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with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Volume 7 • Issue No. 1 • NOVEMBER 2016
March Accounting & Taxation Services Ian Coombes FCCA MBA
• FREE initial consultation to discuss any tax, accounting and general business issues • Payroll, Auto Enrolment,VAT, Self Assessment, and full accounting service • Personable and professional tailored support • Fees agreed in advance • Out of office hours service available Individuals, self employed and limited companies
Please call Ian on: 01449 740285 / 07939 837939 E: ian@marchconsultingltd.co.uk
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
NEWS
Bob Cornelius recently wrote a heartbreaking post on Facebook about his 11-year-old son Christopher which I’d like to share, at least in part, with you. When Bob attended a parents’ evening at his son’s school, he admired a display of fact sheets which Christopher and his classmates had completed. Upon closer inspection he discovered that Christopher had written ‘no one’ where he’d been asked to list the names of his best friends. “Never have five letters cut so deep, and they weren’t even directed at me,” Bob wrote on Facebook. “And I don’t have a solution. I don’t have an answer. The reality is that I have to rely on the compassion of others to be incredibly understanding in order just to sit next to him, attempt to engage him, and make him feel included.”
ST MARY’S CHURCH, BRAMFORD
Addressing readers directly, Bob urged his fellow parents to teach their children empathy. “As far as I know, (save for one time), Christopher’s classmates have never been overtly cruel to him. What they have done, however, is to exclude him. And frankly, I understand this... because Christopher cannot engage them in a typical way, he gets left behind... excluded.”
Saturday, December 3, from 1.30pm
He issued the following plea to help his son: “The only solution I can come up with is to share this with you and ask that you have a conversation with your kids. Please tell them that children with special needs understand far more than we give them credit for. They notice when others exclude them. Trust me when I tell you this hurts them. Even if it’s not obvious to you and me. “I’m not so naive that I think this post is going to change the world. But, if, by sharing this, I can make you think about having a conversation with your children about empathy, about going out of their way to include those who are different from everybody else, especially if it goes against the group mentality, then I will feel like Christopher’s voice has been heard.” Bob’s Facebook post has been shared more than 23,000 times, prompting a flood of online support. I know I’m only one of many who have subsequently had ‘that’ conversation with their children, but perhaps we all need to dig a little deeper at times, whatever age we are.
In Touch
with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: bramford@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
ADVERTISING Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 DISTRIBUTION Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 PRINTING Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk
01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
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IN TOUCH WITH . . . • Hadleigh • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • East Bergholt, Dedham & Flatford • Needham Market, Creeting St Mary & Creeting St Peter • Sproughton & Burstall • Claydon, Barham & Henley • Manningtree, Mistley, Lawford & Brantham • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • Kesgrave & Rushmere • Woodbridge & Melton • Gt. & Lt. Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Witnesham & Tuddenham St. Martin • Copdock, Washbrook, Belstead, Bentley & Tattingstone • Ipswich East, Broke Hall, Ravenswood & Warren Heath • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Pin Mill, Holbrook, Woolverstone & Erwarton
GRAND CHRISTMAS BAZAAR in the Victory Hall, Ship Lane Enjoy the Christmas Tree Festival in the church from 10am Lunches served in the Church Room, noon-2pm Enjoy a day in Bramford
CAN YOU HELP A LOCAL CHARITY? Suffolk Family Carers is based on Hill View Business Park, Old Ipswich Road, Claydon. We provide information, advice, guidance and support for anyone who is caring for a friend, family member or neighbour. The person that they are caring for may be ill, have a disability, a mental health issue or be elderly and frail. How can you help? By calling a family carer each week, either from your own home or from our Claydon office, offering emotional support, a listening ear and a friendly chat. What do we offer? Training and support for your volunteer role, travel expenses and the opportunity to meet new people and to make a difference to the lives of family carers. Who do I contact? If you are interested and would like to find out more, please call the volunteer team: 01473 835450 / volunteer@suffolkfamilycarers.org
IN TOUCH WITH . . .
DECEMBER DEADLINE 10 NOVEMBER 2016 is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy
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NEWS BRAMFORD AND THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME 1916 When most people think of The Battle of the Somme they think of the first day when nearly 20,000 British soldiers lost their lives and twice as many went missing or were wounded. On July 1, 1916, fourteen British Divisions (about 120,000 men) attacked approximately 15 miles of German front line trenches north of the River Somme. The offensive lasted until November 18, a total of 141 days. Britain and the Dominions suffered a total of 419,654 casualties killed or wounded.
EXHIBITION REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
13th Nov 2016 11.30 to 14.00
Church Room, Bramford
The story of 1916 and the men of
Bramford at
The Battle of the Somme www.bramfordww1project.org.uk
It’s not surprising then, that many men from Bramford took part in the fighting and lost their lives. Of the 54 men on the village memorial, 16 of them died in that year, 14 of those during The Battle of The Somme, or what should really be called The Battles of the Somme 1916 as there were many different battles, phases or actions that made up the whole offensive. A small exhibition illustrating the stories of these men will be held in St Mary’s Schoolroom following the Remembrance Service on Sunday, November 13 (see poster).
SOMERSHAM CHURCH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR At Somersham Village Hall on Saturday, November 27, 2-4pm Refreshments, cakes, raffle, tombola, games. crafts and Santa Free admission and free parking.
EAST ANGLIA ONE LIMITED Re: Section 106 Agreement for offsite landscaping works within a 3km radius of Bramford Substation As part of its planning consent, East Anglia ONE Limited (EAOL) entered into a Section 106 Agreement with Mid Suffolk District Council (MSDC) and Babergh District Council (BDC) under which EAOL will provide a fund towards offsite landscaping works and measures within a 3km radius of Work No. 39 (the EAOL substation) in order to contribute towards offsetting the potential visual impacts of that work. If you feel you will be affected by the development and would benefit from planting closer to your property to mitigate the effects of the development, please forward your name, address and telephone number to: Joanna Young, Stakeholder Manager, ScottishPower Renewables, Room 101, Orbis Energy, Wilde Street, Lowestoft NR32 1XH 01502 509236 / 07738 063259 / jyoung@scottishpower.com 4
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NEWS SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP
A Community Shop for the local community, run by the local community The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416 OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm Saturdays: 8am-1pm Work goes on apace at the community shop. Products change with the seasons and now we are looking forward to having winter warmers. Come and see what you can get to put in the store-cupboard in case bad weather catches up with us. As always, we aim to source produce locally and to this end we have the freshest local eggs, vegetables, bread, cakes, pies and locally brewed beer, and we are always looking to try other local products. Not only are locally produced foods delicious, but they save on travel miles, thereby reducing the carbon footprint, and support our local producers. We also promote reuse and recycling in the shop and are always happy to receive reusable plastic carrier bags and egg boxes. Our community shop is not only a place to purchase everyday goods that we need at home, but it is also a meeting place and centre for our local community. A very successful Macmillan Coffee Morning held in the shop, organised by Lucy, was well-supported, with many people coming along to be part of what was billed as the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. It was a most enjoyable occasion when visitors were able to
share each other’s company and also the delicious home-made cakes which were donated to go with the coffee. A big thank you to the cake and coffee makers, the washer-uppers, those who donated raffle prizes and everyone else who supported the event which raised a fantastic £337 for Macmillan Cancer Support, a worthwhile sum for a worthwhile cause. We have our regular Tea and Chat meetings on the last Wednesday afternoon in the month from 2-4pm in Coffee Corner, so come along for tea and cakes and a chat during the colder months of the year. Make a date for our next meeting on Wednesday, November 30. You will be very welcome. We want everyone to benefit from the shop, so if you would like help with your shopping please get in touch with a member of our management team (listed below) and don’t forget that the dry cleaners pick up on Tuesday mornings and return the following Tuesday. For a book to read in the winter evenings, the book exchange is an excellent way to find a new read, and the village diary is waiting to be filled with events over the coming weeks. Take a look and see what’s happening locally. Our community shop is a good place to find local produce, gives a chance to meet up with people you haven’t seen in ages, and also provides real heart to the local community. Come along to see what’s happening if you haven’t already, and new volunteers are always welcome – even a couple of hours a month can make all the difference. MANAGEMENT TEAM Lucy Barrett, 831890; Terry Fordham, 831529; Jenny Hitchcock, 832060; Peter Jousiffe, 833577; Anne MacFadyen, 831288; Steve Woolhouse, 831080 A COMMUNITY SHOP FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, RUN BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
CLAYDON & BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE Saturday, October 29, 7.30pm: Children’s Halloween Event Halloween costume required, £1 entry. Music by Dan, the club’s DJ. Saturday, November 12: The Collectors A great musical band specialising in 60s music. The centre is going to rock. Doors open 7pm, band starts 8pm. Members £6, non-members £7. www.thecollectors.moonfruit.com Don’t forget the Community Café is open in the hall from 8am until 4pm, Monday to Saturday (closing times do vary due to other activities using the facility). Serving teas and real coffee plus delicious cakes and savoury treat. Plus special afternoon teas at an attractive price of £7.50. We have a wide and varied range of ales, ciders and lagers, both draft and bottled. Also available is Guinness and mild and our premium lager, San Miguel, is now on tap. We have pints of bitter starting from just £2.50, and lager from just £2.90. The annual quiz evening was held on October 7. The winning team was The Primates, second Baldry’s Barmy Army, and third 4 x 2. Prizes were donated by the community centre. The evening was enjoyed by all the teams. www.candbcc.com / 01473 831805 Facebook: Claydon Community Centre
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ADVERTORIAL
Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.
Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number
of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing
a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Andy a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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NEWS
COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: OCTOBER 2016 Devolution The government has been failing to hit milestones on time so the devolution process is behind schedule. There is also significant resistance to change for relatively little benefit. We would gain an elected mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk who would have to agree with all decisions of the council leader group who would guide the combined authority.
sector. Council officers were considering research into the likely effects. The industry representatives had decided what the impact on them would be and had begun to change their stance to ensure they withstood and exploited the challenges. The retail sector appeared to believe that as long as the economy does not contract they would be ok. Landowners appeared to be of the view that a move into tourism would be necessary to counteract the contraction in farming.
We gain:
Much will remain uncertain for at least a couple of years. However, we need to understand as far as possible what our major industries are, how they will be effected and what response is possible to get the best outcome. We asked for details of the sectors that are significant, the numbers of companies and employment, the turnover and a view on what will affect each sector. We felt that research to determine these factors and the actions we need to take should start now, not wait until the direction of negotiations is clear. That would allow the county to lobby government on behalf of local industries.
• £25 million a year of new money for the next 30 years (£750 million) to support economic growth, development of local infrastructure and jobs • £100 million over five years of new money to support the building of new homes across Norfolk and Suffolk and £30 million over five years, split equally for Norwich City and Ipswich Borough, to meet their housing needs • A guarantee of the existing £225 million annual transport budget until 2021 • Control of an existing £20 million a year adult skills funding to ensure the training offer matches the needs of local businesses and the local labour market • Control of an existing c£2 million apprenticeship grant for employers to enable funding to better meet the needs of local Norfolk and Suffolk employers Much of this money is not new, but we gain control over what is currently spent. It all adds up to about £25.5 million a year for two authorities whose current budget is at least £1 billion. Scrutiny: I have been asked what scrutiny is. Councils used to operate a committee system where groups of councillors from all parties in proportion to the number elected would be decision makers for particular activities. The system changed to one where a group of about ten cabinet members from the largest party formed an executive or cabinet. This cabinet makes most decisions, largely endorsing individual cabinet member views. This is a quicker process that allows individuals to spend more time developing expertise. However, power is concentrated in just a few hands that are accountable to you only at election times or to your representatives at full meetings of the council. Scrutiny committees were set up to act as critical friends holding the portfolio holders to account. We investigate or ‘scrutinise’ policies, service performance, issues of concern to residents and decisions of the cabinet. The committee represents a wider set of residents’ views. Membership is in proportion to the numbers of councillors elected from each party. We make recommendations for improvements to services and adjustments to policy. There are three scrutiny committees at county, the main committee where I am vice chair, education and health. There is one at the district council. Brexit and its impact on the Local Enterprise Partnership Our scrutiny of the impact on LEP funding and activities produced some interesting contrasts between the government and private
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Procurement-Scrutiny Working Party The county has a vast number of contracts with suppliers, particularly now so many services have been outsourced. The working party felt that there is much to do to sharpen contract control in this comparatively new environment. Fourteen recommendations covered issues ranging from the acquisition of commercial expertise through improved training for contract managers to contracts that addressed the need to ensure contractor performance could be managed. We recommended the development of a simple but robust social value policy that demonstrates how the council will consider the economic, social and environmental benefits of its contracting programmes. Housing Development Outline planning permission for another 130 houses in Great Blakenham was granted on October 12. It is impossible to resist such applications as the district lacks land designated for housing that will last five years. However, I do believe that we need housing to accommodate the growing population. We are all living longer and need our houses for many more years. At planning, I emphasised the need to ensure we build infrastructure, pre-school and school places, medical centres, shops, public transport and roads to cope with the increases in children, people and cars. MSDC move to Endeavour House Babergh and Mid Suffolk have at last decided that they need to move to just one headquarters. They have chosen Endeavour House where they will share the county council space. I have to say that while I totally agree that one building is enough I am concerned that several costs were overlooked in the analysis of the benefit. There are issues of the travel time into Ipswich, the possible need to compensate employees for their travel and the lack of parking. Needham Market was discounted on some doubtful estimates of refurbishment costs. If you have queries please contact me: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk / 01473 831306 www.john.field@suffolk.libdems.org
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT CHRISTMAS FAYRE AT BLUE CROSS REHOMING CENTRE
SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE OPEN DAYS More open days are being planned at the energyfrom-waste facility, giving local people the chance to see for themselves how Suffolk’s waste is being put to good use.
Blue Cross Suffolk are holding a Christmas Fayre on Saturday, November 19, 10am-2pm, at Bourne Vale Social Club, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE.
Since the visitor centre opened last year over 4,500 people have been round the plant to find out more about how Suffolk’s waste is being used to create electricity for 30,000 homes. Each visit includes a short presentation, time in the interactive visitor centre and the control room and a tour of the plant. For the tour part of the visit, you need to be over seven years old and it’s unsuitable for anyone with vertigo or mobility issues as it includes climbing over 300 steps and 23 levels.
For further information please telephone the centre on 0300 777 1480 or Ian Hendry, volunteer events and fundraising committee vice chairman, on 01449 767747 (evenings only).
Visitors must wear full-length trousers and flat covered shoes – walking boots or trainers are ideal, but no heals or sandals. All personal protective clothing will be provided. The open days are as follows: Wednesday, November 30, 6-8pm Saturday, December 3, 10am-noon Thursday, December 8, 10am-noon
Entry is by way of donation. There will be various stalls, refreshments and a draw. Be there to pick up your Christmas bargains!
IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5 MIP/5A MIP/5B MIP/5C MIP/5D MIP/5E MIP/5F MIP/5G MIP/5H MIP/5I MIP/5J MIP/5K
Town/village Location Sproughton Church Lane Sproughton Wild Man Bramford St Mary’s Close Bramford Paper Mill Lane Great Blakenham, Chequers Great Blakenham, Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park Baylham Post Box Claydon Crown Claydon Edinburgh Gardens Barham Bacon Road Bramford Packard Place
Time 9.10-9.25am 9.30-9.45am 9.50-10.05am 10.10-10.25am 10.35-1055am 11-11.15am 11.25-11.45am 11.55am-1pm 2.05-2.20pm 2.25-3.50pm 4-4.30pm
DATES: November 22, December 20
Monday, December 12, 2-4pm Numbers will be restricted to 20 for each day and booking is essential. To book a place contact Emily Pike: 01473 836812 / emily.pike@suez.com SHUT DOWN The site will be undergoing routine cleaning and maintenance between October 30 and November 20. Work on the two lines will be staggered so we will continue to process waste throughout this period and there will only be a few days when the site is completely shut down. There will be extra contractors on site, but there should be no impact on the local community. USEFUL NUMBERS Site offices: 01473 839149 To book a visit: 01473 836812 Environment Agency: 0800 807060
CHRISTMAS EVENTS AT LT BLAKENHAM CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Saturday, November 26 at the village hall, 2-4pm, free entry CRIB DISPLAY AND CHRISTINGLE SERVICE Crib Display at Lt Blakenham Church on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November, 11am-4pm both days. On Sunday 27 a Christingle Service will follow at 4.30pm. Free entry but donations will be gratefully accepted in aid of Little Blakenham Church.
Stowe Veterinary Centre
Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre
Ipswich Veterinary Centre
The Mustard Pot Veterinary Surgery
The Old Tea Room Veterinary Surgery
54 Bury Road, Stowmarket
2 Boldero Road, Bury St. Edmunds
Scrivener Drive, Ipswich
Coddenham Road, Needham Market
Station Road, Elmswell
Tel: 01449 613 130
Tel: 01284 747 000
Tel: 01473 555 000
Tel: 01449 722 198
Tel: 01359 241 761
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OUT & ABOUT CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND GIFT FAIR
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, NEEDHAM MARKET
In aid of St Elizabeth Hospice and Sproughton Community Shop
Saturday, November 26, starting at 2pm, in Needham Market Community Centre.
Saturday, November 5, 10am-4pm, Tithe Barn, Sproughton IP8 3AA Stalls will include handbags, clothing, jewellery, shabby chic items, cakes, candles, children’s craft kits, sewing, toiletries, bird houses and boxes, Usbourne books, home ware, tombola, a prize draw and much more.
Why not pop along to find those early Christmas presents? A variety of cakes, cosmetics, books and gifts will be on offer, as well as a raffle and games of chance. Something for everyone! Hot and cold refreshments will be available. All welcome. Proceeds to church funds.
Free entry. Refreshments and food will be available on the day. Tombola items (adults and children’s) would be very much greatly received and can be left at the community shop.
BRAMFORD WI Our next meeting in the Loraine Victory Hall on Monday, November 14 at 7.30pm will be our annual meeting, followed by bingo so remember to bring along your lucky pens! No competition.
ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, November 12, 9am-12.30pm. A chance to buy a whole range of products from local people including fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items. East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier. If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190. Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee, and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue. New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777
BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD Our October meeting was held at Scout and Guide HQ in Bramford on Monday, October 3. After the business part of the meeting and some refreshments our speaker, Mr Paul Whiting from the Orwell Observatory in Nacton, gave us a very interesting talk entitled The Greatest Show Not on Earth. He told us about solar and lunar eclipses, illustrated with spectacular pictures. Our next meeting is on Monday, November 7 at 2pm. The speaker is going to tell us about her life as a town pastor.
BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB Both the Monday (7.30-9.30pm) and Wednesday (10am-noon) groups will meet every week throughout November in Bramford Methodist Church. Yearly membership (school year) is £1 plus £2 per session. Internet available. For new members and visitors, the entrance is the second door on the right side of the church.
BRAMFORD CRAFT & CHATTER GROUP We will be meeting on our usual second and fourth Tuesdays this month, November 8 and 22. Anyone interested in crafts or Scrabble is welcome to attend, we just ask for £3 to cover the hire of the room.
CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP Saturday, November 26 in Burstall Village Hall, 2-4.30pm The cost is £15 a person which includes tuition, the wreath base, floristry wires and ribbons and delicious refreshments. Everyone can do this and you will go home with a beautiful stylish wreath to be proud of. The wreath will last well into the New Year and is a great present. You will need to bring a large carrier bag full of foliage, a sharp knife, garden scissors and any decorations of your choice. Numbers will be limited so booking is essential. Please contact Ann Burchnall: 01473 652262 / ann.burchnall@gmail.com All profits will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care. 12
We meet in the Church Room on Ship Lane from 9.30am-noon. You don’t need to make a regular commitment, just turn up whenever life allows. We hope to see you at one of the mornings.
BRAMFORD LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Our speaker in November will be Mark Mower with a talk entitled Suffolk Murders. Mark was originally booked for last May, but was unable to make it for health reasons, so we’re looking forward to hearing his talk this month. The meeting is on Thursday, November 17 in the Church Room at 7.30pm as usual. Please remember to bring your menu choices for the Christmas Meal. In Touch online:
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OUT & ABOUT BRAMFORD ART GROUP
GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50S CLUB
We have now moved into the Loraine Victory Hall and at present we are able to invite more budding artists and beginners to join our group.
The Great Blakenham Over 50s Club is open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area.
We meet every Wednesday from 10am to 12.30pm; the cost is currently £10 a month, so just £2.50 per session. For further details please contact Ann Woolnough on 01473 743794 or come along and meet us any Wednesday after 10am.
SOMERSHAM WI We had a last minute programme change in September and swapped our booked opera singer for a fantastic talk on hats through the ages, with some willing WI volunteers as models. Finding out about the changing fashion in hats from the Victorian era onwards was fascinating.
We meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham from 2-4pm. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and raffle. On afternoons when we play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House and it has its own parking area behind the hall. It is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. We started back again on September 14 with our AGM and on September 28 Sandra led the meeting with some interesting quizzes and games.
October will have seen our social media talk and our display at Somersham Pumpkin Festival. Did you see our Cinderellainspired creation? Punch and Judy is the theme for the meeting on November 14 so we can learn about the history of Punch and Judy and enjoy a small show. Our Christmas meeting on December 12 will be full of Christmas food and goodies.
Our programme up to Christmas
We have had a steady trickle of new members at each meeting since we started in the summer. If you are interested in coming along to try it out, you can for just £3. We meet at 7.30pm in the village hall. There are posters and leaflets in the community shop and on our noticeboard in the village hall, and more information at: www.facebook.com/somershamWI / Twitter: @somersham_wi
December 14: Christmas Tea Party
October 26: Beetle Drive November 9: Social Afternoon with Brenda November 23: Getting Geady for Christmas December 7: Christmas Meal at The Chequers We would be pleased to welcome new members, but if you would just like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
WINTER SALE Ipswich & District Animal Welfare 181 Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich IP4 5AD Saturday, November 19, 10am-1pm Refreshments available / free admission Contact: 01473 727469
ST MARY’S CHURCH GATHERING Every third Tuesday in the month, 2.30-4pm, in the Church Room. Do come and join us; we will be very pleased to see you. If transport is required please contact Janet: 741331
SPROUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB By the time you read these notes, most of our members will have been on the mystery tour or attended a lunch at the Wild Man. I hope the trip was OK. If there are any comments, I will report them next month. There now remains the final outing for 2016, Neil Sands Christmas Memories at the Corn Exchange at 2.30pm on Monday, December 12 for 11 members. Transport, by car or taxi, will be arranged individually. Those members not wishing to attend the show have been offered lunch at the Wild Man on the same day. Full details will be discussed at club meetings in November. Details of the Christmas break and the date of our New Year Lunch will be included in next month’s notes. Meanwhile, wrap up and keep warm.
All the girls wore yellow, her favourite colour. It’s the little things that make a funeral special Here for you every hour of every day
01473 232837
for your local funeral director www.eastofengland.coop/funerals
John Bates www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS BRAMFORD PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP SOMERSHAM & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB
We’ve had quite a busy start to the new school year. Our topic for this term is autumn and the children have been exploring the garden, looking more closely at seasonal vegetables and printing with vegetables, leafs and conkers. We have also gone on an autumn walk and delivered a harvest hamper to the residents of Cherryfields and to Bramford Methodist Church.
Our meeting in September was on alternative ways of making compost from sheep’s wool and bracken. By the time you read this we will have had our October meeting with Karen Kenny. November brings Matt Long from Riverside Bulbs in Monks Eleigh.
There is a lot to look forward to during the rest of the term. We will be doing activities relating to Halloween, Bonfire Night, Children in Need and, of course, Christmas, including Carols for Grandparents and our Christmas party.
If you would like to join us we meet at Offton and Willisham Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday, November 14. For any further information please ring: 01473 254941
After many months of fundraising we are pleased to have had an additional wetpour surface installed in the back garden. This will allow the children to continue to play outside under our canopy in rainy weather. A big thank you to Councillor John Fields who provided additional funding for this project.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND PAMPER EVENING Lorraine Victory Hall
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Well the term is just flying by and Christmas is just around the corner. The children are all loving the themed activities for Halloween and Christmas. There are still lots of things to look forward to before we have our Christmas break. Christmas Fayre: Saturday, November 12, 11.30am-3pm Everyone is welcome, free entry. There will be lots of craft stalls, things to see and buy and even Father Christmas. We will also have King Coel Photography available for family photographs. Slots will be very limited on the day and a donation of £2.50 per sitting is required. Photos will be back in time for Christmas. Pre-school Christmas Party A well-earned time for the existing pre-school children to have fun and, if they are really good, get a visit from Father Christmas. He may even have a little something for them. Breakfast Club From January 2017 the pre-school will be open for Breakfast Club from 7.45am, Monday to Friday, term time, at a cost of £3.50 with drop off to Claydon Primary School. After School Club From January 2017 the pre-school will be open for After School Club from 3.30-6pm, Monday to Friday, term time, with a pick up from Claydon Primary School. The cost will be £3.50 an hour, and an extra charge will be payable for anyone having tea with us (price to be confirmed shortly). Please phone or email if you wish to book your child in for either club. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am-3.30pm during term time, increasing to 8am-6pm from January 2017. Children can start from the age of two until they go to Reception. Prices are £3.20 an hour, and we offer a lunchclub (noon-12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept Childcare Vouchers and we offer two-year funded places for any eligible children. We also run a holiday club in the Easter and summer holidays for two to eight year olds – further information can be obtained by contacting the administrator. If you would like more information regarding any of the above events or just want to find out more about Claydon Pre-school, please contact the administrator, Lisa Read: admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648 16
Thursday, November 24, 7-10pm
Following last year’s success, we will be holding another Christmas shopping and pamper evening at the village hall on November 24. There will be plenty of opportunity to browse stalls, such as The Body Shop, Forever Living and Usbourne Books, or even to treat yourself to a manicure or massage. We hope you can join us. Tickets are £3 in advance or £4 on the door, which includes a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. For tickets or a stall, contact Karen (07875 552236) or Claire (07507 126876). We have a close relationship with the primary school, joining them for plays and stories as well as our older children having PE in the school hall once a week. We also like to explore our surrounding community by taking the children on walks around the village and attending the Methodist Church on a monthly basis. We are a friendly, OFSTED registered playgroup offering funded places. We encourage interaction through play and as well as the playgroup building we have a large enclosed garden for the children. We will help your child develop essential manipulative, gross and social skills to enable them to achieve a smooth transition from the playgroup to primary school. If you are interested in your child joining us or would just like some more information about the playgroup, please contact us: 01473 740782 / info@bramfordplaygroup.org Please also remember that our tot’s session is open to all children under school age. It takes place at the primary school between 1.45 and 3.15pm on Thursday afternoons (term time only). Our schedule for the rest of the year is: October 27: Splatter Painting/Fireworks November 3: Bring a Bear Week November 10: Pudsey Party November 17: Decorating Biscuits November 24: Christmas Decorations December 1: Pine Cone Decorations December 8: Christmas Cards December 15: TBC Watch the children play while you have a cuppa and a chat; £1 per child, 50p for each subsequent child, including a drink and a snack for parents/ carers and tots. Do you have a few hours spare each month? Would you like to get involved in the playgroup? We currently have spaces on our committee. If you think you can help, please contact us. Staff & Committee at Bramford Pre-School Playgroup In Touch online:
SCHOOLS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL Once again an action packed few weeks. On Wednesday, October 5 we welcomed more than 450 prospective parents/carers and their children to our school for our annual open evening. Following a short presentation, visitors were able to tour the school and experience our fantastic resources and facilities. Staff and students were on hand to showcase their work and visitors took part in various activities including exploding Jelly Babies in Science, an interactive Deal or No Deal game in Mathematics, French and Spanish food tasting in Languages, a rowing challenge in PE and much, much more. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our 200 Claydon High School student helpers who helped to make the evening such a success. Much of the feedback I received from visitors commented upon how helpful, friendly and polite our students were. On Tuesday, September 20, poet, theatre maker and broadcaster Luke Wright visited Claydon High School to talk to Years 10 and 11 about his life and to perform some poetry based around ‘coming of age’. Luke was spurred into poetry when he first saw John Cooper Clarke perform at Colchester Arts Centre in 1998, which, he said ‘changed everything’. Since then Wright has become one of the most celebrated live poets of his generation, having penned eight one-man stand-up poetry shows and appeared on countless national and international tours and festival billings. As an experienced performer, Wright engaged very well with his audience and
the response from one Year 11 student was “I didn’t realise poetry could be that exciting”. In other areas of the school, Year 11 students have been particularly busy with various activities including a Business Studies trip to Colchester Zoo where students learnt more about the zoo as a business, focusing on how staff are organised and understanding their job roles. All of the information gathered during this trip will be used to complete the first Year 11 coursework project. We have also seen a Geography fieldtrip to Felixstowe to investigate the role of hard engineering in protecting our coastline. Students collected data through field sketches, beach profiles and defence quality assessments. Art and Textile students visited The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in London. This was an excellent opportunity for the students to see contemporary art textiles first hand as well as meeting textile artists and taking part in various workshops. Finally, Year 11 GCSE PE students had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills when they ran a successful Year 6 Sports Morning for more than 120 students from our feeder primary schools. A range of activities were on offer, including table tennis, badminton and fitness and rowing challenges. Our Year 11 Leaders made the sessions really fun and competitive and were a credit to the school. As I write this article, WOW Week is nearly upon us and I look forward to sharing all of the wonderful activities our students will have experienced in December’s edition. Please watch this space. If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, then please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Monday, November 21. To book a place, please telephone my PA, Mrs J Pedersen: 01473 836110 Headteacher Sarah Skinner
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ON THE GRAPEVINE ANNUITIES – WHERE ARE WE NOW? Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb takes a look at the options for those coming up to retirement. When the ground-breaking ‘WHY IT PAYS TO SHOP AROUND’ pension changes were introduced in April 2015, many experts believed that they signalled the demise of the annuity. Media attention focused on the fact that under the changes no-one would be forced to buy an annuity. So it was hardly surprising that sales of annuities fell markedly in the following months. However, since then the economic and political scene has changed. Volatility in stock markets over the last few years has convinced some retirees that the certainty of income that an annuity provides can be a good way to ensure that they have sufficient secure income to cover their basic living costs, without having to worry about the state of the stock market or investment performance. WHAT ANNUITIES OFFER Two of the main benefits that annuities provide is security and certainty of income. What you get in exchange for the purchase price is a preagreed, fixed income payment for life. As long as you live, you will still receive an income. On the downside, should you die early, the residual value of the annuity dies with you, there is usually no return of capital to your estate, unless a capital protection or spouse’s pension option is chosen, which reduces what you receive from outset. Seven out of ten people who decide to take an annuity do so with their existing pension provider. This statistic reinforces the belief that consumers aren’t aware of the options open to them at retirement. Many pensioners simply opt for the annuity offered to them by their existing pension provider, without realising that they are within their rights to ask an independent financial adviser to shop around amongst other companies and compare the annuity deals on offer, enabling them to make an informed choice. While staying with your existing provider might well represent a reasonable deal, taking advice may well throw up alternative options better suited to your needs. People with any medical issues can often obtain a higher annuity from the enhanced or impaired life annuity market. That is not something all pension providers can offer. THE SECONDARY MARKET FOR ANNUITIES In March 2015, in a further move designed to give pensioners more choice as to how they manage their money in retirement, the government
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announced plans to allow people who already had an annuity to sell it for a cash lump sum. The introduction of the secondary annuity market was originally set for April 2016, but is now due to take effect in April 2017. The FCA have proposed certain standards for the market, including the requirement that sellers must seek proper professional advice before a sale of an annuity can be made. However, following the Brexit vote, there have been calls from the Financial Services industry for the launch to be put on hold in the face of future economic uncertainty. The view has also been expressed that there is currently a lack of clarity from the FCA over details such as suitability requirements. Now that the UK has a new government in place, including a new pensions minister, Richard Harrington, we may have to wait until the Autumn Statement before we have a definitive answer as to whether or not this initiative will go ahead, and if so what the detail will be. The outcome of the EU referendum has not been good news for annuity rates. Falling interest rates and thus gilt yields have seen annuity providers reducing rates even further. As a consequence, many people coming up to retirement are looking seriously at the option of taking their tax free cash lump sum from their pension and moving the remaining fund into a draw-down account, where they can take an income in the form of regular withdrawals from the fund. While this means you are more dependent on investment performance, it does mean that you are in control of your pension and you are not limited to low annuity rates. This is a complex area and to ensure you know what all your options are, you should take independent financial advice if you are coming up to retirement. Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services. Post your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email nickplumb@aol.com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301. Nick’s answers to reader’s questions in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice. Any readers who require advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial consultation to discuss their own position. Plumb Financial Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
In Touch online:
ON THE GRAPEVINE / SPORT
In Touch We had an extended Macmillan Coffee Morning here at Mansion House Publishing which lasted for an entire week. Each day my colleagues and I laid out our wares and welcomed advertisers, contributors and members of our delivery teams to join us in helping to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Many of our visitors enjoyed a tour of the premises and an opportunity to meet the team behind the magazines. I’m delighted to report that together we raised £290 and would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way.
SPROUGHTON BOWLS CLUB The last few matches, competitions and visits have now taken place and our hard working team are in the process of putting the green to bed for the winter. Before that, the club entertained 30 Year 6 children from the neighbouring primary school to an afternoon of bowling with coaching and fun games. Everyone went home happy and we hope to see some of them on the green in the future. We also held a very successful Give it a Try afternoon which was well attended. We have received several further enquiries and look forward to welcoming new members at the start of the new season. The last action on the green was the club final’s day. For the full results visit: www.sproughtonbowlsclub.com We now have a series of indoor friendlies to keep us going until April 2017 when we move back outdoors. Details on the website soon. Finally, thanks to all bowlers, green keepers, helpers and supporters for their efforts this year. Let’s hope next year’s weather treats us a bit better than this year.
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Sat 12 Sun 13
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Thurs 17 Sat 19 Wed 23 Thurs 24 THE DOUBLE DECKERS Sat 26 Bingo every Sunday night from 8pm.
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SPORT BRAMFORD BOWLS CLUB Unfortunately the end of the season is nigh – it seems like it has slipped by in the blink of any eye. Time for some to put their woods away, have a well-earned break and return refreshed next season, while the rest of us play indoors during the winter at various locations. In August we had two touring sides, one from the Rosedale BC in Hertfordshire and the other a team from West Surrey Bowling Association. These went off very well and hopefully we will do the same next year. Everybody enjoyed themselves and we had good weather with tea and biscuits at half time, a buffet at the end of the game for the first club and plenty of drinks from the bar. Unfortunately the gentleman I skipped against in the latter team had the loudest voice imaginable and kept going ‘ogee ogee ogee’ when they had anything like a good shot. I think my eardrums have split permanently! Chris Illman held his President’s Day, once again in good sunshine. The format was a drive with the person achieving the most shots over four games getting the prize. The winner was Allen Davey. It was a good afternoon of friendly bowling (although I think a few were bowling for Park Lane – I jest!). Afterwards we all retired to the club house for a meal of salad and various sweets, plus wine and some friendly banter. Thanks must go to Rachelle and Linda who worked tirelessly preparing the meal, and also to the washer-uppers! Finals Day for all club competitions was held on Sunday, September 18. The weather was very good, as was the bacon rolls and all-day breakfast cooked by Ann Thaine and Janet Paternoster, ably assisted by Sylvia Fox, plus tea and cakes in the afternoon. The bowling was of a high standard in most of the games as can be seen from the results shown below. Ladies 2-wood singles: winner Jean Taylor – runner-up Sally Hollingsworth 21-8 Ladies 4-wood singles: winner Mary Saunders – runner-up Yot Dodds 21-14 Men’s 2-wood singles: winner Steve Zarkos – runner-up Roy Prentice 21-7
Men’s 4-wood singles: winner Jason Smith – runner-up Roy Prentice 21-10 Handicap 3-wood singles: winner Chris Illman – runner-up John Sharman 21-5 Over 60s 4-wood singles: winner Allen Davey – runner-up John Sharman 21-20 Nominated 4-wood pairs: winners Allen Davey and Mary Saunders – runners-up Yot Dodds and Mel Milne 17-15 Nominated 2-wood pairs: winners Chris and Rachelle Barber – runnersup Joyce and David Thompson 18-9 Nominated 2-wood mixed pairs: winners Chris and Rachelle Barber – runners-up Joyce and David Thompson 18-9 Nominated triples: winners Maurice Woollard, Steve Zarkos and John Parnell – runners-up Richard Hughes, Les Smith and Tony Turner 18-14 Open Day pairs: winners Les Woolnough and Mike O’Shea – runners-up Rodney Wedgewood and Andrew Hughes 18-16 Club Triples: winners Mel Driver, Les Smith and Mary Saunders – runners-up Les King, Les Woolnough and Richard Hughes 24-8 The closing of the green was held on September 25. There was a good turnout of 32 people and the format for the afternoon was drawn pairs. The winners were Les Smith and Jean Hughes, second Nigel Page and Tony Turner, and third were Brian Snell and Jason Smith. The booby prize for the lowest score went to Ann Thaine and Arthur Read (the only way is up!). The scoring was carried out as usual by Bridget. The afternoon was punctuated with a barbecue prepared by Joyce Thompson. It was a very pleasant afternoon, once again in late summer sunshine, and finished off the season admirably. To repeat what I have said previously, it is one of the best seasons we have had over the last few years and we have just heard that we have won the Federation County Victor Ludorum Trophy for the first time. This is a trophy won by the club with the most players reaching county finals, with points given for each stage. Mary Saunders
BRAMFORD UNITED
BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB
Ten matches to report on, five for each team. Let’s start with the First Team.
Greetings guff lovers Just when you thought it was safe to read a copy of In Touch free from tennis club guff with its poor puns, excruciating jokes and slanders upon innocent members, comes the awful news that I have returned from my jaunt to former dominions, refreshed and with a hoard of new jokes.
A six goal rout at Westerfield saw us continue our good start to the season. Next up a quick return fixture at home to Wenhaston, rearranged due to cup fixtures which saw us complete our first double of the season. After beating them 3-0 away we won 3-1 at home to made it five wins out of five. Could this momentum continue away at Stanton where we always seem to have difficult matches? This time round we came away with a 4-0 victory to make it six out of six. Next up a home match against league leaders Crane Sports. This is where the wheels fell of the wagon as we lost the match 4-1 and our winning streak came to an abrupt end. October 8 saw us at Ransomes Sports where we looked to get back to winning ways. Two goals up after 20 minutes things looked good, but just before the interval we lost a player to a straight red card for retaliation, with the offender in the foul getting away without even being spoken to by the referee. A difficult second half saw Ransomes get two goals back, but it took them 85 minutes. Then two more twists. We lost another player to a straight red card for committing a foul and being ‘last man’ he had to go. Then a long goal kick into their area saw us score the winner deep in injury time. The Reserves season has been one of mixed fortunes so far. We lost at home to Haughley 1-0, then a 2-1 defeat at Bacton, followed by a 2-3 home defeat to much higher opposition Stowmarket Res in the Suffolk Senior Res Cup and another loss away at East Bergholt. A much improved performance saw them win at home 3-0 against Trimley Athletic.
When it comes to news I have about as much as the average red top tabloid newspaper as the winter league is yet to get underway and the floodlit league hasn’t got up to speed (probably waiting for the weather to worsen). I have been getting some serious training in to prepare me for the looming matches. This involves weightlifting (moving the accumulated flotsam and jetsam which has buried my rackets in the cupboard), deep breathing exercises (blowing the dust off of trainers and aforementioned rackets) and, new for this year, advanced yoga (laying on the floor wriggling and trying to squeeze last year’s shorts over this year’s belly). This will help me no end as I fully expect to have to cover more of the court than ever this year due to Nick taking a movement class at Portman Road. Apparently it’s the same training regime that ITFC use for their forwards. Need I say more? I have heard that they aren’t having a goal of the month competition this month due to lack of content. Instead they will be having a best throw-in of the month.
More next month, including how the First Team have progressed in the Suffolk Senior Cup. All matches are list on our website.
Just time for joke of the month: A man is standing on his bathroom scales when his wife walks in and watches him as he pulls in his stomach, before peering down at the scales. Laughing, she says: “That won’t make any difference you know.” Her husband replies: “It will, I can’t see the scales unless I do it!”
September winner of the 100 Club: Kia Algar (34)
Any resemblance to me is purely coincidental.
Brammie
More guff next month, Mick Russ
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In Touch online:
CHURCH NEWS CHRISTCHURCH, NEEDHAM MARKET (Methodist/United Reformed Church) High Street, Needham Market IP6 8AP Ministers The Rev Mary Playford (URC): 01449 711798 The Rev John Boardman (Methodist): 01787 372738 Sunday Morning Worship: 10.30am, including crèche and Sunday Club Service of Holy Communion: Second Sunday WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTCHURCH HALLS Tiddlers (For mums and toddlers 12 months to four years): Monday, 9.30-11am (term time) Contact Hannah: 07969 482360 Scrabble Club: Monday, 2-4pm New players please contact Sheila Norris: 01449 720871 Knit for Peace: First Wednesday, 2.30-4pm Contact Sheila Norris: 01449 720871 Women’s Fellowship: Second Wednesday, 2.30-3.30pm Contact Linda Hills: 01449 721258 Christians Together Ecumenical Group: Thursday, 10am. Contact Ann Devereux: 01449 721575 Coffee Morning: Second Saturday 10am-noon, always with a selection of cakes for sale OTHER REGULAR BOOKINGS Weight Watchers: Monday, 7-9pm Children’s Musical Theatre: Tuesday, 4-6pm Contact Faye: 01449 722354 Karate: Wednesday – juniors 6.30-7.30pm; adults 7.30-8.30pm Rainbow Guides: Thursday, 5.30-6.30pm (term time) Brownies: Thursday, 6.30-7.30pm (term time) Self Defence: Thursday, 8-10pm HALL LETTINGS: 07851 742847 CHURCH CONTACT: Ann Devereux, 01449 721575 www.christchurchneedhammarket.co.uk CHRISTCHURCH AUTUMN BAZAAR AND COFFEE MORNING Saturday, November 5, 10am-noon Free entry. Proceeds to Christchurch and charities. This can be a difficult time of year for some folk. The nights are drawing in and the mornings are certainly darker. For those who are unable to get out and about the days can seem very long, and if you don’t have many visitors there can be a definite sense of loneliness. This is also the month when we are encouraged to ‘Remember’ as
the story of Guy Fawkes invites us to ‘Remember remember the 5th of November...’ and November 11 being Remembrance Day, followed by Remembrance Sunday where we are encouraged to remember with heartfelt thanks, love and respect those who lost their lives in war. This year the service is being held at Christchurch and afterwards there will be a simple ceremony at the War Memorial in the burial ground on Barretts Lane. Even if you can’t attend these acts of remembrance may I ask you to stop and recall those who have died in the service of their country at some point during either of those days? It is important to remember events of the past so that they don’t slip out of the collective memory of a country, or community. When a loved one dies we like to remember the good times we had with them, keeping their memory alive and telling their story to all who will listen. Maybe you would like to share that story with someone, or perhaps you know a friend or neighbour who has a story to tell. If so, then these autumn and winter months could be a good time to remember together. Why not invite a neighbour round, or call on your neighbour if they are housebound? Christchurch runs a Scrabble Club, Knit for Peace, Women’s Fellowship, a monthly coffee morning and Sunday Worship during the hours of daylight. If you are able to come to any of these you will be most welcome. See over for details. Rev Mary Playford CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL This year Christchurch Needham Market is planning something different on December 2, 3 and 4. We would like to fill our church with a Christmas display and we are inviting individuals, families, groups and businesses to take part. There will be display areas for: Marvellous Mangers (nativity/crib scenes), Stupendous Stars (stars), Amazing Angels (angels) and Tremendous Trees (unusual representations of Christmas trees, no taller than 60cms). Any of these could reflect your business or hobby. We will also have a children’s corner where children can draw and display their own Christmas pictures, look at books or listen to a story teller. Refreshments will be available for you to sit and enjoy among the displays. If you have, or can make cribs, stars, angels or trees, that fit our categories above, and you would like to enter them in our Christmas Festival, please contact Sheila Norris for a registration form or more details: 01449 720871 / sheila_norris@hotmail.co.uk Then visit our amazing display from December 2-4. Look out for posters with times and details.
BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH Minister: The Rev D Grimshaw, 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Church Steward: Ms R Palmer, 01473 831117 Sunday worship at 10.30am November 6: Mrs A Ellis November 13: Remembrance Sunday, United Service at St Mary’s Parish Church November 20: The Rev D Grimshaw, Holy Communion November 27: Mr P Walker, Advent Sunday The computer club meets every Monday evening from 7.30-9.30pm and Wednesday morning from 10am-noon during term time. November 3: United Service at Cherryfields, 3pm November 19: Coffee Morning at Cherryfields, 10-11am November 27: Families @ 4, a very informal get-together from 4-6pm, come and go as you please, with tea provided. www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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CHURCH NEWS ST MARY THE VIRGIN BRAMFORD, ST MARY NETTLESTEAD, ST MARY THE VIRGIN LITTLE BLAKENHAM, ST PETER BAYLHAM Priest-in-charge: The Rev Jenny Seggar 01473 748914 / stmarybramford@aol.com Assistant Curate: The Rev Julian Fennel, 01473 833250 www.stmarybramford.co.uk Morning Prayer at Bramford: Monday to Friday, 8.30am Quiet Reflective Communion Service: Wednesday, 9.30am Please check porch notices for any changes.
We will also be reminding everybody about our harvest appeal which keeps going until Christmas. This year we are collecting for FIND – Families in Need, the charity which runs the food bank serving our villages. As Christmas approaches it is even more important that we support them. You can give at the church or just buy something extra when you shop at the Co-op, and remember to put a few treats in the basket! Believe me, the families that receive your gifts will be genuinely grateful. Blessings, Jenny
November 3 3pm
United Service at Cherryfields
November 6 8am 10am 4pm 6pm
Third before Advent Parish Communion, Lt Blakenham Parish Communion with Prayers for Healing, Bramford All Souls’ Service, Bramford Evening Prayer for All Souls, Baylham
November 11 10.30am Bramford Primary School Service of Remembrance, St Mary’s, Bramford November 13 Second before Advent 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10.30am Remembrance Sunday Service with the Royal British Legion and the Methodist Church, Bramford 3pm Remembrance Sunday Service, Baylham November 15 2.30pm
The Gathering, Church Room
November 18 5pm
Time4You, Bramford
November 20 Christ the King 10am Parish Communion, Bramford 10am Parish Communion, Baylham 5pm 5 O’clock Service for Families, Church Room
Suffolk Historic Church’s Trust Cycle Ride and Walk May I take this opportunity to say a big thank you to our gallant cyclists and those who gave their time by sitting in the church for an hour to welcome visitors. Thank you also for the donations which this year come to £60, half of this comes back to our church. The Suffolk Historic Churches Trust have contributed towards the cost of our roof alarm, which cost over £5,000 to install. We also received a generous sum of £2,468 via The H.B. Allen Charitable Trust. We are not only grateful for their help but welcome any support that can be given to them. Janet PARISH REGISTERS Baptism October 2: Olivia Rose Lyon May she grow in grace and the knowledge of God. Funerals September 20: Bob Warren We extend to his family our sympathy and prayers. Cleaning Rota: Volunteers needed Flower Rota: October 29, November 5, G Wardley
November 26 10am Coffee Morning, Church Room
Floodlighting of the spire of St Mary’s Church In memory of Amy Fillis on her birthday
November 26/27 2pm Christmas Bazaar and Crib Festival, Lt Blakenham
If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week.
November 27 8am 10am 4pm
Advent Sunday Holy Communion, Bramford Family Worship, Bramford Christingle Service, Lt Blakenham
Dear friends November is a time when we remember those who have fought and died for our freedom. As usual we will be holding our main Remembrance Sunday Service on November 13 at St Mary’s in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and Bramford Local History Group will be holding an exhibition in the Church Room after the service. It is a dilemma for Christians, as there is a fine line between glorifying war and remembering with thanks the sacrifices made by others on our behalf. We work really hard to keep the right side of that line, giving thanks for those who serve today for our freedom, as well as those who fought in wars long past. November is also the time when we start looking seriously towards Christmas. We have our traditional bazaar with the WI, including lunch in the Church Room, on Saturday, December 3, which also kicks off our Christmas Tree Festival, so that will be quite a weekend. For us it really begins our Christmas preparations, and is always a good time to start Christmas shopping! 22
LECTIONARY Bible readings for our Sunday Worship taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It’s good to share the reading of Scripture with Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, across the world. November 6 Job 19:23-27a
Third before Advent 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
Red or Green Luke 20:27-38
November 1 Malachi 4:1-2a
Second before Advent 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Red or Green Luke 21:5-19
November 20 Jeremiah 23:1-6
Christ the King Colossians 1:11-20
Red or white Luke 23:33-43
November 27 Isaiah 2:1-6
Advent Sunday Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44
December 4 Isaiah 11:1-10
Second Sunday of Advent Romans 15:4-13
Purple Matthew 3:1-12 In Touch online:
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www.midsuffolkfencing.co.uk
YOU GROW IT I’LL MOW IT
GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer the following services all year round: Grass cutting • Garden clearance Fences & Gates • Patios & Paths Hedge Cutting • Tree Cutting Sheds • Summer Houses Digger & Dumper work
For a free quotation please call Nigel Coton 01449 721025 or 07801 515505
To advertise in this section, which appears in 17 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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