12th September 2021

Village News and Events

in Boxted and Langham

Welcome to the latest newsletter.

If you wish to have an item included in this newsletter, please email us at newsandevents@boxted.org.uk by Thursday 5pm at the latest. Thank you.

Boxted History Group

Wednesday 15 September, 7.30pm
Boxted Village Hall

Due to the Covid 19 restrictions the group has not been able to run any indoor meetings for over six months although members did manage to enjoy a cruise down the River Orwell in June.

Flora Sandes in Serbian Army uniform, ca. 1918

However the winter programme resumes once more on Wednesday 15 September in Boxted Village Hall with a talk entitled ‘You’ll make a lovely Sergeant Major – Flora Sandes’ by Janette Robinson. 7.30 for 8 pm.

Members, friends and visitors welcome.

Call Keith Middleton on 01206 272774 for more details.

Beer and Hymns

Saturday 21 September, 7pm
St Peter’s Church, Boxted

Village Praise Service

A big thank you to all who came and took part in this lovely event, and a special thank you to our superb Boxted Silver Band who accompanied us so beautifully.

The donations amounted to £90, which will be sent to Refugee Action- Colchester to help families coming to our area from Afghanistan.

Church services

After waiting for more than a year, due to Covid restrictions, baby Oscar was christened recently at St Peter’s church Boxted.

Matt and Sam, Oscar’s parents, expressed their joy at ‘finally being able to attend St Peter’s and share this special day with the local and parish people dear to us.’

Reverend Anne Mason said, ‘it was such a joy to baptise Oscar and to welcome his family and friends to celebrate together. We’re delighted that our usual Sunday services are once again taking place, and also events such as the popular ‘Beer and Hymns’ on Saturday evening 18 September, and our Harvest service on 26 September.’

Church services for September

Sunday 12 September:
9.30am Gathered Eucharist – St Peter’s Boxted

Sunday 19 September:
9.30am Gathered Eucharist – St Mary’s Langham
4pm Gathered D.E.E.PService – St Peter’s Boxted

Sunday 26 September:
9.30am Gathered Harvest Thanksgiving Eucharist – St Peter’s Boxted

Please email lwb.wb.gh.parishes@gmail.com if you require further details.

Community Hub Cafe Business Opportunity

Boxted Parish Council is looking for expressions of interest from proactive, experienced people, to run a Village Hub café facility for the local community and sports teams and to provide catering/refreshments to customers as required.
We have the following to offer on an initial 6-month short lease, which may be renewed by mutual agreement:

• Well equipped, self-contained café area

• Inside seating provided
• Free parking for café staff, customers, and delivery drivers
• On site toilet facilities
• Competitive rent
• Help with promoting the café via its newsletters and promotion of events

The café should plan to be open 6 days a week covering cricket and football matches and at least one evening.

Minimum opening hours will be discussed along with any days that the café can be closed over the year.

We plan to refurbish the Hub building with provision of extra kitchen space and toilets as well as a purpose-built access with steps and ramp. This short-term lease could be continued by mutual consent after the refurbishment.

The successful applicant will be responsible for registering with Environmental health, maintaining their food hygiene qualifications, insurance, obtaining their alcohol license, payment of rental on any additional equipment required and if relevant, obtaining any licenses from PPL for playing of music within the café.

Visits to view the facilities are available by appointment only on Saturday 18th September.

Closing date for expression of interest is 30 September with basic business plan submitted in the format the following ‘Word’ format:

Boxted Hub Business Plan template (download)

To arrange a viewing and for more information please contact the Parish Clerk, Karen Thompson, on boxtedparishcouncil@gmail.com

Save Our Bridge!

More history on George Double, builder of Boxted Bridge.

Postcard title: In ‘Constable’s Country’, Dedham Bridge & Lock

George Double’s Dedham Bridge, built 1900

In the distance can be seen George Double’s bridge at Dedham viewed from the lock in the foreground. The shape of the top of the bridge has a gently arched curve and straight bottom underneath, reminiscent of his steel girder bridge at Boxted, but this one was built of iron girders three years later in 1900. Dedham bridge was replaced by a concrete bridge in 1974 leaving, as his remaining bridge building legacy in the Dedham Vale, his two graceful bridges over the River Stour at Boxted and Wormingford..

A dedicated email address ( boxtedenquiries@essexhighways.org ) has been set up to support the public with any questions relating to the structure that are not already answered on the webpage.

The full website address for the Boxted Bridge project is:
https://www.essexhighways.org/transport-and-roads/highway-schemes-and-developments/highway-schemes/boxted-bridge-wick-road-boxted-colchester.aspx

For more information and to sign the petition to save the original structure of Boxted Bridge, please head to https://www.change.org/p/essex-county-council-save-our-bridge

Police and Crime Plan Survey

Have your say on making Essex safer and getting crime down

Have your say on making Essex safer and getting crime down by taking part in the PFCC’s Police and Crime Plan Survey.

Everyone who lives, works, or travels in Essex has the chance to help to make the county safer as Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex, develops the Police and Crime Plan 2021-2024.

Following his re-election in May, Roger has been busy working on the plan – a strategic document that sets out the PFCC’s vision and priorities for policing and crime reduction in Essex. The plan is the basis on which the PFCC holds the Chief Constable to account in terms of performance, provides funding for services such as Victim Support or Community Safety Partnerships and works with community organisations to help make our county safer. Once agreed, the Chief Constable will use its vision and priorities to inform the force plan for Essex Police and wider objectives will be pursued through commissioning and partnership work.

Importantly, the Police and Crime Plan will focus on bringing to life the Commissioner’s Manifesto, which was endorsed through his election, and delivering what people want from policing and community safety in Essex.

Roger said: “We know that by working together we can make huge improvements in our communities so collating views and feedback from representatives of all groups and backgrounds who live, work and travel in Essex is vital.”

The PFCC would like your views on the proposed priorities in the plan and the ‘we will’ statements that sit underneath them. The survey closes at midnight on Sunday, September 19th.

In brief …

The Art and Craft Club has restarted, meeting once a month on the third Wednesday of each month, 2-4pm at Boxted Village Hall. All welcome – come and join in!

St Peter’s Markets plants – raising funds for our local churches. Go to https://stpetersmarketplace.org/

Mobile library

To keep up to date with the timetable please visit the Mobile Library Service website

Digital help at home

This service is 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.