In Touch News with Copdock – April 2017

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with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook Volume 7 • Issue No. 5 • APRIL 2017

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A View of Bentley Hall by Sue Wolger

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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.

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.

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 self-analysis may be necessary now and then, but I’m determined to offset rude drivers and hateful behaviour by doing the exact opposite.

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 Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook

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

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

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

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

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

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MAY DEADLINE 7 APRIL 2017

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

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NEWS COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK ALLOTMENTS

Fed up with being cooped up indoors watching dreary TV repeats?

In need of some fresh air and light exercise?

Why not take on an allotment?

Copdock and Washbrook Allotment Group currently have a number of plots (full, three-quarter or half) for rent. Rates are very reasonable – currently £24 for a full plot. Fresh air, exercise and wonderfully healthy fruit and vegetables guaranteed.

Tempted? Contact Anne Kell: 01473 730087

CALLING ALL DOG OWNERS – KEEP THE DATE On Saturday, September 9, the Tattingstone Fete will be held between 11.30am and 4pm and this year we are including a fun dog show sponsored by Gladwells Pet and Country Store. There will be plenty of rosettes up for grabs and loads of freebies for your dogs to tuck into.

There will be a first, second and third prize for every category.

Dog show categories will include: Prettiest Bitch Handsomest Dog Dog with the Waggiest Tail Dog Who Looks Most Like Its Owner Cutest OAP (dog over eight years old) Best Dog in Fancy Dress Child’s Best Friend Dog the Judges Would Most Like to Take Home Dog Handled by a Person Under 12 Years Old You can register on the day, £1 per dog per category, so get those paws preened and tails groomed and we’ll see you there. Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.

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.

EASTER LILIES Any donations for altar lilies in memory of a loved one please see Maureen Southgate on or before April 11. The church will be decorated on Easter Saturday.

With thanks for your support, Muriel Pearsons

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NEWS COPWASH NEWS WILLIAM HENRY HEWITT – THE STORY UNFOLDS Now the centenary celebrations are in sight (September 17 2017) and the official invitations are about to go out to sundry important bodies including the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sherriff and our Member of Parliament, perhaps it’s time to remind ourselves of how William Henry Hewitt came to be connected with Copdock.

His great-nephew Ian Gordon has provided us with comprehensive background to his story. It appears that our William Henry’s father (also William Henry) had made his money following his father’s trade as a butcher in London. The link with Suffolk comes through William Henry senior’s mother Phoebe who was born in Wangford.

By 1871 William and Phoebe had moved to Martlesham and shortly after that to Woodbridge, thus bringing the family into Suffolk.

William Henry Hewitt senior married twice; by his previous wife in London he had three children, George Robarts, Helen Annie and Maud Mary. On her death he married again (confusingly both

THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE FALLEN Nine men from the villages of the Benefice died in April 1917. Most of them were cut down in the Second Battle of Arras which lasted from 9 April to 16 May 1917. Battalions of the Suffolk Regiment were much involved when British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the Western Front. There were big gains on the first day, followed by stalemate. The battle cost nearly 160,000 British and about 125,000 German casualties.

wives were called Mary) and in 1882 moved into West Hill in Elm Lane, Copdock with their eldest daughter Evelyn. There they had two more girls and our William Henry so in the 1891 Census the occupants of West Hill were listed as: Henry and Mary Hewitt (pictured above in the in the garden at West Hill) with Maude Mary and Helen Annie daughters of his first wife and William Henry, Evelyn, Marian and Mabel May the children of his second wife.

George Hobarts, son of the first wife, was listed on the Ipswich School census – obviously a boarder. As well as these William Henry senior’s 69-year-old sister was living with them and three servants. Quite a household!

It seems possible that the older daughters were not too happy as by the 1901 Census, Maud and Helen had moved away to live with their father’s older sister Hannah on the south coast. Their brother George Robarts had been killed in the Boer War in 1900 – there is plaque to him in Copdock Church. Only six years later our William Henry took himself off to become a member of the South African Constabulary. This new South African Police Force was created after the Boer War to police the conquered Boer republics. Did he take this step to avenge his brother or to get away from a female dominated household? Who knows?

William Clarke (April 17) of Bentley is remembered on the Bentley Memorial and on the Arras Memorial as he has no known grave.

Charles Davy Rush (April 19) was the son of Walter and Ellen Rush of Mallings Farm, Bentley. Killed aged 24 he was buried in Vermelles Cemetery in the Pas de Calais. His brother had already died in 1915 and with no known grave is remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

William Clarke (April 9) of Washbrook is not on the Copdock & Washbrook Memorial in spite of being born in Washbrook the son of David and Mary Clarke who lived at Daking Cottage in Pigeons Lane. He is buried in Tilloy British Cemetery and is commemorated on the Sudbury Memorial as his wife lived there.

John Gray (April 23) born in 1894 the son of Mr and Mrs W Gray of Ivywell Farm, Sproughton, is yet another local man whose name is inscribed on the Arras Memorial. Having been reported missing his body was never found.

Five have no known grave – four names are to be found on the Arras Memorial (pictured left) and one on the Loos-en Gohelle Memorial (right). Most of the others are buried in cemeteries in the same area.

There are too many to show all their pages from the Benefice Memorial Book so this month they are being honoured by images of those memorials. They and all the graves of the area were visited and photographed by Jennifer and Peter Jones in 2003. Background material researched by Jean Austin.

William Hardwick’s (April 23) name also appears on the Arras Memorial, but not on the Belstead Memorial although he was born there in 1887.

His parents moved to Wherstead shortly after and his name appears on the Wherstead Memorial.

George Brooks (April 28) was born in Belstead in 1890. He enlisted in Ipswich and left a widow, Emily. His body was never found and his name appears on the Arras Memorial.

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Ephraim Aldred (April 25) is remembered on two Suffolk memorials, Sproughton, where he had once lived at the lodge in Chantry Grove, and in Coddenham where he was born in 1884 and where Louise, his widow was living. He is buried in the Saint Sever Cemetery Military Cemetery in Rouen.

The stories of the two following Tattingstone Fallen are told in much greater detail by Jane Kirk in the April edition of the Tattingstone Village Newsletter.

Charles A B Elliot (April 12) was the son of the Rector of Tattingstone and, a rarity amongst the Fallen North Samford Benefice, an officer. Born in London in 1880 he had served in Gallipoli and Egypt and died in France.

He is buried in Duisans Cemetery in the Pas de Calais.

Alfred George Spurling (April 15) was born in 1879 in Rushmere the son of William and Elizabeth Spurling. By the time of his death they were living at Birch Wood, Tattingstone and to quote the EADT announcement “he left a wife and a child to mourn his loss”. He too has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Loos-en-Gohelle Memorial, Pas de Calais.

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NEWS SAMFORD HOUSE OF UNION

NHS EQUIPMENT AMNESTY

Last year was the 250 anniversary of the opening of the Samford House of Union, otherwise known as the Tattingstone Workhouse, later to become St Mary’s Hospital and now the 33 homes that make up Chedworth Place and Samford Court.

The NHS are having an amnesty on all NHS equipment you may have in your garage or home that you no longer use.

To mark the passing of these years, the changes to the building and the memories of the many people whose lives it has touched, there will be an exhibition in Tattingstone Village Hall on Saturday, April 22 from 2-4.30pm.

There are no forms to fill in, you don’t even give you name, just bring any equipment and drop it off. The parish council will do the rest.

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I am hoping this exhibition will appeal to many people for many reasons.

You may live or have lived in Tattingstone and be keen to know more about the building’s history and the stories about some of its inhabitants; you may have worked there when it was a hospital or known a patient; you may be interested in the more recent redevelopment stage and would like to see the many before and after photos or you may simply be hoping to bump into an old friend over a cup of tea.

Although being a major part of village life in Tattingstone, many more people from the surrounding area will have connections in one way or another. If someone reading this has a memory to share or an artefact, photo or whatever to include in the exhibition, please do let me know or bring it along on the day – it is all very much work in progress. I know there have been quite a few ‘clear outs’ already to uncover old newspaper articles, photos, et al that have been kept at the back of a drawer for years.

Also I have a folder of ‘living memories’ and if you have any reminiscences it would be lovely to include them so please write them down however long or short and either let me have them before or on the day.

The exhibition itself will be free and refreshments will be available to purchase.

I look forward to sharing my love of the history of Tattingstone with you on April 22.

Jane Kirk, 3 Samford Court, Tattingstone 01473 328328 / Jane@chedworth.net / chelmesis@btinternet.com Note: the picture is not the Samford House of Union as so far I haven’t been able to find any original images of it.

HOME HELP REquired Support/home help needed for elderly couple living in Bentley.

Part-time, flexible working hours.

Please contact: 07949 376475

The parish council is offering to collect any equipment from Copdock & Washbrook residents, to forward to the relevant NHS department. Please bring any equipment that can be easily carried to the Church Room on Saturday, April 1 between 10am and noon.

JAMES CARTLIDGE, MP FOR SOUTH SUFFOLK For many years the UK has performed poorly in the international productivity tables. In real terms, this means that in 2015, for every comparable hour worked in Germany, the UK produced 37% less output.

Average productivity across the G7 countries falls 18% above the UK. This is a huge gap and a startling reflection of the challenge that we face as a country.

I believe that this year’s spring budget will be remembered for its contribution to future improvements in this area. Technical education in our country has failed to result in enough young adults with first-rate skills, and any plan to tackle the productivity deficit must establish a system of education that rectifies this.

As such, I welcomed the announcements in the Chancellor’s speech of a new ‘T-level’ system. Where the route from GCSE to A-level to University is both well-established and well-regarded, the same is not currently true for technical education. The budget seeks to put these new courses on an equal footing with the traditional academic route by increasing the number of hours that students train by 50% and simplifying the current 13,000 possible qualifications to just 15. An additional £500m of extra funding has been allocated to pay for this new system.

Local businesses often express concerns around recruitment as they are struggling to find enough local individuals with the skills that they require to grow. At the new rail depot in Brantham there will be jobs created that would ideally be filled by individuals local to the area. These will be technical jobs in a large company that has the capacity to facilitate careers in the industry. I am hopeful that with a proper system in place, we will have young people qualifying with desirable skills who will be able to fill roles such as those on the rail depot.

It is crucial that the country takes this opportunity to overcome the persistent challenge of weak productivity and I hope that residents will join me in welcoming this shift towards a fit-for-purpose, varied education system.

I hold regular advice surgeries offering help and support to local people.

Please see page 2 for my contact details.

At the beginning of the year we suffered a terrible loss with the sudden and unexpected death of our daughter, Mary.

The love and support provided by the residents of Copdock and Washbrook has helped us tremendously whilst trying to come to terms with our loss. Our thanks also go to those who helped in the preparation of the wake in the village hall.

It is comforting to live in such a community; will all those involved please accept our grateful thanks.

Daphne and Eddie Knight

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NEWS BENTLEY STORES GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

REPORT TO PARISHES, ALTON WARD: APRIL 2016

Bentley’s village shop continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the fantastic support of customers and volunteers alike.

Babergh District Councillor Alastair McCraw

Without the generous support of the dedicated gang of volunteer shopkeepers, Bentley Stores would not be viable. Each of the 45 shopkeepers, many of whom double up as buyers, give their time for free and provide a warm and friendly welcome to everyone.

“When I am here, it is my shop for the next two or three hours,” says one of the volunteers. This encapsulates the feeling of ownership that the community project engenders.

Customers are equally enthusiastic and loyal. One customer described the shop as: “A fantastic facility to have in a small village, with a good range of products at reasonable prices”. Another said: “We love using the shop because they have all the essentials we need for a family”.

Another described it as “More than just a convenience store”, which is tremendous endorsement for this increasingly popular village shop.

Specialising in local produce, the store stocks an extensive range of seasonal fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs, cheeses, honey, breads, cakes and health foods, as well as newspapers and greetings cards. The best sellers in the shop include Marybelle milk at just 79p a litre, eggs from Hoxne at £1.20 for six and a range of bread, fresh from Capel Bakery. The range of Wheaten Mill homemade cakes are proving extremely popular and the selection of Capel Pies are very popular too, Bentley Stores also provides a dry cleaning and laundry service as an agent for the Press Gang laundry service based in Hadleigh. Dry cleaning dropped off at the shop by Monday evening is returned on Wednesday afternoon.

The shop is conveniently positioned next to the Case is Altered pub and is open seven days a week: Monday-Friday 8.30am-5.30pm and 8.30amnoon on Saturday and Sunday. Credit card and contactless cards are accepted with no minimum spend and there is ample parking which is accessed via Case Lane.

If you’d like to keep up-to-date on the store’s new lines and special offers drop an email to info@bentleystores.co.uk and we will keep you updated or visit: www.bentleystores.co.uk

FREE PROSTATE CANCER TESTS East Suffolk Prostate Cancer Support Group will be holding its fifth PSA test event for men between the ages of 45 (40 for men with a close relative who has prostate or breast cancer) and 75 at Greshams Sports and Social Club, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich, on April 27 between 6.30 and 8.30pm.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men but it can be successfully treated if detected in time. Eleven thousand men die every year in the UK because their prostate cancer was detected too late. If there is a history of prostate cancer or breast cancer in your direct family blood line there is an increased possibility of you getting prostate cancer.

A small blood sample will be taken from your arm by a trained phlebotomist. The sample will be analysed in an NHS laboratory and the urologist will write to you to explain your result and advise whether you should take any further action.

East Suffolk Prostate Cancer Support Group wishes to thank the Lions Club of Ipswich for their very generous donation to help support this event.

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Brantham Maintenance Depot Last month I was able to tell you about the plans for a Greater Anglia Maintenance Depot at the Brantham Industrial Site. This will be the biggest industrial investment in Babergh’s entire history as an authority (from 1973, I think). Brantham Parish Council hosted a presentation from Greater Anglia on March 7. Taylor Woodrow, the contractor for the construction phase, and the current landowners, St Francis Group, were also in attendance for a wide ranging question and answer session.

Subjects covered included: planning considerations; impact on the housing requirement; traffic flows; noise, light and other environmental impacts (both for humans and birdlife); timescales; the likelihood of improvements to Manningtree crossing; employment and apprenticeship impacts and treatment of footpaths and the peninsula. I hope to post more information on social media. GA has also set up an email address for feedback and queries on this project: brantham@greateranglia.co.uk There will be a planning application for the yard construction itself and that means a consultation period, in due course, with responses to Babergh District Council.

It’s important to note that this meeting was to engage with us as a community and entirely separate from that planning process. It was also held at the earliest opportunity after agreement had been reached between all financial parties involved. I’ve actively encouraged these sorts of discussions in nearly all planning matters, small and large. Early discussion and mutual consideration can avoid (or at least reduce) a lot of the pain and trouble associated with planning.

The meeting finished with a light-hearted discussion about whether this yard should be labelled ‘Brantham’ or ‘Cattawade’. The Manningtree references in the press are part of the ‘curse’ of our postal address. I’ll just add that the site is on the ‘Brantham’ Regeneration Area.

COUNCIL TAX 2017/18 Your council tax bills have been issued and you’ll be aware that these three parishes see a 2.9% increase. SCC has put all their increase into the social care precept. That’s obviously a hot subject at the moment and understandably receiving attention. So county goes up by 3%, police and crime by 2% and Babergh by the most allowed to us, £5 for the year in Band D, which works out at 3.4%. You can look on that as 10p a week if you like. With reducing government support, achieving a balanced budget at all was a bit of a miracle. The bottom line at Band D for Alton is between £1,550 and £1,565, the differences being in the parish precepts.

County account for 76% of that, PCC for 11%, district (Babergh) for 10% and the parishes are a bargain at around 3%. If it’s any consolation, the average overall council tax increase in England this year is 4% ARTHUR RANSOME’S EAST COAST I loved Ransomes books (from Swallows and Amazons to the East Anglian based stories) as a kid. His own mysterious history in Russia adds another fascinating element. My thanks to Derek Davis at Berners Ward, a prime mover in the Shotley Tourist Action Group, for drawing my attention to events taking place on the peninsula this year, starting on May 13 with guided walks and a celebration at Pin Mill. Here’s a Facebook link: https://tinyurl.com/hzdvkcx As always, if anything concerns you please contact me via the methods below – or just say hello sometime. I’m on a Blue Claud Butler bicycle, usually with yellow winter cycling jacket. alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk / 07812 564188 Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (an open group)

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NEWS NOTES FROM THE CASE

BENTLEY PARISH COUNCIL

Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub 01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk

The parish council met on Thursday, March 9 in the committee room at the village hall. One parish councillor tendered apologies for absence as did District Councillor Hinton. County Councillor Gordon Jones gave a verbal report on county issues (a copy of his report is available on the parish council website).

Firstly a big welcome to our new shareholders and a reminder that it’s not too late to join the many people who now own a stake in our pub. The minimum investment is £250 (five shares). See the website for details.

If you’ve visited the pub lately you’ll have noticed the smell of new paint.

Hard to be believe it’s three years since we decorated ready for our opening, but now it’s time for a freshen-up and once again our wonderful volunteers have stepped up to the plate. Many thanks to them.

There are some exciting events coming up this spring. Jay, our chef, is once again transporting the kitchen to exotic places with A Taste of Mexico on Saturday, April 8 featuring such delicacies as fahitas, quesadillas and enchilladas – and can you resist Banana Chimichanga, if only to find out what it is? For a full menu for this and future Taste of… events see the website or pop into the pub. Booking and pre-order required.

On Monday, April 17 we will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt and bonnet competition, with prizes for the best creation. No need to book – just turn up. No age (or gender) limit on entry for the best bonnet!

We normally like to offer local beers at the Case, but over the early May Bank Holiday we will be celebrating the best of British beer, featuring at least nine different beers from around Britain. Come and sample our experienced cellarman’s choice of the very best.

Chris Bowden from Navigus Planning gave a presentation on the issues surrounding the preparation and submission of a neighbourhood plan.

This will be a topic for future discussion by the parish council.

A planning application for a porch, including WC and a shed at a property in South View Green was discussed and approved.

The footpath warden raised the fact that local footpaths at railway crossings, which are scheduled for closure, had recently been upgraded

by Network Rail at considerable expense.

A recent attack on a horse by a dog on private property was discussed.

The council concluded that this was a private matter between the owner of the horse and the dog owner but could be pursued through Magistrate’s Court if appropriate. The enforcing bodies would be the police or the local authority.

The next parish council meeting is at 7.30pm on Thursday, April 6.

Our popular quizzes continue on the last Saturday of each month, and following the success of the first two, we are continuing to offer a curry meal from 6-8pm before the quiz. Booking for the meal is essential. For the quiz only, just turn up.

And finally, a sad note: Yolande, our front of house manager, is no longer working with us. For the time being we’re calling on our team of experienced volunteers to fill the gap, but will be recruiting in due course. We’ve taken this opportunity to reassess the mix of paid staff in the pub and will be looking for someone who can wait at table, handle the bar and provide support in the kitchen. If you are, or know of someone who might be, interested in this role, please contact any committee member or send an email in confidence to Gill at cottage. garden@btinternet.com and we will arrange an informal chat. The role is flexible and could be adapted to the skills of a suitable applicant.

There is also the possibility of a job share.

HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY The Peninsular Patient Network Our awareness week in February went well and more than 50 patients signed up to become involved.

There are many different ways you can take part if you wish to. Please call into the surgery to pick up a leaflet and complete the flyer so we can keep in touch. Thank you to Jacqui and Shirley who were in the waiting room and to all those patients who took time to give feedback. It is always appreciated.

Training days Our next training afternoons will be on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, May 18 when we will be shut from 1pm. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999.

Practice Manager Julia Smith

And don’t forget – we still need more volunteers.

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

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE

CONSTABLE COUNTRY PRACTICE PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP

Demand over public holidays Demand over Christmas and New Year was very high and we experienced a backlog in processing prescriptions for a couple of days immediately after the New Year. Pharmacies are also very busy over public holidays.

We are sorry if patients experienced delays in receiving their medication.

Men’s Health Talk Professor Chris Booth has kindly agreed to give a talk on men’s health.

This will be on April 5 at the Constable Hall, East Bergholt at 7.30pm.

Refreshments will be available from 7pm. A small donation to help cover the cost of the hall would be welcome.

In order to minimise delays over the Easter period, please submit requests for repeat medication well in advance. Repeat medication can be requested online if you have a SystmOne online account. Please contact the reception team if you would like to register for an account.

Availability of appointments We have had a number of comments recently about the lack of availability of appointments. If you have had any problems we would like to hear from you. Please either fill in a Patient Participation Group comment card (available in both surgeries) or email us at: constablecountryppg@gmail.com

High demand and Storm Doris Storm Doris caused major disruption across Suffolk on Thursday, February 23. The East Bergholt surgery lost power for over four hours.

We relocated clinicians to Capel and diverted or rearranged patients who had appointments at East Bergholt. The loss of power meant that we lost access to patient records, our phone system for both sites went down, vaccines in our fridges went over their permissible temperature range, and we had to close the East Bergholt premises at about 4.45pm as it was too dark to work safely.

Many patients were affected by the disruption, not only on the day but also for the following week or so when appointments were rescheduled and while vaccines were unavailable due to the loss of power to our fridges. Thank you to all patients affected for your understanding.

The last significant power loss at East Bergholt was in 2013, though outages do occur on a regular basis, usually for just a few minutes.

Following a full review of events we have decided to purchase an emergency generator and necessary cabling to ensure that in the event of future significant power failures at the East Bergholt or Capel premises, we are able to continue to keep our phone system operational and attend to patients who need urgent care. Hopefully these events will be few and far between.

Training days A reminder that in 2017 the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, May 18. On these afternoons the doors will be closed so please ensure any prescriptions are picked up well beforehand. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.

Practice Manager Pete Keeble

DOCTOR’S SURGERY TRANSPORT No new members on the rota this month, but the demand is still there.

Our thanks to all those who give up their time to help those who could not otherwise get to the surgery other than by taxi. There are schemes in both Capel and East Bergholt and we do rely on volunteers. Capel is covering quite a wide area, over to Bentley and down to Copdock and Washbrook. We have one or two volunteers from the latter villages but none so far from Bentley. If you are prepared to volunteer give me a ring on 310992 to discuss the details.

Should you be thinking about volunteering, but worry about the insurance implications, there is good news. Many of our volunteers report that on checking their policy or speaking to their insurer they find that their policy covers them for non-profit making volunteer journeys. In one case a small additional premium was requested (under £2), so both volunteers and patients can be assured that they are covered by insurance.

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Delays with prescriptions We continue to get complaints about delays at the Capel pharmacy.

Staff at Villapharm have worked hard to clear the backlog, but if you are still having problems please let us know either on comment cards or via email (as above).

PPG Meetings Our meetings take place every month on the third Monday and we always discuss issues you raise with the practice manager and partners.

We try to ensure that minutes appear regularly on the practice website.

We are currently arranging our Annual General Meeting which we are hoping will be in early June – date and venue will be announced in the next magazine update, on village noticeboards and in both surgeries.

Constable Country PPG Chair Kathy Pollard 01473 311384 / constablecountryppg@gmail.com

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

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON The main emphasis in the past month has been on planning and, from the council’s perspective, how to stay out of trouble, the finances, budget and council tax increases.

Planning officers seem to have developed a ‘let’s ignore the public and interpret policy in whichever way we like’ strategy and then they wonder why applications are challenged at committee, that is assuming you can get an application called in! Councillor Williams and I had a constructive and very informative meeting with the chief executive concerning planning policy, and I would urge the council to include Bill Newman in their invitation to the chief executive and organise it on a non-council night to offer maximum time for questions and debate.

The chief executive is investigating some of my more detailed planning points, particularly concerning officers. I hope he is quick as he is already feeling embarrassed by calling ‘himself’ to a JR! Questions around the calling-in of the Kings Head have to be resolved, but planning law is convoluted, some would say more so than our tax laws, and a lot is down to interpretation rather than that wonderful old concept, common sense.

The budget debate went predictably in favour of the administration’s proposals, although they still seem unable to answer questions on individual items, or be aware that certain costs even exist. The fact that the council has some £100m of debt and rising seems to be regarded as a trivial matter.

Drip by drip the potential costs of the ‘move’ to Ipswich are leaking out and it’s going to be expensive. The £5 increase in council tax approved by the council will not cover the possible overspend, especially when some items are not covered in the budget. I will be watching the mysterious ‘Transformation Fund’ carefully and if necessary highlighting inadequacies.

The costs relating to devolution have been questioned, but they wriggled out of the main element and also avoided the ‘Suffolk only’ costs which were part of the initial pilot. The county council have, I am sure, absorbed a lot of the cost, which is why they have problems in various areas. In May they will be measured against their achievements!

It’s interesting that the three ‘devolved’ countries are all set up on a ‘unitary’ basis as are the big devolved areas in England, and yet that subject of local government reorganisation seems to be well off the agenda. Why? Scotland has the same population as the Eastern Region, Northern Ireland is lower, and yet money is thrown at them, where as we are suffering a funding deficit and yet we are one of the main regional contributors to the chancellor’s coffers.

Council meetings are currently deleted from the calendar and then reinstated on a regular basis as the administration tries to organise itself for the necessary changes at annual council in May to the cabinet system. Other important matters such as planning charges and road improvements are decided at ‘strategy’ where the west orientated members are not too concerned with our problems. Questions to council and calling decisions into scrutiny will be the only mechanisms, although there are rumours of some unease in the controlling camp.

As I have said before, the chief executive has his work cut out, but I am sure he is up to the task and he certainly knows that Dodnash Ward is watching closely and is more than able to hold the council to account.

If anyone has any questions, please contact me: john.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309

BUMPER BOOK SALE Attention all you book lovers.

Another bumper book sale is planned for Easter Monday, April 17 at Manningtree Methodist Church in South Street from 10am-4pm. This will be run alongside our highly successful four day art show.

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CLEAR THE CLUTTER – BAG A BARGAIN Bentley Toddler Group is holding a fundraising jumble sale on Saturday, April 29 at Bentley Village Hall from 2pm.

If you have anything you wish to donate, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or contact Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) to arrange collection.

We hope to see you there; the hall will be open from 2pm and tea and coffee will be available.

ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, April 8, 9am-12.30pm.

Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying.

East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier. If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190 Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue.

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

RANSOMES & RAPIER ANNUAL REUNION Sunday, April 2 at Kesgrave Social Club Ex-employees, families and friends of Ransomes and Rapier are welcomed from 12.30-5pm.

Come and see fascinating artefacts, documents and videos. Meet up with old friends at a really enjoyable event. See what new stories and pictures have surfaced.

Admission £2 with reasonably priced refreshments available to purchase.

For more information call Elizabeth: 01206 734581

EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY Something is rotten and really quite stinks in the Kingdom of Lancre. The King is dead. Long live the King!

Well, no actually, because the new king, the evil Duke Felmet, murdered the previous one… The missing true heir, the baby prince, finds protection with three local witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and their protégé Magrat Garlick. Although witches have a rule never to interfere with the life of a child at stake and the fate of the kingdom in their hands, they take granny’s advice about rules: If you’re going to break them – break them good and hard!

Terry Pratchett’s marvellous Discworld characters are brought to life in this hilarious and fast paced adventure playing at The Constable Hall in East Bergholt on March 30 and 31 and April 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 in advance from: 01473 311553 / 07803 475750

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OUT & ABOUT BROOK PLAYERS PRESENT DEAD GUILTY BY RICHARD HARRIS

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

A tense psychological study of guilt and obsession, Dead Guilty concerns an attractive young graphic artist whose leg is badly injured in a car crash that occurred when a business associate suffered a fatal heart attack at the wheel.

First a big thank you to everyone who supported the first Community Cinema showing of Bridget Jones’s Baby. We comfortably exceeded the number we needed to enable us to break even, so you have made a contribution to our fundraising efforts as well as having a good time. The April film will be A United Kingdom.

Housebound and depressed, Julia is tormented when things disappear, a Mexican orange blossom materialises on her shambling Victorian terrace and someone prowls upstairs at night. While a kindly counsellor contends with Julia’s suicidal tendencies and a besotted handyman helps around the house, the excessively solicitous widow invades Julia’s life.

Suspense builds as the question becomes whether the affair Julia was enjoying with her now dead colleague will cost her her own life.

Having mentioned our funds, it is good to report that parish councils continue to support the Friends, and we are hoping that some county councillors will back the local libraries by using some of their locality budgets. We are hoping to revamp the reception desk area for Jackie and her staff, to make it more ergonomically effective. The previous desk was installed before we all began to use computers so much, and Jackie and her staff now do so much online.

The Brook Players of Copdock present this classic modern-day thriller at Copdock Village Hall from Wednesday, April 26 to Friday 28 at 7.45pm Tickets are available on the door or from 01473 730524.

Your support for our library is really important given the financial pressure that is being applied by Suffolk County Council, which has cut the library budget drastically. Suffolk Libraries continue to look for ways to improve income and we as Friends will continue to look for ways, like the cinema, in which we can provide enhanced services to the community.

CAPEL LIBRARY April dawns bright and new and shows up what we have not been able to achieve during the drab winter months – like the dirty windows! They seem worse with the sun shining through them. April sees the start of us wanting to get out into our gardens or allotments and plan what we are going to grow this coming year, and to plan what to use if they get any bugs.

There are lots of books available in the library and on catalogue to help us with our choices. Children’s activity books on growing are also available.

Do have a look in the library or at our online catalogue to make your selection: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Do you buy your stamps in the library? Sometimes it’s better than waiting in a long queue at the Co-op. If there are things that you feel the library might do, just let us know.

The March 100 Club draw featured our new enhanced prize structure.

Our winners were Sue Carpendale (£20), Clive Powell (£8) and Sue Edwards (£6). Every so often there will be a bumper prize, so it pays to join… only £12 for the year.

Chris Yule

GROUPS MEETING THIS MONTH Baby Bounce: takes a break for the school Easter holidays so will not meet on Tuesdays, April 4 and 11. We meet up again on Tuesdays, April 18 and 25 from 2pm for some more singing and shaking of instruments. We have welcomed several new members to our group recently – it’s open to all from birth to five years old with their parent, carer or grandparent.

Book Group: meets on Friday, April 21 at 2.30pm to discuss the latest read. This group has also had new members join and it’s not too late for you to consider joining. Just ask a member of staff for details and collect the latest book to read.

Minecraft: meets every two weeks from 10.30am. The next dates are April 9 and 23. Under-8s must have their parent/carer stay with them.

The next Friends of Capel Library Community Cinema presentation will be A United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 18; doors open at 7pm with the film showing from 7.30pm. Members advance tickets are £4, non members £4.50 or £5 on the door. Limited number of tickets available so buy soon.

We will be starting up a Lego club, Lego in Libraries, on Saturday mornings. Look out for posters in the library for the starting date. However, we are short of bricks to play with so if you have any Lego or Duplo which is unloved and un-played with please consider donating it to us. Just bring it to the library. Thanking you in advance.

We sell book tokens and books of first and second class stamps, as well as second-hand books and books that have been withdrawn from the library catalogue – ideal to take on holiday and leave behind!

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

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OUT & ABOUT PENINSULAR PIX SAYS GOODBYE TO CHAIRMAN A bitter-sweet meeting of Penpix in March, as the committee and audience said goodbye to our chair, Ben Connor. Ben is moving on (15 miles!), but will hopefully still make some of our screenings. We will miss his humour, especially the monthly intro where his thespian skills always came to the fore, and his inability to keep our committee discussions ‘on topic’.

Ben’s last film as chair was Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, which attracted a healthy audience of 77. A very intelligent and moving film – well done Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood.

Our April film, The Light Between Oceans, also has an all-star cast with Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz. It tells the story of a war weary man who takes a job as a lighthouse keeper on an island. He meets a beautiful young woman and they eventually marry. One day they see a small dinghy with an infant and man inside floating in the ocean.

They rush to rescue them only to find the man is dead. They struggle over the decision to report it and whether to keep the baby. It’s only years later that they discover that the child still has a mother looking for her.

“This well-constructed, beautiful film is a powerful reminder that life just doesn’t forget – our past never escapes us completely.

It’s a romantic and tough look at love, grief and choices – wonderfully acted and presented.” The Sun You will need to bring your hankies. Before the film show, we will be holding our AGM. This is an open meeting and all are welcome.

The Light Between Oceans shows at Tattingstone Village Hall at 8pm on Thursday, April 6. The AGM starts at 7.15pm. Tickets are £4.50 on the door or £4 in advance from: The White Horse, The Wheatsheaf, Stutton Community Shop, The Case is Altered, Bentley Community Shop, Lloyd (326882) or Rosie (328315). Or, try our text service – just text your name and number of tickets required to 07732 709656.

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 15 Route 15 Town/village MIP/15A Washbrook MIP/15B Washbrook MIP/15C Washbrook MIP/15D Burstall MIP/15E Elmsett MIP/15F Whatfield MIP/15G Hintlesham

Location Time Pearson’s Way 9.50-10.40 Brook Inn Car Park 10.45-11.15 Fenn View 11.20-11.40 Telephone Kiosk 11.50-12.15 Rose and Crown 12.40-13.05 Wheatfields 14.05-14.50 Timperleys 15.05-16.00

2017 DATES: April 26, May 24, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 6

SUFFOLK BOOK LEAGUE Spend an evening with publisher and memoirist Hamish MacGibbon hosted by Suffolk Book League. The author will be talking 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

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK WI We celebrated our 98th birthday in February and enjoyed a delicious cake baked by long-standing member Muriel Pearsons at our February meeting. Thirty members also enjoyed a celebratory dinner at The Brook, a return visit after it proved so popular a couple of years ago. It was a fun evening with good food and good company.

Our February speakers were Dennis and Ann Kell who gave a presentation titled In the Footsteps of Shackleton. This was a return visit; last year they gave a talk on the first leg (the Falkland Islands) of this journey to Antarctica. This year’s talk was again beautifully illustrated with slides, and combined information about their trip with the story of Shackleton’s 1914-1916 expedition on his ship Endurance. Both were fascinating stories, and while clearly their trip was an enjoyable holiday they managed to entwine their recollections very sympathetically with the incredible hardships the courageous crew underwent.

There are many good reasons to join the WI. We enjoy a wide variety of interests and outings, there are plenty of opportunities to be involved with the campaigns supported by the WI, to learn new skills, improve existing skills or just come along to the meetings for companionship and interesting speakers. You can come to three meetings as a visitor to see what goes on before deciding if you would like to join. All visitors and new members will be warmly welcomed.

We meet on the third Tuesday of each month (excluding August) at the village hall. The next meeting is on April 18 Please arrive around 7.15 for a 7.30pm start.

Sandra Howard

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.

On Tuesday, May 16 Anthony Cobbold will be talking 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.

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 talk which starts at 7.30pm will be followed by an audience Q&A session with the author.

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

www.sbl.org.uk

www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT TATTINGSTONE & WHERSTEAD WI

CAMEO

This month we welcomed milliner Oggie Welden who brought with her an amazing array of hats in all shapes and colours. Oggie began by showing us different shaped forms in wood and then demonstrated how she pins the fabric to the form. As she worked she told us how she became a milliner. Oggie had been a private secretary all her professional life, ending with the untimely death of her boss, the 7th Marquis of Bristol. Having always had a keen interest in handicrafts and hats, Oggie took several millinery courses to learn the different techniques for making hats.

In February Sarah Castelvecchi from Anglian Water visited our group and gave a presentation on ways we could possibly save water, ways in which Anglian Water could help their customers achieve that and potentially save money. The Water Saving Programme includes a free home visit from a technician to give advice tailored to individual houses and family needs, along with small pieces of equipment supplied and fitted free of charge.

In March Belstead resident David Cobley gives a presentation on the history of the village and Garry from the Coffee Caravan will also visit, bringing his usual array of local information. Along with the usual homemade cakes and locally filtered coffee this should provide an interesting and enjoyable couple of hours!

The aim of Belstead CAMEO (Come and Meet Every One) is to provide an opportunity for residents to meet each other for tea, coffee, refreshments and chat on a drop-in basis. The club is not-for-profit and there is no charge, but a small donation towards refreshments is much appreciated. Non-residents are very welcome at a charge of £1 – the setup costs were part funded by the parish council so in fairness we need to levy a small fee for anyone not paying council tax to the parish.

Belstead is a friendly village and we want to increase this community spirit, both on personal and business levels. We aim to promote all types of local interests and have notice boards showing events, along with information on businesses and charities. You would be amazed at the wealth of talent and scope of business in our small village! It’s always good to know if somebody in the village has recommended the businesses whose cards and information we display.

We meet at Belstead Village Hall, usually on the third Monday of the month (excluding July and August) from 2.30-4.30pm. The next meeting will be on April 24 to avoid Easter Monday.

Sandra Howard

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a lighthearted atmosphere with refreshments.

Monday, April 3: Flower Brooch with Debbie Monday, May 8: Talk and demo of folk art by Heather Prince Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

All her hats and headpieces are designed and handmade to create an individual look for each client. She is happy to incorporate the client’s material into a design, or will source suitable materials. Very early on in her millinery career she was invited to make the pantomime hats for the Colchester Mercury Theatre. This she did for several years. Six years ago Oggie was accepted and certified as a member of The Guild of Essex Craftsmen. Oggie has made hats for Dermot O’Leary’s mother and her hats have been all over the world to such events as The World Cup in Dubai, the Melbourne Cup in Australia, the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe meeting in Paris and of course all the big race and society venues in the UK. Next month Claire Bourne from Bourne Garden Centre will come to talk about gardens and gardening. If you have some gardening questions then come along and join us, you would be very welcome. In May our guest speaker will be Matthew Spall and in a talk titled Don’t Get Scammed he will be giving tips and techniques on how to avoid scammers.

We hold our meetings on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in Tattingstone Village Hall. If you would like information on how to join the WI, please contact me on: 01473 328670 Tamzin

STOUR AND ORWELL SOCIETY AGM The Stour and Orwell Society, set up in 2007, aims to preserve and enhance the Stour and Orwell Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) working with local communities and the appropriate authorities.

This year SOS will be hosting their tenth AGM on Wednesday, April 5 at 7pm. The meeting will be hosted by chairman Tom Hill QC who will run through the events of the year and current SOS campaigns. This will be followed by a presentation from John Lyall and Peter Dent who have been instrumental in creating the East Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan.

Refreshments will be available throughout the evening. If you would like to join the society for what promises to be an excellent evening please email for more details: epk@stourandorwellsociety.org.uk www.stourandorwellsociety.org.uk

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, April 26, 7pm: The History & Success of Sanders Coaches, an illustrated talk by Charles Sanders

Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.3010pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

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.

Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 71353

Details from: 01473 414746/422145 www.idhts.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, March 8, Mark Mitchels spoke on The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial and attempted to re-create the moment in his illustrated lecture.

Mark told the story of the excavation and recounted when a remarkable people sent their leader on his final voyage. This was one of the greatest treasures ever found on English soil.

On Wednesday, April 12, Amanda Richmond will present Two Teachers Ascent of Everest. Amanda is a teacher, mountaineer skier, traveller and bell ringer and will tell of the six years spent in preparation and the hardships involved in tackling this formidable ascent.

On Wednesday, May 10, Emma Roodhouse, art curator of Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service, will talk on Leonard Squirrel, known as the ‘grand old man’ of East Anglian painting. Emma’s lecture will highlight his prolific career, concentrating on the artworks in the Ipswich Borough Council collection, including drawings, watercolours, etchings and pastels from 1912-1978.

Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted.

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

It’s never too late to learn! Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB On Wednesday, March 1, Joyce Kimber presented Ciphers & Enigma and the Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, March 15 when club president Hew Naylor stood down after his year in office.

On April 5 Julian Wong will talk about the charity Mary’s Meals and on Wednesday, April 19 Jim Lowe will inform us of the work undertaken by the Alzheimer’s Society.

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

We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

RSPB FLATFORD WILDLIFE GARDEN Leave the car behind, wander down Tunnel Lane with the trees just coming into leaf overhead, become aware of the birdsong all around…

There is the glint of sunlight on water through the trees and the curve of an old wooden bridge. An ancient thatched cottage peeps out from beneath its eaves, and suddenly the modern world recedes and you find yourself transported back 200 years. Walk down the hill and as you cross the old hump-backed wooden bridge, views which have not changed since Constable’s time open out in front of you. Wide flood meadows stretch westwards towards the spires of Dedham Church, punctuated by knarled willow pollards that bend over their reflection in the silvery Stour river. Thus begins your morning at Flatford, a tiny hamlet tucked into a corner of the Stour valley, frozen in time…

There’s more than just history here, though. The RSPB also runs a wildlife garden in Flatford – a place designed to show people how they can help with wildlife conservation within their own gardens, big or small. The garden aims to teach people how their choice of plants and management of their outdoor space can genuinely benefit wildlife such as bees, hedgehogs, butterflies, frogs and even struggling birds such as house sparrows and songthrushes. The RSPB owns over 300,000 acres of nature reserve in Britain, but gardens cover much more than this area, meaning there is huge potential for ordinary householders to really help our struggling wildlife.

The garden opens for the year on April 1, when primroses and cowslips will be peeping in the apple orchard and the wildflower meadow, daffodils will be turning their faces to the sun, and the blue tits will be hatching their chicks in the nestboxes. Another main aim of the wildlife garden is to show children the magic that is nature – those first wonderful experiences are the ones that stay with us for a lifetime, enriching our lives and opening our eyes to the beauty that is around us. My love of nature began in the garden, where as a small child I would run barefoot in the morning dew, just exulting in the sunshine and the smell of damp earth and green grass… As a mother now myself, I am determined that my child will also have the opportunity to develop a love of nature and a joy in the outdoors. Who knows who is nurturing the next David Attenborough!

So Flatford, although it may feel like it belongs to the past, also offers hope for the future – children growing up with a sense of wonder about the natural world around them, and people who are inspired by, and care for, the natural world, even if it all they have space for is a window box full of thyme and chives for the bees!

The RSPB’s garden is open daily from April 1 between 10.30am and 4.30pm, and is free to enter. Park in the National Trust car park at Flatford (£4 all day) and save some space for cake at the tea room.

What’s on in the Easter holidays There’s a free children’s nature trail round the garden daily, as well as other activities such as planting wildlife-friendly seeds to take home and grow, and hands-on activities for even the smallest children (donations gratefully received.) For the grown-ups, there are plenty of ideas to take home to your own gardens, as well as free plant lists, and seeds and inexpensive wildlife friendly plants to buy.

Shirley Sampson

VILLAGE LINK CLUB Barbara Faulkner will present a talk entitled Easter Parade at our meeting on April 12.

Future talks include The Building of Bury Tower in May. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments when there is time for a chat with other members and a raffle. New members and visitors are welcome to join us.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK RAMBLERS Our final ramble of the season will take place a fortnight later than usual to avoid the Easter celebrations and in order to give the bluebells an opportunity to bloom. Our walk leaders have carefully planned a route around the woods near Bentley (a distance of between four and five miles) to maximise the chances of us seeing ‘a carpet of blue’. We will meet at the Church Room in The Street on Sunday, April 23 at 1.30pm, and then share cars for the short drive to the starting point in Bentley village.

For more information, contact Tina: 01473 730162

BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB Belstead Garden Club continues to thrive with numbers similar to last year and some new members. Our March meeting saw Ken Abel telling us how to get the best from perlagoniums. We will all be putting new methods into successful growing of these colourful summer plants.

One of our members is a hardworking member of the River Gipping Trust so in April a representative is coming along to explain the valuable work undertaken by the volunteers to bring this river back to its original navigable waterway.

This meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 19 in Belstead Village Hall at 7.30pm. We are always pleased to welcome visitors to our friendly club.

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears The Baby Bears have been doing an amazing job preparing lots of tasty snacks, practising their turn taking when adding and mixing ingredients.

They have also enjoying exploring messy textures like glue and paint and have been busy making beautiful pictures. They are now getting ready for spring and are practising digging holes in the mud kitchen ready for the plants.

Toddling Tigers This month we are making special ‘chatter boxes’. Each Tiger will decorate an old shoe box into which they will put their treasures, from pictures of their family to souvenirs of places they have visited. The Tigers can then use these as a talking point at group time. We will soon be making Easter nest cakes and wonderful Mother’s Day cards for the lovely mummies.

Gruffalos March has been a busy month exploring shapes. The children have enthusiastically participated in shape hunts (both inside and outside) and created patterns on both large and small scales using a variety of shapes. We learnt some new mathematical names for shapes and also explored 2D and 3D shapes. We have also become shape spotting experts, hunting our environment looking for shapes.

KENNY’S SESAW NEWS

Yippee! I’m going to the Easter Fair on April 1 and my fellow chihuahua friend, Princess Poppy of Washbrook will be there with Betty’s Copdock and Washbrook knitting group. She’s pretty as a picture and has a lovely nature. I like Betty too. Do come and see us at Whatfield Village Hall, Rectory Road IP7 6QU. It starts at 11am and there will be loads of Easter gifts and goodies plus handcrafted items, jewellery, games, jigsaws, books, DVDs, a pet stall and surprise bags. Enjoy the snacks and refreshments while you wait for your number to be called in the big raffle – first prize is a bespoke chocolate Easter egg donated by Hadleigh Maid Company. I hope you read this in time!

Regular readers will know all this fun and frivolity is to help the rescued animals at SESAW, including a particular gentleman currently in our care.

Fifteen-year-old Billy is a Jack Russell cross desperately in need of a foster home since his owner died. He is friendly, healthy and enjoys walks but is best as a sole pet and SESAW would look after any veterinary care. I do hope there is someone out there to look after the old chap.

Must go now to get ready for April 1 and I hope the joke is not on me, Kenny (the Boss) Chihuahua!

Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath CO6 4PP 01787 210888 / www.sesaw.co.uk

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 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.

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.

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.

We also celebrated World Book Day by exploring one of our favourite stories, Aliens Love Underpants. We dressed up as aliens and also wore pants over our clothes. After a day of alien fun one of the aliens came to stay for a bit longer and during his stay we taught him all about good manners, being kind and all about our emotions. He had lots to learn, but left for his home planet a kinder and happier alien.

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 information about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki on 01473 310767, visit www.robinschildcare.co.uk or follow us on Twitter/Facebook.

If you would like 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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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SCHOOLS / SPORT BENTLEY CEVC AND COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS The sun is starting to shine and we are looking forward to the spring. The cold weather over the winter has not dampened our enthusiasm though and we have taken part in lots of activities.

Tractors in Schools We had a visit from a local farmer as part of the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s project to introduce farming to school age children and start them thinking about a career in farming. We are very grateful to George Harris for taking the time to bring his tractor into school and talk to the children about his work. The children certainly had a lot of questions for George and loved having a good look round the tractor. Who knows, maybe it has inspired the next generation of farmers.

Basketball Competition Both Bentley and Copdock entered teams into the recent basketball competition held by School Games Suffolk, which saw them pitted against many other schools from the area. We are extremely proud to say that the Bentley team came sixth overall and Copdock seventh. This is a great achievement by our pupils and we congratulate them on their performance and sportsmanship. A couple of the pupils were even talent spotted and invited to try out for Ipswich Basketball team!

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day went with a bang this year and children in all year groups at Bentley had great fun making and tossing pancakes, taking part in pancake races and producing a beautiful and colourful display of what Lent means to them. The children also came up with a series of Lent Challenges to complete over the period including tidying their rooms, helping with gardening and walking to school instead of being driven in.

World Book Day We had a bewildering display of book characters brought to life, well done to all those who created such imaginative costumes for the occasion. We were thrilled to welcome children’s author Lisa Kellett to our schools. Lisa writes under the name of Lisa Thompson and wrote the story that Adders and Foxes are currently enjoying in class, The Goldfish Boy. Lisa was inspiring to listen to and gave the children an insight in to how she wrote about such an unusual and complicated personality as the main character, Matthew. Lisa’s book can be purchased from a variety of outlets including Amazon.

Colchester trip All the pupils from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 went on a wonderfully interesting trip to Colchester. They visited both the synagogue and the Natural History Museum to enhance their learning on world religions and their science topics. We are very grateful to the team at the synagogue who gave us such a warm welcome and provided the children with hands on learning about Judaism and how the faith is practised. The museum was equally accommodating and the interactive displays fired the children’s imaginations which they then brought back to school and used in their work.

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TATTINGSTONE PRIMARY SCHOOL It’s nearly a year since I was privileged to be asked to become a school governor with responsibility for finance at Tattingstone CEVC Primary School. It has been a fascinating year so far and a chance for me to support an important focal point in our community, where my children went to school for almost a decade.

It has opened my eyes to the challenges of running a school, that as a parent I was not really aware of. There is a constantly changing landscape of funding formulas and criteria that can make running a small school quite a challenge. There are also many costs over which a small school can get no economies of scale, including some fixed expenses that are the same whether it is a large or a small school – putting small schools at a distinct disadvantage. Having said that, Tattingstone Primary School do an amazing amount with the tight resources they have.

This year is the 175th anniversary of the school and this term the children will be dressing up as Victorians and learning about life 175 years ago.

Academically, the school has also just been awarded a SAPERE Bronze award for their commitment and progress in Philosophy for Children, which they have been running in school since September.

I was pleased to see that the children not only sang at the O2 in London this year but they also be sang at Snape Maltings. Two great venues and a fantastic experience. Other trips out will include visits to Colchester Castle and the Houses of Parliament for different classes next term.

We hear in the news of the shortage of school governors in Suffolk, currently over 400 vacancies! However, at Tattingstone we are lucky to be well supported and have a full dedicated team of governors.

There is always a requirement for new governors though as the term of each governor is completed. So I hope that this level of support will continue, for we are currently bucking the trend at Tattingstone and we have a very worthwhile cause to support, while helping our ‘small wonders turn into shining lights’ (the school mission).

Governor Lisa Butler

BELSTEAD CARPET BOWLS CLUB We start with some good news this month as three home games produced a total of 26 points and have put us in a more familiar league position than we had been in during the previous months.

We started with an 8-2 win against Sproughton and followed this with another 8-2 win against Bentley, though it would be fair to say that either match could have finished 10-0 in our favour.

The third game produced what we had not had for some time, a 10-0 win. This was against Chelmondiston who never seem to get much from their away games.

Then it was back to earth with a bump when we visited our rivals over recent years, Great Blakenham. While they have been in the bottom half of the league table this season they still managed to trim us up 1-9. We now have two home games left and look forward to winning a few more points so our final position is respectable.

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SPORT EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB BENTLEY BOWLS CLUB February ended on a disappointing note for the First Team with defeat at Bramford, which was probably something of a hangover from their Bob Coleman Cup exit on the previous Saturday. Fortune certainly did not favour them as they went out at the quarter final stage in extra time at the hands of high flying Achilles. They do however still occupy a mid-table position in the Senior Division.

The Reserves have maintained third place in League A, but they went one better than the First Team in their cup competition by advancing to the semi-finals of the Goals of Ipswich Cup. They meet Benhall Reserves in the semi-finals.

The A Team’s interest in the Club Colours Cup ended when they exited at the semi-finals stage against a very strong AFC YourShirts side. In League B a comprehensive victory against neighbours Capel Plough Reserves helped their chances of avoiding relegation.

UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st TEAM Senior Division Sat, Apr 1: Westerfield Utd (H) Sat, Apr 8: Wenhaston Utd (A) Mon, Apr 17: Capel Plough (H) Sat, Apr 22: Felixstowe Harpers Utd Sat, Apr 29: Leiston St Margarets (A) Sat, May 6: Stanton (A) RESERVES League A Sat, Mar 25: Framlingham Town Res (H) Sat, Apr 1: Sporting ‘87 Res (A) Sat, Apr 8: Benhall St Mary Res GIC Semi Final (A) Sat, Apr 15: Westerfield Utd Res (A) Sat, Apr 29: Coplestonians Res (H) A Team League B Sat, Apr 1: Stonham Aspal Res (H) Sat, Apr 8: Haughley Utd Res (A) Sat, Apr 15: Bramford Utd Res (A) Sat, Apr 22: Claydon Res (A) Sat, Apr 29: Benhall St Mary Res (A) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 Players Awards Night: Saturday, April 22

Tickets for our quiz on Saturday, May 6 in the village hall are £6 and available from Lillian Calvert (311756) and David Howe (310344).

We shall have a buffet and raffle and Charles will once again set the questions. Teams of up to six, which we can make up on the night if necessary.

The green will open for roll-up on Friday, April 21, weather permitting, if you would like to try the game of bowls do come along at 6.30pm. We have woods in the hut, so you just need flat soled shoes.

Lillian Calvert

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB After a disappointing 4-1 defeat away to Leiston St Margarets, the Saturday First Team bounced back with a 2-1 victory at home against Wenhaston United with goals from Ben Baldwin and an own goal, which was followed by a 1-0 win away over Stanton with midfield dynamo Shaun Webb getting the only goal of the game.

After what has been a tough season these two wins moved the side up to fifth from bottom in the Senior Division of the Suffolk and Ipswich league with the team still having nine league games to play at the time of writing these notes (March 7). The big game in April will be East Bergholt away which has been rearranged for Easter Monday afternoon. Should be a cracker!

Our Reserves have had problems fielding a team this season and only five new signings enabled them to raise a side to play against East Bergholt A which resulted in a 5-1 defeat. The Reserves are still looking for a manager as we look ahead to next season. The home game on March 4 against Trimley Red Devils had to be called off as the pitch was unfit after it had been verti-drained by the council during the week leaving a lot of wet mud on the surface.

Our Sunday morning side beat Martlesham Old Boys 3-2 with Tom Williams getting the winner before losing 2-1 to The Feathers Public House, while our Veteran team beat Bacton away 4-1 thanks to goals from Robbie Fuller, Andre Flexen-Pallot and a brace from Aaron Marsh.

Youth football will continue on the Playing Field until the end of April after which the coaches who run the teams will have a well-deserved break.

We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether it be on the playing side or just in the background.

Bob the Ploughman

If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts and banners or boards on matchdays offer potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation.

Steve Butcher, stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK BOWLS CLUB

TATTINGSTONE CARPET BOWLS CLUB Despite only winning one game this season Shotley gave us a good game, with us coming out 6.4 winners. Next we travelled into the sticks to take on Offton and Willisham who sit fourth in our league, with us third from bottom, but we gave them a good game. I know we lost 8.2 but it was a lot closer than it looks on paper. We came away smiling, thinking to ourselves of what could have been!

On Sunday, March 5, we played an in house ‘drawn’ pairs competition, the Robin Cracknell Pairs. Each pair played three 30 minute games of nine ends with some very good bowls played in a carnival-like atmosphere.

Overall winners were Dulcie Pannifer and Louis Rayham. This event was well supported for a popular man who lived in the village. After the games we hastily put the carpets away and made our way down to Ipswich Hotel at Copdock for a superb carvery and a good old natter between good friends and company. All in all, a fantastic day.

On Sunday, April 2 we have a Win Bullard Singles competition and will head off somewhere similar for lunch afterwards.

Tony Coward

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

We would like to invite you to a free taster afternoon on Saturday, April 22 from 2.30pm.

Members will be available to help get you started and bowls will be provided. Please wear flat soled shoes. Refreshments will also be provided.

We are a village lawn bowls club. Our green is on the playing field complex, behind the village hall.

Please contact us to let us know if you can attend: 01473 730438 / c.pearsons@sky.com

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

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CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk SERVICES FOR APRIL 2017 Sunday 2 9am

Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass

Tuesday 4 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 9 9am

Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord Mass

Tuesday 11 9.20am 10am

Eucharistic Adoration Mass

Friday 14 3pm

Good Friday The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at St Mark’s

Sunday 16 9am

Easter Sunday Mass

Tuesday 18 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 23 9am

Second Sunday of Easter Mass

Tuesday 25 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 30 9am

Third Sunday of Easter Mass

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Though distant from Norwich, Holy Family Roman Catholic Church at Brantham is part of the diocese and has recently taken part in a fundraising exercise that will put the diocese on a sure financial footing in the years ahead.

Events & Diary Dates The last 100 Club Draw took place on Sunday, March 26 when three lucky winners shared £145. The next draw takes place on Sunday, April 23. The club, set up to raise much needed funds to support the life and mission of our parish, has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, which includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk

Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps and to place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice.

Catholic Commentary The Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia was erected in March 1976 using territory from the Diocese of Northampton comprising Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and the city of Peterborough. Bishop Alan Hopes was appointed the fourth bishop in 2013 and took possession of his cathedral in July of that year. His cathedral under the dedication

Professional Local Service

Happily there are excellent relations between the Catholic and Anglican Bishops of Norwich. Both the Catholic and the Norwich Cathedral (the latter dedicated to the Holy Trinity) are well worth visiting, as are churches everywhere. We are fortunate to have in East Anglia to have numerous old village and town churches which are invariably open for quiet reflection and prayer or to explore, as well as serving their local communities.

Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR, 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for the parish room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, April 27.

The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the front door.

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St John the Baptist was, in fact, a very large parish church (the largest Catholic Church in the country outside London). It was begun in 1882 under the patronage of Henry Howard 15th Duke of Norfolk and finished in 1910. The architect was G C Scott and the magnificent structure is said to emulate 13th century Early English Gothic, considered by many Victorians to be the most ‘pure’ and ‘English’ style.

Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please contact him if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services.

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

Please contact the Presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know to be Catholic.

WATCHNIGHT SERVICE So Holy Week is over, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday have happened and we wait as the friends of Jesus waited.

We wait, feeling the loss that the early disciples felt and we wait as they did. The difference is that we know what happened sometime early in the morning on that first Easter Day. Come and wait with us and experience a profound silence punctuated very occasionally with some Taize chants and pithy, short readings. We begin the ‘Watch’ at 9pm and we finish when the last person has left, whenever that may be. You are invited to drop in and out to suit your other plans that evening.

We will be in St Michael’s Church, Woolverstone on Saturday, April 15 from 9pm. For more information email Jane Gould: jane.gould@btinternet.com

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CHURCH NEWS THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook and Belstead & Bentley with Tattingstone For parish queries please contact: The Rev Annette Shannon The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton, Ipswich IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Benefice administrator: Hayley Purnell northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07713 863023 No sooner have we said goodbye to tinsel, fairy lights and Christmas trees when the pastel-coloured baskets, plastic eggs, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies appear on the shelves in our supermarkets. And we know Easter is on its way.

Easter is a Christian festival that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion. The crucifixion and resurrection form the central events of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity. But the Christian holy-day has become more and more of a secular holiday, and in some ways a celebration of spring to be commercially exploited. So I am going to attempt to bring the ‘Holy’ element back by explaining the link that much of the Easter produce has with the real Easter story.

While eggs have been a symbol of spring since ancient times, it is also is a symbol of the rock tomb out of which Christ emerged when he arose again. And the chick, hatching out of the egg, represents new life or rebirth. And the rabbit, or hare, which was a symbol of abundant new life in ancient times, reminds us of spring but also of that new life in Christ.

The white blossoms of the Easter lilies symbolises the purity of Jesus. And lilies, emerging from the earth in the spring also symbolise new life and the resurrection of Christ.

The Easter lambs represent Jesus, who is ‘the Lamb of God’. The cross on some Easter cards and on those rather tasty, but rather calorific hot cross buns, signifies Jesus’ victory over death on the cross. The palm branches remind us that when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday people waved palm branches, welcoming him.

Easter bonnets and the wearing of new clothes for Easter denotes new life which is offered to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And those Easter candles remind us that Jesus is ‘the light of the world’ lighting a path through all the darkness in the world. The twisted shape of pretzels, a food often associated with Lent, looks like arms crossed in prayer. And the beautiful Easter and spring flowers like daffodils and tulips which bloom in the spring, and the baby animals born in spring remind us not just of the start of the season but also new life.

But the butterfly is one of the most significant symbols of Easter. Its whole life cycle is meant to symbolise the life of Jesus Christ. The first stage is the caterpillar, which stands for His life on Earth. The second phase begins from the cocoon stage, portraying the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. The third and final stage is the butterfly, representing His raising from the dead in a glorified body and peace.

So the next time you walk down the aisle at the local supermarket, admiring the range of Easter produce and wondering which items to place into your trolley or basket, please spare a thought for the real meaning of Easter, and the story of the death and resurrection of Christ from which they have all arisen.

Happy Easter The Rev Annette All services and events are updated at: www.facebook.com/northsamfordbenefice

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FROM THE REGISTERS Funerals Frederick Hart – Tattingstone Gordon Woolatrd – Sproughton EASTER SERVICES Maundy Thursday, April 13: 7.30pm at Belstead Good Friday, April 14: 9am at Copdock and 11am at Bentley, lunch at noon Easter Day, April 16: 8am and 11am at Sproughton, 9.30am at Burstall, 10am at Belstead, 10am at Copdock, 10am at Tattingstone, 10am at Bentley DIARY DATES APRIL 1

Copdock Morning Market, 10am

3

Bentley APCM

4

Copdock Adoption of Accounts

5

Ministry Meeting, 7.30pm

Bentley Home Communions, 10am

Burstall Lent Group, 2.30pm

Bentley Lent Group, 7.30pm

6

Sproughton APCM

Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am

Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm

8

Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am

11

Belstead APCM

12

Burstall APCM in the village hall, 7.15pm

13

Maundy Thursday at Sproughton, 7.30pm

14

Good Friday, 9am Copdock and 11am Bentley followed by lunch

19

Copdock Home Communions, 10am

22

Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm

25

APCM Copdock

26

APCM Tattingstone

MAY 3

Bentley Home Communions, 10am

4

Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am

Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm

6

Copdock Morning Market, 10am

13

Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am

17

Copdock Home Communions, 10am

25

Ascension Day Service, Belstead, 7.30pm

27

Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm

In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE APRIL 2 8am 9.30am 10am 10am 10am 11am

Copdock Burstall Copdock Bentley Tattingstone Sproughton

Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Prayer Family Worship Holy Communion Holy Communion

APRIL 9 9.15am 9.30am 10am 10am 6pm

Sproughton Burstall Copdock Bentley Tattingstone

Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong

APRIL 13 Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Belstead Benefice Communion APRIL 14 Good Friday 9am Copdock 11am Bentley

Meditative Service Benefice Service followed by Lunch

APRIL 16 Easter Day 8am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Belstead 10am Copdock 10am Tattingstone

Holy Communion Holy Communion Communion by Extension Holy Communion Holy Communion

10am 11am

Bentley Sproughton

Holy Communion Holy Communion

APRIL 23 9.30am 10am 10am 10am 11am

Burstall Copdock Tattingstone Bentley Sproughton

Matins Holy Communion Family Service Holy Communion Family and Friends

APRIL 30 10am Burstall

Benefice Service

MAY 7 8am 9.30am 10am 10am 10am 11am

Copdock Burstall Bentley Copdock Tattingstone Sproughton

Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Holy Communion

MAY 14 9.15am 9.30am 10am 10am 6pm

Sproughton Burstall Copdock Bentley Tattingstone

Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong

Church letters and copy for the May editions of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by April 4 please: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com

HOLBROOK & CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCHES RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS A man in a hospice had terminal cancer that was progressing fast. He wanted to marry his partner before he died and so a wedding was hastily arranged. The matron went to buy some flowers at the local florist and another customer overhearing the story, paid for two-dozen red roses.

This act of kindness from a complete stranger added immensely to the couple’s happiness.

APRIL SERVICES

On March 1, I signed up to #40acts. Every day a message comes through written by a different person with a story, a thought or reflection and a challenge to make a difference in the community where you are (or beyond). Today as I write, it’s called Chocolate Tuesday. It talks about us being a nation of chocolate lovers – each person on average eating over 16lb or 8kg per year, or 160 bars! Each day there are three levels of challenges: green (the easiest) then amber and red (the hardest). Today it is about giving chocolate bars (or Easter eggs) away – either randomly or targeted to specific people or groups. It may just lift one person’s day, surprised to get something for nothing. A Random Act of Kindness.

Saturday 1 10-11.30am Coffee Morning Sunday 2 10am Worship with Mr Martin Ellis

6.30pm Lent Group – Rev Sankey Sunday 9 10am Family Friendly Worship with

Mrs Ellis Thursday 13 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Communion Friday 14 5pm Good Friday Service Sunday 16 10am Easter Communion with Rev Yelland Sunday 23 10am Worship with Mr Brian Loader Sunday 30 10am Worship with Mr Brian Clow

6.30pm Something Different with Rev Sankey

The 40acts website has lots of stories of generosity and kindness which are inspiring. This particular programme is for the 40 days of Lent, so will still be going when this article is published and I think you can catch up with the ones already sent. Instead of giving up things for Lent this helps me to see how I could bring a moment of happiness, encouragement or joy to someone, making the world a slightly better place Two thousand years ago, God sent his Son, Jesus, to this planet as a planned act of kindness. He died on a cross and by his death, those who believe in him can be forgiven and the burden of guilt lifted. May you receive his act of kindness and discover a generous spirit yourself. May you know that death did not hold Jesus, but he rose from death and by his spirit he is with us today, so that the moment of happiness and joy is not a passing moment but a lifetime of his presence in us.

I’m always happy for you to respond by phone, email, text or letter to any comments or challenges that you find are raised for you.

The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Holbrook & Capel Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

HOLBROOK METHODIST What’s on in April (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Mondays, 2.30 & 4pm: Tea and Chat (HCT) Conversations: evening group looking at puzzling questions

Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in April. For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 658478 CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Sunday 2 10.30am All Age Worship

6.30pm Prayer Sunday 9 10.30am Worship with Mr Eddie Vass Friday 14 9.30am Walk of Witness from Community Church

10.45am Good Friday Reflection Sunday 16 10.30am Easter Worship & Communion with

Rev Pauline Bailey Sunday 23 10.30am Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey

6.30pm United Prayer at Capel Methodist Sunday 30 10.30am Worship with Mr Mark Firmin

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ON THE GRAPEVINE WALK TOWARDS A CURE FOR PARKINSON’S IN SUFFOLK 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.

QUESTIONS ON CASH With Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb Steve from Woodbridge asks: “In a previous article you stated that your world-wide assets would form part of your estate on death and could be liable for UK inheritance tax. We live around eight months of the year in Portugal where we have a property, and we also keep a flat in Suffolk.

We also have around £200,000 in an offshore bond in Jersey. If we died, would the property in Portugal and the money in the bond be included in our estate and liable to inheritance tax or would the property and the bond be dealt with under Portuguese and Jersey probate respectively?”

The short answer is ‘Yes’ Steve. Both assets would be potentially liable to UK inheritance tax. Onshore or offshore, if you are domiciled or deemed domiciled in the UK, any assets that you own will count as part of your estate on death. An offshore investment may have some income tax advantages, but it will not escape the attention of HMRC when it comes to paying UK inheritance tax.

However, we need to remove any confusion between probate or property succession law, and inheritance tax law. They are not the same thing and one does not preclude or cancel the other.

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.

Many people assume that if their assets are in another country, they will not form part of their estate on death for tax purposes under UK tax law, but that’s not the case. What drives UK inheritance tax is your domicile status, which is much more complicated than just your residency status.

If you were born in the UK and are a UK citizen, and you pay or previously paid UK income tax, and still have UK property or assets, you will almost certainly be domiciled or deemed domiciled in the UK. If HMRC say you are domiciled or deemed domiciled in the UK on death then all of your assets regardless of where they are located in the world, will form part of your estate for the calculation of UK inheritance tax.

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

How those assets are then administered is a completely different and entirely separate thing altogether to how they are treated for tax purposes.

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.

“I was made redundant last month and I’ve already started to fall behind on my bills. I’m looking for work, but is there anything else I can do so I don’t end up in debt?”

There are steps you can take to avoid your bills from building up.

First, check that you’ve been paid any redundancy money you’re entitled to – you might get statutory redundancy pay and possibly contractual redundancy pay if you’ve been in the job two years or more. This should be evident on your final payslip, but if it’s not contact your employer.

Then look at ways to boost your income. See if you’re eligible for benefits like Jobseeker’s Allowance. Citizens Advice can do a benefit check for you.

You could also check if you can make savings on your bills, for example by switching to a cheaper gas or electricity deal.

Now look at how much money you have coming in and compare it to your essential spending. Priority bills include your rent or mortgage and council tax, and should be paid first as there can be serious consequences for missing payments.

If you own your home, contact your mortgage lender to see if you can negotiate on your monthly repayment. You could also see if your credit card provider will negotiate on repayment amounts to give you some breathing space.

For further help understanding managing your money, contact Citizens Advice at 19 Tower Street, Ipswich IP1 3BE / 01473 219777.

The bureau can also be contacted at: www.ipswichcab.org.uk

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In your case Steve, the Portuguese property will be distributed either in accordance with any will you have made in Portugal or if you have not made a will, in accordance with Portuguese property succession laws.

Portuguese property laws are complicated and very unlike UK property law. If you haven’t already done so, make a will in Portugal in regards to your Portuguese property.

The offshore bond provider will almost certainly require a Jersey Grant of Probate to release the funds to the executors of your English will, but in some cases, they may accept a grant issued by an English Probate Registry. You will have to check direct with the provider.

There are some offshore investments that can be held in special ‘discounted gift’ trusts that allow you to gift capital to your children now, and still enjoy a tax efficient income from the fund ongoing. This type of plan may help you with your inheritance tax planning if you are happy to gift a reasonable sum of money into trust. However, you should understand that once the capital is gifted into the trust, although you can have an income from it, you will not be able to ever get the capital back during your lifetime. That will obviously not appeal to everyone, but if you have some capital that you will not need to access in retirement, but which you would like to take an income from, then these discounted gift trust plans can be a great inheritance tax planning tool.

Nick Plumb is an independent financial adviser and practice principal at Plumb Financial Services of Baylham in Suffolk. The information within this column is provided only as a general guide and does not constitute personal financial advice. If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary meeting to talk over your options for your own investments, pensions or general financial planning you can contact Nick at nick@ plumbfs.co.uk or by calling the office on 01473 830301. Plumb Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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SCHOOL BAND & BIG BAND CONCERT Conductor: Richard Harvey

SATURDAY 6 MAY, 7.30PM ASSEMBLY HALL, ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL, HOLBROOK, IP9 2RX

Full: £10 | Conc: £7 | U18: FREE Available from experiencetickets.co.uk/rhsmusic 01206 573948 Sponsored by the Royal Hospital School Association