Roxwell Essex Village of the Year 2026

Roxwell Named Essex Village of the Year 2026

 I’m delighted that Roxwell has been named Rural Community Council of Essex Village of the Year 2026. This is a wonderful recognition of everything that makes ours such a special community. The Rural Community Council of Essex is an independent charity and this award celebrates local people who are doing great things to sustain and strengthen community life where they live.

I had the privilege of writing and submitting the award application on behalf of Roxwell, with the support and encouragement of Cllr Emma Drakeford, Chair of Roxwell Parish Council. Thank you also to Cllr Jon Gray for representing Roxwell at the award ceremony. This award belongs to all of us in Roxwell. It reflects the remarkable commitment, generosity and community spirit shown by so many residents, volunteers and local groups.

The judges recognised a village that’s always seeking to move forward: a community that came together to secure the future of the historic Chequers pub through an ambitious community ownership campaign; volunteers running a thriving community café that helps tackle loneliness and isolation; major events ranging from the classic car run to outdoor Shakespeare performances; a busy well-used Memorial Hall,

a committed congregation, a flourishing pre-school, dynamic Brownie group, successful sports teams, heritage and environmental projects, charity events, concerts, quizzes, dances, arts and crafts, talks, walks and so much more.

While putting the application together I was constantly being reminded just how much happens in a village of this size. There are so many examples of people giving their time, skills and energy to make Roxwell such a wonderful place to live.

The judges made a wise decision to honour a community whose achievements speak for themselves.

Cllr Anton Shelupanov           Roxwell Parish Council