St Andrew’s Church

www.tenpennyvillages.uk Find us on fb: ParishChurchesofAlresfordElmsteadThorrington-TennpennyVillages

SERVICES • Sunday Morning Services: 11am with crèche for under 3s. Also an 8am service on 1st Sunday of month. • Sunday Evening Services: as advertised • Mid-Week: Morning Prayer every day Monday – Friday except Thursday which is Communion: 9am in the Sanctuary

REGULAR GROUPS http://tenpennyvillages.uk/calendar.html

Children, Young People & Families • Bumps ‘n’ Babies: Tuesdays in term-time 10.30am to 12 noon in the Hub. • Scramblers for under 5s and their carers: Mondays in term-time 1.45 to 3pm in the Hub. • Razmatazzfor primary aged children: Mondays in term-time 3.30 to 4.30pm in the Hub. • Hangout@theHub: Youth Group for years 6 upwards – Thursday evenings in term-time 6.30-8pm in the Hub. • Messy Church: for the whole family – 3rd Friday of the month 4.30pm in the Church & Hub (or as advertised).

Adults • Home Groups: Tuesday evenings, Wednesday afternoons & evenings. • Internet & Book Cafe: fortnightly on a Wednesday, 10am to 12 noon in the Church: (5th & 19th February, 4th & 18th March) • MemoriesCafe: 1st Thursday in the month at 2 - 4pm in the Hub for those suffering with some memory loss and their carers’. For more information, please contact Sue Giles on 01206 826607 • Friendship Circle: 2nd Monday in the month 10.30am - 12 noon in the Hub. • Relax&Renew: Relaxation group 2nd Friday in the month 1.30 to 3pm • Knit ‘n’ Natter: Alternate Tuesdays in the Hub at 2pm (11th & 25th February, 10th & 24th March)

CONTACTS: Other Contacts: Rector: Rev Andrew Fordyce 01206 920848 Youth and Schools Worker: Charlotte Day Email: [email protected] (Charlie) Associate Priest: Rev Pauline Hart 01206 826318 [email protected] Email: [email protected] Churchwardens: Wendy Wilson (01206 825040) Lyn Bull (01206 827146) [email protected] INTERNET & BOOK CAFÉ @ St Andrew’s Church Bookings for the Hub: Meg Burdus 01206 820618 ALTERNATE WEDNESDAYS 10am TO 12 noon For the whole family @ St Andrew’s Church, Alresford Bring & swap children’s or adult’s books, www.alresfordchurch.net puzzles & DVDs, access advice for the internet & just a chance to meet up with Messy activities & crafts...leading into a friends for a coffee & a chat (and enjoy the short & informal story time & songs... home baked cakes) and ending with tea! 5th & 19th February Friday 28th February & 20th March 4.30pm 4th & 18th March At St Andrew’s Church & Hub Everyone Welcome! Everyone Welcome!

2 A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR ALRESFORD PTA How do you cope with February - never the most Christmas seems like a distant memory already! exciting month and its difficult because you want to December was a very busy month for the PTAas we get the Winter over with and get on with Spring! had the Christmas Fayre, which was very successful. We are still finalising expenses but we January has the freshness of a new year and March are expecting to raise in the region of £1,500 We promises Easter soon but February seems to sit in also accompanied the Rotary Club Santa Sleigh and the middle and remind us that we probably spent a raised £155 We then finished the term with bit too much over Christmas! Breakfast with Santa, where he stopped by the school for a second time to give out a pre-Christmas A few decades ago I learnt an interesting point from gift. Peter my local Crusader leader (now a National leader) - "I always try and be at my best for We have now set the date for the Autumn Fayre - February". Saturday 19th September, time (t.b.c.) One of the things I discerned from this is that being Our next school event will be a Disglow - a glow in a leader is about being there for others and also the dark disco on Thursday 13th February. having the fore thought to discern when others might be struggling and how we can be best placed The PTA will also be supporting the Village Family to help. Funday in July with lots of fun family games as How can we be there for one another and sensitive before. to those about us who might be struggling with stuff. A simple offer of a helping hand, a phone call or a thoughtful gift can make a big impact. SIMPLY SINGING One of the qualities which seems to be going out of Would you like to spend an hour or two singing fashion (if you look at the bold statements in the along with music from every era? Media) is kindness. We will be meeting every fortnight on a Friday afternoon from 2 - 4pm, at Alresford Village Hall; One of the very popular reading at Weddings the next session will be: quotes St Paul's letter to an early church in Corinth th -Greece. It describes love - love is gentle, love is February 14 & 28th kind .... March 13th & 27th I will let you find the rest of the description but Research has shown that singing in a group can suffice to say - my prayer for us as a nation is that improve physical and mental health - exercising we will be more Kind to one another - nobody has the brain and body, as well as promoting social an easy life - we all have challenges. I am just interaction. grateful for all the kindness I see in my community - NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME sometimes it can be taken for granted - well at the For more information, please call Jeanette on end of this piece - it is not ignored - it is appreciated 01206 825008 and I for one want to to thank you! Every blessing for this Season

Andrew

Let's see how creative we can be in our kindness to others! ALRESFORD ALRESFORD CAMERA CLUB CARPET BOWLS CLUB The Club meets in the Village Hall most Monday Interested in photography and wanting to afternoons and evenings. All equipment is improve your photographic images then available, all that’s needed is a suitable pair of flat why not give Alresford Camera Club a visit? shoes. The new season started on 19th September Bowling sessions are as follows: at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Ford Lane. Monday afternoons - 2pm to 4pm Monday evenings - 7pm to 10pm Why not give carpet bowls a try; Subsequent meetings are held on the first and third Thursday evenings each month. To encourage this we do not make a charge for the first 2 sessions, also included are Tea and Biscuits!! Visit www.alresfordcameraclub.org.uk or call 01206 250846 for more details. For further information contact: 01206 823872

3 The Pointer Alresford Rd, Alresford, CO7 8AQ 01206 824378

www.thepointerpub.co.uk

Food Served Events

Tuesday ~ Saturday 12pm-3pm Sunday 22nd March "Mother's day" Friday ~ Saturday 6pm-8pm FREE glass of wine for every Mum Our Sunday Roast 12pm-3pm having a Sunday roast BOOK NOW! Roast Beef, Turkey or Lamb, ------served with fresh vegetables & Saturday 28th March all the trimmings from £7.95 Live music with "Tracey Moorhouse" from 8.30pm BOOKING ADVISABLE ------DON’T MISS OUT

ALRESFORD Direct Animal Feeds VILLAGE SHOP 01206 827035 New look refurbished store under the Premier name The complete range of bedding and accessories for Main Road Horses Dogs Cats  Small Pets  Poultry 01206 828169 Opening: Extended Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm Monday - Saturday: 5.00am - 8.30pm Sat: 9am - 4pm Sunday: 6.00am - 8.00pm

Local delivery available New, more variety stock available including a wide range of beers, wines, spirits, groceries, Email:[email protected] confectionary, soft drinks etc. Maggie: 07885082281 NEW “Delice de France” bakery products, Jam Doughnuts, Croissants, French stick, Unit 3, Heath Farm Hot sausage rolls etc. Cockaynes Lane LOOK OUT FOR OUR SPECIAL OFFERS Newspaper delivery Alresford Agents for Danes Launderers C07 8DA & Dry Cleaners Cash Machine MyHermes ParcelShop Customer Car Park

4 A JR Colne Bank School of Dancing is a well-established & respected dancing school having been part of the Boiler Breakdown & communities in Wivenhoe & for 34 years; we provide comprehensive dance Service Engineer training through the genres of Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre, Tap & Jazz. General Plumbing Although most of our students dance for fun some of our graduates have been fortunate enough to make a Tel: 07887683335 career from dance, as performers, teachers and Email: [email protected] choreographers. 629704 Whether pupils wish to dance purely for fun or have designs on a dancing or teaching career, the Colne Bank School of Dancing offers a friendly atmosphere with a very high standard of training. Classes held in: Broomgrove School,W ivenhoe and Colne Community School, Brightlingsea For more information on classes contact: Jenny Overton on 01206 823178 or email [email protected] www.colnebankschoolofdancing.co.uk

COLNE VIEW DENTAL SURGERY LTD 53 Ladysmith Avenue, Brightlingsea CO7 0JD 01206 302307 Piers Lambert Bchd (Leeds 1992) MODERN FRIENDLY FAMILY PRACTICE FREE ON-SITE PARKING WHEELCHAIR ACCESS AND DISABLED FACILITIES ONLY WHITE NON MERCURY FILLINGS CEREC 1 VISIT CROWNS NOW AVAILABLE COSMETIC WORK - TOOTH WHITENING NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY EMERGENCIES WELCOME VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT - www.colnedental.co.uk Major card payments accepted

5 ALRESFORD WI WI, and taking place in Alresford We had great fun at our November meeting, with Village Hall. three ladies from Colchester Sugarcraft Group showing us how to decorate cupcakes for the festive Alresford WI are a friendly group, meeting in the season – we made some very cheery snowmen to Village Hall on the second Thursday of each month take home. at 7.30pm. We also organise occasional days out, meals and theatre trips, and meet with other local At the end of the month we hosted another WI”s. As a member of the National Federation of successful Fashion Women's Institutes (NFWI) we can also get involved Show for Edinburgh in the campaigns supported by this nationwide Woollen Mill, with organisation. members modelling – but the stars of the Please feel free to come along to a meeting and see show were definitely what we get up to, or for more information, or to our two male book a table for the Quiz, contact our Secretary, Jan models, who had a Stewart on 01206 825184. great time. We had a busy month in December – we held our own Christmas meeting, holding a very jolly Chinese Auction – no one spent any money, but everyone went home with a gift. Some of our members visited our local sister WI's to join in their celebrations too. We enjoyed very good Christmas meals at the Pointer, and a minibus was organised to take a THE CHARITY BAG group of us to the WI Carol Service, hosted by St. Still collecting: Osyth WI in their lovely Parish Church, which put us • Stamps for Bone Cancer Research (until all in the Christmas spirit. We particularly enjoyed ‘there’s a cure’) the carols played by their hand bell ringers. • Another 8 lb of used stamps will be sent (½” / We support the local Food banks, and took along 1.25 cm of paper around each one our December donations for St. Osyth WI to pass on • Every one counts to the Food bank in Clacton, run by the Salvation • House clearance, old albums, postcards Army. Still collecting: For our meeting on Thursday 9th January we were • Wool for charity knitters joined by Melanie Rosekilly, demonstrating her • Wool and needles / patterns available clever wrapping skills, which some of you may have • Skeins of wool will be turned into balls, as seen on her stall at the monthly Farmers and Craft some Market. of us did with our mothers complete with hands At our meeting on Thursday 13th February Peter held apart and aching shoulders! “Happy Simpson will be telling us about 'Tools with a memories” Mission' – a charity which takes old tools of all kinds, • Items can be collected / delivered refurbishes them and passes them on to developing countries. Wishing our readers a very belated Happy New Year and thank you for your donations. Our speaker at the meeting on Thursday 12th March will be Frances Boardman, with a talk entitled 'A Take care always String of Pearls'. Also in March, we hold our Annual Christine Stimpson Quiz, always a fun evening with Chris Sanderson setting the questions. This year it takes place on 2 Coach Road (opposite the doctor’s surgery Thursday 26th March – tables of 6 at £3 a head, bring your own drinks and nibbles, starting at 7.30pm. Looking forward to April, the meeting on Thursday Mini Smile 9th will be hosted by the members, allowing the committee members to sit back and be surprised! “Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. And on 17th April we join the other local WI's for the Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad!” Estuary Group Annual Meeting: hosted this year by

6 ALRESFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD “In a split second you could Ruin your future, injure or kill others, And tear a hole in the heart POLICING TEAM of everyone who loves you/them. Neighbourhood Police Officer: Slow down please and drive safely, it really is that PC Rob Willmott; Tel: 101 Ext: 440356 simple. Police Community Support Officer: Julia Brandon Parking at school times Parents are reminded to park sensibly whilst CONTACTING THE POLICE: dropping off and collecting children from the school. To report an emergency - DIAL 999 Vehicles have been parking and blocking the junctions, which makes it hard to see whilst crossing To report a non-emergency/incident - DIAL 101 the road and junctions and corners should be left Or report it onlinehttps://www.essex.police.uk/do- clear, which is in the Highway code. it-online/report-a-crime/ There has all so been dropping off/ picking up on the Website:www.essex.police.uk zig Zags- There are large yellow signs that show the times that parking/ dropping off is forbidden. This DECEMBER 2019 REPORT rule applies to disabled drivers to, so there is no Incidents excuse. If anyone is caught stopping at the 01/12- Domestic. forbidden times they will receive a fixed penalty 05/12- Station Road- RTC. notice. 07/12- Concern. 14/12- Drugs. Speeding Near the Creek. 15/12- Bail breach. Vehicles have been reported for speeding in the residential areas endangering pedestrians, it will 16/12- Missing person. only be a matter of time before they get caught on 18/12- Drink driving. the Speed gun if they have not already. 18/12- Assault. A quad bike has been reported on Ford Lane riding 20/12- Concern. at speed and not road legal. If caught the quad will 21/12- Missing person. be seized with consequences for rider. 22/12- Cockaynes Lane- Suspicious circumstances 22/12- High risk missing person. Cold callers. There has been reports of door to door sales 23/12- Missing person. persons which can cause a worry to most. Especially 24/12- Railway station- Concern for welfare. the elderly. 27/12- Missing person. If you do not know who is at the door, Do not open it, 30/12- Missing person. if you need to communicate speak at a window and 31/12- Harassment. do not tell them any personal details like who lives at 31/12- Assault. the address etc. I always carry door stickers with “NO COLD Crime Reports CALLERS” If you would like one of these please 01/12- Assault- Criminal damage. drop in to one of the Book club/ Coffee mornings at th 01/12- Assault without injury. St Andrews Church Wednesday 5 February 2020 th 11/12- Quarry- Fly Tipping. 11.00-12.00 or Wednesday 4 March 2020 11.00- 12.00 or you can email me your address and I will 13/12- Main Road- Theft of fence panels. drop one [email protected] j 14/12- Criminal damage/ theft. 15/12- Criminal damage/ theft. Community Concerns 17/12- Criminal damage. There have been reports of suspicious persons 18/12- Assault without injury. aroundCrestlands early hours of the morning, just 28/12- Theft from motor vehicle. before Christmas. It was believed they may have been checking cars to break in to. Please do not leave any valuables in your vehicle- it PCSO REPORT is safer to take extra time to remove them yourself, than someone else taking them and causing the ALRESFORD TRUCAM - Monthly result expense and inconvenience. DECEMBER 2019: 4 Atop speed of38mph was captured on Wivenhoe Book Club/Coffee Morning- My next attendances Road at the St Andrews Church Book Club will be Wednesday 5th February 2020 11.00-12.00 th The speed signs shownclearly are the maximum Wednesday 4 March 2020 11.00-12.00 speed for the safety of the road. Speed signs are Pop along if you would like to have a chat or talk and have always been part of the Highway code, it is about problems/concerns in the village and enjoy every drivers responsibility to drive with due care the warm welcoming with a slice of cake and coffee and attention and abide by the law. If residents have any concern on suspicious vehicles Observation when driving is vital to stay safe and or activity in the village, please feel free to contact keep others safe on the road, this includes observing me, with as much detail as possible, including speed signs for every zone you go into. This is not contact details so I can investigate. an option, as a responsible driver every driver [email protected] should be adhering to the highway code. Tel- 101 Ext- 440222

7 ALRESFORD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Our first meeting of the year will be on Monday 2nd March 2020. This will be the Annual General Meeting which you are encouraged to attend, to get involved and to enjoy a post business buffet. This is an opportunity for you to renew your membership for the year so please remember to bring your cards with you. Non-members wishing to join the society for the first time and visitors wanting to see what we are all about are also welcome to attend. Volunteers interested in joining the committee or helping to look after the rose gardens (weeding, deadheading etc.) would be particularly welcomed. If anybody would like to know more about these roles in advance of the meeting please contact Martin Wood on 822877. The society meets at Alresford Village Hall on the first Monday in March, April, June, July, September and October at 7:30pm. You are sure to find a warm welcome and something of interest at our meetings so please come and join us. Cathy Patel

Mini Smile Man to florist: ‘I’d like a bunch of flowers please’ Florist: ‘Certainly sir. What flowers would you like?’ Man: ‘Er... I’m not sure...’ Florist: ‘ Let me help you sir. What have you done? PARISH COUNCIL MEETING (February 1976 Alresford Advertiser) ALRESFORD STATION HOUSE COMMUNITY GROUP The recently introduced fees for car parking by British Rial are causing problems. Mr John Howlett A group has been formed in the village wanting to spoke at Alresford Parish Council meeting of the transform the Victorian station house into inconvenience to commuters from Brightligsea and something special for the community. Grant money, who had to use Alresford Station, and along with the much appreciated help of a business who had recently been told that it would cost 33p adviser, has been obtained to make the project for each day to park their cars at the station. a community hub investment ready. A Community Consequently, they are leaving their cars on the Benefit Society business has been registered and at road near the railway gates and this causes present we are putting together a business plan in problems for other car users who want to park their order to continue negotiations with Greater Anglia cars near the shops. The Parish Council are to write for the lease or purchase of the building. When to British Rail concerning this. things have become more concrete with negotiations there will be opportunities to get It was decided at the meeting to accept an estimate involved in a variety of ways including buying to have the War Memorial cleaned and the lettering shares as this will be a business run by the refurbished, and to pay Mr P Castle £150 annually community, for the community. to maintain the grass in the burial ground and around the Memorial. An annual payment of £104 Anyone wanting to be part of this project in any is also to be made to the village hall committee for small or large way can email us at: caretaking the changing rooms at the hall. [email protected] phone Council are to be asked if three 01206 618659. footpaths can be upgraded to bridle ways and also for a bridle way to be made round the village.

Councillors were pleased to hear that Contractors had made a refund from the Playing Field bill, and they decided to add another £500 and carry on levelling the field. Mini Smile What happened to the man that took the 5 o’clock train home? He had to give it back!

8 ALRESFORD VILLAGE HALL UPDATE

The Village Hall website:http://www.alresfordvillagehall.co.uk The Village Hall Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Alresfordvillagehall/ FACEBOOK The Village Hall Facebook page can be used to advertise local groups and any fund raisers. Likewise, the Village Hall website can also be used to advertise your groups/events. Please contact Russell Milburn for further details.

NEWS

***I NEED TWO NEW TRUSTEES…THE HALL IS IN FANTASTIC CONDITION AND FINANCES ARE GOOD, SO I AM NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN A ‘SINKING SHIP’. NEW PEOPLE AND YOUNGER PEOPLE CAN BRING NEW IDEAS AND WAYS OF DOING THINGS, SO WHY NOT GIVE ME A CALL AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BEING A TRUSTEE WITH NO OBLIGATION***

As reported in the last Alresford Advertiser a redecoration of the main hall toilets and Foyer, The Munson Room, the Gender-Neutral Accessible toilet and all internal doors has been completed to a very high standard. This included making good walls in the toilets and Munson Room. Our thanks to decorator Paul Cooper for fitting this work in over the Christmas period, thus avoiding the necessity to interrupt normal bookings. Those of you that use the hall might well have noticed that the main light switches have now been relocated into the main hall from the kitchen. Also, sockets have been located at various points on the ceiling beam that separates the carpet area from the main floor. From these points LED sparkling lights have been installed across the roof supports straddling the main hall floor. These will be left for the use of hirers’ if required, the switch located above the Bowls Club store doors.

In the coming months it is planned to provide a DVD player that can be used with the overhead projector and refurbish the stage, using Strip LED’s around the edge of the stage as a feature and as an extra Health & Safety measure. All those who used the hall over the Festive period would have noticed the excellent decorations, these were not put up and taken down by Father Christmas!!, I will just thank the Trustees for their efforts in making the hall a joyful place to be over the Christmas period. Keep and eye on Notice Boards and Facebook/website re events in the hall. Line Dancing on a Tuesday has commenced in January and please check outSIMPLY SINGING (see page 3) every other Friday afternoon. This event uses the overhead projector to display the words of the songs on The recent Over 75’s Christmas Party showing the use of the overhead screen and more often than not the artist you projector and screen will sing along with will be also on the screen…

Thursday afternoons and Friday afternoon and evening every other week are the only sessions that are not booked for regular hire during the school term time. The Munson room can be hired separately and has room for a small group of 10-15 people with toilet and tea making facilities.

Please see website for images of the hall and Pavilion. Also hire charge information is available.

CONTACTS Chair: Russell Milburn 01206 825739 If you have any issues with regards to the hall would you, please address them to the cleaner firstly and then the Chairman. The contact details are on the hall notice boards. HALL/PAVILION HIRE The Pavilion/Bar is now available for hire either individually or as well as the Hall. All enquiries should be via theVillage Hall booking clerk, Pat Burmby on 01206 823983. IT IS YOUR HALL Of course, we could do things differently at times and anyone who has new ideas or concerns can contact a Trustee at any time. Please let the Chairman Russell Milburn or any of the Trustees know of any ideas you have that can improve the hall. Russell Milburn AVHMC

9 CURRENT REGULAR USERS IN THE VILLAGE HALL M.D. Spackman Building Services MONDAY Yoga & Wellbeing Class: Monday Morning Brickwork~Groundwork~Extensions Alresford Indoor Carpet Bowls Club: Monday Fencing~Paving~Maintenance afternoon and evening Alresford Horticultural Club:First Monday of the Certified Digger Driver / Dumper Driver month (March to November) CSCS Registered TUESDAY Call Mark on 07811 869316 or 01206 827995 Alresford Lunch Club:Tuesday lunchtime Email: [email protected] 1st Alresford Scout Group (Beavers):Tuesday Teatime Alresford, Colchester, Essex Dog Training Classes: Tuesday evening Line Dancing (Improvers): Tuesday 3 – 4.30pm

WEDNESDAY Tai Chi (Private Group): Every Wednesday morning Alresford Art Club:Every other Wednesday afternoon Alresford Women’s Guild: Wednesday evening

THURSDAY Exercise Classes (Extend):Thursday morning Alresford Camera Club:First and third Thursday evening of the month Alresford Women’s Institute:Second Thursday evening of the month Dog Training Classes: Fourth Thursday evening of the month

FRIDAY Alresford Calligraphy Group: Friday morning Simply Singing (A social meet singing along to well-known songs): Every other Friday afternoon Alresford Indoor Carpet Bowls Club: Every other Friday evening

SATURDAY Craft and Farmers Market:First Saturday of each month (February to December) PAVILION Alresford Colne Rangers Football Club: Under 8s, Under 14s, ladies and mens

Dog Training Classes:First, second and third Thursday evening of the month

For further information, please contact the Chair, Russell Milburn on 01206 825739

10 ALRESFORD PRE-SCHOOL ALRESFORD CRAFT AND This term the children have been using natural FARMERS MARKET items to develop their numeral and pattern skills Register immediately Alresford Village Hall to ensure a space and Ford Lane CO7 8AT avoid disappointment. We are set in a pretty leafy location situated First Saturday of the Month in the grounds of Alresford Primary 1st February 2020 School. 7th March 2020 Every child and family is provided with their own key person, which makes Alresford Pre- 9.00 am to 12 noon School a happy , fun There are many different stalls and bright place to be. and a cafe For more information please contact Susan Richards on 07724124223 during our opening hours Free Admission below. Free car park and disabled Day care times facilities available Monday 8.45 to 3.15, Tuesday 8.45 to 12.15, Wednesday 8.45 to 3.15, Thursday 8.45 to 3.15 during school term only

ALRESFORD LUNCH CLUB (PART OF THE AUTUMN CENTRE) 2019 Christmas meal Registered Charity No 1066579 1 Osbornes Court, Victoria Place, On 17th December sixty clients, guests and helpers sat Brightlingsea, CO7 0EB Email:[email protected] down to a traditional Christmas Lunch prepared and Tel: 01206 303702 cooked by Nick and his helpers. (Photos on page 12)

After lunch we were entertained with a Christmas carol singalong.

A grand raffle was held with some very nice prizes. ALRESFORD LUNCH CLUB - every TUESDAY Thank you very much to the local businesses and At Alresford Village Hall:From 12.00 -2.00pm residents who donated them.

BRIGHTLINGSEA LUNCH CLUB - every FRIDAY Lunch Club resumed after Christmas on Tuesday 7th At Brightlingsea Community Centre:From 12.00 - 2.00pm January. If you are interested, please call The Autumn WHY NOT COME AND JOIN US FOR A Centre on 01206 303702 FRESHLY COOKED HOT LUNCH FOR £6.00 GOOD COMPANY AND A CUPPA MEET OLD FRIENDS AND NEW ***VOLUNTEER APPEAL*** YOU WILL RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME Does anyone have a couple of hours to spare on Transport can be arranged for a cost of £3.50 Tuesdays as we need more volunteers. Please just Please phone the office on01206 303702 to advise of your attendance come along to Alresford Village Hall on a Tuesday morning.

11 TMAS CELEBRATIONS HRIS 20 C SHOP ‘N’ TREAT 19 It was an enjoyable evening and we raised £750towards the upkeep of our Village Hall. Thank you to the stall holders and everyone who helped and supported the event.

ALRESFORD CRAFT & FARMERS CHRISTMAS MARKET

ALRESFORD LUNCH CLUB

Lunch Club volunteers

12 OVER 75s TEA PARTY - 11TH DECEMBER 2019 The Alresford Fete Organising Group organised the now accepted annual Christmas Tea Party for those in our Village who are either 75 or over 75 years’ young. The party is free and is paid for from funds raised from the Family Fun Day last July. As other years transport was arranged for those who needed lifts to and from the party.

Invitations are sent out to those known to us and the Advertiser for December carried an open invitation to any residents that were not known.

The Trustees of the Village Hall allow the hall to be used, volunteering alongside others who bake cakes, provide lifts and give their time freely to make this a wonderful event for all those attending. My thanks to those on the AFOG and to other volunteers on the day, Les Ward, Maurice Burmby and Sheila Hester for making this all possible.

This year we had 98 of our over 75’s come to the party and after a warm welcome to our recently arrived Vicar Andrew, we settled down to enjoy carols and Christmas songs from Alresford Primary School Year 6 children. We thank the school head Sarah Dukelow and her staff for their support and enthusiasm for this event and the children continue to be a credit to the School and our village.

The guests now were served traditional Christmas tea sandwiches, sausage rolls, mince pies and various cakes all accompanied by a Christmas cracker and hot beverage by the volunteers and the children. As other years the interaction between the guests and the children is very uplifting and certainly adds to the Christmas Spirit.

Once Tea is completed the guests have time to talk to each other and catch up with some they possibly had not seen since last year’s party. Communal singing of traditional Christmas Carols and songs completes the afternoon. This year the ‘’partygoers’’ had the opportunity to enjoy the newly provided overhead digital projector and 7-foot screen to accompany them with the singalong. This along with the backdrop picture of a log fire burning whilst having their tea went down very well with the guests. The guests finally received a Christmas gift.

This event has become a traditional start to the festivities, and all involved including the many volunteers certainly enjoy the celebration.

As already mentioned funds from the Alresford Fete Organising Group (AFOG) are used to finance this party and the committee next meets onTuesday February 4th 2020 at 7.30pm at St Andrews Church to review this event and to start organising the Summer Family Fun Day which is onSaturday 4thth July 2020. We are a group of people who organise communal events within the village and profits are put back into our community via parties such as this or small grants to groups within Alresford. ***VOLUNTEER APPEAL*** WE WOULD WELCOME anyone who would like to get involved, especially if you are of YOUNGER YEARS or are NEW to our village. Come along to the February meeting, we would be pleased to welcome you.

Russell Milburn

13 Sunnymead Farm Alresford Road, Wivenhoe

Sunnymead Farm is a small 4th generation farm, now being managed by Brendan and Emily Dutton. The farm is located just outside Wivenhoe on the road to Alresford. When Harold Dutton – Emily’s great grandfather - purchased the farm in 1931, he, as well as having pigs, trialled a number of crops including Tomatoes and Sunflowers. Many reading this article will no doubt recall an annual Christmas visit to Sunnymead to collect an oven-ready Turkey! As farm managers, Emily and Brendan have injected a much-needed boost to the farm and over the past 3 years have introduced a number of rare breed species including sheep, pigs, Water Buffalo, chickens, and ducks. Emily, who works full time as a veterinary nurse at the Colne Valley Veterinary Practice, has always had a passion for animals and it’s this drive and enthusiasm that has promoted a welcome change of direction for the farm in providing great local produce raised in a spacious and ethical environment. Apart from our Water Buffalo which are only housed in the winter to keep them protected from the cold, all our animals are kept outdoors throughout the year in as close to a natural situation as possible. We believe that a free-range system works best and allows the best flavour to come through in the meat. Fifty acres of land is still in arable production, which, as well as providing barley for our neighbouring farmer’s cattle is now producing wheat and fodder beans in order to feed the buffalo in winter and the chickens all year round.

Our pork mainly comes from rare Berkshire pigs. We also have Oxford Sandy & Black sows which we cross with our Berkshire boar. This cross is aimed at producing flavoursome bacon and gammon and is a work-in-progress with results expected next year. The pigs are kept within temporary electric fencing complete with homemade houses and get moved every 2-3 weeks to new patches of land. Pigs naturally ‘cultivate’ the soil which lessens our reliability on tractors for field work. Berkshire pork is considered by some to be the "Kobe beef" of the pig world as the marbling in the meat significantly enhances the flavour. Berkshire (foreground) and Oxford Sandy & Black (background) pigs

Our sheep are Castlemilk Moorit. The breed's name refers to the Castlemilk Estate on which they were bred, and the Lowland Scots word "moorit" refers to the light tan or reddish-brown colour of their fleeces.

Castlemilk Moorit sheep hey are kept outdoors, on grass, all year round and unlike conventional breeds take 14-18 months to get to weight resulting in a lean flavour-rich meat unlike typical supermarket produce.

Water Buffalo in the farm reservoir Although our products, pork, lamb, mutton, buffalo and eggs can be purchased directly from the farm, Emily and Brendan also have a stall at the Wivenhoe Farmers’ Market, held at Congregational Hall on the third Saturday of each month. Conservation is, and always has been, a key element of responsible farm husbandry here at Sunnymead Farm with several areas of diverse habitat resulting in an environmentally friendly matrix of opportunities for farming and wildlife to coexist and work in harmony with each other. Woodland, lakes, reedbeds, wildflower meadows, field margins, and even a Sand Martin bank all help to encourage wildlife with significant increases having been seen in Turtle Dove, Lapwing, Common Tern, bees, invertebrates, birds of prey, waders, owls, and Sand Martin.

For further information, Emily can be contacted on: 07817 404362 [email protected]

14 UNISEX SALON

Reasonably Priced AndF riendly

Mondays 9am-3pm Tuesdays 9am-4pm Wednesdays 9am - 3pm Fridays 9am-12.30pm 1.30pm - 6pm Saturdays 8.30am-3pm

New restorative yoga classes in & Wivenhoe! Beginners welcome. Gentle Hatha Yoga: Wivenhoe Sailing Club - Thursday classes at 10.30 – 11.40 am & 1.30 – 2.40 pm. Fra�ng Memorial Hall – Fridays 10.30 – 11.40 am. Drop in price for all classes £9 per session or block book half termly for £8 per session. Relaxercise Class, Alresford: A blend of mindfulness, relaxa�on and chair based yoga for help with chronic pain, chronic fa�gue and long-term health condi�ons. Alresford Village Hall – Mondays 9.30 – 11.00 am. £32 for four-week block booking. Taught by Louise Fortunato. Email [email protected] or call 01206 272453 to book your space.

15 Property Maintenance. Improvements & New Works.

We can carry outthe following services Doy ou have a project inm indt hat you for you all fully insured and guaranteed. would like to carry out? All work carried out isf ully insured and guaranteed.

� Handyman service � EXTERNAL WORKS � Tiling / Flooring � New Patios & Driveways � Guttering / Cladding / Fascia & � Garden Landscaping Soffits � Brickwork � Internal / External Decorating � Fencing � Plumbing and Drainage � Drainage � Carpentry � INTERNAL WORKS � Roof repairs � New Kitchens � Garden Maintenance � New Bathrooms � Fencing � Alterations � Hard / Soft landscaping � Room Refurbishment / maintenance Renovation work

For Enquiries & Free Estimates, Tel: 07850 937021 Email: [email protected] www.mgpropertyessex.co.uk

16 MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HAPPY HOME I. BLANCHETTE TRADITIONAL LOCAL PLUMBING AND HEATING HANDYMAN SERVICES Bathroom Installations Ceramic Tiling “From fixing a shelf to hanging a door, All Domestic Plumbing Cleaning the gutters to laying a floor, Central Heating Systems Decorating your home or just your hall, Boiler Upgrades Boiler Maintenance Repairs Fitting your kitchen or tiling a wall, Power Flushing No job too large or too small, Under Floor Heating Pick up the phone and give me a call”. Pressurised Water Systems

Free quotation, competitive rates Established 30 years And over 30 years experience Reliable and Friendly Service

CALL BOB on 07886 291071 Tel: 01206 827464 Mobile: 07967 533314 Email: [email protected] GASsage reg no: 64249 [email protected]

17 SMALL SCALE SKIPS 1½&2 YARD MINI SKIPS COMPETITIVE RATES WE DELIVER SAND�BALLAST�STONE�MOT TYPEI&II SOIL�CRUSHED CONCRETE 01206 822770 OR 07802 265 712 PHONE ANYTIME

18 19

ALRESFORD PARISH COUNCIL services and to purchase and maintain assets overseen by the Parish Council). The influx of new Chairman’s Report residents has meant though that the tax burden is This report is to update residents on key projects, lessened, with fifty extra new Band D equivalent tax- views and decisions of Alresford Parish Council. For paying households contributing in the next financial full Council meeting minutes please see the Parish year. The rise in tax will therefore be £2.56 a year for Council website (the new website is to go live soon), a band D equivalent property. This year the view them on social media or visit the Parish Council withdrawal of the government funded Local Council office (by prior appointment with the Clerk). Meeting Tax Support Scheme grant has meant we lose agendas are published on the website, social media £1000 in subsidy – in order that this loss is not and on the two village notice boards. passed directly onto residents the Parish Council voted to support the budget with £1000 from the The Neighbourhood Plan: Council reserve funds. The Parish Council has complied with “Regulation 14” regarding the Neighbourhood Plan consultation The Parish Council budgets to cover the costs of our period and the draft Plan public and statutory body Police and Community Support Officer, Council consultation exercise has now ended. Decisions will staff, maintaining the play area and playing field, be taken as to whether any revisions to the draft most street lighting, litter bins, bus shelters, village Plan will be necessary. The timeline for the Plan is grass and other vegetation maintenance, the on track and the Council is grateful to everyone allotments, the sports pavilion and car park plus involved with organising the consultation. numerous other items of necessary expenditure. It should be noted that Parish Councillors themselves are unpaid in Alresford and we are fortunate to also Highways Issues/ Road Safety: have a number of other community volunteers that Traffic volumes are increasing in the Alresford area do so much without payment. mainly due to the new housing developments and an increase in general commercial activity. It is true Streetlights: to say though that investment in our road The changeover from conventional tungsten lights infrastructure has not kept pace with population to LED street lighting is now almost complete and growth and the subsequent vehicular traffic this we thank our contractors A&J Lighting for all their generates. work. The initial capital outlay will be recouped over the coming years due to the reliability of the new The Parish Council is concerned about road safety lighting and the much lower running costs. in a number of locations and has lodged applications with the Essex Local Area Highways Panel to address issues in Wivenhoe Road, Cockaynes Lane Climate Change: and on the B1027. Unfortunately, the criteria for The Parish Council has voted to do all it can to change used by Highways Officers and the limited operate in an environmentally friendly way as far as Essex County Council Highways budget both tend is possible – if anyone has suggestions as to how to thwart the seemingly obvious projects needed to we can be even more environmentally “green” address dangers imposed to pedestrians and please inform the Clerk or a Councillor of your ideas. drivers by outdated speed limits and road junction We have several green initiatives already planned layouts in our village. such as alterations to the heating system at the Pavilion, more use of LED lighting and by offering Some further works on improving pavements in the our support for a borehole watering system for the village have been put forward as priority Village playing field. suggestions by the Parish Council under a scheme overseen by the ECC Cabinet member Cllr. Kevin Five Year Plan: Bentley – we are hopeful that these urgent works will be agreed and undertaken. The Council is finalising its five-year plan so that future projects can be properly designed and Public Right of Way: budgeted for. If any reader of the AA has suggestions for any works that will improve the The Parish Council intends to undertake some public realm then please let the Clerk or a Councillor works on Footpath 12 (Creekside/riverside path to know. It is so important that we all continue to be Wivenhoe) at Alresford Creek to make the first proud of where we live – Alresford is an award- section wheelchair user friendly. By coincidence winning village and although awards are nice to Essex County Council is re-viewing footpath 12 and have the winning of certificates is not the reason we re-mapping the route in two locations and is also try to improve our village, we want the highest closing two unused offshoots. It is good to see that standards for our own benefit! ECC is now dealing with an important route for many dog walkers, ramblers and all those who appreciate So, as our minds turn with positivity towards the the fine Alresford countryside. onset of Spring and the rest of 2020Alresford Parish Council looks forward to the many challenges and Finance: rewards that come from serving our growing There will be an increase in the Precept for 2020/21 community. (the local tax necessary for, providing Parish Council Cllr. Frank Belgrove

21 ALRESFORD BIKERS - LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING! We’re looking forward to Spring. Winter is not a good time for bike riding generally, but it’s a bit of a Curate’s Egg – good in parts. For example, Sunday back-road rides tend to be a lot clearer of leisure traffic, making our progress easier. Sometimes the weather can be crystal clear, brightly lit, and even warm on these days too, and we make the most of them. Recently, the monsoons of December have left the roads much cleaner than this time last year – most of that salty grit the council put down washed away in a heartbeat in December, and good riddance. It is extremely corrosive. Maintenance is a bit of a problem during the Winter season. Because crud gets everywhere, and can do surprising things to both untreated metal parts (of which bikes have plenty, hidden away under acres of plastic), and electrics. Salty spray gets into exposed electrical connectors, and very modern bikes have lots of modern electronic bits with which water, and especially salty water, can interfere. Connection blocks can become slightly un-connected over time and use, and if there is the slightest possibility, water will get in eventually. Pressure washing bikes is not a good idea for this reason, so cleaning becomes just that little bit more difficult. Pressure washers are great, but can do lots of damage in inexperienced hands – I did it myself once. Pressure washed a load of water into a wheel bearing, which failed only weeks later, very expensively. That salty grit beloved of councils everywhere should be rinsed off every time, but when you get home in the cold and dark, it takes will power! When it dries, it is like a thin coat of sandpaper on your paintwork too; scrubbing at it will take the shine off the bodywork in no time. It also ruins visors, which are amazingly expensive for what they are. Proper cleaning and protecting takes time and patience, and there’s not a lot of either about in winter. But we struggle on because it’s fun! One bit that is definitely not fun however, is the complete lack of thought given to bikes by other road users, on the odd occasion. When there is a small river (it was up to the footpegs), running down the road and a rider is attempting to carefully negotiate their way out of it, please don’t charge down in your car and bow-wave them, as a delightful driver tried to do to me, and failed, just before Christmas. AB are now looking forward to another year of events, outings, Sunday Rides and holidays a-wheel, and our monthly meetings as ever, with some excitement. There are dozens of things coming up and we’re not going to be able to cover them all, so we’re planning ahead right now. Our Sunday Rides will start getting longer now, and more adventurous as the weather improves. We’ll visit places farther away, and who knows, make a weekend of it? It can be done. We’ll go in different directions with some of us going to one event, and others going to another, representing us at both. So if you want to join in, talk bikes, listen to unlikely stories from gnarled old riders, or just like bikes, just turn up at one of our meetings in The Pointer Inn, where Neil and Sam always make us welcome at 8pm on the second Tuesday of each month. We’d love to see you. If you are struggling to maintain, clean, protect and preserve any bike, or associated clobber of any kind, vintage, or make, come and ask us, if it’s coveredincrud,we’reexperts! Al Gillard

ALRESFORD ART CLUB ALRESFORD MOBILE LIBRARY Alresford Village Hall Do you enjoy sketching, drawing or painting, then why not come along to the Art Group and ARRIVES: 11.55 AM share your interest with us. LEAVES: 12.25 PM Whether you consider yourself a beginner, improver or "old master" and irrespective of the DATES: 13th February 2020 medium you like to work with, a very warm th th welcome to this small friendly group awaits 5 and 26 March 2020 you. The group meets in the village hall on Wednesday afternoons 1.15pm and future BAG IT, BIN IT meeting dates are: 4th & 18th March, 1st & 22nd April. Please contact Chris on 07484 334698 for more details.

Mini Smile We all have a photographic memory Clear Up After Your Dog. Just some of us are lacking film!

22 COMMUNITY CORNER – exiting volunteer opportunities, community reminders & other information on village clubs/organisations

I will be attending theInternet and Book Café ALRESFORD PARISH COUNCIL at St Andrews Church on: CONTACT DETAILS The Parish Office, The Pavilion, Ford Lane Wednesday 5th February 11.00 am - 12 noon Alresford CO7 8AT

Wednesday 4th March 11.00 am - 12 noon Council meetings are held at the Pavilion on the first Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm. Pop along if you would like to have a chat or talk Public and Press are welcome about problems / Agenda & Approved Minutes on website concerns in the Website:http://www.essexinfo.net/alresford/ Village and enjoy Facebook:Alresford Parish Council (Parish Council the warm welcome only)/The Pavilion & Playing Field - Alresford Essex with a slice of cake Twitter:@alresfordessex Chairman:Cllr Frank Belgrove - 01206 823739 ALRESFORD PARISH COUNCIL Vice-Chairman:Cllr Ernie Osborne - 01206 822168 MONTHLY MEETINGS 2020 CllrLindaBelgrove 01206823739 CllrSimonCLark 01206827884 8th January CllrCharleyDay 07494261612 5th February CllrSueHammick 01206618659 4th March CllrJohnHousden 07775630058 1st April CllrGaryScott 01206820769 th CllrAnnWiggins 01206825153 6 May CllrBinaSwash 01206970353 3rd June 1st July District Council Tendring 5th August District Councillor Gary Scott - 01206 820769 2nd September Email: [email protected] 7th October District Councillor Ann Wiggins - 01206 825153 4th November Email: [email protected] nd 2 December County Council Essex County Councillor Alan Goggin - 01206 308023 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: 20th May 2020 Email: [email protected] Venue: T.B.C Parish Clerk - The Proper Officer All regular monthly meetings are in the Pavilion 01206 615117 (Answerphone 24/7) and start at 7.30pm Email: [email protected] Responsible Finance Officer & Assistant Clerk Members of the public are welcome to attend 01206 615117 (Answerphone 24/7) meetings and to speak during the public forum for a Email: [email protected] maximum of three minutes per subject.

ALRESFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Following completion of the Alresford Neighbourhood Plan (ANP), as reported in the previous edition of the Alresford Advertiser, we have now concluded the first phase of consultations. This process included residents and businesses as well as local and central government organisations such as Tendring DC, Colchester BC, Essex CC, the Environment Agency and Natural . We received a wide range of comments, our thanks to those of you who took the time to reply.

Our next step is to meet with Tendring District Council and Essex County Council planning departments to agree amendments and update the Plan. As a reminder, the draft ANP was created from three village wide surveys and it’s the planning policies within our plan which will help shape Alresford in the future. We’ll let you know of further opportunities to comment and influence content during 2020 and we encourage everyone to do so.

As a reminder, the current plan is posted on the Alresford Parish Council website at: http://www.essexinfo.net/alresford/parish-plan-and-neighbourhood/village-design-statement/ Alresford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

23 S

2019 marked the Centenary of Scouting in Essex (100 years since Scouting first began in the County) and we have enjoyed another busy and fun-packed year at Beavers.

At the beginning of October, we had an interesting and informative evening at the Metro Bank in Colchester. The Beavers enjoyed seeing how the Bank operates, using the magic money counting machine and were particularly excited when they were taken to see inside the vault! In mid-October, we joined over 100 Beavers and Leaders from 8 Groups within Colchester Estuary District for the District Sleepover & ‘Mad Science’ Weekend at Thorrington Scout Camp. The Beavers decorated their own ‘lab coats’ and took part in various crafts, games and experiments involving exploding film canisters, volcanoes, secret writing, optical illusions and the Beavers particular favourite, slime making! Of course there was also the traditional sing song around the campfire as well as some outdoor activities including a nature trail through the woods. The Scout Group was well represented at the Remembrance ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday. Poppy wreaths and small wooden crosses were laid at the War Memorials in both Alresford and Elmstead. In November, the Beavers were visited by a representative from Colchester Food Bank. She talked about the work that the Food Bank does and explained how they help people in the local area. The Beavers listened intently as she showed them some examples of the items that make up an emergency food parcel. The Beavers had collected several boxes of food as well as essential non-food items such as toiletries and hygiene products which we were pleased to donate to the Food Bank.

Beavers (aged 6 to 8) meet on Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Alresford Village Hall. Cubs (aged 8 to 10½) and Scouts (aged 10½ to 14) are held in Elmstead Community Centre on Wednesday evenings. If you would like to add your child to our waiting list or get involved as an adult volunteer, please [email protected] to find out more.

CONTACT DETAILS ADVERTISING EMAIL: [email protected] For enquiries about advertising your company or organisation, please contact us via the email TELEPHONE: 01206 825739 address under Contact Details or telephoneIan on ADDRESS: 22 Station Road. Alresford, CO7 8BT 01206 822303

Any correspondence sent for publication must beaccompanied with your name and address or that of your organisation. COPY DEADLINE: The editorial and advertising copy deadline for the next edition will be8th March 2020

DISCLAIMER Submission of material does not always guarantee inclusion within the publication, and advertisements and editorials are published in good faith. The editor cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of any advertisements placed by advertisers. Editorial material does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editors and neither editorial nor advertisements are to be read as recommendations on the part of the editor 24