In Touch with Claydon - May 2016

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with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural Volume 6 • Issue No. 7 • MAY 2016

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NEWS

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, whatever it may be.

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 our local community.

In Touch

with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural

In Touch with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural 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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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 Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

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BLAKENHAM, BARHAM AND CLAYDON COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS Celebrating 10 Years of Helping Local People On May 1 the Blakenham, Barham & Claydon Community First Responder Group celebrate their 10th anniversary of helping people living and/or working in the villages around Claydon, and directly supporting the East of England Ambulance Service by responding to medical emergency calls.

Since becoming operational in 2006 our responders have attended patients aged five to 97 years who were experiencing life threatening problems including cardiac arrests, heart attacks, unconsciousness, chest pains, breathing difficulties, diabetic and other medical conditions. Over the last year alone they have responded to 40 emergency calls and reached the patient’s location before an ambulance on a good number of those occasions. While on scene they have been able to commence life-saving treatment, or to obtain valuable information about the patient’s condition and the events leading up to the 999 call by carrying out prescribed observation protocols. They have also actively assisted the ambulance crews and the patients by using their clinical skills, training and knowledge, or provided reassurance to the patient and their families.

Community First Responders (CFRs) are unpaid volunteers who are trained and willing to be called out by the ambulance service to attend serious medical emergencies in the local area where they live or work, ideally within eight minutes. Some CFRs are only able to be on call during the daytime, while others can cover night time hours as well. In 2012, as part of the Queen’s 60th anniversary celebrations, five of our CFRs were awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of their service to the local community. It is a privilege and has been very rewarding to know that over the years we have done our best to help fellow members of our community in their hour of need, even if the outcome was not as we would have hoped or worked for on a few occasions. We will endeavour to carry on providing this voluntary service, to the best of our ability, in the future.

Like all Community First Responder groups, of which there are more than 60 in Suffolk, the Blakenham, Barham & Claydon Group is self-funded.

Although provided with ‘consumable items’ and on-going training by the ambulance service, we have had to raise money to purchase and maintain the major items of our operational medical equipment, including the group’s two automated external defibrillators and pulse oximeters. We have been very fortunate to have received donations from Claydon & Whitton Parish Council and The Bar-Clay Music Makers. Their generosity has allowed us not only to purchase and equip our two kit bags, but also to buy our Hi-Viz jackets and much used training defibrillator and Resusi– Annie. The Claydon & Barham Local Community Trust kindly provided us with a Sat-Nav system. We would like to thank all the organisations and people who have given us their support, encouragement and much appreciated financial donations over the past ten years.

We are in need of new members, so if you would like to become a responder with our group, or just find further information about the Community First Responder Scheme, please visit the East of England Ambulance Service website at www.eastamb.nhs.uk/get-involved or contact the Suffolk & South Cambridgeshire Community partnership manager, Jon Needle: suffolkresponder@eastamb.nhs.uk For an informal chat about being a CFR please contact our group co-ordinator Alan Seager (07766 443400) or Dick Bound (01473 83209).

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NEWS CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN

SAVE THE DUKE UPDATE

Saturday, May 21 On Saturday, May 21 Claydon and Whitton Rural Parish Council are organising a Clean for the Queen morning from 10am-noon.

Firstly may we say The Women’s Institute did a wonderful job, but unfortunately rubbish keeps accumulating.

So what’s involved and would you like to help?

We will meet at The Crown car park at 10am where we will have litter pickers and rubbish bags. We will work in pairs, or more if you prefer, cleaning a given area of litter, before meeting back at The Crown at noon to see the amount we have cleaned up.

If you, your family and friends want to get involved please let us know in advance so we can have equipment ready. Why not get a group together to clean up your road or choose an area of the main road through the village or a green space? If you have ever thought it is a mess then why not spent two hours making a difference?

We head into spring full of optimism as the campaign continues to raise money and step closer towards re-opening the pub doors and ‘Saving the Duke’. Having raised over £200,000, and nudging nearer £210,00, the goal is in sight. Still more help is needed and anything more you can do to chip in or encourage others to chip in will help make it into a reality!

Please contact Councillor Gail Cornish (01473 834035 / 07932 478878) to register your intention to get involved.

Buying the Pub, Adapting the Plans The priority is to get enough money to buy the pub and open the doors.

Loans and selling a few more shares will help us to do this. It’s taking longer than we’d have wanted, but we will get there!

Thank you for your support and for caring about the village where you live.

Claydon & Whitton Rural Parish Council

THE WOMBLES OF BARHAM A small group of volunteer litter pickers have filled nine bags with rubbish dropped along the old Norwich Road from Barham Church Lane up to Sandy Lane. They have plans to clear Pesthouse Lane and the further stretch of the old Norwich Road towards Shrubland woodyard.

A small team also works to keep Sandy Lane tidy, although litter is still dropped, thrown from cars or dumped at the corner near the dog bin.

We need more help, so if you feel you could become a volunteer to help from time to time, please contact: annedouglas50@yahoo.co.uk / 07952 807373 Alternatively, if you would like to form your own group, please contact Sarah Carter at Mid Suffolk District Council on 01449 724946. Details on the website. Equipment is provided and bags will be collected along with your black/grey bin.

If everyone picked the litter up outside their own homes, this would help greatly. Better still, don’t drop or throw litter at all. Please take it home and put it in your own bins.

Let’s keep our countryside clean and beautiful.

PLANT SALE AND LUNCHES We are holding our popular plant sale at Bramford Church Room on Saturday, May 14. Lunches will be available between noon and 2pm.

Come along and find a variety of different plants. I’m sure that there will be advice, if you need it, at no extra charge. Then sit down and enjoy a lunch.

Proceeds go towards the upkeep of the village church.

Stewart McGinty

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We can start off with voluntary staff, opening at the most popular times and offering simple food on a limited basis. That way a cash flow can be built up. Once there’s enough profit, we can look to employ people.

We’ve seen firsthand how other community-owned pubs have done it. They have gone on to flourish, run by paid staff or a combination of paid staff and volunteers, and providing great menus. We will do it!

Loans We’ve been expecting HRMC approval for the SITR 30% tax relief on loans for some time – and are hoping that by the time In Touch is published we will have confirmation. If so, we’ll be talking to lenders who have promised support to organise the loans. Then there will be nothing stopping us from putting in an offer on the pub. Exciting times!

Pub For Sale The current owners are keen to sell, and have put the Duke on the market again. You may have seen the sign up. By way of re-assurance, the property has not been de-licensed and can’t be sold off as a house. It has been listed as an Asset of Community Value (AVC), which means the community will have first option over a period of time. In the end, we want the pub to open again and to secure its long term future.

Fundraising Campaigners hosted The Bash in the Barn, a party and auction designed to raise money for the Duke campaign. It seemed to go down a treat, with 180 people attending and raising an impressive £3,300 for the campaign.

The community banded together to provide food, live music and auction prizes.

Thanks to Lucy for taking control and doing such a great job, to all those who helped her with the organisation and running of the event, and to the many people who brought along scrumptious desserts!

There were even some signed Coldplay goodies donated by Rupert Berryman, father of Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman. Ed Sheeran isn’t the only celebrity who wants to see the Duke re-open!

Chipping in a bit more We hope to be back soon with news of SITR confirmation. In the meantime, if you could afford to buy shares or simply donate a sum to the cause, please visit our website. You can do it all on our investment pages at: www.savetheduke.net If you’d rather send a cheque or make a BACS payment please contact Gerard, our treasurer: grdkroon@gmail.com / 01473 657178

In Touch online:

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NEWS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK, MAY 15-21 A big thank you to everyone who has already offered their time to collect on behalf of Christian Aid this year.

However, we still need more volunteers to collect for us across Claydon and Barham. If you would like to help please call me on 014738 33788 or Mick on 014738 30205. Thank you.

A children’s nursery in Gambia is in desperate need of any old, new or used English dictionaries. If you have any please contact Wendy: juandrews@hotmail.co.uk / 01473 833585

Michelle

Thank you kindly.

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE MID SUFFOLK LINK Report on my recent trip to Belarus

Although times have been difficult, I am pleased to say she is ok and life is not too bad for her.

Please support our upcoming country & western event on Saturday, May 14th at the Cedars Hotel in Stowmarket. Fundraisers such as this not only help to raise the money needed for the group visit, but hopefully to allow some provision for projects such as the foster home. This event features the return of Boxcar Kelly & the Railroaders, a full six piece country & western band. A pulled pork supper will be included with dessert and of course a full bar will be open. Please see below for details.

A big thank you as always to everyone for all their support.

Link Chair Elizabeth Parker, 01449 760343 www.ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk

I arrived in Belazoorsk, south west of where our groups are now selected from, to temperatures of approximately plus six degrees and ended my journey in Cherikov on the eastern side in sub zero temperatures, snow and ice.

As in previous years I met with the 18 children who will be coming to Mid Suffolk this year, visiting them in their homes in order to give a comprehensive report to the families waiting at home to see who they will be hosting this year.

I visited the foster home in the nearby village of Rujany where I met foster parents Olga and Yuri and quite a few of the children they are fostering. What is quite unusual is that there are several disabled children being fostered which is really good news as usually a child with a disability would be sent to a separate ‘facility’ or institution. There is quite a story about this foster home and how it came about, but not room to go into detail in this article. Suffice to say we hope we may be able to give them some support in the future, not only with clothing for the children but hopefully should there be a special need for any of the children, financially as well. David, the natural child of the family, is learning English at school. He is 15 years old and has asked if anyone of a similar age would like to be his pen pal or communicate via Skype to help him practise his English.

During this trip I also managed to get across to the Eastern side of Belarus and visit with many of the children who have come to us in previous years, some of whom are still sponsored by families in Suffolk. We were also delighted to be able to track down Masha, a girl who first came to us in 2008 from difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, last year Masha’s granny died and without any other family she became an orphan and we had lost track of her until I was able to trace her during this visit.

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WHERE? THE CEDARS HOTEL Needham Road Stowmarket IP14 2AJ Western Dress encouraged but not essential PRIZE FOR BEST WESTERN DRESS

£12.00 Adults £6.00 under 14’s

Tickets from either: CCLL Charity Shop Needham Market 9 Coddenham Rd. Stowmarket Tourist Office ( 01449 760343/07974 424374 * enquiries@ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk

A Charity Event for Chernobyl Childrens’ Lifeline Reg Charity No: 1014274

In Touch online:

Trusted by local families since 1925 47 St Helens Street Ipswich 01473 257242 283 Norwich Road Ipswich 01473 232837 364 Foxhall Road Ipswich 01473 728445 Meredith Greengrass 9 Marriotts Walk Stowmarket 01449 612765

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.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

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By the time you’ve read this magazine another child will have come into care.

In all likelihood you read faster than I give you credit for, but still recent statistics from the Fostering Network suggest that on average in the UK one child comes into care every 20 minutes.

Why? The fact remains there are many reasons for a child to come into care: poverty, debt, homelessness, breakdown of relationships, war, drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence, ill mental health, sexual abuse – the list goes on.

The reasons are varied and as a result the needs of the children in care differ greatly. However, many of these children are looking to foster care to support them. The Fostering Network estimates that fostering services in England need to recruit approximately 7,600 foster carers

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this year to stand a chance of meeting this ever-growing demand.

“There is a massive shortfall of foster carers in this region,” says Eleanor Vanner, director of Eastern Fostering Services, an independent agency providing services in Essex and Suffolk. “People often don’t know why children can’t live with their birth families and labour under misconceptions around who can and can’t foster.”

Common themes are cited as barriers to fostering: being in full time employment, being a single parent, not owning your own home, being too young or too old, not fitting the mould. Eleanor says that very few applications to foster are rejected for any of these reasons: “Children come in all shapes and sizes and so should foster carers so that the differing needs of all children can be met.”

If you would like to find out more about fostering please visit: www.easternfosteringservices.com

Stowe Veterinary Centre

Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre

Ipswich Veterinary Centre

The Mustard Pot Veterinary Surgery

The Old Tea Room Veterinary Surgery

54 Bury Road, Stowmarket

2 Boldero Road, Bury St. Edmunds

Scrivener Drive, Ipswich

Coddenham Road, Needham Market

Station Road, Elmswell

Tel: 01449 613 130

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Tel: 01473 555 000

Tel: 01449 722 198

Tel: 01359 241 761

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NEWS CLAYDON & WHITTON PARISH COUNCIL – MAY Update on the future of policing in the village We are pleased to confirm that agreement has been

reached between Suffolk Constabulary and Barham, Great Blakenham and Henley Parish Councils to part-fund a Police Community Support Officer until March 31, 2017. This post will now be part of the Whitton Safer Neighbourhood Team, based at Landmark House. Regrettably, our former local PCSO, Phil Brill, has been moved to a new post within the Stowmarket Safer Neighbourhood Team. We sincerely thank Phil for his work over recent years and the difference it made to the safety and security of our village life. We wish him every success for the future.

Replacement bus shelter The bus shelter outside Claydon Car Sales suffered serious damage as a result of a recent accident and will be replaced with a sturdier structure

by Suffolk County Council. While it was felt that a contributory factor to the accident may have been the parking arrangements outside the shops opposite, these will remain unaltered for the foreseeable future but kept under review.

A14 road noise The parish council has been in correspondence for a considerable time with Highways England (formerly the Highways Agency) regarding remedial work to reduce road noise from the A14. As no satisfactory progress was made regarding a date on which this work would take place, the matter was referred to Dan Poulter MP for his intervention on our behalf with the Department of Transport. However, residents who are particularly concerned with this issue are asked to support the parish council’s efforts to get this work done by attending his next constituency surgery in Claydon, the date of which will be advertised on the village hall noticeboard.

Renewal of water main We have been given advanced notification by Anglian Water that work to renew the water main that runs through the centre of the village in Norwich Road will be undertaken during this year. At present we have been given no specific dates but work will involve road closures and the diversion of traffic. Updated information will be included in In Touch and posted on our website as it is received.

Claydon Pharmacy The government is proposing to close 3,000 independent pharmacies nationwide following a reduction in the NHS budget by the Department of Health, and Claydon could be one of those included. Since opening it has provided a much needed service and is used extensively by the community, particularly for ordering and delivery of prescriptions to the elderly who are unable to collect them in person. There is a petition in the pharmacy against closure and everyone who is able is asked to call in and add their name. This is yet another vital service to the community which is under threat and we need to do everything possible to try and prevent its loss.

Meetings in May The annual meeting of Claydon & Whitton Parish Council will take place on Monday, May 9 at 7.30pm at the office of Suffolk Association of Local Councils, Unit 11A, Hill View Business Park, Old Ipswich Road, Claydon IP6 0AJ. Time will be set aside at the beginning of the meeting to give the opportunity for members of the public to speak briefly on items included on the agenda or to raise other issues about which they have concerns.

Also the finance committee will be meeting on Monday, May 23 at 7.30pm in Claydon & Barham Village Hall and members of the public are welcome to attend.

Agendas for both meetings will be available in advance from our parish clerk, Mrs S Eagle: 7 Leicester Close, Ipswich IP2 9EX / 01473 687384 (answer machine available) / claywhit@btinternet.com For up-to-date information visit: http://claydonandbarham.onesuffolk.net / Twitter @claywhitpc

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HENLEY PARISH COUNCIL We haven’t had a parish council meeting since the last edition of In Touch so I thought I would take it on myself as clerk to appeal to readers to step forward as volunteers to fill the two vacancies we now have on the parish council.

A word of explanation: the size of a parish council is determined by the size of the population (logically enough). Henley has an electoral roll of 437 and that converts to seven council seats. At the last election in May 2015 we had five candidates: Kevin Griggs, Steve Brock, Keith Lawrence, Bryan Marks and Graham Doyle. ll five were elected unopposed, and subsequently Martin Redbond agreed to be co-opted as our sixth councillor, leaving just one vacancy. Kevin Griggs was elected chairman.

Since then, however, Graham Doyle has decided to stand down and we are back to having five councillors out of a possible seven. We can function with five; the legal minimum at any meeting is three so we have a small margin of safety.

On the other hand we ought to be able to fill the parish council. Henley has some big issues to think about. What sort of village do we want for the future? How is it going to fit in with the housing developments proposed for the north side of Ipswich? Does Henley itself need more housing? If so, what sort of housing should it be in order to attract and retain the ideal population?

What can we do to improve facilities like public transport? Can we get a shop back into the village? What will happen if the Cross Keys finally stops being a pub and reverts to private housing? How can we continue to support our excellent school and make sure it plays its vital role in village life? How can we improve road safety, road quality and all the other essential elements of infrastructure which make this a good place to live?

We need parish councillors able to give up a bit of time to help influence the future. We have a meeting once every two months and occasionally an extra one to discuss planning applications. Each councillor takes on an area of interest – education, transport, road safety, etc. – and develops whatever campaigns or policies they can in those spheres.

As parish clerk I obviously have no political opinions, but, just to state the blindingly obvious, at the moment the council is all male, and all (no offence meant) middle-aged. To represent the residents properly in all its deliberations the council needs younger people, male and female, from every geographical area of the village and every background to step forwards and give us a bit of time. All you have to do is drop me an email or a phone call to talk it over and then the process of volunteering and being co-opted on to the council is simple.

Meanwhile our next parish council meeting in the community centre on Tuesday, May 10 at 7.30pm will also be the Annual Village Meeting.

Everyone is welcome to report their activities if they are a member of a group or organisation or to speak up if they have something they would like to say. Or to make their first contribution as a brand new parish councillor! See you then.

If you aren’t on our village email list and would like to be, just send a simple request to henleyparishcouncil@gmail.com or rodcaird@yahoo. co.uk and we will sort it out. And don’t forget to keep an eye from time to time on our own website where we publish all sorts of useful (we hope!) information and contacts: www.henley.onesuffolk.net Rod Caird, 07785 331217

Bramford Church Room Saturday, May 28, 10am-noon Also bring & buy and cakes – and tea!

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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT John Field’s Report to Gipping Valley: April 2016 Parking Sorry to preach, but his month I have had many complaints about parking. There are problems at the three primary schools in Gipping Valley as parents and carers take children to, or collect them from, school.

Drivers leave cars and vans on Old Ipswich Road while they catch a bus or share the journey to work. In Coopers Road, it’s just people parking work vehicles.

The local schools were built before so many of us could afford cars and at a time when parents had local jobs and the time to walk their children to school. Of course, the walk to school keeps parents and children fit and prolongs life, but requires a bit of time.

It would be easy to paint even more yellow lines, but that tends to move the problem around rather that providing a solution. Doing nothing is even easier, but it doesn’t help people who find they cannot see oncoming vehicles as they leave their road or drive.

Perhaps if drivers could try harder not to make residents life difficult and residents could be a little more tolerant we can avoid the legal expense and the conflict attached to yellow lines.

Scrutiny We held a workshop session to determine the scrutiny programme. The next session will cover the apparently endless consultations that are undertaken, trying to determine why some are effective and some are not. We will use the Fire and Rescue Service and the Children’s Centre consultations as examples to determine what leads to a good consultation and what is best avoided. Consultations should ask for opinions that will form the basis for decisions. Often it appears that decisions are already in place and there is little or no chance of change. If the intention is just to inform then we believe that is acceptable if it is made clear. I will let you know what we recommend.

The Education and Learning Infrastructure Plan Cabinet agreed an update on last year’s plan. It responds to the rapid expansion of house building in the county. The need for expansion to Claydon and Bramford Primary Schools to accommodate the Blakenham Fields and Fisons developments is included. However, it does not yet recognise the latest crop of development proposals at Acton Road in Bramford, on land between Chequers Rise and the allotments in Great Blakenham or the very recent proposals for Barham Church Lane. I was assured that these proposed developments, some of which are very tentative, would be considered in the next revision, which is already underway.

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Trading Standards Cabinet also agreed to develop plans for a joint Suffolk and Norfolk Trading Standards service. Suffolk Trading Standards is a high performing efficient service. They focus on traders who are a problem but not those who operate fairly, honestly and within the law. The proposed amalgamation will reduce overheads by combining the management structures of the two counties. Suffolk does of course have the country’s largest container port, but I was told that does not affect the logic behind the move.

Emergency Services Mobile Communications The emergency services plan a replacement for the Airwave system. It uses a technology with poor support for data. The replacement will use the 4G LTE technology, as in your current fourth generation of smart phones. It provides secure voice and high speed date. We were told that the company involved has purchased the Airwave system and will use the mast sites as part of the new programme. Costs should reduce and capability increase without a forest of new masts.

Full Council The meeting opened with a petition presented by a firefighter and signed by some 3,675 people asking that full council, and not just the cabinet, should vote on the Fire Service reductions. That view was rejected.

We then debated at length a Liberal Democrat motion, seconded

by Labour and supported by all opposition members, to reverse the proposed reductions in the Fire and Rescue Service that in the Ipswich area amount to 50%. In Ipswich, there are high-rise buildings that require four appliances in attendance before rescue work can begin. In a fire they are particularly hazardous structures. The fourth appliance would take time to get from Needham Market, Felixstowe or another station.

We were also concerned that across the county resources will reduce to such an extent that risk to property and life will increase significantly. The argument for reduction in staff and appliances is based on a reduction in call outs produced by the preventative work undertaken by the service.

Improvements in building construction standards, materials and safety rules have also helped. In the motoring arena improvements in vehicle safety features, seat belts, airbags, reduction in risk from materials and improvements to the basic strength of the passenger compartment have had similar effects. However, if you are in an accident you still need urgent help. We must wait the response to the consultation.

If you have queries please contact me: 01473 831306 / john.field@suffolk.gov.uk www.john.field@suffolk.libdems.org

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OUT & ABOUT BARHAM PARISH COUNCIL (BPC) Report from the April meeting Proposed Housing Scheme in Barham The parish council received a further presentation from Pigeon Investment Management to update councillors on the plans for the proposed development at Barham Church Lane. They were still at the preliminary stages of the scheme. This is a 15 hectare site with a proposal for up to 300 houses.

Councillors were shown plans that included roundabouts at the southern and northern ends of the site with a main road running through the site. Councillors still had concerns about the tight bend on Barham Church Lane outside the nursing home and whether this could be widened or the bend omitted altogether. This was an area that will be investigated. The development of the site has moved closer to the church to enable the installation of the roundabout. It was proposed to incorporate a pedestrian walkway down the edge of the site, retaining the hedge.

A member of the public had concerns about the size of the proposed development. A public exhibition will take place in the near future and once the plans have been formalised Pigeon Investment Management will revisit the parish council with further information. The public exhibition date and venue will be advertised on the council noticeboard and website.

Litter Collection Anne Douglas reported that she had been in discussions with MSDC regarding litter picking in the village and MSDC had produced a leaflet asking for more volunteers to litter pick in Barham. Anne had delivered the leaflet to more than 100 households and four people had responded. They all took part in a litter pick along Sandy Lane to the Barham sign at Barham Church Lane. Nine bags of litter was collected.

Others have now also volunteered to litter pick around their area of the village. Further litter picks are planned. The chairman, on behalf of the parish council, thanked Anne and her team for their efforts in keeping the village litter free.

Parking Coopers Way Parish Councillor Musson reported that there was still a problem with dangerous parking of larger vehicles on the sharp bends. It was agreed that the parish council will approach the new PCSO to see if they can investigate the problem.

Appointment of a PCSO for Barham The parish council are happy to report the appointment of a new PCSO for Barham. The PCSO will also cover Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley villages.

FUTURE MEETINGS The Annual Parish Meeting is at 7pm on Monday, April 25 at Claydon and Barham Village Hall. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

Barham Parish Council Annual Meeting is at 7pm on Monday, May 9 at Claydon and Barham Village Hall.

If you would like a specific topic discussed as an agenda item then please contact the parish clerk, Claire Lee: barhampc@outlook.com / 01473 839784 Your councillors are: Stephen Carr (chairman) / 831122; Gordon Musson (vice chairman) / 830759; Neil Cooper / 01449 760493; Jeremy Lea / 07956 149905; Darren Millward / 830891; Claire Webb / 832622; Phil Usher / 830168

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY SITA Trust is a funding organisation which distributes money provided by SITA UK (now SUEZ). In the last four years £553,000 has been given to Suffolk projects, most of which has been spent within a three-mile radius of the Suffolk Energy-From-Waste Facility.

The Enhancing Communities Fund has been available in this area since construction of the site began in January 2012. This funding is only available to projects close to a qualifying site. The first project was awarded funding in April 2105, and so far 14 projects have shared around £403,000, including: Great Blakenham: £103,000 to the village hall, bowls club and scout group Claydon: £80,000 to the football club (actually in Great Blakenham) and the community trust Bramford: £62,500 to the playing field, Lorraine Victory Hall, British Legion and tennis club Sproughton: £49,000 to the church Somersham: £22,000 to the tennis and football clubs Little Blakenham: £4,000 to St Mary’s Church Applications for funding must be done online and the next deadline is July 25, 2016. Grants of up to £20,000 are available for smaller projects with a total value up to £40,000 and grants of up to £50,000 for projects with a total value up to £250,000.

SITA Trust also has other funds available, which are not specific to this site, and in January this year Little Blakenham Parish Council was awarded just over £9,000 from The Big Play fund to refurbish a play area. Suffolk Wildlife Trust has had over £130,000 for various projects including protecting dormice, saving Suffolk barn owls and improvements at Rendlesham Forest.

SITA Trust funding officer for this area is Pete Sessions: 01454 262943 www.sitatrust.org.uk USEFUL NUMBERS Site offices: 01473 839149 To book a visit: 01473 836812 Environment Agency: 0800 807060

HENLEY CHAMBER CHOIR CHARITY CONCERT Henley Chamber Choir is performing in concert at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 14 at Barham Church.

Just before Christmas, a local press article highlighted the fact that FIND (Families In Need, Ipswich) were very nearly unable to continue, but for a generous anonymous donation. FIND are in a position where they need support to continue and Henley Chamber Choir decided to organise a concert to help. The concert will be a full evening, consisting of a range of music, both sacred and secular. There will also be a set of weddingsuitable music, so if you know of anyone who is looking for inspiration, bring them along!

Tickets (£7 / £5) are now on sale at Choices Clothes (IP6 0PU). You can contact the shop on 01473 831804 and their opening times are as follows: Tuesday-Friday, 9am-4.30pm and Saturday, 10am-4pm. Refreshments will be available during the interval. If you can’t attend the concert but wish to donate, please take your donations to Choices Clothes, as above.

Henley Chamber Choir’s Musical Director, Geoff Walker and all the members of the choir are looking forward to seeing you there! For more information, please visit: www.henleychamberchoir.co.uk / www.facebook.com/henleychamberchoir

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OUT & ABOUT CLAYDON AND BARHAM VILLAGE HALL Dates for May Monday 2

Wednesday 4 Thursday 5 Friday 6 Monday 9

Tuesday 10 Thursday 12

Friday 13 Monday 16

Tuesday 17 Thursday 19

Friday 20 Monday 23

Thursday 26

Friday 27 Monday 30

Craft Addicts CDC Street Dance Slimming World PCC Election Stowe School of Dance CDC Street Dance Barham PC Meeting Women’s Institute Young Families Silver Surfers Slimming World Stowe School of Dance Craft Addicts CDC Street Dance Claydon PC Silver Surfers Slimming World Stowe School of Dance CDC Street Dance Claydon PC Meeting Young Families Silver Surfers Slimming World Stowe School of Dance Craft Addicts CDC Street Dance

1-4pm 4.45-6.45pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 7am-10pm 4-5.30pm 4.45-6.45pm 7pm 7pm 9.30-1.30am 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 4-5.30pm 1-4pm 4.45-6.45pm 10am-noon 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 4-5.30pm 4.45-6.45pm 7.30pm 9.30-11.30am 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm 4-5.30pm 1-4pm 4.45-6.45pm

For more information on village hall activities visit the Claydon and Barham website and follow the links. Hall bookings now only online.

EXHIBITION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN STOWMARKET The East Suffolk Association for the Blind has organised an exhibition of equipment suppliers and service providers for anyone with a visual impairment which will be held at the United Reformed Church Hall, Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1AD from 10am to 2.30pm on Friday, June 3. Entry is free. Light refreshments will be available throughout the event.

Please do everything you can to come along as this is a wonderful opportunity for anyone affected by a visual impairment to find ways of continuing to live independent and fulfilling lives.

SUFFOLK BLUE CROSS ANIMAL REHOMING CENTRE This year’s Paws for Tea event is at our new flagship centre at Bourne Hill, Wherstead, Ipswich IP2 8NQ on Saturday, May 14, 11am-3pm. Entry is free, but donations will be gratefully received.

Do come and support us.

Ian Hendry, volunteer fundraising and events vice chairman

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5

Town/village

Location

Time

MIP/5A

Sproughton

Church Lane

9.10-9.25am

MIP/5B

Sproughton

Wild Man

9.30-9.45am

MIP/5C

Bramford

St Mary’s Close

9.50-10.05am

MIP/5D

Bramford

Paper Mill Lane

10.10-10.25am

MIP/5E

Great Blakenham

Chequers

10.35-1055am

MIP/5F Great Blakenham

Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park

11-11.15am

MIP/5G

Baylham

Post Box

11.25-11.45am

MIP/5H

Claydon

Crown

11.55am-1pm

MIP/5I

Claydon

Edinburgh Gardens 2.05-2.20pm

MIP/5J

Barham

Bacon Road

2.25-3.50pm

MIP/5K

Bramford

Packard Place

4-4.30pm

DATES: May 10, June 7, July 5, August 2, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 22, December 20

SIX ACRE PRODUCTIONS Six Acre Productions are pleased to inform you of their next murder mystery show, A MidSEMER Night’s Dream, an interactive Elizabethan show directed by Tom Hitchcock which will be performed on July 1, 2, 8 and 9 in a picturesque barn in Semer.

There will be a raffle with brilliant prizes to raise money for The Suffolk Community Foundation, a licensed bar and allocated tabled seating.

This annual production is always popular, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are £12 to include a light supper provided by Le Petit Paris Café, Hadleigh. You can purchase tickets by cash, cheque (payable to Six Acre Amateur Dramatics) or BACS. To book please contact Sarah: 07508 472142 / sixacreproductions@live.co.uk You can find our more at www.sixacreproductions.co.uk or by following us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sixacreproductions Six Acre Productions are pleased to be sponsored by Elmsett Storshops.

ADVERTISE HERE

for

£30

*

Henley Community Centre Friday 3rd June 7:30pm Saturday 4th June 2:30pm & 7:30pm

01473833226

14

a month Please call 01473 400380 * excludes VAT In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT CLAYDON

& BARHAM WI

Pat, our president, welcomed three new visitors to our meeting on April 12. We do hope that they enjoyed themselves, and we look forward to seeing them again soon.

We will be taking part in the floral displays at Barham Church Fete on June 4 which will depict the decades of the Queen’s reign.

We have chosen the 1970s.

Zelda from Viking Stained Glass was our speaker for the evening. She was so enthusiastic about her business, which has been running in Needham Market for eight years, and she still loves everything about it, even though she does get very sore hands in the process.

Zelda took us through the history of setting it up, the methods she uses to produce her beautiful designs, handed round items for us to look at, and had a table set out displaying everything. A most enjoyable presentation. The competition for a stained glass design was won by Jill, second Mary.

Our book club met at Choices cafe recently to discuss our first book, Meditation on Murder, which we all enjoyed. We are now reading A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.

Our next meeting is on May 10 when we will be debating the Resolutions to be put forward to the final vote at the annual meeting in Brighton on June 11. The Resolutions are: appropriate care in hospital for people with dementia and avoid food waste, address food poverty. Later in the evening there will be a sing-along, and the competition is spring flowers in a vase.

Should anyone wish to get in touch, please contact Barbara: 832330

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB The club is open to anyone of that age living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and a raffle.

On afternoons when we play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House and it has its own parking area at the rear. It is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within.

We had a very enjoyable meeting in March when Mr Tyler of the River Gipping Trust presented a slideshow of the work the trust has been doing along the Gipping with pictures of the various locks and sluices along the route.

Our meetings for the next few months are: May 11: Social Afternoon May 25: Mrs Jane Paley with her lighthearted talk What do you know about tea?

June 8: To be confirmed June 22: To be confirmed July 13: Mrs Pauline Walker on The History of the Co-Op Juniors Theatre Company July 27: Social afternoon including quiz time with Brenda Cooper We would be pleased to welcome anyone who would like to come to one of the talks. There is no obligation to become a member, so do come and join us.

Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

HENLEY 100 CLUB March winners David & Irene Nutton Graham Hughes Jane Parker

April winners Sarah Hazlewood Ross Lunney Margaret Self

You can join at any time of year. The cost is just £4 per month and the more members we get, the greater the prize money. All profits go to St Peter’s Church, Henley.

Please contact Richard Self: 01473 831930 / rselfhomefarm@gmail.com

BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD We spent our April meeting at Stoke Ash, the Suffolk Guiding HQ. Oh my word, what a transformation from the last time I went there. Then it was quite grubby and unkempt, having not been used for sometime. Thanks to volunteers it is now clean, bright and a marvellous place for meetings, camps and pack holidays.

After the business part of the meeting members were free to wander round to see just how lucky Suffolk is to have such a lovely place. We then had a cream tea and there were various quizzes to be tackled.

The afternoon ended with Taps being sung and a group photograph of 24 members to go into the Suffolk Trefoil magazine.

I would like to welcome Delia and Mary, our two newest members.

In June we plan to visit! Beth Chatto Gardens and Wivenhoe by coach.

All we need is a nice day For further information contact: 01473 402152 / pandj83@gmail.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

Pat Caddick, chairman

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OUT & ABOUT YOUR LOCAL RAINBOWS NEED YOU! Claydon Rainbow Unit is currently looking for some special people to volunteer on a regular basis, taking over the weekly running of the unit and helping the Rainbows learn more about their world. The current leadership team will be standing down in July and, having started the unit 22 years ago, would love to see it continue to offer fun activities for girls aged five-seven with new committed leaders at the helm.

Adults (18+) and young people (14+) alike can help our young members continue to experience their guiding journey. Being a guiding volunteer can help enhance your CV and count toward the service element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. No previous experience is necessary, training is provided and a DBS check is required for all those over 18.

If you can commit to one or two hours per week, we’d love to hear from you.

Rebecca, Rainbow Guider: barker_bradgate@yahoo.co.uk Jo Dixon, Suffolk Outreach Worker: jo.d@btinternet.com www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested

HENLEY SENIOR CITIZENS Since our last report we have celebrated the birthdays of Peter Wright, Thelma, Dorothy and Clar with lots of lovely cakes to enjoy with our cuppas.

Joe Herne, a Romany Gypsy, presented a very interesting talk on his life and achievements on April 6. He admitted that his school life was sparse but managed to achieve respectable GCSEs. He went on to receive diplomas for woodwork and painting. In his earlier days Joe Herne he travelled by horse drawn caravan with his family, but over the years, due to the increase in motor vehicles and the change of roads, he now travels in a white van. We were all invited to look into this van and to our amazement he had renovated it to look exactly like the inside of a gypsy caravan.

Over the years his main job was to carve and decorate both caravans and narrow boats. At this present time he is dealing more with narrow boats.

He brought along a huge display of items he has decorated, ranging from pegs, lanterns and even chairs, none of which had the same pattern. We were fortunate to be able to buy any of these items if we so wished. After a demonstration of how he does the painting, a couple of our members had a go under his supervision. He attends various country fayres and would recommend a visit to his pitch if you ever see him.

We were all impressed that he and his wife have fostered 17 children over the years. He explained that they were either small and unwanted or older and had been in trouble with drugs. Full marks to them that when the children left them they were on the straight and narrow.

Mary Vincent

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, May 24: Transport related presentations by members of the Norfolk Railway Society Meeting at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, 7 for 7.30pm. Visitors £3.50 admission at door including refreshments For further details call: 01473 414746/422145

16

HENLEY WI In March we celebrated our 86th birthday with a visit from the Punch and Judy man Peter Battey. Peter has had a Punch and Judy booth on the sea front or the pier at Clacton for many years.

He gave us a most interesting insight into the history of Punch and Judy which has been a popular form of entertainment since the 17th century. Peter erected a booth and showed us where the puppets are placed when not actually being used. He also used his `swozzle`, the mouthpiece which gives Mr Punch his distinctive voice. To round off his talk he gave us a genuine Punch and Judy show. We finished the evening with a buffet with a seaside theme. Much fun was had by all.

At the beginning of March, 14 members attended the East Suffolk Federation AGM at Trinity Park. It was a great opportunity to meet up with other WIs and to catch up with old friends. The AGM always has a selection of interesting speakers and this year was no exception with speakers from Lapwing Educational Trust, Hidden Hearing and, the main speaker, Colin Alderson, a former head pastry chef to the Royal household.

4 EVER YOUNG MEN’S CLUB The February meeting saw our very own Colin Shackleton give us an insight into his interest as an amateur radio enthusiast. It was fascinating to hear of some of the people he had been in contact with throughout the world, as well as the technical aspects of the hobby.

In March, Tony Green from Cancer Campaign in Suffolk came to tell us about the work of this Ipswich based charity, helping to reduce fear before, during and after cancer. Tony is a regular visitor and a good friend of the club.

We meet at 10.30am on the third Wednesday of the month at The Crown in Claydon. We often have a guest speaker for an hour or so, along with a chance to sit and chat with old friends, meet new friends and learn of new interests and ideas. We’re always looking for members and speakers, so please come along to listen or talk, or both!

The Crown very kindly accommodates us and provides coffee for our meeting, and some of us often stay for a spot of lunch afterwards.

If you would like to join us, telephone Mike Biddle on 07805 507497, or just come along on the third Wednesday of the month. You will be very welcome.

MEET ‘N’ EAT LUNCH CLUB Our lunch club has enjoyed a good start to 2016 with themed meetings based around Valentine’s Day in February, spring arriving in March and Easter bunnies in April. Maypoles may feature at our next meeting!

We meet at noon on the first Friday of each month in the Parish Rooms in Great Blakenham. For only £3.50 we serve a selection of soups with a bread roll, home made puddings with cream or custard and a cup of tea or coffee. In addition, we offer the chance to sit and chat with old friends, make new friends, play a game of bingo and have a bit of fun.

If you’re interested, telephone Sue Broomfield on 07890 512828, Mike Biddle on 07805 507497, or just come along on the first Friday of the month. You will be very welcome.

In Touch online:

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ClaydonTiling Ltd CERAMIC TILER Shaun Richardson 4 Rowan Close, Claydon, Suffolk IP6 0RD

Tel: 01473 831247 Mob: 07810 291157

E: claydontilingltd@btinternet.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

17

OUT & ABOUT / Schools SPECIALIST PLANT FAIR AT HELMINGHAM HALL

SOMERSHAM & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB

The annual spring plant fair, organised by Suffolk Plant Heritage in partnership with Helmingham Hall, will be held in the beautiful grounds of Helmingham Hall on Sunday, May 29, 10am-4pm.

Our next meeting is on Monday, May 9 in Offton & Willisham Village Hall at 7.30pm. Linda Sexton will be giving a talk on the Winter Garden at Anglesey Abbey. For anyone who knows Anglesey Abbey, this should be a very interesting talk.

For 2016 our plant fair will be renewed and expanded with specialist nurseries, new artisan and conservation zones, entertainment and children’s activities.

A plant of the lovely, unusual Campanula zangezuea (rock bellflower) will be given to the first 800 visitors to claim them. Giving a plant away is the best form of conservation; the seed for our free plant has been given to us by Sue Wooster, National Collection Holder of alpine campanulas.

Children will receive a free goodie bag with a pumpkin plant and there will be children’s activities in the garden marquee.

Enjoy live music, a dance tent, homemade teas and lunches as well as a range of food stalls and visit the Grade 1 listed gardens of Helmingham Hall, with its walled kitchen garden, herbaceous borders, roses and ancient deer park.

A range of workshops will take place in the garden marquee, including garden designer Lady Tollemache, and our plant doctors will be available to offer advice on any gardening topic, to identify your mystery plants and plant problems.

Tours of the gardens with Lady Tollemache (tickets £10) are bookable from the Helmingham Estate Office: 01473 890799 Entry to the plant fair is £7 with children free.

Helmingham Hall IP14 6EF is nine miles NE of Ipswich on the B1077

18

We are holding our annual plant sale in Somersham Village Hall on Saturday, May 14, 10am-noon. This is our main fundraiser for the club.

There will be numerous plants for sale at very reasonable prices, plus refreshments, a tombola and a cake stall. Entry is free, so come and have a look.

For any further information on either of these events please contact: 01473 830600

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB March prize winners were: No 35 No 41 No 55

Margaret Harvey Katie Lee Colin Dawson

£20.40 £10.20 £3.40

New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 a month and the draw takes place on the last Friday of each month from September through to July. The more entries we get the greater the prize money and all the money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school.

For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

In Touch online:

Schools / SPORT CLAYDON AND BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mother’s Union project which has been run by mothers union members and supporters for 25 years. We welcome mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 per family.

This month we meet on Thursdays, May 12 and 26 from 9.30 to 11.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall.

Our regular sessions include storytime, singing, imaginative play and lots of fun. Families can enjoy themed craft activities where children can produce an individual masterpiece. Playdough and others toys which encourage children’s imaginative play and physical and social development are available. For parents/carers it’s a good opportunity to meet others with pre-school children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children.

This month we would like to wish a happy birthday to Jacob, Flyn, Nathan, Harley and Matilda.

Why not come along and join in the fun? You can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. Hope to see you there.

For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on Netmums.com.

Michelle

HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL Now the children have settled back into the summer term following the Easter break, we are making the most of the warmer weather and the extra hours of sunshine by getting the children out in the garden to learn and play. We feel that it is important for children to get fresh air so, weather permitting, the children are outside playing in the garden every session, be it with the bikes, trykes, toy buggies, in the water or sand pit, with bats and balls or simply with their own imagination.

The children will be planting flower and vegetable seeds in our new garden and flower beds, and watching them grow throughout the term.

We hope to enjoy the fruits of our labour by the end of term, with some wonderful vegetables and beautiful flowers to brighten up the setting.

We will spend this term looking at staying healthy and healthy eating.

This will work in with growing our own vegetables, and the children will learn about the joys and benefits of being active and the importance of a varied and balanced diet. We hope to make budding young gardeners out of them by the end of term!

We are a small rural pre-school situated in the light and airy Boughton Room within Henley Community Centre which is less than a ten minute drive from Ipswich town centre (straight out on Henley Road). There is a large car park on site making drop off and collection of your child a safer and easier experience.

We have both grant funded and paid sessions for two to five year olds.

We also accept childcare vouchers. Lunch club is also available (noon1pm). You don’t need to live in the Henley catchment area to come and play with us – we have children from Ipswich, Claydon, Needham Market and other surrounding areas.

If you would like to come and join in the fun, please call 01473 833848 during session time any weekday morning or Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoon before 3pm. Out of hours, or if you wish to leave us a message, please call: 07979 468467 www.henleypreschool.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

CLAYDON MUMS ‘N’ TOTS GROUP Calling all mums, dads, grandparents and carers with children 0-4 years old! Are you looking for somewhere to entertain your children and make new friends at the same time?

Claydon Mums ‘n’ Tots meet every Tuesday (term time) from 1.153pm in Claydon & Barham Village Hall. We charge just £1.50 per family (one adult + children) which includes a drink and a biscuit for both the adults and children. There is a great selection of toys and activities to stimulate the children and help them let off some steam!

Each week we have a different theme at our arts and crafts table where the children can make and create something amazing to take home and show the family. We always end our session with a sing-a-long.

This month we will meet on May 3, 10, 17 and 24 and new faces are always welcome. So why not come along, have a cuppa and meet some people in your area? We look forward to seeing you and your little ones soon.

CLAYDON FC CLAYDON FC SCORES NEW GOALS Claydon Football Club entered the Harrod UK competition to find the areas saddest goal posts and tweeted a picture of our senior portable training goals which are well past their best and not portable any longer. We were delighted to find out we had won one of the sets available to the Suffolk entrants and so we will be receiving a new set of senior goals for the adult and older junior teams.

The club would like to thank Harrod UK for this fantastic prize and look forward to using the new goals for a long time to come.

NEW MEN’S 1st TEAM MANAGER APPOINTED Claydon Football Club are pleased to announce the appointment of a new men’s First team manager who takes over with immediate effect.

Richard ‘Kenny”’ Kennedy lives in Claydon and previously managed the Reserves, but left in 2011 to manage Somersham who he took to Division 1 before leaving in October 2015. He will assume First team duties for the last match of the season on Saturday, April 23 against Coplestonians at Greshams Sports Club.

Club chairman Tim Carr said: “We had a few applications for the role and the standard and competition was very high which shows the quality and commitment of coaching in local football. This made our job all the more harder in selecting someone who shares the ethos of the club and will drive the senior section forward, improving the status of not only the men’s standard of football but also provide a focus for the youth section of the club to aim at.”

GIPPING VALLEY BOWLS CLUB We will soon be commencing our warm-up programme for the start of the new season; the green opened officially on Monday, April 18.

With this in mind, we will be holding a taster session on Saturday, May 7, 10am-1pm, for anybody who might be interested in taking up a new sport, or even experienced bowlers would be very welcome. Our current bowlers will be on hand to help anybody who is interested; just come along and bring some flat shoes.

If you require further information contact our secretary, Rita Adams: 01473 830845

19

SPORT BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB

TALES FROM THE 19th HOLE

Greetings guff lovers

Waldringfield Golf Club, well supported by 15 golfers, saw a welcome return by founder member Rob Earey after an absence of around nine years! It was also the first meeting under new captain, Roland Addicott, and vice captain Brian Shaw.

Spring has sprung! Though with the state of my Achilles’ tendons there isn’t much springing about on the courts these days. For league players, April means waving goodbye to the winter league, though in the case of Matt and Adam they had the added satisfaction of finishing above their dad, Graham, who with Nick did a Leicester and just avoided relegation.

For social players summer usually involves the annual racquet hunt which, depending on where you left it last, can be quite an athletic pastime. No such problems for me as I always know where mine is, though it also means we don’t eat any spaghetti from now until September as we don’t have anything to strain it with once I put it into the sports bag.

The AGM last month saw a new (smaller) committee formed which means that there are vacancies for anyone who wishes to join. We have had some new members join and hope that with the proposed new developments in the village we will see membership rising again. Nick and myself have been asked to play a few games against each other so that potential members aren’t daunted by the thought that our standards are too high.

We have entered one men’s team this season as injuries and other commitments have meant the ladies availability is seriously affected, especially as the summer format involves three doubles pairs, as opposed to two doubles pairs in the winter. We are seeking friendly fixtures during the season for those interested in competitive play, though the best competition is often seeing who can persuade Graham to buy a round afterwards!

We are hoping to get the courts cleaned to remove the winter algae build up. This wasn’t helped when Nick was seen pouring thick dairy products over himself before he started playing last week. He claimed to have read that it helps you to relax and improve your flexibility. I had read the same article and pointed out that it referred to ‘yoga’ and not ‘yoghurt’!

New club sessions are on Sunday mornings from 10.30am and Tuesday evenings from 6’ish. To prevent players turning up and finding insufficient partners we are planning on a group texting system to assure any players thinking of attending that there will be enough opponents on the courts.

Joke of the month A woman is placing flowers on a grave when she sees a distraught man standing over a headstone repeatedly saying: “Why did you have to die?”

Concerned, she asked him if it was his wife’s grave. “No,” replied the man, “it’s my wife’s first husband!”

For many this was their first round of the year, so some dusting of equipment was necessary. This proved a troublesome exercise for Steve Brock who mixed up the head covers after cleaning his irons and took three attempts to select his preferred club on the second fairway. I can’t see roulette golf catching on! Unbelievable bad luck then struck on the fourth hole, unfeasibly hitting seven trees in his first four shots! He regained his composure to reach the green with his fifth shot only to see his sixth and seventh putts lacking enough strength to scale the sloping green, both returning to their starting position. I won’t describe Steve’s next comments in a family magazine! Simon Fisher had been ribbed by his playing colleagues on the 17th hole after hitting four trees, but that was nothing in comparison.

The course was in great condition, but the chill in the air towards the end of the round proved uncomfortable for all, the lure of a warm clubhouse most anticipated. Team 1 appeared particularly keen to reach this destination as, after a quick round of handshakes on the 18th, they strode briskly off the course. Humorously Alan was about 30 yards into this journey when he realised he was still carrying the flag! In retrospect it was apparent he hadn’t had such a good day, later being presented with the Golden Boot, a rarity indeed.

With 86 points Team 3 proved the strongest on the day, despite a random four point penalty imposed by the competition director for slow play.

Congratulations to Brian, Chris Mann, Scott Vincent and Simon. Scott’s individual haul of 39 points was impressive and, although no further prize was awarded for this team event, his handicap will likely be reduced next time out. Captain Roland, brother Ian, Darren Nunn and Grahame Hughes where second with 81 points, Grahame securing the Longest Drive prize. The Nearest the Pin winning shot was very impressive, the closest that has been seen for quite some time. Well done to Mike Mann for his accuracy.

The next meeting will be on May 13 at Fynn Valley and a note for the diary is Saturday, October 2 when we will once again be hosting a quiz night including a three course meal. I know it’s a long time away, but a number of people who attended last year have asked whether we are going to hold another one, so the answer is ‘yes’ and we welcome support from as many villagers, family and friends as possible.

More guff next month, Mick Russ

OPEN DAY AT SPROUGHTON TENNIS CLUB

GIPPING NETBALL

Sproughton Tennis Club is holding an open day on Sunday, May 15 from 2pm.

Over 16s club with two teams in the South Suffolk Netball league This season has been full of ups and downs for both squads. The First team are currently second in the league with only six games left. This fantastic result is testament to everyone’s hard work and commitment.

The Second team, who got promoted to Division 2 last season after a three year unbeaten streak, have had a mixed season so far. However, they continue to fight hard to win every match and will hopefully finish mid-table.

With the end of season fast approaching this is a great time for any budding netball players to join our club. We train from 7-8pm once a week at Needham Market Community Centre. Come along and join us for a training session or contact Emily for more information: 07963 377007 / elp653@gmail.com

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This is part of the LTA Great British Tennis Weekend and is your opportunity to come along and play for free for the afternoon.

We expect families to come along between 2 and 4pm while from 4 to 6pm it’s the turn of over 14s and adults .

We hope to see people of all ages, not only juniors. So, if you have played tennis in the past or just want to try something new, dig out that racket and come along. If you don’t have a racket, come along anyway and we will find you one to play with. We’re hoping for fine weather and there may even be prizes available too.

The club can be found at The Playing Fields in Church Lane, Sproughton IP8 3AX. For further details visit: www.sproughtontennis.co.uk/gbtw

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CHURCH NEWS CLAYDON & BARHAM PARISH CHURCH The church of St Mary and St Peter in Barham Church Lane is the parish church for Claydon and Barham.

USEFUL NUMBERS Clergy Priest-in-Charge: to be announced Self Supporting Minister: The Rev Jenny Ablett, 830205 Churchwardens: M r Robin Hooper Greenhill, 832243 Mr Des Groom, 831804 Hall Bookings: Mrs Zoe Groom, 831804 For news, history, information and pictures visit: www.achurchnearyou.com/claydonandbarham St Peter’s Church in Claydon is closed for regular public worship and maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust.

Baptisms We welcome those who have joined Christ’s Church through Holy Baptism, including Nathan Fenn.

Departed We offer our sympathy, love and prayers to the families and friends of those who have recently died including Mike Ashton, who was married in our church and tragically killed in a collision in Needham Market, and Dorothy Kellogg, past leader of Claydon Red Cross and daughter of the late Rev Canon Newell, Rector of this Parish.

Concert in aid of Families in Need (FIND) Henley Chamber Choir will be performing in church on Saturday, May 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets (adults £7 / concessions £5) are available from Choices and all proceeds will go to FIND. The music performed by this choir made up mainly of young adults will cover a very wide range of styles and tastes and will hopefully appeal to all ages. Please come along and support this very worthy cause.

Church Fete: Saturday, June 4 from 2pm Planning is now well advanced for our annual church fete. As previously reported, this year’s event is going to be held in the church grounds as the rectory gardens are unavailable until our new priest moves in. For those who are unfamiliar with the church, there is a good sized grass area behind it which is bounded by the church building and a row of trees and should make an ideal place to hold a fete, We will also have the added benefit of being able to use the hall and church to escape to if the weather is less than ideal Unfortunately the church is a little way out of the village, but there is plenty of parking and we are also planning to run a shuttle bus from the village. For those who are able, the church is also easily accessible on foot using the footpath leading off the bottom of Thornhill Road opposite the bus stop, then The Slade to come out opposite the church gate.

We will have all the traditional stalls and sideshows and refreshments.

Please put the date in your diary. Any queries or offers of help please ring Roger (831079) or Des (831804).

Floral Celebration, June 4-6: With this being the Queen’s 90th birthday year we are celebrating by decorating the church with themed flower arrangements representing each decade that she has lived in from the 1920s to the present day.

We are pleased to report that the 10 displays have been allocated to skilled volunteers who are busy researching their decade and planning their display.

If you are connected with a local business and would like to sponsor one of the displays please contact Roger Colthorpe on 01473 831079.

As well as supporting a worthwhile local cause, your company logo will displayed with the arrangement and your support will be acknowledged in the guide.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

The church will be open for viewing and light refreshments from Saturday, June 4 to Monday 6, other than service time on Sunday. Those visiting on Saturday afternoon can enjoy the fete as well. Please drop in for what promises to be a wonderful display and a enjoy a little nostalgia.

Claydon & Barham Annual Church Meeting Our annual meeting was held on Tuesday, April 5. Prior to the meeting, a copy of the 2015 Annual Report and Accounts was addressed to every one of the 119 people on the updated Church Electoral Roll. Robin Hooper-Greenhill and Des Groom were re-elected unopposed as our churchwardens for a further year. Gwen Pilling and Thelma Hopwood have decided to stand down from the PCC and the remaining members were re-elected. We welcomed Louise Amery-Richardson as a new member, bringing with her valuable experience from being on the PCC in her previous parish. A big thank you to Gwen and Thelma for the 40+ years of service they have given between them in this role.

Summer Family BBQ On the afternoon of Sunday, June 12 we are planning to hold a BBQ at the church to which the whole church family, both young and not so young, is invited. Tickets at minimal prices will be available towards the end of May in church or by ringing 831079. This will be an ideal opportunity to get to know each other better so please note it in your diary.

DATES FOR MAY 2016 Sunday, May 1 Holy Communion (said), 8am First Sunday Communion with baptism of Scarlett Taylor, 10am Sunday, May 8

Holy Communion (said), 8am Parish Communion, 10am Baptism of Finley Cattermole, 1.30pm

Thursday, May 12

Young Families at the village hall, 9.30am Archdeacon’s Visitation, venue TBA

Friday, May 13

Communion at Alasdair Place, 2.30pm

Saturday, May 14 Henley Chamber Choir Concert in aid of FIND, 7.30pm (see above) Sunday, May 15

PENTECOST Holy Communion (said), 8am Community Worship, 10am

Thursday, May 19

Sunshine Service in the village hall, 10am

Friday, May 20

Communion at Barham Care Home, 11am

Sunday, May 22

Holy Communion (said), 8am Parish Communion, 10am

Tuesday, May 24

PCC meets in Church Hall, 7.30pm

Wednesday, 25

Communion at St Peter’s Court, 2.30pm

Thursday, May 26

Young Families at the village hall, 9.30am

Friday, May 27

Open the Book at the primary school, 2.45pm

Saturday, May 28

Wedding of Abigail Fisher & Mark Jevons

Sunday, May 29 Fifth Sunday No 8am Service today Family Communion with baptism of Cooper Farrow, 10am

Baptism of Riley Giles, 2pm Tuesday, May 31

Alzheimer’s Society talk, Church Hall, 7.30pm

Thursday, June 2

Sunshine Service in the village hall, 10am

Saturday, June 4

Floral Celebration (see above) Annual Church Fete in the church grounds, 2pm

Sunday, June 5 Holy Communion (said), 8am First Sunday Communion with Floral Celebration (see above) Monday, June 6

Floral Celebration (see above)

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CHURCH NEWS HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH? I wonder how much you feel you are worth? I remember when I was back in school there was a fun fact going around stating that the human body was worth around £1.79 based on its chemical makeup!

Apparently we have enough iron in our system to make a three inch nail, enough fat in our body to make seven bars of soap, enough carbon for 900 pencils, enough sulphur to cure a dog of fleas and enough phosphorus to coat 2,200 match heads!

When I searched the Internet to remind myself of these amusing facts I was surprised to discover that we have increased in value up to £45million! While this may sound like good news the reason for the increase is not so encouraging. With the advances in medicine and transplant success, along with the lack of organ donors, there is a growing problem of human organs being sold on the black market.

Apparently a heart can sell for up to £75,000, a liver for up to £150,000, two corneas for up to £10,000 and if you were able to extract all the bone marrow in your body it could be worth up to £23million!

It can be quite difficult to place a value on some things. Having sold various things on eBay over the years, some things have ended up selling for much more than I expected, while other things, that I had thought quite valuable, made only a pittance! I have reached the following conclusion:

I asked at the start: “how much do you feel you are worth?” The Bible tells us that God loved us so much that he gave his life to redeem us.

It didn’t cost him £302million, or a lung, or some bone marrow. It cost Him His life.

Isn’t that an amazing thought? Jesus loves us so much that he would rather give his own life to pay the price for our sin and provide a way of restoration to God, than be without us for eternity. I wonder what He is worth to you?

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45 SERVICES Sundays: 10.45am at Great Blakenham (including Sunday Club for children); 6.30pm at Mickfield Wednesday: Fortnightly women’s meeting, 2.30pm; fortnightly prayer and Bible study, 10am Friday: Action Bible Club, meeting at the church, 6.30-7.30pm – games, crafts and stories for ages five to 12 For more information: 01449 720357 / info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

Something is only worth what someone else is willing to pay!

So what is the most that someone would pay for someone else? As far as I could find online it seems the largest ransom paid to secure the return of a loved one in modern times amounted to (with inflation) £302million.

ST PETER’S CHURCH HENLEY Clergy: The Rev Cathy Austin, 830100 Churchwardens: Richard Self, 831930 / Margaret Gerrard, 831463 Services for May and June Sun 1

9am

Said Communion

Mon 2 9.15am Prayer Group Sun 8

10am

Sun 15 10am Sat 21

Family Service Family Communion

10.30am Vestry Café – tea, coffee and cakes followed by a light lunch served from noon-1pm. All welcome.

Sun 22 6.30pm Evensong Sun 29 TBC Sun 5

9am

Said Communion

NOW RECRUITING JUNIOR ARTWORKER Mansion House Publishing, Ipswich seeks to recruit a junior artworker who is competent in InDesign and Photoshop to join our small and very busy team.

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