Thanks to Nick Miller for the Masthead

Kindly sponsored by CSH Environmental No: 601 March 2019

Wormingford Recreation Trust Do you remember this

‘Mystery Tour’ from last year? Bacon, Cakes & Coffee If you do, then no doubt you’ll be pleased to know Morning that John Jackson and his crew are, once more, inviting residents to join them on the afternoon of Sunday 14th April for a trip on their th Saturday 9 March wonderfully restored 1946 Crossley bus to 10am to 1pm @ Wormingford Village Hall

Tea, Coffee & Squash Bacon Rolls, Sausage Sandwich’s Homemade Cakes

Children’s Activity Table

If you weren’t able to make last year’s trip this is now your chance to go back in time and experience travel when life was, to say the least, a tad slower! John needs to know who would like to join them this year, so please call him on 01787 227231 to 100 Club WINNER book your place. The Recreation Trust are pleased to announce that the February winner of their monthly 100 Club - Draw is: Number 90: Andy Munson The 100 Club is an important part of our money raising activity and we would like to ask those that have supported us in the past, UPCOMING EVENTS: to continue to do so - instead of the shop please pop your monthly contributions April 5th - Family Quiz through the letter box @ Ingate House on Church Road. April 7th - Car Treasure Hunt - Full details in next month’s Worm & on the ‘I love Wormingford because …’ Facebook site

Items for inclusion in The Worm must be with the editor by the third Thursday of the previous month. Post: The Worm, 7, London Land Cotages, Church Road, Wormingford, Essex CO6 3AE. Email: [email protected] Benefice of Wormingford & Mount Bures with Little Horkesley Lent Course 2019 A DVD study series on five Wednesdays from March 13th to 10th April based on the classic film with themes of sacrifice, repentance, suffering, loss and hope - with Bible readings, reflections, prayers and discussion. There will be a showing of the film ‘Casablanca’ in a social evening to prepare us for the study on Ash Wednesday, 6th March @ 7pm for 7.30pm @ John & Meriel’s home 13 Keepers Green, Braiswick CO4 5UT Ring Revd John on 01206 366930 for future venues.

One night, a lady stumbled into the police sta- Bell tion with a black eye. She claimed she heard a noise in her back yard and went Ringer’s to investigate. The next thing she knew, she was hit in the eye and News ... knocked out cold. An officer was sent to her house to investigate, and he returned 2 hours later with a black eye. "Did you get hit by the same person?" his captain asked. "No," he replied. "I stepped on the same rake."

Above are the members of the Sunday Service Band - with Barry Gibbons holding the Essex Association North East District trophy for being the leading quarter peal ringer for 2018, ringing 33 and conducting 13.

David Lee organised a dinner at the Wormingford Crown, where 17 ringers from the Wormingford, Bures and Little Horkesley towers attended a very enjoyable evening. We received the bad news that Vicky de-Vries’ dog, Bob, has died - he came to the tower every Sunday. Nancy:

Our March 2019 Local 9th Cofee Morning @ Village Hall 10am to 1.00pm Nutritionist 13th Bookworms @ WCEC 7.15pm 14th PC Mtg @ Village Hall 7.00pm Followed by Annual Parish Assembly 8.15pm 15th Bingo @ Sports Pavilion 7.15pm Zinc 21st Mobile Library @ Roblets Way 2.25pm If you are looking to give your immune system 31st Mothering Sunday @ St Andrew’s 11.00am a boost or providing nourishment for your skin Post Ofce: Every Wed @ Village Hall 12.30 to3pm then look at eating plenty of foods containing Every Friday @ “ 10am to 12.30pm Zinc: A man went to his lawyer and told him, "My . Can help to relax ligaments & muscles neighbour owes me £500 and he doesn't want • Vital protector of the immune system to pay up. What should I do?" "Do you have any proof?" asked the lawyer. • Essential mineral for the structure and "Nope," replied the man. function of all cell membranes "Okay, then write him a letter asking him for the £1000 he owes you," said the lawyer. • Involved in hundreds of enzyme pathways "But it's only £500," replied the man. in which it has structural, regulatory and cata- "Precisely. That's what he will reply and we lytic roles will have the proof we need to nail him." Sources of Zinc:

Sesame seeds Fresh Oysters Canned Sardines Almonds Peas Whole wheat Lima Beans Chicken Pumpkin Seeds Crab Pecan Nuts To book a trial lesson visit our website: Walnuts www.esgc.co.uk Cheddar Cheese Rye Eggs Cooked Soybeans Ginger roots Cooked Lobster Brazil Nuts Peanuts Lean Meat Oats Turnips Many years ago a soldier going into battle against the French asked, “If God is look- ing out for us, who is looking out for them?” Melford Hall invites you ...

We are holding another one of our popular Open Days in Based in Fordham, we undertake pro- March. We are still looking to recruit more volunteer jects throughout Essex and Suffolk. room guides, and, if you weren’t able to come to the last ones, why not come along and see how volunteering Please see our website or Facebook could add to your life in 2019. You will have the oppor- for examples of our work. tunity of chatting with some of the volunteer room guides, as well as having a look around the Hall. You T: 07742 696 766 will be able to hear first hand as to what is entailed in the E: [email protected] role as well as what can be gained out of it. If you have some spare time on your hands, are perhaps a little lone- www.richardsonlandscapes.co.uk ly, or want to meet people and chat, make new friends and have new experiences, then why not come along and find out more.

Our team are a very friendly group, of all ages and backgrounds. They spend what time they are able to commit in a beautiful environment, surrounded by fine furniture, art and objects. The Hall is open from Wednesday to Sunday, plus Bank Holidays, 1.00- 5.00pm, March to October. The role will involve talk- ing to our visitors, answering any of their questions and sharing the stories of this wonderful family home. Don’t worry there will be as much help and guidance as you feel you need so you can go at your own pace. Although a National Trust property you do not need to be a mem- ber to volunteer. So why not make one of your New Year resolutions to volunteer at Melford Hall. The Open Day is Saturday 9th March 2019 from 10.00am – 1.00pm. We look forward to welcoming you. If you would like to fnd out more, please contact us at [email protected] or call us on 01787 379228

Bookworms 2

At our February meeting we discussed the 2017 novel, “The Other Hand” by Chris Cleave. Our new marking system, to determine the ‘Wormingford Bookworms, Book of the Year’ scored an average of 7.6 for this novel, a dual narrative story about a Nige- Waterstones, on High rian asylum-seeker and a British Street are having ‘an evening with magazine editor who meet during Robert Goddard’ (one of ’s best mystery/thriller the oil conflict in the Niger Delta writers) coming up on Monday 12th March and are re-united in England some years later. For the March meeting, to be held on the 13th @ 7.15pm, we are Wormingford reading "We are all completely beside ourselves” by Karen Joy Fowler - the cover promises ‘One Weather of the best twists in years!’ Rainfall for January 2018 1.11 inches Rainfall for January 2019 0.95 inches Contact Margaret on 07913 603830 if you would like to join the club or want more information. Thanks to John Jackson for the weather

Bookworms 2 stll meets in the WCEC in Church Road, Worming- “Laughing is the best medicine, but if you laugh ford ( formerly St Andrews School) on the second Wednesday of without any reason, you need medicine!” the month at 7.15pm, but we could do with a few more members. You don’t have to worry about fnding and buying the books as Colchester Library supply them for us, so the only charge is £2.00 to pay for the hire of the room. “Since starting in 2009, Steve has gained a great A man was walking down the street when he was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking reputation for the homeless man who asked him for a couple of dol- quality of work lars for dinner. The man took out his wallet, ex- tracted ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this produced” money, will you buy some beer with it instead of

dinner?" "No, I had to stop drinking years ago," the homeless man replied. "Will you use it to gam- No job too small or too big! ble instead of buying food?" the man asked. "No, I don't gamble," the homeless man said. "I need eve- Internal; External Decorating; Beam rything I can get just to stay alive." "Will you spend Restoration; Pub Re-decoration; New Builds; this on greens fees at a golf course instead of Re-decoration & Repair Work all undertaken. food?" the man asked. "Are you NUTS!" replied CIS Registered & Fully Insured. the homeless man. "I haven't played golf in Tel: 07545 637476 20years!""Will you spend the money on a woman email: [email protected] in the red light district instead of food?" the man asked. "What disease would I get for ten lousy bucks?" exclaimed the homeless man. "Well," said the man, "I'm not going to give you the money. In- stead, I'm going to take you home for a terrific din- P & N ner cooked by my wife. "The homeless man was astounded. "Won't your wife be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably Vehicle body repairs, smell pretty disgust- accident repair specialist ing." The man replied, "That's okay. It's im- Insurance work undertaken, Resprays portant for her to see FREE Estmates, FREE Delivery what a man looks like & Collecton Service after he has given up Unit 11, Regal Works, Fordham CO6 3NR beer, gambling, golf, Tel: 01206 241533 and sex." Established 2002 Kim Suton-Grant Colchester Workhorse Paul Richardson Complementary Therapist Groundworks: Garden: 5 ton & 1.5 ton Diggers Hedge Planting & Cutting 6 ton Dumper Meadows Topping Hedges Taken Out Rolling & Harrowing Drives & Ponds Dug Out Tractor + Flail Lawnmowers serviced

Tel: 01787 228441 CONTACT: 01206 241530 OR 07889 805839 Email: [email protected] www.tranquil-waters.co.uk Friendly Service & FREE Quote Belated congratulations to Worm around the World Marlene and Dave this month in the Maldives

Once again their magnificent Christmas Lights display raised over £150 for the Having completed their tour of Europe, Mary and Rich- Essex & Herts Air Ambulance ‘Lights for ard decided to celebrate a significant birthday by travel- Flights’ campaign. Their display seems to ling further afield to the Maldive Islands in the Indian get bigger and better each year! Ocean. Here they are on Kanifushi with a Trans Maldivian Airways seaplane in the background (part or the World’s biggest seaplane fleet). Problem Solved When I am told, "You'll regret that in the ESSEX POLICE morning", I don't let it bother me. Being Neighbourhood Policing Team a problem solver, I just sleep in till noon. PC Dawn Wells Tel: 101 option:1 option: 3 Barry Beevis Michael Cook In an emergency dial 999 01787 228113 01787 227148 GENERAL BUILDERS Extensions & Renovations INCREASE YOUR BUSINESS by advertsing in The Worm - £8.00 per No Job Too Small centmetre per year! Customer supplied inserts (250 copies) £15 per month: OR why not promote your business or Free Estimates product range in both the Worm & Fordham Times at a combined rate of £12 per centmetre per year? No VAT Call Brian Jones on 01787 227787 Open hours: Monday: 5pm to 11pm; Tuesday to Friday: 12 to 3pm & 5 to 11pm; Weekends & Bank Holidays: 12 to 11pm

THE CROWN: Takeaway Delivery Service Free delivery to all Wormingford Postcodes - Available Tues-Sat 5 to 9pm - 01787 227464 Beer battered Cod; Lasagne; Chicken Wrap; Roast Chicken; Burgers … please contact re availability and prices Wormingford Parish Council (WPC) Report A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Thursday 14th February 2019. Two new planning applications were reviewed and comments agreed to be forwarded to the Col- chester Borough Council (CBC) Planning Office. WPC was updated on the progress of two other applications still outstanding. Details of these applications can be found on the CBC Online Plan- ning Web Page. It was reported that installation of the new odour control system for Fairfields Farm Crisps had been completed and that this was due to be inspected by CBC Planning and Environmental Con- trol Officers. The Clerk reported that she had been notified by Essex County Council that a new bus shelter had been ordered to replace the one at the Church Road junction. This bus shelter is of a similar de- sign and size to the one at Chapel Corner. It is anticipated that installation is likely to take place in the next three to four months. Please note that the next Parish Council meeting will take place at the Village Hall on Thursday 14th March 2019 at 7.00pm followed by the Annual Parish Assembly Meeting at 8.15pm. Please email any comments or views to the Parish Clerk at [email protected]. Further information and the latest draft minutes and past copies of the Worm can be found at http://www.essexinfo.net/wormingfordpc/

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John’s Journal The view from the Vicar’s study

Friends

‘You’ve got a friend in me’ sings Woody. ‘I’ll do anything’ sings Oliver. ‘Lean on me’ sings Bill Withers. And ‘You’re my best friend’ is the theme tune for the show ‘Friends’. We all need them; life is tough without them; and we try to be them. So I thought I’d investigate. I’m an expert on love (don’t misunderstand me – I’m just well versed in the Christian concept!) but it would be good to have an understanding of what a friend really is. One dictionary definition is ‘a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection’, and that seemed fine until I read another: ‘Someone you love and who loves you, someone you respect and who respects you, someone whom you trust and who trusts you. A friend is honest and makes you want to be honest, too. A friend is loyal.’ If that’s right, then being a friend is a higher form of relationship than even love. Can that be right? Do you know, I think it is! My reasoning? Because love, the best kind of love, is one-way love. It’s when our care for another is so complete that we don’t require anything in return. A sacrificial love, such as the love of Jesus who loved the world so much that he gave his life for us (John 3:16) – knowing that most of the world wouldn’t or couldn’t love him back. The old word for love was Charity – and our modern understand- ing of charity is indeed one-way love – though it generally isn’t very deep; not even as deep as our pock- ets! Then how wonderful when our love, the ‘I’ll do anything’ love, is shared, it becomes a bond, and we really can say that we’re friends – a word that society has devalued to the point where it can be declared and deleted with a click on Facebook. Friendship, then, can truly develop between any two people – brothers & sisters, workmates and –yes – spouses. Many marriages survive on love but thrive on friendship. But the hardest thing is for groups of people to develop through love into friendship, and the more people you involve, the more difficult it is. Yet as a community, that’s exactly what we’re called to do. Jesus said (John 15) ‘Greater love has no-one than this: than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends’. Now I don’t think God has called me to be a martyr, but, taking our lead from him, per- haps all we need to be are loving people, doing things selflessly in the community, then trusting and rely- ing on one another. ‘That’s what friends are for’ sings Dionne Warwick!

Yours in the love of Jesus

Flower Rota Revd John Chandler is around for a chat at "Coffee & Cake" in the Community Education No fowers in Lent (6th March to 18th April) Centre on most April 20th Pat Sharman Monday mornings from 10 - 11am May 4th Pam Sparkes He will be there on the 18th Liz Clarke 4th & 18th March May 25th, 26th & 27th Flower Festval Contact John: Tel: 01206 366930 If you would like to help with the Church flowers [email protected] please contact Jan Crisp - Tel: 07833 424946 Other services in the Benefice:

Mount Bures St. John the Baptist Sunday Services are at 9:15am,

3rd: Family Service 10th Traditional Communion 17th Family Communion 24th: Family Communion 31st: Mothering Sunday Family Service

Little Horkesley St. Peter & St. Paul Services in St. Andrew's 3rd: 8am Holy Communion March 2019 11am Morning Service

6:30pm Evensong 3rd 11am Family Service 10th: 11am Family Service Theme: Are you ready for Lent? 6:30pm Evensong th 6 Ash Wednesday th 17 : 11am Morning Service 10:30am Holy Communion 6:30pm Evensong th 10 8am Holy Communion 7:30pm Shortened Holy Communion 11am Traditional Morning Service 24th: 11am Holy Communion Theme: Temptation 6:30pm Evensong 17th 11am Family Holy Communion 31st: 11am Mothering Sunday Family Service Theme: Jesus for the tough times 6:30pm Evensong th 24 8am Holy Communion 11am Informal Morning Service Theme: Jesus teaches patience 31st 11am Mothering Sunday Family Service with gifts of posies

The Church website has been completely redesigned – for up-to-date news and information, log on to www.wormingford.com Crisp maker Bingo is back! tastes success

On Friday 15th March - 7.15pm @ Sports Pavilion All ticket money in prizes!

Delighted - Angela Scrase and Tracey Bull accept the award

A crisp maker has tasted success after being named the best food producer in the . Fairfields Farm Crisps came top in the ‘Made in Central & East of England Food and Drinks Awards’. Robert Strathern, co-founder of Fairfields Farm, of Wormingford, said: “ We are both over the moon and really surprised to have picked up this award. Our brand has always been about quality, consistency and innovation, whilst staying true to our farming roots. Awards like this are a great reminder of all the hard work the team puts in. Over the last two years we’ve Wormingford opened our own anaerobic digester and converted to 100 % renewable energy, we’ve rebranded our Fairfields Village Hall Farm crisps and acquired an additional brand. It’s been Our village hall can accommodate over 100 people for a lot of hard work but this recognition makes it all functons and meetngs. It is popular for Wedding worthwhile”. receptons, Children’s partes, Dances (great acoustcs), Bowls and Badminton. Facilites include Main Hall with stage, seatng for 120 people, kitchen, toilets (with disabled access) and good car parking. NEW HIRE CHARGES EFFECTIVE JULY 1st 2018 Badminton £24 per 2 hour session at any tme. Mornings & Afernoons, Mon to Friday & Sunday (One of) Minimum 3 hours £15 per hour Evenings, Monday to Friday & Sunday (One of) Minimum 3 hours £18 per hour Saturday 8am to 12 midnight … £200 Saturday 6pm to 12 midnight … £140 This article has been reprinted from the Colchester Gazette Wormingford residents receive 10% discount on all charges Regular bookings: To be negotated To enquire about or book the hall please contact: Sign on company bulletin Debbie Moore on 01787 228615 board: “This firm requires no or email: [email protected] physical-fitness program. Everyone gets enough exercise jumping to conclusions, In accordance with the recommendatons of the Rural Communites flying off the handle, running down the boss, flogging Council of Essex no responsibility for the informaton given or the views expressed in The Worm by contributors can be accepted by the editorial dead horses, knifing friends in the back, dodging respon- team, Parish Council, Parochial Church Council or Recreaton Trust nei- sibility, and pushing their luck.” ther can any culpability be accepted in work undertaken by advertsers.

Article: New Woodland Courses in Halstead help Land owner and unemployed Getting an illness such as Multiple Sclerosis can be devastating for anyone, and can mean that you entirely revaluate your life. This was certainly the case for John, who decided that a move to the countryside was necessary to ensure that he was able to cope and hopefully diminish the rate of deterioration caused by his illness. Taking on a large plot of land and woodlands however would not be everyone’s choice for this! However John quickly realised that it would be difficult for him to cope to make his plans to create a new thriving woodland a reality. He began searching for solutions and came across Abberton Rural Training (ART) and the Es- sex Rural Skills Project (ERSP). This began a chain of events, which has led to one of the Essex Rural Skills Wood- land courses now taking place in Halstead and already going great guns! The task of removing over 300 trees and replanting over 3000 trees is quite daunting, however, the students have got stuck in and are able to learn under the direction of a dedicated woodlands and conservation tutor all aspects of woodlands management, and love being at’ the location. John is able to also join the students when he is able, and is thoroughly enjoying the company and the results. “When I saw the place I fell in love with it, and didn't realise just how much work it would take to transform the land into something amazing both for me and the local wildlife. There is no way I could ever have done this by myself. The team are fantastic - hard working and a joy to be around. I will never move from this place and as I look at it every day in the years to come, I will be eternally grateful to all the people who have helped me turn my dream of a life in the beautiful countryside into a reality. It really is a win win situation for us all. It is great to know that they are gaining so much from being here, and I am too. I am happy to have more groups here!” he said. Jacqui Stone, the Chief Executive of ART said, “It is wonderful that we have been able to work with John to help him work towards creating the woodland that he dreamed about, and make so much improvement to the natural habitat at the same time. The students come back beaming from being here, and they are all gaining so much from this joint working and getting a real opportunity to make a difference, from all sides, makes it so positive for all”. “We are always struggling to find suitable woodlands to train people in, particularly in real life situations, and are cur- rently seeking more sites, particularly in the Witham/Chelmsford areas, Uttlesford and Tendring, to be able to help more groups to learn key skills, whilst also improving their mental health and other issues. During the last academic year 72% of ART participants had a registered disability. ART supports people who are lonely, and in many cases severely isolated and vulnerable, yet over 85% of participants moved into further education, training, employment, volunteering and/or self-employment after attending our courses.” ERSP supports people who are over 45 years old and most have been long-term unemployed and is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. The project has supported many vulnerable peo- ple, including those with drug and alcohol issues and the homeless. ERSP & ART projects help people to make bet- ter choices and turn their lives around

Website: www.abbertonruraltraining.org Contact: [email protected]

Quality Firewood Logs Sudoku

Bulk loads delivered FOC Call Daniel or Adam on 07920 705216 or 07538 669465 Wormingford Sport

Two great things have happened to the Worms in February!

Firstly - Josh Hodgson has re-signed - yes, those of you who read this monthly preamble, will know that he is the player who scored 100 goals for our Sunday team in the 2016-17 season—averaging over 3 goals in every game! Wel- come back Josh - you know it makes sense! Secondly, we finally have building regs approval for our hoped for exten- sion to our ancient clubhouse! We have submitted our grant application to the Football Foundation and are hopeful that we will get a positive response from the Irish contact who called me some 6 months ago to say, ‘we want to give you the money!’ The fact that since that original contact, Eight Ash Green Youth FC now use our facilities, should go some way to ensuring that the grant, whilst not guaranteed, is more likely! FINGERS AND EVERY- THING ELSE CROSSED! On the playing front, not a lot has changed - with the stiffs struggling to score and the first team struggling to raise a consistent side - we’re all aware that our best team is a match for anyone in the Border League. Both teams have a full fixture list in March, with the highlight being the first teams quest to overcome Brantham in the qtr final of the Cup. Premier Division: Division 2 March 2nd Hatfield Pev Home 2nd Boxted Away 9th Gt Bentley Home 9th Mersea Away 16th Lt Oakley Away 16th Ramsey Away 23rd Brantham Home L/Cup 23rd Lawford Away 30th Earls Colne Away 30th Hatfield Pev Res Home

ENVIRONMENTAL LTD ENVIRONMENTAL LTD RecyclingRecycling forfor thethe futurefuture 0120601206 242345242345 www.colchesterskiphire.co.uk www.colchesterskiphire.co.uk Working for a better environment...