In Touch News with Capel St Mary March 2019

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CAPEL CAPERS Volume 9 • Issue No. 4 • March 2019

Proposed Capel Community Hub, p4

Image by Charmian Berry

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I hope you value the fact that we aim to produce a monthly magazine with a balance of advertising and editorial content, providing essential information about products and services we all require and supporting local business in doing so, while also providing relevant local news which enables residents to engage with the local community and keep in touch with local news and events. As editor I juggle this rather delicate balance very carefully and encourage readers to support the advertisers who enable Mansion House Publishing (MHP) to design, print and deliver the magazine every month and to support an enormous range of fundraising activities and charities.

You’ll find quite a few in this edition and I hope you can support the efforts of those who make them happen.

One which I’d like to highlight this month, and which we have made a commitment to support until the project has been completed, is The Blossom Appeal, a Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals charity set up to develop a £2.5 million Breast Centre at Ipswich Hospital. The new centre will bring all elements of breast care at Ipswich Hospital under one roof and provide an environment where patients can be imaged, biopsied where necessary, and see their clinician in one appointment without the need to get dressed and undressed several times. There will also be new dedicated clinics for men and young people.

We’ll provide regular updates, promote fundraising events and let you know how you can help. Right now they are looking for people to open their gardens in 2019. All types and size of garden are welcome. You choose when to open.

Simply ask visitors for a donation to view your garden and sell refreshments, plants or crafts to boost your fundraising. Register your garden at www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/opengardens or for more information contact: charity@esneft.nhs.uk / 0300 770 1369 To find out more about The Blossom Appeal please visit: www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/breast

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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Send editorial copy to: capel@intouchnews.co.uk

Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

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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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April DEADLINE 10 March 2019

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Capel St Mary Parish Council is still looking for residents interested in running a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme within our village.

Speak with your neighbours and make sure your area is covered.

Contact the parish clerk to register your interest: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com / 01473 314103 Office: To the rear of Drayton Insurance, 27a The Street Opening times: Tuesday 10am to noon / Friday 1-3pm

SCARECROW TRAIL: JUNE 20-23 Following the trial of a four-day trail last year, we received lots of positive feedback and have therefore decided to stick to the same format this year.

Therefore, the trail will start on Thursday, June 20 and run through until Sunday, June 23.

The Scarecrows will come out to play between 9am and 8pm each day.

Completed entry forms must be returned by Monday 24 (details will be on the forms).

As some of you may already know, Christine Terry, who has organised the trail since its inception almost 12 years ago, is planning to leave the village shortly to move nearer to her family up north. From my own experience going round with my grandchildren, I know that many people, and not just families, enjoy the challenge of the Scarecrow Trail immensely, so to avoid the loss of this valuable village asset, I have volunteered to step into Chris’s shoes. Last year we had around fifty Scarecrows so I have a big act to follow and I hope with the help of all Capelites, I can make an equal success of it.

If you have never made a Scarecrow and would like to make one this year (it’s easy – just remember I’s a Scarecrow!) please contact me, Jim Hill: jim.hill1@live.co.uk / 07951 411720 / 01473 311294 You don’t have to be a member of any church or religious group to take part, and the sole purpose of the The Friends of St Mary’s Church charity is to raise funds for the preservation of the fabric of the church building, which was built in the 12th century and is the oldest in the village, for future generations.

If you have made a Scarecrow in previous years, I hope to have made contact before you read this, but if I haven’t managed to speak to you, please contact me.

Once again, both The CO-OP and Drayton Insurance Services have kindly agreed to sell the entry forms for us. They will be available from early June.

There will be tea/coffee with homemade cakes available in St Mary’s Church Hall from 2-5pm on the Saturday and Sunday.

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 the 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

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NEWS Proposed Capel Community Hub

Capel Community Trust has been consulting with various users of the Playing Field and shares a strong desire to update facilities at the playing field, most notably the Pavilion.

As our village continues to grow, the trust has a responsibility to support local user groups and indeed encourage additional groups to flourish. At present the trust is at times unable to accommodate all booking requests for the community hall complex.

Our vision is to build a new community hub which will add a multi-use facility to our village, and further complement our community infrastructure.

Car parking is a hot topic at a local level, particularly around Friars and London Road. Our plans include provision for additional parking, which is hoped will help to alleviate some of the issues concerning the residents of Friars.

The trust has engaged with existing playing field user-groups and is taking on board comments around the design of the new building from current users.

We would encourage further suggestions / comments from residents. The internal layout has been adjusted following some constructive comments received to date.

Our consultation resulted in 460 signatures in favour of a new facility to replace the existing pavilion, with 84 per cent of reply slips from the four exhibition sites supporting the proposals for a new community hub.

A planning application was submitted to the relevant authorities in February and we await the various approvals in due course. Most of the funding opportunities open to the trust require formal planning permission to be in place so timescales are a little sketchy at present. If the planning application is approved we will be able to drive the fundraising further.

Viewing

Viewing Balcony 4

Bar servery (8sqm)

Viewing

Bar/kitchen Store (8sqm)

Kitchen (24sqm)

Female wc

Office (17sqm)

Male wc

Disabled wc

Viewing Balcony 3

Servery

Covered Canopy

Our vision is a phased approach. It is hoped the first phase will commence in the coming months, which will be the car parking area. The replacement community hub building will then follow as the second phase and is considered a priority. The fenced and floodlit 3G pitch, including an all-weather MultiUse Games Area (MUGA), will be the final phase and this will only become a reality should funds allow and, of course, if planning is granted. Funding may not permit this phase, but the trust believes it prudent to seek formal approval at this initial stage, rather than making a second and costly planning application.

PROPOSED FLOOR PLANS FOR CAPEL COMMUNITY HUB

Hatch

Function 1 (75sqm)

Function 2 (65sqm)

Corridor

Cafe Lounge/dining area (37sqm)

Lift Manager's Office (16sqm)

Meeting 1 (16sqm)

Store (5sqm)

Corridor

Meeting 2 (16sqm)

Viewing Viewing Balcony 2

Viewing Balcony 1

Viewing

Viewing

Indicative Proposed First Floor Plan (G.I.A = 383sqm) 0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

Scale 1:50 PROJECT

Proposed Capel Community Hub Capel St Mary Ipswich Suffolk

The changing rooms will be available for use by all clubs offering hot showers and toilet facilities. The trust hopes that this will encourage new start-up clubs such as rugby, tennis and perhaps cricket. We want the new facility to be occupied all year round and we hope to have met the needs of a multi-use facility while satisfying planning regulations.

Proposed First Floor Plan

DRAWING TITLE

Sept 2018

DATE

As Indicated

SCALE

CCT-P02

REVISION

PROPOSED FLOOR PLANS FOR CAPEL COMMUNITY HUB 35200 Service access

Public 24hr access WC's including Disabled

Grass slope protection

A gym and physio room is also provided for all. There will be a number of general office spaces for rental by local small businesses and a Capel Community Trust Centre Manager’s Office.

(16sqm) Change

wc

wc

(7.1sqm)

(7.1sqm)

(16sqm) Change

Junior's Change (16sqm)

Showers

Training Office (8sqm)

External Store 1

Showers

Laundry/Kit Room (6sqm)

Official x 2 Female

Cellar (5sqm) Plant Room (11sqm)

Female wc

Store (3sqm) Female wc

(8sqm)

Showers Cleaner

11700

A bar and café will be run by Capel Community Association, the fundraising arm of the trust. Spectators will be welcome to utilise the panoramic balconies or perhaps view activities from indoors if the weather is inclement.

Disabled wc

Disabled wc/shower

Male wc

Male wc

Store

Main Entrance Lobby

Corridor Showers

wc

(10sqm)

Showers

wc

First Aid/ Physio Room (15sqm)

Official x 3

(7.5sqm)

(7.5sqm) External Store 2

Lift GYM (33sqm)

Showers

Change (16sqm)

Sports Entrance 1

Grass slope protection

We look forward to receiving any further comments on our proposals.

Capel Community Trust

Capel Community Trust

CLIENT

JOB No.

Change (16sqm)

Junior's Change (12sqm)

Sports Entrance 2

Grass slope protection

Playing field

Store (5sqm)

Grass slope protection

Playing field

Indicative Proposed Ground Floor Plan (G.I.A = 383sqm) 0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

Scale 1:50

Email: fundraising@capelcommunitytrust.org

PROJECT

Proposed Capel Community Hub Capel St Mary Ipswich Suffolk CLIENT

www.capelcommunitytrust.org

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

Capel Community Trust

DRAWING TITLE

DATE JOB No.

Proposed Ground Floor Plan

Sept 2018

CCT-P01

SCALE

As Indicated

REVISION

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NEWS THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Did you miss The Festival of Trees and Lights in January this year?

Sadly, it is very possible that the 2018 Festival of Trees and Lights will be the last one. The members of our committee are all in their seventies and we feel unless we can get some younger and physically fit people to join us it will not be possible to run this fun event.

As I think most of you know, I am planning to move to North Yorkshire to be nearer to family. I have organised this event since the beginning and have detailed records of how it has been organised. This includes details of how we set the trees up, how we re-arrange the church and where we store the chairs safely. I am more than happy to pass on all this information.

If anyone would like to find out more of what is required I would be more than happy to discuss, obviously without any obligation. I know the rest of the committee would like to see it continue and would support and help any people who would like to volunteer. They are all keen to see it continue, but not physically able to do the work involved.

Everyone tells us how magical this event is and how much families enjoy this during the dull days after Christmas.

You don’t have to be a member of any church or religious group.

The sole purpose of the The Friends of St Mary’s Church charity is to raise funds for the preservation of the fabric of the building for future generations. St Mary’s was built in the 12th century and is the oldest building in the village.

If you are interested in or would like some more information please contact me, Chris Terry: 01473 311102 / chrismterry@yahoo.co.uk I sincerely hope some help will be forthcoming and this wonderful and magical event will continue for many years to come.

JESSICA MORRISON 18-09-87 – 28-01-19 Thank you to everyone who sent cards of condolence and messages of support to us after the tragic loss of our dear daughter-in-law Jess, wife of our son Paul and loving mummy to Jake age six and Thomas age four. Rest in Peace.

From Bob and Linda Morrison

DOVE CLOSE SOCIAL EVENING Friday, March 29, 7-9pm Bridgette Keevel will be talking about her Clipper Round The World Yacht Race 2015/16 Refreshments will be available £2 entrance fee

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM You said your concerns were: • Anti-social behaviour and drug use in Hadleigh • Speeding in the Hadleigh area We responded: • Targeted foot patrols in uniform and plain clothes in local parks. One male youth found in possession of Cannabis and issued with a youth caution.

• Speeding day of action results shown below.

CRIME UPDATES Four teenage males have been identified for causing damage at Beaumont Primary School. All have been referred through Youth Offending team for the Restorative Justice Process.

Following reports of four motor vehicles damaged in the George Street area of Hadleigh, another four teenage males have been identified as suspects and enquiries continue. So far one male has been reported to court and another is due to receive a youth conditional caution.

Capel Community Trust is a charity run by a close-knit group of volunteer trustees who all care greatly about our village. We currently have two exciting opportunities.

The first is for a volunteer treasurer. Preferably we would like someone with an understanding of charity finance, pensions and legal requirements, but this is not essential. The trust is often run in an informal setting with meetings being held once a month and the majority of other communications done via email or telephone. So if you are someone with a passion for ensuring high quality services are given and who has senior experience of financial controls (i.e. an accountant or similar) please get in contact.

The second opportunity is a year-long paid role as trust administrator to cover maternity leave. This role involves answering day to day emails and queries along with other duties. You would be working closely with our customer services officer to help the trust run smoothly. Ideally you would have an administration background, but again this is not essential. You will work from home but be supplied with all equipment needed for the role (printer, laptop and phone).

It is a very exciting time for the trust. We have just finished refurbishing the Vine Lounge and have plans set for the refurbishment of the family bar this year. We also have big plans for the pavilion and playing field. So if you would like to be a part of these exciting plans or if you think you could fulfil one of these roles and would like more information, please email: admin@capelcommunitytrust.org

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In addition to our anti-social behaviour pro-active patrols, we conducted a day of speed enforcement and action with our partners Community Speedwatch and the Safety Camera Team. This was part of a national road safety campaign. The areas covered were Woolverstone, Shotley, Brantham, Pinewood, Great Blakenham, Bramford, Holton St Mary, Lady Lane Hadleigh and Sproughton. In total 53 offenders were identified and now face fixed fines, penalty points or driver improvement courses.

If you are interested in reducing speed in your, you can become a Community Seedwatch volunteer. Visit our website for further details about how to apply.

There have been a number of rural domestic burglaries across Suffolk. Please remember to secure your property when you leave and look out for suspicious activity in your area. Our website has home crime prevention advice under our ‘First Principle’ scheme.

Another reminder in relation to Police Connect. This is a free messenger service, which means you can receive text messages or emails with up-todate information about policing in your area.

Sign up at www.suffolk.police.uk/services/police-connect or request a form from us via: CEOlowestoft@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Police Constable 710 Michael Small If you have any quires or questions please contact Hadleigh SNT Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD Hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Emergency: Call 999 / Non-Emergency: Call 101 Follow us on Twitter@ HadleighPolice Police Connect: Suffolk.police.uk/police connect

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NEWS

CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL Report from the meeting held on Monday, February 11.

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

Capel St Mary Parish Council recommended approval to Babergh District Council for the Planning Application for 4 Tollgate 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 has been delayed until after district council elections.

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

The purchase of a Speed Indicator Display has been approved and will be rotated between three locations within the village.

Accounts were approved and presented for signing.

Clerk Julie Lawes The next meeting of Capel St Mary Parish Council will be on Monday, March 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

DEVELOPMENT IN CAPEL ST MARY Babergh District Council has made a decision that the consultation on the New Draft Local Plan will be delayed until after the elections in May. Persimmon Homes have completed work on the layout for the 100 houses off Longfield Road and will soon be submitting an application for Full Planning Permission. Outline Permission for 100 houses on this site was approved by the Planning Committee in June 2018.

Scott Properties delayed their application for 521 houses near Red Lane to wait for the results of the consultation on the New Draft Local Plan, but as this has now been delayed they are in consultation with BDC and planning consultants to make a decision on when to make an application.

Parish Council Chair Chris Matthews

CAPEL ST MARY NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN Following the recent questionnaire sent to all houses in the village, a summary of results is now available to view on the Capel St Mary Parish Council website. Hard copies are also available in the parish council office and the library.

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In Touch online:

NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Flu Vaccinations As of January 27, approximately 77 per cent of our patients aged over the age of 65 have been vaccinated against flu. This is the highest rate we have achieved for a number of years and we are ranked ninth out of 40 practices in Suffolk.

Although this is a good achievement, we want to do even better next flu season. This season we had four flu clinics, two at each site, after which patients could make appointments. This worked well, but please let us know if you have any ideas on how we can improve the system to make it as easier for our patients to receive a vaccination, bearing in mind we have in the region of 4,200 eligible patients. We’ll discuss these ideas with the PPG prior to planning next year’s flu clinics.

Staff Changes We have had a few staff changes recently. Dr McDonald and Dr Ola will sadly be leaving the practice in February, though are likely to continue to work for us occasionally when we need locum GPs. However, Dr Vincent Omorogbe joined the practice as a full-time GP Partner on January 1. Dr Vincent has worked at the practice in a locum capacity over the last two years. Dr Parikh has also become a GP Partner and now works full time at the practice. So with Dr Tetteh and Dr Victoria we now have four full-time GP Partners. We also have Dr Nasta and our two Nurse Practitioners, June and Sarah.

Moni, our pharmacist, left us in December but Vicky, a pharmacy technician, joined the practice in January and will undertake a similar role, answering many medication queries patients may have.

Although there is a national shortage of GPs, we are fortunate to have five permanent doctors supported by an excellent clinical team. Our aim is to minimise the need for locum doctors so we can improve continuity of care, which is one of the main points we have identified from patient feedback.

National GP Patient Survey Questionnaires A reminder to 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 The practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Thursday, March 14; Thursday, April 4; Wednesday, May 22. 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.

NOTES FROM THE CASE Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub! The weather isn’t improving just yet so why not join us next to the roaring wood burner for a cosy evening or lunchtime drink or light lunch and coffee? As always we have many of our popular events going on during March.

This month we are holding a Spanish Evening on Saturday, March 16.

The food will be prepared by our own very popular visiting chef, Esther.

You have just got enough time to practise your flamenco dancing and find a pair of castanets to play along with the music! Booking is essential. Please check our website or Facebook page for more details or ask at the bar.

Open Mic Night: Tuesday, March 5. Come along and listen to our local performers. If you wish to join in just bring your own instrument, PA is provided. The music starts around 7.30pm.

Games Evening: Saturday, March 9. As always, you are guaranteed a fun evening with lots of family board games plus a few more up to date ones. So dust off your general knowledge and games tactics and join us in what can be a rather noisy, but always good humoured evening!

Quiz Night: Saturday, March 30. Esther Brunning is now supplying our popular curry supper, which will be available from 6-8pm. The quiz starts at 8.30pm. Booking for the curry is essential. As always, the lucky winning team will receive beer vouchers and there is a wooden spoon for those not quite so lucky!

As a reminder, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays we offer a delicious range of light lunchtime meals, including sandwiches, soups and Ploughman’s, all prepared in house and available from noon to 2pm.

We will be serving hot chocolate and bacon butties to all those gardeners who decide to join us for our Big Garden Spring Clean. If you would like to join us just bring a trowel and a pair of secateurs. We will be getting out the gardening tools on Saturday, March 23 from 10amnoon (weather permitting). Please contact us so we can cater for the correct numbers: savethecasebentley@gmail.com Lastly, we are now getting quite excited about our fifth anniversary celebrations in April, but would still like to hear from anyone who may have photographs of events that have taken place at The Case during the last five years.

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

Practice Manager Pete Keeble

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9

NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: FEBRAURY 2019 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Online Portal for Residents and Businesses Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, along with Ipswich Borough Council have launched MyAccount, an online portal which provides residents and businesses with paperless bills, 24-hour account access and other services.

Users can sign up to MyAccount via the councils’ websites: • For Business Rates: www.Babergh.gov.uk/ndraccount • For Council Tax: www.Babergh.gov.uk/ctaccount You will need some basic bank information and your Babergh Council Tax account reference number and the key code, both from your last bill.

Public Database Nominated for an Award A Babergh and Mid Suffolk database that is the first of its kind in the country has been nominated for the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Award for Planning Excellence 2019. The councils’ Exacom Database, which went live in December, has been shortlisted for the awards.

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 designated pilot authorities by the software’s developer.

Details of all S106 and CIL payments are available on this database, and show how money has been allocated to parishes.

Parking Plan and Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) Parking enforcement in Suffolk has always been the responsibility of the police, but this is to be transferred to local councils. The plan will provide a ‘tool-kit’ for councils to investigate requests or to review the need for waiting, loading and parking controls. When the idea of CPE was considered some years ago, it was favoured by the coastal areas where parking was a problem. Babergh did not want to take on CPE in the district, and were told they would have to charge for all parking if CPE were to be introduced. That situation seems to have changed.

Requests to do something about parking in Suffolk have increased year on year along with the increase in vehicle ownership and use. There is much debate around the relationship between car parking and town and village centre prosperity. There are also issues with inappropriate parking, especially near tourist or local beauty spots, and conflicting demands for residents, visitors, shoppers, business and workers. These must be balanced against the adverse impact that unrestricted parking can have, leading to congestion, obstruction, pollution and spaces being occupied by the wrong users at the wrong time.

Up-coming May Local Elections The next edition of In Touch will appear in the pre-election period when our usual monthly reports will not be published. Thank you for reading them and for your comments. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Area Parking Plan The draft Joint Area Parking Plan, which does not include any proposals to increase car parking charges in Babergh, sets out eight parking policy objectives and what they are intended to achieve. They include proposals that will: • Establish a principle whereby parking will be allowed where possible and controlled where necessary • Utilise off-street parking places to assist with traffic management and support local communities • Set out how parking petitions and consultations will be managed • Establish standard on-street parking scheme operating hours, with scope for different timings where need is proven • Make clear the council’s position on parking on footpaths The policies will be used to guide councils’ decision making around parking.

The proposed plan does not set out specific proposals for parking restrictions for specific areas, nor is it a blue-print to change current paid parking arrangements.

A consultation will be launched in February and run for six weeks.

New Affordable Housing for Hadleigh Babergh District Council’s Planning Committee has approved an application to turn the former Angel Court care home in Hadleigh into affordable housing.

The committee approved the application to demolish the existing buildings at the disused care home and construct 21 new dwellings, nine of which are intended for affordable rent and 12 of which will be available under shared ownership schemes.

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The approval of the application marks the first step to bring the empty site back into use after the former care home closed in August 2014 and will bring much needed affordable housing to the town. The scheme approved will provide: • Seven 1-bedroom flats for affordable rent • Seven 1-bedroom flats for shared ownership • Two 2-bedroom flats for affordable rent • Five 2-bedroom flats for shared ownership Community Infrastructure Levy In 2018 Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils passed £549,674.93 from developers to local infrastructure projects in their districts. The figure, available on the councils’ new online developer contributions database, follows over £279k paid in 2017, and over £377k in 2016. In total £1,207,029.06 has been paid out for community infrastructure over the last three years across the two districts.

The money, funding a variety of infrastructure from sports facilities to public transport, was collected from developers who have brought forward developments, both residential and commercial, in Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

Collected under the Community Infrastructure Levy, a set charge levied by the square meter of development, or by agreements under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act, these contributions are used to offset the impact of more development in the district. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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Do you want to be your own boss or have you started a business in the past 12 months and are based in Suffolk or Norfolk?

MENTA’s three, free ‘Start Right’ workshops are designed to be fun and informative.

You’ll find out about legal structures, business plans, successful marketing, bookkeeping and tax.

With multiple dates and workshop locations, book your free training soon and ‘Start Right’.

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Book online at www.menta.org.uk or call 01284 760206 mentabusiness

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT

MEN’S HEALTH I don’t want the men of Capel to feel left out so here’s an article just for you.

If you are a lady and might find an article about men’s health offensive, then please stop reading! Gents of the village, I realise that often you are a hard group to reach and a lot of you do not like going to the doctor.

Let’s talk first about prostate issues. Do you find you are having issues with weeing? Do you stop / start or have flow rate problems? If you do, then you might have an enlarged prostate. Usually the cause is age related; however, sometimes it is a symptom of prostate cancer so you really should get it checked out. If the cause is an enlarged prostate and nothing sinister then there is medication you can take to help the symptoms so don’t suffer in silence. When you see a GP they are likely to perform a simple digital rectal exam (insert a finger up your bottom to check to see whether the prostate is enlarged). It sounds embarrassing but it is something the GP does regularly and they are very discreet about it.

Next up – erectile dysfunction. If you have problems getting an erect penis or maintaining an erection then this can be one of the first signs of reduced circulation which can have causes such as diabetes or a heart disease.

Sometimes it is psychological, but either way it is worth seeing your GP for a check-up.

Testicular cancer – gents, you should check your testicles once a month to check for any new lumps or bumps. Again, it might not be anything sinister, most lumps are not cancer, but you do need to get it checked. The survival rate for testicular cancer is really high but the sooner you get diagnosed the better the outcome.

As always, any questions then get in touch.

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

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

All welcome to come along from 2.30pm. £1.50 for tea/coffee and homemade cakes / Raffle

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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.

STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC Sunday, March 10: Rautio Piano Trio & Robin Ashwell, Viola 4pm at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt CO7 6TG Programme: Mozart, Piano Quartet in G minor K478 Mahler, Quartet Movement in A minor Brahms, Piano Quartet no 1 in G minor op 25 The Trio is an award-winning and critically acclaimed ensemble. They have performed in major UK venues and in France, Austria, Germany, and Israel. The piano quartet is completed by Robin Ashwell, well-known as the Sacconi Quartet’s viola player.

This concert is held in memory of the late Mrs Sheila Grove-White and is supported by a generous legacy.

Sunday, March 24: Quartet 4pm at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Programme: Mozart, Quartet in B flat K 458 The Hunt Mendelssohn, Quartet no 2 in E minor op 44 Dvorak, Quartet in G major op 105 Winners of the St Martin’s Chamber Music Competition 2017, the Manchester-based Zelkova Quartet has established a reputation as one of the UK’s up-and-coming string quartets, praised for performing “with a remarkable zeal and intensity” (Edinburgh Fringe, Herald Scotland 2015).

Generously supported by Grier and Partners, East Bergholt.

Tickets for each concert are £15 for non-members via: www.svam.org.uk / svamtickets@btinternet.com / 01206 298426

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LIBRARY

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

We are often asked for book recommendations. “What do you read” they ask? We all have differing tastes; sometimes we just need a simple novel to help us relax, at other times a real thriller to get our teeth into. Sometimes we just go by the picture on the front cover. Here are a few suggestions to help you choose your next book:

As I grew older I found that I wanted to know more about my family history.

When I finally found the time to start researching it, I was amazed to discover how large my family is. This led me to also find and contact relatives that I did not know I had and I was also very proud to learn that a great uncle had been awarded the MBE.

• Lee Child – with the main character Jack Reacher

I have been using Ancestry for my research and as this is available to use via Suffolk Libraries, I am now providing assistance in using it and starting your own family tree research. So if you are interested come along to the library and book a spot. These sessions will be incorporated into my one-to-one computer training, which is free and held on Tuesday mornings.

• Robert Galbraith – (aka J K Rowling) character Cormoran Strike • Nicci French – character Frieda Kline – start reading with Blue Monday • Martin Walker – Bruno, Chief of Police • M C Beaton – Hamish Macbeth • Anything written by Santa Montefiore, Rebecca Shaw and Emily Brightwell We hope this gives you some new choices that you might not have read before. You can also give the staff any recommendations. Take a look at the catalogue and order in for pick-up at the library of your choice.

CLUBS MEETING THIS MONTH Baby Bounce: Tuesdays 5, 12, 19 and 26, starting at 2pm. Suitable for all children under five with their parents/carers. No charge.

Come along and join in with the singing of nursery rhymes, hand action songs and the shaking of instruments.

Capel Creators: Saturday 30 between 10.30am and 12.30pm. A charge of £1 per child includes a drink and a biscuit. Under eights must be accompanied by an adult. Theme to be announced on the day.

Minecraft: Sundays 10 and 24 between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

No charge; under eights must be accompanied by an adult.

Library Book Group: Friday 15 at 2.30pm. Come and share the latest book read by the group and offer some suggestion for the next one. New members always welcome.

Our next film, Hurricane, will be screened on Tuesday, March 19 at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Tickets are on sale at the library. The film “tells the story of the Polish fliers who found themselves fighting for the freedom of their own country in foreign skies. Seen through the eyes of Jan Zumbach, fighter ace and adventurer, it tells how the Poles, driven across Europe by the German war machine, finally made their last stand. Flying Hurricanes for the RAF over Britain, they became a key component in the legend of The Few. Up against the might of the Luftwaffe they hoped that, by saving Great Britain from Nazi invasion, they were keeping the dream of a free Poland alive. In the lethal melee above England in that summer of 1940, they fought with a tenacity and skill that earned them the admiration of the whole British nation.

The dogfights against superior planes cost some of the men their lives. The constant strain of gladiatorial combat took away the sanity of others. But, as Zumbach discovers as the war stutters to a close, becoming the best in the RAF is a hollow victory for the Poles. This powerful and gripping WWII RAF story is directed by David Blair (The Messenger, Away, Accused) and includes an impressive ensemble cast including Iwan Rheon (Game of Thrones) and Milo Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge).”

Trevor Stevenson

RETIREMENT: JENNY HICKLEY After more than 20 years of working within Suffolk Libraries, I have decided to retire. My last working day will be March 29. I have very much enjoyed my working life within the library where I have met and worked with some wonderful people. I am hoping to do more travelling with Phil, my husband, and having taken on a second allotment will be there weeding and enjoying the fruits of our labours. We recently welcomed grandchild number three, Alexander Robert, who lives in London with his mum and dad so we will be up and down the A12 to Wimbledon every so often as well as helping Liz and Steve with Jack and Mia. Say hello when you see me out walking or in the library when I come in to choose my books. Bye for now, Jenny 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

Join us for a cuppa As Jenny has mentioned, she will sadly be leaving the library service after nearly 21 years. The library staff and customers would like to thank her and let her know she will be missed. Please join for a cuppa at Capel Library at 2pm on March 29 and wish her well in all she gets up to.

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Tired of Brexit?

Treat your tenants to a new boiler.

0800 587 9999 www.gas-elec.co.uk *Representative example: Sale price of £1,858.50. Deposit of £500.00. Loan amount £1,358.50. 120 months at 12.9%APR(Fixed). Total amount repayable £2,898.67. First monthly repayment of £19.99 due approximately 30 days after installation. Finance subject to status and application. **Representative example: Sale price of £2,038.00. Deposit of £0.00. Loan amount £2,038.00 120 months at 12.9%APR(Fixed).

Total amount repayable £3,598.45. First monthly repayment of £29.99 due approximately 30 days after

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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 to attend your event in the Vine Lounge or 115 people to attend your event in the hall, and purchase 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 contact Mandy Marshall on 01473 312026 bookings@capelcommunitytrust.org

*Offer open to members of the 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.

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE HALL DIARY, MARCH 2019 Friday 1 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall Saturday 2 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall Sunday 3 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Monday 4 Allotments, 7.30-10pm, Library Tuesday 7 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, 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 (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, Hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8pm, Library Wednesday 13 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Flower Arranging, 6.30-10.30pm, Library Thursday 14 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Women’s Institute, 7-10pm, Library

Sunday 17 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 2-6pm, Hall Monday 18 Association AGM, 8-10.30pm, Library Tuesday 19 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 20 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Parish Council AGM, 7-10pm, Library Thursday 21 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Bingo, 7.30-10.30pm, 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 Trust Meeting, 7.30-10.30pm, Library Tuesday 26 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 27 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Thursday 28 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, Hall Gardening Club, 6-10.30pm, Library Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, Hall Friday 29 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Library

Friday 15 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, Hall

Saturday 30 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall

Saturday 16 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, Hall

Sunday 31 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, Hall

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

BUMPER BOOK SALE AT MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH Saturday, March 23, 10am-3pm / Free admission Hundreds of children’s books only 10p each

EASTER BRIC-A-BRAC SALE 1st Sproughton Brownies are holding our annual Easter Bric-a-Brac Sale on Saturday, March 23 in Sproughton Church Hall from 2-4pm. This year’s sale is in aid of Save the Children, H.O.P.S and Brownie funds. Please come along, support us and grab yourself a bargain. Admission is free! Stalls include white elephant, toys, books, clothes, next-to-new, cakes, a draw, tombolas, games and refreshments.

Refreshments to include bacon butties and homemade cakes

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OUT & ABOUT 1st CAPEL ST MARY BROWNIES EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION QUIZ NIGHT East Bergholt High School Friday, March 29 at 7.30pm Bar opens at 7pm serving alcohol and soft drinks Tickets cost £5 per person (teams of eight) including nibbles

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 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!

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.

Please pre-book teams: 07776 291445 / pta@ebhigh.org.uk Over 18s only unless accompanied by an adult

CLASH AVOIDER 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)

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, 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

CAPEL IRISH SET DANCE GROUP

Sunday, April 7: Capel Allotments Association Work-In 8.30am-noon

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.

Sunday, April 7: Capel Allotments Association Plot Holders Meeting & AGM, noon

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: 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

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 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.

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

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.

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

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

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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

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY U3A

CAPEL LADIES CLUB

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

Our AGM in January was quite well-attended. After welcoming everyone, Di Barker, our chairlady, led us through the business of the evening and gave her report of the club’s many activities for 2018. The highlight had been the special dinner in October celebrating the club’s 50th anniversary with its golden theme, and also the golden Christmas social in December.

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

After all the formalities had ended it was time to elect a new committee as five people were due to resign. These were Audrey Broadbent, Pat Bradford, Shirley Ward, Irene Carder and, of course, Di Barker. A vote of thanks was given to the retiring committee, and of the four remaining, Rose Chiverton was proposed and seconded as the new chairlady while Sue Crane and Beryl Backler agreed to stay on as treasurer and secretary. No other volunteers could be persuaded to join the committee, although since this meeting Wendy Keeble and Linda Evans have now offered their services.

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.

Member’s Quiz Night On Wednesday, March 20 our first member’s quiz night is scheduled to take place at 7pm in The Constable Hall. Bring your own drinks and nibbles and partake in a team of six for just £2 each. Help will be given to form a team on the night. Please register before March 12 by contacting June Escott: 01206 231707 / jescott@btinternet.com 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, March 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. 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 We held our New Year Lunch at the popular Haywain in Little Bromley on February 6 when our spouses and Probus widows joined us for what was an enjoyable event and a tasty meal. On February 20 Brian Wilcox introduced us to New Ways of Working, which, though mostly retired, members still found most interesting.

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

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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Refreshments were served afterwards, including cakes made by the retiring committee. This was followed by another ‘Backwards Raffle’ with a variety of prizes and much laughter as they were claimed by lots of different people, some changing hands several times until the tickets ran out! The 2019 programme began on February 7 with a talk on the role of a parish nurse by Caroline Ursell.

The Role of a Parish Nurse Before this talk I had no accurate idea of exactly what a parish nurse did in our community. I had assumed that it was a wholly medical role which involved a first aid professional who visited patients recently discharged from hospital, or new mums or elderly people who had had falls. I also assumed that they were a part of the NHS, like an add-on to the local doctors surgery.

In fact I was half right in some of these assumptions, but my main misconception that they were connected to the local surgery was entirely inaccurate. In fact they are fully qualified volunteers working under the charity Parish Nursing Ministries UK, and in Capel they work with the support and backing of the local Methodist Church. In their own words, they support all the people of Capel St Mary regardless of their age, background or beliefs, providing “whole person health care”.

Caroline herself is a registered nurse with an MSc degree and a diploma in Child Psychology. She works part-time in an Ipswich GP practice. Margaret Sankey has a diploma in Occupational Therapy and a special interest in Care of the Elderly. Between them they can offer support for the “physical, mental, social and spiritual health” of individuals, and this can include help with understanding medical information, diseases and conditions, help and support for carers and dementia patients, post-natal well-being, mental health and increasing and maintaining safety and independence in the home.

They will also offer help through prayer if the person so requests.

Caroline and Margaret organise regular drop-in sessions such as The Hope Hub at the Methodist Church on the first Saturday of the month for anyone wanting to meet new friends, have a coffee and a chat, play board games, do arts and crafts and discover local support and social activities. There is also DAF’s Café (Dementia and Friends) for those living with dementia and their friends and families on the second and fourth Friday mornings of each month at Capel Library. They also hold regular sessions at Dove Close. For more information visit: www.CapelParishNurses.co.uk Sue Woolgar www.capelladiesclub.com

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

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.

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

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OUT & ABOUT 1st CAPEL ST MARY SCOUT GROUP 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.

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

VILLAGE LINK The Mystery of Going Underground is the title of the talk at our meeting on March 13 in Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am.

The club aims 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 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 in readiness for our 25th celebration.

Chairman Linda Evans: 01473 311262

MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY We were entertained by two of our own members on January 10 with presentations on their own brand of photography which ranged from boxing and how to photograph for newspaper submissions, to photographing seascapes, planes, bikes and automobiles!

January 24 was an interactive evening learning about composition beyond the thirds with Alan Sarsby. The Open Mono competition was well supported with many high standard entries, including Evening Rays by Sallie Oakley pictured here.

This month we have an interclub competition with the Harwich & Dovercourt Camera Club on March 7 and a talk on creative techniques with a camera and software on March 14. The subject for our next competition on March 28 is People at Work.

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

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?

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, 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

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 COUNTRYSIDE CLUB Our next meeting on March 12 is a talk on beekeeping by Paul White from East Bergholt. He promises us honey tasting and sales, so if you haven’t tasted different local honey you are in for a treat!

The February meeting was well attended and we were shown slides of Wonders of the Universe by David Murton. The photographs were all taken by him locally and everyone was impressed by his knowledge of the moon, planets, constellations, satellites and comets. He finished with advice on buying a telescope, and surprised us by saying there were more women members of his astronomical club than men.

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at the Methodist Church, Capel St Mary at 7.30pm.

Visitors welcome for one meeting or more, Refreshments afterwards.

The talk on April 9 is The Realm of the Polar Bear and a bluebell walk is to be arranged at another date in March/April.

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Out & About / SCHOOLS CAPEL ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION’S GUIDE TO GARDENING IN MARCH THE VEG PLOT Plant early seed potatoes and onion sets. Use fleece as frost protection and to warm the soil. Sow carrots, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, calabrese, parsnips, cauliflower, leek, salad onion, radish, peas and spinach.

FRUIT Plant trees and bushes. Feed established plants. Spray plants affected by mildew, apple scab, aphids or codling moth. Pick rhubarb.

FLOWERS Lift and divide perennials. Prune and feed all established plants. Sow hardy annuals.

GREENHOUSE Sow French beans, peppers, tomatoes, sweet peas and half-hardy annuals.

Prick out into plug trays. Control insects. Sow broad beans and stand outside when 1½” high for a week before planting out.

LAWNS Re-seed worn areas. Pre-mix grass seed with John Innes seed or No.1 then spread. Aerate with a wire rake. On a fine, dry day cut grass with the blades set high. Apply a lawn feed, a selective weed killer or spot weed spray and lawn sand to control moss, or spray with an iron sulphate solution of 30g per litre of water per 5sqm of lawn, or use a weed, feed and moss killer.

ALLOTMENT NEWS The Hut is open for members from 10am to noon on Saturdays.

If any groups would like to visit the site and the wildlife area please contact Philippa to discuss what’s available to you: info@capelallotments.co.uk For a more extensive version of this report visit: www.capelallotments.co.uk

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears Baby Bears have been busy engaging in activities relating to Chinese New Year. They have been exploring the texture of noodles through sensory play, creating some lovely cherry blossom fans with bingo dabbers and making pig-shaped cupcakes for Year of the Pig. This next month we are planning to reintroduce our outdoor sleeping area and the Baby Bears will be sleeping to the sounds of nature and breathing in all that lovely fresh air.

Toddling Tigers The children have been listening to There’s a Tiger in the Garden and using their creative skills to make a lovely wall display of Nora and the tiger. They have also made their own tiger masks with paper plates and butterflies using wet wipes and bingo dabbers. The children are learning how to talk about what they can see in a book and some can even recall the story in their play and relate their pictures back to the story.

The Toddling Tigers loved taking part in Bird Watch Week and together we made nest cakes, bird feeders, binoculars, tree pictures and nest boxes for the birds. We have enjoyed listening to the different sounds of the birds singing and chirping. Our handmade binoculars made spotting the birds so much fun.

Gruffalos Over recent weeks the Gruffalos have been involved in a spot of ‘Twitching’ (bird watching). They have created their own spaces to sit quietly and see which birds they could spot. This created many wonderful conversations and sharing of knowledge amongst the Gruffalos. They didn’t always manage to keep quiet, especially when an enormous flock of seagulls arrived on the field! They have created their own binoculars and explored the differences between our garden birds. We were also fortunate to have a snowy preschool day, so we were straight out to explore the wonders of snow and ice.

As it doesn’t happen often we made sure we made the most of it!

If you would like to enquire about our nursery or pre-school please contact Emma Deakin: 01473 310767

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CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB Our first get-together of 2019 was on January 24 when 22 members had a very enjoyable meal at the Best Western Ipswich Hotel on the old A12. While coffee was savored, we sharpened our brain cells on a devilishly difficult quiz set by David and Louise Evans. Appropriately the winning team included our president, Brenda Eyers, and after all this mental mayhem we reverted to normal with a raffle (thanks to all members who gave prizes) followed by a swapping of garden related Christmas gifts.

Our next meeting is on March 28 when we have a spring show in the library.

If anybody wants a schedule, please let me know.

We are always happy to welcome new members; £8 a year or £2.50 if you want to just come to a particular meeting as a visitor. Any queries, please let me know.

Chairman Edwina Cox: 01473 311121

BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS February has been a busy month in our schools. We have celebrated Safer Internet Day with assemblies and information around staying safe online. This has also been shared with our families so they can help us. If you would like to look at some of the information, you will find it on our website under the safeguarding section.

We have had visitors into school from the New Wolsey Theatre to put on a performance for us. Four pupils from across the Federation spent the day in London at the beginning of February taking part in the Great Rainbow Vegan Bake-Off final. They had won a place in the final and were invited to compete against other winners from around the country. They had an awesome day, producing a fabulous cake and we are proud to announce were voted worthy winners in the primary category. Well done to all of you.

We have been running gymnastics as our after-school club throughout the first half of this spring term with a view to some competitions coming up later in the term. The second half is focussing on cross-country running in the light of up and coming events. There have also been basketball festivals which we enjoyed being a part of.

During February a farmer visited us with his tractor. He helped us to understand more about the agricultural environment we live in and to prepare us for our visit in April to the annual Farm & Country Fair at Trinity Park.

Not to be outdone by the pupils, parents and friends of Copdock Primary took part in the PTA Quiz Night just before half term. A close battle took place again between some eager teams. At the end of the day, the children were the winners as the efforts of the PTA were rewarded by raising funds for the school.

Coming up this month we are looking forward to some sporting events including gymnastics, quicksticks and cross-country. We’ll also be working our brains with a spelling bee and an able maths day. Parents will be invited in for parent consultations on March 26 and 28.

Both schools are participating in the Lego tokens promotion run by Archant.

If you are reading the East Anglian Daily Times or the Ipswich Star between February 9 and May 5, please cut out and collect the Lego tokens. These can be sent into either school to help us reach our target of at least 1,000 tokens per school! Thank you in advance.

We currently have some vacancies on our Federation governing body. If you know of anyone with particular strengths in finance or HR who might be interested in joining our team, please encourage them to contact either school office for more information.

For more news and up to date information about our schools, please visit: www.bentleycopdock.co.uk

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SCHOOLS / Sport CAPEL ST MARY PRIMARY SCHOOL At the time of writing we are now almost at the end of the first half term after Christmas and what a busy half term it has been! The children in Unit Two (Years 3 and 4) attended the rock and roll pantomime at the New Wolsey Theatre. For days afterwards the children could be heard saying “He’s behind you!” up and down the corridor.

In the Nursery and in EYFS (Early Years and Foundation Stage) the children have been looking at Chinese New Year and recently had a wonderful time creating bridges to go over a river. The story tells of how a group of animals had a race to decide which one of them would represent the coming year. Part of the race involves crossing a river, hence the brilliant bridges.

The children in Unit One (Years 1 and 2) have been studying hot and cold climates and recently compared what it was like to live on Uluru (Ayres Rock) in the middle of the Australian outback and what it would be like to live in the Antarctic. They have created some wonderful pictures which are on display in the middle area.

The children in Unit Two have been making a study of the Romans and have looked at what happened when Vesuvius erupted. They imagined what it would be like to have fled the city of Pompei and used the opportunity to learn all about embedded, main and subordinate clauses.

In Unit Three (Years 5 and 6) the children have been engaged in looking at the Vikings and their conquest of England. The children have written a Viking Saga which has been both imaginative and full of detail.

The PFA have also hosted the first event of the calendar year, a very successful Beetle Drive. Many different beetles were created and the hall resonated with the cry of “Beetle” as children and parents raced to get theirs completed.

I have really enjoyed my first half term at Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School and I‘m looking forward to many more. We will keep you informed of all the fun and interesting things that we do at school.

Headteacher Sean Cornish

Capel Plough Football Club With just two months of the football season remaining, the Saturday First team were in sixth place in the Senior Division at the time of writing, having completing a league double over Grundisburgh with scores of 4-1 and 2-0.

A heavy 4-0 defeat by leaders Henley Athletic was followed by draws against Westerfield United (1-1) and Benhall St Mary (2-2). The side have been in the top six most of the season, but like a lot of clubs in local football nowadays they have been hit by players leaving the club for a number of different reasons with manager Nathan Burrell having to field a different team every week. Not the same as when I played the game as they say! Leading scorers are skipper Shaun Webb with ten goals and Danny Garrard with eight.

Our young Reserve side beat Coplestonians A team 7-0 after an excellent performance which included a brace from Charlie Read. A 2-0 defeat against Haughley United was followed by a 2-0 win away to Leiston St Margarets with Jack Reddinton scoring one and Oliver Miller getting the other. Dan Leggett has been playing well in midfield and could be the next youngster from the Reserves pushing for a First team place.

The Sunday team lost 3-1 to Rosary Reserves in the Junior Cup with Joe Bigmore getting the goal, but bounced back to beat Boleyn F C 8-0 in the league which included a Bigmore hat trick and two goals from Adam Moore.

Meanwhile our over 35 Veteran side beat Romeo Done 2-1 in the league with both goals from star man Ross Dorward before losing 3-0 in the league cup to Coplestonians.

Check the local websites for club fixtures.

BOB THE PLOUGHMAN

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

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Sport / Church News EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The new year started in a very positive way for the 1st Team as they recorded a three-nil Home victory against Bramford Utd. Their mixed form returned however as they then lost at Crane Sports, were involved in a remarkable comeback from three-nil down to draw with bottom of the table Grundisburgh, before producing their performance of the season to end the month by winning three-two at high flying Henley Athletic. The first game in February was another defeat to Cranes to leave the team in a lower mid-table position in the Senior League.

The Reserves were high scoring but inconsistent in January with a four-all away draw, a home defeat and a five goal home win, but then started February with a remarkable fifteen goal home victory. The team now sit right in the middle of the Intermediate A table.

The A Team’s fine form slipped a little as they started 2019 with two wins and one defeat before drawing with league leaders Ransomes Sports Reserves in the first match in February. They are now in a group of three clubs on twenty-one points chasing the second promotion spot.

CAPEL ST MARY BOWLS CLUB Summer is on its way; the days are getting longer and our minds are once again turning to the new bowls season. Let’s hope we have a lovely summer again this year! Never played bowls and want to give it a go? Just plain curious? We always give a warm welcome to new or potential new members.

Just call club secretary Les Bryant (311717) to discuss having an informal rollup or to find out more.

During the winter months essential green and site maintenance has continued, and our social programme is already underway. We were once again invited to play at Harwich Indoors Bowls Club this year, on January 13.

Thanks to Pam Peers for organising us. The match was played in good spirit and enjoyed by all. Our hosts were very welcoming as always and we look forward to our next fixture later this year. We’ve already planned for January and March 2020!

We had another great day at Potters Resort on January 23. The weather was kind to us and a full coachload made the trip into Norfolk. As previously, YouTube and the BBC were transmitting live, and some of our party appeared on TV. We saw some excellent bowls throughout the day, although sadly local reigning champion Kathrine Rednall was beaten in the semi-final by eventual tournament winner Julie Forrest.

IMPORTANT DATES

UPCOMING FIXTURES

March 15 Beetle Drive

1st Team – Senior Division Sat, Feb 23: Bramford Utd (A) Sat, Mar 2: Westerfield Utd (H) Sat, Mar 9: Trimley Red Devils (A) Sat, Mar 16: Westerfield Utd (A) Sat, Mar 23: Achilles (H) Sat, April 6: Capel Plough (A)

April 7

13

27 28 29

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Reserves – League A Sat, Feb 23: Bramford Utd Res (H) Sat, Mar 2: Framlingham Town Res (A) Sat, Mar 9: Westerfield Utd Res (A) Sat, Mar 16: Wenhaston Utd Res (A) Sat, Mar 23: Bacton Utd 89 Res (A) Sat, Mar 30: Mendlesham Res (H) Sat, April 6: Achilles Res (A) A Team – League C Sat, Mar 2: Kesgrave Kestrels Res (A) Sat, Mar 9: Sporting 87 A (A) Sat, Mar 23: Grundisburgh Res (A) Sat, Mar 30: Framlingham Town A (A) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website to confirm: 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 at: davidgeorge5000@hotmail.com

Green Clean-up Pre-season Dinner Fun Quiz Opening Club Drive Samford League first matches Ipswich & District Leagues first match

May 1 Triples Leagues first matches

11 Grunbaum Trophy 26 Pairs Tournament Look out for full details of these, other events and reports at: http://capelstmarybowls.onesuffolk.net Let’s make it a season to remember again this year!

Jack High

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

Messy Church is a fun, new way of doing ‘church’ particularly suited to families, but welcoming to all. It’s an international organisation run by many churches in the UK and around the world which is particularly aimed at people who have never belonged to a church before. To find out more visit: www.messychurch.org.uk What can you expect at Messy Church?

• A warm welcome • An hour of hands-on craft activities and games with a Bible theme

The darts competition night was held on January 5 and was a very successful event. The results were as follows: Singles: Ben McGrath (£75) beat Jamie Greig (£25) Doubles: Ross Copper & Aaron Chinnery (£50 each) beat Jonny McGrath & Alvin McMasters

• A short celebration with a story, songs and prayers, sometimes drama or puppets

It is anticipated that the darts tournament will become a regular event and will be open to all, so darts players, keep an eye for the next event.

It’s all free but donations are gratefully received.

If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you.

Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

• A meal together • A new session on every fourth Saturday of the month

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.

For more information please contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / Maggie3@btinternet.com Sue France: 01473 310034 / sue.france4@btinternet.com

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CHURCH NEWS THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH Is it possible spring is here already? Days are getting longer, and the church season of Lent is with us. It’s a good time to prepare for the seven weeks of Easter starting on Sunday, April 21.

At Saint Mary’s Parish Church it has been the custom to offer a five-week study course after the 10am midweek service of Holy Communion (shortened). It begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6, following a cup of fresh coffee. All are most welcome.

We are all aware that the death of Christ is a dominant and dramatic theme in the New Testament. It is therefore not surprising that, over the centuries, the cross has become the most significant symbol of the Christian faith. Yet Christians do not honour a dead hero; rather all Christians here in Capel worship a Living Lord. According to the Bible, the death of Jesus is not the end of a track – it is instead the gateway into the abundant life.

Jesus’ crucifixion gives rise to many key themes, and some of these will be explored in this course including: the place of silence in our noisy world; despair and hope; a suffering world; the challenge of living as disciples when Christianity is no longer mainstream.

The course booklet, written by The Rev Dr John Pridmore, includes questions aimed at provoking a wide-ranging discussion. Each group needs a copy of the course audio, plus a course booklet for each member. In addition many

groups find the transcript, which cross-references to the tracks on the recorded material, invaluable.

Participants taped on the course audio are John Bell, General (retired) Sir Richard Dannatt (from Norfolk) and Methodist minister Dr Christina Baxter.

Colin Morris provides the thoughtful closing reflection at the end of each session.

Other notable church dates in March are: March 1 – Saint David; March 17 – Saint Patrick; March 19 – Saint Joseph the Worker; March 25 – Annunciation to Mary (‘Lady Day’); March 31 – Mothering Sunday.

For the last day of the month of March there will be special services for mothers at Saint John’s, Great Wenham, and Saint Mary’s in Capel, with the usual floral distribution.

May I wish you and yours every blessing throughout what should be a lovely time of the year, when we see new growth in nature and in our lives.

Faithfully yours as ever,

https://stmaryschurchcapel.co.uk

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 MARCH Sunday 3 9am

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass

Tuesday 5 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 10 1st Sunday of Lent 9am Mass Tuesday 12 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 17 2nd Sunday of Lent 9am Mass Tuesday 19 St Joseph, Spouse of Bvm, Solemnity 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 24 3rd Sunday of Lent 9am Mass Tuesday 26 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 31 4th Sunday of Lent 9am Mass The weekly newsletter, with weekly mass times, is always displayed in the cabinet by the front door.

Catholic Commentary Pope Francis recently offered a checklist for Catholics to keep track of how they measure up to the biblical caution “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar.” Preaching on the passage from the First Letter of John, the Pope said that the devil is defeated by Christians loving their brothers and sisters.

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To see how one is doing in the battle, the first question to ask is: “Do I pray for people? For everyone, concretely, those whom I like and those I don’t like, for those who are friends and those who are not?” The second thing to check, he said, is how often do “I feel inside me sentiments of jealousy, envy, and I start wanting to wish something bad would happen to him or her -- that is a signal that you do not love. Stop there. Don’t let those feelings grow. They are dangerous.” Finally, he said, the most common sign “that I don’t love my neighbour and so cannot say I love God is gossip. Get this clearly into your heart and your head: if I gossip, I do not love God because gossip destroys people.”

Events & Diary Dates The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday, February 24 at Holy Family when three lucky winners shared a £158 prize pot. The next draw takes place on Sunday, March 24. 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, March 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.

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CHURCH NEWS CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCH PLANNING FOR… I began my working life as an engineer almost 50 years ago, first with Dunlop in Coventry and then with a local authority. In 1977 I was working as a newly chartered engineer on the planned M1 – A1 link road in Northamptonshire, now the A14. Our design year was 1991 and one of my tasks was to predict the volume of traffic on this completely new road. The original brief we were given was for a largely single carriageway with only a few grade separated junctions. My traffic predictions showed it need to be dual carriageway with every junction grade separated (i.e. through traffic going on a flyover or underpass – only joining and leaving traffic going to the roundabout).

I left engineering to train for the ministry and then went to serve in Zimbabwe.

In the meanwhile the road was completed in 1991 as planned, my section dualled and all junctions grade separated, except the beginning and end.

I returned from Africa in 1992. In that year I travelled the full length of the A14 to pick up some friends from the port of Harwich. I also went back into my office and found my colleagues had just checked back to the report I had signed off in 1977 and compared the current traffic flows with my predicted ones. I was told they were amazingly close. For its first 15 years the A14 has largely coped with the traffic, but the growth of traffic and, in particular, the container port of Felixstowe shows the road under strain.

CAPEL COMMUNITY CHURCH NEW LIFE Today is February 6, and today on a roadside just outside the village I spotted a beautiful clump of snowdrops. Soon there will be primroses and the spring will be on our doorstep.

Back in the autumn I wrote the Community Church’s contribution to Capel Capers under the theme of ‘Passing Time’. Normally we all bemoan the speed with which the passage of time hastens on, but right now, in the cold, damp windy weather of the passing winter, I can’t help saying ‘roll on spring’!

There is something good about every season, but if asked to indentify my favourite one, without hesitation I would opt for spring, and I know that I’m not alone in that.

At present, our garden is hardly worth visiting. Even we don’t venture out unless we have to! I look at it through the conservatory windows and see only a very few obvious signs of life.

What remains of last year’s plants is sad to see. They look droopy and lifeless with raindrops running to the ground from the foliage... where that remains.

Even the pond water threatens to freeze over and might yet do so!

As soon as I have completed this article, I am off on a two-day course to plan for retirement. If I live to my parent’s age, I could have over 30 years of retirement (the current lifetime of the road I helped plan). Will my retirement feel the strains that the road is under, will finances be enough to keep a roof over my head, what about my health and wellbeing, what about family and friends, what are those things that I most enjoy? Will it be the time of my life? Will I be busier in retirement than I have been working? Where do I live?

I have no roots anywhere, and family are north, south and west, hundreds of miles apart. Where does God want me? God still has a plan for my life and I want to be in a place where he can use me. Lots of questions that I need to think about and plan for. But I’ve been here before, each time a move has come and each time lots of questions, but also a peace. God has it in hand. I learn contentment where he places me, as the Psalmist says “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places… I keep my eyes always on the Lord, with him, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:6-8.

But hidden away under a large shrub is the inevitable clump of snowdrops all in bloom, and even a single yellow crocus in a nearby pot struggling to break out. So it’s happening, and as the days pass, so the onset of spring will persist until the crocuses, the daffodils and the forsythia begin the process that eventually bathes the garden in a riot of colour.

The Rev Andrew Sankey 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary Ipswich IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216

There is however another form of NEW LIFE, which has an even deeper impact on our individual lives, and which our faithful God also provides for. The Holy Scriptures contain this amazing truth. It can be found in 2 Corinthians 5 Verse 17, and this is it... ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten and everything is new’.

AT CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Home Groups on various days and times – contact the Minister Sunday 3 10.30am Worship with Mr Rod Stone

6.30pm Prayer Sunday 10 10.30am Worship arranged locally Sunday 17 10.30am Worship with Mrs Marilyn Watsham Saturday 23 3.30pm Messy Church Sunday 24 10.30am Worship and Communion with Rev Sankey

6.30pm United Prayer at St Mary’s Sunday 31 10.30am Worship with Mr Richard Spencer

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Isn’t God good? He is the giver of repeated new life to the earth and he has been doing it since the dawn of time. We have such a faithful creator who provides not only a feast for the eyes but also food for the table.

Let’s not kid ourselves that just because we have a farm or an allotment or just a garden, and have perhaps gained a degree of knowledge and skill in theses areas, that we are responsible for the annual harvest of good things from the earth. We all need to be thankful to a faithful caring God who makes these provisions and allows us to enjoy them.

This truth has to do with having a living relationship with God, and it is possible because Jesus died and rose again in order that a person might become an eternal member of God’s family and receive NEW LIFE and a new beginning for the asking.

Yes, in all things both physical and spiritual, God is the author of NEW LIFE. Peter Beard

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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

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

Dry Carpet Cleaning Professional Local Service For a FREE no obligation quotation

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

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