A Memorial Service is to take place

on Thursday 31st July at 2pm

in Waltham Abbey Church for the late

Denis Esau

This will be followed by refreshments in the Cornmill Suite at the Town Hall.


WALTHAM ABBEY TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN HALL, WALTHAM ABBEY, ESSEX EN9 1DE

"David Cameron is to announce tough action on immigration that will halve the amount of time foreigners can claim benefits in the UK. The Coalition will introduce laws to ensure that European Union migrants can only claim out-of-work benefits for three months, Mr Cameron says in an article for The Telegraph. The Prime Minister also pledges to stop more than 500,000 British jobs being advertised across the EU and announces tough new curbs on colleges offering visas to 'bogus' students” – Daily Telegraph

• We’re building an immigration system that puts Britain first – David Cameron, Daily Telegraph
• The Government is right to restrict benefits for immigrants – Daily Express

King Harold Academy has received the green light from the Department for Education to provide a sixth form education to the students of Waltham Abbey. Local Ward Councillor Liz Webster said this is marvellous news for Waltham Abbey “ I am absolutely delighted for our local parents and children, this has been in the pipeline for years, I am so pleased”  My congratulations to everybody involved, in particular our MP Eleanor Laing and Essex County Councillor Valerie Metcalfe.
The academy as part of the Epping Forest District Sixth Form Consortium, had been working on its proposals for two years. Buckhurst Hill and Loughton South county councillor Valerie Metcalfe set her sights on bringing extensive sixth form provision back to the district when she was elected to Essex County Council and appointed deputy cabinet member for education in 2009. 
She said she was "thrilled" at the news describing it as "really exciting" for children, parents and teaching staff across Epping Forest. 
Valerie said: "I have been determined that I would make sure we got our sixth forms back in local schools after 25 years of uncertainty for parents and students alike. 
"The headteachers have worked extremely hard on their consultation with parents and it has taken a lot of effort to put in their bids and to persuade Essex County Council to support this project. 
"We are also grateful for the wholehearted support and backing of Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing not least because when the decision got bogged down at the Department, Eleanor intervened personally with Michael Gove (Education Secretary) and Lord Nash (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools) to make sure the decision was given to the schools before the end of the summer term." 
Valerie added: "We are all thrilled and I know the vast majority of parents in the area will be really pleased that their children can continue with their sixth form education at their existing school. 
"It has so many benefits not least that it will ensure continuity of teaching and help with the retention of excellent teachers as well as ensuring that standards are increased even further in all our local schools.
"The new Year 11 students will be able to choose this coming autumn term if they wish to carry on in the new sixth forms from September 2015." 

Today, Waltham Abbey Town Council has received £4,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project, World War I Commemoration in Waltham Abbey. Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, the project will focus on an exhibition displaying the story of Waltham Abbey during World War I.

To mark the Centenary of the First World War, the project will enable local people in Waltham Abbey to come together to preserve the memories and heritage of the people and the town during that time.  Photographs, newspaper clippings, documents, letters and memorabilia as well as family tales passed down to help them build a clear picture of what life was really like.

With help from local people, the information gathered will be on display for several days where everyone can access and contribute information. A photographic record of the exhibition will also be made to allow the public to discuss, contribute, share and research information about the town and its people during that time.

Commenting on the award, the town Mayor, Cllr Mrs Ann Mitchell MBE, whose idea it was for this exhibition said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, it will really allow us to show the history of that time, and also the history of our town”.

Explaining the importance of the HLF support, the head of the HLF, East of England, Robyn Llewellyn, said: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. The Heritage Lottery Fund has already invested more than £15million in projects – large and small - that are marking this global Centenary; with our new small grants programme, we are enabling even more communities like those involved in Commemoration of WW1 in Waltham Abbey to explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and help local young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.”