BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION

The results of this year's Best Kept Village competition were announced at the recent AGM of the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE). As you know, last year we were the winners for our category - but not quite so good this year. We were runners up to Manningtree.
So the sign on the Village Green will be disappearing soon - but we will try to get it back again next year!

A VISIT TO HELIONS B

The talented illustrator and printmaker Celia Hart lives just across the border in south-west Suffolk, and she recently visited Helions Bumpstead after a long walk in the fierce summer sun we had a few weeks ago. She described the day on her blog, and has allowed us to reproduce it here.

Do take a look -it's a really delightful description of the day, and the Church in particular, and reminds us of what a little treasure we have here.
Celia's blog is a gem - the entry for St Swithin's day is another delight. Take a look at it here
Examples of Celia's work can be found on her website,

FARMERS' MARKET CANCELLED

It is with great regret that the Village Hall Committee has to announce that our independent Farmers' Market has had to close. Due to reducing support from the village in recent months, and dwindling numbers of stall holders, it is no longer viable.

Our Farmers' Market was one of the first to open in the area four and a half years ago, and was, until recently, very successful. But the current economic climate means that it is no longer possible to continue. The Fund-Raising team would like to thank all those who did support us over the years.

The Market was a social gathering as well as a good place to shop, and will be sadly missed. But the old adage is true. USE IT OR LOOSE IT.

NEW PARISH CLERK

The Parish Council is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Parish Clerk, with immediate effect. He is Tony Evans of Loveday Cottage, who many of you will have seen around the village in his bright red van. Contact Tony on 730 595, or use the Contact Us link.

HELIONS BUMPSTEAD ON GOOGLE MAPS

You may have read in the press that many rural areas are now available on Google Maps Street View. Helions Bumpstead is among them.

The quality of the photographs is quite amazing, with a 360 degree view of the whole village. Have a look at Google Maps.
Type in your postcode to search, and then click on the little orange man on the +/- bar to switch to street view. Use the arrows to change the direction of view.

Have fun!

NEW EDITION OF VILLAGE BOOK

Helions Bumpstead is not just a collection of interesting buildings. Those buildings, often much altered over the years, are echoes of a long and rich local history.

Would you like to know more about our village? A new and enlarged edition of Roy Brazier's book, Portrait of Helions Bumpstead, has just been published. It's a very readable story of Helions, its history and its people, over hundreds of years. Roy was born and bred in Helions, and lived here for many years until he moved over the border to Haverhill.

Copies are available from Lower House, by the crossroads, (730 323), or from the Three Horseshoes, priced at £6. Proceeds go to church funds.

HELP WANTED - SILVER LINK

Could you spare a couple of hours on the first Wednesday of every month to help keep the Silver Link club going?
Fifty years ago, when the club was formed, there were lots of retired folk in the Village, and the idea of forming a social club created a lot of local interest. There were over 40 members who attended the first Christmas dinner.
Membership is now down to 8, and they are finding it very difficult to keep going.

It would be sad to see the club fade through lack of support. They would dearly love to have new members and new ideas which would bring more members into the club. Please consider trying to keep this village club going for a few more years.

Footpaths Walks

Matthew Lawfield, our Parish Councillor with special responsibility for footpaths, is organising a series of walks exploring some of the 25miles of footpaths that we have in the Village.

The walks will be on the morning of the first Saturday of every month, meeting at 11am at the crossroads by the Village Green. They will usually last between one and two hours, depending on the weather and conditions at the time, so should be back at the Three Horseshoes in time for a drink before lunch. You can, of course, leave the walk at any point convenient to yourself.

All ages are very welcome, but do please wear sensible waterproof shoes or boots! And if you have binoculars, bring them with you.