End-to-End The Parish Magazine of and Silver End

Rivenhall School after construction in 1856 see Tracy Scotts arti- cle in the magazine for details

September 2020 50p Our Services September 2020

6th September 13th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Holy Communion Led by Paul 11 am St Mary Morning Prayer Led by Peter

13th September 14th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Morning Prayer Led by Ruth 11 am St Mary’s Holy Communion Led by Paul

20th September 15th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Holy Communion 11 am St Mary’s Matins Led by Peter and Val

27th September 16th Sunday after Trinity 9.30 am St. Francis Private Prayer 11 am St Mary’s Holy Communion Led by Paul I

Church Contacts Team Vicar Rev. Paul Watkin 01376 583930 [email protected] Churchwarden Ann Clarke 01376 514825 Churchwarden Peter Hope 01376 502605 Rivenhall Contact Carole McCarthy 01376 512781 Silver End Contact Ruth Aitken 01376 583846 Rivenhall Website www.stmarysrivenhall.co.uk St Francis Silver End Website www.st-francis.org.uk/ Rivenhall Website www.stmarysrivenhall.co.uk St Francis Silver End Website www.st-francis.org.uk/ Contact the Editor 07904 235101 or [email protected] A message for September from your Team Vicar Team. As alluded to in the article which I wrote last month, September sees the official start of the Autumn season, and after so much decidedly hot weather you might find yourself being grateful of some cooler temperatures. One might say that the month reminds us of the slowing of the cycle of the year and beckons us to something new as leaves turn from green, to orange, to brown and fall from so many trees. For it may not be long before when we reach back into our cupboards or to our coat-hooks for a lightweight coat or jacket. September 21st also sees us remember one of the four evangelists or gospel writers: Matthew. The gospel which bears to his name was likely written between 60 and 70 AD (although some biblical scholars place it a decade or so later), and the style and contents of the writing place it as being very Jewish in character, written in the first instance for a Jewish-Christian audience, This is clearly alluded to multiple times within the text itself. It was of course also recognised early on to be an incredibly important work (though not the earliest of the four gospels as this was almost certainly Mark), by it's position in canon at the very start of the New Testament. But notwithstanding it's original intended audience, it's very much a gospel for all people. We can actually see this fact become ever clearer as we read through it, and by the end this becomes crystal-clear with the words of what has become known as The Great Commission – the final two verses themselves: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20). Though I have so many favourite passages and verses of scripture (and I'd imagine that you have your own favourites too), this is certainly up there for me as one of these – likely within my personal 'top ten'. This is because the passage is so inclusive. The idea of 'nations' was somewhat different then to what the modern world's is today, but still, the intention here is that everyone – no

1 matter who you are is welcome. As Christian people, and dare I say even simply as 'people' we are part of a global family. One race – a human race, and within which diversity and cultural difference should almost always be celebrated. But tragically prejudice and discrimination of different types and shown toward different groups of people have yet to be stamped out in the world, and even in the UK. But the call to“love your neighbour as yourself.” (which among other places, we can also find said by Jesus in Matthew 22:39) is universal and central to the Christian faith. And a variation of it can be found from within most others faiths too. If we couple this with the other passage above, we're left in no doubt of the inclusivity of God's love for all people, along with a universal invitation to know God through Jesus, and the clear directive that the compassion and kindness of love which we show towards others should extend to all. No matter who they are, where they or their ancestors may have originated from, or however different perceived or otherwise, other people may be to ourselves. The very closing verse of Matthew also assures us all of Jesus' presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit our own whole earthly lives through. This is not only a wonderful gift from God which we're freely offered, but also assuring. Especially throughout a lifetime of change and at times worry or uncertainty, such as those which have dominated the news so recently caused by and both directly and indirectly part of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though in my writing here I've not even begun to scratch the surface of the great riches of Matthew's gospel. But perhaps if you've not picked it up and read it through in one or two sittings for some time, this might be a catalyst for you to do so? It's well worth doing too. Though we hear short passages of scripture read each week in church, we can gain a very different and rich perspective by reading a book of the Bible in full from start to finish, and in doing so we can gain even greater insight into the writing style(s) and the intentions which the author was portraying. But In other news: I'm pleased to say that I'll be taking 2 services back in our parish churches myself from Sunday 6th September, with the first of these being a Holy Communion service in St Francis' Silver End at 9.30am. I'll also be presiding at the 11am Holy Communion services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month at St Mary's Rivenhall, (so for September on the 13th and 27th), with this patten planned to continue over the next few months ahead when it will be reviewed in light of then current advice. It is also planned that the Holy Communion services at St Mary's will (technology willing!) be live broadcast on the Rivenhall and Silver End parish Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ parishRHSE But don't worry if you're camera shy, it will be set up so that only I'm actually seen by anyone on screen. Though these broadcasts will be in place of the 2pm services which have so far been live each week since Easter. But in case you're wondering why in the first instance it's only these services which are planned to be broadcast from church, it's simply due to the fact that the technology for me to be able to do this where I'll be taking services, is currently only in place at St Mary's Rivenhall. Though I'm hoping that viable solutions may in time be found in order to allow me to do this elsewhere too. And in case you're wondering why I'll continue to stream services at all? Well I know that there are some people who have been taking part in these online services who, for a variety of reasons won't find themselves in a position to be able to attend our churches and take part in services in any church in person. But by continuing to broadcast services, it allows many more people to be able to take part, wherever or (as they're also available after being broadcast) whenever they'd like to too. Though there will continue to be a public service offered every week at St Mary's at 11am, with the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month being a lay-led service of Morning Prayer. And at St Francis' at 9.30am, services of Morning Prayer will be offered on the (other) 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month from September, with St Francis' church open for private prayer from the same time on 4th Sundays. To simplify things, an easy to follow date-table with all of this information is also included within the magazine, but I did want to mention this news here. 3 I'm very much looking forward to being back in our churches taking services myself once more, and it would be lovely to have you with me and to see you then, or indeed to have your presence at our churches on any of the other weeks as well. In case wondering where I'll be on other occasions: you'll find me at St Etheldreda's, White Notley which as readers will almost certainly already be aware, I look after as the parish priest there too. But unless we find ourselves having an 'Indian Summer', September can be a season when things cool down in the world about us. But even if things become really chilly we're always offered 'warmth' from the love of God for all people which we find the message of within the gospels. So let's celebrate the richness of what they offer us as we celebrate Matthew on the 21st. And so may I wish you a delightful start to the autumnal season over the weeks ahead. Paul Watkin.

********************************** Collects and Readings September. 2020

6th Sept. 13th Sunday after Trinity Morning Prayer St. Marys 11.00 am HC St Francis 9.30 am Readings Ezekiel 33:7-11 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 Collect Almighty God, you search us and know us: may we rely on you in strength and rest on you in weakness, now and in all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

4 13th Sept . 14th Sunday after Trinity Holy Communion St Mary’s 11.00 am Readings Genesis 50:15-21 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35 Collect. Merciful God, your Son came to save us and bore our sins on the cross: may we trust in your mercy and know your love, rejoicing in the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord

20th Sept. 15th Sunday after Trinity Celebration of St. Mathew Morning Prayer St Mary’s 11.00 am (possibly Matins) Readings Proverbs 3:1-6 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Matthew 9:9-13 Collect Lord God, defend your Church from all false teaching and give to your people knowledge of your truth, that we may enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

27th Sept. 16th Sunday after Trinity Holy Communion St. Marys 11.00 am Readings Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32 Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 21:23-32 Collect Lord of creation, whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your wonders, that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’ end, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

5

The 50/50 Club Aug. 2020 winners 1st S. Gladwell 2nd A Dunne 3rd P Dedman ************************* Covid-19 OUR CHURCHES ARE OPEN! Things are beginning to change at our churches. From September Rev Paul will be returning to our churches to take services. Rev Paul is responsible for White Notley Parish as well as ours, so he will divide himself between the three churches. As we all know, Paul has been shielding with his family, as Asher is very vulnerable. For this reason Paul will not be mingling with other people, and will, as far as he can, stand at the altar and preside just from there. The Holy Communion Services from St Mary’s will be live on Facebook as we now have fibre broadband. Singing is not permitted, and face masks must be worn at all times. We still ask you to sign in each time, for track and trace. These records are destroyed after three weeks. Please bring your own drink with you. Although the toilets are not closed, we ask you to only use them if needed as they will need a deep clean after each use. If you wish to bring collection, please place it in the plate on arrival. Please use your envelopes . These will be supplied before September. This will be the pattern of services for the foreseeable future. The following are Bullet points from the latest guidance from the Church of in line with recent changes in Government guidance. Note Paul will provide details of how Holy Communion will be implemented when we have our first service on the 13th September at St Marys. The first Communion in the Parish will be at St Francis Silver End on the 6th September. “I was glad when they said unto me, “let us go to the house of the Lord.”” (Psalm 122 v1) This guidance should also be read in conjunction with advice on cleaning and on detailed guidance for conducting services such as Holy Communion, baptisms, weddings and funerals. The guidance below has been adapted from published Government Guidance for use by the Church of England. • An advisory ‘cap’ of 30 has been set for weddings and other ‘stand-alone’ services such as baptism and confirmation if not conducted during ‘routine communal worship’.

6 • There is no numerical ‘cap’ on other services, but physical distancing and Public Health requirements must be met. • The two-metre ‘rule’ applies for public worship except in situations where closer contact cannot be avoided; extra Public Health precautions must then be taken. • Consideration should be given to keeping numbers below the maximum possible to further minimise risk. • Wearing of face coverings by all those attending a place of worship, including ministers and worshippers, where there may be other people present is mandatory. There are exemptions to this, including for those leading a service, detailed in our guidance on face coverings. • While those at extra risk and the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ should be advised of the risks of attending public worship, a decision to do so is theirs alone. • Government guidance includes a request for names of attendees to be recorded and kept for 21 days to assist ‘track and trace’ if required (further details from the government are expected to help parishes and cathedrals who wish to do this). • Singing and music is only permitted for small groups of professional and non-professional performers in a physically distanced and safe way. Congregations are not permitted to sing. • Detailed instructions on ‘consumables’ suggest that services of Holy Communion can be held if specific guidance is followed, including the continued suspension of the Common Cup (see the guidance document on Holy Communion). • Public worship guidance includes surrounding grounds (including churchyards, car parks and courtyards); meetings in other places should follow other guidance for people meeting in public spaces. • Refreshments can only be served at tables if a café is included in the church or cathedral building. At St Marys we will continue to recommend all members of separate household social distance in accordance with the plan shown on the Church notice board and at the entrance to the church, Ann Clarke and Peter Hope Church Wardens

7 A big Thankyou to Council I recently had to contact Braintree council over a fly tipping matter and would like to thank them publicly for the rapid response I received. On August the 18th Sarah and I set out to Walk the dog and on passing the gate in the field off Henry Dixon Road noticed some large empty containers with Rapeseed Oil indicated on the side of the containers. There were about 10 in all. I contacted the council on Wednesday about this and was telephoned by a friendly Gentlemen from the council to my pleasure the council refuse services arrived almost at the same time and less than 24 hours since I reported the incident at the councils website. The can looked like this:- If you see a similar van with a roof ladder on the back keep a close watch. *********************************** RIVENHALL PARISH COUNCIL NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 4TH AUGUST 2020 HELD ELECTRONICALLY DUE TO THE COVID-19 HEALTH RESTRICTIONS All councillors took part via email Matters for Discussion

Autumn planting Members agreed in principle to progress the Autumn bulb and tree/ shrub planting, costings to now be obtained. Playing Field Tree Planting Members agreed to go ahead with measurements and obtain costings for the trees and fencing. It was also suggested that residents may wish to donate trees or nominate trees for memory or

8 celebration purposes. As further details are worked up these will be shared with the RPFA. New path r/o Village Hall Members noted the latest BDC layout plan, a copy of which had been provided alongside the agenda for the meeting. The Chairman, in his role as a BDC cllr has asked BDC if section drawings could be provided to give all parties to the project, including the RPFA, more information on the slopes between the sections. Highway Maintenance The latest information received re the new HGV/height warning signs is that they are to be installed commencing 7th September. The St. Mary’s footway repair was scheduled for 11th August. The Chairman reported that each ECC Member is to be allocated up to 50 highway defects in the areas they represent, which will be prioritised. In that role the Chairman will include all the outstanding defects in Rivenhall Parish to be completed and continues in the meantime to ask ECC to repair defects. (Post meeting note: some repair work has recently been done at the Church Road/Rickstones Road junction). General Maintenance There is a problem at the moment in obtaining replacement posts for the Village Green but the broken posts will be replaced as and when suitable posts can be purchased. There are now discussions with BDC re obtaining 2 additional CCTV cameras as previously agreed (Post meeting note: Further serious fly-tipping incidents have taken place in the parish. If residents witness such activity please contact the parish council and BDC). The Chairman in his role as ECC Member is discussing with ECC using a portion of the available Locality Grant to install the gate, as agreed to be sought, at the entrance to the Tarecroft Wood car park. Cllr. Prime reported that a wooden bridge near the John Ray Walk has been agreed for some minor repair by ECC. Planning Applications There were no new applications to be considered at this meeting. Planning results: 20/00667/HH & 20/00652/HH: 11 & 12 Foxden, Rivenhall End. 9 Both applications granted by BDC. Ongoing Planning Issues A12 & A120 Projects The next A12 Forum meeting will be held using video conferencing on Tuesday 25th August. BDC Local Plan BDC has agreed to the modifications suggested by the Local Plan Inspector and has also asked for his views on the housing target number. Colemans Quarry The Chairman had previously circulated a report from the recent Quarry Liaison meeting. In his role as an ECC Member he had subsequently requested a local meeting between the relevant parishes, Highways England and the quarry to discuss the issues related to the A12 new alignment/widening work/new junction going through the quarry land. Highways England turned down that request. Braintree Local Highways Panel The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 17th September. As with other BDC and ECC meetings, the BLHP will continue to be held using video conferencing platforms for the time being. Information exchange and items for the September agenda Cllr. Turner requested that the condition of the Beech Road pavement slabs be reviewed. Dates of future meetings 1st September and 6th October 2020, but both may be convened electronically if Covid-19 restrictions continue. ******************************* Sky Notes September 2020 Mars continues to brighten through September and by the last week of the month will rival Jupiter in the brightness stakes. By 11pm the Red Planet will be about 20 degrees above the Eastern horizon and in clear dark skies is a glorious object, showing a strong orange colour. The waning gibbous Moon will be close to Mars on the night of the 5th/6th.

10 There is renewed talk of a crewed mission to Mars but it remains a huge challenge involving a round trip for astronauts of several years. In the meantime robot craft continue to be sent, increasing our knowledge of the only planet in the Solar System that has similarities in appearance to Earth, although other features are hostile – such as the very thin atmosphere and much lower temperatures. Jupiter and Saturn remain together and still prominent in the South, best seen as it gets dark around 9 to 10pm. The waxing gibbous Moon will be close to the pair on the 25th September. Venus remains a brilliant object pre-dawn in the East and will be joined by the waning crescent Moon on the 14th. Full Moon is on the 2nd and New Moon on the 17th and so the middle of the month offers the best prospects for star gazing. The change from summer to autumn evenings in September brings sunset by the middle of the month as early as just after 7pm and twilight then ends at about 9pm. The Autumn Equinox arrives on September 22nd. Continuing with the Sky Notes theme of starting out in astronomy, at the end of September, looking due South at 11pm, and very low down, the bright star Fomalhaut should be visible in clear skies. Fomalhaut is the lead star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the "Southern Fish", and is approximately 25 light-years from our Solar System. The Fomalhaut system is complex and fascinating and the target for much research. It actually comprises 3 stars, the other 2 being much fainter than the primary star, as well as discs of material that include dust and possibly comets and also candidates for planets. The peak of the Perseid meteors coincided with the scorching heatwave we had in August and so the nights were very warm and comfortable for being outside. Many people have reported seeing the Perseid meteors locally including from Rivenhall and Silver End with some quite high rates observed during late evening on 12th August. Sky Watcher

11 Kedgeree We were watching that lovely relaxing fishing programme last night – Mortimer and Whitehouse, a new series in case you missed it. And Bob cooked Kedgeree for their evening meal.. I thought I would share my recipe with you. • 6 oz long grain rice, I use basmati • 4 hard boiled eggs chopped • 1 lb smoked haddock • 1 onion finely chopped • 4 oz butter • 2 tablespoons single cream Cook fish gently, put in a pan and cover with cold water, put a lid on, bring to the boil slowly, turn off the heat and leave for 5-10 minutes Then remove fish and flake removing any bones. Cook the rice until tender in the water used for cooking the fish, topped up as necessary. Drain and set aside. Fry the onion in the butter until soft, add the fish, rice and eggs and mix well. Add the cream and mix, and season to taste. Add parsley if liked. Serve immediately. *********************************************** NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH MEMBER OF THE YEAR 2020 I am delighted to advise you that Judy Hill (SilverEnd Co-ordinator) is our nomination as Braintree District’s Neighbourhood Watch Member of the Year. I have forwarded the nomination to County Neighbourhood Watch Association for the ECNWA Neighbourhood Watch Member of the Year Awards to be advised in October. Judy has been involved with Neighbourhood Watch for over 25 years and this recognition is long overdue. When we do meet Judy will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Braintree District Neighbourhood Watch Steering Group Clive Stewart, Chairman Braintree District Neighbourhood Watch Steering Group

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14 The wonders of Digital Photography Continuing my Series here are a couple more nostalgic photos the above picture was taken in 2001 when we took a group of confir- mation class students to Bradwell Church possibly on the annual pilgrimage.

This picture was taken on the choir annual outing to Oxford where we would stay in a hotel or Guest house and visit Bobbie and Steve Tyler in Abingdon. I plan to wright a short series on the antics we used to get up to!! The Rivenhall End Derailment - 1999 The Rivenhall End derailment was 21 years ago this month. I was playing cricket in the Czech Republic when I received a phone message giving brief details about a rail crash and saying all was fine at home. Do you remember this inci- dent? At 1:47 pm on Thursday 23rd September 1999 a 65 mph northbound freight train derailed about 300 yards before it passed over the Oak Road railway bridge. My wife said there was a very loud screeching and grinding noise and big clouds of dust rose upwards from the railway line. We kept geese in those days and they all panicked at the noise and flew down the garden to seek relative refuge tight to the back of our house (Whitelands). The rear eight of 21 carriages of a Freightliner train (with containers) had de-railed but very fortunately the powerful engine managed to haul its load across the bridge before those eight carriages spilled down the embankment just north of Rivenhall Brook: four of these were totally wrecked. Some bridge brickwork was struck and brick and ballast de- bris ended on the road and pavement below. Over 700 metres of signalling, overhead wires, masts, sleep- ers and the sleeper ballast were very badly damaged result- ing in both railway lines being blocked for five days. The re- pairs cost a cool one million pounds! Had the freight carriages fallen from the embankment before the bridge then the adjacent Oak Road housing would have been impacted, equally had a train, especially a passenger train been passing moments later then the scene would have been horrific - a major incident. Construction company Balfour Beattie had been doing maintenance work on the railway line on the Witham side of the Oak Road bridge which was suffering drainage problems. The gang had left the track in an unsafe condition and were subsequently fined £500,000 at Chelmsford Crown Court. When I returned home some days later, the railway lines were back in operation but several wrecked freight carriages, bogies (wheels) and suspension springs were still in a jumble in the field below the embankment. Here are a couple of photographs I took of that scene so many years ago.

Rivenhall Flooding

Here's a set of pictures that may bring back some memories for some residents, particularly those of Henry Dixon Road and Henry Dixon Hall. These were taken around the 20th of October 2001 It was said these were the worst floods in Essex in 20 years while we have had some other serious floods since nothing in my memory quite came up to this downpour which lasted 24 hours from Saturday through to Sunday I think. We are now 19 years since this event so will we see more of these? It also demonstrates the area covered by the flood plain for the Rivenhall Brook. The biggest surprise was that Henry Dixon Hall is actually at the same level as the stream and was partly flooded at the back end . More about Floods and disaster in the magazine article on this subject. What these pictures and the ones of the train from John Macrae demonstrate is this field off Henry Dixon Road would not be a safe place to build houses! Peter Hope Editor Serving the Local Community for over125 Years G. COLLINS & SONS

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20 Turning the pages of History Research by Tracy Scott (See Picture on Front Cover) This month I thought we would have a quick look at Rivenhall School. The image above is what the school would have originally looked like the year it opened. The Western family of Rivenhall Place gave a piece of land in 1854 for the building of a School and school house for the village. This was built in two years and opened in 1856. In 1870 the Elementary Education Act came into action for all schools. Rivenhall School sent there returns in for the said Act. 1. The School District is the Parish of Rivenhall 2. The School name in the first Schedule to this Notice is considered to be available for such District 3. Additional Public School accommodation of the amount and description mentioned in the second Schedule to this Notice appears to be required for the District.

Schedule 1 (1870) Name and Situation No. of children accommodated Description Boys Girls In- Total fants National School Rivenhall 94 94 Schedule 2 Amount and description of Situation Particulars accommodations required For 30 children Rivenhall If the proposal to enlarge the National School so as to ac- commodate 30 more children be at once carried out no fur- ther accommodation will be required January 1889 The Government inspection of schools took place. For the hard work that the scholars had done Mr and Mrs. A. W. Ruggles-Brise of Durwards Hall gave both the Sunday and Days schools, together with the little ones from Mrs. Brise’s infant school that was held at Workmen’s Hall, Rivenhall End, a treat in the parish schoolroom. The 94 children assembled at 3pm and took part of a liberal tea. Rector spoke a few words of advice, who after gave prizes to members of the Sunday school for their merits. Afterwards a large and brilliantly-illuminated tree was then displayed to their delighted gaze, from which Mrs. Ruggles-Brise and others distributed

21 presents to all. It finished with three hearty cheers for the kind donors, and before leaving an orange and packet of sweets were given to each child. 1908 Rivenhall Elementary school scholar Emma E. Upson aged 13 gained a three years’ free scholarship at the County High School, Braintree. Emma was to go on to write a book and published 1971 ‘An Essex Country Childhood’. We now jump to 1964 and the opening of the learner swimming pool. A great asset to the scholars to learn to swim from a very young age and no longer there. Two years later a pavilion and school playing field was opened. Both the swimming pool and pavilion were brought by the help of fund raising events. Rivenhall Gardening Club

Unfortunately we are unable to have our Annual Show this year in September. This is the first time since 1963 we have not had a show. In that 57 years we have had a few changes along the way. Starting of course with a very grand start. The hall itself was full of exhibits from village folk and outside where the houses are now opposite the village shop in the open field next to the hall. Tents were erected for side shows, teas and raffles etc.., the club had no less than 570 entries from 85 exhibitors, and all of them within the village. The image above is Mrs. Ada Clements receiving The Parkhouse Cup for pensioners for the second year running from Witham Carnival Queen Julie Beardwell in 1968. Until 1971 we only had one show a year, but because of lack of space in the hall, the then committee decided to have a July show and a September one so a large marquee was not required. Over the years families have competed against each other like the Youngs, Gurton, Dale, Taylor, Holliday, Pavelin, Scott, and Punts to

22 name a few. In 1970 the Punt brothers Cyril and Ron had a very great year. Those who remembered the Punt’s will know they lived for showing their veg, fruit and flora items, as did other members of the family. Not just at the Rivenhall show, but Witham also. Ron took that year the Banksian medal for the highest total prizemoney and Cyril was runner-up and collected the ‘Garden News Shield’ (we now count it on points gained as no prizemoney is given now) but he took cups for vegetables and a pair of marrows won the show’s blue ribbon. In the same year Mr Percy Holliday won first prize for his gladioli and carrots. His daughter Pauline (Marshall) remembers the whole house being full of flowers and vegetables throughout the home and even reported to have gladioli in the bath days before show day. Percy entered 58 classes in the veg and flowers classes, but Cyril took more prizes with his 51 entries. It is always nice to look back at pass shows and we are lucky to have our gardening club still running when many have falling aside recently, but maybe we will see a new interest not just in Rivenhall but other areas thought Great Britain. I look forward to getting back to our community club of learning, sharing and showing as soon as it is safe for us to do so. Tracy Scott Chairman and Show Secretary *********************************** Brian Hugh Llewellyn 21.0. 1935—29.07.2020 To Brian's Wife Olwyn the members of the Church here in Rivenhall and Silver End send our sincerest prayers and condolences at this time. Brian and Olwyn were members of our Church community here in the Parish of Rivenhall and Silver End until he and his wife retired to Wivenhoe some 15 years ago. Brian was a minister in the Methodist Church but regularly preached and on occasions officiated at our services at St Mary’s and at St Francis. Brian had a close friendship

23 with our Vicar the Rev. Nigel Cooper and Brian contributed greatly to our worship in the parish and also through his membership of the Silver End Christian Forum helped bring together the churches of Silver End and organised many Ecumenical activities. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his Children and all members of his family. If you want to remember Brian in a donation go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/brianllewellyn ************************************ Floods Pandemics and Pestilence in Biblical terms

With our current dilemma with Covid and prompted my pictures of the floods h ere in 2001 I thought an article about the Church and what the Bible has to say about Pandemics War and Disease. My grandmother often used to talk about the Spanish Flu in 2018 to 2020 and how for many the consequences (Before we had Flu Vaccines) was more catastrophic than the first world war. To many Christians, the flu, combined with the devastation caused by the Great War, must have seemed like the end of days. In His Olivet Discourse, Jesus warned His disciples that they would: …hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matt. 24:6-8, New King James Version) In the wake of World War I, both man-made and natural famines occurred throughout the world, including Germany, Iran, China, and Russia. From 1914 to 1920, the world experienced seventeen earthquakes, from Japan and China to Mexico and the United States to Samoa and Australia. Combined with the rising of nation against nation during the Great War, it seemed that Jesus’ prophecy had come true. Reading this bought back memories of the Village of Eyam in the Peak District which Clare and I visited in 2006. The story of the Plague in Eyam goes like this:- 1665 plague outbreak

24 The history of the plague in the village began in 1665 when a flea- infested bundle of cloth arrived from London for Alexander Hadfield, the local tailor. Within a week his assistant George Viccars, who noticing the bundle was damp, had opened it up. Before long he was dead and more began dying in the household soon after. As the disease spread, the villagers turned for leadership to their rector, the Reverend William Mompesson, and the ejected Puritan minister Thomas Stanley. They introduced a number of precautions to slow the spread of the illness from May 1666. The measures included the arrangement that families were to bury their own dead and relocation of church services to the natural amphitheatre of Cucklett Delph, allowing villagers to separate themselves and so reducing the risk of infection. Perhaps the best-known decision was to quarantine the entire village to prevent further spread of the disease. The plague ran its course over 14 months and one account states that it killed at least 260 villagers, with only 83 surviving out of a population of 350. That figure has been challenged on a number of occasions, with alternative figures of 430 survivors from a population of around 800 being given.[16] The church in Eyam has a record of 273 individuals who were victims of the plague. Survival among those affected appeared random, as many who remained alive had close contact with those who died but never caught the disease. For example, Elizabeth Hancock was uninfected despite burying six children and her husband in eight days. The graves are known as the Riley graves after the farm where they lived. The unofficial village gravedigger, Marshall Howe, also survived, despite handling many infected bodies. The village's actions prevented the disease from moving into surrounding areas. Plague Sunday Plague Sunday has been celebrated in the village since the plague's bicentenary in 1866. Originally celebrated in mid-August, it now takes place in Cucklett Delph on the last Sunday in August, coinciding with the (much older) Wakes Week and well dressing ceremonies. What Lessons does this teach US What all this tells us is that although we are suffering due to Covid 19 we will come out the other side It also maybe part of the wake

25 up call that the world needs to start taking Global Warming seriously. Already the reduction in world travel has seen some environmental positives with cleaner water in the Mediterranean and reports that the water in the Canals around Venice are cleaner and that marine life is benefiting from the new circumstances. While most of us have enjoyed the extensive travel the modern world has made possible many of us will rethink some of our expectations of what is “Normal Life” in the future. It is almost certain that in spite of the exhortations of many newspapers and the government to get back to the office. What the pandemic has shown is that a better work life balance can be achieved with a certain amount of working from home and this is leading to a major rethink of working practices for many. I doubt we will ever see trains packed as they used to BE with commuters going into London. Many of the younger people I know are looking to move out of London into more Rural areas that will still allow them to travel to offices in London may be a couple of times a week but not every day. There will not be a shortage of office space in London for some time and I predict many office blocks will be converted into living spaces and maybe these will provide better environments a for young people to live in. The flooding pictured on the centre pages taken in October 2001 are the wors we have experienced in the last 20 years but we are likelt to experience more floods , and Heatwaves in the not to distant future. We must all count our blessings and try to do what is right for our community and the world. Blessings to all our readers from the Editor Peter Hope ************************************** End to End Nature Care. Our group’s weekly summer outdoor excursions draw to a close in early September each year as the evenings start to get dark too early but of course this year they didn’t even start! As the organiser, the silver lining to this cloud is that arranging next year’s schedule will mainly just involve changing the dates, assuming of course that we have some local countryside left and it hasn’t all disappeared under new housing, roads, waste incinerators, etc. We live in hope. Usually, we would then commence monthly evening indoor meetings, often with guest speakers. As things stand with the Covid-19 pandemic it is impossible to organise anything so we will really just

26 have to take it one month at a time. Even if we do meet, it is unlikely to be in the usual format and will most probably consist of a social but socially-distanced event, or perhaps a weekend outdoor activity such as birdwatching. One thing we are likely to be able to do is bird and bat box building, either as a group or individually. Remember, we supply these free of charge to anybody locally who would like one and has an appropriate site to place it, so do feel free to contact me with any orders. I know boxes built and supplied by us have proved popular with house sparrows this year, even if they were not built to the “approved” house sparrow design, and that some which were built to that design have been used by other species. Nature can be quirky but we don’t mind, so long as the boxes are used. As a group we continue our nature observations and late summer into early autumn can be an interesting time, with many of the summer insect species continuing to be active, lots of plants beginning to mature and produce seeds or fruit and, of course, bird migration in full flow. This brings possibility of spotting so-called “passage migrants” as they literally just pass through on the way to their winter grounds, as well as welcoming the arrival of those which treat Essex as their winter home, such as the winter thrushes: the grey and brown Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) and the Redwing (Turdus iliacus), which looks rather like a Mistle Thrush but with a russet-red underwing. Generally a little later, a real harbinger of winter for Essex are the Brent Geese (Branta bernicla) which frolic noisily in our estuaries and saltmarshes, oblivious to what we think of as cold and inhospitable conditions. So, do keep your eyes peeled, your ears pricked and your cameras poised and feel free to report any interesting sightings, or to ask if you have seen, heard or photographed something and would like some assistance in trying to identify what it was. Whilst simply observing nature and the landscape undeniably satisfies a deep-seated, primal urge in us all, there is certainly satisfaction and fulfilment to be gained by going a step further and seeking to explore and find out more about what has been observed. This can then also be used to help share that satisfaction and fulfilment with others and to help preserve its source for the future. To request a bird or bat box, to report a sighting, share an interesting photograph or ask about any plant or animal (or even fungus) please feel free to contact me, Simon Taylor, via email [email protected] or by telephone on 01621 810141 or 07947 388180.

27 Organisations in Rivenhall

Clerk to Parish Council Keith Taylor 516975 Email [email protected] meets every first Tuesday Age Concern (Witham area) Margaret Prime 514255 End to End Nature Care Simon Taylor 01621 810141 Gardening Club Carole McCarthy 512781 Meets on 2nd Tuesday at 7.30pm in Village Hall Carpet Bowls Mick Marshall 512836 Meets every Thursday at 7.30pm in Village Hall Playing Fields Association Mick Marshall 01376 512836 Spread Your Wings Dance Acam Laura Pearson 01376 741317

Facilities Hire of Village Hall Pauline Marshall 01376 512836 Or email [email protected] Hire of Henry Dixon Hall Tracy Scott 571551 Mobile Library 13 April 4 May Beech Road 9.20 to 9.50. a.m. Oak Store Rivenhall “Open All Hour” Tel AJ 01376 619395 Organisations in Silver End Clerk to Parish Council Mrs B. M. Temple 618464 Email [email protected] Bowls Club Paul Mann 07551 006906 Children’s Centre Faye Savage 587960 Neighbourhood Police Braintree Policing Dial 101 Congregational Church Sharon Gray 583913 Friendship Club Maureen Green 585275 Silver End Gad Abouts Denise Sullens Smith 07952 992782 Gardening Club Liz Woor 585586 Guiding Group Carol Hutchings 07857 663959 Neighbourhood Watch Judy Hill 07896 975839 Scouting Group Denise Sullens Smith 07952 992782 St Mary’s Church (R.C.) Vivian Phillips 583598 Tennis Club Jason Cairns 584581 Workers Educational Assoc. Brian Gillion 583706 Luncheon Club Helen Thomson 583255 Doctors Surgery 583387 Silver End Heritage Society Jackie Nesbitt 07707 084608 Silver End United Football Club Mark Edgell 584639 Web Site www.silverendunitedfc.co.uk Women’s Institute Brenda Warnes 07931 548193 Community Warden Jackie Windard 07785 515526 Post Office in Co-op - please note that it closes at Lunchtime 1-2pm Closes 1 pm Wednesday and 12.30 pm Saturday Library: Tues & Thurs - 2pm to 6pm Saturday 9am to 1pm 28