In this summer July/August double-issue of Parish News we continue our series featuring fascinating facts about interesting people from the four parishes with an appreciation of how, 30 years ago, a TV programme by controversial film-maker Ken Russell and the support of American rock band The Grateful Dead combined to restore and maintain the unique classical music legacy of a past resident of Great Maplestead.
We’d like to continue with this feature so, if you have an interesting story to share about your parish or the people who lived or live there, please email it as a Word document of about 400 words, with any accompanying pictures, to the editorial address on Page 35.
As well as the usual mix of articles on past and future Parish events, gardening, nature notes and Council news, this issue also contains some important County Council information: a joint law enforcement campaign, Project Pegasus, seeking residents’ help in identifying the scale of criminal trafficking in Essex; the launch of new Climate Action Advice Packs, containing information to help residents, schools and businesses become more sustainable; and news about Digital Switchover, raising awareness that analogue phone lines are being replaced by digital landline services, which require a broadband connection, by January 2027.
This edition’s cover has prompted the idea of using aerial views of each Parish as occasional cover themes – we already have one of Great Maplestead but if you have pictures of either Gestingthorpe and/or Little Maplestead taken from a drone, helicopter or plane, please send them in.
So, get flying and snapping!
And finally, something cool and sweet for a warm summer’s evening:
Choc Hazelnut Coffee Mousse
Method:
Ingredients:
250g tub Mascarpone 1 cup (330g) Chocolate-Hazelnut spread ¼ cup (15g) Instant Coffee granules
1½ cups (375ml) Single (Whipping) Cream
1. Place the mascarpone and chocolate-hazelnut spread in a medium bowl and mix to combine.
2. Place the coffee and cream in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk to soft peaks. Add the mascarpone mixture and whisk for 30 seconds to stiff peaks.
3. Spoon into 4 x 1½-cup-capacity (375ml) bowls and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Serves 4.
Donna Hay, adapted by Liz Newton
Cover Picture of Pebmarsh from the air: Louise Bradley
Letter from the Reverend Beverley Vincent
I am always aware of a sense of change as we approach the months of July and August. As I write this, I am mindful that on 4th July we have a General Election, which of course will bring change, welcome or not, to our lives.
Other changes are often on the horizon at this time of year, a change of job, particularly for teachers, children moving schools, those preparing to start school, and youngsters preparing for university and leaving home. Change can cause us to be anxious, but also allow us to embrace new opportunities.
I’m delighted that, with the help of some marvellous volunteers, we embraced an opportunity to offer companionship, tea and cake and some creativity in our new initiative: ‘Meet, Cake, Create’. We wanted to invite anyone from our four parishes who felt they would appreciate a couple of hours enjoying some company once a month on a Saturday afternoon at St Giles’ Church. The sessions, which started in May, were great fun and have been enjoyed by volunteers and guests alike. An article, which can be found on Page 33 of this magazine, gives a report on the first session, some more information about this initiative and future session dates.
We can all feel lonely at times. The Bible has much to say about loneliness because God created us to be in relationships. As Saint Paul told the Philippians: “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:4-5). One of the challenges we face today is identifying those who do not or cannot get out to organised events; we all have a responsibility to look out for others in our neighbourhood and to seek out those who need someone to show they care and to feel that they matter.
So, this summer, remember to seek out the lonely, offer a listening ear or cup of tea, offer them the precious gift of your time. Showing we care for others is not only a biblical imperative but is what makes us human.
Have a great summer.
Rev’d Beverley
Church Services in July (August Services are on Page 38)
Thirty years ago the stillness of a bucolic summer in Great Maplestead was abruptly disturbed by the arrival of flamboyant film director Ken Russell and his entourage, who came to the village to record part of a documentary he was making for ITV’s ‘The South Bank Show’
The programme, ‘Classic Widows’, was a tribute to four of Russell’s favourite British composers – Sir William Walton, Benjamin Frankel, Humphrey Searle and (the reason for his visit) Bernard Stevens – in which their widows discussed how they were keeping their husbands' reputations alive. In addition to being interviewed by Russell, Bernard’s wife Bertha was filmed playing the violin in her garden – which caused the harvesting in Church Field to be postponed!
Bernard Stevens was born in 1916 and, after graduating from Cambridge, spent three years at the Royal College of Music until the outbreak of WWII. He became known to a wider public when his ‘Symphony for Liberation’, written to celebrate the Allied victory, won a well-publicised newspaper competition prize in 1946. Winning led to some lucrative work for a while, writing film scores.
But his initial success was not sustained: during the ‘50s, when the Stevens’ moved to the village, there was a lack of interest in composers of Bernard’s generation; he was not a self-publicist and, for much of his career, he was an unrepentant Marxist. This hard-left prediliction failed to endear him to the musical ‘establishment’; nevertheless he became a respected composer and teacher at the RCM, cycling to Halstead each day to catch the London train. Older residents may well remember ‘soirées’ held in Bernard’s composing studio at The Forge, when he and Bertha would entertain friends and people from the village with musical evenings.
After Russell’s attempt at re-establishing Bernard’s uniquely British classical music legacy, further help arrived from a highly unlikely source: the American
psychedelic rock band The Grateful Dead. Their bass player, Phil Lesh, was particularly attracted to the quirky individuality of late 20thC British symphonic music and, through the group’s charitable foundation, he donated $10,000 in the early 2000s to fund recordings of Bernard’s compositions.
In July 2016 Bernard was featured in the BBC Radio 3 series ‘Composer of the Week’ The five programmes covered various aspects of his life and career: his early success, his film scores, his Communist Party association, being made a fellow of the RCM in 1966 by the Queen Mother and his eventual death from cancer in 1983.
Bernard’s and Bertha’s ashes are interred in St Giles’ Churchyard, beneath the Baptistry window.
Steve Harris
Sources: Cathy Stevens; The South Bank Show; BFI; Slipped Disc; BBC Radio 3
A Foundation for the Future
Great Maplestead Parish Council was presented with a third consecutive Foundation Award Certificate at its Annual Meeting on 15th May.
This Award, presented by the Essex Association of Local Council’s Vice Chair Mike Eldred, was in recognition of the Council continuing to meet all the criteria and requirements for operating both lawfully and in accordance with best practice – it is valid for the next four years.
There are 10,480 Parish and Town Councils in England and, of the 307 in Essex, only 29 have achieved Foundation Award level – the Council would therefore like to thank the Clerk, Ann Crisp, for ensuring it continues to meet the strict criteria laid down by the EALC’s Award Assessment Panel.
At the meeting Mike was also pleased to present Councillor Long Service Awards to Joe Newton (left, 37 years) and Ian Johnson (33 years) in recognition of their contribution to, and work on, the Parish Council for over three decades.
Steve Harris – Parish Council Chairman
Gardening Corner
As we enter high summer there tends to be a lot of ‘green’ in our gardens. If you have a dark green mass in the form of a hedge, or two or three large shrubs, you can create a ‘hot spot’ by placing pots full of reds, oranges and yellows in front of the back drop – the bright colour will draw the eye away from a dense mass of green.
My recommended plant this month: Cosmos afrosanguineus chocamocha. Yes, it really does smell of chocolate and grows well on a pot or container – it’s ideal for a patio and makes an unusual talking point. Unfortunately, this cosmos is not winter hardy and needs to be taken in to a shed or unheated greenhouse over winter.
In July mowing or strimming can take place where spring bulbs flowered; the area can be mown regularly if desired. Continue to dead-head annuals and perennials including roses to encourage repeat flowering.
Take the side shoots out of tomatoes and feed weekly. If you are growing tomatoes outside in pots or in the vegetable garden it’s a good idea to sink a 3-inch pot in the ground to act as a reservoir when watering. Also, tap the side of the vine occasionally to disturb the pollen and encourage the flowers to set.
When planting out a container-grown shrub in the garden, place a cane across the hole level with the ground on both sides, this will ensure the shrub is planted at the correct depth.
Keep an eye on courgettes and marrows: there are more slugs than ever this year due to the excessively wet winter and spring. A deterrent can be crushed eggshells around each plant, half an empty grapefruit or beer traps! The latter are available at most garden centres, minus the beer! Net raspberries, black, white and red currants and tayberries to protect them from pigeons.
Remove the side buds on dahlias, leaving just the main central flower bud if you require larger blooms.
Lift the mower blades a notch – the grass growth will slow down now we are into the July/August period of the year. This will also lessen the chance of the lawn becoming scorched if we get a dry, hot period…
September will soon be here so, for now, enjoy just sitting in and admiring your garden.
The Arborist
Maplestead Events – Past and Future
The organisers would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who supported Little Maplestead’s Plant Sale on Saturday 11th May at The Round Church.
The weather was perfect, the crowds were queuing when we opened the gates and we raised over £2000, an astounding amount that was all due to the wonderful helpers and the fantastic supporters!
Thank you for helping to make this an amazing event for our very special church.
Jane Stone Pictures: Sally Gifford
Pebmarsh School’s Commemorative Garden
At St John the Baptist School in Pebmarsh our wonderful Friends of Pebmarsh team have been working very hard, alongside staff and children, to renovate Mary’s garden, which was created to commemorate the life of Mary Chapman, who was a much loved Teaching Assistant in the Reception class.
Mary had three young children of her own and had developed breast cancer in her mid-30s. When she started work at Pebmarsh she was clear of cancer but sadly it came back. She continued to come into work when she felt well enough during her treatment but sadly she did not survive.
The school had the garden created in her memory as a place for the children to enjoy – Mary would have liked that. It is now a space where children can relax, reflect and pray if they would like to. The materials were donated by Wickes in Braintree, following a successful bid.
Our Gardening Club, led by Jo Clayman, our Chair of Governors, has been working hard around the school planting vegetables, flowers and learning all about how we can help our local area. It has been really lovely to see the children engaged with the outdoors and improving a wide range of areas. They plan to plant in the village too, including outside the King’s Head and at the war memorial.
The Gardening Club children have also achieved their levels 1 and 2 RHS Gardening for Schools Certificates, which means they have won seeds and even a voucher to spend – they plan on buying a fruit tree for our field.
If you would like to support the school in anyway then please do not hesitate to get in touch at admin@st-john.essex.sch.uk. We are always happy to welcome volunteers to support with a vast range of activities including: reading with children, running a club, sharing your expertise or even just coming in for a chat at lunchtime.
Teresa Gage Headteacher
Oh! Deer
Occasionally I go a bit further afield with my camera and one October a few years ago I had the chance to join a friend on a trip to Bushy Park and Richmond Park in London.
We specifically went to take pictures of the deer at sunrise and photograph them rutting. It was a very early start but we were blessed with some beautiful scenes of the deer with the sun rising behind them which is something I’ll never forget.
We saw lots of rutting stags, heard lots of roaring and stags walking around with their antlers covered in foliage in an attempt to look bigger and more threatening. The noise of their antlers clashing together was something else and we saw several stags with antler damage. When walking in these parks in rutting season you have to be very aware of what’s happening around you as it can be dangerous with lots of testosterone fuelled aggressive stags around.
We saw Red and Fallow deer in huge groups but also hundreds of noisy Parakeets, grey herons and much more wildlife around every corner.
If you ever get a chance to visit either of these parks then do it –you won’t be disappointed.
Heidi Page – Oak Farm Pebmarsh
Some New and Changed Dates for Your Diary
Hedingham Heritage Society
The General Election on July 4th means the Memorial Hall becomes a Polling Station then, so we have had to change our planned programme. The meeting scheduled for July is now in August: there will be no July meeting.
Thursday 8th August
‘Sir John Hawkwood and the White Company’. Local historian and author Jan Cole will be looking at how this local man, born the son of a tanner in Sible Hedingham around 1320, rose from humble beginnings to fame and fortune. A fresco of him on horseback (left), painted by Uccello and displayed in the Duomo, Florence, illustrates the importance and significance attained by this mercenary soldier, who died in Italy in March 1394.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Saturday 10th August
Local historian Charles Bird will be leading a walk around, and giving a talk about, the buildings of architectural and historical significance around the centre of Castle Hedingham, including St Nicholas’ Church.
Meet at 2.00pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall Car Park
Please book your place with either Rob or Trudi beforehand.
Thursday 5th September
The National Trust’s David Simmons returns to talk about Hatfield Forest, its use for hunting by royals and its de Veres and Castle Hedingham connections.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
A Reminder: Our Battle of Britain meeting is now on Thursday 3rd October.
Do join our local and natural history society. Annual membership is £15.
Members come free for all walks and talks : Non-Members - £5. Everybody is Welcome. Contacts: Rob: 01787 460 664 : Trudi: 01787 462 889
E-mail: hedinghamheritage@gmail.com or visit www.hedinghamheritage.org.uk
Keeping Connected
Project Pegasus is taking off this summer
Partners in Essex – a joint law enforcement initiative between the Border Force, the National Crime Agency, the Police and the charity Crimestoppers –have set up Project Pegasus, a campaign with the aim of identifying the scale of criminal trafficking in Essex.
This kind of illegal activity – involving individuals and gangs smuggling people, drugs and guns, as well as committing terrorism offences – is often carried out with light aircraft, helicopters and microlights using small airfields and airports.
There are so many of these across Essex –historic or commercial airfields, smaller flying clubs and airstrips in farmers’ fields – that not all of them can be monitored 24 hours a day. The campaign is therefore asking local aviation communities and residents to be its eyes and ears in identifying and actively reporting any suspicious activity occurring at or around any small airfields and airports in their area.
Things to look out for include:
planes landing at unusual places or times
packages being dropped from low-flying aircraft
suspicious deliveries or concealed cargo
items being handled suspiciously
someone taking an unusual interest in airport security
someone being where they shouldn’t be
someone flying a drone close to an airfield or airport
an aircraft that has been unusually modified
a person being evasive about passengers, flights or routes
a pilot ignoring aviation regulations or filing misleading or false aviation reports or flight plans
Anyone seeing something suspicious should not take direct action, or reveal their suspicions, but call the police on 101 or, if urgent, on 999. Information can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously: call 0800 555 111 at any time or complete a secure form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader, said: “Illegal trafficking causes immense harm. We know there are a significant number of smaller commercial or private airfields in Essex and we hope, by raising awareness of what to spot, communities can help us make a real difference in reporting suspicious or illegal activity. If you notice something unexpected or unusual, please report it as soon as possible.”
Detective Chief Inspector Justin Beacher said: “Reporting suspicious activity will help the police build up a picture of what’s happening around the county and allow us to identify issues with people using small airfields to commit crime.”
To support Project Pegasus, Essex Police will be attending a number of events this summer sharing information on what to look for to identify crossborder crime.
More information can be found at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/newscampaigns/campaigns/don-t-let-crime-take-off.
Commemorating the D-Day Anniversary
Great Maplestead’s Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day on 6th June got underway at 6.30pm with the bells of St Giles’ Church ringing out for peace.
An hour or so later nearly 100 people from the parish and surrounding villages gathered in the suitably decorated Village Hall for a Fish and Chip Supper, provided by The Hook, Halstead. Why fish and chips?
Well, in addition to being a ‘protected national dish’ in WWII, during the Normandy landings soldiers who needed a way of telling whether someone nearby was a friend or foe would reportedly use the words fish and chips as a code – one would call ‘fish’ and, if the other was a friend, they would reply ‘chips’.
After the meal the Maplesteads’ Singers, ably conducted by Jo Watson, treated the assembled diners to a well-rehearsed rendition of moraleboosting WWII songs, with the audience enthusiastically singing along while tucking into birthday girl Ann Harris’s delicious chocolate brownies. Later, presentations were made to Jo and Ann Crisp (left) in recognition of their sterling efforts, along with their ‘A-Team’ of willing volunteers (right), in organising this very special evening, which raised nearly £180 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.
Later on people filed out into the calm, quiet evening air, their glasses charged with fizz, for the 9.15pm Beacon Lighting ceremony. A tribute to the fallen was read by Charles Tindall, followed by a toast to their memory. The Last Post, played expertly by Martin Elms, preceded a communal singing of the National Anthem, bringing what had been a most memorable village occasion to an appropriately fitting close.
June Day
Pictures: Charles Tindall/Steve Harris
Nature Notes
Very little patch patrolling has been done in the last month as I have been on holiday. Holidays, however, provide different habitats holding different species and there have certainly been notable examples of these. Two in particular stand out, one in England and the other in Scotland.
Starting with Scotland, there is a migrant thrush that breeds in the Highlands with a name many will not know – the Ring Ouzel. These birds do pass through Essex on the way north from their wintering grounds in Southern Spain and Northwest Africa but sightings are generally confined to coastal areas like the Naze at Walton.
On a ramble up Glen Callater, outside Braemar, at an elevation of about 1200ft above sea level, I found a pair of these beautiful birds in typical habitat: rocky hillside with heather and scattered small trees bordering a fast-flowing stream. I had already spotted a Dipper and Grey Wagtails before I heard, then saw, the Ring Ouzels. Simply put the male is like a male Blackbird, jet black with a yellow bill but distinguished by a bold white crescent across the breast. The female is a duller brown, also with the crescent. As I observed the pair I realised they were feeding young and I was able to locate the nest in heather as the birds, in turn, entered with beaks full and exited empty. The nest was on the other side of the stream and I did not attempt to approach it.
Driving between North Essex and Scotland we usually overnight in Amble, Northumberland, a pleasant coastal village that runs boat trips to Coquet Island just off the mouth of the river with the same name. The island is an RSPB reserve and the best place in Britain to see the rare Roseate Tern as well as hundreds of Puffins and other seabirds. Landing on the island is forbidden but the boat is able to make close approaches, enabling visitors to experience the cacophony of a breeding seabird colony.
I had booked the trip out several days before and so was unaware that an extreme rarity had arrived, causing a frenzy of excitement among ‘twitchers’ and putting a premium on boat tickets. The bird causing the stir was a Bridled Tern, a tropical species breeding in Asia, the Americas and, closer to us, the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. I was absolutely thrilled to see both the Roseate and Bridled Terns, the latter my first ever and, therefore, a ‘lifer’, as birders refer to such events. My highlight of the holiday, no doubt. Patch Patroller
Saving Energy, Money and the Planet
Climate Action Advice Packs
Essex County Council’s Advice Packs, developed following innovative recommendations from the Essex Climate Action Commission’s report ‘Net Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral’, contain updated information to help residents, schools and businesses become more sustainable, highlighting ways to reduce carbon emissions and potentially save money.
The packs can be downloaded for free at www.essexclimate.org.uk/what-can-i-do and offer cost-effective and achievable solutions tailored for four different groups:
Residents
Schools
Businesses Early years and childcare settings
The Climate Action Advice Packs are part of the Council’s ‘Everyone’s Essex’ commitment to work closely with communities and businesses over climate action, providing advice and support to empower local action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience.
Eco Upgrades – Applications Now Open
Residents in Essex can now apply for solar panels, heat pumps and have more energy-efficient measures installed for little or no cost.
ECO4 Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex (GBIS) are being offered by ECC through ‘Better Housing Better Health’ to help improve energy-inefficient properties.
Both schemes are available to homeowners, those with a health condition or qualifying benefit and tenants, with their landlord’s permission, who have a household income below £31,000 and Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings between D and G. Residents with a property tax band between A and D can also apply for the GBIS.
Councillor Peter Schwier, ECC’s Climate Czar and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, said: “A low EPC rating can cost hundreds of pounds per year in energy bills, reduce the value of a property and ultimately harm the environment. However, improving it can come with an upfront cost that many people can’t afford.
“ECO4 Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme will help eligible low-income households and vulnerable residents to access valuable energysaving measures. People can check their eligibility at: https://www.essex.gov.uk/planning-land-and-recycling/energy-climate-andenvironment/energy-company-obligation-eco4-and-great”
It’s Showtime!
Saturday 7th September
Residents of Great and Little Maplestead should find a schedule for the forthcoming Autumn Show tucked inside this month’s Parish News.
We hope the young – and the not so young – will find something of interest to participate in and will start their preparations early in order to make this year’s show even more successful than last years.
There are many show categories to enter, including the competition to grow the sunflower with the largest seed head – this is open to all ages and is sponsored by Jo Green of Radiant Beauty. Please bring your sunflower to the Village Hall where it will be officially measured…
After the show there will be prize-giving, produce sale and a raffle as well as refreshments and a bar!
Entries – including your sunflower – can be brought to the Village Hall either on Friday evening, from 6.30-7.30pm, or on Saturday from 11.30am2.30pm. The hall will then be closed for judging and there will be no admittance for viewing until 5.30pm.
Copies of the Autumn Show schedule will be available in both the Round Church and St. Giles’ Church, with an online version on both villages’ websites. If you would like any further information, contact Carol Brownlie. Tel 01787 461 527 or e-mail: carolbrownlie@gmail.com
Village Hall/Gathering/Books
Gestingthorpe Village Hall AGM
Following the Village Hall AGM held on Thursday 6th June, the members of the Management Committee are now as follows:
Elected members: Dawn Green, Nic Smith, Roger Goldsmith, Myra Quick, Geoff Quick & Steve Bagby
Representative members: Penny Bagby (Parish Council), Peter Nice (Parochial Church Council), Andy Craig (History Group), Damian Prior (Cricket Club).
At the Management Committee meeting following the AGM, Dawn Green and Damian Prior were elected as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively. Nic Smith was appointed Secretary and Penny Bagby re-appointed as Treasurer.
Thank you to the members of the public who attended the AGM.
The date of the next AGM is 5th June 2025.
Gestingthorpe ‘Gathering’ Coffee Mornings
Come and join us in the Village Hall and have an enjoyable time chatting with friends over a hot drink and delicious cakes.
We would love to see you and we guarantee a warm welcome and lovely home baked cakes accompanied by a steaming cup of tea or coffee.
If you haven’t yet been to a coffee morning, please come along.
Coffee mornings during July/August will be from 10.00am to 12 noon
July : on the Fridays of 12th/26th August : on the Fridays of 9th/23rd
Any funds raised go towards the upkeep and running of our Village Hall.
First Tuesday Book Club and Book Exchange
The Gestingthorpe Book Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the Village Hall. Our meetings are very informal with lots of chat, laughs, wine & nibbles.
This month’s book is Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce. If you would like to join us, our next meeting is Tuesday 2nd July at 7.30pm.
The Book Exchange will be open on the 12th/26th July and the 9th/23rd August from 10.00am to 12 noon. The bookcase is located next to the big window in the small hall. Bring a book to swap or buy a book for £1.
All proceeds to the Village Hall funds
Contact Penny pbagby1@gmail.com or 07840 367 172 for further details.
Church Matters
Pebmarsh
St John the Baptist Church looked really tidy and we finally had some sunshine, just in time for a lovely village wedding; our congratulations to Tamsin and Tom!
I have officially signed up for another year as Church Warden; sadly, this year I’m on my own and there are so many challenges ahead.
We have been successful in securing finance for repairing the other wall in the churchyard – work will hopefully start in late August – and I have attended a workshop on grant funding, organised by the dioceses, which was very interesting and helpful.
We are still in need of a treasurer and another warden, as well a cleaner –a paid role. If you would like to join us as a PCC member, please contact myself or Beverly Vincent – our contact details are on Page 38.
The church also needs help on a day-to-day basis to keep it looking loved and cared for; it welcomes lots of visitors, including many from around the world with connections to Pebmarsh, so please support us.
Sarah Burgess – Pebmarsh Church Warden
Great Maplestead
St Giles’ Church was recently at the centre of a social media furore, following some considerably animated and fervent speculation regarding the mystifying movements of various bits of the opening and closing furniture on the doors of the Tower (aka Warm) Room.
Concerns were expressed, not only as to the identity and motives of the mysterious mover but also as to how the handles and push-panels should be properly oriented in order to enable the doors to be operated to best effect.
Subsequent discussions prompted a suggestion that a suitable sign, placed on one of the doors, might be beneficial in indicating to regular ‘Warm Room’ users the correct way to satisfactorily effect entry and exit.
However, it was subsequently decided not to pursue this apparently sensible option, after it was pointed out that the proposed sign, which seemed succinctly to explain how to correctly use the door in question to enter and exit the room without mishap, could, on reflection, have been open to misinterpretation…
George Fredrick
Helping to Cope with Change
Digital Switchover
Essex County Council has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the fact that, by January 2027, analogue phone lines will be replaced by a digital landline service, which will need a broadband connection.
Telephone providers should be contacting residents long before the Digital Switchover happens to discuss what people need to do in order to ensure their phones keep operating.
The change should be straightforward: existing broadband users should just be able to plug their digital landline into their router. However, residents should contact their provider for more information about what needs to be done if they, or someone they know:
doesn’t have broadband at home
uses a personal alarm or healthcare device
has additional needs
lives in an area with no mobile signal
All the latest information is at: www.essex.gov.uk/landline-switch.
Halstead Day Centre
Halstead Day Centre is a long established Charitable Day Centre, catering for the needs of people over the age of 60 who feel isolated or just lonely (even if they live with family, who are possibly out at work all day) and feel they would like to meet with other people in a friendly atmosphere.
There is no need for an official referral: you, a friend or family member, can just ring the manager on the number below and she or the Care Coordinator will come out and see you to assess your needs, and give you all the details.
The many activities to take part in, a hot two-course dinner, tea and coffee morning and afternoon and transport to and from your house or flat, in our accessible mini-buses, are all included in the amount you pay to attend.
Our staff are fully trained and the Day Centre is a lively and happy place. We own our own mini-buses and our building in Halstead is fully wheelchair accessible, as are our toilets.
To contact us, ring 01787 476 253 and ask for Veronica (Manager) or Frances (Care Coordinator) Monday to Wednesday 9.15 – 4.00pm. At other times leave a name and phone number and they will get back to you.
E-mail: ve@halsteaddc.org. Website: Halstead Day Centre
Parish News Information
Advertising/Announcements/Articles
The 2024 Parish News Business Advertising Rates for the year (10 issues, pro-rated as applicable) and for monthly single issues are shown below, along with copy deadline dates for each of the remaining 4 issues.
Contacts:
Advertising
Articles
Please submit by e-mail, preferably as a Word document attachment with separate images: ½ page: 150-160 words Full page: 400-420 words
Ann Harris ann66harris@gmail.com Editorial Parish News Team parishnewsmaplestead@gmail.com
The Parish Representatives, to whom articles and event announcement submissions should be sent, are listed on the Inside Front Cover.
