Carpet Bowls Club

There was great success for the club recently when a team consisting of Paul Leach, Jan Lumb, Nora and Molly Bates won The Bees Charity Match at Great Sailing near Braintree. New members are welcome on Thursday and Sunday evenings meeting in the Orpen Memorial Hall Lexden Road at 7.15pm. For further information contact 01206 240824.

Annual Parish Meeting

The above will take place in the John Lampon Hall (rear of Orpen Hall) on Wednesday 23 May beginning at 7pm. Open to all residents who can come along to air their views and queries.

Gardener's Club Outing

A few seats remain for the club's coach outing to Helmingham Hall Gardens on June 20. Further details on 01206 242194.

Annual Plant Sale

The Gardeners' Associaton is holding its Annual Plant Sale which is open to the public in the Orpen Memorial Hall Lexden Road on Monday 21 May from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. There will be a variety of bedding plants and other items with all proceeds to a local charity. The club will have a stall at the Village Fayre on Saturday 16 June when free pumpkin seeds will be offered to the children to grow and enter a competition to be judged later in the year.

Women's Institute - May Report

The president Joyce Woolhead welcomed new members who have now joined membership stands at 53. The next play reading will be at Joyce Lucking's on Monday 14 May. A delegate from Home Farm will take our place at the Annual Meeting in The Albert Hall next month. A letter of thanks was received from St Helena Hospice and they hope we can bake cakes for 7 April 2008. A team of four will be entering the Village Quiz in the Orpen Memorial Hall on Saturday 19 May at 7.30pm. All proceeds to East of England Childrens' Hospices. Programme planning meeting will be at Sue Leng's 36 Albany Road at 10am on Monday June 18.

Names are being taken for the July annual outing to Hylands House in Chelmsford leaving at 9.30am it includes a tour and lunch. Contact Judith on 01206 241969 for more information.

Speaker Val Carter was welcomed with her fascinating collection of Russian nest dolls and the history associated with them.

Christian Aid Week

This charity is 50 years old this year. Collections around the village are from May 13 to 19. Christian Aid Sunday will be on 13 May when a Hunger Lunch will take place at 12.30pm in St Mary's Church hall following morning worship. There will also be a Tradecraft stall. Contact Judith on 01206 241969 for more information.

A12 lane and road closures

The Highways Agency has announced details of A12 lane and road closures over the weekend of 18th - 20th May 2007. Details can be found on our website here.