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

Playing Field

The Playing Field is looking in good order despite the very wet winter. It has been decided to install additional mesh matting to the vehicle access point as soon as weather permits.

Highways

As you are no doubt aware the number of potholes on our roads, both locally and further afield are a constant problem. We continue to report them.

Highway issues can be reported in using the Essex County Council website – and follow the links. Drive safely everyone!

Our Vehicular Activated Signs (VAS) sign is now in Church Road and does seem to be having an impact on traffic speed. It will be regularly moved to different locations in the village.

Planning

There were 2 applications for consideration at the meeting:

• Application Number 24/00330/FUL – Land Adjacent, 1 Church Road, Stambourne
• Application Number 24/00285/HH – Hill Top House, Dyers End, Stambourne

Parish Council Meeting Dates 2024
• 16th May 2024 (AGM and Annual Parish Assembly)
• 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

Braintree District Council consider that a 180 litre bin is big enough for a family of up to four people, if you separate out all your recyclable waste. You may qualify for a larger or additional bin if:

• you have a larger family
• you have one or more members in disposable nappies or incontinence pads
• you have a household member who has a medical condition that generates significant
• additional waste.
• none of the above guarantees that you will be allocated more capacity.

The Annual General Meeting of the Parochial Church Council is on Tuesday, 30th April at 7pm in the Church. We are always looking for new members for the PCC so if you are interested in joining please contact me for further information or likewise if you can offer any help at all, please get in touch.

Val Kerrison, Churchwarden

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

At the end of March we celebrated the 100th birthday of one of our active and regular members of the congregation!

Obviously Chapel reaches parts that other things cannot reach! Which raises a thought – we all have our beliefs even if it is abdication of believing anything (which seems very prevalent!). For many people will say “I don’t believe”, but when discussing in more depth we discover that most people have some strongly held beliefs, some of which are remarkably similar to the Christian Faith!

It is said that Church is the only organisation set up for its non-members, for the role of churches throughout the generations has been to provide where government, and society falls short. So at the end of the 19th century it was education and health that was in short supply for those who couldn’t afford to pay privately. And so many of our schools are C of E, but the early ones were nearly all started by non-conformist churches.

Even chocolate was in short supply to the masses so all the big name chocolate companies (Fry’s, Cadbury’s etc) were started by non-conformist church people, who often cared for their workers, providing education and housing as well.

In today’s society things are different. Most things are provided for, but there are still people who fall between the cracks in the ever diminishing services that the Government is providing. So we find people becoming lonely, who can’t get the care they need, and Churches and voluntary organisations step up and take some of the pressure off these services. REACH in Haverhill, the Foodbank in Halstead, Stambourne Chapel Care and various other voluntary organisations provide services for people that are not available elsewhere. These organisations rely on donations to pay for their work, and volunteers to do much of that work. We have just produced our report for the end of our third year of Stambourne Chapel Care.

Every blessing,

Adrian Burr, Minister

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

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

Visit: Wendy the Detectorist »

A walk and talk with viewing of Wendy’s interesting historical finds. If you have anything you’d like to bring along that you have found in the ground please do so as Wendy can help you identify it.

Pub afterwards for those who would like to do that.

• Thursday, 13th June 2024
• Time: TBC
• Free for members; £TBC for guests
• Radwinter

Fish and chips supper »

Join the Stambourne Ladies Group for our fantastic annual Fish ’n’ Chip supper, hopefully accompanied by a beautiful sunset!

Fish and chip yumminess, followed by a surprise dessert. Bring your own drinks. There will also be a fun raffle with great prizes (contact Lorna or Zoe at one of the numbers below if you would like to donate a prize).

Guests are welcome. Round up your friends and family and make a day of it! 

• Wednesday, 10th July 2024
• 6pm for 6.30pm
• £6 for members; £8 for guests
• ADVANCE BOOKINGS ONLY
• Stambourne Pavilion, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP

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 or by email at: rosihorton1@gmail.com for more details.

Stained glass class »

A fantastic workshop to create your very own stained glass masterpiece!

• Saturday, 18th May 2024
• 10am – 3pm
• £70
• BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Contact Jeanette on 07707 507 880 or jeanettewoodhouse07@gmail.com to book your place.

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 »

Walking »

As the weather improves and we all venture out a bit more, you can find an interactive Ordnance Survey map of the village (and further afield) on our website where you can check the possible routes and footpaths.

You can also check the weather here before you set out!

Hello All,

I talk to many of you in the rural communities, whether at farmer’s markets, coffee mornings or generally patrolling, about the importance of marking property as every year Essex Police recover hundreds of items and we are unable to return to their rightful owners – why is this? Because the property is not marked. A sample of this can be seen here. There are various ways in which you can mark your property, the simplest method being to mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your address.

Stambourne Charity Tractor Run »

Join us for the Stambourne Charity Tractor Run, raising money for Breast Cancer UK. Craft fair and classic car/tractor show.

• Sunday, 2nd June 2024
• Run starts at 10am
• Start and finish at Stambourne Playing Field, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NR
• FREE to watch; £10 a tractor (places are limited)
• To get your place and your booking form, please contact Colin on 01440 788 211 or email stambournetractorrun@yahoo.com. Places are limited so please book.