28th October 2023

Oct 31, 2023

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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.

Official opening of refurbished community hub

Boxted Parish Councillor Arabella Brentnall, who, with the parish council clerk, Karen Thompson, has worked tirelessly on this project arranged the official hub opening meeting recently and Arabella gave the following account of the history of the playing field, the clubs and the faciltiies:

“Boxted Cricket Club has been in existence since 1830, before even Queen Victoria acceded to the throne. Boxted Lodgers was founded in 1918, being named after Boxted Lodge just up the road, where it, and the Cricket Club, played their matches until 1938, when both clubs moved to the recently endowed King George Playing Fields .

Unfortunately, the following year World War Two broke out, and the playing fields were ploughed up to grow vegetables for the war effort.

In the 1970s, there was a wooden pavilion on this site, erected by the Cricket Club, and later extended by both it and the Football Club.

In those days, as recalls John Hamblion the current Vice-Chair of Boxted Cricket Club, there were just 2 dribbling showers and one old outside toilet consisting only of an open trench. The smell was horrendous and became a haven for spiders.

In 1995 the Playing Fields were enlarged, thanks to the efforts of the then owners of next door Perryman’s, and this is the space you see before you today.

The fields are owned by Boxted Parish Council and are now held in trust with Fields in Trust to protect them from ever being turned into something like a housing estate.

Colchester City Ladies Football Club, formerly known as Colchester Town Ladies FC, have made Boxted their home since 2008.

In 2015 this building before us, the Boxted Community Hub and Sports Pavilion, was in such a dire state that it had to be closed down by Boxted Parish Council on Health and Safety grounds. There was a lot of press coverage on this subject at the time!

The building was given an initial refurbishment, and re-opened later that year with facilities for both the clubs and for a community  hub.

2017 saw the creation of the section 106 Agreement, resulting from the planned Hill Farm Housing Estate.

Very many thanks go to Councillor Nigel Chapman and the team at the then Colchester Borough Council for ensuring that this agreement was quite narrowly worded, specifically to ensure that the monies were spent on the ” improvement and enhancement of the King George Playing Fields with a specific need for improvement to the Sports and Social Club” and ” management of the Playing Fields and Community Hub”

Thanks partly to a grant from Essex County Council, the building was re-roofed in 2018 and re-plastered in 2020. And a rather hazardous disabled ramp was installed.

Also in 2020 the Boxted Parish Council section 106 Committee was formed, of which the author was appointed chairman.

Serious discussions took place with all the Sports Clubs being represented on the Committee, and finally a plan took place.

The Football Foundation were first approached for a grant in May 2021. At this time it was their policy to spend 75% of funding on pitch improvement, sports facilities buildings being deemed much less important.

However, they agreed to help us on this refurbishment project. Ingleton Wood were appointed in August 2021 by Boxted Parish Council as design and project managers, and the whole thing was progressing well.

And then Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Building prices went through the roof, and all original estimates sky-rocketed. We had to ask the Football Foundation to give us more than the £60,000 we had originally asked for. Amazingly they agreed to up our grant to £98,000.

Nick Emery, our guest of honour, is largely responsible for getting us through the grant process, and we were finally awarded this grant in August 2022.

After a sad period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth who died in September, building works started in earnest. A wonderful young local firm called Property 360 were appointed, and they did a super job, and the building was finally signed off in February 2023.

On Monday 23rd October we were all so happy to have this building officially opened by Nick Emery, Head of Development and Investment of the Essex County Football Association.  He has been with this project for all of its 2/12 year life”

Please everyone be vigilant, the Royal British Legion club was broken into last Thursday night (about 11:30 pm) with extensive damage done. We understand other businesses were also targeted. If anyone saw or heard anything suspicious, please contact anyone at the Club, email boxted.legion@gmail.com or call Camille on 07702262183.

Clocks go back!

Daylight saving ends Saturday night/Sunday morning so please remember to adjust your clocks. For smartphones, computers or other devices with an internet connection, these should updat automatically. However, for many watches and clocks (in your car, for example) there is a strong likelihood these will not change so be ready to do these yourself.

Church Services

Sunday 29 October

10.30 am United Celebration at St John The Baptist Mount Bures
5pm All Soul’s Service at St Peter’s Boxted

A Boxted Ceilidh

Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm
Boxted Village Hall

An evening of music and fun for everyone!

Music by the Caledonian Reelers
Cash bar
Tables for groups of eight can be reserved
In aid of the Friends of St Peter’s Church Trust

Limited Tickets £12 each (including hot food) available only in advance from Jos Carter on 01206 272755

Langham Film Nights

Click here to buy tickets now!

What’s on in December …

Regulars in Boxted

Did you know there is an events calendar for Boxted Village Hall on the Boxted Village Website. Click here to view the calendar .

Boxted Royal British Legion

Check out the latest events on the RBL Facebook page .

All are welcome to all events!

Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter! If you have already signed up and not seen anything yet – please check your junk mail and mark us as not spam!!
Please click here to add your name to the mailing list: https://yvugxoqm77a.typeform.com/to/XkCQ9Db

Forest Church

Second Saturday every month, 3pm, St Peter’s Churchyard

Boxted Bingo!

Contact Dot for more details on 01206 272676

Open door drop-in cafe

Fridays, 8.45am – 10.15am
Boxted Village Hall

Boxted History Group

3rd Wednesday of each month
Boxted Village Hall – 7.30 pm
For further information call 01206 272774

Boxted WI

2nd Tuesday of each month 7.30 – 9,30
Boxted Village Hall

If any lady would like to get to know your fellow village ladies a little bit more or even just to join in the fun or enjoy some company you know where we are, just come along! We urge you to give us a try, we have a varied programme of activities throughout the year and guarantee plenty of laughs.

You can find us on Facebook

Art and Craft Club

3rd Wednesday of each month 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall

Bowls club

Every Friday 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall

Our Boxted Evergreen Club meet in the village hall every four weeks from 2.00pm to 3.30pm. Anyone wishing to come along would be given a warm welcome. Our members are always asked for their suggestions before our yearly entertainment programme is arranged, so we do try our best to cater for everyone. If you would like more information about our club please call Linda on 01206 272710.

Monthly Pencil Art

Contact willowsofdedham@gmail.com for more info

Mobile library

10.10am – 10.40am
Boxted Village Hall car park

9 November
30 November
21 December

For all mobile library dates go to https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-mobile-and-home-library-services/mobile-libraries/colchester

The Edge & The Zone

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 at St Peter’s Church. Contact Linda Sheil 01206 273324

Regulars in Langham

The Langham Community Centre hosts a wide range of regular clubs and unique activities. Many of these groups would welcome new members, so don’t hesitate to browse the ‘Activities’ page on the website or see the Facebook page to find out more.

If you have an idea for a new club or event, please contact Sue Armstrong by calling 07741 284132 or emailing LanghamCC@gmail.com to further discuss your idea.

Langham Ladies meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 7:30pm – 10:00pm at Langham Community Centre. Contact Gill Brown on 01206 273286 or Tricia Gooding on 01206 230510

Langham Community Cafe

Main Hall of the Community Centre on the last Friday of each month, from 10:30am until midday. All are welcome to join us for coffee/tea and cakes.

Beer and the Bible

Mobile Library

Moor Road, Langham, 9.35am – 10.05am

9 November
30 November
21 December

For all mobile library dates go to https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-mobile-and-home-library-services/mobile-libraries/colchester

In the Community

The Essex Waste Partnership has set out how it plans to manage recycling and waste in Essex over the next 30 years in a draft strategy. Residents and businesses are being encouraged to share their views on it and help to inform the final version. For further information, read the overview about the Waste Strategy HERE . Your views are important! Take the online survey HERE (closes 22 November 2023)

East Anglia GREEN project update

Following the name change we have also updated our project contact details which you can now use to get in touch with us here:
–  contact@n-t.nationalgrid.com
– FREEPOST N TO T
–  www.nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury

Langham Community Shop now has leaflets regarding National Grid’s Norwich to Tilbury pylon/cables plan. If you would like to object to their proposals, please pick up and complete the forms, which can be left at the Shop to be sent to the Secretary of State.

You can also find the petition online at:  https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/ or join the Facebook group at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/718238339216424/

Food bank donations

Food bank collection points are at Boxted British Legion Club, St Peter’s Church, Boxted, St Mary’s Church Langham and Langham Community Shop

Find out what’s needed and how you can help. Go to: https://colchester.foodbank.org.uk/

Good Neighbours

For help with transport to an important appointment (hospital, dentist, flu/covid booster, collection of prescriptions or a visit for some company. Call so we can help, Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm:

Monday……….230525 or 272773
Tuesday……….271813 or 273195
Wednesday….272755 or 272013
Thursday……..07842 034489 or 323007 or 07765 037892
Friday………… 07510 504026

Please phone for the day on which you make your call, not the day of your appointment.

St Peter’s Markets Plants

Over 500 plants are for sale in aid of Langham with Boxted Church Funds. Most plants are £1.50 to £3.50 with quantity discounts. Perennials, English native trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers are available. First come first served but all will be done to fulfil requests. Contact Stephen Whybrow on 07801 749575 or email stephenwhybrow@msn.com to order or arrange viewing or visit https://stpetersmarketplace.org/ for more information.

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

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

Boxted & Langham Churches
Little Owls Pre-School
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