In touch news with east bergholt may18

In Touch

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with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary Volume 5 • Issue No. 8 • MAY 2018

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS

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.

EAST BERGHOLT PRAM RACE, MAY 28

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.

The rules are simple: • Pram and competitors must be dressed up to reflect the theme of this year’s race, Fantasy and Fairytales.

• Each team represents a village pub or club and enters on their behalf. There is no entry fee this year!

• Each pram must carry a ‘baby’, who will be required to consume a half-pint of beer at each “pit-stop’. The baby needs to be over eighteen years of age!

• Each team will be issued with a collection bucket for the money that they will raise from spectators along the route.

• Competitors will be judged on quality and originality of dress. The winners will be the team whoever comes first, having adhered to all the rules of the competition! The trophies can then be proudly displayed in your pub or club premises until next year!

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

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

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

In Touch

with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary

The Pram Race in East Bergholt has become an annual tradition that has raised much needed funds for a variety of both local and national charities.

The race this year starts at the sports pavilion in Gandish Road (CO7 6TP) before going around the main loop of the village in an anti-clockwise direction, calling at a variety of ‘pits-stops’ on route.

The charity that is being supported this year is The Constable Memorial Hall.

The hall is in need of updating and improvement and having recently spent money on repairs to the roof, it finds its funds rather depleted. It promises to be a busy and fun filled day at the playing fields in Gandish Road.

The pram race starts at the sports pavilion, with team registration from 10.30am, judging of team fancy dress and prams at 11am and the race starting at 11.30am. The bar in the sports pavilion will open from 10.30am.

The race finishes at the Constable Hall about 45 minutes later, where the East Bergholt Community Council will open a bar outside the hall. There is also a craft fayre in the Constable Hall over the weekend, and this continues through Monday, May 28.

On the field at the end of the pram race, at the rear of the hall, there will be family activities including a bouncy castle, barbecue, magician, face painting and a variety of games for children. Keep an eye open for more news about this on the Constable Hall website and social media.

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Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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NEWS District Councillor John Hinton begins his March report with the sentence: “Well the Beast from the East is well and truly here and to all the global warming aficionados it must be a bit of a shock and along with the BBC they will be struggling to find a good reason to blame it on mankind!”

We do not know any climate change aficionados, but we are disappointed that our elected official is out of touch with many of us who view climate change as a very real threat.

As we experienced freezing conditions, the very north of Greenland experienced temperatures up to 30 degrees Centigrade above normal. In fact the whole jet stream had shifted with dramatic consequences.

The BBC actually published a very balanced response to this saying that the Beast from the East should not be directly connected to manmade climate change, but rather “should be regarded as part of the natural ups and downs we get in our weather”.

That said, the Danish Meteorological Institute reported never to have seen anything as extreme as this in Greenland and if there’s one thing climate scientists have constantly predicted it’s that climate change will bring more extremes of weather.

Maybe Mr Hinton was just trying to make a light hearted introduction to his report, but we feel the consequences of uncontrolled climate change are too serious to joke about.

East Bergholt Futures A village group working towards sustainable development

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.

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

Constable Country Patient Participation Group Chair Kathy Pollard

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?”.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: APRIL 2018 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Merger on hold?

You will now be aware that the county council have commissioned ResPublica to undertake a review of future local government options in Suffolk. This was roundly criticised by the leaders of the district and borough councils as lacking independence or objectivity. Opposition members at Babergh felt much the same way about the controversial, much-maligned ComRes survey carried out with Babergh residents regarding a merger with Mid Suffolk.

However, while the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Leaders have re-emphasised their belief that a new single large council is still their objective, our two councils will not move towards merger at least for the time being. This is partly because the county council is now willing to look again at unitary authorities and partly because there has been enough upheaval moving out of district headquarters into Ipswich, together with the on-going boundary review and elections only 12 months away. Opposition parties have long argued that merging the two councils will not solve the problems facing local authorities anyway, and have also challenged claims about the alleged benefits of moving into Endeavour House. This decision is a surprise but welcome. Much time, effort and money have been spent on internal re-organisations, rather than the service delivery we all pay for in our council tax.

At some point, there will be a radical change to how local government works.

A genuine public debate is needed about how public sector services should be organised and delivered. While a local dimension is desirable in order to represent people adequately, a broader and more strategic dimension is also needed to address the scale of problems being faced in Suffolk and elsewhere.

In our district, we are faced with a local plan that will propose thousands of new homes, required not just to meet our own needs, but those of the

Ipswich Housing Market – and that extends from Essex through Ipswich to the East coast. We have a split system of responsibilities in local government.

For example, district councils collect waste, but county councils dispose of it, Babergh is responsible for social housing but not for social care, county functions such as highways, health, education and other infrastructure are not properly joined up with the districts which have to deal with planning applications and development, and so on. It doesn’t make sense, and it’s expensive. Re-organising Suffolk will work much better if ideas and argument come from the people who live and work here.

Local Plan and land supply We have recently been told that Babergh’s land supply projections are still some way below the five-year figure required by government. This is not good news for villages which are being targeted by speculative developers.

We continue to badger the policy makers for a feasible strategy which will take account of the whole of the A12 corridor and its villages, with properly planned infrastructure – and not the ad hoc free-for-all we are currently experiencing.

Planning Charter changes and Councillor call-ins Changes to the rules by which local councillors can refer a contentious planning application to committee for a transparent, public debate have been severely curtailed. Members are not irresponsible with their call-ins.

Committee referrals allow applicants, objectors, parish councils and local Members, all of whom have local knowledge, to make their arguments direct to committee, rather than decisions being made solely by officers. Some of us are lobbying hard against these changes. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Possible Merger between Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils have been working closely together as two councils since 2011. During last year, the chief executive was asked to consider how the ‘Working Together’ partnership could evolve next and public engagement was carried out during December 2017 and January 2018. This has culminated in a detailed business case which has now been drafted and will be published shortly.

Now, however, the county council have commissioned a survey re-opening the debate about unitary authorities in Suffolk. The creation of one or more unitary councils is one of the options considered in Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s draft business case. It was discounted as the preferred option in October 2017 on the basis that it did not appear possible or likely that it could be delivered in the foreseeable future. It remains the case however that both leaders, and many other councillors in both councils, would support some form of unitary arrangements for Suffolk that would see all of the district, borough and county councils dissolved and replaced.

It has now been decided, in all the circumstances, and given that any new district council could not be created before May 2020, that it would be illogical to submit the Babergh and Mid Suffolk draft business case for detailed consideration by the Overview & Scrutiny committees and councils, or hold a local poll in Babergh at this stage.

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Electric Vehicle Charging Points Officers from BMSDC are leading on a project to obtain a 100% grant from Highways England to create a network of rapid-charging points every 20 miles along the A11, A14 and A12 key trunk roads on behalf of nine other local authorities in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. The grant has now been awarded which will cover all procurement and administration costs for the project (including our officer’s time). Work has begun on procuring and delivering the network. A charging point at Needham Lakes is being scoped for suitability.

The charging points will generate income due to the predicted exponential growth in the uptake of electric vehicles (90% of all vehicles in the UK by 2050).

Public Realm Transformation A report was received by Cabinet on March 5 and short term actions involve focussing on enhanced litter collection on arterial roads and co-ordination of grounds maintenance activity and street cleansing to avoid litter shredding, for example on rural highway verges following flailing by the county council.

The development of an environment strategy, that will feature a major contribution from Countryside and Public Realm will help focus the council’s work in this area which includes ongoing work by the team to enhance sites for biodiversity, increasing community engagement and exploring the more efficient management of council assets such as parks and open spaces. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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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!

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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 buildout 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.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A VOLUNTARY ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY? Why not train to become a Community First Responder in East Bergholt?

Full training given By East of England Ambulance Service (Qualification also covers First Aid at Work) East Bergholt Coordinator Carol Moss 01206 298483 / carol-moss@uwclub.net

EAST BERGHOLT CINEMA The Constable Hall, Gandish Road Friday, May 4: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki (12A) We were unfortunately unable to show this film back in February so we have rescheduled it. The real life story of Olli Mäki, who, in 1962, was preparing to fight to become the first ever Finnish world champion feather weight boxer. There was just one problem – he was madly in love. Could this be the most romantic boxing movie ever made? Whatever it is, this film is charming, funny and warm. And don’t be put off if you don’t like boxing – it’s about much more than that. In Finnish with subtitles.

Friday, June 8: Darkest Hour (PG) Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill seeking to rally the nation against Germany’s advance across Western Europe in 1940.

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

Please see page 15 for my contact details.

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

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

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

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

Tickets (£4, £2 for 18 years and under) are available from the Fountain House Tea Room East Bergholt, 01206 299774 or on the door. All films start at 8pm. Doors open at 7.30pm. Bar and refreshments available.

If you would like to come to the cinema but need a lift, please call 01206 299774 and we will try to arrange one for you. www.eastbergholtcinema.com

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great month, PCSO 3048 Denise Ford Safer Neighbourhood Team, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

Sunday, May 20, 9.30am-noon Admission 50p, Refreshments available Free Car Park PITCHES In advance: cars £5, with trailers £7, domestic vans £10 On the day £1 extra No traders. Gates open 8.30am for sellers 07776 291445

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out & about

THE ORCHARD PLAYERS DANCEATHON Wednesday, May 16: Paddington Bear 2 (PG), directed by Paul King Paddington is happily settled with the Brown family, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes. While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, Paddington spots a pop-up book in Mr Gruber’s antique shop and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington to unmask the thief.

Assembly Rooms, Dedham, tickets £4, admission from 7pm, films begin at 7.30pm. Refreshments available before screenings and in the interval. Tickets from Shakespeare House Gallery or: www.dedhamfilms.co.uk

The Orchard Players are organising a Danceathon, a fun and energetic afternoon with local dance and fitness instructors leading a variety of dance styles.

Saturday, June 16 at Capel St Mary Village Hall from 12.30-4.30pm Keep this date in your diary!

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

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

Contact: dedhamfilms@gmail.com

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

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.

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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

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

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

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

No charge.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

and – thanks to the enemy – life.

addy’s ies

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

DADDIES DIARIES BY JANE BOWER

Tickets are £8 and there will be refreshments and a raffle.

For further information and to book tickets contact: 07867 546484

ul... h it like

Bennett.”

At 7pm on Friday, May 4, Manningtree Methodist Church hosts a one-woman play called Daddies Diaries by actress and storyteller Jane Bower. This play has toured across the UK to great acclaim and is based on the wartime diaries of her father Leonard Bower.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

www.janebower.com

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OUT & ABOUT MAYFLOWER CROSS COUNTRY RUN

STOUR CHORAL SOCIETY

Preparations are now well in hand for Manningtree Rotary Club’s 2018 Mayflower Cross Country Run and Walk which will be on Sunday, May 27.

Stour Choral Society held a very successful concert of Handel’s music in Mistley Parish Church which was well attended in view of the snowstorm preceding and at the end of the performance.

Registration is now open online at www.eventrac.co.uk/listed-races/ mayflower and entries are coming in steadily. Entry costs £12 in advance and £14 on the day. Children under 12 go free, but must be registered. The entry fee covers the administrative costs of the event and contributes to the club’s own charity fund. It’s also a great opportunity for participants to get sponsorship for their own favourite charity.

SCS’s programme of Acis and Galatea and the Dettingen Te Deum was joined with three excellent young soloists, Jennifer Lloyd (soprano), Sam Oladeinde (tenor) and Marcin Gesla (bass). Stephen Smith accompanied the choir and created excellent orchestral backing with great skill, all conducted and directed by Duncan Archard making a very worthy performance.

Check in on the day is at the Harwich Low Lighthouse from 9.30am where friendly Rotarians will be ready to greet you. Runners will start at 10.30am and walkers will leave 10 minutes later.

NORDIC WALKING TASTER SESSIONS

CONSTABLE SINGERS: SONGS OLD AND NEW Constable Hal, East Bergholt on Saturday, July 21 at 7pm Tickets £7 to include tea and coffee Up to June 11 contact Mel for tickets: alantuttlebury@hotmail.com After June 11 contact Paula: paulagraham716@btinternet.com

THOMAS KING MEMORIAL GOLF DAY

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

CHATTISHAM MIDSUMMER OPEN GARDENS Sunday, June 17, 11am-5.30pm A great family day out with 12+ gardens open in this friendly village.

Enjoy visiting a wide range of types and ages of gardens including formal, natural and aquatic features.

Attractions include plant sales, cakes, lunches and cream teas.

Family competition.

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.

Admission £4, accompanied children under-14 free.

Tickets on the day from car park or any open garden.

All proceeds to Chattisham Church Restoration.

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.

Three miles west of Ipswich, one mile south of the A1071 at Hintlesham / Sat Nav ref: IP8 3QE.

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.

www.hintleshamandchattisham.onesuffolk

Further information: 01473 652359 / r.d.chase@uwclub.net

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

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OUT & ABOUT CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL CHORISTERS

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.

Canterbury Cathedral Choristers present a concert in St Michael’s Church, Woolverstone on Wednesday, June 27 at 7pm. Tickets are £12.50 including summer refreshments. For more information and to secure your tickets contact Chris Hodgkinson: 07764 285928 / jchodgkinson@gmail.com All proceeds to St Michael’s Church, Woolverstone and the Choir House Choristers Social Fund.

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, nonmembers £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.

DEMENTIA Together Call Free 08081 688 000 email: SRYC. DementiaTogether@nhs.net visit: www.dementia-together.com

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

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

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

Roger Felgate: 01473 311684

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

On June 13 Tony Diamond’s subject is chocolate and he will tell us of the spread of the hot drink in Europe, the astonishing aspects of chocolate and an overview of its financial importance to the UK. Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted.

We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, except August and December.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS STOUR VALLEY LADIES PROBUS CLUB

MANNINGTREE POETRY GROUP

Stour Valley Ladies Probus Club meets at Brantham Leisure Centre at 10am on the first and third Thursday in the month. The first meeting in the month includes lunch and the second is for coffee. At every meeting there is a general interest speaker.

The next meeting of Poetry Plus will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 8 at the Red Lion, South Street, Manningtree. All those interested in poetry are invited to attend either to listen to the spoken word or to read poetry themselves. Some people will be reading their own poetry and some will choose to read the work of other poets. There is no admission charge.

The aim of our club is to encourage interest and fellowship among our members, all of whom are retired and have a lively and informed outlook on life.

New members are welcome and anyone interested in attending a coffee morning should contact our president, Doreen Gant: 01206 395548 / deegant@tiscali.co.uk

MANNINGTREE AND DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Will this picture titled Sweet Purple

by Bradfield photographer Hasje Mousley capture your heart as it did for guest judge Peter Espley at our March wildlife and nature competition? Overwhelmed by the sheer quality and the fact that these blooms were actually escaping from the frame, Peter awarded ‘Best in Show’ to Hasje.

Amongst other top scoring projected images were entries from Martyn Scurrell, Russell Hynard and Mark Rivers. Leading contenders in the printed entries were Ian Parker, Ann Laverock, David Garnham and David Edwards.

To keep up-to-date with this poetry group, please visit: www.poetryplus.org.uk

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

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.

BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS

This evening really did mark a milestone in the development of the society, notable for the high standard now being achieved from a group that developed from a small cluster of local enthusiasts only a few years ago.

Visiting judges like Peter have such a depth of knowledge and impart their advice so generously that a very fulfilling evening can follow for all.

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.

Don Thompson introduced some light relief in late March with his homely presentation titled Action, Water and Luck reflecting Don’s natural modesty.

Much of it centred around his home near Thames Estuary. Showing us professional quality prints ranging from table top still life to industrial landscapes, Don was happy to pass on useful tips, using simple techniques, hard won, I’m sure, during a lifetime of photographic experience.

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.

Early April featured a regular competition with our neighbouring club in Harwich, and we were grateful for their welcome and usual generous hospitality.

Harwich usually win, but in a really close competition Manningtree finally edged it, helped no doubt by a reappearance of Sweet Purple, endearingly familiar to judge Peter Espley, whom we had seen only a week or so before.

Future Meetings April 26: A Walk on the Wild Side with Kevin and Margery Maskell FRPS & ARPS May 10: Some Special Places with Colin Westgate FRPS, a local landscape photographer based in West Mersea May 24: Annual General Meeting We meet twice monthly on Thursday evenings until May 2018 at 7.30pm at the St Johns Centre, Station Road, Manningtree CO11 1EB. New members are welcome to join (subscription £40) or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Please contact Margaret, our secretary, for details: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com

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

www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

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SCHOOLS / SPORT 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

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 5 2018 TONY KING MEMORIAL RACE: SUNDAY, JUNE 17 1 Mile Fun Run starts at 9.45am 5 Mile Capel 5 starts at 10.30am (minimum age 15) Capel St Mary Playing Field, Friars, IP9 2XS A new, out and back route is planned which will include a 300-metre off-road section. It will not go alongside the A12, but there are still a couple of hills.

The race this year will be titled Capel 5 Tony King Memorial Race in memory of a much loved and respected club member who passed away five years ago.

Affiliated runner fee £8 / Un-affiliated runner fee £11 – will increase on the day Please contact Sandra for more information – 01473 312114 / sandrabumphrey@talktalk.net – or visit: http://capelcheetahs.co.uk Entry through Run Britain: www.runbritain.com Please come out and cheer the runners on; the route starts on Rembrow Road, crosses The Street into Days Road, then to the Wenham Queen, turns right and heads towards the airfield, turns right at a footpath, then heads back towards the village, again passing the Wenham Queen and back down Days Road, then Rembrow Road and the finish is as usual in Playfield Road.

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In Touch online:

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SPORT EAST BERGHOLT TENNIS CLUB

MISTLEY CRICKET CLUB

Spring is here, so why not shake the dust off your racquet and come along to East Bergholt Tennis Club for a game of tennis? We welcome new members of all ages and abilities on our all-weather floodlit courts located behind the playing fields at Gandish Road, East Bergholt. Whether you are a complete beginner, coming back into the game after a number of years off or a regular player, there is something in it for you.

All cricket preparation has been affected badly by the rain, so much so that the first week of the season has been re-arranged to the end of the season, thereby extending the league for the 1st Team until September 15.

The club will be offering a range of coaching programmes for members and non-members, catering for both children and adults.

Annual membership subscriptions (allowing free use of the courts until 10pm every day subject to prior booking) are: adults £50, family £70-100, juniors (under 18) £15, students £25, junior summer special £10. Prices for coaching programmes, which are higher for non-members, will depend on the course.

Approval for our coach has been received and the club extends a warm welcome to Pabasara Waduge. Pab is a well-qualified Sri Lankan who has played elite level cricket in Sri Lanka and we are looking forward to him helping many of our, particularly younger, players progress. We also welcome our old friend Dylan Day back from his winter in Australia.

Coming Up Cricket, for all teams in the club. The club will also be wearing new playing and training shirts this season bearing the names of new sponsors, Ilecs and EGS. The club is very grateful for this support.

All enquiries about the coaching programmes should be directed towards Pete Richmond, whereas membership enquries can be directed to either Pete Richmond or Paul Lake.

Training will be under way too. Seniors will be on Wednesdays from 6.308pm, Ladies from 6-8pm on Thursdays and Juniors on Tuesdays from 6-8pm.

It’s the intention that all training sessions have coaches in attendance this season to enable everyone to get the most from their time.

Chairman/Coach Pete Richmond: NEETacademyHQ@gmail.com Acting Membership Secretary Paul Lake: 55paullake@gmail.com

SATURDAY FIXTURES

BRANTHAM FOOTBALL CLUB Brantham Athletic is a local football club which runs a senior section, junior section, Sunday and Ladies teams. Our home ground is The Leisure Centre, New Village, Brantham.

March has seen a change of fortunes for our three teams. The 1st Team played four matches in March, winning two, drawing one and losing one to remain fifth in the league. However, they won their league cup semi-final and now look forward to the final where they will play Thetford. This game will be on Monday, May 7 at 3pm and all roads will lead to Diss. If you want to support the team on this momentous day, there will be a coach running from Brantham Leisure Centre for £10; please contact the club if you wish to go.

There will also be an entrance fee for this game.

The Reserves have had a good month culminating in beating Harwich and Parkeston 5-0 with a really good display and are still in mid table position. The A Team also had a good month with several good victories and have moved up the table.

There is also a thriving junior section with ages ranging from Under 7s to Under 16s. Our Sunday teams play their matches on Sunday mornings at the leisure centre while our ladies team play on a Sunday afternoon at the centre, The 1st Team play their home matches at the leisure centre, kicking-off at 3pm on Saturday and at 7.45pm on weekday evenings. The Under 18s play on weekday evenings, 7.45pm kick-off, and the A Team play at Raydon.

Forthcoming home matches are will be publicised on the website and on Twitter.

Because of the league the 1st team and Under 18s play in, there is an entrance fee to watch these games. For the 1st team its £7 adults and £3 concessions and children under 16. For Under 18 games its £3 and £1. There is a friendly atmosphere at all the matches and there is always a friendly welcome to anyone attending a home match, so if you would like to see a good standard of football come and support your local team. The Centre Bar is open during all senior games and the kitchen during 1st Team and youth football on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Any young or old players wishing to join a friendly, exciting, fun football club should contact the club via the details below or email our football club secretary There is a clubhouse at the leisure centre where food and drinks can be obtained. The leisure centre is also home to a lot of other activities including fireworks display, a fun run, 5-a-sides, bowls, cricket plus many other social events. There is a website for more information. Plus the leisure centre has an excellent private function room with its own self-contained bar for hire out for a multitude of events such as wedding receptions, birthday parties, children’s events, conferences and meetings. Just contact the centre on 01206 392506. branthamath@hotmail.com www.branthamathleticfc.co.uk Twitter: @branthamath

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1st Team / Two Counties Div 1 Sat, April 21: Witham (A) Sat, April 28: Halstead (H) Sat, May 5: Maldon (A) Sat, May 12: Ipswich (H) Sat, May 19: Worlington (H) Sat, May 26: Hadleigh (A) Sat, June 2: Coggeshall (H) 2nd Team / Two Counties Div 3 Sat, April 21: Bury St Edmunds III (H) Sat, April 28: Tuddenham (A) Sat, May 5: Walsham Le Willows (H) Sat, May 12: Kesgrave (A) Sat, May 19: Haverhill II (A) Sat, May 26: Brockley (H) Sat, June 2: Easton (A) 3rd Team / Two Counties Div 9 East Sat, May 5: Nacton II (H) Sat, May 12: Ipswich III (A) Sat, May 19: Yoxford II (A) Sat, May 26: Felixstowe & Corinthians II (H) Sat, June 2: Kesgrave II (A) SUNDAY AND MIDWEEK CRICKET NECL Sun, May 6: Copdock & OIs (A) Sun, May 28: Wivenhoe (A) Two Counties Sunday Div Sun, Apr 22: Abberton (H) Sun, April 29: Ardleigh (A) Sun, May 13: Harwich (H) Sun, May 20: Frinton (H) Sun, June 3: Wivenhoe (A) Ladies Two Counties Sun, April 22: Copdock & OIs, Friendly (A) Sun, April 29: Copdock & OIs TC T20 (H) Fri, May 4: Sudbury BSL (A) Fri, May 11: Eight Ash Green BSL (H) Sun, May 13: Saffron Walden TC T20 (A) Fri, May 18: Copford BSL (H) Fri, June 1: Colchester BSL (A) March 2018 100 Club Winners 1: Guy Lennox (32) £110 2: Darren Kempster (66) £50 3: Peter French (42) £50 New players are always welcome; for more information please email: mistleycc@btinternet.com. Mistley CC is a community club with strong traditions. Please come along and give us a look sometime.

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

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

Our Reserve are second in their league and beat Kesgrave Kestrels 2-1 with goals from Daniel Hudson-Smith and Jack Reddington, this being the 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

MASQUERADE CHARITY BALL IN AID OF THE BLOSSOM APPEAL The Ipswich Hospital Charity are excited to announce the Masquerade Charity Ball at The Venue at Kersey Mill on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 7pm in aid of the Blossom Appeal.

This glamorous evening will include a night of live entertainment with a drinks reception, a three course meal with wine in a beautiful location. Ticket price is £50 per person.

JS and The Lockerbillies will be our band for the night who have previously played at Glastonbury! So get your dancing shoes ready to ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’!

All money raised will go towards The Ipswich Hospital Charity, supporting the Blossom Appeal. Help us build a new £2.5million Breast Care Centre at Ipswich Hospital where every breast care patient can have the best possible experience when they come to hospital. The new centre will bring all elements of breast care at The Ipswich Hospital under one roof and provide an environment where patients can be imaged, biopsied where necessary, and see their clinician in one appointment without the need to get dressed and undressed several times. There will also be new dedicated clinics for men and young people.

Your support can help patients like Jo… “There is a lot of getting up and down and walking to and from for imaging and treatment, and it’s a very impersonal space.”

Former breast cancer patient Jo Whitelaw remembers the experience of visiting the hospital all too well.

But the now 55-year-old also remembers the “amazing” care she received.

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DEDHAM AND ARDLEIGH PARISHES www.dedham-and-ardleigh-parishes.org.uk 01206 322136 / stmaryda@gmail.com SERVICES AND EVENTS FOR MAY Sunday, May 6 8am Holy Communion (BCP), Dedham 9.30am Rise ‘n’ Shine, Dedham 11am Eucharist, Ardleigh 5pm Evensong (BCP), Dedham Thursday, May 10 7am Ascension Day Service, Dedham Sunday, May 13 8am Holy Communion (BCP), Ardleigh 9.30am Holy Communion (CW), Dedham Sunday, May 20: Pentecost 8am Holy Communion (BCP), Dedham 9.30am Matins (BCP), Dedham 11am Parish Eucharist, Ardleigh 3pm Sunday@3, Ardleigh BCP – Book of Common Prayer / CW – Common Worship Midweek Services Tuesday Morning Prayer at Dedham at 10.30am Thursday Evening Prayer at Ardleigh at 5pm SPECIAL EVENTS Men’s Breakfast: Saturday, May 12, 9am at The Vicarage, Dedham Mission Bake & Horticultural Sale: Saturday, May 12 from 10am outside Dedham Church Friendship Group: Tuesday, May 29, 10am Ardleigh Church She said: “The hospital was my security blanket. I got all the support and reassurance I could’ve asked for from the team. They were always there when I needed them.”

Jo, from Great Blakenham, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 after discovering a lump in her breast. Initially she thought it was benign as she’d had others removed in the past. But it did turn out to be cancerous. When the lump was removed cancer cells were still found so Jo went on to have her breast removed and gruelling chemotherapy and drug treatment to fight the disease.

She said: “It’s a very open and impersonal space. I remember when I first went to hospital I sat there and looked at all the people in the waiting room and felt very alone.

“The new centre could be more personal, but then there would be opportunities and spaces to talk if people wanted to.”

Jo, married with two children, four grandchildren (and another on the way) has now been clear of cancer for five years.

While the hospital team were Jo’s security blanket, she turned to the animals in her yard to relax. A keeper of horses, sheep and chickens, Jo credits them to helping her relax both during and since her cancer.

Help us build a new Breast Centre at Ipswich Hospital whilst enjoying a glamorous night.

To purchase tickets please visit www.ipswichhospitalcharity.co.uk contact 01473 702929 or email at: charity@ipswichhospital.nhs.uk

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CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT & BRANTHAM

BRANTHAM & CAPEL METHODIST CHURCHES

Sunday, April 29 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion, Brantham

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?

Wednesday, May 2 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, May 6 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion, East Bergholt 4pm Family@Church and High Tea, East Bergholt Thursday, May 10 9.30am Ascension Day BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, May 13 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Communion, East Bergholt 11am Family Service, Brantham Saturday, May 19 Noon Wedding of Danielle Cope and Matthew Norrington, East Bergholt Sunday, May 20 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion for Pentecost, Brantham Sunday, May 27 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Choral Matins, East Bergholt 11am Informal Service, Brantham Sunday, June 3 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion (Open Gardens in East Bergholt), Brantham 4pm Family@Church and High Tea, East Bergholt Check the website for details. In East Bergholt there is a BCP Communion every Sunday at 8am and Choral Matins is usually on the fourth Sunday. This service schedule may change without prior notice if needed.

The Rev Steph is on sabbatical doing some writing and will be unable to respond to any messages until after June 1. If any need should arise, the churchwardens or verger will be able to help you.

East Bergholt: Fiona Trott 01206 298205 / Liz Digby 01473 312281 / Rodney Brundell 01206 298607 Brantham: Jane Pavitt 01473 328512 / Ken Stuttaford 01206 394446 www.constablecountrychurches.co.uk

KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Where Jesus is Love and Love is Jesus COME AND JOIN US IN OUR NEW FELLOWSHIP – EVERYONE IS WELCOME Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, with our lively worship and service. Refreshments served afterwards.

Every Sunday morning at 11am in The Ivell Suite at Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE. If you or someone you know needs prayer for anything, please contact us.

David and Rosie Rhule 07787 572977 / 01206 397533 info@thekeytoloveministries.co.uk www.keytoloveministries.com

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?

The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Brantham & Capel Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 SERVICES AT BRANTHAM Sunday 6 11am Worship with Mrs Maggie Finbow Sunday 13 11am Worship with Mr Bryan Nichols Sunday 20 11am Worship and Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey Sunday 27 11am Worship with Rev Michael Allen SERVICES AT CAPEL Home Groups on various days and times – contact the minister for details Sunday 6

Sunday 13

Sunday 20

Saturday 26 Sunday 27

10.30am 6.30pm 10.30am 6.30pm 10.30am 7pm 3.30pm 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

LINK LINE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES Un-denominational / meeting at the Ogilvie Hall, Wignall Street, Lawford CO11 2JG (unless otherwise stated) Saturday, May 5 Our popular monthly Cafe Oasis Coffee Morning, 9.30-11.15am Community Praise & Worship, 11.15am-noon Friday, May 18 Prayer & Praise Fellowship, 10-11.30am Thursday, May 22 Open Road Fellowship Visit to Kersey Mill & Gardens. In partnership with Key to Love Fellowship Services at 11am every Sunday at the Venture Centre on Bromley Road For Pastoral visits, further information and bookings, contact: 01206 272064 / linklinecm@hotmail.co.uk We warmly welcome people of all ages.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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CHURCH NEWS

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB

Parish Priest: Father Christopher Smith 01473 684963 / 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ 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.

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“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.

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