My visits in the last week have taken in celebrations, commemorations and community spirit in abundance.
Celebrations were in order at Mountnessing Primary School, which marked its 150th year of educating local children by opening a new school building, which will enable it to double its intake from 15 to 30 children a year. I was delighted to join Bishop Guili of Chelmsford to play a part on declaring the new site open in front of parents and supporters. This charming school has a wonderful vibe, with staff and children who clearly support and nurture each other. I know Ofsted visited at the beginning of the school year, just as the building work came to an end - I have no doubt the inspectors will have been as impressed as I was.
The Brentwood Centre saw some inspiring community sporting activity last week, with the Essex-based Limbless Association charity bringing wheelchair rugby and cricket to the sports hall. The Limbless Association, founded nearly 40 years ago, supports civilian amputees in their rehabilitation pathway, with a mission to ensure no amputee need cope alone.
Prosthetic limbs were propped along the wall as their owners settled into sturdy sports wheelchairs designed to withstand the clash of rugby barges in some very competitive play. This charity is a lifeline for those who are going through the darkest time after limb loss - if it’s an issue which affects you, you can get in touch with the charity at www.limbless-association.org
The Willingale community gathered en masse on Sunday to commemorate the USAAF pilots and crew who flew from Willingale Airfield (RAF Chipping Ongar) during WWII. I was enormously honoured to be asked to unveil the striking new granite memorial to those airmen funded and arranged by the endeavours of the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust www.abct.org.uk), Willingale Parish Council and local farmers.
The ceremony, attended by about two hundred local people, was testament to the pride the people of Willingale and Chipping Ongar have in the effort that their community and the US aircrew made to preparing for D Day. RAF Mildenhall provided an “Honor Guard” from the USAF, so a group of young airmen and women paraded the US flag in front of the memorial, and presented it to the Parish Council. The whole event was exceptionally moving, and a true display of community spirit at its best - great thanks to all those involved.
