GET INVOLVED IN EPPING'S FAMILY FUN RUN - 10th JULY

This is certainly not the first time I have used this blog to support the fantastic work of the Rhys Daniels Trust; a charity which has very deep roots in our town. Once again, the Trust will host to an annual 5 mile family fun run, which will begin at Epping Sports Centre in Hemnall Street at 11am on Sunday 10th July, before following a well trodden route through the beautiful Epping Forest.

Last year, over 100 runners of all ages and all abilities took part in the run. Participants walked, jogged and ran, at their own pace. To enter, the charity has a £10 advance entry fee or a £15 entry fee on the day. All money raised with go towards the 'Home-from-Home' appeal. The Trust are not only looking for entrants for the race, but they are also looking for volunteers who are willing to act as marshals on the day. To contact the Trust, please click here. To add this event on Facebook, please click here. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on 10th July.

ESSEX PRIDE 2010 – Sunday 5th September 2010

Essex Pride is an annual event which showcases diversity, encourages acceptance and promotes equality, respect and community engagement. This year it takes place on Sunday 5^th September at Central Park in Chelmsford from 12 noon to 11pm and Epping Forest District Council are sponsoring the event. The Council will have a marquee in the community area between 12 noon and 5pm and Community Play Workers funded by EFDC Community Development will be providing face painting for children. In addition, a consultation exercise by council staff will be undertaken.

The aim is to promote Epping Forest District Council as a progressive service provider and employer seeking to provide excellent services. A range of information about Equality at EFDC will be made available and promotional gifts will be distributed.

Further information can be obtained from Barbara Copson by telphone on 01992 564042 or by emailing equality@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

INVITATION TO OPEN DAY AT NEW EPPING PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Headteacher, Governors and Staff of Epping Primary School are inviting members of public to come and take a look at the brand new, state-of-the-art building and facilities for themselves on Thursday 1st July from 5pm to 7pm.

Acting Heateacher, Lee Regan explains: “Everyone – family, friends, neighbours are all welcome to come and have a look round our lovely school and to see the work the pupils have on display.”

The new school can be found in Coronation Hill, Epping, CM16 5DU. To contact the school, please call 01992 572408.

EPPING TOWN SHOW - Sunday 20th June 2010

Once again this year, Epping Town Council will be hosting a Town Show at Stonards Hill Recreation Grounds on Sunday 20th June from 11am to 4pm. Entrance is free and it is with pleasure I can report that this year’s event has doubled in size. Mark the date in your calendar now as this is a fantastic event for all of the family - to give you a taster of what we have planned, please see below:

Arena Events - Epping Forest Band, Shaolin Warriors, Brownie Races, 2 x Falcon displays, Darren Hunt Wheelbarrow race, Ferret Racing, performances by Epping Primary, Ivy Chimneys Primary, Coopersale and Theydon Garnon Primary and St. John‘s School.

Field Activities - Climbing Wall, Fire Brigade, Coconut shy, Face Painter, Caricaturist, Roger Arnay Circus Company, Large Fun Fair, Donkey Rides, Ferrets, Big trucks including an American Mack Truck & Vintage double decker bus.

Food & Drink - Hog Roast & Burgers by Churches Butchers, Beer Tent hosted by the Merry Fiddlers, Brian Print Burger Van, Little Dutch Pancake Company, Darren Hunt’s Tea, cake, & strawberries and an Ice Cream van.

Stalls - Royal British Legion, Usborne Books for Kids, Lets Play Fair, Citizens Advice Bureau, Humbug Sweet Shop, Cancer Research UK, Fox Welfare, Epping Portrait Studio, Epping Forest Cats Protection, Epping Horticultural Society, Garks Comfectionary, Royal Gunpowder Mills, SSAFA, Friends of St Margarets Hospital, Multi Faith Forum, St Clare’s Hospice, Epping Tennis Club, Higham Woodturners, Rotary Club of Epping, Epping Society, St Johns Church, A Gift A, Essex Farmers Market, Girl Guiding UK, Airbrush Temporary Tatoos, Epping Forest Field Centre, Sahara Gifts and Epping Upland Church.

For more information, please contact Epping Town Council on 01992 579444.

HELP FOR HEROES CONCERT - Saturday 17 April

Epping’s Rotary Club will be hosting a concert to help raise funds for the Help for Heroes charity with the support of the 40-strong Thames Valley Chorus.

Tickets for the event, which will take place on Saturday 17th April at St. John’s Church in Epping are available from Rev. Duncan Whitehouse at 3 Lynceley Grange, Epping, CM16 6RA or on 01992 577173 and are being charged at £10 and £15, dependant upon seating. Cheques should be made payable to the Rotary Club of Epping and tickets will be posted by return.

EPPING’S EASTER EGG HUNT - THIS SATURDAY

An exciting Easter Egg Hunt is to take place on Saturday 27th March from 10am to 3pm in Epping High Street.

The event, organised by the 1st Theydon Garnon Scout Group are asking children to join the hunt for eggs which will be hidden in shop windows right the way along the High Street.

Entry forms call be collected on Saturday from the stand outside Greggs Bakery at a cost of £1 per child. All proceeds will go towards the fundraising campaign to build a new scout hut in Flux’s Lane.

REVIEW OF EPPING’S CAROLS ON THE GREEN

The town’s annual Christmas Carol Concert was, once again, a resound success. The event saw more pople than ever before come out to celebrate in some traditional festive community cheer!

It is events like this, which are entirely organised by local volunteers, that make our town stand out from others and makes us all proud to live in a town like Epping.

As you can hear below, I “Wish you a Merry Christmas” and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

CAROLS ON THE GREEN - CHRISTMAS EVE IN EPPING

Epping Rotary Club will, once again, be hosting the town's "Carols on the Green" on Christmas Eve, starting at 3.45pm in Church Hill (by Epping's War Memorial).

The event, which is being supported by St. John’s School's band is open to everyone and complimentary mulled wine and hot chestnuts will be served. Song sheets will also be provided. A collection will be held with the proceeds going towards buying new instruments at St. John's School.

This is one fantastically festive community event I urge you all not to miss!

FREE LUNCH IN EPPING ON CHRISTMAS DAY

The Churches Together in Epping and District are, once again, inviting anyone who is planning to spend Christmas Day on their own this year to join other local people for a traditional Christmas Lunch at 12pm.

The lunch itself takes place in the Catholic Church Hall, Church Hill, Epping, CM16 4RA (by Epping’s War Memorial) and lunch will be cooked and served entirely by local volunteers.

I have had the pleasure in joining the well-attended event organised by the wonder that is Mary Morgan and it really was a wonderful occasion, full or traditional festive cheer! Everyone is welcome to attend this event, so to book you place, please call Mary Morgan on 01992 574719 or any church of the churches in the Epping area.

CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES IN EPPING

For those who are interested, I have listed below the various Church Services taking place in Epping over the Christmas period:

Wed 24 Dec @ 5pm – Family Crib Service – St. John’s Church
Wed 24 Dec @ 8pm – First Communion of Christmas – Epping Upland
Wed 24 Dec @ 11pm – Midnight Communion – Theydon Garnon
Wed 24 Dec @ 11.30pm – Midnight Communion – Coopersale
Wed 24 Dec @ 11.30pm – Midnight Communion – St. John’s Church
Thur 25 Dec @ 9.20am – Christmas Morning Communion – Theydon Garnon
Thur 25 Dec @ 11am – Family Communion – Coopersale
Thur 25 Dec @ 9.20am – Christmas Morning Eucharist – St. John’s Church
Thur 25 Dec @ 9.20am – Christmas Morning Communion – Epping Upland

For more information about what’s the Church of England are up to in Epping Forest, please click here.

ESSEX SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT EXHIBITION

Epping Forest Museum is to open a new exhibition next week on the women's suffrage movement in Essex.

The museum, located in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, hosts the 'Breaking Barriers' series of displays from Friday 11th December until 13th March 2010.

The exhibition, which has been organised in conjunction with the Parliamentary Outreach Service, examines the experiences of suffragists and suffragettes in Essex and their struggle for women's rights. For more information about the exhibition and museum opening times, call 01992 716882.

EPPING'S CHRISTMAS MARKET - Fri 4th December

Epping will once again be celebrating it's renowned Christmas Market on Friday 4th December 2009 from 12 noon until 8pm in Epping High Street. For a full list of events, please click on the image above. I hope to see you all there!

REVIEW OF REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY IN EPPING

Once again this year, Epping saw record numbers of residents turn-out at the town’s War Memorial to show their respects for those remarkable young men who have given their tomorrows for our today.

The events, organised by the Royal British Legion, saw Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing, Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr. Mrs. Penny Smith and Mayor of Epping Janet Hedges all lay poppy wreaths on behalf of the town, district and parliament.

Following the wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial, the parade, led by the Epping Forest Pipe Band and including war veterans, air and army cadets, members of the guides and scouting organisations, representatives of St. John’s School and police and fire officers, marched through Epping High Street, paying respects to local dignitaries on the way.

A Service of Remembrance then took place at St. John’s Church, led by the Rev’d Geoffrey Connor, supported by the Epping Forest Band. EFDC Chairman Penny Smith read from the bible, whilst Mayor Janet Hedges read the names of the fallen. After the service, wreaths were also laid at the Civilian Memorial outside St. John’s Church.

HELP US PROTECT EPPING'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

It seems like utter madness that we only have 46 days left until Christmas but, alas, it is true!

Once again this year, Epping Town Council is working hard with various local organisations to pull together a schedule of festive events that the community can engage in. It is sad that each year these tasks become more complicated, as the laws and regulations around each task becomes more onerous, the goods and services cost more and less volunteers come forward to lend a hand.

On Sunday 15th November, Epping Rotary Club will be pulling together as many local volunteers as possible to help decorate and erect our Christmas Trees, which sit proudly above the shop fronts in Epping High Street and transform the centre of our community into a festive scene. So if you are fit, able and willing to help us keep the spirit of Christmas alive and well in Epping, please do come along. We shall be meeting outside of Marks and Spencer at 9am.

Without your practical help and support, this project would have to come to a halt. For more information, please feel free to email me here.

LAUNCH OF EPPING’S POPPY APPEAL 2009

This year’s Poppy Appeal is underway in Epping and the Royal British Legion are reaching out to local residents to ask them to buy and proudly wear a poppy over the next couple of weeks to show their respect for those who have fallen whilst serving their country and also giving some thought to those who have been injured, but whom have returned home.

I, personally, will be especially remembering and paying tribute to the late Royal Marine Georgie Sparks from the Epping area, who was tragically killed in the north-west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Thursday 27th November last year. Our community were shocked and saddened by his sudden death and many of us were incredibly moved at his funeral, which took place on what would have been his 20th Birthday. To me, Georgie’s bravery and his complete willingness to pay the ultimate price for the freedom of others epitomises a true hero to me. Someone who should be held up as a shining example to young people throughout our community. Renowned Filmmaker Chris Terrill describes his own experiences with Georgie Sparks for The Telegrapher here.

Please take the time to remember those who gave their tomorrow for our today and make every effort to attend one of our Remembrance events in Epping, which you can find by clicking here. For more information about the Poppy Appeal and what your money is used for, please click here.

FREE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL AVAILABLE

FOOTBALL - Epping Forest District Council, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and the Essex FA, is offering all adults the chance of getting back into playing football for free. The six weeks of training sessions will be coached by a Tottenham Hotspur Foundation coach and will help participants get back into their stride and back up to speed. Local clubs will attend each week, looking to recruit new players for the season. These sessions take place every Monday starting 19 October to 23 November 2009 at 8pm until 9pm on the Astroturf pitch at Debden Park High School, Willingale Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 2BQ. For more information on either the basketball or football activities, please contact Fabrizio Luca Ferrari by telephone on 01992 564220 or email fferrari@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

BASKETBALL - The eight weeks of free basketball training will take place every Thursday from 15 October to 3 December 2009. These non-competitive fun taster sessions are for all those who wish to learn how to play the sport or for anyone who wants to get back into playing. The sessions will run from 6pm until 7pm in the Sports Hall at St John’s CE School, Tower Road, Epping, Essex CM16 5EN.

DATE FOR THE DIARY - Sunday 1st November 2009

The nearest fireworks display to Epping is taking place at Harlow Town Park this year from 6.30pm on Sunday 1st November. The bonfire will be lit at 7.15pm and the firework display starts at 7.45pm.

Admission is free and the event also features a live music, a fun fair and hot food and drinks for sale. There's no public parking on site, although there are plenty of nearby car parks in the town centre. Limited disabled parking will available on the Showground up to 6pm. Fifth Avenue will be closed between the Sainsburys roundabout and Edinburgh Way for pedestrian safety from 6:00pm until approximately 10:00pm. For more information on the event telephone 01279 446404.

COPPED HALL “APPLE DAY” - Sunday 11th October

The beautiful Copped Hall mansion is once again hosting it’s ‘Apple Day’ this Sunday, which is part of a national annual celebration of our apple orchards and local distinctiveness initiated by Common Ground in 1990. It is a way of celebrating the variety and richness of orchard fruits in linking particular apples with their place of origin and hopefully ensuring that they are not lost.

The Copper Hall Trust invite you to come and join in the fun, play some traditional games, help with the juicing and have your own apples identified (leaf and stalk attached) by our experts from the East of England Apples and Orchard Project team. There will be a large display of apples from the Essex and Hertfordshire counties and you can taste before you buy some of the delicious different apples that will be on sale. There will also be Morris Dancing, refreshments, sales, cakes, lunches, bar, trees to buy, and more.

Gates are open from 11am to 4pm. Entry tickets £3.50. Entry to mansion £3.50. For more information about Copped Hall, please click here.

REMEMBERANCE EVENTS IN EPPING - 2009

Remembrance Day in Epping is always a large-scale affair. It is the one weekend each year where the whole community stops to think about the remarkable men and women who have laid down their lives for our country, for our safety and for our future. At this time, it is particularly important to think of and support however possible the many thousands of British troops commited to battles across the globe. For those who wish to be involved in this year’s commemorations, I have outlined the plans for our town below:

Friday 6th November
10.45am Rededication of the Garden of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Church Hill.
11.30am Service of Remembrance of the Commonwealth War Grave at Epping Cemetery in Bury Lane.

Saturday 7th November
For the first time, vintage World War II vehicles will be rolling into Epping High Street to promote the ‘Poppy Appeal’. The event will be supported by the Battle of Europe re-enactment group, who will be dressed in 1940’s Essex Regiment uniforms.

Sunday 8th November
2.00pm The Remembrance Day Parade will assemble at the Civic Offices in Epping High Street.
2.10pm The Parade will depart and proceed to the War Memorial led by the Epping Forest Pipe Band.
2.20pm The wreath laying ceremony at Epping’s War Memorial will begin.
2.40pm The Parade will march from the War Memorial through Epping High Street to St. John’s Church paying compliments to the Mayor, District Chairman and local MP along the way.
3.00pm Service of Remembrance will commence at St. John The Baptist Church.
4.00pm Refreshments will be served at the Hemnall Street Social Club.

For more information on this years event or if you would like to help with the Poppy Appeal, please contact John Duffell of the Royal British Legion on 07931 862336 or email johnduffell@live.co.uk

FREE ROLLER SKATING AVAILABLE FOR GIRLS

Epping Forest District Council and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation are offering girls the chance to go roller skating. Girls aged 12 and over are welcome along to sessions at St John’s School in Epping.

Starting on Thursday 24th September 2009, the roller skating sessions take place once a week until 3 December from 6pm till 7pm. Sessions are completely free and there is no need to book. Roller skates will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own.

St John’s School is located at Tower Road, Epping, CM16 5EN. For further information, please contact Fabrizio Luca Ferrari by telephone on 01992 564220.