In Touch with East Bergholt - March 2016

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with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary Volume 3 • Issue No. 6 • MARCH 2016

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I went along to an e-safety workshop for parents at Jack’s school last week and I’m still shaking my head in horror. I’m relatively tech-savvy, or at least I though I was, but I’m not what they call a ‘digital native’, i.e. a person born or brought up in the age of digital technology and familiar with computers and the internet from an early age. In fact I can remember being introduced to a fax machine in my first year at university and being utterly amazed that we could send a sheet of paper from one side of the room to the other!

Those of us who aren’t digital natives acknowledge the wonder of digital technology and most of us use it daily, some more effectively that others, but I don’t suppose I will ever truly appreciate how ‘normal’ it is for natives like Jack. That said it is my responsibility to protect him from the negative aspects of digital communication ­– such as the possibility that someone could be watching him through the webcam on my iPad using a remote access tool! How creepy is that?

Taking what I’d learned at the e-safety session I went into Settings on the iPad and set all the appropriate restrictions. I also downloaded a child-friendly version of YouTube called YouTube Kids and a child-friendly browser. Jack hasn’t actually noticed the difference yet, but I know he’s not going to be bombarded with inappropriate content or accidentally follow links to sites which aren’t age appropriate. For now he’s safe, but kids being kids, I know he will challenge the boundaries and find ways to circumvent my efforts to control his digital adventures so I have to stay one step ahead at all times. Ironically there are some very useful websites you can visit to learn more about setting restrictions and understanding how young people use social media.

The e-safety session ended with a question: “Would you abandon your children in central London unsupervised and unaccompanied?”

If No is your answer, find out what you can do to protect them online.

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with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary

In Touch with Dedham, East Bergholt & Flatford is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins We also publish Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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IN TOUCH WITH . . .

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

STRATFORD ST MARY NEEDS YOUR HELP! The playground in the Parish Playing Field (Higham Road) is in need of an upgrade, but we urgently need your support.

Tesco are using the money they charge for plastic bags to donate to local outdoor spaces, like ours.

The Bags of Help Initiative has selected three worthy causes in the local area, and we are excited to be one of them. This will mean £8,000, £10,000 or £12,000 of funding towards the playground in Stratford St Mary, and all you have to do is vote for our project in the Tesco stores, like Manningtree and Great Bentley.

We plan to upgrade the play area, obtain new types of equipment and appeal to a wider age range of children. Once we have completed the funding process we will be interested to find out what ideas you have for the area.

Please help our small village provide an improved and exciting outdoor space for local children.

Thank you, Stratford St Mary Parish Council Voting takes place from February 27 to March 4 at the following Tesco Express stores: Manningtree, Brightlingsea, Great Bentley, Thorpe Le Soken, Holland On Sea, Walton On The Naze, Clacton On Sea, Clacton Store

EAST BERGHOLT HEARTWATCH This is a final reminder that our big fundraising event – Heartwatch Charity Race Night – takes place on March 12 at Constable Memorial Hall in Gandish Road. Why not round up a few friends and come and join us for a great evening? Tickets are £3 per head, available from the Fountain House Tea Rooms or from Valerie Ayton on 01206 298692. Buy now before they all go! As well as the races, there will be a raffle, free snacks and a pay bar.

We really would appreciate it if more people could join East Bergholt Heartwatch. You must be over 18 years of age and able to drive. Full training and support are provided. The level of commitment you give is entirely up to you, to fit in with your lifestyle. If you are interested, or even just thinking about it, please call Anne Chapman on 01206 298553 for an informal chat.

Thank you for your on-going support.

Heartwatch Committee

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

APRIL DEADLINE 20 MARCH 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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NEWS EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE Matters at the January 2016 meeting • 20 members of the public attended for planning applications on the agenda • Nine planning application considered – five approvals recommended, three refusals recommended and one tree application was not at property described • Section 106 monies from Babergh will almost cover the cost of Gandish Road Playground replacement. Other grants applied for, but PC approved balance from reserve if necessary.

• Co-op proposed new signage for village shop to be considered by PC and EB Society • PC to work with Babergh and EB Society on extension of Conservation Area • The 2016/17 budget and precept were approved which will result in small reduction in PC element of Council Tax • Draft 6.2 of EB Neighbourhood Plan approved for release to Babergh for Section 16 consultation Valerie Ayton, parish clerk

REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: FEB 2016 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR SUE CARPENDALE Major planning developments in Babergh In the new Local Plan adopted by Babergh in 2014 covering the period up to 2031 some 2,500 new homes are planned. 60% of these are destined for the urban centres with 40% going to the rural areas. While there are policies in place to ‘protect’ existing settlements from inappropriate development, there is now an over-riding ‘presumption in favour of development’.

Chilton Woods For many years, Babergh has been working with the county council and major developers to bring forward this scheme. A planning application (ref: B/15/01718/FUL) has now been registered for the development of 1,100 homes with supporting facilities. The application is in ‘outline’ at this stage to establish the principle of the site. It seeks to establish the broad parameters of the proposal including the highway access arrangements, but all other matters such as house designs are ‘reserved’ for subsequent planning applications to determine at a later date. Chilton Woods will be a large mixed use strategic development site located on the northern edge of Sudbury. The site has long been identified for growth, creating both jobs and homes.

As well as 1,100 dwellings, there are nearly 16½ hectares allocated to employment (with a hotel, a household waste recycling centre and a district heating network), a village centre with retail floor space and a village hall, a primary school, pre-school and car parking. Sustainable transport links are planned, community woodland, open space including children’s play areas, a sports pavilion, playing fields and allotments.

Chilton Woods is clearly an exceptionally ambitious project, likely to be delivered over a lengthy time span, but it will be an important contribution to the 300-plus homes Babergh must provide every year. It is well known that there are some 800 permissions already approved but building has not even started. The lack of progress has an adverse impact for the council.

Hadleigh and Ipswich fringe Other key strategic sites identified in the Local Plan are to the east of Hadleigh and south of Ipswich. A additional site in Pinewood (5.7 hectares) was given approval recently for 155 homes plus a 65-bed care home at Belstead House, and another application is due to be heard for 475 homes on land north and south of Poplar Lane (this runs off the A1071 from the Holiday Inn to the Thompson and Morgan site. Still in the pipeline is the Brantham regeneration project.

Capel St Mary and its ‘cluster’ of surrounding hinterland villages are in line for development. The current planning regime is driven by central government

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which sees new homes as the key to job creation and economic growth.

The figure of 1,050 homes to be allocated amongst the core and hinterland villages should be seen as a minimum. Finding the balance between these pressures and the quality of life we have come to expect will generate some huge challenges for all of us. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN Community Infrastructure Levy At a full council meeting on Wednesday, January 20, Babergh councillors voted by an overwhelming majority to adopt the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a framework to collect funds for infrastructure from new developments.

As a result, from April 11 this year Babergh District Council will charge CIL on residential and convenience retail developments in the district, collecting between £50 and £115 in CIL per square metre of floor space depending on the type, size and location of the development.

This will work alongside contributions collected under Section 106 of the Town and County Planning Act and will deliver a clearer and more transparent system for funding infrastructure, providing clear information on costs to both developers and the local authority throughout the development process.

Babergh District Council will be responsible for managing the CIL funding.

CIL will give the district council a predictable funding stream that allows councillors to plan ahead more effectively, while giving developers much more certainty from the start about costs they would expect. As a result of this development communities will receive a direct allocation of either 15% or 25% of the CIL funds.

The proposals for CIL in Babergh have been through a strict planning process, including consultations, engagement and an examination by an examiner appointed by the Planning Inspectorate who described the evidence informing Babergh’s charging schedule as “robust, proportionate and appropriate”.

Developments on strategic sites, as identified in Babergh’s Core Strategy, will continue to collect funds via Section 106 payments rather than CIL. The Joint Strategic Plan The Joint Strategic Plan sets out how the councils aim to provide services to deliver positive, sustainable change in our individual and business communities over the next five years. The plan is being updated following last year’s election as the two new administrations want to review and update the strategies of the two councils in light of key local, regional and national factors that have changed since the Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) was developed in 2013/14.

After strategic planning workshops with portfolio holders were held, councillors confirmed that the vision and priorities in the previous plan had not changed – Economy & Environment, Housing, Strong & Healthy Communities – and that these priorities would be delivered under five key strategic themes or outcomes: • Housing delivery: More of the right type of homes, of the right tenure in the right place • Business growth and increased productivity: Encourage development of employment sites and other business growth of the right type in the right places and encourage investment in skills and innovation in order to increase productivity • Community capacity building and engagement: All communities are thriving, growing, healthy, active and self-sufficient • Assets and investment: Improved achievement of strategic priorities and greater income generation through use of new and existing assets (Profit for Purpose) • An enabled and efficient organisation: The right people are doing the right things, in the right way, at the right time A report seeking councillor approval for this refreshed plan is being presented at the Strategy and Executive Committee meetings on February 4 and 8. A full plan document containing more detail is being developed. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Managing winter demand and prescribing This is one of the busiest times of the year for the practice and on some days demand can be extremely high. Since last September we have operated a triage system. When all our doctor appointments are full and you feel you need to speak with a doctor, you will be placed on a list for the doctor to phone you back and either address your problem over the phone or ask you to attend an appointment later in the day. Each day, one doctor has responsibility for contacting patients added to the list.

Some days, this list has extended to more than 40 patients and the nominated doctor for that day will contact them all in addition to their morning surgery and dealing with the clinical administration work (test results and letters from the hospital relating to patients they have referred).

Many of the problems patients present with can be addressed by our excellent nurse practitioners and our minor illness nurse. Many of their appointments are pre-bookable as well. These include problems such as cough/colds, rashes, headache, earache, minor injuries and conjunctivitis. Our reception team can advise on whether our nurses can treat you.

Also, pharmacists can provide sound advice on many conditions and treatments are often available over the counter without prescription. Please note that the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have issued guidelines for our clinicians not to prescribe treatments that are available over the counter.

Paracetamol, for example, is available very cheaply in supermarkets but cost to the NHS is significantly greater if it is prescribed.

The CCG have recently issued guidelines on prescribing gluten free products.

These can no longer be prescribed for patients over 18 years old and only in limited quantities for patients under 18.

Our clinicians have also been asked to reduce antibiotic prescribing. This is because many viruses are becoming more resistant to antibiotics and very few new antibiotics have been discovered over the last 20 year or so. This means that if they continue to be prescribed at high rates then there is a very real danger that the antibiotics currently available cease to become effective.

Our clinicians will, of course, prescribe the medication they believe is most appropriate to treat a problem.

Christmas gifts Thank you to all patients who handed presents to the practice over the Christmas period. All these gifts were distributed to all doctors and other members of staff. Last year was very challenging for us and we were all very grateful, and moved, to receive so many gifts of appreciation.

Training days Just a reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Thursday, March 10; Wednesday, April 13; Thursday, May 19 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.

Practice Manager Pete Keeble

ARDLEIGH SURGERY NEWS Those of you who have visited the surgery or one of the local hospitals over the last year may well have already filled in the Friends & Family Test (FFT) survey. This is an NHS initiative and our contract requires us to both offer it to patients and then report the findings to them on a monthly basis. You may well be asked to complete one after every visit to the surgery or hospital, meaning you fill in several in a year.

But for those of you who haven’t, what is it? Essentially it is just one question: How likely are you to recommend our GP Practice or hospital? You choice of reply can be either extremely likely, likely, neither likely nor unlikely, unlikely, extremely unlikely or don’t know. Then there is a space for you to write a comment about why you chose that answer. While filling in surveys can be annoying, the comments left can be very useful for the practice.

Overwhelmingly, patients here choose extremely likely or likely, which is very pleasing.

We have just completed our FFT return for January, and I thought I would share the results with you. We had 32 completed forms, of which 26 (81%) said it was extremely likely they would recommend the practice to others and a further five (16%) said they were likely to do so. Only one person said that they were unlikely to recommend the surgery, but they chose not to add any comment as to why.

When reading through the comments, lovely statements have been made about the helpfulness of the staff and the professionalism and caring nature of the doctors and nurses, such as “Exceptional treatment and service from all the doctors, nurses and staff” and “Amazing staff, amazing doctors, best surgery that I have ever been registered with”. At Ardleigh we strive to be the best practice we can, and it’s nice to know that for some of you we are achieving that. We do receive some comments regarding things patients feel we could do better. Generally these fall into three categories – the car parking situation, getting through on the telephone and the appointment system.

Please don’t feel that this is your only forum for raising issues. I am more than happy to talk to you about suggestions or grumbles that you may have.

SURGERY WEBSITE The surgery is building a new website, which we hope will be a little more interactive than the current one. It is anticipated that the new website will have comprehensive information about the staff and services available at both the Ardleigh and Dedham sites, and have links to other NHS organisations.

From the website you will be able to access the online services to order a repeat prescription, book or cancel an appointment or to check some of your medical records. It is anticipated that the website will be online from the beginning of April. Don’t worry if you use our current website as you will be automatically re-directed.

Practice Manager Stephanie Durrant

REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton

January was a strange month! Planning applications for a large housing number refused by committee were withdrawn by the monitoring officer and a new committee ‘selected’ to decide it in the appropriate manner. The council’s constitution is in a shambles as it only applies when appropriate. I am sure we will get to the bottom of it but perhaps not without some major changes.

The budget is nearly upon us but now government has added some more money to the pot it will need to be adjusted.

The news of more police officers for rural areas is encouraging in a reassuring way but as the confirmed old cynic that I am I will believe it when it happens.

No news on the highways front except to keep dodging the potholes on the Four Sisters Exit, and to watch out for the new 60mph with average speed cameras across the Orwell Bridge.

There are still large applications pending in Brantham, East Bergholt and over the river in Tendring. Co-operation between the councils will be essential, but their record of talking to each other is not good. I am working behind the scenes to try and improve things.

The weather keeps being changeable, so take care out there and hopefully the news in the next edition will be better.

Councillor John Hinton

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

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

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OUT & ABOUT

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR FREE, FRIENDLY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SERVICE? Our experienced staff can help you find out about: • Health and Social Care Services near you – emergency dentists, home care, carer support and entitlements, registering with a new GP, finding a support group for your condition, mental health services and the choices available to you • How to access the support and advice you need • What to do if you have a concern or complaint • How to share feedback about services in your part of Essex • Where to find a Health Advocate if you are finding it difficult to access services • And much, much more We take the time to listen to your concerns, experience and views.

CONTACT US Call: 0300 500 1895 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or leave a message on our answerphone.

Email: info@healthwatchessex.org.uk Write to: Healthwatch Essex, Threshelfords Business Park, Inworth Road, Feering, Essex CO5 9SE Healthwatch Essex is a registered charity in England and Wales (No: 1158356) and a company limited by guarantee (No: 8360699)

EAST BERGHOLT CINEMA Friday, March 4: Suffragette (12A)

This stirring story centres on Maud, a working wife and mother whose life is forever changed when she is secretly recruited to Britain’s growing suffragette movement. A fictionalised account of the fight for women’s votes starring Meryl Streep, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne-Marie Duff and Carey Mulligan.

Friday, April 1: The Lady in the Van (12A) Based on Alan Bennett’s memoir about the homeless woman who persuaded the playwright to let her park her chaotic camper van in his driveway for 15 years. Starring Maggie Smith.

“Maggie Smith is a tottering, staggering force of nature in this cherishable adaptation of Alan Bennett’s beloved play” The Telegraph Films start at 8pm. Bar and refreshments available from 7.30pm.

All shows at the Constable Hall, Gandish Road East Bergholt. Tickets available on the door or in advance from the Fountain House Tea Room in East Bergholt: adults £4 / under 18s £2

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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ADVERTISING FEATURE NOW IS THE TIME TO PLAN AHEAD Taking control of your future and planning ahead for your funeral gives you the opportunity to share your ideas on how you would like to be remembered, and how your life should be celebrated. It can also provide you with the comfort of knowing your family won’t be faced with financial strain and worries in the future, making planning ahead for your funeral all the more worthwhile.

East of England Co-op Funeral Services has been trusted by local families since 1925 to provide excellent levels of service, care and reassurance when helping to create unique and personalised tributes.

By combining their knowledge and experience they have created five prepayment funeral plans for you to choose from. Alternatively, a member of

their team can help you create an entirely bespoke plan, so you can rest assured that every last detail will be just as you wish so you can get on with enjoying life.

Clearly priced, and with no hidden costs, their plans allow you to pay for your funeral in full now, or in manageable monthly payments over a time that suits you. All of their funeral plans are completely inflation proof, so by planning ahead you pay today’s price no matter how much costs may rise in the future.

If you are a member of the East of England Co-op you can also collect dividend points on your pre-payment plan, which you can use visiting new places, treating yourself or doing things with friends and family.

Find out more about East of England Co-op pre-payment funeral plans, or order a brochure, by visiting eastofengland.coop/funerals.

Alternatively, you can contact your local funeral branch who can also arrange a home visit for you.

Your local East of England Co-op funeral branches are:

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• Century House, Station Road, Manningtree 01206 391855 • 89 Wimpole Road, Colchester 01206 793492 • The Centre, Greenstead 01206 860584 • 98 The Commons, Prettygate 01206 560988 • 33-35 Long Wyre Street, Colchester 01206 767675 • 47 St Helens Street, Ipswich 01473 257242 • 310 Nacton Road, Ipswich 01473 860040 • 247a Hawthorn Drive, Chantry 01473 602414 • 283 Norwich Road, Ipswich 01473 232837 • Century House, Station Road, Manningtree 01206 391855 • W.H. Shephard Funeral Service, 93-94 High Street, Colchester 01206 572305

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OUT & ABOUT EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY

EAST BERGHOLT OPEN GARDENS

Old Actors Never Die… They Simply Lose the Plot by Lynn Brittney The Mount Home for Retired Theatricals is more like posh hotel than a home for the elderly and the residents are very happy at being waited on hand and foot. When Walter Neville (veteran of over 200 films) arrives, he’s delighted to find his best friends living there and looks forward to many enjoyable hours living in peace and harmony. But when the serial womaniser ex-husband of three of the ladies (Mrs Sullivan 1, 2 and 3) goes missing – apparently on the run from the Russian Mafia – the peace is about to be shattered.

East Bergholt Open Gardens, in aid of the Church Preservation Society, will be on Sunday, June 5.

Come and enjoy this very funny play which is full of wonderful characters ranging from the dramatically eccentric to the downright scary at The Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14-16 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £6 in advance (£7 on the door if any left!) from Fountain House Café and from 01206 396674 / 07891 974844

VENTURE CENTRE 2000 ITALIAN EVENING Colchester Gateway Clubs is a local charity which runs social clubs for adults with learning disabilities in Colchester and Tendring. Fundraising is an

essential part of the charity’s income and for the first time, an Italian evening is being held at the Venture Centre on Saturday, March 12. Local support for this event would be greatly appreciated.

Please contact charity manager Mandy Hudson: 07999 278472 / thursdaygatewayclub@hotmail.com

STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC Sunday March 13, at 4pm: Pirates of the Baroque, a family concert with Red Priest at St Mary’s Church East Bergholt

Thank you to those gardens already kindly offered. We would love a few more, perhaps some new ones? Also calling for cake makers and for helpers on the day.

If you are interested or need more information contact Sara Eley (01206 298385) or Valerie Ayton (01206 298692 / v.ayton@sky.com).

Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School

NEARLY NEW SALE Saturday, March 19 1.30-3pm Capel Community Church Days Road, Capel St Mary

Maternity clothes, baby equipment, clothes (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).

This unconventional and virtuosic group of outstanding musicians has been described by MT, CAP, COP & EAST B music critics as “completely wild and highly

imaginative” with a “break-all-rules, rock-chamber concert approach to early music”. They have

performed all over the world and thrill their audiences wherever they go. Their family friendly programme for our concert includes music by Vivaldi, Bach and Telemann.

SET UP AS A POSTER

Bring the whole family and show your children or grandchildren that classical music can be great fun.

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Adult tickets are £14 and a family ticket (two adults and up to four children)

is £16.

QUIZ NIGHT

For further details and tickets please contact Doreen Weatherall: 01206 298426 Tickets are also available from Grier and Partners and you can also book online at: www.svam.org.uk

East Bergholt High School

Friday, March 11, 7.45pm EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL

ASSOCIATION Teams of up to eight QUIZ NIGHT

East Bergholt High School Bar open from 7.15pm Friday, March 11, 7.45pm Teams of up to eight Tickets £5 per person including nibbles Bar open from 7.15pm including nibbles Tickets £5 per person ( 01206 298122 01206 298122 www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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OUT & ABOUT FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY

NEWS FROM CAPEL LIBRARY

The friendsheld their annual general meeting in the village hall on Saturday, January 16. It was a fairly difficult meeting in that we had to compete with music from the pantomime going on next door. The outgoing chairman reported a year of consolidation, with some innovations in the library including the introduction of Wi-Fi and the installation of a digital projector and screen enabling film presentations. Our financial position was good despite expenditure during the year, but we anticipated additional expenditure in the light of the cut backs imposed by Suffolk County Council. One new trustee was elected for the coming year.

Our next Creative Arts East showing is Billy Elliot on Thursday, March 31. Tickets are just £8 each. Doors open at 1.30pm with the production starting at 1.45pm. Do get your tickets in advance if possible, but they will also be available on the day. Refreshments included.

Our 100 Club continues to grow. We are now able to offer three prizes each month, one of £10 and two of £5. The winners in January were Christine Phasey £10, Kevin Austrin and Nancy Hunt both £5, and in February Doreen Parker £10 and Dave Busby and Ann Powell both £5.

Please make a date in your diary for our evening event (below) on March 30.

Please also support the events being organised in the library – Billy Elliott on March 31 and the Jurassic event for children in the Easter school holidays.

(See opposite) Please support Katharine Liu and her friend Ali who are running the Colchester Half Marathon to raise funds for the library (see News from Capel Library opposite).

Wed, March 30 at 7.30pm: Landscape and Wildlife Photography in the UK.

Advance Notice: We will be holding a Jurassic Encounters Mobile Petting Zoo on Friday, April 8 in the village hall. Tickets are just £4 to include a drink and biscuit. May we kindly request that only one adult accompany each family due to space restrictions. Tickets are available for 3-4pm and we will hold a waiting list in case of oversubscription. Animals may alter on the day but we are expecting Pinky the skinny pig, Pascal the panther chameleon and Phineus and Ferb the meerkats among others. Do come and get your ticket early to avoid disappointment.

BabyBounce will continue to meet every Tuesday at 2pm but will take a break during the school Easter holiday so no meeting on March 29 and April 5.

Some new mums and children have joined the group recently so if you can come and join with us for singing of nursery rhymes and shaking of instruments, it can be very lively and noisy.

Book group meets on Friday, March 18, starting at 2.30pm. Do come and join in the group – they are very friendly and some lively discussion takes place on the current read.

Please note that we will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, March 25 and 27. Books may be posted through the letterbox in the wall and will be dealt with when next open. We are open as usual on Saturday, March 26.

Katharine Liu, a member of our staff, and her friend Ali Stark are running in the Colchester Half Marathon on Sunday, March 13. They are seeking sponsorship with all funds raised going towards events for our community and to provide resources for the library. You may sign the form in the library or donate online at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/katharine-liu. We of course wish them all the best.

The Friends of Capel Library have invited Andrew Bailey to give us an illustrated lecture on landscape and wildlife photography in the UK. Andrew won the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 1995, and more recently has had several pictures published in the international Garden Photographer of the Year. He also won prizes in the Royal Photographic Society international slide competitions.

Andrew will be talking about the making of one of these photographs. The evening promises to be a feast for the eyes, as well as an incentive for us to get our cameras out. Light refreshments will be served, and tickets will be priced at £5 (£4 for friends). The lecture takes place in the library.

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

Shimmy, Shake, Wiggle & Giggle

The Friends of Capel library would like to thank Chris Yule for his valuable work as their chairman, a position he held for two years. During that time Chris played a key role in getting the group up and running, raising money to enhance and improve the library and giving support to the manager and staff. Chris has now stepped down from the role, although he is remaining as a trustee. The group is actively seeking a new chairman. If you have a few hours each month to spare and are keen to make a positive difference to your local library, we would love to hear from you. Suffolk Libraries is facing financial challenges over the coming years and the role of library friends’ groups in helping and supporting libraries is set to become increasingly important. If you are interested or would like to know more please contact Jackie Harman, library manager.

OPENING TIMES Monday: closed Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Sunday: 10am-3pm

Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm / 2-5.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm

Contact: 01473 311699

BUMPER BOOK SALE

to Dance Fitness Fun

"Strictly" style Dance-a-cise

Constable Memorial Hall

Gandish Rd, East Bergholt every Monday at 10am spaces are limited to reserve yours

At Manningtree Methodist Church in South Street on Easter Monday, March 28 from 10am-4pm

Call Janet on 07506 350 455

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

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

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Out and About is a country clothing store at agricultural specialists P Tuckwell Ltd, located at the company’s Ardleigh showroom in Colchester.

We stock many of the leading outdoor and country clothing, footwear and accessory brands, such as Aigle, Alan Paine, Crew Clothing, Chatham Marine, Le Chameau, Joules, Jack Murphy, Pioneros, RM Williams, Vedoneire and more, including our own brand of trousers.

We endeavour to keep adding new brands to our already impressive string. Stocking quality lifestyle clothing and footwear, at Out and About you will find a wide variety of products that balance function and comfort for on trend styling. With our full range of clothing for all occasions you can live and breathe the country life wearing the best selection of outfits to be seen in this season, whether it’s a day at the Races, off shooting or out for lunch in town!

We have extensive off street parking facilities and our experienced staff will provide you with the support you need to make your visit an enjoyable shopping experience.

Our customer service is top priority, our staff are always on hand to help, whether it is advice, information or ordering in a specific garment from our valued stockists.

As well as our base in Ardleigh, we also travel to Country shows up and down the county such as The Tendring Hundred Show and The Suffolk Show, displaying the in season favourites!

For frequent up-to-date information on our events and new stock like our facebook page: Out and About at Tuckwell’s

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OUT & ABOUT DEDHAM FILMS The Assembly Rooms, Dedham

Wednesday, March 16, 7.30pm: The Lady in the Van (12A / Subtitles) Directed by Nicholas Hytner. The mostly true story of how a woman of uncertain origins temporarily parked her van in Alan Bennett’s north London drive and stayed for 15 years.

Tickets £4 from Shakespeare House Gallery Dedham High Street or at: www.dedhamfilms.co.uk

DEDHAM FILMS LIVE Tuesday, March 1, 7pm: Les Liaisons Dangereuses Directed by Josie Rourke from National Theatre Live in collaboration with the Donmar Warehouse.

Wednesday, March 30, 7pm: As You Like It Directed by Polly Findlay starring Rosalie Craig as Rosalind. “A stunning production, with the most spectacular scene changes the National has housed for years.” Time Out ***** Tickets £10 from Shakespeare House Gallery Dedham High Street or at: www.dedhamfilms.co.uk​

CAPEL SINGERS TO PERFORM THE CRUCIFIXION BY JOHN STAINER Capel Singers are to perform The Crucifixion by John Stainer at St Mary’s Church, Capel St Mary on Palm Sunday, March 20 at 6.30pm.

This well-known work tells the story of the Crucifixion in a series of choruses and arias, punctuated by congregational hymns. It makes an ideal preparation for Holy Week and looks forward to the celebration of Easter Day. Tenor and bass soloists will be Chris Hall and Chris Yule, with Graeme Bentley accompanying on the organ, as well as solo voices from the choir. Admission will be free with a retiring collection for charity.

COFFEE MORNING The Friends of the historic Lambe School in East Bergholt warmly invite you to their popular Spring Sale and Coffee Morning on Saturday, April 23, 10am-noon, at the school on Gaston Street.

Attractions include cake and plant stalls, a raffle, a bucket raffle, cards, Blind Lucky Dip, Name the Bear, children’s toys, toiletries, bric-a-brac and books.

Entrance £1 including coffee and biscuits. Children free!

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OUT & ABOUT BRANTHAM BOX OFFICE Presents Film Night Wednesdays at Brantham Village Hall: doors open at 7pm, film starts at 7.30pm, refreshments available.

Wednesday, March 16: Woman in Gold (12A) Wednesday, April 20: A Royal Night Out (12) Wednesday, May 18: Mr Holmes (PG) Tickets £4 in advance from Bakes and Blossom café, £4.50 on the door, £2 for under 16s.

Find out more at: Facebook.com/BranthamBoxOffice

HADLEIGH CHORAL SOCIETY St Mary’s Church Hadleigh, Saturday, March 19, 7.30pm, with Colchester Symphony Orchestra Handel: Overture to the Occasional Oratorio Dettingen Anthem Chandos Anthem No 11 Let God Arise Zadok the Priest Dettingen Te Deum Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major Conductor: Christopher Phelps SOLOISTS Soprano: Zoe Brookshaw Counter tenor: Tim Travers-Brown Tenor: Julian Alexander Smith Bass: Christopher Borrett Natural Trumpets: Victoria Rule, Stephen Keavy and Darren Moore Tickets (£14 / £12 concessions / under 16 £2) from The Idler Bookshop, Hadleigh or on the door. www.hadleighchoralsociety.org.uk

EASTER ART EXHIBITION AND SALE AT MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH This is the 44th year of the popular art show at Manningtree Methodist Church. The first show was held in 1972 in the old maltings in North Street, near the quay, the inspiration of three church members, Eddie Acres, Lionel Lay-Flurrie and David Shearmur. The venue was pigeon ridden and insecure, which required someone to sleep-over each night. The show quickly moved into the church hall and expanded into the new hall in 1982.

As an open show, any artist may enter. The rules are few and the charges modest, which results in a colourful show in all styles and mediums. Originally a week-long show it is now held over the Easter weekend from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

OPENING TIMES Good Friday, March 25: 2-5pm Saturday, March 26: 10am-5pm Easter Sunday, March 27: 2-5pm Monday, March 28: 10am-4pm Additional attractions include a craft stalls and a photo exhibition. A large book fair on the Monday attracts many additional visitors and refreshments are available in the Red Dot Cafe.

Enquiries to: 01206 298635 / 01206 391145

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Cine Films - Video Tapes - Audio Media - Slides & Print Scanning

We Bring Your Memories Back To Life

Call us on (01473) 327574 Unit 12 Court Farm, Stutton Road, Brantham, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1PW tel. 01473 327574 Caricature by patsyclare.co.uk Illustration by bethgoody.co.uk www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS On February 3 Jessica Lewis spoke on The History of the Cutty Sark and two weeks later on February 17 member Dick Patterson talked on a most interesting subject, the history of and living in Sierra Leone during its last colonial days.

On March 2 Richard Walker will present When Pirates Ruled the Waves and we will hold our annual general meeting on Wednesday, March 16 when Graeme Forsyth will step down after his year as president.

We meet at the convenient St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB. Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month in Manningtree at 10.30am.

MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY What better start to a New Year than to be invited into the colourful and creative world of local photographer Barbie Lindsay. Her talk in January opened the door to the fun, excitement and mastery of the photographic art.

This poignant example is one of the range of topics presented, featuring the former plastics factory at Brantham, now quiet but in it’s heyday alive with the unforgettable heat, fumes and clatter of the busy production line of our largest local employer.

Factory Floor by Barbie Lindsay

For further details please contact secretary Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

STOUR VALLEY U3A Recent meetings On Wednesday, February 10 Brian Barker of E J Barker & Sons spoke on Farming with Wildlife in Mind. It was a most interesting presentation showing how a commercial farm can maximise wildlife diversity.

Future meetings On Wednesday, March 9 Charlotte Harding will present An Introduction to Warner & Sons, a talk on the 120 years of textile design and manufacture in London and Braintree, highlighting the company’s royal connections.

Barbie and husband Rusty have a large website featuring the whole range of their work which is well worth a visit: www.barbielindsay.co.uk Our monochrome competition later in the month was ably judged by Peter Epsley with that refreshing Yorkshire frankness that really made us think about our work.

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

In February we were invited to a friendly competition at the Harwich & Dovercourt Camera Club. We were royally welcomed and they provided a splendid buffet in the interval. Manningtree won this close contest for the first time.

Membership Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping to develop 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.

Future meetings March 10 Street Scenes / Competition Judge: Roy Essery DPAGB March 24 Members Critique Evening March 31 Animals & Geysers in Yellowstone National Park with Ian Rose

DEDHAM FOOTPATH GROUP

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.

Sunday, April 3: Meet in the car park of The Case is Altered PH, Bentley, Suffolk at 2.30pm for a two-hour walk.

Leader: John Osborn, 07919 521607 Sunday, April 17: Meet in the car park opposite Lawford Church at 10.30am for a five-mile stroll Leader: Ian Chapman, 07914 749520 Sunday, May 15: Meet at Stutton Community Hall at 10.15am for a 6½-mile walk.

Leaders: Jan Jukes, 07283 276367 and Helen Edevane, 01206 395265 Wednesday, May 18: Meet at Salary Close Bromley Road Colchester at 6.30pm for a walk of 4½ miles.

Leader: Margaret Smith, 01206 822797 Sunday, June 17: Meet at public car park at Pin Mill at 6.30pm for a four to five-mile walk.

Leader: Sheila Beeton, 01206 322171

New members are welcome to join the society or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Meetings are held at St John’s Centre on Station Road at 7.30pm.

For more information please contact our secretary: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

We occasionally meet at other times for other activities including county events. 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

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE LINK CLUB For our February meeting Pip Wright gave a talk on the Lady Alice de Breyene.

She was a noble lady who lived in Suffolk during the 14th century and was present at the court of King Richard II. She owned many large estates and Pip showed examples of the type of house she was likely to have lived in.

Inventories which still survive show what they would have eaten throughout the year.

Our next meeting is on March 9 when our talk will be on the NT coast of East Anglia. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall starting at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments (when there is time for a chat with other members) and a raffle.

New members and visitors are welcome to join us.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

EAST BERGHOLT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY We begin our 2016 programme of events on Friday, March 11, 7.30pm at the Constable Hall with a talk by Natalie Finch entitled Fragrant Plants to Use in the Garden Throughout the Year. There will be a licensed bar and tickets are available from the Fountain House Tea Rooms: £3 members / £5 non-members.

The store is now open to members selling all your basic gardening needs at rock bottom prices so do pop by. Every Sunday morning, 9.30-10.30am, behind the Robertson’s Almshouses beside the church.

Dates for your diaries Saturday, April 16: Spring Supper Saturday, May 21: Plant Sale* Wednesday, May 25: East Bergholt Place Garden tour Friday, June 17: RSPB at Flatford guided walk Saturday, July 16: Coach trip to Wisley Saturday, September 3: Annual Show Friday, October 14: Speaker Evening Friday, November 11: AGM *If you have any plants you could donate to our plant sale in May please call Pete on 299164 – thank you. www.eastbergholthorticulturalsociety.onesuffolk.net Email: ebhs@btinternet.com

DEDHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Our next speaker’s evening is on April 6 at 7.30pm in the Assembly Rooms, High Street, Dedham. The guest speaker is Francis Harper whose talk is entitled Silk from China to Essex. All are welcome with an admission fee of £2 for non-members. Tea or coffee and biscuits are provided and there will be the usual raffle with great prizes.

Just before that on Saturday, April 2 at the same venue from 2pm onwards, we are holding our Spring Flower Show, which also features cookery, photography and junior entries. Again all are welcome and as this is an open show anyone can submit an entry, so why not have a go? Entry forms and further details of both events are available by contacting: 01206 322565 / colinbiggins869@btinternet.com Future events include our AGM on May 11, again in the Assembly Rooms at 7.30pm with guest speaker David Morgan talking on Essex Wind and Water Mills. The AGM is the time when we welcome new members to join for an annual fee of just £6. Hot on the heels of the AGM, on Saturday, May 14, our annual plant sale from 9-11.30am is taking place in Dedham churchyard. This is a major fundraising event for our society and your support would be very much appreciated.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

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SCHOOLS BENTLEY CEVC PRIMARY SCHOOL As ever, the last month was a hive of activity, starting with Wolves class visiting Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. The children had great fun while enhancing their learning on their current topic, birds. Although we all enjoyed seeing the feathered creatures at the centre, it was the meerkats that stole the limelight as we were treated to a talk about them and a great view of their feed time. The red squirrels were a little more elusive. We think we may have spotted a tail at one point but we can’t be sure!

E-safety has been the watchword this half term with lessons, activities and discussions on how to stay safe online taking place across the school.

The children have taken on board the importance of keeping safe on the internet and what can go wrong. The feedback from the pupils has been enlightening; one child has told us that their details are on the internet because their mum is selling them on eBay! Another whole school event has been the Lord’s Prayer Day that was organised by the Worship Group. This group of pupils worked with Mrs Rudge, the deputy head, to arrange some super workshops and activities to stretch all our understanding of what the Lord’s Prayer is and what it actually means.

The day gave us all food for thought and a much deeper understanding of those familiar words we say so often here in school.

Finally, we are very excited about recent developments in the school. As a result, we are experiencing the fastest growth this school has ever seen.

Our pupil numbers have increased by a staggering 25% in less than a term and we have welcomed many new faces to year groups across the school.

We are now over-subscribed in every year from Reception to Year 3 and are unfortunately unable to take any more applications for places in these year groups. We’d like to thank the local community and the wider community for their support as we go from strength to strength. The volunteers, the local churches and parent and grandparent involvement really does make a difference, thank you.

LOCAL SCHOOL HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES WITH LEADING CHOIR Six pupils from The Royal Hospital School have gained prestigious membership of the acclaimed National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

Consisting of 750 of the country’s best young singers, the choir rehearses twice a year during the summer holidays, giving the members an excellent opportunity to develop their vocal techniques across a wide range of challenging music.

“Having six of our pupils in such a high calibre choir really showcases the importance of choral music here at RHS,” said William Saunders, the school’s director of music. “They will get the chance to expand their already diverse musical tastes and to achieve things they just couldn’t do on their own. The school is very proud of them.”

The pupils, from Years 11 and 12, are all heavily involved in other aspects of school musical life and play a wide range of instruments including organ, harp and double bass. Daniel Waterman of Year 11 said: “This is something I have wanted to achieve for a long time, and I know that mixing with the other young people taking part in the choir’s intensive courses will not only improve my singing, but my trumpet playing as well.”

For more information about the National Youth Choir visit: www.nycgb.org.uk The Royal Hospital School’s National Youth Choir members are (l-r) Ben Banks, Sally Watson, Taylor Godfrey, Daniel Waterman, Oliver Moore and Lucy Watson

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SCHOOLS / SPORT ROBIN’S NEWS

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Baby Bears Baby Bears have been busy with Valentine’s crafts, making cards and pictures, even printing with painted celery to make roses! Chinese New Year has also been really enjoyable with Baby Bears taking part in a range of activities from noodle play, making monkeys and trying prawn crackers! They have also been making the most of the frosty mornings, wrapping up warm and putting on their wellies to go for walks on the crunchy grass!

The First team are now leading the field in the Senior Division having been unbeaten through January. They have also progressed to the quarterfinals of the Bob Coleman Cup, a competition in which they reached the final in 2014.

Toddling Tigers The Toddling Tigers have been very busy this term exploring lots of stories, their favourite being We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. They have loved making crafts and exploring the different textures found in the story. Tigers have also been celebrating Chinese New Year. They created their own restaurant and experienced Chinese culture and food through snack time role play.

Gruffalos Kung Hei Fat Choy! – Happy Chinese New Year!

The Gruffalos have been super busy celebrating this special time of year in many ways, making lots of Chinese crafts including fans, lanterns and money envelopes. They even took part in some Chinese fan dancing, making big circular movements and practising balancing on one leg, and spent a lot of time on the field and in the garden with our colourful sheets. They used the sheets to dress as a dragon, working together to move around, thinking how the dragon would move up and down and wiggling as they walked. Gruffalo’s Chinese Takeaway opened for business at snack time with the Gruffalos sampling lots of Chinese food including rice, noodles, prawn crackers, spring rolls and an assortment of sauces. Using chopsticks also helped to develop their fine motor skills.

If you would like further information about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki: 01473 310767 / info@robinschildcare.co.uk Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook www.robinschildcare.co.uk

The Reserves are in a lower mid-table position (Intermediate A) but have a number of games in hand, while the A team lies second in their division (Intermediate C) after some impressive results and stretching their unbeaten run to eight games.

Perhaps the success this season is in part at least due to the smart new team wear that players and officials are now wearing, which has been generously sponsored by Travel Plus Tours.

FIXTURES Fixtures subject to change. To confirm please refer to the SIL website: http://touchlinesil.co.uk/fixtures-results DATE

1st TEAM Senior Division

RESERVES Intermediate A

Sat, February 27

Old Newton Utd Res

Sat, March 5

Felixstowe Harpers Utd

H

Sat, March 12

Wenhaston Utd

H

Sat, March 19

Bramford Utd

A

Sat, March 26 Mon, March 28

Capel Plough

H

Sat, April 2

Westerfield Utd

A

Felixstowe Harpers Utd Res Ipswich Valley Rangers Res

A

“A” Team Intermediate C Stowupland Falcons Res

H

A A

Cedars Park Res

Westerfield Utd Res

H

Wenhaston Utd Res

H

Leiston St Margarets Res Somersham Res

Capel Plough Res

H

Bacton United 89 Res

H A A

H

EVENTS Quiz Night: March 19 / Please contact the secretary for more details Awards Dinner: May 21

EAST BERGHOLT TENNIS CLUB We are situated behind the playing fields in Gandish Road. The club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities. We currently have more than 40 adult and 55 junior members. The club has three all-weather floodlit courts and teams take part in inter-club friendlies, men’s, ladies’ and mixed leagues.

Two professional coaches offer group and individual coaching sessions for children and adults, and club night is on Tuesdays from 7.30-10pm.

Current membership subscriptions (allowing free use of the courts until 10pm every day) are: adults £50 or £90 for a couple, juniors (under 18) £15, students £25, plus special offers for family membership.

If you would like to know more, visit www.eastbergholttennis.co.uk or email Jenny Cox: jennycox1000@gmail.com

RAYDON HALL ARCHERY CLUB – INDOOR AMERICAN

More than 80 archers from across Essex and Suffolk, including some of the counties elite archers, attended Raydon Hall Archery Club’s sixth annual shoot at the Wix Equestrian Centre. The competition, based on the American round but set as an indoor shoot, comprises of 90 arrows split over the distances of 60, 50 and 40 yards.

We are always looking for people who can help the club as a committee member, whether on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you.

Steve Butcher, secretary stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The first team’s chances of winning the Senior Division of the Suffolk and Ipswich League for the first time in the clubs history received a setback when the team lost 1-0 at Leiston St Margarets which was the only league game played by the side in January. This defeat saw the team go from second to fourth in what is turning out to be a very close race for the league title with just five points separating the top four teams at the time of writing these notes (February 4). The other game played saw the side record a 3-0 win in the Bob Coleman Cup against Old Newton United with the game being switched to their ground as ours was unfit for play. Scorers were Lee Barrett, Ben Baldwin and Chris Stewart with the lads playing some excellent football. The local derby at East Bergholt is on Easter Monday, March 28, kick off 2.30pm.

Our young Reserve side remain bottom of the Senior Reserve League after losing 4-2 to Westerfield United with goals from Harry (Speedy) Taylor and Warren Campbell. They were then beaten 4-3 by Crane Sports in the league cup after conceding three goals in the last seven minutes. Scorers were Ross Dorward, Chris Wall and Joe Bigmore with Spencer Gideon playing well in defence and Ben Carty having a good game in midfield.

Raydon Hall Archery Club have already booked the venue for next year, and have also set a date for their annual soup shoot in April at their shooting ground in Raydon.

The Sunday side played one game in January beating Chantry Phoenix 4-1 with goals from Ben Boosey, Abdul Kaium, Kevin Long and a Stephen Morrison toe punt from the penalty spot with Long and Boosey both having excellent games.

The only game played by the Veterans (over 35 ) team saw them lose 4-3 against Whitton United with our scorers being Steve King, Glen Crisp and Matt Sage.

For further details please email: richard@raydonhallac.co.uk

Bob the Ploughman

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CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT & BRANTHAM Wednesday, March 2: Chad, Bishop Missionary 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Friday, March 4: Women’s World Day of Prayer 2.30pm Ecumenical Service, Holy Family Sunday, March 6: Mothering 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Family Service, East Bergholt 11am Family Service, Brantham Sunday, March 13: Lent 5 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Communion Service, East Bergholt 11am Communion Service, Brantham Sunday, March 20: Palm Sunday 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Family Service with Procession, East Bergholt 11am Family Service with Procession, Brantham Monday, March 21: Holy Week 7.30pm Tenebrae, Brantham Tuesday, March 22

7.30pm Worship led by the choir, East Bergholt Wednesday, March 23

9.30 BCP Communion, East Bergholt Thursday, March 24: Maundy 11am Renewal of priestly vows, cathedral 7.30pm Maundy Communion with stripping of the altar and

washing of the feet, East Bergholt Good Friday 10am Family Service, Brantham 2pm At the foot of the cross, East Bergholt Easter Saturday 7.30pm Easter Vigil and lighting of the fire, East Bergholt Easter: Resurrection 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Communion Service, East Bergholt 11am Communion Service, East Bergholt Sunday, April 3: Easter 2 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion, Brantham Wednesday, April 6

9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt This schedule may change without notice if needed.

KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Where Jesus is Love and love is Jesus COME AND JOIN US IN OUR NEW FELLOWSHIP – EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

WEDDING/FLOWER FESTIVAL AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, JULY 2016 St Mary’s Church will be holding a wedding/flower festival at the end of July. We would like to hear from anyone who was married at St Mary’s Church and still has their wedding dress and would be happy for this to be displayed in the church for the duration of the festival. We would also like to have a photo of your wedding day, clearly showing the bouquet as the flower ladies at the church will be making arrangements using (as far as possible) flowers that were in your bouquet. We are sure this will be a spectacular event and will hopefully show the different fashion in bridal gowns across the decades. So far we have wedding dresses from the 30s, 50s, 60s, 80s and 90s, but we do need more. We would also be grateful for any dressmaking dummies you may have to loan for the festival. If you have a dress, or a dummy to loan or need more information, please contact Liz Digby: 01473 312281 CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOXES If you would like to help this worthy charity by distributing the boxes once a year and then collecting them again at the end of the year, please contact The Rev Steph. Someone has kindly volunteered to count the money if needed.

Our Toddlers and Carers Group meets on alternate Fridays from 9.30am in St Mary’s East Bergholt. Contact Liz Digby for more information: 01473 312281 BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE You may remember I made an appeal last year for someone to take over the administration of the Book of Remembrance. As I said before this involves liaising with our calligrapher/artist and turning the pages of the book on the appropriate days, not the actual artistic work. I have just turned 80 and am conscious that if I had to give up driving I could not carry on paying visits to the church for the page turning. Also, I need to make contingency plans for the future. I have very much enjoyed this task, which I took over from Vi Mathieson, but I need to pass this on and I am making this appeal once again. Please get in touch to discuss the details if you think you could take this on. I look forward to hearing from you.

Margaret Wheatley, 01206 298627 ALSO SEE EAST BERGHOLT OPEN GARDENS ON PAGE 11. www.constablecountrychurches.co.uk

EASTER IN THE 4 MARYS BENEFICE HIGHAM, HOLTON, RAYDON, STRATFORD Four churches united by God and his people Do come and join us on Friday, March 25 for our annual Good Friday walk.

This year we shall start at 9am at St Mary’s, Raydon, and walk from there to each of the other three churches in the Benefice, ending up at Stratford St Mary at 3pm. A bread and soup lunch will be provided at Higham.

You will need stout walking shoes as we walk all sorts of highways and byways.

All are welcome, including children and dogs.

Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, with our lively worship and service. Refreshments served afterwards.

Every Sunday morning at 11am in The Ivell Suite at Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE. If you or someone you know needs prayer for anything, please contact us.

David and Rosie Rhule: 07787 572977 / 01206 397533 / info@thekeytoloveministries.co.uk www.thekeytoloveministries.co.uk

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On Easter morning, Sunday, March 27, there are two family services to choose from, both at 10am, one at Holton St Mary and one at Stratford St Mary. Easter eggs will be laid on for the children!

The Rev Rosalind Paul, Rector of the Benefice of Higham, Holton St Mary, Raydon and Stratford St Mary & Assistant Rural Dean of Hadleigh The Rectory, Raydon, Suffolk IP7 5LH / 01473 310677 www.4marys.org.uk

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CHURCH NEWS BRANTHAM AND CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCHES A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the church front door.

Services for March Sunday 6 Fourth Sunday of Lent

9am Mass Tuesday 8

9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 13

9am

Mass

Tuesday 15

Fifth Sunday of Lent 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass

Sunday 20 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

9am Mass / Children’s Liturgy Tuesday 22

9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 27

Easter Sunday 9am

Mass

Tuesday 29 9.30am Morning Prayer

10am Mass Every last Thursday of the month a Bring and Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR, 10.30am-noon.

We are raising funds for the parish room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, March 24.

Children’s Liturgy Children are very welcome to join the Liturgy of the Word that takes place on the third Sunday of each month.

Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please contact him if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services.

Art for Cure 2016 is expected to be the largest contemporary art and sculpture show held outside London in 2016.

Art for Cure 2016 will be held in the magnificent grounds and stately residence of Glemham Hall from Saturday, April 30 to Monday, May 2.

This second show follows after the staggering success of Art for Cure 2014 when £200,000 of art and sculpture was sold in one weekend and over £100,000 was donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Art for Cure 2014 was the most successful privately run event for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in terms of funds generated for the charity. The organisers Belinda Gray and Sally Ball are organising a second show for spring 2016 and once again, will be supporting Breast Cancer Now (formally Breakthrough Breast Cancer) and also helping East Anglian services that provide care and

www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt

My mother-in-law, Marjorie, celebrates her 90th Birthday on March 1. The weekend before we are holding a surprise party when all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will be with her. It doesn’t matter that I have let the secret out as this won’t be published until after it has happened!

I still remember the day I met her daughter, Margaret, December 14, 1970.

Marjorie was then 44 years old. She saw me across the balcony of the Central Hall in Coventry and said to her husband, “Margaret will like that young man.”

Little did she know that in 20 months she would be my landlady (while her daughter was in college at Exeter) and in three-and-a-half years would be my mother in law! Now 45 years later we are celebrating her 90th Birthday.

Time is always moving on, we can sometimes be frightened at the pace of it, at other times it seems to just drag on sapping our strength. Looking back there have been a great variety of wonderful moments with Marjorie – our wedding day, her care at the birth of our first child, her visits to Zimbabwe often coinciding with the birth of another child. There have also been some difficult moments, most recently a stroke on December 7 which has left her needing care – the one who had been a carer now needing care herself. But in all of this a hope in Jesus has not faded.

The secret with time is knowing how to respond to it – will we embrace it, will we respond with the right action or reaction? The writer of Ecclesiastes (in the Bible) says: “there is a season for everything, a time for every activity under heaven” and goes on to contrast 13 pairs of opposites “a time to grieve and a time to dance”, “a time for silence and a time for speech”, “a time to tear and a time to mend”.

Time changes us – I have sometimes grieved and other times danced, I have sometimes been silent and other times spoken out. I realise I have been very fortunate to have had so many positive relationships around me to help me cope with the up and downs that life brings, but even more than that a secure relationship with God that affirms me as a child (even though sometimes it might be as a prodigal son). I need to seek God’s guidance and help for he is the one who holds all time in his hands; the one who in all the changes and chances of this life will not change.

The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel and Brantham Methodist Churches, 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 AT BRANTHAM METHODIST Sunday, March 6 11am Sunday, March 13 11am Sunday, March 20 11am Sunday, March 27 11am

Worship with Mr Mike Stock Worship with Mr Bryan Nichols Worship Mrs Carole Almond Worship and Communion with The Rev Chris Jowett

AT CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Sunday, March 6 10.30am Worship led by a Home Group

6pm Prayer Station Sunday, March 13 10.30am Worship with Miss Emma Bowyer Sunday, March 20 10.30am Worship with Mrs Emily Hannah Good Friday, March 25 10.30am Worship with The Rev Sankey Easter Sunday, March 27 8am Communion with The Rev Sankey

10.30am All Age Worship with Rev Sankey support to those affected by breast cancer.

There will be over 70 artists and sculptors exhibiting, great names such as Vanessa Gardiner, Henrietta Dubrey, Maggi Hambling, Michael Speller, Carol Peace and Paul Vanstone, as well as a superb selection of artists drawn from Suffolk’s great wealth of talent. All have agreed to donate a percentage of their sales to support the charity and generate a really significant total to help fight breast cancer, a disease that over 50,000 women are diagnosed with each year.

The event kicks off with a glittering private view party on Friday, April 29 for 350 guests and artists and then the exhibition continues over the bank holiday weekend Saturday, April 30 to Monday, May 2, 10am-5pm.

For more details please visit: www.artforcure.org.uk

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