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THE PAST MONTH IN THEYDON BOIS
DECEMBER 2005
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS, NOT
NECESSARILY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE VILLAGE OF
THEYDON BOIS DURING DECEMEBER 2005 AND WHICH WERE RECORDED BY TREVOR ROBERTS,
THE THEYDON BOIS LOCAL HISTORY RECORDER.
A formal planning application was made by Jason Cooper
of Mountcharm Ltd for a change of use for the Wansfell College building
in Coppice Row TB (Theydon Bois). The plan also included the alteration
and extension of the building to provide 20 residential flats and to demolish
the former caretakers house to provide car-parking facilities. An outline
plan was also submitted for the erection of a replacement dwelling on
the caretaker site. Initial objections were based on the resulting increase
in local population density and the generation of additional traffic in
a notoriously dangerous stretch of the adjacent road.
There was a large turnout at the TBVH (Theydon Bois Village
Hall) for the lighting of the village Christmas Tree. Councillor John
Eaton, Chairman of the TBPC (Theydon Bois Parish Council) welcomed all
present and then handed over to the MC, Councillor Susan Jones. A short
carol service was held with carols sung by the Children of the TBCPS (Theydon
Bois County Primary School) and Peter Newton, the village personality
of the year, then pressed a button to light the Tree which was the signal
for Santa Claus (alias Councillor Bob Glozier) to arrive on his illuminated
sleigh; this was secured to the back of a pickup truck as his reindeer
were resting before the "Christmas Rush" commenced. The children
then “piled” into the TBVH to receive a small gift of sweets
from Santa, which had been previously donated by Pravin and Champa Khetiya,
the previous owners of the Village Bookshop newsagents; meanwhile the
adults took the opportunity to warm themselves with mulled wine, and minced
pies donated by the Theydon Bakery.
The TB Music Society held their Christmas meeting in the
TBVH where a large audience was entertained by Phil Chilvers (piano),
Frances Chilvers (soprano), Mark Hansford (baritone) and Paul Chapman
(flute). The quartet played a variety of Christmas music including “The
Little Road to Bethlehem” and the popular “Have Yourself a Very
Merry Christmas”. The Theydon Singers also held their Annual Christmas
Concert where the audience enjoyed a feast of seasonal music and refreshments:
Janet Cass conducted and Paul Chilvers was the accompanist.
Pupils from the TBCPS helped the staff of EFDC (Epping
Forest District Council) to plant a hedgerow at Great Gregories TB. This
project was carried out during National Tree Week, the Tree Council’s
Festival to mark the start of the tree planting season and a nationwide
celebration of trees and woods. Young cricket enthusiasts from the TBCPS
were among some seventy excited youngsters who took part in basic cricket
training exercises with Graham Gooch, the former England and Essex cricket
captain. The youngsters were selected through the Essex Gifted and Talented
Cricket Initiative, backed by playing coaches of the Loughton Cricket
Club and Essex County Cricket Club.
Many in TB were saddened to learn that Epping Forest Superintendent,
Jeremy Wisenfeld, died at the early age of 48. Initially in management
accountancy, Jeremy turned to countryside management with the National
Trust at Hatfield Forest and then moved to Epping Forest where he became
Superintendent in 2001. One of his proudest achievements was the reintroduction
of forest grazing by cattle, which he believed was fundamental in preserving
the unique landscape and biodiversity of Epping Forest. Another prime
achievement was his work in the innovative Regional Green Arc project
in partnership with local councils and other bodies including the Government.
For TB, the lovely surrounds of Epping Forest will remain as a perpetual
memorial to him
Santa Claus appeared yet again in the village, this time
in his Grotto at the PAT (Playground At Theydon) children's playground
by the village green for the PAT Christmas Fayre held in the chilly open
air of a winter’s afternoon. Many excited children came to see him,
and receive a Christmas present. Among the many attractions were a Hogwarts
Castle, Christmas Biscuit decorating, sand art and a Christmas Teddy Hunt;
light refreshments and hot mulled wine (for the adults) were also available.
By nightfall some £400 had been raised to contribute to the cost
of replacing the Playground flooring. On another day, the 2nd Theydon
Garnon Brownies, led by Brown Owl Pauline Symes, went to the Frank Foster
Home in Loughton Lane TB to entertain the residents and distribute presents.
At 06.00 on a quiet Sunday morning a series of explosions
occurred at the Brucefield oil storage depot, the fifth largest in the
UK, near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, which generated the largest
fire of its type in Europe since the 1945, which continued for some four
days. Colossal damage was caused in the immediate vicinity but, mercifully,
there were few casualties although some 2000 peoples had to be evacuated
from their homes. The explosions were heard for more than 100 miles, including
TB, Northern France and the Netherlands. An immense cloud of black smoke
extended for some 75 miles from Wiltshire to Kent. The village was unaffected
at first but, by nightfall, black clouds of smoke were sweeping across
the face of the moon. In TB, it was noticeable that cars were becoming
dirty and coughing was heard frequently although the latter could have
been due to the usual outbreak of winter colds. Despite assurances that
fuel distribution was unaffected, queues formed at many local garages
for a time as motorists feared fuel shortages.
A sad occasion at St Mary’s Church was a Service
of Praise and Thanksgiving for the life of Gladys Ethel Shales who died
suddenly on the 2nd of this month within hours of her husband Wilf being
admitted to the Princess Alexander Hospital in Harlow with heart problems.
The Rev. Canon Colin Travers conducted the service and spoke of the long
association that Gladys and Wilf had enjoyed together, and especially
in Theydon Bois where they had been leading members of both the Church
and the local community. Wilf was too ill to be present but a representative
from the St Mary’s clergy sat with him in the Hospital Chapel for
a service of prayer coincident with that at St Mary’s. Their family,
representatives of the TBPC and many friends attended the Service. Gladys
was cremated the next day at the Parndon Wood Crematorium in Harlow.
Many villagers made the short journey “round the
corner” to attend All Saints Church, Theydon Garnon, for the annual
service of nine lessons and carols. This happy occasion was enhanced within
the Church by the light from many candles, and also by the simplicity
of a service in a rural environment. Mulled wind and hot mince pies were
served afterwards in the Church “Gatehouse” and the congregation
then left down country lanes where the peace of the winter evening was
marred by the ever present light and noise from the nearby M25 motorway.
The Buxton Trust received the Best Kept Playing Fields
Award for the high standard of the village playing fields. The Theydon
Bois Central Line Station was awarded a first class certificate of merit
in the Cultivated Garden Section of the Station Garden Competition held
by London Underground. It was announced that the Theydon Bois Village
News had won the Annual Newsletter Competition held by the Essex Association
of Local Councils. After reviewing a number of entries from across the
whole of Essex, the Theydon publication was judged as being the best combination
of relevant news and information coupled with a genuine feeling of a sense
of community. Editor Tony Ames of Hill Road TB is backed by a strong editorial
committee comprising Ken Cushing, Sue Jones, Madeline Murphy, Martin Oliver,
Trevor Roberts and Jim Watts. The News is published quarterly.
Christmas Day dawned cloudy and relatively mild following
the recent hard frosts. In the early darkness, Theydon Bois was silent
except where, in many homes, excited children were opening presents and
busy housewives preparing festive meals. The Bookshop newsagents and the
Tesco convenience store were closed on this one day, as also was the railway
station so no rail or early road traffic disturbed the peace of this early
Christmas morning. Nature was able to assert herself; the twitter of robins
in the hedgerow, the song of the mistle thrush, that harbinger of spring,
and the calls of the wildfowl on the pond could once again be heard without
interruption. As the sun rose in a clearing sky to give natural light
to the illuminated village Christmas tree, early worshippers emerged to
hurry by foot or car to St Mary’s Church to celebrate Holy Communion.
A little later, morning services were held at All Saints in the neighbouring
parish of Theydon Garnon, and at the Theydon Bois Baptist Church. Here,
a special family service was held with children bringing their Christmas
presents to show to the congregation and to the officiating Rev David
Penegar who, almost unwisely, attempted to ride one young boy’s skateboard;
and a delighted young girl was encouraged to ride her new scooter down
the centre aisle of the church. But the highlight of the service was the
screening of an animated film entitled “It’s A Boy” which
told the nativity story through the eyes of three small birds (quails).
By afternoon, families were out in force with the favourite destinations
being the local inns for a late Christmas Dinner, the village pond to
feed the wildfowl, or the playground and the village green where young
legs and lungs could be exercised to the full. All too soon the lowering
temperature warned that the bright afternoon was almost over and most
people disappeared indoors for further festivities. By late evening the
village was once again quiet lit only by the light of a fitful, crescent,
moon and the bright festive decorations, which illuminated the exteriors
of many homes. And the snow appeared (two days late) when a light fall
of snow covered the village sufficiently to inconvenience motor vehicles
and pedestrians for a short time.
The row about the Parsonage Golf Development continued
unabated. Basically, Blunts Farm Estates through its agents Swan Golf
Designs Limited had been given planning permission in April 2000 to build
an 18-hole golf course with associated landscaping. In a statement, the
TBPC said, “What we have seen in the last few years constitutes nothing
less than landfill. This situation has been created by the fact that the
EFDC failed to attach appropriate planning conditions when it granted
planning permission”. Councillor Roberts Glozier, the EFDC Planning
and Economic Development Portfolio holder, conceded that the EFDC Planning
Department had been naïve when granting this permission. The Environment
Agency acknowledged the receipt of letters from anxious residents and
was taking the matter seriously. The Epping Forest Guardian published
two pictures showing large and deep excavations, which appeared to confirm
the suspicions of extensive landfill. The recently formed objectionable
smells from the site and large numbers of seagulls hovering over the strong
complaints to the relevant authorities.
In London, the New Year was ushered in at the stroke of
midnight from Big Ben with a tremendous ten minute fireworks display on
the Thames, which was also intended as part celebration for London winning
its bid to host the Olympics in 2012; the centrepiece of the display was
the great wheel of the “London Eye” with fireworks appearing
to radiate from it in all directions. The images of notable personalities
of 2005 were projected onto the OXO Building on the South Bank and these
included members of the victorious England Cricket Team who had retrieved
"the ashes" from the Australians. The night sky was illuminated
for miles around, even as far as Theydon Bois where the display could
be seen from high points in the village. The London crowds afterwards
moved on the view London’s other illuminations or even ice skate
on the several ice rinks created for the occasion eg. at Somerset House.
A slight damper on the festivities was the 24-hour strike by London Underground
personnel against the planned reduction in staffs due to the increasing
automation of booking offices. This could mean the redeployment of personnel
and the feared possibility of redundancy. The views of many rail workers
and passengers was that unmanned stations would were most undesirable
in view of increasing lawlessness on the underground system, and the lack
of assistance should machines malfunction. At Theydon Bois however, although
the station was unmanned and the barriers left open ( travel was free
during the New Year Celebrations), a restricted train service was operating
so residents could travel to London and leave their cars in the station
car park.
During November 2005, the following members of St Mary’s
Church were confirmed at St John’s Church in Epping:
Michelle Arthur, Joseph Bough, Shannon Brundell, Charlotte
Debenham, Nicholas Gill, Eleanor Gooch, Amanda Harris, Tina Perryment,
Rachel Revel and Christopher Turner.
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THE PAST MONTH IN THEYDON BOIS
NOVEMBER 2005
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS, NOT NECESSARILY
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE VILLAGE OF THEYDON BOIS
DURING NOVEMBER 2005 AND WHICH WERE RECORDED BY TREVOR ROBERTS, THE THEYDON
BOIS LOCAL HISTORY RECORDER.
Richard and Carol Risdon of Purleigh Way TB (Theydon Bois) recently celebrated
a unique family occasion. Richard’s father, Norman, reached the grand
age of 100 and this was celebrated with a special lunch at the Chigwell
Golf Club. Also present were his daughter Rosemary Sweet and son in law
Douglas Sweet. Norman was married to Dorothy Sutter at Thorpe Bay in 1934
and the couple were active locally being members of St Mary’s Church
and the Chigwell Golf Club. Norman served on the Chigwell Urban District
Council, the EFDC (Epping Forest District Council) and is an honorary
member of the Loughton Probus Club. Dorothy died in 1988 and Norman moved
to Spanbrook in Chigwell, two years later.
A “green fingered ” local resident, Mandy Davies, recently
received a “Best Student” award from the Capel Manor Horticultural
College in Enfield. This was achieved by studying plant life with “enthusiasm
and commitment”. Another resident Lucy Sparks achieved a BA (Hons.)
degree in media studies at the University of East London. After having
recently travelled through Indonesia and Malaysia, she was now hoping
to secure employment in the film industry. Tony Ames of Hill Road TB was
present at a recent award ceremony held by Voluntary Action Epping Forest,
where he accepted a Certificate of Excellence on behalf of the Loughton
and District Voluntary Citizens Advice Bureau.
The Theydon Bois Primary School held a "treason themed” bonfire
night, during the Nov 5 weekend which was supported by some 900 parents,
children and friends who had to pass down a "treason alley"
to reach the firework display. The traditional guy was burnt and other
attractions included treasure hunts, safe cracking, a coconut shy and
many stalls. The weekend was noisy generally in the village due to a number
of firework parties being held here and elsewhere. Once again, minor complaints
were made about the intensity of the “bangs” and the general
affect of fireworks on domestic animals. However, the police reported
only one incident requiring their attention, which was almost a record
The Ladies of St Mary’s Church held a soup lunch in aid of the Church
charities. One of these was the “shoebox appeal" where parcels
the size of a shoebox were packed with basic items essential for living,
eg. tinned food and water purification tablets, and sent to deprived third
world countries.
Marcus Andrews, pianist, gave a recital of music by Bach, Haydn, Medtner,
Ravel and Rachmaninoff in the TBVH (Theydon Bois Village Hall) at the
November meeting of the Theydon Bois Music Society. His recital was well
received and much appreciated by the large audience present. Marcus has
enjoyed a varied career as both soloist and chamber musician. In addition
to his concert work, he is the staff accompanist for the Trinity College
of Music, rehearsal pianist for the London Orpheus Choir and Professor
of Piano at the Blackheath Conservatoire.
The Epping Railway Circle held an open day at the TBVH, which resulted
in recruiting three new members and gave the public the opportunity to
see working model railway layouts; the Club layout comprised a transferable
London scene with small station on a London main line and a London Underground
route with Tube train stops. There was also a presentation of photographs
showing the Club’s activities and outings together with stands selling
second hand and new model railway equipment.
Once again Leslie Jerman of Coppice Row TB made an appeal for the support
of local shops. He contended that they had suffered a loss of business
since the Tesco Metro Express supermarket opened in the village in 2003.
For some time small shop trading had been in the decline both in TB and,
especially in neighbouring Epping when this problem was becoming acute.
However, it was evident that the Tesco outlet was advantageous to many
villagers because of its extensive trading hours, provision of cash dispensing
machine and accommodation for the village post office.
Remembrance Sunday was commemorated in the village on a fine morning
with the usual parade to St Mary’s Church. In attendance were the
Royal British Legion (RBL), EFDC and TBPC (Theydon Bois Parish Council)
Councillors together with representatives of many local organisations.
A welcome attendee was local resident Eleanor Laing MP for Epping Forest
who joined those laying wreaths at the village war memorial. Many young
people were present which helped stress the RBL’s emphasis on the
importance of this age group in the act of Remembrance. Remembrance Sunday
Parades were also held in Lough ton, Epping and North Weald where TB residents
also took part. The annual sale of poppies in the village for the RBL,
realised £3,338 this year of which £80 was donated by the
TBPC.
Members of the Theydon Bois WI together with their husbands and friends
visited Westcliffe on Sea by coach to attend a matinee performance of
Cole Porter’s musical” Anything Goes” staged by the Southend
Operatic and Dramatic Society at the Cliffs Pavilion. The fine but cold
weather encouraged many to first visit the nearby Southend resort to shop,
have lunch or just walk along the promenade. The musical, based on the
humorous activities of passengers and crew on an American cruise liner
in the 1930s, was well staged by a company described as being one of the
foremost amateur operatic societies in the country, and which lived up
to its reputation with this production.
At the recent AGM of the Epping Bowls Club held in the TBVH, Charles
Chisholm was made an honorary life member for his continual support for
the Club and hard work behind the bar. The AGM was also the occasion for
the annual award of the Club trophies to members who had excelled during
the previous Club year.
The Woodland and Wildlife Conservation Company based in Coppice Row TB
received a special award in the 2005 Cemetery of the Year awards for the
best New Green Burial Site in the British Isles. The Company’s site
is located at Herongate Wood, Brentwood, and the Awards Director commented
that this site had done well and he hoped that more sites would enter
the competition, as they were an increasingly important part of the burial
industry. The Company specialises in being environmentally aware in allowing
trees to grow among single burial plots, marked with a simple plaque,
containing the deceased in a biodegradable casket. The company is seeking
planning permission from the EFDC for a similar Cemetery at nearby Theydon
Mount.
The Roding Valley U3A recently held its first AGM at the TBVH, where
it meets regularly. The officers elected were Chairman - Janet Whitehouse,
Vice Chairman - Peter Newton, Secretary – Janet Carrington, Treasurer
– Tina Harris and Membership Secretary - Martyn Duncumb. This relatively
new branch of the U3A is flourishing and now has an increasing number
of groups dealing with a variety of subjects.
Yet another road vehicle accident occurred at the lower end of Piercing
Hill when a stolen VW Polo car hit a post and rebounded into thick undergrowth;
the driver fled the scene before the police arrived. A mobile police speed
camera had been used on a random basis in order to deter speeding but
without any apparent affect. Local resident Clare Pollock told of four
crashes in this area since August. She feared for the safety of pedestrians
using the narrow footpaths, as did the Rev Canon Colin Davies who was
concerned for his parishioners going to St Mary’s Church nearby.
An equally serious situation existed in neighbouring Coppice Row where
the fixed speed camera, the subject of much complaint from lawless motorists,
had been destroyed by fire and the ineffective hulk still remained after
some weeks. This camera, sited near the dangerous cross roads of Piercing
Hill and Coppice Row, had probably saved a number of people from injury
or death during its years of use.
During November, the following entries were recorded in the registers
of St Mary’s Church:
Marriages
12 11 05 Joanne Leftly and Robert Bird
Funerals
11 11 05 Kathleen Gould `17 11 05 Gladys Orme 25 11 05 Martin Hogg
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THE PAST MONTH IN THEYDON BOIS
OCTOBER 2005
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS, NOT NECESSARILY
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE VILLAGE OF THEYDON BOIS
DURING OCTOBER 2005 AND WHICH WERE RECORDED BY TREVOR ROBERTS, THE THEYDON
BOIS LOCAL HISTORY RECORDER.
On the last day of September two innocent passers-by aged 17 and 23 were
set upon, in the early evening near the village green, by a group of some
15 youths. Both were taken to hospital; the 23 year old was discharged
after treatment for cuts and bruises but the 17 year old was detained
for an operation to repair a broken jaw. Three youths were questioned
and released on police bail.
Extensive cloud cover prevented the residents of TB (Theydon Bois) witnessing
an almost total eclipse of the sun by the moon, which occurred in the
morning of 3 Oct 05. Further south, the shadow of the moon could be seen
progressing across the face of the sun to provide the unusual sight of
a crescent shaped sun. This shadow then progressed further until perfectly
centred within the sun's image, which then took the form of a ring of
bright light. This resulted in partial darkness for a short period of
time, which was apparent in TB despite the clouds.
The Victorians Petanque Club of Theydon Bois recently became the first
National Clubs League champions of the English Petanque Association. They
beat Coventry in the semi final and went on to defeat their old rivals,
The Plough and Chequers, 4-1 in the final. The successful team members
were Brenda Wilmot (team manager), Ritish Lungut, Phil McCrostie, Raj
Tupsy, Patrick Dennis, Dinesh Seetahul and Keith Flack. The Victorians
are associated with the Queen Victoria Pub in Coppice Row and play on
a pitch in the pub car park.
The Sixteen String Jack Pub in Coppice Row recently took advantage of
the new relaxed licensing hours by obtaining permission to remain open
until 01.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 12.30 am on other days
including Sundays; however, pub games were excluded from this extension.
The tenant, Alan Compton, said that he was planning to install TV and
to join Pubwatch, a community scheme to identify troublemakers. The operations
manager of McMullens and Sons, the brewers, commented that this was not
a particularly busy pub, which focussed mainly on food during the week.
The early appearance one morning of heavy earth moving equipment and
chainsaws at Wansfell College brought a sharp and prompt reaction from
local residents, and particularly Councillor Janet Whitehouse of the EFDC
(Epping Forest District Council). She alerted the Council to the work,
which had already commenced on the clearance of the grounds, and enforcement
officers were quickly on the scene to prevent the felling of many listed
trees. However the pond was filled in and the tennis court cleared in
what was claimed to be a cosmetic exercise prior to a planning application
being made for the conversion of the main building into 22 apartments,
the replacement of the grounds man’s house with dwellings and the
building of a new house on the tennis court. Chingford based developer
Mountcharm Ltd had purchased the site on 19 Sep 05 according to Stuart
Mowle, director of real estate consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton
A vocal recital by Carl Murray, Baritone, was the feature of the Theydon
Bois Music Society October meeting. He gave a fine performance of songs
and arias by a variety of composers ranging from Aaron Copland to Noël
Coward. The audience particularly appreciated his singing of several evergreen
songs written by that incomparable pair Michael Flanders and Donald Swann,
especially the ever-popular “The Gnu”. Martyn Heald, whose fine
playing would have justified a musical recital in his own right, expertly
accompanied Carl on the piano.
An intrepid Theydon Bois lady recently added a 15,000 foot sky diving
plunge to her list of unique charity fund raising events. Jenifer Cresswell,
67, a resident of Forest Drive TB and a retired schoolteacher, skydived
over the Kent countryside to raise some £1,000 for research into
the disease of multiple sclerosis from which her husband Roger suffers.
She was strapped to an instructor for the jump.
A comprehensive slide presentation on the History of the Pantomime was
given by Donald Walker at the October meeting of the Theydon Bois WI.
He described its various forms and told of evidence that such entertainment
existed in Roman times and even earlier. A special visitor to the meeting
was Sister Maureen Shaw of the Princess Alexander Hospital Cardiac Care
Unit in Harlow. She was presented with a cheque for £1,000; which
had been raised by the members through their 2005 "Special Efforts"
events.
Excessive vehicle speeds in Piercing Hill TB had now become a serious
problem with six accidents, including one death and one near fatality,
over a period of three years. In a 24-hour speed survey of last year,
70% of the 8,000 vehicles monitored were exceeding the 30 mph speed limit
with almost 650 of these at speeds of 45 mph or more. Local resident Stephen
Philips commented that the road was like a rally circuit at the brow of
the hill with drivers struggling to keep control and leaving skid marks
on both the road and pavement. Plans to use a mobile speed camera as a
deterrent were welcomed by the residents but considered to be only a partial
solution as opposed to installing physical measures and fining speeding
offenders
The Theydon Bois Rural Preservation Society presented a lecture in the
TBVH (Theydon Bois Village Hall) given by local historian and writer Georgina
Greene. Her subject was the “Trees of Hainault Forest” but she
also embraced a wide range of related topics including the origins of
the Royal Forests, especially Epping and Hainault, and the wonton destruction
of the latter in the nineteenth century. She also took her audience on
a pictorial tour of the area today showing where parts of this Forest
still existed, either as trees in suburban streets or as crown lands still
under cultivation. Interesting and historic buildings were also featured
in her talk specifically “the Old Maypole” of Charles Dickens
fame.
A Trafalgar Weekend on the 21 10 05 celebrating the 200th Anniversary
of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson commenced in the
village with union flag being flown from the TBVH together with others
elsewhere in the village. The major activities were in the car park of
the Queen Victoria Pub in Coppice Row and the event commenced with a "Round
the Village Treasure Hunt" for pictures relating the Nelson and Trafalgar
with questions requiring answers. Meantime a friendly game of boule (petanque)
took place and the Moorhen Model Boat Club from, Harlow, set up a magnificent
exhibition of radio controlled model boats. A hot dog/burger stall did
brisk business and a hog roast was prepared with the luckless pig being
donated by local Butcher J Phillips. A display of nautical dancing was
given by children from the Theydon Bois Primary School (the School had
previously held a special Trafalgar Assembly to commemorate the occasion).
Other activities during the afternoon included a tug of war competition
and the Queen Victoria pub was open throughout the day to provide liquid
refreshment. These festivities lasted until early evening when a beacon
on the Green, representing those lit in 1705 to signal Nelson's victory,
was formally lit by Peter Simmance, Chairman of the Event Organising Committee.
The profits from all these events were donated to two charities; the RABI
Supporting Farming Families, and Seafarer UK. The Trafalgar Weekend concluded
on Sunday with the Church Bells of St Mary’s being run throughout
the day, during which a special service of celebration and thanksgiving
was held in the Church.
Small scooters with an engine at the rear (mini mopeds) and ridden by
children had become a source of annoyance in the village; these were illegal
when used on footpaths and roads and were a particular hazard at night
when driven without lights. Concerned residents complained to the police
about two boys aged 10 and 11 who were consistently creating this nuisance.
The police confiscated the machines, issued warnings to the boys and their
parents and informed them that £250 each would be required to retrieve
them. A police spokesman expressed his disbelief that parents would allow
their children to be imperilled in this way.
Dudley Chignall was the speaker at the meeting of the Theydon Bois Baptist
Men’s Forum. He described his “off the beaten track walking
tour” of New Zealand which was illustrated with an extensive collection
of excellent slides depicting the natural beauty of that part of the world.
The last night of “The Roses of Eyan”, the current production
staged by the Theydon Bois Drama Society, was played to the usual full
house and proved to be another success in this eightieth year since the
formation of the Society.
During September, the following was recorded in the registers of St Mary’s
Church: Marriage 30 09 05 Linda Nicholson and Neil Carpenter.
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Copyright 2005/6. Trevor Roberts, Local History Recorder.
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