Great Notley Garden Village Residents Association

Newsletter Number 28

Date : June 2003.

Chairman : Ken Game. Telephone - 343030. Secretary : Bert Rix. Telephone - 341066.

E-mail : herbertrix@btinternet.com

PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS.

Since our newsletter No.28 we have had the election for the Great Notley Parish Council. It is heartening to be able to report the turnout to be around 34% of the eligible voters which is a terrific improvement on the turnout three years ago of 12.3%.

Four new faces appeared, which are Paul Lamb (now vice-Chairman), Kerri Mansfield, Bert Rix and Debbie Wright (White Court Stores). One councillor from the previous Council has since resigned and we now wait to see who will replace him.

The new Parish Council will have in mind the coming departure of Countryside plc., and work that will need to be satisfactorily completed before hand-over.

GREAT NOTLEY ANNUAL FETE ON 12TH. JULY, 2003.

Please read the attached leaflet and come and support us on the day.

PARKING DIFFICULTIES IN TEAL CLOSE.

A resident of Teal Close has asked us to mention in the newsletter problems by the parking of vehicles in awkward places in the close. This covers double parking in some places thereby making things difficult for large vehicles to manoeuvre. The co-operation of all residents and their visitors will be greatly appreciated.

ABOUT THE SIZE OF WHALES.

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically im- possible for a whale to swallow a human because even though a whale is a very large mammal, it's throat is very small.
The little girl insisted that Jonah WAS swallowed by a whale.
Her teacher re-iterated that a whale could not swallow a human, it was impossible. The little girl said "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."
The teacher asked "What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him!"

LITTER CLEAN-UP IN GREAT NOTLEY PARISH BY THE W.I.

We are delighted to give thanks to the W.I. on their recent clean-up campaign around the Parish. The visual result at the end of the campaign was quite remarkable and it is to be hoped that this effort will be supported in future by the dropping of much less litter. When an area is clean and tidy it tends to stay that way and litter is taken home or put in a bin. When an area is badly littered the feeling seems to be that one more crisp packet on the ground will not be noticed. We therefore congratulate the W.I. and the boys and girls who helped and list their names below.
This was originated by the Great Notley Branch of the W.I. as their campaign for 2003.
The team of 12 ladies was headed by Pauline Michaels (President). June Game had undertaken the responsibility of pulling together all the strings for the B.D.C.'s help in supplying Da-Glow jackets, tongs and plastic rubbish bags. Also for B.D.C. to collect the bags at the end of each day's work. Over the week the W.I. collected 70 bags of rubbish, including one TESCO trolley and a bicycle wheel, as well as a lot of 'unmentionables'.
The team included Pat Good and her two grandsons, Doris Blanking, her daughter and grand- daughter, Jill Burdett, Brenda Hampson, Graham Michaels, Joan Williamson, Betty Barltrop and Mrs Lillienthal.
Jenny Challis and grand-daughter Hannah were at White Court. Eileen and John Hainsworth allocated the roads to volunteers.
Margaret Murphy and Jessie Rix were at the Hall to provide tea, coffee, cold drinks and biscuits for the workers.
A large number of schoolchildren responded to the visit that Pauline, Pat and Doris made to the schools beforehand. They entered over 100 posters in the competition which the W.I. ran and they were all displayed in TESCO's shop window for the week. Certificates were presented to both schools.

The children included:- Michael Gileer / Judi Barrett. / Jessica Barrett.
Jordan Carter / Ben Ladymer / Jane Inbirski
Chris Gaurlett / Chanil Pyla / Roy Golding
Alex Wheeler / Emma Anderson / Scott Witney
George Goldsmith / Lois Gotking / Emma Roberts
Natalie Lilienthal / Sarah Lilienthal / Jatailig Lilienthal
Jan Peters / Will Peters / Ria Peters
Hannah Mills / Bradley Mills / Debbie Mills

Four boys attended every single day. They were:-

Gary Passwor / Lee Passwor / Ryan Passwor / William Stanhope

These were all given a personal certificate and William Stanhope achieved his Community Service Cubs badge. A few families from the village were seen to be supportive and helpful, one especially telephoned to make sure that the children were not being a nuisance. Ages of the helpers ranged from 6 to 74 years. Credit goes to them all and it was great to see the children's commitment and enthusiasm.

We hope we have not inadvertently left anyone's name off the list, or mis-spelt anyone's name. The week's events were reported in the Essex Chronicle and Braintree & Witham Times with photographs.

The message from the W.I. now is:-

To please remember the 'Country Code'
LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS,
TAKE NOTHING BUT PHOTOGRAPHS.

LAMENT OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN.

Senior Citizens are constantly being criticised, belittled and sniped at for every conceivable deficiency of our modern world -- real or imaginary.

Upon reflection perhaps it should be pointed out that it was not the Senior Citizens who took the melody out of music, the beauty out of art, the pride out of appearance, the romance out of love, the commitment out of marriage, the responsibility out of parenthood, the togetheness out of family, the learning out of education, service out of patriotism, the hearth out of home, civility out of behaviour, refinement out of language, dedication out of employment, prudence out of spending or ambition from relationships.

And they are certainly not the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from relationships. Perhaps it should be added that they were not responsible for creating a society where it is dangerous to walk beyond our homes after dusk, or to be insulted by foul language from children still too young for primary school.

On a lighter, but serious note seniors did not invent music in shops.

BRAINTREE TOWN CENTRE STRATEGY GROUP.

Your Chairman, Ken Game, who also happens to be Chairman of the above committee wishes to draw attention to changes in George Yard car park, where parking charges have just risen to 40p. after a long period at 30p. as well a new refund scheme details of which are produced below.

THE DISCOVERY CENTRE GREAT NOTLEY.

A quiz night is being held at the above venue on Saturday evening, the 19th. July in aid of PARC (Play and Resource Centre), starting at 7pm. Entry is Ł5 per person to aid the above charity and you are invited to bring your own nibbles, drink and glasses.

Cheques should be made payable to PARC (Essex).

Further details can be obtained from the Discovery Centre on 01376-347134. Ask to speak to Jacqueline Joy (Business Development Manager).

NOTHING CHANGES -- OR DOES IT?

We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into a team we would be re-organised. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet every new situation by re-organising and a wonderful method it can be of creating the illusion of progress, whilst producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralisation.

Petronius Arbiter, 2,000 years ago

AND FINALLY.

There is no fury like a vested interest masquerading as a moral principle.

Most of man's inventions have been time-savers ... then came television.

A wife is a great consolation to a man in all the troubles a bachelor never has.

June, 2003.

next edition end September, 2003