Community, Parish Council & Village
The autumn production is Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward with director, Tony Saitta who is chair of the Headgate Theatre. Performances are Thursday 25/26/27 October. Doors open 7.30pm with curtain up at 8pm. Tickets £4.50 on Thursday £5 Friday and Saturday can be purchased from Ash’s Shop, Colchester Road from Saturday 13 October or contact Roger Milne on 01206 241048.
The vice-president Pat Moran welcomed 3 visitors to the meeting. The tea party held in the Methodist church hall was a success with over £100 being raised for funds. Congratulations were given to Jeanne Dean who won the Yorkshire Tea competition. A selecton of small garments and teddies were on display. These had been knitted by Jeanne and Heidi and would be sent to the orphanages in Romania.
The president Joyce Woolhead presented flowers together with a card signed from all the members to Marjorie Thomas a long standing member who is leaving the village and will join her local Balkerne Gardens group.
The speaker, Linda Scoles, who arrived in England from America in 1971 with her husband who served on the Lakenheath airbase, gave an amusing talk entitled ‘Divided by a Common Language’. Members were amazed at how many expressions had totally different interpretations.
The new season of the village Gardeners Association begins on Monday 17 September in the Orpen Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Speaker Bill Wye will talk about the cultivation and care of fuchsias. New members most welcome.
The Colne Valley Flower Club resumes its meetings on Wednesday 19 September in the Orpen Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. Arranger Anne Bell from Newport will demonstrate her flowers with the title ‘From Me to You’. The evening is an invitation to come along for free.
Vice-president Mrs Pat Moran welcomed members and visitors to the meeting. A minute’s silence was held in remembrance of Claire Short a valued and long standing member who contributed so much to our W I.
The next drama group meeting will be held at the home of Pat Beeching on Monday 17 September. There is to be a W I Summer Tea Party in the Methodist Church Hall Chapel Lane on Thursday 23 August from 2pm to 4pm. No charge for this event but bric a brac and cakes would be appreciated.
Orders for calendars £3.25 and diaries £3.20 are now being taken by the treasurer.
Subscriptions for 2008 will be £27 which includes the new W I magazine.
Secretary Susan Leng read out the delegate’s report from the London AGM which 5,000 attended. £83,000 was raised for the W I Denman College near Oxford from the sponsored bike ride in Cuba.
Mr Peter Minter was welcomed with his illustrated talk on the history of bricks. Members heard all about his local brick works with the re-construction of his kilns. Many famous buildings including Hampton Court and St Pancras Station have used his skills to produce unusual bricks in whatever shape and colour required so buildings can be restored to their former glory. A truly fascinating evening.
Next meeting in the Orpen Memorial Hall is Wednesday 5 September when Linda Scoles talks on ‘Divided by a Common Language’. Competition an article from USA.
The Colne Valley Flower Club planned open garden evening last month was cancelled due to poor weather. All the stalls were set up at the July meeting in the Orpen Memorial Hall and £120 was raised towards the club’s local charities YMCA and the Haven Mental Health Support. The speaker Melvyn Prentice spoke about the various gardens he had been involved with during his 28 years as a horticulturist and illustrated his talk with many photographs.
There is no meeting in August but September 19 welcomes demonstrator Anne Bell from Newport with her arrangements entitled ‘From Me to You’. It also includes ‘Bring a Friend Free’.
The village Gardeners’ Association programme ended in mid June with members and guests spending an enjoyable afternoon in the gardens of Helmingham Hall Suffolk. The members’ stall at the village fayre attracted 50 young entrants to the painting and pumpkin growing competitions. The latter to be judged later in the year. £300 has been donated to St Helena Hospice following the club’s annual plant sale.
Monday 17 September sees the start of the new programme in the Orpen Memorial Hall beginning at 7.30pm. Following the AGM Bill Wye will talk about fuchsias. Visitors and new members welcome.
The West Bergholt Concert Band is hosting an ‘open rehearsal’ on Friday 4 May between 6pm and 7pm (training band) followed from 7pm to 9pm with the Concert Band in Heathlands School. The organisers offer a warm welcome to wind instrument players and the opportunty to make great music in a friendly and fun environment. Concert Band Grade 5+. Training Band Grades 1 to 4. Contact Graham on 01206 824157 for more information.
The next production is The Vortex by Noel Coward, directed by Andrew Hodgson.Tickets are £4.50 for Thursday 26 April with Friday and Saturday evening £5.
Doors open at the Orpen Memorial Hall Lexden Road at 7.30pm curtain up 8pm. Box office opens on Saturday 14 April at Ash’s Shop Colchester Road in the village. Contact Roger Milne on 01206 241048 for reservations.
The president, Mrs Joyce Woolhead, thanked everyone for their contributions of toiletries which George and Marion Mills will be donating to the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre in Chernigov, Ukraine. Any further items can be brought to the March meeting. The first play-reading meeting was a great success. Please give Clarice Chittenden any raffle items before the March meeting.
The treasurer reported 52 paid up members so far. The coach for the birthday lunch outing will leave outside the Orpen Memorial Hall on Wednesday 21 February prompt at 12noon.
The speaker was Mrs Gil Fairhead on Aloe Vera and Bee Products.The competition An Old Fashioned Natural Remedy was won by Mrs Marie-Louise Fuell.