Videos

A Second  Evening with Crocky – the video from 15th November 2023

A Second Evening with Crocky – the video from 15th November 2023

This was the second evening capturing Crocky’s memories of her long life in Hadstock. The focus was on historic houses in the village and her recollections of some of their past residents. About 40 people enjoyed the event and were full of admiration for her long memory of buildings, people and events going back more than 50 years. She spoke without notes for about 45minutes on the back stories of about 15 properties and the audience then raised questions on several buildings not already covered. The meeting was chaired by Richard Dolby of the Hadstock Society.

‘Picnic on the Green’ celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III – the video

‘Picnic on the Green’ celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III – the video

This fun event was held during the afternoon of Sunday 7th May 2023. Activities leading up to and during the picnic, were filmed by John Lockton on behalf of the Hadstock Society. This is an edited video which shows the preparatory work, the picnic, the races for both children and adults, the children being entertained by Captain Fantastic, the results of the fancy dress competitions, and the group photo depicting CR captured by a drone flown by Toby and Ben Chandler. Derek Bushell, Peter Wiles and Sue Wiles were the event hosts and Crocky judged the fancy dress competitions. The weather improved during the day and this memorable and successful event ended in warm sunshine. Funding was provided by the Parish Council and Uttlesford District Council.

Environment in Danger –  a 1981 video portrait of Hadstock

Environment in Danger – a 1981 video portrait of Hadstock

In 1979, a BAA proposal to build a new terminal at Stansted Airport and expand passenger numbers to 15 million a year saw concerted action throughout Essex to oppose the planning application. A film, directed by Donald Stewart, was produced by the Hadstock Society which set out to show how the character and social life of those villages under the proposed flight path and stacking areas was potentially threatened.

The Society ran several events to finance the production, and various aerial shots were taken using a helicopter, courtesy of the Vesty family. The film was accepted and presented as evidence in the Public Inquiry which was held in Quendon in June 1982. The Inspector, Graham Eyre, commended the film and later it won the Essex Chronicle Award of the Essex Amenity Societies.

However, the Inquiry approved the BAA planning application in 1983 accepting a big increase in passenger numbers but turned down the need for a second runway. The new terminal was opened in 1991. Although the planning result was not the outcome wanted or expected in Hadstock, the film captures village life here 40 years ago in a charming and delightful way.

Hadstock Histories – Episode 1

Hadstock Histories – Episode 1

This is the first of three podcasts in which young Hadstock residents reflect on their experience of living in a small rural village and learn about previous village life from interviews with four long-time residents. The podcasts are narrated by Dylan Abbiss and Tabby Hannam, who carried out the interviews along with Freddie Doel. Transcribing was by Poppy and Lil Woods, scripts by Lil Woods and the series produced by Saul Woods.

Millennium Poetry – a podcast of 17 poems read by local people

This is the sound podcast of the reading of 17 poems by village residents to celebrate 1000 years in the life of a village. Selected by Maggie Hartley, they were recorded by Saul Woods in June 2021. A companion post on the St Botolph’s Millennium web page presents the 17 poems in their written form and lists all the 27 poems originally selected by Maggie for a special weekend of readings in St Botolph’s Church. The readings had to cancelled due to Covid restrictions.