In Touch with Capel St Mary - May 2016

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CAPEL CAPERS Volume 6 • Issue No. 7 • MAY 2016

Image by Justin Minns See page 18

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Yesterday we had thunder, lightening, rain, hailstones… Today the most glorious spring day of the year so far. I think this is it! I can feel it in my bones. Summer is finally on the way. Time to get out the sun cream, to pack away the woolly jumpers and to open the doors and windows and let the fresh air in. At last!

It’s a busy, busy year with many extra events to celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday in addition to annual fun days, galas, regattas, fairs and fetes. There isn’t a single weekend between now and the end of June when there isn’t at least one event every Saturday and Sunday and many more on Bank Holiday Mondays. I’m currently trying to organise a Star Wars birthday party for my six-year-old son and the kitchen table is covered in scrapped invitation cards (Jack was writing the names!), lists (food, games, shopping, goodie bags, decorations), recipes (Chewy Wookiee Cookies look particularly challenging!), and information about keeping rabbits! Don’t ask! This I have to do but those who plan, organise and promote local events often do so by choice and I can only imagine how much time and energy, never mind the blood, sweat and tears, they invest to bring it all together and pack it all away again.

I’m hoping at least 10 of Jack’s friends turn up, but at least I’ll know in advance and can plan accordingly. I may not need 16 inflatable lightsabers after all and I’ll probably be eating Obo-Wan Kabobies for a month, but I’m not sure I could cope with not knowing if anyone would turn up! Yet our valiant teams of local event organisers do it year after year, hoping the weather will play along, hoping their neighbours will roll up, hoping there will be a sufficient number of people to make all the effort worthwhile, hoping to raise a significant sum for the cause.

Surely the least we can do is turn up. Let’s make the effort this year and we might all find new reasons to appreciate what we have on our doorsteps.

In Touch with Capel St Mary 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

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NEWS LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD SCHEME – FIRST IN SUFFOLK Capel St Mary Parish Council was delighted to recieve a Local Council Award Scheme Certificate from Shona Bendix, Chief Executive of Suffolk Association of Local Councils, at the annual meeting on March 23.

Capel St Mary Parish Council is the first in Suffolk to have been recognised with such an award, demonstrating that it has the documentation and information in place to operate lawfully and according to standard practice. The council also has policies for training councillors and officers and is building a foundation for improvements and development.

Prior to this award the council was also awarded Quality Parish Council status, with the clerk achieving a distinction in her Certificate in Local Council Administration.

We are fortunate in having a forward thinking council, with each volunteer striving to do their best for all members of their community. Having just held a recent drop-in event to discuss the future of development within the village we are now embarking on a housing need survey to ascertain the requirements for our community.

We congratulate our parish council on this award and thank our parishioners for their community involvement.

PROMPT NEPAL HELP AFTER FUNDRAISER £910.52 was raised for SUPPORT Nepal in a single day in Bradfield with lots of support from other villages. This money was intended to boost funds as the Nepal Children’s Trust was due to visit Nepal. Their team of three included Maya, the charity’s founder, who is from Nepal but now lives in Brantham. They travelled entirely at their own cost and this is what they did.

They visited Basuki School where NCT had helped after the earthquake. Maya writes: “The school was provided desks after the earthquake so we were very interested to take a look. NCT was warmly welcomed with the national song. We handed over some more stationary and sport materials. Teachers and the school management team were very thankful.”

Much of the £900 raised in Bradfield was intended to supply badly needed blankets to an isolated village which so far had been entirely missed by the larger charities. Maya writes: “Rani Pani is a village which takes seven hours of driving from the city called Pokhara. It was the place where no help had yet reached. The villagers were victim of the earthquake and were in need of so many things. Their most important need was blankets and clothes which were distributed by NCT. Due to the government corruption, we visited the affected area ourselves to manage distribution.”

The third place visited by the team was a children’s welfare home in Pokhara. Maya writes: “Children were more than happy to welcome us.

The entire team enjoyed the moments with the children. Management of home was in need of various things. We purchased shoes, towels, clothes, school bag, slippers, footballs and other things. Children really liked all the things and thanked us with lots of joy. Children were taken out for the day to explore. We had lovely lunch together and so much fun. “ Many thanks to everyone who supported the SUPPORT Nepal event. For more about the charity and their visit to Nepal follow Nepal Children’s Trust on Facebook.

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NEWS

As you may be aware, Capel St Mary Parish Council have had to step back from overseeing the project to raise the war memorial in the village due to the impact of the Local Authorities Powers Act in 1923. While parish councils may maintain memorials they cannot raise them.

A new committee has been formed to encourage local residents and businesses to support the erection of a war memorial to the men of this parish who gave their lives in the service of this country. This would be a permanent reminder to people living here and to those who come to live here that we ‘Will Remember Them’.

The new committee is composed as follows: Gary Bunkell (chairman), Mike Woodward (treasurer), William Dimond, Griff Johns, John Sturgeon, Councillors Chris Streatfield and David Thompson and John Smith.

The memorial will be dedicated at 11am on November 11, 2018, 100 years to the minute from when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War. In total 32 men will be commemorated on the memorial and over the next few months further articles are planned which will give you some background on the individuals.

Needless to say we would welcome your support in whatever way you can. Details of the project, including how you can help, can be found at www.capelmemorial.org.uk or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/capelmemorial

The Friends of St Mary’s Registered Charity Number 286971

MARCH OF WITNESS IN CAPEL Christians living in Capel gathered at the Community Church on Days Road on Good Friday and shared in worship, prayers and reflection. We walked through the streets of Capel carrying a wooden cross, stopping occasionally to pray and worship. We arrived in the village centre and set up the cross and spent a little longer reflecting on the crucifixion of Jesus.

Photo by Kathy Pollard

Many Attractions including:

Afterwards we crossed the road to the Methodist Church for hot cross buns and drinks, which were shared with those passing and those visiting the shopping centre. Further services took place over the weekend and at noon on Easter Sunday people from the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Community and Methodist churches gathered at the cross, now adorned with the white cloth symbolising the discarded grave cloths. We sang a great Easter hymn and shouted the Easter acclamation, Christ is Risen!

Alleluia!

Andrew Sankey

Plus local group displays in the main ring And much, much more!

FOUND IN CAPEL ST MARY An item of jewellery with blue and white stones has been found on The Street in Capel.

If it is yours please ring 311141.

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Funday@capelstmary.org.uk

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Moving house?

Our legal team will ensure it goes swimmingly

Call 01473 211121 info@gotelee.co.uk www.gotelee.co.uk Offices in Ipswich, Hadleigh, Felixstowe, Melton & Woodbridge

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: APRIL 2016 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR, SUE CARPENDALE Micro-chipping of dogs Dog owners should now be aware of the legislation which makes it compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped. If they are not, a notice can be served requiring a chip to be implanted. Failure to do this can result in a fine of up to £500, as well as the dog being taken in to be chipped.

The new law applies to all dogs over eight weeks of age. It is already a legal requirement for dogs to wear a collar and ID tag in a public place.

Anyone who finds a dog can then easily contact its owner. Dogs seized as strays by the council don’t just incur charges to the owner, but also cost the public purse. It typically costs £92.20 to reclaim a dog if it is seized by the council. This includes a statutory fine and costs incurred in collecting and kenneling. The stray dog service costs approximately £15,000 to run across both councils. In 2015, 124 dogs were collected as strays by Babergh (54) and Mid Suffolk (70), of which only 24% had any identification. Eighty-eight of the dogs collected were reclaimed by their owners.

Councils and Fire Service – mixed use buildings Private Sector Housing officers from Babergh and Mid Suffolk are to work with Suffolk Fire and Rescue to assess and identify buildings that are used for both business and residential purposes, particularly flats above shops and restaurants. This initiative directly stems from the devastating fire in Sudbury which ripped through the town last year, destroying residential flats and businesses. Fire detection, prevention and means of escape from fire will be checked with guidance given to occupiers, owners and

landlords. Both the Private Sector Housing teams at the councils and Suffolk Fire and Rescue have enforcement powers if owners or landlords are unwilling to carry out the necessary work.

Proposed shared legal service Some of Suffolk’s councils have been considering the merits and practicalities of developing a shared legal service. West Suffolk councils, Babergh and Mid Suffolk have agreed to progress this initiative, which started formally at the beginning of April. The aim is to use combined learning and expertise better so as to reduce reliance on external legal help, but also to improve the resilience within the teams. The door remains open for other councils to join.

Devolution Councillors currently know no more than residents might have gleaned from reading the local press. However, there is to be a briefing on April 14 when we hope to receive an update. There are a lot of questions that people want answers for, including: the cost of the new combined authority; implications for a supporting secretariat; impact on existing council budgets and allowances for the lead members involved on the board; the real role and powers of the directly elected mayor; and, perhaps, of more than a passing interest to many residents of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, will the public get to have a say in the final decision? sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Joint Strategic Plan The councillors of both Babergh and Mid Suffolk gave their approval to the Plan on a Page overview of the updated Joint Strategic Plan ‘refresh’ for 2016-2020. This outlines the high level strategic outcomes to be achieved over the next five years, and the outputs needed to deliver those outcomes.

Now that we have the refreshed Plan on a Page in place, alongside a Joint Medium Term Financial Plan and budgets set for 2016-2017, the senior leadership team will be working with all managers and teams at Babergh to look at work programmes and make sure resources are being used to best effect.

A full Joint Strategic Plan document is being developed, containing more detail behind each outcome and output, including how the outputs are planned to be delivered and the activities, both service delivery and service development, to bring about positive, sustainable change.

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New Enterprise Zone site A new government initiative to create rural Enterprise Zones to stimulate rural growth and enterprise was announced in the autumn statement 2015. On Friday, April 1, the rural Enterprise Zone for Norfolk and Suffolk, Space to Innovate, was launched at King’s Lynn Innovation Centre.

Secured by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and its local authority partners, the whole Enterprise Zone, consisting of 10 business parks, will help to create 18,500 jobs in its 25 year lifetime, including 5,000 jobs by 2021. Two of these developments are in the Mid Suffolk and Babergh districts. Sproughton Enterprise Park is a 14 hectare site between the A14 and Sproughton Road, located on the former British Sugar Corporation regeneration site. The Enterprise Park will be delivered by Babergh in collaboration with Ipswich Borough Council, the current landowners. It is anticipated that on-site infrastructure work will commence late 2017. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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NEWS

CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL Report from meeting held on Monday, April 11 Present at the meeting were Councillors Bishop, Bryant (chairman), Fenn, Harris, Kilby, Matthews, Powell, Rogers, Streatfield, Thompson, County Councillor Jones, District Councillors Carpendale and Swan, Julie Lawes (clerk) and four members of the public.

The following planning applications were recommended for approval to Babergh District Council: 29 Winding Piece, land rear of Boynton Hall and 7 Mowlands.

The Queens 90th birthday celebrations continue. With the beacon held in April, we now progress to local group celebrations, a photographic display, birthday book, 90 prize raffle and 90 question quiz with a £90 prize.

The Housing Need Survey will have been distributed to households during the month of April. Residents are urged to complete this as the results will be used to shape the future of the village.

DEVOLUTION Capel Parish Council has sent a message to Babergh District Council saying that it should not vote for or against devolution until all parish and town councils in its district have expressed their view.

Concern was raised at the April meeting that the views of parish and town councillors, who by the nature of local government are closer to their voters and communities than are district and county councillors, have not been sought and have been ignored.

PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY

The council noted with regret and concern that Capel’s police station is to be closed.

Accounts were approved and presented for signing.

Julie Lawes, clerk The next meeting of Capel St Mary Parish Council is on Monday, May 9 in the library. There is an open session at each meeting when members of the public can air any problems. The actual minutes of the meeting are available for viewing at the parish council office at 27a The Street, Capel St Mary (to the rear of Mallwoods Insurance Services) which is open on Tuesdays from 10am-noon and on Fridays from 1-3pm.

The parish clerk can be contacted on 01473 314103 during these times. An answer phone operates outside these hours and messages are picked up everyday. Alternatively contact can be made by email to: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com

In the debate it was said that Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire district and county council leaders negotiated a devolution deal with the government without a mandate from the public and without all their councillors being told what was being discussed.

Calls for a referendum in which all voters could have a say have been rejected by the negotiation leaders. The decision to accept or reject devolution will be taken at meetings of district and county councils across the three counties.

Capel St Mary Parish Council currently has one vacancy for a parish councillor.

look to improve the quality of life and the environment in the local area, working to identify issues which are important to the lives of the residents you represent and working to bring about improvements through local projects.

To become a parish councillor, which is a voluntary position, you must be an elector of the parish or during the whole of the last 12 months either occupied as owner or tenant, land or other premises in the parish or your principal or only place of work is in the parish or you live within three miles of the parish boundary.

The council meets in the library on the second Monday of each month and you would be expected to attend. We do not meet in August.

In addition we also have further working parties and committees to cover additional needs, such as allotments, finance, planning, parish plan, of which memberships is optional.

As part of a local council you will have responsibility working with the parish council to manage many aspects of the village, including setting the council tax in order to deliver your council’s services, influencing and shaping the development of the village and as part of the planning process, commenting on planning applications. You would

If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor, or would like further information please contact Julie Lawes (as above). Alternatively, applications can be made in writing to: capel.parishclerk@btinternet.com

ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE

The village hall will be closed for three weeks in August while it is being decorated, the floor resanded and acoustic boards and a hearing loop installed. Hopefully we will also have enough funds to replace the curtains although this may have to wait until later in the year.

The Vine Lounge, library, kitchen and bars will be open as normal.

If you have any questions please call Mandy on 312026 or email Sandra at: capelcommunitytrust@gmail.com The next trust meeting is in the library on Monday, June 27 at 8pm.

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There is still time to enter for the Midnight Walk being run by the hospice in Ipswich on Saturday, May 7.

Anyone interested please contact 01473 707043. The walk leaves Ipswich Town football ground at 10pm and routes are five or 10 miles.

Thank you to all those who have kindly donated items for the hospice tombola at Capel Funday on June 4. If you wish to donate items please take them to 86 The Street on Saturday mornings between 9.30 and 11.30am.

Linda Morrison, Hospice Rep for Capel St Mary

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Trusted by local families since 1925 47 St Helens Street Ipswich 01473 257242

33-35 Long Wyre Street Colchester 01206 767675

283 Norwich Road Ipswich 01473 232837

98 The Commons Prettygate Colchester 01206 560988

310 Nacton Road Ipswich 01473 860040 247a Hawthorn Drive Chantry, Ipswich 01473 602414

89 Wimpole Road Colchester 01206 793492 The Centre, Greenstead Colchester 01206 860584 Kingsbury & Saunders Hadleigh 01473 823117 W.H. Shephard 93/94 High Street Colchester 01206 572305

The East of England Co-op has been your local funeral service for 90 years.

We are not part of the national Co-operative Funeralcare chain based in Manchester.

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OUT & ABOUT CLASH AVOIDER

TEA AND CHAT

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.

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 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.

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.

Saturday, May 7: Capel St Mary Garden Club Plant Sale, near village hall bus stop, 9.30-11.30am Contact Eddie Cox: 311121 Saturday, May 7: Cake and Plant Sale and Coffee Morning at Capel Methodist Church, 10am-noon Contact Sally: 07875 366120 Saturday, May 7: 80s disco at the village hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com Sunday, May 22: Open garden at Windmill Cottage, Mill Hill with plants and books for sale and refreshments, 2-5pm. In aid of Age UK Suffolk Contact Eddie Cox: 311121 Saturday, June 4, 1-5pm: Capel Funday Contact: fi-ruth-entertainments@hotmail.co.uk Saturday & Sunday, June 11 & 12: Friends of St Mary’s Scarecrow Trail Friday, June 24: Friends of St Mary’s Replay Cabaret and Dance Evening with paella supper or veggie alternative.

Contact Chris Terry: 01473 311102

We welcome you to join us on the following dates (always the third Monday of the month): May 16, July 18, September 19 and November 21.

Hope to see you there!

Jean Yule, 310992

JUKEBOX SUMMERTIME Presented by the award winning Orchard Players This show has a summertime vibe, with all the fun and excitement of holiday time. The songs are mostly from the jukebox era of the 1960s and include numbers from iconic artists such as The Beatles, The Kinks, Dusty Springfield and The Beachboys.

For a trip back to the 1960s come and join us at Capel St Mary Village Hall from July 7-9.

Box office: 07754 175399

Sunday, June 26: 2016 Orwell Walk, Run and Ride Sunday, June 26: Car boot sale on the playing field Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com July 7-9: The Orchard Players present Jukebox Summertime at Capel Village Hall Saturday, July 30: Allotments BBQ Contact: info@capaelallotments.co.uk

CAPEL IRISH SET DANCE GROUP Capel Irish Set Dance Group meets at St Mary’s Church Hall on the third Sunday of every month (except August and the second Sunday in December) from 2-5.30pm.

We are a friendly group and it’s not necessary to have a partner. In fact you’re welcome to come along just to enjoy the music.

Saturday, August 20: Quiz Night at the Village Hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com

2016 Dates: May 15, June 19, July 17, September 18, October 16, November 20 and December 11.

Saturday & Sunday, September 3 & 4: Allotments Flower & Produce Show Contact: info@capelallotments.co.uk / 01473 310384

Hope to see you, Hille and Trevor Peartree, 01473 310146

Saturday, September 10: Barn Dance at the village hall Contact Tracy: 07917 440459 / novatrax@hotmail.com Sunday, October 9: Allotments Autumn Work-In Contact: info@capelallotments.co.uk Saturday, October 15: The Orchard Players Quiz Night at Capel Village Hall Contact Sue: 01473 311061 Saturday, October 22: Friends of St Mary’s Trianon Community Concert Contact Chris Terry: 01473 311102 Saturday, November 5: Capel Bonfire Night Saturday, December 3: St Mary’s Christmas Coffee Morning, 10am-12.30pm

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WEA CAPEL ST MARY BRANCH Summer outing to Audley End, Sunday, July 10 Audley End House is a largely early 17th century country house outside Saffron Walden, Essex. It was once a prodigy house, a palace in all but name and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England.

The extensive park was designed by Capability Brown and the walled kitchen garden has been beautifully restored. There is a cafe and a tea room. Everyone is most welcome to join us.

• Price of outing including entrance fee: £35 • Price of coach for English Heritage members: £21 • Depart Capel St Mary Shopping Precinct at 9.15am • Depart Audley End at 4.30pm For bookings or further details contact: Beryl Ellul, 310350 / Veronica Bramer, 310685

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE HALL DIARY, MAY 2016 Tuesday 3 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5.30pm, 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 4 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 5 Police and Crime Commissioner Elections, 7am-10pm Capel Ladies, 7.30-10.30pm, library Saturday 7 Dog Training, 9.30-11.15am, hall Association 80s Disco, 7.30-11.30pm, hall Sunday 8 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Monday 9 Blood Donating, 11am-7.30pm, hall Parish Council Meeting, 7.30-10.30pm, library Tuesday 10 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5.30pm, 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 11 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Flower Arranging, 6.30-10.30pm, library Thursday 12 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Women’s Institute, 7.30-10.30pm, library Saturday 14 Dog Training, 9.30-11.15am, hall

Sunday 15 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 2-6pm, hall

Film Show Swan Lake, 1.30-5.30pm, library Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Gardening Club, 7-10.30pm, library

Monday 16 Community Association meeting, 8-10.30pm, library

Saturday 28 Dog Training, 9.30-11.30am, hall

Tuesday 17 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1.30-5.30pm, 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 18 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 19 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall Orchard Players, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Bingo, 7.30-10.30pm, Vine Lounge Saturday 21 Dog Training, 9.30-11.15am, hall Sunday 22 Trampoline Club, 9.30am-noon, hall Monday 23 Community Trust Meeting, 8-10.30pm, library Tuesday 24 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 25 Carpet Bowls, 6.30-10.30pm, hall Thursday 26 Coffee Shop, 10am-noon, hall

TEA & COMPANY Monday, May 16 at Wenham View, Dove Close

All welcome to come along from 2.30pm £1.50 for tea/coffee and homemade cakes Raffle Supported by The Capel Ladies

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Sunday 29 Pool Tournament, from noon, family bar Tuesday 31 Beacon Coffee Shop, 9am-12.30pm, Vine Lounge Carpet Bowls, 1-5pm, hall Under 16s Ballroom and Latin, 6-7pm, hall Courses/Private lessons Ballroom and Latin, 7-8pm, hall Ballroom and Latin Dance for adults, 8-9pm, hall FUNCTION ROOMS FOR HIRE Are you organising a birthday, anniversary, wedding, engagement, christening, children’s party, celebration, social event, business meeting or just want a get together with family and friends?

Why not book the village hall, Vine Lounge, library or stage? We can cater for parties between 20 and 200 people at very competitive rates. Rooms are available daytime or evening.

Facilities include a fully licensed bar and kitchen preparation area with prices starting from as little as £10 an hour for the library, £15 an hour for the hall, and £88 for the Vine Lounge for an evening.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE If someone you loved has passed away and would like to celebrate his/her life, you can hire the Vine Lounge in the village hall complex most weekdays for just £75. For more information please contact Mandy.

CONTACT Village bar: 01473 311766 Mandy Marshall, events and hiring: 01473 312026 / bookings@capel-trust.freeserve.co.uk

BATS PRESENT HOLIDAY SNAP Brantham Amateur Theatrical Society presents Holiday Snap, a comedy by Michael Pertwee and John Chapman, from Thursday, June 9 to Saturday 11 at Brantham Village Hall with performances at 7.30pm.

This tale of comic predicament and mistaken identity unfolds with real wit and style. A Portuguese time-share villa has been double-booked, but the company rep, the myopic tippler Commander ‘Chitto’ Chittenden, is in the dark. When Mary and Henry arrive shortly after Eve and Leslie, Chitto manages to remain unaware that there is more than one couple on the scene. Watch the confusion compound with the missing housekeeper and her husband.

How will the arrival of Henry’s mother-in-law cause even more problems? Who is the real Sir Piers? Answer these questions by coming along to see this hilarious play.

Tickets are £7 and available from: Bakes & Blossoms Café at Acacia Court / 01206 396674 / 07891 974844 (text).

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CAPEL ST MARY & LITTLE WENHAM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

IN THE VILLAGE HALL COMPLEX

BT SPORT Available on the Big Screen in the Vine Lounge!

In FREE WI-FI In both Bars!

CARD PAYMENT SERVICE now available!

“80’s DISCO” SATURDAY 7th MAY - DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Village Hall Come along and have a great night dancing to some classics and sample some cocktails!

Tickets : Members £5.00 Non–Members £7.50 “BINGO” THURSDAY 19th MAY - DOORS OPEN AT 7.30pm In the Vine Lounge Books £1 Or 6 Books £5 EYES DOWN 8.30pm “POOL TOURNAMENT & BBQ” SUNDAY 29th May - FROM 12 noon the Family Bar Sign up at the Bar Over 16’s Only - £5.00 to enter “FUNDAY” SATURDAY 4th June 1pm-5pm At Capel Playing Field Lots to see including “Gemmas Farm” & “Yak Aeroplane Display” Plus local displays and much, much more!

FREE ADMISSION

“A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR 3 MAIN SPONSORS OF THIS EVENT” T & L BANKS

BONFIELD BROTHERS

DAVID MARTIN GROUP

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!

To buy Tickets or book Quiz Teams, call in the Village Bar or ring Ruth - 07548130293 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

www.capelstmary.org

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OUT & ABOUT NEWS FROM CAPEL LIBRARY

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

The days and nights are elongating with the prospect of sitting out in warmer sunshine to read books, accompanied by a nice cup of tea or maybe a glass of rosé. What will be on your wish list? Many people have just discovered the Cormoran Strike crime books by Robert Galbraith (aka J K Rowling) and are enjoying the style of writing. Our library book group have recently read H for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, The Son by Jo Nesbo and Us by David Nicholls, each of which generated a good level of discussion about the merits and dislikes. The group meets in the library at 2.30pm on Friday, May 20 to talk about their latest read. Do come along and join in – new members are very welcome.

March was quite a busy month for the friends. At the end of March we welcomed Andrew Bailey who gave us a visually stunning presentation of both landscape and wildlife. He also let us into some of the ways in which one ‘persuades’ the wildlife to come into camera view. We were really pleased to have nearly 30 people attend, and the comments afterwards were very positive. We helped with the teas for the library screening of Billy Elliot the day after.

Baby Bounce continues meeting every Tuesday, including half term, at 2pm for action songs and shaking instruments and is open to all under 5s and their parents/carers. There is no charge for this activity.

We are currently without a chairman and are one trustee short, so if anyone out there feels that they would like to help the friends to support and maintain our library services in this financially strapped time, please let Jackie know.

Talking of which, a great big thank you to Katherine and Ali who ran the Colchester Half Marathon being sponsored for the friends. The photo shows they had a great time and have probably raised enough money for our project to offer iPads for loan. We are truly grateful to them and it was good that they came and shared their experience with us. It takes a lot of hard slog and determination to complete a half marathon.

Our next showing in the Creative Arts East programme is Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake on Thursday, May 26. Doors open at 1.30pm with the showing starting at 1.45pm. Tickets cost £8 each and include refreshments. We look forward to seeing you.

Storytime for the Queen We will be holding storytime and craft sessions entitled The Queen’s Knickers on Friday, May 10 at 4pm and Saturday 11 at 12.30pm. The sessions are open to all children. To help us with the craft activity we are looking for donations of any unwanted lace or fabric.

Message from Katharine and Ali who completed the Colchester Half Marathon It was a perfect day to do a run; the weather was cool but the sun was out. There was a wonderful camaraderie with friendly smiles and encouragement. This was the most nerve wracking experience of our lives, but as we had raised money for the Friends of Capel library there was no backing out. The run was hard, it was the longest distance we had ever run but we did it. We ran 13.1 miles and in doing so we have raised more than £600. Thank you so much for all the sponsorship, support and encouragement.

Jurassic Encounters Thirty-five children over two sessions partook in this activity on Friday, April 8. The children were able to hold/stroke several different animals ranging from a meerkat called Dink to a snake, a ferret and a tortoise. The children were very well behaved and had a wonderful time. Some comments received were: “I loved holding the snake”; “I liked the skunk and the snake and learnt the chameleon has cells that reflect the light to show different colours”; “Fantastic afternoon”; “I loved the soft animals, especially the meerkat and the skunk”.

The children also learnt about conservation and re-homing of abandoned animals. We must thank the East of England Co-operative society who very kindly donated the refreshments enjoyed by the children and supporting adults.

OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm

Thanks also to the Co-op for providing the refreshments for the children at the Jurassic Encounters Event on April 8 which sold out.

The April 100 club winners are Linda Phillips (£10) and Linda Morrison and Pauline Wiseman (both £5) Chris Yule

Celebrate with us The residents of Wenham View and Dove Close, Capel St Mary would like to invite you to our garden party for the Queen’s birthday.

When: Saturday 11 June 2016 Time: 15.00 onwards Where: Wenham View, Dove Close (off Days Road) Capel St Mary, IP9 2AW There will be music, a raffle, food and refreshments Free entry—All welcome Contact us: 01473 310032 Visit us: www.orwell-housing.co.uk

Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

Together we make a difference

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL ST MARY COUNTRYSIDE CLUB

CAPEL GUIDES

On April 12 we had a very interesting and informative talk by Alex Bass on Suffolk estuaries and wildlife. Alex had some wonderful slides of the Rivers Stour, Orwell, Deben, Alde, Blythe and Waveney and the numerous birds that live and feed on the plants and animals in the saltmarshes and on the shoreline. He told us about the nightingales at Fingringhoe, the deer at Minsmere, the increase of Avocets in Suffolk and the best places to go bird watching on the estuaries.

2nd Capel St Mary Guides would like to thank everyone who supported their coffee morning in March. We were overwhelmed with the generosity shown and are pleased to announce we raised £500!

This followed on from a short extra general meeting to propose a new updated constitution and discuss finances.

We would welcome new members to our meetings. We meet at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday evening of the month (not in the summer) in the lounge at Capel Methodist Church. You would be made very welcome; members £2.50 / non-members £3.50, refreshments included.

We will be having a bluebell walk on April 26 and another walk in May. Our indoor meeting on May 10 is a talk on Ipswich Waterfront by Ann Day.

Capel Guides have to raise £5,000 to replace our shed so our next fundraising event will be a quiz at Capel St Mary Primary School on Friday, July 8 at 7.45pm. We welcome teams of up to six people at £3 per team member. There will be prizes for winning teams and a raffle. Alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks will be available.

We hope to see lots of people there for a fun filled night! For more information or to book your team, please get in touch with Ellie: 07841598143 / elliewepener@gmail.com

Contacts: Roger Felgate, 01473 311684 / Linda Evans, 01473 311262

EXHIBITION BY AWARD-WINNING LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB

A Stone’s Throw is an exhibition of photographs by award-winning landscape photographer Justin Minns in the Boat House Gallery, National Trust, Flatford CO7 6UL. The exhibition opens on Saturday, April 30 and continues until Sunday, June 26.

On April 6 David Carman interviewed Hew Naylor, our new president, on his Desert Island Discs. It was interesting to hear of Hew’s views, life and achievements. On April 20 David Ablewhite spoke on George and Mary, the First Windsors.

A Stone’s Throw is a collection of landscape prints from across East Anglia.

At the heart of the collection are Justin Minns’ beautiful photographs of the area around Flatford and Dedham known as Constable Country.

On Wednesday, May 4 we have a musical event planned when Grant Elliot will talk about the history of jazz and on Wednesday, May 18 Harry Parsons will talk to us about the building of the Millennium Tower at Bury St Edmunds. We meet at the convenient St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB.

He said: “Having grown up in the area, the Stour Valley has always been close to my heart. Walking along the river as it gently meanders through timeless meadows towards Flatford, the banks dotted with gnarled and twisted trees, it feels as if little has changed since Constable’s day.”

Justin Minns is a professional landscape photographer based in Suffolk who specialises in capturing atmospheric East Anglian scenes for clients including the National Trust. His photography has been widely published and has appeared in the Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibition on several occasions. This is his first solo exhibition.

Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost.

The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity to develop acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am.

For further details please contact Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

CAPEL ST MARY WI also a raffle with many prizes. The room looked very fitting with bunting and the dining tables set with red, white and blue table covers, serviettes and flowers and many diners and WI members wore clothing supporting these colours. The sun shone through the windows enhancing an already jovial atmosphere.

On behalf of our WI, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our Queen a very happy 90th birthday.

The speakers for our next two meetings at the village hall will be: May 12: Resolutions / Understanding your Body by diabetes specialist nurse Jo Hall Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration

June 9: The Work of the Charity DEBRA by Audrea Newman

In tribute to our Queen’s 90th birthday the WI held their spring lunch in St Mary’s Church Hall on March 16. It was attended by 55 people who enjoyed the lunch menu catered for by committee members. There was

We look forward to meeting you.

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Sue Dale, 07773 042910

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL LADIES CLUB Thursday, April 7: Encouraging Wildlife in our Gardens

The Friends of St Mary’s

REPLAY CABARET AND DANCE EVENING Friday, June 24 Tickets are now available for our annual Replay evening with paella (or veggie alternative) supper.

Tickets are £13 (£12 for members) and are available from Chris Terry (31110) and Ondra Butler (310524).

Please bring your own drinks and glasses.

Numbers are limited so please book early.

VILLAGE LINK CLUB Our next meeting is on May 11 when Lesley Krohn will present a talk on Galapagos Islands Diving. This will be followed by our AGM. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall 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.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, April 13 Rebecca Parry BSc, director of conservation, education and research, spoke on zoos and conservation. Her talk included the history of zoological collections, including Colchester Zoo, the zoo’s current modern roles, its breeding programmes and conservation projects in the wild.

On Wednesday, May 11 Dr Roger Simpson BFA Calgary, MA Victoria and PhD Essex University, will present a talk entitled John Constable – Man in a Landscape. Perhaps we have seen The Hay Wain so often that we no longer see it at all. Was Constable one of the greatest religious painters that this country has ever produced?

We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 and this entitles members to attend the meetings that take place on the second Wednesday of each month, except August and December.

Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking, computer studies and gardens, churches and historic buildings. 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 can be contacted.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

We can all do our bit for wildlife, be it ever so small, from making a log-pile, allowing a section of our lawns to grow long grass, or putting out water for a bird bath. “Every little helps” as they say, and this was the message put across by our April speaker, James Baker from the Greenways Conservation Project in Ipswich.

Greenways exists to encourage and promote conservation groups and activists in the Ipswich area. It is an organisation which relies heavily on voluntary help to conserve, improve and protect areas of different habitats both for the creatures which live there as well as for the public to enjoy.

Through their work locally, places like Kiln Meadow, south of Ipswich (at one time destined for mass housing) and Spring Wood near Belstead have become sanctuaries for many different species whose populations might otherwise have died out. These various conservation areas don’t just work in isolation from each other. Creatures need to commute between them, and that is where garden owners come in. No matter how small a plot you have at the rear of your house, by introducing a wildlife-friendly element into it you will have provided a stepping stone or even a bridge which will help a small creature to move between sites and interact with others of its kind.

At the moment the big worry is the decline in our hedgehog population, and we can help here too. Simply by making it possible for a hedgehog to access our gardens by creating gaps in our boundary fences or digging a small hole which passes underneath, we are opening a new hedgehog food store where there are slugs and worms a-plenty on offer! (Please don’t use slug pellets, by the way – they are poisonous to hedgehogs!)

Siting a hedgehog house in a corner of the garden may well attract a needy hedgehog in the autumn, or as an overnight guest! And not only hedgehogs – the house can also shelter other small creatures such as spiders or bees. James’ talk certainly inspired us all to try and do more for our wildlife. For more information about Greenways please visit: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways War Memorial Fund The planned war memorial in Capel will cost at least £12,000, so the War Memorial Group are always delighted to receive donations towards this. Capel Ladies have given £100 to this worthy cause, and Bill Diamond and Griff John came to our meeting in April to receive the cheque officially from our treasurer Liz Gulliver and chairlady Linda Evans. There is still a long way to go, but at least the plans are in place.

Meal at The Brook, Washbrook

There was a jolly atmosphere at our meal out at The Brook in Washbrook in March. There were 25 in our group, plus around 20 other diners, and the staff coped very well. We all raised our glasses for a photo taken to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Cheers!

For further information about our activities please visit: www.capelladies.com

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OUT & ABOUT CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB We held our Annual Spring Show in the library on March 24. Despite daffodils being out since the end of February, we had a beautiful display including 19 entries in the Club Bulb Section – the most we have ever had. Cookery, flower arranging and photography were well supported although handicraft was a little down.

Happy Birthday Your Majesty was an extra section this year and members made gifts they would like to give to the Queen to celebrate her 90th birthday.There were 11 entries and I am sure she would have liked them all.

The trophy winners were (l-r): Hazel Maudsley (Cookery Cup), Louise Evans (President’s Plate for Flowers and Pot Plants), Brenda Eyers (Handicraft Shield), Charles Heath (Millenium Cup for Photography), Linda Evans (Flower Arranging Rosebowl) and Pat White (Club Bulb Cup).

On Saturday, May 7 we will be holding our plant sale from 9.30-11.30am near the village hall bus stop.The Methodist Church is also holding one about the same time and they also do refreshments.

Our next library meeting is on May 26 when Paul Eaton will be giving a talk on Growing Easy Orchids.

We are always happy to welcome new members; £8 a year or £2 if you want to come to a particular meeting as a visitor. Any queries, please let me know.

Edwina Cox, chairman, 01473 311121

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED Monday, May 9: 3D Decoupage Cards Monday, June 6: Talk and demonstration on basketry Other kits available on the evenings. Samples of each month’s project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

The Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.3010pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

For more information contact Ann (01473 780298) or Jill (01473 713534).

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In Touch online:

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS CAPEL ALLOTMENTS GUIDE TO GARDENING in MAY

GARDEN OPEN IN AID OF AGE UK SUFFOLK

Clear weeds. Rotovate cleared areas. Scatter slug pellets. Rake in Growmore prior to sowing or planting. Kill weeds on paths, patios and drives. Set up the barbecue. Protect fruit and plants from bird attacks.

Water plants thoroughly with an open ended watering can.

Sunday, May 22, 2-5pm, at Windmill Cottage, Mill Hill, Capel St Mary IP9 2JE

VEG PLOT: Plant brassicas, potatoes and celery. Sow or plant runner beans to grow up eight foot canes set in two rows three feet apart, cross canes as low as three feet from the ground to allow the maximum number of beans to hang outwards and grow straight for easy picking and for the show bench. Tie in other canes at 45o and through the cross over point to strengthen the structure. Sow salad crops, French beans, marrow, pumpkin, courgette, squashes, cucumbers, sweet corn, turnip, swede and carrots. Cover potatoes if frost is forecast or water early in the morning before the sun damages the frozen leaves. Sow fennel, basil and dill. Harvest broad beans, spouting broccoli, cauliflowers, radish, lettuce and asparagus. Thin seeds sown in April.

FRUIT: Spray fruit trees affected by mildew, scab, aphids or codling moth caterpillars, black fly and red spider mites. When fruit has set apply a nitrogen feed and water in dry spells. Put straw around strawberries.

GREENHOUSE: Ventilate, provide shade and increase humidity. Sow melons, cucumber and sweet corn. Prick out half-hardy annuals. Feed established plants weekly with liquid feed. Pinch out tips of fuchsias after two pairs of leaves and hardy annuals after four. Control insect pests.

Plant tomato, cucumber, pepper melons and aubergine plants. Feed weekly when fruits begin to swell with tomato feed.

FLOWERS: Move spring bulbs to a temporary site and feed with Growmore or blood, fish and bone. Sow hardy annuals and bi-annuals. Tie in sweet peas. Cut back flowered heathers and mulch with peat. Plant up containers with summer bedding. Stake tall herbaceous plants. Mulch borders with chipped bark.

LAWNS: Mow weekly. Apply a liquid or granular lawn treatment. All horticultural items are only available to our members from a range of quality products provided to meet basic gardening needs.

ASSOCIATION NEWS The Hut: Open for members from 10am-noon on Saturdays and Sundays throughout May and June. Runner, dwarf French, climbing French and sweetcorn plants available.

Members barbecue, Saturday, July 30: Tickets at £8.50 are now available to our members and their guests from Graham (311059 / 07709 263335 / info@capelallotments.co.uk) or at the Hut. Click ‘Taster Menu’ at www.capelallotments.co.uk to see the sample menu.

Join’n’save: Membership is just £5 a year and is open to both plot holders and non-plot holders alike, wherever you live.

Photography trophy: The 2016 subjects are: Open Sky or Sunsets, Taken in Capel St Mary, Weather Extreme, Reflections or Shadows, Photo of Your Choice.

A more extensive version of this report is published at: www.capelallotments.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/capelcapers

Tea/coffee, homemade cakes, books and plants for sale. Admission £3 (children free / no dogs).

If anyone would like to make a cake or has any books for the book stall, please let me know. Any books left over will go to the Age UK shop.

We hope, with a bit of luck, that our very rare and beautiful tulip tree will be out.

Eddie Cox, 311121

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears The Baby Bears have been busy with a range of exciting Easter activities and crafts. Some of the bears went for an Easter Egg hunt in the garden and everybody made Easter Cards and baskets with chocolate eggs to take home.

We have ventured out to the park a couple of times and had a trip to Bypass Nurseries to see the animals and fish. Lots of time is being spent in the garden and we have enjoyed watching the flowers we planted starting to grow.

Our Spring is Sprung display is now up. It uses our fantastic hand and feet prints to create flowers, minibeasts, bees, butterflies and ladybirds.

Toddling Tigers The Tigers have been growing runner beans indoors, observing pictures of the different stages and matching progress to the pictures.

The garden area has been tidied by the Tigers in readiness for the summer and they have restyled the mini beast area. The Tigers have been creating their own bugs during arts and crafts to add to the area.

Gruffalos The Gruffalos have been very busy fluttering around as butterflies while looking at The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. We have explored colours and how they change and categorising food as either healthy or unhealthy and why. We used our fine motor skills to cut and make Easter baskets and worked as a team to find many eggs for our Easter egg and spoon race! We also put our technology skills to the test to find the Easter Story on CBeebies and to discover what Easter is really about!

Meerkats What an ‘eggcellent’ Easter break we had in Meerkats Club! We have been very busy baking biscuits, brownies and our own pizzas! Wearing our onesies was so much fun, and we make bracelets and Easter nests and we even did a spot of gardening!

The Meerkats have loved bringing their bikes and scooters in, allowing them to spend the majority of the day whizzing around on the playground! We were excited to have some new holiday Meerkats and we look forward to meeting more in the future.

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

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SCHOOLS / SPORT PLAYSCHEME 2016

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

For over 30 years the children of Capel St Mary and surrounding villages have been enjoying a chance to play with their friends and experience different activities in a well run and supervised playscheme week during the summer holidays. This year’s playscheme will run from Monday, August 1 to Friday 5 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

The club had 20 games still to play when I wrote these notes on April 4, including several evening games. Other clubs called off games during the wet winter, but we called off the most and it is hoped that some work on the drainage system will be carried out during the next six months.

Playscheme is available for children aged five (before Christmas 2016) to 11 years. We have a range of age-appropriate activities throughout the week including arts and crafts with clay work, Hama beads, gluing and sticking, plaster of Paris, painting and edible food activities, also hair braiding, face paints, nail painting and temporary tattoos, the woodwork room which is open to children aged eight years and over, sports and activities such as dancing or karate. We also enjoy visits from the fire brigade, St John Ambulance, the police and possibly even some minibeasts and small animals. The week ends with our fantastic disco with our regular child entertainer Mr Happy and the children leave with their memorable craft work.

Early booking is essential to guarantee your place as we can only accept up to 100 children. We have a first come first served policy. The cost this year is £25 per child. Booking forms are available from all committee members or please contact Debbie Howard (01473 310778) or Sally Hunt (01473 311300) for further information.

We look forward to seeing you and your children at another exciting Playscheme week! On behalf of the committee members, Abbie Andrews, Cath Cavanagh, Bev Jenner, Sally Maddams, Alison Morland, Fiona Robinson, Heidi Wyncoll, Debbie Howard, Sally Hunt and Naomi Kilby.

TRAMPOLINING: A SPORT FOR ALL Did you know there is a trampolining club that runs a class on Sunday mornings between 10am and noon in Capel Village Hall?

We have with a fully qualified coach and good quality trampolines which means a large range of moves can be taught in a safe and fun way.

There is a friendly atmosphere with people of many abilities. You don’t have to be a great sportsperson to have a go and you may well surprise yourself by how well you do.

Don’t be shy, come and have a go. Just come along on a Sunday morning for a free try; see VILLAGE HALL DIARY on page 13 for details.

Coach Sharon Haddock Club Chairman Richard Warr

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 Services Sunday morning at 10.30am; all welcome Communion at the end of the service on the second Sunday of each month Coffee Mornings: Every Thursday morning, 9.30-11.30am Services in May Sunday, May 1 Sunday, May 8 Sunday, May 15 Sunday, May 22 Sunday, May 29

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The Rev Peter Beard Ted Wheatley, Communion Service Nick and Jane Pavett The Rev David Searle Derek Bailey

After being top of the senior league in early December any chance of our First team winning it disappeared after we lost 1-0 against Framlingham Town, then 2-1 against Haughley United, but we did beat Felixstowe Harpers United 2-0 with goals from Stephen Morrison and Lloyd Dodsworth.

Our Reserves have had a tough season and are bottom of the senior Reserve league and looking for a new manager for next season. They drew 0-0 at Wenhaston, then beat Crane Sports 3-2 with Nick Middlebrook scoring a brace with all other games ending in defeat. Liam Cole has played well in goal while Joe Bigmore and Gideon Spencer have put in some good performances.

Our Sunday team beat Worlingworth 2-0 with goals from Warren Campbell and Abdul Kaium, then drew 3-3 with Gladwells with Adam (Speedy) Rawthorn scoring two of the goals. Only one game for our Veteran side in the last month with them losing the senior cup final 3-0 to Gorleston with a lack of available players forcing them to call off a couple of other matches.

Next season we will be looking to start an Under 17 team. Any lads interested please phone our Under 16 manager Peter Reddington on 07899 997439. Finally, the club’s AGM is to be held at the clubhouse on Monday, May 16 at 7.30pm.

Bob the Ploughman

CAPEL ST MARY BOWLS CLUB Easter has been and gone and by now the new season will have started, so let’s hope for great things this year, especially on the weather front.

We have had a busy close season with a team of volunteers, under the direction of site coordinator Graham Brewster, working hard on our replacement veranda. This should be ready by the start of our league season and will be a great improvement. Well done team for a great job!

Our pre-season activities continued with the annual Beetle Drive on Saturday, March 5. There were 16 playing on four tables and everyone enjoyed a great evening. Thanks to John and Elaine Wright for hosting.

Saturday, March 19 saw the annual general knowledge quiz at the home of Tony and Liz Gulliver. Fifteen people in four teams competed and everyone had an enjoyable evening. This year’s winners were Whitewash comprising Gerald and Pat White and Alistair and Karen Montgomerie. As always thanks to Pam Peers and Tony and Liz for organising, hosting and keeping us well fed.

Our pre-season dinner on April 23 will be a royal affair in celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday. Looking further ahead, Pam Peers has worked hard on putting together a varied social programme. Please support as many events as possible.

IMPORTANT DATES April 23 April 24 May 3 May 4 May 8 May 27

Pre-Season Dinner Opening Club Drive Kites first League Match (Home) Both teams’ first Triples matches UpStix Trophy First Round, Junior Cup v Sproughton

Never played bowls but fancy giving it a go? We’d love to welcome you to our great club. Call Les Bryant (311717) to discuss and arrange a roll-up once our green is open. We have the equipment, we just need you!

JACK HIGH

In Touch online:

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EAST BERGHOLT SPORTS CENTRE Heath Road, East Bergholt CO7 6RJ. www.eastbergholtsportscentre.co.uk 01206 299340 Your local Sport and Leisure Centre

Half Term Activities for Children

Chelsea Football Foundation

Increasing Football skills, confidence and having fun on Wed 1 June for young people aged 5 – 13 years – in the hall or on the Astro, depending on age, contact Sean Hillier for details of booking and payment 07720 975201 or email sean.hillier@chelseafc.com.

Flexible Holiday Programme 9am – 5pm

We will be running activities from 9am – 5pm on Tuesday 31 May, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 June where children can stay all day for £15, half a day £8 or £3.50 per hour or 2 hours for £5. Activities include Rounders, Treasure Hunt, Roller Skating, Dodgeball, Hand Ball, Fitness Studio session, Table Tennis, Badminton, Short Tennis, Nerf Wars, Assault Course building and more. See our website or pick up a leaflet for details.

Open all day during Half Term from 7am – 10pm Tue 31 – Fri 2 May for fitness, court & 3G hire

Fitness studio -­‐ Sports halls -­‐ Exercise classes -­‐ Astro turf -­‐ Parties.

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CHURCH NEWS MAY’S MERRY MONTH Dear Parishioners Did you know that May is Mary’s month? It has been a custom in the church dating back many centuries, and it is beautiful to associate Our Lady with the coming of spring and the new birth of flowers and plants and crops in the fields. Moreover, in this special month, we celebrate Christ’s Ascension into Heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

We start off by remembering Saint Philip and Saint James, transferred from the Sunday to the Monday as the Lord’s Day is always given priority.

Then on Thursday, May 5 Christians celebrate the Ascension of Christ, and at St Mary’s we will ‘anticipate’ this major feast day with the midweek 10am Holy Communion Service.

Saturday, May 14 is dedicated to St Matthias, the disciple who was chosen by lots to fill the vacancy left by Judas’ betrayal and death. The day after is the Feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, when the early church was empowered by the Spirit of God to go out into all the world.

Sunday, May 22 is Trinity Sunday when we are put in mind of God’s triune nature as creator, redeemer and sustainer. It marks the start of so-called Ordinary Time when we reflect for some 25 weeks on the nature of the Christian family.

Among other things it is the time of weddings, and Capel Parish Church will be the scene for five couples to make their solemn vows. It is a truly joyous time.

Thursday, May 26, is the Day of Thanksgiving for the institution of the Holy Communion, otherwise known as Corpus Christi. It is also the annual occasion for the Archdeacon of Suffolk, the Venerable Ian Morgan, to institute the churchwardens in the Deanery of Samford’s 19 parishes for the coming 12 months, this year to be held at East Bergholt Parish Church.

Finally, the month finishes on May 31 commemorating the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. At St Mary’s Church this will be ‘transferred’ and observed at the 10am midweek Holy Communion on Wednesday, June 1.

All services are open to any and all with a freshly brewed cup of coffee afterwards. I hope some readers will consider coming along to enjoy the lovely surroundings of our re-ordered church.

Every blessing to you and yours, as ever

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

MESSY CHURCH The next Messy Church is at the Methodist Church on Saturday, May 21, 3.30-5.30pm.

What is Messy church, I hear you ask? Well it’s a fun, new way of doing church relevant to families today. We have an hour of craft activities and sports challenges suitable for all ages, followed by a short celebration including some singing and a Bible story/drama related to the theme for the day which this time will be All About a Queen. Often Granddad and Lucy (puppets) make an appearance. After that we all sit down for a meal together. It’s all free, but donations are gratefully received.

Who can come? All age families. Kids you must bring at least one adult.

If you haven’t been before, talk to someone who has and I’m sure they’ll tell you it’s great and you must come. No need to book, just turn up.

Hope to see lots of you there.

From Maggie and Sue For more information please contact: Maggie Boswell: 01473 310766 / Maggie3@btinternet.com Sue France: 01473 310034 / sue.france4@btinternet.com

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• Thursday – 1.45-3.30pm, Butterflies, St Mary’s Church Hall Contact Ondra Butler: 01473 310524 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 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 CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCH AUTHENTIC I entered the darkened room, the curator shone her light to the floor to direct us in, but it was as though the darkness swallowed the light.

There were two fixed benches in the middle of this space and a video installation was just beginning. It was complete darkness. I turned the screen of my mobile on to find the benches, but it made no impression in the darkness and I had to cautiously move forward, feeling with my hands to find them. We sat to watch a Bill Viola video/sound installation at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Tristan’s Ascension & Fire Woman). It was immersive art, with visual images, amazing sound touching some of the deep questions of life and death using people, water and fire. It is impossible to describe the experience and the emotions it touched. His art springs from his experience of life and death, a near death experience of almost drowning when he was a child and later watching his father die. In his installations, he seeks to be authentic, so it is real water and a proper drenching and real fire and the sound of fire. The audio is finetuned to fit the space in which this was installed, so you feel as though you are there. It was an immersive experience that you cannot replicate by watching a video clip of it. It is difficult to describe the experience in words, but it was profound.

We stopped off at this sculpture park as we were returning from a conference at the Scarborough Spa where the theme had been Authentic – as the maker intended! We looked at Authentic Living, Authentic Giving, Authentic Mission and Authentic Community. Again you cannot convey five days of material in a few words. Authentic means real, genuine, and I certainly want to be real. I don’t want to put on a mask to pretend to be someone I am not, but how often do we try to live up to other people’s expectation of us? I want to live in a community which is authentic, people being real and true to themselves and caring for one another. There are some wonderful communities around, villages and

suburbs and urban areas where there is genuine care for one another, but there are probably more where there is discord, hatred, fear and isolation. However, even within these places, small groups of people can and do learn to love one another and to be a transforming force within a fractious community. I believe I am called to live authentically as Jesus intended, to be part of an authentic community that is learning to love and care. This then gives us an authentic mission to make a difference in our authentic giving to one another. To receive this teaching on authenticity and then to be immersed in the video/sound installation of Bill Viola was truly life enhancing.

The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel Methodist Church 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 MAY SERVICES Sunday 1 10.30am

6.30pm

Worship with Mr Ted Jack Prayer Stations

Sunday 8 10.30am Worship with Mr Roger Hulford YWAM Bolivia

6.30pm Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey Sunday 15

10.30am

Worship with Mr Simon Scott of CYM

Saturday 21

3-5pm

Messy Church

Sunday 22

10.30am 7.30pm

Worship and Communion with Rev Sankey United Prayer Time at St Mary’s (CoE)

Sunday 29 10.30am Family celebration with Tom and Lou Boswell

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB

Parish priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich 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 May Sunday 1 Sixth Sunday of Easter 9am Mass Tuesday 3 Ascension of The Lord 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 8 9am Mass Tuesday 10 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 15 Pentecost Sunday 9am Mass: Children’s Liturgy Tuesday 17 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 22 The Most Holy Trinity 9am Mass Tuesday 24 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass

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Sunday 29 Corpus Christi 9am Mass Tuesday 31 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Catholic commentary A Lenten Study Group met at Holy Family over four weeks to read and discuss the Pope’s encyclical Laudato Si (the Care of our Common Home). This encyclical is addressed to the whole world, not just Roman Catholics. A CAFOD study guide highlighting just 24 of the 245 numbered paragraphs was used and much discussion followed on questions such as: What kind of world do we want for those who come after us, the children who are now growing up? What do you think it means to flourish in relationship to God, our neighbour, ourselves and the earth? How do my actions show that I love my neighbour, especially those who are living in poverty? The encyclical Laudato Si is published by The Catholic Truth Society: www.CTSbooks.org Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please contact him if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services.

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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