I am deeply saddened that the last 65 years seem to account for nothing to some people.
How can a man who has devoted his life to caring for others and providing spiritual guidance and teaching actually be condemned for standing up to racism and fascism?
The Anglican church stands for peace and equality for all regardless of colour creed or religion. It is therefore the people who are so ignorantly attacking Rev Smith that should be ashamed. It is they who insult the memory of those who bravely fought to protect our freedom and the rights of those considered to be worthless by taking so called offence at his comments.
To imply that Rev Smith was in the wrong for talking about politics is ludicrous - wars are the direct result of politics and misguided politicians - it was the politics of Nazism that caused World War Two and to conveniently forget this is once again showing a complete ignorance and naivety as to the point of Remembrance Sunday.
We have a moral duty to ensure those lives were not lost in vain and therefore examine the roots to conflict - in this case; fascism.
I am so glad that as a citizen of a country that is supposed to be founded on inclusiveness for all there are still people who stand up to intolerance and injustice.
It is these men and women to whom we should all look up to. It was fascism that was attacked during the address by Rev Smith and if the BNP took offence to this then all they have done is openly admit to be proud followers of this extremism.
Christianity fought against Hitler in World War Two and I pray that people will see these followers of the BNP and fascism as nothing more than single-minded racist individuals.
Rev Smith is to be heralded for taking a stand and refusing to be bullied into making a retraction.
If there were more men like this in the world we would be living in a much fairer and more just society.

Charlotte Crosby



As I recollect Rev Smith did not mention the BNP in his address at the memorial service.
The BNP chose to take personal offence at his comments about fascism, something which they seem to proclaim they are not.
Rev Smith, as a citizen of this country, is entitled to share his views on politics, and what is the Church if not a body of people who share a common belief system?
The Clergy are employed to preach to their local community and that is what he did.
The address was about remembering what the soldiers died for, and to ensure we do not allow such parties to infiltrate society again which is exactly what Remembrance Sunday is all about. I think Rev Smith should be congratulated on making a stand against such political parties, of which arguably the BNP is one.
The BNP continuously tries to use Christianity as justification for their absurd views and to proclaim the notion that England needs to return to it's Christian roots.
Christianity is about community and inclusiveness, not hate and discrimination.

Alice, Leytonstone.
 

I was disturbed to read that the Rev Geoffrey Smith felt the need to vilify the British National Party on the most heart wrenching day of the year.
Firstly he is supposed to be non-political, and vilifying a party he doesn’t agree with as part of a Remembrance Day address, says everything about the Church of today.
Firstly, the British National Party would do anything for our soldiers.
And the fascism aimed at this party shows ignorance beyond belief.
The BNP would never send our troops into any war that has nothing to with us, unlike our so-called 'honourable' members of Parliament who just stand by and watch our men continue die, just because they haven’t got the guts to admit they have made a devastating mistake.
Yes, our soldiers fought in two world wars to stop our country being invaded and taken over by Germany. They didn’t fight and die for it to be handed over a few years later by stealth.
And to the Right Dishonourable Eleanor Laing I would say.
He who is without sin cast the first stone. Good on Pat Richardson, she is one brave lady.  .

Sylvia Howard

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Club 195 should be closed down to protect the safety of us Epping residents. Incidents of the magnitude of that on September 26 must not be allowed to happen again. Police need to get tougher (and I mean police, not PCSOs) and the scum involved should be locked away, never again to enter society. It is a shame for respectable young people who simply want to enjoy a night out, but their safety is at risk too, and the only solution is to close Club 195 down.

Barbara, Epping

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Untrue rumours are circulating that bus route 46 from Ongar to Chelmsford is to be axed at the end of February.
Press reports demonstrate the distress being caused to many in the villages who depend on this service and I would be grateful if you will allow me to state the true position.
Route 46 is one of a list of contracts due to end in August and the county council will soon be inviting tenders from operators to run the new contracts.
Part of this process is to review the usefulness and cost of running each service and this consultation is currently taking place with the parish councils and users.
Many routes are unable to run profitably and are subsidised by the council up to a limit of £5 per passenger journey.
In fact route 46 costs a little over the limit but this simply means it will be subject to special consideration by the cabinet member.
I have already met with the officers to stress what a vital lifeline this represents to our residents and I have also had discussions with the parish and town councils who are all adding their valued support.
Many letters and petitions have already been received and provide valuable personal evidence of the need for this essential service.
All of this will be helpful when I meet with the cabinet member before he makes his decision later this year.

Councillor Gerard McEwen, county councillor for Ongar Division

WE were very upset and quite angry to learn that Epping Forest District Council is considering cutting the No 46 bus route between Ongar and Chelmsford that serves the villages of Fyfield, Willingale and Roxwell.
It is virtually the only bus that operates in these villages and people living in Fyfield, Willingale and Roxwell that do not have their own transport, or are no longer able to drive for a variety of reasons, rely on it to get to shops, banks, medical centres, hospitals, as well as basic shopping.
Pupils who attend school in Chelmsford and at present use the 46 bus service to get to and from school will also suffer.
We use the 46 bus to take us to Chelmsford much more frequently now that we are retired.
We have to live now on a much lower income, so being able to use our Senior Citizens Travel Passes is an enormous help and also benefits the environment - less car journeys giving off carbon emissions.
There are many `regulars' on the 46 whom the drivers and other passengers recognise so that travelling becomes a social event as well as a necessity.
With village stores and post offices currently threatened with closure by our so-called socialist government's policies, opportunities for social interactions are dwindling in an alarming way.
Please use any influence you have as a public voice to express the importance of public transport services for rural communities.
Ongar and Chelmsford have many bus services; Fyfield, Willingale and Roxwell have virtually only one - the 46 - that operates most weekdays and provides residents with a link to other bus services from Ongar and Chelmsford, as well as train services.
If this Government and in particular Epping Forest District Council have any understanding of the problems of rural villages, they will not withdraw this vital transport link.

Howard and Patti Nicholson, Queen Street, Fyfield.

I frequently use the number 46 bus route Ongar-Fyfield-Willingale-Roxwell-Chelmsford and now I hear it may be axed by Essex County Council.
Another cut?
Whenever I've used this route it seems to be well used and surely it would be a disaster for many people living in the outlying villages.
I wonder if you can give this threat some publicity on this website to stir local residents into lobbying Essex County Council by email or post. 

John Winslow, Ongar
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LIKE all Loughtonians, I was very saddened to learn of the death in Afghanistan of 19-year old Marine George Sparks, who lived in Theydon Mount, but who as a boy attended Debden Park High School in Loughton.
My father served in the Marines, who are often the forgotten service, whose work is much less well known than that of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, but who for 300 years have served their country faithfully, often in the most difficult of circumstances.
My mind goes back to another Marine, with the same surname, Bill Sparks, one of the cockleshell heroes, whose house in Loughton is marked by one of the town council's blue plaques.
George Sparks died in the service of us all in a faraway country.
We are proud that he grew up among us, and immensely sad that he died bravely doing his country's work in the most dangerous of circumstances.

Chris Pond, Loughton mayor 



WHILST I did not know Georgie Sparks or Tony Evans I was privileged to line the street outside Epping Church on Saturday, December 13, and contribute to Georgie's send off that he rightly deserved.
I also offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
On December 12, 1962, I was serving in 42 Commando RM when five Marines of similar age were killed at Limbang, Sarawark, therefore the tragic death of Georgie and Tony together with those four marines from 45 Commando killed in Afghanistan on Friday, December 12, 2008, exactly 46 years after Limbang shows how the demands on our servicemen never cease.
Malaysia was the outcome of the Borneo Confrontation.
Lets hope something as good flows from the Middle East which makes their sacrifice worthwhile.
The Royal Marines saying "Once a marine always a marine" is very true. It is a privilege to serve in the Royal Marines because of its history and esprit de corps, and as you get older you never forget those friends and the following verse sums up how I feel now and I am sure current marines will feel the same as time passes.

That in the years of youth and friends
When ones life is fashioned for it end
You miss those friends so full of life
Who paid the ultimate sacrifice

John (Bill) Bailey Ex Sgt RM 41, 42, 45, Commando RM, Honorary Alderman City of Bath
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LOUGHTON residents are extremely lucky to have free access to almost 160 acres of open meadows, woodland and one and half miles of riverbank. Roding Valley Nature Reserve welcomes walkers, horse riders, dog walkers and everyone who enjoys the open countryside in all its phases. Less welcome are the ‘flytippers’ who see the open area as an invitation to avoid the expense of rubbish disposal. This is an infringement of the Neighbourhoods Environmental Act 2005 and carries a penalty of up to £5,000 for private perpetrators, plus the expenses of clearing the site. Fortunately the last would-be tippers left ample evidence so the cost of their house refurbishment is likely to rise dramatically.

Keith Miller, High Road, Epping
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We are now in the worst recession since 1929 and yet I have not seen one word printed from Epping Forest District Council that acknowledges the situation.
Some people in the local area are suffering quite badly especially the retired living on investments and now having to dip into their savings.
My concern is in the last two weeks we have Epping Forest District Council stating they intend to spend £400,000 on advertising their services, they are recommending a 2.5% increase in rates, but what I don't hear is how they can cut back and cut out a lot of the waste which is what normal businesses have to do, and consider how they can reduce the rates.
My first suggestion would be to study what Brighton Council are doing experimenting with the Spanish-style waste collection which, for those who are not aware, sees each 40 houses have large communal colour-coded wheelie bins.
I appreciate there would be disputes as to where they are located but the savings once it is set up are incredible and they could be emptied much more regularly.

Hugh Farish, Beech Place, Epping
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I hope your readers will agree with me that we owe our sincere thanks to the team who did such a magnificent job in gritting our highways during the unusually long spell of cold weather.
To deal with a task of such magnitude Essex employed over 80 personnel with 65 gritting lorries on 24-hour standby throughout the whole period.
We concentrated on A and B roads plus those leading to larger towns, hospitals, fire and ambulance stations - an amazing total of over 1,800miles!
Each time it takes two hours to cover the whole route, using 150 tons of salt for every outing!
Sometimes they had to go round the whole lot three times in one night and by careful management they did this without running out of supplies as happened in some counties.
Theirs must have been the most unpleasant, cold job imaginable and they have earned our gratitude.
Sadly the downside of all this is the creation of a huge number of new potholes - just as the highways department had got the last lot beaten!
Funds have been allocated for this work to start urgently.

Councillor Gerard McEwen, county councillor for Ongar Division

YESTERDAY (Tuesday, February 10) was unusual in terms of weather but having waded through numerous floods in Moreton, Abbess Roding, Fyfield etc the icing (no pun intended) on the cake was to find black ice on most roads late last night and no evidence of gritting having taken place. I saw evidence of accidents on Rye Hill Road and elsewhere that indicated how badly gritting was needed and again side roads were often virtually impassable.

Brian Surtees, Ongar
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Loughton Residents Association Plans Group has objected to the district council about their plans to put advertisements on roundabouts in or on the edge of Epping Forest (because these would be a significant visual intrusion), and at the junction on Chigwell Lane (because of the safety issues).

David Linnell, chairman, LRA Plans Group, Eleven Acre Rise, Loughton.
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I have just read (March 7, 2009) you piece on the cost to us of the gypsy and travellers consultation, including £6000-plus on translation. Translation into what? Am I the only one that is heartily sick of the whole thing. We've been asked if we want them, the majority said 'no' - end of consultation.

Nina Martin

I HAVE been reading with interest the various articles regarding the travellers.
Surely two obvious points, at least to me, have been overlooked.
Firstly, these people chose to be travellers so why do they need permanent plots at all?
Secondly, if they are too have permanent plots why are they being provided at the cost of the council tax payer, a body to which they presumably do not belong, and too the great inconvenience to said council tax payers?

N. Martin 
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