onionbagblog

Remember, remember the 24th November; police officers, firemen and council officers.

Cripes.

But hopefully no treason.

Yep – another fortnight, another hand-delivered copy of the Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Chronicle drops on the doormats around these North Essex estuary parts. It’s a cracking read as ever:

Wivenhoe’s Community Day of Action:

“Approximately 90 personnel from the police, local authority and the fire service will visit Wivenhoe on Thursday 24th November, to look at various issues affecting the local community.”

Having visitors is of course always welcoming, but one would hope that the police and fire service are already highly visible here on the ground at a hyperlocal level.

“Called the Colchester Community Day of Action in Wivenhoe [snappy] the day will see trading standards officers checking the compliance of licensing standards locally, while police officers will check that local residents have their car tax up to date and also check on parking issues and speeding.”

So not so much a Community Day of Action, but more of a polite reminder from the authorities that Wivenhoe has its own house in order. I’m burying over with garden leaves the trap door to my secret 24-hour drinking den at the bottom of the garden as I type.

Chin chin.

But there is a very real serious approach to the day:

“Fire officers will visit homes to assist on safety issues and provide advice on such matters as fire alarm installation. Street clean wardens from CBC will be picking up litter and cleaning graffiti. Green electricity boxes will be repainted [presumably, um, green...] and housing officers will visit council tenants [for what purpose has yet be explained.]“

The Knock Up Wivenhoe sortie was implemented last month as a fact gathering exercise ahead of the day of action. The organ of esteemed truth and justice reports:

“The Chronicle understands that one of the issues repeatedly mentioned in the Quay ward was that overhanging branches and gardens which encroached onto pavements, are creating difficulties to pedestrians.”

True, true Comrades. The same can be said for the parked cars along the pavements.

“Following the day of action there will be a three month period when issues identified as needing attention will be tackled.”

Odds on even that the continued closure of Queens Road comes up tops.

Speaking of closures:

Recycling Centre Is Set to Close

“The decision to close the recycling centre at Martin’s Farm, St Osyth, has been taken by Essex County Council, despite strong opposition, including the opposition of every Tendring District Counncillor.”

Rubbish, etc.

The implication for Wivenhoe folk is that St Osyth was a damn site easier to access than Shrub End.

An obituary for Jonathan Williams on p.6 explains how:

“He was a member of the Nottage Maritime Institute, the Wivenhoe Cricket Club and the Royal British Legion. A kind man and a fun character, he was a founder member of the Wivenhoe Society for Fun.”

Which hopefully is a spirit that still runs through Wivenhoe.

Transport matters occupy p.8, with a short piece on the new carwash on the site of Cedric’s opposite the Co-op, and Wivenhoe Town Council’s annual coach trip to France and Belgium.

Without mentioning the words p-up and brewery, I am sure that the Wivenhoe Society for Fun would fully support the concept of a local town council organising a day trip abroad during these challenging and austere times for all:

“The annual trip with Cedric Coaches to France and Belgium, organised by Wivenhoe Town Council, will this year be on Saturday 26th November. Tickets are just £22. Contact the Town Clerk on 822864.”

Chin chin, etc.

p.10 of The Chronicle contains comes up tops in covering hyperlocal entertainment over the coming weeks:

Fawlty Towers Comes to Wivenhoe [William Loveless Hall - where else? - 19th and 20th November]

Stephen Carlin Headlines Comedy Club [Cricket Club, 24th November]

Film Club Will Show The Inside Job [The Nottage, 9th November_

Wivenhoe Folk Club [Snappy headline, snappy songsters - 1st December, The Flag]

and

All Style of Dancing and Singing Included [Super snappy headline - Angie Diggens Showcase, 3rd December, Brightlingsea Community Centre]

And so that’s Fawlty Towers, a live comedy club, a film club, a folk club and all styles of dancing and singing.

Phew.

No wonder no one get the blues here in Wivenhoe.

Um, hang on:

Out in the Blue Proves to be a Great Success:

“Tim Whitnell and Jay Nicholls have been playing and writing music together for some time, but the latest edition of the popular Wivenhoe Bookshop Unplugged sessions was their inaugural gig playing together as Out in the Blue.”

The Bookshop is fast becoming something of an unofficial arts centre for Wivenhoe, with the Unplugged gigs, book launches, Over the Sofa gallery and the various reading and tuition groups that take place in the splendour of the back shed.

They sell books as well, by the way.

p.11 rather helpfully answers the Wivenhoe Meaning of Life question, answering the conundrum that fills my own personal inbox with the greatest frequency:

How the hell do we contact The Chronicle?

“The Chronicle’s Address – No. 45, The Wivenhoe Business Centre, Brook Street, Wivenhoe, CO7 9DP. 01206 822592.”

Failing that then last orders around the boozers is often a good bet to catch up with the esteemed organ of truth and justice.

Same again in a fortnight.

Chin chin.