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with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook Volume 6 • Issue No. 5 • MARCH 2016
St Peter’s Church, Copdock by Martin Chambers
Fundraising concert in aid of the Osiligi Project in Kenya. An evening for all the family with members of the College’s jazz band and Prep School pupils also performing.
with East Anglia’s Premier Big Band
HORN FACTORY
Friday 22nd April 2016 7.30pm - 10pm at St Joseph’s College Senior School, Belstead Road Ipswich IP2 9DR Tickets £14 (£7 under 16’s) Including Food (Bread, Cheese & Chutney) Licensed Bar serving Beer, Wine & Soft Drinks
Book online @ www.redrosechain.com
Profits from this event will be donated to the St Joseph’s College Developing World Project, assisting their students to run a two-week summer school in Kenya.
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR In a month when many of us will celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday I will also be thinking about another wonderful lady who has had an incredible impact on those who have known and loved her, my husband’s Grandma Ida. Sadly she is no longer with us but I think of her often and invariably find myself smiling when I do.
NEWS FOG CELEBRATION LUNCH FOG (Friends of Guiding), which began as Babergh Vale District Girl Guides Local Association, met for the first time on February 23, 1976. Its function was to help commissioners and guiders with outside administration work and responsibilities and to take an interest in and support the work of the local units, including Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, bearing in mind that it had no responsibility for their running. The name was changed to Babergh Friends of Guiding (FOG) in May 1991.
Ida wasn’t just a perfect grandma, she was the life and soul of the party. There are too many stories to recount here, but Daniel often talks about playing Sardines with his then 83-year-old grandma who deviously abandoned the search and hid herself away in the shower, patiently waiting for her grandchildren to realise the game had taken an unexpected turn! Ida was the first older person I ever developed a genuine relationship with and I can honestly say she changed me for the better. She stirred both my curiosity and my respect. Meeting someone who was born 70, 80 or 90 years ago can be fascinating if you take the time to get to know them. In doing so you too will come to appreciate the fact that age in itself is a mark of achievement! Just imagine how many challenges and changes an 80-year-old has encountered and overcome, how many moments of despair and possibly even heartbreak they may have endured. The technological revolution is one of the most significant challenges my generation has encountered. Ida faced and overcame far more serious challenges and still had a twinkle in her eye at 90. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves now and again just how lucky we are (most of the time) and to acknowledge that a lack of interest in or respect for older people speaks volumes about our own character. Enjoy the celebrations and take a moment to consider how you might like to be treated when you ‘are old and grey and full of sleep’ (WB Yeats).
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Currently FOG raises money to support local guiding units, subsidising guiders’ uniform costs and helping units when they need extra money for special activities. On this, the 40th anniversary of the very first FOG meeting, 23 ladies, all past or current members, met in the Benneworth Lounge at East Bergholt for a celebration, where they enjoyed lunch provided by the present FOG committee. Some reminisced about their own guiding days and even sang a few guiding songs, remembering the words and actions from many years ago. Margaret Wheatley, one of the longest serving members of the committee, cut the special birthday cake as they enjoyed a glass of fizz. Here’s to the next 40 years! The FOG AGM will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at The Red Lion, East Bergholt at 7pm. If you are interested in helping to support local guiding please come and join us then. We have only three committee meetings a year and an annual ploughman’s lunch in November to raise funds. For further information contact Elaine Wright: 01473 311009
ALLOTMENTS IN BENTLEY Bentley Parish Council is to review whether residents wish for, or would make use of allotments if provided for the village. The council has a duty to undertake provision for allotments if a demand is established within the parish. If allotments were available and you would make use of one, please contact the parish clerk, Joy Scott, before the end of May to register your interest: joyvscott@outlook.com Please note, there is no intention to site allotments at the previously proposed location at the rear of Highfields.
Mr Don Miller’s 90th Birthday Mr Don Miller of Mill Lane, Washbrook, celebrated his 90th birthday with friends at The Brook Inn. Thirty-five friends gathered at the Brook Inn for a surprise meal to mark Don’s special day. 3
NEWS
IN MEMORIAM WORLD WAR ONE
SELF-HELP ON SWAN FARM CORNER
Private PO7238 Royal Marine Light Infantry Ivy Bullard Of Tattingstone
Re-seeding to revive the grassy area and as a consequence improve visibility.
Ivy Osbourne Bullard was born on June 13, 1874 to George and Sarah of Tattingstone and by 1901 he was in the Royal Marines. He married Mary Jane Bishop of Devizes with whom he had four children. In 1916 he was serving on HMS Russell in the Mediterranean fleet which, having been involved in Gallipoli, was sailing to join the North Sea fleet. As they were steaming off Malta early on the morning of April 27, 1916 the vessel struck two naval mines that had been laid by the German submarine U-73. A fire broke out in the after part of the ship and the order to abandon ship was passed; after an explosion near the after 12-inch (305 mm) turret, she took on a dangerous list. However, she sank slowly, allowing most of her crew to escape, but sadly 27 officers and 98 ratings were lost of whom Private Bullard was one. His name is now inscribed on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial, as well as on the Tattingstone Memorial in St Mary’s Church.
THE WILLOWS RESURGAM Reassurance for all those curious passers-by – the house will look the same but with firmer footings and warmer walls! In the meantime researches are being made into its past. Kelly’s Directories in the Suffolk Record Office record that a Miss Mary Hopwood had tea rooms there from 1929-1937. Does The Willows by George Nicholson anyone have any more knowledge of this period? If you have please let the village recorder, Jennifer Jones, know: 01473 7304310 / jmkj.copwash@gmail.com
COPDOCK & WASHBROOK IS ‘CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN’ Although The Queen is unlikely to be visiting Copdock & Washbrook, hopefully if she did she would be pleased by our litter-free village. We had a brilliant turnout of residents, and everybody really enjoyed working together to fill the 30 bags of rubbish we collected during our spring litter pick on March 12. Thank you to everyone who took part.
CONSTABLE COUNTRY PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG) Thanks once again to everyone who has contacted us personally by phone, email or using the comment cards in the waiting rooms. Our email address is: constablecountryppg@gmail.com Contact details for PPG members are on display in both waiting rooms and on parish council noticeboards. We always do our best to deal with your queries and complaints. Minutes of our meetings are available at: www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk/ppg.aspx A number of issues have been raised with us recently: • Text message reminders We are aware that people are getting these sometimes weeks in advance of their appointment instead of the day before. This is a computer software issue and the practice has raised this with the software suppliers. • Difficulty with booking online appointments This issue has been logged with the practice manager, Pete Keeble, who is trying to sort it out. • Ongoing problems getting local phlebotomy appointments As mentioned previously other staff are taking blood samples, but some patients are having to go to the Riverside Clinic in Ipswich for
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urgent blood tests. We will give you an update when we have any more news. • Overhead displays in waiting rooms We are aware that people who have sight problems can’t read their name on the overhead displays when they are being called for an appointment. Please tell the receptionist so that either the doctor can come and collect the patient or the receptionist can make them aware that they are being called. Do you have trouble getting to appointments? A reminder that if you live in East Bergholt or Brantham there is a voluntary car service. Please let the receptionist know at the time of booking if you need a lift to an appointment. A service will also be available soon in Capel St Mary. Thanks to Chris Yule for organising this. Please get in touch if you have any ideas for ways in which the PPG can better engage with patients in the practice. Members of the group continue to attend coffee mornings and other events in the practice area. If there is a particular meeting you would like us to attend please get in touch. Kathy Pollard, 01473 311384
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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES: Alton Ward District Councillor Alastair McCraw DEVOLUTION The devolution agenda continues to rumble on. A bid by Suffolk added Norfolk to be stronger. Now Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are added. My fear has been that each council would find itself more remote from decision making. Now we risk ending up as an agricultural and tourist hinterland to Cambridge and Peterborough. Elected mayor aside, the ruling ‘Council of Leaders’ will be dominated by one political group. How many of these councils are likely to be led by a nonConservative administration? We have many different strands of opinion to be taken into account. Think of every council area as a sort of ‘super seat’ and we have a winner takes all approach. Not very representative, democratic, accountable or local, I would say! You can follow this through the front page at: www.babergh.gov.uk
£1,512.60, raising about £0.33m.
BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX Babergh passed the 2016/17 budget at the end of February. I’ll write about the breakdown later. For the moment though, I will break down the council tax division for the ward. Your total annual council tax for Band D (the average and the base level) will be: Brantham £1,521.87, raising about £1.3million; Stutton £1,506.37, raising about £0.5m; Tattingstone
The bottom line is about a 2.1% overall increase in council tax. More number fun next time.
Around 76% of that goes to Suffolk County Council (£1,150 pa). Another 11.5% goes to the Police and Crime Commissioner (£173 pa). Both of those parts are increasing by 2%. Babergh district makes up just shy of 10% of the total (£150 pa). The increase is £5 a year, or 10p a week, the most allowable. It’s 3.5% but, to be fair, there has been a long freeze and we have to prepare for a steady reduction to zero in the Revenue Support Grant. The only point of variation in these figures is the parish precepts. These vary from 2.3% in Stutton (£35) through 2.7% in Tattingstone (£41) to the dizzy heights of 3.3% in Brantham (£50.55). I’m an active parish councillor myself and firmly believe that our parish councils are a bargain in local government. The average PC precept for Babergh is £75.68.
PLANNING AND HOUSES This subject occupies more of our minds, more press coverage and more passion than any other. That’s true everywhere I go. Housing needs to be built to make up for the sad shortfalls of many years. Babergh has a policy of 35% provision
of social housing, but somehow it doesn’t seem to be achieved very often. There are also nearly half a million outstanding planning permissions in England that have been granted and not acted upon. The last figures available show that house builders built under a third of that in one year. So planning permissions are by no means the end of the story. People are going to get upset though when applications are being considered. All I would ask is that we examine the evidence carefully and keep a cool head. Nobody is taking this lightly, but the current policies in planning, and their interpretation, have a very firm predisposition in favour of building, sustainability, viability and proportionality. Opinions differ on the meaning of these seemingly flexible words. In favour of a rational approach to these issues, I refer to the Babergh Planning page to view, follow and comment. Information is the key here. http://tinyurl.com/z4zpjaf If you want to talk anytime, please contact me or just say hello (I’m on a blue Claud Butler bike). alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk / 07812 564188 Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (an open group)
NOTES FROM THE CASE: Suffolk’s first REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton Co-operative Pub! Suffolk Community Foundation Working Together Award In February, Bentley Community Pub Ltd was honoured to receive the Working Together Award from Suffolk Community Foundation. This award was given in recognition of achieving “outstanding outcomes through collaboration and partnership working”. The award includes a cheque for £5,000, which will be allocated towards our ongoing refurbishment. Indeed, most of this money has already been put to good use, paying for the removal of a step near the main entrance by raising the floor in the front and rear bar areas (along with a new carpet to cover it). So now anybody with walking Representatives from Suffolk difficulties can get to all areas of the Community Foundation presenting pub. Coming up at The Case
the cheque to volunteers
Saturday, April 2: Music from Blue Folk We’re delighted to welcome back Bentley’s very own John Campbell and guest for an evening of folk and blues. Saturday, April 30: Quiz Night Food will be served 6-8pm on the above occasions, with the events starting at 9pm. For more information please visit: www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk Contact The Case on: 01473 805575 (during opening hours) / savethecase.bentley@gmail.com www.facebook.com/SaveTheCaseBentley
We have now set the budget for 2016/17. It will be a challenge, but not as great a one as the budgets due in the next couple of years as central government’s support grant gradually disappears completely and councils have to ‘earn’ their funding from their communities. It will or should create a different way of working, but any fans of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister will know that change is not always something welcomed by departments! Nobody likes change. It’s the uncertainty that worries us, as with the EU Referendum, but given the facts I believe that the electorate are perfectly capable of making a decision. Right or wrong will depend on what side you are on, but the decision has to be respected by all. Scare tactics and lack of facts will help no-one. We all have an opinion and should reinforce it with the appropriate information. Then we can accept the decision. Planning decisions continue with some would say ‘indecent haste’, possibly to avoid the CIL charges which come into force in April. Planning has always been a controversial subject, not helped by government changes (it’s that word again), but its main problem is that everyone interprets it differently. It’s never black and white but various shades of grey and like the law of this country we have to be able to interpret it respecting all views and hopefully make a decision that is in effect a compromise everyone can live with. The challenge for this region is to balance housing growth with infrastructure. All planning should be according to government and local policies should be jobs led. However some think that jobs in London justify homes in Babergh. That is where our creaky infrastructure comes in. Roads, rail, schools, doctors, broadband, mobile phone signals, plus energy and services, all have a part to play, but unfortunately we often forget them. Playing catch up is the hardest thing and is something that we should never consider. Get it right at the start and it will be better for everyone. I hope you enjoy Easter although it might be a bit chilly. Stay warm and safe. Councillor John Hinton
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NEWS NEWS FROM HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY Training days Our next training afternoons will be Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, May 19 when we will be shut from 1pm. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999. These dates are subject to change at short notice due to junior doctors strike action. Patient online From March 31 any patient registered with the online service will be able to book appointments, order medications, view summary information such as current medications and allergies and coded information, such as a diagnosis of asthma. If you already have online
access you will need to request access to the extended service. If you don’t already have access, please come to reception with identification and we will put this in place for you. Fidget quilts Thank you to those who have donated wool, buttons and ribbons and to Holly who has made some beautiful fabric quilts. If you would like to have a go at making a fidget quilt for a patient in the dementia unit at Ipswich Hospital please call in and see the examples on our noticeboard. If you need some materials please let us know. Practice Manager Julia Smith
Help to save the NHS! Recently we have highlighted the huge cost of medication, which has been ordered by patients but has not been used and has therefore been returned to the practice for destruction. We have also told you that our Clinical Commissioning Group has asked that we stop prescribing paracetamol for those who take this on an occasional basis. The next step to reduce our prescribing spend is to stop prescribing gluten free items for those aged over 18 and to reduce the prescribing of this for under 18s. We will also be prescribing a generic equivalent of any branded medication, where this is available. Finally, we have been advised not to prescribe over the counter items, medications such as hay fever preparations that are readily available from local supermarkets. These measures to reduce spending all come from our local Clinical Commissioning Group. Please support us, and therefore the NHS nationally, in reducing our prescribing spend by only ordering those medications you need, accepting a generic substitute and purchasing paracetamol, gluten free and over the counter medications from a local supermarket. If you have any queries, please contact PALS on 0800 389 6819.
ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE
Why Copdock & Washbrook for more low cost housing?
Thank you to all who have kindly donated items for the St Elizabeth Hospice Tombola on Capel Funday (June 4). If you wish to donate items please take them to 86 The Street on Saturday mornings, 9.30-11.30am.
It is suggested that our village is considered for yet more low cost housing. Why does it always seem to get pushed on us? I say this because no one wanted the Marvins extended – even the people who live there didn’t want any more houses there, but build them they did. It seems if the local authority wants to do something they will regardless of people’s feelings. We have very little in the way of amenities in this village so it makes little sense to consider more low cost building in this village when there are more suitable places to build, such as Capel St Mary which has bigger school, shops, a doctors surgery, dentist and various other things.
I am still collecting used stamps, mobile phones (with chargers if possible), inkjet cartridges, and foreign and British currency. These can be left at number 86 or in the bin in the foyer at Capel Doctors’ Surgery. Thank you for your continued support. Linda Morrison, hospice rep for Capel St Mary
COPDOCK and WASHBROOK PLAYING FIELD Established 1952
Old London Road, Copdock, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3JN
Our village already has it’s fair share of low cost houses – Fen View, Marvins and some in Pearson’s Way. How many does Bentley have? A few in Highfields I say as most of them have already been sold off. It’s already quite difficult to sell your house in Copdock & Washbrook. Adding more low cost houses would make this problem even worse. John Peters, a Copdock & Washbrook resident
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1160671 NOTIFICATION OF AGM Notification is given that the Annual General Meeting of The Copdock and Washbrook Playing Field Charity will take place on Thursday, April 28 at The Playing Field Pavilion commencing at 7.30pm. All interested parties are invited to attend. The AGM is followed by a PFMC meeting at the same venue; this will consist of the trustees and committee members only
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OUT & ABOUT EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY
NEWS FROM CAPEL LIBRARY
Old Actors Never Die… They Simply Lose the Plot by Lynn Brittney
A month of April showers and warmish sunshine makes a good combination to start things growing in the greenhouse or garden – come and get some inspiration from books or take a look at the Gardeners’ World magazine that we keep on the table in the non-fiction section. We have this magazine every month, albeit a couple of copies behind the latest, as it circulates around other libraries. Alternatively look at the Zinio section on the elibraries page on the website for a free download of the latest Amateur Gardening magazine: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk
The Mount Home for Retired Theatricals is more like posh hotel than a home for the elderly and the residents are very happy at being waited on hand and foot. When Walter Neville (veteran of over 200 films) arrives, he’s delighted to find his best friends living there and looks forward to many enjoyable hours living in peace and harmony. But when the serial womaniser ex-husband of three of the ladies (Mrs Sullivan 1, 2 and 3) goes missing – apparently on the run from the Russian Mafia – the peace is about to be shattered. Come and enjoy this very funny play which is full of wonderful characters ranging from the dramatically eccentric to the downright scary at The Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14-16 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 in advance (£7 on the door if any left!) from Fountain House Café and from 01206 396674 / 07891 974844.
Please note that there is no Baby Bounce on April 5 due to school Easter holiday. It re-starts on Tuesday, April 12 at 2pm. We are a small group but have been joined by some new mums and grandparents recently. We enjoy singing and playing/rattling musical instruments for about 30 minutes. It’s open to all under five years old and it is free. The Library Book Group meets on Friday, April 15 at 2.30pm. Come along and listen to the discussions on the latest book and perhaps suggest another that you may have read and enjoyed. The group is open to suggestions. Donations
BATS JUNE PRODUCTION : HOLIDAY SNAP We are pleased to announce our June production of Holiday Snap, a comedy by Michael Pertwee and John Chapman. The play can be seen from Thursday, June 9 to Saturday 11 at 7.30pm in Brantham Village Hall. This tale of comic predicament and mistaken identity unfolds with real wit and style. A Portuguese time-share villa has been double-booked, unknown to the company rep, the myopic tippler Commander “Chitto” Chittenden. When Mary and Henry arrive shortly after Eve and Leslie, Chitto manages to remain unaware that there is more than one couple on the scene. Watch the confusion compound with the missing housekeeper and her husband. How will the arrival of Henry’s mother-in-law cause even more problems? Who is the real Sir Piers? Answer these questions by coming along to see this hilarious play. Tickets (on sale from May 1) will cost £7 from Bakes & Blossoms Café at Acacia Court, 01026 396674 or (text) 07891 974844.
East Bergholt High School Association Registered Charity no. 1017476
CAR BOOT SALE
Sunday, May 22 In the grounds of the high school 9.30am-noon Admission 50p – free car parking PITCHES In advance: cars £5, cars with trailers £7, domestic vans £10 On the day: £1 extra NO TRADERS Gates open 8.30am for sellers, 9.30am for buyers To book please phone: 01206 298122
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We are looking for donations of ribbons, lace and small amounts of fabric for a craft activity to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. We shall be telling the story of The Queen’s Knickers on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, and making some knickers to hang on a washing line. More details on timings in next month’s edition. Any donation gratefully received. Message from Katharine and Ali “A big thank you to everyone who sponsored us to complete the Colchester Half Marathon. Once all monies have been counted we will let you know the total. The sponsorship form is still available at the library if you still wish to donate.” We sell books of first and second class stamps, book tokens in any denomination and have a book sale trolley with books starting from 30p each. Do come and browse the selections available. OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699
Clear the Clutter – bag a bargain Bentley Toddler Group is holding a jumble sale to raise funds on Saturday, April 30 from 2pm at Bentley Village Hall. If you have anything you wish to donate to our sale, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on April 28 or call Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) who will arrange to collect it from you. If you would like to come to our sale, the hall will be open from 2pm. Tea and coffee will also be available. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.
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Trusted by local families since 1925 47 St Helens Street Ipswich 01473 257242 283 Norwich Road Ipswich 01473 232837
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The East of England Co-op has been your local funeral service for 90 years. We are not part of the national Co-operative Funeralcare chain based in Manchester.
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OUT & ABOUT THE BROOK PLAYERS The Brook Players are pleased to present Blithe Spirit, an improbable farce by Noel Coward. Author Charles Condomine invites local medium Madam Arcarti to his house to conduct a séance in order to collect material for his new book. Unfortunately, she brings back Elvira, his first wife, from the other side, who promptly proceeds to make life exceedingly uncomfortable for Charles and his second wife Ruth. A second visit from Madam Arcarti is arranged, but will things go from bad to worse… Copdock Village Hall, April 13-15, 7.45pm. Tickets (£7, concessions £5) from: 01473 730524
PENINSULAR PIX NEWS
TEA & COMPANY Monday, April 18 at Wenham View, Dove Close
All welcome to come along from 2.30pm £1.50 for tea/coffee and homemade cakes Raffle Supported by The Capel Ladies
THE GREAT BURSTALL BOOK SALE The Great Burstall Book Sale is back by popular demand at Burstall Village Hall on Saturday, April 23, from 10am-4pm, with free admission. Brooklyn, the BAFTA-winning film set in Ireland and the USA, was enjoyed by a full house in March. In the same week it was shown the USA had their Super Tuesday in the build up to the November elections. Pen Pix has a Super Thursday every month, not once every four years. We welcomed more newcomers from Washbrook and other nearby villages. Thank you for coming and we hope you come again after enjoying the Pen Pix experience – a social night out with a film and a drink, all for £4. On April 7 we are showing The Lady in the Van starring Academy Awardwinning actress Maggie Smith. The Mail on Sunday said it was ‘One of the best films of the year’ (2015) with the Evening Standard stating ‘Maggie Smith is glorious’. The Lady in the Van is based on the true story of Miss Sheppard (Maggie Smith), a woman of uncertain origins who ‘temporarily’ parks her van in Alan Bennett’s London driveway and proceeds to live there for 15 years. What begins as a begrudged favour becomes a relationship that will change both their lives. Also featuring Jim Broadbent, Gwen Taylor and Frances De La Tour, this is a brilliant, entertaining and touching film which will have you smiling all the way to your bed. The Lady in the Van shows on April 7 in Tattingstone Village Hall, doors opening at 7.30pm. Tickets are £4.50 on the door or £4 in advance from our usual outlets: The Wheatsheaf, Stutton Community Shop, Lloyd (326882) or Ben (327258). Give it a try like our other newbies and have a Super Thursday on April 7. Ben Connor, chair
ANTIQUES ROAD SHOW Bentley WI has arranged for Mr Marc Winter, head of valuations for auctioneers Reeman & Dansie, to give a talk on antiques at Bentley Village Hall on April 13 at 7.30pm, and you may get the opportunity to have an item valued.
Here is your chance to purchase paperbacks and hardbacks, fiction and nonfiction, all at knockdown prices. As before, all proceeds will go to Bumblebee Children’s Charity. Any queries, or for further information, contact Lesley Raby: 01473 652403
STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, March 9 Charlotte Harding presented An Introduction to Warner & Sons, a talk on the 120 years of textile design and manufacture in London and Braintree, highlighting the company’s royal connections. On Wednesday, April 13 Rebecca Parry BSc, Director of Conservation, Education & Research, will talk on Zoos and Conservation. Her talk will include the history of zoological collections, including Colchester Zoo, the zoo’s current modern roles, its breeding programmes and conservation projects in the wild. We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 and this entitles members to attend the meetings that take place on the second Wednesday of each month. Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking, computer studies and gardens, churches and historic buildings visits. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust and have more than 200 members and 18 groups.
This is an open meeting and will include some light refreshments.
For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Val Pretty can be contacted.
If you wish to attend or require further information please contact one of the following: Sandra, 310072; Janet, 310561; Diane, 311292.
It’s never too late to learn. Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.
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OUT & ABOUT COPDOCK & WASHBROOK WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK VILLAGE QUIZ
February marked the birthday of our WI group – 97 years young with this being our 1,093rd meeting. We marked the occasion with a delicious cake baked by Muriel Pearsons, a long standing member who kindly makes cakes for all our festive occasions, and 28 members enjoyed dinner at the Kings Head in East Bergholt on February 23. The tables were arranged in a large horse-shoe shape so that we all sat together. The whole area looked warm and welcoming with a relaxed atmosphere. The staff were excellent, very professional and helpful throughout. We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the company of friends – lots of chatter and laughter which is the perfect celebration! We started our February meeting with our usual business review along with a report from our walking group, announcements of the village litterpick on March 12 and village quiz on March 8, in which we entered two teams. We also had a draw for the members who would receive a subsidy towards the cost of attending a first aid course which will be arranged in the next few months. Trained first aiders are a big benefit both to the WI and the whole community. Plans for our entries to the Suffolk Show are progressing well under the leadership of Liz Stowe. Arrangements for a collection of goods donated for British Humanitarian Aid were made and we also continue to support a local food bank. We had three representatives attending the annual federation meeting in March at Trinity Park, always a good arena to hear news and exchange views in addition to the formal activity. Our speakers were Ann and Dennis Kell, a local couple with a keen interest in both wildlife and travel, who told us of their trip to the Falkland Islands, en-route to Antarctica. Their talk was fascinating and particularly interesting for those of us whose main mental picture of the area was formed by the news coverage in 1982. Dennis and Ann’s enthusiasm was evident and contagious as they explained the way of life in the islands and the flora and fauna that thrive there, illustrated by their photos, surprising statistics and amusing anecdotes. There are many good reasons to join the WI. We enjoy a wide variety of interests and outings, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills or to improve existing skills or just come along to the meetings for companionship and interesting speakers. You can come to three meetings as a visitor to see what goes on before deciding if you would like to join. All visitors and new members will be warmly welcomed. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month (excluding August) at the village hall. The next meeting will be April 19 when Dr Geoffrey Kaye will talk on The Crystal Palace. The competition is Victorian Art and the Trading Stall recent magazines. Please arrive around 7.15 for a 7.30pm start. Sandra Howard
COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK RAMBLERS With our walking season drawing to a close, why don’t you join us for the final ramble on Sunday, April 10 when we will be going through the tunnel into Belstead Parish and returning via Brockley Wood? We expect to see some beautiful spring flowers. We will be setting off from the Church Room in The Street at 1.30pm, and will walk for about two hours. Tina, 730162
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The first village quiz took place in 1989 and, as usual, this year it proved a pleasant evening, but still very competitive. Questions were set by Roger Edwards and Eddie Knight, and covered a wide range of subjects, covering everything from philately to questions regarding the Commonwealth. After a very close competition, the Copdock Bowls Club (pictured) won, narrowly beating teams from the church and the Brook Players. The tennis club, who organise the quiz, thank all those village clubs which took part for their support.
CRAFTERS UNLIMITED Monday, April 4: Butterflies (Jill) Other kits available on the evening. Samples of each month’s project are displayed the month before and other projects are available. The Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.3010pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms. For more information contact Ann (01473 780298) or Jill (01473 713534).
DIABETES UK IPSWICH SUPPORT GROUP The next open meeting is on Thursday, April 14 at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. Instead of having a speaker, we are going to have a quiz night on knowing your diabetes. This is nothing special, just some fun, but there will be some interesting answers. This is a free event and there is no charge. The group is a social gathering of people who have Type1 or Type2 diabetes, but anyone interested in diabetes can attend. Refreshments will be available free of charge and there will be a draw to raise funds for the group. For further information please contact our vice-chairman Peter: 07799 607951
ST MARY’S CHURCH, TATTINGSTONE LADIES’ GUILD Join us for a continental breakfast on Saturday, April 16, 8.30-11am, at Tattingstone Village Hall. Angela Neale will be talking about The Third Order of the Franciscan’s, a vowed life with a deep commitment to following Jesus Christ with St Francis as our guide. Jesus said to them: “Come and have breakfast.” John 21 v.12 All welcome.
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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 15
1ST CAPEL ST MARY SCOUT GROUP
Route 15
Town/village
Location
Time
MIP/15A MIP/15B MIP/15C MIP/15D MIP/15E MIP/15F MIP/15G
Washbrook Washbrook Washbrook Burstall Elmsett Whatfield Hintlesham
Pearson’s Way Brook Inn Car Park Fenn View Telephone Kiosk Rose and Crown Wheatfields Timperleys
9.50-10.40 10.45-11.15 11.20-11.40 11.50-12.15 12.40-13.05 14.05-14.50 15.05-16.00
There will be a jumble sale on Saturday, April 23, 2-4pm, in the Scout Hut at Capel St Mary Primary School. Admission is 50p, with accompanied children free. Please leave your jumble outside by 9.30am for collection. We regret we are unable to take underwear, furniture or electrical goods.
2016 DATES: April 27, May 25, June 22, July 20, August 17, September 14, October 12, November 8, December 7
IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY On Wednesday, April 27 Neil Marshall will present an illustrated talk entitled The New Brighton Belle at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, 7 for 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome to attend (£3.50 including tea/coffee). An annual excursion is also arranged to a place of transport interest, this year to the Great Western Society premises at Didcot. For further details, please contact Mervyn Russen (01473 414746) or Martyn Hunt (01473 422145) or visit: www.idhts.co.uk
Explorer Scouts are young people aged between 14 and 18 years old, and Cattawade Unit meets on the second Friday of each month in Cattawade with other meetings on the fourth Friday of each month or as agreed as outdoor activity meetings or weekend events. The unit has recently recruited an additional leader to support the scout and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programmes with those registered for the award programmes increasing each month. Most of the Explorers have recently completed our ‘out of season’ winter/spring expedition training programme and are now preparing for practice expeditions for DofE Bronze and Silver in Suffolk and DofE Gold expeditions in the Peak District and Snowdonia. Several unit members have signed up for this year’s ocean going offshore sailing organised by Suffolk Scouts or the international events being run in the UK and overseas. We also have a limited number of places available for young people aged 14 to 24 who wish to complete their DofE or Queen’s Scout Awards especially those who have been unable to complete their expedition section with their local organisation. If you are a holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and would like to help more young people achieve theirs too, or wish to know more, please contact Roger for an informal chat. Cattawade Explorer Scout Roger S Dann, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Leader: 01206 395285 / 07778 463172 / catt-explorers@outlook.com
STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB On March 2 Richard Walker presented When Pirates Ruled the Waves, a very local issue a few decades back, and we held our annual general meeting on Wednesday, March 16 when Graeme Forsyth stepped down after his year as president. On April 6 David Carman will interview our new president Hew Naylor in his Desert Island Discs in what promises to be a most interesting meeting. At our second meeting of the month on April 20 Phil Hadwen will speak about the life of Edith Cavell, a British nurse who saved the lives of soldiers from both sides, without discrimination, and helped some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War. We meet at the convenient St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB. Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month in Manningtree at 10.30am. For further details please contact secretary Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665
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WATCHDOG SEEKS VIEWS ON DIABETIC FOOT CARE SERVICES IN SUFFOLK Healthwatch Suffolk is working with a leading Consultant Physician of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust Diabetic Centre to explore local experiences of using diabetic foot care services in Suffolk. Good foot care is essential for people living with diabetes because it can prevent complications caused by high blood glucose levels including damage to nerves and blood vessels. In fact, active foot disease is a leading cause of amputation in the UK. That is why Healthwatch is keen to explore whether people at high risk of developing foot disease in Suffolk are receiving appropriate care. It is interested in your experiences about the full range of services that may care for your feet and this includes those accessed in GP practices, hospitals and in the community. Andy Yacoub, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Suffolk, said: “Our aim is to ensure that these essential services are shaped by the experiences of people using them. This survey will help us to independently check that patients are receiving the right messages to help them manage their condition and that there is fair and appropriate access to foot care services across the county. If you have diabetes or know someone that does, please take part. It only takes a moment and your views could make a positive difference to care in Suffolk.” To take part, visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/suffolkdiabetes You can also contact Healthwatch Suffolk on 01449 703949 or by email to info@healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk to request a hard copy survey. This survey will close on April 30, 2016.
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB At our March meeting we had a lively and entertaining visit from Martlesham Speakers Club, Speak Easy. Five of their members came and were introduced by Sonya Burrows who then gave them a subject relating to the countryside, ranging from favourite countryside walk to technology and the most dangerous thing in the countryside. They were given one and a half minutes to talk on the subject unknown to them and it really was off the cuff. One of the members also gave a short informative talk on carriage driving with some good slides which prompted questions from members. Next meetings April 12: A talk and slides on Suffolk estuaries and wildlife by Alex Bass. May 10: A talk on Ipswich Waterfront by Ann Day Visitors are very welcome to join us in the lounge of the Methodist Church Capel at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month, refreshments are provided after the talk.
BLUE CROSS SUFFOLK Our new flagship centre at Bourne Hill in Wherstead is now open for business and we are able to help even more abandoned, unwanted, ill or injured pets in their quest to find their forever homes. To enable us to do this we have to raise much needed funds which we do by holding fundraising events. As well as selling our own branded goods we also sell donated items. We cannot take jumble or electrical goods but anything of good quality such as jigsaws, soft back books, CDs and DVDs is very acceptable. If you are able to help we will happily collect. Please contact Ian Hendry: 01449 767747 / gmhendry@hotmaill.com
BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB Our speaker for February cancelled the day before the meeting due to ill health. We do hope she is now fully recovered. Fortunately for us, Eileen Ward stepped in and gave an interesting and informative talk about her years as a judge for Suffolk in Bloom. Her knowledge of Suffolk, its people and of course plants was evident. We were amused by her recalling funny incidents and happy memories that have occurred over the years. Thank you Eileen and keep on judging. On April 20 at 7.30pm in the village hall Lucy Redman will talk about garden design, plants, sculptures and craft. One not to be missed. All will be made very welcome. See you there, Marilyn Wosahlo
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL The children were all very excited about their Easter break and the fact that the Easter Bunny may have brought them some chocolate to eat. We are hoping that everyone will be fully rested and ready to greet the summer term when we open again on Monday, April 11. We are also very excited as some of the pre-school children will be going on our organised coach trip to Easton Farm Park on Thursday, April 14. Let’s hope it’s a sunny day. We will once again be running our summer holiday club on each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 3.30pm for children aged two to eight years old. This will start from July 26 until September 1. Prices are £20 for a full day (bring a packed lunch) and £12 for either a morning (9am-noon) or afternoon (12.30-3.30pm) session. For more details or to book spaces please contact the administrator – details below. Don’t forget to get your applications in now for places in September 2016. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am-3.30pm during term time. Children can start from the age of two until they go to Reception. Session fees are £9.60 and we offer a lunchclub (noon-12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and we offer twoyear funded places for any eligible children. We also run a holiday club in the Easter – further information can be obtained by contacting the administrator. For more information regarding any of the above or just to find out more about Claydon Pre-school please contact the administrator, Lisa Read: 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk
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COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL We celebrated World Book Day with a dance workshop centred around Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. The children came to school dressed as either something from the wild (i.e. a wild animal) or as a wild thing. We had a fantastic morning, with each class participating in a dance workshop. The children have all received a World Book Day token which can be used to purchase the 2016 World Book Day books or to put towards the purchase of a book of their choice. We entered a team of Year 5 and 6 pupils into the recent basketball tournament which took place at East Bergholt High School. The children played extremely well and enjoyed participating. Well done to all who took part. The children dressed up in their sportswear or as one of their sporting heroes for Sport Relief. Their activity was ‘Run or skip a mile’. The children raised a lot of money for these good causes while having lots of fun. Our club for this half term has been ‘Running’, working on the children’s stamina and endurance in readiness for the up and coming cross country competition. Squirrel’s topic for this half term is based around the book Handa’s Surprise by Eileen Browne. The topic has involved the children looking at Africa. Woodpeckers have been looking at our European neighbours and learning about different cultures within Europe. Foxes have been looking at Egyptian life and are enjoying making Egyptian artefacts which they will be sharing with their parents and the rest of the school in their very own Egyptian museum. The school council is raising funds for UNICEF Syrian refugee children. The children were asked to camp at home in a den or tent to raise money for the Syrian refugee children. We are waiting to see how much money we have raised. The school is collecting Sainsbury Active Kids vouchers and East Anglian Daily Times sports equipment vouchers. If you would like to donate any of these vouchers to the school please post into our post box or drop them into the office.
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SCHOOLS ROBIN’S NEWS
THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL
Baby Bears World Book Day was such fun and we chose a different That’s Not My Book each day. These are a selection of books which the Bears love looking at. We have been busy with a wide range of activities from monkey cupcakes, threading princess jewellery with cheerios, a teddy bears’ picnic and footprint butterflies for our Mother’s Day celebrations.
School announced Apple Regional Training Centre
We have been trying to promote independence including the ability to make choices. The bears have enjoyed choosing the different fruit they would like for snack, the toys they would like to play with and finding their own juice cup and bringing it to the table at meal times. Toddling Tigers We have been celebrating World Book Day by exploring our favourite stories, dressing up as our favourite characters and talking about them. Circle time has been welcomed by the Tigers into their morning and afternoon routine. During this time all the Tigers sit together in our cushioned area and we talk about which Tigers are here, we count how many Tigers we have and we talk to the Tigers to let them know the plans for the day. We also sing action songs and read stories together to promote the children’s communication and language. This time helps to support the children’s personal, emotional and social development. This is also the time where the Tigers will talk about their interests and what they have been up to with their family time. Gruffalos We celebrated World Book Day with great enthusiasm. The children and staff all dressed up as storybook characters with the grown up Gruffalos all being a character from Little Red Riding Hood. The children loved the live re-enactment of the story. Throughout the day we shared our favourite stories, made our own story books, made Gruffalo headbands and created a huge pirate ship outside while singing along to our favourite pirate story, Portside Pirates. We also had a guest storyteller come in to Squash and Squeeze, the funny voices made us giggle lots. It was a lovely day celebrating the importance of books and stories. If you would like moreinformation about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki on 01473 310767, visit www.robinschildcare.co.uk or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK PRESCHOOL Our learning this term has been based on the traditional tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We have read the story together and used it as a basis for our play and learning. The children acted out the story using different sized chairs, bowls and spoons, and practised talking in different voices for the characters. A deep boomy voice for Daddy Bear, medium tones for Mummy Bear and a high squeaky voice for Baby Bear. Inspired by the story we tasted porridge for our snack and baked oat biscuits. Surprisingly the porridge was a great success, tasted and enjoyed by the majority of the children.
The Royal Hospital School has been announced an Apple-approved Regional Training Centre (RTC) providing teachers and technical staff from schools and colleges all over the region with an opportunity to come together to access expertise, training and best practice to support their use of Apple technology in the classroom. Apple has been promoting RTCs since 2005 with a focus on pedagogy, for sharing best practice and gaining skills. According to Apple, RTCs exist to introduce planned, effective, digital solutions to schools using Mac and iPad; to train teachers to use Apple’s tools to help enable active and transformative teaching and learning within the classroom. Dr Jonathan Allday, director of information and academic systems at the Royal Hospital School, said: “We are delighted to be announced as an Apple Regional Training Centre. The school has mobile technology well embedded into its teaching and learning, a process that started in 2012 when all of our teachers were provided with an iPad alongside two years of intensive training. By September 2015 every pupil in the school was using an iPad in the classroom and for planning, access to resources and communication. Our recognition as an RTC is a result of this well-planned and considered approach to incorporating technology into our teaching and learning and the enthusiastic support provided by our innovative IT solutions providers, XMA.” Pupils mark Fairtrade Fortnight The geography club, eco committee and catering team at the Royal Hospital School joined up to promote International Fairtrade Fortnight, as well as to contribute towards the school’s efforts to achieve the Carbon Charter Gold Award. Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual promotional campaign, co-ordinated by the Fairtrade Foundation, when everyone from commercial partners to schoolchildren, producers to politicians, come together to talk about and raise awareness of Fairtrade. Fairtrade Fortnight at the Royal Hospital School kicked off with the geography club delivering an excellent chapel talk all about the benefits of Fairtrade and the unveiling of the geography corridor which had been transformed into a rainforest complete with rainforest noises. Each break and lunchtime throughout the fortnight, Year 8 pupils led activities to promote Fairtrade. These included Fairtrade chocolate tasting, guess the product, match the produce to the country, a QR treasure hunt around the school, Fairtrade milkshake, films, poetry competitions and an afternoon conserving the trees at Princes Wood. The campaign culminated in a whole-school quiz where 14 teams battled it out for first place, using the knowledge gained throughout the Fairtrade Fortnight activities.
The story lends itself to discussion of size and texture so we have been busy sorting out objects into small medium and large and soft or hard. Children have been suggesting their own alternative vocabulary to describe, massive being one of their favourites using the phrase “My Dad is MASSIVE”.
Pupils were also invited to pledge their promise to the rainforest and eco-commitments by writing on a ‘leaf’ and adding this to the geography rainforest. Staff also joined in the celebration drinking only Fairtrade tea and coffee in the common room, pledging their own promises and cheering on their houses in the Fairtrade quiz. The catering department encouraged the purchase of Fairtrade products in the school café and labelled every meal served at breakfast, lunch and supper with the origins and associated food miles.
The term finished with an enjoyable Easter egg hunt and lunch.
www.royalhospitalschool.org
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SCHOOLS / SPORT NEWS FROM BENTLEY CEVC
BELSTEAD CARPET BOWLS CLUB
This month has been another whirlwind of activity here at Bentley. World Book Day was ‘wild’ as we dressed up as something from the wild in honour of the book Where The Wild Things Are. We had a professional dance company come in and deliver dance workshops based on the theme and we even designed out own ‘wild places’.
First up this month was a visit from Old Felixstowe who were missing some regular players which contributed to us having a fairly comfortable 10-0 win. Then it was a trip to Chelmondiston which is not the best of floors for visiting teams, but after winning the first two games hopes were high for more points. This didn’t happen as we lost one of games plus our shot advantage. The second game was much closer and we went into the last end all square, but once again we had to suffer a last end defeat. The difference between the two woods was no more than 5m/m which meant we lost the match 6-4.
Our rather fantastic basketball team had a huge success at the recent basketball competition held at East Bergholt High School; they saw off all the competition to make it to the final, coming second overall. This really is a big achievement for a team coming from a small school such as ours and we are very proud of all the pupils who took part. They were praised for their excellent behaviour and sportsmanship by adults who attended the event and were super ambassadors for the school. Easter Egg Club has been as popular as ever this year, chocolate has featured most highly on the agenda! The children have been making beautiful chocolate eggs and other Easter goodies to take home in their own special Easter basket. As well as the Easter Egg Club, we are looking at the true meaning of Easter and are preparing for and looking forward to a special Easter assembly at the church. The Worship Group (a group of children in the school who organise special events and write prayers for the classes) are involved in the planning and we can’t wait to see what they have come up with this year. As well as the importance of the Easter story, we will be having our annual Easter Bonnet Parade – always an eye opener; some parents have a very artistic flare. Adders and Badgers Class We have started a topic on the Anglo-Saxons and are looking at how life in England then compares to life now, and what similarities there are. We are looking forward to our planned trip to West Stow AngloSaxon village later in the month and learning about the houses, animals and tools that were common place in that time. If you have any useful artefacts about this topic that you wouldn’t mind lending to us for a short while, we would love to hear from you. We are looking at the topic of Africa. We have looked at where it is in the world, what plants, animals and land features there are and how different cultures have developed across the continent. We have been looking at the book Handa’s Surprise to help us find out about how life differs in an African culture to our own, including different foods that are eaten. As with above, if you have any items that you could lend us that would help our learning it would be lovely to hear from you. Finally, thank you ever so much for all the newspaper we have had in, the community has rallied to the call again!
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Next was a home game against Claydon who came as league leaders and after some very good bowling from both teams we ran out winners by 8-2. A Joe Rice Cup quarter final match at Needham Market saw us paired with Brockley and after winning the first two games we came completely unstuck which resulted in a 4-4 score line but with our opponents well ahead in shots. With two games to go it’s still possible to win the league, but other results have to go our way.
CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The First team were beaten 2-1 by Crane Sports in the Bob Coleman Cup after a close game in which a well-taken goal from Nick Middlebrook gave us an interval lead but we conceded two goals after the break to go out of the competition. In the Senior League the team beat Ipswich Valley Rangers 3-1 with goals from Lloyd Dodsworth, Shaun Webb and Lee Barrett, but then lost 1-0 to Bramford United, a defeat which saw the lads slip to fifth place in the league − the lowest position that the side had been in all season. The Reserves moved off the bottom of the Senior Reserve League after beating Mendlesham 3-2, thanks to goals from leading scorer Joe Bigmore and a brace from new signing Keiron Dilloway, but were beaten 4-1 by Sporting 87 and then lost 2-0 in the return game against Mendlesham. Several teenagers from the village play for the team with Oliver Miller playing well in defence, Daniel Dixon putting in some good performances in midfield and Harry Taylor, who scored our goal against Sporting 87, showing his class and speed up front. (That’s a pint you owe me Harry!) Our Sunday side played one game in February, beating Worlingworth away 2-0 with goals from Abdul Kaium and Andy MacDonald while our Veteran side (over 35) had all their games called off due to unfit pitches. The club continues to run nine youth sides with ages ranging from seven to 16 with the youngsters enjoying their football under the watchful eyes of our qualified coaches. Bob the ploughman
SPROUGHTON TENNIS CLUB Junior coaching at Sproughton Tennis Club begins on Thursday, April 21. Every week until the summer holidays (except Whitsun half-term), there will be three sessions of coaching available. The sessions are as follows: 3.45-4.15pm for under eights; 4.15-5pm for eight to 11 years; 5-6pm for 11-16 years. John, our popular coach, will have lots of games and drills to improve your tennis. New members are half price. FREE JUNIOR OPEN DAY To celebrate our newly resurfaced courts (partly funded by Babergh DC and with support from Suffolk Tennis along with funding from Councillor Busby’s Locality Budget), we are holding a Free Junior Open Day as part of the coaching session on Thursday, April 28 where all are welcome to attend. For more information, visit www.sproughtontennis.co.uk or contact: tennis@sproughtontennis.co.uk / 01473 402307
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So Much More Than a Dance Class Any Age & Ability Very Welcome No Partners Required
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Call Janet on 07506 350 455
classes also in: - Brantham - East Bergholt - Hadleigh - Nayland, & - Stratford St Mary
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janet@fundancing.co.uk www.fundancing.co.uk FunDancing.Suffolk FunDancing
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CHURCH NEWS HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCH “YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN” Do you ever remember odd lyrics from a song but can’t remember the rest? It increasingly happens to me, but Google often helps to alleviate my frustration. In this instance at least three songs – by Alabama, the Bee Gees and New Song – came up, all using the line: “You can’t keep a good man down.” I remember an inflatable toy that was all the rage a few years ago, a bear about four foot high when inflated which could be punched or knocked over, but would immediately right itself for another blow. You could knock it over as hard and as often as you wanted but: “You can’t keep a good man down.” I’ve ‘Amazoned’ the toy and they are still available now as Despicable Me minions! The song by New Song told the story of the death of Jesus on a cross, how he was put in a tomb but how 36 hours later – despite a guard on the tomb – Jesus was alive. The enemies of Jesus thought they had won when they had got the Roman government to crucify him. He was cut down from the cross late on Friday afternoon, his body limp and lifeless. He was laid in the tomb and this was sealed with a huge stone. To ensure no deception Roman soldiers guarded the tomb, but by early Sunday morning the tomb was empty, and Jesus began to appear to his friends. “You can’t keep a good man down.” An eminent lawyer in the 20th century didn’t believe the story and set out to write a book rubbishing all the so-called sightings of Jesus after his crucifixion. As he examined all the evidence meticulously as a lawyer, he became convinced of its truth and the book he wrote was so different from the one he had planned to write. The New Song lyrics say “You can close your eyes, you can say it’s a lie, You can stick your head in the sand, You can turn away, even try to explain, He was just another man”, but all the evidence was that “You can’t keep a good man down”, and I and many others will tell you of the reality of the presence of Jesus still today in our lives.
We are each faced with choices, either we convince ourselves against all the evidence that he didn’t come back to life or we believe. Hatred had done its worst, but the love of God could not be kept down. Christ is Risen – we are Easter People. The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Capel and Brantham Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 AT HOLBROOK METHODIST What’s on in April (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Mondays, 2-3.30pm: Tea and Chat (HCT) Saturday 2 10-11.30am Coffee Morning Sunday 3 10am Worship with Mrs Alyson Ellis Sunday 10 10am Worship and Communion with The Rev Andrew Sankey Tuesday 12 7.30pm Fellowship Group at Chapel Thursday 14 2pm Fellowship Group Friday 15 9am Tiddlers 10am Family Live 3.30pm Messy Church Sunday 17 10am Worship with Mr Raymond Wilson Wednesday 20 11am-4pm Knit In (with soup lunch) Sunday 2 10am Worship with Mrs Marilyn Watsham 6.30pm Something Different with The Rev Sankey Thursday 28 2pm Fellowship Group Friday 29 9am Tiddlers 10am Family Live Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in April. For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live, contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 658478
HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Services for April Sunday 3 9am
Second Sunday of Easter Mass
Tuesday 5 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 10 9am
Third Sunday of Easter Mass
Tuesday 12 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 17 9am
Fourth Sunday of Easter Mass: Children’s Liturgy
Tuesday 19 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass
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Sunday 24 9am
Fifth Sunday of Easter Mass
Tuesday 26 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Catholic Commentary The Pope’s Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ (the Care of our Common Home) was an important influence at the Climate Change Conference in Paris. The Encyclical demonstrates the church’s commitment and awareness of the challenge faced by humanity over a range of ecological issues. There were strong words too on the need for the richer countries to help poorer ones to make the transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable forms as individuals and at parish level. In January members of local churches met at St Michael the Archangel Church, Brantham for the annual Unity Service and it was good to note how harmonious the relations between the different churches are now. In February at another level, the very top, we saw a meeting of Pope Francis with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. The meeting took place in an airport lounge
in Havana, Cuba when they spoke about their respective churches, the situation in the world, wars, orthodoxy − all matters of pastoral concern for the two leaders. Pope Francis had touched down in Cuba on his way to visit Mexico which has the second largest number of Catholics after Brazil. We hear much of the problems of Mexico but little about the people and institutions that give Mexico its pride and distinctive culture. As a Latin American himself the Pope was well versed to speak to and mingle with the people of this country. In spite of all the problems there are, we must never lose the sense of what is normal and good about people and the beauty and giftedness of the world we have been given. Christian hope is real and always carries through. Minor Basilica status has been granted to the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady, known as England’s Nazareth, at Walsingham in North Norfolk by Pope Francis. This rare designation is given by the Holy Father to places of worship which are of particular historical significance. Tens of thousands of pilgrims make their journey to the shrine every year.
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THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook and Belstead and Bentley with Tattingstone For parish queries please contact: The Rev Annette Shannon The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton, Ipswich IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Benefice administrator Hayley Purnell northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07713863023 Our Labrador, Daisy, is now nine months old. She is no longer a tiny puppy but a big dog with an enthusiastic, joyful but very egotistical personality. Storm, our rough collie, has discovered, rather disappointedly, that Daisy is less submissive and when they are playing that her solid body is virtually impossible to move. Life is good for Daisy. She doesn’t suffer from loneliness as she shares her home with two adoring adults, a constant and tolerant playmate and four rather bemused cats. She is never too hungry or thirsty and has a lovely home to relax in. She is even allowed to stay for prayer meetings and meet visitors who are dog enthusiasts. Thus she greets new and open landscapes with trust and enthusiasm, running towards them with confidence. She is never frightened by what may be around any dark corners and is just eager to charge off and discover. She also starts from the assumption that everyone is her friend, even when their responses may indicate otherwise. This complete trust in the joy of life can make her vulnerable and to be honest a full on pest at times. But her joy and playfulness are blessings in the rectory. Yet we recognise the importance of taking her to training classes every Friday. We want to increase her chance of being safe and well-behaved so that she can enjoy her life and not prevent others from enjoying theirs. Having brought up three children I know that being a parent is not easy. Thankfully I have now forgotten some of the more difficult moments. I am still very glad of all the people who mothered my children alongside me – wider family, teachers, my friends, their friends, their parents, members of the congregation at our church. The African proverb, ‘It takes a village to bring up a child’ is so true. It is why I often mention during baptisms how important godparents, family, friends and the church family can be for a child. We all need boundaries for our behaviour. Parents have to wrestle with a dilemma. Too little protection and discipline will expose their children to danger, while too much will stifle their initiative, independence, and self-confidence. We do not as parents or as a society always get it right. Even as adults we need discipline in our lives. As we mature we perceive how the world is a dangerous place. It tempts us to behave in ways that stop us from being all that we could be. We may try and fit in by making easy, selfish or popular choices rather than good ones. It is not easy to challenge things like prejudice, discrimination, war and poverty or even to say no to those more minor acts that we know are wrong. I have found that being a Christian and trying to follow Jesus, being more disciplined in my spiritual life, and being part of the weekly services across the benefice has encouraged me to become stronger. It has helped me to discover and develop my own special gifts, to deepen my relationship with others, and most importantly with God. But I am still a work in progress. As the popular t-shirt slogan states: ‘God has not finished with me yet.’ Why not give God a chance to work with you… Love and blessings Annette We have a new Facebook page − all services and events will be updated here: www.facebook.com/northsamfordbenefice
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Belstead Jumble Sale Saturday, April 16 at 10am in the village hall Bentley Evening Prayer Fridays, May 13 and 27, June 10, July1 and 15, August 5 and 26, September 2 and 23, all at 6.30pm in the church Belstead Plant Sale May 21 in the village hall, 10am FROM THE REGISTERS Weddings Corey Foster and Leah Lawrence, Sproughton Baptisms Alimae Wilden, Copdock Stanley Jack Carnell Austin, Copdock Funerals Timothy Gooderham, Burstall DIARY DATES APRIL 2 5 6 7 9 12 13 14 16 19 20 21
Copdock Morning Market, 10am Copdock adoption of accounts Bentley Home Communions, 19 The Link, 10am Bentley APCM meeting, 7pm Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Clergy meeting, rectory, 10am Readers meeting, rectory, 2pm Burstall APCM meeting, 7pm Belstead APCM Meeting 7pm Tattingstone Coffee Morning in the village hall, 10.30am Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7pm Belstead Jumble Sale in the village hall, 10am Copdock APCM and PCC, 7pm Ministry meeting at the rectory, noon Copdock Home Communions, 18 Charlottes, 10am Tattingstone APCM, Tattingstone School, 7pm Sproughton APCM, church hall, 7.30pm
MAY 4 5 7 13 14 15 18 21 26 27 28
Bentley Home Communions, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am Copdock Morning Market, 10am Bentley Evening Prayer, 6.30pm Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Pentecost Burstall Benefice Service at 9am and in the grounds of Nine Oaks, Tattingstone at 11am Copdock Home Communions, 10am Churchwardens meeting, Church Room, Copdock, 1pm Belstead Plant Sale in the village hall, 10am Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Ministry meeting at the rectory, 7.30pm Bentley Evening Prayer, 6.30pm Burstall Coffee Morning, village hall, 10.30am
SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE APRIL 3 8am 9.30am 10am 10am 10am 11am
Copdock Burstall Copdock Bentley Tattingstone Sproughton
Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Prayer Family Worship Holy Communion Holy Communion
In Touch online:
APRIL 10 9.15am 9.30am 10am 10am 6pm
Sproughton Burstall Copdock Bentley Tattingstone
Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Extended Communion Evensong
APRIL 17 9.30am 10am 10am 11am 6pm
Burstall Copdock Bentley Sproughton Tattingstone
Holy Communion Simply Sunday Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion
APRIL 24 8am 9am 10am 10am 10am 10am 11am
Sproughton Burstall Belstead Copdock Tattingstone Bentley Sproughton
Holy Communion Matins Morning Celebration Holy Communion Family Service Holy Communion The Fourth Sunday
MAY 1 8am 9.30am 10am 10am 10am 11am
Copdock Burstall Bentley Copdock Tattingstone Sproughton
Holy Communion Holy Communion Family Service Morning Prayer Holy Communion Holy Communion
THURSDAY, MAY 5 7.30pm Belstead
Ascension Day Service
MAY 8 9.15am 9.30am 10am 10am 6pm
Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong
Sproughton Burstall Copdock Bentley Tattingstone
Church letters and copy for the May edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by April 4 please: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com
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