In Touch News with Kesgrave – June 2016

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By Martin Chambers

In Touch

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with Kesgrave & Rushmere

Volume 6 • Issue No. 8 • JUNE 2016

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I’ve gotten to know the lollipop lady outside Jack’s school quite well over the years. We have talked about her daughter, who is in high school, her son, who is in college, the fact that she’s been on a diet and her yellow coat is now far too big… Now you may wonder when we have time to chat and rather surprisingly it’s as we stand waiting for cars to stop each morning. She holds her lollipop aloft, arm outstretched to prevent eager children from running across the road, and we wait, and wait, and wait as driver after driver pretends not to see us, gaze focused directly ahead, determined to get to somewhere awfully special (I assume). Occasionally they will wave as if to say “I acknowledge your existence but you must realise how incredibly busy and important I am so I’m going to ignore your request”. And we carry on waiting. Just the other morning a driver stopped, forcing the driver coming from the other direction to reluctantly (there are some words it’s rather easy to lip read!) to do the same thing.

Just as the lollipop lady set off another car overtook one of the stopped cars, forcing her to jump back onto the footpath. What was he thinking? If the prospect of being 30 seconds late is so appalling then get up earlier or take a different route.

If you are driving past a school please be sensible and respectful and let’s show those impressionable boys and girls waiting to cross how it should be done.

On the subject of responsibility, we just got two rabbits, yet unnamed but very cute. I’ve been telling Jack it’s his responsibility to look after them, stressing time and time again how important it is to make sure the hutch is properly closed. As we came downstairs this morning he shouted “the rabbits are running around the garden” – and so they were! And who was the last person to visit the hutch. Me!! By the time we got to school Jack had told eight people what I’d done, including the lollipop lady. My authority has been completely undermined, but I’ve come up with a way to make this work to my benefit. Clearly I’m not up to the task so Jack really has to take over in order to keep those rabbits safe!

Kesgrave In Touch with & Rushmere

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NEWS KESGRAVE FAMILY FUN DAY Saturday, June 11 at the Millennium Sportsfield and Jubilee Pavilion, starting at 10am with live 1940s music.

Prizes for dance, best dressed period couple, archery, karate and yoga displays, five-a-side knockout competition, children’s races, live theatrical play, choir, jive tuition and sing-song, photographic exhibition of Kesgrave from 1926 and a zany dog show. Many stallholders and refreshments, burgers and ice-creams.

So much going on to celebrate HM the Queen’s 90th birthday. More information from town clerk Sue Clements on 01473 625179.

CHARITY LUNCH IS SET TO BE A BESTSELLER Best-selling author Peter James is set to thrill the audience at a fundraising lunch in aid of children’s charity Action Medical Research. The author of the Roy Grace murder mystery novels will host an exciting event organised by the Ipswich Group for Action Medical Research at Kesgrave Hall on Friday, June 17.

Guests will enjoy a two-course meal followed by a talk by Peter on the world of crime writing and tickets are already selling fast.

“We’re so thrilled that Peter will be hosting this lunch for crime fiction fans in Ipswich for the first time and we can’t wait to hear about what inspires him,” says Lucy Hynes, Action Medical Research’s Community Fundraising Manager for the region.

Tickets are £38.50 and are available from: www.action.org.uk/dine-crime-writer-peter-james

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SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL’S CONNECTING COMMUNITIES EVENT Revised rural transport tenders affecting several areas of Suffolk will be implemented on June 13. In order to explain the changes, there will be a public meeting at all district councils. In order to participate, SCC has asked interested people to contact them on the Suffolk On Board website so that they are aware of numbers: www.suffolkonboard.com The meeting for Suffolk Coastal DC is on Monday, June 6 at 10.30am at SCDC Council Chamber, Melton Hill, Woodbridge.

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NEWS KESGRAVE TOWN COUNCIL Community Summer Event combining The Queen’s 90 Birthday Celebrations, Saturday & Sunday, June 11 & 12 th

District Councillor Sue Mower spoke with BBC Radio Suffolk recently about the bunting being assembled by a small group of people who are offering to make it to order for a donation towards the cost of materials. If you would like to order or join in with this project please contact Sue (01473 636098) or Grace (01473 636760).

We would like to encourage the residents of Kesgrave to celebrate this occasion by displaying bunting on or around their property, community building, shop or business. The red, white and blue bunting which has already been made looks amazing. Well done to Sue, Grace and their small team.

On a more practical note, we really hope that many of you will walk or cycle to the exciting and Fun Community Day on Saturday, June 11 at the Millennium Jubilee Hall and Field from 11am-3pm. If you really do need to drive, then please try and car share with your family, friends and neighbours as parking at the Millennium Jubilee Hall and Field is really limited. We would like to thank local residents in advance for their considerate parking and for thinking about the people who live near to this area. We don’t want to cause any inconvenience, upset or disruption to anybody living at or near to Millennium Way. Most Active County Town & Village Competition 2015 Kesgrave was a runner-up in Suffolk County Council’s Most Active County Town and Village Competition for 2015. Well done to you all! The celebratory awards event took place on March 15, following the application for this award by the town council. Town Councillor Ogden attended the event on behalf of the town council with Joe Hunt from Kesgrave Park Run. Play Equipment in Kesgrave and Working Party Group This working group has just been set up. At the moment the group comprises of town and district councillors only. We would like local residents to join us. This is your town and we need to know what you would like in terms of play equipment around the town. This relates to play equipment and land not owned just by the town council but by the district council too. For more information please contact town councillor Jonathan Ogden: 01473 635138 Susan Clements, town clerk

SOMERSHAM SUPPORT GROUP COFFEE MORNING

Coffee morning and sale on behalf of patients in Ipswich Hospital Saturday, June 25, 10am-noon, at Rushmere Church hall All welcome

VOLUNTEER NEEDED AT MARTLESHAM PAVILION Martlesham Pavilion is a busy and valuable asset for Martlesham which is managed by a management committee. We currently have a vacancy for a new member of the committee who is willing to take over responsibility for finance. This role used to be very hands-on, but we are in the process of appointing a bookkeeper to handle day-to-day transactions, so it needs someone willing to spend a few hours per month to maintain an overview of the finances and a few other tasks such as paying our employee once a month by bank transfer. Use of a computer will be needed to fulfil the role.

If you are interested please contact Aldwyn Jones for more information: chairmhpc@gmail.com

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MESSAGE FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLORS: MAY 2016 Suffolk continues upward trend towards national education excellence Continuing to improve Suffolk’s schools and ensuring excellence in their leadership and governance are two key parts of the Raising the Bar programme to ensure every child in Suffolk can reach their full potential. The increasing number of teaching schools and highly qualified school leaders demonstrates the action being taken by this administration to back this up.

We promised to tackle educational attainment in our manifesto and the upward trend continues; improvements in the quality of education in Suffolk have been reinforced by a further four schools achieving teaching school status. This means that more than 260 school staff across the county are currently undertaking national qualifications in leadership.

More Suffolk schools than ever now rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted Testament to this administration’s commitment to delivering real improvement in education standards, 80% of Suffolk’s schools have now been rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted in April 2016, an improvement of 6% compared to just 10 months ago when 74% of schools were rated Good or Outstanding.

This represents really significant progress towards the county council’s ambitious objective that all children in Suffolk can attend a Good or Outstanding school. Ensuring that every child can achieve their full potential is a key element of the Raising the Bar programme.

Schools in Suffolk are also improving twice as fast as those across the country as a whole. Over the same 10 months, the percentage of Good or Outstanding schools nationally has only risen 3%, compared to Suffolk’s 6%.

The 80% of schools figure related to all publicly funded schools in Suffolk with a current Ofsted judgement; as inspections are carried out on a continual basis, the number and percentage is therefore subject to constant change.

Suffolk’s young people star in new film about positive mental health The Mental Health Foundation estimates that one in 10 children and young people are affected by mental health problems. More children and young people are experiencing problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago and protecting the most vulnerable is at the very heart of everything we do here in Suffolk.

A new film highlighting the experiences of young people dealing with emotional wellbeing and mental health has been produced by young people in Suffolk. Finding the language to express how they are feeling, while overcoming any perceived stigma around mental health are just two of the many challenges facing our young people today. The film has been designed to prompt discussion on the often taboo subject of mental health in the classroom and empowers young people to identify what support is available to them and to feel confident in this support should they need it.

Mind. Your Language has been scripted and developed by aspiring filmmakers from Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill, alongside representatives from Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (NSFT) Youth Council.

Presented almost exclusively by young people and illustrated by personal stories, the film invites young people, teachers and parents to take up the subject and make simple pledges to tackle the stigma around mental health.

The first public screening took place at Haverhill Arts Centre on April 19 and the film will be shared widely throughout schools in Suffolk. It can be viewed at: www.healthysuffolk.org.uk To make a pledge to support others, or to encourage discussion around the issues highlighted in the film, please take the time to visit: www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/projects/mind-your-language Regards and best wishes, County Councillors Christopher Hudson and Robert Whiting

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT BUS NOTES FOR JUNE

KESGRAVE SOCIAL CLUB

The saga of the 10.42 bus via Bell Lane and Cambridge Road on Saturdays continues. This has been an incredible bungle, of which First Buses must take the prize. Three versions of the timetable were published: First’s online version, First’s booklet for the 63-65 group, and Suffolk CC’s booklet.

Suffolk have to rely on what First inform them, so no fault lies with them.

First have assured Sue, our esteemed transport liaison officer, that the 10.42 does run on Saturdays, and that new booklets will be produced: none had appeared by May 6, which had given them a whole week to get them into passengers’ hands.

WHAT’S ON IN JUNE

I have to add that First’s online version of their own timetable is the worst imaginable, with timing columns split over two pages. Hopefully, SCC can shortly post corrected departures in the Edmonton Road area, with the 10.42 on Saturdays shown in its place. Thanks are due to Sue for her painstaking efforts to sort out the mess.

We have a quiz night on Wednesday 8; all welcome, bring a team and take on the resident high flyers.

I’m glad to say that the retiming of the 64-65 group has been successful, with buses arriving in Kesgrave closely to time. Some years ago I checked the times on a bus from Aldeburgh, and it was clear that with all the villages served on the way, it was not possible for the bus to keep to time. As Kesgrave is near the end of the route, our buses into Ipswich were always late.

We have a Jitterbug Night celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday on Sunday 12. See page 9.

Happy Wanderer

On Saturday 18 we have Durango, a welcome return to this fabulous artist.

Our first event of the month is a race night on Friday 3; all bets 50p or buy a horse and win a prize.

On Saturday 4 we are hosting the County Darts Presentation Night. The two others bars are available to members.

Tuesday 7 is the Heartbeat meeting. Come along if you have question or concerns with regard to heart surgery or problems.

On Saturday 11 we have the fantastic country and western artist Bonnie Diamond. It’s sure to be packed out so you know the drill – come early for the best tables!

On Friday 17 we have a craft fair from 6-9pm. If you want to book a table get in touch.

On Saturday 25 we have the ever popular House Shaker.

YOUR LOCAL COUNTRY MARKET No added ingredients when you buy from the Country Market Do you read the ingredients on the food you buy? Preservatives are used by food manufacturers to prolong shelf-life, enhance colour and flavour and to maintain the consistency and texture of their products. Mmm, butylated hydroxyanisole, yummy! Dyes, sweeteners, thickeners, flavour improvers and fat substitutes are all stuffed into innocent-looking packaged pies, cakes, bread and prepared meals with apparent gay abandon. Don’t worry, these added ingredients, many of which are transported from the other side of the world, are all tested on rats, and they have to be ingested in large quantities by humans to have serious ill-effects!

Or you can buy delicious locally baked cakes and savouries made by the Country Market’s clever cooks. The short list of ingredients for Margaret Gayfer’s irresistible quiche reads something like: flour, eggs, butter, milk, blue cheese and broccoli. Wan Sung’s fire-lighting hot chilli jam contains peppers, Scotch bonnet chillies, sugar, root ginger, tomatoes and red wine vinegar. Our great gardeners don’t use pesticides; their locally grown vegetables and plants are produced in accordance with the Country Market’s strict guidelines. Local chickens lay our eggs and local bees make our honey. Eating local honey is believed by many people to help them avoid allergies from pollen in the same area: true or not, our honey is pure and delicious.

If you go to the Suffolk Show, look our for the Country Market stand with all those mouth-watering baked treats, as well as lovely crafts, bags, knitwear and charming jewellery. Otherwise you can find us at Martlesham Heath Pavilion every Tuesday morning from 9.15-11.15am and at the community market at Kesgrave Scout Hut on the third Saturday of each month from 9-11.30am.

SPRINGFIELD FOLLIES EUROVISION VARIETY SHOW 2016 Springfield Follies presents a fun filled show of singing, dancing and fun for all the family on Saturday, June 11 at 7.30pm and Saturday, June 18 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. Tickets, which include a drink and Eurovision cake, are £8 for adults, £5 for children and £24 for a family (two adults and two children) and are available on 01473 719089 and at The Second Stop Charity Shop, Unit 5, Ropes Drive, Kesgrave.

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The month ends with Foxy Rock dancing on Sunday 26 from 7.30pm. Have a lesson then dance the night away to practise your new moves.

KESGRAVE TO HOST THE SUFFOLK 100 Kesgrave Community and Conference Centre are very pleased to be hosting The Suffolk 100 Sportive Event again this year. This annual event will take place on Sunday, June 19 and cyclists will start and finish their selected route at the centre.

Three wonderful routes take in a variety of Suffolk’s best scenery, from forest and coast to quiet countryside lanes. Whether you’re a seasoned spinner, or just enjoy cycling on a weekly basis there’s a suitable route for everyone.

Online pre-entry is advised as this allows you to get the event in your diary and is the easiest way to secure your place. Numbers are limited and you will be saving yourself an admin fee if you enter online rather than paying on the day.

For more information please visit: www.sportiveuk.co.uk/suffolk-100-sportive-bike-event Adult’s light exercise sessions The popular Active Adults sessions will be continuing throughout the year so if you are looking for some light exercise in a friendly, fun filled environment then this could be the perfect activity for you. The sessions run every Monday and Friday morning from 9.30 to 11.30am, just £3 per session which includes a cuppa and a chat.

Important Information for visitors to the centre Please be cautious when using the Mead Drive car park entrance at the centre as a new barrier has recently been fitted which has a height restriction of 6ft (1.9 Metres).

For all enquiries or to arrange a viewing or book a function room at the centre, please call 01473 612648 or visit: www.kwmcc.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT QUEENS 90th CELEBRATION JITTERBUG BALL Glen Miller and other 1940s favourites Don’t forget to book your spot for a night of 1940s music (courtesy of Texas Tom Disco). You don’t have to get up and dance, just sit back and enjoy a trip down memory lane. No doubt there will be dancers who can jitterbug or jive and it is highly likely that some will be in 1940s outfits or wartime uniforms. Just £3 will buy you a ticket which are avaiable from Kesgrave Social Club and the Second Stop Shop near Tesco. The very reasonably priced club bar will be available, but please feel free to bring your own food rations for the evening.

The date is Sunday, June 12 at Kesgrave Social Club, starting at 7.30pm.

KESGRAVE LIBRARY NEWS Sunday Crafts (10am-noon) Sunday, June 5: Create a 3D octopus Sunday, June 12: Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19. Why not pop along and make a ‘Number 1 Dad’ badge?

Sunday, June 19: June 21 is International Surf Day. Design a surf board to celebrate.

Sunday, June 26: June 20-26 is National Insect Week. Make a colourful 3D caterpillar.

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) 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 Why not pop along to see Emma and join in with the stories, songs, rhymes and activities? This session is funded by the library’s community group.

Volunteers needed for the Summer Reading Challenge Are you interested in volunteering to help the staff at Kesgrave Library run this year’s Summer Reading Challenge? This year’s there is The Big Friendly Read and celebrates Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday. The challenge runs all through the summer holidays for primary school aged children.

If you are interested, please speak to a member of staff who will explain what the reading challenge entails and the process involved to become a volunteer.

IPSWICH HOSPITAL BAND 40th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Saturday, July 9 at 7pm at St Peter’s by the Waterfront If you, or someone you know who was a past member, would like you to join us at this celebration tickets are £8 and available from: 40@ipswichhospitalband.org / 01473 225269 We look forward to hearing from you.

IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO FIND AT IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET? We are a cooperative market that sells genuinely home produced foods, plants and crafts.

Our gardeners have fresh seasonal fruit, vegetables, plants and cut flowers.

Country markets are famous for their homemade preserves, traditionally made with real fruit. You will also find local honey from local bees.

Our cooks produce real cooking without preservatives: quiche, sausage rolls, meat pies and other individual meals. They bake genuinely homemade cookies, scones, flapjacks, bread, fruit pies, cakes and more, including a selection of gluten free items. You can place orders in advance too for collection as you require.

Our local crafters are very skilled and have a wide range of items on offer including imaginative beadwork, beautiful bags, practical sewn items, cross stitch greeting cards, sun hats in all sizes and every kind of knitwear and are happy to make items to your individual requirements.

This month we will be coming together with other markets in East Suffolk for the Suffolk Show, so there won’t be a market on Thursday, June 2 (or at all during that week). Do come and say hello if you are at the Suffolk Show.

We will be opposite the WI tent. Come early for savoury bakes as they always sell fast!

And there isn’t a market on June 23 due to national voting so the market will be on Friday 24 instead.

We will also once again be at St Peters Church on Ipswich waterfront on Saturday, June 4 for the second of their monthly craft and gift fairs where we will showcase a mixed selection of what our market has to offer, with crafts, baking, preserves and pickles. So if you can’t make our normal Thursday market you can come and see us there.

Kesgrave Family Fun Weekend: Saturday, June 11, 11am-3pm Kesgrave Library is taking part in the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.

Why not pop along to the Millennium Sports Ground and visit us?

In conjunction with SPARKS, we have crowns and birthday balloons to design and make. We are also running a competition for the best designed crowns with fantastic prizes for the winners. We will also have information about how to join the library and all the services we now offer.

You can find more information about the market on our Facebook page and at: www.ipswichcountrymarket.co.uk

Maggie Lusher, Kesgrave Library Manager, Kinsey House, Kays Close, Kesgrave

MARTLESHAM BRASS

Tel: 01473 626103 www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Making music fun in East Anglia Hopefully the sun will be shining in June as Martlesham Brass are busy playing at school fetes and sports days!

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

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We, are open on Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.30am at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane. Free parking, a warm welcome, and home baked refreshments await you with a free tea or coffee on your first visit. Do come and see us soon!

We would love to hear from new players, young and old, with or without experience. Our aim is to encourage anyone who feels they would like to play in a brass band to come and have a go! If you would like to join us, or if you already play or have previously played a brass instrument and feel that you would like to come along and meet us, please contact us via the website or using the contact details below.

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

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OUT & ABOUT SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY MALE VOICE CHOIR

GIPPESWYK SINGERS’ SUMMER CONCERT

Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir (SCMVC) is opening a new chapter in its 48-year history in the appointment of Steven Blomfield as their new musical director. In a sequence of events which chairman Dougie Paine said “could not have been scripted”, Steven has taken over from Colin Edgar BEM who was the choir’s musical director for 46 years.

When Colin, a former teacher at Kesgrave High School, retired the choir began their search for a new musical director. Many years earlier Colin had inspired a love of music in one of his pupils, a young Steven Blomfield. Steven went on to study music theatre at Mountview Academy and music at Colchester Institute, returning to Suffolk to take up his own career as a music teacher.

Steven had always felt a great debt of gratitude to Colin and he decided to seek him out just to say thank you. He remembered Colin often talking about his involvement with a male voice choir. Through the SCMVC website he tracked Colin down. It was then he learnt the choir were seeking a new MD. He needed little persuading to accept the role. He has said: “I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to take over from Colin and carry on the proud traditions of the Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir.”

Gippeswyk Singers will perform a lovely programme of English choral music ranging from 16th century madrigals to the present day, including a popular music hall medley, at the Salvation Army Citadel in Felixstowe at 7.30pm on Saturday, July 2. The accompanist will be Jane Van Tilborg.

Tickets are £10 with profits going to support local charities Got to Read and Home-Start. Tickets will be available at the door or in advance from Phil Speirs, 2 Treetops, Felixstowe IP11 9ER (please send a SAE with a cheque payable to ‘Gippeswyk Singers’).

Come along and enjoy a delightful summer evening of beautiful music. www.gippeswyksingers.co.uk

Under Steven’s leadership the choir is once again buzzing and looking for new members. Members of the choir are drawn from male serving or retired police officers, serving or retired support staff or people who are just happy to be a friend of the Suffolk Constabulary and support the choir. No previous experience of singing or music is required, and no one is auditioned. Everyone can sing and it’s never too late to learn.

If you think you would enjoy singing and would like to try, we are holding a Come Sing with Us afternoon on Saturday, June 4, starting at 2pm at High Hall, Kesgrave Scout Hall, Twelve Acre Approach IP5 1JF. New comers will be given the opportunity to listen to the choir practising and to join in themselves.

If you are interested in joining but can’t make it on June 4 please contact our secretary, Stephen Wade, for more information: 01449 672600 / scmvc@scwade.eclipse.co.uk

THE ORWELL SINGERS SUMMER CONCERT Saturday, June 4 at 7.30pm at St Michael and All Angel’s Church, Martlesham Heath with guest performer Mary Armitage on saxophone, accompanied on the piano by her father, Jonathan.

The theme for this year’s concert is a musical pot-pourri. There will be a salute to the Queen’s 90th year with Edward German’s Long Live Elizabeth, followed by music from the four regions of the British Isles. The first half will finish with some lively pieces from Vivaldi’s Gloria. The second half will feature songs by the Beatles and some of the choir’s favourite pieces.

Entry at the door will be £8 for adults and 50p for accompanied children and will include light refreshments. For more information please contact: 01473 635955 / d.sharman@btinternet.com

IPSWICH GERANIUM SHOW Saturday, June 4 Rushmere Church Hall, 1-4pm

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POP CHORUS FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE Contemporary local choir Pop Chorus are delighted to announce that they have become community partners with St Elizabeth Hospice.

Over the coming months and years, the choir hopes to raise lots of money towards this very valuable service, starting on Sunday, July 10 at 7.30pm with a fundraising concert at the Seckford Theatre in Woodbridge. More than 100 singers will be taking to the stage to perform songs from The Beatles to Beyoncé, arranged in glorious harmony by their director, Yula Andrews.

The Suffolk-based feel-good singing groups are for adults of all abilities, unashamedly singing great pop songs in harmony to backing tracks.

There’s no audition and members don’t need to read music or have any experience. With evening groups in Framlingham and Ipswich and a daytime choir in Kesgrave, members come from all walks of life and are a very friendly and warm bunch of people!

For concert tickets and more information about Pop Chorus contact sing@popchorus.org / 07788 585441 or visit: www.popchorus.org For more information about St Elizabeth Hospice visit: stelizabethhospice.org.uk

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OUT & ABOUT CITY & GUILDS STITCHED TEXTILES GRADUATE SHOW 2016 Saturday, June 25 & Sunday 26, 10am-5pm

KESGRAVE CO-OPERATIVE WOMEN’S GUILD

Wickham Market Village Hall (IP13 0HE) hosts this annual exhibition to celebrate the achievements of the latest City & Guilds students. The work on show represents the culmination of two years of study in patchwork, quilting and machine embroidery.

We have had a very interesting and amusing time over the last couple of months with talks such as Overland to India on a Scooter, Mark Murphy from BBC Radio Suffolk on how he became a radio presenter, and Behind the Scenes at the New Wolsey Theatre, where we hope to visit in the near future.

There will be an exhibition by Out of the Fold and traders include Art Van Go, Eye Fabric Shop and Creative Stitch Suffolk.

We have a very busy programme for June, starting on Tuesday 7 with a quiz on the Royal Family and a traditional tea party, Tuesday 21 will be our AGM followed by a speaker on Trading Standards, on Tuesday 14 we have an outing to Henstead Exotic Gardens and on Tuesday 28 a trip to the Hut at Felixstowe for fish and chips.

Sales table, tombola, raffle and refreshments, entrance £2.

KESGRAVE WI Our May meeting in Cambridge Road Baptist Church was very well attended. Wendy Jary, our WI advisor, and Jo Thompson from Ipswich Afternoon WI joined us for the evening to take part in discussing the resolutions that will be voted on at the WI National AGM in Brighton early in June.

Our monthly competition was a flower arrangement in an egg cup.

It’s amazing what you can do with such a small vase! In first place was Sandra Pell, second Lyn Parker and third Angela Watson.

After coffee we enjoyed a new experience. Amateur auctioneer Alan Porter joined us and invited us to bid for a variety of small unwanted items donated by members. His lively sense of humour and additional comments about some of the items on offer caused a lot of amusement!

Saturday, June 11 will see the ladies of Kesgrave WI keeping up our tradition, supporting Kesgrave Town Council’s Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations by running the refreshment and cake stall at the Millennium Hall. We look forward to seeing and serving you with our homemade cakes. Delcie Corbett, one of our members and well known in local flower clubs, will be holding two flower arranging demonstrations on that day as part of the celebrations.

Our next meeting is at 7.15pm on Thursday, June 2 at Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach. Visitors are very welcome to join us. If you need further information please contact our secretary, Di Chilver: 01473 611415

KESGRAVE FRIENDSHIP CLUB We have had some enjoyable meetings this year. Peter King provided musical entertainment in March and in April Charlie Haylock present a humorous talk entitled An Eccentric Look at Suffolk. Charlie is a well-known local author who presents a programme on BBC Radio Suffolk and creates a weekly cartoon for the EADT.

New members are always welcome and can attend two meetings before making a decision to join. We meet every other Tuesday at 7.30pm. The membership fee is £15 and we charge £2.50 for each meeting to include refreshments and raffle tickets.

Gloria Everett

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY The society has its final meeting of the season on Wednesday, June 1. The society AGM will start at 1.45pm, preceeding a talk by Oliver Everett entitled George IV – the Greatest Royal Collector of Art. Oliver is Emeritus Librarian at the Royal Library in Windsor Castle.

On a warm May afternoon the meeting heard from Tobias Capwell, Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection. With many beautiful illustrations Tobias showed how the great Italian Renaissance artists like Donatello portrayed knights like St George in a style resembling Roman and Classical heroes. Tobias is an expert on medieval armour and he illustrated the many details of this ‘heroic-style armour’ seen clearly on many medieval tapestries, paintings and sculptures. A very interesting and informative lecture.

Why not come along and enjoy some good company and an interesting talk? We 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 are presented by national and international lecturers and start at 2.15pm. A 2pm arrival is advised.

Guests and non-members are welcome, provided we have available space.

A £5 donation is asked.

For more information contact Jean Bradberry: 01473 710921 / odfasmemsec@btinternet.com www.orwelldfas.org.uk

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED

We are a friendly and welcoming club that meets on the first and third Tuesday afternoons each month at KWMCC to enjoy a varied programme. If you would like more information or are interested in joining please contact Sue Theobald on 01473 620709. We welcome members from Kesgrave and the surrounding area.

A craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall, 7.30-10pm. Our next meeting is:

We are still urgently seeking a secretary to help us organise our programme.

If you are interested in this position please contact Sue.

There is no meeting June because the hall is needed for EURO voting.

We should like to take this opportunity to express our grateful thanks to SPARK for their support and financial contribution which assists us greatly.

Dee Knights, treasurer

LEARN TO DANCE Wednesday dance classes continue to waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep around the dance floor at Sidegate Lane Community Centre. Cha-cha, rhumba and samba dancers can be seen too. Refreshers class 7-8pm, improvers 8-10pm.

Park easily and come inside for a warm and friendly welcome. £3 per person.

For more information visit: www.sidegatelanecommunitycentre.org.uk/ballroomdance

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

Thursday, May 26: AGM plus magic pull card New members always welcome. For more details contact Jill (01473 713534) or Emma (01787 373850).

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY On Monday, June 13, Mark Mower will present a talk entitled Zeppelins over Suffolk.

Did you know that a Zeppelin bombed Martlesham in 1917? If not then come along and find out more about the remarkable story of the destruction of a German airship over East Anglia in 1917.

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

Kim Quinton

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OUT & ABOUT MARTLESHAM HEATH AVIATION SOCIETY

MARTLESHAM WI

We held our AGM on Friday, May 5. Our chairman, Martyn Cook, delivered another upbeat report to a good attendance of members. He thanked all those who contribute their time and efforts to ensure a successful society and all the members. Unfortunately membership has fallen to 250 from a previous high of 300, but judging from the attendances at our monthly meetings enthusiasm remains high.

Our next meeting is on Friday, June 3 and features an illustrated talk by Mr Peter Roe, who will be flying over from Canada. Peter is the author of the book series Pigs Might Fly. His talk will be about the lives and achievements of the earliest aviation pioneers in the period up to the Great War. For more information visit: www.mhas.org.uk Meetings start at 7.30pm with a tea/coffee break. Non-members are welcome for a payment of just £4 at the door.

The Control Tower museum is now open every Sunday from 2-5pm. There is much to see and our volunteers are on hand to talk to visitors. The museum is situated at the rear of Parkers Place (off Eagle Way), Martlesham Heath IP5 3UX. Admission is free.

If you are looking for a WI that meets in the afternoon or if you are looking for a smaller group where it’s easy to get to know one another and make friends, then Martlesham WI could well be the one for you.

We meet usually on the third Friday of the month for a convivial get together, with competitions, a second-hand book table and interesting and amusing speakers, followed by refreshments. Outside of this, we have a monthly lunch club where we try out various local hostelries and have several outings planned for this year, although we’d love more suggestions. Plus, its our 70th birthday in August so our party planner hats are very much on!

On Friday, June 17, 2.15-4.15pm, our speaker will be Professor Midwinter with an illustrated talk entitled How the Wolf became Man’s Best Friend.

We meet at Martlesham Heath Pavilion next to St Michael’s Church.

If you would like to try us out you would be made very welcome. Please either just turn up on the day or give us a call for further details.

June Parkin, 01473 625382 / Susan Cunliffe, 01394 382199

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

Image by Ian Pope Group

SUFFOLK AVIATION HERITAGE MUSEUM

The administrating charity of Suffolk Aviation Heritage Museum on Foxhall Road has received an offer from site owners Grainger Plc to purchase a 125 year leasehold on the former RAF/USAF communications base.

Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group is currently nearing the end of a year long feasibility study into a scheme that could potentially see all extant buildings on the site utilised within an expanded museum project, including an aviation related education centre in the current museum building and an exhibition and public hire venue.

The site itself includes an extremely rare pre-war RAF Wireless Telegraphy building, only discovered when the charity took up residence in 2005. This was the hub of a series of buildings erected on the site up to the late 1980s which, collectively, represent a unique surviving aspect of Cold War history.

The site project would also provide floor space to enable the museum to collect and display a limited number of aircraft. Currently, under the museum’s own strict collecting policy, aircraft can only be collected if facility exists to display them indoors.

The project study, which has included exploratory discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund, is currently awaiting pre-planning advice from Suffolk Coastal District Council and, subject to outcome, it is hoped that a dedicated major fundraising campaign will be launched in the summer.

TRADITIONAL CAR BOOT SALES PROVING POPULAR The next traditional car boot sale is on Sunday, June 26 and, as always, is open to genuine car booters and fundraising groups. The sale opens to sellers from 8.30am and to buyers from 9.30am. For further details visit: www.suffolkaviationheritage.org.uk Andy Taylor

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U3A WELCOMES THE SUMMER SUN U3A talks will be missed by members and visitors alike for the next few months, apart from Woodbridge on June 6. The campus co-ordinators would like to wish you a happy summer break and look forward to seeing you again when the talks recommence in September.

U3A members are reminded that our Annual General Meeting takes place at 2pm on Monday, June 13 at Kesgrave Community Centre. Please remember to bring your green membership card on the day.

The other date for your diary is our open day on the morning of Friday, September 2, again at Kesgrave Community Centre. We also hope to see many of our newly interested guests and visitors there to learn about some of the great variety of groups and subjects U3A can offer for the coming academic year.

On Monday, June 6 the last talk of the season will take place at Woodbridge Community Hall at 10.30am. Refreshments will be available from 10am.

David Cleveland will be showing a selection of clips from the East Anglian Film Archive featuring life in East Suffolk from the 1930s to the 1960s including farming ways, wartime activities, changing transport, industry and home life.

If you would like more information on The University of the Third Age please visit www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk or telephone the secretary on 03001 233913.

MARTLESHAM LADIES CLUB We have just one more evening meeting planned for this season. On June 9 we will hold our AGM which will be followed by nibbles and possibly one of our infamous quizzes.

On Thursday, June 16 we are meeting for afternoon tea at Arlington’s in Ipswich.

Preparations are well in hand for our charity coffee morning on Saturday, June 26 in aid of Felixstowe Mencap Saturday Drop-in Centre for children and young adults. It will be held at 14 Gayfer Avenue, Kesgrave (off Dobbs Lane) from 10am-noon. Admission is £1 which includes coffee or tea and a cake.

There will be a variety of stalls including a raffle so please come along and support this worthwhile cause. Any donations for stalls will be very welcome.

Our meetings are held on alternate Thursday evenings at 7.30pm in the Richards Room. For further information contact Doreen Boar: 01473 622768

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

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In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT

We meet at Rushmere Golf Club on the second Thursday of each month for lunch followed by a speaker. Our speaker’s subject in June is Motoring for Seniors.

What is Probus?

Probus clubs provide an opportunity for active retired or semi-retired gentlemen to attend regular meetings and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded people with similar interests. Some Probus clubs are for men only, as we are, others are for ladies and some mixed. We have social events, outings, the last being a very interesting visit to Greene King Brewery at Bury St Edmunds, and holidays which, of course, include spouses, partners and friends.

If you think Orwell Probus Club could be for you, please contact our secretary, Graham Balfe, for further details: 01473 729012 / grahambalfe@tiscali.co.uk

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Our next event, a coach excursion to the Great Western Society at Didcot, is on Saturday, July 9, departing from Ipswich Transport Museum at 8am. The total cost is £40 which includes coach travel, entrance to Didcot and a two-course early evening meal. For further details visit: www.idhts.co.uk This excursion is open to non-members but must be booked in advance.

Contact Pat Caddick (01473 402152) or Martyn Hunt (01473 422145).

KESGRAVE ALLOTMENT & LEISURE GARDENERS ASSOCIATION We regularly feature what to sow, plant and protect at our allotment garden site in Playford Lane, but have you wondered about the origin of the allotment?

We know that man changed from hunter to cultivator many thousands of years ago and the Bible describes acts of sowing and parables of stony ground, so tending the land is nothing new. The earliest allocations of land were often acts of charity aimed at alleviating hunger and poverty. The church frequently allotted land for parishioners to cultivate in the middle ages, and this still happens even to this day.

However, these ancient traditions of allowing people to cultivate common land have continually been eroded by the rich and powerful. Landowners from Norman times commenced enclosing ‘their’ lands and effectively dismantled well established local economies and dispossessed a whole rural class of people leading to poverty, starvation and death.

In 1649 a group of hungry victims led by Gerrard Winstanley took control of land in a mass protest, planting beans, parsnips, carrots and wheat, insisting they had a ‘right to dig’. This lead to an uprising with peasants and locals taking control and reworking Common Land. Clearly the governments of the day saw things differently. However, the Digger Movement, aided by powerful moral support, eventually won through after a prolonged period of discontent.

Farsighted landowners realised healthy labourers were loyal and content if they had a source of good food, so they provided plots for cultivation and sometimes even the seed. It took 200 years, but in 1845 the General Enclosure Act was passed making the provision of allotments for the working poor mandatory throughout Britain.

You don’t have to be a peasant to apply for an allotment, you can contact Angela our secretary for that (01473 612283). We are a lovely bunch of people willing to share ideas and help you get started.

Email angsan.brown@yahoo.co.uk or visit: www.kesgrave-allotments.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP April’s conservation group meeting saw the continuation of work on the Tumulus to maintain its status as an English Heritage monument. This included the clearance of brambles, nettles and branches as well as the transfer of this debris in preparation for a dead hedge that will eventually define a new direction of the pathway to avoid eroding the historic burial mound further.

Photo by John Cooper

ORWELL PROBUS CLUB

While undergoing our work in the woods a grey squirrel has been regularly seen in our box designed for tawny owls. Since their introduction from North America in the late 1800s, grey squirrels have displaced the native red squirrel across most of England and Wales, although not Ireland and Scotland.

Our Nature Watch Club met in April to learn about larger mammals such as deer and badgers. We also trapped some smaller mammals; bank voles, wood mice and a common shrew.

For more details of the group’s events or to check for date changes, please email pwcg.martlesham@gmail.com or join our members’ Facebook Group by messaging Duncan Sweeting.

Dates for your diary Volunteer Work Mornings (all welcome, no need to book): Sunday, June 19, 10am-noon. Meet at the education area.

Nature Explorers (11 to 18 year olds): Saturday, July 16, 9-11am. Meet at the education area. Booking essential at: pwcg.martlesham@gmail.com Nature Watch Club (5 to 11 year olds): Sunday, June 26, 9-11am. Meet at the control tower. Booking essential at: pwcg.martlesham@gmail.com Glow Worm Survey and Bat walk: Friday, June 24, 9.15-10.30pm approx. Meet at the Martlesham Heath Control Tower with warm clothes and a torch. Subject to weather.

George Pennick, Nature Explorer

HOW TO SPEAK SO PEOPLE LISTEN Wedding speeches, phone calls, dinner parties, meeting your partner’s parents, advising a new work colleague, taking your pet to the vet, explaining to your new boss, chairing a meeting, launching a product, reading a bedtime story, telling a good joke: these are all situations where speaking with confidence, humour, understanding, authority, sympathy, distinction, sincerity, enthusiasm, clearly and positively gets the right message across.

The best speeches are short and memorable, often using humour to help communicate their key points. TED speeches – those from the world famous Technology, Education, Design conferences – are only 18 minutes long yet they pack in powerful life-changing ideas and inspire people from all backgrounds to challenge themselves, develop their skills and work towards being more satisfied with what they achieve in their lives.

Speak Easy at Martlesham is a friendly supportive group which holds fortnightly meetings where we practise speaking. What do we talk about?

We talk about anything and everything: it’s how we speak, tell, describe, explain, present, persuade that’s important.

If you’re giving speeches all the time come along to Speak Easy and find out what makes a good speech great, how to touch an audience’s heart and practise speaking so people listen.

This month we meet on Thursdays 2, 16 and 30 at the Richards Room, Martlesham Community Centre, near Woodbridge, IP12 4PB. Find us on Facebook and at www.speak-easy.org.uk or call Sonya Burrows for more information: 07968 372563

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SCHOOLS ROUNDABOUT DAY NURSERY

GORSELAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Nursery was inspected by OFSTED in March and graded a secure ‘good’ in all areas, a fantastic achievement by our staff. We would also like thank our parents for their lovely comments and endorsements to the Ofsted Inspector on the day.

Right Royal Sunday Fun Day celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday Sunday, June 12, noon-3pm

This year we introduced Tapestry, an online paperless Learning Journey which enables us to share observations, notes and images with parents or authorised persons as part of the complete story of their child’s life at Roundabout Nursery.

Parents are also able to contribute their own stories of their child’s life outside nursery. This really has been a great success and our parents love it.

We are a family run nursery providing childcare for children from three months to five years. We are able to offer government funded places for children from the term after their third birthday, and two year funding is available should you be eligible. We do have spaces available for the September term.

The nursery is located at the entrance to the Grange Farm development behind All Saints Church Hall. We are open Monday to Friday, 7.45am-6pm.

Parents are welcome to visit at any time. For further information contact us on 01473 333733 or email via our website.

Lavone Smith www.roundaboutnursery.co.uk

BRIGHT STARS All pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies are welcome to come and join us at Bright Stars, along with their parents, grandparents and/or carers. Each of our sessions is full of fun activities, for example singing and Bible stories for children, plus crafts and games.

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 halfhour sessions are free and are followed by refreshments and a chance to chat and play until approximately noon. The remaining session dates for the summer term are June 13 and 27 and July 11.

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

An event for the whole family. Bring along your picnic blankets and chairs and enjoy music, singing, dancing and magic, and a special entertainment area for children. There will be hot and cold food available, and lots of other side stalls too. Please come along and join in the fun!

HEDGEHOG NURSERY This half term we have welcomed new families and have been watching new friendships forming. Thinking about spring and new life, we have focused on the life cycle of a butterfly and a frog. The children enjoyed learning the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar and tasting different fruits from the story.

We visit the school library weekly and listen to a story told to us by the librarian. The children love using the computer to issue books to take home and share with their families. We found some ‘frog facts’ by using non-fiction books which the children know are information books, not stories. The children take part in weekly PE lessons which are great fun. Changing for PE can take as long as the lesson itself! This half term we have focussed on our listening skills and learning new games.

Next half term we look forward to the Foundation Stage Sports Morning where Nursery and Reception classes join together, visitors coming to Nursery, supporting the transition to school and our settling in sessions for new children starting in September.

Mrs J Florey, Nursery Lead Teacher Hedgehog Nursery is open Monday-Friday, 7.30am-6pm, for three- and fouryear-olds. If you would like more information please visit www.gorseland.net or contact the school office on 01473 623790.

MARTLESHAM & KESGRAVE PLAYSCHOOLS Children and parents at our Martlesham setting will soon be travelling by coach to visit Ipswich Museum and Christchurch Park while those at our Kesgrave setting will explore Rendlesham Forest.

It will then be time for our annual funday on Saturday, July 4, 1-4pm. This year it will be held on the Millennium Field, Grange Farm and we will of course be using our Kesgrave setting as a base. We will have the usual bouncy castle, BBQ, craft stalls and children’s pocket money stalls, including a fantastic coconut shy! Please come along and bring your friends and family for a great afternoon supporting a local charity run playschool.

If you wish to find out about either of our settings please contact us on the numbers below and any one of our fantastic staff will be happy to help.

Charotte, play manager

THREE BEARS PLAYGROUP The seaside recently came to Three Bears! We held sand building competitions and explored rock pools. We had donkey rides and jumped in sacks and ran in potato and spoon races. We enjoyed buying ice creams with real money in our shop.

Martlesham Playschool: Gorseland School, Deben Avenue, Martlesham IP5 3QR / 01473 625986 Kesgrave Playschool: Millennium Jubilee Hall, Millennium Way, Kesgrave IP5 2EN / 07746 907060

TOYS ‘N’ NOISE BABY & TODDLER GROUP

We are loving our new garden. We have rolled on the lush grass and set up camping areas. The children have used their new tablet to take wildlife photographs. We have been measuring our growing sunflowers. We even cooked yummy potato bread using produce from the vegetable planter.

Have you noticed that there aren’t that many places to take babies and preschoolers in the afternoon? If you find yourself looking for somewhere to go with a little one on a Thursday afternoon, then why not try Toys ‘N’ Noise?

We welcome everyone.

SUMMER FAIR Please come and join in the fun at our Summer Fair on Saturday, July 9.

Toys ‘N’ Noise meets every Thursday in term-time at Rushmere Village Hall, Humber Doucy Lane. Drop in any time from 1.45 to 3pm. We can use the enclosed garden, so on sunny days there is the opportunity to get outside and play. We have plenty of toys, a craft and a drink and biscuit too.

We are completing our admissions for children starting in September. If you would like a place for your child, please return a completed registration form to the playgroup straight away. Forms can be downloaded from www. threebearsplaygroup.org.uk, requested by emailing threebearsplaygroup@ btconnect.com or collected from the playgroup on Wilkinson Drive. It’s never to early to add your child to our waiting list.

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Please note there will be no group on Thursday, June 2 (half term) or June 23 as the hall is being used as a polling station.

For more information visit: www.rcfchurch.org.uk

In Touch online:

SCHOOLS / SPORT THE SAPLINGS At this time of year we take every opportunity to be outside. The children are still loving the mud kitchen which is developing all the time. We are learning about insects and the different ways they help us. This theme will run through the baby room, and the babies will be involved in sensory play and tasting new foods. The summer theme and all the activities will also run through from pre-school to after-school club, allowing all of the children to get involved.

After the half term we will be starting our Rising 5s for the children who will be leaving us in September. This is a brilliant way to prepare them for the classroom and the exciting adventure ahead.

Following on from our open day on May 21, we welcome parents and children to visit us and meet the staff. We have space in all rooms and always welcome new faces.

The Saplings is open Monday-Friday, 7.30am-6pm, for children aged three months to 11 years, offering term-time and year-round care, with a baby room and pre-school, breakfast club, after-school club and holiday club and a ‘walking bus’ to Birchwood Primary School.

For more information, please contact: 01473 614753 / news@thesaplings.org.uk

HUMPTY DUMPTY PLAYGROUP The children and staff would like to say a big thank you to Ipswich Transport Museum for vistiting with a 1937 fire engine. The children were able to get into the fire engine and try on different fire helmets, ring the bell, explore where all the equipment is stored, and even help to ‘wind up’ the engine.

KESGRAVE KESTRELS FOOTBALL CLUB So we reach the end of another season…

Our Saturday First Team have finished as runners up in SIL Division 4, just behind Woolverstone United. The away defeat to Woolverstone in March proved decisive, but the team has achieved the target of promotion to Division 3. Well done to Richard and the squad on a great season. Our Saturday Reserves were predominantly a new squad this season with a large number moving up from youth football. As a result had a slow start as they settled into youth football, but the squad clicked in the new year and were third in the form table for 2016 finishing mid-table overall, a good sign for the new season.

The Sunday team have struggled this season, finishing with a 3-3 draw against Westbourne Warriors Reserves. The Vets enjoyed a good cup run early in the season, but this led to a backlog of league games and put pressure on the squad toward the end of the season. The adult section had an end of season awards presentation on May 1, our thanks to Debbie at The Bell for hosting. mongst the awards were Simon Beckley golden boot, Danny Robinson golden gloves and Harry Chittock and Paul Breitsprecher as clubmen of the season.

Amongst the youth section the Sunday Under 16s repeated the double of last season’s Under 16s, beating Thetford Town to win the Knockout Cup and beating Abbey Saints in the final league game to also become Division 1 champions in their final season together. The Saturday U17s were a new team this season and after an uncertain start to the season developed well as a team and went to the semi final of the Suffolk FA County Cup. Our other youth teams progressed well. The Saturday U16s and U13s confirming their positions after promotions last season. Our mini soccer teams go up to U10; at this age no results or tables are published and the focus is on player and team development, with our teams showing good progression over the season. The Under 8s finished their first season and the town team managed to go through the season unbeaten.

During June we will be taking part in the Queen’s birthday celebrations on June 11 at the Millennium Jubilee Field and holding our own club tournament event on June 25.

Our runner beans are growing well and the children regularly measure the height of their bean plants and record it in their diaries. We have also been watching our caterpillars grow bigger and bigger, and watched them turn into chrysalises. Now we are anxiously waiting for them to turn into butterflies.

There are lots of exciting activities to look forward to when we come back from half-term, including celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday, and joining in with national den making day.

We are registered to take children aged two to five. Please come in and meet our friendly Early Years team and pick up a registration form. We are situated inside Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach. Contact us on 07837 154081 during term time or manager Sally Cutts on 01473 625998.

DID YOU ATTEND HEATH PRIMARY SCHOOL? DO YOU REMEMBER MR BEVAN? At the end of July, Heath School will be saying farewell to Richard Bevan after 42 years of teaching at the school. He has taught generations of children with dedication and enthusiasm.

We will be creating a farewell book for Richard. If you would like to send him a message to wish him well, we will include this in the book.

Also, if you know anyone who has moved out of the area and would like to send Richard a message, please let them know.

Please send your message to Heath School by hand, by post or by email to: admin@heathkesgrave.suffolk.sch.uk It would be much appreciated if we could receive your message by June 30, marked for the attention of Sue Jarrold. Thank you.

We look forward to hearing from you. We are sure there are lots of happy memories out there!

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

As we look ahead we have a small number of opportunities to join our teams. In particular we are looking to recruit to our U10s, U16s, U17 girls, and the adult squads. Check the website for current squad vacancies and team trials events.

Over the summer we will be holding football day camps for children up to 12, again keep checking the website for dates and booking details.

Thank you to all of the players, sponsors, supporters, coaches and volunteers who have supported all of our teams over this last season. Well done all and enjoy the summer break!

David Hall, secretary, 01473 620562

KESGRAVE BOWLS CLUB Well the season has well and truly started. Unfortunately our open day on April 16 had to be cancelled due to bad weather. We tried again on Saturday 23 and this time the weather was kind to us. We were well supported in our open day drive and the winner of the Bob Adams Trophy was Maurice Page.

We had friendlies against Roundwood, Delta and Marlborough to give us all some practise before the start of the leagues. Our thanks go to them all for making us feel welcome.

We have now started playing in the leagues and we hope they will all go well with some good weather, bowling and hopefully some successes.

Mostly though, we hope that all our members enjoy their games.

Our first open tournament on Saturday, June 11 is for charity and we do still have some blocks available if there is anyone who would like to come along and support the good causes.

If anybody feels they would like to try the game or are already bowlers, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

A huge thanks to SPARK for their financial help towards a new watering system pump for the green at the bowls club. We are hugely grateful.

Joyce, 01473 626075

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SPORT KESGRAVE CRICKET CLUB The 2016 season is now well underway for all three of our senior teams and I am able to provide you with news of each team’s early form.

KESGRAVE & NORTHGATE KARATE NEWS It has been an incredibly busy couple of months for Kesgrave, Northgate and Associated Clubs.

At the EKF Nationals at Ponds Ford in Sheffield on the weekend of April 16/17, Georgie Lawson won gold in individual and open weight making her a six times consecutive English champion! Oscar Hunt won silver in team with Brandon Hodgson and James bronze in 14-15 individual open weight and silver in -70 weight category. Thanks to Chris Stott and Paul Harris for coaching them.

After a false start caused by bad weather, our 1st XI finally began its Two Counties Division 5 campaign with a home match against Eight Ash Green.

Captain Mike Worne (114) and Ben Colver (50) led the way in an impressive score of 246/7 but we were unable to match this effort in the field, losing by three wickets in the final over.

Our first win finally came a week later at home to Great Bromley. The visitors were restricted to 174/7 in their 45 overs, Connor Betts taking 2/40 and Sam Colver conceding a miserly 25 runs from his 10 overs. Despite losing wickets late in the innings, Mike Worne’s 62 helped us to a four wicket win with eight overs to spare.

Their first win earned, a more confident 1st XI travelled to Nacton for their first away game. With four players scoring in the thirties and a strong ‘wag’ from the tail, Kesgrave’s 207/8 was a thorough team effort. Nacton’s innings built momentum after a slow start and at one point they looked on track.

But strong fielding and good bowling – particularly at the ‘death’ – saw them dismissed for 170, Ben Garnham and Andy Thompson each taking three wickets and Connor Betts producing the ‘champagne moment’ with a stunning catch in the deep.

Our new 2nd XI has made an impressive start to life in the Two Counties Division 9. The early stages of their first game at St Margaret’s did not bode well – only Kieran Perez (43) mastering a tricky pitch in Kesgrave’s 115 all out.

But our bowling was a different matter – Mano Mishra led the way with 5/18 as St Margaret’s were skittled for just 79.

Sunday, April 24 saw the team at Tilbury in Essex for the SRK Open Karate Competition. Well done to everyone who fought. Special commendation went to Sienna Lawton who won her first fight, but lost her second to an experienced fighter who went on to win gold. Her reverse punch is excellent and will win her many fights in the future. Matt Standring deserved silver, but went out on hantei to the winner in the first round.

Temuri Turner fought well but came across the European silver medalist in the first round while Tayler Evans came second to the world number seven and landed some fabulous reverse punches on her way to the final.

Callum Evans, Ruby Hunt and Sophia Standring fought well but struggled with either difficult decisions or tough opponents but overall, Northgate held their own. Thanks to Justin Hunt for the report and all his support to the team.

Then the May Bank Holiday weekend saw excitement of a different sort with a large party of club members and their families travelling to Arras, France to train with Roger Menant and his amazing squad at the RC Arras KaratéDo. The group studied three different Japanese katas – Kanku-Dai, Jitté and Unsu – and attempted to apply the bunkai over three training sessions on the Saturday and Sunday. There was also a visit to the caves beneath the town and an aperitif in the town hall afterwards.

It was an amazing experience not only for those who trained but also for all the families and friends who came to support and help make the weekend so enjoyable. The club would like to thank the team who spent time and effort making the trip not just possible but run so smoothly – Bill Williams, Gilliam Wreford, Rik Barnes, Matt Standring and Chris Clow. We would also like to thank our club sponsors who so generously subsidised the trip: I.S Electrical, M+C Diesel Services and Chris Clow.

Meanwhile, back in Weston Super Mare on Sunday, May 1, there was a bronze medal for Oscar Hunt and teammates Brandon Hodgson and Ethan Day in the boys 13-15 year old team category at the WKU Karate Championship.

That is definitely all I can fit in so apologies if your news didn’t make it this time. Check out the new website or the Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest news and class timings.

Kieran’s innings was but a foretaste of what was to come. In the next match at home to Yoxford he scored a stunning 181 not out, carrying his bat through all 45 overs and producing the stand-out innings in Kesgrave’s 324-5, ably supported by fellow-opener Akhil Gogna’s 73. A presumably shell-shocked Yoxford resisted until only a handful of overs remained, finally succumbing for 138 with young Ted Colver taking four wickets. A winning margin of 186 runs!

Our Sunday XI’s start has been a little less successful. Samxundham were held to 121/9 (Sam Colver and Andy Thompson each taking three wickets) and at 85-3 Kesgrave looked well set. But our last seven wickets fell for a miserable 27 runs, resulting in defeat by nine runs. Only young opener Sam Dixey earned batting plaudits with a well-constructed 34.

Meanwhile, our youngsters continue to enjoy their weekly Sunday morning practise sessions. These run each Sunday until July 10, so if you want to get involved but haven’t yet done so, do come along from 9.30am. Just one match result so far – our U-11s lost to a strong Copdock outfit, but showed some encouraging signs in their first outing. At the time of going to print our U-13s and U-15s are about to begin their league matches and so I hope to provide you with news of their early efforts in our next issue.

Knight Watchman

KESGRAVE TENNIS CLUB After a successful 2015, British Tennis is definitely on the up!

We run a full weekly coaching and social tennis programme for all standards of players, starting with children’s Mini Red Indoors (five years plus), through to veteran’s social tennis mornings. Our excellent facilities are next to the library so please come and have a look.

The fantastic value memberships will give you access to all the facilities. As an example, junior membership is just £28 per year, giving you full access to the courts all year round. For more details of club membership visit: www.kesgravetennisclub.org.uk Everyone is welcome to try any session for free, just give me a call and I will point you towards the sessions that suit you best.

FREE TENNIS OPEN DAY

Eleanor Legg

We will be running our free tennis open day on Saturday, July 2. Come and have a hit then enjoy free refreshments from noon-4pm.

www.northgate-karate.co.uk

For further information contact Martin: 07702 559412

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In Touch online:

SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE IPSWICH WANDERERS FC Former Cambridge United full back Shane Wardley has been appointed 1st Team Manager. He replaces Glenn Read who retired at the end of the season. Shane will be busy during the summer assembling his squad for next season. It is expected that most of last season’s players will stay with the club and that Shane will strengthen his team with some pre-season signings. The experienced Wardley has been playing at left back for Wanderers under Glenn Read and, at 36, has now hung his boots up. Shane’s is a popular appointment with the club and its supporters and he will want to build on the achievements of his predecessor.

The Ipswich Wanderers Academy side played its first match against an Ipswich Town School of Excellence side on a Wednesday in May. A crowd of over 100 were in attendance to see the young academy players in action.

Academy director Tom Page was very pleased with the performance and is looking forward to the new academic year as the students settle into their studies and their football.

The Reserve side will also be run by Tom Page next season. The team will be playing in the Essex and Suffolk Border League and will cater for promising members of our Under 18s, senior players and some academy students. They will play at home on Saturdays when the 1st Team are away.

Ipswich Wanderers are looking for a new clubhouse manager. The responsibilities involve looking after the clubhouse and managing the bar for match days, functions and other events. This, like all posts at The Doucy, is a volunteer role but, like all other posts at our club, extremely rewarding. If you are interested please contact me on 07734 321259.

Once again, Ipswich Town will be preparing our main pitch before, and during, the new season. We are very grateful for the excellent playing surface that the ITFC ground staff provided for us last year and we believe that it is the best in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League. Thank you, Ipswich Town.

Keith Lloyd

GIVE VOLLEYBALL A TRY THIS SUMMER Volleyball is loads of fun and a very friendly game. It’s the only high-energy, nocontact mixed team sport you can play indoors and outdoors – whatever your ability. It’s energetic enough to help with your fitness but without placing high demands on your body, and good teamwork is important as well as individual skill. This summer is the perfect time to give volleyball a go and find out why it is one of the top three most-played sports in the world!

The sport is thriving in Suffolk thanks to the support of Volleyball England’s Go-Spike campaign. tthere are clubs in Ipswich and Stowmarket with members of mixed abilities, male and female, and all ages from teenagers to their grandparents. The clubs will all give a warm welcome to prospective new players whether experienced or complete beginners, and you can go along to join a session and play some friendly games at a park near you this summer.

Ipswich Ravens and Ipswich Volleyball Club play in Christchurch Park (near the Westerfield Road entrance) on Saturday afternoons, while Stowmarket VC play on the Recreation Ground on Tuesday and Sunday evenings (all sessions are subject to weather and other fixtures). All sessions are completely free!

The clubs are happy to accommodate people who want to play either competitively or at a more recreational level. All sessions are organised by a qualified coach who also gives playing advice to each individual. So why not go along and take a look? If you like what you see please introduce yourself and you will be very welcome to participate in a session under no obligation.

To find out more, visit: www.suffolkvolleyball.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

QUESTIONS ON CASH With independent financial advisor Nick Plumb

John from Haughley asks: “My wife and I each have a 15-year term life insurance policy with Legal & General each with a sum assured of £200,000.

What would happen to these funds if we both died together and would our children end up paying inheritance tax on the money?”

If you and your wife died together, the policy proceeds would form part of your individual estates. If you died first, the proceeds of your policy would be inherited by your wife. If she died at the same time or a short time later, it would then form part of her estate, along with the proceeds of her own policy. If, when added to the rest of her assets and your joint assets, the total was above £650,000, (the combined total of your two Nil Rate Bands for Inheritance Tax), your children would pay inheritance tax on the excess.

To reduce the effects of the tax, you should write these policies under trust to each other with the children as default beneficiaries. A flexible family trust is ideal as the beneficiaries can be changed by the settlor, (the person who declares the trust) at a later date. This can be useful if you want to add grandchildren to the list of potential beneficiaries later on.

Having the policy in a trust will ensure that the proceeds are paid outside of the policy-holder’s estate. This means that if you died first, while your wife would still receive the money from your policy, when she died the money from her policy would be paid from the trust to your children. As the sum assured would be paid from the trust it would not form part of your wife’s estate, and the money from her policy would therefore not be subject to Inheritance Tax. That would take £200,000 out of her estate and reduce the overall effects of inheritance tax.

If you have other life insurance policies, you might want to check with your financial adviser about putting those in trust too. Although it is easier to write a policy in trust at the time of making the application, most policies can also be written in trust after they have been placed on-risk.

Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services. Post your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email nickplumb@aol.com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301.

Nick’s answers to reader’s questions in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice. Any readers who require advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial consultation to discuss their own position. Plumb Financial Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

VOLUNTEERS MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND Well, the hospice world that is!

Currently St Helena Hospice has approximately 800 volunteers of all ages giving their time to support the hospice in lots of different ways, whether on a regular basis or every so often to help at events for example. All of its volunteers play a vital part in the work that it does, and as its services expand, so does it need its volunteer team to!

Volunteering is a great way to increase confidence and make new friends, learn new skills, gain experience in a work environment and most importantly make a difference. By donating your precious time and valuable skills you could save the hospice money which it can use to support patients and their families and carers.

The hospice recently spoke to Bev Adams one of its volunteers who works on the reception desk at its Inpatient Unit, Myland Hall, about what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering: “Do it. You would get so much satisfaction and you would know you’re helping to support people in your community. Those few hours from your day could make a huge difference to someone else’s” If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer like Bev for St Helena Hospice please contact the volunteer team on 01206 931466 or volunteer@ sthelenahospice.org.uk For all current volunteer and paid roles visit: sthelenahospice.org.uk/vacancies

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CHURCH NEWS

the

ARK church

In our Bible studies on Wednesday nights we are looking at Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and having some serious fun learning what it takes to become a follower of Jesus. As we sit and drink our tea, coffee or hot chocolate the study often takes us off at tangents, but always within the theme of the session. It’s all about being real and honest with God and ourselves. Some people seem to know how to play the ‘Church Game’ in doing all the right things, but for the wrong reason. It should be about the heart and giving our best to God, not our left-overs, learning what your true purpose is.

Want to know more then come along. The study starts at 8pm usually finishing around 9pm.

THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK Most of you will have realised that the football premiership was won this year by Leicester City. To all football pundits this is being heralded as an extraordinary event as they have spent so much less than the top teams around them. I think that the reason for their success is down to teamwork both on and off the pitch. They would not have achieved this without everybody at the club doing their specified jobs to the best of their abilities.

This principle applies across all areas of life. In the Bible we read about how the body has many parts and all these parts are needed for the body to function correctly, both the public ones and the more private ones. At the Boiler House we welcome everybody and accept everyone just as they are because we are all needed for the church to function.

Why not come along and see us any Sunday morning at 10.30am in Heath School, Bell Lane, Kesgrave? We assure you of a friendly welcome.

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

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Declaring God’s Way - Sharing His Love

As I write, the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day. Maybe summer is here at last! All the doors and windows open – lovely!

Here at Rushmere Baptist Church we have been planning to have work done on our buildings as we need more space. Prior to our rebuilding work, which is due to start in August, we will be running a holiday club (Pyramid Rock) from July 25-29. Visit the church website for more details or contact the church office on 01473 721455. In past years our holiday club has been very popular with 100 or so children attending. We pray that this year will be as successful and that it will be good weather for them.

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, 2.30pm on the second Wednesday

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 www.rushmerebaptist.org.uk The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. Perhaps you have memory worries yourself or even a recent diagnosis and want someone to talk to. Maybe you have concerns about a loved one, or need support in your caring role.

Perhaps it’s just information you are after, or a confidential chat with someone. The line can help anyone who is looking for practical support and is able to provide you with local information and get you in touch with organisations that can help.

So call us today, we are here to help.

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

MID-SUFFOLK FENCING

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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

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

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

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

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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

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