In Touch
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with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead Volume 10 • Issue No. 3 • JANUARY 2020
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I am utterly addicted to and obsessed by Leonard Cohen, so you can imagine how excited I was to discover a new album was to be released three years after his death. Thanks for the Dance has been arranged by Leonard’s son Adam and features various collaborators and previously unheard material. Every line is a masterpiece, all the more poignant because it was written and recorded when he was “Waiting for the miracle to come”. Death and dying have always been key themes of his work, but is it fair to refer to the man who said “The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show” as ‘the grandfather of gloom’? I go to one or other of his albums for inspiration, comfort, reassurance, hope and even humour. Tonight Will Be Fine always makes me smile: Sometimes I find I get to thinking of the past. We swore to each other then that our love would surely last. You kept right on loving, I went on a fast, Now I am too thin and your love is too vast. And the ultimate love song must surely be If I Didn’t Have Your Love: If the sun would lose its light And we lived an endless night And there was nothing left That you could feel That’s how it would be My life would seem to me If I didn’t have your love To make it real I can’t imagine a world without music (it doesn’t have to be Leonard Cohen all the time), but for others it might be art or theatre, movies or even long walks in the countryside which provide the indefinable something which makes life better. Whatever it may be, I hope you find time and space to indulge in it this year. Maybe we can help you find it if you haven’t already! And when you’re having a bad day… “Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” Leonard Cohen
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In Touch Titles • Stowmarket & Stowupland • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew • Melton & Woodbridge • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall & Warren Heath • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit • Needham Market & The Creetings • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton & Woolverstone • Martlesham • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin & Witnesham • Sproughton & Burstall We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe
Friday 10 January Printed on gloss paper from FSC certified sources
Please recycle.
is the advertising and editorial deadline for the February edition
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NEWS BRAMFORD GUIDE & SCOUT HQ 100 CLUB Nearly 40 years ago Bramford Guides and Scouts took over the newly converted ‘Old School’ building in Bramford as their HQ and have met there ever since. Recently we have been busy fundraising to completely refurbish our kitchen and toilets and we are pleased to say that the kitchen has now been completed – and it looks fabulous. Thanks are due to the fundraising team led by Sarah, to The KBB Centre for overseeing and doing most of the work, to Suffolk County Councillor John Field for a generous grant from his locality budget which paid for the electrical work, and to all the parents and friends who have given their financial support to the project. Now we want to get the toilets done, including a disabled toilet, as soon as possible. To help with fundraising we have launched a 100 Club which will run for the twelve months of 2020. We have made a good start with members, but we need a few more, so if you would like to help us, here are the details: Numbers will be £2 a month, so £24 for the whole year (to be paid in full before January 15). There will be a draw at the end of every month; prizes will be £50 for first, £30 for second and £20 for third (subject to us selling 100 numbers), with the other 50 per cent of the monthly income going towards the project. If you are interested in buying a number or you have any queries, please email: sarah@kbbeastanglia.co.uk
GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL We are looking for councillors to join us. The work is wide ranging and there is plenty of variety – from working towards the infrastructure improvements that the village so desperately needs, to overseeing the council’s accounts, the provision of defibrillators and rubbish bins and deciding on grants to local organisations. Please contact the clerk for further details or come along to the next meeting to see what it’s all about. The Allotments We have signed a new licence for the Woodfield allotments. This will take us up to October 2020. As you know, the council is actively seeking a solution which will provide plot holders with long term security by purchasing the land or negotiating a longer lease. Also, this will enable the council to pay for better fencing, renew the water supply and make other improvements. In the meantime, everyone wants to see the allotments at full capacity – they need to be seen being used so that the landowner cannot argue that there is no demand for them. Why not join our friendly plot holders? Plots are free and there is plenty of help and advice available. Gardening is a healthy outdoor activity and has been proved to reduce stress. Please contact the clerk if you want to find out more. SnOasis As you may remember, the SnOasis Liaison Group to work on the way forward has been set up and has had an initial meeting. Since my last article there have been no further meetings, but once they are taking place regularly, we will keep you informed of what’s being discussed. Your council and the other parishes represented on the SLI are determined to do all that we can to protect the interests of residents and make sure that we all get some benefits from this massive project. Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8 January in the Parish Room. Everyone is welcome at any council meeting and there is a 15-minute public forum where you can ask questions or raise issues related to the work of the parish council. Parish Clerk Janet Gobey: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 07508 830777 Facebook: @greatblakenhampc / Twitter: @pcgtblakenham www.greatblakenham.suffolk.cloud Thank you for reading this and for your interest in the work of your parish council. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the parish council to wish you all a prosperous and Happy New Year for 2020. Chairman Steve Plume
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT FRIENDS OF BAYLHAM CHURCH Brian Dyes will be giving a talk entitled Wheels of Ipswich on Friday 31 January at 7.30pm in the village hall. He will speak about the development of transport from horses to ships and will also discuss the role of women in the two world wars. Tickets are £8 and include a glass of wine and refreshments. Contact Wendy on 832885 or Ann on 830316.
STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Friday, January 17, 6.45am: Breakfast Networking at The Mix in Stowmarket
Book online: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk/ networking-events
GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB Open to anyone of that age living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding area, we meet in Great Blakenham Parish Room on the second and fourth Wednesdays from 2-4pm. The £2 attendance fee includes the raffle and refreshments, and £1 extra when we have a game of bingo. We will reconvene on January 8, weather permitting of course, for a social afternoon. On January 22 Jean will be organising a beetle drive. New members are always welcome so if you would like to come along and see what goes on, we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690
GIPPING VALLEY COUNTY & BLAKENHAM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN FIELD Scrutiny We had a presentation of the county’s Transformation programmes and the basis for the budget on December 19 and will scrutinise the proposals on January 7. By then it will be difficult, if not impossible to make alterations. However, we must understand just which groups of people will benefit or suffer from the changes proposed and try to achieve improvements. Any benefit from the promises being made during the election period would not feed through for some time, but the officers are not expecting any substantial changes immediately. Should we leave the EU, budgets will probably, in time, be cut to match a reduced GDP but that is for another year. 2019/20 Budget Monitoring: Quarter Two We now expect the main county budget to be overspent by £0.2m at the year end and the dedicated schools grant budget by £6.3m, tiny percentages of the total. The main areas of budget pressure are still within Adult and Community Services, Children and Young People and Growth, Highways and Infrastructure. Civil parking enforcement across Suffolk The police are responsible for parking enforcement across Suffolk, except within Ipswich Borough Council. The police lack resources so legislation to allow all districts to be responsible for their own areas is with parliament. This is at last moving ahead and will be finished by end January. The MidSuffolk and Babergh area will be covered by West Suffolk and Ipswich Borough Councils. Rights of Way Improvement Plan Published Suffolk County Council has a new Rights of Way Improvement Plan. It focuses on managing and improving green access infrastructure, promoting green access and developing healthy and sustainable communities. Sustainable travel choices and the health benefits of walking and cycling are encouraged. A digital map of the county’s footpaths and bridleways will be created and a new system to prioritise maintenance of highly used routes. Review of School Transport Policy Confirmed Councillor Mary Evans has apologised to families affected by the new School Transport Policy and has confirmed that there will be a review. However, it is likely that this will only focus on the implementation of the new policy, rather than the inherent problems with the policy itself. There has been a large increase in transport appeals: 141 from 1 July to 18 October, compared to an average of just 21 for the same period in previous years. Over 70 per cent of these have been decided in favour of parents. MSDC Environment and Climate Change Working Group Our second meeting was on biodiversity and the need to preserve and enhance habitats if we are to get anywhere with halting the rapid decline in many species. We asked that planning policies in the new local plan be adjusted to ensure developers preserve and enhance habitat. Happy New Year! If you have any queries, please ring 07545 423808 or email: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk
BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB The club will meet from 10am to noon on Wednesdays 8, 15 and 29 January in the upstairs room at the Bramford Methodist Church. Please note there is no club meeting on January 22. The cost is £3 per two-hour session, plus £1 membership per school year, payable from September. There’s no set programme, but the club is here to help you get the best out of your computer. We have a very fast internet connection and refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits) are always available. Why not give us a try?
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OUT & ABOUT GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB
SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
Open to anyone living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding area, we meet in Great Blakenham Parish Room every Monday from 2-4pm. The cost is £2 per week to include workshop materials, raffle prizes and refreshments.
Thursday 23 January: Red Sails on the Orwell – The R.W. Paul Story From 1806 to the late 1970s, R.W. Paul had a huge presence in Ipswich with pubs, maltings and large barges on the Orwell. They helped shape today’s docks. The fascinating tale is presented by a master storyteller.
In November we made Christmas Tree banners as our contribution to the tree festival in the church and had our last meeting and AGM on December 2. The club will reconvene on February 3 and our programme for 2020 is: February 3 March 2 April 6 May 4 June 1 July 6 August 3 September 7 October 5 November 2 December 7
A Little Light Reading Forever Flowerz Birds, Butterflies and Flowers Have a go at Bargello Prick and Stitch for Men The Vintage Look Sewing/Paper Mash-Up Wobble Wobble Christmas Tableware Christmas Card Medley AGM
For further information please get in touch with Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690
GREAT BLAKENHAM CINEMA As requested, we start the New Year with Yesterday (12a) on January 26. Featuring music by The Beatles and with some scenes filmed in Suffolk, it should be a very good way to kick off 2020. The charity receiving funds raised from the cake sale will be Over The Rainbow Children’s Charity which supports families with children who are living with a serious illness or disability. On February 23 we bring you Mrs Lowry & Son (PG) with Vanessa Redgrave and Timothy Spall, and on March 29 we will celebrate our first anniversary with Bohemian Rhapsody (12a), the story of the legendary British rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid. A warm welcome awaits you at Great Blakenham Village Hall, Mill Lane, Great Blakenham IP6 0NJ. Doors open at 2pm for a 2.30pm start. If you have any film suggestions, or if your charity wishes to run the cake sale to raise funds, get in touch via Facebook or contact Becky at: greatblakenhamcinema@outlook.com / 07852 472082
We meet at 7.15pm at the Co-op Education Centre where the pedestrian entrance is at 11 Fore Street, Ipswich IP4 1JW, and the car park entrance is in Waterworks Street IP4 1JG. Admission is £2 for society members and £2.50 for non-members, who are warmly welcomed. You can join the society at the meeting if you wish. Tickets are not required, just turn up and pay on the door. For more information contact Howard on 01473 274300 or visit: www.suffolkfhs.org.uk
ORWELL PROBUS CLUB We meet for lunch at Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road on the second Thursday of each month, usually followed by an entertaining speaker. Probus clubs provide an opportunity for active retired or semi-retired gentlemen to attend regular meetings and enjoy the camaraderie of likeminded people who appreciate similar interests. We have social events, outings and holidays which, of course, include spouses, partners and friends. If you think Orwell Probus Club could be for you, please contact our secretary, Chris Flint, for further details: 01473 226996 / mailto@1878.me.uk
SILVER SURFERS Struggling to get to grips with your new phone? Worried about online transactions or in need of help transferring your photos? Just want to find out how to book appointments online? These are just a few of the things we cover at our Silver Surfers club. We meet Thursday lunchtimes in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. We are a self-help group and have equipment that you can borrow if you don’t have your own. We have a small charge of £3 a session which goes to pay the cost of hiring the hall and refreshments.
The River Gipping Trust has now applied for full planning permission for a new footbridge across the River Gipping just upstream of Baylham. With approved planning permission, the trust can apply for funding to pay for the bridge. This new bridge, which will sit on top of existing 230-year-old brick abutments, will restore the footpath at Baylham to its original position along the river’s towpath. The primary objective is to improve the walking experience of those that use the Gipping Way. Through most of November the current footpath, alongside the railway line, was underwater and not passable without Wellington boots. The new path over the bridge will not be so susceptible to flooding. Our volunteer workforce meets up every Wednesday at 9am, normally at Pipps Ford or Baylham, and we welcome new volunteers and members (a work party of volunteers is pictured cleaning up at Baylham). Further details can be found online where you can download a membership application form. Full membership is just £10 per year. Restoration Manager Ian Petchey: restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk www.rivergippingtrust.org.uk / Facebook: The River Gipping Trust
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Call in one Thursday to find out what goes on. Or if you want to know more, please contact John: 01473 830084
STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB Monday 10 February: Open Competition No. 3, judged by Andy Wilson LRPS As agreed at the AGM, entries are limited to one monochrome print, one colour print and two PDIs. Monday 24 February: Overlanding through East & South Africa by Glenda Taylor New members are always very welcome. You don’t have to be an expert photographer; all you need is a camera – any camera – and a real interest in using it. Our members use DSLRs, mirrorless, compacts and bridge cameras. Regular meetings, which start at 7.30pm, are held at Stowmarket Community Centre, Hillside, Stowmarket IP14 2BD, usually on the second and fourth Monday of the month between September and June. We’d love to see you there, so why not join us? For more information visit: www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net
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In Touch online: 12/02/2019 15:49
OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS LOVE WOOD OPEN DAY AT ORCHARD BARN Trees have always been a vital part of our existence. Whether they’ve been used to create a timber frame for a house or barn, whittled and hewn into bowls and spoons, burned in a hearth to provide heat, or simply making the air breathable for us. At Orchard Barn we love wood, in all of the above forms, and so many more, and in the spirit of Valentine’s Day we invite you to share the love with us at our Love Wood open day on Saturday 15 February (11am-4pm). Come and see our beautiful timber frame buildings and learn about how they’re made. Hold a wooden bowl and spoon and get a feel for your ancestors, maybe even take them home. There is so much that wood is used for, and we’d love to show you, and hopefully inspire a deeper love of everything wood. Meet some of our volunteers who will be giving demonstrations and take the opportunity to try woodworking. Discover how things were created hundreds of years ago, and how we are keeping those skills alive and encouraging others to join our wooden ways Invitation to Orchard Barn Wassail Saturday 1 February marks the middle of winter, where we begin the ascent into the warmer spring months, a day where we honour the trees in our orchard. Join us in wassailing, singing and toasting to our orchard trees to promote a good harvest, and then gather with us around our toasty masonry stove and share some cake and joy. Join us as the sun sets. If you’d like to find out how you can get involved and celebrate, create or volunteer with us at Orchard Barn in Ringshall, visit our website or come to our drop-in between 10am and 4pm Tuesday to Thursday, or whenever our gate is open (IP14 2LY).
CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL It gives me great pleasure to share with you the events, activities and news in school, particularly as the month of December is always full of festivities and celebrations. At the end of November a group of language students visited the province of Seville in Spain to take part in a week-long exchange trip. Students took part in organised group activities during the day, staying with their host families each evening and over the weekend. This was a fantastic opportunity, allowing students to soak up the culture, practise the language and experience the wider world, developing key life skills. We look forward to the return exchange when the Spanish students visit us in March. Our former Year 11 students who left us in the summer, returned to Claydon High School on Tuesday 3 December for a presentation evening where they were awarded with their GCSE certificates and special subject achievement awards, recognising individual commitment and progress. We are all extremely proud of all aspects of their success and achievement and wish them all the very best for whatever the future brings. Families, friends, governors, teachers and students were treated to a festive evening of music on December 17 at the school’s Christmas Concert. The evening featured a fusion of musical theatre alongside some more traditional performances and involved more than 40 students across all year groups. The dedication, commitment and hard work from students and staff was certainly evident and my thanks and congratulations go to all involved. Once again students surpassed expectations for the ninth year running and created an amazing range of Christmas hampers which were donated to a local charity, The Chapman Centre, part of IHAG (Ipswich Housing Action Group) who provide relief for people in the community suffering from extreme financial poverty or homelessness. I am always impressed with the special effort our students make and would like to thank parents and carers for their help and contributions from home. If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Tuesday 28 January. Please telephone my PA, Ms J Saunders on 01473 836110 to book a place. Headteacher Maéve Taylor
www.orchardbarn.org.uk
HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL
Our Annual Quiz and Curry Night is on Friday 7 February. Tickets, which are £10, are now on sale and include curry and a dessert. This is a very popular event so be sure to get your ticket early by calling 07770 417080.
Happy New Year to you all from everyone at Claydon Pre-school. Thank you to all the children and parents who gave us Christmas cards and presents. We hope that all the children had a lovely break and got lots of lovely things for Christmas. We are all looking forward to the start of the new spring term and to doing some winter craft. At the time of writing the children are all working hard learning their songs and Makaton ready to show off at our Christmas Nativity on Monday 16 December at Barham Church. We will also be having our Christmas party at Claydon & Barham Community Centre on Saturday 21 December. Fingers crossed Father Christmas will pop along – despite his busy schedule! As we are now open all year (except bank holidays and the Christmas period) and can take children up to five years old for additional sessions during the school holiday weeks, subject to availability. If you would like to book days during the holidays, please contact the administration assistant for more details. We can take children who are entitled to 30 hours funding. Simply register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact our administration assistant, Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648
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Happy New Year to everyone. We welcome everyone back on Tuesday 7 January, ready to start the spring term. We are a small, rural, friendly setting based at Henley Community Centre. We pride ourselves on the high ratio of staff to children, providing maximum care and learning for the children. All our staff are highly trained and continue regular training to build their knowledge further. We provide an extensive range of resources and activities to suit all ages and abilities, ensuring all levels of development and play within the EYFS are explored. Parents play the most important role in children’s lives so we work closely together to ensure we work in partnership. We also hold stay and play sessions each term that are very well supported by parents/carers. We currently have limited morning spaces available, but afternoon sessions are available. We accept eligible 30 hour funded children. These codes need to be in place the term before they are needed. Children can join us from the age of two and we accept government funded and fee paying children. We are open term time only from 9am-3pm. We have a well-supported Facebook page that provides lots of information and you can see what the children have been doing. It’s also another way to contact the setting directly. For further information please call 07979 468467 during session time (9am-3pm) or email our manager, Bridget Wyatt: enquiries@henleypreschool.com Bridget, Sarah and Kerry
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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS CLAYDON & BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES
ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH, BRAMFORD
Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project which has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 28 years. We welcome mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 per family and it’s a great opportunity to meet others with pre-school children or babies. Why not come along and join in the fun? You can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. Hope to see you there. There is also a prize draw for the children.
Dear Friends, We hope you enjoyed your Christmas and didn’t eat and drink too much. We won’t go into what is ‘too much’, but if you’ve over-indulged, January is the time when many people resolve to be ‘better’. It could be a diet to look slimmer for the summer, or deciding to exercise more.
Our Christmas party was a huge success; a big thank you to Father Christmas who came along to distribute gifts to the children. Our ladies raffle went very well, as always, raising more funds for the group. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a fantastic success. This month we meet at Claydon and Barham Village Hall on 16 and 30 January from 9.30-11.30am and we would like to wish a happy birthday to Elliot. For more information contact me on 01473 833788. Michelle
CLAYDON & DISTRICT BADMINTON CLUB Feeling full and ever so slightly guilty about the amount you have eaten over the festive season? Why not get back into badminton right here on your doorstep at Claydon High School? Claydon & District Badminton Club is a social badminton club which meets on Monday nights from 7-9pm during school term time in Claydon High School Sports Hall. Although we are a popular club, we have some space and you would be very welcome. As we have to pay for use of the hall, our fees are ever so slightly higher than if you booked a court for four people at a local sports centre, but you don’t have to find three other people to play with and you get to play with a mixture of talents (each game a different group). As variety is the spice of life, come and spice up your life.
You might want to think about coming to see what our Christingle Service is like. This is one of our annual highlights and we invite the uniformed organisations to join us. It’s always been a popular service for children and their parents, and if you haven’t been to one before, it involves an orange, a ribbon, a candle and sweets. And all the children get to take one home. We won’t tell you any more just now as we don’t want to spoil the surprise. It will be at 10am on 26 January. 2020 also brings a change to the monthly Prayers for Healing Service. This used to be at the Methodist Church, but from now on it will now be at 27 Ship Lane. If you use the Church Room, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s also going to look better this year as it’s going to be redecorated in January. Unfortunately, the January meeting of The Gathering won’t be able to take place as the decorator will be in there. We’re sorry, but it will be worth it. That’s all our news for now. We wish you a great New Year. St Mary’s PCC CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 2020 St Mary the Virgin Bramford, St Mary Nettlestead, St Mary the Virgin Little Blakenham, St Peter Baylham Wednesday Morning Prayer: 10am, Venue will be as announced Sunday 5 January: Christmas 2 10am Communion Bramford Wednesday 8 January 7.30pm Healing Service
27 Ship Lane
Sunday 12 January: Baptism of Christ 8am Communion Bramford 10am Communion Nettlestead 5pm 5 o’Clock Service Church Room
This term starts again on Monday 13 January so please do come along to meet us and have a few games, not just that night but any Monday night during school term.
Sunday 19 January: Epiphany 2 8am Said Communion Bramford 10am Communion Baylham
For more information contact C&DBC chairman Dik Langan – 01473 831692 / claydonbadders@gmail.com – or visit: www.claydonbadminton@wordpress.com
Tuesday 21 January 11am Communion by Reserved Sacrament, Baylham Care Centre Saturday 25 January 10am Coffee Morning
Church Room
Sunday 26 January: Epiphany 3 9am Parish Communion Bramford 10am Christingle Service Bramford Please check porch notices for any changes. Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church
LADIES & GIRLS BADMINTON NIGHTS Stowmarket Badminton Club’s ladies and girl’s only sessions will continue in the new year at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre on Tuesday evenings from 8-9pm.
December 6: In loving memory of Stanley Welham on the 50th anniversary of his death In memory of Jim Thacker over the Festive Season January 13: In memory of Bernard Purbrick on his 10th anniversary January 22: In memory of Maria Whight on her birthday
Rackets will be provided and we have courts available to allow you to refine your skills, or just have some fun in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 for each dedication. For an announcement to be in the correct issue of In Touch, please request dedications before the first of the preceding month, for example to commemorate an event on 28 February, we need to know before 1 January. Requests to floodlight the spire received after the first of the preceding month will be in the earliest possible issue of In Touch.
For further information please contact Mary Hughes: 01359 240811
www.the-tew-family.co.uk/stmbramford
If you fancy a new challenge for 2020, or just want to get back into badminton, why not dust off your racket, lace up your trainers and join us for some casual informal fun sessions?
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CHURCH NEWS BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH At the Heart of Community Minister: The Rev Derek Grimshaw 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Ms R Palmer, 01473 831117 Please feel free to contact either of us with any queries. Baptisms, marriages and funerals by arrangement with the minister, who will also arrange Holy Communion for the housebound. Sunday 10.30-11.30am*: Morning Worship with Holy Communion every second Sunday 10.30-11.30am: Lighthouse Club for ages 5+ (first and third Sundays, term time only). Bible stories, painting, card making, biscuit decorating, etc.
LEAP YEAR Julius Caesar first introduced leap years more than 2,000 years ago. Leap years occur mostly every four years, but every 100 years we skip a leap year unless the year is divisible by 400. “Leap years are needed to keep our modern day Gregorian calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the Sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242189 days – or 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds – to circle once around the sun. This is called a tropical year, and is measured from the March equinox. However, the Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn’t add a leap day on February 29 nearly every four years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by around 24 days!” www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html For those born on 29 February, estimated at around five million, this year will be an opportunity to celebrate their birthdays on the exact date. Those wishing to follow the tradition of women being allowed to propose marriage, to balance things out, will have something to look forward to. In some areas a woman could propose for the entire leap year. In some European countries tradition dictates that should a man refuse they would have to give 12 pairs of gloves. Who would have thought that the time it takes the Earth to circle once around the Sun could have created such opportunities! Yet each time the Earth completes one rotation around its axis we have what we know as a ‘day’. Each day provides us with countless opportunities. So as we go into this leap year, will we take the opportunities afforded to us each day to thank God for who He is and what He has done for us through His Son Jesus? For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. WEEKLY EVENTS Monday Fortnightly: Little Owls Toddler Group, 10am-noon Tuesday: Weekly Prayer Meeting, 7.30-8.30pm Wednesday: Coffee Morning, 10am-noon; all welcome Thursday: Home Group, 10-11.45am Friday: Children’s Club (primary school age), 6.30-7.30pm Sunday Morning Service: 10.45am-noon
4-6pm: Families@4, an informal get-together with afternoon tea provided and a children’s activity (see diary for theme). Come and go as you please. This is not a service but our minister usually joins us (once a month; please check diary). Monday 2-3pm: Bible Study, an informal look at issues that those present wish to discuss (every third Monday) Tuesday 2-3pm*: Network/MWiB, our ladies meeting, but gentlemen are always welcome (second and fourth Tuesdays from October-April and the second Tuesday from May-September) Wednesday 10am-noon: Computer Club (term time only) Thursday 3-3.30pm*: United Service (very informal) at Cherryfields (first Thursday) Saturday 10-11am: Coffee Morning at the Methodist Church or at Cherryfields (see below / third Saturday of month) *followed by tea/coffee JANUARY 2020 Thursday 2, 3pm: United Service at Cherryfields Sunday 5, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Rev Y Haye Wednesday 8: Prayers for Healing at 27 Ship Lane Sunday 12, 10.30am: Morning Worship Tuesday 14, 2pm: Network/MWiB Thoughts for the New Year by Mrs Alyson Ellis Saturday 18, 10-11am: Coffee Morning at Cherryfields Sunday 19, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Mrs G Theobald Monday 20, 2pm: Bible Study Sunday 26, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Mr C Westren Sunday 26, 4-6pm: Families@4, Rev D Grimshaw Tuesday 28, 2pm: Network/MWiB, The Stowmarket Strummers
For more information contact Michael: 01473 839785 / admin@blakenhambaptist.org.uk www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk
www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham
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CHURCH NEWS THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES The Church of England in Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham We offer you a warm welcome to all our events and services. For enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals contact: The Rev Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmail.com Letter from the Rector New Year celebrations always bring New Year resolutions and promises! As soon as we’ve made them, we tend to break them! We make promises and resolutions all the time. We promise ourselves all sorts of things. We make promises to our children and to our friends. Our politicians made all sorts of promises up until the election – many of which won’t come into fruition, though some will! Jesus made promises too. The difference between us and God is that God always keeps his promises. God’s promise to us is of love. Jesus promised that he would be with us always, till the end of the age. That is a promise he has never broken. He has always been there with us, through thick and thin, good times and bad. Maybe this year you can make real promises and resolutions. Maybe this year is a time to act on promises already made – maybe at a marriage, a baptism or some other event. Why not start by acknowledging God’s promise of love? The Rev Carl SERVICES IN JANUARY Henley Church: every Sunday at 9.30am Barham Church: every Sunday at 10am Great Blakenham Church: every Sunday at 11am Sunday 5 January – Epiphany 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 10am Morning Worship 11am family@blakenham 4.30pm families@4.30
Barham Church Henley Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church Barham Church
Sunday 12 January – Baptism of Christ 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 9.30am family@henley Henley Church 10am Holy Communion Barham Church 11am Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Church Sunday 19 January – Epiphany 2 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 9.30am Holy Communion Henley Church
10am 11am
Morning Worship Morning Worship
Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church
Sunday 26 January – Epiphany 3 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 9.30am Café Church Henley Church 10am Holy Communion Barham Church 11am Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Church 4pm Evensong Henley Church Sunday 2 February – Candlemas 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 9.30am Holy Communion Henley Church 10am Holy Communion Barham Church 11am family@blakenham Gt Blakenham Church NEWS families@4.30: Our new congregation for families and young people, meeting on the first Sunday of the month at Barham Church. The next one is on January 5 when we will be thinking about Epiphany and the three wise men! We have loads of fun so why not come along and join us? It helps us if you book in advance with The Rev Carl or Roger Colthorpe (see contacts). All welcome! Shared Lunch: Bring food to a bring-and-share lunch after the morning service at Barham Church on Sunday 5 January. Holy Conversations (Home Group): Restarts this month and takes place at the rectory on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm. All welcome for Bible study and reflection. Four Communities Activities Groups: The groups continue to thrive, including Meet ‘n’ Eat which meets every first Friday of the month at Gt Blakenham Parish Room from noon-2pm, and the Walk ‘n’ Talk group which meets on the second Thursday of the month. Great Blakenham Coffee Morning: Second Saturday in the Parish Room, 10am to noon, restarting on January 11. All welcome. Bacon and sausage butties available! Visiting: If you or anyone you know would like a visit from a member of our pastoral team, please get in touch with The Rev Carl, The Rev Cathy or The Rev Jenny. This might be at home or in hospital. FUTURE DATES 2020 Sun 5 January
Epiphany Bring-and-Share Lunch at Barham Church families@4.30 at Barham Church
Sat 11 January
Coffee Morning, Gt Blakenham Parish Room, 10am-noon
Sat 18 January
Gt Blakenham Quiz, Parish Room, 6.30 for 7pm
Sun 2 February
families@4.30 at Barham Church
Tues 25 February Pancake Evening, GB Parish Room Wed 26 February Ash Wednesday Further dates can be found at: www.claydonchurches.com Social Media: Find us on Facebook and Twitter by searching The Claydon Group of Churches. HALL BOOKINGS Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Reg Barton, 839958 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463
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