Mar 10 - Everything Epping Forest

Everything Epping ForestPage 1 of 22everythingeppingforest.co.uk covers the Epping Forest district in Essex and features regularly updated news - in words and pictures - has a what's onlistings section to highlight local events, a Local Business Directory and a section which allows clubs and organisations to publicise their activities freeof chargeHome | News | Your News Views | Events - What's On Diary | Clubs - Organisations | Local Business Directory | Jobs | Food & DrinkMonday, 3 May, 2010What do you think? Have your say on the news articles that appear on www.everythingeppingforest.co.ukEmail everythingeppingforest@googlemail.com or text brief comments to 07710 447868. Please include yourname and address (however you may request for both to be withheld from publication)Easter egg hunt raises £530Tree to be felled30th March 2010AN Easter Egg Hunt held by 1st Theydon Garnon Scout Group raised £530.77.Many shops in Epping High Street supported the event by displaying eggs in theirwindows.The event was well supported by all sections of the scout group, many local residents andfamilies.Despite some heavy showers many children had fun searching in the shop windows for theeggs.They recorded their finds on their entry sheets and returned them to the scout stall toreceive a small prize and an entry into the raffle.The raffle was drawn at the cub meeting night the following Monday and the fluffy bearwith his basket of Easter eggs was won by Ruby, from North Weald.The money raised will go towards the rebuiding of the group's scout headquarters.30th March 2010A GIANT oak tree in Ongar is to be felled for safety reasons.Essex County Council says the decision to remove the decaying tree from the verge at theCoopers Hill-Brentwood Road junction follows tests by specialists.Ongar county councillor Gerard McEwen said: "It will undoubtedly upset residents to see itgo but the intention is to plant a replacement in the next season."WWWGoogle Searcheverythingeppingforest.co.ukSubscribe to a news feedEnter your email address to be alerted to new articles:SubmitNov 08 | Dec 08 | Jan 09 | Feb 09 | Mar 09 |Apr 09 | May 09 | Jun 09 | Jul 09 | Aug 09 |Sep 09 | Oct 09 | Nov 09 | Dec 09 | Jan 10 |Feb 10 | Mar 10 | TodayTell us your news...Publicise your event...Promote your business...Have your say...Buy copies of photos that appear here...email:everythingeppingforest@googlemail.comcall: David Jackman on 07710 447868District council elections29th March 2010TWENTY seats on Epping Forest District Council will be up for re-election on Thursday,May 6.This year's district council elections are expected to coincide with the general election,which should result in a higher than normal turnout.District council seats (with the name of the current councillor) up for re-election are:Buckhurst Hill East - Peter Spencer (Liberal Democrat).Buckhurst Hill West - Ann Haigh (Liberal Democrat)Chigwell Village - Lesley Wagland (Conservative)Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash - two councillors to be elected - DerekJacobs (Liberal Democrat) and Glyn Pritchard (Conservative)Epping Hemnall - Janet Whitehouse (Liberal Democrat)Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common - Matthew Colling (Conservative)Grange Hill - Gagan Mohindra (Conservative)Loughton Alderton - Rodney Law (British National Party)Loughton Broadway - Susan Clapp (British National Party)Loughton Fairmead - Peter Turpin (British National Party)Loughton Forest - Rebecca Cohen (Conservative)Loughton Roding - Stephen Murray (Independent)Loughton St Johns - John Markham (Loughton Residents Association)Loughtion St Marys - Mitchell Cohen (Conservative)Lower Nazeing - Antoinette Cooper (Independent)North Weald Bassett - David Stallan (Conservative)Theydon Bois - Roland Frankel (Liberal Democrat)Waltham Abbey Honey Lane - Adam Clark (Conservative)Waltham Abbey Peternoster - John Wyatt (Conservative).EXCLUSIVE: Police renew appeal29th March 2010POLICE are to mark the ninth anniversary of the death of Stuart Lubbock on Wednesdayto make a renewed appeal for information.Despite painstaking police investigations, no-one has ever been charged over the death ofStuart who was found at the then Roydon home of entertainer Michael Barrymore after hereturned to the celebrity's home after a night out at the Millennium nightclub in Harlow.Barrymore and others were arrested in connection with Lubbock's death but no chargeshave ever resulted.Police have made several appeals for information from anyone who was at the property inBeaumont Park Drive who has information about what happened.Stuart's father, Terry, has repeatedly said someone who attended the impromptu partymust have information which could help detectives solve the case once and for all.Police reopened the investigation after an investigation by the Independent PoliceComplaints Commission concluded that police made a “premature” decision to suspendthe first investigation in December 2001 when forensic work was incomplete and enquirieswere outstanding.The IPCC upheld six of 36 complaints and allegations made by Stuart’s father.The IPCC investigation found the scene was not effectively preserved, unauthorisedpeople were allowed to stay at the scene, blood found on boxer shorts, towels and a robewas not promptly investigated, a member of the public was allowed to take thetemperature of the swimming pool and the investigation was suspended prematurely.Thirty complaints were not upheld including allegations that the police throughincompetence or corruption failed to investigate Stuart’s death effectively, failed toinvestigate major contradictions in accounts given by witnesses about the circumstances inwhich Stuart died and misled the Coroner’s Court by stating Stuart was found in theswimming pool.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 2 of 22The IPCC investigation discovered two pieces of evidence, which could have been crucialwent missing.A swimming pool thermometer which appears in photographs of the scene, and adetached door handle, were never seized by police or forensically tested.It was therefore not been possible for police to establish whether or not the implementswere used to cause Stuart’s injuries.Speaking at the time of the IPCC ruling, IPCC Commissioner David Petch said: “There areabsolutely no grounds to support allegations that officers acted corruptly.The view that the entire investigation was incompetent is not borne out by the bulk of theevidence.“But undoubtedly there were failings in some aspects of the investigation.”The security around the scene in the first few hours should have been more rigorous.As a consequence there are lingering fears that because the integrity of the scene was notproperly preserved, important evidence may have been lost.”Potential witnesses should have been removed from the house and grounds at theearliest opportunity.Yet some people were allowed to stay and tidy up in the house.“Forensic examinations of some items found at the scene were not carried out as promptlyas they should have been - although this was remedied."Essex Police "apologised unreservedly" to the family and friends of Stuart Lubbockfollowing the publication of the IPCC report.Police appeal follows break-in29th March 2010DETECTIVES are appealing for information following a burglary in Thornwood.Between Friday, February 19 and Sunday, February 21, thieves broke into a property inBrookfield by forcing a rear UPVC door and stole various items of jewellery from within.In particular, detectives ask that people keep a look out for a pair of gold cufflinks, as it isbelieved only a few were ever made.The cufflinks have an old green engine wheel engraved on them and a small chain oneach of them.Anyone with any information should contact DC Georgette Beckett on 0300 333 4444, orCrimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.Man dies in M11 crash29th March 2010POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a driver died when his car crashed on the M11at North Weald.Officers were called to the southbound carriageway between junctions 7 and 6 at about5.25pm on Sunday following reports that a blue Ford Ka car had veered off the road andoverturned on an embankment.Fire crews from Harlow, Loughton and Epping and an air ambulance were called but thedriver, a 40-year-old man believed to be from south London, was pronounced dead at thescene.The southbound carriageway was closed for more than three hours while the vehicle wasrecovered and police carried out an initial investigation.Anyone with information about the crash should contact PC Bob Colbert at Chigwell RoadPolicing Unit on 0300 333 4444.Hundreds turn out for hospice run28th March 2010HUNDREDS of runners turned out for the annual St Clare Hospice 10k fun run.Organisers say more than 500 runners registered for today's race which started andfinished at the hospice in Hastingwood Road, Hastingwood.The event is a favorite with local running clubs and those taking part in next month'sLondon Marathon.A full report will appear here later.Bogus caller play earns award03/05/201027th March 2010THE Roding Valley U3A group has received a High Sheriff’s Award for Community Safety.The award recognises the branch's drama group, formed by Janet Whitehouse, whichperformed a series of humorous sketches ‘Feeling Good - Keeping Safe’ to show olderpeople how bogus callers can target people and how they can be kept out of homes.The production was launched to stakeholders before ten performances were staged atvarious older peoples' clubs until last November.Mrs Whitehouse said: "All the performances were well received and always at least oneperson had been a victim or knew someone who had."She added: "We did this in partnership with Epping Forest Safer Communities Partnershipwho gave Roding Valley U3A a grant and other practical support."Either Safer Communities manager Caroline Wiggins or one of her colleagues gave ashort talk at the end of each performance to reinforce the messages, especially to use adoor chain.As a result of the drama group's efforts Safer Communities are now receiving telephonecalls from older people to check up on callers as was highlighted in the drama.Mrs Whitehouse said: "Most of the members who formed the drama group had not doneany amateur drama before but felt it was such a worthwhile project they wanted to getinvolved."They had to rehearse regularly because doing it over such a long period, people went onholiday and those left had to take different parts."Roding Valley U3A enables people no longer in full-time employment to come together tolearn and share interests.The monthly speaker’s meeting is held in Theydon Bois.For more details, ring Doug Harryman on 020 8508 3454 or Janet Whitehouse on 01992

Everything Epping ForestPage 3 of 22812503.Guided walk in Nazeing27th March 2010AN Easter Monday guided walk is being held in Nazeing.The walk, of about five miles, starts from Bumbles Green Leisure Centre at 10am and isexpected to take about two-and-a-half hours. Parking is available.The route will feature All Saints Church and Nazeing Common, where there are superbviews and skylarks and other birds are often to be seen.The going should not be hard but walking boots or similar stout footwear is recommended.Dogs are welcome, but on a lead.Fresh appeal over attempted murder26th March 2010POLICE investigating the attempted murder of a man near Ongar have released moreinformation about the attack.The 42-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries when he was attacked by two menarmed with knives when he arrived for work at ‘The Piggeries’, Woolmongers Lane,Stondon Massey, on Tuesday, February 23.The victim is now recovering and has been able to provide investigators with a full accountof what happened.He was attacked as he opened the yard gate at 6.30am.One of the men was white, aged 20 to 40, of medium build, with light coloured facialstubble.The other man was of similar age and also of medium build It is believed that they arrivedand left the scene in a dark coloured four door saloon of similar size to a Citroen Xantia.Police want to hear from anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle in the area ofWoolmongers Lane in the two weeks before the attack or who has any information thatmay assist in identifying the suspects and the vehicle.Any information should be passed to the major investigation team at Brentwood on 0300333 4444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Governors re-elected to trust26th March 2010TWO Epping Forest governors on the mental health trust have been re-elected for the nextthree years.Andrew Smith and Sheila Jackman were re-elected to North Essex Partnership NHSFoundation Trust.Trust chairman Mary St Aubyn said: ‘I faced these elections with mixed feelings. Whilstbeing a sad time saying farewell to past governors, I am also excited to be working withnew and re-elected governors."We have been a Foundation Trust for just under three years and, with the input from ourgovernors, we continually grow and improve our services. The partnership our Board haswith our council is truly amazing."Governors represent the interests and views of local people and staff, provide members ofthe public with information about the Trust, its vision and its performance. They also adviseand work in partnership with the Trust’s Board of Directors.Public governors make up the majority of the Council of Governors.Villagers wait on farm plans26th March 2010VILLAGERS opposed to plans for a farm to be used for storage and distribution will haveto wait longer to hear if the proposals will be approved.A decision on the plans for Nine Ashes Farm, Rookery Road, High Ongar, was expected tobe made by the district council's area plans committee this week.But after more than 50 villagers had made the journey to the Civic Offices, Epping, theywere told the item was being deferred.Principal planning officer Jill Shingler said: "A number of highways issues have arisensince the original plans went in."She said they had not been fully looked at. "At this point officers are asking that membersdefer this matter so that all the issues can be fully assessed," she said.Council leader Di Collins asked how soon planning officers became aware that the matterwould be deferred, asking whether the objectors could have been told in advance.The meeting was told the decision was taken "late this afternoon" (Wednesday), just a fewhours before the 7.30pm meeting.High Ongar Parish Council and 38 residents who live near the site were informed aboutthe application, with 34 letters of objection received by the council.Residents are concerned about highways issues, the harm to the green belt - with villagerspreferring to see residential development on the site which borders the parishes of HighOngar and Blackmore.Villagers at the meeting also called for wider consultation.Woman fined for flytipping26th March 2010A WOMAN who said could not afford to pay to have an unwanted mattress, sofa andcarpet collected by the council has been ordered to pay £250 after admitting flytipping.Had she paid the district council to collect the items from The Broadway, Loughton, itwould have cost her just £29, Harlow magistrates court heard.Jeanette Rose, of The Broadway, pleaded guilty to the offence of knowingly causing orpermitting controlled waste to be deposited behind the flats at The Broadway, Loughton,when she appeared in court on March 12.On March 18 last year the council’s CCTV showed some men dropping items over thebalcony at The Broadway, which had been taken from one of the flats.The items were then left in an area below the flats next to a sign which reads 'NoFlytipping in Bin Area'.Investigations carried out by the council’s environment and neighbourhoods officers,assisted by colleagues in the Safer Communities Team, revealed Jeanette Rose was theoccupier of the flat.She was subsequently interviewed under caution when she admitted the items - amattress and sofa, together with some carpeting had been deposited at her request.She said it had been intended that her father would collect the items a couple of dayslater.This had not occurred and the items were removed by the council after April 2 last year. Inher mitigation she told the magistrates she could not afford the cost of using the officialcollection service available for such items.Taking into account her guilty plea at the first opportunity, her mitigation and financial03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 5 of 22for including a war memorial in the design.NHS West Essex director of corporate services Leigh Fleming said the PCT fullyunderstood the concerns raised but stressed that parking spaces to be made available onthe leisure centre site on the other side of Fyfield Road would be for staff, freeing up thespaces behind the medical centre for use by patients and visitors.Commenting on the land adjoining the site, she said the sale price would be too high forthe PCT to afford. The advantage with the hospital site was that it was already under PCTownership.She added it was a much needed development with current GP premises too small toaccommodate the necessary facilities. She said the consultation showed local people were"behind us 100 per cent".Councillor Derek Jacobs said he was in "two minds" about the design which had beendescribed as creating a striking landmark for the town.He said: "I think these facilities are desperately needed in Ongar. The GPs and othershave said the current facilities are not fit for purpose and it makes sense to combine all thefacilities in Ongar under one roof if possible."Councillor Richard Morgan said it would be a landmark and much needed building whilecouncil leader Di Collins said: "This (health facilities in Ongar) has been an ongoingproblem for some time. GP premises there really are back in the 20th century. We do needsomething that is fit for purpose in Ongar."Any delay on this will incur more cost.. Ongar members should be very grateful to thePCT for forcing this onwards and upwards. Any delay not getting on with this now will bevery short-sighted."It's a very, very good facility. This is taxpayers money, its the health service's money andthere just isn't a big pot any more."Permission was granted by 14 votes to nil, with one councillor - Shelley councillor PeterGode - abstaining.Sign up for Easter egg hunt24th March 2010MEMBERS of 1st Theydon Garnon Scout Group are holding an Easter Egg Hunt in EppingHigh Street on Saturday.To join in the hunt, between 10am and 3pm, children will need to buy a form (£1) from thestand outside Greggs Bakery.They can then hunt up and down the High Street trying to spot the Easter Eggs hidden inshop windows.When they return their completed forms to the stall they will receive a small prize and beable to enter the raffle.All proceeds will go towards the fundraising efforts for the new scout building.Bungee plunge for charity24th March 2010DAREDEVIL fundraiser Gemma Martin will be raising money for St Clare Hospice whenshe plunges 170ft to the ground on North Weald airfield.Gemma, who is a governance assistant (provider services) with West Essex CommunityHealth Services, is appealing for sponsors before she takes part in the charity bungeejump on Saturday 3 April.Gemma said: "I'm rather scared at the thought but doing a bungee jump is one of thethings on my 'wish list' to do before I die. I want to go to New Zealand and bungee jumpthere so this will be good practice!"She said: "It's something I think will be worth doing, and being able to support a charity atthe same time will make it all the more worthwhile."Gemma, who lives in Harlow and works at St Margaret's Hospital, Epping, needs to raise aminimum of £100 but hopes pledges from family, friends and work colleagues will generatemuch more for the Hastingwood-based charity.If you want to sponsor Gemma, visit her Justgiving pagewww.justgiving.com/gemmamartin85Anyone wanting to take part in the bungee jump can register by ringing St Clare Hospice'sfundraising team on 01279 773750 or email fund@stclarehospice.org.ukPlanners back church proposals24th March 2010PLANS for an extension to All Saints Church, Epping Upland, to accommodate meetingrooms and toilets are being recommended for approval.District council planning officers are supporting the proposals, despite objections from theparish council.The single-storey addition would be on the northern side of the Grade II listed church withan extension to the existing porch.However the parish council is concerned about the scale of the proposed work on thehistoric building.Councillors add that the extension will be visible from the road, with the extensionappearing to be "not entirely in keeping with the current external finishes". Gravestonesare to be re-set in the disused burial ground to accommodate the extension.A planning officer's report to the district council's area plans committee states that whilethe church is in the green belt the extension would be "reasonable" and would not undulyimpact on the openness or appearance of the green belt.English Heritage says the scheme "seems a sympathetic response to both the buildingand the brief" while Essex County Council and the historic buildings advisor has voiced noobjection saying "the conservation issues have been well addressed".Masked raiders target pub23rd March 2010THREE members of staff at a Chigwell pub have been threatened by masked raidersarmed with a crowbar.Two men forced their way in through a back door at the King William IV pub, High Road, atabout 9.30am on Monday, March 15.They confronted a 48-year-old cleaner who was working downstairs then dragged twoother members of staff, aged 32 and 33, from their beds in a first-floor flat.The burglars then threatened all three men with a crowbar and ordered them to open asafe.They escaped with a four-figure sum of cash.Investigating officer Sergeant Tina Hart said: "This was a frightening attack and all threemembers of staff were badly shaken by their ordeal. The man who was cleaningdownstairs was grabbed from behind and the other two men had both been asleepupstairs and were dragged from their beds and forced down the stairs."We want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time or from anyone who hasinformation about who was responsible."The pub is near two busy junctions and there might have been queues of traffic outsidethe pub. We want to hear from anyone who may have noticed anything suspicious."03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 6 of 22The two thieves were both thought to be wearing dark-coloured hooded jackets with thehoods pulled up over balaclavas.Both are thought to be white and one was about 6ft tall and and of large build. The otherman was about 5ft.8in and of medium build.The taller man was wearing white canvas deck shoes.Anyone with information should contact Sgt Hart at Waltham Abbey CID on 0300 3334444.Two hours to tackle house blaze23rd March 2010FIREFIGHTERS took two hours to deal with a blaze at a house in Chigwell.Seven crews - from Loughton, Ongar, Chelmsford, Hainault and Woodford were called tothe property in Hainault Road at about 7.40pm last night (Monday).The officer in charge reported that half the first floor was well alight. Firefighters removedtiles and cut away sections of the roof to aid the firefighting operation.An aerial ladder was brought in to enable crews to tackle the fire from above.The fire was out by 9.40pm, a fire spokesman said.The cause of the fire will be investigated.BLAZE UPDATE: Fire "surrounded"22nd March 2010FIREFIGHTERS are continuing to tackle a major blaze at a house in Chigwell.At 9.05pm the officer in charge has reported that the fire "has now been surrounded".Seven fire crews were called to the property in Hainault Road at about 7.40pm thisevening (Monday).Initial reports stated that half the first floor was well alight with the fire also affecting theroof.Crews are now removing roof tiles and cutting away part of the roof.An aerial ladder platform is also being used to enable firefighters to tackle the flames fromabove.The cause of the fire will be investigated.8.55pm - BREAKING NEWS: House blaze22nd March 2010SEVEN fire crews are tackling a blaze at a house in Chigwell.Firefighters from Loughton, Ongar, Chelmsford, Hainault and Woodford were called to theproperty in Hainault Road at about 7.40pm this evening (Monday).The officer in charge has reported that half the first floor is well alight. The fire has alsoaffected the roof area.Police have been called to control traffic in the road outside the property.The cause of the fire will be investigated.Funding success for skate park22nd March 2010VARIOUS grants have ensured that a new skate park can be established in WalthamAbbey.Funding from the Playbuilders Scheme for the new skate area at Town Mead has beensecured, with a grant of £48,000 having been awarded to the town council.This sum, combined with other grants, gives the town council some £85,000 with which toinstall a new skate park/BMX track on the leisure park at the end of Brooker Road.Consultation events are now being planned but town clerk Kathryn Richmond advises thatin the meantime there is a new Facebook page 'Waltham Abbey Skate Park' where peoplecan leave their ideas, thoughts and suggestions.Once proposals have been put together, they will be uploaded onto the Facebook site forfurther discussion.Pupils sing at Royal Albert Hall22nd March 2010NINETEEN pupils and three teachers from The Leverton Junior School, Waltham Abbey,joined a massed choir to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.The concert, in aid of the Barnardo’s charity, brought together more than 1,500 pupils from40 schools to sing a range of numbers from an old time musical melody to pop favouritesTragedy and Mamma Mia!The pupils had been rehearsing for the past couple of months and spent all day lastTuesday practising with conductor Susannah Edom.The show, performed to a full house, was presented by former Blue Peter presenter ZoeSalmon. The school's music curriculum leader Leah Whitaker said: "It was a once-in-alifetimeexperience for the children. The dedication shown was amazing. Everyone left TheRoyal Albert Hall with a buzz."Year 5 pupil Sophie Burling said: "I was really shocked how big The Royal Albert Hall was.We practised all day and at the last minute we had to put actions to the words."I really enjoyed the performance. I thought it was a fantastic day and I would do it again."New lodge opens at Gilwell Park22nd March 2010A NEW accommodation building at Gilwell Park, the headquarters of The ScoutAssociation, has been officially opened.The building was opened by its benefactor, Peter Harrison, after The Peter HarrisonFoundation provided a £1.25m grant to build the Peter Harrison Lodge.The energy efficient lodge, with creative use of natural light, offers year-round space andaccommodation for up to 50 young people, allowing them to enjoy the challenge andadventure of the 108-mature parkland of The Scout Association’s Gilwell Park ActivityCentre.Scout leader Sophie Richings, 18, who helped Peter officially open the building, said:"I have always loved camping at Gilwell Park because there are so many activities, fromabseiling to zorbing. Now that I have become a Scout Leader I can bring all my Scouts forthe weekend and we can stay in the brand new Peter Harrison Lodge."All the rooms are en-suite with a maximum of four beds per room with a separate room foradult leaders.There is also a large communal hall suitable for use as a dining space, social area or forindoor activities.The lodge has been built with traditional load-bearing masonry on piled foundations withpre-cast block and beam floor and timber trussed rafter roof.The flat roof areas have been inverted with natural materials designed to encourage03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 7 of 22wildlife.Mr Harrison said: "I am very proud of the Foundation and what we have been able to do.The Peter Harrison Lodge will provide more opportunities for young people in Scouting,and cater for their every need."Independent wins council seat22nd March 2010INDEPENDENT candidate Michael Taylor has earned himself a seat on Matching ParishCouncil.Mr Taylor polled 131 votes when he stood against Wendy Edwards (72 votes).The election for the vacant seat was held last Thursday.Teenager set for Great Wall trek22nd March 2010A TEENAGER from Theydon Bois has signed up for a fundraising ‘Great Wall of China ofTrek’.Ben Sowerby, 17, will be raising money for St Clare Hospice at Hastingwood when hetakes part in the adventure in September.Ben decided to get involved after his mum, Sue, started fundraising for the charity aboutthree years ago.Sue will be embarking on the St Clare Midnight Walk in June for the third successive year.Recently Sue and some friends raised £37,500 by organising a ‘Scarlet Auction’ atTheydon Bois Village Hall to coincide with St Clare Hospice’s 20th anniversary.Ben said: "Seeing my mum raise so much money for the charity has encouraged me tohelp the hospice too."I am so excited to be involved with St Clare. It’s an amazing charity helping patients andtheir families in the west Essex and east Herts area."Ben added: "It’s my first fundraising project. I realise I will need to train hard but it will bewell worth it!"It will actually be the furthest I have ever travelled. China was always on my list of placesto visit but the Trek in September just means my dream becomes a reality sooner ratherthan later."To qualify for the trip, in addition to the £290 registration fee which he has paid for himselfby doing odd jobs at his parents’ place of work, Ben needs to raise £2,750.Anyone wanting to sponsor Ben can visit his Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/bensowerbyFor more information, email Ben at b-sowerby@hotmail.comCrash pilot escapes unhurt22nd March 2010A PILOT has escaped unhurt after his plane crashed shortly after taking off from NorthWeald airfield.The 49-year-old pilot of the Marchetti aircraft is understood to have walked away uninjuredafter his plane came down in a field at Rettendon, near Chelmsford, yesterday lunchtime(Sunday).ASSAULT UPDATE: Three men held21st March 2010THREE man have been arrested in connection with an incident in Epping during which aman was kicked in the head.The victim is showing signs of improvement. Having initially been described as ‘critical’ heis today said to be in a serious but stable condition in Queens Hospital, Romford.A woman was also injured in the incident which happened outside the Speak Easy bearshortly before 1am on Saturday.Both victims, who live in Epping, were taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.The woman was discharged but the 21-year-old man was transferred to Queens Hospital.A police spokesman told Everything Epping Forest this lunchtime that three men - twoaged 19 and one aged 25, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk - were being questioned atHarlow Police Station on suspicion of assault.Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the incident.Anyone with any information is urged to contact detectives at Harlow Police Station on0300 333 4444.Petition to save ticket offices21st March 2010A PETITION has been launched to save ticket offices at the district's London Undergroundstations.Liberal Democrats are stepping up the pressure on the Conservative Mayor of London,Boris Johnson, to scrap his plans to reduce the hours that ticket offices in Epping Forestare open.Epping Forest Liberal Democrats say Buckhurst Hill, Debden, Loughton and Eppingstations are all affected by the cull. The decision means the ticket offices will open laterand close earlier, with some only opening for an hour at weekends.Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman councillor Ann Haigh has launched a petitionto keep the ticket offices open. Residents can sign the petition by visitinghttp://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/efticketofficesMrs Haigh said: "Residents of Epping Forest are once again feeling the effect of aConservative they did not elect."The Mayor's proposals will inconvenience residents of Epping Forest, will make manypassengers feel unsafe and can only mean a reduction in the assistance available topassengers, particularly the elderly and disabled."We have already lost the ticket offices at the Chigwell stations, then we are informed thatvital upgrade work on our stations has been pushed back, now we have to deal withreduced opening times at the ticket offices. When will the cuts stop?"EXCLUSIVE: Assaulted man 'critical'20th March 2010A MAN is in a critical condition after being kicked in the head in Epping High Street.A woman was also injured in the incident which happened outside the Speak Easy barshortly before 1am today (Saturday).Police are trying to trace three men in connection with the incident.A police spokesman told Everything Epping Forest that both victims, who live in Epping,were taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 8 of 22The woman was discharged but the 21-year-old man was transferred to Queens Hospital,Romford, where he was in a critical condition this afternoon.One of the men police want to trace is described as black while the other two men were of"mixed heritage".Anyone with any information is urged to contact detectives at Harlow Police Station on0300 333 4444.An area of pavement outside the Speak Easy bar was taped off this morning with a policecommunity support officer on duty outside the premises.Mayor holding fun run19th March 2010A FUN run in Loughton next month will raise money for The Dream Factory charity.The 4km run is the idea of Loughton mayor Ken Angold-Stephens who is supporting TheDream Factory charity during his term of office.Children and adults can register for the run which will be held at the Roding Valleyrecreation ground on Sunday, April 18 (10.30am).Registration is £5 for children (15 years and under), £10 for adults (16 and over) and £20for a family (one adult and more than two children).Local schools are expected to take part.Cheques should be made payable to The Dream Factory and returned with theapplication / registration form to Loughton Town Council, 1 Buckingham Court, RectoryLane, Loughton, Essex, IG10 2QZRegistration fees can also be paid in cash or by credit card in person at the town counciloffices.Police target Limes Farm Estate19th March 2010POLICE have been out in force tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Chigwell.Officers from the Chigwell Neighbourhood Policing Team joined with Essex colleagues andofficers from the Metropolitan Police officers and the DVLA yesterday (Thursday) to targetoffending on the Limes Farm Estate.Several warrants were executed in the early hours and a sweep of the estate was carriedout looking for stolen or abandoned vehicles.Inspector Tom Simons said: "This operation shows how serious we are about dealing withproblems on the estate."I recognise that even minor offences have an impact on residents’ quality of life and wewill do everything we can to work with residents to make sure that the estate remains asafe and pleasant place to live."Residents who want to speak to their Neighbourhood Specialist Officer can ring theChigwell Neighbourhood Policing Team on 07968 354021.Stardom beckons for students19th March 2010FOUR graduating students from The Academy Arts, which runs sessions in Epping, havebeen accepted by professional performing arts colleges in London.Emily Wershof will be studying an A-level course while Danny-Boy Hatchard will join a BAHons MTC Course (DADA Award) both at Arts Educational Schools.Charlotte Hilditch will start an acting course at Italia Conti in September while Chris Kielywill be studying on a BA Hons MTC Course (Scholarship) at Guildford School of Acting.Several students have landed themselves professional engagements.William Bailey will be staying on for another contract in the West End in the hit musicalOliver, and will now finish in June; Ross McCormack, who played one of the original‘Dodgers’ in Oliver has recently left the West End to start work on a big budget film whileAdam Dali has recently finished his role as Simba in the show ‘Lion King’.At The Academy Arts’ students learn all aspects of Performing Arts skills includingdancing, singing and acting as well as getting integral performance experience.The Academy Arts takes students from the age of six to 24 and is looking for members tojoin its Academy Kids (six to nine years) who will be working on numbers from High SchoolMusical 2 and Academy Arts School (ten to 24 years) who are preparing for a talentcontest, auditions and Musicalmania 2.Sessions are held at St John's School, Epping on Saturday mornings and The Playhouse,Harlow, after school on Thursdays.For more information, ring the office on: 020 8539 1151 or visit www.academyarts.co.ukDistrict councillor resigns19th March 2010A DISTRICT councillor has resigned after moving out of the area.Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash Conservative councillor Glyn Pritchard hasresigned following his move from Ongar to Thaxted.He told Everything Epping Forest: "I am therefore no longer able to represent the people ofOngar, Greensted and Marden Ash in the way that I would want to."Mr Pritchard, who was not due for re-election until May next year, added: "I have reallyenjoyed being of service to Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash and have been able to helpa number of people over the past three years."I have been impressed by the dedication and hard work of council staff and othercouncillors, particularly the cabinet and I wish all the people of Epping Forest DistrictCouncil well in the future."The new hospital site development (in Ongar) should provide an exciting future for thetown and I have been honoured to be able to influence its development."AWARDS: Honour for 'Mr Nazeing'18th March 2010A MAN described as 'Mr Nazeing' has received this year's Epping Forest District CouncilCitizen of the Year award.Awards highlighting community work and sterling service to the district were presented atthe annual civic awards ceremony at Gilwell Park.John Carr has lived in Nazeing since 1966. He has retired from being a district and parishcouncillor but continues to be heavily involved in local matters with a special interest inhealth issues.He played a key role in the establishment of the village health centre, served on the formerCommunity Health Council, Public and Patient Involvement Committee and remains anactive member of Essex and Southend LINk.Today much of his voluntary work still involves support for elderly and physically disabledresidents, arranging outings and events such as Christmas dinners.Mr Carr, 71, who received two nominations for the Citizen of the Year award, is also a keyfigure at St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 9 of 22A founding trustee of the charity, he has supported and raised money for the hospice for20 years.Mr Carr told Everything Epping Forest: "I always enjoy what I do. That's the way I've beenbrought up, as a community person and I'm not going to change now."He thanked his wife, Maureen, for her support, adding: "I couldn't have done any of it (mycommunity work) without her."High commendations were presented to Dave Stannard, from Loughton, and Tony Moore,from North Weald.Mr Stannard was recognised as the "driving force" behind Debden Day, a key member ofDebden Town Centre Partnership, and one of the most influential voices guiding thedistrict council through the successful and recently completed Broadway EnhancementScheme.For more than 40 years, Mr Moore - described as "a catalyst and an inspiration to any whoknow him" - has been contributing to and enriching the lives of the people around him.In 1968 he became warden of the newly- formed Ongar Community Association, a paidposition from which he entered voluntary work with Ongar Rotary Club.Mr Moore, who has a daughter with a disability, organised sponsored walks which raisedthousands of pounds for mobility chairs and took over an old canal boat raising the moneyto fit it out for children and adults with special needs.With the Three Valleys Choir Mr Moore has arranged free performances for people withspecial needs and organised the first Ongar Rotary Club annual singing competition lastyear.District council chairman Penny Smith said: "We do live in somewhat cynical times. It iseasy to forget or overlook the immensely important but often unsung contributions of somany people to our community."For every mean or callous act we read about in the newspapers, 50 or a 100 kind,generous and unselfish acts go unreported and unheard."Tonight, in small part, is our chance to redress the balance. To thank a few of our localcitizens in person while recognising you as the pinnacle of a community in which so manyother people give their compassion, time and energy on behalf of others."Epping Forest district is a wonderful place filled with marvellous people."It is right and proper that we should celebrate it tonight."AWARDS: Young Citizen of the Year18th March 2010SPORTSMAN Tom Peters, 17, from Chigwell, is a member of Upper Clapton Rugby Club,Thornwood.He is working towards the Level 1 Football Association coaching certificate.As a volunteer, he works with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and Epping ForestDistrict Council at the Limes Farm Social Inclusion Project, Chigwell.Tom's nomination described him as "respected and admired and an inspiration to theyoung people he works with".He recently applied to work with the children’s charity Barnardos and pursue a career as ayouth worker.He intends to put his £100 award towards sports equipment for his club or a youth day out.AWARDS: Swimmer receives bursary18th March 2010SWIMMER Emma Hollis received the £1,500 sports bursary award as she looks tocompete in the London 2012 Paralympics.Three years ago Emma, 18 - an A-level pupil at Chigwell School - received a £500 smallsports bursary to help with her training and competition costs.Emma, from Theydon Bois, trains six evenings and two mornings a week, is a member ofEpping Forest District Swimming Club at Loughton Leisure Centre and a British recordholder in the S8 400m individual medley, the S8 50m and S8 100m breaststroke.Emma's younger brother, James - also a swimmer - received a £500 small bursary awardwhile £250 awards went to Charlie Collins to help him develop his martial arts skills inkarate and to cyclist Edward Bird.Arts bursary - Chris Crichlow, 16, from Ongar, received the £1,500 arts bursary.As a member of Loughton Youth Project, he is one of the presenters of the Urban Showbroadcast every Thursday and featured on the Loughton Youth Project recording ‘WotDefines U’.Christopher is a talented composer, writer and producer. The bursary will help meet thecosts of equipment and recording time in a professional studio.Four awards of £500 to £1,500 go to Laura Sibbick, 25, from Loughton, for herredevelopment of The Deptford Mice theatre production; Georgina Perriam, 23, fromLoughton, who has created a new piece of children’s theatre; Aaron Griffiths, 18, fromLoughton, for a Mac Book to develop his skills as a graphic artist; and Toby Riches, 19,from Ongar, to support two international tours with Essex Music Services and ChichesterUniversity.AWARDS: Community Service Medals18th March 2010WHEN paramedic Sally Pattie joined Essex Ambulance Service in 1980, women wererare in the service.She became the first female paramedic in Essex, a distinction that led to her appointmentas 'attending paramedic' to the Queen at the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge atDartford in 1991.Over the years Sally has helped teach life-saving skills to probably thousands of peopleand played a pivotal role in the Anne Diamond ‘Back to Bed’ campaign visiting familieswho have lost babies and providing training in neonatal resuscitation.Sally also evaluated the potential for air transportation in pre-hospital care now part of theeveryday life-saving role of the Essex Air Ambulance.Essex Fire and Rescue Service community commander Ray Skinner was honoured inrecognition of his 27 years service - 14 of which have been in Epping Forest.For the last five years he has been Essex Community Commander for Harlow and Epping.Under his command the division has become the best performing in the county.Mr Skinner is also chairman of the Essex Resilience Forum Support Group and has beenpivotal in the co-ordination of emergency response planning among blue-light emergencyservices, health and local authorities across Essex.Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Mark Sheridan Brown, who was unable to attendthe presentations, will receive the Essex Police award for being "highly-motivated andcommunity-focused".Mr Sheridan-Brown has built relationships with partner agencies such as Epping ForestDistrict Council and in the local community with his work developing Neighbourhood ActionPanels (NAPs) being particularly important to local farmers.The NAPs have been held up as examples of best practice by Prime Minister GordonBrown.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 10 of 22AWARDS: Council staff praised18th March 2010EMPLOYEES of the Year awards were presented to Epping Forest District Council staff.Improving Services to the Community - Dawn Jolley, from the finance directorate,whose work has included examining, reorganising and centralising the way the councilbuys external goods and services.Team of the Year Award for Innovation - the Academy Project Team, for their worksurrounding the council's new IT system for tax collection and benefit payments whichhandles some 65,000 accounts.Dealing with the Public award - scheme managers of the council's sheltered housingservice who work with the council's Epping Forest Careline service to deal withemergencies great or small involving residents of the district's sheltered housingschemes.Special award - Pat Seager, assistant to the council chairman, in recognition of her"outstanding contribution" to the council.For 15 years she has been at the right hand of every chairman organising diaries, and hasplayed a major part in raising some £250,000 for chairman’s charities.AWARDS: Architect honoured18th March 2010A SPECIAL Conservation Award went to Alan Cox - for his "flair, passion and sheerdetermination" to see historic Copped Hall restored.Since 1986 he has worked tirelessly towards the restoration goal.Mr Cox is at the forefront of the ongoing work to restore the historic mansion to its formerglory.Police "stunned" at unlocked vehicles17th March 2010THIRTY vehicles were found unlocked when police carried out a check along roads inOngar.Following a report of suspicious activity in the early hours of Monday (March 15) officersattended the area where they found many vehicles insecure - from Stanley Place, offOngar High Street - along the High Street to the Four Wantz roundabout.The officers spoke with many vehicle owners to check whether any items were missing.Sgt Rob Huddleston, from the Epping Forest district priority crime team, said: "We arestunned at how many cars we could get into just by using the door handle and how manyhad sat navs, CDs, sunglasses, even keys to people's homes left insecure inside."A 23-year-old man, from Ongar, has been charged with theft from a motor vehicle andbailed to appear before Harlow magistrates on March 24.Students receive grants17th March 2010TEN students have each received £120 education grants from the Epping and TheydonGarnon Joint Charities.The money will help them purchase books for their further education.The trustees have also awarded a grant of £500 to Coopersale and Theydon GarnonPrimary School to assist with the payment of extra curricular activities for some of thepupils.Senior citizens of Epping Green will enjoy a cream tea at Craner’s Fruit Farm during thesummer.Trustees also agreed plans for a new almshouse to be built in Thornwood Road.Crews tackle driving range blaze17th March 2010FIREFIGHTERS have spent three hours tackling a blaze at a golf driving range in NorthWeald.Epping and Ongar crews were called to the fire in an office building at the range off MerlinWay at 2.40am today (Wednesday).Electricity engineers were called out at 3am to isolate supplies to the building.It was more than two hours later that the fire crews reported that they were making steadyprogress tackling the blaze which was finally dealt with by 5.40am.A joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.Students earn Rotary praise16th March 2010COMMUNITY-minded students at St John's School, Epping, have received awards fromEpping Rotary Club.Club president John Conroy presented the club's Service to School award to head boy TimMortimer while Service to the Community certificates and £40 book tokens were presentedto Stephen Hall and Rowan James.All three boys gave speeches about their work.The fundraising efforts included organising a run for the Wings of Hope charity throughEpping Forest, bag packing for The Dream Factory charity at Marks and Spencer inEpping and raising money for Comic Relief.Stephen told Rotarians and their guests at Theydon Bois Golf Club this evening that hehas also worked as a volunteer in the walled garden at Copped Hall and taken part in litterpicks in Theydon Bois while Rowan said he had helped at the Budworth Hall in Ongar.The Rotary Club of Epping Forest presented a cheque for £1,098.86 to the Music Schoolat St John's School.The money was raised in a collection at the Carols on the Green event held on ChristmasEve.Rotarian receives Fellowship16th March 2010THE Rotary Club of Epping Forest has presented its first ever Paul Harris Fellowship.The Fellowship was presented to long-serving Rotarian John Gray whose efforts havehelped raise £40,000 for charitable causes.The money was raised at five rock concerts which he organised with his wife at theirhome.The award was presented to Mr Gray at Epping Rotary Club's dinner and awardspresentation held at Theydon Bois Golf Club this evening.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 11 of 22Medical centre will be "striking landmark"16th March 2010PLANS for the new Ongar War Memorial Health Centre are being recommended forapproval.District councillors will meet next Wednesday to discuss the application for the three-storeybuilding on the site of the Ongar and District War Memorial Hospital in Fyfield Road.District council planning officers say the building, because of its "contemporary" design,will be a "striking landmark".Designed around a central courtyard, the building will accommodate the town's two GPsurgeries, including 11 consultation rooms and six treatment rooms, communityaccommodation including a large clinic hall, physiotherapy accommodation, threeconsultation rooms and one speech and language therapy room, a dental surgery andassociated support including staff admin, staff changing and rest facilities, social andsupport accommodation.NHS West Essex stress the building will continue to be the town's war memorial with amemorial incorporated into the design.Bricks from the existing hospital will be included in the new building while the prominentfeature of the building will be the glazed stairwell to the front elevation, clad in colourchangingglass bearing large lettering identifying the building as 'Ongar War MemorialMedical Centre'.There will be 21 parking spaces on-site, including two for disabled users, with additionalparking on the council-owned land opposite which the town council want to see usedpredominately by staff.The district council informed the town council and 62 nearby residents of the application.The town council supports the application but has voiced concern about parking, the lossof light to neighbouring properties, and the possibility that the flashing lights for theproposed pedestrian crossing would be intrusive for neighbouring properties. Four FyfieldRoad residents have lodged objections.A report to the planning committee states the building will be a "very prominent anddistinctive" feature.The report adds: "The contemporary nature of the design of the building has receivedmixed views from interested parties, with some local residents expressing a strong dislikefor the proposal."However, it is considered the proposed building would stand out from its surroundings in apositive manner, creating a striking landmark building within the local area."The historic and community importance of the site, and the existing building, has beenincorporated into the design as an integral element, resulting in a building that will bevisually prominent and distinctive as Ongar's war memorial building was when built 60years ago."VOTE 2010: Church 'hustings' planned16th March 2010CHURCH leaders in Epping and District will hold a general election hustings in the run-upto the general election.Letters have been sent to local branches of the Conservative Party, Labour Party andLiberal Democrats Party inviting their candidates to take part in the hustings planned for StJohn's Church, Epping.So far Everything Epping Forest understands that seven candidates have been selected tocontest the seat.Subjects set to be addressed could include candidates’ position on such moral issues asthe sanctity of human life, the education of our children in such matters and the support tobe expected from our government in protecting the rights of all citizens - particularly the oldand infirm.Delight at PCT's rankings16th March 2010NHS West Essex is the highest placed public sector health organisation and 22nd bestpublic sector organisation in the country in the 2010 Sunday Times Best 100 Companieslist.The survey findings show NHS West Essex staff care for each other, go out of their wayfor one another and feel a strong sense of family (with scores of 81 per cent, 78 per centand 72 per cent positive respectively).Staff also care about providing a great service (96 per cent - the third highest result amongsmall bodies) and are proud to work for the organisation (77 per cent - a top five score).NHS West Essex chief executive Catherine O’Connell said: "We are delighted we havedone so well in this important national assessment of how people feel about theiremployer."The Sunday Times Best Companies survey helps organisations identify how they canimprove even further and we will not be complacent as we continue to improve local healthcare for the people of west Essex."The survey results are a tremendous credit to our staff whose constant efforts anddedication have made NHS West Essex an organisation that people are proud to workfor."Luella Dixon, Director of Workforce with NHS West Essex, said: "Two years ago we gavestaff a commitment that we would work with them to make improvements in four areas.These were staff engagement, staff development, benefits and culture. "We ensured thatthese four themes were aligned to our values which include ‘having fun’ and ‘ensuring weare open and honest in our approach.’"These have been key to making NHS West Essex one of the best NHS employers."NHS West Essex commissioning staff were invited to take part in the survey.Former Archbishop at Abbey Church16th March 2010A MAJOR event is being held in Waltham Abbey to mark the 950th anniversary of theconsecration of the Church of Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex (later King Harold).The festivities will begin on Saturday, May 1 with a peal of bells at the Abbey Church,Waltham Abbey, at 9.30am (until 1.30pm).A children’s workshop in the church (10.30am) will see youngsters produce acommemorative display in drawing, paint or collage.A commemorative CD recorded by the Abbey Church Choir will be launched at a concertin the Abbey Church at 7.30pm.A Service of Thanksgiving will be held in the Abbey Church at 11am on Sunday, May 2, inthe presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, and Deputy Lieutenant MichaelChapman.The preacher will be the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Lord Carey of Clifton (the former Archbishopof Canterbury, George Carey).03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 12 of 22The service will be followed by an invitation-only reception at the town hall hosted byWaltham Abbey Town Council with a public reception at the Abbey Church Centre, AbbeyGardens, open to all.A grand fete will be held in the church fields on Monday, May 3, from 11am, with stalls,sideshows, refreshments, barbecue, the Harlow Town Band, the Erato strolling musiciansand The Grinnigogs medieval musicians. The church tower will be open.There will also be events at the Epping Forest District Museum, Sun Street, including thedisplay of a facsimile of the Bayeux Tapestry, and a photographic and print display in theLady Chapel by Waltham Abbey Historical Society.For more information, contact the Parish Office, The Abbey Church Centre, AbbeyGardens, Waltham Abbey (01992 767897).VOTE 2010: Greens name candidate15th March 2010A TEACHER at Chigwell School has been selected by Epping Forest Green Party tocontest the Epping Forest seat at the general election.Simon Pepper was born in Enfield in 1983 and lives in Grange Hill. He teaches politics atChigwell School.Mr Pepper said: "I joined the Green Party to create a fairer and more just society. I believein sustainable living, environmental conservation and localism, the idea that one shouldcreate self-sustaining viable local communities, so I would support locally-ownedbusinesses, local schools and the health service."He added: "I believe I have the necessary skills to actively participate in the nationaldebate and to challenge the complacency of mainstream politics in Britain to face thechallenges of the 21st century."Man hurt in hangar blaze15th March 2010FIREFIGHTERS from Epping have been dealing with a fire in a hangar near SaffronWalden.They were among seven crews called to Audley End Airfield this afternoon (Monday)where a 57-year-old man had suffered burns to his arms and neck.The fire broke out in an industrial spray booth but was out when firefighters arrived. Theyused a thermal image camera to checked that the fire was completely extinguished withinventilation ducts.Teams target town's litter15th March 2010TEAMS of litter-pickers fanned out across Loughton on Saturday as part of the town’s thirdannual community clean-up.This year the focus was on clearing rubbish from two of Loughton’s rivers - Pyrles Brookand Loughton Brook.The litter awareness day is a town council initiative and the clean-up teams included towncouncillors, local volunteers and children.Areas of Loughton Brook beside the leisure centre and along Roding Road were targetedas was Pyrles Brook along Burney Drive and Etheridge Road.Clean-up co-ordinator councillor Stephen Pewsey said: "I am very grateful to everyonewho supported our initiative to improve Loughton’s environment."We removed over 100kg of litter from Loughton’s riverbanks which has helped make ourtown a cleaner, greener, place to live in and enjoy."Full steam ahead for trains15th March 2010TRAINS could be running again on the Epping-Ongar line by the end of this year.The timescale was announced by Epping Ongar Railway general manager Simon Hanneywhen he was the guest speaker at the March meeting of Epping Probus Club.He has a commercial background in product development and many years experience inrailway restoration with the Swanage Railway in Dorset, and subsequently with the EppingOngar Railway (EOR) as the signaling manager.Mr Hanney gave a history of the line from when it was built by the Great Eastern Railwayin 1865 to the time it became part of the Central Line, and was electrified in 1971.An electric shuttle service operated a 20-minute service but this ceased in 1994 with theclosure of the line and its three stations.Pilot Developments then acquired the railway and some of the land was developed forhousing.Restoration commenced and EOR has now established links with the Ongar RailwayPreservation Society (OPRS) and Craven’s Heritage Trains, with members of both groupsworking alongside EOR.The signaling systems and signal box at North Weald are being overhauled andpassenger, goods and maintenance stock are being refurbished.Using diesel and steam, the initial plan is for two stage running of the system; Ongar toNorth Weald and then on to Epping where there are plans to build a platform terminus.Volunteers of all ages are needed for engineering, operations and maintenance staffs whowill receive training for their particular job. In doing so they will help create a 6.5-mile long"Mini Bluebell Line" in rural Essex, which could be operating as early as the end of 2010.The next meeting of Epping Probus is the annual general meeting on Wednesday, April14, after which local photographer Iris Newbery will be displaying some of her pictures.The club, with more than 60 members, has a few vacancies for retired or semi-retiredmen.For more details, ring secretary Peter Francis on 01992 573188.Charges follow New Year trouble15th March 2010DETECTIVES investigating a series of assaults in Loughton in which a man was shotthrough the hand and another lost the sight in one eye have charged four men.The disturbance happened at the Football Academy, Langston Road, shortly before 1amon Thursday, January 1 last year.A 24-year-old man, from Canning Town, east London, has been charged with violentdisorder while a 49-year-old man, from Sevenoaks in Kent, a 37-year-old man, fromChingford, east London, and a 50-year-old man from Chingford, east London, have beencharged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.All four have been released on police bail to appear before Harlow magistrates on March31.Choir seeks new members03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 13 of 2214th March 2010THE Three Valleys Male Voice Choir is singing out for new and younger members.The 28-strong choir hopes to increase its numbers to more than 40. Current memberscome from east Herts, west Essex and north London.Membership is free for the first three months, after that practice-time a new recruit will beready to join the choir at concerts and be issued with a uniform, free of charge.In its 14th year, the choir has performed at more than 350 concerts, both in public wherethe profit goes to a charity, and at private day centres and old peoples homes as part oftheir entertainment programme.The choir is holding a social evening, open to men and their partners, at The Friary,Holdbrook North, Waltham Cross, from 7.15pm until 9.30pm on Tuesday, March 23. Lightrefreshments will be served, free of charge.Choir chairman Jim Paull said: "You will be able to listen to the 'lads' as they sing aselection of well-known songs. However whether you sing in the bath, at a karaoke or atthe match you will not be able to resist the urge to join in. Come along and enjoy apleasant evening with a chance to mix and chat with the members of the choir and theirpartners."The choir is in fact a social club where you make good friends whilst singing."There is a full social programme for both members and their partners, with the chance of atleast once a year to travel to other parts of the country and abroad to sing with otherchoirs.Anyone wanting to attend the social evening or any Tuesday practice should ring Jim on01992 620615 or secretary Tony on 01279 415563.Mix-Up showcases local talent14th March 2010MORE than 150 youngsters flocked to Debden Park High School for the first Mix-Up musicand dance showcase.Aspiring bands, DJs, dancers and MCs came together to share and celebrate local youngtalent.The idea came from Year 11 Debden Park High School student and recent Epping ForestArts Bursary winner Chris Chichlow who co-hosted the event.Rock band KiraKira opened the event which also featured solo singers and dancers.Mix Up was organised by a group of young people who worked with Connexions, LoughtonYouth Project, Soundlab Studios and Loughton Music Academy to gain academicaccreditation in musical event organising.In recent weeks the group have learned about sound and lighting, recorded a radio advertand ordered posters, banners, tickets and refreshments, in preparation for Saturday’sevent.For more details, visit www.loughtonyouthproject.comWar memorial work planned14th March 2010WORK is planned on the Epping war memorial.A specialist firm is to be brought in to clean the memorial on the town green with the towncouncil hoping to secure listed status for the memorial to unlock potential grant funding.Work is needed to re-etch and enamel the names of the fallen or to install new plaquesbearing the names.Town clerk Bob Whittome told Friday’s annual town meeting: "Hopefully by the end of theyear the war memorial will look a lot better than it does now."New access for recreation ground14th March 2010A NEW pedestrian access is to be installed at the Stonards Hill recreation ground, Epping.Town clerk Bob Whittome told Friday’s annual town meeting: "There is currently noseparate pedestrian access - you have to go through the car park entrance which is notsatisfactory, particularly for children."The town council is proposing to use grant funding and some of its own money to buy newplay equipment for the Lower Swaines recreation ground, Epping.Crash motorist treated at scene13th March 2010FIRE crews took about 45 minutes to free a man following a crash on the A414 at Ongar.Firefighters from Ongar, Brentwood and Harlow were called out to deal with the singlevehicle accident shortly after 10pm on Friday.A fire spokesman said one man was trapped and crews used two sets of cuttingequipment to release him.Firefighters gave him first aid and oxygen therapy before he was left in the care of theambulance service.Youngsters want voting age reduced13th March 2010YOUNG residents have called for a reduction in the minimum voting age.Packed into the chamber at the Civic Offices, Epping, 54 per cent of the studentsrepresenting the district council area's secondary schools and Epping Forest District youthcouncillors supported a motion to lower the voting age to 16.Anti-social behaviour, stereotyping of young people, gangs and a lack of activities werealso highlighted as the top areas of concern.The day was organised by Epping Forest District Youth Council. Delegates werewelcomed by Epping Forest District Council chairman Penny Smith.Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing and Harlow MP Bill Rammell then got down to businesswith a question and answer session.Youth councillors Haris Duherich, Yasmin Levy-Miller, Connor Latimer and Trini Philipgave BBC Essex reporter Ben Bland a taste of the debate to come in an exclusiveinterview.The motion that this House calls for the minimum voting age to be lowered to 16 wasproposed by Connor and opposed by Yasmin.Youth councillor Holly Whitbread chaired the debate and kept order during a lively androbust discussion with many views expressed both for and against the motion.Electronic voting equipment was used to display the debates result with the debatewebcast live.It was also a chance for Epping Forest District Council to try out its new electronic votingequipment.The council’s electoral returning officer Ian Willett gave a talk on his role in the forthcominggeneral election.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 14 of 22After the debate and lunch in the council members’ room, the young people broke up intosmaller discussion groups to identify their top three priorities.Youth councillor Yasmin Levy-Miller said: "For me it is really important to get youngpeople’s voices heard. We are young people ourselves and we know about the issues wewant to change."Youth councillor Connor Lattimer added: "I was pleased we won the debate although in theback of my mind I thought we might get a bigger majority, maybe 60 or 70 per cent. I thinkYasmin argued well against us. We should do something similar next year - a progresscheck."Councillor Di Collins, district council leader and chairman of ‘One’, the Epping Forest LocalStrategic Partnership, drew proceedings to a close thanking everyone for a fantastic day ofdebate.WIN IDEAL HOME SHOW TICKETS12th March 2010IDEAL HOME SHOW - March 20 - April 5 at London’s Earls CourtIT’S the famous, trend-setting show that made home-making a national passion.The Ideal Home Show is returning for its 102nd year, with a brand new look and 17-dayformat from March 20 to April 5.Everything Epping Forest and Everything Harlow has three pairs of tickets to be won! Thenew-look Ideal Home Show will take visitors through an exciting and spectacular showcaseof inspirational living that combines eight different sections into one show, including IdealHome Improvements, Ideal Village, Ideal Food, Ideal Gardens, Ideal Shopping, IdealWoman, Ideal Gadgets and Ideal Interiors, creating the UK’s biggest Home Show.This year’s show explores the world of home interiors and style, unveils a series of industryfirsts and UK product launches, and offers more interactive features than ever before.There’s everything from DIY to fine dining, gadgets and pampering, as well as a host ofcelebrity guests across the 17-day event; a great day out with something for the wholefamily, all rolled into one.This year’s celebrity experts include TV presenter and home improvement expert GeorgeClarke, celebrity TV chef star Gregg Wallace, interior designer Linda Barker, TV presenterFiona Phillips, and expert gardener Monty Don, among many more, who will host a seriesof workshops and seminars to help visitors achieve the ultimate Ideal Home.With more than 400 exhibitors offering an unrivalled range of products, visitors will findeverything from the smallest simple tricks to invigorate the home to inspiration and advicefor complete renovation, extension and new build projects.TICKET OFFERTo be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question.How long has the Ideal Home Show been running?To enter, email your answer to everythingeppingforest@googlemail.com withCOMPETITION in the subject line. The closing date is 5pm on Friday, March 19.Tickets can be either booked online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 415 4144.Group bookings can be made by calling the Groups Hotline on 0844 412 4650, or forfurther information about the show and to purchase tickets online visit the websitewww.idealhomeshow.co.ukTerms and conditions:1. This offer is only open to UK residents2. Complimentary tickets are valid for one day only, on any one day of the show betweenMarch 20 and April 5, 2010 at London’s Earls Court3. Tickets are non transferable4. Complimentary tickets obtained through this offer may not be duplicated.5. All tickets will be scanned on entry to the show6. The closing date for this offer is 5pm on Friday, March 19.VOTE 2010: Councillor stands for BNP12th March 2010DISTRICT councillor Pat Richardson will stand for the BNP in Epping Forest at the generalelection.Mrs Richardson, the BNP group leader on the district council, is the British National Party'sfirst Jewish councillor.A posting on the BNP's district blog states: "Pat is the first choice of candidates for thebranch to stand in Epping Forest and completes the trio that the the branch is standing inthis year's elections."She is standing alongside Eddie Butler in Harlow and Paul Morris in Brentwood andOngar."The branch is moving from strength to strength at the moment and is eagerly awaiting theelections."After the Euro elections last year the interest, enquiries and increase in membership hasallowed the formation of Harlow branch and the increase in in support in Brentwood as wellmeans the expansion program for the British National Party in the county as a whole isreasonably secured."Essex will be standing a healthy amount of candidates in these elections and the BritishNational Party is expecting to be showing good growth in support and votes from areasthat have previously never been challenged."Political debate postponed12th March 2010A POLITICAL debate planned by Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce has beenpostponed.Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing was due to be involved in the session at WoolstonManor, Abridge Road, Chigwell. on Wednesday (March 17).Organisers have now rescheduled the debate for Wednesday, April 21.All current bookings will be forwarded to the new date.Boost for Dream Factory charity12th March 2010THE Dream Factory has been chosen by the Haslers Foundation as its charity of the year.The charity's founder Avril Mills was invited to talk to Haslers staff about how the charitywas set up and how dreams are made real for those children who have life-limitingconditions, terminal illnesses or severe disabilities.The Dream Factory - www.yourdreamfactory.org - has just made its 50th dream come truesince the charity’s inception in 2008.Haslers Foundation, at Loughton-based Haslers chartered accountants and businessadvisers, was set up to offer donations and sponsorship to charities and local fundraisers03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 15 of 22in areas of sport, welfare, education and other good causes.Last year the Foundation donated £10,000 to good causes and already this year hasdonated almost £2,000 to a variety of appeals.All fundraising activities by Haslers staff in-house this year will go to The Dream Factoryand a cheque was presented to the charity for £250 - raised from a staff bingo and Fridaydress-down event.For more about Haslers Foundation, email foundation@haslers.com or ring 020 8418 3333and ask to speak to a Foundation member.For more about how to donate to The Dream Factory, visit www.yourdreamfactory.org,email info@yourdreamfactory.org or ring Avril on 020 8501 1234.Schools raise cash for Rotary12th March 2010PUPILS at Coopersale Hall School, Epping, have raised £500 towards Rotary's efforts toeradicate polio worldwide.The school held a Purple Pinkie Day for Rotary International's Thanks for Life Project.The club's efforts will be further boosted next week when Epping Upland Primary Schoolpresents the club with £450.Radio girl scoops award12th March 2010A LOUGHTON teenager has been rewarded for her efforts in helping kick-start LoughtonYouth Project.Debden Park High School pupil Hannah Webster, 15, received The Essex Police Cup fromChief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle in the annual Essex High Sheriff Awards.The presentation, at The Fennes Estate, Bocking, near Braintree, was attended by morethan 200 people.Hannah has galvanised many young people into getting involved with Loughton YouthProject.The project is now permanently based at Loughton Library, Traps Hill, and is open everyday, after school, providing young people with a range of recreational facilities and mediacentredprojects to get involved with.Loughton Youth Project manager Nick Robinson, who nominated Hannah, said: "Hannahand her friends spent most of their summer holiday last year helping out painting,decorating and designing ‘The Space’ (youth centre) and making it a place that youngpeople can be proud of."Her passion, commitment and positive attitude has set the tone for a youth project thatcan create amazing opportunities for any young person who sets their mind to achievingpositive things - just like Hannah has done."Hannah co-presents the LYP pod-cast radio ‘Weekend Show’ on Fridays and has recentlycompleted a Level 2 OCN course in Radio Broadcasting at Gateway FM in Basildon.Hannah said: "When I first tried radio presenting in the summer I froze in front of the micand didn’t know what to say. Now I’m presenting my own weekly show with George(Collins) and today I’ve been a guest on BBC Essex!"It has been an amazing year and hopefully more and more young people will start visitingThe Space and get involved with LYP Radio because it’s much more rewarding than justhanging around on the streets."Hannah’s radio pod-cast show is broadcast live at The Space every Friday from 4.30-5.30pm, and made available to download at www.loughtonyouthproject.comThe show, which tells young listeners about everything going on in the local area is copresentedby George Collins, 18, of West Hatch High SchoolThe Essex High Sheriff Awards, managed by Essex Community Foundation, recognise thework of voluntary and community organisations from across Essex.Since becoming established in 1997, the scheme has awarded over £250,000 to initiativesthat address crime and anti-social behaviour.Recognised beneficiaries from Epping Forest, this year, included Voluntary Action EppingForest ‘Crucial Crew’ project, Waltham Abbey Way 2000, volunteers of Roding Valley U3A,Loughton Kids Club and Loughton Youth Project.Each of these five projects were nominated in one of the six award categories withLoughton Youth Project (LYP) short-listed for three awards - The High Sheriff’s Shield, TheEssex County Council Bowl and the Essex Police Cup.Theatre Resource jobs boost11th March 2010ONGAR-based Theatre Resource has been awarded a £364,000 contract which will create56 jobs.Each job, which will last six months over the next 18 months, will be for 18 to 24-year-oldsin Essex who have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for six months or more.The announcement of the grant has also been made by the Department of Culture, Mediaand Sport and The Department of Work and Pensions.The posts will include a wide variety of tasks from arts project assistant to media, ITsupport, administration, marketing, and facilities management.Partners on the project include Ongar Town Council and Cleveratom, an innovative mediaand educational IT company in Chelmsford.The new jobs will be based in Ongar, Harlow and Chelmsford but are open to youngpeople throughout the county. Each six-month contract will pay £6.14 an hour, and thosehired will be given support on how to gain further work at the end of their six months.John Baraldi, head of communications and development for Theatre Resource, said: "Notonly will our Future Jobs Fund employees have an interesting job with us and our partners,but we also hope they will gain confidence, new skills, new interests and a better chance ofsecuring their next job."Young people interested in applying should contact their Job Centre Plus advisor for fulldetails of the roles on offer.Voting age debate webcast11th March 2010A DEBATE on reducing the voting age to 16 will be broadcast live on the district council'swebsite.The debate, involving Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing, Harlow MP Bill Rammell,members of Epping Forest Youth Council and young people from across the district, is partof a conference promoting local democracy.The conference is in the council chamber at the Civic Offices, High Street, Epping,tomorrow (Friday) with the debate being broadcast live over the internet between 11.15amand 12.15pm.The young people will get the chance to quiz the MPs and Epping Forest District Councilchairman Penny Smith.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 16 of 22The delegates will get to choose the three main priorities for the youth council to address.These issues will form the EFYC manifesto. Ian Willett, returning officer for the EppingForest district said: "It is widely perceived that young people are not involved in or evenaware of democracy at a local level."These young people are our future voters and we know they are keen to have their say onissues that affect their daily lives. All the major political parties have recognised and beendiscussing this issue to encourage our youth to engage with the political process."Mr Willett added: "Working with the Epping Forest Youth Council I have found that mostyoung people today are knowledgeable and informed about what is going on."This is our chance to discover their views, and maybe in the future 16-year-olds will beable to vote."Fancy a 170ft bungee jump?10th March 2010BRAVE fundraisers can support St Clare Hospice - by taking part in a 170ft bungee jump.The Hastingwood-based hospice is seeking daredevils to take part in its first ever EasterBunny Bungee, at North Weald airfield on Saturday, April 3.It costs £20 to register with participants asked to pledge to raise £100 in sponsorship forthe hospice.Michelle Cooper, from the hospice - who is planning to do the jump - said: "Life is for livingand you only live once!"To register, or for more information, contact the hospice's fundraising team on 01279773750, email fund@stclarehospice.org.ukor visit www.stclarehospice.org.ukSuffragette talk to ladies group10th March 2010A TALK on the Women's Social and Political Union was given to the March meeting ofOngar and Shelley Ladies Thursday Group.Speaker Louise Reed arrived dressed in full costume of a suffragette as Mrs EmmelinePankhurst who has a connection with Ongar, with a choir stall in St Martin's Churchdedicated to her.College talk at town meeting10th March 2010A TALK on Epping Forest College will be given at Loughton Town Council's annual townmeeting.Quentin Butler, the college's head of partnership services, will speak on the achievements,current work and plans for the college at the meeting which is being held at The MurrayHall, Borders Lane, Loughton, at 8pm on Wednesday, March 24.Unlike the regular meetings held during the year in the council chamber, this is a meetingfor local government electors in the town and not a meeting of the council. Reports willalso be given on the council's activities during the past year and its on-going plans for thefuture.Residents can ask questions, express their views and generally join in the discussions. Anew innovation this year is an opportunity for local organisations to promote their work bymounting displays in the hall.Doors open at 7.30pm to allow residents to view the displays.After the meeting there is a chance to have an informal chat with councillors over lightrefreshments.Boy suffers broken elbow9th March 2010A TEENAGER suffered a broken elbow during a disturbance at Stonards Hill, Epping.Police were called to reports of teenagers causing a disturbance at 7.35pm on Friday(March 5).A 15-year-old Epping boy sustained a broken elbow and bruising.Police arrested a 17-year-old Epping youth for possessing an offensive weapon - an 18-inch metal weights bar.He has been bailed to appear in court on March 19. Police are appealing for witnesses.Anyone with any information should ring police on 0300 333 4444.Students prepare for music festival9th March 2010THE Loughton Youth Music Festival will be held at Loughton Methodist Church at 7.30pmon Saturday, March 20.The festival brings together A-Level student musicians from local schools in a noncompetitiveenvironment giving them the opportunity to play their examination set piecesbefore a live audience.Musicians from Davenant, West Hatch, Bancrofts and Trinity will be taking part.The guest of honour will be Stuart McDonald, one of the UK’s premiere live TV and eventdirectors. His credits include Parkinson, Top of the Pops, An Audience With, Gladiatorsand many other entertainment awards and event shows.Loughton mayor Ken Angold-Stephens will also be among the audience.Tickets, priced £8 (under-16s free) are available from the church office on 020 8504 8447,or on the door on the night.Youngsters ready for Mix Up night9th March 2010THE first, fully young people-organised music and dance showcase performance featuringyoung, local talent is being held on Saturday.Aspiring bands, DJs, dancers and MCs will come together at Debden Park High School toshare and celebrate the incredible level of local young talent at the 'Mix Up' event.The idea for the event came from Year 11 Debden Park High Street student and recentEpping Forest Arts Bursary winner Chris Chichlow who will be hosting the event with hisLYP Radio Urban Show co-presenter Oshae Margurite.Chris said: "In the past there has been live music events organised for local young bands,but never really for local MCs and the Urban music audience."There is a great local scene in Epping Forest. We’ve got MCs coming from Ongar,Epping, Loughton and Limes Farm. I think people will be surprised when they hear howgood these performers are and what they have to say."Mix Up has been organised by a group of young people who have been working withConnexions, Loughton Youth Project, Soundlab Studios and Loughton Music Academy ingaining academic accreditation in musical event organising.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 17 of 22In recent weeks the group have learned about sound and lighting, recorded a radio advertand ordered posters, banners, tickets and refreshments, in preparation for Saturday’sevent.Performing will be locally acclaimed band ‘Reachback’ who have recently signed to aprofessional management company and already have a record label offer.Lead singer Ruby Williams, 19, said: "It's going to be great playing at Mix Up. We’reanticipating a really diverse young crowd and I’m sure fans and friends of everyoneperforming will get behind all the acts."Our band jumped at the chance to perform a collaboration track with MCs and dancers.Everyone involved is really talented and really appreciative of everyone else."Loughton Youth Project manager Nick Robinson added: "We have so many incrediblytalented, driven and open-minded young people in our local community and Mix Upepitomizes that. This event is their idea. They found the funding and booked the venue andperformers."The fact that young people have organised such a diverse, multi-cultural performing artsevent in Debden says an awful lot". "Mix Up runs from 7.30pm to 11pm at Debden Park High School in Willingale Road. Entry is£2.For more details, visit www.loughtonyouthproject.com.Fuchsia society closes after 40 years8th March 2010A LONG-standing Epping floral society has disbanded after 40 years.A decision was taken to disband Epping and District Fuchsia Society at a recentlyconvened special general meeting.Membership had diminished to the point where the club was no longer viable due in nosmall measure to escalating running expenses such as the cost of engaging speakers andstaging its annual show.The society’s founder and president was the late Fred Brown, who lived in Coopersale,and was also life vice-president of Coopersale Horticultural Society.High Beech pupils' soccer success8th March 2010PUPILS from High Beech Primary School are through to the next stage of a footballtournament.They were watched by Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini when they beat offcompetition from Upshire, Chigwell and Epping primary schools in the first heat of the BillNicholson Schools Cup at Old Chigwelians Sports Ground, Chigwell.The Italian goalkeeper was on hand to reward the winners as the four schools battled itout to advance in the inaugural competition.The Bill Nicholson Memorial Fund is providing funding to run the tournament in about 100Essex and Hertfordshire schools.The Bill Nicholson Schools Cup incorporates four age groups from each participant schoolranging from Year 3 up to Year 6 - giving about 2,500 children the opportunity to take part.Tottenham Hotspur Soccer Schools coaches will deliver the tournament in each selectedarea in school curriculum hours, giving each year group the chance to represent theirschool.Each child receives a certificate of achievement, and the winners of each heat receivemedals for all players and a trophy for the school.The county finals involving the winners from each district will be held at the TottenhamHotspur First Team training ground in Chigwell this summer.Students prepare for music nights8th March 2010MUSIC students from Epping Forest College will be performing at two nights of live musicin the college’s professionally-equipped theatre.First year BTEC National Diploma in Music students and BTEC First Diploma in Musicstudents will be performing on Monday (March 15).Performances of a wide range of cover material will enable students to showcase theirtalents on a range of instruments, including keyboards, vocals, guitar, bass and drums.The following evening (Tuesday, March 16) sees performances from second year BTECNational Diploma in Music students.Composition forms the basis for a substantial amount of performance and recording workfor the second year of music studies at the college.The programme consists of second year music students performing an eclectic mix oforiginal compositions.As part of their coursework, music students also undertake project management of thevarious events in which they are involved.These two live music events are no exception and students have taken responsibility for allaspects of the projects, including marketing, publicity and financial planning. Theperformances begin at 7pm.Tickets are £2/£3 available on the door.Family to cycle for charity8th March 2010CHARITY-minded Leigh Macrae and her family will be taking part in Breast CancerCampaign’s women-only cycling event, Pedal it Pink.The chartered accountant, from Epping, will join hundreds of women at the River LeeCountry Park on Sunday, March 28, in memory of her grandmother who died from breastcancer ten years ago.Leigh, who is taking part with husband, Rob - an Epping town councillor - and daughtersKeira and Evie, said: "I feel that taking part in Pedal it Pink is a great opportunity to dosomething in her memory."She had a long and happy life before she was diagnosed, but if lives can be prolongedfurther, especially for younger women, then I’m happy to help in any way I can."Leigh and her family are taking on the family 5k lap. To sponsor them, visit the Just Givingwebsite http://original.justgiving.com/leighmacraePolice name crash victim7th March 2010THE pedestrian who died following a collision with a car in Theydon Bois on Fridayevening has been named.John Eldred, 56, of Hemnall Street, Epping, was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa car inCoppice Row - near the village hall - at 9.45pm.Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact the road policing unit at Chigwell on0300 333 4444.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 18 of 22Choir launches fourth CD7th March 2010THE Felicitas Chamber Choir will launch its fourth CD at a concert at St John's Church,Epping.The concert on Saturday, March 20 (7.30pm) features two larger scale works - Palestrina'sMissa Papae Marcelli and Poulenc's setting of the Stabat Mater.The programme will also include a couple of tracks from the choir's new CD 'My SpiritSang All Day: A Celebration of English Choral Music' - which was recorded last autumnand features a range of sacred and secular English music from the 16th Century to thepresent day.The choir's first CD, English Church Music, was produced in 1997 with its second, ACappella in 1999.The new CD is the first recording for Felicitas since it released A Ceremony of Carols in2003. Some 500 copies of the new CD have been produced, and these will be on sale atthe Epping concert, priced £10 each.Tickets for the concert are priced £10 (children and students £5). They are available fromthe ticket secretary, 19 Cedar Court, Churchfields, South Woodford, London, E18 2QU(020 8498 0561). Enclose a stamped addressed envelope and cheque payable to'Felicitas' with orders.For more about the choir, visit www.felicitas.org.ukFive arrested in police raids6th March 2010FIVE people were arrested when police executed seven warrants across the district.Officers working on Operation Sutton targeted addresses in Epping Forest, as well asHarlow and Brentwood yesterday (Friday) as they targeted suspects involved in burglary,handling stolen goods and drug offences.Eleven people were arrested and various items recovered including bags of what arebelieved to be cannabis and amphetamines, cannabis plants and drugs paraphernalia.Also recovered were a ball-bearing gun, air weapon, firearms ammunition and four knives.Police seized electrical goods including computers and mobile phones, under theProceeds of Crime Act.Acting Superintendent Keith Dobson said: "This operation is the result combining policeintelligence and information provided by the public on local burglars over the past fewweeks."Over 40 officers, supported by neighbourhood specialist officers and trained door entryteams from police support units, began the operation at 6.30am."Search warrants had been obtained aimed at known burglars, receivers of stolen propertyand those who supply drugs in exchange for stolen property."The operation demonstrates our determination to identify and arrest those who wish tocommit crime in our communities and to provide confidence to our residents that we will doeverything possible to reduce crime and make safer communities for us all to live andwork."In Epping Forest, a 33-year-old Loughton woman and an 18-year-old man, from WalthamAbbey, have both been charged with drugs possession and bailed to appear before Harlowmagistrates on March 17.A 27-year-old man,. from east London, will also appear before Harlow magistrates on thesame day charged with attempted theft of a motor vehicle.A 26-year-old man, from Waltham Abbey, has received a caution for drugs possessionwhile a 37-year-old woman, from Waltham Abbey, has been bailed until March 31 pendingfurther enquiries regarding drugs possession and ammunition offences.Pedestrian dies after car collision6th March 2010A MAN has died after being struck by a car in Theydon Bois.The 56-year-old man, from the Epping area, was walking on Coppice Row, near the villagehall, at about 9.45pm last night (Friday) when he was in collision with a silver VauxhallCorsa car being driven by a man from Barking.The man was treated at the scene and then taken to Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone,where he died.Police want to hear from anyone who was in the area and may have seen the man or thecar before the collision, or who saw the collision.Anyone with any information should ring the road policing unit at Chigwell on 0300 3334444.Youngsters asked about activities6th March 2010YOUNGSTERS in North Weald are being asked what activities they would like in the area.Epping Forest District Council’s Safer Communities Team is working with crime reductioncharity Nacro and police community support officers to try and organise activities for NorthWeald’s young people to get involved in.Nacro’s Youth Bus will be on the forecourt of the King’s Head Garage, High Road, NorthWeald, between 7.30pm and 9pm on Thursday, April 1.Community safety and transport portfolio holder Syd Stavrou said: "We would like all localyoung people aged between 12 and 18 who live in the North Weald area to visit the bus fordrop-in sessions. We can then get some idea about what activities they would like to takeplace in the North Weald area."She added: "I have received a lot of feedback from local young people who complain thereis nothing to do in North Weald. "The whole point of this event is to get it straight from thehorse’s mouth."Once we know what activities are wanted, we will do our utmost to organise a weeklyevent in a local venue that has actually been requested."For more information, ring Katie Sparks, anti-social behaviour investigator for SaferCommunities, on 01992 564195.Trading standards target 'fake cod'5th March 2010FISH and chip shops across the district have been targeted by trading standards officersfollowing reports that cod was being substituted for cheaper alternatives.Undercover surveillance was carried out after trading standards received intelligencereports from across the country that primarily Pangasius was being served instead of codby some unscrupulous fish and chip shop owners.Pangasius fish, which is also called Vietnamese River Cobbler, Basa, Vietnamese Catfish,Panga and Tra, sells for £5 per kg compared to £11.75 per kg for cod.A team of trading standards officers carried out an operation targeting fish and chip shopsacross the county, including premises in Epping Forest, Maldon, Chelmsford, Brentwood,03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 19 of 22Harlow, Rochford, Castle Point, Tendring and Basildon.The visits were carried out covertly with officers tasked to order cod and chips from themenu.Following the transaction, the officer then identified themselves and gave the reason fortheir visit.Each sample collected was then tested - with all portions passing the authenticity test.County councillor Tracey Chapmen, cabinet member with responsibility for tradingstandards, said: "Our team has proven once again what a fantastic job they do."By taking a proactive stance to intelligence reports such as this, residents are reassuredand a clear message is put out to rogue traders - you are not welcome in Essex."VOTE 2010: Chamber hosting debate5th March 2010A PRE-election debate is being held by the Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce.Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing will answer questions and debate burning issues bothlocal and national at the breakfast meeting, at Woolston Manor, Abridge Road, Chigwell, at7.30am on Wednesday, March 17.Representatives from all the local political parties have been invited.The question and answer session is an opportunity for local business people to expressthemselves and a list will be prepared so email secretary@eppingchamber.co.ukAdmission to the meeting is £12 for members (guests £15, which includes full English,Continental or vegetarian breakfast).To book, ring 0843 289 8184; email secretary@eppingchamber.co.uk or visitwww.eppingchamber.co.ukCathedral hosts school concert5th March 2010MORE than 160 pupils, parents and staff took part in Chigwell School's annual concertheld at Brentwood Cathedral.Pupils from the High Road school were joined by 20 boys from Loyola Preparatory School,Buckhurst Hill.The choir set the scene with Brahms’s 'How lovely are thy dwellings' from his GermanRequiem and this was followed by Mendelssohn’s 'Hear my Prayer', with Nina McMillan,winner of last year’s Chigwell Musician of the Year competition, as soprano soloist.The programme also featured Karl Jenkins’ dramatic and moving piece The Armed Man,which proved a very popular choice for both performers and audience alike.The piece was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds for the Millenniumcelebrations and was initially dedicated to victims of the Kosovo crisis. Its profoundlystirring music moved some members of the audience to tears.The more dramatic movements, which in contrast had most of the audience jumping out oftheir seats, were performed with equal passion and the overall effect was quite upliftingand awesome.School spokesman Loredana Morrison said: "There were some impressive solos fromwithin the choir and everyone who took part, not least Director of Music Miss AmandaLapwood, should be thanked and congratulated on such a wonderful concert, which manyare hailing as the best ever performed.Fixture pile-up hits pitches5th March 2010A FIXTURE pile-up is causing problems for teams using the Stonards Hill recreationground in Epping.Epping Football Club has asked the town council if it can increase its use of pitches duringthe end of season period, in particular for back-to-back matches on Saturdays andadditional Bank Holiday games.The town council has added there is also additional pressure on the pitches fromunauthorised training sessions.A report to Tuesday's town council meeting states: "Each year the council comes underpressure to allow extra matches to be played."However there is a balance to be struck between allowing the clubs to complete anincreasing number of fixtures on the one hand and on the other retaining playable pitchesand providing reasonable public open space at reasonable cost to local residents."The council says back-to-back games were tried last year with the result that the quality ofthe pitches significantly deteriorated causing the cancellation of some matches.The report adds: "Experience shows that Bank Holiday matches do not allow pitchrecovery after wet Saturday fixtures."Councillors are expected to refuse to allow back-to-back matches or Bank Holiday play foradult teams however it supports a "flexible approach" being taken to provide additionalfacilities for fixtures when conditions allow.Coffee morning raises cash4th March 2010ORGANISERS of a coffee morning and sale hope to raise £1,000 for The MeningitisTrust.Various stalls selling everything from kitchenware and greetings cards to homemade cakesand jewellery were manned at Magdalen Laver Village Hall as charity-minded local peopleraised money for the charity.Frances Cook, who started raising money for the charity after her granddaughter sufferedfrom meningitis, said: "It was marvellous. The support was overwhelming."The fundraising efforts, which included a raffle, raised £724.18 on the day with the finaltotal to be boosted by Barclays Bank which has promised to match some of the proceeds.New roles for county councillors4th March 2010TWO Epping Forest county councillors have been given new roles in a county councilcabinet reshuffle.Buckhurst Hill and Loughton South county councillor Valerie Metcalfe has been appointeddeputy cabinet member for Education and the 2012 Games while North Weald andNazeing county councillor Anthony Jackson is deputy cabinet member for Major Projectsand Commercial Services.Family fun at community event3rd March 2010A FREE community consultation event is being held at Shelley Primary School, Ongar,between 3pm and 8pm on Thursday (March 4).03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 20 of 22Shelley Primary School pupils will be performing at 3.30pm with the winners of the school'scolouring competition announced at 4pm.There will be a children's story time at 4.30pm and a performance by Ongar Youth Groupat 7pm.There will also be activities for all the family as well as the opportunity for residents to passon their views and ideas via a community consultation board.Everyone who completes the consultation will be entered into a free prize draw.Refreshments will be served throughout the event.Activities include mini manicures (3pm to 7pm), family portraits (3pm to 5pm) and art andcraft and face painting.For more details, ring 01992 564524 or 01992 564556.The programme is subject to change and all children must be accompanied by an adult.Accident and emergency under spotlight3rd March 2010EMERGENCY health facilities will be discussed at a forum meeting next week.Residents are invited to attend Essex County Council's West Area Forum to express theirviews on two important aspects of health service provision in their area.The meeting, at the Adult Community College, Fyfield Road, Ongar, at 10am on Tuesday(March 9), will give people an opportunity to hear more about proposals to reconfigureaccident and emergency hospitals in north London.This will affect people who use hospitals such as Whipps Cross, King George, Ilford, andQueens, Romford.The meeting will also provide an opportunity to air concerns about the service provided bythe East of England Ambulance Service.The forum will also hear from NHS West Essex about its plans for health care provisionand how it aims to tackle the needs of local people.This discussion will assist local members to identify issues for further review over thecoming months.Man charged over post office robbery3rd March 2010A 20-YEAR-OLD man has been charged in connection with a robbery at Lindsey StreetPost Office, Epping.Unemployed James Hansen, of Beaconfield Road, Epping, is accused of robbery followingan incident at the post office and stores at 2pm yesterday. (Monday).He has been remanded in custody to appear before Harlow magistrates this morning.Drivers questioned over stabbing2nd March 2010POLICE investigating the attempted murder of a man near Ongar are following new linesof enquiry after stopping drivers in the area.Chris Davies, 42, was stabbed in the back and arms at a stable block and storage yard inWoolmongers Lane, Stondon Massey.He was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, where his condition was initiallydescribed as critical. He underwent emergency surgery and is now in a stable condition.A week on from the incident - which happened at 6.50am on Tuesday, February 23 -officers from one of Essex Police's Major Investigation Teams stopped drivers as theycontinue with their investigation.The operation was intended to find new witnesses who were in the area around the time ofthe attack.Detectives were hoping someone may have seen unusual or suspicious activity inWoolmongers Lane or possibly a vehicle that drew their attention as it sped off.Police stopped 81 vehicles and identified a number of witnesses who provided informationthat will give new lines of enquiry.Detective Superintendent Liam Osborne, who is leading the investigation, said: "This doesnot appear to be a random attack and I am hoping today's operation may providefragments of information that will help us piece together a wider picture of what happened."I appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time who saw or heard anything that couldhelp us build that picture to contact the police."Anyone with any information should contact the major investigation team at Brentwood on0300 333 4444 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Two men, aged 61 and 39, were arrested on February 24 for conspiracy to murder are onpolice bail until April 7 while the investigation continues.Health project to keep your records2nd March 2010A NATIONAL programme is being rolled out across west Essex this year which will see anelectronic summary of your health information being produced.Summary Care Records will help NHS West Essex staff and healthcare professionalsacross the country deliver better, safer care by enhancing the way your health informationis stored and managed.Nationally over one million Summary Care Records have already been created.Your Summary Care Record is an electronic record of important information about yourhealth.It will be available to authorised healthcare staff providing your NHS care in England.This means if you ever have an accident or become ill and need urgent or out-of-hoursadvice or treatment away from your normal GP practice, the clinicians treating you canhave immediate access to important information about you.Your Summary Care Record will initially have information about your current medications,any allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines that you experience.Authorised NHS healthcare staff will be the only people allowed to access your SummaryCare Record if they are involved in treating you, and there are strict security measures inplace to protect your information.If a healthcare professional needs to view your Summary Care Record, your permissionwill be asked beforehand unless it is an emergency and you are unconscious for example.Patients may opt out of having a Summary Care Record by completing a Summary CareRecord Opt Out Form which will need to be sent or taken to their GP practice.However Dr Kamal Bishai, GP and chairman of Epping Forest Practice BasedCommissioning Group said: "We believe the creation of Summary Care Records will helpdeliver better and safer care throughout the NHS and we would strongly recommend to ourpatients that they do not opt out of having one."Nationally to date fewer than one per cent of people have decided to opt out. Patientsaged 16 and over who are registered with a GP practice in west Essex will receive a letterfrom NHS West Essex chief executive Catherine O’ConnelI, together with a patientinformation leaflet explaining Summary Care Records.There will then be 12 weeks for people to decide what to do. If a person decides that theywould like to have a Summary Care Record they need do nothing and the process ofcreating the Summary Care Record will begin.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 21 of 22It is hoped the whole process will be completed by the end of this year. Whatever youdecide, you will be able to change your mind at any time.For more information, visit www.westessexpct.nhs.uk and click on the purple SummaryCare Records button.Chigwell School staff stage pantomime2nd March 2010STAFF at Chigwell School took to the boards at the start of Lent Term for the biennial staffpantomime, Beauty and the Beast.Deputy headmaster David Gower was the Beast and Samantha Dick made her stagedebut as Belle.Roderick Lonsdale played Belle's father and had to contend with the traditional pantomimehorse in the guise of Andy Hill (front) and Richard Hartley (rear).Creag Lawrence made a convincing baddie drawing plenty of booing from the enthusiasticaudiences and Rob Ogle and Stephen Goodfellow were his bumbling sidekicks.Juliet Boughton as Mrs Potts, Ben Wille her son Chip, together with Father Simon Paulensured a happy ending was reached.here were cameo appearances from a number of staff including Jenny Gwinn and asurprise appearance from headmaster Michael Punt.Particular thanks go to drama scholar Abbie Cassen and her crew who directed theproduction and to Jack Jeffreys and the returning Matthew Gibbs (who took a break fromuniversity to maintain his record of being the only person to have watched every staffpantomime since it started in 1999) who did a great deal of work backstage.The two performances were very well received by the audience and the event raised wellover £2,000 for Haven House Children’s Hospice.Mr Gower thanked everyone involved and said he was, as ever, very impressed with whatstaff could put on in such a short space of time during the term.MONEY MATTERS - Monthly column2nd March 2010THIS month, in their monthly column, Loughton-based chartered accountants andbusiness advisers Haslers focus on student loan repayments and the vehicle scrappageschemeStudent loan repaymentsHMRC has announced a new initiative to reduce student loan over repayments for thoseex-students who repay their loan through PAYE deductions.Ex-students have been in the position whereby it has been difficult for them to avoid overrepaying their student loan as the loan term came to an end.This is due to the time delay between their employer making deductions from their salaryeach month and submitting an annual return showing the individual repayment amounts foreach employee.Ex-students will now be able to opt-out of PAYE repayments in the last 23 months ofrepayment and transfer to a Direct Debit arrangement. This should meant the ex-studentwill not over repay their loan.This new initiative has been introduced by the Student Loans Company (SLC).The SLC will try to contact borrowers shortly before the last 23 months to offer and arrangethis option.However if a borrower is aware they are reaching this point they can contact the SLCdirect and arrange to repay the balance of their loan in this way.Employers will not have to change their procedures as their authority to stop makingdeductions comes from HMRC on a form SL2 Stop Notice and this authority will be issuedin the normal way.For more details, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/student-loan.htmand www.studentloanrepayment.co.uk/Vehicle scrappageThe Vehicle Scrappage Scheme is a voluntary scheme for motor dealers under whichparticipating dealers give buyers a £2,000 discount off the purchase price of a new car (orcertain types of small van) in exchange for scrapping their old qualifying vehicle.The government has announced the deadline for the end of the Vehicle ScrappageScheme has been extended from the proposed February 2010 until March 2010.The extension is to allow manufacturers and dealers more time to prepare for and operatethe final phase of the scheme.The scheme, which is jointly run by the government and car manufacturers, will now rununtil the end of March 2010 or until the funding is exhausted, whichever is the sooner.Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "Against the background of the economicdownturn the Scrappage Scheme has proved a great success, driving UK car sales,protecting jobs and supporting the supply chain for car manufacture at a time when thissector needed it most."If you’re considering buying a new car, you should place your order as soon as possibleto avoid disappointment, because the budget is strictly limited."For more details, visit www.scrappage.org.uk/If you would like further advice on either of these issues, or any other matter, contactHaslers chartered accountants and business advisers, on 020 8418 3333, emailadvice@haslers.comBurglars flood house1st March 2010A HOUSE in Loughton was flooded after burglars stole all the water and heating pipes,radiators and water tanks.Detectives are appealing for help after thieves broke into the council-owned property inGoldings Road which had been left empty following the death of its last occupant.When officials went to visit on February 23 they found entry had been forced, metalfixtures had been stolen and damage running into thousands of pounds had been caused.Police say the thieves would have needed a vehicle to remove the stolen metal.Anyone who saw anything suspicious in Goldings Road should ring Detective ConstableLee Pudney at Loughton Police Station on 0300 333 4444.A century of guiding celebrated1st March 2010ABOUT 150 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, the Senior Section and adult leaders fromEpping, Theydon Bois and Coopersale helped mark a century of Girl Guiding.They were joined by past members and leaders at St John’s Church, Epping, to celebrateand give thanks for 100 years of Girl Guiding.This was the largest guiding gathering for some years in the church, with a total of 12 flagsbeing paraded.03/05/2010

Everything Epping ForestPage 22 of 22Betty Farringdon, Sylvia Hepton, Sally Hayes and Georgia Halstead, whose ages rangefrom 17 to 86 - therefored spanning much of the century, talked about their memories.However they were united in showing just how important Guiding has been in their livesand how much enjoyment it had given them.Epping and Theydon District Commissioner Emma Farra spoke about how many moreleaders are needed to give more girls the chance to take part in Guiding.All the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section and adult leaders renewed theirPromise and a collection was taken in aid of World Thinking Day.For more information or to volunteer contact Emma Farra on 01992 573210.Theatre legend remembered1st March 2010TWELVE graduating students at East 15 Acting School performed at Chigwell School'sDrama Centre.The sketches were part of the annual tribute to theatre legend Ken Campbell and his‘school of night’, or art of improvisation.The students’ mentors on the night were two of Ken’s most talented disciples, actors JoshDarcy and Sean McCann.Ms Daisy Campbell, Ken’s daughter, attended the performance, to everybody’s delight.All students’ acts were outstanding and original however Claire Gaydon received the KenCampbell Award for her performance which was declared the most innovative.Both Chigwell and East 15 Acting School are very grateful to former parents Ann and BarryScrutton who decided on the spot, after seeing the acts, to sponsor the awards this yearand next year.Chigwell School spokesman Loredana Morrison said: "It was a most enjoyable eveningand guests were able to mingle with the cast and other theatre students during thereception that followed the performance."This was an example of what Chigwell does best, in addition to maintaining consistentlyhigh academic standards, it brings the community together and encourages young,promising talents, within and outside the school gates."Vacancies on standards committee1st March 2010TWO vacancies have arisen on Epping Forest District Council's standards committee.The positions must be completely independent of the district, town and parish councils forwhich the committee has responsibilities.Along with a third independent member they will share responsibilities with six councillorsdrawn from the district and local town or parish councils.Although the most visible role of the standards committee members is to hear complaintsand adjudicate on the conduct of councillors, there is much more to the position.Standards committee duties also include monitoring and advising on the code of conductto which local councillors are bound. It promotes the code and offers training to councillorsas well as advice on ethical issues.There are four meetings of the full standards committee each year which are held in theevenings and last up to two hours.In addition, various sub-committees meet for the purpose of dealing with complaints.These are usually held in the daytime.Independent members of the standards committee may receive a small allowance of £500to cover the personal costs of their role.A larger allowance is payable to the chairman of the committee, a position which must beheld by one of the independent members.Chairman's role for VAT expert1st March 2010A SENIOR member of staff at Loughton-based Haslers has been appointed chairman of aspecialist VAT panel.Debra Dougal, VAT Partner at Haslers chartered accountants and business advisers, hasbeen appointed chairman of UK200Group’s Tax Panel.Debra is the Panel’s first VAT specialist chairman and hopes that, through her specialism,she will be able to bring a different outlook to the Tax Panel during her chairmanship.Established in 1986, the UK200Group is recognised in the professions and the commercialworld as the foremost mutual association of quality assured independent accountants andlawyers serving the SME business sector.With a membership of some 110 firms, together with international associates in more than55 locations in over 30 countries the UK200Group (www.uk200group.co.uk) providesservices, products and skills training designed to enhance both the status andperformance of members.Debra, an ex-linguist, having mastered six languages including Esperanto, and an avidmusical theatregoer – she has watched more than 100 West End shows – did not originallyenvisage a career in tax.Rather, with the idea of utilising her strong language skills, she had wanted to join theImmigration Service but found herself, for the next 14 years, at HM Customs and Excise(now HM Revenue & Customs) eventually progressing to VAT fraud investigation.Since moving into practice in 2000 and joining Haslers,Debra has continued to provide high level VAT consultancy to all clients as well as beinginvolved in training delivery, and has extensive lecturing experience which she continuesto use, delivering seminars to clients and business groups.She has appeared in a variety of TV quiz shows, including The Weakest Link in 2001. Sheis now setting her sights on entering Mastermind and getting a strong team together tobeat the BBC Eggheads quiz team.All rights reserved © everythingeppingforest.co.uk 2008-2010 | About | Disclaimer | Terms & Conditions | Design:5belowzero03/05/2010