About a fortnight ago a beautiful horn shaped basket was stolen from Kent View.  Two hanging baskets had been placed high up on the front of the house, then one disappeared overnight.  These baskets are very heavy when filled with compost and plants, so it might be construed that carrying two at once would need considerable strength.  Some sort of vehicle would be necessary to transport these.  This crime has been reported on the internet, which is far quicker than going to the nearest police station.  There are only a few crimes which can be reported this way, just go to Metropolitan Police Home Page, then Reporting Crime!

Gate open onto the Marshes
Last weekend the gate onto the marshes between Halldare and Laundry Cottages was left wide open, this meant that any number of vehicles could enter.  The owners of this land were prompt in shutting the gate and placing large blocks of concrete behind it thus ensuring no entry for vehicles.  Please keep your eyes open to see that this situation is maintained.

A Card for Paul Long
We were sad to hear that a former resident of Wennington, Paul Long, has had a stroke.  He spent some weeks in a London hospital and then hoped to go for rehabilitation at a unit in University College Hospital.  We sent a Wennington Village card, which Paul was able to read.  We do hope that he will return to full health.
Dan from Kent View had an emergency operation,  but is home now and we hope that he has returned to full health.  He is walking every day to build up his strength.  Let’s hope that Anne can keep up with him!

Wennington Break-ins!
Several homes in Wennington have been broken into, despite the use of burglar alarms and CCTV.  Please be careful and lock your windows, doors and sheds.  Leave a timer operating your lights, radio or television, when you are out.  Ask your neighbour to keep an eye on your home when you are on holiday.

Rare Plants in our Churchyard
Mary Smith is a retired chemistry teacher, but her passion has been botany.  She is able to identify all flowers and plants, which helps when she discovers rare plants.  In our churchyard, she found lady’s bedstraw, which is a small yellow flower and had been used to fill ladies’ mattresses in times gone by.  It was also used to stop bleeding and in Cheshire it was added to milk to curdle it prior to making cheese.   
Another rare plant is Burnet’s saxifrage, which is a small white flower from the umberlliferae family.  It can be used as a herb and a diuretic.  Maidenhair spleenwort can be seen growing on the upper part of the railed tomb. Normally it grows in damp areas and can germinate from cracks in the rocks.  The final plant of specific interest was the sedge, which grows amongst the grass, it has a flat sided stem and the small green flower springs from the stem.
Mary has accepted the challenge of identifying all the plants that are growing in our area - you may even find her peering over your garden wall!

The Electoral Register 2009
Recently you will have received a form from Havering Council to ensure that you will be included on the next Electoral Roll.  There are local elections next May, but a General Election could be called when the “powers that be” decide that it is appropriate, so please fill in the form and ensure your vote.

KICC appeal rejected
The Secretary of State has refused the appeal by the KICC to build a church on Beam Reach Park.  There was considerable local concern that this development would involve a large amount of traffic.

A Wedding for Lee and Natalie
Harry and Gwen’s daughter Natalie is to be married to Lee on Friday 4th September at 3.30pm in Wennington Church.  Gwen and Harry have two granddaughters, who are to be bridesmaids at the wedding.  It is a truly family affair and we wish everyone a very happy day.  Thanks to Pat and Norrie, who cleaned the church after the builders had left and Joan and Coral who have arranged the flowers.

Jason our Postie is to move
Jason our postman will soon be changing his postal delivery round.  He is to keep part of his existing round but is to take over part of the Lambs Lane area.  This is because the postman who delivers to the farms on the A1306 and Jason often pass each other in their deliveries, so the rounds are to become more efficient.  This will take place in September. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jason for all his hard work especially in the inclement weather and wish him well on his new ground.