Gosfield Grapevine

Cinders of the Caribbean

Issue 65—February 2015 Gosfield Parish Council

2 CHAIRMAN’S NOTES!! Those of you that read Chairman’s Notes have probably gathered by now how much I value and appreciate all the work done by volunteers for clubs and societies, and for the village. It seems to me that much of what we class as ‘community’ comes from what people do voluntarily. There must be dozens and dozens of you that are filling a wide variety of roles in the village for no pay (and this even includes the Parish Council!). Thank you all so much for your time, effort and dedication. Those of you that belong to a club or society, or are involved in working with volunteers, are probably aware of some of the limitations that often arise. When you look at your committee, a volunteer, treasurer, chairman or secretary, you may allow yourself a private thought about some of their shortcomings, but, on the whole, things manage to tick along. Perhaps the job they do could be done quicker or better by a professional, but you appreciate the willingness of the volunteer and make the best of it. In a small village such as ours, this seems to me the essence of what our community is about. Even though it may not be perfect, there is a certain ownership and involvement that comes with this kind of volunteer service, that helps build a cohesive, inclusive and resilient community – long may it continue in Gosfield. The reason I mention this now, is the decision by the Parish Council at January’s meeting to change the grass cutting arrangements for the award winning children’s play area. For the last few years, the grass cutting has been done by Peter Wood, a volunteer, who has used the Playing Field’s ride-on mower and cut the grass on a regular basis. The ride on mower has been put out of action on occasions because of molehills, and due to the uneven ground cannot cut the grass very short. The vote (6-3) was in favour of a more professional, paid for service, to have more control over how and when the grass is cut, and to have shorter grass. As a member of the council I accept this majority vote (the alternative would be to resign). I haven’t changed my own views, but it does reflect, however, the new ‘personality’- ambience, mood music, flavour - of the current council. It’s just different from the last one, and I felt I needed to explain this to you, especially as in earlier Chairman’s Notes I have often extolled the virtues of volunteers in the village. I still hold this view very strongly. My vision is one in which more and more residents involve themselves where possible and practical in making the village what it is. There will, of course, be times when it really is better to pay someone to do a job – it’s just a judgement call at the time. There are other projects that I hope will be opportunities for volunteers to cement community involvement – one is the growing band of helpers in the nature reserve work parties, another might be to scrape back the overgrowing grass and vegetation on some of the pavements (you may have noticed last year that this was done by The Spinney, and more recently at the entrance to Greenfields). I am sure there will be many more opportunities. Incidentally, we could just pay someone to do it all, but that would increase your Council Tax and involve no community spirit at all. My sincere thanks to all the volunteers in the village3 – and especially Peter Wood for all his hard work over the last few years. Max Ford Hello from the Fete Committee. Saturday July 2nd will be this year’s Fete day and planning is well under way, the organising committee members are working hard to put a great day together and details will emerge in the next editions of the Grapevine. We will be running the evening event again which will follow on after the Prize Draw with entertainment for the children and then two local bands providing the music until later in the evening, completing a memorable day and another great community event. Full details will be published in the program which will be available from early June.

The theme this year is ‘The 1920’s’, being the decade that saw the birth of Queen Elizabeth II which is our, albeit tenuous, link to the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations and a great subject for float builders and costume makers. And while we’re on the subject of floats, the committee would like to ask for nominations for the Queen and Princesses to lead the procession this year. Please give your nominations to any member of the organising committee as soon as you can and we’ll let everybody know around Easter time.

Just as a reminder the 2016 organising committee is; Cherie Ames-Tull; Kelley Scripps (Deputy Chair); Jason Gediking; Peter Woods, Joe Doherty; Mark Bloomfield, Russell Couch and myself, Chris Flint (Chair) – my contact details are [email protected] – 07932 055292 – 474573.

Finally and sadly the committee would like to mark the passing of a recent and long term member of the organising committee and on the committee’s behalf, Joe Doherty has written a eulogy for Roy Mollison.

It was with deep sadness that the Gosfield Village Fete Committee heard of the passing of Roy Mollison on 21st November 2015. Roy and Barbara had been members of the Fete Committee since 2002; Roy took on the Chairman role between 2003 and 2005 and was Treasurer from 2005 until October 2014, when he and Barbara stepped down from the Committee. Over those 12 years of service to the Village, Roy and Barbara were stalwart and dedicated members of the Fete Committee; their significant efforts contributed magnificently to the successes of the Gosfield Village Fete. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barbara and family; Roy was such a huge presence and will be sorely missed by everyone.

The 2016 Fete Committee

4 THE QUEEN'S 90TH BIRTHDAY BEACONS - 21ST APRIL 2016.

There is a long and unbroken tradition in our country of celebrating Royal jubilees, weddings, coronations and special birthdays with the lighting of beacons - on top of mountains, churches and castle battlements, on town and village greens, farms, country parks and estates, and along the beaches surrounding our shores. The last major beacon celebration was on Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on 4th June 2012, There will be a further opportunity to celebrate on Thursday 21st April 2016, when beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday that day. To date, 255 local communities, including town and parish councils, local authorities, youth groups and organisations such as the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, the Crown Estate, Windsor, Historic Houses Association, English Heritage, National Trust, Country Land and Business Association, Trinity House, the Royal Air Force, National Association of Local Councils, Local Government Association, Once Voice Wales, National Association of Civic Officers and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have agreed to take part. We hope that you too will wish to join us in lighting our beacon, on the playing field Church Road. Joining us in uniting the nation in common celebration of this important milestone in The Queen’s life. The beacon lighting time will be confirmed at a later date. We are planning around lighting it in the early evening. The Beacon Project, by agreement with The Royal Household, will form an important part of The Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, and Her Majesty The Queen has graciously agreed to light the Principle Beacon on 21st April 2016.

Cllr Mandy Adams YA GARDEN CARES Thorough Attention on Bed Maintenance, mowing and Clearance Telephone Barry: 0773 2337262

5 Gosfield Post Office The Post Office operates from the Maurice Rowson Hall twice a week, opening times; Wednesdays 2pm-5.30pm Fridays 9am-1pm Full postal service provided.

Keith Broyd 3z Electrical

Established 1972 Fully qualified, experienced, certificated and reliable local Painter & Decorator electrician. General Repairs All types of domestic, commercial and industrial work carried out Tel 01787 237496 including fault finding, testing and inspections. Phone Steve on Mygunya North End Road 07964 677163 or Lt. Yeldham 01787 479655 Essex CO9 4LE 27, Meadway, Gosfield

SJM Decorating Services

High quality work Professional and friendly service

Please give Steve a call on 07802 379636 or email sjmdecserv @btinternet.com

What a mess Fraid so – it’s dog pooh again! Just a reminder that dogs should only be on the Playing Field if on a lead, and any mess picked up. It really is not on for the sports teams to have to pick up before they play – or for children to tread in it in the play area! There should be no dogs at all there. The Parish Council will be putting up clearer signage to remind visitors to the village. Please…be a responsible dog owner.

Gosfield Social Club The Street, Gosfield Open to all Gosfield Residents  (Age restrictions apply) Two full size snooker tables

Fully licensed bar Friendly atmosphere When your house needs a clean Open 8-11pm Monday to Saturday Do not shout, do not scream!

Membership £8 per year Just call for Daisy (£4 for ‘Seniors’ and and she’ll make it gleam! Juniors) New members welcome Phone Daisy on 07919993363

7 GOSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

GOSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES 2016 15th February — Pavilion 7.15 pm 21st March –Pavilion 7.15 pm 18th April—Pavilion 7.15 pm

GOSFIELD PARISH COUCIL Annual Parish Meeting

7.30pm Monday 25th April at the Maurice Rowson Hall Just a bit of advance notice of the Annual Parish Meeting for your diaries. More details in the next issue of The Grapevine. Look forward to seeing you there for an update on the year, a chat a nibble and a glass of wine.

Zip Wire

The Parish Council is preceding with the project for a Zip Wire on the playing field, it is proposed to install the Zip Wire on the west side of the field close to the fence. The total cost is approx. £8000.00 to be funded from grants and are currently await- ing response to grant applications along with the £1700.00 presently held in reserves from the former youth club in the village. This is an exciting bold project that will be enjoyed by many, young and old, for years to come.

Joanne Beavis, Clerk to Gosfield Parish Council. Easter Cottage, Park Hall Road, Gosfield, C09 1SQ. Telephone: 01371 850710. Email: [email protected]

Email; [email protected] [email protected] Please note copy date for the next “Grapevine” 29th March 2016

8 BDC Development Plan

You may already be aware that BDC are in the process of planning for the building of new homes and industrial development in the district to meet expected demand over the next few years. Part of this process involved a call for sites, where landowners were asked to submit land which they would like to be considered for development. It had been planned to discuss the 12 sites submitted in Gosfield at the February Parish Council meeting, but this was deferred when we learnt that our views were not required until the beginning of April. This gives us time to have an open, one item agenda, Parish Council meeting on the 17th February at 7.30 pm in the Maurice Rowson Hall. Every resident is warmly invited to attend to learn a little more about the process and the sites submitted - and the opportunity to have a say on the matter. Possible future development in the village was a subject raised in the village questionnaire as part of the 2010 Parish Plan, and extracts state Most of Gosfield residents have stated a preference for preserving the village feel and environment and new development not welcome. However, nearly one in five replies would like to see some development, with owner occupied houses, and bungalows for the elderly receiving the most support. There does not appear to be strong support for social housing, but not massive opposition either. 100 people in favour should not be ignored Gosfield should remain a village environment, and if any development is agreed it should reflect the size and rural nature of the community. There were also concerns expressed about the village infrastructure being able to cope with new development. Only 18% of the replies were in favour of more housing in the village, just under 10% had ‘no opinion’ and 67% against. The Parish Council does have a development policy in place, agreed in October 2014, and will look favourably at schemes which Are limited in size Incorporate a good mix of housing, with a possible bias towards starter and affordable properties Are more or less within the main body of the village Come with tangible and significant benefits for the village infrastructure (footpaths, road crossing, amenity land, finance etc)

Continued on page 10 9 Continued from page 9 The sites submitted for consideration are

GOSF217 – 10 New Road Gosfield, site size 0.4ha, current use light industry (B2), proposed for residential assuming 25 dwellings per hectare. The site could accommodate 10 dwellings. GOSF243 – Site between 5 and 7 Braintree Road, site size 0.2ha, part occupied by temporary allotments, 2-3 dwellings. GOSF251 – Land to the south of The Limes, site size 1.34ha, no current use, proposed for 25 dwellings. GOSF248 – Land off Nun’s Meadow, site size 0.85ha, current use agricultural use, proposed for 5 dwellings. GOSF247 – Land south of Hall Drive, site size 3.8ha, current use agriculture, proposed for up to 50 dwellings. GOSF244 – Land to the rear of 13/14 Park Cottages, site size 0.646ha, builders yard and grazing, 5 dwellings. GOSF253 – Land north of Meadway (Part of site below), site size 2ha, current use a agriculture, 50 dwellings. GOSF252 – Land north of Meadway, site size 4ha, current use agriculture, 150 dwellings. GOSF242 – site adjacent to Canberra Cottage Hedingham Road, site size 0.0946ha, 6 dwellings. GOSF246 – Former Shell Oil Depot, Hedingham Road, site size 1.68ha, 20 dwellings and B1 employment use. GOSF249 – Land at Gosfield Airfield, current use rough grass land, site size 9ha, Employment use (B1, B2 and B8). There is also a late submission for land, site size approx. 8 ha, for 40 houses, by Shardlowes Farm.

There are more details on the BDC website , http://www.braintree.gov.uk/info/200230/planning_policy and a map of the sites on http://maps.braintree.gov.uk/localviewweb/sites/localplancfs/

It is important to remember that these sites are for consideration only at this stage, and there is no presumption that planning permission will be granted. If you do have any views on the matter, please let BDC (and the Parish Council) know your thoughts – and please come along to the special Parish Council meeting in the Maurice Rowson Hall on the 17th February.

10 11 Parish Safety Volunteers Home Safety Volunteer

Are you interested in making a real difference in your local community, helping people to live and feel safer? Do you want to volunteer with both Essex County Fire and Rescue Service AND Essex Police?

Our two services are working together to launch a brand new volunteer scheme! We are looking to recruit two Parish Safety Volunteers per Parish in Essex, tasked with arranging and conducting home safety visits. These volunteers will deliver crucial fire and crime prevention advice, extensive knowledge of local support services and the ability to fit smoke detectors directly into the homes of those most in need.

If you’re interested, you’ll need to apply for interview and be required to undertake Essex Police vetting. You will receive comprehensive training from both Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police, a full uniform and all equipment required to carry out the role. To ensure volunteers are well supported, Parish Safety Volunteers from across the county will be invited to on-going training and networking opportunities throughout the year.”

Interested? Please complete an application form, or get in touch using [email protected] Application forms and more information are available from the above link or magazine editor or parish clerk or in the online magazine on the parish council website

12 Purpose of Role To support Essex County Fire & Rescue Service (ECFRS) and Essex Police (EP) by carrying out Home Safety Visits to homes within a specified Parish area. To carry out Home Safety Visits on behalf of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Es- sex Police; providing information on all areas of home safety within the remit of ECFRS and EP, including installing smoke detectors, devising an escape plan and advice on property and personal security and safety. Main Duties and Responsibilities To visit homes within a specified Parish as requested by the ECFRS and/or EP or the Par- ish Council to carry out Home Safety Visits with. All visits will be undertaken in pairs; To liaise with the nominated persons to receive details of visits to be carried out; To collect equipment from a specified ECFRS or Parish Council premises as required; To complete the relevant paperwork and return to the Service in the agreed timeframe; To participate in activities to generate home fire safety visits; To attend volunteer group information, training, review and update sessions; To adhere to the policies and procedures provided by ECFRS and EP at all times; To undergo training with the Service to attain required expectations of performance & skill.

Skills, Experience and Aptitude Required Practical skills including use of drills, stepladders and small tools; The ability to complete the required paperwork to record the visit and actions taken; Access to a vehicle is preferable as the role will require travel within a defined area; Experience of working or volunteering with diverse members of the community; Reliable, responsible and trustworthy; Good written and verbal communication skills; Friendly, confident and approachable manner; Willingness to work as part of a team and abide by specified procedures and processes; Reliable and able to commit to a minimum of six hours a week.

13 What support will be provided?

You will be provided with all the training and resources you need to carry out your volunteering role effectively. You will also receive: A full induction into the Service and training to help you understand your role, what we do and why; Regular feedback and support;

Uniform, equipment, travel and out of pocket expenses will be provided What benefits can be expected?

The experience of involvement with a Public Sector organisation; The experience of being part of a countywide volunteering scheme; The opportunity to develop new and existing skills; The enjoyment of meeting new people and being part of a team; The satisfaction of knowing you are making a valuable contribution to the Ser- vice and the public;

Safeguarding

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service and Essex Police are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and ex- pect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. In line with Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and Protection of Free- doms Act 2012, any volunteering role falling within the definition of regulated activity relating to children and adults will be subject to the appropriate DBS (CRB) checks and full Essex Police vetting procedures.

This document is designed to provide a broad understanding of the Parish Safety Volunteer Scheme. If you have any further questions or comments, please email PSV@essex- fire.gov.uk

1. What is the purpose of the Parish Safety Volunteer Scheme? The purpose of this initiative is to make local communities safer, more resilient and better protected from fire and crime. It will do this by: Reducing accidental dwelling fires in the parishes in which Parish Safety Volunteers operate. Reducing burglaries in the parishes in which Parish Safety Volunteers operate. Making people feel safer in the parishes in which Parish Safety Volunteers operate.

2. Why are Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service working together on this?

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service alongside Essex Police have a joint desire to increase community resilience and support the building of stronger communities in Essex.

3. What will Parish Safety Volunteers deliver in their Parishes? Parish Safety Volunteers will be required to… Conduct Parish Safety Visits and deliver Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service approved advice and support. Have a comprehensive understanding of what support is already offered in the Parish and be able to signpost accordingly. Be able to fit smoke detectors in the homes of local residents. Participate in activities in order to generate Parish Safety Visits and promote awareness of the scheme in their Parish. 4. What else will Parish Safety Volunteers be expected to do whilst volunteering? Parish Safety Volunteers will be expected to… Liaise with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in order to arrange visits and confirm volunteering availability. Keep and maintain the Parish Safety Volunteer equipment provided by Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Attend Parish Safety Volunteer group information, training, review and update sessions

Complete the paperwork required of Parish Safety Volunteers and return it within the agreed timeframe. Adhere to the policies, expectations and procedures required by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police at all times. 5. How will Parish Safety Volunteers find individuals requiring a visit? Referrals will be generated by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police, through the processes already used by the organisations to arrange home safety visits. Referrals will also be generated by Parish Safety Volunteers themselves, as they will be promoting the service and already have some local knowledge of areas and individuals that would benefit from a PSV visit. 6. How will Parish Safety Volunteers interact with the Parish Council? Parish Safety Volunteers will not require co-ordination or management from Parish Councils as Essex County Fire and Rescue Service will provide all support needed. However, we will set up a direct line of communication between Parish Safety Volunteers and Parish Councils. This could mean that volunteers attend Parish Council Meetings to update on progress and activity. It could also mean a telephone or email update from volunteers. This will be a local arrangement tailored to the needs of the Parish Council in question and established when the scheme is introduced to the Parish. 7. How will Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police keep Parish Coun- cils updated on the PSV Scheme? ECFRS will send a bi-monthly progress update to all Parish Councils for whom the Parish Safety Co-ordinator holds contact details. This will be sent on approximately the final day of the month. 8. How will we know what impact the Parish Safety Volunteers have on their Parish? The Parish Safety Volunteer Co-ordinator will carry out a robust evaluation of the PSV scheme. This will be completed in by October 2016. 9. Key Contact Parish Safety Volunteer Co-ordinator: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service – Kieron Moir. No: 01376576237 Email: [email protected]

17 Gosfield Parish Council Budget 2016/17 Approved at Parish Council Meeting on 18th January 2016 All Figures net of VAT Recoverable 2016/17 2015/16 EXPENDITURE £ £

Administration 16856 16550 Communications 2850 2650 Repairs and Maintenance 14482 12230 Pavilion & Playing Field 5521 3900 Gosfield Nature Reserve 3450 3700 Allotments 300 200 Miscellaneous 650 650 Capital 17005 0

TOTAL EXPENDITURE 61114 39880

INCOME Communications 2200 1980 Repairs and Maintenance 3717 3717 Pavilion & Playing Field 1600 226 Allotments 436 436 Miscellaneous 230 94 Capital 14805 0 Transfers From Reserves-Youth monies 1700 0

TOTAL INCOME 24688 6453

EXPENDITURE LESS INCOME 36426 33427

GROSS PRECEPT REQUIRED 36426 33427

Less Localism Fund 4433 5291

Rechargeable Precept A 31993 28136

Band D Equivalent Houses in Parish B 567.77 555.28

Annual Parish Precept per Band D house A/B 56.35 50.67 18 Band D Precept Per House Per Week 1.08 0.97 Cinders of the Caribbean Gosfield Players offered us another gem with Cinders of the Caribbean. Some have now typecast themselves so fully with their panto characters they must find it difficult to even buy a pint of milk in the village without panto banter.

All credit to Sharon Wood for this excellent production and Maggy Rowe great costumes, Mike Clarke’S sound effects are really impressive and while difficult to signal out Individual performances Mark Bloomfield I must mention for his Will Scratchet/ Guitarist.

Cinders [Kay Crispin] and her sisters [Sarah Karby-Best & Renee Riach] never fail to put a smile on your face, and we look forward to their next adventure. A very enjoyable performance and I hope all enjoyed performing as much as I enjoyed watching. Tony Strudwick 19 The Gosfield Foundation Community Interest Company.

Reflection.

In February 2015 something very special happened. A group of approximately 40 people, from the village, came together with something in common;to become a volunteer at the new Gosfield Village Shop. It was a good thing that these people had something in common because most of them had never met one another before and so therefore had no idea about the relationships that they were about to secure. The Village Shop was created out of need; the need to buy: a newspaper, bread, milk, chocolate, sweets, tobacco, soft drinks, ice cream and all the other day-today items that can so very quickly impact upon our lives if we run out of them. The Village Shop, quite quickly, started to fulfil the need but parallel to that something else was beginning to emerge: Friendship. The Village Shop has awakened the “Sleeping Giant” of friendship that can often be lost, or never found, because we become, without sometimes really noticing it, a walk on by society. For our volunteers it has pulled people together from different professions and parts of the village to work as one for the good of the village. For our customers it is providing a service for the young to the elderly. It is a talking shop, a signpost for information, a place to catch-up, meet up and make connections. A year can pass so very quickly and last year certainly did but, on reflection, it left so many lasting memories and friendship will be the greatest one. Whilst, on the face of it, a volunteer at the Village Shop may be providing you with a service, behind the scenes that person also has a life. This year and whilst coping with family bereavements, ill health, family commitments, outside commitments, work commitments, duties to family, home and garden our volunteers have worked tirelessly for our community and for that I hope that you would join me in saying THANK YOU!

Joanne Beavis. On behalf of the Gosfield Foundation Community Interest Company.

20 The Gosfield Foundation Community Interest Company. The future. In year two we will hope to build upon the success of our first year. In addition to creating the Village Shop the Foundation also awarded grants to other village organisations. There are challenges too; not least our future at the current location. Gosfield Village Shop was granted a three year temporary planning permission. At the end of 2016 the Foundation will submit another planning application to request a further three year temporary planning permission with the option to bring forward plans for a permanent (purpose built) building at the current site. As with the current planning application the Foundation will be required to consult and work with the statutory bodies such as the Parish Council, the District Council and Essex County Council. To achieve the creation of a permanent building the Foundation would need to embark upon a major fundraising campaign. The Foundation will ring-fence some of its own surplus balances towards the new project. The fundraising campaign for the new project will commence from now. The delivery of successful projects begins (and ends) with the good will, cooperation and generosity of the people of the village. The Foundation would be happy to hear from anyone willing to support our work. The success of the Gosfield Village Shop is down to a strong volunteering model. If you would like to join our team, please do forward your details:

The success of the Gosfield Village Shop is down to a strong volunteering model. If you would like to join our team, please do forward your details: Name ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Contact details ………………………………………………………………………………………………… I would like to offer financial support to the work of the Gosfield Foundation Community Interest Company. Name ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Contact details ………………………………………………………………………………………

Please send you details to: Joanne Beavis. The Gosfield Foundation Community Interest Company. Easter Cottage. Park Hall Road. Gosfield. Essex. C09 1SQ. THANK YOU! Joanne Beavis. On behalf of the Gosfield Foundation21 Community Interest Company. FENNES ANIMAL FEED & WILD BIRD CENTRE

 Stockist of wild bird seeds, nuts, seed mixes & fat treats

 All displayed for you to choose and create your own mix

 View our range of nest boxes, feeders, bird tables & baths

Suppliers of wildlife habitats eg. Frog and hedgehog houses

Horse Feed and Bedding, Poultry Feed & accessories Dog, Cat and all small animal feed and housing OUR WILDLIFE HAMPERS MAKE IDEAL GIFTS Open 7 days a week 7.30am to sunset Fennes Fisheries, Fennes Road, Bocking, Braintree, Essex CM7 5LB Telephone 01376 323285 www.fennesfisheries.co.uk

22 The Friends of Gosfield Community Primary School are offering village residents and their friends and families the opportunity to join the FroGS fundraising 100 Club, where monthly prizes are available.

You can purchase a number from 1 to 100 for £12 which entitles you to be included in the next 6 draws (February, March, April, May, June and July). Draws take place in the school assembly on the last Friday of each month. All numbers are included every month so you could have a winner each time!!

Prizes for each draw are as follows: £50 for the 1st number drawn, £30 for the 2nd and £20 for the 3rd. All proceeds go directly to the school.

Please call (01787 472 266) or visit the school office to purchase your numbers before Friday 12th February 2016. Thank you in advance for your support. The FroGS.

GOSFIELD COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Midday Assistant wanted We have a vacancy for a Midday Assistant and were hop- ing there may be someone in the village who might like to come and work with us. The position involves setting up the hall for dinnertime, overseeing the children eating and playground duties and would be for 1 ¼ hours every day from 12 to 1:15pm. For more information please telephone the school office on 472266.

23 24 The Rucksack Project 2016 I’m Thea Maragkakis and I am the Environment and Community Representa- tive at Anglia Ruskin University and with this role I wanted to start a Ruck- sack Project with the students of Anglia Ruskin University and the locals of Gosfield.

I am planning on collecting and delivering the rucksacks (with the help of ARU students and any volunteers) at the end of February, to help the home- less of Chelmsford through the spring. I am asking for donations.

Donations include: *Old rucksacks (any size, colour and condition – as long as is useable) *Ring pull cans of food *Water *Socks *Gloves *Scarf *A woolly hat *An empty thermos flask You can donate one, or a few of these and you are welcome to include any other items you want. Every little helps and I thank you for your participation in this project. Please call 01787 478721 to arrange for me to collect donations or leave them in the box outside 35 Greenfields, Gosfield, Halstead, Essex, C09 1TR and ensure your names are on the items so I know who to express my thanks to. For more information about what the Rucksack Project is, visit: http://www.rucksackproject.org/

25 Children's Sunday Club

Do you run a children's club such as Rainbows, Brownie, Cubs, etc. We would love to see the children coming to Sunday Club at St Catherine's Church on the second or third Sunday in each month (during school term time). Our leaders, Charlii and Catherine are both full time teachers, and enable the children through stories and various exciting activities to get to know more about Jesus. Sunday Club runs during the Church service roughly from 10.50 (ish) to the end of the Church service when the children join the congregation, and they tell us about all they have done. This usually corre- sponds with what the adults have been talking about in the main service, and so provides a common ground for talking and discussing at home! If you would like your children (or like your own children) to be part of this, just turn up on 1st, 2nd or 3rd Sunday in any month and have fun! The service on the 1st Sunday of each month is an 'All age service' where everyone stays together for a relaxed time in Church. All our services are followed by tea, coffee, juice and cake ! All children aged 3 - 11 are warmly invited, we hope to see you there. For more information contact Reverend Sue, on 01787 273434.

St Catherine's Church dates for your diary :

Sunday 31st January a Deanery service at Sible Hedingham for 10.30, there will be no service at St Catherine's this day. Wednesday 10th February Ash Wednesday a service at 7.30pm. Reverend Sue will be running a five week Lent course starting on Friday 19th February, the theme being 'The King's speech' and how we find our voice. Maundy Thursday 24th March, a service at 7.30pm in Church. Good Friday 25th March a service at 10am. Any questions/comments to Reverend Sue on 01787 273434

26 'THE FRIENDS OF ST CATHERINE'S CHURCH - GOSFIELD'.

For many churches, regular giving is absorbed in ‘keeping the show on the road’. This usually involves everyday activities such as paying the parish share, insuring & heating the building,

A gift from your estate is different. Many churches have a legacy policy stating that they will not use legacy gifts for everyday expenditure. The 'Friends' normally invest any legacy gift into ethical funds or will spend your gift on the fabric of the Church, or on a special project to make a difference.

For example, a gift in your Will could refurbish the kitchen, help to reorder the Church, preserve their historic Church bells or equip the Church with new Bibles. In recent times the Friends have helped in the costs of redecorating the Church, new carpets for the aisles, and the solicitor fees for the newly consecrated burial area donated by Mr Watson-Steele, a kitchen facility and currently looking to support the costs of a new roof.

No matter how large or small, each gift can make a significant impact on our mission and ministry, and maintaining our spiritual heritage. Please consider how a gift in your Will could help the Church meet the needs of future generations.

AGM Will be on Thursday 17th March 7.30 for 8pm. in the Bernard Brooks room of the Maurice Rowson Hall. All are most welcome to attend, refreshments will be available during the evening. There is no necessity to be a member, come along to see how the Friends have been instrumental in funding your Church and the plans for the future, which include repairs to the Church tower and the renewal of the Church roof which will be a big expenditure. New members are always welcome, there are no onerous jobs to be taken on, why not take this opportunity to see just exactly what the 'Friends' actually do on your behalf. We look forward to seeing you there, it's all very informal.

For more information on the Friends of St. Catherine's Church please go to the web site www.gosfieldchurch.org.uk/ and click on the link to the Friends of St. Catherine's.

27 Gosfield W.I. Dudley Chignell spoke at our January meeting – showing how the background in the Lake District today is exactly as in the actual Beatrix Potter books. On Tuesday February 9th Hilary Mynott will speak on ‘Everday Life in Tudor Times’. On March 8th we will be celebrating our 85th Anniversary with a special lunch. Everyone is made very welcome at our meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of each month in the Maurice Rowson Hall starting at 2pm. Just turn up or ring 473505 for details of a lift to the meeting. SAVE ALL YOUR JUMBLE FOR US (PLEASE) Gosfield WI will be holding aJumble Sale in the Maurice Rowson Hall on Saturday April 16th at 10.30am. Please bring any items for the Jumble Sale to the hall between 9am and 9.30 am on the morning of the sale or ring 473505 for collection-Thank you.

Gosfield Lawn Tennis Club

New members welcome of all ages and standards  Professional Personal training coaching sessions Private gym available Reflex touch Refined head  Adult membership massage starts at only £30 Hopi ear candling for the first year For more For more information information contact our Secretary contact Ashley or Sheila Goldsmith on Sally on: 01787 478519 01787 476541

or look at our web site [email protected] www.gosfieldtennis.co.uk

28 DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING SESSION The Maurice Rowson Hall Management Committee are pleased to advise that in response to demand, an additional free training session on the use of the new defibrillator will be held in the Maurice Rowson Hall on Tuesday 23th February starting at 1:00pm. The previous training session was in the evening, which was a difficult time for some. This extra afternoon slot was chosen to address this issue and allow as many as possible to attend. The training will be carried out by a representative from the Community Heartbeat Trust, a registered charity who have supplied the defibrillator. Please come along and learn how to access and operate the defibrillator. The previous presentation was both informative and entertaining, and comes highly recommended! The evening is free, although the Heartbeat Trust would welcome any donations on the day. If anyone has any question regarding the defibrillator or the training session, please do not hesitate to contact Max Ford on 01787 474713. Maurice Rowson Hall Management Committee

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30 Gosfield Pits Nature Reserve Wardens Report February 2016 Another year is beginning as I write this at the beginning of the New Year; warm and wet and altogether weird. In sixty years of living and working in the countryside, I can remember nothing quite like it. Primroses are out already, and the Blackbirds in the garden are beginning to behave as if they are pairing up for nest building. There could yet be sting in the tail; the Chanomeles japonica in my garden came in to flower over Christmas, only to be knocked back hard by the frost on New Year's Day. The unsettled weather has brought more strong wind, which sadly split an Oak in two, damaging surrounding Willow and Hawthorn. Those who are braving the muddy paths will have noticed the resulting clearing near the Crab Apple grove not far from the Sparrows Pond entrance. We have also started the coppicing of Willow, with a small section behind De Vere Close, which threatened to damage a fence. Our volunteer day on Saturday 7th November, a repeat of our February task of cutting back of bramble around the central grassland was rained off before we could finish. My thanks to those eight of us who turned out on a pretty miserable morning. Saturday 23rd January was an altogether brighter day, though unseasonably warm. Eleven volunteers spent most of a long morning clearing round the car park and laying the willow coppice to form a hedge. The fence is now accessible for easier replacement during the summer. During the morning we found one plant of Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola), an uncommon native, evergreen, winter-flowering shrub, not previously recorded in the Nature Reserve; a good find, almost destroyed, in ignorance, by a leading member of the local community! An excellent mornings work, and thanks to all who helped. The Parish Council has applied to the MiCommunity Fund for a grant to improve fencing and handrails in the Reserve. The first round has been passed successfully, and forms have been submitted for round two. All going well installing these will be a task for volunteers when the summer comes. Finally, there has been one interesting change in the ecology of the Reserve since we started our work there in September 2013. Most of the path edges were dominated by nettle and bramble when we started, which we have cut back twice each year using a scythe. The path edges are now increasingly dominated by low-growing herbaceous plants such as Enchanters Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana) and Dogs Mercury (Mercurialis perennis). I like to think that this is a result of using the scythe and removing the cut material, rather than a strimmer producing a thick mulch, as previously done. Becky and Stephen Westover 01787 477331

The Parish Council is very happy to print your letters at the Editors discretion, but accepts no responsibility for the views expressed or their accuracy. The Parish Council wishes to grant individuals the freedom to express their views but make it abundantly clear it is a personal view expressed and not the views of the Parish Council.

31 P. & P. DAMPCURE LTD.

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Mothers Union open invitation Our meeting on Thursday 25th February will take place in the Bernard Brooks Room of the Maurice Rowson hall at 2pm and we look forward to welcoming and meeting Doris and Peter Baker, who will be telling us about their trip to The Holy Land last year. Please put this date in your diaries, you are most welcome to bring along husbands and friends - it would be nice to have a good attendance. We look forward to seeing you at our meetings, throughout the year, which are normally held on the fourth Thursday of the month.

32 38/38A BUS SERVICE THROUGH GOSFIELD

The 38 & 38A bus service through the village operated by Stephensons will be a half hourly service from February 1st. The half hourly bus service times from Gosfield Green Man to Halstead will be 5 & 35 minutes past the hour, and to Braintree 14 & 44 minutes past the hour. Full time table can be seen at www.stephensonsofessex.com/timetables/38_38A. I would like to thank Stephensons for the increase in the service, we now have the same service we enjoyed with First Essex 131 & 132 however, please do not become complacent. If there is one thing that the last 6 months have taught us, DON'T TAKE OUR BUS SERVICES FOR GRANTED.

Please also be aware that the 352 services subsidised by Essex County Council, are due for review in 2017, so if they are not used they could be withdrawn. For your information these services are as follows:-

Monday to Saturday

19.31 & 22.06 to Braintree

19.06, 21.40, 23.17 to Halstead

And

352 One hourly Sunday service in BOTH directions.

Laurence Carter

St Catherine’s 50/50 Club

Winners in November 2015 Winners in December 2015

No.63 D Boyton No.27 Mrs Beaumont No.26 D Bedwell No.83 R Waters No.58 R Poulter No.48 P Carter No.78 J Tutton No.80 P Shelley

Thank you to everyone who continues to support us each month for just £1. To take part, please contact any33 P.C.C. member or ring 473505. Have lawnmower-will travel?

There must be hundreds of lawnmowers in the village – and certainly the lawns in Gosfield all look well looked after. It is just a thought, but there may be some of you that love cutting grass so much you would like to do a bit more. The list below shows the public grass that the Parish Council contractor cuts – and how much it costs per cut. This is normally done 12 times a year between April and October.

It occurred to me that there might be some of you that would like to take responsibility for a piece near your home or further afield – maybe to cut it when you do your own grass. I know there are already some of you that cut grass in front of your properties, or by the road, and thank you, it is appreciated. The rate of pay would be zero, but you would get the warm glow of a job well done, and the satisfaction of playing a part in keeping the village looking good.

If you are interested, do let me or the clerk, Jo Beavis, know and we can run it past the Parish Council for approval (despite the recent decision mentioned in Chairman’s Notes!).

Max Ford

Areas of grass cut by the Parish Council contractor

Church Road outside playing field £20 Church Road in front of The Cedars £10 Small triangle opposite King’s Head £2 The Firs £25 LHS entrance to Hall Drive £9 (normally cut by Golf Club, but needs occasional extra cuts by contractor) RHS Hall Drive £9 Entrance to Highlands £15 Small Triangle at Gosfield Corner and verge opposite £15 Chestnut Ave and patch behind school £8 Edmund Green £25 Green opposite Green Man £25 Greenways entrance £8 Strip on The Limes £5 Junction of The Limes and Nuns Meadow £25 Vicarage verge £10 Strip opposite old village shop(G & S) £2 Play area and Skate Park £30 Strim ditch from playing field to Church £15 (only done occasionally)

34 Gosfield Horticultural Society Times they are a-changing

Gosfield Horticultural Society is losing three of its more active members. Eddy and Suzanne Drake are moving away after thirty-five years of active service in Gosfield, and Bill Pasfield, a stalwart of many village organisations, is hanging up his competitive gardening hat. In one fell swoop, we have lost our chairman, secretary and treasurer. Gosfield is fairly unusual for a village of its size, to still run three shows each year, and fortunately, Paul Johnson has stepped up to the mark as Chairman, Becky Westover as Secretary, and Vicky Orwell as Treasurer. I remain as Show Secretary. We hope to carry on running the three shows with a small band of willing helpers. But Eddy, Suzanne and Bill did not just organize the event, they also exhibited, accounting for at least 20% of the entries during the year. We need you to help fill this gap. The spring show will be on Saturday 2nd April, and the schedules (price £1) is available in the village shop, or from Becky at 6 The Limes. If you want some advice about exhibit- ing, just ask. Do you enjoy cooking, gardens and gardening? Do you want to learn more or pass on your skills? Do you have a competitive streak? If you have answered We yes to one or more of these questions, then Need come to the show. You

35 WHO’S WHO ON THE PARISH COUNCIL Chairman: Cllr Max Ford 18 Greenways CO9 1TW 474713 Vice Chairman: Cllr Bob Waters 21 Meadway CO9 1TG 473863 Cllr Mandy Adams 30 Greenfields CO9 1TR 273494 Cllr Laurence Carter 24 Greenfields CO9 1TR 472225 Cllr Tricia Edwards Home Farm House CO9 1RZ 472958 Cllr Isla Gill 30 Highlands CO9 1PH 473398 Cllr Carol Hough 13 Braintree Rd. CO9 1PR 477208 Cllr Maggi Pawsey Tye Beams, The Street CO9 1TP 472967 Cllr Tony Strudwick 17 Park Cottages, The Street CO9 1TP 473444 Membership of the Parish Council’s Sub-Committees: Nature Reserve Committee: Cllrs Adams, Hough and Waters Playing Field Committee: Cllrs Hough, Pawsey and Strudwick Footpaths Committee: Cllrs Adams, Carter and Hough Finance Committee: Cllrs Carter, Edwards, Ford, Gill and Strudwick Personnel Committee: Cllrs Edwards, Ford, Strudwick and Waters Appeals Committee: Cllrs Carter, Ford and Gill Children’s Play Area Committee: Cllrs Adams, Gill, Hough, and Pawsey Planning Committee: Cllrs Edwards, Pawsey, Strudwick and Waters Grapevine Editor: Cllr Strudwick The following Councillors represent the Parish Council on outside bodies: Essex Association of Local Councils: Cllrs Carter Braintree Association of Local Councils: Cllrs Carter Coffee Rooms Trust: Cllr Waters Maurice Rowson Hall Management Committee: Cllr Ford Rowson Perpetual Memorial Fund Cllrs Pawsey, Hough and Ford

Our Braintree District Councillor is: Cllr John O’Reilly-Cicconi, The Old Vicarage, Sudbury Rd., Bulmer, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 7TA Tel: 01787 466030 Our Essex County Councillor is: Cllr Joe Pike, 21 Bois Field Terrace, Halstead, Essex CO9 2DF Tel: 01787 476841 Email: [email protected] Our Member of Parliament is: Mr James Cleverly MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA Email: [email protected]

36 Schools Gosfield Community Primary School Marianne Cartwright—Head Teacher 472266 [email protected] St. Margaret’s Preparatory School Mrs Elaine Powling—Principal 472134 [email protected] Gosfield School Dr. Sarah Welch – Principal 474040 [email protected] Sports Clubs Gosfield Carpet Bowls Club Mr Paul M Nicklin

Gosfield Cricket Club Sheila King - Secretary - 8 Chestnut Ave 472702

Gosfield Lake Golf Club Mr Tony O’Shea - Club Secretary 474747

Gosfield Juniors Football Club (run from Holy Mr Mark Wiskin 07930 990013 Trinity Primary School in Halstead) Gosfield United Football Club Mr Simon Fraser - Chairman 01206 211470

Gosfield Tennis Club Mrs Sheila Goldsmith - Secretary 478519

Gosfield Shindo-Ryu Karate Club Mr Robert Fagg – 3 Chestnut Ave 479842

Gosfield Lake Linda Turp – Office Manager 475043 [email protected] Community Support and Safety Neighbourhood Watch Colin Davis 477219

Police Community Support Officers for PCSO John Thorne and 07974 442984 or 101 Gosfield PC Jan Simpson Community Agent Chivonne Claydon 07540 720603 Pubs and the Club! The King’s Head Mr Mark Bloomfield - Landlord 474016 [email protected] The Green Man 473982 The Social Club Mr Colin Wild – Steward 476235 Groups, Societies and Committees Toddler Group Stacey Creak 0781 4233219 Linzi Gordon 0794 7208959 Gosfield Players Sharon Wood—Secretary 472858

2nd Gosfield Guides and Gosfield Rainbows Mrs Sheelagh Bond 07928 806144

Gosfield Brownies Gill Hillman-Crouch 478097

Gosfield Beavers Mark or Clair Page 478696 [email protected] Gosfield Women's’ Institute Mrs Iris Jarvis 473505 Gosfield Senior Circle Mrs Joan Cornell-Tidings Hill 478235 Gosfield Twinning Association Sue Isaac— 01376 345205 or 07939239126 Gosfield Horticultural Society Mrs S Drake – 7 Greenways 476693 Gosfield Fete Committee Chris Flint 474573 Gosfield Playing Field Management Committee Tom Abrahams 473345

Maurice Rowson Hall Mrs Amanda Degnan 274992 (for bookings [email protected] Rowson Perpetual Memorial Fund Mr David Jarvis – 33 Highlands 474562 St Catherine’s Church The Vicarage Revd. Sue Cruse 273434

Church Wardens Mr Bob Waters – 21 Meadway 473863 Mr Dave Patmore— 3 Nuns Meadow 474047 Gosfield Mother’s Union, Prayer Group and Val Perry 01787 277676 Edward Bear Club Friends of St. Catherine’s Church Charlotte Bower– 36 Evans Court 474540 Halstead CO9 2GE PCC Secretary David Dagnan 472291 Councillors and Representatives Gosfield Parish Councillors, Braintree District Councillor and Essex County Councillor – see details on opposite page Parish Clerk Ms Joanne Beavis—Easter Cottage 01371 850710 Nature Reserve Warden Stephen Westover 477331 Passenger (Public) Transport Representative Mr Lawrence Carter37 –24 Greenfields 472225 Tree Warden Cllr Bob Waters—21 Meadway 473863 Maurice Rowson Hall The Maurice Rowson Hall is located at the junction of Church Road and Nuns Meadow in the centre of the village of Gosfield and is available for hire for village residents, village organisations and for people and organisations from outside the village. History Up until the early 1980’s the Maurice Rowson Hall was known as the Sunday School Room and was owned by the Church. The Sunday School Room consisted of a small hall with a stage at one end which was positioned where the Bill Pasfield meeting room is now. In the 1960’s and 1970’s there was fund raising in the village to build either a new village hall or to extend and improve the Sunday School Room. When village resident and local businessman Maurice Rowson died in 1981 he left a considera- ble sum of money to enable the Sunday School Room to be extended and improved. The Sunday School Room was then renamed the Maurice Rowson Hall in his memory. Surplus money left in Maurice Rowson’s legacy was used to set up the Rowson Perpetual Memorial Fund, a registered charity that contributes towards the upkeep of the hall. Present Time The Maurice Rowson Hall is run by a small management committee consisting of representatives from a number of the village organisations that use the hall. In addition a booking clerk and a cleaner are employed by the management committee. The committee meet on a monthly basis throughout the year and are responsible for all matters to do with running of the hall. Any village organisations that use the hall are welcome to send a representative to be on the management committee. The Maurice Rowson Hall consists of a main hall and two smaller rooms known as the Bernard Brooks Room and the Bill Pasfield Room. The rooms can either be hired together or individually. There is also a fully equipped kitchen with a large catering oven. The hall is fully accessible for wheelchair users and a unisex disabled toilet. There is a large carpark at the hall with parking for approximately 20-25 cars. Maximum occupancy figures for the various rooms are: Main Hall: Standing = 150 persons Seated in rows = 120 persons Seated audience at tables = 100 persons

Bernard Brooks Room = 40 persons Bill Pasfield Room = 20 persons Booking of the main hall includes use of the kitchen, crockery, tables and chairs. Heating is also included at no further charge. For further information on how to book the Maurice Rowson Hall and for details of hire rates and conditions please contact the Book- ing Clerk, Amanda Degnan on 01787 274992 or by email [email protected] Please note that bookings for teenage birthday parties38 are only taken if agreed by the management committee and we cannot accept bookings for 18th or 21st birthday parties. Printed by Paul Clark Printing Ltd, Suite 6, Enterprise House, Rippers Court, Sible Hedingham CO9 3PY 39