In Touch
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with Kesgrave & Rushmere
Volume 7 • Issue No. 12 • OCTOBER 2017
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Gosh life is a juggling act sometimes. I find myself running from one responsibility to the other at such a ferocious pace these days I wish I didn’t need to sleep and could use those hours to catch up instead. Add something extra to the mix, such as making an Iron Age costume for school, sewing on Beaver badges, ordering a guitar case which has no chance of arriving on time, feeding the neighbour’s chickens while they are away... well I don’t know which way to turn. But I cope, perhaps not to everyone’s satisfaction, least of all my own, and treasure the moments when I can hit the pause button, take a deep breath and just stop. Everything we do to relax has involved some degree of work or stress for someone else, whether it’s watching a movie (consider how many hours of planning and effort go into making a 10 second clip of a movie like Moana) or going to the football (imagine the paperwork required to run an Under 8 football team), but when I snuggle up on the sofa or sit on the side of the pitch with a nice cup of tea I really don’t care. It’s my turn to escape. I’m ashamed to admit I’m equally selfish when it comes to many local events. Of course I want them to happen, but I want to enjoy the experience without any of the responsibility. Thank goodness there are others who are far less selfish than I. Presumably they find other ways to escape, but as you read through this month’s edition consider those who do make things happen, who open village halls, who schedule speakers, who organise fundraising events, who make the calls, send the emails, get the quotes, who cajole and harangue others to help, who take the minutes, boil the kettles, buy the biscuits, put up the posters, complete the funding applications... These are the people who provide moments of escape and fun and togetherness for the rest of us to enjoy. One day soon I will raise my hand and get more involved, but right now I need to make a torque!
Kesgrave In Touch &withRushmere
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Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
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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 Kesgrave & Rushmere is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
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NEWS VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY CAR DRIVERS WANTED Do you enjoy driving? Are you a ‘people person’? If you can say yes to both of these, you could be exactly the person we are looking for! We are looking for volunteer community car drivers in Kesgrave to take local residents from their homes to places such as the doctors’ surgery, hospital, supermarket and to day centres, in return for a payment of 45p per mile. You wouldn’t have to handle any money; this would all be done by the charity which runs this service. There is a simple sign-up process for drivers, some training and safety checks. You would then be given a list of clients and their journey requests and you would choose which journeys you were able to help with. And, you would need to have internet access. Sounds simple? It is! The scheme is run by a local charity called BSEVC and we are looking to extend the scheme properly into Kesgrave with a little support from Kesgrave Council. To make this happen we first of all need a team of local drivers – which could involve you! For more information please come to our information and sign-up event at Kesgrave Market on Saturday, October 21 between 9am and 12.30pm. Once we have our drivers we can advertise the service to enable Kesgrave residents to use it, so please watch this space for more news. If anyone has any queries please contact me: Sue Hall, Public Transport Liaison Officer, Kesgrave Town Council, Ferguson Way, Kesgrave IP5 2FZ / publictransport2@gmail.com
INGENT CONSULTING SPONSOR KESGRAVE KESTRELS FC RESERVES Ingent Consulting Engineers are proud to sponsor Kesgrave Kestrels FC Reserves (Saturday), newly promoted to the Touchline Sports SIL Reserve League C for the 2017/2018 season. The new three year kit sponsorship deal has been formed by Richard Wigzell, Director of Ingent Consulting Engineers, with Carl Chittock, Kesgrave Kestrels Reserves Team Manager and Kesgrave Kestrels FC Club Chairman. Kesgrave Kestrels Reserves have presented a home and away shirt to Ingent Consulting Engineers to display in their office. Here we see Richard Wigzell of Ingent displaying the red and black away kit and Adam Shelcot, Project Engineer for Ingent and of Kesgrave Kestrels Veterans showing the traditional blue and white strip. All at Ingent wish Kesgrave Kestrels every success for the forthcoming season.
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NOVEMBER DEADLINE 10 OCTOBER 2017
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NEWS
AUTUMN FAYRE
SSAFA FUNDRAISING EVENT
Rushmere Community Hub, Humber Doucy Lane Saturday, October 14, 10.30am-2.30pm
SSAFA, the armed forces charity which offers lifelong support for our forces and their families, is holding a fundraising event as part of Operation Big Brew Up on Friday, October 13 from 10am-2pm.
Raffle, tombola, cakes, refreshments, crafts and more. If you would like to book a table at £7 to sell home crafts, etc please phone 01473 720488.
The event takes place at St Andrew’s Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere IP5 1DH. There will be coffee, tea, cakes and tombola.
THE OAK TREE LOW CARBON FARM
BUS NOTES If you haven’t yet tried our new local 68 bus to the hospital and Ipswich, it’s worth noting that it runs exactly on time, so there is no lengthy waiting around at the bus stop. It is certainly proving popular so why not give it a try? By the time you read this, all the buses should be displaying a proper destination.
The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm in Playford Lane, Rushmere St Andrew will be holding its annual guided farm tour on Saturday, September 30 between 10am and noon. The tour is open to all and a donation of £5 per adult is requested. Accompanied children can visit free of charge. Wood-fired tea or coffee and biscuits are included. The farm is home to Suffolk’s first Community Supported Agriculture Scheme, where more than 40 local households get involved in producing their own food, sharing the risks and rewards of farming. Community Supported Agriculture schemes first developed in the USA and Japan, and are now spreading in the UK. The Oak Tree CSA was one of the first schemes in the UK. Visitors will see vegetable beds, rare breed pigs, chickens and cattle, a wood fired clay oven, orchard areas, flower and fruit gardens. Sturdy waterproof footwear and warm clothing is recommended. The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm is a not-for-profit social enterprise which offers naturally grown vegetables, eggs, meat and flowers to its members. The aim of the farm is to supply good, nutritious food in an environmentally sustainable way. For more details about the Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm please visit: www.the-oak-tree.co.uk Car parking spaces are very limited. If you live locally please walk or cycle if possible.
Another benefit for the earlier part of Kesgrave is that the 800 Park and Ride bus can now be used for local journeys to and from Kesgrave Fisheries. The fare is the normal bus fare, unless you are going to either of the car parking sites, in which case it will be higher. Concession passes can be used in the same way. Enjoy your journey! Happy Wanderer
MID-WEEK WALK On Wednesday, October 11, starting at 10.30am, I will be leading a walk from the footpath opposite the Catholic Church and next to the entrance to Bracken Hall, 230 Main Road. If you will be driving to the start point, we have kindly been given permission to use the car park behind the Catholic Church, sign-posted St William Court, off Ropes Drive East. I anticipate walking for approximately two hours and returning to our start point. The route we are taking is a variation of Walk 4 of the Parish Walks (available from the town council office) which from the quarry follows the valley to the Park & Ride terminus. So, anyone feeling at this point they have walked far enough, there are plenty of buses serving the A1214 that will take you back to Ropes Drive. If you have any questions or in the event of bad weather, please call me on 623486. I look forward to meeting you on October 11. Town Council Footpath Representative Michael Rayment
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NEWS KESGRAVE TOWN COUNCIL – SEPTEMBER 2017 Speeding Do you worry about the speed of vehicles in Kesgrave? Rushmere St Andrew and Kesgrave are working together to tackle this. County Councillor Robert Whiting used some of his Locality Budget to enable the purchase of equipment so that Community Speed Watch could be set up. Speed Watch is a scheme which involves members of the community who are given some basic training and agree to go on a rota to help monitor and report speeding motorists. These volunteers give as little or as much time as suits their commitments. Nobody works alone and if you live in Kesgrave but would rather not volunteer where you are known, you can choose to do it in Rushmere St Andrew or vice versa. Currently the response in Rushmere St Andrew has been good and we would like to recruit more from Kesgrave. If you are interested in joining Speed Watch and would like to know more about it, please contact our local joint funded PCSO at: Michael.Sarbutts@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
As usual, the market will run from 9am-12.30pm. Feel free to come in and browse and stay for a cuppa and a bacon roll or homemade cake – all delicious. The market takes place at the Rupert Fison Centre. Outside will be Paul’s Wet Fish van and inside will be the usual array of locally produced bakery, fruit and vegetables, butchery straight from the farm and crafts made and sold by local people.
Lost Property There is an increasing amount of lost property that has been handed in or found by our caretakers either from local play parks or from clubs or functions at the Millennium Jubilee Hall. Due to the volume of belongings being found, the town council can only guarantee to hold these items for one month, as it has little or no storage space. If you think you have lost something, please telephone the council office and be prepared to give a description of the item you have lost. After a month, most items are donated to charity shops or appropriate nonprofit making projects.
Community Transport in Kesgrave The town council has been investigating Community Transport and possible options for introducing a scheme in Kesgrave. In order for such a scheme to progress further, the council (or other community or business in the town) will need to know if this is something that local people would like and feel that they need.
Thank You and ‘Goodbye’ for now The town council said thank you and goodbye for now to Chris Marsh who worked with the council for just over a year as its Service Development Coordinator. Chris decided to retire earlier than envisaged in order to join her husband, who also retired earlier. Chris has very kindly said that she will be pleased to help with some of the town council’s future projects on a volunteer basis, including the exciting ice skating event in November 2017 (further details to follow next month).
What do you think of the market? What about the stalls and the location? The town council is always looking at ways to improve your town’s market. Please let the town council know your thoughts and observations. For example, what would you like to see at the November market with the run-up to the festive season?
Do local residents consider that there is a need for Community Transport in the town? Are there any local residents (individuals, couples, families or community groups) who are unable to use regular public transport? Do disabled or less able local residents feel that they would benefit from using a vehicle fitted with a side step for access and a tail fit for wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties? Are local residents prepared to pay a nominal amount to use this service (to cover the mileage mainly for the volunteer drivers)? Are local residents able to give advance notice and book transport for their transport needs?
Chris has overseen and successfully obtained many external grants through bids for the benefit of local people and Kesgrave. She achieved so much in such a short space of time and she came to the town council with a wealth of experience and expertise in a wide range of areas. She had the confidence and experience to lead with and see projects through from inception to a satisfactory conclusion, including the very popular and successful Skate Board Project (during May and June 2017), Kesgrave Fun Day/Big Lunch (June 2017), and with Joanna Abbott, the town council’s Service Development Administrator, installation of new play equipment at Oak Meadow (June 2017), including a new slide, all-weather football surfaces, a zip wire and outdoor gym equipment/ circuit for all to enjoy. Chris also led the Senior Citizen’s Outing to Felixstowe (August 2017).
What sorts of journey would you be making and to where? For example, do you need help with transport for health appointments, visiting relatives and friends, shopping, connection to onward travel by bus, coach, train and transport to and from day centres and services? Are these trips within Kesgrave, Ipswich and Suffolk or maybe to Essex, Cambridgeshire or Norfolk?
Chris always went the extra mile and was a real asset to the team, the town council and local residents. The town council wishes her a healthy and happy retirement. See you around soon Chris!
Town Clerk Susan Clements
Kesgrave Town Council Market 6th Year Anniversary It hardly seems possible that the town council has been running the market now for six years. For the October market, we will be organising some children’s activities to keep our younger residents entertained while mum, dad, grandma or grandad are browsing, shopping, chatting or enjoying some of the excellent and very reasonably priced refreshments.
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Kesgrave Market meets on the third Saturday of each month. Future dates are on the council website. Cards are available with these dates and the dates of other events in Kesgrave; pick these up at the town council office or library.
If such a scheme was considered viable, are there any community spirited local residents or organisations that would be prepared to assist with some volunteer driving? (Expenses and mileage would be paid) Please let the town council know your comments and observations regarding Community Transport in Kesgrave.
Kesgrave Town Council, Ferguson Way, Kesgrave IP5 2FZ 01473 625179 / townclerk@kesgravetowncouncil.org.uk OPENING HOURS Mondays: 9am-1pm Tuesdays: 9am-1pm Wednesdays: 9am-3pm Thursdays: not open Fridays: 9am-1pm
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OUT & ABOUT KESGRAVE SINGERS CHARITY CONCERT
CHRISTMAS PAMPER & SHOP! Do you enjoy Christmas shopping or fancy a night out with some friends? The centre has the perfect festive evening planned for you. Kesgrave Community Centre is teaming up once again with local resident and fundraiser Fiona Farrell to organise an exclusive shopping experience. You will be able to browse and buy from more than 30 exhibitors, enjoy live music and even treat yourself to a mini-pamper treatment on the night. Tickets will be available soon for this exclusive shopping evening taking place on Friday, November 24 from 7-10pm. Tickets are just £5 and include a welcome drink on arrival. Please visit the website for further information and how to purchase tickets. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Mum2Mum Market: Saturday, October 14, 2-4pm Buy top quality preloved baby and children’s clothes, toys books and equipment. For more information call: 07903 585334 Monthly Networking Launched in September and sponsored by Bates, Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors, these events take place in the conference centre on the second Tuesday of every month from 9.30-11.30am. No membership fees, just turn up and pay £2 on the door (donated to St Elizabeth Hospice). For more information please email: jo@kwmcc.co.uk Giant Table Top Sale: Saturday, October 28, 10.30am-1pm Hosted by The Lions Club of Ipswich. Free entry, sellers book your table in advance for just £5 by calling Maggie on 01473 259899. Coming soon: Quiz nights in aid of Age UK Suffolk on the last Sunday of every month, details TBC. Please register your interest by emailing: jo@kwmcc.co.uk If you would like to book a function room or activity at KWMCC, please contact the centre on 01473 612648 or visit: www.kwmcc.co.uk
GRESSLAND COURT CHRISTMAS FAYRE Gressland Court (Mead Drive, off Ropes Drive, Kesgrave IP5 2HJ) will be holding their Christmas Fayre on Saturday, November 18, 2-5pm. There will be tombola, a raffle, refreshments and lots of other stalls. Come along and join us and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and a slice of cake. We look forward to seeing you on the day.
On Saturday, November 11, Kesgrave Singers and the Ipswich Community Children’s Choir will be holding an autumn concert. All proceeds will be donated to the Royal British Legion. Over the past three years similar concerts have raised money for Suffolk Carers, Talitha Koum, Home-Start, Kim Sale and the Air Ambulance. The concert will be held in the main hall at Kesgrave Community Centre and will begin at 7pm. Tickets are £7.50 for adults and £3 for children under 16 years and are available from Michael Rayment: 01473 623486
SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERTS AT ST ANDREW’S, RUSHMERE The autumn series of Sunday afternoon concerts at St Andrew’s Church begins on October 1 with a recital of organ and piano music by Alan Loader, Director of Music at St Andrew’s. On October 8 the acclaimed harpsichordist Christine Whiffen performs works by Byrd, Phillips, D’Anglebert and Scarlatti, while on October 15 the vocal ensemble Octave makes a welcome return visit to Rushmere with a programme of madrigals, part songs and arrangements spanning five centuries. On October 22 soprano Rebecca Ward and harpist Eleanor Dunsdon give a concert of songs by Britten, Debussy, Ravel and others, and the series ends on October 29 with an eclectic mix of jazz, swing, classical and baroque numbers performed by the saxophone ensemble Stacks of Sax. Each concert starts at 3pm and lasts approximately an hour. Admission is £6 (or £24 for the whole series – a saving of 20%), including delicious homemade refreshments. Under-18s are admitted free of charge. Full details can be found at: www.rushmerestandrews.wordpress.com/concerts www.facebook.com/rushmeremusic
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OUT & ABOUT KESGRAVE LIBRARY Sunday Crafts (10am-noon) The following craft activities will take place during October. Sunday 1: What’s your favourite farm animal? Create a cow mask to hide behind. Sunday 8: Apple bobbing is a fun Halloween game. Make an apple core from a paper plate. Sunday 15: Are you any good at pumpkin carving? Make a pumpkin door hanger to decorate your house for Halloween. Sunday 22: It’s the day of our Halloween Party! Pop along and make a 3D witch or ghost holding a cup of sweets. Sunday 29: How many legs has a spider got? Pop along and make our scary 3D spiders to hang up for Halloween. Activities are free. Parents must stay with under eights. There’s no need to book – just turn up and have a go. BookStart: every Thursday (term time only) Tot Rock: 9.45-10.15am / BabyBounce: 10.30-11am Story Time: every Friday morning (term time only), 9.45-10.15am LIBRARY EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2017 Wednesday, October 4: Knit and Natter, 2.30pm. £1 with tea, coffee and biscuits provided. Welcome to all our new members. Thursday, October 5: Afternoon Book Group, 2.45pm. Currently reading Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan. Thursday, October 12: Evening Book Group, 7pm. Currently reading Humber Boy B by Sue Dugdall. If you are interested in joining either of the book groups, please ring or speak to a member of staff Lego Club: 3.45-4.45pm (term time only). Parents must stay with children under eights. IT Help Sessions: There are spaces available from October onwards if you would like any help with any aspect of IT, e.g. using your iPad, e-reader or need guidance downloading e-books from the library catalogue. Please get in touch or speak to a member of staff if you are interested. Cards for Good Causes – Charity Christmas Cards The festive season gets under way in Kesgrave when the Cards for Good Causes charity Christmas card shop opens in Kesgrave Library on Saturday, October 7. Perfect for those who want to get ahead in their Christmas preparations, while supporting a range of national and local charities, the shop will offer a fantastic range of cards. Sunday, October 22, 10am-noon: Halloween Event This year’s theme is fancy dress. Why not pop along in your favourite Halloween outfit? We will also have Halloween themed crafts, cakes, treasure hunt and lots more. Watch out for posters advertising the event or like Kesgrave Library’s Facebook page! 100 Club: Our community group has launched a 100 Club to help with fundraising and we have nearly 70 people who have signed up. For just £1 per month you could enter and have a chance of winning a cash prize plus knowing you are supporting your local library. Maggie Lusher, Kesgrave Library Manager, Kinsey House, Kays Close, Kesgrave Tel: 01473 626103 www.suffolklibraries.co.uk OPENING TIMES Tuesday: 9am-noon, 2.30-5pm Wednesday: 2.30-6pm Thursday: 2.30-8pm Friday: 9am-noon Saturday: 10am-5pm Sunday: 10am-3pm
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KESGRAVE SOCIAL CLUB The club has some fantastic acts planned for this October and the committee and staff have all been working really hard to make it a great entertainment venue. We have created a new website that details all of our upcoming events along with information about the artists. October 7 sees the return of the fantastic Paul Pryce. Paul sings covers from singers and bands spanning the 50s up to contemporary hits. The award-winning Bob Keeley is back at the club on October 14. Bob always goes down a storm and this is sure to be a great night of country music and maybe even some classic rock ‘n’ roll hits. October 21 sees the awesome Marshall King in The Only Way is Elvis. This show really is the only way you can enjoy the full Elvis experience (ticket only event / £8). October 27 is our Halloween Disco. The awesome Martells are back on October 28. As always, this will be a do not miss show. We also have line dancing, Foxyrock rock ‘n’ roll dancing and salsa dancing at the club throughout the month as well as various darts, quiz nights, charity and snooker events. Ipswich Heartbeat also meets monthly at the club. Visit the website for full details. Members and non-members are always welcome at the club and freshly prepared hot food is available as is a fully stocked bar. You can also watch all the latest sports events as we have Sky TV and BT Sport channels available. We also have free BT Wi-Fi on tap. 01473 622128 / www.kesgravesocialclub.co.uk
GIPPESWYK SINGERS Gippeswyk Singers have been thrilled with the tremendous reception and superb reviews of The Dream of Gerontius at Snape Maltings in May 2017. Conductor Geoff Lavery took everyone who was there that night on an unforgettable journey through Elgar’s masterpiece, which included a wonderfully moving performance from the Lambeth Orchestra, outstanding solo voices and a dramatically beautiful choral sound from the impressive teamwork of Gippeswyk Singers and Beccles Choral Society. The singers are now busy preparing a lovely programme entitled Anthems for Advent with special guests the Nightingale Wind Quintet at Great Bealings Church on Sunday, December 3 at 7.30pm. This concert is designed to open your heart and lift your spirits for the coming Christmas season. Looking ahead to 2018, Gippeswyk will be celebrating Easter with a presentation of Bach’s St John Passion on Good Friday, March 30 at St John’s Church in Felixstowe at 7pm in conjunction with Felixstowe Music, featuring professional soloists and string orchestra. To finish off the year, Gippeswyk Singers are looking forward to the fun and camaraderie of another concert tour, this time to Somerset in the West Country with performances at Christchurch, Frome on Saturday, June 30 and St Michael’s Without, Bath on Sunday, July 1. A pre-tour summer concert will be given locally (venue yet to be advised) on Sunday, June 24. After the success of The Dream of Gerontius at Snape Maltings, a future collaboration with Beccles Choral Society and the Lambeth Orchestra is on the agenda for 2019. If you’ve never heard them, you’re missing out on a highly accomplished and delightfully expressive chamber choir who perform regularly in East Anglia under the musical direction of Geoff Lavery. Profits from their concerts go to support local charities which are chosen by the choir members each year. For more information visit their Facebook page or: www.gippeswyksingers.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET We hope everyone enjoyed our birthday concert on September 30, and congratulations to all our members who received awards that evening. October is a relatively quiet month for the band – a chance to prepare for a busy November and December when we have lots of events coming up. 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
YOUR LOCAL COUNTRY MARKET Please don’t groan when I mention Christmas? Our craftspeople need time to make, but what? We have William’s ultra-touchable wooden bowls and turned pieces, all made from locally grown wood (dibbers that call out to take you dibbing, little cord pulls and original pendants, and more). Helen makes unique beaded jewellery pieces, earrings, necklaces, key rings, little bags and coasters. Carol sews delightful easy-to-wear hair bands, hats, fleecy welly socks and gloves to professional standards: nice things to complement an outfit or keep you warm when the weather changes. We have bags of bags, quilts for babies or laps, cosy crochet work that is all the rage, knitted jumpers and doggy, piggy and monkey toy companions ‘like granny knits’. Sarah’s cards show familiar local country scenes, dogs, cars, butterflies and her hand-painted tiles make memorable gifts. I mustn’t forget to mention prize-winning Enid and the delicious jams, preserves and chutneys she and other talented cooks make. Mmm, what could be a nicer treat after a hearty walk? October means that we’ll have a crafters’ table full of gift ideas to inspire you at our sister community market at Kesgrave Scout Hall on October 21, 9am12.30pm, and then at our regular weekly market at Martlesham Pavilion. There will be Christmas decorations and plenty of unique crafts and baked tasties to inspire you to buy gifts that aren’t on the high street, which are made locally to our scrupulously high standards and are sensibly priced. There’s still time to commission something for that special occasion or for a favourite friend: come and talk to our makers to decide what would be nicest. Macmillan Cancer Support is running the world’s biggest coffee morning on Friday, September 29. Martlesham Heath Country Market is supporting our local event at The Runway Coffee Shop at St Michael and All Angels, Martlesham. Everyone is welcome to enjoy home-baked refreshment with a steaming cuppa in aid of this good cause – and there will be cakes and biscuits for sale too. Remember we’re at Martlesham Pavilion from 9-11.15am every Tuesday morning where you’ll get the warmest of welcomes. Order one-off crafts, delicious special dainties, gluten-free or other diet-compliant tasty treats or staples. I hope we’ll see you soon!
UNFOLDING ENLIGHTENMENT EVENTS Mind, Body and Soul and Quality Crafts Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge IP12 4AU Saturday, October 21, 10am-4pm. Admission £2.50 with 100% of door proceeds being donated to Over The Rainbow Children’s Charity which Unfolding Enlightenment Events are proud to support.
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As we move into October and mark the end of British Summer Time our garden produce is coming to an end, but we always have a wide variety of genuinely home-baked goods and preserves, home-produced craft items, plus home-grown seasonal flowers and plants. Cakes and preserve recipes have often been passed down through the generations, so you won’t find anything like them in your local supermarket. Our products do not contain any added artificial preservatives, and we always have on offer a range of increasingly popular gluten free items. Our producers are of all ages and from all walks of life, but they are all passionate about offering the best quality local produce. All products sold at Ipswich Country Market are made by the members themselves in their own kitchens, grown in their own gardens or crafted in their own homes. With half term this month, why not bring the younger members of your family along for a treat? You will find a warm welcome and a real community atmosphere. We are open on Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.30am at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane. We have plenty of free parking and home baked refreshments with a free tea or coffee on your first visit. Where else could you have a cheese scone or sample a slice of cake with a drink for around a pound? On the first Thursday of the month we sell bacon rolls for only £1! You can find out more about our market on our Facebook page: Ipswich Country Market
SIDEGATE LANE COMMUNITY CENTRE Tuesday Tea Dance with Teresa Brown each week from 2-4pm with refreshments. Ballroom, Latin and sequence dancing, £3 for members. Contact: 01473 422427 Our new beginner’s class starts on Wednesday, October 4, and is an opportunity to learn ballroom and Latin dance with Teresa. The class is from 7-8pm, £3 for members. Contact: 01473 422427 / 01473 723070 Sidegate Lane Community Centre, Ipswich IP4 4HZ www.sidegatelanecommunitycentre.org.uk / Facebook
ORWELL SINGERS CHARITY CONCERT The Orwell Singers will be holding a concert in aid of Ipswich charity FIND (Families in Need) on Friday, October 20 at Museum Street Methodist Church at 7.30pm. Admission at the door will be £6 for adults and £1 for accompanied children. Refreshments will be served in the interval. The programme will be light and varied with the singers being joined by pupils from Copleston School who will be performing various musical pieces.
IPSWICH BRANCH, SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Thursday, October 26 at 7.15pm: Remarkable Women of Ipswich by Ann Day The talk is a reminder of many inspiring women who have either been born or have lived in Ipswich. There are Blue Plaques on some buildings in Ipswich, relating to these women. Others, who did sterling work – especially during the war years – have often been forgotten. 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
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OUT & ABOUT MARTLESHAM HEATH AVIATION SOCIETY KESGRAVE WI Our August meeting was held in Lynn Parker’s garden on Thursday 3. Members were able to enjoy the lovely display of flowers, shrubs and garden features besides taking a guided trip into Portal Wood at the bottom of her garden. A most enjoyable afternoon with tea in the garden while trying to complete a quiz set by one of the members. September saw us returning to Kesgrave Community Centre. Unfortunately our speaker failed to arrive, but nonetheless we had a most enjoyable evening. Over coffee some of our members entertained us with tales of their first job. Margaret talked about her experience of taking up her first teaching post in Leiston nearly 60 years ago. Jean amused us with her stories of selling microwaves in the Ipswich branch of Bejam Frozen foods. Maggie had us in stitches as she recalled her days as an office junior working for Rolls Royce – making tea in two large urns and having to carry them across the factory while wearing stiletto heels along with a lot of friendly heckling from ‘the lads’. Finally Joan, a retired ward sister, recalled her time nursing in the old Angelsea Road wing at Ipswich Hospital, recalling amusing incidents about both patients and some of the consultants of the time. A most enjoyable evening – one to be repeated at a future date no doubt. October sees us celebrating our 90th birthday with a social evening at the Millennium Hall. If any previous members would like to join us to reminisce and meet old friends they would be most welcome. Please contact our secretary on the number below for further details Our next meeting is on Thursday, October 5 at 7pm at The Millennium Hall, Kesgrave. If you require information please call our secretary, Di Chilver: 01473 611415
KESGRAVE CO-OP WOMEN’S GUILD Our chairman opened her garden on August 22 for afternoon tea. Luckily the weather was kind and 40 members enjoyed tea and scones in her lovely garden. The speaker for the first meeting after the summer break on Tuesday, September 5 was unable to attend due to illness, However, undeterred we organised a few games of bingo with various prizes for the winners. We had a leisurely meeting with plenty of time to chat and names were taken for the trip in November to Boundary Mills, a superb shopping venue and garden centre. There will be plenty of time to buy Christmas presents at one of the UK’s largest mill stores selling women’s wear, men’s wear and home wares with top brand names at much reduced prices. Tuesday, October 31 Carol Pryke and her husband will give a talk about the Pets as Therapy work they do. Their golden retriever Summer, a PAT dog, will also be with them. Volunteers with their pets bring joy, comfort and companionship to many individuals in care homes, clubs, etc. who appreciate being able to touch and stroke a friendly animal. Tuesday, November 14 Peter Battey will give a humorous look at the history of the Punch and Judy Show. The Guild welcomes new members who can visit for two meetings before joining. The annual membership is £15 and we charge £2.50 a meeting to include raffle tickets and refreshments. Meetings start at 7.15pm in the community centre. There are 23 meetings a year and we have several trips and events throughout the year. For more information please contact Gloria Everett: 01473 614991 www.kesgravecoopwomensguild.onesuffolk.net
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Friday, September 1 and we are once again back at the community hall for the first time since our June meeting. We had no meeting in July because of our centenary celebrations that month and August is traditionally a visit to a place of aviation interest. We were entertained by Mike Meech, a part time volunteer at the RAF Museum at Hendon. The title of his talk was Contact Patrols – Air Support for the Infantry in The Great War. Our president, Richard Barker, gave a vote of thanks for a fascinating insight into little known aspect of those awful times. Our next meeting is on Friday, October 6 at Martlesham Community Hall on Felixstowe Road as usual. The speaker will be Les Hambling, ex-Royal Navy and the subject of his talk will be Arctic Patrol, a Cold War story of a submariner often patrolling under the arctic ice. It promises to be a fascinating talk. Nonmembers are welcome for a payment of just £4 at the door. Meetings start at 7.30pm with a tea/coffee break. Our museum is open on Sunday afternoons from 2pm until the end of October. Alan Powell: 01473 622458 www.mhas.org.uk
MARTLES HAM HISTORY SOCIETY Monday, October 16: The Rendlesham Project by Faye Minter Bede, an English monk writing in the eighth century, mentioned an East Anglian Royal settlement at Rendlesham. Is this royal settlement of the people buried at Sutton Hoo? Come along and find out. Meetings are held at Martlesham Heath Pavillon at 7.30pm, admission £2.50.
MARTLESHAM LADIES CLUB We were delighted to be able to send a cheque for £650 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This is the result of our fundraising activities during the past season. At our next meeting we will choose the charity we will support during the coming season. We have two meetings planned for October. On October 5 Ted Wheatly will tell us about his Overland Trip to India on a Vespa. Then on October 19 there will be a fashion show when M&Co from Woodbridge will show clothes from their new autumn and winter collection. Some of our members will act as models. Looking forward to November 2 we will Explore East Anglia with Pip Wright. Our meetings are held on alternate Thursday evenings at 7.15pm in the Richards Room. To find out more about our varied programme contact Doreen Boar: 01473 622768
CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere with refreshments, we meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall from 7.30-10pm. Thursday, October 26: Basket Weave Christmas Card (Emma) Thursday, November 23: Beaded Snowflake and Candy Cane (Jill) and Christmas Party No meeting in December There are always other projects available with assistance from the committee and other club members. New members are always welcome. For more details contact: Jill 01473 713534 / Emma 01787 373850
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OUT & ABOUT ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY September 6 saw our first meeting of the new season and everyone agreed that the talk, by Mark Hill of Antiques Roadshow fame, was, in the words of our president, fantastic. Mark entertained and enlightened us with his exposition on Curves, Colours and Cool – An Introduction to MidCentury Modern. Our next talk, on Wednesday, October 4, will be given by Hugh Belsey, a former curator of Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, and is entitled Sir Edwin Lutyens: Domesticating the Country House. So 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
U3A WELCOMES MEMBERS OLD & NEW We were joined by many visitors at our open day on September 1 who went on to become new members. We are delighted to have 2,000 members in well over 170 interest groups with new subjects in the pipeline. Details of talks in our campuses in Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Saxmundham are in the current member’s handbook (blue version) and I hope to update any changes in this column. KESGRAVE COMMUNITY CENTRE Monday, October 30, 2pm: The Ipswich Charter Hangings by Isobel Clover SALVATION ARMY HALL, FELIXSTOWE Thursday, November 2, 10.30am: An Afternoon with Joyce Grenfell by Gillian Grinham MARKET HALL, SAXMUNDHAM Thursday, October 12, 2pm: A Year in the Life of Minsmere by Alex Bass Thursday, November 9, 2pm: Women Can Fly by Sally Dearman-Cummings Please remember to show your blue membership cards at talks. Visitors are invited to come to one talk before actually enrolling as a full member. If it is your first visit please make yourself known to the campus coordinator so they can welcome you accordingly. Full details are also available at www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk or by telephoning our secretary on 03001 233913.
IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY The new season started in September with a really entertaining evening with Bill Gibb talking about the stamps of Nevis and British Virgin Islands. Unfortunately in the days since this talk the Islands have been devastated by the hurricane and are in the news for all the wrong reasons. October brings two more talks from visiting speakers. On October 4 Bernard Mabbett will present a talk entitled Around the World to St Helena and will talk about the island’s association with the Boar War. On October 18 we have two speakers and displays – Pat Adams talking about Norway and Allen Boyce talking about Greece, two countries I’m sure many of us will have visited for holidays. Membership gives access to all the talks and displays and also to a circulating packet that allows you to buy material from other members and vendors from your own home. Meetings are held at Cedarwood Primary School, Wilkinson Drive, Kesgrave, 7 for 7.30pm, visitors welcome. For further information contact Mike Smith: 01473 403904
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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB Probus clubs are for retired or semi-retired business gentlemen. The primary objective is to provide fellowship between members and to share similar interests in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We meet monthly at the Masonic Hall in Soane Street, Ipswich on the last Wednesday of each month for lunch, followed by talks and lectures on a variety of subjects. In addition we hold social events including outside visits when we invite our spouses, partners and friends to join us. If membership appeals to you, please contact our secretary, Ken Stanley, for further details: 01473 274898 / probus174@gmail.com
IPSWICH & DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB BRING OUT YOUR BRAS! Obviously not the ones that you are currently wearing, but how about those that are hiding at the back of your underwear drawer? Maybe they were an impulse buy or you got tired of them or they didn’t fit comfortably. If you could use the space we could use your bras! We shall be in Sailmakers in Ipswich on Saturday, October 7 from 10am-4pm to collect new or ‘gently used’ unwanted bras. What are we going to do with them? They will go to a project which supports women and girls who have survived being trafficked and forced into the sex trade in Mozambique, El Salvador and Kenya. To escape from this horrendous experience they need a sustainable way of earning their own living. Every 100 bras that we collect will enable a woman to set up her own business selling second hand bras, which are a status symbol in these countries and command a good price. It seems such a simple idea to us, but it can have amazing results. Economic independence can give a woman back her self-esteem and self-confidence. As the project says ‘Empowerment gives women the opportunity to be who they were designed to be’ (freethegirls.org). Somehow donating a bra feels a rather personal way of holding out a hand to another woman. Soroptimists in Southend have collected 1,500 bras. Far be it from us to suggest that we are in competition with a sister club but with your help… Please come and bring your contribution on October 7 – and tell your friends about it. For more information please call our secretary Joyce: 01394 615659
IPSWICH AND DISTRICT SUPPORT GROUP, DIABETES UK Our next meeting is on Thursday, October 12 at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH from 7-9pm. Our guest speaker will be Alison Byard, a Diabetes Specialist Dietician from Ipswich Hospital. This is a social gathering of people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to share information on diabetes and to talk to other people in similar situations. 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 & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, October 25: The Seddon Atkinson Story, illustrated talk by Richard Grey
PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP PICTURE: by K Corley
We meet at 7pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. Entrance via the rear car park. Visitors welcome – £3.50 at door including tea/coffee. Details from Martyn (01473 422145) or Peter (01394 420490). www.idhts.co.uk
THE WHITE EAGLE LODGE The White Eagle Lodge is based on spiritual principles with members in 25 countries. Our path is one of love, tolerance and service to all life; seeking inner peace and awareness of our eternal, spiritual nature. At the Ipswich Group we offer services and retreat days. The Ipswich group meets at the Millennium Hall in Kesgrave on the second Sunday of each month. Our next meeting is on October 8, 10am for a 10.30am Harvest Service. We would love to see you if you feel in sympathy with our work. Find further events on the calendar at www.whiteagle.org/east-anglia or email: weeastangliaregion@gmail.com
EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION Our next meeting is on October 17 when John Field will be exploring the history of Ipswich Wet Dock and its impact on the town. John will follow the dock from its opening in 1842, covering its decline during the latter stages of the last century, and conclude by detailing the planning of the area to create arguably the most successful and exciting regeneration project between the Thames and the Humber. A must for all those interested in local history. We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre (Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF at 7.15pm. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome, entrance fee £3 each. National Trust members/ volunteers can join us for £8 a year (£12 a couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events. For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary – membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 – or visit: www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk
DEBEN FLOWER CLUB Wendy Munnion from Maldon Essex will present a demonstration entitled Tempus Fugit on Tuesday, October 10 at 7.30pm in Kirton Church Hall. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available after the demonstration and Wendy’s arrangements will be raffled.
The working party volunteers have taken a break over the summer period; we did, however, complete one very special task. In August, a tree was planted in memory of Katie Webb, a much-missed young member of the group, by what she called the ‘Fire Engine’ log which amazingly has survived for more than two decades. The ceremony and unveiling was well attended by some of Katie’s friends and family. The tree chosen was an Apricot Queen, a variety of rowan (mountain ash) that will develop orange berries, Katie’s favourite colour. The tree is a British native rowan and the berries should provide a delicious treat for hungry birds and other local wildlife. Unfortunately the woodlands did not have a summer break, so there are plenty of jobs to do. If you would like to help then please get in touch. DATES FOR THE DIARY Volunteer Work Mornings (all ages): Sunday, October 15 & Saturday, November 18, 10am-noon. Meet at the Education Area. Tools, training and light refreshments are provided. No need to book. Nature Explorers (11-18 year olds): Saturday, November 18, 9-11am. Please send an email to book a place. Nature Watch Club (5-11 year olds): To be confirmed. New volunteers of all ages and abilities are always welcome. No experience needed. For further information please contact us at pwcg.martlesham@ gmail.com / 01473 612632, visit pwcg.onesuffolk.net or join our members’ Facebook group by messaging Duncan Sweeting. Nature Explorer and Young Volunteer Sam Cork
ORWELL FLOWER CLUB On October 26 Crystal Dyball from Norwich presents a demonstration entitled Let’s Celebrate. Orwell Flower Club meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew IP4 5SU. Demonstrations start at 7.15pm, but the doors open by 6.45pm to allow you to browse at our sales table and buy raffle tickets for the arrangements created in the demonstration and raffled at the close of the meeting. The annual subscription, due at the AGM in April, is £40 and visitors are always welcome at £5 per meeting. For further details please contact Delcie Corbett: 01473 623371 / gil.corbett@btinternet.com
Visitors are always welcome at £4. For directions or further information email: wa@sandlings.co.uk QUIZ NIGHT Deben Flower Club is holding another of their, now very popular quiz nights on Saturday, October 14 in Kirton Church Hall, Church Lane, Kirton IP10 0PU, 7 for 7.30pm. Once again this will be a light-hearted fun evening and will include a ploughman’s supper. Why not join in the fun and bring along a team of six? If you don’t have six people for your team you may be asked to share a table with other club members. Tickets are £8 each including supper and must be purchased in advance. Please bring your own drinks and glasses. For further information and tickets: 01394 411422 / wa@sandlings.co.uk
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SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. The Suffolk Dementia Helpline can support anyone who needs to talk
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SCHOOLS MARTLESHAM & KESGRAVE PLAYSCHOOLS A big welcome to our new parents and children, and to those returning for another year. The children are getting back into their routines and finding their feet. We shall be looking at colours and how we can change them by mixing. As the seasons begin to change we will be looking at and talking about the things we see, noting changes in the colours of falling leaves, collecting natural treasures such as pine cones and conkers on autumn woodland walks and using them in our learning. At Martlesham Playschool our two week summer holiday club was a great success, paving the way for our exciting big change. We are now open all year round! If you’re looking for all year round or term time only childcare for your two to five year olds, give us a call for more details. Kesgrave Playschool remains open during term time only, but you can spread your 15 or 30 funded hours over more than one setting, as well as pay for extra sessions. At both Martlesham Playschool and Kesgrave Playschool we take children from two years. We follow the Early Years curriculum through implementing fun and engaging activities, both child initiated and adult led. Follow us on Facebook for up-to-date information, or call Martlesham Playschool on 01473 625986, Kesgrave Playschool on 07746 907060 and book a visit. We look forward to seeing you.
MARTLESHAM BABY & TODDLER GROUP Calling all babies and toddlers! Are you fed up playing with the same old building blocks? Bored of the same old picture books? Do you and your teddies need a break? Well look no further – Martlesham Baby and Toddler Group are meeting every Wednesday and Friday in Martlesham Pavilion for fun, games and toys you’ve never seen before. Your grown-up can have tea, coffee and biscuits – which should keep them quiet – and you get to play, uninterrupted, from 9.30-11.30am. You even get a singing session with juice and a biscuit of your very own too. There will be an end of term Halloween party on the final October sessions on October 18 and 20 where there will be fundraising raffles, a spooky lucky dip and some tasty devilish delights for sale. All funds raised will be used to run the group. So come on, join in with the fun every Wednesday and Friday and don’t forget to bring your grown-up! We look forward to seeing you very soon. Check out our new website, email mhbabyandtoddlergroup@yahoo.co.uk or find us on Facebook. Sam Whitehouse www.martleshambabyandtoddlers.co.uk
BRIGHT STARS Fun activity sessions for pre-school aged children at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL on the second and fourth Mondays of each month during term times from 10.30am-noon. Ages 0-5 are welcome to come along to Bright Stars for a fun start to the week with their parents, grandparents, friends, family and/or carers. These mornings are free and usually involve singing, games, making crafts to take home and telling stories from the Bible for the first half hour. We then have refreshments when the adults can chat and the children can play until approximately noon. Dates for the autumn term: October 9, November 13 & 27 and December 11 You are welcome to come along to any of our mornings, just turn up, no need to let us know in advance. We look forward to seeing you. If you would like further information please contact Sonya & Maureen Burrows: 01473 625196
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ADVERTORIAL
GRANITE TRANSFORMATIONS GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Granite Transformations is the company that started with “the top that fits on top”. Owners Steven Leech and Darren Cribb – the current holders of the prestigious Franchisee of the Year award – have taken their business from strength to strength and now offer so much more. Not only do they do amazing worktops, splash-backs and flooring in the same amazing materials, they also offer hand cut glass mosaics, a large range of kitchen doors, full kitchen installation and bedroom wardrobes. Steve believes Granite Transformations is successful because the company’s products are unique: “Our extensive range of surfaces are made from Italian granite, natural quartz or recycled glass. All materials are mixed with a high-grade polymer resin to make them non-porous and heat, scratch and stain resistant. All worktops come with a lifetime warranty. The range of products we offer has something to suit every client. “Our growth over the past few years indicated to me that we needed bigger showrooms. With the opening of our showroom within Hatfield’s of Stanway and Ipswich we feel we are perfectly positioned to offer the best possible service and products to our ever-growing list of satisfied customers. “Our worktops are fitted directly over the top of existing surfaces so
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there is no need to remove the old tops first, this means no mess. They are also perfect for new kitchens as we supply the substrate that we need to cover free of charge. “The sheets are engineered to be a flooring and has been used as a flooring since the 70s. We source all the materials ourselves and manufacture the sheets. We only have employed staff fitting the granite, quartz and doors. All of these factors enable us to offer a life time warranty.” Over the past three years the sale of doors has doubled, an increase which Darren believes is due to the quality for the doors. He explains: “We offer four types of doors that are made to measure and all come in 20+ colours and 20+ styles and with a six-year warranty. This increase has also been helped by the increase on new kitchens. All the units we offer are made to measure and come colour matched to the door given you a bespoke kitchen without the big costs. “You can use Granite Transformations for any project. The installations we do now are a lot larger than ever before as we now oversee everything. We can do it all for you making it simple to do major work on your home.” If you have a project you need help with then come and see us at one of our showrooms. Hatfields Home Furnishers Peartree Road, Stanway Essex CO3 0LA 01206 807347
Unit 3, Alstons Court Leslie Road Ipswich IP3 9PL 01473 851360
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SCHOOLS / CHURCH NEWS THE SAPLINGS All About Me is our topic for the autumn term as we welcome lots of new children into our baby room, twiglet room and into pre-school. We will be exploring the colours, shapes and textures of autumn, incorporating lots of natural resources and talking all about our families. The Saplings is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am-6pm for children aged three months to 11 years, offering term-time and year-round care, with a baby room, twiglet room (two-three year olds) and pre-school. We also offer a breakfast club and after school club along with a holiday club and a ‘walking bus’ to and from Birchwood Primary School. We have space in all rooms and always welcome new faces. We are offering 30 hours of funding to eligible families of three and four years olds. Spaces are available. For further information on all our term-time sessions or holiday club bookings, please cntact our friendly team of dedicated and experienced staff: 01473 614753 / news@thesaplings.org.uk We also have a fun-packed half-term holiday club (October 23-27); please contact us for further information. www.thesaplings.org.uk / Facebook
HEATHLANDS COMMUNITY PRE-SCHOOL & AFTER SCHOOL CLUB After a lovely summer break, we welcome back existing families into our setting and extend a warm welcome to those who will be joining us soon. We are delighted to open our Development Movement Play area, which enables children to access the movement play that they need and love. Our playroom has been redesigned and we are pleased to introduce lots of new and interesting resources. This term we will be looking at Africa, learning about different traditions, ways of life and animals. We are also making a Heathlands family tree to celebrate all the children who attend. We will be holding an open evening for parents of perspective pre-school children early in November. If you are interested in seeing us, this is a great opportunity to view our setting, meet the team and learn more about the Early Years framework we follow. If you are interested, please telephone Marie Fennell on 01473 417517 to book a place. Heathlands is a well-established, committee-run pre-school situated in the grounds of Broke Hall Community Primary School. We can offer funded places for eligible two year olds and for all other children the term after their third birthday. A breakfast club and after school club also available. We are pleased to accept applications for a place for terms starting January 2018 and beyond.
RUSHMERE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Toys & Noise Toys & Noise is a baby and toddler group for any parent or carer with a pre-school child (or children) which meets every Thursday from 1.453pm during term-time. We will be meeting on October 5, 12 and 19, with October 5 having a special harvest/autumn theme. This group, organised by Rushmere Christian Fellowship, meets at the village hall on Humber Doucy Lane. We look forward to seeing you there! For further information about RCF visit www.rcfchurch.org.uk or contact: Stephen French: 01473 431701 / sfrench@rcfchurch.org.uk
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CHURCH NEWS
SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS Our basic pattern is that every Sunday we have services at 8.30am (BCP Communion), 10am (modern yet traditional service with All Age alternative) and 6.30pm (Evensong). There isn’t enough space to mention our myriad of tweaks and alternatives! Please visit: www.askegrave.org,uk MESSY CHURCH AND SAINTS AND SIGNERS It was lovely to welcome so many pre-schoolers and their carers to Messy Church and Saints & Signers during the past academic year. We saw some of the little people take their first steps, new words were uttered, and now some are big enough to start school. We celebrated this milestone at Messy Church by having our very own mud kitchen (made with cocoa and cornflour) like they have at big school, and we made handprint pictures to give to our grownups to treasure and remind them of us while we are apart during the school day. We sang songs, said prayers using the bubble machine, and heard the Bible story of when Jesus visited the temple as a child and sat listening to the teachers.
Summer now seems like a distant dream and October brings us another step closer to the winter season. The weather is changing and we start to prepare for the colder days to come. This can be a strange month, sometimes warm, sometimes not and the British climate always throws up the unpredicted. For Christians we know we can rely on a God that never changes and can be depended on to always be the same no matter what. That’s a comfort in these ever-changing times where nothing lasts for long, like shifting sand beneath our feet. God is our solid rock and something to build our lives upon. Have a blessed October. 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. 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
We always look forward to welcoming new faces and old – why not pop along to one of our sessions this October? The two styles alternate each Tuesday from 10am. As one of our mums says: “It’s relaxed, friendly and fun for babies and toddlers alike, and a great catch-up time with friends over an always much needed cuppa!” SILVER SCREEN AND SILVER GAMES So that you can see that it’s not only the young who have fun at All Saints, our ‘Silver’ events are aimed at the over 55s. On October 9 we will be dusting down the Rummikub pieces and referring to the Scrabble word book amongst others. On October 23 we will be enjoying the film version of the poignant and inspiring Raymond Briggs story called Ethel and Ernest. Both events run from 2-4pm and include hot drinks and varied sweet and savoury refreshments. SIGN UP! The best way to keep up to date at All Saints (along with the website and our Facebook page) is to receive our fortnightly newsletter by email. Please contact Robin (robinspittle@btinternet.co.uk) to subscribe. For other queries his number is 01473 623388.
COME OVER AND HELP US As many of you will know we have been publishing our articles in this magazine for a number of years now. We are a small church with a big vision to see our community impacted by the love of God. There is a passage in the Bible where Paul has a vision and he sees a man from Macedonia saying “Come over and help us”, so Paul went there at once because he concluded that God wanted him to preach there. Recently our numbers have dropped for a number of reasons and we are seeking God as to what He wants us to be doing next. We are asking all fellow Christians, who live in and around Kesgrave, who don’t currently go to a church to prayerfully consider whether or not you can come and stand with us. Please feel free to drop in and see us on any Sunday morning and join us as we meet to worship our awesome God, encourage one another and hear His word. We meet in Heath Primary School, Bell Lane, Kesgrave at 10.30am.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave
Declaring God’s Way - Sharing His Love It seems that autumn has really arrived and the evenings are getting darker much earlier than we have been used to. We do think of those people who have had to endure the hurricanes in the Caribbean Islands and America. Our prayers continue to be with them now and in the future days. Last month I mentioned that October is the season of Harvest Festival in the churches and in the schools. At Rushmere Baptist Church our Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, October 8, a special time to remember God’s goodness to us. Living in Suffolk we can see that the farmers have enjoyed a good harvest, and by now ‘all is gathered in’. In Genesis chapter 8 verse 22 we read of the promise made by God that “While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease”. So as another Harvest is celebrated let us thank God for that promise. Our usual activities are as follows: Monday FFaF Children’s Club for School Years 2-6 from 6.15-7.30pm
‘Spring’ is for young teens, also on Monday evenings
Wednesday Rag Tag Drop-in at 2.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month Senior Citizens’ Friendship Hour at 2.30pm on the second Wednesday Thursday
Luncheon Club at 12.30pm
Saturday
Meeting Point Coffee Morning on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10.30am-noon. All are welcome
Minister: The Rev Heather Marsden Secretary: Mrs Jean Cutting Church Telephone Number: 01473 721455
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CHURCH NEWS / SPORT KESGRAVE BOWLS CLUB You are warmly invited to Bixley Farm Church meeting every Sunday from 4-5pm at Tower Hall. We’d love to be able to welcome you. Our aim is to make the Christian message accessible and understandable for everyone. You don’t need to dress a certain way or bring anything with you. There are no airs and graces here, just a bunch of normal people who want to get to know God. You don’t have to believe what we believe to belong here as part of this church community, so regardless of whether you’ve been a Christian for years or if you’ve never set foot in a church before and are just exploring this thing called faith, we’d love you to come along and join in. If you’d like to come along but transport is an issue for you, or you have any questions whatsoever about us, please feel free to get in touch anytime: office@mie.org.uk / 01473 270978
YOUNG PANTHERS EXCEL AT BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS The British Cycle Speedway Championships were held over the August bank holiday weekend at Leicester, Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
I can’t believe how quickly the season has come to an end. We have done quite well in the leagues. Monday night blues unfortunately finished bottom so it looks as if they will be in Division B next season. The greens however finished top so should be promoted, well done. Wednesday afternoon teams did well, the Skylarks finishing second and the Swifts finishing mid-table. The Blues in the two wood on a Tuesday finished fifth so should be safe next year and the Greens playing on a Thursday evening did well finishing third. Mixed results for the Wednesday evening triples with the Blues finishing third and the Greens finishing sixth in their respective divisions. Our open triples on Sunday, August 27 was again a huge success and the winners were the team of Ken King, second the team of Marty Milbourne and third the team of David Cook. I wish to take this opportunity to thank Muriel Cook who tirelessly organised the event and spent many hours in the kitchen with her many helpers to ensure the day went without any hitches. Well done to you all. I would also like to thank haart estate agents for their sponsorship and all those who donated raffle prizes and helped to sell tickets. Without all these people the event would not be the success that it always is. The good weather also played a huge part on the day. On writing this we still have our open pairs tournament on Saturday, September 9 and I am sure it will also be enjoyed by all who attend. By the time you read this article, letters for members renewing their subscriptions for 2018 should be with you. Hopefully you will get them back to me by the AGM which is on Wednesday, October 25, 6.45 for 7pm in the conference centre at KWMCC, and not in the bowls pavilion. Our annual dinner and presentation is on December 8 at Rushmere Golf Club at 7pm. Many of you have already returned your completed menu and hopefully we can persuade more of you to attend. Please let me have your menus and money by the latest at the AGM on October 25. I would like to thank the club committee and all the members for their help and support this season as they all know it has been a difficult time for myself and my family and their help has been very much appreciated. Again, if there is anyone who would like to find out about our club and the game of bowls, I and any member of the committee would be more than willing to have a chat with you. I can be contacted on the number below.
(l-r): Luca Woodhouse, Lily Parr, Oliver Edmunds and Charlie Spurgeon, image by Andrew Parr Kesgrave has an enviable history of producing talented youngsters and a strong contingent of 13 Panthers made the long trip to the Midlands with two returning as champions. Luca Woodhouse and teammate Oliver Edmunds dominated the U8 category with Luca victorious and being crowned champion. This was the first time Oliver had raced at a national event and he did exceptionally well to finish as runner-up. A special mention should also go to six-year-old Charlie Spurgeon who rode brilliantly to finish in a creditable fifth place. Seven-year-old Lily Parr gave a typically solid performance in the U10 Girls category, belying her age to finish on the podium in third place. Last year’s U10 British Champion, Noah Woodhouse, produced another superb performance, this time in the U12 category, finishing as runner-up. Hot favourite Lewis Brinkhoff did not disappoint with a masterful display of powerful riding to win the British U14 title. Also representing the Kesgrave club were Ben Harvey, James Porter, Torsten Jolly, Charlie Beeton, Oliver Baker, Charlie Parr and Ryker Jolly who can all be proud of their performances. Kesgrave Panthers Cycle Speedway Club, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, IP5 1JF
Joyce Fisher, 01473 626075
IPSWICH WANDERERS FC The club will have announced the new First Team manager by the time In Touch goes to print. This follows the sudden resignation of Shane Wardley and Ian Cornforth in late August. The welcome first league win of the season at home to Wivenhoe ignited new hope for the coming months and increased attendances at Humber Doucy Lane. The seasonal average is now well above 100, which was set as a target before a ball was kicked. Star player Danny ‘Percy’ Thrower was side-lined in September by a serious leg injury and we wish him a full and speedy recovery to full fitness and a return to the Wanderers team at a later stage of the season. The club has thanked Mark Goldfinch for his spell as caretaker manager in early September, stepping in when the First team was managerless. We hope to see you at The Doucy in October. Our home fixtures are: Saturday, September 30: v Godmanchester Rovers (3pm) Premier Division Saturday, October 14: v Saffron Walden Town (3pm) Premier Division Tuesday, October 24: v Long Melford (3pm) Premier Division Tuesday, October 31: v Woodbridge Town (3pm) League Cup
www.kesgravepanthers.co.uk
If we have been successful in our FA Vase adventure, there could be changes to the above. Please check www.iwfc.co.uk for details. There will also be fixtures for our Reserves, Under 18s, Ladies, Academy and Youth teams.
www.facebook.com/KesgravePanthers
Keith Lloyd
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