In Touch with East Bergholt - January 2016

In Touch

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with Dedham, East Bergholt & Flatford Volume 3 • Issue No. 4 • JANUARY 2016

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I have always loved New Year’s Day, even as a child when I’d watch The New Year's Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on TV. Granted I was probably doing other things at the same time, but it would be on in the background and I loved the drama of it all. It felt like a fitting way to welcome in a new year and was also quite a private moment. My brothers were probably still in bed so it was usually me, my diary – and the vacuum cleaner! In those days in rural Ireland the male and female roles were clearly defined – the boys helped on the farm, I did the cleaning and the baking, but that’s a subject for another day!

Cleaning is still part of my new year ritual and I can’t wait to get stuck in. Yes, I admit it, I like cleaning! I love that sense of satisfaction I get when I sit down to admire my handiwork, that oh so precious five minutes before it all falls apart again. I do become a bit of a tyrant when I go into cleaning mode so it’s best to stay out of my way (Daniel consider this your advance warning and if you don’t believe me, just ask mum!), but when it’s done I’m sweetness and light, as per usual!

This year I have an extra incentive as I will be looking for something rather special. Last summer Jack found an old key when we were planting seeds with grandma. It is his most precious possession and he presents it to visitors and friends as such. We have mislaid it! I know it’s in the house somewhere but in none of the obvious places and I have (stupidly!) promised to find it. If I do turn out every toy box and every cupboard, as I plan to, surely it will reappear. If not I’m going to have a very sad little boy – and I’ll be a very guilty mummy. Wish me luck.

JAMES BOND TO THE RESCUE Sony Pictures and The Regal Theatre in Stowmarket have come together to offer a charity screening of the new James Bond film, Spectre, for a charitable cause. The film is classified as a 12A and the screening will take place on Sunday, January 24, at 7.45pm.

All proceeds from the screening will go towards exercise equipment for disabled people on a referral scheme operated by East

Bergholt’s High School Sports Centre. People are referred by Ipswich Hospital and local NHS physiotherapists for sessions with the Referral Consultant Mrs Zoe Connelly. The scheme does not receive NHS funding but is so well attended that the existing equipment available is not sufficient for the demand and the piece being purchased will enable the frailest clients the opportunity to maintain or increase their fitness.

Tickets will be £6 and on sale from The Regal Box Office: 01449 612825 Please help us to help others by coming to see this cracking good film.

I hope your new year begins with hope for the year ahead and that you too find joy in the small things.

In Touch

with Dedham, East Bergholt & Flatford

In Touch with Dedham, East Bergholt & Flatford is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins We also publish Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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IN TOUCH WITH . . .

• Hadleigh NEW • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • Bramford, Somersham & Offton • Needham Market, Creeting St Mary & Creeting St Peter • Sproughton & Burstall • Claydon, Barham & Henley • Manningtree, Mistley, Lawford & Brantham • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • Kesgrave & Rushmere • Woodbridge & Melton • Gt. & Lt. Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Witnesham & Tuddenham St. Martin • Copdock, Washbrook, Belstead, Bentley & Tattingstone • Ipswich East, Broke Hall, Ravenswood & Warren Heath • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Pin Mill, Holbrook, Woolverstone & Erwarton

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

FEBRUARY DEADLINE 20 JANUARY 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF THE RIVER STOUR Volunteers from The River Stour Trust (Lower River Group) invite you to an open evening at the Assembly Rooms in Dedham on Thursday, February 18.

Come and discover the history and future of Dedham’s own waterway, The River Stour. Have your questions answered by members of the trust on the bygone days of the working navigation. Hear about its links with the Constable family and it’s natural history.

Learn about the ethos of the River Stour Trust. Find out how you can become a member and perhaps volunteer to help with the work the trust does to restore and conserve the navigation, maintain the beauty of the waterway, protect its wildlife and operate it’s electric boats.

Doors open at 7 for 7.30pm. Entrance free. Refreshments and bar.

CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS TEACHING FITNESS Happy New Year to past and present fitness customers. 2016 marks 20 years of teaching fitness in Capel (and now Bentley). I invite those who have been along to classes in the past, as well as current fitness fans, to join with me for a knees up on Saturday, April 9 at 7pm in Capel Methodist Church. No guilt or excuses required as to why you don’t come to classes any more. The church band will be playing favourites from the 60s onwards – dancing is optional rather than obligatory!

If you can come please let me know: jill.sharp@btinternet.com / 01473 311546

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: DECEMBER 2015 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE More roadworks!

Diversion signs have appeared again on the A12. Highways England have notified us of a program of improvement work on the A12 and A14 worth £3million, due to run from late November until April, but with the caveat that progress will be subject to weather conditions.

They promise that access will be maintained for local residents, who will be escorted through the work area when necessary, and that all work will be suspended over the Christmas and New Year period.

From January, work will take place on: the A12 at Stratford St Mary; the A14, between junctions 56-58 (Wherstead to Levington) – safety barrier replacement; drainage work on the A12 between junctions 27-29 (around Colchester); resurfacing on the A12 between junctions 27-28 and 30-31 (Stratford St Mary – Four Sisters); and resurfacing at 32B (Copdock).

Most of the work is scheduled overnight (8pm-6am) with some speed restrictions and lane or full road and slip road closures. The work will include some resurfacing, new signs, road markings, drainage and general tidying up. Our area will most likely be affected from mid-January into February. Inevitably there will be disruption and inconvenience. Hopefully once this is done we shall have a few years without interruptions, but regrettably, none of the above will address the dangerous design and seriously inadequate junctions themselves.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available online at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or from a phone or mobile device at m.highways.gov.uk

Retail studies for Hadleigh, Sudbury (and Stowmarket) Some research has been commissioned to help develop retail capacity, especially in our key market towns. This identifies future requirements for both ‘convenience’ goods such as the weekly food shop, and ‘comparison’ goods such as clothes and appliances.

The need for space and provision will feed into the on-going local planning process and is needed to help increase local economic growth. Babergh apparently retains over 64% of the available convenience goods expenditure in the district, with Mid-Suffolk achieving 38.7%. This is mainly explained by the stronger out-ofcentre offer in Babergh, including the Tesco Extra at Copdock.

For comparison goods Babergh retains some 17% of available spend, Mid-Suffolk achieves 7.3%, with a relatively high leakage of comparison goods expenditure from both districts to other larger town centres in the region such as Ipswich, Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and Norwich. Nearly 6% of respondents across the study area do their food shopping online, compared with 9.4% nationally.

For comparison goods internet shopping accounts for 18.6% of expenditure across the study area (16.6% nationally). For the period up to 2031, the study suggests that nearly 13,000 more square metres of retail space will be needed in Babergh – a large figure, given that the new Aldi proposed on the Ipswich fringe is 1,200 sq.metres. The issues will be about how much and where the new capacity should be located. The figures are said to reflect projected increases in population, housing and spending power.

Thank you for your support during 2015 – I wish you all a happy, healthy and good New Year. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Suffolk and Norfolk Devolution

Partnership with Funding Circle

On December 7, Norfolk and Suffolk’s leaders will meet to consider the shape of the counties’ devolution proposals and what more needs to be done before the final version can be sent to government.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils have launched a partnership with Funding Circle, investing £1m each to boost funding for local small and medium sized businesses and using the returns to protect public services. They will now begin this week through Funding Circle, the UK’s leading online marketplace for business loans. The two councils are planning to lend in tranches of around £100k each, with about half of each funding round going to help local businesses across Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The team putting the bid together are continuing to work on the key tasks prior to the final devolution proposals being submitted to the government. This includes: engaging with the two counties’ MPs; developing the governance elements; considering how we might wish to work with Cambridgeshire in the future; discussions with senior civil servants, including looking at different financial scenarios such as possible levels of business rate retention and how these might impact upon our proposals.

They are also now trying to understand any implications of the announcement in the autumn statement on our devolution proposals of the greater local financial responsibility being given to councils over revenue raising (e.g., the 2% Council Tax increase option for social care – which will be ring-fenced). The Suffolk Public Sector Leaders’ group met on November 20 and the Norfolk and Suffolk Chief Executives met on November 26 to monitor progress on these tasks.

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Babergh and Mid Suffolk join 16 other local authorities who already lend through the platform, including Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lambeth and Camden Councils. The investment through Funding Circle is the largest single amount from any district or borough council in the country and reflects both councils’ determination to protect services and balance the books through new ways of raising money.

To be eligible, businesses must typically have a minimum turnover of £50,000, have been trading for at least two years and pass Funding Circle’s credit assessment process.

I send my very best wishes for 2016.

Fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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DEBBIE MIILLAR SCHOOL OF DANCE Pictured here are some of the children who attend Saturday morning classes at Ogilvie Hall in Lawford. The classes offered on a Saturday morning are from pre-school through to all junior school ages in ballet and tap dance.

This term has been very busy for lots of the pupils who have been preparing for ballet, tap and disco examinations with the ISTD. The children in the pictures are rehearsing their end of term demonstrations to their parents.

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NEWS

REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton Having satisfactorily recharged the batteries I have been wading through the issues that have challenged the council while I have been away.

The ‘Devolution’ issue rumbles on but apart from the grand announcements of homes to be built and jobs created there is little of substance yet to get one’s teeth into. Information gathering for Whitehall seems to be the main issue. Let’s hope that 2016 will bring some progress.

Progress on devolution could also help decide the issue of corporate headquarters for the council and what to do with the old ones. As we have a joint officer team their transient life between Needham Market and Hadleigh does not scream efficiency, but we have to remember that ultimately the council, officers and members are there to serve the constituents and so access must be easy.

Various repairs to the A12 are scheduled, but a definitive timetable is not easy to find. All the works are relatively small scale and the main issues of safety and adequate access onto the carriageway are still not being discussed, despite yet another major incident at the B1070 junction. The pressure from all the proposed

development in the area will not make things easier and I will be pressing for an overall joined up approach to all of the issues. 2016 is going to be a year of decisions and hopefully they will be the practical and sensible ones!

East Bergholt’s Neighbourhood Plan is getting closer to completion and my congratulations to all involved for their hard work and patient efforts.

Travelling as I have across Europe, the differences in road traffic densities is astonishing. Add to that the approval for 1.5 million square metres of Logistics Park at Felixstowe and the additional wharf space for the big container ships and that road pressure is bound to increase. While the employment opportunities are welcome, the infrastructure pressures must be addressed by government. Dare I say that extra capacity at Heathrow will count for nothing if 1) we can’t get there as the M25 is full and the trains as well, and 2) the business they crate cannot be delivered because the road and rail freight system is also full! As they all fall ostensibly under the department for transport, can one ask if anyone talks to anyone else within the corridors of power in Whitehall?

A Happy New year to you all, Councillor John Hinton

EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE Matters at the November meeting •

10 members of public attended.

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Six planning applications were considered – recommended one refusal, three approvals.

Councillors voted in favour of sending a request to Babergh for extension for comment on the Moores Lane amendment. (At the time of writing further amendments have been received for comment.)

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Parish council representatives for Babergh planning committee site visits to Westmead and Etheldene on November 18 and attendance at Planning Committee on November 25 were appointed.

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Council approved seeking advice from counsel regarding requesting Babergh to delay consideration of the Moores Lane B1070 application until the East Bergholt Neighbourhood Plan is made.

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If no material changes to the Neighbourhood Plan following the Section 14 community consultation the council approved releasing it to Babergh for their Section 16 consultation. If material change then to hold extra-ordinary parish council meeting on December 2.

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It was agreed that the parish council chair and vice-chair to attend the slot at James Cartlidge MP surgery in Constable Hall.

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Playing Fields Committee recommended acceptance of Wicksteed quotes for Gandish Road and East End playground equipment. Clerk to approach Babergh for Section 106 funds for Gandish Road. East End works to commence shortly.

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The free community concert by Suffolk Philharmonic at Old Hall was very successful and well supported. County Councillor Jones to donate £500 from his locality budget.

Other matters:

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Please refrain from walking dogs in the East Bergholt cemetery – NO DOGS ALLOWED

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Dogs must be kept on a lead and poo bags used on the Gandish Road recreational ground

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE

Call 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. The Suffolk Dementia Helpline can support anyone who needs to talk. Perhaps you have memory worries yourself or even a recent diagnosis and want someone to talk to. Maybe you have concerns about a loved one, or need support in your caring role. Perhaps it’s just information you are after, or a confidential chat with someone.

The line can help anyone who is looking for practical support and is able to provide you with local information and get you in touch with organisations that can help.

So call us today, we are here to help.

Valerie Ayton, parish clerk

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CONTEMPORARY WORK IN OLD MASTERS LANDSCAPE The charming hamlet of Flatford was where world famous artist John Constable painted his most well-known pastoral scenes. The area has since gone on to inspire many other artists and the National Trust has a rolling programme of exhibitions of contemporary work in Flatford’s Boat House Gallery.

studio, and this is the way Constable worked too.

The Boat House Gallery is in a beautiful position overlooking the dry dock in the tea room which featured in one of Constable’s more famous paintings, Boat-building near Flatford Mill. It would have been here where many of the barges that featured in his work were built and repaired.

The remaining drawings were all made at Flatford.

The gallery space hosts five exhibitions a year. Currently on show until February 2016 is Drawing Breath by Simon Carter.

Drawing Breath is an exhibition of small drawings all made in the landscape. The title implies that drawing from life is not just about what something apparently looks like.

Simon Carter explains: “How we see is as much part of the drawing process as what we see. Drawing opens a door to our interaction with the world around us.”

Last year Simon Carter was invited to be artist-in-residence by Art Exchange at Essex University which sits in Wivenhoe Park. Constable’s early masterpiece Wivenhoe Park, Essex 1816 was a commission from the then owner Major General Francis Slater-Rebow and Constable spent some weeks there putting off his marriage to Maria Bicknell in order to finish the painting.

Simon Carter’s drawings made while walking in the landscape are often the starting point for a painterly process developed back in the

“I made drawings in the park landscape from February to August 2014 finding not so much the view Constable painted (or invented) as some kind of poetry in the place.”

Simon Carter is a leading member of the artistic community in the Eastern region. Not only has he exhibited widely nationally but he is also an active curator promoting contemporary artists and he has recently been elected president of Colchester Arts Society.

Sarah Milne, the National Trust’s Visitor Services Supervisor at Flatford, reveals her enthusiasm for the exhibitions she arranges: “The added interest for our visitors is very pleasing and sometimes the pictures provoke interesting discussions. 2015 has been a successful year with exhibitions by Brin Edwards, Andrew Vass, Andrew Lambirth and Charlotte Verity.”

Simon Carter’s exhibition is followed by Ways of Seeing by a group of 10 local artists called Paint Collective. Planned for later in 2016 we are looking forward to photographs by Justin Minns followed by paintings

by Luke Elwes and in the autumn paintings by Wendy Brooke Smith.

You may like to know that most of the work is for sale and a percentage of the sale price goes towards our conservation work at Flatford and the Dedham Vale.

If you would like to be invited to our opening receptions or have any enquiries please contact: sarah.milne@nationaltrust.org.uk

frosty mornings Don't forget, we're open every weekend throughout January and February from 10.30am.

Warm up in our tea room with a light lunch, or do a spot of shopping in our gift shop. The perfect winter retreat!

01206 298260 nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

© National Trust Images. Registered Charity Number 205846.

Flatford

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Call Janet on 07506 350 455

classes also in: - Brantham - Capel St Mary - Hadleigh - Nayland, & - Stratford St Mary

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL SINGERS We are planning to perform Stainer’s Crucifixion in March and would be grateful to hear of any singers who would like to join us.

Reasonable knowledge of the piece, or reasonable sight reading is needed. We particularly need sopranos and basses.

Contact Chris Yule: 310992

VENTURE CENTRE LAWFORD

DEDHAM FILMS Wednesday, January 20, 7.30-10pm: Suffragette (12A), Directed by Sarah Gavron 2015 A drama that tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State. These women were not primarily from

KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Where Jesus is love and love is Jesus

Tickets £4 from Shakespeare House Gallery Dedham High Street or online at: www.dedhamfilms.co.uk

Come and join us in our new fellowship – everyone is welcome.

Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus – with our lively worship and service with refreshments afterwards.

We meet every Sunday morning in the Ivell Suite at 11am, starting on Sunday, January 10.

No LIVE broadcast for January. ​ www.dedhamfilms.co.uk www.villagefilmfestival.co.uk

VALUATION EVENT The experts of Lockdales Auctioneers will be providing free valuations at The Venture Centre on Wednesday, January 13, 11.30am-3.30pm.

Valuations will be available for the following types of collectables: coins (including British and World, sovereigns, Krugerrands, Royal Mint commemoratives and proof sets), stamps, banknotes, medals and militaria, antiques, clocks, watches, jewellery, gold, silver, pre-1900 documents/books and maps, cigarette-cards, postcards, pre-1960 sporting programmes and tickets, scientific instruments, swords, bayonets and de-activated weapons. No appointment necessary.

the genteel educated classes, they were working women who had seen peaceful protest achieve nothing. Radicalised and turning to violence as the only route to change, they were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality – their jobs, their homes, their children and their lives. Maud was one such foot soldier. The story of her fight for dignity is as gripping and visceral as any thriller. It is also heart-breaking and inspirational.

EAST BERGHOLT CINEMA The Constable Hall, Gandish Road Friday, January 8, 8pm: Taxi Tehran (PG) Jafar Panahi, the courageous Iranian director, makes his latest film in a taxi rigged with three hidden cameras.

Friday, February 5, 8pm: 45 Years (15)

Members of the public will have the option, if they wish, to consign their goods to auction (subject to terms and conditions). Cash purchase offers are also available. Valuations will be provided free of charge, with no obligation. High quality illustrated catalogues from previous auctions will be given away on a complimentary basis in order for the public to get a better idea of the services available.

There is just one week until Kate Mercer’s 45th wedding anniversary and the planning for the party is going well. But then a letter arrives for her husband. By the time the party is upon them, five days later, there may not be a marriage left to celebrate. Set in Norfolk, this film has been universally praised, not least for the outstanding performances of Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Lockdales’ Martlesham offices: 01473 627110 / sales@lockdales.com

“It’s a film of small moments and tiny gestures that leaves a very, very big impression.” Time Out

JUST DANCE Just Dance, a new dance group at the Venture Centre is holding lessons and freestyle for modern jive on February 7, a festive party with a fun lesson and two hour freestyle from 7.30-10.30pm. All levels welcome, with tea/coffee and cakes provided in the £8 entrance fee. Come along and enjoy a lovely fun social evening.

Even though modern jive is our core we really don’t mind if you just want to come along to enjoy the music and do your own Strictly style! For further information please contact: 07772 449781

“An intense slow-burning picture of marriage” Independent Tickets (£4 / £2 under 18) available from the Fountain House Tea Room in East Bergholt or on the door. Refreshments available from 7.30pm. Licenced bar.

Sallie Davies

ITALIAN EVENING Colchester Gateway Clubs is a local charity which runs social clubs for adults with learning disabilities in Colchester and Tendring.

Fundraising is an essential part of the charity’s income and for the first time, an Italian evening is being held at the Venture Centre on Saturday, March 12. Local support for this event would be greatly appreciated. Please contact charity manager Mandy Hudson: 07999 278472 / thursdaygatewayclub@hotmail.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR CHORAL SOCIETY

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

TABLE TOP SALE East Bergholt High School Sunday, February 28, 10am-noon Admission: 50p Refreshments and free car park available For sellers: tables in advance £5 / on the day £7.50 Doors open 9am to set up 01206 298122

BRANTHAM AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY The society had a very busy autumn including singing at a wedding in Brantham and carols at Flatford National Trust Centre and Manningtree Christmas Fair. Their main concert in Mistley Parish Church was an opera focused evening. The society sang to a full church, giving a polished performance of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. This work full of lovely melodies was much enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience and dramatically accompanied by Stephen Smith on his electronic organ. Paul Bloomfield, tenor and Patrick McCarthy baritone were in good voice and expressively captured the varying moods of the work. Duncan Archard had trained the choir well and brought out the best of Puccini’s dramatic and tuneful work.

The second part of the evening provided a selection of operatic choruses and arias with Habenera from Carmen sung by Susanna Hyman and The Flower Duet from Delibes Lakme beautifully blended by Susannah and Anna Maria Hyman, followed by a touch of venom from Patrick McCarthy in Verdi’s Pieta, rispetto, amore from Macbeth.

BATS next big production is Hot Mikado; a wonderful jazzy updating of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan show, with great catchy songs in swing, jazz, big-band and gospel styles. We have a fabulous band to back us, exciting costumes and lively dancers. Highly recommended as a family show, just the treat for half-term.

In case you don’t know the storyline, Nankie-Poo is the son of the Mikado. Travelling incognito as a wandering minstrel he meets and falls in love with Yum-Yum, who is just about to marry Ko-Ko. Nankie-Poo also cannot marry Yum-Yum as he is engaged to be married to Katisha. An unusual law threatens Nankie-Poo with execution. Will he escape it? Will he marry Yum-Yum? Hot Mikado will be performed at Brantham Village Hall from Wednesday, February 17 to Saturday 20 at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 20. Tickets (adults £8 / children £6) are available from Bakes & Blossoms Café, Acacia Court, Brantham, or from: www.ticketsource.co.uk All other enquiries to 01206 396674.

The evening concluded with the Easter Hymn from Cavalliera Rusticana

by Mascagni with both Susanna and Anna Maria Hyman as soloists and the finale of the drinking song from La Traviata by Verdi which was demanded as an encore.

A splendid evening enjoyed by all and some lovely tunes to take home.

David Shearmur

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TELEPHONE: 01473 824342 3 Seager Court, Hadleigh, IP7 6RL

Get Fit For Life at East Bergholt Sports Centre Our Great Membership Offer £30pm for 2 adults & 2 children U18. £18pm for concessions.

Couples £30pm & singles £25pm.

Pay for 10 months & get 2 for free.

These classes are free for members: Mon 6 – 7pm Body Tone Wed 6.30 – 7.30 Circuits Thu 10 – 11am Trim in the Gym Sat 10-­‐11am Boot Camp Classes & Studio available at £4.50 each session

Membership includes a free induction, 4 Exercise Classes, Fitness Studio, Roller Skating; ½ price Badminton, Table Tennis & Short Tennis sessions booked a week in advance. Children must be over 10years to use the Fitness Studio and accompanied by an adult until 14 years of age.

CHILDREN’S PARTY OPTIONS – TOTS 2 – 5 YRS, TRADITIONAL 6 – 8 YRS, SPORTS, ROLLER SKATING & NEW NERF PARTIES FOR 6+YRS.

You can call us for details of booking the 3G Astro Turf, Pitches, Hall & Court hire for your Community Sport

Phone 01206 299340 or check our website www.eastbergholtsportscentre.co.uk

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In Touch online: 29/10/2015 16:21

OUT & ABOUT FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

BRANTHAM’S CHARITY GARAGE SALE 2016

First may we wish all friends and members a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Our December 100 Club winners were June Hall (£10) and Nancy Hunt (£5). If you haven’t yet become a member of the 100 Club, why not join? It’s only £12 per year, and as more people join the number of prizes will increase. Our year runs from January to December so now is a good time to join.

Our Annual General Meeting is on Saturday, January 16 in the Vine Lounge. This is a public meeting and all are welcome, not just friends and members. There will be opportunity for questions to the current management group, especially about the county council’s plans to cut costs, and hopefully by then the picture will be clearer.

The management group are looking for more help; this can be of a purely practical nature helping with refreshments, or by assisting with future planning of events or publicity. We may well have a vacancy for a trustee and hopefully an election will be necessary!

It was pleasing to note the increase in numbers attending the library for the film show. Do make a date in your diary for the next show on the January 24. the National Theatre’s production of The Duchess of Malfi. The Friends are currently exploring the possibility of showing more mainstream films on a regular basis. The licence for each film is quite expensive which means that we need to attract a reasonable audience to cover costs. Watch out for developments as the year progresses.

We are planning a series of evening talks for 2016 which will begin in February with a presentation from wildlife photographer Andrew Bailey. Every member will receive a card detailing dates and times once these are fixed.

If you are not yet a member of the Friends at the ridiculously low cost of £1 per year, now is the time to join. Forms are available in the library, and if you join before the AGM, you can vote!

Chris Yule, chair

Happy New Year to all.

Spring is just around the corner, and its time to start spring cleaning and tidying up after Christmas and think about all those items that are looking for a new home. Maybe you’ve got some unwanted Christmas presents – they make great Tombola prizes, as do any good condition spare items.

We’ve chosen Saturday, June 11 as the provisional date for our 2016 Garage Sale.

Are there any other events planned in the village for that date? If so, please let Ronnie or Yvonne know. We’ll confirm the date in the next issue. For more information or to book your garage or a table at the village hall call: Yvonne (01206 392296) / Ronnie (01206 395557) Last year we achieved a fantastic total of £6,000. Half went to St Elizabeth Hospice – The Carla Dawson Tribute Fund, and £750 each to Clic Sargent, Lego Therapy at Brooklands School, the Maisie Hayward Charity and Woolverstone Wish at Ipswich Hospital.

This brings our grand total raised to £36,454. All the leftover items were donated to Acorn Village at Mistley who were very grateful.

CAPEL LIBRARY Hello and a Happy New Year to all who come into the library.

What does the New Year mean to you? Taking up a new craft, deciding on a new holiday destination or just deciding to take up reading all over again. The library service has something to offer to everyone.

Notice: A reminder that we shall be closed from 5pm on Friday, January 15 and from 12.30pm on Saturday 16 due to the Orchard Players preparing for their pantomime. You may post books for returning through the letter box and they will be dealt with upon our next opening time. Many thanks.

Our clubs re-start again after the Christmas break.

download and keep free magazines through Zinio and borrow free eBooks and eAudio books. For further information visit: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk To take advantage of all of these services you only need a Suffolk Library card. Could borrowers also tell us if they have recently moved house so that your records can be updated and notify us if you have updated your email address so that all notifications are received correctly.

We have a wide variety of withdrawn and donated books for sale, do browse the sale trolleys.

Baby Bounce: Tuesday, January 5 at 2pm

Don’t forget that we sell stamps (6 x 1st Class £3.78 / 12 x 2nd Class £6.48) and we sell book tokens in any denomination.

Minecraft: Sunday, January 11 at 10.30am

OPENING TIMES

Book Club: Friday, January 15 at 2.30pm

Monday: Closed

The next showing of the Creative Arts program will be on Thursday, January 29, doors open at 1.30 for a 1.45pm start. Do come along see The Duchess of Malfi, tickets are £8.

Did you know that Suffolk Libraries offer free internet and Wi-Fi, Freegal music with more that six million tracks to choose from, and you can download up to five songs or two music videos a week which you can keep forever by transferring them to iTunes? You may also

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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

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY ARTS AND MUSIC Sunday, January 10, 4pm Antara Duo – Rachel Wick (harp) and Tom Hanco (flute) – at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt. Generously supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

Antara is a flute and harp duo based in London and serving the south east of England. Formed in 2007, both Thomas and Rachel were instrumental and academic scholars at the University of Oxford, before graduating with double-firsts. Beyond their recital work, they work for Live Music Now, a charity that brings live music to those who would otherwise rarely, if ever, experience it, and also give educational performances for CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust and the Wigmore Hall. The programme will include Histoire de Tango by Ástor Piazzolla, Debussy’s Syrinx and Fantaisie brillante sûr Carmen by François Borne.

Sunday, January 31, 4pm David Owen Norris playing Concert in Piano Trio at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Distinguished pianist, broadcaster and musicologist, David Owen Norris will be playing his 1828 Broadwood piano with

Camilla Scarlett on the violin and Jonathan Byers on the cello. David has his own inimitable way of presenting information to the audience.

They will perform Beethoven’s Archduke Piano Trio in B flat op 97 and Schubert’s Trio no 1 in B flat major, both pieces completed in the last year of the composers’ lives.

The season continues with: Saturday, February 20, 7.30pm: Extra event Jazz concert: Beauty of the Bossa Nova with singer Georgia Mancio performing Brazilian jazz at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt Sunday, March 13, 4pm Family Concert with Red Priest, Pirates of the Baroque, at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Tickets: weatheralld@btinternet.com / 01206 298426 / www.svam.org.uk

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST BANDS COME TO HOLBROOK

A STYLISH ADAPTATION OF HITCHCOCK’S THE LADY VANISHES Pupils at the Royal Hospital School recently put on a stylish rework of the British comic thriller The Lady Vanishes as their end of term play.

The BBC Big Band, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading and most versatile orchestras, will soon be making its way to The Royal Hospital School in Holbrook to perform a workshop and concert with the pupils.

Described as “a wonderful band” by the legendary Tony Bennett, the BBC Big Band is hailed as one of the leading performers of the music of the great swing bands, and on Saturday, February 6 they themselves will be in full swing as they put on an evening of music inspired by some of the giants of the 20th century big band scene such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Artie Shaw.

This superb ensemble piece showcased some highly entertaining character roles. Simone Rossouw captured the clipped aristocratic tones of Iris Henderson, while Serena Brown also stood out as the glamorous Mrs Todhunter. For the men, Sam Dixon’s sinister ‘brain surgeon’ and Sam Christmas’s buffoonish young man doing the ‘tour’ of Europe stood out, while Matt Adams as the heroic musicologist, Gilbert, moved deftly through the action, unravelling a conspiracy and getting the girl. The staging cleverly managed the wide variety of locations through the use of a selection of vintage trunks and a range of well-placed ‘silent movie’ style placards.

During the afternoon pupils will have the unique opportunity to take part in a workshop with the band’s musicians, followed by a concert at 7pm in the assembly hall. The band’s lead trombonist, Gordon Campbell, said: “We love the opportunity to work with and hopefully influence the next generation of young musicians, and we as a band see it as an important part of what we do.”

Under the direction of their conductor, Barry Forgie, the band has recently performed with stars such as George Benson, Van Morrison and Georgie Fame, and in the past has backed the likes of the late, great Ray Charles.

You can be there for this unforgettable evening of swing which is sponsored by Colourplan. To book tickets (£15 / concession £10 / under 18 free) call 01473 433100 or visit: www.ipswichregent.com

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SPRING 2016 AT THE NEW WOLSEY THEATRE

The Last Five Years, an award winning musical from Jason Robert Brown and recently a major motion picture starring Anna Kendrick and Jordan Jamie, headlines the New Wolsey Theatre’s 15th birthday season.

Running from February 25 to March 11, The Last Five Years starts and ends with the beginning of a passionate love affair. Cathy’s story starts with the end of their relationship and follows their tale backwards to when she first fell in love with her young talented lover. Jamie’s story begins with their first passionate encounter and heads forward towards heartache.

The unique style of storytelling and the infectious score makes this one of America’s best modern musicals. Songs include Moving Too Fast, If I Didn’t Believe in You and Goodbye Until Tomorrow.

Katie Birtill, who took the title role in Sweet Charity last autumn, stars with a talented live band to create Cathy and Jamie’s world as it crumbles and reforms around them. It will be directed by the New Wolsey Theatre’s artistic director Peter Rowe.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre will present The Government Inspector, the first production in the Ramps on the Moon touring project, at the New Wolsey from April 6 to 15. Ramps on the Moon is a ground-breaking touring project that sets out to put more deaf and disabled people on our stages, in our audiences and our workforce. Bringing together seven major theatre companies, it will change the way theatre made by and for D/deaf and disabled people is seen. These companies, which include the New Wolsey Theatre, are committed to putting D/ deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work and stimulating awareness of disability issues within arts and culture.

Gogol’s satirical masterpiece is a hilarious riot of corruption, lies and greed that has lost none of its original bite. The mayor is in a cold sweat. News has reached him of an imminent visit from a government inspector. His fear is well-founded as he has been somewhat lacking in his official duties.

The hospital is a health hazard, the school is a war zone, the soldiers don’t have trousers to march in and he never quite got around to building that church!

Directed by Birmingham Rep’s Artistic Director Roxana Silbert, the production includes a creative use of audio description, captioning and British Sign Language.

For full details of the New Wolsey’s jam-packed spring season visit www.wolseytheatre.co.uk where you can also book or call the sales team on: 01473 295900

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS MANNINGTREE AND DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Dick Williams and Dave Wilcox introduced an audio dimension with their digital audio visual show in early November, a riveting and highly professional presentation by two dedicated amateurs. In a moving short piece about Remembrance Day, with crisp and sharp visuals, we sat in silence to hear the delicate echo of a field gun quietly fade in true high fidelity sound.

Later in the month we were privileged to hear local photographer Roger Hance, modestly and with characteristic humour, recount how he progressed to achieve his Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. This was demonstrated using prints of his early black and white portraits in a talk entitled People in the Picture. It featured compelling candid shots of London street dwellers and traders, many of whom Roger could recall by name. Examples can be seen at: www. rogerhancefrps.com/Portraits The new year will feature a further 12 events beginning with: January 14: Creative photography with Barbie Lindsay January 28: Open monochrome competition – judge: Peter Espley February 1: Inter-club competition with Harwich and Dovercourt club New members are welcome to join the society or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Meetings are held at the St John’s Centre, Station Road at 7.30pm.

Please contact our secretary for more information: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com For further detail visit: www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

STOUR VALLEY U3A Recent meetings In place of the usual speaker event in December, we held our Christmas lunch at the Constable Hall and it was much enjoyed by all.

Future meetings On Wednesday, January 13 Bryan Thurlow, actor in film and on TV, will speak on Music Hall Memories – a pocket history of music hall featuring songs and monologues. Hear about the artistes, their songs and the many other acts that contributed to the success of British music halls.

Meeting venue We meet at the 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, except August and December.

Membership 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. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Val Pretty may be contacted.

Remember It’s never too late to learn. Join the 361,477 members in 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

VILLAGE LINK CLUB For our November meeting, Malcolm Clark gave a talk entitled Sound Safari which was based around his hobby of recording bird song in which he played a variety of bird calls demonstrating greetings and warnings.

Our next meeting is on January 13 when Stuart Bowells will present a talk on the History of Advertising.

Future talks will include: Lady Alice de Breyne, NT Coast of East Anglia, Secrets of the Royal Jewels, Diving in The Galapagos.

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall starting at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments (when there is time for a chat with other members) and a raffle. New members and visitors are welcome to join us. After the August and February meetings, we normally hold a members’ lunch – funds permitting.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears Our Christmas festivities included lots of creativity making cards using our footprints as Christmas trees and penguins, making reindeer food, painting salt dough tree ornaments and much, much more! We also had a party which our families were invited to, Father Christmas came to visit and we had some yummy festive snacks!

The Baby Bears are taking part in the Festival of Trees and Lights at Capel Church. Our theme is Walt Disney; make sure you pop along and see it.

Toddling Tigers We really enjoyed our nativity for parents. We had so much fun wearing our animal hats, singing lots of songs and joining in with our shakers. We love our Christmas tree and have enjoyed putting the tinsel and baubles on and off every day!

We have been talking about our emotions and the different facial

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expressions we can make such as happy, sad, funny and angry. This has been a lovely experience and the faces being pulled have been brilliant.

Gruffalos Thank you for coming to see our great nativity! The children all enjoyed it and also an early visit from a very special person – Father Christmas!

We in Gruffalo’s are very excited to welcome our new pre-schoolers in the new term and explore our new topic of traditional fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and The Three Bears.

From all the children and staff we hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and we wish you a Happy New Year!

If you would like any information about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki on 01473 310767, visit www.robinschildcare.co.uk or follow us on Twitter/Facebook.

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Copdock Mill, Old London Road, Copdock, IP8 3LA • 01473 731117

Opening hours; Mon - Sat: 8am - 6pm, Sun: 10am - 4pm

Knowledgeable staff • Ample parking • Help loading if required gladwells.copdock@copdockmill.co.uk • www.copdockmill.co.uk

V

alentine’s Day at SbN Romantic Candlelit Dinner | Valentine’s Disco | Romantic Spa & Dining Break

Romantic Candlelit Dinner – just £39pp

Join us on Friday 12th, Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th February for a bespoke 3-course Valentine’s dinner, glass of champagne each on arrival and a special red rose for your valentine.

Valentine’s Disco, Saturday 13th February – just £24.95pp Fancy celebrating Valentine’s Day in a unique way? Get friends, family and partners together for a party with our school disco themed event including live DJ and 2-course buffet!

Find out more about our Romantic Spa Break (from £130pp) by visiting our website!

www.stokebynayland.com Call 01206 262836, email sales@stokebynayland.com or visit our website to make your Valentine’s plans!

Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa, Keepers Lane, Leavenheath, Colchester CO6 4PZ | Tel: 01206 262836

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SCHOOLS / SPORT BENTLEY CEVC PRIMARY SCHOOL Bentley pupils were invited to design shields for a competition as part of a festival about St Edmund. The wonderful shields that the children made have been on display at The Case Is Altered pub. We have heard that visitors to the pub have enjoyed seeing them. Well done to those children who put such effort into their designs.

Road Safety Week was a huge success and the children have been taking part in a number of activities. Our thanks go to all the parent helpers who came with us when we walked all the children from Reception to Year 4 to the village to look at crossing the road and moving around the village safely.

We were also visited by the Community Speedwatch team who talked to the children about the importance of drivers sticking to the speed limit and what their team does to keep us safer. The children had the opportunity to see how speed guns work as well as the speed alert board. Again, this was only possible with parental help and we would like to thank those parents who turned out even though it was such grotty weather. The Eco Council has also been running a poster design for road safety and you should be able to see the winning design around the school and village very soon.

The annual Tree Service was as popular as ever, but this year we had some special guests. Heart FM were here to record the children singing and some of them talking about the run up to Christmas.

Dave and Heidi from the Heart FM Breakfast Show turned on the lights

EAST BERGHOLT BOWLS CLUB The club’s AGM was held in November with the same committee members being reelected and the addition of Brian Cassells as Joint Outdoor Captain along with Tim Fayers.

Brian Tyler was confirmed as a committee representative.

It was confirmed that the club will be touring again to Portugal in March and to Eastbourne in September.

A Christmas party and presentation evening was held in Constable Hall on Saturday, December 5. Dancing to the Archemedian Disco and with food supplied by outside caterers, an enjoyable time was had by the 53 members and friends who attended.

The carpet bowls team have played all the teams once in their division except Bealings, and currently sit in fifth position as at midDecember.

Melvyn Powell, secretary melpowell46@gmail.com

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and joined in with the celebrations. The children sang brilliantly and represented the school really well. We had a superb turnout by parents for the service too which all made for a great atmosphere. The children had been making decorations all day and by the time they had finished, the hall and the tree looked fantastic! A copy of the radio broadcast can be found at: www.bentley.suffolk.sch.uk Finally, thank you to everyone who came to support our Christmas Fayre.

The children of the school council organised and help run the event and worked really hard. Support from the community makes a huge difference to a little school like ours so all those extra visitors were very welcome.

Wishing you all a prosperous and healthy New Year!

NEWS FLASH

On December 10, the Department of Education published the Primary School League Table in which Bentley CEVC Primary School is in the top 1,000 (out of 16,000 state primary schools across the country) and eighth in Suffolk.

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The Saturday First team lost the top of the table battle against Westerfield United 4-2 after being two goals in front at half time thanks to goals from Shaun Webb and Nick Middlebrook.

A week later a goal in the last minute from Daniel Alderson earned the team a point after a hard fought 1-1 draw with Achilles.

After a 1-0 win away against Stanton with a Lee Barrett goal the team moved back to the top of the Senior League on November 28 after beating Wenhaston United at home 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Stewart and a Stephen Morrison penalty. Nine wins and a couple of draws have given the team 29 points with just 14 goals conceded, which is the best in the league.

Home games in January sees the lads playing Old Newton on January 2 in the Bob Coleman Cup and then facing last season’s champions Crane Sports on January 16.

Kieran Tynan and the club wish him all the best in his new role.

Our Sunday team are second in Division Two of the Sunday Morning League, but lost the chance to go top after losing 3-0 to bottom club Northan Celtic after having a bit of an off day. New signing James Garwood has been playing well in midfield with Adam Moore putting in some good performances up front.

No games for the Veteran team during the last month, but they should be back in action at Whitton on January 3.

Finally, I would like to wish all our players, officials and supporters a happy and prosperous New Year. Enjoy your football.

Bob the Ploughman

Our Saturday Reserves have had a couple of games called off due to waterlogged pitches, but played away to Felixstowe Harpers United losing 5-2 with goals from Adam Bland and Joe Bigmore. Our new manager is 17-year-old

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SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The last month It is good to report that all the Bergholt sides have fared well this season. All are well placed in the top half of their respective divisions although unfortunately both the First Team and the Reserves exited the County Cup competitions in their last fixtures in November.

On the social side an enjoyable and successful race night took place on November 21. These events are also open to village members.

UPCOMING FIXTURES DATE

1st TEAM Senior Division

RESERVES Intermediate A

Sat, Jan 2

Ipswich Valley Rangers Bob Coleman Cup R3

H

Sat, Jan 9

Leiston St Margarets

A

Westerfield Utd Res

A Team Intermediate C

H

Leiston St Margarets Res

H

Stonham Aspal Res

A

Trimley Red Devils Res

A

Sat, Jan 16

Ipswich Valley Rangers

A

Wenhaston Utd Res

H

Sat, Jan 23

Grundisburgh

H

Grundisburgh Res

A

Achilles Res

A

Sat, Jan 30

Fixtures subject to change. To confirm please refer to: http://touchlinesil.co.uk/fixtures-results/ We are always looking for people who can help the club as a committee member, whether it be on the playing side or just in the background.

EBUFC is a community club with very strong village traditions. The majority of the players either live in, or have links to, the village. Please come along and give us a look sometime.

Steve Butcher, secretary stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

1,000 FACES OF COLCHESTER IN AID OF THE TOM BOWDIDGE FOUNDATION Hundreds of people have taken part in the 1,000 Faces of Colchester charity campaign in aid of the Tom Bowdidge Foundation.

his son’s inspiring work and how the foundation came into being.

We were glad to have been able to do our bit to support it.”

Photographer Gavin King has teamed up with Kerseys Solicitors to photograph 1,000 people. Once the target has been reached, Kerseys will donate £1,000 to the foundation, set up by Tom’s family to carry on his good work.The campaign is edging closer to its target with a current total of 722. Since it was set up a year ago, Anthony Wooding, Kerseys managing partner said: “We are grateful to all the organisations and individuals who made the time and effort to support this campaign. Tom was an inspirational teenager and we are delighted to be able, in our small way, to help continue his work.”

Events were recently held by Colchester Rotary Club and at the Secret Vintage Fair at Firstsite art gallery.

Theresa Higgins, Colchester mayor and councillor for New Town, attended with her escort, husband councillor professor Peter Higgins. Tom’s parents, Nikki and Richard, and sister Emma, launched The Foundation on what would have been his 20th birthday, on February 28, 2014. The foundation, with headquarters in Colchester, raises funds to support research projects and to provide physical and emotional support to teenagers and young people with cancer.

Tom, a Colchester Royal Grammar School sixth-former from West Bergholt, raised £170,000 for charity before he died of stomach cancer, aged 19, in October 2013. Colchester Rotary Club president Robert Macaulay said: “It was a great evening in aid of such a worthwhile local cause. Tom’s dad, Richard, gave a moving talk about

Photographer Gavin, 34, who came up with the idea, gives people a white board so they can write down a message.

Dad Richard Bowdidge said: “We are delighted so many people have backed our campaign and our work to help young people with cancer.”

To take part in the 1,000 Faces campaign, email: karen.williams@kerseys.co.uk

For further information on this topic, call us on 01473 407110 Kerseys Solicitors, 32 Lloyds Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3HD • www.kerseys.co.uk

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Trusted by local families since 1925 89 Wimpole Road Colchester 01206 793492 The Centre, Greenstead Colchester 01206 860584 98 The Commons, Prettygate Colchester 01206 560988

33/35 Long Wyre Street Colchester 01206 767675 47 St Helens Street Ipswich 01473 257242 310 Nacton Road Ipswich 01473 860040 247a Hawthorn Drive Chantry, Ipswich 01473 602414 283 Norwich Road Ipswich 01473 232837 Station Road Manningtree 01206 391855

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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ON THE GRAPEVINE TREATING HEARING LOSS CAN HELP KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

By Karen Finch, audiologist and managing director of The Hearing Care Centre

Every New Year brings with it a sense of renewal. For many, this renewal may include New Year’s resolutions pledging that the next year will prove better than the last. The challenge is not making these resolutions, but making sure they don’t melt away with the snow as winter turns to spring.

Some common resolutions might include reducing stress levels, staying in touch more regularly with family and friends, and being more socially involved. For those who struggle with hearing loss, keeping these and other perennial resolutions may prove challenging. Here are a few examples of how treating your hearing loss in the New Year can help you achieve your resolutions and improve your life.

Reducing stress Staying stress free in the New Year may seem like an insurmountable task, but we can all do a few things to make sure stress doesn’t dominate our lives. Hearing-related stress can present itself in everyday situations with the potential to significantly increase your overall stress level. If you have become nervous to speak up when clarifying what was said in a conversation, or avoid loud places for fear of being cut from the conversation, it may be time to address your hearing issues. Finding a solution could help you reduce some of your daily stress.

Staying in touch with family and friends Staying connected with family and friends is difficult whether loved ones are spread across the country or live just around the corner. If keeping in touch with the important people in your life tops your list of resolutions, addressing your hearing concerns may be a step in the right direction.

Being able to communicate with family and friends without worrying about what was said by a loved one over the phone, on Skype, or faceto-face is of the utmost importance. Not only does it put your mind at ease, it makes conversations with loved ones that much easier.

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Branching out Hearing loss may hinder you from branching out and meeting new people. If you are nervous to extend your social circle because of your hearing loss, addressing the issue in the New Year could be the push you need to make new friends and experience new adventures in the coming year. Have you always wanted to volunteer with an organisation or join a club but have been too self-conscious about your hearing loss? Don’t let apprehension and worry keep you from meeting new people and enjoying all the sights and sounds that the world has to offer.

Starting a new hobby Starting a new hobby, whether by yourself or in a group setting, can be both challenging and entertaining. If you would like to learn how to play a new instrument and want to better hear the notes, or if you are taking a class at your local college and want to be able to contribute to the discussion without feeling nervous, having the confidence to address your hearing issues can lead to new talents and friends.

Taking action If any of the above scenarios resonate with you, your hearing loss could be a barrier to accomplishing your resolutions. It may be time to add another resolution to the list: book a hearing assessment. Seeking help, advice and ultimately treating your hearing loss will benefit not only your physical health but your mental and social health as well. Placing priority on your hearing health will not only help you to achieve your New Year’s resolutions, but will give you a renewed confidence in your hearing and social life. Invest in your hearing. Invest in yourself.

Karen Finch is the Managing Director and lead audiologist at The Hearing Care Centre in Ipswich. The multi-award winning, family-run company has 20 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk.

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ON THE GRAPEVINE GIVE YOUR VIEW TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SUFFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE The public consultation looking at the future provision for Suffolk’s fire and service is now open. The 14-week consultation seeks the views of members of the public, fire and rescue service staff and all other interested parties regarding proposals for changing the way the fire and rescue service is set-up across the county. The consultation closes on Monday, February 22, 2016.

The proposed changes meet the on-going reductions in funding for the fire service and also reflect the significant reduction in 999 call demand over the last five years in Suffolk. The consultation launch was agreed at Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 10.

The draft Integrated Risk Management Plan being considered through consultation identifies the following proposal: •

Reduce the number of fire engines in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft

•

Replace the second fire engine at Sudbury with a rapid response fire fighting vehicle

•

Close Wrentham fire station

These are challenging proposals but they will ensure that the service is fit to continue to provide a balance of Prevention, Protection and Emergency Response services to communities across Suffolk: •

Prevention – working with young, elderly and vulnerable people to promote community safety and fire prevention

• •

Public Protection, Councillor Matthew Hicks said: “Since the initial announcement of the proposed changes, many people have already shared their opinions on the proposals and we hope that everyone who shows an interest takes the time to respond to this consultation.

In Suffolk, we are lucky to have such a highly skilled and dynamic fire service that has embedded a programme of protection and prevention work in the last 10 years to make Suffolk safer and reduce the demand for its 999 fire services.

“The council recognise the importance of our fire and rescue service and has, over recent years, done everything possible to protect it against reductions in grant funding from the government. We have progressed with investment in fire stations, training facilities, fire engines, firefighting clothing and equipment; and we have established a fantastic collaborative approach with Suffolk’s blue light emergency partners, with plans for more in the future.

“I am confident that these proposals mean we can continue to deliver an outstanding service to the residents of Suffolk. They have been developed after taking account of: the risk profile across the county; the number, location and type of fire stations and fire engines; the location of on-call and full-time firefighters; and the 999 call demand and casualty history over recent years – the details of which are all set out in the consultation documents. Once the consultation has concluded, the county council cabinet will fully consider the response to the proposals at a future cabinet meeting.

To give your views on the consultation: •

Email: FireServiceRedesign@suffolk.gov.uk

Protection – working with business to support them meeting their legal fire safety protection requirements

•

Call the Service Redesign team between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday: 01473 260457

Emergency Response – providing 24/7 999 emergency response services across the county and in support of significant emergencies across the country

•

Write to: Service Redesign Team Manager, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service HQ, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich IP1 2BX

Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and

Further details on the consultation can be seen at: www.suffolk.gov.uk/fireredesign

COUNCIL TAX SCAM Fraudsters have been phoning victims telling them that they have been placed in the wrong council tax bracket for a number of years and are entitled to a rebate. They normally say that this rebate should be worth about £7,000. Once the victim is convinced, the fraudster tells them that in order to receive the rebate they will need to pay an administration fee in advance.

The payment they ask for varies between £60-£350. The victim provides the details and makes the payment, but then is no longer able to make contact with the person they spoke to on the phone.

When they phone their council about the rebate and the fact that they are in the wrong tax bracket, the council will confirm that they know nothing about it and that they have been contacted by fraudsters.

PROTECT YOURSELF Never respond to unsolicited phone calls. Your local council won’t ever phone out-of-the-blue to discuss a council tax rebate. If you receive a call of this nature, put the phone down straight away.

No legitimate organisation will ask you to pay in advance in order to receive money, so never give them your card details.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, hang up the phone and wait five minutes to clear the line as fraudsters sometimes keep the line open. Then call your bank or card issuer to report the fraud.

Where it is possible use a different phone line to make the phone call.

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online or by telephone: www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud / 0300 123 2040

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In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT AND BRANTHAM Sunday, December 27: Christmas 1 10am BCP Communion (said), East Bergholt Thursday, December 31: New Year’s Eve 11.30pm Informal Communion in the Rectory: See the New Year

in with Jesus!, Brantham Sunday, January 3: Epiphany 8am BCP Communion (Healing), East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion (Healing), East Bergholt Wednesday, January 6

9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, January 10: Epiphany 1 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Communion Service, East Bergholt 11am Family Service, Brantham Sunday, January 17: Epiphany 2 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Family Service, East Bergholt 11am Communion Service (Healing), Brantham Saturday, January 23

Deanery Wedding Preparation Day, Bentley Sunday, January 24: Epiphany 3 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt

WE ARE RECRUITING! Join Headway Suffolk - one of the UK's largest brain injury specialists

10am 11am 3pm

Choral Matins, East Bergholt Informal Service, Brantham Ecumenical Service, Brantham

Sunday, January 31: Candlemas 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion, Brantham Wednesday, February 3 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, February 7: Next before Lent 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion (Healing), East Bergholt This service schedule may change without prior notice if needed.

LENT COURSE: Let’s Re-imagine Church Our world and our lives change at an ever-increasing pace, but how do we respond to this change? Are new ways of being church possible? If so, what might they look like?

This year we are running a course called Mission Shaped Intro as our Lent course. Already used by 75,000 people worldwide, the course will help us to reconnect with our communities and re-imagine the forms of church that are needed in the 21st century. It will take us on a creative and reflective journey (using discussion, film clips and prayer) looking at the need for new ways of being church. It will be a relaxed and fun time learning together, led by The Rev Matthew and The Rev Claire Ling.

The six-week course will be run from February 17, with the final session being after Easter on April 13. Times are 2pm or 7pm, lasting 90 minutes, with tea and coffee, and will be held in the West End of East Bergholt church. There is a cost of £3.50 for the study material. Please book your place with The Rev Matthew as soon as possible before all the spaces fill up: 07486 449625

Dates: Wednesdays, February 17 & 24, March 2 & 9, Thursday, March 17 and Wednesday, April 13.

WEDDING/FLOWER FESTIVAL AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, EAST BERGHOLT

Community Support Workers Required To support clients with rehabilitation at home and in the community with time to deliver quality care

Good rates of pay | Pension Scheme | Training Paid mileage, time travel & expenses Career progression | Flexible working hours

Tel: 01473 712225 Email CV: nicolacooper@headwaysuffolk.org.uk www.headwaysuffolk.org.uk/recruitment www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt will be holding a wedding/flower festival at the end of July 2016. We would like to hear from anyone who was married at St Mary’s Church and still has her wedding dress and would be happy for this to be displayed in the church for the duration of the festival. We would also like to have a photo of your wedding day, clearly showing the bouquet as the flower ladies at the church will be making arrangements using (as far as possible) flowers that were in the bridal bouquets. We are sure this will be a spectacular event and will hopefully show the different fashion in bridal gowns across the decades.

So far we have wedding dresses from the 30s, 50s, 60s, 80s and 90s, but we do need more. We would also be grateful for any dressmaking dummies you may have to loan for the festival. If you have a dress or a dummy to loan or need more information, please contact Liz Digby: 01473 312281

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CHURCH NEWS EAST BERGHOLT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Cemetery Lane, East Bergholt, CO7 6RZ

Pastor: Mrs Maralyn Bambridge 35 Birch Drive, Brantham, Manningtree CO11 1TG 01206 393022 / maralyn.bambridge@yahoo.com Organist: J Stuart Rees GRSM, LRAM, ARCO / 01255 508222 Services: Sunday at 10.30am – all welcome Communion: taken at the end of the service on the second Sunday of each month.

Coffee Mornings: Every Thursday, 9.30-11.30am Sunday, December 27: Sunday, January 3: Sunday, January 10: Sunday, January 17: Sunday, January 24: Sunday, January 31:

Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Mr Ted Wheatley

This is when we need extra help, particularly God’s help. It is worth remembering that he is waiting for us to call on him and that he will never let us down. He is there for all of us but we need to respond to his outstretched hand. How? Give me a call, or meet with Steph at one of her café meetings. I know I speak for all of us in this group of churches when I say any one of us is here to help. The numbers are in the magazine.

Blessings, Maralyn

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BRANTHAM

MASS FOR CATHOLICS IN ARDLEIGH AND MISTLEY

Services on Sundays: 9am • Holy days anticipatory: 7.30pm Tuesdays: 10am

There is a mass each Sunday in St Mary’s Church, Ardleigh, at 8.50am, and in St Mary’s & St Michael’s Church, Mistley, on Wednesdays at 9.45am and on Saturdays at 6.30pm.

Father Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ 01473 684963 • office@stmarksparish.org.uk

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Happy New Year to everyone and I hope you have all enjoyed the celebrations whether they have been quiet or full on. I wonder what you are hoping for during the next 12 months. To a certain extent we shall all experience much the same as in previous years – holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and so forth. But then there is always the unexpected surprises, some good and some not so good. It is then that we are all pulled up short, especially if they are not good. We suddenly realise that we are not invincible, that like other mortals we can crumble.

Father Jon Ravensdale, 01206 870460

In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963

Tuesday 19

9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 24 9am

Tuesday 26 9.30am

10am

Mass – Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the church front door.

Sunday 31 9am

Mass – Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Services for January

Catholic Commentary – Pope Francis’ Top 10 Secrets To Happiness 1. Live and let live 2. Be giving of yourself to others 3. Proceed calmly in life 4. A healthy sense of leisure 5. Sundays should be holidays 6. Create dignified jobs for young people 7. Respect and take care of nature 8. Stop being negative 9. Don’t proselytise; respect others’ beliefs 10. Work for peace

We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich.

For up to date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk

Sunday 3

9am

Tuesday 5 9.30am

10am

Sunday 10 9am

Tuesday 12 9.20am

10am

Sunday 17 9am

Mass – The Epiphany of the Lord Morning Prayer Mass Mass – The Baptism of the Lord Eucharistic Adoration Mass Mass – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Children’s Liturgy

Morning Prayer Mass

Diary Dates Every last Thursday of the month a bring and buy coffee morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR, 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for the parish room refurbishment. All are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, January 28.

100 Club, now renamed the 200 Club As we continue to grow and now have 134 numbers taken the club has been renamed. We welcome new members to the club, set up to raise much need funds to support the life and mission of our parish. Already a member, then why not take out another number? Application forms may be found at the back of the church or on the parish website (www. stmarksparish.org.uk). The next monthly draw is planned to take place at Holy Family after Sunday mass when the prize pool will be £133.

Children’s Liturgy Children are very welcome to join the Liturgy of the Word that takes place on the third Sunday of each month.

Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are being asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice.

Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Father Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital. Please phone him on 01473 726701 if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services.

All are very welcome at Holy Family, Brantham All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services. It’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic faith are always welcome.

Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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HOME SELLERS BEWARE Most of us are aware of the saying ‘let the buyer beware’, but house sellers also need to be vigilant when selecting an agent to market their house.

It’s good practice for a seller to invite two or three agents to provide a marketing plan, together with a sales price that the seller should expect to achieve. When the quotes come in it’s tempting to choose the agent with either the highest sales value or the lowest fee. But these are not always the best criteria.

NOW RECRUITING

Some agents offer to achieve a sale at a price that is above the market expectation. This may seem attractive, but may lead to the seller being tied into a contract of 16 or more weeks. During this time as the house does not sell the agent will gradually seek to bring the price down until it matches the market value and a buyer is found. For the seller this means the sale is delayed and may lead to them losing the house they were hoping to buy.

SALES & MARKETING MANAGER

Also if an agent is offering to sell for a low, fixed fee paid in advance the seller can expect to get a service that reflects the price. This may mean there will be a less than detailed advertising with no floor plan and the seller being asked to conduct viewings.

The key tasks include:

The moral of this is that people who want to sell their own houses should use web sites like Rightmove and On the Market so they already have a good idea of what their house is worth and then find a reputable selling agent who is a member of the National Association of Estate Agents.

Responsible for advertising sales, account management, business development and sales team and portfolio management for Mansion House Publishing, Colourplan Print, Boswell Office Supplies and Musical Marketing.

•

Responsible for managing and developing an experienced sales team, with a requirement to establish targets and objectives and to motivate staff, develop new business opportunities and revenue streams and to deliver projects successfully.

•

Working closely with the MD to devise and implement marketing strategies (including digital), increasing sales through marketing and reporting on marketing success.

Applicants must have several years of senior media sales experience, ideally within a publishing environment, a proven track record of hitting and exceeding sales targets and excellent experience of managing and motivating sales people.

We are looking for a candidate who can deal professionally with high level clients. The ideal candidate will have experience of successfully developing large accounts and also experience of new business development. Furthermore, we would expect the candidate to have a desire to be a real leader in driving team success.

MAGAZINE DESIGNER / LAYOUT An experienced print and magazine designer / layout to join our small and very busy team.

You will need to be skilled in page layout, InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator with proven ability to make design judgements in relation to page layout and at least three years experience working in print or publishing design.

You will need to work effectively and efficiently under pressure, have a keen eye for detail, natural creative flair and possess strong communication and teamwork skills.

For full details including how to apply please visit: www.grapevinelive.co.uk/category/jobs 30

In Touch online:

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For a free quotation please call Nigel Coton 01449 721025 or 07801 515505 To advertise in this section, which appears in 16 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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