Boxted Village Website

Village News and Events

in Boxted and Langham

A little bit of history …

Sue Ward has kindly given us a little bit of history around the photo of the Boxted Methodist Silver Band and also the poster below. Sue writes:

“These photos were actually found in the papers belonging to my late uncle, Vic Lucking. He married Violet Schofield (of Schofields removals family). He passed away in February 1996, aged 84. His sister Elsie (Sue’s mother ) was almost 103 when she passed away in August 2017. Vic and Elsie, along with their elder sister, Gladys (she passed away in December 1994 also aged 84) were the children of Edith & Charles Lucking, who lived at 60 Straight Road on a small holding. 

Grandad (Charles) was awarded the B.E.M medal for services to the land during WW2. He worked for Alf Sexton. (Alf Sexton owned and farmed a lot of land in Boxted) Vic was in the Boxted Methodist Silver Band with his father, Charles. Edith was one of 13 children born to George and Ester Minter of Boxted. 

The whole family were born in Boxted and all married at Boxted Methodist Chapel! Vic, was born at number 2, the cottage next to the chicken farm on Straight Road and always lived in Boxted. On marrying he had the house called Luckfield in Ellis Road built, moving after many years there to Rakaia in Mill Road. Luckfield was named after both of their surnames – Lucking/Schofield! 

Elsie (Sue’s Mum) lived in Boxted until she married Harry Towns, from Mile End, where she subsequently moved to, as did Glady who married John Towns (Harry’s brother) in a double ceremony with Vic and Violet on Boxing Day in 1938.



British Legion Parade led by the Boxted Methodist Silver Band in 1928.



Poster displaying the services of the brass band from 1910

(Extracted from British History Online) : In 1818 there were two Nonconformist schools, one with 8 or 9 children, the other with 15. The Wesleyan chapel had a Sunday school with 20 children by 1839; it continued in 1851. By 1871 it had its own schoolhouse for 30, and an average attendance of 40 infants.

The school received no government grant and was last recorded in 1872. From 1910 to 1946 a temporary Council school for 75 infants was held in the Methodist schoolhouse; it continued for a further six months in Priory Hall until it was amalgamated with the Junior school in 1947. The schoolhouse was used as a church hall in 1998
 

Langham water works history

Gary Jenkins has kindly supplied us with a brief history of the Langham Treatment Works (1928), pipelines to South Essex, the en route pumping station at Tiptree and balancing tank at Danbury, which were completed in 1932.

Water is abstracted from the River Stour at Langham Low Lift Pumping Station and pumped to a 145 MI storage reservoir where some sediment can settle out.

From this reservoir the raw water flows under gravity to the filtration plant. The first stage in the treatment process is filtration through rapid gravity sand filters at a rate of 5,868 m3/m2/hour. This filtration stage can be assisted by coagulation with either aluminium sulphate or ferric sulphate as required.

From the rapid gravity filters the water flows to the slow filtration stage.

After secondary filtration the water is chlorinated and dechlorination with sulphur dioxide can be applied if necessary.

The river water at Langham is subject to heavy algal growth mainly in the form of diatoms. These can cause rapid blocking of the secondary filters and this in turn may restrict the output of the plant. Under these conditions water can either be returned from Abberton Reservoir for treatment at the Langham Works or water can be pumped from boreholes local to the works in order to effect a dilution of the river water.



The water is pumped by electrically and diesel driven pumps to Tiptree. At Tiptree there is a balancing reservoir for the water from Langham and from this reservoir the water is pumped on to Danbury balancing tank by diesel driven pumpsets, these being the original plant installed in 1932.

Very little change has occurred over the years at the Langham Works. An electrically driven pump was added in 1956 to the original four diesel driven sets in order to provide a standby required because of the unreliability of the diesel sets then installed which have subsequently been renewed in 1969.

Today, the entire pumping station is electric pumps only. Oxygen injection is employed, using ozone and carbon filtration.



You can find out more about Essex water at https://essexwatersupply.com/south-essex-waterworks-co/
 

Old photos

The Stoke by Nayland History Society was recently given some photo albums belonging to the late Mrs Flossie Humphreys (nee Briggs), a former resident of the village. Special thanks to Annette Whybrow for sending these photos. They were given over to the Boxted History Archives. We hope you enjoy looking at them.

Amongst these were several taken during WW2 when Flossie was a member of the Women’s Land Army in Boxted and a few taken during a WLA reunion.



Flossie 1942 ( in WLA uniform)



1942 (group outside houses)


March 1943 ( group outside barn)



1948 Carter & Blewitt’s Fruit Farm at Hill Farm, Boxted which has now been redeveloped with housing.


WLA Hostel Gulsons Farm Boxted 1943


On the farm 1943 ( girls on tractor)


1948 Minter’s Lake Boxted


1942 Entitled “ Twitter” presumably the name of the horse



Dorothy, Flossie and Marjorie 1944


1948 ( group outside thatched cottage Reunion?)
 

Church services

Good news! St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s will be open for private prayer and contemplation as from Monday 15th June, following all safety guidelines.

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

Download last week’s sermon here

Recycling containers can now be ordered for delivery. Order recycling containers for delivery to your home address. Only one container per household.
Click here and insert your postcode.
 

Watch out for virus scams

Grahame Stehle
Colchester District Neighbourhood Watch





Criminals are cashing in on the coronavirus pandemic by using scams to target vulnerable and older people to steal money and identities.

The National Crime Agency warns that cyber criminals are using Covid-19-themed malicious apps and websites, as well as email phishing attacks, to steal personal and financial information.

Independent charity Crimestoppers wants to stop isolated and vulnerable people from becoming victims of crime by helping them to find trusted sources of information and reporting.

Fraudsters’ tactics:

• Claiming to provide victims with a list of active infections in their area but requires disclosure of personal information/donation. A virus can be inserted into your computer.
• Sending investment scheme and trading advice, encouraging people to take advantage of the coronavirus downturn.
• Claiming to be healthcare workers offering ‘home-testing’ for Covid-19 or attempting to get victims to disclose personal information.
• Claiming to be from HMRC offering a tax refund and direc-ing victims to a fake website to harvest personal and financial details.
• Extorting money by claiming they are collecting donations for a Covid-19 ‘vaccine’.
• Selling fake sanitisers, masks and Covid-19 swabbing kits online and door-to-door.
• Offering fake holiday refunds for those forced to cancel trips.

For more information, visit www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 or visit friendsagainstscams.org.uk

How to fight fraud

• Before giving any personal information ask yourself:
• Who wants my details and why?
• Are they genuine?
• Have they verified who they are?
• Would the person they claim to be request that information?
• Have I destroyed any personal or financial information or receipts?

If you have any suspicions, don’t give your details until you have checked everything. Anyone in a rush to complete, is probably a fraudster.

To learn more about protecting yourself visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Antisocial behaviour

You can now report the following online:
1. The behaviour of someone
2. A problem with your neighbour
3. A problem with an animal
4. A vehicle causing an obstruction
5. An abandoned vehicle

Click here for further details.

Get safe online

email has always been the most commonplace method used by online fraudsters to trick innocent people out of their money, their identity… or both. It still is. And currently, they’re exploiting the current Coronavirus
pandemic with persuasive messages ranging from vaccines and cures to tax refunds and fake charity appeals.

For more information and expert, easy-to-follow, impartial advice on safeguarding yourself, your family,
finances, devices and workplace, visit https://www.getsafeonline.org

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. 

 

Cycle Security

Stephen Armson-Smith
Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor
Essex Police


Cycle security is always an issue with thefts from a variety of locations including the town centre, residential areas, and educational establishments. Commonly bicycles are either not secured or not secured properly, and this makes it easy for thieves.

Where do they go? Number of places: – in a container abroad, to another part of the country, stored in premises or sold as either a cycle or cycle parts via the internet, or third parties.

By taking some appropriate precautions and using good quality security products, and using them well, should help you to keep your property safe. Use the best security you can afford. Don’t secure a £2,000 bicycle with a £20 lock! As a guide look to spend 10-15% of the value of the item on its security. Look for a “Sold Secure” certified chain and padlock or “D – Lock” preferably gold rated but certainly not below silver. Consider what you chain it to whether at home or whilst out, is that secure? Is it well overlooked to provide good natural surveillance?

Make a note of the frame number, security mark the cycle, there are a number of different methods available such as www.bikeregister.com, www.datatag.co.uk , and www.retainagroup.com. Take a photograph of the cycle and any areas of damage or marks of identification, and some insurance companies may require one with the owner in the picture with it.

At home remove that first attraction to the thief or burglar: 1) don’t leave garage doors open for long periods showing your expensive cycle and other property, 2) consider a “Ground anchor” or “Shed shackle” within your shed or garage to secure your cycle to, 3) look at your shed or garages security and ensure you have good locks and that the hinges are protected, 4) consider a shed alarm.

If you can its worth getting your children or grandchildren into good habits, keeping their bikes secure and not leaving them discarded on the front lawn or other, may save problems in the future.

Check with your insurance company to see what security standards they require for your insurance cover to be valid.

For suitable security products see www.securedbydesign.com or www.soldsecure.com
.
For further advice see https://www.essex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/theft-of-a-bicycle/how-safe-is-your-bike/
 

In brief …

Your quick reference guide to newsletter regulars.
 

Thursday 18th June, 5-7pm
British Legion Car Park
Straight Road

Covid-19 symptom checker app

Download the app for iPhone here
Download the app for Android here


 

Coronavirus updates 

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.

• Colchester 01206 282 452/ Clacton 01255 686497
• Email: Digitalaccesssupport@colchester.gov.uk

Useful links:

Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Village Website
https://boxtedparishcouncil.org.uk
Boxted Primary School
Boxted British Legion

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