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with Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Volume 6 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2016
Early morning dog walk
Submitted by Kesgrave Cameras Stowe Veterinary Centre
Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre
Ipswich Veterinary Centre
The Mustard Pot Veterinary Surgery
The Old Tea Room Veterinary Surgery
54 Bury Road, Stowmarket
2 Boldero Road, Bury St. Edmunds
Scrivener Drive, Ipswich
Coddenham Road, Needham Market
Station Road, Elmswell
Tel: 01449 613 130
Tel: 01284 747 000
Tel: 01473 555 000
Tel: 01449 722 198
Tel: 01359 241 761
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
Information technology has transformed our lives for the better it so many, many ways, but nothing beats direct communication and social media can never replace actual physical, social contact. I’m reminded of a submission from Elaine Bamber in Washbrook which I’d like to share. I hope it gives you a giggle FACEBOOK FOR THE OLDER GENERATION For those of my generation who do not comprehend why Facebook exists! I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles. Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passers by what I have eaten, how I am feeling at the moment, what I did the night before, what I will be doing later and with whom. I give them pictures of my family, my dog, of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving round town, having lunch and doing what everyone and everybody does every day. I also listen to their conversations and give them the ‘thumbs up’ and tell them that I like them. It works just like Facebook! I already have four people following me... two police officers, a private investigator and a psychiatrist!
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with Bramford, Offton & Somersham
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL St Mary’s Church, Bramford Shoe boxes wrapped by Bramford Rainbows
We had a friend coming over to play last Saturday and I asked Jack if we should invite him to stay for dinner. “He loves Chinese,” my ohso-quick sesame prawn toast loving son replied, so I said I’d send a message to his mum. “Is a message just a slow way of telling someone something?,” Jack asked and I must admit it would have been quicker and easier to pick the phone up and actually speak to Emma. Three texts later we knew Adam was staying for dinner, that he liked Spaghetti Bolognese and didn’t have any food allergies, so the answer to Jack’s question, at least in this circumstance, was probably YES.
NEWS
I would like to thank the following local businesses and friends that either donated prizes for our raffle or decorated a Christmas tree and the children of Bramford School for providing their Christmas artwork: Lumberjacks, Waterfront Café, Ipswich Cage Birds Society, Bramford Village News and Keebles Garage. I would also like to thank my friends who helped make the festival possible in such a short time and the local groups, families and businesses that decorated the windows and trees. It looked amazing.
List of trees and floral arrangements Shelley Riding Centre for The Disabled; Bramford Tennis Club; Bardwell Family; Bramford History Group; St Elizabeth Hospice; Bramford Cock; Bramford Book Sale; Jigsaw Evening; Bramford Playgroup; Children’s Corner – Oliver Nuttal and Sue Hunwicks; Bex Bait & Tackle; Breast Cancer; Bramford Flower and Vegetable Show; Bramford Methodist Church; Sheila Heath; Wendy McGinty; Bramford Craft Group; Resolute Mortgages Mortgage & Protection Broker; British Legion Poppy Tree; Bramford Rainbows; Dianne Heasley; Helen Breitsprecher; Bramford Pharmacy; The Friends Of Grove Farm; Bramford Church Bell Ringers; Bramford Trefoil Guild; Bramford WI; Clarice House; Christine’s Florist; Bramford Parish Council; Bramford Carpet Bowls We raised a total of £457.69 during the two days. Best wishes and a Happy New Year, Judith Paterson
Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: bramford@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
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IN TOUCH WITH . . . • Hadleigh NEW • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • East Bergholt, Dedham & Flatford • 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
A village scene by Sue Hunwicks
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10 FEBRUARY 2016
© In Touch with Bramford, Offton & Somersham is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
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NEWS Bramford churches united to sing carols and raised £108 in aid of Action for Children
Peter Mayhew and Ron Fowler with the Bramford British Legion Remembrance Tree at St Mary’s Church, Bramford
ST MARY’S CHRISTMAS LUNCH On behalf of all our members I write to convey our most sincere thanks to organiser Janet Read and her dedicated team of helpers, namely Valerie Mather, Janet Jackaman, Susan Withell, Judy Kermish, Ruby Parker, Corinne Beaumont and Rosemary Steward, who all worked tirelessly to ensure we enjoyed a hot, well-prepared, traditional seasonal lunch with Christmas crackers and a warming tipple of sherry. While the lunch was slowly digesting we were privileged to be entertained by the children and accompanying teachers from Bramford Primary School who so beautifully sang a number of popular carols. Judging by the loud applause they were very much appreciated. Apart from their excellent singing, they conducted themselves in such an impeccable and respectful manner, shining out as wonderful ambassadors for their schools and our village. Very well done to them. I venture to hope this school/village interaction can be repeated in some shape or form soon again. In an attempt to maintain good brain function, two seasonal quizzes followed. They raised lots of laughter, leading one to believe concentration was somewhat lacking! Our musical entertainment is usually provided by Peter Jackaman who unfortunately on this occasion was experiencing ill health. We hope he is now lots better. By extreme good fortune, Sue Rhodes most kindly stepped into the breach on the digital piano and played a number of requested sing-along carols which have proved popular on previous occasions and were much enjoyed.
Father Christmas paid a visit to the children’s Christmas party at Bramford British Legion
BRAMFORD ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Entertainment for February www.bramfordrblclub.co.uk Tel: (01473) 745198 or join us on Facebook Sat 6
Shane
Thurs 11 Jazz with East Coast Wanderers Sat 13
Valentine Dinner Dance –
with 2 course meal and live band Mid Life Crisis
Thurs 18 Quiz Sat 20
Annie
Wed 24
Dave Starr Karaoke
Thurs 25 Bingo Sat 27
Soul and Motown Disco
Bingo every Sunday night from 8pm. As well as a snooker room and pretty outside seating area we now have hot drinks available at the bar, so come and join us for coffee or beer. 4
The grand finale was sung by the organiser and her team of helpers and members responded with hearty applause in warm appreciation and gratitude for all their efforts on our behalf, a most fitting end to a memorable day. Dennis R Page
CHARITY RACE NIGHT In aid of 1st Bramford Scout and Guide Headquarters Friday, March 4 from 7pm Lorraine Victory Hall, Bramford • Paddocks open at 7pm • £1 entry adults • Free for children • First race on the big screen at 7.30pm • Great fun for all the family • Bar and tuck shop available • Please come and support this local charity
If you would like to sponsor a race and receive publicity of your company services on the night it will only cost £20. Or if you would like to sponsor a horse for £5 or a jockey for £2 please email Group Scout Leader Claire Bickers at: clairebickers28@googlemail.com In Touch online:
www.keepingintouchwith.com/bramford
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NEWS SAVE THE DUKE UPDATE You’ll be pleased to hear that progress has not stopped. More than £190,000 was raised in just three months – and people are still buying shares, so the total is edging its way upwards. If you haven’t already joined in, it’s not too late, so please do. Just go on the website to invest or contact Gerard Kroon: 01473 657178 The fantastic support and encouragement from local communities has kept the committee going, ploughing through laborious tasks and layers of bureaucracy to get to the strong position we’re now in. We’re determined to make 2016 the year we get our pub back. The committee Having started the Save the Duke campaign, then tirelessly driven it forward over the last year – while also working as a doctor – Sarah Caston is stepping down as chair. She has made an invaluable contribution and been an inspirational leader and our sincere thanks are due to her. She will continue to sit on the committee and support the campaign going forward. We are pleased to announce James Batchelor-Wylam from Somersham as new chair. James runs a branch of the NFU/NFU Mutual in Lavenham and his business acumen will be of great use to the committee as we move to a new phase of the project with the purchase of the pub this year. Buying shares We are in constructive discussions with the pub’s owners about its purchase. In order to buy and operate the Duke of Marlborough a further £150,000 is needed. This can, and will (!), be raised. Other communities have done it – and so can we. But we need your help. • • • •
If you are not already a shareholder, could you invest £250 or more? If you are a shareholder, would you be prepared to increase your current shareholding? Could you help us find more supporters – refer friends, colleagues or family who would consider buying shares? All donations (however small) are also very welcome
Loaning big lump sums – great new scheme with attractive payback In order to buy the pub as soon as possible, we need to borrow money. If you have £5,000 to £50,000 to invest for a period of four years and if your tax liabilities are over £3,000 a year, then you may well want to benefit from a fantastic new scheme. The government’s Social Investment Tax Relief should enable you to reclaim 30% of your loan against your tax bill. The end result is equivalent to a whacking 7% a year interest – and your loan returned in full after four years. The good news is that the loans will cost the pub nothing: the benefit to savers comes direct from the taxman. We’re in the process of registering with HMRC for the scheme, and are seeking expressions of interest. Please email marlboroughsomersham@gmail.com or call James on 01473 831042 if you’d like to get involved or to know more about it. BASH IN THE BARN 2: Fundraising event on March 19 Put March 19 in your diaries for Bash in the Barn 2. More details to follow – our Facebook page is a good way to keep abreast of latest news: www.facebook.com/marlboroughsomersham Follow us on Twitter: @helpsavetheduke
ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY UPDATE Suffolk’s energy-from-waste facility attracted more than 2,600 visitors in its first year and 99.5% said they were either happy or very happy with their visit. As well as seven open days, aimed primarily at those living very close to the site, the centre has hosted 37 school or children’s groups and 92 adult groups during the year. Visitors have come from right across the county and beyond, but over half of the visitors live in Mid Suffolk or Babergh. The feedback has been very positive, with local people welcoming the opportunity to learn more about the energy-from-waste process, as well as recycling and the need to produce more energy from renewable sources. One local resident commented: “Very informative. I feel a lot happier with the facility being here now as it has all been explained to me. Thank you.”
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A typical visit includes a presentation, a tour of the facility including the control room where the emissions monitoring information can be seen, and time in the visitor centre rooms. The chimney emissions monitoring information is also available on our website: www.suffolkefw.co.uk Before the site opened, Suffolk County Council set up a monitoring station close by to measure general air quality before, during and after construction. This information is available on the Green Suffolk website at: http://tinyurl.com/zd6jdlr USEFUL NUMBERS Site offices: 01473 839149 To book a visit: 01473 836812 Environment Agency: 0800 807060 SITA Trust: 01454 262910
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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT John Field’s Report to Gipping Valley: January 2015 Local Government Financial News The county and district now know their settlements for the next four years and both have suffered rather more than they expected. The county will receive £4million more next year than it estimated, then £4, £6 and £8million less over the next three years. Overall, the reduction from now will be £41.9million by 2019/20. The estimate is that inflation will cost an additional £8 million and demographic change £5.2 million per year, which all makes it difficult or impossible to maintain services for the vulnerable and the rest of us. I will report the proposed budget actions when the administration reveals its revised proposals. The district core budget will lose £730k government grant next year and another £1 million over the next three years. This will be replaced from the £2.6million New Homes Bonus which will drop to about £1.8 million over the period. There will still be £8.4million of Transformation Funds available for investment in 2016/17. The government ruling that rents must no longer rise by CPI plus 1% but now must fall by 1% in cash terms will challenge the district’s housing revenue account. This change is good for residents but takes a substantial sum from the finance for continued building of new and replacement council houses.
The proceeds from right to buy sales can form 30% of the cost of replacement homes but the remaining 70% must come from surplus rent income, grants that we may win from government and borrowing. The rent reductions make a hole in the total and a major checking exercise is in progress. Devolution It is a bit hard to get excited by devolution. Does it matter to you? Will you get better and more efficient services? Does it matter who rules you as long as they take notice of your views and are good at it? The Enabling Bill is certainly progressing through parliament with the last minute addition of some significant powers to allow the government to overcome resistance from local authorities. We will be examining progress in Scrutiny on February 10 asking, among other things, why is it important that Suffolk pursues devolution, what are the advantages, what are the potential benefits to the people of Suffolk and what does it seek to achieve in terms of outcomes? Broadband The plan for the next nine months includes Chapel Lane, Great Blakenham (80 premises) and Claydon Business Park (75), which leaves a few remote villages like Baylham where I live.
Houses in Bramford Development of 130 houses north of Acton Road has received outline planning permission. Infrastructure development gets £79k for preschool, £962k for education, £28k for libraries and £66k for highways. Open space and social infrastructure should receive £725k, much of which will go to the village. However, we must remember a lot can change even at this stage. Houses in Great Blakenham There is a scheme proposed to develop the area of Great Blakenham between Chequers Rise and the allotments and by the time you read this a public exhibition will have been held. Yet another large development proposed in a village that has expanded dramatically and is feeling the strain. The contributions for infrastructure to support such a development would be similar to that above except that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is likely to be operational by the time the developer makes a planning application. That would provide a certain non-negotiable sum which would depend on the floor area of the houses and would exclude any affordable dwellings. At some £10k per house, there would be perhaps £1m available. If you have queries please contact me at: 01473 831306 / john.field@suffolk.gov.uk www.john.field@suffolk.libdems.org
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CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFE LINE
December 30 saw a somewhat sad farewell to the children who had been with us in December. Previously the only children to visit at this time of year have been those on repeat (private) invitations so having been before they would know what to expect and the inviting host would know who was coming. For hosts to take the first time travellers was quite something as they had no idea how the children would fit in with their family and their lifestyle. I am delighted to report that this was a great success. I would like to extend my thanks to the families who hosted for their generosity and selflessness in reaching out to these children despite their own family commitments. Also a very big thank you to their children who so unselfishly let complete strangers share their family time at Christmas.
During the visit many new experiences were enjoyed and again we have been touched by the generosity of our sponsors. The children experienced bowling for the first time, had a fantastic experience at a cookery school, a tour around a fruit and veg wholesale facility, decorated their own miniature Christmas cakes to take home and many other memory making experiences. They spent long hours working on their memory books, recording minute details and saving scraps for mementos that we would discard without a second thought. Even the smallest of gifts became a treasured item to take home, wrapping paper, cards and bows all being carefully saved as well. A link to a short video showing the activities that took place during the month can be seen on our website.
We now look forward to the 2016 group visit which takes place in July. We do hope that you will be able to support our forthcoming fundraising events to make sure this can take place: Pig Racing evening on February 13 and Chocolate Bingo on Saturday, March 5 – see our adverts opposite for full details. Tickets are now on sale. Our very grateful thanks as always to our supporters and here’s looking forward to a great 2016. Link Chair Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / enquiries@ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk www.ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk
URGENT APPEAL TO HELP CHILDREN OF CHERNOBYL Could you host a child from Belarus for four weeks in July this year? We urgently need to find individuals or families who could open their hearts and their homes to welcome a child or children for four weeks from July 3. Our annual invitation has already been issued due to the time required to process documentation and visa applications. The education authorities will now be in the process of selecting the children who are eligible for our program and it would be devastating for a child to be told they could no longer travel as we didn’t have enough host families to receive them.
Hosts are able to follow their own occupation/interests as the children meet daily Monday-Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm at our day centre in Needham Market where they enjoy a range of activities and outings. They are then free to return to their host families to enjoy quality time during the late afternoons, evenings and weekends.
Could you give a temporary home to one or two children from Belarus? These children are not sick but do live in areas that have suffered greatly from the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster which took place on April 26 1986, and unbelievably 30 years on the situation is still affecting second and third generation children. Not only are the families suffering from the problems associated with the disaster, but factor in increased poverty caused by a collapsing economy, wages being cut, jobs being lost and the cost of living rising monthly without wages keeping pace and one can begin to see how a simple visit to the UK can be so beneficial. Despondency is replaced by hope and optimism, compromised immune systems are revitalised, children arrive grey and tired but return home looking healthy and happy with a whole new outlook on life and memories to treasure forever as the majority of these children will never leave their village in their lifetime, let alone have the opportunity to go abroad. So, in hosting these children you truly will be giving a forever gift that will remain priceless to the recipient.
Supporters, families or individuals who cannot host provide assistance to hosting families or with the children on activities and day
The children are brought to the UK on a respite visit to help their health improve; four weeks breathing clean air, eating nourishing
All that is needed is a minimum of a mattress to sleep on and a loving home with people who care. Financial circumstances are immaterial. Age is not a barrier, single parents will be considered and families may or may not still have their own children at home
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trips and are on hand to collect or look after children at other times if needed, or to provide an overnight stay if required.
food and drinking clean water can rebuild their currently compromised immune systems to such a degree that it can take up to two years to return to the current levels after their return home. This can help to extend the children’s life expectancy which has already been severely compromised by living with the after effects of the Chernobyl disaster. Host families welcome children into their homes as part of their own family. Over the years many hosts have enjoyed the experience so much that they have acquired extended families when they decide to keep in touch with ‘their’ children. A hosting family is not paid but a high level of support is provided in many ways and the reward comes in seeing children blossom during their time in the UK. Children will be aged between eight and 10 years. During their stay the link will arrange many fun days out and activities and also essential care such as dentist and opticians. If you would like to be considered as a host parent or helper and would like more information please contact Link Chair Elizabeth Parker: 01449 760343 / 07771 550868 / enquiries@ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk
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NEWS DAVID CARD, MID SUFFOLK DISTRICT COUNCILLOR Covering the parishes of Barking, Baylham, Darmsden, Nettlestead, Offton, Somersham and Willisham District Councillor ‘one off’ £5,000 Community Locality Award
BRAMFORD WATER MEADOWS
By the time you read this I will have decided how to allocate the award between the applications received:
IMPORTANT INFORMATION – DIGGING WORKS ON THE MEADOWS
• • • • • • • • • •
Somersham Community Shop Somersham Tennis Club Somersham Duke Community Pub Somersham Play area equipment Somersham/Offton Link magazine Barking Village Hall Offton/Willisham Village Hall playground Baylham Church toilet Suffolk Cruse Bereavement Care Needham Market Parish church
Community Infrastructure Levy A decision is expected to be taken at a special meeting of full council in January 2016. Community Led Planning Rather than adopt the more complicated Neighbourhood Plan, MSDC have now introduced a simpler Community Led Planning scheme. Let me know if you require a copy of the guidance. Devolution of Powers Debate The government’s Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill continues to be worked up behind the scenes. Suffolk, Norfolk and now Cambridgeshire are working up yet another ‘joint bid’. MSDC Medium Term Financial Strategy Details on financial plans are contained in papers released by officials which acknowledge “the need to live within our means”. I welcome this approach but would add that we need to understand what we must do as against what we volunteer to do. Babergh and Mid Suffolk office accommodation How much and where office space is needed will be an important topic for debate in 2016. A community consultation will be undertaken before any final decision is taken. For further information contact David Card: 01449 722267 / david.card@midsuffolk.gov.uk
Easter Themed Chocolate Bingo! Saturday, March 5 Fantastic Family Night Out! Needham Market Community Centre, 7pm Full Bar Open — Entry £6 (Under 10s half price) To include hot supper with dessert
Bingo with a real difference!
Six exciting games with a special “kidz only” game Chocolate related prizes and raffle / final game cash prize First game 7.30pm prompt Tickets fromCARD the CCLL Charity in Needham ONE available FREE BINGO WITH EACHShop £7.00 TICKET Mkt Horse Public House) TICKETS ON(adjacent SALE ATto: Rampant NEEDHAM MARKET POST OFFICE PURCHASED Tourist Office Stowmarket (opposite Asda) NEEDHAM MARKET COMMUNITY CENTRE Or call 01449 760343 / 07974 424374 A CHARITY EVENT FOR CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1014274
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It is some time since I have written about what is happening on the meadows. This is because a lot of the plans are grant dependant. We now have the funding necessary to enable us to dig out some of the watercourses to make a better environment for wildlife. The work was due to take place from Monday, January 25 for two weeks. This means it will have started before you read this, but we have only just been advised of the dates. The work is in two parts. The main digging will be to open up the ditch that runs along the old Fisons field. This will allow the water from the Gipping to flow from opposite the Water Park into our meadow. The machinery will have to traverse the north meadow and cross into Fisons field near to Bushman’s Bridge. It will generally not be working near to a public footpath, but there may be some temporary closures. They will be marked on the day so please don’t ignore them or allow dogs to get in the way or into danger. The lesser work is to open up the pond in the south meadow near to Hazel Woods. This will have two levels and staging will be put in place to allow for school parties and others to do some pond dipping. It will involve digging and also some tree surgery so please keep clear when asked or when signs are in place. FOOTPATH IMPROVEMENTS Alongside the ditching on the Fisons land we are also hoping to improve the canal towpath by repairing a bridge and placing a new one over the big dip where the old stream leaves the Gipping. Please be patient and divert if asked. All of this work is being funded by the Internal Drainage Board as it helps to keep our flood plain clear as well. There is no direct cost to Bramford Open Spaces or to the parish council. All of the work was contained in our management plan which you can access at: ttp://tinyurl.com/gqqu8cv I will write again shortly with more details of other plans as we get the funding agreed. John Hooker, trustee: 240843
C OME & JOIN US FOR PIG RACING! Saturday, February 13
Bloomfields, Needham Market Football Club, Quinton Road, Needham Market Supper of “Pigs in Pyjamas” & dessert included Tote & Pig Racing hosted by Stowmarket Lions Doors open 7pm / first race 7.30pm prompt Tickets (£8) are available from The CCLL Charity Shop in Needham ONE FREE Tourist BINGO Office CARD WITH EACH £7.00 TICKET Market & Stowmarket TICKETS ON SALE AT: NEEDHAM MARKET POST OFFICE PURCHASED NEEDHAM MARKET COMMUNITY CENTRE
Or call 01449 760343/ 07974 424374/ 07770 478933
A CHARITY EVENT FOR CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1014274
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NEWS SOMERSHAM PARISH COUNCIL Report from January 2016 meeting Temporary Road Closure of C450 The chairman confirmed that following the problems the parish had encountered during the closure of the roads through the village during the summer, Mr Mark Stevens, Assistant Director of Operational Highways, Suffolk County Council, will be attending the parish council meeting on Wednesday, February 3 to hear from parish councillors about the concerns they had during the closure and what lessons can be learned from this experience for future planned closures in local parishes.
SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP A community shop for the local community and run by the local community.
County Councillor Truelove’s Report Councillor Truelove reported on the future of the county policing, the key changes being the reduction of Safer Neighbourhood Teams, the re-organisation of the policing areas, a reduction in police bases, the reduction to three public access points and the roles and work of Operational Partnership Teams that will be embedded in the new working model.
The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416
Broadband Second Round Provision Suffolk County Council reports that the second round of Superfast Broadband is ahead of schedule. Providing broadband by satellite has been trialled over the last few months. It is intended as an interim solution for businesses and homes that currently get less than 2Mbps and are not included in the current planned coverage of the next 12 months. This information can be found at www.betterbroadbandsuffolk.com. Eligible people can now apply for a voucher to cover initial installation and commissioning costs of a satellite broadband receiver. A guide and application form can be found at the web address shown above.
Congratulations to all who put in such fantastic work keeping the shop manned and running over the last year in this really worthwhile community project. Our Tea and Chat afternoons continue and we have two more to go in 2016 – Wednesday, February 24 and Wednesday, March 30, both 2-4pm. Come along for a hot drink, a piece of cake and a chance to meet up with others for a chat during the cold weather.
Anglian Water Works B1078 Suffolk County Highways have reported that the B1078 from the junction of Parsons Lane to the junction of Battisford Road and covering Barking Hill will be closed from January 11 to February 12. Finance Councillors considered the Budget 2016/17 and agreed the final precept figure of £13,710 be requested from Mid Suffolk District Council. This represents an increase of 2% over the current year. FUTURE MEETINGS Wednesdays, February 3, March 2 and April 6, all at 7pm. The meeting on April 6 is the Annual Parish Meeting where all parishioners are invited to attend. If you would like a specific topic discussed as an agenda item then please contact the parish clerk, Claire Lee: 01473 839784 / somersham.pc@outlook.com Your councillors (and their phone numbers) are: Richard Browne (chairman) 831321; Nick Dodd (vice-chairman) 832806; Chris Mills 831667; Alan Bromwich 832900; Penny Pearson 831436; James Caston 07789 957444; and Keith McKeown 832000.
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE Call 01473 353350 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.
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A Happy 2016 to all our customers and volunteers. We look forward to seeing everybody in the shop in the coming year. Many thanks to all the volunteers who gave of their time to keep the shop open over the Christmas and New Year period, your efforts were much appreciated.
Our community shop is an excellent facility for providing a heart to the local community and a place to meet up with other people, and of course the main purpose of the shop which is to provide our customers with good quality, reasonably priced, produce. Have you noticed that we now sell wine, cider and beer? All very reasonably priced and we stock some local beers as well, some brewed very nearby. Come and have a look and see what our local industries are producing. Perhaps we should put the word ‘farm’ before the ‘shop’ in our name as we have lots of local produce on sale. We have an excellent range of fresh local produce – eggs, bread, pies, cakes and more. These goods can also be pre-ordered so that you can be sure that what you require is there. We also have frozen foods and a whole range of other household goods. Please come in – we’d be very pleased to see you. Volunteering in the shop is an excellent way to meet new people and learn new skills. It’s also an excellent way to gain work experience to put on CVs for anybody wishing to join the world of work. So, if you are a student with time to spare during holidays or at weekends, a Duke of Edinburgh Award candidate looking for a volunteer placement, a homeworker, newly retired, or just think you would like to help out in any way, for however short a time, please come to the shop and let us know. Our services include: • Coffee corner • Book exchange • Dry-cleaning service • Newspapers and magazines ordered for collection at the shop • Ordering for bread, pies, meat, and other items • Village diary so as to ensure events don’t clash • Delivery service for those with mobility problems Management team: Lucy Barrett, 831890; Terry Fordham, 831529; Jenny Hitchcock, 832060; Peter Jousiffe, 833577; Anne MacFadyen, 831288; Steve Woolhouse, 831080.
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT EAST ANGLIA POTATO DAY 2016 SOMERSHAM/CHALLAIN-LA-POTHERIE VILLAGE LINK The next visit to our link village of Challain-la-Potherie in the Loire Valley area of France will be on the first May Bank Holiday of the year, from Friday, April 29 to Monday, May 2. This will be the 16th year of our link between our villages and many long-standing friendships have been made over the years. Each year we have new people travelling with us who then go on to make new friends themselves, both in France and locally. We travel by comfortable coach from Somersham to Challain where we stay with host families and all our accommodation, food and entertainment is provided. There is always a good mix of English and French on these occasions and language does not present a problem. We welcome people from our surrounding villages to join with us. The cost is the price of the coach divided by all who go along, so the more who go the less cost. It’s a fantastic group of people who go from our local villages and we’d love to have new people of all ages, either individuals or families, join our next trip. Over the time we have been going to Challain we have had all ages, the youngest being three years old and the oldest 80, and everybody in between. So if you’d like to know more please contact one of the following: Gill Fordham, 831529 / David Haughton, 831511 Janet Hodge, 832296 / Pat Woolhouse, 831080
Potato Day Poem by Buddy Lawrence from Harwich, a first time visitor 2015 It only happens once a year. It’s called Potato Day. You go into a big marquee, and out there on display, there’s boxes placed on tables, and inside them they hold, A myriad of seed potatoes there’s one called Yukon Gold. The whole thing is well-organised you have to queue in line, and wait until they open up. It starts at half-past nine. Then in like ants, swarm connoisseurs, and amateurs as well, each looking for their favourites, and maybe - who can tell? They’ll find something that’s different, they didn’t know about. Varieties they thought long gone; they’re still there, have no doubt. The volunteers who run the day, some regular, some new, will still be there at next year’s day, and hope to see you, too. Mr Lawrence kindly submitted this poem in 2015 and we think it sums up potato day brilliantly. For any potential potato growers who haven’t been before, this years’ East Anglia Potato Day is being held on Saturday, February 13 at Mid-Suffolk Showground, Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket IP14 6AT (on the A1120 approximately two miles from the A140), from 9.30am-1.30pm. There is a small admission charge of £1.50. For a list of the varieties expected visit: www.eapd.btck.com
IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET Love Your Gloves month at Ipswich Country Market Did you know that February is statistically the coldest month? Raynaud’s condition, where small blood vessels at the body’s extremities are oversensitive to changes in temperature, affects about one in six people in the UK. During February, Ipswich Country Market will be supporting the Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Associations’ Love Your Gloves campaign. Fifty percent of sales of our handmade polar fleece gloves will be donated to the charity. Also available are hand-crafted scarves, headbands hats and welly socks to keep you warm. All items can be made to your specific requirements too.
As well as seed potatoes (sold per tubor) we have various stallholders including refreshments, secondhand tools, seedswap, King Seeds, Rougham Nurseries, chip tasting and lots more. 2016 will be our 21st year and is organised by Suffolk Organic Group, Norfolk Organic Gardeners and Ipswich Organic Gardeners Group and we look forward to seeing everyone again in February.
February is also a month full of food celebrations. Why not choose one of our many varieties of homemade jam or some local honey to top your pancakes on February 9, Pancake Day? Cakes can be ordered and made or bought for Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you could buy a red tasty jam as a treat for your loved one? Looking forwards, that jam might be tasty to top your Welsh Cakes on St David’s Day on March 1, if there’s any left. You can find more about the market on our Facebook page – Ipswich Country Market – or by visiting: www.ipswich.countrymarket.co.uk We are open from 10.15-11.30am on Thursdays at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane. There is plenty of free parking, a warm welcome, and homebaked refreshments too. We offer a free tea or coffee on your first visit so come and see what we can tempt you with.
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EASTER BRIC-A-BRAC SALE 1st Sproughton Brownies are holding their Easter Bric-a-Brac sale on Saturday, March 5 at Sproughton Church Hall, 2-4pm. Admission free. In aid of Save the Children, HOPS (Holiday Opportunity Play Scheme for children with disabilities) and Brownie funds. Everyone welcome.
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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 BRAMFORD LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Our speaker on Thursday, February 18 is Linda Sexton who will tell us about Hope House Orphanage and the girls who lived there. The talk will be at the Church Room, starting at 7.30pm as usual. Visitors are welcome for the small charge of £3, or if they want to join for the rest of the season the fee is £10.
GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB The club is open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham from 2-4pm. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House and it has its own parking area behind the hall. It’s fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. Our meetings for February and March are: February 10: Social afternoon February 24: Chocolate! March 9: Social afternoon March 23: Mr Lewis Tyler of the River Gipping Trust will give a presentation entitled Rebuilding History – Baylham Lock and Sluice Visitors and new members are always welcome so do come and join us. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
BRAMFORD ART GROUP We have now moved into the Loraine Victory Hall and at present we are able to invite more budding artists and beginners to join our group. We meet on Wednesdays morning between 10am and noon; the cost is currently £8 a month. For further details please contact Ann Woolnough on 01473 743794 or come along and meet us any Wednesday after 10am.
BRAMFORD WI Our next meeting is on Monday, February 8 at 7.30pm in the Loraine Victory Hall. Our speaker will be Sharon Jenkins, the editor of In Touch with Bramford, Somersham & Offton and 16 other In Touch titles. Sharon will talk about her role, juggling deadlines, learning to say NO and why a sense of community is so important to her. The competition will be an advert for the WI with a 25 word limit.
SPROUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB In last month’s note I gave my usual annual update of the club and its membership for the benefit of newcomers to the area who may wish to join. By comparison, there is little to report this month. Members will have had the first outing of the New Year, a visit to the Wild Man for New Years’ Lunch on January 20, and the first main event will be the Annual General Meeting booked for Wednesday, April 20, following another lunch at the Wild Man. Meanwhile, take care of yourselves, especially if the forecast for a spell of freezing weather is correct. Best wishes to all, John Bates
BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD A Happy New Year to everyone. Bramford Trefoil Guild began 2016 with the usual AGM. All three officers were voted back in for another year. Once the ‘business‘ part of the meeting had finished, we had refreshments and then everyone enjoyed the usual beetle game with much laughter. The February meeting will have us doing exercises from our chairs with Actilives. I will report on the happenings in March. Our Trefoil tablecloth hasn’t come to light so we can only assume it has been destroyed/recycled. Plans are under way to make a replacement. For further information about the guild please contact me at: 01473 402152 / pandj83@gmail.com Pat Caddick, chairman
ST MARY’S CHURCH GATHERING Every third Tuesday in the month, 2.30-4pm, in the Church Room. Do come and join us; we will be very pleased to see you. If transport is required please contact Janet: 741331
BRAMFORD CRAFT AND CHATTER GROUP
SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB
This month we meet on Tuesdays, February 9 and 23 at the Loraine Victory Hall, 9.30am-noon.
The February meeting of the club will take place on Monday 8 at 7.30pm. Susanna Robirosa will be speaking on community gardens, which should be very interesting. We meet in Offton and Willisham Village Hall.
We have a guest from Hands on History on February 23 who will demonstrate historical crafts, showing how things were made by hand before machines were invented. It should be a fascinating morning. Visitors are welcome for £3 to help cover the cost of the hall.
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If you need any more information please ring 01473 830600. Come along and give us a look, you will be made very welcome, and it only costs £8 a year to join.
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SCHOOLS HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL We have had a busy start to term with Year 11 students returning to their internal mock exam results. These practise papers are a key indicator to students in helping them get ready for the first real exam on May 3. Revision really starts in earnest now, supported by a Friday night and Saturday GCSE Boot Camp trip to the Essex Outdoors Centre on Mersea Island. This overnight stay includes revision in English and mathematics on Friday night, followed the next morning by a hearty cooked breakfast to help the students face some outdoor challenges on Saturday, such as the climbing wall and assault course as well as working in a classroom to learn more about how to revise. Our aim is that students leave tired and muddy, but with 101 revision strategies! We continue to celebrate our students’ successes both inside and outside of school and some fantastic performances have come from Robert Welham in karting, Minty Bloss in pony racing, Charlie Johnson in cycle speedway and Amie Philpot in swimming, to name but a few. While we cannot offer these types of activities in school, our P.E. Department are always looking at different ways to challenge and enthuse students about sport and have recently introduced a StreetGolf after-school club. StreetGolf is a fun and engaging golfing activity designed by StreetGames and The Golf Foundation with the help of young people. The StreetGolf format aims to bring golf to young people, regardless of their access to traditional facilities and is ideal for use in an urban or inner city environment. Young people are encouraged to make innovative use of everyday equipment to make sessions different, challenging and enjoyable. Our small but dedicated team has had the opportunity to represent the Eastern Region in the National StreetGolf Finals in Wolverhampton and also qualified for the Super 6 Games finals back in July. The chief executive of the Golf Foundation, Brendan Pyle, came to visit the school in December to observe and speak to the students taking part in this successful club, which is supported by Sam Foster, golf professional at Bramford Golf Centre. Brendan has produced a very interesting case study which can be viewed at: www.golffoundation.org We have two very exciting trips abroad for our language and art students this month, one to Paris and one to Salamanca in northwest Spain. Students will visit key tourist sites to practise their language skills in a real-life context as well as absorbing the different cultures. In other areas of the school, Year 9 students will be choosing what subject options to study at GCSE, Year 11 art students will visit the Tate Gallery in London and, to finish the month, music students will be taking part in a rock band workshop with visiting local band, Underline the Sky.
OPEN MORNING If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The date of the next one is Wednesday, February 24. Please telephone Mrs J Pedersen, the headteacher’s PA, to book a place: 01473 836110 Mrs S Skinner, headteacher
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We wish everyone a Happy New Year and extend a warm welcome to all the new children and their families who are starting with us – we are sure that you will all enjoy your time with us. We are looking forward to the term ahead, but what a busy end of term we had. The children were busy making Christmas cards, bags, decorations and calendars, not forgetting reindeer food for that special visitor on Christmas Eve. On top of all the gluing, painting, sticking and glitter, we had our end of term nativity play. Having been closed for a few days due to severe staff illness the week before the nativity, we were a little down on practise time. That said, the children sang (what words they could remember) beautifully and we had a fun and enjoyable morning singing to the parents. In early December we had a visit to Easton Farm Park to see Father Christmas and to take part in a nativity play with real live animals. It was a great morning, enjoyed by both the children and parents who attended. Please don’t forget we are registered with www.easyfundraising.org.uk where online stores such as Amazon will donate a percentage back to us at no extra cost to you. When you next order online please consider going through this site to help us raise funds. There is further information on the board outside the pre-school. We are a small rural pre-school situated in the light and airy Boughton Room within Henley Community Centre which is less than a 10 minute drive from Ipswich town centre (straight out on Henley Road). There is a large car park on site making drop off and collection of your child a safer and easier experience. We have grant-funded and paid sessions available for two to five year olds. Lunch club is also available (noon to 1pm). You don’t need to live in the Henley School catchment area to come and play with us – we have children from Ipswich, Claydon, Needham Market and other surrounding areas. If you would like to come and join in the fun, please ring 01473 833848 during session time any weekday morning and Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons before 3pm. Out of hours, or if you wish to leave us a message, please ring the pre-school mobile on 07979 468467 or visit: www.henleypreschool.co.uk Carol and the team
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Well, the start of the year is passing really quickly and the children have settled back in really well. We have also got some new children who joined us for this term. We are all hoping for some nice sunny weather so that everyone can enjoy the garden. There are lots of fun activities for the children to enjoy coming up soon, and parents may want to start thinking about the design for their children’s Easter bonnets for the Easter show next month (Tuesday, March 22). Further details will be issued nearer the time. 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 two year funded places for any eligible children. We also run a holiday club in the Easter and summer holidays for two to eight year olds – further information can be obtained by contacting the administrator. If you would like more information regarding any of the above events 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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SPORT BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB Greetings guff lovers. Now that the dust has settled after Christmas (the only time of the year where you lose lots of pounds and still gain half a stone) it’s traditionally a time to show the liver some mercy and try to regain some semblance of your normal body shape. I have decided to embark on a fitness regime, although I realised I had let things slip a bit when I was forced to have a 10 minute recovery cool down after bending to tie my laces up! Talking of fitness problems brings sad news of Corinne’s latest mishap on the courts. Her impression of Bambi on Ice resulted in a serious hamstring tear, bringing an overnight stay in hospital and a convalescence that will take several weeks. This meant no tennis and the cancellation of her planned Christmas Day swim in the sea at Felixstowe (I offered to call round and switch her boiler off so that she could still get the same effect when bathing – my eye is healing nicely now the swelling is diminishing). Sadly this, and other injuries and withdrawals, means that the ladies now have only three available players to raise a team of four making it necessary, regrettably, to withdraw from the league for the remainder of this winter season. We wish Corinne (and our other walking wounded) a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing them back in action in time for the summer season.
BRAMFORD COCK FC Sunday, December 6: A break from league action with an away trip to Tostock FC in the Suffolk Sunday Cup Quarter Final. With an almost full strength team, hopes were high of progressing in this competition. The hosts started the better and scored after only 10 minutes. Bramford applied a lot of pressure and scored a deserved equaliser in the 20th minute. However, this was short lived as the hosts scored their second from the penalty spot five minutes later. This was proving to be an entertaining match with both sides creating scoring opportunities. Bramford scored their second in the 40th minute. It looked as if both teams would go into the half time break at 2-2, but in the 44th minute the hosts scored their third goal. Half time: 3-2 The second half was again proving to be as entertaining as the first with both teams almost scoring. It was Bramford who finally got a deserved equaliser after 65 minutes. Both teams were looking to seal a win and play went from end to end. However, the hosts scored their fourth goal in the 88th minute. This turned out to be the winner, as although Bramford went close to equalising, the hosts held firm. Final score: 4-3 Sunday, January 3: Back to league action with a home match
Better news and luck for the men’s winter league, with Adam and Matt’s team and Nick and Graham picking up points steadily. A good sign of Nick’s form is the fact that his racquets are unscathed, showing that they haven’t been thrown around too much, and Graham is now off of his anti-depressants. The AGM is in March and the committee is testing the integrity of their electronic tags in readiness for their removal once they are off the committee (some chance). This year’s event could prove to be more challenging than usual and I will be the on-the-spot reporter (I must get some acne cream). If that doesn’t hold your interest I don’t know what will! Yes I do – it’s time for joke of the month. A barman is rushed into casualty on New Year’s Eve. The doctor asked the ambulance driver what had happened. “It appears he was crushed,” said the driver. “How did that happen?” asked the doc. “Well just before midnight one of the wives in the pub stood up and said that as the clock struck she wanted all the husbands to stand next to the person who makes their life worth living.” I did promise to make them better. There goes another resolution. More guff next month. Mick Russ
against Westbourne Warriors. Not a good start to the New Year as we had no substitutes due to injuries and unavailability of some key players. However, it was Bramford who started the better, forcing the Westbourne goalkeeper to make some early saves. It seemed that he was to be the warmest player, as throughout the first half he was certainly kept busy. It seemed that his heroics would prove the difference and as if to confirm this, Westbourne made the breakthrough just before half time. From a corner poor marking made it simple for one of their forwards to score. Half time: 0-1 Playing against the wind and rain, Bramford started the second period better and again the Westbourne goalkeeper was called into action. They were rewarded when Sam Clay slotted home after 55 minutes. Westbourne were always dangerous on the break and from a corner, poor marking gave a Westbourne player yet another simple tap in to score their second in the 60th minute. Following a good move, Matty Cunningham scored a superb equaliser when he found the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards in the 70th minute. With both sides looking for a third goal, it was Westbourne who continued to look the more dangerous on the break. This proved the case, as the Bramford defence switched off to leave a Westbourne player to score what turned out to be the winning goal in the 80th minute. Final score: 2-3
SPROUGHTON BOWLS CLUB The club has had a fairly busy ‘closed’ winter season with indoor friendlies at Ipswich and District Bowls Club, Colchester Indoor Bowls Club and Sudbury Indoor Bowls Club, and while we haven’t chalked up a victory results have been close with defeat by four shots overall at Colchester and just one shot at Sudbury. As we are primarily an outdoor club these results are extremely encouraging. Our next game is at Mid-Suffolk Bowls Club in Stowmarket early in February. Thanks to club captain Joy Mackie for organising teams for these games. John Thompson is still looking for a few more people to join the late summer tour to Llandudno from August 29 to September 6. Full details can be obtained by emailing John at: Sproughtonbowlsclub@outlook.com For more information about our club please visit: www.sproughtonbowlsclub.com
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Sport / ON THE GRAPEVINE BRAMFORD UNITED FC Following our First team exit from the Suffolk Senior Cup, we bounced back to form in the league with a workmanlike 4-1 victory over Leiston St Magarets, but our next match at East Bergholt saw us slip to a 3-0 defeat. We played well in this match but not for the first time our strikers left their ‘shooting boots at home’. Our last match of 2015 saw us visit the highly rated Achilles. We were looking to gain at least a point out of this match following our earlier defeat at their hands on home turf, but despite equalling their play we lost to a solitary first half goal, with the general feeling from Achilles that we did deserve a draw. Our first match of 2016 saw us in action against Coplestonians in the Bob Coleman Cup. This match was switched to ours due to their pitch being waterlogged, but whether home advantage helped, I don’t know. Despite having most of the early play Cops took the lead, but we bounced back to take in a one goal half time lead. Four further second half goals saw
us run out comfortable 6-1 winners and we now meet league opponents Wenhaston in a home tie on January 30 (so more on this in the next edition). Despite losing these league matches we are in a creditable sixth spot at the time of these notes. Our Reserves are also having mixed fortunes in the league with victories over Ipswich Athletic and Benhall St Mary, but a loss against Trimley has seen them move into fifth place in the league. They are also still involved in a cup competition (Goals of Ipswich Cup) after a fine 5-0 victory recently over Henley Athletic which has seen them drawn against AFC Hoxne Reserves in the next round. So with fingers crossed we may hopefully have both teams into the next round of these competitions. On the subject of draws, the December winner of the 100 Club was Gemma Bloomfield, with the £100 giving her a good start to 2016. More next month on our cup exploits. Brammie
DR DAN POULTER, YOUR LOCAL MP, REPORTS BACK I should like to wish you a happy New Year and a peaceful and healthy 2016. At the start of a new year is always helpful to reflect on priorities for the year ahead and I should like to tell you some of mine. In parliament I am looking forward to continuing in my role as a member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee and playing my part in achieving a balanced energy policy and innovative future energy system for our country. I shall also vigorously support the government’s long-term approach to climate targets and to promote renewable and clean energy. I was delighted to be elected recently as co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health and shall be contributing my experience as an NHS doctor to help to build on the achievements of this influential group in working to improve healthcare for the benefit of patients both in the UK and elsewhere. One of my main priorities this year is to highlight the need for better mental health provision and a fairer deal for mental health funding to support the dedicated NHS staff that care for mental health patients.
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Another of my priorities is to do my best to promote employment, particularly for young people. We have come a long way in creating employment for young people in Suffolk – there were only 90 claimants aged 18-24 in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in November 2015 which was 65 people lower than the previous year. But there is still more to do and I should like to see more young people doing vocational courses and apprenticeships. As co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on carers I am determined to do all I can to support carers not only in Suffolk but also across the country. There are more than seven million unpaid carers in the UK and this will increase enormously during the next decade when the people needing care are expected to increase by 50%. Carers play an enormously important role in many peoples’ lives and are often the unsung heroes of our community. This year I should like to highlight the role of young carers and how important it is to help to identify them and give them the practical and emotional support that they need to ensure that they enjoy their lives and achieve just like their peers. I am looking forward to meeting the challenges of the year ahead and shall be reporting back regularly in this column. For more information please visit: www.drdanielpoulter.com
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CHURCH NEWS ST MARY THE VIRGIN BRAMFORD, ST MARY NETTLESTEAD ST MARY THE VIRGIN LITTLE BLAKENHAM, ST PETER BAYLHAM Priest-in-charge: The Rev Jenny Seggar 01473 748914 / Stmarybramford@aol.com Assistant Curate: The Rev Julian Fennel 01473 833250 Assistant Priest: The Rev Pat Wright www.stmarybramford.co.uk Morning Prayer at Bramford: 8.30am Monday to Friday Wednesday morning quiet reflective Communion Service: 9.30am at the vicarage, unless otherwise advised, followed by coffee in the church at 10am where a member of the clergy will be will be available for a chat – all are welcome. Please check porch notices for any changes. February 4 3pm
United Service at Cherryfields
February 7 / Sunday before lent 8am Parish Communion 10am Parish Communion with healing 6pm Evening Prayer February 9 11am
Communion with Reserved Sacrament
We have already received a number of welcome donations, for which we thank those of you who have contributed. We hope though to put on a number of fundraising activities, and of course our coffee mornings will still be happening. These have proved really popular; it’s a chance to chat and to enjoy homemade cakes and a cup of coffee. As well as bring and buy, books, cakes and preserves are on sale. We look forward to seeing you there. A member of the clergy team is always there and available to chat. In December we introduced Prayer for Healing to the first Communion Service of each month at Bramford. This has been well received and is proving popular. We will also be offering Prayer for Healing at the Ash Wednesday Service at 7pm on February 10 at St Mary’s Bramford. Please don’t hesitate to contact The Rev Julian or myself to find out more. Blessings to you all,
Little Blakenham Bramford Baylham Baylham Care Home
February 10 / Ash Wednesday 9.30am Communion for Ash Wednesday Vicarage 7pm Communion with Ashes & Healing Bramford February 14 / 1st Sunday of Lent 8am Holy Communion 10am Parish Communion 5pm 5 O’clock service
Bramford Nettlestead Bramford
February 16 2.30pm
Bramford
Gathering in the Church Room
along nicely with the heating problems in the church and the wiring difficulties. Although neither will be finished quickly, we hope to be both safe and warm by the autumn. All of this is proving expensive, so any help that you can give us with fundraising will be very gratefully received.
Jenny FUNDRAISING At the end of last year we managed to raise the following through the efforts of members of the congregation: the wreaths made £279, the bazaar made £217.83, the Christmas festival made £457.69 and the coffee mornings in the region of £125. Thanks to everyone for their hard work and also to those who supported these events. PARISH REGISTERS Funerals December 30: Patricia Brown January 5: Wendy Wellum January 14: Margory Paul We extend to their families our sympathy and prayers. Floodlighting of the spire of St Mary’s Church Christmas & New Year: In memory of Walter Carmen from wife Mary and family
February 17 7pm Lent Group 1
Vicarage
February 21 / 2 Sunday of Lent 10am Parish Communion 10am Parish Communion
Bramford Baylham
January 25: In memory of Ronald Brown on his 90th Birthday, and dear Patricia who has joined him
February 24 7pm
Bramford Vicarage
If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week.
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Lent Group 2
Cleaning rota: S & W McGinty
February 27 10am-noon Coffee morning
Church Room
February 28 / 3 Sunday of Lent 8am Holy Communion 10am Family Worship
Bramford Bramford
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Dear Friends I am writing this at the beginning of January, with the Christmas chocolates still hanging around and stray bits of wrapping paper appearing from under the sofa. As you read this we will be looking at the beginning of Lent, as Easter is early this year. Ash Wednesday is on February 10, and we begin our traditional Lent Course on February 17. This year we are focusing on prayer. The Lent courses are open to anyone, so if you are interested please don’t hesitate to talk to either myself or The Rev Julian, and we can tell you a little more (no religious experience necessary!). Prayer is an important part our spiritual lives, whichever faith or denomination we are. It allows us to top up our spiritual batteries, keep up communication with God and reflect on what we should be doing in our lives. All of us need to practise and to learn more, and the great thing is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. On more mundane matters, just to keep you updated, things are coming
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January 17: In memory of Philip Stewart on what would have been his 70th Birthday
LECTIONARY Bible Readings for our Sunday Worship are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It’s good to share the reading of Scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world. February 7
Sunday before Lent Green Ex 34:29-35 Luke 9:28-36 [37-43] 2 Cor. 3:12 - 4:2
February 10
Ash Wednesday Purple Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Is 58:1-12 Matt. 6:1-6 or John 8: 1- 11 2 Cor. 5:20b - 6:10
February 14 Lent 1 Purple Deut. 26:1-11 Luke 4:1-13 Rom. 10:8b – 13 February 21 Lent 2 Purple Gen. 15:1-12, 17-18 Luke 13:31-35 Phil 3:17 - 4:1 February 28
Lent 3 Isa. 55:1-9 Cor. 10:1-13
Purple Luke 13:1-9
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MID-SUFFOLK FENCING
SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY TIMBER FENCING
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GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer the following services all year round: Grass cutting • Garden clearance Fences & Gates • Patios & Paths Hedge Cutting • Tree Cutting Sheds • Summer Houses Digger & Dumper work
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