Category: News

Following the summer break members took advantage of the offer to bring a friend free with a dozen guests being welcomed by the chairman. Alan Clark from Braintree was thanked for stepping in at short notice with his arrangements.

Tickets are now on sale for the Christmas meeting on November 21 when National demonstrator Ian Lloyd from Cheshire will arrange his flowers around the title ‘A Candlelit Christmas’. £6 members £8.50 guests.

A charity lunch will take place at Westwood Park on Saturday December 1 from 12noon to 2pm with limited tickets price £5. There will be flower arrangers on hand to entertain. Proceeds to the club’s charities YMCA, The Foyer and Haven Mental Health Support. Tickets available on 01206 240581 or at the meeting on 17 October.

The next coffee morning in the church hall Chapel Lane is Wednesday 12 September from 10am to 11.30am. Gifts for cake and general stall would be appreciated. Greetings cards will be on sale.

The Harvest Festival service takes place on Sunday 16 September led by Minister Reverend Ruth Ridge at 11am. followed by lunch at 12.30. Donations of flowers, fruit and produce will be welcome together with help from 9.30am on Saturday 15. Harvest goods will be distributed to the elderly and housebound in the village as well as Colchester Night Shelter and Women’s and Children’s Refuge.

Mr John Gili-Ross was re-elected as chairman with Mr Bob Tyrrell as vice-chairman. The chairman thanked Mrs Lampon for the clock she donated in memory of John Lampon. This has been hung in the John Lampon Hall with a plaque.

The Environment committee consists of Messrs Johnson,Colbron, Sleigh, Stevenson and Stone.

The village caretaker was thanked for his hard work which includes litter picking, grass cutting and a quick response to repair work on request. CCTV has been installed to monitor the recycling bins at the Orpen Memorial Hall in an effort to reduce flytipping.

The Editor of the Village Bulletin which is distributed free to 1500 households quarterly thanked Mrs Joyce Lucking who retired from the team in March after working on 110 issues. Advertising is very successful and so the Bulletin pays for itself.

Head of finance thanked Mrs June Mayhew for her work as Hall Administrator.

All allotments are in use and there is now a waiting list.

Dave Kingaby, designer of the village website, gave a presentation of its features and explained how residents, organisations and clubs can access and input information onto the site.

Mr Gili-Ross concluded the evening by welcoming Susanne Bowden, David Short, Chris Sevenson and Harry Stone to the Parish Council following the resignation of two members during the year. He thanked the Neighbourhood Watch team in particular John Ford the co-ordinator.

Vice-president, Pat Moran welcomed members to the June meeting. She announced that two members were interviewed and will appear on BBC 4 during one of the 3 programmes. One of the drama group, Rene Keates, has written a play which will be entered for the Lady Denman Cup. The W I team came third out of 13 teams in the annual village quiz. The event raised £250 for East Anglian Children’s Hospice. Crosswords price 50p are still available with closing date 24 July.

The Colchester Group Outing is arranging a trip on 1 September to the Aldeburgh theatre to see Private Lives. Open to non members price £20. Contact Judith on 01206 241969 as soon as possible.

Our WI outing on Wednesday 4 July leaves the Orpen Memorial Hall at 9.30am for Hylands House, Chelmsford. Seats still available. Contact Judith, outings secretary.

The speaker, Mr Rob Gardiner, spoke about birds in our locality. Members then enjoyed a game of 15 to 1 following tea.

There is no meeting in July next one August 1.

The Village Fayre takes place this Saturday (16th June) at Heathlands Primary School, New Church Road beginning at 2pm. There will be numerous stalls run by various village organisations plus plenty of activities for all the family. Refreshments available.

The Colne Valley Flower Club welcomed Gill McGregor last month with her arrangements entitled As Summer Approaches. Her audience enjoyed her humorous stories as she arranged her flowers. The plant stall raised £65 towards the club’s chosen charities for 2007 Haven Mental Health and The Forum YMCA Colchester.

On Wednesday 20 June in the Orpen Memorial Hall Lexden Road Sandra Price from Walton on the Naze will demonstrate with her title Wouldn’t it be Lovely beginning at 7.30pm.

Arranged by the Flower Club:

On Thursday July 5 there will be Open Gardens at Charnwood Wormingford. Open to non-members with parking available at the village hall. All proceeds to the club’s charities. Further details on 01787 228117

Colchester Borough Council’s ‘Attended Refuse Freighter Scheme’ will be visiting West Bergholt (Orpen Hall Car Park), on 28th July & 22nd September between 10:45am – 12noon.

• no fridges or freezers;
• please bring green garden waste separately to be composted;
• this service is provided for small loads and from domestic properties, so you can use this service to dispose of bulky items not normally collected with household waste;
• no commercial refuse or hazardous waste such as asbestos, batteries, liquids, gas bottles;
• no large loads please.

For more information please telephone 01206 282700

The minutes of the Annual Parish meeting are now online together with all recent council minutes. Please click here to view them.

There will be a coffee morning in the Methodist Church Hall Chapel Lane on Wednesday 13 June from 10am to 11.30am. Gifts for cake and general stalls will be appreciated. Greetings cards will also be on sale. Coffee or tea and biscuits 50p. Everyone assured of a warm welcome.