In Touch with Manningtree - February 2016

In Touch

™© ™©

with Brantham, Lawford Manningtree & Mistley

Volume 6 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2016

SSC Boats by Jason Powell

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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!

In Touch

with Brantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley

In Touch with Brantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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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 Brantham, Lawford, Manningtree, & Mistley is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with. . . ” series of magazines.

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IN TOUCH WITH . . .

• Hadleigh NEW • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • East Bergholt, Dedham & Flatford • Needham Market, Creeting St Mary & Creeting St Peter • Sproughton & Burstall • Claydon, Barham & Henley • Kesgrave & Rushmere • 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

NEWS BRANTHAM’S LAST GARAGE SALE? This year’s garage sale will be held on Saturday, June 11.

After 12 years of organising Brantham’s very successful annual charity garage sale, Ronnie and Yvonne have decided that it’s time to step down and pass the baton on to a new team.

Over the last 11 years they’ve raised more than £36,000 for charity and it would be a great shame for it to stop. As well as being hugely popular in the village, people come from far and wide to grab a bargain.

So, we’re looking for a couple of local people to step forward and take on the challenge of building on what we’ve started. If you would like to be part of the new team for 2017, please get in touch with Ronnie (01206 395557) or Yvonne (01206 392296).

DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF THE RIVER STOUR Volunteers from The River Stour Trust (Lower River Group) invite you to an open evening at the Assembly Rooms in Dedham on Thursday, February 18.

Come and discover the history of The River Stour. Hear the story of this ancient navigation, its links with the Constable family and its natural history.

Learn about the ethos and principles of the River Stour Trust and how you can become a member and perhaps volunteer to help with their work maintaining the beauty of the waterway and its surrounding countryside, protecting its wildlife and operating its electric boats.

Doors open at 7 for 7.30pm. Entrance free. Refreshments and bar.

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

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

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NEWS SUPPORT THE NEPAL CHILDREN’S TRUST Monday, February 15 at Linderhof, Heath Road, Bradfield CO11 2XD 10am-12.30pm for a coffee morning / 3-5pm for tea and cake

ST HELENA HOSPICE PIER TO PIER 2016 Come together with your friends, family and work colleagues and enjoy the sea air at the St Helena Hospice Pier to Pier 2016 sponsored walk between Clacton and Walton Piers on Sunday, April 17.

This year you can start your walk at 10am from either Clacton or Walton and have a choice to walk seven or 14 miles.

Please call in for coffee/tea, enjoy an old-fashioned bring and buy stall, including some items from Nepal, have a chat with friends and support the Nepal Children’s Trust which is based in Brantham. The trust was founded by a young woman from Nepal, Maya, who was frustrated that money from large charities wasn’t reaching remote Nepalese villages where people are struggling to rebuild their houses and schools following the devastating earthquake in April 2015.

Together we can help this small local charity to make a real difference because every penny will go direct to where it is needed. Please put our fundraising day in your diary. We would love to welcome you.

In return for a great day out, the hospice asks that each registered walker over the age of 16 raises a minimum of £30 sponsorship.

This money will help people it supports in your community who are affected by life-limiting illness.

Paul died from a brain tumor in St Helena Hospice’s Inpatient Unit in September 2011. His daughter Naomi says: “The hospice gave him his dignity back. The first time I had to feed my dad I cried my eyes out and one nurse just sat with me and showed me how to do it, she held my hand. She showed me that it was an act of love. It’s just a place that’s so full of life, it helped dad have a dignified death.”

Grab your walking shoes and register today for free to start fundraising to support people like Naomi and her dad.

Visit www.sthelenahospice.org.uk/piertopier16 or contact the fundraising team on 01206 931468.

MANNINGTREE TOWN COUNCIL The minutes of Manningtree Town Council meetings are available on their website, on the two town noticeboards (one at the Co-op Fiveways store and one beside the library) and at the clerk's office by appointment: 01206 390285 www.manningtreetowncouncil.org.uk

This is how NCT helped Basuki school in October last year: Stage 1: By August we had raised £500 for desks which they desperately needed. The NCT local volunteer visited the school to find out exactly what they wanted.

LAWFORD PARISH COUNCIL You can read the council’s minutes on: • www.essexinfo.net/lawford-parish-council

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Stage 2: Lots of emails went to and fro about costings and transportation.

Stage 3: In October the desks arrived at the school. Job done!

• on the parish council’s noticeboards

That’s how charities should work!

• minutes can be collected from the Parish Office by prior arrangement as the offices are not open to the public

To find out more, call Dagmar on 07891 963005, find NCT on Facebook or visit: www.nepalchildrenstrust.co.uk

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Sales, Lettings and Property Management We always have high demand for quality properties in your area

For an honest and professional valuation call:

01206 589 109 enquiries@ecvh.co.uk

Essex & Suffolk Office, 2 The Lane, Manningtree

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NEWS MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC Mistley Parish Church was the focus for local primary schools in the run up to Christmas as they gave two performances of the Magic of Christmas Music. This 18th annual celebration of carols and Christmas songs attracted two large audiences as the church was transformed with special lighting and talented musicians.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Manningtree Stour Valley and with the musical backing of David Mclachlan on the organ and David Wykes accompanying on the piano the primary schools of Lawford, Highfields and Mistley Norman entertained parents and friends from the community The photo shows the combined choirs of Highfields and Lawford conducted by Susie Hyman who played a large part in training and organising the children.

MISTLEY PARISH COUNCIL Edited extracts from the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, December 21 The full minutes of the meetings are displayed at the noticeboards near to the bus stop at Rigby Avenue and also outside Mistley Post Office in the High Street.

The minutes can also be accessed online at: www.essexinfo.net/mistleypc/parish-council/meetings/ Matters Arising The Community Initiatives Fund had confirmed that it would contribute 50% towards the cost of updating the toilets in the village hall. The parish council had acquired six litter-pickers from Tendring District Council and purchased 200 plastic bags to be distributed to enable individual volunteers to litter pick in their immediate vicinities. Essex Police had confirmed that it was reluctant to commit staff resources to provide the clear-up rate statistics for crime in the locality.

Fallen Memorial Tree The Memorial Tree had blown down in a recent storm, without damage apart from several broken rails of the seating surrounding the tree.

The council agreed to set up a working party consisting of Councillors Anderson, Bell, Birch and Rayner to consider possible options to replace the fallen tree.

Clerk’s Report Problems with three street lights had been dealt with by the contractor.

The clerk provided an update on the tree work at Furze Hill. Officers from Tendring District Council had made an inspection of the parking problem in Harwich Road and will report back in due course.

Meetings Attended The chairman provided a report on the meeting of the Tendring Association of Local Councils.

Planning The council agreed to make no comment to one planning application

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and noted two applications to install a high speed broadband cabinet.

For the two applications: 15/01787/FUL proposed development of a site to the south of Pound Corner, Harwich Road; and 15/01810/OUT proposed development of land north of Stourview Avenue. The council agreed to hold a combined public meeting for both planning applications on Tuesday, January 5 and to defer consideration of two planning applications until January 18.

Finance In addition to the regular finance items, the council agreed unanimously to make Section 137 grants to the following local organisations: £100 to Manningtree & District Frankenberg Partnership Association towards events celebrating the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Partnership Charter in Manningtree and £100 each to the Eden-Rose Coppice Trust and Mistley Rugby Club as a token of appreciation for the voluntary work undertaken.

Correspondence The defective can bank has been removed from Furze Hill – residents may recycle cans and tins in their green box which is collected every other week. Otherwise the closest can bank is located in Manningtree within the Co-op car park.

Date of next meeting: Monday, March 7 at 7.30pm in the village hall

PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE PLANNING APPLICATION IN RESPECT OF MISTLEY PLACE PARK (15/01869/OUT) Monday, January 25 at 7pm in Mistley Village Hall, Shrubland Road Mistley Parish Council invites local residents to give their views concerning the creation of publicly accessed parkland including demolition of existing cafe and two houses, erection of new café/ cultural centre, up to 78 dwellings including retention of one existing dwelling, drainage and other associated infrastructure, including new accesses onto New Road.

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton December into January is normally a fairly peaceful time in parallel to the Christmas celebrations. This year has been similar, but I have learnt over the past 12½ years representing this ward, that no year is ever exactly the same as any before it.

The world and national economic situation coupled with the uncertainty around trade with China and oil prices has made all politicians and many others wary of being too optimistic. My own view is that 2016 will be a difficult year for all residents and we should be battening down the hatches and being prudent and conservative in our decisions.

The council’s budget will be agreed in February. Current discussions are continuing to address the shortfall between what central government gives us, a reducing amount, and what other sources of income are available. Elsewhere in the press, the ‘New Homes Bonus’ has been touted as saviour and nemesis! Which is correct? I think 2016 will tell us. Wiser financial heads than mine warn of a potential housing bubble similar to the 2007/8 crash. We certainly don’t want that, but we also have a demand for more homes. Perhaps we should concentrate on ‘need’ rather than encouraging housing ‘migration’ from other parts of the country! Balancing the two will be difficult as everyone from central government to proposals for the devolution of Suffolk and Norfolk talks

about lottery sized housing numbers. Localism was supposed to put the decision making in ‘local’ hands. Perhaps now, with Neighbourhood Plans nearing completion, is the time for true localism to be embraced?

As a proud nation we have lead the world in many areas. One where I feel we are slipping is balancing the need for infrastructure with housing.

Constable Medical Practice is out of special measures and should be congratulated for achieving such quick results. The number of GP surgeries closing their lists has been in the news recently. Will that be the next problem if the housing to infrastructure ratio is not balanced?

Housing today with services to follow is a recipe for chaos. We need growth, jobs, housing and everything that goes with them and I will be continuing to campaign for a balanced approach that reflects the genuine needs of the ward in line with the pressures on Babergh and Suffolk as a whole. I will not sacrifice Dodnash to save Babergh. We all have a part to play.

Let us hope for a balanced and peaceful 2016.

Councillor John Hinton

FUTURE SECURED THROUGH GENEROUS GRANTS The Manningtree Hub has been providing a range of drop-in services to the local community since 2009. The value of these services to the community and the high regard local councils have for The Hub has now been demonstrated by generous grants from Mistley Maltings Trust, Essex County Council Community Initiatives Fund and Essex County Council Youth Service Capital Pot which, together with gifts from individual members of local churches, have enabled the trustees to secure the future of The Hub by purchasing the premises.

The Hub opened in 2009 to provide a safe and attractive meeting place for local teenagers. This continues to be a popular core activity of The Hub, which is open at the following times: • Wednesday from 3.15-5.15pm for school age teenagers • Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9pm for all teenagers To find out more about youth facilities call Ruth: 07918 050830

Since The Hub was granted permanent planning permission in 2012 the churches have been developing a wider range of services, especially those provided through the increasingly popular all-age drop-in known as Fridays@The Hub which is open from 10am-12.30pm.

The volunteers are a sociable team ready to welcome you and make you feel comfortable whether your visit is simply for a break and a chat or if you wish to find information or to discuss a problem in private with a trained listener. Credit Union facilities are also available between 10am and noon on Fridays.

To find out more about Friday@The Hub call Dagmar: 07981 963005 There will be an opportunity to learn more about The Hub at a special celebration service at St Mary’s Church, Lawford on Wednesday, February 3 when the Bishop of Colchester will be the guest speaker. The service will begin at 7.30pm.

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NEWS BRANTHAM PARISH COUNCIL The next meeting of Brantham Parish Council is on Wednesday, February 3. Come along to find out what your parish council is up to and to raise any questions/concerns.

You can find out more about Brantham Parish Council on the Brantham community website: www.brantham.onesuffolk.net The site includes copies of recent parish council meeting minutes, details of upcoming events and other items of local interest.

You can also follow Brantham Parish Council on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BranthamParishCouncil Parish clerk surgeries Brantham parish clerk holds monthly ‘surgery’ sessions at Bakes and Blossoms café so that parishioners and others can meet her, ask questions, raise concerns or even just have a chat and a cake. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know your parish clerk and chat through all those local issues that have been bothering you.

The parish council meets on the first Wednesday of every month (except The dates of the next parish clerk surgeries, both 10am-noon, are August) in Brantham Village Hall at 7.30pm. The public are welcome to February 10 and March 9. attend.

You can contact the Brantham parish clerk at: 07702 490212 / clerk@branthamparishcouncil.co.uk

CONSTABLE COUNTRY PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG) We were delighted that the practice received a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission following the re-inspection in early November. Staff have worked very hard and it’s a major achievement to go from being in Special Measures to a Good rating. We look forward to helping the practice maintain this improvement.

Thanks to all of you who have been giving feedback to the PPG either on the comment cards available in the waiting rooms or via our email address: constablecountryppg@gmail. com Contact phone numbers for the 12 members of the Patient Participation Group are available on the practice website and in both waiting rooms.

Appointments We have received a lot of positive feedback

about the improvements in the appointments system. However, it can still be difficult to get an appointment with a GP of choice. Some of the GPs are part-time and we know that there are problems with booking follow up appointments.

Don’t forget that you can book an appointment online. If you don’t already have a username and password you can get one from the reception team.

Please be assured that we pass on all the issues raised with us and try to get a solution.

If you have a complaint we would encourage you to put this in writing.

Blood tests We continue to get complaints about delays in appointments for blood tests. This has been caused by the long term sickness of one of the phlebotomists. We know that the alternatives of the Riverside Unit on Landseer Road and/or

Ipswich hospital are difficult to get to without your own transport. The practice has tried to recruit a temporary replacement but so far without success. In the meantime nurses and other healthcare staff have been helping out.

We hope that this situation will be resolved soon.

Magazines We are pleased to announce that there will once again be magazines available in the waiting rooms at Capel and East Bergholt. We also hope that children’s toys will return soon.

If you have any unwanted children’s books in good condition and with wipeable pages you may like to donate them to the practice.

Kathy Pollard, Chair Constable Country Patient Participation Group, 01473 311384 www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk

CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Practice rated as ‘Good’ by Care Quality Commission The practice was inspected by the CQC on November 2. This was a followup to their last inspection on March 10. Six inspectors spent the day at both East Bergholt and Capel St Mary sites. They spoke to patients, staff and members of the new Patient Participation Group (PPG). They also requested evidence that the practice was meeting its contractual and regulatory obligations, including infection control, staff training, prescribing and patient confidentiality.

After the inspection in March, the practice quickly put in place an improvement plan which it agreed with the CQC and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Over the following eight months, all staff have worked exceptionally hard to implement the plan. We have made many internal changes that aren’t immediately evident to patients, such as the way we review and learn from events that happen.

We have also made changes that have had a direct impact on patients, including the formation of our new PPG and a fundamental change to our appointment system. Judging by comments left on the NHS Choices website and comment cards in our waiting areas, the changes we have made have had a very positive impact on the quality of care we provide to patients.

This was recognised by the CQC and we are delighted that they have rated the practice as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Good’ for every area they assessed.

The report is very positive and all issues highlighted in the March 2015 report have been addressed. The CQC were particularly impressed with how we had engaged with our patients to understand how they wanted us to improve the service we offer. This includes the open evening we held in June, which ultimately resulted in the formation of our new PPG,

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and engagement with Healthwatch to survey patients and understand their needs.

Being rated as a ‘Good’ practice is a great achievement which we are all very proud of and we would like to thank all patients who have supported us through the last eight months. The environment in which we operate remains challenging and with increasing pressure on the NHS we cannot be complacent. We intend to continue to work with patients and other organisations to understand how we can deliver high-quality primary care health services as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The full report can be viewed at: www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-557474454 We issued a press release on December 24 which can be viewed at: www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk We also welcome comments on the service we offer including any ideas on how we can improve it further. Feedback can be left via our website or using the Friends and Family Test or PPG comment cards available in the waiting areas.

Training Days A reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on the following dates for staff training: Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, March 10.

On these afternoons the doors will be closed so please ensure any prescriptions are picked up well beforehand. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.

Pete Keeble, practice manager

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OUT & ABOUT ACORN VILLAGE Acorn Village Coffee Shop have created a special Valentine’s Day menu for couples and singles to enjoy on Thursday, February 11 and Friday 12 between 10am and 2pm. Book in advance (01206 394124) or call in and see Christine and her friendly team.

If you are still working on your New Year’s resolution we would love to have some more helpers in the charity shops, either onsite or in Manningtree or Brightlingsea. Whether you would like to do once a week for a morning, a whole day or just be on our emergency cover list, your help ensures we can enhance the lives of adults with learning disabilities. We’ve also been told by our volunteers that as well as helping a local charity it’s a great way to meet a wide variety of people and to make new friends. Call us or drop into one of the shops to meet some of our fabulous volunteers.

CONSTABLE SINGERS Constable Singers had some very good pre-Christmas concerts/events at Flatford, Wivenhoe, Hare and Hounds East Bergholt and at Claydon and Capel.

We meet at East Bergholt Lamb School each Thursday at 7pm (apart from the second Thursday when we are at Holton Village Hall) to sing songs from the musicals and popular music. We welcome new members so come and have a free session. There’s no need to be able to read music and we sing along to CDs or guitar.

For further details contact Yvonne (01206 298428) or Mel (01206 298628).

STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC Beauty of The Bossa Nova with award-winning jazz singer Georgia Mancio

MANIFEST MOVIES

2 Oxford Road, Manningtree, Essex CO11 1BP Films shown on our big screen which fills the stage, high definition and cinema quality sound, comfortable theatre seating. The projectionist is Nigel Lister.

Friday, February 26: Suffragette PG-13 2015 British historical period drama directed by Sarah Gavron and written by Abi Morgan. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw and Meryl Streep.

This stirring story centres on Maud, a working wife and mother whose life is forever changed when she is secretly recruited to join the UK’s growing suffragette movement. Galvanised by the outlaw fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst, Maud becomes an activist for the cause alongside women from all walks of life. When increasingly aggressive police action forces Maud and her dedicated fellow suffragettes underground, they engage in a dangerous game of catand-mouse with the authorities, who are shocked as the women’s civil disobedience escalates and sparks debate across the nation.

Doors open at 7pm and seating will commence from 7.30pm. The movie starts at 7.45pm. Bar available. Entrance is £5 for members.

Non-members will be required to join at a cost of £2 enabling them to attend all films and stage productions at The Manifest Theatre for the whole of 2016 at members prices.

Join us for a thrilling evening of Brazilian jazz with piano, guitar, bass and drums combo at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP on Saturday, February 20 at 7.30pm.

Georgia Mancio has made her name as a jazz vocalist/lyricist and has a wide-ranging repertoire influenced by her Anglo/Italian/ Uruguayan heritage. She is an adventurous artist with originality who delights her audiences. A must for jazz enthusiasts! In 2015 she was nominated in the Jazz Vocalist of the Year category of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and was in the short list alongside the legendary Norma Windstone. BBC Radio 3 have twice broadcast her live concerts. A true artist.

Tickets: 01206 298426 / tickets@svam.org.uk

BRANTHAM BOX OFFICE Presents Film Night Wednesdays at Brantham Village Hall: doors open at 7pm, film starts at 7.30pm, refreshments available.

NO SHOWING IN FEBRUARY DUE TO PANTO Wednesday, March 16: Woman in Gold (12A) Wednesday, April 20: A Royal Night Out (12) Wednesday, May 18: Mr Holmes (PG) Find out more at: Facebook.com/BranthamBoxOffice

BUMPER BOOK SALE At Manningtree Methodist Church, Easter Monday, March 28.

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OUT & ABOUT EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION TABLE TOP SALE

Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School Nearly New Sale Saturday, March 19 1.30-3pm

Capel Community Church Days Road, Capel St Mary

East Bergholt High School Sunday, February 28, 10am-noon

Maternity clothes, baby equipment, clothes (aged 0-11 years), toys, books and games 50p Entrance fee (children free)

Admission: 50p Refreshments and free car park available For sellers: tables in advance £5 / on the day £7.50 Doors open 9am to set up 01206 298122

Do you have any baby/children’s items which you would like to sell?

You choose the price: 70% goes to you, 30% goes to our charity (+ £1 administration fee per seller)

QUIZ NIGHT

For more information or a free sellers pack please contact Lisa (01473 312248) or Jo (01473 730771).

East Bergholt High School Friday, March 11, 7.45pm Teams of up to eight Bar open from 7.15pm Tickets £5 per person including nibbles 01206 298122

OPPORTUNITY TO EXHIBIT AT MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH Manningtree Methodist Church will be holding its 44th annual Easter Art Exhibition from Good Friday through to Easter Monday at the end of March.

Anyone wishing to exhibit or requiring further information should phone either 01206 298635 or 01206 391145.

MANNINGTREE FREEMASONS HAVE GREAT NEWS FOR CHARITIES The New Year has started with Essex Freemasons making many contributions to worthwhile causes including: • £45,000 to the Brain Research Trust to fund further research and to revolutionise the current treatment of Alzheimers disease • £30,000 to assist flood victims so badly hit during the Cumbria floods • £5,000 to the Chelmsford based charity The Country Trust, assisting over 300 deprived children • Finally, and by no means least, our fund to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Freemasonry by giving at least £100,000 to the Essex County Scout Association – more than £40,000 has been donated so far.

Manningtree Freemasons are of course playing their part in these projects and we are sure that our target will be reached if not exceeded.

All these projects are community based and not restricted to charities that only look after Freemasons themselves, a popular but untrue belief among many non-members.

We always welcome the chance to visit other clubs and societies to talk about what we do and who we are. Interested in this or would like to join us? For more information visit www.manningtreefreemasons.co.nr or www.essex-lodges.org or call: 01206 392348

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OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Two well supported events took us to the end of our first half programme on a high. More than 100 entries in the seascape competition would prove a challenge for any judge, but Peter Norris rose to the occasion and pressed gamely on, despite teething troubles with our new projector. A memorable ‘getting to know you’ Christmas social opened with members and guests sharing their own particular photographic interests and backgrounds. Harold Mousley brought along one of his first cameras, the Praktica LTL.

This East German made SLR camera was the prized possession of many photo enthusiasts in the 1970/80s. Rumoured to be made out of metal from old T34 Russian main battle tanks, it was an exceptional tough work tool. People bought it because it was affordable, looked good, felt right and did what it said on the tin. It was a heavy camera with a Zeiss lens capable of delivering enviable sharp images. Photographers owning modern computer driven cameras with massive and often never read instruction manuals, fondly look back to the time when their prized possession was a basic 35mm manual Praktica camera.

A lot of work went into preparing the evening and buffet which we all appreciated. Members made their own entertainment, including a number of impromptu party pieces, culminating in that well known monologue which left ‘Albert’ in the lion’s mouth and the rest of us in stitches.

Future meetings February 1:

Inter-club competition at the Harwich & Dovercourt club

February 11:

Studio workshop evening

February 25:

Results of the studio workshop evening

The workshop evenings give an opportunity for members to help each other with indoor photography, usually with fellow members volunteering as subjects and with other more experienced members and guests available to assist.

New members are welcome to join the society or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Meetings are held at the St John’s Centre, Station Road at 7.30pm.

For more information please contact our secretary: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

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TEA AND SUPPORT IN MISTLEY Tea and Support, the meeting place for those who have been bereaved or left living alone, is held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Church Hall, New Road, Mistley. Meetings are usually from 2-4pm, are free of charge and transport can be arranged. Come along to meet new friends in a safe, friendly environment.

Our next meeting on Wednesday, February 17 will include music provided

by David and June Wendon. It promises to be a fun afternoon. For more details please contact the church office of St Mary’s and St Michael’s Church (01206 392200), Paskell’s of Manningtree (01206 396709) or Joy Baker (01206 391918). Copies of our 2016 programme will be available from the end of January from Paskell’s in Manningtree or from the church.

The community Christmas lunch was a great success with some 70 guests enjoying a traditional home-cooked turkey meal with singing from a local choral group led by Corinna Dolso and finishing with a hearty sing-song of favourite carols.

® Tailoring alterations Bespoke manufacturing Haberdashery supplies Garment repairs Dry-cleaning service Since 1968 Open to the public Mon - Fri 8.30 - 4.15 The Shop Shop Road Little Bromley Manningtree CO11 2PZ Telephone 01206 396167 www.harlequin-uk.com 17

Trusted by local families since 1925

47 St Helens Street Ipswich 01473 257242 283 Norwich Road Ipswich 01473 232837 364 Foxhall Road Ipswich 01473 728445 Century House, Station Road Manningtree 01206 391855

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.

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY U3A

VILLAGE LINK CLUB

Recent meetings On Wednesday, January 13, film and TV actor Bryan Thurlow spoke on Music Hall Memories – a pocket history of music hall featuring songs and monologues. We heard about the artistes, their songs and the many other acts that contributed to the success of British music halls.

Eve Regelous gave a talk entitled It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our December meeting in which she explained what Christmas means to her.

Future meetings On Wednesday, February 10, Brian Barker of E J Barker & Sons will talk on Farming with Wildlife in Mind – a presentation showing how a commercial farm can maximise wildlife diversity. The speaker’s farm won the FWAG Silver Lapwing award in 2009 and P and B Barker were named Countryside Farmer of the Year by Farmers’ Weekly in 2010.

Meeting venue We meet at The Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 and this entitles members to attend the meetings that take place on the second Wednesday of every month, except August and December.

Membership Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment. The emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking, computer studies and gardens, churches and historic buildings visits. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the Third Age Trust and have more than 200 members and 18 groups. For further information please visit www. stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Val Pretty may be contacted.

Remember It’s never too late to learn. Join the 361,477 members in 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB

Recent meetings On Wednesday, January 6, Ian Rose spoke on Kathmandu and the Jungles of Nepal and on Wednesday, January 20, Peter Gant presented a talk entitled The Route of The Stour. Our popular New Year Lunch took place at the Venture Centre on Sunday, January 24 and was enjoyed by members and their guests alike.

Future meetings On February 3 Jessica Lewis will speak on The History of the Cutty Sark and two weeks later on February 17 member Dick Patterson will talk on a most interesting subject, the history of and living in Sierra Leone during its last colonial days.

Meeting venue We meet at the convenient St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB. New members Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and to providing the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month in Manningtree at 10.30am. For further details please contact secretary Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

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Pip Wright will present a talk on Lady Alice de Breyne at our next meeting on Wednesday, February 10.

Future talks will include: NT Coast of East Anglia, Secrets of the Royal Jewels and The Galapagos Islands.

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall at 10am. Following the speaker we have refreshments (when there is time for a chat with other members) and a raffle. New members and visitors are welcome to join us. Funds permitting, we hold a members’ lunch after the August and February meetings.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

JOIN US AND FIND OUT WHY 100s ALREADY HAVE Could you spare some time to help with Rainbows, Brownies or Guides?

Our volunteers give girls, and themselves, the opportunity to build their confidence, raise their aspirations and have fun. They run activities that give the girls the opportunity to realise their potential, learn new skills and make new friends.

There are a lot of ways that you can volunteer with Girlguiding, it’s flexible and can be tailored to fit around your busy lifestyle.

No matter how much or how little time you have, every hour counts.

Rainbows are girls aged five to seven, Brownies are girls aged seven to 10, Guides are girls aged 10 to 14.

If you are interested in volunteering with Girlguiding or if you have a daughter who would like to join, please email our district commissioners on for further help and information: baberghandsamford@gmail.com You may also register your interest online and fill in the details on the Join Us section: www.girlguiding.org.uk

BRANTHAM OVER SIXTIES CLUB If you are free on Tuesday afternoons, why not join Brantham Over Sixties Club? You don’t have to be over 60 to join – over 50s are welcome too.

We have a full and varied programme with interesting speakers and social afternoons with bi-monthly bingo and quizzes. Also plenty of time for tea and a chat.

You can also ‘try us out’ and come as a visitor to see if you like us.

We meet at Brantham Leisure Centre, 2.30-4.30pm, on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays in the month. Here are a few dates for your diary.

February 9: History of our Local Area with Mr Peter Gant February 16: Bingo February 23: Life on the Road with Peter King by Mr Peter Regelous For more details contact our secretary, Mrs Jean Lace: 01206 396242

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OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT ROYAL BRITISH LEGION After a very successful 2015 The Royal British Legion Manningtree & District Branch would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has assisted and joined us during our ceremonial events, community fundraising events and the Poppy Appeal which raised £10,178.03 last year. We would also like to thank Tony Wallace and all his staff at the Crown Hotel for hosting our meetings in the function suite.

Going forward we are looking at six ceremonial events in 2016: VE Day, Battle of Jutland, Battle of the Somme, VJ Day, Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. Dates and timings will be released once confirmed. We will also be holding our annual coffee morning at Foundry Court with a provisional date of Saturday, June 25, and hopefully an event within the community.

Our Poppy Appeal has started for this year and stands at an amazing £11,563.97 as at our December meeting which is already up on last year’s total so thank you all again.

The core of our work is welfare to support our beneficiaries and their families in times of need. We supply that with the money raised from the Poppy Appeal, as well as the camaraderie from ex and current serviceman and women along with our Acts of Remembrance. The branch meets at the Crown Hotel, Manningtree High Street on the second Wednesday of each month and our next meetings are as follows: Wednesdays, February 10, March 9 and April 13. More dates will follow in later editions.

The process to join the Royal British Legion has changed to give you more options. You’ll find information about joining and an application form at www.britishlegion.org.uk and once signed up you can pay your annual subscription either by direct debit (DD) or by Paypal. If you want to sign up via our membership secretary you can either come along to our branch meeting, where you can pay by cash or cheque, or contact our branch membership secretary, Dave Brown, who will guide you in the right direction: 01206 395989 / budgiebrownuk@yahoo.co.uk The annual subscription for the Manningtree branch is £16. We are also looking at youth membership where, with the consent of your parents, we can sign you from the age of 12 to 17. The fee for that is a one off payment of £5. On your 17th birthday you have to step up and pay the adult rate.

You no longer have to have served in HM Forces to become a member of the Royal British Legion, so please come along and support your local branch.

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 nonmembers are welcome, provided we have available space. A £5 donation is asked.

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

Explorer Scouts are young people aged 14-18. Cattawade Unit meets on the second Friday of each month in Cattawade and our meetings on the fourth Friday of each month are usually outdoor activity meetings or weekend events.

We occasionally meet at other times for other activities including county events and some members have taken part in ocean going offshore sailing and others have been to Switzerland, Sweden and, in 2015, to Finland.

The unit is registered through Suffolk Scouts to offer Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at bronze, silver and gold level. Twelve members have achieved DofE gold. Over the last 10 years members have taken part in unit expeditions in Thetford Forest, the Peak District, Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, the Lake District, The New Forest the South Downs and Dartmoor National Parks for their bronze, silver and gold levels of the award.

If you are a holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and would like to help young people achieve theirs, or wish to know more, please contact Roger for an informal chat.

Roger S Dann, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Leader: 01206 395285 / 07778 463172 / catt-explorers@outlook.com

LAWFORD & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The society meets on the third Thursday of each month (except December and January) in Ogilvie Hall, Lawford at 7.30pm.

We are a friendly group of gardeners and nature lovers who enjoy talks on a variety of topics, trips during the summer, two shows a year and an annual quiz and plant sale for fundraising.

If you would like to join us you will be made very welcome. Our annual subscription is only £5 per person, but you will be under no obligation to join if you come along to the first meeting of 2016 on Thursday, February 18. Woottens Plants will be sending a speaker on auriculas.

Liz, 01206 393580

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS APRICOT CENTRE AND TRANSTION STOUR VALLEY Digging and Delving in the Dedham Vale evening workshops for children in partnership with the AONB and local craftspeople have been great fun. The highlight of Foraging with Jess Noy from East Bergholt must have been the ‘Kentucky fried squirrel’ around the campfire on the last evening! This was followed by candle making from local beeswax, Christmas lanterns from local willow, and making new paper from old paper for Christmas cards.

We are about to embark on sewing and stitching sessions with the Cloth Clinic in Dedham, up-cycling an old piece of clothing and then wild weaving and natural dying with Rachel Phillips. The final sessions in March are exploring the stories hidden in the fabric of the buildings and landscape of Flatford for the Walter Scott Young fiction prize.

The community garden at Manningtree Station is still growing food and flowers if you would like to join in.

Local organic vegetable bags are available from Bennison Farm for a weekly cost of £11, incredibly good value. Contact: info@bennision.co.uk Local organic meat is available from David Hampton at Willow Hall Farm Wix. He delivers or you can collect.

Contact: hamptwix@myfwi.co.uk A new weekly forest school is opening in Lawford, with mother and toddler groups every Friday morning from 9am-12.30pm and home education groups every Friday afternoon from 1-3.30pm. The Huathe Forest School practitioners will be leading the sessions, which will be in private woodland on an organic fruit farm so there will be lots of scrumping in between whittling sticks, sitting around a campfire, making dens and learning the names of trees. There will be no learning objectives and no attainment targets apart from ‘generally having a good time in nature’.

For more information on all the above contact: info@apricotcentre.co.uk

Relaxed and Friendly Mondays During Term Time 09:30 - 11:30 Brantham Village Hall

Oaklea Montessori At Ogilvie Hall, Wignall Street, Lawford NOW OPEN EVERY DAY TUESDAY TO FRIDAY

£1.50 per family including a well earned cuppa for grown ups and a healthy snack for the kids

Accredited, affordable & accessible.

A special start for your child.

Come and join us and meet other local mummies, daddies, grandparents & carers Every third Monday of the month we are joined by the Hadleigh Health Visitors for your local Baby Clinic Contact Charlotte on 07858 891217 for more information

For details please phone 01255 887902 or visit our website: www.oakleamontessori.co.uk

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SCHOOLS / SPORT

BROOKLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL From the first action packed weeks of the new term the children have been enjoying days filled with adventure and growing opportunities.

This year Brooklands has introduced a new reading initiative across the school. For the first 10 minutes of every afternoon, the entire school takes part in reading activities in the classroom. The aim is to ensure that all children are challenged and supported to improve their reading and comprehension skills.

Brooklands has also introduced half-termly reading cafes across the school. Christmas themed, Early Years and Key Stage 1 shared their love of reading while Key Stage 2 children followed the theme of newspapers and magazines in their cafe experience.

A huge thank you to all those who supported Brooklands Friends and Family (BFF) at the Christmas Fair. We raised more than £860 for the development of a science area which will allow our children to explore a range of habitats. Further events to support this project will be coming up including a quiz night at the end of January and a Valentine’s Disco for our children.

Slightly later than scheduled, our roof renovations are now complete. This project has involved a great deal of work which has been remarked upon by many of our children, especially when the glass atrium had to be removed and the library re-plastered. The end result is new electronic skylights and lighting in addition to new windows and skylights in the hall and classroom. Over the next few months we will be following this work up with further school improvements including new blinds and painted benches.

Reflecting back on 2015 we have achieved a great deal, from the continued development of our outdoor area and the redevelopment of our Early Years outdoor space, extending our use of the swimming

pool for Years 5 and 6 with the introduction of water polo and greater use of our school field at lunch times enabling our children to enjoy a range of sports. We have also welcomed two talented teachers, Cleonie Harris and Sally Collins to Team Brooklands.

Brooklands also ended 2015 on a further high note being one of the regions highest performing schools, ranking 13th out of 203 schools.

Even more impressively, we were second highest when compared to schools with a cohort of 30 children.

Brooklands has also been given the top-rating from the local authority based on our 2015 results in Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. This annual rating helps the local authority to identify good practice in schools and stand as a beacon to other schools wishing to learn from our best practice.

Congratulations to Hayley Aherne and her team along with all of our Brooklands Young Explorers who shone during their recent Ofsted inspection, achieving “outstanding” in all areas. Ofsted said: “They provide highly stimulating and creative activities that are tailored and extremely focused on the individual needs of all children.”

After much anticipation, our new website launched in January (www.brooklandsprimary.co.uk). You will see that it has a number of new features that we hope will support parents. One of these new features is that the homepage will take parents directly to reminders, diary dates and letters to help them plan their diaries and note key dates more effectively.

All that remains is for me to wish you the very best of good wishes for the New Year.

Christine Davy, headteacher

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The football club has been forced to call off several home games during the past month because the two pitches on the playing field have been unfit due to the wet weather. This is nothing new to the club and it’s hoped that the club and the community trust that owns the field can sort out the ongoing drainage problems during this year.

On the field of play, the Saturday First team continued their excellent season gaining a hard earned point after a 1-1 draw away to Ipswich Athletic with our equalising goal coming from a penalty scored by Stephen Morrison, before beating Grundisburgh at home 3-0 thanks to goals from new signing Ben Baldwin, Shaun Webb and a 30-yard piledriver into the top corner from Adam Rawthorn. The three points from this game saw the side remain in second place in the Senior League. Tom Williams has been playing well in goal with Chris Stewart putting in some classy displays in midfield.

After losing 1-0 to Old Newton, the Reserves recorded their first

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league win of the season by beating Grundisburgh 1-0 thanks to a Joe Bigmore goal. Gideon Spencer and Oliver Miller have been playing well at the back while Daniel Dixon has worked hard in midfield.

Our Sunday morning team beat Northam Celtic 9-2 with Abdul Kaium scoring five of the goals, but lost 2-1 to the same team in the Junior Cup. Funny old game.

Finally the charity match played on the training pitch on Christmas Eve was well supported by the players who raised £100 which was passed on to our youth teams. This game replaced the Married versus Single match that used to take place on Boxing Day when the good old Plough Pub, run by the legends that were Ivor and Jill, was open several years ago. Divorced against Partners didn’t sound right so we now play a charity game instead!

Bob the Ploughman

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SPORTS / CHURCH NEWS

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB THE LAST MONTH The club entered 2016 in good shape. The First team have enjoyed a successful season thus far and are well placed in fourth position in the Senior Division. They also advanced to the fourth round of the Bob Coleman Cup in the opening fixture of the New Year.

The Reserves are in a mid-table position with games in hand and have a third round fixture in the Goals of Ipswich Cup on January 16, while the A team is also fourth in their division after some impressive results.

UPCOMING FIXTURES & EVENTS Fixtures

DATE Sat, Jan 30

1st TEAM Senior Division Westerfield Utd

RESERVES Intermediate A Achilles Res

A

A Team Intermediate C Trimley Red Devils Res

A

Bob Coleman Cup R4 Sat, Feb 6

Achilles

Old Newton Utd Res

H

Old Newton Utd A

A

Sat, Feb 13

Leiston St Margarets

Mendlesham Res

A

Debenham LC Res

H

Sat, Feb 20

Stanton

Sporting 87 Res

H

Bramford Road Old Boys Res

A

Sat, Feb 27

Ipswich Athletic

Stowupland Falcons Res

H

Sat, Mar 5

Felixstowe Harpers Utd

Leiston St Margarets Res

A

Felixstowe Harpers Utd Res

A

Fixtures subject to change. To confirm please refer to: http://touchlinesil.co.uk/fixtures-results/ Events Saturday, May 21: Awards Dinner We are always looking for people who can help the club as a committee member, whether it be on the playing side or in the background.

EBUFC is a community club with very strong village traditions. The majority of the players either live in or have links to the village. Please come along and give us a look sometime.

Steve Butcher, secretary stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

LINK LINE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES AT LAWFORD FEBRUARY Saturday 6: Café/Oasis Outreach and Sales Event at Ogilvie Hall, Wignall Street, 9.30-11.45am Sunday 7: Songs of Praise at The Venture Centre, Lawford, 3pm Friday 19: Prayer Meeting at Honeycroft, Waldegrave Way, Lawford, 10am Sunday 21: Outreach Service at The Venture Centre, 3pm A warm welcome is extended to all. A designated minibus service covers the district. Contact: 01206 272064

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MASS FOR CATHOLICS IN ARDLEIGH AND MISTLEY There is a mass each Sunday in St Mary’s Church, Ardleigh, at 8.50am, and in St Mary’s & St Michael’s Church, Mistley, on Wednesdays at 9.45am and on Saturdays at 6.30pm.

Father Jon Ravensdale, 01206 870460

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BRANTHAM Services on Sundays: 9am • Holy days anticipatory: 7.30pm Tuesdays: 10am Father Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ 01473 684963 • office@stmarksparish.org.uk

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CHURCH NEWS BRANTHAM AND CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCHES WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE? Part 2 Last month I wrote about the labels people put on us and how they only tell a fraction of who we are, the 10% of the iceberg that shows. I wrote about belonging and been accepted and loved and I promised more this month. (It’s a bit dangerous promising something like that – I obviously had a train of thought then which eludes me now!)

Thinking afresh now I am reminded of two books by John Powell that I read some 40 years ago, Why Am I Afraid To Love? and Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?. The premise of the second book is that I am afraid to tell others who I really am because if they don’t like me that’s all I’ve got. So instead of being the real me with the fear you might reject me, I act out a part I think you will like because I want to be accepted. I want to belong.

This acting out is like putting a wall between me and you. it may protect me from being hurt by you, but I am then trapped behind that wall and that can be a very lonely place to be.

It may be you have had that experience of being rejected, possibly through bullying (verbal and emotional as well as physical). You have gone into a shell to protect yourself from being hurt again. But much of the rejection won’t have been through direct bullying, simply the fear we won’t live up to expectations (ours or others).

The Christian church, of which I am part, should be a place of acceptance, love, grace and forgiveness, but too often we make it a place of living up to certain expectations, and to admit weakness or failure would be frowned upon.

I love the description of the church as Sinners Anonymous. Just as in Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) participants admit they are alcoholic, and there is a commitment to help each other journey on from that place to a place less dependent on alcohol. So in the Christian church we need to admit that we have sinned and commit to help each other journey on.

It’s only as we are honest and real with each other that we can blossom.

I would love to be able to say that if you came to any of the churches I serve, you would be welcomed and accepted as you are. I think in most cases you would discover that yourselves, but all my churches are made up of fallible people, none of us is perfect, and there is the chance that one of us might inadvertently say or do something unkind. But if you join us we wouldn’t expect you to be perfect either, but with love, acceptance and forgiveness we journey on.

The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Capel and Brantham Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 BRANTHAM METHODIST Sunday, February 7 11am Sunday, February 14 11am

Sunday, February 21 11am Sunday, February 28 11am

Worship with Mr Harry Chicken Worship and Communion with The Rev Chris Jowett Worship with Mrs Marilyn Watsham Worship with Mr Roger Fern

CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Sunday, February 7 10.30am

6pm Sunday, February 14 10.30am

6.30pm

Sunday, February 21 10.30am

Sunday, February 28 10.30am

6.30pm

Worship with Mr Andy Jelfs Prayer Stations Worship with The Rev Diane Smith Healing & Communion with The Rev Andrew Sankey Worship and Communion with The Rev Derek Grimshaw Worship with The Rev Andrew Sankey United Prayer with Christians in Capel at the Community Church

TRINITY FREE CHURCH / Meeting at Old St Michael’s School on Trinity Road, Manningtree THE GOOD NEWS IS HERE! If somebody asked you if you wanted the good news or the bad news first, how would you respond? Are you the kind of person who wants the bad news first, to get it over and done with, to get the nasty bits out of the way and then listen to the good news? Or are you the kind of person who wants the sweetener to soften the blow?

There’s a lot of bad news around at the moment. We’ve recently experienced the worst continual rainfall since 1910 and we’re still stuck in the middle of winter. There’s political strife, too. Shares have slumped on the stock market. But then again, there’s plenty of good news. Unemployment is low and petrol prices are still down. Some parts of the economy are growing.

Come to our February meetings and discover how people in the Bible received the bad news and then the really wonderful, life-changing Good News. You too can be part of this life changing Good News and 2016 can be the year it changes you!

People are still being changed today by this Good News and on February 7 one of our teenagers will proclaim her faith by being baptised during our morning service.

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You’ll receive a warm welcome at our public worship services each Sunday at 10.30am (with an all-age programme) and again in the evening at 6.30pm. Services last between 60 and 90 minutes and refreshments follow the morning service.

KEY NOTES FOR FEBRUARY

The Meeting Place at 3pm on Tuesday, February 2: CAN I HELP YOU?

Mondays, February 1, 8, 22 & 29: Monday Madness!, our weekly youth work • 1.15-2.30pm: Trinity TOTS (pre-school plus carers); play, good company, refreshments and a Bible story • 4.30-6pm: KOGS (KS 1 & 2); craft, games, tea and Bible stories (Children’s University Learning Destination). This month: What’s in the Bible? with Buck Denver.

• 6.30-8pm: BRiaN Reloaded, (11-18s); serious Bible study with some serious fun thrown in.

Come and meet someone at the cutting edge of this important East Anglian charity. Mark Heasman has worked for and supported various charities including the Ormiston Children and Families Trust. The charity came about as a result of a personal tragedy. In 1969 Fiona Ormiston Murray and her new husband were tragically killed in a car accident on their honeymoon. The Murray Family established the Ormiston Trust to create a living memorial to a woman who loved children but was denied the chance to have her own. They have been supporting children, young people and their families across East Anglia ever since.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday w/b February 8 & 22: Home groups, Bible study and prayer from Nehemiah

Our usual excellent tea will be had after the talk and transport is available to the church building on Trinity Road.

For the latest information on these or any of our activities call Pastor Gaius on 393745 or visit: www.trinity-manningtree.org.uk

Please call Andrew Rowe (01206 393586) or David Boorman (01255 671891) to arrange a lift or for more information.

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CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB

Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the church front door.

Services for February Tuesday 2 9.30am Morning Prayer

The Presentation of the Lord

10am Mass

Sunday 7 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

9am Mass

Tuesday 9 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration

10am Mass

Sunday 14 First Sunday of Lent

9am Mass

Tuesday 16 9.30am Morning Prayer

10am Mass

Sunday 21 Second Sunday of Lent

9am Mass / Children’s Liturgy

Tuesday 23 9.30am Morning Prayer

10am Mass

Sunday 28 Third Sunday of Lent

9am Mass

Catholic Commentary The Rome Synod of the Family in the context of the New Evangelisation was brought to a close in October with the final document being approved by a two thirds majority. While re-affirming traditional church doctrine on marriage and the family, as expected, the synod significantly closed no doors. It has been left to Pope Francis to respond to unanswered questions in a future magisterial (teaching) text.

On December 8 the church launched a Year of Mercy with the opening of the original Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome to mark the official start. So what does it mean? The clue to the aim of the Year of Mercy is in its name; a time for the church itself and for Catholics everywhere to show mercy and compassion, in thought and word, and focus on forgiveness, reconciliation and doing good in concrete ways for the needy and those on the margins of society. Moreover Catholics who have lost touch with the church, for whatever reason, can make full use of the Year of Mercy to put things right.

Diary Dates Every last Thursday of the month a Bring and Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR, 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for the parish room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next coffee morning is on Thursday, February 25.

100 / AKA 200 Club We continue to grow and welcome new members to the club which was set up to raise much needed funds to support the life and mission of our parish. Already a member? Then why not take out another number? Application forms may be found at the back of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The next monthly draw is planned to take place at Holy Family after mass on Sunday, February 21 when the prize pool of £133 will be shared among three winners.

Children’s Liturgy Children are very welcome to join the Liturgy of the Word that takes place on the third Sunday of each month.

Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are being asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas, and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice.

Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please contact him if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, LAWFORD Priest-in-charge: The Rev Simon Heron, 01206 392659 Services for February Sunday 7

8am Holy Communion BCP 8.45am Prayer Breakfast 10am Holy Communion

Wednesday 10 7.30pm Ash Wednesday

Holy Communion Sunday 14

8am Holy Communion BCP 10am Family Service 6.30pm Evensong

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Sunday 21

Sunday 28

8am Holy Communion BCP 10am Holy Communion 6.30pm Cafe Church

8am 10am

6.30pm

Holy Communion BCP Morning Worship Churches Together Celebration at Manningtree Methodist

LENT COURSE AT LAWFORD Wednesdays February 17 & 24 and March 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 7.30pm in the Church Hall.

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CHURCH NEWS

MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH South Street, Manningtree Minister: The Rev Andrew Bell, 4 Elmdale Drive, Mistley CO11 2HP 01206 396654 Sunday Service: 10.15am Second Sunday: Holy Communion Bible Study: First Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm in the Committee Room Holy Communion: Fourth Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm Welcome Wednesdays: 2.30pm every Wednesday; drop-in for a chat and tea/coffee. Activities on the second and third Wednesdays.

MANNINGTREE METHODIST LENT COURSE All are invited to a series of five innovative Lent sessions to be held on Thursdays, February 18 & 25 and March 3, 10 & 17 at Foundry Court Cafe at 7.30pm.

Our Ash Wednesday Service will be held at Manningtre Methodist Church on Wednesday, February 10 at 7.30pm.

Also meeting on the premises: Monday

September to May, Stour Choral Society WEA (during sessions), 2.30pm

Tuesday

Co-op Women’s Guild, 7.15pm

Wednesday

Gentle Fitness Class, 9.30am Art Group, 10am-noon Manningtree and District Chess Club, evenings Museum and History Group, 7.30pm bi-monthly

Secretary: Mrs M Cuthbertson Treasurer: Mr G King Contact for Church Hall bookings: David Shearmur, 395263

MANNINGTREE BENEFICE An all-age Anglican Church meeting in St Mary & St Michael’s Church, Mistley and St Lawrence’s Church, Bradfield This spring we are continuing with the real work of Christmas: sharing the good news of Jesus, serving the community, building God’s church in all ages and areas, discovering our unique place and role in God’s kingdom, worshipping in the best ways we can and praying in all things. The work sounds daunting, but all becomes possible because God is with us. The work would be just work if it wasn’t for the fact that our God is with us, died for us and rose to life again, remembered especially at this time of year through Lent and Easter.

Lent is like a spiritual detox, preparing our hearts for this season of personal and spiritual renewal. Please do join us for this detox as we remember again how everything came together for Jesus to give up everything and offer us life. This all starts with Ash Wednesday where this year we will begin Lent with a morning service (see the schedule). Please do come along – everyone’s welcome!

After a great first year’s trial, this year we will be holding Café Church every month where the calendar allows. If you’ve never been before, Café Church is ‘church, but not as you know it!’ Come along to Mistley for bacon sandwiches (or veggie sausages!) and coffee, a chance to discuss and to listen, short talks, film clips and music, things to explore and to think about, children’s activities, and much, much more!

Please do join us for any and all of these services and events, and don’t forget to check the website and publications in and around the churches for more information. If you’d like to get weekly notification of what’s going on in the benefice, please email the office (see below) and ask to be put onto the weekly email distribution list. We’ll be happy to help.

February 14 10.30am

10.30am

6pm

Family Worship with Treasure Seekers* at Mistley followed by a short service of baptism (12.30pm) Holy Communion (Common Worship) at Bradfield Evening Prayer at Mistley

February 21 10.15am

10.30am

6pm

Family Worship and Treasure Seekers* at Bradfield Methodist Church Holy Communion (Common Worship) at Mistley Quiet Communion at Bradfield

February 28 8am

10.30am

10.30am

6.30pm

Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) Café Church with Treasure Seekers* at Mistley Morning Prayer at Bradfield Churches Together Celebration TBC

*Treasure Seekers is our children’s programme for ages 3+ All services are at St Mary & St Michael’s Church, Mistley (CO11 1ER) or St Lawrence’s Church, Bradfield (CO11 2US) unless otherwise stated.

Contact Information

Vicar: The Rev Christine Hills, 01206 392200 Associate Minister: The Rev John Brien, 01206 397549

Services for February

Curate: The Rev Claire Scargill, 01206 392018

February 7 10.30am

6pm

Joint Worship with Communion and Treasure Seekers* at Mistley Evening Prayer at Bradfield

Church Office: The Rectory, 21 Malthouse Road, Mistley CO11 1BY 01206 392200 / info@manningtreebenefice.co.uk

February 10 9.30am

Ash Wednesday Service at Bradfield

www.manningtreebenefice.co.uk www.facebook.com/ManningtreeBenefice

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CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT AND BRANTHAM SERVICES FOR REBRUARY Sunday, January 31: Candlemas 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 11am Benefice Communion, Brantham Wednesday, February 3 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, February 7: Next before Lent 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion (Healing), East Bergholt Wednesday, February 10: Ash Wednesday 9.30am Communion and Imposition of Ashes, East Bergholt 7.30pm Communion and Imposition of Sshes, Brantham Sunday, February 14: Lent 1 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Communion, East Bergholt 11am Family Service, Brantham

LENT COURSE: LET’S RE-IMAGINE CHURCH Dates: February 17 & 24, March 2, 9 & 17 and April 13 Our world and our lives change at an ever faster pace, but how do we respond to this change? Are new ways of being church possible? If so, what might they look like?

This year we are running a course called Mission Shaped Intro as our Lent course. Already used by 75,000 people worldwide the course will help us to reconnect with our communities and re-imagine the forms of church that are needed in the 21st century. It will take us on a creative and reflective journey (using discussion, film clips and prayer) looking at the need for new ways of being church. It will be a relaxed and fun time learning together, led by The Rev Matthew and The Rev Claire Ling.

The six-week course will be run from February 17 with the final session after Easter on April 13. Times are 2pm or 7pm, lasting 90 minutes, with tea and coffee, and will be held in the West End of East Bergholt church. There is a cost of £3.50 for the study material. Please book your place with The Rev Matthew as soon as possible before all the spaces fill up: 07486 449625

Sunday, February 21: Lent 2 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Baptism of Imogen Evans, East Bergholt 11am Communion with Healing, Brantham

SPRING HARVEST 2016

Sunday, February 28: Lent 3 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Choral Matins, East Bergholt 11am Informal Service, Brantham

Booking opens: June 24

Wednesday, March 2: Anskar, Bishop Missionary 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Friday, March 4: Women’s World Day of Prayer 2.30pm Ecumenical Service, Holy Family This schedule may change without notice if needed.

RAMBLING RECTOR UPDATE By the time you read this I will be away on residential training to learn how to work with my beautiful guide dog Coco. She is a small black Labrador born in April 2014, eager to please and very friendly. She has a brother called Chips who is also being trained as a guide dog. Once the two-week residential is completed I then continue with two weeks of training in the parish.

I know you will be very pleased to meet her, but the rule will be that if she is in harness she is working and to be ignored totally.

There will no doubt be times when she struggles to adjust to church life and I am sure you will all be very patient with us as we learn together.

On a separate note, during Lent we will be having a trainee reader in the parish. He is Andrew Taylor and I am looking forward to having him with us.

Skegness: March 28-April 1 / Minehead One: March 28-April 2 Minehead Two: April 2-6 / Minehead Three: April 6-10

For further information and to book visit www.springharvest.org or talk to The Rev Matthew to find out how you can join in: 07486 449625 / revmatthewling@gmail.com BISHOP WOODFORD RETREAT If you have never been on a retreat before this is a good time to start. Join us on the Benefice Retreat when we will be staying in Bishop Woodford House, the comfortable Ely Diocesan House of Retreat. There will be plenty of time to explore the lovely town of Ely, but also time to think and pray and worship. Dates: July 11-14. Cost (full board) is £240.25 en suite, plus transport. Places limited. If you are interested, please fill in the form at the back of the church and pay a £20 deposit to The Rev Steph.

WEDDING/FLOWER FESTIVAL AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, JULY 2016 St Mary’s Church will be holding a wedding/flower festival at the end of July. We would like to hear from anyone who was married at St Mary’s Church and still has their wedding dress and would be happy for this to be displayed in the church for the duration of the festival. We would also like to have a photo of your wedding day, clearly showing the bouquet as the flower ladies at the church will be making arrangements using (as far as possible) flowers that were in your bouquet. We are sure this will be a spectacular event and will hopefully show the different fashion in bridal gowns across the decades. So far we have wedding dresses from the 30s, 50s, 60s, 80s and 90s, but we do need more. We would also be grateful for any dressmaking dummies you may have to loan for the festival. If you have a dress, or a dummy to loan or need more information, please contact Liz Digby: 01473 312281 FLUSH FUND PROGRESS I am delighted to announce that building work on the new toilet and kitchen area in St Michael’s will begin mid-February. Thank you very much to all our generous donors. At date of writing we have still to raise about £10,000 to cover the costs. www.constablecountrychurches.co.uk

The Rev Steph

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ON THE GRAPEVINE MANNINGTREE REGATTA: 170 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG The first Manningtree & Mistley Regatta we know of took place 170 years ago in 1846. Large numbers came to the town using the new railway just opened between Manningtree and Ipswich, with special trains laid on by the Eastern Union Company. These aquatic sports were promoted to get people out of their homes for a ‘day of healthful and rational recreation’.

There were matches for both large and small sail boats, Skiffs and a duck hunt (the duck being a person pursued by a boat. It was a large and successful event for the town, with the best sport being provided by the rivalry of five local punts that took part, with the atmosphere enhanced by the ‘gay decoration of the craft with bunting and flags’.

the famous local punts still going strong and providing the keenest racing. July 1914 saw the innovation of a ladies skiff race for paired oars. Local press reports talk of these being ‘Water Carnivals’, with all the shops closing, bands playing and hundreds of spectators flocking to the riverside to watch. The prizes (some cash) were presented by Sir Harry Kottingham Newton, then Member of Parliament. The ‘duck’ was a Jack Tar from H.M.S. Bonaventure, an old cruiser based in Harwich as a support ship to the 6th Submarine Flotilla at the outbreak of war.

The following year it was held on Monday, September 4 under the patronage of Sir John Tyrell and Major Beresford, the two local Members of Parliament. As well as trains, the Gipsey steamer left Ipswich in the morning and after calling at Harwich, arrived with nearly 500 people on board. One estimate was of 5,000 people packed all along the walls.

Pavilions with Punch & Judy shows were set up and brass bands played throughout the day. Mistley Park was opened up for people to picnic under the shade of it’s fine old trees.

By August 16, 1873 the Regatta was being run by the Manningtree and Mistley Boat Club, set up some years before in keen competition with other rowing clubs in the area. Held on a Wednesday, £30 was raised in advance to help fund prizes for events including four oared galleys and races for crews under the age of 16. The famous punts competed in both ‘sailed’ and ‘rowed’ classes. Later in the day came the duck race and a ‘piggy’ in the box competition. Afterwards there was entertainment by the Wivenhoe Brass Band, topped off by fireworks.

The racing rivalry at that time was mainly with boats and crews from Ipswich. 1873 also provides the first record of the Pittocks, another large, local family living and working down the years on the quay as both fishermen, dockers and sailors. This time one of the family came second in the two handed skiff class.

By 1935 they were known as Manningtree and District ‘water sports’, with ladies still taking part in their own class of punt rowing races and more pair oared skiff racing for boats under 15 foot long. These events also included lots of swimming and novelty races. One for ‘Pram’ dinghies using shovels for oars. The events became more formal and the printed programmes record the Pittocks helping on the committee for many years.

The Stour Sailing Club was established 80 years ago this year and becomes more of the driving force, the sail racing becoming more serious with the main challenge switching to the Harwich & Dovercourt Sailing Club. The range of events was extended to include school teams in the swimming events, including relay racing, diving and a balloon race.

These continued on, apart from the period around the war when the river was declared a prohibited area and cleared of boats due to the threat of invasion. Sailing club member Jim Pittock continued the family tradition, sailing for many years in the punt races, and with his father, supporting the annual regatta.

The boat club were still in charge for the 1878 event on Thursday, July 20 when everyone in the town was given the afternoon off to attend. There were races for yachts under six tons, sailing boats, a one mile swimming race, skiff races for men and boys, four-oared outrigger boats, ships boats and punt races for boys. On the lighter side was the shovel race, duck hunt and walking the greasy pole. The band this time was provided by the Essex Rifles Militia.

It wasn’t all plain sailing and the 1891 event on Wednesday, August 15 was a bit ‘choppy’, with some of the four-oar outrigger boats shipping water. There was continued rivalry with Ipswich with the Horlock family dominating all the racing events. The family were so successful they were banned by some race organisers, with the excuse that they were ‘professionals’. Another of the Pittocks did try and take them on in the punt rowing race in ‘Saligot’, but failed on that occasion to make a mark.

Unfortunately the Regatta on July 9, 1893 was poorly attended due to torrential rain.

We also have records for the annual series of Regattas from 1912, with

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It’s not clear when the Sunday morning ‘Mud Larks’ started up, covering the period when the tide was out and not much else was going on.

Certainly they have taken place since the early 1970s about the time the Stour Sailing Club formally took over the running on behalf of the town’s committee. The last few years have seen more children’s events on the beach with races, egg and spoon and tug-of-war, including taking on one of the adult teams.

170 years on, this year’s Regatta takes place over the weekend of July 23/24, with the rowing festival on June 4/5.

Philip Cunningham Manningtree Museum & Local History Group

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