St Mary’s Update – 17th November – Pickwick Special

St Mary’s Update – 17th November 2016

St Mary’s Church update for 17th November provides listings of services, bible readings and other events and news such as Children In Need, Mr Pickwick and Christmas including Messy Nativity.

Mr Pickwick’s Christmas

Adapted & performed by Robert MacCall, this performance takes place in the Methodist Church Hall at 7:30pm on Wednesday 14th December.

Mr Pickwick, and his friends travel by stagecoach to enjoy an exuberant country Christmas at Dingley Dell. There is a wedding, any amount of eating and drinking, dancing, games, skating, and a ghost story. All the delights of an age long past, brought vividly to life.

Inspired by the public readings of Dickens himself this one man show, adapted and performed by storyteller Robert MacCall captures all the zest and humour of the original.

A wonderful evening is guaranteed for all. Suitable for all from 9 upwards.

For more information or to reserve a ticket call Evelyne Conrad-Bell on 241916. Tickets on the door will cost £8 adults and £5 children.

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016

Janie Pirie – Botanical Artist – Talk & Demonstration

Janie Pirie – Botanical Artist

Janie Pirie SBA, Botanical Artist, is giving a talk and demonstration of her work to West Bergholt Gardeners on Monday 21st November. The talk takes place in the Orpen Hall starting at 7:30pm. There will also be a raffle and tea/coffee available (50p).

Janie specialises in floral and botanical art using coloured pencils. Her meticulously drawn and striking compositions have immensely accurate detail and great depth and intensity of colour.

Janie is a member of the Society of Botanical Artists and is also a tutor on their Distance Learning Course. In 2008 Janie won a Silver-Gilt Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society and Gold in 2009 and 2014. She is also a member of the UKCPS and shows her work at their annual exhibitions. Recently she has been awarded Best In Show, Runner-up Best in Show and Best Botanical.

If you would like to find out more about Janie and the course she runs, many in the Colchester area, visit her website.

Membership and Entry to Talks

Members can renew their membership, which runs from September to August each year, for £10. Non-members are welcome to attend the talk on Monday for £3. Any enquiries to [antibot mailto-“[email protected]”] or call 241256.

November 17, 2016May 27, 2017

Annoyed by Fly-Tipping – Now You Can Take Action

Annoyed by Fly-Tipping

The Environment Agency has issued a 24/7 Hotline to try and gain intelligence to combat the illegal dumping of rubbish also known as fly-tipping. If you witness or find fly-tipping or have any information about it you can now report it to the Environment Agency 0800 807060.

Reports should include as many Continue reading “Annoyed by Fly-Tipping – Now You Can Take Action”

November 10, 2016June 3, 2019

Annual Village Fete – would you like to be involved?

Annual Village Fete

After the success of the Queen’s Birthday Celebrations many people felt that it was time to resurrect the West Bergholt Annual Village Fete. We can envisage an event taking place some time around the August Bank Holiday weekend, based in the Orpen Hall and on the Lorkin Daniell Field offering:

Stalls,
Games,
Veg/Flower Shows,
Competitions,
Music,
Food,
Your idea here?

Would you like to be involved in organising an Annual West Bergholt Fete?

Do you have ideas about what the Fete could consist of?

Do you know someone else who might?

Then come along to the first Village Fete Working Party meeting on Monday 14th November at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall, Lexden Road.

Anyone welcome! All ideas appreciated!

This will not be in competition with the School’s Summer Fayre, the PTA are keen to be involved, as they were for the QEII 90th Celebrations.

For any information, please contact Laura Walkingshaw (Parish Clerk) on 07726 424419

November 8, 2016November 8, 2016

1966 And All That – Football, Radio Caroline, Music

1966 And All That

1966 was a memorable year for many things, most notably England winning the World Cup after the Cup was lost but then found by Pickles. But locally music made a name for itself as the Radio Caroline pirate radio ship MV Mi Amigo ran aground on the beach at Frinton. With Pirate Radio pulsing on the airwaves everybody was in to the latest music and West Bergholt Concert Band aim to bring that all back to life in their special concert for Children In Need.

The Music

The Concert Band will be playing a selection of music both from and inspired by the revolutionary year that was 1966; it will include:

Pet Sounds,
Dr Who,
Rolling Stones,
Star Trek,
Motown,
The Jungle Book, and
The Producers.

Where, When & How Much?

The concert takes place in the Church of St Mary the Virgin on Saturday 19th November from 7:30pm. Tickets are available on the door, £5 for adults, under-18s free.

November 5, 2016November 25, 2016

Keep the Bell Ringing Appeal for St Mary’s

Heritage of St Mary's Old Church, West Bergholt — The classic view of St Mary’s Old Church – our local heritage

Keep the Bell Ringing

Friends of St Mary’s Old Church have launched the “Keep the Bell Ringing” appeal for £10,000 .

Why £10,000?

Our 1,000-year-old West Bergholt Old Church in Hall Road is now in need of serious care and attention to give it the chance to continue another 1,000 years. Its roof is leaking in 2 places requiring repair of the valley gutter and dormer window, and the belfry needs work on its weather cladding. The estimate of cost for this external work, by the Churches Conservation Trust which now cares for this redundant church, is an eye-watering £127,200. The CCT secured grant funding for most of this sum, but we have to raise the funding shortfall of £10,000 locally.

How you can help

We need your help! The plan is to erect scaffolding and do this specialist work next Spring, so we need to raise the funds quickly to make this happen. To confirm the grant the donors need to see that we can raise our share of the money.

We will ring-fence all donations to this appeal, you could help us in the following ways:

Firstly make a donation either:
- by cheque to the ‘Friends of St Mary’s Old Church” sent to our Treasurer: Rhys Lloyd, 4 Coopers Crescent, West Bergholt, CO6 3SJ.
- by electronic transfer online to a/c no. 65515734, Sort Code 09-92-99. Please indicate who the donation is coming from.
- through justgiving.com: to the “ St. Mary’s Old Church West Bergholt” appeal.
Next, consider coming to the events we are planning this autumn:
- Table Top Sale: Saturday 19th November at the Orpen Hall, 10am-2pm at the Orpen Hall. We will be serving Light lunches and refreshments. Call Gill Poole on 240512 to book a sale table. Entrance 50p.
- Mulled Wine and Mince Pies in the Old Church – Sunday 11th December from 12.00 – 2.30pm. Come and admire the Christmas trees decorated by various village groups, and meet friends and neighbours. This is a free event but donations will be gratefully received, and memberships (just £5), renewed.
Buy our Christmas cards of the Old Church:
- at our events,
- the local shops, or
- from Teresa on 241878 or Jane on 240167. 6 cards for £3.50.
Become a Friend of St Mary’s Old Church or renew your membership (just £5). Phone Rhys or Carrie or visit the church for details.
Make your friends aware of our Appeal; also that the Old Church is open to visitors from 10am – 4pm every day.
Hold a fundraising events or help us with one of ours. To offer help, please contact Jane or Carrie.

Internal works as well

While this external repair work is undertaken we will also carry out urgently needed plastering work and decoration inside the church. This will be funded by the very generous legacy of Mrs Yvonne Henderson which was left specifically for this purpose.

Thank you for reading this appeal. We hope you will be able to help us preserve our lovely ancient church for future generations and keep it available for the use of our village. Please be as generous as you can.

Celebrate Christmas with us

Start your Christmas celebrations this year by coming to the 2016 Candlelight Carol Service at the Old Church on 18th December at 2.30pm.

Contacts

Jane – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or 240167,
Carrie – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or 240466.

November 4, 2016November 4, 2016

Bang on Timing

Bang On Timing

Just as all the firework debris litters our streets the timing of the West Bergholt Litter Warriors plan to hit the streets on Sunday 6th November couldn’t be better.

As ever, all equipment will be provided and the Warriors will be leaving from outside the Orpen Hall at 10am and spend an hour picking. Why not join them & help to keep West Bergholt beautiful?

Grot Spot Alert?

Seen a Grot Spot that needs tidying? Let the Litter Warriors know either by calling the Grot Spot Hotline 07726 424419 or by email to [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

November 4, 2016

St Mary’s Update – 1st November 2016

St Mary’s Church update for 1st November provides listings of services, bible readings and other events and news such as Remembrance & Christmas services.

Christmas Choir

Calling all Singers! Caroline Finlay will once again be getting together a group of people to sing at the Carol Services at the Old Church on 18th December and at St Mary’s on Christmas Eve (6.45pm). No auditions necessary! The first rehearsal is Sunday 20th November @ 10am in church. Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 1st November 2016”

October 29, 2016October 29, 2016

5 Es to Address Traffic Safety

Responding to concerns about traffic related safety issues in the village, the Parish Council has helped to form a group whose brief is to explore ways of addressing these concerns. This group consists of Parish Councillors, Borough Councillors and residents who want to help bring about improvements; since September it has met three times.

As a starting point, the Village Safety Plan of 2012, which led to changes in New Church Road, has been revisited. As then, no single measure will solve all our problems, and so an approach, which is termed the 5 Es, is being followed.

Engage the community
Encourage good driving and parking
Educate all sections of the community
Enforce the regulations
Engineer revised road layouts

All need careful thought and cooperation to achieve, with 4E and 5E being most difficult and needing most time; however we have made a start.

On 25th February in the Orpen Hall a safety promotional event is being planned and will be advertised fully in the New Year, so please look out for details and make every effort to attend.

Trygve

Following increased activity on Facebook about 30 residents have already downloaded an App called Trygve. This gives you the chance to report incidents, with photographs if appropriate, and will:

give the authorities the means to identify persistent safety abusers, and
enable the group to collect evidence to support action at the most dangerous hotspots.

That being so, if you feel able, please sign up to join those already giving their support using this link.

Communications

The team are also establishing good communications with the School, hence parents, and there are plans to engage other key players such as the Coop.

If you have ideas to help, or would like more information, please contact the group through the Parish Clerk, Laura Walkinshaw, on 240772 or [email protected].

Harry Stone
(Vice Chair of Parish Council)

October 29, 2016

Village Bulletin Quiz 2016 – Result for Parkinson’s

Chris Stevenson presenting cheque to Will Owen

Village Bulletin Quiz 2016 Results

Fourteen teams entered the Village Bulletin Quiz held on Saturday 8th October in the Orpen Hall. Together with a raffle and a very popular game of ‘Human Bingo‘, the event raised £336 for the Colchester branch of the Parkinson’s UK charity.

Chris Stevenson, Chairman of the Parish Council, presented the cheque at this week’s Council meeting. Will Owen, who also attended the quiz, expressed his gratitude for the donation on receiving the cheque on behalf of Parkinson’s.

Winners of the Bulletin Quiz Phil Spencer, Chris Stevenson, Laura Walkingshaw and Harry Stone being presented with the Challenge Trophy — The wining team being presented with the Challenge Trophy

The Parish Council team of Phil Spencer, Chris Stevenson, Laura Walkingshaw and Harry Stone won this year; apparently this was not a fix. 🙂

Second & third placed teams were ‘The Dixters’ and ‘The Gardeners Association‘.

Susan Leng, quizmaster, and other organisers and Bulletin Team helpers also attended for the presentation. The Parish Council thanked the team for their hard work in running such an enjoyable evening.