In Touch News with Claydon – April 2017 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

F.A.O - Club Secretaries:

CLUB-NIGHT ESSENTIALS Bingo Flyers: £2.80 per book Bingo 10 page: £25.50 per pack Pub/Football Cards: 20p each Prices ex-VAT - collect from Reception:

14-20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP

01473 400379 sales@colourplan.co.uk

In Touch

™© ™©

with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural Volume 7 • Issue No. 6 • APRIL 2017

Spring Blossom by Svetlana Sewell www.landmstudio.co.uk

In Touch online:

NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR On a number of recent occasions I’ve been surprised by how people have reacted to fairly typical situations which would normally go relatively unnoticed or produce no more than a raised eyebrow. Just this morning I struggled to make room on a narrow road for a rather large car coming in the opposite direction. I pulled in as far as I could, trying not to go into the brook running alongside, but the other driver was incensed, waving his arms at me, his face ugly with anger. Thank goodness I couldn’t hear what he was saying. He got by a little slower than he obviously wanted, but I sat there for a moment in stunned silence.

PAPER BANK AND TEXTILE BANK AT CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL

At the weekend I found myself queuing behind a man who gave a shop assistant a right telling off because she had given him the wrong change. He practically accused her of trying to steal 10p from him. I asked her if she was OK after he’d left and she shrugged it off as if it was a common occurrence, which I fear it might very well be.

Everyone is welcome to use them and we are keen to work with the whole community to enable more recycling to happen. With this in mind we are also holding a Give and Take event with Claydon & Barham Community Centre and Mid Suffolk District Council on Saturday, April 22 which works like a swap shop for unwanted household items.

We may all be feeling pressure just now not knowing how things will turn out (even the weather is disagreeable), but if we lose all self-restraint and can’t even treat those we meet in everyday life with respect I dread to think of the long-term impact. Thankfully we’re not there yet and I’ve had many more instances of people being helpful, kind, thoughtful and understanding in recent weeks (clearly evidenced in the pages of this magazine) than I’ve had of people being rude, judgemental and arrogant. Admittedly a little selfanalysis may be necessary now and then, but I’m determined to offset rude drivers and hateful behaviour by doing the exact opposite.

So you know a bit more about when, where and how we’ve put some information together. We hope you’ll find the banks a useful and convenient addition to our community.

By making a little extra effort to be kind to each other, I’m convinced we can make the world a little bit more pleasant for everyone. A smile, a polite ‘good morning’, a wave when another driver makes way (and especially when they don’t!), may initially have little impact on how others behave, but it can’t hurt. Happy Easter from everyone at Mansion House Publishing

In Touch

with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural

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

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: claydon@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

ADVERTISING Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 DISTRIBUTION Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 PRINTING Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk

01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

We also publish In Touch with... • NEW Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •B ramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham •C apel St Mary •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead • I pswich East •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham •N eedham Market & The Creetings •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone •B urstall & Sproughton •S towmarket & Stowupland • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon •M elton & Woodbridge

Claydon village already has a bottle bank for community use, but we are really pleased to be able to offer two new recycling banks for use by the school and the community. The banks are run in conjunction with Mid Suffolk District Council and the PTA receives credits for each tonne recycled.

Where? At the front of Claydon High School adjacent to the bus park. When? Any time except from 8-9am and 2.30-3.30pm Monday to Friday during the school term (this is because school buses need full access at these times). Who? The banks are for school and community use. What? See below. BOLTONS PAPER BANK All dry paper, apart from kitchen towels and tissues, can be recycled in the paper bank. This includes: • Newspapers and magazines (no need to remove staples but please remove plastic bags) • Envelopes (no need to remove windows) • Printer paper • Junk mail • Shredded paper must be placed in a paper bag first before depositing into the bank. TEXTILE BANK Please place clean, dry items in a bag before putting in the textile bank. Items accepted: • All clothing • All footwear; shoes, boots, sandals (please keep pairs together) • Bed sheets and linen • Clothing accessories, including belts, hats and handbags Please do not place duvets, cushions, pillows or sleeping bags in the textile bank.

In Touch with...

MAY DEADLINE 7 APRIL 2017

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

NEWS HELPING ADULTS TO BECOME CONFIDENT READERS

WOODFIELD ALLOTMENTS IN GREAT BLAKENHAM

Do you know anyone who might like some one-to-one support to help them become a confident reader?

A one-year licence between Great Blakenham Parish Council and the owners of the allotment land has been signed. This means that existing plot holders can continue working their plots for the period of the licence. If you were renting one of the allotments, please contact Janet Gobey, the clerk, to confirm whether or not you wish to continue with your plot. We would be very grateful if you could do so as soon as possible.

As many as one in six adults may feel that way - it’s much more common than you might think. Whether you know someone who’d like to start right back at the beginning with reading, or who just wants some time to ask questions and brush up on skills to build confidence, it may be that a Got to Read volunteer can help. Got to Read volunteers and students meet one-toone at least weekly, in welcoming, confidential spaces. There aren’t any exams. Every student gets to say what it is that they need. Their volunteer guides them and helps to find ways to get there, using whatever methods and resources suit the student best. Examples of what we can help to build confidence with include: • Learning or re-learning the alphabet and sounds to make words and then build sentences (phonics)

We are anticipating that some plots may become vacant, so if you already have a plot and would like another or if you would like to start being an allotment holder for the first time, please get in touch with Janet: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 01473 833520 Thank you, Steve Plume, Chairman Great Blakenham Parish Council

WALK TOWARDS A CURE FOR PARKINSON’S IN SUFFOLK

• Everyday reading and writing tasks like shopping lists, recipes, understanding bills and medical records • Supporting children and being involved with their reading and learning • Getting ready to try something new – a job, a hobby, being a parent or grandparent, formal learning • Reading for pleasure, getting to the stage where you can relax, understand and enjoy what you read • Asking all those questions about punctuation and grammar that you think everyone but you knows about We can offer support in the Woodbridge and Ipswich areas. If you would like to know more, please contact 07528 147654 / info@gottoread.org.uk or visit: www.gottoread.org.uk It’s likely that someone who would enjoy trying this support might not be able to read many of these details, so please do pass the message along if you can.

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

TESCO BAGS OF HELP Bags of Help is Tesco’s exciting local community grant scheme where the money raised from the 5p carrier bag charge is being used to fund thousands of local projects in communities across the UK. Projects that bring benefits to their community will be considered; these range from improving buildings and outdoor spaces to buying new equipment, training coaches or volunteers and hosting community events. If you have a project in mind or know someone in the local community who has, then why not apply for a grant? To apply, visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp and complete an application.

People in Suffolk are being asked to pick up the pace against Parkinson’s this year at Walk for Parkinson’s – Glemham Hall on Sunday, July 9, one of a series of walk events to be held across the UK for Parkinson’s UK during 2017. Walk for Parkinson’s offers the opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in a fun and active day out, while helping the charity step ever closer to a cure. There are a range of distances on offer to suit everyone, with a 1.5 mile, 3.5 mile and 5.5 mile walk to choose from. It is the first time the charity has hosted a Walk for Parkinson’s at Glemham Hall. Previous walks in the region have seen more than 200 local people take part, so the charity hopes to involve even more walkers with the new and exciting venue. The registration fee is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Everyone who registers will receive a free Parkinson’s UK t-shirt, fundraising pack and at the end of the walk, a finishers medal. The charity is hoping to raise over £400,000 from the 32 events, so suggests walkers aim to raise at least £50. All money raised from Walk for Parkinson’s – Glemham Hall will help Parkinson’s UK’s work to provide support and information for people affected by Parkinson’s and to help find better treatments, and ultimately a cure. As well as walkers, the charity is on the lookout for volunteers to help register people at the start/finish area or to be a walk marshal at various points on the route during the day. To find out more and to sign up to walk or volunteer contact: 0207 963 9367 / fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk or visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkglemhamhall

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

NEWS SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE SITE – GREAT BLAKENHAM The Peel People’s Cup The Peel People’s Cup, part of the Chartered Institution of Waste Management Sustainability and Resource Awards, is awarded annually to the best operating team of a permitted waste facility. The cup was introduced to recognise the vital role an operating team plays in the successful running of a waste facility and on November 3 the team at Suffolk energy-from-waste facility won the cup. Some of the key criteria the judges were looking for were how the site is supervised, the way the operating team works and local acceptability. The site feels it is a huge honour to be recognised as an exceptional operating team and we are thrilled to have won the award.

QUIZ NIGHT IN AID OF PROSTATE CANCER UK Saturday, April 19 at Bramford Church Room at 7.30pm Teams of four at £12 per table includes a soft drink and nibbles. To book your table please contact Corinne: 07776 000405 / corinnebeaumont@hotmail.co.uk Quizmaster Joe and family look forward to seeing you there. Raffle prizes very welcome.

PLANNED ENVIRONMENT AGENCY WORKS AT BRAMFORD Environment Agency contractors will be operating their gate structure to its raised/open position at Bramford Lock on Monday, April 3. This will result in a lowering of the water level from Monday, April 3 to Thursday, April 6 on a stretch of the River Gipping from Rushbrook Mill down to Bramford Lock. The operations manager and one of the shift managers accepted the award on behalf of the team at a ceremony held in London. Kitten rescue As part of the normal operations at site, bulky items are shredded before going through the energy from waste process. During one shredding session on an evening in January, a kitten was discovered among the waste. The operations staff came to her rescue! The animal was taken to the vet to be checked and subsequently has a home with SUEZ’s process engineer. Recruitment As part of the excellent succession planning put in place at the facility a number of employees have been successful in securing promotion at site. This has resulted in a couple of new recruits starting at the facility in the past few months. We welcomed a new operations technician and a senior operations technician, both of whom live locally and are currently undergoing a comprehensive induction. USEFUL NUMBERS Site offices: 01473 839149 To book a visit: 01473 836812 Environment Agency: 0800 807060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910

Their contractors will be working in the river from Tuesday through to Thursday, surveying the structure and mechanisms of the gate to identify future works that may be required. The water level will be restored on Thursday, April 6. They need to complete this surveying work in early April in order to avoid the fish spawning season. For any queries please contact Rebecca Bromley at the Environment Agency on 02030 258474.

NEEDHAM MARKET AND DISTRICT FAMILY CARERS GROUP We are a small group of carers who meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 11am-1pm in the Green Room at Needham Market Community Centre. We usually have a speaker or an activity and tea, coffee and cake. In February we visited Zelda at Viking Glass. Zelda gave us a very interesting talk about her work and one of our members was brave enough to have a go at cutting some glass! Our March meetings included Tai Chi on Tuesday 14 and the lovely Lauren will giving our nails a makeover on Tuesday 28. A date for your diary; take a break and pop in to our Easter Coffee Morning on Tuesday, April 11, 10.30am-12.30pm at Christchurch Halls. There will be tea, coffee and yummy cakes as well as a raffle and produce stall. On Tuesday, April 25 we welcome back Peter Banham with a talk entitled The History of Sayings. If you would like to know more about the group please contact Amanda on 07512 879408 or Vera on 01449 723424. We look forward to meeting new friends.

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In Touch online:

ADVERTORIAL

Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number

of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing

a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Andy a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

NEWS CLAYDON & WHITTON PARISH COUNCIL Planning Applications and Proposals for New Housing Like many parish councils in Suffolk, the parish councils of Claydon and Whitton Rural, Barham and Great Blakenham have received an unprecedented number of planning applications and enquiries from potential developers to build significant numbers of new houses in the area all of which, if approved, will seriously impact on the schools, doctors and roads in Claydon. The alleged failure of Mid Suffolk District Council to meet government requirements to identify sufficient land for the provision of new homes has encouraged developers to assume that planning permission is very likely to be given. Currently, in addition to the proposed 294 houses off Barham Church Lane for which a planning application is awaited, applications have been submitted to build 23 dwellings on land at the rear of De Saumarez Drive, Norwich Road, Barham and 27 dwellings including nine affordable homes, on land between Norwich Road and Pesthouse Lane, Barham. Claydon Parish Council does not have a statutory right to be consulted on these applications, but will nevertheless send comments as appropriate. Members of the local community are also encouraged to send comments and/or objections direct to Mid Suffolk District Council either online or by post. All current planning applications can be accessed via our website which will provide full details of what is proposed. Annual Parish Meetings These will take place on Monday, April 10 in Claydon & Barham Village Hall. Claydon Parish Meeting will commence at 7pm, followed by the Whitton Parish Meeting at 8pm. These meetings are arranged by the parish council on behalf of the electors in each parish so that they are able to hear annual reports from the parish council and village organisations and also discuss any issues which they feel affect the local community. Unlike parish council meetings, where the public have a limited opportunity to speak, these meetings are specifically for members of the community to attend and make their views on local issues known, so everyone is encouraged to come along. Agendas and reports will be available from the parish clerk prior to the meetings. Better Broadband The UK government is committed to providing every home and business across the country with access to a basic broadband service. If you can’t get a broadband speed of at least 2mb per second, you could qualify for a subsidised connection worth up to £350 to boost your internet speed. Find out if you are eligible fill out a simple application form at: www.basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk If you qualify, you will be emailed a unique code which can be used with selected service providers to get a subsidised broadband service. Parish Council Meetings in April The next parish council finance committee meeting will be held on Monday, April 24 at 7.30pm at the offices of Suffolk Association of Local Councils, Hill View Business Park, Old Norwich Road IP6 0AJ. Members of the community are very welcome to attend and opportunity will be given at the beginning of the meeting for them to speak on items included on the agenda or other issues about which they have concerns. Agendas will be available prior to the meeting from our parish clerk, Mrs S Eagle: 01473 687384 (answer machine available) / claywhit@btinternet.com / 7 Leicester Close, Ipswich IP2 9EX For the very latest news and information about village life and other items of interest, please visit: www.claydonandbarham.onesuffolk.net / Twitter @claywhitpc

In Touch online:

NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: MARCH 2017 Lake Lothing and Upper Orwell Bridges We scrutinised the two major bridge projects in Suffolk: a third crossing of Lake Lothing in Lowestoft and the crossing of the Upper Orwell in Ipswich are underway. They are each worth around £90 million so are substantial undertakings. The county is doing the initial planning and studies until they can appoint a construction firm for each on a design and build basis. Two strong teams are in place with project managers who have the right capabilities and experience. The management structure appears able to exercise firm control and respond speedily to issues as they arise. So, all looks well. We were told that funding is committed, some £73m from the government and £18m from local sources for each project. Critical milestones for Ipswich are the appointment of architects, the determining of the ground conditions, submission of the application to the Planning Inspectorate (this is a strategic infrastructure item / summer 2018), the examination by the inspector to a strict six month schedule, then a decision from the Secretary of State (winter 2019). Construction should start in spring 2020 and be complete by 2023. The objectives are to enable the re-development of the wet dock island, to be a catalyst for the regeneration of South Ipswich and to relieve congestion on the A14 Orwell Bridge. Highways: Roads in Ipswich Area County Highways are analysing transport issues in the Ipswich area. They are looking at the radial routes from the A14 to the town simulating the gains from route improvement and the upper Orwell crossing. Predictions cover the next 20 years. Plans for changes to the A14 junctions that feed the radial routes all show very good benefits for the costs involved, at least £6 yield from each £1 spent. This should see the Copdock, Whersted, Nacton and Seven Hills junctions improved by Highways England, but Whitehouse and Claydon might wait for the Northern Bypass proposals. If the proposed housing developments proceed in Gipping Valley improvements are necessary on a much shorter timescale. The developments must support a range of smaller but effective important improvements to limit congestion in Gipping Valley. 2016/17 Forecast Revenue and Capital Spending The forecast based on data at end December shows two substantial overspends: £2.5m in Corporate Resources due to a failure to find a home for some savings on contracts that was budgeted last year

and £6.8m in Corporate Parenting. This involves older children with increasingly complex needs and the increasing use of special guardianship orders. Lack of success in several attempts to provide additional in county capacity has finally come home to roost, but this is a service that must be done well. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities You will have seen press comments on the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission report on the service that provides support for those with special educational needs and disabilities. It does not make good reading, finding that the needs of many children in Suffolk were not effectively met. The complaints reported from parents unable to obtain the help their children need match the stories I get from Suffolk residents. The cabinet member responsible reports: “Prior to the inspection, we identified with the CCGs that significant improvements needed to be made, and a number of changes were introduced. We are beginning to see the positive impact of these changes and the report recognises the early steps to make improvements. That said, it is clear that there is still much more work to be done to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities can access the support they need, when they need it.” The county needs to see problems in its services and respond without waiting for external inspectors. Old Ipswich Road A plan for yellow lining to allow the parking issues in Old Ipswich Road to be controlled has been agreed with residents most effected and will be out for consultation shortly. It includes action to discourage parking that prevents buses getting to the raised disabled access curbs. Reed Lane I have agreed to finance edge marking to show drivers the margins of the road clearly and hopefully discourage the overrunning that causes the edge of the road to disintegrate. There is no certainty of success, but I think this is a technique worth a try. SnOasis May is now the likely date for submission of final details and a decision in August after a consultation period extended to recognise the complexity of the development and the demands that puts on parish councils. If you have queries please phone me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or 07545 423808. You can also email me at: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk

As we walked through the bluebell woods, I thought he’d like this It’s the little things that make a funeral special Here for you every hour of every day

01473 851731

for your nearest funeral director visit www.eastofengland.coop/funerals www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

NEWS CHECK YOUR BOUNDARIES Now we are into April it’s a good time to go into our gardens and look at ways we can protect our property. Front boundaries Low boundaries at the front give maximum visibility. Burglars will feel safer if they can hide behind high fences/hedges as they will be obstructed from view of passers-by from the road. Rear and side boundaries The height of rear and side fences should be 1.8 meters. If your boundary is particularly vulnerable the height can be increased with a trellis. This can be attractive and also act as a deterrent as it’s difficult to climb over without breaking the fence or making a noise. Gates All gates should be fitted with lockable slide bolts and have a padlock to stop someone reaching over to gain entry. Good news story Myself and PCSO Georgi Hawkes from Hadleigh SNT worked with PCSO Teresa England, Sgt Darren Oxbrow and the Youth Offending Team in a litter pick with some young people in the local area. PCSO Denise FORD, Hadleigh SNT Police: 999 emergencies only or 101 for non-emergencies Your local police: Hadleigh SNT, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD / hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Fri 7th - Thurs 13th April

THE BOSS BABY (U) Fri 7th - 13th: 12.00 & 5.00

BEAUTY & THE BEAST (PG) Fri 24th - Thurs 30th March

KONG: SKULL ISLAND (12A)

Fri 7th - Thurs 13th: 2.15 & 7.15

Fri 14th - Thurs 20th April

THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (12A)

Fri 14th & Sat 15th: 5.00 Sun 16th & Mon 17th: 7.30 Tue 18th & Wed 19th: 2.30 & 7.30 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (15) Fri 24th & Sat 25th: 5.00, Thurs 30th: 11.30am Thurs 20th: 2.15 Fri 24th & Sat 25th: 11.30am & 7.45 Sun 26th: 4.45, Mon 27th - Thurs 30th: 7.45

MOONLIGHT (15)

GET OUT (15)

HACKSAW RIDGE (15)

THE BOSS BABY (U)

Mon 27th - Thurs 30th: 5.00

Tue 28th & Thurs 30th: 2.30

Fri 14th & Sat 15th: 7.30 Thurs 20th: 11.45am

Fri 24th - Mon 27th: 2.30

Fri 14th & Sat 15th: 12.00 Sun 16th & Mon 17th: 12.00 & 5.15 Tue 18th & Wed 19th: 5.15, Thurs 20th: 4.45

Sun 26th: 12.15

Fri 14th - Mon 17th: 2.15

I, DANIEL BLAKE (15) THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (U) THE KING & I (1956) (U) Wed 29th: 11.30am

Fri 31st March - Thurs 6th April

BEAUTY & THE BEAST (PG) Fri 31st - Wed 5th: 11.45am & 5.00 Thurs 6th: 1.15 & 4.00

BEAUTY & THE BEAST (PG)

Fri 7th - Sun 9th: 9.30am, Wed 12th: 9.30am

Tasmin Greig stars in

TWELFTH NIGHT

Hello! Thank you so much for your wonderful Christmas presents! It was our first time of receiving a parcel. My children were very happy. They were playing, painting and trying on socks and a scarf the whole evening. The youngest even slept with the presents for a couple of days. Now with a pleasure and gratefulness I do my daughter’s ponytails with beautiful hair bands you gave her. We like everything you gave us! My son and daughter wear beautiful socks and use the nice stickers. We received the parcel on December 23, it was the birthday of my son Stepan, turned 6. My daughter Margarita is 8, but she is very ill. She is not able to walk, talk and eat by herself. She got paralysed when she was 2.5 years old. After 2 months of coma she lost many of her functions. But now she is getting a little better. With my very big thanks. Natasha So little can mean so very much. Link Chair Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / 07771 550868

MOANA (U)

Fri 14th - Sun 16th: 9.45am

*1x free adult per paying child. Under 10’s must be accompanied.

LIVE ON STAGE Monday 24th April - Tickets £15.00

Country Music with SHAUN LOUGHREY

ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD

www.regalstowmarket.co.uk / 01449 612825 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1AY

Dear Friends We got your parcel today (Feb 5). We were told it was coming for Christmas and we thought it had got lost! Thank you to everyone who took part in organising these parcels. Thank you for your attention and care. So long there are people like you out there in the world who are not indifferent to the problems of other people we keep our hope and faith! Let everything be good in your lives, we wish you all the luck, success and welfare you need. Be healthy and live long! With great respect, Natalia Kozhukhar

MONSTER TRUCKS (PG)

Thursday 20th April at 7.00pm - Tickets £12.50 Daniel Radcliffe stars in

At Christmas, many people joined our program to send a Christmas present to a disadvantaged child in Belarus. The following excerpts from two of the letters received shows just how much this meant to those who got a present:

BALLERINA (U)

LOGAN (15)

World Class Theatre - Beamed to Stowmarket Thursday 6th April at 7.00pm - Tickets £12.50

On April 2 I will go to Belarus to visit the 18 children who will arrive on July 2 in our summer group. The fact that parents are willing to send their children to a strange country, to people they have never met, for a whole month demonstrates how vital these health recuperation visits are for the children and how grateful the parents are if their child is selected.

POCKET MONEY MOVIES

THE BOSS BABY (U)

Fri 31st - Wed 5th: 7.45 NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE - EVENT CINEMA

Once again we are collecting clothes and medicines for the group who will arrive this year. If you can help with donations of good quality second hand clothing for ages six-13 we would be very grateful. All contributions are great appreciated and can be dropped into our charity shop in Needham Market or I am happy to arrange collection. Also required are basic medicines and for each child we try to collect the following items: Lemsip, decongestant capsules or drops, vapour rub, menthol nasal sticks, Immodium (or similar), menthol crystals, Sudacrem cream, oil of cloves or similar, digital thermometer, lip chap sticks, cold sore cream, Iglue mouth ulcer cream, paracetamol or ibuprofen tablets.

GREAT FAMILY FILMS, KIDS £2.50, ADULTS FREE!*

Sat 25th & Sun 26th March: 9.30am Sat 1st & Sun 2nd: 9.30am, Wed 5th: 9.30am

Sat 1st - Wed 5th: 2.30, Thurs 6th: 10.45am

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE MID SUFFOLK LINK

See website for show information & to buy tickets

In Touch online:

Pay upfront for the year AND RECeiVE......

3 MONTHS

FREE

[£270 instead of £360]

CLASSES

MEMBERSHIPS SINGLE PERSON

AVAILABLE

JOINING FEE CANCELLATION FEE CONTRACT

Family

£36

£50

£62

Standard

Gold

Standard

Gold

Gym & Classes

YOGA

ZUMBA

PILATES

CIRCUITS

& CIRCUIT BLAST

All including ONE

£30 Gym Or Classes

Spin

& SPIN CIRCUITS

Gym Or Classes

Gym & Classes

*Each price is per month. Family pricing is based on two people.

FREE INDUCTION

To book your place call us on 01449 723 441. Classes available to non-members.

& PERSONAL PROGRAM

.....................................................

CALL US ON 01449 723 441

Visit us on Social Media!

info@needhamgym.co.uk needhamgym.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

@NeedhamGym NeedhamGym

Needham Gym & Fitness Unit 6 • Maitland Rd Lion Barn Ind Est.

BOOTCAMP

FITSTEPS

PUMP

info@needhamgym.co.uk needhamgym.co.uk

ALL ABS

DANCEFIT

BOXERCISE

Needham Gym & Fitness Unit 6 • Maitland Rd Lion Barn Ind Est.

NEWS You’re invited to make an appointment at our Wherstead Park office to discuss:

Powers of Attorney Wills

Probate Court of Protection * We also offer a range of other services

Our out of town Ipswich location is very convinient for parking and has Contact us for an appointment at your convenience: excellent disabled access. www.ellisonssolicitors.com enquiries@ellisonssolicitors.com Wherstead Park, The Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ 01473 556 900 Ellisons Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA Number 49336

SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA) In the autumn of last year, Onslow Suffolk Ltd put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16. Full details can be found on the Mid Suffolk District Council website at: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/snoasis It is important to be aware that this is not a renewal of the original planning approval for SnOasis, which remains in place. Reserved Matters cover the detail of such topics as design, appearance, transport, drainage, ecological mitigation and so forth. This means that your local council and residents are not being asked whether they want the development to go ahead. Instead, the developer will put forward their plans regarding, for example, the external appearance of the ski slope, and we will be asked for comments on that and similar matters. Claydon and Whitton, Barham, Bramford, Great Blakenham, Somersham and Little Blakenham Parish Councils and Needham Market Town Council, along with Nettlestead and Baylham Parish Meetings have now formally joined the Snoasis Parish Alliance, a group to work together to consider the details of the Snoasis Reserved Matters and to exert more influence than we can as individual organisations. Of course, individual councils will still be consulting with their residents and making their own responses to Mid Suffolk District Council, but we believe that sharing both expertise and the workload will benefit both councils and residents. We had been informed that further information on Reserved Matters was due be supplied by the developer at the end of February. The SPA contacted MSDC Planning at the beginning of March to see if this had happened and were informed that an update would be posted on MSDC’s website “in due course”. By the time you are reading this article, the update may have appeared, but if it hasn’t, please keep checking the SnOasis section on the MSDC website. The SPA is committed to working with Mid Suffolk District Council to obtain the information that is necessary for councils to be able to make informed and constructive comments, so as soon as the details arrive, the SPA will begin work to scrutinise them. It is also intended that existing expertise amongst the councils will be used to analyse and comment on the vast amount of very detailed (and sometimes very technical) information that we are expecting the developer to provide. Work has already begun to plan for this. However, the continuing lack of the required information means that this process cannot begin, a situation which the SPA is finding very frustrating. A delay in receiving information means that, yet again, there isn’t much new to report this month. When more detail on Reserved Matters is received and the SPA begins to work on its response, our webpage (hosted on the Great Blakenham Parish Council website) will be regularly updated: www.greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net/snoasis-parish-alliance/ For further information, please email Janet Gobey, the clerk to the SPA: snoasispa@icloud.com Chairman Snoasis Parish Alliance Steve Plume

In Touch online:

NEWS FOUR COMMUNITIES ACTION GROUP The Four Communities Action Group (4CAG) was created in 2010 by members of the churches of Barham, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley, Age UK (Suffolk) and interested members of the wider community. We aim to work together as four parishes to develop new activities and support networks, especially for those in need, and to provide spiritual support and encouragement with a view to enhancing the lives of all members of the community. We currently have five organisations under our umbrella and would be interested in hearing from anyone who would like to be involved, either in our work or in the formation of a new group in the area looking for support. Please contact Rev Carl Melville – 01473 833542 / 4CAG@bigvax.co.uk – or drop in to any of our meetings to see us. Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club The Meet ’n’ Eat Lunch Club meet at noon the first Friday of each month at the Parish Rooms in Great Blakenham. Our regular meetings will continue throughout 2017, where for only £4 we serve a choice of soup, followed by homemade puddings and tea or coffee. In addition, we offer the chance to sit and chat with old friends, make new friends, play a game of bingo, win the raffle and have a bit of fun.

We are a small, friendly group who enjoy art. We take our own materials and have our own ‘projects’ for painting in various medias, including watercolour, acrylic, oils, pastels, pencils and ink. Membership is free but we pay a weekly subscription to attend. This pays for the room hire, refreshments and any items we need to purchase for exhibiting. During the summer months we occasionally go to scenic spots to paint outdoors, weather permitting! We hold a local exhibition once a year and also show our art at other exhibitions and attend small shows and galas. We are open to invitations to have a stand or stall at local events and can be contacted on the numbers shown below. If you are interested in joining our group we are now taking contact details as the group membership is almost full for the size of the room. Please contact Ann, our secretary, on 01473 831031 or Margaret, our treasurer, on 01473 830135. 4Ever Young Men’s Club The 4Ever Young Men’s Club meet at 10.30am on the third Wednesday of each month in the Crown at Claydon.

Following our recent inspection by Babergh and Mid-Suffolk District Council’s Food and Safety Team, we have been awarded a 5 star rating for Food Hygiene – something we’re very proud of.

We’re working hard to put together a timetable for 2017. Some good ideas came up at our last meeting which we’ll be trying to incorporate. We have highlighted two excellent looking museums which are open in the spring, and there is talk of one of our meetings taking place at one of the well-known breakfast establishments in the area.

If you need more information, please call Mike on 07805 507497 or just come along on the first Friday of the month with your friends. You will be very welcome.

Our visit to the Community Café in Claydon last month brought coffee and bacon rolls to our meeting – many thanks to Jill at the café for making us so welcome.

The Book Club Do you fancy reading something different to what you would usually choose? The Book Club has a few places left for new members on the last Thursday in the month at The Crown at 10.30am. Just come along and join us for a light-hearted discussion on the book we’ve chosen to read (we don’t go in for debating the author’s use of metaphors!) and perhaps the moral or social implications raised.

For more information, contact Mike Biddle on 07805 507497, or just turn up on the third Wednesday of the month, You will be very welcome.

The Gipping Valley Art Society We meet every Tuesday afternoon at Great Blakenham Parish Rooms.

The Knitting Group Do you enjoy knitting or want to learn how to? The Knitting Group meets from 10.30am-noon in the lounge at Alasdair Place on the first Thursday in the month. We pay £1 towards refreshments. You can bring along any knitting you want but if you need ideas, we have plenty. At the moment some of us are knitting small teddy bears for the fire brigade to take for children involved in incidents or hats and scarves for the soup kitchen.

IMPROVING LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS The current Claydon and Barham website was set up some five years ago. At that time only a few others were offering online information within the local area, such as the church and the local schools. Now, however, many more local groups provide useful news and information through their own websites, Facebook, Twitter and so on. Mostly, these cover more detailed information, primarily for members of a particular group. This is fine until you want to reach a wider audience say for an event, or to attract prospective members. To help in this respect, I have coordinated most of these sites under the one umbrella, with quick links to the various group pages. However, as webmaster I am not clairvoyant, so I must rely on you, please, to tell me when you set up or change a website, when the contact for your group changes, or when you would like extra publicity for your group. Please don’t expect me to look on lamp posts or find out about it through other indirect means. To that end I would ask for your cooperation by looking on the website to find your particular entries and just to check that the information is still correct. If you want extra publicity for your event just go to

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

the events page where you will find a link to a simple online form. Can I also suggest that you consider joining our free email service so that when there is updated local news you will know about it without having to keep looking at the website? This is a fully automated process and you will find a link on the home page, but if you would prefer that I set it up for you please send me an email using the Contact Us link. For those of you on Twitter you can link to the local Twitter feed. However you do not need to join Twitter to view the posts. The information is also displayed on the left hand side of our News pages. There you will find snippets of local news that will help you keep abreast of issues in the wider community. If you are new to the area or you have not used the website before, the simplest way to get to the website is to search for ‘Claydon and Barham’ and follow the links to the site which is at: http://claydonandbarham.onesuffolk.net John, Hon C&B Webmaster

OUT & ABOUT HENLEY PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

CLAYDON AND BARHAM VILLAGE HALL

Every village changes over time – some for the better and some, well, less so. Shops open and close, pubs open and close (don’t they just?), businesses thrive or decline. Henley is no different….

Dates for April Saturday 1 Monday 3 Wednesday 5 Thursday 6 Monday 10 Tuesday 11 Thursday 13 Monday 17 Thursday 20 Saturday 22 Monday 24 Tuesday 25 Wednesday 26 Thursday 27

A couple of years ago we had a lively and well-attended meeting in the community centre where many views were expressed about how the village could be improved. Today the school is very successful and much in demand and the community centre is lively and well-used. The garage at Fiveways is always busy. There’s no shop though and, sadly, the Cross Keys is still closed and on the market. As you may have seen in the last parish council minutes, it has been reported that a full-price offer was made to the owner of the pub, which was declined. On the agent’s website the pub is described as ‘Sold subject to contract’ – but to whom, and for what purpose, we don’t know as yet. Housing Needs Survey A recurring theme of all discussions about the village is housing. Do we need more houses? If so, what kind of houses, to attract which new residents? Does the village need more young families? More homes for the more elderly among us who would like a smaller house, but can’t find one in the village where they want to live? Do we need large houses or small? Upmarket, mid-market or ‘affordable’? With the support of Community Action Suffolk we will soon be distributing a housing needs survey to every household in the village. This is your chance to express your views, so please take the time to fill it out and return it. Local communities can exert great influence over their own future development. If a local plan is adopted with the agreement of residents, it has legal force and cannot be over-ridden by outside developers with bright ideas which might not be right for the community. The survey is your chance to have a say, so please do use it. If you are not on our village email list and would like to be, just send a simple request to henleyparishcouncil@gmail.com or rodcaird@yahoo. co.uk and we will sort it out. And don’t forget to keep an eye from time to time on our own website where we publish all sorts of useful (we hope!) information and contacts: www.henley.onesuffolk.net Henley Parish Council Clerk Rod Caird, 07785 331217

SUFFOLK BOOK LEAGUE Spend an evening with publisher and memoirist Hamish MacGibbon hosted by Suffolk Book League. The author will talk about his forthcoming book, Stalin’s Maverick Spy, which tells the story of his parents, their interaction with the Communist Party and their flirtation with wartime espionage. Hamish will be appearing at the Ipswich Institute Reading Room (15 Tavern Street, IP1 3AA) on Thursday, April 13 as part of Suffolk Book League’s 2017 programme of events. This particular event is free for members as it is also the league’s AGM. Doors will be open for members only at 6.30pm. The AGM starts at 7pm (members only). General admission is £8 with students free. To book tickets email: tickets@sbl.org.uk The talk which starts at 7.30pm will be followed by an audience Q&A session with the author. www.sbl.org.uk

Private hire Craft Addicts Barham PC Meeting Claydon Table Tennis Silver Surfers Slimming World C&W Annual Parish Meeting Women’s Institute Sunshine Service Silver Surfers Slimming World Craft Addicts Silver Surfers Slimming World WI Plant Sale/Ploughman’s Lunch Barham PC Meeting Village Hall Management Meeting Bar-Clay Music Makers AGM Young Families

1.30-5.30pm 1-4pm 7-10pm 7.15-10.30pm 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 7-9pm 7.30-10pm 10am-noon 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 1-4pm 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 10am-2pm 7-10pm 7.30-10pm 7.30-10pm 9.30-11.30am

For more information on village hall activities visit the Claydon and Barham website and follow the links. Hall bookings now only online.

CLAYDON & BARHAM WI PLANT SALE Saturday, April 22, 11am-2pm In Claydon Village Hall Ploughman’s available for £3.50 All welcome

MENDLESHAM STREET FAYRE – BOOK YOUR STALL NOW Why not visit Mendlesham Street Fayre on Monday, May 1? There will be something for everyone, young and old. Old Market Street will be closed to traffic and full of stalls with crafts, tombola, jewellery, books and wonderful plants at bargain prices. Entertainment will include the Samboomba band, Stowmarket Boys Brigade Band, Stacks of Sax, East Suffolk Morris Men, children’s entertainer The Tricky Twister, Gypsy Dreams exotic dancers, birds of prey, the Mendlesham Armoury, Bygone Farm Vehicles, a bouncy castle, an art and craft show, hog roast and a free car park. Bridie the Tea Lady on Stilts from Britain’s Got Talent will also be joining us. Mendlesham Bakery & Convenience Store, Mendlesham Fish & Chip Shop and the Kings Head will be open all day. Both churches, the preschool and the WI will provide sandwiches, cakes and tea and the Scouts will be cooking hot dogs and burgers. The fayre will open at 10.30am and end at 5pm. The May Princess Procession will start at noon. Admission for adults is £3, under 16s free. Money raised goes towards village projects and organisations. Stall bookings are now being taken. To book please contact: Angela 01449 766483 / angiepickup@btinternet.com Julie 01449 766006 / neil.williams38@btinternet.com

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT SALVATION ARMY CHARITY MOTORBIKE RIDE Saturday, May 20 Fifty-mile round trip through beautiful Suffolk countryside. 10am: Meet at Stowmarket Salvation Army Corps, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket IP14 1NE 11am: Ride starts 12.30pm approx: finish time back at the Corps Tea, coffee and hot snacks available at the beginning and a BBQ at the end. Suggested £5 donation please.

AN INVITATION TO ALL MEN On Tuesday, May 2 the Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir is inviting all men who love to sing to its open rehearsal at Stowupland Village Hall, 3 Church Road, Stowupland, Stowmarket IP14 4BG commencing at 7pm. Formed in April 1968, the Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir has built a reputation and tradition for music to entertain a wide variety of audiences. One of its main purposes is helping local communities and charitable organisations by assisting them in their fundraising while representing the constabulary. The choir, who normally rehearse at Martlesham Police Headquarters, is pleased to recruit and welcome members from all walks of life, with or without a connection to the constabulary, to continue its social function and charitable work. There are no auditions and the ability to read music is not essential. On average the choir performs one concert per month in aid of local good causes.

ClaydonTiling Ltd CERAMIC TILER Shaun Richardson 4 Rowan Close, Claydon, Suffolk IP6 0RD

Tel: 01473 831247 Mob: 07810 291157

E: claydontilingltd@btinternet.com

For more details contact the choir secretary Stephen Wade: 01449 672600 / scmvc@scwade.eclipse.co.uk

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5 MIP/5A MIP/5B MIP/5C MIP/5D MIP/5E MIP/5F MIP/5G MIP/5H MIP/5I MIP/5J MIP/5K

Town/village Location Sproughton Church Lane Sproughton Wild Man Bramford St Mary’s Close Bramford Paper Mill Lane Great Blakenham, Chequers Great Blakenham, Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park Baylham Post Box Claydon Crown Claydon Edinburgh Gardens Barham Bacon Road Bramford Packard Place

Time 9.10-9.25am 9.30-9.45am 9.50-10.05am 10.10-10.25am 10.35-1055am 11-11.15am 11.25-11.45am 11.55am-1pm 2.05-2.20pm 2.25-3.50pm 4-4.30pm

2017 DATES: April 11, May 9, June 6, July 4, August 1, August 29, September 26, October 24, November 21, December 19

CLAYDON & BARHAM WI OPEN EVENING FOR ALL Tuesday, April 11 at 7.15pm Jane Sago of Super Scrimpers fame will be making quick and easy suppers. Cost £2 per head to include sampling of food and refreshments. Please pay at door. Should you wish to attend, and so Jane knows how many to cater for, please contact one of the following: Barbara 832330; Linda 839948; Mary 830004.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

Local Craft & Produce Fair SATURDAY 1st APRIL 9.00am-1.00pm THE COMMUNITY CAFE AT CLAYDON AND BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE CHURCH LANE CLAYDON IPSWICH IP6 0EG Open to all, come along and see some beautiful local crafts and wonderful produce and enjoy some tempting treats at the cafe while you shop. Stalls are available at £12 with table provided or £10 if you bring your own.

To book contact Claire email cjbullard17@gmail.com

OUT & ABOUT CLAYDON & BARHAM WI

STOWMARKET WILDLIFE GROUP

We met on the evening of March 14 when our speaker, Ken Stone, presented an illustrated talk titled The Royal Year. He was a most interesting speaker and the photographs of the royal family were beautiful. We also welcomed Lucy who has moved to the village from Hertfordshire. We do hope that she had an enjoyable evening and look forward to seeing her again this month. The competition to design a postage stamp was won by Jill, second Jane.

On Wednesday, April 26 at 7.30pm Nigel Middleton presents a talk on peregrines.

On March 27 we will be having lunch out at The Mermaid in Ipswich, and on April 29 the book club will meet at the community centre at 10am. On April 6 the walking group will gather at Thornhill at 10.30am, and on April 22 there will be a plant sale and ploughman’s in the village hall (see page 14). Next month we meet on April 11 when Jane Sago of Super Scrimpers fame will cook easy suppers (see page 15). All are welcome. The competition will be a decorated heart. Should anyone wish to come to our meetings, please ring Barbara on 832330. You will be made most welcome.

Following February’s very well attended and enthralling whistle stop tour of the SWT Coastal reserves, April promises to be just as exciting and interesting. Nigel will tell about the work of the Hawk and Owl Trust for peregrines. Peregrines have suffered illegal killing from gamekeepers and landowners and been a target for egg collectors, but better legal protection and control of pesticides have helped the population to recover considerably from a low in the 1960s. We are sure that this will be another packed audience eager to learn all about these fantastic birds. Talks are held at Stowupland Village Hall, Church Road, Stowupland IP14 4BQ. Admission, including refreshments, is £2.50 with children free. For further information contact John Thompson: 01449 676471 / swt@imago.fsworld.co.uk

1ST CLAYDON SCOUT GROUP Curry night raises more than £100 I’d like to say a big thank you to Helen Staff for organising a curry night for 1st Claydon Scout Group. More than 25 people attend including some Scouts, friends and family and we raised more than £100. We were treated to an excellent three-course Indian meal at The Curry Inn in Needham Market. We all enjoyed it so much we are going to hold another one in June – more details will follow.

J O I NT H EA D V EN T U R E L e ade rs and H e l pe R e q uire d J O I N T H ErsA D V EN T U R E L e ade rs and H e l pe rs R e q uire d Every year we help over 450,000 young people in the UK enjoy new adventures; to experience the outdoors, interact with others, gain conﬁdence and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. And it’s not just young people can get in onpeople the action. our Every year we help overwho 450,000 young in theWorking UK enjoyalongside new youth members are thousands of adult volunteers, with a huge variety of adventures; to experience the outdoors, interact with others, gain roles and opportunities conﬁdence and have theavailable. opportunity to reach their full potential. And it’s not just young people who can get in on the action. Working alongside our youth members are thousands of adult volunteers, with a huge variety of roles and opportunities available.

1 stC l ay do n Be av e rs |C ub s |Sc o ut s 1 stC l ay do n Be av e rs |C ub s |Sc o ut s 16

Join a successful and growing group and make a real impact in the lives of young people. No previous experience is necessary we will train and guide you every step of the way. Join a successful and growing group and make a real impact in the lives of I N T ER EST ED ? No previous experience is necessary we will train and guide young people. Contact: you every step of the way. Mark Pearson, Assistant Group Scout Leader 07802 249ED 686 I N T ER EST ? | markpearsonfreshﬁelds@outlook.com Contact: Mark Pearson, Assistant Group Scout Leader 07802 249 686 | markpearsonfreshﬁelds@outlook.com

C A NY O UI N SPI R E? C A NY O UI N SPI R E?

In Touch online:

www.facebook.com/claydonchurches @ClaydonChurches

ST MARY’S CHURCH Great Blakenham

ĂƐƚĞƌ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǀĞŶƚƐ ϮϬϭϳ

Wedding Festival

DŽƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ^ƵŶĚĂǇ – ϮϲƚŚ DĂƌĐŚ ϭϬĂŵ ϭϬĂŵ ϭϭĂŵ ϭϬĂŵ ϭϬĂŵ ϭϭĂŵ

,ĞŶůĞǇ ŚƵƌĐŚ ĂƌŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ 'ƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ

ĨĂŵŝůǇΛŚĞŶůĞǇ ,ĞŶůĞǇ ŚƵƌĐŚ ,ŽůǇ ŽŵŵƵŶŝŽŶ ĂƌŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ ,ŽůǇ ŽŵŵƵŶŝŽŶ 'ƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ

DĂƵŶĚǇ dŚƵƌƐĚĂǇ – ϭϯƚŚ Ɖƌŝů ϲƉŵ ϴƉŵͲůĂƚĞ

With inspiration, help & advice from wedding specialists, beautifully designed dresses and show-stopping floral displays, the Great Blakenham Wedding Festival is a fantastic opportunity to plan the perfect wedding. Plus, lots of giveaways, goodies & freebies to wedding couples.

ŐĂƉĞ DĞĂů 'ƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ WĂƌŝƐŚ ZŽŽŵ ,ŽůǇ ŽŵŵƵŶŝŽŶ 'ƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ

'ŽŽĚ &ƌŝĚĂǇ – ϭϰƚŚ Ɖƌŝů ϵ͘ϯϬĂŵ ϭϬĂŵ ϳƉŵ

Saturday 27th

Sunday 28th

Monday 29th

Wedding Dresses on display, Flower Displays, Hear the Organ being played, Meet local Vicars, Bridal & classic Cars, Wedding Menu at the Chequers Pub.

The Festival continues but with the addition of a Renewal of Vows Service with favourite Wedding hymns at 4pm

Our biggest day of exhibitors including: Florists, Wedding Favours, Reception Venues, Bridal & Groom Wear, Photographers, Wedding Cakes, Disco and Party ideas, Wedding Food at The Chequers & loads more! See website for full list of exhibitors.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

DŽƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ^ƵŶĚĂǇ &ĂŵŝůǇ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ DŽƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ^ƵŶĚĂǇ &ĂŵŝůǇ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ DŽƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ^ƵŶĚĂǇ &ĂŵŝůǇ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ

WĂůŵ ^ƵŶĚĂǇ – ϵƚŚ Ɖƌŝů

27th – 29th May 2017 10am-4pm each day Free admission

See claydonchurches.com for further details

dŚĞ ůĂǇĚŽŶ 'ƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ŚƵƌĐŚĞƐ

^ĞƌǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌŝƐŚĞƐ ŽĨ ůĂǇĚŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂƌŚĂŵ͕ ,ĞŶůĞǇ ĂŶĚ 'ƌĞĂƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ

Children’s Workshops Children’s Workshops ĂŶĚůĞůŝƚ ZĞĨůĞĐƚŝŽŶƐ

,ŽůǇ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂǇ – ϭϱƚŚ Ɖƌŝů ϳƉŵ

ĂƐƚĞƌ sŝŐŝů ǁŝƚŚ &ŝƌĞ

ĂƐƚĞƌ ĂǇ – ϭϲƚŚ Ɖƌŝů ϭϬĂŵ ϭϬĂŵ ϭϭĂŵ

ĂƐƚĞƌ ŽŵŵƵŶŝŽŶ ĂƐƚĞƌ ŽŵŵƵŶŝŽŶ ĂƐƚĞƌ ŽŵŵƵŶŝŽŶ

,ĞŶůĞǇ ŚƵƌĐŚ ĂƌŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ ,ĞŶůĞǇ ŚƵƌĐŚ 'ƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ

ĂƌŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ ,ĞŶůĞǇ ŚƵƌĐŚ 'ƚ ůĂŬĞŶŚĂŵ ŚƵƌĐŚ

ĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ĂƐƚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƵƐ͊ ǁǁǁ͘ĐůĂǇĚŽŶĐŚƵƌĐŚĞƐ͘ĐŽŵ 17

OUT & ABOUT HENLEY 100 CLUB HENLEY WI At our last meeting we had a visit from Zelda who owns Viking Stained Glass in Needham Market. She began her business in 2008. After going to university as a mature student she met a man who had workshop space available and she set up in business with her father and is mainly self-taught. She gave us an insight into how the glass is stained and what is added to give the enormous range of colours. She makes her own designs, uses lead to make panels and loves using bright colours. She takes commissions, makes and repairs jewellery and does Tiffany work using copper foil. It was a most interesting talk and she brought along a number of her pieces for us to see and buy. Our next meeting is our birthday meeting and in April we have a talk intriguingly titled Of Cabbages and Kings.

HENLEY MOTHERS’ UNION A very important part of Mothers’ Union is helping the local community, and last year our branch collected items for the Women’s Refuge in Ipswich and Ipswich Winter Night Shelter. We also made twiddle muffs for the residents of Barham Care Home, knitted muffs with lots of things to fiddle with which are great for helping people to relax, particularly if they suffer from dementia. Last month Chris and Anji Dawkins talked to us about Kagera in Tanzania, a place they have visited in the past and will be visiting again this summer. Kagera is suffering from a drought which has resulted in almost no crops to harvest, so they are in desperate need of help. There is a special Lent Appeal for Kagera with more information available at: www.cofesuffolk.org/news/article/kagera-lent-appeal Visitors and new members are always welcome to our meetings, so why not come along and find out more? Future meetings are: Monday, April 10 at 7.30pm: Faith in Action Monday, May 8 at 7.30pm: Away From It All Holidays Monday, May 22 at 2pm: Our Link Dioceses Monday, June 12 at 6pm: Visit to Otley Hall For more details and meeting locations contact Clare Thomas: 01473 832808 / clare.thomas@btinternet.com

January prize-winners: Clare Thomas, Graham Hughes, Ross Lunney February prize-winners: David and Irene Nutton, Penny Braybrooke, Keith Lawrance It is always good to have new members; you can join at any time of year. The cost is just £4 per month and the more members we get, the greater the prize money. All profits go to St Peter’s Church, Henley. Please contact Richard Self: 01473 831930 / rselfhomefarm@gmail.com

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50S CLUB The Great Blakenham Over 50s Club is open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham from 2-4pm. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House with its own parking area at the rear. It is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. At our first meeting in March we were pleased to welcome Ruth Fox and Robert Shepherd from Bramford. We hope they will become members in due course. At this meeting we had a visit from Annette Ellis from Stowmarket Tourist Office to give us an insight into the varied work they do. She tested our local knowledge with a quiz about Suffolk. We had a social afternoon led by Brenda for our second meeting of the month FUTURE DATES April 12: Social afternoon April 26: A return visit from Peter Banham with more sayings and the history of their meaning May 10: Social afternoon May 24: Behind the Bathroom Door by Liza Jones, looking at the history of items such a the toothbrush, toilet paper and deodorants June 14: Social afternoon with Brenda June 28: A visit by Hannah Barton from the Citizens Advice Bureau explaining the work they do and the services they provide to the community July 12: Social afternoon with Sandra July 26: Summer tea party with entertainment by one of our members, Dot Chapman, on her accordion As you can see we have quite a varied programme. New members are always welcome, but if you would just like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB In April, owing to school holidays and Easter, the club will be closed for the first three weeks. It will re-open on April 24 (Monday group 7.30-9.30pm) and April 26 (Wednesday group 10am-noon). Membership for the academic year is £1, plus £2 per session. Broadband and refreshments available. No set programme, but we are here to help you to get the most out of your computer.

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of, or a volunteer for, the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you. We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF at 7.15pm. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, April 25 when Horry Parsons will be talking about the construction of the Millennium Tower at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, featuring the installation of the vaulted ceiling. Horry has appeared on national television as a building techniques expert and, as many will remember, is a very entertaining speaker. This promises to be an interesting talk.

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB February prize-winners were: Peter Keeble (No. 69): £15.90 Emma Cummings (No. 17): £7.95 Brenda Bugg (No. 44): £2.65 New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 per month and the draw takes place on the last Friday of each month from September through to July. The more entries we get the greater the prize money and all money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school. For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

On Tuesday, May 16 Anthony Cobbold will talk about one of Suffolk’s best known families, the Cobbolds, and their contribution to Suffolk life. Anthony founded the Cobbold Family Trust and will be delving into the family history which, as we will see, consists of more than beer and football.

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL

Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome. The entrance fee is £3. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 per year (£12 per couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events.

The children really enjoyed their Easter Eggstravaganza at the end of term, and the Easter bonnets the children had made were very creative. At the end of the term the children were all very excited about their Easter break and the fact that the Easter Bunny may have brought them some chocolate to eat. We are hoping that everyone will be fully rested and ready to greet the summer term when we open again on Wednesday, April 19. We are also very excited as some of the pre-school children will be going on our organised coach trip to Easton Farm Park on Thursday, April 27. Let’s hope it’s a sunny day.

For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, April 26, 7pm: The History & Success of Sanders Coaches, an illustrated talk by Charles Sanders We meet at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. Entrance via the rear car park. Visitors welcome – £3.50 at door including refreshments. Details from: 01473 414746/422145 www.idhts.co.uk

BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD At our March meeting we invited other guilds and friends to a fashion show by Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Five of our members were models and all enjoyed it very much, even though some were nervous to start with. Our April meeting will be a talk on Turkey by Jenny. This is on Monday, April 3 at 2pm in Bramford Scout and Guide Headquarters.

SOMERSHAM & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Our next meeting is on Monday, April 10 at 7.30pm when David Hack will present a talk titled How to Make Your Garden Count. The meeting will be held in Offton & Willisham Village Hall and anyone is welcome. For any further information please contact: 01473 830600/254941

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

What a fun filled spring term all of our pre-school children have had. There were lots of activities going on, including making Valentine’s Day cards, Mother’s Day cards, dressing up for World Book Day and Easter crafts.

We are really sorry to say goodbye to our fantastic deputy manager and SENCo, Emma Cummings. We wish her well for the future and look forward to welcoming a new deputy in the near future. Don’t forget to get your applications in now for places in September 2017. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am-3.30pm during term time. Children can start from the age of two until they go to reception. Session fees are £9.60 and we offer a lunch club (noon12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept Childcare Vouchers and we offer two-year funded places for any eligible children. We also run a holiday club in the Easter and summer holidays for ages two to eight – further information can be obtained by contacting the administrator. If you would like any more information regarding any of the above events or just to find out more about Claydon Pre-school please contact administrator Lisa Read: 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

Hunnaball of Ipswich Family Funeral Service

NEW BRANCH NOW OPEN

420 Spring Road Ipswich IP4 5NE

01473 717464 www.hunnaball.co.uk 19

SCHOOLS CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Local Race Walking athlete Dominic King visited in March and completed a range of fitness activities with each class. During a whole school assembly he shared his knowledge and experience of being an Olympic athlete, as well as answering questions from the school council. The children thoroughly enjoyed it. As this was a sponsored event we would like to thank all parents, carers, family and friends for supporting pupils to raise sponsorship money to support sport in our school.

It has been an extremely busy couple of months here at CPS with sporting events, music, World Book Day, a visit from an Olympic athlete and even penguins on the loose!

The boy’s football team had a number of matches as they compete in three competitions. In the IPSSA Small Schools football league they have come up against The Oaks, Morland, St Johns, St Marys, Rosehill and Birchwood – winning two, drawing two and losing two. They have also competed in the Owain Richards Football Cup and made it through to the quarter final after fantastic results against The Oaks then Sprites, but came up against an extremely strong side in St Marks, who we wish all the best in the next round. Mr Wardrop also took a squad (pictured) to Portman Road to take part in the EFL Kids’ Cup competition where, despite Storm Doris, they made it through to the quarter finals again after some great team performances. The girl’s football team have also been training hard over the autumn and spring term and are excited to start their league fixtures, so we wish them and the boys the best for their remaining fixtures. A Y4 Futsal squad and Y5 girl’s futsal squad took took part in the School Games fustal tournaments at Inspire Suffolk. Both squads thoroughly enjoyed taking part, in what was for many their first experience of competitive futsal matches. The children displayed a great attitude throughout, working hard as a team and displaying many of the skills they had been practising. Netball fixtures have continued as have Tag Rugby and Quicksticks competitions. We are extremely proud of the pupils who represent the school at sporting events and on behalf of all staff involved, we thank all the volunteers who help transport the children and for their general support throughout the events. As part of their Antarctica and Africa topic this term, Years 1 and 2 had a Penguin Day where all pupils and staff came in dressed in black and white. The children had received a letter asking them to track an imaginary penguin and carry out various tasks. These included learning a dance inspired by Happy Feet, painting different species of penguins, packing an imaginary suitcase ready to go to Antarctica and much more. Also, linked to the African aspect of the topic children in Years 1 and 2 had an exciting experience as they took part in an African drumming session lead by Anna Mudeka. The children thoroughly enjoyed the morning as they learnt about the different types of drums, had a go at playing them and also dressed up in traditional African dress.

On Thursday, March 2 we celebrated World Book Day with the children coming in dressed as their chosen book character and with the book. The children spent time talking about books they have read, the characters they were dressed as and authors who inspire them. Every class then had a surprise visitor at the end of the day to read them a story. We really appreciate the effort parents and carers made to support the day by buying and making some amazing outfits. As the sun begins to shine a little more, we have lots to look forward to as we move towards the summer term, more sport, Art Attack Day, visits including residentials, productions and performances, but no penguins! Deputy Headteacher L Collins

In Touch online:

SCHOOLS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL

ski lessons with friendly instructors who soon had students traversing the slopes with confidence. Evenings were spent relaxing and taking part in activities, including bowling, a quiz night, a disco and a night skiing session. My thanks go to the staff for giving up their time and the students for their impeccable behaviour. On February 24 and 25, 100 Year 11 students travelled to the Mersea Outdoor Centre in Essex to take part in a GCSE Bootcamp. This overnight stay included intense revision in English and mathematics, mixed in with some outdoor activities before learning revision strategies and how to prepare for exams. We were pleased that Storm Doris had departed a few days before and despite some windy weather, it was good fun. The revision process should now start in earnest as the countdown to their exams begin.

I would like to start by congratulating the talented group of 36 students who performed in Celebration of Schools’ Music 2017 at the world famous concert hall at Snape Maltings on Tuesday, March 7. This event is the result of a long-standing partnership between Snape Maltings Learning and Inclusion (Aldeburgh Music) and Suffolk County Music Service and gives students of all ages an opportunity to come together to enjoy and participate in music. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of this event. Our school choir performed three songs composed by Claydon GCSE music students Matt, Eleanor and Ben, as well as taking part in a collective group piece with other schools. All our students, including those who accompanied the choir, worked fantastically hard to give an amazing performance on the night and were an absolute credit to the school.

We were delighted to welcome TV presenter and journalist Bill Turnbull to the school on Wednesday, March 1. As part of the Speakers for Schools initiative, Bill spoke to Year 10 students about his life and career, giving them an insight into his own personal journey. He was a very engaging speaker and students really responded to him, with one commenting: “He was absolutely inspiring, interesting and hilarious.” Another student said: “It was interesting to hear about his life story and to see a side of him that we don’t see on the news.” As I write this article, we still have so much to look forward to including our annual fun run, an art exhibition featuring work from our feeder primary school students alongside Years 7-9, a music recital by Year 10 students, giving them an opportunity to perform their GCSE pieces to an audience, and BBC School Report Day. On March 16, our school reporters from Years 7-10 will be joined by guest visitors from NCS (National Citizens Service), Future Female Society, Volunteering Matters and The Teapot Project for the annual BBC School Report Day. This year takes on the theme of mental health with our own focus on ‘making a difference in your local community’. Students will give up timetabled lessons to interview our guests and produce articles that will shed more light on these important issues and provide information that can be shared around school and beyond.

During the February half-term holiday, a group of students travelled to Austria for our bi-annual ski trip. Students travelled by coach and ferry to the beautiful town of Obertauern. The seven-day trip included daily

If you would like to visit the school to see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Thursday, April 25. Please telephone my PA, Mrs J Pedersen, to book a place: 01473 836110 Headteacher Mrs S Skinner

HENLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL As you read this surrounded by daffodils, tulips and the promise of summer, we too are focussing on the outdoors at HPS. In Class 1 our brand new exciting outdoor space is almost complete and the children are itching to try out the shiny new slide and sandpit. On the subject of things brand new, we had a visit from Isabella, a threemonth-old baby girl. With several members of the class already having or awaiting baby siblings, there was a lively conversation and lots of questions. This tied in nicely with our All About Me topic which features timelines of the children from being babies themselves to the confident young people we have in class. In Class 2 we have been enjoying our outdoor learning sessions, concentrating on teamwork, problem solving, endurance and resilience. We just need the children to be able to spell these things and we’ll be well ahead! In addition to our outside lessons we have been working on myths and legends, producing some fabulous pieces of work about Odysseus and the Trojan Horse. All this work means the children deserve some treats so we have another theatre company performing The Dragon of Krakow and also a visit to Piper’s Vale Gymnastic Club. You can’t accuse us of not providing variety!

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

Our KS2 children have also been enjoying the outdoors with a keen focus on sporting activities including competition in tag rugby, boys and girls football, dodge ball and cross country. Our mixed hockey team were the first to parade our new sports kit and very professional they looked indeed. Class 3 were fortunate to have a visit from a real life massive green tractor. The children were very excited to have the opportunity to learn about farming so close to such a fabulous piece of machinery. Our thanks to Mr Self of Walnut Tree Farm for sparing the time to enlighten us about farming life. Class 4 have also spent some time out on a field trip to West Stow Anglo Saxon Village. Thankfully they were able to avoid the gale force winds and explore their topic theme of settlements without being blown over. Our Year 6 received good news when they were all offered places at the high school of their choice. We are all very happy for them and hope they make the most of their time with us before they move onto their next big adventure.

SCHOOLS / SPORT CLAYDON & BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES CLAYDON FC Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project which has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 26 years. We welcome parents, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 a family. This month we meet on April 27 from 9.30-11.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. Families can enjoy a craft activity where children can be creative and try out different materials to produce an individual masterpiece. Playdough and all sorts of toys that encourage children’s imaginative play and physical and social development are available. We also enjoy singing together and it’s a good opportunity for parents/carers to meet others with pre-school children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children. A big thank you to everyone who purchased a quiz sheet; this year’s winners are the Musgrove Family. Well done to them. This month we wish happy birthday to Elliot, Rosie and Calliope. Why not come along and join in the fun? You can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on Netmums.com. Michelle

SOMERSHAM TENNIS CLUB CHILDREN’S TENNIS RESTARTS APRIL 20 We are again being supported by the Lawn Tennis Association for our children’s clubs with Toby as our coach. Ages fourfive up eight years old will play from 5.306.15pm and over eights from 6.15-7pm. These ages are only a rough guide as it depends on the individual child’s ability as to which group they belong in. The tennis courts are in the far corner of the playing field, opposite the phone box on the main road. A car park is available at the Princes Gardens entrance. The cost is £2.50 per child per session. New children welcome. For further details contact Mrs PA Pearson: 16 Princes Gardens, Lower Somersham IP8 4PF / 01473 831436

GIPPING VALLEY BOWLS CLUB We will soon be commencing our warm-up programme for the start of the new season. The green opens officially on Monday, April 17. With this in mind, we will be holding a taster session on Saturday, April 22 from 10am-1.30pm for anybody who might be interested in taking up a new sport. Even experienced bowlers are welcome. Our current bowlers will be on hand to help anybody who is interested; just come along and bring some flat shoes. Our green is on the B1113 at Gt Blakenham, opposite the end of Chapel Lane. Parking is available. If you require further information please contact our secretary, Rita Adams: 01473 830845

Presentation Day 2017 This season’s presentation day will be on Sunday, May 7 from 11am at Blue Circle and the executive committee will shortly be sending the start time for each age group to managers and posting them onto social media. We look forward to another superb day of activities for both players and parents. There will be a bar and barbecue along with numerous football related games for the players. Groundsman of the Year – Tony Adams

In the competition open to clubs in the county who play at Step 7 and below, Tony Adams was voted the winner by the panel of judges who visited the grounds during February. Tony, who has been groundsman at Touchline SIL Division One leaders Claydon for the past 18 months, said: “I am shocked. It is a great honour for the club and everyone associated with it. I am totally amazed and it just proves that something you enjoy doing and work hard at is very fulfilling.” Tony’s prize is £200 for Claydon to spend on ground care equipment courtesy of sponsors Ransomes Jacobsen. Ipswich-based Ransomes Jacobsen, one of the world’s largest suppliers of grounds care equipment, sponsored the competition for this first time this season, doubling the prize money on offer. Under 7s introduction session As with previous years, Claydon FC will be running an Under 7s introduction session at Blue Circle, and this year it will be on Sunday, May 7 from 9.30-10.30am. If you are under seven years of age on September 6, 2017 and want to learn to play football in a superb environment with award winning facilities, please get in touch. While players have a free coaching session parents can have a tour of the club’s facilities and ask any questions of the team. For more information or to pre-book a place please contact: events@claydon-fc.co.uk / 07903 398460 U11 Tigers sponsorship deal The U11 Tigers are pleased to welcome COMTEC Direct as our sponsor for the next two years and the players, parents, managers and club officials would like to express their gratitude at your support for the players. COMTEC stocks a comprehensive range of networking products from structured and fibre optic cabling through to data racks and servers which are available for next day delivery.

SPROUGHTON TENNIS CLUB The junior coaching programme begins on Thursday, April 20. Every week until the summer holidays (except Whitsun half-term), three sessions of coaching will be available. The sessions are as follows: 3.45-4.15pm for U8s; 4.15-5pm for 8-11 years; 5-6pm for 11-16 years. John, our popular coach, will have lots of games and drills to improve your tennis. For adults, our club night program starts on Easter Monday, April 17 and Thursday, April 20 from 7pm along with a new daytime session starting on Friday, April 21 at 10am. New members are half-price. For more information, please contact tennis@sproughtontennis.co.uk / 01473 402307 or visit: www.sproughtontennis.co.uk

In Touch online:

SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE BARHAM ATHLETIC FOOTBALL CLUB

NEEDHAM MARKET BOWLS CLUB Our winter socials are going well. January 20 was extremely successful thanks to the Stowmarket Strummers ukulele band who were warmly applauded. February saw our annual Big Quiz which was keenly contested as usual with Hunkydory the winners. Homemade soup and mixed fruit crumble provided by Pat Goodrum was very well received. Non-members are always welcome at our socials. See contact details below. The outdoor season is fast approaching and our dedicated green team are now hard at work ensuring the green is in the best possible condition. The opening drive will be on Saturday, April 22 (or Sunday, April 23 if weather conditions are too bad on the Saturday) starting at 2pm. Our first outdoor social will be the Friends and Family Barbecue on Sunday, May 14, starting at 2pm. There will be a President’s Day competition again this year as well club competitions. The dates will be published later.

Barham Athletic are an adult side that promote football the right way, with a competitive edge and enjoyment at the heart of our DNA. The club has FA Charter Standard status and we are proud to host two senior men’s sides, both of which compete on Saturdays in the Touchline SIL (Suffolk and Ipswich League). The 1st Team (top picture) are currently applying their trade in Division Two and the Reserve Team (bottom) in Division Four. To complement the senior teams, we have recently established a Veteran’s side which is currently competing on Sundays in Division Two (West) of the Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League. Although a relatively young club, this doesn’t stop us having big ambitions. Our mission is to make the club something the local community can be proud of and to provide footballing opportunities to all age groups. We aim to steadily grow the club year by year, this will hopefully see the 1st Team playing Senior Division football and a number of junior sides established in the not too distant future. Our on the field ambitions would not be possible without the continued support of local businesses. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our official sponsors The Sorrel Horse Inn, IBO Glass & Glazing, MB Accident Repair and J Studd Motors Ltd. To find out more about the club, visit: www.barhamathleticfc.co.uk

BUFFET STYLE LUNCHES PROVIDED AS RESPITE FOR FAMILY CARERS Local charity Suffolk Family Carers is offering a regular, free buffet lunch to family carers in Suffolk at its drop-in centre on the Hill View Business Park in Claydon. The charity, which converted its old café space in to a drop-in centre for family carers a year ago, is now providing a buffet lunch once a month for family carers to come along, bring the person they care for if they wish to, enjoy a delicious lunch and enjoy relaxing and chatting with other carers in the comfortable seating area. The drop-in provides a safe, warm and fully accessible space. The buffet style lunches will take place once a month and places must be booked in advance.

MEET AND GREET DAYS Based at Crowley Park, NMBC is calling all you non-bowlers to attend our Meet and Greet days on Saturdays, April 22 and 29 at 10.30am. Please come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit. Bowls and basic instruction will be provided and if you just want to watch and chat that’s fine. Although bowls is an ideal sport for the active older person, remember ‘YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BOWL’. Contact: Pat Hadden 01743 831308 / Alistair Bailie 01449 720759

THE DUKE IS SAVED Message from James Batchelor-Wylam, chair Save the Duke “The Duke of Marlborough is, after over two years of campaigning, fundraising and hard work, a community-owned pub! Over £300,000 was raised, and the keys of this historic oak-beamed village pub are now in our hands. “An enormous thank you to everyone who has contributed, whether by investing or fundraising or attending campaign events. It is a massive achievement, all down to our fantastic supporters. Between us we have stopped this beautiful pub, which has been offering hospitality for over 500 years, from being turned into a private house. “Now begins the hard work, as we turn it into a warm, welcoming, happening pub that is good enough to attract people from afar while also serving communities from nearby villages and towns. “Our 230 shareholders – and rising – will no doubt be among the many customers keen to come back on a regular basis, but hundreds more people have expressed enthusiasm and told us they’ll be visiting just as soon as we get the place up and running. We are looking for an experienced, ambitious manager-chef duo to run the pub with a great food offer. For further information contact: marlboroughsomersham@gmail.com “In the meantime, we are likely to be opening up on a couple of nights a week for drinks only – keep your eye open for further info!”

The first lunch is on March 31 from noon-2pm. Further lunch dates have been booked and are available to view at: www.suffolkfamilycarers.org If you are a family carer and would like to go along, please call the charity on 01473 835477 to register and book your place. If you are already registered with the charity as a family carer, please call 01473 835404 to reserve your place.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

CHURCH NEWS THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES The Church of England in Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham We offer you a warm welcome to all our events and services. For enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals contact The Rev Carl Melville or visit: www.claydonchurches.com Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmail.com Services in April Barham Church – every Sunday at 10am Henley Church – every Sunday at 10am Gt Blakenham Church – every Sunday at 11am EVERY WEDNESDAY IN LENT Compline (Evening Service) is said at Henley Church every Wednesday at 9pm Sunday, April 2 – Lent 5 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, April 9 – Palm Sunday 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am family@henley 11am Holy Communion

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, April 16 – Easter Day 10am Easter Day Service 10am Easter Day Service 11am Easter Day Service

Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, April 23 – Easter 2 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Café Church 11am Elevenses@GB 6.30pm Evensong

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church Henley Church

Sunday, April 30 – Easter 3 10am Joint Holy Communion There will be no other services today. Sunday, May 7 – Easter 4 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham

Henley Church

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church

Further services can be found on our website. Hall Bookings Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Paul Corbett, 830201 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463

Family and All Age Services Our All Age Worship is suitable for families, couples and individuals of any age. There is an engaging activity, hymns and songs and plenty of fun and fellowship. Come along in April when we’ll be thinking about transformation. family@blakenham: Sunday, April 2 (every first Sunday), 11am. Come early for refreshments. family@henley: Sunday, April 9 (every second Sunday), 10am family@barham: Sunday, April 16 (every third Sunday), 10am, followed by bacon butties. Baptisms February 26: Greyson McGovern-Dacunha Funerals March 1: Gavin Gardiner NEWS Holy Week 2017: There are too many services and activities over Holy Week to mention them all here. For more details see page 17 or visit our website. Lent Appeal: This year we’re supporting the diocese of Kagera, our link diocese in Africa. If you’d like to donate, please contact us. You can find out more about the appeal at www.cofesuffolk.org//world-mission/kagera Elevenses@GB: A new style of church taking place on the fourth Sunday of every month (April 23) in the Parish Room, Gt Blakenham at 11am. Come along for a more relaxed service. Café Church: At Henley Church – come early for a seat. Come along and be part of it on the fourth Sunday of every month (April 23) at 10am. There’ll be breakfast treats and refreshments. Easter Fayre at GB Parish Room: Saturday, April 8, 10am-noon. Tombola, cake stall, crafts, raffle, refreshments and books for sale. Good Friday Workshops: At Barham Church, 10am, or Henley Church, 9.30am. Children of all ages will be most welcome to join us for our annual Good Friday morning of crafts, stories and fun, followed by hot cross buns for all. Please contact Rev Jenny (830205) or Rev Cathy (830100) for details. Renewal of Vows: There will be a big renewal of vows service at Gt Blakenham on Sunday, May 28 at 4pm, with all your favourite wedding hymns. If you’d like to renew your vows, please contact The Rev Carl: 833542 Wedding Festival, May 27-29: If you still have your wedding dress and would like us to display it, please get in touch with us. The main event will be a wedding fair on Monday, May 29 in the church, Chequers Freehouse and parish hall. All are welcome, see page 17. Fete and Flowers, Saturday, June 10: This year’s fete will be held at Barham Church with a weekend-long flower festival in the church alongside it. The fete will be at 2pm on the Saturday. We shall be hoping to organise transport from the village so put the date in your diary and watch out for further detail. ...continued over

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

CHURCH NEWS Gt Blakenham Fete: Saturday, June 24, 10am-noon in the Parish Room and garden. Fun games, refreshments, tombola and raffle. Open air picnic band concert: As soon as last month’s In Touch magazine hit the doormats, requests for tickets for this popular event started to come in. We are not trying to cause panic buying, but please don’t leave it too late before you book yours. It would be great to sell most of the 450 tickets to local people and their families and make it another real community event. The music will be led by Essential Sounds, an 18-piece big band, and The Three Chordettes, a female vocalist trio. Early discount tickets are available for just £11 each by sending a cheque made payable to Claydon and Barham PCC to 5 Phillipps Road, Barham IP6 0AZ with a stamped self-addressed envelope. OTHER SERVICES AND EVENTS Saturday, April 8: Easter Fayre, Gt Blakenham, 10am-non Thursday, April 13: Maundy Thursday (see page 17) Friday, April 14: Good Friday Holy Communion at Alasdair Place, 2.30pm (see page 17). Saturday, April 15: Holy Saturday, 7pm at GB Church Sunday, April 16: Easter Day Sunday, April 23: GB St George’s theme Elevenses Service, 11am Wednesday, April 26: Holy Communion at St Peter’s Court, 2.30pm Thursday, April 27: Henley Church APCM Friday, May 5: Gt Blakenham Church Quiz Night May 27-29: Wedding Festival, Gt Blakenham Saturday, June 10: Claydon and Barham Fete, Barham Church Saturday, June 24: Gt Blakenham Fete, Parish Room, 10am-noon Saturday, July 8: Open Air Picnic Band Concert, Evening Saturday, July 15: Gt Blakenham Doggy Day, 11am-3pm LETTER FROM THE VICAR I love April, mainly because it’s my birthday month, but also because Easter tends to fall in April and I love Easter. If you’ve given something up for Lent, Easter is usually the time you can once again indulge. Most people give up chocolate, or at least try to, which is why the Easter egg companies get so much business come Easter time. Giving up something for Lent is meant to help prepare us to celebrate Easter more fully. In giving things up, we’re meant to become better people – kinder, more generous, create more time to spend with others or with God. So, this year, I challenge you not to return to whatever it is you gave up. See how long you can ‘cope’ without it. If giving things up for 40 days makes us kinder and more generous, let’s see what giving something up for longer can do. Lent prepares us for a massive transformation – Easter. In Lent we have no flowers in church, at Easter it is packed with flowers and colour again. During Lent we don’t say the word ‘alleluia’ in church, at Easter we over use it. Lent is stark and difficult for some, but Easter’s happiness and joy transforms us. In Lent we ask questions about God and at Easter we simply celebrate that God loves us.

A TIME OF TESTING, CHALLENGE OR CHANGE Lent is the period of time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Many people use this 40-day period as a time of reflection or sacrifice to contemplate Jesus and his life in the run up to Easter. Others may use the period to give up things that they feel they like too much, such as desserts, chocolate or alcohol. A friend of mine has used this period of Lent as a second chance to reinstate a failed New Year’s resolution. He had resolved at the start of the year to practice the guitar more each day. He writes: “This quickly fell by the wayside but I have resolved for Lent to practice diligently for one hour each day and have so far been successful. It’s perhaps easier to see the goal through at Lent because you know it’s only for 40 days. I’m hopeful that at the end of the 40 days I’ll see such benefits that I’ll wish to keep it up”. Throughout the Bible the number 40 often pops up and it always seems to reflect a time of testing, challenge or change. It rained nonstop during the flood for 40 days. Moses was a shepherd for 40 years and then led Israel for 40 years. He was on Mount Sinai for 40 days when he received the 10 commandments. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land, Goliath taunted Saul’s army for 40 days until David came to defeat him. Jesus fasted and was tested for 40 days in the desert, and then there were 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension. I’m not suggesting there’s anything mysterious about the number 40 in the Bible, but whenever it’s specifically mentioned it does always seem to be a time of testing, challenge or change. Why not take 40 days to look into what the Bible claims about Jesus? All of the gospel accounts tell us who He was, what He did and why He came. The good news that we read in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) can be read in 40 days taking only two or three minutes a day. Be surprised by what you read about the man who literally split history in half. “I turned my heart to know, and to search out and seek wisdom and the scheme of things…” Ecclesiastes 7: 25 WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesday: Weekly Prayer Meeting, 9.30-10.30am Wednesday: Home Group, 10-11.45am Thursday: Home Group, 7.45-9.30pm Friday: Children’s Club (primary school age), 6.30-7.30pm Sunday Morning Service: 10.45am-noon For more information contact: info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk / 01449 720357 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

Why not join us this Easter and help us celebrate? By the way, I’m giving up birthdays after this one! The Rev Carl Melville www.claydonchurches.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

ON THE GRAPEVINE

DR DAN POULTER REPORTS BACK I was pleased to visit Baylham Care Home last month to hear of their continued success and to meet the staff and residents. Following a tour of the home and the opportunity to watch some games with the residents, I then had the opportunity to discuss concerns around funding across the care sector. I was pleased to be able to update the team on my recent cross-party meeting with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May, where we collectively called for greater and more sustainable funding to be made available across the entire health and social care sector. I am delighted that subsequently, the Chancellor has announced a further £2billion funding for social care over the next three years. We should by now be continuing to enjoy the more spring like weather. With Easter almost upon us and the Suffolk countryside beginning to finally emerge from the colder winter months, I am looking forward to being out and about in Suffolk to enjoy the wide range of events which are starting to pop up, not to mention stocking up on the fabulous local produce. I am particularly enthusiastic about the marvellous food and drink offering we have here and my weekends at home in Suffolk are often spent at local markets and events. I always buy my food and drink locally to support our local businesses wherever possible. It never ceases to amaze me the sheer diversity that we have right here on our door step – from locally produced cheeses and meats, to cordials, cider, beer and wine, and sauces, preserves and pickles, all grown, packaged and produced so creatively right in Suffolk. The success of these businesses is vital to our strong rural economy and I think we all have a part to play in ensuring that we think local and buy local whenever we can. There is so much great work going on here already to educate our children and young people on the importance of not only eating well but also eating locally and seasonally. This is vitally important in reducing the number of miles our food travels before it reaches our plate and, of course, fresh produce that’s in season always tastes so much better. I am also a great supporter of our local farmers and regularly meet with the NFU and the farming community. As we look to negotiate the very best deal possible for our farmers as we embark upon Brexit negotiations, I will certainly be doing my very best to ensure that Suffolk is at the forefront of those important conversations. For those of you who may still like to take part, my broadband survey remains open and can be found here: www.surveymonkey. co.uk/r/DrDanPoulterBroadbandNovember2016

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME FOR VOLUNTEERS IN SUFFOLK THANKS TO NEW WEBSITE There is a new and easy way to discover volunteering opportunities in Suffolk, thanks to a website which launched on March 1. Volunteer Suffolk has been created as a one-stop shop for people to discover how they can gift their time, and for local organisations to advertise their volunteering opportunities. Carolyn Shaw, Volunteering Manager at Community Action Suffolk, which is responsible for the website, said: “People in Suffolk were telling us it was difficult and frustrating to search online for local volunteering opportunities. They found it timeconsuming and search results were disappointing. “Our research revealed that opportunities to volunteer with Suffolk’s organisations were getting overlooked on larger, national volunteer websites which try to cater for everyone and everything. Volunteer Suffolk will make it easier for people to give their time to the organisations which rely on them.” The website already boasts more than 100 volunteering opportunities, added by local organisations and charities. These range from short-term and one-off roles, to temporary positions and long-term roles. Current opportunities include being a tour guide for the Tide Mill in Woodbridge, a marshal at the Midnight Walk in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice, preparing animal feeds at Banham Zoo and assisting with play sessions for children who have suffered from domestic abuse or violence at home. There are also ‘10 minute volunteer’ opportunities on offer which simply involve sharing a Facebook post to raise awareness, sourcing a raffle prize or putting up a poster at work. Carolyn said: “Volunteering benefits the individual, the organisation and the wider community. It allows people to use their existing skills and learn new ones. For some it gives a sense of involvement and community, a place to make friends or a feeling of giving something back. “Without people being generous with their time and skills, many organisations would not be able to deliver their amazing work. Our message is – be amazing, be a volunteer. And better yet, do it here in Suffolk.” The website also provides helpful volunteering tips, latest news and volunteers’ stories.

Please do get in touch if you would like a paper copy.

Volunteer Suffolk is a product of the Suffolk Volunteering Strategy and was made possible thanks to a steering group of representatives from Suffolk’s public, private and voluntary sectors.

For more information please visit: www.drdanielpoulter.com

For more information visit: www.volunteersuffolk.org.uk

In Touch online:

MID-SUFFOLK FENCING

SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY TIMBER FENCING

SUPPLY • ERECT • REPAIR

TIMBER & STEEL GATES DECKING PATIOS WOODEN BRIDGES FREE ESTIMATES 31 Alexander Drive, Needham Market IP6 8XG

www.midsuffolkfencing.co.uk

YOU GROW IT I’LL MOW IT

GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer the following services all year round: Grass cutting • Garden clearance Fences & Gates • Patios & Paths Hedge Cutting • Tree Cutting Sheds • Summer Houses Digger & Dumper work

For a free quotation please call Nigel Coton 01449 721025 or 07801 515505 Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

End of

Financial year approaching? Make storage easy - Contact us for our full range of Storage Boxes

Dry Carpet Cleaning Professional Local Service

01473 212000

officesupplies@boswell.co.uk

For a FREE no obligation quotation

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380