The first of a two part series, we're taking a look at our favourite stories 2019 had to offer.
January
CELEBRITY chef Jaime Oliver moved to Finchingfield after splashing the cash on a £6million Elizabethan mansion house.
The 7 bedroom property, Spain's Hall, sits upon 70 acres of parkland covering a massive 13,800 sq ft.
Braintree Council councillor, Peter Schwier, welcomed the Friday Night Feast chef, saying: "I think it's a smart move and a wonderful historic piece of land in one of the prettiest villages in Essex, if not the UK".
The history of the manor can be traced back as far back as 1086 and the estate also boats a six bedroom farmhouse, swimming pool and tennis court.
Campaigners were celebrating when a planning inspector threw out plans for 70 new homes which would 'erode the character of Halstead'.
Go Homes launched an appal in 2018 after their plan for Chapel Hill were refused by Braintree Council.
The council originally found the proposal would cause "significant damage" to a nearby Grade II listed barn at Crowbridge Farm and the inspector agreed with this assessment saying the impact on the barn by the plans would be "significant".
The Hands off Chapel Hill group, who had vocal in their opposition to the plans, claimed the decision as a "victory for common sense".
A care home which was once threatened with closure earned special praise after "transforming" the lives of it's residents.
Halstead Hall, located on Braintree Road, was awarded a 'good' rating by the Care Quality Commission with the management team achieving an 'outstanding' from watchdogs when they made a surprise inspection in December 2018.
Scoring well in four different areas such as safety and effectiveness, the review is a stark contrast to the last report, which saw the hall slapped with an 'inadequate' rating while under the previous franchise of Attwoods Manor.
February
ONCE their pride and joy, Patricia and Ron Crane's garden was turned to a mulch when engineers tried to contain two underground springs.
Upon moving in back in 207, the couple had no ideas they had 2 springs underneath the garde, which caused flooding and frequently left the house damp and full of moisture.
When told by both the Environment Agency and Essex County Council that they were unable to help, frustrated, the pair sought help from LS Landscape Solutions.
With work potentially costing over £10,000, the springs were finally diverted.
An astonishing £8,322 was donated by pet owners the annual appeal 'Santa Paws'.
The fundraiser set up by the Support for Adoption Pets charity aims provide rescued animals with food and, with the money collected, was able to afford more than 16,000 meals for than animals at RSPCA Danaher Animal Home in Wethersfield.
The charity is run by Pets At Home and received the money through donations by the customers of their Braintree branch.
Danaher's manager, Deborah Satchell, said: "We would like to say a massive thank you to the people of Braintree and surrounding areas. 16,000 meals will be very gratefully received by our residents".
The performance of GCSE students at schools in the Halstead area met up to the national average.
School league tables from 2018 showed Ramsey Academy to be the best performing secondary school in the area with Gosfield School and Hedingham School and Sixth Form also excelling above the nation average in English and maths.
The headteacher of Ramsey Academy , Rob James, said: "We are delighted with the continued developments at Ramsey, particularly the progress measures, which show we provide a good education for students of all ability".
March
HALSTEAD Town FC hit out at "mindless morons" who tried to smash their way in to it's club house.
Vandals and raiders attempted to break into the Eastern Counties League Division One South team's club house on Rosemary Lane, using a brick to try and smash through a window.
Club chairman Darren Mitchell was devastated by the attack and said: We are a community and volunteer-run club who run on a tight budget and these incidents hurt us badly in the pocket".
Mr Mitchell went on to thank the police and the community and insisted the club would bounce back.
Halstead actor Sam Swainsbury's dream came true when he landed a role of Rowan in the hit film Fisherman's Friends.
The film tells the true story of 10 fisherman from Cornwall who achieve a top ten hit after being signed by Universal Records.
Sam, 36, grew up in Halstead and says he owes everything to his "brilliant teacher" at Holy Trinity School in Halstead.
He said; Andy Smith had written and was directing a jazzed-up nativity play in which I played Oriel, an angel sent to show three schoolchildren the true meaning of Christmas - a pivotal moment in my career".
A long-awaited consultation was launched over a £250,000 revamp of a Halstead recreational ground and skate park.
The run down skate park off Ramsey Road in Halstead had been the subject of council plans in recent years but they continuously stalled due to a lack of funding.
Town councillors agreed that the park was no longer fit for purpose, commenting that regeneration was "desperately needed".
Housing developers at Oak Road donated £50,000, a first stage payment of a total £250,000 deal to carry out the work.
Halstead's Mayor, Andy Munday, said "this is great news for the town, is fully supported by Halstead Town Council with the target date for completion of the concept and design phase being before the end of this year".
April
TOWNSFORD Mill owner, John de Bruyne scrapped plans to create a hotel in Mill House instead planning to expand the building, connecting it to the nearby antiques centre.
Further changes will also be made to the Dicken's restaurant, located on the groundfloor of Mill House, with the restaurant being rebranded Lovejoy's in homage to the popular BBC TV series, which was filmed there.
Current restaurant boss, John Dicken, was due to leave the that month.
Mr de Bruyne hopes his plans for the mill will help turn the town in to a tourist trap. He added: " It is exciting. Halstead has got a long way to go to be the way it was before. The better the mill is, the better it is for all of us".
Campaigners were celebrating following a breakthrough in their battle for a long-awaited river clean-up in Halstead town centre.
The River Colne has been branded an eyesore and residents were left furious after water levels were allowed to drop followed by an increase in the number of rats in the area.
Campaigner, John Smith, hailed the outcome of talks "very positive" after meeting with the Environment Agency, Halstead Town Council, Braintree Council, Townsford Mill owner, John de Bruyne, Halstead in Bloom and the river clean team.
Mr Smith had been campaigning about the river for four months, collecting more than 1,000 signatures on a petition and pledges of money for a restoration fund.
A Halstead business which creates low-calorie chocolate spread were set to launch their product globally.
Jimjams was created by Kevin Bath, 51, with wife Kellie, from Halstead, in 2016 and started shipping their spread to 800 supermarkets in the US, hoping to become one of the world's leading brands.
Kevin, who formerly served in the Royal Navy for six years and gave up his £65,000 a year career in IT to launch Jimjams, said: "It was a massive leap of faith but we're now in major supermarkets.
"Our turnover has increased by 120 per cent since last year and year on year we're seeing a significant sales increase".
Inspired by the couples horror at the amount of sugar found in other leading brands, the product was launched in the US in January after previously appearing on selves in Dubai.
May
AN elegant boutique was set to return to the Halstead High Street after being closed since 2012.
Evans Gifts and Interiors, once dubbed the 'Harrods of Halstead' first opened its doors in 1974 being stated by sisters and business partners Sue Derrick and Diane Pumo.
Closed by Sue and her husband Hugh after retiring, the couple's daughter Georgia Derrick decided to reopen the business over in Suffolk.
Following a successful seven years, Georgia expanded the company, embracing it's origins by re-opening the the shop that started it all.
Georgia said; "Our customers have always told us how much they miss the shop in Halstead and it is such a beautiful space. So, we feel it is now the right time to expand our brand and take it back to Halstead".
More than 400 long-distance runners took part in the Halstead and Essex Marathon to celebrate the event's 25th anniversary.
Raising money for charity, the event was organised by Halstead Road Runners and saw competitors come from as far as South Africa.
Beginning the marathon at the Halstead Leisure Centre, the massive 26.2 mile route saw runners pass through nearby areas like Colne Engaine, Twinstead and Pebmarsh before circling back to finish line.
The annual event has raised more than £91,500 since its creation in 1994 and organisers believed this years marathon generated around £8,000 for different charities.
Antiques expert David Harper and TV celebrity Penny Lancaster were on the hunt for bargains in Halstead for the new series of BBC One's Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.
A famous model and Loose Women panellist, Penny is also the wife of legendary musician Sir Rod Stewart and along with her expert, David, she was on the look out in for rare period pieces at the Halstead Antiques Centre.
The centre's owner, John de Bruyne said: "She was absolutely lovely and the nicest possible person. She knows what she wants, and she bought a lot for her and her husband, Rod.
"She was very knowledgeable on Victorian silver and glassware, and David was also very nice and very professional".
June
AN artist was set to take on a 200-mile bike ride despite having suffered a debilitating stroke just 2 years prior.
Chris Jiggins, 42, looked to embark on a cycling challenge which would take him all across the north Norfolk coast, a journey that would take four days, in order to raise money for the Stroke Association charity.
Mr Jiggins said: "I did work on cycling in my rehab so it felt natural and gave me something to focus my mind on. It's time for me to give back and if I can do it then its time for me to give it a go".
The route would begin at the Griffin pub in Halstead and would take Chris all the way to King's Lynn.
A Halstead primary school celebrated an amazing milestone anniversary with a full week of celebrations for both pupils and staff.
Richard de Clare primary school on Parsonage Street in Halstead has educated the children of Halstead for 175 years being the first school in the area to admit both boys and girls.
The school was hosting a week of festivities to celebrate, including a completely Victorian themed day, and matching curriculum, to reflect on the schools beginnings all the way back in 1844.
Former staff members and other members of the community were also set to visit the school and share their memories with current pupils in a street party picnic lunch.
The best-selling author, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, joined other celebrities and campaigners in a fight protesting plans to close dozens of libraries.
Best known for writing the Tracy Beaker books, Dame Jacqueline was protesting against Essex County Council's plans to scrap 60 per cent of the counties libraries.
The campaign has also been back by comedian and children author, David Walliams, as well as singer and author Billy Bragg and comedian and author David Baddiel.
Dame Jacqueline's support came in the form of a photograph that shows the writer parading a 'save Essex libraries' sign.
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