Stambourne

In this issue:

• STAMBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL
• STAMBOURNE BONFIRE NIGHT & FIREWORKS 2025
• ST. PETER & ST. THOMAS BECKET PARISH CHURCH
• SERVICES AT STAMBOURNE FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS
• STAMBOURNE LADIES GROUP
• STAMBOURNE ACTIVITIES
• OTHER ACTIVITIES

Pavilion

Work on the shutters has been completed. The Pavilion is available to be booked for children’s parties and other events. Please contact me for details.

Playing Field

Thank you to Michael who has been keeping the field tidy through the summer. A new gateway will be installed between the Playing Field and the field behind to allow for overflow parking on Bonfire night with the kind permission of the landowner.

Highways and Footpaths

As mentioned previously, anyone can report highways or footpath issues direct to ECC Highways on essex.gov.uk and follow the links.

Planning

As you may have seen in the press recently the Local Plan Review has been taking place. The Call for Sites allowed landowners to submit areas of land to Braintree District Council for consideration for development. Parish Councillor Nathan Robins attended the Committee Meeting on 26th June 2025 and was able to report that the Committee decided not to put the Stambourne sites forward.

More information on the Local Plan Review can be found at: Local Plan Review

Chapel End Way Defibrillator

Local resident Vicky has been monitoring the defibrillator in Chapel End Way for many years and has now stepped down.

We would like to thank Vicky for her contribution to the village.

If anyone would be interested in taking this on, please get in touch.

Bleed Control Kits

The Parish Council has agreed to fund the purchase of two bleed control kits from the Bonfire Fund, to be located at each end of the village. 

Parish Council Meeting Dates 2025
• 18th September 2025
• 20th November 2025

All are Thursdays at 7.30pm in the Village Hall unless shown otherwise.

More details may be found here »

Full minutes and agendas are available here: stambourne.com/parish-council.

Debbie Hilliard, Parish Clerk

clerk@stambournepc.org.uk, 01440 785 629

Val Kerrison, Churchwarden

valeriekerrison@outlook.com, 01440 785 752 or 07879 816 362

Picnic in the Park »

Join us on the Stambourne Playing Field for a very informal picnic!

We are planning a VERY INFORMAL picnic in the park to celebrate summer finally having made an appearance and to catch up with friends, old and new. Join us on the Stambourne Playing Field, bring food & drink, blankets, something to sit on, something to sit under in case we are blessed with blinding sunshine, some games, and anything else you can think of to make this get-together even more fun. Guests are welcome.

• Wednesday, 13th August 2025
• 6.30 onwards
• FREE for members; FREE for guests
• Stambourne Playing Field, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP

Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details.

Jewellery upcycling workshop »

Please note: this event is scheduled provisionally and may be subject to cancellation. Details will be published closer to the day.

Tonight we learn all about jewellery upcycling. As usual, the evening will be a great opportunity to make new friends or meet up with old ones, over chats, laughs and delicious food.

As usual, the evening will be a great opportunity to make new friends or meet up with old ones, over chats, laughs and delicious food. Guests are welcome.

• Wednesday, 10th September 2025
• 7pm for 7.30pm
• FREE for members; £5 for guests
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP

Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details.

Oktoberfest 2025 »

Join the Stambourne Ladies Group for our very own Oktoberfest: a hot supper with dessert to follow, lovingly prepared and seasoned with fun, chats and laughter. Guests are welcome.

• Wednesday, 8th October 2025
• 7pm for 7.30pm
• FREE for members; £5 for guests
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP

Contact Lorna on 07980 922 636 or Zoe on 07740 723 057 for more details.

Village Hall available for hire »

Hiring Fees, including heating and electricity:

• For residents: £8 per hour
• For non-residents: £10 per hour

This includes heating and a kitchen.

There is also a table tennis table and carpet bowls is available.

To hire the Stambourne Village Hall:

Contact Rosemary Horton on 01440 785 339 or by email at: rosihorton1@gmail.com for more details.

Yoga practice in Stambourne »

We are thrilled to announce that a brand-new weekly yoga practice will be starting from Tuesday, 9th September 2025. Whether you are completely new to yoga or have some experience, everyone is welcome to join.

• Every Tuesday, from 9th September 2025
• 6.30pm – 7.30pm
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP
• £9 per session or £49 for a 6-week course

Contact  Jo Johnson on 07789 967 467 or by email at: joanneadele27@hotmail.com for more details.

Seated yoga in Stambourne »

We are delighted to introduce weekly seated yoga classes starting Thursday, 11th September 2025. A gentle, accessible practice designed to improve flexibility, balance, and wellbeing without the need to get down on the floor. Perfect for beginners, older adults, or anyone who would like a more supported approach to yoga. Everyone is welcome to join and enjoy movement, breath, and relaxation in a friendly, inclusive space.

• Every Thursday, from 11th September 2025
• 1pm – 2pm
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP
• £9 per session or £49 for a 6-week course

Contact  Jo Johnson on 07789 967 467 or by email at: joanneadele27@hotmail.com for more details.

Neapolitan Pizza in Stambourne »

• Friday, 1st August 2025
• Friday, 5th September 2025
• Friday, 3rd October 2025
• 4pm – 8pm
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP

Contact Pizzeria Gusto on 07380 736 226 BEFORE 3pm to order your pizza in advance and avoid disappointment!

Social Bingo »

• Every Monday, from 22nd September 2025
• 3pm – 4pm
• Stambourne Village Hall, Church Road, Stambourne CO9 4NP

Contact Wendy Anderson 01440 788 702 or 07810 136 200 for more details or if you require a lift to the Village Hall.

Knit & Natter Club »

• Every Thursday
• 5pm – 7pm
• £5 (cash only) — includes one drink and room hire
• The Green Man, 3 Church Lane, Toppesfield CO9 4DR
• THE Stambourne Knitting group: get crafty with knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, quilting and more!
• Bring along your projects, share ideas and tips, get inspired or just come for a chat. Everyone welcome!

Contact Anna on 07944 696 527 for more details.

And if you can’t knit/won’t knit? That’s fine! Just come for a natter and to meet friends (or make new ones). Whatever your levels of craftiness, join in!
More info »

Toppesfield Village Market »

• 1st Saturday of the month
• 10.30am – 12.30pm
• Toppesfield Village Hall, Toppesfield CO9 4DR
• FREE ADMISSION!

Finest local produce, Arts & Crafts, home design, pork butcher, cakes & pastries; cards & more. Refreshments & bacon rolls

Toppesfield and Gainsford End Village Show »

• Sunday, 13th September 2025
• 2pm
• Toppesfield Village Hall, Toppesfield CO9 4DR
• FREE ADMISSION!

Contact Ann Read on 01787 237 464 for more details or to obtain an entry form for the free competitions.

The CREAMER Fund spends in excess of £70k per year simply to maintain these vital services and equipment, services which save patients considerable waiting time, rather than waiting for hospital appointments.

As well as the economic pressures which shape our future, we are having to find innovative and new ways to connect with our existing and potential donors – which we see as opportunities for growth!

There has been an influx of new residents in our villages – a huge ‘Welcome’ to you all – but this does place more pressure on the services Freshwell Health Centre delivers.

In order to maintain its position within the top 10 surgeries in the Country, we need to raise more funds over the coming years.

But exciting times are ahead for The CREAMER Fund; you may have noticed a greater presence on Facebook (please follow us if you’re not already doing so!) and within our Parish magazines as we reach out to a wider audience. It is key to our fundraising that we engage with the every-changing demographic in our communities and will be launching some new fundraising initiatives over the coming months.

We are very grateful to everyone who donates to The CREAMER Fund – it’s truly heart-warming to receive the positive comments we get as well as the donations through collecting boxes etc. For more information on how to make a donation go to creamerfund.co.uk.

Thank you and let’s look forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Dr Andrew Hildrey
Chair of The CREAMER Fund

As always, we have been busy in school this summer term and are delighted to share some of our news with you.

We are very pleased to announce the opening of our new Outdoor Classroom by Reverend Tia Stickland.

This is a beautiful space for children to use whatever the weather for play or outdoor learning. The Outdoor Classroom fits with the school’s ethos of enhancing children’s wellbeing, alongside our Forest School, and to teach children about caring for nature and the local environment. 

We would like to say a huge thank you to the Earls Colne & Halstead Educational Charity and the Friends of St Margaret’s (FOSMs) for their help with funding this project which means so much to the school community.

The whole school enjoyed a trip to Colchester Zoo in May where they showed great respect for everyone, making it a brilliant day. We must thank our staff, parents, governors and FOSM’s for their support in making this trip such a success.

Once again, our year 6 pupils have shown immense resilience and positivity during SATs week. They all worked hard and showed great determination working through these tough papers. We wish them all the best of luck as they move up to senior school.

At the time of writing this, there may only be four weeks of term left, but we still have a lot to pack in, our school production, transition days, our community coffee afternoon, sports day, district sports and a water fight!

We welcome all to our Community Coffee Afternoons so please look out for details of future dates. There is always plenty of cake! You can contact the school office for details.

Our hall is available for lettings. If you have a need for a letting for a one-off event or a regular booking and are struggling to find a suitable space, why not contact the school office by emailing admin@st-margaretscofe.essex.sch.uk or calling 01787 237 354.

More information about the school including up to date news and events can be found on our website.