41 members and 18 visitors, in a wonderful creation of hats, attended our July “Great Britain Night” on the 26th July. We were welcomed with a glass of Pimms before being entertained by Singer Helen Abbey (pictured right) and Ted Beameant on the Piano with renditions from Summertime, Down at the Old Bull and Bush, A Nightingale sang in Berkeley Square and Roll out the Barrel to name but a few. Hopefully something for everyone.
Between the music sessions we had a lovely selection of sandwiches and cakes made once again by talented member of the committee. The best hat, as judged by Helen and Ted, went to Marianne Smith in her own creation as seen on the left. It was another lovely evening.
Our next get together will be on September 27th at 7.30pm and Linda Scoles will be telling us about “Around the World in 23 Years”. Membership is full but visitors are very welcome, at a cost of £3.50.
The annual report and accounts of the Peldon Village Hall management committee are now online to review on the 
Colchester Borough Council has launched a Customer Service Survey to understand why residents access Council Services in the way that they do. From 11th July the Council begun to gather customer feedback to ensure it is providing the right services at the right location. Customers visiting the Customer Service Centre, High Street will be asked to take the opportunity to have their say, by participating in the survey and shaping the future delivery of Council services. The Customer Service Survey asks:
From July 1st, Essex Police becomes one of the first forces to switch to the new, national, police non-emergency 101 telephone number (replacing 0300 333 4444). You can use this number if you need to contact Essex Police about any non-emergency crime issue, to contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, to seek crime prevention or personal safety advice, contact your nearest police station or to speak to us about any other non-emergency issue.
Medieval Combat Display team
Main show schedules available as 
46 members and 6 visitors attended our May meeting when Jane Maylon (right in the photo) told us all about “Adopting an Attitude”. It was a most intriguing title and most of us had guessed incorrectly when Jane proceeded to tell us all about her Adoption in the mid 50’s, at the tender age of just 6 weeks from the “Waifs and Strays” now known as “The Childrens Society.” She talked about the change in attitude to adoption relaying many amusing stories along the way. She also told us how she had tracked down her birth Mother in Canada, and having written to her for several years, finally meeting her. It was a very uplifting experience and Jane was a delight to listen to.
44 members and 3 visitors attended our April meeting when Brian Curtois told us all about his “30 years with the BBC.” Brian started his early career as a Reporter with a small newspaper in Hornchurch before progressing onto the Ilford Recorder. He then moved to Nottingham before returning to London as part of the Press Agency. He covered a number of major events including the Great Train Robbery and the wedding of Peter Sellers to Britt Ekland. On his first attempt at joining the BBC he got a rejection letter but one year later his second attempt to be offered the post of General News Reporter. For 3 years he covered the Middle East and then Northern Ireland. Over the years he has interviewed numerous people including Ian Paisley, Margaret Thatcher, Mohammad Ali and Bruce Forsythe to name but a few and worked with people like Alan Freeman and Terry Wogan on Late Night Extra and David Dimbleby when working as the Political Correspondent at Westminister. He saw lots of changes over the years with the change from radio to television and relayed several amusing stories. Another very enjoyable evening.
In the face of rising fuel prices Essex Police are concerned that an already endemic problem of fuel theft, particularly from rural buildings, will only get worse if steps are not taken to reduce them. Whilst they will be doing their bit to apprehend the perpetrators, they have put together a comprehensive leaflet outlining steps you can take yourselves to help reduce the prospects of it happening at your home. The leaflet, which can be