LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Advent draws near!
As we approach Christmas and the New Year, perhaps we should start by looking back to our Remembrance Service at Bardfield Saling on 11th November. It was very moving to see the cardboard figures in the pews of those who had lost their lives, and a reminder as we come to happier times of the sacrifices made.
We are grateful too for Mo’s efforts on the memorial in the centre of Great Saling and the support for this from the Great Saling Action Group.
To celebrate Christmas we have our traditional Carol and Christingle Services - see page 3. And this year, especially if you have young children, why not join in the Christingle making at Parks? The maga- zine also has some interesting material on the meaning behind the twelve days of Christmas (see page 15) and mistletoe (page 19).
Added to which we have our Salings Christmas Celebration see page 4. And if you wander along to the Bool Room that evening you can get an update on our work on the Neighbourhood Plan.
Christmas is also a time when we remember those less fortunate - so can we draw your attention to the advert for the Braintree Foodbank on p5, and to that for CHESS, the Chelmsford homeless project, on page 9.
So, let us close by expressing a warm THANK YOU to our read- ers, distributors, contributors and advertisers!
With our best wishes for the Christmas season and a successful 2019.
Andrea & Richard
Please email contributions to the February 2019 edition by the 15th of January to:
2 EVENTS IN & AROUND THE SALINGS: • Dec 1st & 2nd 10.30–5pm Christmas Tree festival @ St Mary’s, Elsen- ham • Dec 1st 7.30pm Bishops Stortford Choral Society singing in All Saints Church, Stansted Road, B.Stort. Tickets www.singwithbscs.org.uk or on door. • Dec 8th 5pm onwards – Salings Pre-Christmas Celebration @ Milleni- um Hall, CM7 5DW. Adults £2. 01371 850582 • Dec 12th 7pm Curry & Carols @ Andrewsfield (Saling) Airfield, Stebbing. Everyone welcome • Dec 23rd 10.30am Making Christingles at Parkes, Saling • Dec 30th 11-2 Community Hogmanay @ Stebbing • Jan 26th 6pm Concert at Gt Saling, £5pp incl drink &nibbles Selected EVENTS - SALINGS MILLENNIUM HALL: • Pilates: Mondays 11.15-12.00 • Art Group: Tuesdays 10.15-15.15 • Great Saling Parish Council Meeting: every 2nd Wed. @ 19.30 • Village lunch: 13. Dec. 12.30 - 15.00 • WEA: 3.Dec. http://wea-essex.org.uk/about/
CHURCH SERVICES in the Salings: December & January Sunday 2. Dec. 11.00 Benefice Advent Service Great Saling Sunday 9. Dec. 9.30 Morning Prayer Little Saling Sunday 16. Dec. 16.00 Carol Service Great Saling Followed by Wine & Mince Pies Sunday 23. Dec. 10.30 Christingle Making at Parkes 24. Dec. Christmas Eve 15.30 Christingle Service Little Saling 23.30 Communion Service Great Saling 25. Dec. Christmas Day 10.30 Holy Communion Little Saling Sunday 6. Jan. 11.00 Holy Communion Great Saling Sunday 13. Jan. 11.00 Morning Prayer Little Saling Sunday 20. Jan. 11.00 Family Worship Great Saling Sunday 27. Jan. 9.30 Holy Communion Little Saling
EMERGENCY: Please always dial 999 in an emergency. To report a non-emergency crime you can: Use our do it online service. Call our non-emergency number 101 or alternatively 01245 491491. Go to a police station. Deaf/hard-of-hearing - NGT TextRelay 18001 101
3 4 CHRISTMAS APPEAL:
The foodbank has recorded a 65% increase in demand since last year and I am asking every- one please to give generously to our Christmas collection this year. Food donations will be collected by the PCC's following the services at Great Saling Church on 2nd December and at Little Saling Church on 9th December. Your donations may also be left in the churches in the days prior to the services if you are unable to attend. Sadly many families are now having to choose between eating and heating. Please do help if you can. With many thanks, Rev. Helen Pelly
5 Dear Friends, A Google search on my computer just now offered me 905 million hits for the phrase “Come Home for Christmas”. From this mere fact I conclude that, a) there are lots of versions of a song with that name and b) coming home for Christmas is an important thing for people all over the world. So, are you going home for Christmas, or are your family coming home to you? Often, we answer that question differently depending on our age, and what generation of our family we are in. Where, indeed, is home? Is it where you live, where your parents live, where you were born, or where your an- cestors come from? Different people will use these different definitions, and in their own way they are all valid. Famously of course the Holy Family went home for the first Christmas – Jo- seph and Mary had to travel to Joseph’s ancestral town of Bethlehem for the census. It makes me glad ours are done by post or over the net these days! Because of course upon arrival ‘home’, Joseph and Mary couldn’t find any accommodation so Jesus was born among the farm animals and slept in a manger. Although he was in one sense born “at home”, Jesus was actually born homeless, and would spend much of his ministry wandering, without perma- nent accommodation. Many people today are rather rootless too, moving frequently for work, or because of family circumstances. Sometimes it is hard to work out where home is, and we can easily become like Marvin Gaye (or Paul Young if you’re under 50) and say “Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home”. But, for the sake of a stable (no pun intended) emotional and physical life, having a place to call home is very important for us. At Christmas it is appro- priate for us to pause and remember those in our society who are homeless – and please remember to support the Food bank when you do your Christ- mas food shopping. However this year, I’ll be thinking a lot about what it means to “come home for Christmas” in a spiritual sense. I believe that God is calling us to be his family, his children, and to come to him in faith, not just at Christmas but for all of our lives. On January 10th 2019 in St Mary’s Stebbing, the next Alpha Course, for all residents of the Pilgrim Parishes, begins at 7pm. So, if you want to know more about coming home to God, please call Angie on 01371856696, and in the meantime have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year. With best wishes, Tim
6 Celebrate Christmas at one of our churches:
‘The Sweet Cookies’ Are putting on a concert on Sat- urday 26th January 2019 "Close harmony singing in a variety of styles, to suit all tastes” 6pm in St James Church, Great Saling, Tickets £5-00 to include drink & nibbles Tickets will be available: at coffee mornings, Christmas events or from Lydia Roe
In aid of the fabric of Great & Little (Bardfield) Saling Churches.
7 Alpha course at St Mary’s, Stebbing starts 7pm Thurs 10 Jan 2019 & every Thursday until 28th March (12 weeks).
Hot meal, documentary style film, followed by discussion. Please contact Angie on 01371 856696 or [email protected]
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David Skeet Plumbing & Heating Over 30 years experience All plumbing & Heating work Tel – 01371 810286 Mobile – 07891 943074
10 SALINGS MILLENNIUM HALL
A MODERN HALL WITH LARGE CAR PARK FOR PRIVATE & CORPORATE HIRE PICCOTS LANE, GREAT SAL- ING CM7 5DW www.essexinfo.net/ thesalingshall
Contact: Mrs. Jo Peake Mon-Sat 09:00 - 19:00 THE SALINGS 100 CLUB Phone: 01371 850 260; If you are interested in joining the 100 E-mail: Club please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] Maya Hatcher on 01371 810887. It costs £2 per month and we accept cash, cheque or standing order. November winners: 1st Michael Surridge 2nd UrsulaMay 3rd PhilO’Reilly
Great Saling Parish Council Clerk to the Council: Mrs Cathryn Carlisle Herkstead Green Bungalow Cornish Hall End Braintree Essex CM7 4HH - [email protected] T:01440 731964 www.essexinfo.net/greatsalingpc
Councillors Contact Details Mr Peter Martin 07801236461 Mrs Diane Greenwood (Chairman) 01371 851763 Mr Colin Bennett 01371 850320 Sue Baugh 01371 850168 Kathy Jiggins 01371 850002 Clerk Cathryn Carlisle 01440 731 964 Please remember that everyone is welcome to attend our meetings; they are on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in the village Hall. Question time is always first on the Agenda, therefore you are not obliged to stay for the rest of the meeting if you do not wish to.
11 12 13 Bishop Stephen’s 2019 New Year message
One of the joys of 2018 was return- ing to Spain to walk part of the Camino de Santiago de Composte- la. I first completed the northern Way of St James in the autumn of 2016. It's deeply satisfying for the soul when prayer, solitude and the unrelenting tread of boot leather come together. During the pilgrim- age, yellow arrows painted on lamp- posts guided me through mountainous terrain. I came to rely on these arrows in this unfamiliar, beautiful place. One year yielding to another can be unsettling. We look back at the past year and think of the unexpected things that happened. We know the year ahead is full of the unforeseen but hope that our loved ones and ourselves are kept safe from harm and sadness. We each approach the New Year in different ways. Memories of the past and expectations of the future will lead some of you to go to bed early and gladly miss Jools Holland's Hootenanny. Many of our sisters and brothers in the diocese now spend the hours around midnight in prayer and praise. Where I walked in Spain, Christmas and the New Year pass with little fanfare. Instead, young people look to the Epiphany on the sixth of January. On the night before, children will leave their shoes on the windowsill stuffed with hay and carrots to feed the horses of Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar as they make their pilgrimage to Bethlehem to worship baby Jesus. The children hope that the Magi will leave them a present in return for horse food. They might also delight in the thought that these exotic travellers will carry them in their hearts as they come into the presence of the saviour of the world. 2019 does not come with yellow arrows painted on lampposts to help guide us through the unforeseen territory ahead. We wouldn't have a fulfilling earthly pilgrimage if we did. Perhaps the children of Spain have the right idea. They bathe in the light and joy of the Epiphany; where simply being in the presence of Jesus provides the hope and trust needed to navigate the year ahead with joy. With gold of obedience and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him, the Lord is his name!
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16 17 18 Mistletoe has become a symbol for the festive season. Large clusters of pale green mistletoe are revealed as the leaves fall in No- vember from the branches of apple, hawthorn, lime and poplars. This semi- parasitic plant takes water and some nourishment from the host tree. Clumps producing the sticky white berries are often guarded by Mistle Thrushes as the berries attract other species eager to eat them. The seeds are spread from tree to tree as the birds try to remove the sticky flesh from their beaks and wipe them on a suitable branch. Germination is slow, but once established the clumps grow larger year on year and in some cases seem to overwhelm the host tree. As a plant which is sensitive to the chill of winter, mistletoe is rapidly becom- ing well established in the eastern regions of England as our winters are tending to become warmer. Festoons of mistletoe on suitable trees can be seen in parts of our local area including Hatfield Forest, Saffron Walden, Quendon, Newport and other villages. There are many seasonal traditions associated with this intriguing plant which was thought to have magical powers especially if found growing on Oaks. Within many European cultures its evergreen boughs were used to symbolise eternal life. Mistletoe and holly were used to decorate houses dur- ing the time of the winter solstice to remind people that the circle of life would continue. Mistletoe came to symbolise good luck and love in life. If you need inspiration for a Christmas present, please consider the Society's book, "The Hundred Par- ishes: An Introduction". It can be purchased at local Tourist Information Cen- tres and some local bookshops. The principal author, Ken McDonald, will be on hand to sign copies at Saffron Walden TIC on Saturday, Decem- ber 1st between 10:30am and 12:30pm. Tricia Moxey, Trustee Photo: Mistletoe in Newport
19 1st FINCHINGFIELD SCOUT GROUP There are four sections that meet in the Scout Headquarters, Finchingfield. Beavers 6-8yrs held on Wednesday evenings 5.45 – 7.00pm Cubs 8-10 1/2 yrs on Tuesday evenings 6.30 – 8.00pm Scouts10 ½ -14yrs on Thursday evenings 7.30 – 9.00pm and Explorer Scouts 14–18yrs on Monday evenings 7.30 – 9.00pm All sections are available to girls and Boys We are currently recruiting Adult helpers for all sections To find out more contact Mark Wells - Group Scout Leader T: 01371 810447 E: [email protected]
20 21 Cllr.Mike Banthorpe At the last Council Meeting members were advised that in ac- cordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it was proposed that existing legislation relating to the licensing of animals was repealed, and a new licensing system introduced. The new system would relate to selling animals as pets; providing for, or arranging for, the provision of boarding for cats or dogs; hiring out horses; dog breeding; and keeping or training animals for exhibi- tion. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 would come into force on 1st October 2018 and would require the Council to have new procedures in place, proposed fees and charges, a scheme of delegation and a procedure for the determination of appeals in respect of risk ratings. It was advised that procedural guidance had been issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which all licensing authorities were required to implement in re- spect of licensing animal activities. The changes would also include a reduc- tion to the fees charged in respect of licence applications, serving to encour- age higher performance amongst businesses and, in turn, higher quality ani- mal welfare standards. There has been a good response from those this applies to with most now licenced; which after watching the dreadful state some animals have been reported in T.V. programmes this is certainly required. ------Braintree District Council is set to take part in the next round of the 2019 Vot- er ID pilots along with 10 other local authorities across England, with partici- pating local authorities testing different methods of identification. This is the next step towards national rollout of Voter ID at the next scheduled general election and the pilots will take place at the 2019 local elections, providing further insight to the Government into how best to secure the voting process. Local Authorities will help show what methods of ID work best for voters and provide alternative methods of ID to individuals who do not have a specified form of ID, free of charge, ensuring that everyone who is registered has the opportunity to vote. At the last local elections in May 2018, five local authori- ties took part in the first round of Voter ID pilots which are being run by the Cabinet Office; the evaluation following the first trials showed they were a success, with the overwhelming majority of people able to cast their vote without a problem.
Over the next few months B.D.C. will be working closely with communities to get ready for this change which will see them bring identification with them when they vote, with residents ultimately playing an important part in provid- ing further insight into how best to ensure the security of the voting process across the country.”
22 Minister for the Constitution, Chloe Smith MP said: “I am pleased to see Braintree District Council taking part in the 2019 pilots. Their participation will help us gain a deeper understanding of how voter ID will work on a wider scale ahead of a national rollout, and see what works best for voters. We want people to have confidence that our elections are safeguarded against any threat or perception of electoral fraud. Voters are already required to show ID to pick up a parcel from the Post Office, rent a car, or apply for benefits and this is a common sense next step to securing the integrity of our elections. The Electoral Commission is responsible for carrying out an independent evaluation of the Cabinet Office’s pilot schemes. We will publish our findings following the May elections, in the summer of 2019." The Cabinet Office is engaging with a broad range of charities and civil soci- ety organisations - including members of the Accessibility of Elections Work- ing Group - to ensure that the overall policy reflects the needs of all voters in the UK. To verify that voters are who they say they are, each local authority will test one of four models of Voter ID checks in their pilot: photo ID, photo and non- photo ID, traditional poll cards poll cards with scannable barcodes. Voters in the Braintree District require voters to present either one form of photo ID or up to two forms of non-photo ID. ------Chief Inspector Craig Carrington, Braintree and Uttlesford District Command- er has left Essex Police and joined the Metropolitan Police. He has been re- placed by Chief Inspector Janette Rawlingson, who has in the past worked in the Braintree District. She reports that they have increased visibility, been involved in more part- nership working and responded to ASB and drug use concerns in response to our priorities. Examples given during August included attending 85 traffic collisions, 31 missing people, 88 Mental Health incidents, 266 Domestic Abuses, investigated 266 Anti-Social Behaviour reports and solved 101 Crimes.
As I always do at this time of year would like to request that if we suffer very poor weather in the next few months, would those who can get their vehicles off the road do so. One or two parked cars can cause an already difficult situ- ation with slippery surfaces or poor visibility to become far worse for other road users. Keep safe and drive carefully. We now have the festive season to look forward to, and I would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
23 24 25 IF YOU ARE AFFECTED BY THE NOISE FROM GAS GUNS USED AS BIRD SCARERS, PLEASE VISIT htp://www.b-ooom.co.uk/ B-OOOM is named for the noise of gas guns and from the saying
Bang Out Of Order Mate!!! The group is working to • encourage crop growers to use visual deterrents • eliminate nuisance noise polluton • build a beter understanding between crop growers and people afected by noise in and around their homes and businesses Use this URL to report noise nuisance to Braintree Council or contact 01376 552525 to speak with a Environmental Health Ofcer: htps:// www.braintree.gov.uk/forms/form/426/en/report_a_noise_nuisance On Facebook? Visit htps://www.facebook.com/BoomBirdGasGuns Using Twiter? Look for @gasgunboom
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27 28 Farleigh Hospice Remembers
For more information on Farleigh Hospice www.farleighhospice.org
Photograph: Ryan aged seven proudly displays his Armistice Day in- spired picture, created for his nannie Tracey who is staying at Far- leigh Hospice Inpatient Unit.
29 Wildlife SOS I would love be the bearer of glad tidings and tell you some good news - that would be a first and might encourage a few more readers! However, I'm not a politicians wordsmith and can only report the truth as I see it, and it's not good, the nearest things I can find to reduce the feeling of doom and gloom are an apparent increase three increasingly scarce small butterfly species this season, the Brown Argus, Small Heath and Common Blue but the latter only on some habitats. There remains a great concern for next season be- cause the prolonged drought, especially in our region, had a serious impact on the nectar bearing and larval food-plants and therefore, possibly the next generations - all will be revealed next year. For the moment the number of Buzzards also seem to be holding good, but last spring it was revealed on a TV news programme that they and other birds of prey are again being de- stroyed by gamekeepers who are aware of the lack of effective wildlife law enforcement, as indeed are developers and the news soon spreads to others who stand to gain financially from this betrayal of our wild creatures - sadly it's almost global! Britain and parts of Europe have suffered two significant weather events this year that will not only impact on food prices but also wildlife. The extended winter, the so called 'Beast From The East' and prolonged drought are just two of an increasing number of weather anomalies, the result of global warming, which in many parts of the world has cost many lives; WHY ON EARTH HAS THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED FRACKING IN SEARCH OF MORE FOSSIL FUEL? We are all responsible! Plastic pollution, the destruction of the rain forests to grow palm oil, dangerous air pollution and the widespread use of chemicals are some of the ways mankind is polluting and poisoning our planet and to some degree all life, including us. We could all learn from the efforts of a very wise and caring young woman who has enlisted the help of some friends to create wildlife habitats in her village and has made her own garden a pilot scheme - an example that others can follow. Working as group they will quickly and significantly enhance the wildlife and environmental value of their village and encourage others once the wildlife increases. This practical approach however, while absolutely essential, needs to be backed up by lobbying MPs, local authorities and conservation groups who are not sufficiently outspoken politically but despite this apparent failing they are collectively qualified to give very valuable conservation ad- vice on everything from pond creation and wetland management to avian and mammal species, woodland and wild flower meadow management - they are there to help. Please do try to make a difference, if you want to know how call your County Wildlife Trust, RSPB or other conservation organisation or indeed myself on 07534263629, Suffolk Wildlife Trust 01473 890089, Essex W.Trust on 01621862960. George Millins.
30 31 32 33 JANET C. DAVIES Dip.FD,MBIFD BRAINTREE’S LADY FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Bereavement can be a distressing and bewildering time, and Janet’s first duty is to offer professional and sympathetic guidance. Janet is able to offer the ‘Gentle Touch’ when arranging funerals either in the comfort of your own home or in the pleasant surroundings at Fern House 72 Coggeshall Road, Braintree CM7 9BY
or alternatively by appointment at her Kelvedon Office please ring 01376 339300
Janet is dedicated to upholding the traditional values of respect and dignity, providing the very best care for the bereaved
Pre Paid Funeral plans available, giving you peace of mind and security in an uncertain world…….
Part of the Hunnaball Family Funeral Group 34 DISCLAIMER: The magazine production team has the right to refuse, post- pone or to edit any material received for publication and it is assumed that anyone submitting contributions has the copyright of that material. Any LOOSE-LEAF inserts are permitted only at the prior approval of the main distributer, Mr. Greg Coe, E: [email protected] and need to be paid for. For any queries related to ADVERTISING in this magazine as well as donations towards the magazine cost please contact: Mr Julian Dyer, T: 07768 124418 , E: [email protected] NOTE: all advertising and contributions need to be in PDF, Word or JPEG format - i.e. camera-ready in A5 or A6 size and max. 2 pages You can also join the Salings Magazine Facebook group For ELECTRONIC COPIES of the Salings Village Magazine go to: http://www.essexinfo.net/greatsalingpc/parish-mag/
CHURCH NOTICEBOARD Ministers: Revd. Tim Goodbody, The Vicarage, Ruffles Place, Stebbing CM6 3TJ, T: 01371 856080, E: [email protected] Revd. Helen Pelly, Purples, Bardfield Saling, T: 01371 810369 E: [email protected] Curate: Revd Sue Hurley. The Rectory, Park Road, Little Easton, CM6 2JJ, T: 01371859158 E: [email protected] Administrator Pilgrim Parishes: Caroline Wildgoose, T: 01371606110 E: [email protected] LITTLE SALING/BARDFIELD SALING Churchwardens: Mrs Helen Davies, Denbies, Bardfield Saling, Tel: 01371 850735, E-mail: [email protected] Mrs Deborah Reed, Bluegate Hall, Great Bardfield. Tel 01371810985. E-mail : [email protected] PCC Secretary: Mrs Moira Grierson Rickford, Tel. 01371 850503 E-mail: [email protected] GREAT SALING Churchwardens: Mr Robert Bucknell, Onchors Farm, Tel: 07860521548, E-mail: [email protected] Mrs Lydia Roe, E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: Mr Julian Dyer, Tel: 07768 124418, E-mail: [email protected] PCC Secretary: Mr Richard Gleed, E-mail: [email protected]
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