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with Baylham, Gt. & Lt. Blakenham & Nettlestead
Cover by Barry Mark Pullen
Volume 7 • Issue No. 5 • MARCH 2017
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
NEWS BLAKENHAM, BARHAM & CLAYDON FIRST RESPONDER GROUP Christmas 2016 is now a fading memory and all the decorations have been packed safely away for another year. New Year resolutions made with good intentions have probably been broken by now so here’s a chance to do something amazing and rewarding this year. Why not become a Voluntary Community First Responder and help those in your area who are suffering from serious medical emergencies? In 2016 our four members attended 61 emergency calls in the wider Claydon area, with six over the Christmas weeks including one on Christmas Day. This is the greatest number of calls our group has had in one year since we started directly supporting the local community and the East of England Ambulance Service in 2006. These calls included patients who were suffering from serious heart conditions, unconsciousness, chest pains, breathing difficulties, asthma and allergic reactions, to helping a confused elderly gentleman to find his way home. On many occasions our members arrived at the scene before an ambulance/paramedic, using their medical knowledge, skills and training to give valuable assistance to the patient, their families and the ambulance service personnel assigned to the call.
Chalkboard outside a small convenience store and bakery in Co Kerry. For once I’m going to let the picture do the talking! Happy shopping. Sharon
In Touch
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
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.
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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.
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IN TOUCH WITH . . . • Hadleigh • 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
Blakenham, Barham and Claydon First Responders are one of more than 60 self-funded, voluntary responder groups in Suffolk. We are now in urgent need of new members so the group can continue to help people in our community in the future. If you live or work in the Claydon area and are over 18 years of age, compassionate and reasonably fit with good interpersonal and communication skills, can observe and accurately record details and remain calm and take the lead in a sometimes pressured situation, please consider joining our group. You don’t need to have any previous first aid knowledge or experience as full and comprehensive training will be provided by the East of England Ambulance Service. This on-going training covers the latest life support techniques, along with procedures for the diagnosis and early treatment of a number of other serious medical conditions. You must agree to a disclosure and barring service check. CFRs will not be sent to incidents known to involve road traffic collisions, drugs, alcohol or violence. As a volunteer you have the right to withdraw from any situation where you believe your safety is threatened. For further information about the Community First Responder Scheme, please visit www.eastamb.nhs.uk/get-involved or contact the Suffolk & South Cambridgeshire community partnership manager, Jon Needle: suffolkresponder@eastamb.nhs.uk / 07710 340640 For an informal chat about being a CFR please contact our group coordinator Alan Seager on 07766 443400 or Dick Bound on 01473 832097.
IN TOUCH WITH...
APRIL DEADLINE 10 MARCH 2017
is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy
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NEWS GREAT BLAKENHAM PARISH COUNCIL Firstly, we have two vacancies for councillors. As we all know, the village is expanding rapidly and this presents all of us with a variety of challenges, especially improving services in the village to provide for the increasing population. If you’d like to be part of this important process, why not consider becoming a parish councillor? If you would like to know more, please contact Janet, our parish clerk, or come along to one of our meetings to see what it’s all about: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 01473 833520 As always, members of the public are very welcome to come along to council meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at the Parish Meeting Room on Mill Lane. We start promptly at 7pm; dates are listed on the parish council noticeboards around the village and at: www.greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net There is a public forum towards 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. Please be aware that we have to keep to the 15-minute time limit for the public forum, so there will not be the opportunity for a lengthy discussion on any topic. Please contact the clerk if you are considering raising something in the public forum but are unsure if there will be enough time to discuss it fully and the chairman will consider whether it should be listed on the agenda. One topic that has frequently been raised at recent meetings is the amount of mud on the roads in the village. The parish council is working to help resolve this problem, but Suffolk County Councils Highways team have the responsibility for keeping roads and pavements clear of mud and other debris. They have an online reporting tool on their website and this is the best and quickest way to register your concerns about this issue and to report potholes and other highways problems: www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roads-pavements-and-verges Another subject that came up at the last meeting was the proposed pedestrian crossing on Stowmarket Road. There is finally some positive news on this. Funds have been earmarked for the installation
Friday, March 3, 10am-noon: Coffee Morning Networking at Needham Market Community Centre Friday, March 17, 6.45am:
For further details and to book please visit: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk
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If you are an existing plot holder and have not contacted the clerk to confirm whether or not you want to keep your plot, please do so as quickly as possible. We post information on Facebook (@greatblakenhampc) and Twitter (@pcgtblakenham) about the parish council and its work, but also items that are of interest locally, such as road closures, the allotments and SnOasis Reserved Matters. If you want to leave us a message this way, please do so. You will find information about all the above and the work of the council, as well as copies of agendas and minutes of meetings, at: www.greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net Thank you your interest in the work of your parish council. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting: Wednesday, March 8 at 7pm in the Parish Meeting Room. Steve Plume Chairman, Great Blakenham Parish Council Great Blakenham Parish Council arranges the maintenance of the churchyard and the cemetery. We are about to put this work out to tender for a three-year contract. If you are a local company providing grass cutting and hedge cutting services and would like to put in a tender for this contract, please contact Janet, our parish clerk: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 01473 833520
Visit from Challain-la-Potherie, May 25-28, 2017
Regular networking opportunities for March 2017
If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to get out into the fresh air more, get more exercise or grow more of your own fruit and vegetables, why not take on one of the Great Blakenham allotments? If you are interested, please contact Janet, our parish clerk: pc@greatblakenham.suffolk.gov.uk / 01473 833520
SOMERSHAM/CHALLAIN-LA-POTHERIE VILLAGE LINK
STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Networking Breakfast at The Mix, 127 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket
of the crossing in the county budget. Highways will soon begin the process of reviewing the original design and drawings, before work begins to install it later in the year. It is expected that the crossing will be operational in six to nine month’s time. Your parish council will be working with Highways to make sure that the crossing provides the best possible outcome for all villagers, not just road traffic users.
Somersham is linked with Challain-laPotherie, a village similar to our own in the Loire Valley area of France. This May we welcome guests from Challainla-Potherie who will stay with host families, giving us a great opportunity to get to know each other, to appreciate each other’s way of life and to pick up a bit of the language. We also spend lots of time together as a group when both English and French are spoken. Interested? Would you like to host visitors or be involved in some other way? Or perhaps you just want to know more. If so please contact one of the following. Gill Fordham: 831529 / David Haughton: 831511 / Janet Hodge: 832296 / Pat Woolhouse: 831080
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March Accounting & Taxation Services Ian Coombes FCCA MBA
• FREE initial consultation to discuss any tax, accounting and general business issues • Payroll, Auto Enrolment,VAT, Self Assessment, and full accounting service • Personable and professional tailored support • Fees agreed in advance • Out of office hours service available Individuals, self employed and limited companies
Please call Ian on: 01449 740285 / 07939 837939 E: ian@marchconsultingltd.co.uk
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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: FEBRUARY 2016 Great Blakenham’s Zebra Money for the zebra crossing is now with the county so highways will now go ahead. They are insisting that the delay since the design was completed means that a review is necessary so we will not see progress just yet. Parking at Bramford Primary Highways have refreshed the road markings at Bramford Primary and installed the notices that make them enforceable. The police want to shift responsibility for parking enforcement to local authorities as they can retain the fines they collect. Tim Passmore and Gareth Wilson assured me that parking enforcement will continue during the two years it will take to get the new system in place. SnOasis Mid Suffolk are still waiting for the new environmental impact statement but expect it by the end of the month. When it arrives, the consultation process will re-start. The environmental statement will include modeling of the cumulative impact of other developments. Assessment will be by external experts. Final Budget Setting The administration presented its final budget proposals to the full county council on February 9. It is increasing the social care ‘precept’ to three per cent in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The data for 2017-18 and 201920 show a rise in council tax of just under two per cent in addition. Despite proposed use of £8.5m from reserves, there is a need to save some £30m next year. This must have a concerning effect on services, although some of the savings are of estimated inflation, financing charges and unused contingency budgets. The Police and Crime Panel I attended the Police and Crime Panel that scrutinised and approved an increase just shy of two per cent in the PCC’s precept. We discussed the increased attention on cybercrime and police effort to combat it. I always have doubts about the ability of the police, or Trading Standards for that matter, to deploy and direct staff with the ability to work in this area, but I came away convinced that the efforts were valuable. A team of graduate specialists have the skills required to defeat the criminals in Suffolk, but when hackers can defeat US government and military systems experts, one wonders just how effective they can be. Scrutiny: Blue Light Cooperation Blue Light collaboration has been a Suffolk focus for some time. The
benefits of fire, police and ambulance operating from combined bases appear obvious, although the locations may not suit them all. However, schemes so far have worked well and the services are enthusiastic. There is, at present, a trial of corresponding, so if you are unfortunate enough to have a cardiac arrest you might find a firefighter gets to you first and saves your life. Clearly, for many incidents all services attend so even closer cooperation is a benefit. The benefits of the Police and Crime Commissioner becoming responsible for fire and rescue are less obvious, but this is a major thrust of the current government’s thinking. Evidently, pressure for neighbouring forces to amalgamate has vanished so it will no longer be Suffolk and Norfolk Police but Suffolk Police and Fire. We asked for a clear view of the wider benefits that services expect from the range of ideas presented. Barley Homes Barley Homes is to be a company owned by Suffolk, Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury tasked with developing sites they own as housing for sale, market rent and affordable rent. Officers had a good understanding of the capability required to do this successfully and to manage risk, but it is always of concern when organisations move out of their normal sphere of activity. We asked that they accelerate the acquisition of skills from outside local government. Roads As you will be aware, a brief study of the options for a northern bypass for Ipswich has been undertaken. Of the three routes considered, the one that benefits Ipswich least passes Coddenham to reach the A140/A14 junction coming from Wickham Market. The other two end at Claydon. The county doesn’t want to give more precise definition of the routes since it is still flexible and uncertain details might blight existing properties. These ideas are at a very early stage and if they do come to fruition, it will not be for about 20 years. Forum Close and Roman Close The first houses near Kingfisher Drive are complete and by the time you read this, people will be enjoying their new homes. These with the two in Bramford are the first for a long time in Gipping Valley to be built and let by Mid Suffolk District Council. If you have queries please call me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or email: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk www.john.field@suffolk.libdems.org
Dad always brought her roses, today was no different It’s the little things that make a funeral special Here for you every hour of every day
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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
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NEWS FOUR COMMUNITIES ACTION GROUP
SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA)
The Four Communities Action Group (4CAG) was created in 2010 by members of the churches of Barham, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley, Age UK (Suffolk) and interested members of the wider community. Its aim is 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.
As I’m sure you are all aware, Onslow Suffolk Ltd has put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16.
The group currently supports five organisations: 4Ever Young Men’s Group meeting at the Crown, Claydon on the third Wednesday of each month (see page 12) Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club at the Parish Rooms, Great Blakenham on the first Friday of each month (see page 11) Gipping Valley Art Society meets at the Parish Rooms, Great Blakenham every Tuesday afternoon The Book Club is an informal group which meets at the Crown, Claydon on the last Thursday of the month The Knitting Group is a relaxed and friendly group meeting at Alasdair Place, Claydon on the first Thursday of the month. Our AGM will have taken place before this is published, so watch this space for our plans for the coming year. If you would like to know any more about our work, pop along to one of our activities or email: 4CAG@bigvax.co.uk
FHP Ipswich – Charlotte Dowe I decided to train as a foot health practitioner while working within the care industry. I noticed that most of the clients I visited required routine foot care. However many found it difficult to arrange transportation or just to leave the house to attend appointments. Having now set up my own mobile foot clinic I am thoroughly enjoying visiting my own patients in the community, many of whom had been suffering with painful feet for months. So if you have painful feet or would just like to be pampered I look forward to meeting you.
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This is not a renewal of the original planning approval, which still stands, but is the detail of such matters as design, appearance, transport, drainage and ecological mitigation. Full details can be found at: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/snoasis Claydon and Whitton, Barham, Bramford, Great Blakenham, Somersham, Little Blakenham Parish Councils and Needham Market Town Council, along with Nettlestead and Baylham Parish Meetings have now formally joined the Snoasis Parish Alliance, a group to work together to consider the details of the Snoasis Reserved Matters and to exert more influence than we can as individual organisations. Of course, individual councils will still be consulting with their residents and making their own responses to Mid Suffolk District Council, but we believe that sharing both expertise and the workload will benefit both councils and residents. We have been informed that further information on reserved matters will be supplied by the developer at the end of February. We are 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, so as soon as the details arrive the SPA will begin work to scrutinise them. It is also intended that existing expertise amongst the councils will be used to analyse and comment on the vast amount of very detailed (and sometimes very technical) information that we are expecting the developer to provide. Work has already begun to plan for this. There isn’t much new to report this month due to delays in receiving information. As more detail on reserved matters is received and the SPA begins to work on its response, our webpage (hosted on the Great Blakenham Parish Council website) will be regularly updated: http://greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net/snoasis-parish-alliance/ For further information, please email Janet Gobey, the clerk to the SPA: snoasispa@icloud.com Snoasis Parish Alliance Chairman Steve Plume
AFTERNOON TEA FUNDRAISER Horizon invites you to afternoon tea with music from The Carpenters from 2-4pm on Sunday, May 21 at Great Blakenham Village Hall to raise money for East Anglian Air Ambulance. Tickets are £8 which includes afternoon tea. For tickets contact Sarah (07496 041768) or Wendy (01473 832885). www.horizon-ipswich.org
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NEWS SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT COMMUNITY SHOP
PURCHASE ALMOST COMPLETE!
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 The roads around our villages seem to have been the subject of digging machines and diversions for many a long week over the winter period. It’s not been easy to get about in the car, having to drive many miles to go what is essentially a short distance. Our customers haven’t always been able to get by the roadworks and we’ve missed them very much. Somebody suggested putting a zip in the road to make working there much easier. I don’t see that happening unfortunately, but hopefully all will be back to normal soon. Spring is coming! The weather has been quite chilly this winter and it’s good to look forward to early flowers and warmer days and roads uncluttered by work machines, and to catching up again with all our customers who haven’t been able to get through to us – we’ve missed you.. However, over the winter we’ve been pleased to welcome customers to our shop which has been warm, light and welcoming. Tea and chat afternoons have taken place in the coffee corner on the last Wednesday of each month through the winter. 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, a time to relax and catch up with the news. The next meeting, and what will be the last this winter, is on Wednesday, March 25, 2-4pm. If you haven’t been before do come along, you will be made most welcome. Seats also get taken up at the Petrolheads sessions on the first Wednesday of each month all year round from 2-4pm, so make a point of being there if you are interested in anything motor-based. It’s a good chance to have a good gossip with other like-minded people. There’s a new board in coffee corner showing where all our local products are sourced – take a look at it and you will see who our suppliers are and where they come from. Dairy products, bread, meat, cakes, vegetables, eggs, pickles, pies and much more come from our suppliers, all from Suffolk and many from our nearby surrounding villages. This helps the local producers and economy and also gives us the freshest food from our own local fields and farms. We are a small shop where you can do a big shop. We stock a whole range of household goods and interesting items and always welcome suggestions of other ranges and services that we might offer. Plus all fresh produce can be ordered so you can get what you want when you want – one-off or regular orders Our other services include the book exchange, dry-cleaning service, delivery to those with mobility difficulties, and always a ready smile and happy word from our volunteer staff. We look forward to meeting you there. Management Team: Lucy Barrett, 831890; Terry Fordham, 831529; Jenny Hitchcock, 832060; Peter Jousiffe; Anne MacFadyen, 831288; Steve Woolhouse, 831080
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 Here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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As In Touch goes to press, the purchase of the Duke of Marlborough by Somersham Community Pub Ltd is almost complete, but not quite. By the time you read this, we hope that all will have gone smoothly and that our beautiful village pub will at last be owned by Somersham Community Pub – and all those people who own shares in it. We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: thank you so much to all those who have invested. You have made this possible. And thank you too to every single person who has done anything to support the campaign, whether by contributing to fundraising activities or coming along to events. When we get those doors open, it will all seem well worthwhile. We don’t yet have an opening date, but would guess it will be in April. We’ve always said the aim is for it to be community-owned and professionally run. Any professionals coming in to run the business will have to meet the criteria we set out. These will include specified community involvement, as well as a food and drink offer that is good enough to attract people from far and wide. We are aiming for seriously good operators and have started talks with pub management professionals. We’ll let you know as and when there’s anything more concrete to say. Once the keys have been handed over, a team of volunteers will set to work on getting the doors open. We want to significantly improve the external areas, redecorate the interior (including some soft furnishings), set up the cellar, appraise and update the kitchen and set up new business systems. If you have skills that might be of use in any of these areas (or others that will help get the place up to scratch) we would love to hear from you. Please contact: marlboroughsomersham@gmail.com / James on 01473 831042 Although it might be a while before the doors are open to all, shareholders will be invited for a sneak peak. If you’re not yet a shareholder but would like to become one, please let us know: we still need to sell a lot more shares to get the place running. Remember you can still claim 30% of your investment off your tax bill through the government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (if you are a taxpayer). For more information visit www.savetheduke.net or call Keith on 07817 418942. It’s an understatement to say there’s still a lot to do before the pub is up and running. It’s an even bigger understatement to say we are looking forward to opening the doors and seeing you there.
Henley Players Presents….
Junior Summer Show Friday 2nd Sat 3rd June 2017
henleyplayersboxoffice@gmail.com 9
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OUT & ABOUT EVENTS AT LITTLE BLAKENHAM VILLAGE HALL
Jumble Sale in aid of St Marys Church, Little Blakenham Saturday, March 4, 2-4pm Book Day with books for all ages Saturday, April 1, 10am-4pm
COFFEE MORNING
IN AID IF NETTLESTEAD CHURCH FUNDS Saturday, March 18, 10am-noon at High Hall Farm, Nettlestead IP8 4QT With stalls, cakes, books, bring ‘n’ buy and a raffle.
MEET ‘N’ EAT LUNCH CLUB IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5 Town/village Location MIP/5A Sproughton Church Lane MIP/5B Sproughton Wild Man MIP/5C Bramford St Mary’s Close MIP/5D Bramford Paper Mill Lane MIP/5E Great Blakenham, Chequers MIP/5F Great Blakenham, Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park MIP/5G Baylham Post Box MIP/5H Claydon Crown MIP/5I Claydon Edinburgh Gardens MIP/5J Barham Bacon Road MIP/5K Bramford Packard Place
Time 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
2017 DATES: March 14, April 11, May 9, June 6, July 4, August 1, August 29, September 26, October 24, November 21, December 19
The Meet ’n’ Eat Lunch Club meet at noon on the first Friday of each month at the Parish Rooms in Great Blakenham. Our regular meetings will continue throughout 2017, where for only £4 we serve a choice of soup with a roll and butter, followed by homemade puddings and a cup of tea/coffee. Our jacket potato menu in February was a great success – we’re back to soup in March, but they’ll be back! 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. Following an inspection last month by Babergh and Mid-Suffolk District Council’s Food and Safety Team, we have been awarded a five star rating for food hygiene which we’re very proud of. For more information, contact Mike on 07805 507497 or come along on the first Friday of the month with your friends. You will be very welcome.
www.facebook.com/claydonchurches @ClaydonChurches
GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB The club meets from 2-4pm every Monday other than bank holidays in the Parish Room, Stowmarket Road, Great Blakenham. Members pay £2 per meeting to cover hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. The new club year started on February 6 and throughout the month a selection of paper crafting and fabric die cutting machines were brought along to show members. We discussed the introduction of card cutting machines with basic shape dies in 2003, the move from manual to electronic machines and more intricate shapes, the cost of the machines at the outset and now, the introduction of die shapes and machines to the quilting and patchwork market over the past couple of years and how far technology has moved on during the past 10 years or so. This all proved quite an education. Our programme for the rest of 2017 is: March 6: A Bit of Dancing April 3: Wedding Season May 8: Stamping Techniques 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, but unfortunately I can’t currently accommodate children. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham
ST MARY’S CHURCH Great Blakenham
Wedding Festival 27th – 29th May 2017 10am-4pm each day Free admission With inspiration, help & advice from wedding specialists, beautifully designed dresses and show-stopping floral displays, the Great Blakenham Wedding Festival is a fantastic opportunity to plan the perfect wedding. Plus, lots of giveaways, goodies & freebies to wedding couples. Saturday 27th
Sunday 28th
Monday 29th
Wedding Dresses on display, Flower Displays, Hear the Organ being played, Meet local Vicars, Bridal & classic Cars, Wedding Menu at the Chequers Pub.
The Festival continues but with the addition of a Renewal of Vows Service with favourite Wedding hymns at 4pm
Our biggest day of exhibitors including: Florists, Wedding Favours, Reception Venues, Bridal & Groom Wear, Photographers, Wedding Cakes, Disco and Party ideas, Wedding Food at The Chequers & loads more! See website for full list of exhibitors.
See claydonchurches.com for further details
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB
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. 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.
January prize winners No 57: Emma Harman, £15.60 No 45: Carole Lee, £7.80 No 65: Laura Combes, £2.60
Being weather dependent we made our own entertainment in January with a social afternoon on January 11 and a talk on Robert Burns on January 25 as it was Burns Night. We didn’t go the lengths of cooking haggis, neeps and tatties and having a wee dram, but made do with shortbread and a nice cup of tea. We had a quiz afternoon on February 8 and a beetle drive on February 22. FUTURE DATES March 8: Annette Ellis from the TIC with a quiz about Suffolk March 22: Social afternoon with Brenda April 12: Social afternoon April 26: A return visit from Peter Banham with more sayings and the history of their meaning May 10: Social afternoon May 24: Behind the Bathroom Door by Liza Jones, looking at the history of items such a the toothbrush, toilet paper and deodorants June 14: Social afternoon with Brenda June 28: A visit by Hannah Barton from the Citizens Advice Bureau July 12: Social afternoon with Sandra July 26: Summer tea party 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. Contact: Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
4EVER YOUNG MEN’S CLUB The 4Ever Young Men’s Club meets at 10.30am on the third Wednesday of each month at The Crown at Claydon. We’re working hard to put a timetable together for 2017. Some good ideas came up at our last meeting which we’ll be trying to incorporate. We have highlighted two excellent looking museums which are open in the spring and one of our meetings may take place at a well-known breakfast establishment in the area. We’re always looking for members and speakers; if we don’t get the members, we can’t afford to pay for the speakers, so if you fit the bill (Forever Young!) please come along to listen or talk (or both). For more information, contact Mike Biddle on 07805 507497, or just turn up on the third Wednesday of the month. You will be very welcome.
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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. For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk
HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL We are now over half way through the term and the children are thoroughly enjoying a range of arts, crafts and cooking. They had great fun trying new foods and oriental inspired crafts for Chinese New Year and in the run up to Valentine’s Day they baked heart shaped jam tarts and made glittery paper hearts for their parents. As the weather warms up the children will be tending to their flowerbeds. They will be working with a gardener who will show them how to sow, grow and tend vegetables. They plan to grow radishes, tomatoes, lettuces and some delicious strawberries. Following the success of our Stay and Play week last term, we will be holding another in the week commencing Monday, March 13. Parents and carers will soon receive an invite, so keep your eyes peeled. We would also like to thank everyone who attended, cooked a curry, or donated a raffle prize or supplies for our quiz and curry night in February. It was a fantastic evening enjoyed by everyone, and raised some much needed funds to go towards modernising our children’s learning journals. We are a small rural pre-school situated in the light and airy Boughton Room in Henley Community Centre which is less than a 10 minute drive from Great Blakenham and Claydon. There is a large onsite car park making drop off and collection a safer and easier experience. We have grant funded and paid sessions are available for two to five year olds. Lunch club is also available (noon-1pm). We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and offer two year funded places for eligible children. You don’t need to live in the catchment area to come and play with us – we have children from Ipswich, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Needham Market and other surrounding areas. If you would like to join in the fun, please ring 01473 833848 during session time any weekday morning or afternoon before 3pm. Out of hours, or to leave us a message, please call: 07979 468467 www.henleypreschool.co.uk Bridget and the team
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Fri 3rd - Thurs 9th March
VICEROY’S HOUSE (12A)
Fri 24th Feb - Thurs 2nd March
T2 - TRAINSPOTTING (18)
Fri 24th & Sat 25th: 7.45, Sun 26th: 5.15 Tue 28th: 4.45, Wed 1st & Thurs 2nd: 5.15
JACKIE
(15)
Fri 24th - Tue 28th: 2.30, Wed 1st: 7.45 Thurs 2nd: 11.45am & 7.45
LION (PG)
Fri 24th & Sat 25th: 5.00, Sun 26th: 7.45 Mon 27th & Tue 28th: 11.45am Wed 1st & Thurs 2nd: 2.30
SING (U)
Sat 25th & Sun 26th: 12.15
LIVE ON STAGE Raymond Froggatt on 6th March at 7.30pm Stephen Smyth on 20th March at 7.30pm Simply Swing on 22nd March at 2.00pm
Fri 3rd - Sun 5th: 2.30 & 7.45 Mon 6th: 11.45am & 2.30 Tue 7th & Wed 8th: 2.30 & 7.45 Thurs 9th: 2.00 & 4.30
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (U) Fri 3rd: 5.15, Sat 4th & Sun 5th: 12.15
LA LA LAND (12A)
Sat 4th & Sun 5th: 5.00, Wed 8th: 11.45am
DENIAL (15)
Fri 3rd: 11.45am, Tue 7th & Wed 8th: 5.15 Thurs 9th: 11.45am Fri 10th - Thurs 16th March
VICEROY’S HOUSE (12A) Fri 10th - Sun 12th: 2.30 & 7.45 Mon 13th - Thurs 16th: 5.00
GOLD (15)
Fri 10th - Sun 12th: 5.00 Wed 15th & Thurs 16th: 11.30am
HACKSAW RIDGE (15)
see regalstowmarket.co.uk for details & tickets Fri 10th: 11.30am
EVENT CINEMA
Mon 13th - Thurs 16th: 2.15 & 7.45
World Class Theatre - Beamed to Stowmarket THE LEGO BATMAN Tuesday 28th February at 7.00pm - Tickets £12.50 Sat 11th & Sun 12th: 12.15
The National Theatre Live presents an encore screening of
SAINT JOAN
Thursday 9th March at 7.00pm - Tickets £12.50 The National Theatre Live presents Ruth Wilson in
HEDDA GABLER
MARCH POCKET MONEY MOVIES
MOVIE (U)
Fri 17th - Thurs 23rd March
HIDDEN FIGURES (PG)
Fri 17th - Sun 19th: 5.00, Mon 20th: 2.30 Tue 21st & Wed 22nd: 8.00 Thurs 23rd: 11.45am & 8.00
THE FOUNDER (12A)
GREAT FAMILY FILMS, KIDS £2.50, ADULTS FREE!* Fri 17th - Sun 19th: 7.45, Wed 22nd: 5.30
FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM (12A) FENCES (12A) Fri 17th & Sat 18th: 2.30, Tue 21st: 5.00 Sat 25th & Sun 26th Feb: 9.30am MOANA (U) LION (12A) Sat 4th & Sun 5th: 9.45am Sat 11th & Sun 12th: 9.45am Sat 18th & Sun 19th: 9.45am
*1x free adult per paying child. Under 10’s must be accompanied.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham
Sun 19th: 2.30, Tue 20th: 2.30, Thurs 23rd: 2.30 www.regalstowmarket.co.uk / 01449 612825 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, IP14 1AY
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SCHOOLS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL Despite last half term being very short, we continue to pack a great deal in. Firstly, I am pleased to tell you that our governors voted on the final decision to proceed to academy status and this should be happening on June 1. We are very much looking forward to the benefits of working with the other schools. We have been busy with various trips, visits and activities as well as some successful sporting achievements in cross-country, table tennis and athletics. At the end of January, Year 10 and 11 GCSE art students visited the Tate Modern in London, getting inspiration from the many artists on display as well as enjoying the fantastic panoramic view of central London from the viewing floor. On February 3 we had a visit from author Cathy Cassidy who spoke to Year 7 and 8 girls along with Year 5 and 6 visitors from Claydon Primary School. Cathy spoke about what inspires her writing as well as taking the opportunity to meet students in person and sign copies of her latest book, Broken Heart Club. On February 7 a group of students were joined by local singer songwriter Connor Ryan Adams and a team from IEM (Industry Education in Music) to take part in a Battle of the Bands music workshop and concert. Students from across all year groups split into groups to form nine separate bands and spent the day composing original pop music from scratch. With a very tight deadline, this was a huge challenge but our talented students worked extremely hard, using advice and guidance from the professionals to come up with some impressive and original material which they performed at a concert on the very same evening. Year 11 continue to prepare for their exams with only 50 school days remaining as I write. Last half term we interviewed every student to help with his or her preparation and 140 students will travel to the outdoor centre in East Mersea on February 24 and 25 to take part in an intense GCSE Bootcamp. This overnight event is a chance for Year 11 students to get together to learn vital revision strategies to take away with them, as well as taking part in structured maths and English revision within a classroom setting and enjoying outdoor challenges such as the climbing wall, assault course and high ropes. They will come home tired and muddy, but will have worked hard. We have a small but dedicated PTA committee who work tirelessly for the benefit of the school and our students. They have recently organised for paper and textile recycling banks to be situated at the school for both school and community use and have organised a quiz night on Thursday, March 30, 7-9pm. If you would like to join us for this fun and popular evening, please contact PTA chairperson Rebecca Sheridan: at becca48@ntlworld.com As I write, some lucky students (and staff) are looking forward to spending an exciting half term holiday in Austria on the school’s annual ski trip. A large group of students are also rehearsing and preparing their pieces for the annual Celebration of Music concert at Snape Maltings on March 7. We wish them the very best of luck. The second half of the spring term will be busy with our fun run, BBC School Report Day, an art exhibition and a maths challenge. 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 Monday, March 20. To book a place, please call my Mrs J Pedersen: 01473 836110
CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL An evening with psychic medium Ryan Gooding We still have tickets available for this event on Wednesday, March 22. It starts at 7.30pm at Claydon & Barham Community Centre. Tickets can be purchased from Claydon Pre-school, the community centre or by calling/ texting: 07856 845163 We will once again be running our Easter Holiday Club on Tuesdays, April 4 and 11 and Wednesdays, April 5 and 12 from 9am to 3.30pm for pre-school aged children. It’s £20 for a full day (bring a packed lunch) and £12 for either a morning (9am-noon) or afternoon (12.303.30pm) session. For more details or to book spaces please contact the administrator – details below. Don’t forget to get your applications in now for places in September 2017. From the summer term the pre-school will be open Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm during term time. Children can start from the age of two until they go to reception. Fees are £3.20 per hour and we offer a lunch club (12-12.30pm) 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 pre-school aged children. For more information regarding any of the above events or just to find out more about Claydon Pre-school please contact the administrator, Lisa Read: 01473 831648 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk
CLAYDON & 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 parents, 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 Thursdays, March 9 and 23 from 9.3011.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall. At our regular sessions we welcome anyone with babies or children under five for imaginative play, songtime and lots of fun. Families can enjoy a craft activity where children can be creative and try out different materials to produce an individual masterpiece. Playdough and other toys that encourage children’s imaginative play and physical and social development are available. For parents/carers it’s a good opportunity to meet others with pre-school children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children. Thank you to Bar-Clay Music Makers for their lovely donation of a new kitchen and two new strollers for the children to play with. Thank you also to everyone who came along to our 26th birthday party; I hope you all had a good time. And well done to those who won prizes. This month we would like to wish a happy birthday to Olivia. Why not come along and join in the fun? You can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on Netmums.com. Michelle
Headteacher Sarah Skinner
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SPORT BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB Greetings guff lovers, I am tapping this out as I wait for a flight back to the UK from sunnier climes, so you may notice a difference in standard this month, probably an improvement as I keep getting told it can’t get any worse! Talking of things getting worse, imagine how the Canadian player felt when he was defaulted for striking the umpire in the eye with a carelessly struck tennis ball in the Davis Cup. Just another reason to be glad we don’t run to umpires in the local leagues as Nick would probably get defaulted every game! On the odd occasion when dog walkers have risked life and limb by crossing the danger zone (anywhere on the playing field really) we have managed to get away with any unfortunate incidents by explaining that Nick has never hit anything that he was aiming at. In one specific case the dog struck by one of Nick’s ‘screaming century’ serves (so called because only one in 100 go in the court) was due to go to the vets to be neutered so we successfully argued that we had, in fact, saved the owner some money! I’m not sure the dog was too happy though as I still hear a plaintive wail from somewhere in the village when Nick is bouncing up for a serve. Not a lot to report this month. On the playing front I am assuming all is progressing on fairly predictable lines. The floodlit team were mid table as were most of the Sunday winter pairs, so I don’t think
anyone will need to stock up on silver cleaner this season. The AGM is in the sports pavilion on March 26. We hold the first of the Sunday morning club sessions beforehand at 10.30am to try and trap as many unfortunates into attending the meeting at noon. If you are interested in joining the club, or just fancy having a try-out game to see what we are like, feel free to come and join us. All are welcome and as the AGM is a public meeting anyone is welcome to attend. I have just heard the call for my flight back to the English winter (oh joy) so will leave you with the joke of the month. A man answers an advert for a handyman at a local builders. At the interview he is asked if he can lay bricks; he replies that he can’t. He is then asked if he has any carpentry skills, to which he replies that he is useless at all forms of woodwork. The interviewer inquires as to whether the man can operate any sort of machinery such as diggers or cement mixers, to which he replies that he is clueless with all things mechanical. At this point the interviewer says: “You don’t seem to have any skills in this field so what is handy about you then?” to which the man replies: “Well I only live across the street.” Adios amigos, more guff next month, Mick Russ
GIPPING VALLEY BOWLS CLUB
NEEDHAM MARKET BOWLS CLUB
Our annual presentation dinner was held at Ipswich Sports Club in January, ably organised by Ian Bullock. The food and service was excellent and Ian should be congratulated for his effort. Trophies were presented by club president John Nicholson to men’s singles winner Ashley Watson, ladies singles winners Edie Roberts and also to the winners of the president’s and chairman’s cups and the Alf Harvey trophy. A good night was had by all; we hope to arrange the same venue next year.
Our winter socials are going really well. January 20 was extremely successful thanks to Stowmarket Strummers ukulele band who were warmly applauded. We look forward to seeing them again on March 24 when food will be provided by a mobile fish and chip van, another new venture.
Our lunch club is continuing to be very popular during the winter close season with 30 people sitting down to a Christmas dinner in the pavilion in December. We have just two more in February and March before the summer bowls commence. Registrations and league fixtures are now being prepared for the summer season and we look forward to good weather and successful summer bowls. New members would be Rita Adams: 01473 830845
welcome;
contact
www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham
our
secretary,
Non-members are always welcome at our socials; see contact details below. The outdoor season is fast approaching and our dedicated green team will shortly be hard at work ensuring the green is in the best possible condition. NMBC is calling all you non-bowlers to attend our Meet and Greet on Saturdays, April 22 and 29 at 10.30am. Please come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and an opportunity to bowl. Basic instruction will be provided and if you just want to watch and chat that’s fine. Although bowls is an ideal sport for an active older person, remember: YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BOWL. Contacts: Pat Hadden 01743 831308 / Alistair Bailie 01449 720759
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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. Enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmaill.com
Thanksgiving On January 22 we welcomed Sophie-Elise Hauwert to Gt Blakenham Church for her Thanksgiving and Dedication.
HALL BOOKINGS Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Paul Corbett, 830201 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463
Lent and Easter Our website has more information about our Lent and Easter Services; do come and celebrate with us.
SUNDAY SERVICES IN MARCH Barham Church: every Sunday at 10am Henley Church: every Sunday at 10am Gt Blakenham Church: every Sunday at 11am Compline (Evening Service): At Henley Church every Wednesday at 9pm Wednesday, March 1: Ash Wednesday 7pm Holy Communion
Henley
Sunday, March 5 – Lent 1 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham
Sunday, March 12: Lent 2 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am family@henley 11am Holy Communion
Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham
Sunday, March 19: Lent 3 8am Holy Communion 10am family@barham 10am Holy Communion 11am Holy Communion
Barham Barham Henley Gt Blakenham
Sunday, March 26: Mothering Sunday 8am Holy Communion 10am Mothering Sunday Service 10am Mothering Sunday Service 11am Mothering Sunday Service 6.30pm Evensong
Barham Barham Henley Gt Blakenham Henley
Sunday, April 2: Lent 5 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham
Barham Barham Henley Gt Blakenham
Further services can be found on our website. Family and All-age Services Our All-age Worship is suitable for families, couples and individuals of any age. There is an engaging activity, hymns, songs and plenty of fun and fellowship. Come along in March when hands will be our subject. family@blakenham: Sunday, March 5 (every first Sunday), 11am; come early for refreshments. family@henley: Sunday, March 12 (every second Sunday), 10am. family@barham: Sunday, March 19 (every third Sunday), 10am; followed by bacon butties
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Lent On Ash Wednesday, March 1 there will be a service of Holy Communion at Henley Church at 7pm in which we’ll be marked with ash on our foreheads to help us prepare for Easter. Home groups will run every Wednesday in Lent at The Rev Jenny’s house (830205) at 7.30pm, and Wednesday evenings at Henley Church at 7.30pm. For more details visit the website. Lent Appeal This year we’re supporting the Diocese of Kagera, our link diocese in Africa. They’ve had a tough time of late, with a serious earthquake last year and failed harvests. To find out more about the appeal visit: www.cofesuffolk.org//world-mission/kagera Elevenses@GB New style church taking place on the fourth Sunday of every month (March 26) at St Mary’s, Gt Blakenham at 11am. Come along for a more relaxed service. Café Church Café Church at Henley was so popular we were overflowing into the church. Come along and be part of it on the fourth Sunday of every month (March 26) at 10am. It’s church like never before – pop in for a coffee and breakfast treats, a prayer and some informal worship. Wedding Festival May 27-29 at St Mary’s Church, The Chequers Freehouse and Gt Blakenham Parish Room. We’re asking couples who married at St Mary’s to display their wedding dress or photographs in the church. If you’d like to renew your wedding vows on Sunday 28 in a special service with favourite wedding hymns at 4pm, contact Wendy for more information: 01473 846642 (See page 14) Church Fete We’ll be holding the famous Claydon and Barham Fete at Barham Church on June 10. Book the date! Open Air Picnic Band Concert We are pleased to announce that this popular event with take place on Saturday, July 8 at Barham Hall, the home of Mr and Mrs Burrows. Music, including Last Night of the Proms and jazz and swing style music, will be led by Essential Sounds and The Three Chordettes. Tickets are £11 before May 31, £14 after. To secure yours, send a cheque made payable to Claydon and Barham PCC to 5 Phillipps Road, Barham IP6 0AZ, with a stamped self-addressed envelope. Grave Talk A national initiative to get people talking about sensitive subjects including death, dying and funerals. Claydon MU are holding a Grave Talk event on Tuesday, March 14 at 7.30pm at Barham Church Hall. It will be a relaxed environment with tea and coffee. All welcome. ...continued over
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CHURCH NEWS OTHER SERVICES AND EVENTS Wednesday, March 1
Ash Wednesday Service, Henley, 7pm
Monday, March 6
Ecumenical Prayer Group, Henley, 9.15am
Thursday, March 9
Young Families, Claydon Village Hall, 9.30am
Friday, March 10
Alasdair Place Communion, 2.30pm
Saturday, March 11
Coffee Morning, Gt Blakenham
Tuesday, March 14
Grave Talk, Barham Church Hall, 7.30pm
Thursday, March 16
Sunshine Service, Claydon Village Hall, 10am
Saturday, March 18
Vestry Café, Henley Church, 10.30am-1pm,
Thursday, March 23
Young Families, Claydon Village Hall, 9.30am
Wednesday, March 29 St Peter’s Court Communion, 2.30pm Saturday, April 8
Easter Fayre, Gt Blakenham, 10am-noon
Saturday, June 10
Claydon and Barham Fete, Barham Church
Saturday, July 8
Open Air Picnic Band Concert, Evening
Letter from the vicar We’re now looking ahead to Easter and egg hunts, hot cross buns and a bank holiday rest! Of course, for Christians getting to Easter means recalling what happened to Jesus before Easter Day. We must travel through the 40 days of Lent when we strip away all that distracts us from God. Then we relive the events of Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, mocking the leadership and challenging expectations of what a King should look like, the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday when Jesus shared an intimate meal with his friends, the moments leading up to Jesus being murdered on the cross on Good Friday, Holy Saturday which seems quiet and desolate with no hope and no possible good outcome, and Easter Day when we celebrate with everything we have – Jesus is given new life! Lent, like life, is a journey. It’s a journey worth travelling with others. What are you giving up to get closer to God and others? Why not consider journeying with us in one of our churches? No previous experience needed! You can be assured of a warm welcome as we celebrate living life to the full. The Rev Carl Melville www.claydonchurches.com
BRAMFORD METHODIST CHURCH Minister: The Rev D Grimshaw 01473 805486 / dkgrimshaw@msn.com Church Steward: Ms R. Palmer, 01473 831117 Sunday Worship: 10.30am March 5
Mr C Westren
March 12
The Rev D Grimshaw, includes Holy Communion
March 19
The Rev P Howes
March 26
United Service at St Mary’s / Mothering Sunday
THE TEN-YEAR-OLD CONMAN! A friend of mine tells the following story from his childhood: “My brother often likes to remind me of a memory/grievance he carries with him of us travelling on a long car journey to our family holiday in Yorkshire as children. I must have been about 10 years old so he would have been about six. “It seems that as a 10-year-old I was a bit of an unscrupulous fiend and according to his account I used the lengthy journey to con him out of all of his holiday spending money! Apparently I would take a shiny brand new 2p coin out of my little bag and say “look how shiny this is, it’s much newer and even bigger than your dull old 20p… shall we swap?” He being an easily led six-year-old was really happy with the trade and (according to his account) this continued until I had replaced all of his valuable money with my shiny, less valuable coppers. (He would also tell you that I sold him a car stereo that didn’t work when we were in our twenties but that one’s not true. It worked when it left my car and he must have fitted it wrong!)” This coin trading incident got me thinking about how often we make the same mistake, even as adults. So often we get distracted and fall for the ‘newer and shinier’ things that are enticing and miss the real value of things that are truly worthwhile. I remember making a deal with my sister that I would buy her an Easter egg and however much it cost she would buy me a bar of chocolate to the same value. Rachel had a nicely packaged chocolate egg which was hollow and I had a 1kg bar of chocolate. Recalling the coin trading incident also reminded me of the most unfair trade deal that has ever taken place. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus was sweating drops of blood in anguish as He asked His Father God if there was any other way to redeem people from their sin. As He had predicted He knew He would shortly be betrayed, beaten, scourged and crucified… eventually, willingly He said: “not my will but yours father”. The deal to be offered was that our sins would be nailed with Jesus to the cross and in return He would offer us to be covered with His perfection and righteousness instead. In love, He willingly accepted the unfair trade to give life in all its fullness to all who will accept it. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses… God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2: 13-14 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
The Computer Club meets each Monday evening from 7.30-9.30pm and Wednesday morning from 10am-noon during term time.
For more information contact: info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk / 01449 720357
March 2, 2pm: United Service at Cherryfields
www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk
March 14, 2pm: Guest speakers – The Rev Jenny Seggar and her mum Beryl on Ancient Crafts March 18, 10-11am: Coffee morning March 26, 4-6pm: Families @ 4, a very informal social get-together – come and go as you please, all welcome. March 28, 2pm: Guest speaker – Mike Powell-Evans from the RSPB on Garden Birds & Gardening for Wildlife
www.keepingintouchwith.com/gtblakenham
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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 Quiet Reflective Communion Service: Every Wednesday at 9.30am
Pilgrim course centred round the Lord’s Prayer. Pilgrim is the new Church of England study course, aimed at those exploring their faith. We will meet at the vicarage on Wednesday evenings starting on March 8 at 7pm for coffee and a chat, to begin our discussions at 7.30pm. All are welcome; you don’t need to be a member of either St Mary’s or the Methodist Church, and no previous experience is necessary. There will be a small charge for the booklets, but please do not let this put you off. We would be grateful if you could let us know if you are planning to come.
March 1 Ash Wednesday 9.30am Communion 7pm Communion
Vicarage Bramford
March 2 3pm
United Service
Cherryfields
March 3 2pm
Women’s World Day of Prayer
March 5 10am 6pm
Lent 1 Parish Communion Evening Prayer
Bramford Baylham
March 8 7pm
Lent Group Week 1
Vicarage
March 12 8am 10am 5pm
Lent 2 Holy Communion Parish Communion Five o’clock Service
Bramford Nettlestead Bramford
March 14 11am
Communion with Reserved Sacrament, Baylham Care Centre
March 15 7pm
Lent Group Week 2
Vicarage
PARISH REGISTERS
March 16 7.30pm
Healing Service
Methodist Church
March 19 10am 10am
Lent 3 Parish Communion Parish Communion
Baptism January 22: Lianna Sarah Neave-Vince January 29: Finley James Robinson
Bramford Baylham
Lent is an important time in the church’s year, when we examine ourselves and prepare for Easter. In the church it is considered a deeply solemn time when we turn back to God and spend time examining our lives. It is traditional to ‘give up’ something for Lent – this mirrors the traditional practice of fasting – many also take something new on. It needs to be something that makes a real difference. Last year I gave up caffeine (I was very grumpy in the mornings) and took up swimming. Unfortunately the swimming did not survive a serious cold, but this may be my opportunity to take it up again. Watch this space. Blessings Jenny Church Events This month there will be a Jigsaw Evening in the Church Room at 7pm on Thursday, March 23, a fun evening with refreshments a raffle and a prize for the winning team. No previous experience needed and we will make up teams on the evening. Of course, our coffee morning will be on Saturday, March 25.
May they grow in grace and the knowledge of God. Cleaning rota: W & S McGinty Flower rota: Lent
March 21 2.30pm
The Gathering
Church Room
March 22 7.30pm
Floodlighting of the spire of St Mary’s Church March 20: In memory of Joe Gibson on his birthday
Lent Group Week 3
Vicarage
March 23 7pm
If you would like to have the spire floodlit please ring Stewart on 01473 462231. The requested donation is £10 per week.
Jigsaw Evening
Church Room
March 25 10-12pm
Coffee Morning
Church Room
Lectionary Bible Readings for our Sunday Worship are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary. It is good to share the reading of scripture with Christians – both Catholic and Protestant – across the world.
March 26 Mothering Sunday 10am Communion 10am Communion
Bramford TBA
March 5 Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
March 29 7.30pm
Vicarage
Lent Group Week 4
Please check porch notices for any changes. Dear friends March 1 sees Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. We always do a light Lent study course and this year is no different. We will be using the
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First Sunday of Lent Romans 5:12-19
Purple Matt. 4:1-11
March 12 Genesis 12:1-4A
Second Sunday of Lent Romans 4.1-5, 13-17
Purple John 3:1-17
March 19 Exodus 17:1-7
Third Sunday of Lent Romans 5:1-11
Purple John 4:5-42
Mothering Sunday Ephesians 5:8-14
Purple John 9:1-41
March 26 1 Samuel 16:1-13
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