In Touch with Kesgrave - February 2016

In Touch with...

The best place to publicise your community news or events Delivered FREE to your door!

In Touch

™© ™©

with Kesgrave & Rushmere

Volume 6 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2016

Martlesham Woods

Image supplied by Kesgrave Cameras

Ipswich High School for Girls aged 3-18

Whole School Open Morning Friday 11th March 2016, 10am - 1pm

Scholarships and Bursary Awards available For further information please contact our Registrar on 01473 201034 admissions@ihs.gdst.net | www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk Comprehensive coach service across Essex and Suffolk

2

In Touch online:

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR We had a friend coming over to play last Saturday and I asked Jack if we should invite him to stay for dinner. “He loves Chinese,” my oh-so-quick sesame prawn toast loving son replied, so I said I’d send a message to his mum. “Is a message just a slow way of telling someone something?,” Jack asked and I must admit it would have been quicker and easier to pick the phone up and actually speak to Emma. Three texts later we knew Adam was staying for dinner, that he liked Spaghetti Bolognese and didn’t have any food allergies, so the answer to Jack’s question, at least in this circumstance, was probably YES. Information technology has transformed our lives for the better it so many, many ways, but nothing beats direct communication and social media can never replace actual physical, social contact. I’m reminded of a submission from Elaine Bamber in Washbrook which I’d like to share. I hope it gives you a giggle FACEBOOK FOR THE OLDER GENERATION For those of my generation who do not comprehend why Facebook exists!

I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles. Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passers by what I have eaten, how I am feeling at the moment, what I did the night before, what I will be doing later and with whom. I give them pictures of my family, my dog, of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving round town, having lunch and doing what everyone and everybody does every day. I also listen to their conversations and give them the ‘thumbs up’ and tell them that I like them.

It works just like Facebook! I already have four people following me... two police officers, a private investigator and a psychiatrist!

Kesgrave In Touch &withRushmere In Touch with Kesgrave & Rushmere is published by:

Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: kesgrave@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

Advertising Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

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

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

01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions.

While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Kesgrave & Rushmere is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

We also publish

IN TOUCH WITH...

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

IN TOUCH WITH...

MARCH DEADLINE 10 FEBRUARY 2016 is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

NEWS QUEUE REDUCTION MEANS TRAFFIC LIGHT SWITCH OFF WILL BE MADE PERMANENT Following a five-week trial which saw queues in all directions reduced, traffic lights on the A1214 roundabout at Ropes Drive West, Kesgrave, will be permanently removed from the junction.

Data from cameras set up by Suffolk Highways to monitor traffic flow during the trial showed that overall there was a 54% reduction in average queue lengths across all ‘arms’ of the junction. Suffolk Highways will now carry out the necessary work to plan how and when the changes can be made permanent. It is hoped that works will be carried out before the summer.

Local county councillor Robert Whiting said: “The trial has proven to be a great success, vastly reducing queuing traffic in the area and this is a significant route into Ipswich and out towards the north of the county. Now that the trial has confirmed the early feedback from residents that traffic was more ‘free flowing’ than before, I am delighted that the necessary steps are being taken to make the changes permanent. I look forward to the works being carried out as soon as possible. I’d like to thank everyone who has given their views as part of the trial and to all road users who coped with the changes to the junction extremely well.”

The 3,000 home Grange Farm Estate is accessed by two roundabouts on the A1214. Both roundabouts were originally signalised to ensure there would be times when the estate traffic had priority to exit the estate onto the A1214. However, in 2008 Kesgrave Town Council requested a similar trial at the A1214/Ropes Drive east roundabout to see if traffic would flow better without traffic lights. That trial confirmed this was the case and the traffic lights were removed.

The trial was jointly funded by Kesgrave Town Council and local county councillors Robert Whiting and Christopher Hudson via their locality budgets.

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE Call 01473 353350 Here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help.

ARE YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCING PAIN? If you are then a new pain relief coaching service has just launched called Go Pain Go, offering an alternative approach to treating symptoms of pain such as backache, fibromyalgia, sciatica, reoccurring sports injuries and many more.

Pain relief coaching is a talking based therapy, focusing on finding the true cause of a person’s pain, which is commonly linked to emotional stresses. The pain relief coaching process offers you a fully supportive environment where you will learn the tools and techniques that you need to fully recover from your pain.

This new service is run by Lee Johnson who is a qualified practitioner with the professional body SIRPA and is based in Rushmere St Andrew, where he has his own private treatment room. Lee has worked with many clients as a pain relief coach and has helped people suffering with minor to chronic pain.

If you would like to benefit from this service then please contact lee@ gopaingo.com or visit www.gopaingo.com, quoting In Touch with Kesgrave & Rushmere for a free coaching session worth £45.

3

NEWS DRAINAGE WORKS ON MAIN ROAD IN KESGRAVE

Work to install a major new drainage system to resolve flooding problems at the junction of Bell Lane with the A1214 Main Road in Kesgrave commenced mid-January and will last between four and six weeks.

Earlier last year Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew County Councillors Christopher Hudson and Robert Whiting secured funding for drainage improvement in Bell Lane and The Street in Rushmere St Andrew. Now the second phase of drainage work has begun, with Suffolk Highways carrying out the work in Bell Lane.

This area has been flooded several times over the last year following heavy rainfall, which has affected this junction in Kesgrave, an important access route to and from Ipswich.

Included within the improvements will be new large soakaways installed in the highway verges either side of Bell Lane, together with new gullies and drainage pipes, as well as the clearing out of the ditches and drains.

Bell Lane will also be resurfaced from Main Road to Mackenzie Drive. The total cost of the works is in excess of £100,000.

Robert Whiting, County Councillor for Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew, said: “I was delighted to have secured yet more funding for work in my division of Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew during last year. I am confident that when completed this work will improve the situation in this problem area but there are still many locations which will require attention.”

FARMHOUSE FIVE FOR FEMALES We are proud to announce a new running event in the local area.

On March 6 (Mother’s Day) there will be a multi-terrain five mile running event for females called the Farmhouse Five for Females.

The event will start and finish at the lovely Lux Farm, Ipswich IP5 1DA and will follow the fabulous footpaths into Rushmere village and along the beautiful Fynn Valley to Playford, then back to the farm.

The aim is to support women of all abilities running and to encourage women to explore the glorious countryside on a supported and accessible off-road route.

As it’s taking place on Mother’s Day, the event will be really family friendly and we hope partners and children will come and support.

All runners aged 15 years and over welcome.

The race is a proud supporter of Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign and proceeds from every participant’s entry fee will be donated to Plan UK’s Girls Fund.

For more information and to enter please visit: www.farmhousefive.co.uk

The work is being carried out at night between 7pm and 6am on weekdays only to reduce the disruption to traffic. During these hours Main Road is being operated with temporary traffic signals and Bell Lane closed between Mackenzie Drive and Main Road with a diversion along Edmonton Close and Edmonton Road.

Councillor Robert Whiting added: “I’m very pleased that this scheme is going ahead to resolve this flooding problem and I look forward to seeing the completion of this work to make life easier for all road users but in particular the many school children using the cycle track which crosses Bell Lane at this location. It has taken a while to carefully plan these works, which has been essential to ensure traffic can move freely in this area during the busy day time periods. I hope delays and disruption caused by these works are kept to a minimum and am pleased to have secured further investment by Suffolk County Council in maintaining the roads within Kesgrave.”

This latest project follows the completion of resurfacing works in Fentons Way and Ropes Drive which were carried out in December.

KESGRAVE DISTRICT HELP CENTRE In December a group of children from Cedarwood School performed their nativity play at one of our coffee mornings. Their energy and excitement was a real pleasure to see. This is always enjoyed so much by us and looked forward to each year.

Now we are into the new year we can look forward to spring and brighter days. Our coffee mornings are going very well with several new people coming and we are very pleased to have several men now attending. If you are fed up being at home, possibly with days

4

when you have nobody to chat to, why not come along from 1011.30am on Thursday mornings to meet up with local residents for a chat and a cup of tea or coffee? We also have a weekly raffle and we order fish & chips fortnightly for those who would like to stay and have a meal together. We are not a club so there is no commitment To come every week just pop in. We also have afternoon teas for special days and organise a few outings during the year. If you think this is something you might enjoy please come along to our coffee mornings which are held at Kesgrave Community Centre.

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

5

NEWS

MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLORS: FEBRUARY 2016 Suffolk County Council launches a competition to crown the county’s Most Active Community for 2015 Building on the success of previous years, the county council is once again on the search for Suffolk’s most active community. This competition gives people the chance to celebrate the great work taking place in so many communities across the county. Encouraging and supporting people to live active lifestyles in their communities is incredibly important because it keeps them healthy and independent in the short and long term. The awards are about recognising the fantastic work of communities right across Suffolk so whatever your communities are doing – whether it’s dog-walking, new walking or cycling routes, yoga, football or Zumba – please make sure that SCC’s Most Active County team are informed.

The competition seeks out the most active town, small village and large village in Suffolk from 2015 and the winners are presented with an engraved plaque at a special presentation event in March 2016 as a permanent recognition of their achievements. In addition, all entrants who make it through to the first round of judging will receive a Most Active Community 2015 Finalist certificate.

Anyone in the community can enter the competition online at www. surveymonkey.com/r/MACTV2015 or by calling 01473 260722 to request a paper application form.

The closing date for applicants is February 5.

To help parents take control, a new Sugar Smart app has been launched to help show how much sugar there is in everyday food and drink. The free app works by scanning the barcode of products and revealing the amount of total sugar it contains in cubes and grams. The county council is encouraging all parents across the county to download the app to help protect their families from the health risks of consuming too much sugar.

The Change4Life Sugar Smart app can be downloaded free of charge via the App Store or Google Play. The Change4Life website also offers lots of free support, tips, ideas and recipes.

Change4Life has also created a short film which warns parents about the health harms of eating and drinking too much sugar, including becoming overweight and tooth decay. The film can be found on the Public Health Suffolk YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Tk05krUxjr4 In addition to the video, five million Sugar Smart packs will be given away to primary school children and their families via schools and retailer.

There will be 25 Change4Life Sugar Smart roadshows taking place across the country from January to March.

Singer and TV presenter Jamelia is supporting the national campaign and will be starring in a series of Sugar Smart films starting in January.

Regards and best wishes, County Councillors Christopher Hudson and Robert Whiting

The application form and a list of frequently asked questions is also available to download via: www.mostactivecounty.com/community_activity

Parents in Suffolk are being encouraged to get Sugar Smart Parents in Suffolk are being encouraged to get Sugar Smart and take control of their children’s sugar intake as part of a new campaign.

Supported by Public Health Suffolk, the Change4Life campaign follows revelations that four-10 year olds consume an estimated 5,500 sugar cubes a year (22kg), weighing the same as an average five-year-old.

Currently 20.9% of four to five-year-olds in Suffolk are overweight or obese, increasing to 31.8% in 10 to 11-year-olds. This means they are more likely to become obese adults who are more prone to a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes.

These latest figures for Suffolk highlight the importance for families to cut back on sugar in the diet. Sugar is lurking in everyday food and drink, taking children well over the maximum recommended amount.

6

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

7

AKENHAM CARPENTRY & JOINERY Fitted kitchens, bedrooms, offices, windows, doors, staircases etc in any timber • Kitchen fitting service available on your own units • All interior and exterior carpentry • Competitive rates

NO VAT

Mobile: 07790 370030 Email: dalewatts@btinternet.com

8

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT YOUR LOCAL COUNTRY MARKET New year, new look country markets This year brings changes to Kesgrave Country Market. We are no longer holding our own market every week at Kesgrave, but are joining the monthly Saturday morning community market, 9am-12.30pm.

COMMUNITY CENTRE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AS A CHARITABLE TRUST Kesgrave Community Centre has been the centre of the Kesgrave community since the end of the Second World War when it was decided that the £200 victory fund would be used to create a living memorial with a new community centre.

We’ll have two tables for locally made crafts and home-baked goodies at the Scout Hut on February 20 and March 19 (every third Saturday). Please come and collect your orders for baked treats, pick up a handcrafted bag, card or beaded jewellery, homemade jam, preserves, local eggs and honey, knitted jumpers and scarves, too. All our produce is made by local people, cooks, bakers, a wood turner, gardeners and crafters.

Refreshments are planned so you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a bacon or sausage roll or a piece of cake with your friends as usual.

Although the original hall was demolished when the new Grange Farm development was put forward, a new one was then built taking advantage of more land to allow sports activities, and in more recent years a conference centre, sports centre and sports pavilion have all been added to the site.

If you feel you will miss your weekly visit to the country market, remember we are still at Martlesham Pavilion on Tuesday mornings, behind the Douglas Bader pub, 9.15-11.15am. Here we are ringing the changes with different local crafts to choose from each week. A friendly welcome awaits and refreshments are available

As the centre continued to develop over the years it has become a social hub for many, offering activities and events for all ages to enjoy. The centre is available for private functions, corporate and business events, weddings, christenings, funerals and private parties. Their excellent facilities, coupled with a safe and secure environment, make it the ideal choice of venue.

Find us on Facebook: Kesgrave and Martlesham Country Market

The grounds and outside space, including two large free car parks, are home to a variety of clubs, associations and organisations, and is regularly used for fundraising and charity events.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary as a charitable trust, a special event is being organised in July where staff and trustees will celebrate the occasion alongside their regular hirers.

As a registered charity, all the money received is used to enhance and develop services and facilities to the community.

Indoor Table Top Sale: Saturday, February 20, 10.30am-2.30pm

IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET Love Your Gloves month at Ipswich Country Market Did you know that February is statistically the coldest month?

Raynaud’s condition, where small blood vessels at the body’s extremities are oversensitive to changes in temperature, affects about one in six people in the UK. During February, Ipswich Country Market will be supporting the Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Associations’ Love Your Gloves campaign. Fifty percent of sales of our handmade polar fleece gloves will be donated to the charity.

Also available are hand-crafted scarves, headbands hats and welly socks to keep you warm. All items can be made to your specific requirements too.

Sell all those unwanted items or come along and grab a bargain. Entry is £1 on the door for charity (under 14s free), refreshments will be available along with a tombola and kids’ corner to keep the youngsters entertained.

February is also a month full of food celebrations. Why not choose one of our many varieties of homemade jam or some local honey to top your pancakes on February 9, Pancake Day?

All tables must be pre-booked; stall fees are priced at £10 for a 6ft table, (trade £15). Trade, charities and public are all welcome.

Cakes can be ordered and made or bought for Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you could buy a red tasty jam as a treat for your loved one?

Looking forwards, that jam might be tasty to top your Welsh Cakes on St David’s Day on March 1, if there’s any left.

For further details or to book a table please contact Jo Barker: 01473 612648 Ext 21 / jo@kwmcc.co.uk Further events are planned for 2016. If you would like further information on all activities and events or to book a function room at KWMCC, please contact the centre on 01473 612648 or visit: www.kwmcc.co.uk

MARTLESHAM BRASS

You can find more about the market on our Facebook page – Ipswich Country Market – or by visiting: www.ipswichcountrymarket.co.uk We are open from 10.15-11.30am on Thursdays at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane. There is plenty of free parking, a warm welcome, and homebaked refreshments too. We offer a free tea or coffee on your first visit so come and see what we can tempt you with.

MAKING M IN EAST AUSIC FUN NGLIA

Thank you to everyone who gave so generously to our Christmas carolling collections. The grand total raised was £2,181.61, which will be divided between our three chosen charities: East Suffolk Association for the Blind; Kim You’ll Never Walk Alone, supporting Kim Sale, a pupil at Kesgrave High School; and Ipswich Hospital Sunrise Appeal.

Date for your diary Please join our preliminary band for Tea & Tunes at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath, on March 12, 10am-noon. More next month.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

Sadly, we have had to temporarily close our waiting list to new inquiries for players with no experience playing a brass instrument due to the current size of the waiting list. However, we would still like to hear from experienced players who are interested in joining us.

Publicity Officer Liz Howard e_m_howard@talk21.com / 01473 625617 www.martleshambrass.co.uk

9

OUT & ABOUT

KESGRAVE SOCIAL CLUB A reminder to members that their dues for the year should have been paid by now! To join in February please put your card and cash/cheque in an envelope for the attention of the secretary and leave with bar staff. If you don’t renew by the end of February your membership will be cancelled.

EVENTS IN FEBRUARY Heartbeat’s monthly meeting is on Tuesday 2, 7.30pm start. All welcome; come along if you have any heart related questions or just for a chat if you are facing heart surgery.

Over the weekend of Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 we are hosting Suffolk County Darts, Suffolk V West Midlands. Some quality players will be on stage and for a small fee you can be in the main hall with all the excitement.

Foxy Rock dancing with lessons is on Sunday 7 from 7.30pm. New members welcome: learn some new steps then put them into practise.

There is a quiz night on Wednesday 10 at 7pm: teams of four. Come along to see if you can challenge the resident champions!

Our country and western evening on Saturday 13 is with Black Steel, a very popular group singing many favourites.

There will be a private party in the main hall on Saturday 20, but the other bars will be open for members.

To bring the month to a close we have the fantastic Infrared on Saturday 27. We are always pleased to welcome this band as they keep the dancing going all night.

10

TRIANON MUSIC GROUP Established for over 50 years, Trianon Music Group is taking the opportunity to celebrate their famous presidents this year as part of a full programme of large-scale and community concerts.

Imogen Holst, the daughter of Gustav Holst, was their first president.

She spent 20 years as joint artistic director of the internationally famous Aldeburgh Festival and was a composer, arranger, conductor and teacher.

Sir Malcolm Arnold is also a former Trianon president and the current holder of this role is John Rutter, whose ever-popular music is widely performed.

The Presidential Suite concert is at Ipswich Corn Exchange on April 16 and Trianon makes a return visit to Snape Maltings on September 17 to perform a feast of choruses and variations, including the magnificent Belshazzar’s Feast.

With a full symphony orchestra and choir, Trianon is always interested in recruiting new members. If you would like to join Trianon please get in touch with Dorothee Double: publicity@tmg.org.uk / 01473 727852 You can pick up a copy of Trianon’s 2016 brochure at Ipswich Tourist Information Centre or download a copy from their website, which also has details of community concerts in local venues throughout the year and details of how to book your tickets.

For further details visit: www.tmg.org.uk You can also follow Trianon on Twitter @MusicTrianon

In Touch online:

Kitchen - White Star with Matt Dakkar Tullymore Doors Mrs Farmer, Tonbridge, Kent

NOW OPEN AT

B R AT I NG

RA

IO

NS

LE

T

1 million home owners can’t be wrong

CE

Hatfields of Colchester

NSFORMA

T

Over a million home owners around the world have discovered there was no need to rip out and replace their old kitchens, when they could simply transform them. Using our unique top that fits on top, rather than removing your old worktops, we simply fit directly over them, creating no debris or dust. With over 50 colours to choose from, all fully fitted by us, it’s the simplest way to achieve your new look.

FREE QUOTATION

MADE-TO-MEASURE

PROFESSIONALLY

Visit our showroom or call to book a free home consultation

Available in a wide range of complementary styles, finishes & colours

Our lifetime warrantied granite, quartz, recycled glass & porcelain worktops

Kitchen Cabinet Doors

& Measuring Service

Fitted In One Day

Ipswich Showroom: 01473 851 360 Unit 10, Alstons Court, Leslie Rd, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9PL Stanway Showroom: 01206 807 229 Hatfields Home Furnishers, Peartree Rd, Stanway, Colchester CO3 0LA APPROVED

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

Visit granitetransformations.co.uk for more information

11

12

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT KESGRAVE LIBRARY NEWS Sunday Crafts (10am-noon) • Sunday, February 7: Come along and make a kite for Kite Flying Day on February 8.

• Sunday, February 14: Valentine’s Day. Why not make a love bug to give to someone special?

• Sunday, February 21: February 20 is Love Your Pet Day and February 22 is Walk the Dog Day. Create your own paper plate puppy to celebrate.

• Sunday, February 28: February 26 is Tell a Fairy Tale Day. Pop along and make a fire breathing dragon.

Activities are free. Parents must stay with under eights. There’s no need to book – just turn up and have a go.

BookStart: every Thursday (term time only) These are free activities for pre-school children and their parents or carers. Why not come along and join Emma every Thursday for songs, rhymes and stories?

• Tot Rock: 9.45-10.15am • BabyBounce: 10.30-11am Story Time: every Friday morning (term time only), 9.45-10.15am Harry Potter Book Night: Thursday, February 4, 6-8pm This evening will include free Harry Potter crafts, games and storytelling, as well as hot chocolate and marshmallows. Why not come along in fancy dress to help us celebrate?

Book Clubs Kesgrave Library currently has two book clubs. They are held one Thursday afternoon and evening a month. If you are interested in joining, please speak to a member of staff.

Business Advertising Do you own your own business and are always trying to find somewhere to advertise? As well as our business advertising board for 50p per week for posters and flyers to be displayed, the library is offering advertising space on all its reservation slips for very reasonable rates. Look out for posters in the library advertising this service or speak to a member of staff if you are interested.

Maggie Lusher, Kesgrave Library Manager, Kinsey House, Kays Close, Kesgrave. Tel: 01473 626103. www.suffolklibraries.co.uk OPENING TIMES Tuesday: 9am-noon, 2.30-5pm Wednesday: 2.30-6pm Thursday: 2.30-8pm Friday: 9am-noon Saturday: 10am-5pm Sunday: 10am-3pm

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

THE ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Have you ever been to an auction?

Do you watch TV programmes such as Flog It or Bargain Hunt?

If you do then put the date below in your diary.

On Thursday, March 17 at 7.30pm, The Roger David Burrows Music Fund presents an evening with Elizabeth Talbot MRICS talking about the life and work of an auctioneer in St Michael’s Church Centre, The Drift, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. Elizabeth is the auction room director of TW Gaze in Diss and has appeared on many television programmes, including Bargain Hunt and Flog It. There will be light refreshments, admission is £5.

Further details from: 01473 625196 / www.rogerdavidburrows.co.uk

KESGRAVE AMATEUR THEATRE SOCIETY PRESENTS LADIES’ DAY KATS (Kesgrave Amateur Theatre Society) is one of the newest amateur theatre groups in the area but has already gained a good reputation for putting on a wide variety of productions. It has been involved in the last two Open Seasons at the New Wolsey Theatre with productions of Cheshire Cats and Bothered and Bewildered, both of which covered topical issues and had audiences laughing one minute and crying the next, as well as the ever popular Vicar of Dibley at the Thomas Theatre, all of which received strong reviews.

KATS are pleased to advise that rehearsals are well under way for their next production, Ladies’ Day. This is an inspired piece by the renowned writer Amanda Whittington which follows the work, loves and lives of the fish-filleting foursome Pearl, Jan, Shelley and Linda. But their fortunes are set to change when Linda finds tickets to Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot the year it relocated to York.

Out go the hairnets, overalls and wellies as the four ditch work, do themselves up to the nines and head off to the races for a drink, a flirt and a flutter. If their luck holds, they could hit the jackpot – and a lot more besides! This exuberantly up-to-the-minute comedy with its Yorkshire heart and soul, has all the warmth of a Calendar Girls or a Full Monty – but with less nudity!

The show will run from February 18 to 20 with performances at 7.30pm at the Thomas Theatre, Kesgrave High School and tickets (£10) can be obtained by calling 01473 612342 or online at: www.katsonstage.co.uk If you fancy an evening out on a cold February night, join KATS for a show that’s bound to warm you. All ticket holders will be given a free opportunity to win tickets for Newmarket Nights this summer.

13

OUT & ABOUT

IPSWICH & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF PRINTS AND PROJECTED IMAGES The Council Chamber, Town Hall Galleries, Cornhill, Ipswich IP1 1DH. Tuesday, March 1 to Saturday 12, 10am-5pm.

Closed Sunday and Monday. Exhibition closes at 4pm on Saturday 14.

Melford Landscape by David Long

Admission free.

Brightlingsea Watch Tower by Barry Freeman

MACMILLAN WOOLVERSTONE WISH FUNDRAISING EVENTS Fundraising for the new Woolverstone Macmillan Cancer Centre at Ipswich Hospital QUIZ NIGHT AT SECKFORD GOLF CLUB Thursday, February 11, 7pm. Teams of four, £15 a person.

Our popular quiz night is back with quiz master Simon Jay. The evening starts with a meal, followed by the quiz with an intermission when a raffle will be drawn.

To book your table contact Wendy Ledingham: 07799 771968 CLOTHES SWAP AT IPSWICH HOSPITAL Saturday, February 27, 10.30am-1pm, Ipswich Hospital Education Centre Entry £3, free car parking in car park G (maternity car park). Bring along a maximum of 10 clothing or accessory items to swap. Swap as many as you bring, additional items £2 each. Please bring clothes clean, ironed and on hangers.

Refreshments available, including delicious homemade cakes. We will also have a tombola and handmade greetings cards.

Bring friends; the more people, the better the swaps!

For more information please visit www.woolverstonewish.org.uk or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

14

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall, 7.30-10pm. For those who don’t know us, we are a craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere with refreshments.

Our next meetings are: Thursday, February 25: Teacup Pin Cushion (Emma) Thursday, March 24: Beaded Bracelet (Jill) The 2016 project list is now available and other projects are available.

New members always welcome.

For more details contact Jill (01473 713534) or Emma (01787 373850).

In Touch online:

/gsconstructionsuffolk @construction_gs

EXTENSIONS | NEW BUILDS | KITCHENS | BATHROOMS RENOVATIONS | DESIGN & BUILD

TR NSFORM YOUR HOME We offer design and build services for you, from the initial sketches to the final construction.

t: 01394 461556 | e: sales@gsconstructionsuffolk.co.uk

www.gsconstructionsuffolk.co.uk Unit 845 Bentwaters Business Park, Rendlesham, Suffolk IP12 2TW www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

15

OUT & ABOUT

Trusted by local families since 1925 139 Main Road Kesgrave 01473 860030

283 Norwich Road Ipswich 01473 232837

47 St Helens Street Ipswich 01473 257242

310 Nacton Road Ipswich 01473 860040

364 Foxhall Road Ipswich 01473 728445

64 New Street Woodbridge 01394 385456 183 Hamilton Road Felixstowe 01394 583010 213 High Street Walton, Felixstowe 01394 670100

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

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

IPSWICH QUIZ SMASHES FUNDRAISING RECORD The Hearing Care Centre’s 10th charity quiz night raised more than ever before, with £1,859.10 being taken on the night, surpassing the record of £1,522.38 set at their last quiz held in May. The event was organised to help raise money for BBC Children in Need and Suffolk’s Rural Coffee Caravan Project. On the night more than 260 people attended, which saw guests enjoy nine rounds of tough trivia and spirited rivalry, with five teams taking home cash prizes.

The event took the total amount of money raised by the Hearing Care Centre at their now famous quiz nights to over £14,800. Managing Director Karen Finch said: “Our supporters continue to amaze me. They come out time after time to support us and are so passionate about the causes we are trying to help. I must thank everyone who came along, as well as our sponsors without whom we wouldn’t have had such a successful event. I would like to apologise to those people who we had to disappoint due to a lack of space, but my advice would be to book now for next year!”

The company has already organised its next quiz night which will take place on Sunday, May 15 and they also have a murder mystery evening taking place on Friday, February 5.

SHERLOCK HOLMES COMES TO TOWN

The one and only Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr Watson are coming to town on Friday, February 5 to carry out their detective duties on a murder case titled The Suffolk Train Theft.

The Hearing Care Centre have organised the murder mystery evening to raise valuable funds for their chosen charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. The evening will take place at the historic Ipswich and Suffolk Club on Northgate Street, Ipswich and the fun and frivolity will begin at 7.30pm.

Guests will be treated to a delicious 3-course dinner and a full evening of deadly entertainment. Lots of prizes will be up for grabs.

Tickets are £40 and can be booked by phoning Matthew at The Hearing Care Centre on 01473 230330. Please note there is limited availability.

The Hearing Care Centre’s target is to raise £10,000 this year in order to sponsor their very own hearing dog, which will eventually go on to provide support and companionship to a deaf recipient.

16

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you.

We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, February 16 at 7.15pm when David Brown will be talking about China – The Land of the Dragon. This illustrated talk will focus on a number of famous and less famous attractions, both ancient and modern, as well as aspects of Chinese history and culture.

The talk on March 22 will be given by Luke Potter, the new East Suffolk general manager for the National Trust. Luke will give us an insight into the current work and future plans of the trust for our area. This will be preceded by a short AGM. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome for an entrance fee of £2 each. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 a year (£12 for a couple at the same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events.

For more information contact our membership secretary: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

EAST SUFFOLK EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE Inner Wheel celebrated Christmas with a three course meal for members and guests at Ufford Park Hotel, after which The Rev Canon Clare Sanders, Vicar of Grundisburgh Church, spoke about her hobby of collecting cribs and nativity scenes from around the world. Donations in lieu of Christmas cards were sent to the Cumbria Flood Appeal.

Guests were invited to our January meeting at which local vet Brian Faulkner entertained us with amusing anecdotes from his life as a vet. Having served as a locum vet for over 20 years in approximately 250 practices throughout the UK, from the Hebrides to Inner London, Brian has a wealth of material to draw upon and did not disappoint.

Inner Wheel is one of the largest women’s voluntary organisations in the world, serving in over 103 countries. World Inner Wheel Day is celebrated on January 11, the birthday of Inner Wheel. Our club marked the occasion with a soup and puds lunch held at the home of club member Sally Pearson. Proceeds from the event were donated to Parkinson’s UK, this year’s national president’s chosen charity. Club members are currently collecting haberdashery items for Tools with a Mission (TWAM) for countries such as Uganda and Zambia as well as warm clothing for the Seaman’s Mission, Felixstowe and postage stamps for Oxfam.

CHARITY QUIZ ON MARCH 4 Inner Wheel will be holding its annual charity quiz in aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance on Friday, March 4 in Woodbridge Community Hall at 7.30pm. Teams of four-six are invited to participate. Tickets are £6 per person, participants to provide their own liquid refreshments and snacks. For further details please contact Deirdre Griffin: 01473 612049 / tandd@griffin3373.fsnet.co.uk

KESGRAVE CO-OPERATIVE WOMEN’S GUILD

The last meting of 2015 was held at Rushmere Village Hall in mid-December. We finished the year with a presentation on travelling sketchbooks by the Sew G&T group. Each member of the group had purchased an A5 sketchbook and covered it with some embroidery or textile, then over the following six months the books had been passed round the group month by month, with each member adding a page of inspiration and a sample of embroidery before passing it on again. At the end of this time each person had a sketchbook full of mementoes of their friends’ work.

We also received back the postcards from our postcard swap with a branch in the USA, and were delighted with the work of our American cousins. Where most of our members had used machine embroidery (pictured), the Americans mostly used hand stitch, and it was great fun comparing approaches.

Many of our members were interested in the idea of the travelling sketchbooks and we’ll be kicking off a branch wide activity over the coming meetings. We’re open to anyone interested in any form of stitch of any standard, from beginner to professional. So if you fancy giving it a go contact Jennifer Scott: jen.m.scott@btinternet.com Our next meeting is on Wednesday, February 10.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

We had some good news from the East of England Co-op. They have kindly agreed to continue to support the guild even though our national executive committee is closing in June. This means we can carry on with our fully packed programme of speakers, outings and entertainment for the year.

Our first 2016 meeting was a riotous affair playing bag beetle. Dice and pens went flying as we swapped seats and exchanged prizes.

New members are always welcome and can attend two meetings before making a decision to join. We meet at Kesgrave Community Centre in Twelve Acre Approach every other Tuesday and meetings start at 7.30pm.

The 2016 membership fee is £15 and we charge £2.50 at each meeting to include refreshments and raffle tickets.

If you would like to find out more about the guild, further information is available from our chairman, Gloria Everett: 01473 614991 February 16: Overland to India on a Scooter, a fascinating talk by Ted Wheatley.

March 1: We will hear about Henstead Exotic Garden, near Beccles. This garden was made from scratch some 10 years ago and Andrew Brogan will tell us more about it.

March 15 : Mark Murphy from BBC Radio Suffolk will share his experiences in radio.

March 29 : What a Difference a Day Makes, volunteer John Chapman will tell the story of how a visit to Minsmere six years ago changed his life.

17

OUT & ABOUT MARTLESHAM HEATH AVIATION SOCIETY Our meeting on Friday, January 8 featured an illustrated talk by Mr Roger Kennell from Hadleigh. Roger gave us a fascinating story of aviation in the pre-Great War era.

In 1909 several people reported sightings of large cigar shaped objects in the sky. The authorities at first dismissed these sightings as fantasies and phantoms, the equivalent of today’s UFOs. However, they eventually conceded that they were airships flown over from Germany. Clearly Germany had designs of a military nature even then.

A Royal Naval Air Station had been established at Shotley, but was moved to Felixstowe where it became the nationally important Marine Aircraft Research Establishment, the naval equivalent to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment here at Martlesham. Roger went on to describe just how informal those early pioneers of the air were. One outstanding young naval pilot “dropped in” at Little Holland (now Holland on Sea) because he knew his sister was on holiday there. After lunching with her he “became airborne and entertained an astonished audience of bystanders by doing daring stunts”, before flying off only to land on the greensward on the Front at Frinton on Sea to visit friends, “before flying off at a great height.”

That young pilot was Reginald Marix who bombed the Zeppelin sheds at Dusseldorf in 1914 and destroyed two Zeppelins inside. The loss of a leg in a flying accident in 1916 put an end to his flying career. Despite that Reginald Marix achieved the rank of Air Vice Marshall before retiring in 1945.

A vote of thanks was given by our chairman, Martyn Cook.

Our next meeting on Friday, February 5 at the Community Hall on Felixstowe Road will feature an illustrated talk entitled Spooky – The AC47gunship in Vietnam. Mr Roger Bessette is flying over from America to deliver what is expected to be an evening of special interest.

KESGRAVE WI After our usual formal start our January meeting took on a slightly more relaxed air! Business matters were quickly dealt with including the Suffolk East WI meeting at Trinity Park in March where the main speaker will be an ex-cook from various royal households, the spring quiz in April, planning for Suffolk Show and all our regular activities starting again after the Christmas break.

Coffee was then served by Sue Butcher and Ann Barnes before we all settled down for our now traditional January meeting activity, Bag Beetle organised by Doreen Roderick. Besides being great fun Bag Beetle is an ideal way for members to get to know each other as you are constantly changing opponents! A small prize is awarded to the person with the highest number of points and a wooden spoon to the lowest score!

Imagine 50 ladies of all ages, heads down rolling the dice, frantically squealing with delight when they roll a 6 to start them off! A fun filled evening enjoyed by all and a lovely way to start the New Year.

The meeting closed with a vote of thanks for Doreen, our games master.

Our next meeting is at Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, on Thursday, February 4 at 7.15pm. Our speaker will be Ken Stone with The Royal Year in Photographs.

Visitors are very welcome to join us. For further information please call the secretary, Di Chilver: 01473 611415

Meetings start at 7.30pm with a tea/coffee break. Non-members are welcome for a payment of just £4 at the door.

Alan Powell, 01473 622458 www.mhas.org.uk

THE LIONS CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE AND DISTRICT After the hectic Christmas period we can take a breath, enjoy a couple of social events and plan our activities for the months ahead. The many touching cards and letters of thanks we are receiving for the Christmas parcels support the continuing value of this long-running project.

After many years in the role, our community secretary Mick Hilton has handed on our programme of support for individuals and small organisations to Stella Benton. Asked for her thoughts in taking on the role, Stella said: “As members of Thurrock Lions, we thoroughly enjoyed becoming involved in supporting charities and community projects with the added benefit of the strong accent on having fun along with regular social events which is a key part of being a member of the Lions family.

“We moved to Suffolk last year and transferred to the Woodbridge and District Lions Club. The sense of fun which exists in the club and the warm welcome which we received made us immediately feel at home and played a big part in helping us settle in Suffolk. I am now taking on the role of chair of the community services committee which plays a key role in reviewing requests to the club for support which helps to ensure that we continue to support as many worthy community projects and individuals as possible.”

If you know of anyone we can help, we can be contacted on 0845 833 2820 or via: www.woodbridgelions.org.uk

18

FEBRUARY BLUES COULD GET YOU DOWN – BUT NOT WITH US U3A (University of the Third Age) has more than 130 interest groups plus interesting talks on a variety of subjects in four locations every month.

There is bound to be something that will shake off the blues if you give U3A a chance. How about bringing some music, poetry, art or even new crafts into 2016 to cheer the way to spring?

Visitors and prospective members are welcome to the talks where the campus co-ordinators will be delighted to give more details of how to join U3A, an organisation for retired and semi retired people. More information can be found by telephoning the secretary 01473 273395 or at: www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk A note for U3A members is that although they might not be able to attend talks in their own area each month there are alternative dates, subjects and venues. Most details are in the green handbook and newsletters, but I know from experience that those are not always in the place you think you put them!

The Ipswich U3A talks take place at Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acres Approach, Bell Lane, Kesgrave IP5 1JF. The number 66 bus from Ipswich and Martlesham passes the centre every 15 minutes.

Refreshments follow the meeting.

At 2pm on Monday, February 29, Kesgrave hosts a talk by Terry Taylor on Just William: the life of Richmal Compton and the tales of William Brown.

Why not come and remind yourselves of your childhood reading? Just right for cheering up February weather which can be a little cold and wet.

Make U3A a part of your 2016 life for extra fun, a few laughs and more power for your hobbies and interests.

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY The society’s next meeting is on Thursday, February 25 at 7.30pm in the Co-op Education Centre when John Field will present Giles in Ipswich. The pedestrian Entrance is at 11 Fore Street and the car park entrance is in Waterworks Street IP4 1JG. Cartoonist Carl Giles lived for many years at Witnesham and had a studio in central Ipswich which overlooks the place where Giles’ Grandma statue now stands. There are many references to Ipswich in Carl Giles Cartoons... if you know where to look.

He had a fascinating and sometimes rather off-beat life, including being an official cartoonist war artist. Come along and find out more.

Admission is £2 each for society members, £2.50 for non-members who are also warmly welcomed – you can join the society at the meeting if you wish. Tickets are not required – just turn up and pay on the door.

New family history researchers (including non-members) are welcomed to this event – perhaps we can help you with your researches?

For more information on this event and about the branch, call H King: 01473 274300

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Chris Miller will present a talk entitled The Suffolk Punch and it’s place in East Anglian History at the next meeting on Monday, February 8.

Meetings are held at the Pavilion on Martlesham Heath and start at 7.30pm. The admission fee is £2.50 and meetings are open to all.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

BE HEARD IN 2016!

Do you ever wish that others listened to you? Why do some people always seem to know the right thing to say, get things done, influence what happens, express their ideas well?

Yes, some people are better at speaking in public than others, however you can learn how to command attention, speak persuasively, make your points clearly: it just takes practise.

You can learn techniques to make yourself heard. Adopting a positive, open stance makes you look more authoritative.

Controlling your hand movements and gestures when you speak can add emphasis and keep your audience’s attention. Avoiding filler words and ums and ers is something you can practise.

Painting a picture in words makes your message stick in peoples’ minds.

If you want to learn how to speak so people listen, why not come and find out what Speak Easy at Martlesham is all about?

Guests are welcome, free, although it costs only £6 per month to be a member – and we welcome everyone.

We are a friendly small group and we meet every other Thursday evening, 7-9:30pm, at the Richards Room, Martlesham Community Hall, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham IP12 4PB (behind Tesco).

Find out more at www.speak-easy.org.uk and on Facebook and Twitter, or call Sonya Burrows: 07968 372563

19

20

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE DEBEN Deben Rotary has had a particularly successful festive season. Our annual carol concert at Woodbridge School was again well attended and over £1,400 was raised for Rotary supported charities. Out thanks again go to Martlesham Brass Band for playing and accompanying some rousing carol singing. Plans are already being made for this year’s event.

Despite some very unseasonal weather Santa’s sleigh around Martlesham Heath and in the Thoroughfare raised another £1,500 and our thanks go to the residents of Woodbridge and Martlesham for their generosity.

Our Memory Café, held in conjunction with Woodbridge Rotary Club and Inner Wheel, continues as before at Woodbridge Football Club on the last Wednesday of each month. We will be delighted to welcome dementia sufferers and their carers between 10.30am and noon.

Refreshments are provided and there is no charge. Our next sessions are on January 27 and February 24.

MARTLESHAM WI By the time you read this, January will be a thing of the past, and there is only gloomy February to get through. Are you looking for an interest and some lively company? Then maybe the WI is for you. We are a friendly bunch who now meet at Martlesham Heath Pavilion on the third Friday afternoon of the month.

Should you decide to join us, you automatically have membership of the Suffolk East Federation as well, which offers a great variety of activities to suit all. And if your ‘marching’ days aren’t over yet, there is always the opportunity to become involved in the many worthwhile campaigns that the WI is so well known for.

As a group, we have varied interests, illustrated by our speakers’ list for 2016. Where else could you learn so much about the resistance movement, a trek in the Himalayas, man’s best friend the wolf, and even the history of shopping. Last month our very own Maria Lestrange demonstrated her fascinating paper craft.

You might even teach us a thing or two if you have something to share. Or just come along to one of our meetings and make some new friends in 2016.

Next meeting: February 19, 2.15-4.15pm Venue: Martlesham Heath Pavilion on the village green (next to St Michael’s Church) Speaker: Andy Malcolm on The History of Fish and Chips More information: June Parkin, 01473 625382

AND THE BEAT GOES ON... …with the slow rhythm of a waltz, foxtrot or rumba, a faster quickstep or cha-cha-cha, or a lively jive with classes at Sidegate Community Centre IP4 4HZ on Wednesday evenings: refreshers 7-8pm, improvers 8-10pm.

Come along to improve your dancing and social life in a fun and active way.

Contact: 01473 723070. www.sidegatelanecommunity centre.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

OVER THIRTIES AND VALENTINE’S DANCES The Ipswich Valley Rangers / Woodbridge Athletic Football Club’s fundraising Valentine’s Supper-Dance will be at Kesgrave High School on Saturday, February 13. Dancing will start at 8pm and continue through to 11.30pm. Rod and the Solents will supply the music. Ticket are £11 and include a hot chicken and chips supper, with a vegetarian option. Tickets can be obtained, in advance only, by calling Keith: 01473 624538 I haven’t been able to secure a suitable date/venue for an Over Thirties Dance yet, but will update as and when.

Every year I am involved with a charity fundraising dinner-dance at the Cameo Hotel in Copdock in aid of BEN, the automotive industry charity, and three local charities. The local charities supported in 2015 were Headway, Woolverstone Wish and the Suffolk Young People’s Project (4YP). If you fancy a evening out on Saturday, March 5 with a four course meal, dancing to a band and a disco and the chance to win one or more of about 60 super draw prizes, and all for just £40, please contact Keith on 01473 624538.

Keith/Miles

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY After a lengthy break over Christmas and New Year the society restarts on February 3 when Shirley Smith will talk to us about the French royal the Duc du Berry and the famous Book of Hours he had commissioned.

Shirley lectures extensively and we welcome her back.

So why not come along and enjoy some good company and an interesting talk? We are a friendly group who meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months, and we also organise interesting day visits. The wonderfully illustrated lectures start at 2.15pm (we advise people to arrive by 2pm if possible) and are presented by national and international lecturers. Guests and non-members are welcome, provided we have available space. A £5 donation is asked. For more info contact Jean Bradberry: 01473 710921 / odfasmemsec@btinternet.com For the latest events and news visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk ODFAS is a member society of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies.

MARTLESHAM LADIES CLUB We began the New Year with an extremely interesting talk and demonstration by Sarah Waldock on how to make cards from scrap. The smallest piece of rubbish has potential (in her eyes!).

There are two meetings planned for February. On February 4 Rob Spray will give a talk entitled Barely Believable – Life Modelling and on February 18 we are having our annual bring and buy sale and bring a friend evening.

All money raised will go to our chosen charity for this year.

On March 3 Pat Deliss will present a talk entitled We Only Wanted a Pony.

All ladies are welcome to our meetings which are held on alternate Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in the Richards Room. For more information contact Doreen Boar: 01473 622768

21

OUT & ABOUT PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP Remember, remember the end of December, when the daffodil bulbs were trying to erupt into flower and it was too warm for snowdrops? On a lovely sunny Sunday morning before Christmas the Portal Woods volunteers convened for the last session of 2015.

There were no Nature Watch Club or Nature Explorers meetings scheduled for December, but the Explorers were invited to bring their energy and enthusiasm to help continue clearing the scrub from around the education area and building up the dead hedge.

A small group of Explorers cleared a section of the perimeter track of overhanging branches as their contribution to the morning’s work, so we were tidy for the new year.

The session finished early and we all enjoyed festive sandwiches, cupcakes and other goodies that had been contributed by the groups.

DATES FOR FEBRUARY Sunday, February 21, 10am-noon: Work Morning; all welcome come and join us Saturday, March 19, 9-11am: Nature Explorers (11-18 year olds) Sunday, April 3, 9-11am: Nature Watch Club (five-11 year olds) New volunteers for the work party and for Nature Watch Club and Nature Explorers are always welcome. For further information please contact us at pwcg.martlesham@gmail.com, 01473 612632 or visit: pwcg.onesuffolk.net Publicity Officer and Nature Explorer Chloe King

ORWELL FLOWER CLUB

DEBEN FLOWER CLUB It seems a while now since we held our wonderful Christmas demonstration, meal and workshop. All who attended these events had a wonderful time and enjoyed themselves very much.

We now look forward to another successful and entertaining year at Deben Flower Club.

Our next meeting in Kirton Church Hall, Kirton IP10 0PU on Tuesday, February 9 at 7.30pm will take the form of a members evening. Six talented members will arrange flowers for your entertainment.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn new techniques in an informal atmosphere.

At the end of the evening the arrangements will be raffled and six lucky members will take home a beautifully arranged design. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served.

Visitors are always assured of a warm welcome, £4.

22

We welcome Vicki Hease from Stowmarket with a demonstration entitled That’s Not What It’s For on January 28, our first meeting of the year. Vicki is a most entertaining demonstrator, her flowers are always of the highest standard and she is extremely knowledgeable about all her flowers and foliage.

We now look forward to our meeting on February 25 when popular local demonstrator Alan Smith will present Fun with Flowers. This will be an evening packed with laughter and lovely flowers.

The Orwell Club meets on the fourth Thursday of the month (except August and December) at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew IP4 5SU. Why not join us and enjoy an evening with fun and flowers? Our demonstration starts at 7.15pm, but the doors open by 6.45pm to allow you to browse at our sales table and buy raffle tickets for the arrangements created by our demonstrator.

SUFFOLK ORCHID SOCIETY Suffolk Orchid Society is holding its spring show on Saturday, March 5 at St Michael’s Church Centre (near Douglas Bader Public House), 10am-4pm.

In addition to a magnificent display of our member’s orchids there will be first class orchids for sale, re-potting demonstrations and advice on the cultivation of orchids including solving problems that may be encountered in their care.

Refreshments including light lunches will be available during the day. Admission £1.

MARTLESHAM IN BLOOM Bulb planting Throughout the parish there will be a lot of daffodils in flower this spring providing a beautiful floral display for all to enjoy. They have been planted over the years by Martlesham in Bloom and many other volunteers. Earlier this winter Martlesham in Bloom planted bulbs in Main Road and we are grateful to Bloor Homes who paid for many of these bulbs.

If you would like any further details or would like to help with Martlesham in Bloom activities please contact J Maureen Burrows: 01473 625196

WICKHAM MARKET FLOWER CLUB Our next meeting on Thursday, February 25 is a hands-on workshop. If you would like more details or wish to attend please contact June Allum on 01394 384803. New members are always welcome; the first visit is free.

For further details please contact Delcie Corbett: 01473 623371 / gil.corbett@btinternet.com

In Touch online:

SCHOOLS SPRING AT BRIGHT STARS Bright Stars is open to all babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers to come along to with their parents, grandparents and/or carers. Each session is full of fun children’s activities, for example singing and Bible stories for children, plus crafts and games. In January we heard how the wise men visited Jesus and we enjoyed ourselves with stickers, colouring and singing.

We meet 10.30am on the second and fourth Mondays of each month during term time at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. The half hour sessions are free and are followed by refreshments and a chance to chat and play until approximately noon.

Why not come and visit us? You are welcome to just turn up on the day at any of the sessions, but if you would like any further information feel free to telephone us on the phone numbers below. We look forward to welcoming you!

Our session dates for the spring term 2016 are: February 8 and 22 and March 14.

For further information please contact: Jennie Fidler, 07584 420729 Sonya & Maureen Burrows, 01473 625196 Sue Lambert, 01473 624130

This month we are learning all about the cold weather. This includes the Arctic and the children will be creating lots of animals such as polar bears and penguins for our winter wall.

The pre-schoolers will also be learning about rescue teams, such as the fire brigade, ambulance service and police. They will be finding out the different ways in which these teams help us.

Our littlest learners will be having lots of fun exploring sounds, colours and textures in our new baby room, The Seedlings. Limited spaces are still available, contact manager Jo Gadsden.

HALF TERM HOLIDAY CLUB We are now taking bookings for our February half term holiday club (Monday, February 15 to Friday 19) where our holiday clubbers can enjoy cooking and crafting activities and more.

The Saplings is open Monday-Friday, 7.30am-6pm, for children aged three months to 11 years. We offer a baby room (three months to two years), pre-school (2-5 years), breakfast club, after school club and holiday club sessions (2-11 years) and a ‘walking bus’ to Birchwood Primary School.

For more information, please contact our friendly team of dedicated and experienced staff: 01473 614753 / news@thesaplings.org.uk

THREE BEARS PLAYGROUP

HUMPTY DUMPTY PLAYGROUP The children have been very busy so far this term. As we are taking part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch, the children walked around the woods identifying and counting all the birds we could see. The children have also been engaging in lots of other activities about birds, even getting messy with lard and bird food to make bird feeders.

We are now open on Thursday afternoons, allowing us to offer children all day every day!

Please follow us on Facebook where you can see the children engaged in play activities.

We are registered for children from the age of two years onwards. Please feel free to come in to meet our friendly Early Years team and to pick up a registration form.

We are situated inside Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach. Contact us on 07837 154081 during term time or our manager Sally Cutts on 01473 625998.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

We have been thinking about people in our community. The children decided to make a hairdressing salon. They washed and dried the dolls hair and the staff have enjoyed having their hair fashioned with various hair clips and bows. Using real money, we have paid for the various treatments – extra if we left the salon wearing sunglasses!

We are looking at healthy eating and played games in preparation for our next role play, restaurants. We have chopped fruit for kebabs and made savoury rice to enjoy at snack.

Exciting fun was had by all while playing knights and dragons using small figures. The children then went on to dress-up as knights to save the princess from the fierce dragon in the dressing up area.

Using fundraising money, we have purchased new sensory equipment to use in our dark tent. We will explore this during small group activities.

If you would like to add your child to our waiting list please return a completed registration form to playgroup.

Forms can be downloaded from www.threebearsplaygroup.org.uk, requested by emailing threebearsplaygroup@btconnect.com or collected from the playgroup on Wilkinson Drive.

23

sports IPSWICH WANDERERS FC Wanderers, sponsored by Total Car Parks, may have progressed to the last 16 of the prestigious FA Vase or may be pursuing league and league cup ambitions! As I write, the third round FA Vase tie between Welton Rovers and Bodmin Town has been postponed no fewer than five times so we still don’t know our fate in the competition. If their game was played to a conclusion, we will have met either one of them in the last 32. The weather has been so unkind in the West Country that we may still be waiting!

At least Glenn Read’s squad is now fully fit and we can look to move up the league placings as we catch up with matches postponed during our excellent run in the FA Vase. Kevin Baker’s Under 18s are still top of their league as I write but we expect our undefeated near neighbours Woodbridge Town to mount a strong challenge for the title. The Under 18s play on Tuesday evenings under floodlights at The Doucy.

OPEN DAY The Ipswich Wanderers Academy is holding its open day in February. This will be an exciting opportunity for scholars aged 16-19 to pursue a career in football while studying for BTec qualifications. More information about this, and all the news from Humber Doucy Lane, can be found at: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ipswichwanderers Home fixtures for February include: Saturday, January 30: League Home v Felixstowe & Walton (KO 3pm) or FA Vase Away Saturday, February 6: League Home v Gorleston (KO 3pm) Saturday, February 27: League Home v Haverhill Rovers (KO 3pm) Admission to First team games is £6 for adults, £3 for concessions.

Facilities include the bar, hot food, programmes, golden goal, the club shop and free car parking. Entrance in Humber Doucy Lane, Rushmere.

Keith Lloyd

KESGRAVE CRICKET CLUB 2016 is now well underway and so are pre-season activities at KCC. Our winter junior coaching sessions are now underway every Tuesday evening at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre. It’s not too late to join in. If you are keen to get involved, please contact our junior coordinator Steve Worne at stevieworne400@hotmail.com or speak to any officer of the club.

Our senior players will also be starting their pre-season training regime shortly. Senior nets begin on Sunday, February 28, 11am-1pm, in the sports hall at the community centre. The net sessions will run at the same time each Sunday up to April 10, with the exception of Easter Sunday.

That’s six sessions in total. These sessions are important to get ready for the new season and can be vital for catching the eye of the captains and the selection committee! All current senior players should try to attend.

New players are very welcome too – whether you’re new to the area and looking to play some cricket or thinking about dusting down your cricket gear after a break away from the game, please do come along to any of these sessions. Simply make yourself known when you arrive; our club captain Mike Worne will be delighted to welcome you.

An important event in the club’s calendar took place on January 7 – our AGM. We reviewed the last year and looked forward to the year to come.

Club president Pat Mills told us how much he enjoyed seeing so many strong performances last year, especially from our younger cricketers,

24

KESGRAVE KESTRELS FOOTBALL CLUB We have now passed the mid-point of the season. Our Saturday First Team remain unbeaten in SIL Division 4 this season and are second in their league and poised for a push for promotion this season. Saturday Reserves picked up their first league win in December and have also progressed into Round 2 of the Club Colours Cup with an away 4-3 win over higher division Witnesham Wasps Reserves.

The Sunday team have also now secured their first wins of the season – our thanks to Dave Field who has now become coach for the Sunday team and to Pete Ross who stepped in to manage the team for the first half of the season. The Vets team have only played a single league game this season after cup runs in both the county and league cups and now have a backlog of league games to catch up over the second half of the season.

At youth level the U15s continue to lead division 3. After a tough season last year, our U12s are enjoying a stronger season this year and currently stand second in their division. Our other youth teams are sitting mid-table with many of them facing stronger teams after being promoted last season. Our U16s, U11s and U9s are all in the quarter-finals of their respective Plate competitions, to be played the last weekend of January.

Our new Early Years Foundation Stage group launched in early November and has already proved popular with 15 excited Reception class children joining. Our thanks to Claire, George and Harriet who are coaching this new group.

FOOTBALL FUN HOLIDAY CAMP We will be running our next Football Fun Holiday Camp in half term on Tuesday, February 16 and Wednesday 17. There are more details on our website including how to book.

At the end of this season we will be looking to appoint a new secretary to support our adult section of the club. If you have the time available to support this growing section of the club we would like to hear from you.

Please get in touch.

For team news and events please visit: www.kesgravekestrelsfc.co.uk David Hall, secretary: 01473 620562

and thanked all our helpers, especially our wonderful tea ladies. These sentiments were echoed by Richard Bradley, our chairman, and by club captain Mike Worne. Richard and Mike also led our discussion on our plans for 2016, while club development officer David Worne updated us on all the hard work being undertaken behind the scenes to continue the development and improvement of our facilities. One point made at the meeting impressed me particularly: it is now the case that all our junior coaches have themselves come through our own junior section. It’s great credit to these individuals that they have come through our junior teams, become senior cricketers and now want to help the next generation take the same journey. Any cricket club is only as strong as its players and members; the continuity of commitment to cricket in Kesgrave displayed by our young coaches tells me that we will only get stronger and stronger.

A lovely way to end the AGM was for us to be able to formally thank our much-loved member Ray Fordham for his very kind donation of a portable bar for our pavilion, and to dedicate the bar in Ray’s name. The bar really does enhance our facilities and has already proven a real hit with players and visitors alike. Ray is pictured here being presented with a sign for Fordie’s Bar by our chairman Richard Bradley.

Knight Watchman

In Touch online:

ON THE GRAPEVINE DR DAN POULTER, YOUR LOCAL MY, REPORTS BACK I should like to wish you a happy New Year and a peaceful and healthy 2016.

At the start of a new year is always helpful to reflect on priorities for the year ahead and I should like to tell you some of mine. In parliament I am looking forward to continuing in my role as a member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee and playing my part in achieving a balanced energy policy and innovative future energy system for our country. I shall also vigorously support the government’s long-term approach to climate targets and to promote renewable and clean energy.

I was delighted to be elected recently as co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health and shall be contributing my experience as an NHS doctor to help to build on the achievements of this influential group in working to improve healthcare for the benefit of patients both in the UK and elsewhere. One of my main priorities this year is to highlight the need for better mental health provision and a fairer deal for mental health funding to support the dedicated NHS staff that care for mental health patients.

Another of my priorities is to do my best to promote employment, particularly for young people. We have come a long way in creating employment for young people in Suffolk – there were only 90 claimants aged 18-24 in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in November 2015 which was 65 people lower than the previous year. But there is still more to do and I should like to see more young people doing vocational courses and apprenticeships.

As co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on carers I am determined to do all I can to support carers not only in Suffolk but also across the country. There are more than seven million unpaid carers in the UK and this will increase enormously during the next decade when the people needing care are expected to increase by 50%. Carers play an enormously important role in many peoples’ lives and are often the unsung heroes of our community. This year I should like to highlight the role of young carers and how important it is to help to identify them and give them the practical and emotional support that they need to ensure that they enjoy their lives and achieve just like their peers.

I am looking forward to meeting the challenges of the year ahead and shall be reporting back regularly in this column.

For more information please visit: www.drdanielpoulter.com

Feel right at home with Alice Grange Care Home

From expert care to delicious home-cooked food and engaging activities, our staff pride themselves on making everyone we care for at Alice Grange feel at home. It’s all part of the first-class care and support that we provide to the people of Suffolk. www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

If you would like a tour of our home or just need some friendly advice, please call us on:

01473 333 551

St Isidores, Ropes Drive, Kesgrave, IP5 2GA www.barchester.com 25

CHURCH NEWS

the

Declaring God’s Way - Sharing His Love “In his heart a man plans his course – but the Lord determines his steps” This quotation from the Bible (Proverbs 16:9) is a good guide as we start another year. Whatever we plan may not always work out, but we know that God is there, leading us along the journey. After a break, our Alpha Course will be held again this year. It’s open to all and we look forward to welcoming you so do join us. Details are set out below.

Alpha@RBC 2016 is GO We have great news. The postponed 2015 Alpha Course at RBC has been re-arranged to take place in early 2016. The new spring course – Alpha@RBC2016 – will run on Thursday evenings just after Easter, from March 31 until June 16. Each evening starts at 7pm with a delicious supper followed by an Alpha TV talk and then group discussions, with the evening finishing around 9.30pm. We will be holding a Holy Spirit away day at the halfway mark on Saturday, May 2 – venue to be confirmed.

Alpha is designed for people from all walks of life and provides a friendly, non-pressured environment for people to openly discuss and ask questions about life and how God and Jesus can fit into it.

We have certainly had some interesting and challenging questions along the way in previous courses, but that is what Alpha is for – no question is a silly question or off limits.

ARK

Well, we’re already a month into the new year. How’s it going for you? Have you stuck to those resolutions you made or maybe you never made any this year.

church

Bringing our thoughts into reality is always difficult but if we don’t move on we’ll be forever stuck where we are right now.

Every change requires action and it will only change if we make the effort.

The old saying ‘tomorrow never comes’ is true and today may be all we have. If you’ve ever considered looking into what Christianity is all about then why not come and visit us here at the Ark? We’re not perfect, but we are trying to go God’s way and we’re always happy to see new faces.

Join us on Sunday mornings at 11.30am (Café and Children’s Church at 10.30am), for Wednesday Bible Study at 8pm or for Young People’s Night on alternate Fridays from 7.30pm. We also run Care For The Family courses dealing with parenting, pre-marriage and marriage.

The Ark Church, Wolsey House, The Drift, Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9QR We can also be found at: www.arkipswich.co.uk / Facebook/@ arkofthelord / Twitter/@arkipswich or email: arkipswichuk@gmail. com (our newsletter is available via free subscription)

So Alpha is for everyone – non-Christians, new Christians and mature Christians. If you would like to give it a try, then we strongly recommend you do so. For further information please contact Rob Foster: 01473 624373 / rob.foster387@btinternet.com Our usual services and events are as follows: Sunday Morning Service at 10.45am, crèche for the very young

Friends of God (FOG) for age three to School Year 2

Mustard Seeds, School Years 3-6

The Tribe, School Years 7 and above

Evening Service at 6.30pm Monday

FFaF Children’s Club for school Years 3-6, 6.15-7.30pm

Wednesday

Senior Citizens’ Friendship Hour at 2.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month Art and Crafts Club, every Wednesday at 7pm

Thursday

Luncheon Club at 12.30pm

Friday

Prayer Meeting from 6.30-8pm at the church

Saturday

Meeting Point Coffee Morning, 10.30am-noon, on the fourth Saturday of each month

Minister: The Rev Heather Marsden Secretary: Mrs Jean Cutting Church: 01473 721455

26

This quote was recently published on the cover of a church magazine: “The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” Augustine We need hospitals for those in need today, whether the need is physical, mental or emotional. While we appreciate how essential our doctors and hospitals are, we also recognise that they cannot deliver the same service as a loving God who is there 24/7 to help and to heal every part of the body and mind. That’s good news for everyone, whatever age, whatever culture, whether male of female. He is the answer for all of life’s needs.

New Life Community Church meets every Sunday at Heath Primary School, Bell Lane, Kesgrave at 10.30am.

In Touch online:

YOUR LOCAL SERVICES

March Accounting & Taxation Services

Ian Coombes FCCA MBA • FREE initial consultation to discuss any tax, accounting and general business issues • Payroll, 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

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

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

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

MID-SUFFOLK FENCING

SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY TIMBER FENCING

SUPPLY • ERECT • REPAIR

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

www.midsuffolkfencing.co.uk

YOU GROW IT I’LL MOW IT

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

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

To advertise in this section, which appears in 17 magazines in areas accross Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

27