Talk About Epping Summer 2016 issu

TALK ABOUT EPPING SUMMER 2016

TOWN MAGAZINE

IN THIS ISSUE:

Churchill’s blue plaque, Community Gardening Project, Cissie’s 100th Birthday, Epping Forest Museum, Epping Forest ReUse, Epping Together, Horticultural Society, Monday Market, Neighbourhood Action Panel, Queen’s Birthday Beacon,Town Awards, 2016 events

2 TALK ABOUT EPPING

The Mayor’s view

The worst thing about being Mayor is that after 12 months you have to pass the honour to someone else. The only consolation is that the next Mayor will, I am certain, do a great job and if he enjoys himself as much as I have, he will have a very rewarding year.

This year, I have attended almost 100 Mayoral functions.

There have been so many special moments, from reading the names of the fallen in St John’s Church on Remembrance Day to opening the Christmas market and turning on the Christmas lights to make Epping sparkle, whilst listening to our school choirs singing their hearts out.

The Town Show at Stonards Hill, which was attended by hundreds of people, was another great success and we were treated to many displays, side shows, craft stalls and all the fun of the fair. This year’s Town Show is fast approaching, so make sure you put the date in your diaries; Sunday 3rd July 2016.

We decided on a new formula for the Annual Town Meeting which worked well and was well attended. Our speakers were Cllr Dan Spillman who talked about being the youngest councillor in Essex and Victoria Robertson, Chairman of Epping in Bloom.

I was delighted to be able to formally

welcome our Town Clerk Beverley Rumsey and our new Project Support Officer Sue Latchford. Cllr Nigel Avey updated us on the work of the Planning and Neighbourhood Planning committees, which was followed by an open forum with interesting questions from the floor to councillors on matters relating to the town.

I have recently had the honour of presenting three awards; one to Revd Canon Geoffrey Connor, our Townsperson of the Year, who has done so much for the community of Epping; one to Denys Favre, who has been made a Freeman of Epping for his years of dedication to the town and one to Council’s Town Supervisor, Bill Towers, for his 30 years of special service to Epping Town Council.

We have a fantastic Town Council and a dedicated staff with over 150 years of experience between them. A special thanks to them all for making my Mayoral year so memorable.

The Town Council will continue to serve the people of Epping and bring issues that affect Epping to the fore.

In the coming year, we will progress the Neighbourhood Plan to help shape our Town’s future, work with our community partners to help keep Epping safe following the police station closure, assist with discussions regarding the St John’s Development Proposals and much more.

It has been a pleasure to meet so many of you this year and I look forward to working with our new Town Mayor, Cllr Les Burrows.

Michael Wright

Epping Forest Museum reopens

Epping Forest District Museum in Waltham Abbey celebrates the Epping Forest District with an emphasis on people and the environment in which they live. This is achieved through exhibitions, collections, records, education programmes and events.

On 19 March, Epping Forest District Museum reopened after a two-year long Heritage Lottery Funded Redevelopment. The bells of Waltham Abbey Church rang as reenactors marched up Sun Street towards the museum bringing crowds with them, to witness Epping Forest District Council Chairman, Councillor Liz Webster cut the ribbon to officially open the museum.

The day was filled with events as people partied in Sun Street to celebrate the museum’s special day. From the Chingford Morris Men performing to a special jive dance demonstration, the atmosphere was felt through the town centre. Inside the museum, visitors enjoyed decorating eggs in the new community space and full access to all the museum’s new galleries for the first time.

Over 750 people visited the museum on the day, enjoying activities and the new displays with extremely positive feedback.

The museum team also celebrated the reopening making a film showing what has been going on behind the scenes. The ‘Museum on the Move’ film also features as part of the museum’s first temporary exhibition all about transport through history.

This reopening sees a new start in the museum’s history with a fantastic programme of events and activities over the next year.

Find out more about events via our facebook, twitter, website & blog. www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/museum @efdmuseum www.facebook.com/efdmuseum Blog: www.efdmuseum.com

Opening Hours:

Mon, Tues, Weds & Fri: 10am-4pm Sat: 10am-5pm

Community Gardening Project

have been keeping the land seasonal with displays for Christmas, Easter and the Queen’s 90th Birthday.

The fun and friendly gardening group, led by Chairman Victoria Robertson, need volunteers to Epping in Bloom will be leading a help with the project. If you are community gardening project at a gardener with a few hours to Market Garden Terrace (the piece spare, a builder with some of land opposite the side entrance materials to donate or would like to M&S). We plan to open this to get involved, please contact: land as a community garden for eppinginbloom@gmail.com all to enjoy. Epping in Bloom

TALK ABOUT EPPING 3

Epping Together Your Town: Your Say

Thank you to everyone who has completed an Epping Together household questionnaire in hard copy or online. They were distributed with the Spring 2016 issue of Talk About Epping and are an important part of the Neighbourhood Planning process, as they allow us to gain real evidence from you on the issues of concern for Epping.

Of the 5,500 paper copies that were delivered with Talk About Epping, 694 copies were returned to one of our five collection boxes around town.

We are now in the process of collating all that evidence and the results will be available in June. The results will form a crucial part of the evidence needed to develop the Neighbourhood Plan for Epping (which we have called Epping Together Your Town: Your Say).

A key element of Neighbourhood Planning is that the evidence comes from you and we will be asking you to help us with more evidence in different forms, as we progress. We need to gather evidence from all sections of our community and we ran a youth engagement session on 31st May at Epping Hall, with Cllr Holly Whitbread and Cllr Dan Spillman, where we collected opinions. If anyone between 18 and 30 would like to give their views on Epping now and what you’d like to see here in the future (or your school or a group of friends would like to take part), contact slatchford@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or tel: 01992 579444 and we will run an additional session or take your views.

We will be running a variety of engagement sessions over the summer and autumn where we hope to capture the views of our young parents/families and school children. These will be advertised on our website at www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk (Neighbourhood Planning) and on Council’s noticeboards around town. We really need your views to influence planning policy, so please join in if you are able to.

Youth Engagement

If you would like to be involved in the Neighbourhood Planning process, would like to share your views or have any information for us, email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk marked Neighbourhood Planning or call 01992 579444 and ask for Neighbourhood Planning. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for your support.

Happy 100th Birthday to a very special lady - Edith Emery (Cissie)

(Top to bottom) Cissie at Treetops with staff and family, with cake and gifts, and with Mayor Michael Wright

Epping Town Council were delighted to be able to join in the celebrations for Edith Emery’s 100th birthday. Edith, who is known as Cissie, only moved into Treetops in Station Road a few weeks ago, but she has already touched the hearts of the staff and residents, as they worked together to spoil and surprise her on her very special day (Thursday 28th April 2016).

The Mayor presented Cissie with some flowers and a certificate to mark her birthday and there was much anticipation at Treetops as they awaited that important telegram. The catering team had made her a magnificent pink cake and laid on a lovely spread, while the staff bought her some beautiful jewellery and even made her a red carpet to walk on.

Cissie looked overwhelmed but happy as she shared these precious moments with her sons and daughters in law, with a family celebration planned for later that week.

Edith (Cissie) with her sons and their wives

Several children from Coopersale Hall School arrived to sing Happy Birthday to Cissie.

It was a pleasure for everyone to share this special day with a very special lady.

Congratulations Cissie.

4 TALK ABOUT EPPING

Our Monday Market

Our market traders get up very early to serve us in all weathers and some come from a long way away. Take a look at a day in the life of two traders.

Adrian - Ladies Fashion

Hi, my name is Adrian and I have served on Epping Market for over 40 years. I run the Mature Ladies Fashion Stall and the market’s website www.eppingmarket.co.uk A usual Monday starts with me getting up at 5am, a slightly later time than my other markets, as I am based locally. Having picked up my van en route I arrive at market at about 6am. I set up my stall using a combination of my stalls and the council’s own stalls. This takes about 30 minutes before I start unloading the clothes (longer if I need to put the huge sheet on as protection).

I generally unload everything needed onto the stall and park the van around 7am. This ensures a parking bay in Baker’s Lane car park. Then the proper setting up starts. Care is taken to display all goods in their collective order with enough space to be able to get wheelchairs, prams, etc, around the stall. All of the display items have large price tickets on them which is time consuming, but a must.

I am normally ready to trade by 8.30am by which time I need a well-earned cup of tea!

Throughout the day the stall is “managed” by replacing missing stock from the display, keeping the rails evenly spread with stock so no unsightly gaps show and generally keep the stall looking fresh. If I have been buying the day before, I will hang the new stock on hangers and price where necessary. By 2.30pm I start a “stall tidy up” making sure everything is in order and ready for the next day. About 3pm I go and fetch the van where the reverse of the morning starts over again.

I leave the market about 4.30-5pm and get home about 5.30pm. It is then time for dinner and a well-earned break having unloaded approximately 1-1.5 tons of stock and then loaded it back onto the van. Then it’s time for bed at 10pm ready to do it all over again the next day!

If you need something that is sold in the market, please support our traders.

It is a special part of our community.

Kevin - Fruit and Veg

Hi, my name is Kevin Brooks and I own the fruit & veg stall in Epping market. I have been asked to write a short article on my typical day’s work, so here goes...

Sunday 10.30pm: I leave home to go to Spitalfields wholesale market, once there I go to several different firms to buy the best produce I can find.

Monday 2.30am: my son Kevin Junior arrives at Spitalfields with his van, we then proceed to load them both up.

Monday 4.30am: we arrive at Epping where myself, my son and 3 other staff members begin the long task of setting up the stall.

We like to take pride in our stall and ensure that all the fruit, vegetables and salad are redisplayed in a neat and colourful way.

This process normally takes about 2 hours.

Our first customers arrive around 6.45am.

Throughout the day we ensure that all produce is topped up and kept looking neat and tidy, our stall is very busy so myself and my staff are kept on our toes all day.

Around 1pm as produce is sold out, we begin making the stall smaller from the back, this makes it easier at the end of the day.

By 3pm we have mostly sold out so begin taking the stall apart and walking back down to the shed for storing until the next week.

By 4.15pm we are ready to leave to go home.

I get home around 4.45pm; it’s been a long day.

I also have a fruit & veg stall at Basildon Market on Tuesday, so once I’ve had a bite to eat and a shower I go to bed, as I have to be up at 10pm to do it all over again.

OUR REGULAR TRADERS

• Bags • Bread and cakes • Bric a brac • Candles • Cards • Childrens clothes • Eggs • Electronic goods • Food & snacks • Fruit and veg • Golf • Hair accessories • Hoover accessories • Household goods • Jewellery • Kitchen samples • Ladies fashion • Make up • Mens accessories • Mobile phone accessories • Nuts • Pet food • Pictures • Plants & flowers • Shawls • Shoes • Slippers • Tools • Watch batteries & sporting accessories • Windows

TALK ABOUT EPPING 5

Epping Forest ReUse ramp

Epping Forest ReUse at Bower Hill Industrial Estate, Epping offers a very important service to the local community, offering good quality furniture and household equipment at very reasonable prices. The centre is staffed by a team of dedicated volunteers who can also offer a real lifeline to those in need. Epping Town Council were delighted to contribute £480 towards a ramp that would make the ReUse centre more accessible. On 10th March, Town Mayor Michael Wright opened that ramp. The beautiful wall boxes were planted by the Supported Volunteers from Voluntary Action Epping Forest. The centre is open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and Sat 9am-12.30pm. (Tel: 01992 578222.)

(Pictures from L-R: Supported Volunteers (VAEF), The Mayor opening the ramp, Epping Forest ReUse team)

Epping Foresters Cricket Club

The cricket season is underway at Epping Foresters and started with a couple of excellent social fundraising events: an Easter Egg Hunt and Quiz for the children on Good Friday and a superb pre-season dinner and dance for members and guests at the Vojan restaurant, where a great time was had by all and trophies presented.

We’ve welcomed back many familiar faces amongst our Colts and adult players, all raring to go, train hard and get results this season and we’re also delighted to welcome some new faces to the club, across all age groups.

Epping Foresters provides an excellent opportunity for young people and adults alike to enjoy and improve their game of cricket and the club is thriving with two senior Saturday league teams playing in the Herts and Essex league and a senior Sunday team. Our Colts’ members play in U9, U10, U11, U13 and U15 age groups in the West Essex District league. Adult outdoor training is on Wednesdays at 6.30pm and Colts’ training on Fridays at 6-7.30pm, when the Clubhouse and bar are open, giving parents and families the chance to enjoy a drink and socialise while watching their children train with our excellent coaches.

Everyone is given a warm welcome, whether just coming to the Club on match days to enjoy watching a game of cricket in such idyllic surroundings, or joining us with a view to becoming a playing member.

If you are interested in joining us as an adult player, or if you have a son or daughter interested in playing, then please contact us on efcccolts@outlook.com and visit our website http://eppingforestercc.hitscricket.com/ default.aspx for more information about the Club.

Epping Bowls Club

Summer is nearly here. Why not try some healthy outdoor exercise. Bowls is a good way of keeping fit and healthy without doing too strenuous an exercise and it can be enjoyed by all ages. The bowls club has been established in Epping for over 100 years and is part of our town’s history. We are seeking new members, whether experienced or complete beginners. We have the facilities to welcome casual bowlers and those who wish to compete at a higher level. The minimum age for membership is 12 years old and there is no upper limit, so the whole family can be involved. All you need to do is turn up wearing flat soled shoes and we’ll provide everything else. A reduced membership fee is available for the first year and regular coaching sessions are provided on Friday afternoons. You can also join up with other club members to practice. So, come along and meet our members in the friendly, sociable atmosphere of the clubhouse, in Lower Bury Lane, Epping.

For further information, contact Doug on 01992 574365 or Lorraine on 01992 572938.

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Sir Winston Churchill Blue plaque

Pictures clockwise from top to bottom: Town Councillors with local resident Mr Lodge, Cllr Spillman presents the plaque to manager Niki Shaw, The Mayor & Mr Lodge with Marks & Spencer staff and manager Amanda Dymock.

Epping Town Council were delighted to be able to provide the town with a blue plaque for Sir Winston Churchill, who had such important connections with the district. Churchill addressed the people of Epping from outside the Victoria Buildings (now M&S) and was MP for Epping between 1924 and 1945. Despite his role as wartime leader, Churchill took an interest in the town even through those years.

On 4th February, Town Mayor Michael Wright unveiled the plaque in Churchill’s honour.

Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas Soames and our own MP Eleanor Laing, sent their best wishes, which were included in the Mayor’s speech. Epping Town Council would like to thank Marks & Spencer for allowing us to put the plaque on their building and for their assistance and hospitality. The brass plaque to the left of the main door remains; the blue plaque making it more visible for passers by.

Residents and BBC Radio Essex joined us on the day. Make sure you have a look when you pass by.

Epping Society & the Green Belt

Open meeting at Epping Hall on Friday 22nd January 2016

The Epping Society engaged with over 200 members and local people on current threats to the Green Belt. Speakers included Richard Knox-Johnston, newly elected Chairman of the London Green Belt Council, Eleanor Laing, MP and speakers for each of the Councils.

The lively question and answer session ran until the hall closed with concern being expressed on the number of additional homes to be included in the EFDC Local Plan and how that number was arrived at; the right of local people to determine the policy in Epping Town their own area; the choice of greater densification in Council are order to protect the Green Belt and the need to ensure that brown collecting your field sites were fully exploited before Green Belt was considered opinions on the for development.

Green Belt for Richard Knox-Johnston said two recent reports made it clear that Neighbourhood London itself could accommodate additional population, not least Planning. Forms by observing that the density of central London was only a half that available from of Paris. Richard reminded the meeting of the purposes of the (and return to) Green Belt which included health, flood prevention and the importance of openness. Eleanor Epping Hall.

Laing repeated her support for the Green Belt and said she had to explain to other MPs its significance to areas such as ours. Mrs Laing noted that in the past 50 years only one per cent of Green Belt had been developed and suggested that such a small loss might have to be contemplated to meet housing need.

Councillors Jon Whitehouse and Nigel Avey gave the perspective of Essex County and Epping Town Councils and each stressed their support for the Green Belt and their concern about threats to its future. No houses would be built which were not needed. Cllr Jon Phillips and Cllr Chris Whitbread stated that the last thing the Council wanted was to damage the Green Belt by scheduling it for development.

At Epping Society’s AGM, the Chairman, Andrew Smith, asked members to come forward to assist with what was expected to be a busy year with important planning issues to consider. They would welcome specifically a committee secretary and also enthusiastic committee members wishing to help retain Epping as a market town.

TALK ABOUT EPPING 7

Freeman of Epping - Denys Favre

Epping Town Council could not have been more delighted to honour Denys Favre as a Freeman of Epping. Denys had lived in Epping for 52 years, before moving to Yorkshire in December to be near his daughter Diana (pictured left).

Denys campaigned to save the Elizabethan mansion Hill Hall in Theydon Mount, founded the Copped Hall Trust with architect Alan Cox and was a founder member of the Epping Society, working with them to protect Epping from inappropriate development.

Denys is now 98, but his interest in Epping is as enthusiastic as ever and it has been a pleasure to learn from him as he shares his thoughts on the future of Epping, as we develop our Neighbourhood Plan for the town.

Denys was honoured by Town Mayor Michael Wright at a civic dinner and joins a small and special group of people who have been honoured in this way for their contribution to the town.

Despite his move to Yorkshire, Denys will return to Epping as often as he can to support his numerous organisations and to see his many friends.

Townsperson of the year

Each year, Epping Town Council invite nominations for Townsperson of the Year. The award is designed to recognise an individual who has made a particularly important contribution to the town.

Many of you will know Revd Canon Geoffrey Connor from St John’s Church, Epping, who is such a part of our community. His contribution spans many years, but multiple nominations this year chose Geoffrey as our Townsperson of the Year, for his work not only at St John’s but for the whole town. He is as much a part of Epping as St John’s Church itself. When Geoffrey is not conducting services or organising the Christmas Tree Festival, his friendly face can be seen fundraising for the Heart of Epping appeal and warming our High Street. Congratulations Geoffrey and thank you for all you do and have done for our town.

Civic Award 2015

Each year, Epping Town Council present the Civic Award for a building that has been sensitively restored or particularly well maintained. This year, the award was presented at the Annual Town Meeting to Mr & Mrs T King, of 37 Kendal Avenue, Epping for the sensitive extension to their property.

Mr & Mrs King went to great lengths to source appropriate materials for their project, so it fits very well into the street scene. If you see a worthy building over the coming year, do nominate it.

Allotment Awards

Lower Bury Lane & Meadow Rd

Epping Town Council have two allotment sites; one at Lower Bury Lane and one at Meadow Road. Each year, Council present an award for the best kept allotment at both sites, which was judged by then Deputy Mayor, Les Burrows.

This year, the winners were: Mr V Pascale, for Plots 21A & 21B at Meadow Road Mr P Hockley, for Plot 27 at Lower Bury Lane Mr Pascale was presented with his certificate and a cheque for £20 at the Annual Town Meeting by the Town Mayor (right). Mr Hockley has also received a certificate and £20 cheque.

8 TALK ABOUT EPPING

Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP)

By Mike Compton - Chairman

The Epping Town Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP) was set up in 2008 by the Police, Epping Forest District Council, Epping Town Council and the Community to assist and advise citizens regarding safety and security issues they may have. Initially, it was organised and run by the Police but more recently this has been taken over by the Community and it has been assisting with various issues. The Panel regularly receives updates from the Essex Police Community Messaging System on criminal activities, scams and other relevant information and it meets approximately every 8 weeks in Epping Hall, St John’s Road at 8pm. This is for one hour only and everybody is welcome. Use the telephone number or email address below for details of the next meeting.

One specific initiative the NAP has taken is to highlight security/safety issues by the publication of cards which have been distributed through doors in the Town.

Sponsored by local businesses, these have proved to be quite popular. However, distribution has become a problem and, therefore, with the kind agreement and assistance of the editor of Talk about Epping, future issues will be published instead in the magazine.

So far, eight cards have been distributed and, whilst each one has been dated, their messages are timeless. The following, therefore, is a short summary of each one: 1) Lock all doors and windows when you go out. Apply the same care whether you go out shopping, away for the weekend or off on a holiday. Also always ensure that your vehicle is locked every time you park it.

Card #1 sponsored by Davis Homes

2) Report all incidents – the Police may not be able to attend but the incident will be logged and if there is a cluster or trend an investigation will be carried out.

Crime figures can only be based on incidents that are reported. Use 999 for emergencies and 101 for all other reports. Card #2 sponsored by Epping Bookshop

3) What is the first thing a householder does after being burgled? Fit a burglar alarm, but it is much better to fit one before the event – then it is much less likely to happen.

Outbuildings are also targeted for tools to gain entry, so fit an alarm to them or improve locks.

Card #3 sponsored by Forest Carpet Centre 4) Card #4 lists 5 simple precautions that take a few minutes of your time but can keep your home safe and secure. Card #4 sponsored by Epping News

5) Fit smoke alarms in your home – Fire Brigade will give advice and fit them for you for free. Tel: 0300 303 0088.

Card #5 sponsored by D&P printers

6) Card #6 lists 9 items of advice regarding safety and security at and around the garden and allotment.

Card #6 sponsored by Michelle Evans Garden Designs

7) Be sure at the door - you do not have to open it. Stop, think and if in doubt, don’t answer the knock or ring. If you do not have a security chain (or an alarm near to the door), have one fitted and always put it on before opening the door. Card #7 sponsored by Epping Forest ReUse 8) Various every day issues arise which may require a remedy or reaction to be activated and card #8 lists 11 such issues with the appropriate telephone numbers to call. Card #8 sponsored by a supporter of The Box

Copies of the cards are still available: tel 07736 234406 or email etnap@btinternet.com to get one or all of them.

The Epping Town Neighbourhood Action Panel intends where necessary to continue to develop more messages based on cards and these will in future be published in this magazine.

Epping Town Council are delighted to be able to support the Neighbourhood Action Panel, who do so much for us all.

Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacon Epping Town Council joined in the national celebrations for the Queen’s 90th Birthday and held a beacon lighting ceremony at Frampton Road Recreation Ground, initiated by Buckingham Palace.

21st April 2016

The beacon was hand made and lit by our Town Supervisor Bill Towers, while the Mayor toasted the Queen and read out a special message sent by Prince Charles. Afterwards, local band Celebration Duo performed in the Lindsey Street Community Association.

Thank you to Church’s butchers for keeping everyone warm with hot food, Rob Thompson the ice cream man for supplying the lovely red, white and blue ice cream, our balloon seller, local fire station and the Lindsey Street Community Association, for their support and assistance. There are lots of great events at the Lindsey Street Community Association, keep an eye out for details.

TALK ABOUT EPPING 9

Bill Towers 30 years’ service for Epping Town Council

Many of you will know Bill Towers who is Epping Town Council’s Recreation and Amenities Manager (or Town Supervisor). You may have seen Bill at the cemetery, at Stonards Hill Recreation Ground, at Epping Hall, Ivy Chimneys, in the market, or pretty much anywhere in Town. Bill joined Epping Town Council on 1st April 1986 and has been looking after Epping’s outdoor services ever since. If something breaks, Bill is the first person we call, as we know he will be able to fix it. Bill won Groundsman of the Year for his expertise with football pitches and is a master lawn striper! He ran Epping Market until last year and still often helps out.

Town Mayor Michael Wright presented Bill with a certificate and picture montage of his colleagues, past and present, at a Civic evening. Bill has worked with 7 Town Clerks and 29 different Mayors - so far! Bill’s colleagues spoke of the support and advice he gives them and the fact they see him not just as a colleague but as a friend. On behalf of Epping Town Council, thank you Bill for everything you have done and continue to do for Council and for Epping.

St George’s Day Competition

Each year, Epping Town Council invite our local shops and businesses to decorate their windows for St George’s Day and they are judged by our Town Mayor.

This year’s winner was Ecco.

“It was a very difficult decision, but Ecco’s windows really stood out,” said the Mayor.

Certificates of merit were presented to Douglas Allen, Abbotts and Lanes Dress Agency. Thank you to everyone who took part; the windows looked great.

Epping Horticultural Society ST DAVID’S DAY DAFFODIL COMPETITION

On 5th March, the afternoon was quite chilly, which might have been one of the reasons Victoria Robertson that the daffodil competition at the Traveller’s Friend pub in Epping Green was not as well supported this year by families, as there were no entries for the under 13s. There were some very interesting daffodil object entries and some amazing daffodils. Epping Upland Parish Council Chairman, Mr John Barber, judged the competition and awarded Victoria Robertson 1st prize for the smallest daffodil trumpet along with 1st prize for her daffodil hand-painted box.

Christine Burgess won 1st prize for the longest daffodil trumpet. Christine Burgess

By Victoria Robertson

ALLOTMENT CHALLENGE WINNER ROB SMITH - TALK

September 10th 2016, 2pm, Epping Hall. Tickets on sale from July, £10 each. Reserve your ticket now by visiting www.eppinghorticultural.org.uk I’ve been following Rob Smith’s progress since he won the TV programme on BBC2 Allotment Challenge in 2014. His knowledge on horticulture and growing techniques helped him win the show. He now works closely with Dobbie’s and together they now offer for sale a variety of heritage seeds.

I’m really pleased that Rob is coming along to share his knowledge with us. His talk will cover a range of topics which will include his time on the Allotment Challenge and how to grow flowers, why carrots were never meant to be orange, how lettuce can make you sleep and how tomatoes originate from a beach in Peru. He will bring with him some rare heritage vegetables you may not have seen before, including the fantastic ‘Honey Boat’ squash which he found on his travels to California.

We hope you can come along for some fun facts, crazy stories and truly amazing veg.

10 TALK ABOUT EPPING

What‘s On

Epping Hall

Mondays: Tai Chi, 10.30am-12.30pm Mondays: Kumon Classes, 3.00pm-5.00pm Tuesdays: Ageing Well With Vivianne, 10am-12 noon Tuesdays: Kumon Classes, 3.00pm-6.00pm Tuesdays: Ceroc Dance Classes, 7.30pm-10.30pm Wednesdays: Football Fundamentals, 9.30am-11.30am Wednesdays: (term time only), Junior Karate Classes, 4.00pm-6.00pm Wednesdays: Senior Karate Classes, 7.30pm-9.00pm Wednesdays: (2nd in month), Epping WI Meeting, 2.00pm-4.00pm Thursdays: (alternate), New Horizons Tea Dance, 1.30pm-4.30pm Thursdays: Tae Kwon Do, 8.00pm-9.00pm Fridays: Weightwatchers, 9.30am-10.30am Fridays: Kumon Classes, 3.45pm-4.45pm Jack Silley Pavilion

Mondays: Baby Ballet, 9.30am-12 noon Mondays: (term time only) Jo Jingles, 9.45am-11.45am Mondays: Dance Classes, 4pm-6.15pm Tuesdays: Pre-School Dance Classes, 1.00pm-3.00pm Tuesdays: Voluntary Action Craft Group, 1.30pm-4.15pm Tuesdays: Dog Training, from 7.00pm Wednesdays: (Autumn and Spring), WEA Lectures 10.00am-12 noon Wednesdays: (term time only), Art Classes, 10.00am-12 noon Wednesdays: Baby Ballet, 1.30pm-4.15pm Thursdays: Dog Training, from 7.00pm Fridays: U3A Painting Session, 10.00am-12 noon Fridays: (term time only), Children’s Dance Classes, 3.45pm-6.45pm Saturdays: (term time only), Children’s Dance Classes, 9.00am to 1.30pm Every Saturday and Monday at 1.30pm: Petanque (Boules) at Stonards Hill.

Light exercise, fun and sociable.

New players welcome. Peter Lumb: 01992 571744 Other Venues

• Mondays: 10am-12 noon: Market day coffee at St John’s Church • Mondays: Yoga, 6pm-7.30pm, United Reformed Church, Lindsey Street, Epping.

Call Dorothy on 01992 574623 • Mondays: 7.45pm-9 pm, Epping Bell Ringers, St John’s Church. Contact Jane Walters on 01992 767873. If interested in learning to ring please join us.

• 1st Monday of the month: Epping Art Society, 7.30pm-10pm, Pelly Court, Hemnall Street. (Art practical.)

• Mondays — 10am-12 noon Essex Savers Credit Union at Epping Library.

• 2nd Monday of the month: (not Jan & Aug, 1st Monday of the month in Dec), West Essex Flower Club, Thornwood Village Hall at 1.45pm. For details 01992 577036 • Tuesdays: 7pm-8.30pm, Theydon Garnon Scouts, The Scout Headquarters, Fluxs Lane, Epping CM16 7PE. Email: theydongarnonscoutgroup@yahoo.co.uk or call Richard on 07724 156595 • Tuesdays: 7.30pm, Rotary Club of Epping Forest, The Garnon Bushes, Coopersale. New members welcome, please call 07973 303899 (Mark Harvey).

• 2nd Tuesday of month: 2pm-4pm, Epping Stroke Club, United Reformed Church Hall, Lindsey St, Epping.

• Wednesdays: 11am-3pm, Parkinson Disease Society Harlow & District. David Livingstone Club, Potter Street. CM17 9AE. New members welcome, call Corinne Hall on 07982 094194 • Wednesdays: 6pm-7.30pm, Theydon Garnon Beaver Scouts, The Scout Headquarters, Fluxs Lane, Epping, CM16 7PE. Contact details above.

• 2nd Wednesday of the month: Epping Art Society, 8pm-10pm, Pelly Court, Hemnall Street. (Art appreciation.)

• 4th Wednesday of month: (Not Dec & Jan); Royal British Legion Women’s Section, Pelly Court, Hemnall Street, details 01992 572677 • Thursdays: 11am to 1pm in Epping, Ikebana Study Group (flower arranging) contact Martine Gracey 01992 571839 for details.

• Thursdays: 5.30pm and 7.30pm; Slimming World, Quakers Meeting Hall, Hemnall Street, Epping, CM16 4LL. Contact Kelly 07817 233042 and Slimming World Epping (Facebook).

• Thursdays: 2pm-4pm, Pelly Court, Hemnall Street, Evergreen Club. New members welcome, tel: June O’Brien on 01992 573385 • Fridays: 7.30-9.30pm, Epping Eagle Explorers, (Scouts address above).

Dave Ward: eppingeaglesesu@hotmail.com • Saturdays: 10am-12 noon: Coffee mornings, Epping Methodist Church Hall.

• Every Weds, Thurs, Sat & Sun: West Essex Ramblers. This friendly rambling group has led walks from various locations.

Sorry, no dogs. For a sample programme, call 020 8502 1628. www.westessexramblers.org.uk Monthly

• 1st Tuesday of the month: Lindsey Ladies, 1.30pm, The United Reform Church, Lindsey Street. Contact Toni Frost: 01992 576195 • Every 3rd Sunday: 10.15am: Copped Hall Guided Tours.

• Monthly every 2nd Sunday: Conservation Day, Friends of Swaines Green.

10.30am, the recreation ground, Lower Swaines • ProActive meets at St Margarets Hospital, please phone 07747 374692 or see www.proactive.me.uk for details • Epping Railway Circle club layout operates once a month at Theydon Bois Village Hall, for details call 020 8508 1764 or see www.eppingrailwaycircle.com Please let us know if your details have changed: (info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk)

4th Epping Scouts Mondays (term time), 4th Epping ASH Pack cubs 7-8.30pm.

(Age 8-10.5).

Tuesdays (term time), 4th Epping Woodland Beavers 6-7pm. (Age 6 to 8.)

Fridays (term time), 4th Epping Scout Troop 7.30-9.30pm.

(Age 10.5-14.5).

Adult help required for each group and to join, contact us on www.4th eppingscouts.org Visit www.copped halltrust.org.uk for Copped Hall’s many and varied events

TALK ABOUT EPPING 11

The Epping Eppingen Association

Whether your vote in the European Referendum is to stay or to leave, I am sure we all wish to have good relations with our friends in Europe and that is exactly the aim of our twinning association. We promote friendships and close ties with the people of the small town of Eppingen in Southern Germany.

To emphasise our enthusiasm for some German culture, we started our social year with a German sausage tasting evening. Can you believe there are 1,200 types of German sausage and they define the country as much as our fish and chips. Our sampling however was restricted to two from each of the main groups of sausage; Rohwurst raw fermented sausage , Bratwurst cooked sausage, Bruhwurst boiled sausage, Kochwurst where ingredients are precooked and the popular Currywurst. What an education for our tastebuds!

In May, we held a supper evening when Peter Gardner gave a talk on the North Weald air museum.

The month of June sees us welcoming guests from Germany for an English course. We also aim to introduce the participants to some of our British institutions for example the RHS and the Guild Hall as well as visits to places of interest.

Look out for the Association at this year’s Epping Town Show in July when plate smashing will be the order of the day.

Perhaps you would like to hear the Eppingen Stadt Kapelle (Town Band) perform. If so, they will be playing on the evening of Friday 2nd September on the Epping piazza (market area). The association will be adding some further German flavour by selling German sausage and of course German beer. The Stadt Kapelle will also perform opposite the Royal Albert Hall on the Saturday evening 3rd September, providing visitors to the proms with an alternative musical experience.

Our twinning association plan to visit Eppingen the last weekend in October.

Friendships will be rekindled and new ones made. This would be the perfect opportunity for you to join us and see the beautiful old town of Eppingen with its timber framed buildings and experience some warm German hospitality. There is no need to speak German, many of our friends there speak excellent English.

Interested in any of the above, please visit our website www.epping-eppingen.co.uk or phone Joy on 01279 428622

GIRLGUIDING POEM

We often hear about how good Girlguiding is for girls from the age of five. Plenty of opportunties for fun, games, crafts, holidays, adventures, friends, sport and cooking, but what about the adults? Why volunteer?

I never was a Rainbow, nor a Brownie, or a Guide.

I never made a promise, and I never camped outside.

I never earnt any badges, or took part in parades.

I’d never been canoeing, or grass sledging, or in caves.

I never sang around campfires, no s’mores did I make, but all this has seemed to strangely change, now I’m nearing forty eight.

Each week is very different, an activity or a craft, I’ve been along to a sailing club and even built a raft!

I’ve been away on pack holiday, I’ve swum in the Olympic pool, I’ve attended County and District days, feels like I’ve done it all!

So if you were never a Rainbow, nor a Brownie, or a Guide, You know it’s not too late to join us, You’d love it if you tried.

So however old you think you are, if you’re still young enough at heart, Why not join Girlguiding? Don’t just watch - take part!

To join the Guiding team, log on to www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested or call 0800 169 5901 or follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/ girlguidingEFN

EPPING CITIZEN’S ADVICE BUREAU - COMING SOON

Sunday 12th June at 3.30pm: Queen’s 90th Birthday service at St Johns Church, Epping.

Also: EPPING 90 Exhibition at the Church & Hemnall Street Social Club: 90 years of Epping history

Probus Club

The Probus Club meets monthly at the Lindsey Street Community Association, Frampton Road, Epping, for a lunch followed by an invited speaker (a wide range of diverse topics). Retired or semi retired men who are interested in joining Epping Probus should contact the Club Secretary Mr Hilary Dodd on 01992 560381.

SAVE THE DATE!

EPPING TOWN COUNCIL Members - Hemnall Ward Cllr Mrs D Baird Cllr A Church Cllr Mrs B Scruton Cllr D Spillman Cllr Miss H Whitbread Cllr J Whitehouse

dbairdy@hotmail.com 01992 572235 01992 572333 drjspillman@gmail.com holly.whitbread@btinternet.com 01992 561875

Cllr N Avey Cllr L Burrows Cllr H Pegrum Cllr G Scruton Cllr J A Smith Cllr M Wright

nigel.avey@btinternet.com 01992 572003 01992 572173 Grscruton@gmail.com 01992 577168 07768 521084

Members - St John’s Ward

Other Local Representatives

EFDC Cllr Chris Whitbread (01992 573557) chris.whitbread@btinternet.com EFDC Cllr Miss H Whitbread holly.whitbread@btinternet.com EFDC Cllr N Avey nigel.avey@btinternet.com EFDC Cllr Will Breare-Hall (01992 575843) wsbh@hotmail.co.uk EFDC & ECC Cllr Jon Whitehouse (01992 561875) jon@jonwhitehouse.org.uk EFDC Cllr Janet Whitehouse (01992 812503) cllrjanetwhitehouse@gmail.com Mrs Eleanor Laing MP (020 8508 6608) Eleanor.laing.mp@parliament.uk

Talk About Epping Deadline Dates Articles for the next edition of Talk About Epping must be submitted before 22nd July 2016. Submissions should be sent to: Epping Town Council, Epping Hall, St John’s Road, Epping, Essex, CM16 5JU, or sent via email to: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk clearly marked ‘Talk About Epping’

The editor may amend copy appropriately.

Invitations for the Mayor

If you are organising an event which you would like the Mayor or a representative of the Town Council to attend, please contact: Mrs Doreen Kennedy. Tel: 01992 579444 or email: dkennedy@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk

For more stories, visit our website:

www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or follow us on twitter: @eppingtown

In the 2015/16 financial year, Epping Town Council awarded two grants. One to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for £2500 and one to Epping Forest ReUse for £250.

Please keep your articles and cover pictures coming in for Talk About Epping. Pictures should be high resolution. The editor may amend copy appropriately and will decide which material is included in each issue.

With thanks to David Jackman, Everything Epping Forest, for his pictures in this issue

Forthcoming Meetings

June 2016 July 2016

August 2016 September 2016 October 2016

For Neighbourhood Planning: See website

14 Planning COUNCIL 28 Planning 12 Planning COUNCIL 26 Planning 9 Planning COUNCIL 23 Planning 13 Planning COUNCIL 27 Planning 11 Planning COUNCIL 25 Planning Corp Gov

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TALK ABOUT EPPING is published by EPPING TOWN COUNCIL, Epping Hall, St John’s Road, Epping, Essex, CM16 5JU Tel: 01992 579444 Fax: 01992 579446 email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk