Epping Town Council presents special awards
Town Mayor reflects on year in office at civic reception
Epping Town Mayor councillor Christine Burgess reflected on her year in office at the Annual Civic Reception which recognised and celebrated the efforts of people in the local community.She said: "I have met many of the individuals and community organisations in Epping Parish and learnt what a wonderful sense of community that creates."Epping is a great place, and we are here to celebrate that. I have lived in Epping for over 47 years and raised my children here and I am proud to call it our home."Looking back on her year as Mayor, councillor Burgess said one of her first duties was to visit Epping's German twin town of Eppingen to celebrate 40 years of twinning between the towns.
With Barbara Scruton, she signed the documents confirming the past 40 years of friendship between the communities and declaring that the ties of mutual friendship will continue to be promoted.Councillor Burgess said the Town Show at Stonards Hill recreation ground in July was a "wonderful community event showcasing many local organisations and businesses".
She said the highlight of her civic year was the Remembrance Day Parade and Service.She also recounted the Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s Church, and the town council organised Christmas Market which she described as "wonderful events pulling our community together".Councillor Burgess added: "It was a pleasure to have some of our local schoolchildren design the Mayor’s Christmas card and to have other schoolchildren choosing the best decorated Christmas shop window."She thanked her fellow town councillors and the town council staff, led by town clerk Beverley Rumsey for their efforts over the past year.
Former Town Mayor who has made "significant contributions" to town over decades made Freeman of the Town
The former Epping Town Mayor who has made "significant contributions to many areas of the town’s life" over decades has been recognised with Epping Town Council's Freeman of the Town honour.
Barbara Scruton was described by current Town Mayor councillor Christine Burgess as someone "extremely well-known, liked and respected by many, so synonymous with Epping, that it would be impossible to think of the town without them in it".
In 1969, Mrs Scruton purchased ‘Gingers’ at 93 High Street (now Peggottys fish and chips shop) and put her own name to it.
In 1976, she purchased ‘She Boutique’ in Station Road and two years later purchased the old Church’s Butchers Shop at 142 High Street (now Poppy’s) and converted it into the new location for her boutique business.
The Station Road shop was opened as wool shop 'Woolyminded'. The old boutique was opened as fabric shop 'Gemini'.
Prior to this, Mrs Scruton spent a lot of time with her grandparents who owned and ran Carisbrook Nursing Home on Station Road.
And it was there where the family’s association with Epping started.
Mrs Scruton's civic life in Epping began when she was elected to the town council, a position she held for 12 years, serving as Town Mayor twice.
She was a member of various committees, including finance and planning, and a range of working parties.
As vice-chairman of the planning and general purposes committee and a member of the Neighbourhood Planning Advisory Committee, she was noted for speaking on behalf of the town council at district council planning meetings.
She has also represented town and parish councils on the Local Highways Panel, chaired the Safer Epping group, chaired the town council's personnel committee and been a key mentor to town council staff.
Mrs Scruton was engaged as a town councillor on a number of outside bodies including the Epping Society where she held an active ex-officio membership of its committee over several decades, recently also being elected to the post of vice-president.
Her work as a councillor has also seen her involved with Epping Town Centre Partnership and she was one of the early promoters of the Epping in Bloom project.
For a long time, she had an active role in the Epping-Eppingen Twinning Association, of which she is presently chairman, and has made five visits to the German town.
Further afield she joined the Board of BIBIC (the British Institute of Brain Injured Children based in Somerset) as a trustee in 2000 and was chairman from 2005 for 15 years.
A key member of the Rotary Club of Epping, serving as president in 2016-17,
2020-21 and 2023-24, Mrs Scruton plays a strong role in young peoples’ activities,
including Youth Makes Music, and the innovative Youth makes Art programmes.
During her recent term in office, she has focused on a community project to encourage people to use Epping’s green spaces.
She was a trustee with Epping and Theydon Garnon Joint Charities from July 2014 to March 2023 and has taken lead roles in a variety of other community ventures, including organising a charity dinner in aid of the Syria and Turkey Earthquake Appeal raising almost £5,000
Current Town Mayor councillor Christine Burgess said: "Receiving the honour of Freeman of Epping ensures an individual’s contribution is never forgotten."
* Fellow Freemen of Epping John Batchelor, Letitia Berry and Humphrey Wheeler were among the guests at the Civic Reception which paid tribute to the late Freemen Dennis Verrall, Ruth Benjamin, Freddy Limer MBE and Denys Favre.
Community stalwart "who has the love of their community at heart" receives Townsperson of the Year award
A community stalwart well known for his work with various organisations, including Copped Hall Trust - has received Epping Town Council's Townsperson of the Year award.
Vic Knope was described by Town Mayor councillor Christine Burgess as "someone who really has the love of their community at heart".
Councillor Burgess said that since moving to the area in the 1970s, Mr Knope has been a stalwart of several community organisations, most notably Copped Hall Trust where he has served as secretary, been a leader at Open Days, sung in the choir and organised events, both musical and artistic.
He organised and led Epping Forest District Council Life Walks over several years, to help with people’s health and fitness, with an emphasis on recovery and re-establishment of vigour - until Life Walks was closed by Covid.
She added that as a leading light in Epping Probus, he has acted as Dining Secretary and the booker of speakers while he also gives talks to a variety of groups throughout the area, mostly of historic or cultural significance.
Mr Knope is also on the Epping Chorus (formerly Epping Church Choirs Association) committee fulfilling the role of secretary.
With his wife, Maggie, he is also known to have sponsored a range of events in the Town.
Councillor Burgess said: "Vic epitomises what the Townsperson of the Year award was created for. Someone who really has the love of their community at heart."
Twinning association receives town council Community Award
The Epping-Eppingen Twinning Association received a Community Award from Epping Town Council.
The tie-up between Epping and the German town began with a holiday visit in the late 1970s when Alan Swann, who was a member of Epping Forest Band, got to know Eppingen when travelling through Germany.
He met the then leader of Eppingen Town Band, Herbert Höge, and they put the respective mayors in touch with one another to broach the idea of a twin-town partnership.
The idea took off. The twinning agreement was ratified in Epping in 1981, and in Eppingen in 1982. The new association grew quickly and other local organisations became involved, including the brass bands from both towns.
From the beginning, there has been a lively exchange between individuals and families in both countries, with active visits between the two towns, and an annual week-long language course which takes place in each country.
Everything is organised to give participants the maximum exposure to the language and culture of the other country in a welcoming atmosphere, whether in England or Germany.
The years 2022 and 2023 were particularly busy for the association with 2022 seeing the 40th anniversary of the twinning celebrated in Epping followed by similar celebrations in Eppingen the following year.
Eppingen also hosted a large regional garden festival in 2022 when each of Eppingen’s three twin towns, including Epping, had a stand showcasing their own country.
Town Mayor councillor Christine Burgess said: "A twinning arrangement is a big project that takes a lot of people and effort to grow and continue and the Epping Eppingen Association has worked extremely hard to keep our ties of friendship strong.
"Having been part of the 40th celebrations, it gives me the greatest pleasure to present the Community Award 2023 to the Epping-Eppingen Association, and long may our friendship continue."
END
Comments