You know that the Wivenhoe summer has truly arrived when you have to get out the wellies once again for a short stroll along the Trail and a wade up and down in the glorious estuary mud.
Whoops.
Failing that then there’s always that staunch season signifier of a copy of the esteemed Wivenhoe SocietySummer Newsletter to tell you that it’s probably about time to start looking forward to the start of the new football season once again.
Any soul searching for the estuary summer is soon forgotten about, with the proud picture of Front of House winner Jill Bailey proudly displaying her certificate in her seasonal - and not at all waterlogged - summer garden.
Congratulations, Madam. I am in awe of the arrangements of your beautifully laid out borders. Thirty-five entrants took part in the competition. All funds raised will be split between Wivenhoe Helping Hands and St Mary’s.
But it’s not all about letting it hang out at the front. The Message from the Chair delivers the good news that both a Minutes Secretary and an Honorary Secretary have both been sourced for the Wivenhoe Society.
Hurrah!
Or rather the two into one role has been very kindly taken on board by Rachel Allen. Here’s hoping the left and right hand can both meet in the middle.
Not quite rising to full attention, but Mr Chair then raises the issue of Wivenhoe Town Council’s plans to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee next summer:
“I suspect they may soon be asking for money”
I suspect Mr Chair is correct.
The Wivenhoe Townscape Forum is given a decent write up by Sue Glasspool:
“Good progress is being made. The members of the group have walked every street in Wivenhoe and looked at all open spaces to identify historic buildings, areas, vistas and other assets which could go on our draft local list.”
I wonder if the Townscape Forum has had the good fortune to walk along *cough* Chapel Road of late?
“The weekend was sunny and warm, and visitors started arriving early on the Saturday morning to enjoy a splendid show of gardens. There were 28 open in all…
It was great to have several new gardens open, and new ventures represented, such as Transition Town Wivenhoe and Millfields and Broomgrove Schools.
The weekend raised profits of £3,400 which will be divided between St Mary’s Church and the Wivenhoe Society, whose share will be given to Wivenhoe Helping Hands.”
Great things come from green fingers. My prize courgette continues to grow to an unfeasibly large size.
Changes to recycling and rubbish collection days are also highlighted in the newsletter. Police matters are updated with details of the new police.uk site, as well as flagging the 101 non-emergency telephone number.
Resting her Minutes Secretary and Honorary Secretary role for Wiv Soc, the good Rachel Allen then multitasks to the extreme, with an update on the Helping Hands AGM, of which she is also… Secretary.
Splendid.
“The mission of Helping Hands was reiterated - any job will be considered regardless of age and ability within the bounds of Wivenhoe - and although we cannot directly help with children, we can help with parents who may need some shopping or a prescription collected if their child is ill.
Our band of 42 volunteers [blimey] will attempt a whole range of minor tasks from taking people to doctor’s appointments to putting out bins. We do not operate an emergency service, but there is a dedicated phone line.”
THAT NUMBER AGAIN… 07834 452 764.
In these austere times when we are constantly reminded by gurning fools on TV that “we are all in this together,” it is genuinely nice to be reminded by someone who isn’t gurning, and most definitely isn’t a fool that yep, we really are all in this together and so let’s help each other out.
The Treasurer’s Report breaks down the funding of Wiv Soc and comes to a rather pleasant conclusion:
“Recently we have accumulated a small surplus each year and the Committee thinks that we could donate some money without running our reserves too low.”
The Youth Hub, both primary schools, the Ferry Trust, Christmas lights for the Legion, Helping Hands, Wivenhoe in Bloom, planting trees, replacing notice boards - all have benefited from Wivenhoe locals all being in this together.
“Remembering the aims of the Society, which are to preserve the amenities of Wivenhoe and generally make it a pleasant place in which to live, the Committee would like the views of members on how any money could best be spent.”
Suggestions via email. Inviting gurning fools that we see on TV to have a look around a barren patch of land that should be a new Health Centre, probably isn’t the best use of surplus Society funds.
The new gravel garden located by the Co-op / Jardine / Eyecare Wivenhoe / Bermuda Triangle is featured on p.7:
“The perennial plants were chosen for their propensity to thrive in a sunny, dry spot.”
As for the funding?
“Although there is a restricted budget made available by Wivenhoe Town Council for planting up the floral tubs throughout the town, Wivenhoe in Bloom are managing to pay for additional planting through fund-raising. Their plant stall at the May Fair raised an impressive £320.”
An incredibly generous £250 donation from Jardine has also helped, as has the Wiv Soc contribution of £200.
Some hapless hyperlocal type hails the first six months of the Wivenhoe Forum on p.8. Whaddya mean you haven’t… blah blah blah. Oh - just join. 243 members (and counting…) can’t all be wrong. Or even online bores.
Moira Collett reflects on the first year of Moving Image - twelve months with many ups and down, but overall an incredibly positive place to be after just one year of supporting an independent community cinema in Wivenhoe.
Having had to let go of the “ambitious plans to turn the St John Ambulance Hall in Wivenhoe’s very own cinema,” Moving Image has found a base at the Philip Road Centre. The Lakeside Theatre at the University was also experimented with, although “the audiences were never large enough,” and sadly this will not continue.
Keeping the uplifting mood and what we all need is a picture of a semi-naked Mayor of Wivenhoe teasing all with a fine barrel chest and a towel wrapped around his torso in the style of a handsome Roman warrior.
Cripes.
The fantastic sport that is Mayor Robert Needham poses - in a very decent fashion - outside the newly re-opened outdoor swimming pool up at Broomgrove School:
“The swimming pool was originally built over thirty years ago but inevitably over the years it had fallen into a state of disrepair. The Wivenhoe Society gave £540 towards the pool’s refurbishment costs.
This saw the start of a major fundraising drive. The Broomgrove School’s Association managed to raise over £4,000 to add to £2,000 from the BSA reserves.”
Fine work from local parent and bathroom installer, Leigh Haig from LH Installations, who volunteered to complete the work at no cost. Seeing a semi-naked Mr Mayor in print is but a small price to pay.
And then finally on p.11 we have the New Town Map and Sign story:
“Wivenhoe First, an organisation that promotes local businesses, is responsible for the appearance of a new Wivenhoe map and notice board which has appeared in front of the floral boat outside the public car park.”
And most splendid it looks to. I got lost the other day simply leaving the house and putting the rubbish out. You’ll be telling me that there’s life north of the Co-op next.
When Saturday Comes and all you want to do with your Wivenhoe weekend is to read the papers in bed, take an afternoon wander down to the Quay and then stumble out of The Station sometime before the National Lottery winners are announced.
No chance.
To the Farmer’s Market! …was the rallying call to kick start the weekend for @AnnaJCowen and I. The Congregational Hall had the usual fine local produce on sale, as well as some charming conversations with traders who like to talk, rather than concentrate on the hard sell.
We didn’t come out with a wicker basket brimming with North Essex country fare, but a rucksack stuffed full of sausage meat and beetroot. These will come in handy, believe me.
The Wivenhoe Community Safety Neighbourhood Watch Group also had representation. It’s good to be a local busy body etc, but don’t have nightmares. The recent police crime map for this area in April may look a little alarming, but out of the eleven incidents of violent crime, only four were reported in Wivenhoe, with the remaining seven coming from our friends over in Rowhedge.
must.pay.a.trip.to.rowhedge.later.in.the.day
But first off, how about keeping up the busy body theme and poking yer face around local garages?
Blimey.
Nope, it’s not a new obsessive architectural peccadillo that is affecting the North Essex estuary, but the Grand Garage Trail kindly organised by the good folk of St Mary’s Church.
Hurrah!
Originally started by Cansdale and Ross under the Wivenhoe Braderie banner two years ago, the Grand Garage Trail is now a glorified car boot sale taking place around the town.
Maps were purchased the day before, and then much like the splendid Open Gardens of last month, we wandered around Wivenhoe and were welcomed into the properties of various folk around the town.
The event was as broad and as bonkers as you wanted it to be. Many garages were doing great business in re-selling on children’s toys that have been outgrown. Local art also featured heavily. I was disappointed in not being able to walk away with the underground safe on sale along the High Street.
It all got a little lost as we wandered into the Loveless Hall by mistake - often the best way to wander into the Loveless Hall - and found that we had strayed into a separate sale organised by the Colchester Twins Club.
Double cripes.
Cake was on hand to calm us down, and to give us a kick up the backside to take on the remaining Grand Garage Trail down towards the Quay.
A quick chat at Curiosity, and we reflected on the quality of the stock sold within. But time and tide wait for no Grand Garage Trailers, and as we exited left along Station Road, we saw that the legendary Grand Garage dinghy has been bought, and was already being prepared for a launch at the Rowhedge Regatta later in the day.
No worries.
The girl and I made up for our nautical loss with some lovely bargains of our own. A pair of panniers, a darts board, a kitchen chair and a chopping board (free from Builder Mark, natch) - all clocked in at precisely £10.
The panniers in particular were quite a find - the conversation that followed was priceless. It seems that I’m not alone with my Moulton collection within Wivenhoe.
The town undoubtedly has many talents, but topping the list for me is the claim to fame of the chap I purchased the panniers off - he only test rode the original Moultons back in the day.
Chapeau!
Seedy exchanges followed, with an ill met by iPhone fading light presentation of the bonkers multi-coloured Moulton. I’ve still to actually ride the machine around the town. @AnnaJCowen reckons that even the ‘homosexual meets the beast‘ hybrid of the design is a little risqué, even for Wivenhoe.
Was that the day done, Comrades?
Nope - we’ve barely started. Booze had yet to feature, and there’s nothing I like more than a Wivenhoe lunchtime tipple whilst admiring quality local artwork and enjoying local conversations.
To the Wivenhoe Gallery! …etc for the opening of the Spanish Paintings exhibition by local artists Michael and Julia. Running for two weeks down at the Wivenhoe Business Centre, the rich Mediterranean landscapes are most certainly worthy of a visit.
The love of the Spanish culture came across in the artwork, and the conversation that followed with Michael and Julia. I pressed them on the possibilities for their future muse, and was pleased to hear that Wivenhoe landscape painting is certainly a work in progress.
With my lunchtime muse of red wine having fired me up, I was ready to stand on the edge of the Quay, survey the Rose and Crown customers and gaze out with a glazed over eye across the estuary and declare:
“To Rowhedge!”
Oh Lordy.
The fighting talk of the red plonk has sunk many a galleon, but not the Wivenhoe and Rowhedge Ferry. This was Regatta Day for that other lot on the opposite banks of the Colne. It only seemed polite to turn up and see how our near neighbours can put on a party.
We weren’t alone in our Wivenhoe wanderings. It seemed that half of the town had pitched up at either The Anchor or The Albion, observing the sea crafts of differing sizes sail past. There was always the possibility of some riverside rubbernecking as a particularly graceful smack came close to cutting up a kayak.
Whoops.
Crabbing, as ever, was incredibly popular. The hit and miss weather seemed to fit perfectly with the Dark Side theme. With the waters of the Colne disappearing faster than my pint of Kent Best, concern soon turned towards how the chuffers we could get back to base.
No one wants to be stranded in Rowhedge on a Saturday evening, but the Kent Best booze was making a decent job of damage limitation. A catch up with the fine @Colchester101 - whoops there goes another pier, whoops there goes another pint of beer, etc.
Anything that Wivenhoe can do, Rowhedge of course likes to think that it can do better. We don’t like to talk about *shhh* the May Fair police helicopter, and I’m sure Rowhedge folk were a little weary of the chopper action overhead on Saturday.
One thing that Rowhedge definitely does do better than Wivenhoe is to assemble together a group of local males who then tug away on a large rope in tandem.
“We’re from Wivenhoe - we drink beer, not pull rope” was the rallying cry that was later rolled out to justify the slip slidin’ spectacle of the Wivenhoe Tug of War team.
The Rowhedge chaps may be great at tugging away, but no so brilliant on the booze front. Chundering quayside just ahead of the grand Tug of War final is not quite dignified estuary etiquette, Sir.
With the estuary water now looking as limp as the Wivenhoe tug of war team effort (said the poncey bloke watching from the sidelines…) contingency plans were needed for the Great Escape.
Cometh the hour, cometh the good @Colchester101, who kindly drove us all the way down to the Hythe, and then back up Clingoe Hill once again. There was to be one more surprise waiting for us back at base - a new houseguest staying in the shed.
Moving Image was on our Saturday evening radar. Ever one to keep it local, the screening of Fishtank was trumped by a lovely, lovely hyperlocal invite to… go round next door for an evening of games and booze.
Brilliant!
And so just another quiet Wivenhoe weekend, you say?
Wivenhoe - you are wearing me out. But you wear it out oh so well.
Serving Brightlingsea, Wivenhoe and Nearby Villages, the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of British fair play that is The Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Chronicle is with us once again.
Hurrah!
It’s a cracking read in The Chronicle once again this fortnight. With those out of towners @TheGazette getting it all so very wrong over the May Fair story, it is pleasing to see local scribe Scoop Scarpenter present a Tell It Like It Is approach to local news reporting.
But first - how’s about a pic of a handsome chap wearing a gold chain, grinning out at you from the front cover?
Oh goody.
The Towns’ New Mayors is the lead, with a nice photo (taken by a hit and miss snapper) of Councillor Needham, the new Mayor of Wivenhoe:
“Born and bred in Wivenhoe, Robert Needham is now starting his third year on Wivenhoe Town Council. He is a former police dog handler and Sergeant, serving with Essex Police over a period of 30 years, and later becoming Community Operations Manager for Colchester Borough Council.”
The Chronicle also documents Mayor Needham’s work on the severe weather policy for the town, as well as his role in helping to set up Helping Hands in the town.
“Wivenhoe is certainly diverse.”
We wish him well..
Likewise for Radio Wivenhoe, the new online broadcasting station that has been set up down at the Business Centre, which gets the p.2 treatment. Mr Mule writes:
“Wivenhoe now has its own radio station which will go live in early July. The station was initially the idea of Jerry Davis, who’s long harboured ambitions to create a radio station in the area.”
The Chronicle reports how forty volunteers turned up at The Greyhound last week to express an interest. The medium term plan is to apply for a community radio licence in 2013.
“Many of the volunteers seemed to be of the opinion that insufficient radio airtime was being allocated to forms of music outside of mainstream tastes. A majority of people at the meeting thought that Wivenhoe had the flair and breadth of talent to eventually create a radio station tailored to the town’s own needs.”
Not ‘arf.
The first Wiv Chat recording with a hit and miss *ahem* broadcaster has already been lined up for this week.
Keeping with the Chronicle's catchy headlines, Independent Booksellers Week of Activities once again Tells It Like It Is:
“A number of activities for people of all ages will be organised in Wivenhoe as part of the Independent Booksellers Week. Run locally by the ever enterprising [and then some] Wivenhoe Bookshop, events start on 17th June at 6:30pm with a book launch of Truth or Dare, a collection of short stories.”
The Bookshop’s brilliant blog contains further… reading. Plus this might be an apt occasion to publish once again the first of hopefully many more @audioboo’s to come from the Bookshop.
Local scribe and all round good chap, Ben Thomas (@Heskey1992) writes an ACE May Fair round up on p.6: Musical May Fair Never Fails to Entertain.
Ben covers all three main stages, taking in the commanding Ady Johnson, the rising local star Lou Terry and even the festival favourite, the bonkers Mr Sonic Manipulator.
“This year’s event has certainly left the large crowd pleased with the musical performances. Individuals who had travelled from across the country and further afield had nothing but positive reviews about the year’s entertainment.”
A separate news story on p. 11 runs with:
“Disturbances Break Out at the May Fair“
It’s a clever journo trick played by Scoop, and one that the likes of @The Gazette would do well to learn from. May Fair 2011 was mainly about the music. You can’t cover up the police presence towards the end, but this wasn’t the headline news here.
“By mid afternoon there appeared to be a number of drunken youths acting aggressively and there were reports of bottles being thrown at members of the public and also fights breaking out in the field, in the adjacent wooded area, and also in The Avenue, Wivenhoe.
After calls were made to the police, two officers at first arrived, but by 6pm more than 40 police officers had been deployed to Wivenhoe to handle the various incidents.”
Hardly the “hundreds of youths” that @TheGazette got slightly over-excited with in its irresponsible, and inaccurate, reporting.
The Chronicle continues:
“A 20 year-old man from Marks Tey had been arrested prior to the main disturbance on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and has since been charged with this offence and two offences of criminal damage.
Two 15 year-old boys were arrested just before 8pm on suspicion of assault and they have been bailed until 17th July while enquiries continue.”
Tell It Like It Is.
Meanwhile, the Battle of the May Fair makes for sombre reflection. Time to plan for 2012…
Moving on…
Who fancies an evening covering “immigration, religion, Zionism, Islamic jihad and the ongoing problem of people who are not yet middle class?”
Cripes.
Liam Mullone will bring all the above of to Wivenhoe during his performance at the Funny Farm at the Cricket Club 30th June. The Chronicle also reports Juliet Meyers and David Hannant are also appearing.
Meanwhile:
“Have you thought about joining the scouting adventure as a leader?”
Um…
p.7 carries the very urgent need for Wivenhoe Scouts to recruit a new scouting top dog. Further details via [email protected].
Ivan Sage writes a lovely review on p.10 of Wivenhoe’s ADP Theatre School’s production of Around the World 2 - Return Ticket, recently performed in Clacton. The show heads to the Charter Hall in Colchester on 25th June.
Local legends The Medlars meddling at Wivenhoe Folk Club on 7thJuly at The Flag are featured on p. 12; sharing the space is mention of the Helping Hands AGM at the Sailing Club on 16th June at 7:30pm. New volunteers welcome…
Now Hear This:
“The Hearing Care Centre will be holding its next Wivenhoe Open Day on 29th June at Wivenhoe Eyecare Opticians, 1 Belle Vue Road. Free, no obligation hearing tests and expert-advice on any hearing related problems are available.”
The Spanish Paintings exhibition at the Wivenhoe Gallery gets a plug on p.14, and that as they say is adios from Scoop for the next fortnight.
A weekend downpour of Biblical proportions, which can only mean that it’s time for the summer publication of Wivenhoe News.
Blimey.
Sea Defences Saga Flows On is the lead story.
See what they’ve done there?
“There has been much anger and dismay caused by the stripping of vegetation from the seawalls in Wivenhoe alongside our tidal river, both downstream and upstream from the flood barrier.”
The bad science justification that was bungled out by the Environment Agency is also re-published, as is a very kind plug for *cough* the Wivenhoe Forum thread.
What’s new here is the offer by the Natural England - the spineless body that rubber stamped the destruction - to re-plant 5,000 “compensatory trees” - you break our legs and we say thank you when you offer us crutches.
Eight hundred and fifty have been put aside for the North Essex estuary. Don’t go getting your digging spades out just yet, Comrades:
“In the Colne Estuary they [Natural England] have provided 850 small tress to Brightlingsea Town Council for a site to the east of the town.”
If you stand at White House Beach on a clear estuary morning, and then squint out over the water with one eye closed, you may just be able to see the benefits of the trees bestowed upon our beloved Brothers in Brightlingsea.
Cheers.
No worries. What we need is a smiling picture of a lovely local lady to add some cheer to the sea defence doom:
“Workers of Wivenhoe - Shelia Scammell, Lollipop Lady.”
Lovely.
Wivenhoe May Fair 2011 gets the p.2 treatment, in something of an after the Lord Mayor’s Show airing. Time to move on, time to plan and time to restore May Fair as a community event for 2012.
Speaking of Mayor’s, Cllr Sinclair is captured in one of his final acts of civic duty in what has been a busy year. The Guide’s Wedding Party is all part of wearing the Wivenhoe civic chains.
But it’s not all about the Brownies or Girl Guides. On a more serious note, there is a plea on p.2 for a new Scout Leader for Wivenhoe:
“Let’s not beat about the bush: twenty youngsters, full of energy and enthusiasm [and then some] raring to take up the opportunity offered by the Scouting movement.”
This is a BIG role that really needs filling. The Wivenhoe News editorial on p.3 plays with similar themes:
“Off the Rails seems to be looking for pretty much a whole new team, the Wivenhoe Society is limping along with no Secretary and a very small committee, the WEA has been without a Chair for a year and is about to lose its Secretary.
One of the things that you often here in praise of Wivenhoe is ‘there’s so much going on here.’ Well folks - things only happen because people organise them.”
Wise word, but maybe it is a reflection of the work / life balance? There are only so many hours in the day and bills still need to be paid. It’s no secret that I have had to severely cut back on my out of hour’s unpaid activity of late.
On a more lighter note and any news article that contains the phrase: “superb French folk music, played on hurdy-gurdies [geddin there!] and bagpipes” has to be a winner. The Town Meets Gown event gets a mention on p.3.
Dr Philippa Hawley and Halcyon Palmer pen a simply superb local historical account on the various Wivenhoe surgeries dating back over the past Century. It is apt timing, what with the STOP / START / STOP farce of the new Wivenhoe surgery by the Fire Station continuing to stall.
I’m not going to re-publish any of the copy here - this article is worthy of your purchase of Wivenhoe News alone. More of the same please.
The Two Ronnies of Wivenhoe local politics, Cyril Liddy and Dave Purdey, are given the It’s Goodbye From Me, and It’s Goodbye From Him headline.
With sixteen and eight years respectively serving as unpaid Town Councillors, both Cyril and Dave are rightfully given a short column to say a fond farewell.
Of sorts…
Along with Sheila Scammell and her lovely Lollipop Lady tales on p.8, Alison Kent also carries an ACE interview with Ray the Rubbish, the retiring litter picker of Wivenhoe:
“I think you should try to keep the front of your property clean, like the old days. Have pride in where you live.”
Hear, hear.
I didn’t realise that the job was only fourteen hours a week - Ray has seemed to be ever-present during my short stay here. Good luck to James, Ray’s replacement.
Aquatic matters are the concern on p.11. Lifeboat Week gets a deserved plug, as does the Wivenhoe branch of the Royal British Legion:
“Remembrance is a very large part of the Legion’s ethos. Those who attend the Legion Wednesday evenings will know that those who have given their lives in Afghanistan and other places in the service of their nation are individually remembered.”
The building fund for the Legion has been boosted by a donation of over £2,000 from the Boxing Day walk staged by WORC. £690 was also raised at the ACE fireworks display. October 29th is already in the calendar for one of the best nights that Wivenhoe is able to offer.
Next door but one at The Nottage and there is a plug for Water Marks - the Summer Exhibition, featuring local artists Alison Stockmarr, Barbara Peirson and Pru Green.
The exhibition is open on Sundays from 2pm - 5pm until 11th September, and on Regatta Day on 23rd July. It is VERY good. There’s a blog post already being lined up…
Speaking of the Regatta, Wivenhoe News reports:
“There will be the usual wacky races and about thirty stalls and a brass band. The pram race will take place on 22nd July.”
Wivenhoe Youth Hub continues to grow and develop new ideas and partnerships. Page 12 updates with reports on the gig at the Philip Road Centre by local band Rising Soul, a go-karting event organised with Brightlingsea’s 4Youth (reckon we got the better name…) as well as the ACEarchery and rowing evening.
What is rather humbling about The Hub is that those involved offer so much more back into the community. There was a considerable presence at the WivSoc riverbank clean up, help offered at May Fair, as well as support for the Crabbing Competition next month down by the Quay.
Likewise good news coming out of the ADP Theatre School:
“Angie Diggens has booked the Colchester Charter Hall for a show with her Wivenhoe students, combining the best of her last two shows at Clacton.”
Saturday 25th June at 7:30pm, £12 a ticket, details on 282020.
Helen Chambers writes a review of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society production of Oklahoma! at the Loveless Hall:
“The singing was faultless, the whole cast strong and talented.”
And keeping with the Wivenhoe artistic feel, Andy Brooke writes a well-deserved homage to Moving Image:
“It’s great to see people you know in the audience and have a genuine community atmosphere, rather than renting a DVD at home.”
Further details of the Moving Image summer schedule are up on m’blog over here.
The rock ‘n roll rollicking rollercoaster ride that is Radio Wivenhoe (blimey) get a plug on p.14, as does a call for “journalists, bloggers and poets” for Off the Rails. The Wivenhoe Poetry Prize looks forward to the 2011 results as part of the poetrywivenhoe evening at The Greyhound on the 23rd June. Meanwhile a new University of the Third Age art group is starting at the Loveless Hall on 14th September.
All ‘appening - all ‘appening I tell ya.
The good folk of Wivenhoe Bookshop have an entire page to plug future activity, such is the depth of the programme that is on offer. Too much to condense into a throwaway blog paragraph - my suggestion would be to head to the Bookshop for a perusal and a polite chat.
Open Gardens on p.16 is caught between the publishing deadline and the sheer splendour that was the most splendid event this spring. It remains the highlight to date of My Year in Wivenhoe - wonderful, wonderful community spirit and pleasure.
Keeping it green fingered and Wivenhoe Bloom explain a little more about the brilliant use of dead space on the Wivenhoe Triangle that is overlooked by the Co-op, the opticians and Jardine:
“The site belongs to Highways - it’s classed as a verge - but WTC has a licence to plant. Jardine has contributed a very generous donation of £250 towards the cost of materials and plants.”
I have no shame in plugging local businesses that put something back into the community. An excellent gesture and kind contribution, Cristian. Jolly good work, Jardine.
The Parish Paths Partnership column penned by Helen Evans on p.16 puffs out a huge PHEW after finding out that Essex County Council continues to support the hyperlocal initiative.
Three Wivenhoe rights of way have been worked on by P3 to day: the side of Broomgrove Schools, the back of the houses in Broome Grove and the path along the top of the sea wall - you might have already heard about the latter…
So successful is the Wivenhoe P3 project that the group has now become a roving project. It is the A-Team of parish paths partnerships. If you have a problem with some overgrown bramble around the North Essex estuary, this crack team of cleaners should be first on your To Call list.
Cripes.
The joyous news coming out of p.17 and the WAGA update is:
“Spring is finally here.”
Hurrah!
Mayor Needham (woh!) explains more about the recent Beating the Bounds walk around Wivenhoe:
“The tradition of beating the bounds came from a time when no one, except the rich, could leave the parish without permission. It was a method of ensuring that local youngsters knew the limits of their parish.
It involved choir boys, the Parish Clerk and clergymen, leaving from the church armed with wands or sticks.”
Splendid. Soft lot, nowadays. The tradition was restored on 5th June this year. No young child was hurt in reviving this most excellent local tradition.
Wivenhoe bird watcher supreme Richard Allen explains very helpfully the difference between swifts, swallows and martins on p.18. Recent local sightings include:
“Nightingales have arrived in good numbers with a particularly vocal bird near the railway underpass along the Trail. Butterflies have enjoyed the good early weather.”
The ever-observant @AnnaJCowen (blimey) has also spotted a Jay along the Trail.
It all gets rather saucy at the foot of p.18 with Spoons, Spurtles and Spatulas.
Oh Lordy.
“Members of the Wivenhoe Woods Working Party recently attended a day’s course in green woodworking. Instruction was given on how to turn wood on a pole lathe and make spoons and other utensils using knives and a shave horse.”
Phew.
A Personal View of Transition Town Wivenhoe by the good Bob Mehew on p.19:
“I considered Wivenhoe a good place for a Transition Town: strong community spirit; a great awareness of climate change, environmental and sustainability issues; a willingness to get involved, to learn, to educate, to participate.”
TTW continues to grow and innovate. Wivenhoe is all the better for it.
The Wivenhoe Townscape Forum (*not* the Wivenhoe Forum…) gets a deserved article on p. 19:
“There is much in Wivenhoe of historic interest. There are 73 buildings in the town which are included in the English Heritage list of buildings of national interest.
The local list of historic assets is being carried out with the support of WTC and WivSoc, in order to list some of the best historical features of Wivenhoe which have not yet been recognised so that they do not become forgotten in the huge amount of new building and development.”
Bill Ellis writes a brilliant personal account of life at Cook’s Shipyard when the order books were full, with comparisons of the modern day site. Photos of the new jetty accompany this on p.22.
We return to the seawall clearance on p.24 with Peter Kennedy, the esteemed Editor of Wivenhoe News, explaining the depth of debate that this has delivered:
“We have received many pages of emails and submissions, and I shall attempt some sort of overview.”
A summary of comments and complaints follow. The consensus is that the Environment Agency has been crap at communication.
Fine work then from Wivenhoe News, which has put some direct Q’s to the EA, and received some rather direct answers:
“Q: Were any badgers found during the Wivenhoe work?
A: No - there were no badgers found for the Wivenhoe work.
Q: Are any of the proposed sites for compensatory replanting located in the Wivenhoe area?
A: No. Wivenhoe Marsh has found to be unsuitable.”
That’s what happens when you rip the entire natural habitat out, fellas.
Whoops.
The Surgery Saga Grinds On is the p.25 message from Bernard Jenkin, MP. Nothing to do with your national coalition NHS policy, I trust, Sir?
To be fair to the MP for Harwich and North Essex, our Conservative colleague airs a sense of frustration over the continued delay:
“The Government’s decision to review its health legislation raises the immediate concern that the new Wivenhoe GP surgery will be beset by even more uncertainty. There is no case for this. There is no excuse for further delays, and I have made this clear to the CE of the PCT.”
Speaking of the impact of coalition policies on a hyperlocal level, p.26 explains more about the £9k (!!!!) tuition fees that @Uni_of_Essex proposes to introduce.
Some PR fluff from the University is then re-printed. Twenty-one summers ago and I was fishing around for a University place. £9k (or the inflationary equivalent) would have put me off considerably. I wouldn’t have heard of Wivenhoe. I wouldn’t have moved here.
Oh how fickle is the Invisible Hand that pushes and prongs us through the life’s great adventures.
Blimey.
Town and Gown fiscal relations are restored with news of the £2,200 raised at November’s dinner at the Nottage, and now handed over as a bursary to five grateful local Wivenhoe students.
Broomgrove Infants updates on p.28 with reports of the Royal Wedding celebrations; Broomgrove Juniors explain more about the Outside / In project with Slack Space in Colchester.
Celebrations also at Millfields - a fond farewell to Angela Eglington after twenty-five years of teaching, as well as the school’s very own 30th birthday.
WivSoc rightfully reflects on the success of the riverbank clean up, with seventy volunteers stepping forward to help clean up the Colne. The sad winding up of the Wivenhoe Youth Theatre is lamented, with more positive news coming from the Colne School Choir’s recent performance in Wivenhoe.
Councillor Sinclair reflects upon his past year of civic service wearing the gold chain on p.30:
“I would have like to have seen a healthy election this year as we are entitled to 13 Councillors. Sadly there were only eleven candidates, hence no WTC election.”
Plus:
“A planning application has been lodged to demolish the St John Ambulance Hall for replacement with a privately owned project. I am part of a project to save the building. A group of people have come together, with funds, to keep it as a usable community facility.”
Mayor Needham writes on p.30 about the challenges that lay ahead for his administration:
“The proposed medical centre, a future for the former police station; reaching a satisfactory conclusion to the planning gains associated with the Cook’s Yard development and keeping an eye on the gains that maybe derived from any further development.”
The local politicos were caught cold ahead of publication deadlines. Columns from Essex County Councillor Julie Young, Colchester Borough Councillors Steve Ford and Mark Cory, were all penned before the re-election of the latter two.
Great fun to watch from the sidelines, mind.
On the sporting front and Wivenhoe Tennis Club has a call for new members; Andrew Nightingale, the Chair of the Wivenhoe and District Sporting Facilities Trust is also asking for help - financial help - for Broad Lane. Anymore updates on the mystery Mr X and his millions?
And to finish on some hyperlocal happiness - Wivenhoe Helping Hands publishes a rather humble piece, explaining more about the volunteer work of this organisation and how it is genuinely helping folk around the town.
Wivenhoe News is sold at the Co-op, Crossways, the Post Office, Bryans Newsagents and the lovely Wivenhoe Bookshop.
Woh - where to start with Wivenhoe Open Gardens 2011? How about twenty-eight private gardens becoming public open spaces for the weekend, and Wivenhoe being transformed into a local treasure hunt?
Blimey.
Green fingered and green envied gardeners delighted in the form and forna. Was it really less than four months ago when the big freeze threatened to wipe out the local Wivenhoe habitat? Or maybe that was just the Environment Agency…
Anyway - the wonderfully produced programme is a good pointer when trying to unravel the splendour of Open Garden weekend:
“Another bitter winter arrived in Wivenhoe in December, burying our gardens under a thick blanket of snow. As it slowly disappeared, the effects of some of the coldest weather for many years became apparent.”
Yep - one tree down in the Park Road region. Whoops.
“Most gardens will probably have lost some tender specimens in the last two winters, but nature is very resilient. The bulbs may have been a little slow to start flowering this year, but the sudden flourish of crocuses and the following blaze of daffodils lifted the spirits.”
And then some. HONK!! LOOK!! I’ve grown a daffodil. I’ve grown a b****y daffodil! I’m still dining out on that achievement by the way.
“The sunshine and mild weather in April have brought such a rush of growth that it seems unbelievable that there was ever any doubt of our gardens’ reappearance.”
I confess to being a non-believer when the makeshift ice rink beyond the back door bedded down for a month. Three months later and who would have thought that topless sunbathing in Wivenhoe (him, not her) would be possible?
But anyway - what of the twenty eight local gardens of delight that very, very kindly allowed locals to parade around the pansies and poppies in what is unofficially being dubbed RHS Wivenhoe by some?
Much like the gardens of Wivenhoe itself, @AnnaJCowen and I took very different approaches. You need a system, a plan, and a strategy. I favoured a regimented approach that was planned with military precision. I like neatly trimmed herbaceous borders.
The girl wanted to wander lonely as a cloud, refreshing in the boozers en route and seeing where the day would take her. The girl likes getting her knees mucky in the long deep grass.
A compromise of sorts was established: we would start off at the Quay, and then take a random walk up towards the Cross, taking in any of the Open Gardens that appeared en route.
It was thirsty work to be honest, but the booze could wait. There was something of a beer festival rationale however in ticking off all the gardens that we managed to clock up.
On our travels and we took in a great depth of different styles and use of space. A selection of the relatively new gardens down by the West Quay development improvised superbly. South facing front gardens became vegetable patches, making the most of the limited land available.
Clifton Terrace was a highlight for many, judging by our conversations with fellow wanderers around Wivenhoe. The incredibly high steeping garden looking down above the railway line was ingenious in the use of layers. A series of stairs had effectively been put in place, making the garden manageable and most adorable.
At the other end (and extreme) of Clifton Terrace was the garden come Country Park. We spent half an hour walking from one end to the other in the magnificent and majestic setting. You haven’t got a garden kind Sir - you have a country estate.
On a practical level and it was useful to observe how similar plants are performing when compared to what we have planted back at base. We’re holding our own, so to speak: “You have the largest courgette in Wivenhoe,” as the girl later complemented me with as we sipped away on a stiff one in the back garden.
The pride that Wivenhoe folk take in their gardens, and the genuine love of sharing their achievements really was quite humbling. Open Gardens only works with a tremendous amount of trust in place. The guest books around the garden tables rightfully heaped praise and thanks on all of those participating.
Many of the gatherings became social spaces for the afternoon. The tea, cakes and soft drinks added to the occasion. I can proudly say that I have now sat in the lovely, lovely garden in the old Falcon and be served up with a drink by the equally lovely, lovely hosts.
The good @MrBoom shadowed our movements as we swapped tales and tips at different stages around the town. Strangers became acquaintances, acquaintances become friends. It’s also a great way to find your way around a town that has many hidden back roads that you wouldn’t normally have any need to visit.
With 5pm on Saturday signalling that Open Gardens was closed for the day, we made a last minute dash up to enjoy the garden and company of the newly installed Mr Mayor. A warm welcome and a drink was our reward.
And then it was back down the town, and reflecting on how most gardens actually take the physical form and characteristics of their owners. I pondered my prize courgette and felt rightly proud.
Many, many thanks to all the very kind participants who opened up their private gardens to the public over the weekend. This has been the highlight of our Year in Wivenhoe so far.
Thanks also to the joint organisers:
“Wivenhoe Open Gardens is organised jointly by St Mary’s Church and the Wivenhoe Society. All profits are shared between the Church and other Wivenhoe causes chosen by the Wivenhoe Society; this year the Society’s beneficiary is Wivenhoe Helping Hands, a new venture to spread assistance to people in need of the community’s help and consideration.”
Anyone wanna see my cracker of a courgette next year?
And so on the one day when the weather wasn’t blooming in Wivenhoe, Wivenhoe in Bloom decided to attend to the new bedding patch outside of Wivenhoe Eyecare.
Bloomin ‘eck, etc.
Having hoped that a new political stump was to be positioned on the triangular patch of land that covers the Co-op, Wivenhoe Eyecare and Jardine, instead we now have a raised gravel garden with plenty of herbaceous plants.
A political stump has limited opportunities anyway. You wouldn’t want to go round sniffing any local politicians that try and preach from the patch. There is potential for ‘watering’ them, however…
As assumed (NEVER assume) those lovely folk from Wivenhoe in Bloom have been responsible for this fantastic transformation of the previous barren patch of land.
Work started early on Wednesday morning. By the time I had got my act together and buggered off to the Co-op for some milk, all hopes of door stepping the Bloomers for some @audioboo action were long gone. The early bird catches Wivenehoe in Bloom, etc.
With Mediterranean growing conditions blessing these estuary wilds of late, expect the herbaceous borders to, um, bloom. Plenty of watering will be required, but I get the feeling that the kind folk at Wivenhoe Eyecare are going to be caring a little bit extra more over the coming weeks.
I’m sure there’s a #bigsociety grant up for grabs somewhere, but one man’s watering can is another man’s attempt to hijack genuine community spirit for overt political purposes.
Meanwhile, Wivenhoe in Bloom will once again have a stall at the May Fair this year. Over £300 was raised through plant sales in 2010, allowing the group to continue to work on projects such as the patch of land outside the opticians.
If all of this herbaceous activity has inspired you to go public with your own Wivenhoe garden, here’s a polite reminder that the Open Gardens season is almost upon us.
Taking place over the weekend of 21st - 22nd May, twenty-eight local folk are kindly opening up their gardens for all to see this year, all for the very modest cost of only £4. Tickets are available now from Wivenhoe Bookshop, Bryans Newsagents, Rollos Estates and Crossways Stores at The Cross.
The migrating birds from the east may have eloped away from our estuary Mediterranean April, but the warmer climes has brought some feathered friends who are rather partial to a spot of North Essex sunshine.
Hurrah!
Richard Allen, Wivenhoe’s Bird Watcher Supreme, updates for this month with news a prehistoric bird (steady) nightingales and a Whimbrel en route to Scotland from Africa, via Wivenhoe.
Blimey.
“Summer seemed to have arrived early and brought in lots of migrants with it. Our first sighting however was a prehistoric looking Cormorant drying its wings after a successful fishing trip. Nearby our first migrants, a pair of Common Terns perched on a buoy showing their black tipped red bills. We saw several more later, flying up and down the river fishing.
The bushes and wood were alive with warblers, we heard many, but getting a look at them proved a little more difficult. Eventually Whitethroats showed themselves well, and we heard Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed and Sedge Warblers.
Nightingales have also arrived in good numbers, and two were singing in the wood, but apart from my Dad who was trailing behind the group, we didn’t get a glimpse.
Most of the waders have migrated north, but there were still some Black-tailed Godwits fuelling up before their flight to Iceland, many in their chestnut summer plumage. Another northbound migrant was a Whimbrel, this small curlew-like wader winters in Africa and was on its way to Scotland or beyond.
Other sightings included several Oystercatchers and Shelduck looking bright in the sunshine, and a distant Cuckoo was heard calling. On the way back a Marsh Harrier shimmered in the haze, a Kestrel hovered over the meadow, and a male Reed Bunting perched up nicely for some.
Recent sightings: First Swifts on 27th and two Greenshank on the river.
There is also an opening up of Richard’s studio to coincide with Open Gardens for the weekend of 21st – 22nd May. You can see a selection of Richard’s wonderful bird illustrations in the recently published programme for the Wivenhoe Ferry.
With spring springing early in Wivenhoe and that miserable estuary winter now long since forgotten, a young (ish) man’s thoughts turns towards green fingers and watching the legend that is Alan Titchmarsh on TV every night as RHS Chelsea approaches.
Cripes.
Actually, ever the keen to keep it local, Wivenhoe Open Gardens looks like it will be stealing the thunder from Titchmarsh and chums over the coming weeks. The weekend of 21st - 22nd May is when all the green and good of Wivenhoe is opened up.
I’ve even got a half-decent lawn that anyone come round for a look at if they are really bothered.
Blimey.
Twenty-eight gardens have so far signed up. I love the idea of sharing, and then hopefully inspiring. It has taken @AnnaJCowen and I twenty summers together (oh Lordy) to actually have garden ownership. I’m hoping Titchmarsh will be coming my way with a Gold Standard next summer.
The good folk from Open Gardens update with:
“There will be plants to buy at several of the gardens, and a stand-alone Plant Stall at 89 High Street. There will be displays of paintings and other artwork on show at some gardens, and there will be musical entertainment in three of the gardens from In Accord, acapella singers with a wide repertoire of songs and singing styles. Refreshments to sustain you on your way around the village will also be on sale.”
Entry tickets (£4, free admission for children) will be on sale from early May. They will be available from Rollo Estates, the Wivenhoe Bookshop, Bryan’s Newsagents in the High Street, and at Crossways Stores at The Cross. On the weekend itself, tickets may be bought at Toad Hall (16 Colchester Road) and at 89 High Street, and some of the gardens over the weekend. You will also get a free Programme when you buy your ticket.”
We’re still in that period where we are experiencing A Year in Wivenhoe. There’s not quite a trashy Sunday night TV series to be made out of it, but the plot is forever taking on twists and turns, and mostly all for the better.
Which brings us round to the Bluebells of Wivenhoe Wood. It was around this time last year that @AnnaJCowen and were putting into place the final arrangements for the Great Escape. Houses were to be viewed, bags were to be packed and bluebells were around, but not to be seen.
We had heard all about the lush fields of purple splendour (steady) over in the Wood, but were too busy doing the dirty with the estate agents to think about taking a walk out on the Wivenhoe wild side.
Which is where this blog post comes in, and where I get to state quite uncategorically a genuine non-ironic: CRIPES Comrades.
How spectacular are these? They must be one of the Seven Wonders of Essex, edging out Rollerworld and the teenage fun that can be found within.
A spare morning midweek, and I headed off deep into the Wood. If you go down to Wivenhoe Wood today then you’re in for a big surprise. My surprise was in being able to use my in-built compass (NOT on the iPhone) to locate the lovelies.
I’m still getting lost in Wivenhoe Wood, and so took the approach of a random right turn here, a couple of left approaches along the footpath as it carves ever deeper, and then WOH!
Here be Bluebells.
It was my complete good fortune that I randomly stumbled upon the field of bluebells, using some inner bluebell magnetic mechanism. It was that kind of perfect morning.
I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I state that the morning glory can be best viewed from the vantage point of beside the picnic tables [point of order - Wivenhoe Wood Working Party is carrying out a restoration project here on the 15th May.]
With autumnal traces of burnt, crisp leaves still littering up the footpaths, the bridleway was enhanced with a beautiful lining on both sides from bluebells. It was as though Mother Nature had lined the passages within the wood to greet anyone fortunate enough to pass through.
Told yer it was that kinda poetic morning, Comrades.
A Polish relative thrice removed once told me about the importance of finding the exact right moment to capture bluebells in all their prime moment. We were on a Cumbrian holiday by mistake at the time; booze got the better of the bluebell hunt. It was mid-November after all.
Judging by the beauty of the Wivenhoe bluebells, I’d wager that there’s about a week of life left in them. Catch ‘em while you can kids. They are the ultimate in Open Gardens - a free for all field of blue scented dream. My April cold was cured after a morning of sniffing around in solitude.
Next week on A Year in Wivenhoe: the wisteria tree of, um, my back garden and its uncanny knack of growing at right angles and spreading spring love in a very precise and scientific approach to the form and fauna.
Lovely.
Plus: I’m playing around with the new Flash slideshow software above. It’s a bit hit and miss, but does the crude job of combining images and audio. The functionality lacks the ability to stop the audio after one loop.
Whoops.
I’ve been quoted “$50 for customizzzation.”
Gee.
Thanks but no thanks, fella.
There’s a handy mute button in the top left hand corner if it is getting on yer tits. I rather like the opportunities it presents…
Plus Plus: as ever, if you are viewing this as a very kind Facebook reader, a head over here for the full multi media nonsense.
A WivSoc Wednesday with a difference this week - it’s only the AGM of our lovely local town civic society.
Cripes.
To the Nottage, fashionably late, and not so fashionably dressed. I did make an effort on the nautical front, sporting one of my latest charity shop finds from a recent trip to the Oldest Recorded.
Turns out that I wasn’t alone. For all yer Essex Man jibes, Wivenhoe Man is something of a salty sea dog. I wasn’t the only WivSoc Sir wearing a captain’s sea hat (although I take pride in the knowledge that mine was the biggest.)
Blimey.
But anyway - what of the business end of the WivSoc year? It was all routine stuff, with Mr Chair admirably sticking to the agenda, and sticking it (in a very, very polite way) to anything that might upset the balance of the old meets the new, that makes Wivenhoe such a charming place to live.
Which is precisely where the incredibly hard working WivSoc committee members come in. The meeting opened with the approval of the previous minutes, plus some fool wearing a silly sea hat walking in halfway through.
Whoops.
Mr Chair’s Report was deliberately brief - new members were made to fee most welcome.
The Secretary’s Report was the opportunity to outline in more detail some of the fine work of WivSoc over the past twelve months. Monitoring and responding to planning applications remains the main priority.
New procedures mean that objections now have to be channelled through Borough councillors, thus further complicating matters. WivSoc wishes to place on the record the support so far offered by Cllr Steve Ford of Wivenhoe Quay ward.
The WivSoc Newsletter was praised, providing members with quarterly updates not only on Society matters, but also locals items of a more general interest. I hear that the next issue has a half-decent front-page pic snapped by some hit and miss photographer.
For a Society that is all too conscience (often too Conscience in my opinion) of the ‘mature’ nature of the membership, it is rather ace to see the modern interweb being explored.
Members’ email updates are sent out when ever a matter of urgency arises. The Secretary highlighted recent issues such as the proposal to build on the land near to Millfields School, the sea wall clearance, Transition Town Wivenhoe updates and the impact of the Knowledge Gateway on the town as recent examples of online dialogue.
Outside of the internal mechanisms of WivSoc and it was also mentioned that the Society has a formal voice at the NAP meetings, the Wivenhoe Townscape Forum (local list) and still my fave ever group, the Wivenhoe Wood Working Party.
A big thank you went out to Cllr Bob Needham for giving up his Wednesday evenings once a month to offer feedback on WTC meetings. Nice hat m’Cllr friend - never mind the length, feel the thickness etc.
The Secretary wrapped up by saying that the WivSoc membership continues to grow, as well as observing developments within the town that reflect well for the future of Wivenhoe.
Helping Hands, Moving Image, TTW and *cough* the Wivenhoe Forum - all of these are positioned well to help out in Wivenhoe as we face what is likely to be unstable economic times ahead.
Speaking of all things fiscal - it’s only the WivSoc Treasurer’s Report…
The Society’s finances are “healthy.” Let’s leave it at that. Well, not quite… A *shhh* three figure surplus was made in the last financial year. No deficit deniers upstairs at the Nottage on Wednesday night.
£200 was donated towards Wivenhoe in Bloom. All social events made a profit. The increase in membership numbers covers the running cost of WivSoc.
Thanks were rightfully given to our friends from Rollo Estates, Eyecare, the Co-op and EWS skip hire, for very kind sponsorship and support over the year.
Chair’s Q & A simply put out the request for any tree expert within Wivenhoe to step forward. Help is needed in identifying any trees in the town that might need a little TLC. Having accidentally managed to floor one in my own back garden after only three months of living here, I thought it best not to volunteer.
The election of officers followed, with the motion to keep subscription rates as the same level also passed.
Any Other Business?
Um, booze?
Almost. Time first for a splendid talk by Anthony Roberts, the esteemed Artistic Director@ColchesterArts. With a #hyperlocal artistic history boasting Francis Bacon (sort of,) the Lakeside (not quite Wivenhoe) and the grand plans for the old Engine Shed (um…) Anthony was preaching to the converted.
We heard a wonderful social history of the old building, covering a barely plausible Humpty Dumpty reference, and leading up to the opening of the ace arts space in 1980.
Anthony then spelt out his vision for @ColchesterArts to champion new and emerging talent. The importance of online culture was emphasised, with a brilliant explanation of how the modern interweb has helped the centre to build new communities and change the artistic experience.
And then it was time for booze. Except @AnnaJCowen and I took something of a liking to the food first, and didn’t really move away from the buffet table. Some charming conversations followed, and then soon it was chucking out time at The Nottage.
No worries - we stopped off at the Rose and Crown and necked eight pints of Carlsberg each, and were back at base in time for the Ten O’clock News.
Only joking. It was the Eleven O’clock News. Fashionably late, and timing has never been my strong point. Nice nautical hat though.
