In Touch News with Capel Capers February 2019

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Volume 9 • Issue No. 3 • February 2019

Winter 2018 by Kay Garrod

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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

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS

My husband believes there are two kinds of people; those who see the positives in almost everything, and those who always see the negatives.

If opposites attract, we must be the perfect couple, so when Daniel played this song by Kacey Musgraves I’m pretty sure he was making a point.

It’s called Miserable.

Your heart’s as heavy as the stones you throw Can’t see the flowers for the weeds you grow You blow your bubbles just to watch ‘em burst For you it’s always bad to worse And you can’t win unless you lose You try to tell me you want happiness But you ain’t happy unless You’re miserable Your neighbor’s dirty laundry’s cleaner And the wolf at your door’s always meaner The sky’s still grey when the sun’s around But you can’t set sail if your anchor’s down And you can’t win unless you lose You try to tell me you want happiness But you ain’t happy unless You’re miserable I’m miserable Can’t liven up for the both of us We have enough for the whole of us If misery loves company Then I can’t keep you company no more He got me good! I don’t think I’m this miserable, but when life is going well, I live in dread of what’s bound to come, and it’s bound to be bad! I think it’s an inherited trait, but it’s not one I want to pass on. Is it possible to change?

I sure hope so because my New Year’s resolution is to prove Daniel wrong!

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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March DEADLINE

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CAPEL COMMUNITY HUB CONSULTATION Capel Community Trust has now consulted with residents regarding proposals to provide the village with a new community hub at the playing field.

We have had a great response over the last month, thank you for engaging with us. The proposals have travelled around the village at various locations and were also posted on social media. Your comments are valued by the Trust and will help to shape the ongoing design of the community hub. It is helpful to understand what residents had to say.

Comment boxes accompanied the displays around the village. Of the comments received 84 per cent supported the proposals with some offering suggestions around design and layout of the facility. Two per cent were against the proposals, four per cent raised direct concerns over the impact the hub might have on the bowls club and a need for bowls club parking, neither stating support for or against the scheme. Two per cent similarly expressed a desire to extend parking facilities further without stating for or against the scheme. Funding both now and ongoing was commented on by three per cent of respondents, again stating neither for nor against. Finally, five per cent of comments were reflective comments around the design and features of the hub without declaring support for or against the scheme.

The Trust also received 460 separate signatures in favour of the new community hub.

Whilst it is not the policy of the Trust to respond to individual comments posted on social media, the trust would like to acknowledge that all comments have been read on the Capel noticeboard and the following should offer some clarity.

The new facility will be owned and run by the Trust for the benefit of the whole community. Local clubs will be welcome to use the facility on agreed terms. It is hoped that the new facility will attract additional users which in turn will help to generate revenues to cover running costs. Bar revenues will be retained by the Trust in order to help fund running costs.

A fundraising team has been set up. This project is not being funded by a third party developer; there are no ‘sweeteners’ on offer. The Trust will need to work hard to raise the funds required. It goes without saying that the Trust welcomes sponsorship or donations should they be forthcoming from individuals, local business or industry. Phase 1 is being planned which involves preparing the car parking site. The Trust wants to involve the community in the project so if you believe you can add value along the way, please do get in touch. If we can work together to control costs, but at the same time involve and pay for local skills and labour then we should embrace a community approach.

The proposals have the overwhelming support of residents and a planning application will be submitted to the relevant planning authorities over the coming weeks. We look forward to delivering Capel St Mary the new facility and thank you for your support.

Capel Community Trust fundraising@capelcommunitytrust.org

BIG THANK YOU Thanks to all who came to the Capel Singers Christmas Concert last year and gave so generously. We were able to raise over £400 for the work of Ipswich Night Shelter.

Chris Yule and Jane Needle

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Missed Appointments The high number of missed GP and nurse appointments nationally has recently been highlighted by the press. Unfortunately, our practice also suffers from this problem. Through December 2018 the number of missed appointments and the time wasted was as follows: Doctors: 12 missed appointments, 2.5 hours wasted

Capel Community Trust, c/o 5 The Marvens, Washbrook, Ipswich IP8 3JE Web: www.capelcommunitytrust.org Email: admin@capelcommunitytrust.org

Nurse Practitioners: 3 missed appointments, 40 minutes wasted

Dear Residents,

Practice Nurses: 24 missed appointments, 6.5 hours wasted

The Christmas Float took place over the weekend of the 8th/9th December.

Thanks to the generosity of villagers, we managed to collect £1,405.73 after expenses which will go to further the work of the Community Trust for the benefit of all Capel residents. We plan to do the same week this year so put it in your new diaries you got for Christmas!

Health Care Assistants: 7 missed appointments, 1 hour wasted Phlebotomists: 10 missed appointments, 75 minutes wasted When an appointment is booked, patients receive a text message confirmation, so please ensure we have an up-to-date mobile number recorded for you. Patients will also generally receive a reminder text message the day before their appointment, though not in every case.

If you cannot make an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so it can be made available to other patients. There is nothing more frustrating than our clinicians preparing for a patient consultation or procedure only for them not to turn up. If you are going to be late then let us know and we will try to accommodate you, though it may not be possible if it will result in other patients being delayed.

Community Connector Bus If you sometimes you wake up and think ‘more of the same’ and wish for something different and interesting to happen in your life, or if one of life’s many challenges has been thrown at you recently and you don’t know where to turn for advice, or if you need to take greater care of your health and wellbeing or be more active physically or socially, or if you find yourself alone because of bereavement or other circumstances… then the Community Connector scheme could be for you!

The Community Connector Bus will be visiting the practice at East Bergholt between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday, February 6, Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 27.

The scheme will connect you to others for support and advice on matters such as debt, benefits, housing, health and fitness, walking, cycling, dance, volunteering, social activities, clubs, arts and much more. This initiative is supported by Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Family Carers. No appointment is necessary, just turn up!

National GP Patient Survey Questionnaires You may receive a survey from Ipsos MORI over the next couple of months requesting feedback on the how the practice has performed. If you receive one, please complete and return it. 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 A reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Wednesday, February 13 and Thursday, March 14. On these afternoons the Capel St Mary building will be open to enable access to the pharmacy but the practice 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 training off-site. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.

Practice Manager Pete Keeble

BUMPER BOOK SALE AT MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH

Many thanks to all involved, especially Mark Ward and Trevor for safely driving Santa in the right direction! It was so special to see the excitement on people’s faces, young and older when the sight and sound of Santa’s sleigh came rolling down the street! You are so generous, and Santa sends special thanks this year!

We congratulate and thank Capel Memorial Trust for their well organised remembrance and unveiling of the new memorial. It was heartening to see so many attend the various events. We are so lucky to have such a great and supportive community attending this and many other events over the year – it would not be the same without you and we really appreciate your attendance and financial support.

Bonfire Night 2018 received a record in everything from the weather to the gate. We went through the 1,200 mark, BBQ and glow products sold out on time, 229 tea sales and the giant bonfire and brilliant fireworks with the wind taking the smoke and debris away from the crowd. The night made a fantastic profit of £3,200. Thank you for everyone’s help.

Mark your diary for 2 November 2019.

Having nearly finished the Vine Lounge (just erecting the artworks remains), we are already planning other refurbishment work, starting in the summer. This is a larger job with structural changes, re-wiring and plastering as well as a new bar and artwork with new televisions. It is hoped that furniture replacement will follow as funds allow.

Finally, we would like to invite you all to our AGM on Monday, February 25 at 7.30pm. It will be held in the library. We would love to hear any comments/suggestions you have for us.

So an exciting year to come! Thank you for your continued and valued support.

DOCTORS SURGERY TRANSPORT ROTA Do you have a car and some spare time? The transport rota provides transport from home to the surgery and back for patients in Capel, Copdock, Wenham and Bentley. It has been set up in conjunction with the patient group and the surgery with a clearly understood set of guidelines to ensure that volunteers and patients are properly protected.

We currently have vacancies on the rota for driver volunteers, and obviously the more volunteers we have, so the frequency of callout reduces. Most volunteers may do one or more trips in a month. We will arrange for any necessary checks to be carried out.

Given the lack of public transport, the scheme has enabled many frail patients who cannot drive to get to their appointments, as well as reducing the number of surgery callouts. If you feel you can help with this valuable work please contact Chris Yule on 01473 310992.

Saturday, March 23, 10am-3pm / Free admission Refreshments to include bacon butties and homemade cakes

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NEWS NOTES FROM THE CASE If the Beast from the East strikes again this winter you will always find a warm and cosy welcome at The Case with lots to keep you entertained during the dark winter months. If you’re making it a dry January and February, do pop in as we have lots of alternatives to tempt you, including the very popular Adnams 0.5% Ghost Ship. As always we have a busy month ahead.

Open Mic Night on Tuesday, February 5: Come along and enjoy our local talented musicians. You might even feel like joining in yourself and, of course, all performers are very welcome. Bring your own instrument, PA provided.

Fun and Games Evenings on Saturday, February 9: With more old fashioned family board games. It can get rather noisy, but it’s all just good fun and there are always plenty of groups for you to join. If you have a favourite game, bring it along!

Quiz Night on Saturday, February 23: As usual a curry supper will be available from 6pm onwards, last sitting 8pm, quiz starts at 8.30pm. Booking for the curry is essential. If you would like to host a quiz, please contact Chris at cottage.garden@btinternet.com and we’ll add you to the rota.

Looking forward, we will be holding a Spanish evening on Saturday, March 16. Food will be prepared by Esther, our very popular visiting chef. So dust off your sombreros and practise your flamenco dancing! Booking is essential.

Please check the website or Facebook page for more details.

Believe it or not, on April 13 The Case will have been open as a community pub for five years and to mark this important occasion we are planning a celebratory weekend. We would love to hear from you any ideas you have for this, but would also like to receive copies of any photographs you may have taken during this period showing events or occasions held at the pub. Please email the chairman at: savethecasebentley@gmail.com As you know, our pub depends heavily on volunteers to keep it running. If you love the pub and want to see it continue to be successful, would you consider joining the team? No experience is necessary, nor is pulling pints as we have many other jobs that need doing. Let someone behind the bar know or leave a note with your name and contact details.

01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk www.facebook.com/TheCaseBentley

CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL Report from the meeting held on Monday, January 14 Present at the meeting were Councillors Bishop, Handel, Harris (chairman), Hole, Kilby, Powell, Rogers, Streatfield, Thomas, County Councillor Jones, Julie Lawes (clerk) and five members of the public.

Capel St Mary Parish Council recommended approval to Babergh District Council for the planning application for Gt Gilberts Farm, Old London Road.

Persimmon Homes are expected to submit a full planning application to Babergh District Council within the next few weeks. The Babergh Draft Local Plan is due to go to consultation in February.

The Capel St Mary Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 20 in the library at 7.30pm and is open for all residents to attend. Guest speaker to be confirmed.

Accounts were approved and presented for signing.

Julie Lawes The next meeting of Capel St Mary Parish Council is on Monday, February 11 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 PARKING ON FOOTPATHS Please can residents ensure they do not park their vehicles on footways preventing pedestrians, pushchairs, wheelchairs, etc. from passing and forcing them into the road.

Footpaths are intended for pedestrians, not for cars so please be mindful when parking.

CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN CALL FOR SITES As part of our Neighbourhood Plan we are obliged to invite any resident, landowner, business, developer or agent to submit a site or sites for consideration in the Neighbourhood Plan for development.

Any application must include the following.

Site Name Site Address Site Plan (showing red line boundary around the site) Ownership

FOOTPATHS & BRIDLEWAYS It has been reported that horse riders and cyclists are unlawfully using village public footpaths which are intended for walkers only.

It is a civil offence, committing trespass against the landowner if the users do not have permission and is causing great potential danger.

These paths are generally quite narrow and even those that are wide enough are not intended for this use. It is very dangerous to have a mixture of dog walkers, horse riders and cyclists all using the same paths at once.

Bridleways are provided for horse rides and cycle paths for cyclists.

Please do not risk causing injury to yourself or other people and be reminded this is a civil offence.

Site Area in Hectares Expected Number of Units Timescales for Development e.g. available now or at some point in the future Any barriers to delivery, e.g. legal issues, contamination Any application must be delivered to the parish council office at 27a The Street, Capel St Mary IP9 2EE by February 28. Contact details: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com / 01473 310107 www.capelstmary.onesuffolk.net

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DEATH CAFÉ The next peninsula Death Café will be on Sunday, March 3 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 Cafe please contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777 / jane.gould@btinternet.com

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: JANUARY 2019 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Draft Budget for 2019/20 and Four-Year Outlook Cabinet are recommending a budget based on an increase of £5, or 3.15 per cent, in Babergh’s portion of the overall Council Tax bill. Other increases in county, police and parish precepts are expected to follow. They also want to borrow a further £25M to be invested in CIFCO, bringing the total borrowed from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) to £50M for Babergh.

This is intended to generate income via the difference in Babergh’s borrowing interest rate from the PWLB and the rate levied on loans forward to CIFCO. There is some concern and controversy about how and where these loans are invested, especially given the current uncertainty in areas of the economy, but the rationale is about the revenue to the council not the value of each investment. Pressures on council finances are considerable and worsening.

In the last eight years, savings of just over £5M have been made, but over the next four years, there are significant concerns over a potentially large budget gap.

Central Government have now reduced their rate support grant to local councils to zero, increasingly ‘incentivising’ local authorities to deliver local growth to make up the deficit and to act more commercially. Babergh’s proposed budget for next year amounts to £9,744M. Main funding sources are: £5,214M from Council Tax, £2,694M from business rates, £1,417M from earmarked reserves and £866K from New Homes Bonus. Since NHB was introduced in 2011/12, Babergh has received £8.5M in total.

Management of Council-owned Trees Cabinet is recommending a set of principles for management of the thousands of trees in its ownership. Sudbury alone has a stock of 2,350 consisting of 40 different species. To date, decisions on tree management have been primarily about safety. Resources are needed to deal with the increasing incidence of storm damage, and could enable more planting, with a range of trees for public enjoyment, wildlife habitat and landscape amenity. There is a general presumption against removal or pruning of trees which are healthy, and there is no intention to complete work where there is no legal ‘nuisance’ or for the disruption of television, satellite or radio reception. This could well vex a few people!

Communities Strategy A draft for consultation should shortly be sent to key stakeholders for comments by March 1. It will be promoted to residents via social media.

The concern is to ensure communities that: are strong and healthy; are built on a balanced and targeted range of services and support; and are equally accessible to all our residents and to future generations. Communities that work! There are many examples of communities which have taken on responsibilities from other public bodies, e.g. parks and play areas, new affordable housing, community library services and recycling centres. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Extension of Serco Contract At their January meeting, the Cabinet will be recommending the extension of the Joint Household Waste Collection Contract with Serco (which expires in April 2021) for a further seven year period. Four options were discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in December and it was agreed that extending the current contract with Serco offers good value to Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils and has a lower cost than any other option.

Draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Four-Year Outlook Cabinet will be considering key aspects of the 2019/20 HRA Budget, including council house rent levels. The Babergh HRA Business Plan presents a positive financial picture over the longer term (a thirty-year period as required under the self-financing regime), but there are short to medium term challenges.

However, several announcements made during 2018/19 will alleviate some of these. The Welfare Reform and Work Act requirement for all social landlords to reduce their rents by one per cent each year will cease in March and rents can then be increased by CPI (currently 2.6 per cent) plus one per cent for five years from 2020/21. The High Value Assets Levy on councils is no longer to be introduced. The removal of the HRA Debt Cap from October 2018 means that local authorities can borrow to fund new homes without worrying about breaching this cap.

A balanced budget has been achieved for 2019/20 by reducing both revenue and capital budgets. A fundamental review of the housing service has been

STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC

undertaken during 2018/19 to identify savings, efficiencies and income generation opportunities that will achieve a sustainable business plan into the future.

Homelessness Prevention Fund Policy Cabinet will be recommending the adoption of a Homelessness Prevention Fund Policy. The policy sets out how Babergh will use a proportion of funding received through the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant to give interest free loans to people at risk of homelessness. The maximum loan that would be considered would be £3,000 and would be repayable by instalment. Funds would be paid directly to lettings agents, landlords and mortgage companies and not directly to a customer. Loans could be used to secure a privately rented property, including a deposit, rent in advance and application fees to agents as well as other payments which are reasonable and would prevent homelessness for at least six months. Applicants would have to sign a loan agreement and plan to repay the loan ideally within 36 months but a maximum of 60 months.

Paperless Council Tax Bills Residents can now sign up via the Babergh website for paperless billing and 24-hour access to Council Tax bills online. Babergh have a new online portal which is free to sign up to, easy to use and gives instant access to your account where you can view bills and update information. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

Embraceable Ella featuring Joanna Eden & Chris Ingham Trio

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Saturday, February 23, 7.30pm at Constable Hall, East Bergholt CO7 6TP

East Bergholt High School

Joanna Eden presents a ‘labour of love’ celebrating the music of her vocal hero Ella Fitzgerald. She is ccompanied by Chris Ingham on piano, Arnie Somogyi on bass and George Double on drums.

Tickets (£15 including light refreshments) are available from 01206 298426, from Grier & Partners, or using CC payment from TicketSource via: www.svam.org.uk

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INDOOR CAR BOOT SALE Sunday, February 24, 10am-noon Admission 50p / Refreshments Available Free Car Park Tables £5 in advance, £7.50 on the day Doors open 9am to set up ( 07776 291445

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT YO HO! HEAVE TO MY HEARTIES Get your tickets for BATS Pantomime 2019 Off to Treasure Island by Lisa Butler will be presented at Brantham Village Hall from February 20-23 at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday 23.

This swashbuckling tale of two opposing crews is an original script especially written for BATS, which suits their long-established traditional style.

THE MENOPAUSE I have had several people asking me about the menopause recently so I thought it might help people if I share some information with you. The menopause is triggered by a reduction in oestrogen levels and this typically occurs between the ages of 45-55 years old. The average age in the UK is currently 51. Most ladies will unfortunately experience some of the symptoms which can sometimes have a big impact on daily life. Often the first indication you are entering into the menopause (or perimenopause) is when your periods become more erratic – sometimes a longer break between them and sometimes shorter.

Other symptoms include hot flushes, night time sweats, difficulty sleeping, anixiety, vaginal dryness and loss of lobido (sex drive). Such fun!

Unfortunately menopausal symptoms can last for several years and often start in advance of your periods stopping. If you start experiencing symptoms of the menopause prior to 45 years old, or your symptoms are severe and affecting your day to day life, then you should see your GP to discuss your options, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The good news is that there are things that you can do to help lessen symptoms – a healthy diet and exercise keeps you fit and healthy and also reduces anxiety.

The most common issue in the menopause is hot flushes and nighttime sweats. Wearing thinner clothing, sitting near a window and sipping cold water can all help. Evening primrose oil, black cohosh, red clover and sage promise to relieve hot flushes. St John’s Wort offers an alternative to antidepressants, valerian is said to reduce anxiety, ginkgo biloba may improve memory and agnus castus may help regulate hormone fluctuations and premenstrual tension. You should consult a pharmacist or doctor prior to taking complimentary therapies if you suffer from any other health related problems as some complimentary therapies can interact with prescription medication.

Vaginal dryness is a common occurance in menopausal and post menopausal woman – if it is causing you problems with intercourse then the first step would be to try a lubrication gel that you can buy from any pharmacy or supermarket. If that’s not working very well for you, or you are suffering symptoms unrelated to intercourse, then your GP can prescribe vagifem (hormone pessaries) which gets inserted into the vagina. It replaces some of the oestrogen your body is lacking and therefore stops the vagina being so dry. This is also possible to use on the run-up to having your cervical smear taken if the dryness is putting you off getting it done.

It is important to remember that the change in hormones that occur during the menopause can also cause depression, anxiety and mood-swings.

Things like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help with these symptoms as can talking things through with a friend. We are looking into running a menopause educational session with a guest speaker to talk through all things menopausal. If this would be of interest to you then please email or ring me and let me know. Alternatively, you can find Capel Parish Nurses on Facebook.

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

A mixed age cast of idle deckhands, glamorous principal boys and girls and two beautiful Dames, with singing, dancing, live music and typical jokes.

Come along and have some fun at half-term with all the family. Tickets (adults £9, children £6) are available from Bakes & Blossoms, Acacia Court, Brantham, and online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk

Here we see Brantham Amateur Theatrical Society’s Sister Act cast celebrating with their trophy for ‘Best Musical’ awarded by North Essex Theatre Guild in 2018. This was produced by Tina Burns, directed by Pippa Revell and the musical director was John Hoskyns.

CAPEL IRISH SET DANCE GROUP Capel Irish Set Dance Group meets at St Mary’s Church Hall on the third Sunday of every month (except August and the second Sunday in December) from 2-5.30pm.

We are a friendly group and it’s not necessary to have a partner. In fact you’re welcome to come along just to enjoy the music.

Dates for 2019: February 17, March 17, May 19, June 16, July 21, September 15, October 20, November 17 and our Christmas Dance on December 8.

Hope to see you, Hille and Trevor Peartree, 01473 310146 Chris and Marjorie Haste, 01473 311615

ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, February 9, 9am-12.30pm.

Pick up a Valentine’s present for that special person and visit all your favourite market stalls selling fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items.

East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier.

If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190.

Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue.

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LIBRARY

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

February! What a beautiful time of the spring calendar. Snowdrop, crocus and early daffodils are out and the catkins have been showing on the trees since the middle of January. Spring is a time of invigoration. Some use the time wisely in pouring over seed catalogues and new garden furniture ready for the summer. We have a huge range of gardening books on the shelf and in the catalogue ready for your perusal to make those changes to your outside space at home.

Here we are, a month into the New Year and it’s interesting to see how those resolutions are doing. I gave up making them years ago as I nearly always gave up. How about you? One of my friends actually managed to last an hour and a quarter before having an epic fail.

Missed the latest blockbuster at the cinema? Then look out for new DVD releases from the library; a current poster is on the doorway for you to look at. Don’t forget that the Friends of Capel library also runs a cinema club every third Tuesday; come along and enjoy the film of the audience choice.

CLUBS MEETING THIS MONTH Baby Bounce: Tuesdays 5, 12 and 26 at 2pm for some instrument shaking and singing of nursery rhymes. Suitable for all children under-five and their parent/carers. No meeting on February 19 due to school half term holiday.

No charge for this event.

Capel Creators: Saturday 16 between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Come along and show your creative side with Lego and Duplo bricks. Suitable for all children; children under eight must be accompanied by their parent/carer. A charge of £1 per child includes a drink and a biscuit.

Minecraft: Sundays 10 and 24 between 10.30am and 12.30pm. No charge; children under eight to be accompanied by parent/carer.

Capel Library Book Group: Friday 15 at 2pm. Come along and join in the discussions of the latest book and recommend one to the group to enjoy and discuss another time.

Build a Bird or Bug Box: Wednesday, February 20 in conjunction with Ipswich Wildlife. There are three sessions available at a cost of £6.50 per child including refreshments. Limited numbers so buy your tickets early.

Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult. Call into the library for further details.

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

It was nice to see so many of you at our AGM on Saturday, January 26. During last year our fundraising activities allowed us to replace the reception area, all of the rotating shelving, children’s equipment and many other pieces of equipment used in the daily running of the library. We are currently in the process of buying new soft furnishing and agreeing an action plan for this year. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our team of dedicated trustees and volunteers for all of their hard work and support.

Our popular Community Cinema goes from strength to strength and is held in Capel Library on the third Tuesday of every month. Films are selected by the audience, so if there is one you would like to see please let us know. The next film, Adrift, will be screened on Tuesday, February 19 at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Tickets are now on sale at the library.

The film is the true story of Tami Oldham and Richard Sharp who couldn’t anticipate that they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope of rescue, Tami must now find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved.

On Wednesday, February 20, we will be holding a Build a Bird/Bug Box event in association with Ipswich Wildlife. This supervised event will take place in hourly sessions from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Tickets for the event are limited and are currently available from the library.

We are also in the early stage of planning a Beetle Drive which is pencilled in for April/May; watch this space for further details.

Finally, a quick reminder that membership renewals for the Friends Group and The 100 Club are now due. If you haven’t renewed yet or wish to become a member please collect an application form in the library.

Trevor Stevenson

VILLAGE LINK Wednesday, February 13, 10am in Tattingstone Village Hall: Acorn Village – History to Present Day

Contact: 01473 311699

The club aims are to bring communities together and we have over the years attracted members from many villages, men and women of various ages. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month 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 in readiness for our 25th celebration.

ACORN VILLAGE CHALLENGE

Chairman Linda Evans: 01473 311262

Take on the WitchFinder 5k or 10k Challenge on April 14 and raise vital funds to help adults with learning disabilities. Everyone is welcome to join in this charity run/walk which is heavily supported by wonderful volunteers of Acorn Village.

Visit some of the historic sites that Manningtree and Mistley have to offer as well as enjoying the beautiful scenery as you walk or run. Who knows who you may bump in to on the way!

All finishers will receive a medal with trophies for first male and first female runner as well as a special medal for the first four-legged friend.

Don’t forget you can also now set up a fundraising page or download a sponsorship form for everyone, including your furry family friend, and raise over £50 and get a free t-shirt: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/acornvillagesltd To sign up go to www.witchfindertrail.uk or find it on the Acorn Village Facebook page. Thank you for your incredible support.

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TEA & COMPANY AT DOVE CLOSE We hope to see you on Monday, February 18 for coffee, cake and chat.

All welcome to come along from 2.30pm. £1.50 for tea/coffee and homemade cakes / Raffle Many thanks to everyone who joined us for our Christmas Tea and Company Get-Together. Special thanks to Capel Sing for Fun who entertained us with a Christmas Sing-along. We had a lovely afternoon and raised £150 which we donated to FIND at Christmas together with £150 previously raised, so a grand total of £300.

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OUT & ABOUT CHILDREN’S NEARLY NEW SALE Saturday, March 9, 1.30-3pm Copdock & Washbrook Village Hall, Old London Road IP8 3JN Maternity Clothes, Baby Equipment, Clothes (aged 0-11 years) Toys, Books and Games 50p Entrance fee (children free) Do you have any baby/children’s items which you would like to sell?

You choose the price; 70% goes to you, 30% goes to our charity (+ £1 administration fee per seller) For more information or a free sellers pack please contact Lisa (01473 312248 / 07745 520564) or Jo (07484 256903)

1st CAPEL ST MARY BROWNIES

WEDNESDAY BRIDGE GROUP IN EAST BERGHOLT The start of a new year, time to start a new hobby?

Do you know the basics of Bridge and would like to play regularly in a social environment? Then how about coming along to Lambe School for Wednesday Bridge Group?

We meet up in Lambe School, 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 contact Nigel Clover: 01206 323422

MANNINGTREE POETRY GROUP The next meeting of Poetry Plus will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 12 at the Red Lion, South Street, Manningtree.

Please support our fundraising morning at Capel St Mary Methodist Church on Saturday, March 9 with half the proceeds going to New Dawn India. Doors are open from 9.30-11.30am.

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.

All are welcome, free entry. Refreshments available along with cake and plant stalls, games, crafts, name the teddy, sweet making, arty fun, a bits + bobs stall and much more!

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

Please contact Heather (01473 310083) if you have things you may be able to help with or donate for us to sell on the day. We look forward to seeing you.

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB John Hammond explained the skill of will writing at our meeting on January 16, a most interesting subject for all those retired!

We hold our New Year Lunch at the popular Haywain in Little Bromley on February 6 when our spouses and Probus widows will join us.

Brian Wilcox will introduce New Ways of Working on February 20 and Brian Wills will present a lecture of particular local interest when he speaks about Constable and his Paintings on March 6. Our Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 20.

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

1st CAPEL ST MARY SCOUT GROUP

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, February 2: Capel Allotments Association – The Hut is now open every Saturday from 10am-noon until October 26 Saturday, March 2: Scout Jumble Sale 2-3.30pm Contact Sandra: 07557 237501 Saturday, March 9: Nearly New Sale at Copdock Village Hall Contact Lisa: 07745 520564 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, June 16: Capel Cheetahs 5 Mile Run. Contact Sandra: 07557 237501 Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 June: Village Scarecrow Trail Contact Jim Hill: 01473 311294 Saturday, July 27: Capel Allotments Association Summer BBQ 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

Saturday, March 2, 2-4pm In the Scout Hut at Capel St Mary Primary School IP9 2EG Admission 50p, accompanied children free Please leave your jumble outside after 9am for collection.

We cannot accept underwear, electrical goods or any items larger than a bread bin as we are unable to dispose of them.

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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, December 7: St Mary’s Church Christmas Coffee Morning

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE HALL DIARY, FEBRUARY 2019 Friday 1 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall

Sunday 17 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall

Saturday 2 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Karaoke, 7.30-11.30pm, Vine Lounge

Monday 18 Association Meeting, 8-10.30pm, Library

Sunday 3 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Tuesday 5 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Wednesday 6 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 7 Coffee Shop, 10am-Noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Capel Ladies, 7-10.30pm, Library Friday 8 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Dementia Café, 10am-noon, Library Saturday 9 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Sunday 10 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Monday 11 Parish Council Meeting, 7.30-10pm, Library Tuesday 12 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8pm, Library Wednesday 13 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 14 Coffee Shop, 10am-Noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Women’s Institute, 7-10.30pm, Library Friday 15 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Saturday 16 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall

Tuesday 19 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Community Cinema, 7.30-10.30pm, Library Wednesday 20 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 21 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Bingo, 7.30-11pm, Vine Lounge Friday 22 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Dementia Café, 10am-Noon, Library Saturday 23 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Sunday 24 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Monday 25 Blood Donating, All Day, Hall, Community Trust AGM Meeting, 7.30-10pm, Library Tuesday 26 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, Hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, Hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8pm, Library Wednesday 27 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 28 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Gardening Club AGM, 7-10.30pm, Library CONTACT NUMBERS Village Bar: 01473 311766 Events and Hiring: Mandy Marshall 01473 312026 / bookings@capelcommunitytrust.org

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LADIES CLUB Christmas Social at the Vine Lounge Our Christmas Social on December 22 was great fun as usual. A delicious buffet was provided by members and we had a huge Christmas raffle, the members’ hamper draw (won

by Linda Morrison) plus quizzes and Secret Santa gifts! We are now looking forward to our new programme of activities for 2019, and to welcoming our new committee and chairlady after our AGM in mid-January.

For details of how to join us, ring our chairlady, Di Barker, on 01473 311870 or visit: www.capelladies.com

STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, January 9 Sally Dearman presented Woman Can Fly, the story of one women’s journey from jumping out of a landing window, then out of planes, to becoming a civil pilot and the first women through the RAF’s fast-jet flying trains system.

An Afternoon with Joyce Grenfell by Gillain Grinham is the subject for our meeting on February 13. Gillian is an author, former teacher and a director of plays and musicals. She will perform a series of monologues and songs from Joyce’s repertoire, interspersed with details of her much loved entertainer’s life.

Family historians and authors Toni Neobard and Kate Broad will present For Better or For Worse on March 13. This will be a lighthearted look at marriage and relationships through the eyes of Victorians. What happened if they didn’t marry and what if you did but weren’t happy with your choice? It will be a glimpse at bizarre goingson showing wedded bliss wasn’t always so!

On April 10 the popular speaker 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.

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, February 22.

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. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. 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, except in December.

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MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY The subject of our competition on December 6 was Dereliction and Decay which produced some very interesting images, one of which, Natural Reclamation by Harold Mousley, is pictured. Our last get together of 2018 was the annual Christmas social which was enjoyed by a good number of members and their partners. Winning competition images can be viewed on our website.

The next competition is Open Mono and will be held on January 31. Our February meetings are talks on Lightroom and Photoshop with Kenneth Payne on February 14, and Underwater and other Wildlife Photography with Dave Smith on February 28.

Meetings are held twice monthly (on the second and fourth Thursdays) 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 a visitor.

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

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.

Groups are held in Hadleigh (afternoon) and Capel S Mary (evening) and are free to Suffolk residents For more details or to reserve a place contact Patrick or Margaret: sbsg246@gmail.com / 07469 201337 / 01206 299832 www.suffolkbereavement.org.uk

CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB PROGRAMME 2019/20 March 28 Spring Show April 25* Orchid Workshop with Janet Parsons giving practical demonstrations. Bring your own problem plants for expert guidance!

May 11 Saturday Plant Sale and Raffle, 9.30-11.30am outside the village hall May 23* Painful and Poisonous Plants, a talk by Barry Gayton of Desert World June, July & August: Possible outings; details to be advised September 26* Don’t Blame the Slugs, a talk by Melanie Collins of Mickfield Hostas October 24* Natural Pest Control, a talk by Julian Ives November 28* Our Christmas Bonanza with refreshments, cheese and a quiz January Annual Social; details to be advised February 27* Annual General Meeting *Meeting start at 7.30pm in the library

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OUT & ABOUT CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

Monday, February 4: Cardboard Trug (Jill) Monday, March 4: Clock (Debbie) Monday, April 1: Easter Table Decoration (Anita & Mary) Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

CAPEL ST MARY COUNTRYSIDE CLUB Our AGM was held in January and all the committee agreed to stay for another year.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church lounge.

Our meeting on February 12 will be a talk on the photographic wonders of the night sky by David Murton.

On March 12 we have a local speaker from East Bergholt on the life of a beekeeper, with honey tasting and sales by Paul White. He may bring some of his bees along to the meeting.

In March /April we have our bluebell walk, which is always lovely.

Everyone is welcome to come as a visitor or to join as a member. We hope to see some new members in 2019.

CAPEL ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION’S GUIDE TO GARDENING IN FEBRUARY The Veg Plot Continue winter digging. Sow peas and broad beans, apply bone-meal. Plant rhubarb. Sprout potato tubers in a frost free area. Plant onion sets and shallots.

Lawns Aerate wet areas and apply sharp sand. Lay turf. Clean equipment and apply lawn sand or sulphate of iron to control moss.

FRUIT Apply grease bands now. Plant trees and bushes with a dusting of bone meal.

Apply a winter tree wash to control insect pests. Prune apples and pears. Cut autumn raspberries to ground level. Protect peaches, nectarines and apricots against leaf curl with a copper spray.

Greenhouse Sow main crop onions, leeks and sweet peas in pots. Begin sowing annuals and tomatoes. Sow broad beans in plugs and stand outside when 1½” high for a week then plant out. Sow spring onions and beetroot in 10 plug strips; do not thin out. Plant outside in March 10cm apart. Sow Lettuce in 10 plug strips; thin to one plant. Plant outside in March 20cm apart or in growbags under glass.

Flowers Tidy boarders, feed with Growmore or 6x and mulch. Ventilate chrysanthemum stools. Start sowing annuals.

ALLOTMENT NEWS If any groups would like to visit the site and wildlife area email Philippa Brandon to discuss what’s available to you.

Membership is just £5 a year.

The Hut is open to our members from Saturday, February 2 from 10am-noon.

For a more extensive version of this article visit: www.capelallotments.co.uk

EBONY’S BLOG: Life at The Shelley Centre We were very proud to have been featured across the front page of Hadleigh Community News in January, so everyone will know what a special year this is for the Shelley Centre and the RDA as a whole.

The RDA is in effect a federation of some 500 small independent groups, such as The Shelley Centre, and currently supports over 26,500 adults and children by providing riding, carriage driving and vaulting each year. Our president, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, is a great supporter of RDA, championing our work as a national charity and keeping us in the public eye.

In September 1979 Hadleigh RDA Group started at Frog Hall in Hadleigh so we could celebrate 40 years of being your local RDA branch, but when Mike and Jane Crow generously rented us land in Shelley we moved. The purpose-built Shelley Centre opened for business in 1989, so that’s the anniversary we shall be celebrating this year.

Please, if you have a spare morning or afternoon each week of the school term, do come and work here! Every new volunteer enables us to move somebody up the waiting list for the therapy we provide. Many of our riders require three volunteers to support them, either leading their pony or walking beside them to give them security and help. Expert training is provided, and it’s very rewarding work.

Babs and I live indoors and get used as much as the outdoor herd, but we still need volunteers to participate in our sessions, so if you want to keep warm and dry, apply within.

My photo shows Bob being cuddled by Lindsay, one of our able-bodied riders who helps keep the horses fit.

He’s a lucky fellow. All the horses and ponies look for stimulation from these able-bodied team members; a horse’s working day means many circuits of our arena in the lessons, so they much look forward to being taken out in the countryside whenever possible. www.rda-east.org.uk/shelley.html / 01473 824172

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SCHOOLS

BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS Baby Bears We welcomed the babies back after Christmas by creating some lovely New Year firework pictures using cut tubes dipped in paint and glue and glitter!

We have also been exploring lots of textures, smells and tastes, have made cupcakes, played in a tray of oats, painted pictures using our hands and loved getting involved with one another.

Toddling Tigers The Tigers (or should I say barn animals?) took part in their first nativity in December. They dressed up as pigs, cows, sheep, horses and donkeys dancing and singing to our nativity songs for the parents and families to enjoy! They are still singing some of the songs in January as they are so catchy!

Recently the Tigers have been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They have tried a variety of fruit and vegetables that the caterpillar ate in the story such as watermelons, oranges and pears. Together they made a very big caterpillar paper chain to decorate our cosy corner and made lots of messy crafts such as fingerprint caterpillars.

Gruffalos We are all well and truly back in the swing of things in the Gruffalo room! We are continuing with our Forest School sessions, which give us a great opportunity to explore wintertime using all of our senses.

What a start to the new year! Our feet barely touched the ground after the Christmas break, before we were straight back into exciting learning opportunities and visits out. Our first adventure was to the New Wolsey Theatre to see the rock and roll panto, Cinderella. We took every child from both schools, which was no small logistical feat!

We thoroughly enjoyed our ice lollies in the interval and the children were enthralled by the hilarious performance. Our huge thanks go to the PTAs of both schools who kindly donated half the money towards the cost of the whole trip, thereby making it much more affordable for parents. Thank you.

All the children in Years 2-4 across both schools resumed their weekly swimming lessons this term. This is the second year that we have been able to secure the booking for the beautiful, warm and clean First Strokes pool. We have the whole pool to ourselves for a whole afternoon, allowing us to provide swimming lessons for so many of our children.

Some of the children from Adders and Foxes classes took part in a morning of first aid training designed specifically for children of that age. The children all agreed that they learnt some really valuable lessons and that it had been time well spent. Events like this are just part of all the life skills we teach our children in the federation, so they leave us as confident and responsible young people.

Coming up this term, we are focussing a great deal on Internet Safety and Science Week. We have lots of lessons and activities planned around helping our young people to keep themselves safe online. Children and parents alike will be invited to explore what threats are out there and how to prevent becoming a victim. Science Week is our other focus, with a whole week of hands-on interactive events planned, culminating in a final day of celebration of scientific learning at Copdock Village Hall. STEM is hugely popular with our pupils; who knows, the next great scientific discovery could come from one of our children.

Before Christmas we had a wonderful visit to Blackbrook House care home in Dedham. The children performed our nativity play to the residents and were met with much enthusiasm and big smiles. The children were amazing, singing beautifully and demonstrating their fantastic behaviour. We were incredibly proud of them all. Many thanks also go to our wonderful parents who supported us and made this trip happen. We are looking forward to making more trips to the care home this year and watching the bonds between the children and the residents develop and grow.

Other events we are looking forward to include the Spelling Bee Competition at East Bergholt High School and basketball competitions for children in different age groups.

For nursery care, pre-school, before and after school care or our holiday club activities please contact us: 01473 310767 / info@robinschildcare.co.uk

Copdock: 01473 730337/ admin@copdock.suffolk.sch.uk

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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 on: Bentley: 01473 310253 / admin@bentley.suffolk.sch.uk

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SCHOOLS / SPORT CAPEL ST MARY CEVC PRIMARY SCHOOL First of all I would like to wish all Capel Capers readers a very happy New Year and my best wishes for 2019.

As the new headteacher at Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. It is my intention that the school becomes ever closer to the local community and I look forward to opportunities where the school can work alongside local residents and organisations.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the PFA for all of their fundraising efforts. The Christmas Fair raised a considerable amount of money which will benefit all of the children in various ways.

This half term is going to be a very exciting and busy one. All the children in Unit 2 (Years Three and Four) will be going to the pantomime and I am confident that they are going to have a brilliant time. I am ready for lots of calls of “It’s behind you…” as I walk down the corridor!

We are very fortunate at the school to have a lot of involvement from Premier Sports who not only run PE lesson activities but also clubs. This half term the children will be enjoying Futsal and handball clubs.

I look forward to telling you all about the activities that we get up to in school and I hope that they will give you an insight into what happens here.

Headteacher Sean Cornish

The Saturday First team had a mixed December with two wins and two defeats and at the time of writing these notes are fifth in the senior division of the Suffolk and Ipswich league. A 5-2 defeat against Haughley United with Danny Garrard getting both our goals was followed by a 1-0 win against Trimley Red Devils with Garrard on the score sheet again.

A 2-0 loss against Coplestonians was followed by a 3-1 win at Bramford United thanks to goals from Daniel Alderson, Shaun Webb and a superb free kick in the last minute from Garrard. The club hopes for a top six finish in what is our 21st consecutive year in the senior division. We have always given teenagers from the Reserves a chance in the First team with Harry Golding the latest player to pull on a First team shirt and he looks a good prospect.

No games for our Reserves in December who suffered from a couple of call-offs while our Sunday morning team beat Ipswich Rangers 2-1 thanks to goals from Charlie Reid and Richard Farnham with Adam Rawthorn having an excellent game up front.

Our Over-35 team known as the Veterans drew 2-2 with Achilles with goals from Robin Wain and Glen Crisp with Patrick Tynan playing well in defence and Archie Arnold controlling the mid-field.

Finally, plans for a new clubhouse that were recently put on display have certainly got people talking and it remains to be seen if it goes ahead.

With 19 teams the club has got a lot bigger in recent seasons and villages a lot smaller than Capel St Mary have better facilities than we have. An all-weather five-a-side pitch is part of the plans which would make a nice change from the muddy conditions that we are use to. Watch this space!

Bob the Ploughman

DEMENTIA Together Call Free 08081 688 000 email: SRYC. DementiaTogether@nhs.net visit: www.dementia-together.com

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB December 2018 was not a good month for the 1st Team. There were some decent performances, but a combination of poor finishing and sloppy goals conceded meant that they went through the month with only three points from one win.

However, 2019 started well with a 3-0 home victory over Bramford Utd. Just two matches in the month for the Reserves. They won the League game to keep them in a very solid mid-table position, but unfortunately exited the Travel Plus Tours Cup. They began the new year with a high scoring 4-4 draw.

A clean sweep of three victories in December has left the A Team well placed in Intermediate C where just one point separates the top five sides in the table. A home victory in the opening match of 2019 kept the team well in the promotion mix.

UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st Team: Senior Division Sat, Jan 26: Henley Athletic (A) Sat, Feb 2: Crane Sports (H) Sat, Feb 16: Wenhaston Utd (H) Sat, Feb 23: Bramford Utd (A) Sat, Mar 2: Westerfield Utd (H) Reserves: League A Sat, Jan 26: Sporting 87 Res (H) Sat, Feb 2: Henley Athletic Res (A) Sat, Feb 9: Trimley Red Devils Res (H) Sat, Feb 23: Bramford Utd Res (H) Sat, Mar 2: Framlingham Town Res (A) A Team: League C Sat, Feb 2: Ransomes Sports Res (H) Sat, Feb 16: Grundisburgh Res (H) Sat, Mar 2: Kesgarve Kestrels Res (A) Fixtures are subject to change. To confirm please refer to the fixtures website: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 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: davidgeorge5000@hotmail.com Steve Butcher (Secretary): stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

TRAMPOLINING – WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRY? Did you know there is a Trampolining Club that runs a class on Sunday mornings between 10am and noon in the village hall?

We have a fully qualified coach and good quality trampolines so a large range of moves can be taught in a safe and fun way.

There is a friendly atmosphere with people of many abilities and ages. Why not give it a try? You don’t have to be a great sportsperson to have a go and you may well surprise yourself on how well you can do.

Don’t be shy – come and have a go.

Just come along on a Sunday morning for a free try.

Trampoline Coach Sharon Haddock Club Chairman Richard Warr

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CHURCH NEWS CAPEL COMMUNITY CHURCH USING OUR ABILITIES Have you ever thought how wonderful it is that we are able to walk, upright, on two legs? Of course some of us, myself included, don’t walk as well as we used to, and others have the misfortune of not being able to walk at all. But the majority of us walk quite well using the two hind limbs that have been adapted for bipedal walking.

All of us are good at something, as well as walking, even though this might not be obvious or easy to find. But using our special ability to do something well, we can often be of help to others. We are all talented in one way or another. I firmly believe that a talent is God-given and is something that we are instinctively born with – and which gives us skills and abilities. It is through talents that we may find our true calling in life, either in our ability to help others or in developing our career. And it really is important that we recognise what that talent or those talents are, encouraging anyone who has difficulty in doing so to find that talent, come what may.

I once got into trouble for telling someone to recognise their talent “even though it was only in knitting”, implying that being a good knitter wasn’t really a talent at all. Well, that was wrong as it turned out that she became an award-winning knitter! But she was enormously encouraged to have had help in recognising that talent.

Talents, and what should be done with them, are featured in both the Old and the New Testaments. For example: “God has filled him with wisdom, understanding and knowledge and with all kinds of skills, to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of crafts” (Exodus 31:3-5); and “Each of you should use whatever talent you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

Our village is full of talented people who have used their talents to become experts as, for example, builders, plumbers, electricians, gardeners, musicians, shopkeepers or health care workers, or experts in management or computer technology, and so on. And whether you are a Christian or not, or whether you go to church or not, it’s nice to think that we expect each other to use these talents to the best of our ability, and to be grateful and satisfied when this happens, recognising the need to pay for such expertise as and when it is necessary or appropriate to do so.

How good are you at identifying your own talents? Sometimes it’s difficult to recognise a talent, but I reckon that sometimes it’s just your ability to do something that someone else can’t do – and for that other person you really are talented! For example, I am hopeless at putting up shelves, but I know other people who can, and for me they are talented. So I think that each one of us should ask ourselves “what is it that I am able to do that might help someone else?” even though we haven’t thought about it before now. And then put that talent into practise!

Frank Wells

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CHURCH NEWS THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH 2019 is fast becoming not so new, and days are slowly beginning to lengthen. Meanwhile the cycle of church commemorations continues without interruptions.

At the start of the second month of the year, usually February 2, this year on a Saturday, we take one last look back to the nativity before turning forward towards Easter and the resurrection to be celebrated on Sunday, April 21. This year Candlemas (Feast of Lights) will be transferred to Sunday, February 3 at St John’s in Great Wenham and St Mary’s in Capel, for their morning services at 9.30am and 10.45am respectively.

As always, newcomers/visitors are always warmly welcomed, both literally and figuratively.

Thursday, February 14 is the Feast of Saint Valentine, sadly overly commercialised for far too many years. He was martyred in the year 273 AD; Valentine, a Roman Priest, was sentenced to a three-part execution by a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation because of his stand for Christian marriage.

St Matthias is transferred this year and his day will be observed at St Mary’s, Capel on the closest Wednesday, which is February 27, at the 10am Midweek Communion. Although this is a short 20-minute service, normally more than 15 come along for a reflective spiritual uplift followed by a freshly brewed cup of coffee. An open communion policy/practice means everyone is encouraged to receive the sacrament or a blessing for themselves or on behalf of others known to be in need.

By the end of the month we will be close to the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 6, and as usual there will be a 10am service at St Mary’s, Capel. The Imposition of Ashes on the forehead will be offered to the faithful using the sentence: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.

Advance notice that on Fridays during Lent the local Roman Catholic Community will be taking 7pm Stations of the Cross in St Mary’s, Capel. These are a series of devotions and meditations in front of the 14 attractive plaques with reliefs placed around the church nave. The faithful travel/move from image to image in order, stopping at each station to say the selected prayers and hear a short reflection. This is done individually or in a procession.

Finally, as in the last six years during Lent, there will be the popular fiveweek York Course offered after the midweek 10am Communion Service.

The theme is based on the well known hymn When I Survey the Cross.

It may well be my swansong as I expect to have been retried before the end of the year. However, I see absolutely no reason why after my time St Mary’s should not continue to host such a programme.

With new housing near to St Mary’s Church becoming occupied during the year, I hope we can all welcome our new neighbours.

My prayer is that we many continue to Grow in God through our hospitality to newcomers. Bless you one and all as we look forward to the coming months.

Faithfully yours as ever,

CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCH A HOPE AND PEACE FILLED YEAR How was 2018, and how was Christmas for you? I hope many of you will have had a good time with family and friends. For some of you, there may have been difficulties, loved ones or yourself seriously ill – normal Christmas plans didn’t work out. For some there was family tension being together longer than you normally are. For some there would have been an empty space at the table, through death or ill health or breakdown in relationships.

Living together is often not easy. Before we moved into Suffolk, we lived in a community house in Norfolk with six to ten other people. We learnt much about ourselves as we reacted well and badly with other community members. Relationships had to be worked at, not necessarily to bring unity, but to live peaceably with one another.

Our nation, our local communities are also places where disagreements are bound to happen. The Brexit debate has divided families, communities, political parties, churches. Sometimes that results in offensive language and name calling of people who think differently from us.

There are many other things that cause division among people, including priorities, theology, lifestyle, language, etc. Think of the situations in which you have been in conflict with others. What language did you use? What attitude did you have to the other person(s)? Did you get aggressive? Did you call (offensive) names, face to face or behind their backs? Did you listen to the other point of view?

There was an interesting series of programs on Radio 4 last year trying to help people understand the others points of views better. One side would listen to their opponent’s argument and then feed it back to them in their own words.

Then they would reverse roles. Trying to argue the opposite case to the one you hold. You have to listen and understand, rather than just marshaling your own arguments.

The Archbishop of Canterbury invited us to approach this new year in a “spirit of openness towards each other” choosing to see ourselves “as neighbours, as fellow citizens, as communities each with something to contribute”. With the struggles and divisions of recent years it won’t be easy. It will involve commitment to one another in the variety of communities that we are part of.

May we play our part in having a hope and peace filled year.

The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Capel Methodist Church 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 FEBRUARY SERVICES Home Groups on various days and times – contact the Minister Sunday 3

10.30am Worship with Rev Andrew Docherty 6.30pm Prayer

Sunday 10

10.30am Worship with Mr Matthew Forsyth

Sunday 17

10.30am Communion with Rev Pauline Bailey

Saturday 23 3.30pm Messy Church https://stmaryschurchcapel.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

Sunday 24

10.30am Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey 6.30pm United Prayer at the Community Church

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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 FEBRUARY Sunday 3 9am

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass

Tuesday 5 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 10 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 12 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 17 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 19 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 24 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 26 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass The weekly newsletter, with weekly mass times, is always displayed in the cabinet by the front door.

Catholic Commentary In a recent address the Pope said: “The service of fraternal voluntary work is a choice that makes one free and open to the needs of the other; to the demands of justice, to the defence of life, and to the protection of creation, with a tender and special attention to the sick and especially the elderly, who are a treasure of wisdom!” He emphasized: “I encourage you to continue your mission with passion, seeking all the possible and

The next Messy Church is on Saturday, February 23 at Capel Methodist Church from 3.30-5.30pm.

Messy Church is a fun, new way of doing ‘church’ for all the family, relevant to family life today. It is an international organisation run by many churches.

To find out more visit: www.messychurch.org.uk Our theme in February will be Hope for the Future so we will have an hour of craft activities related to the theme and there will be games and challenges suitable for all ages. This is followed by a short celebration including some singing and a Bible story related to the theme for the day, all very laid back.

After that we share a meal together before going home.

It’s all free but donations are gratefully received Who can come? All age families. Kids you must bring at least one adult. If you haven’t been before, why not give us a try? You’ll have lots of fun. No need to book just turn up. Hope to see lots of you there.

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constructive forms for reawakening public opinion to the need to commit oneself to the common good, in support of the weak and the poor. There is a need for people who persevere, who face difficulties with a spirit of unity and always place the ultimate goal, service to others, at the basis of everything. Doing so, you will continue to be a point of reference and an example for all.”

Events & Diary Dates The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday, January 27 at Holy Family when three lucky winners shared a £159 prize pot. The next draw takes place on Sunday, February 24 at Holy Family, Brantham. 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-noon. We are raising funds for a new carpet for the parish room and all are very welcome to join us. There will be no December event and the next one will be on Thursday, February 28.

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 Please let Fr Peter know of anyone who is ill at home or homebound so that they can receive appropriate pastoral care. If you or someone you know is going into Ipswich Hospital and would like the ministrations of the church while there please inform Fr Peter or leave a message on Deacon Clive’s answerphone on 01206 396319.

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.

For more information please contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / Maggie3@btinternet.com Sue France: 01473 310034 / sue.france4@btinternet.com CHRISTMAS ANGEL COMPETITION The winners of our angel competition were: Under-6: Freya McDonald 6+: Rebecca Claringbull You may have been lucky enough to get an angel from outside the Methodist Church before Christmas. 170 knitted angels (made by our Knit & Natter group) appeared along the railings for you to take for free to put on your Christmas Tree. They all disappeared very quickly! If any of you who had one have any photos of where they went we would love to see them.

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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 BEACON COFFEE SHOP EVERY TUESDAY 9am-12.30pm, in the Vine Lounge, Capel Village Hall

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

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

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546

Professional Local Service

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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

For a FREE no obligation quotation

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

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