Great Baddow Hit By More Snow

December 2010

On the afternoon of Saturday 18th December more snow arrived in Great Baddow causing terrible driving conditions. Most of the UK was affected in the same way with widespread traffic disruption including the closure of Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

Baddow Road

Blue Lion pub

The Vineyards

Maldon Road

Christmas Carols At The Vineyards

December 2010

Great Baddow celebrated Christmas at the Vineyards when over a hundred parishioners braved a cold, damp night to sing carols with the Salvation Army band. 

This event was organised by the fellowship of St Mary's Church and was supported by the Vineyards owners, the Co-op supermarket and the card shop (Congratulations). The Co-op kindly provided mince pies for everyone as they sang. Even Father Christmas put in an appearance!

The evening was a great success and provided a wonderful Christmas atmosphere. Let’s hope it can become an annual event on the Great Baddow calendar.

(Apologies for the quality of the photograph)

Great Baddow Hit By Snow

December 2010

The first snow of the winter arrived earlier than expected. Great Baddow residents awoke on the morning of 30th November 2010 to discover that there had been considerable overnight snow.

This was the scene in the park.

Local radio advised people to stay at home unless it was absolutely necessary to go out. Roads were treacherous, pavements icy and dangerous.

Fortunately, the buses were still running.

New Furniture At The Great Baddow Millennium Centre

November 2010

 

The Great Baddow Millennium Centre (better known as the Baddow Club) recently purchased new furniture for the bar area. The club is a members only club situated in the recreation ground. It is particularly popular with sports fans. Football, cricket and other major sporting events are often screened on the club's two TVs.

There are also two large function rooms that are hired regularly for weddings, parties and other social gatherings.

'Junior Zooky And The Freak Flags' At The Kings Head Pub

October 2010 

 

The Kings Head pub, Great Baddow was full to the rafters to see local band Junior Zooky And The Freak Flags play a 'Halloween Special' on Friday October 29, 2010.

Check out the the bands line up here:

Tom Copson - lead vocals, guitar
Tom is a full time musician from Cambridge, and is signed to Chiwawa Records as a solo artist. 

Graeme Tunnock - guitar, keyboards
Graeme is the head tennis professional at Great Baddow Lawn Tennis Club - and is Dylan Tunnock's dad! 

Matt Hope - trumpet, harmonica, percussion, vocals
Matt Hope moved in next door to Graeme two years ago and while listening to the rest of the band rehearse 'Superstition' (instead of complaining) stuck his head out the window and played the trumpet parts for the band. 

Peter Evans - bass, backing vocals
Peter is a professional photographer from Coggeshall.

Dylan Tunnock – drums
Dylan is just 12 years old and currently studying for his Grade 8 in drums!

Junior Zooky

Junior Zooky And The Freak Flags play something from every decade - from dance classics to indie anthems.

Take a look at their set list:

Junior Zooky And The Freak Flags are now available to book for your party. 

 Tel: 07833 144233 or email: thetunnocks@btinternet.com

Dates Set For Great Baddow To Go Digital

October 2010

Dates for the shutting down of the old analogue TV signals affecting Great Baddow have now been released as broadcasting goes digital only from March and April 2011.

The Sudbury transmitter covering Essex and parts of Suffolk will stop analogue transmission in two stages on March 30 and April 13, 2011.

After these dates only TVs which are equipped to receive digital or are connected to a digital set top box will be able to receive programmes.

The government have set up a help scheme where you can find further information at http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk

A Brief History Of Great Baddow Fire Station

October 2010

Most Great Baddow residents will know that the Great Baddow fire station is located on the corner of Maldon Road and Longmead Avenue but many will be unaware that it was previously in, what can only be described as, 'a green hut' (opposite Shepherd Motors) in Brewery Fields. This hut used to be part of Galleywood race course and was donated to the Fire Brigade when the course closed. The hut has now been removed to make way for additional parking spaces but the sign at the entrance to Brewery Fields still refers to 'The Olde Fire Station'.

The shift system at the old station was retained. This is still used in rural areas and personnel crewing the station would have lived or worked in the local area and would be summoned to the station by a siren in the event of fire or other emergency. This would have been heard all over Great Baddow.

The present fire station was opened on the 28^th October 1967. It then changed to a “day crewing” shift system and that is still operating today.

The shift consists of two watches of seven firefighters. Each watch covers a normal day shift (09.00 to 18.00) at the station. The watch that is on duty then provides fire cover from their homes between (18.00 to 09.00).

Eight of the firefighters and their families live in service provided houses in Tyrells Way. The other firefighters live in their own houses in the local area within 4 minutes of the station. Each firefighter does 42 hours at the station and 42 hours cover from home per week.

Great Baddow fire station covers a large area extending from Rettendon Turnpike to the other side of Danbury, The Hanningfields, Boreham and into Chelmsford as far as the Army and Navy Roundabout.

Due to the busy road network, a great deal of their work now involves road traffic collisions. Parts of the A12, A130 and A414 covered by Great Baddow fire station are some of the busiest roads in the country.

This information was kindly provided by Ashley Drage, a firefighter at the Great Baddow fire station. Thank you Ashley.