Tuesday 9th March at 7.30pm. Halstead Surgery Link is holding a talk called “How Care Works” in the Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery. Come and see how the team at Halstead Hospital manage the care of patients. Everybody welcome. Raffle.

Tuesday 9 March at 7.30pm. Halstead & District Horticultural Society Annual General Meeting to be held at The Conservative Club, High Street Halstead; this is an open meeting to which members of the public are welcome to attend.

Thursday 11th March. The next meeting of the Halstead WI will be on Thursday 11th March at the Halstead United Reformed Church, starting at 7.30pm, when our speaker will be Helen Buck who will be giving us a dose of Laughter Is The Best Medicine. Why not come along and join us for what promises to be a fun evening

Friday 12th March. Ladies Pamper and Shopping Event at Earls Colne Primary School, 7pm till 9.30pm. Featuring 20 Stalls full of girlie treats for you and your home. Mini Beauty Treatments available, £5 for 15 minutes. Tickets £2.50 available from school from 22nd February or £3 on the door to include a complimentary glass of wine
Come and relax and treat your Mum for Mothers Day

Friday 12th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Domino Drive 8pm

Saturday 13th March at 3pm. Jumble Sale in Great Maplestead Village Hall. Admission 20p. Raffle and refreshments. Jumble will be gratefully received on the morning of the sale from 9am until noon. For local collections please call Doreen on 01787 460727. In aid of the village Hall

Saturday 13th March. A family concert by the CPO at 06:00pm in Christchurch Braintree. Offenbach - Overture from Orpheus in the Underworld. Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf. Tchaikovsky - Excerpts from the Nutcracker Suite No. 1. John Williams - Harry Potter. Strauss - Blue Danube Waltz. Conductor; Michael Price, Leader; Jill Davison. Tickets: Adults and Seniors £9, Under 16s £3. Tickets are available on the door or via our box office; Tel/fax 01206 – 210933, or by email to cpo-boxoffice@bigfoot.com or by post to The CPO Box Office, 9 Church Grove, Aldham, Colchester, Essex, web site; www.colnephil.org.uk

Saturday 13th March, 8.00 - 11.30 p.m. Dances at Braintree Community Centre, Country & Western Dance with 'Tequila Sunrise', tickets £6.00, Bar and Raffle. Contact 01376 323280

Saturday March 13th Golden Harvest Health Foods in North Street, Sudbury is holding a Charity Open Day when you can come along and experience taster sessions of various natural therapies and beauty therapy. Each session costs £5 and needs to be booked in advance. There will also be a raffle. Bookings can be made in person or by phoning 01787-376214. All monies raised will be donated to The Kernos Centre, Sudbury, charity number 1097354.
The Kernos Centre provides professional support and counselling to those with psychological or emotional difficulties and their mission is to make counselling available to people in need, when they need it and for as long as it is required.

Saturday 13th March at 7.30pm. Halstead Choral Society is putting on a concert at St Andrew's Church Halstead. We will be singing John Rutter's Magnificat and Vivaldi's Gloria. Tickets are priced at £10 on the door, or at £9 in advance from David Oswick Estate Agents, Halstead, or from Rob Wood on 01787 269917.

Saturday 13th March. Easter Egg Hunt & Mothers Day Fair at Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School, Marlborough Road, Braintree. Find our Bunnies to claim your Easter egg but if you can find a GOLDEN EGG (1 per child) then you win one of our Special Prizes. Tickets cost £2.50 per child’s ticket (incl. free Easter egg). We will be holding the Easter Egg Hunt the day before Mothers Day – so come along for some fun in finding the bunnies and pick up a lovely present for Mothers day. Tickets available from the school or on the day. We look forward seeing you at the Hunt.

Saturday 13 March. Castle Hedingham Parish Council Present Dragonfly, Reg Meuross in Concert with special guest Bethany Porter (Cello) at the Memorial Hall, Castle Hedingham at 7.45. Doors open at 7.15. Tickets available from Buckleys Tearooms, Castle Hedingham or from Miles Scrivens on 01787 469766. Price £8.00. Light refreshments and bar available.
Reg Meuross is one of that rare breed a true English troubadour, one of Britain’s most talented and widely respected singer-songwriters. He was recently invited to appear at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust’s annual benefit. His performance is pure class. He brings to the stage a collection of extremely beautiful songs, often informed by his own experiences; sometimes just great stories expertly told and linked by wry and witty observations, the delivery of which is complimented by his excellent and soulful high tenor voice and guitar playing and the superbly talented Beth Porter on Cello.
Dragonfly is a performance of story songs from Reg’s new CD of the same name and collected from tales gathered whilst touring England on a recent Rural Touring Project. There are songs dealing with the real Dick Turin; the original ill-fated voyage of the Pilgrim Fathers; the Shakers; the tragic story of the young men executed in WW1 by their own men for “desertion” as well as songs about Elvis; the artist Edward Hopper and Johnny Ray.
Bethany Porter will be accompanying Reg on these concerts, a brilliant, young cellist, singer and ukulele player.

Sunday 14th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Cash Prize Bingo Eyes Down 8pm

Thursday March 18th. Halstead Tea Dances at the Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, 2.00pm -.4.15pm. Touch & Go. Entrance fee £2.50. Raffle 50p a strip. For further details contact Sylvia on 01787 475026.

Friday 19th March, 8.00 - 10.00 p.m. Dances at Braintree Community Centre, Old Time Sequence Dancing, entrance £3.00, light refreshments. Contact 01376 323280

Friday 19th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Quiz Night 7-30 for 8pm

Friday 19th March, 7pm for a 7.30 start. Ramsey College Quiz Night at the College in Colne Road, Halstead. Teams of 6 - 8 are invited to join us for a fun filled evening. Tickets £5.00 per person, bring your own food and drinks. Entry forms available from the school office. Contact number 01787 472481

Saturday March 20th at 7.30pm. Toppesfield Parish Council Present: Another helping of Mervyn Stutter in Toppesfield Village Hall. YES! HE’S BACK! After last year’s hilarious sell-out show in Toppesfield, Mervyn Stutter has kindly agreed to COME BACK with a new and even funnier and more topical show! This is the first year that Toppesfield is ‘going it alone’ without the financial support of Essex on Tour. So come and support this fantastic event. You are GUARANTEED to laugh at this hilarious and talented man. ‘A First Class Entertainer’ (The Stage).
“Mervyn Stutter is as sharp and as funny as anyone” (The Times)
“Like the host of a dinner party, Merv treats his audience as welcome guests. He chats a bit, tells a few jokes, makes some pithy observations and entertains with clever comedy songs on guitar. Stutter appears so genuine that he is irresistibly likeable.” (The Scotsman). “Hilarious songs” (The Observer)
Tickets are priced just £10 and include a free ploughman’s supper! Get you tickets from Toppesfield Village Stores, The Green Man Pub, or from Andrew Colley on 01787 238045, e-mail: colley@topp.freeserve.co.uk

Saturday 20th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Pic ‘n’ Mix 60s 70s 80s Music 8.30pm

Sunday 21st March at 7pm. The Anglia Singers once again give a major programme of choral music in Braintree, at Our Lady Queen of Peace, The Avenue, Braintree. The annual Passiontide programme has become part of the local musical calendar and the Singers usually feature a major work as well as shorter pieces appropriate to the theme. This year they will be giving what is probably the first East Anglian performance of Howard Goodall’s new work Eternal Light, premiered at Sadlers Wells in November 2008. Conducted by Professor Chris Green, the concert also features works by Handel, Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Tickets are now on sale from members of the Anglia Singers and their Ticket Line (01245 350988) together with Braintree Tourist Information Office and cost £6 (under 16s are free).

Sunday 21st March. Halstead Conservative Club - Cash Prize Bingo Eyes Down 8pm

Friday 26th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Domino Drive 8pm

Saturday 27th March. Fun General Knowledge Quiz for adults at Earls Colne Scout Hut Station Road to raise funds for the Earls Colne Scouts Switzerland trip in August 2010. 7.30 for 8.00pm start. Bar available bring your own food. Teams of up to six welcome £2.00 per person. Prizes for the winning team. Successful event last time so ring to book your space as space limited. 01787 477538 or 07952223352.

Saturday 27th March 7.30pm. Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall. Coggeshall Camerata. Janette Ruocco. Tickets are £10 & £8 for concessions.

Saturday 27th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Children’s Easter Party 4-6pm

Saturday 27th March Evening. Halstead Conservative Club - Sally Cranham 8.30pm

Saturday 27th March 2010, 7.30 pm Sudbury Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at St Peter's, Market Hill, Sudbury. Conductor; Matthew Andrews, Leader; Maggie Hughes. Rossini - Silken Ladder Overture, Hummel - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E flat. Soloist: Heidi Sutcliffe. Mendelssohn - Symphony No 4 in A, 'Italian', Op 90. Tickets: £10 (children £2). Available through website: www.sudburysymphonyorchestra.com; from Compact Music, North Street, Sudbury; from 3 Beaconsfield Close, Sudbury CO10 1JR (send cheque and sae). A limited number of tickets will be available on the door.

Sunday 28th March. Halstead Conservative Club - Cash Prize Bingo Eyes Down 8pm

Thursday 1st April. Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter ad Vincula, at 12.30pm. Wyldes Noyse: Kings to Cuckolds Admission free: retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12noon.

Friday 2nd to Monday 5th April. Easter Fayre at Blake House Craft Centre, Blake End, Nr Braintree. Competitions for the kids all weekend, Egg Hunt, Egg painting, Balloon race, face painting, side stall

Sun 4 April. River Stour Trust Event. Boat Operations commence at Sudbury & Flatford (until 31 Oct) Tea Room opens at the Granary on Sundays, 11am–5pm

Monday 5th April. Car Boot Sale. Fundraising for the Quay Theatre. Quay Car Park 9am.

Saturday 10th April. A good quality Jumble Sale will take place in St Francis Church Hall, Colchester Road, Halstead from 9.30am to 11.30am. On sale will be good quality clothing, a great selection of household goods & bric a brac, books, toys & much more! Entrance costs 20p. Parking is available behind the church hall. All proceeds to charity.

Saturday 10th of April. IVC Social and Activities Club guided walk at Flatfod Mill. To book please ring IVC on 07891-927046 or find out more about IVC on .www.essexivc.org.uk

Saturday 17th April 10.30am. Jumble Sale in Maurice Rowson Hall, Gosfield. Items for sale gratefully received between 9 - 10am on day of sale or ring 473505 for local collection.

Saturday 17th April, 7.30pm. Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall. Essex Police Band.

Thursday April 22th. Halstead Tea Dances at the Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, 2.00pm - 4.15pm. Make Love to Life. Entrance fee £2.50. Raffle 50p a strip. For further details contact Sylvia on 01787 475026.

Saturday 24th April, 7.30pm. Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall. Braintree Choral Society, Soloists and orchestra Haydn’s Creation

Sunday 25th April. Open Music Night. Fundraising for the Quay Theatre. Bar 7.30pm.

Monday 3rd May. Hedingham United Football Club May Fair. The Fair is held on Lawn Meadow Football pitch in Sible Hedingham and always attracts a lot of interest, with stalls, games, competitions and inflatabules. This year we are trying to attract more stall-holders and are asking if you would like to have a stall on this day. If you would like to organise having a stall at the May Fair please contact the following people for more details: Terri - 01787 461763. Sheila - 01787 460463. Julie - 01787 460147

Monday 3rd May. Car Boot Sale. Fundraising for the Quay Theatre. Quay Car Park 9am –2pm.

Monday 3 May. River Stour Trust Event. Teddy Bear Boat Rides at the Granary, Quay Lane,S udbury, 11am – 4pm. Young children and their teddy bears travel free when accompanied by a fare paying adult

Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May from 10am. The 9th annual Plant Market to be held on Market Hill – Sudbury. This event raises funds for the town's Quay Theatre and attracts quality nurseries and growers from across East Anglia.

Thursday May 6th, Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall, commencing at 12.30pm: Beverley Lockyer, Elizabeth Kent (sopranos), Gary Griffiths (baritone), Jess Barton (flute, clarinet), Peter Dollimore (piano). Admission free; retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12 noon. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church organ appeal

Saturday 8th May. Macmillan new sponsored walk for 2010, the "Flitch Way Family Walk". Starting and finishing at the Discovery Centre, Great Notley Country Park, Braintree. We have a choice of walks, a 10-mile walk with a 10am start and a 3-mile walk with an 11am start. The walks will be through lovely countryside, full of wildlife and flora with wonderful views; it’s a really great way to have a fun day out with family and friends while supporting local people affected by cancer. Why not make a day of it, pack a picnic to have while enjoying the surroundings of the country park on your return and relax with family and fellow walkers. We do hope you can come and support us on the day and make this years walk a fantastic success. If you would like more information please call the Essex fundraising office on 01245 345280 or go to www.macmillan.org.uk/walking

Saturday, 8th May 8pm - 11pm. Trad Jazz Nite featuring "New Orleans Heat" at Toppesfield Village Hall, Toppesfield. Tickets: £12.50 inc. Fish & Chip Supper. Contact: 01787-237190. Licensed Bar. In aid of St Helena Hospice

Sunday 9th May. Farleigh Hospice Walk for Life 2010. With the support of M&G Investments, our 18th annual ‘Walk for Life’ will be taking place on Sunday 9th May. Walkers can choose from two scenic walks; a longer 21.5km route from Heybridge Basin to Chelmsford, and a shorter 10km route from Paper Mill Lock to Chelmsford. Both walks will now be finishing at Bond Street Car Park in Chelmsford, as opposed to Wharf Road Car Park. So whatever your age or ability ~ you can enjoy the beautiful mid Essex countryside whilst raising vital funds in support of your local hospice. Last year 1,800 people took part in ‘Walk for Life’ and raised over £180,000 in sponsorship. This money has played a big part in the funding the care we provide free of charge to local people affected by life-limiting illnesses. As the demand for the services provided by Farleigh Hospice continues to grow each year, we are hoping that with your help, this year’s walk will be bigger and more successful than ever! Registering for the walk couldn’t be easier. There is a £10.00 registration fee for adult walkers and a £5 fee for children under 16 which goes towards the cost of a T-shirt, and the overall administration of the event.
Visit www.farleighhospice.org/walkforlife to register online now, or contact our events team on 01245 457408, or via email at events@farleighhospice.org. The last date to register for this event is 28th April 2010.

Thursday May 20th. Halstead Tea Dances at the Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, 2.00pm -.4.15pm. Mike & Sylvia. Entrance fee £2.50. Raffle 50p a strip. For further details contact Sylvia on 01787 475026.

Thursday June 3rd, Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall commencing at 12.30pm: Mary Pells (viola da gamba), Martin Knizia (harpsichord). Admission free; retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12 noon. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church organ appeal

Sat 5/Sun 6 June. River Stour Trust Event. Mini S2C – Lengthsman Cruise RST Members only. 10am from the Granary.

Sun 13 June. River Stour Trust Event. Wedding Fayre at the Granary, Quay Lane, Sudbury, 1am-4pm. An opportunity to view our beautiful riverside venue with inspiration for your big day: from florists to caterers, cake makers to photographers all under one roof and keen to meet you!

Thursday June 17th Halstead Tea Dances at the Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, 2.00pm -.4.15pm. Dennis & Betty. Entrance fee £2.50. Raffle 50p a strip. For further details contact Sylvia on 01787 475026.

Thursday July 1st, Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall commencing at 12.30pm: Young musicians from Honywood School. Admission free; retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12 noon. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church organ appeal

Sat 10/Sun 11 July. River Stour Trust Event. Steam, Electric & Boating Festival at Sudbury. A weekend of boating and land based activity at the VEC (By Cornard Lock) and The Granary, Quay Lane

Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th July 10am - 5pm. Tractor Show. Free Entry. All donations to Farleigh Hospice. Kids come and look around these massive tractors and static engines.

Thursday July 22nd Halstead Tea Dances at the Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, 2.00pm -.4.15pm. Mike & Sylvia. Entrance fee £2.50. Raffle 50p a strip. For further details contact Sylvia on 01787 475026.

Thursday August 5th, Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall commencing at 12.30pm: Martin Dobson (saxophones and flute), Mike Parker (piano). Admission free; retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12 noon. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church organ appeal

Sat 7 Aug. River Stour Trust Event. Coracle Regatta at Bures Recreation Ground, Midday – 5pm. Watch the races or have a go!

Sat 15 Aug. River Stour Trust Event. Family BBQ at VEC, Great Cornard, Midday-4pm

Thursday August 19th Halstead Tea Dances at the Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, 2.00pm -.4.15pm. Dennis & Betty. Entrance fee £2.50. Raffle 50p a strip. For further details contact Sylvia on 01787 475026.

Mon 30 Aug. River Stour Trust Event. Pirates on the Stour at the Granary, Quay Lane, Sudbury, 11am – 4pm. Young pirates travel free when accompanied by a fare paying adult

Thursday September 2nd, Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall commencing at 12.30pm: Corrina Dolso (soprano). Admission free; retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12 noon. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church organ appeal

Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th September, 10am - 5pm. Essex Heats of British Lawnmower Racing Association Championships, £2 entry. Watch this annual spectacular as lawnmowers race round the track at top speed. All proceeds from this event will go to Essex Air Ambulance.

Saturday 11th September. Adults only. Hog Roast & Torchlight Maze Night, £25 inclusive, bookings only. Food @ 7pm with live music, followed by Torchlight Maze. Maze only £5.

Sat 11/Sun 12 Sept. River Stour Trust Event. 12 S2C (Sudbury to the Sea). Weekend canoeing event, camping available

Thursday October 7th, Lunchtime Concert at the Parish Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall commencing at 12.30pm: Peter Dollimore (piano). Admission free; retiring collection. Light lunches available from 12 noon. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church organ appeal

Monday 29th November from 6pm. Late Night Christmas Shopping Extravaganza. Firework Display @ 9.30pm