In touch news with copdock may18

In Touch

™ ™©©

with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook Volume 8 • Issue No. 6 • MAY 2018

Skiphire www.collins-skiphire.co.uk

For a fast, efficient & price friendly local service

01473 327596

orders@collins-skiphire.co.uk

Walking for Parkinson’s (p28)

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

1

MarksAndMann_Ipswich_88mm145mm_Apr2018.ai 1 09/04/2018 12:47:55

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Call us now for a FREE valuation 2

In Touch online:

NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I’m sitting at my desk with aching limbs after an unexpectedly adventurous morning. At approximately 7.30am I heard by son shout “Oh my God” from the sitting room. I could tell it wasn’t a normal ‘I’ve just spilt my cereal on the sofa’ howl so I ran to him. I found him staring at what can only be described as a flash flood running through the garden. We both ran to the front door and sure enough it was there too, rushing down our neighbour’s drive, into our garage and garden, and a short time later, into my kitchen.

I’ve often wondered how I would cope in an emergency situation and now I know. I shout very loudly! “We have an emergency down here,” I roared to Daniel as I grabbed my wellies and coat and went to investigate. When Daniel arrived on the scene I was waist deep in the ditch with a garden hoe, having assumed the culvert where it goes underground was blocked.

On further anaylsis we realised the problem lay elsewhere and Daniel set off to find the source.

I won’t go into the details here, but while others tried to fix the cause we set about trying to divert the flow away from the house and outbuildings using everything we could lay our hands on. Meanwhile Jack used every towel he could find (even the good ones we keep for guests!) to mop up in the kitchen. It was quite a team effort (practically a ‘meitheal’ as we might say in Ireland) and soon others, including neighbours, joined in and a pump was set up to divert water into the brook.

I left them to it at this point (it was deadline day after all) but I’m not sure I want to go home tonight! Just imagine how many towel washes I’ll have to do? And grandma’s garden hoe is still firmly lodged in the ditch!

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING By the time this update is published, SCC will have finalised their plans regarding Brockley Wood. Objections by our community have been well documented and we sincerely hope that this proposal is rejected, but we also have to plan for a worst case scenario. April is the last month when SCC planners will finalise their proposals for submission and consideration by councillors in May as has already been explained.

The SCC Draft Quarry Proposals presented in November last year were devoid of almost any detail and perceived as all the more threatening by its positioning immediately adjacent and in open view of surrounding properties and the A12. The wash/grading plant positioning showed scant regard to its immediate and long term impact on generations.

We remain very committed to working with SCC; that January meeting reported on last month was something that SCC need not have entered into – but they did. SCC has its targets to meet just as much as we try to protect our environment and interests. In the spirit of being constructive, on April 10 we sent to Graham Gunby, Matthew Hicks and Christopher Hudson detailed plans of a quarry just eight miles away at Ardleigh that bears uncanny location similarities to Brockley Wood in also being adjacent to the A12. The major difference is that sufficient land was made available for it to be almost completely hidden from view at the outset.

A simple bird’s-eye view of Crown Quarry, Ardleigh

Thank goodness better weather is predicated for next week and summer is on its way. And there’s still plenty of Easter chocolate in the cupboard! Perhaps the one positive I can focus on is the satisfaction of working together with others which I highly recommend. You’ll find many opportunities in the following pages.

In Touch

with 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

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: copdock@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Distribution Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Printing Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk

01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © 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.

We also publish In Touch with...

• NEW Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •B ramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham •C apel St Mary •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead • I pswich East •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham •N eedham Market & The Creetings •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone •B urstall & Sproughton •S towmarket & Stowupland • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon •M elton & Woodbridge

The whole site is screened by surrounding it with solid earth bunds three metres high and indicated in yellow. The only visible evidence from the old A12 is the entry road where trucks then disappear into the quarry.

Note that the quarry is placed well away from the A12, unlike the draft Brockley Wood plans where the proposed quarry is right on the A12 margins with screening proposals of a few shrubs and trees.

We remain opposed to the development of Brockley Wood but should SCC adopt it to go the next stage, we contend that it must be re-submitted in a competently designed manner that truly mitigates its impact on an area that is surrounded by ancient woodlands and farmland that stretches across to Copdock, Washbrook and Belstead.

Colin Hinkins: mail@colinhinkins.plus.com

In Touch with...

JUNE DEADLINE

BELSTEAD PLANT SALE

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

Saturday, June 2 at the different time of 2-4pm at Belstead Village Hall. Flower and vegetable plants, garden related items, raffle and refreshments, all in aid of St Mary’s Church, Belstead.

10 MAY 2018

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

3

NEWS

COPWASH NEWS EASTER IN COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK Yet again Muriel Pearsons and her fellow flower arrangers made St Peter’s Church joyful for the festival; the flowers were much appreciated by the rector, Annette Shannon, and all the worshippers. An interesting change was the placing of the Easter Garden in one of the north nave windows. An excellent innovation!

LITTER PICKING COPDOCK & WASHBROOK

BABBLINGS FROM THE BROOK As daffodils give way to cherry blossom and the lighter evenings lengthen, do join us at The Brook for a mellow pint and a hearty meal. If it’s lovely and sunny outside, why not enjoy our garden as well? Remember, fourlegged friends are very welcome so do bring your dog into the bar area or into the garden where there will be a bowl of water waiting. Both you and your furry friend will receive a warm welcome!

We will also be making the most of the two bank holiday weekends in May when we will have live music. From 7pm on Sunday, May 6 we will have Wages4sin, a four-piece rock covers band, getting us rockin’ and foot-tapping with classic rock song. We’ll have more great music-making from 7pm on Sunday, May 27 with Clare Free playing us all the hits from the 60s to the present day. So come along, sing along and throw some shapes too!

If you would like a challenge and some friendly competition, come along to our quiz night at 8pm on Sunday, May 20 and we will have more music with our Open Mic night on Thursday, May 24.

The planned Parish Council Village Litter Pick for March 17 had to be postponed – no-one could have seen the litter for the snow! It was a much better day on April 14 when teams of volunteers in hi-viz jackets with long handled litter pickers and refuse bags attacked the remnants of an uncaring society and made our village tidy again for a while. More than 40 bags of rubbish were collected as well as car tyres and TV aerials.

Many thanks to them and to Parish Councillor Tina Sutter and her band of organisers.

St Peter’s Church is £1,308 better off after the Brook Inn Charity Golf Day on Monday, March 26, with a record 78 golfers taking part. Organiser Andrew Burl said the spring weather “couldn’t have been better” for the event at Seckford Golf Club with the funds going towards the church’s upkeep and maintenance. After the round, Louise Amphlett-Lewis, chair of Copdock with Washbrook Church Heritage Trust, presented the prizes to team winners Alan Brundle, Ray Choat and Paul Fletcher, plus Kathleen Fehler for the longest drive for the ladies and Shane Gladwell for nearest the pin. Well done to all those who were involved.

See you at The Brook!

THE BENEFICE FALLEN This month we remember Private 203726 Frederick Pyewell of Burstall, the centenary of whose death is on May 10. He was the son of John and Martha Pyewell and at the time of his death his wife Florence was living in Norton near Bury St Edmunds. He lies with 11434 other casualties of the First World War in the magnificent Etaples Cemetery in Northern France which lies just to the west of the coast road south of Boulogne.

RIP ELAINE DICKINGS It was with shock and sadness that neighbours and friends learnt of the sudden death of Elaine Dickings who until recently had lived in Brookside in the Street. She and her family had moved into the village in the early 1980s and for a period of about eight years she was parish clerk and many will remember her as a very cheerful and helpful member of staff at Tesco. To her children and grandchildren are sent the condolences of all who knew her.

ALL ROUND HEALTH FOR ALL CHILDREN Constable Country Medical Practice Patient Participation Group has arranged a talk on May 16 at 7.30pm at Capel Methodist Church entitled All Round Health for All Children.

A speaker from OneLife Suffolk will talk about healthy lifestyles and making physical activity fun. In addition, Jan Cavanagh, an experienced play therapist, will talk about the importance of play from infancy to adulthood.

Representatives from Healthwatch Suffolk and Constable Country Medical Practice will also be there to answer questions. The East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group will be encouraging us to sign-up to share our medical records within the NHS.

HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY Training Days Our next training afternoon is Thursday, May 24. We have been advised that we have to stay open for patients to come in to collect/drop-off prescriptions and book appointments/make enquiries at reception. Our telephone lines will still be switched over to the out of hours’ service on these afternoons to allow staff training. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999.

Thank you from St Elizabeth Hospice At our flu days last year we had representatives from St Elizabeth Hospice in our waiting rooms to give advice and collect donations. This campaign raised £2674.27, which is a huge increase on previous years and the hospice has asked us to pass on their thanks for this. For those who missed them, they were promoting a new campaign, Don’t Let Death Kill Life, opening up conversations about death to reinforce that this is a reality, but doesn’t have to be a tragedy.

Snow Days During the recent snow, we managed to run a full service at both sites apart from one day when Shotley was cut off completely. With help from local 4x4 owners we visited those patients who needed to see a GP that day and ran a triage service with some of our GPs working at other surgeries phoning patients to give telephone advice. Two GPs managed to get into Holbrook surgery and saw those who needed to be seen. We were very proud of what we managed to achieve in difficult circumstances and know we weren’t alone in having to cope with these conditions, but hope we were still there for you if you needed us.

Parents, carers and grandparents welcome. There is no charge and light refreshments will be available. Capel St. Mary Methodist church is on The Street, adjacent to the village shops.

Dispensary Announcement We are delighted to announce that we have employed two apprentice dispensers, one at Holbrook and one at Shotley. These are new roles for us and we will be training them over the next 15 months to become dispensers.

They will be seeing many of you at the counter to hand out medications so please welcome them and be patient as they have not worked in this setting before.

Constable Country Patient Participation Group Chair Kathy Pollard

Practice Manager Julia Smith

4

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

5

NEWS

REPORT TO PARISHES, ALTON WARD: MAY 2018 Babergh District Councillor Alastair McCraw BEING THERE People sometimes wonder why we are Councillors. Not so much why anybody voted for us, although that’s always a possibility, but why we did we stand and why do we do it? Obviously, there’s the glamour! We clearly have a very high boredom threshold, a love of jargon and long complicated sentences and a serious addiction to complicated sets of initials like NPPF and SHMA (you don’t want to know). But across the board, I’d say that we want to make a difference. That’s no bad thing in itself. Lots of people make a difference on a daily basis within all the communities. They run local groups, raise money, keep the day to day activities of all our lives going for the benefit of all. Some are appointed as parish councillors, school governors and officers in local societies.

Others just quietly get on with things, less formally but no less usefully, as local and national volunteers. If they get some pleasure, social contact and a sense of quiet satisfaction out of it as their reward that’s all to the good.

Small ‘p’ politics (which is what I believe a district council should be about) is just a bit of a step up from that. Surprisingly few have ‘large P’ politics as their primary motivation. Some do, it’s true, and some of the major changes made in the course of the last three years have been the result. But the majority of us are people who wanted to make a difference. In some cases, a choice of party was a mixture of inclination and the only viable means to actually get elected. For Independents it’s frequently out of frustration.

Now, we all differ a bit in our views on how to make that difference.

Loyalty to your party view, to their support in getting you there and potentially in taking a larger role may colour some thinking or voting.

Generally, you’re hoping that people are voting out of principle. You also hope that alternative arguments and views will be listened to, given consideration and affect a decision.

This roundabout explanation may explain some of the reasons why the character of Babergh has changed somewhat in the course of the last year or so. First two, then four, and currently six members of the Conservative administration have left the party whip to become ‘Independent Conservatives’. More often than not, they have been voting with the eight Independent, three Lib Dem and two Labour members on significant matters. Believe me, we are all aware of some of the resulting ironies! The relatively non-controversial matters continue as before. We have statutory responsibilities that go beyond any consideration of party lines.

It was that gradual shift, based upon solid reason and argument, that saw the resignation of one council leader (which was not the opposition’s purpose) and a declared commitment to a local poll, or ‘referendum’, over a possible merger with Mid Suffolk (which decidedly was).

We all expected the full business plan, which the opposition stated as one requirement, to be presented for examination by both scrutiny committee and council in preparation for some form of local poll

6

to take place in the early summer of this year. And then everything changed again.

SCC Leader Colin Noble unilaterally commissioned a study into Unitary Council options for Suffolk, producing an almost instant request from all the other council leaders to stop. When he declined, Babergh & Mid Suffolk realised that there was little point in continuing to pursue their merger proposals while these possibilities existed. That shelves any referendum for now. Strangely, had the opposition not made their stand we might have been too far down the merger track to stop the merger process. We have no idea where this study will go or what options will be available, but I remain convinced that any eventual choices should be subject to a democratic vote on those options. Not by way of being seen to endorse a manifesto or leaflet, that few people ever read, but by a direct vote on the substantive issues.

GOING ON Over the last year or so, as those shifts have happened, Independent and opposition members have been taking an increasing (and sometimes vocal) role in briefings, meetings and committees. That work has now been reflected in the appointment of an Independent member, Derek Davis, to the Babergh Cabinet. Until this point we had been given a vice-chairmanship on the, admittedly important, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, currently to myself.

Derek has the Organisational Delivery portfolio which covers the, oftencriticised, experience that you face in dealing with the council by any means. He won’t be subject to any whip, but will deal with the issues as he sees them. He’s been quite critical himself and believes that you should be able to ‘put up or shut up’. My words, his sentiment.

What can I, you, or we expect? There’s a year left until the 2019 elections, so that’s a bit limited. I’d suggest we can expect a lot more than a sticking plaster and better than first aid, but major open-heart surgery seems unlikely. The cabinet now slightly better reflects the makeup of the council and the possibility of some consensus now exists.

Some decisions previously made cannot be reversed. We are where we are, no matter what we voted for or against. There will still be disagreement and controversy, but perhaps the party lines can be less strongly taken. I’ve just left the most co-operative and grown up cabinet meeting I’ve ever witnessed. This was part of the difference that Derek and I had hoped to make and that’s why I believe we should do it.

PS: I’ll do council spending, as promised, after the end of the financial year.

As ever, I’m around on that slightly rusty chained, blue Claud Butler bike. If it’s outside, I’m probably inside and you’ll know where. I can always be contacted as below.

Alastair McCraw 07812 564188 / alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (a joint open group)

In In Touch Touch online: online:

ADVERTORIAL

Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number

of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle.

Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing

a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’

So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Andy a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 MINS!!!

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

7

NEWS MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR Suffolk Highways goes to war on potholes Suffolk Highways has declared war on the potholes which are opening up on the county’s roads following one of the worst winters in recent years.

Since the start of 2018, Suffolk Highways has received in excess of 11,000 customer reports, which compares with approximately 6,000 reports in the same period last year. This demonstrates the impact the bad weather Suffolk has experienced since November has had on the county’s road surface.

Suffolk Highways has put in place the following measures with immediate effect to help cope with the demand: • Deploying additional gangs to undertake pothole and road repairs across the county.

• Switching to a different temporary material to repair emergency potholes which, although slightly more expensive, provides a longer-lasting repair in damp conditions.

• Considering whether ‘making safe’ (through organising traffic management and temporary road closures) is required in advance of making extensive repairs.

• Bringing in extra resource to undertake larger-scale patching works as part of a planned programme for dealing with sites on which traffic management or road closures have been arranged or areas where small-scale repairs will not sufficiently address the road deterioration.

• Moving internal resources from other teams to support the inspection of customer reports, particularly from staff with previous experience of dealing with customer reports and inspections.

This extra push to repair the high volume of potholes in the county is being assisted by the extra £21million funding which has been borrowed to resurface a quarter of all roads managed by Suffolk Highways by 2021.

Funding for transport schemes to bring forward housing The government has announced that Suffolk County Council’s bids to the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) have successfully got through to the next stage. This is an important step forward for the bids which have been supported by Ipswich Borough Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council. It means that the schemes have been considered attractive enough to be shortlisted and will subsequently undergo further development work.

The £5 billion Housing Infrastructure fund (HIF) forms part of a comprehensive

programme to enable the government to fulfil its commitment to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. The HIF aims to support the development of infrastructure which will enable the development of new homes. In Suffolk’s case the HIF would be used to construct enabling road infrastructure in Bury St Edmunds and to the east of Ipswich. The council’s bids are for: • £15 million: East Ipswich junction and capacity improvements on or near to the A12 corridor between A14 and A1214.

• £12 million: Improvements to A14 Junctions 43 and 44 near Bury St Edmunds.

The next stage will require the councils to work with government officials to further develop the bid and a final decision on the bid is expected later in 2018.

Suffolk Waste Partnership awarded £10,000 to help tackle blight of litter Suffolk Waste Partnership have been awarded £10,000 from the government’s Litter Innovation Fund to run innovative local projects aimed at reducing litter.

Suffolk Waste Partnership’s member authorities are responsible for clearing litter from public land and highways, with the cost of removing litter from Suffolk’s major A-roads the A14, A12 and A11 standing at £300,000 per year.

The Suffolk Waste Partnership’s project will: • Work with businesses such as drive-throughs, service stations, garages and logistics firms to seek their support in promoting responsible attitudes to litter disposal.

• Trial new style litter bins at key layby locations and improve labelling and signage of litter bins along the A11, A12 and A14 in Suffolk.

• Trial new remote monitoring technology to help councils coordinate litter bin emptying more efficiently and effectively.

• Ensure that any person taken to court and convicted for a littering offence anywhere in Suffolk is named and shamed publicly.

• Run an awareness campaign to remind residents and visitors alike about the issues and the consequences of littering.

• Educate residents and businesses about how to prevent their waste inadvertently escaping their control and ending up as litter.

Regards and best wishes, Christopher Hudson

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM The weather is finally getting warmer so it’s time to get out into your gardens.

There are small changes that can be made outside your house to make it more secure.

For example having shingle put down instead of block paving or slabs will deter unwanted visitors because of the noise it makes on approach to your house. Making sure your fences and hedges around the perimeter are all secure and that repairs have been done after the winter. Perhaps having CCTV installed or a security light put up. All will keep your home more secure.

Finally, we have received a number of reports of vehicles being broken into.

Please do not leave any valuable items on display, including sat navs, even if your vehicle is parked on the driveway. Take them indoors or lock them away in the boot. And keep your keys safe.

If you require further crime prevention advice please do not hesitate to call 101 and ask to speak to a member of the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

And remember to call the police on 999 in an emergency and 101 in a non-emergency.

Make sure you put your garden furniture and garden tools away at the end of the day, preferably in a locked shed. You could also have a shed alarm fitted for added security.

Have a great month,

Try marking your property with a UV marker pen which is only visible using a UV light.

Safer Neighbourhood Team, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD

8

PCSO 3048 Denise Ford

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

9

NEWS DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD, MARCH 2018 This last year has been another busy one for the council, but one in which we seem to be increasingly running forward but going backwards! The controversial move into Endeavour House has been completed, but the variations on the initial proposals seem to be increasing without any consultation with councillors or the public. I have to spend more time asking ‘official’ questions of council when we have one and it’s not cancelled to try and get to the bottom of the situation as communication is non-existent.

The ‘Cabinet’ system seems to be working well for the administration, but is causing increasing friction even within the Conservative ranks and unfortunately leaving the officers a free hand to progress their own agenda.

Planning and Housing generally is one of the main causes of concern with the interference of central government in the process, with constant rule changes in what they constantly call a ‘local process’ driving a wedge between the local authority and the communities it is supposed to serve. The recent meeting with the Secretary of State did nothing in my opinion to ease the problem of a council granting permissions but then being punished by procedures because the developers are not actually building the properties.

A simple question I ask myself is “if it is going to take over £1million to make a development acceptable, is it in the right place?”.

Recently a development for more than 40 houses was approved with a commendable 35% affordable plus an element of ‘self-builds’. Unfortunately, a simple calculation highlighted at the committee, but ignored in the decision making, showed that the CIL contribution would be £250K paid on the open market houses. However, the county council were looking for £350K from the CIL pot in Babergh to provide education places! That means that somewhere else in Babergh will be supporting a development in the west. Hardly a ‘community’ levy when it’s district wide!

Local, regional and national politicians need to sit down and address the regional deficit in infrastructure and job creation. In Babergh, wages are low and house prices are high by national standards. Solving the conundrum will be difficult, but until it is properly addressed we cannot make a start.

I am meeting with Highways England in April to try and move some sort of improvements to the A12 forward. A start would be resurfacing the slip roads at junction 31, the Four Sisters. Dodging potholes on a short slip road does not make it safer; in fact it does the opposite.

Improving the infrastructure, looking logically at where and how we can create new homes and jobs, and holding the expenditure and accountability of both Babergh and Suffolk County to account by ‘local’ rather than ‘national political’ means will continue to occupy my calendar in this final year of the electoral calendar.

We must remember that ‘the council works for the people’ not the other way round!

Councillor John Hinton

NOTES FROM THE CASE Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub Firstly, a big thank you to all of you who have supported our events over this long winter. The quizzes, open mic nights, games nights and many other events have cheered the cold days and evenings and made us grateful for our pub and those people – especially our volunteers who work so hard to make it possible. A special well done to the children who made such beautiful Easter bonnets for Bank Holiday Monday and all those who turned up to eat cream teas in spite of the weather.

Now spring is here the games evenings are suspended. If there is enough interest we’ll start them again in the autumn.

The open mic nights will continue, with the next one on Tuesday, May 1. Just bring yourself and your instrument – PA provided.

Come to play, sing or just enjoy.

There will be no quiz in April, but (if you get this in time) on April 28 you are invited to hear Robbie Gladwell (Cockney Rebel Band) and Friend perform a wide selection of music from soul to rock.

See the What’s On website for more details.

The May quiz will be on Saturday 26, starting at 8.30pm. If you would like a curry meal beforehand, early booking is essential. Last month we were sorry to have to turn people away as they left it too late. Food will be served up to 7.45pm.

On May Bank Holiday Monday (May 28) there will be a walking treasure hunt round the village, followed by a barbecue at the pub. Of course you don’t have to follow the treasure trail to enjoy the barbecue, but it will give you an appetite! The treasure hunt starts at noon and the barbecue is from 2pm. More details on the website.

Mid-week Lunches Why not pop in for a snack at lunchtime? A range of mouthwatering home-made light meals are served from noon-2pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Unless you’re in a large party, there’s no need to book – just come in and choose from a menu which includes sandwiches, ploughman’s lunch, soup of the day and others. Children and dogs are always welcome and if the weather improves, you can enjoy our lovely garden, with safe access to the children’s playground just next door.

01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk/whats-on

john.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309

10

In Touch online:

NEWS / OUT & ABOUT JAMES CARTLIDGE, MP FOR SOUTH SUFFOLK There is no doubt in my mind that recent weeks have seen an acceleration in what might be termed ‘speculative applications’ for permission to build new homes in Babergh. I have had emails from constituents worried about applications in Belstead, Capel St Mary, Long Melford, Stutton, Elmsett, Chelmondiston and my own village of Assington. The reason is that our district of Babergh is deemed not to have a ‘five year land supply’, i.e. is not building enough homes. As such, while Babergh is still the planning authority, it has to give more weight to national planning policy than local priorities. This in turn attracts developers thinking that even if their application is rejected by Babergh, they have more chance on appeal.

In fact, the average number of new homes built in Babergh in the last five years is 213. In every year since 2001 prior to the last five years we built more than 213 homes a year, at an average of just under 300, including 537 in 2002. Of course, many constituents have rightly argued to me that while our build-out rate is low, the number of permissions granted is far higher. I understand in Babergh there are around 2,000 permissions awaiting development to start compared to fewer than 200 where it is underway. It understandably irks those communities who go through the pain barrier of seeing controversial permissions granted, only for nothing to happen; and many have said, ‘James, they shouldn’t allow this latest application until the others have started’. A fair point.

In my view, nationally we need to urgently find a way to get builders building – in the Housing Secretary’s recent statement I proposed financial penalties on developers who fail to deliver on their permissions. Locally, communities concerned about development need to bring forward a Neighbourhood Plan that allocates sites for development at a sustainable level, giving greater certainty to communities, and – crucially – more control over where exactly in their back yard housing is sited. I wholeheartedly oppose unsustainable development, particularly in the countryside. But I do believe we can find a better way forward than the current mad dash for plots that may never be built.

I hold regular advice surgeries offering help and support to local people.

Please see page 14 for my contact details.

ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE St Elizabeth Hospice has been part of our local community for nearly 30 years and it’s a local charity that many people have come into contact with in that time, either through receiving care themselves or by knowing someone who has. Each year the hospice needs to generate £10.5million with over 75 per cent of that coming from the local community – from people like you. This month we take a look at a few of the ways you could support the hospice including a new family friendly event.

This June the team behind Bubble Rush, The Midnight Walk (May 12) and Who’s Afraid of the Park? will be bringing a brand new family friendly event to Ipswich to test your nerve and agility. The hospice has recently announced that they will be bringing Extreme Ninja Assault to Ipswich Rugby Club in Humber Doucy Lane on Saturday, June 16.

The Great Garden Trail also returns this year with some favourite gardens re-opening for all to explore along with some new ones showcasing their owner’s horticultural talents. Trail maps are available in locations across Suffolk, including the hospice shops, or to find out more about the gardens that are open visit: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/greatgardentrail Thank you to everyone who has donated toiletries, gift sets, drinks and tinned products for the tombola at Capel Fun Day on June 9 in aid of the hospice.

It’s not too late to donate; take items to 86 The Street. Many thanks for your support.

Linda Morrison, Hospice Rep for Capel St Mary

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

DEATH CAFÉ It was wonderful to see so many people at the Death Cafe on March 4. Such a varied bunch of people all eager to talk about a little discussed topic in our culture and society.

Once again we had three large tables (and another small one added to accommodate those who arrived later) all with the usual fresh tea, coffee, cakes, pastries and all manner of goodies to be indulged as the conversations flowed and took off in unexpected directions.

On my table we discussed what we would like to happen to our bodies and those of our relatives (with their consent of course), e.g. organ donation to medical science or to people in need. Encouragingly there was an item on the news recently where a man’s son had died tragically and yet gained great comfort from knowing that his son’s various organs had helped 25 people.

Meanwhile, Marion Carter, a marvellous retired priest who has written two books on death, including one for children, had taken three children, two aged nine and one aged 12, under her wing to have an open discussion on the subject. When I looked over they were enthusiastically engaged in conversation. Marion recognises that children are so important and open to discussion and interpretation of subjects we as adults often find uncomfortable or difficult. My daughter (one of the three) came away happy and joyous at being valued and included.

All are welcome at The Death Cafe. Our next one is on Sunday, May 6 at 11am at Woolverstone Church. We look forward to seeing you.

Abigail Henshall

CAPEL LIBRARY May sees a difference in the length of the day and warmer temperatures.

This makes for the ideal opportunity to sit outdoors to read with a nice drink – the housework can wait until you have finished reading your books! Keep an eye on our Suffolk Loves collection for some up-to-date releases; you can’t reserve these books online so do keep popping in to see some new editions added to the collection.

Groups meeting this month Baby Bounce: Tuesdays, May 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 2pm to enjoy nursery rhymes, hand rhymes and to shake musical instruments tunefully. We will not meet on May 29 due to school half term. If there are any requests of nursery rhymes to sing then please let us know and we will try to get to know the words and tunes to share with you all. Open to all under-fives and their parents/carers.

No charge.

Minecraft: Meets on Sunday, May 6 between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Children under eight to be accompanied by parent/carer.

Capel Creators: Meets on Saturday, May 26 between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

A charge of 50p per child, which includes a drink and a biscuit. Children under eight to be accompanied by an adult.

Capel Library Book Group: Meets at 2.30pm on Friday, May 18. Do come along and join in the discussion of the book read.

Do look out for Friends of Capel Library events this month: Community Cinema: Tuesday, May 15 Scrabble Club: Saturday, May 19 OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699

11

Your Local Tile & Grout Cleaning Experts Looking after you and your family...

E BEFOR

Our private client team offers individuals a high level of personal service, tailored to your needs, ensuring you have peace of mind.

AFTER

Suffolk Floor Restore

T: 01473 614376 or 07736 000665 suffolk@tiledoctor.co.uk www.suffolk.tiledoctor.biz

12

Wills and Trusts Lasting Powers of Attorney Probate Disputes

Probate and Estates Court of Protection Financial Planning

Contact us today to make an appointment: enquiries@ellisonssolicitors.com www.ellisonssolicitors.com

01473 556900 Wherstead Park, The Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ

Ellisons Solicitors is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA Number 49336

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT BRANTHAM AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS BREEZEBLOCK PARK BATS enjoy plays which are that little bit different. Breezeblock Park by Willy Russell is certainly that. This amusing comedy tinged with some more sober social comments is one for the adults. You may not know this play but may remember Educating Rita which was made into a film.

It’s the early 1970s and Sandra, the daughter of Syd and Betty, is finding out that there are other attitudes to life and living it outside the conventions of the council house estate she has been brought up in. She is ready to challenge her parents and move on. Her new boyfriend, Tim, is partly responsible for this simmering awakening. Watch it explode and then see the aftermath.

Meet Sandra’s other close relations and especially her cousin, John. Is he about to move on too? Or is he too heavily influenced by his mother?

These fascinating characters will be brought to life by BATS from June 7-9 at 7.30pm in Brantham Village Hall. Tickets (£7 if ordered in advance / £8 on the door if any remain) are on sale from May 1 from Bakes & Blossoms Café, Acacia Court, Brantham, or online from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/branthamamateurtheatricalsociety No concessions, not suitable for under-18s

bentley toddler group FUNDRAISING JUMBLE SALE Saturday, May 12 from 2pm at Bentley Village Hall If you have anything you wish to donate, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or contact Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) who will arrange to collect it from you.

If you would like to come to our sale, the hall will be open from 2pm.

Tea and coffee will also be available. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY Our membership continues to grow and now stands at 240, which we are really pleased with but would obviously like to see increase further. If you would like to join please call at the library and complete an application form.

Annual membership is only £1 and don’t forget that being a member allows you to benefit from a discounted ticket price for the Cinema Club.

On May 15 we will be showing Their Finest, another must-see presentation starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy. The film is based in 1940’s London where the government commissions a film based on the Dunkirk rescue. While bombs are falling on the capital the cast and crew work furiously to make a film that they hope will raise the morale of the nation.

Following the success of last year’s fundraising that enabled us to replace the reception furniture, this year we are turning our attention to the equipment used within the library. Included within our ever-growing list, we wish to replace a number of the mobile book units which are now showing their age, together with some of the kit in the children’s area. To support the on-going success of the Cinema Club, we hope to enhance the sound quality of the films by adding further speakers. We are also hoping to have a new cabinet built for the public computer to match the reception desk.

The Scrabble Club has now been launched; dates and times can be found in the library or on our Facebook page (Friends of Capel Library). Over the coming months, as usual, we will be attending Capel Funday and Bentley Fete; please come along and say hello and take the opportunity to buy some of the many books we will have on sale. We are also in the course of planning an event for all of the children who complete this summer’s Reading Challenge and for the adults our annual quiz is being planned for October. As always, if you are able to assist at any of the planned events we would love to hear from you.

Sarah Wilson, one of our trustees, leaves us this month and is in the process of setting up a Friends Group in Felixstowe. I would just like to take the opportunity to thank Sarah for all her hard work and support over the last few years and wish her every success with the new group.

Trevor Stevenson

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL THE ORCHARD PLAYERS DANCEATHON The Orchard Players are organising a Danceathon, a fun and energetic afternoon with local dance and fitness instructors leading a variety of dance styles.

Saturday, June 16 at Capel St Mary Village Hall from 12.30-4.30pm Sunday, May 20, 9.30am-noon

Keep this date in your diary!

Admission 50p, Refreshments available Free Car Park

Further details will be available soon so keep an eye out for further advertising.

PITCHES In advance: cars £5, with trailers £7, domestic vans £10 On the day £1 extra No traders. Gates open 8.30am for sellers ( 07776 291445

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

THE ORCHARD PLAYERS PRESENT OLIVER Wednesday, July 4 to Saturday 7 Capel St Mary Village Hall Watch this space for more details!

13

14

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT PENINSULAR PIX – TATTINGSTONE

IPSWICH mOBILE lIBRARY ROUTE 15

For the first time in its 13-year history, Pen Pix had to cancel a performance.

The weather conditions for March were atrocious: snow, ice, wind and temperatures low enough to worry an Inuit. The village hall, our venue, was unreachable even to cinema-going polar bears.

Route 15 MIP/15A MIP/15B MIP/15C MIP/15D MIP/15E MIP/15F MIP/15G

Villagers quite wisely huddled in their homes and left the outdoors to the wolves. It turned out to be an expedient act, since shortly before the doors were due to be opened, the electricity supply to the village failed. We, of course, honoured all tickets to be used at a subsequent performance.

The missed film was Goodbye Christopher Robin. Pooh Bear’s creator moved forward into the April slot. Prior to the showing, Peninsular Pix held its AGM to which the public has always been invited. Joyce, our one faithful public attendee, did not let us down.

The film for May 3, showing at 8pm, will be Maudie, a biographical story directed by Aisling Walsh about the life of folk artist Maud Lewis who painted in Nova Scotia. It stars Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke. Maud struggles with arthritis, the memory of a lost child and a family which scorns her ability to do anything useful in life. Ethan Hawke plays a disgruntled fish peddler and hires her as a housekeeper. The pair have clashing personalities and that, my cinema-going friends, is all I’m going to tell you, because I want you all to be in the seats on the night, wondering what it’s about and being thrilled to bits when all is finally revealed to you.

Suffice to say the film received positive reviews and won several awards.

For further details visit: www.peninsularpix.co.uk Garry Kilworth

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: May 23, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 12, October 10, November 7, December 5

SUFFOLK BOOK LEAGUE Thursday, May 3: Words and Women Words and Women are a literary agency based in Norfolk, supporting and promoting female writers living and working in the East of England. They set up in 2011 and in the last seven years they have published books, distributed £30,000 in prize money and commissions as well as organising a myriad of events around the East of England.

They have decided to put the project on hold and this event will be the last for the time being. For more information visit: http://wordsandwomennorwich.blogspot.co.uk Join us at Ipswich Institute Reading Room, 15 Tavern Street Ipswich IP1 3AA. Doors open at 7pm and the event starts at 7.30pm. Members £4, non-members £8, students free with ID. To avoid disappointment on the door seats can be reserved by emailing: tickets@sbl.org.uk Payment required on arrival, preferably by cash (no cards accepted). Tickets for reserved seats need to be collected by 7.15pm. Pop-up bookshop courtesy of Woodbridge Emporium.

ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, May 12, 9am-12.30pm.

The theme this month is Royal Weddings as well as your favourite market stalls; fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items.

East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier.

If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month.

Their number for orders is 01206 392190.

Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue.

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

QUAKER QUEST An opportunity to explore some important issues with Quakers on four evenings in June.

June 6: Faith June 13: Jesus June 20: Prayer June 27: Sin There will be two short introductions to each subject, followed by large and small group discussion.

We meet at Quaker Meeting House, 39 Fonnereau Road, Ipswich IP1 3JH. Quaker Quest will be from 7-9pm with refreshments available from 6.30pm.

Everybody welcome.

For more information contact Virginia Marshall: 01394 383006 / ipswichquakers.org.uk

15

OUT & ABOUT BENTLEY BOWLS CLUB QUIZ Bentley Bowls Club will be holding a quiz on Saturday, May 5 at Bentley Village Hall starting at 7.30pm. Teams of up to six players which can be made up on the night if necessary. We shall have a buffet and bar.

PLANT SALE Saturday, May 12, 9am-noon The Church Room, The Street Copdock Bedding plants, perennials, cakes and teas

Tickets (£6) each are available from Lillian Calvert (311756) or David Howe (310344).

THOMAS KING MEMORIAL GOLF DAY AT HINTLESHAM GOLF CLUB Keen golfers in the Hintlesham and Ipswich area are invited to play in the Thomas King Memorial Golf Day at Hintlesham Golf Club on Sunday, June 10.

Jack and Larissa King are organising their second golf day event to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) who supports families who have children in hospitals far away from home.

Jack and Larissa’s son Thomas was born with a heart condition and rushed to Evelina Hospital in Central London. He was looked after for six weeks until he sadly passed away from his condition.

They continue raising money for RMHC after raising almost £4,800 at last year’s event. The charity allows families to stay free of charge in a house which has 59 rooms, kitchens and other essential facilities and support networks to enable families to live near their children who are being cared for in intensive care units in such hospitals.

The golf day is £45 per player which includes 18 Holes at Hintlesham Golf Club and a meal following your golf round. Competitions on the day include individual prizes for first, second and third including an engraved claret jug for the winner to keep for a year. There will be team prizes and individual prizes for nearest the pins, longest drives and holes in one (TBC) and a raffle on the day.

Jack and Larissa are also looking for hole sponsors with good exposure on the day and through their Facebook event page, and prize donations to help them raise money for this important but relatively little known charity.

If you would like to participate or support the day through sponsorship or donations please contact: Jack King 07971 210690 / Larissa King 07707 785868 / thomas_kingfundraising@hotmail.com Facebook: Thomas Kings Memorial Page

NEW SEASON OF GUIDED WALKS The new season of guided walks led by Ipswich Tourist Guides and highlighting over 1,500 years of the town’s long and important history recommence this month. Walks take place every Tuesday and Thursday from May to the end of September, commencing at the Tourist Information Centre, St Stephen’s Church, St Stephen’s Lane at 2.15pm.

Each walk lasts for approximately 90 minutes and will cover a variety of themes including architecture (Ipswich has over 600 listed buildings), medieval churches and priories, the waterfront and the town’s important maritime history, plus famous people connected with the town including the artist Thomas Gainsborough, Admiral Lord Nelson, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Wolsey.

As well as Tuesdays and Thursdays there are some evening and weekend walks.

There is no need to book on regular public walks and the cost is just £4 per person.

The first walk of the season on Tuesday, May 1 is entitled An Ipswich Almanac and will explore some of the key (and some quirky!) events and happenings that have taken place through Ipswich’s history – from the granting of a Royal Charter to the opening of the new town hall, and from the introduction of rudimentary Tudor street lighting to the excitement caused by some determined suffragettes.

A free leaflet with full details of all guided walks for 2018 is available from the Tourist Information Centre.

If you can’t make the regular public walks, or if you would like a private tour for your own club, society or group of friends, you can arrange this for a time to suit you. Contact Ipswich Tourist Information Centre (01473 258070 / tourist@ipswich.gov.uk) for details.

AKENHAM CARPENTRY & JOINERY Fitted kitchens, bedrooms, offices, windows, doors, staircases etc in any timber • Kitchen fitting service available on your own units • All interior and exterior carpentry • Competitive rates

NO VAT

Mobile: 07790 370030 Email: dalewatts@btinternet.com 16

In Touch online:

COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF WHY IDELO TRAVEL ARE DIFFERENT

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

17

OUT & ABOUT 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 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.

If you can sew, make or create and would like to hire a table (£10) please contact: 07981 335859 / market@belsteadvillage.co.uk

VILLAGE LINK CLUB For our March meeting Barbara Faulkner spoke on the history of scarecrows.

Our meeting on May 9 features a talk on the history of Butley Priory, followed by our AGM. A new programme of talks is currently in development and should be available at the May meeting.

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments (when there is time for a chat with other members) and a raffle. New members and visitors are welcome to join us.

Roger Felgate: 01473 311684

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

MAY LUNCH Bentley Village Hall Thursday, May 17, 12.30pm Tickets are £6 and there will be a raffle All proceeds to Bentley WI Tickets available from: Diane Clover 311292 / Sandra Ford 310072

NORDIC WALKING TASTER SESSIONS Four Nordic Walking taster sessions, each lasting approximately an hour under the professional instruction of Lesley Krause from Suffolk Striders, are to be held in Capel St Mary for anyone looking to benefit from this healthier way of walking (poles will be provided).

The dates and time depend on the interest and the availability of those wishing to take part. After the recent demonstration at the Countryside Club several members showed an interest but more are required to make Capel a viable centre of this activity to grow.

For more information please contact Linda Evans giving times and days available: 01473 311262

BENTLEY TUESDAY CLUB In March Catherine Dell paid us a return visit with a talk entitled Speeches that made History. The list included famous people like Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King and Catherine played extracts of speeches to illustrate her talk which proved to be very thought provoking. Later in the month we had a session of chair aerobics which members really enjoy, followed by a talk and demonstration of basic first aid which included CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

Monday, May 14 (because of the bank holiday): Card Project with Janet and Committee Monday, June 6: Pinch Pot with Air Dying Clay with Henry with Debbie Monday, July 2: Spray Painting with Debbie and Joshua Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

STOUR VALLEY U3A On April 11, Professor Wendy Harwood, a senior scientist at the John Innes Centre who works on genetically modified crops, gene editing and similar, presented a talk entitled GM Crops – Where Are We Now? on April 11. Wendy has 20 years’ experience in the GM field and she covered what the technology is, how it has developed from the first GM crops, how the new technology of gene editing fits in, the current situation worldwide and what’s in the pipeline.

Roger Kennell will present William Pretty – A Suffolk Family & Corset Manufacturer on May 9. His illustrated presentation follows the major corset making business of William Pretty & Son at Ipswich (and its outpost factories) which was part of the Footman Pretty department store, now Debenhams.

On June 13 Tony Diamond’s subject is chocolate and he will tell us of the spread of the hot drink in Europe, the astonishing aspects of chocolate and an overview of its financial importance to the UK.

Fortnightly meetings are held throughout the year in Bentley Village Hall on Tuesday afternoons and during the summer months we start at 2.30pm.

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.

May 8 May 22 June 5 June 19

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.

Maria King made a welcome return in April and entertained us with a variety of songs and stories on her keyboard; members were encouraged to singa-long to familiar tunes. Later in the month Colin Hopper gave us a most interesting talk on The History of Playing Cards.

Phoenix Hand Bell Ringers The History of War Memorials and a visit by Bettacare Shoes Finding out about History through our Local Newspapers The Co-op Ladies Choir

You are very welcome to come and join us at any of these meetings.

Margaret Blackmore: 01473 310655

18

It’s never too late to learn! Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT CAMEO There was nothing particular going on at CAMEO this month, just sociable chatter over refreshments which is always nice in the cold weather when we see less of our neighbours day to day. It’s definitely getting warmer and I am already looking forward to having our tables outside at the village hall, sitting in the sun having a chat.

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 noticeboards 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 May 14.

Sandra Howard

EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, 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 May 15 when Peter Lawrence will be speaking on the stately homes of England. For several hundreds of years these homes have become a central feature of cultural life in England. Peter will be looking at some of these homes and show how individually they reflect the wealth and power of their owners.

The May meeting is the last before our summer break. We meet again on September 18 when Andrew Wiltshire will be looking at the secret code used

by Beatrix Potter to record her secret thoughts and observations, and the work carried out by one man to find the key to this code.

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

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, May 23: Norfolk Railway Society presentation illustrated by NRS members We meet at 7.30pm 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).

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Our AGM was held on Wednesday, March 21 when Graeme Forsyth (president), Paul Holmes (vice-president), Peter Stanway-Williams (treasurer), Hew Naylor (secretary), Dave Carman (speaker secretary), Russell Howe and Paul Oliver were voted in to form the new committee.

Bob Milne presented a talk entitled The Assignation of the Italian Barber on April 4 and Oliver Paul from Suffolk Food Hall presented Food and Farming Heritage on April 18.

We have two interesting speakers in May. On May 2 Joyce Kimber will speak on Britain’s Finest Hour and on May 16 Brain Kelly will enlighten us on The Life of a British Consul. On June 6 Dr John Knight will talk on the life of John Betjeman in a talk entitled The Man & His Poetry, and on June 20 Chris Parfitt will present A Portrait of a Suffolk River. On July 4 John Field will introduce us to The Treasures of Ipswich.

We hold our summer buffet at the popular Haywain on July 18 when our spouses and Probus widows join us for what is sure to be an enjoyable event and a tasty meal.

Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed.

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact speaker secretary Dave Carman: 01255 880202

ALTON BELLES Alton Belles met on Thursday, March 15, when Jo Banthorpe gave a very interesting insight into acupuncture. Jo passed around small silver boxes, each one containing an orange with a selection of acupuncture needles which we were allowed to examine. They varied enormously in length, some tiny, some larger depending on where they are used in the body. We also heard about the history and a little of the theory behind acupuncture.

There are several different ways to approach acupuncture. Jo uses the traditional Chinese approach based on the five-element theory that assumes the human body is a combination of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

Acupuncture will help to balance the elements and can treat many conditions including osteoarthritis, neck pain, chronic back pain, digestive problems, allergies and more.

On Thursday, April 17 we look forward to welcoming shepherdess Sheila Innes and in May we will have a speaker from Suffolk Mind to speak about and discuss this year’s WI resolution, Mental Health Matters.

If you would like to learn more about how you could get involved in our vibrant and forward-looking WI, but feel nervous about coming along, just contact Tamzin (328670) or Jane (327865) and we will make sure you are looked after.

KNIT ‘N’ STITCH 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.

We will meet at Belstead Village Hall every Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm. Refreshments available.

For more information contact Diane: 07981 335859

www.idhts.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

19

OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS SUFFOLK TREFOIL GUILD

RSPB FLATFORD WILDLIFE GARDEN

Were you ever a member of Girlguiding anywhere in the world? It could have been as a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger or Senior Section, or even a leader. For those who feel they can no longer run a unit, but would still like to hear what is going on in the world of Guiding, then why not join the Trefoil Guild?

Following a rather damp and cold re-opening at Easter, the RSPB Wildlife Garden at Flatford is now fully back into the swing of things for the new season. As I write this our nestcams are showing us lovely clear images of what’s going on inside four different nest boxes. One blue tit nest is well under way, with the female forming a cup among all the moss and grass that she has brought in. The next stage will be for her to line it with soft material such as feathers before she lays her eggs. Her partner has occasionally brought in material, but it’s mainly the female who builds the nest.

There are many groups in Suffolk towns and villages, but if you feel you aren’t able to get to these groups for meetings, you may be interested in Suffolk Lones. They meet occasionally somewhere in Suffolk for a walk, pub lunch or a get-together. We have members in Beccles, Cavendish, Kedington, Holbrook, East Bergholt, Sproughton, Capel St Mary, Thorpeness, Tattingstone, Wenhaston, Lavenham and Bromeswell and would always welcome you into this group.

To show your interest and receive more details of what we do email Charlotte Fitzgerald at: charlottefitzgerald15@gmail.com This year the Trefoil Guild are celebrating 75 years since they were formed so lots of celebrations are taking place throughout Suffolk. Do come and join us.

CAPEL ST MARY COUNTRYSIDE CLUB Our next meeting will be on May 8 when David Prynn will give a talk on the endangered Amur Tiger 7.30pm at the Methodist Church Lounge, Capel St Mary

She will start to lay eggs soon, usually one a day. She could lay up to 16 eggs, but blue tits usually lay between eight and 12. Our nestcam blue tits at Flatford produced 11 eggs last year, with 10 of them hatching successfully.

The female bird will start to incubate the eggs the day before the clutch is complete and she will do all the ‘sitting’ until they hatch. The male will bring her some food, but these are gestures rather than life-supporting and she will leave the clutch regularly during the day to feed herself. This is one of the reasons why it’s good practice for us to keep providing food throughout the year, and not to stop just because the winter has ended. If the female can find nutritious food quickly, she won’t need to be away from the eggs for too long at a time. Similarly, it’s helpful for us to provide clean drinking water too.

If all is well, the chicks will hatch after about two weeks and they will be completely dependent on their parents bringing in suitable food for them.

Their main food will be caterpillars and so it’s very important that their hatching coincides with the time when these are plentiful – another reason for making sure our gardens include butterfly friendly plants! At this stage, the male plays a full role and both parents can be seen flying back and forth from the nest as they try to keep up with their hungry brood. Each chick can eat about a hundred caterpillars a day! The chicks are usually ready to fledge by about early June, depending on the season, and their parents will call them from outside the box to persuade them to join the big wide world.

Once outside, they will stay fairly near to their parents for a couple of weeks as they learn to find their own food and avoid predators.

Why not come along to see how our nestcam families are progressing? The screen is in the barn, where we also have plenty of information about how to make all of our gardens more wildlife-friendly. At half-term we’ll have family activities available as usual. Please see our webpage for more details. We look forward to seeing you.

Sharon Barker www.rspb.org.uk/Flatford

Anybody is welcome to attend as a visitor even if you don’t wish to be a member.

Refreshments served after the meeting.

Doreen Parker

BENTLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Join us for coffee, cake, a plant sale and a raffle in aid of club funds Saturday, May 19, 10am at Bentley Village Hall

BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB The club has enjoyed an excellent talk about the gardens at the Cambridge Colleges, many of them large and hidden from view, but open to the public if you know where to look. Well worth a trip. Check the Internet for more details.

On May 16 Paul Harrison from Potty Dazzlers will present a talk entitled Summer Pots into Autumn, so come and join our friendly club. Plant table, draw and refreshments, 7.15 for 7.30pm. Gardeners young, old and learning very welcome.

See you there, Marilyn Wosahlo

20

ROBIN’S NEWS Toddling Tigers We have been busy focusing on spring flowers and bright colours. Using pink and purple paper we had a go at cutting out our own flowers and used flower shaped sponges dipped in brightly coloured paints to make amazing flower paintings. We also filled egg cartons with cotton wool and sprinkled them with cress seeds to take home. Our little fingers are gaining strength from all these fiddly workouts!

We still have a great passion in our room for dinosaurs and we have been using felt tip pens to help control our colour marking on dinosaur sheets. We had great fun stomping our dinosaurs through paint to look at the assorted sizes of footprints and we found that colours mix much better when stirred with a dinosaur! We also gave the dinosaurs a warm bubbly bath and enjoyed washing them with sponges.

Meerkats Holiday club has been eggcellent for the Meerkats this Easter. We made bunny bread, mini-egg cookies, clay creations, flannel bunnies complete with cream eggs, and we even had an Easter bonnet parade judged by the Toddling Tigers. Our production line of slime makers managed a full flow of glow in the dark slime, lumpy slime and even unicorn coloured slime. We went out on the playground and scooted and pedalled or way through the puddles. We had bunny hop and egg and spoon races with real eggs, Now that’s a challenge!

If you would like information about Robin’s Childcare please contact us on 01473 310767 or follow us on Twitter/Facebook. www.robinschildcare.co.uk

In Touch online:

SCHOOLS / SPORT BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS The last couple of months have been full on at our schools. Both schools have been working hard with their enterprise schemes and have encouraged some amazing projects. The children have totally embraced the scheme and came up with some fabulous ideas and events, culminating in raising much appreciated funds for their schools.

At Copdock, the earnings will go towards kitting out our new conservatory as a library. You should be able to see this project taking shape by now.

At Bentley, the profits are initially going towards a new sink in the Adders’ conservatory, and to enhance the learning environments.

We’ve had lots of exciting sporting events taking place including gymnastics and cross-country. We’ve been visited by a farmer and their tractor in preparation for our School Farm and Country Fair. To celebrate Easter we had a church service incorporating an Easter bonnet parade. One of our joint federation events was the Spelling Bee held at East Bergholt High School. Both our schools performed fantastically against some much bigger primaries.

We also went to Wembley Arena as part of Voice in a Million which was a fabulous day out for the children and an amazing experience. The website is awash with photos and reports from all of these events.

As you read this we are busily preparing for SATS week which will be swiftly followed by half term, when we will again turn our attentions to raising monies at PTA events such as the summer fayre and Copdock Race Night on May 19.

If you are interested in joining the PTA at either school, please contact the office who can pass your details on. We also have many sporting clubs taking place as the weather hopefully improves into the summer term.

For more news and up to date information about the schools, please visit: www.copdock.suffolk.sch.uk

BELSTEAD CARPET BOWLS CLUB After a break because of bad weather we continued the worst run of results we have ever had with a home defeat against Barking. This meant we had lost three home games in a season for the first time.

Two away games followed and two more defeats, both 2-8 against Bealings and Great Blakenham. The first of the rearranged games was a visit to Old Felixstowe and we came away with a very welcome 7-3 win.

BENTLEY BOWLS CLUB The season is almost upon us – we hope the weather will cheer up a bit. The green is looking good after the work carried out over the winter months. Our first game is away to Ipswich & District and we hope to get off to a good start.

2018 QUIZ Our quiz this year is on Saturday, May 5 in Bentley Village Hall at 7.30pm.

Teams of up to six players, which we can make up on the night if necessary.

Charles will once again set the questions and we shall have a buffet and bar.

Tickets at £6 each are available from Lillian Calvert (311756) or David Howe (310344). We hope you will come and support us as this brings in much needed funds to keep the green in good order.

Secretary Lillian Calvert: 01473 311756

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The very poor weather that we experienced through March and into April meant that games were few and far between, which has left the end of the season far more congested than is desirable. The 1st Team managed two games and achieved victories in both of them to cement their mid table position. The Reserves had only one fixture, another emphatic win, which leaves them just outside the top five in League A. One big win and a narrow defeat kept the A Team just above the relegation places with games running out.

UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st Team / Senior Division Fixtures should be completed, but if the rain continues, who knows?

Reserves / League A Sat, Apr 28: Old Newton Utd Res (A) A Team / League B Sat, Apr 28: Wickham Market Res (A) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website to confirm: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 End of Season Awards: Saturday, April 28 We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts, banners and boards on match days are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation.

Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The wet weather throughout March meant that most of the club games were postponed with several evening games now due to be played before the end of the season. The clay soil on the Playing Field does not help the drainage with the 1st Team pitch under pools of water on more than one occasion.

The only game played in March by the Saturday 1st Team saw them win 2-1 away against Westerfield United with both goals coming from striker Sean Gunn. Two youngsters from the village, namely Joe Bigmore and Joe Whitley, played in this game with both players coming through our Reserve set-up and doing well at the higher level.

Our Reserve are second in their league and beat Kesgrave Kestrels 2-1 with goals from Daniel Hudson-Smith and Jack Reddington, this being the only game that they played in March.

Our Sunday team drew 3-3 at Elmsett with goals from Bill Boosey and a brace from Abdul Kaium, while our Veteran side beat Witnesham 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Stewart from the penalty spot, with the winner coming from Pat Tynan.

With the season drawing to a close it will give all our hard working coaches a chance of a break and time to recharge the batteries ready for the World Cup! With 11 youth teams to look after it means that there is a lot of dedicated people in our club who seem to enjoy the coaching as much as the youngsters enjoy playing. Long may it continue!

BOB THE PLOUGHMAN

21

SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE BENTLEY CARPET BOWLS AGM On Tuesday, March 27, 23 members attended our 29th Annual General Meeting. The following committee members and club captains were elected:

We would like to thank all members for their support in many different ways during the year.

Chairperson: Colin Rose Secretary: Jill Mills Treasurer: Veronica Howe Winter Captain: Colin Rose Winter Vice-Captain: Pam Rayment Summer Captain: Deidre Rose Summer Vice-Captain: Pam Rayment Friendlies Captain: Pam Rayment Friendlies Vice-Captain: Sandra Ford

Charity Bowls Tournament On Saturday, March 31, Colin, Deidre, Jill and Margaret were one of eight teams who entered the Harkstead Carpet Bowls Club Charity Bowls Tournament. They played the following matches which were all very close and these were the results: Bentley 8 – Nacton 4; Martlesham 6 – Bentley 5; Bentley 5 – Bramford 3. The winners on the day were Harkstead and the runners-up Bramford. Congratulations to them. It was a very enjoyable afternoon with lovely refreshments and a very generous raffle. The charity benefitting from the £300 raised during the afternoon was The Children’s Appeal at the Ipswich Hospital.

The officers and captains reported on a very good years bowling. The club had taken part in various charity matches, club competitions, a beetle drive and in the Winter and Summer Leagues and as the Winter League draws to a conclusion we find ourselves promoted to the First Division. Well done to David Howe and his teams. We are now looking forward to playing in the Summer League.

A big thank you must go to Harkstead Bowls Club for organising such an enjoyable afternoon.

Club Secretary Jill Mills

MAN’S BEST FRIEND TO HEADLINE STONHAM BARNS MAY EVENTS Doggy wellbeing, behavior and all-natural food is topping the bill at a full programme of Stonham Barns events this May. The Natural Dog Show 2018, on the first weekend of the month, kicks off a full bill of family and educational events at the Stonham Aspal venue. Canine owners can book themselves on to specialised training, natural nutrition and ‘canine enrichment’ talks and seminars at the event which is tailored to everything a health-conscious pooch could ever wish to enjoy.

Visitors will learn how to improve the holistic health and wellbeing of their beloved pet from a host of renowned experts including Sue Williamson, an expert in TTouch, a technique aimed at reducing stress and boosting wellbeing in dogs through improving body posture.

Zoe Willingham, a dog trainer and behaviourist, will also be on hand to teach visitors about canine body language while expert canine nutritionists such as Jessy Chaston, from Doodledales which is organising the event, will talk dog owners through the best nutrition for their animals.

The Natural Dog Show is on May 6 and 7 between 10am and 5pm. Tickets are £6 for adults; £5 concessions; five-15 year olds £3 and a family ticket of two adults and two children £14; under-fives are free.

Later in the month, the Steam and Vintage Show rolls into Stonham Barns, a brand new educational event shining a light on rural history. There will be a gathering of traction engines, steamrollers and other historic exhibits.

Aimed at providing a practical backdrop to school-based educational Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, visitors will also be encouraged to learn about and have a go at practical crafts such as

22

metalwork, woodwork and blacksmithing. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults; £5 for concessions and four-15 year olds; £20 for a family ticket (two adults, two children); under-fours go free. The Steam and Vintage Show takes place on May 19 and 20 from 10am-4pm.

New to Stonham Barns this year is the Children’s Fest, a two-day extravaganza of everything designed to keep your little ones busy during the May half term.

There will be a silent disco, puppet making, theatre, sports, music, arts, circus skills and dance workshops and the inflatable world will allow them to let off some steam. For older children there will be an open mic event and some demonstrations from local artists and performers. A specially commissioned family and children’s market will be selling gifts, books, toys and clothes while hot food, picnic packs and drinks will be available throughout the day as well as disabled facilities, showers and baby changing areas.

In addition, Stonham Barns has a wide variety of attractions suitable for children including the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Tumbledown softplay barn and a giant bouncy pillow.

Pre-book your packed lunch for just £5 containing a sandwich, fruit, crisps, snack bar and drink via: www.ticketsource.co.uk/stonham-barns-/events The Children’s Fest takes place on May 19 and 30. Tickets for three-15 year olds are £10; accompanying adults, those aged 16 or over and under-threes are free. All adults and over 16s must be accompanied by a paying child.

Stonham Barns is located on Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal IP14 6AT. www.stonhambarns.co.uk

In Touch online:

ON THE GRAPEVINE

EBONY’S BLOG: LIFE AT THE SHELLEY CENTRE Readers, I write my blog some time in advance of publication (Oh the trials of being an author!). This explains some unseasonal news: Easter will have faded from your minds long ago, but I still need to mention it here.

The Tuesday morning group of volunteers raised £575 for The Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding with their Easter egg raffle. The winning ticket for the grand prize was sold by Tuesday volunteer Margaret to a lady called Carol at Ringshall Village Hall Bingo Club. I feel very happy that the bingo club member supported us in this way; perhaps she will pay us a visit soon? Many other Easter eggs were won (one per sheet of tickets sold) so thanks to all our families, riders, fellow volunteers and bingo clubs for their support. Particular thanks go to Linden Lady Chocolatiers for so very kindly donating the giant first prize egg.

Just to show how important the work we do with horses and ponies is, look at little Alexia having her ride on Squidgey. She enjoys it so much that end of the lesson leaves her in floods of tears. She would like to ride for longer, but building up her core strength takes time; be patient Alexia because Squidgey loves being your physiotherapist and she tells me you are doing so well!

The wettest spring in my memory has not stopped activities here. I got moved over in my room so the floor could be excavated and the hole tanked with concrete; then clever Tom Lowe fashioned wooden flooring to support my mounting ramp. I was moved back before the start of the summer term, somewhat diminished in height, but still in good working order. It’s strange being lower down, but I shall get used to it. Feedback from my riders is great, which is the most important thing. Thank you to the MCF for funding this improvement, and a big thank you to Margaret who conceived the solution. She held my hand while the workmen were here, unlocking and locking up, being kind to the builders, and giving up much of her Easter holiday to do so.

We look forward to welcoming walkers here on May 6. If you’ve never done the sponsored walk before, now is the time to come. Staring any time after 10am you follow our jolly yellow flags all over the most delightful countryside, finishing back at the centre for tea and cake at the end of a most enjoyable stroll. We are fortunate to have generous neighbours who open up their land to us for this event, which opens up views and scenery you would not otherwise be able to reach.

If you can’t make it for the walk, do please come to our stall at The Hadeigh Show on Saturday, May 19; we shall be selling plants and cakes as usual. Not my scene of course, but I gather people and dogs enjoy it! www.shelleyrda.com / 01473 824172

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

visit Gladwells Pet & Country Store Copdock Mill, Old London Road, Copdock, IP8 3LA • 01473 731117

gladwells.copdock@copdockmill.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8am - 6pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm www.copdockmill.co.uk

23

ON THE GRAPEVINE / CHURCH NEWS RSPCA PROJECT WINSTON Help us complete Project Winston, a £420,000 building project at the RSPCA Animal Centre at Martlesham, which will replace six of our old dog kennels with new, up-to-date blocks, as well as improving staff, volunteer and visitor facilities.

Half of the new kennels will be bigger than normal to provide better accommodation for bigger dogs, like Winston. Winston was a sweet Newfoundland dog who came into the centre as a cruelty case, but he finally found his forever home with a family that loved him dearly.

The branch already has £316,586 in grants, donations and legacies, and we’re raising the additional money through activities, including collections, events, a sponsorship scheme and asking our supporters to organise fundraising events on our behalf.

This project is for Winston and all the animals that are still looking for the thing they want most – a loving forever home.

Find our more and make a donation at: http://ipswich-rspca.org.uk/project-winston-fundraiser

The next Messy Church is on Saturday, May 26, 3.30-5.30pm in Capel Methodist Church. This will be just after the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle so we will be doing activities based around weddings and learning about the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle.

Messy Church is a way of being church particularly suited to families of all ages. We have an hour of craft activities with a Bible theme, games and challenging activities, followed by a short celebration including songs, drama, DVD clips and an interactive story. Sometimes Granddad and Lucy (puppets) make an appearance! We conclude with a meal together. There is no charge, but a donation tub is available if you would like to contribute.

There are well over 2,000 Messy Churches running in the UK. To find out more please visit: www.messychurch.org.uk Who can come? All age families; all children must come with an adult. No need to book, just turn up. Why not come and join the fun with family and friends?

For more information please contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / maggie3@btinternet.com Sue France: 01473 310034 / sue.france4@btinternet.com

CAPEL & HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCHES A FRAGILE WORLD We are living in days when there is much tension and uncertainty in the world scene. By the time this is printed, I don’t know what other things might have happened. At the time of writing we have had the tit for tat expulsion of diplomats/intelligence officers from over 20 countries in response to the nerve gas incident in Salisbury. There are more threats of further action. Then there is the awaited response to the chemical weapons used again in the Syrian war. Some world leaders are using inflammatory language and the danger of conflict erupting is very real.

There is tension and division at local, national and international levels on many issues. I don’t think in my lifetime (post Second World War) it has been as tense and as unpredictable. Where are the peacemakers?

With so much disturbing news, it is great to come across a good news story. A father was distraught with grief when his son was killed in an accident. Doctors asked his permission for them to transplant some of his organs to a patient in the hospital who was in urgent need of a transplant. You may say that often happens, but what was extraordinary about this case is that the donor was an Arab and the patient an Israeli!

The father explained: “I wanted my son’s death to bring life, whether it be to a Jew or Arab”. It was an amazing gesture in the midst of loss and grief, but even more remarkable considering the pattern of enmity and hatred between Jew and Arab. It was a gesture that spoke of peace and reconciliation. I ask myself would I have been able to do the same thing if I were in that man’s place.

Our situations are probably very different to the Arab/Israeli conflict, but there are ways in which we can act as peacemakers in our communities.

All of us have the opportunity in our daily relationships to work for harmony and reconciliation, but few of us take the opportunity as often as we could. Are we peacemakers or do we prefer to allow disharmony to continue?

Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel & Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 SERVICES AT CAPEL Home Groups on various days and times – contact the minister for details Sunday 6 10.30am

6.30pm Sunday 13 10.30am

6.30pm Sunday 20 10.30am

7pm Saturday 26 3.30pm Sunday 27 10.30am

7.30pm

Worship with Mr Rod Stone Prayer Worship with Mr Mark Firmin Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey Worship with Mrs Gloria Theobald Informal worship with Jim Ross and band Messy Church Worship and Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey United Prayer Time at 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 5 10-11.30am Sunday 6 10am

Sunday 13 10am Sunday 20 10am

Sunday 27 10am

6.30pm

Coffee Morning Worship and Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey Worship with Mrs Jane Paterson Family Friendly Worship with Mrs Alicia Holmes Worship with Dr Liz Cope 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

24

In Touch online:

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 IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Benefice Administrator Hayley Purnell northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07904 972116 Dear Friends, While wondering what to write about, the word ‘snowdrops’ came to mind.

At the beginning of March a bank in the garden was full of snowdrops and looked beautiful. They signal the start of a new year and life seems to be full of hope and love.

Snowdrops always help me to think about my faith and God’s love for us all.

They are there all the time, although for most of the year their bulbs are growing and developing in the soil, or in my bank. God loves us all, always has and always will. Although at times we forget, become too occupied with other things until we are sent reminders. One of those for me are snowdrops which show their flowers in the cold weather sometimes in the snow, when not much else is flowering. They are there for all those who care to look.

God’s love is there shining through everything for all to see. God’s creation is wonderful. They also remind me I don’t have to be like any of the big and ‘blowsy’ flowers like peonies or very sweet smelling as a rose. We are all different but God’s love shines through us all even when we do our best to stop it. God wants us to be ourselves, as he made us but importantly no one is more important than the other.

Another thing about the snowdrop is that if you want to appreciate their full beauty, unless you pick one, you have to get down and hold up their heads up to see them properly and to be able to appreciate their magnificence.

And if you want to find out more about God’s love through Christ you need to search and explore God’s word and to discuss and listen to other people’s points of view as we have been doing in the Lent groups.

Now who would have thought so much could be written about one small, seemingly insignificant flower! This letter came about earlier this year when I was walking in the garden with my son looking at the snowdrops which were hiding in the flower beds and I heard myself say, ‘I could write a talk about them.’ When I got the email from Hayley asking me to write this month’s letter the thought immediately came to mind was my talk with Stephen. I believe the expression is ‘hoisted with one’s own petard’.

God is always there, with us, loving us and helping us to be aware of his love in action, reminding us we can’t always be dormant. We need time to grow and develop like the bulbs but we also need to shine, and show his love for others in what we say and do.

In love and prayer, Gwen Runnacles North Samford Churches Baby and Toddler Group Monday morning in term time at Sproughton Church Hall, 9.30-11.30am.

Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers welcome with a parent, grandparent or carer. Suggested donation £2 per family. Leader: The Rev Annette Shannon: 01473 807674 PENTECOST SERVICES Sunday, May 20, 9.30am-1pm, Stutton School: A Dramatisation of ACTS There will also be a service at Bentley Church at 10am BELSTEAD PLANT SALE: Saturday, June 2, 2pm in Belstead Village Hall ELY CATHEDRAL FLOWER FESTIVAL Saturday, June 23. Coach leaves Bentley Village Hall at 9.45am. The cost per person is £29 including coach and entrance. To book or for more details contact Sandra: 01473 310383, FROM THE REGISTERS Weddings Laura Baker and Karl Daniels – Belstead Katy Vint and Ross Dowsine – Copdock

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

MAY Wednesday 2

Thursday 3

Saturday 5 Wednesday 9 Saturday 12 Tuesday 15 Wednesday 16

Wednesday 23 Wednesday 30

Bentley Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mother’s Prayers Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Copdock Morning Market, 10am Bentley Mother’s Prayers Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Churchwardens Meeting, Sproughton Church Hall, 10am Ministry Meeting, 7.30pm Bentley Mother’s Prayers Copdock Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mother’s Prayers Bentley Mother’s Prayers

JUNE Saturday 2

Wednesday 6

Thursday 7

Saturday 9

Wednesday 13

Wednesday 20

Saturday 23 Wednesday 27

Belstead Plant Sale in the village hall, 2pm Copdock Morning Market, 10am Bentley Home Communions, 10am Bentley Mother’s Prayers Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Burstall Coffee Morning, 10.30am-12.30pm Joint PCC at Sproughton School, 7.30pm Bentley Mother’s Prayers Bentley Mother’s Prayers Copdock Home Communions, 10am Ely Cathedral Flower Festival (see above) Bentley Mother’s Prayers

SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE Sunday, May 6 8am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Holy Communion

Thursday, May 10: Ascension Day 7.30pm Belstead Benefice Communion Sunday, Nay 13 9.30am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 6pm Tattingstone

Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong

Sunday, May 20: Pentecost 9.30am Stutton School

Dramatisation of ACTS

Sunday, May 27 8am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 10am Belstead 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Matins Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Worship Family & Friends Family & Friends

Sunday, June 3 8am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Holy Communion

Church letters and copy for the June edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by May 4 please: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com

25

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 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk SERVICES FOR MAY 2018 Tuesday 1 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 6 9am

6th Sunday of Easter Mass

Tuesday 10 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 13 9am

7th Sunday of Easter Mass

Tuesday 15 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 20 9am

Pentecost Sunday Mass

Tuesday 22 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 27 9am

The Most Holy Trinity Mass

Tuesday 29 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 spoke about the importance of the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, asking if when we pray it we understand whom we are praying to and the relationship we are called to have with him. “How many times there are people who say, ‘Our Father,’ but do not know what they say!” he said. “Do you feel that when you say ‘Father,’ that he is the Father, your Father, the Father of humanity, the Father of Jesus Christ?” he asked. “Do you have a relationship with this Father?” When we pray this prayer, we are connecting with a loving Father, he continued, explaining that it is the Holy Spirit which gives us this connection with him, the feeling of being God’s child. This request opens our hearts to God, but “also disposes us to fraternal love,” he said, noting that this is not always an easy thing to say.

26

“It’s not easy to forgive those who have hurt us. It’s a grace to say: ‘Forgive me as I have forgiven [others]...’ it’s a grace...” the Pope said.

“The Lord gives us peace; he also gives us the grace to forgive”. In the prayer we also ask God to “deliver us from evil,” which is another cause of separation between us and God, and us and our brothers and sisters, he continued. He also pointed to the line where we ask God to “give us our daily bread,” which is something “we need to live as children of God”.

After the Our Father we exchange the sign of peace with those around us, a concrete sign expressing “ecclesial communion and mutual love,” Francis said, quoting from the Roman Missal. He also emphasised that this peace is Christ’s gift to us – a different peace from that offered by the world, it helps the church to grow in unity and peace “according to his will”.

Events & Diary Date The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7. A parish coach has been booked with pick up points at Holy Family, Brantham and St Mark’s Ipswich. The fare is £15. Please sign the list at the back of church if you wish to come.

The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday, April 15 at St Mark’s, Ipswich when three lucky winners shared a record £151 prize pot. The next draw takes place on Sunday, May 20 at Holy Family, Brantham. 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, which 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 to noon. We are raising funds for church maintenance and all are very welcome to join us. The next coffee morning is on Thursday, May 31.

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.

In Touch online:

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

Dry Carpet Cleaning Professional Local Service For a FREE no obligation quotation

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

MID-SUFFOLK FENCING

SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY TIMBER FENCING

SUPPLY • ERECT • REPAIR

TIMBER & STEEL GATES DECKING PATIOS WOODEN BRIDGES FREE ESTIMATES 31 Alexander Drive, Needham Market IP6 8XG

www.midsuffolkfencing.co.uk

YOU GROW IT I’LL MOW IT

GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer the following services all year round: Grass cutting • Garden clearance Fences & Gates • Patios & Paths Hedge Cutting • Tree Cutting Sheds • Summer Houses Digger & Dumper work

For a free quotation please call Nigel Coton 01449 721025 or 07801 515505

To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

27

We’re Walking s ’ n o s n i k r a P for Join us

e g d ri b d o o W , ll a H m a h m Gle Sunday 10 June

uch

mhaminto parkinsons.org.uk/gle

0207 963 3912