The Heathlands School PTA annual fireworks display(sponsored by Hatfields Home Furnishers) is taking place on Saturday 9th November. With advance purchase of programmes at just £3.50 this is great value (available from Heathlands Primary School, local businesses & other schools in Colchester). Entry at the gate will cost £5 for adults and £4 for children.
With the gates opening at 5:30 there will be plenty to keep you occupied before the display:
The Orpen Players present The World Premier of a ‘whodunnit comedy farce’ Unfinished Business by local playwright David Wenden.
Directed by Andrew Bott.
Who killed the policeman? Who killed the treasure seeker? A stormy night, a lonely cottage and a sweet little old lady are the ingredients for this wickedly funny spoof ‘whodunnit’!
Performance dates
Thur 24th October 2013 8pm £6
Fri 25th October 2013. 8pm £7
Sat 26th October 2013 8pm £7
Doors open 30 minutes before performance.
Venue: The Orpen Memorial Hall, West Bergholt.
Tickets available NOW online at www.orpenplayers.co.uk or by calling Roger Milne 01206 241048 also available at Ash’s Store West Bergholt from 12th October.
New!! Special offer for Supper & a Show
Supper & Show in conjunction with The Treble Tile of West Bergholt – £20 buys you a show ticket and supper from special menu – for details contact The Treble Tile 01206 241712 www.thetrebletile.co.uk.
Now the school summer holidays have finished the Methodist Church in West Bergholt have completed their family fun mornings for the time being but they promise that:
WE WILL BE BACK!
The mornings they ran during summer were fairly quiet but they were not too surprised as these were a new venture for them. They were encouraged that there was at least one “new” family at each of the mornings, though, so perhaps this will help spread the word for the future.
They would like to thank the helpers who came along each morning and they certainly have sufficient support to “entertain” many more families next time. We would particularly wish to thank Susie and Charlie Connor and family who prepared, organised and led the mornings.
So, why not put their special Christmas Coffee and Craft fun morning for young families on Monday December 23 at 10.30 in the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane, into your diary now.
Having missed last year we see the return of the Annual Village Quiz on Saturday 21st September this year. Starting at 7.30pm in the Orpen Hall teams of 4 are invited to compete for the Challenge Cup in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust:
Our vision is a future where young people’s lives don’t stop because they have cancer. We make sure they’re treated as young people first, cancer patients second and everything we do aims to improve their quality of life and chances of survival.
Around seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. They need expert treatment and support from the moment they hear the word ‘cancer.’ We’re the only charity dedicated to making this happen.
Refreshments will be provided, but please bring your own drinks. Teams consists of 4 people who can be from a village club or group, or just good friends, as long as at least one team member is a West Bergholt resident. Entry fee is £16 per team, with all proceeds to the Teenage Cancer Trust, cheques should be made payable to “West Bergholt Parish Council” or pay on the night, as long as you have booked your team in by 14th September. Please contact Susan Leng ([antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]) to book your team in or get more information.
The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are holding a Heritage Day in the Old Church in conjunction with the Churches Conservation Trust between 10am – 4pm on Sunday 15th September.
Heritage walk around
A walk round leaflet costing 50p will tell you more about this old building so come and find out more about the Old Church:
view the Royal Coat of Arms, which was painted over the chancel arch by order of King James 1 (reigned 1603-25) and only discovered in 1986;
examine the massive oak chest which dates from about 1400; and
try the seats in the 18th C gallery.
Other attractions
There will also be:
an exhibition by professional and amateur artists;
Christmas cards of the Old Church for sale; and
Refreshments available
Find out more about the Old Church on our webpage, the location for those unsure is St. Mary’s (Old) Church, Hall Lane, West Bergholt, CO6 3DU.
Don’t miss the final session of The Methodist Church’s family fun activities for young families at their Coffee and Craft mornings on Monday 2nd September. The session (£2.50 per family) in the West Bergholt Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane from 10.30 – 12.00 is targeted towards children, ages 0-11, but please remember bring a parent along, sorry no unaccompanied children.
Starting slowly in it’s first week, the last session was much busier and a happy time was had by all enjoying a wide range of different craft activities with plenty of coffee, squash and cakes for everyone.
The activities vary each week including, such as mosaic coasters, painting, beadwork, fabric painting etc.. and are designed to allow families with differing ages to all be accommodated with age appropriate activity. Look out for posters for further details or contact Susie Connor who started running these sessions near her own home some years ago because she found it so difficult to find a single activity that all ages could enjoy together. Either call her on 07585 457215 or email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
The Methodist Church will be providing family fun activities for young families at their Coffee and Craft mornings during the school holidays. The sessions are targeted towards children, ages 0-11, but please remember bring a parent along, sorry no unaccompanied children.
These will take place in the West Bergholt Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane from 10.30 – 12.00 on the following Mondays:
Aug. 5th
Aug. 19th
Sept. 2nd
… and all for just £2-50 per family. The activities will vary each week including, such as mosaic coasters, painting, beadwork, fabric painting etc.. and are designed to allow families with differing ages to all be accommodated with age appropriate activity. Look out for posters for further details or contact Susie Connor who started running these sessions near her own home some years ago because she found it so difficult to find a single activity that all ages could enjoy together. Either call her on 07585 457215 or email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
Steve Hallam reports on this year’s Dawn Chorus walk in Hillhouse Wood.
Dawn seems very early
There are times when 3.45 am feels like a truly mad time to go for a walk. Such times are generally around 3.15 am, when the alarm sounds. And, as the guide for this year’s Dawn Chorus walk, I couldn’t help wondering if anyone else was going to be mad enough to turn up this year. As it turned out, my timing was such that I arrived at the old church right on time (close enough to prompt some concerns by Andrew Savage concerning the reliability of the Hallam alarm clock). As I drove down the lane to the church I saw one car (phew – someone’s turned up), then another, and more, and then lost count. I then saw what looked like a small army standing by the bench. Had a coach party turned up?
Andrew, being Andrew, was doing a head count – 32 people! Amazing, and a Personal Lifetime Best!
Which, of course, raised the stakes for being able to find everyone some good birds to see and hear. We had a guess regarding the first species we would hear (not withstanding the Tawny Owls that had been heard already). The suggestions were Cuckoo and Nightingale – both good ones, as these birds have previously achieved this status.
First call from Whitethroat
In previous years we have heard something almost as soon as we’d started off. This year, however, we were past the site of the hurdle maker’s cottage before we heard our first bird. To make up for the delay it came from the hedge right next to us. It was a single blast of Whitethroat, perhaps complaining about its sleep being disturbed. They don’t normally sing this early (not that I have a robust ‘data bank’ to base this opinion on).
An opportunity to catch some late bluebells as well
Things continued to be quiet as we approached the wood, such that I was starting to worry what to talk about. However as we reached the main entrance a solitary Robin struck up its fluid song, and (relief!) we could hear a Nightingale singing lower down the wood. As we stood and listened at least two Tawny Owls were calling at each other from either side of the wood, while the first Blackbird also started. The Blackbird is sometimes referred to as ‘the poor man’s Nightingale’, so we had a good opportunity to compare the two. The first Wrens also entered the fray at this point, while a Pheasant called somewhere in the dark.
Nightingale still singing
We moved on into the wood and took up position around the top pond (it was noticeable how many torches came into use as the group negotiated the narrow path to the pond!). The Nightingale was continuing to sing and could now be heard more clearly. Here we also heard our first Rooks and Wood Pigeons as they woke up. We moved on down the hill to where we had arguably the highlight of the walk: the Nightingale that we had first heard had continued to sing throughout the walk so far. By now we were only a few yards from its bush, but it continued to sing unabated. Everyone in the party was able to thoroughly familiarise themselves with a Nightingale in full cry. At the same time one of the wood’s Blackcaps finally woke up close by. To complete the noisy ‘soundscape’ some Blue Tits started their incessant calling on the other side of the path.
Surprising Goldcrest
Moving on down to the stream at the bottom we heard a singing Chaffinch, some Canada Geese noisily flying nearby, the first Chiffchaff of the walk and the major pleasant surprise of the walk – a singing Goldcrest. What he was doing there I have no idea, as they normally live in conifers. He was near the large Alder trees, so maybe these were acting as a substitute habitat. Reaching the lower pond we had our second surprise – a pair of Mallards. They are presumably looking for a quiet place to breed – they may not have chosen wisely. But it is an implicit comment on the relatively good state of the pond this year that they are even considering setting up home. Whilst here we also heard our first Jackdaws and Great Tits. At this point I (and hopefully at least a few of our guests) heard one call note from a Buzzard somewhere overhead. As we continued round the rest of the wood things started to wind down, but we heard a Nightingale singing in a thicket that I’d not heard occupied before, along with both resident species of woodpecker.
Missing Song Thrush
So what did we fail to hear this year? There are always some species that inexplicably keep quiet. Our ‘roll of shame’ is headed by Song Thrush and Dunnock, while I was also hoping to hear the Nuthatches. The solitary Cuckoo in the area failed to call, whilst it appears that the Yellowhammers who usually live by the track have disappeared. Overall, though, a tally of 21 species was very respectable.
The last weekend of July sees the welcome 30th return of the annual West Bergholt Historic Vehicle Rally. Offering a full programme starting at 10am on both days you will see:
Over 500 Historic Vehicles of all descriptions;
A full programme of arena events including vehicle parades and more;
Trade stands;
Charity Stalls;
Static exhibitions;
Fun fair;
Free Country & Western concert on the Saturday evening (starts 7:30pm);
Licenced Bar;
High Quality catering.
On the Sunday BBC Radio’s Richard Spendlove OBE will open the show. Sunday’s arena displays include:
The Adamson Military Band from Cheshire;
The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment;
Freefall Parachute Team “The Tigers”;
Royal Signals Motor Cycle Display Team “The White Helmets”.
For more information contact M J Culham on 01206 271253.
For those who enjoy their gardening this news update will be of interest, also to those who are keen to show their artistic side.
Little Bentley Waterways & Gardens
This annual show, which runs from 1st June, is one of the largest annual garden shows in east Anglia, regularly seeing over 8,000 visitors. This year, there is an opportunity for your artwork to help raise funds for a local charitable organization. Austin Hicks explains:
The Rotary Club of Colchester Centurion has been invited to run a fundraiser at The Little Bentley Waterways and Garden Show on the weekend of 1st & 2nd June. We are calling it ‘Art on the Run’ and we are hoping to collect 400 pieces of original Art and, in return for a donation of £10.00, visitors will pick a ticket and be guaranteed a piece of art. Funds raised will be donated to Rotary charities, particularly East Anglian Children’s Hospice (EACH).
We are interpreting the word ‘art’ in its widest sense – paintings or drawings, sculptures, photographs, pottery, wood carvings, embroidery or tapestry, quilting or any other item that can be admired for its creativity. Anything original or limited editions would be much appreciated.
Fireworks 2013
The Orpen Players present The World Premier of a ‘whodunnit comedy farce’ Unfinished Business by local playwright David Wenden.
