Bob Gooden pictured in 2012 with Patricia Routledge
Farewell to Bob Gooden – A Sad Loss
It is with considerable sadness that the Allotment Committee confirms the passing, on Sunday 8th February 2015, of Bob Gooden, a well known member of the West Bergholt Community and Allotment Fraternity.
Bob, with his wife Grace plus two children Elizabeth and Paul had lived in West Bergholt for many years, of which most were spent in his current home in Chapel Road. During his long association with the community Bob served on the West Bergholt Parish Council for over 20 years and was an active Scout Leader and Church Warden.
Bob was also a founding member of the CARE NETWORK and whilst supporting and participating in the services provided, he also contributed to 20 years’ service on its committee.
In addition, Bob was a founding member of the Allotment Committee and over saw the amalgamation of the Poor’s Land allotment with that of the Chapel Road/New Church Road site. In acknowledgement of his contribution to the Allotment Committee upon retiring, Bob was made the first ever Honorary Member.
Bob’s voluntary contribution over many years gained further recognition during the Queen’s Jubilee when he received the Queens Jubilee Award for his services to the Community of West Bergholt.
Funeral Service
Bob’s funeral takes place at 2:15pm on Monday 2nd March 2015 at St Mary the Virgin Church, New Church Road, West Bergholt.
The following article has been reproduced here with kind permission from the Gazette.
Inspirational Tom, 19, passes away after raising £100,000 for charity
Inspirational Tom
THE PROUD family of a fun-loving teenager have praised their “phenomenal” son.
Tom Bowdidge, 19, died on Friday. He had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive stomach cancer last summer. While undergoing treatment the West Bergholt resident raised £100,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. As well as shaving off his hair for the charity, he organised fundraising events and even featured on a song to raise awareness.
Proud parents Nikki and Richard Bowdidge and sister Emma were at his side when he passed away on Friday.
Mum Nikki said:
I asked him what we were going to do without him and he said ‘you’re going to crack on’.
We were privileged to be able to say goodbye to him.
The fact we were able to hold his hand when he took his last breath, there’s something comforting in that, that we talked him through it.
Tom had come to terms with it, he was at peace. He said ‘we have been dealt these cards and now we have got to get on with it’.
There was one clear message when Tom was feeling poorly, he said ‘I never want to see it written I lost my battle with cancer. I haven’t lost anything, it no longer has a body to live in so the cancer committed suicide’.
Tom’s final wishes were that we were to ‘crack on’ and we are going to endeavor to do that.
Tom, a former Colchester Royal Grammar School sixth-former, was at work last summer when he collapsed. Doctors initially thought he had appendicitis. Less than 24 hours later they broke the news he had a large tumour in his abdomen. He underwent several lengthy bouts of chemotherapy, all the time continuing to fundraise.
Teenage Cancer Trust has ringfenced the money Tom has raised to spend on refurbishing the ward where he received his treatment, at University College London Hospital.
Dad Richard said:
We are overwhelmingly proud of Tom and couldn’t be more so.
I’m going to carry on fundraising. From my perspective Tom’s legacy is that the work and support the Teenage Cancer Trust provided Tom and us with carries on for other people who go through this, no matter what road they take.
He got to see the plans and even put his own influence on them, which meant a lot to him.
Tom’s funeral will be held at St Mary the Virgin Church, West Bergholt, on Wednesday, October 30 at noon.
Everyone has been asked to wear a hint of blue, Tom’s favourite colour.
Nikki added:
Tom often used to say ‘carpe diem’. And he’s right, you should seize the day.
Tom’s legacy is also about not worrying what the future holds, living every day for today.
He was absolutely phenomenal.
Since Tom’s death wellwishers have gone to his fundraising page to donate in his memory.
Firstly this week it is with great sadness that Bergholt Heath has to report that one of our ex-players, Tom Bowdidge, passed away on Friday morning after a brave fight against cancer, at just 19 years old. Tom will be greatly missed by all those that knew him around the village and beyond. As a mark of respect all three Bergholt Heath teams wore black armbands during this weekend’s matches. Tom started a cancer charity “Teens Against Cancer Baby” last year and spent the last year of his life bravely raising money for his charity at every opportunity. Should anyone wish to donate to the charity in Tom’s memory, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tom-Bowdidge.
The following message is on Tom’s Facebook page (linked above and from picture):
We have organised Tom’s funeral now. It will be on Wednesday 30th October at 12 noon in St Mary the Virgin Church, New Church Road, West Bergholt, Colchester, CO6 3JF. It was Tom’s wish that he had a massive funeral so we would be delighted to welcome as many of you as are able to attend. We would like it to be a time when we mourn his loss but also celebrate his life. Dress code will be dark but we hope people will wear a touch of blue which was Tom’s favourite colour.
With our love as always xxxx
On to the football:
BHYFC Results 20th October
Brooklands vsBHYFC Under 9s
Bergholt Heath Under 9s faced their toughest game of the season today against unarguably the best team in the league, Brooklands.
Before the game started the Bergholt team put on black armbands in respect of Tom. After the torrential rain that preceded it, the game kicked off in sunshine and began brightly for both teams with Bergholt matching the hosts for possession. Brooklands then started to take charge of the game, but try as they might they could not break through the Bergholt defence with the boys battling for everything and if they did get any shots on target, then Daniel’s handling was faultless.
For all their performance Bergholt fell behind with a well-taken goal. This didn’t get the boys disheartened and they tried to get back on level terms and Thomas L, with his usual once-a-game long range effort, came close to finding the net but the keeper got down well for the save. With the half-time whistle imminent, Brooklands went further ahead when a powerful long range fizzed right through a crowded penalty area and with Daniel unsighted, found the corner of the Bergholt net. HT 0-2.
As with the first half, the beginning was fairly even with Bergholt almost getting on the score sheet but James’ effort was just held by the Brooklands keeper. However, minutes 30-36 will be 6 minutes that Bergholt will want to forget. Once again, Bergholt’s luck deserted them as Brooklands extended their lead when a deflected shot caught out an unlucky Daniel. From this, another 3 goals rattled in quick succession as Brooklands tried their luck from outside the box – each shot gave Daniel no chance. The last 4 minutes, Bergholt managed to regroup themselves and see the game out without further loss. FT 0-6. Although Brooklands were the better team and deserved their win, the scoreline was particularly harsh on Bergholt who played really well. Credit should go to the defence today who were superb and didn’t deserve to be on the end of that scoreline.
Bergholt Heath player of the match: Thomas Lloyd – a captain’s performance with some excellent tackling and energy.
BHYFC UNder 11s vs Halstead Town Reds
The Under 11s were the only team at home this week and comfortably beat Halstead Town Reds 5-1 with goals coming from Jonah Murray and Richard Frost with two each and one more from Tyler Webb.
Stanway Rovers vs BHYFC Under 15s
Following last weeks league cup win, the Under 15s were in round two action of the Essex Cup, but luckily – with the whole of Essex to be drawn against – their away match was only a couple of miles up the road to play Stanway Rovers, their local rivals in the A league!
Bergholt started slowly, which seems to be a trend so far this season, and in the first 10 minutes they allowed the home side to have several tester shots at goal – but luckily Connor comfortably handled anything that came his way. Just before the quarter of an hour mark Bergholt got forward to create something for the first time in the match. Stanway gave away a free kick on the left, Ollie Sanderson played the ball diagonally into the box, James Holden got a flick on and Sam Clark finished at the far post – only to find that the linesman had raised his flag!
However Bergholt were not to be denied and within a minute another attack saw a corner conceded and Sam rose high at the far post to loop his header back over the Stanway ‘keeper and into the roof of the net. These two quick fire attacks and the goal spurred Bergholt into life and they restricted the hosts to long range attempts for the rest of the half. Half time: Stanway Rovers 0 -1 Bergholt Heath
The second half started in completely the opposite manner to the first and within 2 minutes Bergholt were further ahead. Leo Tiffney picked the ball up centrally just outside the Stanway area. Owen Bernhardt ran in from the right and called for the ball to be played through, Leo picked him out superbly and Owen comfortably slotted the ball into the far corner. A brilliantly worked goal. Within 2 minutes Bergholt scored their third goal. James chased a long ball into the left of the area and under his pressure the defender handled the bouncing ball. Penalty. With Ollie now off the pitch resting having been ill during the week, Captain Jamie Bowden took the spot kick and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to score his now customary goal against Stanway Rovers.
The game was now being controlled by Bergholt, however the hosts got on the score sheet with around 10 minutes remaining. An attack was cleared into the midfield but was stopped by an alert Stanway player who immediately played it back. The ball evaded the Bergholt midfielders and as Sam came across to cover the obvious gap, the striker flicked it though to his partner who had the run on the blind side of Jamie and he finished well as Connor tried to close the angle. However this was the one and only clear cut opportunity for the hosts and Bergholt saw the match out comfortably to move into round three of the Essex cup, when they will be at home to the Romford Flyers. Final score: Stanway Rovers 1 – 3 Bergholt Heath. Bergholt man of the match: Jamie Bowden.
The Allotment Holders Committee had applied to Edible Essex, which is a three year project funded by the Big Lottery’s Local Food Scheme and supported by Essex County Council, for some funding for the site, they report in these minutes that:
We have been given a grant of £660 from Edible Essex and a further £300 from Parish Council for the purchase of rotavator from Ernst Does. This will shortly be with us and once village handy man has had hands on – will then let plot holders know details/costs for any rotavating they require.
Sad News
They also had the following sad news to report:
Many longer established plot holders will remember Stan Rideout who was frequently seen digging on the allotments in his wellies, whatever the weather. Stan has spent the last few years in a Nursing Home and recently died just before the age of ninety. All his remaining family have now also passed away. His funeral service is at the Crematorium on Weds 7th Aug at 2.00pm when it is hoped any friends who remember him will be able to attend.
Welcoming
It is apparent form the minutes that the allotments continue to be a welcoming environment in which new plot holders will be well-supported:
Several new plot holders thanked the committee and others plot holders for help/advise etc they have received on the site.
Children are also welcomed to get involved although there is a small caveat:
Children – Are welcome on the site, however they should be supervised at all times by an adult. And ensure they do not go on any other plots, play around water tanks, play ball games or wander around site unsupervised.
It is with sadness that I report that our colleague and friend, Joe Firmin, passed away at his home in West Bergholt on Monday 18th March. Joe was well known for his articles in the Village Bulletin as well as leading many varied nature walks through Hillhouse Wood where people benefited from his great love of birds, beetles, insects and plants.
Who will ever forget a ‘Dawn Chorus’ event with Joe where around 20 people would meet up at 3:45am to listen to the songs of many birds including nightingales?
Joe will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with Joe’s widow, Linda, and his daughters.
Joe’s funeral will be held at Colchester Crematorium on Wednesday 27th March at 9.30am. It will be a humanist service and Linda requests no flowers.
Andrew Savage
Chair of The Friends of Hillhouse Wood
