The village Fund Raising Group (FRG) raised over £600 by hosting a very enjoyable Quiz Night in the Smythe Hall on Friday 22nd November 2024.
After many years as quizmaster and scorer, Peter and Kym Marshall handed the baton to Martin and Jacky Wragg – who rose splendidly to the challenge. Thanks are also due to the various FRG members (and spouses) who provided the excellent sausage and baked potato supper, organised the raffle and helped to clear up afterwards.
The FRG was also pleased to accept a late (and therefore unadvertised) offer from Martin’s Lane Vineyards to provide tasters of two of its wines during the event. The Martin family also generously donated a number of raffle prizes and promised to donate any proceeds from wine orders taken on the night towards the church roof repair fund.
Finally, an appeal for new participants in our fund raising efforts. Those of us lucky enough to live in, or regularly visit, Stow Maries will know how much the historic St Mary & St Margaret’s church and churchyard and neighbouring Smythe Hall are key to its charm and social well-being. These premises are NOT commercial operations and can only be maintained in usable condition thanks to volunteers who participate in activities such as maintaining the churchyard (with its war graves) and organising events to raise funds. The current Fund Raising Group meets (for around an hour) approximately 6 times a year to plan and prepare for an equal number of events. Unfortunately none of the group is getting any younger and it would be good to get new members – with fresh ideas – to take the FRG forward.
If you would like to help maintain Stow Maries’ historic buildings AND organise future social events, please contact Peter Taylor at petert417@gmail.com or 01621 828415.
Today (25 January), marks the beginning of an eight-week period of consultation about specific health services in mid and south Essex.
The local NHS is seeking views and ideas on proposals for future arrangements for inpatient services at our community hospitals, freestanding midwife-led birthing unit, and other patient services provided at St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon.
The consultation will run from 25 January to 21 March 2024.
The proposals we are asking people to consider are:
potential changes to the places where we provide some community hospital intermediate care and stroke rehabilitation services,
making permanent the temporary move of the freestanding midwife-led birthing unit from St Peter’s Hospital to, Maldon to the William Julien Courtauld Unit at St Michael’s, Braintree.
the possibility of moving all other patient services at St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon to other locations, mostly in and around Maldon.
Dr Matthew Sweeting, Interim System Medical Director for NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “It is essential that we are thinking about how services can best serve our growing population now, and in the future. We want to make sure everyone can receive the care they need in a safe environment, staffed by a highly skilled workforce, so that everyone has the best chance of a good health outcome.
“Our clinical teams have been developing different proposals around these services so that we can openly share information through a wide public consultation.
“It’s important we involve people in any decisions that might affect them. We’re a long way from making decisions. Getting feedback from local people is vital.
“We are keen to explain to local people the challenges we have been facing, and the different ways we think we could make services better. These are not easy decisions. We want to have as much information as possible and to explore all possibilities.
“There are lots of ways people can share their thoughts about the proposals and contribute their views. I would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”
How people can get involved
From today, people can visit a dedicated engagement platform – MSE Virtual Views – to find out about the proposals and plans, to share their views, and ask questions.
Over the next eight weeks, people can get involved by:
Completing a survey
Joining one of eight planned discussion groups being held across the region – in Maldon, Basildon, Chelmsford, Southend, Thurrock and Burnham on Crouch.
Joining one of six online discussion sessions.
Joining a public consultation hearing that we’re holding in Maldon. This is a formal event, and people will need to submit their questions in advance.
Joining a session being run by a voluntary sector organisation. These sessions are for people that might find it difficult to attend one of the other public events, and/or for people that need extra support to understand the proposals and share their views.
Talking to us through our social media channels or at a drop-in event.
Writing to us at: FAO: Community Capacity Consultation NHS Mid and South Essex ICB, PO Box 6483, Basildon, SS14 0UG
All events will be promoted through MSE Virtual Views, local media, websites, social media channels, and through local NHS partners and community organisations.
If you have tried to go into the church in the last few weeks, you will know that the door has been locked.
After the activity last December, when a well-attended carol service was held, and the Readings for the Stations of the Cross at Easter, the Church Council had hoped to reinstate a Harvest Festival for this time of the year and also services for Remembrance Sunday and for Christmas.
Unfortunately, the ingress of rainwater over the months when there was not a completely waterproof temporary covering on the roof, has had a disastrous effect on the ceiling structure.
The result is that the lath and plaster ceiling which has been hidden from view by the blue-painted, plywood ceiling panels for more than any living person can remember, became saturated in at least two places and subsequently became heavy enough to burst through the ceiling panelling and fall to the floor.
There was, fortunately, nobody in the church at the time and so no injuries were sustained.
The church architect has advised the Council that it would be an unacceptable risk to use the building in its present dangerous state and that the door should be locked to prevent members of the public from entering.
The door will continue to be locked until a decision can be made as to the most economic temporary solution of the problem pending a permanent repair that must obviously follow after the permanent repair of the roof covering.
One of the solutions suggested by the architect is to erect a scaffold-supported platform inside the church that would prevent falling lath and plaster debris from hitting people below so, if you know someone who can loan scaffolding/boarding on a long-term basis, the Council would be very pleased to be put in contact with him/her.
The Stow Maries Church Council wishes to place on record its grateful thanks for the recent and very kind donation towards the repair of the church roof.
It was made by the family of the late Roy Martin after it asked for donations instead of floral tributes in his memory.
To date, the Council has received over £3,000 as a result of this thoughtful gesture by Sandra, Claire and David and it will make a considerable contribution to the amount of money that the Council has to raise.
Anyone who also wishes to remember Roy in this way can obtain details from the Council Treasurer, Jane Coe.
As many residents will know, our church has only been open for services and visitors since last December due to a combination of several unfortunate events beyond the control of the Parochial Church Council.
However, when the roof became virtually leakproof, thanks to Matt Broxhall and Matt Cooper, a cleaning party was organised in early December to make the church interior as usable as possible so that a carol service could be held on the 18th.
Over sixty people were present for this welcome return to something like normality but due to the on-going absence of a priest, normal monthly church services are not possible at present.
The Church Council is anxious to provide whatever is possible under these difficult circumstances and so in recognition of the importance of Easter to many residents, the readings at the Stations of the Cross will take place as has been customary for a number of years until the enforced closure of the church.
The event will take place on Wednesday, April 5th. starting at 19:00 and will last for about 45 minutes.
Chris Dutfield (828806) will be pleased to hear from anyone, church-goers or not, who would like to take part in the twelve readings. A printed copy of a reading will be offered on going into church but can be declined.
STOW MARIES PARISH COUNCIL
