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NEWS
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR On a number of recent occasions I’ve been surprised by how people have reacted to fairly typical situations which would normally go relatively unnoticed or produce no more than a raised eyebrow. Just this morning I struggled to make room on a narrow road for a rather large car coming in the opposite direction. I pulled in as far as I could, trying not to go into the brook running alongside, but the other driver was incensed, waving his arms at me, his face ugly with anger. Thank goodness I couldn’t hear what he was saying. He got by a little slower than he obviously wanted, but I sat there for a moment in stunned silence.
WALK TOWARDS A CURE FOR PARKINSON’S IN SUFFOLK
At the weekend I found myself queuing behind a man who gave a shop assistant a right telling off because she had given him the wrong change. He practically accused her of trying to steal 10p from him. I asked her if she was OK after he’d left and she shrugged it off as if it was a common occurrence, which I fear it might very well be. We may all be feeling pressure just now not knowing how things will turn out (even the weather is disagreeable), but if we lose all self-restraint and can’t even treat those we meet in everyday life with respect I dread to think of the long-term impact. Thankfully we’re not there yet and I’ve had many more instances of people being helpful, kind, thoughtful and understanding in recent weeks (clearly evidenced in the pages of this magazine) than I’ve had of people being rude, judgemental and arrogant. Admittedly a little self-analysis may be necessary now and then, but I’m determined to offset rude drivers and hateful behaviour by doing the exact opposite. By making a little extra effort to be kind to each other, I’m convinced we can make the world a little bit more pleasant for everyone. A smile, a polite ‘good morning’, a wave when another driver makes way (and especially when they don’t!), may initially have little impact on how others behave, but it can’t hurt. Happy Easter from everyone at Mansion House Publishing
In Touch
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Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins We also publish In Touch with... Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk • NEW Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, 01473 400380 Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit Send editorial copy to: bergholt@intouchnews.co.uk • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and • Capel St Mary photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot • Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton • Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone accept responsibility for any loss. & Washbrook ADVERTISING • Baylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk • Ipswich East 01473 400380 • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew DISTRIBUTION • Brantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley Tree Martin • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk • Needham Market & The Creetings 01473 400380 • Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, PRINTING Stutton & Woolverstone Colourplan Print • Burstall & Sproughton Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk • Stowmarket & Stowupland 01473 400379 • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham Disclaimer: • Chattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the • Melton & Woodbridge publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints.
© Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Dedham, East Bergholt, & Flatford is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
People in Suffolk are being asked to pick up the pace against Parkinson’s this year at Walk for Parkinson’s – Glemham Hall on Sunday, July 9, one of a series of walk events to be held across the UK for Parkinson’s UK during 2017. Walk for Parkinson’s offers the opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in a fun and active day out, while helping the charity step ever closer to a cure. There are a range of distances on offer to suit everyone, with a 1.5 mile, 3.5 mile and 5.5 mile walk to choose from. It is the first time the charity has hosted a Walk for Parkinson’s at Glemham Hall. Previous walks in the region have seen more than 200 local people take part, so the charity hopes to involve even more walkers with the new and exciting venue. The registration fee is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Everyone who registers will receive a free Parkinson’s UK t-shirt, fundraising pack and at the end of the walk, a finishers medal. The charity is hoping to raise over £400,000 from the 32 events, so suggests walkers aim to raise at least £50. All money raised from Walk for Parkinson’s – Glemham Hall will help Parkinson’s UK’s work to provide support and information for people affected by Parkinson’s and to help find better treatments, and ultimately a cure. As well as walkers, the charity is on the lookout for volunteers to help register people at the start/finish area or to be a walk marshal at various points on the route during the day. To find out more and to sign up to walk or volunteer contact: 0207 963 9367 / fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk or visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkglemhamhall
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MAY DEADLINE 20 APRIL 2017
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NEWS THE EAST BERGHOLT SOCIETY – A CARD FOR CONSTABLE
BRANTHAM ANNUAL GARAGE SALE 2017
John Constable, England’s greatest landscape artist, was born in our village on June 11, 1776. It’s a fair bet that you have sent or received a card bearing an image from one of his paintings. In recognition of this, in celebration of his contribution to art and in appreciation of the wonderful ‘Constable Country’ we still enjoy, the East Bergholt Society is inviting everyone to pick up one of our cards and make it a card for John Constable.
Yvonne and Ronnie did a great job organising Brantham Garage Sale for many years, supporting St Elizabeth Hospice as well as small local charities.
We will have supplies of plain cards in St Mary’s Church and the Fountain House Tea Rooms, both in The Street, East Bergholt, and Flatford Mill Field Studies Centre, Flatford. We ask that you take a card, paint or draw on it, make a collage, stick on a favourite photo or embellish it any way you choose, and return it in one of the boxes provided in the same locations. Just have a go: who knows, we may even find the next John Constable. On Sunday, June 11 we will display all the cards between 11am and 5pm at the Lambe School, Gaston Street (with tea and birthday cake at tea time). The cards will all be offered for sale and the profits will go to St Mary’s Church, the Lambe School and the Constable Hall. We are asking well known professional artists to contribute too but all the cards will be on sale at the same price. So you might get lucky and buy something by a famous artist at a truly knock down price of a few pounds. For further information, or if you would like a supply of cards, perhaps for an art group, please contact Patricia Wright, Hon Secretary of the East Bergholt Society: 01206 298258 / secretary@eastbergholt.org If you are inspired by this landscape we urge you to paint it now: Our Country – Constable’s Country – Celebrate it! The East Bergholt Society, formed in 1972, is a local amenity society and registered charity.
ALLOTMENT PLOTS AVAILABLE AT CAPEL Half plots are available now at £16 per annum plus membership. If you live in or around Capel and fancy a go at growing your own please contact Dennis: 01473 310988 / sitemanager@capelallotments.co.uk
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Last year was their last sale as they decided to retire and have kindly offered to pass the baton to Nepal Children’s Trust, our locally run charity that offers support for the poor and abandoned children of Nepal. We will be organising the garage sale this year, and hopefully many more to come. We aim to continue Yvonne’s and Ronnie’s good work and donate half the proceeds to St Elizabeth Hospice, with the other half going to the Nepal Children’s Trust. We have two provisional dates (September 9 and 16) and are welcoming feedback from anybody who might know of other local events that we may want to avoid clashing with. Please contact us on: Margaret Woods: 07867 546484 / maggie.woods@janjerltd.com Maya Watling: 07508 430671 / mayawatling@hotmail.com
EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE Following the judge’s decision at the Judicial Review, Babergh are considering the position of their Local Plan Policies CS11 and CS2. Until resolved there will be no progress on the reconsideration of the Moores Lane development application. Matters at the February parish council meeting: • Twenty residents attended to comment on the King’s Head and the court planning applications • District Councillor Hinton informed that Babergh is having to consider taking a JR against themselves for an illegal planning decision by the planning committee • Seven planning applications were considered – three approvals, four refusals • Councillor Woodcock leading on Village Spring Clean on March 25 • East Bergholt Speedwatch progressing; contact: petermcgain@gmail.com • EBNP Projects Committee formed – Councillors Ireland, Moss, Miller, McGain, Totman and Woodcock • Clerk to write to Babergh for reasons planning applications are being approved that do not comply with East Bergholt’s Neighbourhood Plan • Clerk to request meeting of parish councillors with Babergh’s new chief executive For up-to-date village information, road closures and events please visit: www.eastbergholt.org.uk Parish Clerk Valerie Ayton
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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: MARCH 2017 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Planning, housing delivery and infrastructure Following publication of the White Paper, Fixing our Broken Housing Market, Babergh has reviewed some of its own issues. Most of the rural housing numbers proposed in the current Local Plan (60% urban, 40% rural) already have permissions, whereas those identified for the urban fringes have barely started. There are at least two major problems: one, the lack of build where applications already have permissions; and two, lack of progress on the strategic sites. The council is developing a framework to try to deal with multiple landowners, access, liability and other problems to move planning approvals to actual delivery of new homes. At county level there is work on a Strategic Planning Infrastructure Framework (SPIF). Coordination between that and the new Joint Local Plan (JLP) for Babergh and Mid Suffolk is essential. Timing on the JLP has slipped. A draft will not now be ready before the winter of 2017/18. To date, there is no site ‘allocations’ plan, which is a concern because windfall applications are already tabled or awaited, with no overall vision, plan or development destination for villages in our area, particularly for Capel St Mary and East Bergholt. A joint Babergh and Mid Suffolk Affordable Homes three-year Rolling Development Strategy has been approved. The primary aim is to provide new homes for letting at affordable rent, or low cost home ownership, subsidised where possible by government grant and also delivered through S106 Planning Agreements. Babergh has reserves in its housing revenue account and headroom to borrow more, so it plans to provide 210 new homes over the life of the strategy to meet general needs, sheltered and supported housing.
Approval has been given for planning application fees to be raised by 20% from July 2017 – with the proviso that the additional income is invested in the planning department. Road consultations Essex County Council are consulting on plans for: (a) new route options on the A120 (reported as almost past capacity in several sections with sub-standard slip roads); (b) proposals to widen the A12 from Chelmsford to Colchester. We welcome these, but are very disappointed that the A12 in Suffolk is once again being ignored despite the need for significant investment. Filming in Suffolk Suffolk is popular with film makers as a location for many productions. Babergh has agreed to enter an agreement with Film Fixer Ltd (trading as Screen Suffolk) to facilitate the use of council owned or controlled land and premises. Screen Suffolk operates as the official film office for Suffolk, representing all seven district councils and the county council. They offer ‘one-stop’ solutions for film-makers and photographers. The aim is to make our area the most film-friendly county in the UK, and to promote its wealth of creative talent and range of locations. We also want Suffolk residents and businesses to benefit directly from the inward investment of filming. The Screen Suffolk website features some 150 locations including the Museum of East Anglian Life, Needham Lakes, Lavenham, Bildeston, Holbrook and Sudbury: www.screensuffolk.com sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk
BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Boundary Commission Review The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is undertaking a review of both Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils. A review is triggered by significant electoral inequality between different wards within a district and both councils now have wards where there is notable electoral inequality. The collective review of both districts is being undertaken in two stages. Stage one is to determine the total number of councillors and stage two is to redraw the ward boundary lines to achieve electoral equality using the revised councillor numbers. The results of the review will be effective from the next scheduled district council elections in May 2019. As part of the review the council has had to present a submission to the commission stating the number of councillors they think would be appropriate. Babergh District Council currently has 43 councillors representing an electorate of 71,686 across 27 wards. This is an increase of one from the 42 councillors that it had when first established in 1974. It was agreed by the council that the Babergh submission to the commission would recommend a reduction to 31 councillors. This takes into account the change to a cabinet system which requires fewer committee positions as well as some joint committees across the two councils. 2017/18 Budget Councillors have made the tough decision to increase their part of the council tax by 3.4 per cent. This means a £5 a year increase for those in a Band D property and a £10 a year rise for those in the largest properties. The increase was voted through as the council faces a continuing decrease in core funding from central government.
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However, the council has pledged that those most in need will not pay more than 8.5 per cent of their council tax bill as it continues its Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The Council Tax Reduction Scheme allows residents on low incomes to apply for a reduced council tax bill, with some paying as little as 8.5% of their total. Other key points in the budget are: No significant change to service levels despite the reduction in government support, as income generation and cost reduction measures have replaced the loss in government grant A decrease of 1 per cent on council house rents, equivalent to an average rent reduction of 91 pence a week, as required by the Welfare Reform and Work Act Sheltered Housing Service Charges to be increased by a maximum of £4 per week for each scheme to reduce the subsidy from general needs housing by £72,000 An increase of 10 per cent on garage rents, equivalent to an average increase of 88 pence per week An increase in funding to £5 million for building and acquiring additional social housing in 2017/18 Babergh has also introduced the Community Infrastructure Levy on new developments, developed a new capital investment strategy and are transforming how parks and open spaces are maintained to deliver the best possible value for taxpayers. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk
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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD
CHECK YOUR BOUNDARIES
DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON
Now we are into April it’s a good time to go into our gardens and look at ways we can protect our property.
The main emphasis in the past month has been on planning and, from the council’s perspective, how to stay out of trouble, the finances, budget and council tax increases. Planning officers seem to have developed a ‘let’s ignore the public and interpret policy in whichever way we like’ strategy and then they wonder why applications are challenged at committee, that is assuming you can get an application called in! Councillor Williams and I had a constructive and very informative meeting with the chief executive concerning planning policy, and I would urge the council to include Bill Newman in their invitation to the chief executive and organise it on a non-council night to offer maximum time for questions and debate. The chief executive is investigating some of my more detailed planning points, particularly concerning officers. I hope he is quick as he is already feeling embarrassed by calling ‘himself’ to a JR! Questions around the calling-in of the Kings Head have to be resolved, but planning law is convoluted, some would say more so than our tax laws, and a lot is down to interpretation rather than that wonderful old concept, common sense. The budget debate went predictably in favour of the administration’s proposals, although they still seem unable to answer questions on individual items, or be aware that certain costs even exist. The fact that the council has some £100m of debt and rising seems to be regarded as a trivial matter. Drip by drip the potential costs of the ‘move’ to Ipswich are leaking out and it’s going to be expensive. The £5 increase in council tax approved by the council will not cover the possible overspend, especially when some items are not covered in the budget. I will be watching the mysterious ‘Transformation Fund’ carefully and if necessary highlighting inadequacies. The costs relating to devolution have been questioned, but they wriggled out of the main element and also avoided the ‘Suffolk only’ costs which were part of the initial pilot. The county council have, I am sure, absorbed a lot of the cost, which is why they have problems in various areas. In May they will be measured against their achievements! It’s interesting that the three ‘devolved’ countries are all set up on a ‘unitary’ basis as are the big devolved areas in England, and yet that subject of local government reorganisation seems to be well off the agenda. Why? Scotland has the same population as the Eastern Region, Northern Ireland is lower, and yet money is thrown at them, where as we are suffering a funding deficit and yet we are one of the main regional contributors to the chancellor’s coffers. Council meetings are currently deleted from the calendar and then reinstated on a regular basis as the administration tries to organise itself for the necessary changes at annual council in May to the cabinet system. Other important matters such as planning charges and road improvements are decided at ‘strategy’ where the west orientated members are not too concerned with our problems. Questions to council and calling decisions into scrutiny will be the only mechanisms, although there are rumours of some unease in the controlling camp.
Front boundaries Low boundaries at the front give maximum visibility. Burglars will feel safer if they can hide behind high fences/hedges as they will be obstructed from view of passers-by from the road. Rear and side boundaries The height of rear and side fences should be 1.8 meters. If your boundary is particularly vulnerable the height can be increased with a trellis. This can be attractive and also act as a deterrent as it’s difficult to climb over without breaking the fence or making a noise. Gates All gates should be fitted with lockable slide bolts and have a padlock to stop someone reaching over to gain entry. Good news story Myself and PCSO Georgi Hawkes from Hadleigh SNT worked with PCSO Teresa England, Sgt Darren Oxbrow and the Youth Offending Team in a litter pick with some young people in the local area. PCSO Denise FORD, Hadleigh SNT Police: 999 emergencies only or 101 for non-emergencies Your local police: Hadleigh SNT, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD / hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
JAMES CARTLIDGE, MP FOR SOUTH SUFFOLK For many years the UK has performed poorly in the international productivity tables. In real terms, this means that in 2015, for every comparable hour worked in Germany, the UK produced 37% less output. Average productivity across the G7 countries falls 18% above the UK. This is a huge gap and a startling reflection of the challenge that we face as a country. I believe that this year’s spring budget will be remembered for its contribution to future improvements in this area. Technical education in our country has failed to result in enough young adults with first-rate skills, and any plan to tackle the productivity deficit must establish a system of education that rectifies this. As such, I welcomed the announcements in the Chancellor’s speech of a new ‘T-level’ system. Where the route from GCSE to A-level to University is both well-established and well-regarded, the same is not currently true for technical education. The budget seeks to put these new courses on an equal footing with the traditional academic route by increasing the number of hours that students train by 50% and simplifying the current 13,000 possible qualifications to just 15. An additional £500m of extra funding has been allocated to pay for this new system. Local businesses often express concerns around recruitment as they are struggling to find enough local individuals with the skills that they require to grow. At the new rail depot in Brantham there will be jobs created that would ideally be filled by individuals local to the area. These will be technical jobs in a large company that has the capacity to facilitate careers in the industry. I am hopeful that with a proper system in place, we will have young people qualifying with desirable skills who will be able to fill roles such as those on the rail depot.
As I have said before, the chief executive has his work cut out, but I am sure he is up to the task and he certainly knows that Dodnash Ward is watching closely and is more than able to hold the council to account.
It is crucial that the country takes this opportunity to overcome the persistent challenge of weak productivity and I hope that residents will join me in welcoming this shift towards a fit-for-purpose, varied education system.
If anyone has any questions, please contact me: john.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309
I hold regular advice surgeries offering help and support to local people. Please see page 11 for my contact details.
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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Demand over public holidays Demand over Christmas and New Year was very high and we experienced a backlog in processing prescriptions for a couple of days immediately after the New Year. Pharmacies are also very busy over public holidays. We are sorry if patients experienced delays in receiving their medication. In order to minimise delays over the Easter period, please submit requests for repeat medication well in advance. Repeat medication can be requested online if you have a SystmOne online account. Please contact the reception team if you would like to register for an account. High demand and Storm Doris Storm Doris caused major disruption across Suffolk on Thursday, February 23. The East Bergholt surgery lost power for over four hours. We relocated clinicians to Capel and diverted or rearranged patients who had appointments at East Bergholt. The loss of power meant that we lost access to patient records, our phone system for both sites went down, vaccines in our fridges went over their permissible temperature range, and we had to close the East Bergholt premises at about 4.45pm as it was too dark to work safely.
NOTES FROM THE CASE Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub 01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk Firstly a big welcome to our new shareholders and a reminder that it’s not too late to join the many people who now own a stake in our pub. The minimum investment is £250 (five shares). See the website for details. If you’ve visited the pub lately you’ll have noticed the smell of new paint. Hard to be believe it’s three years since we decorated ready for our opening, but now it’s time for a freshen-up and once again our wonderful volunteers have stepped up to the plate. Many thanks to them. There are some exciting events coming up this spring. Jay, our chef, is once again transporting the kitchen to exotic places with A Taste of Mexico on Saturday, April 8 featuring such delicacies as fahitas, quesadillas and enchilladas – and can you resist Banana Chimichanga, if only to find out what it is? For a full menu for this and future Taste of… events see the website or pop into the pub. Booking and pre-order required. On Monday, April 17 we will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt and bonnet competition, with prizes for the best creation. No need to book – just turn up. No age (or gender) limit on entry for the best bonnet!
Many patients were affected by the disruption, not only on the day but also for the following week or so when appointments were rescheduled and while vaccines were unavailable due to the loss of power to our fridges. Thank you to all patients affected for your understanding.
We normally like to offer local beers at the Case, but over the early May Bank Holiday we will be celebrating the best of British beer, featuring at least nine different beers from around Britain. Come and sample our experienced cellarman’s choice of the very best.
The last significant power loss at East Bergholt was in 2013, though outages do occur on a regular basis, usually for just a few minutes. Following a full review of events we have decided to purchase an emergency generator and necessary cabling to ensure that in the event of future significant power failures at the East Bergholt or Capel premises, we are able to continue to keep our phone system operational and attend to patients who need urgent care. Hopefully these events will be few and far between.
Our popular quizzes continue on the last Saturday of each month, and following the success of the first two, we are continuing to offer a curry meal from 6-8pm before the quiz. Booking for the meal is essential. For the quiz only, just turn up.
Training days A reminder that in 2017 the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, May 18. On these afternoons the doors will be closed so please ensure any prescriptions are picked up well beforehand. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.
And finally, a sad note: Yolande, our front of house manager, is no longer working with us. For the time being we’re calling on our team of experienced volunteers to fill the gap, but will be recruiting in due course. We’ve taken this opportunity to reassess the mix of paid staff in the pub and will be looking for someone who can wait at table, handle the bar and provide support in the kitchen. If you are, or know of someone who might be, interested in this role, please contact any committee member or send an email in confidence to Gill at cottage. garden@btinternet.com and we will arrange an informal chat. The role is flexible and could be adapted to the skills of a suitable applicant. There is also the possibility of a job share.
Practice Manager Pete Keeble
And don’t forget – we still need more volunteers.
CONSTABLE COUNTRY PRACTICE PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP Men’s Health Talk Professor Chris Booth has kindly agreed to give a talk on men’s health. This will be on April 5 at the Constable Hall, East Bergholt at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be available from 7pm. A small donation to help cover the cost of the hall would be welcome.
Staff at Villapharm have worked hard to clear the backlog, but if you are still having problems please let us know either on comment cards or via email (as above).
Availability of appointments We have had a number of comments recently about the lack of availability of appointments. If you have had any problems we would like to hear from you. Please either fill in a Patient Participation Group comment card (available in both surgeries) or email us at: constablecountryppg@gmail.com
PPG Meetings Our meetings take place every month on the third Monday and we always discuss issues you raise with the practice manager and partners. We try to ensure that minutes appear regularly on the practice website. We are currently arranging our Annual General Meeting which we are hoping will be in early June – date and venue will be announced in the next magazine update, on village noticeboards and in both surgeries.
Delays with prescriptions We continue to get complaints about delays at the Capel pharmacy.
Constable Country PPG Chair Kathy Pollard 01473 311384 / constablecountryppg@gmail.com
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Browse around our newly stocked gift shop and find those unusual greetings cards, presents and much more
Walk through our covered plant area now full of new shrubs, perennials & climbers
Cottage Garden and Rockery plants Now on
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Bromley Road, Colchester, Essex CO7 7SF - Tel: 01206 870605 Find out more about us at www.blenheimgardencentre.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT DOCTOR’S SURGERY TRANSPORT
EAST BERGHOLT CINEMA
No new members on the rota this month, but the demand is still there. Our thanks to all those who give up their time to help those who could not otherwise get to the surgery other than by taxi. There are schemes in both Capel and East Bergholt and we do rely on volunteers. Capel is covering quite a wide area, over to Bentley and down to Copdock and Washbrook. We have one or two volunteers from the latter villages but none so far from Bentley. If you are prepared to volunteer give me a ring on 310992 to discuss the details.
Constable Hall, Gandish Road
Should you be thinking about volunteering, but worry about the insurance implications, there is good news. Many of our volunteers report that on checking their policy or speaking to their insurer they find that their policy covers them for non-profit making volunteer journeys. In one case a small additional premium was requested (under £2), so both volunteers and patients can be assured that they are covered by insurance.
EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY Something is rotten and really quite stinks in the Kingdom of Lancre. The King is dead. Long live the King! Well, no actually, because the new king, the evil Duke Felmet, murdered the previous one… The missing true heir, the baby prince, finds protection with three local witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and their protégé Magrat Garlick. Although witches have a rule never to interfere with the life of a child at stake and the fate of the kingdom in their hands, they take granny’s advice about rules: If you’re going to break them – break them good and hard! Terry Pratchett’s marvellous Discworld characters are brought to life in this hilarious and fast paced adventure playing at The Constable Hall in East Bergholt on March 30 and 31 and April 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 in advance from: 01473 311553 / 07803 475750
Friday, April 7: A United Kingdom (12A) The story of Prince Seretse Khama, later to become the first president of Botswana, who causes a diplomatic stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s. Friday, May 5: Arrival (12A)
Twelve huge extra-terrestrial spaceships make their way to Earth and cause worldwide panic. So what do the aliens want? It’s up to linguistics professor, Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and her elite team of investigators to work that out – but will they crack the code before global war breaks out? Based on a short story, the film has been called poetic, uplifting and positive. Tickets £4 or £2 for 18 years and under. Available on the door, to reserve on 01206 299774 or from the Fountain House Tearoom in East Bergholt. Bar and refreshments available.
ELIZABETH GARRETT ANDERSON A lecture by Mark Mitchels on Suffolk’s most remarkable lady in her centenary year Saturday, April 22 at 7.30pm at Raydon Village Hall Tickets, including light refreshments, £7.50 01473 310320 / 01473 312123 In aid of St Mary’s Church Fabric Fund
EASTER ART SHOW BUMPER BOOK SALE Attention all you book lovers. Another bumper book sale is planned for Easter Monday, April 17 at Manningtree Methodist Church in South Street from 10am-4pm. This will be run alongside our highly successful four day art show.
The Manningtree Methodist Easter Art Show will take place from Friday, April 14 to Monday, April 17. There will be a book sale on Easter Monday. Contact Brian Cuthbertson on 01206 298635 if you are interested in exhibiting.
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OUT & ABOUT DEDHAM FILMS The Assembly Rooms Dedham Wednesday, April 19, 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm): The Eagle Huntress, director Otto Bell (2016) A brilliant and beautifully shot docudrama about a 14-year-old Kazakh nomad girl in Mongolia becoming a champion eagle hunter. Tickets £4 from Shakespeare House Gallery, Dedham High Street, or online: www.dedhfilms.co.uk
CLEAR THE CLUTTER – BAG A BARGAIN Bentley Toddler Group is holding a fundraising jumble sale on Saturday, April 29 at Bentley Village Hall from 2pm. If you have anything you wish to donate, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or contact Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) to arrange collection. We hope to see you there; the hall will be open from 2pm and tea and coffee will be available.
DEDHAM PLAYERS God of Carnage – a comedy of manners... without the manners! A must see for any couple with children.
ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET
In this black comedy by Yasmina Reza (Art), two sets of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, meet to discuss the matter in a civilised manner. As the evening progresses the parents’ behaviour disintegrates, ultimately devolving into chaos. The play’s English-translated productions have won awards in both London (Lawrence Olivier Award) and New York (Tony Awards).
The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, April 8, 9am-12.30pm.
God of Carnage plays at The Assembly Rooms in Dedham from Wednesday, April 26 to Saturday 29 at 7.45pm. Tickets (£8) include refreshment served during the interval. Order today at: 0333 666 3366 / www.dedhamplayers.org / Shakespeare House Gallery, Dedham High Street. The phone number is for ticket sales only and a telephone booking fee applies.
Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying. East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier. If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190 Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue. New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777
SUFFOLK BOOK LEAGUE Spend an evening with publisher and memoirist Hamish MacGibbon hosted by Suffolk Book League. The author will talk about his forthcoming book, Stalin’s Maverick Spy, which tells the story of his parents, their interaction with the Communist Party and their flirtation with wartime espionage. Hamish will be appearing at the Ipswich Institute Reading Room (15 Tavern Street, IP1 3AA) on Thursday, April 13 as part of Suffolk Book League’s 2017 programme of events. This particular event is free for members as it is also the league’s AGM. Doors will be open for members only at 6.30pm. The AGM starts at 7pm (members only). General admission is £8 with students free. To book tickets email: tickets@sbl.org.uk The talk which starts at 7.30pm will be followed by an audience Q&A session with the author. www.sbl.org.uk
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LIBRARY
FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY
April dawns bright and new and shows up what we have not been able to achieve during the drab winter months – like the dirty windows! They seem worse with the sun shining through them. April sees the start of us wanting to get out into our gardens or allotments and plan what we are going to grow this coming year, and to plan what to use if they get any bugs.
First a big thank you to everyone who supported the first Community Cinema showing of Bridget Jones’s Baby. We comfortably exceeded the number we needed to enable us to break even, so you have made a contribution to the Friends money raising fund as well as having a good time. Many of you bought tickets for our next showing Sully, another great film. The April film will be A United Kingdom.
There are lots of books available in the library and on catalogue to help us with our choices. Children’s activity books on growing are also available. Do have a look in the library or at our online catalogue to make your selection: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk GROUPS MEETING THIS MONTH Baby Bounce: takes a break for the school Easter holidays so will not meet on Tuesdays, April 4 and 11. We meet up again on Tuesdays, April 18 and 25 from 2pm for some more singing and shaking of instruments. We have welcomed several new members to our group recently – it’s open to all from birth to five years old with their parent, carer or grandparent. Book Group: meets on Friday, April 21 at 2.30pm to discuss the latest read. This group has also had new members join and it’s not too late for you to consider joining. Just ask a member of staff for details and collect the latest book to read. Minecraft: meets every two weeks from 10.30am. The next dates are April 9 and 23. Under-8s must have their parent/carer stay with them. The next Friends of Capel Library Community Cinema presentation will be A United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 18; doors open at 7pm with the film showing from 7.30pm. Members advance tickets are £4, non members £4.50 or £5 on the door. Limited number of tickets available so buy soon. We will be starting up a Lego club, Lego in Libraries, on Saturday mornings. Look out for posters in the library for the starting date. However, we are short of bricks to play with so if you have any Lego or Duplo which is unloved and un-played with please consider donating it to us. Just bring it to the library. Thanking you in advance.
Having mentioned our funds, it is good to report that parish councils continue to support the Friends, and we are hoping that some county councillors will back the local libraries by using some of their locality budgets. We are hoping to revamp the reception desk area for Jackie and her staff, to make it more ergonomically effective. The previous desk was installed before we all began to use computers so much, and Jackie and her staff now do so much online. Your support for our library is really important given the financial pressure that is being applied by Suffolk County Council, which has cut the library budget drastically. Suffolk Libraries continue to look for ways to improve income and we as Friends will continue to look for ways, like the cinema, in which we can provide enhanced services to the community. Do you buy your stamps in the library? Sometimes it’s better than waiting in a long queue at the Co-op. If there are things that you feel the library might do, just let us know.
We sell book tokens and books of first and second class stamps, as well as second-hand books and books that have been withdrawn from the library catalogue – ideal to take on holiday and leave behind!
The March 100 Club draw featured our new enhanced prize structure. Our winners were Sue Carpendale (£20), Clive Powell (£8) and Sue Edwards (£6). Every so often there will be a bumper prize, so it pays to join… only £12 for the year.
OPENING TIMES
Chris Yule
Monday: closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm & 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm
VILLAGE LINK CLUB Barbara Faulkner will present a talk entitled Easter Parade at our meeting on April 12. Future talks include The Building of Bury Tower in May. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments when there is time for a chat with other members and a raffle. New members and visitors are welcome to join us. Roger Felgate, 01473 311684
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ACORN VILLAGE Our garden polytunnel got destroyed by Storm Doris. It will cost £234 for a replacement which we will erect ourselves. If you have some spare pennies that can go towards the cost we would be very grateful as the garden brings so much delight to adults with learning disabilities as well as the general public. Whether you can run a coffee morning on our behalf or perhaps donate the money you’d spend on a night out or a takeaway, we would be so grateful. Our fundraising page is: mydonate.bt.com/events/polytunnel Alternatively come and see us at Acorn Village, Clacton Road, Mistley CO11 2NJ. Members of NAFAs will be holding a fundraising flower show on May 19/20. If you are interested in having a stall contact ontact us at: info@acornvillages.com
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OUT & ABOUT DEDHAM FOOTPATH GROUP STRATFORD ST MARY OPEN GARDENS/OPEN VILLAGE Saturday, June 3 ALL WELCOME Beautiful gardens to inspire you for the coming summer Art Exhibition Boat Rides Pop-up stalls Arts and Crafts exhibitions/demonstrations Village History Music Refreshments and much more Put the date in your diaries. We look forward to welcoming you to our village. For further information contact Julie: Julie@jj-associates.co.uk / 07989 639583
Sunday, April 2 at 10.30am Meet at the free car park High Street, Wivenhoe for a 4/5 mile walk Leader Margaret Smith: 01206 822797 Sunday, May 7 at 10.30am Meet near the bridge at back of car park on Mill Lane, Dedham (charge will apply) for a 4/5 mile walk Leader Geoff D’Arcy: 01206 323489 Friday, May 26 at 6.30pm Meet at Dedham War Memorial for a short walk prior to the AGM which will commence at the Marlborough Head at 8pm Leaders Martin and Pauline Broom: 01206 322578 Sunday, June 4 at 10.30am Meet at Stour Wood car park for a woodland ramble of approx 4 miles Leader Alan Bridges: 01206 323901 Friday, June 16 at 6.30pm Meet at old road (dead end) to the left of The Street, Wherstead immediately south of the A137/A14 junction for 4/5 mile evening walk Leaders Jan Jukes (01473 684893) and Helen Edevane
STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, March 8, Mark Mitchels spoke on The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial and attempted to re-create the moment in his illustrated lecture. Mark told the story of the excavation and recounted when a remarkable people sent their leader on his final voyage. This was one of the greatest treasures ever found on English soil. On Wednesday, April 12, Amanda Richmond will present Two Teachers Ascent of Everest. Amanda is a teacher, mountaineer skier, traveller and bell ringer and will tell of the six years spent in preparation and the hardships involved in tackling this formidable ascent. On Wednesday, May 10, Emma Roodhouse, art curator of Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service, will talk on Leonard Squirrel, known as the ‘grand old man’ of East Anglian painting. Emma’s lecture will highlight his prolific career, concentrating on the artworks in the Ipswich Borough Council collection, including drawings, watercolours, etchings and pastels from 1912-1978. Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted.
On Wednesday, March 1, Joyce Kimber presented Ciphers & Enigma and the Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, March 15 when club president Hew Naylor stood down after his year in office. On April 5 Julian Wong will talk about the charity Mary’s Meals and on Wednesday, April 19 Jim Lowe will inform us of the work undertaken by the Alzheimer’s Society. Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665
STOUR AND ORWELL SOCIETY AGM The Stour and Orwell Society, set up in 2007, aims to preserve and enhance the Stour and Orwell Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) working with local communities and the appropriate authorities. This year SOS will be hosting their tenth AGM on Wednesday, April 5 at 7pm. The meeting will be hosted by chairman Tom Hill QC who will run through the events of the year and current SOS campaigns. This will be followed by a presentation from John Lyall and Peter Dent who have been instrumental in creating the East Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan.
We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, except August and December.
Refreshments will be available throughout the evening. If you would like to join the society for what promises to be an excellent evening please email for more details: epk@stourandorwellsociety.org.uk
It’s never too late to learn! Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.
www.stourandorwellsociety.org.uk
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OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
MANNINGTREE ROTARY CLUB
February saw the return of one of our regular practical sessions and David Edwards demonstrated the finer points of print mounting, complemented by some helpful advice on composure technique by George Fossey from the Harwich & Dovercourt Camera Club. The evening concluded with a showing of some YouTube compilations, recording member’s entries to a popular and informal monthly challenge created on the society’s Facebook page by Barry Weaver.
Mayflower cross country run and walk Due to popular demand Manningtree Rotary is bringing back the Mayflower Walk for 2017. This year we are adding something new, the option of a cross country run. The route follows the beautiful Essex Way from Harwich to Manningtree through 13 miles of lovely Essex countryside. For those wanting a shorter route there is an alternative finish at Wrabness.
We were pleased that Gill Adams was able to step in at short notice to judge our Night Time and Low Light competition. With a good turnout and lots of entries, Gill made use of the full range of marking available. Stalwarts Mark and David led the charge in the print sector and it was pleasing to see Colin Bailey take the honours among the projected images, with a scene featuring light trails on a local roundabout entitled UFO’s Colchester. The current programme concludes with the AGM at the end of May, but some summer outings, possibly in conjunction with a neighbouring club, are under consideration. Future meetings March 30: Critique Evening: Review and discussion of member’s own work April 13: The Expressive Landscape with Colin Westgate FRPS April 27: Open Colour Competition / Judge Patrick Higham We meet twice monthly at 7.30pm on Thursday evenings at St John’s Centre, Station Road, Manningtree CO11 1EB. New members are welcome or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Please contact Margaret, our secretary, for more information: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk
EAST BERGHOLT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY April’s gardening tips This month is one of the busiest of the year – and I’m sure we are all hoping for some spring like weather now the daylight hours are longer. Time spent weeding, hoeing and mulching now, is time well spent. Watch out for black spot on roses and treat as necessary. Feed bushes, hybrids and climbers if you haven’t done so at time of pruning. Twist and pull off any suckers that appear. Deadhead daffodils and let them die down naturally. Scatter fish blood and bonemeal around them to help the bulbs build up for next year’s flowers. Plant out dahlia tubers. Discourage slugs from new shoots of hostas by whatever means suits you and them. Sow seeds for summer flowering. Continue to deadhead winter pansies – they are still showing their ‘smiley faces’. Continue to sow hardy vegetables. Plant out onions and shallots, if not already done. Plant main crop potatoes. Ventilate the greenhouse whenever possible. Sow salad seeds at 2-3 weeks intervals for a constant supply later. Re-pot houseplants if they are ‘potbound’. Continue the ‘battle’ of moss on lawns.
The event is taking place on May 28 and check in is at the Harwich Low Lighthouse from 9.30am. Runners will start at 10.30am and walkers 10 minutes later. Entry costs £10 in advance and £12 on the day. Children under 12 go free but must be registered. To join in the fun, register online now at: www.mayflower17.eventbrite.co.uk The entry fee covers the administrative costs of the event and contributes to the club’s own charity fund. It’s also a great opportunity for participants to get sponsorship for their own favourite charity. Organiser Rotarian David Willis said: “This has been a very well supported event in the past, but unfortunately we were unable to run it last year. We are hoping to have a big turn out again this year as it’s a brilliant day out for all. Our Rotarians will be on hand as usual to marshall the route and man the water stations.” The Rotary Club of Manningtree Stour Valley is a friendly club of men and women who meet every Thursday night at The Crown Hotel, Manningtree. Our members work together to support local and international charities, and do hands-on local projects while enjoying the fellowship of friends in the club. We also enjoy social events throughout the Rotary year. If you wish to know more about the club please contact David Willis on 01473 310076.
East Bergholt Horticultural Society
SPRING SUPPER Saturday 22 April 2017 Lambe School, East Bergholt 7.30 pm Bring your own drinks ●
Table Quiz If you would like to go please write your name, address and telephone number on an envelope containing cash or cheque for £15 made out to 'East Bergholt Horticultural Society' by 15 April. Post through the letterbox at Richardson's Farm in Gaston Street.
Just a few of the many, many jobs – but with more daylight hours, more time to do them!
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SCHOOLS ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears The Baby Bears have been doing an amazing job preparing lots of tasty snacks, practising their turn taking when adding and mixing ingredients. They have also enjoying exploring messy textures like glue and paint and have been busy making beautiful pictures. They are now getting ready for spring and are practising digging holes in the mud kitchen ready for the plants. Toddling Tigers This month we are making special ‘chatter boxes’. Each Tiger will decorate an old shoe box into which they will put their treasures, from pictures of their family to souvenirs of places they have visited. The Tigers can then use these as a talking point at group time. We will soon be making Easter nest cakes and wonderful Mother’s Day cards for the lovely mummies. Gruffalos March has been a busy month exploring shapes. The children have enthusiastically participated in shape hunts (both inside and outside) and created patterns on both large and small scales using a variety of shapes. We learnt some new mathematical names for shapes and also explored 3D shapes as well as 2D shapes. We have also become shape spotting experts, hunting our environment looking for shapes. We also celebrated World Book Day by exploring one of our favourite stories, Aliens Love Underpants. We dressed up as aliens and also wore pants over our clothes. After a day of alien fun one of the aliens came to stay for a bit longer and during his stay we taught him all about good manners, being kind and all about our emotions. He had lots to learn, but left for his home planet a kinder and happier alien. If you would like information about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki on 01473 310767, visit www.robinschildcare.co.uk or follow us on Twitter/Facebook.
BENTLEY CEVC AND COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS The sun is starting to shine and we are looking forward to the spring. The cold weather over the winter has not dampened our enthusiasm though and we have taken part in lots of activities. Tractors in Schools We had a visit from a local farmer as part of the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s project to introduce farming to school age children and start them thinking about a career in farming. We are very grateful to George Harris for taking the time to bring his tractor into school and talk to the children about his work. The children certainly had a lot of questions for George and loved having a good look round the tractor. Who knows, maybe it has inspired the next generation of farmers. Basketball Competition Both Bentley and Copdock entered teams into the recent basketball competition held by School Games Suffolk, which saw them pitted against many other schools from the area. We are extremely proud to say that the Bentley team came sixth overall and Copdock seventh. This is a great achievement by our pupils and we congratulate them on their performance and sportsmanship. A couple of the pupils were even talent spotted and invited to try out for Ipswich Basketball team! Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day went with a bang this year and children in all year groups at Bentley had great fun making and tossing pancakes, taking part in pancake races and producing a beautiful and colourful display of what Lent means to them. The children also came up with a series of Lent Challenges to complete over the period including tidying their rooms, helping with gardening and walking to school instead of being driven in. World Book Day
We had a bewildering display of book characters brought to life, well done to all those who created such imaginative costumes for the occasion. We were thrilled to welcome children’s author Lisa Kellett to our schools. Lisa writes under the name of Lisa Thompson and wrote the story that Adders and Foxes are currently enjoying in class, The Goldfish Boy. Lisa was inspiring to listen to and gave the children an insight in to how she wrote about such an unusual and complicated personality as the main character, Matthew. Lisa’s book can be purchased from a variety of outlets including Amazon. Colchester trip All the pupils from Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 went on a wonderfully interesting trip to Colchester. They visited both the synagogue and the Natural History Museum to enhance their learning on world religions and their science topics. We are very grateful to the team at the synagogue who gave us such a warm welcome and provided the children with hands on learning about Judaism and how the faith is practised. The museum was equally accommodating and the interactive displays fired the children’s imaginations which they then brought back to school and used in their work.
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DEDHAM C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL What do you get when you cross Harry Potter, Pinocchio, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Worst Witch? A Dedham Primary School Book Day! On March 3, all pupils and staff were encouraged to dress up as a favourite book character for a day of book-themed activities. While dressed up, the children all worked in mixed year group pairs to complete a game of Book Bingo and completion of the game meant you could collect your World Book Day ÂŁ1 book voucher. Can you find an animal book character in Year 3? Can you find a book character with a prop in Year 5? Can you find a Roald Dahl character in Year 2? It was super to see the children
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excitedly working together and taking time to talk about books. A particularly memorable part of the day (for both adults and staff) was the surprise re-enactment of the story The Day the Crayons Quit. Having thought their teachers had forgotten to dress up, the children were delighted to have their class teachers take to the stage in crayon costumes! The photos will hopefully help to paint a picture of the excitement of the day. For more information about what’s going on at Dedham C of E Primary School, please follow us on Twitter: @PrimaryDedham
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SPORT EAST BERGHOLT BOWLS CLUB The carpet bowls section of the club has enjoyed a successful winter season. A very enjoyable Christmas roll-up evening with food and carols (the 12 days of a bowling Christmas!) was enjoyed by the playing members. The league team is currently in second position in the league with three matches left to play, so promotion is a strong possibility. The team has gelled well under Mick Lomax’s captaincy after the loss of several experienced players in the autumn.
MISTLEY CRICKET CLUB February 100 Club Winners 1: Mike Slipper (No 3) £110 2: Darren Kempster (No 66) £50 3: Martin Barlow (No 47) £50
Val Ayton won the club singles one-day competition, defeating John Mann in a closely fought final. The outdoor green opens on Saturday, April 15 with the annual President v Chairman’s friendly roll-up. Prior to this 22 members will once again be touring the Algarve, playing four friendly matches against local teams, mainly made up of ex-pats. Anybody wishing to try out outdoor bowling will be welcome to attend the weekly roll-up sessions on Sunday mornings at 10am, and Tuesday afternoons at 2pm. Bowls provided, only flat soled shoes required. Melvyn Powell, secretary melpowell46@gmail.com
GUBA DOCE PARES IPSWICH Guba Doce Pares Ipswich supplied judges and other officials to the national Quest for the Best Eskrima tournament in Bromley, Kent on March 5. The tournament covered forms, full contact single and double stick fighting in body and head protectors, knife defence and close quarter padded stick fighting.
In the past month we’ve had pre-season nets at RHS and work continued behind the scenes to prepare for the 2017 season. April 1 is NatWest CricketForce Day and the club will be open to prepare for the season which is just around the corner. Please come along and spare a few hours if you can to help out. Junior enrolment night will be Tuesday, April 18 from 7pm. Junior membership is £40 for a family of two. Please come along on this night and register. This year we are running sides in U11, U13 and U15 age groups. Junior matches start in early May. Senior cricket fixtures start on April 15 with friendlies against Coggeshall and Harwich. We also have live music in the evening so please give the club your support. NECL cricket starts the following day with the visit of Elmstead CC. The club is always looking for new members for all of its sides at men’s, ladies and junior level. If you are new to the area and like your cricket then we are the team for you. We also welcome volunteers who may like to umpire or score; training can be given in these skills. SATURDAY CRICKET First Team – Two Counties Div 1 Sat, Apr 22: Maldon (A) Sat, Apr 29: Worlington (H) Second Team – Two Counties Div 3 Sat, Apr 22: Long Melford (H) Sat, Apr 29: Little Bardfield Village (A) SUNDAY AND MIDWEEK CRICKET
Guba Doce Pares Ipswich teaches a practical self defence system which includes how to improve self-confidence, deal with bullies, manage weight and improve fitness. Our mission is to: “Help children and adults to improve their lives by the continual development of their mental and physical capabilities through the study of the Filipino martial art of Guba Doce Pares Eskrima.” The system is very well structured so you will be able to gauge your progress as you train at a pace that suits you. There is considerable variety and you will be constantly learning and developing, so you should find it mentally and physically stimulating. The classes have a relaxed and social atmosphere, even though the training can sometimes get quite intense. In a few years you too could earn the coveted black belt and teach a class of your own. “Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long term results.”
NECL and National Village Competition Sun, Apr 16: Elmstead NECL (H) Sun, Apr 23: Great Bentley NECL T20 (H) Sun, Apr 30: Woodham Mortimer NVC (A) Sunday Div Team – Two Counties Sunday Div Sun, Apr 23: Abberton (H) Mon, May 1: Copford (A) LADIES CRICKET Starting on May 5 New players are always welcome, please email: mistleycc@btinternet.com Mistley CC is a community club with strong traditions. Please come along and give us a look sometime.
www.docepares-ipswich.co.uk
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SPORT EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB
February ended on a disappointing note for the First Team with defeat at Bramford, which was probably something of a hangover from their Bob Coleman Cup exit on the previous Saturday. Fortune certainly did not favour them as they went out at the quarter final stage in extra time at the hands of high flying Achilles. They do however still occupy a mid-table position in the Senior Division.
After a disappointing 4-1 defeat away to Leiston St Margarets, the Saturday First Team bounced back with a 2-1 victory at home against Wenhaston United with goals from Ben Baldwin and an own goal, which was followed by a 1-0 win away over Stanton with midfield dynamo Shaun Webb getting the only goal of the game.
The Reserves have maintained third place in League A, but they went one better than the First Team in their cup competition by advancing to the semi-finals of the Goals of Ipswich Cup. They meet Benhall Reserves in the semi-finals. The A Team’s interest in the Club Colours Cup ended when they exited at the semi-finals stage against a very strong AFC YourShirts side. In League B a comprehensive victory against neighbours Capel Plough Reserves helped their chances of avoiding relegation. UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st TEAM Senior Division Sat, Apr 1: Westerfield Utd (H) Sat, Apr 8: Wenhaston Utd (A) Mon, Apr 17: Capel Plough (H) Sat, Apr 22: Felixstowe Harpers Utd Sat, Apr 29: Leiston St Margarets (A) Sat, May 6: Stanton (A) RESERVES League A Sat, Mar 25: Framlingham Town Res (H) Sat, Apr 1: Sporting ‘87 Res (A) Sat, Apr 8: Benhall St Mary Res GIC Semi Final (A) Sat, Apr 15: Westerfield Utd Res (A) Sat, Apr 29: Coplestonians Res (H)
After what has been a tough season these two wins moved the side up to fifth from bottom in the Senior Division of the Suffolk and Ipswich league with the team still having nine league games to play at the time of writing these notes (March 7). The big game in April will be East Bergholt away which has been rearranged for Easter Monday afternoon. Should be a cracker! Our Reserves have had problems fielding a team this season and only five new signings enabled them to raise a side to play against East Bergholt A which resulted in a 5-1 defeat. The Reserves are still looking for a manager as we look ahead to next season. The home game on March 4 against Trimley Red Devils had to be called off as the pitch was unfit after it had been verti-drained by the council during the week leaving a lot of wet mud on the surface. Our Sunday morning side beat Martlesham Old Boys 3-2 with Tom Williams getting the winner before losing 2-1 to The Feathers Public House, while our Veteran team beat Bacton away 4-1 thanks to goals from Robbie Fuller, Andre Flexen-Pallot and a brace from Aaron Marsh. Youth football will continue on the Playing Field until the end of April after which the coaches who run the teams will have a welldeserved break. Bob the Ploughman
A TEAM League B Sat, Apr 1: Stonham Aspal Res (H) Sat, Apr 8: Haughley Utd Res (A) Sat, Apr 15: Bramford Utd Res (A) Sat, Apr 22: Claydon Res (A) Sat, Apr 29: Benhall St Mary Res (A) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 Players Awards Night: Saturday, April 22 We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether it be on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts and banners or boards on matchdays offer potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation. Steve Butcher, stevebutcher55@btinternet.com
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ON THE GRAPEVINE
QUESTIONS ON CASH With Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb David from Ipswich writes: “My father left £100,000 to my son in his will. The executor (a local solicitor) says that as my son is eleven years old, this gift will need to be held in trust until my son reaches age 18. He says that I have been appointed as trustee, and that I should invest the money into stocks and shares. My own financial adviser has said it would be better to invest into an investment bond, but I am concerned that he is just suggesting this, as he will earn commission. Who is right?” I think your financial adviser is offering the best advice here David. Investments like stocks and shares are deemed by the HMRC to be ‘income bearing’ assets. That means they produce interest or income (in the form of dividends). When held in a trust, any such interest or income is taxed at the Trustee Income Tax Rate, which is currently 45%. However, an investment bond is a very ‘trust-friendly’ investment in terms of taxation, as unlike stocks and shares an investment bond is not deemed to be an ‘income bearing’ asset. The ‘income’ produced by an investment bond is very tax efficient, particularly when held in a trust fund. Under current rules, you may withdraw up to 5% of the original investment each year and advance this money to the beneficiary on an adhoc basis, without liability to income tax, for up to 20 years. This is because HMRC deem that the 5% ‘income’ is technically not income, but a withdrawal of the original capital. If you don’t take the full 5% in a year, you can carry it forward another year and take 10% in the year two, or defer for two years and take 15% in the year three and so on. In my opinion, providing the wording in the will allows you as trustee to invest as if beneficially entitled, and to advance income or capital to the beneficiary, an investment bond would be a much more suitable investment than stocks and shares for your son’s trust fund. As for commission, this should remunerate your adviser for his advice and the work he undertakes for you. In the same way, a stockbroker would earn commission for buying or selling shares for you. If you are concerned that the amount of commission might be excessive, ask your adviser to rebate some of his commission into the bond for you, or ask him to work on a fixed fee basis. Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services of Baylham in Suffolk. The information within this column is provided only as a general guide and does not constitute personal financial advice. If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary meeting to talk over your options for your own investments or financial planning you can contact Nick by email at nick@plumbfs.co.uk or by calling the office on 01473 830301. Plumb Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME FOR VOLUNTEERS IN SUFFOLK THANKS TO NEW WEBSITE There is a new and easy way to discover volunteering opportunities in Suffolk, thanks to a website which launched on March 1. Volunteer Suffolk has been created as a one-stop shop for people to discover how they can gift their time, and for local organisations to advertise their volunteering opportunities. Carolyn Shaw, Volunteering Manager at Community Action Suffolk, which is responsible for the website, said: “People in Suffolk were telling us it was difficult and frustrating to search online for local volunteering opportunities. They found it timeconsuming and search results were disappointing. “Our research revealed that opportunities to volunteer with Suffolk’s organisations were getting overlooked on larger, national volunteer websites which try to cater for everyone and everything. Volunteer Suffolk will make it easier for people to give their time to the organisations which rely on them.” The website already boasts more than 100 volunteering opportunities, added by local organisations and charities. These range from short-term and one-off roles, to temporary positions and long-term roles. Current opportunities include being a tour guide for the Tide Mill in Woodbridge, a marshal at the Midnight Walk in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice, preparing animal feeds at Banham Zoo and assisting with play sessions for children who have suffered from domestic abuse or violence at home. There are also ‘10 minute volunteer’ opportunities on offer which simply involve sharing a Facebook post to raise awareness, sourcing a raffle prize or putting up a poster at work. Carolyn said: “Volunteering benefits the individual, the organisation and the wider community. It allows people to use their existing skills and learn new ones. For some it gives a sense of involvement and community, a place to make friends or a feeling of giving something back. “Without people being generous with their time and skills, many organisations would not be able to deliver their amazing work. Our message is – be amazing, be a volunteer. And better yet, do it here in Suffolk.” The website also provides helpful volunteering tips, latest news and volunteers’ stories. Volunteer Suffolk is a product of the Suffolk Volunteering Strategy and was made possible thanks to a steering group of representatives from Suffolk’s public, private and voluntary sectors. For more information visit: www.volunteersuffolk.org.uk
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ON THE GRAPEVINE / CHURCH NEWS SUFFOLK BASED CHARITY ART FOR CURE DONATES £62,000 TO CANCER CAMPAIGN IN SUFFOLK Art for Cure have made a donation of £62,000 to Cancer Campaign in Suffolk (CCiS) to support specific breast cancer projects within the county over the next two years. Art for Cure’s second exhibition of art and sculpture was hosted in the beautiful house and gardens of Glemham Hall in May 2016. An astonishing £175,000 was raised over the weekend for breast cancer care, research and support by the generous commissions of artists’ sold work. Eighty artists and sculptors exhibited, including the acclaimed Maggi Hambling, Jelly Green and Paul Richardson from East Anglia, as well as leading international artists Michael Speller, Carol Peace and Henrietta Dubrey. Eight-thousand visitors enjoyed an exciting weekend of art workshops, live jazz, fine dining from the chef Peter Harrison and a thrilling celebrity art auction including work from Ed Sheeran, Joanna Lumley, Andy Murray and Judi Dench. Following the exhibition, a donation of £100,000 was made to the leading national breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now, towards a secondary cancer research project. This recent donation of £62,000 to Cancer Campaign in Suffolk supports three breast cancer services in Suffolk, focusing on a new wig service and beauty treatments, the support of free complimentary treatment courses for those affected by cancer, as well as post-surgical breast exercise classes and a DVD.
LINK LINE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES Celebrating 25 years of Christian Witness in the area Un-denominational / meeting at the Venture Centre, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE (unless otherwise stated) Sunday Services: 3pm Sunday, April 2: Diving Worship (including Holy Communion) conducted by our pastor ANNUAL EASTER CONVENTION Friday, April 14 (Good Friday): At the Ogilvie Hall, Wignall Street, 3pm. Service of praise and thanksgiving followed by fellowship tea. Guest speaker: Mr M Barker (Dovercourt). Sunday, April 16 (Easter Day): At The Venture Centre, Bromley Road, 3pm. Easter praise for all ages. Guest speaker: Pastor Michael Eavery (Lexden). Thursday, April 20: Fellowship outing to Ely (Market Day). To book: 01206 512994 Friday, April 21: Link Line monthly prayer meeting at the Venture Centre (Ivell Suite), Bromley Road, 10am Sunday, April 30: Fellowship Service for all ages For pastoral visits and further information please contact: 01206 272064 / 01255 714544 A warm welcome awaits you. A designated bus service is available.
KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Where Jesus is Love and love is Jesus COME AND JOIN US IN OUR NEW FELLOWSHIP – EVERYONE IS WELCOME Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, with our lively worship and service. Refreshments served afterwards. Every Sunday morning at 11am in The Ivell Suite at Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE. If you or someone you know needs prayer for anything, please contact us.
Here we see (l-r) CCiS CEO Karen Hare, CCiS trustees Tim Cutler and Jonny Ripman and Art for Cure directors Emma Lloyd, Adrian Melrose and Belinda Gray.
David and Rosie Rhule 07787 572977 / 01206 397533 info@thekeytolove ministries.co.uk www.thekeytoloveministries.co.uk
Art for Cure founder Belinda Gray said: “We have found a very successful way of fundraising through the sale of art and sculpture and are delighted to not only be contributing to vital national research, but also supporting such worthwhile breast cancer services in Suffolk for those going through a breast cancer diagnosis. “Art for Cure has staged a series of amazing events supporting breast cancer work and we are delighted to receive their donation which will allow us to commit to important projects within the county. It is a pleasure to work with the highly committed Art for Cure team and we hope that our relationship with them continues and develops for many years to come.” The third Art for Cure fundraising exhibition will take in Suffolk from May 5-7 2018. This is in addition to other interim art events being organised by Art for Cure to raise vital funds needed for the care and cure of breast cancer.
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CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk SERVICES FOR APRIL 2017 Sunday 2 9am
Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass
Tuesday 4 9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
Sunday 9 9am
Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord Mass
Tuesday 11 9.20am 10am
Eucharistic Adoration Mass
Friday 14 3pm
Good Friday The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at St Mark’s
Sunday 16 9am
Easter Sunday Mass
Tuesday 18 9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
Sunday 23 9am
Second Sunday of Easter Mass
Tuesday 25 9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
Sunday 30 9am
Third Sunday of Easter Mass
The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the front door. Catholic Commentary The Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia was erected in March 1976 using territory from the Diocese of Northampton comprising Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and the city of Peterborough. Bishop Alan Hopes was appointed the fourth bishop in 2013 and took possession of his cathedral in July of that year. His cathedral under the dedication
St John the Baptist was, in fact, a very large parish church (the largest Catholic Church in the country outside London). It was begun in 1882 under the patronage of Henry Howard 15th Duke of Norfolk and finished in 1910. The architect was G C Scott and the magnificent structure is said to emulate 13th century Early English Gothic, considered by many Victorians to be the most ‘pure’ and ‘English’ style. Happily there are excellent relations between the Catholic and Anglican Bishops of Norwich. Both the Catholic and the Norwich Cathedral (the latter dedicated to the Holy Trinity) are well worth visiting, as are churches everywhere. We are fortunate to have in East Anglia to have numerous old village and town churches which are invariably open for quiet reflection and prayer or to explore, as well as serving their local communities. Though distant from Norwich, Holy Family Roman Catholic Church at Brantham is part of the diocese and has recently taken part in a fundraising exercise that will put the diocese on a sure financial footing in the years ahead. Events & Diary Dates The last 100 Club Draw took place on Sunday, March 26 when three lucky winners shared £145. The next draw takes place on Sunday, April 23. The club, set up to raise much needed funds to support the life and mission of our parish, has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, which includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR, 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for the parish room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, April 27. Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps and to place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice. Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please contact him if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services. All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services. It’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic Faith are always welcome. Please contact the Presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know to be Catholic.
EAST BERGHOLT & DISTRICT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS Sunday Services at 10.30am, usually led by Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Holy Communion on the second Sunday in the month Please let the pastor know if you would like a home visit or communion at home. For weddings, christenings and funerals, please speak with Maralyn. Coffee morning every Thursday, 9.30-11.30am. All welcome to come along and make new friends.
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OTHER SERVICES April 13: Agape Supper, 7pm Easter Sunday, April 16: 10.30am April 22: Concert with Constable Singers, 7pm. Please reserve your seat with John Jeffreys. April 23: Anniversary Service, 3pm April 30: Led by Ted Wheatley Contacts Pastor Maralyn Bambridge 35 Birch Drive, Brantham / 01206 393022 Church Secretary John Jeffreys: 01206 298737
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CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT & BRANTHAM Rector: The Rev Canon Stephne van der Toorn 01206 392646 / revstephvdt@googlemail.com
parade once a month. Scouting, he says, has stood him in very good stead.
www.constablecountrychurches.co.uk
David served as an engineer and acting sergeant in 42 Marine Command in some tricky situations. A man who had mocked him for his faith came to David during one such and asked him to pray. He never mocked him again.
Friday, March 31 9.30am East Bergholt Primary Easter Assembly, East Bergholt Sunday, April 2: Lent 5 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion with Healing, East Bergholt Wednesday, April 5 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, April 9: Palm Sunday 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Family Service with Procession, East Bergholt 11am Family Service with Procession, Brantham Monday, April 10: Holy Week 7.30pm Musical Meditation led by the Choir, East Bergholt Tuesday, April 11: Holy Week 7pm We meet to watch a film, Brantham Wednesday, April 12: Holy Week 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Thursday, April 13: Maundy Thursday 6pm Informal meal followed by… 7.30pm Informal Communion, Brantham Friday, April 14: Good Friday 10am Family Service, Brantham 2pm At the Cross, East Bergholt Saturday, April 15: Holy Saturday 7.30pm Easter Vigil and Lighting of the Fire, Brantham Sunday, April 16: Easter Sunday 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Easter Communion and Easter Egg Hunt, East Bergholt 11am Easter Communion, Brantham Sunday, April 23: Easter 2 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Choral Matins, East Bergholt 11am Communion, Brantham Sunday, April 30: Easter 3 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion, Brantham Wednesday, May 3 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, May 7: Easter 4 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion and celebration of the ministry of The Rev David Searle, East Bergholt THE REV DAVID SEARLE RETIRES FROM OFFICIAL MINISTRY ON EASTER SUNDAY David Searle (pictured above with Edith) notified me last year that he would be hanging up his cassock for the last time on Easter Sunday 2017. David was ordained in St Edmundsbury Cathedral in 1999 and has ministered in the diocese ever since, seeing East Bergholt through two interregnums. David grew up during the war, his father was missing at one time and was one of the men who liberated Belsen concentration camp, an experience from which he never recovered. David joined the Cubs at the age of seven and reflected on the traditional promise: “On my honour I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country; to help other people at all times; to obey the Scout Law.” Looking at their family situation and the state of the world, he asked his mother: “Where’s God in it all?”, a question he has continued to ask himself down the years. Scouts were expected to attend church
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During the time in Galleywood Parish his vicar began to talk to David about a vocation to ministry. As part of this he had to prove that he could speak clearly! David and Edith moved to East Bergholt in 1982. They came from a very busy parish and needed a rest! The Rev Peter Crawford and John Tyler approached him asking him to consider his vocation and the rest, as they say, is history. On the day of ordination, David’s grandson Josh featured in the photos and processed down the aisle with his grandfather before joining his mother in the pew. Edith has been a staunch ally in ministry, helping with Brownies and Guides, Play and Pray, after school club and holiday clubs. She is well known in her own right as a cook of note and has served many a delicious meal to hungry parishioners. They have both thoroughly enjoyed all that they have done. David well remembers the day when after his visit to school, a small boy told his mum: “God came to school today!” On a personal note, I am most grateful to David for all his support during my 10 years in the benefice. It has been a privilege to have him in the ministry team. We will be celebrating David’s years of ministry among us in a special service at 10am on May 7. Anyone is welcome to this service. The Rev Steph RAMBLING RECTOR Some characters were instantly recognisable. Mary Poppins, I presume. (Met any dancing penguins recently?) Red and white striped shirts and a bobble hat meant I had found Wally at last. Tigger led the prayers, sensibly refraining from jumping whilst doing it and Goldilocks looked very glamorous, all that rest had done her good. Professor McGonagall was making sure that students kept in line. The one that Coco liked most was Roald Dahl’s character Danny who was carrying a stuffed pheasant. Coco thinks that all stuffed toys are hers. Walking through a garden centre displaying stuffed toys is a challenge. I may yet be had up for shoplifting. She doesn’t damage them at all, merely carries them protectively in her mouth. She quivered as the pheasant approached her and was all attention when it squawked! World Book Day at school is great fun. You never know what’s going to happen next. In the events leading up to that first Easter day the disciples must have had that feeling too, but without the sense of fun. The atmosphere was tense. Jesus kept saying puzzling things like “Remember me” and Judas was behaving strangely. During Lent we take every opportunity to remember and reflect. In our services there is a moment when we bring symbols to the front of the church and place them at or on the Lenten cross which finally, on Easter Sunday, is decorated with flowers. On this day particularly we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the one who died for us so that we may live. I have struggled for years with the concept of God sending his son to die, it seems a barbaric sort of thing to do. It was a wonderful breakthrough to realise that Jesus chose to die for me. He wasn’t forced to do it. That makes all the difference in the world. Believing as I do that Jesus is God, this means that God’s love for me is so great that he sacrificed himself for me. And for you. The resurrection of Jesus is a fact attested in history and proclaimed by witnesses throughout the world. He is alive. That means that God is knowable. May you know him this Easter. And who knows what will happen next? The Rev Steph On Monday, April 10 the St Mary’s Choir will lead us in a musical meditation suitable for Holy Week. Anyone is welcome to this beautiful free ‘concert’.
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CHURCH NEWS BRANTHAM & CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCHES
EASTER 2017: DEDHAM AND ARDLEIGH PARISHES
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS A man in a hospice had terminal cancer that was progressing fast. He wanted to marry his partner before he died and so a wedding was hastily arranged. The matron went to buy some flowers at the local florist and another customer overhearing the story, paid for two-dozen red roses. This act of kindness from a complete stranger added immensely to the couple’s happiness.
Palm Sunday, April 9 8am Holy Communion at Ardleigh 10.30am Parish Eucharist at Ardleigh 10.30am Morning Worship at Dedham
On March 1, I signed up to #40acts. Every day a message comes through written by a different person with a story, a thought or reflection and a challenge to make a difference in the community where you are (or beyond). Today as I write, it’s called Chocolate Tuesday. It talks about us being a nation of chocolate lovers – each person on average eating over 16lb or 8kg per year, or 160 bars! Each day there are three levels of challenges: green (the easiest) then amber and red (the hardest). Today it is about giving chocolate bars (or Easter eggs) away – either randomly or targeted to specific people or groups. It may just lift one person’s day, surprised to get something for nothing. A Random Act of Kindness. The 40acts website has lots of stories of generosity and kindness which are inspiring. This particular programme is for the 40 days of Lent, so will still be going when this article is publish ed and I think you can catch up with the ones already sent. Instead of giving up things for Lent this helps me to see how I could bring a moment of happiness, encouragement or joy to someone, making the world a slightly better place Two thousand years ago, God sent his Son, Jesus, to this planet as a planned act of kindness. He died on a cross and by his death, those who believe in him can be forgiven and the burden of guilt lifted. May you receive his act of kindness and discover a generous spirit yourself. May you know that death did not hold Jesus, but he rose from death and by his spirit he is with us today, so that the moment of happiness and joy is not a passing moment but a lifetime of his presence in us.
HOLY WEEK Wednesday, April 12, 7.30pm at Dedham Vicarage The Passion of the Christ Watch this moving film directed by Mel Gibson depicting the last week of Jesus’ life. Over 18s only. Thursday, April 13, 7pm at Ardleigh Maundy Thursday Meal and Communion Bring some food to share as we gather to remember the events of the Last Supper Good Friday, April 14, 2pm at Dedham Meditation at the Cross for an hour Easter Saturday, April 16, 7pm at Dedham Tenebrae – Worship in Shadows A simple but moving service as we wait for Easter Sunday Easter Sunday, April 16 8.30am Holy Communion (BCP) at Dedham 10.30am Parish Eucharist and Baptism at Ardleigh 10.30am Holy Communion at Dedham www.dedham-and-ardleigh-parishes.org.uk 01206 322136
I’m always happy for you to respond by phone, email, text or letter to any comments or challenges that you find are raised for you. The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Brantham & Capel Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 APRIL SERVICES BRANTHAM METHODIST Sunday 2 11am Sunday 9 11am Sunday 16 11am Sunday 23 11am Sunday 30 11am
Worship with Mrs Jenny Archer Worship with Mr Bryan Nichols Easter Worship with Rev Michael Ayden Worship with Mr Mike Stock Worship and Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey
CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST All Age Worship Sunday 2 10.30am 6.30pm Prayer Sunday 9 10.30am Worship with Mr Eddie Vass Friday 14 9.30am Walk of Witness from Community Church 10.45am Good Friday Reflection Sunday 1 10.30am Easter Worship & Communion with Rev Pauline Bailey Sunday 23 10.30am Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey 6.30pm United Prayer at Capel Methodist Sunday 30 10.30am Worship with Mr Mark Firmin
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SCHOOL BAND & BIG BAND CONCERT Conductor: Richard Harvey
SATURDAY 6 MAY, 7.30PM ASSEMBLY HALL, ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL, HOLBROOK, IP9 2RX
Full: £10 | Conc: £7 | U18: FREE Available from experiencetickets.co.uk/rhsmusic 01206 573948 Sponsored by the Royal Hospital School Association