Your FREE monthly magazine Established 1893 hatfieldheathvillagemagazine.weebly.com HATFIELD HEATH Village Magazine July 2024
� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� ���� Welcome to your July 2024 issue of the Hatfield Heath Village Magazine T hank you for all your kind words about last month’s edition �and highlighting all the mistakes I made!� This month I’ve been a bit more prepared and have started to implement more of the plans I have for the magazine. One thing you will notice that the adverts have returned to go throughout the pages. I have reinstated this as simply put, we wouldn’t have a magazine without our loyal advertisers. Nearly all of them are from people living in and around the village and it’s possible to blend advertising and editorial as I hope this edition shows. I’m delighted to see a strong uptake to our ‘Hounds of the Heath’ feature and have really enjoyed learning more about this village through all the information people are sending to the magazine. The more we all put in the more we all get out. Ciaran Gold Editor C���� ��� O������������ V������ H��� A������� D�� T��� C������ Welcome Space Monday Noon to �pm Hilary ����� ������ Bounce Tuesday �pm Alex ����� ������ Boxercise Tuesday �.��am to ��.��am Jack ����� ������ Bridge Tuesday �pm to �pm Michael ����� ������ Boxercise Tuesday �pm to �pm Jack ����� ������ Over ��s keep fit Wednesday �.��am to ��.��am Georgie ����� ������ Junior Karate Wednesday �.��pm to �.��pm Colin ����� ������ Bridge Club Wednesday �.��pm to ��.��pm Adrienne ����� ������ Zumba Gold Thursday �am to ��am Petra ����� ������ Bowls Thursday �.��pm to �.��pm Stan ����� ������ Bowls Thursday �.��pm to �pm Stan ����� ������ Crunch and Punch Thursday �pm to �pm Jack ����� ������ Seated Exercise Friday ��pm to noon Debbie ����� ������ Bounce Sunday �am Alex ����� ������ I�������� A������� D�� T��� C������ Pilates Monday �,��am to ��.��am Donna ����� ������ Bootcamp Monday, Friday �.��am to ��am ����� ������ Yoga Monday �.��pm to �.��pm Jodie ����� ������ Open coffee morning Tuesday, Thursday �� to noon Peter ����� ������ URC H��� A������� D�� T��� C������ Gardening Club �th Wed of month �pm Diane ����� ������ Bereavement Cafe �nd Wed of month ��am to ��.��pm ����� ������ History Society �rd Tue of month �.��pm Mark ����� ������ Royal British Legion �nd Tue of month �pm Sandra ����� ������ Leisure Hour �st Wed of month �pm Mary ����� ������ O���� G����� A������� D�� T��� C������ Men’s Shed Wed, Fri, �st Sat of month various Mike ����� ������ Heath Players varies varies Mark ����� ������ Learning Italian varies varies Michelina ����� ������ Neighbourhood Watch varies varies Hilary ����� ������ Trinity bell Ringers Tuesday �pm to �pm ����� ������ Holy Trinity Choir varies varies Diane ����� ������ Junior Cricket Tuesday �.��pm Mark ����� ������ Cricket varies varies Mark ����� ������ Air Cadets Tuesday, Friday �.��pm to �.��pm ����� ������ Contacts ............................... � News ...........................� to �� Parish Council ......... �� to �� Photos ................................�� Front page photo: D-Day beacon lighting Heath Festival is a hit P��� Tributes to organist P�� INSIDE CONTACT DETAILS: Editor Ciaran Gold ����� ������ [email protected] Treasurer Dawn Cox ����� ������ [email protected] Advertising Manager Kay Tyler ����� ������ [email protected] Secretary Jean Clarke ����� ������ [email protected] Distributor Michael Hockley ����� ������ Chairman Brendan Carrig ����� ������ WEBSITE: Hatfieldheathvillagemagazine.weebly.com
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� � My name is: Bob I live in: West Hayes. My age is: I am supposed to be �� according to the dogs’ trust by my Mum always says I am about �� or ��. I know I can’t see very well and my hearing is negligible. My favourite thing is: I love to go for walks in the fields and Friars Lane. I miss going for long walks with other dogs, which we did a few years back, when the farmer allowed people to walk in his fields. Now I have shorter walks as my legs give way and I am too big and heavy to be carried home! More about me: I came to live in our beautiful village in January ����, after my forever family picked me up from the dog trust. I have faint memory of living in a farmyard in Ireland, with horses, cats, sheep and other animals �I only chase big dogs and sheep�. I am sorry I have been chasing and puncturing footballs while children played in the park, but rest assured I can’t run now to really do much harm. I have enjoyed hugs and licks from so many little and medium sized dogs and still make sure to go near, smell them and say hello. I love you all. D o you have a great picture of your cute canine that you would like to see featured in the magazine? Email hatfieldheathmag�yahoo.co.uk with a high�quality picture and answer the questions above. Hounds of The Heath By Parish Council [email protected] YOU will all be aware that two new style speed signs have been installed that monitor speed of vehicles entering the village from the Chelmsford and Sawbridgeworth directions, these being the directions from which high speeds have mainly be observed. Hatfield Heath Parish Council has purchased and installed these signs itself after an extended arm wrestle with Essex County Council to have those that they originally installed updated. It simply did not want to pay for them. Having agreed we could purchase them instead, they initially insisted that we use their approved suppliers and installation contractors which would have cost in the region of £��, ��� to £��,���. After much discussion they finally agreed to allow us to do both things and this brought the price down to £�,���. We feel that the new signs are very sympathetic, working on the principle that most people respond to gentle reminders that even say ‘thank you’ when they reduce speed. If you go over the limit however you get told off and if you really speed you get severely told off. This, however, is only part of the story. We wanted signs that were smart and could help us map the volume of traffic over time and measure speeds on an individual basis. In this way we are able to collect the evidence necessary to push for other measures to minimise the impact on our village of having traffic coming from no less than six different directions and all meeting in the middle. We feel that the data so far collected and published by the County Council is misleading and far too broad�brush to be of any use for future planning. The signs themselves are moveable and can be calibrated to any speed, so we can theoretically move them to measure at ‘hotspots’ although practically we are considering having a further ‘roaming’ sign for that purpose. We hope that you can see the effect the signs are having already and you agree they are at least a valuable part of a cost effective data gathering solution to support our further efforts to drive down speeding. New speed signs making impact Valuable data also being collected SLOW DOWN: The signs can be moved THANK YOU: The signs are having an effect on motorists
� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 HATFIELD HEATH FESTIVAL: Scorching temperatures By Magazine Team [email protected] GLORIOUS weather brought thousands of people to the village for a fantastic family day that could be the busiest festival yet. While the soaring mercury meant that the falconry display and the dog agility show had to be cancelled, there were still plenty of reasons why Hatfield Heath festival ���� will be one to remember, with record numbers attending. Biggest event of summer GET READY: Jack Butler helps some fun runners get ready FUN: Mr Zippy, Andy Peasey from Ruggerbugs and Heath resident Robin Key all found ways to entertain the crowd PARTY TIME: The music festival outside Hunters Meet was popular
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� � help makes fun day the busiest yet with record numbers just keeps getting better FULL: The classic car show had its biggest number of entries to date WORKOUT: The bounce class demonstration in the arena
� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 By Magazine Team [email protected] PLANNING permission has been granted for holiday cottages and homes on the site of a former Second World War prisoner of war camp. Pelham Structures were given the go�ahead by the Planning Inspector to demolish �� existing structures at the former POW camp ��� on Mill Lane, convert and restore others into holidays cottages and a home, and build another three houses on the plot. A pedestrian and cycle link path will also be created. While the application site only included part of the POW camp with the prisoner huts located to the north in association with Greenways, planning permission had recently be granted for the demolition of all but one of these huts at Greenways together with the redevelopment of the site. Niki Champion, vice chair on Hatfield Heath Parish Council, wrote on Facebook: “It seems money and inappropriate development �not the type of development the village needs� wins over protecting the greenbelt and retaining historical locations. “The remaining Greenbelt in Hatfield Heath � watch out as it seems nowhere is sacred. “Sorry we couldn’t hold this off any longer and a huge thank you to everyone who has helped in the last seven to eight years to try and prevent this from happening.” A spokesperson from Uttlesford District Council said: “The application was an application submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate �PINS� under S��a Regulations. It is an almost identical planning application to the one recently refused by Planning Committee. “The site lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt, the council was of the view that the development was not considered appropriate development in the Green Belt. “The site constitutes the redevelopment of the previous Prisoner of War Camp. “In her decision the Inspector concluded that the site was brownfield by virtue of its previous use as a Prisoner of War Camp; as such was exempt development within the Green Belt. “She raised no issues related to the access to the site.” PRISONER OF WAR CAMP 116: Permission is given to Developer can start work DESPITE many villagers believing the construction date of the camp to be ���� or ����, documents in the National Archives suggest it was not until March ���� that plans for the construction of the camp were first conceived, writes Mark Ratcliff. This coincided with the success of the Allied campaign in North Africa, which eventually resulted in over a quarter of a million Axis troops being taken prisoner. The camp appears to have been quickly built and comprised a mixture of pre�fabricated wooden and concrete framed buildings that provided accommodation for around ��� Italian POWs and a small number of British soldiers who guarded them. In August ���� following the success of the Allied operations in Normandy it was recognised that there was an urgent need to accommodate the growing number of German Army prisoners who were being captured. Camp ��� was identified as a camp that could be used to hold some of these prisoners. By this time Italy had formally surrendered and Italian POWs were offered the opportunity to be co�operators and ��� seems to have been daily occupied by German Army POWs. German prisoners were not repatriated at the end of the war and some were held until August ���� �over three years after the end of hostilities in Europe�. In fact the POW population in England actually increased after the end of the war as POWs held in other countries we moved to be held in this country. The peak numbers of POWs occurred in September ���� when Camp ��� held nearly �,��� Germans at Hatfield Heath �additional accommodation created by means of tents� with nearly as many at its satellite camp at Hill Hall near Epping. Both the Italian and German POW camp 116 played an ATTENTION: Prisoners being inspected by the Camp Commandant WARTIME: A group of prisoners GAME: Hatfield Heath FC and prisoners played on Boxing Day
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� � ■ ���� Demolition of existing buildings and the development of �� new dwellings ■ ���� Demolition of existing buildings and the development of �� new dwellings ■ ���� The demolition of �� structures, the conversion and restoration of existing buildings to eight holiday cottages and one dwelling, the construction of three dwellings. The creation of a pedestrian and cycle link path. ■ ���� The demolition of �� structures, the conversion and restoration of eight buildings to form holiday cottages and one dwelling, the construction of three dwellings. The creation of a pedestrian and cycle link path. demolish former buildings after years of opposition on historic prisoner camp prisoners were expected to provide labour, which for those in ���, usually meant working on local farms. Some prisoners were marched to work each day and others in more distant locations were transported by bus or lorry. Some POWs were billeted on the farms where they worked. Camps such as ��� were never high security and as time went on the prisoners were subject to less restrictions and eventually being allowed to socialise with villagers. There is also evidence that some of the prisoners were given responsibility for policing their comrades. Famously a team of prisoners thrashed Hatfield Heath FC ���� in a football match on Boxing Day ���� watched by around ��� villagers and prisoners. Several stayed locally after their release, in some instances marrying girls they had met whilst being held prisoner. After the last prisoners left, the camp became home to various displaced persons from Eastern Europe before being used as a YMCA hostel accommodating workers involved in the construction of Harlow New Town. In the mid�����s the land and buildings were returned to the farmers from whom it was requisitioned some ten years earlier. Hatfield Regis Local History Society has a selection of photographs and memorabilia from the camp and continue to give talks and lead walks around the perimeter to aid understanding of the history of ���. The society has collected several letters and documents relating to the camp. Several villagers still have items made by the prisoners that were gifted to them some �� years ago. Whilst much of the camp will be lost to the recently approved developments it is hoped the story of the camp and its occupants will live on. important role in village form up to march out of POW camp 116 for a day’s work Site application history LATER USE: Irish workers at the camp in the late 40s or early 50s
� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 Meet the candidates for General Election ���� Hatfield Heath moves from the Uttlesford constituency to Harlow for the vote on Thursday July �. Six parties are vying to represent the village in Parliament. I have been a Harlow resident for over �� years, �� of which have been spent living in Old Harlow. My priorities for the general election are the NHS, housing, education and the environment. Harlow Hospital is in desperate need of renovating. Despite promises by a flow of Conservative health ministers, the new hospital has still not materialised. In the meantime, our hospital and our residents need to be treated by NHS staff that are not seen as being important enough to give a pay rise to. Since ����, I have volunteered as a school governor and Chair two primary Local Governing Bodies and am a Trustee of two multi�academy trusts sitting on committees as Vice Chair and is Co�Chair of one of the multi�academy trusts. I also volunteer as an advocate/support for a local CIC that has a number of families with SEND children as clients. The link between housing, health and education is key to my strategy for improving the health of the children of Harlow and the villages. I ‘m a local girl. I was born and bred just up the road in Old Harlow. I went to school at Leventhorpe and had a Saturday job at Dorringtons. I know the importance of personal responsibility and hard work. I believe that with the right support and encouragement, everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and freedom to make their own lives. I got my first taste of politics in ���� working for the then newly elected MP for Harlow, Robert Halfon. Since then, I’ve built up years of experience in parliament, government, policy and law. I know how to get things done and I can deliver for you from day one. I will fight to cut taxes, immigration and crime, crack down on speeding through our villages, defend night flight restrictions and support our rural economy. I’m standing for Parliament because I love Harlow and the beautiful villages and countryside around us, I want to fight for you, and I know how to make your voices heard in Westminster. YASMIN GREGORY HANNAH ELLIS
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� � CHRIS VINCE RIAD MANNAN MALCOLM FEATHERSTONE LOIS PERRY I ’m Malcolm Featherstone the candidate for Reform UK in the Harlow constituency, which, from this election, now includes Hatfield Heath along with Hatfield Broad Oak, Little Hallingbury and neighbouring villages and hamlets. I’m actually a resident of Hatfield Health and have lived here for � years having moved here from Roydon which is also part of the constituency. Prior to that I lived in Little Hallingbury and I still play cricket for Little Hallingbury CC. I’m not a political animal, indeed this is my first real foray into politics, but I have become increasingly despairing of the two main political parties who seem happy to ignore what we want and what we voted for and are content to preside over the decline of our wonderful nation. I’m fed up with being politically homeless and of our broken political system. I’m standing for a party with common sense policies that has candidates who are used to driving change rather than just sitting around talking about it. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and my own personal background is in media and PR having co�founded an agency specialising in reputation management. I have appeared regularly on TV on numerous channels from the BBC to GB News and Talk TV, where I co�host a current affairs chat show. I am not camera shy and happy to offer my forthright views backed up with fact. In recent years I set up CAR�� to encourage debate on the subject of climate change and reveal the nonsense behind Britain’s derangement with Net Zero. CAR�� has been a huge success and empowered others to be more vocal. UKIP has already succeeded in making a significant difference, without Parliamentary representation. UKIP can make its biggest difference at the next election by putting up candidates against those whose policies we most strongly object to and campaigning to prevent them winning. I am forthright, confident and unafraid to enter this world and with your support, make the difference our country needs. M y name is Chris Vince, I am the Labour and Cooperative Party candidate for Harlow and the villages which now includes Hatfield Heath and Hatfield Broad Oak. I am asking for your vote because I truly believe I am the right choice to be your next member of Parliament. For too long places like Hatfield Heath have been taken for granted, that needs to change. Unlike your most recent MP, I will be a visible vocal presence in the village, spending time truly listening to residents and championing the causes that matter to you. I will fight to get more police on our streets and in our communities, to get us the new hospital that we not only need but also deserve and tackle the persistent issues of speeding in the village. The Labour party has changed, and unlike the conservatives it has a plan to tackle the huge rise in inflation, bring down your energy bills, and build truly affordable housing to give the next generation access to the housing ladder. I am standing up for fairness, justice and equality. We need change after �� years of Conservative failures � a broken NHS, a crashed economy, crumbling schools, more food banks and raw sewage in our waters. This is their legacy, and they must be held to account. The polls suggest we will get a Labour government. In that scenario, do we need a Labour MP who will blindly vote with them, not question anything and preside over �� more years of failure? I am offering the voters in Harlow and the villages an opportunity to vote for a strong, independently minded, voice to stand up for residents against the oncoming Labour onslaught. Liberal Democrats are proposing to give everyone in Harlow and the villages the right to see a GP within seven days, guaranteeing ��� per cent of cancer patients will start treatment within �� days of an urgent referral, provide free personal care for the elderly and disabled, restore community policing with visible and trusted officers, and end the scandal of raw sewage being dumped into our rivers and streams.
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J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� URC services for the month URC: The following services are scheduled for July: ■Wednesday July � Leisure Hour Outing Knebworth House ■Sunday July � family service ��.�� am Rev Blair Kirkby (Communion) ■Sunday July �� family service ��.�� am Jan Bischoff ■Sunday July �� family service ��.�� am Rev Blair Kirkby ■Sunday July �� family service ��.�� am TBC Mucking in VILLAGE HALL: Volunteers formed a working party to spruce up the flowerbeds in the village hall grounds. DIGGING DEEP: Volunteers By Hilary Allen [email protected] MORE than �� family and friends came together to wish Mary Walsh a happy ��th birthday. Born Mary Tinworth in the nearby village of Willingale, she began her education at Potter Street Primary School before attending Hatfield Heath School from ���� to ����. Her path crossed with Frank Walsh at the Army Ordinance Depot in Little Canfield. Their love story led them to get married at All Saints Church in Little Canfield in ����. Whilst being a devoted mother to four beautiful children, Mary still managed to find time to work as a dining room assistant at Hatfield Heath School. Passion Mary's passions include cooking, socializing, crafting, knitting twiddle muffs and squares for blankets and joining in on quizzes. Cycling used to be a favourite hobby and recalls how she once embarked on a memorable journey with two close friends from Little Canfield to Clacton. It says a lot about Mary's fitness because the following morning, she was at her work on time, whereas her companions could not make it to their desks. To honour her milestone birthday, �� guests attended, with heartfelt speeches underscoring just how special she is. As she turns ��, Mary Walsh proves that age is just a number when you radiate love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Mary celebrates �� BIRTHDAY GIRL: Mary Walsh
�� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 �� YEARS SINCE D-DAY: Heath pays tribute to those We will remember them OBSERVANCE: Residents watch the torch lit to commemorate D-Day
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� THE Royal British Legion would like to say a big thank you to all those that attended their coffee morning and gave so generously, raising just over £300 towards the memorial bench they are buying. Nigel Robley said: “The Legion would also like to thank the generosity of the Coop and others who donated the excellent refreshments towards not only this but also the celebrations on June � in commemoration of the ��th anniversary of the D Day landings in Normandy in ����. “We also hope you all enjoyed the performance by the bell�ringers of Holy Trinity church and the lighting of the village beacon. “The memorial bench that we told you about last month is nearing completion and we will be organising a commemoration event to dedicate it formally as soon as we can, so please watch this space.” Coffee morning raises over £300 for memorial bench By Mark Ratcliff and the magazine team [email protected] SCORES paid their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice �� years ago on the beaches of Normandy. Commemorations started at ��am on June �, with an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial led by Rev Dawn Jewson and the laying of wreathes. Bells rang out throughout the country to mark the occasion, including at Holy Trinity Church. The Institute was open with refreshments and music courtesy of the Royal British Legion, with a collection of military uniforms and artefacts on display. The day was wrapped up by the lighting of the beacon on the Heath by Cllr Nigel Robley, joining with other nationwide to symbolise the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the darkness of war. ■ Although no-one from the village is thought to have died on the day of the invasion, three soldiers lost their lives in the Normandy campaign. Private William Alfred Little served with the �th Dorsetshire Regiment and lost his life on �� July ����. He is buried at St Manvieu war cemetery. It seems probable he landed in Normandy on �� June ����. Corporal Charles John Newman also served with �th Dorsetshire Regiment and lost his life on � August ����. He is buried at Tilly�sur�Seilles war cemetery. Like William Little he would likely have passed through the beaches on �� June ����. Major Charles Vere Brooke served with ��� �Essex Yeomanry� Field Regiment and lost his life on � August ���� �CWGC lists as � August�. He is buried at Brouay war cemetery. Information online suggests that he landed in France on � June on Gold Beach �Jig Red sector� as part of the first wave of troops. He is commemorated by a window in Holy Trinity Church. The Regimental war diary for � August states: "Second�in�Command, Major C.V. Broke, RA, and Party ambushed and killed by enemy tank at ���� hrs while reconnoitring new gun area." Other men from the village may well have landed on D�Day, however this information is much more difficult to research. who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom today HISTORY: D-Day magazines on display at The Institute REMEMBRANCE: The Royal British Legion at the War Memorial RING FOR PEACE: The bell ringing team at Holy Trinity Church MILITARY: An assortment of uniforms was on display at The Institute
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J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� ARCHIE Cross was asked back to the Ministry of Sound nightclub to support So Soild Crew. He has now also landed a permanent slot for a world wide internet radio station. Archie mixes with the best Christianity and diversity PRIMARY SCHOOL: Year � walked to both village churches to look at diversity in Christianity. They made comparisons between the two and found both were very different despite both being part of the same religious group. They even had the church bells rung to see them cross the road back to school. Parents meet PRIMARY SCHOOL: It was lovely to meet the parents and carers of the children joining in September. Over the next few weeks we will be setting up our current Year � children as buddies for our new intake to ensure they have as smooth a start in their new school as possible. VISIT: Pupils compared churches Holy Trinity Church July services �� July at ��.�� am � Morning Worship �� July at �.�� pm � Evensong �� July at ��.�� am � Holy Communion
�� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 By Quentin Spear Hatfield Regis Society AT our last meeting of the Spring session, we were joined by Douglas Coe from Sawbridgeworth to talk about Eric Ravilious, pictured inset, an official war artist during the Second World War who had a posting to RAF Sawbridgeworth. This is one of Douglas’s local history interests, being a retired RAFVR officer, and doing some prime source material research came to some interesting conclusions on the paintings Ravilious did. Eric was born in Ealing in ���� but the family moved to Eastbourne when he was four and that was where he was educated and gained a scholarship to Eastbourne School of Art. Having gained his diploma he did further studies in London at the Royal College of Art. He returned to Eastbourne in ���� and took a part�time position in the School of Art. One of his students was Tirzah Garwood, a talented engraver and artist, who he went on to marry in ����. They had three children � John ������, James ������ who was a respected photographer and Anne �b����� who has edited books on her parents. Initially living in Hammersmith, Ravilious shared the flat with Edward Bawden and subsequently moved out to Essex and The Brick House in Great Bardfield. In ����, Eric and Tirzah moved to Bank House in Castle Hedingham. Eric was making a name for himself with watercolours, wood engravings for books and murals. With war declared in ���� Eric joined the Observer Corps but later accepted the position of an Official War Artist, with the rank of Captain in the Royal Marines. He had an eclectic set of postings: Chatham, Scapa Flow, the Narvik campaign on a destroyer, HMS Highlander and Portsmouth where he studied submariners and their machines as well as coastal defences along the south coast. Douglas visited several of the south coast sites to locate the artist’s viewpoint and found the attention to detail made that a rewarding experience. In October ����, Eric was sent to RNAS Dundee, which operated Walrus amphibian biplanes and took the opportunity to visit RAF Drem nearby with its Spitfires. In early ���� Tirzah was taken ill with breast cancer and so Eric requested a posting nearer to home and was granted one at RAF Debden in March, followed by one to RAF Sawbridgeworth in May. Here he had a productive time producing paintings on a wide variety of subjects from aircraft on the ground and in the air, interiors of the accommodation and even the pigeon loft. Apparently, Eric was not so good on giving detailed titles for all his paintings, some receiving no title and so it was left to the War Artists Committee staff to provide one. Such a case is the painting entitled ‘Spitfires at Sawbridgeworth’. RAF Sawbridgeworth was not a base that spitfires were expected to operate from and the squadron codes on the painting indicate �� Squadron and they were operating out of RAF Debden at the time. So a local historian can still help solve long standing queries. In August ����, Eric received a posting to RAF Kaldadarnes in Iceland. He arrived on � September and the next day he volunteered to go on a patrol of three Lockheed Hudson’s, looking for a lost plane. Unfortunately, his plane did not return and there is speculation that since no Mayday signal was sent out, it was shot down by a German U�Boat. Eric’s name is recorded on the RAF Kaldadarnes War Memorial and on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Douglas’s talk related a talented artist’s story with great warmth and showed that you never know when researching a project, that a side note to check a detail can open up a topic you never expected to be interesting in its own right and where that will take you on visits to places or people. We enjoyed following Douglas Coe’s journey. ■The society has no meetings in July or August. The modernist war artist posted to Sawbridgeworth TALENTED: Eric’s artwork
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� By Jill Goldsmith Gardens of Easton Lodge TO WRITE this I looked back on last year’s pictures for comparison. This year, in June we were ahead on some of the core jobs around the gardens, such as reshaping umbrellas of the Portuguese laurels in the Italian garden. And the fern rill and the wildflower spiral features that were in the mind’s eye last year have now come into their own. But in other areas, it has been a struggle � the dahlias and vegetables may or may not have bounced back by the time you read this in July. Hopefully, though, July will turn into a lovely warm summer month with occasional overnight rain to water the plants. The roses and waterlilies should be at their best in the Italian garden and the walled kitchen garden mixed border should be hot with Crocosmia, Achillea and Hemerocallis. We are keeping our fingers crossed for good numbers of butterflies and perhaps hummingbird hawkmoths supping from the lavender hedges. D�Day on June � fortuitously fell on a Thursday and many visitors came to see the Gardens and the wonderful exhibition our archivist had pulled together specially for that open day. For those who missed it, there will be a further chance to see the exhibition on �� July, our Sunday Open Day, when we remember the role of the gardens and estate in the World Wars. Gates open at ��am for visitors, who will also enjoy seeing other exhibitors’ stalls and the local Austin � club and singing or dancing to Perfect Vintage duo’s ����s songs. Visitors can bring picnics and dogs on leads are welcome on our Open Thursdays or our monthly Sunday Open Days. ■ For more information about tickets, times, activities and refreshments go to www.eastonlodge.co.uk/whats-on Weather causing Easton Lodge gardeners setbacks Plant growth has varied considerably from last year MIXED RESULTS: Flowers at the lodge
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J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� AN organist who played a central role in village life for decades has died aged ��. Ruth Martin was well�known and respected in the Heath and Hatfield Broad Oak, with the latter her home for nearly �� years. Born in February ���� in the height of The Blitz, from a young age Ruth learned to play the piano, before progressing to the organ, which she much preferred. She taught other young people, some of whom, inspired by her talent and enthusiasm, became professional organists themselves. Ruth was organist at St. Mary's Hatfield Broad Oak, her local parish church, and others, including St. Mary's Birchanger and URC Hatfield Heath, so became a familiar figure in the surrounding villages too. Ruth also sang; she was a member of Harlow Chorus, going on tour with the choir to many places, both national and international. As well as her music, and having a full�time secretarial job, Ruth also took on the care of her severely disabled mother before and after work, and during the night �her father caring for her while Ruth was at work�. After her mother died, she then cared for her ageing father. Ruth's dedication and commitment to her parents over those years meant she did not have opportunity to marry and have a family of her own, but several years after her father died, Ruth met fellow organist Geoffrey Martin, firstly on the phone, then in person in ����. Two years later they married, continuing their organ playing duties in the various village churches, and had �� happy years together before Geoffrey passed away in ����. Ruth particularly felt the loss of his company in her later years. Her niece Belinda March said: “Ruth lived a full life and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.” Ruth passed away on April �� four weeks after suffering a stroke. A service in her memory was held on May �� at URC Hatfield Heath. Tributes to inspirational village church organist Ruth Martin balanced music with care for her parents CARING: Ruth Martin with husband Geoffrey
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J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� Help required for production HEATH PLAYERS: This autumn’s production , which will be directed by Jenna Young, is The Memory of Water. Performances will be on �� October, � & � November. Cast members will be required for all evenings that week. Rehearsals dates will be arranged once the play is cast. We will be looking for people to be involved in various aspects of backstage, production and Front of House work. Email heathplayers�yahoo. co.uk or call ����� ������. Social event HEATH PLAYERS: Our AGM will be held at The Bungalow, Dunmow Road on July � at �pm. Once this is over we'll continue with a social event. We'll have a new look to the committee next year. Mark Ratcliff is resigning as chair and we have a nomination for Jo Gladstone to replace him, who will vacate the secretary's position. RETURN: Heath Players performing The Revlon Girl By Heath P�ayers heathp�[email protected] AFTER a gap of five years, Heath Players returned to Hertford Theatre Week. A new venue, but the format was the same and it was great to see many familiar faces. All went well on our allotted day and director Steve Foster was very happy with the performance. We received a very favourable adjudication, reaction from audience and the Theatre Week crew. Ultimately, however, we left empty handed; Barn Theatre Club's production of Hansard sweeping the board. The runners�up spot was hotly contested and we just missed out to White Cobra Productions. Equally, although the actors received an honourable mention for the adjudicator's award, that in turn was given to Hertford Dramatic and Operatic Society. That said, we should be very proud of the acting, set and all other parts of the production. We look forward to returning. Players return to Hertford Theatre
�� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 HATFIELD HEATH VILLAGE HALL & INSTITUTE ARE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FOR ALL OF YOUR CELEBRATIONS, GROUP INTEREST ACTIVITY CLASSES & SPECIAL EVENTS HATFIELD HEATH VILLAGE HALL TRUST CIO COMPRISES OF VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR HATFIELD HEATH RESIDENTS, ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESSES WE ENCOURAGE YOUR INVOLVEMENT FOR BOOKING DETAILS CALL: 01279 730544 FOR OTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected] HATFIELD HEATH VILLAGE HALL TRUST REGISTERED CHARITY No 1198523 By Ken McDonald Hundred Parishes Society THE ��th century was a period of great railway development. Several railways in The Hundred Parishes no longer exist although they played an important role during their hundred�year lifetime. The Saffron Walden Railway was constructed in ����. It branched off the London�Cambridge main line and ran from Audley End Station to Saffron Walden. In ���� it was extended to Bartlow, to link up with the Stour Valley Railway. Following loss of passengers and freight from rail onto road, a report in ���� by Sir Richard Beeching identified many lines that were now deemed uneconomic; many stations and miles of track were decommissioned, including the Saffron Walden line. In Hertfordshire, a line ran from St. Margarets to Buntingford, including stations at Braughing, Hadham, Standon and West Mill. The Buntingford Line was closed to passengers in ���� and goods trains a year later. Buntingford Station, off Aspenden Road, is now a private residence. Braughing station opened in ���� and closed in ����. It too is now a private residence but retains many of the original features including the platform, signal box and signals. Another line ran from Bishop’s Stortford via Dunmow to Braintree. Much of this is now the Flitch Way Country Park, a ���mile route that was opened in ���� and is largely maintained by a group of volunteers, Friends of the Flitch Way. It is used by walkers, horse riders and cyclists and is part of National Cycle Network Route ��. The demise of the original rail line can’t be blamed on Beeching � it closed in ���� for financial reasons. Our website www.hundredparishes.org. uk includes a fuller exploration of local railways under the Articles section. The Walks section includes routes from current railway stations � plus a new series of Quiet Lane walks that do not use footpaths. The forgotten railway line that ran through Takeley NEW USE: The former Takeley railway station TODAY: The cutting at Dunmow
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� Kim’s quotes of inspiration THOUGHT OF THE MONTH: Kim Butler lives on Chelmsford Road and regularly updates her front garden thoughts board to inspire Make self-referrals through the Citizens Advice website How to find the help and support you need quickly By Jo Hancock Uttlesford Citizens Advice DID you know there is a website you can use to quickly and easily search and identify local services and make a self�referral, so that you get the support you need more quickly? If you are based in Uttlesford, go to www. uttlesfordfrontline.org.uk. Sites are very easy to use; for example, typing in ‘carer’ will bring up a range of local organisations that provide support for both young and adult carers; families with young children; dementia patients and their carers; cancer support; counselling; music therapy and gardening groups among others. You can use Frontline to access advice and support from Citizens Advice in addition to a wide range of other local services including support for people living with mental health challenges or long term conditions; family support and parenting courses; mentoring programmes; drugs and alcohol support; money advice and financial support; help to get active and with job searching; befriending groups, bereavement support and much more. ■ If you don’t have access to the internet at home, you can get online for free at your local library, (ask staff to help you) or call the Essex Wellbeing Service on ���� ��� ����.
�� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 PRESENT: Cllr M Bissell (MB) Cllr N Champion (NC) Cllr N Robley (NR) Cllr P Brown (PB) Cllr M Lemon (ML) Cllr S Saban (SS) Cllr H Allen (HA) Cllr C Overton (CO) Cllr S King (SK) Two members of the public In attendance: R Bowran, Parish Clerk 24/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no apologies `for` absence. 24/27 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST None. 24/28 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A member of the public expressed disgust with the outcome of the Planning Inspector’s hearing relating to Land West of Mill Lane. A member of the public said he was meeting with the Lord of the Manor and asked if there were any outstanding matters for him. Clerk updated him on the issue of tree works on the village green. A member of the public expressed the view that the planning inspector’s hearing could have gone either way. There was criticism of the planning officer who didn’t appear to understand his role. Conditions 1, 17, 41 and 43 seemed illogical. Appendix 2 documents had]been submitted after the date of the hearing. Clerk was asked to obtain the Appendix 2 documents from the planning inspectorate. 24/29 MINUTES OF MEETING Resolved: To approve the minutes of the meeting of 15 May 2024 (M01). 24/30 PLANNING COMMITTEE The outcome of the planning inspector’s hearing on 09 May 2024 of application S62A/2024/0032 - Land to the West of Mill Lane. Application was approved with a number of conditions. Hatfield Heath Parish Council Full council meeting minutes URC Hall, Hatfield Heath 7.30pm Wednesday, June 5, 2024
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� Suggestion that the council should engage the transport consultant who made representations at the hearing to pursue the traffic issues existing in Mill Lane. 24/31 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS To receive and note reports from County and District Councillors. County Cllr Susan Barker reported (in absentia) the new Highways joint panel of cabinet members had rejected the bid for highways modifications and had declined to fund a feasibility study. District Cllr Lemon had nothing to report. 24/32 FINANCIAL REPORT Approval of Expenditure. Noted: Items of expenditure in May 2024 as approved by the Finance committee. Management Accounts. Noted: Management accounts for May 2024. 24/33 CLERK’S REPORT & CORRESPONDENCE Received and Noted: Clerk’s report and correspondence received. In addition, Sheering PC and Sawbridgeworth TC have proposed a liaison group to discuss items of mutual interest and have invited members from Hatfield Heath PC to attend. Decision was deferred. 24/34 KEY TASK MONITOR To review and update the Key Task Monitor. From the Annual Village Meeting / Forum meeting on 11 May 2024. This had been reported at the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council. 24/35 HIGHWAYS MATTERS There has been no response from Essex Highways to the meeting held on Monday 12 February with Cllr Tom Cunningham. Cllr Barker has suggested asking one specific question to which there must be an answer. NR to action. SK is dealing with the current issue with discharged water on Stortford Road. Installation of VAR cameras has been completed. There is a noticeable reduction in speeding vehicles. 24/36 PARKING MANAGEMENT AND CAR PARKS No results yet received from the recent survey of usage. Need to obtain a quote for expanding parking area in church car park, even though no budget. Are Highways going to maintain it? SK has repaired the damaged manhole cover at the entrance to the village car park. Need to move litter bin in flooded area at church car park. 24/37 ALLOTMENT REPORT Noted that dogs are being allowed to run loose. Clerk to write to chair of the association. 24/38 PLAYGROUND Report on RoSPA annual inspection carried out 13 May 2024 circulated to members Continued on Page 26
�� T�� �������� H���� M������� J��� 2024 Continued from page 25 Specification for quotation for repairs, upgrade and brightening up of the area. ML suggested to start making provision in next year’s budget for replacing the playground. Conduct a consultation with public. 24/39 VILLAGE GREEN Lord of the Manor contacted by the Clerk about tree maintenance but no response received. Clerk to arrange meeting nominated contractor for quotation for a maintenance regime at the wildlife area and pond maintenance. Troughs have been replanted by ML and PB. ML mentioned grass had not been cut on lead in to Matching Road. Contractor review needed. Posting round Heath need repair or replacement. Damage to war memorial plinth needs attention. 24/40 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Distribution and collection of Questionnaire is underway, deadline extended to end of June. Collation of data will be started in June. Quotation from DAC Planning for assistance was rejected in favour of working with Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE). RCCE visit and progress on independent Housing Needs Survey, paused so as not to conflict with own questionnaire. Progress with UDC costs reimbursement is slow. ML will progress with UDC head of finance. 24/41 STANSTED AIRPORT WATCH Confirmed response made by the parish council to the consultation on aircraft flight frequency. 24/42 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Spate of Range Rover thefts from the Hallingburys. However, they are not proceeding with employing private security contractors. HA met with police at Tea on the Heath. Incidents outside White Horse including a stabbing and a vehicle fire. 24/43 REPORTS FROM MEMBERS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED ML had met at the URC church and approved recruiting for a family liaison officer to look after families and to consider setting up a youth club. Funding has been obtained for three years. 24/44 AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING No items requested for the agenda of the next meeting. 24/45 DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS The next scheduled meeting of the Council will be at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 3 July 2024. The next meeting of the Planning Committee will be at 3 pm on Monday 24 June 2024. Elected representatives Hatfield Heath Parish Council Mark Bissell (Chair) ����� ������ Niki Champion (Vice Chair) ����� ������ Mark Lemon ����� ������ Sandra Saban ����� ������ Nigel Robley ����� ������ Chris Overton ����� ������ Peter Brown ����� ������ Hilary Allen ����� ������ Sam King ����� ������ [email protected] www.hatfieldheath.com Member of Parliament Kemi Badenoch ���� ��� ���� [email protected] Uttlesford District Council Mark Lemon ����� ������ [email protected] Essex County Council Susan Barker ����� ������ [email protected]
J��� ���� T�� �������� H���� M������� �� Thank you for hospital help EILEEN ASHWORTH: “I am really grateful and would like to thank all my friends who have helped me in any way with shopping, hospital visiting and visiting me while I have been incapacitated since last November and unable to drive. “I am really grateful and look forward to being able to do the same for you if ever needed." Dates of next parish forum PARISH COUNCIL: Dear all, We held our regular forum on June ��. By the time you read this we will have included the issues and discussion results in the Key Task Monitor. A big thanks to all that attended. Our next Forum will be on July ��th between ��am and noon. We very much look forward to seeing you there to again discuss anything you wish. Cllr Nigel Robley By Cllr Nigel Robley Hatfield Heath Parish Council A VERY big thank you to all those who filled in the questionnaire during the last couple of months. We are now in the midst of collating all the data that you have provided and in particular reviewing all the different ideas and issues that you filled in at the end of the questionnaire. Our next task is to complete the analysis of your responses and build this into a framework from which we can derive policies that hopefully match your expectations and which we will review with you all along with the data. In parallel we are developing a number of other supporting documents that will fill in the background to our village and put the survey into firm context that can be understood by the reviewers. Internal We are undertaking ourselves a lot of the work for which others have used outside consultants so that we can properly reflect your feelings rather than have an impersonal assessment of the various aspects we have to address. We are however staying close to the people who eventually have to review our plan so that we do not make too many errors in providing what they need to see. ■ If you have questions, email on HHNP����@gmail.com or contact ����� ������. Analysis underway for questionnaire Responses will factor into village policy THANKS: Many residents filled in the Hatfield Heath questionnaire
HEATH PHOTOS We love to receive photographs relating to Hatfield Heath and nearby areas for publication. Email your pictures to: hatfieldheathmag@yahoo. co.uk FIND ME: Lynn Ayers found a lost toy MAJESTIC: The oak tree in Taylors Field by Susan Harthill SUNSET: Shelley Ridgway, Friars Lane UP CLOSE: Birds in Rob Key’s garden