The Mylander August - Myland Community Council

August to October 2015
Issue 64
The Mylander
K E E P I N G
T H E
C O M M U N I T Y
Produced by Myland Community Council
I N F O R M E D
FREE
ROLL UP! ROLL UP!
Myland Fete
AUGUST 31st BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
Mile End Recreation Ground, Fords Lane
The fete is the day the community gets together, organised by volunteers from
the Myland Community to raise money for local community groups.
Refreshments include traditional hog roast, jacket potatoes, toasted sandwiches,
hot and cold refreshments, cakes from the WI stall, crepes, doughnuts, cold
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, ice cream, candy floss.
And to work off all that... if the tunes of Colchester Radio
aren’t enough to get you busting some moves, we have
the Colne Endeavour Band to get your toes tapping, belly
dancing, street dancing, the Army to put you through
your paces, tug-o-war, 5-a-side foot-ball, rugby and
cricket, table tennis and Taekwondo.
We have traditional fete stalls: tombola, raffle, golf putting, coconut shy and
stocks. And if that isn’t enough we have lots of other stalls and activities
such as a visit from a fire engine, donkey rides, face painting, bouncy castle,
trampolining, go-karting, body-zorbing, Usborne Books, The Rotary Club, Aloe
Amy, Dolly Sue, LA Therapy and stalls in support of local charities.
We are always need volunteers on the day so please consider helping, if only for
an hour or two. Raffle prizes and tombola and book donations are much needed
and are a good way of supporting your fete, even if you can’t come on the day.
So what are you waiting for?
Get involved!
Contact Helen Harris, the Community Council Clerk, on
01206 853400 or [email protected]
FIND OUT WHAT YOUR
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
IS UP TO BY VISITING
OUR NEW WEBSITE
www.mylandcommunitycouncil.org.uk
Myland Community Council
(following uncontested elections May 2015)
Councillors
Evelyn Agyekum
Richard Beauchamp
Dominic Cardle
Catherine Clouston
David Clouston
John Dickson
Martin Goss
Pete Hewitt
07824 158596
07768 631 521
07739 399703
07785 987 734
07748 064 562
854888
07912 396 335
853942
Dominic Graham
Liz Gray
Carolyne Hurst
Robert Johnstone
Ciaran McGonagle
Peter Pipik
John Stewart
John Sutcliffe
Email [email protected]
Clerk:
Helen Harris
Email:
[email protected]
Asst. Clerk: Katherine Kane
Email: [email protected]
Community Council Offices
101 Nayland Road, Colchester, CO4 5EN
Office Hours:
9am – 1pm Monday to Friday
Tel:
853400
Website: www.mylandcommunitycouncil.org.uk
Anglian Water Emergency Services Age Concern – Free call Blood Donor Information Line Childline – Free call Colchester Borough Council – Enquiries Colchester Police Station Community Police Officer Crimestoppers – Free call Mile End Dental Surgery, 13 Nayland Road Dental Studio, 236 Bergholt Road Gas Emergency Services – Free call High Woods Country Park, Turner Road Mile End Pharmacy, 13 Nayland Road Mile End Methodist Church, Rev. Catherine Bowstead Church Hall Hire, Keith Thompson Mill Road Surgery, Mill Road Myland Parish Halls Hire (Sarah King) Myland School, Mill Road NHS Direct – Advice Line NSPCC – Free call Prescription Pick Up, Mile End area only Priest-in-Charge, Parish of Myland, Revd Ray Gibbs Associate Vicar, Parish of Myland, Revd John Chandler Queen Boudica School St Joseph Church, Rev. Fr. Tony McKentey Samaritans, Vineyard Street Vets., Mayne Clinic, Bergholt Road 2
07717 583 491
851542
07824 796 796
853204
07834 858 877
07727 190010
854274
851838
All telephone
numbers in the
Mylander are
01206 unless
stated.
08457 145 145
0800 731 4931
0845 771 1711
0800 1111
282222 After Hours – 548444
0300 333 4444
07966 196823
0800 555 111
0844 8151188
845891
0800 111 999
853588
852965
573061
844252
845900
07518 437488
852109
0845 4647
0800 800 500
851928, 852286, 853075
843926
366930
844654
866317
561234
8513388
The Mylander
Keeping The Community Informed
The Mylander is funded by Myland Community Council as a community service. It is
issued quarterly and distributed to every household in the parish. The views expressed do
not necessarily reflect those of Myland Community Council. Articles and information are
reproduced in good faith.
Editor
Email: Advertising: Email: Catherine Clouston
07785 987734
[email protected]
Katherine Kane
853400
[email protected]
Letter from the Editor
In this issue we are looking at the concept of open, green space in our
increasingly urbanised area. Firstly, a huge thank you to local artist Ian Hay who
has kindly provided our cover this month, a recent oil painting, “Summer, Mile
End Meadows”. Janet Fulford reminisces on the disappearance of “her” green
space (page 14) and John Stewart writes on the importance of preserving the
communal green area of Mill Road Playing Fields (page 8). Pete Hewitt reminds
us about the forthcoming Neighbourhood Plan for our area (page 5).
We have a lovely article on how children occupied their spare time growing
up in Myland in 40s and 50s (page 23). Now if you walk across the Recreation
Ground on a Saturday morning you will come across Colchester Villa Youth
Football Club practicing for the forthcoming season. They are one of a number
of groups who are using our communal green space. We need more of this.
On the theme of youth Ciaran McGonagle is launching a poetry competition for
the young of Myland. See page 9 .
Health is something which effects us all. At our next Council meeting to be
held at the Methodist Church Hall on 12th August we have a guest speaker –
Dr Leonhardt - from the Mill Road practice who will talk on future plans for the
Surgery.
We are also in discussion with Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community
Stadium to hold a Council meeting there at some stage.
And finally, with August here it is also time for the annual Myland Summer
Fete. There will be the usual notices around the area. Come to the Ford’s Lane
Recreation Ground on Bank Holiday Monday (31st August) to join in.
Catherine Clouston
Deadlines for next issue: 1st September (advertising), 7th (other copy)
3
Myland Community Council Reports
I am pleased to say we currently have a full complement of councillors. Our May
meeting saw us welcome two new councillors, Dominic Cardle and Peter Pipik. This
does not mean that anyone with an interest in becoming a councillor has missed
the chance. If you are interested please let us know. You can always join one of our
committees or working groups as a resident member and should a councillor vacancy
occur you could then apply.
As I write, negotiations remain ongoing between the Borough Council and the
potential buyer for the Severalls Phase 2 site. We now hear it may be late summer
before a deal is struck. In the meantime we remain vigilant concerning how any deal
may impact on our aspirations for community facilities.
Similarly we continue to have ongoing dialogue with the Borough Council planners
regarding the Northern Gateway development area. You will probably be aware that
David Lloyd has put in an application for a sports facility.
Detailed applications for elements of Phase 1 of the Chesterwell site have been
arriving thick and fast. This phase will see the re-alignment of the A134 and the
arrival of approximately 250 homes over the next two years. There should be a lull in
applications until the next phase becomes imminent.
These developments all have permission and the best chance we have of obtaining
related community amenities and facilities is to have an adopted neighbourhood
plan. The fact that we are developing such a plan has already required developers to
look at our draft policies.
Where we are with our Plan is outlined later in this Mylander.
Pete Hewitt
Chairman, Myland Community Council
4
MCC Working Group Reports
1. Planning & Development Committee
There are many housing projects being developed within Myland’s boundaries. As
the incoming Chair of this committee, I thought it would be helpful to outline what
our members do.
The purpose of the Planning & Development Committee is to comment on all the
applications submitted to Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council
that affect Myland. Committee members (all of whom have received training in
planning matters) review the applications, visit premises and discuss proposals with
applicants. They also speak with affected neighbours to canvas their views.
On projects of local concern they also consult Ward Councillors, even though they
are separately notified.
The application will then go before our Committee meeting for discussion, and a
vote will be taken on the recommendation of the inspecting councillor.
All our committee meetings are open to the public who can attend and comment on
any item on the agenda. Meetings are twice a month at our council offices.
Although planning laws have relaxed in recent years, some areas of Colchester
and particularly Myland, have had ‘permitted development rights’ withdrawn. In
your own interests, if you are planning alterations to your home, seek advice from
Colchester Planning Office at the earliest opportunity.
John Stewart
2. Neighbourhood Plan Group
Our Neighbour Plan (NP) Pre-submission Draft has undergone two phases of
consultation, with residents and businesses within Myland and Braiswick and with
statutory bodies.
I would like to thank all those of you who have commented.
Our next task is to review all comments and assess how we deal with them in the
next version of the Plan. This next version will be our formal submission to CBC.
It has to be accompanied with prescribed documents that set out the evidence that
we have conducted the development of the Plan in accordance with Government
guidelines and requirements.
I am pleased to say that comments from CBC regarding our Pre-submission Draft
are very positive. This reflects the general tone of comments, including from some
statutory bodies who suggest some strengthening of our draft policies to help us in
our aims.
5
It may seem that this process is taking a long time. We often think so. However, it
is necessary that the Neighbourhood Plan is developed properly and in accordance
with requirements. After all, once adopted it will have a strong standing in planning
decisions.
We hope to see the required referendum by the end of the year. This is where you will
all have a chance to ask CBC to use our, or rather, your Plan for the future.
Pete Hewitt
3. Community and Communication Group
The Communications and Community Group has had to rethink its priorities in the
last couple of months. We’re in the process of gaining quotations to enable us to clean
the War Memorial; as custodians it is important that we keep it pristine.
We are working on restoring the Community Garden to its former glory and we hope
to recruit some volunteers to help us.
One of the most pressing items is the Severalls Community Centre and the planning
for its construction and ensuring that the residents of Myland get a centre they can
access and be proud of.
Please don’t forget to volunteer for this year’s fete on 31st August if you can and if
you wish to be part of the Community group.
Please email [email protected].
Carolyne Hurst
St Michael’s Church events
Saturday 3rd October - 7.30pm
Concert with ‘Quattro Amici” at St Michael’s Myland
Cheese and Wine - Tickets £10
Saturday 10th October - 11am to 12.30pm at Myland Parish Halls
Autumn Plant Sale
Refreshments available, also a cake stall, bric-a-brac and more
Contact the Church Office - 01206 228124
6
4. Footpaths Group
In order to review the past year, the Footpath Working Group had a walk around
the area to examine all the historic problems as well as some more recent ones. Most
of these problems have developed as a direct result of Colchester Borough Council
Planning Department not being aware of Public Rights of Way (ProW). The right
hand of the Highways Authority (PRoW) does not appear to communicate with the
left hand of the same Authority (road design and build).
We started at the southern end of the Northern Approach Road where Footpath 54
leads into Bradford Drive – and directly through a three storey block of flats, built
about ten years ago despite CBC being told by the Highways Authority and this
Council that its construction would completely obstruct a PRoW. Nearby is FP58
which leads from Mile End Road just south of The Oaks hospital and is obstructed by
the hospital service road. Further up Hakewill Way the footpath continues as FP55
mostly following the estate roads, (which is contrary to the High-way Authority
guidance), and in places running directly through houses!
At the end of Tall Trees on Hakewill Way, FP61 starts, continuing over the NAR and
through the Hospital, with the occasional obstruction from not so recent development
there. Moving on down Turner Road, we come to FP78 at the entrance to High Woods
Country Park, recently obstructed by a sign board advertising the park. According
to CBC, “the footpath is not obstructed as pedestrians can use the carriageway”!
Walking through High Woods we came to FP70 which is subject to S106 planning
condition – which the developer doesn’t know about. One to watch for the future.
We left the Country Park at Mill Road and visited the southern part of FP69 which
is closed whilst the developer tries to work out how to build a cycle track (3 metres
wide) over a small stream. There does not appear to be enough room. We walked
along Mill Road until we reached the Water Tower and continued down Tower Lane
(FP233) as far as the newly constructed Via Urbis Romanae (Phase 3 of the NAR). The
road seems to be functioning well, as were the traffic lights and pedestrian signals. So
why is this crossing still obstructed by fences and railings?
Just to the north lies the rest of FP69 which was obstructed last year as a result of
the Toyota car showroom being built. CBC were forced to apply for a temporary
diversion, which has now expired, with no sign of any permanent diversion. We
finished our tour by walking down Nayland Road past Fords Lane (FP46) and
Braiswick Lane (FP42) both heavily used by traffic with more on the way.
Quite a challenging set of problems – certainly enough to keep us busy for the rest
of this year!
Robert W. Johnstone
7
MCC Special Features
Mill Road Playing Field
Cllr John Stewart, deputy Chair of Myland Community Council, writes:
Many of you will have attended the presentations by Colchester Borough Council on
the Northern Gateway project last year. One of the main talking points has been the
future of Mill Road Playing Field, should the Rugby Club be relocated.
From day one, MCC identified the need to preserve this open space for present and
future residents. There are several major developments in progress within Myland,
like Chesterwell and Severalls, and the idea of replacing the green, open space with
even more housing was a step too far for us.
Those of you who have read our Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out MCC’s vision
for the future of Myland, will have seen a firm commitment by this Council on the
future of Mill Road Playing Field.
It is our proposal that Colchester Borough Council relinquish control of as much
of this open space as possible to Myland Community Council, so that it can be
retained in perpetuity as a ‘Village Green’.
We are engaged in protracted talks about this with CBC’s Planning team. Whilst we
cannot say too much at present, discussions are progressing in a positive way.
8
The map shows our very approximate picture of how the various housing and
development projects scheduled for Chesterwell, Severalls Phases 1 & 2 and the
Northern Gateway will look when completed. It is evident that the Rugby Club fields
would be an invaluable area of natural space for what will have become one of the
most urbanised parts of Colchester by 2030.
MCC is aware that there have been some approaches by others, which would see the
playing fields retained solely for sports use. We are also aware of a ‘flyer’ circulating
which suggests that MCC is not fully supportive of the retention of Mill Road Playing
Fields for our community. This is not true.
As lead Councillor for this project, I can say unequivocally that we are determined to
save our green spaces for the use of all the community, not just a few special interest
groups. I have given this commitment publicly and in press interviews.
If you are interested in being kept up-to-date please visit our dedicated website at
http://johnca9.wix.com/myland-village-green. Full contact details are displayed.
Young People’s Poetry Competition
Cllr Ciaran McGonagle writes:
As one of the Youth Champions on Myland Community Council,
I am passionate about reaching out to and engaging with young
people in our community.
One of the ways in which I would like to do this is to bring young people in our
community together through a shared passion for reading and creative writing.
There is a significant body of evidence which suggests that reading and writing for
pleasure is an activity that has positive emotional and social consequences.
I would therefore like to invite entries for the first MCC Young People’s Poetry
Competition.
The topic for entries is “Community” and the competition will be open to residents
of Myland aged 16 and under.
Entries will be judged by a panel of MCC Councillors and the winning poem will be
published in a future issue of The Mylander as well as receiving a £20 Waterstones
gift voucher.
The winner will be invited to a meeting of MCC to read their poem to the council.
Please submit entries to [email protected] by
31st August, including your name, age and contact information.
9
10
Business in Myland
Carole Sawo
If you are planning an evening class, and looking
beyond the usual car maintenance or needlecraft,
why not try Forensic Psychology for Beginners or
Decluttering Your Mind? Carole Sawo, a lecturer in
psychology and psychoanalysis, offers courses that
will change your whole outlook on life.
Carole has had an interesting journey getting to this
stage in her life and opening her own College for
Education and Tuition. For many years she worked as
a long haul Flight Manager whilst simultaneously
studying for her degree in Psychology at Essex University.
The day-job provided an opportunity for examining people in great detail, which
she used to great effect in her studies. She is proud that she never missed a lecture,
although this required much inter-continental juggling.
After graduating, Carole completed her Masters in Psychoanalysis, specialising
in helping children. This led to her gaining a teaching qualification, and she now
has years of experience teaching both adults and children. The testimonials she has
gathered over the years leave no doubt that she is highly thought of, and her work is
much appreciated by both adults and children. She is also a published author of two
titles: ‘Pandora’s Panacea’ and ‘De-cluttering the Mind’.
Carole, who is not just interested in self-development, sees herself working in three
areas. She wants to create a diverse community where everyone offers something:
she can help with career development; and she gives an introduction to education.
Students have joined her evening classes out of interest, awakened something in
themselves, and gone on to take degrees in Psychology.
Now Carole hosts evening classes at North Colchester Business Centre, and offers
private tutoring and one-off tutorials for adults. She wants “to make the abnormal
normal for them”, to pass on information to make their lives better. She is also making
her courses available on-line. She offers one-off seminars dealing with subjects like
Power and Self-Esteem, Dream Analysis and Animal Whispering.
If you want to try a taster course, mention The Mylander on your application and
Carole will offer a discount off her next course of Forensic Psychology, either Tuesday
29th September to 15th December or Wednesday 30th September to 9th December,
7.00-9.00pm for ten weeks for just £85 (usually £93.00)
Carole Sawo QTS BSc(Hons) MA Education and Tuition
340 The Crescent, Colchester Business Park
www.carolesawo.com
11
12
Out and about in Myland
Nature Notes
It is very easy to become disconnected from the natural environment. Access to
natural open space becomes more distant as urbanisation continues unabated.
These spaces are of equal value to people and wildlife. With every brick that is laid,
places like High Woods Country Park become increasingly important to both. Thank
goodness for the Country Park!
I took a walk on the mid-point of June along what I call the southern slopes where
the high ground runs down to the railway line. I joined the park near the pond at
the back of Turner Rise Retail Park. There was cloud but promise of sunshine later.
The pond was quiet. There were, in the high hedge opposite four or five young blue
tits romping and chattering always just ahead of me. I quickly reached the open
meadows. Great openness of grass called Yorkshire fog. Wide paths have been mown
through the meadows so your footpath is part of the nature. No walking ‘through’
the Park here, you are part of it, walking ‘into it’. There is a mown path at the foot of
the slope by the railway line or one that climbs up to the crown of the higher ground.
This was my route, travelling parallel but looking down on the line and across to the
Town skyline.
Closer to the grass, being among it, you notice the splashes of colour, bright yellow
buttercups, red and white clover. On the brow of the slope there is a bench. Time to sit
and look and listen. Here the Yorkshire fog looks really good. Teased by the breeze,
the grass heads sway quietly and gently. Behind my bench I have a curtain, a high
hedge of wild roses. There is bird song but alas no skylarks. They are normally here.
I am disappointed.
I walk on along the brow and then down again past more fog meadows. Downy* is
a particular Essex word for this type of landscape, ‘meadows on a hillside’. I decide
to walk on to a marshy area where before I have heard (but seldom seen) sedge
warblers. These shy birds nest down among the reeds and like all warblers in such
habitats are difficult to spot. While I stand quietly waiting for a possible glimpse I
am joined close-by by an orange tip butterfly taking rest on a tall grass. The warblers
chatter but remain hidden.
I decide to retrace my steps and now the cloud cover is breaking and there is a definite
edge to blue sky. Climbing back up the slope the railway and the Town are hidden
from view by a maturing plantation so all I can see as I look up is my wide path
between rose hedge and Yorkshire fog, the latter now sprinkled with ox eye daisies,
and above only blue sky.
13
Suddenly, heading back down the slope I hear skylarks, not many, perhaps only a
pair, and one takes flight. Now too blue damselflies have emerged and are seemingly
floating among the grasses. There too is a day moth, a yellow shell, resting and duly
posing for a photo shot. When I reach the pond that too has come to life. Now I see a
nesting moor hen in the distant flag irises and skimming across the pond, back and
forth, the startlingy blue emperor dragonfly. What a difference sunshine makes.
For all this free pleasure, healthy air and well-being the lasting impression I had was
in fact of an elderly couple on the bottom green path. She walking their small terriers
he following on his mobility scooter. And here is the point, they too, especially the
gentleman, had access to nature not otherwise available if High Woods Country Park
was not what it is.
Pete Hewitt
*Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane
‘My Field’
Local resident Janet Fulford writes:
It’s not my field of course, but I’ve enjoyed the ever changing view as seasons come
and go for sixty years. Day or night it has given me endless enjoyment. At night I
used to think it was like looking across a Riviera bay at the strings of light around
its edges but now there are very few. On Guy Fawkes Night, though, I have a front
row seat!
Painting courtesy of Ian Hay
14
King’s Forest status meant that very little happened in terms of interference by man
for centuries. A recent archaeological survey showed that during Roman times there
seems to have been some burial activity and perhaps pottery making although that
seems to have been more around Chapman’s Farm area.
The 1777 Andre and Chapman map too, shows nothing in the way of agriculture,
although it doesn’t go into any detail anywhere. However by 1842 the Heath shown on
that map has disappeared and instead there is a complex of fields with ‘mine’ numbered
146 belonging to John Wright of Braiswick Farm but tenanted by John Daniel Aubert.
It is recorded that Benjamin Cant moved his wonderful rose business here in 1879 and
they have farmed it ever since. He lived in Myland Lodge just next door.
Rose fields traditionally get moved around and there were some years when ‘my’
field played host with all their lovely varied colours and aromas. There have been
beans too, those sweet smelling plants that waft their scent as you pass but not if you
live next door to my great disappointment. Wheat – with a lark singing sweetly and
non-stop hovering above – but for the last few years it has been set aside and just
sprayed and cut once a year.
Then there’s the wild life – lots of neighbours’ cats too – crows, magpies, pigeons, jays,
woodpeckers, and all the little garden birds, even nightingales. Swallows swoop and
tweet after those wretched gnats and flocks of quarrelling starlings briefly descend.
Then there’s ‘my’ pheasant who turns up regularly to be fed, loudly announcing his
presence – sometimes bringing his harem to be admired as well - and a crow that
fights my windows which I shout at! There were hedge-hogs too but sadly not lately.
The squirrels don’t go far into the field preferring to frolic in the trees but the fox is
another matter. He has a regular beat up, down and across the field and through my
garden. And the muntjacks – getting more frequent now, displaced perhaps by the
building work further to the north. Very pretty animals but I just wish they didn’t
like my tulips quite so much! Where will they all go I wonder?
I shall miss ‘my’ field and the view but hopefully I shall enjoy it for a few years yet.
MCC Meeting Wednesday 12th August 7.30pm
Guest Speaker
Future of Mill Road Surgery
The meeting will include a brief outline from Dr Leonhardt on the future of the
Mill Road Surgery. This may be of interest to the general public.
15
SESAW
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare
The summer holidays have arrived!
That’s what I was told when I asked “Where is everybody?” I really miss all our
helpers when they go away but there has been plenty of animal company for me at
Sesaw.
Our kitchen looks like a scene from Enid Blyton’s Woodland Tales. Our casualties
include pigeons fallen out of nests, orphaned ducklings, lambs rejected by their
mothers, an abandoned fawn and two baby hedgehogs. A young badger was also
brought in and he has been successfully released into a secure sett in another area
with a group of similar aged badgers.
Our Facebook Photo Competition closes at the end of August so keep your cameras
poised for that perfect shot when you are out and about with your pets. The thirteen
winning entries will feature in the 2016 SESAW Calendar. Thanks to everyone who
helped to raise £430 at our table sale in Stoke-by-Nayland in June.
We hope to see you at our next table sale at Great Bentley Village Hall 25th October.
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Reg.Charity No.1124029. Stoke Road,
Leavenheath, CO6 4PP Tel: 01787 210888 www.sesaw.co.uk
16
From our correspondents...
Mothers’ Union
Well we have had a busy few months. We have helped at the Flower Festival, Spring
Fair, the Plant Sale and a shared lunch we provided before our meeting in June when
the Rev Canon Edward Carter spoke to us about the Chelmsford Holding Crosses.
In May we had enjoyed our Annual Lunch at the Officers Club. In July we held our
Strawberry Tea which was attended by over 60 members and friends.
Our plans for the future include a Coffee Morning on Saturday August 8th in the
Parish Halls, a quiet Hour in September, a speaker, Vivienne Chapman, in October
and November is our time for filling Shoeboxes for children who would otherwise
have nothing.
Of course there is always our Christmas celebration in December not to mention the
Autumn Plant Sale. Our meetings apart from the Coffee Morning are held on the first
Wednesday in each month and visitors are most welcome.
June Chandler, MU Secretary
Senior moments
In May a Railway Police Officer, Sue Lissimore, gave members an insight into her job
working on the railway from London to all parts of East Anglia including Colchester.
Details included dealing with many unpleasant incidents, like people committing
suicide by jumping and the consequence of such actions. The Railway Police have to
be very tough, as they never know what each shift will bring.
In June members went on a coach trip to Frinton-on-Sea, spending the time doing
what they chose, including having lunch somewhere. The weather was lovely.
There will be a talk given by a representative of Age UK in July. Hand Massage is the
topic on 19th August which sounds very soothing and useful, especially if you suffer
from arthritis in your hands. The September meeting is still to be arranged.
If you are sixty or older and would like to join us, we meet on the third Wednesday of
the month in the Parish Hall next to St Michael’s Church at the top of Mile End Road,
between 2.30 pm and 4.00 pm, where you will be most welcome.
See you next time. Hope you all have a good summer.
Pam House
17
Women’s Institute
A fish and chip supper was enjoyed by all the members at the May meeting which
was also our Annual General Meeting when a new committee was formed. Voting
took place for the new president with the result that Jill Mills will be our president
once more.
The first week of June saw two representatives from our W.I. attend a garden party
at Buckingham Palace. On 4th June a coach load of ladies went to Braintree Cinema
where the Centenary Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall was being shown live. The
meeting was opened by the Queen who was accompanied by HRH the Princess Royal
and HRH the Countess of Wessex. Everyone stood to sing the National Anthem and
Jerusalem, joining the 5,000 members at the Royal Albert Hall. Afterwards the big
screen provided an opportunity to see the Royal party and the speakers close up. The
speakers were Lucy Worsley, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Helen Morrissey
CBE. The occasion was much enjoyed by all.
The following evening Chris Bell from the BBC weather team gave us a fascinating
talk with slides on his experiences storm chasing in America and at our July meeting
Major Rob Thomas provided an excellent insight into the sensitive work of Help for
Heroes.
Future meetings are planned with Joyce Kimber talking about Bletchley Park, a
Fashion Show by St Helena Hospice and in October the meeting will be run by the
Members.
As if all this isn’t enough, we also have a Darts Team, occasional games of Croquet,
meeting in town for a Coffee Morning and a Book Club. Please do come along to the
Highwoods Community Centre at 7.30pm on the first Friday of the month. You can
be assured of a very warm welcome!
Sandra Jones
18
On the beat
Car security
We all do it, walk away from the car and with our back turned
press the button on the key to lock it, never thinking that it
may not work. Yet a simple thing like looking at the car as
you press that button to get the confirmation of it locking with
lights flashing, or just pulling the handle to check it is locked
can prevent a lot of thefts of or from motor vehicles. There are
several reasons why it doesn’t always lock; it could be a fault,
battery running low, user error or some individual with device to block your signal
nearby. In any case Lock it, Check it and we can prevent some crimes.
If you have cars of different values, where possible park the higher value car in your
garage. When parking a car on your driveway ensure it is well lit and park the lower
value car in front of the higher value car, as the thieves are more likely to target high
value cars and will be deterred if they can’t easily drive such a car away from the
scene. Locked gates and collapsible posts on the driveway will also deter the thief.
With high value cars consider the fitting of a tracking system.
As cars become more advanced and rely on computers to manage their systems our
thieves become more technical too. To cater for both the technical and less technical
thief use the locking system on your vehicle and look to the good old fashioned “Krook
Lock”, steering wheel, or pedal lock to supplement it as it is a great visual deterrent.
Please also ensure that you put your car keys somewhere safe and out of sight when
you return home. Put your car keys in a drawer (preferably one that is noisy to open)
or some other secure place: don’t take them up to the bedroom with you.
Summer Crime Prevention Advice
If you have unoccupied rooms that are accessible from outside or off flat roofs make
sure the windows are closed. If you need ventilation at least lock the larger window
and only have the small window open, even during the daytime. If you only have
bigger windows consider a lockable window restrictor or a small alarm sensor on the
window to detect entry.
Leave a door or patio door open and in comes trouble, even during the day. If that
door is accessible the sneak thief will pop in and anything lying around will be gone.
It only takes a second for a thief to steal.
Before you turn in for the night do the “rounds” and check all is secure. You will feel
more confident and less likely to become a victim.
Check the simple things:Parked cars – are the windows shut and doors locked? A lot of thefts are from insecure
cars and vans.
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Side gate shut and locked, sheds and garages secure?
Don’t leave unattended pedal cycles insecure and out the front.
Doors closed and locked? Don’t forget on that UPVC multi-locking door you may
have lifted the handle but you must turn the key on the inside.
That patio door… someone may have closed it but did they lock it?
Windows - lift the blinds or open the curtains and check they are closed. Remember
the advice about open windows. Make sure in case of fire that keys to windows and
doors are easily accessible to occupants but not in view of burglars.
If you have an intruder alarm activate the zone for the unoccupied area.
Car keys - don’t take them to bed with you but leave them in a drawer or busy
location.
If you do hear a suspicious noise in the house dial 999. If you have an intruder
remember your life is more important than your property, but do get a good
description and if possible car index number.
Social Media – When using “Facebook” or other be wary of announcing to the world
that you are away and your house is empty. Make sure your profile does not contain
private information that would identify you or your address to a stranger.
Last bit of advice - Going on holiday? Stop the milk and newspaper deliveries and
look after each other, get a neighbour or friend to keep an eye on your property,
ensure neighbours have contact numbers for a key holder and where possible let
them park their car on your drive. Basically if you create the illusion that your house
is occupied it is less likely to be broken into.
Stephen Armson-Smith
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In the Waiting Room...
It may seem premature to mention flu clinics, but this is the last edition before they
take place. Our Saturday clinics are on 3rd and 17th October. The usual reminder
signs will be up, and we do ask you to come at the appropriate time for your surname
as indicated on the signs. Of course, we will be happy to immunise you at any time
on the day! If you know anyone housebound who is eligible, please let us know and
we will make a home visit. Don’t forget if you care for someone who could not do
without you if you got flu, you are entitled too. If in doubt contact Reception.
At the beginning of June, our prescriptions went ‘electronic’. Instead of printing
paper prescriptions, they are sent electronically to your designated pharmacy, where
you can collect them directly. The message goes immediately, but pharmacies have
to download them, and they may have others in the queue. It seems to be averaging
about 30 minutes from the time of sending. If you have not already designated
a pharmacy, you can complete a form here or at the pharmacy of your choice.
Commuters can nominate pharmacies in London or elsewhere; if on holiday, we can
send e-prescriptions anywhere in the UK but not abroad.
We now have a TV on the wall in the Waiting Room replacing the illuminated board
used to call patients which has the advantage of audibly calling you.
Finally, a reminder for your holiday— order prescriptions in time! If travelling further
afield, find out in plenty of time about immunisations or malaria pills.
We now have eight doctors and nine in the nursing team, many with school age
children and they all need holidays too! This may mean we are a little thin on the
ground at times in the six week break, but please bear with us! With our triage
system, we endeavour to see or speak to everyone that needs us.
Have a great Summer!
Nikki, Nurse Manager, Mill Road Surgery
Robert Johnstone’s Organised Walks
The Organised Walks are on the 3rd Wednesday of month at 11.00 am and last
Sunday of the month at 2.00 pm. They all start at War Memorial.
19th Aug 16th September 21st October
30th Aug 27th September 25th October
Robert is also leading the MCC project for a footbridge over A12. If you have any comments
or ideas about this venture please contact him.
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Myland Fete
AUGUST 31st
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
Mile End Recreation Ground
Fords Lane
Noon until 4.00 pm
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Looking Back
Down Memory Lane
Just a few odds and ends this time.
Firstly, a mention recently about the date of the original St. Michael’s Church – when
was it built? That had me looking back at one of the earlier Mylanders and in Issue
23 I had quoted from St. Michael’s Church Magazine for September 1901 and with
the Editor’s permission I quote (again!) – “The first had been built about 1360 and
destroyed at the Seige in 1648. A trace of the first was discovered in the second in
the form of an early decorated chancel window indicated in a model (given to the
museum) by a cavity just east of the most easterly buttress. The second church was
built circa 1660 and used until 1855 when the third, present church was consecrated.”
I have mentioned the late David May’s book “Mile End (Myland) and Boxted” before.
I make no apology for again referring to it again. It is well worth acquiring by anyone
interested in the Myland of the past, especially this year when we are remembering
the Great War. David has a number of photos of troops in and around Myland during
the war, and a postcard titled ‘Mile End Street’. My daughter Christine managed to
get me an original, in colour, postmarked January 1907. It shows what we now know
as Nayland Road, close to the chemist.
Thanks to Janet Hewitt I now have the name of the writer of the article “Growing up
in rural Myland in the 40s and 50s” - it was Peter Gant. You can read the second part
below. Thanks again to John Wilde for giving me the article.
Mick Brown
Growing up in rural Myland in the 40s and 50s (part 2)
Mile End village or Myland Parish was a very rural place to grow up. My walk to
school would take me to the top of Turner Road and along Mill Road to the primary
school. A diversion on the way home would be to cross the playing field in Mill Road
then over a fence and stream into the fields behind Church Farm to join the footpath
to Turner Road from Mile End Road.
The hazard was that Mr Portway might spot you and deliver a loud shout. He was
an imposing figure as he rode his large horse around the village. The whole of the
area of the General Hospital was farmland to Church Farm or Bradbrook’s Farm,
together with the playing fields of Turner Village. A daily event was the small parties
of patients from Turner Village going to and returning from their work on the farm
where they would weed and hoe, accompanied by one of the nursing staff. The
ploughing was done using huge horses.
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Horses also pulled the hay wains with their high sides and the milk and bread from
the Co-op came by a horse-drawn cart. A large horse-drawn bowser or water tank for
watering seedlings in the fields was kept in a barn nearby, which was a bit spooky
when you climbed inside. The manure dropped in the road was collected for the
garden where we also kept chickens and rabbits for the table.
Shopping in Mile End village was a regular chore. We had a Co-op store with a
butcher and there was also Burgess the butcher. McCluskey’s on the corner of
Mill Road provided sweets and groceries while the little Post Office in a cottage in
Nayland Road dealt with our National Savings Accounts. There was a fish and chip
shop while Burchams the papershop employed me to deliver the papers in Mile End
Road. At Myland Lodge successive paperboys would compete to smack the papers
the full length of the tiled hallway behind the door. The garage was Seaborn’s in
Nayland Road and Harvey’s little sweet shop supplied our need for sherbet dabs and
sweet cigarettes and Whymark’s the cobbler completed the collection of shops. The
Dog and Pheasant and Traveller’s Friend supplied liquid refreshment and sociability.
My parents had been married in Myland Church and I attended Sunday School in
the little hall where Mr Preddy and the other teachers worked hard to keep us on the
straight and narrow in spite of interruptions occasioned by squeaks from the kids
on the receiving end of rubber band pistols. I also went to the Methodist Church
Sunday School in Nayland Road. It rather depended where my friends were going.
The Sunday School outings and also the paperboy outings by bus to the seaside were
always happy occasions.
Great fun was had by all us boys in 1947 with the great snow fall of that winter. We
would go sledging on Impey’s Field below Myland Hall and make enormously long
slides in the school playground to return soaking wet to our own firesides where
clothes would hang on the clothes-horse to dry by the coal fire. The High Woods
provided a vast playground of trees to climb; a favourite was the “Monkey Tree”.
Streams to dam and hills to race down on our home-made go-karts. During the
summer holidays we lived in the woods with friends making dens, racing our bikes
or playing Tarzan with rope swings. There were very few people in the wood except
us locals and the figure of fear, the game keeper. November 5th bonfires were fuelled
with dead trees and brushwood hauled out from the wood by gangs of small boys
who passed the responsibility to younger groups as they matured.
The Corporation buses went from the town out to Defoe Crescent but not down
Turner Road as that was the route for Went’s bus from Boxted. Always crowded
and steaming on damp days, but very companiable if a little unreliable. There was
always room for one more and the school boys and girls made the most of this
snug environment. Eileen Went and Dod were the drivers for many years until the
Corporation buses usurped their monopoly of Turner Road travellers. There was so
little traffic in Turner Road that we could play street games without fear. My father
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taught me to cycle by holding the seat until one day I realised with a shock that he
was far behind and fell off. Hockey on roller skates was a favourite as were football
and cricket, bows and arrows, spears, catapults, stilts, go-carts, no wonder the
neighbours complained. I learned to swim in the River Colne near Cowdray Avenue.
In spite of being caned for bad writing in the primary school I managed, with Miss
Digby’s encouragement, together with several friends, to get to the Colchester Royal
Grammar School where a whole new life opened up. Cycling to and from school in
a great crowd and in all weathers, we would compete to see how far we could get
without peddling after a high-speed descent of Turner Road hill. Homework was
done in the old Public Reference Library in Culver Street in the company of friends
from the Girls High School followed by refreshment in the “Bamboo Coffee Bar” in
the High Street.
Saturday evenings we would cycle out to Boxted Village Hall where they had a makeshift cinema. In summertime our bikes took us to the Colne Bank outdoor swimming
pool where they were just dumped unlocked to be retrieved from be-neath the pile
after our swim. A great game was to dive down to get through a hole in the wire
guard and come up under the wooden walkway at the deep end where the girls
crossing to the changing rooms got a surprise when we banded on the boards.
New Year dances in the hall at Severalls Hospital were popular where teenagers got
in under the assumed names of non-attending staff. And the club-house served as a
gathering place for dances and drinks. And so on to National Service, jobs, wives and
families. But at risk of sounding like a BOF, I can’t see today’s kids having as much
freedom and harmless fun as we did.
Dedicated, if I may say, to Tessa Chant – a childhood companion who shared much
of this experience and died much too soon.
Peter Gant
‘Here We Are Together‘ - a review
Patrick Mills writes:
In 2011 I wrote about the book, ‘Suffolk Summer’ by John T Appleby, first published
in, I think, 1948. Mr Appleby arrived here in 1945 as a Technical Sergeant in the US
Army Air Force based at Lavenham. He was keenly interested in meeting Suffolk
people and in English history and, with very little to do, was able to indulge these
interests. It’s a charming book and a great read.
A friend recently lent me ‘Here We Are Together’ by Robert S Arbib, first published
in 1946 and now apparently out of print.
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There are parallels with ‘Suffolk Summer’ in that it describes the author’s experiences
in wartime Britain but it is very different. Sergeant Arbib arrived at Debach near
Grundisburgh in 1942 as part of the American 820th Engineer Battalion. The
Battalion’s job was to build an aerodrome at Debach for American heavy bombers
and his speciality was camouflage.
The Battalion had no use for him during construction so he was appointed post clerk.
This meant driving over much of Suffolk and almost daily to Sudbury. He was intent
on meeting the British and understanding them. Of a friendly disposition, he loved
meeting people, he loved pubs and he loved girls. He met and became friends with
many. He was greatly impressed by the remarkable 23 year old Winnie Offord who
ran every part of the Gainsborough Hotel in Sudbury and he became very seriously
involved with Joan Ramsey who worked at Sudbury Post Office. There are frequent
references to Joan and a short chapter “The Girl Joan” is devoted to her. He became
close friends with Vivian Goodman, assistant bank manager in Sudbury, and his family.
He left Debach for RAF Wattisham, conveniently closer to Sudbury, and gradually
took on a public relations role. Eventually he transferred to Watford to spend all his
time on public relations and this enabled him to travel throughout Britain. However,
he returned to Sudbury whenever he could. The book ends before his transfer to
France which was due some weeks after D Day.
It’s a book of great warmth and very well written. The reader is left hoping that all
those he befriended, especially Winnie, Joan and Viv, lived fulfilled and happy lives.
It’s a book which makes you feel better about yourself and the world and I commend
it to you. The problem is finding a copy.
Daniel Defoe - the Colchester connection
Tubswick in Mile End, to the north of Colchester town centre, was a Grade II listed
house dating to c 1752. It had replaced an earlier structure which may have dated to
the early medieval period. It was situated on a 0.35 hectare plot of land on the south
side of Mill Road.
The building was listed for its special architectural and historic interest in 2001. The
property and attached land had connections to several significant historical figures,
important both nationally and to Colchester in particular. The famous author
Daniel Defoe leased the property (a farm with house) in 1722 and the house was
subsequently rebuilt and occupied by his daughter Hannah Defoe.
A fire during renovations in 2009 damaged the house and the Borough Council gave
permission for it to be demolished. It was not replaced with a reconstruction and the
plot of land has now been redeveloped with housing. In May 2011, Chris Lister of the
Trust conducted a building record of the house.
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Tubswick is mentioned as a farm as far back as 1296. It took
its name from Richard Tubbe, bailiff of Colchester 1296-7,
who had crops and stock worth £6, 16s. 8d. In February
1348, Joseph Elianore bestowed a messuage in Mile End
called Tubbeswick, along with 18 acres of arable land and
two of woodland, on the Church of St Mary-at-the-Walls
to provide for a chantry in the Chapel of St Thomas the
Martyr.
This was a small part of a large endowment to support
two chaplains to pray daily for his good estate whilst he
was alive, and for his soul after his decease.
On the chantry’s dissolution in 1548, Tubswick was passed to the corporation of
Colchester. The house and its farm (included as part of the Kingswood Heath, or
Severalls, estate along with Brinkley Farm) was leased by the corporation to the
author Daniel Defoe (c 1660-1731) on 6 August 1722 for £120 per annum for a period
of 99 years (Morant 1748, Book II, 26). The house was rebuilt for his daughter Hannah
Defoe in the early 1750s, probably 1752 based on an in-scribed brick found in the
south elevation: ‘HDF/1752 (Hannah Defoe). The house faced south, overlooking
Colchester, and was in a prime position as both an out-of-town house with easy
access to the town and as a farm close enough to supply the urban market with
produce.
The brick-built Georgian farmhouse erected by the Defoe family evolved into
the structure that survived into the 21st century. These changes reflect prevalent
architectural styles of the time and the attitudes of the different occupants.
The most famous person associated with the house was, of course, the author Daniel
Defoe, who took up the lease in 1722. A local myth is that Defoe wrote his famous
novel Moll Flanders while there, but the fact that the publication date for that novel
is January 1722 and the lease was not signed until August of that year disproves this.
Defoe may never have lived in the house. However, the heroine of Moll Flanders
spends some of the early years of her eventful life in Colchester.
In 1722, Defoe was enjoying a successful career as one of the earliest proponents
of the novel after a lifetime of political pamphleteering. At the same time, he had
numerous careers (including general mercantile, perfumery, tax collector, brick and
tile manufacturer, Monmouth rebel, and government spy). He was well connected
but dogged by debt and indeed imprisoned for it. It is possible that Defoe leased
the farm as a business concern, with someone managing the farm for him, rather
than as a residence for himself, although it is possible that a man of such diverse
talents might turn his hand to farming (although in a gentlemanly manner).
27
What can certainly be said is that the years between his taking up of the lease and
his death in 1731 saw the bulk of his novels published. It is possible that he stayed
in the house, although his main home was London. where he was born. Perhaps he
discovered the house and estate while he was researching A tour through England
and Wales: the Tour through the Eastern Counties of England was published in 1722.
Defoe entered the world of business as a general merchant, dealing at different times
in hosiery, general woollen goods and wine. Though his ambitions were great and
he was able to buy both a country estate and a ship (as well as civet cats to make
perfume), he was rarely out of debt. In 1684, Defoe married Mary Tuffley, the daughter
of a London merchant, receiving a dowry of £3,700 – a huge amount by the standards
of the day. With his debts and political difficulties, the marriage was most likely
troubled, but it lasted 50 years and produced eight children, six of whom survived.
Defoe’s best-known works are Robinson Crusoe (1719), The Fortunes and Misfortunes
of the Famous Moll Flanders (1722), and A tour through England and Wales (17221727). He died on 24th April 1731, probably while in hiding from his creditors. He
was interred in Bunhill Fields, London, where his grave can still be visited.
Taken from CAT Report 595; read the report at http://cat.essex.ac.uk/reports/CATreport-0595.pdf – there is also an article on Defoe and Colchester in The Colchester
Archaeologist magazine no 22(2012).
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News from St Michael’s Church, Mile End
Ray writes...
Growing up for me, ‘Summer’ meant watching cartoons all
morning, roaming the neighbourhood all day and going back
home when the streetlights turned on. I think that is now times
past. Summer used to be carefree and fun. What happened to
that as we grew older?
Today, too many things have to be organised and just so, and
I wonder what the effect of that will be on future generations.
If we are blessed with summer sun, (and June and July have started that way), enjoy
it, buck the trend and be spontaneous and neighbourly, and put laughter back on the
menu. The goings on of the darker side of our world are so often out of our control
or influence, other than in our prayers, so, as God’s summer children let’s enjoy the
summer sun, rain, whatever, to the best of our ability.
‘Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day,
listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by
no means a waste of time.’ (John Lubbock)
We all need rest, our solar panels need to recharge, so make use of creation and explore
that which is freely given to inspire. Summer: have a good one.
To keep St Michael’s as it is for the benefit of all in Myland, we need your help.
Revd Ray Gibbs - Priest in Charge, Myland Parish Church.
Regular Services and Activities
Weekly activities
Monday
1.30pm – 3.00pm Church Mice (term time only) – play and praise for the under 5s and
their parents and carers
Tuesday
8.00am Morning Prayer
Wednesday
9.30am Service of Holy Communion
10.30am Knit and Natter – a friendly group
who meet to knit or crochet together;
if you just want to natter, that’s fine too.
(Knit & Natter will not meet in August)
For St Michael’s Church News
and Information, visit
www.mylandchurch.org.uk
Thursday
10.00am Morning Prayer followed by “Thirsty Thursdays”. Drop by for freshly-brewed
coffee and chat 10.30am-12 noon.
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Friday
10.00am Morning Prayer followed by “Friendly Fridays”. A warm welcome and
freshly brewed coffee 10.30am-12 noon.
Saturday
10.00am on the first Saturday of the month (in term time): we welcome children aged
5 - 11 to Stmixkids for Christian fun and activities in Myland Parish Halls.
Sunday
Morning services start at 10.15am and follow a monthly cycle.
• First Sunday is a service of Wholeness and Healing with Holy Communion.
• Second Sunday is a Family Service, sometimes including parade for the Scouts &
Guiding Groups
• Third Sunday is Holy Communion, and exploration of a current Big Issue.
• Fourth Sunday is Baptism (by prior arrangement) with Holy Communion.
• On fifth Sunday in the month, there are Rolling Worship services, including quiet
service of Traditional Communion, Morning Prayer, Creative Worship.
St Michael’s Meerkats is our children’s group that meets in church, at 10.15am, on the
first and third Sundays of the month.
In addition:
Fourth Sunday 4.00pm: Celtic Praise - An expansive time of quiet, readings, prayers
and music loosely in the Celtic tradition. (Celtic Praise will not be held in August. The
next service will be at 4.00pm on 27th September. )
Special Services and Activities (in St. Michael’s Church unless otherwise stated):
Saturday 8th August, 10.00am – 12 noon: Coffee Morning in Myland Parish Halls
raising funds for the Mothers’ Union; entrance £2.50 includes tea/coffee and cake.
Sunday 30th August, 10.15am: Celtic Worship
Saturday 10th October, 11.00am – 12.30pm: Autumn Plant Sale, Myland Parish Halls.
Refreshments will be available as well as a cake stall, and bric-a-brac stall.
Saturday 10th October, 7.00pm: Fish ‘n’ Chip Supper in Parish Halls; ticket only, to be
paid for in advance.
Sunday 11th October, 10.15am: Harvest Thanksgiving Family Service with Parade;
our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal will be launched at this service. The
service will be followed by a Ploughmans and Puds lunch in Myland Parish Halls – the
lunch is ticket only, to be paid for in advance.
Sunday 8th November, 10.15am: Remembrance Sunday with Parade, followed by an
Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial at 11.00am.
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Mile End Methodist Church
Our minister, Rev Catherine Bowstead is moving in
August to Wokingham to be a minister there. There is no
one to replace her so we will be without a minister for a
year. We will be under the pastoral care of our other two ministers in the Colchester
area - Rev Alan Jenkins and Rev Ken Chalmers.
During the school summer holidays we are again holding Coffee and Craft sessions
from 10.00 – 11.30am on the following Tuesday mornings: July 28th, August 4th, 18th,
25th and 1st September. We welcome all accompanied children under eleven. The
person to contact is Susie Connor (866622) for more details – the cakes are delicious!
Our Charity Coffee Mornings, held each month on a Saturday, continue and we are
grateful for the support from the community. On 19th September we are raising money
for All We Can (a Methodist relief and development charity) and on 17th October for
Methodist Homes, a charity which has care homes for the elderly. On 21st November
our Coffee Morning is in aid of Samaritan’s Purse - filled shoe boxes for Operation
Christmas Child can also be brought along to that event. Check on the Samaritan’s
Purse website to get full details of box contents.
Our Harvest Festival Service is on Sunday 21st September - more details will be on
display nearer the time.
It is always a joy to welcome new people to any of our events, especially our Sunday Worship at 10.30am. Maybe you used to attend a church some time ago, but have
perhaps got out of the habit. If so, then you may like to come along to see us. Don’t feel
unsure; just come and experience our welcome and friendliness.
Keith and Di Thompson (844252) [email protected]
Myland Fete
AUGUST 31st BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY
Mile End Recreation Ground, Fords Lane
Noon until 4.00pm
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Girlguiding and Scouting
1st Myland Guides
We always look forward to the Summer term weekend trip
to Mersea. We have returned from another fantastic indoor
camp thanks to 17th Colchester Sea Scouts. The girls sailed
Omegas and Topazes and some had a ride on the rib boats
too! Several boats capsized due to the winds which just
made it all the more fun (and tired the girls out so us leaders
managed more than two hours sleep!).
Whilst away we also completed the Colour Chameleon
challenge badge as the camp was centered around this
with an Alice in Wonderland theme. Each Guide had to
dress in a single block colour so we could form a human
rainbow and all the evening’s crafts were colour themed
(felt roses, tissue paper flowers, cardboard chameleons).
We even themed the food by serving up rainbow spaghetti for dinner and dessert
consisted of lots of rainbow and Alice in Wonderland cakes made by the girls. We had
one Guide take her Promise on a brand new boat whilst going pretty fast – definitely
a memorable occasion.
This term so far we have taken part in the Great British Guide Bake-off and had
two girls through to the quarter finals. We have also had several girls arrange the
evenings for us as part of their BP challenge. They’ve been well planned and carried
out and the girls are a credit to our unit.
We’ve cleaned up Myland by doing a litter pick in May; it was surprising how many
bags they managed to fill! As I write we’re preparing for a Geocaching evening at
Highwoods Country Park arranged by one of our older Guides.
We are very proud that one of our Guides (Grace) has won a Jack Petchey Award
of £200 to be spent on the unit; she chose an animal experience and a fish and chip
supper. Grace was nominated by a fellow Guide for the award after making over 160
bean bag frogs to sell and raise money for Froglife charity.
Lizzy Steward, 1st Myland Guides
2nd Myland Brownies
Brownies is all about new experiences and we have crammed a lot of those in this
term! We began with a joint pack holiday with 1st Myland Brownies to Thorrington
Scout Camp where we enjoyed all things Easter and Spring related. One sunny
evening in May a few very brave brownies went Kayaking on the river Colne with
the help of the lovely people at Colchester Canoe Club.
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We have been earning lots of badges including Brownie Holiday, Fire Safety (and
enjoyed a trip to the fire station) and more recently Wildlife Explorer.
We took the Brownies to Highwoods Country Park and enjoyed an evening of pond
dipping and identifying all the wonderful trees and flowers that often we just walk
past and don’t ‘notice’.
The Brownies have chosen to finish the term with a Teddy Bears’ Picnic games night
on the recreation ground.
Congratulations to our old Fluffy Owl who is the now the proud mummy of a baby
girl. Amanda, Mark and Lily-Rose visited, and the Brownies were delighted to see
how small babies are at a month old!
July 4th saw our very first wedding, when Mr and Mrs Tawny Owl tied the knot
at St. Michael’s Church. The Brownies attended the wedding and were on their
very best behaviour in church: they formed a guard of honour for the Bride, Groom
and the whole congregation. This was most Brownies’ first wedding, and a unique
experience. Many congratulations to Eliza and Rob on their wedding.
Sam – Brown Owl, 2nd Myland Brownies
1st Myland - St Michaels (35th Colchester Scout Group)
The Group has just had its AGM. Thanks to the two parents (out of a possible fifty
eight families) who managed to come along!
We have taken in new Beavers so the Group is full in all sections. The leader team
remains strong with thirteen Leaders, three sectional assistants and two occasional
helpers. Two new leaders are in the induction process for the scout section. Both
William Spurling and Alex Newbold have been helping as Explorer Scout young
leaders and have now turned eighteen and want to be leaders. We could still do with
another uniformed leader to help with section: if you would like to volunteer please
contact me. Joan Jeffers, our Cub section assistant has been off for a replacement knee
operation and we look forward to her speedy return. Adult training is progressing
well. Jan Docherty has completed his training as ASL and been presented with his
Wood badge - congratulations to him. I had the pleasure of presenting service awards
to Joan for 40 years, Michelle for 15 years and Jason and Tony, both for 5 years. I have
received my 30 year award.
The Group has been busy as usual. We have just had another successful Group day
outing to Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park near Lowestoft where 32 young people
and 11 leaders plus other adults had a great day out enjoying the rides, sunshine
and a picnic lunch. We continue to do our best to join in the main Family services
where we are proud to parade our flags. Thanks to Rev’d Ray and his team for their
continued support. A big thank you to all who volunteer their help with the group in
any way, especially the Group leaders and explorer scouts.
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Their dedication and commitment make the group the success it is today.
The Beavers have been very active; pond-dipping at Highwoods, junk-modelling
(with Myland Brownies), canoeing at Colchester Canoe Club, bug hunting, visiting
Colchester United as well as “I’m a Beaver Scout, Get Me Out of Here” themed sleepover which included a visit from Snakes Alive who brought along various snakes,
reptiles and a tarantula spider.
The Cubs have been to the Fire Station as part of their new Fire Safety Badge, and
an evening at the Go Outdoors climbing wall,and learning the right equipment for
camping. They also went to Kats Panto (Goldilocks ) at Headgate Theatre. They have
been to Tesco, Highwoods and taken part in their ‘Farm to Fork Trails’. This involved
time on the shop floor discovering the origins of some fruit and vegetables, learning
about bread roll making, watching a salmon being filleted, and trying different
cheeses and flavoured breads, earning all participants a certificate and badge. Two
teams entered the district dodgeball competition raising money for the British Heart
Foundation: one of their teams won! They had an evening canoeing session at
Colchester Canoe Club.
The Scouts again have been busy as well. They invited a former Royal Anglian Colour
Sergeant Terry Neal who served 23 years in Her Majesty’s Army with four tours in
Northern Ireland, two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He gave an in-formative and at
times poignant talk on his and his comrades’ experiences. This was accompanied by
a slide show and a demonstration of some of the gear a modern soldier is expected
to take into battle including a 20kg bulletproof vest which some scouts attempted to
wear. They have been on a number of hikes and night hikes which give youngsters
the chance to develop their map and compass skills, helps with team leading and
being able to give and follow instructions. They have also just had an evening with
a member of a History Re-enactment Group where they were given a demonstration
on the traditional Long Bow, and then got to try their hand at using one.
The sections have been very busy with their badge work with the following young
achieving the highest award in their section:
Chief Scout Bronze (Beavers) - Ben Mansbridge, Jack Pugh, Abigail Toone, Robert
Evans, Reece Steadman, Samuel Parry, Tom Tracy, Finian Utting, Ronnie Thompson.
Chief Scout Silver (Cubs) - Adam Widlake, Joseph Mazerolle, Barnaby Upton.
Chief Scout Gold (Scouts) - Gregory Cooke, Sophie Clinch, Lana Docherty, Charlie
Lockwood, Marcus Brundle, Elliot Borroff, Brodie Rivers.
All have worked hard to gain this award well done to them.
Bill Miller, Group Scout Leader
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Learning and Growing
Myland Pre-School
In May we had our annual outing for older children (39 of them!) to Easton Farm Park
near Woodbridge. The children enjoyed a tractor and trailer ride, cuddled guinea pigs
and rabbits and saw all the animals. Thankfully, a lovely sunny day.
Also in May we had a parents afternoon and evening for parents to meet their child’s
keyperson and discuss their progress and learning journey.
Our Father’s day morning on in June went well and we welcomed 20 dads and
granddads into pre-school to share in the session. They were rewarded with tea and
coffee and a bacon and sausage buttie!
Thank you to everyone who gave us Sainsbury’s vouchers. They have enabled us to
order some more new hoops, tennis balls and role play tabards for the children.
On 24th June we took part in the Barnardos’ Big Toddle. Over 40 children ‘toddled’
around the local area. As yet we do not have the final amount raised but 75% will go to
Barnardos and 25% to preschool funds. We then had our Teddy Bears Picnic and a fun
time was had by parents and children outside in the gar-den in the sunshine!
This half term we have been busy meeting teachers and taking some children to visit
their schools as they prepare for their transition to school in September. Our role play
has been set up as a school as well as being a travel agents, gym and a greengrocers –
with real fruit and vegetables!
Wednesday 8th July was our open afternoon for our 32 new children and we look
forward to welcoming them as they join us at pre-school in the autumn term.
Our term ends on Friday 17th July with our pre-school graduation, where the children
will be dressed in their mortar boards to perform some songs before receiving their
graduation certificate and a book. 45 children are leaving to start primary school in
September. We would like to wish them all every success in the future.
Autumn term starts on Monday 7th September with our first theme being “All about
me”. Grandparents Day will then be celebrated on Wednesday 23rd September when
we look forward to welcoming grandparents into preschool to join in our session and
have some tea and cake.
We are looking for a preschool assistant to join our team. If you are a level 3 qualified
childcare practitioner with a knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage then
we would love to hear from you! (We will also consider level 2 qualified childcare
practitioners). The role is term time only and will be for 19.5 hours per week – Monday
8.15am-4.15pm, Wednesday 8.15am-12.45pm and Friday 8.15am-4.15pm. There may
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be additional hours as required. The job requires an enhanced DBS check to be carried
out and references to be taken up. A relevant first aid qualification is also desirable
If you (or someone you know) are interested in the first instance please email your
c.v. to [email protected]. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 11th
August 2015. Interviews will take place on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September
2015.
Finally an advance notice about our Christmas fair on Saturday 14th November
2015 from 10.00am – 12midday at the Parish Halls. There will be craft and gift stalls,
tombolas, book stall, bric-a-brac stall, cake stall and refreshments and a Christmas
raffle, tickets on sale from September.
Diane Woodrow, Manager
Myland Primary School
At the time of writing, our school year is drawing to a close in a flurry of activity.
At the start of June, our Year 6 children spent a week in North Yorkshire on their
annual residential visit, based in the beautiful town of Whitby. The weather was
extremely kind to us and the children themselves were excellent ambassadors
for our school. We visited many of the area’s well known places, including York,
Fountains Abbey (in Ripon) and, of course, the town of Whitby itself. Wherever we
went, members of the public asked which school we were from, as they were highly
impressed with the children’s behaviour. Well done Year 6!
We have enjoyed two Sports Days – one for Foundation and Key Stage 1, and one for
Key Stage 2. Both occasions were a mixture of team activities and traditional ‘races’,
which were very much enjoyed by all of our pupils. Both afternoons were superbly
organised by Miss Connell (our PE Leader) and Miss Cumming (our Year 5/6 Team
Leader), and much enjoyed by many parents and friends.
We took part in the schools’ competition as part of ‘Colchester in Bloom’ this year.
The judges were very impressed with the children’s work to improve our school
grounds, including our pond area. We anxiously wait to hear...
As our term draws to a close, we wish all of our Year 6 pupils the very best of luck
as they embark on the next stage of their education and leave us to go on to various
secondary schools in the area. They should all be very proud of every-thing that they
have achieved at primary school!
Debbie Griggs, Headteacher
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Community Announcements
Myland Youth Club
Myland youth club is located at the Parish Hall in Myland. We meet every
other Friday from 7.00pm till 9.00pm. We charge £2.00 with free juice available.
We are closed during the holidays but will be reopen on 18th September.
We have Wii, Xbox consoles, football and pool tables. We are starting arts
and crafts and for the girls we have nail varnishes. We do games and sports
activities.
Our youth club is a fun and safe environment for the children. All our members
of staff are CRB checked.
Please contact Vanessa Reeves for more information:
[email protected]
Heritage Watch
Influential figures in Essex’s heritage industry came together on 23rd of April at
Stow Maries First World War Aerodrome to launch a new police initiative aimed at
protecting the past.
Heritage Watch is an Essex Police-led partnership between agencies committed
to protecting our heritage, as well as members of the public who want to preserve
our heritage. The watch scheme looks to maintain and preserve places of interest,
encouraging vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity around sites. This is to
prevent any theft or crime that may damage assets beyond recovery, or which may
lead to the loss of a piece of history for this and future generations.
Heritage Watch locations include ancient earth works and archeological sites, listed
buildings, museums, galleries, religious buildings, historic visitor attractions and others.
Dominic Petre of the Historic Houses Association said he was ‘very pleased’ about the
initiative, adding: “When heritage is lost, it is lost forever. “Crimes against heritage
are not just crimes against the owner. They are crimes against future generations and
culture in general”.
Chief Superintendent Carl O’Malley said: “In Essex we have some really significant
sites, from the Roman remains in Colchester to Audley End House in Saffron Walden.
“The key element for any watch scheme is to involve a broad range of different
partners and bring them together. Through expert advice and assistance, we can all
help one another. It is about communication, sharing, understanding and reporting”.
For further information contact your local Essex Watch Liaison Officer using the Police
101 non-emergency telephone number.
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Activities and clubs in Myland
Art Group Alternate Fridays Girl guiding
1st Myland Rainbow Guides
2nd Myland Rainbow Guides
1st Myland Brownies 2nd Myland Brownies 1st Myland Guides Braiswick Senior Section Jenny Goodey 751077
Esther Wilde Esther Wilde Diane Ayton Sam Borroff Lizzy Steward Kathryn Dyer 853890
853890
851564
752952
213577
533434
Kids Acting and Theatre Skills (KATS)
Monday
Sarah Young
851796
Mile End Methodist Church Hall
Susie Connor
866622
Rainbow Pre-School Shell Group Rainbow Toddler Group
Rainbow Pre-School Rainbow Pre-School Rainbow Pre-School Morris Dancing Sue Dunmore Susie Connor Susie Connor Sue Dunmore Sue Dunmore Sue Dunmore Martin Theobald 07779349128
866622
866622
07779349128
07779349128
07779349128
853500
First Wednesday monthly Ivy Dix 851743
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thur
Fri 9.00am-12.30
6.30pm
9.30am 9.00am 9.00am 9.00am 7.30pm Mothers’ Union
Myland Parish Halls Eric Day
07518 437488
www.mylandparishhalls.org.uk
Myland Pre-School Seven sessions a week Diane Woodrow 07544 830780
1st Myland St Michaels’ Scout Group
Group Scout Leader Beaver Scouts Thursday Thursday Cub Scouts
Scouts
Thursday Bill Miller Lynda Gandolfini Michelle King Jason King 844313
852547
546752
546752
Senior Moments Pam Cowie 618465
Scouts
Third Wednesday Severalls Bowls Club, Mill Road
League matches Club Night
Tues afternoon/Wed eve Thursday 6.30pm
Dick Dick
272289
272289
stmixkids Various term time Saturdays Diane Ayton 851564
Women’s Institute
First Friday monthly, H/Woods
Sandra Jones
Youth Club
Alternate Fridays YMCA 579415
Yoga Classes
Thursday eve term time Naomi Davies 07801 350469
Youth Emmaus Alternate Thursdays Rev. Gibbs 843926
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