In Touch
™© ™©
with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural Volume 7 • Issue No. 10 • AUGUST 2017
Barham Hall Picnic Band Concert, see page 3
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NEWS
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR It hardly seems appropriate to write about anything other than the tragedy at Grenfell Tower which continues to dominate our news with new horrors exposed almost daily. It’s a shocking sight in print and on TV, but a friend who passed close to the blackened tower last week tells me the pictures don’t come close to capturing the awfulness of it. She found herself staring at it in disbelief as people walked by, heads bowed.
PICNIC BAND CONCERT 460 people attended the Picnic Band Concert at Barham Hall on Sunday, July 9 and raised in excess of £4,000 for Barham Church Fabric Fund. Can you spot yourself here?
The outcome of the official investigation won’t be known for at least a year, but thankfully action is being taken to prevent similar disasters elsewhere. We can only hope this work is completed before more lives are lost and send our condolences to those who lost family members, friends and neighbours at Grenfell Tower, and indeed all those who lost everything except the clothes they were wearing. When horrors such as this occur we tend to hold our loved ones a little closer and appreciate what we have a little more. Often our own problems seem a little less all-consuming, at least for a little while. It’s also a reminder to check that our own homes and those of vulnerable neighbours or elderly relatives have adequate fire protection and working smoke alarms. Did you know you’re four times more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a smoke alarm that works? Around half of home fires are caused by cooking accidents while two fires a day are started by candles and faulty electrics (appliances, wiring and overloaded sockets) cause around 6,000 fires in the home across the country every year. Take a moment today to inspect your home and then take any necessary action to protect it and those who live in it. You’ll find lots of information online and you may even be eligible for a Home Fire Risk Assessment or Home Fire Safety Check which you can book with your local fire and rescue service. You can also make enquiries on behalf of another person: Suffolk: 01473 260588 / Essex: 01376 576000
In Touch
with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: claydon@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
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01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
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CLAYDON & BARHAM ANNUAL COMMUNITY QUIZ This year’s annual quiz for the John West Trophy will take place on Friday, October 6 at Claydon & Barham Community Centre, starting at 7.30pm. More details to follow next month.
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NEWS CLAYDON & WHITTON PARISH COUNCIL FOUR COMMUNITIES ACTION GROUP Antisocial Behaviour Unfortunately, from time to time the parish council has to deal with the effects of antisocial behaviour in the village. This is often petty vandalism and can include, for example, damage to community facilities such as litterbins being smashed which then have to be replaced. Also there are on-going problems such as dog fouling on footpaths and other public areas. As a result it is often necessary to spend considerable amounts of the parish council budget to make good damage or meet the costs of cleaning up. One recent incident which is typical of what often happens involved the brick bus shelter opposite the fish and chip shop. An employee of the parish council was asked to clear the vegetation around the shelter and while doing so he noticed that the inside was in need of repainting, which he then did. Just after this work was completed a group of youths were seen entering the bus shelter. After they had left it was discovered that the fresh paintwork had been daubed with graffiti. The parish council feels very strongly that any kind of mindless vandalism should not be tolerated and culprits must be brought to account for their actions whenever possible. It is therefore asking all members of the community to report any acts of antisocial behaviour that they see either to the police, by dialling 101, a parish councillor or the parish clerk, giving any details which may help to identify those responsible. Also the parish council is continuing to negotiate with Suffolk Constabulary to obtain the services of a dedicated Police Community Support Officer as it believes that there is past evidence to suggest that this would reduce the incidence of such problems. Village Conservation Area Just recently work has been undertaken to trim trees and clear pathways in the conservation area so that it is now safe for members of the public to walk through. It is hoped that further work will be done in the near future to clear undergrowth to increase public access. Vacancies for new Parish Councillors There are still vacancies for parish councillors. Please contact the parish clerk, with no obligation, if you are interested. The parish council is always interested to receive comments from residents. Opportunity is given at every parish council meeting for members of the public to speak about matters either on the agenda or that are of particular concern to them. Alternatively these can be sent in writing with your name and address to our parish clerk, Mrs S Eagle, 7 Leicester Close, Ipswich IP2 9EX / 01473 687384 (answer machine available) / claywhit@btinternet.com For news and information about village life and other items of interest, please visit: www.claydonandbarham.onesuffolk.net / Twitter @claywhitpc
BARHAM PARISH COUNCIL Barham Parish Council held a joint meeting with Claydon and Whitton Rural Parish Council on Friday, June 30 to gain feedback from residents. The meeting was attended by 138 residents, five of whom were specifically concerned about the Old Norwich Road development (Planning Application Reference: 1832/17). All other attendees indicated that they were opposed to Barham Church Lane development (Planning Application Reference: 1856/17). In addition councillors had received feedback from other residents who were unable to attend. The main areas of concern were: • Drainage and sewerage • Water supply • Increased traffic volumes on rural roads • Sustainability As stated at the public meeting, although the official date has now passed, residents are still encouraged to provide feedback to Mid Suffolk District Council either by writing to Mid Suffolk District Council, Council Offices, High Street, Needham Market IP6 8DL or online at: https://planning.baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk/online-applications/
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The Four Communities Action Group (4CAG) was created in 2010 by members of the churches of Barham, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley. We aim to work together as four parishes to develop new activities and support networks and provide spiritual support and encouragement with a view to enhancing the lives of all members of the community. We currently have five organisations under our umbrella. Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club Meets at noon on the first Friday of each month at the Parish Rooms in Great Blakenham. Our August meeting will be a themed afternoon tea showcasing the home baking talents of our volunteers. In addition, we offer the chance to sit and chat with old friends, make new friends, play a game of bingo, win the raffle and have a bit of fun, all for just £4. For more information contact Mike: 07805 507497 The Book Club Places available for new members on the last Thursday in the month at The Crown at 10.30am. Just come along and join us for a light-hearted discussion on the book we’ve chosen to read. The Gipping Valley Art Society This small friendly group meets every Tuesday afternoon at Great Blakenham Parish Rooms. We take our own materials and have our own ‘projects’ for painting in various medias, including watercolour, acrylic, oils, pastels, pencils and ink. Membership is free but we pay a weekly subscription to cover room hire, refreshments and so on. If you are interested in joining our group please contact Ann on 01473 831031 or Margaret (treasurer) on 01473 830135. 4 Ever Young Men’s Club Meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am at The Crown at Claydon. During the year, we welcome an occasional speaker, visit a local attraction or interest or spend time chatting about anything that interests us over a cup of coffee. We often stay at The Crown after the meeting for a ‘pie and a pint’. For more information, contact Mike on 07805 507497 or just pop in on the third Wednesday of the month. The Knitting Group Meets in the lounge at Alasdair Place on the first Thursday in the month from 10.30am-noon. We pay £1 towards refreshments. You can bring along any knitting you want but if you need ideas, we have plenty. At the moment some of us are knitting small teddy bears for the fire brigade to take to children involved in incidents or hats and scarves for the soup kitchen.
Planning considerations include: • Being overlooked/loss of privacy • Loss of daylight/sunlight or overshadowing • Scale and dominance • Layout and density of buildings • Appearance and design of development and materials proposed • Disabled persons’ access • Highway safety • Traffic and parking issues • Drainage and flood risk • Noise, dust, fumes, etc. • Impact on character or appearance of area • Effect on listed buildings and conservation areas • Effect on trees and wildlife/nature conservation • Impact on the community and other services • Economic impact and sustainability • Government policy • Proposals in the Local Development Plan • Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions)
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NEWS HENLEY PARISH COUNCIL: JULY 2017
SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE SITE
Generous, inventive and outward-looking; you can’t fault the people of Henley for fundraising initiatives and activities.
Suffolk’s Apprentice of the Year Jonathan Cross, the apprentice electrical engineer at Suffolk EfW, was awarded Electrical Apprentice of the Year by TTE. TTE specialise in training and development. Since completing his apprenticeship Jonathan has started a new role as control and instrumentation technician here on site. Well done Jonathan.
In the last month, according to the back of my nearest envelope, Henley has raised an amazing £5,000 for the Sick Children’s Trust, St Peter’s Church, Ipswich Dementia Friendship Group, the diocese of Kagera in Tanzania and doubtless others I don’t know about. People give up their time, back gardens, marquees and kitchens. They grow plants and seedlings, fold up winning (and losing) tombola tickets and devise maddening games to spend money on. You can’t move for bags of flour flying off the shelves of the better supermarkets and wondrous baked goods being conjured up for sale. A few hundred empty bottles demonstrate residents’ enthusiasm for joining in too. It’s a tribute to the village that it can fill a bottle bank in just a few days. Surely that’s the very definition of community spirit. In all seriousness, you often hear people grumbling away about all the things that aren’t quite right, or were once wonderful and now aren’t, or about people who don’t join in any more – but actually if you look around, there is a proper sense of support and generosity in the village. Whether it’s taking a wandering dog back home, or raising a pile of cash, you can’t complain about Henley. Apart from the fly-tipper, that is. But we are on your case, matey. You’d be surprised how many fly-tippers chuck stuff away at the side of the road without checking to see whether their address is on a random envelope in the pile. Mid Suffolk does prosecute fly-tippers when it gets enough evidence. And apart from the fact that we still need volunteers to be the new Village Recorder, in succession to the wondrous Arnold Hornsby, and to fill vacancies on the parish council. It’s good fun, honestly (well most of the time), and who wouldn’t want to do their bit for such a great village? Enjoy the good weather and keep filling the bottle bank. Your village needs you. If you are not on our village email list and would like to be, just send a simple request to henleyparishcouncil@gmail.com or rodcaird@yahoo.co.uk and we will sort it out. And don’t forget to keep an eye from time to time on our own website where we publish all sorts of useful (we hope!) information and contacts: www.henley.onesuffolk.net
Come and have a look around The Suffolk Energy from Waste facility is holding a series of open days in August which include a tour of the facility and time to explore our visitor centre. There is still space on the following days: Tuesday, August 1, 2-4pm / Thursday, August 10, 6-8pm There are 20 spaces on each day and you must pre book. To book please email c.davies@suez.com and we will confirm your place by email. If you would like to come to an open day, but cannot make these dates, you can email us to register your interest and we will let you know when the next open days are planned. If you have any queries about our operations, please do not hesitate to contact the facility on 01473 839149. Other useful contacts: To book a visit: 01473 836821 Environment Agency: 0800 807060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help.
Clerk Rod Caird: 07785 331217
GREAT BURSTALL BOOK SALE In aid of Bumble Bee Children’s Charity
Route 5
Town/village
Location
Time
MIP/5A
Sproughton
Church Lane
9.10-9.25am
MIP/5B
Sproughton
Wild Man
9.30-9.45am
MIP/5C
Bramford
St Mary’s Close
9.50-10.05am
MIP/5D
Bramford
Paper Mill Lane
10.10-10.25am
MIP/5E
Great Blakenham, Chequers
10.35-1055am
MIP/5F
Great Blakenham, Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park
11-11.15am
Saturday, August 26, 10am-4pm
MIP/5G
Baylham
Post Box
11.25-11.45am
Burstall Village Hall, IP8 3DR
MIP/5H
Claydon
Crown
11.55am-1pm
Free admission
MIP/5I
Claydon
Edinburgh Gardens 2.05-2.20pm
More than 2,000 books
MIP/5J
Barham
Bacon Road
2.25-3.50pm
Vintage tea and cakes available in the pavilion
MIP/5K
Bramford
Packard Place
4-4.30pm
Any queries, contact Lesley Raby: 01473 652403
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IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5
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of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA)
TALES FROM THE 19TH HOLE
In the autumn of last year, Onslow Suffolk Ltd put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16.
I haven’t submitted articles in two editions this year due to lack of games; ironically I could write a mini-series about our exploits at Dunston Hall in late June – it was as if everybody wanted a mention this time around!
For full details visit: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning
We welcomed cool weather teeing off on the Sunday afternoon – the previous weekend had seen fierce sunshine and East Anglia temperatures into the 30s; pleasant while relaxing in your garden but sapping walking around for four hours, although the unexpected five minute downpour which caught the last three groups wasn’t called for.
It is important to be aware that this is not a renewal of the original planning approval for SnOasis, which remains in place. Reserved Matters cover the detail of such topics as design, appearance, transport, drainage, ecological mitigation, etc. The period for consultation on the remaining Reserved Matters has now closed. There were hundreds of documents, some of them highly technical and detailed. Members of the SPA worked very hard in a short time scale to scrutinise the documents and make constructive comments, reflecting the concerns, questions and requirements of local residents. The SPA would particularly like to thank those residents who gave up their time to work alongside SPA members on some of the more technical aspects of the application. The results of all this hard work were summarised in a document that was submitted to MSDC as the comments from the SPA and all its member parishes, giving the comments extra weight because they come from a significant number of local communities, representing several thousand residents. The SPA member parishes are Baylham, Barham, Bramford, Claydon and Whitton, Great Blakenham, Little Blakenham, Needham Market, Nettlestead and Somersham. The document is available to view on the Great Blakenham parish council website: http://greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net/snoasis-parish-alliance Although the consultation period is over, the SPA will continue to take any opportunity to raise the concerns of residents in the area about this huge development. To this end, the SPA is seeking a meeting with MSDC planning to discuss, among other things, our submission and the way forward with the developer’s plans after the Reserved Matters process is finished. For example, the developer has put forward a variety of possible finishing materials for exterior of the ski slope, but has not specified which one will actually be used. There are a number of similar important issues where members have noted that insufficient detail has been supplied and the SPA will be trying to establish how such issues will be handled. For further information, please email SPA clerak Janet Gobey: snoasispa@icloud.com Steve Plume, Chairman SnOasis Parish Alliance
AUGUST AT CLAYDON AND BARHAM VILLAGE HALL Thursday 3
Slimming World
5.30 & 7.30pm
Monday 7
Craft Addicts
1-4pm
Tuesday 8
Women’s Institute
7.30-10pm
Thursday 10
Slimming World
5.30 & 7.30pm
Thursday 17
Slimming World
5.30 & 7.30pm
Monday 21
Craft Addicts
1-4pm
Thursday 24
Sunshine Service
10am-noon
Slimming World
5.30 & 7.30pm
Sunday 27
Private Hire
1.30-5.30pm
Thursday 31
Slimming World
5.30 & 7.30pm
For more information on village hall activities visit the Claydon and Barham website and follow the links. Hall bookings now only online.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon
Five teams competed in a yellow ball Stableford sub-competition, stocks having been replenished following the pink ball incident previously at Stowmarket. Paul G’s wardrobe that day matched the ball colour, but nobody wore yellow shorts at Dunston. However, Brian Shaw has become the Ian Poulter of HOGS, sporting turquoise and white trousers on consecutive days along with co-ordinated caps and gloves which earned him some good natured ribbing. He would have the last laugh however, not only winning the Longest Drive on both days, but also heading the pack after day one with an excellent 38 points, six and seven points ahead of Alan Farnish and Darryn Nunn respectively. Darrun also won the NP prize. Just one team seemed interested in the sub-competition finishing on 28 points; congratulations to Darryn, Ian Addicott and Paul Challener. Every other team lost their ball on the front nine, one team plunging into the lake with the very first shot of the round. Runners-up Tim Clarke, Terry Aldiss and Shaun Vincent were the best of the remaining bad bunch with just 12 points. There were several instances with trolleys over the weekend with both Ian and Shaun recovering theirs from bunkers after gusts of wind and dry fairways displaced them from positions whence they had been left. Tim topped this feat although he never saw it as he was sportingly helping Terry look for his ball after a wayward shot on the ninth hole. I was fortunate to witness gravity taking hold of the trolley, directing it towards and across the hotel roadway causing cars from both directions to stop, the drivers perplexed at this unexpected sight. The evening meal catering has changed this year with only the mains carvery being ‘self-service’; starters and dessert were table service, the latter causing amusement with some unusual dressing of the dishes. The bowls of apple crumble were placed within a larger plate containing a shallow pool of custard – Paul, probably the quietest man in the group, went to address this with the chef as he believed that custard rations had been lifted in the 1950s. The waitresses duly delivered three extra jugs to the table, by which time most had finished their dishes. Paul was reminded that he couldn’t leave the table until he’d finished, but called our bluff by manfully tackling all three jugs! Day two was also a Team Stableford format, but this time with no coloured balls in sight. This was keenly fought with Peter Cleave, Keith Lawrence and Scott Vincent winning on count-back ahead of Alan, Terry and Nick Medal with 70 points (Team 3 scored 69 points). Simon Fisher was pipped into runner-up spot on count-back by crème anglaise fuelled Paul with 34 points. However, Simon did win the Nearest the Pin prize on the 14th hole. Roland Addicott landed his ball closer to the hole so why wasn’t Roland the winner? Well the thing is, he had teed off from the Par 5 15th slicing right and skyward, over sailing the protective fence and landing on the 14th green! The 15th hadn’t been kind to Roland the day before either; not only had he teed off into the lake, but his following drop shot had hit a marker stake plunging his second ball lakewards too! There’s a lot of water at Dunston Hall so a special prize was reserved for the person who lost the most balls in Davy Jones’s locker over the weekend. It ended in a three way tie with Roland, Darryn and Shaun all losing three. Shaun was replenished with a sleeve of balls which accompanied the Golden Boot, expertly retained after two bad rounds scoring just 45 points cumulatively. Brian’s white slacks didn’t have the same impact on his game and, despite an outstanding day one, only managed runner-up spots across the weekend with still an impressive 60 points. Stealthily rising through the pack on day two saw Simon crowned 2017 Dunston Champion with 62 points, a deserved winner. Nobody left disappointed after a great weekend of golfing competition, but more importantly great camaraderie, fun and laughter was had by all. We are all thankful for Keith and Steve for organising a great event. For the record the overall scores were: Simon 62, Brian 60, Alan, Darryn and Nick 58, Keith and Paul 57, Peter, Scott and Terry 56, Ian 55, Steve 54, Tim 51, Roland 49 and Shaun 45.
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OUT & ABOUT FUN DOG SHOW Burstall Flower Show and Fete Saturday, August 5, Burstall Village Hall Meadow IP8 3DR
CLAYDON & BARHAM WI We had a most enjoyable Wimbledon themed evening on July 11. There was a quiz compiled by Pat, our president, one question going back to 1938 and the Englishman who won the men’s singles that year – a Bunny Austin. We had the most delicious punch, courtesy of Jane, and scones with strawberries and cream, and Wimbledon themed games, the latter involving batting balloons back and forth. All good fun! Also blind man’s bluff placing a strawberry leaf on a strawberry.
The show categories are: • Musical Sit • Best Paw Shaker • Dog with the Waggiest Tail • Best Turned Out Dog • Cutest Puppy three-12 months • Veteran Dogs
The competition for a decorated tennis ball was won by Jane, with Mary. second. Our next meeting takes place on Tuesday, August 8th when Peter Carr will speak on the subject A Small World. The competition will for a miniature piece of furniture. Should anyone wish to get in touch, please contact Barbara on 01473 832330. It will be good to hear from you!
• Best Sausage Catcher • Dog the Judge Would Most Like to Take Home • Best in Show, judged from the eight winners The show judges will be looking for dogs and owners with bags of character and who are loads of fun – looks come second. Registration is at 2pm with the show starting at 3pm. You can enter as many classes as you like for a single entry fee of £3. Rosettes for first, second and third places in each category plus Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show. For more details contact: 07578 552324
1ST CLAYDON SCOUTS HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! Recently, the Scouts of 1st Claydon were given a talk on how In Touch magazine is compiled. They learned all about printing, editing and designing In Touch. The evening took place at 1st Claydon’s Scout HQ. The Scouts were also set a task to spot deliberate errors on various pages of the magazine such as misplaced adverts, typos and inconsistencies, a role that the editor of the magazine is responsible for checking. We were pleased that Sharon Jenkins, In Touch’s editor, came in person to run the evening to which we are very appreciative. 1ST CLAYDON SCOUT GROUP FETE The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at 1st Claydon worked to put together publicity and stalls for a fete which was held on Friday, July 7. The event was well attended and included a barbeque, a cake stall and pop and candy floss stalls. There was also the opportunity to throw wet sponges at the leaders and executive, a cash prize draw and a shoot the football competition. The group raised more than £450. Well done to all the girls and boys who put this together and Helen Staff for organising.
GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER FIFTIES CLUB Open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham, but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham from 2-4pm. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House with its own parking area. It is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. At our first meeting in June we had a social afternoon when Brenda set us some fiendish quizzes. At our second meeting we welcomed Carol Eagles from The Citizens Advice Bureau to give a presentation of their work. It was not appreciated that this is a charity and considerably staffed by volunteers, including a practising solicitor who gives time each month. One of the many ways they help people is in advice on utilities and getting the best deal from all the many on offer. If you would like help in finding the best deal and do not have any idea where to start, go along to their office in Stowmarket or give them a ring to make an appointment and they will be very pleased to help. We are on a summer break in August and will recommence with our AGM on Wednesday, September 13. We have quite a varied programme and new members are always welcome. If you would just like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
Assistant Group Scout Leader Mark Pearson
BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB The club is now closed for the summer holidays, but will re-open on Monday and Wednesday, September 11 and 13. There has been no increase in charges since we had broadband installed some eight years ago, but with the increase in cost of heating bills, etc., future charges will be: membership £1 per school year and £3 per two-hour session. This increase has been agreed by nearly all club members and seems in line with the cost of other similar groups.
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OUT & ABOUT BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD Our June meeting was a trip to Sandringhan, Norfolk. After a hairy coach ride we finally arrived and a good time was had by all. We visited Sandringham House and grounds and then went for a meal. We were joined by friends and family and members of other guilds. Our July meeting was a walk starting at the Washbrook Brook Pub. We walked for 90 minutes in nice weather – not too hot. We went through Washbrook, over the old A12 and followed footpaths to Copdock Church and then back to the pub for a lovely lunch. We have no meeting in August so our next meeting will be September 4 and will be a garden party at a member’s house. Please bring a fold-up chair if you can. Have a lovely summer with nice weather – hopefully. See you in September.
HENLEY MOTHERS’ UNION Mothers’ Union is a worldwide organisation and each diocese is linked with four others around the world. Our diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich is linked with Byumba in Rwanda, Lake Malawi in Malawi, Jalingo in Nigeria and Lucknow in India. Particularly in the African countries, membership of Mothers’ Union is extremely high amongst the female Anglican Church members – in many churches almost all the women will be MU members. And Mothers’ Union takes a lead in educating women in literacy and numeracy as well as health education. Every year in July we have our Wave of Prayer service where we think of and pray for Mothers’ Union members in our linked dioceses. Forthcoming meetings Monday, August 14: Summer Meeting (time and location depend on the weather)
HENLEY WI Our visit to Shelleys for afternoon tea in May was up to the usual high standard and enjoyed by us all. In fact we voted to make this an annual visit. At our June meeting we were joined by Marie Carden and her assistance dog Smithy. Both proved to be very popular with our members. Marie told us about her struggle to be allowed an assistance dog after she became unable to walk following surgery. Eventually, she was invited to a two week residential course to learn how to train the dog she had at last been paired with. Her description of this was both interesting and amusing. The final ‘exam’ was to take the dog into a large supermarket and ensure he did not leave nose prints on the glass fronted cheese counter, steal titbits from lower shelves and sit in the middle of the aisle to chew an itch from embarrassing doggie places! They both passed the test. Smithy was very well behaved and showed us some of his abilities, including picking up a dropped £1 coin and placing it into an outstretched hand. We can now look forward to our garden party on Thursday, August 17. See you there!
Monday, September 11 at 7.30pm: The Sikh Faith Monday, October 9 at 7.30pm: Emmaus Visitors and new members are always welcome to our meetings, so why not come along and find out more? For more details and meeting locations, contact Clare Thomas: 01473 832808 / clare.thomas@btinternet.com
HENLEY SENIOR CITIZENS During the last meeting in June we were entertained by a group of Ukulele players, the name of their group being Whot No Cake. What an enjoyable performance they gave us. We were all given song sheets and were able to ‘sing along’ with the music. They also incorporated anecdotes of Eric Morecombe and a poem of Pam Ayres. They seemed to enjoy themselves too, so much so that they stayed longer than originally expected. We don’t know if it was our company they liked or the cream cakes we gave them with their cuppas in view of their name! Hopefully they are going to come again later in the year.
STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT FLOWER CLUB
The day also coincided with Gill Eary’s ‘Special Birthday’ so a cake was presented to her marking the occasion, and pieces were distributed to all to enjoy with their refreshments.
The club doesn’t meet in August so our next meeting is on Wednesday, September 27 when Linda Kingcott from Leigh-on-Sea will demonstrate The Green Man and Friends at Woolpit Village Hall at 7.30pm.
By the time this goes to print we will be on our summer break but look forward to returning on September 20 in the community centre from 2-4pm if anyone would like to come along and see what we have to offer as a club.
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SCHOOLS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL As you read this article, we are all busy enjoying the summer holidays. However, the last few weeks of term were filled with activities and events with many taking advantage of the lovely weather.
the Year. The winner of this special award was nominated and voted for by students in a secret ballot. It was a lovely evening celebrating so many individual and team sporting achievements across the year. The dedication, commitment and passion that these students have for their chosen sports make their families and the school very proud. The afternoon of July 17 saw the school’s annual Headteacher’s Praise Tea Party which is held to celebrate those students who have been awarded four or more Headteacher Awards on their school reports and who have 100% attendance throughout the year. I am delighted that a huge number of students were eligible for invitations. Several students have had the opportunity to experience the magic of the live theatre this half-term. Years 7 and 8 spent a warm evening in Christchurch Park watching an open-air performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which Year 7 are currently studying in their English curriculum. Years 9 and 10 GCSE drama students travelled to London on July 6 to watch The Woman in Black and The Play That Goes Wrong and a small group of students who excelled in a recent Readathon, raising money for charity, and our Word Warriors were rewarded with a trip to London to see Matilda.
On the evenings of June 27/28, we hosted our Claydon Spotlights show. Talented students across all year groups performed in a variety of acts ranging from music and dance to comedy and scooting. All the acts were fantastic and I would like to thank parents and carers for their support with auditions and rehearsals. It was great to see so much hard work and effort rewarded with great performances. Well done! On Thursday, July 7, 145 Year 6 students joined us for an induction day in preparation for the start of high school in September. Despite a few anxious faces in the morning, students soon settled into their activities, taking part in specially designed English, French and science lessons throughout the day. By break time it was clear to see that many had made new friends and are excited to be joining our warm and friendly school. Staff involved in the day were extremely impressed with the positive attitudes and enthusiasm shown by all students and we look forward to them joining us in the autumn. Year 5 students from our feeder primary school also joined us on Tuesday, July 11 for an arts festival. Students were split into groups and took part in drama, dance, music and art based activities all designed around the theme of The Sea. We still have a few places available for students starting high school in September; please contact assistant headteacher Mr C Sim. On July 12, the PE department hosted its annual Sports Award Evening. Celebrations got off to a brilliant start with certificates awarded to students in Years 7-10 for Endeavour, Excellence and Team Sports with the awards culminating in a trophy for Claydon High School’s Sports Personality of
In other areas of the school we have had a Year 9 and 10 business and food technology trip to Hollow Trees Farm to learn more about career choices in agriculture and allied industries as well as sustainability and food processes. Year 9 students took part in an enterprise language day, creating a food or drink product to launch in a French or Spanish speaking country. Year 9 art and textiles students visited Cambridge Botanical Gardens. Year 10 experienced a taster day at Suffolk One Sixth Form College. The PE department held its most successful sports day ever, with 10 school records being broken, and Year 10 students experienced the exciting world of work on their work experience placement. I have been offered an exciting opportunity in the next academic year to undertake two terms work for our multi-academy trust. Therefore, I am delighted to inform you that Maeve Taylor will be our headteacher from September to Easter, with me undertaking an executive head role at the school. Please do contact her if you have any questions about the school or would like to visit. I would like take this opportunity to thank colleagues who will be leaving Claydon High School for pastures new come September and welcome new teachers who will be joining us for what I hope is another very successful year. If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please telephone my PA, Mrs J Pedersen, on 01473 836110 to book a place on one of our open mornings in the autumn term. Headteacher Mrs S Skinner
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SCHOOLS CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL As the end of the school year draws nearer our pupils have been extremely busy with productions, musical performances, sporting events, visits, new clubs and many, many visits. During the recent election the children got to learn and all about democracy and how important it is to vote. As well as learning about the history of voting through assemblies and activities in class, the school council decided that to help everyone understand the importance of voting we needed something meaningful for them to vote on. It was decided that our pupils would vote on what the reward would be for the winning team this term; a sports afternoon, arts and craft afternoon or a film afternoon. A polling station was set up and all children in the school had the opportunity to vote. The school council then carefully counted the votes – they were very strict on ‘split votes’ – and revealed to the school that with 144 votes the winning team this term will enjoy a film afternoon as their reward. Having to vote on something that is meaningful to them helped the children understand how important it is to use your right to vote, and how democracy actually works. Sport has been a huge part of life at CPS this year with children participating in a wide range of sporting events and competitions. This past month we have competed in swimming rounders, cricket and Quadkids events. All children selected for the various events did a fantastic job representing the school. 100% effort, resilience and determination was clear for all to see, but what is always so evident is how well they support each other and work together. We are extremely proud of them all. In addition to these events, Year 3 had the pleasure of coach Gareth from Stowmarket Rugby Club coming in to lead their PE lessons. For many of our children it was a completely new sport (50 Things – Number 30: Learn a New Sport), but they all really enjoyed it and we look forward to Gareth returning next year. This term has seen the introduction of two brand new clubs – Construction Club and Globetrotters. At Construction Club the children
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Well hasn’t this school year gone quickly. It is hard to believe that the summer holidays are already here. This term was very busy for both staff and children. We said hello to two new members of staff – Emily McKenna and Elise Jay – who have settled in very well with the existing team. The children have enjoyed lots of fun activities including their sports day and summer party. A big thank you to everyone who came to our summer fete to help support the pre-school. We have said goodbye to some of our children who are moving on to Reception and Nursery and wish them well as they move on with their education – we will miss them. From September 2017 we will be opening for 51 weeks of the year, not including bank holidays, and from 8am to 4pm. Due to the year round hours and the introduction of the additional 15 hours funding for three and four year old parents who work, we are proving very popular from September. As we will be open throughout each of the school holidays we will have the option to take children up to five years old for additional sessions during these weeks, subject to availability. Please contact the administration assistant for more details. Don’t forget that from September 2017 the government is introducing an additional 15 hours funding for working parents of three and four year olds. This means that parents who both earn the equivalent of 16 hours at
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had the opportunity to make and build things using Knex, Lego, Wedo or other materials – and even using their computing skills to make them move. At Globetrotters Club (pictured) the children got to learn more about the world we live in through fun and creative activities. These have included papier-mached balloons decorated to represent planet Earth, making rivers out of tin foil and investigating what effects river flow and even making cakes inspired by volcanoes, rivers and the earth. Finally, our Reception gardening club have had a successful harvest as they actually got to enjoy the fruits of their labour last week. Eating their homemade carrots for their snack… Yummy! Over the last month many of our pupils have been ticking off more of our 50 Things to Do Before You Leave Claydon Primary School: perform to an audience, learn to play a musical instrument, visit different places of worship, visit an art gallery or museum and go pond dipping. Lots more has been happening, including: Years 3 and 4 visiting Colchester Castle as part of their Roman topic; Years 1 and 2 visiting Felixstowe to conclude their seaside topic; Year 6’s visit to Crucial Crew; a Punch and Judy show for Key Stage 1; an amazing Year 5 and 6 production of Hoodwinked; visitors in school to discuss their faiths and religious beliefs; Year 6 pupils getting their writing published in a mini-saga book (pictured); Years 3 and 4 building a Roman museum in school; sports days across the whole school; Nursery visiting Alder Carr Farm; Year 5 trip to Ipswich Museum to find out more about the Ancient Egyptians; Year 6 field trip to Flatford Mill; and much more. It has been a fantastic year at CPS. We look forward to welcoming new pupils in September and say farewell and good luck to our Year 6s as they move on to high school. Also, on behalf of all the staff a huge thank you to all parents, carers, family, friends and members of the community for their continued to support. We look forward to seeing you all again in September after a wellearned break for all. Happy holidays, Deputy Headteacher Louis Collins
National Minimum Wage (£115.20 per week) or more per week and less that £100,000 per year (or just one carer if a single parent) will be eligible to claim up to 30 hours of funding. You can register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible and also register for the government Childcare Vouchers Scheme. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact administration assistant Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB June prize winners No 18 Nadine Harrison No 61 Cara Lee No 19 Jo Bean
£15.60 £7.80 £2.60
New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 a month and the draw takes place on the last Friday of each month from September through to July. The more entries we get the greater the prize money and all money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school. For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / treasurer@claydonpreschool.co.uk
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SCHOOLS – CHURCH NEWS HENLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL Well, it’s once again been a busy half term at Henley Primary School. As I write, the weather has been kind with lots of sunshine and warm cloudy days to enable us to make the most out of outdoor learning, sports and play. It’s a time of mixed blessings as our new children spend several mornings with us getting to know their new friends, but we also prepare to bid farewell to our Year 6s. In Class 1 we have spent time on our phonics and also focusing on our reading. As part of this the whole school took part in a reading day where the children brought in their favourite books and shared them with friends. The emphasis of the day was the enjoyment and inspiration that books can bring and it all revolved around ‘real’ books rather than electronic alternatives. The staff led by example by joining the children in reading with the children on the school field on a lovely June afternoon. Class 2 had a trip out with Class 4 to the Sealife Centre in Great Yarmouth. It was a busy day, but we managed to see most of the exhibits and were lucky to have very knowledgeable and interesting guides who shared lots of facts and figures with us. We were also able to get up close and personal with some of the sea creatures including crabs and rays. Class 2 were also treated to the spectacle of rearing their own butterflies from tiny caterpillars; the children added food and watched them grow until one night they formed chrysalises. An anxious wait produced five beautiful Painted Lady butterflies that stayed with us for a few days before being released. The children were captivated by the whole process and were sorry to see them go.
Class 3 had a trip out to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. This formed part of the IPC theme of Egyptians and they were able to see some fascinating artefacts and tomb finds including mummies, mummified cats and birds. It is always an exciting trip to the museum and the children come away inspired and well informed. As a school we were lucky to welcome back Marcel, Philippe and their Bassistry Arts Workshop. The children thoroughly enjoyed the interactive, energetic sessions and the whole school had a spring in its step as the corridors echoed with the beat of world and popular music. Probably the highlight of the school calendar is the KS2 play. Following on from the success of last year, the play was once again staged al fresco and thankfully the predicted thunderstorms stayed away. Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies was a humorous take on the classic tale with a moral message of ‘be who you want to be’. The children performed extremely well, singing their hearts out encouraged by an appreciative audience of family and friends who really entered into the spirit of things. Our amazing Year 6s have had a very busy time. Excellent SATs paved the way for some well deserved treats. Alongside swimming and tennis, they were trained in cycling proficiency, spent a day writing, directing and performing their own play, visited backstage at the New Wolsey Theatre and had the traditional barbecue and water fight. However, the icing on the cake was that 32 lucky children got to spend the day at Latitude Festival. Despite an early start, the children had a fantastic experience and a good time was had by all. Finally, we would like to extend a welcome to our new Class 4 teacher who starts with us in September. We wish him well.
BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB
FOLLOWING THE CAR IN FRONT
Greetings guff lovers. In the midst of glorious weather at the time of writing, I am watching Wimbledon and marvelling that this thing of beauty is the same sport that I have struggled to play for more years than I care to remember (let’s just say that when I started all matches were in black and white – including mine). The participants have the same sort of equipment and clothing as me, but seem to be able to get the ball in the court (and there is hardly any swearing or racket throwing). Nevertheless I think that my games are much more entertaining, certainly judging by the amount of laughter. A group of lads were on the playing field the other day when I was walking my dog. As I approached I heard one of them say: “Oh look, it’s that clown coming”. I laughed to myself as I walked past, because my dog’s name isn’t Clown, it’s Bonzo!
Coming home from Stansted Airport last week we saw signs that the road ahead was closed with diversion signs. It was some way before the road was actually closed and once the cars in front, as well as me, had made that discovery the sign read “Please find an alternative route”. What was the alternative route? A quick decision to follow the cars in front was made with the hope that they would: a) know where they were going or: b) be heading in the direction we wanted to go. Thankfully all worked out well and we got back onto the A12 and made our way home.
Nothing daft happening with the men’s team who are going so well they haven’t called on my services again, even though I have phoned Graham every night to see if there are any call-offs. He must have a fault on his line though, as it sounds like the phone has been answered, but when I speak it cuts off and I just get the dialling tone. The coaching sessions seem to be a great success and the club has gained several family memberships as a result. The weather has helped and having some sessions for starters and improves means that we may see Nick get some much needed coaching with his serve. It would certainly help his finances as it costs him a tin of balls every time he serves with most of them ending up in the Gipping. I am not having a joke of the month this time out of respect for a very good friend of mine who recently passed away as a result of a tragic accident. He was assistant brewer at Adnams where, during his duties, he tripped on a gantry, fell into a huge vat of Ghost Ship (other brews are available) and unfortunately drowned. When his wife was informed of his passing she was at a loss to understand how he could possibly drown, because he was a lifeguard at his local swimming pool. The manager told her that two men nearby had successfully managed to pull him out to safety twice, but both times he fought them off and jumped back in! More guff next month, Mick Russ
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It was more wishful thinking on my part for a good outcome, but we can be certain of eternal life. Jesus knew where He had come from and where He was going. There were some who wanted to follow Jesus, but it meant taking an ‘alternative route’, putting Him first and letting Him take the lead in their lives, living His way instead of living for themselves. There were those who turned to God from following idols, got rid of everything associated with that and lived for Him through Jesus. It is still the same today. WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesday: Weekly Prayer Meeting, 9.30-10.30am Wednesday: Home Group, 10-11.45am Thursday: Home Group, 7.45-9.30pm Friday: Children’s Club (primary school age), 6.30-7.30pm Sunday Morning Service: 10.45am-noon We’ll be having a cream tea followed by well-known hymns on Sunday, July 2 at 4pm. For more information contact: info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk / 01449 720357 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk
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CHURCH NEWS THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES The Church of England in Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham We offer you a warm welcome to all our events and services.
For enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals contact: Priest-in-Charge Rev Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmaill.com www.claydonchurches.com SERVICES IN AUGUST Barham Church – every Sunday at 10am Henley Church – every Sunday at 10am Gt Blakenham Church – every Sunday at 11am Sunday, August 6: Transfiguration 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am Holy Communion Henley Church 11am family@blakenham Gt Blakenham Church Sunday, August 13: Trinity 9 and St Mary 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am J-Team 30th Anniversary Barham Church 10am family@henley Henley Church 11am Patronal Service Gt Blakenham Church Sunday, August 20: Trinity 10 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am family@barham Barham Church 10am Holy Communion Henley Church 11am Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Church Sunday, August 27: Trinity 11 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am Café Church Henley Church 11am Elevenses@GB Gt Blakenham Church Sunday, September 3 8am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am Holy Communion Barham Church 10am Holy Communion Henley Church 11am family@blakenham Gt Blakenham Church JESUS GOES TO THE BEACH! Find out what he got up to… August 6, Gt Blakenham Church, 11am August 13, Henley Church, 10am August 20, Barham Church, 10am Refreshments available; all welcome! Further services can be found on our website. Hall bookings Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Paul Corbett, 830201 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463 Funerals June 27: Geoffrey Day June 28: Gordon Harris Weddings July 1: Marion Self and Kevin Peters July 22: Karen Grimsey and Neil Flewitt July 29: Clare Hart and Karl Wilkinson Baptisms June 4: Caroline Ray (adult)
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Sunday’s Cool: A traditional Sunday School takes place at Gt Blakenham for any children within Henley, Claydon, Barham and GB. It will run on the second and third Sundays (August 13 & 20 / September 10 & 17) from 10.30am in Gt Blakenham Parish Room. Under 5s should be accompanied by an adult. Older children can be left unattended. Stories, games, songs and loads of fun! It’s free and there’s no need to book. Contact Irene for more information; 01449 676567 Barham Hall Picnic Band Concert: The return of this event to the calendar after a year’s break was clearly welcomed with all tickets selling out two months prior to the event. We had a great evening’s entertainment provided by Essential Sounds Big Band supported by the excellent local vocal trio The Three Chordettes to provide three hours of more-or-less non-stop music. Visitors were clearly enjoying good food and good company in the stunning setting of Barham Hall thanks to the generous hospitality of Mr and Mrs Burrows. The event raised a record of more than £4,000 for Barham Church Fabric Fund. This is likely to be put to good use in the near future as we await the report from the church’s five yearly inspection. J-Team – Thirty Years On: Our 10am worship at Barham on August 13 will take on a different form as we celebrate 30 continuous years of our J-Team holiday club. If you or your children have attended J-Team anytime in the past 30 years please come and join us. At the time of writing, this year’s J-Team running from August 9-11 is filling up. The groups for seven year olds and over are rapidly nearing capacity, but there is still plenty of space in the group for five and six year olds so there may still be space when you receive this magazine. (Please ring 831079 to check). Harvest Festival: Taking place in all our churches over the weekend of September 23/24. Our churches will be open the whole weekend with displays and events. The theme at Great Blakenham will be scarecrows, so if you would like to make a scarecrow or to help others make theirs, please let us know. The weekend will end at 6pm on the Sunday with a special service at Barham Church where we will be joined by the Cathedral Choir. All welcome. Other Services and Events Saturday, August 12 Gt Blakenham Church Quiz Night, 7pm Saturday, August 19 Vestry Café, Henley Church, 10.30am Saturday, September 9 Ride and Stride: all churches Coffee Morning, Gt Blakenham Parish Room, 10am-noon Sunday, September 24 Harvest with Cathedral Choir, Barham Saturday, September 30 Gt Blakenham Barn Dance, Claydon Community Centre, 7pm LETTER FROM THE VICAR I love the holiday season – even though I usually take my holiday during school term time. Somehow, August seems so much more relaxed than most other months. It’s a bit of a turning point too – children leaving schools and looking forward to starting new ones, families taking holidays to refresh and so on. Holiday season is there for us to rest a little and to be a bit more relaxed than usual. Jesus knew what this meant too! He would often escape to a quiet place just to reflect, pray and be alone. The Jewish faith is built around its special holiday seasons, likewise so is Christianity. August is a time for resting, relaxing and holidays. Our family services in August will be focused on the holiday season and looking at what Jesus got up to when he went to the beach. Why not come along? You may be about to start a new school, a new job or be moving on from a particular time in your life. Whatever it may be, why not join one of the Claydon Group of Churches over the holiday season? Have a great summer! The Rev Carl Melville
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