Eaton Village Residents' Association

Please see below the letter of thanks from Cllr Deborah Gihawi to Gerald Cooke, EVRA Chairman. The letter recognises all the hard work that the EVRA Committee, and in particular Gerald Cooke, put in to securing approval and funding for the Project. The Path seems to have attracted a growing number of users from both Eaton Village and Eaton Rise and we have received many comments about how it has improved the area.

As part of our approval we have to maintain the path and we are putting in place a team of people to work with the Norwich Fringe Project on this. We have a small band of volunteers who have offered their time but more assistance is welcomed. If you are interested in helping with shrub clearance and general maintenance work then please get in touch with Chris Stebbing, EVRA Vice Chairman, at email: evra.vc@live.co.uk or send a message through the EVRA Website.

Letter of thanks from Norwich City Council

A large crowd of more than 200 came to Marston Marshes to see the formal opening of the Easy Access Path. The official opening was performed by Stewart White from BBC Look East and Sarah Fincham, a wheelchair user who exercises her dogs on the marshes most days. The celebrations included music from the “Duvets”, Face Painting and a barbecue run by the 34th Norwich Scout Group. Waitrose Eaton provided the food  and Anglian buses reversed the route of the 12:00pm 121 service to enable residents from the far side of the Village to get to the venue. Speeches were also made by the Sheriff of Norwich, Chris Higgins, and Marya Parker from BTCV who supported the EVRA bid for funding from the Big Lottery Community Spaces Fund. The Eaton Village Residents’ Association would like to thank these people and organisations for their support for the project. Our thanks also go to Matt Davies, from the Norwich Fringe Project, and Norwich City Council for their help and support to get the contracts in place and ensure that the work was completed to standard.

The Norwich Evening News for Monday 26 September includes and article and photos of the event at the attached link:

Norwich Evening News – Opening of Marston Marshes Path

A Video of the opening celebrations can be found on You Tube – our thanks to Sarah Cross for making this available.

Marston Marshes Easy Access Path Grand Opening

Here is a link to photos from the day taken by Jon Cooke

https://picasaweb.google.com/106417549896961173276/MarstonMarshes24thSeptember2011

Following the public meeting at Waitrose on 26 July 2011 a new page has been created to provide in a single place all of the information on the development of the Civil Service Sports Ground . This new page includes a plan of the site and a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on the questions raised and answers given to the issues discussed at the meeting with Persimmon on 26 July.

We received just under 70 voting forms from Residents following the Scarecrow Trail last week-end and the results are:

• Favourite Scarecrow – Number 16 – “Leo” at the Red Lion.
• Scarecrow most likely to scare crows – Number 13 – “Miss Dragella” at Eaton Primary
• Most Original Scarecrow – Number 10 – “Makka Pakka” in Glenalmond
• Funniest Scarecrow – Number 21 – “Scrumpy Jack” in Lindford Drive

Each of the above will receive a special prize and a certificate. Thank you for all your votes

There is a meeting to discuss the development of the Civil Service Sports Ground by Persimmon homes. This will take place in the Coffee Shop at Waitrose on Tuesday 26 July at 7:30 for 8pm.

Despite a rather wet week-end the Scarecrows of Eaton were out on display and many residents took the opportunity to follow the Trail around the Village. The entries were of a very high standard with some witty and innovative interpretations of the theme of gardens and gardening. We also found some unexpected entries as we toured the Village. The Judges had a particularly wet time viewing the entries which was followed by an intense period of discussion to decide on the winners.  The Judges were Gerald Cooke – Chairman of EVRA, Simon Wright – MP and Paul from Anglian Busses.

The Judges awards were as follows. The prizewinners will receive vouchers donated by Notcutts:

1st Prize – Scarecrow Number 14 – “Jake the Rake” in Kingswood Close – Well done to Livvy and Luca Roberts
2nd Prize – Scarecrow Number 3 – “Hardy” in Brentwood – Well done to Thomas and James Leny
3rd Prize – Scarecrow Number 9 – “Headboy” at Eaton Primary School – Well done School

We have received a great response from Residents voting for their favourites and voting forms are still arriving at Waitrose and 54 Greenways. Please deliver your vote by the end of Tuesday 19 July. Counting will be finalised later in the week and the results will be announced at the Prize giving Presentations at Notcutts on Saturday 23 July at 9:30am in the Restaurant. Please come and join us at Notcutts.

We have received lots of very complimentary comments about the Scarecrow Trail and how this has raised the level of community spirit within the Village (your words). Many people have said that they will enter next year because they want to be a part of this. We have also heard of others that are determined to beat their neighbours next year by building a better scarecrow!

May we thank the Residents, Eaton Primary School, St Andrews Church and Businesses in Eaton for building and displaying scarecrows. We also thank the Judges for their time and considerations in reaching a decision. We also thank the local businesses for their participation through displaying posters and handing out Trail Maps and Voting Forms and for donating prizes. Our thanks also go to Notcutts Garden Centre for once again sponsoring the main prizes for this EVRA event. A big thank you also to you, the Residents, for getting out there and viewing the scarecrows, despite the rain, and casting your votes. The Scarecrows hope to see you all again next year.

See a slideshow of this year’s Scarecrows (opens in a new browser window)

There is also a Facebook Group for the Eaton Scarecrows with photos of all the entries. Please feel free to leave comments about if you can see the photos and what format(s) you would prefer for any future photo albums.

The EVRA Scarecrow Competition and Trail sponsored by Notcutts takes place over this week-end on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July. Some 21 Scarecrows will be on display around the Village and a map of the trail is available to download from these pages. The map includes a voting form for you to vote for your favourites. Scarecrows should be on display between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on each day. Please take a walk around the Village to see the scarecrows and vote for your favourite.

The map and voting form can be downloaded as a PDF File or Microsoft Word document. Please return completed voting forms by Tuesday 19 July.

Judging takes place on Saturday morning and votes for your favourites will be counted later the following week. Formal presentation of prizes and certificates will be made in the restaurant at Notcutts Garden Centre at 9:30 on Saturday 23 July. Please come and join us at Notcutts to see the presentations.

A contractor has been appointed to build the footpath round Marston Marshes – Dunella Ltd will be starting work soon. EVRA would like to thank residents in advance for their understanding while the work is completed and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

EVRA Committee

My grandparents lived in Eaton for some time before the first war, and were married in Eaton Church. Does anybody have old photographs from this time, which may depict their address in Red Lion Yard? Thanks, Ryszard