This week, I was honoured to attend the Mayor of Epping’s Civic Reception at Epping Hall. The purpose of the event is to draw together key community stakeholders and build community cohesion and collaboration. It is also an opportunity to recognise organisations, charities and volunteers who have had a significant impact in Epping through the Council’s civic awards scheme. The Civic Reception was previously known as the Mayor’s “At Home”.
The current Mayor of Epping, Councillor Christine Burgess, had used her Mayoral term to support two charities – Voluntary Action Epping Forest and Marie Curie – both of which had representatives present to talk about the work of their charities and how people could get involved and partner with them.
The Mayor issued 3 awards on the evening: the Community Award, the Townsperson of the Year and the Freeman of Epping.
Community Award Winner: Epping-Eppingen Twinning Association
The Association between Epping and the German town of Eppingen began with a holiday visit in the late 1970s when Alan Swann, who was a member of Epping Forest Band, was travelling through Germany. He met the then leader of Eppingen Town Band, Herbert Höge, and they put the respective mayors in touch with one another to broach the idea of a twin-town partnership. The twinning agreement was ratified in Epping in 1981, and in Eppingen in 1982. The new association grew quickly and other local organisations became involved, including the brass bands from both towns. From the beginning, there has been a lively exchange between individuals and families in both countries, with active visits between the two towns, and an annual week-long language course which takes place in each country. Having personally participated in exchanges to Eppingen at school and as Mayor of Epping, I can’t recommend the experience highly enough.
Townsperson of the Year Winner: Vic Knope
Since moving to the area in the 1970s, Vic Knope has served as Secretary of the Copped Hall Trust, lead Open Days, sung in the choir and organised events, both musical and artistic. He organised and led Epping Forest District Council Life Walks over several years, to help with people’s health and fitness, with an emphasis on recovery and re-establishment of vigour. He has participated in Epping Probus as Dining Secretary and the booker of speakers, while he has also given talks to a variety of groups throughout the area, mostly of historic or cultural significance. Vic is also on the Epping Chorus (formerly Epping Church Choirs Association) committee fulfilling the role of secretary.
Freeman of Epping: Barbara Scruton
The Freeman of Epping is the highest honour awarded by Epping Town Council. It is reserved for just 5 living individuals, so not every Mayor is able to award this special honour. It’s purpose is to reward significant and sustained public service
Barbara Scruton purchased ‘Gingers’ at 93 High Street (now Peggottys fish and chips shop) in 1969. In 1976, she purchased ‘She Boutique’ in Station Road and two years later purchased the old Church’s Butchers Shop at 142 High Street (now Poppy’s). Her civic life in Epping began when she was elected to the town council, a position she held for 12 years, serving as Town Mayor twice. She was a member of finance and planning and a range of working parties. As vice-chairman of the planning and general purposes committee and a member of the Neighbourhood Planning Advisory Committee, she was noted for speaking on behalf of the town council at district council planning meetings. She has also represented town and parish councils on the Local Highways Panel, chaired the Safer Epping group and chaired the town council’s personnel committee. Her work as a councillor has also seen her involved with Epping Town Centre Partnership and she was one of the early promoters of the Epping in Bloom project. She had an active role in the Epping-Eppingen Twinning Association, of which she is presently chairman and she joined the Board of BIBIC (the British Institute of Brain Injured Children based in Somerset) as a trustee in 2000 and was chairman from 2005 for 15 years.
A key member of the Rotary Club of Epping, serving as president in 2016-17, 2020-21 and 2023-24, she plays a strong role in young peoples’ activities, including Youth Makes Music, and the innovative Youth makes Art programmes. She was also a trustee with Epping and Theydon Garnon Joint Charities from July 2014 to March 2023.
I was delighted to be sat next to the Mayor of Redbridge, Councillor Jyotsna Islam. We were able to discuss the importance of Epping Forest and the City of London Corporation’s role as Conservator. Epping Forest, of course, stretched from Forest Gate through Wanstead Flats and Wanstead Park in the London Borough of Redbridge, so it remains an important partner for our charitable work.
I was also delighted to participate in a photograph of former Mayors of Epping. Below is the photograph 15 years earlier at my “At Home”.
2024 – From left to right: Cllr. Hugh Pegrum (Deputy Lieutenant Essex), Cllr. Jon Whitehouse, Cllr. Christine Burgess, Richard Brady, Leticia Berry, Cllr. Ben Murphy, Barbara Scuton, Cllr. Michael Wright, Alan Smith, Cllr. Grahame Scuton, Cllr. Nigel Avey
2009 – From left to right: Denys Favre, Ken Avey, Susan Perry, Richard Brady, Ben Murphy, Letitia Berry, X, Hugh Pegrum, Ralph Dulwich, Alan Smith, X.
Many thanks to David Jackman at Everything Epping Forest News for the photographs. The full portfolio is available here.