Great Baddow Charity Race

May 2010

The 26th year of the Great Baddow Charity Race took place on Sunday May 23 starting and finishing at the Recreation Ground. There were two races, a ten mile race and a 2 mile fun run with around 2000 competitors taking part. It turned out to be one of the hottest days in the events history with the temperature reaching 29 degrees.

Ryan Prout of Chelmsford A C won the 10 mile race  in a time of 54.50. Kate Mills of the Springfield Striders was the first lady to finish in a time of 01.09.08.

Demolition Plans Rejected

May 2010

The Great Baddow Parish Council's planning committee have rejected a second attempt by developers to replace Marrable House, a derelict office block at The Vineyards, Great Baddow.

They voted against the developers revised plan to demolish the five storey building and build two blocks of flats for the elderly. Around fifty Great Baddow residents attended the meeting held at Baddow Hall School to protest against the application.

The application will now go before the planning committee at Chelmsford Borough Council for their decision.

Baddow Dental Practice, Maldon Road, Great Baddow

March 2010

The Baddow Dental Practice in Maldon Road, Great Baddow is run by Adam Copsey whose family have a long history in Great Baddow. The Copsey family owned the slaughterhouse and butchers shop in the High Street (where the Merry Go Round Children's Nursery is now situated).

If you are going to visit this dentist, look out for the signed photographs of West Ham players that adorn the walls in the waiting room area. Adam is a big West Ham fan and a personal dentist to many of their star players.

Baddow Dental Practice Tel: 01245 474555.

The Co-op Arrives At The Vineyards, Great Baddow

January 2010

The Co-op took over from Somerfields and after a brief closure for refurbishment the supermarket re-opened in the Vineyards, Great Baddow. The Co-op have two other stores in Great Baddow - in Beehive Lane and at Meadgate.

A Great Haircut - And Cheap Too!

December 2009 

You can't knock it. 'Graham's The Barbers' in Baddow Road, Great Baddow, takes some beating when it comes to getting a bloke's haircut. I stopped there a few minutes before 7.30am on Saturday morning. The ever cheerful owner, Graham, appeared from around the back of the premises having just parked his motor bike. 'The wife' he said 'has the car' (she runs the ladies hairdressers behind the shop).

Graham let me in and wasted no time in setting his razor to a number 4. I was out in under 10 minutes! Graham (who is assisted by fellow barber Mick) only charges £5 for a cut, OAP's just £4. You do a great job lads!

A little tip...the shop is usually busy but Graham tells me that the best time to visit can be when its raining or cold. The old fellas tend to stay away at these times and wait for the sunshine!

Vineyards 'Eyesore' Set For Demolition

November 2009

Great Baddow's ugliest building is, at last, going to be demolished. Marrable House, better known as the old post office building at the Vineyards, Great Baddow, has been empty for many years and was voted one of the ugliest buildings in the country in a survey carried out at the turn of the millennium.

Developers Rubicon West, who own the entire Vineyards complex, are going to replace the building with 60 retirement homes as part of a £10 million project.

Kings Head Pub Re-Opens

October 2009

The Kings Head pub in Maldon Road, Great Baddow has re-opened after an extensive re-furbishment.

 

The 'Kings Head' signs outside the pub are that of Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks. He was the first son of Henry III and reigned as King of England from 1272 to 1307.

Longshanks famously battled with the Scots, led by William Wallace (come on ..everyone's seen the film 'Braveheart').

The bar has been completely re-vamped.

The interior has been re-designed whilst keeping the original features such as the beams and the fireplaces. The carpet has been replaced with a wooden floor.

Businessmen Eddy Garty, Neal Green and Dom Pearce have taken on the lease at the Kings Head which is owned by the Enterprise Inns pub chain. Previous landlords Dave and Sally Trigg have moved abroad to Fuerteventura (Canary Islands).