In Touch News with Capel St Mary April 2019

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CAPEL CAPERS Volume 9 • Issue No. 5 • April 2019

Signs of Spring by Sanri Harvey

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Easter Egg Hunt & Breakfast 9:00 -11:00am Saturday 20th April

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I often write about how fortunate we are to live in a part of the world where ‘community’ is valued and where there are endless opportunities to engage with those who share our little part of the planet. Finding that special place to lay your roots and raise your children, where you know you will be greeted with a smile when you pop into the local (shop or pub) and share your day-today existence with neighbours you can call on in an emergency is something to treasure. If you’re lucky you may even have family close by. A recent trip home to Ireland to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday has reminded me how distant I have become from my extended family, inevitable when you move away. Events like weddings and significant birthdays have become treasured opportunities to catch-up, to meet new family members and to get to know others a little better.

And so it was on this occasion.

For possibly the first time ever, I had an opportunity to have a proper girly chat with my dad’s three sisters, a chat which started when they admired my dress.

Well in no time at all they were telling me about the way they dressed going to dances and balls when they were young. They howled with laughter as they told me about cycling six miles to dances at the Emerald Ballroom and back home again at 1am. They talked about the music, the dancing (proper dancing!), the way all the men lined up on one side and the women on the other… and the dresses. They’d all learned to make their own dresses but occasionally paid a local dressmaker to create something for a special occasion. The planning and effort they put into these events was extraordinary. Everyone had to get their hair properly done and in those days hair-dos were an architectural phenomenon. Hair pieces are not a new invention! They laughed in horror when they remembered having to sleep on their faces because their hair had so much lacquer in it!

I know it wasn’t all dressing up and dancing, but boy did they know how to party, and alcohol wasn’t mentioned once (which is probably why they remember every tiny detail). If you do have older family members in your life, or neighbours who would like nothing better than an opportunity to reminisce, don’t wait for an occasion. Put the kettle on and get to know someone a little bit better while you’re fortunate to have the opportunity.

InTouch with Capel St Mary Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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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 Capel St Mary is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

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CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL VILLAGE LITTER PICK Saturday, April 27, 10am-noon Meeting on the Village Green (by the village hall) As part of Spring Clean Suffolk Week hosted by Babergh District Council, Capel St Mary will be taking part in a village litter pick.

We are very grateful to those who have attended in previous years and it was clear to see what a difference was made by a few individuals.

This year we would love to see lots of residents taking part, even if just to clear the area by your own property.

We will supply litter pickers, hi-vis jackets and bin bags.

Bring the family and show your Community Spirit

HIRE THE NEWLY REFURBISHED VILLAGE HALL FOR FREE Do you have a celebration coming up?

You can now hire the village hall or Vine Lounge free of charge (after cash back) for events when using the bar facilities.

If the bar take during the event is more than £800 for hall events or £450 for Vine Lounge events, your original booking fee will be refunded*.

That means you just need 65 people in the Vine Lounge or 115 people in the hall purchasing two pints of beer or two glasses of wine each and you’ll reach the required bar take!

To book the hall or Vine Lounge please contact Mandy: 01473 312026 / bookings@capelcommunitytrust.org *Offer open to members of Capel Community Association. The booker must be a member of the Community Association at the point the booking is made. Refunds are capped at a maximum of £100 for hall events (the equivalent of five hours hire) or £88 for Vine Lounge events subject to all standard booking terms and conditions, and minimum bar turnover being met. Venue dressing (chair covers and lighting) not included.

DOVE CLOSE SOCIAL EVENING Friday, April 26 from 7pm You are welcome to come and join us for an enjoyable evening of singing with The Constable Singers Refreshments will be available, together with a raffle

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NEWS CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL

NOTES FROM THE CASE

Report from the meeting held on Monday, March 11

Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub

Present were Councillors Bishop, Harris, Hole, Kilby, Matthews (Chair), Rogers, Streatfield, Thompson, Weaver, County Councillor Jones, District Councillors Carpendale and Swan, Julie Lawes (Clerk) and 15 members of the public.

We are really pleased as punch with our wonderful new bay windows and front door. They have been expertly replaced, along with the soffits and fascias, with pre-coated timber framed flush casements to match the others in the building. The old ones had certainly seen better days and were probably only held together with the paint, but now the bays are warm and cosy, even when the wind blows! We know they have been a long time in the planning but it has been worth the wait.

Capel St Mary Parish Council recommended approval to Babergh District Council for the following planning applications: Land At Dell Croft London Road – Erection of 1no. dwelling and creation of vehicular access: Old Coach House Bluegate Lane – Erection of 1no. dwelling and creation of new vehicular access to serve Old Coach House: 15 Long Perry – Erection of detached single storey physiotherapy clinic building.

Capel St Mary now has a Speed Indicator Device that will be moved around the village at three different locations. It is hoped this along with our Speed Watch Team will improve speeding within the village.

Persimmon Homes are expected to submit a full planning application to Babergh District Council within the next few weeks. The Babergh Draft Local Plan has been delayed until after district council elections.

St Mary Parish Council elections will take place on May 2. Nomination forms can be obtained from the parish clerk. The cut-off date for submissions to Babergh District Council is 4pm on April 3.

The village litter pick will take place Saturday, April 27 (see page 3).

This month sees our special fifth year anniversary celebrations and we would like to invite you all along to join in with the festivities. On Saturday, April 13 we will be hosting two musical events. From 3-5pm the Tyler Kemp Duo will be playing a mixture of easy listening music and some light jazz. During this time we will be serving free tea, cakes and light bites (the bar will also be open). From 8.30-11.30pm the very popular Robbie Gladwell and his band will be entertaining us and canapés and savouries will be freely available. To enable us to gauge the numbers for each event free tickets for each session are now available from the pub and from Bentley Stores.

At around 5pm on the day itself – Wednesday, April 17 – we are going to create a new anniversary version of our famous WE SAVED OUR PUB photo.

We would like as many of our customers and shareholders as possible to come along and be part of the next stage of our incredible history.

Clerk Julie Lawes The next meeting of the Capel St Mary Parish Council will be on Monday, April 8 in the library.

There is an open session at each meeting when members of the public may speak. The actual minutes of the meeting are available for viewing at the parish council office at 27a The Street, Capel St Mary, which is open on Tuesdays from 10am-noon and on Fridays from 1-3pm.

The parish clerk can be contacted on 01473 314103 during these times. An answer phone operates outside these hours and messages are picked up every day. Alternatively contact can be made by email at: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com www.capelstmary.onesuffolk.net

FLORAL DISPLAY 2019 Capel St Mary Parish Council would like to invite local groups and businesses to sponsor this year’s floral display at the shopping precinct. For a contribution of £35 we will provide and maintain an attractive floral display from May until mid-September 2019.

As a sponsor, your name will be displayed on a plaque for each piece sponsored and acknowledgements will also appear in Capel Capers, on the village noticeboards, Facebook and on the website.

If interested please contact the clerk on 01473 314103 (see above for opening hours).

To continue with the celebration theme, we will be holding our very popular Traditional Easter Egg Hunt and a Children’s Easter Bonnet Competition on Bank Holiday Monday, April 22. We will again be selling cream teas in the pub and as Easter is later this year we may even get outside while the children are searching the garden for the elusive coloured corks which they can exchange for Easter eggs. These festivities all start at 2pm. Keep an eye on the ‘What’s On’ website page and on the posters for more details.

Of course we still have all our usual monthly events and our ever-popular Open Mic Night will be on Tuesday, April 2 with the PA provided. The music starts around 7.30pm.

This month’s Quiz Night in will be on Saturday, April 27. A curry supper (booking essential) will be available from 6-8pm. The quiz starts at 8.30pm.

Come along and test your wits against this month’s quizmaster.

And finally, some months ago we introduced Adnams Ghost Ship Alcohol Free (0.5% ABV) bottled beer. It has proved so popular with our customers and has been in such high demand that we have now installed the keg version.

With only around 100 calories per pint it can be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle and is a great choice for designated drivers while still enjoying a good beer.

01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk

DEATH CAFÉ The next peninsula Death Café will be on Sunday, May 5 in The Compasses, Main Road, Holbrook. We meet for an hour and a half from 10.30am. We are very grateful to The Compasses for allowing us to use their lounge where we are made very welcome with tea, coffee, fresh scones and muffins.

For more information about the Death Café contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777 / jane.gould@btinternet.com

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www.facebook.com/TheCaseBentley

ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE Capel Fun Day is on Saturday, June 8. I will be running a tombola in aid of the hospice and am seeking donations of bottles, tins, chocolates/sweets and toiletries. If you would like to donate please take to 86 The Street or call 01473 311651 and I will collect. Thank you in anticipation.

Linda Morrison, Hospice Rep for Capel St Mary

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: MARCH 2019 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Local Elections You will be aware that we are entering the pre-election period for the local elections. Babergh’s electoral officers are expecting around 1,700 nominations across two districts, which need to be checked and validated. These are for the two district councils, and all the town and parish councils. You don’t have to be a member of a political party to stand for election. Nomination packs with full instructions are available on the electoral commission’s website.

The deadline for applications to register to vote is April 12. If you are not registered to vote, you have until then to do so. Individuals can apply online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote New postal or proxy votes, or changes, must be made by April 15. Poll cards will be sent out from March 25. Postal ballots will be on their way from April 12.

Because of the Boundary Review, every ward in Babergh will be different this year. For example, Capel St Mary and East Bergholt will be single-member/ one-councillor wards and only for the village itself. Please vote in these elections. Local councils deliver front-line services, so decisions taken by Babergh affect all of us directly and the parishes do important work at a very local level. Have your say.

County Lines Babergh and Mid Suffolk councillors were invited to a briefing from County

Lines officers. Much of what we were told is confidential, but in general terms ‘County Lines’ and the supply of drugs, is effectively a gang of at least three people who have established a drug market in a rural town, with origins to an urban city location. For example, in Suffolk, it is likely to be a gang from London moving into local towns, predominantly Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft to transport and sell class A drugs (specifically crack cocaine and heroin). However, at the recent SNT Police Forum in Pinewood, we were told that there have also been problems in some of our villages.

If you see more people than might be expected living at the address of a vulnerable person, it might arouse your suspicions. Drug dealers often take over the home, make the victim sell drugs and use the home as a place for others to take drugs. Unusual activity could include: • Regular comings and goings from the address from lots of people not known locally in the area • Anti-social behaviour/activity from a property at night/early morning, with signs of drug usage, i.e. needles discarded • Strange smells coming from the property • Windows covered or curtains closed all the time • Cars pulling up to or near the property for a short period of time You can report your concerns using the normal channels, e.g. phoning 101 or via the police website: www.suffolk.police.uk sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Exacom Database The councils’ Exacom Database has been awarded an iESE Bronze Award in the Intelligent Council category. The database went live in December and has led to greater transparency and access to information for residents. The database, which gives web-users access to data on developer contributions for development in Babergh and Mid Suffolk going back to 1974, is the first of its kind in the country with Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils recently designated pilot authorities by the software’s developer.

Council Budget The budget was passed at the February meeting of Babergh District Council and comes into effect on April 1 this year and will see Council Tax rise by 3.15 per cent. Councillors made the tough decision to increase Babergh’s part of the Council Tax precept by 3.15 per cent, equivalent to £5 per annum or just 10p a week for a Band D property. The increase was voted through as Babergh’s Revenue Support Grant from central government drops to zero, down from £2.3m in 2015/16.

The iESE is the public sector’s transformation partner and their annual awards, now in their tenth year, recognise outstanding transformation work in the public sector nationally. Babergh and Mid Suffolk last year won Silver iESE Awards in the Working Together category for their work.

However, the council also agreed that young people leaving care will be eligible for a Council Tax discount of up to 100 per cent in order to support some of Babergh’s most vulnerable residents.

Rural Service Network Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council leaders are supporting the demands of the Rural Service Network for central government to recognise the needs of rural communities and develop a rural strategy. The needs of communities in rural areas, which accounts for 17 per cent of the UK population, are different from those in urban areas and are often not considered in central government decision making, in the setting of financial grants or the introduction of policies.

The Rural Service Network is the national champion for rural services, ensuring that people in rural areas have a strong voice – fighting for a fairer deal for rural communities to maintain their social and economic viability for the benefit of the nation.

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Some key parts of the budget are: • An increase in Council Tax of 3.15 per cent, which will see the largest properties paying £10 more over the course of the year, with the smallest seeing an increase of just £3.33 • A decrease of one per cent in council house rents, equivalent to an average rent reduction of 90p a week • No change to the Sheltered Housing Service Charges • An increase of five per cent in the Sheltered Housing utility charges, an average increase of just 61p per week • No increase in garage rents Babergh’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme remains in place, ensuring that the poorest residents pay just five per cent of their bill. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE New Appointment Cancellation Service If you need to cancel an appointment, you can now send us a text message.

This should help reduce the number of non-attended appointments and also provide a simple method for patients to let us know they need to cancel rather than wait in the telephone queue first thing in the morning. To cancel an appointment, simply send a message to 07562 618401 and include your name, date of birth and the date and time of the appointment you wish to cancel. Please note that this number can only be used for appointment cancellations.

Launch of eConsult Service I’m pleased to announce that we have launched a new service called eConsult which is available via: www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk Our eConsult service enables you to request advice and treatment from our practice online, at any time of the day. You can also obtain self-help advice for hundreds of conditions.

You can access eConsult any time of the day and the system will ask you a number of questions regarding the nature of your problem. It may provide self-help advice, or direct you to a pharmacy if it’s a problem which can be addressed by a pharmacist. The system may also advise you to phone 111 or 999 if your responses suggest you require urgent attention.

If your problem is non-urgent and can be dealt with by the practice, we will receive a report which will be reviewed by one of our doctors. They will determine the most appropriate next step which may include a telephone or face-to-face appointment. You will be contacted by 6pm the following day with advice or to book an appointment if necessary.

We hope this new facility will further improve access to the services provided by our practice.

National GP Patient Survey Questionnaires Please complete and return your GP Patient Survey if you receive one.

Feedback is really important to us. We have been working hard over the last couple of years to improve the service we offer and patient feedback is vital in understanding the progress we have made and which areas we need to focus on.

Training Days Please note that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Thursday, April 4; Wednesday, May 22; Thursday, June 20.

On these afternoons the Capel St Mary building will be open to enable access to the pharmacy, but reception will be closed. East Bergholt reception will be open. Please note that there will be no clinicians at either building after 1pm as they will be attending off-site training. Our phone lines will be closed for the afternoon. If you need medical assistance please contact 111. If your need is urgent then please dial 999 or attend your local A&E. Practice Manager Pete Keeble

SUFFOLK BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT (SBS) ‘Easing loss through group support’ Recently bereaved or experiencing a delayed reaction?

Are you in need of help and support?

Why not join a small group sharing bereavement issues?

Groups are led by an experienced facilitator creating a warm, safe environment in which to explore the many aspects of loss.

Childhood Immunisations Discussing childhood vaccinations is a great way to get a debate going as both pro and anti-vaccinators have very strong viewpoints on the topic. I give children their vaccinations as part pf my job as a practice nurse. I can tell you that there really is no evidence that vaccinations cause autism in children, but there is lots of evidence that vaccinations save lives. Unfortunately, a growing number of parents have expressed concern about vaccine safety following a tirade of misinformation from the internet and non-medical sources. This has led to a significant rise in measles. There is a heart-breaking account of how Roald Dahl’s daughter died from measles aged just seven. Back in 1962 we didn’t have a vaccination for it, but now we do. Extensive research has gone into trialling and testing vaccines. The government have given us a full schedule for vaccinations and this is based on evidence based research. I am very happy to share internet links with you from research undertaken and published in medical journals – please contact me if you would like further information. www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl/timeline/1960s/november-1962 Andrew Wakefield has a lot to answer for in terms of putting people off the MMR vaccine. He has now been struck of the medical register because of this.

Millions of lives have been saved worldwide because of the MMR vaccine.

Unfortunately, the uptake for the recommended two MMR injections is now only 87 per cent in the UK. Dame Sally Davis, a top doctor in the UK, has said that there were over 900 cases of measles in the UK in 2018 due to people not having their MMR vaccines. In America the estimated cost of the routine childhood vaccines for 2020 is $1,225 per child. I don’t have the numbers to hand for UK vaccines, but I do know from ordering them they cost more than you would expect. The NHS pays for all of this because the benefits of the vaccines far outweigh any transient side effects from them.

Is it safe to give several injections at the right time? Absolutely! The UK schedule was designed for the best protection for your child and delaying things by splitting the vaccines up is dangerous for your children as you are leaving them open to catching the very disease you are trying to vaccinate against. Giving multiple injections does not overload their immune system. https://tinyurl.com/y5v9eoyt If you have any questions or would like to hold a meeting to discuss this further, I am very open to that. If you are sitting on the fence, then I would really encourage you to vaccinate your children. Patients sometimes ask me if I have had my children vaccinated. Absolutely – they are both up to date with the UK schedule.

Blessings, Caroline Ursell Capel Parish Nurses Team Caroline: 07588 706869 / Caroline@CapelParishNurses.org.uk Margaret: 07588 698284 / Margaret@CapelParishNurses.org.uk www.CapelParishNurses.org.uk

MANNINGTREE POETRY GROUP The next meeting of Poetry Plus will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday, April 9 at the Red Lion, South Street, Manningtree.

For more details or to reserve a place contact Patrick or Margaret: sbsg246@gmail.com / 07469 201337 / 01206 299832

All those interested in poetry are invited to attend either to listen to the spoken word or to read poetry themselves.

Some people will be reading their own poetry and some will choose to read the work of other poets. There is no admission charge.

www.suffolkbereavement.org.uk

To keep up-to-date please visit: www.poetryplus.org.uk

Groups are held in Hadleigh (afternoon) and Capel S Mary (evening) and are free to Suffolk residents

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

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OUT & ABOUT CLASH AVOIDER This diary has been introduced to help avoid date clashes in the village.

Every effort will made to keep this list up-to-date, but please be aware that sometimes dates may be cancelled, postponed or re-arranged at short notice. This diary is not intended to be an all-inclusive what’s on and will only highlight significant dates.

If you want to add an event please submit in the following format (date, event, venue and contact) to sharon@intouchnews.co.uk with Capel Event Diary in the subject line.

Saturday, April 6: Capel Allotments Association – The Hut is now open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-noon until June 30 Sunday, April 7: Capel Allotments Association Work-In 8.30am-noon Sunday, April 7: Capel Allotments Association Plot Holders Meeting & AGM, noon Saturday, April 27, 7.30pm: Ukelele Band & Paella Supper in aid of The Friends of St Marys church. Contact Chris (311102) or Ondra (310524).

Saturday, May 11, 10am-noon: Cake, Plant Sale & Coffee Morning at Capel Methodist Church. Contact Sally: 07875 366120 Saturday, June 16: Capel Cheetahs 5 Mile Run. Contact Sandra: 07557 237501

THE TECHNICAL REHEARSAL Traditionally the technical rehearsal is the last chance for the cast to practise all their moves on a completely constructed set with spectacular lights and sounds, wearing stunning costumes before they have to perform at the dreaded dress rehearsal.

That’s the theory – in practice it’s frequently, if not always, a complete disaster. For this hapless group, things really couldn’t get worse. They have a set builder who can’t tell his left from his right, a hypochondriac Cinderella, a philandering Ugly Sister, a vengeful wife and a juvenile lead with a mid-life crisis.

This play by Alan Marshall is a hilarious fly-on-the-wall experience for the audience. It will be performed at the Constable Hall in East Bergholt by the East Bergholt Dramatic Society from Thursday 11 to Saturday, April 13. Tickets are £7 in advance from 01473 311553 or 07803 475750 or from The Fountain House Tearoom East Bergholt (£8 on the door if any left).

PLANT & CAKE SALE AND COFFEE MORNING Saturday, May 11, 10am-noon at Capel Methodist Church Summer bedding plants, perennials, vegetable plants and much more In aid of New Dawn India and the street children of Madurai

Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 June: Village Scarecrow Trail.

Contact Jim Hill: 01473 311294 Saturday, July 27: Capel Allotments Association Summer BBQ Monday, July 29 – Friday, August 2: Playscheme at Capel St Mary Primary School. More details to follow soon.

Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 September: Capel Allotments Association Annual Flower & Produce Show Saturday, October 5: Nearly New Sale at Copdock Village Hall. Contact Lisa: 07745 520564 Sunday, October 13: Capel Allotments Association Autumn Work-In, 9am-1pm Saturday, October 27: Capel Allotments Association – The Hut closes today for the winter Saturday, November 2: Capel Bonfire Night & Free Family Disco – Gates open at 6.45pm Saturday, November 30 from 2pm: Christmas Fayre at Wenham View, Dove Close, Capel St Mary IP9 2AW. Contact Stella Hyland: 01473 312162 Saturday, December 7: St Mary’s Church Christmas Coffee Morning

SPRING JUMBLE SALE Clear the Clutter – Bag a Bargain!

Saturday, April 6 from 2pm at Bentley Village Hall If you have anything you wish to donate, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or telephone Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) who will arrange to collect it from you.

If you would like to come to our sale, the hall will be open from 2pm with tea and coffee available.

We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

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INSPIRATIONAL WEIGHT-LOSS SUCCESS Weight loss can be a sensitive subject, but when Capel resident Virginia Coyle decided the time had come to change her relationship with food for the sake of her health, she turned to Cambridge Weight Plan and has now become a CWP Consultant so she can help others. Here, in her own words, is Virginia’s tale. If losing weight is one of your goals, you will be motivated by her story.

“This time last year I was in such a different place, contemplating my imminent death if I didn’t make radical changes to my eating pattern and lifestyle yet again! I was on various medications to help reduce high blood pressure and swollen ankles.

I had chronic kidney disease and reduced mobility.

As on some previous occasions, I attempted to lose weight on my own by eating less and exercising, not easy for someone with many self-inflicted aches and pains. In May I had had some success, but not enough to be noticeable or to improve my failing health. Then I saw an inspirational programme on television about the Cambridge Weight Plan that set me on a new path. After checking with my GP and finding a local consultant, I started on the Steps plan with one-to-one support.

“Having lost five stone and with a healthy BMI, I am a trained CWP Consultant, planning to help anyone interested. I believe the CWP plan worked for me because of my strong motivation to survive and the one-to-one attention from another person who had already achieved incredible results herself.

I believe I can now empathise with overweight and obese people and give them hope if they are ready to embrace change.”

If you are inspired by Virginia’s tale and her remarkable before and after pictures, she would be pleased to talk to you about how she used the plan and how her life has been transformed as a result. Give her a call and start your weight-loss journey today.

01473 310851 / 07955 654474 / vsc1942@gmail.com

In Touch online:

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LIBRARY

CAPEL LADIES CLUB

April sees warmer days making it easier to get out and about. The library offers books on walking, both from the online catalogue (www.suffolklibraries. co.uk) and free material where you can join in with a group, namely Stepping Out in Suffolk and Suffolk Walking Festival which is coming up in May and June. Capel offers us some shorter walks around the area and there are many good walks up and down the Suffolk coast with nice pubs en-route. There’s no need to be stuck indoors on a nice day!

February 21: Meal at the Queen’s Head For our February outing we made a third visit to the Queen’s Head at Great Wenham, where once again we were made very welcome by Mark, Patsy and Linda. There was a good atmosphere as people enjoyed their meals, and at the end Sue Crane thanked the staff for all their hard work in the preparation.

It was a very pleasant winter’s evening out for Capel Ladies.

GROUPS MEETING THIS MONTH BabyBounce: Tuesdays, April 2, 23 and 30. We take a break for the school Easter holiday. The free sessions for under-fives start at 2pm. Come and join in with singing, shaking instruments and finger rhyme fun. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Capel Creators: Saturday, April 27, 10.30am to 12.30pm for children of any age. Come along and get your creative building juices flowing. £1 charge includes a drink and a biscuit. Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult.

Capel Library Book Group: No meeting in April as the date clashes with Good Friday when the library will be closed.

Easter Closing: Please note that the library will be closed on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday, April 19 and 21, and open as normal on Saturday, April 20.

You may post any books for return in the letterbox.

We have a selection of donated books for sale which are perfect for taking on holiday. We also sell book tokens and books of first and second class stamps.

Thank you from Jenny Thanks to those who turned out to wish me well in my retirement, it has been a pleasure serving the community. We have an excellent library service in Suffolk and need you to keep visiting on a regular basis to read all that it has to offer.

OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm & 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699

CAPEL SUMMER PLAYSCHEME

March 7: Talk on Lighthouse Women’s Aid Project Domestic abuse would not have been my first choice of subject for an evening speaker, but Katherine Ahluwalia, the training co-ordinator for Lighthouse Women’s Aid, made it a very interesting, informative talk, chilling though it was at times, but with a definite positive outlook on the work of this essential organisation.

We began with a quiz highlighting different types of abuse. The statistics showing how common and widespread abuse can be were shocking. Over two million women aged between 16 and 69, and seven hundred thousand men have experienced abuse at some time in their lives, and locally one thousand women a year call in at Lighthouse’s Berners Street centre.

Lighthouse Women’s Aid has been providing support and advice to women and children experiencing domestic abuse in their personal or family relationships since 1976. They offer advice and support on any issue in complete confidence and without judgement, and they run a Women and Children’s Wellbeing Centre in central Ipswich. The incredible thing is they are a charity and as such are completely reliant on donations and fundraising.

Capel Ladies Club gave Katherine a donation at the end of the evening, plus an extra £20 from the proceeds of a scarf and jewellery swap-shop organised

by Mary Butters on the night.

For more information on Lighthouse call 01473 228270 or visit: www.lighthousewa.org.uk or ring Coming up we have visits planned to Little Hall, Lavenham, the theatre and a garden tour, plus a talk on The History of Film and a sausage evening.

Come and join us!

Sue Woolgar www.capelladies.com

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY It was great to see so many children attending our Build a Bird Box event.

A big thank you to Ipswich Wildlife Group who provided all the materials, tools and assistance. We have received some great feedback and are already planning to organise another event, possibly featuring hedgehogs, either in the autumn or early next year.

Now that the evenings are getting lighter and the days milder, it’s a good time to start sorting out the garden. If you are looking for inspiration, the library has a good selection of books which may help. And why not take a leaf out of the children’s efforts and make your gardens wildlife friendly by planting butterfly and bee friendly plants and providing habitats that will attract hedgehogs and other wildlife.

Capel St Mary Playscheme has been selected for the East of England Co-op Community Token Scheme and we would like to encourage everyone to vote for us by putting their tokens in our slot. Playscheme is run voluntarily and any funds awarded will help us to put on an amazing week for primary school aged children during the summer holidays.

This year’s playscheme will run from Monday, July 29 to Friday, August 2 and activities will include archery, arts and crafts, visit from the police and the fire brigade, cookery, an opportunity to meet an owl, lots of your favourite sports, dance troupes, an end of week disco and lots more. Booking forms will be available soon from Capel Primary School.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

Our Tuesday computer classes are going well with lots of new people attending. If you want help or are just starting out, why not book one of the free sessions? If you just want to use a computer, you can book a slot in the library, or we have two iPads which are available to borrow for up to three weeks at a time.

I’m really looking forward to reliving memories of Live Aid when we screen Bohemian Rhapsody on Tuesday, April 16 at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm).

Tickets are on sale at the library, but we expect this to be a sell-out so get your tickets early. The film is a celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. I haven’t seen it yet, but know lots of people that have and without exception they all say it’s not to be missed, so come along and join us for a foot stomping evening!

Trevor Stevenson / friendsofcapellibrary@gmail.com

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HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING? When meeting new clients and taking on claims for personal injury, one of the first questions that we are often asked as personal injury practitioners is “how long will my case take to settle?”

Unfortunately, this is a difficult question to answer. It tends to be case specific and is dependent upon a number of factors: • What further evidence is required before we can submit a claim for personal injury and loss on your behalf to the person who we deem to be at fault.

• Whether responsibility for your accident or illness is accepted at an early stage by the person at fault or whether further evidence is required before a decision can be made as to whether the claim can be pursued.

• What the extent of your injuries are.

• Whether you require further treatment to assist in your recovery. If this is the case then it depends on when we are able to obtain a final medical report detailing the extent of your injuries and loss.

• What further evidence we will then need to calculate the financial losses that flow from the injuries or illness that you have suffered, and when we can obtain the information required.

Once the above information has been gathered, then your case can either proceed to a settlement, normally by way of negotiation with the person at fault (or more likely their insurer.) Or if fault has not been admitted and we are still of the view that the case should be brought against the person who we deem to be at fault, then at a court hearing.

Fortunately, the vast majority of cases are settled without proceeding to court, but the process can take a matter of months or longer depending on the circumstances of the specific case.

It is worth remembering that as personal injury practitioners, we are here to guide you through the personal injury claims process, and to assist you through to the conclusion of your claim as quickly as possible. This includes obtaining appropriate treatment for you where necessary to aid your recovery.

If you would like any advice or assistance arising out of an accident or incident and would like to pursue a personal injury claim, please contact our Louise Plant: 01473 232121 / lplant@prettys.co.uk

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

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE HALL DIARY APRIL 2019 Tuesday 2 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Wednesday 3 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 4 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Capel Ladies, 7-10.30pm, library Friday 5 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Saturday 6 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Sunday 7 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 2-6pm, Hall Monday 8 Parish Council Meeting, 7.30-10pm, Library Tuesday 9 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8pm, Library Wednesday 10 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Flower Arranging, 6.30-10.30pm, Library Thursday 11 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Women’s Institute, 7-10pm, Library Friday 12 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Dementia Café, 10am-noon, Library Saturday 13 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Karaoke, 7.30-11.30pm, Vine Lounge Sunday 14 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Monday 15 Association Meeting, 8-10.30pm, Library Tuesday 16 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Community Cinema, 7.30-10.30pm, Library Wednesday 17 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 18 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Bingo, 7.30-10.30pm, Vine Lounge

Friday 19 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Beer Festival Saturday 20 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Beer Festival Sunday 21 Blood Donating, 8.30am-4pm, Hall Beer Festival Monday 22 Beer Festival Tuesday 23 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8pm, Library Wednesday 24 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 25 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Gardening Club, 6-10.30pm, Library Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Friday 26 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Library Dementia Café, 10am-noon, library Saturday 27 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Sunday 28 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Tuesday 30 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall COMMUNITY CENTRE FUNCTION ROOMS FOR HIRE Are you organising an event such as a birthday or anniversary party, a wedding or engagement celebration, a funeral gathering, social event or business meeting, or just want a get together with family and friends? Why not book the Community Centre, Vine Lounge, library or stage – we can offer rooms for 20 up to 200 people at very competitive rates.

Rooms are available during the daytime or evenings. Facilities include a fully licensed bar, kitchen, tables and chairs, with prices starting from as little as £12 per hour for the library and £17 per hour for the hall. The Vine Lounge is £90 for an evening.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE Would you like to celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away?

You can hire the Vine Lounge in the village community centre most days of the week for just £75. For more information contact Mandy.

CONTACT NUMBERS Village Bar: 01473 311766 Mandy Marshall (Events and Hiring): 01473 312026 / bookings@capelcommunitytrust.org

WEDNESDAY BRIDGE GROUP

CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB

If you know the basics of Bridge and would like to play regularly in a social environment, why not join our Wednesday evening Bridge group? We meet at Lambe School in East Bergholt at 7.30pm each Wednesday. A regular partner is not essential as we ensure everyone who turns up gets a partner for the evening. If you would like to know more please contact Nigel Clover on 01206 323422

Our March meeting was overshadowed by hurricane Gareth, but we had a good speaker who gave us an excellent talk on beekeeping and brought some honey for sale. Realm of the Polar Bear is the title of our next talk on Tuesday, April 9. We meet at Capel Methodist Church at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome to join us for one meeting or more, with refreshments provided after the talk.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

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OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY On February 14 we had a very informative talk

by Kenneth Payne on Photoshop Lightroom.

Even those of us who don’t do much post image processing were able to take something from this.

Our talk on February 28 was on underwater and other wildlife photography and was wonderfully illustrated with images ranging from close encounters with sharks to macro images of coral reef life and sea horses, a fantastic insight into a whole other world. There was no competition in February but our Facebook challenge subject was Wood and the winning image by Tim Stott is pictured.

FUTURE MEETINGS In April we have a talk entitled A Hole in my Bag by Don Thompson, and a competition on April 25 in which members are asked to show three images of the same subject. We are also taking part in the East Ipswich Camera Club Granville Foulger Trophy on April 16.

Meetings are held twice monthly on Thursday evenings (second and fourth of the month) at 7.30pm at the St Johns Ambulance Centre, Station Road, Manningtree CO11 1EB. A number of informal ‘Rookie Club’ evenings are also arranged where members can refresh their skills and share experiences.

New members are welcome to join us or may attend initially as visitors.

Please contact our secretary for details: 01206 393751 / madps@post.com www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

VILLAGE LINK Mark Reynolds will present a talk entitled My life as a Live Drawing Cartoonist Comedy Impressionist when we meet at 10am on April 10 in Tattingstone Village Hall.

The club aims are to bring communities together and over the years we have attracted members from many villages, men and women of various ages. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am to noon. I would like to welcome back any former members and to see new members from all local villages at our meetings, either as visitors or members.

Chairman Linda Evans: 01473 311262

STOUR VALLEY U3A On April 10 Mark Mitchels will talk to us on The Genius of Charles Dickens.

Dickens rose to become a great novelist by sheer talent and determination.

He worked a self-imposed schedule that never relaxed and in the end he probably brought about his early death. But the novels survive to be rediscovered by each generation. What sort of man was he? His genius is astonishing and this talk uses biography and extracts from his books to re-create the man and his achievements.

Our speaker on May 8 is Dr Helen Geake, National Finds Adviser, Portable Antiquities Scheme. She will talk about local finds recorded by PAS and explain what to do if you find an historic artefact while gardening, beachcombing or walking the dog. This talk look at how archaeologists reconstruct items and will include details of local finds.

Each month The Coffee Grinders meet at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt CO7 6SD from 10am to noon. This meeting especially welcomes new members and gives all members the opportunity to meet the activity group leaders and the committee while enjoying a cup of coffee. The next meeting is on Friday, April 26.

Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted.

We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month.

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Brian Wills presented a lecture of particular local interest on Wednesday, March 6 when he spoke about Constable and his Paintings, and we held our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 20.

On April 3 Chris Parfitt will introduce us to Bhutan, Land of The Thunder Dragon and David Ablewhite will return to present The Horrible Hanoverians on April 17. On May 1 Francis Boardman will present Son of a Gun – Woman in Nelson’s Navy and on May 15 Bill Roberts will recall Memoirs of An Armed Protection Officer.

Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed.

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact speaker secretary Dave Carman: 01255 880202

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Fu ll, p a rt-tim e a n d s e s s io n a l c a re fo r c h ild re n a g e d 3 m o n th s to 11 ye a rs .

Fo re s t S c h o o l

Ofs te d Re g is te re d

Gra n t

Fu n d in g Te le p h o n e : 01473 310767 Ag e 2, 3 a n d in fo @ro b in s c h ild c a re .c o .u k 4 ye a rs www.ro b in s c h ild c a re .c o .u k Th e S t r e e t , C a p e l S t Ma r y 30 Ho u rs Ip s w i c h , S u f f o l k Gra n t IP 9 2 E G Fu n d in g

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

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OUT & ABOUT CRAFTERS UNLIMITED

CAPEL ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION

A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

ALLOTMENT PLOTS AVAILABLE Half plots are available now at £16 per annum plus membership.

Monday, April 1: Diamond Greeting Card (Jill) Monday, May 13: Crochet Flowers (Debs) Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available. Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

If you live in or around Capel and fancy a go at growing your own, please contact Dennis: 01473 310988 / site.manager@capelallotments.co.uk GUIDE TO GARDENING IN APRIL Kill weeds on paths, patios and drives. Control slugs. Water plants thoroughly with an open-ended watering can.

The Veg Plot

CAPEL CHEETAHS FIVE-MILE RACE AND FUN RUN Sunday, June 16, Capel St Mary Playing Field 9.45am Fun Run / 10.30am Capel 5 Last entry for the Fun Run is 9.20am For more information and to enter visit: www.capelcheetahs.co.uk / www.runbritain.com

CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB Report by Programme Secretary Penny Thompson Matthew Long from Riverside Bulbs, Monks Eleigh, gave an informative illustrated talk on dahlias on Thursday, February 28 in Capel St Mary Library. Members heard that dahlias belong to the daisy family. Brought to Europe from high altitudes in Central America and Mexico, the dahlia does not like a lot of heat, is very thirsty and will flower all year round.

More species are being discovered all the time and at present 2,000 varieties are grown commercially.

Dahlias are usually grown from tubers although they can be grown from seed.

The Dutch are masters of the worldwide bulb industry with Holland growing 60 million tubers a year. Japan and France are runners-up and there are a lot of small growers in the UK. Matt recommended buying large tubers with lots of reserves. Dahlias cannot be forced and they need a cold spell before being planted out in April/May. There are many varieties to choose from in colour and form: anemone, ball, pompom, collarette, cactus, orchid, star and waterlily. The most popular form ever has an open-shape with a dark leaf and is named after the Bishop of Landaff. Today’s focus on dahlias is for cut flowers and pot plants.

Instagram has had a lot of influence on colour with dusky pink taking over from yellow.

Matt said that for cut flowers, dahlias should always be cut in the morning when open or semi-open. Unlike daffodils and tulips, dahlias do not continue to grow after being cut. Another tip was to put cut dahlias in very hot water and allow the water to cool for at least an hour before adding sugar or glucose.

Local places to see dahlias are Angelsey Abbey, Cambridgeshire, Ulting Wick, Maldon, Essex, and East Ruston, Norfolk. Farther afield are the Trial Gardens in Holland during August and September.

In conclusion, Matt said that the dahlia is as popular now as it was 100 years ago. For photographs and information of many more bulbs than he had described and illustrated visit: www.riversidebulbs.co.uk Our next meeting is on April 25 when Janet Parsons will be running an Orchid Workshop and giving practical demonstrations – bring your own problem plants for expert guidance!

We are always happy to welcome new members (£8 a year or £2.50 to attend a meeting as come to a visitor). If you have any queries, please contact our chairman, Edwina Cox: 01473 311121

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Rake in a general feed prior to sowing or planting. Use fleece as frost protection or to warm the soil. Plant seed potatoes and cover shoots with soil if frost is forecast. Plant onion sets, salad crops, leeks, peas, winter cabbage, cauliflower, purple-sprouting and spring heading broccoli and broad beans.

Remove rhubarb flowers and pick asparagus.

Sow herbs. Thin seeds sown in March. Lift and divide chives and take mint cuttings.

Fruit Plant strawberries. Spray fruit trees with a fungicide and an insecticide if infected with mildew, apple scab, aphids or codling moth. Check for caterpillars, black fly and red spider mites. Protect buds with fleece. Feed blueberries with an ericaceous feed or iron sulphate.

Greenhouse Minimise heating costs by lining with bubble plastic. Sow French and runner beans, tomatoes, melons, cucumber and sweetcorn. Protect seedlings from damping off and foot rot by treating with copper mixture. Prick out half-hardy annuals. Feed geraniums, fuchsias and established plants with a liquid feed.

Support plants with split canes. Control insect pests. Plant tomatoes. Sow peas in a length of guttering filled with compost and slide into a shallow trench when plants are 1½” high. Sow broad beans in plugs and stand outside when 1½” high for a week or so and then plant out. Sow a few seeds in plug strips of spring onions and beetroot, do not thin out. Sow a few seeds in plug strips of lettuce, thin to one plant. Repeat fortnightly. Plant outside when large enough. Sow dwarf French and climbing beans into a grow bag to pick beans a month early then discard when the plants get mildew.

Flowers Remove dead flower heads of daffodils and feed with Growmore. Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials. Prune and feed established roses.

Sow hardy annuals. Plant sweet peas. Cut back heathers that have finished flowering and mulch with peat.

Lawns Premix grass seed with John Innis seed and spread on worn areas. Aerate with a wire rake. Cut grass with the blades set high. Apply a feed, selective weed killer and lawn sand, to control moss or spray with an iron sulphate solution or use a weed, feed and moss killer.

Contact Steve Blake for repairs and service on 07813 814623 or TGC Garden Machinery Services in Tattingstone on 01473 327737 for repairs, service and new equipment at very competitive prices.

ALLOTMENT NEWS The Hut Now open from 10am to noon every Saturday to the end of October, and Sundays throughout April, May and June (members only).

Sunday, April 7: Spring Work-in from 8.30am and AGM at noon Site Visits If any groups would like to visit the site and the wildlife area, May and June are a particularly good time. Please contact Philippa Brandon to discuss what’s available to you: info@capelallotments.co.uk For a more extensive version of this report visit: www.capelallotments.co.uk

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Schools BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS Spring has sprung and the warmer weather has revitalised us all. There has been a great deal going on across the schools, not least of which was a novel take on World Book Day. Instead of children and staff dressing up this year, we challenged the children to dress a potato up as their favourite book characters!

Some of the results were hilarious, but all were well thought out and well presented.

Congratulations to our teams of Year 5 and 6 pupils who went along to the Spelling Bee competition at East Bergholt High School. They faced fierce competition from other schools in the area and did exceedingly well.

Red Nose Day was a great deal of fun again this year.

The children came to school dressed in red and took part in sponsored activities to raise money for this wonderful charity. Anyone watching the outrageously comical three legged race the Hedgehogs class organised, couldn’t help but join in the laughter that accompanied it.

We are looking forward to a number of events in the coming month, including the Schools Farm and Country Fair at Trinity Park for which we were fortunate enough to get places. Pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 are excited about running in this year’s big cross country competition at the Royal Hospital School and everyone is eagerly anticipating our annual Easter Bonnet parades and the inevitable plethora of chocolate that accompanies Easter celebrations!

The federation is looking for governors to join our hardworking, dedicated team. In particular we are looking for members of the community with HR/personnel and or finance/ business management expertise. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact either school.

As ever, if you would like to volunteer in either of our schools, or if you are a parent who would like the opportunity to come and have a look round, please do contact us: Bentley: 01473 310253 / admin@bentley.suffolk.sch.uk Copdock: 01473 730337 / admin@copdock.suffolk.sch.uk

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears The Baby Bears have been appreciating the slightly warmer weather and over the last few weeks we have reintroduced our outdoor sleeping environment. The Bears fall asleep peacefully listening to the wind in the trees, the chatter of the older children, the birds, or sometimes the sound of rain on the roof. They will have lovely long sleeps outside in the cots and wake up content to look around at their surroundings, feeling refreshed.

Toddling Tigers During the holidays our Tigers and Gruffalos share a room and they have so much fun being together, paying hide and seek, running on the field and helping each other to complete various tasks. The younger Tigers look up to the Gruffalos and the Gruffalos love showing and sharing with the Tigers to help them progress. On World Book Day it was fabulous to see so many Tigers dressed as our favourite characters and each day of the week we focused on a different book. We even had a tea party for The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Gruffalos March has been a busy month for the Gruffalos. As well as celebrating Shrove Tuesday with pancakes on the campfire at Forest School, we have participated in World Book Day, showing off our wonderful costumes and outfits. We have also thought about our mums and important people to us as we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day. One thing that really stuck out this March was just how competent the Gruffalos are getting at using tools. Not only do they use scissors and knives daily, they also use hammers, saws and drills at Forest School. This, of course, is a process put in place with a lot of careful thought and planning and when the children are ready to expand their skills.

The children are shown how to keep themselves safe and given a small amount of responsibility for this. If we just take over and don’t allow children the opportunity to try (with very close supervision and support) they will not learn how to manage their own risks. A child who holds a hammer with an adult holding it and controlling it doesn’t learn that if you bang it hard near your fingers it can hurt!

It’s so important for children to learn how to manage risks so that they are equipped to cope with the big wide world as they get older. Taking risks within a safe and supportive environment with knowledgeable adults builds confidence, boosts self-esteem and creates a ‘can do’ attitude, all important skills to help prepare for school and life in general.

If you are interested in our nursery or pre-school please contact us at: 01473 310767 / info@robinschildcare.co.uk

CAPEL ST MARY PRIMARY SCHOOL We have had a very busy start to the beginning of the second half of the spring term! On Friday, March 1 we had our annual talent show. The event is organised by the school council and involves all the classes in the school apart from Nursery and Reception. The children are invited to prepare a performance either individually or in small groups and then they perform their act in front of the class. The class then votes on their favourite act and this is performed in front of the whole school.

We had a huge array of different acts at the final. There was juggling with electric guitar accompaniment, dancing and singing. We had a winner from each unit in the school. In Unit 3 it was impossible to pick a winner as the school council gave the same number of points to each act! The standard was extremely high and I feel very privileged to be the head of such a talented bunch of children.

On Tuesday, March 5 we had pancake races for Key Stage 1 and EYFS which were greatly enjoyed by all. Pancakes were also made and a large number of these were consumed by the children and some members of staff!

Thursday, March 7 was World Book Day and to celebrate this event we had a couple of exciting activities. The children all dressed up as either a character from a traditional tale or a legend, as did the majority of the

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staff. It was wonderful to see the effort that had gone into the costumes.

I was particularly impressed to see our Year 6 footballers come to school as a character from David Walliams’ The Boy in the Dress. Apparently, the dresses were comfortable, but a bit draughty when playing football.

The week beginning March 11 is the Spelling Bee competition at East Bergholt High School. A group of very enthusiastic Year 6 children have been preparing over the past few weeks and we are very much looking forward to participating.

On the horizon we have a number of exciting events to look forward too.

Many of the children in Year 6 will be going on a residential visit to Bawdsey Manor where they will be joining in with a variety of different activities. I’m sure that they are all looking forward to this exciting week. In the same week the children in Year 5 have an activities week which includes a visit to Harry Potter World.

It’s always a busy and exciting place to be! If you would like to find out more about what we do then please visit our website where you will find lots of interesting information.

Headteacher Sean Cornish www.capel-st-mary.suffolk.sch.uk

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SPORT / Church News CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

CAPEL ST MARY BOWLS CLUB

Several seasons ago the club started a team for players over the ripe old age of 35 years, known as the Veterans. They play their games on Sunday afternoons every three weeks or so.

YOUR BOWLS CLUB NEEDS YOU! Capel St Mary has had a thriving and successful bowls club for many years.

To carry on we urgently need more members, male or female, young or old, experienced or not. Why not give it a go? We have all abilities within the club and it’s an easy game to learn and play. We always give a warm welcome to new or potential new members. To discuss having an informal roll-up or to find out more, give club secretary Les Bryant a call on 01473 311717.

Our Veteran squad consists of players who are not fit enough to play in the competitive Saturday leagues, but aren’t quite ready to take up the game of bowls! Recent results saw the team move up to second place in their league after beating Old Times 3-2 before reaching the semi-final of the Suffolk County Cup after a 4-3 victory over Hoxne thanks to goals from Wayne Pannell, Ross Dorward and a brace from midfield general Patrick Tynan.

Our Sunday morning side lost 3-2 to Great Blakenham with Charlie Read scoring both goals, before winning 4-0 against Felixstowe Rangers Reserves thanks to goals from Joe Bigmore, Dan Pasque and a brace for Stirling Mayes.

Bigmore has been playing well in midfield while Kieran Tynan has put in some solid performances at centre back.

Our young Saturday Reserve side drew 0-0 with Kirton Reserves before beating Kesgrave Reserves 4-3 which included a brace of goals from Charlie Read, then beat Wickham Market 2-1 thanks to a well taken goal from Harry Taylor and an own goal. Bill Butcher has done well in defence alongside Oliver Miller with Harry Golding putting in some good performances in midfield.

Finally, not a good February for our Saturday 1st Team who lost three consecutive games against Claydon (5-0), Bourne Vale United (3-2) and Achilles (2-1). Skipper Shaun Webb is the leading scorer with 12 goals with the side now in eighth place in the senior league with five games left to play.

BOB THE PLOUGHMAN

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FC After suffering defeat in the first game of February, the 1 Team scored emphatic victories over two teams below them in the league to move to a solid mid-table position, giving optimism that they can finish the season in style. st

The Reserves won all three games in February to move up to seventh in League A, but they are still some way off the top two.

One draw and one defeat in February did not improve the A team’s position, but a victory over high flying Kesgrave in the first game in March put them right back in the mix. The team are now only three points behind the second placed team, with games in hand.

UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st Team Senior Division Sat, April 6: Capel Plough (A) Sat, April 20: Coplestonians (H) Sat, April 27: Claydon (A) Reserves League A Sat, Mar 30: Mendlesham Res (H) Sat, April 6: Achilles Res (A) Sat, April 13: Old Newton Res (A) Sat, April 27: Trimley Red Devils (A) A Team League C Sat, April 13: Framlingham Town A (A) Sponsorship We will be looking for new kits for all three teams for next season. This is a great opportunity to support a local organisation and publicise your venture.

There are a number of options available and anyone interested is invited to make contact with the secretary in the first instance.

Ladies and Juniors We are looking for new teams, boys or girls, of any age group to join us as we look for the club to grow. If you are interested please contact David George at: davidgeorge5000@hotmail.com Secretary Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

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Essential green and site maintenance has continued during the winter months and our social programme is already underway. We have our usual green clean-up day on April 7 and ask all members to come along in the morning.

After all, many hands make light work.

This season we have a busy schedule of events and fixtures should have been distributed by now. Our league matches start on Monday, April 29 with Kites home to Co-op Reds and Kestrels away at Hadleigh. But before then we have the opening drive on April 28 when members can hone their skills ahead of the league season.

IMPORTANT DATES Sunday, April 7: Green Clean-up Saturday, April 13: Pre-season Dinner Saturday, April 27: Fun Quiz Sunday, April 28: Opening Club Drive Monday, April 29: Samford League first matches Tuesday, April 30: Ipswich & District Leagues first match Wednesday, May 1: Triples Leagues first matches Sunday, May 12: Grunbaum Trophy Sunday, May 26: Pairs Tournament Look out for full details of these and other events and reports at: www.capelstmarybowls.onesuffolk.net Jack High

CAPEL COMMUNITY CHURCH Have you ever been out for a meal, read through the menu and ordered your food, only to be surprised how different the actual meal is when it arrives?

Sometimes the meal exceeds our expectations, but all too often the reality doesn’t live up to the description or glossy photos.

Life can be a bit like that as well. We all have plans and dreams for ourselves, our families and work situations. Sometimes life progresses in an orderly way and things seem to fall into place at just the right time. For many of us, real life is more about how we cope when things do not work out how we had planned them. These ‘curve balls’ of life, e.g. unexpected illness, accidents or relationship difficulties, can knock us completely off-course and prevent us from reaching our original goals.

When you are in the middle of a crises, coping day by day becomes the most important thing, but we also need to make time to review and plan for how things really are as otherwise we can become trapped by our own coping strategies.

Easter reminds us of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross (Good Friday) and his miraculous resurrection on Easter Sunday. During these events over 2,000 years ago, Jesus’s disciples experienced the real pain of losing their friend and mentor together with all the hopes and plans they thought He represented. Then, before they could even start to process what had happened, they were reunited with the resurrected Jesus. Although they recognised Him, everything had changed, and the future would be completely different.

The heart of the Easter message is fresh hope and new beginnings for all who experience the life changing Jesus today. Join with one of the churches in Capel this Easter to discover more about Jesus and His message of hope.

Easter blessings, Pastor & Senior Leader Dave Owen www.CapelCommunityChurch.org.uk

In Touch online:

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In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCH PLANNING FOR – PART 2 Last month I shared a little of my lifestory, which included planning for retirement. Thank you for a number of encouraging comments I have received.

My current invitation to serve the churches in this area is until August 2020, but I am hoping that might be extended when the review of my appointment comes up this summer. So although I am planning for retirement it might be another three-and-a-half years away so I still have some more monthly articles to write!

I seem to have had a run of funerals to officiate at recently. It is a privilege to come alongside families when a loved one is dying or has already died.

The circumstances of the death, the faith of the deceased and the family relationships are all very different. There are some families where the deceased has made very clear requests about their funeral arrangements.

Sometimes this is a formal funeral plan, which has been paid for in advance and the funeral company keeps details on file. Others are where the person has chosen the songs, hymns, music and readings, place and method and left the details with the family. It is even better when they have talked it through with their family so that it doesn’t come as a shock.

It is good to plan for your funeral. It takes away the uncertainty for relatives that they are doing what you wanted. There are so many uncertainties in life, but one thing is certain, we will all die (unless the Lord returns first) so why not plan what you want. And why not make a commitment to Jesus and invite him to make that difference in your life now and for the future. That’s not just planning for the short term, but for an eternity.

For those who are Christian, the funeral service is a celebration of their lives and affirmation that although the deceased was never perfect, he/she is with the Lord in heaven. I cannot tell you what heaven is like, beyond saying it is a place of peace, beauty and love – it is where Jesus is. Jesus was raised from death and we will be celebrating that fact in churches on Easter Sunday, April 21. Funeral services where the future hope is proclaimed give strength and hope to the grieving relatives. At a funeral I conducted we believe the deceased made a commitment to the Lord shortly before he died and so the funeral service affirmed he was with Jesus.

I must do as I preach. I have sometime said in services, ‘that’s a hymn I want at my funeral’, but I haven’t written them all down. By the time this is printed I commit to making sure it is written down, and I will update at regular intervals during my retirement as new songs become inspirational.

I am happy to sit down with individuals and families (whether you go to church or not) to talk through the options available to you and make a long term plan for your life. Forty years ago, before I went to work in Zimbabwe, my mission organisation insisted that I wrote a will and make a plan if for some reason I didn’t come home. It’s never too early to make plans, but we can leave it too late and never do it!

The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel Methodist Church 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary I IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 APRIL SERVICES Home Groups on various days and times – contact the Minister Sunday 7

10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with Mr Andy Jelfs Prayer

Sunday 14

10.30am

Palm Sunday Worship with Mr Simon Mattholie

Friday 19 9.30am

11am

Good Friday March of Witness from Capel Community Church Good Friday Service

Sunday 21 10.30am

Easter Sunday Worship & Communion with Rev Sankey

Saturday 27 3.30pm

Messy Church

Sunday 28

Worship with Mr John Gillett United Prayer

10.30am 7.30pm

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The next Messy Church is on Saturday, April 27 at Capel Methodist Church from 3.30-5.30pm. Our theme will be He’s Alive.

Messy Church is a fun, new way of doing ‘church’ which is particularly suited to families, but welcoming to all. It is an international organisation run by many churches in the UK and around the world. It is particularly aimed at people who have never belonged to a church before. To find out more visit: www.messychurch.org.uk If you haven’t been before, why not give us a try? You’ll have lots of fun.

There’s no need to book. Hope to see lots of you there.

For more information please contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / maggie3@btinternet.com Sue France: 01473 310034 / sue.france4@btinternet.com

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH This fourth month of the year is back ended with Christian holy days observed in all our churches. One of the most important dates in our local ecumenical calendar is the Walk of Witness on Good Friday, April 19. It starts off in the car park off Days Road Community Church at 9.30am. This year our local Roman Catholic Community will take the lead. The event will finish with a short act of worship at our new War Memorial across from the Methodist Church.

For many years St Mary’s Church has held a Good Friday liturgy at noon.

However, in recent times there has unfortunately been decreasing support.

Accordingly, this year there will be no Good Friday liturgy (to be reviewed under new ordained leadership in time for 2020, dv).

Of course, before Good Friday there’s the annual Maundy Thursday Service at 7pm on April 18 which is based on a Seder meal held in the church hall. If you haven’t attended before, come along to this one-off time of food, fellowship and faith where you will be made most welcome.

Easter Sunday itself will see both communion services at Great Wenham at 9.30am and 10.45am. Again, visitors will be warmly welcome and an Easter Blessing will be on offer to those not receiving the sacrament.

Poor old Saint George has been transferred this year to Monday, April 29 due to Easter being late. There will be a special Scout Service on ‘Low’ Sunday in St Mary’s Church at 10.45am. This has become an annual event for Capel 1st Scout Group, who with family and friends are most welcome indeed.

Fourth Sunday evenings in Capel provide an opportunity for Christians in the village to come together and pray for one another as well as for all those in need. This month is the turn of Capel Methodist Church to host our gathering at 7.30pm (daylight saving time). It’s always uplifting for one and all.

Before referring to another saint’s day at the end of April, may I remind readers of Palm Sunday, April 14? Both Saint John’s in Great Wenham and Saint Mary’s in Capel will have their usual services of Holy Communion at 9.30am and 10.45am respectively. There will also be the annual distribution of palm crosses, some of which I know will be placed on the graves of loved ones as a very fitting memorial.

Again due to Easter being late, Saint Mark (red) has been transferred to Tuesday, April 30. He is, of course, the writer of the shortest (and oldest) of the four Gospels and his symbol is the winged lion. Venice looks to him as its patron. There will be the midweek 10am Communion at Capel in the Lady Chapel to commemorate his day.

I wish you and yours every blessing throughout Holy Week and then the seven weeks of the Easter season.

Faithfully yours as ever, www.stmaryschurchcapel.co.uk

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CHURCH NEWS

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB

Parish Priest: Fr Peter Raj 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 www.stmarksparish.org.uk SERVICES FOR APRIL Sunday 7 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 9 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 14 Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord 9am Mass Tuesday 16 Tuesday of Holy Week 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Thursday 18 Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St Mark’s, Ipswich Friday 19 3pm

Good Friday Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St Mark’s, Ipswich

Saturday 20 Holy Saturday 8.30pm Easter Vigil & First Mass of Easter at St Mark’s, Ipswich Sunday 2 9am 11am

Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Mass at St Mark’s, Ipswich

Tuesday 23 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 28 2nd Sunday of Easter 9am Mass Tuesday 30 St George Patron of England 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass The weekly newsletter, with weekly mass times, is always displayed in the cabinet by the front door.

Catholic Commentary In a recent homily the Pope preached: “Blessed is the word with which Jesus begins his preaching in St Matthew’s Gospel. And it is the refrain

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he repeats, as if to fix in our hearts, more than anything, an essential message: if you are with Jesus, if you love to listen to his word as the disciples of that time did, if you try to live out this word every day, then you are blessed. Not you will be blessed, but you are blessed; this is the first truth we know about the Christian life. It is not simply a list of external prescriptions to fulfil or a set of teachings to know. The Christian life, first and foremost, is not this; rather, it is the knowledge that, in Jesus, we are the Father’s beloved children. The Christian life means living out the joy of this blessedness, wanting to live life as a love story, the story of God’s faithful love, he who never abandons us and wishes to be in communion with us always. This is the reason for our joy, a joy that no one in the world and no circumstance in our lives can take from us. It is a joy that gives peace also in the midst of pain, a joy that already makes us participate in that eternal happiness which awaits us.”

Events & Diary Dates The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday, March 24 at Holy Family when three lucky winners shared a £159 prize pot. The next draw takes place on Sunday, April 28. The club, set up to support the life and mission of our parish, has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, that includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or online at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv & Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR from 10.30am to noon. We are raising funds for a new carpet for the parish room and all are very welcome to join us. The next event will be on Thursday, April 25.

Supporting our Local Hospice All parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas, and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice.

The Sick & Homebound Fr Jeremiah Matthias is the Ipswich Hospital Chaplain and he can be contacted on 07951 066607. Please let him know as soon as possible if a friend or relative has been admitted. Please let Fr Peter know of anyone who is ill at home or homebound, so that they can receive appropriate pastoral care.

All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services; it’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic faith are always welcome.

Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic.

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CHURCH NEWS CHRISTIANS in Capel The members of all the churches foster a closer fellowship and understanding between the respective Christian communities in Capel St Mary. They endeavour to co-ordinate common interests and where practical share common resources to meet specific needs.

For times and details of Sunday services, Alpha and Home/Life Groups, please contact one of the following: The Parish Church, St Mary the Virgin The Rev Canon Jim Pendorf: The Rectory, Days Road, Capel 01473 312225 / 07973 265037 The Catholic Church Father Peter Raj St Mark’s Church, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich 01473 684963 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

Capel Community Church David Owen, 18 Bushey Close, Capel www.capelcommunitychurch.org.uk 01473 310454 / 07752 921135 The Methodist Church The Rev Andrew Sankey 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary www.capelmethodistchurch.org.uk 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 INTER-CHURCH MIDWEEK ACTIVITIES The following church groups welcome new members.

TREKKERS For ages 7-11, meets on Thursdays at the Methodist Church from 3.45 to 5.15pm during school term time. Contact Margaret Sankey: 01473 311178 YOUTH GROUPS AT THE METHODIST CHURCH Life Group: Wednesdays, 7.30-9pm / Year 10+ Junior Life Group: Thursdays 7-8.30pm / Years 7-9 Junction Club: Fridays, 7-9pm for School Years 7-9 Contact Caitlan Mower: 07465 414870 PARENTS AND TODDLERS • Tuesday – 9-11.30am, Capel Community Church, Days Road Contact Margaret Beard: 01473 311219 • Wednesday – 9-11.30am, Busy Bees, Methodist Church Contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 • Wednesday – 10am-noon, Twins & Multiples Group at CCC Contact Chris Matthews: 01473 311368 SENIOR CITIZENS’ LUNCH CLUBS • First Monday, Capel Community Church, 01473 311368 • Third Tuesday, St Mary’s Church Hall, 01473 310583 • Last Thursday, Methodist Church, 01473 310635 NETWORK FELLOWSHIP Third Tuesday, from 2.30pm, Methodist Church. Anyone welcome to attend.

Contact Judy Steward: 01473 310799

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BEACON COFFEE SHOP EVERY TUESDAY 9am-12.30pm, in the Vine Lounge, Capel Village Hall AEROBICS AT CAPEL METHODIST CHURCH Fridays from 10.50-11.50am, Young at Heart (slower paced).

Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546 PILATES • Tuesdays – 7pm and 8.10pm, Capel Methodist Church • Fridays – 8.30am and 9.40am, Capel Methodist Church Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546 R.O.M.E.O. Lunch for Men at Wenham View, Dove Close off Days Road Third Thursday at 12.15pm. Book with Peter Ellis: 01473 310096. Also Coffee Drop-in from 10am on the first Wednesday at Dove Close.

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