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with Creeting St Mary, Creeting St Peter & Needham Market
Volume 3 • Issue No. 10 • AUGUST 2016
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East Anglian Living History Fayre See page 9
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR My parents celebrated their golden anniversary in June and, as you do at times such as this, we have talked at length about the trials and tribulations they faced over the years, some good, some not so. I’m proud their marriage was rock solid throughout, even when faced with tough financial times on the farm, a variety of health challenges, a rather rebellious teenage daughter and, in recent years, the collapse of the Irish economy which has impacted on everyone in one way or another.
VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR HOME-START
Married in 1966 and parents for the first time in 1967, my mum and dad showed remarkable resilience when it may have been easier to walk away. Back then when farm machinery was either unavailable or unaffordable, farming was not for the fainthearted, but they were a formidable team. Mum was the ultimate survivor. She baked, she sewed, she kept a garden, she helped on the farm, she managed the books… she did what had to be done to make ends meet and she and dad were totally committed to giving my brothers and I every opportunity they had been denied. They also knew how to have fun. My mum could turn a Sunday picnic in the garden into an unforgettable adventure. That said I don’t ever want to eat ox tongue sandwiches again as long as I live.
Volunteers are at the very heart of the service, connecting on a one-to-one basis with families, offering friendship and support.
Our annual daytrip to Kinvarra beach and the annual pilgrimage to Knock were the highlights of summers spent in the garden and on the farm. Every year I bought red heart-shaped sun glasses in Kinvarra and one of those little toy camera picture viewers in Knock and I was the happiest little girl in the world. My life is remarkable different to theirs, but I suspect my everyday worries are not entirely dissimilar. Making my own butter or knitting socks aren’t realistic money-saving options for me, but, thanks to my parents, I do have a ‘pull your socks up and get on with it’ approach to most things, and this I’m grateful for in these rather disconcerting political times.
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In Touch with Creeting St Mary, Creeting St Peter & Needham Market is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
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IN TOUCH WITH . . . • Hadleigh • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • East Bergholt, Dedham & Flatford • Kesgrave & Rushmere • Sproughton & Burstall • Claydon, Barham & Henley • Manningtree, Mistley, Lawford & Brantham • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • Bramford, Offton & Somersham • Woodbridge & Melton • Gt. & Lt. Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Witnesham & Tuddenham St. Martin • Copdock, Washbrook, Belstead, Bentley & Tattingstone • Ipswich East, Broke Hall, Ravenswood & Warren Heath • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Pin Mill, Holbrook, Woolverstone & Erwarton
Home-Start in Mid and West Suffolk reaches out and supports parents who are struggling in their parenting role due to a variety of reasons.
Home-Start Volunteers offer their time and personal experience; most are parents or grandparents, foster parents or step parents. Full training and on-going support are given. Do you have two hours to spare each week? Do you have parenting experience? Do you want to give back to your community? Do you like to learn new things and meet new people? We have preparation courses starting soon. Find out more by contacting Maria: 01379 678552 / office@homestartmidsuffolk.org.uk
CREETING ST MARY OPEN GARDENS We would like to thank all those who supported us when we opened our three gardens on June 25. We are very grateful to all the volunteers on the day, those who donated cakes, raffle prizes, honey and plants as well as those who visited us. We raised the fantastic amount of £1,241.95 which will go most of the way to pay for a cancer support nurse for two weeks. Thank you all once again. Kathryn and Richard Martin, Sue and David Haynes, Caroline and William Barnes
SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE Call 01473 353350 Here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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SEPTEMBER DEADLINE 20 AUGUST 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy
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NEWS CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE Sunday, July 5 saw the arrival of the group of children from Belarus who have joined us for a one month health respite visit. The 18 children and two interpreters arrived at Gatwick Airport after a long and tiring journey, having left home very, very early in the morning. Thank goodness at least the sun was shining, but many of the children were shivering as they left the airport having come from a blistering 35 degrees at home.
SUFFOLK ENERGY FROM WASTE FACILITY Staff at the Suffolk energy-from-waste facility went all out to support the Rio Roadshow, a massive charity event which aims to raise £75,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We were fortunate to miss the traffic problems on the way home and arrived in Stowmarket where all the host families were waiting in anticipation to meet their new house guests. Thank you to the Cedars Hotel who stepped in at the last minute and gave us the use of their conference room for the meeting point.
A big thank you to the team of ladies who got together the previous week to iron all the clothing that had been donated so the program could start with them all being able to choose clothes for themselves and for siblings back home. Donations this year have been amazing with a tremendous amount of new clothing received from our very generous supporters.
Over five weeks the roadshow visited more than 130 SUEZ sites from Scotland to Cornwall with a giant truck kitted out as a mobile gym. At each site staff were encouraged to run, row and ride as many miles as they could in a bid to cover the 5,761 miles between London and Rio. While in Suffolk, staff clocked up an incredible 227 miles towards the overall target and managed to raise more than £500 through a mini Olympics competition, a cake sale and a mocktail bar. Their efforts were filmed by Anglia TV. The roadshow follows on from the Big Ride in 2014 when SUEZ staff raised nearly £50,000 for Macmillan. USEFUL NUMBERS Site offices: 01473 839149 To book a visit: 01473 836812 Environment Agency: 0800 807060
One little girl had a big surprise as it was her eighth birthday on the Tuesday after arrival and we held a surprise party for her (probably for the first time in her life) and there was a visit from Steff N Nonsense who provided fantastic entertainment. Not only is Steff an all round children’s entertainer she is also a Bubbleologist and it was fantastic to see the huge range of bubbles she produced.
STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Regular networking opportunities for August
Our program is now in full swing and the children are looking forward every day to experiencing something new and exciting. We meet daily Monday to Friday at Bloomfield Football Club and again we would like to express our thanks to them for their support as without this facility, allowing working parents to host, we would not be able to bring the children. The children are now all busy working on their memory books and will go home with them full of memories they will be able to look back on and remember forever.
For those who can’t face people and a full English at the crack of dawn, join us for Coffee ’n’ Cake Networking at Needham Market Community Centre on Friday, August 5, 10am-noon.
We never forget that without your support these children would not be here and whatever your contribution, big or small, it all adds up to what we need to bring each child so from us and from them, thank you very much.
Dates for your diary
Link Chair Elizabeth Parker, 01449 760343
Keep checking the website for further details on these events or to sign up for our e-newsletter: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk
Support our children: www.justgiving.com/chernobylmidsuffolk
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Otherwise come along to our Networking Breakfast at Stowmarket Golf Club on Friday, August 19, at 6.45am.
Book online at: www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk Tuesday, September 20: Joint Suffolk and Stowmarket Chamber event Friday, October 28: Quiz Night at Hillside Community Centre
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NEWS PICTURE: ©Mark Ward Media
REPORT FROM KEITH WELHAM District Councillor for Stowupland and Creeting St Peter The country seems to be in political turmoil just now, post the Brexit vote. The Green Party and the Conservative Party are both looking for new leaderS; the Labour MPs want a new leader and the district councils, together with Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils, are consulting on a devolution deal offered by government. This would include a combined authority made up of representatives of all the district councils and both county councils and representatives from business. Head of the authority would be a directly elected mayor, elected in May 2017.
FESTIVAL OF CLASSIC AND SPORTS CARS The annual Festival of Classic and Sports Cars will take place at Helmingham Hall on Sunday, August 7. Held in association with Suffolk Vehicle Enthusiast’s Club (SVEC), this year’s event is the biggest yet and will showcase more than 800 cars representing the last 100 years of motoring history. It will also raise money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), a charity which gives support to families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. Set in the grounds of the stunning 15th century moated Helmingham Hall with its Grade I listed gardens, the backdrop for the festival could not be more beautiful. The garden will be open and visitors are invited to wander through the fragrant rose garden, pause a while on the stunning parterre and explore the kitchen garden with its overflowing borders and tunnels of ornamental vegetables. The festival is a highlight in the Helmingham Hall calendar of events and attracted more than 7,000 visitors in 2015, raising £5,500 for The Treehouse hospice in Ipswich. This is very much a family day out and there are plenty of activities planned for children. There will be mini Land Rovers for them to drive, fairground stalls, birds of prey demonstrations and other events in the main entertainment ring. There will also be over 40 craft and trade stalls and plenty of refreshment choices ranging from pies to Pimms, to homemade cakes and other delicacies with an international flavour from around the world. Folk singers The Broadside Boys, The Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band and Itchy Feet will provide musical entertainment and the Chocks Away dance troupe will be demonstrating their jive, swing and lindy hop skills. The Festival of Classic and Sports Cars is on Sunday, August 7 from 10am to 5pm and admission is £9 for adults, £4 for children and £22 for a family of four. Tickets are available on the gate (cash only) or in advance via the Helmingham Hall website: www.helmingham.co.uk.
At a meeting of the full council of Mid Suffolk at the end of June views were split, more on the detail than the principle. The deal requires every district council to accelerate house building, but there is little about protecting the environment. Within the Ipswich Borough boundary there is a shortage of suitable land and some of the Ipswich housing need is likely to be met within Mid Suffolk. But we don’t want to be just a dormitory for Ipswich and all stations to London; this is what many fear. Devolution will transfer responsibility for improving skills and training. Other elements of the deal are control of a £225m transport budget for the next four years and £25m funding each year for the next 30 years to support economic growth, development of local infrastructure and jobs. Future deals might bring together healthcare and social care under the combined authority. Much of what is proposed is good and should benefit residents of Mid Suffolk, but we need to see the checks and balances. We do not need an expensive extra tier of local government so we will need to see that this doesn’t happen. More information is available on the Mid Suffolk website, where there is also a link to the consultation which runs until August 23. Initially, devolution of power from central government will have little effect on most residents of Creeting St Peter, but the pressure to meet housing targets could lead to the loss of large areas of agricultural land throughout Suffolk. We need to make sure that landowners and potential developers do not get permissions for inappropriate house building. To assist in protecting the village, the parish council is discussing whether or not to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for Creeting St Peter. Neighbourhood planning at village level is vital and I urge residents to find out what is involved and, if you can, to help in the development of a plan for the future of Creeting St Peter. I aim to make myself available to every resident and I will be pleased to deal with any queries and requests for assistance. Please contact me if you think that I can help. Keith Welham 01449 673185 / keith.welham@midsuffolk.gov.uk
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Must-see musical comedy from SODS SODS’ must-see September comedy, Little Shop of Horrors, is a delectable spoof horror musical written by Howard Ashman with an electrifying 1960s score by Alan Menken. Seymour Krelborn, a meek and dejected assistant in a flower shop on Skid Row, New York, discovers an exotic plant. He affectionately names it Audrey II after his fellow shop assistant, on whom he has a crush. Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice and an unquenchable thirst for human blood. As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and
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fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood. Just when it’s too late, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s extraterrestrial origins and ambitions for worlddomination. If you’ve seen the show before, you’ll already love it – if not come and experience this feel-good mix of fun, flamboyance and foliage. There will be six performances at the John Peel Centre from Tuesday, September 6 to Saturday 10 at 7.30pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets are £13 and available from the John Peel Centre: 01449 774678 / www.johnpeelcentre.com
Jo Jones as Chiffon, Sarah Roberts as Crystal and Jess Ellis as Ronette Picture by Peter Hawkes
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OUT & ABOUT MUSEUM OF EAST ANGLIAN LIFE East Anglian Living History Fayre: Saturday, August 13 & Sunday 14 High Street planters are growing well with the rain and sunshine getting them off to a good start. If we do have a dry spell they will need watering, and thanks go to those who have volunteered to do this. So that we can keep our displays blooming, we rely on fundraising and sponsorship. Our thanks for kind donations this year go to the following: Any IT, East of England Co-op, Healthcare Homes Group Ltd, In Harmony Beauty Studio, Izod Bassett, Kerridges (Needham Market) Ltd, Needham Marker Aerials Ltd, Needham Mortgage Centre, Pauls Hardware and The Barber Stop. Also, thank you to all of you who have planted your own pots and baskets. Volunteers are always welcome to help keep the town looking good, so if you are interested please contact Vera on 723424. Our next meeting is at 10am on August 27 in the Green Room at the Community Centre. Feel free to come. Suffolk’s Museum of the Year in 2015 has teamed up with local historical event specialists Black Knight Historical to deliver what promises to be the best all round historical event of the summer with the East Anglian Living History Fayre. Ian Pycroft, owner of Black Knight, said: “This amazing event really will bring history alive! Visitors will be able to step back in time to meet ancestors all over the museum. The Women’s Land Army will be working the farm-, as they did during the Second World War, ladies from the Women’s Institute will be knitting for the war effort, and the Home Guard will protect us all from German invasion! All across the site, historical characters will delight and amaze you with their skills and knowledge. From Roman Legionaries to an audience with Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare through to Viking warriors, falconry, music and dance, gunpowder weapons demonstrations, lectures from top local authors and speakers, and much more.” This special new event promises to be an unforgettable experience. For information and enquiries contact: enquiries@eastanglianlife.org.uk / 01449 612229
THE JUBILEE LADIES CHOIR At our last rehearsal before the summer break, The Ladies Jubilee Choir presented a cheque for £1,500 to community fundraiser Hannah Walker of EACH. Hannah said that the donation would be used to fund music therapy sessions. The money came from part of the pot that accumulates over the year from the profits of our concerts. We also donated £500 to the Macmillan Cancer Support (Woolverstone Wish) Appeal. The photo shows our chairman Di Balaam presenting the cheque to Hannah. It’s official – singing is good for you and our choir enjoys singing at rehearsals and sharing our music at concerts, and sharing our profits with charities makes it even more enjoyable. We begin our autumn session in August when we will start work on some new pieces and as we get closer to Christmas we will be preparing for our Christmas concerts. The choir meets at the United Reformed Church in Stowmarket on Tuesday evenings. We are a friendly bunch and always welcome new members. You are welcome to come along and give us a try for a couple of weeks. Contact Di Balaam on 01449 736374. You can follow the choir on Facebook.
We stopped to look at our favourite view It’s the little things that make a funeral special Here for you every hour of every day
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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH AND DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB We wonder how many readers are being plagued, as some of us are, by a recorded phone message which begins ‘Now that winter is here..’. We might seem equally ridiculous if we start this report by saying ‘Now that autumn is here..’. In the warmest summer days we have had this year our thoughts are indeed turning to September. August feels like a time for winding down; we meet to enjoy a social meal together. September on the other hand feels like a new start, the beginning of a period in which we often do our most productive work and planning. Our club meets regularly on the second Wednesday of each month. Our autumn programme reflects issues we are working on or want to know more about. September 14: A book reading to mark International Literacy Day. We shall discuss What Was Never Said by Emma Craigie about FGM in the UK October 12: Progress report on our regional project in Africa which provides simple medical treatment to rid children of a parasite causing great pain and preventing them from going to school November 9: A talk about the work of Survivors in Transition, a voluntary organisation set up in Ipswich to support people who have suffered sexual abuse in childhood We often feel that particular topics in our meetings might be of interest to other women. We are always pleased to welcome anyone who would like to come and hear a speaker or join in a discussion on a one-off basis. Please just call Jackie on 01473 659314 for more details and directions.
THE REGAL IN AUGUST THE BFG Family adventure starring Mark Rylance, Bill Hader and Rebecca Hall. A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kind hearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children. ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE Family animation voiced by Simon Pegg, Jennifer Lopez and Denis Leary. Back for their fifth instalment, Manny, Diego and Sid join up with Buck to fend off a meteor strike that would destroy the world. GHOSTBUSTERS Action comedy starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Chris Hemsworth. Thirty years after Ghostbusters took the world by storm, the beloved franchise makes its long-awaited return. Director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today. FINDING DORY Family animation voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks and Idris Elba. Much awaited sequel to the 2003 smash hit Finding Nemo. The friendlybut-forgetful blue tang fish begins a search for her long-lost parents, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way. JASON BOURNE Action thriller starring Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones and Alicia Vikander. Jason Bourne, now remembering who he truly is, tries to uncover hidden truths about his past. THE LEGEND OF TARZAN Adventure starring Alexander Skarsgard, Samuel L Jackson and Margot Robbie. Having acclimated to life in London, Tarzan is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE Comedy starring Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and Kate Moss, back by popular demand. Blamed for a major incident at an uber-fashionable launch party, Edina and Patsy become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more! SUICIDE SQUAD Action thriller starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Ben Affleck and Jared Leto. A secret government agency recruits imprisoned super-villains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency. NINE LIVES Family comedy starring Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner and Christopher Walken. A stuffy businessman finds himself trapped inside the body of his family’s cat. STAR TREK BEYOND Adventure starring Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Idris Elba and Karl Urban. The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.
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OUT & ABOUT CHAPS – OUR LOCAL MEN’S HEALTH CHARITY CHAPS is a men’s health charity dedicated to raising awareness of men’s health problems. Why? Because UK men’s health statistics are so poor in comparison to both women and our European neighbours across the whole spectrum of disease. Sixty-thousand UK men of working age die prematurely every year at a rate one and a half times that for women. The causes are well known: heart disease, smoking, cancers, diabetes, suicide and risk-taking behaviour to name but a few. There are numerous health programmes devoted to women’s care, but few equivalent services exist for men, while men themselves remain largely unaware of health issues and reluctant to use the services that do exist. For instance, NHS health checks aimed at detecting the top seven causes of premature death are offered to men aged 40-74, yet less than 50% are actually taken up! Furthermore, although prostate cancer kills 11,000 UK men annually, there is no national screening programme and only 8% of UK men avail themselves of the PSA prostate cancer screening test available to them via the NHS. Our objective is to raise awareness on the premise that if a man knows what can go wrong, he at least will have the knowledge to make an informed choice as to whether to take preventative action. Over the last five years CHAPS has run men’s health days, typically at football stadia, where we have provided free tests to men for aortic aneurysm screening, heart disease and stroke risk assessment, diabetes, skin cancer and prostate cancer screening. At ITFC last October 138 men attended and we even had a team from the Medical Detection Dogs collecting urine samples from men having prostate checks to train their dogs to recognise prostate cancer! So far we know 11/94 prostate checks were abnormal and one man with an unknown aneurysm underwent potentially life-saving surgery within two weeks of the event. Another first on the day was a successful seminar, Mental Health in The Workplace, run by Suffolk User Forum, Suffolk Mind and Picasso HR.
STOWMARKET & DISTRICT MONDAY CLUB The club continues through the summer with a varied programme planned. We had a very successful party to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. It was organised on the theme of a street party with the bunting and crowns made previously very much in evidence. We had games such as pass-the-parcel and enjoyed a supper organised by Janet and a cake made for the occasion by Thelma, two of our helpers. Our picture this month shows them cutting the cake. Stowmarket Concert Band paid us a visit with rousing music and a chance for some of our members to try their hand at conducting. A very good evening. We also had an evening playing Hoy and another when all the board games and cards were brought out. This is always a popular evening. We now have a country and western evening with The Muleskinners to look forward to. This will be a lively night. We also have a barbecue planned for a few weeks’ time. We are a club for adults with learning difficulties and meet each Monday from 7.30-9.30pm at the Community Hub in Crown Street, Stowmarket. We are run entirely by volunteers and new members and helpers are always very welcome. If you would like further information, please contact us on 01449 672123 or just come along on a Monday evening.
At our last event in Clacton in December an exceptionally high attendance thoroughly endorsed our raison d’être. For instance, 21 heart checks and eight prostate checks were abnormal while eight skin cancers were diagnosed. These results typify our activity and overall in 2015 we performed a total of 1,944 clinical tests for 814 men at eight events. We are concentrating our activity in Essex and Suffolk on the principle that ‘charity begins at home’ and in recognition of considerable local unmet health needs. Sadly we have all lost friends to preventable and curable diseases, but through local support at local events we can make a difference. We are therefore encouraging male orientated groups such as Rotary, Masons and Lions and employers of male workforces to commission us to provide smaller, private health check events for the members or employees. To find out more, please check our website at www.chaps.uk.com or contact us at: chris.booth@chaps.uk.com / info@chaps.uk.com / 07734 747854 This year’s event at Ipswich Town Football Club on Thursday, November 3 will offer the following health checks: • Aneurysm screening • Cardiovascular risk assessment – your risk of a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years • Diabetes screening • Skin cancer • Prostate • Physiotherapy, blood pressure and BMI checks The day is co-ordinated by CHAPS and the clinical services will be provided by Onelife Suffolk, Ipswich Hospital, the Suffolk Nuffield Hospital, Day Lewis Pharmacy and the Co-op (hearing tests).
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ON THE GRAPEVINE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER NICK PLUMB ON THE EU EXIT VOTE So, just over half of us (and it was close) have decided that it is time for Britain to leave the EU. But now that the voting is over, a new Tory prime minister has been appointed, and Labour seem intent on ousting their leader, how is that exit vote actually going to impact upon your investments and pensions? To be completely honest, I admit I guessed wrong. When asked before the vote what would happen if we voted to leave, I predicted that there would be a significant slump in the FTSE and other markets, which would probably last for several weeks, although I did say that I did not think there would be another recession. In fact, markets did react negatively on the Friday following the news of an exit vote. The referendum result prompted the pound to initially fall seven per cent against the dollar and the FTSE 100 fell by more than four per cent on that Friday morning. However, although the pound is still weak in comparison to the dollar and the euro, the markets have recovered and this week the FTSE 100 surged to above 6500 for the first time in a year. We are definitely entering a period of uncertainty. Currency, stock and bond markets are probably going to be extremely volatile in the days and perhaps weeks to come. However, most financial advisers, Plumb Financial Services included, are stressing the need to not take snap decisions without first taking advice and considering all options. In our opinion, it’s a case of not panicking in the short-term and sticking to the longer-term plan for your investments and pensions. Any market drop is likely to be a short-term position rather than the start of another descent into a deep recession as some would have had us believe before the referendum. Sure, it might get tough for a while in the months to come, but that won’t last forever. For example, after hitting its lowest point of under 3,500 points during the last financial crisis in March 2009, the FTSE 100 had already pulled back by more than 60 per cent just a year later. The true impact of this EU exit vote won’t be measured in five days or five weeks, but probably in more like five years. If markets do drop back, investors with strong cash positions could actually find opportunities by investing while funds are low in value. Investment sage Warren Buffet is an advocate of the ‘buy low and sell high’ investment strategy, and although simple – it works. Panicking and cashing in investments and moving into cash after a large fall is never a good idea. The smartest investors make most money, not by ‘second guessing’ the markets, but simply by sitting tight over the longer-term. Those who remain calm, while others around them panic and sell while markets are low, generally fair well and enjoy better returns over the longer-term. We believe that having a well diversified investment portfolio, preferably managed in accordance with an identified risk profile that the client is comfortable with, is the best long-term strategy for successful investing, regardless of any political events that may impact upon that position in the short-term. That’s why we are not panicking, and why we are continuing to take a longer-term view. To over-use the popular second world war saying, our advice to our clients is: “Keep calm and carry on!” Or as Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army would say: “Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring!” Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services. Post your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email nickplumb@aol. com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301. Nick’s answers to reader’s questions in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice. Any readers who require advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial consultation to discuss their own position. Plumb Financial Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
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Suffolk Libraries launches Summer Reading Challenge 2016 The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest reading for pleasure programme in libraries for primary school aged children, with 800,000 children taking part last year. Two thousand and fifteen was the most successful ever in Suffolk with more than 8,200 children signing up and as 2016 is officially Suffolk Libraries’ Year of Reading, it’s hoped that this summer will be another huge success. The Summer Reading Challenge runs throughout the summer holidays from July 16 to September 3, and Suffolk Libraries are already on the lookout for volunteers to help support it. Each library in Suffolk will be looking for help in running activities and listening to children discuss the books they have read. Anyone aged 13 and over can volunteer to help. It’s very rewarding and anyone interested can contact their local library or apply online via: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/src The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to read six or more library books of their choice during the summer holidays with collectable incentives and rewards, plus a certificate or medal for every child who reads all six. Children can sign up at their local library at the start of the summer holidays – it’s absolutely free and many libraries will also be running related activities through the holidays. Alison Wheeler, Chief Executive of Suffolk Libraries, said: “Every year more and more Suffolk families enjoy and take part in the Summer Reading Challenge. “We really enjoy offering thousands of children the chance to keep up their reading during the summer and this year there is the added draw of a brilliant Roald Dahl theme. What’s not to like?” This year Suffolk Libraries are also running a bumper fundraising prize draw alongside the Summer Reading Challenge with some incredible prizes including some great family days out. The Big Friendly Read will feature some of Roald Dahl’s bestloved characters and the amazing artwork of his illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake. It will encourage reading on a giant scale and will feature themes such as invention, mischief and friendship as explored in Roald Dahl’s books. For more information go to: www.readingagency.org.uk/summerreadingchallenge As with previous years there is also a free interactive app which will allow children and families to activate extra materials. This summer, Suffolk Libraries will also be running the ImagiNation project which aims to provide young people with an opportunity to celebrate their love of reading over the summer by getting creative. Anyone aged between 11 and 18 can take part by visiting their local branch of Suffolk Libraries to collect an ImagiNation log book crammed full of activities to help young people express ideas or feelings about what they have read.
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SPORT SCORPION MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY
NEEDHAM MARKET BOWLS CLUB
Scorpion juniors recently demonstrated their karate skills at Combs Fete.
Since I last wrote we have had to endure a great deal of rain which has resulted in more matches than normal being postponed. Hopefully we are now in a period of more settled weather and the greens will dry out and speed up.
A good turnout of students kept the large audience entertained with sword work, sparring, kata (patterns), kicking and self defence. A big thank you to senior instructor Mel Warmsley, Master Andy Lewis, Master Dave Fell, Lilirose Fell, Kiera Holder and Lucy Durrant for helping to organise the display and looking after the juniors. Nearly 150 juniors and seniors took part in our second interclub tournament. Fantastic martial arts skills were displayed in universal karate and tae kwon do sparring, kickboxing, muay thai and grappling. We have the third set of interclubs in October. We have a great number of members (nearly 50) taking part in the Stowmarket Striders Golden Mile charity run in September and a brave team of seniors running, swimming and biking in a half triathlon in October, also to raise money for charity. We are pleased to offer all new members one month free training. Please visit our websites and Facebook pages for further details.
Our teams are having some success this season with the Tuesday A team challenging for top spot with eight wins in 10 matches, Tuesday B are recovering from a slow start winning their last two games by seven points to zero. With eight wins from 11 matches the Wednesday team are also in a challenging position in their league. Our Thursday night ‘development’ team is doing ok and providing our new bowlers with an introduction to league bowling. We have also progressed to the semi-finals of the Marie Curie with two very good wins so far. Wednesday roll-up (social) bowling at 2pm is still popular and offers bowling, tea/coffee and biscuits for 30p, so if you fancy a go you will be made most welcome. If you wish to speak to someone, contact numbers are listed below. Presidents Day was held on Sunday, July 10. This is a ‘friendly’ competition with club members making up teams representing the club president, John Holloway, and the club captain, Alastair Bailie. The competition was a win for the captain’s team by three rinks to one. Congratulations to them. This was followed by a tea for players, partners and invited guests provided by our president. A big thank to John from us all.
www.scorpionacademy.co.uk www.ufkka.org.uk
Notice to members: We are holding a Triples Competition on Sunday, August 28 with a barbeque. Get your names on the list as soon as possible so that a schedule can be worked out and a good time can be had by all.
Contact: scorpionacademy@live.co.uk / Mark JR Trent, 07708 644162
Pat Hadden, 01743 831308 / Alistair Bailie, 01449 720759
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CHURCH NEWS THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
NEEDHAM MARKET EVANGELICAL CHURCH
Many of you will have noticed the scaffolding that was erected around and in the church last month. This was requested by Heritage England with whom we are working to obtain the necessary grant money to carry out the repairs needed.
A THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH “It’s a funny old world,” Mrs Thatcher said as her personal world seemed to be falling apart. No doubt she didn’t mean it is amusing, but rather that it is puzzling. So we find it still. Although many scientists speak with commendable caution about the big bang and the age of the universe, all too often this subject is translated into an absolute certainty in the minds of most people, largely through the medium of radio and especially television, where proponents of such views have free access.
What was required was a close inspection of the roof timbers and also to inspect the hidden parts under the roof tiles to see if any further work would need to be undertaken. We had a specialist timber consultant who carried out a detailed inspection of the timbers and he was able to report that while we have had a death watch beetle attack he considered that at present it is inactive and as such we do not need to carry out a full treatment. He did stress that to maintain the status quo it is important to keep the church dry so the proposed works to make repairs to the roof to stop water coming in is important. We also had a structural engineer inspect the roof and while it is structurally sound he recommended minor additional supports be added to some of the roof timbers. All of this was very pleasing to hear and we are now in the process of completing application forms to the Heritage Lottery Fund whom we hope will provide the balance of the funding. As a community we have managed to raise more than £100,000 towards the costs and are hopeful that work will be able to start next April. Thank you to all those who attended the words and music evening in The Ark on June 24. Our thanks go to Michael and his cast for a very enjoyable evening. It certainly helped us take our minds off Brexit.
Confident assertions are made that the universe is extremely ancient and that we humans are where we are today as the result of a process that has taken all that time. On the other hand, when Christians declare that there is a Creator God to whom we are all accountable, that there is life after death in heaven or hell, that God can be known now, and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, then we are told that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves, out of our schools, out of the workplace, out of politics, out of the public arena generally. The difference, we are told, is between science and faith. The former, so it is claimed, is about facts; the latter, about beliefs. But it’s not that simple. For one thing, the occurrence of the big bang and the age of the earth are not demonstrable facts. If they were, every scientist would believe them, but they don’t. For another thing, because those alleged events are not provable, they belong in the realm of belief, such belief being based on an interpretation of evidence. Still, I suppose the proclaimers of one faith will go on making their confident assertions, and the proclaimers of another faith will go on being to told to shut up. Yes, it’s a funny old world. Peter Kinley
While the music was familiar, the poems and readings were new to most of us, but were none the less very interesting. From the madness of Spike Milligan to the works of Shakespeare, all very well performed. Michael tells me that the evening raised £301 for the roof fund, so well done to everyone who helped in any way.
SPECIAL DATE IN AUGUST Tuesday, August 30: Missionary Meeting. Visit of Jim Henry from the Open Air Mission, 7.30pm. There will be an Open Air Mission team in Suffolk from August 26 to September 1. Look out for them if you are in Ipswich. They’re likely to be near the Cornhill.
Thank you also to all those who supported our produce stall on July 2. We raised a record £221.30 for the general fund and the coffee morning raised £65 for the roof fund. Thank you to all those who contributed in any way.
ADVANCE NOTICE Our Harvest Thanksgiving meetings will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25. More details next month.
Our next produce stall/coffee morning will be on Saturday, August 6 from 9am. Please do come along to see what there is to buy or to meet your friends for a coffee. The church is always open during the day. If you wish us to pray for yourself or someone please leave your requests on the noticeboard in the porch.
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REGULAR MEETINGS Sunday Services: 10.30am and 6.30pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting: Tuesdays at 7.30pm For further information, if you require transport, or you would like a home visit, please contact Peter: 01394 271645 / 07570 558072 / peterkinley60@gmail.com www.needhamchurch.org.uk
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CHURCH NEWS CHRISTCHURCH, NEEDHAM MARKET Methodist/United Reformed Church, High Street, Needham Market IP6 8AP Ministers The Rev Mary Playford (URC): 01449 711798 The Rev John Boardman (Methodist): 01787 372738 Sunday Morning Worship: 10.30am, including crèche and Sunday Club Service of Holy Communion: Second Sunday WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTCHURCH HALLS Tiddlers: Monday 9.30-11am (term time) For mums and toddlers, 12 months to four years. Contact Hannah: 07969 482360 Scrabble Club: Monday 2-4pm New players please contact Sheila Norris: 01449 720871 Knit for Peace: First Wednesday, 2.30-4pm Contact Sheila Norris: 01449 720871 Women’s Fellowship: Second Wednesday 2.30-3.30pm Contact Linda Hills: 01449 721258 Christians Together Ecumenical Group: Thursday, 10am Contact Ann Devereux: 01449 721575 Coffee Morning: Second Saturday, 10am-noon Always with a selection of cakes for sale. OTHER REGULAR BOOKINGS Weight Watchers: Monday, 7-9pm Children’s Musical Theatre: Tuesday, 4-6pm. Contact Faye: 01449 722354 Karate: Wednesday; juniors 6.30-7.30pm / adults 7.30-8.30pm Rainbow Guides: Thursday, 5.30-6.30pm (term time) Brownies: Thursday, 6.30-7.30pm (term time) Self Defence: Thursday, 8-10pm Hall lettings: 07851 742847 Church contact: Ann Devereux, 01449 721575 www.christchurchneedhammarket.co.uk
Hopefully by the time you read this, the way forward in political and national terms will be clearer with bridges being constructed so that dialogue and reconciliation can take place, rather than walls being built which will create division. During the Sunday service here at Christchurch the other week we were invited to place a Lego brick in a broken down building in an attempt to reconstruct and repair it. This was a symbolic gesture as we were encouraged to think about broken relationships which needed healing. But it’s not enough to think symbolically about real, almost tangible hurt and pain caused by the situation the country finds itself in. Not when each one of us has the potential to do something positive. It may require nothing more than a smile, a friendly hello or an enquiry after someone’s wellbeing. I’m sure you have heard the phrases ‘Love your neighbour’ and ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’ (or as Charles Kingsley put it The Water Babies by naming one of his characters Mrs Do-As-You-WouldBe-Done-By). Those are all pretty good mottos for life! I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer; it will be soon be time for the Rio Olympics and for the new football season to start – let’s hope for good things! The Rev Mary Playford CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL This year Christchurch is planning something different on December 2, 3 and 4. We would like to fill our church with a Christmas display and we are inviting individuals, families, groups and businesses to take part. There will be display areas for Marvellous Mangers (nativity/crib scenes), Stupendous Stars (stars), Holy Heralds (angels) and Tremendous Trees (unusual representations of Christmas trees no taller than 60cms).
I’m writing this in the wake of the referendum result and in the midst of what seems to be utter political turmoil. To cap it all England have just exited the Euro 2016 Championships.
We will also have a children’s corner where children can draw and display their own Christmas pictures, look at books or listen to a storyteller. Refreshments will be available for you to sit and enjoy among the displays.
As an Andy Murray fan I await the Wimbledon Championships with immense trepidation! I think perhaps it’s time to come clean and confess that puppy training has contained the command ‘Leave’ in abundance – perhaps I’m responsible for all the departures.
If you have, or can make, cribs, stars, angels or trees that fit our categories above and you would like to enter them in our Christmas Festival, please contact Sheila Norris for more details: 01449 720871 / sheila_norris@hotmail.co.uk
HOME WORSHIP Linda Naveiras, who attends the Baptist Church at Wattisham Village, came to lead our Home Worship in July and to tell us about the work of the Open Air Mission.
has taken up this offer. She has her lists, does the food shopping and the preparation and serves it up together with others, a great help to those who go out in the streets.
The Open Air Mission operates in the big cities. Volunteers from different parts of the country go there for a week, using the hospitality of one of the churches for their base.
She gave us an example of a ‘bag’ lady, who lived by scavenging things from waste bins and was dirty and unkept.
They hand out Christian leaflets and anyone who wishes to talk to them is very welcome. They go to Speakers Corner in London early on a Sunday morning, and stand on their soap box to preach the word. Linda read out a number of verses from the Bible illustrating the importance of preaching. Some time ago Linda saw an appeal in one of the Open Air Mission magazines for someone to do the cooking for a week. At the time she thought it was something she’d like to do, but circumstances prevented her. However, the opportunity came and she
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She was influenced by the Open Air Mission to change her way of life and now lives a Christian life and looks very different to when they first met her. Linda had a nice photograph of this reformed lady. Home Worship always meets at 10am on the first Monday of the month at 137 High Street, Needham Market. All welcome. On Monday, August 1 Diocescan Education Officer (Children) Helen Woodroffe is coming to tell us about her work. After the worship, we enjoy tea/coffee, biscuits and a friendly chat. Wendy Marchant
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