February 2012
Just to remind you that after the very mild winter this year, on Saturday 4th, 6 inches of snow fell overnight, and we woke up to a white world. The snow lasted for over a week and we had another dose on the Thursday night. Tobogganing, winter walks and building snowmen all took place. The Farmers Market was disrupted but about six brave stallholders did turn up. Thanks very much to them.
LTC is very grateful to the volunteers who gritted and salted their roads and pavements. I want to thank our own volunteers, who have agreed to help in the roads where we were planning to place new bins, until the County Council changed its policy. Also those public spirited people who cleared pavements, and spread the material from the bins. We ourselves took a delivery of salt and spread it for about 200 yards on the footway and road near our house. You don't need much, and it isn't an onerous job, so please do volunteer.
I was invited to officially open the new Lopping Hall Loughton Arts Centre. This former shop has already become a feature of the Hall and of Loughton life, holding art exhibitions, and providing information on events in the town. At present there is a photographic show from eight local people. This is the third stage of the renovation programme for the hall. Some years ago now the bells were restored, and the Town Council pays for the clock’s annual maintenance. In October I opened the new disabled lift which provides easy access to the main hall and at the same time noted the newly decorated and carpeted hallway. Work on the lavatories is in progress.

November / January 2012
There was a break in council work and engagements over Christmas, and it was good to have a rest.
The Town Council recently put up one of their Heritage Plaques in honour of Sir Hugh Cairns, 1896-1952. Sir Hugh was a neurosurgeon, born in Australia, who widely advocated the use of the crash helmet, after seeing numerous injuries caused by motor cycle accidents, including that of Lawrence of Arabia. The owners of Woodcroft School, Whitakers Way kindly let it be mounted on their building. In Sir Hugh's time in Loughton (the 1920s) it was a private house where he lived with his family. One day in January I welcomed to Loughton three of his four children – with a combined age of over 250, who were extremely pleased to be taken to see the plaque, and were shown the house by the current owner.
Cllr House and his wife Janet, who live nearby in Baldwins Hill, generously provided tea and biscuits for the assembled party.
We now have over 30 town council plaques.

November / December 2011
The run up to Christmas started on 25 November, when I switched on the lights in the High Road from the forecourt of St Mary's Church. Pupils from Staples Road School, and the Loughton Theatre Group, joined in the countdown with great enthusiasm. Before this the school had sung Christmas carols and songs very ably in the warm church, and the drama group had performed a part of their pantomime. Well done to pupils and teachers. Thanks to St Mary's for hosting the event once again, and to the High Road Town Centre Partnership, especially their Chairman, Peter Sheen, for organising the switch on. After the switch on we enjoyed mince pies provided by Sainsbury's, and mulled wine.
The next day I switched on a second lot of lights on the tree at King's Green as part of the Light up a Life event. This very moving annual occasion was jointly organised by St Clare Hospice and the Town Council. Those who want to remember loved ones are invited to come and join a candlelit procession from the Methodist Church to the green. A short service was conducted by Revd Richard Fisher from St John's Church, and the Davenant Community Choir led the carols. Giles Wright, from St Clare, and I made short speeches of welcome. Thanks to them, and to volunteers and staff from St Clare, and the Town Council, the Police, and Loughton Methodist Church. We were pleased to be joined by Ken Angold Stephens, Chairman of the District Council, who has St Clare as one of his charities. Afterwards we again had mince pies, this time courtesy of Morrisons! The lights on the Green are very nice this year as the Town Council has had new ones installed. The council looks after the green, on behalf of the City of London. All the lights in Loughton are part-funded by the Town Council, and we have maintained the level of grant this year.
The following week I switched on a third set of lights, this time at the Broadway. This followed Christmas carols and songs sung by pupils from Alderton School, Willingale School, Debden Park High School, and Epping Forest College, some dressed as elves. All excellent - and many thanks to students and teachers. The event started for me in a ride down the Broadway in a horse drawn carriage with Father and Mrs Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, and Percy Penguin. Well done to students from the college.Thanks to Cribbs undertakers, who provided the splendid horses and open carriage. In my remarks, as in the High Road, I urged people to shop locally to help local businesses at this difficult time, as did compere Dave Stannard, Chairman of the Broadway Town Centre Partnership. We were pleased to be joined by Lesley Wagland, Leader of Epping Forest District Council, who drew the raffle tickets, and the Chairman, Ken Angold-Stephens. Once again mince pies and mulled wine for the adults. Afterwards a reception was held at the Winston Churchill Public House, ably provided at very short notice by the new owners.
We then judged 81 decorated shop windows throughout the town - well done to all those shopkeepers who enliven our town each year. You can see a list of the winners and highly commended entries here, and a fortnight later presented the cups.
Before the December Council meeting, where we have each year to set the precept or council tax rate for the following year (Yes, I'm glad to say it's not going up!), I presented the prizes to the winners of the Christmas Card competition. Once again, click here for the winners.
A very pleasant evening was the performance of the Rose and the Ring by the University of Essex E15 Acting School. We were right up the top of the mediaeval barn, behind one of the massive timber roof-joints.
I also attended the Epping Forest District Civic Carol Service at the Loughton Methodist Church.
To conclude, let me wish a merry Christmas and happy new year to you all.

November 2011
Daniel Robinson, Funeral Directors, have taken over the former butcher's shop, Bosworths, a Loughton institution of 100+ years, which is much missed. I attended a service to bless the Chapel of Rest, and was shown around the premises. Daniel Robinson have done their best to preserve the style of the shop front, and keep the outbuildings that were part of the original business.
It was a really lovely autumn day. We have had some unseasonal warm weather for the time of year.
On 11/ 11/ 11 (Armistice Day) I was at the War Memorial for the 2 minute silence, and then on Remembrance Sunday attended the service there at 12.15. I was privileged to lay a wreath on behalf of the Town Council. Again a really nice day, unlike the rain of the previous year. Every time there are more and more people who come to remember those who gave their lives. It is really encouraging to see all the young people there. Afterwards the Royal British Legion kindly invited me, and other councillors and guests, to their HQ in Church Hill for a light lunch.
The following Friday the Town Council had an open morning at the Murray Hall, for the public to view the third in a series of displays to honour men who served in the forces. We were very pleased to welcome small groups of pupils from Roding Valley High School and Davenant Foundation School, along with members of the Legion. Debden Park High School were invited too, but were on a visit to the First World War battlefields.

October 2011
On 1 October in the hot weather I attended an event, called Unto the Fields at the Roding Valley Nature Reserve. This was to celebrate 25 years of Countrycare. There were displays and side stalls. I parked near the Pony Riding for the Disabled site, and was lucky to be offered a lift in a buggy pulled by one of their ponies! Countrycare and its volunteers carry out conservation work. They are a very successful organisation and are much to be congratulated.
Unto the Fields is a book by Donald W Gillingham, who lived in Roding Road. The book celebrates the beauty and nature of the Loughton countryside before the Debden Estate was built, and of the Roding fields. He is commemorated by a Town Council Heritage Plaque.
Another anniversary is being celebrated by the Epping Forest District Museum. I went to the opening of an exhibition to mark 30 years of its work. The exhibition runs until 20 December. Congratulations to another excellent local body.
I also visited a house in Shelley Grove, which has been strikingly renovated in its Art Deco style by a local business.
I attended a concert of the City of London Sinfonia Quintet at Loughton Methodist Church, part of a series of regular events put on by Essex on Tour. This one was in cooperation with the Church and Loughton Town Council. It was an excellent concert, with various pieces including Mozart's Clarinet Quintet in A major. It was just a shame that not many people attended. In my thank you remarks I suggested that Mozart's chamber music was originally performed to a small audience just like on that evening!
The next Essex on Tour event in Loughton is on 23 March at the Murray Hall. The Claire Harper Jazz Quartet will perform the “American Song Book”. The next concert at LMC is the Loughton Youth Music Festival on 17 April.
The Lopping Hall is undergoing a renovation, and I opened the disabled lift, which, along with a newly decorated and carpeted foyer and stairs, is the first stage of the programme. It was good to see that plenty of people were taking advantage of the new facility. I then attended an excellent performance by Loughton Amateur Dramatic Society called “Lilies on the Land”, about the land girls in the Second World War. LADS have recently won the North East London and Essex Flame Award, and were runner up in the NODA scenery award. The trustees have now opened an Arts Centre shop next to the High Road entrance to the hall, staffed by volunteers and open a couple of days a week.

September 2011
At the beginning of September, I came back from a holiday to the Harz mountains and Rhine Gorge. It was nice to have had a break from council duties! However, in September of course, meetings started again.
As usual buildings in Essex were opened for the Heritage Open Days, and Chris and I visited Maldon and the Moot Hall, the old 16th Century Town hall. We saw the former council chamber, and went up the tower for an excellent view. Several churches and the ruins of the leper hospital were also open.
The next day, celebrating Heritage Open Day in Loughton, there was the 3rd classic bus running day, and I went as Mayor to greet the buses as they arrived at the Station. The public were able to go on free bus rides on old routes. The oldest bus was built in 1952.
At the end of the month we had the week of very hot weather - it was like high summer but the leaves were falling!
The Deputy Mayor attended the opening of T Cribb & Sons, Funeral Directors, at 73 The Broadway, on my behalf.

August 2011
August is a time when things wind down while people go on holiday, so there were fewer engagements last month.
I was invited by the Loughton and Epping Forest Radio Society to one of their meetings to explain about the town council. LTC had given a grant to the society and they wanted to learn more about us. There were about 30 members there who were all were very interested and asked lots of questions. I was helped by Cllr Chris Pond who came along with me.
LTC has a small grant aid scheme to help local charities and societies. For further information contact Shirley Haynes at the council on 8508 4200.
Willingale Road Allotment Society has also received a grant from the town council. The next day I was invited to open a disabled and ladies lavatory, for which they had received the grant. The society is providing one of their plots for use by disabled people. It was my birthday that day so it was rather an unusual way to celebrate! It was also their open day and I presented a prize to the winner of the produce show. It went to Lewis Perry, who was the runner up in the 2011 town council Best Kept Allotment Competition. I was very impressed by the community spirit shown on the Willingale site.
The beginning of August saw the dreadful riots in Tottenham that spread to other parts of London and other areas. Even leafy Epping Forest District had a few anxious moments. These situations were quickly dealt with by the Essex police. We also saw the Loughton fire teams in action when caught in a traffic jam on the M11 near Hastingwood, where they manoeuvred off the carriageway a caravan that had mounted and crossed the central barrier
I have had a few days away on the Sussex coast - where as soon as we got to the hotel we meet someone from Loughton! Then we went to Germany to the Harz mountains and stayed in Wernigerode, which is a town much the same size as Loughton, in the Rhine gorge. Amazing how much more autonomy a town of our size has on the continent! Roll on localism.....
The deputy town mayor attended the annual scouts’ conservation project in the forest on my behalf while we were away.

July 2011
It was a busy time in July - the traditional time for outside summer events.
I was invited to attend the annual Howzat Festival at Loughton Cricket Ground on a very warm Sunday. There were cricket matches plus some traditional stalls, bouncy castles, and fairground attractions. Thanks to the Cricket Club, and Peter Sheen and the High Road Town Centre Partnership for putting on this event again.
On 9th I was pleased to open the Oak View School Fun Day - this was my third event with the school since May! It had rained, but the sun came out just in time. Staff, parents and Friends of the school had worked hard to organise everything.
I then went on to open “I Love Loughton” Day in the High Road. St Mary's, St Michael's, the Baptists and the Methodists put on, for the first time, a successful event on St Mary's forecourt and Centric Parade. Voluntary groups had stalls, there were activities for children, and dancing and music. Congratulations to all concerned.
Another open air event I was invited to was the Loughton Tree walk, led by Tricia Moxey who has been writing the Tree Strategy for Loughton. This has been funded by EFDC, and supported by LTC and Countrycare. About 25 people walked along the forest edge in Baldwins Hill and York Hill looking at trees and hedges. The strategy will be available soon on the EFDC website.
I attended, along with the Town Clerk, the annual "Ladies' Day" held by the Open Spaces Committee of the City of London to acknowledge the work done in Epping Forest during the year. I went on a visit to the site near the Hunting Lodge in Chingford, where a visitor centre and shop are being built in the old garage and where Butler's Retreat is being restored. They should open in October. The Town Clerk visited an area near the Warren where invisible electric fencing has been used to keep the Longhorn cattle off the road, but allows walkers, and other forest users access. We then enjoyed a very nice lunch, and again the weather was sunny.
The Abbeyfield Society in Loughton, provider of sheltered housing, invited me to attend their AGM, which was held in their garden at Rider House. It was good to hear about the society and meet the residents, staff, and committee members. We had an excellent tea.
Two Town Council official openings were held. Firstly we opened the second display at the Murray Hall to honour six ordinary local men who had served with distinction in the first and second world wars. This followed Armed Forces week. Members of the local British Legion, Loughton Methodist Minister Tony Morling, and Cllr Brian Rolfe, Vice Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, were present, along with councillors, and staff.
Secondly the first outdoor gym was opened on the Roding Valley Recreation Ground. This consists of eight pieces of equipment, free for people over the age of 12 to use. It has been in position for a while and has proved very popular. It was funded by the Big Lottery, Essex County Council’s West Essex Forum, and the Town Council. Joining us were Cllr Webster from ECC, Cllr Angold-Stephens, Chairman of EFDC, Christine Buttling, Chairman of Chigwell Parish Council, two PCSOs, councillors, staff and residents. Also present was David Hogg from EFDC, who has provided training for the equipment, and will be running further courses in September. Councillors including the mayor and the chairman, tried it out providing some excellent photo opportunities!
The 3rd Loughton Town Council Best Kept Allotment Prizes were awarded on 18 July. The winner was Brian Smith from the Potato Ground. He received a 1935 silver cup, formerly awarded by the Loughton Allotments and Horticultural Association, recently donated by Jean Andrews, the last winner of the cup in 1998. The shield given to the winner in previous years was awarded to the runner up, Lewis Perry, from the Willingale Road site. This has proved to be a popular competition and we hope the Roding Road Allotments join in next year. There is more information about this and our other celebrations in the autumn edition of Think Loughton due out in early September.
Whitebridge School kindly invited me to help give out the prizes at their Prize Giving Evening. Pupils who had done something special were given awards for achievements in school work, sports, art and crafts, and service to the school. It was good to be able to congratulate the children.
I attended an open evening at St Clare Hospice to mark the opening of refurbished rooms for patients.
An event I did not go to officially but wanted to specially mention, was “Oh what a Lovely War" which E15, part of Essex University, put on to celebrate 50 years of their acting school. The play was adapted specially to include all students, and to be held at different locations all around their premises in Rectory lane. It was an excellent production and we should be proud to have such a prestigious organisation in our town.
The deputy mayor attended the opening of an exhibition at Epping Forest museum in Waltham Abbey on my behalf.

June 2011
I was very pleased to join the local branch of the Royal British Legion to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the organisation. There was an evening event at their HQ in Church Hill with excellent refreshments, and some entertainment. The next day they had a "fun day" when it rained heavily, but that was not allowed to dampen spirits. Towards the end of the day, in a gap in the rain, I went up there to take a look.
The children's play area in Hillyfields was officially opened with pupils from Oak View School in attendance. They greatly enjoyed trying out the equipment. The refurbishment was made possible with funding from Aiming High for Disabled Children. The equipment was chosen for ease of access and appeal to all children. This is one of 8 playgrounds managed by the Town Council.
Oak View School then invited me to be present at the opening of their Hydrotherapy Pool, and once again I cut the ribbon. Present were staff, the friends of Oak View, governors, funders, and the county councillor. This is a wonderful facility, planned for many years and which has been funded by some very large donations, as well as much appreciated smaller ones. St James Place handed over a £28,000 cheque at the ceremony. Pupils will greatly benefit from having the pool, and travel time will be saved. Congratulations to the school.
The special flag for Armed Forces day on 25 June was flown for a week at the Town Council offices in Rectory Lane. Staff and councillors joined me as the flag was raised.
The Hills Amenity Society invited the Mayor to join them for a Hog Roast held in the Foresters Arms’ garden. The Hills always used to a have an open air event every summer, and this is hopefully a revival of that custom. There had been heavy showers in the morning, but thankfully the sun came out as the event started. Guests joined in Morris and Maypole dancing. The Hills Amenity Society is based in the Conservation Areas of Baldwins Hill, York Hill and Staples Road. It promotes and protects those areas.
I attended Epping Forest College to see an exhibition of the work of its art students. Once again the work is of an excellent standard. The following week I was invited to the Learner Awards. Students of all levels received certificates and vouchers for achievements in their courses, and service to the college. It was good to hear of their hard work and success. Staff, teaching and non teaching, also received awards for excellent work.
Loughton, like much of the east of the country, suffered a very dry spell. Gardeners and allotment holders were pleased to have some rain, and although still suffering from the earlier lack of rain, plants have revived. This was in time for the annual Town Council Best Allotment competition. The chair and vice chairman of the Environment and Heritage Committee, and I, as Town Mayor, visited the sites to draw up a short list. Karen Kenny from the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners kindly agreed to judge the shortlist – which had become rather a long list. I meet her for lunch after her inspection. The winner(s) will be announced shortly.
I have also chaired one full council, and attended two committees, plus four district council meetings.
Loughton Methodist Church organised a talk by Tony O'Connor of the Epping Forest District Museum on the Waltham Abbey Bible which is kept at the museum. Forty five people, (including four councillors) went along to LMC to hear about this 800 hundred year old book.
Do visit Epping Forest District Museum, Sun Street, Waltham Abbey. Open Mon and Fri 2 – 5, Tue 12 – 5, Sat 10 – 5, Sun 2 – 5 (May - Sept).

May 2011
I was proud to be appointed Town Mayor at the Annual Council meeting. Councillor Stephen Pewsey will serve as Deputy Mayor. David Wixley, the past Mayor, was very assiduous in carrying out his duties, and representing the Town Council last year, and will be a hard act to follow! I hope I can do as well.
I have been on the Town Council for 7 years: 4 years for Alderton ward, and 3 years for St John's ward. I have served on the Resources and General Purposes Committee, and chaired the Environment and Heritage Committee for the past 3 years. I will have lived in Loughton 30 years in December.
Loughton is an excellent place to live, near the country and forest, but convenient for London, with lots of open spaces, three conservation areas, and two main shopping centres. We need to ensure the town's character is maintained, and improvements made. I hope to promote the Town Council's work as a focus for the community. We are very lucky to be well served in Loughton by many voluntary groups. I want to support them this year, and am always happy to attend events - please invite me via contact@loughton-tc.gov.uk or on 0208 508 4200.
The next day after the annual council meeting I attended the regional final of Jack Petchey's Speak Out Challenge at Debden Park High School, along with the Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Councillor Anne Grigg. Young people from schools in the area have to speak for 3 minutes, without notes, on a subject of their choice. I was very impressed with the high standard of the speakers. Loughton schools were represented by Keira Reynolds and Clare O'Keefe from Debden Park, Ursula Marshall and Beth Mortimer from Davenant. The winner was Nathan Carver from Mark Hall Sports College, Harlow. Claire from Debden Park was second, and Beth from Davenant was third. Congratulations to them.
Thanks to the school for so ably hosting the event, and to their excellent dance teams who entertained us.
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Stephen Pewsey, attended the Inauguration Ceremony for the new Mayor of Waltham Abbey Town Council, Councillor Antony Watts.
I said earlier what a pleasant place Loughton is. At the end of May, 30 members of the Victorian Society came to Loughton for a walk, led by Chris Pond, looking at some of the buildings, including Loughton Hall, St Nicholas Church, The Uplands and Staples Road, where they had tea in our garden.
The end of May also saw the final event in the Loughton Festival. Sue Taylor and her team are to be congratulated once again. Plans for 2012 are already being made.

May 2011
On 5th May I attended anniversary celebrations of Loughton solicitors Attwaters held at the Nu Bar. This was a double celebration commemorating the founding of the firm in London 110 years ago and their establishment in Loughton around 80 years ago. The birthday party was attended by local business people as well as some local councillors, representatives from St Mary’s Church, the Loughton Club and the High Road Town Centre Partnership.
As I write up these notes my year as Town Mayor will soon be concluded and I will pass on the chain of office to a new Mayor on 11th May.
I have had wonderful year as Town Mayor and have greatly enjoyed meeting so many people during the course of the engagements I have attended.
I have been impressed by how many people give up their time voluntarily to support organisations and charities and in doing so make a valuable contribution to our community and society in general.
I am grateful for the support that I have received from the Town Council officers and in particular Joan Innis who has dealt with my engagements.
Now I must wish my successor all the best for the year ahead and hope that he/she will find being Town Mayor as rewarding as I have.

April 2011
On 7th April I attended the AGM of the Redbridge Samaritans where the guest speaker was Mike Gapes, the MP for Ilford South since 1992. He gave an interesting and enthusiastic talk about his work as an MP referring to his interest in foreign affairs and mentioning his work on behalf of constituents. It was the latter that particularly interested me as it echoed exactly my experience as a councillor in that you want to do your best for constituents when they ask for help and sometimes achieve “little victories” on their behalf while accepting that on occasions this is not always possible.
Many years ago I knew Mike’s brother and late father through my involvement in local football but was surprised to learn from Mike that the Gapes family had at one time lived in Hillyfields, Loughton, and that Mike, like former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw MP, had attended Staples Road School in Loughton.
As for the AGM, I was interested to hear that many of the people who call the Samaritans now like to communicate by email or text message instead of the traditional telephone.
The Town Mayor’s 4km Charity Fun Run (a Loughton Festival event) was held on Sunday 10th April at the Roding Valley Recreation Ground. The event was enjoyed by all involved and the 95 runners/walkers raised £501 for The Dream Factory charity and £40 for the London Air Ambulance. Avril Mills, founder of The Dream Factory was present as well as actress/presenter Lisa Nash and former boxing champion Colin McMillan who both completed the run.
I dedicated the event to the memory of Cllr Roy Thomson which was appropriate as Roy was interested in the welfare of children and The Dream Factory supports children with health problems.
My thanks to Loughton Athletic Club, Sue Wiseman, Epping Forest South Division Commissioner, British Red Cross and Sainsburys, Debden, for their support.
My notes on April would not be complete without a mention of the Royal Wedding. There were a number of street parties in Loughton to celebrate the wedding and like the one I attended, which was actually in a garden, they all helped to foster a community spirit with neighbours enjoying some time together.

March 2011
In March there were six official engagements but District Council duties meant that I had to miss the first of these and Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Caroline Pond, attended the Little Oaks Children’s Centre In Lawton Road in my place. This was a singing event for young children in which they sang the song “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” with appropriate actions. This was part of a nationwide event to highlight the I CAN charity which supports children with speech and communication difficulties.
A couple of days later on 3rd March I attended the “34th miner” talk at St Mary’s Church which was given by Alf Cooper, Chaplain to the President of Chile. Alf was present at the rescue of the 33 miners as they surfaced from a depth of 700 metres after 69 days of incarceration. Alf told the story of one of the miners, Jose Henriquez, whose Christian faith inspired and supported his trapped comrades throughout their ordeal. There was even a hint of a miracle when a drill, deflected off the rock, found its way to where the miners were entombed so enabling supplies to be sent down.
I had the opportunity to speak to Alf and the explanation for his English name is that he is a fourth generation Chilean, his family having originally come from the Reading area.
Given the religious nature of Alf’s inspiring talk, I am sure that it is not necessary for me to reveal the identity of the “34th miner”!
On 5th March I met another inspiring person, a lady called Jean Smith, MBE, otherwise known as the Cycling Granny. Jean was the guest speaker at the AGM of the Essex West Trefoil Guild (an organisation for retired Girl Guide and Brownie leaders). Jean had been a cyclist in her teens but took up cycling again when aged 60 and in a most serious way by spending years cycling around the coast of Great Britain and across the country clocking up over 17,000 miles and raising £35,000 for charity.
Jean is still raising money by giving talks on her cycling adventures and particularly likes to support Essex Macmillan Nurses Appeal. Anyone wishing to book Jean for an event should email her at CYCLINGGRAN@aol.com.
I referred to “inspiration” in the reports of my two previous engagements and must do so again for the Loughton Youth Music Festival was truly inspiring. The variety and quality of the music performed, as well as its presentation, made for a great evening. Congratulations to all who took part and event organiser, Malcolm Bell. The guest of honour was Erika Footman known in the music world as iMMA.
The Loughton Youth Music Festival is one of a large number of events that form the Loughton Festival (19th March – 21st May). The Loughton Festival has been going for several years, thanks to the efforts of its creator, Loughtonian, Sue Taylor. The Loughton Festival, along with Debden Day, the Howzat Cricket Day and our two Christmas lights switching on ceremonies at the High Road and The Broadway help to bring a community spirit to Loughton.
On 23rd March I chaired our Annual Town Meeting at the Murray Hall. This is an opportunity for residents to hear my annual report and those of the chairmen of our four committees and then ask questions. In addition there is the opportunity for local organisations to have stalls and publicise their activities.
Our guest speaker this year was Max Houseago, Olympic Regeneration Officer who is employed by Epping Forest District Council, Broxbourne Council and Herts County Council. He spoke about the 2012 Olympics mentioning opportunities for Loughton in the areas of tourism and accommodation. The month concluded when I attended the AGM of the Loughton Voluntary Care Association which is sponsored by Churches Together in Loughton. It helps people with transport needs, shopping, befriending and the occasional odd job and was called upon to help on 1,500 occasions last year.
The guest speaker was Mrs Jean Atkinson who spoke about her work with the visually impaired.

February 2011
In last month’s notes I mentioned the Watoto Children’s Choir of Uganda. I have since learnt that their four concerts in Loughton, two at St Mary’s Church and one each at Staples Road and Alderton Schools raised £5,300 for the Watoto charity. This figure excludes any sponsorship options that may have been taken up.
Another £7,500 was raised in Loughton on 5th February by the Rotary Club of Redbridge’s “Bollywood Evening” at the Roding Valley High School. I enjoyed this well attended event which was a credit to Loughton residents, Mr and Mrs Singh and their daughters, whose organisational skills helped to make this a successful evening. Ten charities will benefit including the Shooting Stars Hospice and Water Aid.
The Town Council’s third annual Civic Service and Citizenship Awards presentation was held on the Sunday afternoon of 13th February at the Loughton Methodist Church. I am pleased to say that the event went well and a number of favourable comments have been received. I would like to thank all who were involved and in particular the Council officers, Revd Tony Morling, Malcolm Bell, Kay Ellis of the Methodist Church, Revd Nina Coulthard of St Michael’s Church, Mrs Ward, Mrs Cobb and the White Bridge Junior School Choir, Hibba Sheikh (Epping Forest Youth Councillor) and Cllr Katie Nicholson, and Mr Peter Relph for allowing me to read his poem “More heavy rain expected – some sunny periods”. A number of VIP guests attended including Lord Petre, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Eleanor Laing MP and Heather Lady Murray. Our citizenship award in the over 25 category went to Joyce Barcley who has dedicated many years of voluntary work to the Brownie and Girl Guide movements. The under 25 award went to Taylor Baldwin for his voluntary work at the Loughton Youth Project. The event raised £320.55 for the Water Aid charity.
In earlier notes I have given publicity to some of the Loughton societies that enrich the social and cultural life of the town. I return to that theme by mentioning two more. One has been established for a long time and the other is a fledgling society but with great hopes for the future.
The Herts & Essex Architectural Research Society (HEARS) can trace its roots back to 1967 and specialises in the study of vernacular architecture. I attended their February meeting when a talk on “Middlesex Vernacular Buildings” was given. The Society meets monthly from October until May.
In 1963 Loughton cinema was demolished and its loss has been lamented ever since. A few years ago hopes were raised that a new one might be built in Langston Road and recently the idea of a cinema at the proposed retail park, also in that road, was mooted. All to no avail it seems, but all is not lost! The Loughton Film Society is now running independently of the Town Council which provided the initial impetus to get the society started. Although Cllr Stephen Pewsey and myself are Loughton Film Society committee members, a number of local residents are devoting their time, enthusiasm and skills to making this venture a success. Membership numbers are growing and film showings should start shortly. See www.filmloughton.co.uk

January 2011
It has been a quiet start to the year for official engagements, only four in January, compared to the ten in December, as follows:
7th January – I attended the opening of two new exhibitions at the Epping Forest District Museum.
“Beyond the Frame” is a temporary exhibition which is on until the 26th March 2011. It consists of works by five artists, with links to Essex, who have produced work inspired by exhibits at five Essex museums.
“Your History Gallery” is a new permanent exhibition focusing on social history with a nostalgic collection of artefacts featuring shopping, work and home life as well as a display of costumes.
27th January – I enjoyed the “Concert of Hope” by the Watoto Children’s Choir of Uganda held at St Mary’s Church which was a Churches Together in Loughton event. The choir raises funds for the Watoto Charity enabling it to care for parentless children and provide them with an education.
29th January – The Papa John’s Pizza franchise celebrated the tenth anniversary of its establishment in the United Kingdom and I was invited to the Loughton branch (opened in 2007) where the manager, Mr Bokari, welcomed me. I was most impressed by the way orders were processed, pizzas produced and, where necessary, delivered to customers’ homes. It is a slick process with emphasis on attention to details. Clearly there is more to a pizza than meets the eye, or should I say mouth!
30th January – I attended the Haven House Children’s Hospice “Light up a Life” ceremony at Woodford Green that had originally been planned for 1st December but was cancelled due to the icy conditions. This was a moving ceremony with appropriate readings and music providing for a thoughtful conclusion to the month.

December 2010
December 2010 will be remembered for snow and ice. By the end of the month differing reports described it as either the coldest December for 100 or 120 years. Whatever the case two of my official engagements were cancelled because of the weather but it was still a busy month for me which started with the switching on of the Debden Broadway Christmas lights on 3rd December. The event was well attended, despite the cold weather, and the outdoor pre switch-on entertainment provided by local school children and students from Epping Forest College was enjoyed by all. The Broadway Town Centre Partnership, like its Loughton High Road counterpart is supported by local shops and businesses as well as Loughton Town Council and does a great job in organising this event each year. Along with those involved in making it a successful afternoon, I was invited to enjoy hospitality at the Sir Winston Churchill Public House afterwards.
My duties for the month continued as follows:
4th December - St Clare Hospice Light up a Life ceremony held on Kings Green following a candlelit procession from the Methodist Church. This was the eleventh year that Loughton Town Council has formed a partnership with the Hospice to provide this ceremony.
9th December – Forest Creative Writers’ Christmas Party. A jolly and festive party with creative seasonal writings read out, or sung, to well known Christmas tunes.
10th December – Presented Best Dressed Christmas Window awards following judging earlier in the month with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Environment and Heritage Committee, Councillors Caroline and Chris Pond. A total of nine framed certificates were presented to cover winners, runners-up and those highly commended in the three categories of shops, i.e. independent, multiple and charity. The winners can select charities to donate their respective £100 prize money to. St Clare Hospice received £200 and Haven House Foundation £100.
15th December – Presented certificates and £25 prizes to the Loughton Town Council Christmas Card Design competition as follows:
Infant (School) - Emilie Buckley
Junior (School) - Rachel Stiff
Senior (School) - Alana Ellis
Adult - *Nathaniel H W Greenleaf
*Overall winner and design used by Loughton Town Council for its Christmas cards.
103 entries were received.
16th December – Attended with other Loughton Town Councillors and officers the funeral of Cllr Roy Thomson.
17th December – Attended the Buckhurst Hill Parish Council Christmas Carol Service held at St John’s Church, Buckhurst Hill.
29th December – My final engagement for the year was a very special one as I was invited to the 100th birthday party for Mrs Edith Shellibeer at The Mellows in Station Road. I had the honour of presenting the telegram and birthday card to Edith from the Queen. It was a pleasure to see Edith surrounded by her relations enjoying the celebrations and a happy note on which to finish the year. Indeed Edith cited happiness as a reason for her longevity so it is appropriate for me to wish readers a happy 2011.

November 2010
The Town Council is responsible for looking after the Loughton section of the Roding Valley Recreation Ground. It is a great place for a variety of recreational activities including football and cricket or enjoying walks. The latter can be enhanced if, via the bridges crossing the River Roding, the Chigwell side of the Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve is included and explored to form a circular route.
I undertook several such walks during the Autumn with none finer than the sunlit Saturday afternoon of 6th November. The Autumn colours of the trees were at their peak of perfection and seemed to glow in the sunlight. The big sky contained clouds of white and various shades of grey interspersed with patches of clear blue sky which later took on a pinkish hue as the sun set. It was a memorable afternoon.
The name Roding Valley Recreation Ground seems to have taken hold in recent years. I am not really fond of that name as it seems to have a municipal ring to it. I prefer to think of the area as “countryside” and when, as a child growing up nearby, it was simply known as “the fields”. Indeed D W Gillingham (subject of a Loughton Town Council Blue Plaque) wrote a book called “Unto the Fields” which describes the area in the 1930’s.
I was fortunate to have this “natural” playground on my doorstep which I and my young playmates could enjoy. We particularly liked playing in two pits, roughly circular and about eight yards in diameter. These were hidden amongst the trees and bushes that form a high and wide hedgerow between two of the fields. Access to the pits necessitated jumping across a steep sided ditch. Sometimes these leaps were not entirely successful. The far bank might be reached but, without gaining a firm foot or hand hold, frantic scrambling often followed which only seemed to hasten the decent into the water below. The outcome was a wet foot or feet known as “getting a booty”. What great fun!
The pits were relics of the Second Wold War dug out by the Home Guard for training purposes in preparation to repel invading forces which, fortunately for Loughton’s Dad’s Army, never arrived.
November is a time to think of armed conflict and my official duties for the month included ceremonies on Kings Green for Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday where I had the honour of laying the Loughton Town Council wreath on the War Memorial and later enjoyed hospitality at the Royal British Legion Club.
It was fitting that prior to those two events I opened the “Debt of Honour” exhibition at the Murray Hall on 5th November. The exhibition is the result of the desire of several Loughton Town Councillors that Loughton residents who died while fighting for the armed forces are remembered. Initially five residents have been commemorated with their photos and accompanying text in individual picture frames. The event was well attended with both Town and District Councillors present as well as representatives from the Royal British Legion, Royal Naval Association and the Army. We were also pleased to welcome Lord Petre, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, and Mr Raymond Joslin, the brother of Gordon who is commemorated in the exhibition. Cllr Stephen Pewsey gave details on how the exhibition had been put together and Luke Lowrie from St Mary’s Church, where he is the Children’s and Youth Pastor, also spoke. My contribution was to read the poem “In Flanders’ Fields” by Major John McCrae, a poem that I had become aware of when visiting the First World War battlefields and cemeteries in Flanders in 2005. A short but moving poem describing the horror of the war. The theme of the exhibition will continue but will be changed in a few months time so that other members of the armed forces, who gave their lives, can be remembered.
I had three other official duties during November as follows:
Judging the Loughton Town Council Christmas Card Competition with the Chairman of the Environment and Heritage Committee, Cllr Caroline Pond, a far from easy task with so many good entries.
An enjoyable morning was spent with the partners and staff of Attwaters, the solicitors supporting their fund raising event for “Children in Need”. Business suits were exchanged for fancy dress as they ventured into and along the High Road shaking buckets and collecting donations to a total of £400. This was an excellent example by a long established Loughton company engaging with the local community.
Community engagement was also evident when I switched on the High Road Christmas lights on 26th November. As usual, St Mary’s Church hosted the pre switch-on entertainment provided by local school children together with singing and theatre groups. It was pleasing that via the High Road Town Centre Partnership a number of local shops and businesses, as well as the Town Council, provided financial and practical support for the event.
I finish my November notes with sadness at having to report the death of Cllr Roy Thomson on 25th November. Roy was elected to the Loughton Town Council in 2008 and represented St Mary’s Ward and served on the Recreation and Planning and Licensing Committees. I will remember Roy for being forthright in expressing his views and also for his jolly smile and cheerful nature as well as examples of his thoughtfulness for others. We are all going to miss him at Loughton Town Council and our thoughts will be with Pauline, his widow, and his family and friends.

October 2010
As I write up my October notes, it is already mid-November. I have a strong sense of time speeding up and that we are on the home straight and racing towards the end of the year! A busy October has no doubt contributed to that feeling but recent strong winds and driving rain have accentuated the impression of speed.
That said, October started in a relaxed fashion as I enjoyed a wonderful evening by attending a Charity Gala Diner at St Mary’s Church in Loughton. The event was organised to raise funds in support of local children’s and youth projects, namely “ignite”, the Loughton Youth Project and the Grace Academy.
I enjoyed the musical entertainment and the company of my fellow diners including the Revd Malcolm Macdonald and Luke Lowrie. Luke is the driving force behind “ignite”, a club that has grown its membership rapidly under his leadership. The next official engagement was to open and close an Essex on Tour event held at the Murray Hall, Loughton. First class entertainment was provided by the “Drop Dead Divas” (Jo Lee and Julie Paton) who sang a selection of songs from musicals in a show entitled “A Night on Broadway”.
In Loughton we can be proud of our Blue Plaque Scheme and on the 11th and 14th October I attended ceremonies to mark two of our latest additions. At 47 Spareleaze Hill, Rupert Arnold Brabner DSO, DSC, MP and his sister Jean Gwenneth Brabner are remembered. Both perished at relatively young ages in the Second World War. Jean who was a doctor lost her life in 1944 at the age of 31 whilst on duty at the London Hospital when it was bombed. Rupert died when a Liberator aircraft, taking him to Canada, was lost off the Azores in 1945. Rupert was only 34 but had packed a lot into his life becoming an MP at 28 followed by a distinguished war record. The other blue plaque commemorates Sir Rowland Hill and Francis Worrall Stevens. Rowland Hill is credited as the pioneer of the postage stamp and the universal post. Stevens ran a boarding school at Albion Lodge, Albion Hill and employed Hill as a teacher. Stevens was to claim that they discussed the postal system and that he had originally thought of the idea of the postage stamp, which Hill had presented to the Government in 1837 as his (Hill’s) idea, while Stevens was abroad. My fellow councillor, Stephen Pewsey, has researched this story extensively and is convinced of Stevens’ claim, but it remains a matter of conjecture. At Loughton Town Council we are grateful to the current owners of these properties for not only allowing us to attach blue plaques to their homes but also for the hospitality they provided at the ceremonies.
Between these two events I attended the St Clare Hospice Annual General meeting. The official business was quickly dealt with and then an interesting talk was given by David Praill, Chief Executive of “Help the Hospices” who gave an insight of the hospice movement from a national perspective.
On Saturday 16th October, I attended the Emergency Help Action Group at Gilwell Park. This was a joint venture between the Scouts Association, Epping Forest District Council and the Essex Resilience Forum. The idea for the event originated from a Scout Leader with the intention of scouts engaging with the emergency services and learning about their work. An interesting and informative day with representatives from the Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service, Army and voluntary rescue services present.
The next day, at the invitation of the Mayor of Broxbourne, Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop, I attended the Borough of Broxbourne Civic Service held at St. Mary’s Church, Churchgate, Cheshunt (a Grade 1 listed building dating from 1418). Afterwards a reception was held in the Beaufort Suite in the Council Offices and I enjoyed meeting councillors from various parts of Hertfordshire.
On 19th October I had the honour of opening the Hidden Hearing shop at 299 High Road, Loughton. I was pleased that Hidden Hearing considered Loughton, because of its location, a suitable place to expand their chain of shops. My own hearing was tested by the Branch Manager, Jennie Canham MSHAA, using sophisticated computerised equipment which provided me with a printed report and I was pleased to learn that, notwithstanding the effects of age, my hearing is in good condition.
The end of October brings us half-term school holidays and Halloween, and in Loughton we also have the “Positive Introductions” event for 11 – 19 year olds. This is where a number of organisations, including the Town and District Councils as well as Essex Police, come together to provide three days of activities for young people. My own contribution to this event was to make up the numbers of one of the impromptu 5-a-side football teams that took part in a tournament, which was well organised by Nick Robinson of the Loughton Youth Project. My team was given the curious name of “Odd Jobs” and included Shannon Toms who has recently enjoyed some work experience at Loughton Town Council. We did not disgrace ourselves but one win, a draw and two defeats meant that we did not progress to the semi-finals. Essex Police beat a team called “Colin” (named after their manager) in the final by 4 goals to 2 and I was pleased to be asked to present the trophy to the captain of the police team.
That was the conclusion of my mayoral engagements for October which had been a busy, varied and interesting month.

September 2010
Like August, September was a quiet month as regards official engagements with just two to undertake.
On 1st September I presented awards for the Town Council Best Allotment competition as follows:
Winner - Neil Jackson – Willingale Road Allotments
Highly Commended - Lesley Church – Roding Road Allotments
Highly Commended - Rosie Partridge (last year’s winner) Potato Ground Allotments
Commended - Paul Plumridge – Willingale Road Allotments
Commended - Tom McAuliffe & Jackie Mansfield – Joint entry, Potato Ground Allotments
Congratulations to Neil, who has been a Loughton resident since 1945, and to all our prize winners. Thank you to all who took part in our competition. I hope that you all enjoyed the fruits of your labour!
On 17th September I was invited to the opening of a new exhibition at the Epping Forest District Museum entitled “Dawson at Ninety” which displays the work of local artist Eric Dawson. Eric (born 1918) lives in Fiddlers Hamlet but grew up in East London. His water colours depicting everyday life and covering Eric’s own lifetime, including his wartime service, are predominant in the exhibition which does include some of his commercial work.
I would describe his paintings as bright and colourful, full of interest and amusing. The exhibition is on until 16th November 2010 and is worthy of a visit.
My off duty visits to sample what Loughton’s societies and organisations have to offer continue and for this month I mention the Loughton and District Historical Society. I have been a member for several years and their new season of talks (September 2010 – May 2011) commenced with an interesting talk on the River Lea/Lee taking us from its source in Luton and progress to London.
L&DHS meetings are always well attended and the society publishes many booklets of local interest. There are many local historical societies but I am sure the L&DHS must be one of the best, if not the best. I am biased of course but I think it is a gem in Loughton’s social life.
I would like to mention Cllr Tracey Thomas who has recently been co-opted onto the Council following the resignation of Cllr Barrett. Tracey attended her first meeting as a member of the Recreation Committee in September and I wish her well in her new role.
Finally, having written these notes for a few months now, I do wonder if they are read somewhere in the big wide world. It would be nice to receive some feedback. In particular from the other two Loughtons, one being in Shropshire and the other in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It would be interesting to exchange notes with residents from our namesakes.

August 2010
At the end of my May blog I mentioned my meeting with Brian Mooney, a long distance walker who was passing through Loughton on his walk from Coggeshall to Rome.
Brian arrived in Rome in the evening of the 11th August having covered a distance of 1,367 miles. I understand that he is going to write a book about his adventure and that an article on his exploits recently appeared in The Times newspaper.
August was a quiet month for official duties with just two events but both were extremely enjoyable to attend.
On the Saturday afternoon of the 14th August I attended the open day of the Debden Horticultural and Allotment Association at Willingale Road allotments. I was made very welcome by the Chairman, John Whyte, Mrs Whyte, and the allotment holders, including my old school chum Brian Perry who I have known since infant school days.
In recent years there has been a revival in interest in allotments and John Whyte is making a big effort to encourage this at Willingale Road.
I was impressed by seeing three generations of the same family working on one plot. Apart from producing wholesome food, other benefits of having an allotment were apparent including exercise and fresh air, socialising and just having fun. Everyone seemed happy that afternoon!
My duties included drawing raffle prizes and judging vegetables including a selection of odd shaped ones. These were a carrot, two entwined parsnips and an odd shaped potato. I decided the winner was the potato as, from one direction it was agreed that it bore a remarkable resemblance to the profile of the late General de Gaulle while if rotated and viewed from another angle it resembled a miniature version of the type of sculpture that Henry Moore used to produce!
On the 27th August I was invited to the National Scout Conservation Project in Epping Forest. This is an annual event which has been held for 22 years. Explorer Scouts from all over the country spend a week at Fairmead Campsite, High Beach. This year almost 100 Explorer Scouts (age group 14-18) and their leaders were divided into four groups to work on four projects by rotation over four days with an additional day set aside to visit London.
The projects consisted of clearance work to improve the habitat for reptiles, provide more space for outstanding trees, pond clearance and restoration of the banking at the Eagle Pond, Snakesbrook.
My fellow visitors included the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Jim O’Shea, the Mayor of Waltham, Forest, Cllr Masood Ahmad and the Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr Anne Grigg.
We were all impressed by the enthusiasm and hard work put in by these young people. I would like to thank all who made the day so enjoyable, particularly Stuart Greenwood who is the Chairman of the project.

July 2010
July was an interesting, enjoyable and busy month. An end of month audit revealed the following:
Mayoral events attended - 11
Town Council meetings attended - 2
District Council meetings attended - 7
District Council training course - 1
Other meetings and events associated with being a Councillor - 7
Total events/meetings attended - 28
There were also the usual Ward issues to deal with, responding to emails and correspondence, reading through a considerable amount of information that all Councillors receive and site visits to look at planning applications, etc.
My Mayoral duties were as follows:
l 1st July Epping Forest College – Learner Awards Presentation Evening. Congratulations to the 58 students plus several members of staff who received awards.
l 3rd July Loughton Club was opened on 3rd July 1910 and exactly 100 years later I had the honour of making a formal presentation of a letter received from Buckingham Palace congratulating the Club on its centenary. The Club’s founder, the Revd William Dawson, would have been very proud. The Club prides itself on being a part of the community and provides a home for a number of local clubs and societies which cater for a range of activities including sports, dancing and model war gaming. The Club is also the home for the local Buffs Lodge. The 100th Anniversary Fete was enhanced by contributions from the E15 Acting School, the original Pearly Kings and Queens, Loughton Karate Club, Loughton Astronomical Society, Strike Force (model war gaming club) and Waround al’Qamar (Flower of the Moon) a trio of belly dancers. All their efforts, plus those of Waltham Abbey artist, Stella Gibson, who contributed from sales of her paintings, helped to raise money for the funding of a hydrotherapy pool at Oak View School. I now have a Stella Gibson painting and its vibrant colours will remind me of a happy and interesting day.
l 4th July Howzat Town Day and Cricket Festival was enjoyable as usual and I am pleased to say better supported than in previous years. Lots of stalls, a steel band, the “Beached Boys” tribute band and of course plenty of cricket, plus fine weather! A credit to the efforts of Loughton Cricket Club and the Loughton Town Centre Partnership with support from the Town Centres Manager, Cathy McBride.
l 9th July Afternoon in Waltham Abbey at the Epping Forest District Museum for the opening of the “Sporting Heroes” exhibition (on until 7th September 2010). Evening at the Murray Hall for the inaugural film show of the recently formed Loughton Film Society. “An Education” seemed to be well received and the next meeting of the LFS will be held at the Murray Hall on 24th September 2010.
l 14th July Town Clerk, Enid Walsh, and I had the pleasure of attending Ladies’ Day at the invitation of Mrs Barbara Newman who is Chairman of the Epping Forest and Commons Committee of the City of London Corporation. The day started with a visit to Copped Hall with the afternoon, including lunch, at The Warren in Loughton. Ladies’ Day is described as the high point of the Epping Forest annual social calendar and celebrates the Forest’s unique heritage. The day also provides an opportunity to thank all those involved in helping keep Epping Forest a special place.
l 22nd July In the morning I presented Leaving Certificates to Year 6 pupils at White Bridge Junior School. It was not only a special day for the children but also for me as a Governor of the School and a former pupil. I enjoyed a well organised and performed leaving ceremony, which was a credit to the pupils and teachers involved. In the afternoon I joined the chairman and vice chairman of the town council’s Environment and Heritage Committee, councillors Caroline and Chris Pond as duty called for us to draw up a short list of vegetable plots from which local gardening expert Ken Crowther would select a winner. Our visit to the allotments at the Potato Ground, Roding Road and Willingale Road produced a short list of 24.
l 25th July Attended the Sunday evening Licensing and Installation of the Revd Gill Hopkins as the new Team Vicar of the Holy Innocents Church, High Beech in the Waltham Holy Cross Team Ministry and Chaplain of Epping Forest and the Lee Valley Regional Park. I was interested to read that some of the features of the special service have their origins in the Middle Ages with others being comparatively new. The “Licensing” part of the service was conducted by the Rt Revd David Hawkins, Bishop of Barking and the “Installation” by the Ven. Martin Webster, Archdeacon of Harlow. The Church was packed (160 people according to a press report) with many coming from Wickford where Gill had previously served. The new Vicar received a number of gifts, including a copy of “Epping Forest Then and Now” which I am sure will be of great interest and will help the Revd. Gill Hopkins get to know the area.
l 30th July Ken Crowther visited Loughton to judge our allotment competition (result to be announced in due course). After judging I enjoyed lunch with Ken appropriately at the “Gardeners Arms”. This gave me the opportunity to ask Ken about his long career in gardening encompassing the running of his own garden centre business for 30 years and also presenting a gardening programme on Radio Essex. Gardening had also been the inspiration of two published works of fiction by Ken, “Jack the Gardener” and “Two Weeks in Nice”.
l 31st July I was pleased to accept the invitation of the Loughton Abbeyfield Society to attend their AGM at Rider House (121 High Road). Loughton Abbeyfield Society is a registered charity and Rider House can provide a home for people aged over 60 and seeking care with independence. The AGM was held in the attractive rear garden, a peaceful haven without the intrusion of noise from the busy High Road. I was surprised to learn that Rider House has vacancies as I am sure many people would find a happy and secure home there. I enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon and would like to thank all involved especially President John Kennedy, Secretary Philip Burdock and Treasurer Moran Farnsworth.
I attended five “off duty” events which provided interest and variety.
l English Speaking Union at the Murray Hall - their speaker this month was Josie Stephenson who had had a long career in journalism, including reporting on the European Parliament which was the subject of her talk.
l Two Epping Forest walks provided by the City of London Corporation - the first was led by Forest Keeper Philip Murfin visiting the heaths at Strawberry Hill and Warren Hill. The second was to see the arborists at work. I was impressed by their skilled and intrepid climbing. They were assisted in their work by a recently purchased, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) or “Cherry Picker” called the Teupen Leo 30T. I was able to rise skywards in this and view the forest canopy from 100 ft up.
l For another walk I, as in last month, joined Tricia Moxey and Patrick Bailly with others for further exploration of the Roding Valley Meadows, this time concentrating on the Loughton side of the Meadows.
l For relaxation I enjoyed a night of jazz by the David Gould Quartet at the Loughton Royal British Legion Club. David is a Loughton resident and this was the first in a series of appearances at the Legion that he hopes to make.

June 2010
In June I attended four official engagements starting with the opening of a new branch of the Essex Savers Net Credit Union in Debden Library. Essex Savers is owned and managed by its members to provide local ethical banking with opportunities to save, borrow and with the possibility of earning a dividend on investments. Open Thursdays 2 – 4pm.
On 17th June, I, along with Deputy Town Clerk, Shirley Haynes, had an enjoyable afternoon attending the launch party of the Forest Creative Writers 2010 anthology book at the Jazz Archive room in Loughton Library. We were entertained with short stories, poems and sketches.
The following Sunday, at the invitation of the Town Mayor of Waltham Abbey and Churchwardens, I attended the Annual Civic Service at the Waltham Abbey Church. Afterwards I enjoyed refreshments in the Town Hall and was grateful for the hospitality received from the Town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Ricki Gadsby, Town Clerk, Kathryn Richmond and Deputy Town Mayor, Antony Watts who provided a tour of the Civic Offices and Council Chamber.
My official engagements for June concluded with a visit to Epping Forest College for its Creative Industries Summer Festival Art and Design Exhibition. As well as Art and Design, BTEC music students performed jazz and Latin music. An OFSTED inspection in March praised success rates in art, media and performing arts.
There is much to do in Loughton and the surrounding area with things of interest to attend and take part in often provided by societies and voluntary organisations. In the coming months I would like to give some publicity to things that I have attended in a purely unofficial capacity.
In early June I joined the local group of the Essex Wildlife Trust to explore the Chigwell side of the Roding Valley Nature Reserve. As always with walks led by Tricia Moxey and Nature Reserve Warden, Patrick Bailly, there was much information imparted on flora, fauna and habitats.
After learning that it has been a bumper year for the rare Southern Marsh Orchid (28 counted), my abiding memory of the walk will be looking across the meadows with Southern Marsh Orchids in the foreground and a distinctive white little egret circling over the River Roding in the distance.
Other events attended in June were: The Loughton Amateur Dramatic Society’s performance of “Vincent in Brixton”, a play about the artist Van Gogh’s time in London - as usual a polished and enjoyable performance from the LADS.
On 19th June I was with The Friends of Epping Forest for their annual midsummer evening walk. The theme this year was to trace the footsteps of Victorian poets Alfred Tennyson and John Clare and also Dr Allen who ran a mental asylum in the forest where Clare spent some time. The walk was expertly led by Peter Read and enhanced by local author Peter Relph, an authority on Clare, having written a book called “Four Forest Years” which gives details of Clare’s time in the forest between 1837 – 1841.

May 2010
At the annual council meeting held on the 12 May, I had the honour of being elected town mayor for the new council year 2010-11 and so for the next twelve months I will be providing the regular updates on council activities through these town mayor’s notes.
First a little bit about me; I have lived in Loughton nearly all my life, my parents having moved to Avondale Drive in 1949 when I was two years old. A few years later I was one of the original in-take of pupils at White Bridge School when it first opened. I still occasionally see some of my former classmates from those far off days. So as you can see I have a very strong affinity to Loughton and although I have been able to travel to other parts of the world, I have no desire to live anywhere else but Loughton. So much for the past, now I must look forward to representing Loughton for the next year.
One of my first official engagements will be attending Debden Day on Saturday 29 May. As usual this should be a great day with something of interest for all age groups. I’m really excited by this event which brings the whole community together and hope for good weather and fun and enjoyment for all.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Cllr Ken Angold-Stephens, not just for his work as mayor but for all his efforts on behalf of the community over the last few years as both a town and district councillor; also for the support I will receive in the coming year from the new deputy town mayor, Cllr Caroline Pond and town clerk Enid Walsh and her staff, particularly Joan Innis who acts as my engagements secretary.
I look forward to seeing you at Debden Day.
Congratulations to my predecessor as Mayor, Cllr Ken Angold-Stephens, on his election as Deputy Chairman of Epping Forest District Council.
Like myself, Ken represents Roding Ward and I would also like to mention another Roding Ward Councillor, Stephen Murray, who at the District Council election held on 6th May 2010 was re-elected for a further four-year term. Stephen has been a District Councillor since 1982, a remarkable record of public service.
My public mayoral duties began on 21st May 2010 when, on behalf of the Broadway Town Centre Partnership, I received a £100 cheque from the Debden Sainsbury’s Manager, Kurt Tolladay as a contribution towards the funding of Debden Day. Debden Day itself was a wonderful day and lived up to my expectations as a community event. Although it rained it was definitely a case of spirits not being dampened by the weather.
My personal highlights of the day were riding around the Broadway with our local MP, Eleanor Laing, in Geoff Boughton’s open topped 1950’s Riley.
A meeting with Samara, a local belly dancer, followed and she entertained audiences with two performances during the day. She has recently released a DVD and appeared on Sky TV. However, I became slightly alarmed when she told me that belly dancing wasn’t just for ladies but something that men could also do. At that point I decided that it was time to change the subject and start talking about the weather!
Particularly enjoyable was attending the three sittings of the Senior Citizens’ Lunch at the Sir Winston Churchill pub. A total of 180 meals were served and contrary to popular belief I did not have a single meal, let alone three lunches! Entertainment in the form of singing was provided by students from the E15 Acting School.
Congratulations to the staff at the “Churchill” in providing the meals for this event which the Town Council contributes towards via a grant to the Broadway Town Centre Partnership.
I would like to thank Dave Stannard, the Broadway Town Centre Partnership Chairman, and everyone involved in making Debden Day such a success.
I even won a large carrot cake in a raffle which I later shared with the Loughton Town Council staff.
The following morning (30th May) I was up early to meet Brian Mooney at Cllrs Chris and Caroline Pond’s house. Brian had stopped overnight with Chris and Caroline and was about to start on the third day of a long distance walk from Coggeshall to Rome. I was interested to meet Brian as I’ve done some long distance walks myself but not on such an epic scale.
Chris and I accompanied Brian through the forest to Loughton’s border where it bisects Connaught Water. At which point I inspected, stamped and signed (as Mayor) Brian’s personal “passport”. We continued over the border to Kings Head Hill, Chingford, where we parted as Brian headed for the Lea Valley, on his way to spend the night in central London.
I hope to hear more of Brian’s adventures and report back in a future blog.