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THE PAST MONTH IN THEYDON BOIS
MARCH 2006
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS, NOT NECESSARILY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE VILLAGE OF THEYDON BOIS DURING MARCH 2006 AND WHICH WERE RECORDED BY TREVOR ROBERTS, THE THEYDON BOIS LOCAL HISTORY RECORDER.
An “Investor in People” award was made to the Montessori Nursery based in the Theydon Bois Village Hall (TBVH) in recognition of the high standards maintained by the Nursery. Nursery Manager Debbie Palmer said that she had to receive 6 months of training, which included staff management and development, before the Nursery could be assessed for accreditation; this assured parents that their children were being looked after by professionally trained staff. Paul White, the Client Services Adviser of the Business Link organisation, presented the award.
The Theydon Bois Friends of Cancer UK held a wine and cheese tasting evening in the TBVH. The event was hosted by the Waitrose food-retailing organisation and included a finger buffet; tickets were priced at £8.
During the period over the end of February and the beginning of March, the weather in Theydon Bois (TB) remained extremely cold with a driving northerly wind, hard overnight frosts and sporadic snow showers. However these conditions were mild compared with the North of England, Wales and Scotland where the harsh winter weather closed schools and made roads impassable. Nevertheless, TB gardeners lost outdoor plants to the frosts and even those in unheated greenhouses were devastated. Conditions improved on 6 March when relatively milder winds from the south west brought the first rain for some time although this was not enough to fill reservoirs running dry as this winter was now the driest for many years. Already water companies were talking of standpipes in the summer and the present serious situation was endorsed by Thames Water and the Three Valleys water companies who would shortly introduce hosepipe bans, this early and in late winter!! Conservation was now the keyword in water usage.
The second of a series of six annual Lent Lunches was held in the St Mary’s Church Hall. A modest outlay of £4.00 secured a bowl of soup with roll and butter, a slice of fruit tart and a cup of coffee. All the food was prepared and provided by the ladies of the church with the soups ranging from curried parsnip to a combination of ham, leek and potato which was very popular. The proceeds of the event would support the Church Missionary Society, several members of which originated from TB ie. Alison and Mozi who were working in Albania, and Pat Nickson currently at either the University of Liverpool or somewhere in Africa.
The Developers of the Parsonage Golf Course at Blunts Farm in Coopersale Lane threatened to develop the site for housing if their appeal against the EFDC enforcement action, to prevent the further dumping of soil on the site, was lost. Furthermore this development could involve the adjacent Queen Mary’s College sports ground, near Theydon Bois station, through current planning applications now under consideration. Some 4,500 “affordable” houses in total could be built which would quadruple the size of the village. The Theydon Bois Parish Council (TBPC) Chairman, John Eaton, claimed there would be uproar if such planning consent was given and TB would effectively be “killed”. The leader writer in the local Epping Guarding commented that the developers maintained that they were the answer to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s housing problem, and asked if the housing shortage could be justification for filling our fields with endless rows of identical houses?
It was also revealed that the Developers of Parsonage Golf Course were appealing against the Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) enforcement action and had elected that the outcome be decided by public enquiry. They contended that the course required only a few months of work to complete, that this would comply with all relevant planning policy, would not harm the area and be appropriate to the green belt. This appeal followed reports that the Theydon Bois and Abridge Action Group (TBAAG) had forwarded, to the local Government Ombudsman, a complaint regarding the EFDC’s handling of the Golf Course development.
The last night of “84 Charing Cross Road “, the current production by the Theydon Bois Drama Society (TBDS), was the usual “sell out”.
In a letter to the Epping Forest Guardian, Frazer Freeman of the TBDS paid tribute to local drama critic Phyl Romeril who had died recently. She was an ardent supporter of the TBDS and a great enthusiast for local drama generally. Her regular reviews in the Guardian were essential reading for performers and audiences alike.
The Friends of Wansfell College association, which continued to flourish despite the closure of Wansfell College in 2004, held a musical afternoon in the TBVH, which was attended by nearly 100 members and friends. The well-known baritone Carl Murray presented a talk about music relating to William Shakespeare and described how much excellent music had been written in connection with his plays eg. Romeo and Juliet and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. His talk included some vocal examples and Carl's renderings of "Who is Sylvia and Where the Bee Sucks” were especially appreciated. Marilyn Taylor, the principal of the also flourishing new Wansfell College 2, gave details of this year’s programme of college courses most of which were already over subscribed. She ended on an ironical note by mentioning that the education authority of the Essex County Council (ECC), the body that closed the previous Wansfell College, had now congratulated her on the success of Wansfell 2.
The second of the Copped Hall Trust (CHT) Spring Lectures was given in the TBHV by the Trust’s architect Alan Cox. He described in considerable detail, both verbally and with slides, the substantial progress made in the restoration of the Copped Hall Mansion and grounds during the past year. The work carried out in the Victorian Wing was especially featured. Reference was made to the proposed redevelopment of the derelict Home Farm on the Copped Hall Estate with the CHT Chairman Denys Favre, saying “ The future of the CHT as a whole will be much enhanced if a planning application for modest conversion of an adjacent and derelict farm building goes ahead. The general community will gain, as also will the City of London with the acquisition of buffer lands where this may apply”.
The village, generally, was disappointed by a Government Planning Inspector’s decision to allow the appeal by the ECC against the EFDC’s rejection in 2004 of the ECC plans for residential development on the site of the village youth club in Loughton Lane. TBPC Councillor Peter Hammond who helped present the evidence against the appeal was staggered by the decision. He claimed that the Inspector disregarded their entire case, which was to effectively take no cognisance of their evidence as put forward. Although the Club had now been closed for some time, action was being taken to have the area declared as common land based on its long-term usage by the village for recreational purposes, especially by young people eg. Scouts and Guides. Campaigners for this declaration were hoping that proposed government legislation in the form of the Open Spaces Bill would strengthen their case and put the ECC in "another position".
A party of 53 from the Theydon Bois Women’s Institute WI travelled in a “double decker coach” to attend a matinee performance at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff on Sea where the Southend Operatic and Dramatic society (SODS) were staging the popular musical “Me and My Girl”. After an eventful journey and, for some, a shopping spree in Southend, the party took their seats for an unrivalled performance by one of the leading amateur societies in the country. The musical number the “Lambeth Walk” was the most popular of the many in the show and members of the audience were calling out the catch phrase “OI” at the relevant time whenever this tune was played, even during the overture. The staging was impressive, the orchestra first class and the principals exceptional. However, this was not surprising as many theatricals live in the local area, hence the tremendous local support for this successful Society and the wealth of local talent available.
A Government proposal to change the pension arrangements for local government employees, so that early retirement was not possible, resulted in a national one-day strike across the UK. This was not so wide reaching or effective as the General Strike of 1926 but EFDC employees took part so council services were disrupted eg. Refuse collections were late and some schools closed. The village seemed to be affected little, if at all, but circumstances could be different if a protracted strike developed.
An ex resident of TB, Steve Antiss of Abridge and the Superintendent at the EFDC’s Offices in Epping, was training hard for the 14th London Marathon to be held next April. He would be pounding the streets of the capital to raise funding for the local St Clare Hospice and, in the process, hoped to beat his time of 2 hours 44 minutes achieved in a previous London Marathons. Steve is a member of the Loughton Athletic Club and has previously supported Cancer Research and other charities with his running achievements.
Eyebrows were raised when 30mph speed limit signs only 4 feet high were installed in roads in the village. Some could not be seen easily, being hidden by parked vehicles, and their use was therefore criticised. However the ECC advised that these were only repeater signs for use in areas without street lighting, of which TB is one, and to remind road users that a 30 mph restriction applied throughout TB as indicated by signs of standard height located at the entrances to the village.
Following the recent “threat” by the developer of the Blunts Farm/ Parsonage Golf Course to build up to 4,500 houses on the site, John Knapman, Chairman of the EFDC, warned that the existing green belt status of the land would come up for review in 2006/2007 and sites close to an existing transport infrastructure will have to be considered. That is not to say that it was a good idea to build in TB but TB residents should realise that the case for retention of green belt status is weaker (because of motorway in the proximity?) than elsewhere. Also, prior to WWII, plans existed for housing development on this site. However, the residents deserved a solution to these issues, which achieved the right balance between protecting and enhancing the environment while helping meet housing needs in the Epping Forest District.
The development “threat” prompted a response from Michael McGough of Loughton. He was worried that the EFDC was considering this option, which would allow residential development in the Green Belt generally and drew attention to the general lack of local infrastructure eg. water supplies (where hosepipe bans were currently in force). He added “Housing demand was fuelled by population growth (largely through immigration), family break up and the growth in single parent families. Many young people resorted to single parenthood as a means of competing on the basis of need for state accommodation. None of the major parties had policies to address this problem; now was the time to curtail immigration and introduce family friendly tax policies”.
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PAST MONTH IN THEYDON BOIS
FEBRUARY 2006
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS, NOT NECESSARILY
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE VILLAGE OF THEYDON BOIS
DURING FEBRUARY 2006 AND WHICH WERE RECORDED BY TREVOR ROBERTS, THE THEYDON
BOIS LOCAL HISTORY RECORDER.
The ticket office at Theydon Bois (TB) was closed, permanently, as part
of a radical new scheme to phase out paper tickets in favour of prepaid
“Oyster “ electronic cards. This immediately presented problems
to many, especially senior citizens who experienced difficulty in operating
the existing electronic ticket machines and greater difficulty in completing
the Oyster Card application forms. Local resident and Epping Forest District
(EFDC) Councillor Kay Rush commented that the Central Line was their (senior
citizens) link with Epping as the local bus service was limited. Fares
had now increased from £1.30 to £3.00 for the Epping journey
with Oyster users paying only £1.00. Mrs Rush described this as
appalling and added “It's a case of pay more and get less as service
levels deteriorate".
The increase in the local fox population resulted in these animals becoming
active in daylight as reported by local resident Connie Garrett. On looking
out of her bedroom window, she was surprised to see two healthy specimens
roaming around on the roof of her neighbours shed without concern for
the humans who watched them. Residents had now found it advisable not
to put out domestic refuse sacks overnight for collection, as foxes destroyed
the sacks in searching for a meal and made a mess in the process.
The Theydon Bois Village Hall (TBVH) was the venue for a unique “Celebration
of Faith Civic Service” organised by the EFDC; Christian, Jewish,
Muslim, Sikh, Bahai and Hindu religions were all represented. Brian Sandler,
Chairman of the EFDC, formulated the occasion and the service was led
by his two Chaplains, the Rev Peter Trendall - Team Rector of Chigwell
and Chigwell Row, and Rabbi Maurice Michaels - South West Essex and Settlement
Reform Synagogue. Also present were Lord Petre - Lord Lieutenant of Essex,
Jennifer Tolhurst – High Sheriff of Essex, and various Mayors and
Chairman from local authorities. Peter Moore, Town Crier to the Lord Mayor
of London, led the procession of guests. Presentations were given relating
to each particular religion and the service ended with the lighting of
prayer candles by members of each faith to represent a unity in religious
belief.
Brilliant beyond brilliant was an appropriate description for the stunning
musical recital given at the February meeting of the Theydon Bois Music
Society (TBMS). The pianist and key performer was Jakob Fichert who was
until recently a Junior Fellow of the Royal College of Music (RCM). The
violinist was Polish Iwona Boeshe, currently a teacher at the RCM, and
Sarah Dubost-Hautefeuille from France, also a student at the RCM, was
the cellist. This highly talented trio played chamber music by Mozart,
Rachmaninoff and Hadyn. As solo items, Jakob played a Schubert prelude
and Iwona almost brought the house down with two virtuoso pieces by Kreisler
and Bazzini.
The Essex County Council (ECC) announced plans to fence off the TB Youth
Centre, at a cost of £2,110 to “ward off trespassers”.
This brought a sharp response from Thea Buisson, Chairman of the Theydon
Bois Pre-school Group, who described the move as disgraceful and maintained
that the Group had used the location for many years as a play area and
for nature trails. This cost was to be met from additional funding, allocated
by the ECC to meet the expense incurred by a two-day extension of its
appeal against the rejection, by the EFDC, of the ECC plans to demolish
the Centre for residential development. This extension was deemed necessary
by the officiating Government Planning Inspector to cater for the large
number of local residents wishing to make representations at the appeal
hearing.
The contentious plans by Mountcharm Ltd for the redevelopment of Wansfell
College were rejected at an EFDC Planning meeting as being an over development
which would be detrimental to local residents, and create traffic congestion.
The meeting was first adjourned for ten minutes after councillors had
voiced concern regarding letters received by planning officers that were
thought to contain” unsubstantiated claims” and which “
cast aspersions”. The application was for the conversion of the college
building into 20 flats and for the demolition of the caretaker’s
house to create 20 car parking spaces. TBPC Councillor Gooch stated that
his council had voted against the plans and suggested that 14 flats were
more appropriate. He further added that the views of his council had been
disregarded in the past by the EFDC, and described the planning officers
as having lost all standing in the eyes of the TBPC. Local resident Nessa
Hart commented. “This is a lesson to all residents to stand your
ground against John Prescott (the government) and developers who put forward
planning applications which are not appropriate to the area but which
are still recommended by a planning officer”.
The Theydon Bois Cancer Research UK Branch recently received a donation
of £1,200 from the East 15 Acting School, based at Rectory Lane
in nearby Debden. The sum was raised from the School’s gala performance
of the hit show “Music Hall” which was directed by former student
Kate Williams, now a star of the TV Channel 5 programme Family Affairs.
The cast comprised second year students from the School and pianist Colin
Sell provided the music.
A sad feature of winter in TB, as much as elsewhere, was the increase
in funerals and a typical, but none the less moving example, was that
for Barbara (Babs) Bushell of Orchard Drive TB. Babs died aged 63 after
a long illness and was cremated at Parndon Wood Crematorium, Harlow, on
a dull winters’ day at a simple service attended by many relations
and friends. The Rev. Canon Colin Travers of St Mary’s TB officiated
and in his address gave a background to Bab’s life, especially in
the village where she had lived with her husband Tony and their children
for many years. Babs was a caring person, quietly looking after her family
and other youngsters as she did in her employment as a member of the support
staff at Roding Valley High School in Loughton, where her colleagues spoke
highly of her. It was requested that Babs be remembered, not with flowers,
but with donations to particular charities, in this instance to either
the St Clare Hospice or Cancer Research UK.
The President of the Theydon Bois Womens Institute (TBWI), Doreen Snell,
welcomed 66 members and 4 visitors to the February meeting of the TBWI,
which was held in the TBVH. The speaker was Miss Pauline Martindale, who
gave an informative and interesting account of her experiences as a Prison
Officer at Holloway Prison.
On a bitterly cold February Day, the TB 2005 celebrations of Trafalgar
Day were carried over into 2006 when a 10ft oak tree was planted on the
village green to commemorate Nelson’s victory of 1805. A group of
schoolchildren from the Theydon Bois County Primary School (TBCPS), who
had previously taken part in the 2005 celebrations, carefully shovelled
prepared soil around the tree roots to ensure that it was well and truly
planted. Also present were Councillor John Padfield, leading members of
the TB community and Councillor Sue Jones (also a teacher at the School)
who stressed the importance of involving young people so to give them
an understanding of such historic events. The planting was organised by
the TBPC and EFDC Parks and Leisure Services, in conjunction with the
Epping Forest Conservators
The recent Parliamentary vote, a majority of 200, for a complete ban
on smoking in public places was supported by Epping Forest MP Eleanor
Laing who commented that her belief in the freedom of the individual was
eclipsed by her concerns over health; she sincerely hoped that, controversial
as it is, when we look back on the smoking ban in a few years time we
will see it as the beginning of a new era of significant improvements
in peoples’ health. Peter Cardy of Macmillan Cancer Relief said that
Parliament had seen sense and taken the most effective step in reducing
deaths from lung cancer.
Leslie Jerman of Coppice Row drew attention to the frequency of air movements
in the area which had caused concern, to some, that an air collision was
possible. He advised that the circling aircraft were “holding”
on the Lambourne Beacon, an electronic navigational system sited at nearby
at Stapleford Airfield, prior to flying on into London Heathrow. An independent
aviation authority pointed out the possibility of collision was minimal;
however, the frequency of air movements in the Theydon Bois area was now
one in every 30 seconds, which included visible flights (from the Beacon
and local airfields) and non-visible flights (high altitude continental
overflights). Therefore atmospheric pollution from aircraft exhaust gases
and vented fuel could be high and perhaps a greater threat to the local
community than that of an actual collision.
Many residents of TB can be found serving local communities outside the
village in a number of ways. One example is Tony Ames of Hill Road TB,
the hard working editor of the successful Theydon Bois Village News, who
is also a volunteer adviser with the Loughton and District Citizens Advice
Bureau (CAB). Tony also writes a CAB Column in the local press and, in
his current contribution, he explained the function of a CAB and how it
offers general advice and information on any subject including welfare
benefit, consumer problems, housing issues, and relationship problems
plus special advice on employment and debt. Each CAB is a registered charity
staffed by volunteers; the nearest to TB are located at Loughton and Epping.
Each CAB functions under the auspices of Citizens Advice, a parent organisation
which provides a background of administration, the provision of general
information and the training of advisers where relevant.
On Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) some 28 pupils aged between 5 and 6 years
from Class RM1 of the TBCPS together with school staff members Mrs M Manton,
Mrs R Roberts and John White attended the TBWI “pancake coffee morning”
in the TBVH. The children took the stage in groups and, helped by nominated
TBWI Ladies, competed against each other in a pancake tossing competition.
Each group had its favourite competitor and the ensuing cheering and shouting
from their peers resulted in absolute pandemonium. The winner, a young
Harry Oliver, was so skilled that many a cricketer would have envied his
technique and so he received a large Easter Egg as a prize. The remaining
children all received chocolates for their efforts, on their return to
School. The Ladies then paraded their home made Easter Bonnets with the
winners being First - Ruby Parrott, Second – Sally Sayers and third
– Anne Lowe. The proceeds from this enjoyable event were divided
between the Princess Alexander Stroke Unit at Harlow and the TBWI funds.
During the January and February 2006, the following entries were recorded
in the registers of St Mary’s Church, TB:
Funerals
25 10 06 Vera Gooch 26 01 06 Edna Flack
09 02 06 Walter Noble 13 02 06 Barbara Bushell
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PAST MONTH IN THEYDON
BOIS
JANUARY 2006
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS, NOT
NECESSARILY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE VILLAGE OF
THEYDON BOIS DURING JANUARY 2006 AND WHICH WERE RECORDED BY TREVOR ROBERTS,
THE THEYDON BOIS LOCAL HISTORY RECORDER.
The year started with a bright spot for Matthew Eggert,
25, of Woburn Avenue TB (Theydon Bois) when he learnt that he had been
successful with his entry at the Oska Bright film festival for short films
made by people with learning difficulties. His entry “Beside the
Seaside” was the first in its class and won him a handsome trophy.
He had also won this category last year when his entry “Tree Whizz
and Apple Attack” gained him a bursary for two days training in filmmaking.
The claim by the EFDC (Epping Forest District Council)
that the introduction of the new refuse collections in Chigwell and Lambourne
End, using wheelie bins, were a success was criticised by Dr John Warren
of Woodland Way TB. The EFDC claim was based on the new scheme resulting
in an increase of 50%in the collection of recyclable material. Dr Warren
pointed out that this increase related to the large amounts of garden
waste which had dramatically increased the weight of recyclables; the
ratio of green waste bags to recyclable bags as put out by householders
was now as much as 10 to 1. This increase was due to green waste now being
collected all year, instead of for a limited period, and to the large
issues to residents of additional green bags without charge; consequently
green waste was now less likely to be deposited in the black domestic
bags scheduled for landfill sites. The residents of Chigwell and Lambourne
End would be better able to judge the success of the new collection scheme,
and the use of wheelie bins, during the hot summer months when the domestic
waste in the bins began to putrefy, and smell, while awaiting the new
fortnightly collection.
Councillor Peter Hammond of the TBPC (Theydon Bois Parish
Council) requested residents to attend the hearing on 31 01 06 of the
appeal by the ECC (Essex County Council) against the EFDC rejection of
its plans for residential development of the former youth centre site
in Loughton Lane TB. Following the rejection, proposals had been submitted
by the local community for the land to be registered as a village green,
and therefore protected for the future use of the community. By being
present, villagers would demonstrate the depth of public feeling in this
matter. Councillor Hammond was also appealing for more material evidence
to prove that the adjacent open space by the scout hut, also on the redevelopment
site, had been used as such by the community for many years.
Councillors Peter Hammond and Anthony Purkiss subsequently
joined forces in preparing their defence of the EFDC’s rejection.
Councillor Purkiss claimed that Theydon Bois was at a critical point.
We’ve always had a nice village but there are significant external
pressures bearing upon it and it’s vital we fight to keep what we’ve
got. For years the youth local groups and residents have used the Centre
and the adjoining fields for recreational purposes. But
what we’re seeing here is creeping development where the village
could end up without any open space for villagers to enjoy and play”.
Councillor Hammond said that there had been massive support for the Centre
among local residents, which underlined the importance of residential
backing.
Following the disclosure of massive excavations on the
Blunts Farm/Parsonage Golf Development site, the EFDC Leader, John Knapman,
admitted that the planning controls for the site were nowhere as near
stringent as they should have been and had specified “minimum”
and not maximum depths of 1 metre for earth work. The EFDC Planning Committee
failed to take on board the concerns of the TBPC, and local residents,
regarding the associated lorry movements. However if the evidence were
undeniable he would support any action to stop further lorry movements
other than those necessary to finish the development.
The concerns and protests over the Blunts Farm/Parsonage
Golf Course development finally came to a head when the Environment Agency
confirmed that it had suspended the Waste Management Exception agreement
for Blunts Farm after unannounced inspections confirmed local resident’s
claims that general waste was being brought onto the site. Agency spokesman
Daniel Taylor said the Agency was also concerned about the unauthorised
transfer of rainwater, from one of the three excavated pits, to the nearby
Garnish Hall brook. Through its spokesman Jacqueline Dodman, the Theydon
Bois Action Group hoped that the Agency action would not deter the EFDC
(which fully approved this move) from taking enforcement action. Thousand
of lories had delivered waste to the site and three enormous pits have
now been excavated. Residents would find it difficult to accept that more
waste would have to be imported to fill these workings in order to landscape
a golf course.
Cliff Collins, a keen golfer, thought that the EFDC Planning
Department had a lot to answer for in allowing ten courses to be built
within a perimeter of some 5 miles from TB ie. North Weald (three), Theydon
Bois (three), Epping (one), Debden (one), Abridge (one) and Toot Hill
(one). He contended that that there should be a fully independent or Audit
Commission enquiry into the actions taken by the EFDC in allowing these
types of developments to continue despite wide scale objections from local
communities.
Leslie Jerman of Coppice Row thought that there was a
case for a Government Enquiry into the matter of the Blunts Farm development
and that Eleanor Laing MP could raise the matter in Parliament. Anthony
Hares of Forest Drive echoed these views continued by saying that “As
residents we have a right to knows who permitted this mess, who has allowed
the deep pits on the site to grow deeper and who will be prosecuted for
it all”.
Fire crews from Epping and Loughton were called to a fire
which broke out at 4 am. at the Housing Association sheltered accommodation
at the Robert Daniels Court in Thrifts Mead TB. An elderly man in a wheel
chair suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by an
ambulance crew. Police and fire officers were carrying out a joint investigation
into the cause of the fire.
The Theydon Bois Drama Society dispensed with its annual
pantomime this year and produced instead a musical play “A Chorus
of Disapproval" by Alan Ayckbourn. The play portrayed the problems
experienced by an amateur group rehearsing for a performance of “The
Beggar’s Opera”. The play, which was especially suited to players
who can act and sing, was slow to start but livened up when the “hanky
panky” developed and the humour became more obvious. Dafydd ap Llewellyn
the forceful director, played by Dave Bennett, was in a permanent frenzy
coping with the difficult cast, Jonathan Mayer played the shy diffident
newcomer Guy who worked stoically through many traumas (and the ladies),
Betty Gilbert gave a polished performance as Rebecca Huntley-Pike and
Irene Jones was a smooth Hannah ap Llewellyn. Janet Cass was especially
notable for doubling up as actress (Miss Ames), and as a musical director
together with Kathy Wilson.
Jean Jones of Abridge Road TB and the wife of a farmer
who was a registered Epping Forest Commoner was critical of the statement
by the Epping Forest Conservators that they were hoping that cattle grazing
could be safely re-established in Epping Forest, in an area from Wanstead
in the south to Epping in the north. She did not know of any farms in
the Wanstead area which bred cattle; there were none in TB and only one
in Abridge. Keeping cattle was no longer viable because of the red tape
and restrictions relating to cattle grazing, which emanated from the government
organisation DEFRA.
Jonathan Huff, 13, of Dukes Avenue TB and a pupil of the
Davenant Foundation School in Loughton was offered a place as trumpeter
in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, widely regarded
as one of the world’s finest children’s orchestras. His mother
Julie, who accompanied him on the piano during his audition, said the
whole family were very proud of his success.
The Annual Coffee Morning of the Theydon Bois Music Society
was held on a bright January Saturday. The event was organised by the
Society Committee and supported by some sixty people who enjoyed excellent
coffee and biscuits in like-minded company. A raffle was held and the
event raised some £200 for the Society funds.
At a recent meeting of the TBPC Planning Committee, also
attended by villagers, parish councillors roundly opposed the planning
application by Jason Cooper to convert the former Wansfell College building
into 20 apartments. Also opposed was a further plan to demolish the groundsman/caretakers
house to either make way for further development or on-site parking. Parish
Councillor Sue Jones commented “ The number of flats would increase
the number of those living in the area, put extra pressure on resources
and increase traffic, especially along Piercing Hill.
The EFDC gave planning permission for a burial site to
be established at Roughtallys Wood in nearby Theydon Garnon. Burials and
internments of ashes for all denominations would take place in the wood
but monuments and cask would not be allowed. The site would also contain
a single storey reception centre, Gathering Hall, Woodland Hall and two
Woodland Sanctuaries providing shelter for visitors. The general opinion
was that the project would be a positive improvement to woodland in need
of regeneration.
The EFDC finally took a stand over the Blunts Farm development
by issuing an enforcement notice that the dumping be stopped. Since the
granting of planning permission in 2004, the land had been raised by 5
metres and almost double the agreed 169,000cubic meters of material had
been taken onto the site. However, EFDC Leader John Knapman warned that
enforcement action could result in the EFDC facing a compensation bill
for £1.6m. And Jacqueline Dodman, leader of the Theydon Bois and
Abridge Action Group said "Our concerns now centre on the outstanding
application for an extension to the development, which could ostensibly
remodel the entire course”.
During December 2005 and January 2006, the following entries
were recorded in the registers of St Mary’s Church, TB:
Marriage
20 01 06 Matthew Licence and Destin Morries
Baptism
22 01 06 Alexander Middleton
Funerals
15 12 05 Gladys Shales
20 12 05 Alice (Rene) Frost
30 12 05 Sally Ward
Burial of Ashes
18 12 05 Bernard Fewtrell
Copyright 2006/7. Trevor Roberts, Local History Recorder.
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