A SMALL rural retreat in the Essex countryside has beaten stiff competition from across the county to be crowned the Best Kept Village in its size category of the 2013 Essex Village of the Year contest.
It may lack even a small shop or post office but the tiny village of Pleshey, near Chelmsford, makes up for it with warmth and community spirit according to residents, who have been delighted to also achieve third place overall in the awards from the Rural Community Council.
"For such a small village to get third place in the overall competition is jolly good and we're all very proud of ourselves," said resident Kate Holland, who nominated the village for the accolade earlier this year.
"Everybody knows everybody else here which you either love or hate, but all of us absolutely love it.
"When I was interviewing people ahead of the application what really came across was the depth of love of people for the village. There is something really special about it."
Despite having fewer than 300 inhabitants, the Pleshey social calendar is bursting with everything from yummy mummy groups, a choir and social circles for the elderly, to running groups departing from the village pub – one of the many things that impressed judges on their hour-long walking tour.
"You could never get bored here, we might be small but there is always something going on to get involved with," said Christine Carpenter, who arrived in the village six years ago after spotting the cottage of her dreams in a newspaper.
"It's such a beautiful place and I have never been anywhere so friendly. I think it really deserves the award."
Following a lengthy application form, a ten-minute presentation and a guided tour for the judges, representatives from the village were invited to attend a presentation ceremony at Writtle College last week, with no clue as to how well they had performed.
"The presentation and tour went well, and we gave the judges coffee and croissants, but as we're such a small village we didn't really dare hope to win as others had so many more facilities," added Kate, a parish councillor and mother-of-two.
"When we found out we were just so proud and delighted, it was wonderful news."
For another resident the award confirms three happy decades spent in the Essex idyll.
"When I moved in 30 years ago I didn't realise how lovely the community was but I quickly found out, and what a great place it is to live," said Helenmary Stark.
"I have seen it change and evolve over the years but it has always retained its heart at the centre of it all."
Villagers will now decide together how best to spend the £250 prize money from the competition.
"This competition showcases so much that is good about rural life in Essex today. Our judges were enormously impressed by the enterprise, commitment and sheer hard work of the dedicated volunteers who do so much for our rural communities," said Nick Shuttleworth, from the Rural Community Council of Essex.
"It was great to hear new ideas and plans for the future at each of the finalists."
