In touch news with gt blakenham – december 2017 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

In Touch

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with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead Volume 8 • Issue No.2 • DECEMBER 2017

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS

It has been a rather hectic month. I think the much overused term ‘rollercoaster ride’ might apply! My ability to cope when emotions are raw and tensions are high has been well and truly tested. I’m an organiser. I tend to dive in, determined to fix the problem, whatever it may be, by facing up to it. This often works, but when the problem is beyond fixing or not within my ability to fix I struggle to cope. Nobody likes to feel powerless, but there are times when we are all forced to place our trust in others whether we want to or not. How others respond can make this more or less tolerable, but don’t ever underestimate the power of a kind word or a smile.

GREAT BLAKENHAM VILLAGE HALL

The ability to make others feel at ease is often referred to as ‘good bedside manner’, but in everyday life isn’t it just ‘being nice’? The festive season can be a time of great happiness, as I hope it is for you this year, but it’s also often stressful, frequently lonely and almost always exhausting. ‘Being nice’ may not change things significantly, but surely it can’t hurt. A smile when a weary shop assistant asks if you need a bag, stepping aside to make way for a buggy, holding a door open, ‘sincerely’ asking someone how they are and actually waiting for an answer, all simple acts which can turn a lousy day around.

Kind regards,

I’m no angel. I have grumpy days, days when I feel much sorrier for myself than I possibly could for anyone else, days when even my own son knows not to mess with me, but I’ve seen first-hand the astonishing effect a genuine act of kindness can have in even the most challenging circumstance and that’s who I want to be. I want to be the person who makes others feel better. Can I do it 365 days of the year? Possibly not, but I’m going to try and it starts now.

The Limeburners truly is a pub at the heart of the local community and together customers and staff have raised amazing sums for charity, including £1,125 in 2016 which was donated to Stowmarket & District Cancer Group.

Christmas is a lovely time for most of us and those of us who are in a good place this year can make it better for those who are less fortunate. Whether it’s a smile, a donation to a food bank, carol singing for charity, volunteering, visiting an elderly neighbour, taking someone out for coffee and a mince pie… simple acts, extraordinary effects. Happy Christmas from everyone at Mansion House Publishing and, in the words of Aunt Lucy in Paddington 2, remember “If you’re kind and polite, everything will come right”.

In Touch

with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead

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: blakenham@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 Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead 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 •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • 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

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JANUARY DEADLINE

The management committee would like to hold and organise a function, party or fun evening for the residents of Great Blakenham and would like to hear from you with regards to what type of function would be of interest. It could be any one of the following: race night, table top sale, cinema screening, or something else? Please email your suggestions to: halladmingbvh@btconnect.com

Great Blakenham Village Hall Management Committee

LIMEBURNERS RECRUIT SANTA TO RAISE FUNDS FOR BARKING PRE-SCHOOL

Now the focus is on securing the future of Barking Pre-school, a non-profit making charity which provides early years education for both local families and those from surrounding villages. The pre-school is run by a committed and enthusiastic team of staff, who work hard to organise a wide variety of fun and educational activities to meet the individual needs of all children. And what better way to support local families and this essential local facility than with the help of Santa who will visit the Limeburners on December 22 and 23 to raise money for Barking Pre-school. Santa will visit on Friday, December 22 from noon-4pm with reindeer between 1 and 3pm, and again on Saturday 23 from noon-4pm with a Unipony. Visits to Santa must be booked at £5 per child and will include a gift and sweets. This should be booked via the Limeburners Facebook page or by calling/visiting the pub. Children will be booked in one hour slots so 10 children per hour. The Limeburners very own house band will perform on Friday, December 22. The Limeburners, Willisham Road, Offton IP8 4SF 01473 658318 / vixmac7icloud.com

Do you love music? We have a new electric piano at St Mary’s Church, Great Blakenham, so if you like music and would like to be involved please get in touch. For further information, please email: wendydhooper@gmail.com

BAYLHAM CHRISTMAS PARTY Baylham Village Hall on Friday, December 15 Live music, party games and a raffle.

1 DECEMBER 2017

Bring a plate of finger food and your own drink. Don’t forget a glass!

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

Starts at 7.30pm. Entrance fee £3, payable on the door.

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NEWS SCOUTS’ CHRISTMAS POST 2017 Once again Scouts will be delivering your Christmas cards in and around Ipswich and surrounding villages for the bargain price of 25p per card. They will deliver to any of the following areas: Ipswich IP1-IP5, Pinewood Estate, Felixstowe, Trimley Villages, Kirton, Martlesham Village, Grundisburgh, Bealings, Playford, Culpho, Bramford, Claydon, Barham, Blakenham, Sproughton, Henley, Witnesham and Tuddenham. Cards can be dropped off in the boxes in the village from November 25 to December 12. You’ll find boxes at Freshfills Bakery, Choices, Bea’s Boutique, Claydon & Barham Community Centre, The Crown Inn, Barham Church and Claydon Primary School. Any queries please contact: 01473 511388 / 07771 778003 Please help us and save yourself some cash at the same time.

STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Thursday, December 7, 10am-noon: Coffee and our Annual Christmas Bazaar, Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market Friday, December 15, starting at noon: Christmas Lunch at Stonham Barns Please check the online events page for further details and to book: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk At the time of writing, the first Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition on March 21 was fully booked, but you can register on the reserve list at: www.msbe.biz/exhibit

www.Ipswichscoutpost.co.uk

COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: NOVEMBER 2017 Highways We have disruptive road works at Needham Market, Hackneys Corner and Claydon. All have three-way light control that causes long delays. The county’s control of highways operations by utilities and developer’s contractors is limited giving permission as long as safety measures are adequate.

The Revenue Budget It is forecast that revenue budget will be overspent by £10.2m on a net budget of £502m consuming some of the county’s substantial reserves. Reserves are there to cover the unexpected and to allow time for action. Cabinet must reduce spend or increase revenues.

A licencing scheme is possible where companies must pay to occupy the road, but county have been reluctant to go that way. It might just increase the bureaucracy without sufficient financial penalty to improve speed of work, or to eliminate those periods when nothing appears to be done.

Since we will be undertaking a full day of pre-budget scrutiny this month you will hear more on the subject.

Highways planners will come out for a discussion with the parishes around improvements we think necessary to make the development we may suffer acceptable. Currently they appear more focused on limiting the costs of work they ask developers to fund rather than getting improvements that will keep congestion to reasonable levels. School Transport Policy The cabinet’s decision to go to consultation on changes to the Home to School Transport policy was sent back to cabinet by the Scrutiny Committee. As a result, two workshops are taking place to further discuss the issue and help develop proposals for cabinet to consider. However, invitations were only being sent to 80 randomly selected representatives. An improvement, but still a small sample to gain a clear view of peoples wishes. School Admissions There are proposals to make some minor changes to the admission arrangements and the co-ordinated admissions scheme for schools in Suffolk for the 2019/2020 school year. The areas to be amended are: • The sibling criterion • The definition of ‘ordinarily resident’ • The offer of a school place when preferences can’t be met • The procedure for dealing with late applications • The governing bodies of voluntary aided, foundation, free schools and academies are responsible for admissions to their schools. Education and Learning Infrastructure Plan A third iteration of the plan suggests that increases in demand may lead to the creation of approximately 25 new schools and 25 school expansions. However, government funding will fall to £2m next year down from £11m. SCC has committed to borrow to ensure that adequate funds are available. When an extension is needed money comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), but is insufficient to cover full costs. When a new or replacement school is necessary, developer’s 106 payments may be more substantial, but only cover the new places required, not the replacement of those existing.

The main areas of overspend are Adult & Community Services whose £229.5m budget has a Care Purchasing overspend of £3.5m. Health, Wellbeing & Children’s Services have a budget of £137.3 and are overspent by £6.4m. The number of young people coming into care with complex needs continues to increase. Future of West Meadows The county hopes to sell West Meadows. Its residents have been consulted and have put forward a proposal to buy it. The existing residents would own their individual plots and have collective ownership and management of shared spaces. I hope this will give the site and its residents a good and stable future. Joint Local Plan Several people have told me that they find it difficult to enter comments online for the various consultations and for planning matters. The issue is that the time allowed before your activity is terminated is short. Having lost a couple of substantial entries to the local plan I now see the point. I will raise the issue with the officer team. Mid Suffolk’s Investments The administration is still set on ‘profit for purpose’ despite the government’s concerns about such activities. The value of their investment in property via CCLA is down from £5m to £4.741m while income is £0.41m, a return of 4.93%. The Funding Circle investment is down by £9.4k on a much smaller £624k with a return of £41.8k or 3.9%, half what was expected. The issue is bad debt and an additional concern is that loans are supporting national not local businesses. I voted against, but had hoped for a better outcome. If you have queries please phone me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or 07545 423808. You can also email me at: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk I do have Twitter @JohnFieldjd and Facebook /fieldjd accounts and my website is at: www.johnfield.suffolk.libdems.org

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NEWS GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL Firstly, the parish council is very pleased to welcome the two new councillors who joined us in November – Ken Hillyer and Andrew Mussett. We look forward to working with them and to the valuable contribution that they are already making to our work. A council that is up to maximum numbers has a stronger voice – we still have one vacancy, so why not join us? If you want to discuss this further, please contact the clerk. Your council is in the process of obtaining quotes for various items of work around the parish – the new metal gates for the cemetery, redecoration and improvements to the bus shelters outside the Parish Room and the Jack Brand plant. We need to obtain three quotes for these to get the best value for money for the village, so if you are from a local building company and would be interested in quoting, please email the clerk. The problem of drivers speeding in the village is on many of our minds at the moment and your council is considering a range of measures that we could put into place to help Suffolk County Council Highways with this issue. Unfortunately, there is still no news on a longer-term solution to the lack of a secure lease for the allotments. As I write this in mid-November, we are waiting for a new one-year licence to be sent to us by the landowner’s solicitor. We will continue to press for a better arrangement, but the landowner has indicated that they will not be in a position to consider this until the Reserved Matters for the Stowmarket Road housing development are agreed. Many people will be taking time off over Christmas and the New Year. If you are going to be taking advantage of this to get out and about in the fresh air with your dog, please be a responsible dog owner and bag your dog’s waste, then bin it. There are dog waste bins situated around the village and your council pays for them to be emptied weekly, so there is no excuse for not using them. We always welcome the chance to hear the views of our community, so if you have any suggestions for improvements that can be considered for the benefit of the parish, we want to hear from you. Please either come along to a meeting or email our clerk. Parish council meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the Parish Room. However, there is no meeting in December. The next meeting is on Wednesday, January 10. Parish Clerk: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 07508 830777 Facebook: @greatblakenhampc Twitter: @pcgtblakenham www.greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net Thank you for reading this and for your interest in the work of your parish council. Chairman Steve Plume

CAROL SERVICE AT LITTLE BLAKENHAM CHURCH Saturday, December 23, 6pm Mince pies and mulled wine will follow All are welcome

SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE SITE – GREAT BLAKENHAM Follow us on Twitter Suffolk EfW is now tweeting so if you enjoy these monthly updates and would like more site news as well as tips to reduce, reuse and recycle your waste follow us on Twitter at: @suffolkefw Come and have a look around The Suffolk energy-from-waste facility is holding a series of open days in January and February which include a tour of the facility and time to explore our visitor centre. There are spaces on the following days: Tuesday, January 9, 10am-noon Thursday, January 18, 2-4pm Tuesday, January 23, 6-8pm Tuesday, February 6, 10am-noon Thursday, February 15, 2-4pm There are 20 spaces on each day and you must pre-book. To book please email suffolkefw@sita.co.uk and we will confirm your place by email. If you would like to come, but cannot make these dates, you can email us to register your interest and we will let you know when the next open days are planned. The High Sheriff We were honoured to welcome Geoffrey Probert, High Sheriff of Suffolk to the site in October. The High Sheriff enjoyed a presentation about the site, followed by a tour of the plant and the visitor centre. The High Sheriff commented on the “super impressive spotless plant, but even more impressive is the world class partnership behind it”, something we here at Suez and Suffolk County Council are immensely proud of. Any questions? If you have any queries about our operations, please don’t hesitate to contact the facility on 01473 839149. OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS To book a visit: 01473 836821 Environment Agency: 0800 807060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910

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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/gtblakenham

Mid Suffolk District Council

Waste and Recycling

Waste and Recycling Collection Calendar 2018

Christmas & New Year Bin Collection Schedule 2017-2018

Please ensure your bins are presented by 6.30am on the day of collection

Recycling

Refuse

Recycling

Usual Collection

Monday 25th December Tuesday 26th December Wednesday 27th December Thursday 28th December Friday 29th December Monday 1st January Tuesday 2nd January Wednesday 3rd January Thursday 4th January Friday 5th January Monday 8th January Tuesday 9th January Wednesday 10th January Thursday 11th January Friday 12th January

Revised Collection

Wednesday 27th December Thursday 28th December Friday 29th December Saturday 30th December Tuesday 2nd January Wednesday 3rd January Thursday 4th January Friday 5th January Saturday 6th January Monday 8th January Tuesday 9th January Wednesday 10th January Thursday 11th January Friday 12th January Saturday 13th January

Change

2 days later 2 days later 2 days later 2 days later 4 days later 2 days later 2 days later 2 days later 2 days later 3 days later 1 day later 1 day later 1 day later 1 day later 1 day later

There will be no brown bin collections over Christmas and New Year (between 25th December and 5th January) Please check www.midsuffolk.gov.uk for further details From Monday 15th January normal waste and recycling collections resume.

Waste Helpline: 01449 778678

Collection Calendar 2018 December 2017 Mo

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

January 2018

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 26 27 28

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

April 2018 We

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

May 2018

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

August 2018

6 13 20 27

February 2018

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

March 2018

2 9 16 23

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

June 2018

September 2018 Tu

July 2018

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

October 2018

November 2018

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

1 8 15 22 29

2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24

4 11 18 25

Recycling collected this week Rubbish collected this week For Christmas and New Year weeks (25th Dec-13th Jan) Please refer to the Christmas & New Year schedule Bank Holiday Week - Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection will be a day later all week. For Christmas and New Year weeks, please refer to the Christmas Schedule.

Visit Recycle Now

www.recyclenow.com to find your nearest recycling banks

Waste Helpline: 01449 778678

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP

A Community Shop for the local community, run by the local community The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416 OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm Saturdays: 9am-1pm Christmas goods are now on the shelves as well as the usual products and household goods. To add to our festivities Lucy and Anne are organising a mince pie and coffee morning to be held at the shop on Wednesday, December 13. You are warmly invited to come along to start the Christmas season by enjoying the fayre and the chance to chat with others. Our community events continue with our regular Tea and Chat meetings on the last Wednesday afternoon in the month from 2-4pm in Coffee Corner, but not in December so the next one is Wednesday, January 31. Golden Link is every other Tuesday afternoon and Petrolheads is the first Wednesday of each month.

NEEDHAM MARKET DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE Our first coffee morning at the Community Café was a great success with several visitors and help from AnneMarie and Peter from Sue Ryder Dementia Together team, and advice from Sue Vincent from the Alzheimer’s Society. We have decided to make this a weekly event called Memory Corner, every Tuesday morning from 11am to 12.30pm. Dementia patients, their families and friends are welcome to join us for chat, fun activities, games, support and information. Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits are available. If you wish to stay for lunch then the full café menu is available from 12.30pm. You may already know of the relaxed, dementia-friendly film shows at the Regal Cinema in Stowmarket. On Friday, December 1 the film White Christmas will be shown at 11.30am. Please contact the Regal for further details: 01449 612825 Peter from the Sue Ryder Dementia Together team has a dementia advice and information session at Needham Market Country Practice on alternate Wednesday mornings. Please phone the surgery (01449 720666) to check which dates he will be there. Peter will be pleased to see you and offer some help. Our sincere thanks go to the East of England Co-operative Society for their generous grant of £500. This is the result of the green tokens voting system at the Co-operative Society’s stores. Thank you for your votes.

Our 2018 community shop calendars have been quite a talking point and have proved to be very popular. In fact they are going very fast with just a few left at the moment, so if you haven’t already got one, either for yourself or as a present, take a look before they are all gone. We’ve also had some books written by a local author on sale. A series of six novels, all taking place in the local area and real page-turners, have been taken off the shelf very quickly. There may be one or two still left, so hurry to have a look if you are interested. As a shop we provide a huge range of products – many produced locally – and household goods and services, for example newspapers, a dry cleaning collection service and deliveries to people with mobility difficulties. All of this gives a real heart to the local community and it all happens because of the magnificent volunteers who give of their time to man the shop and do many other unsung jobs as well. Our thanks go this month to Peter, one of our volunteers who has tiled part of the kitchen area. It’s looking good Peter and a very useful addition there. We wish all our customers and volunteers a very Happy Christmas and send all best wishes for the New Year. We look forward to your continued support. Management Team Lucy Barrett – 831890; Sue Browne – 831321; Terry Fordham – 831529 Peter Jousiffe; Anne MacFadyen – 831288; Steve Woolhouse – 831080

BAR-CLAY MUSIC MAKERS – ABOVE AND BELOW THE WAVES The weeks have flown by since rehearsals for Bar-Clay Music Makers new panto, The Little Mermaid, began in September, and tickets will be on sale from December 6. Performances take place on Fridays, January 19 and 26 at 7.30pm, and Saturdays, January 20 and 27 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are £7 for adults and £3 for children and always sell out fast, so contact Gillian Webb to book your seats: webbfamily1@gmail.com / 01473 830538 The action in this fast-paced show takes place on land and under the sea as our heroine is faced with a difficult choice: whether to find true love with her human prince or remain with her family and friends underwater. How does she resolve her dilemma? There’s only one way to find out... For more details about BMM contact Vera Rogers: vera.rogers1@btinternet.com

They helped us remember Dad at Christmas It’s the little things that count Here for you every hour of every day

01473 858517

for your local funeral director www.eastofengland.coop/funerals www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

OUT & ABOUT FOUR COMMUNITIES ACTION GROUP

SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA)

4CAG was created in 2010 by members of the churches of Barham, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley. We aim to work together as four parishes to develop new activities and support networks and provide spiritual support and encouragement with a view to enhancing the lives of all members of the community. We currently have five organisations under our umbrella.

In the autumn of last year, Onslow Suffolk Ltd put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16.

Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club Meets at Great Blakenham Parish Rooms at noon on the first Friday of each month. We’re having our Christmas Party on Friday, December 1, with party hats, crackers, presents, party food, Christmas pudding and cake and loads of fun! There’s a rumour that Santa Claus is taking a couple of hours off from his workshop to come and join us. In the New Year, we’re back to our regular programme of delicious soups and bread rolls, and an amazing variety of puddings, along with the chance to sit and chat with old friends, make new friends, play a game of bingo, win the raffle and have a bit of fun. All this for just £4! Contact Mike (07805 507497) for more information or just come along with your friends. Book Club Meets at The Crown in Claydon at 10.30am on the last Thursday in the month. Join us for a light-hearted discussion on the book we’ve chosen to read. Gipping Valley Art Society Meets every Tuesday afternoon at Great Blakenham Parish Rooms. Membership is free but we pay a weekly subscription to cover room hire, refreshments and so on. We are currently at full capacity but please contact Ann (01473 831031) or Margaret (01473 830135) to join the waiting list. 4 Ever Young Men’s Club Christmas Lunch is all booked at The Crown on Wednesday, December 13 at noon – we’re looking forward to good food and drink and we’ll all be on our best behaviour because our wives and partners will be with us. In 2018, the 4 Ever Young Men’s Club will meet in The Crown on the third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am. Contact Mike (07805 507497) for more information or just pop in. Knitting Group Do you enjoy knitting or want to learn how to? The Knitting Group meets in the lounge at Alasdair Place on the first Thursday in the month from 10.30amnoon. We pay £1 towards refreshments. Recently, we have been knitting a Crib Scene for Great Blakenham Church’s Crib Festival which is taking place from Friday, December 1 until Sunday, December 3. Please come along and see what we’ve done.

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB Open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham, but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in Great Blakenham Parish Room. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. For our second meeting at the end of October we had a talk on the origins, superstitions and customs of Halloween and how it is celebrated today together with suitable orange and green cakes! In November we had a social afternoon with a beetle drive led by Jean and a visit from the Rural Coffee Caravan. Our final get together for the year will be our Christmas Lunch at The Chequers on December 13. The club continues to prosper and our programme for 2018 will follow in due course. New members are always welcome, but if you would just like to come along in the New Year and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you.

Full details can be found at: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning It is important to be aware that this is not a renewal of the original planning approval for SnOasis, which remains in place. Reserved Matters cover the detail of such topics as design, appearance, transport, drainage, ecological mitigation etc. Our questions and comments about Reserved Matters were summarised in a document which was submitted to MSDC in the summer as the comments from the SPA and all its member parishes, giving the comments extra weight because they come from a significant number of local communities, representing over 11,000 registered voters. The SPA member parishes are Baylham, Barham, Bramford, Claydon and Whitton, Great Blakenham, Little Blakenham. Needham Market, Nettlestead and Somersham. In this document we identified a large number of issues and queries for BMSDC Planning to raise with the developer. The SPA is very concerned that, nearly a year after the date on which the developer was due to provide all the details for Reserved Matters, so much crucial information is still outstanding. The SPA remains ready to work with the district council on Reserved Matters when the developer feels able to provide the necessary information. However, owing to the failure of the developer to provide the requested information, we are unable to make any progress and once again there is nothing new that I am able to report at the time I write this. For further information, please email SPA clerk Janet Gobey: snoasispa@icloud.com SnOasis Parish Alliance Chairman Steve Plume

GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB The club is open to anyone living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet every Monday other than bank holidays in Great Blakenham Parish Room from 2-4pm from February to December. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House and it has its own parking area at the rear. The building is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. Members pay £2 per meeting to covers hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. Alternatively, if you would just like to come and bring your own project to work on, enjoy our company and make new friends without doing the workshops the charge is £1.50 per meeting. Members take it in turns to make the tea. We had some mini-makes for November, the first being a knitted vintage flower broach which was knitted in red with black centres for Remembrance Day. Our second mini-make was a lavender bag made from a hessian strip with lace on it and a lavender ribbon bow. Our AGM was held early on the last meeting in November as we are out for Christmas lunch on December 4. We reviewed another busy year of makes and looked at next year’s programme which will be included in the January edition. If you have been interested in our reports over the past year and think it all sounds interesting, there is currently room for new members. If you would like to join us please get in touch. Although the club is all ladies at present gentlemen who would like to learn crafts are welcome. Unfortunately I can’t accommodate children. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

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Mon 11th - Thurs 14th Dec

PADDINGTON 2 (PG)

Mon 11th: 2.30, Tue 12th: 4.45 Wed 13th: 6.00, Thurs 14th: 12.15

BREATHE (12A) Fri 24th - Thurs 30th Nov

FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (15)

Fri 24th & Sat 25th: 5.15 & 7.45 Sun 26th: 2.30 & 7.45 Mon 27th: 12.15 & 5.15 Tue 28th - Thurs 30th: 2.30 & 7.45

MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE (U) Sat 25th: 2.45

A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS (15)

Wed 13th: 8.30

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Fri 15th - Thurs 21st Dec

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI PADDINGTON 2 (PG)

Fri 15th - Sun 17th: 11.30am Tues 18th - Thurs 21st: 11.30am

Fri 22nd - Tues 26th Dec

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS (15)

PADDINGTON 2 (PG)

Fri 1st: 2.30, Sat 2nd: 2.30 & 7.45

BREATHE

(12A)

Fri 1st: 9.30am, Sat 2nd: 5.00

WHITE CHRISTMAS (U) Fri 1st: 11.45am

MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE (U) Sat 2nd: 12.15

Wednesday 6th - Sunday 10th December

Pantomime 2017 - SODS Present

SNOW WHITE

Wed 6th - Fri 8th: 7.30pm, Sat 9th & Sun 10th: 12.00pm & 5.00pm Tickets: Adults £13.00, Cons £11.50 All tickets for the Wed 6th performance are just £10 each

World Class Theatre - Beamed to the Regal

Tues 12th December at 7pm - Tickets £12.50 National Theatre presents a recorded live screening of

YOUNG MARX

www.regalstowmarket.co.uk / 01449 612825 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1AY

(12A)

Fri 15th - Thurs 21st: 2.00, 5.15 & 8.30

Mon 27th: 2.30 & 7.45 Tue 28th - Thurs 30th: 12.15 & 5.15 Fri 1st & Sat 2nd Dec

(12A)

Thurs 14th: 12.01am, 2.00, 5.00 & 8.30

Fri 22nd & Sat 23rd: 2.00, 5.15 & 8.30 Sun 24th: 2.00, Tue 26th: 2.00 & 5.15

(12A)

Fri 22nd - Sun 24th: 11.30am Tue 26th: 11.30am LIVE ON STAGE Friday 1st December at 7.30pm - Tickets £12

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS TIME Monday 11th December at 7.30pm - Tickets £15

JOHN McNICHOLL

Wednesday 13th December at 2pm - Tickets £10 & £12

SIMPLY SWING

DECEMBER - POCKET MONEY MOVIES

GREAT FAMILY FILMS, KIDS £2.50, ADULTS FREE!*

OLAF’S FROZEN ADVENTURE + FROZEN (PG) Sat 25th & Sun 26th Nov: 9.30am & 12.00

DESPICABLE ME 3 (U) Sat 2nd: 10.00am

THE NUT JOB: NUTTY BY NATURE (U)

Sat 16th & Sun 17th: 9.30am, Wed 20th: 9.30am

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS GREAT BLAKENHAM 200 CLUB Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets for the 200 Club this year. All the money raised goes toward the repair and preservation of St Mary’s Parish Church. The annual subscription of £12 is collected in January. If you are not yet a member (and would like the chance to win a prize and help maintain the beauty of our ancient church building) please call Marion: 01473 830915 Winning tickets November £25 Sheila Hobbs (101) £15 Mr Claydon (19) £10 Ed Baldwin (255) £10 Paul Doe (312) £5 Jean Ballard (2) £5 Steve Plume (23)

Winning tickets December £25 SACKERS (125) £15 Alison Eastwick (242) £10 Shirley Rice (167) £10 Rosemary Longdon (199) £5 Chris Connor (4) £5 Steve Plume (23)

CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL This term a new set of councillors have been elected and we have already started our regular meetings to come up with ideas to help improve our school even more. One of our responsibilities is to write this article, to share with you what has been happening in our school and what our highlights have been over the last month. We hope you enjoy reading it! Years 1 and 2: The children have been enjoying their Kings and Queen’s topic, and had an amazing trip to St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds to learn more about the life of St Edmund. There they took part in role play, learnt the story of St Edmund and went on a hunt for signs and symbols of the story in the beautiful cathedral. They also got to explore the abbey grounds and tried to imagine what it must have looked like all those years ago, as well participating in some craft activities. It was a great trip. Year 3: We really enjoyed our visit to Flatford Mill. We went there as our current topic is Rivers, as well as linking it to our artwork which has been inspired by John Constable. We got to complete lots of fun activities throughout the day, such as sketching, pond dipping, measuring rivers depth and speed and much more. Although we ended up getting very, very wet we all had lots of fun. Year 4: We have really enjoyed doing our art project which was linked to our Rivers topic. It was a homework task, but we could choose whether we did a collage, painting or even make a model that represents a river and its three courses. It was fun because we could be really creative – some people even added a waterfall. It was an amazing project! Year 5: We really enjoyed a visit by Maths Puzzle as we were challenged with lots of different maths problems. Each Key Stage 2 class had an hour each in the hall to complete various challenges. The morning encouraged the use of lots of our ‘Learning Powers’, including working together, 100% effort, resilience and making links, as well as using our maths knowledge, skills and understanding. It was loads of fun. Year 6: Years 4, 5 and 6 were visited by award winning author Stewart Ross (he writes historical books, but makes them into narratives). Stewart made everyone laugh as he is a very humorous man. He told us that he gets his inspiration when he’s outside in his garden shed! After talking to us about his journey to become an author he set us a writing task for us – we had to write the first paragraph of a story. We then went back into the hall where winners were picked. We all really enjoyed it and cannot wait to use this experience to help us with our own writing. This month we will be organising a vote in school to decide what reward the winning team for the autumn term will get. We decided the three choices will be a games afternoon, a pyjama day or arts and craft afternoon. Every child will get to vote which incorporates one of our British values – democracy. We hope that you have enjoyed reading our first article!

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SCHOOLS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL

CLAYDON AND BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES A Mothers’ Union project which has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 26 years, we welcome mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 per family.

Our annual WOW Week took place at the beginning of November. The curriculum was suspended for three days so that all students could take part in various activities designed to stretch, challenge, motivate and equip them with essential life skills which will help them on their journey through high school and beyond. Year 7 had a fabulous time at camp, taking part in adventurous activities such as the high ropes and assault course as well as art, PE and drama activities, all designed to build confidence and encourage creativity, curiosity and teamwork. Years 8-10 ‘wowed’ us all with their productivity and commitment to their ‘festival based’ enterprise tournament. In teams of 16, students planned, budgeted and pitched a festival of their choosing. Guest judges and experts in the event management industry were invited in to support and help choose an overall winner of the prestigious Challenge Cup. Students had to assign themselves roles and were scored on their innovation and vision, marketing strategy, teamwork, quality of their pitch and the creativity of their portfolio. The work produced by our students over the course of the event clearly demonstrated teamwork, leadership, communication and selfmanagement skills. I would like to thank Gary Newland from Mid Suffolk Showground, Rob Walden from Real World Education Group Ltd and Kate Sida-Nichols from SCITT, whose support was vital in helping this event to be the success it was. Well done to our Year 11 students who spent time in school and visiting sixth forms and colleges, looking at career choices and employability skills. Students were very open-minded and listened carefully to a wide variety of speakers and participated actively in sessions to increase their knowledge of post-16 and post-18 options. The topics covered included issues such as the importance of happiness/positive mental health, current issues in banking and finance, employability skills, Higher Education, budgeting as a student, apprenticeships and online support services. Our speakers included two ex-students who have had considerable success in pursuing an apprenticeship route after leaving us. Our sincere thanks go to all our visitors and hosts who have assisted students in thinking about their next steps. Now that the festive season is upon us, I hope you will be able to join us at our Christmas concert on Tuesday, December 12, 7pm at the Church of St Mary & St Peter, Barham (tickets on sale at our reception). Our talented students are busy preparing some lovely vocal, instrumental and poetry readings for your enjoyment. The PTA is also holding a quiz night on Thursday, December 7, 7-9pm. GCSE Drama students are busy rehearsing for their Christmas panto which will be toured round the local residential care homes and the whole school is currently busy creating fabulous Christmas hampers which will be donated to a local charity for the homeless. If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Monday, January 22. To book a place please telephone my PA, Mrs J Saunders: 01473 836110 Finally, I would like to thank staff, parents/carers, governors and the wider community for their support this term and wish everyone a Happy Christmas. I look forward to keeping you updated with all our news in the New Year. Headteacher Ms Maéve Taylor

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This month we meet on December 7 from 9.30-11.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. This will be our Christmas Party; please let Michelle know (833788) if you wish to attend. This month we would like to wish a happy birthday to Nieve, Oliver, Archie and Aimee. Why not come along and join in the fun? You can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on Netmums.com. Michelle

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB October Prize-winners No.63: John Harrison £11.40 No.28: Karin Nash £5.70 No.15: Phil Harman £1.90 New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 per month and the draw takes place on the last Friday of each month from September through to July. The more entries we get the greater the prize money and all money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school. For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / treasurer@claydonpreschool.co.uk

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Christmas is nearly on us and the first term has passed by really quickly. All of the new children who joined us in September have settled in really well. The children are getting very excited and have been doing lots of crafts and activities based around Christmas. We have our Christmas Nativity coming up with lots of practising ready to show their talents to parents, carers and family members. They will also have a Christmas party at the end of the term, with a disco and party food to eat. As we are now open throughout each of the school holidays we will have the option to take children up to five years old for additional sessions during these weeks, subject to availability. Please contact the administration assistant for more details. Don’t forget that from September 2017 the government is introducing an additional 15 hours funding for working parents of three and four year olds. This means that parents who both earn the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage (£115.20 per week) or more per week and less that £100,000 per year (or just one carer if a single parent) will be eligible to claim up to 30 hours of funding. You can register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible and also register for the Government Childcare Vouchers Scheme. If you are using the 30 hours you must provide a code to us with the 30-hour code (given once registered) and your National Insurance Number. Once we have checked these details you can book sessions (subject to availability) for the following term. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact Lisa Read: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

SPORT / CHURCH NEWS BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB

GIPPING VALLEY BOWLS CLUB

Greetings guff lovers, rather a thin month news wise this time (please leave the room whoever said “what’s new?”). The Winter League progresses with no weather breaks yet to date, and Nick and Graham have recorded two victories, a notable season already!

It may be the closed season for outdoor bowls, but most of our players are playing indoors and keeping their eye in. We don’t sit around during the winter; our social functions are in full swing with lunch club once a month, a games afternoon once a month and computer club.

The Floodlit League team have played some games and I’m sure that they will get around to emailing me their results any month soon!

Mick, our greenkeeper, and his helpers are busy giving the green a makeover during the winter months, meeting every Wednesday to do maintenance work, although much of the time is spent drinking coffee and eating bacon rolls prepared by Norman. Our annual dinner and presentation evening is due to be held in January, where we all meet for a meal, natter and presentation of trophies.

The tennis club will have held their quiz night by the time your budgie is sitting on this and no doubt the Mastermind quiz scouts will have been impressed enough to offer me a place on the famous TV show... carrying the chair on set . I will wish you all a very Merry Christmas and leave you the best Christmas present ever, a joke of the month. A man rushes into a busy pub and says to another man drinking at the bar: “George! I have just seen a man drive away in your new Jaguar.” George said: “Oh my God, did you get a good look at him so that we can get a description for the police?” The man said: “Sorry it was all too far away, but luckily I took down the registration number!” Let’s hope things pick up in the New Year, Mick Russ

CLAYDON FC Christmas comes early for the Claydon Under 7s as Suez very kindly presented a new kit to the team recently. The club wishes to thank Suez for the new kit and the lads were absolutely delighted to pose in them in the Claydon Pavilion. The season is well and truly underway and all teams are now entrenched in Saturday morning football across the county. Supporters are always welcome at ‘The Circle’ where we have fresh bacon rolls, hot drinks and other culinary delights designed to warm the soul while watching our teams on the pitch. Of course, this also applies to Saturday afternoons where the seniors play on the award winning pitch and at the time of writing the First team are top of Division 1 and the Reserves second in Division Intermediate B. We are running our annual Christmas Draw to raise money for such things as new floodlights and other ground improvements – tickets will be available from the players and I would be grateful if you have a go with a chance of winning a range of prizes including an Xbox One, a Fire Tablet, hampers and other goodies.

We are always looking for new members and will be starting a vigorous recruitment campaign in the New Year to get local people to come along and try their hand at bowling – watch this space for information. However, if you need to contact us in the meantime please call Rita on 01473 830845.

BACK ON TRACK The top 20 must have toys for Christmas this year doesn’t appear to include a train set. I don’t remember it, but I am told when I was four years old I asked for a train set. Forty years on I still have the original locomotive and some of the original contents of that set. Over the years I collected more locos, rolling stock and accessories. In my youth I would take the engines apart to try and see why they weren’t working properly and in the process making them worse. These past few weeks, my son and I have been looking at trying to restore the locos in order to get them back on track. Videos on YouTube have proved helpful and gradually the non-running locos are running again. As we approach Christmas we see God at work to restore the broken fellowship that existed at the beginning with Adam and Eve. When I first got them, the locos were in perfect condition, as was God’s creation. Now damaged because of what I had done I needed someone else to restore them because I couldn’t. In the same way God’s creation was damaged because of Adam’s disobedience and we need someone else to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. The birth of Jesus was the next part of God’s unfolding plan to make it possible for us to have fellowship with Him again. We celebrate not only Jesus’ first coming, but look forward to His second coming having died, been buried and risen again in order to get us back on track. Carols by Candlelight: Sunday, December 17 at 4pm, followed by mince pies WEEKLY EVENTS Monday fortnightly: Little Owls Toddler Group, 10am-noon Tuesday: Weekly Prayer Meeting, 7.30-8.30pm Wednesday: Coffee Morning, 10am-noon. All welcome. Thursday: Home Group, 10-11.45am Friday: Children’s Club (primary school age), 6.30-7.30pm Sunday Morning Service: 10.45am-noon For more information contact Michael: admin@blakenhambaptist.org.uk 01473 839785 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

Our Under 16 Tigers are doing well in Division 1 of the Suffolk Youth League and looking excellent in a new kit sponsored by Compass.

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CHURCH NEWS ST MARY THE VIRGIN BRAMFORD, ST MARY NETTLESTEAD, ST MARY THE VIRGIN LITTLE BLAKENHAM, ST PETER BAYLHAM Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Jenny Seggar 01473 748914 / revjseggar@outlook.com www.stmarybramford.co.uk Quiet Reflective Communion Service: Wednesday, 9.30am December 2 10am-4pm

A Crib and Angels Festival, Bramford

traditional services with the carols you will know and that wonderful familiar story told in the peace of our ancient candle lit churches. We welcome one and all into this oasis of calm for a little Christmas R and R, and perhaps some mulled wine! So, as you prepare, I wish you peace and love this Christmas, and hope to see you at one of our wonderful services. Blessings, Jenny

December 3: Advent Sunday 10am Parish Communion, Bramford 11.30am-4pm Wreaths, Cribs and Angels, Bramford December 7 3pm

United Service at Cherryfields

December 10: Advent 2 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am Parish Communion, Nettlestead 5pm Five o’clock Service, Bramford December 17: Advent 3 10am Parish Communion, Bramford 3pm Carol Service & Mulled Wine, Nettlestead 6pm Carol Service & Mulled Wine, Baylham December 19 2.30pm

The Gathering Afternoon Tea, Church Room

December 22 7pm

Carol Service & Mulled Wine, Bramford

December 23 6pm

Carol Service, Lt Blakenham

The Tabitha Project is still taking referrals for anyone you know who will be alone over Christmas and would appreciate a small gift from the children of the village. Please let us know your name and telephone number, and the details of the person you wish to help, and we will be in contact with you and with them to arrange for a present to be delivered. The Tabitha Project has been set up by the children of the Five o’clock Service because they want to help build our community across the generations. We are not a charity; we are simply here to help. If you wish to refer someone to us please contact: 07849 734233 / thetabithaproject2017@gmail.com PARISH REGISTERS Baptisms October 15: Bonnie Georgia Vincent May she grow in grace and the knowledge of God.

December 24: Advent 4 / Christmas Eve 3pm Crib Service, Bramford 5.30pm Crib Service, Baylham 11.30pm First Communion of Christmas, Bramford

Funerals October 17: William T Moffat October 18: John T Wilding We extend to their families our sympathy and prayers.

December 25: Christmas Day 10am United Christmas Communion, Bramford Methodist Church 10am Christmas Morning Service, Nettlestead

Cleaning Rota: H and P Hart

December 31: Christmas 1 10am Joint Parish Communion with the Methodist Church, Bramford

December 4: To remember the wedding of Carol and Jim Thacker

Please check porch notices for any changes. Dear Friends Christmas is nearly here and preparation for the celebration is well underway in our churches and at home. I have been thinking a lot about how to keep things in balance this year. As a busy parish priest with family responsibilities, juggling the Christmas season can feel a little impossible. Obviously my first priority is to church, or is my first priority the family celebration? If I am not careful I end up whirling round like a rather determined Christmas elf and get nowhere! Having talked to many of you over the years, I think that we all tend to get Christmas out of balance – some of you will spend more than you can easily afford on presents and on posting those Christmas cards (which gets more unmanageable every year!). Some have mountains of food left at the end of the holiday, some dash round seeing relatives. Let us help you take a little time out to remind you of why we celebrate Christmas as we do and re-tell the story. This year we are focusing on the angels – the messengers who were so important in telling the story to the shepherds – and we have some lovely

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Flower Rota: Advent Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church

December: In memory of Bill Barrett If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week. LECTIONARY Bible Readings for our Sunday Worship taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is good to share the reading of scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world. December 3 Isaiah 64: 1-9

Advent Sunday 1 Cor. 1: 3-9

Purple Mark 13: 24-37

December 10 Isaiah 40: 1-11

Advent 2 2 Peter 3: 8-15a

Purple Mark 1: 1-8

December 17 Isaiah 61: 1-4 & 8-end

Advent 3 1 Thess. 5: 16-24

Purple John 1: 6-8 & 19-28

December 24 2 Samuel 7: 1-11 & 16

Advent 4 Purple Romans 16: 25-end Luke 1: 26-38

December 25 Isaiah 9: 2-7

Christmas Day Titus 2: 11-14

December 31 Isa. 61: 10-62.3

1st Sunday of Christmas White Gal. 4: 4-7 Luke 2: 15-21

White or Gold Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20)

Bumper Christmas Local Veg Boxes Enjoy local fresh veg delivered to your door with your Christmas dinner this year! may vary  Potatoes 4kg  Leeks 500g  Cauliflower Contents and are subject to  Parsnips 1.5kg  Mushrooms 200g  Red Cabbage availability.  Carrots 1.5kg  Sprout stalk  Swede  Onions 750g Based in Claydon

Only £20!

Please order by Monday 4th December.

We provide products and services that create opportunities for people with disabilities and/or disadvantages to succeed in work, learning and life.

01473 831224 www.growingplacessuffolk.co.uk 16

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CHURCH NEWS BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH Minister: The Rev Derek Grimshaw 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Steward: Ms R Palmer, 01473 831117 Please feel free to contact either of us with any queries. Baptisms, marriages and funerals by arrangement with the minister, who will also arrange Holy Communion for the housebound. Sunday Morning Worship with Holy Communion: every second Sunday, 10.3011.30am* Lighthouse Club: 10.30-11.30am (term time only) Families @ 4: informal get-together with afternoon tea, 4-6pm (once a month – please check diary). Come and go as you please. This is not a service, but our minister usually joins us. Monday Bible Study: informal look at issues that those present wish to discuss, every third Monday, 2-3pm Tuesday Network/MWiB*: our ladies’ meeting, although gentlemen are always welcome, second and fourth Tuesdays of month, 2-3pm Wednesday Computer Club: 10am-noon (term time only) Prayers and Laying on of Hands for Healing: second Wednesday of month, 7.30-8.30pm Thursday United Service at Cherryfields: first Thursday of month (very informal), 3-3.30pm* Saturday Coffee Morning: at the Methodist Church or at Cherryfields (see diary), third Saturday of month, 10-11am *Tea and coffee served afterwards DIARY Sunday, December 3, 10.30am: Morning Worship with The Rev D Grimshaw and Holy Communion Thursday, December 7, 3pm: United Service at Cherryfields Sunday, December 10, 10.30am: All-Age Carol Service with Mrs L Cope Sunday, December 10, 3.30pm: Families @ 4 at Bramford Road Methodist Church to see Follow the Star, a nativity play which starts inside the church and then moves to the nearby green, as we follow Mary and Joseph to the stable. Please join us. Tuesday, December 12: Network/MWiB with The Stowmarket Strummers – popular music of the 60s Wednesday, December 13, 7.30pm: Prayers and Laying on of Hands for Healing Saturday, December 16, 10am: Coffee Morning at Church

CHRISTMAS SERVICES AND EVENTS IN THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES Serving the parishes of Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham December 1-3, 10am-4pm: Crib Festival, Gt Blakenham Church Church open, refreshments served in the Parish Room Saturday, December 2, 7.30pm: Christmas Cabaret, Barham Church Sunday, December 3: Advent Sunday 10am-3pm: Gt Blakenham Church open, refreshments served 4pm: Advent Carol Service, Gt Blakenham Church Saturday, December 9 10am-noon: Christmas Fayre, Gt Blakenham Parish Room 7pm: Christmas Quiz, Gt Blakenham Parish Room Tuesday, December 12, 7pm: Carol Service at St Peter’s Church, Claydon (please walk if possible) Wednesday, December 13, 4.15pm: Pre-school Nativity, Barham Church Saturday, December 16 10am-1pm: Vestry Café, Henley Church 7pm: Advent Prayer Evening, Gt Blakenham Church Sunday, December 17 3pm: Carol Service, Barham Church 5pm: Carol Service, Gt Blakenham Church 7pm: Carol Service, Henley Church Sunday, December 24: Christmas Eve No 8am, 10am or 11am morning services 3pm: Service of Light, Barham Church 4pm: Christingle Service, Gt Blakenham Church 5pm: Crib Service, Henley Church 11.30pm: Midnight Mass, Barham Church 11.30pm: Midnight Mass, Gt Blakenham Church Monday, December 25: Christmas Day 10am: Christmas Day Service, Henley Church No services at Gt Blakenham or Barham Sunday, December 31: New Year’s Eve 10am: New Year’s Eve Celebrations, Henley Church An informal all age service to unwind after Christmas! Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Claydon Group of Churches For more services visit www.claydonchurches.com or contact The Rev Carl Melville: 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmail.com

Sunday, December 17, 10.30am: Morning Worship with Mrs A Ellis Monday, December 18, 2pm: Bible Study Wednesday, December 20, 7.30pm: Carols by Candlelight with The Rev D Grimshaw Saturday, December 23, 10.30am: Carol Singing outside the Co-op in aid of Action for Children Sunday, December 24, 10.30am: Morning Worship with Mr M Stock Monday, December 25, Christmas Day, 10am: Mr C Westren (a short service lasting 30/45 minutes) Sunday, December 31, 10am: Morning Worship at St Mary’s

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

CHURCH NEWS THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES The Church of England in Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham We offer you a warm welcome to all our events and services.

For enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals contact Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Carl Melville 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmail.com

Hall Bookings Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Paul Corbett, 830201 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463

Services in December Barham Church – every Sunday at 10am Henley Church – every Sunday at 10am Gt Blakenham Church – every Sunday at 11am

Weddings November 3: Kate Ockleton and Thomas Lehkyj

Please see below for service time changes and additional services during Advent and Christmas.

Light Party: What a wonderful Light Party we had on All Hallows’ Eve. Everyone had a great time playing games, singing songs and making crafts with lights in them. Thank you to all who helped organise this event, and to all who were involved on the evening. God is our Light, and we welcomed him and you to our party.

Sunday, December 3 – Advent Sunday 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 11am family@blakenham 4pm Advent Carol Service

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, December 10 – Advent 2 No morning services today, all welcome at: 10am Confirmation Service St John the Baptist, Needham Market 4pm Advent Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Church

Baptisms November 5: Ella Mai Durrant

Sunday’s Cool: Meets on the second and third Sunday of every month in Great Blakenham Parish Room from 10.30am (December 10 & 17 / January 14 & 21). Under-fives should be accompanied by an adult. Older children can be left unattended. Stories, games, songs, loads of fun! It’s free – no need to book! Contact Irene for more info: 01449 676567 Crib Festival: This year we are holding a Crib Festival at Gt Blakenham Church from December 1-3, 10am-3pm daily. There will be displays of different crib scenes from various village groups. Refreshments served in the Parish Room on Saturday and Sunday. Services on Sunday 3 will be at 11am and 4pm.

Tuesday, December 12 7pm Carol Service

St Peter’s, Claydon

Saturday, December 16 7pm Advent Prayer Evening

Christmas Bazaar: Gt Blakenham Christmas Fayre is on December 9 from 10am-noon. Refreshments available.

Gt Blakenham Church

Sunday, December 17 – Advent 3 8am Holy Communion 10am family@barham 10am Holy Communion 11am Holy Communion 3pm Carol Service 5pm Carol Service 7pm Carol Service

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church Henley Church

Holy Conversations: Group meeting once a month for those new to church who want to explore spirituality and faith further. The next meeting is on Tuesday, December 5 at The Rectory, Back Lane, Claydon from 7pm. All welcome.

Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve No morning services 3pm Service of Light 4pm Christingle Service 5pm Crib Service 11.30pm Midnight Mass 11.30pm Midnight Mass

Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church Henley Church Barham Church Gt Blakenham Church

Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day 10am Christmas Day Service Henley Church Sunday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve 10am New Year’s Eve Celebrations Henley Church Christmas Services: Please see the separate notice about Advent and Christmas Services (p21), including Carol Services and Children’s Services. Information about our Christmas Services are publicised at our three churches and can also be found at: www.claydonchurches.com A peaceful and joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Claydon Group of Churches.

Letter from the Vicar Advent is the run up to Christmas and for Christians it means preparing ourselves for a massive celebration. At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of the Baby Jesus in the manger, cared for by Mary and Joseph. The twist to the celebration is that Jesus is God’s own son. In other words, God stepped down to earth, to be one with us and one of us. In Jesus we see God as flesh and bone. That is worth celebrating! Why? Because we love doing things our own way, we just can’t help it. Doing things our own way tends to get us into trouble, just look at the mess our world is in! Jesus came so that we might do things his way. Christmas is a reminder that God is with us and that his coming to earth in Jesus was the greatest sign that he loves us and wants us to live life to the full. God is with us, he wants to save us and he loves us so much. That alone is worth celebrating. Whatever you’re doing for Advent and Christmas, make sure you are celebrating with all you have! Why not celebrate with us? The Revd Carl Melville carlmelville@hotmail.com www.claydonchurches.com /The Claydon Group of Churches

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