In Touch with Gt. Blakenham - March 2016

In Touch

™© ™©

with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead Volume 6 • Issue No. 5 • MARCH 2016

Daffodils by Charmian Berry

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I went along to an e-safety workshop for parents at Jack’s school last week and I’m still shaking my head in horror. I’m relatively tech-savvy, or at least I though I was, but I’m not what they call a ‘digital native’, i.e. a person born or brought up in the age of digital technology and familiar with computers and the internet from an early age. In fact I can remember being introduced to a fax machine in my first year at university and being utterly amazed that we could send a sheet of paper from one side of the room to the other! Those of us who aren’t digital natives acknowledge the wonder of digital technology and most of us use it daily, some more effectively that others, but I don’t suppose I will ever truly appreciate how ‘normal’ it is for natives like Jack. That said it is my responsibility to protect him from the negative aspects of digital communication ­– such as the possibility that someone could be watching him through the webcam on my iPad using a remote access tool! How creepy is that?

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

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

NEWS LOCAL FLORIST HOPES TO RAISE £4,000 FOR CHARITY Lucy Ransome of Barham has donned her running shoes and embarked on a challenging training programme in preparation for this year’s 26.2 mile London Marathon. This will be Lucy’s first marathon and she will join approximately 36,000 other runners as they pound the streets of London on April 24 Lucy hopes to raise around £4,000 for the NSPCC and the critical care unit at Ipswich Hospital, the latter being a personal motivation after one of her closest friends spent four weeks on the ward before unfortunately loosing her battle. Lucy said: “The support, care and courage of the staff was amazing and they were there 24 hours, seven days a week.” Lucy hopes to turn a huge negative into a positive and by raising funds she hopes to help others in a similar life threatening/life changing situation.

As well as running her busy floristry business, Lucy Jane Flowers at Debenham, she is also working hard organising fundraising activities prior to the marathon. One of these is a Charity Family Night at Claydon Community Centre on March 19, 7-11pm.

The evening will be great fun for all the family and will include a disco, ploughman’s supper and a raffle with some fantastic prizes generously donated by local businesses. The list of prizes include a mini cruise for two to Honfleur from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, afternoon tea at The Limes in Needham Market and a round of golf for four at Fynn Valley Golf Club, plus so many more fabulous prizes. Tickets for the event are £10, children £5. Tickets are available by contacting Lucy on 07885 909713 or 01728 860190. Raffle tickets are also available so please pop by the shop in Debenham or contact Lucy.

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Family Charity Night @ Claydon Community Centre Saturday 19th March 2015 – 7pm – 11pm Tickets: Adult £10 Child £5 (14 and under)

Includes: Ploughmans Supper, Padmans Disco, Quiz and Raffle with some fantastic prices including a Fred. Olsen Mini Cruise.

Help Lucy Ransome raise her total of £4,000 for the London Marathon.

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

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with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead

In Touch with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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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

All funds go to:

Lucy has a JustGiving page if you would like to make a monetary donation in support: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lucyransome To keep up to date with Lucy’s fundraising events please see her Facebook page, Lucy Jane Flowers.

We would like to wish Lucy the best of luck with her fundraising and we look forward to a celebratory photo with her medal on completion of the marathon.

STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Friday, March 4, 10am-noon: Coffee ‘n’ Cake Networking This month we will be back at Needham Market Community Centre.

Please check the Chamber website or contact our secretary, Keely Taylor: 01449 770965 / 07711 186626 Friday, March 18, 6.45am: Networking Breakfast At Cedars Park Community Centre, Stowmarket. You can book online at: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk

IN TOUCH WITH...

APRIL DEADLINE 10 MARCH 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy

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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

DAVID CARD, MID SUFFOLK DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

John Field’s Report to Gipping Valley: February 2016

Covering the parishes of Barking, Baylham, Darmsden, Nettlestead, Offton, Somersham and Willisham

Grants: Kevin Welsby and I agreed the use of the £10,000 district grant funds allocated to us. We couldn’t meet all requests in full so I decided to top up some applications to the full amount using £2,300 from my County Locality budget. Bramford Church, Little Blakenham Parish, Bramford Primary School PTA, Bramford Open Spaces and Bramford Playing Field received grants.

Young Families: I had an enjoyable visit to Claydon Young Families, meeting toddlers, mums, organisers and other councillors. This is a vibrant wellorganised group (see page 17) run by enthusiastic volunteers who are clearly providing activities the toddlers enjoy and a chance for all to chat.

Police and Crime Panel: I have been involved this month with the confirmation of the appointment by Tim Passmore, the police and crime commissioner, of the chief constable and the setting of the police precept. There was only one applicant for the chief constable role due to the restriction to people with experience as chief or deputy chief constable. However, the recruitment process had been sound and Gareth Wilson, whose appointment was confirmed, has been performing well asacting chief for a year.

I used the opportunity to raise the issue of part funded PCSOs that has been concerning parishes in Gipping Valley and since then it has been decided that current arrangements will continue for this year.

We agreed that the PCC should raise the precept by 2% to address the challenges of abuse and cyber-crime.

Pension Fund: At the Pension Fund Committee we agreed to join the pool of similar county funds covering most of the south east of England. Government is forcing local government funds to pool to achieve £25billion funds. This approaches the size of a fund like BTs but is still much smaller than sovereign wealth funds. The aim is to reduce management fees and probably to encourage investment in UK infrastructure.

Final Budget Setting: You will have seen that the cabinet is to adopt the chancellor’s proposal for a 2% rise in council tax to fund care as we asked at Scrutiny. This helps solve the funding problem in Adult and Community Services. The number of frail elderly with complex needs is rising and they need help. It cannot be good to see tax increases but this will go to services that limit the increased demand the NHS is suffering.

The forecast deficit has fallen sharply from £48.7m to £39.6m as estimates of council tax base and collection fund surpluses are now less pessimistic. £34.4m savings and the £5.2m social care precept will meet this deficit.

The very recent £3.6m Suffolk gets from the government as a rural county will reduce the sum taken from reserves to £1.6m, leaving only £35.3m contingency reserve!

At council, we debated a proposal to use an additional £10.72m from reserves, equal to the amount added per year in recent years. It would have removed the need to cut social care, young people’s services, health and transport. The need for reserves “for a rainy day” won.

Procurement: This month’s scrutiny covered procurement, which now accounts for some 70% of council spend. There are about 3,000 contracts ranging from £15m to £488 with 120 contract managers. Scrutiny revealed that, although we do quite well by local government standards, the commercial approach still needs sharpening significantly. Our proposal from 18 months ago to add private sector skills to the team still needs action.

Devolution: Our scrutiny of the devolution proposals gave a rather confusing picture of a process going I am not quite sure where, with many changes of direction. Norfolk’s involvement now appears certain but Cambridge is reluctant to join. Their desperate need for housing that even well paid workers can afford is an incentive to join. The combined authority would benefit from Cambridge’s world-class organisations and university which are a major economic powerhouse. We understand that there are items which have been agreed with government and that details of these will be revealed soon. Not before time if we are to keep you informed before the inevitable consultation.

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

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District Councillor ‘one off’ £5,000 Community Locality Award In total I was asked for some £31,137 from 11 organisations: • Somersham Community Shop: £250 • Somersham Tennis Club: £500 • Somersham Duke Community Pub: £1,000 • Somersham Play Area equipment To Minor Grants scheme • Somersham/Offton Link magazine: £250 • Barking Village Hall: £1,000 • Offton/Willisham Village Hall playground: £1,000 • Baylham Church community facilities: £500 • Barking Church community facilities: £500 Two other applicants were not ward specific and were referred to the grants team .

Community Infrastructure Levy A scheme was adopted at a full council meeting in January. One-off self-builds are exempt and the scheme will be kept under review with a full review within the next three years. CIL will raise about £10,000 a house. Parish councils may claim at least 15% for homes built in their patch.

Housing growth The pressure is on to meet demand for new homes by a significant uplift in annual completions from 400 to 550.

• MSDC currently do not have the five-year land supply sought by government.

• New Homes Bonus (about £1,000 a home paid each year for five years from central government funds) acts as another incentive for the council Devolution of powers debate The government’s Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill continues to be talked about behind the scenes. Suffolk and Norfolk (now without Cambridgeshire) continue to meet together hoping that there is something in this idea that will benefit us.

For further information contact David Card: 01449 722267 / david.card@midsuffolk.gov.uk

GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL At our parish council meeting on February 10, it was announced that our chairman Mr P White had resigned from the parish council.

Your parish council needs you!

We 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, March 9 at 7.30pm in the Parish Rooms. An agenda will be on all noticeboards and the website.

All residents are welcome to attend.

All 2016 dates for parish council meetings are on all notice boards and the website for your information.

Your parish councillors are: Vice-chairman Mr S Plume, steveplume@me.com Mrs K Peters, karenpeters1@yahoo.co.uk Mr G Scott, eightninesixcel@yahoo.co.uk Mr J Waller, j_waller2003@hotmail.com

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NEWS SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP

SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE FACILITY UPDATE

A COMMUNITY SHOP FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, RUN BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY The construction team

The Playing Field, Princes Gardens, Somersham / 01473 833416 Opening times: Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm; Saturday, 8am-1pm Spring is coming. We’ve been lucky enough to escape the floods and the weather has been quite mild this winter, but the days and evenings were still dark. During this time we’ve been pleased to welcome customers to our shop which has been warm, light and welcoming. This is the time when a local shop comes into its own.

Our Tea and Chat afternoons in the Coffee Corner on the last Wednesday of each month through the winter have been well-attended. There’s generally been about a dozen people having a hot drink, a piece of cake and a chat with others for a couple of hours. It’s good to have time to relax and catch up with the news. We will be hosting the next meeting, the last this winter, on Wednesday, March 30, 2-4pm. If you haven’t been before do come along – you will be made most welcome.

We know that our volunteers are the people, along with the customers, who make the shop a success, and we are always happy to welcome new volunteers as well as customers. It’s a friendly place to be and to get to know others in the village and locality. Pat G, who has been with us since the very beginnings of the shop and has worked tirelessly as a volunteer – thanks Pat, you’ve done fantastically well for us – is now having to give up working on a Saturday morning. We will miss Pat then and it will leave a big hole in our rota, so if anyone is able to help out on the occasional Saturday that would be extremely helpful. Please let Lucy know if you think you could help.

Volunteering is a useful way for young people to gain work experience and provides a good basis on a CV and we are always happy to have young people with us. They are excellent, quick to learn and friendly. If you know any young person who might be interested in working a few hours over the Easter holidays and the coming longer summer holidays, do suggest they come along and have a look. The more volunteers the easier it is for Lucy to prepare the rota.

Of course as a shop we sell all the essential goods and household needs, fresh baked bread and cakes, local vegetables, eggs and meat and pies, and we take orders for anything you might want to be sure of being there when you need it. Our successful new line is the wine, cider and beer we now have on our shelves. We also promote reuse and recycling so would be pleased to receive reusable plastic carrier bags and egg boxes. And don’t forget our other services: Coffee Corner, book exchange, dry-cleaning service, delivery to those with mobility difficulties, Tea and Chat afternoon, newspapers and magazines can be ordered for collection at the shop, and a village diary so that events don’t clash. Seasonal goods – look out for the Easter eggs.

Management team: Lucy Barrett, 831890; Terry Fordham, 831529; Jenny Hitchcock, 832060; Peter Jousiffe, 833577; Anne MacFadyen, 831288; Steve Woolhouse, 831080

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5 Town/village

Location

Time

MIP/5A Sproughton MIP/5B Sproughton MIP/5C Bramford MIP/5D Bramford MIP/5E Great Blakenham MIP/5F Great Blakenham

MIP/5G Baylham MIP/5H Claydon MIP/5I Claydon MIP/5J Claydon MIP/5K Bramford

Church Lane Wild Man St Mary’s Close Paper Mill Lane Chequers Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park Post Box Crown Edinburgh Gardens Bacon Road Packard Place

9.10-9.25am 9.30-9.45am 9.50-10.05am 10.10-10.25am 10.35-1055am 11-11.15am 11.25-11.45am 11.55am-1pm 2.05-2.20pm 2.25-3.50pm 4-4.30pm

DATES: March 15, April 12, May 10, June 7, July 5, August 2, August 30, September 27, October 25, November 22, December 20

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The Suffolk energy-from-waste facility has been confirmed as one of the greenest buildings in the country with an ‘outstanding’ rating from leading international assessors. The BREEAM scheme measures a building’s environmental performance – more than two million buildings worldwide have been assessed with less than 2% achieving the outstanding rating.

The Suffolk energy-from-waste site, a joint initiative between Suffolk County Council and SUEZ, uses household and business waste which would otherwise go to landfill as a fuel to generate enough electricity for 30,000 homes. Metals are recycled and ash left after the incineration process is used as an aggregate for local building projects, so virtually nothing goes to waste.

The facility began operating in December 2014 following three years of construction and commissioning. It was designed by world-renowned architects Grimshaw and the main contractors were CNIM/Lagan.

Under the BREEAM scheme, points are awarded for every environmental feature incorporated into the design, construction and operation of a building. The architectural watchdog, CABE, has previously praised the building – describing it as an ‘exemplar’ in setting the standard for future industrial design.

Claydon Football Club has received nearly £60,000 from the SITA Trust towards the refurbishment of its clubhouse and changing facilities (see page 18). The trust distributes money donated by SUEZ and funding is available for projects within a three-mile radius of the Suffolk energy-from-waste site. The next deadline for applications is April 25. www.sitatrust.org USEFUL NUMBERS Site offices: 01473 839149 To book a visit: 01473 836812 Evironment Agency: 0800 807060 SITA Trust: 01454 262910

SOMERSHAM / CHALLAINLA-POTHERIE VILLAGE LINK The next visit to our link village of Challain-la-Potherie in the Loire Valley area of France will be during the first May Bank Holiday of the year, from Friday, April 29 to Monday, May 2.

This will be the 16th year of our link between our villages and many longstanding friendships have been made over the years. Each year we have new people travelling with us who then go on to make new friends themselves, both in France and locally.

We travel by comfortable coach from Somersham to Challain where we stay with host families and all our accommodation, food and entertainment is provided. There is always a good mix of English and French on these occasions and language does not present a problem. We welcome people from our surrounding villages to join with us. The cost is the price of the coach divided by all who go along, so the more who go the less cost.

It’s a fantastic group of people who go from our local villages and we’d love to have new people of all ages, either individuals or families, join our next trip. Over the time we have been going to Challain we have had all ages, the youngest being three years old and the oldest 80, and everybody in between.

So if you’d like to know more please contact one of the following: Gill Fordham, 831529; David Haughton, 831511; Janet Hodge, 832296; Pat Woolhouse, 831080

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OUT & ABOUT PUDDING EVENING AT BAYLHAM VILLAGE HALL Friday, March 18 at 7.30pm Try a selection of homemade puddings. Bring your own drink. Tickets £6.

Please book in advance from Wendy (830615) or Petrova (831134).

GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH ROOM HENLEY PLAYERS’ Wow! What a show! Superb entertainment! They exceeded themselves once again!

Just some of the comments we received from our recent production of Snow White & Dwarf Club 7.

Once again we sold out all three performances and were well supported by the local community and further afield. This truly was the biggest pantomime the Henley Players have managed in the past five years.

Well done to the entire cast new and old, our backstage team who worked hard weeks before, the front of house crew and the ‘best five-piece live band’ in Henley. Finally, a special mention to our director Marina (her first attempt) and committee members.

Our next planned production is our summer show, The Wizard of Oz, on June 4 at 2.30 and 7.30pm.

Hire rates for Great Blakenham Parish Room are very reasonable.

The main hall is approximately 42ft long and 19.5ft wide (13 x 8 mtrs) and is able to hold 100 people, or 60 if seated.

It is ideal for meetings, small parties and gatherings and can be hired between 9am and 11pm.

The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge, oven, microwave oven, electric kettles, crockery and cutlery, perfect for making hot drinks and snacks.

There is a car park and small, grassed area with patio, to the rear of the hall.

For details of our fees, conditions of hire and to book please contact Paul or Jane Corbett: 01473 830201

Tickets are on sale in early March: henleyplayersboxoffice@gmail.com Our next pantomime dates are January 6 and 7, 2017. If interested in joining us, cast or back of house, please email: henleypanto2012@gmail.com

CLAYDON AND BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE We are happy to announce the following events.

Saturday, March 12: Celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a Suffolk based Irish themed group, The Waxies Darbles. Doors open at 7.30, music from 8pm.

Good Friday, March 25: Suffolk Duo Soul Serenity. Doors open at 7.30, music starts at 8pm. Members £4, guests £5.

Saturday, April 30: A charity dance with Son of Elvis. Doors open at 7.30, music starts at 8pm. Entry £5.

Saturday, May 7: The very famous Dolly Parton tribute act. Doors open at 7.30, music from 8pm. Members £10, guests £12.

All tickets are available from the bar.

The venue is becoming popular and we are open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, plus Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes. IPA from our cellar is only £2.50 a pint. Other refreshments are available from the well-stocked bar. www.candbcc.co.uk / 01473 831805

GREAT BLAKENHAM’S GOT TALENT JUNE 18, GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH ROOM

HAVE YOU GOT A HIDDEN TALENT? To get involved, contact Paul Corbett: 830201

ST GEORGE’S DAY EVENT A St George’s Day event will take place in Great Blakenham Parish Room on Saturday, April 23, 6 for 6.30pm. There will be a quiz and traditional sing-a-long. Tickets cost £7 each and include a fish and chip supper and hot drink. Bring your own alcohol and soft drinks.

To book your ticket contact Jane Corbett (830201) or Wendy Hooper (846642).

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB We are open to anyone over 50 living not just in Great Blakenham but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham, from 2-4pm. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which 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.

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS March 9: Social Afternoon March 23: Lewis Tyler of the River Gipping Trust will give a presentation entitled Rebuilding History – Baylham Lock and Sluice April 13: Social afternoon including the occasional series A Walk Down Memory Lane April 27: Peter Banham will lead an interactive talk on old sayings and their meanings May 11: Social afternoon May 25: Mrs Jane Paley with a light-hearted talk entitled What Do You Know About Tea? Visitors and new members are always welcome so do come and join us.

Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

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OUT & ABOUT 4 EVER YOUNG MEN’S CLUB

GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB

The 4 Ever Young Men’s Club meets at 10.30am on the third Wednesday of the month at The Crown in Claydon. We often have a guest speaker for an hour or so, along with a chance to sit and chat with old friends, meet new friends and learn of new interests and ideas.

The club meets 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.

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

When we reconvened on February 1 after our winter break our workshop was entitled Relax. Zentangle was first on the menu. It is to some extent a form of doodling, but is to focus the mind on specific patterns to relax the body by concentrating on the pattern. The second part was a colouring book. Adult colouring as a form of relaxation is everywhere at present and some may think it too childlike, but it’s a lovely way to relax just getting absorbed in creating patterns.

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

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

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

PLANT HERITAGE SUFFOLK GROUP At 2.30pm on Saturday, March 19, Fergus Garrett of Great Dixter will present a talk entitled Succession Planting in the Mixed Border at Stowupland Village Hall, IP14 4BQ. Admission is by ticket only (members £5 / guests £10) available from Maggie Thorpe: 01787 211346 The plant stall will include rare and unusual plants. Refreshments are available for purchase following the talk. www.suffolkplantheritage.com

Over the winter months some knitting has been done. The niece of one of our members is a community midwife and little hats are always needed at the time of home births. Our picture shows some of the hats that have been donated.

Our programme for 2016 is as follows but I give no clues as to the project!

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 cannot accommodate children.

Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

GREAT BLAKENAHM ALLSPORTS – BADMINTON Every Tuesday evening 8-10.30pm in Gt Blakenham Village Hall on Mill Lane.

New players, all abilities, welcome. Just turn up or contact Heather: 01473 832546

Lt Blakenham Village Hall on Saturday, March 5, 2-4pm.

Entry is free and all funds raised will be in aid of Lt Blakenham Church.

Swish Up!

The Creeting St Mary super stylish Swish Up returns to Creeting House Guest House on Friday, April 15 at 7.30pm, the perfect opportunity to smarten up your style while having a fun night out with friends.

Bring along five special items plus accessories that you would be proud to hand on.

Each item you bring entitles you to pick an item someone else has donated. Tickets (£15 in advance / no tickets available on the door) include a glass of wine and canapés.

All profits to British Red Cross Refugee Crisis Appeal and Breast Cancer Care.

Advanced booking essential. Book now (only 50 places available!) by calling Jacqui on: 01449 721713

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SCHOOLS / SPORT CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB January prizewinners were: No 43: John Harrison, £18.60 No 42: Lisa Read, £9.30 No 34: Brian Wylie, £3.10

CLAYDON AND BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES

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 money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school.

Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project that has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 25 years. We welcome mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five.

Entry is just £1.50 a family.

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

This month we only meet on March 10, 9.30-11.30am, in Claydon and Barham Village Hall.

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL

Thank you to everyone who came along to our big 25th birthday party. We had a lot of fun and I was very pleased with the article that the Ipswich Star produced for us. They published some really lovely photos of the children.

The children are all getting quite excited now for the Easter break and maybe a visit from the Easter Bunny with some chocolate. They have been doing lots of activities based around Easter and, of course, sorting out cards for Mother’s Day.

We are also celebrating our Mid Suffolk District Council Locality Award of £275. Many thanks to Councillor John Whitehead for helping us with this.

This award will help ensure that we can continue to provide this valuable and fun resource for many more years to come.

We are holding our Easter Holiday Club on Tuesday, March 29, Wednesday, March 30, Tuesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 6 from 9am-3.30pm for children aged two to eight. Prices are £20 for a full day (bring a packed lunch) and £12 for either a morning (9am-noon) or afternoon (12.30-3.30pm) session. For more details or to book spaces please contact the administrator – details below.

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

Don’t forget to get your applications in now for places in September.

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 lunchclub (noon-12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and we offer two year funded places for any eligible children. We also run a holiday club in the Easter and summer holidays for two to eight year olds.

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

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

BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB Greetings guff lovers. The storms that have been battering us recently have also been having an effect on the fixture lists of the winter league pairs. Only last week Nick and Graham’s match versus Matt and Adam fell foul of the conditions, the gale force wind forcing an abandonment after just one set had been played (though Nick’s serve was helped by the strong headwind, as it kept 10% of his serves in the court... a tenfold increase!). Naturally there was disappointment among the spectators, not least those with a video camera hoping to get an easy £250 from You’ve Been Framed, but Nick was sanguine about it as he has suffered from wind affected matches before – though not since we banned him from eating curry the night before a game.

The winds of change are blowing through the committee as the AGM hoves into view. It’s on March 20 at noon in the sports pavilion and all club members and members of the public are welcome to attend. There will be the usual rush of hot air followed by gales of laughter and the usual chill wind of realisation as we clamp the leg irons on the volunteers. Many thanks to all the outgoing members for their time and efforts and a warm welcome to the new suckers, sorry successors.

There are no other ill winds to report on the injury front this month, apart from Graham suffering a minor head wound incurred when bending to pick up a 50p piece he had dropped – it hit him on the back of the head!

Clive had a nasty reoccurrence of his heart rate going through the roof, however he soon recovered when Lorna found the emergency corkscrew to replace the one he had just snapped. Apparently she keeps one in a small red box on the wall with a window that you have to break in an emergency.

Corrinne is on the road to recovery (literally) as she is back on her bike complete with small scarf over her tee shirt now that the wind chill is getting up.

Just time for joke of the month while you are still awake: A man gets a Chinese takeaway and upon getting home starts to unpack the containers from the carrier bag. He notices that the lid of one of the boxes is slightly open and he is alarmed to see a small pair of eyes looking out at him. Hurriedly he slams the lid down and phones the takeaway to complain.

After describing what has happened the owner laughs and says: “Don’t worry, that’s your Peking Duck!”

I don’t expect to get blown away with laughter at that one.

More guff next month, Mick Russ

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SPORT CLAYDON FOOTBALL CLUB Café Grand Opening

constant attacking threat. The Claydon fans’ nerves were eased as a long kick out from Alfie found Fabian on the right wing. Fabian let the ball bounce once and unleashed an absolute thunderbolt in the back of the IVR net that the keeper could do nothing about.

Going two goals down seemed to spur IVR on and they increased tempo with their attacking play. Some very talented young players were shining as Claydon struggled to contain them. The pressure paid off as IVR pulled a goal back with Alf unable to keep out a low drive into the bottom corner.

Inside of Claydon FC new Cafe The café grand opening was performed on Saturday, January 23 when Chris Studd cut the tape and officially opened the café for business. The café was made possible thanks to the generosity of Claydon and Whitton Parish Councils and Suffolk Empowering Communities Fund with backing from Councillor John Field and the hard work and dedication of Tony Adams and Mark Keely (known as ‘Bod’) who spent many hours at Blue Circle working on the interior and exterior of the building.

Claydon FC chairman Tim Carr gave a short speech thanking everyone for their hard work and financial support to provide the club with a superb café venue for its 18 teams and visitors to enjoy.

Claydon FC receives funding from SITA Trust

Claydon U10 Tigers celebrate Omarion’s goal in the cup quarter final Many fantastic individual performances towards the end of the game served to frustrate IVR as they couldn’t break down the Claydon defence to draw level. Sam and Josh displayed great grit and determination, priding themselves on forming the defensive backbone we have come to rely upon.

Alfie pulled off a double wonder save in the dying moments which had many members of the crowd wondering just how he had managed it!

Full time: IVR U10 1 / Claydon U10 Tigers 2 – final against Felixstowe & Walton the team on March 12.

Claydon FC Race Night Claydon Football Club are holding a horse race night at Claydon and Barham Community Centre on March 5. Tickets are available at £6 for adults and £4 for under 12s, which includes a sausage and chips supper. Opportunities to sponsor a race are also available – sponsors get two free tickets, two free drinks, can name a horse and hand out business cards.

For tickets or to get more information on sponsor opportunities please call Stuart: 07796 785961

Tony Adams in front of the Claydon FC clubhouse as renovations begin Claydon Football Club, which has around 250 members across 18 teams, is celebrating the news that it has received £59,146 from SITA Trust for refurbishment of the clubhouse and changing facilities. The works will include a new roof, new external walls and renovation of the social room.

Mr Adams said: “The clubhouse, which was formerly the cricket pavilion for Blue Circle, is very old, has a leaking roof and the exterior is rotting away. It is through grants of this nature that small sports clubs are able to improve their facilities.”

Groundsman wanted Have you recently retired and have time on your hands? Claydon Football Club is looking for a groundsman at its Blue Circle site. This would only involve a few hours a week at a time to suit you. If you are interested please contact Simon: 07903 398460 / admin@claydon-fc.co.uk

Marianne Ivin of SITA Trust said she could see that the facilities were very poor and in great need of modernisation. She added: “Our funding will see a huge change in the provision on offer at the club and it is impressive to see that they have maintained high user numbers until this point.”

SITA Trust provides grants through the Landfill Communities Fund. The funding has been available since 1997 and has provided worthy projects with more that £1.4billion. (See page 8) Claydon FC U10 Tigers Claydon FC U10 Tigers took on an exceptionally good IVR U10 side at Greshams in the Suffolk Cup quarter-final on January 30. The game started off at a frenetic pace with both teams contesting the ball. Omarion was clearly a man on a mission with something to prove as his challenges and early possession contributed hugely to Claydon’s early attacking play.

Good interchanges between Harry and Fabian saw Omarion with the ball at his feet on the left wing just outside of the IVR goal area. Omarion had only one thing on his mind as he lined up his shot. The result was a joy to watch as the ball went sailing over the IVR keeper with both power and precision.

IVR were perhaps having the better share of possession and presented a

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CHURCH NEWS ST MARY’S CHURCH, GREAT BLAKENHAM Priest-in-charge: position currently vacant Churchwardens Judith Williams, 01473 832423 / Jane Corbett, 01473 830201 EASTER FAYRE Our annual Easter Fayre is on March 19, 10am-noon in the Parish Room. There will be refreshments with hot cross buns, a raffle and a tombola, cake and book stalls and more.

MAUNDY THURSDAY SUPPER We will be having a Maundy Thursday Supper in the Parish Room on Thursday, March 24 at 6pm, before a service in the church at 7.30pm.

Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the three-day celebration of Easter and commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Please contact Jane Corbett on 830201 if you would like to join us for supper so that we know how many to cater for.

ANNUAL AGM MEETING The annual AGM will be held in the church on Wednesday, April 6 at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. The church is always looking for new people to join the Parochial Church Council and welcomes ideas that will help to further our ministry.

ST GEORGE’S DAY We are having St George’s Day event on April 23 in the Parish Room starting at 6pm for 6.30. There will be a short quiz, raffle and a traditional sing-a-long. Tickets cost £7 and include a fish and chip supper and hot drink. Bring your own alcohol/soft drinks.

To book tickets please contact Jane Corbett (830201) or Wendy Hooper (846642).

COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING The next community coffee morning in the Parish Room is on Saturday, March 12, 10am-noon. Come and join us for coffee, homemade cake and a chat. We hold a community coffee morning in the Parish Room on the second Saturday of each month.

GREAT BLAKENHAM’S GOT TALENT – DO YOU HAVE A HIDDEN TALENT? We are thinking of holding a Great Blakenham’s Got Talent event on June 18 and we would like to hear from you if you have a talent that you could share. If you are interested please contact Paul Corbett: 01473 830201 PRIEST VACANCY The PCCs of all three parishes met with Bishop Martin in January when the Parish Profile, which describes our churches and parishes for those thinking of applying for our vacancy, and the job description of the post we are trying to fill was finalised. A timetable for advertising and shortlisting was agreed and this process will culminate in a two-day interview process on April 14 and 15.

Please remember in your prayers all those considering applying for this role and all involved in the selection process and pray that the right person will be found to lead these parishes to grow in faith.

MARCH SERVICES Family Service: Sunday, March 13, 10am Maundy Thursday Supper in the Parish Room: March 24, 6pm Maundy Thursday Service in the church: March 24, 7.30pm Easter Day Communion Service: Sunday, March 27, 10am DATES FOR YOUR DIARY April 9 Community Coffee Morning April 10 Morning Prayer, 10am April 23 St George’s Day event in the Parish Room, 6 for 6.30pm April 24 Family Service, 10am

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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 Assistant Priest: The Revd Pat Wright www.stmarybramford.co.uk Morning Prayer at Bramford: 8.30am, Monday to Friday Wednesday morning quiet reflective Communion Service: 9.30am at the vicarage, unless otherwise advised.

Please check porch notices for any changes.

March 2 7pm

Lent Group 3

Vicarage

March 3 3pm

United Service

Cherryfields

March 4 2pm

Women’s World Day of Prayer Methodist Church

March 6 10am 10am

6pm

Fourth Sunday of lent (Mothering Sunday) Mothering Sunday Service Little Blakenham Parish Communion Bramford for Mothering Sunday Evening Prayer Baylham for Mothering Sunday

March 9 7pm

Lent Group 4

Vicarage

March 13 8am 10am 5pm

Fifth Sunday of Lent Holy Communion Holy Communion Five O’clock Service

Bramford Baylham Bramford

March 15 11am

2.30pm

Communion from reserved sacrament The Gathering

Baylham Care Centre

March 16 7pm

Lent Group 5

Vicarage

March 17 7.30pm

Healing Service

Methodist Church

March 20 8am 10am

Palm Sunday Parish Communion Parish Communion

Bramford Nettlestead

March 21 7pm

Evening Service

Methodist Church

March 22 7pm

Evening Service

St Mary’s Bramford

March 23 7pm

Celtic Evening Service

Methodist Church

March 24 7pm

Maundy Thursday Communion St Mary’s

Bramford

March 25 10am

2pm

Good Friday Procession of Witness and Meditation, starting at the Methodist Church Last hour at the Cross St Mary’s Bramford

March 27 8am 8am 10am 10am

Easter Day Easter Day Communion Easter Day Communion Easter Day Communion Easter Day Communion

Church Room

HOLY WEEK

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Little Blakenham Baylham Bramford Nettlestead

TIME MARCHES ON Dear Friends, Well it seems like only yesterday when the Christmas decorations came down and we are already finding Easter rapidly approaching, with signs of Easter in the shops and in the gardens and countryside with those welcoming spring flowers changing the bleakness of winter into something new… spring. It shows us that time really is marching on and we can’t stop it no matter how much we want the world to stop so we can catch our breath for a moment.

In the church of course, in the period leading up to our major Christian festival of Easter, we’ve been travelling through Lent, using this time to press the pause button and to reflect on ourselves and the world around us. In Holy Week we have a whole range of services going on in our local churches.

This gives us a time to engage with the Easter message which is all about new life and new birth, so why not come along to one of our reflectiveservices in Holy Week.

So give yourself time this Easter to enjoy not only the beauty of creation springing into life again, and of course the chocolate eggs, but also time to reflect on what Easter is really all about, the freely given gift of life, a life that when engaged with stops rushing around looking for something that’s actually been there all the time – God’s love for us, as he brings us peace in our busy lives this Easter in the form of the risen Jesus who transforms, changes and challenges us, giving that message of faith so wonderfully written down in the book of Corinthians in the Bible which talks about faith, hope and love, but of course the greatest of these is love.

With love and blessings, Julian Fundraising There will be no coffee morning this month as it would have fallen at Easter.

However, there will be a book sale with refreshments on Saturday, March 12.

We have lots more fresh books so come along and see for yourselves.

Floodlighting of the Spire of St Mary’s Church January 15: In memory of Diana Curtis January 15: In memory of John Andrews and Sandra Bickers January 30: In memory of Irene (Rene) Cracknell on her birthday February 24: In memory of Edgar Backhouse on the 15th anniversary in heaven above

March 15: In loving memory of Vick Tester on his birthday with love from Julie, Ben and Victoria If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 a week.

Cleaning rota: Mrs Bardwell Flower rota: 5-19 Lent, 26 Easter Lectionary 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.

March 6 Exod 2:1-10

Mothering Sunday 2 Cor 1:3-7

Purple Luke 2:33-35

March 13 Isaiah 43: 16-21

Lent 5 Phil 3:4b-14

Purple John 12:1-8

March 20 Palm Sunday Isaiah 50: 4-9a Phil 2:5-11

Red Luke 22:14-23:56 or 23:1-49

March 30 Easter Day Acts 10:34-43 1 Cor 15:19-26

White or Gold John 20:1-18 or Luke 24;1-12

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THE MIRACLE OF DUNKIRK When Britain was close to defeat during the Second World War, and the entire British Army was trapped at the port on the coast of France, in desperation King George VI called for a National Day of Prayer to be held on May 26, 1940.

In a broadcast he instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for divine help. Millions of people across the British Isles flocked into churches praying for deliverance. People could be seen queuing to get into Westminster Abbey streets away.

Two events immediately followed. Firstly, a violent storm arose over the Dunkirk region, grounding the Luftwaffe which had been killing thousands on the beaches. Secondly, an unbelievable eerie calm descended on the channel, the like of which had never been seen by that generation. This allowed hundreds of tiny boats to sail across and rescue 335,000 soldiers. This was 10 times greater than the best hoped for estimates that 20-30,000 might be able to be evacuated. From then on people referred to what happened as ‘The Miracle of Dunkirk’ and Sunday, June 9 was officially appointed as a Day of National Thanksgiving.

During the course of the war, National Days of Prayer were held at critical times. After each one, it seems that God responded with blessing, guidance and help for our nation. Seventy-five years on, it’s clear that things have gone very wrong and our country is in a huge mess. We have a national debt of over a trillion pounds, prisons are packed to bursting, sexual crimes, child abuse and physical violence is rife, the threat of terrorism is ever present, and

there is little peace throughout our land. The problems facing our country have got well beyond our ability to sort out. We need to pray for those in government that they might know what to do in these difficult times, and like the wartime generation before us, turn back to God in a true spirit of repentance and plead for help for our country.

In the Bible, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

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

Wednesday: Fortnightly women’s meeting, 2.30pm; fortnightly prayer and Bible study, 10am.

Friday: Action Bible Club, meeting at the church, 6.30-7.30pm – games, crafts and stories for ages five to 12.

For more information contact: info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk / 01449 720357 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

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