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with Broke Hall, Ipswich East, Ravenswood & Warren Heath Volume 8 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2018
Snowy Day in the Park by Nathan Bates
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I simply can’t avoid writing about words and language this month as unusual words and phrases seem to be coming at me from all directions. I have just spent a week in Ireland where ‘press’ meaning ‘cupboard’ and ‘yoke’ meaning just about everything else, including people (as in “yer man with the féasóg is a right yoke”) are common parlance, but I’ve also just finished a book by Mike Smith from The Waterboys in which he writes about many of the Irish musicians and writers he has worked with. One is a poet from Co Galway called Tomas McKeown who had a habit of running his hand over his bald head and saying “once there used to be waves, now it’s all shore”. How lovely is that? On my desk I have a word calendar which I received from one of my lovely colleagues. It introduces a new word every day. Today it’s ‘palisade’, but my favourites so far have been ‘algid’ meaning cold and ‘wiseacre’ meaning one who pretends to knowledge or cleverness, otherwise known as a smart aleck. I think we all know a wiseacre or two! And just last night a wonderful clip about strange words the Irish use popped up on Facebook. ‘Haymes’ is one we all use to describe getting something wrong, as in ‘he made a haymes of it’, particularly used at hurling matches! Another I might use more frequently is ‘banjaxed’ meaning broken or in a bad way, as you might be after a ‘night on the lash’. ‘Me feiner’ literally translates as ‘me myself’. To be called a ‘me feiner’ is the ultimate insult, meaning you have no thought for anyone but yourself, commonly used to describe politicians in Ireland. I’ll leave you with a wonderful phrase I spotted on a poster at Dublin Airport: Dance as if no one’s watching, sing as if no one’s listening, and live everyday as if it were your last.
In Touch
with Broke Hall, Ipswich East, Ravenswood & Warren Heath
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins We also publish In Touch with... Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk • NEW Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, 01473 400380 Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Send editorial copy to: Wetherden & Woolpit ipswicheast@intouchnews.co.uk •B ramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations •C apel St Mary and photographs for publication. The publishers •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton reserve the right to amend such submissions and •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone cannot accept responsibility for any loss. & Washbrook ADVERTISING •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk & Stratford St Mary 01473 400380 •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew DISTRIBUTION •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley Tree Martin •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk •N eedham Market & The Creetings 01473 400380 •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, PRINTING Stutton & Woolverstone Colourplan Print •B urstall & Sproughton Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk •S towmarket & Stowupland 01473 400379 • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Disclaimer: Westerfield & Witnesham The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors •M elton & Woodbridge 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 Broke Hall, Ipswich East, Ravenswood & Warren Heath is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
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MARCH DEADLINE
10 FEBRUARY 2018 is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy
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NEWS FUNDING BOOST FOR ACTIVLIVES PEOPLE’S COMMUNITY GARDEN ActivLives is celebrating after receiving £20,000 to fund a project, Bee Amazed, to enable people of all abilities to get involved in helping bees thrive, as well as taking an active part in conserving the local environment, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The project launches with a beekeeping course and a fact-finding visit to a Bee Discovery Centre. The funding boost from Postcode Local Trust will enable ActivLives People’s Community Garden to provide opportunities for a diverse range of groups, including local families, young people, older people, and people with disabilities, to develop skills and build confidence to volunteer. From April, there will be weekly hands-on learning sessions every Monday afternoon from 1.30-3.30pm at our community apiary, where there will be a chance to learn by assisting our experienced team in handling the bees and carrying out essential tasks. Organisations who support people with needs will have the chance to book a bespoke visit, while schools are encouraged to bring classes to learn hands-on. As part of the project, we are encouraging new volunteers to help us develop an outdoor classroom and wildflower meadow, as well as a ‘Bee Amazed’ learning hive for humans, with information on the life-cycle of bees. ActivGardens Development Manager Susannah Robirosa said: “We would like to thank players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for helping us to help bees – vital for a healthy environment and the maintenance of our own food chain – as well as provide opportunities for local people to get involved. Please come and visit us and join in!” Postcode Local Trust exists to fund community groups and charitable organisations through a variety of grant giving programmes. To do so, the trust relies solely on funding from the proceeds of tickets sales from People’s Postcode Lottery. When you sign up to play People’s Postcode Lottery, your postcode is your ticket. It costs £10 for 10 draws paid monthly in advance with prizes every day. A minimum of 27.5% goes directly to charities across Great Britain and internationally. To book your place on the bee-keeping course (see below) or to join us on our educational visit to BuzzWorks Bee Discovery Centre, Hitchin, Hertfordshire on Thursday, February 22, please call ActivLives on 01473 345350, or contact Project Co-ordinator Danny Thorrington: 07532 794173 / danny@activlives.org.uk There are also opportunities for you to sponsor a hive or donate to our Bee Amazed project. For more information visit www.activlives.org.uk or contact Development Manager Susannah Robirosa: 01473 345350 / 07530 407302 / susannah@activlives.org.uk BEEKEEPING: INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION An introductory course led by Betsy Reid of Ipswich and East Suffolk Beekeepers’ Association, on Mondays, January 22 and 29 and February 5, 19 and 26, 1.30-3.30pm, at the People’s Community Garden and CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE. The course will cover: • The relevance and importance of bee-keeping • How a bee colony lives and works • Different kinds of hive and how they work • The beekeeping year • Queens and drones • Swarming • Pests and diseases Call ActivLives on 01473 345350 to book your place. Suggested donation £5 per session; free to regular volunteers and unwaged.
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NEWS SPORTING MEMORIES GROUPS – JOIN THE SQUAD AT SUFFOLK LIBRARIES IN 2018 Suffolk Libraries are teaming up with the Sporting Memories Network in the New Year to host Sporting Memories Groups in some of the county’s libraries.
Suffolk Libraries are also asking for helpers and volunteers to support these groups which are launching in February 2018. There will also be a special induction day providing full training for Sporting Memories helpers and volunteers on January 23 from 10am to 2pm at Quay Place (St Mary on the Quay) in Key Street, Ipswich. Richard Hunt, Sporting Memories Suffolk Project Manager, said: “Sport is a powerful medium for many people, providing memories of great games, sporting legends and marvellous victories, but also the friendships made and the sense of community that playing or watching sports brings. Talking about sporting events and cultures of the time helps to give people their identity back and reconnect them to the people and generations around them. We think that libraries are the perfect place to bring people together to form new groups in Suffolk and we hope people will come forward to find out more. We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to help run the new groups.”
Sporting Memories Groups are for anyone over the age of 50 and are a great way of bringing people together, creating new friendships and enjoying a chance to revisit memories and share stories prompted by superb sporting images and memorabilia from local and national collections. Open to all, the sessions include games, quizzes and a fun activity, and welcome people living with dementia, depression and loneliness by bringing people together to talk about their memories of sport. The new Suffolk Libraries Sporting Memories groups are due to launch on Tuesday, February 6, at Ipswich County Library where local Suffolk sporting ambassadors will be invited to share some stories from their sporting past. As well as sharing memories, anyone can bring along their memorabilia or photographs as these are a great way of triggering people’s memories and starting conversations. 2018 marks 40 years since Ipswich Town won the FA cup so many people will have fond memories of the cup run from 1978. However, the project is not just about football and whether its speedway, local club cricket or visits to the Olympics or Paralympics, everyone is encouraged to share their sporting memory whether it’s taking part in sport when they were younger or witnessing an exciting sporting event. Anyone is welcome to come along to a session to find out more, whether it’s for themselves or a relative or friend. Suffolk Libraries is launching groups at Ipswich County Library, Stowmarket Library, Lowestoft Library, Hadleigh Library, Sudbury Library and Newmarket Library.
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James Powell, Marketing and Communications Manager at Suffolk Libraries, added: “Suffolk Libraries are delighted to be working with Sporting Memories in 2018. Sport has touched all of our lives at some time, either at school, as an activity or in our leisure time. Using the Sporting Memories collections and resources are an excellent way to reconnect with those experiences, bring friends together and have fun.” Anyone interesting in helping to facilitate or support the new groups can find out more by contacting Richard Hunt, Suffolk Project Coordinator for the Sporting Memories Network: 07704 977322 / richard.hunt@sportingmemoriesnetwork.com Sporting Memories Groups will run weekly at the following libraries: • Ipswich Central Library – every Tuesday from February 6 (2-3.45pm) • Stowmarket Library – every Wednesday from February 7 (10.30am-12.15pm) • Hadleigh Library – every Friday from February 9 (2-3.45pm) For more information about the new groups visit: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/sportingmemories Sporting Memories is a national project rolling out in Suffolk, supported by Sport England and Suffolk’s Most Active County project, bringing together anyone over the age of 50 to talk about sport and their recollections of great sporting occasions using collections of photo’s, film and memorabilia to engage people in conversation, and positive reminiscence, also with an opportunity for some gentle activity. For more information visit: www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT COMMUNITY MARKET CELEBRATES SPRING Get a vitamin boost at the first community market of the year at the CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE, on Friday, March 16, 10am to 12.30pm. Fresh produce, plot-ready seedlings and bedding plants to brighten up your garden or windowsill will be part of the offering. Our café will be serving up delicious allotment soup, homemade cakes and tea and coffee – so come and relax with a cuppa and get to know your neighbours. ActivSheds will be in full swing – find out more about this great woodworking and construction project, where our volunteers are busy making bird boxes for nesting time. For the green-fingered, there will be seedlings to get you started this season, including lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage, everlasting onion, rocket and herb sets. Fresh produce will include sprouting broccoli, chard, rocket leaves, kale, sprout flowers, fresh herbs and Jerusalem artichokes. Maidenhall Residents’ Association will be offering bric-a-brac, handmade cards and household items, while other organisations will be joining in with items for sale and local information. There is parking on site and in surrounding roads. The CRESS Pavilion is fully accessible with an accessible toilet. Future 2018 CRESS markets will be held on Fridays, April 13, May 11, June 15, August 10, September 14 and October 5. The July market is replaced by the Big Garden Party on Saturday, July 21. There will be no market in November as we prepare for our Christmas market on Friday, December 7.
IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET February at Country Market means new Seville orange marmalade. Our cooks also have many other unusual varieties of marmalade, jams and pickles to tempt you with that are not available in the shops and all have been made locally in their own homes with no added artificial ingredients. Did you know that cakes can be ordered and made for any occasion? How about Valentine’s Day? To order you can visit us during opening hours or you can telephone Janet Pearse, our market manager, on 01473 725263. Or perhaps you could buy a red tasty jam as a treat for your loved one? Why not try a different jam for Pancake Day, maybe some of our local honey would make a tempting topping too? If you would like to join us as a member of our cooperative we would love to hear from you. Maybe you have dug your vegetable plot but don’t know what you will do with your surplus crop? Have you started a new craft or hobby and need an outlet for it? Do you enjoy cooking and would like to get together with like-minded people and find an appreciative audience for your bakes? Why not call Janet or come along and just chat to the producers? You can find more information about the market on our Facebook page (Ipswich Country Market) or at: www.ipswichcountrymarket.co.uk We are open on Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.30am at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane IP4 3PB. There is plenty of free parking, a warm welcome and home baked refreshments too. The first Thursday of the month is always bacon rolls and on the other Thursdays we offer scones or cakes so that you can ‘try before you buy’. We offer a free tea or coffee on your first visit so come and see what we can tempt you with.
ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING Think you might enjoy it? Then come along to St John’s URC Hall, Cowper Street, Ipswich on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8pm. For more information contact Helen (01473 717979 / howefamily96@yahoo. co.uk) or John (01473 710406 / angelajohnadams@btinternet.com).
SIDEGATE LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE
MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY
Two ways to dance in a week:
Monday, February 12: Ipswich War Memorial Project by Andrew Beal
• Tuesday Tea Dances with Teresa from 2-4pm
The project to record and identify over 2,000 people on Ipswich War Memorial who died during the First and Second World Wars and up to 2007, was started in 2014. The aim was to create a database for families to discover more about their ancestors who made the ultimate sacrifice. The talk features unseen family pictures and stories; please do bring any relevant images that you may have.
• Wednesday evening classes from 7-8pm, ideal for keeping your waltzing skills and other dances alive. Improver ballroom and Latin dance classes continue from 8-10pm. Easy parking. For more details contact: 01473 422427 / 01473 723070 www.sidegatelanecommunitycentre.org.uk/ballroom
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All meetings are held in Martlesham Heath Pavilion at 7.30pm. Admission is £2.50 and meetings are open to all.
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OUT & ABOUT COMPANY OF FOUR PRESENT CINDERELLA While you may think panto season is well and truly over, the Company of Four Musical Theatre Society are busy rehearsing and putting the final touches to their traditional family pantomime which is taking place at The Riverside Theatre in Woodbridge during February half term from Friday 9 to Saturday 17. With a 13 show run there is still time to grab those tickets – but don’t leave it too late as their panto always sells out, especially the matinees! This year the well renowned company present their latest version of a beautiful and classic fairy story. It’s the tale of Cinderella who works in the house of her overbearing stepmother and her larger-than-life twin stepsisters. With the help of her dear friend Buttons, she gets through each day in the town of Lower Uppingham, dreaming of a much better life. One day, Prince Charming comes to town accompanied by his friend Dandini and a couple of his entourage called Bitz and Bobz and, by a strange quirk of fate, they meet and instantly fall in love. But as with panto tradition the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly – the Prince forgets to ask for her name, Cinderella’s ticket to the ball suffers a misadventure and, despite the instructions of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella loses track of time when she gets there. Will everything turn out alright in the end? You’ll have to come along and find out.
Thank you to everyone who gave so generously to our Christmas carolling collections. The grand total raised was £2,086.55 which will be divided between our three chosen charities - FIND (Families in Need), Ipswich Holiday Help for Children and SERV Suffolk & Cambridgeshire. On Saturday, February 24 at 7pm the main band will be performing in a concert at Waldringfield Baptist Church, Newbourne Road Waldringfield. Admission is free, but there will be a retiring collection for FIND (Families in Need). On Saturday, March 3 please join our preliminary and beginners bands for Tea & Tunes at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath between 10am and noon. Admission to this event is free and refreshments will be available. There will also be a cake stall and a raffle. We would love to hear from new players, young and old, with or without experience. Our aim is to encourage anyone who feels they would like to play in a brass band to come and have a go! If you would like to join us, or if you already play or have previously played a brass instrument and would like to come along and meet us, please contact us via the website or use the contact details below. Publicity Officer Liz Howard: e_m_howard@talk21.com / 01473 625617 www.martleshambrass.co.uk
Cinderella opens on Friday, February 9 and runs through every day (apart from Monday 12) to February 17. Performance times are 7.30pm for the evening and 2.30pm matinees on Saturday, February 10 and Sunday 11, Wednesday 14, Friday 16 and Saturday 17. Tickets – adults £15, concession £13, child £10, family ticket (two adults and two children) £45 – are available by calling the Box Office: 01394 382174 Cinderella has something for everyone – music, laughter, fun and happiness – a fabulous treat for this half term.
BROKE HALL WI We would be pleased to meet any new ladies who would like to come and see what we do and maybe join in. We meet at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) on the second Friday of the month at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road IP3 8TH. FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Friday, February 9: Thomas Cavendish – A Suffolk Buccaneer by Cathy Shelbourne Friday, March 9: Trek for Life (Everest Base Camp) by Tina Oldfield Friday, April 13: Fused Glass Demo by Alison Mayston For more information contact Sue (414746) or Cynthia (726068).
GUIDED WALKS WITH AFTERNOON TEA The series of Afternoon Tea Guided Walks arranged by Ipswich Tourist Guides continues throughout February. The walks, each with a special theme, explore a different aspect of Ipswich’s history and heritage and finish in one of the town’s independent tea rooms for a welcome cuppa and a piece of cake. The walks in February include: Wednesday 7: Happy Birthday Mr Dickens – exploring Ipswich’s connections with Charles Dickens Friday 16: Wolsey’s Angels – hear about Ipswich’s most famous son, Thomas Wolsey, his rise to power and fall from grace Thursday 22: William Leggett’s Legacy – explore the sites of bygone Ipswich painted by the acclaimed Ipswich-born artist Tickets cost £8 per person, which includes the refreshments, and may be purchased from Ipswich Tourist Information Centre (call 01473 258070 for more information or pick up a free leaflet) or at: www. ipswichregent.com
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OUT & ABOUT INTRODUCING SUFFOLK CRAFTED People want more space for all sorts of reasons. Moving house is one option, but it can cost £15,000 to do it, on top of the extra £30-40,000 you would pay for the extra space. Building an extension is another option, but by far the cheapest option is to have a garden room built. There are other advantages to having a space separate from the main house: it’s quieter, so you can concentrate or relax properly; it’s soundproofed from the main house if you (or your children) want to make noise; there is much less disruption while it’s being built; it makes an attractive feature to enhance your garden. I built one in my own garden several years ago and it has served many functions. At various times it has been an office, reading room, a place to sit with friends and have a drink and occasionally a guest room. On top of all that it’s a nice feature of the garden set in the trees. The key to it all has been that it was solidly built from the start, with four inch thick cavity wall insulation, a solid roof, double glazing and heating, so it can be used all year round. Suffolk Crafted is a new venture for me, but it is also the culmination of everything which has led up to this point in my life. I have always loved designing and making things in wood. I was brought up on a farm and so was taught to work with my hands from an early age by my father (he’s still going strong at 92). The garden room I built for my family was the inspiration for this venture, as well as others I have worked on since. Every Suffolk Crafted build is unique; I work with each customer to create plans for exactly what they need: traditional cottage style, contemporary or arched pod. I am even planning to make shepherd’s huts later this year. I am very enthusiastic and confident about what I make. I am also a perfectionist in everything I do, which means I tend to over-build so it will last, rather than cut corners to save money. It won’t make me a millionaire, but I will leave my customers with the keys to a properly craftsman-built garden room which will last as long as their house. All Suffolk Crafted garden rooms are built on site rather than prefabricated in a factory. This makes for a solid construction and cuts down on the need for expensive factory space and lorries. I don’t want Suffolk Crafted to grow large; it’s more important to me to have hands-on control of every project. Because of this I can keep my prices at least 20% cheaper than even the prefab manufacturers. Suffolk people buy locally, they appreciate honest, quality products and they appreciate value for money. That we can deliver! Chris Lupton
IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, February 28: Lost Railways of Suffolk, an illustrated talk by Nathan Dodd We meet at 7pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. Entrance via the rear car park. Visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments. Details from Martyn (01473 422145) or Peter (01394 420490). www.idhts.co.uk
ORWELL PROBUS CLUB We meet on the second Thursday of each month for lunch and usually a speaker entertains us afterwards. In January we will meet at Greshams on Tuddenham Road (opposite the Millennium Cemetery). What is Probus? Probus clubs provide an opportunity for active retired or semi-retired gentlemen to attend regular meetings and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded people who appreciate similar interests. We have social events, outings and holidays which, of course, include spouses, partners and friends. If you think Orwell Probus Club could be for you, please contact our secretary, Graham Balfe, for further details: 01473 729012 / grahambalfe@tiscali.co.uk
ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY A Happy New Year to all! Our first lecture of 2018 will be on Wednesday, February 7, when Barry Venning presents a talk entitled Giles: His Life, Times and Cartoons. On Wednesday, March 7, Louise Schofield will present a talk entitled Rescuing Zeugma from the Floodwaters of the Euphrates. Here we see Acheloos, a detail of Roman Mosaic from Zeugma. Why not join us and enjoy good company and interesting talks? We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months. Talks last about an hour, commencing at 2.15pm, with tea and coffee served from 1.30-2pm. Guests and non-members are welcome provided we have enough space. Exceptionally popular lectures will have a visitor limit of 20 spaces. Please contact Wendy Robbins in advance on 01394 823807 to check if there is available space. For the latest events and news please visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk
IPSWICH AND DISTRICT SUPPORT GROUP, DIABETES UK Our next meeting is on Thursday, February 8 at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH from 7-9pm. Our guest speaker will be Norma Howell from the charity Medical Detection Dogs. This is a social gathering for people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to have the opportunity to talk to those in a similar situation and receive support. Family and friends are most welcome to join us too. Refreshments will be available free of charge. No admission charge or joining fee. For further information please contact: dsgipswichduk@gmail.com / 07547 513730 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri) www.ipswich.diabetesukgroup.org
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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH BRANCH, SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Thursday, February 22 at 7.15pm: Insanity & Family History, a special talk by nationally known genealogist, historian and author Kathy Chater Often surrounded with shame, guilt and secrecy, this subject of insanity was – and maybe still is – a taboo subject for some families. The talk covers how insanity and mental illness were regarded in the past and how sufferers from insanity were treated, both by the medical establishment and by society in general. This will give family historians clues about possible sufferers from mental illness in their ancestry, the records there are still around and where to look for them. We meet at the Co-op Education Centre where the pedestrian entrance is at 11 Fore Street, Ipswich IP4 1JW, and the car park entrance is in Waterworks Street IP4 1JG.Admission is £2 for society members and £2.50 for non-members, who are warmly welcomed. You can join the society at the meeting if you wish. Tickets are not required, just turn up and pay on the door. For more information contact Howard on 01473 274300 or visit: www.suffolkfhs.org.uk
IPSWICH AND DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB BORING! The Representation of the People Act 1918 doesn’t sound like anything to get excited about, but it is. At our February meeting we shall be celebrating the granting of the vote to at least certain categories of women. We shall obviously remember among other local women the Suffolk sisters, Millicent Fawcett, the leader of the Suffragists, and Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, both of whom were heavily involved in the long battle for the vote, as were their friends and families. Elizabeth also served as Mayor of Aldeburgh, the first woman in the country to hold that position, so we are particularly pleased that our speaker for the evening will be the current Mayor of Ipswich, Sarah Barber. During this centenary year, we might take ourselves off to Arlingtons Brasserie to celebrate the local women who joined in the fight for the vote. Just an excuse for self-indulgence? Never! Although Soroptimists are known to enjoy good food in good company. We are nearing the end of our club year so in our meeting on March 14 we shall be reviewing a busy 12 months and looking ahead to the future. If you would like to join us at our meeting on February 14 you would be very welcome. Please contact Joyce (01394 615659) or Jackie (01473 659314) for more information and directions.
SPEAK EASY AT MARTLESHAM
HOW IS 2018 GOING FOR YOU?
Speak Easy at Martlesham is your local speakers’ club. Our meetings are good fun and worthwhile. Like the BBC, we aim to inform, educate and entertain.
Did you make a resolution to join U3A or, if already a member, to try a new subject by getting fitter with a walking or gardening group? The weather has been rather changeable so you might have decided on a music or reading group or to play Mah Jong or Scrabble. Whatever you are up to we hope you will be able to attend a monthly talk in one of our campuses and help us celebrate our 30th anniversary later this year. All details plus how to become a member are available at: www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk
Speak Easy is a Toastmasters International club (www.toastmasters.org). TI has over 90 years of experience worldwide of the best ways for us all to develop our public speaking, confidence and leadership potential. There are leadership projects and opportunities, as well as speaking projects, within its educational ’tracks’. The tracks are supported by books and other materials that guide and challenge you. You’ll have the support of your fellow members, helping you to develop your speaking in a safe and encouraging environment. It’s always up to you how far and how fast you progress. Our meetings are structured to include impromptu speaking, formal speaking and evaluation. Evaluation is a vital part of how Toastmasters’ clubs operate. When you evaluate someone else speaking you not only help them develop, you also – through empathy and understanding – improve your own speaking. It’s very cost effective way to learn as well! For further details or queries please call our VP Membership on 07968 372563 or select ‘Contact Us’ from the main menu at: www.speak-easy.org.uk If you just want turn up at any club meeting, that’s fine. We meet every Thursday fortnight at the Richards Room in Martlesham (alongside Felixstowe Road, behind the Tesco superstore). Select ‘Club Calendar’ on the website main menu for meeting dates, information and directions. We look forward to meeting you!
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If you don’t have internet access our secretary can answer any questions you may have: 03001 233913 FORTHCOMING TALKS Thursday, February 8, 2pm at Saxmundham Market Hall: Chocolate by Tony Diamond. Amazing facts, myths and ignorance surrounding chocolate. Sadly no free samples! Monday, February 26, 2pm at Kesgrave Community Centre: The Icklingham Treasure by John Browning. An account of the theft of first century temple bronzes and the speaker’s fight for their return. Thursday, March 1, 10.30am at Felixstowe Salvation Army Hall: The Life and Films of Sophia Loren by Simon Frampton Thursday, March 8, 2pm at Saxmundham Market Hall: Plants with Mettle by Professor Alan Baker Please remember that visitors are welcome at one of our talks before becoming U3A members.
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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS IPSWICH WANDERERS FC
BIXLEY FARM CHURCH: SUNDAY@4
The Doucy in Humber Doucy Lane witnessed a turbulent end to 2017. In two short months the club lost two managers, both leaving suddenly and taking players with them. But the club has bounced back and is now hosting football that might just keep the team playing in the Step 5 Premier Division next season. Ipswich Wanderers are so fortunate that experienced defender Mark Goldfinch, together with James Buckle and Danny Thrower, were keen to take hold of the 1st Team reins. Although we lie second from bottom, the fine victory over top side Felixstowe & Walton shows that there is the footballing talent at Wanderers to take us out of the bottom three.
We hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New Year and are still keeping to your New Year resolutions! Although it’s already February, we wanted to thank everyone who came our Christmas Eve Nativity at Tower Hall. It was packed and events around the birth of Jesus were brought to life by the children, with some unusual local interpretations of the traditional story.
Jack Spurling has been superb in goal, and his understudy Bailey Fairweather has been given the chance to impress too. Young Sam Allen has carried his captain’s role with great aplomb, alongside youngsters Sam Garwood and Liam Crapnell. And who can forget the goal scored by Sam Cheetham at Newmarket Town, where he started a move with a great pass to his right and finished it by slamming the ball into the home side’s net. So we are now poised for a struggle to stay in the Premier Division of the Thurlow Nunn League. Please come and join us and cheer the lads on. You could be the twelfth man! We hope to see you at The Doucy in February. Admission is £7 (£4) on the gate. We have a well-stocked bar, hot food, programmes and 50/50 draw. Our home 1st Team fixtures this month are: Saturday, February 3: H v Haverhill Borough (KO 3pm) League Saturday, February 17: H v Coggeshall Town (KO 3pm) League Saturday, March 3: H v Fakenham Town (KO 3pm) League Please check www.pitchero.com/clubs/ipswichwanderers for details. There will also be fixtures for our under-18s, ladies, academy and youth teams. And Wanderers Bingo has started again; check the website for details (the second Friday of the month, eyes down at 8pm). Keith Lloyd
Towards the end of last year one of our congregation took part in a sponsored climb up Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Together with guides and fellow climbers she spent eight days acclimatising and then climbing the 19,341ft mountain, reaching Uhuru Point at 6.15am. She raised an incredible £4,080 which she was able to hand over at Christmas. The money is for a sustainable, community-focussed, self-help project called Church and Community Mobilisation Process in Kagera, our link Diocese in Tanzania. Church and community work hand in hand, sharing in the struggles and joys of life in a remote and deprived area. Their spirit of generosity and giving, even when they have very little, is striking and we are glad to participate in a small way. As a result of our Who Care’s survey at the end of last year, where we asked people to identify the one thing that hurts them most in life, our regular Sunday services in January looked at some of the issues that people raised, starting with the hurt caused by the breakdown of relationships, especially within families. Other subjects that we focussed on were low self-esteem and loneliness. The reasons for these can be complex, having a confident faith in God can make a difference, but we want to offer practical help as well. In 2018 we will continue with our Sunday@4 service (4-5pm) while also looking at holding other regular events. So watch this space and also our website. Sunday@4 has songs, a reading, a talk and prayer. Holy Communion is celebrated every other Sunday. We finish with refreshments where people can catch up and meet new friends. Everyone is most welcome whether already having a faith or wanting to find out or just want somewhere to be. Bixley Farm Church (CofE) is initiated by St Johns, Cauldwell Hall Road and St Andrews, Britannia Road (collectively called Mission Ipswich East). For further information go to www.mie.org/bixley or email: office@mie.org.uk
After taking a break in the last issue we now find ourselves in the second month of the year. February is often one of the coldest months of the winter season, but it also heralds the coming of spring. It is also the shortest in the year. During those 28 days, almost in the middle is St Valentine’s Day, a time to celebrate love between couples. What does love mean to you? For Christians love should be about giving, giving of your time to those closest to you, making them feel of worth. In a wider sense it is about giving love out to those around you too. This February let’s try to love the unlovable, even if it costs us something. Stay blessed. Join us on Sunday mornings at 11.30am (Café and Children’s Church at 10.30am) at The Ark Church, The Drift, Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9QR. You can contact us via email at arkipswichuk@gmail.com. We can also be found on Facebook and on Twitter @arkipswich or online at: www.arkipswich.co.uk
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