PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 21st NOVEMBER 2013The last meeting of the year took place on 21 November 2013 at 7.30pm in the village hall.

Pavilion - The water system has been drained for winter. You may have seen that the village sign on the playing field was blown down in the recent storm and needs replacing. The sign was originally donated by a parishioner. Enquiries will take place over obtaining a suitable replacement.

Christmas lights – Martyn has obtained the lights and purchased a waterproof socket with inbuilt timer to use with them. He will fit this to the outside wall of the pavilion. The lights will decorate the nearby cherry tree and will be put up on the weekend of 7/8 December.

Playing field – The annual safety inspection of the play equipment has been carried out by Wicksteed Leisure. There are some works to be undertaken and these will be carried out. The parish council will look at undertaking a replacement programme for some of the older equipment.

Highways – At last some of the potholes have been repaired, including the pavement outside the village hall. Please remember that any potholes can be reported direct to Essex Council Council on www.essex.gov.uk/fixmystreet

Footpaths – Please clear up after your dogs! We have received reports of dog fouling both on the road and on the footpaths around the parish. There are dog bins situated in Chapel End Way and Church Road, Stambourne for your dog waste. Please be considerate to fellow walkers and clear up after your dogs.

War Memorial - Plans continue to proceed with the proposed renovation of the war memorial and we will keep you up to date with developments.

Budget and Precept – Every November the Parish Council has to decide what funds it will need to carry out its function through the next financial year (2014/15). This is the parish element which appears on your annual Council Tax form. The figures have been studied and agreed. However, we now await the grant allocation from Braintree District Council before we can finalise everything.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 16 January 2014 at 7.30pm in the village hall, Stambourne.

Debbie Hilliard
Parish Clerk
Tel: 01440 785629
Email: Debbie.hilliard@duffields.co.uk

BONFIRE NIGHT

It was another successful event for the annual bonfire and fireworks evening. The weather was reasonably kind, if a little windy and the event well attended.
It would not be possible to hold this event without the team of volunteers who help organise this year after year, so a big thank you to …..

Mick Pyman and his team on the gate and organising car parking, Fiona Bayley and everyone involved in the food and refreshments, Martyn Fall, Michael Pyman and Mark Hilliard for the fireworks, Oscar for managing the bonfire, Mr Shand for allowing access onto land, the Chinery family for moving horses out of harm’s way and everyone else involved. Thank you very much for a great evening.

CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS COMPETITION 2013

Back by popular request is the Stambourne Lights Competition! Illuminate and decorate the exterior of your property for Christmas 2013 and a prize could come your way! An independent judge will tour the village and make their decision. Judging will take place week commencing Monday 16 December 2013 and the winner notified shortly after.

The parish council will be playing their part and lighting up a tree on the playing field on the weekend of 7 December 2013!

Full minutes and agendas are available on the Stambourne village website
www.Stambourne.com.

ST. PETER & ST. THOMAS BECKET PARISH CHURCH

The Harvest Festival Service on Sunday, 13th October was well attended. To start with it looked as though there would not be many people but soon after the bells were rung a steady stream came in.

After the Service they obviously enjoyed the scones, buttered and filled with jam, made by Val Kerrison and Jane Waller. On Remembrance Sunday on a bitterly cold winter morning wreaths were laid on the War Memorial and Col and Mrs. Brennemans’ graves.

Our Carol Service will be on Sunday, 22nd December at four o’clock taken by our vicar.

Cath Pockin will be decorating the Church on Friday 20th December. Anyone who would like to decorate the Church would be very welcome on Friday or Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

Last year we had a congregation of 93 for the Service including many children. The Stambourne Singers who have sung at carol services since the mid 1970s will lead our singing of traditional Carols in the candlelit Church.

After the Service there will be mince pies, tea and coffee, with mulled wine in the Norman Tower. Everyone will be most welcome.

On Christmas Day there will be a short Communion Service at 9.30am taken by the Rev. Richard Caink in his inimitable way.

Services in the Church

Sunday, 8th December, 9.30am. Holy Communion, The Vicar
Sunday, 15th December, 9.30am, Holy Communion, Rev. Richard Caink
Sunday, 22nd December, 4.00pm, CAROL SERVICE, The Vicar
Christmas Day, 25th December, 9.30am, Holy Communion, Rev. Richard Caink
Sunday 29th December, 10.00am, Benefice Service, The Vicar

Sunday 12th January, 9.30am, Holy Communion, The Vicar
Sunday 19th January, 9.30am, Holy Communion, Rev. Richard Caink
Sunday, 26th January, 9.30am, Morning Prayer, David Brown

STAMBOURNE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Adrian BurrChristmas - Adrian Burr © 2008
Christmas comes and Christmas goes
But nobody knows. Nobody knows
This seasons cheer, the goodwill it bestows
And why Christmas comes and Christmas goes

Christmas comes and Christmas goes
The presents prepared but nobody knows
What Christmas means to any but those
Who the Lord Jesus Christ in His wisdom chose

The councillors cry, “a winter fest!
Lets help make money. No Jesus, less
We upset those who don’t believe
We’ve complicated political webs to weave.”

Christmas comes and Christmas goes
The puddings are made and the cakes a mess
Why do we do it every year
It only brings so many a tear

The children in the local school
A nativity play – it is the tool
To teach of Christmas, but even there
A watered down version is often the fare

Christmas comes and Christmas goes
The trees been bought and many toys
Now to be wrapped, but we know
They’ll be discarded by the new year show.

The carols round the village green
Are sung by many, but unseen
Is God’s own hand in what we do
This Christmas tide – Could we His love know?

Christmas comes and Christmas goes
What a mess and oh the rows
We hear of people who can’t agree
Marriages fail around the tree

But open up the word of God
Find out about His joy, His love
This Christmas time remember who
We celebrate; Was born for you.

Christmas comes and Christmas goes
But let not one more pass you by
Without a thought of who was born
And why He came; now so torn

For every year we celebrate
And forget a love we now berate
And turn away from his Good News
For it was for us He came to save!

This Christmas comes, don’t let slip by
Without learning of His love and try
To find the reason for this silly season
His Joy, His Peace, His Love;
Your reason?

Dates for the Chapel are:

8th December Carol Service at 4pm
25th December 9:30am short Celebration service
8th February:  Hymn writers and composers day..  watch this space.

Services at 10:45 every Sunday
2nd Sunday is Communion
4th Sunday is Band Family Service

There are Prayer and Praise services at Wethersfield Pavilion on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Sundays at 6:30pm.

Happy Christmas from all at Stambourne Chapel and thanks for all your support through 2013.

STAMBOURNE CHRISTMAS FAYRE

Sunday 8th December 2013
11am until 3pm
Stambourne Village Hall

Pine, Fancy Wreaths, Jewellery, Candles, Crochet and knitted goods, Chutneys, Cakes Decorations, Cakes, Yule Logs, Fudge, Painted Plates, Cards for Good Causes.

Come one Come All
Sample the Free Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

JUMBLE SALE – A THANK YOU FROM LOIS HUNTER

A very big thank you to every one that helped at the jumble Sale on the 2nd November. Also to every one that made cakes and gave donations to the Essex Air Ambulance.

We took £1120.00. Paid the hall hire £40.00 and sent £1080.00 to the air Ambulance.

I would just love to say a big thank you to all the supporters.

TOPPESFIELD COMMUNITY SHOP

Christmas Market

Sat 7th December 2013
Toppesfield Village Hall
10.00am- 12.30pm

All Local !

Cakes Gifts Decorations Indian Food Refreshments

CRICKET CLUB HISTORY

The Cricket Club books, mostly scorebooks, that Bryan Wright had and passed on to Elizabeth Fall have now been placed in Essex Record Office.

To access these books, the access number is :-

SEAX accession number A13788. The catalogue reference number is D/Z 632.

Also, under this number is the photograph album of the erection of the Pavilion, on the playing field, by the Cricket Club. These photographs may be viewed on the website:
http://www.stambourne.com/CricketPavilionPhotos.html

If anybody wants to take these books out for an exhibition or similar they can do so

WHAT’S ON LOCALLY

Dickensian Christmas, Kentwell Hall, Long Melford
Kentwell Hall is full of festive spirit, decked for a Victorian Family Christmas.
Various weekends in December
http://www.kentwell.co.uk/events/dickensian/dickensian-christmas

Santa Special at Audley End Miniature Railway
Ride the Santa Express to visit Santa in his grotto!
Trains run approximately every 20 minutes.
30th Nov & 1st Dec, 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th, 18th to 24th December  
http://www.audley-end-railway.co.uk/christmas-specials/

Sudbury Dramatic Society presents The Quay's traditional family pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.
Friday 13th December to Sunday 29th December
http://www.quaytheatre.org.uk/panto.htm

Wednesday 18th December 2013
7:00 PM - CHRISTMAS CONCERT- LONG MELFORD SILVER BAND
Long Melford Silver Band Provide A Christmas Concert
Contact: harrycopsey@stourvalley.org
Venue: LONG MELFORD VILLAGE HALL in LONG MELFORD.

Father Christmas Visits
Moyse's Hall, Bury St Edmunds
The last chance to see Father Christmas before he heads off to deliver your presents! Sat 21 Dec. 11:00-16:00 / Sun 22 Dec. 12.30-15.30.

Saffron Players Pantomime At Saffron Walden Town Hall
Robin Hood
Fri 10 - Sat 18 Jan 2014
Tickets £6, (party rate 10 or more £5), on sale to in person callers at Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre. Enquiries: 01799 524002.

“Admission: One Shilling”, Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden
Sunday January 26, 2014
Award-winning actress Patricia Routledge and pianist Piers Lane relate the extraordinary story of Myra Hess and her famous wartime National Gallery concerts.
http://saffronhall.com/events/2014-01-26/


NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

TREE OF COMMUNICATION

We are looking for volunteers to be added to the tree of communication for our Neighbourhood Watch scheme.  If you notice anything suspicious going on or have heard of a burglary etc., then let Vicky Dowling know who will then contact the next person on the communication tree and the news will eventually filter down throughout the village.  Our present tree of communication is out of date and your help would be appreciated.   All that is required of you is to receive a call from me advising of an incident and for you to then call the next person on the tree and pass the news on.   Please call Vicky on 01440 785528 or checkout www.stambourne.com for more details.


DIARY DATES


DECEMBER
Saturday 7th, 10am – 12pm, Toppesfield Shop Christmas Market
Sunday 8th, Stambourne Christmas Fayre, 11am – 3pm, Village Hall
Sunday, 22nd, 4.00pm, CAROL SERVICE, The Vicar
Christmas Day, 25th, 9.30am, Holy Communion, Rev. Richard Caink

JANUARY
16th, Parish Council Meeting, 7.30pm Village Hall

Items for the next Newsletter by 17th January Steve Platt Tel : 01440 785638 or Mobile : 07767 357016 Email : me@stephenplatt.com