It has been another eventful year in Great Dunmow and the surrounding villages. The Broadcast takes a look back at some of the events that made the headlines in 2013.

Dunmow Broadcast: Chris Holmes resigned from his job at Stansted Airport with a cakeChris Holmes resigned from his job at Stansted Airport with a cake (Image: Archant)

January

Dunmow Broadcast: Felsted's Charlie Pitcher became the fastest ever man to row across the Atlantic.Felsted's Charlie Pitcher became the fastest ever man to row across the Atlantic. (Image: Archant)

• A woman chased two thieves from her home in Takeley. She saw the two youngsters in her bedroom window when she came home from work. As they made their escape, she ran after them but they managed to get away with money, a Louis Vuitton purse and jewellery.

• It was announced that the Tour de France would be passing through Uttlesford.

• Tributes poured in for “legendary” community champion Eggie Abrahams. The former district and

parish councillor, who became the first Honorary Alderman of Uttlesford in recognition of almost 50 years’ service,

died at his home, aged 89.

• Young singers from two Uttlesford schools joined thousands of others in a world record-breaking sing-athon at the London 02 Arena.

The school choirs of Felsted Prep and Great Easton Primary joined 8,000 other pupils in the Young Voices concert to raise funds for children’s charity Clic Sargent.

February

• Hatfield Forest took up the challenge of using technology to provide new ways for people to understand and enjoy the special outdoor site.

The National Trust launched the Hatfield Forest app featuring a GOS-enabled map with over 50 points of interest.

• New figures revealed how many children in the district are living in poverty – more than 1,500, according to the Campaign to Stop Child Poverty. The district did have the lowest percentage of children in poverty across Essex.

• Felsted School unveiled plans to rebuild one of its boarding houses which had been destroyed by fire.

March

• Andrew Harrison, managing director of Manchester Airports Group, the new owners of Stansted Airport, told of the company’s aim to create more jobs at the Uttlesford hub, in an exclusive interview with the Broadcast. He also said a second runway was not in the company’s immediate plans.

• Felsted’s record-breaking rower spoke to the Broadcast after his agonising trip across the Atlantic. Charlie Pitcher battled stormy weather, stress, illness and mental fatigue in a 2,900-mile journey across the ocean from the Canary Islands to Barbados. He beat the previous record by five days, nine hours and six minutes.

• A soup kitchen which had been running for more than 20 years stopped dishing up for good. Kathleen Carhart ran the venture from her kitchen in Little Dunmow, and raised money for Christian charities.

April

• Work finally got underway to complete the long-awaited Dunmow bypass – which had been left unfinished for 20 years. The work was expected to take 10 months to complete. Once the 500-metre stretch of road is constructed it will link Woodlands Way to the B184.

• The picturesque village of Finchingfield was transformed into the set for a television production. Inbetweeners stars Simon Bird and Joe Thomas descended on the village to film the First World War drama, Chickens. Some residents even got to take part as extras.

• Christopher Holmes baked up a brilliant idea of how to quit his job – he handed in his resignation by writing it on a cake. The Border Agency worker at Stansted Airport had recently become a parent and decided now was the time to pursue a career he loved – his cake business.

• Young air cadets from Dunmow got to visit No 10 Downing Street on a trip to London. As well as having a glimpse at the Prime Minister’s house, the Air Cadets from 999 (Dunmow & District) Squadron ATC also visited the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.