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Great Maplestead, Little Maplestead, Pebmarsh and Gestingthorpe

Church and Community together October 2026

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Useful Village Contacts Parish Clerks Gt Maplestead Lt Maplestead Pebmarsh Gestingthorpe Village Halls Gt Maplestead Pebmarsh Gestingthorpe

Denise Ellison Paula Sillett Shelley Boydell Shelley Rudling n B Money

07566 265 447 07975 571 253 07927 775 989 07912 418 925 07810 781 509

clerk@greatmaplestead-pc.gov.uk littlemaplesteadparishclerk@gmail.com pebmarshparishclerk@gmail.com clerk@gestingthorpe-pc.gov.uk

Liz Newton Kelly Thompson Penny Bagby

01787 461 308 lizatlucking@hotmail.com 07919 897 592 pebmarshvillagehall@gmail.com 07840 367 172 gestingthorpevillagehall@gmail.com

Footpaths Gt Maplestead Lt Maplestead Pebmarsh Gestingthorpe

Steve Harris 01787 462 818 Geraldine Holloway 01787 476 530 Michael Sharp 07725 909 986 Terry Flower 07964 405 365

cllr.harris@greatmaplestead-pc.gov.uk geraldineholloway2020@gmail.com michael@broomhills-farm.co.uk

Gt Maplestead Task Force Playing Field Carpet Bowls Autumn Show Book Club

Rob Brudenell Joe Newton Janice Chaplin Carol Brownlie Alison Cantor

01787 829 524 01787 461 308 01787 469 600 01787 461 527 01787 462 537

cllr.brudenell@greatmaplestead-pc.gov.uk

Carol Parker Pauline Andow Sandra Beaney Pauline Andow Jim Crayston

01787 269 996 taximother@googlemail.com 01787 228 790 01787 222 220 01787 228 790 01787 222 241 jim@craystonfarms.co.uk

Valerie Fullman Chris Ponty Penny Bagby Andy Craig

01787 462 755 07494 883 632 07840 367 172 pbagby1@gmail.com gestingthorpehg@yahoo.co.uk

Pebmarsh Youth Club Ladies Club Card Making Carpet Bowls Gestingthorpe

Tower Bell Ringing

Cricket Club Book Club History Group

All Villages Maple Leaves Knitting Group Handbell Ringing

Angela Davis Carol Brownlie Margaret Crudgington Benefice Choir Paula Sillett Scouts Stuart Carter Hedingham Guides Kathie Hoy

Neighbourhood Watch Gt Maplestead Lt Maplestead Gestingthorpe

Ian Johnson Bill Piper Chris Harman Lindsay Smith

Parish News Representatives Gt Maplestead Ann Harris Lt Maplestead Pebmarsh Penny Bagby Gestingthorpe

cllrtflower@gestingthorpe-pc.gov.uk

cllr.newton@greatmaplestead-pc.gov.uk bobandjanicechaplin@btinternet.com carolbrownlie@gmail.com acantor56@outlook.com

01787 236 007 angeladavis99@outlook.com 01787 461 527 carolbrownlie@gmail.com 01787 476 259 07975 571 253 psillett@sky.com 01787 461 149 hedingham.guides@btinternet.com

01787 461 109 i.johnson057@btinternet.com 01787 473 933 billpiper204@gmail.com 01787 462 763 gestingthorpe.nw@btinternet.com 01787 460 236

01787 462 818 ann66harris@gmail.com 07840 367 172 pbagby1@gmail.com

Editorial The Anglo Saxons called October ‘Winmonath’, meaning wine month, which seems to have been their way of coping with nights noticeably drawing in, daytime temperatures dropping and increasingly unpredictable weather. Their alternative name for the month was ‘Winterfylleth’, or winter full moon. Today we call it the Hunter's Moon, traditionally the time when hunters start to prepare for winter, gathering meat and hunting in the fields – and it occurs on the 26th at 04:11am this October. Other celestial events include two meteor showers: the Draconids – which peak on the 8th/9th, with 5-10 meteors/hour best viewed right after nightfall – and the Orionids – peaking on the 21st/22nd, with 10-20 meteors/hour best viewed between midnight and dawn. Notable dates this month include the now traditional Harvest Village Walk from Great Maplestead’s Village Hall on the 4th (Page 8); a celebration of Trafalgar Day on the 21st; the clocks going back an hour on the 25th; Bingo and Curry Night in Gestingthorpe on the 30th (Page 20); and, of course, Hallowe’en on the 31st. Our final Lost to Time feature is the demise of Parish Pumps as vital local water resources (Page 7) while, in addition to our regular feature articles there are reports on: the Maplesteads’ Autumn Show (Page 5), Little Maplestead’s Dog Show (Page 11), the unveiling of a memorial to Peter Haylock, a long-serving Great Maplestead Parish Council, an Autumn Show committee member and a past President of Halstead’s Rotary Club (Page 6); and Revd Beverley’s Farewell to St Giles’ service and party (Page 29). Revd Mark Payne’s Letter (Page 4) reflects on the changes brought about by Revd Beverley’s retirement and explains how the Halstead Area Team will continue to support the Benefice’s churches until the current Vacancy is filled. As ever, please send details of any events and articles or photographs for the magazine to the Editorial address (Page 35).

Cover Picture: Going Home to Roost © Tony Sale

Thank You What a wonderful send-off Barry and I received as we enjoyed our final service at St Giles before I began retirement. It was very special to enjoy worshiping in a full church with friends from all ten churches and with my fellow ministers. We were delighted by the feast that followed in the Village Hall; thank you to everyone who contributed to the amazing organisation and fantastic food. The generosity shown in the gifts, cards and kind words has been truly humbling. We send you our love and heartfelt gratitude. Rev’d Beverley and Barry

Letter from the Reverend Mark Payne A Season of Change One of the advantages of having a dog is that, whatever the weather, he expects me to get out of bed and go for a walk. So, most mornings Dudley and I head out as the sun is beginning to rise. At this time of year, the mornings are noticeably darker, but there is something rather special about watching the countryside slowly wake up. The first light appears, the fields gradually come into view, the birds begin to stir, and another day begins. It is a simple reminder that, even when things around us are changing, there is still a rhythm to life and the promise of new beginnings. October feels particularly like a month of change. The leaves are turning, the evenings are drawing in and summer is beginning to feel like a distant memory. And this year, our churches and communities are experiencing a change of their own. At the end of August, we said a very fond farewell to our wonderful colleague, the Revd Beverley, as she retired. Beverley has been such an important part of the life of our churches and communities. Whether through worship, baptisms, funerals, schools, conversations over coffee or simply being there when people needed her, she has given generously of herself. We will miss her enormously – although I suspect retirement may not turn out to be quite as restful as she imagines! We have now entered what the Church calls a Vacancy. During this time, our churches' lay teams continue to be their amazing selves, keeping the show on the road while continuing to grow our churches in lots of different ways; and the ministers from the wider Halstead Area Team will continue to support the churches and communities, leading Communion services, offering pastoral care and being there when needed. But change is something we all experience, whether or not church is part of our lives. Sometimes it’s exciting; sometimes it’s something we would never have chosen. A new job, retirement, a new home, children leaving home or simply wondering what comes next can all leave us feeling uncertain. Perhaps autumn has something to teach us. The trees don't panic when their leaves begin to fall. They simply let go of what has been and continue putting down roots, ready for whatever comes next. So, as we give thanks for Beverley, we also look ahead with hope. And tomorrow morning, Dudley and I will be out again, watching the sun rise and enjoying the wonderful countryside in which we are privileged to live. With every blessing, Revd Mark Payne Halstead Area Team Rector

Autumn Show Report The Maplesteads’ Autumn Show Committee would like to thank all those who took part in this year’s very successful show on September 5th – it was well supported by both villages. Despite the hot, dry summer there was a record number of entries and the committee would like to thank all those who entered. We would also like to express our appreciation and thanks to HIMS for sponsoring the Show itself and to Radiant Beauty for sponsoring the sunflower competition. Our thanks also to the judges and to Joe Newton for presenting the prizes. Following the judging the Village Hall re-opened to visitors to come and admire the entries, with the Maplesteads’ community spirit coming to the fore and everyone enjoying a lovely social evening with food and refreshments. The Autumn Show is a non-profit making organisation and relies on the support of both villages. The Committee offers a round of applause to the residents for their support – without it there would not be a show! We look forward to seeing everyone again at next year’s Autumn Show.

Remembering Peter Haylock On Sunday 6th September family, friends, village residents, Halstead Rotarians and members of the Parish Council gathered on the Playing Field in Great Maplestead for a special occasion, the unveiling in the Mindfulness Garden of the Autumn Show Committee’s Sundial/Birdbath in memory of Peter Haylock, a long serving and valued member of their committee. He was also a long-time Parish Council member, uniquely serving in every role – Clerk, Councillor and Chairman – during his 35 years in post, as well as being a Past President of Halstead’s Rotary Club, who will be honouring Peter, a keen gardener, by planting crocuses around the memorial. It was lovely to see so many people who knew Peter at the unveiling. Autumn Show Chairperson Carol Brownlie, along with the Council’s Joe Newton, paid tribute to Peter’s service in the community before his wife Lyn unveiled the Sundial/Birdbath and thanked everyone who had come along to raise a glass to his memory. The Sundial/Birdbath sits centre stage in the Mindfulness Garden, a peaceful place where people can pause for a while, reflect and remember Peter, whose dedication, commitment and concern for the village’s well-being was second to none. The memorial honours his lasting legacy.

Lost to Time – Water from Parish Pumps It might not come as a great surprise to older parish residents but younger people might be unaware that all our local villages were only connected to mains-supplied water in the mid-1950s – before then, water for washing and drinking came from either springs, private wells or communal Parish Pumps. While springs and private wells usually served just one or two houses, public Parish Pumps not only supplied clean groundwater for the majority of villagers but also offered important community benefits, being places where those fetching water would regularly meet socially. Most local private wells were only around 15-30ft deep but the Parish Pumps were usually connected to deeper water sources, often some 60-80ft below ground. They were all hand-operated suction pumps, featuring heavy cast-iron barrels and using a reciprocating piston and dual-valve mechanism, operated by long handles, to lift the water through brick-lined sub-surface shafts. In the early 1900s a detailed survey of the water supply from underground sources in Essex was carried out, which showed that, in addition to private wells and local springs, there were three public pumps in the Maplesteads: an 80ft deep one near what is now the A131 junction with School Rd (right); a similar one fed by a spring at the junction of Lucking St and Toldishall Rd (left); and one fed from the brook at the bottom of Church St. These pumps served about half the then population, with the rest being supplied from springs and various private wells around 28ft deep on average. In Pebmarsh the survey highlighted four public pumps: in Water Lane (right), which was 56ft deep and served 5 houses; on Oak Rd/ Sudbury Rd, which was also 56ft deep and served 15 houses; a strong upland spring running into a well 10ft deep near The Kings Head, which served 16 houses; and at Cross End, which was 55ft deep and served 13 houses. There were several communal pumps in Gestingthorpe – the one at Church Farm House (left) is now the most visible but probably the most notable was in Pump Yard, which served all the neighbouring cottages until it was capped in the late 1970s. This pump gave lovely, pure drinking water and never ran dry. Having long been decommissioned and no longer able to supply water, a number of the surviving local Parish Pumps have been sympathetically renovated and preserved as important community heritage features. Source: The Water Supply of Essex from Underground Sources W. Whittaker & J.C. Trash 1916 Colour images: http://www.villagepumps.org.uk/pumpsessex.htm

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Pebmarsh Church Appeal Church Warden, Treasurer and Volunteers Urgently Required! Since Sarah Burgess stepped down as Church Warden for personal reasons – but remains on the Parochial Church Council (PCC) – St John the Baptist Church in Pebmarsh is without a Church Warden. The PCC Treasurer is also stepping down at the end of this year, which means the PCC will be down to only four members. We are therefore at crisis point. Church rules require that a certain number of volunteers are needed to make up the Church Council. If volunteers are not forthcoming, Pebmarsh Church cannot continue. For the church to stay open it is essential for it to be supported by the community. We are in desperate need of volunteers to come forward to assist running the church. Whilst those giving generously to the Friends of Pebmarsh Church allow for the maintenance of the church building, this does not support the running of the church, including church services, electricity and heating. The remaining members of the PCC are currently sharing the Church Warden’s responsibilities. However, the very least that we require is a Treasurer to help manage the church accounts. You do not have to be a worshipper or go to church or even live in Pebmarsh to undertake this role. It involves keeping the accounts, providing a short update report to the quarterly Pebmarsh PCC Meetings and preparing the end of year accounts. We estimate that it requires around two hours work per month. Whether you are religious or not, everybody in the village will agree that Pebmarsh Church is a vital part of village life, its history and traditions – whether that be for christenings, weddings and blessings, funerals, remembrance services, school or carol services. It would be a devastating loss to the community if the church was unable to continue. If you are able and willing to become the Treasurer or a member of the PCC or, if you have any questions about the role of Treasurer or Church Warden, please contact any of the following: Sarah Burgess – 07855 548 269 - sarahburgess@btinternet.com Belynda Fellows – 07904 321 274 – belyndarozalyn@me.com Meg Pearson – 07443 936 177 – megpearson08@gmail.com Luke Brown – 07919 375 341 – Lhwbrown@hotmail.co.uk The Parochial Church Council of Pebmarsh

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Little Maplestead Dog Show Despite the weather trying its best to put a damper on proceedings, the Little Maplestead Dog Show was a great success. A decent turnout of 30 dogs were entered across the eight classes and there was a good mix of handlers, from the very young to the young at heart! Grateful thanks goes to everyone that gave up their Sunday morning to lug tables, erect gazebos and generally lend a helping hand – and of course, to do it all in reverse at the end of the day. It was very much appreciated and no village event can happen without this goodwill. There was much consulting of weather forecasts but our faith was rewarded as the sun came through just in time for the last registrations and then the judging began. We were extremely lucky to have professional show judge Kay Crisp officiating and our sincere thanks goes to Kay for generously donating her time for free. Every class winner and the 2nd and 3rd placed dogs had a prize to go with their rosette, made possible thanks to the extremely generous donation from local pet supplies shop Seedee Pets at Ballingdon. They really went above and beyond, even personalising the prize labels for Little Maplestead; our thanks to them for such support. Show wins wouldn’t be the same without a rosette and ours were generously sponsored by Parish Councillior Geraldine Holloway. Special rosettes were awarded for every entrant in the young handler class. The show was a family affair for Geraldine, with her sons Mark and Chris responsible for the music and ring stewarding respectively. They did a great job, the very fitting music choices throughout concluding with Florence and the Machine’s ‘Dog Days Are Over’! Best in Show was won by the winners of the very first class, Best Puppy Sam and his owner Jerry. They beat the winner of the Prettiest Bitch, Karat, who scooped Reserve Best in Show. There were lots of lovely dogs who were all deserving winners and it was a tough choice for Kay to choose just one winner. Thanks to everyone that came and supported the show, with or without dogs. It was lovely to see people chatting and catching up with each other and hopefully enjoying their free burger from Britten’s Bites courtesy of the Parish Council. The Whippy Bros ice cream van proved very popular too. The event achieved its aim of getting the village together and £150 was raised on the day, which will be donated to local pet charity Mel’s Rescue. Thanks to all who came – perhaps we’ll do it all again next year! Helen Went

Pebmarsh School is Looking for a Governor

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Nature Notes from a Cottage Garden I love autumn. It’s my favourite season. A softer light as the angle of the sun changes, a feeling of contentment as the earth seems to pause for a rest after the harvest and before it must start to prepare for the winter ahead. And there is always a tinge of sadness at the passing of the year. Back in the spring I took some photos of the flowers on my medlar tree. I think they are the prettiest of all the fruit tree flowers. Large, 5-petalled white flowers which seem to glow palely against the background of dark green leaves. Now, despite the drought, they have developed into fruit, my annual crop of medlars. Strange, hard, ugly little apples to have come from such pretty flowers, and this year much smaller than usual, they do not look promising as a recipe item. But medlar jelly is simply delicious and is easy to make. However with medlars there is one unusual and important step to be taken. When you harvest your medlars some must be hard green fruit but most must be 'bletted’. This means they must be over-ripe, brown and mushy. On the point of rotting. The result of this mix of medlars is a sumptuous amber coloured jelly with a unique flavour - delicious with roast game such as pheasant and even with turkey on Christmas Day. Here is a simple recipe for Medlar Jelly: Take a good quantity of bletted medlars plus a few firm green fruit (for pectin). Chop them all in half. Place in a pan and cover with water. Add a sliced lemon. Simmer gently for an hour so that the fruit are completely soft. Pour the pan contents into a muslin bag and strain overnight. Just let it drip. Do not squeeze the bag or the jelly will not be clear. Measure your strained juice. For every 600ml juice use 450500g granulated sugar. Dissolve sugar in the juice by heating very gently and stirring. When the sugar is dissolved bring to a rapid rolling boil. Test for setting in the usual way and pot in jars. The other day I was excited to find an insect in the garden that I had never seen before. I photographed it and found that it was a European Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus), a very distinctive little beetle with eye-catching red and black markings. Originally these Firebugs were only to be found in the UK in Devon but they have recently spread throughout most of southern and eastern England. Firebugs are completely harmless both to humans and to plants and their favourite food is the fallen seeds from lime trees. It was under my lime tree that I spotted this one.

Patricia Fletcher 17

Gardening Corner October heralds shorter days, longer nights and the clocks going back an hour at the end of the month. Time to think about moving tender plants into a greenhouse or porch and bringing house plants inside. I would recommend checking each plant carefully for any unwanted passengers; many's the time I have found a rogue caterpillar or small snail hiding on a houseplant and a slug wedged to the underside of a pot… Dahlias have recovered by now and should be providing us with a few weeks of colour before the frosts blacken the foliage. Unless you are on heavy wet clay, cut down the old stalks and cover the base of the plant with a mulch, protecting the tubers underground. If you do lift your dahlias, cut off the stalks, leaving about 4 inches. Turn the tubers upside down for a couple of weeks to drain, brush off any unwanted soil and store in a frost-free location in spent, dry compost or sand. Two more drought-tolerant plants worth considering are Yarrow and Verbena bonariensis; water these in thoroughly and then occasionally, once established. In the vegetable garden it is a good idea to note down where you have grown various crops. Crop rotation is important for controlling diseases like onion mould, where the base of the bulb becomes a slimy mess. A basic rule of thumb for rotation is: Potatoes Brassicas Root Crops Cucurbits; doing this means the ground does not become ‘tired’ by growing the same plants constantly. Hardwood cuttings can be taken now as we are in a dormant time of year when growth virtually stops. I will just mention two examples of shrubs you can propagate: Forsythia and Weigela. Take a four to five inch cutting from a non flowering stem, cut below the leaf joint and strip off all the excess leaves apart from the last four at the top of the cutting. If you have rooting powder, dip the base of the cutting into it then make a hole in your cutting mix [part sharp sand and perlite is ideal] with a dibber. Place approximately 5 cuttings in a 3 inch pot, water from the bottom then move to a cold frame or window sill. Water only when the compost feels dry; fingers crossed, new shoots should appear next spring. There is still plenty to do! The Arborist 18

Book Reviews Two markedly different books this month, to enjoy during the autumn…

THE DENTIST: Tim Sullivan This is the first in a series of nine enjoyable and well researched novels featuring DS George Cross, whose socially awkward demeanour stems from his Asperger’s Syndrome. With an exceptional conviction rate Cross stands out but his obsession with valuing logic, patterns and details above everything else often isolates him from his colleagues and superiors. Many see him as a nuisance, while others view him with grudging respect. This case begins when a homeless man is found violently strangled in picturesque Bristol. Despite the gruesome nature of the crime, Cross senses something deeper lies beneath the surface, leading him to connecting it with an old cold case involving a murdered dentist. As Cross investigates he finds his homeless man was also once a respected dentist. Cross is convinced that this murder’s solution lies in reconstructing the circumstances surrounding the earlier murder but dedicating his time to investigating the cold case does not come without risks. His investigation into the homeless man’s death puts him at odds with a retired officer, revealing layers of deception surrounding the original murder. Suspense builds as Cross’s attention to detail uncovers hidden connections that could spell disaster for all those involved – and ultimately for Cross, who finally resolves the case in a quite unexpected manner.

I AM PILGRIM: Terry Hayes Published in 2013, this compulsive spy thriller won 2014’s ‘Thriller & Crime Novel of the Year’. It features a breakneck race against time – and an implacable enemy. A young woman murdered in a run-down hotel with all identifying marks dissolved by acid; a father beheaded in the heat of a Saudi Arabian public square; a notorious Syrian biotech expert found eyeless in a Damascus junkyard; smouldering human remains on a mountainside in Afghanistan; a plot to commit an appalling crime against humanity. One path links them all and only one man can make the journey – Pilgrim. Pilgrim once headed up a secret espionage unit for US intelligence. Before disappearing into anonymous retirement, he wrote the definitive book on forensic criminal investigation – but that will come back to haunt him. What begins as an unusual and challenging investigation becomes a terrifying race-against-time to save America from oblivion. Pilgrim journeys from a public beheading in Mecca to deserted ruins on Turkey’s coast via a Nazi death camp in Alsace and the barren wilderness of the Hindu Kush in search of a faceless man intending to commit an appalling act of mass murder in the name of his God. The Bookworm

Getting Grants, Noting Numbers and Eating Curry

Gestingthorpe Goings-on Gestingthorpe Village Hall Coffee Morning & Book Exchange Fortnightly on Fridays from 10.00am to 12 noon Join friends and neighbours in the Village Hall for tea, coffee, cake and a chat. All cakes are homemade and served by our fabulous team of volunteers. Tea or coffee and cake £3.00 – pay by card or cash. Bring a book to swap or buy a book for £1. Our bookcase is located next to the big window in the small hall. There is a large range of books and genres to choose from. The next Coffee Mornings and Book Exchange will be on 9th & 23rd October11th and 6th & 20th November All funds raised go towards running and maintaining the Village Hall.

GESTINGTHORPE LITTER PICK Saturday 3rd October 10.00am to 12.00noon Meet at Gestingthorpe Village Hall The Gestingthorpe Grill will be serving Bacon Baps, Tea and Coffee, free to all litter pick participants. All equipment provided by Gestingthorpe Parish Council. Please wear suitable clothing & footwear.

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Tempting Treats at the Pheasant…

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Forthcoming Local Events Hedingham Heritage Society Celebrations of one man’s contribution to our understanding of the natural world and another whose art was inspired by similar local influences are the themes of the Society’s upcoming talks over the next couple of months.

Thursday 8th October: ‘John Ray – 399 Years Since His Birth’. Often referred to as the ‘Father of Natural History’, John Ray (1628 – 1705) devised important animal and plants classifications, bringing order to the chaotic mass of names used by contemporary naturalists. Paul Wood shines a light on Ray’s immense contribution to our understanding of the natural world. 7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall

Thursday 5th November: ‘Thomas Gainsborough’s Sudbury’. In the mid-18th century, Sudbury was a thriving market town where Thomas Gainsborough spent his formative years, deeply influenced by its surrounding water meadows and woodlands. In this talk, local historian Ashley Cooper will explore the town that provided Gainsborough with both artistic inspiration and his early clientele. 7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall

Annual membership our local and natural history society is still £15. Members come free to all walks and talks. Non-Members - £5. Everybody is Welcome. Contacts: Trudi: 01787 462 889 : Mark: 07906 472 636 E-mail: hedinghamheritage@gmail.com or visit www.hedinghamheritage.org.uk

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Goodbye to Beverley (and Barry!) More than 100 people attended the Revd Beverley Vincent’s final Holy Communion Service in St Giles’ Church on Sunday 30th August.

It was a truly special and memorable occasion, filled with warmth, laughter, friendship and just a few tears. After six years of devoted service to our churches and communities, Beverley has left behind a lasting legacy of kindness, faith, encouragement and friendship. Thank you to everyone who came to the service and helped make Beverley and Barry feel so loved and appreciated. The warmth of the gathering and a lovely full church showed just how much they meant to us – and it was a fitting tribute to all they have given to our community. So many people contributed to this farewell in thoughtful and generous ways, preparing the Church for the service and the Village Hall for the subsequent party. We’d especially like to thank everyone who brought food along to share, Jan Hancock and the Maple Leaves for organising and serving the food, the chaps for serving the refreshments and Gillian Newton and Jacqui Mee for organising the collection, gifts and helping everything run so smoothly. Thanks also to the other churches in the benefice for their contributions. Beverley was surprised at the turn-out and was suitably impressed: ‘It was so special and I’m grateful to everyone who made the service so memorable. Thank you to everyone who came and to all those who contributed to and enjoyed the lunch. Thanks also to all who worked so hard to make it such a memorable occasion. I have been overwhelmed by the gifts I received. Such generosity and kindness. You are all amazing!’ We would like to wish Beverley and Barry every happiness, good health and success for the future. May their next chapter bring them wonderful opportunities, cherished memories and the same joy they brought to so many others. Denise O’Connell/Paula Sillett St Giles’ Churchwardens 29

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Parish News Information Advertising/Announcements/Articles The 2026 Parish News Business Advertising Rates for the year (10 issues, pro-rated as applicable) and for monthly single-issue advertisements and event announcements are shown below, along with the Copy/Artwork Deadline dates for the final two issues of Parish News:

Articles Please submit these by e-mail, as a Word document attachment with separate jpeg/png images: ½ page: 150-160 words + images Full page: 400-420 words + images

Contacts: Advertising Editorial

Ann Harris Parish News Team

ann66harris@gmail.com parishnewsmaplestead@gmail.com

The Parish Representatives, to whom articles and event announcement submissions should be sent, are listed on the Inside Front Cover.

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The Four Parishes Benefice The Vicar: In Vacancy Team Rector: Rev’d Mark Payne

01787 220 347

colnesvicar@gmail.com

For wedding, baptism and funeral enquiries contact Team Administrator: Rae Haylock 01787 472 171 10saints.rae@gmail.com

The Churchwardens: Great Maplestead Paula Sillett 07975 571 253 Denise O’Connell 07795 170 048

psillett@sky.com niciedenise@gmail.com

Little Maplestead Churchwarden Vacancy PCC Secretary Susie Fenwicke–Clennell Gestingthorpe Alice Nolda Peter Nice

01787 469 688 01787 460 126

Pebmarsh Churchwarden Vacancy PCC Secretary Luke Brown

susie@clennell.net

charles.nolda@gmail.com peter.427nice@btinternet.com

lhwbrown@hotmail.co.uk

Church Services and Events in October Sunday 4th

9.30am 11.00am

Morning Prayer Holy Communion

Gestingthorpe Little Maplestead

Sunday 11th

9.00am 10.30am

Holy Communion Café Church

Pebmarsh Great Maplestead

Sunday 18th

10.00am

Holy Communion

Gestingthorpe

Saturday 24th

2.00pm

Meet, Cake, Create

Great Maplestead Village Hall

Sunday 25th

9.00am 4.00pm

Holy Communion Compline

Great Maplestead Gestingthorpe

More information can be found on the Knights Hospitaller Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064958463133

or on A Church Near You: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/ 34

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