In Touch
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with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook Volume 8 • Issue No. 4 • MARCH 2018
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
NEWS
Now don’t tell my boss, but on Tuesday mornings when I arrive at work before A Life Scientific on BBC Radio 4 has ended, I’m forced to sit in the car until it does. Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires and motivates them. I particularly loved his interview with Eugenia Cheng on the mathematics of mathematics. Though it was never my strongest subject, I continue to love maths, desperate to understand and to find the right answer, though I seldom do. What’s extraordinary about many of the people featured on A Life Scientific is how often a childhood interest or passion has led to a fulfilling career and it’s clear that doing something you love is a wonderful privilege. I’ll be playing the podcasts to my son when he’s a little older because whatever he does in life I want it to be what makes him happy. You may have read about the letter a teacher in Singapore sent to parents the week before her students were to sit exams. Here’s a short extract: “I know you are all really anxious for your child to do well. But, please do remember, amongst the students who will be sitting for the exams there is an artist who doesn’t need to understand math, an entrepreneur who doesn’t care about history or English literature, a musician whose chemistry marks won’t matter. There’s an athlete whose physical fitness is more important than physics. If your child does get top marks, that’s great, but if he or she doesn’t please don’t take away their self-confidence and dignity. Tell them no matter what they score you love them and will not judge them. Please do this and when you do, watch your children conquer the world. One exam or a low mark won’t take that away. And please don’t think that doctors and engineers are the only happy people in the world.” I hope you have or have had the opportunity to do what you love and that you can inspire others to do likewise. Driving to work at 6am on a cold January morning is never easy, but it’s a whole lot easier if you’re looking forward to the day ahead.
In Touch
with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
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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 Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
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Copdock & Washbrook Village is taking part in the Great British Spring Clean on Saturday, March 17. As part of the ongoing Spring Clean Suffolk campaign we aim to clear up the rubbish that is blighting our village. Please do come to help us on Saturday 17 between 10am and noon. We will meet at the Church Room in The Street where rubbish sacks, litter pickers and hi-vis vests will be available (bring your own gloves). Upon returning to the Church Room delicious refreshments will be available for all our volunteers. For further information, contact Tina: 01473 730162
COPDOCK & WASHBROOK PARISH COUNCIL & DEFIBRILLATOR WORKING PARTY The two new defibrillators have been installed. One is on the side wall of the Brook Inn and one on the side wall to the village hall. We are at present awaiting confirmation from the East of England Ambulance Service that they are registered with them. This may have been received by the time this article goes to press. As soon as we receive this confirmation the tape on the boxes will be removed and the units are then be available to use. Special training as to the use of these defibrillators is not necessary. There are clear instructions on how to use the defibrillators. By telephoning 999 the operator will advise you of what to do and how to use the equipment. The actual defibrillator also guides you through the process. To do nothing in a case of need should not be an option; by doing something at least you are giving a person a chance to survive. No harm can be done by using the equipment if you follow the instructions. A well-attended awareness seminar was held on Wednesday, January 24 for those people in the village who were interested to know when and how to use the defibrillators. A further seminar will be arranged when and if there are more people willing to attend. Anybody who is interested in attending should email the parish clerk and details will be forwarded when a suitable session can be arranged: copdockparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk Community Heartbeat who have helped set up these two units are a charity. Small fundraising events will be held on occasions which we hope people of the village will support. If anyone should see the units being abused, please either contact the police or the parish clerk. Should anyone take a defibrillator to use in an emergency, please contact the parish clerk who will arrange for the unit to be returned and made operational again. Should anyone have any queries or questions relating to the defibrillators then also contact the parish clerk who will get someone to contact you.
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This month’s cover image, another in our series of ‘My Life in…’ images by local residents, was taken by Nigel Paul. It may not be a familiar view for many readers but what a pose! Thanks Nigel.
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NEWS BELSTEAD VILLAGE MONTHLY MARKETS A market is set to take place in Belstead Village Hall from 9am-noon on the first Saturday of every month – starting on Saturday, April 7 – to raise vital funds to support refurbishment of the kitchen and ladies toilet. With an extensive range of tables, a raffle and refreshments, the market is the perfect place to meet with friends for a chat over a cuppa and a piece of cake while supporting this essential local amenity. You can also support Macmillan who will have a table laden with homemade goodies for sale.
COPDOCK & WASHBROOK ANNUAL VILLAGE QUIZ NIGHT Tuesday, March 13 at 7.30pm in the village hall. Teams of four players, entry fee £6 per team. Contact: mikewatling391@btinternet.com
COPDOCK & WASHBROOK SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING
If you can sew, make or create and would like to hire a table (£10) please contact: 07981 335859 / market@belsteadvillage.co.uk
TATTINGSTONE VILLAGE SURVEY – HAVE YOUR SAY It has been over 10 years since the last Tattingstone Village Survey was conducted. The outcome of that survey formed the Parish Plan which was published in 2006. The population, households and their views may have changed since then. Therefore, the parish council has decided that it is time to update the original Parish Plan and give all the residents of Tattingstone the opportunity to have their say regarding the services and amenities of the village. So in March 2018, it is proposed that every household in Tattingstone will receive a village survey to complete. Once you have completed the survey, you can either drop it in a dedicated post box at The Wheatsheaf, Sheila Tweedy at the White House, the village hall, to Jane Connell-Smith, or if preferred, contact a member of the parish council and we will arrange for someone to come and collect it. Please complete the survey as it is your chance to have your say in village matters.
COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK ALLOTMENTS
Update on our meeting with Robert Hobbs Two members of our group and two members of Copdock & Washbrook Parish Council met Robert Hobbs at Endeavour House on January 22. Robert is the recently appointed* Corporate Manager for Strategic Planning at Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils; he was previously Ipswich Borough Council’s Planning Policy Team Leader until December 2017. *A previous edition of In Touch stated he was employed by Ipswich Borough Council – he was when that article was submitted on December 12, but with effect from January 2018 Rob became a Babergh and Mid Suffolk employee. Our apologies! Robert knows the area well, brings a very useful understanding of cross-boundary issues and will be a key figure in the formulation of Babergh and Mid-Suffolk Council’s future development plans, now entering their second phase. Robert gave us the opportunity to discuss the Copdock & Washbrook Community Led Plan. It was an open discussion conducted in a positive atmosphere. He listened to our concerns regarding the August 2017 Babergh Draft Development Plans that contained proposals to build 623 new houses and B1, B2 and B8 commercial development areas that we contend must be substantially re-thought. (One Report clearly states: “Based on the forecast jobs growth the net employment land requirements for 2014-2036 are forecast to be 2.9 hectares in Babergh and 9.4 hectares in Mid-Suffolk”/ Source: 2016 East of England Forecasting Model) In summary: We restated that we are not against housing development strategically situated within the existing natural village envelope that could bring tangible benefits to our village. Any such development must contribute in enhancing the village.
Fed up with being cooped up indoors watching dreary TV repeats? In need of some fresh air and light exercise? Why not take on an allotment? Fresh air, exercise and wonderfully healthy fruit and vegetables guaranteed. Copdock and Washbrook Allotment Group currently have a number of plots (full, three-quarter or half) for rent. Rates are very reasonable – currently £24 for a full plot.
The welcome development of the old Sugar Beet factory in Sproughton could create 2-3,000 jobs but also up to 4-6,000 traffic movements per day. A second river crossing over the River Gipping at Sproughton has been ruled out by the architects employed. Without that second river crossing, Old London Road, Swan Hill and Sproughton roundabout would suffer daily from increased gridlock with a proportion of that new traffic trying to access the new Enterprise Zone.
Tempted?
The A12 Interchange remains key; Highways England is well aware that it must be redesigned to cope with future developments. As such, it demands strategically sound development proposals; a viable infrastructure is a must – not just a desirable option.
Contact Anne Kell on 01473 730087.
Colin Hinkins: mail@colinhinkins.plus.com
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NEWS COPWASH NEWS THE BENEFICE FALLEN MARCH 1918 Unlike last month when there were no anniversaries of the Fallen, one hundred years ago this month three families were mourning their lost ones – the Lloyds of Bentley, the Gills of Belstead and the Johnsons of Sproughton. GUNNER GEORGE HENRY LLOYD 98393 Royal Field Artillery, born in Bentley in 1890, was killed in action in France on 11 March 1918 and was buried in the Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension in the Pas de Calais. Although his wife was living in Maldon at the time of his death he is remembered on the Bentley War Memorial. PTE ALBERT GILL 88049 Royal Army medical Corps was killed in action on 21 March 1918. Born in Belstead 1887 he was the second of Walter and Charlotte Gill’s sons to be killed. His brother Henry, two years older than he, had died in 1915 exactly three years before to the day. A doubly bitter remembrance for their parents especially as neither son had a grave. Henry is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial and Albert on the Arras Memorial and both on the Belstead Memorial Another family to suffer a second tragedy that month was the Johnson family of Sproughton when their elder son PTE ERNEST JAMES JOHNSON 29711Bedfordshire Regt died on 27 March aged 31. His younger brother George had died in August 1915. Again neither man had a grave. George is one of the 72,194 men remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme and Ernest, like Albert Gill, is one of the 34,785 on the
A POSTSCRIPT TO THE STORY OF WILLIAM HENRY HEWITT – A PEN PORTRAIT OF HIS WIFE LILY I had built up a good picture of Billy/ Harry Hewitt through my researches but knew little about his wife Lily so after the dedication in September I asked her Australian granddaughter Jenny to tell me more about her Ouma (Granny). In the Centenary of partial Women’s Suffrage it is good to learn about another redoubtable woman. She is pictured here as a bride in 1919 and in 1967 giving the VC medal to Framlingham College. JJ “In regard to your query about my grandmother, our ‘Ouma’, she continued to live with Pam and Peter after Oupa’s (grandpa) death. She visited us at least a couple of times in Australia during that time, and I have clear memories of her and some of our chats, and driving her around a bit when I had just got my license. After seven years, she went with Pam, Peter, Piers and Fiona to South Africa for a holiday, but more specifically to scatter Oupa’s ashes. Piers would know more of the detail, but shortly after the ashes had been scattered at Hermanus, and while Pam and Peter had gone off to tour round South Africa, she was staying with a friend, and she suddenly and unexpectedly had a heart attack and I think died instantly.
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Memorial at Arras. Both these men are also remembered on their parents’ headstone in Sproughton churchyard and, for an as yet unknown reason, Ernest’s name is also on the Belstead War memorial. Research Jean Austin 19th century grave of small child vandalised in Copdock Churchyard When Copdock church was burgled the thieves callously used the cross headstone of Amy Eliza Hills who died aged five years and three months on 4 November 1889. The headstone is inscribed with the words: “No longer weep for her, so early gone to rest. Your little lamb sleeps peacefully, upon her Saviour’s breast.” The church authorities are trying to get the headstone repaired but would also like to find any remaining family connections. This will not be easy as there are no other graves with the Hills surname in the churchyard, but someone reading this might have a clue in which case please get in touch with Jennifer Jones: jmkj.copwash@gmail.com / 01473 730431 It just seems so sad that she has rested here, apparently alone, for 129-years and now her headstone has been used as a sledge-hammer.v
“According to an article from the local paper which I have a copy of, her ashes were to be scattered at the same place as Oupa’s. You have to feel that fate played a hand in there somewhere! “Ouma was a strong, positive and courageous woman, a London girl who loved South Africa and her friends there, and probably would have stayed there had it not been for the death of her daughter (their first child who died aged two) and the need to move herself and particularly her husband away from the memories (they moved to Kenya to a coffee farm). Life on the farm in years of drought was tough, but she rose to the occasion, living without shops and immediate neighbours, making everything (a great improviser according to my mother), nursing sick children, dogs (brandy a great antidote for snakebite!), managing the ‘boys’ (the farm workers) and home schooling my mother until she was 11. Ouma told me she used to walk up and down the verandah on a Saturday night remembering the dances in London. Despite that, it was according to my mother a happy home, with wonderful parents who created imaginative games and entertainment for the girls. “Ouma nursed Oupa in his later years when he was so unwell.” Jenny Atkins, daughter of Jill In 1952, 35 years after the attack on the Menin Road, shrapnel was found in Hewitt’s throat and his vocal cords had to be removed leaving him virtually speechless for the remaining 15 years of his life. On top of this he suffered from Parkinson’s. However, he and Lily faced this bravely together and as his surgeon is quoted as saying, “This brave man won the V.C. in World War I. If he can fight cheerfully the chronic stages of this terrible crippling disease, he’ll deserve a Bar to that V.C. - and I know he will, won’t you sir?” and they did.
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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 REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD, FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON Well there has been plenty of ‘hot air’ to keep councillors warm this winter! We have had the extraordinary council meeting to seek the resignation of the council leader, pre-empted by her resignation just as the meeting started, and then the extraordinary meeting to elect a new leader. Apparently that provoked a lot of arm twisting and pressure on the Conservative benches, but whatever happened behind the scenes, John Ward was elected by the Conservative Group as council leader. I have to say by the ‘Conservative Group’ as all the other groupings voted against him! A newcomer to the council (elected in 2015), was adamant when in cabinet that the proposed referendum (‘local poll’ in Conservative speak) on the proposed merger was unnecessary and that cabinet could make the decision. Now, partly I suspect because he would like to be leader for more than a couple of months and because of a council resolution that went against the Conservatives Group, he is now a fervent supporter of a referendum (although I still think he is under the impression that it is a ‘local poll’). The telephone poll has still gone ahead, so that’s £10K down the drain, and seems to be provoking significant negativity in the public domain. We still haven’t seen a financial case for the proposed merger and I am firmly of the view that without it we cannot disenfranchise the pubic of Babergh. We have a change of boundaries being implemented in 2019 that will reduce the number of councillors considerably, so any move to see decisions made by councillors from North Suffolk on our small forgotten area of South Suffolk is unacceptable. We have a very new officer structure who seem to have difficulty with any knowledge of this area (half the East End vanished from the Draft Local Plan document), but we need to sort out the chaos that the move to Ipswich has created first. I’m still trying to find out how residents with no computer who don’t travel to Ipswich daily to look at the council noticeboard can find out about council activities! Sudbury is not a rational alternative contact point. Planning still rumbles along with a sudden spurt seemingly in the offing as developers try to gain permissions on the spurious five-year land supply
excuse before the new figures come out. Challenges have indicated that with over 3,000 permissions already in place the constant setting aside of Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans is unconstitutional. Our MP apparently thinks that this is acceptable, so where villages were told not to bother with site allocations, their plans should be ignored. Hardly the ‘localism’ that one of the first Conservative policies advocated! Some may call me a cynic, some might use stronger words, but I am old fashioned when it comes to democracy and local representation. Democracy does not mean only thinking locally once in every electoral cycle, and local representation means ‘local’ not national, and listening to the people. The Brexit vote taught us that whatever we may think the public want we have to be sure that is what they are thinking. Most national politicians appear to exist in a bubble that isolates them from the ordinary voters. Yes we have a ‘local council’ that is supposed to manage and develop our area, but when there are constant changes in policy, doctrine and laws from central government, local MPs cannot say that it’s a local matter and ignore the concerns of their electorate who after all pay them and expect some representation. Of course, international concerns such as Trident and foreign policy have to be decided by parliament, but which MPs have knowledge of nuclear fission and ethnic conflict which says they know more than their electorate? We never stop learning, and the person who says he knows it all is the one to avoid. I am reminded of the quote on the practical man’s definition of qualifications: The bloody obvious combined with common sense (Wing Commander Kenneth Wallis MBE, the exponent of the autogyro immortalised in James Bond’s You Only Live Twice). I think we need a little more ‘common sense’! Councillor John Hinton john.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309
A BIG THANK YOU Sandra and Karen Leggett would like to thank all their friends in Bentley for all the lovely cards sent to them after their recent move to a new home in Ipswich after 54 years in Bentley. These good wishes were very much appreciated.
Brian and Eileen Manning of Washbrook celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on the 1 March 2018. Married in Copdock in 1958 they have been blessed with one son and three grandchildren. Congratulations to you both and thank you for the love that you have shared with our family. Carl, Kate, Holly, Izzy and Casey xx
IPSWICH GANG SHOW IS 80 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR Have you ever been a member of the show, on stage or behind the scenes? We are celebrating our 80 years with a dinner/dance at Trinity Park on Saturday, September 1 and would love to see anyone who has been connected to the show. For further details email: gangshow80@outlook.com
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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, ALTON WARD: MARCH 2018 Babergh District Councillor Alastair McCraw Brantham Rail Maintenance Yard There’s been some recent speculation about the above and it looks like it’s justified. Our MP, James Cartlidge, believed it to be in periland and, to his credit, sought meetings with the involved parties to try to find solutions. For that reason, I’ve tried to remain positive (and quiet) while these discussions have gone on. He has also had a meeting with the Transport Secretary, who has promised to investigate further. Abellio Greater Anglia state the issues to be resolved as follows; preparation of the site, train access, commercial terms with St Francis Group and (significantly it appears) the impact on the Manningtree Level Crossing. That last brings Network Rail firmly into matters. The Manningtree Crossing has been a thorn in all our sides for a very long time, so this won’t be a surprise. There will be a meeting in early March between Suffolk CC, Essex CC, Babergh District Council, Tendring DC, Network Rail, Greater Anglia and the Department of Transport. Harriet and I, as your ward members at Babergh, will also be there. I’m not looking to pre-judge, but I do believe that a total solution of the crossing problems will take a lot of time, money, and political will and involve a lot of inconvenience. Will a solution for the Maintenance Yard be found in time for the new fleet of trains in early 2019? It seems highly doubtful. Abellio maintain that final decisions have not been made yet, either for Brantham or elsewhere. This is an incredibly disappointing situation. I know that Babergh, Harriet and myself, Brantham Parish Council and, most importantly, Brantham itself have been wholly supportive. If there have been any failings in due diligence they rest elsewhere. This, however, is not yet the time for pointing fingers, if solutions can still be found. I’ll keep you all posted through the Facebook group below, at meetings and whenever I see any of you who want to know more. The site itself must have some potential or it would never have been considered.
BABBLINGS FROM THE BROOK As the evenings are getting lighter and the daffodils bring a welcome splash of colour to the cold, grey of winter, why not have a celebratory spring drink and a hearty meal at The Brook? If you would like to shake off the winter-blues, then warm up your voice, tune up your guitar and come along to our ever-popular open mic night on Thursday, March 1. If you’re not a performer then come along and enjoy some great music, good food and a lovely atmosphere. Why not treat mum to a lovely lunch on Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 11? To avoid disappointment do book and as this is a special day the pub will be keeping the kitchen open for longer. Don’t forget that we have our regular Brook Coffee Mornings which are held fortnightly on a Wednesday between 10 and 11am. Looking ahead, we have a growing list of events coming up so get your diary out and invite family and friends – all will be welcome. For the competitive and those who like a flutter, on Easter Sunday, April 1, we will be having a Charity Virtual Race Night, and as gin becomes increasingly popular, join us on Saturday, April 28 for Gin Night, complemented by a special menu. We are making the most of the May Bank Holidays. On Sunday, May 6, the pub will host some great live music with The Walker Bothers tribute band playing hits from the 60s and 70s. A BBQ will fuel all those tapping feet and those who like a dance. At the other end of the month on Sunday, May 27, there will be more live music with Clare Free who will be playing indie and classic rock ‘n roll hits. Food will be available too. Finally, we are proud to have the village defibrillator located on the car park side wall of the pub. The yellow box is easily seen as you are coming down Back Lane and there are clear instructions on how to use it. Hopefully no one will need it, but it is reassuring to know that it is there. See you at The Brook!
Suffolk Coast and Heaths ANOB Boundary Review We all know that we live in a beautiful area. Now we have the chance to state that, and importantly, to protect it. The AONB could receive a significant extension in the near future. A public consultation on the boundary review is on now and runs until Friday, April 20. As well as including land across the Stour estuary the proposed extension skirts around the east side of Brantham, including Decoy Pond, the Millennium Wood (Pattles Fen), the south side of Church Lane and further adds the Samford Valley between here and Stutton and Tattingstone and further sweeps into Dodnash as well. You can find full details of the review at: https://tinyurl.com/y73hgv85 A map, online response and a fact sheet are all available there. I urge you to respond to preserve as much as we can. There is more to tell you, but I’ll have to refer you to the Facebook group or local news websites like www.shotleypeninsulanewsandfeatures.com. As ever, I can be contacted as below, and I’ll be out and about on that old blue Claud Butler pushbike. Alastair McCraw 07812 564188 / alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (a joint open group)
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
FUNDRAISING COFFEE MORNING Burstall Village Hall on Saturday, March 17, 10am-12 .30pm Delicious homemade cakes and fresh tea and coffee, served on beautiful vintage china. Do come along and join us and find out more about this vital Suffolk charity. Fresh Start – New Beginnings is a charity working across Suffolk and Norfolk, set up to help child victims of sexual abuse and their families recover from the associated trauma. We provide one-to-one therapy to the child victims as well as groups for children and their carers. Fresh Start – New Beginnings use a clinically evaluated treatment model which is proven to help children recover from the guilt, blame and shame many feel following sexual abuse. The children are offered a safe place to unravel their thoughts and fears with a worker who will not judge or be shocked by what they hear. The children are helped to process their abuse and given strategies to deal with the effects of the abuse. The charity’s vision is ‘to ensure all children and young people who are the victims of sexual abuse have the opportunity to access help, advice guidance and therapeutic intervention to aid their recovery’. In Suffolk, Fresh Start – New Beginnings get some statutory funding (Health and Police) but this only covers half of the costs. The charity has so far received over 980 referrals and our service is free at the point of delivery. www.fsnb.org.uk
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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG)
CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE
The Patient Participation Group meets on a regular monthly basis. All minutes are available on the practice website and there should be paper copies available in the waiting rooms.
Capel building refurbishment Over the past few months the practice has been planning to refurbish the Capel building. We have applied for financial support from NHS England and this has now been approved, so we are now finalising plans. Essentially, we will be replacing the current front doors with automated doors and completely refurbishing the two doctors’ rooms and the nurse treatment room. We will also take the opportunity to redecorate. Separately, we are also looking at options for improving the waiting area.
We discuss items we receive from the comment cards at our meetings and we thank you for filling those in. These are available in both waiting rooms. If you add your contact details we can get back to your directly. You can also contact us via email at: constablecountryppg@gmail.com Programme of talks for 2018 We are currently planning a series of talks on a variety of health topics suggested at our previous talks on diabetes, heart problems and men’s health. If you have any other topics you would like to suggest please get in touch via either of the methods above. Childhood ailments are the subject of the next planned talk. Patient Research Project We are currently working with the University of East Anglia to carry out research on patient views in the practice. Thanks in particular to Dr Frank Wells, the vice-chair of the PPG, for his determination to find a local university willing to take this on. Managing NHS Pressures Pressure continues to increase on all NHS services as the age profile of the country increases. Receptionists in the practice have been on Care Navigator training, which helps them to direct patients to the most relevant clinician, as well as to local support services. So there may be times, for example, when they suggest you see a nurse practitioner, rather than a doctor. PPG Cluster Meetings We attend meetings with PPG groups from other practices to discuss what we’re all doing and to hear presentations from local organisations and the East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group. At a recent meeting representatives from OneLife Suffolk spoke about the importance of improving patients’ lifestyles, concentrating on regular exercise, stopping smoking and reducing weight. This could be the subject of a future talk organised by the PPG. Your views welcome. Patient Transport Capel St Mary, East Bergholt and surrounding villages Unfortunately the patient transport scheme has had to be suspended until all volunteers have completed a DBS check. This is a routine check which has to be done for a variety of jobs where people have one-to-one contact with the public, including children. It checks whether someone has a criminal record, for example. Taxi drivers have to go through this and, although our drivers are volunteers, it’s been thought best that they undergo this screening. Capel Surgery Refurbishment The refurbishment of the Capel surgery will be starting soon, so please bear with us while improvements are made.
We anticipate work will take place through March and as soon as we have exact dates we will inform patents via notices in the waiting room and on our website. Although we will aim to keep disruption to a minimum, we will need to close up to two of our clinical rooms at any one time for a short period. During this time we will therefore give priority appointments to patients who are unable to travel to East Bergholt and would appreciate all patients being as flexible and understanding as possible while the work is taking place. We aim to complete the work by mid-April when we will have a building which is easier to access physically, safer, easier to clean and offers a much improved environment for our staff to work in and our patients to visit. Tips to help the practice operate efficiently In order to ensure we help you in the most efficient way, please help us by following the guidelines below: Tell the receptionist the nature of your problem. They can ensure you see the right clinician (GP, Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse, HCA) and you may not need to come into the practice if it can be dealt with over the telephone. If you need to see a doctor, they will be aware of your problem before you see them which helps them prepare for your consultation. Of course, if your problem is personal and you would rather not disclose it, then that is fine. When you see a doctor, provide as much information you can about the problem. Details which may not seem important may be relevant and assist to doctor in diagnosing and treating your problem. If you have more than one problem to discuss, please ask for a double appointment so the doctor has sufficient time and other patients are not delayed. If you need to see a nurse for wound care or an injection, or a phlebotomist, please ensure you wear suitable clothing and remove outer clothing prior to entering the clinic room. This will help our staff to keep to time. Training Days A reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Wednesday, March 7; Wednesday, April 25; Thursday, May 24
Kathy Pollard, Chair Constable Country Patient Participation Group
On these afternoons the Capel St Mary building will be open to enable access to the pharmacy, but the practice reception will be closed. East Bergholt reception will be open. Please note that there will not be any clinicians at either building after 1pm as they will be attending training off-site. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.
www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk
Practice Manager Pete Keeble
Toys return to the waiting rooms After a long period of discussion we at last have agreement that toys will be available in the waiting rooms. They will be regularly cleaned to avoid infection risk.
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We take regular reports from members of the public who have fallen victim to various scams and cons which start off with a phone call or an email. Unfortunately, some victims are defrauded of large amounts of money – sometimes their entire life savings. Over the years we have heard of various tricks and ruses, as the fraudsters come up with increasingly convincing ways to gain the confidence of their victims. Sometimes victims are contacted by someone purporting to be from the fraud department associated to their bank and makes claims that their account/s are being targeted by rogue bank employees. They also claim that such ‘rogue employees’ are currently being internally investigated, but to safeguard the victim’s money they need to transfer their savings out of their account into an apparent ‘safe’ account. The fraudulent callers will apply a time pressure and the need to supposedly keep secret the transfers out of the account. The victim is either asked to make instant transfers online or to go to their local branch to carry out the necessary transfers. During the phone call the victim is guided on the mobile phone as to what they should and should not say to others, especially bank staff. DC Joanne Smith from Safeguarding and Investigations said: “The fraudulent caller will sound very convincing, and claims to know the banks procedures and even information about the victims account to gain their trust. The fraudulent caller may also build the trust over a couple of days before asking to make the transfers, as well as providing genuine telephone numbers and passwords that will correspond to the legitimate Bank / Building Society. Some fraudsters have the ability to mask their telephone number so what appears on the caller display conveys the impression it is a genuine phone number.” Residents should remember the following: Your bank or the police will never ask you to withdraw money or purchase items. Your bank or the police will never ask for your PIN, bank card or bank account details over the phone – never give these details out. If the victim has any concerns about what the caller is asking then they should end the call and report to their branch and or fraud department Never download any software suggested by caller.
Capel St Mary East Bergholt, & Raydon 07506 350 455 janet@mindbodymoment.co.uk
Do not rush into complying with the scammer’s demands/requests. If you receive such a call leave the landline for at least five minutes to make an outside call. Fraudsters will keep the line open and have been known to play ring tones, hold music and a recorded message down the phone so the victim believes they are making a call to a legitimate number. Use a friend or neighbour’s telephone instead. Friends, family, carers and neighbours are asked to spread the word to ensure everyone is aware of this scam and what they should do. You can report incidents of fraud to Action Fraud by calling 03001 232040 or using their online reporting tool: www.actionfraud.police.uk You can also sign up to the Trading Standards weekly email alert on rogues and scams targeting Suffolk: www.suffolk.gov.uk/JoinTheFight Until next month, if you any queries or questions please contact Hadleigh SNT at Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD / hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk EMERGENCY: CALL 999 NON-EMERGENCY: CALL 101 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @HadleighPolice POLICE CONNECT: suffolk.police.uk/policeconnect
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT DOCTOR’S SURGERY TRANSPORT It is intended to resume the scheme as from March 1. All our drivers have submitted to the necessary checks as required by Diocesan Safeguarding Rules. We do now need more volunteers, so if you feel able to volunteer to drive a patient from their home in Capel, Bentley or Washbrook to either Capel or Bergholt Surgeries, please contact Chris Yule: 01473 310992 Patients should remember that if they are unable to get to the surgery for some reason, a request to the receptionist should ensure that a volunteer will be allocated through the scheme to provide the necessary transport. This must be done through the surgery under the terms of the scheme.
CAMEO There was nothing particular going on at CAMEO this month – just sociable chatter over refreshments. We seem to see less of our neighbours in the winter months so it was nice to catch-up and hear about plans for village events when the weather will be warmer. The aim of Belstead CAMEO (Come and Meet Every One) is to provide an opportunity for residents to meet each other for tea, coffee, refreshments and chat on a drop-in basis. The club is not-for-profit and there is no charge, but a small donation towards refreshments is much appreciated. Nonresidents are very welcome at a charge of £1. Belstead is a friendly village and we want to increase this community spirit, both on personal and business levels. We aim to promote all types of local interests and have notice boards showing events, along with information on businesses and charities. You would be amazed at the wealth of talent and scope of business in our small village! It’s always good to know if somebody in the village has recommended the businesses whose cards and information we display. We meet at Belstead Village Hall on the second Monday of the month (excluding July and August) between 2.30 and 4.30pm and our next gettogether is on March 12. Sandra Howard
DEATH CAFÉ I’m sure many of you are wondering what a Death Café is. Well I shall attempt to answer your question, although the best way to experience it is to come along and find out for yourself. I arrived I must confess a little late to a table with about seven people. On the table was a pot of tea, fresh coffee, cheese straws, sausage rolls and carrot cake. I was made to feel very welcome and we all went round the table introducing ourselves and briefly stating why we had come along. Many reasons as it happens: some of us getting to a certain age had begun to recognise our own mortality; some of us had lost close friends and relatives and wanted to make some sense of it; a mother with terminal cancer uplifting, positive and inspirational in her approach to the inevitable; some because they were just plain curious; others because they felt that death, so often the elephant in the room, needed to be discussed. As the meeting got under way a steady trickle of people continued to enter the room and another table was brought out to accommodate them. So not such a scary subject as you might think and I realised our wonderful facilitator and instigator Jane Gould had hit the right spot. The Death Café is clearly whatever it needs to be for those who attend, a group of people talking, connecting and listening to one another on a subject that affects us all at one time or another in life. Death is something we all have to deal with so let’s begin talking about it and maybe the whole subject will become less taboo and cause us less fear Join us at Woolverstone Church from 11am on Sunday, March 4.
NEWS FROM HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY Training days Our next training afternoons will be on Wednesdays, March 7 and April 25 when we will be shut from 1pm. There will be no GP clinic or baby clinic as the practice will be closed. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999. Community Connector Bus This is now up and running and has already benefitted a number of patients. The bus alternates between Holbrook and Shotley on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am-2pm. There is space for confidential meetings to help patients improve their quality of life and also an area with general information. Each visit has another service visiting with them which could be a representative from the Suffolk Wellbeing Service or someone from the Clinical Commissioning Group advising on medications. Please go along and visit the bus to see what is on offer. Good Neighbour Schemes Many of our patients rely on the generosity of the Good Neighbour Schemes to help them get to hospital or collect a prescription for them. Our colleagues at Community Action Suffolk are trying to start a scheme covering Holbrook village and are looking for volunteers to help. If you are interested, please contact Sally Connick: sally.connick@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk / 01473 826242 Chest pains and heart attack symptoms No two people are the same and symptoms can vary from person to person. They can vary from severe pain in the centre of your chest, to having mild chest discomfort that makes you feel generally unwell. Other symptoms may accompany the chest pain or discomfort. If you, or anyone around you, experience these symptoms, do not ignore them. Phone 999 immediately for an ambulance. The sooner you get treatment the greater your chances of survival. Stroke – Act ‘FAST’ If you think someone may be having a stroke it is important to respond very quickly. The sooner they receive treatment, the greater the chance of survival and recovery. F – Has their face fallen on one side, can they smile? A – Can they raise their arms and keep them there? S – Is their speech slurred? T – It’s time to call 999 if you see a single one of these signs. Every second counts. Practice Manager Julia Smith
CONCERT IN AID OF NEW DAWN INDIA On Saturday March 24, a concert will be held at Capel St Mary Methodist Church in aid of New Dawn India – a ray of hope for the Vidiyal Children. The concert will feature The Orwell Singers, a ladies choir based in Ipswich and conducted by Gloria Wilson. The choir will be singing a wide range of music, which will include popular songs, folk songs and light classics. The concert will start at 7.30pm and tickets are £6 and will include refreshments. Proceeds from the concert will go to the charity New Dawn India, a locally based Christian charity run by volunteers for the relief of poverty in Southern India, in particular helping children living rough on the streets or in the slums of the city of Madurai. For more information on the concert or charity, please contact Neville Cooper: 01473 310574
Abigail Henshall
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OUT & ABOUT FITNESS CLASSES FOR EVERYONE It’s eight weeks since those New Year’s resolutions when many people decide to get fitter and healthier. So how’s it going? Need a little encouragement? Then you are invited to join us at Fitness for All and Young at Heart classes. They are slightly slower paced aerobics/toning classes, and a chance to make new friends.
EASTER BRIC-A-BRAC SALE 1st Sproughton Brownies are holding their Easter Bric-a-Brac Sale in Sproughton Church Hall on Saturday, March 24, from 2-4pm. The sale is in aid of Save the Children, HOPS (Holiday Opportunity Play Scheme for children with disabilities in Suffolk) and brownie funds.
Fitness for All is in Bentley Village Hall from 9.45-10.45am on Tuesday mornings, and Young at Heart is in Capel Methodist Church from 10.5011.50am on Friday mornings. On Fridays, there’s even an offer of a cup of tea/ coffee afterwards. Both classes are only £3 and generally only in term time. For more information contact Jill Sharp: 01473 311546
Stalls will include bric-a-brac, toys, books, next-to-new, clothes, games, cakes, tombola, a draw and refreshments. Please come and support us and get a bargain. Every welcome; admission free.
STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC Young Musicians’ Concert 2018: Sunday, March 4, 4pm at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP
BELSTEAD GARAGE SALE
A welcome return of our popular concert showcasing some of the many talented young musicians in our area. The concert will be followed by a delicious afternoon tea.
Saturday, March 24, noon-3pm
Tickets are £6 including refreshments. Proceeds will go towards SVAM’s education projects. Sacconi Quartet with Clarinet, Michael Collins: Sunday, March 18, 4pm at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt CO7 6TG Programme Glazunov: Oriental Reverie op14 Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A K581 Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in B minor op 115 Tickets are £14. Generously sponsored by Martin and Alicia Herbert.
A good variety of items for sale around the village. Parking at Belstead Village Hall where maps of the village will be available. Refreshments will be served in the village hall.
ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, March 10, 9am-12.30pm. Come and pick up a bargain for Mother’s Day. Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying.
Tickets: 01206 298426 / svamtickets@btinternet.com / www.svam.org.uk Tickets can also be bought from Grier & Partners, East Bergholt
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.
CELEBRATION OF QUILTS AND NEEDLECRAFTS
Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue.
Are you a patchwork quilter or an embroiderer? Are you a great knitter, a creator of crochet or some other form of textile work? Would you like to see your work exhibited at a Celebration of Quilts and Needlecrafts on April 28 and 29 in Harkstead Church on the Shotley Peninsula? You can also sell your work there. If you are interested in knowing more, get in touch with Eleanor Soar: 01473 327266 / eleanor.soar@gmail.com
TEA & COMPANY Monday, March 19 at Wenham View, Dove Close All welcome to come along from 2.30pm £1.50 for tea/coffee and homemade cakes Raffle
New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777
PIANO RECITAL FOR EACH Alison Bestow and Claire Vane are holding a piano duet concert at 7pm on Saturday, March 24 at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook and would love to have your company in the audience. The concert will be held in the music school with the school’s finest grand pianos. The aim is to raise £1,000 for St Elizabeth Hospice. The programme has something for everyone; Mozart sonata for two pianos, K448, Schubert Rondo in A major, D951 and a number of dances and light-hearted pieces including Tea for Two, Hava Nagila and Country Gardens. Tickets are available from: 01473 625070 / 07931 731992 / alison.bestow@gmail.com For more details please visit: www.alisonandclairepianoduo.wordpress.com
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OUT & ABOUT FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY It was nice to see so many of our members attend the AGM. A full report was given, detailing our finances, what we are planning to do with monies raised and ideas for future events. I am pleased to report that our new reception area has now been fitted and it looks stunning. A big thank you to all of you who attended events over the past year for making this possible. I would also like to personally thank Councillor Gordon Jones (Suffolk County Council) and both Capel and Bentley Parish Councils for their support and generous donations which have allowed us to complete this work. As you will be well aware from these articles, our main fundraising event is the cinema club, which goes from strength to strength with near sell out audiences for most screenings. Our February showing was Victoria & Abdul and in March we will be screening the muchawaited Murder on the Orient Express. Tickets will be on sale from February 20. More and more these days we have to shop, book or renew things online. Did you know that we run free weekly computer courses in the library? We also have a couple of iPads that are available to borrow, so if you want to try before you buy, or simply want to learn how to use a tablet PC, pop into the library for more information. Lastly, I would like to welcome Dave Busby who has now joined the ‘Friends’ as a trustee. We are all looking forward to working with Dave, who we are sure will be a valuable addition to the team. Trevor Stevenson
BUMPER BOOK SALE AT MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH Saturday, April 28, 10am-3pm Bacon rolls, fresh homemade cakes and tea and coffee, all at £1 each
EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION QUIZ NIGHT East Bergholt High School on Friday, March 23 at 7.30pm Teams of eight, tickets £5 per person including nibbles Bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks / opens at 7pm Please pre-book teams on: 07776 291445 Over 18s only unless accompanied by an adult
CAPEL LIBRARY We wish to pass our thanks and support to The Friends of Capel Library and County Councillor Gordon Jones for providing the staff with a brand new work station. The other one was well over 10 years old and needed updating. We have moved the self-checking machine also and this new layout is working well with most borrowers. Please take care to read the screen carefully when returning books as some are not being placed in the correct area. Any book that says ‘Place in Blue Bin’ is an item that has been requested by another borrower and needs the staff to deal with it. A book that says ‘Place on Red Shelf’ means that the book will stay within Capel Library for somebody else to read and enjoy. Thank you for your assistance. Groups meeting this coming month Baby Bounce continues each Tuesday afternoon at 2pm; come along and join in with singing nursery rhymes and action rhymes, suitable for children up to five years old to be accompanied by their parent or carer. No charge for this activity. Early notice: this group will not meet during the school Easter break and re-starts on Tuesday, April 17. Minecraft: Meets on Sundays 11 and 25 from 10.30am-12.30pm. Children under eight must be accompanied by a parent or carer. No charge for this activity. Lego Club: Saturday, March 31 from 10.30am-12.30pm. It’s just 50p per child which includes a drink and a biscuit. Under eights to be accompanied by a parent or carer. Book Group: Meets on Friday, March 16 from 2.30pm. Do come along and join in the discussion of the latest book being read. Please bring your library card each time you visit to take books out; this is library policy. Don’t forget that we sell books of stamps and book tokens in any denomination; ask staff for further details. If we are closed please place any returned books through the letterbox in the wall and they will be dealt with when we are next open. OPENING TIMES Monday: closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm & 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699
EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY Presenting the hilarious farce Don’t Get Your Vicars in a Twist by Ann Gawthorpe and Lesley Bown at The Constable Hall, East Bergholt from April 19-21 at 7.30pm. Desperate to find the funds to pay for his daughter’s wedding, churchwarden George seizes the opportunity to rent out the vicarage for a Murder Mystery Weekend while waiting for a new vicar to be appointed. Unfortunately for George, a new female vicar is appointed to the parish before this Murder Mystery can take place. He is delighted though when the new vicar, Caroline, announces that she is attending a college reunion. However, events take a turn for the worse when Bishop Herbert rings to announce that he is coming to visit his new incumbent today. Chaos ensues as half of Dickie’s cast fail to make an appearance and the remainder including a bishop and a female vicar, spend most of their time either fighting with each other, getting drunk, or both. This is even before we meet the guests! Come along to this fast-moving farce full of fun, frolics and lots of doors! Tickets are £6 in advance and available from 01473 311553 or 07803 475750.
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OUT & ABOUT RANSOMES & RAPIER ANNUAL REUNION Sunday, March 4 at Kesgrave Social Club, Edmonton Road, Kesgrave IP5 1EE. Ex-employees, families and friends welcomed from 12.30-5pm. Come and see fascinating artefacts, documents and videos. Meet up with old friends at a really enjoyable event. See what new stories and pictures have surfaced. Food and drinks available at very reasonable cost. Admission only £2 per person. For more information call Elizabeth: 01206 734581
IPSWICH mOBILE lIBRARY ROUTE 15 Route 15 MIP/15A MIP/15B MIP/15C MIP/15D MIP/15E MIP/15F MIP/15G
Town/village Washbrook Washbrook Washbrook Burstall Elmsett Whatfield Hintlesham
Location Pearson’s Way Brook Inn Car Park Fenn View Telephone Kiosk Rose and Crown Wheatfields Timperleys
Time 9.50-10.40 10.45-11.15 11.20-11.40 11.50-12.15 12.40-13.05 14.05-14.50 15.05-16.00
DATES: March 28, April 25, May 23, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 12, October 10, November 7, December 5
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL CHORISTERS
Canterbury Cathedral Choristers present a concert in St Michael’s Church, Woolverstone on Wednesday, June 27 at 7pm. Tickets are £12.50 including summer refreshments. For more information and to secure your tickets contact Chris Hodgkinson: 07764 285928 / jchodgkinson@gmail.com All proceeds to St Michaels Church Woolverstone and the Choir House Choristers Social Fund.
BRANTHAM ANNUAL GARAGE SALE 2018 Saturday, June 16, 9.30am-3pm Open garages throughout the village. Come and browse through a treasure trove of household items needing a new home, all at bargain prices. Look for the balloons and signs throughout Brantham on the A137. The village hall will host a table top sale with WI refreshments, handicrafts, preserves and plants and much more. There will be a BBQ, a tombola and an ice cream van. Make a day of it, grab a bargain and help St Elizabeth Hospice and Nepal Children’s Trust. For more information contact: Maya Watling: 07508 430671 / mayawatling@hotmail.com Margaret Woods: 07867 546484 / maggie1woods@googlemail.com Louise Madley: 07792 236414 / louloumadley@btinternet.com
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OUT & ABOUT NOTES FROM THE CASE Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub
CRAFTERS UNLIMITED
We’re now well into our programme of events for 2018 and hope to see you at The Case very soon.
A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday).
Forthcoming quizzes: On the last Saturday of the month as usual, including March 31 (Easter Saturday) when there will be a curry on offer as usual. Book if you’d like to eat. NB: No quiz in April; we hope to have something special for that Saturday – watch this space.
Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.
Open Mic Nights: Going from strength to strength. Whether you like to perform or just listen, come along from 8pm on Tuesday, March 6. PA system is provided. Games Evening: If you like a good old-fashioned table game, this is for you! Come and have some fun, meet people and learn some new games. There will be a set meal at £6.50, served at 7pm. Booking required for food – just turn up for games only. If you haven’t been to the pub before, this is an ideal, friendly introduction. You will be welcomed with open arms! The next one is Saturday, March 10. Games start at 8pm. ADVANCE NOTICE FOR EASTER Easter Monday, April 2: Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet Competition More details in next month’s In Touch, but why not start thinking about your winning entry now? And remember – IT’S YOUR PUB. If you have any ideas for events you’d like to see, please let us know. You can email Gill at cottage.garden@btinternet.com or leave a note at the pub. 01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk
STOUR VALLEY U3A Robert Burridge presented a talk entitled Scott, Amundsen & the Race to the South Pole on February 14. He concentrated on their personalities, their leadership styles and the equipment they used to show their characters and their epic achievements in the face of huge difficulties. The Life and Times of Sir Alfred Munnings is the subject on March 14. Marcia Whiting, curatorial associate at The Munnings Art Museum will give an illustrated presentation exploring his life and wide ranging subject matter, including portraits, landscapes and rural scenes as well as the horse paintings for which he is so well known. On April 11, in a talk entitled GM Crops – Where are we now?, Professor Wendy Harwood will cover 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. Roger Kennell will present William Pretty – A Suffolk Family & Corset Manufacturer on May 9. 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.
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Monday, March 5: Metal Beaded Bookmark (Jill) Monday, April 9; Making of a Wire Bird with Louise Harward Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available. Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534
EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, then we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you. We meet at Ropes Hall War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF. The start time is 7.15pm. Our next meeting is on March 22 when Luke Potter, the new East Suffolk General Manager for the National Trust, will give us an insight into the current work and future plans of the trust for our area. This will be preceded by a short AGM. The talk on April 19 is by Veronica Bennett, a volunteer speaker for the National Trust, who will tell us about Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, popular for its architectural variety and beautiful garden and woods. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome, entrance fee £3 each. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 a year (£12 a couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events. For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary – membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 – or visit: www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk
ALTON BELLES Our first meeting of the year was a lively affair spent discussing the five resolutions submitted to the National Federation for consideration. The WI, as the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, now has a membership of around 250,000. Nationally the WI is a strong lobbying body, not bound by any political or religious affiliations and is therefore free to speak out on areas of concern. In the past year, the WI has successfully lobbied for a ban on plastic micro-beads. The five resolutions for this year: • Positive Body Image in a Digital Age • Stop Female Genital Mutilation • Raise Awareness of Modern Slavery in the UK • Mental Health Matters • Healthier Mouth, Healthier Body All these are important issues, but only one can go forward to our national conference. We talked about each of the issues in small groups, before each of us had a vote for the one we felt most important for the WI to get behind. All members felt far more informed about each of the issues before we took the very difficult decision of which one to choose. Our votes are now sent to headquarters where our votes will join the thousands of others. On March 15 we will have a talk and demonstration on complementary therapies. If you want to hear more about how you could get involved in our vibrant and forward-looking WI, please contact either Tamzin (328670) or Jane (327865).
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OUT & ABOUT BENTLEY TUESDAY CLUB
KNIT ‘N’ STITCH
The club reconvened in the New Year when we welcomed back Moira Usher who gave us a most interesting illustrated talk on her trip to Uzbekistan. Later in the month we had our first session of chair aerobics since the Christmas break, followed by our AGM when members had the opportunity to air their views and make suggestions. At the conclusion Veronica and Margaret were each presented with a voucher and chocolates in appreciation of all the work they do for the club.
If you can sew, knit or crochet, or like to make or create in any other medium and fancy working alongside others with a creative streak, come along to our new club. Bring your own project or get inspiration to start a new one.
February also saw a return visit, this time by Tom Tyler who, as always, gave us a memorable and amusing talk entitled A Wartime Childhood. In addition he also brought along a selection of cards, jigsaws and books for sale, the proceeds of which he donates to local charities. On the last meeting of the month Jane and Julie gave us a musical afternoon which was really entertaining and thoroughly enjoyed by the members. This month’s meetings in Bentley Village Hall at 2pm are Tuesday 13: Speeches that made History by Catherine Dell Tuesday 27: Chair Aerobics followed by a First Aid Course New members are always welcome; if you would like more details and a copy of our programme for the year, contact Margaret Blackmore: 01473 310655
STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Dudley Chignall presented Journey to Paradise and David Whittle presented How the Victorians Developed Dovercourt in February. On March 7 Grant Elliot returns with The Life of Chic Murray and we hold our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 21. On April 4 Bob Milne will talk on The Assignation of the Italian Barber and Oliver Paul from Suffolk Food Hall, voted the best local food venue in the UK and Ireland in the Countryside Alliance Awards (Rural Oscars), will present Food and Farming Heritage on April 18. 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
VILLAGE LINK CLUB The History of Scarecrows is the subject of our talk on March 14. Future talks will be Pray Silence for ? and The History of Butley Priory. Meetings are held at 10am on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall. 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
IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, March 28: The Southwold Railway Past, Present & Future, an illustrated talk by John Ridgeway We meet at 7pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. Entrance via the rear car park. Visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments. Details from Martyn (01473 422145) or Peter (01394 420490). www.idhts.co.uk
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We will meet at Belstead Village Hall every Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm. Refreshments available. For more information contact Diane: 07981 335859
COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK RAMBLERS Our next ramble is on Sunday, March 11, and will be in and around Hintlesham and Burstall. The walk starts from Hintlesham Village Hall car park, but we will be meeting up, as usual, at 1.30pm outside the Church Room in The Street, Washbrook before making our way to the start by car-sharing. The walk is approximately 4.5 miles and passes through meadows, woods, alongside streams and across a golf course. Hope you can join us for this, the first walk of spring. Tina: 01473 730162
FLATFORD WILDLIFE GARDEN – SPRING IS ROUND THE CORNER! One of the most intriguing aspects of wildlife gardening that we have learned over the last few years is how we can help our wildlife get through the winter. Some of it is quite unexpected. For instance, did you know that many frogs while away the winter in a state of torpor, deep in the mud at the bottom of ponds? Or that in bumblebee and wasp colonies, the only ones to actually survive the winter are the new generation of young queen bees or wasps, which hibernate after mating. If the weather is sunny and mild then it could well be that some bumblebees will emerge to seek for nectar among the first flowers of spring. At Flatford Wildlife Garden we make sure that throughout the winter we have some plants that are in flower. After winter slumber, the garden will open in time for Easter on March 30. Why not come along to the RSPB garden to see the changes we have made – from a whole new range of wood sculptures up to and including the all new Sisters Garden? Those of you who have visited before will know that a corner of the garden was taken up with an old derelict bungalow previously home to a tea shop run by the Richardson sisters for many years. They bequeathed the site to the RSPB and after much thought and planning we have converted this to a new feature for the garden. A key aspect of the work is provision of a rainwater harvesting system and a large pond. This will cover 25 square metres (the site previously occupied by a now-demolished bungalow near the garden’s attractive visitor centre barn). “It has been designed for wildlife, with a pond-dipping platform so that children can have first-hand experience of pond life,” says our head gardener, Shirley Sampson. “That will be inspirational for them – so many children really love pond-dipping if they are given a chance to do it.” It is anticipated that this activity, the development of which is of course dependant on the speed at which Mother Nature progresses, will commence during summer 2018. Come and see what we have done and bring the family this Easter. We will be open daily from March 30 and presenting our Easter theme of supporting sparrows as part of the RSPB #wildthings initiative. There will also be plants for sale, as well as plant supports woven from willow grown in the garden, and our unique wildlife cards designed by two of our volunteers. Do come along and enjoy the first signs of spring. No entry charge to the garden. Car park free for National Trust members, £4 for others. Please check our website periodically for more details: www.rspb.org.uk
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL
We hope you can join us on Wednesday, March 21 when Rodney Tibbs is coming from Cambridge College Gardens. You will be made very welcome. We meet at 7.15 for 7.30pm in the village hall and the evening includes refreshments, a draw and a plant table. See you there.
Well the evenings are getting lighter and everyone is feeling very spring-like now. The children are busy making Easter bonnets at home for the Easter Eggstravaganza on Thursday, March 29. They will also be busy with lots of Easter themed crafts as well as playing outside lots more and hopefully enjoying lots of sunshine!
CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB
The children had lots of fun dressing up for World Book Day, over the whole week. There were lots of very good costumes and a good time was had by all.
In February we had a very good talk by John Stark on the Suffolk Light Railway, or the Middy as it is known. The Middy became the branch line from Haughley to Halesworth; it started running in 1902 and ran for 50 years. It became a local transport system, especially for children going to school in Stowmarket, and even had a woman station master during the war years!
We have a Stay & Play week starting on March 19 where we invite parents and carers to come in and spend some time with the children while they are playing and doing lots of creative activities.
The museum was formed by an entrepreneur and four other men in 1990, buildings have been saved and engines and carriages restored. Steam trains returned in 2002 and steam for 30 days a year with two working locomotives most Sundays from Easter weekend then May Bank Holiday through the summer. It was Suffolk Museum of the Year in 2015 and won the Heritage Railway Association National Award in 2012. With a cafe, shop and bar on site, it sounds a good day out! Our next talk is on March 13 when Robert Entwistle, a curator from Ipswich Museum, will talk about preservation of specimens and artefacts at the museum. Visitors are welcome to come; you don’t need to be a member. Doreen Parker: 01473 311267 Roger Felgate: 01473 311684
Robin’s Childcare Baby Bears This term we have watched many of our Baby Bears blossom into confident Toddling Tigers. In preparation for their big step the Baby Bears team have been working very hard with the Toddling Tigers team to ensure the transition goes smoothly and the Bears are comfortable throughout. The month before our Bears turn two they start to play and explore the Tigers’ room, learning the routines, making new friends and getting to know the staff. By the time the Bears turn two they are usually very settled and confident within their new room. Toddling Tigers The Tigers have been busy with a week focused on transport. Our Tigers show great interest in trains, cars, tractors and fire engines. We have explored the marks we can make by rolling our vehicles through water, sand and paint. We have also used paper plates as steering wheels to have races in the garden and used our logs in the garden to go on a train journey. We took part in the Big Garden Bird Watch and encouraged the birds to visit our garden by threading cereal onto pipe cleaners to decorate the trees and throwing bird food onto the field. Threading the cereal encourages fine motor development which is necessary for later on with writing. Our Tigers loved this and their little fingers were perfect for this fiddly task. A number of Tigers have started toilet training and we have introduced potties in a fun variety of ways, such as potty decorating for the baby dolls, reading potty stories such as Aliens Love Underpants and I Want My Potty. So far, everything has been a success and we are all positive about potties. Gruffalos What a busy February! We have had a wonderful wild pirating time. The Gruffalos have been on a treasure hunt climbing over and under, balancing along the plank and using prepositions to find the treasure. They also discovered an abandoned pirate ship during a forest school session. The children reconstructed it and set sail on their adventures, telling tales about what they saw. We have written our own group pirate story with the children’s words being used to tell the tale. It is a wonderful adventure that the pirates go on; the children have amazing imaginations and it was a great way to share them. If you would like information about Robin’s Childcare please contact us on 01473 310767, visit www.robinschildcare.co.uk or follow us on Twitter/Facebook.
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As we are now open throughout each of the school holidays we will have the option to take children up to five years old for additional sessions during these weeks, subject to availability. The next bookings are for the Easter holidays (Tuesday, April 3 to Monday 16 inclusive). Please contact the administration assistant for more details. Don’t forget that from September 2017 the government introduced an additional 15 hours funding for working parents of three- and four-year-olds. This means that parents who both earn the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage (£115.20 per week) or more per week and less that £100,000 per year (or just one carer if a single parent) will be eligible to claim up to 30 hours of funding. You can register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible and also register for the Government Childcare Vouchers Scheme. If you are using the 30 hours you must provide a code to us with the 30 hour code (given once registered) and your national insurance number. Once we have checked these details you can book sessions (subject to availability) for the following term. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact administration assistant Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk
BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS We are rapidly heading towards Easter with thoughts of hand-made bonnets ahead of our parades at the end of term. February has involved safer internet day, modern slavery workshops, tractors, dressing up, bird watching, basketball and cross-country, to name but a few activities. Bentley enjoyed a Victorian themed day as part of their topic, as you can see from the photographs here, they had the full experience, including paying a penny to go to school: At Bentley, we are on the lookout for some old scaffolding boards to use as shuttering to help us create a concrete base for a new shed. If you can help, please contact the office on 01473 310253. At Copdock, we are looking for a midday supervisor initially to provide cover, but possibly for a more regular position from September. If you are interested, please contact the office on 01473 730337. Throughout this term both schools are working hard on their enterprise schemes. There have been cake and sweet sales, coffee mornings, discos, bingo, second hand sales and the production of items to sell. Towards the end of March the PTA at Copdock are hosting a craft fayre for our young entrepreneurs to sell their products. Why not come along and see what the children have been creating? You might be able to pick yourself up a bargain while supporting the children’s entrepreneurial streaks at the same time. If you read the East Anglian Daily Times or the Ipswich Star, keep an eye out for their tokens on the back pages for Sports Equipment for School. We are collecting these across the federation and would appreciate any you may come across. For more news and up-to-date information about the schools, please visit: www.copdock.suffolk.sch.uk
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SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK TENNIS AND BADMINTON CLUB The AGM of the club is on Thursday, April 12 at 7.30pm in the Church Room. The club would welcome new members. Contact Maureen: 01473 730409
BENTLEY BOWLS CLUB The season will soon be with us; we start our games on Monday, April 30 away to Ipswich & District Bowls Club. The green will open for rollups towards the end of April to give us a bit of practice on the newly levelled rinks. We are always looking for new members so if you would like to join us and give bowls a try why not come along to our Friday club rollups when the green opens? We play our games on Monday and Wednesday evenings starting at 6.45pm. The green in located behind the Old Post Office and houses in Grove Road. Lillian Calvert: 01473 311756
EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FC January was a disappointing month for the 1st Team. It started well with Bob Coleman Cup victory at Achilles, but then injuries set in and the remaining three games in the month all ended in defeat, latterly disappointingly going out of the Bob Coleman Cup to Division One Sporting 87.
CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB A few seasons ago our club started a side for players over the age of 35, known as the Veterans, who play their games on Sunday afternoons. Our present team are in a league with five other sides and are currently second in the table under the expert leadership of Stephen King. They recently lost the top of the table game against Barham 4-3 after leading 3-1 with our goals scored by Sean Kilbourne, Glen Crisp and Chris Stewart, while Whitton United knocked them out of the league cup 4-1. Our Sunday morning team has been involved in some high scoring games beating Rushmere Diamonds 9-2 in the League Cup, then winning 6-5 away to Real Orford with four goals from Abdul Kaium and two from Joe Bigmore. Our Saturday Reserves are third in the Inter C League after beating Halesworth Town Reserves at home 7-0 with Harry Franklin and Matt Noble both scoring hat tricks before winning 2-1 away against Ransome Sports. It’s good to see several teenagers from the village playing in this team and they seem to enjoy their football. Our Saturday 1st Team are playing their twentieth consecutive season in the Senior League and are in fifth place after a goalless draw away to Felixstowe Harpers before also drawing 1-1 at home to Crane Sports, a game which was played in front of 75 spectators, our highest of the season so far. Nick Middlebrook scored our goal with an excellent free kick. Wins against Old Newton 1-0 thanks to an Andy Wilshaw free kick and 6-3 against Westerfield United saw the team reach the quarter-finals of the Bob Coleman Cup where they were due to play Crane Sports on February 17. Our local derby at home to East Bergholt is on March 31.
The Reserves started the year slowly, but ended it with victories in the Travel Plus Tours Cup and League A. The A Team’s struggles continued.
Finally, after complaints from residents in the Friars the police have informed the club that fines will be issued to any motorists who park on pathways or in front of private driveways during games at the Playing Field.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
BOB THE PLOUGHMAN
1st Team/ Senior Division Sat, Feb 24: Haughley Utd (H) Sat, Mar 3: AFC Hoxne (A Sat, Mar 10: Colpestonians (H) Sat, Mar 17: Ransomes Sports (H) Sat, Mar 24: Benhall St Mary (A) Mon, Apr 2: Capel Plough (A) Reserves / League A Sat, Feb 24: Framlingham Town Res TPT Cup (A) Sat, Mar 10: Old Newton Res (A) Sat, Mar 17: Sporting 87 Res (H) Sat, Mar 31: AFC Hoxne Res (A) A Team / League B Sat, Feb 24: Claydon Res (H) Sat, Mar 3: Stowupland Falcons Res (H) Sat, Mar 10: Stonham Aspal Res (A) Sat, Mar 17: Wickham Market Res (A) Sat, Mar 24: Claydon Res (A) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website to confirm: https://tinyurl.com/yb9x9ejp. It has been decided to put the race night on hold for the time being. We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether it be 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 matchdays are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation.
EBONY’S BLOG: LIFE AT THE SHELLEY CENTRE What a great start to the spring term we had! Nine new riders joined us and I was able to help in their assessments. The picture shows Dario, one of our new Monday riders, having his assessment with Fiona. Welcome to all our new riders and good luck with your therapy. Thanks to the MCF grant my hoist has been re-vamped and this has enabled more riders to mount me. I am so pleased. Obviously my little friend Babs still has plenty of work, but she’s not as smart as I am; I’m much more like a real horse than she is. The maintenance team is crying out for another member to help with field grass cutting on a regular basis. You don’t have to use a scythe, we have moved on, but we still need manpower to keep things healthy for the live herd. Lent will be in full swing when you read this. Do you give up, or give, to prepare for Easter? Last year one group of helpers did their fundraising around an Easter Egg raffle. Look at the size of the big prize, won by one of our families!
EBUFC is a community club with very strong village traditions. The majority of the players either live in, or have links to, the village. Please come along and give us a look sometime.
We shall be shut during the school holidays so here’s wishing you a happy break and safe journeys. Roll on the summer!
Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com
www.rda-east.org.uk/shelley.html / 01473 824172
www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock
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CHURCH NEWS
HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB
Parish Priest: Father Christopher Smith 01473 684963 / 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ
easy to put ourselves in another person’s shoes, especially those very different from us, and this can cause us to have doubts and fears.
We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk
“These fears are legitimate, based on doubts that are fully comprehensible from a human point of view. Having doubts and fears is not a sin. The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection,” he continued. “The sin is to refuse to encounter the other, to encounter the different, to encounter the neighbour, when this is in fact a privileged opportunity to encounter the Lord.”
SERVICES FOR MARCH 2018 Sunday 4 9am
3rd Sunday OF Lent Mass
Tuesday 6 9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
Sunday 11 9am
4th Sunday OF Lent Mass
Tuesday 13 9.20am 10am
Eucharistic Adoration Mass
Sunday 18 9am
5th Sunday OF Lent Mass
Tuesday 20 9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
Sunday 25 9am
Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord Mass
Tuesday 27 9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
The weekly newsletter, with weekly mass times, is always displayed in the cabinet alongside the front door. Catholic Commentary Pope Francis recently said that while it is normal to be afraid of the unknown, we can’t let this direct how we respond to newcomers in our midst, who should be treated with respect and generosity. It’s not
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Events & Diary Date The 100 Club Draw took place on Sunday, February 18 when three lucky winners shared a record £151. The next draw takes place on Sunday, March 18. The club, set up to support the life and mission of our parish, has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, that includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR from 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for church maintenance and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, March 29. Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas, and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice. Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Father Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital. Please contact him (01473 726701) if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services. All are very welcome at Holy Family, Brantham All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services, it is not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic faith are always welcome. Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic.
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CHURCH NEWS THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook and Belstead & Bentley with Tattingstone For parish queries please contact: The Rev Annette Shannon The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton, Ipswich IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Benefice Administrator Hayley Purnell northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07904 972116 Friends, What does Easter mean to you? I will never forget the incredible experience of my first Easter when I made the spiritual journey through Holy Week. I felt a range of emotions – from the joy of the Passover meal, the moving intimacy of the foot washing and the arresting scene of the altar being stripped in dignified silence on Maundy Thursday, to the depths of sadness on Good Friday to the most extraordinary joy of Easter Day. Sometimes when we look at the challenges faced by the church we can fear it simply and quietly dying. We forget the Easter message. The average age of our church congregation has increased so that it is much higher than the average age of the UK population. If we manage to replace all those who leave the church, we will still decline as a large proportion of our current membership comes to the end of their lives. Forty per cent of our clergy are due to retire within the next 10 years. Faced with this reality, one approach would be to dig our heads in the sand and pretend that decline wasn’t happening or that it doesn’t matter. As an Easter people we simply daren’t do this! Thus the General Synod of the Church of England initiated an ambitious programme of ‘Reform and Renewal’ altering the way in which central church funds are distributed to address areas of deprivation and possibilities for growth to increase the number of candidates for ordained ministry by 50%, and to simplify the process of church planting. But ‘renewal’ is not something that can be programmed or managed centrally. Renewal happens personally and locally. It is in our local congregations that lives are touched by the love of Jesus. It is through personal friendship and invitation that people come to know and follow God. It is in the gathering for worship of our local communities that minds are challenged and hearts. I am deeply thankful to all our clergy and lay people who will be involved in the preparation and conduct of worship for Holy Week and Easter. I pray especially for those who will be endeavouring to communicate the Easter message in ways that will connect with regular churchgoers and visitors alike. We have a great story to tell and a wonderful song to sing! Please do come and listen. I wish you a blessed and joyful Easter, The Rev Annette North Samford Churches Baby and Toddler Group Monday morning in term time at Sproughton Church Hall, 9.30-11.30am. Toys, interactive story, songs, drinks and healthy snack. Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers welcome with a parent, grandparent or carer. Suggested donation £2 per family. Leader: The Rev Annette Shannon, 01473 807674 EASTER SERVICES Bentley Palm Sunday, March 25, 10am Easter Day, April 1, 10am Belstead Palm Sunday, March 25, 10am Easter Day, April 1, 10am Burstall Palm Sunday, March 25, 9.30am Good Friday, March 30, 11am Easter Day, April 1, 9.30am Copdock with Washbrook Palm Sunday, March 25, 10am Good Friday, March 30, 9am Easter Day, April 1, 8am & 10am
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CHURCH NEWS Sproughton Palm Sunday, March 25, 8am & 11am Easter Day, April 1, 11am
SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE Friday, March 2 7pm Burstall
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Tattingstone Palm Sunday, March 25, 10am Maundy Thursday, March 29, 7.30pm Easter Day, April 1, 10am
Sunday, March 4 8am 9.30am 10am 10am 10am 11am
Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Holy Communion
MARCH 1 2 3 7 10 13 14 18 20 21 24 28
Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Burstall Women’s World Day of Prayer, 7pm Copdock Morning Market, 10am Burstall Lent Course, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Course, 7.30pm Bentley Mothers Prayers Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Ministry Meeting, Sproughton Church Hall, noon Burstall Lent Course, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Course, 7.30pm Bentley Mothers Prayers Bentley Approval of Accounts Belstead APCM Burstall Lent Course, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Course, 7.30pm Bentley Mothers Prayers Tattingstone PCC Copdock Home Communions, 10am Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Bentley Mothers Prayers
APRIL 4 5 7 11 12 14 15 16 18 21 24 25 26
Bentley Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mothers Prayers Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Copdock Morning Market, 10am Burstall APCM Bentley Mothers Prayers Sproughton APCM Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Bentley Healing Service Bentley APCM Copdock Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mothers Prayers Burstall Cowslip Tea Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Copdock APCM Bentley Mothers Prayers Tattingstone APCM
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Copdock Burstall Bentley Copdock Tattingstone Sproughton
Sunday, March 11 /Mothering Sunday 9.30am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 6pm Tattingstone Sunday, March 18 9.30am 10am 10am 11am 6pm
Burstall Copdock Bentley Sproughton Matins Tattingstone
Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong Holy Communion Simply Sunday Family Service Holy Communion
Sunday, March 25 / Palm Sunday 8am Sproughton Holy Communion 9.30am Burstall Matins 10am Tattingstone Family at Church 10am Copdock Holy Communion 10am Belstead Morning Celebration 10am Bentley Holy Communion 11am Sproughton Family at Church Thursday, March 29 /Maundy Thursday 7.30pm Tattingstone Holy Communion Friday, March 30 / Good Friday 9am Copdock 11am Burstall
Good Friday Service Good Friday Service followed by coffee and hot cross buns
Sunday, April 1 / Easter Day 8am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Belstead 10am Bentley 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton
Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion
Please submit church letters and copy for the April edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by March 4: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com
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CHURCH NEWS CAPEL & HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCHES MAKING SENSE OF LIFE Can you imagine a blind man, in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn’t there? For some the study of philosophy, the meaning of life, being and existence can be a bit like that dark room and not much hope. Many people feel as hopeless as that about their search for God. A social worker visited a sick boy in the back streets of Lagos and found some books on the table beside his bed. They were a Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, the Koran, a copy of the Watchtower, a book by Karl Marx and another with the title How to Stop Worrying! A quest for the meaning of life down so many avenues is a very confusing business. Life itself can often throw things at us that cause that quest for meaning of life to be broken or be affirmed and enriched. A dear Christian sister, Sally Laws (known to many readers), who taught religious education and was herself a Christian with a profound faith in God, has recently died after 21 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis. Despite the pain, the suffering and the frustration she had a confidence in God and that God would provide the strength she needed for each day. She radiated love, joy and peace. There could be no doubting her faith in God, or that God had chosen her to be his child and to bear fruit in the midst of suffering. We will be celebrating her life and faith on March 5. As I was reflecting on Sally’s life yesterday with others, I came across this quote: “The greatest thing about heaven is being with the Lord”. We know that’s where Sally is. What makes that difference? The Christian faith is not about people blindly groping for God, but more about God seeking for individuals, because he loves them and wants them to know and love him. An agnostic journalist, broadcaster and satirist who had been trying to run away from God but came to faith late in life said: “I’ve never wanted a God, or feared a God or felt under any necessity to invent one. Fortunately, I’ve been driven to the conclusion that God wants me.” And why did God want him? Why does God want you? The answer is not because of anything in you, but solely because of His love for you. That’s humbling yet so clear. We love because he first loved us. If your quest for meaning in life is hitting the buffers, or you are struggling to make sense of life, do get in touch. Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel & Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 AT CAPEL METHODIST Home Groups on various days and times – contact the minister for details Sunday 4 10.30am Worship with Mrs Carole Almond 6.30pm Prayer Sunday 11 10.30am Local Arrangement – Worship Sunday 18 10.30am Worship with Rev Chris Hill Sunday 25 10.30am All Age Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey 6.30pm United Prayer Time St Mary’s AT HOLBROOK METHODIST (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Tea and Chat (HCT): Mondays, 2.30-4pm Home Groups: First and third Tuesdays at 7.30pm and Thursdays at 2pm (ring for venue) Saturday 3 10-11.30am Sunday 4 10am 6.30pm Sunday 11 10am Friday 16 3.30pm Sunday 18 10am 6.30pm Sunday 25 10am 6.30pm
Coffee morning Communion with Rev Michael Allen Lent 2 Study Worship with Mr Bryan Nichols Messy Church (HCT) Family Friendly Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey Lent 3 Study Worship with Mr Colin Westren Elmsett Brass Band Something Different
Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in November. For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live (HCT) contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 658478
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SCHOOL CHOIRS' CONCERT SATURDAY 17 MARCH, 7PM PRE-CONCERT DRINKS FROM 6.30PM
CHAPEL ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL, HOLBROOK, IPSWICH IP9 2RX
The Holbrook Choral Society | Royal Hospital School Chapel Choir Chamber Choir | Show Choir | plus pupil-led ensembles Conductors: William Saunders, Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick & Edward Allen Organ: Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick
Full: £10 | Conc: £7 | U18: FREE experiencetickets.co.uk/rhsmusic
01206 573948