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:-
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.
Having missed just once in the past 31 years this will be the 30th Historic Vehicle Rally hosted in West Bergholt (Nayland Road, CO6 3DG), and, over the years, has grown in size to the over 500 vehicles we expect to see this year. Of course, whilst these are the main attraction there is also a full range of trade stands, charity stalls and arena attractions. Admission each day is just £6 (£5 for concessions). As well as the Historic Vehicle Parade each day, other highlights include:
Saturday 26th July
James Dylan’s Stuntworld, who claim to be the most experienced Stunt Team in Great Britain has something different for 2014, a new style Stunt Show with the latest motorcycles and a remarkable buggy. The show includes Ramp Jumps, Wheelies, Stoppies and many more remarkable motorcycle stunts that need to be seen to be believed.
The evening sees the regular Country & Western Concert (free entry) with licensed bar from 7:30pm.
The legendary RAF Spitfire will perform a flypast on Saturday
Sunday 27th July
The Sunday show is opened by BBC Radio’s Richard Spendlove MBE
Squibb Freestyle claim to be the No. 1 FMX Stunt Display Team so you will need to turn up both days to see who you think is best! Jamie Squibb and his team of riders perform breathtaking jumps and stunts in the ultimate UK arena show.
Not to be outdone by the Falcons, the Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment ‘Tigers’ Parachute Display team will also be dropping into the arena, smoke trailing, flags flying, performing several amazing formations both in the air and under the parachute.
The RAF Falcons are widely recognised as the UK’s premier military parachute display team, based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, they display at venues all over Britain and Europe throughout the year.
The RAF Spitfire makes another visit on the Sunday but, this time, also with a flying display of around 15 minutes!
For those with music in mind the arena will also see the Massed Bands of the City of Coventry!
Cricket in many guises and several other activities are on offer from West Bergholt Cricket Club between 28th June and 6th July.
The cricket festival starts on Saturday 28th at 1pm with a league match against Maldon; expected to finish by 7pm the bar will be open from 6pm and a quiz night held from 7:30pm. There will also be an Ice Cream Tricycle, raffle, BBQ & desserts and a sweetie table.
Moving on to Friday 4th July and it is time for the youngsters to have a go with Kwik Cricket between 6pm – 9pm. Once again, the bar is open from 6pm and there will also be a bouncy castle, tombola, cake table, BBQ & desserts, bottle table, raffle and the Ice Cream Tricycle again.
An earlier start and later finish for Saturday 5th July with a six-a-side tournament running between 10am – 7pm and then World Cup football evening with large screen TV between 7:30pm – 11pm. With an all-day bar, BBQ and raffle and bouncy castle, sweetie table and Ice Cream Tricycle during the day there is something for everybody.
The festival continues on Sunday but detailed events are still to be announced (although the webmaster suspects there might be an Ice Cream Tricycle involved!)
The West Bergholt Gardeners Association had a relatively quiet May, although hosting one of it’s big annual events, and has much to look forward to for June & July.
The Club held its annual Plant Sale on the 19th May and many members of the public came along to sample the excellent display of shrubs and plants which were all on sale at attractive prices. Overall sales amounted to over £600 and this will augment Club funds as well as allowing contributions to be made to local charitable organisations.
Although this was the only public involvement in May, much was being done behind the scenes to organise future events.
Future events
Excursion to Waddesdon Manor
The excursion to Waddesdon Manor is all set for the 19th June and most seats on the coach have now been filled, although seven places remain. Interestingly Waddesdon Manor has been featured on two BBC programmes in recent weeks – Countryfile and Bargain Hunt .
West Bergholt Open Gardens
Final arrangements have now been made for the West Bergholt Open Gardens event on Sunday 22nd June between 1pm and 5pm when local gardens and an allotment will be open for viewing. Programmes are £4 per person (accompanied children – free) and are available for purchase on the day at the Methodist Chapel Hall and St. Marys Church Hall as well as from any of the open gardens. Refreshments are available to purchase at the halls. All proceeds are to go to the Teenage Cancer Trust. It is hoped that many will come along to support this worthwhile charity.
Summer Outing
On the 31st July the Club Members are having a summer outing to Rob & Denise Sherriff (Dahlia specialists) at The Tye Barn, Honey Tye, Lavenheath CO6 4NX at 2.00pm –Visitors welcome. There will be a guided tour of the site and cake and tea/coffee will be served. Anyone interested please phone 241256 Terry) or contact [email protected]. COST £4.00
Next Speaker
15th September will bring us Deborah Hart talking about Hanging Baskets and Winter Containers. All are welcome to our meetings although there is a small charge for non-members.
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).
Outline Productions are a TV Production company and the makers of BBC2’s ‘The Great British Garden Revival’ and are currently making a brand new prime-time TV series which explores Britain’s beautiful private gardens.
Are you a passionate gardener, is your garden your pride & joy, do you want to prove you’ve got the best garden in town?
Well, Outline are casting for people who would like to showcase their stunning, imaginative or unique gardens to the nation, no matter what style, shape or size. Does your garden represent peace and tranquility? Is your garden fit for entertaining? Are you the proud owner of a National Collection? Perhaps it’s a tropical paradise or has an impressive prize winning fruit and veg patch? Outline are looking for people to apply and go head to head in a competition with other garden lovers to compare and critique who has the best garden / gardening skills and hospitality in town.
Outline would like to come to Essex for the first episode and have been identifying highly regarded and pretty villages in the county. They believe our community could be home to keen gardeners with fantastic gardens and are inviting anybody interested to contact them either by:
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.
The Orpen Players next production, running from 15th – 17th May, is The Deep Blue Sea by Terrence Rattigan. Starting at 8pm each day, doors open at 7:30pm, tickets cost £6 for the Thursday and £7 for the Friday & Saturday performances. Tickets can be bought either from:
For more of an evening out dine at the Treble Tile before the performance from selected menu + show ticket for £20 per head – must be booked in advance with the Treble Tile 01206 241712.
Plot summary
The Deep Blue Sea begins with the discovery by her neighbours of Hester Collyer who has tried and failed to commit suicide. Some time before, she left her husband, a respectable High Court Judge, for a semi-alcoholic former RAF pilot, Freddy Page. The relationship was physical and passionate but his ardour has cooled, leaving her emotionally stranded and desperate. The aftershocks of her attempted suicide unravel even the remnants of this relationship, but by the end she is brought to a hard decision to live, partly through the intercession of another resident of the tenement house, Mr. Miller, an ex-doctor, struck off for what seems to have been a homosexual offence. These two outcasts, socially ostracised for their ‘excessive’ loves, find a curious and moving kinship.
An actor, who played Freddy recently had this to say:
It’s a play about love and lust. But also about what it was like to live after the war. Freddy was a Spitfire pilot in World War II. He came out of that a war hero and worked as a test pilot, but lost his nerve and hit the bottle. Before we join the play he’s met Hester and pours his heart out to her at a time when people were very closed up. We join them at the nadir of their relationship.
15th September – Deborah Hart – Hanging baskets and winter containers.
20th October – Darren Tansley – The mammals of Essex.
17th November – Rob Sherriff – Dahlias
8th December – Ric Staines – Gardeners Question Time,
16th February – Jonathan Jukes – Marks Hall History and Progress.
16th March – Jeff Harrison – Through the year in a nature photographers garden.
20th April – Bryan Thurlow – My Perennial Mr.Potter.
Annual plant sale
Our Annual Plant Sale is on 19 May at 7:30pm; some of the funds raised are donated to local charities. Held at the Orpen Hall, most most interests are catered for with bedding plants, Shrubs, trees and vegetable plants all on sale. Also a gardening Bric a Brac stall for more bargains.
Annual coach trip
The annual coach trip this year is to Waddesdon Manor, Allesbury, on the 19th June leaving the Orpen Hall at 8.30 am and leaving Waddesdon at 4.30/5.00 pm this wIll allow time to see the house and gardens including the Aviary, water gardens and the extensive wine cellars. Tickets are available to Members and Non Members £25.00 (Coach and Admission). N.T. Members £12.50. Subject to £12.50 deposit. Some tickets available, for more details and booking contact Terry 01206 241256.
Open Gardens
The West Bergholt Open Gardens is on Sunday the 22nd June 13.00-17.00 – 13 local gardens and allotment will be open for viewing. Programme is £4 per person (accompanied children free) available for purchase on the day. See posters around the village for points of sale.
April Speaker – Richard Ford on Hostas
Members came along to hear Richard Ford talk about his favourite plants—HOSTAS since with his wife Mary he set up Park Green Nurseries in 1983 Hostas being their main speciality. Their displays have won some 180 Gold Medals, including 7 at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The popularity of Hostas is worldwide, attractive throughout the season. They are useful garden plants with some newer species having attractive flowers and resistance to slug and snail attack. One must not forget landscaping and indoor displays where potted plants are extremely attractive features. It was in the 1800s that Hostas originated in Japan as part of the daily diet, being eaten presumably as vegetables. It was the 1950/60s when their popularity became evident in both the U.S.A. and the U.K. The growth in the U.K.resulting in hostas being in the top ten of our garden plants.
Hostas are best grown in semi-shade or dappled shaded areas – not in deep shade! The latter particularly if wet, leading to rot and slug and snail damage. The plants prefer a moist soil and plenty of humus and bonemeal to encourage growth. General slow release fertilizer is best for established plants rich in nitrogen and potash used twice a year.
Propagation is carried out by lifting the plant and cutting straight through from the centre with a sharp knife.There are 50 species and some 10,000 cultivated varieties, some having the advantage of thicker leaves and more upright growth tolerating open positions and given some sun will bear flowers. They will also be less attractive to slugs and snails. However steps should be taken to control vine weevil and hosta virus.
An interesting talk well received by the Members who were able to purchase specimens from a well stocked plant table.
The legendary RAF Spitfire will perform a flypast on Saturday
The 
Cricket in many guises and several other activities are on offer from 
Join a sponsored Abseil down Colchester Town Hall on 13th July 2014
