In Touch News with Great Blakenham March 2019 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

In Touch

™© ™©

with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead Volume 9 • Issue No. 5 • MARCH 2019

First Signs of Spring by Paula Irvine

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09/05/2018 16:33

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS

I hope you value the fact that we aim to produce a monthly magazine with a balance of advertising and editorial content, providing essential information about products and services we all require and supporting local business in doing so, while also providing relevant local news which enables residents to engage with the local community and keep in touch with local news and events. As editor I juggle this rather delicate balance very carefully and encourage readers to support the advertisers who enable Mansion House Publishing (MHP) to design, print and deliver the magazine every month and to support an enormous range of fundraising activities and charities. You’ll find quite a few in this edition and I hope you can support the efforts of those who make them happen. One which I’d like to highlight this month, and which we have made a commitment to support until the project has been completed, is The Blossom Appeal, a Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals charity set up to develop a £2.5 million Breast Centre at Ipswich Hospital. The new centre will bring all elements of breast care at Ipswich Hospital under one roof and provide an environment where patients can be imaged, biopsied where necessary, and see their clinician in one appointment without the need to get dressed and undressed several times. There will also be new dedicated clinics for men and young people. We’ll provide regular updates, promote fundraising events and let you know how you can help. Right now they are looking for people to open their gardens in 2019. All types and size of garden are welcome. You choose when to open. Simply ask visitors for a donation to view your garden and sell refreshments, plants or crafts to boost your fundraising. Register your garden at www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/opengardens or for more information contact: charity@esneft.nhs.uk / 0300 770 1369 To find out more about The Blossom Appeal please visit: www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/breast

InTouch

with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead

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

01473 400380

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

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

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

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Distribution Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk

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Printing Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk

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

We also publish In Touch with... •B eyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •B ramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham •C apel St Mary •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • I pswich East •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham •N eedham Market & The Creetings •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone •B urstall & Sproughton •S towmarket & Stowupland • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon •M elton & Woodbridge

In Touch with...

APRIL DEADLINE

QUIZ NIGHT Sunday, March 24, 6.30 for 7pm Great Blakenham Village Hall Raffle / Licensed Bar Tickets £4, team of eight, from: 07377 357872

ST MARY’S 20:20 Great Blakenham Church has stood in the village for nearly 800 years, with foundations probably predating the present building. Each generation has left its mark on the building – from the pews, to adding the tower and then a wooden porch, shaping and reshaping the windows. We love our current building, but to meet the needs of our growing village and active congregation, we have launched a major reordering project called 2020 that will make fit the building for another generation. The 2020 project will include: • The (re)installation of a new window, the moving of the baptismal font and a new floor for the east end of the building. • The installation of mains water and a new kitchenette at the back of the church with facilities to make refreshments and wash up. • The installation of a new toilet, accessible to all, including a new path and lighting. • Modernisation of the electrics, including connections to the building. St Mary’s is Grade 1 listed so all work must be carried with due care and respect to the building and its surroundings. And of course, these things never come cheap. On top of the ever-increasing daily bills to simply keep the church open and running, we are looking at having to raise about £100,000. We hope that some of this will be raised by grants from other sources, but most of this we will have to raise ourselves. We are already selling floor tiles for the new floor in memory of loved ones, anniversaries, a celebration or occasion. These are £10 each and a special commemorative book will be created with your personal inscription. Forms for these can be picked up from the church, which is kept open during daylight hours. FUNDRAISING EVENTS Other fundraising events will be held throughout the year, including a Wedding Festival at the village hall on Monday, May 27 and also a brand new Village Fete and Doggy Day on July 13. We now have regular quiz nights in the Parish Room too. We would welcome any other fundraising ideas and help and hope this might be a village project. Further details about leaving a legacy to the church can be found on our website by clicking Policies. Full plans and architects drawings can be found in the church. The Rev Carl 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmail.com

10 MARCH 2019

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: FEBRUARY 2019 Cabinet approve cuts to Citizens Advice A consultation was held and an Equality Impact Assessment produced over the Christmas period to assess the impact cuts to county council funding of Citizens Advice. However, neither was available prior to the Cabinet meeting, so the county plan remains to cuts by 50 per cent to £184,000 in 2019/20 and to zero in 2020/21. Austerity is still with us and could shortly take a turn for the worst so money saving is necessary, but at what cost? The CAB receives £1.2m in total from local authorities. They help 21,663 clients with 75,532 issues and claim to save the NHS £1.3m, DWP £2.2m and housing providers £1.7m in a year. County was suggesting the CAB approach Suffolk crematoria for funds as they give money from gold fillings, etc. to charity, a suggestion I find hard to believe. However, the NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk and the NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Groups have stepped into the gap. Clearly they understand the value of this service despite their own funding issues. Locality Funding This year, across my county and district locality budgets, I have managed to help Bramford Church redecorate their hall, the Victory Hall improve security, the Playing Field install a ‘castle’ and the parish buy a Vehicle Activated Sign. Henley Community Centre has had a donation towards replacement of their chairs, Great Blakenham Parish Room for re-decoration and Bramford Scout Group to improve their kitchen. A bit Bramford and Blakenham focussed, but they had schemes to fund and your district councillors have been active in Claydon and Barham. I hope this meets with your approval. Investment for Special Educational Needs A cross-party Policy Development Panel has recommended that Suffolk County Council invests £45.1m to develop new SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disability) schools and specialist units within schools in Suffolk. This investment would create a desperately needed additional 828 specialist education places in Suffolk. Currently many children struggle to access appropriate provision and are forced to travel to out-of-county schools to

get the support they need. The Cabinet have agreed in principle to the PDP’s recommendations. The capital investment programme will need to undergo a full investment appraisal before the Cabinet will make a firm commitment, but this is good news. Upper Orwell Crossings Project Cancelled The Upper Orwell Crossings project in Ipswich has finally been cancelled after concerns were raised last summer that the project was likely to go well over the original budget. It was not possible to get additional funding and the DfT funding will go to other national projects and will not be spent in Ipswich. Suffolk County Council has spent over £8m on the project to date, most of which was on consultants’ fees. Money had to be spent to meet government target timings, but the county committed the cardinal sin of revising specifications significantly and running into cost increases. There were also delays in getting approval from landowners for some work. New Director of Highways Appointed After a long search, a new Director of Growth, Highways and Infrastructure has been appointed. Mark Ash will join Suffolk County Council in February from Essex County Council. Hackneys Corner Did I report improvement too soon? The area is tidier and some progress has been made by the new contractors. I have had residents asking about street lamp connection, but I believe that was always scheduled for a later date. I have to say that in Baylham the contractor for the pipe laying has moved at a good pace, stayed ahead of schedule and keeping people informed. It can be done! If you have any queries, please phone me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or 07545423808 or email me at: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk I do have Twitter (@JohnFieldjd) and Facebook (fieldjd) accounts and my website is at: www.johnfield.suffolk.libdems.org

GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL Firstly, we have vacancies for councillors. There are now more than 1,500 registered electors in Great Blakenham, all of whom are eligible to put themselves forward to become a councillor and become involved in the work that the council does in the village. We have 10 meetings a year and training in the role is available. The work is wide ranging and there is plenty of variety – from working to get the infrastructure improvements that the village so desperately needs, to the council’s accounts, to the provision of defibrillators, to deciding on grants to local organisations (please see the paragraph below). Your council manages the cemetery on Chalk Hill Lane and the Woodfield allotments. We pay for litter picking, provision and emptying of dog waste and rubbish bins, grass cutting in St Mary’s Churchyard, etc. We are working with other local parish councils towards developing a joint neighbourhood plan. There are a lot of other projects that we could become involved with, but to do that effectively, we need more councillors. If you are interested in standing as a councillor, please contact the clerk for further information or see the BMSDC page on the local elections. This contains information on becoming a parish councillor: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/features/are-you-election-ready-heres-our-quick-guide Are you aware of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972? You may well not be and you are probably thinking that it doesn’t sound very interesting anyway. However, if you are involved with a local charity or community organisation you may be able to apply for a grant from us. Section 137 LGA 1972 gives parish councils the power to make grants that “will bring direct benefit to their area or any part of it or all or some of its

inhabitants”. For example, this could be a Scout group, a club to help alleviate loneliness, a holiday play scheme or a local sports club. There is only a limited amount of money that a council can use for this purpose and there are a number of criteria that have to be met before a grant can be considered by the council. If you are involved with an organisation that may be eligible and you are interested, please look on our website for our policy on Section137 grants, or contact the clerk (details below). We are regularly asked if there is any news on SnOasis. At the time I am writing this, we have heard that Reserved Matters are likely to be considered by the planning committee in March. There are still many outstanding questions about this huge planning development and your council, as part of the SnOasis Parish Alliance, is seeking an urgent meeting with planning to discuss your frustration with the lack of progress. The next meeting is on Wednesday, March 13 in the Parish Room at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome and there is a 15-minute public forum where you can ask questions or raise issues related to the work of the parish council. Janet Gobey is the parish clerk and she can be reached by email or phone: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 07508 830777 Our Facebook page and Twitter accounts can be found on: Facebook – @greatblakenhampc / Twitter – @pcgtblakenham www.greatblakenham.suffolk.cloud Thank you for reading this and for your interest in the work of your parish council. Chairman Steve Plume

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NEWS SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Friday, March 1, 10am-noon: Coffee and Networking Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market Friday, March 15, 6.45am: Breakfast The Mix Stowmarket, Suffolk To book online, follow the link at: https://stowmarketchamber.co.uk/networking-events Don’t forget MSBE2 (Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition) will be back on March 27 at The Mix. Find out all about it and reserve your visitors’ goody bag at: https://msbe.biz

BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING EVENT Live music from the 50s 60s and 70s, singing and dancing are coming to Great Blakenham Village Hall on Friday, April 5, 7.30-11.30pm. Tickets are just £7.50. Following the highly successful pig racing night which raised £1,000, the Suffolk British Heart Foundation volunteer group in Great Blakenham is hosting their second event to raise funds for the charity. If you enjoy live music, singing and dancing, and are partial to a great party atmosphere, then this will be for you. Kevin Barry will be performing at Great Blakenham Village Hall so make sure that you don’t miss out as tickets will sell out very quickly. Tickets can be ordered from any of the people below. Don’t forget to dig out those outfits from the back of the wardrobe and come dressed for the era. Fantastic raffle and a fully licenced bar at club prices. You just need to bring your own snacks. Keely: 07816 498095 / keely.crane@gmail.com Tracey: 07938 705578 (6-9pm Mon-Thurs / noon-9pm Fri) Nigel: 07387 261861 / donkinn@bhf.org.uk

Come and have a look around Are you interested in finding out how your household waste is turned into energy? We are hosting a series of open days throughout the upcoming months. We have places available on the following dates: March 15 at 10am, April 2 at 6pm and June 3 at 2pm. There are up to 20 spaces available on each day, and pre-booking is essential. Email suffolkefw.uk@suez.com or call 01473 839149 to enquire about a space. Can’t make the dates? We host tours for groups or five or more people, or alternatively we can contact you when our next open days are scheduled. SUEZ Communities Trust SUEZ Communities Trust provides funding to projects that support community and environmental improvements. In 2018, the trust awarded over £15,000 to projects local to the Suffolk energy-from-waste facility. Funding is available to projects within close proximity to any SUEZ sites that meet certain criteria. If you know of any local projects that could be deserving of funding, visit the following website for more information about the trust and how to apply: www.suezcommunitiestrust.org.uk We’re on Twitter Did you know that Suffolk’s energy-from-waste facility is on social media? For more frequent facility updates, fun facts and all the handy tips you could ever need about rubbish, recycling, and food waste, follow us on Twitter: @suffolkefw Any questions? If you have any queries about our operations, please contact the facility at: 01473 839149 / suffolkefw.uk@suez.com OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS Environment Agency: 0800 807 060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910

Please help the Great Blakenham BHF Volunteer Group to Beat Heartbreak Forever.

CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL HSA FAMILY DISCO Saturday, March 30, 7.30-11.30pm Great Blakenham Village Hall Tickets are £8 for adults and £4 for children £20 for a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) We have a fabulous DJ, a raffle and a licenced bar Bring your own nibbles Form/money to the school office by Friday, March 22 Come and have great family time together and support our school with vital fundraising

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NEWS FRENCH CONNECTION Somersham/Challain-la-Potherie Village Link Visit from Challain-la-Potherie: May 30 – June 2 Somersham is linked with a village similar to our own in the Loire Valley area of France. This year we welcome guests from our link village when their planned visit to us takes at the end of May. Visitors stay with host families, giving us a great opportunity to get to know each other, to appreciate each other’s way of life, and to pick up a bit of the language, plus lots of time together as a group when both English and French are spoken. Interested? Would you like to be a host, or to be involved in any other way? Perhaps you just want to know more. If so please contact one of the following: Gill Fordham: 831529 / David Haughton: 831511 Janet Hodge: 832296 / Pat Woolhouse: 831080

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM You said your concerns were: • Anti-social behaviour and drug use in Hadleigh • Speeding in the Hadleigh area We responded: • Targeted foot patrols in uniform and plain clothes in local parks. One male youth found in possession of Cannabis and issued with a youth caution. • Speeding day of action results shown below. CRIME UPDATES Four teenage males have been identified for causing damage at Beaumont Primary School. All have been referred through Youth Offending team for the Restorative Justice Process. Following reports of four motor vehicles damaged in the George Street area of Hadleigh, another four teenage males have been identified as suspects and enquiries continue. So far one male has been reported to court and another is due to receive a youth conditional caution. In addition to our anti-social behaviour pro-active patrols, we conducted a day of speed enforcement and action with our partners Community Speedwatch and the Safety Camera Team. This was part of a national road safety campaign. The areas covered were Woolverstone, Shotley, Brantham, Pinewood, Great Blakenham, Bramford, Holton St Mary, Lady Lane Hadleigh and Sproughton. In total 53 offenders were identified and now face fixed fines, penalty points or driver improvement courses. If you are interested in reducing speed in your, you can become a Community Seedwatch volunteer. Visit our website for further details about how to apply. There have been a number of rural domestic burglaries across Suffolk. Please remember to secure your property when you leave and look out for suspicious activity in your area. Our website has home crime prevention advice under our ‘First Principle’ scheme. Another reminder in relation to Police Connect. This is a free messenger service, which means you can receive text messages or emails with up-todate information about policing in your area. Sign up at www.suffolk.police. uk/services/police-connect or request a form from us via: CEOlowestoft@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Police Constable 710 Michael Small If you have any quires or questions please contact Hadleigh SNT at Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD Hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Emergency: Call 999 / Non-Emergency: Call 101 Follow us on Twitter@ HadleighPolice Police Connect: Suffolk.police.uk/police connect

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SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416 OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm / Saturdays: 9am-1pm SHOP LOCAL, EAT LOCAL, SPEND LOCAL, ENJOY LOCAL AT SOMERSHAM & DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP Somebody at the shop has come up with the ‘Shop Local’ message above. I’m not sure who suggested it, but how appropriate it is for us all? It’s so good to have a local shop in a village these days and makes a big difference to the life of a community. It’s up to us all, both as volunteers and as customers, to make a success of such a valuable enterprise and to keep the shop at the heart of the village. Well, spring is coming – what a happy thought! Two dates to note in March are Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day, Tuesday, March 5, and Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 31, so be prepared with eggs, flour and lemons for pancakes and a card for mum later in the month. If celebrating with mum you can order a cake from our bakers to make tea-time special. During the winter the community shop has been happy to host the Tea and Chat afternoons. The last one for this year will be on Wednesday, March 27 and the Coffee Caravan will then continue its summer service with tea, coffee, cake and information once a month on the green at Brook Way. Petrolheads will continue in the shop on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month through the summer Lucy, our part-time manager, is still poorly, but bearing up cheerfully. We have been so fortunate to have loyal and devoted volunteers who have worked extra hours to cover for Lucy’s absence. Our thanks to them all, especially to Anne who has done sterling work over this period. Our best wishes and love to Lucy during this difficult time and we look forward to her having better health in the future. We miss you Lucy and look forward to having you back with us! A new noticeboard to take the place of the one at the foot of the shop signpost is being made by one of our volunteers. We are grateful to him for doing this and look forward to seeing it in place so that passersby are able to see where we are and take advantage of the services we offer. Just to remind you of our regular services: orders are taken for regular or one-off meat, bread and cakes; Coffee Corner for a relaxing chat; a new read from the book exchange; dry-cleaning service collected each Tuesday; newspapers and magazines for collection; a delivery service for those with mobility problems We are sorry to lose Natasha from the management committee due to her workload. We thank her for her service to the shop and look forward to her continuing presence with us as a customer. If you think you would like to take a place on the committee, please come and join us, and new volunteers are always welcome. Even a couple of hours a month can make all the difference. The shop gives real heart to the local community, long may it continue. Management Team Management Team: Lucy Barrett – 831890; Sue Browne – 831321; Peter Jousiffe; Anne MacFadyen – 831288

NEWS / OUT & ABOUT SnOASIS PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA)

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50’s CLUB

In the autumn of 2016, Onslow Suffolk Ltd put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16.

Open to anyone over-50 living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm in Great Blakenham Parish Room (opposite the Chequers PH) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The building is fully accessible.

Full details visit: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning A number of local parish councils and meetings joined together to form SnOasis Parish Alliance to work together to represent the residents of their communities – over 11,000 people – who will be affected by this development. The SPA member parishes are Baylham, Barham, Bramford, Claydon & Whitton, Great Blakenham, Little Blakenham, Needham Market, Nettlestead and Somersham. The SPA has commented in depth on Reserved Matters, but has not received a satisfactory response from the developer. Therefore, it was both surprising and concerning when we were recently given to understand by BMSDC Planning that they intend to take Reserved Matters to committee in March. As I write, the SPA are trying to arrange an urgent meeting with Planning to discuss this. We have serious concerns over, amongst other things, the unanswered questions about Reserved Matters, the process that will be followed, how much time will be given to scrutinise the final documents and whether the SPA, as well as councils and residents, will have sufficient opportunity to put their views across to the committee. For further information, please email SPA Clerk Janet Gobey: snoasispa@icloud.com Steve Plume, Chairman SnOasis Parish Alliance

The cost per meeting is £2 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and the raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. We started back on January 9 and though few in number had an enjoyable Beetle Drive in the afternoon. On January 23 we enjoyed quizzes and bingo. Our remaining programme for the first half of the year is: March 13 March 27 April 10 April 24 May 8 May 22 June 12 June 26 July 10 July 24

On This Day The History of Mother’s Day Spring Raffle and Bring-and-Buy Celebrating the Queen’s Reign Games Afternoon Social Afternoon with Brenda TBC TBC Social Afternoon with Sandra Summer Party

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

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB

Route 5

Open to anyone living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding areas, the club meets every Monday other than bank holidays in Great Blakenham Parish Room (opposite the Chequers PH) from 2-4pm. The building is fully accessible. Members pay £2 per meeting to cover hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. Alternatively you may wish to bring your own project and enjoy our company and make new friends. Members take it in turns to make the tea.

5A Sproughton 5B Sproughton 5C Bramford 5D Bramford 5E Great Blakenham 5F Great Blakenham, 5G Baylham 5H Claydon 5I Claydon, 5J Barham 5K Bramford

We started back in February and were pleased to welcome Sue Grayston from Nettlestead to the club. Our first workshop for the year was a new baby and toddler card making workshop with lots of materials in the goody bags to make at least five cards or a picture or mobile for the nursery.

2019: 12 March, 9 April, 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 30 July, 27 August, 24 September, 22 October, 19 November, 17 December

OUR PROGRAMME FOR 2019

Route 13 Town/village

March 4

Seaside

April 1

Fact and Fantasy

May 13

Village Life and Little Mice

June 3

Summer Sewing

July 1

A Bit of Bling

August 5

Autumn’s Coming

September 2 Take Heart October 7

Fabric Cards

November 4 Christmas Cards with a Twist December 2 AGM There is currently room for new members so please get in touch if you would like to join us. Although the club is all ladies at present, gentlemen who would like to learn crafts are welcome. Unfortunately I can’t accommodate children. Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690

Town/village

Location

Time

Church Lane Wild Man St Mary’s Close Paper Mill Lane Chequers Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park Post Box Crown Edinburgh Gardens Bacon Road Packard Place

9.10-9.25am 9.30-9.45am 9.50-10.05am 10.10-10.25am 10.35-10.55am 11-11.15am 11.25-11.45am 11.55am-1pm 2.05-2.20pm 2.25-3.50pm 4-4.30pm

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 13 Location

Time

13A

Crowfield

Lay by

9.25-09.45am

13B 13C 13D 13E 13F 13G 13H 13I 13J 13K 13L 13M

Coddenham Barham Creeting St Mary Creeting St Mary Creeting St Peter Earl Stonham Little Stonham Little Stonham Mickfield Church, Stonham Aspal, Pettaugh Henley

Haysel House Sorrel Horse Whissels Farm Village Hall The Lane Village Hall Church Magpie Inn Debenham Road Walnut Tree Meadow Old Bull Garage

9.55-10.50am 11-11.10am 11.20-11.30am 11.35-11.45am 11.55am-12.10pm 12.20-12.50pm 2-2.10pm 2.15-2.25pm 2.30-2.45pm 2.55-3.30pm 3.35-3.55pm 4.05-4.30pm

2019: 22 March, no visit in April, 17 May, 14 June, 12 July, 9 August, 6 September, 4 October, 1 November, 29 November, 27 December

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OUT & ABOUT STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB On January 14 David Steel gave our members a very interesting talk on People Pictures. His ideas and tips on taking portraits, wedding pictures, street photography, carnivals and people in general made for an enjoyable and informative evening. On January 28 we welcomed Framlingham and Wymondham Camera Clubs for our annual tripod competition. The results were very close: Prints PDIs TOTAL

Stowmarket Framlingham Wymondham 152 148 145 148 146 156 300 294 301

Well done to the winners, Wymondham, and thank you to both clubs for making the journey to Stowmarket on such a bad evening. We would also to thank Alan Sarsby for stepping into the breach as judge when the judge booked for the event was unable to make it at the last minute. Monday, March 11: Open Competition 4 to be judged by Frank Blyth Monday, March 25: As I See It, an interactive talk with Roy Fidler Monday, April 8: Colin Stubley Shield (Portraiture) & A/V Trophy to be judged by Andy Wilson LRPS Monday, April 16: Granville Foulger Trophy, East Ipswich Camera Club to be judged by Vic Hainsworth ARPS DPAGB You don’t have to be an expert photographer to be welcomed as a member of the club. All you need is an interest in photography. Our aim is to encourage you to develop your interest and skills, as well as to provide a place to meet a range of friendly people who share your interest. New members are always very welcome at the club. 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 are held at Stowmarket Community Centre, Hillside, Stowmarket IP14 2BD, usually on the second the fourth Monday of the month between September and June. We start arriving at around 7pm for a 7.30pm start. We’d love to see you there, so why not join us? For more information visit: www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net

SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Thursday, March 28 at 7.15pm: A Suffolk Bevin Boy

GREAT BLAKENHAM CINEMA In a change to the previously announced schedule we shall be showing The Jungle Book on March 31. This is due to the fact that the film company is not permitting showings of Mary Poppins while the original is in the cinema and as there is no guarantee that the license for Mary Poppins Returns will be out in time we have had to change the film. After a Facebook poll where 47 of 86 people voted, the film for March will now be The Jungle Book. In addition to a raffle to raise funds to make the cinema sustainable, we will also be holding a cake sale to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. Brain Tumour Research holds a Wear a Hat Day to raise awareness and funds in March. It would be great to see the biggest, boldest and hattiest hat yet for which there will be a prize. Working with the Suffolk Cinema Network, films are shown on a 10ft x 7.5 ft screen. Doors open at 2pm and movies begin at a 2.30pm. We are trying to make the event accessible to all and to be dementia friendly with all our volunteers being Dementia Friends. Thanks to Suffolk Cinema Network, the first three showings are being funded by the National Lottery without whose support this would be impossible. This is a not for profit business run by volunteers with any funds raised going back into the venture to improve the experience. We have been lucky enough to be supported by Power to Change whose vision is to create better places through community business. If you feel you could give some time once a month, or join the rota of volunteers, donate raffle prizes or help spread word then please do get in touch at greatblakenhamcinema@outlook.com, via the Facebook page (Great Blakenham Cinema) or by calling Becky on 07852 472082.

Barbara Mcelroy tells the story of her father who, with thousands of others, expected to go into the forces but was instead conscripted by ballot to go down the mines in the Second World War. The talk looks at the reasons for the schedule, the conditions down the mines and subsequent problems. We meet 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 nonmembers, 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 Picture published with permission from the Imperial War Museum

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS WORK ALONG THE RIVER GIPPING After closure of the Stowmarket Navigation in 1934 there followed many years of neglect, which resulted in the navigation becoming impassable and in some places, little better than an open drain.

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS AT ORCHARD BARN IN 2019 We have planned an excellent range of courses and workshops at Orchard Barn this year. Some are offered free and for others there is a charge to cover our costs. All courses are taught by well-known experts in their fields. Here is a selection of those taking place in the early months of the year: March 5: Restorative Fruit Tree Pruning Thanks to Orchards East and the Heritage Lottery Fund this workshop is free. March 15-16: Hurdle Making Make and take home a Suffolk gate hurdle. April 4-6: Shave Horse Make and take home a wooden shave horse, an item of equipment that will last for many years. April 9: Introduction to Timber Framing This popular course covers the techniques and tools used in traditional timber-framed constructions.

The River Gipping Trust was formed just over 10 years ago to help preserve the historic heritage of the Stowmarket Navigation by restoring the structures that enabled navigation of the River Gipping from the centre of Stowmarket to the docks in Ipswich and to care for the flora and fauna of The Gipping Valley. Over the last few years, members of the River Gipping Trust have put in tens of thousands of hours of volunteer work along the river. Much restoration work on the four locks between Needham Market and Baylham has been done, but there is still much more to do. Three of the locks are virtually complete, ready for lock gates. The Trust is hoping to complete work on the fourth (at Pipps Ford) this year, so it too will be ready for lock gates. Over the next couple of years the Trust is planning to build a new footbridge across the river near Baylham and thus restore the original footpath route alongside the river bank (its current route is away from the river, next to the railway line). Discussions with the landowners to build the bridge, with a permissive path to it are ongoing, and the Trust needs to raise the necessary funds for the bridge material. Our team of volunteers will carry out bridge installation works. Work has already commenced on the permissive path alongside the river leading to the bridge. If you would like to join our work party please contact Martin Bird on 01394 380765. Find our more at: www.rivergippingtrust.org.uk Facebook: River Gipping Trust

Further details of these courses and workshops, including information on how to book, can be found at: http://orchardbarn.org.uk/courses Orchard Barn, situated in Bildeston Road, Ringshall, provides opportunities for volunteers to experience and develop skills in a delightful rural setting. These include organic gardening, maintaining the Orchard Barn site, orchard and pond maintenance, woodwork and administration. If you would like to know more, or if there are other skills that you would like to offer to Orchard Barn as a volunteer, please email: carole.orchardbarn@gmail.com

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL At the time of writing the children have been enjoying tasting Chinese food and doing different pig crafts relating to Chinese New Year 2019, The Year of the Pig. They are looking forward to dressing up in their pyjamas next week for Crackerjacks Children’s Trust and will be doing a cooking activity for Valentine’s Day. The children enjoy playing outside in all weathers, especially when it snows. We have recently had our Ofsted inspection and we’re very proud to have received a ‘Good’ rating. A number of companies have come to have a look at our garden as we are going to revamp it. We have sent out the Smartie challenge to parents and children to raise money for our garden improvements.

BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB The club will meet every Wednesday in March from 10am until noon in the upstairs room of the Methodist Church in Bramford. Ultra+ broadband and refreshments are available. Membership for the year, payable in September, is £1, plus £3 for each two-hour session. There is no set programme, but we are here to help you to get the most out of your computer. Why not give us a try?

As we are now open all year (except bank holidays and the Christmas period) we can take children up to five years old for additional sessions during the school holiday weeks, subject to availability. If you would like to book any days during the holidays, please contact the administration assistant for more details. We can take children who are entitled to 30 hours funding. Simply register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk www.claydonpreschool.co.uk

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SCHOOLS HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL Our Quiz and Curry night was other great event raising a grand total of £1,100 which will go towards a trip to Jimmy’s Farm later in the year and other new resources. Thank you to all who supported this event and look forward to it next year. The beginning of March celebrates National Book Week and the children will be dressing as their favourite characters and bringing along their books from home to share. We have our Stay and Play sessions in the week commencing March 25 and the children will be planting daffodils for Mother’s Day gifts and will be out in the garden planting vegetable and flowers. We are a small, rural and friendly setting based at Henley Community Centre. We pride ourselves on high levels of staff to children ratios and therefore providing the maximum care and learning for the children. All staff are highly trained and continue with 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.

CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL Despite last half term being short, we have been busy with various trips, visits and activities including, our bi-annual ski trip to Austria, GCSE Bootcamp at Mersea Island, indoor rock climbing as well as some successful sporting achievements in cross-country and basketball. We recently enjoyed hosting students and staff from schools in Shanghai, China. These students joined us to experience lessons in an English school, but the cultural exchange has been both ways. Year 7 students have been taught some basic Mandarin phrases, how to count to ten on one hand and to write some basic characters using traditional calligraphy. Our Year 10 mathematicians worked alongside the students from China to deliver some Maths Mastery lessons to students in Year 7 and also to students at Claydon Primary School. We are looking to explore a future fuller exchange visit with some of the people we have met.

Session places are currently available. We accept eligible 30-hour funded children plus two and three-year-old funded. We are open in term time only from 9am to 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 01473 833848 during session time (9am-3pm) or email Bridget Wyatt: enquiries@henleypreschool.com Bridget and the team www.henleypreschool.com

CHINESE NEW YEAR AT CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL NURSERY

At Claydon Nursery we plan activities around children’s interests, along with events and celebrations that come up throughout the year. A range of stimulating adult-led activities run alongside continuous provision, with carefully planned enhancements to support children’s learning through exploration and play. We have been very busy learning about Chinese New Year. We looked at where China is on a map of the world and we talked about different foods that are eaten and grown in China. We learnt about the Chinese Zodiac and found out that it is The Year of the pig. OPEN MORNING Don’t forget our open mornings during the week beginning March 18. Please phone our school office on 01473 830439 to book a visit if you would like to come and see us.

On February 4 a group of students were joined by a fantastic local band called Gemma and the Night Jars and a team from I.E.M. (Industry Education in Music) to take part in a rock band workshop and concert. Students from across all year groups split into groups to form nine separate ’bands’ and spent the day composing original pop music from scratch. With a very tight deadline, this was a huge challenge but our talented students worked extremely hard, using advice and guidance from the professionals to come up with some impressive and original material that was performed at a concert on the very same evening! Elsewhere in the school, auditions for this year’s production of We Will Rock You have taken place and the cast will soon be busy rehearsing the popular songs by Queen as we look forward to staging another fantastic musical. Our Duke of Edinburgh students are busy planning to undertake their expeditions, doing a test run first a bit closer to home where they can practise their walking, map reading, cooking and camping skills. Donations of unwanted, good quality two/three man tents will be gratefully received. Please contact Mr Davenport at gdavenport@claydonhigh.com for more information. We are also currently painting our baby ‘Elmer the Elephant’ who will form part of Elmer’s Big Parade and be on display at the Suffolk Show in May to raise money for St Elizabeth Hospice. As I write this article, we still have so much to look forward to including an art exhibition featuring work from our feeder primary school students alongside Years 7-9, BBC School Report Day, a visit by students from the Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria Alixar on the return leg of our Spanish Exchange programme and our PTA Quiz Night on Thursday, March 21 at 7pm. If you would like to join us for this fun and popular evening, please contact Lisa on: admin@claydonhigh.com 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 Thursday, March 7. Please telephone my PA, Ms J Saunders, on 01473 836110 to book a place. Headteacher Maéve Taylor

Nursery Teacher Georgina Chapman

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SCHOOLS / SPORT CLAYDON AND BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES

GIPPING VALLEY BOWLS CLUB

Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project which has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 27 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. This month we meet from 9.30-11.30am on March 7 and 21 in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. At our regular sessions families can enjoy a themed craft activity where children can be creative and try out different materials to produce an individual masterpiece. Playdough and all sorts of toys that encourage children’s imaginative play and physical and social development are available. For parents and carers it is a good opportunity to meet others with pre-school children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children. This month we would like to wish a happy birthday to Olivia, Oakley, Harrison and Ethan who all celebrate in March. Why not come along and join in the fun, you can make friends and enjoy some valuable play? Hope to see you there.

Members of Gipping Valley A Team received their trophy for winning Division D of the Ipswich & District 2 Wood League at the league’s annual dinner dance held at the Ipswich Hotel. Pictured left to right are John Alderton, Linda Tricker, Pat Ward, Keith Page, Norman Bright (Captain), Mick Roberts, Jim Porter, Edie Roberts, John Hooper and Tony Adams.

MEADLANDS INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

Michelle

This is my first article about MIDC and is mainly aimed at outdoor bowlers who haven’t tried indoor bowling and anyone who would like to try bowling, especially those looking for a sport/pastime in which to participate, bowls being an ideal sport for everyone whatever their age.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR – It’s TIME TO PLAY TENNIS!

So who and where are we? We are the bowls section of Stowmarket Meadlands Recreation Club and our three lane rink is situated on Needham Road, Stowmarket (next to the Cedars Hotel). It is open seven days a week all year round from 10am to 10pm.

For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on Netmums.com.

Spring is just around the corner and at Bramford Tennis Club we hope you are getting ready to get outdoors as the weather improves and will join us at your local community tennis club. We aim to have lots on offer for all ages and abilities. Our AGM is set for Sunday, March 24 and Carl, the tennis coach, will return with some great coaching offers and fun events including: Quorn Family Cup: Saturday, April 6 at 2pm Fun doubles parent/child competition based on the mini tennis format, using soft balls and short rackets. Road to Wimbledon: Saturday, May 4 at 2pm Fun singles tournament for kids 14 and under (14U) with the winner going on to represent the club at regional finals and possibly going all the way to Wimbledon! Tennis for Kids 2019 The LTA’s flagship Tennis for Kids programme will return in the spring for beginner players in the 5-7 or 8-11 age brackets. TFK is a great way to introduce your kids to the fantastic sport of tennis and each six-week course includes a racket, t-shirt and set of balls. Mini Tennis Mini Tennis RED (5-7) and Mini Tennis Orange (8-11) squads will return to the club after the Easter break and are a great way for kids to continue to build their tennis skills after Tennis for Kids. Tennis 3’s One for the adults and older kids, a fast paced and fun version of tennis played as a team. This one will get your pulse racing and help develop your skills, reaction levels and tactical awareness. Cardio Tennis Cardio Tennis is a high energy fitness activity that combines the best features of the sport of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, delivering the ultimate, full body, calorie burning aerobic workout. No prior playing experience required and all equipment is provided. To sign up or express interest in any of the above please contact our coach, Carl Douglas: 07553 966380 / carl.douglas@talk21.com To find out more at about any of the items mentioned above please visit: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BramfordTennisClub www.facebook.com/BramfordTennisClub

Daytime and evening league matches are played between September and April at the following times: • Birdie League, 3-wood Triples: Monday to Friday mornings, 10am-noon • Rivers League, 3-wood Triples: Monday and Friday afternoons, 2-4pm • Herbert Rampling Mixed Pairs (one male one female), 4-wood: Tuesday afternoons, 2-4pm • Alan Pile Mixed Pairs (any combination), 4-wood: Thursday afternoons, 2-4pm • Roll-ups (social bowling): Mondays at noon, Wednesdays at 2pm and Thursdays at 6pm • Freddie Dew (Drawn 3-wood Triples): Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 6-8pm, September to December • Ken Wright (Drawn 3-wood Triples): Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 6-8pm, January to April • Freedom League (Drawn Triples): Wednesday at 7pm. A relaxed format league played either 14 ends with 3-woods or 18 ends with 2-woods. A point is awarded for hitting the jack and team formations can be changed at any time. This is a very popular league. • Village League (team of up to 9), 3-wood triples: Any evening, 8-10pm All free slots (daytime and evenings Monday to Friday and at weekends) can be booked via a diary located in the bowls hall. We are open all year round and a summer league runs on Wednesdays from 10am-noon. All other slots are free to be booked by any member. For further details, such as membership costs and rink fees, contact David: 01449 613144 / 07717 940270 I hope all this talk of leagues and formats hasn’t put you off as we are really just a very friendly bunch of people who enjoy bowling, so why not come and join us? Our next article will be for our current bowlers with all the up-to-date league positions and any other interesting news. David Hindley

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CHURCH NEWS I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW THE RAIN HAS GONE!

One of the buzz phrases of the last year is ‘Fake News’. When I try to find a definition, it seems to vary from flat out lying to spinning the truth to say what we would like it to say. A similar example might include the Russian ‘troll factories’ where people are allegedly employed en mass to deliberately spread certain opinions and agendas to the world on social media sites. It was Winston Churchill who perceptively said: “A lie can be half way round the world before the truth has got its trousers on!” In a world of smartphones and the internet, we have immediate ‘news’ updates as events happen all around the globe. We hear daily from world leaders, politicians and news reporters. It’s up to us to be discerning in what we accept as truth. We can either take everything we hear and read at face value, or we can look into further ways to verify and corroborate the truth. The word Gospel literally means ‘good news’ and the four gospels in the Bible are eye witness accounts of those who lived their lives alongside Jesus and saw His life, His teaching, His death and resurrection. The gospels make some extraordinary claims about Jesus and if there is any chance that they can be true then there can be no more important news to hear and examine. One of the most interesting films I saw last year (and highly recommend) is called The Case for Christ, based on the book by author Lee Strobel. Lee, a journalist working for a newspaper in Chicago, had been an atheist for many years and was more than a little annoyed when his wife became a Christian. He set out to systematically disprove Christianity by attacking all of the areas that would cause it to collapse. He started with the evidence for the Resurrection, recognising that if this was disprovable the rest of it would of course fall flat. Over the next two years he went on to investigate the evidence for the authenticity of the gospel accounts, their reliability as historical documents, the archaeological evidence of Jesus life, medical evidence regarding His death, psychological factors that may have affected His followers and much more. The book is a collection of interviews that he had with leading experts in each field, many of whom were not Christians themselves, but who gave impartial opinions of the questions asked of them within their fields. As the weight of evidence increased he ultimately reached the conclusion that the gospels were trustworthy and he joined his wife in trusting fully in Jesus Christ. Discover & Do continues on March 3 at 4pm where there is craft and/or opportunity to chat before a short talk followed by food. “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C S Lewis 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 For more information contact Michael: admin@blakenhambaptist.org.uk 01473 839785 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

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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: Priest-in-Charge Rev Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmaill.com Letter from the Vicar All change! Lent challenges us to think about change. We often give things up or take things on, like our 40acts daily challenge, to help us prepare for Easter. The point of giving things up is to change and shape us into better people. It might be a small change, but sometimes it’s a big change. The challenge to be more generous or hospitable to those around us, the change of talking less and listening more or the change to become more fit and healthy. For Christians it also involves something spiritual too – to pray more, for example. Later this month, another change will happen. The title of ‘Rector’ will be restored to this post after 20 years of it being ‘Priest-in-Charge’. Rector means the same as Vicar or Priest – but is an old legal name for the type of living the Priest had. It might not mean much to you all, but it will make some aspect of the legal side of my job much easier. Other changes include work to our church buildings which are all launching major restoration and reordering projects this year. All these things, and the aim of Lent, is to draw us closer to God. You are welcome to join us as we prepare for the change that Easter brings. The Revd Carl Melville: carlmelville@hotmail.com SERVICES IN MARCH Henley Church: every Sunday at 9.30am Barham Church: every Sunday at 10am Gt Blakenham Church: every Sunday at 11am Sunday, March 3: Sunday Before Lent 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 11am family@blakenham

Barham Church Henley Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church

Wednesday, March 6: Ash Wednesday 7pm Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes, Barham Church Sunday, March 10: Lent 1 8am Holy Communion 9.30am family@henley 10am Holy Communion 11am Holy Communion

Barham Church Henley Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, March 17: Lent 2 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Holy Communion 10am Morning Prayer 11am Holy Communion

Barham Church Henley Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, March 24: Lent 3 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Café Church 10am Holy Communion 11am Elevenses@GB 4pm Evensong

Barham Church Henley Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church Henley Church

Sunday, March 31: Lent 4/Mothering Sunday 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 9.30am All Age Holy Communion Henley Church 10am All Age Holy Communion Barham Church 11am All Age Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Church Sunday, April 7: Lent 5 Passiontide 10am Passiontide Holy Communion Barham Church

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MARCH: LENT – PREPARING THE WAY I’m a Celeb, Get Me Outta Here! Family@church Services for all at: Gt Blakenham Church: Sunday, March 3, 11am Henley Church: Sunday, March 10, 9.30am Refreshments available at all of our services. All welcome! Further services can be found at: www.claydonchurches.com Facebook and Twitter: ‘The Claydon Group of Churches’ NEWS Pancakes & Puzzles: Why not celebrate Shrove Tuesday with us from 6.30pm in Gt Blakenham Parish Room. Open to all ages. No charge, but donations welcome. Lent 2019: Ash Wednesday kicks Lent off on March 6. We will be holding the traditional Ashing Service at 7pm in Barham Church. Please do join a Home Group during Lent, where we’ll be looking at the theme of ‘giving’. The groups meet at various places which can be found on our website by clicking LENT. 40acts: Over Lent we will be challenging ourselves to fulfil a daily task and act. Everyone can join in with this by downloading the 40acts challenge from our LENT page on the website. Lent Soup Meals: Held each Wednesday during Lent (starting March 6). Just £2.50 for soup and rolls and all the money goes to UNICEF and Stowmarket Food Bank. Four Communities Activities Groups: The groups continue to thrive and run, including Meet ‘N’ Eat and our new Walk ’N’ Talk group. Visiting: If you, or anyone you know, would like a visit from a member of our pastoral team, please get in touch with Revd Carl, Revd Cathy or Revd Jenny. This might be at home or in hospital. Lifts to Church: If you’d like a lift to your local church, please contact Revd Carl who can organise this for you. Church AGM: All three parishes will join together for one APCM on March 28 at Claydon Community Centre. At this meeting we will elect our church wardens and church PCC members as well as looking at the vision for the year ahead. It’s also a chance to thank those who do so much for our churches. FUTURE DATES March 5 March 16 April 7 April 14-21 May 27 June 8 June 15 June 29 June 30 July 13 August 7-9

Gt Blakenham Pancake Evening from 6pm Vestry Café, Henley Church from 10.30am-1pm Gt Blakenham Quiz Night Bishop John Waine, 10am at Barham Church Holy Week (see poster p15) Wedding Festival at GB Village Hall Barham Church Fete Henley Church Fete Barham Picnic and Band Concert Songs of Praise, St Peter’s, Claydon Gt Blakenham Village Fete and Doggy Day J-TEAM at Barham Church

HALL BOOKING: Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Reg Barton, 839958 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463

CHURCH NEWS ST MARY THE VIRGIN BRAMFORD, ST MARY NETTLESTEAD, ST MARY THE VIRGIN LITTLE BLAKENHAM, ST PETER BAYLHAM Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Jenny Seggar Jenny is currently on sabbatical. Please contact Stewart on if you need to get in touch with someone: 01473 462231

and they are thankful to Val for suggesting that the names of those taking each service be included in the calendar.

SERVICES IN MARCH

For those of you who missed it, we had a great Christingle Service led by John Chenery with assistance from children and helpers from the Five O’Clock Service. We use our Christingle Service to raise money for The Children’s Society and they showed us how The Children’s Society started.

Sunday, March 3: Sunday before Lent 10am Parish Communion, The Rev Aileen Mortimer, Bramford 6pm Evening Prayer, John Chenery, Baylham

Please note that this month’s coffee morning will be on March 30 with proceeds going to Nerve Tumours UK. You can find out more about their work at: www.nervetumours.org.uk

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Wednesday, March 6 AM Ash Wednesday Quiet Morning, Needham Market Noon Communion Service, followed by a soup lunch, Needham Market 7pm Ash Wednesday Evening service, Needham Market Sunday, March 10: Lent 1 8am Holy Communion, The Rev Chris Chapman, Bramford 10am Holy Communion, The Rev Bruce Wakeling, Nettlestead 5pm 5pm Service, Bramford Tuesday, March 12 11am Communion by Reserved Sacrament, Baylham Care Centre Wednesday, March 13 7.30pm Healing Service, Methodist Church 7.30pm Lent Course, Methodist Church Sunday, March 17: Lent 2 10am Group Parish Communion, The Very Rev Joe Hawes, Baylham Tuesday, March 19 2.30pm The Gathering, Bramford Church Room Wednesday, March 20 7.30pm Lent Course, Methodist Church Sunday, March 24: Lent 3 8am Parish Communion, The Rev Bruce Wakeling, Bramford 10am Fourth Sunday Service, Five O’Clock Service Team, Bramford Wednesday, March 27 7.30pm Lent Course, Methodist Church Saturday, March 30 10am-noon Coffee Morning, proceeds to Nerve Tumours UK, Church Room

Blessings to you all, Stewart and Ken PARISH REGISTERS Baptisms on January 13 Tammy Elizabeth Rankin, Bramford Rhianna Jasmin Miracle Rankin, Bramford Tammy Smith, Bramford Luke Neil Rankin, Bramford Anthony Smith, Bramford May they grow in grace and the knowledge of God. Cleaning Rota: C Thacker and F Noble Flower Rota: March 2 – H Hart; March 9, 16, 23, 31 – Lent Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church January 24: In memory of Sandra Cracknell on her birthday March 20: In memory of Joe Gibson on his birthday If you would like to have the spire floodlit, please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week. LECTIONARY Bible readings for our Sunday Worship are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is good to share the reading of scripture with Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, across the world.

Sunday, March 31: Lent 4 – Mothering Sunday 10am: Joint Mothering Sunday Service, Methodist Church

March 3 Exodus 34.29-35

Sunday before Lent 2 Corinthians 3.12 – 4.2

Green Luke 9.28-36 [37-43a]

10am: Mothering Sunday Communion, Archdeacon David, Nettlestead

March 10 Deuteronomy 26.1-11

Lent 1 Romans 10.8b-13

Purple Luke 4.1-13

Please check porch notices for any changes. Dear Friends, As this piece has to be submitted almost a month early it has to cover quite a lot. The Rev Jenny is now on sabbatical and we pray that she enjoys her periods of retreat, study and relaxation. Before she left, she arranged for our services to be taken by some great friends and leaders. In her absence, Stewart and Ken are providing this article

We also start our Lent Course this month on March 13. Meetings will begin at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church. We will be learning about the Bible using a course from the Pilgrim series we’ve enjoyed at past courses. We’re used to having the Bible read in services, but this may be an opportunity to learn more about it. If you want to know more, please talk to Stewart.

March 17 Lent 2 Genesis 15.1-12.17-18 Philippians 3.17 – 4.1

Purple Luke 13.31-35

March 24 Isaiah 55.1-9

Lent 3 1 Corinthians 10.1-13

Purple Luke 13.1-9

March 31 Exodus 2.1-10 or 1 Samuel 1.20-28

Mothering Sunday 2 Corinthians 1.3-7 or Colossians 3.12-17

Purple Luke 2.33-35 or John 19.25-27

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CHURCH NEWS

BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH At the Heart of Community Minister: The Rev Derek Grimshaw 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Steward: 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 third Sunday

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10.30-11.30am: Lighthouse Club for ages 5+ (term time only). Bible stories, painting, card making, biscuit decorating, etc. plus free leaflet to take home. 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 (held 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 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 DIARY FOR MARCH Sunday 3, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Rev M Allen Thursday 7, 3pm: United Service at Cherryfields Sunday 10, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Rev Y Haye Tuesday 12, 2pm: Network/MWiB – Talk on Talitha Koum Centre Wednesday 13, 7.30pm: Lent Course starts at the Methodist Church with hot drinks from 7pm Saturday 16, 10am: Coffee Morning at Church Sunday 17, 10.30am: Morning Worship, The Rev D Grimshaw, Holy Communion Monday 18, 2pm: Bible Study

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Sunday 24, 10.30am: Morning Worship, Mrs L Cope Sunday 24, 4-6pm: Families@4, The Rev D Grimshaw / Theme: Quiz Tuesday 26, 2pm: Network/MWiB – Ruth Arnold District President: Bees, Beds & Blessings Sunday 31, 10.30am: Mothering Sunday – Morning Worship, The Rev M Dawes. A United Service at the Methodist Church with our friends from the parish church

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Tel: 01449 721441