In Touch
™© ™©
with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Volume 8 • Issue No. 6 • APRIL 2018
Image by Jean Catchpole
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With you every step of the way Ipswich - 01473 396 296
99-101 Penshurst Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8QB
www.marksandmann.co.uk
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Some years ago I was invited to take part in a ‘Grumpy Women’ segment on Radio Suffolk. Each guest was asked to choose one topic, a task I set about with relish. When I met my fellow grumpy women in the green room before the show we chatted about how difficult it had been to choose. I was embarrassed to discover that while they had struggled to find a topic, I had struggled to select from a rather long list. I’d chosen people who eat from noisy packaging at the theatre or in the cinema, but the shortlist had included people who interrupt all the time, rude drivers who don’t acknowledge when you give way, the pseudoscience used to sell skin creams and cosmetics (just what is a free radical?), people who spit in the street… When I told my husband about the green room conversation he howled with laughter, until he noticed my silence. “Well you’re hardly surprised are you,” he said. “I’ve never known anyone who gets so easily annoyed about small things.” I’m sure you can imagine how that conversation went, but I’m making no apology for my grumpiness, though I prefer to see it as sensitivity! Of course this conversation took place at least 10 years ago and I think I’ve become a nicer person since I started working at In Touch. It’s impossible to be angry and judgemental when I’m constantly reminded of the good in people. Every month I hear from people who are raising funds for charity, organising local events (a significant and often thankless undertaking), setting up or leading support groups, promoting social opportunities for people who are otherwise isolated… the list goes on. We are so fortunate to live in a society where people care, where they look out for each other and give their time to make local communities stronger. The least the rest of us can do is turn up. Of course locally owned businesses are the beating heart of every strong local community, often supporting local causes, investing in the local economy and creating local jobs. Support each other and together we can look forward to a ‘grump free’ future!
In Touch
with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham
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: bramford@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
01473 400380 Distribution Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 Printing Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk
01473 400379 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.
We also publish In Touch with... • NEW Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •C apel St Mary •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead • 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
SATURDAY, MAY 12 The Wheelie team have made good progress and it’s looking good for a fun day. Craig is organising our live music programme and he says: “We have 15 acts booked so far including Unit 99, RAF Honiton Saxophone Ensemble, Wattisham Military Wives Choir, Rosie Hiskey, Meg Hughes, James Nunn, Chris Francis, Hollow Box, Offton Limeburners Buskers, Dirge and Folk on the Hill.” Andy is organising our vehicle show and he says: “A variety of vehicles are coming including Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, 1980 Lotus Espirit Turbo, 1964 Thunderbird, Suffolk Advanced Motorcyclists, Racing Sidecar, Porsche and Norfolk & Suffolk 4x4 Response.” Contact Terry on 01473 831529 or wheelieenquiries@btinternet.com if: • You can sponsor us, e.g. a beer barrel or raffle prize • You are an organisation or individual or trader and would like to run your own stall • You would like to join the Wheelie team as a volunteer • You would like to perform on our stage Contact Andy on 07833 089148 or wheelievehiclebookings@aol.com if: • You have a vehicle (or anything with wheels!) you would like to show (no entry fee) Visit us on Facebook: Wheelie Fun Day
COFFEE MORNING With scones and cream at The Church Room, Bramford Saturday, April 28, 10am to noon This month the proceeds will go to FIND
This month’s cover image is a lovely shot of the Bramford village sign by Jean Catchpole. It’s nice to see some blue sky too!
In Touch with...
MAY DEADLINE
© 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 Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
NEWS
10 APRIL 2018
is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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NEWS SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP
A Community Shop for the local community, run by the local community
The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416 OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm / Saturdays: 9am-1pm Spring is coming – what a happy thought! During the winter the community shop has been happy to host the Tea and Chat afternoons when it has been a pleasure to meet up with everybody. With the warmer weather these have now finished and the Coffee Caravan will be continuing its summer service with its tea, coffee, cake and information once a month on the green at Brook Way. Petrolheads will, however, be continuing in the shop on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month through the summer. We were sorry to have to say goodbye to Heloise, our delightful French volunteer assistant, at the end of February. Heloise had been in Somersham for three months over winter to improve her English and very generously gave of her time to volunteer in the shop during that time. She settled into our village life very happily and took part in many events, improving her language skills all the time, and would have been happy to stay for much longer. She would like to thank everybody for their very kind welcome and generosity to her during her time here and is sure she will be back at some time in the future (and be back in the shop hopefully!). How quickly time seems to pass and now Easter is upon us. Hot cross buns and Easter eggs have featured in the shop. Opening hours over the holiday period have been set at: Good Friday: 9am-1pm Easter Saturday: 9am-1pm Easter Monday: the shop will be closed to allow our ever reliable volunteers to enjoy some time off and hopefully a bit of sunshine along the way Our share purchase option scheme is still ongoing. This scheme enables local people to buy £5 ordinary shares in Somersham & District Shop Community Interest Company (CIC) as a gesture of goodwill and support for the shop, and to make it a truly community project. Unlike conventional shares there is not an annual dividend paid to shareholders as a CIC means that any profits generated will either be applied to develop the services of the shop, or used for the benefit of the local community. Shares will only be transferred at par or £5 value, so there will be no tax liability and a proper share certificate will be issued for safekeeping. Contact Terry for details – it’s the support of the local community that sustains our community enterprises for the benefit of all. As usual, our regular services include orders for regular or one-off meat, bread and cakes, the coffee corner for a relaxing chat, the book exchange, a dry-cleaning service (currently collecting on Tuesday mornings) newspapers and magazines for collection at the shop and a delivery service for those with mobility problems. New volunteers are always welcome to join us – even a couple of hours a month can make all the difference, and don’t forget that we would also very happy to see any students on holiday who might wish to gain a bit of work experience by volunteering. Have a word with Lucy if you think you might like to come along. The community shop gives real heart to the local community. Long may it continue. MANAGEMENT TEAM Lucy Barrett: 831890 / Sue Browne: 831321 Terry Fordham: 831529 / Peter Jousiffe / Natasha Leach Anne MacFadyen: 831288 / Steve Woolhouse: 831080
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SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM Hadleigh SNT (Safer Neighbourhood Team) is based in Hadleigh and cover 49 parishes in parts of Babergh & Mid Suffolk. The area is diverse, covering a predominantly rural area, but also the Pinewood Ward on the outskirts of Ipswich and the Shotley peninsula south of Ipswich. Hopefully by the time you read this the weather will be getting warmer and you will be thinking about getting into the garden or onto the allotment. We are fortunate that many of the areas we cover have access to allotment space; on the downside, due to the locality of many allotments they can often be vulnerable targets for damage and thefts. It is worth considering the guidelines below to ensure you do not become a victim of crime. • Fit good quality mortise locks to BS 3261 standard or closed shackle Sold Secure police approved padlocks and hasps. • Don’t forget hinges as they can be a weak point, so use coach bolts or oneway security screws so they cannot easily be undone. • Cycle locks and good quality closed shackle Sold Secure approved padlocks and chains can be used to secure equipment to a strong anchor point or to each other using a closed shackle padlock. • Protect your shed with a ‘shed bar’ across the door to prevent access. This and other approved security products will improve the security of your shed or outbuilding and can be found at www.soldsecure.com or www.securedbydesign.com. • Consider whether you really do need a window as it is another way in for thieves. Make sure you lock windows and either paint over or cover the glass to avoid people looking in to see what you have to steal. Wire mesh can be used on the inside to improve overall security. • Remove high value items and store at home. • Gates should be securely locked out of hours and have anti-climb features. • Perimeter fencing should be in good condition, visually open, 2m high, (removed) so any suspicious or criminal activity can be seen. • Consider planting thorny shrubs inside the fence at low level to stop climbing. Shrubs/trees adjacent to fencing gates should not provide climbing aids. • If shed alarms are in use, consider noise to adjacent properties and have procedures in place for if the alarms are activated. If secluded, consider GPS alarms or similar. • If there is an electricity supply, good levels of lighting are advised especially if allotments can be seen from passing members of the public via footpaths, adjacent properties and roads. • Make a property list detailing the make, model, serial number, value and description of valuable items. Use photographs to aid identification. • Overtly mark your property with your house number and postcode so that marking is permanent and property is less attractive for a thief to sell. See property marking section for more information. • Consider setting up an ‘asset register’ for the whole allotment scheme. • Consider investing in one large secure metal alarmed container for the storage of valuable items for all allotments. • Consider holding property marking days with the local Safer Neighbourhood Policing team. • Register your property at www.immobilise.com. This is a free web based property registration service approved by the police. See details below for help organising a property marking day or to contact police on any other matter. The next parish forum meeting is on Wednesday, April 11 at 7.30pm at Hadleigh Leisure Centre; all are welcome to attend to discuss local priorities and concerns. EMERGENCY: ALWAYS CALL 999 NON-URGENT INCIDENT: CALL 101 EMAIL: hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk (non-urgent, should you wish to contact local officers FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @HadleighPolice
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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: MARCH 2018 Accountability and transparency of Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Board The Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Board is made up of council leaders and chief executives from across Suffolk, the PCC, chief fire officer and representatives from Suffolk’s Clinical Commissioning Groups. They control £7.447m from the Suffolk business rates and £3.23m of central government funding. We Lib Dems, Independents and Greens are concerned about the accountability and transparency of the board. Meetings are held in private with no minutes and neither residents nor councillors are made aware of the group’s decisions. We raised our concerns with the chief executive at Suffolk County Council and I have been informed that they will be reconsidering governance arrangements. Next phase of Raising the Bar strategy The cabinet has approved the Raising the Bar 2018-20 strategy. It will focus on three priorities: 1. Exceptional leadership and governance across the education sector 2. Excellence in teaching and learning, driven by system led improvement and innovation 3. The best opportunities for every child and young person The strategy includes a very ambitious goal to place the education system in Suffolk among the top 25% nationally. These goals will not be achievable without adequate investment, so I am concerned that no new funding has been allocated. Scrutiny On March 8 we scrutinised Suffolk’s efforts to improve attainment at Key Stage 2 in Mathematics. There are some interesting figures, including some that showed schools in deprived areas performing well and others in prosperous areas doing badly. Leadership appeared to be the vital factor, and that is reflected in the priorities above, but academies where leadership has changed significantly did not necessarily appear to be doing well. Contract to support adolescents on the edge of care Suffolk’s Cabinet has agreed to set up a new ‘outcomes-based’ contract to provide intensive therapeutic support for adolescents at the edge of care. The idea is to reduce the need for and costs of care by providing
services that seek to keep children safely with their families. The contract will be funded by a Social Impact Bond: this means that private investors will provide the start-up capital and running costs for a private service provider and will receive a return on investment if the service is successful at keeping children out of care. I am concerned about the use of a payment by results contract where vulnerable children are involved. The authority’s team of social workers will oversee the service, but the administrative costs of doing this properly could be substantial. New drone technology for managing blue light service incidents Emergency services across Suffolk now have access to aerial surveillance by two small drones funded by Suffolk Resilience Forum. A multi-agency Air Support Unit will support Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and Norfolk & Suffolk 4x4 Response. Barham and Claydon Planning The application for 312 houses at the Whitton end of Old Ipswich Road was rejected at planning referrals, despite the need to follow planning law and the need for housing. I am sure the application will be back, perhaps modified to address its deficiencies or through the appeals process. One useful step forward was that the county is at last aware of the overall numbers of houses proposed in Gipping Valley, which hosts a large part of the Mid Suffolk Ipswich Fringe. The total so far approaches 2,000 and they will need educational, highway, medical and social infrastructure if they are to be acceptable. The application for 300 houses on Barham Church Lane will be at Planning Referrals Committee on March 14, over by the time you read this. I will report back If you have any queries, please phone me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or 07545 423808 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
SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY Spring shut downs The site will be undergoing routine cleaning and maintenance between April 15 and May 14. Cleaning and maintenance takes place twice a year to ensure the integrity and longevity of the facility. During this planned shutdown, and for the first time since we began operation, the turbine will have a minor service and the superheaters in the boiler will be replaced in part. There will be extra contractors on site, but there should be no impact on the local community. Want more Suffolk energy-from-waste facility news? You can now sign up for our twice-yearly e-newsletter. The e-newsletter is packed full of news, from how much waste we have processed to visitors we have welcomed on site. If you would like to receive these then sign up at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/suffolkefwnewsletter Paper copies of the newsletter are available on request by calling 01473 839149 or emailing: suffolkefw@sita.co.uk If you would like to keep in touch more regularly, Suffolk energy-fromwaste is now tweeting site updates and tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle your waste; follow us on Twitter @suffolkefw.
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SUEZ Communities Trust The Suez Communities Trust provides funding to projects that improve community life and the natural environment. It distributes money donated by SUEZ recycling and recover UK, although it is independent and has its own board, which decides which projects to support. Funding is available for projects within a three-mile radius of the Suffolk energy-from-waste site and applications can be made online. If you know a project that could be deserving of the funding please visit: www.suezcommunitiestrust.org.uk Any questions? If you have any queries about our operations, please do not hesitate to contact the facility on 01473 839149. OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS To book a visit: 01473 836821 Environment Agency: 0800 807060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910
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Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number
of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing
a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Andy a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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NEWS THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH
SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA)
The pub continues to go from strength to strength and as such we are now open five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday. March saw the start of the events diary in the pub with a host of interesting and varied events, including a quiz, live music, cookery demonstration and a charity fundraising evening.
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.
April continues in the same vein with the following events: Wednesday, April 4: The Duke of Marlborough Quiz Wednesday, April 11: The Offton & Willisham Carpet Bowls Club Presentation Dinner Wednesday, April 18: An Open Mic evening for budding local talent Wednesday, April 23: Music Hall Evening with Maggie and Stan. Lots of choruses to join in with, so bring your voices, have a drink and a good oldfashioned sing song, 7.30pm, free admission.
Volunteers Keith and Chrissie McKeown Thursday nights continue with pizza night, the perfect way to spend the evening with family and friends, either in the pub or enjoying the outside terrace garden. The chef, Richard, continues to receive rave reviews for his menus. Booking is always recommended so as not to be disappointed. He uses many local suppliers for his meat, fish and vegetables, helping the local economy as well as ensuring we have the highest quality ingredients. We are always open to suggestions, so if you have a favourite meal that you would like to see featured on the menu then please do speak to us and we will do our level best to incorporate it. The Marlborough Suite, as well as operating as a fantastic restaurant, is also the perfect space for a private function. Please speak to Kevin if you are planning an event and he will be happy to help you organise your special celebration. The pub is also a great place to stop off for refreshments now that the nicer weather is here, and many are back on their bicycles or venturing out on foot to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside. The light lunch menu is available from Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 3pm and includes many firm favourite dishes.
Full details can be found at: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning It is important to be aware that this is not a renewal of the original planning approval for SnOasis, which remains in place. Reserved Matters cover the detail of such topics as design, appearance, transport, drainage and ecological mitigation. Our questions and comments about Reserved Matters were summarised in a document which was submitted to MSDC in the summer as the comments from the SPA and all it’s member parishes, giving the comments extra weight because they come from a significant number of local communities, representing over 11,000 registered voters. The SPA member parishes are Baylham, Barham, Bramford, Claydon and Whitton, Great Blakenham, Little Blakenham, Needham Market, Nettlestead and Somersham. The SPA recently held a meeting with BMSDC Planning to find out the latest position on Reserved Matters. It was confirmed that there is no date planned for the application to be considered by the Planning Committee and there are still several major issues where information is still required or where the technical experts have not yet made their comments. These include wildlife and the environment, transport and drainage. It was also confirmed that the station in Great Blakenham is no longer being considered as part of the plan and that public transport for the development would take the form of shuttle buses from Stowmarket station. If you would like to comment on this or any other matter relating to Reserved Matters, the Planning Committee has said that, because of the unusual scale and nature of the application, they are still accepting comments. The SPA also asked if the developer could provide more detailed information about their responses to the comments made by the SPA last year on the application. Planning agreed to forward this request and we await their response. We remain committed to highlighting the issues of concern to residents and will use every opportunity to press for the best result for our community. As part of this process, we are meeting with Planning on a regular basis. For further information, please email SPA Clerk Janet Gobey: snoasispa@icloud.com SnOasis Parish Alliance Chairman Steve Plume
COWSLIP TEA
If you have a big occasion you’d like to celebrate, simply fancy meeting up with a friend, or you’d like to get away from the home office for a couple of hours, the pub welcomes you to spend some time in its charming building.
St Mary’s Church, Burstall IP8 3DU
For all the latest news from the Duke of Marlborough, please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marlboroughsomersham, on Twitter @DukeOfMarl or visit: www.thedukeofmarlborough.com
Come and have Afternoon Tea or a Cream Tea among the cowslips in the churchyard (or indoors)
01473 831283 / enquiries@thedukeofmarlborough.com
Book, plant and cake stalls. Parking available.
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Saturday, April 21, 2-4.30pm
St Mary’s has an amazing show of cowslips and other wild flowers.
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BRAMFORD & DISTRICT SOCIAL CLUB (Formerly known as Bramford RBL Club)
Entertainment for April 71-73 The Street, Bramford IP8 4DX. Tel: 01473 745198
Thurs 5 Sat 7th Thurs 12th th
Sat 14th Thurs 19th Sat 21st Wed 25th Thurs 26th Sat 28th
Quiz infared C/W WiTH CaCTus JaCk and THe LongHorns MeMpHis index Quiz kenny JaMes karaoke Bingo aLan Wade & raLpH Meyer
You’re invited to make an appointment at our Wherstead Park office to discuss:
Powers of Attorney Wills
Probate Court of Protection * We also offer a range of other services
Our out of town Ipswich location is very convenient for parking and has Contact us for an appointment today: excellent disabled access. www.ellisonssolicitors.com enquiries@ellisonssolicitors.com Wherstead Park, The Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ 01473 556 900 Ellisons Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA Number 49336
TickeTs now on sale for our th
Sat 12 MAY CaBareT nigHT wiTh andy leach and chelsea francis
reguLar darTs, CriB, Line danCing, karaoke, pooL and snooker nigHTs during THe Week. MeMBersHip aVaiLaBLe noW.
Every Sunday night Bingo at 8pm
We have a snooker room, pretty outside seating area and hot drinks available at the bar – so come and join us for coffee or beer.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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OUT & ABOUT CLAYDON AND BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE Monday: Short Mat Carpet Bowls / Bar Open Tuesday: Karate (all ages, 4-7pm), Carpet Bowls, Ladies Darts / Bar Open Wednesday: Bingo / Bar Open Thursday: Street Dance for Young People, 6.30-8pm Friday: Karate (all ages, 4-7pm) / Bar Open The hall is available on Friday evenings for your suggestions New to the centre: Weight Watchers from 5.30-6.30pm on Friday in the Compton Lounge. Enter at the rear gate on the school side of the community centre. Money Box: A new competitive game held at 10pm on Friday. Purchase a ticket and if your ticket is drawn, you select a key from the secret container. If your key opens the Money Box you win the accumulative cash contents of the Money Box. At the time of sending this article the prize is a staggering £413 with five keys left. Saturday: Bar open from noon-3pm and from 7pm Sunday: Bar open from noon-6pm, Christmas Saving Club and a traditional Meat Draw We are looking for groups or solo performers to use our stage in the hall. Contact us to book your slot. The American pool table is available to all to use during opening hours. Come and have a game; £1 for three games. The bar is fully stocked with popular lagers and cask ales, plus spirits and the hall or Compton Bar is available for hire.
CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE I went to Belarus earlier than usual this year to meet the group of children who will be coming to us this summer. I travelled just before the ‘Beast from the East’ hit our area, but rather than missing all the cold weather I found myself in temperatures up to minus 22! Many of the homes I visited were unbearably hot as the heating is state controlled and to avoid pipes freezing it is kept at a constant high. I met with many of the children who had been to the UK on previous visits and delivered letters and gifts from their host families. The children are so happy that they are still remembered and as soon as I get to their school they all come running out to greet me. I also spent some time with several English classes as they all look forward to being able to practise speaking with a ‘real’ English person. We were due to bring a group of 14 children this year, but just before leaving I was introduced to a child I simply could not leave behind. She is eight years old, but incredibly small for her age and having had a mother who was an alcoholic for the duration of the pregnancy suffers with both learning and physical disabilities together with poor health. Yet despite this she remains a happy and smiling child who will really benefit from time spent in the UK. At the end of August there will be a group trip to Belarus and many people from this area will be joining us. This is a project based trip and we will be visiting many families, helping where possible using our pooled resources and skills. We will also be visiting the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Minsk and several social shelters which are a cross between an orphanage and a foster home. We will be taking as many clothes as possible for the children we will encounter so together with the need for clothing for our group arriving in July we really are making a major appeal to everyone to donate clothing for children aged three to 16 years, especially in the six to 11 years range as this should cover the majority of the children we will see or who will be visiting us. All contributions are greatly appreciated and can be dropped in to our charity shop in Needham Market or I am happy to arrange collection. Also required are basic medicines and for each child we try to collect the following items: Lemsip, decongestant capsules or drops, vapour rub, menthol nasal sticks, Immodium (or similar), menthol crystals, Sudacrem cream, oil of cloves or similar, digital thermometers, cold sore cream, Iglue mouth ulcer cream, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen tablets. So little can mean so very much. Link Chair Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / 07771 550868
ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, April 14, 9am-12.30pm, when there will be a car boot sale in addition to all your favourite market stalls. Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying. East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier. If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190. Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue. New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777
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OUT & ABOUT BRAMFORD COFFEE MORNING
IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5
The coffee morning will take at Cherryfields, Gippingstone Road, on Saturday, April 21. Tea, coffee and cakes will be available for you to buy and there will be a selection of pickles and preserves which are sold for charity. There are usually one or two other stalls at the event. It’s a good chance to sit and chat with your friends and fellow villagers so why not give it a try?
Route 5 MIP/5A MIP/5B MIP/5C MIP/5D MIP/5E MIP/5F MIP/5G MIP/5H MIP/5I MIP/5J MIP/5K
JUMBLE SALE (BRAMFORD WI) A jumble sale will be held in The Loraine Village Hall on Saturday, April 21. Doors will be opened at 1pm and it finishes at 2.30pm. There will be clothes, household items and much more. If you have items that you no longer require, please save them for the sale.
BARHAM HALL OPEN AIR CONCERT Claydon & Barham Church presents an eleventh Open-Air Concert in the gardens of Barham Hall by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Burrows with music by the Essential Sounds 18-piece big band and Pete Wayre on Saturday, July 7. Open from 5.30pm for garden viewing, music from 7-10pm, ending with a Last Night of the Proms type session. Essential Sounds is an East Anglian based modern big band line up of 18 experienced musicians and top quality singers in the style of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble. Pete Wayre is a renowned and award winning vocalist who is one of the leading names on the 1940s event circuit. Admission strictly by ticket, number limited to 450. Bring your own picnic, drink and seats/blankets. Early bird ticket price £11, full price £14 after May 31 if any remain. Cheques payable to Claydon & Barham PCC to be sent with stamped self-addressed envelope to Roger Colthorpe, 5 Phillipps Road, Barham IP6 0AZ. Contact for queries: rogercolthorpe@aol.com / 01473 831079
JUBILATE SUNG EVENSONG AT WOOLVERSTONE Jubilate return to St Michael’s Church, Woolverstone on Sunday, April 22 to offer a real treat in the form of a Sung Evensong. Jubilate is a choral group under the directorship of Martyn Bagnall and have delighted a full church in Woolverstone with their sung evensongs before. The service starts at 4pm and is on Sunday, April 22. Tea, chat and cake to follow the service.
Town/village Location Sproughton Church Lane Sproughton Wild Man Bramford St Mary’s Close Bramford Paper Mill Lane Great Blakenham, Chequers Great Blakenham, Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park Baylham Post Box Claydon Crown Claydon Edinburgh Gardens Barham Bacon Road Bramford Packard Place
Time 9.10-9.25am 9.30-9.45am 9.50-10.05am 10.10-10.25am 10.35-1055am 11-11.15am 11.25-11.45am 11.55am-1pm 2.05-2.20pm 2.25-3.50pm 4-4.30pm
2018 DATES: April 10, May 8, June 5, July 3 & 31, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 20, December 18 Please note that Mobile Library Route 13 stops off at the Sorrel Horse in Barham from 11-11.10am on the following dates: April 20, May 18, June 15, July 13, August 10, September 7, October 5, November 2 & 30, December 28
SUFFOLK BOOK LEAGUE WELCOMES POET HELEN MORT Helen Mort is a multi-award winning British poet. She is five-time winner of the Foyle Young Poets award, received an Eric Gregory award from The Society of Authors and won the Manchester Poet Young Writer Prize in 2008. She was the Derbyshire Poet Laureate from 2013 to 2015 and has won many more poetry prizes. Her latest collection, No Map Could Show Them, is filled to the brim with poetry inspired by Mort’s two passions: mountaineering and running. Helen will be appearing at Ipswich Institute Reading Room, 15 Tavern Street, Ipswich IP1 3AA on Thursday, April 5. This is the Book League’s AGM event. Doors open at 6.30pm, the AGM starts at 7pm and the event starts at 7.30pm. Members free, non-members (welcome after the AGM) £8. Students (also welcome after the AGM) are free with ID. To avoid disappointment on the door, seats can be reserved by emailing: tickets@sbl.org.uk Cash payment required on arrival (sorry no cards accepted). Pop-up bookshop courtesy of Woodbridge Emporium.
BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB BRAMFORD WI FASHION PARADE Our next meeting is on Monday, April 9, at 7.30pm at The Loraine Village Hall when there is to be a fashion parade. Family and friends are all very welcome to come along and enjoy the evening with members. We will be having a raffle and refreshments. There will be a charge of £3.50 for non-members. No competition this evening.
BRAMFORD LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Jenny Antill is coming to us on Thursday, April 19 to tell us about the Church in Russia in a talk entitled Between Heaven and Earth. It should be a very interesting talk. It will be in the Church Room starting at 7.30pm as usual. Visitors welcome £3.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
Owing to the Easter Holidays the Computer Club will not meet until Wednesday, April 18 (10am-noon), but will then meet on Monday, April 23 (7.30-9.30pm) and again on Wednesday, April 25. Membership for the academic year is £1, and then £2 per each two-hour session. Broadband and refreshments are available. There is no set programme; we are here to help you to get the most out of your computer. Why not give us a try?
BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD At our last meeting we had an extremely interesting talk and video presentation about the tunnels of Arras that were used in the First World War. We had several male visitors interested to hear this presentation. This month we meet on April 9 at Bramford Scout and Guide HQ, starting at 2pm. We will be having a craft afternoon. We would be very pleased to have any visitors. We meet on the first Monday of each month.
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OUT & ABOUT BRAMFORD CRAFT & CHATTER GROUP
GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB
Humblest apologies for my mistake last month, we have definitely NOT changed to Thursdays. Our meetings in April will be on Tuesdays 10 and 24. Same place, Parish Room, same time, 9.30am-noon. Hope to see you then.
Great Blakenham Craft Club is open to anyone living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area. The club meets every Monday from 2-4pm (other than bank holidays) in Great Blakenham Parish Room which is fully accessible. Members pay £2 per meeting to cover hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. If you would like to bring your own project to work on, enjoy our company and make new friends without doing the workshops the charge is £1.50 per meeting. Members take it in turns to make the tea.
SOMERSHAM WI Well what a start to the year we have had, with great interactive speakers on glass fusion, India and t’ai chi, and the start of our members’ competitions. We are delighted to have new members join us this year; word is spreading about Somersham WI.
As mentioned last month, one of the projects undertaken by members was knitting bonding squares to go to the hospital. In all 75 pairs of squares have been sent.
On April 16 we will have a talk from Suffolk Lavender Farm and on May 21 we have a craft evening where Jenny King will be teaching us how to make beaded bracelets. We will also be discussing the proposed campaign for the national WI which is ‘mental health matters’. Guests are more than welcome to attend for £4, plus the cost of craft materials.
At our meeting on March 5 members were given a goody bag of papers, toppers and die cuts together with some blank cards and envelopes all with an oriental theme. As well as making cards the items could be used for notebooks, making framed pictures and other items of home décor. Pictures to follow next month,
We look forward to hosting our local WIs at Somersham on St George’s Day for an English-themed evening including entertainment from Pluck and Squeeze. This is a members-only event, but you can join throughout the year. Just come along to a regular meeting as a guest to find out what we do.
2018 Programme April 9: Take a Piece of Card May 14: Layers for the Lads June 4: Bag Ladies July 2: Felting August 6: It’s a Jungle Out There September 3: No Tune on this Accordion October 1: Christmas Stockings November 5: Christmas Card Making December 3: AGM and Christmas Party
For information visit: www.facebook.com/SomershamWI
SPROUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS’ CLUB Two or three years ago I bought a pair of snow boots and eagerly waited to use them. Earlier this year I tried them on only to find I had a swollen foot, but a son gladly accepted them. I was disappointed when we had the recent heavy snow, but pleased I had an excuse not to venture outdoors as I was very unsteady on my feet. I do not intend to buy any more boots, so you can’t blame me for any future periods of snow. I hope to see most club members at the AGM on April 18. John Bates
If you have been interested in our entries to the magazine over the past year and think it all sounds interesting, 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
ST MARY’S CHURCH GATHERING Every third Tuesday in the month, 2.30-4pm, in the Church Room.
GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER-50S CLUB Great Blakenham Over-50s Club is open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in Great Blakenham Parish Room. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and a raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The weather at the end of February meant that our meeting on February 28 was cancelled so our bring-and-buy has been rescheduled for April 25. As I am writing this before our meeting on March 14, I will bring you up-to-date next month. Forthcoming Programme April 11: A visit from Andy Malcolm from the Fisherman’s Mission April 25: Social afternoon including a Bring-and-Buy May 9: A visit from Andrew Bingham, Independent Funeral Service May 23: Social afternoon with Brenda June 13: TBA June 27: A visit from Malcolm Crowe – Capricorn Crafts Toymaker July 11: Social afternoon with Sandra July 25: Summer party before our summer break New members are always welcome, but if you would just like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690
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Do come and join us; we will be very pleased to see you. If transport is required please contact Janet: 741331
IPSWICH AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB Probus clubs are for retired or semi-retired business gentlemen. The primary objective is to provide fellowship between members and to share similar interests in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We meet monthly at the Masonic Hall in Soane Street, Ipswich on the last Wednesday of each month for lunch, followed by talks and lectures on a variety of subjects. In addition we hold social events including outside visits when we invite our spouses, partners and friends to join us. If membership appeals to you, please contact our secretary, Ken Stanley, for further details: 01473 274898 / probus174@gmail.com
SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB For our next meeting, Alexander Bass will be giving a talk on The Heathlands of East Anglia. This will be held in Offton and Willisham Village Hall on Monday, April 9 at 7.30pm. Refreshments are available, with a raffle and a selection of greetings cards. For any further information please ring: 01473 254941/830600
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SCHOOLS CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL Despite the snow putting an unfortunate and unavoidable stop to teaching and learning for a few days, the month of March was extremely busy for staff and students with various trips, visits and activities taking place. On March 15, a group of Year 8 students took part in the BBC’s annual School Report Day. The school has been participating in this event since 2008 and students spent the day planning, researching and interviewing staff and students, before writing articles which are featured on a dedicated online news website. This project offers great opportunities for all of those taking part, while offering everyone else a fascinating snapshot into life at Claydon High School. Mrs LovellBrown, English teacher and organiser of the event, said: “I was really impressed by the dedication shown by students on the day. Every single article was produced from scratch and to a 2pm deadline, which was a tough challenge. The students continue to impress me with their enthusiasm for developing their media literacy skills and producing their own stories about subjects that matter to them. Please visit our news page 11 at www.claydonhigh.co.uk to read reports produced on the day. On Monday, March 19, the art department held an exhibition featuring work from our Key Stage 3 students alongside work from Key Stage 2 students at our feeder primary schools. Students, teachers and parents/carers were invited along to view the colourful and talented work on display, which included some cityscape pictures from Witnesham Primary School, mixed media portraits, Fauve landscapes from our Year 7 and 8 students and much more. During the month of March we had two trips to universities. A group of Year 9 students visited Cambridge University on March 22 to tour their Gonville and Caius Colleges, meet staff and students and join them for lunch, before heading out to Cambridge Arts Theatre in the afternoon to watch their production of The Jungle Book. On March 27 a group of Year 11 French students visited the University of Reading for a GCSE French Student Conference run by PiXL. The interactive and motivational revision conference was designed to encourage and support students to be ‘exam ready’, equipping them with a range of strategies and techniques which will maximise their exam performance and achievement in all four language skills.
The children are all enjoying a well-earned break for Easter. They had a busy term with Stay & Play week, our Easter Eggstravaganza, Mother’s Day and lots of craft work. We hope they got lots from the Easter Bunny. We have lots planned for the summer term, with lots of expectation for warm sunny weather to enjoy playing in the garden. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Saturday, June 23: Summer Spectacular Wednesday, July 4: Pre-school Sports Day W/C July 9: Stay & Play Sessions As we are now open throughout each of the school holidays we will have the option to take children up to five years old for additional sessions during these weeks, subject to availability. The next bookings are for May half term (Tuesday, June 29 to Friday, June 1) and the summer holidays (Wednesday, July 25 to Tuesday, September 4). Please contact the administration assistant for more details. Don’t forget that from September 2017 the government are introducing an additional 15 hours funding for working parents of three and four year olds. This means that parents who both earn the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage (£115.20 per week) or more per week and less that £100,000 per year (or just one carer if a single parent) will be eligible to claim up to 30 hours of funding. You can register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible and also register for the Government Childcare Vouchers Scheme. If you are using the 30 hours you must provide us with the 30-hour code (given once registered) and your national insurance number. Once we have checked these details you can book sessions (subject to availability) for the following term. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact administration assistant Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648
We have also had two Maths Challenge events, as well as celebrating British Science Week. We will update you further with the results of these activities in the next edition. Time is flying by and we are now in the Easter holidays with only one more term left in this academic year! We have lots to look forward to when we return, including rehearsals for our forthcoming production of Madagascar in June. The cast has been announced and students are very excited. More information will follow, but if you would like to be involved in sponsoring our show, please contact Nikki McGuinnes: nmcguinness@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 Monday, April 23. Please telephone my PA, Mrs J Saunders, on 01473 836110 to book a place. Headteacher Maéve Taylor
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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SPORT BRAMFORD FOOTBALL CLUB 1928/29
IT’S TIME TO GET OUT ON COURT AND PLAY SOME TENNIS Welcome everyone to this, our first In Touch article at the start of an exciting new tennis season. Firstly we would like to thank Mick Russ for his articles on behalf of Bramford Tennis Club in recent years. We are extremely grateful to Mick and hope to build on Mick’s efforts going forward with interesting tennis related news relevant to our local community.
This picture shows a very successful Bramford team, champions of the Ipswich Junior League and runners-up in the Suffolk Minor League Cup. The final, which was played at Portman Road, was the only game they lost that season. The shirt colours were blue and amber.
We held our AGM recently to review the last 12 months and plan for the coming year, and what a year it was! Big strides were made since bringing in a new head coach, Carl Douglas, who has helped us to breathe new life into the club by establishing a much more active junior and family membership and by creating a modern website and Facebook page for us.
Some of the players above are believed to include Jim Page, Ted Page, Sunny Rodwell, Bill Cook, Charlie Cook, Jack Lambert, Albert Lillyman, Albert Garner and George Markham. Jack Francis is known to be seated at the front holding the shield on the right. Jack Barrell was the goalkeeper and wore a bright red jersey. Lawrie Garnham was the secretary and Gilbert Lambert was the linesman (information from the recollections of Les Beckett in the Book of Bramford).
Now we want to build on this success and get more people from the local community involved. So, each month we will highlight a couple of key activities to whet your appetite to come along and give tennis a try.
Matches were played at ‘Broadwater’ – a field owned and used by Fisons/ Packards as a sports field. The field is on the opposite side of the railway line and partly bordered by the river. t is currently used as grazing land for horses.
Tennis4Kids Tennis4kids, the LTA’s flagship programme for kids aged four-11, is coming to Bramford Tennis Club for the first time in May 2018. For just £25 your child will get six weeks coaching, a racket, a personalised t-shirt and a pack of mini-tennis balls. Places are limited so contact Carl quickly on 07553 966380 to express your interest or pre-register at: www.tennisforkids.co.uk.
If anyone can identify any of the individuals in the photo, please contact Kelvin Dakin – Bramford Local History Group: kelvin.dakin@btinternet.com / 01473 464502
SPROUGHTON BOWLS CLUB There is light at the end of the tunnel! After what seems to have been an extra long winter lay-off the 2018 outdoor bowling season is nearly here. After months of very hard work, the clubhouse, surrounds and green at Sproughton will be in top condition to welcome everyone out of hibernation on Saturday, April 21 when our president, June Laws will officially open the green. This will be followed by a competition for the first silverware of the year with the Sheila Herring Trophy drive. Following on from this on Sunday, April 22 we have the Club Blocks Competition for the SG Mee Cup. We then have friendlies against Copdock & Washbrook (home) on April 24, Woodbridge (away) on April 25 and East Bergholt (home) on April 26 before the league season gets properly under way on Monday, April 30.
Great British Tennis Weekend A free tennis experience event on Sunday, May 13. Come along and meet our coach, have a go against the ball machine or just meet other tennis minded people. Exclusive offer memberships available on the day with adult starting from just £25/year and junior starting from just £10/year. The above is just a taste of what’s coming up but we need your support to make Bramford Tennis Club the best village club in Suffolk. Visit our website to find out more or call/text our coach, Carl Douglas, on 07553 966380. Hope to see you on court soon! https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BramfordTennisClub
In other news, on February 17, 18 club members attended the Ipswich & District Federation annual dinner and presentation of trophies at Copdock Best Western Hotel. Not only did we collect trophies for winning Divisions C and G in the two wood triples leagues, but John Tyler’s team also scooped the Denny ‘Victor Ludorum’ Cup for the team with the best record across all seven divisions. Above we see our very happy club president juggling with the silverware! The following weekend we travelled to Southwold for our final indoor friendly against Sole Bay. Despite the home club having suffered a break-in the previous night, we were treated to a most enjoyable afternoon’s bowling which was followed by the traditional fish and chip dinner. Many thanks to all at Sole Bay for your hospitality and for making the afternoon a successful one. For more information about our club and for full details of results and fixtures visit: www.sproughtonbowlsclub.com
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ON THE GRAPEVINE DR DAN POULTER MP REPORTS BACK Most of us will remember those rare school days, when heavy snow meant the school was closed. The joy at having a day off stays in the mind: this time on our hands to play in the snow with our friends, have snowball fights, build a snowman, and arrive home freezing cold. We remember it because it was great fun. As we grow up, perspectives change, and we see things differently: the inconvenience; the treacherous conditions; the accidents – on the roads, pavements and elsewhere; the risks of cold to vulnerable people; the dangers of being cut off. It becomes a cause for frustration, or concern. The recent, heavy snowfall brought all those issues and emotions to the fore. The newspaper pictures alternated between children sledging in the park and cars stuck on snow-covered roads. What doesn’t get the attention is the silent, less photogenic story of elderly or vulnerable people stuck in their homes. Often they are struggling with the cold, sometimes they are cut off from visitors, or from the shops – stepping out on to icy pavements can be a terrifying prospect. In other cases, they may be reliant on a carer who can’t get through. We all have neighbours, and many will know frail, elderly or vulnerable people, either in our family or living nearby. Even as the snow has now thawed, the value of paying them a visit, or giving them a call, remains beyond calculation. It may save a life. And even if it is not that serious, it could make their day. Meanwhile, many of us who were able to get out and about were thwarted, with trains cancelled and roads blocked. Not making it in to the office can be frustrating, but for our emergency services it can have serious consequences. While parts of the country shivered under snow, our emergency services continued working 24/7, responding to calls, reaching people in trouble, and generally, doing the same exemplary, committed job they do every day. Getting someone safely to hospital in good time, or reaching those involved in an accident, can be literally a life-and-death issue. We are so fortunate in this country to have such wonderful, committed people working across our emergency services: not letting bad weather stop them from serving the public and saving lives. We owe them a great deal.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS SUMMER AT HOPS HOPS Mid Suffolk is a small local charity providing activity clubs for children and young people with severe physical, sensory, behavioural and learning disabilities. The children and young people are supported in play by teenage volunteers recruited from local high schools in the Mid Suffolk area. Volunteers give up their time during school holidays and weekend. We are now recruiting volunteers for the summer of 2018. HOPS (Holiday Opportunity Play Scheme) have recently gone through a refurbishment process, kindly supported by the young professionals of PPG. Part of the refurbishment work was clearing the very overgrown back garden at our base over in Thorndon to make way for mud kitchens kindly made by Stowmarket Meadlands Men’s Shed (SMMS). Once installation was complete representatives from SMMS visited HOPS to see the children and young people enjoying activities. A number of the children were busy getting muddy and messy at the outdoor mud kitchens. This visit and discussion on the day resulted in Alan from the Men’s Shed making a sensory busy board. The children have been delighted with his creation (as shown in the picture). This sensory board full of switches, bells, springs and strings has bought imaginations to life. Some fantastic roles play has been going on with captains of ships sailing the seas, traveling through time in a Tardis, and being in control of space rockets at NASA. Our grateful thanks go to both organisations that have supported HOPS. For more information about HOPS, volunteering or getting involved visit www.midsuffolkhops.org.uk or find us on Facebook: HOPSmidsuffolk
MENDLESHAM STREET FAYRE
For more information, please visit: www.drdanielpoulter.com
HAUGHLEY PARK GARDENS & BLUEBELL WOODS The gardens and bluebell woods at Haughley Park, near Wetherden, IP14 3JY, are open once again this year on Sunday, April 29 and Sunday, May 6 from 2-5.30pm to help raise funds for St Mary’s Church, Wetherden. To enjoy the gardens and the six acres of bluebell woods, entry for adults is £4 per person while entry for accompanied children under 16 years is free. After walking in the gardens and woods you can relax in the barn with a cup of tea or coffee and your choice from the selection of homemade cakes on offer. Some cold drinks will also be available. The church relies on members and friends to volunteer to make cakes and to be on duty in the barn or at the gate. Without them the event could not happen. St Mary’s Church, Wetherden, Parochial Church Council is also very grateful to Robert Williams and his family for allowing us, as they have done for a number of years now, to use the grounds and barn on these occasions to raise valuable funds to help keep our Grade I listed church in good order.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
On Bank Holiday Monday, May 7 the village of Mendlesham will be holding its 38th annual Street Fayre. The fayre will start at noon with a procession of May Princess and the May Queen accompanied by Stowmarket Boys Brigade Band. Old Market Street will be closed to traffic and full of stalls selling crafts, bric-a-brac, plants, jewellery and tickets for our grand draw. Throughout the afternoon there will be live music on stage from the The Emmatones, Suffolk School of Samba with dancers, dancing from East Suffolk Morris Men, clog dancing from the Haughley Hoofers and the Tricky Twister to entertain the children. Visit Wings Elite Birds of Prey, the craft fayre in the community hall and the famous armoury in St Mary’s Church will be open. This year The Mix in Stowmarket will be bringing their portable skate park for you to try with instruction for children and adults. You will find plenty of refreshments including a hog roast, hot dogs, teas, sandwiches and cakes, all provided by village charities. Not forgetting the bygone farm machinery. Entry is by £3 programme for adults with under-16s free and a free car park. To book a space in the street contact Angela on 01473 766483 (no food outlets needed). The event is run by Mendlesham Community Council and the money raised each year goes to help support village charities, the school and the community.
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ON THE GRAPEVINE PAKENHAM WATER MILL Another season started at your local historic, picturesque water mill on March 31. Do come and visit this special mill which is the last working water mill in Suffolk and owned by the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust. We depend on public support and it is a little gem right on your doorstep. The mill is administered and maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers. Tours of the mill are available at weekends and on Thursdays (when you can usually see the mill in action, producing fine wholemeal, rye and spelt flour). The tearoom is open for coffee and cakes, light lunches or afternoon tea, using scones with a high proportion of mill flour and other local produce. Our website gives details of all opening times. Private tours are available for groups (minimum 15) followed by refreshments on afternoons or evenings when the mill is not open to the public. We would be happy to hear from any groups, including art or photography groups that would enjoy the special surroundings of the mill. We can also cater for private parties at lunchtime or on evenings when the mill is closed to the public. This summer we are planning to cater for children’s traditional birthday parties where the special surroundings of the mill and the quality of the food offered will appeal to so many parents. Keep a look out for all our other periodic special events advertised on our website. In the warmer weather there is little more relaxing than sitting by the mill pond with your tea and cake. Dogs are welcome in the outside area, and they will enjoy our circular walk around the pond and beyond. Other attractions include our heritage orchard and wildlife area. For updates please like our Facebook page or visit: www.pakenhamwatermill.org.uk Please come as a visitor, but why not also think about becoming a volunteer?
OLD NEWTON OPEN GARDENS Sunday, June 10, 11am-5pm Old Newton’s gardens are to be open on June 10 between 11am and 5pm. About 15 gardens will open, ranging from cottage, wild-life friendly to ones more formal in style. In addition the village allotments will be on show. Refreshments will be available in two of the open gardens. In addition there will be plant stalls in some gardens and two showings (11am and 2pm) of the film Bygone Years of Old Newton in the Church Institute (IP14 4ED) Standing on guard in many of the gardens and elsewhere around the village will be scarecrows made in response to the theme Weddings/Marriages, topical in that there will have been a very recent Royal Wedding. You will have the chance to vote for the best scarecrow. The gardens can be found on a circular route around the village: Church Street, Chapel Road, Brown Street, Silver Street and Station Road. Each open garden will be identified by a sunflower sign and number. Parking is available at the village hall (IP14 4ED) where there will be a large map of the route. Entry is by programme (£4), available at any of the open gardens. Children are free when accompanied by an adult. The day concludes with a Songs of Praise at 6pm in St Mary’s Church (IP14 4PP). Funds raised will go towards the upkeep of this ancient church. For further information contact: Mrs Brooks: 01449-775334 / familybrooks@btinternet.com
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DO YOU NEED A SPRING IN YOUR STEP?
Now the better weather is arriving, a lot of people are getting out and enjoying it by walking, running and cycling around the countryside. For some that increased activity is going to cause a few aches and pains. From foot and heel pain, to shin, knee, hip and back pain. Tissue gets injured and irritated when we put more load through it than it is happy to tolerate. That can be from a one off big incident like a hockey stick being wrapped around our calf or from a fall. Alternatively we can damage tissue by putting just slightly more stress through it than it likes. This type of overload often doesn’t cause pain straight away, but builds up slowly over time and eventually we break down. It’s quite common for this to happen due to the setup of our feet, which we inherit. Hundreds of years ago when we walked around barefoot and over soft muddy ground anomalies with our foot setup didn’t matter, we would merely sink into the soft ground and away we would move. Now we have concrete and tarmac to walk over which is so firm, we don’t get away with the little foot anomalies that we used to and we don’t absorb force so well. Although around 70% of the population has non-ideal foot setup it doesn’t mean that over two-thirds of us need to do something about it. Some people are able to compensate and their body finds a way around the issues. For some they might not put sufficient load through the tissues to cause problems if they are more sedentary. There is a group though who do get injured, and their body needs some help to improve the way it functions. These people require orthoses, which are inserts which replace the current insert in a shoe and improve the way their foot functions. There are many different ways to make orthoses; different materials, different corrections, half, three quarter or full length ones. Some are very cheap and can be brought from shops; some just offer some extra cushioning, while the top range ones are custom made out of flexible carbon that lasts a long time. Others are prefabricated and a therapist puts on the required correction. Sadly, some people try orthoses and it doesn’t work for them. Often rather than an orthotic not being correct for the patient, sometimes the correction wasn’t in the ideal place, not enough, or the arch was too high in the device shifting the problem elsewhere; one pain was resolved but another created. Although an off-the-shelf shop brought insole may seem the quick and easy way to help you, there is no substitute for a thorough assessment. After one you can be given information on all the different types of insoles and then you can make an informed choice. It might be that you just need a cheap temporary device while you work on muscle strength mobility. In other cases it might be that you need more assistance and that a cheap pre-made device might be a false economy for you as it could give you more issues rather than resolve a problem. If you are suffering from upping your activity don’t continue to walk into further trouble, spring into the diary of a healthcare professional and get tailored advice on how to tackle the issue. Robert Grainger MSc MCSP HCPC CSCS Practice Principal PhysioFixx Physiotherapy Clinic Sports Physiotherapist www.physioFixx.co.uk
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CHURCH NEWS BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH 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 Morning Worship with Holy Communion: every second Sunday, 10.3011.30am* Lighthouse Club: 10.30-11.30am (term time only) Families @ 4: informal get-together with afternoon tea, 4-6pm (once a month – please check diary). Come and go as you please. This is not a service, but our minister usually joins us. MONDAY Bible Study: informal look at issues that those present wish to discuss, every third Monday, 2-3pm TUESDAY Network/MWiB*: our ladies’ meeting, although gentlemen are always welcome, second and fourth Tuesdays of month, 2-3pm WEDNESDAY Computer Club: 10am-noon (term time only) Prayers and Laying on of Hands for Healing: second Wednesday of month, 7.30-8.30pm THURSDAY United Service at Cherryfields: first Thursday of month (very informal), 3-3.30pm* SATURDAY Coffee Morning: Methodist Church or Cherryfields (see diary), third Saturday of month, 10-11am *Tea and coffee served afterwards DIARY FOR APRIL Sunday 1 – please note 10am start: Easter Sunday Worship with Holy Communion, The Rev D Grimshaw Thursday 5: United Service at Cherryfields, 3pm Sunday 8: Morning Worship, Mr P Walker, 10.30am Tuesday 10: Network/MWiB – Daddy, What is a Television Talk? by Lewis Taylor, 2pm Wednesday 11: Prayers and Laying on of Hands for Healing, 7.30pm Sunday 15: Morning Worship, Mr H Chicken, 10.30am Monday 16: Bible Study, 2pm
SOMERSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH Fake News or Good News We know more than ever just how important it is today to check our sources. That is exactly what Lee Strobel did when his wife unexpectedly became a Christian. As legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, he tracked down experts in history, archaeology and manuscript studies. He questioned them as to the reliability of the New Testament manuscripts, as well as evidence for Jesus outside the Bible. He asked is there any reason to consider that the resurrection of Jesus was an actual event? He was shocked by the answers and as a result came faith! His personal investigation into the evidence for Jesus became a best-selling book, The Case for Christ, and just recently a gripping film has been released which retells the story of his investigation. If you would like to see it for yourselves we are showing the film in various homes in the area between Easter and Pentecost. Just drop me a line for more details. Life Explored Many thanks to Kevin and the team at the Duke of Marlborough for being such good hosts to our Life Explored course. It was well worth running; I hope all who attended were encouraged and have a more positive view of God as good, trustworthy, generous, liberating, fulfilling, life-giving and joyful. We would also like to record our thanks for the faithful service of two who have died this year and entered into their eternal inheritance, purchased for them by Jesus: Doris Salmon and Bernard Mayhew both served the Church faithfully over many years. You are welcome to join our regular meetings of worship and fellowship. Sunday 10-10.30am: Prayer and Share 10.45-11.15am: Bible Study (Communion on the first Sunday) 11.30am-12.30pm: Worship Service Refreshments are served between meetings; come when you can and leave when you want. Weekdays at the Chapel Lunch and Listen: Thursday, April 5, noon Friends and Neighbours: 7.45pm (no meeting in April) CONTACTS Pastor Mark Newcombe 01473 831940 / 07958 830103 m.newcombe940@btinternet.com Edwin Mayhew: 01473 658100 Baptist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Somersham IP8 4QE Facebook: somershambaptistchurchsuffolk
Saturday 21: Coffee Morning at Cherryfields, 10am
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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 01473 748914 / revjseggar@outlook.com
We are very aware that not all of you have computers, so we will be able to offer face-to-face training if you need us to.
www.stmarybramford.co.uk
As a group of parishes we have a safeguarding officer, a safeguarding policy which we have adopted, and by the end of the year, anybody attached to one of our churches who you meet officially will be aware of what to do if they notice, or are told about any problems.
Wednesday, 9.30am: Quiet Reflective Communion Service APRIL SERVICES Sunday, April 1: Easter Sunday 10am Group Communion Service for Easter Sunday, Bramford Thursday, April 5 3pm United Service at Cherryfields Sunday, April 8: Easter 2 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am Parish Communion, Nettlestead 5pm 5 o’clock Service, Bramford Tuesday, April 10 11am Communion from Reserved Sacrament, Baylham Care Centre Wednesday, April 11 7.30pm Healing Service, Methodist Chapel Sunday, April 15: Easter 3 10am Holy Communion, Bramford 6pm Parish Communion, Baylham
The Rev Jenny Seggar The Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Bramford 01473 748914 / revjseggar@outlook.com What already? The annual village fete is not held until July, but we would welcome any unwanted gifts or items that we can use in the tombola. So please do have a look to see if there is anything (even a tin of beans) that you could donate. If you have can you either bring it to church or contact Stewart on 01473 462231. Thank you in anticipation. PARISH REGISTERS Funerals February 12: Daphne Fisher. Bramford February 15: Raymond Hardwick, Bramford We extend to their families our sympathy and prayers.
Tuesday, April 17 2pm The Gathering, Church Room
Cleaning Rota: J Sillett
Sunday, April 22: Easter 4 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am 4th Sunday Service, Bramford
Floodlighting of the spire of St Mary’s Church
Saturday, April 28 10am-noon Coffee Morning, Church Room
April 7:
Sunday, April 29: Easter 5 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am Joint Parish Communion, Baylham Please check porch notices for any changes. Dear Friends, This month I need to write about something serious, which affects everybody.
Flower Rota: Easter, April 21 & 28, W McGinty
March 22: In memory of Don Banyard In memory of Jim Thacker In memory of Diana Curtis In memory of Tom Wardley In memory of Peggy Wardley In memory of Tim Curran In memory of Hazel & Joe Gibson on their birthday In memory of Hazel & Joe Gibson at Easter
If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 4622317. The requested donation is £10 per week. LECTIONARY
I am sure that many of you saw the difficult headlines at the beginning of March regarding historical abuse in the Church of England. This has been a matter of great concern to the church for many years now and the church are taking very real and important steps to ensure that this is now properly and swiftly dealt with, in conjunction with many other local groups and agencies.
Bible Readings for our Sunday Worship taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is good to share the reading of scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world. April 1 Acts 10:34-43
Easter Day 1 Cor.15:1-11
White or Gold John 20: 1-18
A new and really comprehensive training scheme has been launched to help us to keep our church communities safe, and spot any signs of abuse in our communities. All ministers, churchwardens and PCC members will be required to undertake the new training, and as I write I have just completed the training I need to do to minister in our churches. Everybody who volunteers with us will need to undertake the basic level of awareness training which will help us to spot abuse and bullying, and stamp on it hard.
April 8 Acts 4:32-35
Easter 1 1 John 1:1 - 2.2
White John 20.19-31
April 15 Acts 3:12-19
Easter 2 1 John 3:1-7
White Luke 24:36b-48
April 22 Acts 4:5-12
Easter 3 1 John 3:16-24
White John 10:11-18
April 29 Acts 8:26-40
Easter 4 1 John 4:7-21
White John 15:1-8
This initial awareness training is done online and takes about an hour.
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Please feel free to contact either myself or our safeguarding officer if you wish to find out more about what this involves, or if you have any concerns.
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