In Touch with Gt. Blakenham - January 2016 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

In Touch with...

The best place to advertise your business services Delivered FREE to your door! Image by Alan Baldry

In Touch

™© ™©

with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead Volume 6 • Issue No. 3 • JANUARY 2016

Skiphire www.collins-skiphire.co.uk

For a fast, efficient & price friendly local service

01473 327596

orders@collins-skiphire.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 



  

      

 

    

 

  

 



  





 

 





 



 

 



 

 

 



      

(15)  

 



   







In Touch online:

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS

I have always loved New Year’s Day, even as a child when I’d watch The New Year's Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on TV. Granted I was probably doing other things at the same time, but it would be on in the background and I loved the drama of it all. It felt like a fitting way to welcome in a new year and was also quite a private moment. My brothers were probably still in bed so it was usually me, my diary – and the vacuum cleaner! In those days in rural Ireland the male and female roles were clearly defined – the boys helped on the farm, I did the cleaning and the baking, but that’s a subject for another day! Cleaning is still part of my new year ritual and I can’t wait to get stuck in. Yes, I admit it, I like cleaning! I love that sense of satisfaction I get when I sit down to admire my handiwork, that oh so precious five minutes before it all falls apart again. I do become a bit of a tyrant when I go into cleaning mode so it’s best to stay out of my way (Daniel consider this your advance warning and if you don’t believe me, just ask mum!), but when it’s done I’m sweetness and light, as per usual! This year I have an extra incentive as I will be looking for something rather special. Last summer Jack found an old key when we were planting seeds with grandma. It is his most precious possession and he presents it to visitors and friends as such. We have mislaid it! I know it’s in the house somewhere but in none of the obvious places and I have (stupidly!) promised to find it. If I do turn out every toy box and every cupboard, as I plan to, surely it will reappear. If not I’m going to have a very sad little boy – and I’ll be a very guilty mummy. Wish me luck. I hope your new year begins with hope for the year ahead and that you too find joy in the small things.

In Touch

with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead

In Touch with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead is published by:

GT BLAKENHAM COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING Saturday, January 9, 10am-noon at Great Blakenham Parish Room ALL WELCOME Come along for coffee, cake and a chat This is not a fundraising event but any proceeds will go to St Mary’s Church.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraising event at Asda at the end of November. We managed to collect just over £70 by selling the Baylham cookery books and cards. Many thanks from St Peter’s PCC

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

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Distribution Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Printing Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk

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 Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

We also publish

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 • Bramford, Somersham & Offton • Westerfield, Witnesham & Tuddenham St. Martin • Copdock, Washbrook, Belstead, Bentley & Tattingstone • Ipswich East, Broke Hall, Ravenswood & Warren Heath • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Pin Mill, Holbrook, Woolverstone & Erwarton

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE Call 01473 353350 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.

IN TOUCH WITH...

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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT John Field’s Report to Gipping Valley: December 2015 I hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas and will have a prosperous New Year. COUNTY NEWS The budget setting process is reaching the point where, following the Autumn Statement, we will discover what funds the county will get at the end of December. Budget scrutiny is at this point, so there is a chance that the views of the wider councillor group will have an effect on the cabinet’s decisions. What money will the county receive? A 9% per annum cut in the grant from government to meet the chancellor’s budget surplus ambition. The county will raise £269 million from Council Tax and expects to gets £198m from government, £34m less than last year. Government cuts will then continue at £10m per year for each of the next three years. Since 2011 reserves have increased steadily to £140.5m, all kept for a ‘rainy day’. Reserves are very necessary for some purposes but there is now £36.9m in the contingency reserve. This is money not spent boosting the economy or protecting vulnerable people. What will be needed next year? Last year’s budget plus inflation and cash for demand and population changes. Salary costs are expected to rise by 1% and purchased goods and services by 2%. Then add some financial items for a total £48m more than income. Cabinet proposes some £34m cuts with the rest delayed a year by some use of reserves. That will make the 2017-18 reductions greater at £38m What will be cut? The list is long but the major items for next

year that are concerning are care purchasing, re-ablement services, home to school transport, highways, waste, public health, Fire and Rescue, support services and £5m from ‘contracts’. The largest item is an expected £11.5m saving from a change to capital financing. This should be painless. It is far harder to have a clear view of the effect on Suffolk’s residents. Services have been re-designed and the higher emphasis on preventative work and care at home should have an effect. The number of older people receiving a service decreasing despite the increasing number in population but increased complexity need is driving costs up. I believe that, bearing in mind the increases in reserves, the estimate of income should be less pessimistic and that more care is taken to understand the impact of the continual ‘demand management’ on vulnerable people. As a scrutiny committee, we wanted a re-think on cuts to items like support to the arts that pull in major tourist and other income to the county. We also want the cabinet to consider the chancellor’s proposal for a 2% rise in Council Tax to fund care. There is a serious possibility of failures in this area. At a Corporate Parenting seminar, we looked at our responsibilities to children in care, our promise to them, how we gain children’s views and support for young people with disabilities. I was pleased to see that the emphasis on help for those with mental health issues appears to be gaining centre stage. The Pensions Committee met this month to review performance to date and to consider if any changes to our investment strategy and fund allocations were necessary. We considered the allocations to bonds, shares,

property and infrastructure along with the split between passive index-based investments and active managers. This is aimed at getting the best secure return for public sector workers and their employers. DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS Another round of organisational change is underway at Mid Suffolk and Babergh. The proposal is that the top two levels combine as a senior leadership team of chief executive, two directors and seven heads of service. The heads of service will run between three and five teams each led by a corporate manager. The names of the services give a better clue to their functions than at present, better matched to the still emerging functions of the refreshed council. Developers are taking advantage of the council’s lack of a five-year supply of housing land proposing a number of substantial developments. You will be aware of those in Bramford and Great Blakenham, but there have been others in Stowupland and close to Sproughton. Although people need housing and the council need the funds from New Home Bonus these applications are not all succeeding. The requirement to demonstrate sustainability is having an overriding effect. A new Housing Allocations policy has been produced containing more detailed guidance for officers and I hope less confusion for others on issues like the extent to which housing may be reserved for local people. If you have queries please contact me at: 01473 831306 / john.field@suffolk.gov.uk www.john.field@suffolk.libdems.org

DAVID CARD, MID SUFFOLK DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

Covering the parishes of Barking, Baylham, Darmsden, Nettlestead, Offton, Somersham and Willisham District Councillor ‘one-off’ £5,000 Community Locality Grant So far I have been notified of five applications: Somersham Community Shop, Somersham Tennis Club, Barking Village Hall, Offton/Willisham Village Hall playground and Baylham Church Hall. Deadline for bids is January 8. Any organisation should complete a grant application form which I can email to them. Community Infrastructure Levy The decision to adopt this new levy is now expected to be put to a special meeting of full council in January 2016. Do you have any last minute comments? MSDC Treasury Management Plan This seeks to provide new income streams aimed at mitigating reduction in central government grant funding. It is allowed under the

rules. MSDC has just announced the release of the first tranche of £2million to the local business loan fund via Funding Circle. Babergh and Mid Suffolk office accommodation plans In an effort to achieve greater efficiencies, Babergh and Mid Suffolk are considering rationalising the current office accommodation arrangements. One idea would develop a single central hub with spokes containing distributed customer access and service centres in the key locations. Communities in and around both Needham Market and Hadleigh are understandably worried about the impact of change. An impact study with wide community consultation will be undertaken to inform the decisions needed. David Card 01449 722267 / david.card@midsuffolk.gov.uk

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

NEWS GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL Mr W Barton, the acting agent for the landowners of the allotments at Woodfield allotment site on Stowmarket Road, is attending the parish council meeting in the Parish Rooms on Wednesday, January 13 at 7.30pm to discuss the Notice to Quit received by the parish council and to discuss any future plans. All residents and allotment holders are welcome to attend with their concerns or questions. Mid Suffolk District Council has informed us that you can download the 2016 Waste and Recycling Collection Schedule from www. midsuffolk.gov.uk and view it on their social media pages. If you call the helpline on 01449 778678 or email recycling@baberghmidsuffolk. gov.uk they will post it to individual residents. There is a copy of the collection schedule for the forthcoming year on all three noticeboards in the village. We still have vacancies for parish councillors. If you are interested in the community and the village and would like to influence decisions that affect your community, we would like to hear from you. We have a parish council meeting one evening each month and the parish council is an elected tier of local government. If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor or would like some more information please contact the parish clerk, Mrs Scott: 07432 605750 / greatblakenhampc@btinternet.com Our next parish council meeting is on Wednesday, January 13, at 7.30pm in the Parish Rooms. An agenda will be on all noticeboards. All residents are welcome to attend.

Great Blakenham Parish Council would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. Your parish councillors are: Chairman: Mr P White, polly193@googlemail.com Vice chairman: Mr S Plume, steveplume@me.com Councillor: Mrs K Peters, karenpeters1@yahoo.co.uk Councillor: Mr G Scott, eightninesixcel@yahoo.co.uk Councillor: Mr J Waller, j_waller2003@hotmail.com WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK The introduction of a Community Speed Watch Scheme for the village was considered at the parish council meeting on December 9. We will need six volunteers from the village and each speed check must have at least three volunteers. Training for volunteers will include use of the equipment and health and safety issues. All volunteers must be over 18 years of age. The possibly of having a community shop run by residents of the village on Blakenham Fields was also discussed. The parish council is eager to hear resident’s thoughts on both of these ideas. If you would like to volunteer or would like to express your views, please contact the parish clerk or attend our next meeting on January 13: greatblakenhampc@btinternet.com / 07432 605750

SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY Mid Suffolk residents are getting better at recycling – but there is still room for improvement.

Useful contact numbers

According to figures released just before Christmas, the recycling rate in Mid Suffolk last year was 43.1% – up 1.3% on the previous year. This is pretty much in line with the rest of the country – with most areas either staying the same or seeing a slight increase, with just a few large urban areas seeing a decrease.

Site control room: 01473 836828

Site offices: 01473 839149 Environment Agency: 0800 807060 SITA Trust: 01454 262910

The overall recycling rate for the county is 53.1% – ahead of the national target of 50% by 2020. One of the biggest obstacles to recycling is people not knowing if a particular item can be recycled. To help with this Suffolk County Council has launched a new web-based A-Z of recycling which allows you to key in the name of what you want to dispose of, to get re-use advice and information about options available if an item is beyond repair. For example – a toothpaste tube needs to go in your black bin, and will end up at the Suffolk energy-from-waste facility, while toothbrushes can be recycled at household waste recycling centres. Electric brushes need to go in the bin for small electricals, while manual toothbrushes go in the hard plastics section. To find out more visit: www.greensuffolk.org/recycling/a-z-of-recycling/

STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE We wish you all a prosperous 2016. No coffee morning this month so we hope to see you at the first chamber breakfast of the New Year. Friday, January 15, 6.45am, at Cedars Park Community Centre, Stowmarket. You can book online at: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT Sponsored by C V S Anglia Ltd ……Mot Tes(ng in Ipswich

BAR-CLAY MUSIC MAKERS

HENLEY PLAYERS PRESENTS OUR FIFTH AND BIGGEST PANTOMIME YET

Not long now before this year's panto hits the stage. So if you haven't got your tickets yet, it's time to think about doing it. To reserve your tickets (adults £7 / children £3) call 830538 or email: Webbfamily1@googlemail.com

HENLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE Wri$en by Tom Hitchcock

Fri 8th Jan (7:30pm) and Sat 9th Jan 2016 (2:30pm & 7:30pm)

The two Saturday afternoon performances are particularly popular and sell out fast. The show this year is Cinderella by Tom Hitchcock and it's a lot of fun. As usual, it's on at Claydon and Barham Village Hall and the dates are: Friday, January 22 at 7.30pm; Saturday, January 23 at 2.30 and 7.30pm; Friday, January 29 at 7.30pm; and Saturday, January 30 at 2.30 and 7.30pm. That's all the information you need so stop reading this and get your tickets!

CLAYDON AND BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE We hope you had a lovely Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year. Our pre-Christmas family disco (Saturday, December 19) or our evening with local vocal harmony group The Skittlez to welcome in the New Year are still due at the time of writing, but I’m sure both will be well attended and enjoyed by all. So what have we got in store for 2016? Saturday, February 13: Valentine’s Night with live music from The Preservatives, a local covers band covering hits from across the decades. Saturday, March 12: St Patrick’s Day celebrations. This year we bring a local band, Waxies Dargle, to the club who will bring a bit a Pogues feel to proceedings. Saturday, April 23: St Georges Day. We welcome back old favourites The Houseshakers who will get you on the dance floor with their rock and pop covers. Saturday, May 7: The Dolly Show with support from Tim Staff. This is going to be a jam-packed night of entertainment so if you love a bit of country or middle of the road, you won’t want to miss this. Keep up to date via our website and Facebook page as well as posters at the club and around the village. Who likes a game of pool? The pool table is now a regular fixture in the Compton Lounge, so please do pop in for a game – or three. We would love to see the table get some use. It has been levelled and is apparently a very good surface to play on so why not come up and give it a go? But now we need your help… We are looking for people to join our entertainments team and bar staff so that we can continue to put on these fabulous events at the community centre. If you think you could help, please do contact us. All help is gratefully received. We look forward to seeing you soon, whether it’s at one of the above events or just for a drink one evening. Everyone is welcome.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

SEVEN !

HOW TO BOOK TICKETS Email: henleyplayersboxoffice@gmail.com Box office open every Sunday from 3pm to 4:30pm

PRICES £7 Adults Concessions £4 £18 Family of 4

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5

Town/village

Location

Time

MIP/5A

Sproughton

Church Lane

0910 – 0925

MIP/5B

Sproughton

Wild Man

0930 – 0945

MIP/5C

Bramford

St Mary’s Close

0950 – 1005

MIP/5D

Bramford

Paper Mill Lane

1010 – 1025

MIP/5E

Great Blakenham Chequers

MIP/5F

Great Blakenham Blue Leighs

1035 – 1055

Mobile Home Park

1100 – 1115

MIP/5G

Baylham

Post Box

1125 – 1145

MIP/5H

Claydon

Crown

1155 – 1300

MIP/5I

Claydon

Edinburgh Gardens

1405 – 1420

MIP/5J

Claydon

Bacon Road

1425 – 1550

MIP/5K

Bramford

Packard Place

1600 – 1630

Calling every four weeks from January 19

GREAT BLAKENHAM WI Unfortunately due to lack of officers and committee members our WI has had to suspend as from January for a maximum of three years. This means that all of our paperwork will remain at the Suffolk East Federation WI headquarters office in Orford Street, Ipswich for that period.

The village of Great Blakenham is growing larger every year with new people coming in, so it would be great if we could start up again in the near future.

It is very upsetting for us because we have much enjoyed our first year and a lot of effort was put into making it a success, which it was. It is a ruling of the Women’s Institute that to be able to run a group there must be a minimum of three officers. If at any time during the next three years we are able to get sufficient interest we will be able to reform.

If anyone has any enquiries about the WI could they please contact the office in Orford Street, Ipswich: 01473 251632 / gill@sefwi.org.uk

I take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Happy, Healthy New Year. Margaret

SPRING 2016 AT THE NEW WOLSEY THEATRE

The Last Five Years, an award winning musical from Jason Robert Brown and recently a major motion picture starring Anna Kendrick and Jordan Jamie, headlines the New Wolsey Theatre’s 15th birthday season. Running from February 25 to March 11, The Last Five Years starts and ends with the beginning of a passionate love affair. Cathy’s story starts with the end of their relationship and follows their tale backwards to when she first fell in love with her young talented lover. Jamie’s story begins with their first passionate encounter and heads forward towards heartache. The unique style of storytelling and the infectious score makes this one of America’s best modern musicals. Songs include Moving Too Fast, If I Didn’t Believe in You and Goodbye Until Tomorrow.

Katie Birtill, who took the title role in Sweet Charity last autumn, stars with a talented live band to create Cathy and Jamie’s world as it crumbles and reforms around them. It will be directed by the New Wolsey Theatre’s artistic director Peter Rowe. Birmingham Repertory Theatre will present The Government Inspector, the first production in the Ramps on the Moon touring project, at the New Wolsey from April 6 to 15. Ramps on the Moon is a ground-breaking touring project that sets out to put more deaf and disabled people on our stages, in our audiences and our workforce. Bringing together seven major theatre companies, it will change the way theatre made by and for D/deaf and disabled people is seen. These companies, which include the New Wolsey Theatre, are committed to putting D/ deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work and stimulating awareness of disability issues within arts and culture. Gogol’s satirical masterpiece is a hilarious riot of corruption, lies and greed that has lost none of its original bite. The mayor is in a cold sweat. News has reached him of an imminent visit from a government inspector. His fear is well-founded as he has been somewhat lacking in his official duties. The hospital is a health hazard, the school is a war zone, the soldiers don’t have trousers to march in and he never quite got around to building that church! Directed by Birmingham Rep’s Artistic Director Roxana Silbert, the production includes a creative use of audio description, captioning and British Sign Language.

For full details of the New Wolsey’s jam-packed spring season visit www.wolseytheatre.co.uk where you can also book or call the sales team on: 01473 295900 8

In Touch online:

NEWS / OUT & ABOUT GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB At the end of November we had great fun making angels from dolly pegs to decorate our tree for the church tree festival and were pleased to receive so many compliments on our tree. We finished our club year on December 7 with our Christmas party when we reviewed the year and all the different projects we have undertaken, including card making, sewing tidy bags, cross stitch, two different types of necklaces in jewellery making and Christmas wreaths. We also knitted angel gowns that were donated to the baby unit at the hospital. The club is currently on its winter break and when we reconvene on February 1 we will meet every Monday other than bank holidays in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham from 2-4pm. Members pay £2 a meeting and this covers hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. Our programme for 2016 is below but I give no clues as to the project! February 1: Relax March 7: It’s a Gift April 4: Just a Note May 16: Fly away Peter, Fly away Paul June 6: Cats and Dogs July 4: Butterflies and Flowers August 15: Always Need Storage September 5: Lovely in Lace October 3: New Baubles, Mind the Furniture November 7: Getting Ready for Christmas December 5: Christmas Party There is currently room for new members so if you are interested in joining us please get in touch. Although the club is all ladies at present gentlemen who would like to learn crafts are welcome but unfortunately I can’t accommodate children.

STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB The meeting on November 9 was a club night. We selected prints and PDIs to be considered for the competition against Lakenheath. These were then whittled down by the selection committee to comply with our rules. The remainder of the evening was taken up with a trophy presentation and there was also some Photoshop tuition. This year’s Christmas meal was another excellent night at the White Hart, Stoke Ash on November 20. It was very well attended and enjoyed by all. Our open competition on November 23 was judged by Daphne Hanson DPAGB. Her critique and comments were concise, constructive and well received. This was the first time our new projector, laptop and display software were used together and it worked very well. The December photo shoot was at Alton Water. It was raining in Stowmarket when we were due to leave, which resulted in few members turning up. This was a shame as at Alton Water it was quite windy but bright and the rain held off! The Lakenheath Battle was held at Lakenheath Camera Club. The meeting was very successful and the competition, which was closely contested, was judged by Daphne Hanson, who, once again, provided timely and succinct critique. The final result was a win for Stowmarket by two points – or the skin of our teeth! Next meetings January 11: Open Competition (3) – Judge Peter Espley January 25: Tripod Competition against Wymondham and Framlingham – Judge Brian Carlick LRPS February 8: Ray Giffin Tankard for Wildlife – Judge Phil Chatfield

Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

February 22: A talk entitled Speed and Action by Roger Hance FRPS AFIAP BPE5

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB

New members are always very welcome at the club. All you need is a camera – any camera – and a real interest in using it. Our members use DSLRs, mirrorless, compacts and bridge cameras.

The Great Blakenham Over 50s Club is open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham, but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room on Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham. The cost per meeting is £1.50 and includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and a raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea. The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House and it has its own parking area behind the hall. It’s fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. On November 11 we had fun learning napkin folding in time for Christmas, and on November 25 a quiz afternoon courtesy of Brenda Cooper which really taxed the grey cells. Our last meeting for 2015 was on December 9 when we enjoyed some games and quizzes followed by afternoon tea and an exchange of gifts in a Secret Santa. We will start back again on Wednesday, January 13 with a social afternoon and will be pleased to welcome new members. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

Regular meetings are held at Stowmarket Community Centre, Hillside, Stowmarket IP14 2BD, usually on the second and fourth Monday of the month between September and June. We start arriving at around 7pm for a 7.30 start. We’d love to see you there, so why not join us? For more information visit: www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net

SOMERSHAM BODYTONE CLASS Get fitter and shed those Christmas pounds! We meet every Monday morning at 9.30am in Somersham Village Hall. Bodytone is a fun exercise to music class that is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. We are a very friendly group who would love to welcome new members to join our class. Why not give us a try? During January the first class is free. Come along, bring a friend or make new ones. Interested? Contact Diane: 01449 676350 / 07903 641862

OUT & ABOUT GREAT BLAKENHAM 200 CLUB The winning tickets for November were: £25 £15 £10 £10 £5 £5

257 242 240 80 35 48

Shirley Bigg Alison Eastwick Joyce Hyde Alan Rose Michelle Cullen Roger Little

The winning tickets for December were: £25 £15 £10 £10 £5 £5

160 191 205 82 180 262

Margaret Day Camparts Lavinia Wells Derek Chilvers Don Anderson Lisa Klotz

Thank you to all who supported the 200 Club in 2015 and congratulations to those of you who have won a prize. The collectors will be calling during January for your annual subscriptions of £12 for a chance to win a cash prize of £5-25 a month. All money raised by your membership of the 200 Club goes towards the repair and preservation of St Mary’s Parish Church. If you would like to take part, and help maintain the beauty of our ancient church building, please contact Marion: 01473 830915

WESTERFIELD AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Our club, based at Westerfield Village Hall, has just completed another year of fascinating talks, presentations, outings and visits, culminating on Wednesday, December 2 with our Christmas buffet and an engrossing talk on storm chasing by meteorologist, TV weatherman, Weatherquest director and self-confessed ‘weather geek’, Chris Bell. Chris is a charming Texan-born anglophile, now based in Norfolk and married to an English primary school teacher, who has been completely entranced by the weather since a child. After explaining some of the myriad ways Weatherquest gathers weather data, processes it and then disseminates forecasts to TV, newspapers, farmers, wind-farm engineers and many others (including a lady in London who holds quite large annual garden parties!), he went on to explain that he spends ‘holiday’ time in America with like-minded people taking part in his hobby. Chris showed us incredible photographs and videos of storms in the making, massive cloud formations and tornadoes, explaining the conditions that cause and are the precursors of these great forces of nature. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, February 3 when Anna Outlaw, head gardener at Somerleyton Hall, will talk about the restoration work which she is overseeing. We have a full programme for 2016 with talks on many and varied subjects and some exciting visits planned too. If you are interested in joining us, you are very welcome to come along. Meetings open at 7.15 for a 7.30pm start. Non-members fee £4, which includes refreshments and a draw ticket. Free adjacent parking is available. For further information, please contact Barbara Bell (01473 231411), Barry Reeve (01473 251843) or Michele Doick (01473 252330).

PROGRESS AT ORCHARD BARN – THE ABRIDGED VERSION Between the back of the Barn and the vegetable plot there is a ditch. This ditch is gradually being dug out as it is a source of valuable building material (clay). So, whereas we used to be able to jump over the slight depression, there is now a sizeable drop. We had to bridge it! In the space of two or three hours two volunteers managed to clear the site of several small tree stumps, dig out slots in each bank, move railway sleepers from the front of the barn (that muddy path was very slippery!), drop them into position and pack earth back round them. Thanks to Roger who donated the sleepers, we now have a very serviceable and durable bridge and, with the planned addition of handrails, it will be suitable for use by people of all ages and physical abilities. If you’d like to try our bridge then why don’t you pay us a visit? Come along any Wednesday (we are SW of Mill Road, Battisford), visit www.orchardbarn.org.uk or phone 01473 658193.

In Touch online:

Trusted by local families since 1925 47 St Helens Street 01473 257242 283 Norwich Road 01473 232837 Meredith Greengrass Stowmarket 01449 612765

The East of England Co-op has been your local funeral service for 90 years. We are not part of the national Co-operative Funeralcare chain based in Manchester.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

SCHOOLS CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and had a very happy New Year. We are all ready for the start of the spring term with lots of lovely events to look forward to in the coming months. The children should all be well rested and ready for the new term. 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 Reception. Session fees are £9.60 and we offer a lunch club (noon-12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and we offer twoyear 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 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

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB November prizewinners were: No 18: Nadine Harrison, £20.70 No 13: Elaina Bennett, £10.35 No 17: Marianne Allan, £3.45 New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 a month and the draw takes place on the last Friday of each month from September through to July. The more entries we get the greater the prize money and all the money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school. For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL Christmas is fast approaching as we write this report (although it will all be over by the time you read it!) and the children are busy preparing Christmas songs and performances and working on festive DT projects.

were exhibited in December. Thanks to all staff and parent helpers who worked so hard to create such an amazing display and congratulations to the children involved – we have received such warm feedback about their hard work.

In particular, the Nursery have been learning to sing the Christmas Conga, The Reindeer Dance and Five Little Elves, ready to sing on stage for parents and carers at an open morning with Christmas crafts.

At the end of November, Years 3 and 4 explored the Anglo Saxon burial mound at Sutton Hoo as part of their topic work. They explored the exhibition and had a go at being archaeological detectives.

Children continue to enjoy reading throughout the school and we were delighted that Year 5 were able to visit the LRC at Claydon High School and choose books to borrow, which they are now reading in school. Back in our library, they enjoyed reading books to Reception children. To support learning about Christianity in RE, Years 3 and 5 visited Barham Church where The Reverend Ablett explained how the church is used by Christians for worship and what contribution the church makes to the community. In addition, the school was approached by Helen Woodroffe, the Education Officer for St Edmundsbury Cathedral, to participate in a Big Crib exhibition where a selection of cribs are displayed in local churches. Some are made by schools and community groups as well as traditional scenes that are loaned by individuals. Many cardboard boxes were collected, taped and assembled. Then the children drew around their silhouettes and decorated their designs using collage and paint. Year 1 created Baby Jesus and the Crib, Class 4O created Mary and Joseph and Year 3 created The Three Kings. These were then collected by Beryl Mee of St Mary’s Church at Stoke where they

Catching up with sport, although the tag rugby club hasn’t been running long, on November 19 some of the players took part in the school games tournament at Westbourne Academy. Despite the good weather forecast, it decided to rain all afternoon. The first game saw us playing very deep and constantly defending our own try line. Despite this, the players enjoyed their first experience. With three games left, we improved our tactics and managed to draw our third game before being outplayed again in our last game. We had one additional game to decide the league positions. The break between meant we had lost some focus and struggled again to attack. Despite the rain and mud, the whole team enjoyed the experience and appreciated how much they had improved during the afternoon. Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has supported Claydon Primary School throughout 2015 and we look forward to seeing you all throughout 2016. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

In Touch online:

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

Dry Carpet Cleaning Professional Local Service For a FREE no obligation quotation

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

SCHOOLS / SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE CLAYDON AND BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES IS 25 THIS MONTH We will be celebrating our 25th birthday on January 28 with a lovely party. If you have been involved with Young Families in the past, please come along and join us on that day. Our first meeting this year is on January 14. (Both dates 9.30-11.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall). Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project that has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 24-years. We welcome mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 a family. Our Christmas party was a huge success. A big thank you to Father Christmas who, although very busy, came along to distribute gifts to the children. Our ladies’ raffle went very well, as always, raising more funds for the group. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a fantastic success. At our regular sessions we welcome anyone with babies or children under five for imaginative play, storytime, songtime and lots of fun. Families can enjoy a different craft activity with a theme where children can be creative and try out different materials to produce an individual masterpiece. Playdough and all sorts of toys that encourage children’s imaginative play and physical and social development are available. We also share songtime for a bit of noise. For parents/carers it’s a good opportunity to meet others with preschool children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children. This month we would like to wish a happy birthday to Katie who celebrates in January. Why not come along and join in the fun? You can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. Hope to see you there. For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on: netmums.com Michelle

BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB Greetings guff lovers. As this is the new year edition I thought I would ask the old favourite Mystic Mick for his almanac predictions for the year. January: Following his Davis Cup success Andy Murray is delighted to find out that Disney is making a cartoon of the event, less so when he discovers that Eeyore is playing his part. February: The tennis club purchases a speed gun to test players serving speed. Nick is overjoyed to win, but the result is declared void when it’s discovered that a passing tortoise had erroneously been clocked as his tennis ball. March: Graham is so despondent over Ipswich Town’s latest performance that he nails his season ticket to the Portman Road gates in protest, returning later after regretting his action he is dismayed to find someone has stolen the nail. April: World Climate Conference issues a new warning on colder winters after Corrine is seen wearing a fleece with sleeves. May: Home Secretary Theresa May is flattered that this month will be named after her and in future will be known as Useless. June: Bramford Tennis Club players prepare for Wimbledon. I cannot participate as my Uncle Bulgaria costume needs letting out and my litterpicking tool is broken. July: Holiday chaos averted at UK airports as baggage handlers vote for a go slow, thus ensuring their speed increases in time for the rush. August: Clive and Lorna enter the Tour de France. Sensationally they lead throughout the first day until the route passes the first vineyard offering tastings. September: C4's Time Team features the tennis club in a televised dig when Saxon groats are found on the field. Graham ruins it by finding that they had fallen out of his wallet. October: Nick hits a clean ace! An extra terrestrial alien race land in Washington and takes over the USA. Delete whichever sounds more unlikely! November: Alex Neil sensationally quits Norwich City with them top of the Premiership to take up a new career as Gollum in the next Lord of the Rings movie. December: Oxford archaeologists discover a copy of Mick Russ' monthly guff jokes believed to date from 250BC. They were dated forensically from the whiskers on them. No space for joke of the month (I have taken pity on you all). I wish you all a very Happy New Year and hope you keep reading (it has to improve at some point). Mick Russ

MAKE A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TO WRITE YOUR WILL IN 2016 Age UK Suffolk is organising a Will Month during February 2016 and have invited solicitors in Suffolk to offer a free will writing service for a donation to the charity. The scheme in association with the East Anglian Daily Times aims to raise awareness of the importance of making a will. Over two thirds of people in the UK do not have a will! As a new year approaches there has never been a better time to make sure you are prepared for the future. Older people are living longer and care needs, lasting power of attorney, second marriages, extended families, civil partnerships, funeral costs, inheritance tax all need to be addressed. Planning for later life is essential and making a will is so important to avoid many complications and extra costs and to ensure your beneficiaries are protected and you will have peace of mind knowing your wishes will be fulfilled.

A basic single or mirror will is being offered for a suggested donation to Age UK Suffolk and the following solicitors are taking part: Goodwin Cowley Solicitors, Fosters Solicitors, Atkins Thomson Solicitors, Gross & Co Solicitors, Jackamans Solicitors, Norton Peskett Solicitors, Petersfields LLP Solicitors, Ellisons Solicitors, Watkins Stewart & Ross Solicitors, Christchurch Solicitors LLP, Michael Smith & Co Solicitors, Bates Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors, Blocks Solicitors, Haywards Solicitors and Fairweather Stephenson & Co Solicitors. Age UK Suffolk rely on legacies and donations, particularly as they are suffering major cuts in funding from statutory sources and will need to fundraise for almost 75% of the cos ts of its services in the future. For more information contact Maggie James – 01473 359911 / maggie.james@ageuksuffolk.org – or visit: www.ageuksuffolk.org

In Touch online:

Will month

February 2016

Over two thirds of people in the UK do not have a will. Are you one of them? If you would like to take up the offer to make a Will for a donation to Age UK Suffolk please contact 01473 359911 to request the details of all participating solicitors, or email: maggie.james@ageuksuffolk.org

Alternatively, do visit our website: www.ageuksuffolk.org • Choose your solicitor • Make your donation to Age UK Suffolk • Write your Will with your chosen solicitor

NOW RECRUITING SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Responsible for advertising sales, account management, business development and sales team and portfolio management for Mansion House Publishing, Colourplan Print, Boswell Office Supplies and Musical Marketing. The key tasks include:

In association with

Supported by Registered charity no. 1085900

11/15

WE ARE RECRUITING! Join Headway Suffolk - one of the UK's largest brain injury specialists

•

Responsible for managing and developing an experienced sales team, with a requirement to establish targets and objectives and to motivate staff, develop new business opportunities and revenue streams and to deliver projects successfully.

•

Working closely with the MD to devise and implement marketing strategies (including digital), increasing sales through marketing and reporting on marketing success.

Applicants must have several years of senior media sales experience, ideally within a publishing environment, a proven track record of hitting and exceeding sales targets and excellent experience of managing and motivating sales people. We are looking for a candidate who can deal professionally with high level clients. The ideal candidate will have experience of successfully developing large accounts and also experience of new business development. Furthermore, we would expect the candidate to have a desire to be a real leader in driving team success.

MAGAZINE DESIGNER / LAYOUT An experienced print and magazine designer / layout to join our small and very busy team.

Community Support Workers Required To support clients with rehabilitation at home and in the community with time to deliver quality care

Good rates of pay | Pension Scheme | Training Paid mileage, time travel & expenses Career progression | Flexible working hours

Tel: 01473 712225 Email CV: nicolacooper@headwaysuffolk.org.uk www.headwaysuffolk.org.uk/recruitment www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

You will need to be skilled in page layout, InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator with proven ability to make design judgements in relation to page layout and at least three years experience working in print or publishing design. You will need to work effectively and efficiently under pressure, have a keen eye for detail, natural creative flair and possess strong communication and teamwork skills.

For full details including how to apply please visit: www.grapevinelive.co.uk/category/jobs 15

ON THE GRAPEVINE

QUESTIONS ON CASH

with Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb

Sue from Woodbridge asks: “My husband and I have a whole of life insurance policy with Scottish Provident with a sum assured of £80,000 payable if either of us dies. For the last 10 years we have paid a premium of just over £29 a month, but they have just written to us to say that following a 10 year review, this will increase to £66 a month. My husband says there is no point in looking around for a better deal, as we are 10 years older than we were when we took the policy out, so all insurance companies will charge about the same premium for that level of cover. Is that true?” Not necessarily Sue. If you do some shopping around before you accept the increase, you could save yourselves a lot of money. A whole of life policy runs until you die or until you cancel the policy. At outset the insurance company calculates how much they need to charge you in order to provide a set level of cover if you die. This calculation is based upon your age, health, lifestyle, and your job, as all these factors will influence the risk. Unless you have a policy with guaranteed or fixed premiums, most whole of life policies are reviewed after 10 years, and again every five years after that. Your husband is right to say that the premium will cost you more now because you are 10 years older, but it’s definitely worth shopping around for a better deal. Not all companies apply the same rates for a new policy as they do for an existing policy after it has been in force for a few years.

A few months ago I saw a couple who had a whole of life plan with Aviva with a sum assured of £70,000. At the 10-year review point, Aviva wrote to them to tell them that the premium would increase from £24.31 a month to £114.51 if they wished to maintain the same level of cover. That was an increase of 375%! I did some shopping around and found them a similar whole of life policy with Canada Life International with the same sum assured. The premium for this plan was £32.60 a month, which was again guaranteed for another initial period of 10 years. Obviously, these clients will face another potential premium increase after 10 years have elapsed, but switching the policy means they will have saved over £9,800 in premiums over that 10-year period for the same level of cover. Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services. Post your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email nickplumb@aol.com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301. Nick’s opinions and views in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice. Any readers who require advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial consultation to discuss their own position and requirements. Plumb Financial Services is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

DR DAN POULTER, YOUR LOCAL MP, REPORTS BACK Our children and grandchildren deserve the very best start in life and it is our responsibility to provide them with the skills that they need to be successful. A new year is a good time to reflect on our achievements of the last few months and look forward to the challenges ahead, and I am very pleased that at the end of last year I was successful in helping to persuade the government to reform the current unfair school funding formula. We are very lucky in our part of Suffolk to have many high quality headteachers and schools. However, when it comes to funding, schools in Suffolk have historically received lower levels of funding compared to other local authorities. The 10 best funded areas in England on average received grants of £6,297 per pupil last year, compared with an average of just £4,208 per pupil in the 10 most poorly funded areas. In Suffolk, we have received only £4,362 per pupil, and this needs to change. Different levels of funding for individual schools with similar pupil needs is arbitrary and unfair and is based on a historical calculation which is open to political manipulation. Currently, schools that are similar but in different parts of the country can receive very different levels of financial

support, despite educating children with the same needs. I have had many meetings with our headteachers and governors in Suffolk who have long acknowledged that the existing funding formula is unfair to rural counties like Suffolk. I believe that the funding of schools should be fairer and more transparent, enabling schools to meet the needs of their pupils, and at a time of spending restraint it is more important than ever that funding is allocated based on pupil need. Extra resources should clearly follow those pupils who might need extra help and support, such as pupils from poorer backgrounds. Our current system falls well short of this. The distribution of funding is not fair, and that’s why I am pleased to have played a role in helping it to change. For some time now I have been pushing the government to deliver a fairer school funding formula as a member of the f40 group, which represents a group of the lowest funded education authorities in England where government-set cash allocations for primary and secondary pupils are the lowest in the country. F40 has been campaigning since 1996 to change the way the government allocates funding to local authorities and schools with the support of MPs, councillors, education directors, governors, headteachers, parents

and teaching union representatives. For Suffolk, reforming the formula will mean an addition £178.06 for each and every pupil in Suffolk. In October last year I called on Prime Minister David Cameron to deliver fairer funding for schools in rural Suffolk in a letter signed by 111 f40 MPs from all political parties representing poorly funded local councils. I was delighted when the chancellor, George Osborne, announced in his Autumn Statement on November 25 that the government has accepted our fairer funding formula proposal. I then presented the petition on behalf of schools and pupils in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich to parliament. I am delighted that 362 people signed the petition in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and I am enormously grateful to everybody who has taken the time to get involved. This effort underlines how much people want to see a fairer deal for our children and grandchildren and I will continue to push for the best deal possible for our pupils in Suffolk. I would like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2016. For more information please visit: www.drdanielpoulter.com

In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS ST MARY’S CHURCH, GREAT BLAKENHAM

THE FUTURE’S... A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slogan) There may be many you can remember and it may make a good game to play during this New Year holiday. To get you started here’s one: The future’s bright – the future’s orange. In 2008, Orange’s slogan, ‘The future’s bright – the future’s Orange’ was dropped after many years by its CEO Tom Alexander in a bid to save its ailing fortunes. From July 2008 to 2013, ‘I am’ became the main slogan, shortened from ‘I am who I am because of everyone’, though subsidiary slogans were used to describe the company’s products and services, for example ‘I am more focus, less fuzz’ was used to describe the Samsung Soul handset. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(UK)

As we go into 2016 we go again into the unknown of what another year will bring. We are not sure what the future holds for any of us, which can lead to fear and anxiety. Maybe the future isn’t quite as bright as we were once led to believe.

Churchwardens

Jane Corbett, 01473 830201 / Judith Williams, 01473 832423

THANK YOU A big thank you to everyone who supported the Christmas Tree Festival held at St Mary’s from November 27-29. We had a wonderful weekend with many visitors to the church and raised a fantastic total of £830 for church funds. We were very lucky to be able to display an exhibit from Sproughton Primary School (pictured) as part of the diocese’s Big Gift event. The exhibit then went back to Sproughton Primary School for use during their Christmas celebrations. We have two unclaimed raffle prizes from the Christmas Tree Festival. The lucky tickets are Green 23 and Orange 88. If you have either of these tickets, please phone Paul or Jane on 01473 830201 and we can arrange to let you have your prize.

It is interesting to see how Orange dropped its slogan in 2008 for the shortened one of ‘I am’. This was how Jesus called Himself and it didn’t go down well with many who heard him for they knew he was calling himself God. There is an old hymn, which I like to remind myself of when I think about the future. It goes like this: I do not know what lies ahead the way I cannot see Yet One stands near to be my guide, He’ll show the way to me: I know who holds the future, and He’ll guide me with His hand; With God things don’t just happen, everything by Him is planned. So as I face tomorrow, with its problems large and small, I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to Him my all. I do not know how many days of life are mine to spend; but One who knows and cares for me will keep me to the end: I do not know the course ahead, what joys and griefs are there; but One is near who fully knows, I’ll trust His loving care: Do you know the One to whom this hymn writer speaks of?

Tree sponsored by Jack Brand

Wednesday: Fortnightly women’s meeting, 2.30pm; fortnightly prayer and Bible study, 10am. Friday: Action Bible Club, meet by Great Blakenham Village Hall, 6.30-7.30pm – games, crafts and stories for ages five to 12. For more information email info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk / call 01449 720357 / or visit: www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

Sproughton Primary School exhibit

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING The next community coffee morning will be on Saturday, January 9, 10am-noon. Come and join us for coffee, cake and a chat. Community coffee mornings are held in the Parish Room on the second Saturday of each month. All welcome.

SERVICES Sundays: 10.45am at Great Blakenham (including Sunday Club for children); 6.30pm at Mickfield.

2015 Christmas Tree Festival

JANUARY SERVICES Morning Prayer – January 10, 10am Join us for coffee and a chat after the 10am Morning Prayer Service. Communion Service – January 24, 11.15am

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY February 13 February 14 February 28 March 12 March 13 March 24 March 27

Community Coffee Morning Family Service, 10am Communion Service, 11.15am Community Coffee Morning Family Service, 10am Maundy Thursday Supper, 6.30pm Maundy Thursday Service, 7.30pm Easter Day Communion Service, 10am 17

CHURCH NEWS ST MARY THE VIRGIN BRAMFORD, ST MARY NETTLESTEAD, ST MARY THE VIRGIN LITTLE BLAKENHAM, ST PETER BAYLHAM Priest-in-charge: The Rev Jenny Seggar 01473 748914 / Stmarybramford@aol.com Assistant curate: The Rev Julian Fennel, 01473 833250 Assistant priest: The Rev Pat Wright www.stmarybramford.co.uk Morning Prayer at Bramford: 8.30am, Monday to Friday

We have also introduced Prayer for Healing into the first Communion Service of each month at Bramford. This has so far been well received and complements the Healing Service held at the Methodist Church. Please come along to either service if you need pray for your own needs, or would like to pray for others. If you want to find out more do not hesitate to contact Julian or Jenny.

Wednesday morning Communion Services: 9.30am at the vicarage, unless otherwise advised. Quiet reflective Communion Service followed by coffee in the church at 10am where a member of the clergy will be available for a chat – all are welcome.

In the meantime, we at St Mary’s want to wish you every blessing for the New Year.

Please check porch notices for any changes. January 3 8am 10am 3pm

Epiphany Parish Communion Parish Communion United Service at Cherryfields

January 10 8am 10am

Baptism of Christ Holy Communion Parish Communion

Bramford Nettlestead

January 13 7.30pm

Healing Service

Methodist

January 17 10am 10am

Epiphany 2 Parish Communion Parish Communion

Bramford Baylham

January 19 2pm

Gathering in the Church Room, come along and meet old friends or make new ones

January 24 10am

Epiphany 3 Parish Communion

Bramford

January 31 8am 10am

Epiphany 4 Holy Communion Christingle Service

Bramford Bramford

Little Blakenham Bramford

Dear Friends Happy New Year to all of you. At the beginning of each year I like to do a personal review of how things are going. I am not going to share that with you, but I do feel that this would be a good place to update you on a few things that have been on our minds as a church. I hope that by the time you read this our new roof alarm will have been installed, with a new CCTV camera in the church. This is a step we have taken reluctantly following the vandalism we suffered during 2015. It will simply monitor comings and goings and will not disturb anyone who wishes to use the church for devotions. I have had a great many comments about the church being closed over the winter and we hope this will enable us to open the church during the day again. We will be changing the opening and closing times, but will let you know what they are. We have also been working hard to repair the church heating. I hope that by now we will have received quotes, and will be able to get a new system in place over the next few months. At the moment we are applying for grants to help us defray the cost. We hope that you will be patient while the work is going on. On a different subject, our ‘new’ five o’clock service aimed at children and families was really successful. We hope this year to continue to develop it, and maybe even take it out to the villages. At the moment it happens on the second Sunday in Bramford Church Room. If you would like to join in or are curious about what happens, please don’t hesitate to come along and give it a go.

Blessings to you all. Jenny Coffee morning January’s coffee morning will be on Saturday 23, 10am-noon. This time there will be bacon rolls available, so why not lay in bed a little longer and treat yourselves to a late breakfast bacon roll. Christmas wreaths A huge thank you to all the ladies who braved the cold to make the many wreaths that were for sale at the bazaar, lunches and other various events. Thanks too to those who bought them, the money raised will go towards the upkeep of our church and probably the repair of our Victorian heating system. PARISH REGISTERS Funerals November 9: Tina Garrett November 12: Karen Eastleigh November 17: Peggy McGinty November 19: Dennis Cottrell December 4: Burial of ashes – Jim Thacker We extend to their families our sympathy and prayers. Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church December 4: To mark the 40th wedding anniversary of Jim and Carol Thacker December 6: In loving memory of Mary and Nin December 21: In memory of Kathy Sparrow January 13: In memory of Bernard Purbrick January 16: In memory of Tom McGinty’s birthday January 22: In memory of Maria Whight’s birthday If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 a week. Flower rota: 16, H Breitsprecher Cleaning rota: S and W McGinty Lectionary Bible Readings for our Sunday Worship are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is good to share the reading of scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world. January 3 Jer. 31: 7-14

Epiphany Eph. 1. 3-14

White / Gold John 1. (1-9) 10-48

January 10 Isaiah 43: 1-7

The Baptism of Christ Acts 8:14-17

White / Gold Luke 3: 15-17; 21-22

January 17 Isaiah. 62: 1-5

Epiphany 2 1 Cor. 12: 1-11

White John 2: 1 -11

January 27 Neh. 8: 1-3; 5-6; 8-10

Epiphany 3 1 Cor. 12: 12-31a

White Luke 4: 14-21

January 31 Ezek.43: 27-44.4

Epiphany 4 1 Cor.13

White Luke 2: 22-40

In Touch online:

YOUR LOCAL SERVICES

March Accounting & Taxation Services Ian Coombes FCCA MBA • FREE initial consultation to discuss any tax, accounting and general business issues • Payroll,VAT and bookkeeping services • Personable and professional advice tailored to your individual needs • Fees agreed in advance • Out of office hours service available Individuals, self employed and limited companies

Please call Ian on: 01449 740285 / 07939 837939 E: ian@marchconsultingltd.co.uk

MID-SUFFOLK FENCING

SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY TIMBER FENCING

SUPPLY • ERECT • REPAIR

TIMBER & STEEL GATES DECKING PATIOS WOODEN BRIDGES FREE ESTIMATES 31 Alexander Drive, Needham Market IP6 8XG

www.midsuffolkfencing.co.uk

YOU GROW IT I’LL MOW IT

GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer the following services all year round: Grass cutting • Garden clearance Fences & Gates • Patios & Paths Hedge Cutting • Tree Cutting Sheds • Summer Houses Digger & Dumper work

For a free quotation please call Nigel Coton 01449 721025 or 07801 515505 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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham

In Touch online: