Village News and Events
in Boxted and Langham
Welcome to this week’s newsletter – giving you a reminder of some of the regular events taking place in Boxted and Langham. Featured this week is an inspiring account of Poppy Pissarro as our “face of the village”. There’s also a lovely story of bats in the belfry at St Peter’s church, along with an update on the schedule to complete work on the tower renovation project.
Faces of the village
Poppy Pissarro
Poppy grew up in Boxted on her family’s fruit farm, Holly Lodge. Sadly the farm was broken up and sold long ago with so many other fruit farms in the area. Most of the apple orchards in Boxted have disappeared.
The remaining farm buildings were converted and transformed into a children’s Day Nursery and a base for a furniture removal company. Poppy had a love of horses and went on to successfully compete and train dressage. After two decades of pure dedication to horses she decided it was time for a change … plumbing? Why not?
After closing her yard she took a year out to retrain at college. Now she is employed by a local plumbing and heating company. Her skill set is servicing and breakdown repair of boilers.
Poppy thoroughly enjoys her job. “I work with a great team of people, face new challenges every day and I get to meet a huge array of intriguing people, so many of whom have wonderful stories to tell”.
She has also had time to develop a new obsession: rowing, and rows every morning before work in Sudbury. She says the river is stunning at that time of day.
Next call: Tuesday 1st October
Next meeting: Wednesday 2nd October
Wednesday 3rd October
Boxted Village Hall
“Tales with Trevor”
Church Services
Sunday 6th October
Bats in the Belfry!
People will have noticed that the tower of St Peter’s Church is shrouded in scaffolding. At last urgent work has started to renew the badly leaking roof covering, and to carry out essential repairs to the stone and brickwork facings at a cost of between £60 – 70,000. These repairs have only been made possible by the fund raising campaign over the last 12 months, helped by not only the congregation, but by village residents and friends who have supported the various events, such as the Dog show, the Declutter Sale and Safari Supper, and individual donations etc.
The work started on the 1st September, and has to be completed by 30th November to accommodate the requirements of the resident bat population. The survey carried out by ‘Bat Consultants to Natural England’ has revealed evidence of a Bat Maternity Unit which must be protected. An adapted window cut has been installed to allow them access to the tower.
Thankfully, now, the tower should be good for another thousand years, together with happy bats!
Neighbourhood watch reported incident
Park Lane,Langham
Suspects unknown have removed victims black wooden gates from the entrance to a field.
MILL ROAD SURGERY
FLU CLINICS 2019
Saturday 12th October – open flu clinic
- No vaccine is available for under 65s until week commencing 7th October 2019
- No under 16s
You are invited to attend if you are:
- Aged 65 years and over (including patients who will be 65 up to 31st March 2020)
- Pregnant
- Diabetic
- A carer in receipt of a carer’s allowance
- Living in long-stay residential care home
Or suffer from:
- Chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease
- Immunosuppression (which is subject to completion of a flu jab request slip)
Attendance times:
- Surnames A-F: 9.00am – 10.00am
- Surnames G-O: 10.00am – 11.00am
- Surnames P-Z: 11.00am – 12.00noon
St Helena Hospice will be running a stall and collection on both mornings to raise some funds so please give generously!
Note:
There are no invitation letters being sent out this year – if you are unsure whether you are eligible please ask at reception.
Boxted Amateur Players
Boxted Amateur Players will be performing Snow White this year and are looking for a couple more performers.
Anyone interested in getting involved please contact Scott Dolling 07904887000 scottdolling@hotmail.co.uk
Volunteer(s) needed to assist Boxted Parish Council in Community Hub and Playing Field consultation
Money has become available from Colchester Borough Council to assist in enhancing facilities which will benefit the whole community. Two contributions have been allocated to Boxted:
- Community Facilities Contribution (“for the management of playing fields or the Community Hub”)
- Open Space Sports and Recreation Contribution (“for improvement and enhancement of King George Playing Field with a specific need to improving the Community Hub”)
Any residents who are interested in volunteering with the parish council and Colchester Borough Council to research/decide how the money should be spent can show an expression of interest by contacting the clerk: Karen Thompson on boxtedparishcouncil@gmail.com. Ideally they would have some experience in either research and delivery of consultations or delivering large or community based projects.
This is an excellent opportunity to make a difference to our community.
Langham Community Shop
New volunteers needed
We have been open for almost 15 years and are run solely by volunteers.
The Shop is becoming more popular and used on a daily basis by many in the village and beyond.
We are looking for new volunteers to help run this important asset to the community.
There are four shifts per day during the week – two on Saturday and one on Sunday, all around two hours each, with two volunteers working together. Full training will be given. There is the option of working a regular shift or to fill gaps in the rota when they occur. You just need to add your name to the rota for a shift that suits you best, no commitment is needed.
If you would like to help us run this valuable local shop or would like more information,
please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Cath Hine on 01206 322274
Langham Heritage Group
Festival of Arts & Flowers
Langham Church
1976 – 2000
Ian Hollands is writing a record of the popular Festival of Arts and Flowers, which was held at Langham Church for 25 years. He has very few pictures of the event and if anyone has any photographs of it he would very much like to borrow them for scanning and attachment to the record.
Please contact Ian if you can help: ianhollands33@gmail.com, (230525).
Be a Councillor!
We have vacancies on Boxted parish council and we would really like more people to be involved in important local decisions. There is a useful video at the link called ‘Be a Councillor’ – click on the picture below to run the video – take a look and see what you think.
Get in touch with Karen, our clerk, on boxtedparishcouncil@gmail.com and come along to our 9th October meeting.
Boxted benefits when people get involved.
The PCC needs to dispose of a Large Pine “School” Cupboard. Six drawers above. Dimensions: 57 ” wide by 49″ high and 25.5″ deep. Offers invited – please contact Stephen Garner 272599
Dates for the diary …
Boxted carpet bowls club
Tuesday 8th and 22nd October, 2.30pm
Every Friday 7pm
Boxted Village Hall
If you are interested in attending or would like more information on the Bowls Club, please contact Christina Lawrence on 01206 272654
Boxted WI
Tuesday 8th October 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Boxted Village Hall
Life as a Tudor
Eleanor Jenkins talking about her other life as a Tudor at Kentwell Hall.
Boxted Parish Council Meeting
Wednesday 9th October 7.30pm
Boxted Village Hall
The Edge
Friday 11th and 25th October
8pm, Boxted Methodist Hall
Beer and The Bible
Monday 14th October 8pm
The Shepherd, Langham
Boxted Airfield Historical Group
Tuesday 15th October, 7.30 pm
Airfield Museum, Langham
Guest speaker Bob Barnett on Sand, Sea and Carnage. Details available from Jeremy on 07885 657255 or jezzyh@btinternet.com. Admission donation £4, includes refreshments and a raffle ticket.
Boxted History Group
Wednesday 16th October, 7.30pm
Boxted Village Hall
Bob Finch talks about John Constable’s connection with Colchester.
Mobile Library
10.10 to 10.40 am
Boxted Playing Field
17th October 2019
7th November 2019
28th November 2019
19th December 2019
Boxted Evergreens
Upcoming dates
Boxted Village Hall
Thursday 17th October: A G M with scones
Thursday 31st October: Age Concern
Thursday 14th November: Ask members for any good tips or remedies
Thursday 28th November: Christmas party Boxted Buskers
Thursday 5th December: Christmas lunch
Lets all wear it pink
Friday 18th October, 7.30pm-10pm
Langham Community Centre
Mimi’s Boutique showcasing its Autumn Collection raising funds for breast cancer: wearitpink.org
Tickets £5.00. Fizz on arrival plus licensed bar. Find us on Facebook
Useful links:
Boxted Parish Council Website
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Primary School
Boxted British Legion
Langham and Boxted Churches
Boxted Cricket Club
Mobile Library Service
Boxted Runners
Boxted Neighbourhood Plan
Boxted WI on Facebook
Boxted WI on Twitter
Boxted 10K
Boxted Airfield Historical Group
Langham Community Centre
Langham Community Shop
Langham Village Website
Dedham Vale & Stour Valley ANOB
Essex County Council’s PROW Interactive map
Colchester District Neighbourhood Watch
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Newsletter editor: Angela McLauchlan Design and layout: Shirley Szymanek
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