Stambourne

In this issue:

• STAMBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
• LOCAL SUPPORT DURING COVID-19
• ST. PETER & ST. THOMAS BECKET PARISH CHURCH
• RECTOR’S RAMBLINGS
• STAMBOURNE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
• WHAT’S ON
• STAMBOURNE LADIES GROUP
• STAMBOURNE ACTIVITIES
• CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION

The latest meeting of the Parish Council took place on Thursday 12th March 2020 at 7.30pm in the village hall, Stambourne. Since this meeting Covid-19 has taken hold and had an impact on all of us in many ways. I know that many of you are offering help and it is lovely to know that the support is out there already especially on social media. However, I know not everyone uses social media so please see the note below which has some names and contact points.
We hope you all stay safe and well.

Back to the meeting:

Pavilion

We have been successful in obtaining a £500 Councillors’ Community Grant to help pay for improved disabled access to the Pavilion. Quotes are now being sourced for the work and it is hoped work can take place in the spring/early summer when the ground has dried out.

Thank you to Cllr van Dulken for supporting us with this grant application.

We have also been successful in obtaining a CIF micro-grant for £339.00 which is to replace the fridge and freezer in the Pavilion kitchen. We have a good number of bookings for the Pavilion throughout the year. If you wish to book it for an event please contact me.

Highways

There are a number of potholes which have appeared, probably mostly due to the very wet winter. They can be reported via the Essex County Council website essex.gov.uk. It is always useful to include photos. County Broadband road closures are causing some disruption but hopefully work will be completed soon.

We wanted to let you know that there are some people you can call on if you need any help or support. There is a village Facebook group “Stambourne Village” and a WhatsApp group “Stambourne Chat”.

If you’d like to join the WhatsApp Chat group please contact Erica on 07944 916644

However, we realise not everyone is on social media so if you have been advised to self- isolate and need any help there are a group of neighbours who want to make sure anyone vulnerable does not feel too alone. We live in a small community and will pull together to help each other out as required.

Local contacts are:
• Debbie Hilliard — 01440 785629
• Neil Pyman — 01440 785709
• Val Kerrison — 01440 785752

As I am sure you are aware all public worship has been suspended with effect from 17th March and unfortunately the Church has now had to be closed. I do have copies of a prayer sheet for worship in isolation. If anyone would like a copy for themselves or if you know of anyone that may find this a help, please phone and /or leave a message on any of the numbers below and I will pop one in your letterbox. Likewise, if anyone wants a chat on the phone or needs shopping please contact me and I will help as much as I can.

We wake up to another morning of more announcements of the progress of COVID-19 and what the government is doing to support all who are affected by this pandemic. There seems an air of gloom and doom everywhere and yet people are panic buying. Stocking up on 3 months’ worth of food and hygiene products is worthless if we are all going to survive this.

It was saddening to see a nurse who having completed a 48 hour shift couldn’t walk into a supermarket to buy essentials for her evening meal! What can we do about it? An offer from one person at the Chapel is to do their shopping for them and take the food to their houses when they get home! We, as Chapel, are continuing to do whatever we can. Stopping Sunday services doesn’t mean stopping being church! Our services now take in a different form.

As many don’t have internet we are printing out the service, including the message, and delivering it to all who normally attend and inviting them to read this script either individually or in small groups in their own homes at the time when we would normally be in church.

We are telephoning each other and our neighbours and friends, we are offering to do shopping and collection of prescriptions, we are offering hope and encouragement through music and words. Above all we are praying and the chapel will be open for prayer as often as we can – if you see the board outside then it is open and safe – it is kept cleaned and wiped down, and there is no chance of sitting near anyone. There are prayer guidelines that will be changed regularly and candles that can be lit.

For us today we have a choice to make. Do we die with a pile of toilet rolls in our house and enough food to feed an army, or do we die with love in our hearts for those around us, trusting God to provide for our needs and putting aside our own desires.

I know many will say that dying is not on their agenda, but we are all known by what we do. Are we spending our new found free time in our gardens, working on our houses, our cars, or, like those in the windows in China and Italy sharing encouragement for those in the front line, sharing love for one another, and putting aside our own needs for the needs of others?

Jesus had nowhere to stay. He didn’t own a home or a means of transport, any books or possessions, and yet He is the most famous person in history! His life was full of love for others to the extent that He even laid down His life for all people – which is why we celebrate Easter.

No chocolate bunnies and eggs, no cards and flowers (though I enjoy all of these with the everyone else!), but a celebration of New Life in Jesus who died to set us free!

We will be celebrating Easter as usual, but in our own homes!!

Stambourne Ladies Group

Please remember we have a great SLG network through email and WhatsApp should you need help with anything, be it suet for your dumplings or bicarbonate for your soda bread, one of us will have it so just ask!

We’ve all paid our subs and have nowhere to go and it looks as if we will not be meeting face-to-face for quite a while.

To help everyone through this difficult time Sharon’s been doing some digging and here’s a list of local goods that the smaller businesses are WILLING TO DELIVER TO OUR DOOR and it will help them to survive too:

Village Hall

All regular activities in the Village Hall have been suspended. However, the hall is not shut so if you wish to book please call Rosi Horton on 01440 785 339 or email rosihorton1@gmail.com

Silver Link Club

Silver Link is postponed until further notice.

Scarecrow competition

The scarecrow competition will go ahead. Exhibits to be war themed. Entry is free.

All scarecrows are to be on display by Thursday, 7th May and will be judged over the weekend.

Channel your fighting spirit and test your ingenuity by making them with what you already have around the house!

Stambourne and Ridgewell Village Market

Our first market held on Saturday 14th March went well; a bit quieter than we would have hoped but thank you to all that ventured out.

There were eight stall holders:

Mo’s Preserves, Sheila’s Cushions, Angela’s Cards, Karen’s Crafts, Carla’s Soaps and Scrubs, Spotty Cat Ceramics, Bardfield Kitchen Meats “Pork” and Ozes CDP.

Our next market was planned for Saturday 18th April but due to the present situation we have had to postpone until further notice. Please support your local markets — watch this space:

We will be back!!

Homemade deliveries

OZES are offering a made to order range of homemade pies, pasties, plaits, flans, pastries and cakes for home delivery to your door. Please order by / on Wednesdays of each week. Orders will be delivered on Fridays / Saturdays. Please note I will endeavour to fulfil all orders as long as I am able to source ingredients.

All the best, stay safe, Zoe
Contact: Tel: 01440 785 778 or call / text 07740 723 057

Art group

CreativeArt Group Come and join us for creative mornings with art guidance by a local contemporary.

It is business as usual at the Art Group but via WhatsApp every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month between 10am – 12pm!

For more information on how to get involved contact Kirsten 07469 237 330 or Heather 07800 915 346

Garden bonfires

As people spend more time at home, and as the weather improves in their gardens, can everyone please be responsible regarding bonfires. Please consider the wind strength, direction and the effect on neighbours (who will also be trying to enjoy their gardens or dry their washing) before lighting. Thank you.