In Touch with Copdock - February 17 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

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Volume 7 • Issue No. 3 • FEBRUARY 2017

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR The oldest member of my family died just before Christmas. Kathleen, my great-aunt and surrogate ‘godfather’ since the death of her husband Jimmy when I was 15, died at the remarkable age of 97. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews (including my dad). Despite her age, Kathleen maintained an aura of quiet authority which I’ve always admired. She wasn’t scary or aloof, as often those we defer to can be, but somehow demanded respect from all who knew her. She always had time to chat, putting the kettle on before you’d even sat down. The fact that she was tall and had a very distinctive voice made her standout from the other women I knew as a child. I was never afraid of her, but I would never have wanted to be in her bad books either. Kathleen’s death has inspired me to do a little research into my family tree. I don’t plan to take it too seriously just yet, but just want to get the last couple of generations in place so I know who’s who. It has been fascinating. My dad helped with his side of the family and we did quite well, though he knows very little of his American cousins and nothing of all about their families. Most of my mum’s family still live in Ireland so that side of the tree is a bit more complete. They had big families back then. My dad had 15 aunts and uncles! One child, as I have, would have been a complete anomaly. And the same names came up again and again. I know my parents had intended to call me Elizabeth after my grandmother, but my dad decided he didn’t want my life to be as difficult as hers so broke with tradition and found a name which made its first appearance in the Burke family tree (to some astonishment) in 1969. Elizabeth is my second name. I now wish I knew more about the people who are my family, however distant, and also wonder how I will be perceived when my name is added to a family tree in years to come, perhaps by my great-grandniece. Mostly I wish I could spend time with my long-lost grandparents to talk about their lives. I have so many question. If you can do so, make the most of every opportunity to know those who can still share their lives with you. I also hope I’ll be doing The Times crossword every day when I’m 97, just as Kathleen did.

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In Touch with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook is 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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NEWS NEW LANDLORD AT THE BROOK INN The Brook Inn in Washbrook has appointed a new landlord, John Rhodes. The free house, which was bought by the community in August 2014, will continue to specialise in gluten free cooking under John who moved to Suffolk from Blackpool to take up the role. John said he had received a great welcome since moving to the area. He said: “I’ve managed a lot of pubs over the past 25 years, but I’ve got to say the welcome I’ve received since coming here has been the best. People have made me feel very welcome.” The Brook Inn was one of the first pubs in Suffolk to offer gluten free food and has now gained a widespread reputation for GF dishes with its accreditation from Coeliac UK. Most of the changing menu is GF, attracting customers from as far away as Great Yarmouth, Chelmsford and Bury St Edmunds. New landlord John is planning changes to the Brook Inn: “We will continue to offer great gluten free dishes and we’ve now got in GF beers. But we’ll also be offering more local produce – Suffolk has an excellent reputation for its farm produce as well as its beers and ciders so why not use them?”

COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK ALLOTMENTS Over indulged over the Christmas period? 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? Fresh air, exercise and wonderfully healthy fruit and vegetables guaranteed. 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. Tempted? Contact Anne Kell: 01473 730087

EVENTS AT COPDOCK HALL It’s a busy month at Copdock Hall with its annual wedding fair on February 19 and a classical charity concert in the barn on February 5. The wedding fair, which starts at 11am, will be the third since Copdock Hall opened as a venue in 2015, each year attracting more and more visitors. The charity concert entitled An Evening With is being organised by Beverley Steensma from Ipswich Prep School and will feature a tenor, harpist, pianists and a string quartet, with money raised going to the African Children’s Choir. Ms Steensma, who is director of music at the school, said: “It promises to be a great evening of music at Copdock Hall. The acoustics are brilliant inside the barn and it’s a great venue so we’re hoping for a good turnout.” The money raised is reinvested in the African Children’s Choir which is made up of children aged seven to 10, providing care and education for the choir children and others in some of Africa’s most troubled areas. Over the past 20 years the choir has appeared in thousands of concerts around the world. The doors open at 6.30pm with the £20 tickets available via Beverley: acccharityconcert@gmail.com

NEWS THE COPWASH EYE TREE REMOVAL A few people have commented on the disappearance of the tree by the village sign. Having been planted in the 1980s on the spot from which the Kenyon Best Kept Village Award was removed at the end Copdock’s year of holding it, the tree had grown far larger than was expected, had had to be trimmed regularly and had become increasingly diseased. It will be replaced later in the year by another tree more suitable to its surroundings after the commemorative stone for our VC William Henry Hewitt has been placed nearby on September 17. CONGRATULATIONS TO NOTABLE VILLAGE CENTENARIAN MRS BET STEWARD Ethel (known as Bet) Steward was born at Rookery Cottages, Washbrook on December 30, 1916. She was the fifth and last child to be born into the Levitt family. She attended Copdock School where she was in the same class as Henry Steward. In 1938 they married and for about 18 months live in Bramford Road, Ipswich. When Henry was called up at the beginning of the Second World War, Bet and her baby son Richard moved back to Rookery Cottages with her mum and dad. After the war they made their home at Westhill Bungalow, also in Wenham Road. They lived there for approximately 42 years. After a short spell at Bede in The Street they purchased The Grindle on Back Lane next to their son Graham. In March last year she had a fall and now lives at Baylham Care Centre. I don’t know of anyone else who has spent nearly 98 years of their life living in Copdock and Washbrook. Please join me in wishing this astonishing lady happiness now she has reached 100 years. From her daughter-in-law Rosanna RIP MRS ‘BUNTY’ HAMBLING Neighbours and friends were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Bunty Hambling just after Christmas. Baptised Mary but better known as Bunty, she was born in Sudbourne near Orford in 1928. From Orford village school she won a scholarship to Framingham Mills, the nearest grammar school. She loved telling the tale of cycling the 14 miles from Sudbourne to Framlingham for her interview on a fairy cycle with her mother on an adult bike beside her. After Framlingham Mills she trained as a nurse in London where she experienced some of the terrible conditions of Londoners in the late 1940s (think Call the Midwife). Moving back to Ipswich she nursed at Anglesea Road Hospital

where later she became the sister of an orthopaedic ward and met and married John Hambling. In 1961 they moved to the newly developed Dales View in Washbrook where she lived for the next 55 years. Bunty enjoyed cooking, entertaining and travel and, with John, she was involved in village activities. She always had a fund of stories and a great sense of humour. Resolutely independent she looked after herself until she was taken into hospital on December 23 where she sadly passed away five days later. The condolences of all who knew her are sent to her nephew Clem Cocker and his family. THE VILLAGE OF DIEPENVEEN REMEMBERS When the Copdock & Washbrook churchwardens decided in 2010 that the Second World War Memorial should be renovated, village recorder Jennifer Jones set herself the task of finding the burial places of the 10 villagers named on it. Unlike the First World War Fallen, many of whose graves were close enough to be visited in France and Belgium, their graves/memorials were scattered over the globe including in Singapore, North Africa, Italy and Holland. Only two were in France and two locally in Bures and Ipswich. With the help of the War Graves Photographic Project pictures were acquired of all the overseas graves bar one – that of Ray Daniels in Diepenveen in Holland. Determined that no man should be left unrecorded, the village of Diepenveen was googled and contact made with its local historian, Frits Loggen. He immediately supplied pictures of Ray’s grave and those of the other six airmen shot down over the village and buried in its cemetery, as well as pictures of the ceremonies on the annual Dutch Remembrance Day, May 6. Every year villagers meet to put red, white and blue flowers on each airman’s grave and the Burgomaster lays a wreath of white flowers at the foot of the memorial. Poppy Crosses were sent from our village for each grave and Frits was very happy to put them there for our Remembrance Day, November 11. This year, through pressure of circumstances, the crosses were not sent but Frits made sure the men were not forgotten and at Christmas he placed lamps on the graves. The words on the memorial behind the graves read in Dutch and English: “We offer our gratitude for these who died for the liberation of our country.” Eighty-two years later, like the rest of Holland, Diepenveen does not forget the debt the Dutch people owe to the bravery of these allied airmen.

Dad always brought her roses, today was no different It’s the little things that make a funeral special Here for you every hour of every day

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NEWS THE BUS SHELTER IPSWICH

20 YEARS AFLOAT AND SAILING ON

HELP RAISE £5,000 FOR AN EMERGENCY NIGHT SHELTER IN IPSWICH

This year the East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST) will celebrate 20 years of providing sailing opportunities on the River Orwell for disabled East Anglians and their carers. To deliver those opportunities, EAST owns and maintains a fleet of keelboats and two support boats. Last season, the EAST keelboats took to the water in more than 100 sessions, more than in any previous season. And this coming 21st season looks likely to be just as busy as the demand continues to grow.

It all started with a single thought of helping the homeless in these cold months. My partner Sarah and I started a Facebook page – Keeping Ipswich Homeless Warmer – where we asked the people of Ipswich for donations of warm clothing, sleeping bags and pillows and the response was overwhelming. We were going out every Tuesday and Thursday evening (more frequently when the weather deteriorated), offering warm clothes, sleeping bags, socks and a coffee, just making sure people had what they needed to survive on the streets. We soon came to realise that something extra is needed for the homeless in Ipswich and we think a branch of the growing The Bus Shelter UK network is the answer. After seeing an article about The Shelter on the Isle of Wight where Kevin Newton had converted a double decker bus into a hostel for the homeless, we decided that was what we were going to do. We have spoken with Kevin who has agreed we can use the the Bus Shelter branding and we are gaining help and advice from him and his team. We are hoping to have our bus and the conversion completed by March 2017, which is when the night shelter closes its doors for another year and many homeless return to the streets.

EAST also provides two weekend cruises and a week-long cruise where visually impaired sailors from all over the country live aboard a yacht and get a hands-on sailing experience with convivial, communal social evenings. The yachts are privately owned and this cruising in company programme depends entirely on the generosity of their owner/skippers.

Ninety percent of the conversion will be completed by myself with hopefully local companies and tradesman donating time and materials to help complete the project as cost effectively as possible. The bus will be designed to accommodate 16 to 18 rough sleepers and two volunteer watchers.

“You know how much we appreciate you and your marvellous team of volunteers, however I just have to thank you all once again for being so accommodating and delivering another fantastic session. Do not underestimate the difference you all made to those families yesterday. The families were absolutely buzzing afterwards and want to continue to access your services.” Email from St Elizabeth Hospice

Each bed will be equipped with a USB charging point, LED lighting and privacy curtains, as well as a PO Box number for each guest to receive mail for interviews, appointments and benefits. The bus will also be fitted with a functional kitchen, chill out area and hopefully a private room for counselling or treatment. There will be a programme that each guest must sign up to which will include any rehab required, whether it be drink or drugs misuse, and a plan for volunteer work at least one day a week within the local community. We have called the project TIFFERS after our 15-year-old daughter Tiffani who has been an inspiration throughout our journey to help the homeless. She has been with us every evening we have been out and enjoys chatting to the men and women we help. She is as dedicated to the project as we are. We have a few meetings lined up in the new year with some big organisations who really want to help get the project up and running. Their advice and motivation is going to be very helpful. You can find our more by visiting our Facebook page where you will find links to our justgiving fundraising page: www.facebook.com/tiffersbus Your donation, however small, will help us to get the homeless off the street to somewhere warm, dry and safe. Anything that you can afford to give will be very much appreciated. Gareth Brenland

IN MEMORY OF RONALD BEAU JACKAMAN A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Ron Jackaman will be held at 11am on Friday, February 10 in St Mary’s Church, Stoke by Nayland. Everyone is welcome to attend the service and meet the family afterwards at Assington Village Hall, The Street, Assington CO10 5LW.

The joy that this brings to our ‘customers’ is clear from the feedback. Here are just a couple of examples.

“I am registered blind and was given the opportunity last Friday, May 20 to go for a taster sail with EAST. I love sailing, but for various reasons, have not done so for over 25 years. I was therefore delighted to have been given this opportunity and cannot thank your charity enough for arranging the day. Ian and Barbara made us so welcome and let Katy and myself steer the yacht the whole time it was under sail. I cannot thank them enough for their hospitality, for sharing their knowledge and for all the fun we shared together. It was truly a wonderful day and the weather was on our side too. “Although I’m visually impaired and have a brain tumour, I also do lots of voluntary work and care for my 90-year-old father, so it was marvellous to have a day to myself and go sailing with such a friendly group of people. I hope I can come again sometime in the future.” Email from Graham Thompson EAST relies totally on its volunteers both on and off the water (nobody gets paid). There’s not much sailing right now in the depths of winter, but there is still plenty of maintenance work to be done getting ready for the start of the new season. If you can sail or would like to learn, have a yacht or can help with admin, catering or maintenance and want to take part in this rewarding work, please get in touch. The East Anglian Sailing Trust is based at EAST Waterside Community Centre at Suffolk Yacht Harbour in Levington and it is a Royal Yachting Association (Sailability) Centre of Excellence. Contact EAST via www.east-anglian-sailing-trust.org.uk or phone 0333 088 3278.

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

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

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

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NEWS CAROL SINGING – COPDOCK & WASHBROOK

REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD

Although the forecast was for rain we were blessed with a fine evening for our annual carol singing round the village. It was good to have several children with us, even young soloists with descants for the carols. We were amazed and delighted at the end of the evening to find we had collected £260 for the African Children’s Choir in Uganda.

The apparent distancing of Babergh as a representative/servant of the people continues.

My thanks to you for your generosity, to the 20 odd carollers and to Ruth and David for the splendid refreshments and drinks. Muriel Pearsons

FEN VIEW AND DALES VIEW PARKING PROBLEMS Over the last few months cars have been parked very close to the junctions of Fen View and Dales View, making it very dangerous when you come from Back Lane and turn into Fen View as you can’t see if there is anyone coming. Why is it necessary to park so close to a junction when there is parking further down which would make it safer? There also seems to be a problem starting at the beginning of Dales View; this is a narrow junction and a narrow road and most evenings there are cars parked on both sides of the road. Sometimes you can just about get a car through. I dread to think what would happen if someone needed the emergency services, such as a fire engine, during the night. Please consider other road users when you park. Thank you, Mr J Peters

NEWS FROM HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY Training days Our next training afternoons will be on Thursday, February 9 and Thursday, March 23 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. Peninsula Patient Network Our patient group has been active over the last few months and preparing to relaunch this year. They are holding an awareness week from February 20-24 so please pop in and meet our core representatives to see what they’ve been up to and how you can help. If you would like to be contacted with small surveys or to answer questions on an occasional basis, please email peninsulapatientnetwork@gmail. com or drop your details into the practice. Patient Feedback Thank you to all who completed feedback using the Friends and Family Test. We are delighted to report that out of 222 responses so far, 184 would be extremely likely and 21 would be likely to recommend our practice to friends and family. That’s over 92% positive feedback! Our aim is always to provide the best possible service that we can to our patients. However, we recognise that we can always improve and that occasionally we can get it wrong. If you do need to complain, please write to the practice manager at the surgery. All complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and independently. We will give a full written explanation, an apology and we will learn from any mistakes.

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON

At the December council meeting the controlling Conservative group voted to introduce a ‘cabinet’ system. This means the leader appoints members to ‘portfolios’ and they have delegated powers to act before other councillors may be aware of or object to their decisions. It’s a bit like planning where notification is received after the decision. Personally I do not like the system as it creates a two tier council with some areas of the district effectively becoming ‘second class’ with even more underrepresentation than now. Furthermore it is another example of the council proposing changes without all the other controls and safeguards in place, just a vague promise that ‘they will follow’. Scrutiny of cabinet members and decisions is currently done by the full council and no one has separate powers. Under a cabinet there would be separate powers and they need to be scrutinised and controlled. Otherwise we might as well have a council of 10 and the rest of us stay at home. The example of the move of the HQ to Ipswich without public consultation or any idea of the costs, with no business case being presented and before starting negotiations with Suffolk County is a clear example of aspects of the council running out of control. Planning continues to be a challenge, but with success for East Bergholt in their Judicial Review of the application for 10 homes on Hadleigh Road. The judge apparently (his full ruling is not yet available) tore into the Babergh planning policies and its interpretation of ‘local’ with regard to housing need. It has certainly created a stir with applications being delayed from committee until the full transcript and judgment plus the necessary action has been evaluated. Watch out for more fireworks as the Bildeston JR goes before the judge, not necessarily the same one, in January, but the East Bergholt decision will certainly count as a precedent. There is still a lot of talk about ‘Modern Government’ which really means let’s do it all by computer, which is great if you are computer literate and if you have good reliable fast internet. The Babergh planning pages are a nightmare and are supposed to be being sorted out, but if you like to spend all day gazing at a computer screen then ‘Modern Governance’ may be to your liking! Every day I encounter some problem or other, but I can ask the council for help. Who should the public turn to if they have the will? I keep asking questions regarding the financial situation and keep getting referred to obscure references within the Babergh accounts and strategy reports, but they in themselves need further questions and explanation; questions regarding the Transformation Fund which was supposed to support a reduction in staff numbers and costs by amalgamation are referred to a document which includes absolutely no mention of the words ‘Transformation Fund’. The quest for transparency and clarity continues. I scarcely dare mention the word (it’s a bit like Beetlejuice in the film of the same name), but devolution has gone very quiet. Well no-one is telling ‘ordinary’ councillors anything. It may be because of Christmas, but normally that’s a good time to release bad news as it gets lost in the festivities! Well this cynic will keep on holding the spending of ‘our’ money to account and try to get what is best for the ward and all its residents. Any other problems please give me a call. A Happy New Year to you all.

We will endeavour to continue with the same high standards in 2017.

Councillor John Hinton

Practice Manager Julia Smith

John.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309

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NEWS COPDOCK & WASHBROOK PARISH COUNCIL The parish council meet on the first Tuesday of every month (except August) at 7.30pm in the Church Room, Washbrook. All welcome to attend. The parish council are considering installing a motorcycle barrier in the gateway near Hill House Farm going towards the underpass to stop unwanted and noisy vehicles using this footpath unlawfully. Suffolk County Council needs to approve the barrier, but unfortunately have no funding for the project. District Councillor Nick Ridley reported that Babergh District Council will move to Endeavour House in May this year. Council tax is to increase, equal to approximately 10p a week per household based in Band D. Babergh still has the lowest Band D rate in Suffolk. The Community-Led Housing Development Plan is almost complete. Please see details below including a surgery being held in the village. The working party dealing with the VC Commemorative project have secured a grant from Celebrate England. Babergh District Council has approached the parish council asking for suggestions for street names that they can hold on file for future developments in the parish. These should have historical or geographical significance. If any residents have any suggestions please send them to the clerk: 2 Charlottes, Washbrook / copdockparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk The parish council still have a vacancy for a councillor. Anyone interested in applying please contact the clerk: copdockparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk Chairman Keith Armes Copdock & Washbrook Parish Council POSTING NOTICES When posting notices around the village to advertise events please ensure they are placed in appropriate places, i.e. noticeboards or within your own boundary. Please do not pin or staple onto trees or other people’s fences. When the event is past, please be good enough to return and remove the poster/notice in order to make room for others to use the space and to keep the village and noticeboards tidy.

COMMUNITY-LED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PLAN The parish council would like to invite all residents of Copdock & Wasbrook to an open surgery being held in the Church Room, The Street, Washbrook on Saturday, February 25, 10am-noon, to view the above plan. The report collated from the survey data will be available to look at and parish councillors will be in attendance to answer any questions you may have. There is a copy of the report on the village website: www.copdockwashbrook.onesuffolk.net/parish-council If you require a hard copy please contact the clerk: 01473 314198

NOTES FROM THE CASE Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub 01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk Happy New Year to all our members, volunteers and customers. This year brings with it some exciting opportunities to get more involved with your community pub. We are re-launching the share offer so if you’re not already a member, this is your chance to become a part-owner of this successful pub by buying shares in The Case. Consider the benefits: not only can you say you part-own your local pub and have a voice in the way it’s run, but there are very tangible financial benefits too. Your investment attracts 30% tax relief, so if you’re a taxpayer and invest £250, the taxman will refund £75. And from 2018, we hope to be able to pay interest of up to 3% above base rate. Where else would you get this? You’ll also receive information and updates which aren’t available to non-members. The minimum investment is £250, maximum £20,000. The Case already has more than 200 members. Why not join us and help us reach our target of £72,000 worth of new shares sold by the offer closing date of March 25? For full details and an application form visit: www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk Why is it so important to attract more investment? We have identified a number of repairs and improvements to the building, the most urgent being the replacement of the bay windows at the front of the pub which you may have noticed are looking distinctly ropey. We all know the difference the pub has made to our community (without it we wouldn’t have a shop either), so please show your commitment by becoming an investor. If you’re already an investor, why not increase your stake? Want to know more? David Westley and Peter Cross will be available to answer questions and deal with any share applications at two informal sessions in the pub on Wednesdays, February 8 and 22 from 8pm. Just turn up. And that’s not all – once you become a member by buying shares in The Case, you are eligible to stand for the management committee which is responsible for running the pub. Now the pub has been running for three years (hard to believe) some of the committee members are standing down, and we will be seeking new members for election in March. Pub quizzes Our popular quizzes will recommence on the last Saturday in January. Join us for a fun evening and give your brain cells a work-out, starting at 9pm. Entry £2 per person, maximum six in a team. And finally: New Year, new challenges! Why not learn new skills or polish up old ones and make new friends by joining our team of volunteers? Speak to any committee member (there’s a list on the website) or a volunteer, or pop into the pub and pick up a leaflet to find out more.

DOCTORS SURGERY ROTA Thanks to all our willing volunteers who provided transport last year. We are still welcoming new volunteers and would welcome someone from Bentley where we make regular pick ups for both Eat Bergholt and Capel Surgeries. Remember, if you cannot get to either of our surgeries for your appointment do tell the receptionist and they will make arrangements for you to make use of this scheme.

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT BENTLEY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

Seven parish councillors attended the meeting on January 5 at Bentley Village Hall.

Firstly, welcome from all the Hadleigh Safer Neighbourhood Team. Just to confirm that, although the police station is not open to the public, the SNT is still based at Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD.

District Councillor John Hinton and County Councillor Gordon Jones gave their monthly updates. Their reports will be available on the parish council website when received. Two planning applications were discussed, one for a cart lodge in Link Lane, the other for a Certificate of Conformity for a property in Hazel Shrub. Both were recommended for approval.

Just a reminder when to call the police: Emergency: please dial 999 Non-emergency: please call 101.

The tree warden gave an account of a recent meeting he had attended for local tree wardens.

Road accidents: need to be reported to the police if unable to exchange details at the time of the incident within 24 hours.

A meeting is to be arranged between parish council members and the new churchwarden, Mr Day, at St Mary’s, Bentley to review maintenance of the churchyard.

Burglary in progress: please phone 999

Grants were discussed, proposed and approved for projects to be undertaken by Capel Library, the Outdoor Bowls Club and The Tuesday Club. These include improvements to the library reception area, window renovations at the bowls club and a coach trip for the Tuesday Club. A grant of £50 towards an over-bed table at St Elizabeth’s Hospice, Ipswich was also proposed and approved. The next parish council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 2 at 7.30pm, preceded by a meeting of the Playing Fields Trustees at 7pm.

CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Managing demand over the winter period Demand on the NHS as a whole is at its highest during the winter months. This puts pressure on all our staff so it’s even more important at this time of the year that we deal with patient problems as efficiently as possible. Please help us by following the guidelines below: Tell the receptionist the nature of your problem. They can ensure you see the right clinician (GP, nurse practitioner, practice nurse) and you may not need to come into the practice if it can be dealt with over the telephone. If you need to see a GP, they will be aware of your problem before you see them which helps them prepare for you consultation. Of course, if your problem is personal and you would rather not disclose it, then that’s fine. If you need a home visit, please let us know as soon as possible. The doctor will phone you before leaving the practice to ensure they need to see you and they can help with the problem. Home visits can take up to an hour in total so if you can attend to practice please do so. Order repeat medication well in advance and nominate a pharmacy. Many prescriptions can be sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice. However, it can take up to three days for the practice to process you prescription as the doctor will need check that it is safe to issue it. The clinicians at the practice are not equipped to deal with every problem. If you have a serious acute problem you should attend A&E or dial 999 for emergency assistance as contacting the surgery may delay treatment being provided to you. Serious problems include broken bones, severe allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, severe chest pain, severe burns, seizures, very ill children, severe bleeding, poisoning, foreign body in your eye or ear. This list is not exhaustive and the practice may advise you to attend A&E if it is in your best interest to do so. Training days A reminder that in 2017 the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Thursday, February 9; Wednesday, March 8; Wednesday, April 19 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

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Theft or burglary has occurred: call Suffolk police on 101 Incident at school: please ask the school to deal with this Fly tipping, abandoned vehicles, noise nuisance and stray dogs: report to the local council Witness drug use and have information about drugs: telephone Suffolk police on 101 or crime stoppers on 0800 555111 Lost mobile phone: report to the phone company and IMMOBILISE website: www.immobilise.com Lost credit cards: report to the bank or company Fraud: contact Action Fraud on 03001 232040 You, the public, are our eyes and ears when we are not around, so please report anything suspicious. If you have ever been a victim of crime you will understand the importance of witnesses. Please phone 999 if you witness anything suspicious. If you are organising an event or work in the community and would like the police or PCSOs to attend, please contact us in plenty of time so we can arrange to attend: hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Finally, an update about recent anti-social behaviour committed in the Hadleigh area by local youths. All youths have been interviewed at the police station under caution and as a result all youths have been placed on diversion courses and also assisting with community work as punishment for their behaviour. Thank you for working together with the police to make our area a safer and nicer place to live. Keep safe, PC 167 Diane PORTER Hadleigh SNT, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

East Bergholt High School Sunday, February 26, 10am-noon Admission 50p, refreshments available, free car park Tables £5 in advance, £7.50 on the day Doors open 9am to set up ( 01206 298122

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SET UP AS POSTER OR IN A PANEL IN MT, CAP, COP & EAST B

OUT & ABOUT

Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School

Nearly New Sale

Saturday, March 18, 1.30-3pm Capel Community Church Days Road, Capel St Mary

CAPEL LIBRARY February sees the days beginning to draw out which means that spring is just around the corner when we see crocus and snowdrops peeping through the soil. The new colour emerging gives us all a boost from the dreary days of winter, so start planning those projects with the help of a good library book. Do browse the catalogue as a helpful aide-memoir and see what you can find. Possibly you will find an author that you haven’t read and give them a go. When you visit the library we politely ask that you have your library card with you to be able to take out books. Thank you. This month sees the start of a new Friends of Capel Library Community Cinema showing Bridget Jones’s Baby on February 21 at 7.30pm. Come along if you can and have a good laugh if you missed it when it was released at the cinema. See the poster below for further details.

GOOD QUALITY ITEMS ONLY

Other clubs meeting this month Baby Bounce: February 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 2pm. Come along and enjoy playing with the instruments and singing nursery rhymes and doing action rhymes. This lively group is open to all children (from birth) and their carers.

Maternity clothes, baby equipment, clothes (0-11 years), toys, books and games

Book Group: meets on Friday 17 at 2.30pm. This group is open to all and new members are very welcome. A wide variety of books are chosen by the group, some they have enjoyed reading, others not so much.

50p entrance fee (children free)

Don’t forget that we offer an IT training session with Trevor, which is prebookable on Tuesday mornings. If you need any assistance then please book a one-hour slot.

For more details or to order a seller’s pack, please contact: Lisa 01473 312248 / Jo 07709 724133

The Friends of Capel Library

Community Cinema Tuesday 21st February at Capel Library

BRIDGET JONES’S BABY

Doors Open: 7pm Film Starts: 7.30pm

Tickets In advance: £4 members £4.50 non-members On the Door: £5.00

We also sell books of postage stamps and book tokens. OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm & 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY By the time you read this we shall have had our annual general meeting on January 28 and re-elected the trustees for 2017. As I pointed out in December, the library service is coming under increasing financial pressure caused by cuts in funding. We as friends are committed to maintaining and improving the service that is provided here at Capel. One new innovation is the Community Cinema, and you can support our work and see a good film by coming along. You will find details of our first film, Bridget Jones’ Baby, elsewhere in this magazine. Watch out too for events being planned for March and April. If you are not a member of the friends yet, don’t delay as there are benefits on events and it only costs £1 a year, less that the price of cup of coffee. Even better join the 100 Club for £12 a year and have the chance of winning one of three monthly money prizes.

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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OUT & ABOUT ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, February 11, 9am-12.30pm, just in time to get that vital St Valentine’s gift to show your partner you care. Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying.

TEA & COMPANY Monday, February 20 at Wenham View, Dove Close All welcome to come along from 2.30pm £1.50 for tea/coffee and homemade cakes Raffle Supported by The Capel Ladies

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

Tea & Company with Capel Singers

BRANTHAM AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY It’s your last chance to buy tickets for Little Shop of Horrors, BATS’ next production in Brantham Village Hall running from February 14-19 at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 19. We all enjoy a good musical and this spoof science fiction about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a vicious, raunchy plant is one of exceptional quality by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman. With catchy songs, music provided by a live band, romance and an introduction to life on Skid Row, BATS as usual, present a colourful, dazzling show, with dancing and puppetry to bring the story to life. This scintillating show, directed by John Hoskyns and Pippa Revell, is suitable for most ages. Tickets (£8 / children £6) can be bought online from www.ticketsource.co.uk or from Bakes and Blossoms, Acacia Court, Brantham (9.30am-2.30pm). Enquiries to 07891 974844 (text or voicemail).

On Monday, December 12 we had a very enjoyable afternoon at Dove Close. We were joined by Capel Singers who led a Sing-along a Christmas and provided us with delicious mulled wine. We all joined in the fun. It was a perfect start to the festive season and we raised £125 from our tea, coffee, homemade cakes and raffle which we donated to The Ipswich Christmas Homeless Centre, a very worthwhile cause. Many thanks to all who took part. See you on Monday, February 20.

STOUR VALLEY ARTS AND MUSIC Friday, February 10 at 8pm: Love and Loss – The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice in Art and Music, illustrated lecture by Dr Lois Oliver at Constable Hall, East Bergholt Telling how the legendary singer lost his lover through a single glance. This tragic story has inspired much great music including the first masterpiece of opera, Monteverdi’s Orfeo. Tickets £10, students £5. Sunday, February 26 at 4pm: Vanbrugh String Quartet at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt / sponsored by Birkett Long Solicitors The legendary Vanbrugh Quartet was a regular fixture for SVAM during the 1990s and there is great excitement that they have agreed to find time to come back to play a wonderful programme including Beethoven’s String Quartet no 11 in F minor op 95. Tickets £14, students £7, 16 and under free with paying adult. Sunday, March 5: Young Musician’s Concert, Constable Hall, East Bergholt Sunday, March 19 at 4pm: Kammerphilharmonie Europa at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Box office and information: www.svam.org.uk / 01206 298426 / svamtickets@btinternet

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Mobile: 07790 370030 Email: dalewatts@btinternet.com

Stowe Veterinary Centre

Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre

Ipswich Veterinary Centre

The Mustard Pot Veterinary Surgery

The Old Tea Room Veterinary Surgery

54 Bury Road, Stowmarket

2 Boldero Road, Bury St. Edmunds

Scrivener Drive, Ipswich

Coddenham Road, Needham Market

Station Road, Elmswell

Tel: 01449 613 130

Tel: 01284 747 000

Tel: 01473 555 000

Tel: 01449 722 198

Tel: 01359 241 761

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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 15 Route 15 Town/village

Location

Time

MIP/15A Washbrook

Pearson’s Way

9.50-10.40

MIP/15B Washbrook

Brook Inn Car Park 10.45-11.15

MIP/15C Washbrook

Fenn View

11.20-11.40

MIP/15D Burstall

Telephone Kiosk

11.50-12.15

MIP/15E Elmsett

Rose and Crown

12.40-13.05

MIP/15F Whatfield

Wheatfields

14.05-14.50

MIP/15G Hintlesham

Timperleys

15.05-16.00

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK WOMEN’S INSTITUTE We hosted our regional group’s Christmas Carol Concert in Copdock church which was a great success and a good start to the Christmas festivities. The Rev Annette Shannon seamlessly lead proceedings and made everyone welcome, and Heather Earey was our talented organist. A group of children from Copdock Primary School sang a few of the less common Christmas songs and many people commented on how good they were and how nice it was to hear something a little different.

2017 DATES: February 1, March 1, March 29, April 26, May 24, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 6

We had readings from a member of each of the other WIs in the group and after the concert had finished there was time for socialising while we served refreshments. Many thanks to all involved in what was a friendly, joyful gathering.

TRIANON MUSIC GROUP SINGERS AND STRINGS

A group of us took a trip up the A12 to Marlesford Farm Shop Café where we had a delicious lunch in charming surroundings. We then went to the Redhouse Christmas Barn where we all managed to find a few extra decorative items that we needed.

A PROGRAMME OF LIGHT MUSIC FOR STRINGS AND SINGERS IN AID OF THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE Covering the parish churches of Belstead, Bentley, Burstall, Copdock, Sproughton & Tattingstone Saturday, February 18, 7.30pm All Saints Church, Sproughton IP8 3BD £6 / £7 on the night TICKETS AND FURTHER INFORMATION: Anne Fletcher 01473 328717 / Michael Earey 01473 742766

The next open meeting of Ipswich & District Support Group will be held on Thursday, February 9 at St Augustine’s Church Hall on Bucklesham Road at 7pm. The main speaker will be Jenefer Roberts who will give a talk about her book Can I Eat That?, a nutritional guide for Type 2 diabetics. Our sponsor, Martin from Silver Lining Estate Planning Ltd, will also give a short talk on estate planning, power of attorney and wills.

Our December meeting was a social evening; we didn’t have a speaker but all brought a plate of food to provide a large buffet along with mulled wine. A couple of members ran a craft table where we could make different items with whatever level of guidance we needed – there was something for every ability – or some members preferred to take the opportunity to chat with others. We then finished the evening with some carol singing, a fitting end to the year for our WI group. 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 and improve your 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 February 21 when Denis and Ann Kell will present a talk entitled In the Steps of Shackleton. Please arrive around 7.15 for a 7.30pm start.

For more information email: dsgipswichduk@gmail.com

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2017.

www.ipswich.diabetesukgroup.org / Facebook DSGroupIpswich

Sandra Howard

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OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE ROTARY SANTA RAISES £4,765

EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION

Manningtree Rotary had a very successful 2016 season with Santa. A total of £4,765 was raised in the run up to Christmas, £127 up on 2015. Santa toured the streets of Manningtree, Mistley and Lawford for 10 nights with his elves collecting house to house. There were also collections in the town and Rotary ran a sell-out mulled wine stall at the Christmas Fayre. All the proceeds will go to charities and local good causes.

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 at 7.15pm.

Rotarian organiser Rob Sharratt said: “We have had a great response again this year. The children love to see Santa touring the streets and people have been most generous with their donations. We are very grateful for everyone’s support.” The Rotary Club of Manningtree Stour Valley is a friendly club of men and women who meet every Thursday night at The Crown Hotel, Manningtree. If you wish to know more about the club please contact David Willis: 01473 310076

The unit experienced an increase in membership in 2016 with many explorers taking part in activities including a winter based mountain event in the Peak District and water activities, canoeing and sailing on the River Deben. Another explorer was fortunate to obtain a place on an offshore sailing event. All new members have registered for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme and after recently forming an eleventh bronze team we are already considering setting up team number 12 for 2017. Most of last year’s D of E programme was devoted to training and preparing for the expeditions being carried out during the April to October season. Practice expeditions for the bronze, silver and gold teams took place in south Suffolk, north-west Norfolk and the Peak District respectively. In addition, several expedition related events such as emergency aid, hiking and lightweight camping and cooking events take place within the scouting programme during the November to March sessions adding to the experience for explorer Scouts working towards meeting the challenges set by both D of E and scouting programmes. In the coming year the unit will continue to provide these opportunities and most of the unit membership will be involved in both practice and qualifying expeditions in various locations throughout the UK. Planning for these events is already fairly advanced with a D of E Gold qualifying event in Dartmoor National Park this summer. The core age range for explorer scouts is 14 to 18 years but we also offer scout network members aged 18 to 25 years the opportunity to complete their D of E award programmes with the unit. Last year an additional leader joined the team, but due to personal circumstances is unable to continue. As a result the need for further additional adult support is vital so if you are a holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s award and would like to help more young people achieve theirs too, or wish to know more, please contact Roger for an informal chat. Cattawade Explorer Scout Unit Roger S Dann, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Leader: 01206 395285 07778 463172 / catt-explorers@outlook.com www.wolseyscouts.org.uk/explorers www.brantham.onesuffolk.net/the-parish-council/groups

Our next meeting is on February 21 when we are delighted to welcome Ben Cowell. Ben, formerly regional director of the East of England National Trust, will be talking about his first year as director general of the Historic Houses Association and the challenges that face historic houses in private ownership. On March 21 Paul Forecast, the new regional director for the East of England National Trust, will be setting out his plans for the next 10 years and, in particular, how the trust will play a more active role in saving nature. The talk will be preceded by a short AGM. 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. For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary (membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761) or visit: www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

CAMEO December saw the arrival of the Boccia and New Age Kurling kits. Our thanks go to Suffolk County Councillor David Busby, Samantha Barber at Belstead Parish Council and Garry Simmonds of the Rural Coffee Caravan Information Project for the funding. Several of us tried out the kurling and I am sure we will have fun with both games. Garry and his adorable young son joined us as we enjoyed a sociable couple of hours and Christmas refreshments. It was a welcome break from Christmas preparations and shopping. 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 set-up 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) between 2.30 and 4.30pm. Sandra Howard

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED Monday, February 6: Air Dry Clay Monday, March 6: Flower Brooch (Debbie) Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available. Saturday workshops and Monday meetings are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms. Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

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Presents

a Klezmer Ceilidh with live music from Tanz

Saturday 11th March 2017 7:30 to 11pm Copdock Village Hall Old London Road, Copdock. IP8 3JN Fancy a Freylechs? Think you can handle a hora? Then take a trip from East Anglia to Eastern Europe at a Klezmer Ceilidh. Learn some classic dances from a rich tradition based on Jewish wedding celebrations. Dances will be taught by Jon Hooton, with music from Tanz, a Norwich-based Klezmer trio with Helen Boreham on accordion and clarinet, Fran Broady on ﬁddles and vocals and Louisa Young on clarinet and vocals.

Bring you own refreshments and enjoy a great evening of dancing with live music. Price £8 per person on the door (£7 if pre-paid) Open to all aged 16 and above Spaces are limited so best advised to book

For Booking & Pre-payment before Friday 3rd Mar 2017 email: janet@fundancing.co.uk call / text: 07506 350 455 FolkEast 2016 - Klezmer Workshop

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE LINK CLUB For our December meeting we were entertained by Harry and Sue Parsons with a number of short sketches from pantomimes they have performed in over a number of years. Alicea Holmes will present ta talk entitled The Chaplain of the Methodist Homes when we meet on February 8. Future talks will be: Wolves, Dogs and Us, Easter Parade and The Building of Bury Tower. Meetings are held at 10am on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall. 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. After the August and February meetings, we normally hold a members’ lunch – funds permitting. Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, January 11, Dr Geoffrey Kay, former lecturer at Norwich School of Art and Anglia Ruskin University, spoke on Drugs, Sex & Death – The PreRaphaelite Brotherhood. In the mid-19th century a group of young artists began to sign their work with the initials PRB. For a short time gallery visitors were baffled. Dr Kay informed us what united these artists and how and why they were determined to alter the course of British art for the next 50 years. On Wednesday, February 8, Prof John Midwinter FRAE, FRS, formerly at BT and UCL, will speak on The Truth About Climate Change. His lecture will explore evidence that we are changing the climate of our planet, probably irreversibly, and this will be linked to a discussion of what this probably portends and why we should be very concerned. On Wednesday, March 8, Mark Mitchels will speak on The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial. This will be an illustrated lecture that attempts to recreate the moment. It will tell the story of the excavation and when a remarkable people sent their leader on his final voyage. This was one of the greatest treasures ever found on English soil. 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.

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IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, January 25, 7pm: The Sad Story of Airship 101 We meet at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich – entrance via rear car park. Visitors welcome – £3.50 at door including tea/coffee. Details from: 01473 414746/422145 www.idhts.co.uk

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Our only January meeting was on Wednesday 18 when Tom Tyler talked about When Motoring Was Fun. This sentimental journey reminded us all of many happy memories. On Wednesday, February 1 Peter Gant will talk on 100 Years of Postcards and on February 15 Dudley Chignell will present The Four Seasons in East Anglia. On Wednesday, March 1 Joyce Kimber speaks on Ciphers & Enigma and the Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15. 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’s Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB Secateurs and spades to the ready as members look back on the first year of their garden club and now get ready to learn more from a wide range of speakers and demonstrators booked for 2017. In January we enjoyed a talk about allotments in the past and the allotment revolution of the present time where more and more of us want to grow organically and where females are now taking up the challenge. It is possible now to take on just half a plot. Our next meeting on Wednesday, February 15, will focus on growing cucumbers, aubergines and peppers for successful crops. Meetings are held in Belstead Village Hall on the third Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm. Everyone is made very welcome at our friendly club.

CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB Representatives of the Ipswich Traidcraft shop gave a talk on the Fairtrade principle at our December meeting. Traidcraft (est. 1979) is mostly run by volunteers and is “the UK’s leading fair trade organisation with a mission to fight poverty through trade, practising and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives”. We held our AGM in January and the committee agreed to carry on for another year. We also had a talk by Irene Carder on the Suffolk waste recycling centre at Gt Blakenham. We are hoping to follow this up with a visit to the site in February, which should prove popular. Mike Johansen will present a talk on his Viking ancestry at the next meeting in the lounge of Capel Methodist Church on February 14 at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome to join us for the talk and refreshments afterwards, when there is time for an informal chat with the speaker and fellow members

OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS THIS WINTER AT FLATFORD WILDLIFE GARDEN By Shirley Sampson, warden Sun shining? Crisp chill in the air? If you feel like a bit of fresh air, or somewhere to give the kids a run for an hour or two, why not visit Flatford Wildlife Garden? We’re open for the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, namely January 28/29, 10.30am-3.30pm, with fun family activities. We’ll be making bird feeders to take home, taking a closer look at the birds visiting the garden, and doing a fun nature trail around the wintery garden. In February we will be running two Snowdrop Weekends on 11/12 and 18/19. The garden is full of drifts of lovely snowdrops to enjoy at this time of year… We’ll also have potted snowdrops for sale, and seasonal advice on wildlife gardening for you to take home. After a bracing stroll in the garden or along the river, repair to the National Trust tearoom for a well-earned cuppa and to warm up! Park at the National Trust car park at Flatford (£4 per day). The garden at Flatford is designed to inspire people to help wildlife in their own gardens. Many people don’t realise that they could very easily be helping conserve local wildlife by thinking differently about their gardens. For creatures like honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, and many birds, gardens can allow them to travel across the landscape with access to food and shelter, which is vital to their survival. Gardens are no less important for creatures without wings – many gardens offer ideal habitat for hedgehogs, provided that the gardens are all connected. Surprisingly, hedgehogs need to travel up to two miles per night in order to find sufficient food, and therefore they not only need to be able to get INTO your garden, but also into your neighbours’ gardens from there… Once they’re in, apart from being charming in their own right, they will munch on your slugs and snails! Here are some ideas to transform your winter garden into a mini-nature reserve: Safe and warm in winter… Don’t cut back the summer’s growth come autumn, but be patient and leave the summer’s bounty until spring. The dead plant material and autumn leaves will create an insulating blanket over the soil’s surface, creating a warm, dry haven for many small creatures hibernating away the winter months. You may then be lucky enough to have songthrushes and other hungry insect eaters rummaging in the leaf litter, searching for insect food in the depths of the winter. You can then have a satisfying tidy-up in early spring, once the worst of the winter is over. So mulch more… Mulch your borders – choose something with an organic origin – homemade compost, well-rotted woodchips or bark chippings. This mulch not only nourishes the soil and plants, but also provides a source of food for soil invertebrates. Healthy populations of earthworms and other invertebrates have real benefits for the soil, and hence the plants, but will also provide food for a long list of carnivorous garden friends, such as hedgehogs, all the amphibians, song thrushes, blackbirds, robins, and many more. Winter hibernation sites Train a dense evergreen up your walls or fences, it will provide a safe haven for birds to nest, or butterflies to hibernate in winter. The five common garden butterflies, namely the comma, the small tortoiseshell, brimstone, peacock, and increasingly the red admiral, all overwinter by hibernating as adult butterflies, and need somewhere dry and insulated to shelter. In many cases, a thick evergreen climber such as ivy up against a fence or wall, provides an ideal hibernating place. More information at www.rspb.org.uk/flatford

COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK RAMBLERS Our next ramble takes place on Sunday, February 12, and will commence from Belstead Church. We shall use footpaths, farm tracks, bridleways and a short road section to complete a circuit through Old Hall Wood and around Bentley Manor, keeping a look out for flocks of winter birds. The ramble is relatively short at about 3.5 miles, but it may be quite muddy in places and suitable footwear is therefore essential. There are two starting options. An advance party will leave at 1pm from the Church Room in the Street, Washbrook for anyone who wishes to start and finish by walking over to Belstead Church, extending the ramble a little. Otherwise we will meet at the Church Room at 1.30pm as usual and car share to the official start point at Belstead Church. For more information, contact Tina: 01473 730162

BENTLEY CEVC AND COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS It may be cold outside, but the curriculum in Bentley and Copdock is really heating up. Despite the chilly weather at present, we are looking forward to lots of activities planned for the forthcoming spring. Dennis Kell, our chair of governors, will be launching the Big Birdwatch event in both schools in the next few weeks, kicking off with a special assembly to introduce the children to the event and explain how we can help this big, national project. Miss Cross at Copdock and Miss Wilding at Bentley will be leading a veritable host of Forest Schools activities through the remainder of the school year, meaning that the pupils will be engaged in a much greater depth of learning in the outdoor environment. We are extraordinarily lucky to have such beautiful grounds around our schools, meaning that the Forest Schools scheme of learning can be accessed by all the children in all year groups. In March, we will be giving a lot of thought and attention to Science Week. All the classes across the federation will be taking on significant science projects. In addition to this, each class has started a new class topic for the half term. Wolves and Squirrels are doing a topic called Super Scientists, Woodpeckers are doing Judaism, Adders are doing Marvellous Mayans and Foxes are doing Science and Materials. If you have any expertise or artefacts that you think might be useful in any of these topics, and you are willing to lend them to us, please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you. Diversity within the curriculum and extra curricula activities are being further enhanced by our variety of clubs running this term. Across the two schools, we offer two sports clubs, a singing club, a cooking club, a film club and drum and guitar lessons. In addition to this, Eco Council at both schools are looking at how to improve the grounds and are hoping to set up a gardening club. Finally, we are looking for a midday supervisor at Bentley for either one or two days a week. If you are interested in this post, please call the office on 01473 310253 for more information.

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Well the term is already off to a flying start and the children are having a great time. We are all waiting for the warmer weather to arrive now. There are lots of exciting things coming up for the children to take part in and lots of items to create and take home. We also have an evening with Ryan Gooding Psychic Medium on Wednesday, March 22, starting at 7.30pm at Claydon and Barham Community Centre. Tickets can be purchased from Claydon Pre-school, the Community Centre or by calling/texting: 07856 845163 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 (noon-12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and we offer two year funded places for any eligible children. If you would like more information regarding any of the above events or just to find out more about Claydon Pre-school, please contact the administrator, Lisa Read: 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

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SCHOOLS / SPORT ROBIN’S NEWS

TATTINGSTONE CARPET BOWLS CLUB

Baby Bears The Bears have been exploring new textures of winter, such as the snow, frost and ice, making the most of the fresh mornings and running on the field and in our garden. Recently they have been using and developing their physical skills by climbing and crawling on the slide and their communication and language skills with lots of singing and dancing. Toddling Tigers In the last month we have been exploring the changes in the weather and have enjoyed making footprints in the snow and watching it fall. We have made and hung bird feeders from the trees in our garden and have enjoyed watching the birds. The school field is a great place to look for birds on our bird hunts. Gruffalos The children are embracing the bear hunt topic with much enthusiasm. We have been on many bear hunts and have found bears of all different sizes. The children decided that bears were friendly and that we should bring them inside and look after them, making dinner for them, reading them stories and generally involving the bears in their play. One of the children decided that bears liked honey so we made honey sandwiches. Some of us liked the honey just as much as the bears! This led to a child creating a ‘trap’ using honey as the bait to see if we could catch any more bears. Such great thinking! Many children played detective, looking for clues to see if there have been any bears in our garden. They found scratch marks in logs and bite marks in wood and even some bear poo! Great detective work! 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.

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB We are nearing the end of the current season and already starting to think about the next. Capel Plough Football Club runs 10 teams covering ages nine-17, playing in local leagues on Saturday or Sunday mornings with all participants enjoying their football. Training is usually held weekly on different days for different age groups. The purpose of the youth section is to allow the youngsters to develop their game from a young age, helped by team coaches who have all undertaken the correct qualifications. Having more than 100 young people playing youth football for the club is pleasing to see and promising both now and for the future. It is the ambition of the club that these youngsters progress into adult football at Capel Plough. We are also an FA Charter Standard Club. The FA Charter Standard programme recognises and rewards high quality levels of provision in club and league football. The kitemark is awarded to clubs and leagues that are well run, sustainable and which place child protection, quality coaching and safety paramount. The youth setup has developed considerably over the last 10 years and is one of the bigger offerings of youth football in the local area. This season we have started our first all-girls team at the Under-12 age group (pictured above). The girls’ team in particular are looking for additional players next season as they move up to nine-aside football. If you are interested in finding out more please contact manager Tony Eagen: 07772 107838 / rontone01@sky.com The opportunity to sponsor the team’s kit is still available. If you have an interest in running a team or joining a team, be it boys, girls or mixed, or indeed in sponsoring an individual team or the club through banner advertising please contact chairman Gareth Millar: gareth@xsitems.com

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Members enjoyed a tipple and nibbles on a club night in the run up to Christmas. We are now looking forward to the rest of the 2017 season. Happy New Year to all our members. Tony Coward

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The last month was mixed for the First Team, with them registering one victory, one draw and one defeat, and thereby maintaining a mid-table position. The Reserves continued their impressive form. They had three matches in December with three wins and 15 goals scored. This saw them end 2016 at the top of League A, albeit that the teams immediately below them had games in hand. The A Team’s struggles continued in December. They failed to pick up a point in League B and consequently slipped to 11th place. UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st TEAM Senior Division Sat, Jan 28 Trimley Red Devils Bob Coleman Cup (A) Sat, Feb 4 Henley Athletic (A) Sat, Feb 11 Grundisburgh (H) Sat, Feb 25 Bramford Utd (A) Sat, Mar 4 Ransomes Sports (H) RESERVES League A Sat, Jan 28 Sporting ’87 Res (H) Sat, Feb 4 AFC Hoxne Res (H) Sat, Feb 18 Coplestonians Res (H) Sat, Feb 25 Mendlesham Res (H) Sat, Mar 4 Achilles Res (A) A Team League B Sat, Jan 28 Sat, Feb 4 Sat, Feb 11 Sat, Feb 18 Sat, Feb 25 Sat, Mar 4

Stonham Aspal Res (A) Haughley Utd Res (H) Henley Athletic Res (A) Capel Plough Res (H) Trimley Athletic Res (A) Stowupland Falcons Res (A)

Fixtures are subject to change. To confirm please refer to: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 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. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts, banners or boards on matchdays are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation. EBUFC is a community club with very strong village traditions. The majority of the players either live in, or have links to, the village. Please come along and give us a look sometime. Secretary Steve Butcher stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

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 all up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the front door. SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY 2017 Sunday 5 9am

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 7 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 12 9am

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 14 9.20am 10am

Eucharistic Adoration Mass

Sunday 19 9am

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 21 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 26 9am

EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 28 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Catholic Commentary Where do such principles as human dignity and freedom, the common good, solidarity and subsidiarity, from a Christian standpoint, come from? These fundamental ideas are expressed in the teaching of the church and are found in her Encyclicals (Letters to the Church) and other documents including the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Scriptures, the long history or tradition of the church and human intelligence and reason are all factors that contribute to her teachings. More specifically there is Catholic Social Teaching based on a series of Encyclicals issued by

Popes starting with Rerum Novarum (Of New Things) in 1891 through to Laudato Si (the Care of our Common Home) in 2015. These elaborate a set of moral principles or guidelines for action which are proposed by the church as part of her dialogue with people and the problems of human society. It is worth bearing in mind that if we value variety and diversity in nature then we ought also to value religious freedom and the avoidance of extremes in the conduct of human affairs. Unfortunately there is growing alarm and dismay at the persecution and oppression of minorities (including Christians) in many countries. On Tuesdays at 10.30am during Lent we will be running a study group at Holy Family, Brantham on Catholic Social Teaching to which all are welcome. Events and Diary Dates The Parish Epiphany was much enjoyed by all on Thursday, January 5 at The Ipswich Hotel. This lunch followed 11.30am mass at St Mark’s. The 100 Club Draw took place on Sunday, January 22 when three lucky winners shared £144. The next draw takes place on Sunday, February 26. The club has grown from strength-to-strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, that includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk 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, February 23. Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice. 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 at Holy Family All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services. It’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic Faith are always welcome. Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic. So Much More Than a Dance Class Any Age & Ability Very Welcome No Partners Required

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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 IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Benefice Administrator: Hayley Purnell northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07713 863023 Friends, As I write this letter Christmas seems a long while ago and we are already into the second month of the year. If you are like me, you are looking forward to some warm sunshine. January and February can be dark and depressing months, but occasionally there is a day when the sun comes out and the world is transformed by the brightness. On a day like this we may feel joyful and thankful for the life-giving warmth of the sunshine which lifts our spirits. Thinking about the sun I was reminded of a memorable episode of The Vicar of Dibley when the stained-glass window in the church is smashed when a tree falls through it during a storm. The Reverend Geraldine Grainger persuades a local businessman to part with £11,000 to replace the window, but weeks later when the new window is revealed it is only plain glass. Geraldine has donated the money to an earthquake appeal in South America.

DIARY DATES Sproughton Beetle Drive: Saturday, February 25 at 7.30pm in the church hall Women’s World Day of Prayer: March 3, Burstall Church at 7pm FEBRUARY 1

Bentley Home Communions, 10am

Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am

Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm

Tattingstone Morning Market, 10am

Copdock Morning Market, 10am

Bentley Approval of Accounts

Tattingstone Approval of Accounts

Sproughton Monthly Market

Copdock Home Communions, 10am

Burstall Approval of Accounts

Ministry Meeting, noon

Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm

Copdock Approval of Accounts

MARCH 1

Ash Wednesday, 10am at Burstall and 7.30pm at Copdock

The congregation is so stunned by the sun shining through the plain glass window and illuminating the beauty of the surrounding countryside that no one raises any objections.

Bentley Home Communions, 10am

Sproughton Approval and Adoption of Accounts

Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am

In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus reminds his followers that they are the salt and light of the world. In the first century, neither light nor salt could be created and were precious commodities. Light came from the sun with just a little being produced by fairly primitive oil lamps during the hours of darkness.

Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm

Women’s World Day of Prayer, Burstall, 7pm

Copdock Morning Market, 10am

Bentley Adoption of Accounts

Tattingstone Theatre Trip

Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am

Tattingstone Adoption of Accounts

Copdock Home Communions, 10am

Salt and light can both make a great difference. Apart from the wonderful preserving and disinfecting qualities, a pinch of salt brings out the full flavour of other ingredients. Light allows everyone in the room to see the shape and texture of all kinds of different objects that were hidden by darkness. We too are light and salt for the world exactly as we are. Jesus does not expect us to produce amazing illuminations. We just have to be open enough to transmit God’s light. The more open we are, the more God’s light will shine through us. As that happens, our tiny pinch of salt will increase until it begins to flavour life all around us, and when there is sufficient salt preservation can begin since more salt is required to preserve and heal than is needed for flavour.

Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm

Belstead Approval of Accounts

SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE FEBRUARY 5 8am

Copdock

Holy Communion

9.30am

Burstall

Holy Communion

If we can do that, then God’s light will shine through us just as if we were plain glass and we will be salty indeed for God.

10am

Bentley

Candlemas

Best wishes Angela Neale, Reader

10am

Copdock

Morning Prayer

10am

Tattingstone

Holy Communion

11am

Sproughton

Candlemas

9.30am

Sproughton

Croissant Church

9.30am

Burstall

Family Service

10am

Copdock

Holy Communion

10am

Bentley

Holy Communion

6pm

Tattingstone

Evensong

All services and events are updated at: www.facebook.com/northsamfordbenefice FROM THE REGISTERS Funerals Peter James Tynan – Copdock Roy Prior – Bentley Ivy Barnes – Sproughton

FEBRUARY 12

Continued Over

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CHURCH NEWS MARCH 5

FEBRUARY 19 9.30am

Burstall

Holy Communion

8am

Copdock

Holy Communion

10am

Copdock

Simply Sunday

9.30am

Burstall

Holy Communion

10am

Bentley

Family Service

10am

Bentley

Family Service

11am

Sproughton

Holy Communion

10am

Copdock

Morning Prayer

3pm

Tattingtone

Holy Communion

10am

Tattingstone

Holy Communion

11am

Sproughton

Holy Communion

FEBRUARY 26 8am

Sproughton

Holy Communion

MARCH 12

9.30am

Burstall

Matins

9.30am

Sproughton

Croissant Church

10am

Bentley

Holy Communion

9.30am

Burstall

Family Service

10am

Copdock

Holy Communion

10am

Copdock

Holy Communion

10am

Belstead

Morning Celebration

10am

Bentley

Holy Communion

10am

Tattingstone

Family Service

6pm

Tattingstone

Evensong

11am

Sproughton

Family and Friends at Church Church letters and copy for the March edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by February 4 please: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com

MARCH 1: ASH WEDNESDAY 10am

Burstall

Benefice Service

7.30pm

Copdock

Benefice Service

CAPEL AND HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCHES How do you feel about yourself?

AT CAPEL METHODIST

We hope that most of the time we feel reasonably good about ourselves. There will be times when we have made a mistake or done something wrong, on purpose or in error, and we will feel bad about ourselves. If we are someone who is living under constant criticism our self-esteem might be low and depression might weigh us down.

Sunday 5

10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with Mr Guy Fairweather Prayer

Sunday 12

10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with Mr Rod Stone Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey

I count myself privileged to have grown up in a loving family, to have had the option of a good education, to have had people who have inspired and encouraged me, to have had employment all my working life, to have a wife and growing family (grandchildren), to have friends, to have faith and to be content with life.

Sunday 19

10.30am

Worship with Mr Andy Jelfs

Sunday 26

10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey United Prayer at St Mary’s

Last month I wrote under the heading Done and Undone! and invited you to one of our Covenant Services. I am part way through sharing these in my five churches. I found a contemporary version of the Covenant Service on the internet and will happily send a copy to anyone who asks. It includes a prayer which suggests things for which we might want to say sorry. As implied at the beginning of this article, I feel reasonably good about myself and I think most of my friends wouldn’t call me wicked (but they would also certainly agree that I’m not perfect either). As I have led this prayer, I have felt uncomfortable at some of the areas mentioned and have to agree that I am guilty of some of these wrong attitudes, thoughts and actions. I feel unclean, dirty and ashamed. I could easily end up feeling depressed. But every time the service lifts that guilt, we ask God to create a clean heart, to renew a right spirit within and to give us the joy of his help. There is a freedom and a joy. I am glad I will have prayed this prayer five times in January and experienced the joy and release that come from being in the presence of Jesus who forgives, cleanses and renews. Probably by the time this is published I will have completed the series, but I would always welcome an opportunity to talk and pray with you if you would like to invite me. The Rev Andrew Sankey, Capel & Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216

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AT HOLBROOK METHODIST What’s on in January (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Monday, 2.30-4pm:

Tea and Chat (HCT)

Thursday 2 2pm

Fellowship Meeting at 16 Ipswich Road, Holbrook

Friday 3

9am

Tiddlers / 10am Family Live (HCT)

Saturday 4

10-11.30am Coffee morning

Sunday 5

10am

Worship with Mr Chris Finbow

Wednesday 8

7.30pm

Conversations Meeting

Sunday 12

10am

Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey

Wednesday 15

10am-4pm

Knit in at the Chapel

Thursday 16 2pm

Fellowship Meeting at 16 Ipswich Road, Holbrook

Sunday 19 10am

Family Friendly Worship with Rev Jo Jacobs

Friday 24

Tiddlers / 10am Family Live (HCT)

9am

Sunday 26 10am 6.30pm

Worship and Communion with Rev Michael Ayden Something Different with Rev Andrew Sankey

Monday 27

Conversations Meeting

7.30pm

Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in February. For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 658478

ON THE GRAPEVINE KENNY’S SESAW NEWS

QUESTIONS ON CASH

Brrrr! Was I glad to get home after a brisk walk with Debbie in the freezing fog! My little paws were too cold to type until I thawed out by the Rayburn so I could tell you a story with a happy ending.

With Nick Plumb This month, I have responded to two questions from In Touch readers that landed in my email in-basket over the Christmas period.

After many years, Gertie the Staffie finally has a home and sofa of her own where she enjoyed her very own Christmas dinner last month. She was transferred to SESAW from the dog pound at Wormwood Scrubs where she was under the threat of the needle nearly a decade ago. So never give up hope for a rescue animal, there is usually someone out there prepared to give them a chance and the home they deserve.

Alan from Ipswich asks: “I have just started receiving my state pension and a company pension of £14,000 a year from the old GEC scheme. The state pension is paid to me gross with no tax deducted, but my GEC pension has income tax deducted and is paid to me net of that tax. Why is there a difference, and should I be paying tax at all?” Yes, you will pay a certain amount of tax on both pensions, as your total pension income is above your annual personal income tax allowance of £11,000, which is what you are allowed to earn before income tax is deducted at basic rate (currently 20%). Pension income (from state or private pensions) is classed as ‘earned’ income and is therefore taxable above £11,000 a year.

I’m looking forward to meeting some of you at the Charity Fun Day which HG Gladwell and Son Ltd are holding at Copdock Mill on May 13. We will have lots of items to sell, alongside other local organisations including the Washbrook Knitters and Stitchers. Best wishes to their leader, Betty, who was not very well at time of writing.

Although your state pension is paid to you gross, this does not mean that you don’t pay tax on it. The tax is actually collected by an adjustment to your tax code. Check your last notice of coding, and you will see that your tax code is different to when you were working. The pension system would not be able to cope with working out everyone’s individual income tax, so they leave the tax to HMRC, who alter your tax code to compensate.

Despite the cold weather, SESAW is open to visitors from 10am-1pm, Thursday-Sunday, so call in if you are looking for a four-legged friend to share your home. Spring may be round the corner, but right now, a cosy bed by the fire is the best place for most dogs including me, Kenny (the Boss) Chihuahua Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath CO6 4PP 01787 210888 / www.sesaw.co.uk

The GEC pension is taxed at source, and tax is deducted by the company pension administrators before the pension is paid to you. However, it is important to check that you have been put on the correct tax code as I have seen many examples of people paying too much tax on their company pensions over the years.

GET UP AND GLOW FOR ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE St Elizabeth Hospice’s biggest event of the year, the Midnight Walk, is back for its 11th birthday event and if you sign up before the end of January you can save £5.

Peter from Needham Market asks: “I am the director of a limited company employing 12 members of staff. I would like to introduce a free life insurance scheme that pays out a lump sum to the staff member’s family if they died. What is the best way to do this through the company?”

The hugely popular event, which saw a record-number of people taking part in May earlier this year, will return on May 20, 2017 and back by popular demand is the neon theme.

A ‘death in service’ scheme for a group of employees is usually arranged as a Group Life Insurance scheme, which falls under the ‘tax approved’ rules that also apply to group pension schemes. Such schemes offer various tax advantages for you as the employer and for your employees.

However, this year’s Midnight Walk will have a few alterations, with a brand new start and finish location – the Cornhill in Ipswich town centre. There are also two brand new routes – a six mile and a 12 mile – both of which will pass the hospice on Foxhall Road so all walkers will have the opportunity to hang a personalised tag on the Tree of Remembrance.

The premiums the company pays are tax-deductible as a business expense and the premiums are not treated as a ‘benefit in kind’ for your employees, so they will not suffer a tax charge on them. Any Lump-sum death benefit paid on the death of an employee would be paid free of income tax and, if it is paid out under a discretionary trust, it will not normally be liable for inheritance tax when paid to the beneficiaries of the deceased staff member.

Catherine Sheppard, St Elizabeth Hospice’s events and challenges fundraiser, said: “We are very excited to launch the Midnight Walk 2017 and we hope it will be as successful as 2016 which raised an incredible £220,000 for the hospice, making a huge difference to our patients and their families. “The neon theme proved very popular. It was fantastic to watch Ipswich glow last year and we wanted to bring that back again to the town.”

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 or financial planning you can contact Nick by email at nick@plumbfs.co.uk or by calling the office on 01473 830301. Plumb Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

All participants will receive an exclusive Midnight Walk 2017 T-shirt, medal and a hot chocolate at the finish line. You can save £5 and register for just £10 with the early bird offer before January 31, 2017. From February 1 registration will be £15. Be part of Suffolk’s biggest celebration of life and sign up now at: www.midnightwalkipswich.co.uk To request a paper form contact: 01473 707043 / midnightwalk@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

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