PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 20th NOVEMBER 2014The last meeting of 2014 was held on a chilly 20 November in the village hall, Stambourne.

Parish Plan – Michael Crago reported that the data from the survey was in and entered onto the computer. There is to be a meeting early in December to analyse this and formulate the plan.

Highways - There was some discussion about the state of the fingerpost signs throughout the parish. It was advised that it might be possible to make an application to the Local Highways Panel to have all the signs repaired or replaced. Enquiries will be made.

Although some of the potholes have at last been repaired please remember that anyone can report them by using the Essex County Council website and following the links.

Footpaths – The footpaths in the parish are generally in good order. However it has been reported that some of the footbridges are becoming slippery in the wet weather so please take care when using the paths.

Village sign – A proposed design for the new village sign should be with us soon, once agreed it is hoped that work can begin in the new year.

War Memorial – We have now received another quote for the work required on the war memorial and will be in touch with the War Memorials trust to apply for funding towards the renovation.

Budgets for 2015/16 – As you probably know from previous newsletters it is now that the Parish Council have to decide how much money it is likely to need for the next financial year. This figure is then submitted to Braintree District Council and appears on your Council Tax form. The District Council also are given funds by Government which they can decide to pass onto Parish Councils to help with costs, this is known as the Localism fund. However, we have been advised by Braintree District Council that for the next financial year there is likely to be a cut by them of 15.5% in the Localism fund. We should have confirmation of this early in the New Year and will give full details then.


BONFIRE NIGHT

What can I say – despite the rain starting just as the fireworks began it was a successful night with a good turnout of visitors all of whom seemed to enjoy the evening. It would be impossible to put on an event of this kind without the many volunteers who come forward year after year to help, regardless of the weather, so here are the thank yous:-

Martyn Fall, Michael Crago and Mark Hillard who spend the weekend setting up the fireworks, letting them off in the evening and clearing everything away afterwards.

Fiona Bayley, Vanessa Young, Andrew Drysdale, John Cruddas and Lesley Scollay who arranged the supply of food and drinks and cooked and served on the night.

Sonia Antonioni who sold childrens’ glo-sticks during the evening.

Adrian Burr who was on hand for first aid, but thankfully not needed.

Paul Chinery for moving his horses a safe distance away and Mr and Mrs Shand for allowing use of their land.

Mick Pyman, Neil and Jacky Pyman, Keith Hoadley, Richard Wright, Kim and Jenny Wiffen, John Vale, Elizabeth Fall, Fiona, Sophie and Hannah Pyman and Jason and Rebecca Crago who took payments on the gate and organised car parking.

I know that everyone got thoroughly drenched and, to finish the evening nicely, covered in mud as they helped to push cars out at the end of the night!

Once again many thanks to you all.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMPETITION

Back by popular demand is the Christmas Lights competition. Decorate your house and our independent judge will take a tour of the parish and decide which is the best decorated property. Judging will take place from 15th December so you have plenty of time to get your decorations up. The winner will receive a prize and the announcement made in the January newsletter.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 15 January 2015 at 7.30pm in the village hall. The parish meetings are open to the public and minutes and agendas available on the village website.

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

ST. PETER & ST. THOMAS BECKET PARISH CHURCH
Since our last Church Wardens’ report we have been through the glorious weather of the early autumn and now the winter has arrived.

The Harvest Festival was well attended and the congregation appreciated the cakes made for it by Ian and Heather Hay who have moved into the village recently.

On Remembrance Sunday we were joined by a large group from the Chapel for a memorable Service taken by Adrian Burr. Hearing the Last Post played at 11 o’clock was a moving moment.

A Christening of Skye Opnelic May Warren took place on Sunday 2nd November.

The next major moment in the Church will be the Carol Service on SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER AT 3.30PM. The Stambourne Singers will lead us singing seven traditional Carols and two unaccompanied Carols which they will choose and are always beautiful to hear.

After the Service there will be coffee, mince pies and mulled wine in the Church tower. All are welcome. Last year there were over 120 in the congregation.

Richard Day
Val Kerrison
Church Wardens

Services at St Peter and St Thomas Becket Church, Stambourne, January to March 2015:-

11th January
Holy Communion 9.30am
18th January
Holy Communion 9.30am
25th January
Morning Prayer 9.30am

8th February
Holy Communion 9.30am

15th February
Holy Communion 9.30am
22nd February
Holy Communion 9.30am

8th March
Holy Communion 9.30am
22nd March
Holy Communion 9.30am
29th March
Palm Sunday TBA

Richard Day
Val Kerrison
Church Wardens

St Peter and St Thomas Becket Church, Stambourne
Candlelit Carol Service at the Church
Sunday 21st December 2014 3.30pm

The Stambourne Parochial Church Council would like to invite all villagers and their friends to a Christmas Carol Service by candlelight in the Church.

The Stambourne Singers will lead us with the Carols and also sing two unaccompanied settings of their own.

Evergreens and helpers to decorate the Church will be greatly appreciated between 10am and 12 noon on Saturday 20th December.

After the services there will be coffee, mince pies and mulled wine in the church.

Christmas Day Service in the Church
Holy Communion with Joan Redmond
9.30am 25th December 2014



STAMBOURNE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Adrian BurrNews from the Chapel

What a wonderful Autumn we have had! The colours have been great and its been warm and even the central heating hasn't had to work too hard, keeping costs down. But it's at this time of year that we find bills tot up and it gets difficult to make ends meet. But there are lots of ways of getting help – just come and talk with us and we can point you at services and support organisations that can help.

We have enjoyed the remembrance service with our friends at the Church of England this year – we were surprised to find that there are only two common names between the memorial in the Churchyard and the memorial stone in the Chapel, but the history of the Chapel memorial produced by Caroline Drew says that most of the people on our stone are also on other memorials in other villages. Seems nothing changes – people have always come from a wide area to worship at Stambourne Chapel!

We will be holding a sale and craft day on 6th December in the Chapel which will include Cath Poachin's Pine Evergreen wreaths, Mr Harrison's puzzles as well as the craft activities of making cards, dough models for a Christmas nativity scene, hanging decorations and many other activities and Christmas present ideas.

We do look forward to sharing a mince pie and cup of coffee with you – do pop in anytime 10am until 3pm.

Over Christmas we have our Carol Service at 4pm on 14th December when our resident band will be leading our worship, and on Christmas day we invite you to bring something that you have received to show everyone. We will be celebrating Jesus birthday at 9:30am.

On the 17th January there will be film evening when we will be showing a popular film and discussing it over a few nibbles afterwards. Pop-corn will be available!

We look forward to welcoming you to events at the Chapel and we are always available to help. Just let us know.

We pray God will Bless you this Christmas with Happiness and Peace
Adrian Burr, Minister
07983 656166

DIARY
EVERY SUNDAY Service starts at 10:45am 1st Sunday Communion

4th Sunday Worship Band led Service

EVERY TUESDAY: 10 am – 12 Coffee and a Chat
7pm Band Practice – all welcome!!

EVERY WEDNESDAY 7pm Prayer Meeting
EVENTS
Saturday 6th December at 10am – 3pm Christmas Crafts and Sale

Sunday 14th December at 4pm Christmas Celebration Service

Thursday 25th December at 9:30am Christmas Day Service

Thursday 17th January at 7:00pm FILM Evening

COUNTY BROADBAND – Martyn Fall

Following the meeting in the village hall, a survey was conducted to gauge interest into superfast broadband in Stambourne, operated by County Broadband.

Many thanks to those who responded or attended the meeting on the evening and provided their completed forms.

If you haven’t completed the survey there is still time, just, to pass on your interest to Martyn Fall (martynfall@aol.com, 01440 785289)


POP-UP TEA ROOM IN AID OF MACMILLAN CANCER RESEARCH
On Saturday 27th September a Pop Up Tea Room was opened for the day in the pavilion, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Essex Air Ambulance. With the support of the Customers the tea room made a total of £278 which was split between the 2 charities and plenty of tea was drunk and cake eaten. We hope to do it again next year and will ask for the date to be published in the newsletter, so keep your eyes peeled. Thank you for your support.


CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR WASTE COLLECTIONS
 
As usual over the festive period, waste collection days will change according to the days of the week on which Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall.  This year, there will be some advance collections, as well as some collections later than normal.  
 
The calendar that residents are using at the moment lists collection dates up until mid-December and so we have produced a special ‘Christmas & New Year Calendar’ giving collection dates up until the end of January 2015 to tide them over until the new 2015 calendars are delivered (for use from 1 February).   Hard copies of the interim calendar will not be posted to all households, as this is not cost effective given that it covers such a short period of time.  Instead, the calendar will be made available to download from our website.   For residents who do not have access to the internet, a hard copy can be printed off and posted on request to our Customer Service Centre – 01376 552525.
 
 
Please note: The Christmas & New Year calendar will be available to download from our website from Friday 28 November 2014 so please do not  display the poster until after this date. 
 
If you have any queries or would like more information, please contact the Marketing & Communications Team on 01376 551414 or email marketing@braintree.gov.uk
 
Thank you in advance for your support.

JUMBLE SALE – A THANK YOU FROM LOIS HUNTER

Thank you very much for all the help people gave me at the Jumble sale
 
 We took £1480 I paid £40 for hire of village Hall I have sent
 
 £1400 to Essex Air Ambulance. Thanks to all the cake makers and
 for raffle Prizes and for the Donations.
 

PARISH PLAN

The winning "young adult" raffle ticket was drawn by an independent member of the public and the number is 29.  The holder of the winning ticket should contact Debbie Hilliard to collect the cash prize.  As the "adult" winning ticket (109) hasn't been claimed, the prize money will be put back into the "kitty".

The statistics will now be collated and the results circulated in 2015 and we'd like to say a huge thank you to all Stambourne villagers who took the time to return their forms.

STAMBOURNE VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE
We would like to thank Cath, Graham, Liz and Paul for organising the Halloween Quiz Night. It was a very enjoyable evening and the wonderful sum of £505.00 was raised for village hall funds. A young lady from the village conducted the raffle and contributed £109.00 of this final figure. Well done Saskia! The hall was beautifully decorated in the Halloween theme and was very cosy and inviting when you entered the hall, with candles glowing on each table.
Joyce Jousiffe, Treasurer

DIARY DATES
DECEMBER
6th 10am – 3pm Christmas Crafts and Sale, The Chapel
14th at 4pm Christmas Celebration Service, The Chapel
21ST 3.30PM, Carol Service, The Church
25th 9:30am Christmas Day Service, The Chapel

JANUARY
15th, Parish Council Meeting, 7.30pm Village Hall
17th at 7:00pm FILM Evening, The Chapel

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