Chairman’s report February 2014

Chairman’s Report – February 2014

The Wigboroughs Village Hall Management Committee

At the Annual General Meeting in 2012 the community agreed in principle that the site of the old Village Hall in School Lane should be sold.  The Committee is in the process of registering the land and has lodged an outline planning application for two three-bedroomed houses on the site.

The residents of the Wigboroughs and the Charity Commission both have to give final approval before the sale can take place.

The outline planning application can be seen on the Colchester Borough Council website www.colchester.gov.uk.  The application number is 132631.

It should be noted that a new owner of the land may seek to vary any approved outline planning application and that the Management Committee will then have no control over any changes which CBC may agree.

Jinny Gale

13th February 2014

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Essex Wildlife Trust Events

As well as protecting wildlife for the future and for the people of Essex to enjoy at numerous Nature Reserves throughout Essex, Essex Wildlife Trust also run many events each year, some for fun and some for the benefit of all.  Some of those upcoming are taking pace at the Abberton Reservoir Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre and include:

blue popcorn photographyPhotography Days

Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th February between 10:30 – 15:00.  Join Blue Popcorn Photography Club for a fun day at this fun event esecially for budding young photographers – just bring yourself, a packed lunch and digital camera.  Booking is esential on 01206 738172 with a £25 donation requested per child.

Winter work parties

abberton volunteersVolunteers are being invited to join Essex Wildlife Trust planting new hedgerows and woodland areas every Saturday from now until the end of March between 10:00 and 15:00.  NO experience is necessary and groups are welcomed.

Please contact Jo or Charlie if you are interested in helping out by calling 01206 738172 or by email to [email protected].

 

An evening with Mum

An evening with Mum

Celebrate Mothers Day on Sunday 30th March, between 5pm – 8.30pm with a twilight walk around the nature reserve followed by nibbles and cocktails.

Booking is essential by calling 01206 738172 and a £5 donation is requested per person.

For more events and news of wildlife sightings, you can folow Esex Wildlife Trust on Facebook – www.facebook.com/EWTAbberton.

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Highland Fling in Peldon

The Friends of St Mary’s Peldon are holding their annual Highland Fling on Saturday 8th February in Peldon Village Hall (7 for 7.30pm).

All are welcome to join us for this ever-popular traditional Burns Night supper followed by Scottish  dancing. So why not dig out your dancing shoes and tartans, for a really enjoyable evening? Tickets £8 (children £5) in advance from Sally 735931.

Update, 7TH February : THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT.

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The Wigborough’s Christmas Fair

wigs-xmas-fairThe Wigborough’s Christmas Fair is taking place on Saturday 7th December between 10am-12pm at St. Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough.  Featuring:

  • Homemade produce,
  • Handicrafts,
  • Gifts,
  • Christmas decorations,
  • Tombola,
  • Raffle,
  • Coffe & cakes,
  • Tea & mince pies,
  • Children’s games & activities, and
  • Tower open (weather permitting).

… there is really something for everybody to enjoy.  All proceeds will go to the Parochial Church Council of Gt. & Lt. Wigborough.

SatNav – postcode is CO5 7RH

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Truan Trust Concert

Quire logoSt Mary the Virgin, Peldon sees a welcome 4th return of Quire-Octavia and Quire-Towering Angels on 9th November.

These two lively groups from Quire (The Colchester World Music Community Choir), will present a programme of love songs, drinking songs,humorous songs and seasonal songs and, along the way, help raising funds for the education of a student in Uganda who is sponsored by St Mary’s PCC.

Starting at 7:30pm, tickets on the door: £10 (con. £8) incl. refreshments or phone Bill Tamblyn on 735 770 for reservations.

Profits to the Tuan Trust a registered charity.

Quire (with Octavia) CD SHout! – hear extracts on www.quire.org.

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Lost on the Somme

lost on the sommeWith the centenary of the First World War fast approaching, The Friends of St Mary’s, Peldon, are pleased to welcome back Julian Whybra to present a lecture, entitled ‘Lost on the Somme : a story of unfulfilled potential and promise.’

Between July and November 1916, 420,000 British troops perished (60,000 of these on the first day of the battle alone) and thousands upon thousands more were wounded, making the Battle of the Somme one of the costliest battles in terms of human life ever fought. Why were so many lives lost? Who were these men and what might they have become, had they lived?  What might have been..?

Much of the noblest youth and promise of England has gone untimely into the dark.’

You are invited to join the Friends in St Mary’s Church Peldon on Wednesday 23rd October, starting at 7.30pm, for what will undoubtedly be a harrowing story of the devastation and tragedy of so many lives lost in the Battle of the Somme. 

Tickets £8 in advance: 01206 735770 or on the door. (Not suitable for children.)

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FREE youth activities for teens

teen-activities

Colchester Council Community Zone Wardens are organizing a range of activities for teens in East Mersea which are readily accessible for local youngsters:

Outdoor Activities

Hosted at East Mersea Outdoor Centre, the Zone Wardens are offering a FREE adventure course with archery (weather permitting) or caving with 10 spaces available per session,  Sessions are on saturday 26th October OR Saturday 23rd November between 9:30am – 12:45pm (meeting at reception 9:15).  Note a parental consent form will be required for this activity.

Spaces must be booked in advance – if your are interested please contact any one of the Community Zone Wardens listed below.

Dance Classes

Hosted at Mersea Primary School every Monday these afford the opportunity to dance to the latest chart music with qualified Dance Instructor, Abbie.  LImited to 30 spaces, the sessions run between 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

For more information, or to book your place, please contact Steve or Tim listed below.

Community Zone Wardens

 

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Chairman’s report September 2013

Chairmans’s Report – September 2013

The Wigboroughs Village Hall Management Committee

How good it was to see so many residents at the AGM in June.

Since then the Committee has met three times.  All Officers were willing to continue in their previous roles so once again we have Melanie Newton as Secretary, John Hutchinson as Treasurer and I continue as Chairman.

We have continued exploring, inasmuch as we can, the potential projects we described at the AGM – the possible use of St Stephen’s Church, the search for green space in the village and the possibility of investing in Peldon’s planned new village hall.

We have discussed and rejected the possibility of using St Nicholas’ Church in Little Wigborough as a community meeting place.  This was suggested at the AGM but we felt that the site was too remote, the access along Copt Hall Lane too dangerous, the approach through Copt Hall’s land inappropriate and the likely ongoing maintenance costs excessive.

Our current focus is very much on preparing for the sale of the land in School Lane.  With professional assistance we are in the process of registering the land.  This has to be done in the name of The Official Custodian, a section of the Charity Commission, which holds the title papers for the site, having been entrusted with them in 1954.

Preliminary discussions have begun with the Planning Department at Colchester Borough Council about our proposed outline planning application.  As a result of feedback at this early stage we shall probably ask for two detached houses on the site.  But there is a way to go before we are in a position to firm up on the application and then share the thinking with residents before proceeding to apply to the Charity Commission for permission to sell the site.

At the AGM we were given a mandate to develop a method of postal voting so that residents unable to attend annual meetings may still vote on the issues raised there.  We are currently working out the details of a process which we hope will be acceptable to the Charity Commission so that we can use it at next year’s AGM.

As a Committee we want to explore more deeply how community life and aspirations for family recreational activities have changed since the old hall was last in use.  We shall be seeking to improve our understanding via a questionnaire and possibly focus groups.  We are mindful that any investment we make must satisfy all the legal constraints laid upon us, be financially sustainable and also deliver appropriate benefits for all the residents of the Wigboroughs.  We do not want to squander the legacy left to us by earlier generations by inappropriate investment.

We have now established a list of e-mail addresses to keep in closer contact with Wigboroughs residents and others who have an interest in our activities.  Please contact me ([email protected]) if you wish to be added to the list.  We also publish information on the Parish Council’s website www.winstred100.org and this can be found under the Community Section of the Main Menu.

Jinny Gale

Chairman WVHMC

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The Romantic Piano

voigt piano trioThe Romantic Piano – a recital by Voigt Piano Trio

The Friends of St Marys Peldon are delighted to be welcoming Voigt Piano Trio for this recital on aturday 21st September starting at 7:30pm.

They will feature classic al chamober music including popular works by Pachmaninoff, Schumann & Brahms.  For leader, Daniel Law, senior piano accompanist at Colchester Institute, this will be a welcome return to the idyllic surroundings of this ancient & lovely church.

Tickets are bookable in advance (call 735770) or, if available, at the door for £10 (£8 concessions)

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