Parish News - May 2024

Church and Community together

May 2024

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Useful Village Contacts

anncrisp@greatmaplesteadpc.co.uk littlemaplesteadparishclerk@gmail.com pebmarshparishclerk@gmail.com gestingthorpepc@gmail.com

lizatlucking@hotmail.com pebmarshvillagehall@gmail.com

steveharris@greatmaplesteadpc.co.uk geraldineholloway2017@gmail.com michael@broomhills-farm.co.uk pbagby1@gmail.com

davepike@greatmaplsteadpc.co.uk joenewton@greatmaplesteadpc.co.uk bobandjanicechaplin@btinternet.com carolbrownlie@gmail.com acantor56@outlook.com

taximother@googlemail.com

jim@craystonfarms.co.uk pbagby1@gmail.com

angeladavis99@outlook.com jean.bowers@wea.ac.uk carolbrownlie@gmail.com

gillpeskett43@gmail.com i.johnson057@btinternet.com billpiper204@gmail.com helenskerratt@gmail.com

ann66harris@gmail.com jennyarchitect@icloud.com lhwbrown@hotmail.co.uk pbagby1@gmail.com

Editorial

The fourth edition of our new-look Parish News reinstates, by popular request, timetable information about the F315 bus service. This will, of course, only be of use for the next couple of months as the Dart3 on-demand replacement service begins operating from July.

Our series of fascinating stories about people from each parish continues with an appreciation of a very interesting Pebmarsh man. If you have a suitable story to share, details of how to submit it can be found on Page 29.

And we are still looking for local or seasonal photographs that we can credit and use for future front covers. Please e-mail jpeg pictures (identifying the location, if necessary) directly to the editorial address.

So, get writing and snapping!

The Maplesteads Autumn Show

This year’s Autumn Show will be held on September 7th in Great Maplestead Village Hall. The committee is compiling the schedule, which will be delivered to residents of Great and Little Maplestead shortly; there’ll be something in the programme to appeal to all ages.

The Sunflower Competition this year will be awarded to the person who grows the sunflower with the largest seed head – we look forward to a spectacular display on the day of the Show.

The Photographic Competition for adults is entitled ‘Our Church’ (either external or internal photographs) while children under 16 will be competing for the best ‘Selfie’! We hope for an interesting entry…

D-DAY 80 COMMEMORATION BEACON LIGHTING

Thursday 6th June sees the 80th anniversary of D-Day in WWII. Great Maplestead will be joining in the nationwide commemoration.

6.30pm Participation in the national ring out of bells, St Giles Church

7.30pm Village Hall opens for a fish & chip supper, served at 8.00pm. A cash bar will be available.

8.00pm Fish & Chip supper – provided by The Hook, Halstead

>>> Pre-orders are required by Sunday 12th May <<<

 Fish & Chips - £10.00

 Battered Jumbo Sausage & Chips - £5.00

 2xVegan Sausages & Chips - £5.00

To Order: Phone or text Jo Watson on 07810 481 016 or phone Ann Crisp on 01787 460 216

9.15pm Beacon Lighting and national tribute in the Village Hall car park

This will be a fundraising event for SSAFA – the Armed Forces charity

Cover Picture of May Blossom © Copyright Andrew Curtis - Geograph

Letter from the Reverend Beverley Vincent

May is a month when I feel like I can take a deep breath while I look around at the beauty of God’s creation and give thanks. I’m not keen on winter, on being cold or wet, or seeing the barrenness of the earth. By May everything in creation seems to have woken up, and hopefully the sun will be shining.

As I look around, I am mindful of the story of creation in the Bible when God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good (Genesis 1:31). However, we know that we have a huge task ahead to rescue the earth from the damage that mankind has caused over the years. God gave humans the responsibility of using (not exploiting) the earth’s resources and looking after them (Genesis 2:15). Sadly, we have failed to be good stewards.

Our churches want to take seriously our impact on creation, and so all four of our parish churches have registered with Eco Church https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/. This is an environmental project which helps churches measure their impact in five key areas: Worship and teaching; Buildings; Land; Community and Global Engagement and Lifestyle. It’s an award scheme which encourages us to look critically at how we are doing and how to do better. I’m delighted that three of our churches have now received the bronze award; the fourth is nearly there.

At our Team service at St Mary’s, Gestingthorpe last month, we were delighted to welcome Andy Jowitt from Foxearth Meadows (https://arocha.org.uk/what-we-do/foxearth-meadows/) to speak about Eco Church. He educated and inspired us with information about the terrible state of our natural world and how we can all make a difference to live more sustainably.

We are blessed to live in such beautiful countryside with creation bursting forth all around. Unless we do more to protect its species of plants, insects and animals they will become extinct. This month seems to be a good time to rethink what our contribution is to protect our precious environment, perhaps we can do our own assessment of our personal impact and set some new goals.

It is also that time of year when we have Gestingthorpe’s wonderful Wiggery Wood, open to us for the annual Bluebell Service, courtesy of Ashley Cooper, on 5th May at 3.00pm. We will give thanks for the glory of creation amidst the bluebells in a short Holy Communion service, everyone is most welcome.

Rev’d Beverley

Jerusalem’s first Military Governor since Pilate

Sir Ronald Henry Amherst Storrs KCMG CBE (1881–1955) must be one of Pebmarsh’s most notable residents. Living in his later years at Mill House in Mill Lane, the tall arched grey stone next to the church porch marks his grave.

Born into an ecclesiastical family, Storrs left Cambridge with a First-Class degree in Classics, joined the Foreign Office and became a Colonial Administrator, serving as the Oriental Secretary in Cairo, Military Governor of Jerusalem and Governors of Cyprus and Northern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

Sir Ronald was a key figure during the rise of the Arab people against Ottoman hegemony, the Arab Revolt and decline of the Ottoman Empire being memorably depicted in David Lean’s film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Like T. E. Lawrence, Storrs was multi-lingual; fluent in many Arab languages and dialects. His deep knowledge and understanding of Arabic culture and its rich diversity was unparalleled in the colonial establishment.

In his autobiography, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Lawrence wrote: ‘The first of all of us was Ronald Storrs, Oriental Secretary of the Residency. The most brilliant Englishman in the Near East, and subtly efficient, despite his diversion of energy in love of music and letters, of sculpture, painting of whatever was beautiful in the world’s fruit… Storrs was always first, and the great man among us.’

Lawrence formed a great friendship with Storrs and clearly earned his utmost respect. When Lawrence died in a motorcycle accident in 1935, Sir Ronald, along with Winston Churchill, was one of the pallbearers at his funeral.

In 1917 Storrs became Military Governor of the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration. As a Colonel in the British Army, he claimed in his memoirs to have been the first military governor of Jerusalem since Pontius Pilate. During this time Sir Ronald had strategic influence on events like the Nebi Musa Riots of 1920, which have similarities to, and a direct bearing on, the tragic circumstances affecting the Middle East/Arab region to this day.

Sir Ronald and his wife worshipped in Pebmarsh church during their later years, organising fundraising and acting as a sidesman at services. He still has a presence in the church, but only if you look closely: the fine religious painting, often unnoticed, hanging by the south door, was one of his gifts and, when I visited the church recently, I leafed through another – the thick leather-bound bible on the eagle lectern at the south altar, which has, inside its cover, a handwritten message from Ronald Storrs himself.

Were he alive today, it is perhaps easy to imagine Storrs understanding many of the complexities of current international politics – perhaps more so, given his involvement in designing its architecture. I often imagine, on hearing a biblical place name during a reading in church, Sir Ronald sitting in one of the pews as just a humble parishioner, thinking back to places he knew so well and events over which he had so much influence.

Luke Brown

Fines Increase for Littering and Fly-tipping

Littering and fly-tipping are a scourge on the local countryside and, following a change in Government legislation aiming to crack down on environmental crime, Braintree District Council recently agreed to increase Fixed Penalty Notice fines to further combat these offences.

Adults (anyone over the age of 18) who commit littering may now receive a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice, reduced to £150 if paid within 10 days. If the FPN is not paid within 14 days, legal action may be taken. Those the Magistrates find guilty may receive a fine of up to £2,500 plus costs.

Children under the age of 18 may receive a warning, with a letter being sent to their parents or guardians.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment and Customer Services, and Deputy Leader at Braintree District Council said: “We take proportionate and effective enforcement action and use Fixed Penalty Notices against people who intentionally or carelessly damage their local environment, to help change their behaviour and deter others from offending.

“One of the most effective ways is to have public support to be our eyes and ears where possible. We already know that our residents are passionate about their local environment, and care about where they live. So please, if you see any kind of environmental crime, let us know and we will follow it up. Thank you.”

Illegal littering, fly-tipping, graffiti and any other activity that breaches the Household Waste Duty of Care can be reported to BDC at: www.braintree.gov.uk/seeitreportit

Pictures and dash-cam footage are vital tools for supporting enforcement action and can be e-mailed to BDC’s Streetscene Protection Team at: streetscene.enforcement@braintree.gov.uk

St Giles’ School pupils helping to keep their village litter-free…

Earlier this year pupils from Muntjacs accompanied those from Hedgehogs on a litterpicking walk around the centre of Great Maplestead to support their course work on recycling.

The Year 6 pupils were really excited to spend some time with their Hedgehog buddies helping out in the community.

Gardening Corner

Gardens can be a place where accidents happen! Much has been written about health and safety in recent years and a piece of advice I was given is always to look behind you if you are working in the garden and need to step backwards. Mowing the lawn recently, I recalled this sensible advice; as I disengaged the mower from drive and was about to pull the machine towards me (the particular section of lawn was at an acute angle) I glanced over my shoulder and saw large pot, which had been moved from its plinth, that I could have fallen over – a lesson learnt!

My plant of the month – Alstroemeria – is another worthy addition to a mixed flower border. They prefer good drainage but, other than that, it is a plant which makes a colourful impact. Do not be concerned when you purchase them and the container just has a mass of white roots – this is how it should look. Alstroemeria flower from June through to October, they are winter hardy and have vibrant flowers ranging from dark reds, pinks through to yellows. It is a plant often used by flower arrangers as the flowers last for up to three weeks in water.

Weather permitting, continue to sow spring onions, radish, broad beans, spinach, beetroot and French beans. In a cold greenhouse or cold frame/window sill, sow runner beans and courgettes and marrows for planting out in June.

With the excessive amount of rain we have had this past few months slugs and snails are thriving! Here are three easy plants to grow which these molluscs tend to avoid; Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla), Foxgloves (Digitalis) and any of the various ferns sold in garden centres.

Dahlias and gladiolus will need supports. If you are using canes, another safety tip: a rubber cap on the end of the cane is advisable as it is so easy to bend down and poke yourself in the eye.

May is traditionally the month for planting or ’setting’ out annual bedding plants. It is safest to leave planting until the end of the month, hopefully avoiding any late frosts. Hanging baskets can be made up with my second plant of the month recommendation, if you can find them: Scaevola Surdiva, a plant of many colours that really makes a statement.

Lastly, tomatoes and peppers can be placed in their pots in the greenhouse, porch or sheltered corner. Keep an eye on the side shoots with tomatoes, pinch these out at the leaf axle (joint) with the main leaves. This will help maintain a straight stem.

We will soon be able to sit for a while in the garden with a cup of tea, admiring all our hard work…

F315 Bus Route and Timetable

The current F315 Demand Responsive Transport (DaRT) bus service between Halstead and Sudbury uses wheelchair-friendly minibuses accommodating 8 to 16 passengers. The service runs between 7.30am and 7.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays. Passengers must book a seat at least two hours in advance of travel.

Bookings can be made either by: Telephone: 01621 874 411 or e-mail: bookings@essexandsuffolkdart.co.uk

There is a flat fare structure between any two stops:

Adult (over 16) Child (5-16 inc.)

Single Return

Single Return

£3.00 £5.00 £1.50 £2.50

Children under 5 are free Concessionary bus passes are accepted.

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Highly Commended by CAMRA

The Pebmarsh Community Pub Limited Management Committee (PCPL) would like to congratulate Ryan, Kathy and the King's Head team on gaining a Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) Award.

The King's Head was Highly Commended in the 2024 North East Essex Rural Pub of the Year Award, voted for by CAMRA members. CAMRA representatives visited in early April to make the presentation and the Committee were delighted to have had the pub recognised in this way.

You can find out about special events at the King's Head and view current menus at www.kingsheadpebmarsh.co.uk. You can also follow the pub on Facebook @kingsheadpebmarsh or Instagram @kingshead_Pebmarsh and check events monthly in the pub’s regular Parish News advertisement.

PCPL is always pleased to welcome new Shareholders to our Community Benefit Society. If you know of anyone who might be interested, our share prospectus can be found at https://pcp.pebmarsh.com/becoming-a-shareholder/. Existing Members are also welcome to increase their own shareholdings at any time: just contact the Committee. We’d like to thank them for their continued support.

James Haylock, James Tucker, Maud-May Cuthbert

Jonathan Nott, Guy Holliday & Kate Stubbs

The PCPL Management Committee

A New Headteacher for Pebmarsh School

The governing body of St John the Baptist School are proud and pleased to introduce our new headteacher: Miss Teresa Gage.

In addition to being Deputy Head, Miss Gage has been teaching our year five and six class at the school since September 2022. She took over as Interim Head in September 2023, when our previous headteacher moved on and we were considering the prospect of joining an Academy.

We have decided to focus on embedding all the great improvements that have been made during the past year and work towards an Outstanding Ofsted when we are next inspected. Miss Gage has been instrumental in leading our great team of teachers and staff to our present standard.

After a gruelling interview day, Miss Gage beat our other shortlisted candidate to take the headteacher role and there was great jubilation in school at the end of last half-term when we announced our decision –thankfully it was a popular choice!

Keeping her promise to the children, during April Miss Gage introduced them to their new school pet – a very cute tortoise called Fitzralph (named after Sir William Fitzralph, the famous 12th century Essex High Sheriff and Conservator of the Peace, who has a brass memorial in the the village church). It is hoped that our Fitzralph will stay with the school for years to come and be enjoyed by many future generations of pupils…

We will be holding an after-school work party on 3rd and 10th May to help tidy up the school garden and make some improvements to the bark seating area. We will also be putting the final touches to our amazing new hexagonal greenhouse, which has been kindly donated by a parent. This will allow the school to run a new gardening club and, if successful with our seed planting, we plan to fill the village planters and add a splash of colour to the village for the summer.

Finally, we will be holding a Quiz Night on Friday 7th June to help raise money for all those little extras that the school always needs but to which Government budgets just don’t stretch.

There will be more details about the Quiz coming soon but please, put this date in your diary and get together a team to take part in this most worthwhile event. Everyone is welcome, so do come along and participate – your contribution will be very much appreciated.

The Governing Body St John the Baptist School

Buzzards

For a long time I wanted to get photos of Buzzards but they were very nervous and my camera noise scared them off despite me being in my hide. I managed to finally get them on trail cam after some trial and error and decided to have another go with my camera.

To my surprise and delight it was quickly joined by another – I now had two in front of my camera. The whole time they were pulling the meat apart they were being dive bombed by crows and magpies, one of which was brave enough to get close and peck at one of the Buzzards tail feathers; the size difference is huge.

My friend gave me a hog roast carcass to put out for the wildlife so I put it near a tree I’d seen the Buzzards perching in regularly and sat and waited.

After lots of circling and calling overhead one finally came down for a look. I didn’t take photos straight away as I wanted it to settle with the food. After a short time of just watching I took some photos, luckily the Buzzard was more interested in the food than any noise my camera was making.

Since that time I’ve managed to get more photos of Buzzards, usually because I’ve had some meat to put out. They swoop down and land without a sound, often taking me by surprise, but it’s not long before they are being mobbed by corvids so they don’t always hang around long preferring to grab the food and eat it elsewhere.

The Buzzards seem to be very much in competition with the Red Kites around here now but I think there’s enough roadkill to feed everything; fingers crossed they can all live in harmony.

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Nature Notes

The British are renowned for feeding birds in their gardens and the sales of peanuts and sunflower hearts are orders of magnitude higher than in neighbouring European countries. I recently decided to try Niger, a tiny, black, oily seed said to be attractive to goldfinches and other species. A special feeder was required with tiny slits but, as it sat untouched for weeks, I took it down.

As I had 3 kg of the seed to dispose of I scattered some on the ground. Despite being so small it was soon discovered and a variety of birds from Robins and Dunnock up to Red-legged Partridge and pheasants were soon bustling about to find every last seed. Then I was favoured by a pair of Stock Doves, those attractive, smaller cousins of the Woodpigeons who seemed to be particularly fond of the Niger. They are now regular visitors to the garden and I will keep scattering it. Try it, but save yourself the price of a feeder!

Another unusual bird tends to appear in spring; the Siskin is a tiny streaky green and yellow finch that breeds in the north but strays south in winter. In the spring they head back north and en route appear on garden feeders. I had five in April 2021 and this month I have had up to eight over the past week. There have been reports of them from all over Essex, so I am not alone. Check your own feeders, they are easily overlooked. On one of the days they visited they were accompanied by a single male Redpoll, another uncommon small Finch – this one, as the name suggests, with a bright red crown. In full breeding plumage the breast is pink and they are not dissimilar to the commoner Linnet. White wing-bars and a black chin are key features of the Redpoll.

The first butterflies are appearing in gardens on warm days and are a welcome harbinger of spring. Brimstones are one of the first; they are large, butter yellow and fast fliers. They are unusual in that the adults hibernate over winter and can appear as early as February if there is a warm spell – their food plant is buckthorn.

Moth numbers also start to increase as the weather warms. A lovely moth, acknowledged as such by its name – the Pine Beauty – appeared in my light trap at the end of March. Despite it being described in ‘Moths of Essex’ as resident and frequent, this was my first specimen in seven years of regular recording. They are brick red with white markings and the caterpillars feed on pine needles. There are not many pines near my garden, so this probably explains why it has taken so long to record one.

An Interesting Talk and a Sizzling Spring Sale

Coffee Mornings/AGM/Dates for Your Diary

Gestingthorpe ‘Gathering’ Coffee Mornings

The weather is improving, shrubs and bedding plants are growing well and getting into full leaf with some already giving us a delightful display of flowers, so we are all getting busier in our gardens.

Just the time of year to take a break and come along to enjoy a hot drink and a slice of delicious home-made cake in the Village Hall with your friends. We would love to see you and we guarantee you a warm welcome, lovely home baked cakes accompanied by a steaming cup of tea or coffee.

Our coffee mornings during May and June will be held from 10.00am to 12 noon

May : on the Fridays of the 3rd, 17th and 31st

June : on the Fridays of the 14th and 28th

Funds raised go towards the upkeep and running of our Village Hall.

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Painting, Plants and Pizza

Hedingham Heritage Society

Thursday 9th May

‘Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood : Artists of Bardfield and Hedingham’. Dr Janet Dyson, author, teacher and researcher will be telling us about the diverse styles and shared love of figurative art and the local environment of the Great Bardfield Artists, a community living in that village during the middle years of the 20th century. Although they lived in Castle Hedingham, Eric and his wife Tirzah were very much part of this North Essex artistic group that produced a huge amount of work of both local and national significance.

7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall

Thursday 6th June

‘The River Stour’. James Lunn, from the River Stour Trust, will be giving a talk about our neighbouring river and its navigation.

7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall

Do join our local and natural history society. Annual membership for 2024 is £15.

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 6 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.

Support for Young and Old…

Deadline for applications is 15th June 2024

Notes from the Churchwardens

It’s been a busy few weeks for the team at St Giles’ Great Maplestead. Denise had the pleasure of watching the children from St Giles’ primary school doing rehearsals for their Easter service - “I was an audience of one!” The actual performance in front of the parents and Rev’d Beverley was so good – all the children did their very best and hearing young voices joyfully singing in the church was amazing.

After the bareness of the church during Lent, the flower arranging team produced some beautiful arrangements to celebrate Easter Day and to welcome any visitors. We are continuing with our eco-friendly approach so no floral foam was used. Our thanks to everyone who came and helped –it was a real team effort.

Fast forward to Saturday 6th April, when a great group of 25 villagers arrived to do our annual churchyard tidy. The morning started with the discovery of a swarm of bees, which was quickly cordoned off to ensure everyone was safe. After we finished the bees were safely removed in case it rained and they perished. The work has given us a new compost pile, which will eventually provide good quality compost.

After their morning’s efforts, the working party enjoyed coffee and delicious cakes – thank you so much to the cake makers! We finished with the discovery of a robin sitting on her nest – absolutely beautiful! There are also birds using the nest boxes put up by Patsy Maile; it’s important that these are not disturbed, as we continue to ‘Care for God’s Creation’.

Denise O’Connell/Paula Sillett Great Maplestead Church Wardens

The Vicar:

The Four Parishes Benefice

The Reverend Beverley Vincent

The Rectory Church Street

Great Maplestead 07944 200 132

Halstead, C09 2RG khvicar@gmail.com 01787 460 273

The Churchwardens:

Great Maplestead

Paula Sillett 07975 571 253 sillett92@gmail.com

Denise O’Connell 07795 170 048 niciedenise@gmail.com

Little Maplestead

Gestingthorpe

Alice Nolda 01787 469 688

Peter Nice 01787 460 126 peter.427nice@btinternet.com

Pebmarsh

Jim Crayston 07957 870 340 jim@craystonfarms.co.uk

Sarah Burgess 01787 269 092 sarahburgess@btinternet.com

Church Services in May

Sunday 5th

9.30am 11.00am 3.00pm Holy Communion Holy Communion Bluebell Service

Great Maplestead Little Maplestead Wiggery Wood, Gestingthorpe

Thursday 9th 7.00pm Holy Communion (Ascension) Great Maplestead

Sunday 12th 9.30am 10.30am 11.00am Holy Communion Café Church Holy Communion Pebmarsh Great Maplestead Gestingthorpe

Sunday 19th 11.00am Benefice Holy Communion (Pentecost)

Great Maplestead

Wednesday 22nd 10.00am Holy Communion Gestingthorpe

Sunday 26th 9.30am 11.00am 4.00pm 4.00pm Holy Communion Morning Worship Taketime Together Evensong

Sunday 2nd June 10.30am

Team Holy Communion

Rev’d Katie’s leaving service

Great Maplestead Pebmarsh Little Maplestead Gestingthorpe

St. Andrew’s Halstead

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