Halesworth & Southwold Community News - September 2024 by Countrywide Publications

Communit y News

Plumbing & Heating

Halesworth Town Council

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of the New Reach. This will replace the sluice that sits under White Bridge and keeps the water level up above the bridge. The rifﬂe will allow

ﬁsh and eels to pass upstream, which the current sluice doesn't. The ﬁnal job will be doing the footings and bringing in the new bridge. This will mean that between September and early December, there will be a lot of materials stored on the Green in various places, a fair bit of machinery movement and a lot of activity at the bridge site. Materials may be coming in both from Quay Street and from the Blyth Road Industrial Estate and clearly there will be disturbance of the ground

From markets, concerts, exhibitions, gigs, get-togethers and festivals to social sports and wellness, seasonal family fun and friendly community events, Halesworth is full of opportunities to get out, meet up, experience and enjoy. If you have an event that you'd like publicised, please visit the website and click 'Submit Event'.

which could look a mess for a while. The contractors will take as much care as possible and nature has a great power of recovery, the great thing is that the new bridge is on its way.

The Green has an active and cheerful volunteer body helping with work-parties, planning events, keeping on top of the ﬁnance, running the special projects that crop up. Come and be part of it all. Have a browse: millenniumgreen.halesworth.net or email: thegreen@halesworth.net

July saw a wet and windy month; however, we have seen the wayfinding project get underway and the new wonderful information boards and fingerposts have been installed. Not just signs, this incredible system has been carefully researched and designed to really showcase our great town, informing visitors (and locals) about our rich history the stories of Halesworth and of course helping folk find their way to our brilliant shops, businesses and attractions. We love Halesworth and we feel that these will be a great new feature for our town.

Head over to our website for the latest news and events happening in and around town: www.halesworthtown.co.uk

Throughout July, we saw 11+ stalls at the market, including the long-standing loyal regulars and some wonderful new stalls selling a variety of art, skincare, sweets, ﬂowers, reﬁllable's and more. The sun even made an appearance! There are spaces available for more stalls, if you'd like to join our market, please email: admin@halesworth towncouncil.gov.uk

The

who gave libraries to the world

On our return from our summer break, Halesworth U3A welcomes Dr. Roger Simpson who will be giving us an insight into the far-reaching benevolence of Scottish-American entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie.

This event will be on September 17th at the Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth starting at 2:30pm. All welcome, U3A members are free, visitors admission price: £4.

soon discovers, Anglia.

It's a disturbing fact that any student of the social history of art that the creation of great art is generally less an than the attempt by deeply unpleasant people history into believing that they were in fact great benefactors of mankind. Equally disturbing is the fact that it generally works. One such philanthropist was Andrew Carnegie. His legacy was not great art as such; it was in fact much more beneﬁcial. He built libraries around the world including many in the UK including East

Halesworth

man

Halesworth U3A

Ipswich Library, built in 1922

Reydon Show 2024

The Reydon Show 2024 was brilliantly attended this year with lots more people entering across the categories and large numbers coming to see all the lovely entries.

The weather always keeps us guessing in this country, but it seems to have helped this year to create some amazing blooms in the ﬂower classes, but seems to have taken its toll on the carrots and some of the other vegetable classes (though we did have a three legged "Isle of Man" carrot in the novelty vegetables).

It was lovely to see all the baked goods, photography, and handicrafts, but always happy to have more next year! Plus for 2025, we need to rally Reydon's artists as we were strangely short on paintings; we had quality, but would love to see more quantity!

The kids' creativity was amazing, and we'd encourage even more children to enter the free kids' categories next year; they can enter any arts and craft including 3D models and Lego! So, any parents or grandparents out there encourage your children to enter free next year. When you are planning you 2025 planting or embarking on some arts and crafts, remember the ﬁrst Saturday in August will be the Reydon Show next year.

Update from Halesworth Lions Club

Dance at Holton:

2024 trophy winners:

• Ernest Moyse Memorial Trophy (most outstanding exhibit in ﬂower classes): C Akers

• Challenge Cup, Open (most points in vegetable and fruit section): C Akers

• Garden News Shield (Reydon residents only) (most points in vegetable and fruit section): C Akers

• Charlie Martin Cup (Reydon residents only) (runner up in vegetable and fruit section): P Dawson

• Fitzgerald Cup (most points in ﬂower section): P Dawson

• Frances Moyse Memorial Trophy (most outstanding exhibit in vegetable classes): C Akers

• Silver Plate (most points in cookery classes): C Horton

• Reydon Show Trophy (best exhibit in adult handicraft): C Clark

• Reg Belcher Trophy (most points in handicraft): C Clark

• Copperwheat Trophy (best exhibit in pot plant classes): L Nicholls

• Reydon Parish Council Shield (Reydon residents only) (best exhibit in cookery classes): C Horton

• Sam Adamson Cup (best exhibit in photography classes): P Harrild

• Dillon Gibbon Trophy (most points in photography classes): P Harrild

After much hard work, the installation of Halesworth's bold new wayﬁnding and signage system is now complete.

A major investment in the town's future by the Town Council, the 13 information boards and several more ﬁnger posts do more than just help guide visitors around the town, they bring Halesworth's rich and fascinating history to life. The signs are now a prominent and effective feature of the town and each of the large information boards has been carefully researched and designed, with help from the Halesworth & District Museum and some wonderful old photographs, to share the stories of Halesworth.

Visitors and residents alike can read the boards to discover where the Victorian children used to ice skate, how the many brewers of Halesworth transported their malt (in which building a mummiﬁed

cat was discovered) and many other colourful tales!

The boards also display a new town map and detailed directional information, improving the connectivity of the town, guiding visitors around key areas including the railway station, museum, library, Thoroughfare, mediaeval Market Place, Art Gallery, Town Park, Millennium Green and the New Cut Arts Centre. The Thoroughfare, which is home to many local and independent shops, now boasts a new information board, town map and noticeboard as part of the project. Both locals and visitors have taken great interest in the boards and people of all ages have been seen enjoying the stories and photographs. Join in the quiz as part of Halesworth's Heritage Day event on September 7th, and take a tour of the Wayﬁnding boards to ﬁnd the answers. The Town Council has

received positive feedback, with one resident commenting: "They are a splendid addition to the town and in particular, visitors. I can see that there's been a lot of work put in to their design which is clear, colourful and full of interesting information not just for tourists but also for many residents."

Halesworth has gone from strength-to-strength recently with a revitalised Wednesday morning Market, more shops opening throughout the town, a new town marketing brand and website and now the wayﬁnding system. The wayﬁnding has already sparked interest from other local towns, some even arranging to come and take a tour of the signage. Truly, a project Halesworth can be proud of. Visit www.halesworthtown. co.uk for more Halesworth information.

On June 22nd, the Halesworth Lions Club staged a dance at Holton Village Hall. We're very grateful to all who supported this event; Entertainers, helpers, Village Hall committee and all who came along to join in the fun. It was a great evening. Thanks to all involved, it raised over £500, every penny of which will go to charitable causes.

Heveningham Hall

Country Fair:

Once again, members of the Halesworth Lions Club (aided by members of the local Scouts and other Lions clubs) assisted with the car parking. We were most grateful to the event organisers at Heveningham Hall for their very kind donation of £2,500 towards our charity fund.

Image credit: Lindsay Want

46th Annual Garden Show celebrates 60th year

A big thank you to all those who either helped, entered or attended our recent 46th Annual Garden show at the Riﬂe Hall, in what is our 60th year. The club goes from strengthto-strength and we were thrilled to have 231 entries, our best since 2014! Special thanks goes to our

show organiser and driving force Yvonne Eady.

A correction to our last piece in the Community News, our next meeting will be in October. Details will be on the notice board outside Coopers and on our Facebook page. Happy Gardening, Adrian

Halesworth in Bloom winners

Over the last couple of weeks, Halesworth in Bloom has been judging the town's 'Best Business Floral Frontage' and 'Best Allotment' as part of its annual awards programme. Chair of Halesworth in Bloom, Stephanie Hammond, and Chair of Halesworth Town Council, Joyce Moseley, spent an enjoyable morning admiring the ever popular ﬂoral displays around the town. Sadly, there were fewer displays than in recent years, possibly due to the number of new businesses in town. We hope that, once their businesses are established, our new traders can be encouraged to participate in next year's competition. As usual, standards were high and no single display stood out as this year's winner. Instead, 'Commended' certiﬁcates were awarded to: Allen's Butchers, The Angel Hotel, ASD Engineering, AWD Goldsmith, Densons Jewellers, Harrison & Co Fine Art Photography, Lovewell Blake Accountants, Norton Peskett

Solicitors, and Tulula's Fish & Chips. We recommend you take a stroll around town soon to enjoy the displays at their best. Halesworth's Council-run allotments were judged by a former winner, Vic Coulson, and Halesworth Town Council Finance Officer, Jenny Jenkins. The winner of the Lesley Pyke Trophy for Best Allotment was the McAllister (plot 16a Swan Lane), with perfect raised beds, a wide variety of vegetables, a state-ofthe-art chicken house, and ample storage for rainwater and compost. 'Certificates of Commendation' were given to Gus and Ann Jones (plot 7 Saxon's Way), with lovely vegetables, fruit, and self-seeding bee-friendly flowers, and to Alan Goodchild (plots 3, 4a and 7a Bedingfield Crescent)

The Leftley family plot won a Special Commendation for transforming a previously overgrown allotment

Flowers outside The Angel Hotel

for his own amazing allotments and all the help he provides to his neighbours. A special commendation was given to the Leftley family (plot 1 Bedingﬁeld Crescent), who transformed a totally overgrown allotment, with their two young children (Leo and Edie) giving invaluable help. Details of the awards ceremony will be published in due course.

Halesworth & District Gardeners' Society

LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY

PETER’S PEST CONTROL

NICK THE PLUMBER

Why shopping locally matters!

In a world where online shopping is just a click away and big chain stores dominate, it's easy to forget the value of shopping locally and supporting independent businesses on our high streets and in our communities. Yet, choosing to buy from local shops is one of the most impactful ways to invest in your community and ensure its vitality.

Firstly, shopping locally keeps money in the local economy. When you buy from a small, independent business, a signiﬁcant portion of your money is likely to stay within the community. This circulation of money supports local jobs, encourages entrepreneurship, and helps maintain the character of the area.

items and enjoy personalised customer service that large retailers often can't provide.

Furthermore, local businesses tend to be environmentally aware. They often source products locally, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Also, shopping on your high street often means less reliance on shipping, packaging, and long-distance transportation, all of which contribute to environmental degradation.

Independent businesses also offer a unique shopping experience that big chains simply can't replicate. They often stock a hand-selected range of products, including locally made goods that reﬂect the culture and tastes of the community. This means you're more likely to ﬁnd unique

Supporting local businesses also strengthens the sense of community. High streets with thriving independent businesses become hubs of social interaction, where people can meet at a café, pub, counter or market stall for a chat. These businesses often participate in community events, sponsor local teams, or donate to local causes, further enriching the social fabric of the area.

Finally, a vibrant high street can boost property values and attract more visitors to the area, beneﬁting everyone in the community. When high streets

are ﬁlled with empty shops, they can quickly lose their appeal, leading to a downward spiral that affects the entire town. We are fortunate that we have a core of long-established independent businesses in town, offering unrivalled customer service. When a shop does become free, it is rarely empty for long! In summary, shopping locally and supporting independent businesses isn't just about convenience or a love for quirky or unique products. It's about preserving the economic health, environmental sustainability, and community spirit of your town. Next time you need to make a purchase, consider a wander down the high street, you'll be investing in more than just a product.

View of the Crown Hotel and shops down Southwold High Street

Image credit: David Calvert

AUGUST 24TH

Walberswick Village Fête

Green

11am-4pm. Fun Dog Show

registration at 10am, 11am Fun Dog Show, 12:45pm for Ofﬁcial Opening. Great entertainment, BBQ, stalls & music for young & old. Everyone's invited! See you there!

AUGUST 25THSEPTEMBER 7TH

Southwold Summer Theatre

'Rough Crossing' by Tom Stoppard

Southwold Arts Centre

With hopes sky-high, the writers, composer, and leading lady of a brand new musical comedy are crossing the Atlantic, aiming for Broadway. But the script isn't ﬁnished, and rehearsals not even begun! Echoes of The Producers, Anything Goes and Noises Off in this elaborately twisty, 1950s backstage farce with music by the author of Shakespeare in Love. Set on an ocean liner, this comic tour-de force is elevated to classic level by uniquely Stoppardian dialogue, wordplay, and physical comedy. For tickets, see: www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 1ST

Brampton Plough Day & Country Fayre NR34 8EA

10am-4pm. A celebration of rural life, agriculture, trade & craft. Vintage vehicles, heavy horses, activities & attractions for dogs & dog lovers, ploughing competition, threshing machine display, trade & charity stalls. Tickets: £10 for adults. Children under 14: Free. 2024 beneﬁting charities: YANA Rural Mental Health Support, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People & St. Margaret's Church Tower, Sotterley Restoration Fund. www.bramptonploughday.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 1ST

STEAMWORKS Open Afternoon Blyth Road, Southwold, IP18 6AZ

1pm-4pm. Site open to visitors this afternoon & on other selected dates. Come & see! Café, miniature railway & shop will be open & guided tours of the site available. 01502 725422 mail@southwoldrailway.co.uk.

SEPTEMBER 1ST

SEPTEMBER 1ST, 3RD, 8TH, 10TH, 15TH, 17TH, 22ND, 24TH & 29TH

Baby Bounce & Tot Rock

Southwold Library

10:30am-11am. Every Tues & Sun. For babies & toddlers of all ages. Instruments, clapping, jogging & action rhymes. Free, no booking required.

SEPTEMBER 4TH

Back to Black (15)

The Cut

7:30pm. Duration: 2hr 2mins. The extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse's early rise to fame & the making of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black. Told from Amy's perspective & inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the ﬁlm follows the remarkable woman behind the phenomenon & the tumultuous relationship at the centre of one of the most legendary albums of all time.

SEPTEMBER 6TH

Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund

Quiz & Curry Night!

Reydon Village Hall

SEPTEMBER 7TH

Music & Arts

St. Peter's Church, Thorington 12pm-4:30pm. Featuring professional musicians, craft stalls, home-made refreshments & more. All welcome.

SEPTEMBER 7TH

Village Jumble Sale

Westleton Village Hall 2pm. Run by the Westleton WI. Pre-loved clothing, shoes, books, bric-a-brac & much more! 50p entry. Refreshments available.

SEPTEMBER 8TH

Suffolk Dog Day

Helmingham Hall, Stowmarket 10am-5pm. St. Elizabeth Hospice is thrilled to be presenting this much loved family friendly event. Plenty of fun dog classes with great prizes, agility, dog scurry & lots of attractions & trade stands to keep everyone entertained!

SEPTEMBER 12TH

A Special Day

SEPTEMBER 13TH

Noasis

The Cut

7:30pm. The deﬁnitive Oasis tribute band. Tickets: £18. Book on The Cut website.

SEPTEMBER 13TH-18TH

Sex & Death in Southwold

Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. A comedy by Robin Brooks. From the same team that produced the smash hits 'Death in Southwold' & 'No Sex in Southwold'. Tickets: 01522 722572. www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Self Care Workshop

The Harmony Centre, Walpole 10am-1pm. Join Sarah Lou to learn what self care is, practical solutions, body & mind connection, meditation, reﬂection, journaling & sound bath meditation. Booking essential: 07737 026052. £66.

SEPTEMBER 14TH

SEPTEMBER 14TH & 15TH

Heritage Flood Route

Walking Trail

The Heritage Hut, Walberswick 9:30am-4pm. Pop-up family walking trail with clues around Walberswick village & beach, supported by Walberswick Common Lands Charity as part of Heritage Open Days 2024. Follow the colourful route map to discover flood & defence features containing a letter to collect. Once you've collected them all, unscramble the anagram to reveal a phrase. Free, no need to register. Collect leaflet & pen from the Heritage Hut by the Village Green & visit the "When the Sea Comes In" exhibition about the flooding along the East Coast.

SEPTEMBER 17TH

'The Architecture of Guilt'

Andrew Carnegie's Libraries talk

The Cut Read more about this in the article on page 2.

SEPTEMBER 18TH

£12pp incl. Chicken or vegetarian curry (mild or medium), rice & accompaniments. Teams of up to 6. Bring your own drink. Rafﬂe. Book your tickets in adv. with Charlotte: 07715 388916, email: frogclock@hotmail.com or online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ reydonvillagehall. All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate & reﬁt the hall.

SEPTEMBER 7TH

(Una Giornata Particolare) (12) The Cut 7:30pm. 2 of Italy's most famous ﬁlm stars play against type in this Oscar nominated study of gender & masculinity set against the backdrop of Mussolini's regime.

Anxiety Workshop

The Harmony Centre, Walpole 2pm-5pm. Overwhelmed with modern day life? Join Sarah Lou & kick anxiety to the kerb with a practical solutions workshop. Booking essential: 07737 026052. £44. www.sarahlousolutions.co.uk

'Quartet' HDCF Film

SEPTEMBER 12TH

'Suffolk through the Seasons' talk by Wildlife Photographer Kevin Sawford

SEPTEMBER 14TH & 15TH

Scarecrow Trail

The Cut 2pm. A wonderful ﬁlm, funny & moving, set in home for retired singers. A great cast that incl. Maggie Smith & many others. Film starts at 2pm, doors open: 1:30pm. Admission by £5 donation.

SEPTEMBER 18TH

How To Have Sex (15)

MAZE BY TORCHLIGHT

'Songs & Dance Tunes from Georgian London' Walpole Old Chapel, IP19 9AZ 3pm. Bloomsbury Baroque perform songs & dance tunes by the Georgian man of letters & former slave, Ignatius Sancho, with music by Handel & other celebrated musicians of the age. Tickets: £15 on the door or online in adv.: £12+ fee. www.shorturl.at/lnBFZ

For more info, email: info@walpoleoldchapel.org

SEPTEMBER 1ST & 8TH

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsals The Cut

10:30am-12:30pm. The start of Halesworth Harmony's choir year. We're actively seeking more members to join us to learn a new programme of songs. No experience necessary & everything is taught by ear. First session is a free taster. For more info, email: halesworth.harmony@gmail.com.

Guided Halesworth History Walk

The Angel Pub, Halesworth 10:45am for 11am start. Ends: 12:30pm. Guided historical walk through the fascinating Marketplace & Chediston Street areas of Halesworth led by a member of the U3A Local History Group.

A gentle 1.5 hr walk full of insights into Halesworth's rich & vibrant culture & heritage. Meet at The Angel. No charge but donations (on the day) to Halesworth & District Museum welcomed.

St. Edmund's Hall, Southwold 7:30pm. Organised by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. A photographic journey showing Suffolk's diverse fauna & ﬂora. Illustrated with Kevin's published & award-winning images, plus some of the stories.

SEPTEMBER 13TH

Harvest Festival & Supper

St. Andrew's Church, Wissett 7pm. The Archdeacon of Suffolk, Rich Henderson will be preaching for us. Tickets £10 (bring own drinks). To book tickets please contact Geoffrey: 07881 501858. We look forward to seeing you! Collection in aid of Halesworth Community Larder.

Reydon Village Hall 10am-5pm. 'Olympic & Paralympic' theme. The trail (raising funds for Reydon Christmas Lights) encourages local Reydon people to get creative & make a scarecrow for outside their home/business. Find your favourite! Programmes on sale from: Reydon Village Hall, Bridgefoot Stores, Little Jems & Boyden Stores. Homemade refreshments available throughout the weekend. Email: reydonscarecrowtrail@gmail.com

The Cut 7:30pm. One of the most acclaimed British ﬁlms of recent years, ﬁrst time director Manning Walker's coming-ofage story follows three 16-year-old best friends who encounter new friendships, sexual pressures & self-discovery during a rites-of-passage holiday in Crete. It won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes last year.

Big Band swings into Leiston Film Theatre this October

Suffolk based Big Band, Swing Machine, will be recreating the familiar sounds of the 1930's, 40's and 50's at Leiston Film Theatre (LFT) this autumn, with a special fundraising concert, to celebrate Leiston Film Theatre's 110th anniversary.

This brilliant band, all of whom are enthusiasts of the swing genre, are looking forward to their visit to Suffolk's oldest cinema on October 27th. Their repertoire includes music from Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Ted Heath, Woody Herman and Duke Ellington, to name only a few. The band will also be accompanied by two vocalists, who perform individually and as a duo, covering songs which could include those made famous by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé and Harry Connick-Jr, amongst many others. With some fantastic instrumental soloists complementing the band's arrangements, the concert is certain to provide an enjoyable evening of ﬁne entertainment. The event is supporting the Friends of LFT, who (since 1992) have funded over £140,000 worth of improvements at the Theatre.

Machine Big Band

Opened on October 27th, 1914, LFT (or Picture House as it was originally named) proudly boasts the title as Suffolk's oldest purpose built cinema and this year celebrates its 110th anniversary. As one of the countries original picture palaces, the venue has witnessed all the major advancements of the motion picture industry throughout its history, surviving two world wars, the boom and decline of cinema, its saviour from closure in 1976 when Leiston Town Council saved the cinema and it's remarkable renaissance in recent years as the cinema of choice for discerning cinema-goers. The evening will include a Grand Draw, also in aid of the Friends, with draw tickets now available from LFT Box Ofﬁce and also on sale during the evening.

Annual membership as a Film Theatre Friend is only £8, or £25 for those who wish to be a Premier Friend. Membership benefits are featured on the LFT website and membership forms are also available from the Box Office, or by contacting the venue on 01728 830549 or email: staff@ leistonfilmtheatre.co.uk.

Swing

SEPTEMBER 19TH

'Halesworth Witches of 1645' talk

United Reformed Church, Halesworth Doors open at 7pm for 7:30pm start. Talk by David Wollweber. At the height of the English Civil War in 1645, 2 men & 6 women from the Halesworth & local area went on trial for witchcraft. David looks at why this happened & who was responsible & what happened to the so-called "witches". An updated U3A talk from last year. Tickets: £6 or £3 (friends of the museum).

SEPTEMBER 20TH

WBC Stand Up in Southwold Southwold Arts Centre

7pm-9:10pm. Headline act conﬁrmed for what will be a fantastic event is the brilliant Simon Evans. Further acts to be announced. All acts conﬁrmed at time of booking. In the unlikely event that acts will need to be replaced, they'll be by acts of a similar calibre. www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Moth Breakfast

St. Mary the Virgin Church, Huntingﬁeld, near Halesworth, IP19 0PR 8:30am. Breakfast/refreshments, incl. bacon rolls, then discover what's been caught overnight in the moth traps. With moth expert Matthew Deans.

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Walk with us at National Trust

Dunwich Heath Coastal Centre Car Park, Minsmere Road, IP17 3DJ

10am-11:30am. Monthly, throughout 2024. Rediscover nature & walk your way to better wellbeing on one of our volunteer-led group walks. This walk is 3 miles. No walking experience required. Booking essential. Meet outside the visitors welcome hut. Free event but booking is essential. Parking charge (car £6). Tickets: www.shorturl.at/mOGqd

For more info, call 0344 249 1895.

SEPTEMBER 21ST Open Afternoon at Walpole Old Chapel Walpole Old Chapel, IP19 9AZ

2pm-4:30pm. Come & visit this atmospheric Grade II listed building, once a farmhouse but with a long history as a non-conformist meeting house, evidenced by its superb interior. Toilet facilities. Limited car parking opposite the Chapel. For more info, email: info@walpoleoldchapel.org

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund

Bingo Night

Reydon Village Hall

6:30pm, eyes down 7pm. £5pp. Bring own refreshments/ buy drinks/ snacks. Prizes! Rafﬂe! Book tickets in adv. with Charlotte: 07715 388916, email: frogclock@hotmail.com or: www.ticketsource.co.uk/reydonvillagehall or pay on the door. All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate & reﬁt the hall.

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Southwold Jazz Club: Tara Minton Quartet

Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. Tara Minton (Australian born harpist, vocalist & composer) leads her own original project with 'The Blues & Roots Ensemble', a music education charity promoting improvisation, integration & social change through music. www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk

September events at Halesworth Library

What's upcoming in September at Halesworth Library?

Headlining this month is author Elizabeth Wilde McCormick in conversation with Abbie Clements of Halesworth Bookshop about her trilogy of books with lead character, psychotherapist Dr. Max Maxwell. This takes place on September 19th at 2:30pm.

There are also two sessions of our regular Sociable Sunday events on September 8th and 22nd. You can drop in any time between 10:30am-12:30pm and enjoy meeting new people, and chat over a cuppa and a slice of cake. We round the month off with our Board Games Café on September 5th between 2pm-4pm

(drop in any time). It's open to all ages and abilities. There will be a range of games available, so join us and meet new friends, have fun and enjoy tea and cake in the welcoming space of the library. Feel free to bring your own board game along! No need to book. All events will take place in Halesworth Library and are organised by the Friends of Halesworth Library. Attendance is free, though donations to cover the cost of refreshments are appreciated. It helps our planning (how many biscuits to buy etc) if you can let us know if you plan to attend the book talks. You can email: friendsofhalesworth library@gmail.com or speak to the library assistants.

SEPTEMBER 21ST & 22ND

Grand Henham Steam Rally

Henham Park, NR34 8AN

So much to see & do at the Steam Rally! Bandstand with live music, craft tent & stalls, food stands & bar. Plenty for children. Heavy horses in action, dog agility display team, stationary engines. See steam power in all its glory! Vintage & commercial vehicles, trade stands, vintage fairground & much more. www.henhamsteamrally.com

SEPTEMBER 22ND

The Dollard Collectief - North Walpole Old Chapel

After-summer poetry & music on the theme of change. Artistes from Brazil, Sweden, Netherlands & UK. Retiring collection. info@walpoleoldchapel.org

SEPTEMBER 24TH

Halesworth Repair Café

The Cut, Halesworth

2pm-4pm. In collaboration with The Men's Shed. All welcome. No booking required. Don't chuck it, get it ﬁxed! Our volunteer repairers can take a look at your jewellery, ceramics, electrical items, sewing, darning & general repairs. All work free of charge. Donations welcome.

SEPTEMBER 25TH

Wilding (12)

The Cut

7:30pm. Filmed over a period of 20 years, director David Allen's drama/documenary follows the attempts of writer & conservationaist Isabella Tree & her partner Charles Burrell to return their 3,500-acre farm, Knepp Estate, from the intensive farming methods that had destroyed the land & left them heavily in debt to a natural idyll where nature can thrive.

SEPTEMBER 26TH

Tour of Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh, IP19 9LL

11am. Taking place regularly on Thursday mornings. These popular general interest tours are provided by a local resident. Children are welcome, but they must be accompanied by an adult throughout the tour. If you'd like to join a tour you can just turn up. Free, no booking required. For more info, contact Colin on 07508 888460.

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Blythburgh Café & Mini Market

Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh

10:30am-12pm. A monthly event. Come & browse the stalls!

SEPTEMBER 27TH

'What is News?'

talk by Michael Binyon Southwold Arts Centre 2pm. This talk looks at news values & how the news is created, ﬁltered & presented & its effect upon our opinions & upon events.

SEPTEMBER 27TH

Seedtime & Harvest

Wrentham Chapel

7pm. Caedmon evening with a harvest/autumn equinox theme. An evening of music, word & song, brought to you by anyone in the audience who's willing to perform on the night. Interval buffet with wine & fruit juice, with time for good conversations. Come & enjoy! No charge, but donations for Christian Aid. More info, call Sue Hardy: 07771 882738.

SEPTEMBER 28TH & 29TH

Railways on the Air

STEAMWORKS, Southwold, IP18 6AZ

1pm-4pm. Amateur Radio Station operating from Steamworks. NOTE: Miniature railway will NOT be running during this event.

SEPTEMBER 28TH & 29TH

Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival

Snape Maltings, IP17 1SP

Cost: £9. Consistently rated one of the UK's leading food festivals. Expect 125 traders, 2 demo stages, masterclasses, children's cookery classes, artisan producers, street food & so much more. www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 30TH

Reedbed Ramble RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve 8am-10:30am. Explore the hidden reedbed banks with guides. Autumn mornings are the best time to see family parties of Bearded Tits clinging to reed stems. Café open after the walk. No dogs, except registered assistance dogs. Bring binoculars. Tickets: £4.25-£34:20. Ticket prices incl. entry fees & hot drink in café after walk. Book online: events.rspb.org.uk/events/60544. More info, email: minsmere@rspb.org.uk or call: 01728 648281.

OCTOBER 2ND

The Disappearance of Shere Hite (15) The Cut 7:30pm. In the 1970's, Shere Hite's name was synonomous with the Feminist movement as her best selling 'The Hite Report' revealed the private experiences of thousands of anonymous survey respondents. Her ﬁndings rocked the American establishment & presaged current conversations about gender, sexuality & bodily autonomy. Yet within a few years, she had disappeared from the public eye. This timely new documentary examines the backlash that was triggered & takes an in-depth look at the life of this iconic ﬁgure.

OCTOBER 2ND

Frank & The Beans Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. The best soul band in Suffolk. This promises to be a night to remember. Expect all your favourite soul songs from; Stevie Wonder, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett & many more. Lorded as the top ticket on the soul circuit Frank & The Beans will have you out of your seat from the ﬁrst beat to the last note. Yes there will be dancing! Tickets £12.

OCTOBER 3RD

Tour of Holy Trinity Church Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh, IP19 9LL 11am. Taking place regularly on Thursday mornings. These popular general interest tours are provided by a local resident. Children are welcome, but they must be accompanied by an adult throughout the tour. If you'd like to join a tour you can just turn up. Free, no booking required. For more info, contact Colin on 07508 888460.

OCTOBER 5TH

Back to Back Madonna & Robbie Williams Tribute

Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. MD events proudly presents 2 of the most iconic pop stars of all time, performed by 2 of the most charismatic & sort-after tribute acts in the UK. An event not to be missed! Lots of crowd participation is necessary! So, don't preach, let us entertain you! Tickets: £20.

OCTOBER 10TH

Common Ground Present 'Ghost of the Toll Point Light' The Cut

7:30pm-10pm. A good, old-fashioned ghost story set in 1900. Young Jack arrives as assistant to the keeper of the Toll Point Light, off the coast of East Anglia. Isaac has been keeper for 20 years & is suspicious of the new arrival... Is he there to assist or to replace him? Tickets: £14.

OCTOBER 11TH

Shades of Simon Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm-10pm. The UK's no.1 Paul Simon tribute band. An engaging narration, telling the story of Paul Simon as one of the best songwriters of his generation, with the outstanding 5-piece band performing authentic renditions of the best of his songs. Tickets: £20 from: www.shadesofsimon.com/tickets

OCTOBER 11TH

Word Paintings:

The Keith James Songbook The Cut

7:30pm-10pm. Keith's latest concert centres around his new album 'Word Paintings', featuring his best original work alongside songs from previous albums, blending music with engaging backstories & offering a fresh focus on his own material after decades of performing tributes to other visionary songwriters & poets. Tickets: £18.

OCTOBER 12TH

Harvest Quiz

Alburgh Village Hall, IP20 0BZ

Doors open at 6:15pm for 7pm start. Tickets incl. Ploughman's supper. £10 from 01986 788732. Prizes for the winning table, Rafﬂe, Bar. In aid of All Saints Church, Alburgh.

OCTOBER 12TH

The Ultimate Tribute to The Bee Gees Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. New production featuring state-of-the-art PA & lighting system, the energy & dance moves of the disco era, along with dazzling new costume changes in a two 45-minute spot show offering a journey through the Bee Gees' most iconic hits. From the soulful plea of 'How Deep Is Your Love' to the infectious rhythms of 'You Should Be Dancing', this brand new show captures not just the sound but the spirit of the Gibb brothers long career. Tickets: £21.

OCTOBER 15TH

'Duplex Drive Tanks of WWII' talk by Stuart Burgess The Cut

2:30pm. Stuart Burgess from Time & Tide Museum will be giving an illustrated talk to Halesworth & District U3A about the secret amphibious tanks that were used during WWII for D Day & river crossing operations. All welcome. Free for U3A members, £4 for non-members in adv./on the door.

OCTOBER 17TH

'The Deep' by Jón Atli Jónasson Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. One man's epic tale of survival at sea, based on a true story. As night turns into day over the ice-cold waters of the North Sea, a young ﬁsherman ﬁnds his boat sinking. As his hopes of survival drift away, we witness his journey through the hopes, fears, and regrets of his unresolved life. Accompanied by live singing from regional choirs, this one-man show presents a profound story of survival & offers a moving remembrance to those lost at sea. Tickets: £12-£15.

OCTOBER 18TH - NOVEMBER 3RD

Karen SJ Keable Exhibition

Southwold Gallery, 64a High Street

An exciting new body of work from this very popular East Anglian Artist. More info, call: 01502 723888. OCTOBER 25TH

Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund Cèilidh Reydon Village Hall

7pm-10pm with the Once Bittern Cèilidh Band. £15pp incl. bottomless soup, cheese & bread. BYO alcohol. Soft drinks/snacks available. Book tickets in adv. with Charlotte 07715 388916, email: frogclock@hotmail.com or: www.ticketsource.co.uk/reydonvillagehall. All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate & reﬁt the hall.

NOVEMBER 2ND

The Gigspanner Big Band: New Album Preview Tour The Cut 7:30pm-10pm. The Gigspanner Big Band (British folk music) return to their six-piece format after 2 years of touring, showcasing material from their new album, due for release in 2025. Tickets: £25 in adv./£27 on the door.

NOVEMBER 9TH - JANUARY 5TH 2025

Mixed Christmas Exhibition

Southwold Gallery, 64a High Street, Southwold Exhibition showcasing all of the Gallery Artists. More info, call: 01502 723888.

NOVEMBER 14TH

Rough Cast presents 'Pygmalion' The Cut 7:30pm-10pm. The story of Eliza Doolittle who's taken under the wing of Prof. Henry Higgins, a linguistic expert. He's made a bet that within 6 months, he can transform the scruffy, Cockney girl into a 'proper lady' & pass her off as a Duchess. Tickets £12/£6 students.

Got an event you'd like to promote to our thousands of monthly readers? If so, please email the details over to: edit@micropress.co.uk to be included in our 'What's on?' section.

Update from Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund

September ﬁlm:

Waxing,

Serving

•

Our next ﬁlm, to be shown on September 18th at The Cut will be 'Quartet'. A wonderful ﬁlm, funny and moving, set in home for retired singers. It has a great cast that includes Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon, Sheridan Smith and many others.

As usual, the ﬁlm will begin at 2pm with doors opening at 1:30pm. Admission is by £5 donation.

i-Chameleon Shop: Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund (HDCF) will be in the i-Chameleon shop from August 22nd-28th. In addition to shop sales there will be a big rafﬂe,

and as usual, Friday will be cake day. We'd be very grateful for donations of items to sell, but please, no clothing or shoes.

HDCF concert: Plans are currently underway to stage a concert in aid of HDCF at Holton Village Hall on December 7th. Several local groups have already committed to this so it should be a wonderful, and very colourful occasion. More details will be coming soon, but please book the date for some pre-Christmas fun. For further information about all our activities and work, please email: info@halesworthdementia.co.uk John Wood

Community spirit shines at I-Chameleon fundraising week

events. It is so kind of you all to support us in this way and we are so thankful.

Neat Feet

Despite the weather not being very obliging at times, the members of the committee and volunteers who manned the I-Chameleon shop for our week in July had a wonderful time.

SUE ROBERTS

Later

We hope all the people who dropped in managed to ﬁnd a bargain or two and we were so pleased that Sophia (our Area Manager) came on Monday morning and that so many of you had a chat with her. Our extra stalls outside the shop were very successful and popular. Special thanks to Jane Bastow for the wonderful display of plants on Friday. Jane sold out very quickly and had to restock her stall with more plants from her garden/greenhouses. Thank you also to volunteers Jill and Paula for organising a truly magniﬁcent cake stall on Saturday. Despite the day being rather wet, the cake stall made £380. We are truly grateful to everyone of you who baked for us, there are some very talented bakers out there and the display of cakes and savouries was amazing. It's so generous of you all to keep donating every time we do a cake stall at our

The U3A ukulele band who entertained us on Tuesday morning with a variety of songs and with their colourful shirts brought a bit of sunshine to the town on a cloudy day. It was a bit hit and miss whether they'd be able to perform for us as it was a wet start to the day but luckily (at about 11am) it cleared long enough for them to cheer us all up with a brilliant performance and raise £173.07 in the bucket collection. Thank you to all the members of the band who played for us. It's always one of the highlights of our week. Our week in The I- Chameleon raised an outstanding £2,560.50. Thank you to everyone who visited the shop, donated items or contributed in any way. Our special thanks to Maggie and Bob. We couldn't do the shop without you both.

Our next event is The Maze by Torchlight which takes place on August 30th. This event is organised by The Old Hall Café, Reydon who will generously donate all the entrance fees to us at The Halesworth Branch of

Cancer Research. To book your tickets, please follow the link on their website. The Old Hall Café prefer you to pre-book, but you can pay by card on the night. We will be there on the night with a few stalls (cakes, tombola, books, Christmas cards) and we'll also have some fun games for all the family to enjoy with prizes for the overall winners. Please note: All our stalls/games will be cash only. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Last year was the ﬁrst time we held this event and it was so popular and such good fun we hope that even more of you will come along this year. A last hurrah before the children go back to school! Don't forget your torches and have fun. Please see our advert on the What's On page 8 for more information. Thank you all for supporting us at The Halesworth Branch of Cancer Research. Dawn Davis (Chair) 01986 873640

Halesworth branch of Cancer Research UK

Reydon Scarecrow Trail

September 14th & 15th

The Reydon Scarecrow Trail for 2024 will take place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th

September from 10am-4pm.

The trail is a vital fundraising aspect for Reydon's beloved Christmas Lights, as well as a great community event in its own right. Thank you to all the people who have signed up to make and display a scarecrow. This event wouldn't go ahead without you!

So, on September 14th and 15th, everyone is encouraged to visit Reydon, pick up a programme, spot all the scarecrows and pick their favourite! It's fun for kids and adults alike and can be completed on foot, by bike or by car.

Programmes will be available from Reydon Village Hall, Bridgefoot Stores, Little Gems and Boyden Stores. There will also be homemade refreshments and stalls throughout the weekend in Reydon Village Hall. So come and be part of the Reydon Scarecrow Trail 2024! If you have any questions, just email: reydonscarecrow trail@gmail.com

Helping Hands on the Hoppa

Hopefully by the time you read this, the severe speed bumps leading to Cutlers Hill Surgery will have been replaced with something a lot gentler.

The bumps have caused problems for the Hoppa itself (which has proved very costly in having repairs carried out) and our passengers (many of whom have health issues which are made much worse by the bumps). However, slowly our drivers manage to crawl over them.

Speaking of health-related issues, can we remind you of the sterling service our team of Buddies provide. As most of you know, the Hoppa delivers a service that's run for everyone who wants to use it, and that especially includes those who might be struggling with health and mobility issues. To make sure we can help you as much as possible, every Hoppa that runs in the morning has a Buddy as well as a driver, and it's the role of the Buddy to be on hand to help. So, if you're a little unsteady on your feet and you need an arm to lean on, the Buddy is happy to walk you from your door to

the bus. Or if you need someone to carry your shopping onto the bus, and to your front door, the Buddy is willing to do that. The last thing we at the Hoppa want is for people to stay at home simply because they don't realise that help is there for those who need a little extra support.

Please remember too, that if you require assistance to and from your door and you live a little bit away from our normal route you can call the ofﬁce and request the Hoppa to collect you and drop you off. All we ask is that you are living relatively close to our scheduled route round Halesworth and Holton.

If you'd like to know more about how this works, please call the ofﬁce before 12pm on a weekday morning on: 01986 875900.

If you'd like to be collected on the day itself, you must call the office before 9:30am to ensure the driver can be notified of your request. For Saturday morning collections, you must call before 11am of the Friday before, as there's no one in the office on Saturday mornings. www.hactbus.co.uk

Message from The Underground

A new art exhibition at Halesworth Gallery explores the eternal earth cycle of life death and renewal.

The exhibition will run from August 24th to September 18th and will be open Mondays-Saturdays: 11am-4pm and Sundays from 2pm-4pm. There's an opening party on Friday, August 23rd from 6:30pm-8:30pm where there'll be a chance to meet the artists and see the exhibition before it opens to the public.

The exhibition of these uniquely made images evolved from a conversation the artists had about the discovery of a plate (now housed in the Museum of London) bearing the date of 1661, and the words "You and I are Earth", which was found in a London sewer. This "Message from the Underground", on a plate made from earth, speaking about the base connectivity of all people and things, and the eternal earth cycle of life, death and renewal immediately resonated with the artists who all work with the elements of the earth in unusual

or experimental ways.

Margie Britz: "My work explores deep time and is about the earth and how it has come into being. I attempt to synthesize the two very different landscapes that have so profoundly inﬂuenced me; The semi-desert of the South African Great Karoo (where I grew up) and the North Norfolk coast, where I now live. I'll be showing paintings and hangings informed by the geology of the Norfolk coast. I make this work by arranging stones and pebbles collected from local beaches on canvas and then pouring over solutions of pigment. Either found local coastal pigment (mud, sand, clay and chalk), or pigment brought back from Africa. I then work with the marks that remain and suggestions and metaphors that might arise."

Anna-Lise Horsley: "Recent paintings involve different processes and materials. I often work on the ﬂoor so that paint can make its own way into canvas or paper, as if making a giant watercolour. Studio walls are

covered with small paintings and drawings, forming a huge sketch book. These images creep into my paintings through peripheral vision. This method allows for unpredictable forms to enter the work. The exhibition title is relevant because I've recently started working with clay, the results surprise me as they sometimes seem to evolve into ritual objects. I plan to show some of these pieces in this exhibition."

Maria Pavledis: "My work explores the sensory and emotional interconnections and interdependence between humans and other animals, a sensual engagement with the patterns and forms in nature. Images are made by printmaking, including recent techniques of steam printing with plants and through 'Fumage' using smoke to create an image working with the smoke's ﬂow forms and patterns to build an image. My work uses ideas and practices connected to both magical and surrealist practices including meditative and automatic techniques."

Anna-Lise Horsley in her studio

Recent work by Margie Britz, Anna-Lise Horsley and Maria Pavledis

Margie Britz in her studio

Beccles Inner Wheel Club donates £2,600 to East Anglia Air Ambulance

Beccles Inner Wheel Club members have this year raised money for The East Anglia Air Ambulance after visiting the new headquarters at Norwich Airport.

Tarryn Stuart came to receive a cheque for £2,600 from Gail Harris (President of Beccles Inner Wheel Club).

The presentation took place at the monthly meeting and luncheon at The Waveney Hotel, Beccles. Members have raised this signiﬁcant amount by a rafﬂe, a sale of bric-a-brac, a beetle drive, coffee mornings and various other fun get-togethers. We are a group of 34 ladies and always ready to welcome new members.

Edgar Sewter Playschool and Out of School Club

Edgar Sewter Playschool is open Monday-Friday during term time for children from two years and up. We welcome enquiries for September onwards for funded and nonfunded children.

Our Summer Holiday Club has been very busy! This runs until August 23rd and we have welcomed many children from local schools.

Our Breakfast and After School Clubs resume when school term starts on September 4th, for children from four years and up. Many thanks to: Maize

Maze at Reydon, Oasis Camel Centre at Cratﬁeld, Thorington Theatre, Hair by Stella, Abbie at Halesworth Bookshop and all parents who donated prizes and bought tickets for our summer draw.

For further details, please email: esplayschool@gmail.

com or call: 07796 044277 to register, arrange a visit or book a place. For help with childcare costs, see: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk Hayley, Anthea, Yvonne and Stacey

Halesworth Table Tennis Club

please call Pat Miller on: 01986 872689.

Start a degree in Martial Arts this September!

September is a fantastic time to start learning a martial art.

At ICENI Taekwon-do, we offer new students the chance to start a degree in martial arts, that's a Black Belt '1st Degree' in ITF Taekwon-do. This is achievable by anyone, you just need to be dedicated, and we help you on your way. We develop your syllabus based on your age and abilities. We assess your progress and power of techniques as you work through our coloured belt ranks,

and when you are ready you will be promoted to become an ICENI Taekwon-do Black Belt! After which, you could even open your own club!

We're a fully authorised and professional martial arts club, all our promotional gradings are registered and authenticated with the British Martial Arts & Boxing Association. Mr and Mrs. Bedingﬁeld are always ready to greet new students. Find out more on how to train with us at: iceniTaekwondo.co.uk

Tournament winners (L to R): Connor Peck (Wenhaston BC), Marcos Allen (Beccles Town BC) and Chris Peck (Wenhaston BC)

Wenhaston Bowls Club's annual tournament a big success!

On August 11th, a super sunny Wenhaston Bowls Club held their annual three wood triples tournament. A full house of 32 teams were entered into the competition, sponsored by Townsend Electrical. All teams played three games of eight ends with the top four teams playing for fourth, third, second and ﬁrst place.

After two exciting ﬁnal games, the ﬁnal four teams were:

• 1st: Connor Peck, Marcos Allen and Chris Peck

• 2nd: Fred Keen, Tom Keen and Pat Gilbert

• 3rd: Mike Topping, Jack Topping and Phil Reeder

• 4th: Rob Bullen, Ted Meadows and Mark Mitchell Wenhaston Bowls Club would

like to thank Townsend Electrical for sponsoring the tournament and donating the prize money.

We'd also like to thank Malcolm Napthine for running this year's tournament and a big thank you to all of the Wenhaston members and their friends and families for giving up their time and helping with food sales, tea making and selling rafﬂe tickets.

As the outdoor season nearly draws to a close, Wenhaston Bowls Club would like to invite locals to attend our carpet bowls evenings starting from September 5th at Wenhaston Village Hall from 7pm. For more information or to submit a membership application form, please email: jake.moyes9@gmail.com or visit: www.wenhastonbowlsclub.com

Anyone for table tennis?

to become a

Recent news from The Pear Tree Fund and Dee's Den Charity Shop

Halesworth's Pear Tree Centre continues to offer holistic support, including information, counselling, complementary therapies and beneﬁts advice to anyone diagnosed with a life-changing illness, their families/carers or those who have been bereaved. Visit: www.peartreefund.org for more information.

A huge thank you to the Westleton Garden Club who raised a remarkable £1,682.95 from the Westleton Open Garden Trail. 15 glorious gardens opened their gates to inspire and delight. Thank you to all who took part and contributed to this generous donation.

YouDrink Bottle Shop & Tap Room were busy throughout the month raising a fabulous £167 through their Beer Box Rafﬂe and Disco Bingo. Thank you to all the team and your kind-hearted customers.

Terry Stichbury from the Chediston Art Group, along with his nephew, have donated art materials belonging to Terry's late brother, David. Donations were made by members of the group, raising £250 in David's memory. This is a lovely legacy and we're very grateful to Terry, his nephew and all who donated and of course to David himself.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Pear Tree Fund's Open Day. We were utterly consumed by the moving stories told by Brian, Jan, Melia and Annie, all who have been supported by our charity and are giving back by volunteering, fundraising, playwriting and book writing. Thank you all for opening your hearts.

Thank you to Angela Frost for the kind and thoughtful donation in memory of her mother, Anne Doreen Milsom.

• Nov 15th: Auction of Promises at Halesworth Golf Club.

• Nov 23rd: Halesworth Pop Chorus concert at The Cut.

Leaving a gift in your will makes a lasting difference: Your legacy will help to create a future where holistic support is there for everyone experiencing life-limiting or terminal illness.

If you're considering leaving a charitable gift in your will, speak with your solicitor who will advise on the most appropriate legacy for your circumstances.

Dee's Den

Charity Shop:

How lovely to see the sun shining and people dressed for summer to stay cool! Quite a contrast to early summer! Take a look in Dee's Den, we have a wide range of summer clothes to suit everyone, now at reduced prices!

Our jewellery, belts, handbags, scarfs, shoes and sandals will complete the look for any outﬁt.

We have a variety of toys and games including tennis rackets, and garden games, so there'll be no time to say, "I'm bored!" We also have a great choice of jigsaws (all checked).

Everyone's welcome, come and browse for that special bargain, with a discounted £1 rail of adults' clothes. We also have bargain baskets of bric-abrac and books. We're open MonSat: 10am-1pm, sometimes a bit longer during the summer on Wednesdays and Fridays.

new outdoor Cornilleau table tennis

(

with

and balls) has arrived in Westhall in an

to create a "Fit Village." The

tennis has been set up in the park next to the Village Hall and community-owned Racehorse Pub so that it can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. It was funded mainly by the East Suffolk Council Enabling Communities Budget (a community fund allocated by the councillors) with the balance coming from the Village Hall reserves.

"We're delighted to have the table tennis up and running for the summer days ahead" said Nick Hoare (Founder of the Westhall Table Tennis Club) "It's great to see the children enjoying it as well as adults, including visitors at the local holiday barns, campsite and the pub. We hope that everyone will enjoy having a go and perhaps be tempted to come along to our club which meets in the Village Hall on Thursday evenings." East Suffolk Councillors

Beth Keys-Holloway and Geoff Wakeling (pictured above) said:

"We are delighted to have been able to support the table tennis project which we can see is helping to build community cohesion as well as encourage ﬁtness at all ages with a fun sport that can be played at any level, even if you're a bit rusty, like us, as it turned out!"

In another step towards becoming a "Fit Village", the Village Hall is playing host to "Chair Based Yoga" as part of Suffolk County Council's Active Suffolk scheme.

People in and around Westhall were asked by Active Suffolk to

vote for the classes they'd like to attend as part of the Fit Villages initiative. A very diverse list of responses were collated including activities such as pilates, aerobics, Nordic walking and salsa dancing. However, the most interest was for a yoga class and in particular chair yoga.

Active Suffolk duly found an experienced instructor, Mel Davenport, and a course of eight sessions (starting with a free taster session) commenced on July 5th, followed by seven subsequent sessions, heavily subsidised by the scheme.

Anne Hodge (who worked with Active Suffolk's Project Officer to bring the Fit Village project to Westhall) said "It's been great to see such a good response with full sessions and everyone enjoying the opportunity to attend classes in the Village Hall, led by a very friendly instructor. The concept of Chair Yoga is to be able to perform yoga poses while seated or using a chair for balance, offering the same benefits as traditional yoga, like boosting strength, flexibility and mental wellbeing, but without putting pressure on joints."

The village very much hopes that when the subsidised sessions ﬁnish in late August, Mel will carry on with weekly sessions, albeit at an increased cost.

Anyone interested in attending or for more information can email Mel on: meldavenport0907@gmail.com

Annie and her horse Hugo will be riding 30 miles in 30 days as part of their recovery. Annie has suffered complex PTSD, anxiety and depression but having received support, Annie said that the Pear Tree Fund has changed her life. For more information or to donate, visit: www.justgiving. com and search 'A.Aldred'.

It was a pleasure to meet Adrian Ramsay MP, at The Pear Tree Centre. He was busy holding surgeries in Halesworth but found the time to call in to learn more about the vital work that we carry out in our community. We look forward to engaging more with Adrian and his colleagues at the Waveney Green Party in the coming weeks.

We say a fond farewell to Jo Bidmead who has been a therapist at the Pear Tree Centre since 2020. She's been an inspiring member of The Pear Tree team and will be missed by staff, volunteers and clients alike. We wish Jo well in the next chapter in her life. In July, we welcomed Anne Emerson-Smith to the board of trustees. Anne brings with her a wealth of expertise in teaching, social work and development of charities within the play, childcare and voluntary sector. Anne has also set up an early years provision at Beccles Forest School.

Upcoming events:

• Aug 30th: Golf Day at Halesworth Golf Club.

• Sep 21st/22nd: Henham Steam & Country Show.

• Sep 27th: Dee's Den for the Pear Tree Fund Fashion Show at Holton Village Hall.

• Sep 28th/29th: Textile Temptations Quilting Exhibition at Darsham Village Hall.

• Sep 29th: 5km Fun Run in Halesworth.

• Oct 23rd-30th: iChameleon popup shop in Halesworth.

•

We have an amazing team of volunteers who work in the shop, donating their time to the charity. If you're interested in volunteering, call in and leave your number, we'll be in touch. Thank you for your continued support of buying and donating your unwanted goods and items, we really appreciate it. We don't accept used electrical items only new and boxed.

To contact Dee's Den please call Nikki: 07733 668221.

We have books, bedding, curtains, bric-a-brac, glassware, kitchenware, pictures, photo frames, plants, delicious homemade marmalade (thank you Jenny) as well as several small pieces of furniture available. Let us know if you're interested and we can show you what we have. We welcome donations of clean saleable items. Small amounts of donations can be dropped off at the shop during opening hours. Please help us by only giving clean clothing, thank you. If you have more than a couple of bags/boxes to donate, please let us know and deliver on a Monday or Thursday morning to the sorting end of the shop where we have extra volunteers. If you're unable to deliver, we can collect.

Halesworth

Christmas Lights

Plans for this year's event on November 23rd are well under way.

Many thanks to all who have supported our fundraising activities so far this year. We have a few more planned to help us reach our target. We will be in the pop-up shop in the Thoroughfare from September 19th-25th, when we'll be looking for donations of good quality bric-a-brac, clothes, toys etc, sorry no books or DVDs.

We're also hoping to hold a quiz in October and as usual,

we'll be holding a grand Christmas Draw to be drawn on switch-on day.

If you think this all looks like something you could enjoy getting involved with, we have our Annual General Meeting in the Stables at the Angel on August 20th at 5:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Committee members have dwindled over the decade or so that HEM has been running and we are in need of new volunteers if we are to continue beyond Christmas 2024.

•

Geoff Wakeling and Beth Keys-Holloway from East Suffolk Council trying out the new table

Elders Forest School

Now in it's fourth year, Elders Wellbeing in the woods is set to continue in September, thanks to Lottery Postcode funding.

It is an enormously successful manifestation of Forest School for children, for Elders. In other words, Elder led with the principles of Forest School at the heart. The Elders circle, the seventh spoke in the wheel of Kinda Education, was established in 2021 in Kaliwoods, Holton and grew out of Covid funding, and has blossomed since.

Elders (who have gathered their wisdom over decades of living and learning on the earth) have sometimes become distanced from other communities, feel isolated and their loss of utility.

The Elders Circle weaves the wisdom of Elders, digging out their utility, reminding us of our childhood, connecting with the ethos of deep nature connection: learning traditional green skills and activities which support the conservation of our natural heritage and traditions.

'Sex' was our theme this year, mainly of plant and trees but sometimes birds and bees. In harmony with the turn of the earth, we spied hazel ﬂowers, relayed stories of blackthorn,

worked with John Esling who taught us to weave hazel hedging, dressed up as bugs, made up songs, created bunting with Happpazone, learned how to weave nettle string, and the difference between a male and female nettles. Our last day of term was a blast, with charades, food, singing, and walking the land. We even made a movie of our adventures.

We will start again in September. Any Elder is welcome. We often work along side the Pear Tree who also recommend people to the project. Some of us have dementia, some of us are just forgetful, some of us sing, some of us have been coming since the very start, some come and go depending on their life needs. All are welcome.

Further information: www. kindaforestschool.com/2024elders-well-being-in-the-woods

Following on from the success of last year, Halesworth Climate Action Conference II will take place on the weekend of September 27th-29th in St. Mary's Church, Halesworth.

Adrian Ramsay (the new MP for Waveney Valley) will open the conference on Friday evening.

The particular focus this year is on land and food. How does what we grow and eat affect our health as producers and consumers? How does land use for power generation, or recreation, or nature preservation impact on the local environment; on biodiversity and climate? Our national, local and personal choices are crucial but not straightforward. So what are the issues, and what solutions are possible?

and experience; Starting with a 'Farming Maze' panel on Friday evening, and continuing with talks and discussion sessions through Saturday.

On Sunday morning, a special church service will focus on the farming community and the challenges they face. Discussion of further local projects will follow.

Local schools:

Children and teachers from local schools will be invited to learn about the nearby open spaces and those who care for them through a series of fun activities led by Revd. Alison Alder.

To support the theme, there will be a week-long exhibition starting on September 23rd, with displays by a variety of local organisations.

Invited guests:

Over the weekend, we'll hear from a range of invited guests with deep knowledge

Once again, this friendly and enjoyable event is organised by Halesworth Area Sustainable Hub (HASH), supported by Halesworth Town Council and the Blyth Valley Churches. Do come along to hear about local projects; to contribute your own questions and opinions; and to listen, think and learn. Further details will be updated on: www.halesworthash.com

Halesworth Area Sustainable Hub

75 years of Southwold Sailing Club

Southwold Sailing Club (SSC) were able to bring a little bit of magic down to Southwold's harbourside by celebrating their 75th anniversary in style with a hugely popular three-day festival, appealing to boating enthusiasts and the local community alike.

SSC is uniquely situated on the River Blyth offering dinghies and cruisers the opportunity for either coastal or river sailing, and at the end of June, delivered a Harbour Festival and classic boat rally like no other. The jam-packed weekend-long programme incorporated great shoreside activities, and plenty of activity on the water including small boat sailing, upriver rowing, and racing off-shore.

The club were joined by over 40 members of the East Coast OGA (Old Gaffers Association) who took up the invitation to take part in the three-day party at Southwold Harbour to mark not only the SSC anniversary, but the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. The club (in partnership with Southwold's Harbour Management Committee) were able to offer the OGA free berthing on the town's visitor moorings, and these gaffrigged boats fully bedecked with colourful maritime ﬂags (dressed overall) added colour and pomp to the spectacular backdrop of the River Blyth. A variety of 'small boats' arrived on trailers by road from around

the East Coast too.

SSC's Commodore, Henry Walker, invited all club members, OGA members, visiting yachts people and guests to kick off the celebrations, with activities all weekend including sunshine, music and maritime celebration. This free community event was organised by SSC who are fundraising to rebuild their slip, update their clubhouse, and keep it going for the next 75 years! The club have been overwhelmed by the glowing feedback and rave reviews about the "awesome", "brilliant" and "excellent" event with "locals out partying" at #HarbourFest24.

Sailing activity continued into Sunday with an offshore race in three classes: small gaffers, big gaffers and cruisers. The club set a course in out in Walberswick Bay that started and ﬁnished south of the harbour entrance, taking the ﬂeet out past the town to waypoints off Southwold Pier, with the spectacle visible to beachgoers. Spirits were not dampened despite the less than perfect conditions, and when back on dry land, prizes were duly distributed to the OGA visitors, including the expertly judged Concours d'Élégance.

For further details about SSC and how to get involved, please go to: www.southwoldsc.org and for more information as to how to get out on the water in the East Region, visit: www.rya.org.uk/startboating

Poppy Appeal 2024

Would you like to help with this year's Poppy Appeal? If anyone is available and willing to help, we are always looking for volunteers. If you can help, please email Nicky: halesworthpoppyappeal@gmail.com Thank you.

'The Mary Rose' was the title of the talk given to the Halesworth WI by Dr. Philip Roberts, who works for the Mary Rose Trust.

The talk was accompanied by slides, where he took us through the history of the wonderful ship from its beginning to its sad end when it sank while watched by King Henry 8th, with the loss of many lives. There was possibly only 35 saved out of the 500 aboard.

The Mary Rose was not new, having worked and served as transport when it was rebuilt to become King Henry's flag ship and fitted with heavy cannons to become a fighting vessel to face

the French. The Mary Rose set out from Portsmouth to face the French ﬂeet laying off the Isle of Wight, keeling over and sinking within sight of the shore and the King. It was estimated that approximately 60 million viewers watched when she was raised in October 1982. So far, 179 complete human skeletons and one dog have been brought up plus more than 1,500 items. Many objects of everyday life have been rescued; gaming dice, shoes, combs, musical instruments and gold coin etc. The Mary Rose is now on display at Portsmouth and is well worth a visit.

www.halesworthcarpetshop.co.uk

Halesworth WI

FARROW, Robert 'Bob'

Mary, Justin, Tracey and Michelle would like to thank and express their sincere gratitude for all the cards, ﬂowers and messages received since Bob's/Dad's passing.

Special thanks to everyone who attended the funeral. It was very heartwarming to see so many there and for all your generous donations to The Halesworth Lions and the British Heart Foundation.

Thank you to Andrew Fairweather (Celebrant) for a very special and moving service and to Waveney Crematorium. In

Thank you to Woolnoughs (The Cooperative) Funeral Home for all your help and support during this sad time.

Extra special thanks to Ian of The Huntsman and Hounds Spexhall for making Bob's/Dad's celebration of life so special in his favourite place.

Big thank you to Dr. McLusky, Neil Johnson, the community nursing team and First Choice Care for all your support help and care in such difﬁcult times. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Gareth and Jane Wilson for being the absolute best next

door neighbours with all your help and support whenever needed, day or night. Words can not express our gratitude to you both.

A word from our Latitude competition winner!

We ran a competition throughout the Community News recently with the chance to win tickets to this years' Latitude Festival. Below is a word from our lovely winner, Nicola Sword: "We attended Latitude as a family with a six-month-old baby, and I was totally amazed at how family-friendly this festival is. It really made us feel conﬁdent and relaxed at taking our baby around the festival (with her ear defenders in place). The Latitude staff attendants could not be more helpful and accommodating, they were ace!

Happy baby equals happy parents, which meant we thoroughly enjoyed the festival to the max! We were spoilt for choice for food and drink, such a fantastic variety of street food, we really did eat our hearts out whilst soaking up the friendly, happy, fun atmosphere. Lots to see and lots to do! Tip top comedy, to talented main stage acts, Rag 'n' Bone man was a particular favourite of ours. Something for everyone from baby massage, to funfair rides, to yoga, to full on raving in the woods! Even the camping was not how I imagined festival camping to be,

it was very civilised with clean toilets and showers. We were also very impressed by how 'green' the festival is with their recycling systems and reﬁllable water stations. We now have the bug to go every year! Truly recommend this event to everyone, all ages and generations, you will never feel out of place.

Thank you so much Community News for our tickets!

So grateful."

New U3A season off to a flying start!

If you've missed East Suffolk U3A's annual open day (the morning of September 6th at Kesgrave Community Centre), you can still get involved in this lively and thriving members' group.

It's part of a national (and international) organisation that aims to provide opportunities for the older, mostly retired, members of the community. It's all about keeping mind and body active, with the chance to learn, keep active, have fun and make new friends.

More than 2,200 people in East Suffolk are currently members, ﬁnding new interests, new challenges and social activities. They enjoy walks, quizzes, dining out, visiting gardens or churches, discussing architecture, the arts, current affairs and much more.

Alongside approximately 150 different local activities, there's a varied programme of talks held at different venues in East Suffolk.

The 2024/2025 schedule begins with a talk from Charlie Haylock, voice coach to actors in the Sutton Hoo based ﬁlm, The Dig. This is followed in October by talks about Livelihood Creation in Zambia (the work of Tools with a Mission), Life on Land and Offshore in Borneo, The Story of Silk and Memories of my Father (the life of a decorated Polish pilot who ﬂew alongside the RAF in Suffolk). Full up-todate information is available on: www.U3Aeastsuffolk.org.uk

New members are welcome, with the expectation that they will contribute to the success of the group. Membership is on an annual basis, costs less than £17.50 for a full year and gives members access to all the U3A's many activities, subject to availability.

For more information about U3A, please see the website or call the secretary on 0300 123 3913.

Hub Care Support

Husband and wife team, Roger, Joyce and their family, lead this branch, working together to provide an exciting alternative to care for the people across the East Coast.

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First Light Fest hosts Lowestoft's Tour of Britain Celebration!

The vibrant seaside town of Lowestoft is set to host the thrilling ﬁnal stage of the prestigious Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men and First Light Festival will be transforming Royal Green with a day of celebration on September 8th.

This much-anticipated event will not only showcase elite cycling but also feature a host of engaging activities, live entertainment and workshops, ensuring a memorable day out for all!

Events start at 9am as the cycling teams gather outside East Point Pavilion ready for their grand departure later in morning.

From here, they will make their way along the promenade to the Claremont Pier before heading out onto the road to set off for the ﬁnal stage. From Lowestoft, the tour will travel through East Suffolk to Felixstowe, where the grand ﬁnish takes place.

Working in partnership with

East Suffolk Council, First Light Festival C.I.C are thrilled to be hosting the celebrations and have an exciting programme of events and activities planned, taking place from 9am-3pm on the town's Royal Green next to East Point Pavilion.

BMX Pump Track Thrills

For adrenaline seekers and biking enthusiasts, the BMX pump track will be a highlight of the event. Open to all ages, this exciting feature will allow participants to test their skills and enjoy the thrill of BMX riding. Whether you're a seasoned rider or a beginner, the pump track promises an exhilarating experience.

Engaging workshops

A series of creative and educational workshops will be hosted by First Light Festival, National Literacy Trust, and Books and Prints who will be offering a make your own

cycle print workshop. These sessions will offer attendees the opportunity to explore various forms of art, literature, and creativity.

Fun activities for all ages

Way to Go Suffolk, Access Sport, and Everyone Active will be running a variety of activities designed to engage and entertain visitors of all ages. From sports and ﬁtness challenges to fun games and interactive sessions, these activities will promote health, wellness, and community spirit.

Live music extravaganza

Head to Royal Green and you'll be treated to a fantastic lineup of live music. Kicking off with Lowestoft favourites, The John Ward Trio, the outside stage will welcome a host of local bands and artists, creating a festive atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of competition and will keep the energy high and the

Framlingham Fellowship news

Our June meeting was a very interesting talk and demonstration from Jamie Hutchinson at Hilton Macarons, based in Framlingham.

We learnt that the perfect macaron should have a crunchy outer shell, a slightly chewy centre that is not too sweet and a generous filling with a flavour that seamlessly fills the whole macaron, and that the cooking was a very scientific procedure.

Their award-winning macarons are handmade with Italian meringue and use only the ﬁnest ingredients, all natural ﬁllings and free range eggs.

They are all vegetarian, glutenfree and alcohol free.

Jamie made some salted caramel filling and strawberry filling, and we were able to taste a few macarons. Our very grateful thanks to Jamie for a very interesting talk, demonstration and for bringing along various macarons for us to try with the fillings made during the meeting.

The July outing to Bury St.

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crowd entertained throughout the day. Pay a visit to East Point Pavilion too, where not only can you enjoy food and drink, a live DJ will be spinning the decks throughout the day.

Culinary delights at East Point Pavilion

East Point Pavilion's traders will be open throughout serving a diverse range of delicious treats, street food and refreshing beverages. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty meal or a light snack, there's something to satisfy every palate.

Event details:

• September 8th, 2024

• 9am-3pm

• Royal Green, Marine Parade, Lowestoft, NR33 0QL

• Admission: Free Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to witness worldclass cycling and participate in a day full of fun, sport, and community activities!

Edmunds was very enjoyable, perfect weather and the Abbey gardens were spectacular. Our thanks to Thompsons Coaches and our driver, Adrian. Our meeting on September 19th at The Crown Hotel will include Jemma Wood (Head of Volunteering & Ambassador at St. Elizabeth Hospice) talking about St. Elizabeth Hospice, its services both in the community and within the Ipswich and Great Yarmouth & Waveney sites.

Our meeting on October 17th will include a talk by Steve Everett titled 'Autumn and the Deer Rut at Minsmere'. Our meeting on November 21st will include a demonstration from Sheila at Callender's Florist.

Our meetings are open to all, include refreshments and we look forward to seeing new faces in 2024, meetings on a Thursday start at 2:30pm, at The Crown Hotel. For further information please email: framlingham-suffolk @sja.org.uk

Seedlings at Mendham Primary School

Seedlings is the dedicated Early Years unit at Mendham Primary School. Situated less than three miles from Harleston, surrounded by ﬁelds, the school boasts wonderful views.

Seedlings caters for children aged three to ﬁve years old in Nursery and Reception year groups, while the school as whole continues to Year 6.

Children at Mendham learn to be kind, caring individuals through our holistic approach to learning where Nursery through to Year 6 pupils are often found working and playing together.

Whole school days such as World Book Day to encourage a love of reading, Rock Star Day supporting times tables knowledge, sports day, brightness day where we learn about staying safe on the roads and the Day of Happiness celebrating wellbeing.

In the classroom, Seedlings children learn through play and purposeful activities.

The curriculum is designed to encourage learning which builds on your child's existing knowledge and experiences.

A weekly Forest School session allows children to experience and

learn about the world around them and take part in risky play in a controlled environment, the class woodshed gives opportunities for designing and building models with real tools, the orchard supports our scientiﬁc learning about the world with spaces to plant, grow, compost, observe minibeasts and watch seasonal changes.

Further experiences are planned to consolidate classroom learning, performances for Harvest, Easter and Christmas at the Church, Jimmy's Farm, a supermarket visit, a trip to the library, hatching chicks and visits from lambs, a day at the Sealife Centre and beach, and music workshops with visiting musicians.

Please check out our website: www.mendhamprimaryschool. org.uk or our Facebook page for lots of photos about our learning opportunities at Mendham. Also look out for the QR code to join our Nursery mailing list and ﬁnd out about our transition events. If you'd like more information about spaces in Seedlings or other year groups, please contact the school ofﬁce: 01379 852520.

Common Ground Theatre Co touring again this autumn with spooky tale

Common Ground Theatre Company have been touring the Eastern region for many years now with their unique brand of music theatre. They're off on the road again this autumn with a spooky tale set on the East Anglian coast.

The year is 1900. Young Jack Grimes arrives to take up his post as assistant to the keeper of the Toll Point Light, off the coast of East Anglia. Isaac Troop has been keeper at Toll Point for 20 years and is suspicious of the new arrival - is he there to assist or to replace him?

Guessing that his bosses at Trinity House have doubts about his mental ﬁtness, he hesitates to tell Grimes about the other

inhabitant of the lighthouse, as that would likely mean the end of his career. Isaac is beginning to realise that even here, at the edge of the land, his past will catch up with him and his sins will need atoning for. Ghost of The Toll Point Light, in the context of a good old-fashioned ghost story, also explores questions around why people seek seclusion, some as a means of escape or expiation, some as a way of ﬁnding peace or achieving enlightenment. Libby Purves writes: "One of the best things on the road in East Anglia right now, the everinventive Common Ground... pathos, humanity and dry humour. A proper treat."

They're touring across Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk, including; Laxﬁeld Village Hall (September 27th), The Cut, Halesworth (October 10th), Fisher Theatre, Bungay (October 11th), Castle Community Rooms, Framlingham (October 12th), Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge (October 18th), Beccles Public Hall (October 24th) & Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh (November 1st). Full tour details at: www.commongroundtc.co.uk On the website, you can also ﬁnd details of their ever-popular Christmas show, which this year is 'Father Brown & the Curse of the Christmas Fairy', which runs from December 11th to January 19th.

J C WOODPRODUCTS

When the Witchfinder General visited Halesworth

Tales of witches have been part of our culture from the Old Testament to the current day Harry Potter phenomenon. But behind the stories lurks a grim reality of innocent people tortured and killed out of superstition or hatred.

In the Halesworth area alone, during just one summer, eight people were arrested on the charge of witchcraft, then later tried and found guilty. Four of them were hanged. One was allowed to return home, one may have escaped and the fate of the rest is unknown.

Information on these tragic events can be viewed at Halesworth & District Museum in a display researched and compiled by Museum Chair, Dave Wollweber. Dave has also given a number of fascinating talks on the topic. Later this month, we'll have the opportunity to hear him update his ﬁndings in the Museum's ﬁrst Autumn talk for 2024.

Dave will take us back to August 1645, when the infamous self-proclaimed Witchﬁnder General, Matthew Hopkins, arrived in Halesworth. Like the rest of England, our area was gripped by a deep-rooted fear of witchcraft. Families protected their homes with talismans such as 'witch marks' and 'witch bottles'. It was all too easy to blame personal misfortunes on occult practices, and point an accusing ﬁnger.

And who knows how many local disputes were resolved through malicious claims of witchcraft.

Whatever the motivations of the accusers, Hopkins was eager to listen and take action, and be paid for his grim services.

The eight people arrested in the Halesworth campaign were taken to Bury St. Edmunds gaol, where they were watched for signs of their alleged craft and tortured into confession.

They were as follows:

• Thomas Everard (a cooper in Halesworth), hanged.

• Mary Everard (wife of the above), hanged.

• Mariana (daughter of Thomas and Mary), released (reasons unknown).

• James More from Metﬁeld (brother of Mary Everard), believed to have escaped .

• Elizabeth Hubbard from Halesworth, fate unknown.

• Sara Spindler from Halesworth, hanged.

• Jane Linstead from Halesworth, hanged.

• Margaret Eccleston from Linstead, fate unknown.

To learn more, why not come along to Dave's talk, on September 19th, at Halesworth United Reformed Church, Quay Street, Halesworth, IP19 8EP. The event starts at 7:30pm (doors open 7pm). Entry costs £6, or £3 for Friends of the Museum; pay at the door.

Matthew Hopkins (the infamous Witchﬁnder General) visited our town in August 1645

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Halesworth Museum

Super slimmer

Niki's diabetes is now in remission!

Meet our lovely member Niki...

At her biggest, she weighed 26 stone. Having been diagnosed with ﬁbromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and diabetes, every movement she made hurt.

Several years ago, she had lost a few stones on her own and had joined a Slimming World group but unfortunately her food habits hadn't changed; enjoying Coco Pops and toast with jam (diabetic!), a cheese toastie plus cream of tomato soup for lunch and pizza, chips, and coleslaw for dinner!

Fast forward to January 2023, when her diabetic nurse sent her to the GP as her blood sugars were so high that they were planning to put her on insulin. Niki did not want this so asked if there were any other options, being told that she would need to lose three or four stone very quickly or insulin would be the only option!

Niki was given a GP referral for 12 weeks free at her local Halesworth Slimming World group. She was extremely anxious walking through the doors of the Riﬂe Hall but was welcomed by everyone so felt completely at ease.

Niki soon discovered that, by making simple changes to the food she ate, that she could still enjoy her favourite foods and still lose weight. In fact, she lost

4lbs in her ﬁrst week and by week three, was already 9.5lbs lighter!

By the time she went back for her diabetic check a few months later, not only had she lost a fantastic three stone, but her diabetes was in remission and no insulin would be needed! Her diabetic nurse and GP were thrilled. An added bonus was being taken off one of her other medications too!

Her meals now include a mushroom omelette for breakfast, homemade vegetable soup for lunch and a large, ﬁlled jacket potato with beans and salad for dinner, enjoying fat free yoghurt and berries and her favourite hiﬁ bars to satisfy her sweet tooth!

Niki has now lost four and a half stone and is now very close to reaching her Personal Achievement Target. If you asked her for a top tip, she would say that staying to group each week gives her the support and motivation for the week ahead, good weeks and not so good, with no judgement.

Our friendly Halesworth Slimming World groups meet at The Riﬂe Hall, Halesworth, IP19 8LR every Tuesday at 9:30am, 5:30pm and 7pm. For further information, please contact Bev Hansey on: 07912 849995 or just come along on the day. New and returning members always welcome.

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Halesworth Town Council

Falling, recording and planting Halesworth trees

As many of you will have seen, an old oak in the town park fell, unexpectedly, over the town river. Why did it fall? many of us asked... As it happens, I was looking at it the day before, and even took a photograph, so saw that it had a natural incline towards the river from its base (probably searching light as it grew), so it's weight would naturally be inclined. With all the rain we've had these last two years, the canopy may have grown excessively and such an increase in top weight may have tipped it. The roots were in sand, looser and not ﬁxing like clay, and near the water. As some of you observed on Facebook, oaks don't like to have feet in water. I didn't see any evidence of fungi (honey fungi for example) in the roots, well displayed when it fell. It was a challenge for East Suffolk (the current owners of the town park) as they could not gain access to this island: none of the bridges over are built to carry the weight of cars/machinery. They solved the problem by doing most of the work from the other bank (once again, thank you riparian owners on the other side). We lost out on all that useful mountain of

chippings, but the work is done. (Yes, I know a few of you I spoke to wanted the great trunk left there to become a feature, but health and safety and all that practicality spoke louder). I counted the rings the other day, roughly 85. Why I was photographing the oak the day before? Because we (Lisa Simmonds, Halesworth Tree Warden and me, Rachel Kellett, Halesworth Town Council and Holton Tree Warden) are creating a data set of all Halesworth's Heritage Trees, started years ago by Richard Woolnough, but now part of our Neighbourhood Plan which offers them some protection. They will also form part of a Heritage Tree Walk around Halesworth and Holton. We will be able to produce a map with all our heritage trees on it, and I hope, a link to some of their stories, like when and why planted. If anyone knows of any tree stories (like who planted them and when), please let us know.

As part and parcel of developing Halesworth Tree Policy, it's vital to record our ancients, our ancestors, and protect them, as well as plant new trees for their succession and even more to mitigate climate change. Trees after all, soak up carbon

dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Older trees absorb far more carbon than younger trees, and in addition trees especially oaks support more than 2,300 other species including birds, bats and insects, more than any other native tree.

Indeed, we're keen to plant more trees, and have plans to

plant some cherry trees along Saxons way, and Lisa Simmonds (the great tree planter) is giving away trees at Halesworth Climate Action Conference www.halesworthash.com in September and in December with Father Christmas.

Rachel Kellett/Lisa Simmonds Suffolk Tree Wardens, Halesworth Town Council

Revitalising Blyth Valley Rotary

Transforming tradition and embracing the future

Dr Cathy Ryan MBE PHF, outgoing President Blyth Valley Rotary 2023-2024. Like many Rotary Clubs, our membership was dwindling. How can we change the image? We needed a shake-up and a makeover. Southwold has an image of the wealthy and elderly and the place people go for an upmarket holiday. Our club Southwold and District does not have that vision, and we must prove it!

Over the years, we considered changing the club's name, but it seemed to be a complex process, so we didn't pursue it. However, it was agreed to try again by using a more ﬂexible and positive approach to membership. Out with Southwold & District in with Blyth Valley, indeed widening our catchment area and hopefully drawing in new members.

Taking the reigns for my second term of ofﬁce was quite daunting at this time of intentional change, but we agreed the changes MUST happen if we carry on as a club. Firstly, we needed a more inclusive and wide-ranging name. We hoped to gather a few members from the local clubs that have disappeared over the years. We launched with a cheese and wine evening and

invited several 'targeted' guests and an 'open door' invite. It was a great success.

Building on this, we recognised how important public relations are. Our name needed to be visible at all local events, raising the proﬁle of volunteering and being at the forefront of that concept is very much the way forward. We have ﬁrmly planted ourselves at the centre of our community, which has been the secret of our ongoing success. Social media and networking with other local groups were our focus. Community Radio has become invaluable but reminding us that networking is the key to membership.

Gaining publicity and new members, volunteers, and friends has been a huge effort. We're fortunate to have members with excellent IT skills and some time to commit to managing the PR angle. However, the rest of the club has to do its part and support the concept of being visible; this again takes dedication and commitment, not for the fainthearted!

This year (to date), we have an incredible 12 new members who have energised and motivated the club, and which have challenged us to bring our club into the 21st century with new ideas, new

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opportunities, new business contacts and a brighter future. The challenge is to recognise and accept ﬂexibility, which means managing expectations, availability and new working methods. Along with new members, there needs to be a host of volunteers and friends that can back up and support. Working in partnership with others, organisations, clubs and societies helps bring additional rewards. Everyone needs to share their resources, and expertise, we cannot work in isolation as a club, we need to work in partnership with others. We must also tell people our story and be proud of all our achievements. Our rolling programme of events is often admired, our work ethic is extraordinary, and 2023-2024 was no different. We always start our Rotary year with giving beautifully illustrated dictionaries to our Year 6's in all our local schools, we then celebrate with 'Brass on the Grass', a 'free' community event on the village green in Reydon. A great proﬁle booster, encouraging other local charities to have a stall, and then the award-winning Wrentham Brass Band entertain the crowds.

During the summer, we support many organisations at fêtes and festivals, either with our infamous Teddy stall or through our expert marshalling and car parking management. Car park management at fairly big local events is becoming a successful way for us to raise funds and raise our proﬁle.

Encouraging new members to take the lead and try out events is also essential, so this year, we added a wine tasting. We worked with the Southwold Arts Centre and helped organize the Southwold Arts Street Festival 2024, with the road closures and car parking, while other members helped with the organisation of the Street Festival.

Our International Committee also have an annual collection for TWAM and collects a truckload

of tools and equipment. They also oversee and manage our 'Lend with Care' account. They set up additional stalls and special events to support our International Crisis fund and collections as required. Again, being in the centre of Southwold with our banners, ﬂags, pop-up stands, etc allows us to share our vision and display our work. Our local Town Council encourages us to work with the councillors.

In late summer, our team are up with the larks, you can hear the tap tap on wood for miles around, this is not the sound of the woodpecker, but signage being put up for the Henham Steam Rally and Country Fair. Manning the gates, signage and car parking at Henham Steam Rally and Country Show has become our 'club away week'. Many members camp out to support this massive annual country fair, where both our Rotary ﬂag and our reputation ﬂy high, ensuring the funds to support our local charities for the coming year.

During winter, we made sure all our local children had a winter coat, through 'Coats for Kids', and working in partnership with my Presidents charity Sole Bay Care Fund, we could also help support to make sure all our school children had access to a hot meal from October to March.

We also plant our purple crocus bulbs, so swathes of purple bloom around our villages remind us each year of our 'End Polio Now' campaign. This year, we'll ask our local schools to help plant them, as we launch our ﬁrst Rotary Kids programme. Next on the agenda comes Christmas. It's time to party and to 'step up to the plate' as we launch our online advent Calendar, where each day, a charitable deed is undertaken, or a charity is supported by donation. A deed each day until the ultimate challenge, Our Christmas Day dip, where some 300 or so brave souls dash into the sea. Hundreds of fancy dress glad 'dippers' in the name of charity.

Raising money for our local RNLI and other local charitable causes is high on our agenda. We don't require a pledge to be able to join the swim unlike other of the larger charities. Spring brings our focus to International Women's Day, March 8th what an amazing night this is. A sell out event now in its 12th year. Some 100 women and a few brave men gather for a night of good food and wine to listen to the stories of women who inspire, who have gone that extra mile to bring change to peoples lives or who have succeeded against all the odds. Women have brought much to Rotary and this too is celebrated. May's Starlight 10K Walk brings us together to 'walk with purpose'. A 10k walk along the River Blyth raising funds for Dementia UK and Sole Bay Care Fund. Now in its 4th year, and growing each year, this magical evening at The Old Hall Café is another triumph. Volunteers help marshal and walk with us, again an opportunity to promote our work and tempt new members to join us. As we come full circle, we end our Rotary year on a high. Our new 'Rising Star Award' for young people under 18. What a fabulous finale! The future of Rotary, sewing that seed of 'doing good does you good'. Our winner, Daisy Haylock filled over 90 socks with essentials items for the homeless. Our runners up, Reuben Digby, grew his hair for three years, to be cut off for the Princess Trust and Holly Rowley-White, gained her pilots licence aged 16, and is going to be attempt to be the youngest to fly solo around the world... Definitely Rotarians for the future!

So what can I say... A fantastic year, supported by an amazingly dedicated and totally committed team, who certainly put 'service before self' to make sure our club survives and we have showed our community that Blyth Rotary is here to stay! People of Action is certainly Blyth Valley Rotary.

Niki Owen before and after

Slimming World

• Kitchen tap repairs & replacement

• Bathrooms & wet rooms

• Toilet repairs & replacements

• Shower repairs & replacements

• Disability access installs

• Unblocking

• Loft tanks repairs & replacements

• Ball valve repairs

• Cylinder repairs

• Immersion thermostats & elements

• All types of roof repairs

• Ridge replacement

• Lead ﬂashing

• Flat rooﬁng

• Leak repairs

• Chimney repairs, re-pointing & removal

• Slate & Tiled Roofs

• Dry ridge insulation

• New Roofs

BUILDING: DISABLED WORKS:

• Ramps & hand rails designed, built & installed

• Doorways widened

• Disabled doors supplied & installed

• Stair rails ﬁtted

• Safe & accessible toilet & wet rooms supplied & installed

• Full home re-design & refurbishment service to suit your needs

• Non-slip surfaces, paths & walkways

GARDENING & LANDSCAPING:

• Summer tidy ups

• Hedges & bushes trimmed

• Sheds & greenhouses supplied, installed and repaired

• Fences, Patios & Decking

• BBQ areas

• Garden planting schemes designed & built

• Specialised topiary supplied & planted

• Brickweave & Block paving

• Turf

HANDYMAN:

• General DIY

• Hanging frames/mirrors etc.

• Flatpack furniture put together

• Wall mount TVs

• Installation of bath screens

• Silicone showers & baths

• Tiling

• Lifting & shifting furniture

• Small jobs

• Whether it’s a general tidy up or complete house clearance, we can help with both!

• Emergency repairs

• Re-pointing

• Subsidence & cracks

• Lead ﬂashing

• Chimney repairs, removal & re-lining

• Roof repairs

• General building works/repairs

• Stud walls

• Garden walls & Patios

• Gates & Driveways

• Damp prooﬁng

CARPENTRY:

• Windows repaired & replaced

• Hanging doors

• Wood ﬂooring & panelling

• Kitchen ﬂatpacks

• Boxing in

DRAINAGE:

• High-pressure jetting

• Block drains

• CCTV surveys & investigation

• Treatment plants

• Soakaways

• Grease traps

• Gullies

• Guttering

• Land drains

• Full drainage installations

• Pumping Stations

• Planned Maintenance