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CAPEL CAPERS Volume 8 • Issue No. 6 • MAY 2018
Submitted by Dawn Hynes
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I’m sitting at my desk with aching limbs after an unexpectedly adventurous morning. At approximately 7.30am I heard by son shout “Oh my God” from the sitting room. I could tell it wasn’t a normal ‘I’ve just spilt my cereal on the sofa’ howl so I ran to him. I found him staring at what can only be described as a flash flood running through the garden. We both ran to the front door and sure enough it was there too, rushing down our neighbour’s drive, into our garage and garden, and a short time later, into my kitchen. I’ve often wondered how I would cope in an emergency situation and now I know. I shout very loudly! “We have an emergency down here,” I roared to Daniel as I grabbed my wellies and coat and went to investigate. When Daniel arrived on the scene I was waist deep in the ditch with a garden hoe, having assumed the culvert where it goes underground was blocked. On further anaylsis we realised the problem lay elsewhere and Daniel set off to find the source. I won’t go into the details here, but while others tried to fix the cause we set about trying to divert the flow away from the house and outbuildings using everything we could lay our hands on. Meanwhile Jack used every towel he could find (even the good ones we keep for guests!) to mop up in the kitchen. It was quite a team effort (practically a ‘meitheal’ as we might say in Ireland) and soon others, including neighbours, joined in and a pump was set up to divert water into the brook. I left them to it at this point (it was deadline day after all) but I’m not sure I want to go home tonight! Just imagine how many towel washes I’ll have to do? And grandma’s garden hoe is still firmly lodged in the ditch! Thank goodness better weather is predicated for next week and summer is on its way. And there’s still plenty of Easter chocolate in the cupboard! Perhaps the one positive I can focus on is the satisfaction of working together with others which I highly recommend. You’ll find many opportunities in the following pages.
In Touch with Capel St Mary
NEWS NEWDAWN INDIA FUNDRAISER Capel St Mary Methodist Church was the venue for a recent fundraising concert for the charity NewDawn India which helps slum and street children in the city of Madurai, south India. Entertainment for the evening – which raised more than £600 – was provided by Ipswich-based Orwell Singers and local singer Ian France. The Orwell Singers performed a varied selection of songs including Wonderful World, Fields of Gold, written by Sting, along with three songs made famous by the movies, Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Rhythm of Life from Sweet Charity and The Sound of Silence from The Graduate. Ian entertained the 80-stong audience with a selection of popular numbers including And I Love You So, If and Can You Feel the Love Tonight? from The Lion King. NewDawn India, based in Capel St Mary, supports the charity Vidiyal (Tamil for new dawn) which aims to alleviate the suffering of some of the 30,000 children in the Indian city. More than 300 children visit Vidiyal drop-in centres every day. There they receive help with homework, medical care and general emotional and practical support. NewDawn runs a sponsorship scheme which enables the children to go to school. Many of the older children have themselves become volunteers at the centres while continuing their academic studies. To learn more about the work of NewDawn India, please visit: www.newdawnindia.org To join the Orwell Singers or to book them for your charity event or other engagement, please contact Debbie Sharman: 01473 635955
DOVE CLOSE SOCIAL EVENING Friday, May 25, 7-9pm Juke Box Jury with Martin
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CAPEL@50 2018 is a special year for 1st Capel St Mary Scout Group as we are celebrating our 50th Birthday. We have various activities planned to mark this but our big event will be a group celebration camp from Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 1 at Vauxhall Christian Trust, Vauxhall Farm, Great Wenham. On Saturday, June 30 from 4pm onwards we are inviting friends and past members to join us for a gettogether around the campfire and a light buffet supper to help us celebrate. If you have been associated with the group at all during any of those 50 years and would like to attend, please email scouts. enquiry@gmail.com or phone 07837 154947 by Friday, June 15. We would also be pleased to borrow any memorabilia or photographs that you may have for us to put on display. Thank you. Dawn Hynes Photography Dawn Hynes is a semi-professional photographer specialising in pictures of stunning Suffolk scenery and also the very popular pet photography, as modelled on the front cover by Hugo the French Bulldog. Based in Harleston near Stowmarket, her passion for photography and many requests for prints has led her to build a website portfolio and turn her talent into a business. To view Dawn’s work please visit: www.dawnhynesphotography.co.uk www.facebook.com/dawnhynesphotograph
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NEWS
CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL Report from meeting held on Monday, April 9.
The chair reported on recent development updates within the village.
Present were Councillors Bishop, Harris, Hole, Kilby, Matthews (chair), Powell, Rogers, Streatfield, Thomas, Thompson, Weaver, White, County Councillor Jones, District Councillor Swan, Julie Lawes (clerk) and seven members of the public.
Clerk Julie Lawes
Following the March parish council meeting we now have a vacancy for one councillor following the resignation of Les Bryant. We are grateful for all the time and work given by Mr Bryant; this will be a great loss to the council. We will be looking to co-opt a new member in this voluntary position at the next meeting. If interested please contact the clerk for further details. All councillors now have a new contact email which is a standard set-up for all: Firstname.surname@capelstmary.suffolk.gov.uk The Local Government Boundary Review which recommended our electoral arrangement be reduced from two district councillors to one has disagreed with our recommendation to remain with two councillors due to our possible significant increase in electors. A planning application is to be submitted to Babergh District Council for the installation of a timber meeting room on the allotments site. A leaflet is to be delivered to all households asking ‘How would you spend Parish Funds?’. Following the approval of the development on Days Green, plus any additional development that Babergh District Council approves in the future, a Community Infrastructure Levy will be given to the parish council to spend within the village on items such as roads, school, open spaces, health centres, play areas, etc. This is evidence based and must be spent on our community with five years of receipt. It is very important that these are completed and returned to help us understand where this would be best invested. Responses can also be emailed to the parish clerk (details below).
The next meeting of Capel St Mary Parish Council will be in the library on Monday, May 14. There is an open session at each meeting when members of the public may speak. The actual minutes of the meeting are available for viewing at the parish council office at 27a The Street, Capel St Mary, which is open on Tuesdays from 10am-noon and on Fridays from 1-3pm. The parish clerk can be contacted on 01473 314103 during these times. An answer phone operates outside these hours and messages are picked up every day. Alternatively email: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com
DEVELOPMENT IN CAPEL ST MARY The application by Persimmon Homes for 100 houses off Longfield Road will probably be heard by Babergh Planning Committee in late May at the earliest, as Persimmon are still submitting documents. Also Persimmon Homes have submitted an appeal for the 150 houses off Longfield Road which will be heard in September.` Scott Properties are progressing their scheme for now 521 houses and light industrial units on land off Red Lane. They have been awaiting further information from SCC Highways, and will be having further preapplication discussions with BDC. On April 4 an Extraordinary Planning Committee recommended refusal for a new Methodist Church situated on the same site as the present church. The reason for refusal was parking as no parking provision was provided on the site. Capel St Mary Parish Council Chair Chris Matthews
parking IN CAPEL ST MARY Parking continues to be a problem in many areas of the village with driveways being blocked and vehicles being parked immediately on junctions. It has been noted that residents are parking obstructively on Mill Close and we would request drivers be aware and courteous to their neighbours and not block driveways. The parking on Thorney Road by Great Tufts also has similar issues with cars being parked onto and into the junctions and along Thorney Road by the dentists. Parking to the front and the rear of the primary school at drop-off and collection time is very dangerous with cars being parked on junctions and blocking driveways. Days Green has become increasingly busy with users of St Mary’s Church
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using this road when attending services and classes and parking cars opposite driveways. Within the village we are fortunate to have lay-bys and parking areas available for use which sometimes remain empty whilst cars are parked on the roads to avoid having to walk those extra few steps. Even where lay-bys are not available please be considerate to residents and other drivers, do not block residential accesses and do not park restricting visibility and access to junctions. Rule 243 of the Highway Code: Waiting and Parking DO NOT STOP OR PARK opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space DO NOT STOP OR PARK in front of an entrance to a property DO NOT STOP OR PARK near a school entrance DO NOT STOP OR PARK on a bend
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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: MARCH 2018 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Merger on hold? You will now be aware that the county council have commissioned ResPublica to undertake a review of future local government options in Suffolk. This was roundly criticised by the leaders of the district and borough councils as lacking independence or objectivity. Opposition members at Babergh felt much the same way about the controversial, much-maligned ComRes survey carried out with Babergh residents regarding a merger with Mid Suffolk. However, while the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Leaders have re-emphasised their belief that a new single large council is still their objective, our two councils will not move towards merger at least for the time being. This is partly because the county council is now willing to look again at unitary authorities and partly because there has been enough upheaval moving out of district headquarters into Ipswich, together with the on-going boundary review and elections only 12 months away. Opposition parties have long argued that merging the two councils will not solve the problems facing local authorities anyway, and have also challenged claims about the alleged benefits of moving into Endeavour House. This decision is a surprise but welcome. Much time, effort and money have been spent on internal re-organisations, rather than the service delivery we all pay for in our council tax. At some point, there will be a radical change to how local government works. A genuine public debate is needed about how public sector services should be organised and delivered. While a local dimension is desirable in order to represent people adequately, a broader and more strategic dimension is also needed to address the scale of problems being faced in Suffolk and elsewhere. In our district, we are faced with a local plan that will propose thousands of new homes, required not just to meet our own needs, but those of the
Ipswich Housing Market – and that extends from Essex through Ipswich to the East coast. We have a split system of responsibilities in local government. For example, district councils collect waste, but county councils dispose of it, Babergh is responsible for social housing but not for social care, county functions such as highways, health, education and other infrastructure are not properly joined up with the districts which have to deal with planning applications and development, and so on. It doesn’t make sense, and it’s expensive. Re-organising Suffolk will work much better if ideas and argument come from the people who live and work here. Local Plan and land supply We have recently been told that Babergh’s land supply projections are still some way below the five-year figure required by government. This is not good news for villages which are being targeted by speculative developers. We continue to badger the policy makers for a feasible strategy which will take account of the whole of the A12 corridor and its villages, with properly planned infrastructure – and not the ad hoc free-for-all we are currently experiencing. Planning Charter changes and Councillor call-ins Changes to the rules by which local councillors can refer a contentious planning application to committee for a transparent, public debate have been severely curtailed. Members are not irresponsible with their call-ins. Committee referrals allow applicants, objectors, parish councils and local Members, all of whom have local knowledge, to make their arguments direct to committee, rather than decisions being made solely by officers. Some of us are lobbying hard against these changes. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk
BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Possible Merger between Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils have been working closely together as two councils since 2011. During last year, the chief executive was asked to consider how the ‘Working Together’ partnership could evolve next and public engagement was carried out during December 2017 and January 2018. This has culminated in a detailed business case which has now been drafted and will be published shortly. Now, however, the county council have commissioned a survey re-opening the debate about unitary authorities in Suffolk. The creation of one or more unitary councils is one of the options considered in Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s draft business case. It was discounted as the preferred option in October 2017 on the basis that it did not appear possible or likely that it could be delivered in the foreseeable future. It remains the case however that both leaders, and many other councillors in both councils, would support some form of unitary arrangements for Suffolk that would see all of the district, borough and county councils dissolved and replaced. It has now been decided, in all the circumstances, and given that any new district council could not be created before May 2020, that it would be illogical to submit the Babergh and Mid Suffolk draft business case for detailed consideration by the Overview & Scrutiny committees and councils, or hold a local poll in Babergh at this stage.
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Electric Vehicle Charging Points Officers from BMSDC are leading on a project to obtain a 100% grant from Highways England to create a network of rapid-charging points every 20 miles along the A11, A14 and A12 key trunk roads on behalf of nine other local authorities in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. The grant has now been awarded which will cover all procurement and administration costs for the project (including our officer’s time). Work has begun on procuring and delivering the network. A charging point at Needham Lakes is being scoped for suitability. The charging points will generate income due to the predicted exponential growth in the uptake of electric vehicles (90% of all vehicles in the UK by 2050). Public Realm Transformation A report was received by Cabinet on March 5 and short term actions involve focussing on enhanced litter collection on arterial roads and co-ordination of grounds maintenance activity and street cleansing to avoid litter shredding, for example on rural highway verges following flailing by the county council. The development of an environment strategy, that will feature a major contribution from Countryside and Public Realm will help focus the council’s work in this area which includes ongoing work by the team to enhance sites for biodiversity, increasing community engagement and exploring the more efficient management of council assets such as parks and open spaces. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk
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NEWS ALL ROUND HEALTH FOR ALL CHILDREN
ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE
Constable Country Medical Practice Patient Participation Group has arranged a talk on May 16 at 7.30pm at Capel Methodist Church entitled All Round Health for All Children.
St Elizabeth Hospice has been part of our local community for nearly 30 years and it’s a local charity that many people have come into contact with in that time, either through receiving care themselves or by knowing someone who has. Each year the hospice needs to generate £10.5million with over 75 per cent of that coming from the local community – from people like you. This month we take a look at a few of the ways you could support the hospice including a new family friendly event.
A speaker from OneLife Suffolk will talk about healthy lifestyles and making physical activity fun. In addition, Jan Cavanagh, an experienced play therapist, will talk about the importance of play from infancy to adulthood. Representatives from Healthwatch Suffolk and Constable Country Medical Practice will also be there to answer questions. The East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group will be encouraging us to sign-up to share our medical records within the NHS. Parents, carers and grandparents welcome. There is no charge and light refreshments will be available. Capel St. Mary Methodist church is on The Street, adjacent to the village shops. Constable Country Patient Participation Group Chair Kathy Pollard
NOTES FROM THE CASE Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub Firstly, a big thank you to all of you who have supported our events over this long winter. The quizzes, open mic nights, games nights and many other events have cheered the cold days and evenings and made us grateful for our pub and those people – especially our volunteers who work so hard to make it possible. A special well done to the children who made such beautiful Easter bonnets for Bank Holiday Monday and all those who turned up to eat cream teas in spite of the weather. Now spring is here the games evenings are suspended. If there is enough interest we’ll start them again in the autumn. The open mic nights will continue, with the next one on Tuesday, May 1. Just bring yourself and your instrument – PA provided. Come to play, sing or just enjoy. There will be no quiz in April, but (if you get this in time) on April 28 you are invited to hear Robbie Gladwell (Cockney Rebel Band) and Friend perform a wide selection of music from soul to rock. See the What’s On website for more details. The May quiz will be on Saturday 26, starting at 8.30pm. If you would like a curry meal beforehand, early booking is essential. Last month we were sorry to have to turn people away as they left it too late. Food will be served up to 7.45pm. On May Bank Holiday Monday (May 28) there will be a walking treasure hunt round the village, followed by a barbecue at the pub. Of course you don’t have to follow the treasure trail to enjoy the barbecue, but it will give you an appetite! The treasure hunt starts at noon and the barbecue is from 2pm. More details on the website. Mid-week Lunches Why not pop in for a snack at lunchtime? A range of mouth-watering homemade light meals are served from noon-2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Unless you’re in a large party, there’s no need to book – just come in and choose from a menu which includes sandwiches, ploughman’s lunch, soup of the day and others. Children and dogs are always welcome and if the weather improves, you can enjoy our lovely garden, with safe access to the children’s playground just next door. 01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk/whats-on
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This June the team behind Bubble Rush, The Midnight Walk (May 12) and Who’s Afraid of the Park? will be bringing a brand new family friendly event to Ipswich to test your nerve and agility. The hospice has recently announced that they will be bringing Extreme Ninja Assault to Ipswich Rugby Club in Humber Doucy Lane on Saturday, June 16. The Great Garden Trail also returns this year with some favourite gardens re-opening for all to explore along with some new ones showcasing their owner’s horticultural talents. Trail maps are available in locations across Suffolk, including the hospice shops, or to find out more about the gardens that are open visit: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/greatgardentrail Thank you to everyone who has donated toiletries, gift sets, drinks and tinned products for the tombola at Capel Fun Day on June 9 in aid of the hospice. It’s not too late to donate; take items to 86 The Street. Many thanks for your support. Linda Morrison, Hospice Rep for Capel St Mary
SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM The weather is finally getting warmer so it’s time to get out into your gardens. There are small changes that can be made outside your house to make it more secure. For example having shingle put down instead of block paving or slabs will deter unwanted visitors because of the noise it makes on approach to your house. Making sure your fences and hedges around the perimeter are all secure and that repairs have been done after the winter. Perhaps having CCTV installed or a security light put up. All will keep your home more secure. Make sure you put your garden furniture and garden tools away at the end of the day, preferably in a locked shed. You could also have a shed alarm fitted for added security. Try marking your property with a UV marker pen which is only visible using a UV light. Finally, we have received a number of reports of vehicles being broken into. Please do not leave any valuable items on display, including sat navs, even if your vehicle is parked on the driveway. Take them indoors or lock them away in the boot. And keep your keys safe. If you require further crime prevention advice please do not hesitate to call 101 and ask to speak to a member of the Safer Neighbourhood Team. And remember to call the police on 999 in an emergency and 101 in a nonemergency. Have a great month, PCSO 3048 Denise Ford Safer Neighbourhood Team, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT INTRODUCTION TO BASIC LIFE SUPPORT There have been a couple of incidents recently in and around Capel that required a bystander to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until medical help could arrive. If it had not been for those bystanders knowing what to do, then the people they helped would not be here now. It has highlighted the importance of people knowing how to perform CPR. We are therefore running a 90-minute introduction to basic life support class which is free to Capel residents. There are limited places and it will be on a first come, first served basis so if you would like to come then send me an email or leave me a message on my answer phone. If there is enough interest, we will go on to run a second course in September (and further ones if needed). There will be a practical part of the course where people can practise their skills on a ‘Little Annie’ and a question and answer session. This session is on Tuesday, June 5 from 1.30-3pm at Capel Methodist Church. If you would like to come, but are unable to attend then let me know and I can add you to a waiting list for the future classes. If you would prefer a different time of day due to work commitments, then again let me know and I can try and arrange for the next class to be in an evening. Blessings, Caroline Caroline: 07588 706869 / Caroline@CapelParishNurses.org.uk Wednesday and Friday, 9.30am-2.30pm Margaret: 07588 698284 / Margaret@CapelParishNurses.org.uk Monday and Wednesday, 9am-4pm www.CapelParishNurses.org.uk
CLASH AVOIDER This diary has been introduced to help avoid date clashes in the village. Every effort will made to keep this list up-to-date, but please be aware that sometimes dates may be cancelled, postponed or re-arranged at short notice. This diary is not intended to be an all-inclusive what’s on and will only highlight significant dates. If you want to add an event please submit in the following format (date, event, venue and contact) to sharon@intouchnews.co.uk with Capel Event Diary in the subject line. Saturday, May 5: Cake & Plant Sale & Coffee Morning at Capel Methodist Church, 10am-noon. Contact Sally: 07875366120 Saturday, May 26: Messy Church, 3.30-5.30pm. Contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / maggie3@btinternet.com Saturday June 16: The Orchard Players, Danceathon (see page ?) Saturday & Sunday, June 23 & 24: Village Scarecrow Trail. Contact Chris Terry: 01473 311102 Saturday, June 30, 2-5pm: Health Fair hosted by Capel Parish Nurses Saturday, June 9: Fun Day at the Playing Field Wednesday-Saturday, July 4-7: The Orchard Players present Oliver, Capel Village Hall Saturday, July 14: Messy Church, 3.30-5.30pm. Contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / maggie3@btinternet.com Saturday, July 28: Allotments Summer BBQ from 5.30pm Saturday, September 1 & Sunday, September 2: Capel St Mary Allotments Association Annual Flower & Produce Show, Capel Village Hall. Contact: show.secretary@capelallotments.co.uk
bentley toddler group FUNDRAISING JUMBLE SALE Saturday, May 12 from 2pm at Bentley Village Hall If you have anything you wish to donate, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or contact Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) who will arrange to collect it from you.
Saturday, September 29: Scout Jumble Sale. Contact Sandra: 01473 312114 Sunday, October 14: Allotments Autumn Work-in, 9am-noon Saturday, November 3: Firework Night at the Playing Field Saturday, December 8: St Mary’s Christmas Coffee Morning, 10am-noon
If you would like to come to our sale, the hall will be open from 2pm. Tea and coffee will also be available. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.
CONSTABLE SINGERS: SONGS OLD AND NEW Constable Hal, East Bergholt on Saturday, July 21 at 7pm Tickets £7 to include tea and coffee Up to June 11 contact Mel for tickets: alantuttlebury@hotmail.com After June 11 contact Paula: paulagraham716@btinternet.com
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EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL Sunday, May 20, 9.30am-noon Admission 50p, Refreshments available Free Car Park PITCHES In advance: cars £5, with trailers £7, domestic vans £10 On the day £1 extra No traders. Gates open 8.30am for sellers ( 07776 291445
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Summer bedding plants; Perennials; vegetable plants: and loads besides!
In aid of NewDawn India and the street children of Madurai
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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LIBRARY May sees a difference in the length of the day and warmer temperatures. This makes for the ideal opportunity to sit outdoors to read with a nice drink – the housework can wait until you have finished reading your books! Keep an eye on our Suffolk Loves collection for some up-to-date releases; you can’t reserve these books online so do keep popping in to see some new editions added to the collection. Groups meeting this month Baby Bounce: Tuesdays, May 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 2pm to enjoy nursery rhymes, hand rhymes and to shake musical instruments tunefully. We will not meet on May 29 due to school half term. If there are any requests of nursery rhymes to sing then please let us know and we will try to get to know the words and tunes to share with you all. Open to all under-fives and their parents/carers. No charge. Minecraft: Meets on Sunday, May 6 between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Children under eight to be accompanied by parent/carer. Capel Creators: Meets on Saturday, May 26 between 10.30am and 12.30pm. A charge of 50p per child, which includes a drink and a biscuit. Children under eight to be accompanied by an adult. Capel Library Book Group: Meets at 2.30pm on Friday, May 18. Do come along and join in the discussion of the book read. Do look out for Friends of Capel Library events this month: Community Cinema: Tuesday, May 15 Scrabble Club: Saturday, May 19 OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699
THE ORCHARD PLAYERS DANCEATHON The Orchard Players are organising a Danceathon, a fun and energetic afternoon with local dance and fitness instructors leading a variety of dance styles. Saturday, June 16 at Capel St Mary Village Hall from 12.30-4.30pm Keep this date in your diary! Further details will be available soon so keep an eye out for further advertising. THE ORCHARD PLAYERS PRESENT OLIVER Wednesday, July 4 to Saturday 7 Capel St Mary Village Hall Watch this space for more details!
BENTLEY BOWLS CLUB QUIZ Bentley Bowls Club will be holding a quiz on Saturday, May 5 at Bentley Village Hall starting at 7.30pm.Teams of up to six players which can be made up on the night if necessary. We shall have a buffet and bar. Tickets (£6) each are available from Lillian Calvert (311756) or David Howe (310344).
A war, a clarinet, a girl, and – thanks to the enemy – life.
Daddy’s Diaries
DADDIES DIARIES BY JANE BOWER At 7pm on Friday, May 4, Manningtree Methodist Church hosts a one-woman play called Daddies Diaries by actress and Devised, written storyteller Jane Bower. This play has toured across the UK to anddiaries performed great acclaim and is based on the wartime of her father by Jane Bower Leonard Bower. “ The concept and delivery is masterful... Tickets are £8 and there will be refreshments and a raffle. integrity, talent and love run through it like Blackpool rock.” For further information and to book tickets contact: “ By turns funny and touching.” “ The whole piece was remarkable.... 07867 546484 very moving.... very redolent of Alan Bennett.”
For photos and reviews see www.janebower.com
ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, May 12, 9am-12.30pm. The theme this month is Royal Weddings as well as your favourite market stalls; fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items. 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 FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY Our membership continues to grow and now stands at 240, which we are really pleased with but would obviously like to see increase further. If you would like to join please call at the library and complete an application form. Annual membership is only £1 and don’t forget that being a member allows you to benefit from a discounted ticket price for the Cinema Club.
CAPEL IRISH SET DANCE GROUP Capel Irish Set Dance Group meets at St Mary’s Church Hall on the third Sunday of every month (except August and the second Sunday in December) from 2-5.30pm. We are a friendly group and it’s not necessary to have a partner. In fact you’re welcome to come along just to enjoy the music. 2018 Dates: May 20, June 17, July 15, September 16, October 21, November 18 and December 9 Hille and Trevor Peartree: 01473 310146 Chris and Marjorie Haste: 01473 311615
GARDEN PARTY IN AID OF ICENI Pop Chorus will perform at a garden party being held at Old Hadleigh, London Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2JJ on Sunday, June 10, 2.30-5pm in aid of the Ipswich based charity Iceni. Entry is £3 per head (children under-12 free) to include tea and a cake and all will be welcome. We hope to have a barbeque.
On May 15 we will be showing Their Finest, another must-see presentation starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy. The film is based in 1940’s London where the government commissions a film based on the Dunkirk rescue. While bombs are falling on the capital the cast and crew work furiously to make a film that they hope will raise the morale of the nation. Following the success of last year’s fundraising that enabled us to replace the reception furniture, this year we are turning our attention to the equipment used within the library. Included within our ever-growing list, we wish to replace a number of the mobile book units which are now showing their age, together with some of the kit in the children’s area. To support the on-going success of the Cinema Club, we hope to enhance the sound quality of the films by adding further speakers. We are also hoping to have a new cabinet built for the public computer to match the reception desk. The Scrabble Club has now been launched; dates and times can be found in the library or on our Facebook page (Friends of Capel Library). Over the coming months, as usual, we will be attending Capel Funday and Bentley Fete; please come along and say hello and take the opportunity to buy some of the many books we will have on sale. We are also in the course of planning an event for all of the children who complete this summer’s Reading Challenge and for the adults our annual quiz is being planned for October. As always, if you are able to assist at any of the planned events we would love to hear from you. Sarah Wilson, one of our trustees, leaves us this month and is in the process of setting up a Friends Group in Felixstowe. I would just like to take the opportunity to thank Sarah for all her hard work and support over the last few years and wish her every success with the new group. Trevor Stevenson
CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB Annual Plant Sale Saturday, May 5, 9.30-11.30am Near the village hall bus stop Refreshments will be available at the Methodist Church Plant Sale
WAR MEMORIAL FUND QUIZ NIGHT CAPEL VILLAGE HALL Saturday, June 23 Doors open at 7pm Quiz starts at 7.30pm General knowledge questions plus raffle Maximum six per team Entry including nibbles £5 HOW TO ENTER Entry forms available from: Drayton Insurance Services / Capel Library 01473 310580 / 07802 315597 Closing date for entries: Saturday, June 16 Join in and make this the best-ever quiz night
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COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF WHY IDELO TRAVEL ARE DIFFERENT
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visit Gladwells Pet & Country Store Copdock Mill, Old London Road, Copdock, IP8 3LA • 01473 731117
gladwells.copdock@copdockmill.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8am - 6pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm www.copdockmill.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT THOMAS KING MEMORIAL GOLF DAY Keen golfers in the Hintlesham and Ipswich area are invited to play in the Thomas King Memorial Golf Day at Hintlesham Golf Club on Sunday, June 10. Jack and Larissa King are organising their second golf day event to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) who supports families who have children in hospitals far away from home.
NORDIC WALKING TASTER SESSIONS Four Nordic Walking taster sessions, each lasting approximately an hour under the professional instruction of Lesley Krause from Suffolk Striders, are to be held in Capel St Mary for anyone looking to benefit from this healthier way of walking (poles will be provided). The dates and time depend on the interest and the availability of those wishing to take part. After the recent demonstration at the Countryside Club several members showed an interest but more are required to make Capel a viable centre of this activity to grow.
Jack and Larissa’s son Thomas was born with a heart condition and rushed to Evelina Hospital in Central London. He was looked after for six weeks until he sadly passed away from his condition.
For more information please contact Linda Evans giving times and days available: 01473 311262
They continue raising money for RMHC after raising almost £4,800 at last year’s event. The charity allows families to stay free of charge in a house which has 59 rooms, kitchens and other essential facilities and support networks to enable families to live near their children who are being cared for in intensive care units in such hospitals.
CHATTISHAM MIDSUMMER OPEN GARDENS
The golf day is £45 per player which includes 18 Holes at Hintlesham Golf Club and a meal following your golf round. Competitions on the day include individual prizes for first, second and third including an engraved claret jug for the winner to keep for a year. There will be team prizes and individual prizes for nearest the pins, longest drives and holes in one (TBC) and a raffle on the day.
A great family day out with 12+ gardens open in this friendly village. Enjoy visiting a wide range of types and ages of gardens including formal, natural and aquatic features.
Jack and Larissa are also looking for hole sponsors with good exposure on the day and through their Facebook event page, and prize donations to help them raise money for this important but relatively little known charity.
Admission £4, accompanied children under-14 free. Tickets on the day from car park or any open garden.
If you would like to participate or support the day through sponsorship or donations please contact: Jack King 07971 210690 / Larissa King 07707 785868 / thomas_kingfundraising@hotmail.com Facebook: Thomas Kings Memorial Page
Sunday, June 17, 11am-5.30pm
Attractions include plant sales, cakes, lunches and cream teas. Family competition.
All proceeds to Chattisham Church Restoration. Three miles west of Ipswich, one mile south of the A1071 at Hintlesham / Sat Nav ref: IP8 3QE. Further information: 01473 652359 / r.d.chase@uwclub.net www.hintleshamandchattisham.onesuffolk
MAYFLOWER CROSS COUNTRY RUN Preparations are now well in hand for Manningtree Rotary Club’s 2018 Mayflower Cross Country Run and Walk which will be on Sunday, May 27. Registration is now open online at www.eventrac.co.uk/listed-races/ mayflower and entries are coming in steadily. Entry costs £12 in advance and £14 on the day. Children under 12 go free, but must be registered. The entry fee covers the administrative costs of the event and contributes to the club’s own charity fund. It’s also a great opportunity for participants to get sponsorship for their own favourite charity. Check in on the day is at the Harwich Low Lighthouse from 9.30am where friendly Rotarians will be ready to greet you. Runners will start at 10.30AM and walkers will leave 10 minutes later.
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VILLAGE LINK CLUB For our March meeting Barbara Faulkner spoke on the history of scarecrows. Our meeting on May 9 features a talk on the history of Butley Priory, followed by our AGM. A new programme of talks is currently in development and should be available at the May meeting. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments (when there is time for a chat with other members) and a raffle. New members and visitors are welcome to join us. Roger Felgate: 01473 311684
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CAPEL ST MARY & LITTLE WENHAM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE
BT SPORT Available on the Big Screen in the Vine Lounge!
FREE WI-FI In both Bars!
CARD PAYMENT SERVICE now available!
FREE TABLE TENNIS Subject to Hall availability! The Member’s Draw takes place every Friday night in the Vine Lounge. BIG CASH PRIZES The winning member must be present in the Village Hall Complex to win or have had a go on the FRIDAY NIGHT DRAW!
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“BINGO” THURSDAY 17th May & 21st June DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Vine Lounge Books £1 Or 6 Books £5 EYES DOWN 8.30pm “ DEBUT GIG - THE SEVENTH HOUSE” SATURDAY 19th MAY DOORS OPEN 7.30pm In the Village Hall “The Seventh House are a new function band, bringing together some talented musicians. Something for everyone….covers of Queen, Eagles, Ray Charles, Elton John, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, UB40, 70’s Disco, amongst many other’s….” FREE Entry! “POOL TOURNAMENT & BBQ” SUNDAY 27th May - FROM 12 noon In the Family Bar Sign up at the Bar Over 18’s Only - £5.00 to enter “FUNDAY” SATURDAY 9th June 1pm-5pm At Capel Playing Field Lots to see including “J & C’s Party Pets” & “Lightning Mcqueen” Plus local displays and much, much more! FREE ADMISSION “KARAOKE” SATURDAY 23rd June DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Vine Lounge FREE ENTRY!
To buy Tickets or book Quiz Teams, call in the Village Bar or ring Ruth - 07548130293 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EVENTS MENTIONED ON THIS PAGE VISIT CAPEL VILLAGE BAR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THE WEBSITE
2018 Association Membership Membership renewal is due in January each year. Application forms are available from Capel Village Bar In Touch online:
OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE HALL DIARY, MAY 2018 Tuesday 1 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, hall Ballroom (all levels) 8.15-9.15pm, hall Wednesday 2 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 3 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Capel Ladies, 7-10.30pm, library Friday 4 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, library Saturday 5 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, hall Sunday 6 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Tuesday 8 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8.00pm library Wednesday 9 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Flower Arranging, 6.30-10.30pm, library Thursday 10 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Women’s Institute, 7-10.30pm, library Friday 11 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, library Saturday 12 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, hall Orchard Players Danceathon, noon-5pm, hall Sunday 13 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Monday 14 Parish Council Meeting, 7.30-10.30pm, library Tuesday 15 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, hall Community Cinema, 7.30-10.30pm, library Wednesday 16 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 17 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Bingo, 7.30-11pm, Vine Lounge Friday 18 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, library Saturday 19 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, hall Association Event / Live Music, 7.30-11.30pm, hall
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Sunday 20 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 2-6pm, hall Monday 21 Blood Donating, all day, hall Association Meeting, 8-10.30pm, library Tuesday 22 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, hall Bereavement Counselling, 6-8pm, library Wednesday 23 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 24 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Gardening Club, 6-10.30pm, library Friday 25 Strength & Balance Class, 10.30-11.30am, library Saturday 26 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, hall Sunday 27 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Afternoon Pool Tournament, family bar Tuesday 29 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5pm, hall Ballroom Dance (private lessons), 6.15-8.15pm, hall Ballroom (all levels), 8.15-9.15pm, hall Wednesday 30 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 31 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall A CELEBRATION OF LIFE If you would like to celebrate the life of someone you loved who has passed away, you can hire the Vine Lounge in the village hall complex most weekdays for just £75. All enquires to Mandy. FUNCTION ROOMS FOR HIRE If you are organising a party, social event or business meeting, or just want a get together with family and friends, why not book the village hall, Vine Lounge, library or stage? We can cater for parties between 20 and 200 people at very competitive rates. Rooms are available during the daytime or evenings. Facilities include a fully licensed bar and a kitchen preparation area with prices starting from as little as £10 an hour for the library, £15 an hour for the hall and the Vine Lounge is £88 for an evening. All enquires to Mandy. CONTACTS Village Bar: 01473 311766 Mandy Marshall (events and hiring): 01473 312026 / bookings@capelcommunitytrust.org
FREE ROOM HIRE: SPECIAL OFFER FOR A TRIAL PERIOD Do you have a celebration coming up? If you are a member of Capel Community Association you may be eligible for free room hire for an adult party in the hall or Vine Lounge. For further details, please contact Mandy on 01473 312026. Terms and conditions do apply.
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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LADIES CLUB
STOUR VALLEY U3A
The Royal Gardens by Mark Lane Members were very excited about their April speaker. Mark Lane was coming to talk to us about The Royal Gardens, but as we found out, there are two Mark Lanes, both highly accredited in the gardening sphere. One is the wheelchairbound garden designer who also presents Gardener’s World from time to time and the other is the Queen’s head gardener at Buckingham Palace. Who knew? I think we had all assumed it would be Mark Lane from Gardener’s World and so when Di Barker and her husband went to collect Mark off the evening train from London they were looking for a man in a wheelchair! Misunderstandings corrected, our Mark Lane arrived in the library to give his talk, having come straight from work especially to speak to us, and charging us nothing but the price of his train ticket.
On April 11, Professor Wendy Harwood, a senior scientist at the John Innes Centre who works on genetically modified crops, gene editing and similar, presented a talk entitled GM Crops – Where Are We Now? on April 11. Wendy has 20 years’ experience in the GM field and she covered what the technology is, how it has developed from the first GM crops, how the new technology of gene editing fits in, the current situation worldwide and what’s in the pipeline.
He spoke in a very relaxed style, telling us about the history of the 39-acre garden at Buckingham Palace, and showing photos of the different areas of landscape and planting. There is a large five-acre lawn where the garden parties are held, a three-acre lake and a large wildflower area, plus a huge herbaceous border, a rose garden and extensive vegetable plot growing organic produce. The palace is self-sufficient in its own honey too, having several beehives. There are nearly 500 mature trees and a very comprehensive plant collection. Mark has been head hardener at the palace for over 30 years, and he also oversees the gardens at Clarence House, home to the Prince of Wales. A total of only eight gardeners are employed at these two places which seems surprisingly few as they are kept very busy throughout the year with all the many functions, open days and exhibitions held in the grounds. The palace grounds are home to many types of wildlife, which bring their own sets of problems – for example large flocks of greylag and Canada geese live by the lake, and, of course, create a lot of mess which needs to be continually cleared up. At the end of Mark’s illustrated and interesting talk he answered a number of our questions before leaving to catch his train back to London. Teddy at The New Wolsey Theatre The name Teddy might conjure up something cosy and cuddly – but don’t be fooled. This show at the New Wolsey was anything but! Set in the deprived area of bomb-blasted streets of south London in the early ‘50s this was a raw and gritty tale of two teenagers, Josie and Teddy, heading out all dolled up and looking for a good time and the excuse to leave their dull, humdrum lives behind for the evening. They meet by chance and having heard that their favourite rock star Johnny Valentine is in town they decide to go and see him and his band. The problem is – they are flat broke. Having got hold of a gun they rob a pawnbroker’s shop, but things get out of hand and they flee the scene with the cash. Arriving at the club they buy drinks and dance to their favourite music, but it all turns sour when Teddy spills his drink on a guy who doesn’t think it’s too funny. In the fracas that ensues, Josie – who still has the gun – shoots the guy and the show ends with our two protagonists under arrest. With plenty of colourful language this was a vibrant and lively show. The two stars were on the stage the whole time, speaking their own parts as well as cleverly voicing those of other characters involved, and the action and drama were non-stop. All this with some stunning dance moves and a brilliant script, plus moments of high tension, made this a great show. Mention must also be made of the four-piece band, Johnny Valentine & Friends, who played live throughout, giving us original numbers written for the show plus Blue Suede Shoes and Rock Around the Clock which they performed at the end as an encore. The party of Capel Ladies who saw it couldn’t fail to be caught up in it! Not what we thought it would be, but very memorable! Reports by Sue Woolgar Why not join us for further entertaining trips and talks? For more information please ring Di Barker on 311870 or visit: www.capelladies.com
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Roger Kennell will present William Pretty – A Suffolk Family & Corset Manufacturer on May 9. His illustrated presentation follows the major corset making business of William Pretty & Son at Ipswich (and its outpost factories) which was part of the Footman Pretty department store, now Debenhams. On June 13 Tony Diamond’s subject is chocolate and he will tell us of the spread of the hot drink in Europe, the astonishing aspects of chocolate and an overview of its financial importance to the UK. Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted. We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, except August and December. It’s never too late to learn! Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.
STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Our AGM was held on Wednesday, March 21 when Graeme Forsyth (president), Paul Holmes (vice-president), Peter Stanway-Williams (treasurer), Hew Naylor (secretary), Dave Carman (speaker secretary), Russell Howe and Paul Oliver were voted in to form the new committee. Bob Milne presented a talk entitled The Assignation of the Italian Barber on April 4 and Oliver Paul from Suffolk Food Hall presented Food and Farming Heritage on April 18. We have two interesting speakers in May. On May 2 Joyce Kimber will speak on Britain’s Finest Hour and on May 16 Brain Kelly will enlighten us on The Life of a British Consul. On June 6 Dr John Knight will talk on the life of John Betjeman in a talk entitled The Man & His Poetry, and on June 20 Chris Parfitt will present A Portrait of a Suffolk River. On July 4 John Field will introduce us to The Treasures of Ipswich. We hold our summer buffet at the popular Haywain on July 18 when our spouses and Probus widows join us for what is sure to be an enjoyable event and a tasty meal. Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact speaker secretary Dave Carman: 01255 880202
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OUT & ABOUT CRAFTERS UNLIMITED
MANNINGTREE POETRY GROUP
A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.
The next meeting of Poetry Plus will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 8 at the Red Lion, South Street, Manningtree. All those interested in poetry are invited to attend either to listen to the spoken word or to read poetry themselves. Some people will be reading their own poetry and some will choose to read the work of other poets. There is no admission charge.
Monday, May 14 (because of the bank holiday): Card Project with Janet and Committee Monday, June 6: Pinch Pot with Air Dying Clay with Henry with Debbie
To keep up-to-date with this poetry group, please visit: www.poetryplus.org.uk
Monday, July 2: Spray Painting with Debbie and Joshua Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available. Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534
BENTLEY TUESDAY CLUB In March Catherine Dell paid us a return visit with a talk entitled Speeches that made History. The list included famous people like Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King and Catherine played extracts of speeches to illustrate her talk which proved to be very thought provoking. Later in the month we had a session of chair aerobics which members really enjoy, followed by a talk and demonstration of basic first aid which included CPR and how to use a defibrillator. Maria King made a welcome return in April and entertained us with a variety of songs and stories on her keyboard; members were encouraged to singa-long to familiar tunes. Later in the month Colin Hopper gave us a most interesting talk on The History of Playing Cards. Fortnightly meetings are held throughout the year in Bentley Village Hall on Tuesday afternoons and during the summer months we start at 2.30pm. May 8 May 22 June 5 June 19
Phoenix Hand Bell Ringers The History of War Memorials and a visit by Bettacare Shoes Finding out about History through our Local Newspapers The Co-op Ladies Choir
You are very welcome to come and join us at any of these meetings. Margaret Blackmore: 01473 310655
SUFFOLK TREFOIL GUILD Were you ever a member of Girlguiding anywhere in the world? It could have been as a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger or Senior Section, or even a leader. For those who feel they can no longer run a unit, but would still like to hear what is going on in the world of Guiding, then why not join the Trefoil Guild?
CAPEL ST MARY WI We held our annual spring lunch on March 21 in St Mary’s Church hall. This was attended by 54 people plus the committee members who had catered for the lunch. It was enjoyed by all with several people returning for seconds. There was also an extensive raffle. The total raised has enabled our WI to donate £150 each to the Air Ambulance and to The Blossom Appeal charities.
CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB On Thursday March 22 we held our spring show. Due to the very cold and snowy weather just before the show, entries in the floral section were well down on 2017. Entries in the handicraft and photography sections were up and they made a very good display. The trophy winners were Eddie Cox and Frances Ball (Flowers and Pot Plants), Linda Evans (Flower Arranging), Hazel Maudsley (Cookery), Jean Goyder (Club Bulb), Brenda Heath (Handicraft) and Louise Evans (Photography). The photograph shows (left to right) Hazel, Jean, Frances and Brenda. Our next meeting is on Thursday, May 24 when Matt Tanton-Brown will be talking about unusual fruit trees. Before that our annual plant sale will be on Saturday, May 5, 9.30-11.30am outside the village hall next to a similar sale by the Methodist Church (they have refreshments!).
There are many groups in Suffolk towns and villages, but if you feel you aren’t able to get to these groups for meetings, you may be interested in Suffolk Lones. They meet occasionally somewhere in Suffolk for a walk, pub lunch or a get-together. We have members in Beccles, Cavendish, Kedington, Holbrook, East Bergholt, Sproughton, Capel St Mary, Thorpeness, Tattingstone, Wenhaston, Lavenham and Bromeswell and would always welcome you into this group.
Our programme then continues with the following: Thursday, June 28: Bee Keeping by Paul White Thursday, September 27: The Watery Gardens of Suffolk by Pip Wright Thursday, October 25: Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly by Claire Muckleston Thursday, November 22: Composting by Karen Kenny
To show your interest and receive more details of what we do email Charlotte Fitzgerald at: charlottefitzgerald15@gmail.com
Meetings take place in Capel Library at 7.30pm. We are always happy to welcome new members (£8 a year or £2.50 if you want to just come to a particular meeting as a visitor). Any queries,please let me know.
This year the Trefoil Guild are celebrating 75 years since they were formed so lots of celebrations are taking place throughout Suffolk. Do come and join us.
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Chairman Edwina Cox: 01473 311121
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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL ALLOTMENTS GUIDE TO GARDENING IN MAY
CAPEL ST MARY COUNTRYSIDE CLUB
Clear weeds. Rotovate cleared areas. Scatter slug pellets. Rake in Growmore prior to sowing or planting. Kill weeds on paths, patios and drives. Set up the barbecue. Protect fruit & plants from bird attacks. Water plants thoroughly with an open ended watering can.
Our next meeting will be on May 8 when David Prynn will give a talk on the endangered Amur Tiger 7.30pm at the Methodist Church Lounge, Capel St Mary
VEG PLOT Plant brassicas, potatoes and celery. Sow or plant runner beans to grow up 8’ canes set in two rows three feet apart. Cross canes as low as three feet from the ground to allow the maximum number of beans to hang outwards and grow straight for easy picking and for the show bench. Tie in other canes at 45o and through the cross over point to strengthen the structure. Sow salad crops, French beans, marrow, pumpkin, courgette, squashes, cucumbers, sweet corn, turnip, swede and carrots. Cover potatoes if frost is forecast or water early in the morning before the sun damages the frozen leaves. Sow fennel, basil and dill. Harvest broad beans, spouting broccoli, cauliflowers, radish, lettuce and asparagus. Thin seeds sown in April.
Anybody is welcome to attend as a visitor even if you don’t wish to be a member. Refreshments served after the meeting. Doreen Parker
BENTLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Join us for coffee, cake, a plant sale and a raffle in aid of club funds Saturday, May 19, 10am at Bentley Village Hall
FRUIT Spray fruit trees affected by mildew, scab, aphids or codling moth caterpillars, black fly and red spider mites. When fruit has set apply a nitrogen feed and water in dry spells. Put straw around strawberries. GREENHOUSE Ventilate, provide shade and increase humidity. Sow melons, cucumber and sweet corn. Prick out half-hardy annuals. Feed established plants weekly with liquid feed. Pinch out tips of fuchsias after two pairs of leaves and hardy annuals after four. Control insect pests. Plant tomato, cucumber, pepper melons and aubergine plants. Feed weekly when fruits begin to swell with tomato feed. FLOWERS Move spring bulbs to a temporary site and feed with Growmore or Blood, Fish & Bone. Sow hardy annuals and bi-annuals. Tie in sweet peas. Cut back flowered heathers and mulch with peat. Plant up containers with summer bedding. Stake tall herbaceous plants. Mulch borders with chipped bark. LAWNS Mow weekly. Apply a liquid or granular lawn treatment. Contact Steve Blake for repairs and service on 07813 814623 or TGC Garden Machinery Services, Tattingstone on 01473 327737 for repairs and service and new equipment at very competitive prices. All horticultural items are only available to our members from a range of quality products provided to meet basic gardening needs.
We’re Walking for Parkinson’s Join us
dge
Glemham Hall, Woodbri Sunday 10 June
hamintouch
parkinsons.org.uk/glem
0207 963 3912
THE HUT THE HUT is open for members from 10am-noon on Saturdays and Sundays throughout May and June (members only / £5pa). Runner, Dwarf French, Climbing French, lettuce and sweetcorn plants available from early May. MEMBERS BBQ: Saturday, July 28 THE PHOTOGRAPHY TROPHY Subjects for 2018: A Bridge, Garden Wildlife, Woodland Scene, A Picture to Portray a Song (name of song to be stated), Picture of Your Choice. All photographs to be colour, minimum size 150x100mm/6” x 4” and maximum size 190 x 130mm/7.5” x 5”, mounted and taken within the last 18 months. For a more extensive version of this report visit: www.capelallotments.co.uk Half plots are available now at £16 per annum plus membership. If you live in or around Capel and fancy a go at ‘Growing Your Own’ please contact: 01473 310988 / site.manager@capelallotments.co.uk
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SCHOOLS / ON THE GRAPEVINE ROBIN’S NEWS Toddling Tigers We have been busy focusing on spring flowers and bright colours. Using pink and purple paper we had a go at cutting out our own flowers and used flower shaped sponges dipped in brightly coloured paints to make amazing flower paintings. We also filled egg cartons with cotton wool and sprinkled them with cress seeds to take home. Our little fingers are gaining strength from all these fiddly workouts! We still have a great passion in our room for dinosaurs and we have been using felt tip pens to help control our colour marking on dinosaur sheets. We had great fun stomping our dinosaurs through paint to look at the assorted sizes of footprints and we found that colours mix much better when stirred with a dinosaur! We also gave the dinosaurs a warm bubbly bath and enjoyed washing them with sponges. Meerkats Holiday club has been eggcellent for the Meerkats this Easter. We made bunny bread, mini-egg cookies, clay creations, flannel bunnies complete with cream eggs, and we even had an Easter bonnet parade judged by the Toddling Tigers. Our production line of slime makers managed a full flow of glow in the dark slime, lumpy slime and even unicorn coloured slime. We went out on the playground and scooted and pedalled or way through the puddles. We had bunny hop and egg and spoon races with real eggs, Now that’s a challenge!
EBONY’S BLOG: LIFE AT THE SHELLEY CENTRE Readers, I write my blog some time in advance of publication (Oh the trials of being an author!). This explains some unseasonal news: Easter will have faded from your minds long ago, but I still need to mention it here. The Tuesday morning group of volunteers raised £575 for The Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding with their Easter egg raffle. The winning ticket for the grand prize was sold by Tuesday volunteer Margaret to a lady called Carol at Ringshall Village Hall Bingo Club. I feel very happy that the bingo club member supported us in this way; perhaps she will pay us a visit soon? Many other Easter eggs were won (one per sheet of tickets sold) so thanks to all our families, riders, fellow volunteers and bingo clubs for their support. Particular thanks go to Linden Lady Chocolatiers for so very kindly donating the giant first prize egg.
If you would like information about Robin’s Childcare please contact us on 01473 310767 or follow us on Twitter/Facebook. www.robinschildcare.co.uk
BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS The last couple of months have been full on at our schools. Both schools have been working hard with their enterprise schemes and have encouraged some amazing projects. The children have totally embraced the scheme and came up with some fabulous ideas and events, culminating in raising much appreciated funds for their schools. At Copdock, the earnings will go towards kitting out our new conservatory as a library. You should be able to see this project taking shape by now. At Bentley, the profits are initially going towards a new sink in the Adders’ conservatory, and to enhance the learning environments. We’ve had lots of exciting sporting events taking place including gymnastics and cross-country. We’ve been visited by a farmer and their tractor in preparation for our School Farm and Country Fair. To celebrate Easter we had a church service incorporating an Easter bonnet parade. One of our joint federation events was the Spelling Bee held at East Bergholt High School. Both our schools performed fantastically against some much bigger primaries. We also went to Wembley Arena as part of Voice in a Million which was a fabulous day out for the children and an amazing experience. The website is awash with photos and reports from all of these events. As you read this we are busily preparing for SATS week which will be swiftly followed by half term, when we will again turn our attentions to raising monies at PTA events such as the summer fayre and Copdock Race Night on May 19. If you are interested in joining the PTA at either school, please contact the office who can pass your details on. We also have many sporting clubs taking place as the weather hopefully improves into the summer term. For more news and up to date information about the schools, please visit: www.copdock.suffolk.sch.uk
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Just to show how important the work we do with horses and ponies is, look at little Alexia having her ride on Squidgey. She enjoys it so much that end of the lesson leaves her in floods of tears. She would like to ride for longer, but building up her core strength takes time; be patient Alexia because Squidgey loves being your physiotherapist and she tells me you are doing so well! The wettest spring in my memory has not stopped activities here. I got moved over in my room so the floor could be excavated and the hole tanked with concrete; then clever Tom Lowe fashioned wooden flooring to support my mounting ramp. I was moved back before the start of the summer term, somewhat diminished in height, but still in good working order. It’s strange being lower down, but I shall get used to it. Feedback from my riders is great, which is the most important thing. Thank you to the MCF for funding this improvement, and a big thank you to Margaret who conceived the solution. She held my hand while the workmen were here, unlocking and locking up, being kind to the builders, and giving up much of her Easter holiday to do so. We look forward to welcoming walkers here on May 6. If you’ve never done the sponsored walk before, now is the time to come. Staring any time after 10am you follow our jolly yellow flags all over the most delightful countryside, finishing back at the centre for tea and cake at the end of a most enjoyable stroll. We are fortunate to have generous neighbours who open up their land to us for this event, which opens up views and scenery you would not otherwise be able to reach. If you can’t make it for the walk, do please come to our stall at The Hadeigh Show on Saturday, May 19; we shall be selling plants and cakes as usual. Not my scene of course, but I gather people and dogs enjoy it! www.shelleyrda.com / 01473 824172
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ON THE GRAPEVINE MAN’S BEST FRIEND TO HEADLINE STONHAM BARNS MAY EVENTS
MASQUERADE CHARITY BALL IN AID OF THE BLOSSOM APPEAL
Doggy wellbeing, behavior and all-natural food is topping the bill at a full programme of Stonham Barns events this May.
The Ipswich Hospital Charity is excited to announce the Masquerade Charity Ball at The Venue at Kersey Mill on Friday, June 22 at 7pm in aid of The Blossom Appeal.
The Natural Dog Show 2018, on the first weekend of the month, kicks off a full bill of family and educational events at the Stonham Aspal venue. Canine owners can book themselves on to specialised training, natural nutrition and ‘canine enrichment’ talks and seminars at the event which is tailored to everything a health-conscious pooch could ever wish to enjoy. Visitors will learn how to improve the holistic health and wellbeing of their beloved pet from a host of renowned experts including Sue Williamson, an expert in TTouch, a technique aimed at reducing stress and boosting wellbeing in dogs through improving body posture. Zoe Willingham, a dog trainer and behaviourist, will also be on hand to teach visitors about canine body language while expert canine nutritionists such as Jessy Chaston, from Doodledales which is organising the event, will talk dog owners through the best nutrition for their animals.
This glamorous evening will include a night of live entertainment with a drinks reception and a three course meal with wine in a beautiful location. JS and The Lockerbillies, who have previously played at Glastonbury, will be our band for the night so get your dancing shoes on and get ready to rock ‘n’ roll! All money raised will go towards The Ipswich Hospital Charity, supporting The Blossom Appeal. Help us build a new £2.5million Breast Care Centre at Ipswich Hospital where every breast care patient can have the best possible experience when they come to hospital. The new centre will bring all elements of breast care at The 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.
The Natural Dog Show is on May 6 and 7 between 10am and 5pm. Tickets are £6 for adults; £5 concessions; five-15 year olds £3 and a family ticket of two adults and two children £14; under-fives are free. Later in the month, the Steam and Vintage Show rolls into Stonham Barns, a brand new educational event shining a light on rural history. There will be a gathering of traction engines, steamrollers and other historic exhibits. Aimed at providing a practical backdrop to school-based educational Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, visitors will also be encouraged to learn about and have a go at practical crafts such as metalwork, woodwork and blacksmithing. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults; £5 for concessions and four-15 year olds; £20 for a family ticket (two adults, two children); under-fours go free. The Steam and Vintage Show takes place on May 19 and 20 from 10am-4pm. New to Stonham Barns this year is the Children’s Fest, a two-day extravaganza of everything designed to keep your little ones busy during the May half term. There will be a silent disco, puppet making, theatre, sports, music, arts, circus skills and dance workshops and the inflatable world will allow them to let off some steam. For older children there will be an open mic event and some demonstrations from local artists and performers. A specially commissioned family and children’s market will be selling gifts, books, toys and clothes while hot food, picnic packs and drinks will be available throughout the day as well as disabled facilities, showers and baby changing areas. In addition, Stonham Barns has a wide variety of attractions suitable for children including the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Tumbledown softplay barn and a giant bouncy pillow. Pre-book your packed lunch for just £5 containing a sandwich, fruit, crisps, snack bar and drink via: www.ticketsource.co.uk/stonham-barns-/events The Children’s Fest takes place on May 19 and 30. Tickets for three-15 year olds cost £10; accompanying adults, those aged 16 or over and under-threes are free. All adults and over 16s must be accompanied by a paying child. Stonham Barns is located on Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal IP14 6AT. www.stonhambarns.co.uk
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Your support can help patients like Jo: “There is a lot of getting up and down and walking to and from for imaging and treatment, and it’s a very impersonal space.” Former breast cancer patient Jo Whitelaw remembers the experience of visiting the hospital all too well, but the now 55-yearold also remembers the amazing care she received. She said: “The hospital was my security blanket. I got all the support and reassurance I could’ve asked for from the team. They were always there when I needed them.” Jo, from Great Blakenham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 after discovering a lump in her breast. Initially she thought it was benign as she’d had others removed in the past, but it did turn out to be cancerous. When the lump was removed cancer cells were still found so Jo went on to have her breast removed and gruelling chemotherapy and drug treatment to fight the disease. She said: “It’s a very open and impersonal space. I remember when I first went to hospital I sat there and looked at all the people in the waiting room and felt very alone. The new centre could be more personal, but then there would be opportunities and spaces to talk if people wanted to.” Jo, married with two children, four grandchildren (and another on the way) has now been clear of cancer for five years. While the hospital team were Jo’s security blanket, she turned to the animals in her yard to relax. A keeper of horses, sheep and chickens, Jo credits them with helping her relax both during and since her cancer. Help us build a new Breast Centre at Ipswich Hospital while enjoying a glamorous night. To purchase tickets (£50) please visit www.ipswichhospitalcharity. co.uk or contact: 01473 702929 / charity@ipswichhospital.nhs.uk
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ON THE GRAPEVINE /SPORT RSPB FLATFORD WILDLIFE GARDEN Following a rather damp and cold re-opening at Easter, the RSPB Wildlife Garden at Flatford is now fully back into the swing of things for the new season. As I write this our nestcams are showing us lovely clear images of what’s going on inside four different nest boxes. One blue tit nest is well under way, with the female forming a cup among all the moss and grass that she has brought in. The next stage will be for her to line it with soft material such as feathers before she lays her eggs. Her partner has occasionally brought in material, but it’s mainly the female who builds the nest. She will start to lay eggs soon, usually one a day. She could lay up to 16 eggs, but blue tits usually lay between eight and 12. Our nestcam blue tits at Flatford produced 11 eggs last year, with 10 of them hatching successfully. The female bird will start to incubate the eggs the day before the clutch is complete and she will do all the ‘sitting’ until they hatch. The male will bring her some food, but these are gestures rather than life-supporting and she will leave the clutch regularly during the day to feed herself. This is one of the reasons why it’s good practice for us to keep providing food throughout the year, and not to stop just because the winter has ended. If the female can find nutritious food quickly, she won’t need to be away from the eggs for too long at a time. Similarly, it’s helpful for us to provide clean drinking water too. If all is well, the chicks will hatch after about two weeks and they will be completely dependent on their parents bringing in suitable food for them. Their main food will be caterpillars and so it’s very important that their hatching coincides with the time when these are plentiful – another reason for making sure our gardens include butterfly friendly plants! At this stage, the male plays a full role and both parents can be seen flying back and forth from the nest as they try to keep up with their hungry brood. Each chick can eat about a hundred caterpillars a day! The chicks are usually ready to fledge by about early June, depending on the season, and their parents will call them from outside the box to persuade them to join the big wide world. Once outside, they will stay fairly near to their parents for a couple of weeks as they learn to find their own food and avoid predators.
EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The very poor weather that we experienced through March and into April meant that games were few and far between, which has left the end of the season far more congested than is desirable. The 1st Team managed two games and achieved victories in both of them to cement their mid table position. The Reserves had only one fixture, another emphatic win, which leaves them just outside the top five in League A. One big win and a narrow defeat kept the A Team just above the relegation places with games running out. UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st Team / Senior Division Fixtures should be completed, but if the rain continues, who knows? Reserves / League A Sat, Apr 28: Old Newton Utd Res (A) A Team / League B Sat, Apr 28: Wickham Market Res (A) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website to confirm: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 End of Season Awards: Saturday, April 28 We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts, banners and boards on match days are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation. Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com
Why not come along to see how our nestcam families are progressing? The screen is in the barn, where we also have plenty of information about how to make all of our gardens more wildlife-friendly. At half-term we’ll have family activities available as usual. Please see our webpage for more details. We look forward to seeing you. Sharon Barker www.rspb.org.uk/Flatford
CAPEL ST MARY BOWLS CLUB Our social programme is well underway now, and full reports of our events, fixtures and results can be found at: www.capelstmarybowls@onesuffolk.net
CAPEL 5 2018 TONY KING MEMORIAL RACE: SUNDAY, JUNE 17 1 Mile Fun Run starts at 9.45am 5 Mile Capel 5 starts at 10.30am (minimum age 15) Capel St Mary Playing Field, Friars, IP9 2XS
Many thanks to Tony and Liz Gulliver for hosting our annual Fun Quiz on March 24, to Alastair Montgomerie for preparing the quiz (then clearing off on holiday!) and to Pam Peers for acting as question mistress and fielding a few challenges! A great night was had by the 24 participants, and eventual winners were a team comprising John and Elaine Wright with George and Fran Wiseman. Now – how many red nails are there around our bowls green?!
A new, out and back route is planned which will include a 300-metre off-road section. It will not go alongside the A12, but there are still a couple of hills.
Our proposed green opening and clean up on April 8 was a somewhat soggy affair, but we still managed to get a few jobs done. Let’s hope we have a drier season!
Affiliated runner fee £8 / Un-affiliated runner fee £11 – will increase on the day
If you’ve never played bowls and want to give it a go you’d be joining a very successful village club. We always give a warm welcome to new or potential new members. Just call club secretary Les Bryant (311717) to discuss. IMPORTANT DATES May 12 Grunbaum Trophy May 13 Public Open Day May 19 Boxford Friendly (Home) June 16 Presidents’ Day / Burman Bowl
The race this year will be titled Capel 5 Tony King Memorial Race in memory of a much loved and respected club member who passed away five years ago.
Please contact Sandra for more information – 01473 312114 / sandrabumphrey@talktalk.net – or visit: http://capelcheetahs.co.uk Entry through Run Britain: www.runbritain.com Please come out and cheer the runners on; the route starts on Rembrow Road, crosses The Street into Days Road, then to the Wenham Queen, turns right and heads towards the airfield, turns right at a footpath, then heads back towards the village, again passing the Wenham Queen and back down Days Road, then Rembrow Road and the finish is as usual in Playfield Road.
Jack High
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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The wet weather throughout March meant that most of the club games were postponed with several evening games now due to be played before the end of the season. The clay soil on the Playing Field does not help the drainage with the 1st Team pitch under pools of water on more than one occasion. The only game played in March by the Saturday 1st Team saw them win 2-1 away against Westerfield United with both goals coming from striker Sean Gunn. Two youngsters from the village, namely Joe Bigmore and Joe Whitley, played in this game with both players coming through our Reserve set-up and doing well at the higher level. Our Reserve are second in their league and beat Kesgrave Kestrels 2-1 with goals from Daniel Hudson-Smith and Jack Reddington, this being the
BRANTHAM FOOTBALL CLUB Brantham Athletic is a local football club which runs a senior section, junior section, Sunday and Ladies teams. Our home ground is The Leisure Centre, New Village, Brantham. March has seen a change of fortunes for our three teams. The 1st Team played four matches in March, winning two, drawing one and losing one to remain fifth in the league. However, they won their league cup semi-final and now look forward to the final where they will play Thetford. This game will be on Monday, May 7 at 3pm and all roads will lead to Diss. If you want to support the team on this momentous day, there will be a coach running from Brantham Leisure Centre for £10; please contact the club if you wish to go. There will also be an entrance fee for this game. The Reserves have had a good month culminating in beating Harwich and Parkeston 5-0 with a really good display and are still in mid table position. The A Team also had a good month with several good victories and have moved up the table. There is also a thriving junior section with ages ranging from Under 7s to Under 16s. Our Sunday teams play their matches on Sunday mornings at the leisure centre while our ladies team play on a Sunday afternoon at the centre, The 1st Team play their home matches at the leisure centre, kicking-off at 3pm on Saturday and at 7.45pm on weekday evenings. The Under 18s play on weekday evenings, 7.45pm kick-off, and the A Team play at Raydon. Forthcoming home matches are will be publicised on the website and on Twitter. Because of the league the 1st team and Under 18s play in, there is an entrance fee to watch these games. For the 1st team its £7 adults and £3 concessions and children under 16. For Under 18 games its £3 and £1. There is a friendly atmosphere at all the matches and there is always a friendly welcome to anyone attending a home match, so if you would like to see a good standard of football come and support your local team. The Centre Bar is open during all senior games and the kitchen during 1st Team and youth football on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Any young or old players wishing to join a friendly, exciting, fun football club should contact the club via the details below or email our football club secretary There is a clubhouse at the leisure centre where food and drinks can be obtained. The leisure centre is also home to a lot of other activities including fireworks display, a fun run, 5-a-sides, bowls, cricket plus many other social events. There is a website for more information. Plus the leisure centre has an excellent private function room with its own self-contained bar for hire out for a multitude of events such as wedding receptions, birthday parties, children’s events, conferences and meetings. Just contact the centre on 01206 392506. branthamath@hotmail.com www.branthamathleticfc.co.uk Twitter: @branthamath
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only game that they played in March. Our Sunday team drew 3-3 at Elmsett with goals from Bill Boosey and a brace from Abdul Kaium, while our Veteran side beat Witnesham 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Stewart from the penalty spot, with the winner coming from Pat Tynan. With the season drawing to a close it will give all our hard working coaches a chance of a break and time to recharge the batteries ready for the World Cup! With 11 youth teams to look after it means that there is a lot of dedicated people in our club who seem to enjoy the coaching as much as the youngsters enjoy playing. Long may it continue! BOB THE PLOUGHMAN
CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCH A FRAGILE WORLD We are living in days when there is much tension and uncertainty in the world scene. By the time this is printed, I don’t know what other things might have happened. At the time of writing we have had the tit for tat expulsion of diplomats/intelligence officers from over 20 countries in response to the nerve gas incident in Salisbury. There are more threats of further action. Then there is the awaited response to the chemical weapons used again in the Syrian war. Some world leaders are using inflammatory language and the danger of conflict erupting is very real. There is tension and division at local, national and international levels on many issues. I don’t think in my lifetime (post Second World War) it has been as tense and as unpredictable. Where are the peacemakers? With so much disturbing news, it is great to come across a good news story. A father was distraught with grief when his son was killed in an accident. Doctors asked his permission for them to transplant some of his organs to a patient in the hospital who was in urgent need of a transplant. You may say that often happens, but what was extraordinary about this case is that the donor was an Arab and the patient an Israeli! The father explained: “I wanted my son’s death to bring life, whether it be to a Jew or Arab”. It was an amazing gesture in the midst of loss and grief, but even more remarkable considering the pattern of enmity and hatred between Jew and Arab. It was a gesture that spoke of peace and reconciliation. I ask myself would I have been able to do the same thing if I were in that man’s place. Our situations are probably very different to the Arab/Israeli conflict, but there are ways in which we can act as peacemakers in our communities. All of us have the opportunity in our daily relationships to work for harmony and reconciliation, but few of us take the opportunity as often as we could. Are we peacemakers or do we prefer to allow disharmony to continue? Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel Methodist Church 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 SERVICES AT CAPEL METHODIST Home Groups on various days and times – contact the minister for details Sunday 6 10.30am Worship with Mr Rod Stone 6.30pm Prayer Sunday 13 10.30am Worship with Mr Mark Firmin 6.30pm Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey Sunday 20 10.30am Worship with Mrs Gloria Theobald 7pm Informal worship with Jim Ross and band Saturday 26 3.30pm Messy Church Sunday 27 10.30am Worship and Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey 7.30pm United Prayer Time at St Mary’s
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THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH May is of course Mary’s Month. May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary refer to special Marian devotions held in the Roman Catholic Church during the month of May honouring the Virgin Mary as The Queen of May. These services may take place inside or outside. A ‘May Crowning’ is a traditional Roman Catholic ritual that occurs in the month of May. The practice of honouring Mary with flowers originated among monasteries and convents in medieval Europe. During the Middle Ages, people saw reminders of Mary in the flowers and herbs growing around them. The first reference to an actual garden dedicated to Mary is from the life of St Fiacre, Irish patron saint of gardening, who planted and tended a garden around the oratory to Our Lady he built at his famous hospice for the poor and infirm in France in the seventh century. When I was vicar in Colne, Lancashire, during the late seventies, the church I served had quite a celebration for a May Queen including a parish party. The young girl selected wore a lovely dress with a number of attendants, all thinking who would succeed. Unfortunately, my then seven-year-old daughter missed out because we moved to Chelmsford in 1980. Thirty-eight years later she has not forgotten this! There are at least five so-called ‘red letter’ days in the month, beginning on Thursday, May 1. This is the feast day for not one but two of the first apostles, Philip and James. This is the anniversary of the dedication of the church dedicated to them in Rome (now called the Church of the Twelve Apostles). Phillip was among those surrounding John the Baptist when the latter first pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. It was also Philip who first introduced Nathanael to the Lord. Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and according to legend his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.The name Santiago is the local evolution of vulgar Latin Sanctu Iacobu, ‘Saint James’. Thursday, May 10, marks 40 days after Easter when the faithful celebrate the Ascension of the risen Christ. In England it was once common for churches to ‘beat the bounds’ on this day, and some continue the custom. Members of the parish walk round the parish boundaries, marking boundary stones (by writing on them in chalk) and hitting them with sticks. Knowledge of the parish boundaries was once important, since churches had certain duties such as the care of children born out of wedlock in the parish. Monday, May 14 is St Matthias’ Day, when this only elected Apostle is remembered. It is claimed that his remains are interred in the Abbey of St Matthias, Trier, Germany, brought there through Empress Helena of Constantinople, mother of Emperor Constantine I. According to Greek sources, the remains of the apostle are buried in the castle of Gonio-Apsaros, Georgia. Sunday, May 20, is the so-called ‘Birthday of the Church’ when the Holy Spirit was received by the earliest followers of Jesus. Pentecost comes 50 days after Easter. It is the penultimate observance when God’s actions are celebrated. After Sunday, May 27, Trinity Sunday, attention turns to being part of God’s family, hence Sundays after Trinity until the last Sunday after Trinity on Sunday, October 28. My prayer for readers in Mary’s month is that they may experience renewed joy in her risen and ascended son. As always, this comes with best wishes for God’s blessings to you and yours at this bright time of the year.
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CHURCH NEWS CHRISTIANS in Capel The members of all the churches foster a closer fellowship and understanding between the respective Christian communities in Capel St Mary. They endeavour to co-ordinate common interests and where practical share common resources to meet specific needs. For times and details of Sunday services, Alpha and Home/Life Groups, please contact one of the following: The Parish Church, St Mary the Virgin The Rev Canon Jim Pendorf: The Rectory, Days Road, Capel 01473 312225 / 07973 265037 The Catholic Church Father Christopher Smith, St Mark’s Church, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich 01473 684963 Capel Community Church David Owen, 18 Bushey Close, Capel www.capelcommunitychurch.org.uk 01473 310454 / 07752 921135 The Methodist Church The Rev Andrew Sankey 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary www.capelmethodistchurch.org.uk 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 INTER-CHURCH MIDWEEK ACTIVITIES The following church groups welcome new members. TREKKERS For ages 7-11, meets on Thursdays at the Methodist Church from 3.45 to 5.15pm during school term time. Contact Margaret Sankey: 01473 311178 YOUTH GROUPS AT THE METHODIST CHURCH Life Group: Wednesdays, 7.30-9pm / Year 10+ Junior Life Group: Thursdays 7-8.30pm / Years 7-9 Junction Club: Fridays, 7-9pm for School Years 7-9 Contact Caitlan Mower: 07465 414870 PARENTS AND TODDLERS • Tuesday – 9-11.30am, Capel Community Church, Days Road Contact Margaret Beard: 01473 311219 • Wednesday – 9-11.30am, Busy Bees, Methodist Church Contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 • Wednesday – 10am-noon, Twins & Multiples Group at CCC Contact Chris Matthews: 01473 311368 SENIOR CITIZENS’ LUNCH CLUBS • First Monday, Capel Community Church, 01473 311368 • Third Tuesday, St Mary’s Church Hall, 01473 310583 • Last Thursday, Methodist Church, 01473 310635 NETWORK FELLOWSHIP Third Tuesday, from 2.30pm, Methodist Church. Anyone welcome to attend. Contact Judy Steward: 01473 310799 BEACON COFFEE SHOP EVERY TUESDAY 9am-12.30pm, in the Vine Lounge, Capel Village Hall
The next Messy Church is on Saturday, May 26, 3.30-5.30pm in Capel Methodist Church. This will be just after the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle so we will be doing activities based around weddings and learning about the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle. Messy Church is a way of being church particularly suited to families of all ages. We have an hour of craft activities with a Bible theme, games and challenging activities, followed by a short celebration including songs, drama, DVD clips and an interactive story. Sometimes Granddad and Lucy (puppets) make an appearance! We conclude with a meal together. There is no charge, but a donation tub is available if you would like to contribute. There are well over 2,000 Messy Churches running in the UK. To find out more please visit: www.messychurch.org.uk Who can come? All age families; all children must come with an adult. No need to book, just turn up. Why not come and join the fun with family and friends? For more information please contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / maggie3@btinternet.com Sue France: 01473 310034 / sue.france4@btinternet.com
CAPEL COMMUNITY CHURCH THE ‘ALL SEEING’ ONE On Wednesday, April 4, I had an experience that many of you will have had. I sat at a window seat on an aircraft coming in over the coast en route for Stansted. Much of our journey from Cologne had been above the clouds when all I could see was one wing and a vast area of cloud lit up by the afternoon sun. Then suddenly there was a large gap in the cloud cover and at once I could identify the River Alde looking north towards Southwold. We continued on over Woodbridge and parts of North Ipswich and it was absolutely fascinating to be looking down over familiar places from such a height. I observed rivers snaking through the countryside, and thousands of buildings with many miles of interconnecting roads alive with tiny vehicles that appeared to be going remarkably slowly! It was all so fascinating to watch. As I scoured the scene looking for anything familiar, I got to thinking that here I was seeing such a huge amount of life at a glance from my comfortable seat quite remote from all the activity down there. It made me feel quite small, an insignificant speck in comparison to the vast landscape I was viewing! Then I had a new thought
AEROBICS AT CAPEL METHODIST CHURCH Fridays from 10.50-11.50am, Young at Heart (slower paced). Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546
There is a verse of Scripture in the book of Proverbs (chapter 15, verse 3) which says: ‘The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch over the evil and the good’.
PILATES • Tuesdays – 7pm and 8.10pm, Capel Methodist Church • Fridays – 8.30am and 9.40am, Capel Methodist Church
God the Supreme Almighty Creator, who dwells beyond the restraints of time and space, sees not only Woodbridge and North Ipswich, he sees in intimate detail, the whole of his creation constantly and throughout all ages and what is so incredible is that we as individuals are not ‘insignificant specks’, but lives that are loved by him dearly.
Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546 R.O.M.E.O. Lunch for Men at Wenham View, Dove Close off Days Road: Third Thursday, 12.30pm. Book with Peter Ellis: 01473 310096. Also Coffee Drop-in from 10am on the first Wednesday at Dove Close.
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Now how amazing is that! Peter Beard
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