In touch news with woodbridge nov 17

In Touch

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with Melton & Woodbridge

Volume 7 • Issue No. 7 • NOVEMBER 2017

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A Still Morning on the River by Jenny Shaw

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Being a parent is challenging enough but having a full-time job 40 minutes from home requires some manic juggling at times. I’m fortunate to work in a company which accommodates my occasionally frantic schedule with mid-afternoon parent consultations and Friday morning Harvest Festivals, not to mention the celebration assemblies and share sessions. Not everyone is so lucky, but like my lovely employers I believe in a give and take approach to most things and it appears to work. I’m happy to work in the evenings and at weekends in return for some flexibility on schooldays.

Strangely this seems to have backfired in one unexpected way. My son has concluded that his dad’s job is far more important than mine! Apparently I “just do words” while daddy “does important things like bringing us electricity” (he doesn’t!). So all my running and racing from one thing to another so my lovely son has a parent at all of his many, many school events means my job is less important in his eyes. I was livid. Jack quickly realised he’d upset me but struggled to understand why, which made me even angrier.

After I’d calmed down we talked about my job for some time and I believe he now appreciates the extra effort required in order to be there when daddy can’t be. But daddy didn’t get off lightly either and though his job doesn’t facilitate the same degree of flexibility as mine he has now promised to attend at least one school event each term.

However, this ‘incident’ forced me to consider how my behaviour may have contributed to Jack’s assumption. Perhaps trying to do it all is the wrong approach. After all if daddy is too exhausted after a day of doing important things to do the many, many invisible tasks which seem to have become my responsibility, maybe I should be too! Maybe doing less is the answer. Maybe I won’t put the bins out this week! Maybe I won’t do all the Christmas shopping this year! Maybe I’ll introduce a cleaning rota!

Melton In Touch &with Woodbridge Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP

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MARKET SQUARE LIFE SAVER Anyone with a sharp eye and a nose for these things may have noticed another Woodbridge defibrillator – this one in bright yellow on the side of St Mary’s Church Centre on Market Hill. This has been purchased by the Friends of St Mary’s, not only for the benefit of anyone suffering a suspected cardiac arrest in church, but also as a resource for the wider community around Market Square.

The casing containing the defibrillator has an entry code and if someone has collapsed in the vicinity the emergency services will provide the code, which allows the unit to be accessed for immediate assistance. Once accessed, the unit can be used by anyone with no training needed. It will only deliver a shock if someone has suffered a cardiac arrest and if used quickly enough it should ensure a better than 50% chance of recovery.

While there are other defibrillators dotted around Woodbridge – for example, outside the main Co-op and the Cruising Club – proximity and speed are critical in helping the victim of a cardiac arrest. While we hope the Church Centre unit never has to be used, one day it could just save a life.

St Mary’s Rector, The Rev Canon Kevan McCormack, is pictured with St Mary’s Concert Co-ordinator Tony Waller.

WOODBRIDGE REGATTA NEEDS YOU

I’ll let you know how it works out!

Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

NEWS

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DECEMBER DEADLINE

10 NOVEMBER 2017 is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

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Woodbridge Regatta 2017, sponsored by Gotelee Solicitors, was one of the most successful in recent years, no doubt helped by fine weather.

Everyone appeared to enjoy themselves both on and off the water and there was plenty of music and other activities to keep everyone entertained and busy all afternoon long. 1st Woodbridge Scouts organised the now annual Raft Race which was held for the 10th time this year. The race was won by their ‘rivals’, 5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts, so watch out for some more fierce competition next year. 1st Woodbridge Scouts were not disheartened though as their bucket collection raised £304 which will no doubt be spent on much needed equipment.

Next year, sees the 180th anniversary of the first Woodbridge Regatta and it has run almost continuously since 1838. Other memorable events that year included the coronation of Queen Victoria, the publication of Oliver Twist and the opening of first section of the Great Western Railway from London Paddington Station.

We are hoping to put on a very special Regatta and Riverside Fair in 2018, but to do so we need more volunteers to help organise the event or to help on the day. We have already set the date for 2018 – Sunday, June 17 – so if you are interested please contact us via our Facebook page (@WoodbridgeRegatta), email woodbridge.regatta@btinternet.com or telephone 01394 610548.

Geoff Holdcroft, chairman of Woodbridge Regatta Association, is pictured with Charles Rowett, CEO of Gotelee Solicitors, and Regatta Raft Race Winners 2017 (picture by Charmian Berry).

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NEWS THE LONGBOAT HAS LANDED

Woodbridge Library was bursting at the seams for a screening of Bag It, hosted for free by Transition Woodbridge in September. Bag It explores some very thought provoking issues around our crazy-for-plastic world and best of all what can we do about it.

Despite being released in 2009 and filmed in America, it was clear that the issues in the UK and in our home towns are very similar. The film starts by exploring the use of plastic bags – an international success story as thin plastic bags have been banned in many countries since the release of the film, and the use of reusable bags has been rapidly taken up but many shoppers, thanks to a small charge. It then goes on to explore the out-of-control quantities of single use plastic packaging items that are binned almost immediately, often not recycled or recyclable.

As Charlie Zakss, one of the organisers of the event, explained: “It takes 70 million years to make a drop of oil. This is then made into plastic – a highly energy intensive process, used in five minutes and binned. When you think of it like that, we must be crazy. Added to that we discovered that it takes a quarter of a plastic bottle of oil to make that plastic bottle!

Surely oil is too valuable to waste like this?”

Of course recycling is an option, but the film concentrates on the need to cut down on these plastics in the first place, not just rely on recycling, especially as there are very few types of plastic that can be successfully recycled (itself a very confusing business). Instead it suggested redesigning packaging, looking at alternatives such as cotton reusable fruit and veg bags, taking your own coffee cup, buying re-usable stainless steel water bottles rather than buying water in disposable bottles and shopping locally to avoid the need for food packaging. All simple actions we could personally undertake.

And what a place to land… the newly laid square on Woodbridge Waterfront. The Anglo-Saxon time-travellers arrival just happened, by good fortune, to coincide with the Shuck Festival. The earlier Maritime Woodbridge event had been set aside until next year due to building delays, but on a sunny Saturday the Shuck went ahead as planned.

Time will surely prove that one of the most useful acquisitions from the waterfront development is that the town receives back its totally refurbished square that will make possible a whole host of events to engage with and to bring our Woodbridge community together. Many visitors commented on how wonderful the event was as they began to appreciate the potential of the location.

As the concrete and paving surfacing was still in progress, it was fitting that Woodbridge Riverside Trust’s Sae Wylfing was the first attraction to emerge from the Longshed onto the open space. The combined muscle of Carter’s workmen overcame all obstacles to get the longboat onto the new surface. What a wonderful landing place this is. The Waterfront Square has no through traffic, there is easy access and a superb river backdrop. It encourages thoughts of music and markets, of rallies and displays, of art and entertainment. Planning is already going ahead for the Spirit of Beowulf event next May 4-7. This is going to be so exciting.

If you are among those disappointed at missing The King’s River, watch this space.

Marine debris and ocean health was another very disturbing topic.

A phenomenal amount of plastic rubbish is causing devastation in our oceans, creating a huge plastic soup in massive gyres in every ocean, with a devastating effect on marine creatures who mistake plastic for food.

The need for litter picking in towns as well as beaches is more important than previously realised, as inevitably litter dropped in our town reaches the sea through storm drains and ends up polluting fragile oceans.

Finally the film discussed human health. Many of the audience were surprised to discover the possible effects of chemicals in plastics on the human body, especially in utero: lower sperm counts, hyper activity in children, autism, diabetes, breast and prostate cancer, heart disease… this list continues. Questions were asked and we discussed what we can do to reduce these effects, both as individuals and also as a town.

It became obvious that people felt this was something we could change.

Bag It makes it clear that it is time for a paradigm shift. The audience made it clear they were ready to make it happen in Woodbridge.

Let’s do it!

PLASTIC REDUCTION ACTION PLANNING: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Transition Woodbridge is proud to announce we will be hosting a night of plastic reduction action planning on Friday, November 17, 7-9pm at Woodbridge Library, where we hope many of the audience will return full of ideas and experiences to share and shop owners and supermarkets will be invited for an open discussion of how we can work together to reduce plastics in shops. For more information, please do get in touch on: ttwoodbridge@gmail.com Transition Woodbridge is a community-led group that aims to strengthen the local economy, reduce the cost of living and prepare for a future with less oil and a changing climate. Find us and like us on Facebook and Twitter @transitionWDB. www.transitionwoodbridge.onesuffolk.net

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Bryan Knibbs, the Riverside Trust’s experienced project manager, looks after Sae Wylfing and also liaises with the builders about details of the development. Through his involvement, he fully understands the potential of the area of the Waterfront Square. As soon as possible he will begin to lead the WRT fit-out team inside the Longshed. Here he surveys the adventurous possibilities of the space.

The mezzanine area in the Longshed has to be furnished as a Heritage Resource Centre. It will be used to introduce a range of interesting activities that will usually involve practical participation. On the ground floor a fully-fitted workshop will be created. The first craft to be built will not be the full-size replica of the Sutton Hoo ship, but 22ft St Ayles skiffs. These four-oared craft are built from kits to ensure that they are all the same basic dimensions. Upon completion they can then be rowed in fair competition against each other. The people who build them could join others to row them and age is no barrier to involvement. Men and women, old and young, local and from further afield can meet in social harmony and friendly rivalry.

Woodbridge Riverside Trust with the help of Suffolk Coastal District Council has already set in motion the process of acquiring boat kits and some volunteers have already come forward to be involved in the building process. The waterfront is at the heart of our community so if you want to become involved in time-travelling towards more interesting and entertaining experiences please visit: www.woodbridgewaterfront. co.uk / www.woodbridgeriversidetrust.org

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NEWS WOODBRIDGE RNLI

COUNCILLOR CAROLINE’S COLUMN

Woodbridge RNLI had another successful year fundraising for the charity that saves lives at sea. Below is a round-up of some of the highlights!

This time last year Woodbridge’s Youth Centre building was declared unfit for purpose and condemned. It’s been months since its users were set adrift to find temporary shelter where they could (popular youth charity Just 42 in portakabins on the site). Though known as the ‘Youth Centre’ and as the base for Just42, the centre was home to many groups with a youth, arts, community or educational aspect. It was invaluable.

On Sunday, June 25, the owners of The Barn in Westleton, Andrew Turner and garden designer Sue Townsend, kindly opened up their gardens in aid of the RNLI. Created and curated over the years by Andrew’s father, Amédée Turner, and with 13.5 acres to explore, it features a life size Mycenaen Palace, a replica of Stonehenge, a cocktail garden and an open air chapel with a memorial cross made from girders that formed part of the Twin Towers in New York. It was a fabulous day and thanks to the generosity of the many visitors and friends and family of the Turners we raised £1,815.27, which is phenomenal.

Woodbridge Regatta was on July 16 where we had our usual spot near the Ferry Quay Café. Between donations and sales of RNLI goodies we managed to raise £372.91. Thank you to Ian Gander and the team who organise the regatta, it was another great event and we look forward to the next one.

Saturday, August 12, was Flag Day in the Thoroughfare, a tradition that dates back to 1915 when following the outbreak of the war many RNLI fundraisers had inevitably switched their efforts to the various war funds or were serving in His Majesty’s Forces. The RNLI Management Committee devised a simple but inspired plan to reproduce thousands of copies of the RNLI flag to be distributed by an army of volunteers on Flag Day in exchange for a donation. A century later, this little RNLI flag continues to be a poignant symbol of community fundraising and I am pleased to report that we raised £550.41.

Waldringfield Sailing Club has offered us fantastic support over the past year. Their annual regatta in July raised an impressive £601 and on October 1 galley secretary Alexis Smith and RNLI Woodbridge committee member Anthony Mason organised a carvery lunch which raised £489.80.

Upcoming events include Haven Ports Autumn Fair at Levington Marina on Saturday, October 28, where there will be a selection of stalls, tea and coffee and we will be selling RNLI Christmas cards, jute bags, tea towels and other goodies. The Charity Christmas Card Shop at St Mary’s Church on Market Hill is open from October 30 to December 19 where you can find cards from more than 20 different charities, including the RNLI. If you would like to make a donation to the RNLI or for more information visit: www.rnliwoodbridge.org.uk Tony Wilman, chairman of RNLI Woodbridge Branch, is pictured above with RNLI volunteer Monica Walls.

We’ve now been offered a once in a lifetime chance to create something remarkable: something that offers old and new users the opportunity to continue those community activities which are so valued – and so badly under-provisioned – in Woodbridge.

And we’re planning to build a new Youth & Arts Centre: Jetty Lane.

Suffolk County Council has offered the site on a long lease if we produce a good business case within the year.

Representatives of 1st Woodbridge Scouts, Just 42, local artists and the community have created a Community Interest Company: Jetty Lane CiC. We’ve been working flat out to get a full business plan to present to Suffolk County Council by the deadline in December. We are lucky to have the support of the Seckford Foundation helping us make our case.

We want to work clever and use the footprint of the old centre more efficiently. The centre will have two halls: one for 1st Woodbridge Scouts in the evenings and for hire by youth charities during the day. There will be office space for Just42, up to 12 artists’ studios for rent to bring in rental income to run the premises, and – importantly – a larger flexispace hall for hire by other youth groups, the local community and with provision for artists to run workshops and exhibitions.

Once our plan has been accepted we’ll start fundraising in earnest. Our target is to raise £2m from donations (large and small) and grants from charitable bodies. We will devote 2018 to fundraising and plan to start building work in early 2019. Jetty Lane will open in 2020.

How can you help? We’ll be looking for everyone’s help in funding.

However, we are also particularly looking for Expressions of Interest and support from the community, and also from artists interested in affordable studio space by the river to help us demonstrate need. So if you’re able to make a donation, hold a fundraising event, make an Expression of Interest in hiring Jetty Lane or volunteer to help us with this project, we’d love to hear from you at. Email info@jettylane.com or write to Project Manager Cordelia Richman, 31 Hilly Fields, Woodbridge IP12 4DX. And please, please, spread the word. Follow us on Twitter (@JettyLaneWdb) and on Facebook (@JettyLaneWdb) and do remember to sign our petition at www.change.org petitioning Jetty Lane CiC to ‘Build a new Arts & Youth Centre in Woodbridge’. Every signature counts!

Councillor Caroline Page

His medals took pride of place, they helped us think of everything Here for you every hour of every day 01394 648670 or visit www.eastofengland.coop/funerals 6

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT DEBEN’S AMAZING HISTORY REVEALED

WOODBRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET

Life on the Deben, a feature-length documentary film to be premiered in Woodbridge this December, uncovers astonishing new interpretations of the river’s history, from the latest findings on the Anglo Saxon period to evidence of an extensive medieval port at the river’s mouth. As well as exploring the past, the film will look at how the river’s future can be protected.

This month’s markets take place on November 11 and 25. The community hall is still open despite the building work going on to rebuild Deben Pool.

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness brings with it a plentiful supply of local, seasonal produce including pumpkins, apples and game.

We’ll also have many ready-to-eat foods including bread, pies, falafel, fudge, jams, pickles and preserves.

Hand-made Christmas wreaths made with items grown in Rendham will be available from Lady Whincup Flowers. ​COMPETITION TIME

Journalist John McCarthy and Woodbridge based film-maker Tim Curtis (pictured left and right with film producer Malcolm Hodd in the middle) trace the entire length of the Deben, from the secret and disputed upper tributaries near Debenham, through the little known reaches above Melton, down to the ever changing estuary from Woodbridge to Bawdsey and Felixstowe Ferry.

The beauty of this Suffolk river is revealed with stunning drone footage.

The chronology of the river is explored from Celtic times to the present day. McCarthy speaks to the detectorists and archaeologists who reveal the significance of new finds at Rendlesham that place the Deben at the heart of one of England’s great early kingdoms.

In the film lead archaeologist Professor Chris Scull comments: “…these discoveries are of the highest importance, changing our ideas of south east Suffolk, the East Anglian kingdom, early England, and their wider place in the North Sea world.”

With the help of experts and the people living along its banks, the film tells the stories and explores the issues that affect the Deben: wildlife and conservation, boat building, sailing, farming, fishing, milling and even smuggling.

Life on the Deben considers not just man’s influence on the river, but the river’s influence on man. Artists, writers and musicians – past and present – the film shows how the river has inspired their work. Scientists and politicians forecast the future and describe the battle to safeguard the river’s renowned but threatened tranquility.

As filming neared completion, John McCarthy said: “I lived beside and sailed on the Deben for many years and loved it for all its tranquil beauty.

But I’d never appreciated the hidden depths, historical and natural that we’ve discovered making the film. It’s even more magical a place than I’d ever imagined.”

Two years in the making in association with Woodbridge Riverside Trust charity (WRT), the film’s producer and WRT trustee Malcolm Hodd comments: “We believe this is the most comprehensive review of the whole River Deben ever made, a call to protect this amazing asset for future generations.”

The film will be released at the Riverside Cinema, Woodbridge on Sunday, December 3 and will be available on DVD and BluRay. Profits will be donated to the trust charity. Full details can be found at www. lifeonthedeben.com and bookings made at the Riverside Theatre on 01394 382174.

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Who can guess how many flags we stitched onto the bunting used to decorate Woodbridge Farmers’ Market? Study this photograph and make a guess!

All entrants will receive a free fridge magnet with the dates of the market for 2018.

Come to the market and tell us your best guess or email you answer to: woodbridgefarmersmarket@gmail.com or

WOODBRIDGE CHORAL SOCIETY The 100-voice Woodbridge Choral Society will present its annual Christmas season concert at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 2, in St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge.

The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn will be the featured work, conducted

by Andrew Leach. Robert Gardiner will be the tenor soloist, Adam Maxet the bass soloist, and Charlotte Trepess the soprano soloist. Jessie Ridley will lead the WCS Players.

Tickets are available from honorary treasurer Richard Lyon (01473 620775 / treasurer@woodbridgechoralsociety.org), from Browsers Bookshop in the Thoroughfare or from any member of the choir.

ST JOHN’S CAROL CONCERT Woodbridge Friends of EACH (East Anglian’s Children’s Hospices) invite you to a Carol Concert at St John’s Church, St John’s Hill, Woodbridge on Tuesday, December 5 at 7pm. All welcome.

GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Applications for a grant are welcome from individuals and from groups.

Application forms should be submitted to the address below by 1 January 2018. Grants will generally be of up to £150, e.g. towards the cost of instruments, music, music related equipment and musical activities.

For further information visit www.rogerdavidburrows.co.uk or contact The Roger David Burrows Music Fund, c/o The Burrows family, 17 Squires Lane, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich IP5 3UG / 01473 625196

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY Saturday Storytime: Every Saturday at 10.30am Free drop-in sessions for ages two-five.

November 1-30: ArtLib Exhibition Featuring Textile Art Group Suffolk (TAGS) whose members include embroiderers, spinners, weavers, papermakers and quilters.

Book Group: First Thursday of the month at 2pm On November 2 we will be discussing The Green Road by Anne Enright.

Please come along if you have read this title and would like to join in the discussion.

Thursdays. November 2 & 9, 11am-noon: Chair Based Exercises Aimed at older people or those recovering from illness or injury. No booking required, just turn up. £5 per session.

From Saturday, November 4 throughout the month: Sale of donated audio visual items. All proceeds to the Friends of Woodbridge Library.

Saturday, November 4, 10.15-11.45am: A Whole New Way of Looking at Mental Health by Mia Philips This talk is for anyone who is interested in uncovering a totally new way of understanding our mental and emotional wellbeing and how we already have everything within us for peace of mind, ease and grace.

Worry, anxiety and depression feel very real and we have a very real experience of them, but they are made in and of thought , and as thought changes so can our experiences of these more difficult feelings.

Come along and join us to find out more about the Three Principles of Mind, Consciousness and Thought, a simple insight based understanding which has no techniques and there’s nothing to do, except listen and effortlessly reconnect with your innate wellbeing.

Entry is £5 on the door. For more information visit: www.miaphilips.com Mondays, November 6, 13 & 20, 11.15am-12.45pm: Mindfulness and Meditation Sessions (£10) are run on a drop-in basis. Enquiries to: 01394 450066 / debrawoodbridge@gmail.com Monday, November 6, 7.30pm: Talk by author Maggie O’Farrell Tickets (£8 including a complimentary glass of wine on arrival and a £5 discount on Maggie’s much reviewed memoir I Am, I Am, I Am / RRP £18.99) are available from Browsers Bookshop, 60 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge (01394 388890).

Tuesday, November 7, 12.45-1.30pm: Music at Lunchtime Concert A string recital by music scholars from Woodbridge School. Free entry but donations to the Friends of Woodbridge Library gratefully received.

Friday, November 17, 7-9pm: Transition Woodbridge present A Night of Plastic Reduction Action Planning (see page 4) Saturday, November 18, 9-11am: Surgery with County Councillor Caroline Page Tuesday, November 21, 12.45-1.30pm: Music at Lunchtime Concert Bonus lunchtime concert featuring vocalists from Woodbridge School.

Free entry but donations to the Friends of Woodbridge Library gratefully received.

Woodbridge Novelists: Meets fortnightly on Wednesday mornings A reciprocal critiquing group for novel-writers who are working towards publication. For more details visit: https://sites.google.com/site/ woodbridgenovelists/home Free computer help and advice Contact the library to book a session or to find out more.

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Costa Coffee Book Sale Costa Coffee on The Thoroughfare now have a book shelf selling donated fiction. All titles are 50p, and 100% of the money raised goes to support Woodbridge Library. Drink coffee while supporting your local library.

Meeting room and display boards available for hire Community, charity, private groups: £10 per hour Commercial, statutory groups: £15 per hour Display boards: £10 per week Staffed table display in the main library: £10 per half day SNAP (Support & Advice Project) Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10am-noon for advice on all housing related issues, rent payments, arrears, budgeting and benefit changes.

Citizens Advice Bureau: Every Tuesday, 10am-noon Writers’ Workshop Meets once a month on Tuesdays at 5.30pm. Interested? To open doors to creative writing please email: jeannie@butterwicks.com Creative Writing for All Meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 2-4pm. For more details contact: jeannie@butterwicks.com Knitting Club Every Friday at 2pm. For all types of knitters, expert to beginner, come and share your knowledge or pick up some tips.

Arts and Crafts Group Meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10am. Enables older people and their carers to take part in activities such as collage, card making, printing and modelling.

Play Reading Meets on the third Thursday of the month at 2pm. Come to listen or join in for an afternoon of light-hearted drama, comedy or mystery.

All welcome.

Games Club Meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2pm. Now includes dominoes. Improve your vocabulary and exercise your mind muscles with Scrabble or practise strategy or balance with dominoes.

Woodbridge Area Gamers Meets on the second Saturday of each month from 1-5pm in the library Meeting Room. This group plays modern strategy board games (Carcassonne, Powergrid, Caylus, 7 Wonders, Hey! That’s My Fish, Blokus and many more). For more information contact nigel@foden.me.uk / 07740 173091 or visit: www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/1150 ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Every Wednesday 10.30-10.50am: Bookstart Baby Bounce – soothing songs and gentle nursery rhymes for babies and their grown-ups.

11.15-11.45am: Bookstart Tot Rock Rhyme and Rhythm – music, songs and action rhymes for toddlers with their parents and carers.

Every Friday 10.30-11am: Bookstart Story and Rhyme Time Stories and more for young children accompanied by an adult.

Every Sunday, 10.30am-noon: Kid’s Club Craft Activities November 5 & 19: Colouring in sheets and puzzle sheets will be provided November 12 & 26: Come and join our volunteer to make something to take home

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Life | Land | Business

Whatever life brings we’re always there for you For your life, land and business, Barker Gotelee is here to help.

Our friendly, local solicitors are on hand to advise you on a host of legal matters, including buying and selling property, family breakdown, making a will or developing your business.

41 Barrack Sq, Martlesham, Ipswich IP5 3RF Free parking

Visit barkergotelee.co.uk or call 01473 611211 www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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ADVERTORIAL

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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OUT & ABOUT MUSIC, PROMISES AND A CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION Macmillan Cancer and St Mary’s Church will share the proceeds from an afternoon recital and an auction of promises to be held in the church on Sunday, November 26 from 3-5pm.

Ticket-holders can enjoy a glass of champagne on arrival as they browse through and register bids for promises which have been generously donated by local businesses and supporters.

An hour-long programme of popular classics features Andy McCullough on the clarinet, Theo Amies, boy treble at Jesus College Cambridge (pictured), and Andrew Leach on the piano. It includes works by Schumann, Fauré, Rutter, Mendelssohn and Horovitz.

Following the concert, the audience will be able to enjoy another glass of champagne during the auction. A day’s sailing and a champagne lunch, designer jewellery and a stylish new hair-do are among the promises already pledged.

The event is sponsored by Barretts of Woodbridge and the developer Park Properties. Tickets are £12.50 and available from Woodbridge Violin, St Mary’s Church Shop or at the door.

CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING AT HIGHLANDS The Friends of Highlands Care Home host a coffee morning with stalls, raffle and tombola at Highlands, Fitzgerald Road, Woodbridge, on Saturday, December 2, from 10am.

Please come along and support your local care home.

WOODBRIDGE CAMERA CLUB At our AGM on September 19, Robin Garrod was elected chairman. In his acceptance speech Robin asked members to show their appreciation to Steve Mecrow for his work as chairman over the past two years. He also referred to his own visual disability with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition which severely restricts his peripheral vision.

He does however have some central vision which enables him to see through the viewfinder of his camera. It is a tribute to Robin that despite his disability, he is able to produce competitionwinning photographs. Robin wishes to encourage members to work positively with him. He aims to move the club forward by his own enthusiasm and fresh ideas. Here we see Robin in a picture taken by his wife Sue entitled Blind Biker.

November 21, 7.30pm at Woodbridge Quay Church: PDI Competition People / Judge Harold Mousley AFIAP LRPS Guests are always welcome. Members £2, guests £5.

For more information visit: www.woodbridgecameraclub.co.uk

DON’T MISS THE VALIANT DANCE BAND AT NOVEMBER’S CEILIDH Dance Folkus are pleased to announce that the excellent Valiant Dance Band will be our guest band on Friday, November 3, starting at 7.30pm in Woodbridge Community Hall. Add to this Barry Goodman, one of England’s best-known callers, and interval entertainment by the Old School Rapper dance side and you have a wonderful evening which will be the highlight of our ceilidh year.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November, 10.30am-4.30pm

The Valiant Dance Band is Suffolk/Essex based but has performed all over the country from Dartmoor Festival to Suffolk FolkEast, and even the Gateshead Sage. Their musicians have been core members of well-known bands such as Flowers & Frolics, Old Hat Band, Katie’s Quartet, English String Band, Polkaworks, Proper English and many others.

Enjoy a festive day out at the Sutton Hoo Christmas Fayre which is bursting with inspiring ideas for your present list!

Creative crafts and unusual gifts, artisan food and drink, Christmas music and winter story telling.

Playing melodeon, fiddle, anglo-concertina, banjo and cello, they are great to dance to and produce a driving sound using tunes from many countries played in an English traditional style. Find out more about them at: www.valiantdanceband.info

Take a break from shopping in the café for tea and cake or enjoy a glass of mulled wine outside around the yule log.

Barry Goodman, from Hertfordshire, covers a wonderful range of dances in a clear, fun style. He has worked with most of the country’s top barn dance bands and has featured as a popular caller at many folk festivals.

SUTTON HOO CHRISTMAS GIFT FAYRE

Adults £3, children £2 including entry to the site (NT Members free).

THE MASQUE PLAYERS The Masque Players will be performing Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime at Kesgrave Community Centre from Wednesday, November 29 to Saturday, December 2. The play is based on an 1890’s story by Oscar Wilde about Lord Arthur Savile who is engaged to the lovely Sybil Merton. Her pet chiromantist Podgers has read Lord Arthur’s palm and foretold he would commit a murder. Lord Arthur desires a blissful married life and therefore feels duty bound to get the murder over with first.

Our entertainment spot during the evening is taken by Horham Old School Rapper Team. These are not Rap dancers! The dance involves five people and is performed with short swords bearing two handles, with the handle on one end being fixed and the other handle swivelling. The flexible rapper swords form an unbroken chain connecting the dancers while they step and perform intricate manoeuvres.

Despite the disruption caused by building work on Woodbridge Swimming Pool, the community hall in Station Road remains open and there is still plenty of parking available around the venue.

Curtain at 7.45pm, doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £9 and can be reserved via the website or by calling 01473 725633.

Tickets at the door are £6, but there is a £1 discount for booking in advance by email (no payment needed) and children/students are half price. Contact dancefolkus@aol.com to book or call 01473 610951 for further information.

www.masqueplayers.com

www.facebook.com/WoodbridgeDanceFolkus2916

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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OUT & ABOUT FOLK, FUN AND FOOD AT BEALINGS VILLAGE HALL An evening of music featuring some the area’s popular folk/acoustic music artists is taking place at Bealings Village Hall on Saturday, November 11.

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Holly Johnson will be playing with her collaborator, flautist and keyboard player Sarah Wil, and they will be sharing the bill with folk-rock duo Silbury Hill, providing a varied, entertaining and eclectic mix of musical styles.

Tickets are £6 which includes a welcome drink on arrival. Children aged 15 and under are free of charge. Tickets are available from Sally on 07707 269712 or from the artists themselves. They may also be purchased via: www.silburyhill.net (10% admin fee) The doors will open at 6.30pm and there will be hearty hot food on sale – as well as a licensed bar – so bring the family and make a night of it.

WOODBRIDGE PROBUS John McNamara, Community Relations Manager for EDF Energy’s Sizewell C Project, was the speaker at our October meeting at Seckford Golf Club, our new home. John gave us an extensive update on the UK Nuclear industry, covering construction at Hinkley Point, development work at Sizewell C, Bradley B and the context in which EDF energy is taking forward its new build plans. He also covered government policy, financing arrangements, the social-economic benefits, and developments for Sizewell such as the workers campus, A12 Park & Ride, the issues surrounding a four village bypass and an invitation to Suffolk companies to get involved.

By contrast on Novembers 6, Paul Whiting will present The Sky by Night from Orwell Park Observatory and we look forward to a special event on December 4, our Christmas lunch for our ladies and partners.

If you would like to know more about us please visit our website – just type in Woodbridge Probus Club and click on the first link you come to.

If you like what you see do come and join us as a guest, we are a friendly bunch. We meet from 12.30pm for a pre-lunch drink, followed by lunch at 1pm and our speaker after coffee.

MELTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

The concert starts at 7.30pm. Further information from: 07707 269712 / 07887 918869

Our next event on Wednesday, November 1, will be a fascinating talk

by Mike Simmons entitled The Simmons Family during the Second World War. Mike will be giving an illustrated talk about his Melton based family and their extraordinary military service, which includes the exploits of his father and uncles on the Artic Convoys, the D-Day landings and Operation Torch, before returning to Suffolk and civilian life.

MUSIC AT LUNCHTIME

The venue for the meeting is Melton Chapel, The Street. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start. As ever, all are welcome: members free, visitors £3.

The quality of music produced by Woodbridge School students is well known. What better way is there to spend a lunchtime than being serenaded by some of the school’s best players? Chris Milton, the school’s new head of music, has linked up with Woodbridge Library to create a series of lunchtime events during November, culminating in a full-length evening concert in early December.

There will be four free lunchtime concerts in November, two at the school and two in the library and all on Tuesdays. Music will be provided in the library by string players on November 7 at 12.45pm.

A week later, the November 14 concert will be in Woodbridge School Hall at 1.30pm and will feature wind players. Singers will then perform at the library on November 21 at 12.45pm. The last of the four events will be in the school hall at 1.30pm and will feature brass and percussion players.

Closing this series on Saturday, December 2, the school’s chamber orchestra will give a concert in the library at 7.30pm. Tickets will cost £8 (£4 for students) to include the price of an interval drink and are available from the library. All proceeds will go towards the work of the library.

IPSWICH AND DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB Any thoughts about policing?

Join us on Wednesday, November 8 to hear Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, speak at our club meeting. We have asked him to give us an overview of his job and current priorities and then to focus on how he feels about issues concerning women and how the police service is dealing with them.

If you are interested in hearing Tim Passmore please contact our secretary on 01394 615659 for more details and directions.

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For further information contact: mlhs.sec@aol.com

SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST, WOODBRIDGE WILDLIFE GROUP Annual Wildlife Quiz Evening Our annual wildlife themed quiz evening with wine and nibbles is at Woodbridge Community Hall on Thursday, November 16, with doors opening at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

The quiz is very interactive, with teams of four to six people joining together to answer a wide range of questions on the theme of local wildlife and places. Entry is £4 per person, which includes a glass of wine and savoury nibbles. In order to help us cater for this event, we’d appreciate it if teams could book a table in advance by calling 01473 625630 or emailing swtwoodbridge@outlook.com.

EVENTS AT FOXBURROW FARM Booking: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org / 01473 890089 Wednesdays, November 1, 15 & 29, 10.30am-noon: Wild Tots for ages one-five and their carers Tuesday, November 21, 10am-2pm: Moomintroll Activity Day for unaccompanied home educated children aged six-12 years

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Monday, November 20: A Christmas Miscellany by Mark Mitchels As we approach the festive season, come along and enjoy a celebration of all things to do with Christmas. Meetings are held at Martlesham Heath Pavilion at 7.30pm. Admission £2.50.

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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OUT & ABOUT EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, then we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you.

We meet at Ropes Hall War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF. The start time is 7.15pm.

Our next meeting is on November 21 when Captain Peter ChapmanAndrews RN Ret’d. will be sharing his experiences of serving on board two of the most famous RN vessels, Ark Royal and Britannia. Peter, who was a navigation officer, will explain the roles that both ships played in representing the UK to the outside world and the contrasts between the two appointments.

There is no meeting in December so the next meeting is on January 16 when Mark Mitchels will be discussing the role Samuel Pepys played in establishing the Royal Navy.

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 ROTARY GOES BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN The Rotary Club of Woodbridge Deben are delighted to have been able to assist Gorseland Primary School in creating a nurture base which will cater for children who need extra care in a calm, quiet environment. The club recently donated £500 to help to fund soft furnishings for the unit. The photo shows Rotarian Peter Kidd with Gorseland’s Business Manager Sue Lowe in the nurture base.

The Memory Café, run in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Woodbridge and Woodbridge Inner Wheel, continues to meet monthly at Woodbridge Football Club from 10.30am to noon on the last Wednesday of the month. We look forward as ever to welcoming people with all forms of memory loss and their carers.

Our next sessions are on October 25 and November 29. If you would like further details please contact Rotarian Martin Kenyon on 01394 386933.

DEBEN FLOWER CLUB This year’s Christmas demonstration will be held on Tuesday, November 14 in Kirton Church Hall at 7.30pm and will be given by national demonstrator Julia Knights from Norfolk.

We are extremly lucky to have such a talented NAFAS national demonstrator living relatively close by. Julia enjoys competing at events, has a flair for costume design and creates unusual containers to fit in with the theme of her demonstrations. After the demonstration Julia’s designs will be raffled and lucky winners will have an early Christmas decoration to take home.

Visitors are assured of a warm welcome with £4 payable on the night. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available after the demonstration.

For further information please contact: 01394 411422 / wa@sandlings.co.uk

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INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE September 7 saw the start of a new Inner Wheel year. Our new president, Deirdre Griffin, opened the meeting, welcoming everyone after the summer break and introduced Freda Casagrande, our speaker for the evening. Freda spoke passionately to us about Hicap UK, a charity she set up 12 years ago after a trekking holiday in Nepal. She saw such poverty and neediness among the children that she came home and immediately set about trying to make a positive impact. This involved selling her home and together with her savings set about building an orphanage in a remote village in Nepal. Her illustrated talk showed us the many families she has helped along the way. It hasn’t been easy for her and natural disasters such as the 2015 earthquake threw up many problems. She is one very inspirational lady. After the talk there was a brief business meeting to secure dates for future events.

Our president’s chosen charity this year is the Woolverstone Project and Lesley Downing (pictured here with Janet Sparrow) from the project was our October speaker.

Woolverstone Project was started in 1994 by the Royal Harwich Yacht Club to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to learn to sail. Anyone, with any sort of disability, is welcome at the sessions which are held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club, Woolverstone throughout the summer and at Alton Water all year round. The boats are adapted with a heavy keel to increase stability, thus preventing capsizing. There is also a ‘wheelie’ boat with a ramp to enable access for wheelchair users and their carers to enjoy time on the water.

Working alongside the team of qualified instructors there are more than 60 volunteers onshore operating the hoists and providing hot drinks and support.

For more information about the project, please visit: www.woolverstoneproject.org.uk The Inner Wheel Club continues to raise funds for a variety of charities as well as enjoying social events, our next being a bus trip to Aldeburgh.

WOODBRIDGE FLOWER CLUB Flights of Fancy was the title of Mellissa Sheldrake’s demonstration for our October meeting. Mellissa became a national demonstrator last year and had used some of the designs which she recreated for us for her test.

Her first arrangement used autumnal colours and was an asymmetrical design placed around a witch’s broom. Her second arrangement was placed inside a kite shape container.

Another beautiful arrangement was placed in a bird shaped container made by her husband and this was followed by two designs depicting a hot air balloon and a parachute. Mellissa’s final arrangement was placed on an angel background and she told us about a charity group called The Floral Angels which was set up by three friends who met on a floral design class. They realised that after corporate events and photo shoots in London many flowers were just thrown away. They started to recycle these and take the rearranged flowers to hospices, care homes, women in refuges and the elderly. Now they have about 40 volunteers to help them.

Mellissa was thanked for showing us her wonderful designs and for an informative talk interspersed with the odd poem.

Many members entered our competition this month and congratulations went to everyone, especially the winners Helen Kidwell and Linda Spinks.

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Christmas treats!

Local and Wholefoods

We stock a range of foods perfect for Christmas, specialising in:  Vegetarian  Organic Opening times  Vegan  Local fruit and veg 9:30am - 5:30pm  Gluten free  Eco-friendly gifts Mon - Fri  Dairy free  ...and much more!

01394 389599

9:30am - 4pm Saturdays

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

Units 2-6 The Sidings, Wilford Bridge Road, Melton, IP12 1TB www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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Christmas Gift Fayre 18

Wantisden, nr Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3PQ 01394 459995 E: valley@wantisden.co.uk www.wantisden.co.uk

Helping to raise money for

Admission: £3 adults Children under 16 free

Signposted from the A12 at Woodbridge and Wickham Market

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OUT & ABOUT LIONS’ CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE & DISTRICT This year’s Martlesham Heath 10k, 5k and Fun Run exceeded all expectations with a record 500 entries in the 10k and strong fields in the other events. This year, for the first time, the 10k was part of the Suffolk Athletic Grand Prix; runners gain points from eight nominated events at various distances, culminating in awards for the best runners in a range of categories and for the best overall running club. Even if not taking part in the Grand Prix, many runners achieved personal best times over the fast, flat course. Needless to say, the Pavilion Café did a phenomenal trade in hot and cold drinks and the now legendary homemade cakes.

Runners, marshalls, spectators and officials all said how much they had enjoyed the well organised event and the friendly atmosphere. Our thanks to Felixstowe Road Running Club and especially to race director Rachael Miller for their handling of the online booking, timekeeping and all the technical aspects of the race.

As usual at this time of year our fundraising turns towards the annual Christmas parcels project. Many recipients in the past have commented that knowing someone had thought of them was even more important than the parcels themselves. With this and the recent successful launch of Quay Time in mind, we are shifting the focus of the Christmas parcels and will work in partnership with the Woodbridge branch of the Salvation Army to offer packages of seasonal groceries to users of the food bank scheme. All former recipients of Christmas parcels will be invited to come along to Quay Time, a joint project with Woodbridge Quay Church. This community oriented project enables people to meet over tea/coffee and cake to organise their own activities. These afternoons themselves may feature quizzes, board games or visiting speakers and offer an opportunity to arrange social activities throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

Sessions are held in Woodbridge Quay Church, which is fully accessible.

Transport can be provided for anyone who may otherwise have difficulty attending.

For details, please call 0845 822 2820 or visit: www.woodbridgelions.org.uk

NEW HORIZONS

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY October 4 saw the second lecture of the new season. Given by Hugh Belsey, a former curator of Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, it was entitled Sir Edwin Lutyens: Domesticating the Country House. Hugh led us on a fascinating exploration of this talented architect and provided insight into his very interesting life.

Our next lecture on Wednesday, November 1 is German and Netherlandish Glass by Jane Gardiner.

On Friday, November 17 we shall hold the first ever Orwell DFAS Study Day and do hope you’ll be able to join us. The subject is Art and Architecture of the American West and we shall meet for coffee at 9.30am for a 10am start.

Our lecturer, Roger Mitchell, has a wealth of knowledge of the subject and the day, which includes a buffet lunch, promises to be most enjoyable and informative. The cost of the day is £29 and further details are available from our website.

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 nonmembers 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

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, November 23: Beaded Snowflake and Candy Cane (Jill) and Christmas Party No meeting in December

New Horizons, the club for older people in the Woodbridge area, celebrated the official grand opening of their Monday sessions on September 18. County Councillor Caroline Page and other supporters were on hand to help commemorate the day. The club has been meeting regularly on Thursdays but decided to add an additional day to meet local demand.

There are always other projects available with assistance from the committee and other club members.

Councillor Page, who is been a staunch supporter and helped with our reorganisation two years ago, expressed her joy in seeing the club expand.

The generous donation from her Locality Budget will help provide games, crafts and music sessions for our members.

EVENTS AT ST MARY’S CHURCH

New Horizons now meets twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am-2.30pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, 11 Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP. People over the age of 55 who live in Woodbridge and the surrounding villages are invited to join us for companionship as well as a range of activities including art, crafts, entertainment, and slide shows.

Refreshments and a two course home-cooked meal are included in the cost of £8 per session. Transport may be available for a small additional fee, but as the club grows in popularity, we would also like to ask for additional volunteers willing to transport people to and from the sessions. You would be on a rota with other drivers to suit your schedule and be reimbursed for your expenses. For more information about any aspect of the club, please phone 07514 364752 and speak to one of our leaders. Alternatively, you can email us at: newhorizons912@gmail.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

New members are always welcome. For more details contact: Jill 01473 713534 / Emma 01787 373850

ADNAMS WINE-TASTING Hosted by Rob Chase of Adnams Brewery Friday, November 10, 6.30pm, St Mary’s Church Centre Why not make up a table of eight-10 friends?

Tickets £10 from St Mary’s Shop.

THE WOODBRIDGE PROM Sunday, November 19, 3-5pm, St Mary’s Church Music from local school instrumentalists and singers.

Tickets (£8 including tea) are available from St Mary’s Shop or at the door.

AN AFTERNOON RECITAL & AUCTION OF PROMISES Sunday, November 26 (see page 13)

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS 1ST RENDLESHAM SCOUT GROUP

WOODBRIDGE IN BLOOM The cool September meant that the floral displays and hanging baskets flowered and lasted well and the committee has received plenty of favourable feedback from locals and tourists. We thank the generous residents and businesses who contributed to our funds with sponsorship or gifts and made it all possible.

The autumn term began decidedly watery as we made the most of the September weather by kayaking, canoeing and power boating with 5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts. We also spent a weekend sailing off the Suffolk and Essex coast with Adventures Offshore, completing both level one sailing and nautical skills badges along the way, and joined Scouts and Guides from all over the area for a day of fun at Thorpeness Meare Day where we played games, enjoyed an island hopping treasure hunt and a high stakes tug-of-war between islands before a bracing dip in the sea.

Along with all these adventurous activities the annual group AGM, games night and family barbecue was held at Rendlesham Primary School. This is an opportunity for everyone involved or interested in the group to meet up, find out about the last year and look forward to the year ahead. It also gave Group Scout Leader Keith Gleen the opportunity to award Assistant Scout Leader Russell McKee his wood badge for completing his leader training along with his wood beads which were first given to Scout leaders by Robert Baden-Powell in 1919, a tradition continued ever since.

Christmas Post For the first time this year 1st Rendlesham Scout Group will be offering a Christmas card delivery service covering Rendlesham, Eyke, Tunstall, Campsea Ashe, Hollesley, Boyton, Alderton, Sutton and Sutton Heath, Bromeswell, Bawdsey and Shottisham. For just 30p per card you can have your Christmas cards hand delivered by a member group and help us raise much needed funds. More details in next month’s magazine or visit our Facebook page.

Membership We currently have spaces for Cubs (8-10 years). Both Beavers (6-8 years) and Scouts (10-14 years) currently have a waiting list but we are always happy to hear from any child interested in joining any section of the troop.

So please don’t hesitate to contact us via our website, on Facebook or via Keith Gleen: 07944 297184 / info@rendleshamscouts.org.uk www.rendleshamscouts.org.uk

WOODBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The October meeting began with a presentation by our deputy town clerk Greg Diaper of a cup to the winner of the best allotment competition on Kingston Field. Plot number 5 managed by Mr and Mrs Dick Finbow was a clear winner. This was followed by a talk and pruning demonstration entitled How to Make the Best of Your Roses by Ian and Tina Limmer of Beales Roses. The company celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.

The next meeting is on November 9 when Michael Warren’s talk will be Through the Year with a Horticultural Photographer. The competition will be a flowering house plant.

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We congratulate all the shops and offices which independently displayed hanging baskets around the town. A new project, Parkside Shops, started by Adams Apple, hung colour-co ordinated baskets along the northern end of the Thoroughfare to attract business, and they looked beautiful.

During July, pairs of committee members walked all the streets of Woodbridge to look at residents’ front gardens. Where we considered floral displays to be particularly attractive we posted congratulations cards through their doors for helping to brighten the area. This was the second year that we have done this in lieu of the previous competitions and a number of residents have said how encouraged they were to know that their efforts were appreciated by others.

We also judged hostelries and businesses around town for their contribution towards making Woodbridge an even nicer town in which to live. The Kings Head won for hostelries and in the businesses section awards went to Whistlestop Café (pictured), Hill House and Fire Station Café. We complimented Woodbridge Cruising Club on the imaginative planting of their new garden. To those named, and many other fine efforts we say well done.

On November 10 we shall be holding a quiz at Woodbridge Football Club to raise funds for next year’s floral displays. There will be a ploughman’s supper and raffle prizes, £10 per person, teams of up to six. We would love to see you there.

If you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact our chairman, Judith Wright: 01394 384848 / judithmarywright@gmail.com Our next planting session for winter/spring will take place towards the end of October. Look out for us around the town.

Vice-Chair Barbara Dann

MARTLESHAM PLAYSCHOOL We’re now open all year round. Contact us about how we can offer 15 or 30 hours funded childcare. We’d also like to hear from you if you need breakfast and after school availability for two to five year olds to gauge if there is more need for this in our area.

In July we held a quiz night courtesy of the Bell Pub. A great night was had by all. Thanks to Debbie and everyone who supported us we raised £215.

We have been busy in the garden – picking pears for snack, planting daffodil bulbs and waiting for them to grow. Unfortunately this takes longer than the next day as some children found out! We have been observing the changes in season and how this affects the colours around us. We adventured into the local woodland which we are lucky to have on our doorstep and collected leaves and acorns for display.

Don’t forget, if your child is due to start school in September 2018, you need to apply online before January 15, 2018. Read more on the Suffolk County Council website.

Spaces are still available, please contact us to see what fun we get up to on: 01473 625986 / mplayschool@btinternet.com Facebook: Martlesham and Kesgrave Playschools

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SPORT RUGBY CLUB’S U7-12 FESTIVAL ENJOYS ITS NINTH SUCCESSFUL YEAR The ninth Woodbridge Rugby Club U7-12 Rugby Festival was held on Sunday, October 8 with 1,250 players and supporters from across East Anglia. Now a regular fixture for local junior teams, Woodbridge Rugby Club, home of the Woodbridge Warriors and Amazons senior men’s and women’s teams, made maximum use of its Bromeswell pitches as games continued from 10.30am until 3.30pm Ideal rugby weather, cool and dry, helped those attending enjoy a full set of matches, barbecue and fresh pizza. Generously sponsored by Woodbridge School, youth squads from as young as six years of age came from Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds, North Walsham, Sudbury, Southwold, Ipswich, Colchester, Harwich & Dovercourt, Mersea, Felixstowe and Woodbridge to play under the RFU’s Age Grade Regulations.

Woodbridge Rugby Club has an extensive youth section with a growing membership of some 370 boys and girls – a record in the area. Its successful appeal to youngsters comes not only from the growing appeal of the game, but also from its full schedule of fixtures and other events organised by a tireless group of parents and RFU qualified and CRBchecked coaches.

WOODBRIDGE TENNIS CLUB Woodbridge Tennis Club held its junior club championships, The TravelQuest Cup, on Sunday, October 8. There were more than 20 competitors in three events on the day, which included eight players in the Under 13 girls’ event.

All matches were played in great spirit, and trophies were presented by the event sponsors. Molly Shipp, the overall winner, is pictured.

In other news, work to create our clubhouse continues. Members have been impressed by the speedy transition from unused pavilion back rooms to areas that can be used for social events, match nights and greater storage space.

For more information about the club, including memership rates and social tennis, please visit: www.woodbridgetennis.org

MELTON BOWLS CLUB

Mark Baker (top left) was the player in form at Melton Bowls Club Competition Finals, being victorious in each of the three finals he reached, the BE Singles, the Handicap Singles and the Drawn Triples. Baker won the Men’s BE Singles title in a game that could have gone either way. He defeated Bob Manning 21-17 in a very tight game that neither player was able to dominate and will now represent the club in next year’s National and County BE Champion of Champions competitions.

In the Handicap Singles final, Baker was up against Ian Green and had a good start leading 10-4 before being pegged back by Green who took the lead on 13-11. Baker then took 10 shots in the next five ends, winning 21-14. The Drawn Triples final could have gone either way with the score all square going into the last end. It was Eve Saunders, Bill Moss and Mark Baker who scored the winning shot on a tense final end to beat Tony Cocker, David Lennard and Dave Austin 17-16. In the Ladies BE Singles Championship final Mary Gillam (second left) retained the title she won last year by defeating Jean Moss 21-13 in a game that she dominated from start to finish.

It was different in the Ladies EBF Singles final where Gillam suffered a narrow defeat for the second year in succession. This year it was at the hands of Rosemary Manning (second from right) who squeezed home by 21-20 in a game that was close throughout, but where Manning always had the edge. Geoff Sherwood won the Men’s EBF singles final defeating Dave Austin by 21-16. Sherwood made the better start and led 16-10, Austin made a late comeback but Sherwood held on to win 21-16.

Darrell Howard was in tremendous form retaining the Robert Daines Singles trophy, He defeated Geoff Sherwood in a very one sided game leading by 19-4 at one stage and eventually running out winning by

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21-10. Derrick Sharp had a good day winning both of the pairs finals. He was paired with Katie Vyse (right) in the Mixed Pairs and they proved to be much too strong for Sandie Andrews and Peter Moyes, winning comfortably by 18-5. The Drawn Pairs was a much tighter game with John Rowland and Gavin Abbott dominating the early part of the game against Pete Sumner and Derrick Sharp. Rowland and Abbott led 11-4 at the halfway stage but the second half of the game was a total reverse with Sumner and Sharp restricting their opponents to only 4 shots and taking the title 20-15.

The Afternoon Pairs League title was won by Mary Gillam and Dave Austin The Melton Bowls Club’s Invitation Greenkeeper Triples Tournament, which traditionally closes the outdoor season, was won this year in style

by Martin Milbourne and Rick Calver and Don Baldock. They were the only unbeaten team and finished with a total of 56 points, well ahead of Terry Wilkins, Dawn Howe and Marian Riches in second with 44 points and Richard Parker, Anne and George Hickinbotham in third, also on 44 points but with an inferior shots difference. The tournament was played in perfect bowling conditions on Melton Bowls Club’s fast running green with a full complement of 24 teams, playing four games in two groups, the winner decided on a points basis. With one game remaining for each team, only three of the 24 teams were unbeaten and in contention to take the trophy. Baldock ’s triple were on 42 points and held a five point lead over the teams led by Bob Manning and Ken King.

Baldock’s triple had an outstanding last game against D Lennard picking up 14 points to give them an unassailable lead. Manning and King both lost their last games finishing on 41 and 39 points respectively and were both overhauled by the chasing pack.

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SPORT WOODBRIDGE CRUISING CLUB

DEBEN YACHT CLUB

As the leaves begin to fall from the trees so the cruising season has drawn to a close marked by a barbecue at Ipswich Haven Marina which was open to anyone who had participated in a club cruise during the season.

More than 80 people filled the restaurant to enjoy the feast so it would seem that the efforts of the cruise organisers met with wide approval.

The sailing is slowing down a little bit now with the days getting shorter, but there is still racing on three weekends in November and on the first Saturday in December. We are also looking forward to the Layingup Supper which is held in Woodbridge Community Hall in November.

Members will enjoy a lovely buffet, a talk by a yacht master instructor and also the prize giving for the races held throughout the season. After that is the AGM at the club when we will swap the commodore for a new one as David Watson has served his two years, doing a great job, and Vice-Commodore Graham Seabrook will take over the reins.

Most of this year’s planned events have gone according to those plans, but unfavourable winds at the end of the season did bring some disruption. The visit to Walton Pond had to be cancelled and the planned French foray stalled in Ramsgate although crews did get to Calais for lunch, courtesy of SeaFrance Ferries!

Unfortunately the cruise leader had trouble with his boat and didn’t get into Ramsgate until several hours later than the rest of the fleet so SADS (the club’s tradition of Safe Arrival Drinks) took place in the dark and was rechristened LADS (no prizes for working that one out).

The last sailing event took boats to Hamford Water and the Rivers Stour and Orwell and was dubbed ‘Three Waters’ (entries on a post card please, but again no prizes!) and as if to cock a snoop the weather was fine and sunny. Despite the town’s legal success in establishing rights of access over the quay at Mistley the fences are still up, but this didn’t deter our intrepid crews who moored up alongside the wall and had their lunch.

Point proved, but it’s no place to be when the tide is out and so as the ebb began they moved down the river to anchor for the night.

Early in October Marion Barnes organised a fish supper in support of the RNLI’s initiative to raise awareness (and money) of the perils as well as the joys of taking to the water. The meal was appropriately held on a Friday and was followed by a supposedly light-hearted quiz and a raffle which succeeded in boosting the institute’s funds.

The AGM will soon be with us and this one will bring a change of flag officers at the helm. Steph Heenan has been tireless in her work as commodore over the last two years, but can now relax a bit and use her campervan for pleasure rather than a refuge after late night meetings.

She has successfully steered the club through calm and storm and her successor will inherit a well found ship.

Committees usually get more complaints than praise but they perform an essential job and give freely of their time and effort and the AGM gives a chance for them to be thanked and recognised. This year in particular has seen the clubhouse redecorated and the riverside garden established, all by members’ own efforts.

The working party has had their first meeting and Mick Sheppard and Chris Cobb are deciding on what interesting jobs to tackle first. They meet once a week on a Tuesday in the winter when, apart from working hard, they enjoy tea and biscuits and hot lunch is served once a month.

The flotillas were popular as ever this summer with one landing at ‘The Tips’ for a picnic. For the last one on September 24, we went to Waldringfield where some enjoyed a drink at the Maybush. Also thanks to Ali Garrod there was a surprise hot drink and cupcakes on the shore!

This was much appreciated, especially if you had managed to capsize on the way there and hadn’t brought a flask.

Friday September 29 was a busy day as in spite of the weather many friends came down to the river to eat cake, drink coffee and support the Macmillan Coffee Morning. Angela Connolly organised this event and would like to extend many thanks to everyone who helped and contributed to a brilliant morning. We are indebted to Skin Deep, Taplin Gallery, Browsers, Barrett’s, Grange Farm Shop, Windmill Florists, Cloud 9 Hairdressers and the Riverside Cinema for the draw prizes they kindly donated. A grand total of £635 was raised.

From January until March we have a monthly walk and arrange talks at the clubhouse about something boat related. More details about dates later. Membership applications are open now for next year. For more information, call membership secretary Mrs Frances Alexander (01394 385221) or visit: www.debenyachtclub.co.uk

ST AUDRYS CRICKET CLUB

The planting has taken well and drawn much admiration from passers-by, but again it doesn’t tend itself and Wednesday mornings see the various maintenance teams hard at work.

For further information about the club visit: www.woodbridgecruisingclub.org

After a successful season in Division 7 of the Two Counties Championship and finishing runners-up in Section B of the Suffolk Cricket Alliance, St Audry’s held their annual presentation night on October 6. The evening included the first presentations to the club’s ladies team, who completed their first season in the Two Counties Championship in mid-table.

Pictured are (from left): Bruce Tompkins (Sunday Bowling Award), Sam Burkitt (Sunday Batting), Malcolm Grubb (Saturday Bowling), Sam Mann (Saturday Batting), Charlotte Mann (Ladies’ Bowling), Tom Sidhu (Player of the Year), Imogen Green (Ladies’ Batting), Eddie Green (Clubman of the Year) and Lesley Ringwood (Ladies’ Player of the Year). The season highlight was the club record partnership of 241 for the first wicket by Coach Eddie Green and 15-year-old Tom Sidhu at home to Sudbury III. The team went on to a record total of 332 for three which was overhauled with a score of 344 for seven v Eye & District in August.

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