“Fantastic” 2012 for Dunmow set to be remembered in special Jubilee book

IT has certainly been a special year – and Dunmow has been spoilt with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Olympics, last weekend’s carnival, the Dunmow Games and the internationally-renowned Flitch Trials.

And, because 2012 has been such a fantastically unique year, the Dunmow History Society is making sure everyone remembers it.

Members Steve Schorah and Peter Street are putting together a Jubilee book that will chronicle all the major events in the town this year, as well as a look into what makes Dunmow – well – Dunmow.

“I thought it would be nice to make a record of how Dunmow celebrated the jubilee year,” said Mr Street.

The book – the 12th the duo have written together – will be in three parts: a brief history of Dunmow, community life, and the events that have made 2012 so special.

“The history part will be very brief – I have only picked out the interesting bits,” said Mr Street.

“Dunmow is doubling in size and there are people who live in the town who don’t know about its history. For example, it is the only place in England, as far as we know, where you can still see the Anglo Saxon manors – it’s important we don’t lose that.

“Dunmow is changing and it’s important to make a record. We want people moving here to feel a part of the community because a town isn’t made of buildings, it’s a network of relationships.”

Part two will be about how the community spends its time and the book will feature profiles on a number of clubs, organisations, societies and groups.

Part three will focus on this year including the teddy bears’ picnic, Jubilee beacon, Dunmow Games, Olympic stars Chloe Rogers and Dan Bentley, street parties and the Flitch Trials, in which Steve and his wife Pat were successful claimants.

The book, which will be between 150-200 pages, is set for a December release. About 3,000 copies will be printed, 800 of which will be given to all the town’s primary school pupils.