Vice-president Pat Moran welcomed members to the Christmas meeting. She will be the new president in January 2009 with Clarice Chittenden as her secretary.
With this course, starting on 13th January, the Workers Educational Association are addressing a very different subject to follow their successful autumn course.
Members, families and friends joined together at the Stoke-by-Nayland Golf Club on Sunday to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the West Bergholt Concert Band. Three generations of musicians took the stand to ‘cut the cake’ (L to R being Darcy Levison, Jane Sweeting and Tony Handley) and players and audience alike toasted the success and continuity of the Band, established in 1978 by Sid Cooper, a local peripatetic music teacher.
The 14th Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hillhouse Wood will be held in the Orpen Hall commencing at 7.30pm on Wednesday 10th December 2008. Refreshments will be served from 7.00pm. Members and Non-members welcome.
The BYG is gaining momentum and looking forward to establishing itself with a sound constitution and links to other established youth groups in the Essex area. Next steps are to be taken at a meeting being held at 10am on Saturday 22nd November in the John Lampon Hall - why not come along and have your say?
It is with great sadness that after many months of deteriorating health Peter Johnson, a resident of West Bergholt for many years, has died. Peter was a hugely passionate man when it came to all things environment and particularly so with regard to our village.
No, we are not asking you to re-use last year's Christmas but we are asking you to continue to be aware of recycling throughout the period. The Borough Council has offered the following guidance about changes to collections over the period:
WI Adviser Val Stone led the AGM. Pat Moran was elected president and 2 members welcomed to the committee for 2009. Grateful thanks were given to Marie-Louise Fuell who was resigning having been secretary and treasurer. The play-reading ladies then entertained.
A joint service of remembrance will be held on Sunday in the Orpen Memorial Hall Lexden Road at 10.45am. There will be no morning service in the Methodist or St. Mary's church.
The Colne Valley Flower Club is holding an Open Christmas meeting on Wednesday 19 November in the Orpen Memorial Hall 7pm for 7.30pm. Flower arranger Penny Stone will base her demonstration around the title Autumn Glow to Christmas Snow.
Last night the First Responders received a warm welcome from the Youth Group in the village. Two members spent an hour telling the Group about what the First Responders do and let them have a go on the training kit.
U-10s - League Cup 1st Round
West Bergholt First Responders would like to express their thanks to all who showed an interest when they recently stationed themselves outside the Co-op. 
Mrs Sue Gambling accompanied by her personnel manager gave an interesting history of how the supermarket ASDA evolved the name being derived from Associated Daries.
The next meeting of Colne Valley Flower Club is in the Orpen Memorial Hall Lexden Road on Wednesday 15 October beginning at 7.30pm. Members are invited to 'Bring a Friend Free'. Alan Smith from Ipswich who was part of the NAFAS team to exhibit at Chelsea last year will demonstrate his arrangements entitled 'Autumn Glory'.
The Players' autumn production is a comedy entitled 'The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswoman's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery.' 
At a recent meeting of the Parish Council the Parish Plan (issue 1) was formally adopted bringing with that the responsibility to prioritise and make decisions taking the parish plan into full account.
Coffee Morning
Colchester Borough Council are holding an Open Day at the Moot Hall on 3rd October as part of their engagement with National Customer Service Week. Running between 10am - 4pm residents are invited to visit the Moot Hall and meet representatives from the council and many others involved in the provision of local services:
The Parish Council are considering proposals to extend the use of the Multi User Games Area (MUGA) for the community at large and the new Bergholt Youth Group (BYG) in particular.
With diary dates now set until Xmas what started as an idea is now growing into reality.
The Bergholt Youth Group has recently been causing a stir in youth activity in the village with an embryonic Youth Club being formed around now regular visits from the Essex Youth Bus.
Jennifer Smith, BFA, B.Ed is offering fun art lessons and activities for year 5 and 6 students, at West Bergholt Methodist Hall, on Tuesdays. The first 6 lessons start on 16th September until 21st October) and are between 5-6 pm. The cost of this short course is £35 pounds with all supplies included. Come along and explore painting techniques, collage and craft, with a little groovy art history thrown in!
The gardening and flower clubs are getting going again after the summer break with meetings planned as follows:
Earlier this year the Band was successful in receiving a grant to support its objective - offering music making for all. The Band actively encourages musicians from all walks of life, young and old, to join together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to make music. 
If you want to find out more about being a First Responder the villages First Responders will be available to demonstrate the equipment and talk you through what they do on the mornings of Saturday 20th September and Wednesday 24th September outside the Co-op from 9am.
The new term for the baby & toddler group begins on Monday 8 September in the Methodist church hall, Chapel Lane from 9am to 11.30am.
brought items of interesting jewellery made of gold, silver, bronze and base metals which he had found with his metal detector in Essex fields. Members enjoyed the history relating back in some cases thousands of years.
The village Gardeners Association has recently announced its programme of events for 2008~2009 as follows:
