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In Touch
™© ™©
with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead Volume 7 • Issue No. 8 • JUNE 2017
Skiphire www.collins-skiphire.co.uk
For a fast, efficient & price friendly local service
01473 327596
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I heard an interesting term the other day, ‘world whelm’, defined as ‘crashing anxiety caused by a never-ending, nerve-fraying news feed’. Most of us will have experienced this at some point in recent months, but I hope we can provide a brief respite. I have my moments and occasionally despair when I watch the news, but as deadline day approaches and my inbox fills with emails from groups and individuals organising fundraising events or undertaking personal challenges to raise money for charity, I find comfort in knowing there are many, many, many good people doing good things every day of the week to help others. So when ‘world whelm’ strikes, pick up your In Touch magazine to ease the anxiety and perhaps you’ll be inspired to do ‘your bit’. You don’t have to jump out of a plane! Just supporting others in their efforts, whether it’s a local event or a fundraising activity, is worthy, and you’ll discover other benefits too. Living in a place where you don’t know your neighbours, where you don’t have any shared sense of space or don’t know what’s going on socially or politically, can feel isolating. That’s why it’s important to engage or to foster community spirit, to find ways to bond with neighbours and to build a life which extends beyond your front door. So turn off the TV, take a walk, shop locally, attend local events or join a committee, maybe even start a club, offer help when you can and ask for it when you need it. I’ve occasionally been accused of being naïve, but I believe people are innately good and that social connection is a basic human need. I’ve read that strong social connection strengthens our immune system, helps us recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen our life. People who feel more connected to others have lower rates of anxiety and depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, are more empathic to others, more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them. You’ll have no problem finding things to do or events to support this month. Your problem may be fitting it all in!
In Touch
with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: 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
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01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with 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... • NEW Beyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Capel St Mary • Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton • Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • Ipswich East • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew • Brantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • Needham Market & The Creetings • Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone • Burstall & Sproughton • Stowmarket & Stowupland • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham • Chattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon • Melton & Woodbridge
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JULY DEADLINE 10 JUNE 2017
is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy
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NEWS SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA) In the autumn of last year, Onslow Suffolk Ltd put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16. Full details can be found at: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning It is important to be aware that this is not a renewal of the original planning approval for SnOasis, which remains in place. Reserved Matters cover the detail of such topics as design, appearance, transport, drainage, ecological mitigation, etc. This means that your local council and residents are not being asked whether they want the development to go ahead. Instead, the developer will put forward their plans regarding, for example, the external appearance of the ski slope, and we will be asked for comments on that and similar matters. SPA is committed to working with Mid Suffolk District Council to obtain the information that is necessary for councils to be able to make informed and constructive comments. Therefore, it is particularly worrying that yet another month has passed with no information being available on any of the outstanding Reserved Matters. As the August deadline comes increasingly close, the SPA is concerned that all the information will only available at the last possible minute, meaning that not just the SPA, but all the organisations involved in commenting, will be forced to consider a great amount of detailed information in an impossibly short timescale. This will mean that this project, which will have a great impact on the local area and it’s residents, may not be given the detailed level of scrutiny it needs, despite the best efforts of the SPA. Sadly, the delays in receiving information means that, yet again, there is nothing new to report this month. For further information, please email Janet Gobey, the clerk to the SPA on: snoasispa@icloud.com Regards, Steve Plume Chairman – SnOasis Parish Alliance
STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Regular networking opportunities for June 2017
Coffee Morning Networking: Friday, June 2, 10am-noon at Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market Networking Breakfast: Friday, June 16, 6.45am at our new summer venue, The Bistro, Stonham Barns Please check the online events page for further details and to book: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE CALL 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. The Suffolk Dementia Helpline can support anyone who needs to talk. Perhaps you have memory worries or even a recent diagnosis and want someone to talk to.
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NEWS FILM RELEASED ON SUFFOLK ENERGY FROM WASTE FACILITY Grimshaw Architects, the firm who designed the Suffolk energy from waste facility, have released a short film about the process of designing the facility and the importance of good design. The film features interviews with representatives from Suffolk County Council, SUEZ and Grimshaw. Bryn Griffiths, Assistant Director Environment at Suffolk County Council, explains the importance the council placed on good design from the outset and the need for the facility. Kirsten Lees and Andrew Usher from Grimshaw outline the design process and how this sought to reduce the impact on the Suffolk landscape and include an element of transparency to help address local concerns. Jean Claude Sartenaer, Project Director at SUEZ, talks of his pride in the building, noting it is both useful, treating waste as a fuel to produce energy, and beautiful. The film features interviews with representatives from the project team, but also includes two local residents, Penny Pearson and Chris Studd, who compare how they felt about the project when it was first announced
with their thoughts on it today now the facility is up and running. To learn about the design process and hear what Penny and Chris have to say, visit Grimshaw’s Youtube Channel.0.5 Introducing our new Community Liaison Manager Emily Pike has recently moved on from her position as Community Liaison Manager at the Suffolk energy from waste facility. We’re pleased to say Emily is staying with us at SUEZ and will continue to work at the facility in a different role. Claire Davies is taking over the Community Liaison Manager position. Claire is passionate about the environment and sustainability, holding a degree in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia. She previously worked with Suffolk County Council’s Waste Management Team during her Year in Industry placement in 2014-2015. We hope you will join us in welcoming Claire and wishing Emily all the best in her new role.
GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL We have now held the annual meeting of the parish and the annual meeting of the parish council. We were pleased to see such a wide range of residents, young and old, at both meetings – and we especially enjoyed the chance to meet a lovely little puppy who is a very new resident of Great Blakenham. Thank you once again to everybody who took the time to come along and give us important feedback on a variety of issues. Of course, all residents are very welcome to attend any of our parish council meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at the Parish Meeting Room, Mill Lane. We start promptly at 7pm. The dates for 2017 are: June 14, July 12, September 13, October 11, and November 8. There are no meetings scheduled for August or December. There is a public forum at the beginning of each meeting. The purpose of this is to give members of the public, especially residents of Great Blakenham, the opportunity to raise concerns or ask questions about topics that are related to the work of the parish council. If you would like to raise an issue for councillors to consider, please contact the clerk: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 07508 830777 We are still receiving complaints about bags of dog waste being left on paths or on shrubs and trees, particularly along the river path. Please be a responsible dog owner, clean up after your pet and use the dog waste bins or take it home with you! Following feedback from residents, we are investigating the possibility of installing a dog waste bin by the bridge over the River Gipping at the end of Mill Lane. The council
is also considering whether to install a new waste bin there, following comments about the amount of rubbish left in that area, especially during the summer months. You may have heard by now that the application for 130 houses on Stowmarket Road has been approved. This application does not include the allotment land and we will be continuing to work towards a more permanent solution. As part of this, the council has made an offer to the landowner to open negotiations about a possible purchase of the allotment land by the council. We regularly post information about the parish council and its work on Facebook (@greatblakenhampc) and Twitter (@pcgtblakenham), and also items that are of interest locally, such as road closures, the allotments, SnOasis, reserved matters and mud on the roads. If you want to leave us a message this way, please do so. Our website also has information about all the above and the work of the council, as well as copies of agendas and minutes of meetings: Finally, we have vacancies for councillors. If you would like to be involved in the important and varied work that the council does, please contact the clerk for further information. Thank you for reading this and for your interest in the work of your parish council. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on June 14 at 7pm in the Parish Meeting Room. Steve Plume, Chairman of Great Blakenham Parish Council
SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM With summer getting close just a little reminder about shed and garage security.
Should you require any further advice please contact:
Think about:
• Email the Safer Neighbourhood team: hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
• Fitting a good quality padlock (there are even alarmed ones that are activated if tampered with) • Checking that your door hinges are secure • Obscuring windows with a net curtain or fitting internal bars/grille • Keeping doors and windows locked • Security marking items of value with your postcode (make a note of any serial numbers and photograph items) • Install external dusk till dawn lighting and consider an alarm which can deter intruders
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• 101 in a non-emergency or 999 for emergency calls
• Follow us on Twitter @HadleighPolice • Join up to Police Connect: www.suffolk.police.uk/policeconnect • Alternatively for any further crime reduction advice please contact the local crime reduction officer on 01473 613500 or visit: www.suffolk.police.uk • Any information you may wish to pass about any crime can also be passed by calling CRIMESTOPPERS: 0800 555 111 Regards, PC287 Sarah George, Hadleigh SNT
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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: MAY 2017 I am pleased to say that I was re-elected as county councillor for Gipping Valley by a narrow majority of 30 votes, a nail biting experience for me and for my Conservative opponent John Whitehead. Thank you to all who voted for me and can I assure those who did not that I did collect their views while canvassing and will work for them just as hard as I work for my supporters. The Liberal Democrats lost three members in Belstead Brook, Hadleigh and in Bosmere where Julia Truelove retired after many years advocating improvements in services for children and young people. County Council Activities County council meetings have yet to re-start and there will be quite a period of induction activities before we really get started again. Committee positions will be re-allocated in line with the new political ratios and the dominant Conservative group will appoint cabinet members and chairs of committees. I hope to retain a position on the Scrutiny Committee where I can exert some influence on the reviews of service efficiency and on the effectiveness of policy. Time will tell, as it will for the Pension Committee where I was involved for the last four years. It will be no surprise that the dominant issue on the doorstep and in the residents’ surveys that I carried out was the repair and subsequent rapid failure of potholes. The new structure in Highways will I hope address these issues, but requires a close watch. I will now be able to follow up on the flooding, parking and mud on roads issues and, of course, the zebra crossing in Great Blakenham just as soon as I establish the new contact points in the Highways integrated teams. District Council Mid Suffolk and Babergh are pressing ahead with their plan to borrow
a joint £50 million to invest in commercial property. This will yield some 7% rent they hope to be offset against the need to raise council tax. Similar investments have been successful for other councils, but the risk of borrowing from the public works loans board to invest on what is currently a falling market is for me a risk too far. I hope I shall be proved wrong, that rental yield is high and the capital value grows rather than shrinks. Parish Councils I attend almost all parish council meetings, but there are problems when they clash with school governor meetings or with each other, a common occurrence. I am asking for meetings to be arranged on different days of the week or on differing weeks. I believe I and my fellow district councillors should be available to answer your questions and hear your views. If this were a division with some obvious place to meet, a library perhaps, it would be much easier to hold regular surgeries. Compared to the market towns we are rather spread out for that. One good point is that I understand that SALC (Suffolk Association of Local Councils) is changing the guidance that has been restricting resident participation and encouraging a more flexible approach to meetings. I hope that if you can contribute more freely, you will find it rewarding to attend and challenge us all on our performance. However, the parish councillors remain the decision makers. If you have queries please phone me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or 07545 423808. You can also email me at: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk Twitter @JohnFieldjd Facebook /fieldjd accounts www.johnfield.suffolk.libdems.org
LITTLE BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL On Monday, May 8, we held the annual meeting of the parish, followed by the annual meeting of Little Blakenham Parish Council. Both of these meetings were very well attended and we would like to thank everybody who came along and shared their views and concerns with the parish council. Remember that members of the public can come along to any of our meetings to raise issues and ask questions. Meetings take place on the third Tuesday, every other month. Meetings start at 7.30pm in the village hall on the following dates: 2017: July 18, September 19, November 21 2018: January 16, March 20, May 15 – Annual Meeting of the Council New play equipment behind the Beeches The contract for funding has been signed and a whole new set of bright and modern play equipment has been ordered. We have had to wait for a long enough spell of dry weather so that ground conditions are suitable for councillors to remove the old equipment from the play area. By the time you read this, we may have been able to get everything removed, apart from the swing. Once the area is clear, we will arrange for the equipment to be installed. The play area will be closed for about a week while the company is
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working. The existing swing will remain and will be repainted once the rest of the work is complete. The parish council has received complaints about bags of dog mess being left hanging from trees and bushes along paths in the village. Thank you for clearing up after your dog, but please use the bin that the council provides specifically for these bags. It is sited at the start of the footpath that goes around the back of the Beeches. If you have any ideas about where it could be useful to have another dog waste bin, please contact the clerk. The village hall on Valley Road is available for hire at very reasonable rates. There is an outside area which could be useful for games if you are planning a party for lots of energetic children. The hall has plenty of parking and a kitchen area. If you would like to book it for an event or a party or would like further information, please contact Nathan Elvin: nathan.elvin@btinternet.com / 07913 586188 If you have any queries on the work of the parish council, please contact the clerk, Janet Gobey: littleblakenhampc@outlook.com / 01473 833520 www.littleblakenham.onesuffolk.net / Twitter: LtBlakenhamPC Wally Binder, Chairman Little Blakenham Parish Council
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of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing
a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Andy a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
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Fri 9th - Thurs 15th June
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (12A) Fri 9th: 5.00, Sat 10th: 7.15, Sun 11th: 12.15 Mon 12th - Thurs 15th: 7.45
A DOG’S PURPOSE (PG) Fri 26th May - Thurs 1st June
Fri 9th: 2.30, Sat 10th: 4.00 Sun 11th: 3.00, Mon 12th & Tue 13th: 2.30 Wed 14th & Thurs 15th: 5.15
Fri 26th - Thurs 1st: 1.45, 4.30, 7.15
Wed 14th & Thurs 15th: 2.30
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN MISS SLOANE (15) SALAZAR’S REVENGE (12A) Mon 12th & Tue 13th: 5.00 SMURFS - THE LOST VILLAGE (U) THEIR FINEST (12A) Sat 27th - Thurs 1st: 11.30am
Sun 11th: 5.15, Thurs 15th 11.45am
Fri 2nd - Thurs 8th June
Fri 16th - Thurs 22nd June
Fri 2nd - Sun 4th: 1.45, 4.30, 7.15 Mon 5th - Thurs 8th: 5.00 & 7.45
Fri 16th - Sun 18th: 2.30 & 7.45 Mon 19th - Wed 21st: 7.45 Thurs 22nd: 11.45am
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD (12A) SALAZAR’S REVENGE (12A) SMURFS - THE LOST VILLAGE (U) ALIEN COVENANT (15) Fri 2nd - Sun 4th: 11.30am
THE PROMISE (12A)
Mon 5th - Thurs 8th: 2.15 EVENT CINEMA
World Class Theatre - Beamed to Stowmarket
Friday 9th June at 8.00pm - Tickets £14.00
Live from the 02
Fri 16th - Sun 18th: 5.00
WHISKY GALORE (PG)
Mon 19th & Tue 20th: 2.30 Wed 21st: 5.15, Thurs 22nd: 4.45
MINDHORN (15)
Mon 19th & Tue 20th: 5.00 Wed 21st & Thurs 22nd: 2.30
TAKE THAT - WONDERLAND A DOG’S PURPOSE (PG) Saturday 10th June at 12.30pm Tickets £12.50, Under 17’s £10
Sat 17th & Sun 18th: 12.15
POCKET MONEY MOVIES
Recorded live from the National Theatre GREAT FAMILY FILMS, KIDS £2.50, ADULTS FREE!*
PETER PAN
Thursday 22nd June at 7.00pm - Tickets £12.50
National Theatre Live presents
SALOME
www.regalstowmarket.co.uk / 01449 612825 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1AY
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SING (U)
Sat 27th & Sun 28th: 9.30am, Wed 31st: 9.30am
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (U) Fri 2nd - Sun 4th: 9.30am
BEAUTY & THE BEAST (PG)
Sat 10th & Sun 11th: 9.30am, Sat 17th & Sun 18th: 9.30am *1x free adult per paying child. Under 10’s must be accompanied.
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OUT & ABOUT SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP
A Community Shop for the local community, run by the local community The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416 OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 8am-6pm Saturdays: 8am-1pm ANNIVERSARY COFFEE MORNING Help to celebrate the fifth anniversary of our community shop on Saturday, July 8, 10am-12.30pm. You are invited to join us for cake and a drink to help us celebrate and to say thank you to all our volunteers and customers without whom our local shop would not be possible. It’s unimaginable to think that our shop has been open for nearly five years. It’s a real success for our locality to have such a friendly and useful village shop and it’s all thanks to the people in the community. Our delicious cakes are made locally in Elmsett. We have some on daily display, but it’s also possible to order anything special you require such as birthday or other celebration cakes. Just put your order in at the shop. It’s also possible to order locally made bread and rolls, sausages, pies and other meats, so won’t be disappointed when we sell out. Some really lovely strong shoulder bags have recently been acquired showing our shop logo. They are really useful and handy for carrying shopping and much more. Do have a look when you come in. Thanks to Anne for locating and purchasing such a fine and reasonably priced new item. The long-running Golden Link group has relocated their meetings every other Tuesday afternoon to our coffee corner. It’s a chance for a chat with others over tea and cake, and maybe other outings on offee, so come along and see what’s happening. Petrolheads is also going strongly on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month, so lots going on in coffee corner these days. Jenny Hitchcock, a long-serving committee member, has reluctantly had to resign from the management committee which organises the running of the shop. We thank her very much for her valuable contribution and are happy that she will still continue as a volunteer. However, this does leave a gap in our management side and if anybody thinks they could contribute in this way to the valuable asset that is our village shop, we would be delighted to hear from them.
FOUR COMMUNITIES ACTION GROUP The Four Communities Action Group (4CAG) was created in 2010 by members of the churches of Barham, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley. We aim to work together as four parishes to develop new activities and support networks, especially for those in need, and to provide spiritual support and encouragement with a view to enhancing the lives of all members of the community. We currently have five organisations under our umbrella. Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club The Meet ’n’ Eat Lunch Club meets at noon on the first Friday of each month at the Parish Rooms in Great Blakenham. For only £4, we serve a choice of soup with a roll and butter, then home-made puddings with cream or custard and a cup of tea or coffee. In addition, we offer the chance to sit and chat with old friends, make new friends, play a game of bingo, win the raffle and have a bit of fun. For more information, telephone Mike on 07805 507497. The Book Club Do you fancy reading something different to what you would usually choose? The Book Club has a few places left for new members on the last Thursday in the month at The Crown at 10.30am. Just come along and join us for a light-hearted discussion on the book we’ve chosen to read. The Gipping Valley Art Society We meet every Tuesday afternoon at Great Blakenham Parish Rooms. We are a small, friendly group who enjoy art. We take our own materials and have our own ‘projects’ for painting in various medias, including watercolour, acrylic, oils, pastels, pencils and ink. Membership is free but we pay a weekly subscription to cover room hire, refreshments and so on. We hold a local exhibition of our work once a year and also show our art at other exhibitions and attend small shows and galas. We are open to invitations to have a stand or stall at local events. Contact Ann on 01473 831031. 4Ever Young Men’s Club The 4Ever Young Men’s Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am in the Crown at Claydon. We’re visiting the Museum of East Anglian Life in May, and our June meeting is the AGM when we will be electing a new chairman and secretary to take the club into 2017/2018. For more information, contact Mike Biddle on 07805 507497, or just turn up on the third Wednesday of the month. The Knitting Group Do you enjoy knitting or want to learn how to? The Knitting Group meets in the lounge at Alasdair Place on the first Thursday in the month from 10.30am-noon. We pay £1 towards refreshments. You can bring along any knitting you want, but if you need ideas, we have plenty. At the moment some of us are knitting small teddy bears for the fire brigade to take for children involved in incidents or hats and scarves for the soup kitchen.
Please contact Terry or Lucy in the first instance to let them know of your interest and know that you would be contributing greatly to the life of our community We have been having a promotion for new volunteers recently and have had some success. Volunteering in the shop not only helps the community, but also helps the individual, especially anybody new to the village, to get to know people and what’s happening locally and to be involved in village life. We also like to have young students volunteering as they gain lots of work and life experience which is good for putting on CVs. If you’re thinking of volunteering, either for personal interest or to gain experience, come along and we will be very happy to see you. Management Team: Lucy Barrett, 831890; Terry Fordham, 831529; Peter Jousiffe; Anne MacFadyen, 831288; Steve Woolhouse, 831080
www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham
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OUT & ABOUT BAR-CLAY MUSIC MAKERS
STRAWBERRY FAIR Sunday, June 25, 3-5pm St Mary’s Church, Nettlestead Followed by an Evensong Service Come along for strawberry teas and cake, children’s games, craft and book stalls and a treasure hunt. Raising funds for St Mary’s Church, Nettlestead
IPSWICH BRANCH, SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Fancied digging even deeper into your family history? Then one place you must go to is The National Archives at Kew. We have a coach leaving the Martlesham area at 6.30am on Thursday, June 22. We will also pick up in Ipswich and at Capel St Mary. To ensure as much time as possible for you to do your research we will leave Kew at 4.50pm. The cost is only £25 per person. Places are limited so contact Howard today to book: 07713 768821
CLAYDON AND BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE Church Lane Claydon Ipswich IP6 0EG 01473 831805 / info@candbcc.co.uk Daily activities currently include the Community Café, Monday to Saturday inclusive, zumba on Monday evenings and karate from 4.457pm on Tuesdays with junior and senior classes. The club opens the bar at 7pm until approximately midnight and we have indoor bowls most weeks and occasionally ladies darts. Wednesday is bingo, with the bar opening at 7pm until approximately 11.30pm. The bar doesn’t open on Thursdays and on Friday there is karate again from 4.45-7pm and the bar opens until approximately 12.30am. On Saturday the bar opens at noon through until 3pm and reopens again at 7pm, through till approximately 12.30am. On Sunday we open at noon and usually close around 5pm. The hall has received a lot of bookings enquiries, some well into next year. So if you are thinking of hosting an event, party or celebration at the club please call us ASAP to reserve your dates. Forthcoming events include an 80s Tribute night on Friday, June 23, 8pm until late. The tickets cost £7.50, optional 80s dress code. We were fortunate to receive funding from a variety of sources to help towards the purchase of an AED defibrillator. Donations were received from Claydon & Whitton and Barham Parish Councils and from the short mat and indoor bowls clubs, together with In Touch money and money raised from the Christmas cake raffle. The defibrillator is now ‘live’ and is situated on the outside of the premises. Our sincere thanks to everyone involved.
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Following another successful panto in January 2017 (Goldie Locks and Some Other Guys), Bar-Clay Music Makers are gearing up for our next production. With no fewer than six scripts to choose from at the recent AGM, members voted by a large majority for The Little Mermaid. This original show, written by BMM member Linzi Hall, will be staged on the last two weekends of January 2018. But first you are invited to a readthrough on Wednesday, July 12 and auditions a week later on July 19, both at 7.30pm in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. Director Linzi Hall and assistant director Tom Hitchcock look forward to welcoming members old and new (including youngsters who will be in year six in September 2017) to join in the fun, on stage, back stage or front of house. What better way to fill those long winter evenings? For more information contact Vera Rogers: 01473 836972 / vera.rogers1@btinternet.com
GREAT BLAKENHAM 200 CLUB Winning tickets for May 2017 £25 £15 £10 £10 £5 £5
78 156 224 35 168 140
Mr Mayhew SACKERS Lisa Turner Smith John Phillips Reg Barton Ann Hood
Winning tickets for June 2017 £25 172 Mr Davies £15 134 Robert Simpson £10 221 Deita Cullen £10 30 Margaret Minns £5 126 Sheila Clarke £5 211 Ann Little Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets for the 200 Club. Your contributions raise funds for repairs and preservation of St Mary’s church building. Tickets are £12 per year; you can join at any time and only pay for the months remaining in the year. If you would like to join, please phone Marion: 01473 830915
NEEDHAM MARKET BOWLS CLUB As I write, the outdoor season is two weeks old and our Tuesday and Wednesday teams have made an impressive start. Tuesday A team has played two and won two, as have the Tuesday B team. Our new Tuesday C team narrowly lost the one match they played. The Wednesday team has also played two and won two and the Monday and Thursday teams started their campaigns on May 8. Social occasions will be held throughout the summer and non-members are always welcome. Details will be published later. MEET AND GREET DAYS AT CROWLEY PARK Our meet and greets on April 22 and 29 were successful so we are holding another one on Saturday, June 3 at 10.30am. Please come along and enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and a biscuit. Bowls and basic instruction will be provided, but if you just want to watch and chat that’s fine. Although bowls is an ideal sport for the active older person, remember You’re never too young to bowl! Contacts: Pat Hadden, 01743 831308 / Alistair Bailie, 01449 720759
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OUT & ABOUT GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB The 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, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and 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, with its own parking area at the rear. It is fully accessible for anyone in a wheelchair and has disabled facilities within. In April we had an Easter themed social afternoon which included a yellow raffle and at our meeting on April 24 we were pleased to see Peter Banham on a return visit with his interactive talk on old sayings and their meanings which everyone found very entertaining and informative. We were also pleased to welcome Maureen and Michael Hall, Gill Glaister and Pam Rudland as new members to the club. Our programme up to our summer break is: June 14: Social Afternoon with Brenda June 28: A visit by Hannah Barton from the Citizens Advice Bureau explaining the work they do and the services they provide to the community July 12: Social Afternoon with Sandra July 26: Summer Tea Party with entertainment by one of our members, Dot Chapman, on her accordion
STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB Nigel Rea came to the club on April 10 to judge our portrait and audio visual (AV) competitions. Roy Ward was the winner of the portrait competition with The Clown and Keith Hyland won the AV with Red Arrows. As usual, Nigel was very good, giving constructive criticism and lots of tips, especially for the AV competition. He has also been instrumental in helping us get a speaker to instruct us on AV for next year. On April 24 we had our annual battle with the Lakenheath club. Unfortunately the booked judge couldn’t make it, but Mike Lloyd came to the rescue. Stowmarket won on the night. Massive thanks to Mike for stepping in at the last minute. Two members have had their entries accepted into the East Anglian Federation exhibition, which is no mean feat. Congratulations to Keith Hyland for The Train Leaving Platform One is… and to Roy Ward for The Octagon at Ely Cathedral. Monday, June 12: Lecture 4 – 20 Nature Photography Projects Throughout the Year by Kevin Sawford Monday, June 19: End of season photo-shoot, venue TBC
As you can see we have quite a varied programme. New members are always welcome but if you would just like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you.
Regular meetings are held at Stowmarket Community Centre, usually on the second and fourth Mondays of the month between September and June. We start arriving at around 7pm for a 7.30pm start. We’d love to see you there, so why not join us?
Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net
BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB
absence. These special rates represent significant savings over normal membership and are offered on a limited basis at adults £25, juniors £10, family £60, so act quickly to secure your place by visiting the membership page.
In an earlier edition of In Touch we alluded to some exciting developments at Bramford Tennis Club and we are pleased to finally be able to share those developments with the local community. Firstly, we have completely relaunched our club website through which we are now able to offer access to online memberships, online court booking and a range of coaching services. The site is fully responsive so that it supports laptops, tablets and mobile devices. Feel free to have a look around via the following link: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BramfordTennisClub As part of the relaunch of the club website we are offering reduced membership rates for adults, families and juniors looking to try tennis for the first time, or those returning to the game after a prolonged
Finally, we are very excited to tell you that adult and junior coaching will be returning to Bramford Tennis Club from this summer. Coaching will be delivered by Carl Douglas who is an LTA Accredited + Coach with many years experience. Carl is also one of the national coaches for Tennis for Kids, the flagship programme for junior beginners run by the LTA. More information is available via the coaching page on the website. There has never been a better time to get involved in tennis in the UK with the success of Andy Murray and Jaimie Murray in the men’s game and Jo Khonta in the ladies game. So why not get involved in the wonderful sport of tennis yourself by getting in touch and meeting us out on court?
We stopped to look at our favourite view It’s the little things that make a funeral special Here for you every hour of every day
01473 858517
www.eastofengland.coop/funerals for your local funeral director
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB
TREES TO TIMBER AT ORCHARD BARN
The club meets from 2-4pm every Monday other than bank holidays in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham from February to December. Members pay £2 per meeting to cover hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes.
Following our successful planning application, work has begun on the Suffolk Long House. Already 27 new students have had a hand in working on the green oak timber frame. They have been learning how to lay out the massive timbers, mark them up and (after several checks) and cut mortise and tenons.
In April we made cards under the heading Wedding Season and a few samples are shown in the picture. In May we concentrated on stamping techniques. A demonstration and talk was given on the different types of rubber and acrylic stamp images that are available together with the different types of ink pads and how they can be used for different processes. Various techniques were shown for members to try. 2017 PROGRAMME June 5: Guinness Book of Records July 3: Backgrounds August 7: Painting and decorating September 4: Boxed up October 2: Kantha November 13: Mini Makes Month December 4: Christmas Party If all this sounds interesting there is currently room for new members so if you would like to join us please get in touch. Although the club is all ladies at present, gentlemen who would like to learn crafts are welcome. Unfortunately I’m cannot accommodate children.
The oak they are learning and working on has come from Raydon Great Woods where Orchard Barn volunteers help the woodsman each month with the restoration of the ancient woods. Further collaboration and learning took place when volunteers from Greenways Conservation Project (Ipswich) brought their mobile sawmill to the woods and converted two windblown oaks into timber for two bays of the old house. OBee CIC is organising a free Tree to Timber event from 10am-4pm on Saturday, July 29. It’s funded by Suffolk Community Foundation. There will be talks, demonstrations, tours and hands-on taster sessions. Sorry, no mobile saw mill, but lots of traditional hand tools and techniques using locally sourced green wood! Put this date in your diary and come along and see what we do. Please walk, cycle or share a lift. We are just south-west of Battisford (left at the bottom of Mill Road). For more information about the Tree to Timber event visit: www.orchardbarn.org.uk/treetotimber
Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL Henley Pre-School is located in the village of Henley, a short five minute drive from the centre of Ipswich. We operate from the Boughton Room in Henley Community Centre and have sole use of a lovely outdoor garden which allows free flow play throughout the session. Session times are Monday to Friday 9am-noon and noon-3pm with an optional lunchtime club each day. We open term time only. This term the children have been busy in the garden planting strawberries, runner beans, potatoes, peas, spinach and herbs and we are planning on developing our flower bed over the next few weeks. Many thanks to Bob, our wonderful volunteer gardener, for all his hard work with the children which has transformed our garden. We have also been looking at pets and have put together a pet board of photos of all our lovely cats, dogs, rabbits, fish, ducks, horses and even a rhea. The children have also enjoyed various craft and cooking activities and we will soon be thinking about Father’s Day and transition to school. We aim to provide a safe, friendly and stimulating environment where children can expand their own individual and creative skills through imaginative and social activities. We cater for the individual needs of the children and ensure quality of opportunity through carefully planned activities to help them develop in all areas of learning. Come to our open day on Saturday, June 24, 10am to noon. Refreshments will be available and plenty of fun, family activities to take part in. Our friendly, qualified staff will be on hand to chat and answer any questions you may have. If you already attend our pre-school we would love to see you and if you are thinking about sending your little one this is the ideal opportunity to find out what we do. We look forward to meeting you. Bridget and the team
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SCHOOLS CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB
CLAYDON PRIMARY SCHOOL
April prize-winners No 30: Linda Firman £15.90 No 2: Alison Brown £7.95 No 42: Lisa Read £2.65
The children came back refreshed from a lovely Easter break and have been busy learning about their new topics and enjoying the sunshine – which means they get to go onto the field for break and lunchtime.
New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 per 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 money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children. For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL Well hasn’t the first half of summer term gone quickly? We have all enjoyed the week long break, ready to see the last half term before the six week break. The children who will be leaving us to move on to Reception have been having lots of information and visits to help them with their transition in September. All the children are enjoying being able to play in the garden and see how all the fruit and vegetables are growing. They can’t wait to try them. There have been lots of activities going on to help the children bring on their creative side. From September 2017 the government is introducing free 30 hours funding. This means that working parents who both earn the equivalent of 16 hours at National Minimum Wage (£115.20) or more per week and less than £100,000 per year (or just one carer if a single parent) will be eligible to claim up to 30 hours of funding. You can register at Childcare Choices to see if you are eligible and also register for the Government Childcare Vouchers Scheme. The pre-school will be open for the five weeks in August of the summer holidays. Any child from two years old to Reception age is welcome to attend. We will be open from 9am to 3.30pm. Prices are £20 per day (bring a packed lunch) or £12 for half day (9am-noon or 12.30-3.30pm). Further information and a booking form are available from the pre-school. If you would like an application form or any further information please contact Lisa Read, administration assistant: Claydon Pre-school, Old Scout Hut, Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648
CLAYDON & BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project which has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 26 years. We welcome mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 per family. This month we meet on June 15 and 22 from 9.30-11.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. At our regular sessions we enjoy imaginative play, singing 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. It’s a good opportunity for parents and carers to meet others with pre-school children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children. This month we would like to wish a happy birthday to Coby and Isaac. 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.
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Our Year 6 pupils have been working extremely hard this academic year in the build up to their impending SATs. We are very proud of how dedicated and committed they have been to their learning outside of school as well. Many of them have been using revision books and completing additional homework tasks, as well as using the various online programs we have available to them. Also, a huge thank you to parents, carers, siblings and all the other adults and family members at home who have supported them to do this. Everybody at the school wishes all of our year pupils the very best for SATs week. We have had a special visitor in school who came to assess our teaching of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) across Key Stage 2. Marina Dixon, the Linguamargue assessor, spent the day with Mr Wardrop, who is our MFL subject leader, to observe the teaching of French, discuss leadership of MFL across the school and complete a learning walk. She was extremely impressed with what we have in place in school, the quality of the teaching of French, the profile of French across the whole school and our plans for the future. We were therefore awarded the Bronze Linguamargue, which we are delighted with and are already working towards silver. A huge thank you and well done to Mr Wardrop (pictured with our new multicultural ambassadors) for all his dedication, and our staff and pupils. Many of our pupils attend clubs outside of school and we always love hearing about them and their achievements. We were delighted to hear that seven of our pupils who are part of the CDC Streetdance team recently won the National United Dance Organisation Championship. As a result of this they will be competing in the UDO World Streetdance Championship in August, which is being held in Glasgow. To help fund the trip they have been carrying out various fundraising activities and to support them they held a cake sale at school and managed to raise £237. We can’t wait to hear all about it when they come back in September. The school council recently had a breakfast meeting at the Community Café to interview Jill (who used to work at CPS) about her new adventure for our next newsletter. The children thoroughly enjoyed their squash, banana muffins, pain au chocolat and fruit while they fired questions at her. We found out all about her favourite cakes to bake – as well as her favourite cakes to eat – what her biggest challenge has been setting up her own business, what she misses about CPS and much more. You will have to read the next newsletter to find out all the answers. Many of our Year 5 pupils have become games leaders over recent weeks, where they organise and manage games for younger pupils at lunch time. Each week Miss Ashcroft introduces a new game to the leaders for them to then organise and run throughout the week with pupils from all year groups able to join in. The Year 5 pupils have been doing a fantastic job and have demonstrated great leadership skills and really contributed to make lunchtimes more fun and active, especially for our younger pupils. As the end of the school year draws nearer there is much to look forward to including our Year 4 residential to Blaxhall, Nursery visit to Alder Carr Farm, Year 5 and 6 production, numerous sporting events and competitions and much, much more.
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SCHOOLS
CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL
As I write this article, we are heading into summer and it’s hard to believe how quickly this year has flown by! We are now coming to the end of the GCSE examination period and Year 11 students have made the most of revision days and catch-up clubs, demonstrating maturity and commitment as they approach their final exams. They have contributed greatly to school life and we wish them all the very best of luck and hope that all their hard work is rewarded with success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents/carers of Year 11 for their support during the last five years. Students are looking forward to celebrating the end of their exams at the school prom on June 22. In May, we were delighted to hear that Claydon High School achieved accreditation for transforming practice under SSAT’s Framework for Exceptional Education. The Framework for Exceptional Education is a self-review and planning tool incorporating SSAT’s 30 years of experience in school improvement. Co-developed with a group of high-performing schools and reviewed by leading academics, the framework supports schools in quality assuring their work and sharing effective practice. To achieve accreditation as transforming in practice, two other high-performing schools and an independent moderator from SSAT reviewed us. SSAT’s Chief Executive, Sue Williamson commented: “For a school to be accredited for transforming practice is a real credit to their team and the quality of the work that they are doing.” I would like to take this opportunity to thank my dedicated team of staff for their hard work and support. On Tuesday, May 2, students in Years 7 and 9 took part in a three-day ‘Humanutopia’ workshop. An external group of skilled team leaders visited the school and worked with both year groups to guide them through a process that helps them to reflect on some of the major issues and barriers that young people face. On day one, using the flagship programme ‘Who am I?’, Year 9 students were asked to consider how their past actions have led them to be the person they are today and to identify what changes they need and may want to make. It was an opportunity to realise that they can be in control of their life, their future and their own destiny. At the end of this powerful experience, they were given the opportunity to become advocates and ambassadors by volunteering to become a ‘hero’. Day two was spent with these new volunteers, training them in how to be effective Hero Mentors for students in Year 7. On day three, the Hero Mentors helped facilitate the ‘Who are You?’ experience to the whole of Year 7 as a kick-start to mentoring them. The aim of this project is for students to get involved with activities that have an impact upon their own personal development, but in
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doing so they make a huge contribution to a better community and society by ‘being the change’ they wish to see in their world. Last month a large number of Year 10 students applied and were interviewed to be prefects. Claydon High School appoints prefects each year to undertake various roles and responsibilities around the school, both during the school day and at extra-curricular events. This is a perfect role for students in Years 10 and 11 who want to take on extra responsibility, extend their experience, develop leadership skills and provide themselves with opportunities which will support their applications to sixth form, college or an apprenticeship. The interview process is quite formal and applicants were questioned about the qualities they possess to be an effective leader as well as their solutions to making an impact on the future development of Claydon High School. As usual, I was very impressed, not only by the original and creative ideas that students presented to us on the day, but also the effort and commitment that all applicants had put into the process. Prefects are expected to establish and maintain the highest standards of behaviour and attitude at all times, providing a positive role model for other students across the school and I have no doubt that the successful candidates will do a fantastic job when they are trained and take up their posts in September. On Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday 28, we will be putting on our Claydon Spotlights Show. The cast have been extremely busy rehearsing and are looking forward to showcasing their music, drama, dance and performance skills. Tickets are now on sale and can be obtained at reception from 8am-4pm. We hope you will be able to join us for a fantastic evening. Both performances start at 7pm with refreshments available. Congratulations to all the students who took part in this year’s sponsored fancy dress fun run. There were some great costumes and £2,557 was raised. This money has been spent on outdoor table tennis tables for use at lunchtimes. Finally, we have lots still to look forward to in the last half-term of this academic year including: Sports Day, Year 5 Primary Arts Festival, Community Tea Party (see page 12), Transition Days, GCSE Art Exhibition, Headteacher’s Praise Tea Party and Sports Award Evening. If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Thursday, June 22. Please telephone my PA, Mrs J Pedersen, to book a place: 01473 836110 Headteacher Mrs S Skinner
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CHURCH NEWS THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES The Church of England in Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham We offer you a warm welcome to all our events and services. For enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals contact: Priest-in-Charge, The Revd Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmaill.com
Weddings May 6: Cassandra Evans and David Chilvers May 20: Karen Tomkins and Alan Havelock
Or visit: www.claydonchurches.com
NEWS Pentecost Picnic, Sunday, June 4: All are welcome to picnic in the rectory garden, Back Lane, Claydon, from 12.30pm as we celebrate Pentecost. Please bring a picnic and something to sit on. Music and singing will be provided. All welcome.
SERVICES IN JUNE Barham Church: every Sunday at 10am Henley Church: every Sunday at 10am Great Blakenham Church: every Sunday at 11am Trinity – what is God like? Sunday, June 4: Gt Blakenham Church, 11am Sunday, June 11: Henley Church, 10am Sunday, June 18: Barham Church, 10am Our series of family@church continues with Trinity. Refreshments available, all welcome. Sunday, June 4 – Pentecost 8am Holy Communion Holy Communion 10am 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham 12.30pm Picnic and Praise
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church The Rectory Garden
Sunday, June 11 – Trinity Sunday Holy Communion 8am Holy Communion 10am family@henley 10am Holy Communion 11am Songs of Praise 4pm
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church Barham Church
Sunday, June 18 – Trinity 1 8am Holy Communion family@barham 10am 10am Holy Communion 11am Holy Communion
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church
Sunday, June 25 – Trinity 2 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Café Church Elevenses@GB 11am 6.30pm Evensong
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church Henley Church
Sunday, July 2 – Saint Peter’s Sunday Holy Communion 8am 10am Holy Communion Patronal Service 10am 11am family@blakenham
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Church
Further services can be found on our website. Hall Bookings Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Paul Corbett, 830201 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463 Funerals April 28: Peter John Bennett May 2: Malcolm George Beales
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Sunday’s Cool: A traditional Sunday School is starting at Gt Blakenham for any children within Henley, Claydon, Barham and GB. It will run on the second and third Sundays (June 11 and 18, July 9 and 16) from 10.30am in Gt Blakenham Parish Room. Under fives should be accompanied by an adult. Older children can be left unattended. Stories, games, songs, loads of fun! It’s free – no need to book. For more information, contact Irene: 01449 676567 Fete and Flowers, Saturday, June 10/11: This year is the 70th successive year for our popular church fete. As last year, we’ll be using the church grounds as the venue for the fete at 2pm on the Saturday. The church will be open all weekend with displays of flowers. We have been fortunate to secure sponsorship of the flower arrangements from Andrew Bingham Funeral Directors and the church will be well worth a visit over that weekend. We will finish the weekend with a Songs of Praise at 4pm on the Sunday. You can vote for your favourite hymn to be sung using the slips in church. (See page 13) Barham Family Barbecue: On Sunday, June 18 at 4.30pm at Barham Church, we invite families and individuals of all ages to our church barbecue. Tickets are £2.50 for adults, £1 for children. For tickets contact: 831079 / 831804 Slice of Summer: On Sunday, July 2, after our 10am Patronal Service, we invite you to a sumptuous summer buffet at Home Farm, Henley. Welcome drinks from noon, with musical interludes from various acts and choirs. Tickets from Margaret: 831463 Barham Hall Picnic Band Concert: The first 200 tickets for this year’s Picnic Concert on July 8 have already been sold. As before we will provide great music in a great setting, but the quality of the food, drink and company is up to you. Unfortunately, none of us can guarantee the British weather, which is why we offer a discount for buying in advance. Before May 31 tickets are £11, after that date they’re £14. Gt Blakenham Doggy Day: Saturday, July 15, 11am-3pm in the Parish Room and garden. Following on from last year’s successful Doggy Day, this year’s event will have all things to do with dogs, including doggy competitions, grooming, refreshments, tombola and raffle. Everyone welcome. Pet Service: A special Pet Service will take place at St Mary’s Church, Great Blakenham on Sunday, July 30 at 4pm to celebrate all God’s creatures. Please bring along your animals for a blessing. Refreshments for humans and animals provided. J-Team Reunion 2017: This year we are celebrating our 30th year of J-Team. This year J-Team runs from August 9-11 at Barham Church. To book see our website. To celebrate being 30, we’re having a re-union. If you or your children have ever been to J-Team in the past, please come along to Barham Church at 10am on Sunday, August 13. If you know others who have attended, please pass the date to them too.
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CHURCH NEWS OTHER SERVICES AND EVENTS Friday, June 9: Alasdair Place Communion Service Saturday, June 10: Claydon and Barham Fete, Barham Church Sunday, June 18: Family Barbecue, Barham Church, 4.30pm Wednesday, June 28: St Peter’s Court Communion Service Sunday, July 2: A Slice of Summer, Home Farm, noon Saturday, July 8: Open Air Picnic Band Concert, evening Saturday, July 15: Great Blakenham Doggy Day, 11am-3pm Sunday, July 30: Pet Service, St Mary’s Church, GB, 4pm Saturday, August 13: Great Blakenham Church Quiz night, 7pm LETTER FROM THE VICAR By the time you’re reading this, we may have passed Pentecost, ‘Pent’ because it comes 50 days after Easter. We’ve celebrated Easter, we’ve celebrated Jesus returning to heaven, and now we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit when he lived and walked on earth. He described the Holy Spirit as the ‘Comforter and
CROSS IN A BOX
Advocate’. Although Jesus couldn’t stay with us here on earth forever, the Holy Spirit can. When I speak to people, almost everyday, about their journey through life, it seems everyone, Christian or not, has encountered the Holy Spirit at some point in their lives. For some, the encounter comes in difficult times, such as an illness or at the loss of a loved one, or when they’ve said a quick prayer, even though they’ve never attended church before. For others, the encounter comes when they are helping those in need, sitting quietly, or being loud! So, the Spirit is comforter and advocate for us. The Holy Spirit is not a ghost (although we often say Holy Ghost). The Holy Spirit is God’s life and breath at work in our world – in your life – at this very moment. Felt ‘something’ when praying? Been moved to tears when thinking about life? Need inspiration? Come and encounter the Holy Spirit with us. The Rev Carl Melville
BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH It will soon be time to vote again in the general election. This quiz question came upon a TV game show this week: “How many general elections have there been since the launch of the iPhone?”
I don’t think I would have got the answer right and the contestant on the show didn’t get it right either. It was costly to him, as he would have won £7,200 had he got the answer right. We will have the opportunity to put a cross in a box at this next up-andcoming election. We will have the different manifestos to look at and updates on each party’s campaign each day on the news in order to weigh up the choices. We may even get fed up with it all! We know that we will have up to 10pm on the day to vote before the doors close. At a previous general election, one of my brothers wanted to be the last person to vote, but unfortunately he left it too late and found the doors closed and had missed the opportunity to put his cross in a box. In the same way we still have the opportunity to consider the life of Jesus, who He is, why He came and what He did. Joshua made a decision and said “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”, based on what he had experienced. So will you put a cross in the box this general election and more importantly take the time to discover who Jesus is and make a decision about Him? I thought you might like to know the answer to the quiz question correct at the time of the programme. Answer: 2 WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesday: Weekly Prayer Meeting, 9.30-10.30am Wednesday: Home Group, 10-11.45am Thursday: Home Group, 7.45-9.30pm Friday: Children’s Club (primary school age), 6.30-7.30pm Sunday Morning Service: 10.45am-noon We’ll be having a cream tea followed by well-known hymns on Sunday, July 2 at 4pm. For more information contact: info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk 01449 720357 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk
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Minister: Rev Derek Grimshaw 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Steward: Ms R Palmer, 01473 831117 Sundays 10.30-11.30am: Morning Worship with Holy Communion every second Sunday 10.30-11.30am: Lighthouse Club for children, term time only 4-6pm: Families@4 – informal get-together with tea provided. Come and go as you please – not a service but our minister usually joins us (once a month, please check diary) Mondays 2-3pm: Bible Study, every third Monday – informal look at issues those present wish to discuss 7.30-9.30pm: Computer Club – term time only Tuesdays 2-3pm: Network/MWiB ladies meeting, although gentlemen are always welcome. Second and fourth Tuesdays of month from OctoberApril and second Tuesday from May-September. Wednesdays 10am-noon: Computer Club – term time only 7.30-8.30pm: Prayers and Laying on of Hands for Healing, second Wednesday Thursdays 3-3.30pm : United Service at Cherryfields, first Thursday Saturdays 10-11am: Coffee Morning – either at the Methodist Church or at Cherryfields (see diary below for location), third Saturday Diary for June Thursday 1: United Service at Cherryfields, 3pm Sunday 4: Morning Worship, The Rev Y Haye, Pentecost, 10.30am Sunday 11: The Rev J Jacobs, Holy Communion, 10.30am Tuesday 13: Network/MWiB, The Rev Tony Brookes, 2-3pm Wednesday 14: Prayers and Laying on of Hands for Healing, 7.30pm Sunday 18: Morning Worship, The Rev D Grimshaw, 10.30am Sunday 21: Morning Worship, The Rev M Cassidy, 10.30am Monday 19: Bible Study, 2pm Sunday 25: Morning Worship, 10.30am Sunday 25: Families@4, The Rev D Grimshaw, 4-6pm
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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 www.stmarybramford.co.uk Please check porch notices for any changes Wednesday, 9.30am: Quiet Reflective Communion Service SERVICES IN JUNE Thursday, June 1 3pm United Service at Cherryfields Sunday, June 4: Pentecost 10am Holy Communion with Prayer for Healing, Bramford Evening Prayer, Baylham 6pm Sunday, June 11: Trinity Sunday Holy Communion, Bramford 8am Parish Communion, Nettlestead 10am 5pm Five o’clock Service, Bramford Tuesday, June 13 11am Communion from Reserved Sacrament, Baylham Care Centre Wednesday, June 14 7.30pm Healing Service, Methodist Church Sunday, June 18: Trinity 1 8am Holy Communion, Bramford 10am Holy Communion, Baylham
our tentative launch, this has gone from strength to strength, and has prompted us to put in another service at 10am on the fourth Sunday of every month which is also becoming very popular. These services are informal, and are held in the church room. There is always a story, something to do, some great songs and a chance to chat with each other. The services are open to all, and we encourage families to come and enjoy them together. All are welcome. Our 5pm service this month is on June 11 at the church room at Bramford, and the fourth Sunday service is on Sunday, June 25 at 10am, also in the church room. We look forward to seeing you. Blessings Jenny Church Events In April our coffee morning raised £210 which was donated to the East African Famine Appeal via Christian Aid. Coming up in July – the fete – and as Jenny said we need helpers, not only to set up but to pack stuff away at the end. All welcome. PARISH REGISTERS Funerals April 6: David William Stannard April 19: Dick Pearson April 24: Peggy Wardley We extend to their families our sympathy and prayers.
Tuesday, June 20 2.30pm The Gathering, Church Room
Floodlighting of the spire of St Mary’s Church
Saturday, June 24 10am Coffee Morning, Church Room
June 1: To celebrate the birthday of June Andrews
Sunday, June 25: Trinity 2 Parish Communion, Bramford 8am Family Service, Church Room 10am 10am Morning Prayer, Nettlestead
If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week.
Dear Friends June is here already and we are nearly half way through the year. We are looking forward to Bramford Fun Day on July 1, which of course happens on the same day as the flower show and preparations are well under way. You can expect the usual extravaganza, and I understand that this year it will include the Scouts’ famous duck race. If you have a bright idea for a money making scheme, then there is still time to book a stall – please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Flower Rota: June 10 & 17 S Alderton, June 24 & July 1 S Heath
We could do with offers of cakes, and practical help, including folk to help set up and clear away. This is not just a church fete, but a really great chance for the village to come together and spend time with each other. On a different note – looking back at articles I have written in the past, I note that it is three years since we announced the launch of a new Five o’clock Service for families on the second Sunday of each month. From
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May 4: In memory of Phil Sawyer on his 71st birthday June 12: In memory of Walter (Boy) Carmen, from his wife and family
Cleaning Rota: J Sillett
Bible readings for our Sunday Worship are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It’s good to share the reading of scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world.
June 4 Acts 2: 1-21
Pentecost 1 Cor12: 3b-13
Red John 20: 19-23
June 11 Isaiah 40: 12-17, 27-31
Trinity Sunday 2 Cor 13: 11-13
White or Gold Matt 28: 16-20
June 18 Gen 21: 8-21
Trinity 1 Rom 6: 1b-11
Green Matt 9:35, 10:8
June 25 Gen 21:8-21
Trinity 2 Rom 6:1b-11
Green Matt 10:24-39
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