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SWF Leisure Centre | SWF Eatery SWF Library | Club Woodham Town Council | Laundomat Clairemont Garden Centre Meadow Croft Garden Centre Bicknacre PO
A note from the Editor…
This month’s issue is packed with stories that really celebrate our community spirit here in South Woodham Ferrers. From history and heritage to gardens and celebrations, there’s plenty to enjoy.
The South Woodham WI enjoyed a nostalgic trip on the Epping and Ongar Railway, stepping back in time with a steam train ride. Our own New Town marks its 50th anniversary this year, and the History Society has put together a fascinating look back at how far we’ve come. Tylers Ride Retirement Development also marks a milestone, celebrating 20 wonderful years at the heart of our community.
For garden lovers, Meadowcroft Nursery continues to share their
monthly tips and advice, while the U3A Crouch Valley have been out and about with visits to beautiful gardens, including a picnic and walk at Hyde Hall. And if that wasn’t enough, the skies above thrilled crowds at the Stow Maries Air Show with an unforgettable display of historic aircraft.
Finally, don’t miss the latest dates for Kind of Blue this autumn with a chance to enjoy some live music close to home.
It really is a busy issue, full of the people, stories and events that make our town such a vibrant place to live.
Enjoy the read!
Deadline for artwork and Editorial for the next issue is Monday 22nd September
The views and opinions expressed in contributed articles are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editorial team. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in submitted content. Submission of content does not guarantee publication. Unpaid contributions are considered on a discretionary basis and may be edited for clarity, length, or style. All material contained within this publicationis strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without permission is prohibited. No responsibility is assumed for any injury, loss or damage arising from any article or advertismentcontained within the publication.
Laura Basham Laura is an integral part of the team dealing with editorial content and fronting our accounts dept.
Nicky Arnold Sales Manager who plays an important role maintaining the success of the Focus.
Lynda Basham Director and Sales Executive with over 25 year experience in sales and customer care.
Stuart Basham Managing Director with over 35 years in advertising, design, print and marketing offering his extensive knowledge.
South Woodham Ferrers OIEO £300,000
• Offered for sale is this well-proportioned and conveniently located two bedroom, semi-detached house.
• A light-filled property comprising a spacious kitchen and living room to the ground floor with two bedrooms and a family bathroom to the first floor.
• Externally, the property offers a low-maintenance rear garden with gated access and two parking spaces to the front.
• Early viewing is strongly recommended.
• Council Tax band: C
South Woodham Ferrers
£625,000
• Offered for sale, is this well maintained extended five large bedroomed detached family home, set over three floors.
• This well proportioned property consists of a living room, fitted kitchen with quartz work surfaces and integrated appliances and ground floor cloakroom.
• To the first floor, there is a master bedroom with an en-suite with two further bedrooms on the second floor, sharing a modern family bathroom.
• Externally there is a low maintenance east facing 'L' shaped rear garden. To the front there isa block paved driveway for four vehicles and a detached double garage which is currently used as a studio.
• The property is also convenient for local shops, scenic river walks and within the catchment area for Elmwood and Collingwood Primary School.
• Council Tax Band: E
Basildon
t: 01268 271 110
e: sales@balgoresbasildon.com
Hornchurch
t: 01708 470 756
e: sales@balgoresproperty.com
South Woodham Ferrers
t: 01245 323 729
e: sales@balgoresswf.com
South Woodham Ferrers GUIDE PRICE £375,000 - £400,000
• Located on this corner plot and convenient for town centre amenities and Collingwood Primary School, is this well maintained detached family home.
• The accommodation comprises lounge/diner, fitted kitchen and conservatory. Whilst the first floor offers three bedrooms sharing a family bathroom/wc.
• Externally the property offers a low maintenance delightful rear garden, the front affords off street parking for one vehicle and a detached garage located in a nearby block.
• Reserve this property today with Balgores Secure Reservation
• Council Tax Band: C
South Woodham Ferrers
OIEO £850,000
• This outstanding six double bedroom detached family home excels on all fronts with beautifully appointed, spacious accommodation throughout and an exceptional large Easterly-facing rear garden.
• Featuring four receptions, a modern integrated kitchen with separate utility, the aforementioned six double bedrooms, two with en-suites, a modern family bathroom and further wet room.
• Further benefitting from a detached double garage and extensive parking. Being located in a highly favoured location close to the Town Centre and Railway Station this superior family home should be viewed without delay to avoid disappointment.
• Offered for sale is this three-bedroom link detached family home.
• The ground floor comprises of a living room and a fitted kitchen diner.
• To the first floor there are three bedrooms sharing a modern family bathroom.
• Externally, there is a 40' well maintained West facing rear garden. To the front, there is a driveway providing off-street parking for one vehicle leading to an attached garage.
• The property is also conveniently situated for South Woodham Station and the popular Woodville Primary School.
• Council Tax Band: D
Battlesbridge
OIRO £1,250,000
• We are privileged to offer for sale this beautifully restored and significantly enhanced former Lodge for The Old Rectory in Battlesbridge.
• Lovely location up a quiet Country Lane and boasting 0.35 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, this un-listed Period family home offers extensive high quality accommodation as well as a Cart Lodge, parking for numerous vehicles and two independent habitable outbuildings.
• 35ft open plan Living/dining kitchen, a 19ft Living room opening on to a stunning Garden room, Fourth Bedroom and Shower room to the ground floor.
• Spacious Master Bedroom to a large balcony overlooking the wonderful gardens and a modern En-Suite shower room. The two double Bedrooms share a well-appointed family bathroom.
• Houses of this quality and location don't come along very often and finding one that has two additional habitable outbuildings makes it the ideal property for multi-generational family life and viewing is strongly advised.
In the last few months, I’ve seen a lot of love shown to others. I’ve watched the sparkle in the eyes of wedding couples as they talk about how they met and fell in love. I’ve listened to families remembering what they loved about the person they will soon lay to rest. I’ve seen the love and concern of those devoted to the sick and lonely. I’ve experienced the love and commitment that goes into the town’s summer event and church summer fetes. When at one of these events, I fell in love with an old enamel jug on a bric-a-brac stall, which I now use as a vase for the flowers I love to receive, or can’t resist buying for myself!
I like the framework that the author of the book ‘The Five Love Languages’ suggests we employ to show our love. He helps us understand that we sometimes express love through words of affirmation, acts of service, spending quality time with someone, through physical touch, or by giving gifts like flowers.
The well-known Bible passage from 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verses 4-7, also explains how to recognise someone loving and caring for our well-being. It tells us that love is demonstrated through patience, kindness, and the absence of jealousy, arrogance, rudeness, or pride. True love is much more than being good friends, affectionate partners, or the deep bond sometimes experienced in families. The love described in this passage is of a higher level, as it explains the love that God has for us (agape love).
Our August meeting is always replaced with an outing and this year was no exception. We visited the Epping and Ongar Railway for a steam train ride, where the train was being pulled by Engine 4963 named Pitchford Hall. Our journey started at North Weald Station and we travelled through Blake Hall station (which is now privately owned) and ended up at Ongar. The dining car was set out with tables for four people and we had a fish and chip lunch, from the Epping Fryer fish shop, followed by ice cream. The fish and chips were brought on board in insulated containers and were piping hot. After lunch the train took us back to North Weald.
Volunteers worked really hard to restore the trains and the Grade 2 listed buildings at both Ongar and North Weald stations. Their efforts are greatly appreciated as it’s like stepping back in time with the waiting rooms and facilities just as our older ladies remembered them. Some of us even travelled to work on a steam train!
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or Arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
We are born with the ability to love as God loves us. We can all love in ways that nurture and build loving, selfless, and beautiful friendships that help people to flourish, especially during difficult and challenging times in life. God’s love is expressed through each of us. We are vessels of God’s love; we are like flowers nourished and watered by God, bringing colour and blessing to one another’s lives, creating the kind of loving atmosphere and community that we all love to live in.
SWF Christian Council
Well done Nicole Archer on achieving your degree in History, Politics and International Relations, we are all very proud of you xx
Thanks go to Shirley for yet another very successful outing. She works really hard to find unusual and interesting things for us to do. She certainly succeeded again this time. Well done Shirley!
We were fortunate to have a dementia care group, called Fundangles, using our WI hall for an Afternoon Tea for carers of people with dementia. These folk are often forgotten and isolated so Glenys, at Fundangles, puts on these teas for them to get together with people in the same situation. After the tea, with delicious cakes, it went so well that there was music and dancing and we understand that Glenys is hoping to make this a regular feature. Keep an eye out for posters around the town if you are in this position, as it could be a lifeline for you.
South Woodham Ferrers WI August Report
AUTUMN CONCERT with SID BOLAN BAND
On Saturday 18th October 2025
At 6pm
Holy Trinity Church SWF
Tickets £10
Contact: Janice 07854462908
Kind of Blue - Autumn Dates
On the afternoons of Sunday, September 7th and Sunday October 5th, (2 -4.30) in the Bell, Woodham Ferrers, "Kind of Blue", a local modern jazz quintet will be performing tunes from " The Great American Songbook" and other standards in a modern jazz style.
Entry is free, and Sue will put on a delicious spread, again for nothing.
There will be a raffle, with fabulous prizes. So we look forward to seeing you in the pub, as Autumn approaches.
Put it in your diary.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR LEATHER FURNITURE
Kevin Barber of Careclean, Carpet Cleaning Business has been established for over 40 years and will be writing our featured monthly column on Cleaning providing tips and guidance to keeping your home clean and healthy.
Leather represents a large percentage of furniture sold today. Consumers have quickly realised the benefits of leather. It is more durable than fabric, so it lasts longer. Leather adjusts to body temperature making it very comfortable to sit on. Leather production these days is very sophisticated which enables manufacturers to create many looks to suit a wide variety of homes and styles. Leather is now more affordable and there are suites to suit all pockets. Leather can be cleaned and
cared for, and when done properly, maintains a high level of appearance throughout its life.
Cleaning is an essential part of caring for your leather furniture. It not only removes dirt and oils (which can, over time, break down the leathers protective coating) but will also help to maintain the moisture balance in the leather. This is important for keeping the leather supple and makes it less likely to absorb spillages. Because the leathers only have light surface protection, they will also absorb dirt and spillages more readily, this will make cleaning less effective because dirt will only clean off the surface of leather not out of it.
If there were TWO tips, I could offer you that would help you care for your leather suite better then it would be these…
SWF New Town 50 Years
Did you know that it is 50 years since the first turf was cut for the building of South Woodham new town? Doesn’t time fly? John Frankland, an acknowledged expert on the history of the town, will be giving one of his excellent illustrated talks commemorating the anniversary at South Woodham Ferrers Local History Society’s meeting on Wednesday 1st October. If you want to learn more about the town then this is the talk for you.
You do not have to be a member of South Woodham Local History Society to enjoy our talks which take place at Champions Manor Hall, Hullbridge Road, CM3 5LJ at 8.15 pm. Entry for non members is just £3, a real bargain and if you enjoy the talk and want to hear more you can always join us for a mere £15 which entitles you to free entry to all our talks.
Our November meeting on 5th November features Stephen Nunn giving us another of his informative talks on “Maldon’s Lost Railways
If further information is required please contact the society’s secretary Roy Bradnam on 01245 328714 or its chairman John Frankland on 01245 321518.
Childminder retires after 33 years.
After 33 years caring for many of South Woodham Ferrers’ youngest residents, Jane Fisher has decided to retire from Childminding.
Jane and Keith moved to South Woodham Ferrers from south Wales in 1992 with their young children. Wanting to
The MOST important thing about leather is not to let it dry out. If this happens then the leather will crack – let’s not forget that leather is an animal skin… why do you think we use moisturising creams! So, conditioning your leather is very important in ensuring that your leather will last a long time.
The next most important thing about leather is to have it PROTECTED… just like carpets and upholstery, leather will stain, in fact leather is more absorbent than you can imagine, even the highly finished leathers! Especially if it has started to dry out and crack! Unprotected leather has no barriers against stains like Tea, coffee, Wine, ink, nail varnish or even denim dye transfer…
… any further advice then give Careclean a call on 01245 323989.
combine looking after her own family with a rewarding and flexible career, Jane registered as a Childminder that November and has been operating from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays and family holidays ever since.
Without exception, those children who have been fortunate enough to experience her care and support during her long career owe her a huge debt of gratitude for the part she played in their early years.
Winning Childminder of the Year at the Nursery World awards in 2017 was official recognition of her competence and enthusiasm; she has mentored new childminders, formed partnerships with local schools and been recognised as ‘the most Outstanding of the Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Working with her husband, Keith, who is her Registered Assistant, Jane has provided hundreds of children and their parents with care, love and support.
We wish her a long and happy Retirement. She deserves it!
Tylers Ride Retirement Development Celebrates 20 Wonderful Years!
On the 9th of August, Tylers Ride Retirement Development proudly celebrated its 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of independent living, community, care, and cherished memories. Since opening its doors in 2005, Tylers Ride has grown into a vibrant and welcoming home for its residents—and this milestone was celebrated in true style!
We had two fantastic singers called Raffles, the talented performers serenaded the crowd and brought smiles to every face with music and laughter, entertaining residents with a lively set that had everyone smiling, tapping their feet and dancing the night away.
One of the most touching moments came as residents shared stories from the past, reflecting on the history of Tylers Ride and the many lives it has touched. These personal recollections painted a vivid picture of the development’s journey—from its early days to the thriving, close-knit community it is today.
As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward to the future— We’re proud to offer a variety of engaging activities that bring residents together, promote well-being, including, Weekly Keep Fit, Coffee Mornings, Bingo and Monthly Craft Club, Movie Afternoons
and Social Saturday/Quiz nights creating lasting memories. Whether you're looking to stay active, get creative, or simply enjoy good company, there's something for everyone!
As the night came to an end, it was clear that Tylers Ride Retirement
Development is more than just a place to live—it's a place to belong. Here's to the next 20 years of warmth, connection, and celebration.
FOCUS
31August 2025
URGENT:All the wheelchairs at Crouch Vale Medical Centre have disappeared. If you've used one and accidentally forgotten to return it please do so urgently as patients need them to get to our GPs and the out-patient sessions on the 1st Floor.
Our virtual publicAGM will be held on Thursday 25 September from 19002030. If you want to attend please email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave a voicemail on 01245 322079. We invite the annual nominations for our Officers: Chair, Task Force Chair, and Secretary. Our Governance and roles are at https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/terms-of-reference/ and https://swfhealthsocial. co.uk/about-us/meet-the-group/ . Please send Nominations with a proposer and seconder to ourAdministrator at swfhealthsocial@outlook.com by 9 September 2025.
Broomfield, Basildon & Southend hospitals’ latest performances in July:
• 77.6% (75.4% in June) of patients were treated, admitted or discharged within 4 hours in their emergency departments;
• 25 minutes (22 mins) is the average time for ambulances to hand over patients, compared to 26mins (26) in East of England and 32mins (37) nationally;
• 56.9% (58.8%) of patients received cancer diagnosis results within 28 days;
• This month included the 5-day resident doctors strike and the start of holidays;
• We want steady improvements; scrutiny of these and other vital services by commissioners is stringent.
We publish weekly bulletins on our website, full of information and guidance selected for SWF. It’s impossible to include everything here so do consider subscribing to our weekly newsletter which includes everything we’ve published in the previous 7-days. Libraries provide online services and help with internet
2025-08-27
When I was a young GP in SWF there wasn't much 'antivax' sentiment in the community. There was no such thing as 'social media' at that time and many parents still remembered the horrors of polio and measles and, by and large, were delighted that there were vaccines to protect their kids. The exception was whooping cough (pertussis). Before a vaccine was introduced in the 1950s, the average number of suspected pertussis cases in England and Wales was over 100,000 each year, and in some years over 2000 people died from the disease. By 1972, when over 80% of children were vaccinated, this had fallen to 2069 suspected cases and two deaths. Even so, shortly before I arrived in SWF, there had been a media frenzy over the claim that the vaccine could be linked to brain damage. (There is a slightly increased risk of a convulsion after diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization but little evidence that this produces brain injury. The cornerstone of the claim that pertussis vaccine can cause permanent brain damage has always been the apparent clustering of onset of neurological disorders).As a result a lot of kids weren't getting the jab and this resulted in major pertussis epidemics in 1977 to 1979 and 1981 to 1983. Many kids got very sick and some died.
Whooping cough vaccination had begun in the UK inthe 1950s which meant that, when I was a young GP, many parents had not seen or heard of a case ... so they assumed it was a trivial childhood illness. Out of desperation I used to play them a cassette recording of a child with whooping cough. I'm sure many would regard this as 'scaremongering' in this day and age - but that's fine by me if it reduced the number of kids who ended up in hospital and prevented fatalities. Scaremongering is defined as the act of exploiting feelings of fearby using exaggerated rumours of risk/impending danger - but these weren't exaggerated rumours. I was giving advice based on the evidence of my own eyes and the scientific literature. The people who use the term most are those who exaggerate the risks of vaccination in order to scare parents - thereby putting their children at risk. I accuse them of scaremongering.
Whooping cough is back. The news broadcasts have reported that a baby whose mother was not vaccinated against whooping cough while pregnant has died after contracting the infection ... according to the UK Health SecurityAgency (UKHSA). This is the first fatal case of whooping cough in the UK this year. Thirty-three infants have died of the illness since 2013 ... 27 of whom had mothers who had not received the jab in pregnancy. Parents (or parents to be) who have never seen a case of whooping cough should, in my opinion, Google: 'audio recording of child with whooping
access. For welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com or leave voicemails on 01245 322079.
The NHS performed a record number of checks for treatments, cancer checks and other tests in June, as 18-week performance hit its best level in 3 years. The 2025 national Patient Survey says 77% of our Primary Care Network’s patients rate their overall GPexperiences as Good Seven million appointments were delivered in mid and south Essex GP practices in 2024, 5% more than 2023.
NHS strike impact data: More care was delivered during the July 2025 resident doctors’strike than in the 5-day June 2024 walkout, with an additional 11,071 appointments and procedures going ahead.
The Food Standards Agency warns parents and caregivers not to give children under-7 slush ice drinks or ‘slushies’containing glycerol.Children aged 7 to 10 should only have one 350ml ‘slushie’ drink with glycerol per day.
Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) now provide vital tests, scans and checks 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, in evenings and at weekends for busy working people. Braintree CDC will open early 2026, Southend mid-2025, Thurrock later this summer, and Pitsea late 2026. Clacton CDC is already working.
Stop using certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes. Investigating an outbreak, found the following wipes were contaminated with Burkholderia stabilis:
Testing also revealed contamination of ReliwipeAlcohol Free Cleansing Wipes with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak cases. Don’t use these wipes to treat injuries, wounds, or broken skin, or to clean intravenous lines.
The opening of a new £1.3m procedure room at Braintree Community Hospital brings nearly 1,500pa extra procedures, freeing up main operating theatres for more complex surgeries, reducing waiting times and improving patient care.
cough - classic whoop' or watch this short video:https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=S3oZrMGDMMw(skipping the ads).
It's also a good idea to listen to experienced paediatricians who have seen any number of cases. One very impressive example of the breed is Dr Beachgem - a user 'friendly' doc. If any of my grandchildren get sick, she's exactly the sort of paediatrician I'd want looking after them. She'sAmerican so you have to get over the fact that she calls it 'Wooping cough' rather than 'Hooping cough': Google: 'Dr Beachgem whooping cough' or see: https://www. instagram.com/reel/C4gnpt8x6Z0/?hl=en:
Throughout majority of the time Homo sapiens has walked the earth, half of us were dead between the ages of 30 to 35. Most of these died in childhood. If you're ever passing All Saints Church in Purleigh, take a look at the graveyard to get a feel for 'the bad old days. Things began to improve in the mid 19th century.
Being 'of a certain age' I remember many of these diseases - and, in particular, the fear every parent had of polio which could leave kids crippled (or worse) - Google: 'polio complications' to see why. In England and Wales in 1950, there were 221 deaths from measles, with 18 deaths from diphtheria. Overall, childhood deaths from major infectious diseases were in rapid decline by 1950, due to the increasing availability of antibiotics and vaccinations such as the diphtheria vaccine. Even so, an Oxford Uni study found that, in 1967, the year before a vaccine was first introduced, there were 460,407 suspected cases of measles in the UK, and 99 people died from the disease.
For more information on this incredibly infectious disease Google 'Pediatrician Dr Eric Ball measles' (he's anotherAmerican - hence the spelling of 'pediatrician') - or do a search for 'measles - NHS'
Sadly too many children are now suffering from and dying from preventable diseases. I remember how worrying it could be as young parents taking our perfectly fit and well babies to be vaccinated against diseases which they might have shrugged off. The impetus to go ahead was that we'd seen kids who hadn't bounced back. Misinformation is, unfortunately, rife these dayswhich adds to the worry parents face - and, consequently, vaccination rates are worryingly low. We've just passed the last day of meteorological summer and winter is approaching. Winter epidemics often involve the simultaneous circulation of viruses - so let's hope that it doesn't happen in the months ahead as we are ill prepared.
Dr John Cormack
FOCUS
The Hidden Fire in Your Body: How Inflammation Impacts Your Health
Well hello again, lovely humans, it’s me, Kelly, your friendly nutritional therapist and enthusiastic over-sharer of bodily truths! The focus this time is inflammation.Most people think inflammation only shows up when you twist an ankle or bash your knee, you get a bit of swelling, some redness, and job done. But there’s another type of inflammation, the quiet, long-term kind, that doesn’t always scream for attention. Instead, it whispers through your body in ways we often brush off as “just getting older” or “being stressed.”
The Hidden Fire Symptoms
Chronic low-grade inflammation can show up in surprising ways:
Fatigue that never shifts, no matter how much sleep you get. Brain fog, that “walking into a room and forgetting why” feeling. Achy joints or random muscle pains. Stubborn weight that just won’t budge. Skin flare-ups like eczema or acne. Digestive issues, allergies, or histamine reactions. Depression and/or anxiety.These little signals are your body’s way of saying: “Hey, there’s some fire smouldering inside, can you help me out here?”
Why Does It Happen?
Our bodies are designed to use inflammation as a healing tool. Cut your finger? Your immune system swoops in with a short, sharp dose of inflammation to fix it. But in modern life, lots of things can keep that response switched on for too long: ultraprocessed food, poor sleep, stress, pollution, alcohol, sedentary living, and even unresolved gut issues. Instead of helping, inflammation becomes background “noise” that slowly chips away at energy and wellbeing.
Small Shifts That Make a Big Difference
Here’s where you can start calming that internal fire without feeling like you’re signing up for a life of kale smoothies and sadness:
Eat the rainbow. Colourful fruit and veg are bursting with antioxidants, the natural fire-fighters.
Omega-3s. Oily fish, chia seeds and walnuts can help balance out inflammatory fats.
Spice it up. Turmeric and ginger aren’t just tasty, they have proven anti-inflammatory properties.
Move your body. Gentle daily movement (even walking) helps reduce inflammatory markers.
Prioritise sleep. Your body heals and repairs at night; skimp on it and inflammation lingers.
Stress less. Easier said than done, I know. But finding tools that actually work for you, things like breathwork, meditation, journaling, laughter can cool inflammation faster than you’d think.
Final word from a Nutritional Therapist who’s seen inflammation play the villain more times than I can count. That constant tiredness, the creaky joints, the fuzzy head, it’s not your “new normal”, it’s your body waving a red flag. You don’t need to just grit your teeth and push on. With the right support, you can turn the volume down on inflammation and get your spark back. If that sounds good, book a free 20-minute consultation and let’s figure it out together.
Kelly Beagle
Registered Nutritional Therapist and Nurse
Visit www.kellybeaglenutrition.com and follow the link to book.
oking for donations and black wool for knitters who have ered to knit/crochet These will be used to cover a Tommy Figure who will be placed on a bench for Remembrance Sunday. Please bring any donations to the office at Champions Manor Hall
If you would like to get involved, knitting and crochet patterns are available on request
PlanningApplications
Residents are invited to sign up on the Chelmsford City Council website to receive notifications and updates regarding applications in their area: https://www.chelmsford.gov. uk/planning-and-buildingcontrol.
Open Road bring their night time economy SOS Bus to the Club.
Arranged by Immediate Past President, Roger Restell, the Open Road organisation, before a recent meeting, brought one of their four buses for Club members to view and understand more about their night-time work in particular. A leading drug and alcohol support service in Essex and Medway Kent with its head office in Colchester, it empowers individuals, families and communities to lead more meaningful lives.
Employing over 100 staff with over 200 active volunteers, each year it helps over 11500 people with a wide range of drug and alcohol problems and our Club was pleased to support their mission.
9th
we hope you have the
day! **** Holy Trinity Anglican Church ****Saturday 13th September 10.3012.30pm
Coffee morning being held in the meeting room.
Coffee/Tea & Homemade cakes All are welcome!!
Happy 8th birthday 'Jude the Dude' love Mum, Dad and Mia xx
Happy 3rd birthday to our beautiful princess . Love you mummy & Daddy
Happy
Birthday
best
Focus
on GardeningSeptember
September is often a transitional month for gardeners, marking the shift from the vibrant blooms of summer to the rich colours of autumn. While many plants begin to wind down for the season, there are still plenty of tasks to be done in the garden to prepare for the colder months ahead.
Historically, gardening in September was the practice of cleaning up the garden beds by removing tatty annuals, cutting back perennials, and clearing away debris. Current thinking is to leave the garden in its most natural state for the benefit of wildlife they appreciate the untidiness.
However, September is still a great time to start planting winter crops such as kale, broccoli, and carrots. These vegetables thrive in the cooler temperatures of autumn and can provide an abundant harvest well into the season.
September is also a great time for planning for the following year. This may involve dividing and transplanting perennials, planning out new garden layouts and planting bulbs for spring blooms. The best time to plant daffodil, tulip and crocus bulbs is from September to November. This gives the bulbs time to develop
roots before temperatures drop, so they can put on new growth and flower as soon as temperatures rise again in spring.
All
Year Garden Advice
Most daffodil bulbs should be planted about 10cm deep, roughly twice the depth of the bulb itself. In open ground, plant up to six daffodil bulbs together – any more than this and they will quickly become congested. In pots you can plant as many bulbs together as you like, because the display will be less permanent, and you can replant the bulbs in the ground in one to two years' time. Tulips of all types do best in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil. It's a good idea to plant tulips just behind perennials in a border –the emerging foliage will conceal the leaves of the tulips as they die back. Adding a handful of bulb fibre in the bottom of the hole will aid drainage in our heavy clay soil.
Most crocus varieties need to be planted in a sunny, open position. They'll successfully naturalise in grass to make a lovely spring meadow. If you have crocuses that have naturalised in grass, don't cut the lawn until the flowers have died and the leaves have yellowed and disappeared.
I wish you and your garden wildlife a happy September.
SIMON SAYS MONTHLY GARDENING ADVICE
With Centre Manager at Meadowcroft
Triple glazing performance, with our new high-tech double glazing
Check-Circle Warmer than ever
Check-Circle Oh so secure
Check-Circle So much more soundproof
*Offers End: 30th September 2025.
Well, as if by magic, September has arrived which signals the end of the bowls league season, but not the end of in-house competitions, external competitions, invitation games and our general roll up days. The advantage of having an all weather, all year green.
Talking of magic, that is exactly how our season has been this year. The results gained by our teams has been amazing. CMBL teams A and B both won their leagues and will be promoted, achieving kudos for those taking part and the Club's objective of gaining promotion. Well done Champions. Team C's objective was to give new and less experienced players, the opportunity of playing in League Competitions, gaining experience in match play, ready for next season. They did well by achieving a very credible 5th position which in itself was an accomplishment as some games were on grass, very different to our surface.
Again, well done to all who took part.
The C&D squad, which included a number a new players, deserve praise for coming 3rd in their League by just 1 point. The new members will indeed have benefited from the experience gained in match play, standing them in good stead for 2026 season. Job well done gents.
The force to be reckoned with, mentioned last month, is building all the time. We have competed in many external competitions including County, CMBL, C&D and Invitation competitions in singles, pairs, triples and fours, reaching the latter rounds in many of them. Those taking part were often up against very experienced players so praise is well deserved.
Also, a mention should be given to Arthur, Trevor, Kevin G and Barry for becoming members of the Hot Shots Club, gained by achieving the maximum score on one end in a CMBL match. Well done gents.
Our ladies had been invited to two separate events, the first at Burnham for Dengie Ladies Invitation Triples. Congratulations to
Shape the Future of Our Local Waters –Volunteers
& Professionals Wanted!
The Crouch Harbour Authority is seeking new volunteer members, including those with professional expertise, to help guide and manage the busy and diverse Rivers Crouch and Roach.
Are you a sailor, conservationist, business leader, legal expert, or simply someone who cares deeply about your community and rivers?
We’d love to hear from you.
All backgrounds and skill sets welcome –whether you're hands-on in the harbour or bring experience from the boardroom.
Your knowledge. Your voice. Your harbour.
Contact the Harbour Office, Burnham-on-Crouch
Email: elaine@crouchharbour.org.uk
www.crouchharbour.uk
Apply by: 30th September 2025
Sue M, Jan and Sue P who were runners up, missing out by one point. We also took part in the Ladies Celebration Day at Runwell Hospital Bowls Club. No prizes this time but a most enjoyable day, as always.
Our in-house competitions for ladies and gents individual singles and mixed pairs are going full steam ahead. The standard of play is progressing all the time with many games being won by a very narrow margin.
Just because the league season has stopped, that doesn't mean we have so watch this space, or the green if you've a mind too. Come and say hello, you're always welcome.
swfbowlsclub@gmail.com
SIGN UP FOR SOUTH WOODHAM FERRERS RFC AT 2025/26 KICK-OFF DAY
South Woodham Ferrers RFC will hold their 2025/26 Season Kick-Off event on Sunday August 31 - including the chance for new players to register for the Minis & Youth teams.
The club, based at Saltcoats Park, are offering a two-week free trial for new players aged 4-16 to join the Minis & Youth teams for the new season - including the Girls team (Year 6+).
In addition, Sunday August 31 will be the first session back for all age groups following the summer break.
Don't miss your chance to give rugby a try in a fun, friendly environment!
For further details, contact Hayley via 07725 571 187 or Marc via 07747 757363.
1981 CLUB
DRAW
SWF RFC also have a 1981 Club monthly members' draw,
which costs just £5 per month to enter and features a £100 prize. Entries are limited to 100, and all profits go into the club.
Entry can be made by standing order. For more details or to request a standing order form, please contact Liam via 07739 593568.
TOUCH RUGBY
Meanwhile, Touch Rugby sessions are continuing to be held each Monday at 7pm at Saltcoats Park through the summer.
All players from U15s upwards are welcome - we have a mixed group in terms of gender, age, ability and fitness! For more information, please contact Gerry via 07880 498565.
From September, Touch Rugby moves onto the 3G pitch at SWF Leisure Centre from 8pm.
East Hanningfield village hall holds an annual art exhibiton and sale to raise funds for our hall and field (Hanna's Field Charity) and this year is no exception. We hope you could advertise us again free as you have in the past .It is on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October all day. entry adults 2.00 children free. also a book sale and refreshments available. Usually 80plus artist with 450plus wall exhibition. Lots of artists from the surrounding villages present high quality work in different media
Jemma kindly asked Georgie if she could do a fund raiser for him and fly high in the sky ON a plane ! Crazy Jemma wanted to do a WING WALK for Georgie, George had a think and asked Jemma if she would not do for him personally but if she would do this for the research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ( his condition ) she kindly agreed so we all set too and tried to raise as much money for Duchenne UK as we could, on bank holiday Monday Jemma flew high in the clouds and raised a massive £1308.75 !
We are so proud of Jemma and want to thank her again so much. If anyone would like to sponsor Jemma it's not to late so please donate on this link. www.justgiving.com/page/ jemma-genes-4?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_ campaign=015
The research is so important to George so if there is anyone who wishes to do a fund raiser for us with all money going to Duchenne UK then please get in touch, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a devastating condition that sadly has no cure
Thank you all for your ongoing support and most of all thanks to Crazy Jemma for raising such a brilliant amount for her wing walk
Much love TJ & George x
HUGE Thank You to Jemma Genes!
CROUCH VALLEY
It’s been a busy couple of months for our club. Lots of visits out to gardens, including a recent picnic and then walk around Hyde Hall.
We’ve also been to wine tastings, on walks, delved into family history, played games, talked about art and music, gone birdwatching, eatenn our with the curry club and much more.
At our next meeting on 23rd September we will have a speaker on her creative journey from fashion studies, through costume design and running a creative accessories empire. This will be a very visual talk about film, TV and theatrical costume, with a few anecdotes along the way.
Why not join us and make a few new friends along the way? We meet monthly on the fourth Tuesday of each month, 2-4pm at Champions Manor. As well as the monthly speaker meeting we also have over 20 interest groups, so something for everyone.
HISTORIC AIRCRAFT THRILL CROWDS AT THE STOW MARIES AIR SHOW
The skies above Stow Maries were filled with the sound and spectacle of rare aircraft, thrilling the crowds at The Stow Maries Air Show on Saturday 23 August. Organised to raise funds for Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, an accredited Museum and the largest surviving WW1 aerodrome in the world, the Air Show brought together a fantastic collection of historic aircraft in the air and a throng of aviation-themed activities on the ground.
Please visit the website at https:/crouchvalley.u3asite.uk to see full details.
We hope to welcome you in September and that you will then wish to join us.
Sue Jacobs Chairman
GUTTER PROBLEMS
continued with a nail-biting classic barnstorming display from The Stampe Team in their open cockpit, aerobatic biplanes, flying in close formation at speeds of up to 130mph.
The next item on the display was an exceptional flying ‘action scenario’ of whirling and diving aircraft that would have been a familiar sight during WW1, led by the magnificent Airco DH-9 bomber, the only one in the world still flying. This unique aircraft was carefully restored to its former glory after being found in a dilapidated state in 2000 hidden in an elephant stable at the Imperial Fort and Royal Palace in Bikaner, India. The DH-9 was ‘defended’ by the Nieuport 17 and the Se5a, as it was pounced on by the German Albatros and Fokker Dr1 Triplane. The thrilling display wowed the audience with cheers as the dastardly foes were ‘driven off’ by the heroic fighters of Entente forces.
The flying display began with the arrival overhead of the stunning 1944 Mk9 Spitfire, Spirit of Kent – a last-minute change of aircraft as the desert camouflage Spitfire booked to appear developed mechanical issues. With just days to spare, a replacement aircraft was arranged from the Spitfire Heritage Hangar at RAF Biggin Hill and crowds cheered as the unique growl of its engine reverberated around the listed buildings of the historic Aerodrome. The action
The Turbulent Display Team were next up, flying metres from the ground to perform flour-bombing, balloon-bursting and limboflying in single-seater D31Turbulents; followed by the formidable Tiger Nine group piloting Tiger Moth aircraft in formation. The Fournier Redhawk RF4D aerobatic motorised glider dived steeply to gasps from the crowd and musical accompaniment, with smoke trails from its wings. This was especially poignant as pilot Bob Grimstead was performing his final air display – after 60 years in the air, he chose Stow Maries for his Swansong. On the ground, visitors enjoyed the rare site of a Fairey Swordfish biplane on static display. Ian Flint, Chief Executive Officer of Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, comments: “It was an amazing sight to see these rare and unique aircraft in the skies above Stow, and to have such a great crowd enjoying the day and making the most of everything that the Museum has to offer.”
Important TelephoneNumbers
Police Station non emergencies 101 or 0300 333 4444
Fire Station
Neighbourhood Watch
(contact via the Police Stn above)
0300 303 0088
Town Council ChampionsManor Hall CommunityCentre 321817
St Mary’s Primary (Aided) Woodham Ferrers Village 320505
Trinity St Mary’s (Aided) 321711
Woodville Primary 321755
William de Ferrers 326326
CHURCHES
Evangelical Church
Church of England
Christ the King Church, RCCG.
Methodist Church
New Life Church
Roman Catholic Church
07375936840
01245 691979
07538097421
01621 853423
01245 321188
01245 324138
Salvation Army 01268 768803
Woodham Ferrers Congregational Church 01702 551950
St Mary’s Church Woodham Ferrers. 01245 961979
RELIGIOUS CENTRES
Mid Essex Buddhist Centre
07936 534546
To report streetlamps not working, overgrown vegetation, potholes etc. please contact Essex County Council www.essexhighways.org/tell-us/report-all-issues.aspx
To report a missed waste/recycling collection please contact Chelmsford City Council www.chelmsford.gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/
For bus timetables, please contact First Bus at www.firstbus.co.uk/essex
Community Care Community Care Co-Ordinator: Sandra 01245 321180
Food Bank - Located at New Life Church, Clements Green Lane, every Wednesday 10am to 12pm
