August 2008 newsletter

Curries, Sundries and Chutneys!

A new taste experience is coming to the Vineyards on Fridays between 930am and 3pm when freshly cooked curries, sundrie and chutneys will be available to take away, chilled and ready to eat. Come and see, come and sample!

Organ Concert - 'On the Common'

Galleywood has an organ recital with Philip Prior on Galleywood Common on Saturday 13 September from 7.30pm - 10pm. Pieces include:

• Ticcata and Fugue in D Minor (Bach)
• Crown Imperial (Walton)
• Music by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and others

Join and sing:

• Land of Hope and Glory
• Jerusalem
• National Anthem

Wine and nibbles during the interval. £8 adults, £6 concessions. More information from Hilary (472059) or Geoff (601141).

Memorial benches at the Lawn Cemetery

The Parish Council is proposing to replace the exisitng wooden benches with metal ones which will allow plaques and should be more vandal proof. A questionnaire is available at the Parish Hall and comments/completed questionnaires may be submitted to the Parish Council by Friday 5 September 2008.

Local Badminton Club

The local badminton club is seeking experienced players to play on Monday evenings at the High School. More information.

New luxury coaches for Stansted airport service X30

First bus have launched new coaches on their high profile X30 service between Stansted Airport and Southend Central Bus Station via Chelmsford and Rayleigh. The new coaches will form a service 'The Stansted Aircoach X30' to replace the earlier Stansted Flyer service. Read more.

Chelmsford Organ and Keyboard Club welcomes Craig James!

Monday 18 August 2008

A packed meeting at the URC on Saturday night welcomed Craig James to the monthly meeting of Chelmsford Organ and Keyboard Club. Craig is a visitor from South Wales and played a mixed selection of tunes showing his versatility with a mix of  both classic and more popular tunes. He is a humerous and amusing entertainer with a warm personality and entertained in fine style with some interesting anecdotes. Next month the club welcomes Chris Powell.

Sandon WI Open Evening an outstanding success!

Friday 15 August 2008

About 70 members, partners and friends of Sandon Women's Institute celebrated their 90th anniversary year with an open evening and buffet supper last night.

Tables were prepared earlier in the evening with decorations and flowers and looked most attractive as people sat down. The evening began with a meal prepared by members and comprised a choice of two main courses and a large selection of desserts. The meal concluded with coffee and mint chocolates.

After the meal, Peter Webb was the guest speaker who entertained us with tales of  'the Good Life' -   his experiences of creating and running a smallholding which he has built up over the last 15 years together with his wife.  He told a large number of amusing anecdotes of  working with geese and sheep as well as the challenges faced in learning new skills in the countryside. Altogether a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Thanks to all those who helped to make it a success.

Baddow U3A news

Thursday 14 August 2008

At yesterday's U3A meeting, an interesting talk on New Hall was given by Tony Tuckwell who has written a book about its early history as a royal palace - the palace of Beaulieu, from when the estate was granted to the Canons of Waltham Abbey in 1062, to its use by King Henry VIII in the 16th century, other royalty and members of the aristocracy.

Tony has an excellent knowledge of the history of the palace, and its later acquisition by the English nuns of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre who opened the Catholic school there at the end of the 18th century, known today as New Hall School.

Army and Navy rebuilding

Wednesday 30 July 2008

A recent news item in the Essex Chronicle mentioned the new Army and Navy building complex was now 'topped out'. This picture shows an earlier stage of construction before the building extension around the corner into Van Diemans Road was added. 

The appearance now overshadows the adjacent flyover and it will be interesting to see the construction of the final road layout with the incorporation of a revised lane for traffic turning left from Van Diemans Road into Parkway. Meanwhile the empty Jewsons site on the opposite side of Parkway shows no sign of building works and it will probably be some time before all anticipated road improvements at the A&N are complete.

Local flowers

Wednesday 30 July 2008

Our own village put on a good display of flowers in the Spring at a number of  sites; one such being at the corner of Seabrook Road where a small carpet of crocus popped their heads through the grass (see picture left).

Elsewhere, the rose garden at Hyde Hall was in full bloom mid to end June (see picture right). In addition the new wild flower meadow shown on television recently is proving very popular.