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Village News

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JUMBO Update and the Impact of the Daniell Family

Daniell Family – Next Topic

Daniell & Sons Brewery beer label

The next Local History Group meeting will learn about the impact of the Daniell Family on West Bergholt’s development. Peter Noakes will lead this meeting which will take place on February 9th starting at 7:30 pm. As ever, all are welcome for a modest charge of £2 for members and £5 for visitors. The JUMBO meeting report is below.

January Cancellation

On January 12th, the Group were planning to invite members and visitors to investigate their village archive. Because of the current COVID-19 situation they have decided to CANCEL this meeting. Instead, they hope to be able to spend some time after their AGM in March discussing the archive.  In lieu of this meeting, they plan to add an extra outside visit in their Summer Schedule.

November JUMBO Update

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St Mary’s New Year Resolutions Edition

Revd Heather Wilcox starts by discussing New Year Resolutions; there is also an appreciation of Jo Jeffery and thank you for Advent Windows. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services and contacts.

New Year Message from Revd Heather Wilcox

New Year resolutions, I suspect that at some point in our lives, we have all made them.

As a new year dawns, we wake up determined that somehow this year we will make better choices. Maybe we want to lose weight or exercise more, learn a new hobby, or find ways of connecting with our friends more effectively throughout the year and not just with the annual Christmas card and round robin letter.

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To Fence or Not to Fence Survey Results

The Results of the “Fence or Not to Fence” Survey Are Now In

Before Christmas, the Parish Council posted this survey on the hub. It posed a questions about fencing in the children’s playground on the Lorkin Daniell Field. Whilst the results show a clear support for fencing in the playground, this is only one of several ideas that the Parish Council will consider in the New Year.

The question posed was:

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St Mary’s Advent Trail 2021 Video

Christmas Services Update

One of the Advent Trail windows
One of the Advent Trail Windows

Before we get to the trail video, there are some changes to St Mary’s services on Christmas Eve. The Crib Service at 3 pm will now take place outside in the church yard (so wrap up warmly). The 6.45 pm Carol Service will be socially distanced in the Church and also on Zoom. For Zoom details, please contact the church office on [email protected].

Advent Trail

The West Bergholt Village Advent Windows returned for 2021! A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to decorate a window featuring a scene from the nativity story.

The first window was revealed on Wednesday 8th December with a window each day until Monday 20th December.

Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year from everyone at St. Mary’s Church.

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COVID, St Mary’s Booster Sessions, Transport & Carol Cancellation

St Mary’s Booster Sessions

Booster sessions at St Mary's

St Mary’s are running Booster sessions every Tuesday & Friday between 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Nik, from the pharmacy, is leading these sessions with help from a steady band of volunteers to keep traffic flowing. Check on the NHS website to see availability although note that St Mary’s will only show up if there are slots available. If you want to take a chance, you could also pop along late in the session in case they have spare doses left over (often advertised on the Hub).

Transport for Vaccination

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Who Wants to Join the Snow Patrol?

Snow Patrol Volunteers might be needed this winter

Snow Patrol at Orpen Hall 2018

If you remember the Beast from the East in 2018, you will remember what a sterling job the Snow Patrol did in keeping the village running. Looking at their faces, it seems they also took pleasure from the task in hand.

2018 was the first time for about three years that we have had any appreciable snowfall.  Thanks to a team of about twenty volunteers (and a just sufficient supply of salt), the Snow Patrol kept pathways to the key points of the village generally clear.

Is Snow Coming This Winter?

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NHS Declares Major Incident

Major Incident declared by NHS

NHS logo - NHS is declaring a major incident

The NHS has declared a major incident in relation to the administration of the COVID 19 booster vaccine. They will use a number of venues to ramp-up vaccinations, including

  • vaccination centres (existing and new);
  • local pharmacies;
  • PCNs (GPs);
  • Hospital Hubs,
  • Pop up centres,
  • drive-thru facilities (probably in unused retail parks e.g. B&Q Hythe), and
  • an outreach programme to large business premises.

However, the NHS desperately needs volunteers to help ensure the smooth running of the new and old vaccination clinics.   Please contact Community360, who will be supporting this aspect of the vaccination roll out, if you are interested. Telephone 01206 505250 or email [email protected].

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Free Cycle training, Police & Other Updates

Free Cycle Training

Family cycling - get free cycle training

Through Safer Essex Roads Partnership, ECC is offering free cycle training until the end of March 2022.  They have courses available for Children, Adults (beginners to advanced) and even families. Sessions are led by qualified instructors and range from 45 minutes to 3 hours! 

If you are interested then you should register your interest here.

Other updates

Essex Police

Essex Police has recently published issue 15 of their local news update.  It is a decent read with much to interest, e.g. spiking, property closed due to anti-social behaviour and joint patrols with RMP.  There’s also a nice snippet on ‘Disruptor Teams’ who look into and tackle crimes such as anti-social behaviour within communities. It rounds off with an article on cycle security and contact information to help victims of domestic abuse.  You can read the whole update below.

Community Updates

This is a much slimmer document with more white space than words, however, items of interest are:

The Police Update in Full

Essex-Police-Colchester-Update-15Download
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St Mary’s Advent Trail Edition

Learn About the 2021 Advent Trail & More Updates

Some example nativity windows from last year

St Mary’s December newsletter provides details of this years, advent trail and a Christmas message. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services (and they look forward to welcoming you for their Christmas Services in both the Old Church & St Mary’s), and contacts.

Christmas Message from Revd Heather Wilcox

It’s that time of year, when we are bombarded with Christmas advertising, but one advert in particular has caught my attention, probably because it has generated the most complaints in 2021 so far, the Tesco’s advert.

It begins with a lady standing outside a Tesco’s store being asked, ‘Do you need a little help’ and she responds, ‘Don’t worry my love, this year, nothings stopping me.’ Queens ‘Don’t stop me now’ providing the soundtrack to the advert.

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Green Homes Grant – Are You Eligible?

CBC Offers Green Homes Grants

Green Homes Grants flyer

Parish Councillors have had early notice of Green Homes Grants. This comes as they are taking part in an Essex-wide series of workshops to understand how communities can come together to assist with climate change and carbon reduction initiatives.

Warmworks are managing the project; their role is to check resident eligibility & guide applicants through the process. They will also arrange for installers to deliver the works and inspect them afterwards.  The scheme is open until the end of March 2022.

Who Can Benefit?

Up to £10,000 is available for those who own their property. Up to £5,000 is available for renters when the landlord pays a minimum of one-third of the cost. The grants are available to those who:

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