Dear All

Uttlesford has one of the lowest recorded rates of domestic burglary - if you want the statistics we had 1.3 burglaries per 1000 households in the last quarter.

That is amazingly low and we are well placed when measured against the most similar group of districts nationally that we are compared against.

Rather than be satisfied with that we are committed to continuing to reduce the number of dwelling burglaries further because it is a horrible crime that we are keen to have as few victims as possible suffering.

One of the latest pieces of information that we have discovered is that many recent burglaries have been committed by entering through UPVC back doors. These doors have a number of different locking mechanisms – some can be locked by simply lifting the handle; In others lifting the handle drives across a closing bolt but a key is needed to lock the door. It is clear from speaking to recent victims that they had thought they were locking their doors when they were just closing them and actually if the handle was operated from the outside their door would still open. This mechanism is also available on conservatories and can be used with wooden doors so this message is for everyone.

Please make sure you know how your locks operate and so when you are locking up you are, in fact, locking up. If you need any assistance with door locks or are confused about this message then please speak to our crime reduction advisor, Peter Caulfield on 0300 333 4444 and he will be happy to advise you.

These two roads were thinly resurfaced, as far as I can recall in the latter half of last year.

Prior to this winter's bad weather it began to break up and it has worsened over the last month or so.  It is particularly bad around the War Memorial and in Mill Road. Unlike other roads in the area it is my opinion that frost damage played little part in the deterioration. 

Opposite the War Memorial

 I have received the following email from Oliver of Mill Road who echoes my and many other resident's concerns

Hi Bill,

 I live on Mill road and am appalled by the state of the road after it has been resurfaced.

 Not only was it left in a terrible state after the initial resurfacing, with loose stones everywhere, especially on the pavements – but after this recent weather as well, most of the new surface has gone. It certainly looks worse than it ever was, even before they decided to repair it – or destroy it as the council have done!

 I like all of us am proud of where we live and having to go up and down that road every day really upsets me. Not only this, but the damage that the loose stones causes to cars and the stones also hitting the kids as they walk to school is a big issue in itself.

 I have phoned the council on this on many occasions, but this has failed to make an impact.

 I am not sure whether this is an issue for the Dragon, or whether anyone else has raised this.

Regards,

Oliver 

 Nick Baker, the Chairman of the Parish Council is very aware of the problem and the PC have taken it up with the Highways Authority. We will await to see what happens -  BB

Over the years I have included many tributes to village people who have died, including two recent ones, (see below).  Sometimes I am unaware/have not been informed that people have died and therefore no tributes have appeared.  However, on occasions I have been aware of a death but relatives have asked, for various reasons that I do not make mention of the person.  I will always ask permission first.  I am aware of two deaths recently, one of which falls into the category above and in the other I am awaiting contact from relatives.  -  BB
 

A bible reading was given by Martyn Fiddler followed by another reading from Freda's niece Julie Hollingsworth and a tribute by her long-time friend and neighbour Jo Jeffrey.  I will not try and summarise the kind words said about Freda's life because they are adequately and concisely contained in Jo Jeffrey's tribute (click her to view)

 Freda was later buried at Henham Cemetery in Chickney Road.  Henham will sorely miss her.

Church Vandalism

There have been three separate incidents of church vandalism recently.  At Ickleton Church on 4^th January car windows were broken in the car park and Christmas flower arrangements thrown around.  The Church had also suffered vandalism to its church doors in mid November, when swastikas were painted onto the church doors.

The second incident was at Strethall Church where swastikas and obscene words were spray painted onto walls and floor in white spray paint.  Pages were also torn from the Church bible.

On Tuesday 12^th January at some point between 9am and 4pm, St. Mary’s Church in Newport was vandalised with various items being damaged and notices being ripped and strewn around the church.  There was no graffiti on this occasion.

We’d like to ask for your help in keeping a close eye on your local church and if possible ask your friends and neighbours to do the same.  If you see anything suspicious going on at, or around your local church, please dial 999 immediately. 

 If you saw any suspicious or unusual activity around any of these locations or have any information which you think might be of help, please call Essex Police on 0300 333 4444.

 Many thanks,

Lindsay Baillie - Essex Watch Administrator, Uttlesford. 01376 556 232 / 07837 341 683

Click on the thumbnails to view full pictures

Hi Bill,

This might be another one of those scammers trying to get access to people’s computer. I was called on Tuesday 5th.Jan. 2010 by a foreign sounding gentleman purporting to be connected to Microsoft saying that they had received a number of complaints in the area from people experiencing issues with their windows software. He kept asking me to confirm my post code saying that there was an issues with opening and using windows within this area.

I asked if he was licensed by Microsoft to carry out this type of support and he confirmed that they were. I did ask for the company name, but couldn't understand him. He then asked if my PC was switched on and connected; it was, but I told him it wasn't as I was very suspicious at this point. He asked me to go and switch on my PC. At this point I said thanks but I am not interested in continuing this any further. I then switched off my PC which was using a wireless connection at the time.

Having worked within IT for the past 40 years, as far as I am aware windows is loaded onto one's own PC and apart from using Microsoft explorer to access the internet I can't see this being an issue other than if you own PC is causing problems. I believe this guy wanted to monitor my PC remotely so he could pick up my IP address to gain access at a future time to possibly skim details from my PC such as passwords or on-line banking information. This is one reason for not retaining passwords on your PC however convenient this might be.

Hope this is useful to other PC users and would advise others to never allow external people to access their PC's remotely unless they know who they are.

 Kind regards

At 5.0pm on Wednesday 6th January a local man ended up in the ditch with his car upside down.  Fortunately he was not hurt.  This was closely followed by another car which slid into the driveway of the house. 
Please be very careful driving down this part of the road.  Select a low gear, drive slowly and avoid heavy use of brakes.

Click here for more pictures

Regarding the Misguided, Concerning the Yew Tree in the Church Yard:

Dear Henham News,

The Yew tree was planted to keep away the devil. The devil may appear in many forms. Who wants to cut down the tree? 

My ancestors will not be pleased, beware, those who carry the axe.

Best regards,

John Richard Hayden.  

Germany.

PS: I propose the Council makes this tree and others as Listed. It then becomes a criminal offence to damage the tree(s). Of course the weak minded may call upon the Health and Safety Act as a back-up measure to achieve their ends, but so far the legislation does not include risk due to vanity.

Thanks - Jane Tofts, Springfield

 If the said tree was in any way in danger of falling down or damaged because of a disease, the case for maybe thinking of what to do may be different. But if anyone has the thinking to look up on the website the significance of a yew tree in a churchyard they are there for a purpose, no church throughout history has been built without a tree in the grounds to ward of spirits  A yew tree will also live for many thousands of years without coming to any danger.

 We would also like to know who  has suggested this idea and possibly it is someone who is out to make a quick buck from cutting trees down?

I know one or two of us no longer actually live in the village but probable had done so for more years than those making decisions now, and some of us are still members of Henham church and various other groups.  

If a decision is to be agreed upon I think it should be put to the residents before doing such a drastic measure. I live right next to Chickney church it cannot be seen from road, rail or even aircraft in the sky it stands in a small wooded area, but still has a yew in the grounds  Should we take it down also.

I could go on, but I won’t.

Yours faithfully

 Sheena Simmonds

Chickney Hall

Congratulations Nick and hope you have a enjoyable and successful year.

One of the Church Wardens phoned me to say a suspicious vehicle (large dirty white transit van) pulled up by the Great Hallingbury Church and three large 'blokes' in front said "they were here to pick up all the man hole covers as they were faulty, and they would then be replaced". Luckily the man hole covers in the Church yard are plastic! Unluckily the church warden did not get the registration. This was this afternoon, two of the occupants were wearing fluorescent jackets, and they were then seen pulling out of another driveway in the village later.  

If you do see a suspicious white van and / or anybody taking up manhole covers who is not accompanied by a marked vehicle of a Water Supplier who you recognise, please dial 999. 

Kind regards,

Lindsay

Bill

It was a very nice service at War Memorial today (Sunday). I was impressed by the number of "younger " people (not only children, but "younger" people) who had turned out - this to me meant a significant feeling in current involvement in troubles abroad with feelings about Iraq & Afghanistan - without being political. But it was disappointing to notice that many (in fact not one) motorists (cars and vans) did not bother to observe even the basic common courtesy and respect to stop for just 2 minutes out of their "busy" lives to remember those who are still giving up their lives for our freedom!  One would have thought that just a moment to stop was not too much to ask

"Very Cross" Henham Resident

On Tuesday 27^th October one of our villagers at Henham received a phone call from a man saying he was from BT. He said he was going to cut the phone off for non payment of a bill. The amount was £36. The villager said that she always paid her bills and was up to date. However her husband felt that it was not an issue and gave the guy his credit card number, however he got suspicious as he was giving the details and asked for some proof of the fact the guy was from BT, 'give me the details of my last 4 bills' he said. With that the guy rang off and the villager cancelled his credit card.

 Obviously a clever scam.

 Nick Baker (Co-ordinator)

'Help For Heroes' Charity Day

Sunday 23^rdAugust 2009

Happy Birthday Bessie and thank you on behalf of all who were privileged to be there

This time, thanks to the fund-raising efforts of the Village Hall Committee, chaired by Trevor Ellis-Callow, both the kitchen and reception/bar area have been radically improved and the floor re-sanded.

There were over 20 stalls and activities including an Inflatable Slide, Bouncy Castle, Coconut shy, Tombola,  Penalty shoot-out, Face painting, Tennis game,  Ball-in-a-bucket, Name that dog, Guess the Cake Weight, Books, Crafts, Ice Cream, Animal Shelter,  Put the tail on the Pig, Labrador Rescue, Henham History, BBQ, Tea/cakes, Beer tent, and Pony & Trap Ride courtesy of Guy and Bessie Hayden. There was also a demonstration arena for a Dance Display by pupils from Henham School and children from Saffron Walden. (Apologies to any people I have missed).

We saw a repeat of last years Rally Rounders Tournament, competing this time for the Martin Nicholson Shield.  Fiercely contested and umpired by Norman and Carol Elson, it was eventually won by the 'Tennis Juniors' who beat the Henham Dads in the final. (click here to see a report from the Henham Dad's perspective from John Bawden).  The shield was presented by Mrs. Sylvia Nicholson who had donated it in memory of Martin who sadly died at the end of last year.

picture courtesy of Monica Sutherland

Organised by a small committee of Gerry Bigland, Julie Churchouse, Karen George-Lafferty and Clare Robertson and supported by many, many other helpers, the Fun Day was a brilliant success and much money was raised. I have it on good authority it will be an annual event.  On behalf of everyone who attended may I thank you all for your efforts.  The community spirit of our village really showed through.

  Final figures show £775 for S.O.V. and £525 for the Fete Fund - Brilliant