New Christmas Lights Competition for residents

Epping Town Council are inviting Epping residents across the Parish to take part in the Epping Best Dressed Christmas Home Competition.

The initiative aims to help to spread festive community spirit across Epping, Coopersale and Fiddler’s Hamlet and it would be an opportunity for residents to show off their Christmas lights/decorative display to cheer up the parish, some of which are used for charity fundraising purposes.

For copies of the entry form and terms and conditions, please see Epping Town Council’s website at www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk, email: info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or visit the office at Epping Hall on St Johns Road for a paper copy (by appointment). Residents would need to include one printed photograph of their home festive display attached to their application. The deadline date for entries is 10th December. Entries will be judged the week after the deadline and winners will be announced before Christmas. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor would make a shortlist of potential winners and then visit the homes to make their final decisions.

Bell ringing in Epping

Do you enjoy the sound of Epping Church Bells on a Sunday morning? Like many things we enjoyed, Bell ringing had to stop due to the Covid pandemic, but now that restrictions are easing, it is hoped that ringing will be able to return on a regular basis. Bell ringing has been described as the best workout ever and it can be both mentally and physically challenging. As with all new skills, it takes some time to master but is very rewarding and can open new opportunities to ring around the country and abroad. People ring for all sorts of reasons; the social side, exercise, teamwork and to be part of a long-standing tradition.

The group practises at Epping St John’s Church on a Monday night from 7.45pm for around an hour and rings on Sunday mornings before the Family service at 9.20am. There are often additional occasions to ring; celebrations (such as weddings), Royal Jubilees, notable anniversaries and of course Remembrance Sunday. You may also have heard the bell tolling for Captain Tom and Prince Phillip earlier this year. There is no obligation to attend all events, the larger the ringing band, the greater the flexibility. Neither is it a requirement to be a churchgoer, although the bells are part of the life of the Church.

Over the autumn and winter, there will be taster events so that anyone interested to learn more can come along to see what it is all about, chat to existing ringers and discover whether their interest is piqued enough to give it a try. If you are interested, please email: ian.apps112@gmail.com