10th October 2020

Village News and Events

in Boxted and Langham

Welcome to this week’s newsletter.

If you wish to have an item included in this newsletter, please email us at boxtedvillagenews@gmail.com by Thursday 5pm at the latest. Thank you.

Stay safe everyone.

Good News!

We are delighted to announce that we are resuming distribution of the printed newsletter this month. They should be popping through your letterboxes this week. We will continue to email electronic copies alongside the paper copies

Please note: Deadline for submissions for the November edition: 15th October Contact the editor via email: lwbnewsletter@gmail.com

Distributors urgently required – Boxted

We are looking for delivery volunteers for Boxted, as well as a new distribution co-ordinator for Boxted due to the imminent retirement of Ann Barnard after many years of sterling service.

Please contact the Editor for details. 01206 683670 Email: lwbnewsletter@gmail.com

Agenda for Boxted Parish Council Meeting

14th October by Zoom at 7.30pm

Download the agenda here

Shoebox appeal

This year has brought new challenges, hasn’t it? Many things we were looking forward to in 2020 have been cancelled – from the Olympics to school graduation celebrations. Children around the world, especially those in poverty have struggled with this uncertainty and sadly sometimes grief.

With so many ongoing challenges for many families it’s more important than ever to offer children a light in the darkness – a shoebox gift through Operation Christmas Child does just that, while bringing a great big smile to the face of all those little ones who receive them.

Plans for this year’s campaign are underway for our parishes and these will hopefully include having a stall at the Langham Autumn Local Market on Sunday 25th October 9am to Midday, hosting the Community Cafe on October 31st 10.30 to noon, flat packed boxes being available from the Langham Community Shop priced at 50p each throughout October in the lead up to the National Collection Week which happens the second week of November. More details of drop off points and times will be available in the next newsletter.

If you feel that you are unable to pack a full box this year, one idea may be to donate items into one of the collection boxes within Langham or Boxted Churches. These items could include new toys, school supplies, non-liquid hygiene items, warmth items or accessories for hair.

Further details of what can be placed into a shoebox can be found by reviewing the attached or visiting https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox/

Items will then be used to pack boxes from the parishes at our packing party on Sunday 15th November.

Alternatively we have created a justgiving page to help in the cost of transportation and donations can be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/operationchristmaschildlwb

For more details on this year’s appeal please contact Tim Clarke on 07792 060597.

Rubbish dumped in Chapel Road

Bags of rubbish have been left in Chapel Road and have been there for a couple of weeks or so. Foxes and other animals are now opening the bags and the contents are spilling out on to the road.

Any fly tipping such as this can be reported to https://www.colchester.gov.uk/report-fly-tipping/#ValidationSummaryEntityFormView together with the details of the persons doing the fly tipping if known.

Poisonous plants left on the playing field

An eagle-eyed resident noticed these plants growing out of some topsoil that had been left by somebody on the playing field.

They are Thornapple (Latin: Datura stramonium ), which is a deadly poison.

Once the parish clerk had been notified, the area was fenced off and the plants and seedlings removed and taken away for safe disposal.

there's no such thing as the dog poo fairy

Residents in Boxted have noticed an increase in dog poo being left in the field between Straight Road and Workhouse Hill (the Harwich Lines). Dog owners – please, please act responsibly and pick up all of your dog’s waste. Please also note that many of the public footpaths across private land ask you to keep your dog on a leash.

If you see or know of those owners who are responsible for leaving dog poo anywhere, you are encouraged to report them to the dog warden at Colchester Borough Council. Full details are on the Council’s website at https://www.colchester.gov.uk/environmental-protection/report-dog-fouling/

Church services

Sunday 11 October
8am Gathered Eucharist at St Peter’s Boxted. If you would like to attend please can you reply with your name and telephone number for track and trace.

9.15am – Zoom – Messy Church

10am – Zoom – Holy Communion
Zoom Eucharist Service: October 18, 2020 at 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Download the service sheet here

Should you require prayer please contact Revd Mandy Elmes via email lwb.wb.gh.parishes@gmail.com .

Sunday services are on theLangham and Boxted Church Website for all to view under Streamed Services. https://lb-churches.co.uk/streamed-services/ They will be uploaded on Sunday afternoons for as long as services are streamed.

Download the services booklet here

Daily Hope – a free phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers. Available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 has been set up for those unable to join in online church services during the period of restrictions.

Click here for further details .

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This Sunday is also the last day to donate to the Colchester Foodbank. You can also make a financial donation directly via their website https://colchester.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/ .

Items required are – small bags of rice; longlife milk; longlife juice; shampoo; carrier bags/ reusable bags; squash; tinned fruit; deodorants; tinned potatoes; tinned puddings; tins or packets of custard; jam; peanut butter; tooth brush/ tooth paste; razors; shower gel; small jars of coffee; small washing powder/liquid; small multipack snacks (Penguin/Club/Twix); tinned tomatoes

Stephen Armson-Smith
Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor
Essex Police

Twelve tips for Christmas and after

With Christmas rapidly approaching here are a few tips to help keep you safe at home, shopping, visiting (whilst Covid compliant), and after Christmas too:

If you must store Christmas food and drink, presents and other goodies within garages and outbuildings, ensure that they are out of sight and that it’s securely locked with good quality well fitted locks. Treat your shed to a shed alarm.
Avoid tempting window shopping burglars; don’t leave presents and valuables on full view in front of a window.
Ensure that your windows and doors are closed and locked before leaving the house (remember your face covering). Don’t attract burglars to your home by leaving it in darkness; leave lights on timers, perhaps treat yourself to a TV simulator too.
Lock gates to keep unwanted visitors from getting to the rear of your home.
Whether an evening out or Christmas shopping keep your bags, handbags, wallets and mobile safe. Busy places make it easier for the sneak thief, so be alert at all times.
Park safely; look for a Parkmark accredited car park www.parkmark.co.uk/car-park-finder ( please note that this is not a ‘secure’ website and your browser may refuse to open this link ). Check that your car is locked before you leave it and don’t leave valuables and gifts on display in your car.
When you go to leave the house and find that your car is all iced up, don’t leave it unattended with the engine running to de-ice it. It only takes a second to steal your car and it would invalidate any insurance claim.
A small Christmas get together – make sure that you have considered how you are getting home in advanced and avoid using unlicensed taxi’s. Ensure you drink responsible, social distance and are aware of your surroundings, whilst keeping your drink and belongings safe. www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/personal-safety
Watch what you put on social media; check your settings to ensure that you are not broadcasting when you are not at home and the lovely gifts you may have received.
After Christmas don’t advertise your nice gifts to the thieves by putting the empty boxes out for collection, disguise them, fold them up inside out or put them inside another non-descript box.
Record your new property free on www.immobilise.com , install tracking and security apps on relevant electrical and computer products.

Have a Great Christmas and New Year!! For further crime prevention advice see: www.essex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/

In brief …

Your quick reference guide to newsletter regulars.

Pizza anyone?

Next visits from the Mobile Pizza Co:

Sat 31st Oct 5 to 7pm

Royal British Legion car park. Remember to call/sms txt to order, where possible. 07982 427483

Pilates!

Pilates resumed at Boxted Village Hall on Thursday 1st October at 10.30am.

Please call/ text Jo on 07887518031 for further information and booking.

Take-aways at Langham Community Centre car park

The Cheese and Pie Man visits on Wednesdays 8.30 – 2pm
Fish and Chip Van on Fridays 11 – 2pm

Mobile library

Every three weeks on a Thursday 10.10am to 10.40am at Boxted Village Hall car park.

22 October
12 November
3 December
24 December
14 January 2021

Digital help at home

Remember that this service is still available online. Michael Smith at Colchester Borough Council is still offering digital support via a remote service. See the Council’s webpage or, for further information.