Everything Epping Forest everythingeppingforest.co.uk covers the Epping Forest district in Essex and features regularly updated news - in words and pictures - has a what's on listings section to highlight local events, a Local Business Directory and a section which allows clubs and organisations to publicise their activities free of charge Home | News | Sport | Your News Views | Events - What's On Diary | Clubs - Organisations | Local Business Directory | Jobs | Food & Drink Wednesday, 1 November, 2017 News Archive click here Sport Archive click here Tell us your news... Publicise your event... Promote your business... Have your say... Buy copies of photos that appear here... email: [email protected] tel: David Jackman on 07710 447868 01/11/2017 Everything Epping Forest LOUGHTON: Students celebrate Roald Dahl Week 5.16pm - 27th September 2017 YEAR 7 students at Davenant Foundation School celebrated Roald Dahl’s 101st birthday by attending The Arter Library’s event. Everyone was able to take part in the library’s bunting competition which was judged by headteacher Adam Thorne. Each form had to design brightly-coloured bunting to hang round the library. The individual prize was awarded to Alanah Amponsah and the overall winning form was 7A which designed the alphabet in the style of Esio Trot. Students could also take part in a Wonka Bar challenge to find the bars hidden around the library, marvel at the Roald Dahl Revolting Recipes made by the library team and find out about Roald Dahl's life. LOUGHTON: Team GB athlete opens school's new 3G pitch 4.50pm - 27th September 2017 TEAM GB athlete Laviai Nielsen visited Roding Valley High School to officially open the new 3G pitch. Laviai, who came fourth in the final of the women's 400m at the 2017 European Athletics Indoor Championships and was a member of the Team GB silver medal-winning 4x400m team at the World Athletics Championships in London, cut the ribbon watched by the Year 7 football team, Head of School Sharon Jenner and vice-chair of governors Paul Wershof. Mrs Jenner said: "It was an honour to have Laviai officially open the new 3G Astro Pitch. "She is an inspiration to our students and I was delighted that she also agreed to speak to them during their morning assembly. "She was warmly received by the Year 10, 12 and 13 students as part of the week's pastoral theme of 'Resilience'. "It is a really exciting time for the school and this new first-class facility further adds to our wonderful sports facilities. "It is great that we will be able to give our students the opportunity to train and play sport on this high level pitch. "The main reason to use a 3G pitch is the reliability of the surface without match postponements due to waterlogged or frozen pitches. "By having a surface that is unaffected by rain, sun and ice it never suffers damage and can be played on morning, noon and night without any harm to the surface. "Our sports teams are already very successful and this fantastic facility can only encourage increased participation and higher level play." Roding Valley High School is also building a new teaching block with additional classrooms, library and Sixth Form study area. These facilities will be open to students from September 2018. Mrs Jenner added: "This is the time that the school will also be taking an extra form of entry into Year 7 based on local demand. "I want the school to be able to offer our students the best possible education in terms of facilities available to them but also in terms of the standard of teaching and learning. "Our results are improving, our Sixth Form is going from strength to strength and our new Year 7s are an absolute delight. "I am really proud to be Head of School at such an exciting time and delighted to be able to offer our students the very best of facilities." During her talk to students Laviai recounted her time when as a 16-year-old volunteer at the London 2012 Olympics she was kit carrier for British heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill. In 2015 she won gold in the 400m at the 2015 European Junior Championships in Sweden. In February this year she recorded her personal best time of 51.90s at an indoor meet in Birmingham before 01/11/2017 Everything Epping Forest reaching the final of the 400m at the 2017 European Indoor Championships in Belgrade in the summer. PICTURES MATCHING GREEN: Man jailed for burglaries 10.59am - 27th September 2017 A MAN who committed two burglaries - in Old Harlow and Matching Green - having been released on licence from prison has been jailed for three years. Steven Clark, 20, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court after pleading guilty to the offences on Friday, September 22. Police received a call at 4.20pm on Sunday, July 16, about a burglary in progress at a property off Hobbs Cross Road, Old Harlow. The victim returned home to find a blue Vauxhall Vectra sounding its horn and his garage door open. A neighbour noticed the suspicious behaviour and parked his car in front of the vehicle while the victim looked inside his home to find a messy search had been carried out, windows smashed and items missing. The suspicious car then sped off, crashed and the suspects ran off. Police found that tape had been used to change the number plate details and inside the car was a stolen jewellery box and jewellery. A further burglary was reported at about 5.40pm the same day. A woman living off High Laver Road, Matching Green, discovered she had been burgled after returning home from work. The victim’s door window was smashed, a messy search had been carried out and a jewellery box and contents had been stolen. A witness reported seeing a blue Vauxhall Vectra driving away from the area in suspicious circumstances. The jewellery box and items of jewellery recovered from the abandoned Vauxhall Vectra were positively identified and returned to the owner. Police established that the vehicle had been purchased earlier that day and linked the mobile telephone number used to purchase the vehicle to Steven Clark. Further analysis of the call data provided evidence linking the phone to the relevant areas for the offences. Clark was arrested on Monday, July 31. Investigating officer DC James Smith, of Harlow CID, said: “Clark is a prolific offender who was released from prison on licence when he committed these crimes. "He showed no regard for his victim’s homes and property. "As well as the theft of personal items there was also extensive damage caused. "Clearly he has not changed his ways following a spell in prison and I believe our communities are safer with him locked in a prison cell.” SHEERING: Two candidates for district council by-election 8.46am - 26th September 2017 TWO candidates will battle it out for a seat on Epping Forest District Council in the Lower Sheering by-election on Thursday, October 19. The candidates are Paul Stalker (Conservative) and Ingrid Black (Liberal Democrats). The by-election has been called following the death of Conservative councillor Gary Waller, who was a member of the cabinet on the district council. WALTHAM ABBEY: Council seeks views over bus services 7.59am - 26th September 2017 THE views of residents over bus services covering Waltham Abbey are being sought by the town council which is concerned about the number of services covering the town. Council leader councillor Liz Webster said: "Due to the recent reviews of bus routes and schedules round the town the council would like to find out more information about who uses the buses, when they are used and what routes are being used by local residents." The council has launched a survey which can be accessed via the Waltham Abbey Town Council website at http://www.walthamabbey-tc.gov.uk/thecouncil/documents.php Paper copies are available from the tourist information centre in Highbridge Street; Waltham Abbey Library in Sun Street and waiting rooms. Schools are being asked to put copies of the questionnaire in childrens' school bags for parents to complete. The questionnaires are also available by post by contacting the town council offices. Ring Waltham Abbey Town Hall on 01992 714949 or email [email protected] Mrs Webster added: "We would encourage as many people as possible to participate in the survey as it will give us the information needed when we talk to Essex County Council, who are the statutory authority for public transport, about current bus services and where there is seen to be an unmet need for potential new services for Waltham Abbey." LOUGHTON: Awards for allotment holders 8.22am - 25th September 2017 THE work of green-fingered allotment holders has been recognised by Loughton Town Council. Ah Yee Sek, from the Roding Road site, and Lesley Southgate, from the Loughton Potato Ground, received awards from town mayor Philip Abraham. Mr Sek, the overall winner, has been working his plot for more than 20 years. This year’s judge, Roger Emmens from Epping Horticultural Society, said: "This was not a traditional plot! There was an imaginative use of various recycled materials to build micro-environments that enabled exotic fruits and vegetables to be grown, and the produce was of an excellent quality." Mr Sek received a silver trophy and £25 gardening voucher. Lesley Southgate took the Best Newcomer award for her "stylish and productive and very well maintained plot" which was described as being "a credit to a newcomer".