Henham News

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Thaxted Morris Men Visit Henham
On Wednesday 25th August we were privileged to be visited by the famous Thaxted Morris Men. Founded in 1911 by the then Vicar of Thaxted, they are the oldest surviving 'revival side' in the country. They have a very busy schedule throughout the year
	As most of the group have pensioners bus passes a couple of years ago, one of their number, suggested that they should tour the area using the local village bus system. They arrived at The Cock at 11.0am and after descending on the bar to take on liquid refreshment they gave an unfortunate small crowd a splendid performance.





At midday it was all back on the bus again to visit another public house in Stansted. I an not sure how many venues on their tour, but I wish I had their stamina. Thank you chaps and their lady supporters If you wish to know more about the Thaxted Morris Men please visit their web site on www.thaxtedmorris.org

Dub Gannon ordained as Deacon on Sunday 4th July at Chelmsford Cathedral
I know its a bit late, but the photographs have now arrived of Dub's ordination at Chelmsford Cathedral. In front of a congregation of over 750 people he and 15 other candidates were ordained in a service conducted by the Area Bishop of Bradwell, the Right Revd Dr Laurie Green assisted by the Area Bishop of Colchester, the Right Revd Christopher Morgan. A very special occasion for Dub, his family and the parishes of Henham, Elsenham and Ugley.
See more about the day on Chelmsford Cathedral web site - click here go to Press Releases and the entry for 4th July


Chelmsford Cathedral	The Service

Area Bishop of Colchester, the Right Revd Christopher Morgan	Dub and his fellow 'new' Deacons


Dub and Alice	Dub and his family


Seabass in Afghanistan
Re the article below - This is Seabass driving at the notoriously difficult par 3 fourth hole at the Helmand Province Championship Links Course. I am surprised he is using a wedge. (Note the lack of sponsorship for the tented village).

Annual Parish Meeting (from Henham P.C.) It has come to our attention that some parishioners may be confused about the date for the Henham Annual Parish Meeting, so in your upcoming publication, can you please stress that the meeting will be held at 7.00pm on 7 October 2010, at OSCA.

August Bus passenger News from Essex C.C. click here

Survey on Changing Essex (Info received from Parish Council)
A supplement in the latest edition of EssexWorks magazine, 'Changing Essex', contains surveys relating to budget setting for the next financial year, where the residents can advise ECC how they would like the budget to be prioritised. The survey can be accessed online (links below), where residents can also have a go at setting the budget using the budget calculator, or residents can complete the surveys that appear in EssexWorks magazine and the supplements. If residents would like a copy of the supplements can they contact: Helen Hull, Production Executive, Communications Strategy, Policy, Community Planning and Regeneration Essex County Council \| telephone: 01245 435 660 \| extension: 55660 \| email: helen.hull@essex.gov.uk Here's the link to the Changing Essex page on the ECC website: www.essex.gov.uk/changingessex The supplement is also in the latest edition of EssexWorks magazine, here's the link to the digital copy: http://www.essex.gov.uk/essexworksmagazine.html

Widdington Photo Competition Ever fancied sharing your favourite photos with more than just the family? - Great! This is for you! Send us prints of your 2 best pictures and for only £5 they will be exhibited in Widdington Village Hall on the 2nd and 3rd of October 2010. You could also win some fabulous prizes including: Professional Tuition If the judges think you show great skill and plenty of “texture and form” you will spend a day improving your skills with a professional photographer. or Langley Park Rally School Session The winner, voted for by visitors to the show, will experience the thrills of rally driving with a pro in a genuine racing car. Take your camera on holiday and avoid missing the 18th of September deadline. Go on the Widdington village website http://sites.google.com/site/widdingtonphotocompetition to download your entry form or phone Marguerite on 01799 540304, or Sue on 541 844 Looking forward to hearing from you The Photo Comp. Team

Charity Dinner (continued) The final amount raised was a magnificent £6,675. Please click here to see a letter from Colonel Bell

With reference to the Charity Dinner below-
In spite of the tragic stories that come out of Afghanistan on an all too regular basis, the picture below received a couple of days ago from our friend 'Seabass,' shows that morale is still high. This is him just before he broke the high jump record from a squatting position.
You need steady hands to join the wires together
Charity Dinner & Favours Auction In aid of Carver Barracks Injured Soldiers and Welfare Fund Saturday 10th July 2010
Last year, Di Sammons attended a function in Saffron Walden in aid of a fund specially designed to help Carver Barracks soldiers and their relatives. The prime objective of the fund is, without bureaucracy or undue delay, to be able to react immediately to individual need. Di was so taken by the purpose of the fund and the soldiers she met that she decided to hold a function in Henham to raise further money. She quickly enlisted the help of Rona Savident and Sue Ellis-Callow with the result that over 100 people sat down in a splendidly decorated Henham Village Hall on the evening of Saturday 10th July to a superb four course meal cooked by Army Chefs from Carver Barracks.



The Guest of Honour was Lt. Colonel Simon Bell, Commanding Officer of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) seen above with his wife Kayran together with Rona, Di and Sue. The compare/host for the evening was actor John Savident and in charge of the auction and raffle, comedian Ed Byrne.

	The evening started with very moving readings of poems, letters and other narratives relative to the plight of soldiers by Trevor and Sue Ellis-Callow, Vanda Collins and Trevor Judd, including 'Tommy' by Rudyard Kipling.

Music for the evening by Alan Green	The wine flowed freely

(Apologies for the poor picture)	Lt. Colonel Bell explained that the fund was set up in 2009 as a direct result of casualties occurring to 33 Engineer Regiment in Afghanistan. Applications to the fund may be made at any time by an injured person serving within the regiment, or by their dependant or immediate family. Eligibility to the fund is specific to injuries, both physical and psychological which are directly attributable to Operations in any location. He went on to outline some very moving instances where the fund had been applied

Following the meal we were entertained by the brilliant talents of Ed Byrne who conducted the auction of favours and gifts donated. When starting, Ed professed not to have conducted an auction before, but he was absolutely fantastic and I doubt whether any other auctioneer could have induced more money from the guests with such humour. I will not embarrass those who donated by listing all their names, but the lots included three holidays, a Manchester United fully signed football shirt, computer equipment and so on. Although the final amount for the auction alone is yet to be arrived at, once all the money is collected it is expected to exceed £5,000

May I, on behalf of the guests thank Di, Rona, and Sue for a splendid evening. Additionally, (and this is where I usually get into trouble for forgetting someone important), the Army chefs, Linda Kelsey and her helpers, Alan Green for his music, Dawn and others who helped behind the bars at the last minute, Paul and Mel from The Cock, Tony Barratt from Saffron Brewery,Jane Brinkley for organising the raffle and all who turned up the following morning to clear up. A special thanks must also go to John Savident and Ed Byrne. Last but not least, on behalf of Di, Rona and Sue I would thank all the guests who donated so generously. When the final amount raised is calculated I will let you know but but I have a feeling it will be quite exceptional. Click here for more pictures.

Saffron Walden Museum 'Photographs from English Heritage' Exhibition 17th July - 26th September Click here for further details
HENHAM CIDER CLUB Plea for Apples . Cider Club was founded in 2006. It consists of a very small yet determined group of enthusiastic individuals. The Cider pressing season starts the first week of September and runs to early October. During this time our sole purpose in life and that of our offspring , is to produce “HENHAM CIDER,” a completely natural beverage made only of apples and fermented to a formidable 8% ABV Each years’ vintage is slightly different. 2006 was like sucking on a lemon! 2007 & 2008 were very palatable, if you like dry cider that is. All cider naturally ferments to a state of dryness, but this mellows with the ageing process . We still have a few bottles of the 2006 and it has amazingly matured into a fine almost champagne like drink. There are apple trees a plenty in the village and I find it hard to believe that we are pioneers in this sort of endeavour. There must have been cider production in Henham for many hundreds of years. I quite like the idea that we are carrying on some kind of tradition, but who am I kidding, we just like making our own booze! We have been averaging 200 litres each year which by my reckoning is not too bad considering we are using a traditional ratchet press. Any kind of automation to increase efficiency would spoil the spirit of the occasion. Its the quaint inefficiency of the whole pressing process that is appealing. If inefficiency is the order of the day then I think we have it sussed! It takes an enormous amount of apples to produce a small amount of cider. This is were we could use some help. We need your windfalls. Any breed of apple will do, the more varied the better . If anyone has a reasonable quantity of apples that go to waste each year the cider club boys and girls would like to hear from you. We would like to compile a list of potential sources for organized scrumping during September. If the village can help CIDER CLUB we should have enough cider to donate a barrel to the village fete, a new tradition started this year. CIDER CLUB thanks you for your support .. Please contact Daniel Kodesh 01279 850 491 daniel.kodesh@btinternet.com To view Cider making in Henham - Click here

Thatching of Stone Cottage and the Village shop
Over the last three week customers to the village shop have been, to a degree, inconvenienced (but also entertained) by the replacement of the thatch ridge to my house which also runs over the shop and the Church Office. May Jill and I thank you all for your patience.
	You will perhaps agree that Master Thatcher Lee Player and his partners Ian and Doug have done a splendid job and as best as they have been able, at the end of each day, cleared the road and path. Click here for details for Lee. I can thoroughly recommend them for their professionalism and their great sense of humour.

Planning Application in Village
Uttlesford District Council have received a renewed planning application for the erection of a Sheltered housing Development at Grind Hall, Wood End Green, Henham. Comments must be received by U.D.C by 22nd July 2010. Click here to see a copy of a letter from U.D.C. setting out how to respond.
Concessionary Bus Pass Consultation 1st July to 30th September From 1st April 2011 Essex County Council will be responsible for issuing concessionary bus passes. They are conducting a survey - Please see the attached document - click here

Unfortunately the 'Bring it Back to Blighty' World Cup song did not inspire the England team to glory. However, well done Mo, Henham Dads and all those who helped to produce the song. Maybe in four years time - who knows. As an aside, I left my brother's house in Cheam Surrey 10 minutes before the England Germany match ended to come home to Henham round the M25 and up the M11 and in the hour and a half drive did not see one car with an England flag flapping from the windows. I wonder where they all went.

Vanda and Trevor Celebrate 120 years of Birthdays

On Saturday 28th 2010 May, Vanda Collins and Trevor Judd had a combined 60th birthday at a beautifully decorated village hall. The food, music and a surfeit of drink ensured a great evening was enjoyed by everyone. Thank you both from all who attended and may you celebrate many more very happy birthdays. Click here to see many more pictures.

Henham Fun Day Sunday 9th May 2010 at Woodend Green
Henham Juniors win the Rally Rounders Martin Nicholson Shield for the third year running. The trophy was presented by Mrs. Sylvia Nicholson

View Video of The Classic Cars - View Video of 'Bring it Back to Blighty' (thanks to Dan Kodesh)

Yet again a really splendid Henham day on Woodend Green in aid of the Save Our Village Fund. The weather was relatively kind to us and we were privileged to be entertained by the Footlights Dance Group, Mr Happy, music by 'Double Vacant' and The Red Barrows display team from Essex who performed in aid of a cancer charity. There were may stalls, an OSCA raffle and a splendid collection of very special Classic cars. Our thanks go to Gerry and Sheena Bigland, Karen George-Lafferty, Julie Churchouse, Clare Robertson who collectively style themselves as the 'Non Committee' for their excellent organisation together with compare Ed Byrne and all the others who helped in so many ways including the umpires of the Rally Rounders. This year the total sum to be donated to the Save our Village fund was an excellent £634 and not £1040 as I previously reported. (I misunderstood the email I received - apologies) Please click here to see pictures of the event.	Gerry and Ed

Flood Sandbags
As from 1st April Uttlesford District Council will not longer be supplying sandbags in the event of flood warnings or actual flooding. There is no statutory obligation for them to do so and to be realistic, storing such bags is difficult and over time they become useless through decomposition. I attended an Emergency Planning meeting on Monday 15th March at Stansted and received information about a new type of flood protection bag now on the market which apparently is very effective. It looks like a flatish pillow and is very easy to store. In the event of an imminent flood it can be soaked in water for 2 to 3 minutes and the granules inside expand to form a sack which looks like the conventional sandbag. When finished with it is biodegradable. The disadvantage is that the sacks are quite expensive but I suppose not nearly expensive as having your house or garage flooded. To find out more the web site for the manufacturer is www.floodsax.co.uk Bill Bates Emergency Plan Co-ordinator

Village Flagpole
	For the foreseeable future, in recognition of our troops in Afghanistan, it has been decided to keep flying the Union Flag on the village flagpole. The St. George flag will be flown however for the time around 23rd April.