In Touch with Manningtree - January 2016

In Touch

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with Brantham, Lawford Manningtree & Mistley Volume 6 • Issue No. 3 • JANUARY 2016

Image by Eugene Powell

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

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I have always loved New Year’s Day, even as a child when I’d watch The New Year's Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on TV. Granted I was probably doing other things at the same time, but it would be on in the background and I loved the drama of it all. It felt like a fitting way to welcome in a new year and was also quite a private moment. My brothers were probably still in bed so it was usually me, my diary – and the vacuum cleaner! In those days in rural Ireland the male and female roles were clearly defined – the boys helped on the farm, I did the cleaning and the baking, but that’s a subject for another day!

Cleaning is still part of my new year ritual and I can’t wait to get stuck in. Yes, I admit it, I like cleaning! I love that sense of satisfaction I get when I sit down to admire my handiwork, that oh so precious five minutes before it all falls apart again. I do become a bit of a tyrant when I go into cleaning mode so it’s best to stay out of my way (Daniel consider this your advance warning and if you don’t believe me, just ask mum!), but when it’s done I’m sweetness and light, as per usual!

This year I have an extra incentive as I will be looking for something rather special. Last summer Jack found an old key when we were planting seeds with grandma. It is his most precious possession and he presents it to visitors and friends as such. We have mislaid it! I know it’s in the house somewhere but in none of the obvious places and I have (stupidly!) promised to find it. If I do turn out every toy box and every cupboard, as I plan to, surely it will reappear. If not I’m going to have a very sad little boy – and I’ll be a very guilty mummy. Wish me luck.

I hope your new year begins with hope for the year ahead and that you too find joy in the small things.

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NEWS CHARITABLE RESOLUTION Have you made a New Year’s resolution? In the top 10 every year are: losing weight, getting fit, spending less/saving more, getting organised and trying a new experience.

Why not combine a few of these and make a difference to your local charity? Support for St Helena Hospice can be shown in various ways – donating your time as a volunteer, donating your unwanted items to our shops, donating money, or fundraising. We absolutely rely on all of these to make the hospice work and keep going.

People wanting to be more organised may start with a clear out and we are very happy to receive the results of your de-cluttering at our retail stores or donation centre.

Similarly, if you have resolved to spend less, we have some amazing bargains in store. Proceeds go towards running the hospice, which is a win-win!

Perhaps your philanthropic lean-

ings are more towards volunteering. There are numerous ways of doing this on a regular or ad hoc basis, including offering your professional services, helping out with gardening, at shops or events.

Have you pledged to lose weight, get fit or try a new experience?

Give yourself a goal or challenge, such as a trek, cycle ride, walk or run, raising sponsorship for the hospice at the same time. People who have done this feel a great sense of achievement and report that the fundraising was easier than expected.

If you’d like to fundraise as part of a team, we have community fundraising groups in the area who are looking for members.

Please contact us on 01206 931450 or visit: www.sthelenahospice.org.uk getinvolved To join a community fundraising group, call 01206 931468.

SAMARITAN’S PURSE SHOE BOX APPEAL 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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363 Christmas shoe boxes donated by local organisations and church members are now on their way to Belarus from Manningtree Methodist Church. These include the Trefoil Guild, Bradfield WI, Mistley Norman C of E Primary School, and individual friends from the area.

We also publish

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

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

(L-r) Brian Cuthbertson, Lee Lay-Flurrie, Sheila Green, Peggy Churchyard, Maggie Woods, Margaret Wainwright, Marlene Southgate, Ann Finch, Daphne Rose, Pam Robinson, Alec Potter, Brenda Taylorand Nancy Shearmur

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree

Loading the van, (l-r) Frances Pettett, Keith and Ray the van drivers, and David Shearmur

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NEWS Every year Lawford residents beautify the area by planting donated spring bulbs.

Pictured here are Ethany Chamberlin, Val and Derek Butcher, David Shearmur and Lyn Merritt.

MANNINGTREE TOWN COUNCIL The minutes of Manningtree Town Council meetings are available on their website (www.manningtreetowncouncil.org.uk), 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 394345).

LAWFORD PARISH COUNCIL You can read the council’s minutes on: • www.essexinfo.net/lawford-parish-council • on the parish council’s noticeboards • minutes can be collected from the Parish Office by prior arrangement as the offices are not open to the public

MISTLEY PARISH COUNCIL Below are the edited extracts from the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, November 16.

the work of Tendring District Council and Essex County Council.

Councilor Horlock gave a report of the Railway Users’ Representatives.

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.

Matters arising The Community Initiatives Fund had indicated that it might contribute 50% towards the cost of updating the toilets in the village hall. It was proposed that the remaining 50% could be funded by the parish council and the Village Hall Management Committee.

Planning The council agreed to object to three planning applications and to make no comments on two others. The council also agreed to defer consideration of one planning application until December 1, 2015.

The minutes can also be accessed online at: www.essexinfo.net/mistleypc/parish-council/ meetings Councillor Rose presented a photograph for the records which commemorated Mistley being voted winner of the Best Kept Village Award in 1977. It was proposed to display the photograph in the village hall.

Public voice Several questions were raised by members of the public about the proposed development of land south of Harwich Road. The vicechairman confirmed that the parish council had not yet considered the planning application.

District Councillor Coley and County Councillor Guglielmi provided reports respectively about

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Clerk’s report Problems with seven street lights had been dealt with by the contractor. The council agreed to fund the acquisition of six litter-pickers and a quantity of plastic bags to enable individual volunteers to pick litter in their immediate vicinities. It was also agreed that the council should organise two litter pickup events a year, the first in March and a second in October.

Meetings attended The chairman provided reports about: Tendring District Council’s Community Leadership and Partnerships Committee meeting, Local Plan Committee, Mistley Remembrance Service and the Armistice Day Service in Manningtree.

Finance In addition to the regular finance items, following a discussion and vote, the council agreed to accept a contract with Tendring District Council’s cleaners for undertaking the opening and closing and cleaning of the public lavatory at Furze Hill.

Correspondence Following a discussion about the recorded crime statistics for October, the clerk was asked to enquire about the clear-up rate statistics for crime with Essex Police.

Date of next meeting: Monday, January 18 in the village hall, 7.30pm

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DEBBIE MIILLAR SCHOOL OF DANCE Pictured here are some of the children who attend Saturday morning classes at Ogilvie Hall in Lawford. The classes offered on a Saturday morning are from pre-school through to all junior school ages in ballet and tap dance.

This term has been very busy for lots of the pupils who have been preparing for ballet, tap and disco examinations with the ISTD. The children in the pictures are rehearsing their end of term demonstrations to their parents.

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NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, ALTON WARD: DECEMBER 2015 Babergh District Councillor Alastair Mccraw Local government continues to undergo the greatest changes it has faced since the 1970s. From the Localism Act to the Devolution Agenda, we find ourselves examining every aspect of our operation and services. This applies to all levels, from towns and parishes, to district and county. For the moment, the devolution discussions between Suffolk and Norfolk et al can continue at a less frantic, and hopefully more considered, pace now that the rush to get proposals on the table has passed. The best way to follow this might be through the front page on Babergh’s website: www.babergh.gov.uk That’s also a starting point for nearly everything the council do, or can do. The website is much improved and easier to navigate.

END OF YEAR REPORT As a newly elected member, I’ve spent a lot of time getting up to speed with the practicalities of this job. I’m a member of the Independent group on the council, the second largest group. A Conservative majority has been elected, the first time that Babergh has ever had a majority party. Much of what we do is, of course, non-political, but it must inform decisions to be made.

I serve as a member on the Regulatory and Licensing Committee, the Joint Staff Consultative Committee, and will represent Babergh on the Suffolk Rail Policy Group. I shadow the Economy Programme Steering Board and grab hold of every bit of training I can. That’s been extensive enough to allow me to substitute for absent members on the Strategy, Planning and Joint Scrutiny Committees. Next month, I will complete the set with Joint Audit. There are the three parish council meetings each month, casework for individuals and businesses on the wide variety of matters that concern them and just trying to throw some light on how things work. There is a lot of reading and research.

Am I allowed to say that I’m enjoying it? It’s hard work at times, but anything worthwhile should be hard. It’s also incredibly interesting, challenging and more open ended than you might think. I’m not alone in this view as half the council are in the same position and I’ve heard the same sentiments over and over again. We all bring different life experiences to the table, but the level of engagement would be

surprising to many in this cynical age. I would add that we conduct ourselves in a civil manner without the ‘argy bargy’ people sometimes associate with politics.

This is a link to the Council and Democracy page which covers much of the above: http://tinyurl.com/h8s9ono BRANTHAM REGENERATION AREA The planning application for this site and the associated greenfield land is likely to come before the planning committee in the first two months of 2016. There are some additional supporting documents from the applicant (SFG) to be presented and there will be a consultation period for anybody concerned to comment, just on these. As this application will have an impact on the surrounding rural road network, people and groups in neighbouring parishes on both sides of the River Stour may wish to make a response. The Planning Application page will contain these new documents: http://tinyurl.com/jy9rtqm Responses can be made in writing, by email or online through that page (after registration). The consultation period is, as yet, unknown.

SUFFOLK FIRE SERVICE As you may have heard Suffolk Fire Service is facing proposals that will considerably reduce the potential cover available, or cuts as we usually call them. I think that’s a very worrying prospect given the rubbish nature of our road network and the distances involved. So I would encourage people to strongly consider responding to the consultation on these proposals. This can easily be done online at http://tinyurl. com/juulwwy until February 22. It’s a questionnaire response, so you may want to read up on the subject first, just in case the questions are leading.

I hope for a Happy New Year for us all. If any issue about the council and what it does concerns you please contact me via the methods below – or just say hello sometime. I have no problem in talking with people at the drop of a hat. I want to stay informed and to stay In Touch. alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk / 07812 564188 Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (an open group)

REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton Having satisfactorily recharged the batteries I have been wading through the issues that have challenged the council while I have been away.

The ‘Devolution’ issue rumbles on but apart from the grand announcements of homes to be built and jobs created there is little of substance yet to get one’s teeth into.

Information gathering for Whitehall seems to be the main issue. Let’s hope that 2016 will bring some progress.

Progress on devolution could also help decide the issue of corporate headquarters for the council and what to do with the old ones. As we have a joint officer team their transient life between Needham Market and Hadleigh does not scream efficiency, but we have to remember that ultimately the council,

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officers and members are there to serve the constituents and so access must be easy.

Various repairs to the A12 are scheduled, but a definitive timetable is not easy to find. All the works are relatively small scale and the main issues of safety and adequate access onto the carriageway are still not being discussed, despite yet another major incident at the B1070 junction. The pressure from all the proposed development in the area will not make things easier and I will be pressing for an overall joined up approach to all of the issues. 2016 is going to be a year of decisions and hopefully they will be the practical and sensible ones!

East Bergholt’s Neighbourhood Plan is getting closer to completion and my congratulations to all involved for their hard work and patient efforts.

Travelling as I have across Europe, the differences in road traffic densities is astonishing. Add to that the approval for 1.5 million square metres of Logistics Park at Felixstowe and the additional wharf space for the big container ships and that road pressure is bound to increase. While the employment opportunities are welcome, the infrastructure pressures must be addressed by government. Dare I say that extra capacity at Heathrow will count for nothing if 1) we can’t get there as the M25 is full and the trains as well, and 2) the business they crate cannot be delivered because the road and rail freight system is also full! As they all fall ostensibly under the department for transport, can one ask if anyone talks to anyone else within the corridors of power in Whitehall?

A Happy New year to you all, Councillor John Hinton

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

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OUT & ABOUT VENTURE CENTRE LAWFORD

MANIFEST THEATRE

KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Our next production is Accolade by Emlyn Williams. This 1950s thriller tells the story of a novelist who gains a knighthood and is then outed as a frequenter of pub orgies. It will run from Tuesday, April 5 to Saturday, April 9.

Where Jesus is love and love is Jesus Come and join us in our new fellowship – everyone is welcome.

Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus – with our lively worship and service with refreshments afterwards.

We meet every Sunday morning in the Ivell Suite at 11am, starting on Sunday, January 10.

There will be a read through of the Accolade script on Monday, January 11 at 7.30pm and auditions on Monday, January 18 at 7.30pm, in the Manifest Theatre, 2 Oxford Road, Manningtree. For more details contact Kate Sheffield: 01206 391309

VALUATION EVENT

Please visit www.manifesttheatre.co.uk and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The experts of Lockdales Auctioneers will be providing free valuations at The Venture Centre on Wednesday, January 13, 11.30am-3.30pm.

Valuations will be available for the following types of collectables: coins (including British and World, sovereigns, Krugerrands, Royal Mint commemoratives and proof sets), stamps, banknotes, medals and militaria, antiques, clocks, watches, jewellery, gold, silver, pre1900 documents/books and maps, cigarette-cards, postcards, pre1960 sporting programmes and tickets, scientific instruments, swords, bayonets and de-activated weapons. No appointment necessary.

Members of the public will have the option, if they wish, to consign their goods to auction (subject to terms and conditions). Cash purchase offers are also available. Valuations will be provided free of charge, with no obligation. High quality illustrated catalogues from previous auctions will be given away on a complimentary basis in order for the public to get a better idea of the services available.

BRANTHAM AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY BATS next big production is Hot Mikado; a wonderful jazzy updating of the classic Gilbert & Sullivan show, with great catchy songs in swing, jazz, big-band and gospel styles. We have a fabulous band to back us, exciting costumes and lively dancers. Highly recommended as a family show, just the treat for half-term.

In case you don’t know the storyline, Nankie-Poo is the son of the Mikado. Travelling incognito as a wandering minstrel he meets and falls in love with Yum-Yum, who is just about to marry Ko-Ko. Nankie-Poo also cannot marry Yum-Yum as he is engaged to be married to Katisha. An unusual law threatens Nankie-Poo with execution. Will he escape it? Will he marry Yum-Yum?

If you have any questions feel free to contact Lockdales’ Martlesham offices: 01473 627110 / sales@lockdales.com

Hot Mikado will be performed at Brantham Village Hall from Wednesday, February 17 to Saturday 20 at 7.30pm, with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 20. Tickets (adults £8 / children £6) are available from Bakes & Blossoms Café, Acacia Court, Brantham, or from: www.ticketsource.co.uk

JUST DANCE

All other enquiries to 01206 396674.

Just Dance, a new dance group at the Venture Centre is holding lessons and freestyle for modern jive on February 7, a festive party with a fun lesson and two hour freestyle from 7.30-10.30pm. All levels welcome, with tea/coffee and cakes provided in the £8 entrance fee. Come along and enjoy a lovely fun social evening. Even though modern jive is our core we really don’t mind if you just want to come along to enjoy the music and do your own Strictly style! For further information please contact: 07772 449781 ITALIAN EVENING Colchester Gateway Clubs is a local charity which runs social clubs for adults with learning disabilities in Colchester and Tendring. Fundraising is an essential part of the charity’s income and for the first time, an Italian evening is being held at the Venture Centre on Saturday, March 12. Local support for this event would be greatly appreciated.

Please contact charity manager Mandy Hudson: 07999 278472 / thursdaygatewayclub@hotmail.com

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

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

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR CHORAL SOCIETY

STOUR VALLEY ARTS AND MUSIC Sunday, January 10, 4pm Antara Duo – Rachel Wick (harp) and Tom Hanco (flute) – at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt. Generously supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

The society had a very busy autumn including singing at a wedding in Brantham and carols at Flatford National Trust Centre and Manningtree Christmas Fair. Their main concert in Mistley Parish Church was an opera focused evening. The society sang to a full church, giving a polished performance of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. This work full of lovely melodies was much enjoyed by the enthusiastic audience and dramatically accompanied by Stephen Smith on his electronic organ. Paul Bloomfield, tenor and Patrick McCarthy baritone were in good voice and expressively captured the varying moods of the work. Duncan Archard had trained the choir well and brought out the best of Puccini’s dramatic and tuneful work.

Antara is a flute and harp duo based in London and serving the south east of England. Formed in 2007, both Thomas and Rachel were instrumental and academic scholars at the University of Oxford, before graduating with double-firsts. Beyond their recital work, they work for Live Music Now, a charity that brings live music to those who would otherwise rarely, if ever, experience it, and also give educational performances for CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust and the Wigmore Hall. The programme will include Histoire de Tango by Ástor Piazzolla, Debussy’s Syrinx and Fantaisie brillante sûr Carmen by François Borne.

Sunday, January 31, 4pm

A splendid evening enjoyed by all and some lovely tunes to take home.

David Owen Norris playing Concert in Piano Trio at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Distinguished pianist, broadcaster and musicologist, David Owen Norris will be playing his 1828 Broadwood piano with Camilla Scarlett on the violin and Jonathan Byers on the cello. David has his own inimitable way of presenting information to the audience.

They will perform Beethoven’s Archduke Piano Trio in B flat op 97 and Schubert’s Trio no 1 in B flat major, both pieces completed in the last year of the composers’ lives.

David Shearmur

The season continues with:

The second part of the evening provided a selection of operatic choruses and arias with Habenera from Carmen sung by Susanna Hyman and The Flower Duet from Delibes Lakme beautifully blended by Susannah and Anna Maria Hyman, followed by a touch of venom from Patrick McCarthy in Verdi’s Pieta, rispetto, amore from Macbeth.

The evening concluded with the Easter Hymn from Cavalliera Rusticana

by Mascagni with both Susanna and Anna Maria Hyman as soloists and the finale of the drinking song from La Traviata by Verdi which was demanded as an encore.

BRANTHAM’S CHARITY GARAGE SALE 201 Happy New Year to all.

Spring is just around the corner, and its time to start spring cleaning and tidying up after Christmas and think about all those items that are looking for a new home. Maybe you’ve got some unwanted Christmas presents – they make great Tombola prizes, as do any good condition spare items.

Saturday, February 20, 7.30pm: Extra event Jazz concert: Beauty of the Bossa Nova with singer Georgia Mancio performing Brazilian jazz at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt Sunday, March 13, 4pm Family Concert with Red Priest, Pirates of the Baroque, at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Tickets: weatheralld@btinternet.com / 01206 298426 / www.svam.org.uk

We’ve chosen Saturday, June 11 as the provisional date for our 2016 Garage Sale. Are there any other events planned in the village for that date? If so, please let Ronnie or Yvonne know.

We’ll confirm the date in the next issue. For more information or to book your garage or a table at the village hall call: Yvonne (01206 392296) / Ronnie (01206 395557) Last year we achieved a fantastic total of £6,000. Half went to St Elizabeth Hospice – The Carla Dawson Tribute Fund, and £750 each to Clic Sargent, Lego Therapy at Brooklands School, the Maisie Hayward Charity and Woolverstone Wish at Ipswich Hospital.

This brings our grand total raised to £36,454. All the leftover items were donated to Acorn Village at Mistley who were very grateful.

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OUT & ABOUT EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

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

MANNINGTREE AND DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Dick Williams and Dave Wilcox introduced an audio dimension with their digital audio visual show in early November, a riveting and highly professional presentation by two dedicated amateurs.

In a moving short piece about Remembrance Day, with crisp and sharp visuals, we sat in silence to hear the delicate echo of a field gun quietly fade in true high fidelity sound.

Later in the month we were privileged to hear local photographer Roger Hance, modestly and with characteristic humour, recount how he progressed to achieve his Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society. This was demonstrated using prints of his early black and white portraits in a talk entitled People in the Picture. It featured compelling candid shots of London street dwellers and traders, many of whom Roger could recall by name.

Examples can be seen at: www.rogerhancefrps.com/Portraits The new year will feature a further 12 events beginning with:

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 is on Wednesday, January 20. This will be a members’ meeting where we will be planning our next six months of activities.

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.

January 14: Creative photography with Barbie Lindsay January 28: Open monochrome competition – judge: Peter Espley February 1: Inter-club competition with Harwich and Dovercourt club 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.

Please contact our secretary for more information: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com For further detail visit: www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

MANNINGTREE LOCAL HISTORY AND MUSEUM GROUP In November the group welcomed Roger Digby who spoke to us on the history and development of the concertina. An expert on the mechanics of the instrument, Roger also plays and opened the evening with a rousing English jig.

The concertina belongs to the free reed family of instruments which includes the harmonica, harmonium, accordion and piano accordion.

Air, produced by hand bellows, is passed over reeds, which are tongues of steel or brass attached to individual brass frames. The reeds vibrate and produce a note: reeds being selected by rows of buttons on the exterior. Roger removed the hexagonal sycamore end of the bellows on one of his instruments so we could see the reeds inside. He then gave us a detailed explanation of the mechanics and how notes are produced. Repair and tuning of a concertina is very cumbersome, and yet precise, and adds greatly to the expense of owning one.

Sir Charles Wheatcroft patented the concertina in England in 1829 and began manufacture. The instrument was expensive to produce but became popular with middle class Victorians. Between 1860 and 1900 it was very common in well-to-do homes. In Europe, particularly Germany and Austria, the concertina was developed into the accordion. This instrument had many more buttons and was able

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to play a larger chromatic scale plus chords.

The accordion was manufactured much more cheaply than the concertina using cheaper materials such as pleated card, instead of leather, for the bellows. Because of its cheapness it the German accordion became popular with the English lower classes who used it in folk and Morris dancing. Beggars played them in the streets for money.

A hybrid instrument known the Anglo German concertina became the norm in England, but eventually fell out of favour in the home and the concertina trade in this country collapsed. Roger explained that there is still a trade in the instrument and a growing revival in its fortune outlining the trade at the present time. He has a large collection of his own including one of the cheap early German accordions that are very rare now. He ended his talk by playing a foot-tapping version of Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehaving. A question and answer session followed.

Our next talk will be a well-illustrated historical journey up and down South Street by Peter Gant. Everybody welcome as usual in the Methodist Church Hall on Wednesday, January 27. Members free, visitors £3.

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SPRING 2016 AT THE NEW WOLSEY THEATRE

The Last Five Years, an award winning musical from Jason Robert Brown and recently a major motion picture starring Anna Kendrick and Jordan Jamie, headlines the New Wolsey Theatre’s 15th birthday season.

Running from February 25 to March 11, The Last Five Years starts and ends with the beginning of a passionate love affair. Cathy’s story starts with the end of their relationship and follows their tale backwards to when she first fell in love with her young talented lover. Jamie’s story begins with their first passionate encounter and heads forward towards heartache.

The unique style of storytelling and the infectious score makes this one of America’s best modern musicals. Songs include Moving Too Fast, If I Didn’t Believe in You and Goodbye Until Tomorrow.

Katie Birtill, who took the title role in Sweet Charity last autumn, stars with a talented live band to create Cathy and Jamie’s world as it crumbles and reforms around them. It will be directed by the New Wolsey Theatre’s artistic director Peter Rowe.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre will present The Government Inspector, the first production in the Ramps on the Moon touring project, at the New Wolsey from April 6 to 15. Ramps on the Moon is a ground-breaking touring project that sets out to put more deaf and disabled people on our stages, in our audiences and our workforce. Bringing together seven major theatre companies, it will change the way theatre made by and for D/deaf and disabled people is seen. These companies, which include the New Wolsey Theatre, are committed to putting D/ deaf and disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their work and stimulating awareness of disability issues within arts and culture.

Gogol’s satirical masterpiece is a hilarious riot of corruption, lies and greed that has lost none of its original bite. The mayor is in a cold sweat. News has reached him of an imminent visit from a government inspector. His fear is well-founded as he has been somewhat lacking in his official duties.

The hospital is a health hazard, the school is a war zone, the soldiers don’t have trousers to march in and he never quite got around to building that church!

Directed by Birmingham Rep’s Artistic Director Roxana Silbert, the production includes a creative use of audio description, captioning and British Sign Language.

For full details of the New Wolsey’s jam-packed spring season visit www.wolseytheatre.co.uk where you can also book or call the sales team on: 01473 295900

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OUT & ABOUT STOUR VALLEY U3A

VILLAGE LINK CLUB

Recent meetings In place of the usual speaker event in December, we held our Christmas lunch at the Constable Hall and it was much enjoyed by all.

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

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 each month, except August and December.

Membership Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and 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 ThirdAge 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.

THE FRIENDLY CLUB Are you less mobile than you used to be? Are you spending more time alone indoors? Do you miss the friendly chats that used to make your day?

More than 50 years ago people of a like nature founded the selfhelp Friendly Club. You might wonder what we do during the year so I’ll try to explain.

We meet every Monday from 2-4pm (except bank holidays) at the Ogilvie Hall in Lawford.

The club has meals to celebrate the new year, Easter, the club’s birthday, harvest festival and Christmas. Tea and biscuits or cake appear like magic every week served by willing committee members.

We endeavour to provide entertainment at least once a month, play cards, hold noisy beetle drives and more sedate bingo and encourage members to practise their ‘unknown’ handicraft and flower arranging

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skills. We even hold a bring and buy to circulate unwanted items we have acquired during the year. For those who like to read, our book trolley holds a varied selection.

We try to organise a seaside visit every year bearing in mind some are less able than others. In fact the club tries to provide any activities its members feel they might like to participate in. There is even free transport, when possible, to assist members in attending.

For our November meeting, Malcolm Clark gave a talk entitled Sound Safari which was based around his hobby of recording bird song in which he played a variety of bird calls demonstrating greetings and warnings.

Our next meeting is on January 13 when Stuart Bowells will present a talk on the History of Advertising.

Future talks will include: Lady Alice de Breyne, NT Coast of East Anglia, Secrets of the Royal Jewels, Diving in The Galapagos.

Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall starting 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. After the August and February meetings, we normally hold a members’ lunch – funds permitting.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY The society takes its winter break now and our next meeting will be on February 3 when Shirley Smith will present a talk about the French royal the Duc du Berry and the famous Book of Hours he commissioned.

Our Christmas meeting on a sunny December afternoon featured Dr Sarah Pearson who gave us an enchanting look at the historical origins of many of the elements we associate with Christmas. With wonderful art illustrations she spoke about the crib, ice and snow, Christmas food, the Christmas tree, the snowman, Christmas cards, the Christmas cracker and finally how St Nicholas morphed into Santa Claus. A delightful lecture at this time of year.

We welcome new members. Why not come along and enjoy some good company and an interesting talk? The wonderfully illustrated lectures start at 2.15pm (2pm arrival is advised), last about an hour and are presented by national and international lecturers. We are a friendly group who meet on the first Wednesday of the month for nine lectures each year, and we also organise interesting day visits. 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

For the latest events and news visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk

BRANTHAM OVER 60s CLUB DIARY DATES

The cost is £1 a week; you can’t buy a cup of tea for that these days. The only thing we are missing is you!

January 12: New year get together

You don’t have to sit indoors alone watching TV. Contact Ken Edwards (01206 395091) or Ruby Prior (01206 395421) to arrange a visit and meet some old and new friends.

February 9: History of our local area – P Gant

Ruby Prior

January 19: A ‘Knit’ (for next week) and ‘Natter’ pm January 26: Seafarer’s Mission – Port Chaplain Sister Marian Davey February 16: Bingo February 23: A Life on the Road – Peter King Meeting weekly in Brantham Leisure Centre, 2.30-4.30pm, we hope to see some new faces in the new year.

Jean Lace, 01206 396242

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OUT & ABOUT 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

ACORN VILLAGE Happy 2016 from everyone at Acorn Village.

January is an unusually exciting month for us as Riverside Taxis take on their incredible road challenge driving 1,925 miles non-stop (apart from fuel and food) from Manningtree to Lands End to John O Groats and back to Manningtree in a 1988 Vauxhall Nova called Jason with half of their donations going directly to Acorn Village.

We can’t wait to see how they get on and will be giving a running commentary on our social media pages. Good luck Ashley, Andy and Ian! If you would like to sponsor them please go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/riversidetaxis1 Our coffee shop is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 4pm and don’t forget to look out for our Burns Day haggis special if you would like to have a celebratory lunch on January 25.

If you find yourself with unwanted gifts, we always appreciate them at Acorn Village to use for raffles, tombolas or in the shops to help fund our charity for adults with learning disabilities. Alternatively if your New Year’s resolution is to volunteer then we would love to hear from you. We still haves paces that need filling in our shops, onsite or at our events. For details call: 01206 394124

You may also register your interest online and fill in the details on the Join Us section: www.girlguiding.org.uk

M J ENOCH TREE SURGERY & LANDSCAPES • • • • • • •

All aspects of tree work Hedge cutting Lansdcape gardening, paving, fencing Turfing, lawn seeding Ground clearance NPTC qualified professionals Fully insured, licenced waste carriers SEASONED FIREWOOD DELIVERED Please enquire on 01206 912029 / 07740 405571 www.mje-treesurgery.co.uk

Scrapbookers and card makers are welcome to join us for crafting and chat.

We are a small, friendly group who welcome new and experienced crafters.

Some tools are available to use and refreshments are included.

We meet on alternate Monday nights from 6pm onwards at Bradfield Community Centre, The Street, Bradfield CO11 2UU. For more information contact Kerry: 07463 380989 / Kerry.bruce@btinternet.com

THE FRIENDS OF FOUNDRY COURT More than 90 people attended the Christmas party organised by The Friends of Foundry Court and Ironside 60+ Club held in the Community Centre in Colchester Road, Manningtree.

The event was another great success, greatly enjoyed by everyone present. Hearts Delight had provided a huge Christmas tree and Tesco Express had supplied some raffle prizes. Musical entertainment was provided by Bryan of Note and chairman Pat Singleton thanked everyone who had worked so hard to make it such a great party.

The four-hour party was the climax to another year of events, which included The Friends’ 21st anniversary in May. The Friends organise musical afternoons, bingo evenings, carpet bowls, film afternoons and coach trips which are open to all over 55s. For more information contact the chairman on 01206 397339 or the secretary on 395500.

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SCHOOLS MANNINGTREE HIGH SCHOOL schemes are helping to reduce the volume of textiles discarded as municipal solid waste. However, it is a fact that, as a nation, we still send 1,081,000 tonnes of textiles to landfill every year.

Pictured clockwise: Madison Lowry, Kiera Starling and Emily Donnelly baked cakes to raise money; X-Factor winner Daniel Lay-Flurrie with guest judge, Sam; teachers and staff members dressed up for the occasion

In addition to raising much needed funds, the scheme also raises awareness of the benefits of recycling and reuse.

Bag2schools came to the school to help raise awareness and inform young people of the countries the clothes would be sent to and the people they would be helping. The weigh-in took place and we had collected 250kgs and raised £100. Many thanks to all the students, staff and parents who helped us with this initiative.

Carol Sinclair, director of operations

The first week in December was our annual Charities Week, always one of the most memorable events of the school calendar as we work together to raise money for people less fortunate than ourselves. Last year we raised more than £5,000 and once again students identified charities that they would like to support and planned ways to raise money.

Manningtree High School students Millie Watson (Year 10) and Joshua Tarrier (Year 9) will be appearing in the performing chorus in Colchester Mercury Theatre’s pantomime production of Aladdin. Congratulations to them! This will be staged until January 10.

Anna Gidlow – PA to the head

There were auditions for Manningtree’s X-Factor with the semi-finals on Monday and Wednesday and the grand final on Friday. There was a ‘sing off’ between students and staff in the Karaoke Challenge on Tuesday and the staff band played on Thursday. A staff bleep test proved popular on Wednesday and throughout the week there were cakes for sale and competitions in various locations, in addition to a large number of sponsored events. The Learning Support Department ran a café and the senior prefects opened a sweet shop. There were prizes on offer for the tutor group that raised the most money.

Sponsorship from David Martin Estate Agents in Manningtree has enabled us to purchase new royal and sky blue football shirts for the Under 16 team.

As part of the event, we encouraged students and staff to dress up on the Friday and to make a minimum contribution of £1. Students who didn’t wish to dress up were allowed to wear non-school uniform for a £2 contribution.

“The boys shown have been selected to be part of the presentation photos because of their ongoing commitment to the PE department.

The boys are all members of one or all of the following groups: the football team, rugby team, badminton team, athletics team, GCSE PE students, sports leaders or assistant coaches of lower school teams. The students are a fantastic group of role models, a group that embodies the philosophy of going the extra mile. All of the Year 10s shown will be working with primary school students over the next year to share their passion for sport.”

The event was a resounding success. The amount raised will be posted on our website in due course. We held a special charity assembly on Friday, December 18 to present the money to the charities and to give them the opportunity to explain their work. It was a thoroughly rewarding week for all involved.

Assistant headteacher Nick Farrow

Head of PE Bryn Lewis said: “We are very proud that last year’s Under 16 football team, which Charlie Pasco and Edwin Agbi played for, were Tendring and Coastal football champions and North East Essex runners up. We are hoping to build on this success with another successful season.

Pictured below: Archie Herbert, Edwin Agbi, Ollie Meddings, Ryan Paulley, Charlie Pasco, Jared Wiltshire and Tom Firth

Manningtree High School organised a textile collection with Bag2School in order to raise funds. Bag2School is the UK’s leading textile recycler and fundraiser and since its inception in 2001 it has paid out more than £20million.

As well as raising vitally needed funds for our school, it also helps the environment by helping to divert unwanted textiles away from landfill. A recent DEFRA report has shown that textile collection

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NOW RECRUITING SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Responsible for advertising sales, account management, business development and sales team and portfolio management for Mansion House Publishing, Colourplan Print, Boswell Office Supplies and Musical Marketing.

The key tasks include: •

Responsible for managing and developing an experienced sales team, with a requirement to establish targets and objectives and to motivate staff, develop new business opportunities and revenue streams and to deliver projects successfully.

•

Working closely with the MD to devise and implement marketing strategies (including digital), increasing sales through marketing and reporting on marketing success.

Applicants must have several years of senior media sales experience, ideally within a publishing environment, a proven track record of hitting and exceeding sales targets and excellent experience of managing and motivating sales people.

We are looking for a candidate who can deal professionally with high level clients. The ideal candidate will have experience of successfully developing large accounts and also experience of new business development. Furthermore, we would expect the candidate to have a desire to be a real leader in driving team success.

MAGAZINE DESIGNER / LAYOUT An experienced print and magazine designer / layout to join our small and very busy team.

You will need to be skilled in page layout, InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator with proven ability to make design judgements in relation to page layout and at least three years experience working in print or publishing design.

You will need to work effectively and efficiently under pressure, have a keen eye for detail, natural creative flair and possess strong communication and teamwork skills.

For full details including how to apply please visit: www.grapevinelive.co.uk/category/jobs 20

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SCHOOL / SPORT BROOKLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL Our autumn term was packed with excitement and activities and you may like to hear about a few of the highlights.

A new reading initiative was launched across the school at the start of term. For the first 10 minutes of every afternoon, the entire school, from Early Years to Year 6, 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 is also introducing half-termly Reading Cafés across the school. Christmas themed, Early Years and Key Stage 1 shared their love of reading while children in Key Stage 2 followed the theme of newspapers and magazines in their café experience.

As part of Santa’s reading mission at Brooklands, he dropped off a number of wrapped Christmas books under our tree in the school hall, with instructions to unwrap one book a day until Christmas. Following Santa’s instructions our Ducklings, Woodpeckers, Robins and Puffins had the pleasure of unwrapping a book each day up to Christmas, which they read together, and to check that no ‘shenanigans’ took place, Santa has also placed a squirrel, hedgehog, mouse, fox, duckling, green woodpecker and a robin in our tree to watch over the presents.

Brooklands has 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 us.

Ahead of our Anti-Bullying Week (November 16-20), each family at Brooklands received a copy of our Anti-Bullying Charter which was written by our anti-bullying ambassadors. The charter includes a definition of bullying and a flow chart of how bullying is managed at Brooklands. This year’s theme was Make a Noise about Bullying and the key aim is to empower our children to make a noise about bullying whether it is something happening to them, to someone else, face-toface or online.

Many of our parents took the opportunity at our recent parents’ evening to find out more about our plans to become a Beach School.

We now have two members of staff fully trained and we are in the process of establishing a suitable coastal site for our visits. We have also purchased a range of resources to help with this new venture.

In a recent external assessment of our Early Years provision we were judged to be outstanding. Recognising the hard work and commitment of the Early Year’s team, the assessment highlighted our creative range of learning activities and the way in which we successfully capture the imagination and interest of our children to ensure outstanding learning.

If you are a parent or carer considering Brooklands for your child due to start school in September 2016 please don’t hesitate to contact me to arrange a tour of the school.

Best wishes Christine Davy, headteacher

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The Saturday First team lost the top of the table battle against Westerfield United 4-2 after being two goals in front at half time thanks to goals from Shaun Webb and Nick Middlebrook.

A week later a goal in the last minute from Daniel Alderson earned the team a point after a hard fought 1-1 draw with Achilles. After a 1-0 win away against Stanton with a Lee Barrett goal the team moved back to the top of the Senior League on November 28 after beating Wenhaston United at home 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Stewart and a Stephen Morrison penalty. Nine wins and a couple of draws have given the team 29 points with just 14 goals conceded, which is the best in the league.

Home games in January sees the lads playing Old Newton on January 2 in the Bob Coleman Cup and then facing last season’s champions Crane Sports on January 16.

Our Saturday Reserves have had a couple of games called off due to waterlogged pitches, but played away to Felixstowe Harpers United losing 5-2 with goals from Adam Bland and Joe Bigmore. Our new manager is 17-year-old Kieran Tynan and the club wish him all the best in his new role.

Our Sunday team are second in Division Two of the Sunday Morning League, but lost the chance to go top after losing 3-0 to bottom club Northan Celtic after having a bit of an off day. New signing James Garwood has been playing well in midfield with Adam Moore putting in some good performances up front.

No games for the Veteran team during the last month, but they should be back in action at Whitton on January 3.

Finally, I would like to wish all our players, officials and supporters a happy and prosperous New Year. Enjoy your football.

Bob the Ploughman

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ON THE GRAPEVINE FROM THE ARCHIVES Quay Street, Manningtree – Saving Stour Cottage From the 1850s onward the level of domestic housing in the Quay area gradually reduced and clustered in a squash of buildings towards Wherry Corner. As well as the gateway through the Crown Inn, maps show a route down from the High Street through the garden of the old rectory where the war memorial now stands. There was a parish pump in the middle of the street and another towards The Walls. Given the closeness to the river this must have been fairly salty water to drink, but all that was available at the time.

The cottages were all of different designs and dimensions, suggesting little planning or adherence to any local style of construction.

Stour Cottage is now the sole survivor of these timber-framed buildings.

Early photos show it covered in ivy, slightly larger in height than the adjacent house. At one time the cottage was split into two dwellings, possibly with an entrance at the back. In the1880s Lucy Bedwell, a widow living on her own, had one half, George Fenter, a retired carpenter and his wife, the other. George was still there 30 years later.

By the turn of the 20th century there were about 11 properties left with some 60 people packed into what must have been fairly overcrowded conditions. Some worked as fishermen, others dockers. There were also carpenters, bricklayers, labourers, coal porters, along with a chimney sweep and a hairdresser.

Fisherman Benjamin Lucas and his wife Eliza lived in the middle of the street, at one time with 11 children between two and 24 years of age in the one cottage. Next door but one was Thomas and Susan Lucas and nine children.

Stour Cottage was later designated 10 Quay Street and fortunately in 1970 the widow of Alf Beaumont, a local bargeman, decided to offer it to the sailing club, who happen to be looking for premises. They were given only 24 hours to decide but managed to hand over a deposit by the next morning. This saved it from being torn down as part of the clearances which then took place and saw the rest of the Quay Street cottages pulled down one by one.

Peter Gant covers the history of South Street at the next museum talk at the Methodist Church Hall on January 27 at 7.30pm.

Philip Cunningham

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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 January Sunday 3

9am

Tuesday 5 9.30am

10am

Sunday 10 9am

Tuesday 12 9.20am

10am

Sunday 17 9am

Diary Dates Mass – The Epiphany of the Lord Morning Prayer Mass Mass – The Baptism of the Lord Eucharistic Adoration Mass Mass – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time / Children’s Liturgy

Morning Prayer Mass

Tuesday 19 9.30am

10am

Sunday 24 9am Mass – Third Sunday of

Ordinary Time

Tuesday 26 9.30am Morning Prayer

10am Mass

Sunday 31 9am Mass – Fourth Sunday of

Ordinary Time

Catholic Commentary – Pope Francis’ Top 10 Secrets To Happiness 1. Live and let live 2. Be giving of yourself to others 3. Proceed calmly in life 4. A healthy sense of leisure 5. Sundays should be holidays 6. Create dignified jobs for young people 7. Respect and take care of nature 8. Stop being negative 9. Don’t proselytise; respect others’ beliefs 10. Work for peace

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. All are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, January 28.

100 Club, now renamed the 200 Club As we continue to grow and now have 134 numbers taken the club has been renamed. We welcome new members to the club, set up to raise much need 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 on the parish website (www. stmarksparish.org.uk). The next monthly draw is planned to take place at Holy Family after Sunday mass when the prize pool will be £133.

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

All are very welcome at Holy Family, Brantham All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services. It’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic faith are always welcome. Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic.

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BRANTHAM

MASS FOR CATHOLICS IN ARDLEIGH AND MISTLEY

Services on Sundays: 9am • Holy days anticipatory: 7.30pm Tuesdays: 10am

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 Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ 01473 684963 • office@stmarksparish.org.uk

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Father Jon Ravensdale, 01206 870460

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CHURCH NEWS ST MARY’S CHURCH, LAWFORD

Priest-in-charge: The Rev Simon Heron, 01206 392659 Services for January Sunday, January 3 8am Holy Communion BCP 8.45am Prayer Breakfast 10am Holy Communion Sunday, January 10 8am Holy Communion BCP 10am Family Service 6.30pm Evensong

Sunday, January 17 8am Holy Communion BCP 10am Holy Communion 6.30pm Cafe Church Sunday, January 24 8am Holy Communion BCP tbc Joint Service at Foundry Court Sunday, January 31 8am Holy Communion BCP 10am All Age Communion

BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT AND BRANTHAM Sunday, December 27: Christmas 1 10am BCP Communion (said), East Bergholt Thursday, December 31: New Year’s Eve 11.30pm Informal Communion in the Rectory: See the New Year

in with Jesus!, Brantham Sunday, January 3: Epiphany 8am BCP Communion (Healing), East Bergholt 10am Benefice Communion (Healing), East Bergholt Wednesday, January 6

9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday, January 10: Epiphany 1 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Communion Service, East Bergholt 11am Family Service, Brantham Sunday, January 17: Epiphany 2 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Family Service, East Bergholt 11am Communion Service (Healing), Brantham Saturday, January 23

Deanery Wedding Preparation Day, Bentley Sunday, January 24: Epiphany 3 8am BCP Communion, East Bergholt 10am Choral Matins, East Bergholt 11am Informal Service, Brantham 3pm Ecumenical Service, Brantham 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 This service schedule may change without prior notice if needed.

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LENT COURSE: Let’s Re-imagine Church Our world and our lives change at an ever-increasing 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 being 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

Dates: Wednesdays, February 17 & 24, March 2 & 9, Thursday, March 17 and Wednesday, April 13.

WEDDING/FLOWER FESTIVAL AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, EAST BERGHOLT St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt will be holding a wedding/flower festival at the end of July 2016. We would like to hear from anyone who was married at St Mary’s Church and still has her 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 the bridal bouquets. 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

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CHURCH NEWS BRANTHAM AND CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST CHURCHES WHAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE? The sinking of the Titanic over 100 years ago reminds us that what you see of an iceberg is only the tip. About 90% of the iceberg is hidden beneath the water. I think the same is true for people. A large percentage of our lives is very private and only a few know us intimately. Often people will label us with a particular characteristic, a sad person or a happy person, an outdoor type or a TV couch potato. Sometimes the label we put on someone reflects our own insecurities or prejudices.

I hate when people put a label on me because it may reflect a part of me, the 10% bit that is above water that people see, but there is more to me than this 10% as in the iceberg. I’m a complex being. Probably my wife and family know me best and they continue to love me. Then there are those small groups and individuals that I am part of where together we share what’s happening in our lives and pray and support each other in good and difficult times. It’s a place where people listen to me and I listen to them. It’s a place where we can belong.

In the first church we went to after our marriage, in my mind I labelled the people who attended as ‘holy people’ and I now realise that we had pretended to be holy too! After a year we started small home groups for those who wanted and I began to discover real people like myself, people who sometimes made mistakes, found it difficult to pray and got angry for selfish reasons. In this environment we felt wanted and loved despite our imperfections.

In four of my churches we run what is called Messy Church, an informal gathering of families with craft activities, games, celebrations and food.

Recently after one such Messy Church when we had baptised three children, the mother wrote: “it was such a joy to be welcomed in and I

really feel we have a place now.” I was thrilled at this response and sense of belonging.

When we belong, we are comfortable in each other’s company and can be our real selves. More to follow on this next month.

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 AT BRANTHAM METHODIST Sunday 3 11am Sunday 10 11am Sunday 17 11am Sunday 24 11am Sunday 31 11am

Worship with Jenny Archer Worship with Chris Finbow Worship – Pulpit Exch Worship – Unity Worship with The Rev Andrew Sankey

AT CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Sunday 3 10.30am Worship with Andrew Fairweather

6pm Prayer Stations Sunday 10 10.30am Worship with Graham House

6.30pm Healing & Communion with

The Rev Andrew Sankey Sunday 17 10.30am Worship with Mark Firmin Sunday 24 10.30am Covenant Service with

The Rev Andrew Sankey

6.30pm United Prayer at St Mary’s Sunday 31 10.30am Worship with Guy Fairweather

MANNINGTREE BENEFICE AN ALL-AGE ANGLICAN CHURCH MEETING IN ST MARY & ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH, MISTLEY, AND ST LAWRENCE’S CHURCH, BRADFIELD Happy New Year! This is where the real work of Christmas begins: 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 that sounds daunting, but that all becomes possible because God is with us.

Services for January Sunday, January 3 10.30am New Year Joint Worship with

Communion and Treasure Seekers* at Mistley 6pm Evening Prayer at Bradfield

On Sunday, January 24, instead of meeting in our churches we will join with Christians across the area and worship together, celebrating our unity and praying that we might carry on working together in our community. If you would like to join us, please do: everyone of all ages welcome and there will be Messy Church-style activities for children.

Sunday, January 10 10.30am Family Worship with Treasure Seekers* at Mistley 10.30am Holy Communion (Common Worship) at Bradfield 6pm Evening Prayer at Mistley

We are also holding Café Church again in January, which is ‘church, but not as you know it!’ Come along to Bradfield 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.

Sunday, January 17 10.30am Family Worship and Treasure Seekers* at Bradfield 10.30am Holy Communion (Common Worship) at Mistley 6pm Quiet Communion at Bradfield

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 and events. If you’d like to get weekly notices of what’s going on in the benefice, please email the office (see below) and ask to be put onto the weekly email – we’ll be happy to help.

Sunday, January 24 8am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 10.30am Service for Christian Unity with Churches Together at

Foundry Court with children’s work

Contact Information Vicar: The Rev Christine Hills, 01206 392200 Associate minister: The Rev John Brien, 01206 397549 Curate: The Rev Claire Scargill, 01206 392018

Sunday, January 31 10.30am Joint Café Church with Treasure Seekers* at Bradfield *Treasure Seekers is our children’s programme for ages 3+

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

All services are at St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Mistley CO11 1ER or St Lawrence’s Church, Bradfield CO11 2US unless otherwise stated.

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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree

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CHURCH NEWS MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH South Street, Manningtree Minister: The Rev Andrew Bell, 4 Elmdale Drive, Mistley, Manningtree CO11 2HP / 01206 396654

Also meeting on the premises:

Sunday Service: 10.15am

Monday

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

Bible Study: First Wednesday of the month in the committee room, 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, 7.30 pm, bi-monthly

Holy Communion: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 2.30pm Welcome Wednesdays: Every Wednesday from 2.30pm – drop in for a chat and tea/coffee. Activities on the second and third Wednesdays.

Secretary: Mrs M Cuthbertson • Treasurer: Mr G King • Contact for church hall bookings: David Shearmur, 395263

TRINITY FREE CHURCH

Meeting at Old St Michael’s School on Trinity Road, Manningtree Faith under fire!

Back in November, Paris, France, was under attack. Terrorists rampaged through the city, killing as many people as they could.

What came out of that tragedy? Many Parisians demonstrated their belief in their city. You might have seen the slogans and the banners bearing the title, “Je suis Paris” (I am Paris). Under the threat of more attacks, Parisians continued their lifestyle… eating and drinking in the various bars and cafes.

But should you put your faith in a city, a system or a way of life? The hero of our evening preaching in January, Daniel, was captured by a despotic leader and forced to work for him. His life was under threat and his faith under fire his whole life! Despite this he always looked to the Living God for his salvation. God did not let him down! Isn’t it better to trust the Living God than to put your faith in a city, a system or a way of life?

Many people still put their faith in the living God today and demonstrate this, as He commanded them, by being baptised. On January 17, during our morning service, one of our teenagers will proclaim their faith in this way.

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 JANUARY Mondays 11, 18 & 26: 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) – crafts, 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.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday w/b January 10 & 24) Home groups, Bible study and prayer from Nehemiah.

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

You’ll receive a warm welcome at our public worship services each

EAST BERGHOLT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Cemetery Lane, East Bergholt, CO7 6RZ

Pastor: Mrs Maralyn Bambridge 35 Birch Drive, Brantham, Manningtree CO11 1TG 01206 393022 / maralyn.bambridge@yahoo.com Organist: J Stuart Rees GRSM, LRAM, ARCO / 01255 508222 Services: Sunday at 10.30am – all welcome Communion: taken at the end of the service on the second Sunday of each month.

Coffee Mornings: Every Thursday, 9.30-11.30am Sunday, December 27: Sunday, January 3: Sunday, January 10: Sunday, January 17: Sunday, January 24: Sunday, January 31:

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Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Pastor Maralyn Bambridge Mr Ted Wheatley

Happy New Year to everyone and I hope you have all enjoyed the celebrations whether they have been quiet or full on. I wonder what you are hoping for during the next 12 months. To a certain extent we shall all experience much the same as in previous years – holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and so forth. But then there is always the unexpected surprises, some good and some not so good. It is then that we are all pulled up short, especially if they are not good. We suddenly realise that we are not invincible, that like other mortals we can crumble.

This is when we need extra help, particularly God’s help. It is worth remembering that he is waiting for us to call on him and that he will never let us down. He is there for all of us but we need to respond to his outstretched hand. How? Give me a call, or meet with Steph at one of her café meetings. I know I speak for all of us in this group of churches when I say any one of us is here to help. The numbers are in the magazine.

Blessings, Maralyn

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