In Touch News with Copdock November 2018

In Touch ™ ™©©

with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook

Volume 8 • Issue No. 12 • NOVEMBER 2018

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NEWS

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM ERNEST JOHN WILLIAM ARTHUR CLARENCE THOMAS BERT HAROLD HOWARD JAMES ROLAND ABRAHAM EVELYN MICHAEL CHARLES EDWARD EARL HARRY PAUL JOSEPH HENRY ALFRED FRANK FREDERICK GEORGE GUY MARY ROBERT DAVID BERNARD REGINALD ANDREW PETER VINCENT ERIC CLAUDE WALLACE BARRINGTON HANFORD LAWSON PERCY AUSTIN ALBERT ALPHONSE CONRAD EPHREM EUGENE HENRI OSCAR PHILIAS SAMUEL WILBERT FLOYD GREY LIONEL HARVEY PAUL GILBERT ALECK LEO JERRY RAULIN ALLEN BAXTER BERNARD BRUCE DONALD FRED GORDON LORNE CLIFFORD FRANCIS CLARENCE JEREMIAH WILFRED CYRIL HOWARD ALLISON ADDISON WESLEY STEPHEN FLORENCE WOULDRIDGE ARMOS OLIVER HILLIARD MILTON OSWALD SIDNEY WILFRED GILBERT ARCHIE LANCELOT DUNCAN RICHARD SETH MERVIN FREEMAN ROY AUBREY ALLISON FELIX ROSAIRE CELESTINE EXIBE JEAN OCTAVE FABIEN ODILON POLYDORE GEOFFREY DICK HORACE OTTO BURTON HERBERT MAURICE MIRIAM SELVIN DOROTHY THEODORE BEATY CERIC ISAAC EDWY ROSS COSMOS EDGAR LESTER FREELAND WALTER DELPHI SYLVAIN ALCIDE WILLIS IAN OMER ADOLPHUS ORA URBAN ROMMIW AUBREY RUSSELL MOODY KENNETH COLIN JASPER HORACE WILLIS ELSWORTH CHESTER EBENEZER ELIZABETH BERNSLEY SILAS LEONARD LESLIE STUART MELVIN SHILTON ROY STANLEY OGLE FLORENCE MERLE MURPHY ELGIN MEDLEY ARCHIBALD VICTOR LORNEY DEXTER WALTON HUBERT CYRUS LEVI HOMER CHRISTOPHER MORTIMER HUGH MARINUS CARROLL ELLIOTT FULTON STIRLNG MAXWELL ROLAND ENOCH MASON MURRAY GUILFORD MAURICE WELDON GAVIN GILBERT GRAHAM ISDOR LINN GRANT RANDOLPH RODERICK ROBERT GERALD ADAM ORAL NICHOLAS EELIS ODICE LLOYD IRIE ELDER HERMAN CALVIN BENDICT ZACRE CARL GARVIE AXELL ALPHAEUS ANGUS IRA EARL AUGUSTUS BENJAMIN BERTRAM JOSIAH THERON MATTHEW COREY CURRIE LIONEL FRANKLN THEODORE NEWRON ROY HOLMES HART LYNN DARRELL SYDNEY ALONZO RUFUS NORMAN MURDOCH ROB ALEXANDER HERBERT JEFFREY AGNES MORRIS SECIL BERT ALISTER MELVILLE ROBIN CORNELIUS LACKLAN SAMUEL WRAY REX KARL LOFTUS IRVIN VERDON CLARENCE DEWEY OLAF RALPH JULIUS BRIAN WILMER LUCIUS HUGO FAY GLEN MARIUS BERNIE LEON DELVIDA ISADORE DAMAS NICKLES ROMEO SYLVESTER URGEL CLAUD CHRISTIAN ISIAH JOE WALLACE CELT ROLLAND JULES GEDEON FORRESTER VICTOR ISAAC ELMER HORACE EDITH WALTER WESLEY SMITH AVILA DORILA HEW PERCIVAL ETHEL ORLAF DOUGALL HARVEY DAN LUC CASHELL LAWRENCE EMMANUEL HOWARD EDGAR MELVIN JACK ESMOND ARMOSS FRANCIS BRANT CAMERON CAL BASIL IVAN CYRUS RICHIE ERNEST VICTOR MIRIAN IRVING OSWALD SOLOMON LEWIS STEWART DOUGLAS MANLY JEREMIAH ERNEST JOHN WILLIAM ARTHUR CLARENCE THOMAS BERT HAROLD HOWARD JAMES ROLAND ABRAHAM EVELYN MICHAEL CHARLES EDWARD EARL HARRY PAUL JOSEPH HENRY ALFRED FRANK FREDERICK GEORGE GUY MARY ROBERT DAVID BERNARD REGINALD ANDREW PETER VINCENT ERIC CLAUDE WALLACE BARRINGTON HANFORD LAWSON PERCY AUSTIN ALBERT ALPHONSE CONRAD EPHREM EUGENE HENRI OSCAR PHILIAS SAMUEL WILBERT FLOYD GREY LIONEL HARVEY PAUL GILBERT ALECK LEO JERRY RAULIN ALLEN BAXTER BERNARD BRUCE DONALD FRED GORDON LORNE CLIFFORD FRANCIS CLARENCE JEREMIAH WILFRED CYRIL HOWARD ALLISON ADDISON WESLEY STEPHEN WOULDRIDGE ARMOS OLIVER FLORENCE HILLIARD MILTON OSWALD SIDNEY WILFRED GILBERT ARCHIE LANCELOT DUNCAN RICHARD SETH MERVIN FREEMAN ROY AUBREY ALLISON FELIX ROSAIRE CELESTINE EXIBE JEAN OCTAVE FABIEN ODILON POLYDORE GEOFFREY DICK HORACE OTTO BURTON HERBERT SPENCER MAURICE MIRIAM SELVIN DOROTHY THEODORE COSMOS BEATY CERIC ISAAC EDWY ROSS EDGAR LESTER FREELAND WALTER DELPHI SYLVAIN ALCIDE WILLIS IAN OMER ADOLPHUS ORA URBAN ROMMIW AUBREY RUSSELL MOODY KENNETH COLIN JASPER HORACE WILLIS ELSWORTH ELIZABETH CHESTER EBENEZER BERNSLEY SILAS LEONARD LESLIE STUART MELVIN SHILTON ROY STANLEY OGLE FLORENCE MERLE MURPHY ELGIN MEDLEY ARCHIBALD VICTOR LORNEY DEXTER WALTON HUBERT CYRUS LEVI HOMER CHRISTOPHER MORTIMER HUGH MARINUS CARROLL ELLIOTT FULTON STIRLNG MAXWELL ROLAND ENOCH MASON MURRAY GUILFORD MAURICE WELDON GAVIN GILBERT GRAHAM ISDOR LINN GRANT RANDOLPH RODERICK ROBERT GERALD ADAM ORAL NICHOLAS EELIS ODICE LLOYD IRIE ELDER HERMAN CALVIN BENDICT ZACRE CARL GARVIE AXELL ALPHAEUS ANGUS IRA EARL AUGUSTUS BENJAMIN BERTRAM JOSIAH THERON MATTHEW COREY CURRIE LIONEL FRANKLN THEODORE NEWRON ROY HOLMES HART LYNN DARRELL SYDNEY ALONZO RUFUS NORMAN MURDOCH SECIL ROB ALEXANDER HERBERT JEFFREY AGNES MORRIS BERT ALISTER MELVILLE ROBIN CORNELIUS LACKLAN SAMUEL WRAY FAY REX KARL LOFTUS IRVIN VERDON CLARENCE DEWEY OLAF RALPH JULIUS BRIAN WILMER LUCIUS HUGO GLEN MARIUS BERNIE LEON DELVIDA ISADORE IRENE DAMAS NICKLES ROMEO SYLVESTER URGEL CLAUD CHRISTIAN ISIAH JOE WALLACE CELT ROLLAND JULES GEDEON FORRESTER VICTOR ISAAC ELMER HORACE EDITH WALTER WESLEY SMITH AVILA DORILA HEW PERCIVAL ETHEL ORLAF DOUGALL HARVEY DAN LUC CASHELL LAWRENCE EMMANUEL HOWARD EDGAR MELVIN JACK ESMOND RAYMOND ARMOSS FRANCIS BRANT CAMERON CAL BASIL IVAN CYRUS RICHIE ERNEST VICTOR MIRIAN IRVING OSWALD SOLOMON LEWIS STEWART DOUGLAS MANLY JEREMIAH IRVIN VERDON CLARENCE DEWEY OLAF RALPH OLIVER FLORENCE HILLIARD MILTON OSWALD SIDNEY WILFRED GILBERT ARCHIE LANCELOT DUNCAN RICHARD ROB JAMES BERT PETER LEONARD CECIL LIONEL VICTOR SPENCER WILLIAM FRED LESLIE ALBERT HENRI ANDREW PERCY JOE WALLACE CELT ROLLAND JULES GEDEON FORRESTER VICTOR ISAAC ELMER HORACE EDITH WALTER WESLEY SMITH AVILA DORILA MATTHEW AUSTIN ISAAC CLARENCE FELIX VINCENT JEFFREY SETH JOHN PATRICK STANLEY REX GEOFFREY

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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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DECEMBER DEADLINE

10 NOVEMBER 2018 is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

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LET’S SPRUCE UP COPDOCK & WASHBROOK FOR CHRISTMAS Saturday, November 24 is the day to help tidy and spruce up our village.

Sadly the litter-louts have been throwing their rubbish out of vehicle windows and abandoning bottles, cans and wrappers as they amble along our paths again! Overhanging vegetation is making it difficult to walk on some of the pavements, and road signs are dirty and hidden by undergrowth.

We meet at the Church Room in The Street, from where we set off in pairs or groups to tackle problem areas. Cleaning materials, rubbish sacks, litter pickers, secateurs and hi-vis vests are available. Please bring your own gloves.

Do come and join us for just an hour or so, or longer if you can, anytime between 10am and 1pm. Upon returning to the Church Room, delicious seasonal refreshments will be available for all our helpers.

For further information about this useful and enjoyable village event, please contact Tina: 01473 730162

TATTINGSTONE FETE UPDATE A huge thank you to all concerned with this year’s event. The fete has made in excess of £2,000 with donations this year going to Livability Icanho Brain Rehabilitation Centre, Blue Cross for Pets, Tattingstone Good Neighbours and Tattingstone Playing Fields. We are also looking to place flower planters in the village.

We have two lucky programme winners still outstanding: 230 – £50 and 282 – £10. Please contact me if you are a winner.

The date of next year’s event to be announced in the New Year.

BUFFET SUPPER & NOVELTY RACE NIGHT Presented by Copdock with Washbrook Heritage Church Trust & Tennis Club

Copdock & Washbrook Village Hall Friday, November 23 Doors open 7pm, first race at 7.30pm An action packed night of thrilling races Six races plus final race for all race winners Tables of 10 available / Buffet Supper Entry by ticket: adults £10 / children Under-14 £5 Tickets to be sold before the night are available from: Louise: 730776 / Adrian: 405579 / Maureen: 730409 / Mike: 730599

BENTLEY GARAGE SALE Ann and Angela would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who helped, had a garage sale and came along on the day and supported this event.

We had so many generous donations and raised the wonderful total of £1,032.69 for The Blossom Unit Appeal for Breast Cancer at Ipswich Hospital.

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NEWS FANTASTIC RESPONSE TO HARVEST TOOL APPEAL

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Invite you to the AGM on Monday, November 12 at 7.30pm Please come and support us

SUFFOLK CHURCHES RIDE AND STRIDE On September 8, Fred Green and I took part in the Suffolk Churches cycle ride, visiting about 40 churches between us and covering a collective 40+ miles. I think we just avoided getting bad cramps as one of us doesn’t get on a bike much! Guess who?

Capel Community Church would like to say a big thank you to all of those residents in Capel and Bentley who contributed to our recent harvest of tools. As you can see from the photograph, we collected enough tools to fill a decent sized van! All these will be reconditioned or refurbished and sent out to Third World countries by Tools with a Mission (TWAM). This is a local charity, based in Ipswich, which seeks to empower people to make a living and climb out of poverty. Visit the TWAM website (www.twam.uk) to see photos of those who have now been able to start up a business in perhaps carpentry, needlework or agriculture.

This harvest initiative was a great way for us to pull together as a village community to show we care for those beyond our shores. Thanks again for participating!

Capel Community Church

However we had an enjoyable day with nice cakes and snacks, even sausage rolls provided in some good supporting churches. Together we have raised £360; £180 for St Peter`s Church Copdock and £180 for the SHCT. We wish to extend a big thank you to all our sponsors and to all who volunteered to record and provide refreshments at the churches.

Church Warden Adrian Basham, St Peter`s Church Copdock

THE BENEFICE FALLEN Only one man from the Benefice fell in November 1918, GUARDSMAN 19720 FRANK LLOYD who died on November 30, 19 days after the Armistice. Born in 1898, he was the son of Edgar and Eliza Lloyd of Burstall who had already lost his elder brother Joseph in 1916.

The two brothers lie side by side in Burstall churchyard.

Youngsters of the parish publicised the annual Shoe Box Appeal at Copdock St Peters’ Harvest Supper on October 6.

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RIP PETER JONES OF LEASIDE, MILL LANE It is with sorrow that we record the death on October 5 of Peter Jones after a relatively short illness.

Having been invalided out of the RAF in 1969, Peter moved to Copdock with Jennifer, Philippa and Huw. It didn’t take long for him to become closely involved in local village activities. For a short time he was a churchwarden and then, after discovering that at the whim of the district councillor the name of the new development near the school was to be changed from Pheasant Rise to Pleasant Hill (it was soon altered back), he decided to offer himself for election to the parish council and got in by one vote.

Once on he was soon spotted by the chairman, Robin Cousins, who was looking for a willing volunteer replacement and in 1974 he became parish chairman, serving for 25 years until September 1999, apart from a short gap during a tussle about Pinewood Community Hall (then in Washbrook parish).

In 1983, as the result of a political struggle over the village representation at Babergh District Council connected with the A12, he stood as an Independent and was re-elected until he decided to retire in 2015.

The loss of Peter Jones to the community of Copdock & Washbrook village will be one of sadness and of ‘thanks’ to a man who has done so much for our community since moving into the village in 1969. He was a man who had the passion and determination to get things done for the benefit of parishioners and village organisations over many years. His legacy of achievements, which we all enjoy today, will live on for future generations. Peter’s achievements were many. He served as a parish councillor for many years and became chairman in 1974 for 25 years and served on many committees and sub-committees within the parish.

Peter was heavily involved in the planning, grant funding and building of Copdock Village Hall. He led the action group and was largely instrumental in the routing of the new A12 to bypass the village; originally planners wanted to upgrade the existing road, now Old London Road. Both are lasting reminders of Peter’s tireless efforts, just two of many. The list is extensive.

Peter was not only passionate in working for the benefit of the village, but he also had a passion to help and work in the Babergh area and represented Babergh District Council on outside bodies for various periods. He also served on many committees and sub-committees, also as our district council member for over 30 years. He held the role of chairman of Babergh District Council from 1999-2001.

It can be seriously maintained that, had a less determined person been at the helm, the village could now be enduring the present A12 level of traffic past all the housing on London Road. Peter sought out the facts, figures and maps that enabled the members of the A12 Action Group to fight the village’s cause and it was he who suggested to planners at Bedford that the intersection could be moved right away from the village.

He was a mine of information, always had time for everyone and will be very much missed by the parish council and the village.

We may not like the Copdock Interchange, but it could have been at the top of London Road near Hill Farm!

Thank you Peter on behalf of us all.

His next ‘gift’ to the village was finding the means to cut the Gordian knot of the replacement of the old village hall. Over some 20 years plenty of plots had been discussed, every one of them with insuperable flaws – liable to be flooded, future potential as building plots, too agriculturally profitable to be used for community purposes.

The archive is now in the Record Office and makes interesting and amusing reading. Peter was able to twist the arm of the county council land agents and get a swap of land adjacent to the Playing Fields and the go-ahead was possible in 1990.

His third ‘gift’ sadly is no longer with us. He cajoled Babergh DC to convert the first council house in Pearsons Way to a shop/post office. Alas, the day it opened was the day Tesco got planning permission within sight of the village and it couldn’t compete with a superstore.

Having achieved improvements in Copdock and Washbrook he then expended his energies on the wider sphere – Suffolk Acre, Suffolk Association of Local Councils and the East of England Regional Conference where he became chairman of the Independent Group. This meant many trips to Brussels and further afield to France, Germany, Poland, even China and South Africa. In May 1999, to his delight as an Independent, he was unanimously elected to be chairman of Babergh. He arranged the reduction of the customary three year tenure to two, thus giving more councillors the chance of becoming the ceremonial head of the district.

He retired from Babergh in 2015 at the age of 84, but remained on the parish council so that he could help steer the W.H.Hewitt VC Centenary planning committee before the celebration in September 2017.

It was a full life lived well – National Service commission in the Royal Engineers, RAF fighter pilot on Hunters, Javelins and Lightenings and finally in HM Customs and Excise; a rugby and motor racing enthusiast and a love of horses – but now, close to his 89th birthday, his time has come to rest in peace.

Jennifer and the family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation of the many offers of help and the very kind words of sympathy they have received both during his illness and afterwards.

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Most of all Peter will be missed by his wife Jennifer and his family who have been supportive to him over the years in his quest to help and touch the lives of so many of us.

Terry Corner, Chairman of Copdock & Washbrook Parish Council

I had the pleasure of working with Peter many times over the years while at SALC. Peter was an absolute gentleman and dedicated to parish councils across Suffolk and worked very hard to promote the work they undertake. He was also a strong advocate of high standards in public life and attended standards conferences in Birmingham with Shona and I on many occasions. We always enjoyed Peter’s company; he was always cheerful and had many interesting stories and views.

He often chatted about his time in the RAF and of his family who he clearly loved.

Peter chaired the SALC Babergh Area meeting for a number of years and helped make that meeting very popular amongst the parish and town councils in that area. Peter was always very welcoming with a firm but gentle chairing style that made it easy for delegates to express their views and have their questions answered. This meeting had a high attendance with interesting and on occasions controversial items to discuss which were always very well handled in Peter’s calm manner.

I nearly always attended these meetings on behalf of SALC and it was a pleasure to work alongside Peter.

Peter also took an active role in the East of England Association of Local Councils during the years I clerked it for SALC. These were joint meetings of the CALCs, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Herts and Beds.

It was an opportunity to share good practice and ideas. It was also an opportunity to collaborate on matters relating to town and parish councils, to lobby the national association or meet with other agencies.

Peter was very supportive of SALC staff and was always on hand to help or to chat to. He was also a highly respected independent district councillor and sat on the Eastern Regional Assembly.

I am sure I am not alone in remembering a wonderful, warm, intelligent and true gentleman, who will be dearly missed.

Jayne Cole CEO, LCPAS

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NEWS SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM When the longer winter nights arrive, take a fresh look at your home security and remind yourself of how to stay as safe as possible when out and about.

At home • Keep front and back doors locked at all times and keep keys and valuables out of sight and reach from cat flaps, letterboxes, and downstairs doors and windows.

• If you’re out in the evening make sure you leave a light on and draw the curtains. If it’s dark before you get home, use timer switches to turn on energy-saving lights.

• Light up your front door with dusk to dawn lighting – make sure it’s visible from the street.

• Make sure your home is visible from the street by keeping bushes and fences less than one metre high at the front of your property.

• Don’t forget about garages, sheds and outbuildings – make sure they’re locked and secure too.

• Try not to leave your house in silent darkness. Just leaving a radio on could make a potential burglar think twice.

• Never leave a spare key outside your house; burglars know all the usual hiding spots.

• Keep bins away from windows when they’re not being used as they can be used as a climbing aid for burglars.

• Consider joining or setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme.

Find out more about Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk at: www.suffolknwa.co.uk Out and about • Plan ahead before you go out. Know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and how you’ll get back. Let someone know where you’re going, and be prepared for a change of plan.

• Keep your purse or wallet and keys close and secure. Only take out essential items, and if you can leave valuables at home, do.

• When you’re out, always walk with confidence, and stick to well-lit, busy areas, using the route you know best.

• Avoid quiet or badly-let alleyways, subways or isolated car parks. Walk down the middle of the pavement if the street is deserted.

• Remain aware of your surroundings – don’t walk along texting, making a phone call or listening to music. As well as being distracting, this advertises your valuable to criminals.

• Trust your instincts – if you don’t feel safe then change your route, remembering to stay in well-lit and busy areas. Don’t be tempted to take short cuts.

• Be a good friend and stay safe by sticking together. Always avoid walking alone at night.

• If you regularly walk home in the dark, get a personal attack alarm – they are widely available and inexpensive.

• If you regularly jog or cycle, vary your route and times you go out, particularly if you go alone. Try to avoid wooded or remote areas and stick to well-lit roads, or main paths and open spaces. Stay fully alert of your surroundings and don’t use headphones.

If you have any quires or questions please contact Hadleigh SNT at Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD Hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Emergency: Call 999 Non-Emergency: Call 101 Follow us on Twitter@ HadleighPolice Police Connect: Suffolk.police.uk/police connect

NOTES FROM THE CASE

HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY

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

Flu Days Our first flu day was a huge success with 437 patients being vaccinated.

The following open access clinics are available for eligible patients: Thursday, November 1, 2-6.30pm at Shotley and Tuesday, November 20, 2-6.30pm at Holbrook.

First a huge thank you to all those who baked cakes and savouries for our first Macmillan Coffee Morning in September, and everyone who came along to enjoy them. Thanks too to the organisers and participants of the garage sale who joined in with such enthusiasm. We raised a fantastic £1,125 – a great total for a first attempt. Well done everyone.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Tuesday, November 6: Open Mic Night. Come along to perform or just to enjoy and watch some really talented local acts.

Saturday, November 17: Italian Night, 7.30pm. The food is by our visiting chef, Esther, to a menu created for the Case; £25 for three courses.

Saturday, November 14: Quiz Night. £2 per person, max six per team. Drinks tokens for the winning team; wooden spoon for the losers. Supper menu available, served from 6-7.45pm.

Esther’s Evening Christmas Menu: This year we have selected a few evenings when we will be a serving a Christmas menu. The available dates are: Saturday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 12. Dinner will be available from 6.30pm; three courses £25.

To see any of the menus please go to our website or Facebook page. Booking for food events is essential.

If you only want a snack, don’t forget we serve light lunches from noon-2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. We believe our ploughman’s are unrivalled anywhere, and if you want something hot, soup is back on the menu with other daily specials.

Finally, our garden has been a real asset over the summer, but like all gardens it needs some TLC before the winter. We are having a ‘Borders and Butties’ morning on Saturday, November 3, so if you’ve enjoyed the garden over the year, please come along and lend a hand between 10am and noon. To show our appreciation there will be hot bacon butties to keep you going! If the weather is inclement this event will not go ahead. Please email the chairman so we can cater for the correct numbers: savethecase.bentley@gmail.com

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For eligible patients under 65: letters have been sent to eligible patients For patients who will be 65 and over by 31 March 2019: please attend any of the above clinics.

For those patients due to have shingles or pneumococcal vaccinations, we are now inviting you just after your birthday and these will no longer be available on flu clinic days.

Pharmacy 2U You may have received a leaflet in the post inviting you to get your repeat prescriptions from a company called Pharmacy2U. We believe that an internet business like Pharmacy2U is no substitute for your local dispensary.

Please support us to continue caring for you and your family by obtaining your prescriptions here at your local NHS GP surgery dispensary. Thank you for your support.

Messages Our apprentice dispenser at Shotley has been trialling texting patients to advise when their repeat medication is ready for collection. This has worked well and we hope to extend this to all medications prepared by the practice.

If you would like to receive a text message, please let us know your mobile number and give your consent to our practice staff.

GP and Staff Training Our next training afternoons will be on Thursday, November 15 and Wednesday, December 12. The practice will be open for patients to come in to collect/drop off prescriptions and book appointments/make enquiries at reception. However, there will be no clinical staff on site and our telephone lines will be switched over to the out of hours’ service on these afternoons to allow staff training. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999.

Practice Manager Julia Smith

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NEWS BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR ALASTAIR MCCRAW REPORT TO PARISHES, ALTON WARD: NOVEMBER 2018 Brantham & Stutton Planning Exhibitions Last month I reported on a forthcoming exhibition for the greenfield (now brown soil) site in Brantham. A consultation event will be held at Brantham Leisure Centre from 4-8pm on Wednesday, November 7 when Taylor Wimpey will be presenting their initial proposals. We can make suggestions on these before they make an application for full planning permission. I expect keen interest. It seems to be for 288 houses, a 10 per cent reduction on the original 320. The mix is mostly of two, three and four bed properties, with public open space at Decoy Pond and beyond. The largest trees are to be retained, as are the woods.

The full application will then go to Babergh. After checking all the paperwork, a lengthy public consultation should take place. It could be expected to come before Babergh’s Planning Committee from the early spring onwards. Things have a habit of changing though. We just deal with things as they are, and not as we would have liked them to be. Members of the PC intend to be at the consultation throughout. I’ll certainly be on hand for most of the time.

The parish council have their regular monthly meeting at 7.30pm on the same night. It might be an opportunity to come and see what they do. We won’t be offended if you find you must leave. We’d be happy to see you.

Stutton also have an open meeting at the community hall from 4-7pm on Thursday, October 25. Probably held by now, Stutton PC are working with Hastoe Housing Association and Babergh District Council to produce a small development of affordable homes for people with strong local connections and priority for Stutton applicants. They too, seek constructive comments.

That affordable local housing is quite a contrast with Brantham, where the affordable component is precisely zero. I still find this quite astonishing. It has

JAMES CARTLIDGE MP FOR SOUTH SUFFOLK In September I was honoured to be appointed to a new role, as PPS to the Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. A PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) is the link between the Secretary of State and MPs from all parties. It is a particular privilege to be part of the Foreign Office team given the department’s role of advancing our national interest around the world.

On the majority of foreign policy issues there tends to be a consensus, with little dispute on the way our relations should proceed in most countries, and MPs tend to unite when confronted with terrible humanitarian crises overseas, such as in Syria or Rakhine state, Burma. But of course, there are many more controversial issues, notably Brexit, but also the long-running Palestinian question, and how we respond to President Trump and Russian aggression.

Keeping ministers aware of the direction that opinion is forming on the full gamut of issues is a key responsibility of a PPS. For example, at the time of writing we have encouraging signs in Syria with Turkey and Russia seemingly agreeing a ‘buffer zone’ to protect the remaining rebel enclave of Idlib. Were this agreement to break down, the international temperature would rise – and so would concern in the House. This would be particularly so if chemical weapons were deployed again. Let us hope such further horror can be avoided.

While all of the issues facing the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ultimately affect the people of South Suffolk, I am confident that my new role will not in any way diminish my ability to campaign on the home front. A particular priority at present is the rural economy, given that the Agriculture Bill comes before the House in October, promising a new era for how we subsidise and support our farmers. My stance has always been that we should maintain an equivalent version of the current system until a better one is in place. Quite simply, whether at home or abroad, food production or foreign affairs, we need to apply good old fashioned common sense and resist the temptation of divisive ideology.

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

Please see page 19 for my contact details.

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been so far justified by the expected massive improvement, remediation and industrial development on the brownfield area across Factory Lane. But so far, instead of the dirty tangled metal, brick and wire, we have clean expanses of mounds of hardcore with pools of water and nothing on them! I await something truly positive there with baited breath.

Stars and awards in general On reflection, I added two further nominations to the Stars of Babergh.

Joanne King, the ‘volunteer’ editor of the excellent, nay essential, Brantham Bugle deserved some more credit. So did Paul and Gemma Chenery at the Brantham Bull for their efforts as a Business in the Community. The nominations are, at the least, a thank you for the sustained and continuing efforts. But I hope they all win something!

Coincidentally, a fellow Independent Councillor at Babergh has been nominated for the big Local Government Awards in the Place Shaping and Environment category. Clive Arthey from North Cosford leads the Independents, the second largest group at Babergh. From the start he has provided both Derek Davis and I an excellent example and advice on how to do ‘People not Party’ and still keep your eye on the politicians. He was nominated by residents, which may be why Babergh only gave publicity to the two ‘official’ nominations for Cabinet members. That’s shameful treatment of a long serving and knowledgeable member.

I continue to ride around on the Blue Claud Butler, but must point out that a Brantham friend of mine has an identical bike. I’m not always in those places!

As ever, I can always be contacted as below.

Alastair McCraw: 07812 564188 / alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (a joint open group)

BABBLINGS FROM THE BROOK From Charlie, Cat and baby Bear We have been busy – not only with planning and preparing our new menus, but we are in the process of giving the bar and restaurant a fresh new look as well. However, the menu is where we are sure you will appreciate the alterations most!

Charlie and the two chefs have worked hard to get some new and interesting dishes for you all to try, but we still have left room for our pub classics of course. Nearly all the menu items (with only one or two exceptions) are gluten free and we are extending the range for vegetarians as well. If you just love the GF Fish and Chips and the GF Sticky Toffee Pudding, don’t worry because all the old favourites are still there, but if you are feeling adventurous, come down to see us and try something from our new specials board, with scrumptious offerings like Calamari in Lemon Batter, Baked Rainbow Trout with Mixed Asian Rice, Vegetarian Mushroom, Leek and Pea Risotto, Duck Breast with Dauphinoise Potatoes and a delicious port and cherry jus and our very popular Goats Cheese, Beetroot and Sweet Potato Veggie Burger. All these are on the board now, but we will be changing the specials regularly to keep your taste-buds entertained!

Check out the specials board and the new menus online, including the new children’s menu, dessert menu and some lovely ideas on our new sandwich and light-bites menu. www.facebook.com/thebrookinnwashbrook www.thebrookinnwashbrook.co.uk Instagram: thebrookinn_washbrook We haven’t neglected the beer either, with new offerings from Green King and Adnams in addition to the firm favourites, GK IPA and Adnams Ghostship.

Christmas is coming and we now have our Christmas menu and Christmas buffet menus online for you to view.

We hope to see you soon!

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09/05/2018 16:33

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NEWS MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR School Application Deadlines Parents and carers can now apply for primary and secondary school places for September 2019. The deadline for applications to secure a place at a Suffolk secondary school is Wednesday, October 31. For a primary school it’s Wednesday, January 15. Secondary schools include high and upper schools and primary schools include infant, junior and middle schools.

This year, parents and carers will also need to consider the changes to Suffolk’s School Travel Policy, which were agreed by Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet in June. The new policy will assess eligibility for funded school travel to the nearest suitable school with a place available. More information about the changes is available at: www.sufffolk.gov.uk/admissions

Work has also taken place to establish a number of additional specialist small groups for specific local needs.

Parents and carers should apply online at www.sufffolk.gov.uk/admissions and will receive confirmation that their application has been received. If for any reason parents and carers are unable to apply online, they should apply on a paper CAF1 application form.

The service will be operated by Listening Ear. They will work in close partnership with the police, coroner service and other partners to offer support following notification of a suspected suicide, including one-to-one individual support, practical help and signposting to local services that can help. When the new service launches, it will be widely advertised in Suffolk with options for self-referral and referral by professionals.

Information to help parents and carers make their application is available at: www.sufffolk.gov.uk/admissions Specialist Education Placements On September 11, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet agreed a recommendation to introduce a new approach to the development of specialist education placements for children and young people. The need will be met in Suffolk by developing a combination of new specialist support centres and new special schools, using independent placements from private providers for only a small number of very specialist needs. A policy development panel will be established immediately to realise these local education places as swiftly as possible.

The demand for specialist education places in Suffolk is rising rapidly due to the county’s population growth, advances in medicine and increasing complexity of special educational needs. The challenges Suffolk is facing mirror the national picture.

Work has already taken place in the county to deal with the increase in demand for specialist education places. A new special school in Lowestoft opened in September 2017 and following Department for Education approval another special school will open in Ipswich in 2020. Several of the county’s existing special schools have expanded and a new campus with additional space for Riverwalk School in Bury St Edmunds opened this September.

Support for those bereaved by suicide On September 10, Suffolk’s suicide prevention steering group announced it will be launching a new service to support individuals, families and others bereaved by suicide. The 12-month pilot service will be joint funded by Suffolk County Council (SCC) Public Health and Ipswich & East Suffolk and West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The total funding for the service is £30,000, with Suffolk County Council providing £22,000 and CCGs funding £8,000.

Service and bravery recognised across Suffolk’s Fire Service On September 5, fire fighters, staff and members of the public were honoured for their bravery and commitment at the annual Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service awards. This year has been exceptionally busy for the Fire Service, mainly due to the long, hot summer which has contributed to so many field fires. Forty-one certificates of merit and awards for good conduct and service were presented, including special certificates of long service to staff who have each given over 40 years of duty.

Peter Banthorpe, a member of the public, was recognised for his quickthinking and life-saving actions during a kitchen fire in an Ipswich house.

The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to John Sones, a Community Fire Volunteer. John has been supporting events, carrying out community safety work across Suffolk, making homes visits to install smoke alarms and advising people how to keep their property safe. Ruth Elliott and Charlotte Godfrey received Recruit of the Year awards for achieving exceptionally high marks in courses and exams, and for inspiring others. The Alan Soards Award for Best Fire Station went to Wickhambrook, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

Regards and best wishes, Christopher Hudson

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD On September 29 John Ward, Leader of Babergh District Council, and his deputy Jan Osborne had an open question and answer session at East Bergholt High School as part of a series of such events across the district to ‘keep in touch and find out what the public think of Babergh’.

Nearly 200 people attended and, as expected, planning featured high on the list of questions, particularly as the impending Judicial Review applications were out of bounds, and concentrated on infrastructure problems and the apparent lack of interest in such matters at Babergh. I am afraid the responses were predictable in that they blamed everybody except the local stray dog, assuming we have one! The fact that the council now shares a building with one of the main contributors to ‘infrastructure’ problems, i.e.

Suffolk County Council, does not apparently make decision making any more logical or practical. The need for housing was stressed as a major cause for swamping the villages, but nowhere was there any suggestion that the ‘need’ was exaggerated as is indicated by frequent recent reports from the Office of National Statistics or financial reports from developers. “It is a legal obligation laid down from Central Government,” appears to be the, as mentioned by a member of the public, Nuremburg answer.

One subject not examined was the council’s current spending spree despite being strapped for cash! Donations of buildings in Sudbury, spending on a new swimming pool in Hadleigh, improvements to sports facilities at Sudbury Pool and investment in dubious development in Sudbury are all approved, but the report that our housing and general fund will both be in deficit by

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April 2019 is deemed ‘noted’ by the now all-powerful cabinet structure.

Unfortunately, it is the council taxpayer who will ultimately pick up the bill, whether as Babergh DC or Suffolk CC. Customer contact was mentioned, well rather the lack of contact! One resident reported on being turned away from Endeavour House when trying to present documents for a rent issue and the pop-up facilities now operating in Shotley Library and proposed in Hadleigh will not help local residents when there is no bus to either destination! The originally proposed Hub and Spoke system of customer access points has morphed into a single ‘leg’ to Sudbury.

The administration did admit that it was the ‘council’ who served the ‘public’ and not the other way round, but there is little sign of it becoming fact. The quality of communication with councillors and the public is one of my concerns and I am awaiting a meeting with the chief executive to discuss remedies.

Transparency and open-ness is supposed to be the mantra of modern local government, but it appears not to apply at Babergh. Mushrooms and Sheep seem to be the two criteria when it comes to information dissemination.

May I thank all the members of the public who attended the Saturday session.

Your input was invaluable and I can only apologise if some of the responses were less that decisive or fully answered your questions. In Planning it has long been a case of ‘jam today’ for the developer and gruel for the users of the infrastructure. Playing catch up is a national pastime, but we are also in the hands of Whitehall with its rather eclectic view of the real world!

Councillor John Hinton john.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Flu Clinics Our flu clinics are now well under way. The vaccination programme is complex this year as there are three different vaccines aimed as specific age groups, and the practice will take delivery of these vaccines through September and October.

If you are normally entitled to a free flu vaccination you will relieve a personal invite letter giving the dates you can attend our clinics. Please wait until the end of October before contacting us if you have not received a letter This year we are collecting donations for the British Heart Foundation at our flu clinics.

Capel Alterations Alterations to the Capel surgery waiting area and receptionist room started on September 24. The main changes are now complete though there is still decorating to complete. Thank you to all patients for your understanding over this period. The refurbishment of the clinical rooms and the alterations to the reception and waiting area represent a considerable investment by the GP partners, who are committed to ensuring the Capel premises provides a welcoming, safe and clean environment for patients and staff.

Patient Feedback Thank you to all patients who have provided feedback to the practice. The doctors and I met in September to review patient feedback. It is encouraging to hear that the new phone system with queue progress information is well received and that our clinicians are highly regarded. It is also really encouraging that 95 per cent of responses in September said that patients were likely or very likely to recommend the practice to friends and family.

However, one area patients would like improved is continuity with our doctors. We have therefore decided to increase the number of pre-bookable appointments available both online and to book via our reception team. This has been made possible because our revised appointment system enables patients to have access to a GP, if needed, irrespective of the time of day they contact the practice (except in rare situations when demand is exceptional).

This has reduced on-the-day demand which means we can make more appointments available for pre-booking.

Training Days A reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Thursday, November 15 and Wednesday, December 12. On these afternoons the Capel St Mary building will be open to enable access to the pharmacy, but the practice reception will be closed. East Bergholt reception will be open. Please note that there will be no clinicians at either building after 1pm as they will be attending training off-site. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.

Practice Manager Pete Keeble

SURGERY TRANSPORT ROTA As we head towards another year of this successful scheme which provides transport to the surgeries at Capel and East Bergholt for patients who are unable to drive or have no other means of transport, it would be good to welcome new volunteers to the rota.

Around 15 people currently help out in providing transport, usually once or twice a month. It generally takes less than an hour, door to door, and you get to meet some interesting folk.

If you feel you could play a part in the scheme please give Chris Yule a ring: 01473 310992

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING Improvements to the A12 Copdock Interchange are fundamental to any local development, yet nothing has been proposed. On October 10 we wrote to James Cartlidge requesting assistance, précised under: “The SDG has direct information from the lead engineer involved at that time that it was destined and designed to be a ‘spaghetti junction’ (a la M6) from the outset. Presumably either a lack of money, a non-belief in the development of Felixstowe Docks or simply not enough support from the MP at the time ended up with a junction that has not received any public funding since it was built, albeit Felixstowe Docks directly funded £4.7 million of changes in 2012.

You support Suffolk Chamber of Commerce’s ‘No more delays on the A14’, but no mention has been made of the Copdock A12 junction that causes far more daily traffic delays than the A14 locally. Traffic accidents aside, it is only when severe winds close the Orwell Bridge that the A14 is delayed in our area whereas the A12 at Copdock Interchange has severe delays every single working day, morning and night. Those delays directly cause our local roads and lanes to be congested too.

It’s impossible to build enough roads to alleviate all rush hour congestion, but we want the same attention given to the A12 as has been shown to the A14. We appreciate that you can only speak for South Suffolk, but we do look to you to actually achieve some concrete results. Babergh Council (copied in) have to meet development targets, but silence from government on the one seriously deficient part of the local infrastructure jigsaw makes that task all the more difficult – yet it is something they have no control over.

To date, nothing of substance and fact has been issued by the Highway’s Agency regarding the Copdock Interchange and their future plans from 2020 onwards. Do you know of any such plans please?”

Colin Hinkins: colinhinkins@gmail.com

STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC Our 68th season continues with The Merlin Ensemble at St Mary’s Church, Dedham on Sunday, November 11 at 4pm.

Violin and artistic director: Martin Walch Horn: Hubert Renner Piano: Till Alexander Körber The Merlin Ensemble Vienna was formed in 1991 by 10 principal players of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, with the aim of performing chamber music at the highest level. Flexible in size depending on the music selected, they have appeared at many leading musical festivals including Salzburg, Lucerne and Bonn as well as in other prestigious venues in Europe and in North America. This concert has been generously supported

by Jane Jewell.

Programme Brahms, Violin Sonata in A op 100 for violin and piano R Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel – Trio arranged by Körber Liszt, La Lugubre Gondol for violin and piano Liszt, Mephisto Waltz for violin and piano Brahms, Trio in E flat op 40 Tickets: svamtickets@btinternet.com / 01206 298426 / www.svam.org.uk

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Copdock Mill, Old London Road, Copdock, IP8 3LA 01473 731117 gladwells.copdock@copdockmill.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8am - 6pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm www.copdockmill.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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OUT & ABOUT EBONY’S BLOG: Life at The Shelley Centre Own a Pony Day for nine of our riders took place on October 6, and guess what? It poured with rain! Such bad luck after all the fun our ‘owners’ usually have on this exciting day, but they did manage to get a ride by the river and do all the indoor jobs at the stables as the photos show. The nine horses and ponies were surprised at being asked to hack out in the wet and made their feelings known. It’s a good job we live in 2018. A hundred years ago every horse and pony was at work, come rain or shine, and no nonsense about it.

Would they have had time to notice that the war had ended, I wonder?

ANNUAL RACE NIGHT Just before we all solemnly remember the end of that dreadful conflict, there’s time to have a great laugh at our upcoming race night on November 10. This is a hugely popular evening at Nayland Village Hall. Tickets cost £12.50 and include a fish and chip supper. There is a tote, which makes the ‘horses’ even more hotly followed, and the competitive atmosphere generates a lot of noise and laughter. Bring a gang of friends to test their skills racing wooden models along a taught string. Sounds easy? Ha ha, just you try! For tickets contact Chris Southgate: 58aldham@gmail.com Now to the outside situation: as you all know, my friends the live ponies live out. This means they stay in their fields when they are not being worked.

Trips to the stables are for mealtimes and resting between jobs. So Lyn has to manage the fields very carefully to keep 10 live horses and ponies clean and fit. She would love to have more help with grass management from anyone who fancies supporting us in this way. None of our volunteers has to be here every day of the week, but we do ask for a certain level of commitment on the maintenance team. It won’t all be manual labour, but most of the team do happen to be men! www.shelleyrda.com / 01473 824172

Fu ll, p a rt-tim e a n d s e s s io n a l c a re fo r c h ild re n a g e d 3 m o n th s to 11 ye a rs .

Fo re s t S c h o o l

Ofs te d Re g is te re d

KENNY’S SESAW NEWS Oooh, it’s cold outside and that boiling hot weather is just a distant memory, but here is some heart-warming news for you!

Mum, known to you as Maggie, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at the University of Suffolk in recognition of her notable contributions to animal welfare and the community. We are all delighted about this well-deserved acknowledgement, but the good lady herself insists she is merely a ‘facilitator’ and will accept said accolade on behalf of the volunteers, without whom there would be no SESAW.

Gra n t

Fu n d in g Te le p h o n e : 01473 310767 Ag e 2, 3 a n d in fo @ro b in s c h ild c a re .c o .u k 4 ye a rs www.ro b in s c h ild c a re .c o .u k Th e S t r e e t , C a p e l S t Ma r y 30 Ho u rs Ip s w i c h , S u f f o l k Gra n t IP 9 2 E G Fu n d in g

Now back to the animals, in particularly poor old Jack, a Westie Cross in need of a new home. It’s going to be difficult to find an ideal place for him because he is a bit of a grump, but I think he’s getting better and deserves a chance to be happy and loved.

Our Christmas Fair takes place at Old School, Long Melford CO10 9DX. This is our last event of the year with lots of goodies plus a raffle and tombola. Doors open at 10am on Sunday, November 18; get there early before they sell out!

Please take extra care of your pets during fireworks season as it’s a scary time for us.

The evenings are drawing in and getting chilly so I’m off to my spot in front of the Rayburn. All this socialising and writing is hard work for a little dog like me, Kenny (the Boss) Chihuahua!

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

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OUT & ABOUT A JOURNEY TO DISCOVER LOST COMMUNITIES

CHRISTMAS SALE

An exciting new heritage and creative arts project has launched across East Suffolk, offering residents the opportunity to become involved in the Lowestoft, Dunwich and Ipswich areas.

Saturday, November 24 10am-noon at Belstead Village Hall Gifts, decorations, games, etc Refreshments

Land and Shore was designed by Suffolk Record Office and the Voice cLoud and will explore the stories of three ‘lost’ communities across east Suffolk: The Beach Village, Lowestoft, Dunwich and Alton Water.

Land and Shore will use local studies, books and archive sources available at Suffolk Record Office and elsewhere to bring to life this important history for new audiences. Over the next year, participants will be supported by a variety of history and multi-arts professionals to recreate the stories of these ‘lost communities’ in a fun and innovative way using drama and music, and to share their work through performance.

The Voice cLoud is an arts and music organisation which uses the creative arts to promote heritage and culture and explore the positive impact of music and the arts on health and wellbeing. Working with a group of participants for each lost community, the Voice cLoud will identify resources and techniques which can be used to help these stories reach wider communities and new audiences.

To find out more and to have a try before signing up to participate, book a place on the taster day at Tattingstone Village Hall (School Road, IP9 2NA) on Friday, November 23, 1-4pm.

Spaces are limited so booking is essential; to book: sharing.suffolk.stories@suffolk.gov.uk

All very welcome In aid of St Mary’s Church, Belstead

PENINSULAR PIX The Christmas film for the first Thursday in December is Mama Mia! – Here We Go Again.

When we showed the first Mama Mia, we had to have two performances over two days. Unfortunately, we can’t do that again, so book your tickets early for this very popular movie. There is a rumour that audiences all over the world are singing along with the stars, and that Tattingstone Village Hall might succumb to this gratuitous olde-tyme music hall phenomenon!

I’m told Cher is particularly looking forward to some audience participation.

Theresa May might even join us for a chorus of Dancing Queen. Who knows?

Of course if you don’t want to sing, you can play an air guitar and mime the words, or simply sit and watch and listen. There’ll be our usual Christmas fare, Mulled wine and mince pies.

It’s got to be fun, hasn’t it? Just sitting back and listening to the man who stepped into Bing Crosby’s shoes, that wonderful crooner, Pierce Brosnan.

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY

Garry Kilworth

Wednesday, November 28: Richard Garrett, Past, Present & Future, an illustrated talk by Stuart Hines We meet at 7.30pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich; entrance via the rear car park, visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments.

01473 422145 / www.idhts.co.uk

WINTER JUMBLE SALE

MURDER MOST FOUL East Bergholt Dramatic Society presents three deliciously dark tales at Constable Hall, East Bergholt at 7.30pm from Thursday, November 29 to Saturday, December 1.

Fate’s Thread by Stephen Bean When you’re a ghost trapped in a graveyard, how do you discover the truth about your death? Was it an accident or murder? A comedy in which new (ghostly) friends decide to resolve this dilemma!

Thicker Than Water by Ron Nicol Henry Prince dreams of growing up to be a vampire, but everyone around him just thinks he’s weird, apart from his mum! A tale where the comedy gets darker and darker!

The Demon by Martin Downing

Six friends are trapped in a high rise apartment, having received a warning that one or more may die that night at the hands of a demon! A scary supernatural thriller.

Tickets are £7 in advance from Fountain House Tearooms, 01473 311553 or 07803 475750.

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Clear the Clutter – Bag a Bargain Saturday, November 24 from 2pm at Bentley Village Hall If you have anything you wish to donate to our sale, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or telephone Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) and we will arrange to collect it from you.

If you would like to come to our sale, the hall will be open from 2pm. Tea and coffee will also be available.

We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

AUTUMN FAIR Shop early for Christmas at Holbrook Village Hall Saturday, November 3, 10am-2pm We will have stalls for all of the family to enjoy such as organic dog treats, an Animals Asia raffle, homemade jams and chutneys, craft stalls and Christmas gifts including carved wooden items and handmade decorations.

We will have hot and cold refreshments, the ever-popular raffle, and lots of Christmas cards too.

Entry is free for all.

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OUT & ABOUT FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

CAPEL LIBRARY

The evenings are getting colder, it’s darker and the shops are full of Christmas goodies. Where has the year gone? It only seems five minutes since the Beast from the East and the summer heatwave!

What a very busy, but enjoyable summer we have had welcoming children to complete the Summer Reading Challenge. We have introduced them to characters, old and new, from the Beano magazine, also giving their mums, dads and grandparents a chance to catch up on the antics of Denis and friends.

Before we finally shut ourselves away for the winter, why don’t you venture out and join us for our annual quiz night? Last year we had 17 teams taking part and this year with your help we can make it bigger and better. Entry forms are now available at the library, with the quiz taking place in Capel Village Hall on Saturday, November 24 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6.50, which includes a ploughman’s, and teams are a maximum of six people.

Another must is our next Community Cinema presentation Entebee, which will be shown on November 20 at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Tickets are now on sale at the library. The film is another in our long line of true stories and is based “in July 1976, when four terrorists hijack an Air France flight from Tel-Aviv to Paris and force the flight crew to land in Entebbe, Uganda. There, the Jewish passengers are held hostage, with their safety contingent on the release of dozens of terrorists jailed in Israel, Germany and Sweden. After considerable debate, the Israeli government employs the Israeli Defence Forces to execute a daring rescue.”

When you visit the library, you may have noticed some new equipment starting to appear. Earlier in the year new noticeboards were installed and some of the children’s play equipment was replaced. We now have a number of new spinning book displays, which have replaced the old rickety ones. We are also shortly hoping to replace the existing soft seating with a couple of new sofas for you to sit on while you browse.

Finally, with the festive season in mind, did you know that you can purchase stamps for your cards at the library? Also if you are looking for stocking fillers why not buy a book token, which can also be purchased at the library.

Trevor Stevenson

Ninety children managed to complete out of the 103 who signed up. The summer scheme attracts children from surrounding villages and different primary schools in the South Suffolk area and a number of new children signed up this year. It is good that parents, carers and grandparents encourage these children in keep their reading skills up and keep sharing books with their children and grandchildren. It has been noted by staff at the local primary school that they notice who has kept reading throughout the summer break from school.

Well done to all finishers. Our certificate and medal presentation ceremony took place on Sunday, September 23 with County Councillor Gordon Jones in attendance. If you haven’t collected your certificate and medal, pop into the library to pick them up. Fun was had by all the finishers who attended Olly the Magician on October 14 and we would like to thank The Friends of Capel Library who sponsored the event and all those that helped.

Friends of Capel Library Traditional Quiz Night: Saturday, November 24 at 7pm in Capel Village Hall.

Regular groups meeting this month Minecraft: Sundays 4 and 18 from 10.30am-12.30pm. No charge. Children under-eight to be accompanied by an adult.

Baby Bounce: Every Tuesday from 2pm. Come along and join in with nursery rhyme singing, finger rhymes and shaking of musical instruments. Open to all children under-five with their parents/carers. Sessions last about half an hour. No charge.

TRIANON MUSIC GROUP

Capel Creators: Saturday 24 from 10.30am-12.30pm. Come along and make some wonderful Lego creations. A charge of 50p per child to cover refreshments. Under-8s to be accompanied by an adult.

Trianon Music Group will be celebrating their 60th anniversary next year and are looking for some new choir and orchestra members to take part in our opening diamond jubilee concert in January 2019.

Capel Library Book Group: Friday 19 at 2.30pm. Do come along and join in with this small group, new members are very welcome. They discuss the latest book read and choose the next one.

Further concerts during the year will mark this special occasion so why not join this inspirational, inclusive and fun group of music makers?

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

For further information please contact Margaret Nicholls (01473 411639) or visit: www.tmg.org.uk

TUNES FOR TRIPS IN AID OF AFIA Did you manage to get away from it all this summer?

Maybe you enjoyed a traditional fortnight’s holiday with the family, or perhaps you spent days out exploring the beautiful East Anglian coast. However you spent your time, I hope you returned refreshed.

For many people holidays and days out are a mere dream, but the Mothers’ Union charity AFIA (Away From It All) is able to provide breaks, days out and activities for disadvantaged and vulnerable families. The costs are met in various ways – from Mothers’ Union branches, fundraising events and grants from local agencies.

On Saturday, November 17 members of Trianon Music Group will be performing at St Andrew’s Church in Rushmere and the proceeds will go to AFIA. The concert will feature singers and brass players from the group performing a selection of light classical and popular music.

Tickets are £7.50 and are available from Music World in Ipswich or Mary Odam: 01473 614456 / tickets@odam.org Next year they will be celebrating their 60th anniversary so please look out for details of the 2019 season.

Please come and support both the performers and AFIA. I hope you return home refreshed!

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Contact: 01473 311699 Please keep your details up to date, particularly if you have updated your email addresses or have recently moved house.

We sell book tokens and books of both first and second class stamps, and don’t forget to visit our book sale trolleys for a book that you may wish to take on holiday.

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Thank Yo

Thank you from Jenny “What a lovely surprise I had when I walked into work on Friday, August 17. Jackie, along with members of staff and The Friends of Capel Library, had organised a surprise afternoon tea and cakes to celebrate my 20 years of working in Capel Library. Even my husband had kept it quiet from me! Thank you for my gift of an afternoon tea, with Prosecco, at Seckford Hall. I look forward to that very much. I also received some flowers from Suffolk Libraries. The library is a wonderful place to work in, we meet many different people throughout our working day and no two days are the same.”

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The perfect Christmas present for any dog lover!

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Dog Portrait Artist 01473 730141/07531 189754

heather@clarke-illustration.co.uk ÂŁ5 from each commission will be donated to the Blue Cross

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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OUT & ABOUT

OPEN STUDIO SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN’S APPEAL

Once again in the run-up to Christmas, illustrator Emma Graham will be opening her studio to visitors. This is a great opportunity to see behind the scenes and to view current work, sketchbooks and folio.

Work, from greetings cards to original art, limited edition prints and gifts, will be available to purchase, making ideal and unique Christmas gifts. Meet Emma, chat about art, publishing and more. A warm welcome plus tea, coffee and mince pies awaits.

Emma’s studio at 48 Great Harlings, Shotley Gate, Ipswich IP9 1NY will be open from 11am-4pm on Sundays, November 25 and December 2.

If you can't make those dates but want to visit and look for a unique gift (or place a commission – do ask soon as she is getting booked up) then contact Emma who is happy to open by arrangement.

Ten per cent from open studio sales will go to The Children’s Appeal at Ipswich Hospital for which Emma is the commissioned illustrator.

AKENHAM CARPENTRY & JOINERY Fitted kitchens, bedrooms, offices, windows, doors, staircases etc in any timber • Kitchen fitting service available on your own units • All interior and exterior carpentry • Competitive rates

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The Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity launched a fundraising appeal in February 2018 to raise part of the £2.5m needed to build a new-look children’s department to transform the experience of its young patients and their families. They are now appealing for local businesses and individuals to give the appeal their backing by helping raise vital funds towards the total cost of the project, which would take place in phases over the next two to three years.

You could make a difference. Every penny you donate to the appeal will help them develop the children’s department at Ipswich Hospital for their younger patients both now and in the future.

So do go along to Emma’s open studio and help her make a donation to this wonderful charity.

Alternatively you can make a one-off donation, set up a direct debit or send a donation by cheque made payable to The Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity Children’s Appeal at The Colchester & Ipswich Hospital Charity, Post Box No 49, Heath Road, Ipswich IP4 5PD. If you’d prefer to bring in cash raised through your fundraising, contact them at: 0300 7701369 / charity@esneft.nhs.uk www.egrahamillustrations.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you. We meet at Ropes Hall War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF. The start time is 7.15pm.

Our next meeting is on November 27 when Hugh Belsey will talk about his work in cataloguing the works of Thomas Gainsborough. Hugh is a renowned art historian, being an expert on Fiona Bruce’s television programme Fake or Fortune. He has spent the last 14 years researching Gainsborough’s work, contacting owners, tracking down and researching paintings. This has taken him all over the world and in his talk Hugh will tell us about this challenging project.

There is no meeting in December so the next one is on January 15 when Mark Mitchels will be talking about the River Deben.

Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome, entrance fee £3 each. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 a year (£12 a 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

KNIT ‘N’ STITCH If you can sew, knit or crochet, or like to make or create in any other medium and fancy working alongside others with a creative streak, come along to our new club. Bring your own project or get inspiration to start a new one.

We meet at Belstead Village Hall every Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm.

Refreshments available. For more information contact Diane: 07981 335859

BELSTEAD MONTHLY MARKETS A market takes place in Belstead Village Hall from 9am-noon on the first Saturday of every month to raise vital funds to support refurbishment of the kitchen and ladies toilet.

With an extensive range of tables, a raffle and refreshments, the market is the perfect place to meet with friends for a chat over a cuppa and a piece of cake while supporting this essential local amenity.

You can also support Macmillan who will have a table laden with homemade goodies for sale.

If you can sew, make or create and would like to hire a table (£10) please contact: 07981 335859 / market@belsteadvillage.co.uk

VILLAGE LINK In a change to out November programme, we will meet at Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am on November 14 when Gary Bunkell will give a brief account of the project to erect Capel St Mary War Memorial, followed by a talk on the history of Butley Priory by Sheila Harrison.

Our aim is to bring communities together and over the years we have attracted members from many villages, men and women of various ages. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am-noon. I would like to welcome back any former members and to see new members from all local villages at our meetings, either as visitors or members in readiness for our 25th celebration in 2019.

Chairman Linda Evans: 01473 311262

MANNINGTREE ROTARY CLUB CHARITABLE BRA COLLECTION Manningtree Rotary Club is still collecting bras on behalf of the charity Against Breast Cancer.

If you have any bras that you no longer need, please drop them off at Manningtree Co-op where you will find a collection box in the main entrance lobby. Thank you for your continuing support.

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Norman Jacobs talked about Pie ’n’ Mash and Prefabs on Wednesday, October 3 and on October 17 Sally Chicken discussed The Regeneration of Shotley Pier, a plan very much in the news.

On November 7 Peter James will talk about The Great Essex Earthquake and two weeks later on November 21 Jo Harrison’s talk is entitled Going Underground.

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

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am.

For further details please contact speaker secretary Dave Carman: 01255 880202

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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OUT & ABOUT BELSTEAD CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT Friday, November 30, 7.30pm All proceeds to Headway and two local dementia support groups which are run by a local resident.

Teams of six-eight people, £10 each. Please bring your own drinks.

Nibbles provided.

To book a table contact Marilyn Wosahlo: 01473 730479 We hope you will come and enjoy a fun evening for a very worthy cause.

STOUR VALLEY U3A Richard Heap, Production Director of Stephen Walters & Sons Ltd, talked on silk weaving in Sudbury on Wednesday, October 10.

He covered the history of silk weaving and how it came to Sudbury, how silk yarns are processed, the silk trade, partnerships and relationships between supplier and customer and how the company engages with the local community and the environment.

Our meeting on November 14 will feature Davis Simmonds, a National Trust speaker and volunteer, introducing The Coast of East Anglia. The East Anglian coast is full of contrasts and has much beauty, history and wildlife. His presentation will focus on National Trust coastal properties in Essex and Suffolk.

Each month The Coffee Grinders meet at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt CO7 6SD from 10am to noon. This meeting especially welcomes new members and gives all members the opportunity to meet the activity group leaders and the committee while enjoying a cup of coffee. The next meeting is on Friday, November 23.

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. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org. uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted.

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

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.3010pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

Monday, November 5: Part 2 Xmas Bauble (Janet) Monday, December 3: Napkin Folding & Decorated Candle (Debbie) Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

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CAMEO We resumed our get-togethers in September. Meg from the Coffee Caravan will be with us in October and the 250 Club draw will be made. In December we will have our usual mulled wine and Christmas nibbles, and hopefully some surprise guests.

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.

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 noticeboards 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 on the second Monday of the month (excluding July and August) between 2.30 and 4.30pm and our next gettogether is on November 12.

Sandra Howard

BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS We are already a sixth of the way through the school year and rapidly approaching Christmas. Preparations are getting underway for the annual plays and the rehearsing of carols is imminent. If you can help with prize donations for our Christmas Fayres please get in touch. We are always grateful for new ideas and any suggestions or offers of help.

Here are a couple of dates for your diaries: Bentley Christmas Fayre, Friday November 30 in the school hall from 3.15pm Copdock Christmas Fayre, Friday, December 7 at the village hall after school So far this term we have had our Macmillan coffee event at both schools raising over £270 as a federation through entrance fees, donations and competitions. At Copdock we have had a non-uniform day in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity. Both schools have participated in a Harvest Festival service at their church. We have had a couple of exciting trips, including a jazz concert and some transition days at high school. Adders and Foxes have had their residential trip to Kingswood where everyone pushed themselves to take part in challenges. They all had a fabulous time. We have some trips coming up to local cinemas alongside all the exciting things we are going in class.

We are already looking ahead to the next academic year. If your child is due to start school in September 2019 we are holding an open morning and an open evening at both schools. At Copdock our open day is Wednesday, November 14 at 9.30am and our open evening is Thursday, November 15 at 6.30pm. At Bentley we are holding our open day on Wednesday, November 14 at 1.30pm and our open evening on the same day at 6.30pm. We would appreciate if you could let us know if you intend to come along so that we have an idea of numbers. If you are unable to make any of these dates, please contact the school office directly to make an appointment to have a look around at another time.

Remembrance Services Both schools will be holding a Remembrance Service on Thursday, November 8 at 10.50am. Pupils will be gathering at the War Memorial in Bentley, or the school hall at Copdock. Pupils will be finding out about the war graves and soldiers from our villages. After the service, head pupils will be making their way to the local churchyard to lay poppy wreaths on the war graves. We would like to welcome anyone wishing to join us at any of the above locations.

For more news and up to date information about the schools, please visit: www.copdock.suffolk.sch.uk

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SCHOOLS BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB After our AGM and social evening in October, we start the autumn season on Wednesday, November 21 with a talk from Notcutts on bulbs for winter pots, 7.15 for 7.30pm.

Please note our December meeting is earlier and on a different evening due to Christmas, so on Thursday, December 13 we present Pearly King of Streatham with drinks and nibbles to start our Christmas celebrations.

See you there!

Marilyn Wosahlo

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears The Baby Bears are excited about the autumn season! We are planning to use our senses to explore what autumn has to offer, from cinnamon spices to discovering what’s inside pumpkins. We have woolly hats at the ready for our cold morning garden visits to find different coloured leaves and different sized conkers.

Toddling Tigers The Tigers have also been celebrating autumn. We have been on a leaf walk to collect our favourite leaves which we brought back to use for leaf rubbing. We have been mixing colours on our giant leaves, expressing our own preferences with colour and brushes and sponges. We also used our leaves to decorate our cosy corner. In our sensory tray we added conkers, acorns, twigs and leaves and concentrated on touch and smell.

Gruffalos With the first half of term over we are well and truly into autumn and the season has dominated both outside and inside the Gruffalo room.

During Forest School we have immersed ourselves in all that autumn brings: falling leaves, changing colours and temperatures and, of course, more mud as the ground gets wetter! The daddy long-legs was an interesting minibeast discovery.

We have had autumn vegetables within our role play and the children have explored the different squashes and pumpkins, cooking with them and serving them to each other as dinner. Using real food instead of plastic play food is a multi-sensory experience of smells and texture and has evoked much conversation with new words being learnt. Another favourite activity has been using real hammers to knock tee pegs into the pumpkins. This involves deep concentration (we didn’t want to hit our fingers!) and much interest as the tee pegs go into and split the vegetables. Using the real heavy hammers we are strengthening arms and hand muscles which is important for pre-writing skills.

If you would like further information about Robin’s Childcare please contact us on 01473 310767 and we will be more than happy to help.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL The children have been exploring pumpkins including cutting them, scooping them out and saving the seeds to plant for next year. None of the children were very keen on the smell!

We have been busy making our crib, to be displayed at Barham Church from Friday, November 23 to Monday 26, and we hope you will all pop along to have a look at it.

We held our Halloween disco at the end of October. This was a fabulous event and a great time was had by all. Thank you to everyone who came to support us.

During the following weeks we will be celebrating with a Halloween dress-up week, Bonfire Night craft and Christmas activities and craft. Also, our Christmas Nativity will be held at Barham Church in December. The children will be learning lots of songs and performing them to their family and friends.

Look out in the next issue for exciting news about our canopy at the pre-school.

Upcoming events for pre-school children Christmas Disco: This will be held on Thursday, December 13 from 4.30-6.30pm at the pre-school for all pre-school children at a cost of £5 each. We may even get a visit from Father Christmas! More details to follow soon.

Christmas Nativity: This will be held on Tuesday, December 18, time to be confirmed, at Claydon & Barham Church. This will be an event for all pre-school children and we will welcome all their family and friends to come and watch them. More details will follow nearer the time.

Upcoming events – open to everyone Christmas Fayre: This will be held on Saturday, November 24, from 10.30am-1.30pm in Claydon Community Centre. Entry is free and there will be lots of stalls, as well as Father Christmas, wrap a gift and a prize draw. Refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome.

As we are now open all year (except bank holidays and the Christmas period) we can take children up to five years old for additional sessions during the school holiday weeks, subject to availability. If you would like to book any days during the holidays, please contact the administration assistant for more details.

We can take children who are entitled to 30 hours funding. Simply register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible.

If you would like an application form or any further information please contact administration assistant Lisa Read: Claydon Preschool, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / admin@ claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648

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SPORT CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The First Team had an excellent September playing four league games and winning all four.

A 4-2 victory against Bramford United with goals from Nick Middlebrook, Danny Garrard (penalty) and a brace from skipper Shaun Webb was followed by a 2-0 win over Trimley Red Devils with Webb having another good game and grabbing both goals. A 1-0 away win against Haughley United, with Middlebrook scoring the only goal of the game, saw the side move up to third in the Senior League table and the team pushed up to second place a week later after beating Leiston St Margarets, also by 1-0 with a well taken goal from Garrard giving us the points. Despite having players unavailable most weeks the side has done well in what is a tough league and have played some good football.

Our young Reserve side have had a mixed start to the season, losing games against Wickham Market by 5-3 and Haughley United by 3-1, but won 3-1 at Stonham before going goal crazy to beat Leiston St Margarets away 13-0 in the County Reserve Cup with Charlie Read getting five goals. Keeper Christian Foxhall has been playing well in goal with Bill Butcher having some decent games in defence and Harry Taylor doing well up front.

Our Sunday morning team lost 1-0 at Elmsett, but beat Shotley Rose 5-2 in the League Cup with Joe Bigmore scoring one and making three goals after having an excellent match. Our Veteran side (over-35s), who play their games on Sunday afternoons, beat Black Boy Pub from Bury St Edmunds 2-1 in the League Cup before beating Old Times 3-1 to move up to second in the table.

Youth games take place at Capel Playing Field on Saturday and Sunday mornings if you want to see the stars of the future in action. Finally, you can check out the team fixtures on the local league websites.

BOB THE PLOUGHMAN

BELSTEAD CARPET BOWLS CLUB The winter season has started and because of some late holidays we have only played one game at Tuddenham where we have won for the past two years. It was not to be this year as we were soundly beaten 9-1. With several team members sadly out of touch, things can only get better (we hope).

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FC It has been an up and down start to the campaign for the 1st Team with two comfortable victories, three comprehensive defeats and one draw. Early days still. The Reserves have recorded one win, one draw and one defeat in the league and exited the FA Senior Reserve Cup at the hands of a strong Long Melford side. The A Team have a 100 per cent record to date including progressing in the Suffolk Primary Cup. They face a trip to Redgrave Rangers in the next round.

UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st Team: Senior Division Sat, Oct 27: Grundisburgh (A) Sat, Nov 3: Capel Plough (H) Sat, Nov 24: Achilles (A) Reserves: League A Sat, Oct 27: Henley Athletic Res (H) Sat, Nov 10: Wenhaston Res (H) Sat, Nov 17: Coplestonians Res (A) Sat, Nov 24: Achilles Res (H) A Team: League C Sat, Oct 27: Ufford Sports Res (A) Sat, Nov 3: Redgrave Rangers, FA Primary Cup (A) Sat, Nov 10: Grundisburgh Res (A) Sat, Nov 17: Somersham Res (A) Sat, Nov 24: Sporting 87 A (H) Fixtures are subject to change. To confirm please refer to the fixtures website: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069

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CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Parish Priest: Fr Peter Raj, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 SERVICES FOR NOVEMBER Sunday 4 9am

31 Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass st

Tuesday 6 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 11 9am

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass

Tuesday 13 9.20am 10am

Eucharistic Adoration Mass

Sunday 18 9am

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass

Tuesday 20 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 25 9am

Our Lord Jesus Christ – King Of The Universe Mass

Tuesday 27 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Catholic Commentary The commandment to rest on Sundays is an invitation to be centred on Christ and to give praise and thanksgiving for the gift of life, not to waste the day in distraction, said Pope Francis recently. “For us Christians, the centre of the Lord’s Day, Sunday, is the Eucharist, which means ‘thanksgiving.’ It is the day to say to God: thank you, thank you, Lord; thank you for life, for your mercy, for all your gifts”.

Pope Francis spoke about Sunday as “the day of rest”, which he said Christians might think is a simple and straightforward concept but is not. Today society has a distorted view of rest, he said, arguing that people only focus on what will be fun or what will bring them pleasure. “Man has never rested as much as today, yet man has never experienced as much emptiness as today!”

“What then is rest according to this commandment?” he asked. “It is the moment of contemplation, it is the moment of praise, not of evasion. It is time to look at reality and say: how beautiful life is!” He quoted the words of Genesis, at the end of the creation, when “God saw what he had done, and behold, it was very good.”

The weekly newsletter, with weekly mass times, is always displayed in the cabinet by the front door. www.stmarksparish.org.uk

CAPEL ST MARY AND HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCHES Comfort Blankets Many of us had comfort or security blankets when we were children.

The technical term is a transitional object, something that helps with the changing parent-child bond. It may be a blanket or soft toy that would be cuddled and held onto tightly. For many of us these get replaced by adult alternatives. So what are the comfort things in your life? It would be easy just to continue reading, but I’d like you to stop and think about yours before reading on.

If you want a Bible, or some booklets to help you read and understand it please get in touch.

One of my comforts is my books; I’ve got more books than I have shelves and I try to do a cull every now and then as I acquire more books. I put the books I’ve taken off the shelves into a banana box ready to be taken to the charity shop when I’m next passing. The box may be either in the boot of the car or in the garage for a few days. Sometimes the title of a book jumps out at me and I remember something I read in it that was formative in my development and I take the book out of the box and place it back onto my shelves! (I recall the time when I was throwing out some rubbish in the outside bin and my worn out teddy bear looked up at me from within the bin!)

Sunday 4

David, a shepherd boy who became king, wrote a beautiful poem (Psalm 23) saying “your rod and your staff they comfort me”. A shepherd would use his rod and staff for protection and guidance of the sheep. As a boy and as a leader David knew God was his protection and would guide him – that gave him comfort. And he writes these words in the midst of good times – “green pastures” – and in the “valley of the shadow of death” when things are not going well. At all times there is the offer of a comfort blanket.

There is one book I value more than any other and that is the Bible.

I have many different editions and versions. I have worn out two editions through much use. It’s not just a comfort in terms of a crutch, but one that instructs me, and challenges me in daily living. In it my relationship with God is strengthened. It’s a transitional object that helps with the changing “Father God – child bond” that prepares me for heaven.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

The Rev A Sankey, Minister at Capel and Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 AT CAPEL METHODIST Home Groups and prayer meetings on various days and times 10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with Rev Chris Hill Prayer

Sunday 11 10.30am

6.30pm

Dedication of the War Memorial Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey

Sunday 18 10.30am

Worship with Mr Paul Law

Sunday 25 10.30am

6.30pm

Worship and Communion with Rev Sankey United Prayer at the Methodist

AT HOLBROOK METHODIST / (HCT – Holbrook Churches Together) Mondays between 2.30 & 4pm: Tea and Chat (HCT) Home Group: First and third Tuesdays at 7.30pm Saturday 3 10-11.30am Sunday 4 10am Friday 9 3.30pm Sunday 11 10am Sunday 18 10am

Sunday 25 10am

6.30pm

Coffee Morning Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey Messy Church United Worship at All Saints Family Friendly Worship with Mrs Marilyn Watsham Worship with Mr Colin Westren Worship – Something Different

Please see the noticeboard on the front of the Chapel for all events in November.

For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live (HCT) contact Alicia Holmes: 07979 233125

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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 / 07904 972116 Dear friends, I am generally a pretty upbeat person – in fact one of my churchwardens once referred to me as ‘a supreme optimist’. However, over the last couple of weeks I have had to accept that smiles are sometimes rather difficult to maintain. If I am honest with you all, I have to pray very hard and remind myself very specifically of the words in Corinthians…

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

(1 Corinthians 13:4–8a) I have recently been challenged by three items of correspondence complaining about decisions made by members of the church; two of these were particularly unpleasant and left the local team feeling rather bruised.

I am not uncomfortable with people questioning our judgements because I appreciate the possibility of a positive exchange of ideas; it is the hostile, personal and aggressive way that these two pieces were written which I found unacceptable.

I am the only person in church who receives a stipend to enable me to devote my time to ministering to the seven parishes and six churches for which I am responsible. I am entitled to one uninterrupted day off a week and I generally select Friday. We are also strongly encouraged by the Bishop to take one additional day off every month. In reality this seldom happens and while ideally my day should be restricted to eight hours it is usually longer as I have evening meetings lasting sometimes past 10pm. That is my choice and I am happy to do this, but there are times when I feel overwhelmed by the demands and expectations of the position. I remain uplifted because I am part of a loving church family.

Other people in church – the lay elders, readers, retired clergy, coffee makers, cleaners, cake bakers, churchwardens, flower arrangers, the team on the PCC with their various roles – do not receive any payment. Not only do many of these people get called upon to help lead services and deliver pastoral care, they also provide the infrastructure for a whole range of village activities within their communities, from village fetes and firework displays, coffee mornings and toddler sessions, to assemblies and whole school activity days. This they do on top of having to work to raise huge amounts of money to ensure the buildings, which are appreciated and used at some point by most of the villagers, remain. They spend a great deal of time making grant applications, running fundraising events, liaising and meeting with contractors employed to work on the fabric of the building, being part of working parties cleaning the church yard and spring cleaning the church, and a whole wealth of other things.

Please think very carefully when you are corresponding with these volunteers because everyone who you demotivate by your actions affects the future of the church in your village.

You may like to try my idea and read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a before you put pen to paper or tap on a key.

I tell my wedding couples although St Paul never married he knew a great deal about love and unity.

Love and prayers, Rev Annette ADVANCE INFORMATION Due a current shortage of service leaders and church volunteers to provide

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the infrastructure necessary to sustain the current service rota there will be some changes to the December services and next year’s service pattern.

Tattingstone and Sproughton will not host a Midnight Eucharist, but there will still be two services of Holy Communion at midnight in the Benefice, one at Copdock and the other at Belstead, both starting at 11.30pm. Tattingstone will still have a Holy Communion service at 10am on Sunday 23 and a Christingle and Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve. And in Sproughton there will be a 3pm Nativity on Christmas Eve and a 10am Sung Communion on Christmas Day. Changes to the Benefice Rota in 2019 will only affect services at Tattingstone and Sproughton First Sunday 11am: Sproughton Family@church (formerly Holy Communion) Second Sunday (as current rota) Third Sunday 10am: Tattingstone Friends@Family (formerly Evening Prayer 6pm) 11am: Sproughton HC – Communion every month (formerly Matins or Holy Communion) Fourth Sunday 8am: Sproughton HC – BCP 6pm: Tattingstone Holy Communion (formerly Family@church) North Samford Churches Baby and Toddler Group 9.30-11.30am at Sproughton Church Hall on Mondays in term time. Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers welcome with a parent, grandparent or carer.

Suggested donation £2 per family. Leaders: The Rev Annette Shannon (01473 807674) and Doreen (01473 311122) Wanted Instrumentalists and readers to take part in the village Christmas services in Sproughton Church. Please contact Annette if you are willing to share your skills to enhance the celebrations around Christmas.

Sproughton Bonfire Night Friday, November 2 on the Millennium Green. Huge bonfire and great fireworks; adults £6, children £3, (under-4s free). Excellent BBQ, car parking available. BBQ 7pm, Bonfire 7.15pm, Fireworks 8pm Bentley Act of Remembrance Event Sunday, November 11, 10.50am at Bentley War Memorial. After the service, refreshments will be served in the village hall and there will be an exhibition of First World War memorabilia as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the war. Please join us for this special event.

Words & Music – Concert at All Saints’ Sunday, November 18, 2.30pm at All Saints’ Church, Sproughton. Including organ music by Heather Earey, The Troopers Tale – 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars. The Pilot’s Wife and Needham Market Players. Tickets are £5 from Sproughton Community Shop, or from Michael Earey on 01473 742766. Light refreshments will be available in the interval Burstall Christmas Bazaar Saturday, November 24 at Burstall Village Hall, 10.30am-2.30pm. Craft and other stalls, Christmas cakes, coffee and cakes and homemade soup.

Copdock Christmas Market Sunday, December 2 at Copdock Hall, 2-4.30pm. In aid of St Peters’ Church Copdock. Christmas food, gifts, decorations, etc. Refreshments available.

FROM THE REGISTERS Weddings Sonja Carter & James Lambourne – Copdock Antonia Steer & James Whitworth – Belstead Holly Thorman & Darren White - Copdock Becky Miles & David Morrison – Copdock Rebecca Barbour & Mario Vogli – Belstead

In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS NOVEMBER Thursday 1

Friday 2 Saturday 3 Wednesday 7

Saturday 10 Sunday 11

Wednesday 14 Sunday 18 Wednesday 21

Saturday 24

Wednesday 28

Bentley Home Communions, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Sproughton Bonfire Night, 7pm Copdock Morning Market, 10am Bentley Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mothers Prayers Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Bentley Remembrance Day Burstall Remembrance Day with Beacon Lighting Bentley Mothers Prayers Words and Music (see above) Copdock Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mothers Prayers Burstall Christmas Bazaar, 10.30am-2.30pm Belstead Christmas Sale, 10am Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Bentley Mothers Prayers To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE Sunday, November 4 8am Copdock Holy Communion 9.30am Burstall Holy Communion 10am Bentley Family Service 10am Copdock Morning Prayer 10am Tattingstone Holy Communion 11am Sproughton Holy Communion 3pm Sproughton Bereavement Service Sunday, November 11 10.30am Burstall Remembrance Service 10am Copdock Remembrance and Holy Communion 10.15am Sproughton Service of Remembrance 10.50am Bentley War Memorial Act of Remembrance 10.50am Belstead War Memorial Act of Remembrance 10.50am Tattingstone Act of Remembrance Sunday, November 18 9.30am Burstall Holy Communion 10am Copdock Simply Sunday 10am Bentley Family Service 11am SproughtonHoly Communion 6pm Tattingstone Holy Communion Sunday, November 25 8am Sproughton Holy Communion 9.30am Burstall Matin 10am Bentley Holy Communion 10am Copdock Holy Communion 10am Belstead Morning Celebration 3.30pm Tattingstone Family@Church 5pm Sproughton Christingle Sunday, December 2 8am Copdock Holy Communion 9.30am Burstall Holy Communion 10am Bentley Christingle 10am Copdock Morning Prayer 10am Tattingstone Holy Communion 11am Sproughton Holy Communion

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Sunday, December 9 9.30am Sproughton Croissant Church 9.30am Burstall Christingle & Gift Service 10am Belstead Holy Communion 10am Copdock Nativity 10am Bentley Holy Communion 6pm Tattingstone Evensong Please submit church letters and copy for the December edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by November 4: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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COME AND SING

MARY POPPINS WITH TOM APPLETON, AND THE READE ENSEMBLE

SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER, 3PM The Come and Sing Company, with their Artistic Director, Tom Appleton, return to RHS in November for what promises to be another Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious day.

Those who were here for Tom’s sessions on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver! or even Vivaldi’s Gloria in the recent past, will know that his unique presentation style will soon have the participants sounding sweeter than a spoonful of sugar!

All are most welcome and prizes for fancy dress (where’s that flat cap hiding?) are given out!

Fun for all the family, especially Uncle Albert....

Tickets: £5 Available from experiencetickets.co.uk/rhsmusic 01206 573948 BURNS RECITAL HALL, ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL, HOLBROOK, IPSWICH IP9 2RX