Saffron Screen is your not-for-profit independent community cinema based within Saffron Walden County High School. The professional auditorium boasts a full size screen, 200 cinema seats, Dolby Digital surround sound and both 35mm and digital projection equipment. Ticket and refreshment prices are kept low to benefit all and parking is free.

Heydon Road was completely closed outside the church in order to facilitate the connection of water and sewerage services to the church.
As this picture shows (click on it for a better view), this entailed digging a very big hole - 11 feet deep when this picture was taken, and still not got to the sewer.
Unfortunately for anyone wanting to get from one side to the other there was a very long diversion (about 5 miles), either via Heydon and Chrishall or New Road and Barley.
The road has now re-opened and the church will be able to benefit from water and toilets for the first time in its very long history, thanks to the huge effort that has gone into fund raising.

9.45pm, July 25th, The Pheasant garden. The sound started from over near Bull Meadow, got closer and closer and continued away towards Reeves Pightle. At the same time a largish bird flew over. A quick visit to the web confirmed our suspicion. Yes - it was a Nightjar!
Nightjars are nocturnal and are out looking for food - moths and beetles - at dawn and dusk. They are similar in size and shape to a cuckoo or kestrel. They are migrants, arriving April/May time and leaving in August. They are on the RSPB amber conservation list and are not normally found in this area - Thetford Forest being the nearest known habitat.

Just a few days after the church tower was unveiled, the windmill also emerged to full view. Removal of the scaffolding indicates that work on the main body, the buck, of the mill is complete and it looks splendid! The cedar boarding that so many villagers contributed to via the Sponsor a Board campaign has been painted and topped with extra protection on the roof that should see the mill through the next hundred years.
This gleaming white finish covers an extraordinary amount of effort that was needed to make the structure safe. Bill Griffiths, our millwright, and his assistant, Klaine Feagan, have completed repairs to a superb quality. Framework timbers were cut back to sound wood and new oak plates were glued and bolted to replace the lost section. See pictures of the restoration progress here.
New window frames were built and all board edges were carefully ‘flashed’ to ensure no water ingress.
Just before the scaffolding was removed, the ‘striking rod’ was fitted. This is a steel rod, well over 8m long, that is positioned in the centre of the windshaft to connect the mechanism on the sails that opens and closes the shutters with the control gear that can be seen on the rear of the buck. This took some adjusting of size and shape and careful manipulation.
Whilst we are very proud of the achievement so far, it is only part of the story, as we have to repair the tail assembly before visitors can freely enter the building. The skeleton tail fan erected in the sixties is unsafe and the steps of the stairway need attention. Planning permission for both is imminent and Bill aims to remove the tail carriage before the end of summer and rebuild it off-site.
He also has a repair to make to one of the sail frames currently in Chris Bates’s barn and to one of the main sail stocks still attached to the mill. The sail frames have been completely stripped, repaired and repainted by Tony Andrews with Chris’s help. The plan is to have all the work done and the sails back in place by late Spring 2019 when we can look forward to a grand celebration to reopen the windmill to the public.
The amount of work required to restore the windmill has been far greater than anticipated but it is worth it just to see that brilliant white beacon welcoming people to our village. Next year it will look even better!
More about the history of the windmill.
Please visit our website greatchishillwindmill.com to see our progress.

June 10th started out overcast but as 2pm approached the skies cleared giving way to a glorious afternoon and evening - perfect for the Open Gardens afternoon. This was the fifth time that this biennial event has been held, raising money for St Swithun's Church. The church was the starting point where for £5 visitors were given a green wrist band so that they could visit any of the 8 gardens open for viewing in the village. Teas were available at Rectory Farmhouse, ice creams and other delights at the URC schoolroom and Indian nibbles served at the Rectory.
The event raised £840. Click here to see pictures from the day.

An Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) has been installed on the wall of the sports pavilion facing the car park.
In the event of a cardiac arrest, upon calling 999 the caller is given the location of the nearest AED and the code to unlock it.
The device gives easy to follow verbal instructions, is safe to use, and will only operate if it is appropriate.
It is hoped to arrange a Cardio Pulmonary Massage (CPR) and AED training session soon for anyone interested.
More information about Defibrillators.

Have you won one of Tess Gent's flower arrangements in a raffle, or bought one with a donation after an event? If so, Tess would really appreciate having the plastic flower dish back. Thank you in advance from Tess.

Heydon Road opposite the bus stop, on the first Wednesday of each month 14:10-14.40
5th September
3rd October

Monday 2.30 to 4.30
Tuesday 2.30 to 4.30
Wednesday 2.30 to 4.30
Thursday 5.00 to 7.00
Friday 2.30 to 4.30
Saturday 10.00 to 12.00

Normal opening hours
Mon to Fri 7am to 7pm
Sat 7am to 2pm
Sun 8am to 2pm
Note: The Post Office is now open most of the time when the shop is open, the exceptions being closing at 5pm on Wednesday, 1pm on Saturday and closed all day Sunday