9 minute read
Scam alerts
Telephone Scam—Essex County Council
A North Weald resident rang me on Monday 15th March to inform me that on Friday evening they received a call on their landline and her husband answered it. The caller asked for his name, date of birth and whether he owned his home.
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Luckily his wife overheard and took the phone from him. She asked why the caller was asking these questions, the caller who did not provide any details of her name or company, informed her they had been given permission from Essex County Council and were ringing residents in North Weald, Epping, Ongar, Chelmsford etc to see how they were doing in the pandemic. The resident promptly asked what this had to with the questions they had asked her husband and the call ended.
The resident rang Essex county council today and informed them of the call who then confirmed it was a scam and told her to contact action fraud but she has no idea how to do this, as she does not use the internet etc. She kindly informed me so I can spread the word and share this with residents. Please be careful and particularly warn your elderly and vulnerable friends and relatives. Car sellers are warned by Essex Police to be on the lookout for a re-emerging scam that sees potential buyers try to knock thousands off a car’s asking price, by tampering with its engine. The scam, which has been around for a number of years, sees criminals secretly pour oil into the coolant reservoir of the vehicle for sale, then request a large discount claiming it will require a new engine. The scammers often arrive to view the car in pairs or threes and will try and distract the seller. One may ask to look at the engine whilst the other wants to see the spare tyre in the boot. When the car is taken for a test drive, the engine may smoke or make loud noises, which will prompt the scammers to ask for a cut-price deal. We have seen an increase in the number of reports of this scam in Essex.
If selling a car, remember: • Stay with the buyers. Don’t leave them alone with the car or allow yourself to be distracted at the rear of the vehicle whilst someone is looking at the engine. • Be aware of suspicious behaviour. Scammers will often request an enormous discount due to the ‘fault’ with the vehicle. • Be confident to refuse the sale. If you are doubtful about how genuine the buyer is, or you believe that something suspicious is going on, don’t hand over the keys. For advice on steps you can take to protect yourself and prevent becoming a victim of fraud visit www.essex.police.uk/fraud
Thornwood Village Open Gardens. July 11th 2021
Puppy love is in the air at St Clare Hospice as registration officially opens for the charity’s rescheduled annual Winter Walkies event.
The 5k pooch parade will be taking place at the Hastingwoodbased hospice on Sunday 23rd May 2021 – having been postponed due to COVID since February. The event promises to be a lot less muddy and wintry – and more than 200 walkers and their furry friends are expected to support the fundraiser.
St Clare Hospice’s Events Fundraiser, Emma Broadbent, is organising the event and said: “This year marks the 15th time the Hospice has hosted the event and for the first time ever it will be taking place in the Spring, not the Winter! The up-side to having to postpone the event from February is that we will hopefully be swapping muddy paws and cold weather, for sunny Spring conditions. The 2020 walk saw 160 walkers and their dogs take part, and we are hoping even more people register for 2021. We’ll be making sure to follow all the current COVID-secure measures, so that the event can go ahead safely.”
As part of the event’s launch the Hospice is once again hosting their ever-popular ‘Cutest Canine Competition’ – and the charity is calling on local pet-owners to enter their favourite photograph of their pet to win a hamper of doggy goodies and the chance to
officially start the Winter Walkies event. Voting for the St Clare ‘Cutest Canine Competition’ will run from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd April 2021on the charity’s Facebook and Instagram pages. All entries are due by 12noon on Friday 16th Apriland entrants must have registered for Winter Walkies 2021 in order to be eligible for the competition.
Registration costs £10 for adults, £5 for children and £27.50 for a family (2 adults & 2 children) which includes a free soup, dog rosette and certificates for children. Please be aware that the route is not suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
This year’s event is kindly sponsored by Epping-based vets, Forest Veterinary Centre.
For more information and to register, call Emma Broadbent on 01279 773754, email emma.broadbent@stclarehospice.org.uk or see https://
Hello Everyone We are feeling very positive about being able to have our event this year in support of St Clare Hospice. So, all systems are GO If you live in Thornwood, and you, or any of your friends/neighbours would like to be part of Thornwood Village Open Gardens 2021, either opening a garden or being part of the organising group, we would be delighted to hear from you.As St Care Hospice would like confirmation of our event by 15th March, please could I ask you to let us know ASAP At the moment our plans are for Sunday July 11th 2021, 10am – 4pm.
To date the organising team is Mary West Pierre Waddoups Karen Ellis-Andrews Pete Andrews If you would like to help with the running of this event, or even be our St Clare Link, please let us know. Our email address is, as always thornwoodcommon@gmail.com or ring us Mary & Pierre 01992 579408 53 Weald Hall Lane Karen & Pete 07719 863408 21 Woodfield Terrace Looking forward to hearing from you Mary , Pierre, Karen and Pete
This month, Reverend Tom Warmington and his family leave St Andrew’s Church, North Weald, to take on St Mary’s Great Dunmow and St Andrew’s Barnston. Tom has been very pro-active in the parish and played an active role at St Andrew’s Primary School. Tom has also been one of my key and active volunteer co-ordinators for the local area providing help and support during the pandemic. I also know he was been very active in helping out local vulnerable people and families in Epping. Of course, many will know Tom who has penned Church Chat regularly taking over from Edwyn Gilmour who worked with me initially to start this regular church communication with readers.
Tom has volunteered at many charity organisations during covid to help those in need as well as of course providing a crucial role in St John’s Church, Epping. Tom has been providing a vital role in the community for the last few years and was always approachable, friendly and supportive. I am sure you will join me in wishing Tom a fantastic future in a great Dunmow. Don’t worry, Tom has not forgotten readers either, he has appointed a new person to take over the responsibility of Church Chat. Photo: Tom in action serving pancakes at the free community pancake event he organised in February 2020 for the people of the village in the North Weald Village Hall
The Epping Forest District Museum website is hosting a wildlife photography competition this Spring as part of the district’s first ever Festival of Culture.
In recent months we’ve all been staying home to help save lives. Human movement has been drastically minimised and our relationship with nature has changed as a result of that. The focus of this competition is on wildlife on our doorsteps – photos that really tell a story about this unique moment in history. It could be images of birds that you’ve never really noticed before but now watch from your window everyday whilst working, or a fox that has become increasingly bold.
Specialising in plastering, external rendering and K rend
There are three categories: • 10 Years and Under
• 11-18 Years, • Adults (19 Years+) A public and judges’ vote will decide the winners, who will receive family tickets to the postponed Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition next year along with free children’s workshops in this year’s summer Violin for Sale programme for the winning photos”. Visit www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/museum/ whats-on/photocomp/ for all the information on how to enter, size of photos, terms and conditions and frequently asked questions. The competition is part of the first Epping Forest District Council Festival of Culture which kicked off late January and runs until 17th April, providing a platform for diverse, community led cultural activities across the district.
Based in North Weald
IMPORTANT Defibrillators
Recently I understand defibrillators from both Thornwood and North Weald have been needed to help people who have become unwell whilst awaiting emergency services. So to ensure all residents are aware of the location of our defibrillators, here are the details. Once you ring emergency services to inform them of someone needing emergency assistance, they will give you the code required to access the defibrillator looked in coded cabinets.
North Weald:- Outside the Methodist Church Hall. Thornwood—Outside the Parish Hall.
Get Involved with St Clare Hospice this Spring
West Essex and East Herts charity, St Clare Hospice, is inviting supporters to get involved in their range of activities this Spring. From their events and volunteering opportunities; to playing their Lottery, taking on a challenge, or connecting through your business – there are so many ways to get your family and friends, school, business or community group involved with your local hospice charity.
Director of Income Generation at the Hospice, Rosie Knowles, said: “Spring is a time for new beginnings, and as the world opens up and we start to get out and about again, we want to invite our local community to get involved with us. The past year has shown us all what really matters to us, and those around us, and certainly one of those things is how important it is to stay connected with your community. There has never been a more important time to get involved with your local hospice – and there are so many ways for you to have fun, and raise vital funds with St Clare this Spring.”
“The support of our community means more than ever to our doctors, nurses, and all our staff caring on the frontline this springtime. We want to thank all our supporters for their continued dedication, especially over the past difficult year.”
St Clare Hospice have a dedicated webpage where supporters can find out all the ways to get involved this springtime. Just visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/get-
involved/this-spring
