What's On in April - West Essex

What's On in April - West Essex

CHILDRENS WRITING COMPETITION

Children living in or going to school in Loughton are invited to write a poem, a short story or a newspaper article about anything connected to Loughton and Epping Forest.

There are four age categories: under 7s, 711, 1114, and school children aged over 14.

The winner of the under 7s and 7-11 categories will win a 15 book token. The 11-14 and over 14 prize winners will win a 20 book token.

Entries should arrive at 18 Wellfields, Loughton, Essex, IG10 1NX by 1 May 2011. Please put your name, school and age on each entry. We hope that schools will forward entries to us, but individual entries are also welcome. Entries cannot be returned, so please keep a copy.

Sponsored by: Haslers Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors

HEARTH AND HOME:

A history of chimneys and fireplaces

Did you know that focus was the Latin word for hearth? Would you recognise a spit-jack? Why did people hide old shoes in chimneys? Chimneys and fireplaces are endlessly fascinating and this 6-week course traces how people in ordinary homes kept warm and cooked their food two of the most basic essentials of living from mediaeval open hearths through spectacular Elizabethan chimney stacks to elegant Georgian fireplaces.

We begin by examining the crucial role of the open-hearth fire in chimney-less mediaeval homes.

We then see how the introduction of chimneys affected house design, and learn to recognise the varying styles of stack and fireplace.

We also examine associated features; hearthside equipment and decoration, specialised uses like baking and brewing, and end with a dabble in fireside folklore.

April 6 to May 10

Tuesday mornings 10.30 to 12.30 to be confirmed

Loughton Cricket Club, The Uplands (turn in by white double doors)

36 for 6 weeks or 7.50 per session

Places on this course can be booked by sending a cheque and SAE to 18 Wellfields, Loughton, Essex IG10 1NX

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE

Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 6 April

Event: Motiv8 2011

Venue: Epping Forest College, Borders Lane, Loughton, IG10 3SA

Tickets: 6 full price; 3.50 concessions (under 16s/students/OAP), early booking is recommended. Call the booking line on 01992 564226

Details: Motiv8 2011 is an annual youth and community dance showcase for Epping Forest Arts.

It is an exciting evening of local dance groups from across the Epping Forest District showing their latest dance pieces.

Saturday 9 April at 7.30pm

Event: An Evening of Opera with Meridian Opera

Venue: St Johns Church, Church Lane, Loughton IG10 1PD

Tickets: 10 on the door or in advance: 07510 195 877

Details: A show of staged scenes from popular operas and operettas including excerpts from Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, HMS Pinafore and much more.

TALKS AND LITERARY EVENTS

Saturday 16 April 2.00pm 4.00pm

Event: The Loughton Festival Talk

Venue: St Marys Church, 201High Road, Loughton IG10 1RB

Tickets: 6 (5) for one or both talks payable on the door

Details: Retiring collection for

Guide dogs

2.00pm Beneath the City Streets: Londons Unseen History talk by Peter Lawrence, Chairman of the Woodford Historical Society.

3.00pm The Perilous Depths: Philanthropy and Slumming in Arthur Morrisons East End

Talk about Victorian East London and the impact that authors such as Dickens and Morrison had in shaping attitudes towards the people who lived there. By Eliza Cubitt, University College London. The Arthur Morrison Society Annual Talk.

Friday 29 April at 8.00pm

Event: Victorian Buildings in Essex: a view from the 21st Century talk by James Bettley

Venue: Wesley Hall, to the rear of the Loughton Methodist Church, Loughton High Road. Please park in Traps Hill car park, which is just across the road

Tickets: 1.50. HEARS members free

Details: Dr Bettley revised the Pevsner Architectural Guide to Essex in 2007.He is an architectural historian, previously Head of Collection Development at the National Art Library at theV&A Museum and has also workedat the Design Museum and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

WALKS & TOURS

Wednesday 6 April1.00pm - 3.00pm

Event: Special visit to the

Museum Store

Venue: The British Postal Museum Store, Unit 7, Imprimo Park, Lenthall Road, Debden, IG10 3UF

Tickets: This is a free event, but you must book in advance: 020 7239 2570

Details: The Store is a gem, packed full of post vans, post boxes and historical objects as well as postal technology. Children love visiting! Visitors will enjoy two 30-minute curator-led tours, separated by a break and complimentary refreshments, followed by time at the end of the visit for self-led exploration of the collection. Please note that each 30 minute tour will involve standing for this time. A great event for all of the family. http://postalheritage.org.uk/

Sunday 10 April

The Roding Valley Recreation Ground Town Mayors Fun Run for all the family. For more details and to register:http://www.loughton-tc.gov.uk/

Sunday 17 April

10.45am for an 11.00am start

Event: The Loughton Festival all day walk

Venue: Meeting at Debden Tube Station (parking next door, various buses stop locally in case the tube is not running that day)

Tickets: 5 Purchased on the day

Details: Meeting outside Debden Tube Station. John & Pat Juchau (West Essex Ramblers) and David Stevenson will lead our annual walk.

An all-day walk of approximately 8 miles from Debden Tube Station to Chigwell Village; returning by a different route. Commentary on places of interest en route, including the areas local connections with historical figures.

We will stop for drinks at lunchtime,

but please bring a packed lunch in

case food is not available at the pub.

For more information, please email info@loughtonfestival.org.uk

EASTER EVENTS

In West Essex when the

chocolate becomes too much!

Sunday 10 April, 11.00am-3.00pm

Enjoy a fantastic day for all the family meeting the baby animals, taking pony and cart rides and enjoying life

on a farm.

Venue: Lambourne End Centre, Manor Road, Lambourne End, Essex RM4 1NB

Fee: Free of charge, contact 020 8500 3047 or visit www.lambourne-end.org.uk

Epping Forest Arts Present Easter Holiday Fun

Epping Forest Arts are pleased to announce their fantastic three-day event Lift Off!

Use myth, magic and mystery to lead your audience to strange new worlds... and back again! Working with professional artists, you will create your own short production and put on a performance for family and friends to watch. With drama, dance, video, music, costume and set design, there will be lots of different activities to try. Remember to bring a packed lunch and wear comfortable clothes.

Monday 11 Wednesday 13 April

(3 day activity), 10.00am-3.30pm

Ages 8-11 years

Venue: St Michael & All Angels Church Hall, Roding Road, Loughton, IG10 3EJ

Fee: Full price 45 / 25 concessions, booking line 01992 564226

Booking Essential

Epping Forest Arts and Long Nose Puppets present Flyaway Katie

Epping Forest Arts,are pleased to announce another return visit from

the fantastic Long Nose Puppets.

Reserve your space now and dont

miss out.

Wednesday 13 April, 11am & 2pm

Venue: Theydon Bois Village Hall, Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, CM16 7ER

Fee: 5 per ticket, booking line 01992 564226. Booking essential

Event: Following the success of Shoe Baby, Long Nose Puppets present their brand new and exciting show, Flyaway Katie! Flyaway Katie is an inspiring flight of fancy about the power of imagination based on the popular childrens book by Polly Dunbar, with music by Tom Gray of Gomez. Katie is all alone and feeling grey. The birds in the picture on her wall look so colourful, if only Katie could be as bright as them, who knows what might happen? The show is bursting with colour, movement and surprises. The show is aimed at 2-7 year olds and will be 30 minutes long followed by a 15 minute meet the puppets session. Described by The Guardian asMagical and beautiful.

12, 16 & 19 April, 12.00pm-4.00pm

Bring back a little bit of nostalgia this Easter and bring children to make their own toys in nursery rhyme crafts sessions at Epping Forest District Museum, Waltham Abbey. Remember the days of sock puppets? You may even bring out the child in yourself!

Fee: 1 per child, booking line

01992 716882

22 to 25 April, 10.00am-5.00pm

Eggtastic Easter at Lee Valley Park Farms, Waltham Abbey. Meet the animals, take a tractor ride and see the farmer milk the cows.

Fee: Off peak and peak prices apply, booking line 08456 770 600

23 April, 12.00pm-4.00pm

Follow the trail and claim your chocolate prize in the east egg hunt at Epping Forest District Museum,

Waltham Abbey.

Fee: 1 per child, booking line

01992 716882