Issue No. 20 Spring 2018 Second Wassail at the Museum of Power No, it is not a satanic ritual – this was the second Wassail at the Museum of Power held on Sunday 21st January 2018. Despite the appalling weather, the ‘Wassail Queen’, Lys Le Fay, stoically carried out her duties, as a pear tree (courtesy of Claremont Nursery) was planted to add to the apple trees that were planted last year. Visitors learned that the trees planted in January 2017 had borne a decent crop of fruit which had been used in the tearooms of the Museum and had been much appreciated. The brave band of villagers and Wassailers defied the cold and the sleet to welcome the Mari Lwyd once again, and to make a lot of noise (including blasts from a shotgun!) to chase away any evil spirits that might harm the trees. The Wassail Queen gave a ‘gift’ to the newly In this issue Page planted tree, and to those planted last Editor’s Note year, of toast soaked in Wassail to ensure Future Parish Council Meetings their health for the year to come. The Cowshed Club 2 County Broadband Meeting As the weather was so inclement most of ‘Heavenly Supplies’ Village Shop the stalls were inside, and the Black Horse Places of Worship Art Show 2018 Morris side from Maldon entertained the visitors in the main engine room, and hot Community Diary 3 ‘Heads Up’ mulled cider was available to those who Launch of the Essex Lottery wished to have it, and a stall selling Mead Where Does the Water Go? braved the elements outside. Local Author ‘Goes With The 4 One of the participants, Peter Trick, had Flow’ Conservation & Design Award the warmest spot of all outside as he Did you know? - Peggy Mount demonstrated his Blacksmithing skills, and his beautifully crafted wares were on Business in Focus - The Emporium 5 Wassail at the Museum of Power sale in the main hall. Obituary - Albert Chaplin 6 Although the weather was so inclement, The Parish Bouquet this event has grown to become an annual Traditional Crafts Carry On event, and we look forward to next year’s News from our churches 7 Wassail when, hopefully, the weather will be kinder to us. Langford & Ulting News Editor’s Note ‘Heavenly Supplies’ Village Shop Welcome to issue 20 of our After receiving a threat of newsletter (and they said it court action unless we paid wouldn’t last…) CML, who the ‘outstanding rates’ for sponsored our newsletters the shop, our District in the past, has not come Councillor was consulted forward again, so the Parish and Maldon District Council has taken this on. I Council have now would like to take this ‘waived’ the rates for opportunity to thank them 2017/18 but are still for their past support, which was very much demanding we pay them appreciated. There has been a lot of sadness with the for 2016/17. We have deaths of Albert Chaplin and Michael Hockton in appealed against this and Ulting Lane in December and we offer sincere have written to the condolences to their families and friends – we will Valuation Office to have miss them both. this repealed. Watch this space… Don’t forget that your local shop houses most of the Future Parish Council Meetings things that you would like, including fresh bread, milk, Don’t forget that you are more than welcome (and eggs and vegetables as well as the usual tins, biscuits indeed encouraged) to come and attend Parish Council and other exciting things. The shop also stocks meetings – we’re here to serve you after all. The next seasonal goods and will get in things that you would meetings (all on a Tuesday) will be held on: 20th like, so come and use it – the prices are lower than you February, 20th March, 17th April (when the Langford may think. But if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it! Parish Meeting will be held). All will be held in Langford & Ulting Village Hall and begin at 7.30 p.m. Places of Worship th The 15 May Meeting has the Ulting Parish Meeting St. Giles’ Church, Maldon Road, first and then the AGM and will be held in Langford Crouchmans Barn, Ulting. As always, tea and coffee All Enquiries – 01621 855447; will be served from 7.10 onwards so that if you have www.stgileslangford.org.uk any questions or queries before the meeting these can Services at 9 a.m. every week be addressed in a friendly and private manner before 1st Sunday – Holy Communion, 2nd Sunday – Matins the official business of the meeting begins. It has been 3rd, 4th, 5th Sunday – Holy Communion good to see more people coming along, so do join them and find out what’s going on. All Saints Church, Church Road Ulting The Cowshed Club Rev. Stephen Northfield – 01245 380958 The Cowshed Club had a lovely Rev. Derek Clark – 01245 380619 Christmas Cheese and Wine Email: [email protected] party in the Village Hall on Services of Holy Communion at 9 a.m. on the Thursday 30th November and, 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month despite being in competition with the Maldon Victorian Art Show 2018 Evening, there was a good The annual Art Show will be turnout, and a most enjoyable held in Langford & Ulting evening was had by all. If you would like to become a Village Hall on Saturday member (ladies only I’m afraid) then contact either 24th and Sunday 25th March Mary Ashby ([email protected]) or Jeanette Gribble from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This ([email protected]) and come and meet is now acknowledged as the other ladies from Langford and Ulting. best art event in the county and is recommended to everyone. STOP PRESS! Wonderful homemade refreshments are available on County Broadband Meeting both days. If any residents in the two parishes are A public meeting for all residents on the provision of artists and would like to exhibit at this prestigious superfast broadband will be held in Langford and event, do contact the organiser, Caroline Spong, on Ulting Village Hall on 27th March by County 01621 855220 or at [email protected] for an entry Broadband. Do come along and see what can be done form. Volunteers to help set up, or assist with the teas in the way of providing us all with this much needed or parking would be very much appreciated, and again, requirement. We need to know what you think about it, please let Caroline know. Do come along to this and you need to know what is and what is not feasible, excellent event and buy yourself a future masterpiece! so come along and make your feelings known. Community Diary Launch of the Essex Lottery There are too many events at the Museum of Charities and community Power to include them all, but do go onto their groups around Essex were celebrating as tickets for website www.museumofpower.org.uk to see all the new Essex Lottery the wonderful events that are coming up in the went on sale. year. The Essex Lottery is an exciting weekly lottery set Do you have any items for the Community Diary? up by Essex County If so, do let me know in good time and I will Council to support local include them in the next issue which will come charities and good causes out in June 2018. in communities across Essex with their fundraising efforts. Tickets cost £1, of which 60p will go directly to good causes. The first draw took place on Saturday 25 November with a jackpot of £25,000 and guaranteed weekly prizes. You can buy your tickets on the website www.essexlottery.co.uk, or call 0300 302 32 32 to be in with a chance of winning something for yourself and supporting local good causes with their fundraising. Players can select from over 95 registered Helping you take the first step on your causes they wish to support and benefit from the journey back to work proceeds. There’s still time for good causes to register their interest with The Essex Lottery on the email and If you’re thinking about returning to work after being telephone numbers given above. unemployed for longer than 12 months and feel like you need some support then an Essex based project could be just what you need. ‘HeadsUp’ is a free Where Does the Water Go? Project programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund and In recognition of the work done to map all the water European Social Fund and is designed to help people courses and ditches in Ulting, your Parish Council has who have a common mental health problem such as been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation. Parish anxiety or depression find and maintain work after a Clerk, Jenny Clemo, would like to thank all the period of long-term unemployment. volunteers who helped her map Ulting’s ditches. People wishing to take part will be matched with a Work on Langford’s water courses is almost peer support worker, someone who has been in a finished, so we will then have a complete record of similar situation and have returned to work, who will where the water goes in our parishes. help you to improve the practical skills you need to help you find a job such as writing a great CV or practicing interview techniques. As well as practical things, the programme also places a great deal of emphasis on exploring and dealing with the emotional barriers that could be standing in your way of returning to work.