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with Brantham, Lawford Manningtree & Mistley Volume 7 • Issue No. 5 • MARCH 2017
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
NEWS CHURCH HALL TO BECOME ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE A 100-year-old church hall is to be registered as an asset of community value. A valid nomination was received from Mistley Thorn Residents’ Association for St Mary’s Church Hall in New Road, Mistley. Tendring District Council (TDC) had to decide whether the building met the necessary definition as set out in the Localism Act 2011. TDC’s cabinet agreed with the move at a meeting on Friday, January 20 as it felt the hall furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the community. It means that if the owners wish to sell the property they must tell the council who will inform the residents’ association and publicise the sale. Community groups would have six weeks to register their intent to bid and if they do so within the time limit they would have six months to come up with money. If a group does not make a bid then the hall could be sold in the normal way. TDC Leader Neil Stock said this initiative had worked well for a couple of pubs in Tendring where they had been bought and run by the community, rather than closed down. “This is one nomination I am quite happy to support and I can see no reason not to,” he said.
Chalkboard outside a small convenience store and bakery in Co Kerry. For once I’m going to let the picture do the talking! Happy shopping. Sharon
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with Brantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley
Carlo Guglielmi, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety and Finance, said the hall is known as ‘the institute’ as it was the first meeting place of the Women’s Institute. “It dates back to 1911 and is an example of the arts and crafts movement supported by the likes of William Morris,” he added. “The institute has been listed as a Grade II building of special architectural or historic interest. There has been a steady decline of usage due to more up to date buildings in the area. There are concerns about its financial viability, but the nominators want to try to make it sustainable and I also back this bid 100 per cent.”
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Cllr Guglielmi said that if the facility was to close it would be a great loss to the community.
Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
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Agrochemex has been granted planning permission for the building which will sit alongside an existing laboratory at Aldhams Farm in Dead Lane. The scheme includes a new covered walkway which will link the two buildings as well as a landscaped external courtyard and additional car parking. The site is in a rural location outside the development boundary and currently contains existing farm buildings and light industrial units. Tendring District Council (TDC) decided that the proposal will provide significant new employment opportunities for around 15 people without any adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area. There were no objections from Lawford Parish Council and no other representations were received. See REPORT TO PARISHES from Babergh District Councillor Alastair McCraw on page 6 for details of Greater Anglia’s Maintenance Depot in Brantham and the briefing scheduled to take place at Brantham Village Hall on Tuesday, March 7 from 7pm. 3
NEWS RUGBY CLUBHOUSE SCHEME GETS OVER THE LINE
ACORN VILLAGE STALWARTS RECEIVE PRIDE OF TENDRING AWARD
Mistley Rugby Club’s plans to build a modern new clubhouse have been given the all-clear. The club, which is based at Furze Hill Recreation Ground in Shrubland Road, wants to demolish its existing building at the site once the replacement has been put up. The aim is to share the current village hall parking facilities served by a traffic calmed access road. The new building will be a brick and glass structure and will include changing rooms, toilets and showers on the ground floor with a clubroom, kitchen, bar and toilets at first floor level. There will also be a viewing balcony facing the pitch and the clubhouse will incorporate an accessible lift as part of the scheme. The site is outside the village settlement boundary and within the countryside. It is also in the Manningtree and Mistley Conservation Area. Tendring District Council (TDC) approved the planning application with five conditions imposed. A TDC spokesman said: “The replacement of this community building is acceptable. The character of the conservation area will be enhanced and there will be little impact on the visual amenity of the area, highway safety or any change to neighbouring amenity.”
Acorn Village Charity would like to congratulate previous CEO and company secretary Ray and Heather Ablett on receiving a Pride of Tendring Award for their work with Acorn Village. Heather’s father was the leading figure in setting up the charity for adults with learning disabilities more than 42 years ago with Heather being involved since day one. Ray was a keen fundraiser for the charity before joining the working team. They have written a book with the help of Tony Tuckwell on the history of the charity called Life is for Living. It is available from the charity shops onsite at Acorn Village and at Honeycroft and Mistley Post Offices.
SUPPER AND SONG
Mistley Parish Council supported the proposal and there were no objections received. One of the conditions is that no floodlighting or other external lighting can be installed until full details have been put forward and agreed.
CONSTABLE COUNTRY PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP Two PPG members spent a morning at Capel and East Bergholt surgeries and were impressed by the helpfulness and attitude of the staff and the systems in place. Phone calls were constant and answered on average in 30 seconds. There were many requests for input from doctors, from prescriptions to urgent queries. These requests are immediately passed on electronically and an ‘urgent task’ pops up on the doctor’s screen. One item of feedback from patients was acted on immediately – you will notice that your name is now on the screen for much longer! Verbal abuse of receptionists We were very sorry to hear that receptionists have recently been victims of an increase in personal abuse from patients. You may be frustrated, worried and angry when you call, but please don’t take it out on the receptionists. Follow-up appointments If a doctor wants to see you again, ask them to book this for you as receptionists aren’t usually able to do this. Problems with prescriptions The recent changes to electronic prescriptions have meant there is increased delay in providing the prescribed medicine. Please ensure that you get your repeat prescriptions in early. Kathy Pollard, Chair Constable Country PPG 01473 311384 / constablecountryppg@gmail.com 4
A very successful evening event was held by Manningtree and District Frankenberg Partnership Association on Friday, February 10. Fifty association members and friends met in the Oak Room at Acorn Village where a light German supper was served. Entertainment was provided by popular local singers Quattro Alti who presented an enjoyable mixed programme of German, British and American folk and traditional songs which had the audience singing along. Denis Baldry, the president of MDFPA, commented: “First let me say a big thank you to our committee, to Quattro Alti and to everyone who attended. For us, this was a very enjoyable and rewarding evening demonstrating the continuing commitment to the friendship that we enjoy with the people of Frankenberg (Eder). In June members of the association will travel to Germany as Frankenberg celebrates the 50th anniversary of their first town twinning. There we will join in, and contribute to, four days of activities together with visitors from the other twin towns in Austria, Poland, France and Saxony.” MDFPA now looks ahead to its own 50 year celebration which will be in 2021. Many people from the district have taken the opportunity of exchange visits with Frankenberg over the past 46 years. Pupils from local schools, members of sports teams, local farmers, Stour Choral Society and The Rotary Club of Manningtree Stour Valley are among others who will have many memories and continuing friendships as a result of their visits. If you have been involved at any time it will be good to hear from you. Contact Denis Baldry at: denis@baldrys.org In Touch online:
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5
NEWS REPORT TO PARISHES, ALTON WARD: MARCH 2016 Babergh District Councillor Alastair McCraw Greater Anglia’s Maintenance Depot in Brantham By now most will have heard that Greater Anglia/Abellio will be building a brand new state of the art train maintenance depot at the former factory site in Brantham. This is a major investment that will serve the brand new trains due to arrive in 2019. It also provides the Industrial Regeneration Area with the Prime User necessary to provide a solid base for future employment, as many in the village hoped. I don’t propose to go through all the details here though. Most importantly, the village will be kept informed and briefed as the process starts shortly. With Babergh, Abellio, Taylor Woodrow (the contractor) and Saint Francis Group we have arranged for Brantham and the parish council to receive a full briefing at the village hall from 7pm on March 7. Please attend if you can. It’s important that everybody gets the full facts and has all their questions answered. There will be a planning application and that will be subject to the consultation process, possibly around the same time. A lot of work has been done to make this happen and I’m going to pay tribute to Babergh, our MP and my ward colleague Harriet in particular here, but it’s the community who will be most affected. I believe that will be a positive effect, so feel free to ask me anything you want to know in the meantime. What does a councillor do? Part 2: Training and Committees Nobody starts off knowing this job, although good parish experience gives you a head start. You need some serious training. We’re governed by the Local Government Acts so we have legal responsibilities. If we’re going to serve on either of the quasi-judicial committees (Planning and Licensing/Regulatory) we must know those things and the rules governing them. Otherwise we’d just be accepting officer advice blindly without being able to apply our own judgement and understanding. That is, after all, what we’re elected to do. But the initial training, the regular refreshment and the constant updating is essential just to stay on top of a system that never stands still. When I started, I grabbed every opportunity to gain a background to all the committees and functions. That continues, although I’m pressing for more. There’s a lot of information available through the various papers, policies and press coverage, with some translation required! This involves a lot of reading, then some more. We recently undertook a survey of the time we spent on various council activities. I worked out that, all told, a 30-40 hour week was quite common for me. Thank God, I actually enjoy a lot of it. I’m now on two committees, Regulatory/Licensing and Joint Audit (the books). Plus I’ve been appointed to a Task and Finish group looking at our Public Realm (green spaces, dog bins, fly tipping, etc.). Shotley Pier: A New Life I started off with positive news. Here’s some more. The 122-year-old Shotley Pier is to receive matched funding up to £100,000 through the Co-op. This locally launched initiative to renovate has been going from strength-to-strength in recent months, thanks in large part to my Independent colleague Derek Davis in Berners Ward. If you’d like to help this effort to get things done, look up the Pier Interest Group, Shotley Suffolk on Facebook. As always, if anything concerns you please contact me via the methods below – or just say hello sometime. I’m on a Blue Claud Butler bicycle, usually with a yellow winter cycling jacket. alastair.mccraw@babergh.gov.uk / 07812 564188 Facebook: Alton, Alastair McCraw & Harriet Steer (an open group) 6
LAWFORD SURGERY We are pleased to introduce Teresa who joined our nursing team in January. All of our nurses are highly skilled in diabetes care, COPD, asthma and all other chronic diseases. We also have a nurse prescriber who can see patients for all minor illnesses. Currently our nursing team is offering free NHS health checks. If you are aged 40-74 and haven’t had a stroke or don’t have heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease, you should have an NHS health check every five years. The NHS health check enables us to monitor our patients and encourage healthy lifestyles while carrying out a general health check including checking cholesterol levels. If advice from a GP is necessary all issues are addressed at this one appointment. Regular blood pressure checks Please remember to make an appointment for a five yearly blood pressure check. It is very important to check your blood pressure as high blood pressure could lead to health problems in the future. Flu vaccines It’s not too late to book a flu vaccination. Please call 01206 392617 to book your NHS health check, blood pressure check or a flu vaccination appointment with any of our nurses. Repeat Prescriptions We are asking patients to email prescription requests to save blocking our telephone lines. Please only telephone between 11am and 2pm. Our email address is: lawford.surgery@nhs.net Patient Access The other option for patients over 18 is to sign up for patient access. This allows you to request online repeat prescriptions and to make appointments. You will need to come to the surgery and ask at reception for log in details. Repeat Dispensing: Batch System This is available to non-dispensing patients who are on regular monthly prescriptions. Instead of calling the surgery each month to order your prescription, the doctor agrees to issue a batch of three, four, five or six monthly prescriptions to send to your nominated pharmacy. When the last prescription from your batch has been dispensed the pharmacy will inform you to contact the surgery and an appointment or another batch of prescriptions can be organised. If internet access is unavailable we ask patients to only telephone the surgery between the hours of 11am and 2pm as we are trying to keep the telephone lines as clear as possible. Levothyroxine Audit Update We are pleased to announce that due to the audit of Levothyroxine tablets conducted with our dispensing patients, we have now reached over 95% compliance with those who participated over a 28-day period. This means that they are now getting the most benefit from their medicine. Fundraising update Lawford Surgery is proud to announce that the total amount raised by completing the Santa Fun Run in December was £453.40. A big thank you again to our patients and supporters for their kind donations. Our fundraising efforts are an ongoing concern so watch this space for more events. In Touch online:
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Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number
of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT YOUR HOME – YOUR RIGHT TO SAY NO! 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
BRANTHAM PARISH COUNCIL The next meeting of Brantham Parish Council will take place on March 1. Come along to find out what your parish council is up to and to raise any questions or 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. The parish council meets on the first Wednesday of every month (except August) in Brantham Village Hall at 7.30pm. The public are welcome to attend. Contact the Brantham Parish Clerk: 07702 490212 / clerk@branthamparishcouncil.co.uk You can also follow Brantham Parish Council on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BranthamParishCouncil Parish Clerk Surgeries Brantham Parish Clerk holds monthly ‘surgery’ sessions at Bake 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 next surgery is on March 8, 10am-noon.
Police are warning residents to be mindful of rogue traders or doorstep sellers who turn up at your home uninvited. Bogus callers can be men, women or even children, offering a variety of stories to encourage you to buy items such as household products and food or offering services such as gardening work and property repairs. These individuals frequently deceive you into paying for work or goods you don’t actually need and may also provide a substandard service if they do any work at all. Occupants often feel pressurised and agree to work being done at over-inflated prices. Do not pay for work before it is satisfactorily completed – and remember you are entitled to a 14 day cancellation period if you pay over £42 for services or goods. IF SOMEONE CALLS: •
Ensure you lock your back door before answering
•
Check who is there before you answer the front door (a spyhole is a good idea) or go to an upstairs window and look out
•
If you do decide to answer the door make sure you put on a door chain/bar before you open it
•
Ask the caller for identification and check it carefully – do not allow them access to your property. Genuine callers will not mind waiting while their identities are being verified.
WHO CAN HELP? Police: If someone is refusing to leave your property or becomes aggressive towards you then call 999. If you see someone acting suspiciously call 101. Trading Standards / Citizens Advice Consumer Service: If you have received substandard services or wish to find out about NO COLD CALLING ZONES, a scheme setup in areas where unsolicited cold calling is becoming an increasing problem. Police can also provide residents with door/window stickers which can be displayed to deter unwanted callers. Contact: 03454 040506 (9am-5pm) / tradingstandards@suffolk.gov.uk Police: 999 emergencies only or 101 for non-emergencies
LAWFORD PARISH COUNCIL You can read the council’s minutes on:
Local police: Hadleigh SNT, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
•
www.essexinfo.net/lawford-parish-council
•
the parish council’s noticeboards
EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY
•
minutes can be collected from the parish office by prior arrangement as the offices are not open to the public
Something is rotten and really quite stinks in the Kingdom of Lancre. The King is dead. Long live the King!
MISTLEY PARISH COUNCIL The full unapproved minutes of council 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 approved minutes can be accessed online at: www.essexinfo.net/mistleypc/parish-council/meetings Dates of next meetings in the village hall Thursdays, March 9 & 30 at 7.30pm: Planning Committee Monday, March 13 at 7.30pm: Full Council Saturday, March 25 at 10.30am: Finance Committee 8
Well, no actually, because the new king, the evil Duke Felmet, murdered the previous one… The missing true heir, the baby prince, finds protection with three local witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and their protégé Magrat Garlick. Although witches have a rule never to interfere with the life of a child at stake and the fate of the kingdom in their hands, they take granny’s advice about rules: If you’re going to break them – break them good and hard! Terry Pratchett’s marvellous Discworld characters are brought to life in this hilarious and fast paced adventure playing at The Constable Hall in East Bergholt on March 30 and 31 and April 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 in advance from: 01473 311553 / 07803 475750 In Touch online:
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OUT & ABOUT STOUR CHORAL SOCIETY
ART EXHIBITION AND SALE
Performing Faure’s Requiem and Rutter’s Magnificat at East Bergholt Church on Saturday, April 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets (£10 / under 18s free) available from 01206 844754 or on the door.
The 45th Art Exhibition and Sale will be held for four days over Easter (April 1417) in the Methodist Halls, South Street, Manningtree. The very first art exhibition was held in the derelict Manningtree Maltings and moved to Manningtree Methodist Halls when they were developed.
STOUR VALLEY ARTS AND MUSIC Sunday, March 5, 4pm: Young Musician’s Concert, Constable Hall, East Bergholt Another opportunity to hear some of the many talented young musicians in our area. This is an extra event not included in the season ticket. Tickets are just £6 which includes refreshments. Sunday, March 19, 4pm: Kammerphilharmonie Europa at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt
Each year hundreds of paintings from all over East Anglia are displayed with many satisfied customers adorning their houses with local and professional talent. In recent years a book sale has been added on Easter Monday. The exhibition is added to with refreshments and stalls and a photographic display. Entries for the art exhibition are already well supported. Further entries can be made by phoning 01206 298635/391145.
MANIFEST THEATRE, MANNINGTREE We are looking forward immensely to The Lady in The Van which plays from March 14-18 with a great cast beautifully directed by Kerry King. Manifest Film Night: Bridget Jones’s Baby
Back by popular demand this exciting ensemble is an excellent finale to our 66th season. The Chamber Philharmonic Europe was founded in 2001 in Cologne. The orchestra engages talented young musicians from 18 European nations. Generously sponsored by Scrutton Bland, Colchester. Box office and information: www.svam.org.uk / 01206 298426 / svamtickets@btinternet
BUMPER BOOK SALE Attention to all you book lovers. Another bumper book sale is planned for Easter Monday, April 17 at Manningtree Methodist Church in South Street from 10am-4pm. This will be run alongside our highly successful four day art show.
Friday, March 24, doors open 7pm, tickets on the door £7 (delete £2 if a member). Saturday, March 25: Laurel and Hardy Film Night Doors open 7.30pm, tickets on the door £3, non-members £4. This is a separate club from the Manifest and you will require Laurel & Hardy Club membership.
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ADVERTORIAL TUCKWELL’S TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING WITH TURF AND LAWNCARE OPEN WEEKEND The Tuckwell family are opening the doors to their Ardleigh Showroom on April 1 and 2 for a special family weekend of turf, lawncare and clothing offers to get your garden into shape for 2017. The business, established in 1954 by Len Tuckwell, has a long and successful history of supporting the agricultural industry through both sales and service. Starting with just three employees, Len was one of the first four John Deere dealers in the UK. Ten years later his son Paul established the Ardleigh depot aged 21. Following university, Len’s grandson James also joined the business and the company has continued to grow. As a result Tuckwell’s is now one of the largest machinery dealers in the South East, with a strong focus on quality of service. Agriculture still remains at the heart of the business, but Tuckwell’s has more to offer. Garden and turf machinery, including a full range of John Deere mowers, are all on offer. Lawn and garden machinery specialist Bruce Davie said: “At our main lawncare showroom in Ardleigh, we offer specialist advice on mowers and help you decide on the best option for your lawn and budget.” Bruce and his colleagues are on hand six days a week. Bruce added: “We will also come to see your garden if that suits you better. The beauty of buying a machine from us is that we can provide you with the
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aftercare that you need. We have lawnmower parts in stock and a service team ready to help you look after and repair your machine.” Another growing sector of the business is Tuckwell’s expanding range of men’s and women’s country clothing, Out and About, stocking a handpicked selection of brands with a country/contemporary feel including Dubarry, Fairfax & Favor and Crew and Joules. As well as Ardleigh, the range is also in their Worlingworth branch and will also be at a number of country shows throughout the year. In addition to John Deere machinery, Tuckwell’s also stock toys. From ride on gators and farming toys to children’s John Deere overalls, there is a vast children’s selection in all depots. Managing Director James Tuckwell said: “We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our Ardleigh open event on April 1 and 2. It will be a fun weekend with prizes, special deals on lawnmowers and great discounts off our best-selling clothing brands. Come and join us for a bacon roll and coffee while your children enjoy the fantastic play area.” For more info please visit: www.tuckwell.co.uk P Tuckwell Ltd, Ardleigh Hall, Dedham Road, Colchester CO7 7LG
11
OUT & ABOUT HARKSTEAD VILLAGE SPRING AUCTION CLEAR THE CLUTTER – BAG A BARGAIN Bentley Toddler Group is holding a fundraising jumble sale on Saturday, April 29 at Bentley Village Hall from 2pm. If you have anything you wish to donate, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on the day or contact Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311) to arrange collection.
Our very popular twice yearly auction will be held on Saturday, April 1 in the village hall starting at 10am. If you haven’t been before, this is good fun and an enjoyable and profitable way of recycling those household goods that are too good to throw away. For buyers and those of us with an eye for a bargain it’s an opportunity to pick up collectors’ items.
We hope to see you there; the hall will be open from 2pm and tea and coffee will be available.
Please put this date in your diary. If you would like more information or to book lots in for sale, please contact: 01473 328649 / harksteadauction@btinternet.com
ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET
Lots will be taken in between 2 and 4pm on Thursday, March 30, but it’s essential to book in items for sale in advance as we will again be limiting the number of lots to about 250. First come first served!
The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, March 11, 9am-12.30pm. Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying. East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier. If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190 Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue. New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777
The hall is open for viewing the items for sale on Friday, March 31 from 11am-1pm and 4-8pm, as well as from 9am on the day of the auction itself. There is ample parking and refreshments will be available (IP9 1DG).
EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION QUIZ NIGHT At East Bergholt High School on Friday, March 24 at 7.30pm. Individuals and teams of eight welcome. Tickets £5 per person including nibbles. Licensed bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks opens at 7pm. For further information please phone: 01206 298122 / 07753 422474 Over 18s only unless accompanied by an adult.
Capel St Mary CEVC Primary School
QUIZ IN AID OF 1st HOLBROOK GUIDES & SHOTLEY PIER Holbrook Primary School on Thursday, March 9, 7-9pm. £5 per person, teams of six maximum. Cake stall, teas and coffee and a raffle. To book a table email: holbrookguides@outlook.com One-third of the proceeds will be donated by the Guides to Shotley Heritage Communicate Benefit Society Ltd.
Nearly New Sale
Saturday, March 18, 1.30-3pm Capel Community Church Days Road, Capel St Mary GOOD QUALITY ITEMS ONLY Maternity clothes, baby equipment, clothes (0-11 years), toys, books and games 50p entrance fee (children free) For more details or to order a seller’s pack, please contact: Lisa 01473 312248 / Jo 07709 724133
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In Touch online:
Companion
/kəmˈpanjən/ noun 1. a person with whom one spends a lot of time 2. talking to my new friend Mary
Call free on 0808 102 4493 or visit anchor.org.uk/care St Marys care home, Woodlands Road, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2PS www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree Anchor homes companion In Touch Brantham A4 230117.indd 1
20/01/2017 11:33:58
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OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT Chairman Jamie Robinson (pictured) and the committee of the Royal British Legion Manningtree and District Branch welcome old and new members to meetings at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the Crown Hotel, Manningtree High Street. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, March 8. For further details or if you would like to join please contact: sharonrobinson163@yahoo.com
BRANTHAM OVER SIXTIES CLUB Members enjoyed the festive month, beginning on December 6 with a quiz and afternoon tea with plenty of mince pies and Christmas cake. Mr David Padwick entertained with seasonal songs and ballads on December 13 and our Christmas lunch at the leisure centre on December 20 was beautifully cooked by Sue and enjoyed by all. This year members will have lunch at the leisure centre once a month, alternating between fish and chips and a meal cooked at the club. We hope that this new venture will be a success and that everyone will enjoy it.
Our New Year started with a fun evening hosted by Ed Bacon, also known as ‘Ed The Light Monkey’. Colourful patterns were produced by LED wands, swirled around in the dark and captured at long exposure to produce some intriguing, almost psychedelic images. We all joined in and it really made us think about light and colour like never before. There were fewer colours in the monochrome competition which followed, but a great deal of wisdom from Alan Sarsby, an engaging judge and first rate communicator who gave us lots of advice. A wellattended evening produced at lot of high scoring entries. Best in show went to Russell Hynard with this fascinating creation titled Watch Repair (pictured). In early February we were pleased to welcome back Roy Essery, chairman of Colchester Photographic Society, who told us all about making photobooks. What are we going to do with all those electronically stored pictures in the long term when we’re wearing computers on our wrists? Perhaps this is today’s answer. Roy, a passionate photographer, explained that the quality of a print far exceeds that of an electronic display. He took us through some professional internet based options and brought along a number of very high quality books he had compiled. Good examples are Blurb.co.uk and Yophoto.co.uk should you wish to pursue this option. We have been pleased to welcome new members who have joined us for the last two evenings. FUTURE MEETINGS March 9: Night-time and Low Light / Competition Judge: Graham Parry March 23: Dick Williams ARPS & Dave Wilcox Digital Show: Audio-visual Presentation March 30: Critique Evening: Review and discussion of member’s own work We meet twice monthly on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm at St John’s Centre, Station Road, Manningtree CO11 1EB. New members are welcome to join or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Please contact Margaret for more information: 01206 396958 / madps@post.com www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk 14
Meetings are on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30-4.30pm at Brantham Leisure Centre. Visitors are very welcome and new members even more so. For more information contact our secretary, Mrs Jean Lace: 01206 396242 DATES FOR THE DIARY March 14: Patchwork Quilts with Georgette Vale March 21: True or False with members’ participation and lunch at the club at 1pm. Bus pick ups start at East End at 12.15pm. March 28: Annual General Meeting April 11: Hypnosis for the Seven Ages of Man with Dr Nic Cooper April 18: Beetle Drive April 25: Have a Blooming Try with members’ participation
EVENTS AT MISTLEY CHURCH HALL Tea & Support is a friendship and self-help group formed some three years ago for those who have been bereaved or are living alone. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 2-4pm in the Church Hall, New Road, Mistley. These meetings usually consist of a talk or activity followed by an opportunity to chat over tea and homemade cake. Several times a year we have an outing to somewhere local for either lunch or afternoon tea. As our numbers have increased we have needed to hire transport for these outings. To cover our costs we now ask our members for a donation of £1 per meeting attended. Our next meeting is on March 15 when we will have speakers from Acorn Village, one of whom is a First Responder who will give us some useful first aid knowledge, and Ray Ablett will tell us more about Acorn Village, its work and its residents. For further information please contact Joy or John Baker on 01206 391918 or Paskell’s on 01206 396709. The 2017 programme will be available shortly and copies can be obtained from Paskell’s, at St Mary and St Michael’s Church or from the church office on 01206 392200. In Touch online:
www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree
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JAMES CARTLIDGE, MP FOR SOUTH SUFFOLK Registration has opened for the 10th Alton Water run which is on May 7 and I was pleased to be able to confirm that I will be kicking off proceedings, with funds raised going to the excellent cause of local primary schools. I also hope to take part subject to my knee making a full recovery from a blow received playing football for the UK Parliamentary XI against the Salvation Army! Secondly, I had a most enjoyable visit to Shotley to see for myself the plans to resurrect and refurbish the pier. After a tour of the Ganges Museum I was taken by boat onto the estuary and shown the current dilapidated structure. I also heard how the new project will improve matters. It was a freezing cold day, but the welcome was very warm and followed by a delightful lunch in the Bristol Arms. Finally, we had the fantastic news that the long-decaying Brantham industrial site will be regenerated with a £70m Japanese funded inward investment boost from Abellio, our regional train operator. A brand new 13 siding, 22 acre rail maintenance depot will be constructed on the site to support the brand new fleet of rolling stock that Abellio have promised to deliver as part of their new franchise. I quite understand why many people in Brantham were opposed to Babergh’s plans for the industrial site, and the most common negative view expressed to me was scepticism that any decent companies would occupy the new employment land, once remediated. And many thought the roads would suffer if they did. Yet we have confirmation of a high quality new occupant, committed for the long-term creating quality jobs and apprenticeships, with most traffic after construction coming via the railway. We should be proud that the single largest inward investment project in Babergh’s history is happening in Brantham and contributing to the broader transformation of our region’s economy. www.jamescartlidge.com
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OUT & ABOUT ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY At our February meeting a full hall heard a wonderful talk from Dr Peter Webb about his friend the Bradford artist David Hockney. As well as detailing the amazing career of the artist with many colourful illustrations of his work, Dr Webb also added a series of anecdotes of his meetings and experiences with Hockney. It was a truly fascinating and enjoyable lecture. Next month promises to be another gem. On March 1 Antony Penrose will talk on Picasso, Man Ray and Max Ernst through the eyes of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose. Antony is the son of photographer Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose and, as a boy, had personal experiences of these three great figures of 20th century art. Why not come along and enjoy some good company and an interesting talk? We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months and we also organise interesting day visits. The wonderfully illustrated lectures are presented by national and international lecturers and start at 2.15pm (2pm arrival is advised). Guests and non-members are welcome, provided we have available space. A £6 donation is asked. For more information contact Wendy Robbins: 07736 417347 / info@orwelldfas.org.uk www.orwelldfas.org.uk
STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, February 8 Prof John Midwinter FRAE, FRS, formerly of BT and UCL, presented a talk entitled The Truth about Climate Change. His lecture explored evidence that we are changing the climate of our planet, probably irreversibly, and this was linked to a discussion of what this probably portends and why we should be very concerned.
MANNINGTREE LOCAL HISTORY GROUP The speaker in January was Dr Jane Pearson who talked about The Rise and Fall of Colchester’s Good Time Girls. Jane apologised before she began to anybody in the audience who thought they were attending a talk on ‘gaiety girls’. The real subject of her talk was the huge rise in the number of Colchester prostitutes when it became a garrison town in 1856. Five thousand soldiers sent to the town were welcomed with open arms by local businesses. In Victorian times girls started work at 11 and 12 years of age for very little money. Catering for soldiers needs soon became a way of earning much more than they normally would. Venereal diseases proliferated and the Contagious Diseases Act was passed in 1864. This was aimed at 11 named towns with high numbers of soldiers or sailors. Colchester was one of the towns. Women and girls suspected of being prostitutes could be examined for disease and forcibly detained in a secure ‘lock’ hospital. Secret plain clothes police were responsible for seizing suspected women. The act came under attack from militant female groups but was not repealed until 1885. Jane became interested in the subject when one of her students wrote a prizewinning dissertation about the lock hospitals, and later asked Jane to collaborate on a book about the subject. Jane was amazed at the amount of written evidence available on the suspected and proven prostitutes. Hospital census records, magistrate court documents and press reports helped Jane to discover many human stories behind the names. Our next meeting will be the AGM on Wednesday, March 22 after which Dr J Ashdown Hill will talk to us about royal marriages. Everybody welcome as usual, 7.30 for 7.45pm in the Methodist Church Hall. Members free, visitors £3.
VILLAGE LINK CLUB
On Wednesday, March 8 Mark Mitchels will speak on The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial. This will be an illustrated lecture that attempts to re-create the moment. It will tell the story of the excavation and when a remarkable people sent their leader on his final voyage. On Wednesday, April 12 Amanda Richmond will present Two Teachers Ascent of Everest. Amanda is a teacher, mountaineer skier, traveller and bell ringer and will tell of the six years spent in preparation and the hardships involved in tackling this formidable ascent. 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 and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. 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, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted. We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, except August and December. It’s never too late to learn! Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today. www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree
At our January meeting, Simon Gallup spoke about how Lavenham, Dedham and surrounding villages became very prosperous in Tudor times as a result of the woolen cloth industry in the area. In February, Alicea Holmes spoke about her role as chaplain of Norwood Care Home, catering mainly for the elderly who are unable to fend for themselves due to dementia. Methodist Homes are non-profit and rely on volunteer carers and charitable donations to cover costs. After the meeting we decamped to a local hostelry where members enjoyed our annual pub lunch. Future talks: Wolves, Dogs & Us (March); Easter Parade (April); The Building of Bury Tower (May). Meetings are held at 10am on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall. 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. Roger Felgate, 01473 311684 17
OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS DANCEEAST CENTRE FOR ADVANCED TRAINING
STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB On Wednesday, February 1, Peter Gant presented a talk entitled 100 Years of Postcards and on February 15 Dudley Chignell presented The Four Seasons in East Anglia. Both meetings were much enjoyed by our members. On Wednesday, March 1, Joyce Kimber presents Ciphers & Enigma and the Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15 when club president Hew Naylor will stand down after his year in office. On April 5 Julian Wong will talk about the good work undertaken by the charity Mary’s Meals. 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 the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed.
DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) is one of ten national centres that identify children and young people aged between 10 and 18 years with exceptional potential in dance. The nationwide scheme aims to develop, create and inspire the next generation of dance artists, choreographers and dance leaders. By cultivating young dancers at a critical stage in their development, the scheme prepares students for entry into the world’s leading vocational and higher education institutions and on to successful and rewarding careers in dance. The DanceEast CAT is looking for young dance talent to join in September 2017. They are searching for individuals who aspire to a career in dance, stand out, show drive and determination, are hard-working and creative, and above all committed and passionate. DanceEast caught up with Rebecca Hall, a student on the DanceEast CAT, to find out what it’s like to go through the application and audition process and be a student on the scheme. How did you first find out about the CAT? Before I was in the CAT I was part of the Suffolk Junior Dance Company at DanceEast. A couple of older members auditioned for the CAT which encouraged me to look into it as well. I went to an open day and realised it was something that I wanted to do, so I applied and then auditioned. How useful did you find the open day? I thought it was really useful as it was exactly how a CAT class really is. And at the end of the day, the tutor gave us the opportunity to ask any questions and it was really nice to have some familiar faces at the audition that I had met at the open day. How did you find the audition process? I was 11 years old and I thought it was going to be a bit scary but it wasn’t too daunting, everything was just new. I found everyone lovely, and all of the other people auditioning were really friendly too. What opportunities has CAT given you? If I wasn’t in the CAT I would never have worked with so many different people and made so many friends from Cambridge, Norwich and Colchester. I also wouldn’t have met lots of different choreographers, it’s great when they come to work with us, especially if you’ve read about them or seen their performances. We also go to London and Norwich on trips to see their work, and it’s quite surreal when they work with you. What would you say to people who are thinking about applying? It is highly recommended that prospective applicants come to one of the taster workshops in Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge or Colchester or to the open day at Jerwood DanceHouse. You will find out more about the DanceEast CAT and take part in a range of workshops lead by the teaching team. Parents and guardians will also have the opportunity to speak directly with the management team. To find out more about the DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training, taster workshops, the open day and how to apply visit: www.danceeast.co.uk 18
We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665
LAWFORD & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY On Thursday, March 16 Bryan Thurlow will present The Perennial Mr Potter. Do come along and join us if you can. Meetings are usually held in Ogilvie Hall, Lawford at 7.30pm. ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT: Saturday, March 18 In last month’s magazine I was drumming up response for our annual quiz night and gave the wrong date. Oh dear! It will be on Saturday, March 18 in Ogilvie Hall, 7 for 7.30pm. Teams of up to eight people are invited to go head to head for a prize (don’t get too excited), or just come and enjoy friendly fun and company. Bring your own drinks and food if you wish. There will be a raffle. Please book a table soon on 01206 393580. Liz
BROOKLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL It is tremendously satisfying to see so many parents choosing Brooklands for our new intake in September. Parents of children offered a place will have the opportunity to join us for an information session in May. In the information session we will be introducing parents to the school in a little more detail as well as providing advice and guidance on how to support their child over the coming months. Every year we rely on the support of our amazing parents to raise funds and provide support in many ways. It’s what we are able to achieve together that makes Brooklands special. The children took part in a variety of activities to mark Chinese New Year, including Chinese lion dancing, learning Mandarin and playing Chinese musical instruments. This event was funded by Brooklands Friends and Family. Brooklands takes pride in celebrating diversity in its many forms. Valuing diversity and recognising differences is an important part of our children’s education and as part of this, Years 5 and Year 6 enjoyed finding out more about being a Hindu from a visitor to the school. During the visit our children learnt how to play the conch, how to wear a sari and all about the Hindu God of Wisdom, Ganesha. Everyone feels ‘The Dip’ from time to time and our children have been learning about the importance of not giving up and persevering when they are learning a new skill. Sainsbury’s are offering shoppers the opportunity to collect Active Kids vouchers until May 2, 2017. Ask your family and friends to donate their vouchers to Brooklands to help us get new sports and cooking equipment. Headteacher Christine Davy In Touch online:
www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree
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SCHOOLS / SPORT HIGH SCHOOL SQUASH TEAM BOOKS FINAL PLACE
EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB January was a good month for the First team. They advanced through to the quarter finals of the Bob Coleman Cup with a comfortable win at Witnesham Wasps and then at Trimley Red Devils. A tough draw means a home game with Achilles awaits. In the league they registered one victory, one draw and one defeat. The draw came from a very good performance against Cranes, which would have brought them all three points had they been able to convert a stoppage time penalty. The Reserves are still in third place in League A despite a surprise home defeat at the hands of Wenhaston Utd Res. They are also in the quarter finals of the Goals of Ipswich Cup as a result of a great win at second placed AFC Hoxne Res. The A Team’s fortunes are looking up. They progressed first to the quarter finals and then the semi finals of the Club Colours Cup and also recorded a much need victory against high flying Coplestonians A.
Manningtree High School’s under 15 girls squash team have booked their place in the national schools finals in Manchester. Pictured from left: Libby Connor, Hannah Morley, Hattie Callen, Rosie Snook, Elli Barrett.
An excellent darts night was won by Dave Pettman with Jamie McGrath runner-up.
On Tuesday, January 31 the girls played Bradfield College, beating them convincingly 5-0. Bradfield College kept trying until the end of each match which was played in great spirit. The girls had already played Benenden School and Comberton Village College in the regional section of the England schools squash competition before facing Bradfield College.
MISTLEY & MANNINGTREE BOWLS CLUB OPEN DAYS Saturdays, April 29 & May 6, from 10am Come and try a new sport that is sociable, challenging, active and fun Free tuition, tea, coffee and biscuits Please wear smooth soled shoes or trainers Bowls can be provided Further details: 01206 395083
MISTLEY CRICKET CLUB January 100 Club Winners 1: John Stuck (20) £110 2: Patrick Moore (85) £50 3: John Goff (10) £50 Work continues behind the scenes to prepare for the 2017 season. Senior cricket practice started on Wednesday, February 22 at Royal Hospital School, 8.15-9.30pm. The sessions run for seven weeks with sufficient space to accommodate men and women. New players of all abilities are welcome. If you are new to the area and would like to join us please contact the club via Robin Mills: r.mills239@btinternet.com / 07742 293830 The club runs sides in the 2 Counties Championship in Divisions 1, 3, 9 Division C, NECL; our ladies play in the 2 Counties 20/20 and the Beaumont Seymour league on Friday nights. We are also in the middle of junior practice at Manningtree School so pop along if you are interested; these sessions are on Friday nights and last until the Easter holiday break. Mistley CC is a community club with strong traditions. Please come along and give us a look sometime. New players are always welcome, please email: mistleycc@btinternet.com Look out for more news on Natwest Cricketforce weekend on April 1. 20
UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st TEAM Senior Division Saturday, February 25: Bramford Utd (A) Saturday, March 4: Ransomes Sports (H) Saturday, March 18: Bramford Utd (H) Saturday, April 1: Westerfield Utd (H) RESERVES League A Saturday, February 25: Framlingham Town Res Goals of Ipswich Cup QF (H) Saturday, March 4: Achilles Res (A) Saturday, March 11: Mendlesham Res (H) Saturday, March 18: AFC Hoxne Res (A) Saturday, March 25: Framlingham Town Res (H) Saturday, April 1: Sporting ‘87 Res (A) A Team League B Saturday, March 4: Stowupland Falcons Res (A) Saturday, March 11: Haughley Utd Res (H) Saturday, March 25: Claydon Res (A) Saturday, April 1: Stonham Aspal Res (H) Fixtures are subject to change. Please refer to the fixtures website and chose the appropriate competition to confirm: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts, banners and boards on match days are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation. In Touch online:
www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree
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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS LAWFORD FOOTBALL CLUB
CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB
Lawford U18s are playing in Division A of the Colchester and District Youth League and realistically challenging for a top spot. They have played nine games, won seven, and drawn and lost one. Eight players of the current squad have completed six consecutive years of loyal service to the club and league at 11-a-side level. Incredibly, two players have also played for 12 seasons and many others for 10. If we can transition the core of this team into the senior teams next season, the future is good.
A few seasons ago our club started a Veteran team for players over 35 who, instead of retiring and taking up bowls, still fancied a game of football in their twilight years. Under the management of Archie Arnold the team won promotion four years running to reach the Premier Division of the Norfolk and Suffolk League. With Stephen King now in charge, the team plays in Division One with their latest game being a 5-1 victory over Ipswich Valley Rangers which included a hat trick from Aaron Marsh.
Congratulations to the ladies team who are still unbeaten in the league since the start of the season. They are through to the second round of the league cup after knocking out last year’s winners and favourites Harlow Town Ladies with a 3-0 win, while in the Essex Cup they are through to the quarter finals. Lawford Vets had a strong season last year and this season has been no different. They are currently placed second in the league with a game in hand, they are also through to the semi-final of the cup. All the Vets are aged 35-54 and the majority have played youth and/or adult football at Lawford throughout the years. Everyone who visits School Lane remarks on how good our facilities are, especially and most importantly our pitches. Dave Atton, Steve Rand, Jason Tilstone and John O’Mara, all club volunteers, work tirelessly every week to maintain and prepare the pitches. Last year the Essex Playing Fields Association awarded certificates of merit to Lawford Parish Council for School Lane in both the category for Playing Fields and the Best Kept Football Pitches. The club has been delivering a programme of awareness of the FA Respect Code with our youngest players. Half-hour workshops with our U6, U7, U8 and U9 squads involved a series of hands-on activities where players and their parents worked together to discuss important scenarios under the headings of being self-aware, spotting dangers, respecting rules and helping others. Some of our U14 players have also been working with the youngsters on Saturday mornings during training sessions. This is part of our ‘one club’ ethos in which we are encouraging safeguarding to be everyone’s responsibility and at the forefront of everything we do. If you are interested in playing football for Lawford FC or supporting the club in any way, please visit: www.lawfordfc.co.uk
KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 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. Refreshments served afterwards. Every Sunday morning at 11am in The Ivell Suite at Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE. If you or someone you know needs prayer for anything, please contact us. David and Rosie Rhule 07787 572977 / 01206 397533 info@thekeytoloveministries.co.uk www.thekeytoloveministries.co.uk
Our Sunday morning side are mid-table in their league having lost 4-3 against The Features Public House with two goals from Kevin Long. This was followed by a 6-2 win against Claydon which included goals from Liam (livewire) Cole and Adam Moore. Our Saturday Reserves have had a tough season and are currently bottom of the Reserve league. They lost 6-3 to Stowupland with Nick Tigges scoring a brace, then beat Stonham Aspal 2-0 thanks to goals from Adam Oleary and Harry Taylor. Twice this season they have been unable to raise a side and have been deducted points by the league. The team are still looking for a manager so if interested please contact a club member. Our Saturday First team beat Shotley 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Bob Coleman Cup, but lost 3-0 in the next round against AFC Kesgrave. The first game between the sides was abandoned after a Kesgrave player suffered a double leg break with our lads 2-0 in front with 10 minutes left to play so the game had to be replayed. The team has suffered this season with players being unavailable due to working commitments, holidays and injuries and are fourth from bottom in the Senior Division. They did beat bottom club Ipswich Athletic 10-0 which included a Gary Collins hat trick, but lost 5-0 to leaders Henley Athletic and thanks to Adam Rawthorn also scoring a hat trick drew 3-3 with Ransome Sports. Home games in March see the team play Leiston St Margarets in the Senior Cup on March 11 and Grundisburgh a week later. 100 Club Winners December: 1 The Warren Family; 2 The Felton Family; 3 The Fair Family January: 1 Eric Blacksell; 2 Brian Marr; 3 The Percy Family Bob The Ploughman
LINK LINE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES Un-denominational / meeting at the Venture Centre, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE (unless otherwise stated) Sunday Services: 3pm Saturday, March 4: Special event to celebrate Link Line’s 25th birthday at the Ogilvie Hall, Wignall Street. Doors open at 10.45am. Welcome tea and coffee, lunch at noon, various stands. Live music and song competitions. £8 fully inclusive, free transport. Now booking. Sunday March 5: Outreach Service conducted by our pastor Friday, March 17: Prayer Meeting at the Venture Centre, 10am-noon Sunday, March 19: Spring Songs of Praise Tuesday, March 21: Coffee, Cake and Chat, 10am-noon Tuesday March 28: Minibus Fellowship visit to Hadleigh For pastoral visits, further information and bookings, contact: 01206 272064 / 01255 714544 / linklinecm@hotmail.co.uk www.linklinecmnortheastessex.co.uk
www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree
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CHURCH NEWS An all-age Anglican Church meeting in St Mary & St Michael’s Church, Mistley, and St Lawrence’s Church, Bradfield
We start March with Ash Wednesday and continue on our journey towards Easter through the month. If you’d like to explore this journey with us, we’ll be holding a Lent course this year, thinking about simple ways that we can share our faith. We’ll be meeting on Wednesdays at 10am at The Hub or 7.15pm at Bradfield Church. Please join us if you’d like to.
Sunday, March 19
Our gatherings this month will include Café Church (see below), our most informal-style service with bacon sandwiches, coffee and discussion on various topics, and Messy Church on Wednesday, March 8 at Mistley Norman School at 4.15pm, where we’ll be thinking about new starts. For more information please visit the website.
8am
Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) at Mistley
10.30am
Mothering Sunday Morning Prayer at Bradfield
10.30am
Café Church with Treasure Seekers* at Mistley
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 upto-date information please email the office (see below) to request the weekly email. Services for March Wednesday, March 1 7.30pm
Ash Wednesday Service at Mistley
10.30am
Family Worship with Treasure Seekers* at Bradfield
10.30am
Holy Communion (Common Worship) at Mistley
6pm
Quiet Communion at Bradfield
Sunday, March 26 Mothering Sunday
*Treasure Seekers is our children’s programme for ages 3+ Contact Information If you have any personal or pastoral needs, or need to get in contact urgently, please contact The Rev John Brien or The Rev Claire Scargill (see below). For all other enquiries to do with the services, events, activities, resources and buildings in the Benefice, including weddings, baptisms and funerals, please contact the church office. If you need to visit or post anything to the office, please contact us!
Sunday, March 5 10.30am Joint Worship with Communion & Treasure Seekers* at Mistley
Church Office Available at least 10am-1pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 07436 398801/ info@manningtreebenefice.co.uk
6pm
Associate Minister The Rev John Brien: 01206 397549 / brienfamily@btinternet.com
Evening Prayer at Bradfield
Sunday, March 12 10.30am
Holy Communion (Common Worship) at Bradfield
10.30am
Family Worship with Treasure Seekers* at Mistley
6pm
Evening Prayer at Mistley
Curate The Rev Claire Scargill: 01206 395417 / revclairescargill@gmail.com www.manningtreebenefice.co.uk www.facebook.com/ManningtreeBenefice
MANNINGTREE METHODIST CHURCH South Street, Manningtree CO11 2JB Minister: The Rev Crawford Logan, 01255 423640
Wednesday Gentle Fitness Class, 9.15am
Sunday Services: 10.15am every Sunday – we welcome visiting and outside preachers
Art Painting Group, 10am-noon
Holy Communion Services: please check dates and times on the noticeboard outside the church
Museum & History Group (bi-monthly), 7.30pm
Bible Study: First Wednesday of the month at 2.30pm in the committee room, activities with tea and coffee on the second and third Wednesdays, Holy Communion at 2.30pm on the fourth Wednesday
Manningtree & District Chess Club, 7.30pm Treasurer: Mr Gordon King Church Bookings: David Shearmur, 01206 395263 The World is My Parish: Methodism and its place in the World Church
March 1: Ash Wednesday Service of Holy Communion at 7pm with The Rev Crawford Logan
Five one-hour sessions during Lent at Manningtree Methodist Church on Wednesdays, March 8, 15, 22 and 29 and April 5, 7pm. Admission free.
ALSO MEETING ON OUR PREMISES
The series is supported by The Revs John Allison, Curtis Goforth (USA), Derek Lang, Crawford Logan, Alec Potter, also Claire Welch (All We Can, London) Sarah Friswell and David Sheamur. Join us for the Ash Wednesday at 7pm on March 1, 7pm and the Tenebrae Service on Maundy Thursday, April 13.
Monday WEA, autumn & spring for nine lectures, 2.30pm Stour Choral Society (Sept-June), 7.30pm Tuesday Co-op Women’s Guild, 7.15pm 24
Also see ART EXHIBITION AND SALE on page 10 In Touch online:
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CHURCH NEWS BRANTHAM & CAPEL METHODIST CHURCHES
ST MARY’S CHURCH, LAWFORD
Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Simon Heron, 01206 392659
Turn around when possible
Services for March
Have you ever missed your junction on a motorway and had to drive many unnecessary miles to get back on route? In my former life as a transportation engineer (before the days of Sat Nav and GPS systems) I remember a shocking statistic describing the number of miles we drive in the wrong direction. It was between 10 and 20 per cent of our journey. I suspect it may not have improved much with Sat Navs. How many times has it told you to turn around when possible? When we lived in Downham Market, people driving to our house would be told to take a short cut only to find concrete bollards blocking the narrow lane. How many times do we find ourselves going down the wrong path in our lives? Selfishness, greed and pride can lead us to do things that hurt others. Impure thoughts can get us dreaming of a wrong relationship. Arrogance that we’ve got it all sorted can lead us to make bad decisions. Personal ambition can lead us to override the feelings and ambitions of others and prejudices can lead us to judge others harshly. Sometime we may hear a voice in our head telling us to turn around when possible. In a recent service I was challenged by this prayer: “For the sin that has made us quick to condemn those who sin differently from us… For the sin that has caused us to be quick to divide people into us and them, and seek the welfare of us and ours above them and theirs.” I knew I was being told to turn around when possible. I knew this attitude was wrong. March is a good time to reflect on our lives and ask: Are we going in the wrong direction? Do we need to turn around? ‘Repent’ is an old fashioned word we sometimes use. Although I made a decision to follow Christ many years ago, I still find myself going in the wrong direction at times and end up in a cul-de-sac. Life is a journey, our destination is heaven but not all will get there. As I love maps for road travel, I also love the Bible. It is my road map for life; it gives me warnings and it shows me a wonderful way to live. If you want to discuss turning around or need a Bible, please get in touch. The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Brantham & Capel Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 AT BRANTHAM METHODIST Sunday 5
11am
Worship with Mr Harry Chicken
Sunday 12
11am
Worship with Rev Michael Allen
Sunday 19 11am
Worship and Communion with Rev Derek Grimshaw
Sunday 26
Worship with Mrs Carole Almond
11am
AT CAPEL ST MARY METHODIST Saturday 4
3.30pm
Messy Church
Sunday 5
10.30am
Worship with Mr Brian Ward
Sunday 12
10.30am
Worship with Mrs Alyson Ellis
Sunday 19
10.30am
Worship with Rev Diane Smith
Sunday 26 10.30am
Worship and Communion with Rev Andrew Sankey
United Prayer at Capel Community Church
6.30pm
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Wednesday 1
7.30pm Ash Wednesday Holy Communion
Sunday 5
8am
Holy Communion BCP
10am
Holy Communion
Sunday 12
8am
Holy Communion BCP
10am
Family Service
6.30pm Evensong
Sunday 19
8am
Holy Communion BCP
10am
Holy Communion
6.30pm Café Church
Sunday 26
8am
Holy Communion BCP
10am
Morning Worship
Meeting at Old St Michael’s School on Trinity Road, Manningtree 2017 – The Year of Uncertainty Are you preparing for anything? I’ve heard of a few people making preparations for all sorts of disasters! The possibility of a hard Brexit on this side of the pond and on the other, some are preparing, wondering if they will lose some of their freedoms. There are many good things to prepare for too; perhaps you have a wedding anniversary (20th this year for us, mustn’t forget!) or a significant birthday. Maybe you’re even booking your holidays, hoping for the summer sun. Well Lent is a season of preparation. It begins on March 1 and will end at Easter in April. Some people will give up something and others will commit themselves to an extra time of prayer or penitence, remembering that the Lord Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness before He began His ministry. In our Sunday services, alongside the lively worship and fantastic fellowship, we are continuing to study The Gospel Road, the journey Jesus took to Jerusalem, between His temptation and the momentous events of Easter Week. Why not join us as we travel with Jesus and the Disciples each Sunday morning and evening in March? You’ll receive a warm welcome at our public worship services each Sunday at 10.30am and again in the evening at 6.30pm. Services last between 60 and 90 minutes and refreshments follow the morning service. KEY NOTES FOR MARCH Mondays 6, 13, 20 & 27: Monday Madness, our weekly youth work 4.30-6pm: KOGS (KS 1 & 2) with crafts, games, tea and Bible Stories 6.30-8pm: BRiaN Reloaded (ages 11-18) – serious Bible Study with serious fun thrown in Tuesday, March 7, 3pm: Meeting Place This month, Sit up Straight! with Dorothy Slatter who has worked as a teacher in Colchester. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday w/b February 26, March 12 & 26: Home Groups, Bible Study and Prayer For the latest information on these or any of our activities call Pastor Gaius on 01206 393745 or visit: www.trinity-manningtree.org.uk 27
CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT & BRANTHAM Rector: The Rev Canon Stephne van der Toorn 01206 392646 / revstephvdt@googlemail.com www.constablecountrychurches.co.uk Sunday, February 26 / Next before Lent 8am BCP Communion 10am Choral Matins 11am Informal Service
East Bergholt East Bergholt Brantham
MARCH Wednesday 1 / Ash Wednesday 9.30am Imposition of Ashes & Communion 7.30pm Imposition of Ashes & Communion
East Bergholt Brantham
Friday 3 / Ecumenical 3pm Women’s World Day of Prayer
East Bergholt
Sunday 5 / Lent 1 8am BCP Communion 11am Benefice Communion (Healing), Speaker Ed Smith on his trip to India
Five week Lent Course: Using Your Gifts Tuesday mornings at Joyce and Derek Fox’s home, 52 Richardsons Road, East Bergholt, beginning at 9.30am on Tuesday, February 28 (just before Lent begins). There are only places for 10 people so book soon.
East Bergholt Brantham
Sunday 12 / Lent 2 8am BCP Communion 10am Communion 11am Family Service
East Bergholt East Bergholt Brantham
Sunday 19 / Lent 3 8am BCP Communion 10am Family Service 11am Communion
East Bergholt East Bergholt Brantham
Sunday 26 / Mothering Sunday 8am BCP Communion 10am Family Service 11am Family Service
East Bergholt East Bergholt Brantham
Friday 31 9.30am East Bergholt Primary Easter Church Assembly
East Bergholt
Sunday, April 2 / Lent 5, Passion Sunday 8am BCP Communion 10am Benefice Communion (Healing)
East Bergholt East Bergholt
Check the website for details. There is a BCP Communion every Sunday at 8am and Choral. Matins is usually on the fourth Sunday. This service schedule may change without prior notice if needed.
Wednesday evenings in the West End, St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt from 7pm, beginning on March 8. If you wish to attend, please let me know so that I can organise sufficient material. Reserve your place by contacting The Rev Steph: revstephvdt@googlemail.com / 01206 392646 Your invitation to Alpha Exploring the Christian faith in an informal way with plenty of opportunity for discussion. Morning course at 52 Richardsons Road, East Bergholt beginning on September 12 at 9.30am. Booking essential. There are only places for 10 people so book soon. Enquiries to The Rev Steph: 01206 392646 / revstephvdt@googlemail.com Knitting for Christmas For Christmas 2017 our project is to knit Mary and the baby Jesus. Patterns will be available at the back of St Mary’s Church and on the church website. Contact Carrie Hinton for more information. Missing from the crib at St Mary’s Some of our small crib figures including Joseph and some sheep wandered away and are still missing. If you locate them hiding in your Christmas Crib, please return them to the church. Bank Holiday Market at St Mary’s, East Bergholt: Monday, May 29, 10am-2pm Donations are welcomed for this annual event. We need jewellery, brica-brac, nearly new gifts and books. Regretfully, even we, with our most persuasive expressions, can’t sell old atlases, school text books, maps, books without covers, old format videos or broken vases! Donations may be left in the church porch. Cakes welcome on the day please. Helpers will be needed to set up at 8am and clear away at the end. Thank you very much indeed. Refreshments including light lunches will be served in the West End. PLEASE NOTE: At the annual church meeting it was decided that this year’s August Bank Holiday market will be moved to Saturday morning, September 9. Women’s World Day of Prayer This international annual ecumenical event takes place this year in St Mary’s East Bergholt on Friday, March 3 at 3pm. It’s not just for women, everyone is welcome! The service this year was designed by the women of the Philippines and the theme is justice. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Benefice Retreat Bishop Woodford House, Ely, May 26-28. Contact Stephne for more information or to book a place.
So Much More Than a Dance Class Any Age & Ability Very Welcome
Shimmy, Shake, Wiggle & Giggle
"Strictly" style Dance-a-cise
Brantham Leisure Centre (Upper Room)
New Village, Brantham every Tuesday at 10am spaces are limited to reserve yours
Call Janet on 07506 350 455
classes also in: - Capel St Mary - East Bergholt - Hadleigh - Nayland, & - Stratford St Mary
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janet@fundancing.co.uk www.fundancing.co.uk FunDancing.Suffolk FunDancing
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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 all up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet at the front door. SERVICES FOR MARCH Sunday 5
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
9am
Mass
Tuesday 7 9.30am
Morning Prayer
10am
Mass
Sunday 12
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
9am
Mass
Tuesday 14 9.20am
Eucharistic Adoration
10am
Mass
Sunday 19
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
9am
Mass
Tuesday 21 9.30am
Morning Prayer
10am
Mass
Sunday 26
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
9am
Mass
Tuesday 28 9.30am
Morning Prayer
10am
Mass
Catholic Commentary Sr Marian Davey, port chaplain with Catholic charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), and Fr John Barnes were both able to support the crew of the Manhattan Bridge following the explosion that killed one seafarer and injured another. She spoke about her admiration for the faith and dignity of the crew who had berthed at Felixstowe Port on January 19. “Strong leadership on board was very evident from the captain and his officers. All the crew were trying to help each other to come to terms with all that’s happened,” she added.
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Sr Marian was informed of the incident in the early hours of the morning by the harbour master and port health and safety manager. On hearing the news, she travelled immediately to offer assistance to the crew. “They wanted to make sure that the remaining crew got as much support as possible,” said Sr Marian, who visited the ship several times over the weekend. Sr Marian commented: “The crew had to cope with a very lengthy process of investigation procedures by both the police and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch throughout the 48 hours the ship was berthed, so I had to snatch slots of time in between to give both oneto-one and collective moments of support. The captain was extremely grateful for the support offered by Apostleship of the Sea and to Fr John for celebrating mass. “I am now focusing the energies of the AoS chaplaincy team on supporting the injured seafarer who is the burns unit at Chelmsford Hospital. He is making good progress and we will continue visiting and supporting him until his repatriation.” Events & Diary Dates The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday, February 26 when three lucky winners shared £145. The next draw takes place on March 26. The club has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, which includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv & Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR from 10.30am to noon. We are raising funds for the Parish Room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, March 30. Supporting our local hospice Parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps and to 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. All are very welcome at Holy Family 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.
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ON THE GRAPEVINE
QUESTIONS ON CASH With Nick Plumb This month, I have responded to two questions from In Touch readers that landed in my email in-basket over the Christmas period. Alan from Ipswich asks: “I have just started receiving my state pension and a company pension of £14,000 a year from the old GEC scheme. The state pension is paid to me gross with no tax deducted, but my GEC pension has income tax deducted and is paid to me net of that tax. Why is there a difference, and should I be paying tax at all?” Yes, you will pay a certain amount of tax on both pensions, as your total pension income is above your annual personal income tax allowance of £11,000, which is what you are allowed to earn before income tax is deducted at basic rate (currently 20%). Pension income (from state or private pensions) is classed as ‘earned’ income and is therefore taxable above £11,000 a year. Although your state pension is paid to you gross, this does not mean that you don’t pay tax on it. The tax is actually collected by an adjustment to your tax code. Check your last notice of coding, and you will see that your tax code is different to when you were working. The pension system would not be able to cope with working out everyone’s individual income tax, so they leave the tax to HMRC, who alter your tax code to compensate. The GEC pension is taxed at source, and tax is deducted by the company pension administrators before the pension is paid to you. However, it is important to check that you have been put on the correct tax code as I have seen many examples of people paying too much tax on their company pensions over the years. Peter from Needham Market asks: “I am the director of a limited company employing 12 members of staff. I would like to introduce a free life insurance scheme that pays out a lump sum to the staff member’s family if they died. What is the best way to do this through the company?” A ‘death in service’ scheme for a group of employees is usually arranged as a Group Life Insurance scheme, which falls under the ‘tax approved’ rules that also apply to group pension schemes. Such schemes offer various tax advantages for you as the employer and for your employees. The premiums the company pays are tax-deductible as a business expense and the premiums are not treated as a ‘benefit in kind’ for your employees, so they will not suffer a tax charge on them. Any Lump-sum death benefit paid on the death of an employee would be paid free of income tax and, if it is paid out under a discretionary trust, it will not normally be liable for inheritance tax when paid to the beneficiaries of the deceased staff member. Nick Plumb is an independent financial adviser and practice principal at Plumb Financial Services of Baylham in Suffolk. The information within this column is provided only as a general guide and does not constitute personal financial advice. If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary meeting to talk over your options for your own investments or financial planning you can contact Nick by email at nick@plumbfs.co.uk or by calling the office on 01473 830301. Plumb Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. 32
Acupuncture Awareness Week – 6 to 12 March 2017 Our seasons dictate what we choose to wear in the morning, what food we prefer to eat, whether to go out for the evening or stay tucked up for a cosy night in. But can they affect our health? In short: yes, but I won’t bore you with a list of seasonal ailments! It is no secret that one of the keys to good health is a strong and fully functioning immune system, so it’s important to prepare and support your defences all year round. Acupuncture and seasonal change Eastern practices such as Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have a strong focus in the seasons and how they affect us individually. Especially within Five Element Acupuncture, a practice that suggests that we’re made up of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The five elements are perceived as the basal components of our energetics and we present traits of each one: through our emotional behavior, complexion, habits and other general observations to varying degrees. Acupuncture’s underlying principle, a holistic approach to health, acknowledges the impact of the seasons throughout the year as it is understood that we reflect each season through the energetics of our body, which shows the importance of living in tune with them in order to balance our health, both in body and in mind. Why should I try seasonal acupuncture treatments? With over 200 common cold viruses and various types of flu virus, it’s hard to avoid catching a bug. On average, it is thought that adults in the UK catch two to four colds a year. It could be assumed that statistically a major part of the 172 million days lost each year to sickness, costing the economy over £13 billion*, could be attributed to preventable colds and flu. A seasonal session with an acupuncturist can help improve overall health by enhancing the body’s immune system to keep illness at bay. It can also provide a boost in energy levels, lifting mood and improving a person’s sense of wellbeing, allowing the body to function more effectively. In addition, during treatment the acupuncturist will discuss things to be aware of depending on the specific season: for example with the ‘winter season treatment or tune up’, this could include the suggestion to eat warming foods and the need to keep warm and conserve energy in winter months, and not to rush into starting new projects. It seems simple but how many of us forget to be more aware of our surroundings when carrying out our daily routines, taking on additional work or ‘burning the candle at both ends’? With Monday March 6 being the start of Acupuncture Awareness Week, there is a great chance to learn more about the various styles of Acupuncture as well as how this system of eastern medicine perceives both the individual and their external environment. If you’d like more information, take a look at the British Acupuncture Council website. There you will find out about how Acupuncture may benefit you and your needs, how to find a practitioner in your area and much more about the importance of good health: www.introducingacupuncture.co.uk *CBI Absence & Labour turnover Written by Emma Harvey Lawrence, Partner and General Manager at Woolpit Complementary www.woolpit-complementary.co.uk emma@woolpit-complementary.co.uk / 01359 408 011 In Touch online:
ON THE GRAPEVINE IPSWICH JAZZ FESTIVAL – FULL LINE UP ANNOUNCED A weekend of musical events is planned for the next Ipswich Jazz Festival to be held from Friday, June 23 to Sunday 25. Tickets are now on sale for most events. Festivities begin on Friday 23 with a South African Township style concert by trumpeter Claude Deppa and the Clare Hirst Band. The festival also includes performances by guitarist John Etheridge, singer Vimala Rowe, saxophonist Art Themen, the Chris Ingham Trio and big band Back to Basie. Tickets are available from the New Wolsey Theatre: 01473 295900 / www.wolseytheatre.co.uk There are also workshops for amateur musicians including a workshop on music photography. Young people in Suffolk can join a mini course on jazz music and there are gigs in local pubs, an art show, a Lindy Hop dance workshop and jazz-themed films Finding Fela about musician Fela Kuti and the 1943 classic Stormy Weather. Organiser Neil Bateman said: “There’s a wide range of jazz music on show – something for everyone, as well as films, dance and art.” For more information visit: www.ipswichjazzfestival.org.uk
FOLLOW MY LEAD
THE GREAT GARDEN TRAIL Green-fingered supporters are invited to open their gardens to the public as part of St Elizabeth Hospice’s brand new Great Garden Trail this summer. The local charity is appealing for individuals or whole villages to open their gates and be part of the trail which will be taking place between May and September 2017. All the gardens will then appear on a unique trail map, alongside a short description with key details of the garden and opening days and times, so that supporters can follow the route and journey throughout the region, exploring the varied and beautiful gardens on display. By opening your garden for one morning or afternoon this summer you can make a difference and help St Elizabeth Hospice continue to improve life for local people living with an incurable illness. The charity is looking for a wide variety of displays so whether your garden is traditional or contemporary, tranquil or tropical, cosy or large, why not invite others to admire your horticultural skills while raising funds for your local hospice? If you would like to open your garden this summer, or for more information on The Great Garden Trail please contact: 01473 723600 / fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent charity which provides vital care and support free of charge to patients and their families across east Suffolk. The hospice costs millions of pounds a year to run, and relies on fundraising events, donations and the income generated from its shops to meet the majority of these costs.
Raising the Bar Awards 2017
St Elizabeth Hospice has launched a brand new dog walking event, Follow my Lead, and they’re looking for four-legged friends to sign up. The walk, taking place on March 12 at Alton Water, will cost each dog £10 and they can bring their human friends for free. Nigel Donkin, Community and Volunteer Fundraising Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “We regularly have dogs popping into the hospice to see their owners so we thought it’s time we organised an event just for them!” A competition was held to find the furry face of this new event, and more than 100 pet photos were submitted. The final choice was decided by a public poll of the top six, and the winner was Oakley (pictured), a two and a half year old cocker spaniel. Oakley will start the walk at 10.30am on Sunday, March 12, followed by his canine companions, and dogs signed up will receive a doggy bag and Follow my Lead tag.
Celebrate Suffolk children, young people, schools, school staff, governors and businesses who are going the extra mile in education
Nominate them today at: rtbawards.com Nominations close 5pm on Friday 31 March www.facebook.com/RTBSuffolk
@SuffolkRtB
2017
To sign up, contact: 01473 723600 / fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk For more information, visit: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/followmylead www.keepingintouchwith.com/manningtree
Nominations are open to all publicly funded educational establishments in Suffolk (or partners working with them).
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ON THE GRAPEVINE FROM THE ARCHIVES GAZA, the darkest day of the First World War A number of local men enlisted at Manningtree with the Essex 5 Battalion; it became almost a local ‘Pals’ regiment. D Company in particular was raised from the area. In August 1915 they followed the 1st Essex Battalion and set sail for Gallipoli. th
John Maxwell Heron studied to be a chemist in London before marrying at Chelmsford in 1909, by which time he was a Lieutenant with the 5th Battalion. Promoted to captain he moved to ‘Stapenhill’, a house on Mistley High Street where he started a family and began work as an analytical chemist at the local maltings. Promoted to major, he was wounded twice while fighting at Gallipoli. Wilfred Ainger came from a Mistley farming family in Horsley Cross and worked for a while at the Xylonite factory in Brantham. His 16-yearold brother Harold was killed at sea just after the war started. Wilfred landed with the major at Gallipoli in August 1915 by which time William Souter, another lad from the small hamlet, had already been killed fighting Turks of the Ottoman Empire. Ernest William Carr was another Horsley Cross lad working as a farm hand before enlisting at Manningtree, later becoming a lance corporal. He also saw action in Gallipoli while his younger brother Bertrand was killed in France in 1916.
out of water. They were tempted to use a well they discovered, and while suspecting it might have been poisoned, some were so desperate they tried it, to no ill effect. There was no artillery support for the 4th and 5th Battalions that led the assault and the hill was found well defended by machine guns, particularly the last 3,000 yards that lay in front of them. Despite the heavy fire and after some hand to hand fighting, by 5.30pm they had rushed and taken Green Hill just as dusk was falling. The most difficult trench had been covered by a machine gun positioned in a small stone hut. Once the fighting stopped they frantically started to dig in, to find they were surrounded by the cries of the many wounded and dying. They were unable to help and the only medical support was two miles back across the plane they had just covered. At that point in time Gaza was surrounded and on the point of surrender, with a number of prisoners being readily taken. In reality the town had not been captured and without access to its water supplies (particularly for the horses), with Turkish relief columns in sight, the regiment, somewhat perplexed, was ordered at 10pm to withdraw back to Mansura Ridge. This was difficult given the distance, the number of casualties and the lack of a brigade HQ which had been decimated in the attack. Water carrying camels met them behind the ridge at around midnight, though some forward groups took till early next morning to arrive. By this time it became clear this had been tactical blunder and what was left of the exhausted regiment was ordered back to Green Hill. They found it unoccupied but soon came under attack. While setting up a station on top of the hill the signallers of D Company had a lucky escape when one shell brought down a mass of earth which almost buried them all.
Harry Dawson was another Xylonite worker, living with his large family in Marsh Row, Lawford (off Station Road). He looked after his mother and younger siblings after his father died in 1905 and later enlisted. He sailed off with the rest and survived Gallipoli. So did Stanley Philip Oxley who had moved from Thorpe Le Soken to Manningtree where he had enlisted with A Company. They all arrived in Alexandria just before Christmas 1915 and spent a year in Egypt on various duties while the Ottoman threat to the Suez Canal was slowly rolled back across the Sinai Peninsula. After taking the port of El Arish and Rafa, a railway and water pipe line were constructed as part of the build up to cross into Palestine and take Jerusalem. Despite this the battalion had to cross the Sinai Desert on foot, assisted only by camels, mules and a wire net roadway laid down over the sand. They were joined by three other Essex battalions (4th, 6th and 7th) to form a new brigade (161st). They marched into the evening and after a cold and wet night caused by a blanket of thick fog, stood ready at dawn on March 26, 1917. They formed a line along the edge of a dried up river gully that ran out to the sea called the Wadi Ghazze. Here they could see the minarets of Gaza and the greenery surrounding the town. Ironically, before the war, Gaza supplied barley to the English brewing industry. The battle that followed proved to be the 5th Battalion’s deadliest test of the war. They were intended as a support unit, placed in the centre between the coastal sand dunes and the large cavalry force sent out to encircle the town from the east and prevent re-enforcement from Beersheba. After initially being delayed by the fog, the cavalry units successfully moved round the town and started attacking from the rear. The main infantry units were similarly delayed and failed to take what had been labelled as Green Hill in the centre of the line, on the edge of Gaza. The Essex regiments were sent up between two ridges to take it. The first casualties were caused when they were hit by artillery near Mansura Ridge. It was a hot afternoon and they were already running 34
At great cost they held onto Green Hill for most of the day before being nearly surrounded and forced to retreat, and o ended the first battle for Gaza. The casualties had been high with over 500 killed, 3,000 wounded and 500 missing, with 246 later found to have been taken prisoner. The 5th Battalion alone had 56 fatalities. Second in command, Major Heron had been killed, leaving behind his wife Anne and seven-year-old daughter Rose at Mistley. Wilfred Ainger died aged just 21 years and lies buried in the cemetery in Gaza alongside Harry Dawson (age 27). The body of Ernest (Bert) Carr (23) was never found and he is listed on a memorial in Jerusalem. Stanley Oxley (21) was fatally wounded during the action and is also buried in Israel. Two more bloody engagements followed and Arthur Brown-Sawyer, another Xylonite worker from Brooke Street, was killed on November 4, 1917 during the third and final attempt to take the town. This finally opened up the way for General Allenby, TE Lawrence and the Arab army to take Jerusalem just a month later. A simple wooden cross was erected where the lives of five local men were sacrificed on a faraway Green Hill on March 26, 1917. Philip Cunningham, Manningtree Museum In Touch online:
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POTENTIAL “At all levels of the school, pupils’ attitudes to learning are excellent. They have naturally enquiring minds, eagerly express their own perceptive opinions and question probingly. They are enthusiastic and willing learners with a thirst for knowledge.” ISI Report 2016
FORTHCOMING OPEN MORNINGS 2017
QUEEN’S HOUSE & THE ABBEY DROP-IN MORNING Friday 17 March 9.30am to 12 noon OPEN MORNING Saturday 6 May 10am to 12.30pm
SENIOR SCHOOL DROP-IN MORNING Friday 5 May 9.30am to 12 noon
For more information, or to book a personal visit, please contact our admissions team: 01394 615041 www.woodbridgeschool.org.uk