Quendon & Rickling Report 2007

As a village we managed to find ourselves in the headlines with an American style ‘drive by’ shooting on July 31st 2007. A gentleman and a child, living in a bungalow belonging to Rickling Hall, were shot and subsequently taken to hospital (both have recovered). Armed officers and security men were still on duty in the middle of September. This crime has still not been solved.

A second set of articles in the local newspapers related to the proposed closure of our village Post Office. We have had a post office in the village since the late 1800s (this is the date I can trace the postmasters to) and on its present site since 1959. Voices and opinions have been made and councillors and members of Parliament have intervened on our behalf. I was myself very involved having worked at the post office for the last six years. The Government seem to have very little understanding of how rural communities work, and we are all very concerned for the ‘village bound’ older members who rely on us. I feel though that the decision has been made in spite of our efforts.

The Parish Council continues with bringing us into the modern world: Rickling and Quendon is now officially one ward, the two separate wards having been abolished. We now have a website with links to all the various bodies, church, village hall, and school etc.

The Parish Council is also continuing in its fight to get a 30 mile speed limit on the B1383 (at present 40 mph limit). We have had several bad accidents this year, one dreadful fatality; with a 60 year old male jogger being killed, and our own ‘paper lady’ being hurt, all due to speed.

Our churches continue to thrive and we now have regular benefice services with our neighoburs , Manuden and Berden, but we still find fund raising for two churches very difficult.

Rickling Parish Rooms, also known as ‘the clinic’ has been put up for sale. It was originally built by Rickling parishioners for winter services when Rickling church became inaccessible during the winter months. As people acquired cars it became redundant for services but found a new use as a doctor’s surgery and baby clinic. Sadly the upkeep has become too great for Rickling Church and no funds were available to bring the building up to date.

On October 14th 2007 we held a village craft day. Miss Pollock a long time village resident and artist, would have been 100 years old but died shortly before her birthday. To honour her we displayed her paintings and a great many other crafts. We have an amazing wealth of talent in the village. With paintings, patchworks and tapestries coming forward. It was a wonderful social occasion of like minds.

Rickling School continues from strength to strength and is involved in many activities. At harvest festival they made apple crumbles, and delivered them to the over 80s (34 households). Also once a month you can book your ‘Elderberry’ lunch. This is for village pensioners, when the children take great delight in waiting on you, while you enjoy a wonderful meal.

Our library van now only comes fortnightly instead of weekly.

New buildings continue to pop up on every available piece of land. Five new houses on the Longridge site and two further separate houses, opposite Lacy cottages on former large gardens belonging to council houses.

Christine Osbourn

Quendon & Rickling Local History Recorder