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Post by rosegriffin on Sept 9, 2014 14:06:39 GMT
This morning I felt very privileged to take part in the Poppy Walk.
Many thanks to everyone who donated poppy seeds from their gardens. It gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of people who I have never met before. Joan Hegwein packaged 150 envelopes with seeds which we gave out at the fete in August. We were left with enough seeds to package another 200 envelopes for the children at St. Margaret's School.
The children left the school, class by class, each half hour for the walk down to St. Margaret's Church where they scattered the seeds in the church yard.
After spreading the seeds, Helen Chapman the verger, gave the children a short tour of the church and provided drinks. Finally, the children made the uphill journey back to school.
All the children were well behaved and very polite.
It was a really lovely day.
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Post by rosegriffin on Sept 4, 2014 18:37:20 GMT
This exhibition, at the Green Centre (old motor boat museum site)at Wat Tyler Country Park sounds really good. I was talking to Jo Cullen, the Basildon Heritage Manager about it today. She tells me that volunteers will be dressed in period costume.
Basildon Heritage Centre are trying to find some early 20th century scout uniforms - do you know anyone who has one? If so, please contact Jo at the Green Centre (sorry don't have her telephone number but will find out).
This September Basildon Borough Heritage Group will be hosting an international mobile World War 1 exhibition to commemorate the Centenary. With organizations from across Basildon and Essex visiting the park, the exhibition aims to portray what life was like in Basildon and our twinning towns Meaux in France and Heiligenhaus in Germany during The Great War.
We want you to help the Basildon Borough Heritage Group commemorate the centenary of World War 1. In a project initiated by local MP Stephen Metcalfe,
we hope to engage as many local schools, clubs and societies in making a contribution to the exhibition as possible, making the exhibition a true community commemoration.
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Post by rosegriffin on Sept 1, 2014 17:05:08 GMT
Well, when I started adding local burglaries to the Forum I didn't think that one day I would be adding a potential robbery from my own shed.
Sometime during the night of Thursday/Friday 28th - 29th August someone took the door of my shed off its hinges. Placed it very tidily against the wall and left the nails, which had held the hinges, on the path. Nothing was taken as far as we could see. Quite frankly I would have been quite happy to see the back of some of the rubbish in my shed!!
As word got round of the potential robbery we heard about another one in Highlands Road on the Monday 25th August previously. The owner of the house thought he heard a noise and saw the shadows of two people in his garden. He ran downstairs just in time to see the second person run past. The only description we have of the person he saw was that he had blondish hair which was brushed forward. The robbers left behind a pair of bolt cutters.
One piece of advice we have received is to put the hinges on the inside of the door instead of the outside to stop hinges being removed.
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 21, 2014 12:05:27 GMT
Two burglaries occurred in Osborne Road around 3 a.m. on 20th August.
Two robberies also occurred in Highlands Road a couple of weeks ago.
Please ring the police on 101 if you saw anything.
Alternatively, if you wish to give confidential information you can ring CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 Information given to CrimeStoppers is anonymous and you might also be able to claim a reward.
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 21, 2014 11:59:56 GMT
Found at Sunday's fete - a pair of red rimmed spectacles. If you know who they belong to please contact Christine Barlow, the parish clerk, 07758 255621
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 11, 2014 13:00:28 GMT
We were horrified to learn of the theft of about 30 swans from the lakes near North Benfleet Hall Farm. Apparently one which "escaped" was found with a crossbow arrow in it.
How cruel can people be........and why were they stolen?
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 11, 2014 12:58:08 GMT
Well, we had no idea about the number of dog thefts in the area!!!
We learn something new every day.
We can assure any concerned residents that there will be no public list of names and addresses of people entering the dog show/links to dogs. Entries will be taken on the day which will include name of owner and pet, NO ADDRESSES will be taken and only Phoenix Dog Training will have access to this list.
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 11, 2014 12:53:43 GMT
Well this is the intended programme for the main arena on the day:
12.00 noon - The mayor opens the fete 12.10 Sutherland Pipes and Drums 12.30 Majorettes 1.00 p.m. Sutherland Pipes & Drums 1.30 p.m. Kayzar (street dancers) 2.00 p.m. John the Magician 2.30 p.m. Winners of the Parish in Bloom; Flower; and Handicraft competitions announced 3.00 p.m. Santoy Dancers 3.30 p.m. Grand Raffle and Programme Lucky Number winners announced.
The current weather forecast is windy, cloudy with some sunshine, and humid but NO rain.
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 11, 2014 12:45:08 GMT
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 9, 2014 11:00:53 GMT
Please would anyone who is kindly making a cake for the tea and coffee stall at the fete leave donations with Daphne Payne at 134, Pound Lane either on the afternoon of Friday 15th August or any time Saturday 16th August.
Of course, you can always bring them along on the day too!!!
Many thanks to our kind helpers
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Post by rosegriffin on Aug 8, 2014 15:30:55 GMT
Hi
There are 4 free to enter competitions at this years fete. Simply bring along your entry before 1.00 p.m.(or asearly as possible ready for judging at 1.30 p.m.
Alton Garden Centre Hybrid Rose Trophy Competition Simply place 3 blooms in a vase and bring along for judging
1st prize - Your name on the trophy; a bottle of wine and a certificate from the parish council. 2nd and 3rd prize winners will also receive a certificate.
Alton Garden Centre Floribunda Rose Trophy Competition Place 3 stems of cluster sprays in a vase and bring along for judging
1st prize - Your name on the trophy; a bottle of wine Flower Arrangement Competition Show us your flower arranging skills. Devise an arrangement of flowers and place them in any sort of container - vase, basket or whatever your choice.
1st prize is a bottle of wine and a certificate from the parish council. 2nd and 3rd prize winners will also receive a certificate.
Handicraft Competition This is an opportunity for anyone who enjoys making things to show us what they can do....we accept any type of home made entry. This could be knitwear; crochet; hand-made jewellery; tapestry; paintings; sketches; models; embroidery etc.
1st prize is a place on a Hedgehog Crafts, based at Manor Koi Garden Centre, workshop; a bottle of wine and a certificate from the parish council. 2nd and 3rd prize winners will also receive a certificate.
Let's hope we get as many entries as possible to all the competitions!!!!!!
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Post by rosegriffin on Jul 30, 2014 8:26:25 GMT
Several people have asked about the Dog Show. Full details will be in the Bugle, but here they are anyway:
£1 per entry per competition. Enter as many competitions and/or the Steeplechase.
Competition Title 1. Cutest Puppy 2. Pretty Girl 3. Handsome Boy 4. Best Rescue Girl or Boy 5. Waggliest Tail 6. Young Handler 5 - 14 years 7. Best in Show
In addition, there will be a steeplechase set out through which you might like to test your dog's abilities.
We'll all enjoy watching the show!!!!
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Post by rosegriffin on Jul 9, 2014 18:13:58 GMT
I sent the following letter to the Editor of the Echo but itmust have been too long as it missed out the last paragraph mentioning the hard work put in by the main members of our petition team - David Salt; Alan Aubrey and Stef Parry. Dear Editor A big thank you to all involved in the Little Chalvedon Hall Farm Campaign. I came back from holiday to many congratulatory emails and cards regarding the Planning Inspector’s recommendation and Eric Pickles decision not to build on Little Chalvedon Hall Farm. All are very much appreciated but I must stress that it has all been a team effort with a lot of hard graft by those involved. The Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association was set up by members of the local Benbow Club when the parish council decided against setting up its own petition or aggressive campaign to fight Nottingham Council’s proposals to build on our greenbelt. Gary Lee, our founder member, has been a great support and liaison with the Benbow since our inception. We decided that communication would be our main strategy in winning this campaign and Tina Whitham and Tony Fay set up our website www.bowersgifford.org.uk and continue to maintain it. The website was funded by Robin Walter, a local businessman. Tina, who has a scientific background, analysed the developer’s Flood Risk Assessment. The report had been approved by Anglian Water. We were horrified when Tina reported that the data used was based on rainfall between 1941 and 1970 and that the software used gave a 24% lower run rate than other similar packages. Apparently the methodology used is common practice and perhaps this is why there has been such a significant amount of flooding in recent years. Tracy Calver and George Smith reviewed the developers Transport Report which had been approved by Essex County Council. It didn’t take long to find pages of errors. We wondered whether the “expert” consultant had actually visited the right village when he stated that Pound Lane had pavements 1.5 metres wide throughout. We only have pavements along about half of Pound Lane and most of those are only 0.8 metres wide! Tracy and George also found that distances to Pitsea railway station were understated. Carole Turkson, our Pitsea representative and largest donor, took note of the number of passengers squashed into train carriages and provided statistical data for the Inspector to digest. Laura Watts carried out a similar exercise on different trains but the results were similar. Our current rail system does not have the capacity for more commuters. Laura also reviewed the developer’s wildlife report. With the help of information supplied by Essex Field Club, she was able to identify far more wildlife than that mentioned in the developers report. Derek Twidell drove the Inspector around Pitsea, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford to show her the impact that more traffic would have on the local roads. The Inspector was shown where Nottingham Council proposed to take two slithers of Howard’s Park to facilitate additional traffic. She was also driven along Burnt Mills Road, the suggested route for development traffic, to show just how narrow and dangerous this road already is. There are too numerous members who spent time knocking on doors, asking for signatures on the petition and helping with letter writing but I have to mention David Salt, Derek Twidell, Alan Aubrey and Steph Parry. A huge thank you to all our supporters. The Residents Association continues to send out a monthly email newsletter to supporters in Pitsea, North Benfleet and Bowers Gifford. If you would like to receive a copy please email ChairResidentsAssociation@outlook.com Rose Griffin-Twidell
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Post by rosegriffin on Jun 18, 2014 15:30:08 GMT
Please don't forget Jean Allen-King's talk on "Growing up in Bowers Gifford" 2.00 p.m., the Benbow Club, Pound Lane, Bowers Gifford, SS13 2HN 25th June, 2014.
Non U3A members £2 including refreshments.
Ms. Allen-King is blind and has spent a great deal of time lobbying to help people who have poor or no sight.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend.....I was looking forward so much to hearing this lady speak.
Rose
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Post by rosegriffin on Jun 18, 2014 15:21:11 GMT
On 17th September 2013 Basildon Council's Development Control & Traffic Management Committee refused Nottingham's plans to build on our green belt. In February 2014 the Planning Inspector heard our case and we asked her to uphold Basildon Council's decision. In April 2014 after much deliberation she recommended that Nottingham's Appeal be refused. (although we did not know this until today). On June 18th 2014, Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State, has agreed the Planning Inspector's recommendation and substantially agreed the Planning Inspector's recommendation NOT TO BUILD ON LITTLE CHALVEDON HALL FARM. We will be analysing the 61 page report, including mention of the Bowers Gifford & North Benfleet Residents Association's objections, and let you know the facts in our June Newsletter. If you would like a copy of the report then please let us know. Nottingham Council may well take the matter to the High Court so although 3 battles have been won there may yet be another to be fought! I would like to take this opportunity to thank the superb management committee which I am privileged to be part of, all our wonderful volunteers for their hard work; and Basildon Council for it's on-going support.
Thank you to everyone who has sent congratulatory messages to us todayBest wishes Rose
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