed into the next. We felt we had travelled many continents seeing Echium pininana from the Canary Islands; Eschonaria yuccoides from Mexico; agaves, aloes, puyas and cacti in the Arizona ‘Desert Wash’; native cordylines and phormiums in the New Zealand garden and a South African flavour in the Exotic section.

Aeoniums and succulents in
the North Garden

Feeling more at home, we ambled through areas of woodland; adored the fragrances in the rose garden; admired with envy, ʽmega’ sized lettuces in the highly productive vegetable patch. A walk into a meadow of cornflowers threw out a blue haze whilst in the wildflower meadow hardy geraniums and other herbaceous plants competed with the grass. And this is just a brief description of all we sampled and enjoyed.

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon – will be our next outing on the evening of Tuesday 5 July. The three acres of riverside gardens are set in a picturesque and historic setting dating from the 13th century.

For details on our meetings and outings contact Valerie Lofthouse, Chair: tel. 01206 855450 – [email protected] or Terry Claydon, Treasurer: tel. 01206 242124 – [email protected].

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Gardening update

The West Bergholt Gardeners’ Association thanks everyone for supporting their April Plant Sale. From funds raised they are donating to two village organisations and Essex Air Ambulance. Next year’s sale will be on 21 May 2012.

Natalie Finch delighted her audience in a virtual tour of her garden of roses at the Association’s May meeting. Members shared her knowledge, passion and romanticised in a journey of beauty and colour landscaped by old English roses.

Wickham Place Farm Gardens

A leisurely stroll in Wickham Place Farm ancient walled gardens, dating from 1706 and 14 acres of woodland was enjoyed by members this week. Theirr admission costs were donated by the owner to charities supported by the National Garden Scheme.

All seats are sold for the trip in June to East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens.

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon will be visited on Tuesday 5 July at 7.00pm. Three acres of riverside gardens in a picturesque and historic setting dating from the 13th century.

Growing as a Community is this year’s theme for RHS’s Dig Together Day in September. The Gardeners’ Association will undertake to improve an authorised public area in the village. Updates and publicity on this project will follow.

Top Ten Trees of Colchester is the topic of speaker Ian Baalham at the Association’s AGM on 19 September.

For details on our meetings and activities contact the Chair – [email protected] or the Treasurer – [email protected].

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Entertaining Angels …

Original cast from Chichester production
with Penelope Keith

… by Richard Everett is the Orpen Players’ spring production between 12th -14th May. This comedy is based around Grace, a clergyman’s wife, who upon his (Bardolph’s) death breaks her strait-laced character to do and say exactly as she pleases:

‘I’ve made four thousand six hundred medium-sized quiches and personally baked two tons of short crust pastry. And for what?’

The return of her eccentric missionary sister Ruth, together with some disturbing revelations, however, force Grace to confront the truth of her marriage. This show is full of sharp-edged comedy and probing wit.

Tickets will soon be available on-line, in the meantime they can be bought from Ash’s Store, Colchester Road, West Bergholt, by calling Roger Milne on 01206 241048 or you can take a chance and pay on the door.
This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Spring Nature Walk & Bluebell Open Day – Hillhouse Wood

Sunday 1st May there are two opportunities to visit Hillhouse Wood guided by Joe Firmin & Philip Smith.  In the morning (starting 10am at the Old Church) Joe and Philip will lead a walk to see numerous spring birds including chiffchaffs and other warblers, spring butterflies and wild flowers.

In the afternoon (starting 2pm at the Old Church) you can view the Friends’ display and collect a nature trail guide before joining Joe and Philip for a guided walk to see the bluebells and other spring flowers, butterflies and spring bird life, possibly including early nightingales.
In both cases the tours are ‘weather permitting’ and wearing stout footwear or wellies is advisable.
This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net