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CAPEL CAPERS
Volume 6 • Issue No. 3 • JANUARY 2016
Credit Copyright by Svetlana Sewell www.landmstudio.co.uk
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In Touch online:
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.
NEWS
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 Capel St Mary
The Friends of St Mary’s Registered Charity Number 286971
In Touch with Capel St Mary is published by: 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: capel@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.
ADVERTISING Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 DISTRIBUTION Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk
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01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Capel St Mary is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
Festival of Trees and Lights January 2016 in Capel’s St Mary’s Church
We also publish
IN TOUCH WITH . . . • Hadleigh NEW • Stowmarket • Bramford, Somersham & Offton • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton Rural • East Bergholt, Dedham & Flatford • Needham Market, Creeting St Mary & Creeting St Peter • Sproughton & Burstall • Manningtree, Mistley, Lawford & Brantham • Kesgrave & Rushmere St. Andrew • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • 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
Preview Friday, 8 January at 7.45pm
Lights will be switched on at 8.15pm by 100-year-old Mrs Beryl Walsham
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Admission, quiz form and refreshments - £5 members - £4.50 Tickets available from Chris Terry 01473 311102 and Ondra Butler 01473 310524
Saturday, 9 January - 4pm to 7.30pm Sunday, 10 January - 4pm to 7pm Admission free - refreshments available
Donations will be used to help to preserve the fabric of St Mary’s Church, the oldest building in Capel
10 JANUARY 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy
www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers
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NEWS
JOIN IN THE WAR MEMORIAL MONUMENT CAMPAIGN The campaign to raise money for the erection of a War Memorial monument in Capel St Mary, to be unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in 2018, will be fully launched by the end of January. In the coming weeks every household and business will be invited to join in. Capel is one of the few villages in the country without a War Memorial monument and the parish council has set up a working party of councillors and other villagers to raise the money to erect
Q
Why wasn’t a War Memorial monument erected shortly after the First World War?
A Q
Money raised at the time was spent treating wounded ex-Servicemen.
There is a memorial plaque in St Mary’s Church for the First World War and a memorial book for the Second World War. Why is there a need for a War Memorial monument?
A
Neither the plaque nor the book have the names of all the men who sacrificed their lives for us in both World Wars. And it’s not possible to conduct a full Remembrance Day Service in the church in the same way as it would be conducted at a village monument.
Q A
Why is there a need now for a War Memorial monument?
In today’s dangerous world, it is to remind us and all future generations of the sacrifice of those who kept us free in the dangerous world of the First and Second World Wars.
Q A
Where would the War Memorial monument be placed?
On the village green near the village sign where it would be seen by everybody.
Q A Q A
Of what will the War Memorial monument be built?
Granite, which lasts unweathered for much longer than other stone. How will the names of those killed or mortally wounded be recorded?
They will be engraved. They could also be highlighted in gold.
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one. Among the working party are ex-Service men from the Royal Marines, the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Merchant Navy. There is slightly less than three full years to raise the money and erect the War Memorial monument. Full details of how the campaign is going will be published in stages as they emerge. Meanwhile, questions which have already been asked, and are likely to be asked, are put and answered in the following Q&A.
Q A
How else will they be remembered?
There has already been considerable research about the men whose names will appear on the War Memorial monument. It includes where they were born, their jobs before they were called up, their regiment or corps, their rank, the date and battle or other place where they were killed or mortally wounded, their age when they died and where they are buried. These details and photographs, where they exist, will be published as a book. The book and other research will be very useful information which can be used in schools and as part of the history of the village and its people. More details about the book and its author will appear later.
Q
How different will a Remembrance Day Service be at the War Memorial monument than previous Remembrance Services in St Mary’s Church, which has only the memorial plaque?
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A service at the War Memorial monument will enable more people (some of whom do not normally go to church) and allow clergy from other denominations to take part if they wish. A band will play and after the service there could be a formal march to St Mary’s for another service.
Q A Q A
How much will the War Memorial monument cost?
About £15,000 - £18,000 to erect and maintain. That is a lot of money. Where will it come from?
It does seem a lot but it isn’t when the figure is broken down. Grants are hard to get but there is a chance of some grant money. Capel Parish Council is proposing that money raised by recycling bottles collected in the recycling bin at
Bypass Nursery will, from April 2016, go toward the War Memorial monument. This should amount to around £2,000. The more bottles are put in the recycling bin, the more money will be raised. This money is not a charge on the village council tax, it doesn’t cost the village anything. Another way to look at it is that all the £15,000 could be raised if every household and business in the village gave just £5 a year for each of three years, which is 10p a week every week for the period. Some people may not want to pay, or be able to afford to pay, the total of £15 over three years, so it is hoped that those who can afford to contribute will contribute larger sums early on in the campaign. The names of those who contribute will be recorded, if they wish, in a special book. The sums they give will not be recorded.
Q
Most people in Capel came here after the Second World War. They are not related to the men who died or to their families. Why would they want a War Memorial monument and help to pay for it?
A
The War Memorial monument isn’t just for the families of those who died. It is a dedication to those whose names are on it and all the men and women who have died in the two World Wars and all the conflicts since then. Everybody in the village, no matter where they are from, will have had in the past family members who have died, or served, in a conflict.
Q A
Who will hold the money as it is collected?
There will be a special, audited parish council War Memorial Monument Fund account. Money raised will not be used for other parish council purposes. Every penny will go to the fund. Nobody will be able to lay improper hands on the money.
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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: DECEMBER 2015 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE More roadworks!
Retail studies for Hadleigh, Sudbury (and Stowmarket)
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.
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.
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
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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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
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CAPEL ST MARY & LITTLE WENHAM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
IN THE VILLAGE HALL COMPLEX
“KARAOKE” SATURDAY 23rd January - DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Vine Lounge BT SPORT Available on the Big Screen in the Vine Lounge!
FREE WI-FI In both Bars!
CARD PAYMENT SERVICE now available!
FREE TABLE TENNIS Subject to Hall availability! The Member’s Draw takes place every Friday night in the Vine Lounge. BIG CASH PRIZES The winning member must be present in the Village Hall Complex to win or have had a go on the FRIDAY NIGHT DRAW!
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“BINGO” THURSDAY 21st January - DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Vine Lounge Books £1 Or 6 Books £5 EYES DOWN 8.30pm “QUIZ NIGHT” SATURDAY 13th February - DOORS OPEN 7.30pm In the Village Hall Maximum 6 people per Team £3.50 per person includes Nibbles “BINGO” THURSDAY 21st January - DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Vine Lounge Books £1 Or 6 Books £5 EYES DOWN 8.30pm “KAI McKENZIE - MICHAEL BUBLE TRIBUTE ACT” SATURDAY 12th March—DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Village Hall Tickets: £10 Members £12.50 Non-Members
“Michael Buble Tribute Act Kai Mckenzie has been performing to audiences for over 5 years with his tribute to Michael Buble. He is the UK's most authentic representation of Michael and continues to wow clients with his near identical vocals.”
To buy Tickets or book Quiz Teams call in the Village Bar or ring Ruth - 07548130293 Fiona - 07528725658 Tracy - 07917440459 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EVENTS MENTIONED ON THIS PAGE VISIT CAPEL VILLAGE BAR FACEBOOK PAGE OR THE WEBSITE
2016 Association Membership Membership renewal is due in January each year. The costs for 2016 are: Junior 16-17 £2.50, Single including Over 65’s £6, Family £10
www.capelstmary.org
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NEWS CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS TEACHING FITNESS On December 5 and 6, 2015 a street collection was held for Capel Community Trust in the parish of Capel St Mary in the Babergh District. The amount collected was £1,214.91 of which £63.39 was appropriated for expenses and payments incurred in connection with the collection. The permit for the collection was granted by Babergh District Council to Sandra Bumphrey of 5 Smithers Close, Capel St Mary.
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
CRIME REDUCTION ADVICE FROM SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY Start the new year by keeping yourself and your family safe. With the new year under way, we are constantly reminded of new and good intentions! So this month we ask you to think about making sure your financial and personal information is safe and healthy. Crime is not always committed by someone you can see in the street. It can come via a telephone call, an email, a text or through your letter box! Are you aware of scams and fraud? Pass on the information to your elderly relatives or neighbours. Follow these quick steps to help protect you and your family from becoming a victim of crime. 1.
Do not give any personal information (name, address, bank details, email or phone number) to organisations or people before verifying their credentials. Remember organisations such as the police or financial institutions WILL NEVER ask for account details over the phone.
11. Shred all documents containing personal data (including name and address details). Keep personal and financial information secure. 12. Be suspicious of emails that look like they come from the online auction or payment site you’re registered with. Check the web address in the browser. A tactic often used by fraudsters is to change the address very slightly (if they’re spoofing an eBay site, for instance, they may have an address such as ‘@ebayz.com’ whereas the real site is ‘@ebay.com’) 13. Beware of bogus scam calls. Fraudsters can telephone victims, informing them that their accounts have been fraudulently accessed or that the bank has increased security. They instruct you to contact a false helpline or to redial another number, but your current line is still open. We advise you to wait five minutes before calling any numbers back, never give out personal bank details or withdraw requested cash to give to a courier. 14. For further information visit: www.getsafeonline.org
2.
Don’t respond to unsolicited post, phone calls or emails offering business deals or asking for information. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
15. Remember to lock down all of your personal information on social media sites: don’t give out home addresses, telephone numbers or email addresses to people you don’t know.
3.
Always ask for and check identification of anyone you do business with and never let anyone you don’t know into your home. Do not use door step sellers or tradespeople.
4.
Always take time and seek independent advice when paying for goods or services. If you are put under pressure to make a decision just say no.
16. Finally, don’t forget to security mark your property (phones/ laptops/tablets) with an ultra violet pen, recording your post code and house number, keep details of your phone IEMI and serial numbers. Register your property with www.immobilse. com, a free national property register monitored by the police.
5.
Never pay money before you receive goods or services unless you are certain that the supplier is legitimate.
6.
When paying online only use a secure site and avoid using your debit card. Unlike credit cards, debit cards don’t always offer payment protection, and if compromised put your main account at risk.
7.
Protect computers, tablets and smart phones; always update your firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Only buy them from a reputable supplier.
8.
Make your pass words strong; use three random words and change it regularly.
9.
Is your Wi-Fi secure? Only complete financial transactions on a secure Wi-Fi connection.
10. Read the small print before signing up to free or low cost trial goods.
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To report fraud please contact Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre where you can directly report fraud if you have been scammed or defrauded. It provides a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime. Telephone 0300 123 2040, textphone 0300 123 2050, or visit: www. actionfraud.police.uk/about-us/who-we-are To report suspicious vehicles or people please contact Suffolk Police on 101. If a crime is in progress dial 999. Be the eyes and ears for your community. Start up or join your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Call 101 and ask to speak to your local Community Watch Liaison Officer about NHW schemes. For security and safety advice speak to your local Crime Reduction Officer. Jackie Norton, Crime Reduction Officer/Architectural Liaison Officer
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OUT & ABOUT
BRANTHAM AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY 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.
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY TO CLAIRE LAWES Wenham View Care House had a very special party for one of its residents who celebrated her 100th birthday on December 2. Claire Lawes had a wonderful day surrounded by her friends and family, and she walked into her party like a queen! All of her family helped to celebrate and almost every resident of Wenham View turned out for the occasion. Claire was actually born on December 2, 1915, but due to a mistake (as so often happened back then!) her birthday was registered as being December 3. Nevertheless, we persuaded the Queen to deliver her card on December 2 so Claire was very happy to be able to show it to her family who had travelled some distance to be with her on this special day. The birthday girl enjoyed a wonderful tea party followed by a live band, and she was actually one of the very last people to leave. Claire suffers from dementia but was able to fully engage with everyone and we all had a wonderful time and created some very happy memories.
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OUT & ABOUT TEA & COMPANY 2016
FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY 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
Good news! From our first afternoon meeting on Monday, January 18 we will continue to convene on the third Monday of every month at the Dove Close complex off Day’s Road. From time to time we’ll try to provide a little extra by way of entertainment, maybe the occasional guest speaker or stall. The dates for your 2016 diary are January 18, February 15, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21 and December 12, all on the third Monday of the month, except for December which is a week early. So put these dates into your new diary and come along and join us! Tea, coffee and homemade cakes are served for £1.50, and you can relax and catch up on local news in very pleasant surroundings. There’s a raffle, too. Make a resolution to join us on January 18! Everyone’s welcome. We look forward to greeting you then. Enquiries to: Celia Warr, 310825; Di Barker, 311870
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. Baby Bounce: Tuesday, January 5 at 2pm Minecraft: Sunday, January 11 at 10.30am Book Club: Friday, January 15 at 2.30pm 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
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you can keep forever by transferring them to iTunes? You may also 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. 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. OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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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
TEA AND CHAT Tea and Chat will continue to meet bi-monthly in St Mary’s Hall behind the church. We meet for a sociable hour or two from 2.30pm over tea or coffee together with a nice piece of homemade cake. This is totally informal, providing a meeting place for old and young, individually or as a group. A drink and slice of cake is just £1.50.
We welcome you to join us on the following dates (always the third Monday of the month): January 18, March 21, May 16, July 18, September 19 and November 21. Hope to see you there! Jean Yule, 310992
Contact Chris Yule: 310992
THE ORCHARD PLAYERS PRESENT PETER PAN
EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
Panto time and this year we travel to Neverland! With pirates on board the Jolly Roger and the nasty Captain Hook, will Peter Pan and Tinker Bell take back the island? Meet the Lost Boys, Tootles, Wendy, Michael, John, and not forgetting Nana the dog! Join us on a magical journey from London through the clouds to Neverland in a panto full of music and dancing. Come and fly with Peter Pan! We look forward to entertaining you all at Capel Village Hall from Thursday, January 14 to Saturday 16 with performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
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
Tickets (£5 children, £6 concessions, £8 adults) are available now from: 07754 175399
VILLAGE HALL DIARY – JANUARY 2016 Tuesday 5 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5.30pm, hall Orchard Players, 6-10pm, hall Wednesday 6 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Monday 11 Parish Council Meeting, 7.30-10.30pm, library Tuesday 12 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Wednesday 13 Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 14, Friday 15 & Saturday 16: Peter Pan, see above Monday 18 Association Meeting, 8-10.30pm, stage Allotment Association, 7-10pm, library Tuesday 19 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1-5pm, hall Under 16 Ballroom and Latin, 6-7pm, hall Courses/Private lessons Ballroom and Latin, 7-8pm, hall Ballroom and Latin Dance for adults, 8-9pm, hall
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Wednesday 20 Carpet Bowls, 5.30-10pm, hall Thursday 21 Coffee Morning, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Capel Ladies AGM, 7-11.30pm, library Bingo, 7.30-10.30pm, Vine Lounge Saturday 23 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, hall Karoake, 7.30-11pm, Vine Lounge Sunday 24 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Monday 25 Community Trust Meeting, 8-10.30pm, library Tuesday 26 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1-5pm, hall Under 16 Ballroom and Latin, 6-7pm, hall Courses/Private lessons Ballroom and Latin, 7-8pm, hall Ballroom and Latin Dance for adults, 8-9pm, hall Wednesday 27 Carpet Bowls, 5.30-10pm, hall Thursday 28 Coffee Morning, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10pm, hall Sunday 31 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall
FUNCTION ROOMS FOR HIRE Are you organising a birthday, anniversary, wedding, engagement, christening, children’s party, celebration, social event or business meeting, or just want a get together with family and friends? Why not book the village hall, Vine Lounge, library or stage where we can cater for parties of between 20 and 200 people at very competitive rates? Rooms are available during the daytime or evenings. Facilities include a fully licensed bar and kitchen preparation area with prices starting from as little as £10 per hour for the library and £15 per hour for the hall. The Vine Lounge is £88 for an evening. For further information please contact Mandy. A CELEBRATION OF LIFE If someone you loved has passed away and you want to celebrate his/her life, you can hire the Vine Lounge in the village hall complex most weekdays for just £75. For further information please contact Mandy. CONTACT Village Bar: 01473 311766 Mandy Marshall, events and hiring: 01473 312026 / bookings@capel-trust.freeserve.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT BRANTHAM’S CHARITY GARAGE SALE 2016
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.
Happy New Year to all. Spring is just around the corner, and its time to start spring cleaning and tidying up after Christmas and to 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. 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.
ACORN VILLAGE Happy 2016 from everyone at Acorn Village. January is an unusually exciting month for us as Riverside Taxis take on their incredible road challenge driving 1,925 miles nonstop (apart from fuel and food) from Manningtree to Lands End to John O Groats and back to Manningtree in a 1988 Vauxhall Nova called Jason with half of their donations going directly to Acorn Village. We can’t wait to see how they get on and will be giving a running commentary on our social media pages. Good luck Ashley, Andy and Ian! If you would like to sponsor them please go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/riversidetaxis1 Our coffee shop is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 4pm and don’t forget to look out for our Burns Day haggis special if you would like to have a celebratory lunch on January 25. If you find yourself with unwanted gifts, we always appreciate them at Acorn Village to use for raffles, tombolas or in the shops to help fund our charity for adults with learning disabilities. Alternatively if your New Year’s resolution is to volunteer then we would love to hear from you. We still haves paces that need filling in our shops, onsite or at our events. For details call: 01206 394124
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 doublefirsts. 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
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.
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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
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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LADIES CLUB Outing to see 13 Past Midnight by East Bergholt Dramatic Society on November 26 A party of 20 Capel Ladies attended what turned out to be an evening of laughter, shocks and surprises as the 16 cast members displayed their talents, taking us through an eventful plot which included two actual murders and a number of attempted murders! The main victim was the producer of a TV soap who was looking to raise the ratings for his show by including a murder which would kill off one of the characters. He decides to stage the dry run at his home in the form of a murder mystery night, inviting everyone from the cast and crew to dinner and then explaining his plan which would swing into action after midnight the same evening. At this point he also announces to the whole assembly that he will be divorcing his wife and eloping with a member of the cast in the near future. All in all it was a most enjoyable evening out, and a great performance by the players, who kept us on our toes and amused or shocked throughout! I don’t think any of us guessed who the murderer was. Christmas Meal at Acorn Village on December 3 We returned to the restaurant at Acorn Village in Mistley where we had such a warm welcome last year, and we weren’t disappointed. The meal was served in the Oak Room which looked very Christmassy and the welcome from the friendly staff was just as warm as last time! After the meal there was a chance to buy something from the charity stall selling a variety of seasonal goods in aid of current Acorn Village projects, and then we were escorted by a friendly gnome to a Winter
WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION, CAPEL ST MARY BRANCH Our 2016 spring term starts at Capel Primary School on Monday, January 11 at 7.30pm. The title of the 10week course with tutor Kate Jewell is Medieval Festivities & Entertainments in East Anglia. Medieval people worked hard but also knew how to celebrate. The course will explore the ways in which medieval East Anglians marked important festive occasions, and the activities they enjoyed at times of relaxation and entertainment. The fee for the course is £48, which is collected at the second class. If you are undecided, you are most welcome to come along to the first class for a taster. For further information contact Pearl: 01473 310512 / pearlthomas@gmail.com
Wonderland! This took the form of a magical grotto, entered through an avenue of snowy white trees, which was inhabited by all kinds of mystical creatures and things! These included a wishing pool wreathed in mist, a twisted, gnarled tree that spun round to become a twisted, gnarled witch, a dark, mysterious cave, a pure white unicorn appearing from the undergrowth, and scariest of all, a giant green dragon which breathed smoke! All these weird and wonderful works of art had been created by the Acorn Village Community using re-cycled and donated items and scraps, and the overall effect was one of wonderment and magic! After our walk through the grotto we were back down to earth with a bump, out into the damp and the chill of a breezy December evening and home to our own familiar surroundings. If you fancy exploring new horizons why not take a look at our website, or better still, take the plunge and come as a guest to one of our meetings in 2016? You will be very welcome! www.capelladies.com
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
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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.
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OUT & ABOUT 1st CAPEL ST MARY SCOUT GROUP JUMBLE SALE The 1st Capel St Mary Scout Group will be holding a jumble sale on Saturday, January 23, 2-4pm, in the Scout Hut at Capel St Mary Primary School. Admission is 50p, accompanied children free. Please leave your jumble outside by 9.30am for collection. We regret we are unable to take underwear, furniture or electrical goods.
CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB On November 26 we had a very informative and interesting talk by Carole Wilson from Suffolk Wildlife Trust who began with the formation of the trust in the 1920s and brought us right up to date with their current projects. They own a large number of nature reserves in Suffolk (unfortunately not many are near Capel), virtually all of which are free to enter and are open every day. A lot of their work is ongoing and involves the protection of animals like the water rat and, probably much closer to home, the hedgehog. They are always interested to hear about hedgehogs in gardens, even deceased ones. The information they collate helps to build a map
of their whereabouts, or not as the case may be! Many other species are in big decline and the trust is in constant contact with landowners and farmers in an effort to improve the situation. On January 28 we are going to Hintlesham Golf Club for lunch. If any member hasn’t already yet received details, please contact me. I need your orders by January 7 please.
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
We are always happy to welcome new members for just £8 a year, or £2 if you want to just come to a particular meeting as a visitor. Any queries, please let me know.
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.
Edwina Cox, chairman: 01473 311121
For further detail visit: www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk
Please contact our secretary for more information: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com
CAPEL ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION GUIDE TO GARDENING IN JANUARY Welcome to 2016, a year when you can grow your own vegetables knowing just how much insecticide has been applied, what feed has helped them grow, how good they taste and enjoy some healthy exercise in very pleasant surroundings. Our monthly column aims to help you enjoy your gardening while keeping costs down. 80% of our members do not have an allotment but still enjoy the benefits of our bulk buy prices and seed scheme. THE VEG PLOT Continue winter digging incorporating wellrotted manure or composted garden waste. Apply bone-meal. Sow peas and broad bean’s. Plant rhubarb, cover with strawy manure, feed with sulphate of ammonia and cover crowns with buckets to encourage early growth. Map out where you are intending to grow your vegetables, trying to rotate the crops to reduce the risk of disease. Band together seed packets
in months for easy reference. Harvest broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, swede, carrots, celery, leeks and parsnips. Empty compost bins and rebuild if necessary.
LAWNS Aerate badly drained areas. Lay turfs in favourable weather. Clean and overhaul equipment.
FRUIT Apply winter tree wash to control overwintering insect pests. Order and plant trees and bushes with a dusting of bone meal. Feed trees grown in grass with nitrogen and potash. Prune soft fruit bushes, removing a third of old blackcurrant stems to ground level. On other currents and gooseberries reduce side shoots to two buds and cut out dead, diseased and over-crowded branches.
Membership is just £5 per annum. You can join by visiting The Hut, online or by emailing us.
GREENHOUSE Empty greenhouse and wash down with Jeyes. Line with bubble plastic. Spray white fly with an insect gun, Sprayday or Bio Ultimate Bug killer. Sow main crop onions, leeks, lettuce and sweet peas in pots. Sow broad beans in plugs, stand outside when 1” high. Plant some early potatoes in pots. Water plants sparingly. Make a final sowing of carrots in a large pot. Wash pots and trays on a warm day. FLOWERS Tidy boarders and mulch with chipped bark or peat. Ventilate chrysanthemum stools in cold frames. Plunge dahlia stools into dry peat and protect from frost.
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ALLOTMENT NEWS RENT A PLOT Half plots are available at £16 per annum so if you live in Capel and fancy a go at Growing Your Own please contact Dennis: sitemanager@capelallotments.co.uk THE HUT The Hut will be open from Saturday, February 6, 10am-noon, for our members. SITE VISITS If any groups would like to visit the site and the wildlife area please email Philippa Brandon to discuss what is available to you. Finally, the committees of the Allotments Association and the Allotment’s Management Committee wish all of our members and readers a Happy and Healthy New Year. The full version of this report is available at: www.capelallotments.co.uk Email: info@capelallotments.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS BENTLEY CEVC PRIMARY SCHOOL CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB Pip Wright gave a talk entitled What Happens Here in Suffolk at our November meeting in which he highlighted some notable events ranging from the 1600s to present day. Our first meeting for 2016 will be on January 12 when we will hold our AGM, followed by a quiz. Visitors are welcome to join us for these talks which take place in the lounge of Capel Methodist Church at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Refreshments are provided after the talk. 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 (see page 3). 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 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.
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 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!
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 preschoolers 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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NOW RECRUITING SALES & MARKETING MANAGER 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. The key tasks include: •
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.
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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 24
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. 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. 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 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.
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS CAPEL ST MARY WI Our only criteria is ‘that you are a woman. In December 2014 I met a friend who invited me to join the Capel St Mary branch of the Women’s Institute (WI) so in January 2015, thinking that the WI meant older ladies meeting once a month, I decided to join. How wrong could I be? At my first meeting I discovered that these so called ‘older ladies’ were a mixed age group of outgoing energetic females who attended regular WI activities throughout the month. Each month the optional activities are: First Thursday, 9.30am: a walk from outside the Co-op Second Thursday, 7.30pm: meeting in the library with guest speakers Our speakers for the next four months are: • January 14: Differences between the Piano, Organ and Keyboard with Karl Lockwood • February 11: A Cut Above with Steve from John Oliver hairdressers • March 10: Spring Plants with Claire Muckleston • April 14: The Proposals for Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station with Nicky Corbett from Sizewell C Communications Office Fourth Thursday, 10am: Craft group at the Harvest Moon Cafe Last Tuesday, 2.30pm: book group in a member’s home Besides these events there is also the opportunity to go on outings and also join in activities arranged by other WI groups. Joining the WI is a wonderful way to make new friends. Please don’t be afraid of coming alone – you will receive a warm welcome. It’s not, as its reputation would have you believe, all about jam and Jerusalem. The activities are for everyone and new ideas are always appreciated. Ladies who do not live in Capel St Mary are also welcome. For further information please contact me, Sue Dale: 07773 042910 Meanwhile on behalf of Capel St Mary WI, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. We look forward to meeting you.
NEWS FROM COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL We hope you have had a good Christmas. The children had a great time in the lead up to Christmas. Our Christmas Fair on Friday, December 11 was a success with the children singing carols and running the stalls that they had organised. Thank you to all the local businesses who provided our lovely raffle prizes which helped with our fundraising for the school. KS1’s performance of The Raggedy King and KS2’s performance of The Little Match Girl were spectacular! The hard work of the teachers and children produced two wonderful plays for parents to enjoy.
The school would like to thank Bypass Nurseries for inviting our children to their annual Christmas Charity Evening. The children sang their Christmas carols and had a great time. A special thank to Bypass Nurseries who very generously donated our 9ft Christmas Tree which looked fantastic in the school hall. The school would like to thank Martin Taylor and Washbrook Service Station for their help with our mini bus in December. Due to the rain we had during the month the school mini bus became stuck on our school grounds. A great effort by all concerned.
CAPEL ST MARY PRIMARY SCHOOL It always seems a bit odd to be writing about what we are doing in the lead up to Christmas knowing that you won’t read this until January! But it’s as busy as ever… Unit 1 are working hard on their Christmas production. This year it is called Behind the Stable Door. The songs sound lovely and I am sure parents will be delighted when they come to see it. Foundation and Nursery also perform a Christmas Nativity show in their own classroom to parents, who I am sure will really enjoy what may be for some their very first of many more to come! Many, many schools have active school councils where representatives from each class are elected annually to gather together on a regular basis to discuss ideas, issues or special events. Our school council has gone from strength to strength and has over time designed events for children to take part in for fun or for charity. Last year the council organised a talent show which was amazing and also a marathon event at the time of the Race for Life. Each class tried to run as many laps of our large field as they could and we then totalled up how far we had run in total. It was incredible as we had achieved a total of 416 miles between us. Even parents joined in to run round the field with their children. This year the new school council are really taking up the mantle. They have recently organised a sponsored silence for Years 1 to 6! It was an amazing event, but slightly eerie as the school was silent for an hour on Thursday, November 26! The council wanted to hold this special event to raise money for extra equipment for some of our special needs children, which we all thought was an incredibly kind and caring thing to do. The total they reached was over £700, which is amazing. It just goes to show how marvellous Capel children are, we are very lucky to have them! An enormous well done to all the children and a huge thank you to you and your families and friends for your generous support. Next term the talent show will be held again and we can’t wait to see what talents we have in our children! On that note may we wish you a Happy New Year for 2016.
H. G. Gladwell & Sons have generously made a substantial sponsorship donation towards our mini bus diesel costs. Their logo will appear on the side of our bus. Thank you to them for their support. We look forward to seeing you all in 2016. Best wishes for the New Year.
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SPORT HAT TRICK OF TITLES AND SUFFOLK COUNTY RECORD FOR BENTLEY SWIMMER REG LLOYD Bentley’s own Reg Lloyd dominated the Men’s Freestyle events at the ASA East Region 2015 Short Course Championships recently held at the Inspire: Luton Sports Village. The Teamipswich swimmer won the 100m, 200m and 400m titles breaking the 200m Suffolk County Record on the way. He became the only Suffolk swimmer to ever hold all three titles and the second swimmer from the eastern region to have his name on all three trophies in one year. His performances gained him entry into the ASA National Swimming Championships in December at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. It’s a great start to the season for 18-year-old Reg following on from the decision to dedicate all his time to swimming after completing his A Levels at Suffolk One in the summer. His dedication cannot be questioned over the years since moving to Bentley as he is up at 4am every morning to train at Crown Pools in Ipswich and returns in the afternoon for more pool and land training.
CAPEL-ST-MARY CARPET BOWLS We held the Club Fours competition towards the end of November. It should have been played earlier but was moved because of the installation of the new lighting. The whole afternoon provided some very close games, with every one of the four teams playing three games. The two leading teams both won two games and the result had to be decided by shots, the winners winning by a single shot. If memory serves me correctly their last winning shot won by 2mm! It was interesting to note that this team were all fairly new to the game. Thanks goes to Bill Curtis for again organising the event and providing the trophies.
As a Sporting Ambassador for Abbeycroft Leisure he has free use of The Gym in Ipswich and hopes in the coming months to obtain further sponsorship to help continue to compete at the highest level. Unfortunately training, nutrition and rest periods limit the time for Reg to work, so he is reliant on his parents for funding. If any local business people would like to sponsor Reg please email him at: reg.r.lloyd@sky.com
Winners of Carpet Bowls Fours November 2015 The club had its Christmas Lunch at the Mermaid in Ipswich. The event was organised by Maureen Mays who we thank for a smooth running event. Our final cowls before Christmas and the Gents Singles and Ladies Pairs occur after deadline day and will be reported later. It only remains to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year and perhaps look forward to seeing you on a Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday evening sometime soon. Derek
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. Our Saturday Reserves have had a couple of games called off due to
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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 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
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ON THE GRAPEVINE MAKING THINGS POSSIBLE Some of you may have heard of a very worthwhile charity called REMAP. For those who haven’t please allow me to do a quick introduction. REMAP is an established national charity which designs, makes or adapts equipment for adults and children with disabilities. Ev ery year REMAP helps about 4,000 UK individuals in this way, helping them to lead more fulfilling and independent lives. All clients are fully consulted about their needs. A piece of equipment is then designed and made to solve their specific problem. Some devices are made from scratch – others are modifications or attachments to standard products. Sometimes it may only be advice that is required. All of this is achieved by a network of some 1,000 volunteers organised into about 80 local panels across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. REMAP volunteers are professional engineers, craftspeople, technicians, healthcare professionals and skilled helpers as well as DIY enthusiasts. You may think that companies already exist to help people with disabilities and you
would be correct. However, the difference is that REMAP is not a commercial organisation and is not in competition with them. More importantly, our volunteers will determine a solution for the very specific need of the individual which cannot be satisfied by any current product that may exist. Also by working closely with the client and their family or their support service the needs can be better understood and targeted.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Wishing Ethan a very happy 9th birthday on January 5. Lots of love from mum, dad and brother Tom. Have a wonderful day. xxx
We welcome referrals from individuals, carers or health professionals and we always welcome inquiries from individuals who are willing to volunteer some of their time to help us achieve our aims. Finally, we never ask for payment and our services are free to the user. We do however welcome voluntary donations to cover costs of materials. If you wish to make a donation please contact Ashley Slater, chairman of the North East Essex Panel, on 01206 272630, our secretary Lynne Askham on 01206 231327 or email: essexnorth@remap.info
CLASH AVOIDER This diary has been introduced to help avoid date clashes in the village. Every effort will made to keep this list up-to-date, but please be aware that sometimes dates may be cancelled, postponed or re-arranged at short notice. This diary is not intended to be an all-inclusive what’s on and will only highlight significant dates.
March 26: Children’s Easter party at the village hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
If you want to add an event please submit in the following format (date, event, venue and contact) to sharon@intouchnews.co.uk with Capel Event Diary in the subject line.
May 7: 80s disco at the village hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
January 8, 9 and 10, 2016: Festival of Trees and Lights (see page 3) Thursday, January 14 to Saturday 16: Orchard Players present Peter Pan at Capel Village Hall. Box Office: 07754 175399
April 16: Band in the Vine Lounge Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
June 11 and 12: Friends of St Mary’s Scarecrow Trail Sunday, June 26: 2016 Orwell Walk, Run and Ride June 26: Car boot sale on the playing field Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
February 13: Quiz Night Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
August 20: Quiz Night at the Village Hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
March 12: Michael Buble tribute night Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com
September 10: Barn Dance at the village hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com October 27: Friends of St Mary’s Trianon Community Concert
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ON THE GRAPEVINE
EBONY’S BLOG: LIFE AT THE SHELLEY CENTRE Happy New Year. Did you eat too much over Christmas? The beauty of being a simulator (yes, that’s what I am, just like the big one at Wattisham that trains the Apache helicopter pilots) is that I don’t need any food during the school holidays, unlike my friends in the Shelley herd who need hay, water and checking over right throughout the long winter weeks. A group of dedicated volunteers keeps their show on the road even when the centre is shut.
I’m glad to say you won’t be racing real frogs, thank goodness, but you do get a chance to name the ten frogs in every race. Got some good ideas? I’m planning to call mine Black Beauty, so don’t choose that please. The date of this, the social event of the year, is February 27. Tickets are £12.50 and a call to Di Godfrey on 01473 658 552 will secure your place. Bring a table of friends and have a real laugh. Our own volunteers have also been working hard to raise cash. People had to guess the weight of a gorgeous Christmas cake, there was a lucky dip from the contents of someone’s attic, and a sale of delicious Christmas puddings. Each ‘day’ has been asked to come up with an idea for making money and there are plenty of inventive schemes afoot, so watch this space.
Since we have been closed to our special riders for the last four weeks there isn’t much to report until all our friends return for yet more physiotherapy and fun back here at the yard. Are you on our waiting list? Margaret tells me it’s a long one, but don’t despair, she is adept at squeezing people in wherever she can. The reason we have a frog in this month’s blog is that the old subject of frog racing has come up again! Last year’s race had to be postponed, so this is your chance to enjoy a very funny evening while raising money to keep my greedy friends in the manner to which they have become accustomed. It costs almost £75,000 per annum to run the centre.
Till February then, and thank you for reading my blog this month. Have a really good 2016. Camilla and Squidgy earning their keep
www.rda-east.org.uk/ shelley.html 01473 824172
KENNY’S SESAW NEWS Well here am I, at the computer in early December, wondering what to tell you because like many editors, Sharon and her team have an early deadline due to Christmas. I hope you enjoyed the festive season and perhaps a few leisurely walks
with your pooch pals. We’ll be stepping out more briskly this month if the weather predictions are correct, but some are looking forward to a warm up with Burns Night celebrations at the end of January. He must have been a kind man judging by his poem To a Mouse which he wrote after ploughing up the little creature’s nest by mistake. Just the sort of thing mum would do – the sentiment, not the ploughing! We don’t have any mice but there are degus, ferrets and dumbo rats for rehoming at the time of writing. By the time you read this we may well have more dogs and cats abandoned over Christmas so please check our website or call in during open hours, 10am-1pm Thursday-Sunday. Some of our volunteers are looking forward to the spring bank holiday, not just for the better weather but because they will be attending Middy in the War Years over two days. SESAW will be selling books in keeping with the event at The Mid Suffolk Light Railway in Wetheringsett. For more information visit: www.mslr.org.uk I had better click send quickly before I press the wrong key and delete my hard work. In fact it’s time I had a little nap by the Rayburn so move over everyone and make space for me, Kenny the Boss, Chihuahua Suffolk and Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath CO6 4PP / 01787 210888 www.sesaw.co.uk
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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
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. 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
CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCH WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE? The sinking of the Titanic over 100 years ago reminds us that what you see of an iceberg is only the tip. About 90% of the iceberg is hidden beneath the water. I think the same is true for people. A large percentage of our lives is very private and only a few know us intimately. Often people will label us with a particular characteristic, a sad person, or a happy person. Sometimes it could be an activity we are involved in, an outdoor type or a TV couch potato. Sometimes the label we put on someone reflects our own insecurities or prejudices. As a child, my brother and I would play in the front garden. An old lady regularly walked down the pavement and stopped to look over the low wall into our garden where we had disappeared into the hydrangea bushes to hide. She called out: “where are the shy boys?”. I think for the most part we remained hidden, but we named her “the shy lady”. We reflected back to her the label she had given us, but she was far from shy. I hate it when people put a label on me because it may reflect a part of me, the 10% bit that is above water that people see, but there is more to me than this 10% as in the iceberg. I’m a complex being. Probably my wife and family know me best and they continue to love me. Then there are those small groups and individuals that I am part of where together we share what’s happening in our lives and pray and support each other in good and difficult times. It’s a place where people listen to me and I listen to them. It’s a place where we can belong.
In the first church we went to after our marriage, in my mind I labelled the people who attended as ‘holy people’ and I now realise that we had pretended to be holy too! After a year we started small home groups for those who wanted and I began to discover real people like myself, people who sometimes made mistakes, found it difficult to pray and got angry for selfish reasons. In this environment we felt wanted and loved despite our imperfections. In four of my churches we run what is called Messy Church, an informal gathering of families, with craft activities, games, celebrations and food. Recently after one such Messy Church when we had baptised three children, the mother wrote: “it was such a joy to be welcomed in and I really feel we have a place now.” I was thrilled at this response and sense of belonging. When we belong, we are comfortable in each other’s company and can be our real selves, not having to live up to other people’s expectations or putting on a mask. Then we can flourish as a person in acceptance and love. More to follow on this next month. The Rev Andrew Sankey Capel St Mary Methodist Church 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Sunday 3
10.30am 6pm
Sunday 10 10.30am 6.30pm
Worship with Graham House Healing & Communion with The Rev Andrew Sankey
10.30am
Worship with Mark Firmin
Sunday 24 10.30am 6.30pm
Covenant Service with The Rev Andrew Sankey United Prayer at St Mary’s
Sunday 17
Sunday 31
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Worship with Andrew Fairweather Prayer Stations
10.30am
Worship with Guy Fairweather
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CHURCH NEWS CHRISTIANS IN CAPEL The members of all the churches foster a closer fellowship and understanding between the respective Christian communities in Capel St Mary. They endeavour to co-ordinate common interests and where practical share common resources to meet specific needs. For times and details of Sunday services, Alpha and Home/Life Groups, please contact one of the following: The Parish Church, St Mary the Virgin The Rev Canon Jim Pendorf The Rectory, Days Road, Capel 01473 312225 / 07973 265037 The Catholic Church Father Christopher Smith, St Mark’s Church 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich 01473 684963 Capel Community Church David Owen, 18 Bushey Close, Capel www.capelcommunitychurch.org.uk 01473 310454 / 07752 921135 The Methodist Church The Rev Andrew Sankey 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary www.capelmethodistchurch.org.uk 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 INTER-CHURCH MIDWEEK ACTIVITIES The following church groups welcome new members: TREKKERS For ages 7-11, meets on Thursdays at the Methodist Church from 3.45 to 5.15pm during school term time. Contact Carolyn Love, 01473 311490 YOUTH GROUP Fridays at The Methodist Church, 7-9pm, for school years 7-9. Contact The Rev Andrew Sankey, 01473 311178 PARENTS AND TODDLERS • Tuesday – 9-11.30am, Capel Community Church, Days Road Contact Margaret Beard: 01473 311219 • Wednesday – 9-11.30am, Busy Bees, Methodist Church Contact Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 • Wednesday – 10am-noon, Twins & Multiples Group at CCC Contact Chris Matthews: 01473 311368 • Thursday – 1.45-3.30pm, St Mary’s Church Hall SENIOR CITIZENS’ LUNCH CLUBS • First Monday, Capel Community Church, 01473 311368 • Third Tuesday, St Mary’s Church Hall, 01473 310596 • Last Thursday, Methodist Church, 01473 310635 NETWORK FELLOWSHIP Third Tuesday, from 2.30pm, Methodist Church. Anyone welcome to come to the meeting. Contact Judy Steward, 01473 310799 BEACON COFFEE SHOP EVERY TUESDAY 9am-12.30pm, in the Vine Lounge, Capel Village Hall AEROBICS AT CAPEL METHODIST CHURCH Fridays from 10.45-11.45am, Young at Heart (slower paced). Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546 PILATES • Tuesdays – 7 and 8.10pm, Capel Methodist Church • Fridays – 9.30am, Capel Methodist Church Contact Jill Sharp, 01473 311546
Dear Friends, A (True) Tale for the New Year As we begin another year of Grace, I thought I would share three connected stories about some small boys. I start with my own. I grew up in a suburban city not far from New York City across the Hudson River in Essex County, New Jersey. East Orange was a densely populated leafy city of some 80,000 people living mostly in 100 year old wooden frame three story houses. It was here that my five-year-older brother and my twin and I enjoyed a comfortable existence. From time to time Big Brother would convince our mother that we could all take the Erie Lackawanna train to Jersey City followed by a Ferry Crossing of the Hudson River and then a subway ride uptown to Yonkers to see the New York Yankees play baseball. Over the years we would make this trip from time to time, usually during the long (hot) summer months when there did not seem much to do. It stuck with me as something boys did together. When I became a vicar in a parish in Morris County, about 20 miles west of East Orange, I met the lovely Tait family at St Gregory’s. They had adopted two little boys of primary school age. Very sadly, the father was driving back from work in Manhattan when he was killed in a head-on car crash on Interstate 80. Of course everyone at St Gregory’s was stunned, but in all the upset the two little boys seemed somewhat overlooked. I wondered what I could do for them, and then it struck me that perhaps they would enjoy going with me to see the New York Yankees play. Their mum thought it best for just us boys to have the day out, and we did. Obviously the brothers were subdued somewhat, and I wasn’t sure whether they enjoyed themselves. Thirty years later and here in Suffolk, I received an email from a Rusty Tait living in Ohio. He wanted to know if I was the same priest who had taken his little brother and him to the baseball game. You can imagine my surprise and delight that he had gone to the trouble to track me down. He was by then a dad of his own with boys about the age he had been when we went to the game. He just wanted me to know what an impact the trip had made on his life and how much it had meant to him. We have not kept in touch since then due to the distance and the more than 40 years since that day at the game, but I was struck by how something so ordinary as a day out had made such a difference in a young life to the extent that his own little boys became the beneficiaries of a kindness shown me by my big brother. There may well be times and events in 2016 when you too can show a thoughtful kindness to someone, and it is my New Year’s hope that it will come back to you in the years ahead. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord smile upon you and be gracious to you, and may the Lord lift up the light of his face to you and yours in the weeks and months ahead. Your priest and friend,
R.O.M.E.O. Lunch for Men at The Harvest Moon, Capel First Thursday, 12.30pm. Book with Peter Ellis: 01473 310096
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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 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up to date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the church front door.
Services for January Sunday 3
9am
Mass – The Epiphany of the Lord
Tuesday 5 9.30am 10am Sunday 10 9am Tuesday 12 9.20am 10am Sunday 17 9am
Morning Prayer Mass
9.30am 10am
Morning Prayer Mass
Tuesday 19
Mass – The Baptism of the Lord
Eucharistic Adoration Mass Mass – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Children’s Liturgy
Sunday 24 9am Tuesday 26 9.30am 10am
Mass – Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday 31 9am
Mass – Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Morning Prayer Mass
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 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.
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