In Touch
™© ™©
with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Volume 9 • Issue No. 7 • MAY 2019
Image by Jocelyn Cook
BE YOUR OWN BOSS Pip’s Tree Services Pruning, shaping and reductions. START YOUR BUSINESS WITH MENTA FREE BUSINESS TRAINING START RIGHT WORKSHOPS
Felling and dismantling. Hedge cutting and stump grinding.
Do you want to be your own boss or have you started a business in the past 12 months and are based in Suffolk or Norfolk? MENTA’s three, free ‘Start Right’ workshops are designed to be fun and informative. You’ll find out about legal structures, business plans, successful marketing, bookkeeping and tax. With multiple dates and workshop locations, book your free training soon and ‘Start Right’.
Contact me for a free quote or advice:
Philippa@pipstreeservices.co.uk
07538 797 302
Start Right is funded by
Book online at www.menta.org.uk or call 01284 760206 mentabusiness 2
mentabusiness
All Aspects of tree work undertaken.
mentabusiness In Touch online:
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR One recent Sunday morning, Jack and I got up early to bake cakes for one of our little charity stalls at the front gate, this time in aid the Cyclone Idai appeal. We’d watched the news reports about the cyclone which has left around three million people in need of help and Jack’s immediate response: let’s bake! And so we did. We cut out letters to make a Cyclone Idai Appeal banner and set up the table with cupcakes at 50p each. It was a lovely morning and the lane was busy with dog walkers and cyclists so trade was brisk. The little money pot was filling up nicely, but when we realised we’d forgotten to tell grandma what we were doing, and knowing how much she loves cake, we ran next door to tell her we were almost sold out. When we returned our little money pot had disappeared!
NEWS POPPY APPEAL ORGANISER NEEDED William Yallop has organised the annual Poppy Appeal on behalf of Bramford & District Royal British Legion for 14 years, supported by Ron Fowler as deputy. Both William and Ron have now retired and William is keen to find someone to take over. If you are interested or would like to talk about what’s involved you can call William on 01473 273012 or contact the RBL County Field Officer: MCox-Osborne@britishlegion.org.uk / 07823 416748
At first I thought it had just blown off the table, but there was no sign of it anywhere. It was well and truly gone. Jack’s little face was a picture, and not a pretty one. I still can’t quite believe it happened. I just don’t understand how anyone could be so heartless, or even have the nerve to do it! But the story doesn’t end there. Feeling the need to vent, I posted a message on the local Facebook page and was humbled by what happened next. The first person who posted a reply also made a £25 donation to the appeal. Then a man I don’t know turned up at the door with a £5 donation. He wanted to meet Jack and to tell him not to be disheartened by what had happened. There were a few angry comments on Facebook, but most people wanted to express sympathy and to ask when we were having our next cake sale. Many others donated to the appeal and in addition to the £10 we received from a lady who dropped by the house later in the day, and our own contribution to cover sales, the total donated on the day was £160. Clearly there is an odd bad egg in the world, but so many, many, many more good eggs who can achieve great things when they come together. Of course, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. In every area where we publish there are multiple fundraising events happening all the time, but isn’t it lovely when a negative becomes a positive and doubts are overcome. And on that basis we shall be running another cake stall very soon!
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.
We also publish In Touch with... •B eyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •C apel St Mary •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead • I pswich East •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham •N eedham Market & The Creetings •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone •B urstall & Sproughton •S towmarket & Stowupland • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon •M elton & Woodbridge
Saturday 11 May 2019 All is ready for a fun day, including: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
13 live music acts starting midday and into the evening 70+ classic vehicles Raffle with £100 first prize Fish & Chips and/or BBQ Two bars selling hot and cold drinks Suffolk Coffee Pod Ice creams, donuts, chocolate fudge and crepes Popcorn and candyfloss Crazy golf, bowling alley, fun darts, hook a duck, splat the rat, fun basketball Tin can alley, hoopla and target football Donkey rides Face painting Skateboard coaching Various craft stalls Norfolk & Suffolk 4x4 Response Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue Tombola and lucky dip The fun starts at 10am. We look forward to seeing you there. Contact Terry on 07733 226898 for any enquiries In aid of our local charity for the maintenance of the playing field. Visit us on Facebook: Wheelie Fun Day
COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF CHRISTIAN AID On Saturday, May 25, St Mary’s, Bramford will be having a coffee morning in Bramford Church Room from 10am to noon. Come and enjoy bacon rolls or if you prefer, sausage in a roll. There will also be a cake stall, bring-and-buy, book and jigsaws stall and a raffle. Come along and enjoy.
In Touch
JUNE DEADLINE 10 MAY 2019
is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
BRAMFORD SCOUT GROUP AUCTION Saturday, July 13 Please keep hold of any items for donation. Collection around Bramford will be made the week before the auction. Further details to follow.
3
NEWS BRAMFORD PARISH COUNCIL It’s going to be a busy month at the parish council with the elections on May 2, the internal audit on May 7 and the Annual Council Meeting on May 20. Ours is an uncontested election, which means all those candidates who stood for election have been successful and will take up their new role a few days after polling day. Bramford will have a space or two for anyone still thinking about joining so please contact the clerk for more information: 01473 747433 / bramfordparishcouncil@btinternet.com The internal audit is designed to scrutinise certain policies and procedures, financial records and other statutory obligations the parish council may have to ensure you, the tax-payer, is getting a proper and efficient service from your local authority. At monthly meetings, councillors consider a variety of rules and regulations to determine whether things are working well while offering good value to residents in the village. This often means ‘homework’ in what is essentially a volunteer role, so their continued involvement at the end of yet another busy year is to be admired. The Annual Council Meeting on May 20 is open to members of the public, as are all the meetings, and time is given at the start of these meetings for residents to share concerns, ideas and suggestions with councillors, for them to consider implementing or progressing where appropriate, so please feel free to ‘come on down’ as one famous TV game show host used to say, and see how your local parish council works on your behalf.
ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY Spring 2019 Shutdown Our spring shutdown is well underway and will continue until mid-May 2019. Shutdowns take place twice a year for essential cleaning and maintenance, ensuring the facility continues to run efficiently. Essential components of the boilers are currently being repaired or replaced, and maintenance is being carried out inside the furnaces. The maintenance of each of our two furnaces will be staggered, so that we can continue to accept waste throughout the shutdown period. There will be an increased amount of contractors on site during the shutdown, but there should be no impact on the local community. If you have any concerns about the works, please contact us via the details provided below. New website Our new website has recently launched. If you are interested in finding out more about our operations, the energy-from-waste process or energy-fromwaste emissions, group tours, open days and our work in the local community, visit: www.suffolkefw.co.uk. If you have any queries about our operations, please do not hesitate to contact the facility: 01473 839149 / suffolkefw.uk@suez.com OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS To book a visit: 01473 839149 / suffolkefw.uk@suez.com Environment Agency: 0800 807 060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910
The 24th Ipswich Scout Group is holding its monthly jumble sale on Saturday, May 4, 1-3pm at 24th Scout HQ, 330a Bramford Road, Ipswich (beside the railway bridge). Come and bag a bargain.
4
In Touch online:
IPSWICH MR MISTY.pdf
1
06/04/2019
09:08
WE SPECIALISE IN DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS, CALL FOR YOUR FREE CHECK UP
IPSWICH
Mr Misty ‘The Window Doctor’ is a family run business that prides itself in exceptional customer care. W e p r o m i s e e a s y s e r v i c e f r o m s t a r t t o fi n i s h . DOES YOUR DOUBLE GLAZING STEAM UP? WE REPLACE JUST THE GLASS AND NOT THE FRAMES AT A FRACTION OFTHE COST FOR NEW WINDOWS
C
M
PROBLEMS WE SOLVE
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
ELIMINATE WINDOW CONDESATION
SECONDARY GLAZING TO BLOCK OUT NOISE
BROKEN WINDOW PARTS
LOCKS
BROKEN GLASS
FAULTY HINGES
K
COMMON SUMMER TIME PROBLEM
LAWN MOWER STONE CHIPS & BROKEN GLASS
FREE PHONE : 0800 25 45 111 FOR YOUR FREE CHECKUP WWW.MRMISTY.CO.UK
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
5
NEWS CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE A very big thank-you to everyone who supported our Chocolate Bingo which raised an amazing £2,440.35. This will be a big help with the costs for this year’s visit. We had a full house, in fact we had to turn people away who left it too late to get their tickets! The next Chocolate Bingo will take place on Saturday, December 7 with a Christmas theme. Same place, same time so we hope to see you there. Doing our best for wildlife It’s some long time since I wrote about what’s happening on the meadows. Members and friends get four newsletters a year, plus emails informing them of events or work parties. If you would like to be included in this, please sign up as a member or friend. It is absolutely free and you will be kept better informed. Please go to our website to do this or to find out more about us. First a quote from Sir David Attenborough: “If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world's ecosystems would collapse.” The committee of Bramford Open Spaces take this issue very seriously. The reason for this article is to let you all know about some important work that we are undertaking in 2019. You may have noticed some patches of wildflower planting on the meadow behind the toilet block. These have been trials using seed provided from Kew Gardens – one was planted by the Brownies and the rest by Bramford Open Spaces (BOS). They have been moderately successful in introducing new plant species into the meadow, but we believe that we have to do more to help our wildlife. A bigger planting of wildflowers would produce seeds that would encourage insects and birds to feed and have a better chance of survival. Having made this decision we discovered that Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) were working with a trust called Buglife to prepare and seed land around Ipswich. IBC has now agreed to do a sample dig and sowing on our land. This rather irregular strip has been cut and seeded at no charge. We have now agreed with IBC that they will prepare and seed the rest of the area at cost and that they will maintain it. The overall cost of this is significantly lower than any commercial quote we received and we also have the benefit of lots of expertise. We hope to see annuals blooming this year and perennials in 2020. We are committed to maintaining it as a flower meadow for at least five years and this includes an annual cut and raking. We shall be placing notices round the edge of this field asking visitors not to walk or to allow dogs on it. All work will be done at no cost to local ratepayers. I hope you can agree that this is a step in the right direction. BOS is a charity that works to preserve the local water meadows. You will see our signs throughout both meadows and they carry information about how to help or get in contact for more information. We have a contract with Bramford Parish Council that finances most of our work, but a lot of the input is from volunteers. Without their help and the effort made by committee members it may not be possible to continue making the meadows available to public access. If you enjoy using them and would like to help, please get in touch with me. There are many ways that you could give a hand and we would be pleased to see you. Also why not have a stroll by the canal to look at the swans and other water fowl. Chairman John Hooker: jeh@jolin.plus.com www.bramfordopenspaces.onesuffolk.net
I would repeat our appeal for donations of clothing to cover the complete age range of children that we support and for siblings at home. Clothing from birth to 15 is always welcome together with good quality second hand footwear. In particular we do need swimsuits for the girls aged seven to nine as we will be taking them swimming only a couple of days after they arrive. CHARITY SHOP The charity shop provides a great focal point for us and helps to raise awareness for our work. Although we have Links across the country we are not a national chain of shops, all staff are volunteers, we don’t pay for any management and neither do we buy in any of the goods on sale. Everything is donated to help support the children. We really do appreciate people who are able to offer a few hours a week to help out covering for holidays and sickness. Each session is only three hours so if you think you could be available to help with cover we would love to hear from you. No experience is necessary and you’re never on your own. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming and there’s always plenty of tea and coffee available! We have a great range of clothing for all ages, men and women, boys and girls and even babies, from everyday clothing to that something special for a night out, all at extremely low prices. A changing room is provided so you can try before you buy. A large range of books, DVDs, children’s toys and general brica-brac is always available with an ever changing stock so always worth a visit. The shop has its own Facebook page which is updated weekly with new items of interest and if you are interested in something payment can now be made online and the item held for you to collect when convenient: www.facebook.com/CCLLMSNM So little can mean so very much – thank you for remembering us. Link Chair Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / 07771 550868
SnOASIS PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA) Over two years after SnOasis Reserved Matters were first submitted to BMSDC Planning, we now know that they have been passed. The SPA and others still maintain that the developer has not submitted enough of the crucial details about matters of vital importance to the local communities who will bear the brunt of the development – traffic, light pollution, drainage, impact on wildlife, etc. In spite of the short notice we were given of the meeting, the SPA members worked hard to prepare for the meeting and to ask that the committee members took our concerns and unanswered questions into account. The SPA has made the point over and over again that there is still too much detailed information missing from the proposals, too many questions that remain unanswered. We hoped that the planning committee would agree with this position and act accordingly. However, they chose not to do so. This is both disappointing and concerning, but the SPA will continue to try and work with any developer involved with the site, as well as with planning, to protect the interests of residents and get the best possible outcomes for our community. A number of local parish councils and meetings joined together to form the SnOasis Parish Alliance to work together to represent the residents of their communities, over 11,000 people who will be affected by this development. The SPA member parishes are Baylham, Barham, Bramford, Claydon and Whitton, Great Blakenham, Little Blakenham, Needham Market, Nettlestead and Somersham. For further information, please email our clerk, Janet Gobey: snoasispa@icloud.com SnOasis Parish Alliance Chairman Steve Plume
6
In Touch online:
advertorial
Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up? Established for over a decade Cloudy2Clear windows have become a leading company for glass replacement. Issues with double glazing can often be gradual and may only be noticed during a clear sunny day or during the winter. A failed glass unit may no longer provide you with the protection you need or be energy efficient. Why not spend a few minutes checking your home to see if you have any failed
double glazing? If you act now you can avoid these problems. Now, you may think you need to replace the whole window including the frames and all the hardware, however Cloudy2Clear have come up with a simple and cost saving solution… Just replace the glass!! If you see condensation in your windows just visit our website or give us a call on 0800 61 21 118. We will send out our highly
experienced engineers for a free no obligation quote. A Cloudy2Clear quote takes on average no longer than 20 minutes. Once the quote is completed, we will sit down with you and explain the problem and tell you how we can fix it. With years of experience Cloudy2Clear have a wealth of knowledge and are recognised as a Which Trusted Trader, plus our work is backed by an industry leading 25 year guarantee.
Cloudy2Clear also replace faulty locks handles and hinges on all windows and doors. Your friendly local Cloudy2Clear specialist is Andy Kerridge and he services the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, East Bergholt, Capel St Mary Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas. So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Andy a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118.
Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!
Better hearing starts here Do you or a loved one experience hearing loss? We can help! Take the first step to better hearing and join our award winning team for our exclusive Ipswich Hearing Care Week...
Karen Finch RHAD FSHAA FRSA
Monday 13th - Saturday 18th May 11 Upper Brook Street, Ipswich 9am - 5pm | Appointments are essential | Save £20 Complimentary hearing assessments with ear health checks - save £20! Personalised recommendations for solutions to help improve your hearing Save £1,500 on the very latest rechargeable hearing technology* *T&C’s apply. See hearingcarecentre.co.uk/offers | Picture: Oticon Opn S RITE R
To book please call 01473 230330 Award winning
Family run
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
Private
Independent
hearingcarecentre.co.uk 7
NEWS / OUT & ABOUT BARHAM HALL PICNIC CONCERT
Saturday, June 29
SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham /
01473 833416
OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm / Saturdays: 9am-1pm A COMMUNITY SHOP FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND RUN BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY Make a note in the diary of a coffee morning to celebrate the seventh anniversary of our community chop on Saturday, July 6, 10am12.30pm. You are invited to join us for cake and a drink to help us celebrate and to say thank-you to all our volunteers and customers without whom our local shop would not be possible It’s unimaginable to think that our shop has been open for seven years, now going into its eighth. It’s a real success for our locality to have such a friendly and useful village shop and it’s all thanks to everybody in the community – so come and have a piece of cake and drink with us as a thank-you to all. The shop is here for the service of all our local residents and works because of the high commitment by many people giving of their time to keep it open for everyone. All praise to the volunteers and customers who enable us to have a fantastic shop in our village serving our local community. Our local shop not only serves our local community with all the goods needed, but also helps keep our local economy thriving. Most of our fresh products – eggs, cakes, bread and rolls, sausages, pies, meat and vegetables – are produced within very few miles. Even the dry cleaning and newspaper deliveries to the shop are local to Suffolk. We don’t have so many recycled carrier bags nowadays, but we do have some really lovely strong shoulder bags showing our logo. These are for sale in the shop – a way to save the environment, carry purchases easily and have a really useful and attractive bag all at the same time. Have a look when you come in. We also have our Coffee Corner, which is proving a valuable asset with our regular groups. Pat has started a Knit and Natter group every other Tuesday between 1 and 3pm. Petrolheads is on the first Wednesday of the month from 2-4pm. Tea and Chat doesn’t meet in the summer as the Coffee Caravan takes over on Brook Way during the warmer weather. How fantastic! What a resource! Come along and use the village shop and keep it going for many more years to come. Management Team: Lucy Barrett – 831890; Sue Browne – 831321; Stephen Bullard; Janet Hodge – 832296; Peter Jousiffe; Anne MacFadyen – 831288
BRAMFORD CRAFT & CHATTER GROUP This month we will meet on Tuesdays, May 14 and 28 in the Parish Room from 9.30am-noon. Anyone who is crafty or who likes to play Scrabble will be welcome; we just ask for £2 to help pay for the hire of the room.
8
Essential Sounds (an 18-piece big band) will again be the main entertainment while we enjoy our picnics in the wonderful setting of Barham Hall gardens. We also welcome back Sarah Hitchcock (a local vocalist) who will entertain us during the intervals. As usual we will end the evening with a flag waving Last Night of the Proms sing-along led by the band and Sarah. The gates will open at 5.30pm to allow plenty of time to view the beautiful gardens before the band starts. We aim to finish proceedings at 10pm. Tickets are on sale now at the early discount price of £11 (instead of £14). This discount will apply to all tickets paid for before May 22. Cheques payable to Claydon and Barham PCC should be sent with a self-addressed envelope (with stamp if you live outside Claydon & Barham) to Roger Colthorpe, 5 Phillipps Road, Barham IP6 0AZ. Please don’t leave buying your tickets too late as a sell out is again probable as we have to strictly limit numbers to comply with the Temporary Event Notice under which this event is held. Unfortunately, we all have to gamble on the British weather, hence the early discount price before you know what the weather forecast will be like! All proceeds will go towards the Claydon & Barham Church Fabric Fund to help fund the next major project which is restore our ancient bells and get them ringing again with hopefully two additional bells. The bells at Barham Church have not been rung properly since 1947, but we will hopefully be able to open a concert with a peal of bells from across the road in the not too distant future. Our thanks to Mr and Mrs Burrows for inviting us into their gardens for the twelfth year. In order to avoid damage to the beautiful lawns we cannot allow gazebos, barbecues and emptying of hot water from flasks.
IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5 Town/village 5A 5B 5C 5D 5E 5F 5G 5H 5I 5J 5K
Location
Time
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
9.10-9.25am 9.30-9.45am 9.50-10.05am 10.10-10.25am 10.35-10.55am 11-11.15am 11.25-11.45am 11.55am-1pm 2.05-2.20pm 2.25-3.50pm 4-4.30pm
2019: 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 30 July, 27 August, 24 September, 22 October, 19 November, 17 December
IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 13 Route 13 Town/village 13A 13B 13C 13D 13E 13F 13G 13H 13I 13J 13K 13L 13M
Location
Crowfield Lay by Coddenham Haysel House Barham Sorrel Horse Creeting St Mary Whissels Farm Creeting St Mary Village Hall Creeting St Peter The Lane Earl Stonham Village Hall Little Stonham Church Little Stonham Magpie Inn Mickfield Church, Debenham Road Stonham Aspal, Walnut Tree Meadow Pettaugh Old Bull Henley Garage
Time 9.25-09.45am 9.55-10.50am 11-11.10am 11.20-11.30am 11.35-11.45am 11.55am-12.10pm 12.20-12.50pm 2-2.10pm 2.15-2.25pm 2.30-2.45pm 2.55-3.30pm 3.35-3.55pm 4.05-4.30pm
2019: 17 May, 14 June, 12 July, 9 August, 6 September, 4 October, 1 November, 29 November, 27 December
In Touch online:
tŚĞŶ Ă
ĞǀĞƌLJ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ĐŽƵŶƚƐ
Learn CPR and make a difference
‘Coffee, Cake & CPR’
tŚĞŶ͍ tŚĞƌĞ͍ dŝŵĞƐ͍
&ƌŝĚĂLJ ϭϬƚŚ DĂLJ ϮϬϭϵ ƌĂŵĨŽƌĚ ĂŶĚ ŝƐƚƌŝĐƚ ^ŽĐŝĂů ůƵď dŚĞ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ͕ ƌĂŵĨŽƌĚ Ϭϵ͗ϬϬ – ϭϭ͗ϬϬ ŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĞƐƐĞŶƚŝĂů ϭϭ͗ϬϬ – ϭϯ͗ϬϬ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ,ĞůĞŶ ϳϰϯϬϴϵ ϭϯ͗ϬϬ – ϭϱ͗ϬϬ
&Z dK dd E >ĞĂƌŶ WZ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ Ă ĚĞĨŝďƌŝůůĂƚŽƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă WĂƌĂŵĞĚŝĐ ŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĂdžĞĚ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ LJƐƚĂŶĚĞƌ WZ ĂŶĚ zKhZ ĂĐƚŝŽŶƐ ĐĂŶ ƐĂǀĞ Ă ůŝĨĞ͊ ϭ͘ϱŚƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ƚŚĞŶ ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŵĞŶƚƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŽŶ ƐĂůĞ ĂŶĚ Ă ƉƌŝnjĞ ƌĂĨĨůĞ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ǀŝƚĂů ĨƵŶĚƐ ĨŽƌ ^ƵĨĨŽůŬ ĐĐŝĚĞŶƚ ZĞƐĐƵĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
9
10
In Touch online:
OUT & ABOUT PLOUGHMAN’S LUNCHES AND PLANT SALE On Saturday, May 11, St Mary’s, Bramford will be having a plant sale and serving ploughman’s lunches in Bramford Church Room from 11.30am to 2pm. This is your chance to get something for your garden, as well as enjoying an excellent spring lunch. Come and enjoy.
GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB Open to anyone living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding areas, the club meets every Monday other than bank holidays in Great Blakenham Parish Room (opposite the Chequers PH) from 2-4pm. The building is fully accessible. Members pay £2 per meeting to cover hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. Alternatively you may wish to bring your own project and enjoy our company and make new friends. Members take it in turns to make the tea. Our workshop for March was entitled Seaside and the picture shows some of the finished items. Fact and Fantasy was the title of the cardmaking workshop in April featuring robots and unicorns. Pictures to follow next month.
AN AFTERNOON WITH ROY & DEBBIE HUDD
2019 PROGRAMME
The Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge on Sunday, June 16 at 1.30pm
July 1: A Bit of Bling
Tickets are £10 from the box office or 01394 382174. All money from this event is going to the charity Prevent Breast Cancer. There will also be a fundraising raffle.
September 2: Take Heart
Roy says: “This very different chat show is one that both me and the missus love doing. Debbie interviews me about my longish career (60 years) and our trifle shorter career together (39 years). She’s great at reminding me of the best stories and pretty snappy with the one liners herself. It’s a collection of verbal duelling, triumphs, disasters, name dropping, songs, monologues and jokes, nice and some naughty if she lets me!”
May 13: Village Life and Little Mice June 3: Summer Sewing August 5: Autumn’s Coming October 7 : Fabric Cards November 4: Christmas Cards with a Twist December 2: AGM There is currently room for new members so please get in touch if you would like to join us. Although the club is all ladies at present, gentlemen who would like to learn crafts are welcome. Unfortunately I can’t accommodate children. Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690
Roy Hudd OBE has done everything in showbusiness, from variety, concert party, music hall, pantomime and farce to Shakespeare and Stoppard via Priestley and Cooney, Television credits include 60’s satire shows, numerous series of his own, Coronation Street, chat shows and dramas. For 26 years on BBC Radio 2 he headed the topical revue, The News Huddlines. His OBE was awarded for defending and promoting our musical heritage, its songs and history. Gilly Sillett has organised this event to raise money for Prevent Breast Cancer alongside training for a trek to Base Camp Everest in November 2019. “The traditional Everest Base Camp Trek is perhaps the most famous in the world and will be most certainly the hardest charity trekking journey I’m undertaking,” says Gilly. “Preparing for this trek to Nepal requires training to improve your cardiovascular endurance as it will help with altitude. At 5,554 metres above sea level, breathing becomes more difficult as you aren’t able to take in as much oxygen.” In addition to the fundraising event at The Riverside, Gilly has set up a fundraising page on Virgin Money Giving. Simply place her name in the search bar to find Gilly’s page and make a donation to Prevent Breast Cancer.
BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD Our April meeting was a well received talk by Oliver Miller of Bishops and Miller Auctioneers of Stowmarket. Our members and visitors brought some varied antiques to be valued which received some good and bad reviews. This month’s meeting will be at Bramford Guide and Scout HQ, Ship Lane, Bramford on Monday, May 13 when our speaker will be Mr Alistair Renton.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
11
OUT & ABOUT GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50’s CLUB
BRAMFORD LOCAL HISTORY GROUP
Open to anyone over-50 living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm in Great Blakenham Parish Room (opposite the Chequers PH) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The building is fully accessible.
Stephen Poulter is going to tell us all about Dick Turpin at this month’s meeting. Was he a wicked highwayman or really another Robin Hood? Come along to the meeting to find out. It will be on Thursday, May 16 in the Church Room, doors open at 7 for a 7.30pm start. Visitors are welcome, £3.
The cost per meeting is £2 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and the raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. For our March meetings Jean led a quiz afternoon and we had a brief history of the origins of Mother’s Day with a social afternoon. Forthcoming Programme May 8: Games Afternoon May 22: Social Afternoon with Brenda June 12: TBC June 26: Flowers Fruit and Veg July 10: Social Afternoon with Sandra July 24: Summer Party New members are always welcome so if you would like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690
BRAMFORD COFFEE MORNING This month’s coffee morning will take place in Bramford Methodist Church between 10 and 11am on Saturday, May 18. Tea, coffee and cakes are available at very reasonable prices, with a variety of jams and pickles on sale. This is a good chance to get to know fellow villagers in a very friendly atmosphere. We hope to see you there.
GREAT BLAKENHAM CINEMA Thank you all so much for supporting Great Blakenham Cinema. We have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have come along or helped spread the word, and the local businesses that have displayed posters and donated raffle prizes. It really does make all the effort worthwhile to see the community come together. For those of you who haven’t been yet, please do pop along. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere with chairs around tables rather than in rows. Entry is paid on the door and you are welcome in groups or alone. There is a warm welcome for all with popcorn for sale, a raffle raising funds to make the cinema sustainable and free tea, coffee and squash before the show courtesy of the East of England Co-op Cuppa Scheme. We are excited to say that due to the support we have received to date we have been able to book more screenings, so please save the following dates: May 19 when we present Mary Poppins Returns (PG), June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 13 and December 1. In May our charity of the month will be St Elizabeth Hospice. Films are screened at Great Blakenham Village Hall (IP6 0NJ) where the doors open at 2pm and the movie starts at 2.30pm. Tickets are £4 for adults and £3 for under-18s. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult. Should you have any film suggestions, be happy to help out or have any queries, please do get in touch via our Facebook page or contact Becky: greatblakenhamcinema@outlook.com / 07852 472082
BRAMFORD ART GROUP We now have vacancies for anybody interested in joining our group for painting or drawing. We meet every Wednesday morning between 9.30am and noon at the Victory Hall in Bramford. Please come along or contact Ann Woolnough: 01473 743794
12
GIRLS HAVE FUN Are you aged between five and seven years? Bramford Rainbows meet on Mondays from 5.30-6.30pm in the Scout & Guide Head Quarters opposite the Victory Hall. Come and join us for crafts, cooking and lots of fun. For more information contact Helen: 07733 070012 We would love to see you.
ST MARY’S CHURCH BRAMFORD GATHERING This month’s meeting of the Gathering will be on Tuesday, May 21 at 2.30pm in St Mary’s Church Room, Ship Lane, Bramford. We are a friendly group of people who meet monthly for a chat, refreshments, a quiz or two, perhaps a games afternoon and sometimes a speaker. Visitors are very welcome.
BRAMFORD WI We will meet at the Loraine Victory Hall at 7.30pm on Monday, May 13 to discuss this year’s WI resolutions, which are local bus services and cervical screening. This will be followed by a talk on The Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). They are collecting watches and jewellery so if you have any that you no longer require, our speaker Moira Anderson will gladly accept them to help towards the ACWW funds. No competition.
IPSWICH AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB Join us on the last Wednesday every month (excluding July & August) for a three-course lunch followed by an interesting speaker and a prize raffle. On the second Wednesday we meet for coffee and a chat. In July and August, and at Christmas, our wives, partners and friends are invited to join us. They also accompany us to theatres, shows, musicals and trips to places of interest in East Anglia and beyond. Why not come and meet other gentlemen, all retired or semi-retired and from a wide range of careers, interests and backgrounds? Our objective is to provide fellowship for members and their families. Prospective new members are always welcome and there is no requirement to have belonged to any other organisation previously. If you wish to join us, as a guest initially, or require further details, please contact our secretary, Malcolm Kemp: 07711 689130 / secretary. ipswichprobus@gmail.com
In Touch online:
BRAMFORD & DISTRICT SOCIAL CLUB WHAT’S ON IN MAy
71-73 The Street, Bramford IP8 4DX. Tel: 01473 745198
Sat 4th Keith James th Thurs 9 ipswich memories with marcus stewart tickets on sale now!
Sat 11th
memphis index rock & roll at its best
Thurs 16 Quiz Sat 18th masQuerade ball th
3 course meal entertainment with infrared
Wed 22th 2nd heat carsmart Thurs 23 Sat 25th
rd
KaraoKe competition binGo the sKittlez
• Sunday lunches 12-3 pm • Thursday lunches 12-2pm • Bar meals Friday evenings • For all food enquiries please contact Suzi Q on 07824830152
REGULAR DARTS, CRIB, KARAOKE, POOL AND SNOOKER NIGHTS DURING THE WEEK. MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE NOW. We have a snooker room, pretty outside seating area and hot drinks available at the bar – so come and join us for coffee or beer.
Our experienced personal injury lawyers handle accident claims arising out of incidents at work, home, on the roads, on holiday or in a public place in the UK or abroad. You will receive professional dedicated support throughout every part of your claim to help you recover the damages that you deserve.
Contact us
www.prettys.co.uk
01473 232121 enquiry@prettys.co.uk www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
PR534 Personal Injury Advert (InTouch) v3.indd 2
13 09/05/2018 16:33
14
In Touch online:
OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS SPROUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB As I write we haven’t yet had our AGM so I will report on that in the June edition. As mentioned last month we will be visiting Bypass Nurseries in Capel for afternoon tea on May 22. On other Wednesday afternoons we will have our usual meeting where we play cards, have tea and play bingo from 2-4pm. If you are alone and would like some company, please call into the Church Hall, Lower Street, Sproughton. All are welcome.
BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB This month the club will meet on Wednesdays, May 1, 8, 15 and 22 in the upstairs room at Bramford Methodist Church between 10am and noon. We won’t meet on May 29 as it’s the school half-term holiday. Membership is £1 for the year, payable in September, and £3 per two-hour session. We have no set programme, but are here to help you to get the most out of your computer. Why not give us a try?
PLANT SALE
If you would like to know more please ring Olive on 01473 463987.
WORK ALONG THE RIVER GIPPING A good turnout of volunteers each Wednesday along the River Gipping has continued through the winter months. Last year the trust totalled nearly 4,000 man hours of volunteer labour along the river and expects this year to be similar. The trust is currently working hard on clearing and restoring the old riverside footpath leading up to the bridge abutment remains on both sides of the river which are about a mile upstream of Baylham Lock / Rare Breeds Farm. The brick bridge abutments are thought to date back to 1790 when the canal was built, and the trust’s appointed surveyor has indicated that, with a little work, the abutments will be sound enough to support a new bridge. The old bridge span between the abutments disappeared some 70 years ago.
SOMERSHAM & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Our annual plant sale is on Saturday, May 11 in Somersham Village Hall. It will run from 10 until 11.30am with many plants for sale, including vegetables and house plants. Refreshments will also be available including cake, together with a prize tombola. Entry is free.
The trust is always looking for environmental improvements, like using old tree branches creating dry hedges, and leaving suitable piles of branches to encourage the wildlife. We often collect bucket loads of plastic rubbish. The trust has no paid employees, everyone volunteers their time accordingly. The trust produces a very informative newsletter magazine (The Gipping Gossip) every six months for its members, and they would love to increase their membership which helps ensure continuation of their work. Membership details, the latest 24 page colour newsletter and contact details can be found on their website. The trusts AGM will be held on Friday, May 17 at 7.30pm at Needham Market Community Centre. Members of the public are most welcome to attend. www.rivergippingtrust.org.uk
SOMERSHAM WI Each year the Women’s Institute across the country shines a light on particular topics. In previous years we have looked at alleviating loneliness and mental health. We have two ‘resolutions’ to choose to support this year – the decline in local buses, and ‘don’t fear the smear’. We will discuss these at our May meeting and our support votes to go the national AGM in June. The WI is more than ‘jam and Jerusalem’ that’s for sure! Saying that, we look forward to seeing visitors to our cake, jam and craft stall at Somerhsam Wheelie Fun Day on May 11. This month’s meeting is on May 20 when we have a speaker on Firearms and Forensics after the resolution vote. www.somershamwi.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/SomershamWI
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
FOSS FUNDRAISING IS IN FULL SWING It looks like the summer term is going to be as busy as the last, with three big FOSS (Friends of Somersham School) events planned for the next three months! Firstly, we’d love you to join us on Friday, May 10 for our murder mystery evening. Hosted at Somersham Village Hall, The Somersham Hall Murder is a ‘whodunnit’ radio-style play where participants listen to the story before interrogating the suspects and gathering evidence to help solve the case. The last such evening proved a great success and we hope this one will be just as busy. Tickets are £12 and include a chilli supper. You can get tickets at Somersham Community Shop or reserve them by contacting Vicky at: 07749 959830 / vdub88@hotmail.co.uk The following month, on Saturday, June 29, FOSS are really pleased to be working in partnership with Elmsett School PTA to host a barn dance raising money jointly for both schools. Taking place at Church Farm in Somersham, this is going to be a great night out for all the family (ages 5+) with dancing to The Hosepipe Band. If you’ve been to a barn dance before you will know how much fun they are, and if you are new to the idea then you definitely need to give it a try! Advance tickets only, costing just £10 (including food), are available from Elmsett and Somersham School offices and shops, as well as the Duke of Marlborough pub. Finally, to round off the summer term, we are already busy planning our annual Somersham School Fete, which will take place on Saturday, July 13 on the school playing field. This will be a real celebration of the summer, rural life and our wonderful village school; we hope to see lots of you there! To keep up to date with events please follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fossnet
15
SCHOOLS / SPORT HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL
SPROUGHTON BOWLS CLUB
We have been planting salad and vegetables ready to pick in the summer and the garden has been brightened up with colourful paint on our raised beds. We are going out and about on a nature and listening walk following on from our early phonics. The children will be given a list to follow and items to collect.
Well, it has been a busy time at the club with final touches having been put to the green and completion of the new surround. Many thanks to everyone involved for their hard work and dedication throughout the winter months.
DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR Saturday, June 8, 10am-noon: Annual Summer Fete Please come along and support us. There will be fun and games for the whole family and cake, tea and coffee will be served. Session places are currently available at our small, rural and friendly setting based at Henley Community Centre. We accept eligible 30-hour funded children plus two and three-year-old funded. We are open in term time only from 9am to 3pm. For further information please call 01473 833848 during session time (9am3pm) or email Bridget Wyatt at: enquiries@henleypreschool.com Bridget and the team
The club held a pre-season social evening at the end of March which was attended by around 50 members and a great evening was had by all. Thanks to chairman David Taylor for providing an excellent buffet, Anne Jones for organising a quiz and everyone else who helped organise and run the evening. The green was opened on April 13 with president Mick Jones delivering the first bowl. This was followed by a gentle competition for the Sheila Herring Trophy. On Sunday, April 14 we held a taster session for prospective new recruits – news of these events and more will follow in the next edition. Here at Sproughton Bowls Club we run 10 teams in leagues throughout the summer with bowling each weekday evening. As you read, preparations for the league season will have been completed and the first matches will have been played. Good luck and happy bowling to all. Please feel free to come along and enjoy watching an evening of gentle competition and good natured banter. You never know, you might get bitten by the bowling bug! For full club details, contacts and a fixture lists, talk to any club member or visit: www.sproughtonbowlsclub.com
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL At the time of writing the children are very excited for the Easter break and the thought of a visit from the Easter Bunny with some chocolate! The staff and children have been making lots of Easter themed crafts and have been practising their Easter songs ready for their performance at our Easter Eggstravaganza. As soon as our term-time children come back we will have our trip to Hollow Trees Farm so fingers crossed the weather is better then. We are also hoping that the summer term will shine through with lots of warm sunshine so the children can really enjoy playing outside. Race Night: Saturday, May 18 At Claydon & Barham Community Centre with the first race at 8pm. It would be lovely to see as many of you there as possible. Please ring the pre-school for exact details if you would like to come along. Don’t forget to book up spaces for the Easter and summer holidays! As we are now open all year (except bank holidays and the Christmas period) so we can take children up to five years old for additional sessions during the school holiday weeks, subject to availability. If you would like to book any days during the holidays, please contact the administration assistant for more details.
BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB We are excited to share the news that at our recent AGM, we agreed to maintain our fantastic low-cost introductory membership offers. This means that adult memberships start from as little as £25/year for new members with junior memberships starting at just £10. We strongly believe we offer the best membership rates in Suffolk so why not join us and give tennis a try in 2019? Nature Valley Big Tennis Weekend Come and join us for a day of free tennis activities on Saturday, May 18 from 11am to 2pm. Take part in fun on court activities, meet our coach, try some tennis cardio workouts or even take on our ball machine. We are a small friendly village club and some of our members will be available on the day to provide a warm welcome to prospective new adult, family and junior members. Our exclusive introductory membership offers will also be available on the day along with sign up opportunities with our award winning coach.
We can take children who are entitled to 30 hours funding. Simply register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible.
Road to Wimbledon 2019 We will be holding a Road to Wimbledon competition on Saturday, May 4 aimed at under-14 players. The winning boy and girl will have a chance to qualify to compete on the grass courts at Wimbledon so act quickly if you want to secure one of the few remaining slots by contacting Carl on 07553 966380 or by following the links below.
If you would like an application form or any further information please contact Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk
www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/BramfordTennisClub www.facebook.com/BramfordTennisClub Coaching enquiries: carl.douglas@talk21.com / 07553 966380
Looking after you and your family... Our private client team offers individuals a high level of personal service, tailored to your needs, ensuring you have peace of mind.
Wills and Trusts Lasting Powers of Attorney Probate Disputes
Probate and Estates Court of Protection Financial Planning
Contact us today to make an appointment: enquiries@ellisonssolicitors.com www.ellisonssolicitors.com
01473 556900 Wherstead Park, The Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ
Ellisons Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA Number 49336
16
In Touch online:
CHURCH NEWS SOMERSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH Our next ladies Friends and Neighbours meeting at 7.30pm on Monday, May 20 promises to be an interesting evening as we welcome Maureen Reynel, the founder of FIND (Families in Need). Maureen will tell us about her involvement and the opportunities and challenges faced in the work. For almost 30 years FIND has offered a lifeline to people who are experiencing poverty and despair in Ipswich and surrounding areas, as they provide free food parcels and other items, including furniture and bedding to help people especially through a crisis. An army of over 70 volunteers regularly give up their time freely to check and sort donated food, collect items from local stores, and then make up the food parcels before delivering them. It’s a six-day a week operation! The demand for food parcels has risen year on year to now more than 5,000 a year! FIND distributes an average of 70 parcels every week and even more at Christmas. We also welcome Maureen Green from Barking Chapel who will give a short talk at the end. So do come and join us ladies for a coffee and a chat! You are very welcome. Wheelie Fun Day, May 11: A Somersham Community Association event held on the playing field from 10am-10pm. We will be manning a stall for FIND and members of the Suffolk Christian Motorcycle Association will be our guests. We will be very pleased to see you! You are welcome to join our regular meetings of worship and fellowship: Sunday 10-10.30am: Prayer and Share 10.45-11.15am: Bible Study (Communion on the first Sunday) 11.30am-12.30pm: Worship Service
BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH At the Heart of Community Minister: The Rev Derek Grimshaw 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Steward: Ms R Palmer, 01473 831117 Please feel free to contact either of us with any queries. Baptisms, marriages and funerals by arrangement with the minister, who will also arrange Holy Communion for the housebound. Sunday 10.30-11.30am*: Morning Worship with Holy Communion every third Sunday 10.30-11.30am: Lighthouse Club for ages 5+ (term time only). Bible stories, painting, card making, biscuit decorating, etc. plus free leaflet to take home. 4-6pm: Families@4, an informal get-together with afternoon tea provided and a children’s activity (see diary for theme). Come and go as you please. This is not a service but our minister usually joins us. (Held once a month; please check diary) Monday 2-3pm: Bible Study, an informal look at issues that those present wish to discuss (every third Monday) Tuesday 2-3pm*: Network/MWiB, our ladies meeting, but gentlemen are always welcome (second and fourth Tuesdays from October-April and second Tuesday from May-September) Wednesday 10am-noon: Computer Club (term time only) Thursday 3-3.30pm*: United Service (very informal) at Cherryfields (first Thursday)
Refreshments are served between meetings, come when you can and leave when you want.
Saturday 10-11am: Coffee Morning at the Methodist Church or at Cherryfields (see below / third Saturday of month)
Weekdays at the Chapel
*followed by tea/coffee
Lunch and Listen: Thursday, May 2 at noon
DIARY FOR MAY
Friends and Neighbours: Monday, May 20, 7.45pm
Thursday 2, 3pm: United Service at Cherryfields Sunday 5, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Mr L Rokobuli Wednesday 9, 7.30pm: Prayers for Healing Sunday 12, 10.30am: Morning Worship, local arrangement (supply) Tuesday 14, 2pm: Network/MWiB Soup Lunch followed by Social Afternoon Saturday 18, 10am: Coffee Morning at the Methodist Church Sunday 19, 10.30am: Morning Worship, The Rev C Jowett Sunday 19, 4-6pm: Families@4, The Rev D Grimshaw. Theme: Pentecost Monday 20, 2pm: Bible Study Sunday 26, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Mr M Ellis
CONTACTS Mark Newcombe, Pastor 01473 831940 / 07958 830103 m.newcombe940@btinternet.com Edwin Mayhew: 01473 658100 WORSHIPPING AND FOLLOWING JESUS TOGETHER
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
17
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 747819 / revjseggar@outlook.com www.the-tew-family.co.uk/stmbramford SERVICES Every Wednesday, 9.30am: Quiet Reflective Communion Service Sunday, May 5: Easter 3 10am Holy Communion, Bramford 6pm Evening Prayer, Baylham Saturday, May 11 11.30-2pm Plant Sale and Ploughman’s Lunches, Church Room Sunday, May 12: Easter 4 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am Parish Communion, Nettlestead Tuesday, May 14 11am
Communion from Reserved Sacrament, Baylham Care Centre
Wednesday, May 15 7.30pm Healing Service, Methodist Church Sunday, May 19: Easter 5 9am Parish Communion, Bramford 11am Parish Communion, Baylham Tuesday, May 21 2.30pm The Gathering, Church Room Saturday, May 25 10am-noon Coffee Morning, Church Room Sunday, May 26: Easter 6 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am 4th Sunday Service, Bramford Thursday, May 30 7.30pm Ascension Day Service, Bramford Please check porch notices for any changes. Dear Friends I’m sure that by now most of you will be aware that I have returned from my sabbatical and have been working again since just before Easter. I had a great time, and did some fascinating study, coupled with a great holiday and some fantastic bird watching in the Orkney Isles. Many of you asked what I did for Lent, and where John and I worshipped. We took the opportunity to travel around a bit on Sundays, which was fun. As for the Lent observances, I followed the Church of England Pilgrim Season, which was thought provoking, but as a household we had a really good look at our environmental profile. We are trying to cut down on our plastics use (easier said than done), and be much more aware of our shopping habits. I was shocked to see plastic waste on the wild beaches of Orkney, and was
18
deeply impressed by the steps islanders are taking to try to sort out their own small corner of the world. Each and every one of us needs to change just a few things which will make a material difference to our impact on the world around us – from a Christian point of view we were given responsibility for the world. I realised that my personal stewardship of this great gift had slipped. So, we are cutting out unnecessary single use plastics, looking for green alternative for household goods, including mundane things like toothbrushes and shampoo (amongst other things), and will be looking at green energy tariffs. We are just one household, but every little helps! We’d like to thank everyone who came to support the Coffee Morning on Saturday, March 30, in aid of the Nerve Tumours UK, and all the helpers, without whom the event wouldn’t have been possible. We raised £300 so very well done to all. The Coffee Morning on May 25 will support Christian Aid, and we will again be selling excellent cakes, as well as books and jigsaw puzzles. We will also have a bring-and-buy and a raffle. Don’t forget the Ploughman’s Lunches and Plant Sale on May 11. This is your chance to get something for your garden, as well as enjoying an excellent spring lunch. Blessings to you all, The Rev Jenny Seggar PARISH REGISTERS Funerals March 20: Kenneth Ronald Taber, Bramford March 28: Ivan Victor Sherman, Bramford We extend to their families our sympathy and prayers. Cleaning Rota: H & P Hart Flower Rota: May 11 – wedding; May 25 – wedding Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church May 4: In memory of Phil Sawyer on his 73rd birthday If you would like to have the spire floodlit, please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week. LECTIONARY Bible readings for our Sunday worship are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is good to share the reading of Scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world. May 5 Easter 3 Acts 9.1-6 [7-20] Revelation 5.11-14
White John 21.1-19
May 12 Acts 9.36-43
Easter 4 Revelation 7.9-17
White John 10.22-30
May 19 Acts 11.1-18
Easter 5 Revelation 21.1-6
White John 13.31-35
May 26 Acts 16.9-15
Easter 6 Revelation 21.10,22 - 22.5
White John 14.23-29 or John 5.1-9
In Touch online:
Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning
Dry Carpet Cleaning Professional Local Service For a FREE no obligation quotation
call John Burch: 07870 347486
Tel: 01449 721441
To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
19