In Touch with Copdock - February 2016 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

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with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook

Volume 6 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2016

Image by Svetlana Sewell www.landmstudio.co.uk Stowe Veterinary Centre

Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre

Ipswich Veterinary Centre

The Mustard Pot Veterinary Surgery

The Old Tea Room Veterinary Surgery

54 Bury Road, Stowmarket

2 Boldero Road, Bury St. Edmunds

Scrivener Drive, Ipswich

Coddenham Road, Needham Market

Station Road, Elmswell

Tel: 01449 613 130

Tel: 01284 747 000

Tel: 01473 555 000

Tel: 01449 722 198

Tel: 01359 241 761

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR We had a friend coming over to play last Saturday and I asked Jack if we should invite him to stay for dinner. “He loves Chinese,” my oh-so-quick sesame prawn toast loving son replied, so I said I’d send a message to his mum. “Is a message just a slow way of telling someone something?,” Jack asked and I must admit it would have been quicker and easier to pick the phone up and actually speak to Emma. Three texts later we knew Adam was staying for dinner, that he liked Spaghetti Bolognese and didn’t have any food allergies, so the answer to Jack’s question, at least in this circumstance, was probably YES. Information technology has transformed our lives for the better it so many, many ways, but nothing beats direct communication and social media can never replace actual physical, social contact. I’m reminded of a submission from Elaine Bamber in Washbrook which I’d like to share. I hope it gives you a giggle FACEBOOK FOR THE OLDER GENERATION

NEWS

Peggy and Michael Ward would like to thank everyone involved in the 2015 Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal. Thank you to everyone who made up a shoebox, thank you to all the schools, churches and other collection points and thank you to the drivers who bought them to the warehouse in Bentley. Thank you also to all the helpers at the warehouse who checked and packed the boxes for their long journey. 14,000 boxes were processed altogether of which 8,500 were sent to Swaziland and the rest to the Ukraine.

For those of my generation who do not comprehend why Facebook exists! I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles. Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passers by what I have eaten, how I am feeling at the moment, what I did the night before, what I will be doing later and with whom. I give them pictures of my family, my dog, of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving round town, having lunch and doing what everyone and everybody does every day. I also listen to their conversations and give them the ‘thumbs up’ and tell them that I like them. It works just like Facebook! I already have four people following me... two police officers, a private investigator and a psychiatrist!

In Touch

with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook

In Touch with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP

Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: copdock@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

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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 Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

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

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

MARCH DEADLINE

10 FEBRUARY 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy

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NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION AT THE BROOK The evening in the village was quiet with many Christmas decorations twinkling on houses and in trees. The air was cold, one of the coldest nights of the year. At 8.30pm The Brook was lit up and the car park empty, too early to celebrate the New Year in. Sue and I walked into the restaurant, ordered our bottle of red wine and sat in the corner watching the karaoke being set up. The restaurant wasn’t serving hot food that night but an extensive buffet was being prepared for later. As 10pm approached more people arrived and soon the bar was filling up. The karaoke started with the first two entertainers sounding very professional... and with that, song requests started to flow and the action started to gear itself up at last. The bar was in full flow, two people we know from the village came in and several others from other parts of Suffolk and Essex. Young adults from Washbrook and Copdock, who we knew when they were children, came in with their children and it was great to see them take part in the singing. Dave, the pub manager, put in his request to the young lady on the karaoke, at which stage I put in my request and the older party goers of the night sang their renditions! More people started to turn up and the evening got into full swing, with some great singing, solo and in groups of two or three and sometimes more. The buffet was now out (well done Jean!) and as the midnight hour approached the dancing was in full flow. Midnight struck and Auld Lang Syne was sung with gusto followed by the Hokey Cokey. At 12.30am Sue and I quietly left The Brook to walk home round the corner into our road where we live, the twinkly lights all out except ours and everyone sleeping peacefully. We hope everyone enjoyed the TV – we recorded it! We wish Dave and all his staff a great 2016, and thank you for all the pleasant evenings spent in the restaurant during 2015. Well done everyone! Graham and Sue Cracknell

NEWS CAN YOU HELP FOSTER A PET IN NEED?

CAROL SINGING RAISES £340 FOR EACH

Blue Cross pet charity in Felixstowe is appealing to Suffolk animal lovers to join a volunteering scheme that offers temporary foster care to homeless pets until permanent homes can be found. The charity is looking for volunteers within driving distance of both its current re-homing centre in Felixstowe and its new re-homing centre near Ipswich, which is due to open in 2016. Volunteer foster homes offer essential care to pets that struggle to cope in a kennel or cattery environment, animals recovering from illness or operations, and litters of kittens and puppies that benefit from being raised in a home environment. Blue Cross provides volunteers with all the equipment and skills needed to look after the pets in their own homes. Special training, costs towards veterinary treatment, pet food and animal behavioural advice are all taken care of by the charity. Andrew Gillon, manager at Blue Cross in Suffolk, adds: “Blue Cross takes in thousands of homeless and unwanted pets every year. We like to get poorly, young and stressed pets into foster homes, but we desperately need more volunteers. We need foster homes in Felixstowe but we are also looking for new volunteers in the Ipswich area who can help us once we move.” To find out more about becoming a Blue Cross foster carer contact: 0300 777 1480 / felixstowe@bluecross.org.uk

A record 27 people of all ages enjoyed carol singing round the village. Unfortunately we can’t get round to everybody in the three hours we set ourselves. My thanks to the carol singers, to Jim and Maria who went door to door with the collecting tins, to everybody who gave so generously, and to Ruth, David and family for their hospitality at the end of the evening. Without your contributions I would not be able to give the magnificent total of £340 to EACH. Your support is always much appreciated. A few friends also collect small change throughout the year or donate savings on postage. My grateful thanks to all who supported in any way. Muriel Pearsons

www.bluecross.org.uk

COPDOCK HALL WEDDING FAIR Copdock Hall is holding its second wedding fair on February 21 – a week after Valentine’s Day. The fair comes just 10 months after their official launch and wedding fair last April which marked the end of a near two-year renovation project at the Tudor barn.

DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF THE RIVER STOUR

The wedding and corporate events venue is located next to the parish church of St Peter’s and boasts its own vineyard which will produce its first wine this summer.

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

Grade II listed Copdock Hall was built around 1570 and most recently used for farming until bought from Suffolk County Council in 2012 by current owners Diane and Ian Evans.

Come and discover the history of The River Stour. Hear the story of this ancient navigation, its links with the Constable family and its natural history.

Diane Evans said this month’s wedding fair which starts at 11am would be bigger and better than last year’s.

Learn about the ethos and principles of the River Stour Trust and how you can become a member and perhaps volunteer to help with their work maintaining the beauty of the waterway and its surrounding countryside, protecting its wildlife and operating its electric boats.

She said: “We’ve got more exhibitors this year so more for brides and grooms to see. Bookings are going well and we’ve had a lot of good feedback from brides and grooms and corporate clients who have held their parties and business meetings here.”

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

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

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

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

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NEWS IN OTHER NEWS CHRISTMAS IN COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK

As usual the Christmas activities – the nativity, the Carol Service with an augmented village choir and the Midnight Service – were well supported and on the Tuesday before Christmas Day the carol singers sang lustily round the village. This year the Carol Service collection went to New Dawn India and the carol singing as usual to EACH.

THE BROOK INN COFFEE MORNINGS 2015 It is remarkable that the money raised last year at the Brook Inn’s fortnightly coffee mornings came to a splendid £2,153.31. This works out at an average of almost £90 a morning. Nine of the charities supported were connected with illness, some well-known like Macmillan and St Elizabeth Hospice and others like Williams’ Syndrome and Pituitary Patients support group, less familiar. Four were more connected with the elderly such as Age UK and Sanctuary Care. Others included EACH, Home Start, the Ebola charity Street Child and Lighthouse (formerly Women’s Aid). All these good causes are supported while we enjoy the coffee, cakes and chatter.

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Stutton Village Hall: Sunday, March 6, 12.30-3.30pm

Join us on March 6 to celebrate International Women’s Day. This will be our fourth year of local events to mark this important event. This year our focus is on Women in Rural Communities, both here in Stutton and further afield, and we hope to entertain you with a provocative, interesting and unusual programme. There will be a quiz, compiled by local scouts (prepare to be surprised), singing from Lifting Spirits and film clips celebrating women’s contribution to their communities. Our past celebrations have become famous for the quality of our refreshments. This year we are providing buffet lunches at £1 a person. Tickets can be purchased in advance from the village shop in Stutton or you can pay on the door. We are again raising money for Ipswich Lighthouse Women’s Aid. Please note that this years’ celebration is on Sunday, March 6, not as usual on March 8, and as this is also Mother’s Day, we hope you will join us for a delicious lunch, tea, cakes and an entertaining afternoon. Everyone welcome.

LIBRARY DAYS On January 6 there were so many people browsing for books to while away the winter afternoons that there was almost a queue to get on to the mobile library outside the Brook Inn. This is good to see as economy cuts are always a danger to services and so many depend on the van. The monthly visit always coincides with a Brook Inn charity coffee morning so popping down to the library Van can be a double pleasure.

Remember if we don’t use it we may lose it 6

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE Call 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. The Suffolk Dementia Helpline can support anyone who needs to talk. Perhaps you have memory worries yourself or even a recent diagnosis and want someone to talk to. Maybe you have concerns about a loved one, or need support in your caring role. Perhaps it’s just information you are after, or a confidential chat with someone. The line can help anyone who is looking for practical support and is able to provide you with local information and get you in touch with organisations that can help. So call us today, we are here to help.

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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 310 Nacton Road Ipswich 01473 860040 247a Hawthorn Drive Chantry, Ipswich 01473 602414 Kingsbury & Saunders 61 George Street Hadleigh 01473 823117

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/copdock

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NEWS COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK VILLAGE PLAN New housing developments such as homes and businesses can prove an emotive subject. Simply saying ‘no’ to new homes or other types of development (in principle) will not be an option. Nationally there is a housing shortage and the government is relaxing planning considerations to rectify this. New houses need to be built and the challenge is for communities to shape this process. Many villages face pressure as development abutting the current settlement boundaries is likely to be proposed as this will deliver sustainable development by providing well-related development to the village (rather than in the middle of nowhere), but the government is clear that potentially all villages are appropriate to take further growth. Communities have a choice to either get involved and inform what their needs will be over the next 15 years, including housing type and where they should be built, or not to influence these matters. This requires the community to work within the spirit of the Localism Act and influence future proposals sooner rather than later. Copdock and Washbrook Parish Council is considering producing a fresh parish plan. The earlier one has now time expired but we hope villagers recognise the improvements that flowed from that plan. Our aims in the broadest sense are for: • A vibrant and safe community that cares for and supports one another • A sustainable community that provides well-designed and sufficient housing to meet the needs of a range of local household sizes, ages and incomes • A successful community that has a thriving local economic base and provides a range of job opportunities

• Social equality and inclusion leading to demographically and socially well-balanced and sustainable communities • A well-run community that is supported by important local infrastructure and services • An accessible community that is served well by walking and cycling links and has opportunities for travelling by public and community transport • An environmentally friendly community that promotes efficient use of natural resources and manages and respects a range of high quality open spaces With your help we can gather the data needed to guide us towards our broad goals. To this end, in early March we will be distributing a 13-page questionnaire and map. Please take time over the next five or so weeks before it arrives to consider the broad topic so that during the month of March you can help us by completing the questionnaire. We are looking for completed returns by the end of March. Drop the result back to us via the Brook Inn and have a complimentary tea or coffee on us. We will report back on progress at the annual parish meeting currently scheduled to take place in the village hall on Tuesday, May 3. We will offer for discussion a small number of ‘in fill’ sites that might be suitable for small-scale development, subject of course to the normal planning process(es). Keith Armes, chairman

REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton December into January is normally a fairly peaceful time in parallel to the Christmas celebrations. This year has been similar, but I have learnt over the past 12½ years representing this ward, that no year is ever exactly the same as any before it.

government to proposals for the devolution of Suffolk and Norfolk talks about lottery sized housing numbers. Localism was supposed to put the decision making in ‘local’ hands. Perhaps now, with Neighbourhood Plans nearing completion, is the time for true localism to be embraced?

The world and national economic situation coupled with the uncertainty around trade with China and oil prices has made all politicians and many others wary of being too optimistic. My own view is that 2016 will be a difficult year for all residents and we should be battening down the hatches and being prudent and conservative in our decisions.

As a proud nation we have lead the world in many areas. One where I feel we are slipping is balancing the need for infrastructure with housing. Constable Medical Practice is out of special measures and should be congratulated for achieving such quick results. The number of GP surgeries closing their lists has been in the news recently. Will that be the next problem if the housing to infrastructure ratio is not balanced?

The council’s budget will be agreed in February. Current discussions are continuing to address the shortfall between what central government gives us, a reducing amount, and what other sources of income are available. Elsewhere in the press, the ‘New Homes Bonus’ has been touted as saviour and nemesis! Which is correct? I think 2016 will tell us. Wiser financial heads than mine warn of a potential housing bubble similar to the 2007/8 crash. We certainly don’t want that, but we also have a demand for more homes. Perhaps we should concentrate on ‘need’ rather than encouraging housing ‘migration’ from other parts of the country! Balancing the two will be difficult as everyone from central

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Housing today with services to follow is a recipe for chaos. We need growth, jobs, housing and everything that goes with them and I will be continuing to campaign for a balanced approach that reflects the genuine needs of the ward in line with the pressures on Babergh and Suffolk as a whole. I will not sacrifice Dodnash to save Babergh. We all have a part to play. Let us hope for a balanced and peaceful 2016. Councillor John Hinton

NEWS POLICE ARE URGING EXTRA VIGILANCE WHEN USING BANK CARDS

Officers are seeing an increased number of thefts in Suffolk, mainly targeting older people, in which their bank cards are stolen and then fraudulently used. Offenders are known to use a variety of methods including ‘shoulder surfing’; standing close enough to the victim to identify their PIN number when using a bank card, before then stealing the card using different methods of distraction. In a previous incident a woman suspect was seen to approach a pensioner using a cashpoint machine (ATM). She purposefully dropped something on the floor and nudged it towards the victim. She told him that he had dropped something and as he bent down to pick it up the woman’s accomplice took the victim’s card from the machine and swapped it for another without him noticing. It is believed that the accomplice was watching as the victim entered his PIN into the machine. The victim then took the swapped card from the ATM, none the wiser that the suspects had both his bank card and the PIN. The suspects then used the card to obtain cash from the victim’s account. More recent methods used by suspects have involved asking for directions/change, particularly in supermarket car parks. While the victim is distracted, the accomplice steals their bank cards, often without the victim noticing. The suspect or their accomplice will have obtained the PIN by watching the number being entered at the supermarket till or ATM. Suffolk Police advise taking the following steps to : • Be vigilant when entering your PIN – make sure you cover the keypad on both chip and pin machines and at cash points every time you enter your PIN number • Be aware of who is around you and make sure people stay a good distance away from you.

NEWS FROM HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY TRAINING DAYS Our next training afternoons will be on Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, March 10 when we will be shut from 1pm. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999. RETURNED DRUGS CAMPAIGN Three patients all guessed an amount very close to the correct amount in our competition to highlight the value of returned drugs. The exact amount was £5,040.39 and guesses ranged from £643 to £953,000. While this may not seem a huge amount, when you start to double this for a whole year and then double that for both our sites this equates to over £20,000 a year for our practice alone. Remember this is only what has been returned, not anything that has been thrown away or may be lurking in your drugs cupboard at home. Please only order the drugs you need to avoid further wastage. BRANDED v GENERIC MEDICATION Our Clinical Commissioning Group has asked us to reduce our spending on prescribed medication as part of a national cost reduction process and we are being tasked with changing branded medication to a generic equivalent. It may be that over the next few months your medication is changed but please be reassured that the ingredients are the same and there should be no difference in the efficacy. If you have any queries please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): 01473 704781 KNITTING/SEWING FOR DEMENTIA Ipswich Hospital Dementia Unit are taking ‘fidget’ quilts which help to reduce anxiety and stress for patients with dementia. They should be brightly coloured and have various textures. They may have items firmly attached such as zips, buttons and lightweight keys and can be knitted or sewn. Once a quilt has been chosen by a patient, they keep it and take it home so plenty are needed. More information can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/j5akxvx

• Don’t let anyone distract you while you are using the cash machine or making a card payment. Cancel the transaction if you are worried.

Our previous knitting project was well received so we hope you enjoy this one too. Any completed quilts (or surplus wool, buttons, ribbons) can be left at either surgery and we will take them to the hospital.

• Be aware of who is around you and make sure people stay a good distance away from you.

Practice Manager Julia Smith

• Keep your valuables secure – never leave them unattended, even for few moments. Keep your belongings tucked away safely in a zipped pocket or bag and use a purse chain if you have one. • Report stolen cards – if you lose your wallet, report it to your bank immediately. Help us keep our communities safe by reporting any suspicious activity. Please use the following link to pass useful information to Suffolk Police about any incident: www.suffolk.police.uk/safetyadvice/ reportacrime/tellthepolice.aspx Do not use this link in an emergency or in a situation that requires an immediate police response when you should ring 999. Suffolk Police Community Safety Team

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www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

So Much More Than a Dance Class Any Age & Ability Very Welcome No Partners Required

Shimmy, Shake, Wiggle & Giggle to Dance Fitness Fun

"Strictly" style Dance-a-cise

St Mary's Church Hall

The Street Capel St Mary every Thursday 10am & 7pm spaces are limited to reserve yours

Call Janet on 07506 350 455

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

janet@fundancing.co.uk www.fundancing.co.uk FunDancing.Suffolk FunDancing

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Practice rated as ‘Good’ by Care Quality Commission The practice was inspected by the CQC on November 2. This was a follow-up to their last inspection on March 10. Six inspectors spent the day at both East Bergholt and Capel St Mary sites. They spoke to patients, staff and members of the new Patient Participation Group (PPG). They also requested evidence that the practice was meeting its contractual and regulatory obligations, including infection control, staff training, prescribing and patient confidentiality. After the inspection in March, the practice quickly put in place an improvement plan which it agreed with the CQC and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Over the following eight months, all staff have worked exceptionally hard to implement the plan. We have made many internal changes that aren’t immediately evident to patients, such as the way we review and learn from events that happen. We have also made changes that have had a direct impact on patients, including the formation of our new PPG and a fundamental change to our appointment system. Judging by comments left on the NHS Choices website and comment cards in our waiting areas, the changes we have made have had a very positive impact on the quality of care we provide to patients. This was recognised by the CQC and we are delighted that they have rated the practice as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Good’ for every area they assessed. The report is very positive and all issues highlighted in the March 2015 report have been addressed. The CQC were particularly impressed with how we had engaged with our patients to understand how they wanted us to improve the service we offer. This includes the open evening we held in June, which ultimately resulted in the formation of our new PPG,

and engagement with Healthwatch to survey patients and understand their needs. Being rated as a ‘Good’ practice is a great achievement which we are all very proud of and we would like to thank all patients who have supported us through the last eight months. The environment in which we operate remains challenging and with increasing pressure on the NHS we cannot be complacent. We intend to continue to work with patients and other organisations to understand how we can deliver high-quality primary care health services as efficiently and effectively as possible. The full report can be viewed at: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-557474454 We issued a press release on December 24 which can be viewed at: www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk We also welcome comments on the service we offer including any ideas on how we can improve it further. Feedback can be left via our website or using the Friends and Family Test or PPG comment cards available in the waiting areas. Training Days A reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, March 10. On these afternoons the doors will be closed so please ensure any prescriptions are picked up well beforehand. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day. Pete Keeble, practice manager

CONSTABLE COUNTRY PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG) We were delighted that the practice received a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission following the re-inspection in early November. Staff have worked very hard and it’s a major achievement to go from being in Special Measures to a Good rating. We look forward to helping the practice maintain this improvement. Thanks to all of you who have been giving feedback to the PPG either on the comment cards available in the waiting rooms or via our email address: constablecountryppg@gmail.com Contact phone numbers for the 12 members of the Patient Participation Group are available on the practice website and in both waiting rooms. Appointments We have received a lot of positive feedback about the improvements in the appointments system. However, it can still be difficult to get an appointment with a GP of choice. Some of the GPs are parttime and we know that there are problems with booking follow up appointments. Don’t forget that you can book an appointment online. If you don’t already have a username and password you can get one from the reception team. Please be assured that we pass on all the issues raised with us and try to get a solution. If you have a complaint we would encourage you to put this in writing.

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Blood tests We continue to get complaints about delays in appointments for blood tests. This has been caused by the long term sickness of one of the phlebotomists. We know that the alternatives of the Riverside Unit on Landseer Road and/or Ipswich hospital are difficult to get to without your own transport. The practice has tried to recruit a temporary replacement but so far without success. In the meantime nurses and other healthcare staff have been helping out. We hope that this situation will be resolved soon. Magazines We are pleased to announce that there will once again be magazines available in the waiting rooms at Capel and East Bergholt. We also hope that children’s toys will return soon. If you have any unwanted children’s books in good condition and with wipeable pages you may like to donate them to the practice. Kathy Pollard, Chair Constable Country Patient Participation Group, 01473 311384 www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT NOTES FROM THE CASE – Suffolk’s first co-operative pub Cask Marque Accreditation We’ve always known The Case is Altered was a great real ale pub – now it’s official. In January we were delighted to achieve Cask Marque accreditation. Cask Marque is an independent organisation funded by breweries, pub groups and trade bodies that ensures pubs serve great quality cask ale. As part of our application, which was supported by Adnams, we received two unannounced visits from a Cask Marque inspector who checked all of our cask ales for temperature, appearance, aroma and taste. This latest achievement reflects the great work done by David Telling when we reopened The Case in 2014. Applying his pub management experience, David taught our bar volunteers everything they know about looking after and serving top quality beer. The high standards David put in place and which our volunteers implemented have now been continued by Duane and Cindy, and our Cask Marque membership is a credit to all involved. Come and inspect our great range of locally-brewed real ales for yourself. Volunteers wanted If you’re thinking about taking up a new activity, why not consider volunteering at our community pub? Our dedicated, multiple award-winning volunteers are an essential ingredient in The Case’s success and without them we wouldn’t have a pub in Bentley today. Our volunteers have become a unique selling point, and reinforce our status as a community pub.

CAPEL LIBRARY Now the nights, and soon the days, are beginning to draw out it feels time to look around us and survey what needs doing in the garden. By now shoots are beginning to show and the gaps in the garden are more evident. Did you forget to plant the spring bulbs? Many good gardening books are available from the library catalogue to suit any type of garden, large or small. Maybe you want to re-work the layout to create more interest like adding a pond or water feature. Be inspired with a good book. Check the catalogue online at www.suffolklibraries.co.uk. You need your library card and pin number to order into the nearest library of your choice. We have been ‘weeding’ our shelves of stock and have lots of fiction and non-fiction books for sale. Fiction books are 30p each and non-fiction are 10% of the original price. Do come and take a look especially if you may be off on your travels and don’t wish to take a library book on holiday with you. We also sell books of first and second class stamps and book tokens. Babybounce continues each Tuesday this month, including school half term holiday, at 2pm. Do come along and join in nursery rhyme singing, shaking of instruments and hand rhymes. Open to all up to the age of five. The library bookgroup will meet on Friday, February 19 at 2.30pm. There is space for new members to join so don’t be shy. A wide variety of books and genres are read and discussed.

Volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience and demonstrates tremendous community spirit. Our volunteers enjoy the interaction with our customers and making a contribution to the running of the pub (we hold regular volunteers’ meetings where our volunteers can provide feedback and suggestions).

OPENING TIMES

Although we still have a large volunteer team (with more than 30 current bar volunteers alone), we would like to recruit additional volunteers. Over the past year, some of our volunteers have ended or reduced their involvement due to other commitments, and a relatively small group are taking on a greater burden, particularly behind the bar.

Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm

While we have volunteers for tasks such as gardening and DIY, and always welcome additional help in any way, our main requirement is for bar volunteers. We also sometimes need people to take food out to tables and to wash up in the kitchen. We are planning to run training sessions for new volunteers, and Cindy and our existing volunteers will be happy to support and guide new recruits as they gain experience. COMING UP AT THE CASE • Saturday, February 13: Bingo Night • Saturdays, February 27 and March 26: Quiz Nights • Saturday, March 12: Live music from The Preservatives singing covers from classic acts such as The Beatles, The Kinks, The Small Faces, The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, David Bowie, Otis Redding, Queen and more. For more information visit: www.thepreservatives.wix.com/band Food will be served from 6-8pm on the above occasions with events starting at 9pm. For more information on these events, please visit www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk, follow us on Facebook (www.facebook. com/SaveTheCaseBentley), telephone The Case on 01473 805575 during opening hours, or email: savethecase.bentley@gmail.com

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

FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY By the time you receive this, we will have held our AGM and started a new year, hopefully with some new faces on the management committee. Last year was a year of consolidation for the friends – both the membership and the 100 Club grew slowly over the year and we were able to provide equipment for the library and some essential repairs. Our first event of the year will take place on Wednesday, March 30 at 7.30pm when Andrew Bailey will present a talk on wildlife photography handsomely illustrated by many of his photographs. Please put this date in your diary and come along to support your local library.

OUT & ABOUT CAPEL SINGERS TO PERFORM STAINER’S CRUCIFIXION We are planning to perform Stainer’s Crucifixion on Sunday, March 20 at 6.30pm. If you want to take part please contact Chris Yule: 01473 310992 / chris.yule2@tiscali.co.uk Thanks to all those who attended the carol concert and helped to raise £360 for the Save the Children refugee appeal.

TEA AND COMPANY WITH SING FOR FUN On Monday December 14 we had a very enjoyable afternoon at Dove Close. We were joined by Sing For Fun who led a Singalong-a-Christmas. We all joined in the fun. It was a perfect start to the festive season.

BRANTHAM’S CHARITY GARAGE SALE 2016 This year’s garage sale will be on Saturday, June 11. Spring is just around the corner and its time to start spring cleaning and tidying up after Christmas and to think about all those items that are looking for a new home. Maybe you’ve got some unwanted Christmas presents – they make great tombola prizes, as do any good condition spare items. For more information or to book your garage or a table at the village hall call Yvonne (01206 392296) or Ronnie (01206 395557).

We raised £160 from our tea, coffee, homemade cakes and raffle that we donated to Ipswich Christmas Homeless Centre, a very worthwhile cause. Many thanks to all who took part. We hope to see you on Monday, February 15 for our next Tea and Company at Dove Close. Everybody welcome Enquiries: Mary Butters, 310859 Celia Warr, 310825

BUMPER BOOK SALE At Manningtree Methodist Church, Easter Monday, March 28.

IPSWICH & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF PRINTS AND PROJECTED IMAGES The Council Chamber, Town Hall Galleries, Cornhill, Ipswich IP1 1DH. Tuesday, March 1 to Saturday 12, 10am-5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. Exhibition closes at 4pm on Saturday 14.

Brightlingsea Watch Tower by Barry Freeman

Melford Landscape by David Long

Admission free.

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OUT & ABOUT PENINSULAR PIX TO SHOW SUFFRAGETTE BEFORE RELEASE DATE Pen Pix are pleased to announce that they are showing Suffragette prior to its official release date on DVD with special permission from its distributors. Starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne-Marie Duff, Suffragette tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State. These women were not primarily from the genteel educated classes, they were working women who had seen peaceful protest achieve nothing. Radicalised and turning to violence as the only route to change, they were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality – their jobs, their homes, their children and their lives. Maud, (Carey Mulligan) was one such foot soldier. The story of her fight for dignity is as gripping and visceral as any thriller. It is also heartbreaking and inspirational. Pen Pix has been running for 10 years, showing films once a month in Tattingstone Village Hall every first Thursday of the month. We are proud of this achievement as a non profit-making entity, providing regular entertainment for residents of the peninsula and surrounding areas. Our very low ticket prices just about cover outgoings such as licences for the films, hire of the hall and free refreshments for our patrons. If you would like to know more about upcoming events please visit: www.peninsularpix.co.uk So come along to Tattingstone Village Hall on February 4 and see Suffragette before you can buy it, have a glass of wine and a great social evening, all for £4 in advance or £4.50 on the door. Doors open at 7.15pm; it would be great to see you. Ben Connor, chair

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION TABLE TOP SALE

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

QUIZ NIGHT East Bergholt High School Friday, March 11, 7.45pm Teams of up to eight Bar open from 7.15pm Tickets £5 per person including nibbles 01206 298122

Wiggle-a-Thon 2016 Raising money for Suffolk Charities

Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School

Join FunDancing's

Wiggle-a-Thon 2016 and help to raise money for

Age UK Suffolk

Nearly New Sale Saturday, March 19 1.30-3pm

Capel Community Church Days Road, Capel St Mary Maternity clothes, baby equipment, clothes (aged 0-11 years), toys, books and games 50p Entrance fee (children free) Do you have any baby/children’s items which you would like to sell? You choose the price: 70% goes to you, 30% goes to our charity (+ £1 administration fee per seller) For more information or a free sellers pack please contact Lisa (01473 312248) or Jo (01473 730771).

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Saturday 27th February 2016 at

East Bergholt Sports Centre Heath Road, East Bergholt Colchester CO7 6RJ

Doors open at 9:00 am Session times: 10 am, 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm, 2 pm & 3pm

each session is 45 minutes long

Registration Fee £5.00 per person per session (£25.00 for all six sessions) pre-registration is advised to ensure a place in your preferred sessions(s)

For more information and to register please go to

www.wiggle-a-thon.co.uk or call Janet on 07506 350 455

Sponsor us uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/wiggleathon2016 Registered Charity number 1085900

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OUT & ABOUT THE ORCHARD PLAYERS The Orchard Players next production will be Jukebox Summer Time, produced and directed by Val and Len Munns with musical director Maria King.

THE COMPANY OF FOUR PRESENTS LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

The show dates are July 7-9. To find out more, come along to our preliminary meeting in Capel St Mary Village Hall on Thursday, February 11 at 7.30pm. New members are welcome. This show has a summer theme with all the fun and excitement of holiday time. The songs are mostly from the jukebox era of the 1960s and offer great solo opportunities for both male and female singers, as well as chorus and dancing for performers of all ages. Our list of songs includes numbers from iconic artists such as The Beatles, The Kinks, Dusty Springfield and The Beach Boys. Contact Val: 01473 310814 / 07766 577196

ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST BANDS COMES TO HOLBROOK

Traditionally Christmas is panto season but The Company of Four based in Woodbridge are busy rehearsing for their family pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood, taking place at The Riverside Theatre in Woodbridge during February half term. Oh yes they are! Oliver Fosker has not only written but is directing this brand new production, his first for the company. Oliver said: “It has been an absolute pleasure being able to produce and direct this year’s production, an amazing experience I shall always remember. Putting on a panto of this scale is no small task. I started writing the script back in March, auditions were held in October and the whole cast started rehearsing at the beginning of November.” This production of Little Red Riding Hood is a traditional one suitable for all ages. It tells the story of Lucy (Little Red Riding Hood) who visits her sick grandma in her cottage in the forest, her aunt Ophelia Bapps who runs the town bakery and Ophelia’s son Arthur ‘Brain’ Bapps who gets into trouble with three local rent collectors. It is while visiting her grandma that Lucy comes face to face with the Wiley Wolf. While out collecting sticks for the fire Lucy stumbles upon a handsome woodcutter called Tom who, with the help of the fairies, defeats the wolf and they all live happily ever after.

BBC Big Band, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading and most versatile orchestras, is to perform at The Royal Hospital School in Holbrook on Saturday, February 6. Described as “a wonderful band” by the legendary Tony Bennett, BBC Big Band is hailed as one of the leading performers of the music of the great swing bands, and they themselves will be in full swing as they put on an evening of music inspired by some of the giants of the 20th century big band scene such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Artie Shaw. During the afternoon the pupils at the school will have the unique opportunity to take part in a workshop with the band’s musicians, followed by a concert at 7pm in the assembly hall. The band’s lead trombonist, Gordon Campbell, said: “We love the opportunity to work with and hopefully influence the next generation of young musicians, and we as a band see it as an important part of what we do.” Under the direction of their conductor, Barry Forgie, the band has recently performed with stars such as George Benson, Van Morrison and Georgie Fame, and in the past has backed the likes of the late, great Ray Charles. To book for this unforgettable event visit www.ipswichregent.com or call 01473 433100. This event is sponsored by Colourplan.

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The Company of Four always put on a fabulous show with plenty of laughs, singing, dancing and an amazing array of costumes – this is a must see if you like to cheer the goodies and boo the baddies and shout out ‘He’s behind you’! Performance schedule: 7.30pm: Friday 12, Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February 1pm and 5pm: Saturday 13, Sunday 14 and Saturday 20 February 2.30pm: Wednesday 17 and Friday 19 February Tickets (adults £13 / concessions £12 / children £10 / family – two adults and two children £40) are available on 01394 382174 or via: www.theriverside.co.uk/programme_detail.php?id=625

OPPORTUNITY TO EXHIBIT AT MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH Manningtree Methodist Church will be holding its 44th annual Easter Art Exhibition from Good Friday through to Easter Monday at the end of March. Anyone wishing to exhibit or requiring further information should phone either 01206 298635 or 01206 391145.

OUT & ABOUT BRANTHAM BOX OFFICE Presents Film Night Wednesdays at Brantham Village Hall: doors open at 7pm, film starts at 7.30pm, refreshments available. NO SHOWING IN FEBRUARY DUE TO PANTO Wednesday, March 16: Woman in Gold (12A) Wednesday, April 20: A Royal Night Out (12) Wednesday, May 18: Mr Holmes (PG) Find out more at: Facebook.com/BranthamBoxOffice

STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC Beauty of The Bossa Nova with award-winning jazz singer Georgia Mancio Join us for a thrilling evening of Brazilian jazz with piano, guitar, bass and drums combo at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP on Saturday, February 20 at 7.30pm. Georgia Mancio has made her name as a jazz vocalist/lyricist and has a wideranging repertoire influenced by her Anglo/Italian/Uruguayan heritage. She is an adventurous artist with originality who delights her audiences. A must for jazz enthusiasts! In 2015 she was nominated in the Jazz Vocalist of the Year category of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and was in the short list alongside the legendary Norma Windstone. BBC Radio 3 have twice broadcast her live concerts. A true artist. Tickets: 01206 298426 / tickets@svam.org.uk

VILLAGE LINK CLUB Eve Regelous gave a talk entitled It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our December meeting in which she explained what Christmas means to her. Pip Wright will present a talk on Lady Alice de Breyne at our next meeting on Wednesday, February 10. Future talks will include: NT Coast of East Anglia, Secrets of the Royal Jewels and The Galapagos Islands. 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. Funds permitting, we hold a members’ lunch after the August and February meetings. Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK WOMEN’S INSTITUTE We started the December meeting with our business review, including reports from our book and walking clubs, followed by event reports. The WI Carol Concert at Capel St Mary Methodist Church was very enjoyable and is a good opportunity to catch up with members from other groups. Hintlesham Tuesday Circle held a Christmas concert which only a couple of our members attended but thoroughly enjoyed and recommended. We also heard about plans already underway for some of the events for this year. We will again be participating in the Suffolk Show, and a dinner to celebrate our 96th birthday will take place in February. We didn’t have a speaker so after the business part of the meeting we had our traditional buffet with each member bringing a plate of food. There was plenty of opportunity to chat before we had a couple of team quizzes; one to name the famous people in photographs and the other a quiz based on Christmas themes. We finished the evening with some carol singing – we are fortunate to have some beautiful singing voices among our members and they are a joy to listen to. It was a fun, sociable end to what has been a fun, sociable and successful year for our group and the WI’s centenary year. There are many good reasons to join the WI. We enjoy a wide variety of interests and outings, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, improve your existing skills or just come along to the meetings for companionship and interesting speakers. You can come to three meetings as a visitor to see what goes on before deciding if you would like to join. All visitors and new members will be warmly welcomed. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month (excluding August) at the village hall. The next meeting is on February 16 when Dennis and Ann Kell will be speaking on Antarctica. The competition is Snowscape Scenes and the trading stall will be DVDs and CDs. Please arrive around 7.15 for a 7.30pm start. I wish you a happy and healthy 2016, Sandra Howard I incorrectly attributed the January submission from Copdock & Washbrook Women’s Institute to Jennifer Jones. Sorry Sandra. Sharon

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED Monday, February 1: Smocking with a Difference with Debbie Monday, March 7: Gift Boxes Other kits are available each evening. Samples of each month’s project are on display the month before and other projects are available. The Saturday workshops (10am-4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30pm-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms. For information contact Ann (01473 780298) or Jill (01473 713534).

EASTER BRIC-A-BRAC SALE 1st Sproughton Brownies are holding their Easter Bric-a-Brac sale on Saturday, March 5 at Sproughton Church Hall, 2-4pm. Admission free. In aid of Save the Children, HOPS (Holiday Opportunity Play Scheme for children with disabilities) and Brownie funds. Everyone welcome.

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Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 T2 R-Design (manual) in MPG (l/100km): Urban 38.7 (7.3), Extra Urban 62.8 (4.5), Combined 51.4 (5.5). CO₂ Emissions 127g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. Finance subject to status. Retail sales only. *Subject to availability at participating dealers only on vehicles registered by 31/03/2016. At the end of the agreement there are 3 options: (i) Renew: Part exchange the vehicle. (ii) Retain: Pay the Optional Final Payment to own the vehicle or (iii) Return the vehicle. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantee/Indemnity may be required. Volvo Car Credit RH1 1SR. You will not own the vehicle until all payments are made. The service offer is only applicable when purchasing on Volvo Advantage Personal Contract Purchase at participating dealers on vehicles ordered between 01/01/2016 and 31/03/2016. Services must be carried out at a Volvo Authorised Repairer. Retail offer only. Excludes fleet operators and business users. See volvocars.co.uk for full terms and conditions. We are a credit broker (not a lender) – we can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers. We may receive a commission from them for the introduction.

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OUT & ABOUT THE SUFFOLK STITCHERS AND KNITTERS From little acorns grow the mighty oaks

Diabetes Uk Ipswich Support Group DiabetesUk Ipswich Support Group wishes everyone a happy New Year and will be opening up meetings again on Thursday, February 11 at 7pm at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. We are in our second year after having a very interesting first year with various speakers such as two of the top executives from DiabetesUK and Health Secretary Dr Poulter speaking on topics associated with DiabetesUK and other organisations.

The group started last year by Betty Beaumont in Washbrook has developed so successfully that they are now amalgamated to a wider organisation and have taken on a new name. The number of garments the 17 or so members, some knitters and others stitchers, have produced in a year is amazing. By Christmas they had filled six large boxes of items which were given to six local charities, either for immediate use – for example 42 items for the premature baby unit at Ipswich hospital, 36 warm clothing items for the elderly and frail, and nine dog jackets and 19 dog blankets for a dog charity – or other items that the charities can sell in their fundraising shops. It is hoped that the concept of ‘knitting and nattering for good causes’ will go Suffolk-wide and there will be a meeting for anyone interested in both making and supporting at the Old Magistrates Court in Ipswich on Thursday, February 25. For more details contact Betty Beaumont: 730537

CAMEO HAPPY NEW YEAR! For the December meeting we joined forces with the village hall committee who organised a Christmas singalong in the village hall on December 18. Nigel Harvey was the host, very ably supported by Ernie Dawson who kindly brought along his karaoke machine to give us the words and music to a wide variety of Christmas songs – from Slade’s Merry Christmas Everbody to Frosty The Snowman. Both Nigel and Ernie have great singing voices. Around 30 residents came along and we all took our own drink and food for a combined buffet and a fun, sociable evening. The aim of Belstead CAMEO (Come And Meet Every One) is to provide an opportunity for residents to meet each other for tea, coffee, refreshments and chat on a drop-in basis. The club is not-for-profit and there is no charge, but a small donation towards refreshments is much appreciated. (Non-residents are welcome at a charge of £1 – the set-up costs were part funded by the parish council so in fairness we need to levy a small fee for anyone not paying council tax to the parish.) Belstead is a friendly village and we want to increase this community spirit, both on personal and business levels. We aim to promote all types of local interests and have noticeboards showing events, along with information on businesses and charities. You would be amazed at the wealth of talent and scope of business in our small village! We meet between 2.30 and 4.30pm on the third Monday of the month (excluding July and August) at Belstead Village Hall.

This year we aim to carry on supporting with care and connection and offer assistance to diabetics in the Ipswich area. Our first speaker of the year is Vanessa Lomax from Age UK. The dates are for the rest of the year are: March 11, April 14, August 11, September 8 and November 10. We look forward to seeing old and new attendees this year. For further information please contact 07799 607951.

STOUR VALLEY U3A Recent meetings On Wednesday, January 13, film and TV actor Bryan Thurlow spoke on Music Hall Memories – a pocket history of music hall featuring songs and monologues. We heard about the artistes, their songs and the many other acts that contributed to the success of British music halls. Future meetings On Wednesday, February 10, Brian Barker of E J Barker & Sons will talk on Farming with Wildlife in Mind – a presentation showing how a commercial farm can maximise wildlife diversity. The speaker’s farm won the FWAG Silver Lapwing award in 2009 and P and B Barker were named Countryside Farmer of the Year by Farmers’ Weekly in 2010. Meeting venue We meet at The Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 and this entitles members to attend the meetings that take place on the second Wednesday of every month, except August and December. Membership Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment. The emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking, computer studies and gardens, churches and historic buildings visits. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the Third Age Trust and have more than 200 members and 18 groups. For further information please visit www. stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Val Pretty may be contacted. Remember It’s never too late to learn. Join the 361,477 members in 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Explorer Scouts are young people aged 14-18. Cattawade Unit meets on the second Friday of each month in Cattawade and our meetings on the fourth Friday of each month are usually outdoor activity meetings or weekend events. We occasionally meet at other times for other activities including county events and some members have taken part in ocean going offshore sailing and others have been to Switzerland, Sweden and, in 2015, to Finland. The unit is registered through Suffolk Scouts to offer Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at bronze, silver and gold level. Twelve members have achieved DofE gold. Over the last 10 years members have taken part in unit expeditions in Thetford Forest, the Peak District, Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, the Lake District, The New Forest the South Downs and Dartmoor National Parks for their bronze, silver and gold levels of the award. If you are a holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and would like to help young people achieve theirs, or wish to know more, please contact Roger for an informal chat. Roger S Dann, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Leader: 01206 395285 / 07778 463172 / catt-explorers@outlook.com

Recent meetings On Wednesday, January 6, Ian Rose spoke on Kathmandu and the Jungles of Nepal and on Wednesday, January 20, Peter Gant presented a talk entitled The Route of The Stour. Our popular New Year Lunch took place at the Venture Centre on Sunday, January 24 and was enjoyed by members and their guests alike. Future meetings On February 3 Jessica Lewis will speak on The History of the Cutty Sark and two weeks later on February 17 member Dick Patterson will talk on a most interesting subject, the history of and living in Sierra Leone during its last colonial days. Meeting venue We meet at the convenient St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB. New members 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 to providing the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month in Manningtree at 10.30am. For further details please contact secretary Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

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OUT & ABOUT

JOIN US AND FIND OUT WHY 100s ALREADY HAVE Could you spare some time to help with Rainbows, Brownies or Guides? Our volunteers give girls, and themselves, the opportunity to build their confidence, raise their aspirations and have fun. They run activities that give the girls the opportunity to realise their potential, learn new skills and make new friends. There are a lot of ways that you can volunteer with Girlguiding, it’s flexible and can be tailored to fit around your busy lifestyle. No matter how much or how little time you have, every hour counts. Rainbows are girls aged five to seven, Brownies are girls aged seven to 10, Guides are girls aged 10 to 14. If you are interested in volunteering with Girlguiding or if you have a daughter who would like to join, please email our district commissioners on for further help and information: baberghandsamford@gmail.com You may also register your interest online and fill in the details on the Join Us section: www.girlguiding.org.uk

CAPEL ST MARY GARDEN CLUB Having had our January lunch at Hintlesham Golf Club we are now moving towards our first meeting of 2016 – our AGM on February 25 in the library at 7.30pm. It will then be followed by a talk on the Suffolk Punch Trust. We are always happy to welcome new members; £8 a year or £2 if you want to just come to a particular meeting as a visitor. Any queries, please let me know. Edwina Cox, chairman: 01473 311121

BELSTEAD GARDEN CLUB The speaker for our December meeting cancelled and we had about three weeks to find a replacement. Linda Harman, a NAFAS flower arranger and demonstrator, kindly filled the gap for us, and we were so grateful and delighted that she could come. Linda has won many awards for flower arranging at the Suffolk Show, Hadleigh Show and at national level so we knew we were in for an inspiring evening. Linda’s six Christmas flower arrangements and her patter were excellent. As a Suffolk girl from Holbrook she was amusing, informative, known to several of our group and built a genuine rapport with her audience. Thank you Linda for a great evening. Her husband Vic was, as always, her helper and supporter. Mulled wine and nibbles were served during the interval, and at the end of the evening the six arrangements were used as the raffle prizes for the evening. A great start to the festive season.

EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION

If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you. We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, February 16 at 7.15pm when David Brown will be talking about China – The Land of the Dragon. This illustrated talk will focus on a number of famous and less famous attractions, both ancient and modern, as well as aspects of Chinese history and culture. The talk on March 22 will be given by Luke Potter, the new East Suffolk general manager for the National Trust. Luke will give us an insight into the current work and future plans of the trust for our area. This will be preceded by a short AGM. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome for an entrance fee of £2 each. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 a year (£12 for a couple at the same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events. For more information contact our membership secretary: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK RAMBLERS Our next walk is on Sunday, February 14, leaving the Church Room in The Street at 1.30pm. This month we are staying closer to home, and will be rambling around our four-mile village circular walk. However if you feel that is too far, there are several points on the route at which you can cut the walk short and head back to the village centre. We hope to see lots of snowdrops, and probably many daffodils as well due to the mild winter. For more information, please contact: tina@thegrindle.co.uk

CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB At our December meeting David Lilly spoke about Ickworth House. He gave us an insight into the history of the building and of the Hervey Family who owned it until 1956 when it was given to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. Our next meeting will be on February 9 with a talk entitled A Waveney Valley Childhood.

On March 16, Trimley Herbs are coming to tell us about their locally and naturally grown herbs. Perfect timing for our spring planting and to replenish our pots and herb gardens.

Visitors are welcome to join us for these talks that take place in the lounge of Capel Methodist Church at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Refreshments are provided after the talk.

We look forward to seeing you there: 7.30pm start, £2 for members and £3 for visitors, including tea, coffee and biscuits. A friendly welcome awaits you.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

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SCHOOLS

TATTINGSTONE PRIMARY SCHOOL Wow! What an end to the autumn term. Christmas began with the children being taken to Bethlehem (cleverly hidden under a tent in the village hall), where they met Mary, an innkeeper, shepherd and king. They were treated to recounts of the birth of Jesus, the smells of frankincense and myrrh and the tastes of dates and oranges. The children absorbed all this accompanied by pupils from Chelmondiston School. They then all enjoyed eating together in the tent. Their behaviour was impeccable

NEWS FROM COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL The children have settled well into the spring term after their busy autumn term. They have a busy term ahead with their school topics and after school activities. Let’s Get Cooking for Woodpeckers class will involve the children making a different food dish each week after school. Young Filmmakers Club for KS2 and KS2 multi-skills, which will also take place after school, is provided by external companies which give different opportunities to our children. Our Educate and Celebrate Day was very well supported last term. It celebrated how everyone is different and linked in with Anti-bullying Week. Each class wore different colours to signify respect, kindness, learning, nature, peace and spirit. Children were encouraged to bake cakes, photos of which were submitted for the national competition.

Our community tea was the next event. Playing to a packed hall, the children performed their Christmas Nativity outstandingly with great enthusiasm and confidence. Afterwards the children served homemade cakes and tea to their appreciative audience. Back in church we celebrated Christingle. The children retold the meaning of Christingle along with songs and prayers. On the last day of term, the children once again performed their nativity, this time even better than before. The church was full to capacity. The spirit of Christmas very evident. Following the service, families were treated to a Christmas Fayre in the village hall which was brilliantly supported. Thank you all of you who supported this. As if this wasn’t enough, some of the children, past and present, took part in carol services at both Tattingstone and Wherstead churches. The confidence of the children who sang and read was amazing. The last part of Christmas took shape in the form of an Epiphany Service on January 6. The church was filled with sparkling crowns the children had made over the holidays from recycled cards and papers. It was beautiful. The audience were treated to prayers, songs and a small performance of the king’s meeting with Herod. It is always wonderful to see the children shine, to see them grow in confidence and enjoy what they do, especially when they fit all this in with the normal everyday things you expect from a school, like maths and English. Please visit our school website to see what happens here and to enjoy the lovely photos that are now a regular feature: www.tattingstonecevcpschool.co.uk DIARY DATES Friday, February 12, 6pm: Quiz Night Wednesday March, 23, 2pm: Easter Songs to the Community Thursday, March 24, 2pm: Easter Service at Wherstead Church

The cake that Maddie Deakin baked for the Educake & Celebake Day has got through to the live final which will take place in Hackney. Congratulations Maddie on getting through to the final Bake Off. www.copdock.suffolk.sch.uk

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears We have been creating some lovely owls and hedgehogs with our handprints for our sleep room. Our sleep room has been decorated with lots of stars which add to our beautiful night time scene. We have also been outside, transforming our garden with lots of new ideas, planting and activities. Toddling Tigers The Tigers have been having so much fun learning while getting messy. They have been exploring painting with cars and Duplo while painting their hands and feet. They have looked at different textures and sounds, crunching and squeezing cereal that they used in their small world play farm, talked about the different farm animals and practised the noises they make which has been really fun. The Tigers have also been practising their scissor skills, snipping and cutting ribbons and card to create some lovely fairy crafts. Gruffalos The Gruffalos have been looking at the fairy tale classics The Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. These stories have been great at introducing shapes and sizes and practising our facial expressions, which is very good for our emotional development. We have been using the school hall to explore our interpretations of how the bears and pigs move. We’ve also been exploring colour mixing to make our very own pig masks and brought the outdoors in, using sticks, bricks and straw to make our own houses If you would like any further information about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki on 01473 310767 or email: info@robinschildcare.co.uk Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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SCHOOLS NEWS FROM BENTLEY CEVC PRIMARY SCHOOL AMAZING RESULTS As you may have read in this and other publications, Bentley CEVC Primary School was placed in the top 10 primary schools in Suffolk in the league tables published in the national press. We are so proud of our pupils whose hard work and determination secured fantastic SATs results that placed us eighth in the whole county. Every pupil who sat the tests last year achieved at least a Level 4 in maths, reading and writing, and a record number of pupils achieved Levels 5 and 6. All our pupils have shown improvement and determination throughout all the year groups and have embraced the Growth Mindset program that has been put in place in both this and our sister school, Copdock. This program teaches children perseverance and a desire to ‘grow their brains’. The results from both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are improving every year, and as our catch phrase says, we are ‘Going from Strength to Strength’. As well as the excitement around our results, we have had a busy and fun-filled month of learning here at Bentley. Every half term, parents are invited to come in and share their child’s learning by looking at the work they have done and talking to them about their learning. This month saw the first sharing of learning for this new year and it was so encouraging seeing so many parents coming in and getting involved with school life. The children felt a great sense of pride and ownership by sharing their achievements with the adults in their lives. We hope to be able to continue these sessions throughout the year as we have had such positive feedback from families and children alike. Epiphany was celebrated right at the start of the month with creative and beautiful Epiphany crowns being made by the children. The lovely Sandra Mehen from St Mary’s Church, Bentley kindly interrupted her birthday celebrations to come and speak to the children about Epiphany and to judge the crown competition. Amongst all the fun, the children learnt a great deal about Epiphany, its meaning and importance.

Here is what a group of pupils said about the day and what they had learned: “Jesus is like the torch because he is the light of the world and lights the way.” Iona, Year 5 “I will give him my courage by not getting upset when I am not able to do something.” William, Year 5 “He is like a map so he can show us the way. Wine is for the blood of Jesus.” Myles, Year 2 “They gave him gold because they wanted to show he was the king and the people wanted him to be a king.” Bridy, Year 1 “Jesus is like a first aid kit because he helps us when we are hurt.” Alena, Year 3 “When Jesus died on the cross, they put myrrh on him and he went to heaven. He was God’s son and helps him in heaven.” Elise, Year 1 “Jesus wipes the slate clean, like some wet wipes.” Charlie, Year 3 A big thank you to everyone who supported our birdwatch this month in aid of the RSPB; it was surprising how many types of bird we saw. We will be holding a grammar workshop for parents/carers to find out more about teaching and expectations in the new curriculum on Thursday, February 11, 6-7pm, at Copdock Primary School. Please let either school office know if you are attending. And finally, we are in need of old newspapers for a variety of reasons in school. If you are passing the school and have any unwanted newspapers, we would be very pleased to receive them. Thank you.

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Well, the start of the year is passing really quickly and the children have settled back in really well. We have also got some new children who joined us for this term. We are all hoping for some nice sunny weather so that everyone can enjoy the garden. There are lots of fun activities for the children to enjoy coming up soon, and parents may want to start thinking about the design for their children’s Easter bonnets for the Easter show next month (Tuesday, March 22). Further details will be issued nearer the time. The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am-3.30pm during term time. Children can start from the age of two until they go to

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Reception. Session fees are £9.60 and we offer a lunchclub (noon12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and we offer two year funded places for any eligible children. We also run a holiday club in the Easter and summer holidays for two to eight year olds – further information can be obtained by contacting the administrator. If you would like any more information regarding any of the above events or just to find out more about Claydon Pre-school please contact the administrator, Lisa Read: 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

Relaxed and Friendly Mondays During Term Time 09:30 - 11:30 Brantham Village Hall

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SCHOOLS / SPORT Graham Napier to set up cricket academy at the school on retirement at the end of the 2016 season which saw him crowned Player of the Year. The moment that will spring to mind for most Essex supporters, however, was his innings against Sussex Sharks on June 24, 2008. When Napier came to the crease, Essex were 13-1. When he returned to the pavilion at the end of the 20 overs, Essex had reached 242-3, and Napier had smashed 152 off just 58 balls. He set his original sixes record in the course of that innings. Cricket committee chairman Ronnie Irani paid tribute to the long serving all-rounder. “Graham has had a fabulous career in all three formats of the game for us, and has been the very definition of loyalty over the past 19 years which is what Essex County Cricket Club and its supporters are all about. We naturally wish Graham all the best with his next career move and he will be sorely missed.” Essex County Cricket Club stalwart Graham Napier has announced his plans to retire from the professional game at the end of the 2016 season. Napier will take up a role at the Royal Hospital School (RHS) as director of the Graham Napier Cricket Academy as his 19 year FirstClass career with the county draws to a close. Napier made his debut for the club in 1997, and has gone on to play 157 First-Class matches, 213 List A games and 97 Twenty20 clashes for his county. A bowling all-rounder, Napier boasts impressive statistics; a batting average of 29.86 in all First-Class cricket, with a bowling equivalent of 31.40; a batting strike-rate in Twenty20 of 148.27, with 142 wickets at 24.38 in the shortest format; and in List A cricket, Napier took 287 wickets over his career, at 26.04. Many Essex supporters will remember Napier for specific moments in his career; his equalling of his own world record 16 sixes in a mammoth 196 made against Surrey in 2011; his four wickets in four balls against the same opponents in 2013; his efforts in that year,

Graham said: “The opportunity at RHS is one that I could not turn down. I feel the time is right to move on, and give back to the game that has given me so much. I have loved every second of playing for Essex, and will be doing my best to make sure I retire with a bang at the end of the season.” The Graham Napier Cricket Academy at the Royal Hospital School launches in September 2016 with the aim of establishing a high profile centre of cricketing excellence which develops young cricketers to fulfil their potential as well as promoting participation at all levels and ages. Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Simon Lockyer, said: “We are delighted that Graham has agreed to work with the school building upon the excellent reputation for cricket built up over the past 23 years by Don Topley and his team of coaches. With Graham’s extensive experience the academy will take provision at the Royal Hospital School to the next stage, widening access to the sport for both girls and boys throughout the region.”

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The football club has been forced to call off several home games during the past month because the two pitches on the playing field have been unfit due to the wet weather. This is nothing new to the club and it’s hoped that the club and the community trust that owns the field can sort out the ongoing drainage problems during this year.

league win of the season by beating Grundisburgh 1-0 thanks to a Joe Bigmore goal. Gideon Spencer and Oliver Miller have been playing well at the back while Daniel Dixon has worked hard in midfield. Our Sunday morning team beat Northam Celtic 9-2 with Abdul Kaium scoring five of the goals, but lost 2-1 to the same team in the Junior Cup. Funny old game.

On the field of play, the Saturday First team continued their excellent season gaining a hard earned point after a 1-1 draw away to Ipswich Athletic with our equalising goal coming from a penalty scored by Stephen Morrison, before beating Grundisburgh at home 3-0 thanks to goals from new signing Ben Baldwin, Shaun Webb and a 30-yard piledriver into the top corner from Adam Rawthorn. The three points from this game saw the side remain in second place in the Senior League. Tom Williams has been playing well in goal with Chris Stewart putting in some classy displays in midfield.

Finally the charity match played on the training pitch on Christmas Eve was well supported by the players who raised £100 which was passed on to our youth teams. This game replaced the Married versus Single match that used to take place on Boxing Day when the good old Plough Pub, run by the legends that were Ivor and Jill, was open several years ago. Divorced against Partners didn’t sound right so we now play a charity game instead!

After losing 1-0 to Old Newton, the Reserves recorded their first

Bob the Ploughman

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SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB THE LAST MONTH The club entered 2016 in good shape. The First team have enjoyed a successful season thus far and are well placed in fourth position in the Senior Division. They also advanced to the fourth round of the Bob Coleman Cup in the opening fixture of the New Year. The Reserves are in a mid-table position with games in hand and have a third round fixture in the Goals of Ipswich Cup on January 16, while the A team is also fourth in their division after some impressive results. UPCOMING FIXTURES & EVENTS Fixtures DATE

1st TEAM Senior Division

RESERVES Intermediate A

A Team Intermediate C

Sat, Jan 30

Westerfield Utd Bob Coleman Cup R4

Achilles Res

Trimley Red Devils Res

Sat, Feb 6

Achilles

Old Newton Utd Res

Old Newton Utd A

Sat, Feb 13

Leiston St Margarets

Mendlesham Res

Debenham LC Res

Sat, Feb 20

Stanton

Sporting 87 Res

Bramford Road Old Boys Res

Sat, Feb 27

Ipswich Athletic

Stowupland Falcons Res

Sat, Mar 5

Felixstowe Harpers Utd

Leiston St Margarets Res

Felixstowe Harpers Utd Res

Fixtures subject to change. To confirm please refer to: http://touchlinesil.co.uk/fixtures-results/ Events Saturday, May 21: Awards Dinner We are always looking for people who can help the club as a committee member, whether it be on the playing side or in the background. EBUFC is a community club with very strong village traditions. The majority of the players either live in or have links to the village. Please come along and give us a look sometime. Steve Butcher, secretary stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

BELSTEAD CARPET BOWLS CLUB

The month started with a league visit to Claydon. After two heavy defeats in the first half we managed to win one and lose by a single shot on the last end, so it was a rather disappointing 8-2 defeat as we had been very easy winners in the cup a few weeks previously. Two days later we were at Bealings and a loss and a runaway win in the first half meant it was all to play for and nearing the end of both games we were looking to record wins on both mats. However, yet another last end defeat and a drawn game saw us come away with a 5-5 draw. After the Christmas and New Year break we had a home game against Sproughton and after two close games, a draw and a comfortable win, we ran out winners by 9-1, a score that didn’t tell the whole story.

BENTLEY BOWLS CLUB

The season will soon be upon us. With all this rain the grass has been growing and our greenkeeper John has had to cut it to keep it in good order. A note for your diaries. Our quiz this year will be on Saturday, May 7 at 7.30pm, with Charles setting the questions. We shall have a raffle and buffet supper as usual. Hope to see you all there.

SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL GARAGE MAKES £££ SENSE I always use my local Washbrook Service Station to service my car and always find them to be friendly and welcoming. It’s also almost half the price for a service compared to my car’s main dealers. One time my car got a recall and while it was in the main dealers they noticed my back brakes needed new pads and discs and gave me a price for the work – £458. Paul Easton at Washbrook Service Station gave me a price of £250. I’m sure you can guess where I had the work done! The downside is that Paul didn’t keep me in coffee, which my main dealer probably would have! I say support your local garage. Tony Coward

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To advertise in this section, which appears in 16 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

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CHURCH NEWS THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE

Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook & Belstead and Bentley with Tattingstone For parish queries please contact: The Rev Annette Shannon The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton, Ipswich IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Benefice administrator Hayley Purnell northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com / 07713 863023 As we are now one month into a new year, I’d like to focus for a moment on something which left a deep impression on me in 2015, Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. This wonderful campaign to fill shoeboxes for disadvantaged children stretches right across the villages in and around Ipswich. I am a volunteer, presenter and church co-ordinator for the charity and it is a charity I am passionate about. The story of the Good Samaritan gives a clear picture of God’s desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. After describing how the Samaritan rescued a hurting man when others had passed by, Jesus told his hearers: “Go and do likewise.” This is the mission of Samaritan’s Purse, to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel. For 40 years Samaritan’s Purse has done its utmost to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick and suffering. The organisation serves the church worldwide to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since 1990 more than 113 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God’s love through the power of simple shoebox gifts. These shoeboxes are an expression of God’s love to us and the gift of his son at Christmas. They give local churches the opportunity to show God’s love in a tangible way, and during the distribution event to share the good news of Jesus Christ. It is an unconditional gift of love. This is all made possible through the amazing support of thousands of adults and children in the UK and Ireland and each box is packed with love by each Good Samaritan. During the first few centuries of Christianity, many famous teachers loved to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. We find it in the sermons of Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose and other greats of the early church. In retelling this story, they gave a name to the fictional character in the story. They put a face on the Good Samaritan – the name they gave him was Jesus Christ. They recognised him in the face of their crucified and risen Lord, the Lord who is risen with his own wounds, the marks of the crucifixion. For these Saints it was Jesus himself who was the first and pre-eminent Good Samaritan. The world in which we live is in need of a Good Samaritan and the hands of Christ the Good Samaritan are our hands. The compassionate gaze of Christ is offered to people of today through our eyes. Christ takes our hands and uses them to tend the wounds of those who lie by the roadside in our world. Christ the Good Samaritan acts through us as we learn what it means to be a neighbour to those around us. Jesus in his parable closes with the words “Go and do likewise.” May we all remember those words as we continue on our Christian journeys this year. Best wishes Angela Neale, Reader

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES February 10: Burstall at 10am / Tattingstone at 7.30pm LENT GROUPS Burstall: February 17 & 24 and March 2, 9 & 16 at 2.30pm Bentley: February 17 & 24 and March 2, 9 & 16 at 7.30pm WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Friday, March 4: Burstall Church, 7pm BELSTEAD JUMBLE SALE Saturday, March 19: in the village hall, 10am MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE Thursday, March 24: Copdock Church at 7.30pm, followed by an hour’s watch FROM THE REGISTERS Baptisms Ellie May Newport, Belstead Funerals John Walter McCluskey, Bentley Anthony Wilson, Belstead FEBRUARY 3 Bentley Home Communions, 19 The Link, 10am 4 Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am 6 Copdock Morning Market, 10am 8 Bentley approval of accounts 9 Copdock approval of accounts Tattingstone approval of accounts Ash Wednesday Morning Service at Burstall, 10am, and Evening 10 Service at Tattingstone, 7.30pm 13 Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm 17 Copdock Home Communions 18, Charlottes, Washbrook, 10am Burstall Lent Group, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Group, 7.30pm 18 Churchwardens’ meeting at Copdock Church Room, 1pm 24 Burstall PCC and adoption of accounts, 7.30pm Burstall Lent Group, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Group, 7.30pm 25 Ministry meeting, noon MARCH 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 12 16 19 22 24 25 27

Bentley Home Communions, 19 The Link, 10am Burstall Lent Group, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Group, 7.30pm Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Bentley Coffee and Company, 10am Women’s World Day of Prayer, Burstall church, 7pm Copdock Morning Market, 10am Bentley adoption of accounts Burstall Lent Group, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Group, 7.30pm Belstead approval of accounts Sproughton Morning Market, 10am Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Copdock Home Communions, 18 Charlottes, Washbrook, 10am Burstall Lent Group, 2.30pm Bentley Lent Group, 7.30pm Tattingstone adoption of accounts Belstead Jumble Sale, village hall, 10am Ministry meeting at The Rectory, 7.30pm Copdock Maundy Thursday Service followed by an hour’s watch, 7.30pm Good Friday Benefice Service Belstead adoption of accounts

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CHURCH NEWS SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7 8am Copdock 10am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Morning Prayer Holy Communion Candlemas Holy Communion Candlemas

ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 10am Burstall 7.35pm Tattingstone

Holy Communion Holy Communion

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 9.15am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 6.05pm Tattingstone

Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 11am Sproughton 6.05pm Tattingstone

Holy Communion Simply Sunday Family Service Matins Holy Communion

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 8am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Belstead 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Matins Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Celebration Family Service Fourth Sunday

FRIDAY, MARCH 4 (WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER) 7pm Burstall Benefice Service Church letters and copy for the March edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by February 4 please: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com

CAPEL ST MARY AND HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCHES WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE? Part 2 Last month I wrote about the labels people put on us, and how they only tell a fraction of who we are, the 10% of the iceberg that shows. I wrote about belonging and been accepted and loved and I promised more this month. (It’s a bit dangerous promising something like that – I obviously had a train of thought then which eludes me now!) Thinking afresh now I am reminded of two books by John Powell that I read some 40 years ago, Why Am I Afraid To Love? and Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?. The premise of the second book is that I am afraid to tell others who I really am because if they don’t like me, that’s all I’ve got. So instead of being the real me with the fear you might reject me, I act out a part I think you will like because I want to be accepted. I want to belong. This acting out is like putting a wall between me and you. it may protect me from being hurt by you, but I am then trapped behind that wall and that can be a very lonely place to be.

The Christian church, of which I am part, should be a place of acceptance, love, grace and forgiveness, but too often we make it a place of living up to certain expectations, and to admit weakness or failure would be frowned upon. I love the description of the church as Sinners Anonymous. Just as in Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) participants admit they are alcoholic, and there is a commitment to help each other journey on from that place to a place less dependent on alcohol. So in the Christian church we need to admit that we have sinned and commit to help each other journey on. It’s only as we are honest and real with each other that we can blossom and bloom. I would love to be able to say that if you came to any of the churches I serve, you would be welcomed and accepted as you are. I think is most cases you would discover that yourselves. But all my churches are made up of fallible people, none of us is perfect, and there is the chance that one of us might inadvertently say or do something unkind. But if you join us we wouldn’t expect you to be perfect either, but with love, acceptance and forgiveness we journey on.

It may be you have had that experience of being rejected, possibly through bullying (verbal and emotional as well as physical). You have gone into a shell to protect yourself from being hurt again. But much of the rejection won’t have been through direct bullying, simply the fear we won’t live up to expectations (ours or others).

The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel and Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968

HOLBROOK METHODIST

CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST

Sunday, February 7

10am

Worship with Mrs Jane Paterson

Sunday, February 14

10am 6.30pm

Worship with The Rev Sankey Lent Study Group

Sunday, February 21 10am 6.30pm

Worship and Communion with The Rev Diane Smith Lent Study group

Sunday, February 28

Worship with Dr Peter Green Lent Study Group

10am 6.30pm

Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in February. For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live, contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 658478

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Sunday, February 7

10.30am 6pm

Worship with Mr Andy Jelfs Prayer Stations

Sunday, February 14 10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with The Rev Smith Healing & Communion with The Rev Andrew Sankey

Sunday, February 21 10.30am

Worship and Communion with The Rev Derek Grimshaw

Sunday, February 28 10.30am 6.30pm

Worship with The Rev Sankey United Prayer with Christians in Capel at the Community Church