BERDEN RECORDER’S REPORT 2019  

January
The year began with the popular New Year’s Eve party organised by the Social Club. A family friendly affair. The library van visits every third Saturday and also offers a selection of DVDs. Roadworks continue in Berden with the laying of fibre optic cable. New Berden footpath signs have been put up, providing much needed legal protection. Berden Social Club raised £254,69 for Essex Air Ambulance whilst doing some community carol singing. Fundraising continues for the new kitchen in the village hall. The TBD women’s group continue to meet and have a new programme of events for 2019. Berden Book Club have just finished a book by Jonas Jonasson. Berden Busstopshop raised £696.62 for the Village Hall and the Friends of Berden Church.

February
Berden film club remains popular with screenings at the village hall every month. The Final of the Pool Tournament at the Social Club took place on the 8th between John Oglesby and Keith Bishop. The winner was Keith Bishop. Maurice Ancell who was born and worked in Berden all his life died at the age of 92 on the 7th February. Local historian and popular member of the community. There was a memorial service for him on the 26th. The temperature that day was 20c the hottest February day on record. Road closures continue!

March
Berden had its Spring Quiz Night on the 15th. Very popular with over 100 people attending and an enjoyable evening hosted by Jon Slade and Dave Liddle. Litter pick took place on the 10th. The last Souper Friday of the season took place on the 15th.

April
On the 27th there was a successful Spanish Evening with food, flamenco music and dancing! Jenny Arnell organised and excellent display of flowers for Easter on the 20th with an Easter garden created by the children of the village. Good Friday Fish supper took place at the Church and was well attended. Easter Egg Hunt at the village hall on Easter Sunday was a big success.

May
District Council Elections took place on the 2nd. Janice Loughlin was returned as Lib Dem councillor for Stort Valley. £28000 has been raised so far for the village hall kitchen improvements. The Political Photographer of the Press Association; Stefan Rousseau came to Berden Village Hall on the 31st. He gave an excellent talk on some of his most iconic photographs and gave us the inside view on the world of politics. Berden Croquet begins again on the 11th. Toby Fellows ran a Berden Defibrillator course on the 24th.

June
The Berden Barn Dance took place on the 8th thanks to Mr and Mrs Frank Tinney. Once again we had a very successful Berden Open Gardens event on the 30th, organised by John Tippett, with many gardens open and tea and refreshments offered at the Church. Excellent attendance.

July
It was reported that on the 8th the bonfire at Berden Priory was lit without permission. This follows a previous arson attack on the Dutch barns in October of last year. Berden’s first Street Fete took place on the 13th. Over £9000 was raised! This replaces the fete at Berden Hall. It was a great success with the committee being led by Amanda Coomber. The Post Fete lunch was a BBQ at the village hall the next day. Berden Church is in the middle of a fundraising campaign in order to fund £20000 of repairs. So far grants have been applied for and they have been awarded over £13000 thanks to the hard work of Natalie Trapmore.

August
The Berden Africa Fund is still supporting students and their educational costs. Barbara Jester and John Burton are the organisers. A very hot month.

September
On the 14th Deborah and Peter Patrick hosted a very enjoyable Hog Roast for Berden families. This coincided with the annual Ride and Stride event to raise money for Essex Churches. There was a well- attended meeting of the Manuden and Berden History Society this month. The topic was the Droving routes that were used in the area and the connection with Little London. Another popular outing for Berden’s Got talent with live acts and funny videos on the 28th. A new column in the Parish Magazine was launched about Green issues and recycling. Paul Norris the owner of Berden Hall died in a tragic accident at home. The Fete and Bonfire Night had been held in the grounds for many years and the village offered their deepest sympathies to the Norris family. On the 25th, long time resident, Peter Haines died.

October
The Autumn Quiz Night took place on the 11th. An excellent evening. £3000 was awarded on the 18th for the upkeep of the playground by the National Lottery Fund.

November
The Berden Family Fireworks took place on the 2nd and was very well attended. Work on the Church roof was completed and large clear up of the Churchyard was carried out by local volunteers.

December
Another successful Busstopshop took place by the village green on the 7th. The Christmas tree was also put up. A really good community event. Parish Councils are 125 years old and were first created by the Local Government Act 1894. The first Berden Parish Council meeting took place on the 13th December 1894. Once again Berden went to the polls in another General Election on the 12th. The Conservatives won the Saffron Walden seat and have held it since 1922. The Conservatives under Boris Johnson won a landslide victory and therefore BREXIT will happen on the 31st January 2020. The Annual Children’s Christmas Party took place on the 14th. More volunteers are required to keep the many events organised in Berden going for another year.

It was a warm year. We had the hottest temperature in the UK since records began with 39c recorded. The autumn has been very wet and the winter so far has been mild. There is some recognition that our climate is changing due to man made CO2 emissions. We wait to see what the 2020s will bring.

 

Mark Trapmore
Berden Local History Recorder