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.
Events this week …
Church Services
Sunday 19 May
St Mary’s Langham
- 9.30 am Said Holy Communion
- 10.30 am Morning Worship
Refreshments will be served between the services
Christina Lawrence
25 December 1941 – 26 April 2024
Christina, who passed away peacefully in St Helena Hospice, had lived in Boxted for more than forty years and more recently was the administrator for Boxted Carpet Bowls Club. She survived her husband, Clive Lawrence, who is buried in St. Peter’s churchyard. Her funeral will take place in St Peter’s Church, Boxted on Tuesday May 28 at 11 am.
The Bowls Club
Above photo – Boxted Carpet Bowls Club circa 2008
Formed over 25 years ago in approximately 1998, the bowls club was one of the most popular activities in the village hall at the time with the VH committee contributing half the cost of the equipment. Lots of tournaments were played with other local clubs and it provided a good social connection for members combined with an activity with the following health benefits:
- Great exercise – not too strenuous
- All weather indoor game
- Sociable – be part of a team
- Fun to do
- Improves hand eye coordination and strengthens muscle tone, helps prevent depression and anxiety and promotes healthy sleep patterns
The club, which has taken the summer off, currently has a small group of members but would welcome more, especially members with either digital skills to help with the administration and others with physical strength who can help with rolling out the carpets which is quite heavy work.
The current administrator is Michael Hubbard and he would be pleased to hear from anyone interested in finding out more. Tel: 07888 699357.
Northern Lights over Boxted
On the night of Friday 10th May skywatchers were able to view one of nature’s most spectacular events, a dramatic display of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). This had been announced on news and weather reports so even casual observers were able to watch and photograph what turned out to be one of the best displays ever seen in this country.
The aurora when seen from England is normally confined to faint glows, occasionally visible very low down in the north so a very flat horizon is required to see anything. This display, however, was on a completely different scale with multi-coloured bands and streamers seen high overhead as well as a green curtain effect visible lower down towards the north.
Auroras are more likely to be seen when the Sun is at its most active and this occurs as part of an eleven-year cycle. It’s at this time that the Sun will show many sunspots and that was the case prior to the display when a massive sunspot appeared. These can be very active regions that create an effect called a Coronal Mass Ejection, where high-energy particles are blasted into space. If they are aligned with the Earth, they’ll travel 93-million miles from the Sun and when they reach the Earth will spiral in along magnetic field lines, entering the atmosphere and glowing in a way quite similar to that of a neon lamp.
Thankfully, sky conditions were very good for the display. Even the ever-increasing light pollution from Colchester didn’t spoil the show and for around two hours the sky was lit up with dramatic coloured arcs and surprisingly linear bands. Many people were able to take good pictures of the event using mobile phone cameras but best results came from digital cameras placed on sturdy tripods which enabled longer exposures to be taken.
The display started with a green curtain effect towards the north in the direction of the Dedham Vale. As the aurora became more active it was easy to view the red banding with the naked eye.
During the most active part of the display it was possible to see extensive red aurora as well as much less common lilac coloured banding. This view is south-east in the direction of Langham village.
Towards the north-west, the aurora exhibited magnificent linear banding high overhead.
Another view towards the south-east showing a nice mixture of green and lilac auroral bands.
If you missed the display, the Sun is still very active so it’s possible we’ll get the opportunity to see more auroral displays in the coming months.
All photographs taken by Nik Szymanek
Boxted’s Unique Landscape
Above: Oak trees and mainly hawthorn hedging in Horklesey Road, a legacy from the enclosure of the original heathland
Douglas Carter, a past village history recorder wrote:
“The surveyors started work in the spring of 1813….” … “To gain access to the fields, roads were laid out dividing the main areas into blocks. At the centre we had Boxted Straight Road or Long Road – which extended from Heath (now Holly) Cottage to Betty Potter’s Dip – some 2.5 miles. It is said it was marked out with a pair of horses and plough, the ploughman must have had a good eye, the road is completely straight. Other roads leading off Straight Road laid out at this time were Chapel Road, Mill Road, Queens Head Road, Langham Road, Ivy Lodge Road and Ellis Road. These roads were surfaced with stone from pits near Betty Potters Dip and Runkyns Corner.”
“Each field, whatever it’s acreage, was not only marked by a bank and hawthorn hedge, also had an open ditch surrounding it for drainage.”
It is possible therefore that these trees are over 200 years old.
Pylons in Boxted
Click here to download a pdf of this image
Click here to download a pdf of this image
Remember, the final day for sending in objections/observations to National Grid is 18 June 2024. Sign the petition HERE .
Scroll down to see further information in the ‘Regulars in Boxted’ section.
Did you know that Boxted and Great Horkesley has a not-for-profit community oil buying club?
The club places a group order every month and nearly always beats the likes of Boilerjuice and The Oil Club. It costs nothing to join and you pay the supplier direct. So, no middle man taking a commission or adding a service charge.
Simply send an email with the subject “Subscribe” to aldercarwood@gmail.com and you will then start to receive monthly invitations to order. You can even set your own target price and if this isn’t met, you have the option to withdraw your enquiry.
For further information, please see our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/aldercarwood
Later in May …
Dates for the diary …
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 .
Pylons in Boxted
The YouTube link for a recording of the presentation is as follows: https://youtu.be/he526OsS59k
Copies of the presentation slides can be downloaded from the below link (in both MS Powerpoint and PDF formats): https://geodex.egnyte.com/fl/DAoBov0huj/Boxted_Parish_Council_
A full list of links is provided in the description of the YouTube video and within the presentation slides. For more information please follow:
- https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/718238339216424
- https://www.facebook.com/boxtedagainstpylons/
For all official National Grid information please see:
Sing to beat Parkinsons
Fortnightly Wednesdays 10.30 – noon (term time). £5.00. Contact Emma Bishton at colchester.singtobeat@gmail.com for more information and check session dates at www.ejbmusic.co.uk/colchester
Boxted Royal British Legion
Check out the latest events on the RBL Facebook page
.
All are welcome to all events!
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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
Term time only
Boxted History Group
3rd Wednesday of each month
Boxted Village Hall – 7.30 pm
For further information call 01206 272774
Neil Dickenson will talk to the Group about Japan – The last Shogun to the Present Emperor at the meeting in the Village hall at 7.45pm on Wednesday 17th April. and will begin with a short AGM. All welcome. Information on 272250.
2nd Tuesday of the month 7.30pm @ Boxted Village Hall
Contact:
Geraldine Russell 07840 746953
Email Essex HQ @ admin@essexwi.org.uk
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
25 April
16 May
06 June
27 June
18 July
08 August
29 August
19 September
10 October
31 October
21 November
12 December
https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-mobile-and-home-library-services/mobile-libraries/colchester
You can call ourContact Centre on 0345 603 7628 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).
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. ContactLinda 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 the2nd Thursday of each month, 7:30pm – 10:00pm atLangham Community Centre.Contact Gill Brown on01206 273286orTricia Gooding on01206 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
25 April
16 May
06 June
27 June
18 July
08 August
29 August
19 September
10 October
31 October
21 November
12 December
https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-mobile-and-home-library-services/mobile-libraries/colchester
You can call ourContact Centre on 0345 603 7628 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).
In the Community
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 regardingNational 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.
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 S t Peters Church
Little Owls Pre-School
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 St Mary’s Church
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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