Mar 10 - Everything Epping Forest

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