St Mary’s Church VICAR:

Rev’d. Canon Bernard Metcalfe The Vicarage, Moors Close - 250476 CHURCHWARDEN: Rosemary Branch 4 Wents Close - 250137

CHURCHWARDEN Linda Hayes Ivy Lodge, Frating - 250207

TREASURER: Tim Carney Tudor House, The Green - 01206 251006 (business): 01206 250194 (home)

CHURCH VERGER: Rita Baverstock Stonybroke, Station Road - 251271

ORGANIST Penny Metcalfe The Vicarage, Great Bentley - 250476

LAY READER: Wendy King 17 Larkfield Road - 250852

PCC SECRETARY: Rita Coles 3 Wents Close - 251506

STEWARDSHIP SECRETARY: Rosemary Branch 4 Wents Close - 250137

TOWER CAPTAIN: Roger Carey-Smith - 250521

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Linda Hayes Ivy Lodge, Frating - 250207

BENTLEY BEARS: Carole Allington Poplar House, Station Road - 251086

SEEKERS: Wendy King 17 Larkfield Road - 250852

MOTHERS’ UNION: Jill Earwaker 01206 824328

VESTRY ROOM BOOKING SECRETARY: Carole Allington Poplar House, Station Road - 251086 or ring Church Verger

PARISH MAGAZINE EDITOR/ADVERTISING/ DISTRIBUTOR: Mary Maskell Caldew Cottage, The Green - 250524 marymaskell@sys3internet.net

METHODIST LAY WORKER: David Bavister, 2 Richmond Drive, Clacton-on-Sea 01255 427874

DOCTOR’S SURGERY: Drs N.F. Cavenagh, M.J.N. Hunt, D.J. Letton, F. Bhatti, & R.S. O’Reilly The Hollies, The Green - 250691

FOOT HEALTH PROFESSIONAL: Terry St George - 01255 861387: Mobile: 0775 833200

POLICE: Clacton 0300 333 4444 PC. Heard 07967 466876 24 hour Non emergency number 0300 333 4444 PARISH COUNCIL: Chairman - Jonathan Hills, Grange Farm, Heckfords Rd, CO78RR - 798666

Clerk to the Council - Kate Mayhew Correspondence to: The Clerk, Community Resource Centre, Village Hall, Plough Road, Great Bentley, CO7 8LD Telephone - 256410

TENDRING DISTRICT COUNCILLOR: Lynda McWilliams, Boblyn, St Mary’s Road, Aingers Green - 01206 250732

COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE: Derek Robinson, Brentor, Brightlingsea Road, Thorrington, CO7 8JH - 01206 250557

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Paul Manwaring - 250966

GOOD NEIGHBOURS TRANSPORT: Barbara Fookes - 250431 or if unavailable Deputy: Anne Griffiths - 251605 (evenings & weekends only)

MEDICAL AIDS: Sylvia Adams 250160 Deputy - Paul Manwaring, 250966

TENDRING FURNITURE SCHEME: Rocket House, Gorse Lane Industrial Estate, Clacton: 01255 476068

VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS: Shelley Pizzey, 5 Keeble Court - 252385

VILLAGE HALL DAYTIME KEYHOLDER: Sharon Smith 07758 012487

METHODIST HALL BOOKINGS: Robert & Janet Taylor, Dominica, Moors Close - 250087

GT BENTLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL: - 250331

COLNE COMMUNITY SCHOOL: - 303511

VILLAGE HISTORY RECORDER: Heather Taylor, Granville, Plough Road - 251004

COLCHESTER HOSPITALS: 01206 747474

CLACTON & DISTRICT HOSPITAL: 01255 201717

FOOTPATH REP: David Gollifer 250309

DONATIONS FOR ANIMAL RESCUE CENTRE: Judy & Alan Bishop - 23 Cedar Way, 251702

VILLAGE TRANSPORT REP: Peter Harry - 250511

VILLAGE CORRESPONDENT: Sue Gibson, 1 Cedar Way, e-mail: suegibson_63@hotmail.com

VILLAGE CARETAKER: Bobby McWilliams, Boblyn, St Mary’s Rd, Aingers Green 250732

Village Information

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DISCLAIMER Neither the Vicar, Church Wardens, Parochial Church Council, nor the Editor take responsibility for the information given or views expressed in the Great Bentley Parish News. Nor is any culpability accepted in work undertaken by advertisers.

EDITORIAL

FRONT COVER

CONTENTS

Editorial .. .. .. 1

Vicar’s Letter .. .. .. 2

Church Services .. .. 3

Church Rotas .. .. 4

Thank You/Birthdays.. .. 5 & 30

Cricket column .. .. 6

Peter’s Potterings .. .. 8

Police News .. .. .. 9

DEADLINE .. .. .. 10

Surgery News .. .. 12

Pet’s Corner .. .. .. 13

Wildlives .. .. .. 14

Running Club .. .. .. 15

Bentley in Bloom.. .. .. 18

Quiz .. .. .. .. 21

Cookery .. .. .. 22

Clubs & Organisations .. 23

Children’s Page .. .. 24

Parish Council .. .. 25

District Councillor notes .. 26

Dog Show Results .. .. 28

Show Results .. .. .. 29

Pre-School .. .. .. 31

Football .. .. .. 33

Advertisers .. .. .. 36

2011

Oh no!! It just happened. Today I became a twitcher. For those not in the know it means I have succumbed and gone in search of a rare bird rather than just walking the dog and enjoying what I saw in the process. With complete disregard for my own safety, the cost of fuel and with no Grid Reference, I set off for the sewage works at St. Osyth! See Nature Notes on page 35 for the whole gripping instalment. Talking of excitement, just for once I thought I had managed a real scoop which involved the capture of two thieves, following a car, van, police and police helicopter chase. As there will soon be a court case it seems prudent to await the outcome before revealing full details. It certainly is like something out of Boys Own, truly the stuff of legends, and well done to Bill and his family for their tenacity and securing justice for the perpetrators of this crime. Out of adversity there is often a positive outcome. The friends and family of Steven Shaw have raised an awful lot of money. See page 18. Now villagers are rallying to help the family of a little boy called Harry with an event on 8th October details on page 18. At the last Parish Council meeting a representative from the Tendring Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team gave an informative talk about a scheme to Beat the Burglars. (You can tell I’m still miffed at missing out on my scoop!!!) Selecta DNA is a forensic marking product which is advanced in its make up and should crack down on crime and help to reunite stolen property with its owner. See page 11 and speak to the Parish Clerk if you are interested in purchasing one of these kits. Heather growing on the green, you must be joking? No, we have several patches which are doing really well and are growing alongside other heathy acid grassland species. A really rare area in North East Essex equalled only by the old Water Board land. Please join the Conservation Group on the morning of 8th October for a quick tour and a cuppa. (Beside the Methodist church/near the Play Equipment, see page 27.) It’s heading towards Christmas you know. We have full details regarding the Shoe Box Appeal on page 13 and these need to be handed in by 6th November at the latest. On that note we have a reminder to place your order with Hubert’s Happy Healthy Turkeys, this year you will also have the facility to order from our very own butchers, and while you are at it you’d better order those logs!!! We have Jim on page S and Anglia Heatlogs, (top quality Eco logs) on page 36. A special Essex Wildlife trust meeting is taking place at the Village Hall on Monday 10th October and everyone is welcome to attend this free talk more information on page 23. To end on a positive note the Great Bentley Show was, in my opinion, the best ever. Lots of high quality entries, stalls, and perfect weather. Followed a week later by an equally successful Flower and Art Festival Well done and thank you to all concerned. I end with a plea for help with stapling and collating the magazine, see diary for dates. Also please would you consider writing an article for the magazine? It doesn’t have to be War and Peace. I’m worried we are getting a bit repetitive. (And no, you can’t write about “Bill and the Burglers” because that’s my article!!) Enjoy the autumn. Mary Maskell

Great Bentley Show

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The Monthly Letter - October 2011

CONFIRMATION

Are you interested in being confirmed?

If so, please have a word with

the Vicar

Revd Canon Bernard Metcalfe

(250476)

or complete one of the forms at the back of St Mary’s Church

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER

3.00PM IN ST MARY’S, GT. BENTLEY

SERVICE OF REMEMBERING

All Saints is a time for remembering. For the past eight years we have arranged

a special ecumenical service on All Saints Sunday

to help bereaved families and friends to remember and give thanks for the lives of all those whose

memories they treasure. The response was so positive that

we are arranging another Service of Remembering

at 3.00pm on Sunday 30th October. Once again it will be held in St. Mary’s, Gt. Bentley.

Everyone is very welcome.

‘Its not fair’ David’s Deliberations I heard on the radio that the average pocket money is around £6.50 per week. They didn’t say what age this related to and you often hear children remark that things are not fair. An old comic strip shows two boys Jeff and Billy squabbling over the size of the slices of pie their mum has placed before them. “They aren’t the same, “ Jeff says. Mum tries again, trying to even them up. Still Jeff is upset. “They still aren’t the same!” he whines “But mum,” Jeff complains, “I want mine to be just like Billy’s… only bigger!” Right from an early age we are taught that doing more is worth more. The reward for doing chores around the house was how you received your pocket money. You always hoped the more you did the more you got. When you started to get older you hoped your pocket money would be increased. There seemed to be a scale of rewards, (I am not sure if it was locked into Inflation figures). If a five year old gets 50p for picking up their toys and clothes and if an eight year old gets a pound for feeding the dog, emptying the bins and cleaning their room, then a twelve year old should get considerably more for mowing the lawn, doing some of the cleaning, cleaning the garage or car. The scale differs from home to home, there is no national scale although I believe I did hear once that there are guidelines on this matter. Chores and rewards teach our children that in this world’s economy we have to do work in order to receive our “rewards”. We want our children to learn and to live the adage, “hard work pays.” But isn’t it good when volunteer workers what ever age expect no pay, the reward is in the service given. Pastor David

CHURCH SERVICES AND EVENTS IN GREAT BENTLEY DURING OCTOBER 2011

SEEKERS – Seekers 3.30pm-4.30pm. Every Monday term time only

BELLRINGING PRACTICE - Every Monday 7.30pm

CHOIR PRACTICE - Thursdays 7.15pm

BENTLEY BEARS - 1st Wednesday of every month

GREAT BENTLEY METHODIST CHURCH NEWS

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ST MARY’S CHURCH

SUN. 2ND 15TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Sung Eucharist and Sunday School Wed. 5th 10.00am Holy Communion 2.15pm Bentley Bears Thur 6th 2.00pm MU in the Vestry Room Fri 7th 2.00pm Wedding

SUN. 9TH HARVEST FESTIVAL 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30pm All Age Harvest Festival Celebration 12.00noon Bring & Share Harvest Lunch 4.00pm Public Baptism Wed. 12th 10.00am Holy Communion

SUN 16TH 20TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Sung Eucharist and Sunday School 6.30pm Deanery Celebration at Alresford Wed. 19th 10.00am Holy Communion

SUN 23RD BIBLE SUNDAY 8.00am Holy Communion by extension 9.30am Word and Worship Service for all the Church Family. Mon 24th 3.30pm No Seekers at Half Term Wed 26th 10.00am Morning Prayer Thur. 27th 7.15pm No Choir Practice at Half Term 7.30pm Deanery Synod at Kirby le Soken

SUN 30TH ALL SAINTS SUNDAY (CLOCKS GO BACK ONE HOUR) 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30pm All Age Celebration for All Saints Sunday 3.00pm Service of Remembering

We welcome you to worship with us during October. Morning worship will be held at 11.00 a.m unless otherwise stated. The leaders of worship are set out below:- October 2nd Rev John Robinson Chapel Anniversary October 9th A Messy Church Service October 16th Pastor David Bavister October 23rd Barbara Fookes October 30th 3pm Rev Andrew Bell Sacrament Events in October Church Anniversary Weekend 1st & 2nd October Saturday at 6.30pm we shall have a 3 course meal followed by

A Concert by the Cavender singers Cost of meal and Concert £10.

Please ring 250087 or 250431 for more information.

On Sunday at 11am we welcome Rev John Robinson to lead our Church Anniversary worship. 168 years old this year!

Something New ----- Two Messy Church events On Tuesday 4th October we shall begin this new activity. It is for parents/carers and their children from birth to about 7 or 8 years old. We shall be taking a Bible Theme, making things together, singing and having a simple meal. We shall start about 3.20 and expect to finish around 5pm. Parents and their children will do the activities together and we aim to have lots of fun. Please ring 250087 or 250431 for more information. We shall do the activities again at 11am on the Sunday 9th October so that the adults in our church don’t miss out!

Cameo 3rd October 6.30 Rev Anthony Poulter, Curate at St James & John at Romford will talk on his Christian work in Thailand. Coffee morning-- will raise funds for Christian work in Thailand. Friday 7th October 10am to 12 noon Adventurers Club Fridays 7pm to 8.30pm, Subs £1.50. Children from year 3 upwards are welcome. Please ring 250087 for more information and to register your child.

Luncheon Club 4th & 18th October If you would like to come along to the Luncheon Club please ring 251330 and talk to Brenda. Come and see if you enjoy the meal and company before you commit yourself to coming each time. Transport can be arranged to help those unable to get to the Methodist Church.

Each week the following events are held at the Methodist Church. Ring these numbers for more information; Luncheon Club Alternate Tuesdays 12 Noon 251330 Parent & Toddlers Group Thursdays 9-15 a.m. 250431 Adventurers Fridays 7 p.m. 250087. For children in school year 3 and older. We host the Village Teen Youth Club on alternate Thursdays. Leader Sue Warder 250713.

ST MARY’S CHURCH ROTAS FOR

OCTOBER 2011

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SIDESPERSONS’S ROTA

Sunday 2nd October - Trinity 15

Sidespersons - Jackie & David Thimbleby Intercessions - Graham Thornton Sunday 9th October - Harvest Festival Sidespersons - Linda & Nick Hayes Sunday 16th October - Trinity 17 Sidespersons - Rosemary & David Branch Intercessions - Jackie Thimbleby Sunday 23rd October - All Saints Sidespersons - Pat & Peter Nunn

Sunday 30th October - All Saints Sunday Sidespersons - Ben & Hilary Harris Intercessions - CLEANING ROTA

1st Wendy Smith & Karen Williams

8th David & Rosemary Branch

15th Pat & Peter Nunn

22nd Linda Hayes

29th Anne Griffiths & Billie Soar

COFFEE ROTA 2nd Hilary & Ben Harris

9th Sybil & Dennis Curry

16th Myrtle Clayton

23rd Carole & Peter Allington

30th Bev Adams

BAPTISMS 9th October

Nicole Clare Read

BRIGHTLINGSEA FARMERS’ MARKET

Thursday 27th October

9am - 12 noon Brightlingsea Community

Centre Lower Park Road

RBL FLAG FLYING DAY 21st October Trafalgar Day

24th October Nations Day

MOTHERS’ UNION

On the 1st September several members enjoyed a delicious meal at Scooby Snax. The October meeting will start at 2.00pm in the Vestry Room at St Mary’s on Thursday 6th. Mrs Diana Bandy will be telling us about the Child Contact Centres in Essex that MU members help to run. Jill Earwaker 01206 824328

WEDDING 7th October

Stuart Dixon and Emma Williams

FUNERAL

6th September

Barbara Jane Coles

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Animal bedding Well here we are about to step into October, dark mornings and short afternoons, how we have got so far into 2011 is a mystery! We haven’t ventured far since our last article in regard to distributing bedding around the rescue centres, however we have had time for a good sort out and rearrangement of our storage facilities following the fitting of a new garage door. Donations of suitable items have continued to arrive at ’BishopTowers’ which we have been able to check, seperate, bag up and label ready for delivery. The month of September is when many of the rescues we frequent have their Open Days in order to try and build up vital funds to hopefully get them through to Christmas (yes we know we have said it!) Like most charities it takes a special event to attract the attention of a large proportion of the general public who in the main are not aware or don’t care about giving unless, dare we suggest, it is right under their nose or there is something in it for them. Charities need help and support ALL year, much like the well known phrase “A dog is not just for Christmas but for life”. Therefore it is only because kind folk in and around this village, and further afield, support us on a REGULAR basis that we can do what we do. This in turn brings reassurance to those who run and work unstintingly at the rescues, many voluntarily, in the knowledge that there will always be fresh supplies of good clean bedding and towels. As you know we also like to be able to take dog and cat food to help offset the bills and to this effect we had a most generous donation of such in recent weeks from a very thoughtful lady & gentleman to whom we extend our grateful thanks. As ever our clever knitting ladies have produced more colourful blankets for the cat rescues, we can never have too many! We will be out and about on the road again spreading some cheer, the more we receive the more we can spread which is much needed in these dark times. Our sincere thanks once again for your continued kindness and support. Judy & Alan Bishop, 23 Cedar Way, tel: 251702 We should like to express our personal thank you and appreciation to Eunice Payne who is standing down as secretary and fund raiser of The Royal British Legion in Great Bentley after nine busy years. We know how much hard work and effort goes into organising all the various events and occasions that Eunice has had responsibility for, they do not ‘just happen’ on the day, they take weeks if not months of planning to bring to fruition. We send our sincere wishes for a happy retirement taking time for yourself and your family after all the good work that you have achieved. You deserve it! Judy & Alan Bishop

THANK YOU A proposal of marriage by Jon Hesketh to Joanna Adams was accepted in front of the Disney Castle at Orlando. Completely unexpected!!! Love and Best wishes to you both

Nanny and Grandad

IT’S A BOY!!!! (and yes only 1 this time!)

Blane, Adel and our 4 girlies would like to announce the safe arrival of

STANLEY ALBERT PEARSON

born 30th August 2011 8lb 13 oz

Thank you to everyone who has helped us over the past few weeks, it always means

a lot to us.

ELLIE TYLER Happy 8th birthday darling

Have a lovely day

All our love and kisses always

Mum, Aaron & Brandon

X X X X

CELIA DE BONO Jo DeBono and family would like to thank everyone who attended Celia’s funeral and who helped in any way during her illness.

JONATHAN AND JO

Congratulations on your engagement

With love and best wishes for your future

Mum, Dad and Grandad Paul, Aimee, Cameron, Henry

Michael and Anneka

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY EMILY PARKER

Can’t believe you are now in double numbers!

Lots of love

Mum, Dad, Grandad, Nanny M, Nanny P & Sophie xxx

BARBARA COLES 19.9.1944 - 19.8.2011

The cremation of Barbara Coles took place at Weeley Crematorium on

September 6th and a service of thanks for her life followed at St Mary’s Church. Barbara had led a full life even during her fights in later years against Cancer. Having left school she joined the WRNS where she rose to the rank of Petty Officer specialising in Communications. She left the WRNS to train as a teacher at Hockerill College, Bishops Stortford. She taught firstly at the Sweyne School, Rayleigh, for a short while at Pathfields Boys’ School, as it was then called in Clacton, and, as the family grew up, in the Village Primary School, the Colne School and its feeder primary schools, later with the County Special Needs Team where she became an Advisory Teacher. Her last employment was helping students at Essex University. She took a full part in village life, running the Ladies’ Keepfit group soon after moving into the village, was PCC Secretary for some time and was a member of the Mothers’ Union. Many visitors enjoyed her garden during several Open Gardens Days. Amidst all these activities she was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Alan and the family would like to thank all those people who sent such kind cards and messages of sympathy; Canon Bernard Metcalfe for the two moving services and all those who attended them; Rita Baverstock for helping with the organisation of the Service in the Church, Rosemary Branch, Rita Coles and Maria Pagram for their help with catering and Myrtle for the flower arrangements in the Church porch.

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CRICKET COLUMN After much promise earlier in the summer, Great Bentley began to slip down the table as the 2011 drew to its conclusion. Availability issues have dogged the club’s hopes throughout the season and double-header weekends have hardly helped their quest. The August 21st trip to Boxted ended in an 18-run defeat, after Bentley had done well to dismiss their hosts for 187. Captain Matt Fowler’s unbeaten 47 provided little consolation a week later as Bentley could make just 95-8 against Springfield and fell to a nine-wicket loss. But they bounced back in style on August Bank Holiday Monday to produce a notable highlight at Colchester’s picturesque Castle Park ground. Matt Fowler led the way, again, with the bat as Bentley batted out their 45 overs to score 195-7. Fowler hit nine fours in his 74, from 99 deliveries, and had excellent support from young Charlie Thompson, who struck three boundaries in a notable stand with his skipper before he was finally trapped leg before, three runs short of his half-century. Joe Fowler (0-33) bowled a tight 10-over spell in Colchester’s reply, as brother Matt (2-23) nabbed a brace of wickets. The home side’s innings centred around two batsmen, who both reached the 70s, but good work in the field by Bentley enabled them to defend their total and claim a memorable 29-run victory. Rain ruined the September 4th clash at Chappel & Wakes Colne, with the home side having reached 172-5 when play was abandoned. Bentley were then forced to forfeit their game at Eight Ash Green on September 10 due to a lack of players, before hosting Ardleigh at The Green the following day. The two sides might have met in the North Essex League’s Plate final, had Bentley’s semi-final with Purleigh not been washed out and led to a bowl-out defeat. As it was, Ardleigh came up just seven runs short in that final, after Purleigh had made 187. Rod Fowler (61 not out) top scored as Bentley were restricted to 132-7, but the visitors reached their target in some comfort, with eight wickets in hand. Bentley had two games still to play as the October parish magazine was going to press, with Clacton Ramblers due to visit on September 18, before Chappel & Wakes Colne provided the closing-day opposition a week later. Hopefully the village club will be able to end the year on a high before winter starts to set in.

North Essex League Division Two (at September 14) P W L V Pts Ave Elmstead 19 15 2 2 317 18.65 Colchester 17 11 3 3 239 17.07 Springfield 19 10 6 3 242 15.13 Eight Ash Green 18 10 5 3 226 15.07 Chappel* 18 9 5 3 211 14.07 Ardleigh 16 7 7 2 188 13.43 Boxted 18 5 11 2 172 10.75 Clacton Ramblers* 18 5 9 3 159 10.60 Gt Bentley^ 18 7 9 2 167 10.44 Gt Totham^ 19 4 13 2 107 6.29 Gt Braxted & Tip 20 2 15 3 102 6.00 *includes tied match; ^points deducted.

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POLICE INCIDENTS IN GREAT BENTLEY DURING AUGUST

Suspicious Circumstances - Hall View Road (Male selling at door) St Mary’s Road (2 males in a van) Theft of Vehicle - Plough Road Criminal Damage - Colchester Road (CCTV cameras damaged PAS Trade) The Green (Red Lion Inn, tiles on roof damaged) Heckfords Road (Admirals farm sign damaged) Theft from Motor Vehicle - Thorrington Road (Index plates taken) Nuisance Youth - Heckfords Road - (Youths running in front of vehicles) RTC - Plough Road

POLICE SURGERY Friday 21st October

Village Hall 7.30 to 8.30pm

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

On the 15th October we shall hold our Annual General Meeting. The date and venue will be notified to all members. Will all members please try to attend this important meeting. We shall be placing posters in public places to lure new members. There are no initiation ceremonies - all you need is a willingness to support all ex service personnel and their families young or old. The demands on Legion funds increase year by year and we have an increasing number of war veterans and their widows. We now have another problem. Redundancies in the service are sending service personnel of many years’ experience into a new world. Agreed a lump sum of redundancy money will be received. They have skills, loyalty and qualities that many employers would appreciate. However they have no home base and may find difficulty in adjusting. For some married families these adjustments are hard. Single men also have problems. They served us and we must do what we can for them. This is important work for the RBL and we are reliant on voluntary work and fund raising. This year the appeal in our 90th year is for £90,000,000. Let’s do our bit. Help us in Great Bentley and Thorrington to contribute to this fund. For those willing to join our Branch or help with Poppy Appeal collections please contact our Chairman Dennis Curry on 01206 251717. We are particularly short of collectors in Thorrington! MICK DORLING

GREAT BENTLEY SHOW 2012 Please take note next year’s photo

classes are as follows:

AN “OLYMPIC” MOMENT A RIGHT ROYAL SNAP

SOLITUDE A SUMMER SCENE

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING CLOSE-UPS

WELCOME

We welcome to Great Bentley Suzanne, Adam and Isabelle Franklyn who have moved into Rambler Cottage

We also welcome Allen and Shirley who

have moved into Hedgerow House

FOR SALE

MEDITEK STAIRLIFT 3.5 metre straight track

Very good condition

£100 o.n.o.

Tel: 01206 250206

8

Walking back from the allotment recently I stopped to look at the horse chestnuts on the ground by the school. Like everything they seem to be earlier this year. I admit I was tempted to crack open one or two of the biggest shells to reveal a nice shiny nut inside. This took me back to my days at school when a game of conkers in the playground was a regular routine. I don’t suppose that Health and Safety would allow such simple pleasures now. I recently read an article all about Chestnut Trees which I found interesting so I have edited a few of the details for you to read. The horse chestnut is not related to the sweet chestnut and does not generally live as long. It grows fast in any sort of soil and can reach a height of 100 feet and with its spreading nature can get to nearly the same size across. The flowers are at their best in May producing pyramids of white (or pink) flowers which combined with the sticky green buds which overall make a delightful sight to cheer up Spring. The conkers are the seed of the tree, and it is easy to plant these in a pot of soil where they will germinate freely. You must however remember that they grow very large so its not practical to plant them in a small garden or next to buildings. There are now a large number of varieties with trees from North America, France, India, Himalayan forests and many more places. In recent years many of the British trees have ended up with foliage looking as though they have been exposed to a blow torch, turning crispy brown by the end of July. There are a number of causes but one of the main ones is a moth called “cameraria ohridella”, which lays its eggs on the leaves. The grub when it hatches tunnels along inside the leaves causing them to appear brown, shrivelled and curled up. This does not kill the tree but reduces its energy. One other cause of brown leaves is a fungus which starts with blotches which can sometimes cover the whole leaf. If you find this on your tree it is best to collect the leaves as they fall and burn them. Normally I would recommend composting leaves but this is an exception. I cannot talk about chestnuts without mentioning the sweet chestnut. This tree has been grown for hundreds of years and the oldest surviving examples are said to be over 1000 years old. The wood is also used to make things like fences, gates and garden furniture. It is though most known for the nuts that it produces inside the prickly shell. As well

as being good to eat roasted, unlike most nuts it is relatively low in protein and fat but high in starch, and is used to make stuffing (particularly at Christmas) flour to make bread and porridge and various biscuits and cakes in some parts of the continent, but I prefer mine roasted whole, peeled and eaten whilst hot. There is still time to sow a few seeds such as winter lettuce. Choose a specific winter variety such as Valdor, which will produce growth in the colder weather and have leaves ready to pick 10 weeks after sowing. “Winter Density” and “All the Year Round” will take a few more weeks to grow to the right size. If you don’t have a greenhouse, sow the seed in pots on a sunny windowsill and after they have germinated transfer them to larger pots and cover with a cloche or some fleece, keep them in a sheltered position and water sparingly so that they don’t rot and this will give you some nice fresh green leaves to have with your salad. It is also time to harden your heart and take out all the summer bedding and get the soil ready for the winter flowering plants. The polyanthus, wallflowers, pansies etc. will all perform better in the Spring if

they can get their roots established now whilst there is still some warmth in the soil. I always plant daffodil and tulip bulbs at the same time so that everything goes into its right place and I don’t get pansies growing on the top of daffodils. If you have grown any tuberous begonias (the ones with very large flowers) you can carefully lift them, place them in a tray of slightly moist compost, and keep them in the greenhouse, shed,

bedroom, giving them an occasional light watering until the leaves begin to yellow. Stop watering and let them dry off gradually. Carefully remove the leaves and stalks, then cover the tubers with some more compost, which needs a careful light watering just to stop the tubers drying out. They will be ready in the Spring to water and put them into a warm area to start them off into new growth. I have done this for several years with the ‘Apricot Shades’ begonias I use in my baskets. Geraniums and tender fuchsias should also be lifted before any proper frosts. Lift them carefully, trim back to tidy them up, pot into multi purpose compost and keep them just moist over the winter in a frost free place, then a bit more moisture and warmth and you will have some more plants for next year. PETER ALLINGTON

Peter’s

Potterings

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LATEST PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING

Steer clear of potential loan scams warns OFT 93/11 22 August 2011 The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is warning people to steer clear of scam loan companies who take upfront fees but fail to provide credit or offer clearly unsuitable credit alternatives. The OFT is alerting consumers after seeing a 50 per cent year-on-year rise in complaints about loan scams, particularly credit applications which involve the consumer 'wiring' or sending upfront fees through money transfer companies. Complaints to OFT-managed advice service Consumer Direct increased from 2,059 between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010 to 3,167 during the same period in 2010-11. The OFT advises people to be vigilant when dealing with or taking calls from loan companies that want upfront fees and who are not interested in consumers' credit history. The OFT's 'dos and don'ts' to help consumer’s spot scam loan companies are: Dos: ο Do be very careful when dealing with loan companies that charge upfront fees ο Do be cautious if a loan company cold-calls you ο Do some research about the business offering the loan - look for proper phone numbers and physical addresses and ask for information in writing ο Do check that the company has a credit licence on the Consumer Credit Register at www.oft.gov.uk/ConsumerCreditRegister Don'ts: ο Don't believe adverts which indicate a loan is 'guaranteed' ο Don't give out your card details 'for security r e a s o n s ' as the company may then debit your bank account without you knowing ο Don't wire money to loan companies using money transfer services when applying for loans ο Don't go ahead with a loan if a company approves it and then demands a fee before you get the money. David Fisher, OFT Director of the Consumer Credit Group said: 'We have seen an increase in complaints about companies who are not interested in the applicant's credit history, that ask for payment of fees upfront and then disappear with the money. 'We advise people to check out the company carefully before agreeing to anything, including asking for a landline number, a physical address and doing a search about the company online, as well as checking that they have a valid credit licence.' 'If consumers think they have been approached or tricked by an advance-fee loan scam, they should report it to Consumer Direct.' In response to a super-complaint from Citizens Advice, in June the OFT published new draft guidance that gives people better protection when dealing with credit brokers.

POLICE NEWS For advice on loan scams or any other consumer issues call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/consumer. Free, confidential debt advice services are available for those facing financial difficulties through their local Citizens Advice Bureau by visiting www.citizensadvice.co.uk Please be aware of the supermarket car park scam below. The aggrieved states that she paid for her shopping at Tesco, Highwoods, Colchester on 11th July at 10:15 hours. An eastern European male approached her as she had just finished packing her shopping away and had a map in his hand and was asking the aggrieved for directions. The aggrieved believes that she did not lock her car as she was distracted. She then spent 5-10 minutes talking to this male before getting back to her car. The aggrieved then got in her car and drove home. Back at home, she looked in her purse and saw that the card she had used to pay for shopping at Tesco was missing from her purse. The aggrieved believes that someone working in company with the eastern European male, who asked for directions, must have seen her use her card in the store and has then been distracted whilst another has entered her vehicle and taken her card from her purse in her handbag. The aggrieved phoned her bank, where they stated at 10:25 hours of the same day at the same Tesco, £250 had been withdrawn from her account. The aggrieved stated that she saw the same male earlier that day when she pulled into Tesco car park, walking around with a map in his hand. The male asking for directions and potentially a suspect is described as a white male, 5'9 to 5'10 tall, dark short hair that was slightly curly, very bad teeth, wearing a dark coloured tracksuit / hooded top possibly navy blue or black and dark bottoms either tracksuit bottoms or dark jeans and spoke with an eastern European accent. Supermarket car park distractions have been seen across the county in 2010 and 2011, with suspects almost always described as Eastern European or Asian. It seems that Tesco stores are particularly popular with the offenders, with the store on Princes Road in Chelmsford being a notable hotspot. Offences have been identified in surrounding counties as well. The victims are commonly singled out in the store itself, often when using the chip and pin reader machines at the self-service tills as these can be watched by a member of the offending team to get the PIN number. This person will then phone their associates in the car park on a mobile phone to alert them to the targeted victim. They usually then drive up alongside the victim as they are putting their shopping bags away and distract them by asking for directions with a large map. This allows another member of the team to enter the front seat of the victim's vehicle and remove the bank card from their purse. These offenders often commit several offences on one day over a wide area. Both male and female suspects have been seen at these offences. The last two identified offences were committed on one day 5th July in Tendring; both were at Morrisons - Parkeston and Little Clacton. The descriptions of both persons are also similar, and are therefore likely to have been committed by the same persons: 1 x male (dark brown short hair, late 20s, white T-shirt, shorts, sunglasses) 1 x female (mid-late20s, long curly bleached blonde hair in a pony tail, shoulder length, long pink acrylic nails, foreign accent) Although the "asking for directions" MO has been employed since this date, these were not at supermarket car parks and the descriptions given are different. PCSO 71909

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DEADLINE FOR THE NOVEMBER 2011 MAGAZINE

Friday 14th October 2011

Material to Mary Maskell, Caldew Cottage, The Green, 250524 Please mark all material - “Parish Magazine”

email: carole@pncallington.co.uk AND marymaskell@sys3internet.net

Great Bentley Websites: www.greatbentleyparishcouncil.co.uk www.aboutgreatbentley.co.uk

SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2011

26th November Farmers’ Market & Christmas Craft Fayre

3rd/4th December Christmas Tree Festival, St Mary’s Church

10th December RBL Band Concert, St Mary’s Church, 7pm

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL

TABLE TOP SALE

Saturday 29th October

Village Hall

Doors open 2pm

Stalls: Refreshments: Raffle: Tombola etc.

(As it is the RBL 90th Anniversary we will be having 90 tombola prizes)

Please come along and support us

To book a table phone

Mrs Payne 01255 820374

HOUSEHOLDS “DUPED” BY DOOR-TO-DOOR CHARITY

COLLECTIONS

Millions of householders are being duped when making donations to door-to-door charity bag collectors. Just around a third, 30% of items donated to charity via letterbox charity bags actually stand a chance of ending up in High Street charity shops - with most of it sold abroad for private profit, according to new research by the British Heart Foundation. Many charities, often those without shops, do deals with commercial firms who collect door-to-door for them with bags emblazoned with the charity logo. But the company keeps all the donated goods and then re-sells them for profit, mostly to overseas markets. They then make a royalty payment to the charity, but as little as 5% of the cash made goes back to good causes, according to the British Heart Foundation. In some cases charities are getting £50 to £100 per tonne of goods collected when, in fact, the goods can sell abroad for anything up to £1,800. This is now a lucrative industry, with householders inundated with charity bags as firms chase millions of pounds of profits from the trade. Be warned ….

CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVE “BEATING THE BURGLARS”

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The Tendring Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team cover the areas of Brightlingsea, Thorrington, Alresford, Frating, Elmstead, Great Bentley, Little Bentley, Great Bromley, Thorpe, Little Bentley and Beaumont. W o r k i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r local communities, Parish Councils, Neighbourhood Action Panel and Selecta DNA they are looking to promote a crime prevention initiative with a view to "Beating the Burglars" on the run up to Christmas. Statistically, figures show an increase in dwelling burglaries on the run up to Christmas as people often buy in extra items or gifts for friends and family. Burglars take advantage of this and target houses especially in rural areas. This initiative may go some way to deterring would be burglars and thieves and help to trace stolen property and detect offences committed. Selecta DNA is an advanced forensic marking product which is easily applied to items such as PCs, laptops, audio visual equipment and other valuable items. When dry it is virtually impossible to remove. It is invisible to the naked eye but glows under UV search lights used by police. As well as a unique DNA code, the Selecta DNA solution contains thousands of Microdots - each containing an owner code which is unique to each kit. Police can quickly trace where an item was stolen from by calling the number displayed on the Microdot and checking the owner against the secure police approved database. The product can be bought at a much reduced rate from the company when being bought as a bulk lot in a preventative scheme such as the one the Tendring Rural team are trying to promote. Instead of an individual cost of £34, it can be bought for just over £11. What price do you put on protecting your home and its contents? In the next two months officers will be visiting local parish council meetings advising attendees of the initiative and the product. It is hoped the councils will then filter this through to the communities with a view to confirming orders. Once a total number has been confirmed the kits will be ordered and then del ivered to the people wel l before Christmas. The Neighbourhood Policing Team and possibly some councillors will be giving a training input on the product so that the kit can be correctly applied. By taking this approach we hope to demonstrate our commitment to reducing crime though working with partners and the community. If you have any queries regarding this item then please do not hesitate to contact your local policing

team, Council or Neighbourhood Action Panel who will happily advise you and show you examples of the kit. Regards, Ps 3507 Fraser MacRae

It’s Nice to See Results!

There I was taking a class the other day and I began to notice the big change that had occurred in most of the people who were practising Tai Chi at the Studio. Some postures had improved beyond recognition and there was an air of calm when they were going through ‘the form’. Balance seemed to have improved also and it was nice to see that the moves were sliding nicely one to the other. I began to see a positive change in the class and thought that to see such change makes it all worthwhile although sometimes over the past few years it has been a struggle. So this month I thought I would just give you a few testimonials from people that I have received over the years (yes, blowing my own trumpet I suppose) and hope it encourages you to take up a class or at least come along and see what goes on at the studio. ‘The best form of gentle exercise, combined with mental relaxation I have ever come across. The best teacher who makes the class fun, stimulating and rewarding. Dave has the knack of making everyone feel comfortable with what they can achieve. The best evening out, doing me good at the same time. Long may it continue?’ Christine E ‘Tai Chi is an excellent form of exercise. Don’t be deceived because the moves are done slowly. After a while you will find that your posture and balance have improved and you become much calmer. The classes at the Studio are fun and informed, but that does not mean that sloppy moves are tolerated! Dave is an excellent teacher and explains the reasoning behind the moves so that you can understand why you are moving in a particular way. I recommend that you give it a try. Keep up the good work Dave!’ Linda P

So, there you have it – I hope this may encourage you to come along to the Studio and ‘give it a go!’. You can join at anytime – classes Monday morning 10.30-12.00 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday evenings 7.30-9.00.

There will be an introduction to Tai Chi workshop on Saturday 15th October between 1.30 and 4.00pm Cost £20 – if you would like to attend call me on mobile 07734-982438 (leave message if necessary and I will call you back) Alternatively, you can email me at thestudio@taichi4all.co.uk and you can find out more about me on my website www.taichi4all.co.uk

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SURGERY NEWS We're back to that time of year when Mums and Dads of post-A Level teenagers are tearfully (or in some cases gleefully) packing their offspring off to university. Ah yes! I remember it well. A couple of the said Mums and Dads have asked recently what the university freshers should

do about getting supplies of regular medication – things like inhalers or hay fever tablets – and what they should do if they get poorly during the term. The best answer is for new students to find a GP surgery close to where they are living while they study. Very often there will be the medical centre on the university campus itself, which is ideal. Once signed on, the student's medical records will be sent to the new surgery so that the GPs there have full information about health history, allergies etc and can safely prescribe for existing or new problems. When students are home again during vacations, we can look after them as temporary patients and will have enough of their old records on our computer system to enable us to do the job properly. Congratulations and good luck to anyone just going off to university for the first time. You'll probably have the time of your life. It was interesting to see in the news very recently that the ban on many gay and bisexual men donating blood is to be lifted. This highlighted again the problem that the NHS sometimes has in keeping stocks up to levels that can cope with anything other than normal daily demand. Giving blood is incredibly simple for most people. It doesn't hurt and only takes a few minutes. It is one of the most generous things you can do for a stranger. It will make you feel really good about yourself and might just save a life. Don't worry! They'll leave you plenty to keep fit and healthy. Why not give it a go? There are sessions locally on a regular basis. If you log on to www.blood.co.uk/sessionsearcher you can find out where and when they are. The website is brilliant in its own right, by the way. There is stacks of information about giving blood, including who can and who can't, and some true personal stories which are almost guaranteed to inspire you into becoming a donor if you aren't one already. If you haven't got access to the internet, we have all the information you need here at the surgery.

On a less serious note, I see that some fast food outlets are going to start showing on their menus how many calories their non-gourmet delights contain. It's a bit startling to realise that a burger and a coffee, or a muffin and a milkshake contain about half of the calories a full-grown adult is suppose to consume in a whole day. No wonder we are becoming a nation of fatties. If, like me, you are – shall we say on the plump side and wanting to do something about it, we have lots of information here about healthy diets, exercise etc. A healthy diet doesn't have to be boring and depressing and good, healthy exercise needn't take all day and leave you exhausted. Do ask if you'd like to know more. It's always nice to tell you about a new member of staff here at the surgery. The latest addition to our team is Andrea Spear, who joined us in August to work on reception and to help with issuing prescriptions. Having got safely through the initial few weeks, when the whole job looks totally confusing and impossible, she is now settling in really well. If Andrea looks familiar to the Tendring-ites amongst you, it's not surprising, as her previous job was at Tendring Post Office where I understand that she was equally at home selling either groceries or stamps. Before the Post Office sadly closed its doors for good at the end of July, she had worked there for ten years. Andrea lives in Tendring with husband Keith and their three children, James, Mikey and Bethan. The rest of the household is made up of a couple of Jack Russells (with very strange names which I'm not supposed to mention) and a tortoise. I wonder if they all get walked together. When she's not walking or working, Andrea enjoys decorating cakes and we are hopeful that any accidents or disasters in that department will end up at the surgery for proper, respectful disposal. Welcome to the surgery Andrea! We all hope that you will be happy with us for a long time. Hugh Cronin Practice Manager

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Pet’s Corner

We have had a Border Terrier for 2 years now and she is just settling in. They are very active and just because she is small does not mean she does not need lots of ‘walkies’, but it does give the children something to do! I was pleased recently to read a list of the top 10 small breeds as listed by the Kennel Club and the Border Terrier was listed as number one. I have listed the top 10 below for your interest. 1 Border Terrier A truly British terrier, dating from around the 1700s. Their long legs and stamina enable them to keep up with the most demanding activity, and their responsive personality makes them a superb family dog. 2 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel The cheerful Cavalier is an ideal canine companion, happy to curl up on the sofa or willing to walk for miles. This miniature spaniel combines all the best qualities of a Toy and a Gundog and is full of charm. 3 Pug Originally from China, this ancient breed is a true individual, independent and resolute, but very affectionate with their human family, making them an amusing and rewarding companion. 4 Miniature Schnauzer This German breed, which dates back to the 1400s, is stylish, intelligent and easy to train. Good with children and other dogs, they make a handy-sized companion for people of all ages. 5 Shih Tzu Originally the Emperor’s court dog in China in the 1600s, this handsome and playful breed has achieved worldwide popularity. These sturdy, bouncy extroverts make delightful family companions. 6 Lhasa Apso A native of Tibet, these glamorous dogs from antiquity were originally kept as indoor guards and were popular in the palace of the Dalai Lama. They have an independent nature and are wary of strangers, although devoted to their owners.

7 Yorkshire Terrier With their steel blue and bright tan coat and intelligent temperament, Yorkies are immensely popular throughout the world. Despite their glamorous looks, they were bred for ratting in the 1800s and are feisty little packages of energy who are always ready to play. 8 Dachshund (miniature smooth haired) Their name means ‘badger dog’ and they originate from 1900s Germany where they were bred to follow badgers to ground. Instantly recognisable due to their short legs and dignified expression, they have deservedly attracted a large following of fans. 9 Chihuahua (smooth coat) Although small and fragile, the South American Chihuahua is an alert and bold dog, who likes to carry their tail high and proud, which typifies the breed’s personality. 10 Chihuahua (long coat) Identical to their smooth coated cousin, apart from their silky longer coat, this tiny dog is also most content on the lap of their human companion. MARK ALLINGTON B.Sc (Hons) BVM & S, MRCVS

SAMARITAN’S PURSE OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Shoe Box Appeal

Shoe boxes need to be ready by Sunday 6th November

They can be left in St Mary’s Church or Poplar House, Station Road

If you would like to fill a shoe box this year you

can collect a leaflet from St Mary’s Church

or Carole Allington Poplar House, Station Road, Great Bentley

For more information contact Maida Brown 01206 252281

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Wildlives Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre

Registered Charity 1104167 Copyright Wildlives © 2011

‘Catkins’, Frating Road, Thorrington, Colchester CO7 8HT www.wildlives.org.uk Opening hours: April - September 10.00 – 6.00 01206 251174 / 07802 767016

Outside of Wildlives’ hours, please log on to our website for advice on what to do with a sick animal until we are open again in the morning.

Would you miss hedgehogs if they weren’t there anymore? October 2011

Hedgehogs are one of our best loved animals. Immortalised as Mrs.Tiggywinkle, they are instantly recognisable to everyone, These helpful little animals clear our gardens of slugs and hurt no-one. In 1950 there were 30 million in the UK. In 1995 there were 1½ million. Recent surveys indicate that there are now 750 thousand. This year has been particularly hard on hedgehogs. After a longer winter than usual, the hungry hogs woke up from hibernation to a drought, with very little food and water available. Many did not breed, and the centre saw unprecedented numbers of sick adults and the lowest number of babies. And these circumstances are on top of the destruction of habitat for neat gardens, decking, and concrete. If you want your grandchildren to recognise Mrs.Tiggywinkle, everyone needs to help. Put out dog/cat food and clean water (not bread and milk, which makes them ill). Help hedgehogs travel for food and to find mates safely, rather than going out on to the roads, by leaving a small hole in your fence, 3-4 inches square – not enough for your dog to get through – and talk to your neighbours to ask them to do the same.

Very few hoglets have been born this year The Hedgehog Street project is encouraging and advising people to help hedgehogs – visit www.hedgehogstreet.org or phone 01584 890801 for your information pack. Don’t let hedgehogs disappear from our gardens in our generation.

Teamwork needed for Seal Rescue

When Wildlives received a call for a collapsed seal, Tony, who runs the seal-watching boat trips, and Ian, a Wildlives volunteer, went to check it out, expecting to find a seal p u p . W h e n t h e y discovered a seriously ill and injured adult female wi th advanced eye infections, it was obvious they would need some help – an adult seal weighs about the same as an adult human, only with teeth! Fortunately after a call the coastguard came to the rescue, with vehicles that could drive on to the beach and a stretcher. After being stretchered from the beach, she was transferred to a body

bag for transit. On arrival at Wildlives she was stabilised, her temperature reduced and fluid therapy given, before she transferred to the RSPCA centre at East Wynch.

A juvenile kittiwake was found in the middle of Saffron Walden! Since kittiwakes nest on the high cliffs around the coasts, it’s a mystery how he ended up there. After being built up to his proper weight, he was transferred to the RSPCA centre at Mallydams Wood, near Hastings.

See our web site for more pictures of the animals and birds!

A year in running. As you may have gathered from last month's article I am fairly new to running with a club. I had no idea of the events which make up a runner's year and it has been fascinating to see them unfold over the last twelve months. For anyone tempted to join us I can assure you that it is not all just pounding the roads around Great Bentley: there are a wide variety of events, terrains and routes available. There is also a good choice of distances. Since this article is for the October issue that would seem a good month with which to begin. The 23rd October is a very important date in the GBRC calendar as it sees the start of the Cross Country season. We compete in the A section of a two tier league, a position we have to fight for each year. The league consists of 5 races each five miles in length. These take place on Sunday mornings during the winter months and, as you may imagine, it is a bracing experience stripping down to running shorts and vest in winter temperatures. The courses are varied with the Harwich race being acknowledged as the most demanding. Anyone who has ever tried to run uphill with six inches of Essex clay on their trainers will have an idea as to how much of a challenge it can prove. Many a runner sheds a trainer (and possibly even a tear) in the course of these runs, but it's all in a good cause. There is also a bonus: our chairman, Clive Jones, encourages everyone to bring a cake. It has become a club thing and it is not unusual to see GBRC members standing with a large lump of cake in each hand. It certainly helps the team spirit if not the waist-line. For GBRC the main Christmas event is our club dinner where our awards are handed out. This is closely followed by the Witham Boxing Day run, a five mile race through the town. Great for those who may have over-indulged, however the weather has proved too much over the last two years and the iced up roads have resulted in the races being postponed. Soon after this we begin to plan for our own half marathon. The race limit is set at around 800 competitors and such is the reputation of the event it fills quickly. The course is recognised as one which allows runners to achieve personal best (PB) times for the half marathon distance: Nick Anderson, a high-level coach, brought one of his trainees to the last event in order to get them an improved time. As always, the club is extremely grateful to all those who live in and around Great Bentley for allowing us to host this event and for the assistance many give. From Christmas onwards those who are lucky (or foolish) enough to have places in the London Marathon begin their training. This year's race was

on the 17th April and the club put on a coach for anyone who wanted to go to the event. Any Individual can apply to enter the draw for a place. In addition GBRC gets 3 places to allocate to club members. Anyone who has been rejected in the main draw can put their name in for a second chance. In February some of us went off to the Forest of Dean for a long weekend of coaching led by Nick Anderson and Bud Baldero. It was a great experience to get tips from people who have trained Olympians and who are on name-dropping terms with Paula Radcliffe! It was really beneficial for those in the middle of their marathon training. Late spring sees the beginning of a series of 5 kilometre races hosted by our friends at the Harwich club. The races take place on Thursday evenings through to the summer and runners are encouraged to improve their times over the series. The most improved individual is the winner. There is a school of thought which suggests that a really slow first run may be a way for someone to improve their chances but that remains with the conscience of the individual! The 'Friday Fives' also begin around this

time. This is a set of 5 mile races hosted mainly by Suffolk clubs. GBRC is the only Essex race in the series and again the club in indebted to everyone in the village for allowing us to host this event. Somewhere in the middle of all of this falls the Ekiden Relay race hosted by the Ipswich Jaffa club. The term comes from Japanese competitions and is applied to a relay race which is generally of marathon length or longer. The Ipswich relay is broken into 6

legs of 7.2k, 5k, 10k, 5k, 10k and 5k respectively, making up the full marathon distance. Many clubs participate and the competition no longer seems to be limited to the course: there is a splendid array of marquees, pagodas, banners and flags. The field takes on the appearance of a medieval tournament, and there are considerable amounts of cake, yet again. Apart from these events, there are races within striking distance most weekends. Many of our members travel across Essex and into neighbouring counties to participate in runs, duathlons (run and cycle) and triathlons (swim, cycle and run). We also assist other local clubs with the marshalling of their races and, of course, we have our regular training sessions. Given the number of events available it is sometimes difficult to decide which race to run at any time. Still, it's better to have too much choice than not enough or even none at all! Paul Carlisle

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RUNNING CLUB

16

WEDNESDAY BADMINTON CLUB

The Club will re-open on Wednesday October 5th after the September break. New members are welcome to join our regulars. We look forward to seeing you all again.

CARNIVAL AGM Tuesday 11th October

8.00pm Village Hall All welcome

For details phone Bev Adams 250724

Get involved in St Helena Hospice’s Awareness Day

St Helena Hospice is pleased to announce that they will be holding an Awareness Day on Friday 7th October. The aim of this day is to raise awareness of the Hospice throughout the region and get people talking about what the Hospice means to our community and how they can get involved. They will also be launching their new Hospice mascot ‘Dandy’ the Lion on this day! In the lead up to the day, the Hospice is looking for organisations, groups, companies, schools, nurseries or even individuals who would like to get involved with fundraising on the big day. The Hospice Fundraising team have come up with some simple and fun ideas to help any potential fundraisers on their way, including, a dress down 'be seen in green' day, recycling any unwanted items that can be donated to any of the eight Hospice shops, a colouring competition for the little ones, a raffle or a cake sale. To make it even easier, the Fundraising team can provide you with posters and an order form with lots of goodies, to help support your event and help raise funds towards the £5.1 million that it will cost to run the Hospice every year. If you are interested in getting involved on the day, please contact the St Helena Hospice Fundraising team to find out more and discuss which fundraising ideas you are interested in: email: enquiries@sthelenahospice.org.uk telephone: 01206 791740 or go to our website: www.sthelenahospice.org.uk

With VENT—a professional wind Octet

including players from the BBC Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Orchestra.

Repertoire to include Mozart Serenade in E Flat K375 and music by Beethoven A wind octet is made up of two oboes, clarinets, French horns and bassoons.

Harvest Concert

At St Peter and St Paul’s, St Osyth

Sunday 2nd October at 6pm £7.50 including cider and apple cakes

served during the interval! Tickets must be purchased in advance and are

available from John Stiff Estate Agents, St Osyth, or Allison Bond on 01255 820466

Proceeds to Improvement of Church as Concert Venue

GREAT BENTLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Year 5 & 6 Kentwell Hall Trip Year 5 and 6 will be going to Kentwall Hall on Wednesday 28th September. Pupils need to be in school for 7.34am. Children will be wearing Tudor costume. TheTravelling Book Fair is on Friday 23rd Sept - Friday 30th September. This will earn commission for the school. School Uniform Shop - The next uniform shop will be on Tuesday 27th September 9-10am and 3-4pm. Colne Community School and College Open Day The Colne Community School and College will be holding an open day on Saturday 8th October from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Both Year 6 and Year 5 are welcome.

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Walking the Walls – Witch hunt

When the Romans invaded this country in 43AD they came to Camulodunum, which was the old name for Colchester, and made it their capital. In 61AD Boadicca the Queen of the Iceni, from present day Norfolk and Suffolk, rose up in

rebellion about the way she and her two daughters had been treated by the Romans. She made her way to Colchester intending to have her revenge on the Romans. There was no defence around the town making it easy for her and the local Trinovante peoples to sack the town burning it to the ground. The Army was away and only retired Roman soldiers had been left to guard the town. Boadicca was later either beaten in a battle or took poison killing herself and her two daughters to prevent them being taken as slaves to Rome. Colchester was rebuilt as it was still the capital of Roman Britain. A wall was built all round to prevent any further such attacks. Most of this wall survives today making it the oldest town wall in this country. The wall is a scheduled ancient monument and costs a lot to keep in repair. At the moment there are no interpretation boards to explain the significance of the walls but Colchester Borough Council intend to have boards erected in different locations to remedy this. The boards will cost about £1,000 each and various organisations in the town are starting to raise money to sponsor a board. A group called “Friends of Colchester Roman Wall” has been formed to coordinate the fundraising. Colchester Tourist Guides are doing their bit by taking costumed tours around the walls. Each tour has a different theme to explain the significance of the walls at different times in the past. The next tour – Witch and Ghoul Hunt, will take place on Sunday 16 October starting at 3pm from Colchester War Memorial. Tickets can be obtained from Colchester Visitor Information Centre and cost £6 for adults and £2 for children. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children costs £14. All money raised will go towards sponsoring one of the interpretation boards. The last tour for this year will be on 6 November and it will have the title Gunpowder, Treason and Stone. It will start at the same time and place as the witch hunt tour and the cost is the same. I hope that some of you will be able to come along and be suitably scared with the witch hunt and later the treason tour. Further tours may be arranged in 2012 so if you miss this year please try and come along next year.

Ann Turner

THE GREAT BENTLEY SHOW Well that’s another one done and dusted as they say ...... though who “they” are has always escaped me. However who cares? The show was a cracker, a real village show in a superb setting. People came from near and far and certainly equalled and probably exceeded last year’s attendance. Smiles were the order of the day and it was great to be part of this, some would say, rather old fashioned afternoon of innocent entertainment. The Marquee housed lovely plants, flowers, produce, crafts, photographs and the children’s craft work. The Companion Dog Show excelled this year, the Arena entertainment drew big crowds, all the stallholders were busy as were the Children’s amusements, especially the Donkey rides! Our thanks must go to Derek Burdett, the Show Chairman and his wonderful committee who, once again, have put together a really good Show. A village Show for all the family. Thanks also to the local press and radio stations for their support which ensures that the show is available to all parts of the County and further afield. A big thank you to the Parish Council for providing those very important portable toilets, to the Police (unsung heroes of our society) for their help and St. Johns Ambulance for their care and attention. I am sure I have missed one or two people out of my “thank you section” but I can assure you that every helper, whatever their contribution, is really appreciated by the Chairman and Show Committee.. The committee have one more meeting and the AGM on the 23rd November this year. Plans for next year will be discussed and early bookings made where necessary. New members are always welcome on the committee why not come and join us! The Great Bentley Show 2012 will be on 1st September 2012. Put that date in your diary. Ben Harris. Hon.Press Officer

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HARRY’S DAY Fundraising Day

NOW in Village Hall 8th October

Sponsored truck pull at 1.00pm

from the Green near the War Memorial followed by a Drag Race to Great Bentley Village Hall

Face painting: Craft stalls:

Kiddies Corner: Cakes: Raffle: Auction of Promises

Car wash in car park Beer for dads

Fundraising fro Sick Children’s Trust and Great Ormond Street Hospital

which provides accommodation for families of very sick children

For more information on stalls or help

Contact

Lara - 250142 or Julie - 250563

☺

BENTLEY IN BLOOM

We have nearly 2,000 pansy and polyanthus plants currently being grown for use in the Autumn planting. Not all these are used in our displays around the village and we have more than we need so that you will be able to buy some for your gardens and tubs. Amazingly we have been able to buy our small plant plugs which we use to produce the bigger plants at a similar price to last year, so we have been able to keep the price the same as last year. We will have our PLANT SALE round the OLD VILLAGE HALL - SATURDAY 29th OCTOBER 10am - 12 noon but if you contact any of the ‘Bentley in Bloomers’ they can reserve what you want and you may get an earlier delivery depending on how soon the plants are ready. Pansies £1.50 per 6 pack Polyanthus £2.25 per 6 pack Dwarf Wallflowers £2.00 per 6 pack (limited supply) Finally some thank you’s. We would like to thank Jenny Dewell from Thorrington who supplied most of the bedding plants that you have seen around the village this year. Jenny grows her own plants and she always has a good selection of plants for Summer bedding. Please note she does not sell any plants for Winter bedding. We also thank Gordon and Edna Black for the use of their greenhouse which is used to grow the pansies ready for planting out. Thanks also to the watering gang of Mick Dorling, Peter Stevens, Kevin Plummer and Peter Allington who have kept the displays growing through the “occasional” sunny days of Summer. Bentley in Bloom contacts: Mick Dorling 250799 Peter Allington 251086 Sylvia Adams 250160 John & Jennie Moss 252182 Peter Stevens 252106

PETER TWEED

A Celebration of the life of Peter Tweed

will be held on Thursday 29th September 2.00pm at St Mary’s Church.

All Welcome

Cheerful dress please Donations if desired to

Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel or RNLI

STEVEN SHAW

Before his untimely and very sudden death at just 31, Steven had planted a large row of runner beans in the garden that he shared with his Dad. 300lbs of beans were later harvested and sold which raised £200 and this was donated to the Air Ambulance. A further £600 had been raised following his funeral by friends and family and was shared equally between the British Heart Foundation and Air Ambulance. A further £300 was raised by family, friends and fellow fishermen who met regularly at Carpenters Farm where Steven spent many happy hours. This has purchased a seat with a commemorative plaque which has been placed by the reservoir he loved to fish. Thank you to all who have supported us.

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St Mary’s Church Flower Festival & Art Exhibition

We would like to thank all the organisations that provided a floral display. A lot of research had gone into depicting a ‘Famous Olympian’. Well done. Thank you to all the artists who provided the paintings for the art exhibition. The standard seems to get higher and higher each year. An extra special thank you to all those people who made the trip to the church not knowing if they would get wet or blown away. Finally thanks to all the helpers, because without you we would not have had such a wonderful weekend. We had over 250 people visit us and hope to have made approximately £1,200 for Church funds. Hilary Harris, Rita Coles, Peter Allington

Answers to Flower Quiz

1 Great Bentley Guides Mary Rand

2 Gardening Society Mark Foster

3 Womens’ Institute Torvill & Dean

4 St Mary’s Church Eddie the Eagle (Michael Edwards)

5 Sunday School Rafa Nadal

6 St Mary’s Choir Princess Anne

7 Bentley in Bloom Daley Thompson

8 Rainbows Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali)

9 Conservation Group Reg White

10 Art Club Olga Korbut

11 St Mary’s Bellringers Linford Christie

12 Evergreen Friendship Club Duncan Goodhew

13 Football Club Edwin Moses

14 St Mary’s Seekers Sharon Davies

15 Friends of the Green Kelly Holmes

16 Mothers’ Union David Broome

17 Royal British Legion Emil Zatopek

18 Methodist Church Steve Redgrave

19 Bentley Bears Zola Budd

Winner Mrs Rodger from Brightlingsea

Who gained 14 points out of 19.

YOUTH CLUB

Youth Club at the Methodist Hall opens its doors to the youth of the village between 7 - 9pm every other

Thursday. Our entrance fee is still £1.50 with tuck and refreshments available throughout the evening. We are currently holding a waiting list so if you are between 11-16 years of age, please ring Sue Warder on 250713 if you would like to join. Dates for October and November are as follows: 6th October 20th October 10th November 24th November I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the behaviour of our members at our club as they are always polite and respectful and it is always a pleasure to see you. Sue Warder

BENTLEY MASTER BUTCHERS

We are extremely fortunate that Kelvedon Butchers, which has been established for over 20 years, has decided to open a shop in Great Bentley. We welcome Martin who is in charge of the shop which is open on:

Mondays from 7am - 1pm

Tuesday to Friday 7am - 5pm

Saturday 7am - 4pm

There is an excellent selection of good quality local meat with some jars of pate, jams etc. On Tuesday there is a discount for OAPs and on certain days they have special offers.

Dear Editor I was sad to read that you never had the chance to see a Red Kite even though it was around for a while. However if you look closely on the front cover of the September magazine you should be able at least to see one red kite! Liz Harry

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LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE by Mirain Evans From Australia to Britain by Container Ship

Contd from last month ... We eventually emerged from the canal into the channel which led to the city of Colon, named after Christopher Columbus and occupying a spit of land jutting into the Caribbean. Again the collection of ships at anchor in the 2roads” could be seen, waiting their turn to travel through to the Pacific. By late afternoon we were anchored in the large and obviously expanding container port facing the harbour of Colon and the sparkling white cruise liner from which our waving tourists had come. The buildings there were brightly coloured, and in stark contrast to those at the other end of the harbour where piles of rubbish were lying around in corners of what seemed semi derelict houses. Groups of men rested in the shade of trees, and the occasional car stood next to a brick wall. It was still very hot, and there was little movement. Although we had been told that the port authorities advised against going into the city at night, the captain allowed us to go under the protection of the port official visiting the ship, a rather unpleasant individual full of his own importance and keen to accept his “present” of whiskey and cigarettes as he examined our papers. He was a heavily set man with a good command of English which he used as he took us through a maze of shops, all of which looked as though they had been deserted for years. We arrived at “immigration”, a room with dirty windows, three men watching TV and a cheery official behind his desk who stamped our cards with a flourish and wished us a good time in Colon. Our guide drove us through the port gates where all passes were checked (for the third time), and introduced us to his son, Amad, who was charged with our safe passage for that evening. He took us around in his taxi and looked after us so well, we were quite happy to have a minder! Amad was a shy boy of about eighteen with limited English, so we conversed in a mixture of Spanish and English. Our desire to get out and explore Colon on our own swiftly evaporated as we drove into town. We passed suspicious looking men thumbing a lift, mounds of smoking rubbish and burnt out cars. The area where the cruise ships docked was bright with garish colours and patterns, but the high tenements were grey, rubbish was piled on every street corner, groups of people sat in dimly lit doorways or outside the grilled windows of shops. It was Sunday evening and it seemed as though the entire population of the city was there on the streets enjoying the cooler air … to us it was both exciting and terrifying in its intensity of life and movement. We wanted to join in but knew that we would stand out like sore thumbs. Besides, Amad would have had a fit! We passed an open air church where the congregation was singing holding hands, a family crossed in front of us in their Sunday best, people milled everywhere and gangs of children raced among the water filled potholes. On the wide promenade which led to the beach, the population strolled past some amazing white marble statues, both religious and secular, one of which commemorated Christopher Columbus. Colon had obviously once been a thriving port, but now this part looked shabby and neglected. Amad drove us to the Washington Hotel and Casino … the best hotel in town, a beautiful white colonnaded building set in shady grounds. The casino bar was dark and hid the scores of gambling machines and their fans. Our Spanish was quite well understood, although the young barmaid was rather intimidated and refused to speak to us!

Two policemen with their guns relaxed were drinking coffee at one end of the bar. The hotel lobby was welcomingly cool with polished floors and some lovely furniture, and people who were obviously on holiday. The garden behind the hotel stretched down to the beach past a large pool and small bar (where the staff seemed to be standing in a trench enjoying an evening drink on the terrace). These were obviously wealthy people, but they sat on mismatched chairs and the tiles of the terrace and pool were cracked and broken. A man wearing bathing shorts and ropes of gold offered us two slightly graying plastic chairs as we sipped our beers. In the restaurant we were impressed by the extensive menu until we realised the choices were extremely limited and that there was only one type of wine available, in spite of the extensive wine list. However the food was palatable. Amad was outside at 8 and took us on a tour of the sights including Ladies Street … the red light district. The city was dark and warm and wet after a downpour. Burst bin bags sat in the gutters amongst old prams and broken chairs … people walked slowly out of darkened alleys or just stood on street corners … the humid evening stopped any attempt at energetic activity. Eventually we passed the wealthy area, protected and cosseted behind iron gates and high fences some with armed security. We had seen this disparity many years before in Colombia’s cities. We gave our driver a big tip and he gave us both big hugs. He spoke of his one year old daughter and of his wish to start studying soon on a tourist management course. Back at the port, we stood as the sniffer dog rummaged around our legs. I hope he enjoyed my sandals, which by that time smelt strongly enough to knock out any potential drugs he might have discovered. We met three Koreans from the Hyundai ship, on their way to sample the delights of Ladies Street … and speculated on the possibility of their successful return for the sailing to New York the following morning. Our passes were checked for the final time, as we climbed the gangway and reported to the Chief Officer who was no doubt relieved to see us back without any mishaps! With a beer and wine we stood on deck watching the cranes swinging containers on and off the ship, and saw on a deck far below, a dockhand fast asleep oblivious to all the noise! Rosario came and joined us with more drinks and family photos until we protested exhaustion. It had been an interesting day. Our 5am sailing was delayed due it seemed to the inefficiency of the port handlers … not only were they extremely noisy but they often had to re-stack many of the containers. One was left on top of a stack on its own, and we were sure it would be lost, especially when we later lurched across the Atlantic in a storm. However it remained in place, although we learned that containers do regularly fall into the sea. We eventually left at 2 in the afternoon, spending the hot hours in-between on deck avoiding the sizzling sun and watching the surrounding areas. As we made our way into the Caribbean, we passed at least seven rusting ships abandoned in the harbour. We left them and the teeming streets of Colon sweating in the relentless sun. To Be Continued ….

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The fat goose Cookery Corner It’s Halloween time again and the shops will be full of beautiful big pumpkins, ready to be carved  into fantastic faces, but what do you do with all the wonderful scooped out pumpkin flesh.   Here at the fat goose the chefs will also enjoy carving a pumpkin but they will use it all to prepare wonderful dishes for the menu, so here are a couple of ideas for you to try. 

 First prepare the pumpkin: 

Slice off  the  top and scoop out  the  flesh, don’t be  tempted  to scoop  too near  the edge,  leave about 1” of flesh all around the  inside, chop  into  large pieces and place on a baking tray to roast. Bake  in the oven for about 30 minutes until soft. At the same time put the seeds onto a baking tray with a tbs of oil and bake for about 5 minutes until golden. Reserve your shell to use as a serving dish or for carving later.  Pumpkin and Apple Soup 

2 onions peeled &  chopped  finely, 1  clove  garlic peeled &  crushed, 50g butter, 600g  roasted pumpkin, 2  bramley apples peeled & chopped, 800ml vegetable stock, 200 ml cider or apple  juice,  fresh sage, S & P  .  Heat the butter in a pan, add onions, garlic, cook for a couple of minutes then add the pumpkin, apples and sage leaves, cook for about two minutes then add the stock & cider.  Bring to the boil & simmer for about 20 minutes until  very  tender.  Liquidise and  serve hot with  crusty bread.  If  you want a  spicy  soup use  cumin instead of sage.  Pumpkin Cheesecake 

225g, crushed digestive biscuits, 60g butter,  juice &  zest of a  lemon, 300g  roasted cooked pumpkin, 225g caster sugar, 450g cream cheese, tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 4 eggs, 90ml double cream, 90ml natural yoghurt  Heat oven to 170C/325F/gas 3, lightly grease a 25cm loose bottom tin.  Melt butter over low heat and mix in biscuit crumbs, press into the base of the tin.  Mix together the cream cheese, pumpkin flesh, sugar, cinnamon, & nutmeg. Beat the eggs and fold into the mixture. Turn into the tin and bake for about 90 minutes until set on top and squidgy underneath. Cool in the tin, when cold turn out and chill overnight.  Whip double cream until thick, fold  in the yoghurt &  lemon  juice, spread over the top of the cheesecake & enjoy.  Roasted pumpkin seeds 

Use these to mix into flapjacks and biscuits or to garnish tarts and cakes, or they are just good to nibble.  Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A & potassium, and high in fibre so all ways round it’s a winner, tasty and good for you.  

The Fat Goose special set menu which is only £10.00 for two courses and available for lunch or dinner Tuesday to Friday inclusive, features lots of tasty autumn dishes and the menu changes weekly, so there’s always something new to try. 

CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS

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WI At our September meeting, Gary Egerton talked and showed slides of ‘The Tower of London’. What an entertaining evening – no grumbles at all! Gary gave us a potted history lesson on the tower and its inhabitants – I wish I’d had a history teacher like him when I was at school! Our next meeting is on Tuesday 4th October at 7.30 pm in the village hall. This will be our AGM and there will be food after the business is finished. If you were not at the September meeting and would like food will you please let Billie Soar know by Sunday 2nd October. 250438.

ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

MONDAY 10th October

7.30pm

“What is under your house? The surprising geology of Tendring”

Illustrated talk by Dr Peter Allen

Great Bentley Village Hall

Raffle: Refreshments.

We hope to have some exhibits and why not bring any rocks/fossils for ID/interest.

ART CLUB

Tuesday 11th October Appraisal for Exhibition

Friday 21st October

Set up Exhibition

Saturday 22nd/Sunday 23rd October Annual Exhibition (40th year)

Tuesday 25th October

Autumn Tints

GARDENING CLUB With the nights drawing in and the Autumn upon us, I thought I would let you know what the Garden Club has planned for the rest of this year. On the 18th October we will be joined by Mr John Mead who is going to give us a talk and demonstration of Autumn baskets and containers. On the 15th November Anne Newman will be our guest speaker and she will be giving us a talk on the gardens of Suffolk. This year our Christmas party will be held on 20th December. Visitors are always welcome. I look forward to bringing you news from our Autumn Show in the next issue.

EVERGREEN FRIENDSHIP CLUB

At the meeting on August 24th Joye was unable to be with us. Billie was in charge for the afternoon. We were entertained by “The Day Timers”. They played music we could all remember and sang songs which we all joined in with. It was a very well supported meeting and enjoyed by all. October 27th - Village Hall, 2pm Clacton Lions’ Club Tea Party. Competition - a Handmade party invitation (by you)

HISTORY SOCIETY

Thursday 20th October

8pm

David Whittle of the Harwich Society. “How Victorians Developed Dovercourt”

Guests and visitors are most welcome

CHILDREN’S PAGE

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Tips Other fruits, such as a grapefruit, small watermelons or yellow-skinned melons, could also be used as lanterns. Use the unused orange flesh to add to a fruit salad. Alternatively, to make a smoothie, blend the orange flesh with a banana and some yogurt in a liquidizer.

Tip Use this same idea to make other spooky shapes for Halloween, perhaps a witch’s hat, cat or pumpkin lantern.

Ingredients 4 Slices Bread Little butter or cream cheese for spreading 4 slices of ham or cheese, the same size as the bread 4 pitted black olives Few slices carrot or red pepper. What to do Cut a square of paper or card the same size as the bread, then draw on a ghost shape and cut out. On the chopping board, spread each slice of bread with butter or cream cheese and top with ham or cheese. Place the paper ghost shape over one open sandwich and cut around it with a small knife, with the bread still on the board. Repeat with other sandwiches. Halve the olives. Carefully cut zigzags in the carrot or red pepper slices for mouths. Decorate the ghosts with olives for eyes and jagged carrot or pepper mouths, all stuck in place with a little extra butter or cream cheese. Ingredients 4 Oranges 4 scoops vanilla ice cream or blackcurrant sorbet or set jelly. 4 liquorice Catherine wheels Few glace cherries What to do On the chopping board, cut a slice off the top of each orange about one-third down from the top, and put to one side. Using the teaspoon, scoop out the orange flesh and membrane until you reach the white inside of the orange. Turn one of the oranges on its side and carefully cut eye and mouth shapes with a small sharp knife. You may prefer to mark these on with a pen before cutting. Do the same with the other oranges. Fill with scoops of ice cream, sorbet or jelly. Replace lids, place sliced cherries into the mouths and add strips of unwound liquorice for hair. Serve immediately or freeze until ready to serve.

Congratulations! The Parish Council wish to say a very big well done and thank you to Cllr Herbert for his efforts in assisting the Police with the capture of two burglars! The pair had just burgled his a house on the Southside of the Green when they were disturbed and Cllr Herbert gave chase whilst directing the police both on the ground and in the air towards their whereabouts. One of the pair was armed with a knife and was more than willing to use it before he was disarmed by Police. Well done Bill. We are very glad to have a hero amongst us!!! Please don’t wear your underpants on top of your trousers to the next Parish Meeting – you’re supposed to be in disguise!!! Allotments On to less exciting news now! As most allotment holders now know there is to be a change in how the Parish Council charge their rents. We have moved to a fairer system of charges per square metre which means not all plots will be the same price. The minimum rent will now be £10 but for those who have considerably bigger plots the rent will go up. The Parish Council will not make any money on this new system but it will be fairer for all. Anyone who feels the measurements for their plot are incorrect is free to contact the Clerk for it to be re-measured. New Allotment Site Finally it looks like the end is nigh and we will be having our original land reinstated to us after all this time. It ain’t over til it’s over but we hope for a conclusion by the time you read this newsletter!! Car Park The old siding is to be transferred over from the 1st November and we are looking for funding to get the site cleared and set up as a proper working car park. It is a big step towards creating a much needed facility for the village and we really hope to be successful in our bid for Big Society Funding. Watch this space! Highways Please report any matters for the Highway Department’s attention to the Clerk in the usual way. Green Boxes Plenty in stock now!!! Parish Council Meetings Thursday 6th October 2011 7.30pm – Village Hall, Michael Wright Room Thursday 3rd November 2011 7.30pm – Village Hall, Michael Wright Room Resource Centre opening Times Wednesday 28th September 9.30am – 11.30am Wednesday 5th October 9.30am – 11.30am Wednesday 12th October 9.30am – 11.30am Wednesday 19th October 9.30am – 11.30am Monday 24th October 10.00am – 12.00pm Wednesday 2nd November 9.30am – 11.30am Other times leave a message on the answer-phone at the resource centre (01206 256410). Email clerk@greatbentleyparishcouncil.co.uk (both checked regularly). I will contact you as soon as possible. It can also be arranged for the office to be open to view plans, collect green bins etc by appointment with the Clerk. Kate Mayhew Clerk to Great Bentley Parish Council

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Great Bentley Parish Council

26

A FEW NOTES FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Household Waste and Recycling Collection A new contract with Veolia Environmental Services Ltd has been agreed for Tendring District Council’s Household Waste and Recycling. The service will be improved with a saving of £563,000 per annum being made. This includes a financial contribution from Essex County Council under the Inter Authority Agreement which commits Tendring District Council introducing a food waste collection. The agreement was for the collection of food waste in Urban Areas only, but Tendring District Council is extending the service to include Rural Areas. The service will provide; -

The continuation of a weekly waste collection in black bags

A new District wide weekly food waste collection

A weekly collection of various recyclables

Most households will be provided with two caddies for food waste; a smaller caddy for kitchen use which can be emptied into a larger caddy for the weekly kerbside collection. Two boxes will be provided for the kerbside non-food recycling materials which will be collected weekly; the boxes will be different colours to enable alternate weekly collections of paper/card one week and plastics/tins the next. The new service is due to start as from 1st February 2012 with the food waste collection being phased in after that date. Martins Farm Civic Waste Site – Closure - Update No update for this month as the meeting with Essex County Council’s Cabinet member for Environment, Cllr Kevin Bentley, will be held on Tuesday 27th September; all District Councillors and Parish and Town Councillors, for the area covered by Martins Farm, will be attending the meeting. There will be an update in next month’s Parish Magazine. Thank you again to all those residents who have signed the petition and written letters with your concerns and support to oppose the closure. Local Development Framework (LDF) The consultation process is underway for proposed residential development in the District. Questions will include; -

How many new homes do you think are needed over the next 15-20 years?

Will you or any members of your family need housing over the next 15-20 years?

How do you think housing growth should be distributed throughout the District?

What type of housing do you think will best meet the needs of future generations?

The responses will be analysed with reports prepared in November and December. To find out more information and to complete the consultation questionnaire please go on line to Tendring District Council’s website www.tendringdc.gov.uk. Please remember the LDF will shape the future of residential housing development in Tendring for the next 20 years and your input is very important. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns; I am always very pleased to help and hear from you. Cllr. Lynda McWilliams e-mail lynda@boblyn.co.uk Cabinet Member for Telephone number 01206 250732 Customer and Central Services

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Thorrington Pre-School ‘Welcome back’ everyone to a new term with Thorrington Pre-School. We are pleased to report that our new children are continuing to settle well. We are very much looking forward to working with both our existing and new children and their families and hope that you all continue to enjoy your time with us. Some new routines have been introduced and are working positively with all the children; thanks must go to you all for your patience and understanding while we have implemented these important changes. Thorrington Pre-School is now owned and managed by myself, Kathryn Long; I am very excited to have the opportunity, along with the dedicated staff team, to develop and progress Pre-School further over the coming weeks. I would like to thank the staff, parents, families and local community groups for their continued support, enthusiasm and Good Luck messages. Pre-School will soon take on a new name and identity, with a smart new uniform to match! This will help give children a greater sense of belonging and promote a clear identity. Hopefully our website will be up and running soon. This will prove a useful tool for general information, uniform details, term dates, newsletters etc. (I will keep you informed of its progress.) Please contact me if you would like any further information, or if you wish to register a place. You are, of course, very welcome to visit during any session. (Please see our regular advert for details on page L.) As always, your feedback, comments and suggestions are welcomed. With Good Wishes to you all, Kathryn Long Mobile: 07753-328524 / Pre-School: 07592-344367.

The Heather Patch Great Bentley Green

The Heather Patch is an area of heathy acid grassland to the west of the Methodist Chapel and north of the chidren’s play area. About 10 years ago after a submission by the Conservation Group, it was decided by the Parish Council that the area should be allocated to the Conservation Group for maintenance. This meant that the area would be cut once annually and not at frequent intervals as is done for the rest of the green. This cutting regime allowed the native plants i.e. heather, harebells, heath bedstraw and heath grasses to develop. This is because the cut grass was also removed from the site, allowing the soil to remain acid thus encouraging the growth of acid loving heath plants. Removing the cut vegetation maintains the site at a low fertility. Initially the grass was cut and removed by volunteers but currently a local contractor is used for this operation. As the previous management cutting routine had almost destroyed the existing heather plants, new plants and seed were introduced from Tiptree Heath during 2004 and 2006. The heather plants struggled to survive but this year has seen vigorous regrowth of two original plants and the appearance of six new patches of heather presumably from seed sown several years back. The site was surveyed during 2002 by Terri Tarpey. She reported that the Heather Patch contains several plant species that are either scarce or rare locally. Within the Tendring District, sites of acid grassland cover approximately 5-6 hectares so at 0.5ha the Heather Patch is a significant proportion of this habitat. Lowland heath lands are a rare and threatened habitat internationally. There will be an Open Morning at the Heather Patch on the green on Saturday 8 October from 10-12. Tea and coffee will be available. All interested persons are invited to attend. The purpose of the Open Morning is to show villagers what the Heather Patch is, why it is there, how it is maintained and why it is an important ecological site for the village and should be maintained for future generations. On a recent visit more than 20 Goldfinches were feasting on the seeds of the knapweed plants.

Do join us.

David Gollifer

THANK YOU

Thank you to everyone who has sent their love and good wishes to me and my family since I have been in hospital. It has helped a great deal and we feel very privileged to live in such a supportive village with so many caring people. I am now home and feeling better and am looking forward to getting my strength back. I hope to see you all before too long. Adrian Watson

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Great Bentley Show

Companion Dog Show Results 2011

With such fantastic weather we had a really great day. 92 dogs were entered in the show with 216 entries which was once again an increase on last year’s numbers. Thank you to our judge, Val Burton, who was kept busy throughout the afternoon; it was great to see so many pet dogs entered in the classes, with many dogs and owners taking part for the first time; it looked as though everyone was thoroughly enjoying their afternoon.

My grateful thanks go to all the helpers I had on the day, Sally Morton, Donna Morphew, Lesley Shipp, Billie Soar and Brooke Wingrove, also a big thank you to the Village Show committee for their help with setting up and clearing away the ring, and thank you Julie Mead for supplying us with the much needed refreshments. The winners of each class were; - Pedigree Classes Best Puppy J Halsall’s Mini Long Haired Dachshund Psalm Sporting Mr Mills’ Scottie Bebe Best Any Variety Non Sporting Ludlow’s Rough Collie Holly Open Adams and Carlyon’s Rough Collie Cody Best in Show Adams and Carlyon’s Rough Collie Cody Reserve Best in Show Mr Mills’ Scottie Bebe Best Puppy J Halsall’s Mini Long Haired Dachshund Psalm Best Opposite Sex Mr Mills’ Scottie Bebe Novelty Classes Best Veteran Lorraine Jessops Llasa Apso Georgia (aged 17) Best Child Handler Rhianna Brooks with her Pomeranian Bobby Best Crossbreed/Mongrel A Moran’s Celium x Norfolk Terrier George Best Rescue Dog Diesel Wallis’ Lurcher Daisey Dog most like its owner Mr D Harveys Border Collie George Prettiest Bitch B Barnes’ Chichuhua Tinkabel Handsome Dog P Halliday’s Great Dane Storm Dog with the WaggiestTail Anne Taylors’s Cavalier Daisy Dog in best Condition Ludlow’s Rough Collie Holly Dog the judge would like to take home Danny Eldridge’s Terrier Libby Best Novelty Ludlow’s Rough Collie Holly Apart from the great support the show receives from Great Bentley and the surrounding villages and towns, it always interests me to note how far people will travel with their dogs to come to our show; this year some travelled from as far away as Loughton, South Essex and Chessington in Surrey. Thank you to everyone who attended the show and well done to all the winners. Lynda McWilliams Dog Show Organiser and Deputy Chairman on behalf of the Great Bentley Show

HUBERT’S HAPPY HEALTHY TURKEYS Grove Farm, Elmstead Market

Turkeys will be available again for Christmas. Also available hams, gammons and a whole range of other meats. Tel: 01206 825881: 07747 625725

www.hubertshappyhealthyturkeys.co.uk

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THANK YOU 1st Great Bentley Rainbows

We would like to thank everyone who gave us Tesco vouchers. Our equipment has arrived and the girls were pleased with their new hula hoops and skipping ropes. A big thank you too to everyone who gave cakes and helped out in the tea tent at the Village Show. Badger A message from Julie, David and Natalie, The Green, Great Bentley We would like to thank everyone who helped and offered support, following the break-in to our home on August Bank Holiday Monday. A special thanks to the Herbert family, Bill for his detective work in guiding the police to the burglars eventual whereabouts on the borders of Weeley, Yvonne for her care, Fiona for her detective assistance and Howard for his tracking of the suspects. A very special thanks to my wife, who having disturbed the perpetrators had the presence of mind to follow them to the Station and inform the police. The suspects remain in custody awaiting trial at the end of the year. An incident like the one we have endured is not nice, but is somewhat softened by the thought that at times like this, Great Bentley truly does show its community spirit. Many thanks, Julie, David & Natalie

GREAT BENTLEY CONSERVATIVES

Thanks to all those of you who took the time to drop by at the Conservatives Stand at the Village Show on Saturday 3rd September. Tendring District and Essex County Councillors were out in force and our MP, Bernard Jenkin, was also at the Show and took the time to see as many people as possible. Our stand seemed to prove popular – could that have been due to the coconut-shy type contraption that encouraged members of the public to toss wet sponges at the three party leaders? All in all, with such favourable weather and a great turnout the show proved to be one of the best – and we were delighted to support it. Meanwhile, we’re planning our next event and will let you have details soon…. Pam Stephens Secretary, Great Bentley Conservatives Coppice Farm, Wick Road, Great Bentley, CO7 8QZ Tel: 01255-831567 E-mail: coppice_farm@hotmail.com

THANK YOU TO ALAN AND JUDY Not a month goes by when we do not see a thank you letter from Alan and Judy, thanking the village folk for the gifts sent to our serving soldiers and airmen and also the gifts of animal bedding and food. You only have to read the letters from the soldiers to realise how welcome the parcels have been. What a great and loving couple you both are, always thinking of others before yourselves. We would also like to thank Alan and Judy for the contributions they have given us to help the homeless and vulnerable in Clacton and Colchester by giving us soup for the soup kitchens. Thank you both for all your kindness shown to other people and animals. We are not signing this but you will know who has written it. God bless you both.

OCTOBER WINDS

October winds ease a while Through the clouds, let the sun shine You might be in a hurry, days gone by

I’m not, birthday nearly nigh. Age is history to you

Age to me, I’m no longer new October winds, leaves blown off trees For me, you bring aches to the knees. Colour to the leaves, beauty you bring

Alas birds in chorus no longer sing Every year days of the month, we compete

You always win, I accept defeat Annually we meet together

Reminding me, my birthday is in November.

CAKES FOR ST HELENA HOSPICE

The W.I. will be baking cakes for St Helena Hospice in the week beginning 17th October Collection points: Monday 17th October 12 noon Chris Aplin, Newmay House, The Green Thursday 20th October 12 noon Sylvia Adams, 68 Birch Avenue The patients and visitors really appreciate our efforts, but they request NO NUTS please. Thank you Chris Aplin (Secretary)

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Great Bentley Pre-school www.greatbentleyschool.co.uk

GREAT BENTLEY CALENDAR 2012

PROCEEDS TO

THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION

and

ST MARY’S CHURCH If you would like to sponsor the

calendar please contact Tim Carney by the 1st October

Tudor House, The Green 251006/250194 Cost per sponsor will be £25

We’ve all enjoyed our first month back after the summer break and all our new children have settled in well and shown great enjoyment with all the new experiences and challenges they are gaining. Our theme continues this month with ‘Things that move’ and children will continue to develop their knowledge on this through our craft activities and outside environment. We will also look at all the different ways that animals move as well as transport. We will also be joining in with ‘Halloween’ celebrations where children will be given the opportunity to come in fancy dress on Monday 31st October. With ‘Bonfire Night’ being so close we will also be having lots of fun with different activities to support this. We still have availability on Thursday and Friday sessions so please speak to a member of staff if you would like more sessions or if you would like to join our group. If you would like to join our Pre-school or look around please do not hesitate to call or pop in and see us. For our new families I would like to inform you of a great scheme we provide at our Pre-school. 2 years ago we were successful in obtaining a grant from Sure Start Children Services; we used the money to buy 13 story sacks for our families to hire out. Story sacks come with props, books, CD’s and DVD’s relating to a particular story and provide children with visual aids to engage in reading and listening skills. All families can join our scheme and hire out the sacks on a weekly basis free of charge. If you would like more information please speak to a member of staff, a full catalogue of the stories can be found on our notice board in the foyer. BARNARDO’S WALK Thank you to all the parents and children that supported this event. It is such a worthwhile cause and I am proud to inform that so far we have raised a brilliant total of £226.50. A big thank you to everyone who took part and to those who donated. If you have still got any sponsor forms to hand in, could you please do so as we need to send the money off. HALL CLOSURE On Wednesday 28th September is will be necessary to close the Pre-school at 12.45pm due to the hall being used by another user group. This is something that we had to bear in mind when we started our Wednesday afternoon sessions and I hope this will not inconvenience you too much. All children will need to be collected by 12.45pm. Thank you.

PHOTOGRAPHS Julie Walker will be coming into the group on Thurs-day 20th October. Julie has been our regular photog-rapher for several years now. She always produces lovely pictures and works really well with the children totally putting them all at ease. All children attending the Thursday session will have their photo taken, if you are not in that day you will need to put your name down for an allocated time. It doesn’t seem possible but some children that are due to start Primary School next year have started to attend our regular sessions on a Tuesday afternoon at Great Bentley Primary School. These sessions have proved to be such a success and thoroughly support your child with their transition when the time arises to attend Primary School full time. Thank you once again to ‘Conkers Cutters’ for coming round and kindly tidying our garden up again in the summer break. Our website is a good tool for communication and correspondence. I update the information on a regular basis and you will also find updated copies of Newsletters each month (under the Forum section). You can order new uniform, contact your Key person and even have a chat with other Forum members. P l e a s e u s e t h i s u s e f u l t o o l , www.greatbentleypreschool.co.uk. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Photographs – Thursday 20th October Half Term – 24th – 28th October Non Pupil Day at Great Bentley Primary School – Friday 21st October – We are still open Halloween Fancy Dress – Monday 31st October

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Behind the very plain title shown above lay a most astonishingly entertaining evening for which “Carry on Coggeshall” might have been a more appropriate name. Michael Horne, a historian attached to the Coggeshall Museum, was our speaker at the Society’s September presentation, and from the outset plied us with details that showed this nearby town to be a most unusual place with a very strange history. If most of us were asked about Coggeshall, we’d probably say just that it is that little town somewhere off the A120 that has a well-known restaurant. And so it may now be. What we learnt from Michael, however, was that in the past it was once, after Colchester, the second largest town in Essex – bigger than Romford, Chelmsford et al, with a thriving industry based on woollen goods like so many East Anglian towns of the late Middle Ages. But it was from the oddities of behaviour in times past that the term “Coggeshall jobs” arose, referring to comical anecdotes of absurd actions. An example was of the large group of inhabitants who, it is reported, gathered to try to push the church a few yards along as it was in the wrong place; and they believed they had succeeded when their coats that they had left on the other side of the building were later not to be found. If this all sounds like a bad Irish joke, no doubt this is the effect of time adding bits to the original. The town, being situated on so-called lay-lines, has also encouraged the strong belief in local ghosts (of which large numbers are claimed) and witches. Concentrating initially on the serious side, Michael explained how so much comes to be known of the Elizabethan town. Such is the vast amount of local documentation that exists from the 16th century that an accurate picture can be seen, right down to exact sizes of houses and plots, the names of those who lived there and the whole minutiae of their lives. Public records of the courts, state and church papers, and ecclesiastical documents add vividly to this picture Elizabeth’s accession in 1558 followed the religious tumult of Mary’s reign and, like Great Bentley, the town has its list of martyrs executed for their Protestant beliefs and worship. A great source of information about this period comes in the detailed wills left by some of the wealthy clothiers of the town and a strong degree of independence emerges; a major incident arose in the form of a revolt by locals of all classes when they were expected to pay for repairs to the highway to Colchester. Earlier prosperity had been followed by great local poverty brought about by outside monopolies in the clothing trade. A reputation for dissolute behaviour grew alongside the very puritanical observation by others of their neighbours’ private goings on. Scandals abounded. Three murders between 1584 and 1595 were, oddly enough, somewhat mirrored in later years when three murders were committed in the 1980s. The murder committed in 1592 by one George Haven was particularly gruesome and the details of the trial describe in detail first one knife plunging deep into the victim, Thomas Warner, and then another (the strange additional information that each of the knives was worth a penny lends it an odd reality). He was executed at the Windmill Fields in the kind of carnival atmosphere that would accompany such events in those days

HISTORY SOCIETY Coggeshall during Elizabethan Times

The further pictures he drew of the wild goings on of some of the local characters are too many for this article but infamous games of “camping”, a predecessor of football, at Bradwell and Great Tey, and local constables neglecting their duties to go fishing at the Abbey were just a few. Poverty and crime continued. An Elizabeth Warner was had up for “receiving and entertaining in her house divers persons to drink”. Local conditions like the roads and bridges, meanwhile, continued to deteriorate. Michael has himself written a play about the antics of the inhabitants of Church Street which is performed at the National Trust’s Grange Barn and features several well known Coggeshallites, and he is preparing a book on the town’s history. He ended with the stories of two major eccentrics of the period, the first almost causing a revolution. This involved a Sir John Smythe, a soldier, who in 1596/7 went to Colchester where he gathered together a body of troops. He then set about denouncing William Cecil, the Lord Treasurer to the Queen (even though the two men were old acquaintances). When called to account, all he could say was that he must have been drunk. Later found also to have amassed weapons and quantities of bullets, he was incarcerated in the Tower where he was kept for some years. Released when quite old, he died in Little Baddow. Lastly we heard of the renowned “Mad Vicar” who, on the death of the much respected Rev. Newman, replaced him with a form of rabid Puritanism that involved three hour sermons denouncing Catholicism in the most violent terms. A sign of his unbalanced mentality was his writing of 300 pages about each of two verses of St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Finally forced to leave, he returned to Sandwich but came back to further declare his beliefs. Dying he announced to his four children, “If you wish to be saved, read my books” (the Bible seems to have been ignored). Further to his madness - he appointed Jesus Christ as executor of his will (quite how this would have worked only he knew). The speaker had held the audience almost spellbound with his entertaining re-creation of the period and the eccentric nature of the town in those years. But he had shown us that, alongside the serious and important matters of history, life goes on at times in its hilarious and sometimes nonsensical way. The audience thanked him appropriately for a really original evening’s entertainment.

************************** Next month’s lecture will be on Thursday 20th October at 8 p.m. when our speaker is David Whittle of the Harwich Society. His subject is “How the Victorians Developed Dovercourt”. As always guests and visitors are most welcome.

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YOUTH FOOTBALL

Well our first week of fixtures are out of the way and on the whole a pretty good weekend for the club! It seems that my Under 12 Reds

were the only team to be defeated this weekend coming away from a long trip to Cressing empty handed. The only mini soccer game saw Matt’s Under 10’s win 2-1 against Rowhedge in a game in which they could have had 5 or 6 but had little luck in front of goal. Cliff’s boys in the A league got off to a good start with a draw against Wivenhoe Blues, whilst Al’s Under 14’s got a good win away to Great Bradfords, Neil’s Under 12 Blues got the three points from Boxford. Dave’s Under 11’s came away with a 2-0 win in their first game at 11 a side so not bad all round. The leagues are looking pretty competitive again so it’ll be a tough season all round for the kids. It’s great to see so many young kids getting involved with both Rob and Richie which is really positive for the future of the club. We had our AGM recently and is it clear that all our costs are rising so we have had to raise match subs and annual subs for next year but we still compare very well with other clubs in the area some of whom charge up to £75 just to sign on. Anyway, here’s looking forward to another good season with the kids . Thanks for reading, Scott

GT BENTLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

Results & Fixtures: (All league, Saturday, 3 p.m. unless otherwise stated)

First Team: 3 Sept, away, Earls Colne, K.O. Cup, 2-3 a.e.t.; 10 Sept, home Sudbury Athletic 1-0; 17 Sept, away, Hatfield Peverel; 3-2; 24 Sept, home Harwich & Parkeston; 1 Oct, away Leytonstone United, Essex Premier Cup 2 p.m.; 8 Oct, away West Bergholt; 15 Oct, home Hedinghams United; 22 Oct, home University of Essex; 29 Oct, home Alresford Colne Rangers.

Reserves: 27 Aug, home Sudbury Athletic Res 0-3; 3 Sept, home Rowhedge Res. 1-4; 24 Sept, away, Earls Colne Res; 1 Oct, away Gas Recreation Res; 8 Oct, home Forest Glade Res, Essex Junior Cup 2 p.m.; 15 Oct, away University of Essex Res; 22 Oct, away Rowhedge Res; 29 Oct, away Coggeshall Town Res.

A Team: 3 Sept, away Sporting Rebels 0-1; 10 Sept, away, Witchfinders 0-7; 17 Sept, away, New Field 3-0; 24 Sept, away Brightlingsea Regent A; 1 Oct, home Harwich Rangers, Amos Cup 2-15 p.m.; 8 Oct, away Beacon Hill Rovers Res. Essex Junior Trophy 2 p.m.; 15 Oct, home Dellows; 22 Oct and 29 Oct, fixtures not to hand.

Despite starting training and playing friendlies in July, Bentley always seem to be taken unawares by the start of the season. Newbury Forest beat us 7-3 in a very entertaining game, and then hung around for an hour waiting for the promised food from the BBQ. Apparently the first cinder-encrusted sausage rolled off the production line at about 8-45 p.m., some four hours after the game. I still maintain that we can organise a good drink in a brewery, but very little else! The next week was a cup game – we don’t do cup games - and lost to a goal three minutes from the end of extra-time in another good game. What Bentley have done consistently, during their seasons in the Premier Division so far, is win enough points from target games, plus the occasional surprise, to keep in the division. Newbury, from what we’d seen and heard, were always going to be a handful. Sudbury and Hatfield, on the other hand, are teams of similar ability to ourselves, and the six points, taken from these games, are absolute gold-dust. To say that we flagged in the latter stages of all the games would be something of an understatement, but we have got a rather good last line of defence in Ethi. My favourite moment from the opening games, was when stand-in manager, Herbie became so traumatised by the desperation of our play, in the latter stages at Hatfield, that he retired to the dug-out and stared at the back of it, unable to watch! Chairman, Rig pronounced himself a nervous wreck, while everybody else had chewed their fingernails to their elbows. It’s a bit like watching a horror film from behind the sofa. You’re too frightened to watch, but still risk a peek now and then. I’ve rarely seen a team as distraught as Hatfield after that game. At least eight of their players just sat in silence near our goal, looking for the invisible shield. Speaking of horror films, a quick word about A team player/manager, Colesy, who broke his nose, both cheekbones and an eye socket after a clash of heads during the game against Witchfinders. Jules, who, on the day, said he’d be ok to finish the game, is awaiting surgery, and we all wish him the very best for a speedy recovery. Stoner August Draw Winners: M. Gourley £50, B. Oram £20 and M. Page £10.

JOTTINGS FROM THE ALLOTMENTS I think all allotmenteers would agree it has been an amazing year with bumper crops. We always face the usual challenges thrown at us by the weather (how do farmers manage?). With every annual resumé the old adage “You win some, you lose some” springs to mind. It applies to us all and even from plot to plot the same crop can vary immensely. The great thing about the allotments is the camaraderie between the individuals who work there. This year has seen a definite comparison with the “Hampton Court Flower Show” ie the wild and avant garde look as illustrated on the front cover of our July Magazine. Swathes of colour created by garden flowers complimented by some wonderful wildflower beds have attracted the very important bees and butterflies which form an integral part of all complimentary gardening. We all seek varying results from our labours; veg to cook, flowers to fill our vases, fresh air, fun, friendship, pyromaniac tendencies fulfilled, aching muscles, the list is endless. By the time you read this most of us will have paid our annual rents and in all probability there may be a few plots to spare. Make no bones about it, it is hard work. Please don’t think that you rake a piece of soil, throw a few seeds in and relax until harvest time arrives. Be prepared for the work but also to reap the rewards of your labours. Nothing surpasses the flavour of home grown crops. For many the wildlife is important too and is so varied. From a distance we have seen marsh harriers, buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawk and are complimented by lizards, stoats, mice and rats. The local cats help to control the latter and one moggie startled me recently when I had left the shed door open in the morning sunshine, returned to gather tools half an hour later and was confronted by a fleeing furry form. Why not join us? You won’t regret it I’m sure

APPLE WEEKEND A recent free publication entitled ‘Coastal Life Essex’, an East Anglian Daily Times publication caught my eye the other day at a local supermarket. Sponsored by Visit Essex I found an article on Park Fruit Farm who advertise in our magazine. Stephen Elsworth and his wife Rosemary (nee Buckle) run the orchard and tea room, the latter was opened 3 years ago. There are 15 acres of planted orchards and 39 different varieties of apples growing there. October 22nd and 23rd is Park Fruit Farm’s Apple Weekend. This event has been run for 10 or more years and is part of the National Apple Day initiative. Obviously the apples will be on display

and tasting will be possible with escorted tours around the orchard plus a mini farmer’s market which will feature the farm shop suppliers. There will also be demonstrations on how they press the apples. This is a free event and the farm will be open from 10am until 5pm on both days.

ADVERTISEMENTS

We now have a waiting list for advertisers who comprise of the following: Love to Eat - a deli in Thorpe which sells home made food, artisan breads and offers catering for all sorts of functions. 01255 860707. Prettys Solicitors - 25 Elm Street, Ipswich, 01473 232121 Friendly Finishing Solutions - Plastering, Rendering, Dry Lining, Screeding, phone 01206 251979 Samantha offers bookkeeping facilities. Sage & Sage Payroll expertise, experience with manual cashbooks, AAT Qualified. £20 per hour. 07790 040 520 Worried about your weight - why not try the Cambridge Weight Plan contact Gilly Sandford 07717 662102. Strangers Home Caravan and Camping Site in Bradfield – please note we have restaurant facilities which are open to the public. You will be very welcome. For details phone 01255 870 304. I will be writing to all present and prospective advertisers for 2012 during the month of November. If you wish to add your name to the waiting list please ring me - Mary Maskell 250524 or email marymaskell@sys3internet.net.

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NATURE NOTES

MARSH HARRIERS Thank you to David Gollifer who kindly posted through the letterbox the Country Diary published in the Guardian on 16th September. Written by a man who is walking in the Arun valley, beside the South Downs he records “A large dark-brown shape moves low over the long grass, suspended in the air from it’s broad, sail-like wings. It looks down as it gently strokes the air with its wing tips, before flapping and floating on across the field. It’s a “cream crown” - a young or female marsh harrier with splashes of creamy white on its head and throat. This bird is an adult female, with pale leading edges on her wings. Extinct in Britain by 1900 as a result of habitat loss and hunting, the marsh harrier recovered, only to be reduced to one breeding pair in the 1970’s. But the ban on organochlorine pesticides and habitat restoration have seen the birds return in their breeding strongholds in the Eastern Counties. It is most likely a bird that has come from East Anglia or northern Europe.” I had not realised that these wonderful birds, with a spectacular wing span of 115-140 centimetres (nearly 5 foot in old money) had suffered so badly. Easily seen nowadays at the RSPB reserve at Minsmere I have come to take for granted their presence on my regular dog walk over the past few years. Just this week I have seen the adult female I call “Gold Shoulder” and two of this years offspring, the latter with dark brown plumage and a stunning golden head, soaring over the marsh and nearby farmland. In recent weeks the two males “Very White” and “Not very White” have been noticeably absent. I have named them as the white plumage on their outstretched wings is markedly different and would make good advertising publicity for washing powders you should/not select! In Spring in particular, it is possible to see several of these birds at any one time. It is always hard to know where they are nesting as they tease you by dipping below the sea wall with vegetation in their talons with which to construct their nest. In the past two years near “My Patch” there have been two nests recorded in 2010 one had four chicks ringed the other three. In 2011 the tally was two chicks ringed and we suspect just one bird fledged from a second nest. Three cheers for privately owned land secreted away from footpaths. They have been seen from the Green and from the allotments and over village farmland as they have an extensive territory. Here is one of this years babies that I was privileged to see ringed. This is of course undertaken by a qualified person with a special, legal permit.

AN UNEXPECTED SIGHTING OR TWO! A couple of weeks back I was contacted to see if I would like to see a hoopoe. These are birds normally associated with Mediterranean countries but occasionally they arrive here for a short while. The person in question made me promise not to divulge the secret location as he did not wish to have his property inundated with birders. It was a real privilege and in the morning sunlight its plumage was resplendent and its crest, which has been likened to a Red Indian’s head-dress, a real giveaway. And so it was that on the evening of Saturday 17th September someone phoned to say that a Palid Harrier had been seen at Leewick. On a beautifully clear Sunday morning after checking my bird book, I decided to drive to St. Osyth to take a look. On this private, single track which leads to the EWT reserve of Colne Point, a normally deserted road, vehicles were parked in every field entrance and gateway. People well wrapped up against the chill autumn weather were grouped with telescopes, binoculars and cameras with lenses the size of which BBC cameramen would be pleased to be using. I walked away from all the activity with the dog eagerly racing along the sea wall. It was so beautifully clear and the view was stunning. Although I have walked here in the winter in search of barn owls (before I found some on my walk closer to home), I had forgotten just how beautiful it was. In one direction it was possible to see Jumbo and the top of the Town Hall building in Colchester with the towers of the University to the right. Brightlingsea, Bradwell, and so much more with a Thames sailing barge and other yachts enjoying the breeze out to sea. Swallows swooped by and I savoured these glimpses as I know before long they will all have left our shores for sunny winter habitats. A little egret paddled around in one of the inlets. How do they keep such brilliant white plumage in these muddy conditions? Walking back to the huddled twitchers I heard the shout “It’s up and going left” and there it was. My first palid harrier. If I am honest, if I had been there on my own I would have just thought that in the distance was a marsh harrier. The dog was happy with his lovely walk and I popped him in the car and joined Fred who was the only local person I recognised. We were all eagerly looking at a ploughed field where our bird had landed behind a bush. Three men turned up to join us. They had arrived from Epsom in Surrey. It’s up again and from the most enormous cameras came deafening clicks as they all tried for that perfect shot. The guy next to me did a nifty leap to the right for a better view and there was a loud pop which was the explosion of the food container in our Surrey visitor’s carrier bag as his lunch box was crushed. The bird flew on towards the seawall and I had a job to stifle my giggles. More and more cars were arriving and I decided that at 10 o’clock it was time for my Sunday morning tea and toast. The squashed lunchbox was last seen being tossed into the car boot. The bird and twitchers, I am told soon disappeared and as Fred left a car stopped and asked if this was the right place for “The harrier” “Sorry, it’s gone”. Can’t print what followed as the man had just driven from Doncaster for a glimpse. A memorable experience! If I’m honest I love best of all my garden and normal dogwalking feathered friends. M.M. To view WONDERFUL photos of all these birds check out a local professional photographers website www.markcoventryphotography.co.uk

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DIARY FOR OCTOBER Sat 1st CONCERT BY THE CAVENDER SINGERS, Methodist Hall, p. 3

Sun 2nd HARVEST CONCERT, St Osyth, p. 16

Tues 4th W.I. Village Hall, 7.30pm, p. 23

Wed 5th RESOURCE CENTRE OPEN, 9.30-11.30am

Wed 5th BENTLEY BEARS, 2.15pm, St Mary’s Church

Thurs 6th MOTHERS’ UNION, Vestry Room, 2pm, p. 2

Thurs 6th PARISH COUNCIL MEETING, Village hall, 7.30pm

Thurs 6th YOUTH CLUB, Methodist Hall

Fri 7th ST HELENA HOSPICE AWARENESS DAY, See p. 16 for details

Fri 7th COFFEE MORNING, Methodist Church, 10-12 noon

Sat 8th OPEN MORNING AT HEATHER PATCH, 10 am - 12 noon, p. 27 Sat 8th HARRY’S DAY, 2pm, Village Hall, see p. 18 for details

Sun 9th HARVEST FESTIVAL, St Mary’s Church, 9.30am, p. 3

Mon 10th ESSEX WILDLIFE TRUST, 7.30pm, Village Hall, p. 23

Tues 11th ART CLUB, Appraisal for Exhibition

Tues 11th CARNIVAL AGM, 8pm, Village Hall

Wed 12th RESOURCE CENTRE OPEN, 9.30-11.30am

Fri 14th MAGAZINE DEADLINE Sat 15th RBL Annual General Meeting, p. 7

Sun 16th WITCH AND GOUL HUNT TOUR, Colchester, see p. 17 for details

Mon 17th HOSPICE CAKES to Newmay House, The Green, 12 noon, p. 30

Tues 18th GARDENING CLUB, 8pm , Village Hall, p. 23

Wed 19th RESOURCE CENTRE OPEN, 9.30-11.30am

Thurs 20th PRE-SCHOOL Photographs. p. 31

Thurs 20th HISTORY SOCIETY, 8pm Village Hall

Thurs 20th YOUTH CLUB, Methodist Hall

Thurs 20th HOSPICE CAKES to Sylvia Adams, 68 Birch Avenue, 12 noon.

Fri 21st ART CLUB, Set up for Exhibition

Fri 21st POLICE SURGERY, Village Hall, 7.30-8.30pm

Fri 21st NON PUPIL DAY AT GT BENTLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL, p. 31

Sat 22nd/Sun 23rd ART CLUB ANNUAL EXHIBITION

Sat 22nd/Sun 23rd APPLE WEEKEND, p. 34 Wed 24th RESOURCE CENTRE OPEN, 10-12 noon

Tues 25th ART CLUB, Autumn Tints

Wed 26th EVERGREEN FRIENDSHIP CLUB, 2pm, Village Hall, p. 23

Thurs 27th BRIGHTLINGSEA FARMERS’ MARKET, p. 4

Fri 28th MAGAZINE COLLATING, Vestry Room, 9am Sat 29th BENTLEY IN BLOOM PLANT SALE, Old Village Hall, p. 18

Sat 29th POPPY APPEAL TABLE TOP SALE, Village Hall, p. 10

Sun 30th CLOCKS GO BACK ONE HOUR

Sun 30th SERVICE OF REMEMBERING, St Mary’s Church, 3pm, p. 2

Mon 31st PRE-SCHOOL Halloween Fancy Dress, p. 31