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.
Church services
Sunday 28 November
9.30 am Eucharist at St Peter’s Boxted
Rev Heather Wilcox will be taking the service so this is a good opportunity for anyone to come and meet Heather, the parish’s new Priest in Charge. All welcome.
Thursday 2 December, 7.30pm
Langham Community Centre
There will be a celebration in the run up to Christmas, with David Webb speaking of his days acting in “Hi De Hi!”, followed by a few seasonal festivities.
November’s meeting was an illustrated talk and practical demonstration by Philip Regan from Kelly Bronze Turkeys, with turkey carving tips and distribution of samples to members – an informative and enjoyable experience.
Contact: Gill Brown (01206 273286) or Tricia Gooding (01206 230510).
Fundraising for SESAW
Sunday 5 December
Langham Community Centre
Season’s Greetings from Kenny, the spokesdog for SESAW, the local charity caring for animals in need.
Karen and Jayne will be running a fundraising stall, offering pet products and handmade crafts at the Winter Market in Langham Community Centre car park, School Road, CO4 5PA on 5th December.
Thank you to all the wonderful people who support SESAW in so many different ways; those who look after the animals, carry out maintenance, donate items or cash, help at (or visit) our sales stalls to mention but a few. Also those who organise their own fundraising events like Teresa Norris who invited us to Eeyore’s Surprise Birthday Party in Boxted last July. Your efforts ensure the charity continues to care for animals in need.
We plan to hold sales again in 2022, assuming no Covid restrictions prevent it. Please leave a message on our ansaphone or email if you would like to help at events or can commit one morning per week to animal care.
Copies of Frank Payne’s book, “Here Today, Goon Tomorrow” are still available, an ideal Christmas present when combined with the next instalment of the Author’s biography, “Well Worth Waiting For”. Frank details his wartime childhood, National Service leading to his career as a Sports journalist. Phone 01206 263066 to order the two volumes for £10, all proceeds to SESAW.
We do not rehome animals over the Christmas period so we will be closed from 10th December to 10th January 2022 except for emergencies.
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Registered Charity No.1124029, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, CO6 4PP. Tel: 01787 210888 www.sesaw.co.uk
Boxted Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
Sunday 5 December, 2pm
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Christmas Fair
Sunday 5 December, 2pm
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Bridge update
County Council body has no respect for heritage on our highways
Essex Highways refuse to recognise the heritage of Boxted bridge which has stood since 1897 on a single lane across the River Stour in the heart of the beautiful Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In fact they are applying to demolish it. They don’t need to do this. Their own Heritage Assessment recommended restoring.
Why has none of this information been forthcoming from Highways BEFORE any eventual, further so-called consultations and with enough time for consultees to absorb the information? Without it how can anyone believe Highways claim: “the recommendations and conclusions of the report have been taken into account into all stages of the feasibility study”? Highways intend to demolish the bridge. The Heritage Assessment is available to view on Highways Boxted bridge webpage.
Raising awareness …

Suicide is a tragic and devastating event which, though comparatively rare, impacts on many people and sends ripples through families and communities. Sadly in Colchester we have the 3rd highest suicide rate amongst all 270 district councils in England. With your knowledge of your communities and the challenges they face, you can help to spot the warning signs and signpost for help.
Links to Suffolk Mind videos about self-harm:
- Video #1: Understanding self-harm
- Video #2: How to have conversations about self-harm
- The Suffolk and North-East Essex ‘Hope Campaign’
- Support for parents and carers:
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/
https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/mental-health-wellbeing/low-mood-depression/my-child-is-having-suicidal-thoughts/
Diary dates and other items
Natter and Chatter
Thursday 2 December, 9.30-11.30am
Langham Community Centre
Boxted Bingo
Tuesday 14 December, 3pm
Boxted Village Hall
Carpet Bowls
Every Friday, 2pm
Boxted Village Hall
Tuesday 14 December, 7.30pm
Boxted Village Hall
‘Festive Food’
All welcome.
Mobile library
Thursday 16 December 10.10am to 10.40am
Boxted Village Hall car park
Future dates:
- 06 January 2022
- 27 January 2022
- 17 February 2022
- 10 March 2022
For all mobile library dates go to https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/mobile-library-service/boxted/boxted-village-hall/
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!
The Zone for 6-11 year olds 5.30pm-7pm and the Edge for 12-18 year olds 7.30pm-9.00pm. Fortnightly during term time. Contact Dominic Sheil 01206 273324
St Peter’s Markets plants – raising funds for our local churches. Go to https://stpetersmarketplace.org/
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.
- Colchester 01206 282 452/ Clacton 01255 686497
- Email: Digitalaccesssupport@colchester.gov.uk
Langham Community Shop
Christmas opening times
Christmas Eve 8.45m – 1.30pm
Christmas Day closed
Boxing Day 9.30am – 11.30am
Monday 27th December 9.30am – 11.30am
Tuesday 28th December 9.30am – 11.30am
Wednesday 29th December 8.45am – 4pm
Thursday 30th December 8.45am – 4pm
New Year’s Eve 8.45am – 1.30pm
New Year’s Day 8.30am – 1pm
Sunday 2nd January 9.30am – 11.30am
Useful links:
Boxted Parish Council
Boxted Parish Council on Facebook
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Village Website
Boxted Neighbourhood Plan
Boxted Primary School
Boxted British Legion
Langham and Boxted Churches
Boxted Cricket Club
Mobile Library Service
Boxted Runners
Boxted 10K
Boxted WI on Facebook
Boxted WI on Twitter
Boxted Airfield Historical Group
Langham Community Centre
Langham Community Shop
Langham Village Website
Langham Parish Council
2nd Langham Scouts
Dedham Vale & Stour Valley ANOB
Essex County Council’s PROW Interactive map
Colchester District Neighbourhood Watch
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Our mailing address is:
newsandevents@boxted.org.uk
Newsletter editor: Angela McLauchlan : Design and layout: Shirley Szymanek