Stambourne

In this issue:

• STAMBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
• ST. PETER & ST. THOMAS BECKET PARISH CHURCH
• SERVICES AT STAMBOURNE FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS
• STAMBOURNE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
• WHAT’S ON AT THE CHAPEL
• STAMBOURNE LADIES GROUP
• STAMBOURNE ACTIVITIES
• OTHER ACTIVITIES

Pavilion

New fire safety laws require buildings such as halls which are available to hire, to have a fire risk assessment, this is underway for the Pavilion. A grant of £300 has been awarded from the District Council’s Councillors’ Community Grant and will be used towards buying 30 new chairs for the Pavilion. Thank you to Cllr van Dulken and Braintree District Council for this grant.

Highways

County Councillor Peter Schwier was able to update the Parish Council on Essex Highways’ work to repair the potholes and other highway issues across Essex. He also updated the Parish Council on the impact of Storm Henk and the winter gritting service.

Defibrillator

A recent incident meant that the new defibrillator at the Village Hall was accessed and removed. Fortunately, it did not need to be used and is now back in place, but this shows how important they can be. Thank you and well done to those quick-thinking individuals who sprang into action when needed.

Bonfire

If you were good enough to contribute material to our village bonfire, we apologise that you are not going to enjoy the experience of seeing it burn. You will remember that we were forced to cancel our November celebrations due to the difficulties of parking cars on the waterlogged field, however we planned to light the fire at a weekend when the weather was favourable, and anyone interested could gather around and enjoy the experience.

Unfortunately, this now is not an option as a misguided individual, for reasons that are difficult to fathom, took it upon themselves to light the fire without any notice. This action was completely without any permission from the Parish Council, and we regret the loss of an opportunity for us to get together for a pleasant social event.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we hope that you will continue to contribute material to our bonfire when we need it for bonfire celebrations later in the year. Please do not add any more material to the site now.

We are adding mesh reinforcement to the entrance of the parking area so that wet weather should not cause problems for future bonfire evenings.

Parish Council Meeting Dates 2024
• 14th March 2024
• 16th May 2024
• 18th July 2024
• 19th September 2024
• 21st November 2024

All are Thursdays at 7.30pm in the Village Hall unless shown otherwise.

More details may be found here »

Full minutes are available here: stambourne.com/parish-council.

Debbie Hilliard, Parish Clerk

debbiehilliard614@gmail.com, 01440 785 629

Looking back to the end of last year

The Carol service was well attended and many thanks to those who decorated the Church, read lessons and helped with serving the refreshments and tidying up!

Rev. Caroline said her “goodbyes” at the Benefice Service on 31st December 2023 at Stambourne and again this was well supported by all 7 Churches in the Benefice. She was presented with a garden voucher which she said will be put to good use in her new house and garden.

We wish Caroline all the best in her new Parish.

Val Kerrison, Churchwarden

valeriekerrison@outlook.com, 01440 785 752 or 07879 816 362

There are lots of challenges in life today whether they are those caused by the weather or the ones we see on the news of people doing bad things. One statement which struck me was when one of the Post Office investigators was asked whether he felt what he was doing was right and he answered that he was just doing his job.

And I suppose many get trapped into situations where they are just doing their job without really considering the consequences of it. I spent much of my working life visiting companies and have had people in very senior positions say that they are proud of something which to anyone outside the company looked very wrong.

We often make our own judgements don’t we? In work, in life, in relation to our neighbours, and even our own relations. But often we don’t know the history behind the situation and all that has happened. The Post Office investigator may have had some difficult relationships in his work life which led him “to keep his nose clean” and just get on with the job. In some instances we may be the people who are causing that. We may put people under pressure so that they will hide under some title just to keep things peaceful. So is there a way we can react? We are told in the Bible to seek justice. But whose justice? That of the courts? Of this land or of some other country? Is there an absolute justice? One that never fails? That can be relied on whatever the situation?

Well for believers we can say yes, but some would even question that. Why would a God allow such suffering and pain?

Well that’s a very difficult question to answer in one line of text. But we do have an answer and it is provided by God in the Word of God, the Bible, that has been around for thousands of years and has proven trustworthy and reliable in answering life’s difficult questions.

Only one way to find out… Enjoy a peruse if you can or come and ask…

Every blessing,

Adrian Burr, Minister

Welcome to 2024! »

Join the Stambourne Ladies for the first meet-up of 2024.

Welcome all to a New Year with the Stambourne Ladies Group! It’s membership time again—bring your purse and sign-up for another year with us, as we share our exciting plans for 2024. Catch up with your Gal-entines (Valentine’s Day is just around the corner after all) or make new friends. As usual, there will be chats, laughs and delicious food.

• Wednesday, 7th February 2024
• 7pm for 7.30pm
• Free for members; £5 for guests
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP
• Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details

Easter crafty bakes »

Kindly run by our Zoe.

Today our very own baking queen Zoe will teach us how to get crafty in the kitchen in time for the upcoming Easter holidays. Yum! As usual, the evening will be a great opportunity to make new friends or meet up with old ones, over chats, laughs and delicious food.

• Wednesday, 13th March 2024
• 7pm for 7.30pm
• Free for members; £5 for guests
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP
• Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details

You’re a poet and you didn’t know it! »

Are you a budding (or seasoned) poetess and fancy a bit of friendly competition? Join us tonight and enter our poetry writing contest! (Details will be published nearer the time.) If you don’t fancy writing your own piece, but have a favourite poem you would like to share with the group, bring that along and spread the word. And if poetry is just not up your alley, we’ve got you covered — come and enjoy the delightful company, lots of laughs and delicious food.

• Wednesday, 10th April 2024
• 7pm for 7.30pm
• Free for members; £5 for guests
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP
• Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details

Talk: everything stops for tea

A talk about the history of tea and the tradition of afternoon tea, held by Eve Regelous. You can expect an informative and entertaining evening filled with chats, laughs and delicious afternoon tea themed food.

• Wednesday, 8th May 2024
• 7pm for 7.30pm
• Free for members; £5 for guests
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP
• Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details

Village Hall available for hire »

Hiring Fees, including heating and electricity:

• For residents: £8 per hour
• For non-residents: £10 per hour

This includes heating and a kitchen.

There is also a table tennis table and carpet bowls is available.

To hire the Stambourne Village Hall, contact Rosemary Horton on 01440 785 339. More info »

Knit & Natter Club »

• Every Thursday
• 5pm – 7pm
• The Green Man, 3 Church Lane, Toppesfield CO9 4DR
• THE Stambourne Knitting group: get crafty with knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, quilting and more!
• Bring along your projects, share ideas and tips, get inspired or just come for a chat. Everyone welcome!
• Contact Anna on 07944 696 527 for more details

And if you can’t knit/won’t knit? That’s fine! Just come for a natter and to meet friends (or make new ones). Whatever your levels of craftiness, join in!
More info »

Library services »

We know we can sign up to borrow hard copies of books from Essex Libraries. In Stambourne we are lucky to also have the Mobile Library which visits the Village Hall on Wednesday, every three weeks, between 10.05am and 10.35am.

View the dates for 2024 »

Remember you can also borrow eBooks and audio books remotely. Visit Essex Libraries to find out more.

Ridgewell Airfield Memorial Museum »

The Ridgewell Airfield Memorial Museum willl be open the second Sunday of the month from 10th March 2024 until October. Free admission.

rafcamuseum.co.uk
Oaker Hill, Great Yeldham CO9 4RG