In Touch with Woodbridge - February 2016

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Volume 5 • Issue No. 10 • FEBRUARY 2016

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR We had a friend coming over to play last Saturday and I asked Jack if we should invite him to stay for dinner. “He loves Chinese,” my oh-so-quick sesame prawn toast loving son replied, so I said I’d send a message to his mum. “Is a message just a slow way of telling someone something?,” Jack asked and I must admit it would have been quicker and easier to pick the phone up and actually speak to Emma. Three texts later we knew Adam was staying for dinner, that he liked spaghetti bolognese and didn’t have any food allergies, so the answer to Jack’s question, at least in this circumstance, was probably YES.

NEWS THE DRUMMER BOY IS ON THE MOVE

Information technology has transformed our lives for the better it so many, many ways, but nothing beats direct communication and social media can never replace actual physical, social contact. I’m reminded of a submission from Elaine Bamber in Washbrook which I’d like to share. I hope it gives you a giggle FACEBOOK FOR THE OLDER GENERATION For those of my generation who do not comprehend why Facebook exists!

I am trying to make friends outside of Facebook while applying the same principles. Therefore, every day I walk down the street and tell passers by what I have eaten, how I am feeling at the moment, what I did the night before, what I will be doing later and with whom. I give them pictures of my family, my dog, of me gardening, taking things apart in the garage, watering the lawn, standing in front of landmarks, driving round town, having lunch and doing what everyone and everybody does every day. I also listen to their conversations and give them the ‘thumbs up’ and tell them that I like them.

It works just like Facebook! I already have four people following me... two police officers, a private investigator and a psychiatrist!

Melton In Touch &with Woodbridge Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to:

woodbridge@intouchnews.co.uk

Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

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

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The Drums to the Fore and Aft statue, affectionately known as the Drummer Boy, is to be moved from its current position and the custodian ownership of it to be given to Woodbridge Town Council. With that in mind, where would you like to see it located?

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Entrance to Elmhurst Park off Lime Kiln Quay Road

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Kingston Field

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Market Hill - Paved Area

•

Market Hill - Cobbled Area

•

Market Hill-Garden of Remembrance

Indicate your preference by clicking the online survey at www.woodbridge.suffolk.gov.uk / emailing the town clerk direct at Chris@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk / writing to her at: Woodbridge Town Council, Shire Hall, Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP Woodbridge Town Council will consider all responses and make their final decision on the location later in the year.

BINGO AND QUIZ NIGHTS AT WOODBRIDGE TOWN FC Every other Sunday from 7.30pm with quiz nights on February 14 and 28, and bingo on February 7 and 21.

Just turn up or contact John for more information: 01394 385308 The hall is available free for parties, weddings and other events on Fridays and Saturdays in June/July 2016. Maximum capacity 120.

Contact Richard Scott: 01394 385308/380187

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

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

Traditionally Christmas is panto season but The Company of Four based in Woodbridge are busy rehearsing for their family pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood, taking place at The Riverside Theatre in Woodbridge during February half term. Oh yes they are!

Oliver Fosker has not only written but is directing this brand new production, his first for the company. Oliver said: “It has been an absolute pleasure being able to produce and direct this year’s production, an amazing experience I shall always remember. Putting on a panto of this scale is no small task. I started writing the script back in March, auditions were held in October and the whole cast started rehearsing at the beginning of November.”

This production of Little Red Riding Hood is a traditional one suitable for all ages. It tells the story of Lucy (Little Red Riding Hood) who visits her sick grandma in her cottage in the forest, her aunt Ophelia Bapps who runs the town bakery and Ophelia’s son Arthur ‘Brain’ Bapps who gets into trouble with three local rent collectors. It is while visiting her grandma that Lucy comes face to face with the Wiley Wolf. While out collecting sticks for the fire Lucy stumbles upon a handsome woodcutter called Tom who, with the help of the fairies, defeats the wolf and they all live happily ever after.

The Company of Four always put on a fabulous show with plenty of laughs, singing, dancing and an amazing array of costumes – this is a must see if you like to cheer the goodies and boo the baddies and shout out ‘He’s behind you’!

Performance schedule: 7.30pm: Friday 12, Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February 1pm and 5pm: Saturday 13, Sunday 14 and Saturday 20 February 2.30pm: Wednesday 17 and Friday 19 February Tickets (adults £13 / concessions £12 / children £10 / family – two adults and two children £40) are available on 01394 382174 or via: www.theriverside.co.uk/programme_detail.php?id=625

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

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

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

The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. The Suffolk Dementia Helpline can support anyone who needs to talk. Perhaps you have memory worries yourself or even a recent diagnosis and want someone to talk to. Maybe you have concerns about a loved one, or need support in your caring role. Perhaps it’s just information you are after, or a confidential chat with someone. The line can help anyone who is looking for practical support and is able to provide you with local information and get you in touch with organisations that can help.

So call us today, we are here to help.

TUESDAY EVENING BINGO Bingo every Tuesday evening from 7.45pm at the Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge. Run by Action Medical Research.

WOODBRIDGE FARMERS’ AND FINE FOODS MARKET Saturdays, February 13 and 27, The Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge, 9am-12.30pm The market brings together under one roof a wide range of producers, selling truly local foods at competitive prices. There are around 20 regular stallholders who come to each market.

ers. Many stalls will let you have a sample to try before you buy and prices are very competitive for such fresh, local produce.

You can choose from a wide range of meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables and herbs, fish, breads, pies and cakes, preserves and sauces, fresh coffee and loose teas and also plants for your garden.

We now have an emailing list that enables us to contact customers before each market to inform them about special offers and new seasonal products. If you’d like to join this list please let us know by emailing us at: woodbridgefarmersmarket@gmail.com

Most stalls are run by the producers themselves who are passionate about sharing their produce and information about it with their custom-

We look forward to welcoming you to Woodbridge Farmers’ and Fine Foods Market very soon.

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY Please note: Owing to forthcoming building work in Woodbridge Library, the events listed below are subject to change. Please phone the library on 01394 446510 to check that an event you are interested in is still going ahead.

Saturday, February 6: National Libraries Day! Book Bonanza with Mandy Hearle who will be raising money for Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF). In 2014, Mandy raised £15,000 for the charity by taking on a different challenge every day of the year.

Please ring Woodbridge Library on 01394 446510 for further details.

Saturday, February 6, 9am-5pm and Sunday, February 7, 10am-4pm Sale of withdrawn library fiction, also young adult and large print titles.

Wednesday, February 17, 10.30am Come and find out more about publishing using both traditional and independent methods from internationally selling author Suzan Collins and the Waveney Author Group. Chat to authors Pam Finch (fiction), Enid Thwaites (non-fiction), Suzan Collins (non-fiction and fiction under her pen name Zina Adams) and Helen Thwaites (poetry and historical fiction under the pen name Elizabeth Manning-Ives).

To book your free place contact Woodbridge Library on 01394 446510.

Saturday, February 20, 9-11am Caroline Page, County Councillor for Woodbridge, will be holding her surgery at the library.

Mondays, February 1, 8, 22, 29, 11.15am12.45pm: Mindfulness and Meditation Learn to relax and unwind, to combat stress, anxiety and worry through the practise of mindfulness and meditation. Sessions are run on a drop-in basis, £10 a session. All very welcome.

Enquiries: debrawoodbridge@gmail. com / www.harnessinghappiness.co.uk / 01394 450066

Thursdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, 9.3010.30am: Tiny Talk Baby Signing Musical baby signing classes to develop your baby’s communication skills. For more details contact Sam: 07845 230624 / samh@tinytalk.co.uk

February 1-29: ArtLib This month there will be an exhibition of paintings by Rosario Zinna. Rosario is Italian by birth and British by naturalisation. Having obtained a medical degree in Naples he married an English lady and moved to England. He has worked in Canada, the United States and in England in the NHS, retiring some 30 years ago.

Rosario has always been keen to practise crafts,

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particularly drawing, and hopes that you will enjoy looking at what he has produced. Rosario describes his work as “pencil paintings” and strives to show contrast and light and dark in his work.

Booked Out The book and film review show hosted by Woodbridge Library staff. It is available on the Suffolk Libraries’ website and on SoundCloud.

Last month the show featured non-fiction books which have changed the way the show’s guests perceive life and the way they live it: www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/bookedout This month the show is called Under the Radar – great books that you might not have heard of recommended by a local author. If you’d like to get involved, come on the show and talk about a book or film you’ve borrowed, or have a suggestion for a future theme, please contact the library or leave a comment on our Facebook page.

Book Group Meets the first Thursday of the month at 2pm.

On February 4 we will be discussing The Lie by Helen Dunmore. This group is led by a member of staff. Please come along if you have read this title and would like to join in the discussion.

Free computer help and advice – now available Contact the library to book a session, or to find out more. Includes information about buying and getting connected, computer/tablet setup or re-configuration advice, help with specific tasks for more experienced users or taster sessions for absolute beginners. Remember you can now bring in your own device to access WiFi at the library.

New services We now sell first and second-class postage stamps, can scan to email or USB for 30p, copy A4 documents in colour for 30p and you can print in the library from your own device: 10p black and white and 30p colour per A4 sheet.

We also have Chromebook laptops that you can use anywhere in the library free of charge for two hours and we sell 4GB USB cards for £5 that can be used on our new Chromebase and Chromebook computers.

Citizens Advice Bureau Someone from the CAB is available for help and advice every Tuesday, 10am-noon.

Flagship Someone from Flagship is available for help and advice every Tuesday, 10am-noon.

Writers’ Workshop Meets once a month on Tuesdays at 5.30pm.

Interested? Please email Jeannie@butterwicks. com to open doors to creative writing.

Woodbridge Novelists’ Group

Meets twice a month on Wednesdays from 10am-noon. This group, for “committed writers aiming to be published”, wants to recruit an extra member. It aims to provide friendly feedback on members’ writing and explore topics related to creative writing and publication. If you are interested please contact Lawrence Richardson at: woodbridgenovelwriters@gmail.com Knitting Club Every Friday at 2pm. For all types of knitters from expert to beginners, come and share your knowledge or pick up some tips Drawing Group Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 10am. Each month this group explores a different aspect of drawing. No experience necessary but numbers are limited and this group is currently full. A voluntary contribution of £2 goes towards the Friends of Woodbridge Library.

Arts and Crafts Group Meets second Wednesday of the month at 10am. Enables older people and their carers to take part in activities such as collage, card making, printing and modelling.

Play Reading Meets on the third Thursday of the month at 2pm. Come to listen or join in for an afternoon of light-hearted drama, comedy or mystery. All welcome.

Games Club Meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2pm. Now includes dominoes. Improve your vocabulary and exercise your mind muscles with Scrabble or practise strategy or balance with dominoes.

Woodbridge Area Gamers Meets on the second Saturday of each month from 1-5pm in the library Meeting Room. This group plays modern strategy board games (Carcassonne, Powergrid, Caylus, 7 Wonders, Hey! That’s My Fish, Blokus and many more).

For more information contact nigel@foden. me.uk / 07740 173091 or see details on: www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/1150 ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Every Wednesday • 10.30-10.50am: Bookstart Baby Bounce – soothing songs and gentle nursery rhymes for babies and their grown-ups.

• 11.15-11.45am: Bookstart Tot Rock Rhyme and Rhythm – music, songs and action rhymes for toddlers with their parents and carers.

Every Friday • 10.30-11am: Bookstart Story and Rhyme Time Stories and more for young children accompanied by an adult.

Every Sunday • 10.30am-noon: Kids’ Club Craft Activities

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OUT & ABOUT EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION

THE ROTARY CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE

If you are a member of or a volunteer for the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you.

The Rabble Chorus was created by Kirsty Logan, a musician who decided she would like to sing.

We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, February 16 at 7.15pm when David Brown will be talking about China – The Land of the Dragon.

This illustrated talk will focus on a number of famous and less famous attractions, both ancient and modern, as well as aspects of Chinese history and culture.

The talk on March 22 will be given by Luke Potter, the new East Suffolk general manager for the National Trust. Luke will give us an insight into the current work and future plans of the trust for our area. This will be preceded by a short AGM. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome for an entrance fee of £2 each. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 a year (£12 for a couple at the same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events.

For more information contact our membership secretary: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761

THE RABBLE CHORUS

She placed an advertisement in the local press to see if other people had a similar interest and more than a dozen people turned up at the first meeting.

From this start the group has grown to more than 250 people singing regularly in Woodbridge, Easton, Needham Market and Saxmundham.

They also perform at festivals, charity concerts, town and county shows.

The Rabble Chorus continues to expand, accepting singers and people willing to learn.

MEDICAL DETECTION AND MEDICAL ALERT ASSISTANCE DOGS On Friday, January 15 Rotarian Norma Howell from The Rotary Club of Diss gave club members an insight into the wonderful work undertaken by the charity Medical Detection Dogs. Started in 2008 the charity has two distinct arms: •

Cancer detection dogs working with clinical samples with no direct contact with people they are trained to learn the smells of cancer.

•

Medical alert assistance dogs partnered to individuals and helping manage complex health conditions, getting medical supplies, fetching help and attracting attention.

www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

THE LIONS CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE AND DISTRICT After the hectic Christmas period we can take a breath, enjoy a couple of social events and plan our activities for the months ahead.

The many touching cards and letters of thanks we are receiving for the Christmas parcels support the continuing value of this longrunning project.

After many years in the role, our community secretary Mick Hilton has handed on our programme of support for individuals and small organisations to Stella Benton.

Asked for her thoughts in taking on the role, Stella said: “As members of Thurrock Lions, we thoroughly enjoyed becoming involved in supporting charities and community projects with the added benefit of the strong accent on having fun along with regular social events which is a key part of being a member of the Lions family.

“We moved to Suffolk last year and transferred to the Woodbridge and District Lions Club. The sense of fun which exists in the club and the warm welcome which we received made us immediately feel at home and played a big part in helping us settle in Suffolk. I am now taking on the role of chair of the community services committee which plays a key role in reviewing requests to the club for support which helps to ensure that we continue to support as many worthy community projects and individuals as possible.”

If you know of anyone we can help, we can be contacted on 0845 833 2820 or via: www.woodbridgelions.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

Norma Howell receiving a cheque from President Nigel Barratt

WICKHAM MARKET FLOWER CLUB Our next meeting on Thursday, February 25 is a hands-on workshop. If you would like more details or wish to attend please contact June Allum on 01394 384803. New members are always welcome; the first visit is free.

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Chris Miller will present a talk entitled The Suffolk Punch and it’s place in East Anglian History at the next meeting on Monday, February 8.

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

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OUT & ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE DEBEN

MELTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Deben Rotary has had a particularly successful festive season. Our annual carol concert at Woodbridge School was again well attended and over £1,400 was raised for Rotary supported charities. Out thanks again go to Martlesham Brass Band for playing and accompanying some rousing carol singing. Plans are already being made for this year’s event.

Despite January 6 being a rather nasty cold and foggy night, 36 members and visitors met to hear Sarah Margittai weave the story of The Jew’s Lane – A Melton Mystery.

We learned that the quiet footpath leading from Lodge Farm Lane to Upper Melton Terrace had no connection with any local Jewish community but was, in fact, named after a pastor of the Sabbatarian dissenting Christian community in Woodbridge and the surrounding area, John Ridley.

Because of their keeping the Sabbath on a Saturday, closing their businesses for the day, their long beards and unfashionably sombre clothing, they were referred to pejoratively as Jews, in particularly Pastor John, who was known as ‘The Jew Ridley’.

We also heard how, for well over a century, members of this community were buried in unmarked graves on a plot of land lying between Jew’s Lane and South Close.

Although sold on, the site was carefully tended within living memory, but has since become unkempt, although part of the iron fence and the gate survive.

Independent research by Woodbridge historian Vic Harrup has revealed details of further burials at the site.

Part of the ‘Dissenters’ Burial Ground’ is now incorporated into neighbouring gardens, but much of it has passed into the ownership of Hopkins Homes Ltd.

Despite some very unseasonal weather Santa’s sleigh around Martlesham Heath and in the Thoroughfare raised another £1,500 and our thanks go to the residents of Woodbridge and Martlesham for their generosity.

Our Memory Café, held in conjunction with Woodbridge Rotary Club and Inner Wheel, continues as before at Woodbridge Football Club on the last Wednesday of each month. We will be delighted to welcome dementia sufferers and their carers between 10.30am and noon. Refreshments are provided and there is no charge. Our next sessions are on January 27 and February 24.

THE ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Have you ever been to an auction?

Discussions have taken place with Hopkins Homes and it is hoped that it can be preserved and sensitively restored as a Memorial Heritage Garden.

With nearly 50 members, this new society goes from strength to strength. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, February 3, when Jane Bradbury will tell us how she undertook a small local history project researching Woodbridge Cemetery.

Meetings in St Andrew’s Church Room are at 7.30pm on the first Wednesday of every month. Members attend free of charge while visitors, who are always welcome, are asked to pay £3 each at the door.

Do you watch TV programmes such as Flog It or Bargain Hunt?

If you do then put the date below in your diary.

On Thursday, March 17 at 7.30pm, The Roger David Burrows Music Fund presents an evening with Elizabeth Talbot MRICS talking about the life and work of an auctioneer in St Michael’s Church Centre, The Drift, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. Elizabeth is the auction room director of TW Gaze in Diss and has appeared on many television programmes, including Bargain Hunt and Flog It. There will be light refreshments, admission is £5.

Further details from: 01473 625196 / www.rogerdavidburrows.co.uk

MACMILLAN WOOLVERSTONE WISH FUNDRAISING EVENTS Fundraising for the new Woolverstone Macmillan Cancer Centre at Ipswich Hospital QUIZ NIGHT AT SECKFORD GOLF CLUB Thursday, February 11, 7pm. Teams of four, £15 a person.

Our popular quiz night is back with quiz master Simon Jay. The evening starts with a meal, followed by the quiz with an intermission when a raffle will be drawn.

To book your table contact Wendy Ledingham: 07799 771968 CLOTHES SWAP AT IPSWICH HOSPITAL Saturday, February 27, 10.30am-1pm, Ipswich Hospital Education Centre Entry £3, free car parking in car park G (maternity car park). Bring along a maximum of 10 clothing or accessory items to swap. Swap as many as you bring, additional items £2 each. Please bring clothes clean, ironed and on hangers.

Refreshments available, including delicious homemade cakes. We will also have a tombola and handmade greetings cards.

Bring friends; the more people, the better the swaps!

For more information please visit www.woolverstonewish.org.uk or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall, 7.30-10pm. We are a craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere with refreshments.

Our next meetings are: Thursday, February 25: Teacup Pin Cushion (Emma) Thursday, March 24: Beaded Bracelet (Jill) The 2016 project list is now available and other projects are available.

New members always welcome.

For more details contact Jill (01473 713534) or Emma (01787 373850).

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE WI ANNUAL REPORT Woodbridge WI enjoyed another active and happy year with an eclectic mix of speakers and subjects for our monthly meetings.

food. Also two lucky members were invited to Buckingham Palace for a royal tea party – huge hats and smart frocks were much in evidence.

These included travel, history, food and local charities including Suffolk Accident and Rescue Service and Lighthouse – our chosen charities for 2015. To support these we held two cake and craft sales, raising much-needed funds.

We have enjoyed lots of outings – a guided tour of Ipswich, a boat trip on the Deben with cream tea, a coach trip to Southwold and theatre, sponsored by our institute inviting members of Bealings and Playford to join us.

A visit to Place for Plants resulted in car boots bursting with plants for the trip home.

A numbers of members attended the SEFWI AGM held at Trinity Park. We were represented at the National WI Centenary AGM held in the Royal Albert Hall attended by HM the Queen together with the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex, a very special occasion for us all.

To allow those not lucky enough to get to London the whole event was beamed, via satellite, to local institutes all over the country – Leiston being our location where the WI ladies there provided great hospitably and delicious

The Glemham Hall Picnic, organised by SEFWI, was thoroughly enjoyed by all in spite of the rain – nothing dampens the enthusiasm of the WI. Tea and Magna Carta was well worth the drive with Mark Mitchells providing a surprising amount of new facts and the tea and cake was up to the usual WI standard, delicious.

Articles entered in the Suffolk Show proved a great success. We continue to produce many items for the Special Baby Unit at Ipswich

There are now two book clubs, our Words and Music group prospers and our gentle walking club continues over the summer months.

The year ended with a festive Christmas party complete with delicious fare, various thought provoking quizzes and a hilarious production of Cinderella much appreciated by the audience.

Thanks were offered to our hardworking committee. Linda Leigh resigned as president and moved over to become our treasurer.

Maureen Staines resigned as secretary, this important role being taken on by Pat Clark.

Margaret Lury is now president.

Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm at the Methodist Church in St John’s Street and visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome.

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE

DIABETES UK IPSWICH SUPPORT GROUP DiabetesUk Ipswich Support Group wishes everyone a happy New Year and will be opening up meetings again on Thursday, February 11 at 7pm at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. We are in our second year after having a very interesting first year with various speakers such as two of the top executives from DiabetesUK and Health Secretary Dr Poulter speaking on topics associated with DiabetesUK and other organisations.

This year we aim to carry on supporting with care and connection and offer assistance to diabetics in the Ipswich area. Our first speaker of the year is Vanessa Lomax from Age UK. The dates are for the rest of the year are: March 11, April 14, August 11, September 8 and November 10. We look forward to seeing old and new attendees this year.

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Inner Wheel celebrated Christmas with a three course meal for members and guests at Ufford Park Hotel, after which The Rev Canon Clare Sanders, Vicar of Grundisburgh Church, spoke about her hobby of collecting cribs and nativity scenes from around the world.

Donations in lieu of Christmas cards were sent to the Cumbria Flood Appeal.

Guests were invited to our January meeting at which local vet Brian Faulkner entertained us with amusing anecdotes from his life as a vet.

Having served as a locum vet for more than 20 years in approximately 250 practices throughout the UK, from the Hebrides to Inner London, Brian has a wealth of material to draw upon and did not disappoint.

Inner Wheel is one of the largest women’s voluntary organisations in the world, serving in over 103 countries.

For further information please contact 07799 607951.

World Inner Wheel Day is celebrated on January 11, the birthday of Inner Wheel. Our club marked the occasion with a soup and puds lunch held at the home of club member Sally Pearson.

*

a month

Please call 01473 400380 * price excludes VAT

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hospital, also heart cushions and drain bags for the cancer care patients.

Proceeds from the event were donated to Parkinson’s UK, this year’s national president’s chosen charity. Club members are currently collecting haberdashery items for Tools with a Mission (TWAM) for countries such as Uganda and Zambia as well as warm clothing for the Seaman’s Mission, Felixstowe and postage stamps for Oxfam.

CHARITY QUIZ ON MARCH 4 Inner Wheel will be holding its annual charity quiz in aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance on Friday, March 4 in Woodbridge Community Hall at 7.30pm. Teams of four-six are invited to participate. Tickets are £6 per person, participants to provide their own liquid refreshments and snacks. For further details please contact Deirdre Griffin: 01473 612049 / tandd@griffin3373.fsnet.co.uk

In Touch online:

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OUT & ABOUT MARTLESHAM WI By the time you read this, January will be a thing of the past, and there is only gloomy February to get through. Are you looking for an interest and some lively company?

Then maybe the WI is for you. We are a friendly bunch who now meet at Martlesham Heath Pavilion on the third Friday afternoon of the month.

Should you decide to join us, you automatically have membership of the Suffolk East Federation as well, which offers a great variety of activities to suit all. And if your ‘marching’ days aren’t over yet, there is always the opportunity to become involved in the many worthwhile campaigns that the WI is so well known for.

As a group, we have varied interests, illustrated by our speakers’ list for 2016. Where else could you learn so much about the resistance movement, a trek in the Himalayas, man’s best friend the wolf, and even the history of shopping.

Last month our very own Maria Lestrange demonstrated her fascinating paper craft. You might even teach us a thing or two if you have something to share. Or just come along to one of our meetings and make some new friends in 2016.

Next meeting: February 19, 2.15-4.15pm Venue: Martlesham Heath Pavilion on the village green (next to St Michael’s Church) Speaker: Andy Malcolm on The History of Fish and Chips More information: June Parkin, 01473 625382

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FEBRUARY BLUES COULD GET YOU DOWN – BUT NOT WITH US U3A (University of the Third Age) has more than 130 interest groups plus interesting talks on a variety of subjects in four locations every month. There is bound to be something that will shake off the blues if you give U3A a chance.

How about bringing some music, poetry, art or even new crafts into 2016 to cheer the way to spring?

Visitors and prospective members are welcome to the talks where the campus co-ordinators will be delighted to give more details of how to join U3A, an organisation for retired and semi-retired people. For more information contact the secretary on 01473 273395 or visit: www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk A note for U3A members is that although you might not be able to attend talks in your own area each month there are alternative dates, subjects and venues.

Most details are in the green handbook and newsletters, but I know from experience that those are not always in the place you think you put them!

The Woodbridge talks take place at Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Road, Woodbridge IP12 4AU. The first talk of 2016 will be at 10.30am on Monday, February 1 when Peter Driver will talk about Suffolk Connections to Waterloo, including the input made by Suffolk men and others who served for periods at Woodbridge and Ipswich Barracks. Refreshments will be available from 10am.

Although there is no talk planned in Woodbridge for March you might like to put a note in your diary for Monday, April 4 when Mark Beesley is due to give his talk on The Art of Leonard Squirrell (1893-1979): a nationally known Suffolk artist. His pictures of historic buildings, villages and landscapes were familiar to thousands due to reproduction in calendars, travel posters and books.

Why not make U3A a part of your 2016 life for extra fun, a few laughs and more power for your hobbies and interests?

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OUT & ABOUT RNLI WOODBRIDGE Retired Suffolk head teacher Geoff Chapman recently celebrated his 90th birthday and he and his sons, all dinghy sailors, decided to invite donations to the RNLI in lieu of presents. This raised a stunning £365.

Always a keen sailor, Geoff was involved with Suffolk Water Sports Association where he became treasurer.

SWSA trained children and adults on the River Deben from 1960 until 2011 when the county grant was hit by cuts. In the initial stages training was offered by volunteers who were able to sail, but were not necessarily qualified instructors.

Then in the period from 1975 into the 2000s the four sailing bases which SWSA ran did all their training with Royal Yachting Association qualified instructors.

The county ran centres at Southwold, Woodbridge and beside the Royal Harwich Yacht Club on the River Orwell where they sailed Wayfarers and Toppers, and more recently introduced the Feva dinghies.

During the 1990s the total number of youngsters to benefit averaged 7,500 a year.

Unfortunately in 2010 the county was again cutting costs and the money lost to the association’s work was covered by a series

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of grants from the lottery that enabled it to continue.

After Geoff stopped instructing, he continued his support of the SWSA as treasurer, doing the administration and chasing grants and with the support of the county, achieved the grant aid.

Geoff has always supported and valued the work of the RNLI although thankfully, never required their assistance himself.

Tony Wilman, chairman of Woodbridge RNLI, said: “I would like to thank Geoff and his friends and family for their generosity. Geoff has been a long standing advocate of the RNLI and we are grateful for his ongoing support.”

DEBEN FLOWER CLUB It seems a while now since we held our wonderful Christmas demonstration, meal and workshop.

Come along and join us at New Horizons for activities, companionship and a freshly cooked two-course meal. What could be better on a cold February day? We meet weekly on Thursdays from 10am-2pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, 11 Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP. People over the age of 55 are invited to enjoy the range of activities available including art, crafts, scrabble and dominos, and occasional entertainment and slide shows. Refreshments and a two-course homecooked meal will be included in the cost of £8 a session. Transport may be available for a small additional fee.

For more information and to make arrangements, please contact Brenda or Pam: 07514 364752

BE HEARD IN 2016!

Do you ever wish that others listened to you? Why do some people always seem to know the right thing to say, get things done, influence what happens, express their ideas well?

All who attended these events had a wonderful time and enjoyed themselves very much.

We now look forward to another successful and entertaining year at Deben Flower Club.

Our next meeting in Kirton Church Hall, Kirton IP10 0PU on Tuesday, February 9 at 7.30pm will take the form of a members evening.

Six talented members will arrange flowers for your entertainment. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn new techniques in an informal atmosphere.

At the end of the evening the arrangements will be raffled and six lucky members will take home a beautifully arranged design. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served.

Visitors are always assured of a warm welcome, £4.

Yes, some people are better at speaking in public than others, however you can learn how to command attention, speak persuasively, make your points clearly: it just takes practise.

DEBEN PROBUS

You can learn techniques to make yourself heard. Adopting a positive, open stance makes you look more authoritative.

Controlling your hand movements and gestures when you speak can add emphasis and keep your audience’s attention. Avoiding filler words and ums and ers is something you can practise.

Painting a picture in words makes your message stick in peoples’ minds.

Lunch is followed by a speaker. The club has a monthly walking group and also organises visits throughout the summer.

Deben Probus is a club for retired or semi-retired business and professional men. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel at 12.30pm for 1pm.

Our very successful programme of visits concluded with a visit to the Thursford Spectacular on December 17.

If you want to learn how to speak so people listen, why not come and find out what Speak Easy at Martlesham is all about?

Guests are welcome, free, although it costs only £6 per month to be a member – and we welcome everyone.

Members invited their partners to join us for Christmas lunch on December 21. We were entertained by Erik Punaks who read and sang comic verse.

We are a friendly small group and we meet every other Thursday evening, 7-9:30pm, at the Richards Room, Martlesham Community Hall, Felixstowe Road, Martlesham IP12 4PB (behind Tesco).

We welcome new members. If you are interested in joining us please contact the club secretary, David Pocock: 01394 386677 / www.thedebenprobusclub.org.uk

Find out more at www.speak-easy.org.uk and on Facebook and Twitter, or call Sonya Burrows: 07968 372563

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

Our speaker on January 18 was David Phelan talking about Sutton Hoo.

There is also a ladies Probus club in the area, Heath Ladies Probus.

If interested in joining, please contact the president, Liz Turner: 01394 446051

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OUT & ABOUT SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST WOODBRIDGE GROUP Wildlife of the Falklands Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Woodbridge Wildlife Group will give local people the chance to view wildlife from the other side of the world when Anne and Dennis Kell present an illustrated talk entitled Wildlife of the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula at Woodbridge Community Hall on Thursday, February 18, starting at 7.30pm.

Phil Smith, chair of the SWT Woodbridge Wildlife Group said: “Normally we focus on local wildlife, but this evening promises something completely different and I’m sure it is going to be fascinating.”

Entrance is £2.50 for adults with children under 16 free of charge. Light refreshments will be served during the evening and there will be a raffle.

For more information please contact: 01473 625630 / swtwoodbridge@outlook.com EVENTS AT FOXBURROW FARM Saddlemakers Lane, Melton, nr Woodbridge IP12 1NA Please book activities at: 01473 890089 / www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org Family Activities •

Winter Warmers – Tuesday, February 16, 10.30am-12.30pm

Den building, fire lighting, popping corn and making charcoal on the fire / £2.50 •

A Squash and a Squeeze – Wednesday, February 17, 2-4pm

Bringing Julia Donaldson’s book to life and finding out about animals that squeeze into small spaces / £2.50

Young Wardens •

Helping Birds for ages 10-15: Thursday, February 18, 10.30am12.30pm

Make bird boxes for the reserve and a feeder to take home / £4

Activity Day •

The Last Wild? For ages six-10: Friday, February 19, 10am-2pm

Orienteering in the woods to save the animals / £6

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TRANSITION WOODBRIDGE – WHAT A FANTASTIC YEAR! What a fantastic year Transition Woodbridge has had. Thank you to everyone involved for all their hard work and generosity in 2015.

As well as a successful year planting vegetable beds throughout Woodbridge, running the community fruit tree harvesting project for the third year and setting up a forest garden allotment where community members can learn about permaculture, they also raised £131.50 with a raffle on the Thoroughfare Christmas Market and £102.78 at the farmers’ market raffle in December.

Transition Woodbridge would like to say a massive thank you to the farmers’ market for making them their chosen charity and also to Market Garden Produce, Rainbows Apocathary, Notcutts and Wyevale for donating prizes to the raffles. All money raised will go towards planting trees in their scattered community orchards.

Transition Woodbridge are about to finish fruit tree planting at Melton Riverside, Bury Hill and Beresford Drive after taking delivery of the last few trees in the week beginning January 11. This will complete the scattered orchards at the three sites. We are very proud of our achievement which means Melton Riverside has 15 fruit trees (five plums, five pears, five apples), Bury Hill Cherry Park has four fruit trees (three cherries, one donated plum from a local resident), Morley Avenue has two greengages and Beresford Drive has an espalier of apple and pear trees. Additionally Beresford Drive has gooseberry bushes donated by High House Fruit Farm in Sudbourne.

None of this would have been possible without the help of local residents, raffle donations from the public at our Christmas stalls, donations from the Methodist Church and local individuals, and AoNB and SWT grants.

Now we will need help with watering during the summer months, so if you can help at any of the sites, please contact Jane Healey: 07790 044313

The fruit tree planting team at Cherry Park, Bury Hill, December 2015

Deb Pratt putting the finishing touches to the planting of fruit trees at Cherry Park Truly a community project. A big thank you to all and we look forward to harvesting the fruit in a few years time.

Transition Woodbridge is a community-led group that aims to strengthen the local economy, reduce the cost of living and prepare for a future with less oil and a changing climate.

For more information please visit www. transitionwoodbridge.onesuffolk.net or follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @transitionWDB

YOGA CLASSES AT MARTLESHAM HEATH A well-balanced yoga practice can make you feel good! The unique combination of physical postures, breath control and relaxation work together to help you feel calm and relaxed.

Maintaining a healthy mind and body, promoting relaxation and improving resilience to stress and pressure are areas in which we could all use some help. Yoga is for everyone, regardless of age or flexibility, and experiencing yoga enables you to discover more about yourself and learn how to control your reactions to events and situations.

Classes take place at the Martlesham Heath Pavilion on Wednesdays from 1.30-3pm, £7.10 per week, concessionary rate for over 60s £6.40 per week. Experienced, British Wheel of Yoga qualified tutors Angie Punaks and Izzy Ixer have

similar teaching styles and share the term of classes between them, covering six weeks each.

If you would like to know more about the classes and book your place, please contact Angie: 01394 446054 / 07443 422263 / angie@erik.punaks.waitrose.com You can find out www.izzyyoga.co.uk

more

about

Izzy

at:

AND HOW ABOUT YOGA CLASSES FOR MEN? And remember, yoga isn’t just for women! If you are interested in a six-week course of yoga specially for men and with a focus on stronger posture work, breathing techniques and relaxation, then contact Izzy through her website for more information.

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS KYSON PROBUS CLUB

WOODBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Kyson Probus Club had a friendly and highly enjoyable pre-Christmas party organised splendidly by our long-standing assistant secretary Denzil Cowdry. Many plaudits were received afterwards as everyone had such a good time.

Thursday, January 14: Know Your Soil by Susannah Sharman Susannah Sharman formed Garden Art some 20 years ago after a career with Notcutts with the aim of helping gardeners to improve their gardens by offering an independent advice and design service. Currently her business is affiliated to Swan’s Nursery as well as working with private clients who need help with designing their garden.

Our January meeting was held as usual on the second Monday of the month at 12.30pm at Ufford Park Hotel, Melton, and was very special.

We were privileged to hear a fascinating talk by Robert Bradshaw, a senior Royal Navy officer who had spent much of his glittering career in submarines. We came away much better informed (within the bounds of security) about the submarine service and the pivotal role it plays in the nation’s defence. Judging by the questions that followed the audience was very stimulated and much discussion ensued.

If you are a retired or semi-retired business or professional man and would like to spend a pleasant lunch once a month with friendly, like-minded folk, why not come along?

For information about the cub, please call the secretary, Mr Ian McIvor: 01473 738866

SPRING AT BRIGHT STARS Bright Stars is open to all babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers to come along to with their parents, grandparents and/or carers. Each session is full of fun children’s activities, for example singing and Bible stories for children, plus crafts and games. In January we heard how the wise men visited Jesus and we enjoyed ourselves with stickers, colouring and singing.

We meet 10.30am on the second and fourth Mondays of each month during term time at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. The half hour sessions are free and are followed by refreshments and a chance to chat and play until approximately noon.

Why not come and visit us? You are welcome to just turn up on the day at any of the sessions, but if you would like any further information feel free to telephone us on the phone numbers below.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Our session dates for the spring term 2016 are: February 8 and 22 and March 14.

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

Susannah took her audience on a journey starting in the Ice Age when the soils in Suffolk were laid down by melting glaciers from further north.

This is why some gardens are sandy and some are sticky clay. After the Ice Age came the forests of 10,000 years ago when the top soil was formed by a build-up of organic matter. Animals, birds, wind, rain and most of all soil organisms which improve the fertility of the soil Having passed a sample tray of different soils round the audience Susannah encouraged her audience to go home and establish what sort of soil they have in their own back garden. Sandy soils are easily worked and excellent for growing vegetables such as carrots, onions and potatoes as well as bulbs and deep rooting shrubs. Heavier clay soils retain moisture and are ideal for roses and most perennials. Some members will be unlucky and will have the soil left behind by the builders when their house was built, but there is hope they can improve their soil by adding compost and plant food to produce a viable garden soil Thursday, February 11: Annual General Meeting followed by John and Brenda Foster talking about snowdrops Competition: Snowdrops in your favourite container

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY After a lengthy break over Christmas and New Year the society restarts on February 3 when Shirley Smith will talk to us about the French royal the Duc du Berry and the famous Book of Hours he had commissioned.

Shirley lectures extensively and we welcome her back.

So why not come along and enjoy some good company and an interesting talk? We are a friendly group who meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months, and we also organise interesting day visits. The wonderfully illustrated lectures start at 2.15pm (we advise people to arrive by 2pm if possible)and are presented by national and international lecturers.

Guests and non-members are welcome, provided we have available space. A £5 donation is asked. For more info contact Jean Bradberry: 01473 710921 / odfasmemsec@btinternet.com For the latest events and news visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk ODFAS is a member society of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies.

Feel right at home with Alice Grange Care Home

From expert care to delicious home-cooked food and engaging activities, our staff pride themselves on making everyone we care for at Alice Grange feel at home. It’s all part of the first-class care and support that we provide to the people of Suffolk. www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

If you would like a tour of our home or just need some friendly advice, please call us on:

01473 333 551

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ON THE GRAPEVINE OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE TO PERFORM IN YOUTH DANCE WEEKEND Jerwood DanceHouse is being taken over by young dancers from across the region on February 13 and 14 with two spectacular showcases and a Youth Dance England event U.Dance East.

“DanceEast is immensely proud of the young dance talent across the region. We are delighted to be hosting the regional U.Dance performance and Spring Showcase in the same weekend. It gives us a brilliant opportunity to shine the spotlight on the fresh energy and creativity of young people,” says Jeanette Siddall CBE (Head of Creative Team at DanceEast) The annual Spring Showcase (Saturday, February 13 at 5pm and 7pm – tickets £10/£7) is an evening of dance from DanceEast’s resident performance groups and centre for advanced training. The groups have been rehearsing since they started back after the summer holidays in September. Youth dance groups include Boyz United, a boys only troupe of 10-15 year olds, Suffolk Junior Dance Company, a mixed youth group of 10-16 year olds, Suffolk Youth Dance Company, a group of 16-25 year olds and the DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training students. The showcase provides a platform for all of these young people to perform to their family and friends. Also performing are The Elderberries and Dance Unlimited.

U.Dance East (Sunday, February 14 at 7.30pm – tickets £10/£7) celebrates and showcases excellence in youth dance from across the East of England. DanceEast received applications

for U.Dance East from across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and the lucky applicants include Suffolk Academy of Dance and Performing Arts (Ipswich), UNIT (Sudbury), Dance2 (Bedford), Lantern (Ely), JNR Sinstars (Cambridge), Revolution (Sandy) and St Ivo School (St Ives).

Two groups from the event will be chosen to perform at the U.Dance 2016 National Festival in Manchester.

U.Dance is a programme and framework led by Youth Dance England which seeks to increase the number of youth dance performances and support those who organise them. The framework aims to provide dance performance opportunities for every child and young person in England.

Youth dance is at the heart of DanceEast and is crucial to its success. DanceEast brings dance to young people in schools and hospices, working with people from all walks of life, from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special needs.

DanceEast delivers ground-breaking work through projects working with ‘looked after’ children and those at risk, as well as children in hospitals, offering them all the opportunity to use dance for creative expression and physical and psychological therapy. Dance can energise, motivate, encourage creative thinking, and develop expressive minds and healthy bodies.

To book tickets call 01473 295230 or visit: www.danceeast.co.uk

WALK THE PLANET AND MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR LOCAL HOSPICE This New Year take on a new challenge for your local hospice and Walk the Planet!

St Elizabeth Hospice is asking local people to join them for a virtual challenge to walk around the world in 180 days. Together, with others, you will walk the entire planet to raise funds for your local hospice and to help make sure nobody has to face their illness alone.

The challenge can be done as part of your everyday life – just count the steps you take using the free Walk the Planet app on your mobile phone and add your steps to the walk’s total.

Pauline Donkin, St Elizabeth Hospice’s fundraising development manager, said: “You could Walk the Planet with your family, friends, or even colleagues in your lunch break. Why not pledge to increase the amount of steps you take in everyday life or add to your total by going for walks in the countryside.

“Whether you take on the challenge with a group or on your own, you can help us make a world of difference someone in your local community by going the extra mile for your local hospice.”

The challenge finishes in summer 2016, so there’s just 180 days for

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everyone to pull together and make each step count.

It’s free to take part, but you’re asked to raise a minimum of £35 in sponsorship, which is enough to pay for a session in the therapy gym with a physiotherapist to help a patient improve and maintain strength and function, and remain independent.

Register online now for free and we will email you the link to the free app so you can start your walk.

Sign up at: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/walktheplanet

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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Life is in the details THE VOLVO V40 R-DESIGN BOOK A TEST DRIVE TODAY AT VOLVOCARSIPSWICH.CO.UK Personal Contract Purchase Representative Example: V40 T2 R-Design with metallic paint 48 Monthly payments

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Revised on the road price*

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Amount of credit

£18,908

Interest charges Total amount payable Optional Final Payment

£2,174 £22,091 £8,650

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Mileage per annum Excess mileage charge

8000 14.9p per mile

Available with 3 years complementary servicing when purchased on Volvo Advantage Personal Contract Purchase.

Donalds Volvo Ipswich

West End Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DZ 01473 252484 volvocarsipswich.co.uk

Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 T2 R-Design (manual) in MPG (l/100km): Urban 38.7 (7.3), Extra Urban 62.8 (4.5), Combined 51.4 (5.5). CO₂ Emissions 127g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results.

Finance subject to status. Retail sales only. *Subject to availability at participating dealers only on vehicles registered by 31/03/2016. At the end of the agreement there are 3 options: (i) Renew: Part exchange the vehicle. (ii) Retain: Pay the Optional Final Payment to own the vehicle or (iii) Return the vehicle. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantee/Indemnity may be required. Volvo Car Credit RH1 1SR. You will not own the vehicle until all payments are made. The service offer is only applicable when purchasing on Volvo Advantage Personal Contract Purchase at participating dealers on vehicles ordered between 01/01/2016 and 31/03/2016. Services must be carried out at a Volvo Authorised Repairer. Retail offer only. Excludes fleet operators and business users. See volvocars.co.uk for full terms and conditions.

We are a credit broker (not a lender) – we can introduce you to a limited number of carefully selected finance providers. We may receive a commission from them for the introduction.

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In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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SPORTS WOODBRIDGE CRUISING CLUB Woodbridge Cruising Club entered the festive season with customary enthusiasm, starting on December 14 with the Commodore’s Christmas Party.

On Boxing Day, Derek and Janet Downer provided their seasonal mince pies and mulled wine which attracted a good crowd eager to show off their new Christmas pullovers.

A full clubhouse enjoyed a splendid supper followed by a spoof awards ceremony orchestrated by Daphne Warwick and Wendy Webster.

Paul Webster ‘won’ the prestigious ‘supporting role’ award and Bernice Richens emotionally accepted the award for best actress. Alex Navarette won the overseas award and fortunately an interpreter was on hand to translate his enthusiastic acceptance speech.

This was followed on New Year’s Day by a soup and wine lunch in the clubhouse, preceded by a walk around Woodbridge to blow away the cobwebs.

On December 20 Mike Claxton gave an illustrated talk on the work of the Coast Watch Organisation.

The volunteer members of this organisation give up their time to keep a watch over ‘their’ section of the coast and the Felixstowe Station has recently been renovated and refurbished and fitted with the latest state-of-the-art equipment.

A number of anecdotes revealed the importance of the local knowledge which this organisation can provide to the emergency services now that the coastguard has been centralised.

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It was evident from the numbers at the bar that the new resolutions had either not yet been made or were very soon broken.

Up to the time of writing the weather has been very mild and hopefully skippers have taken the opportunity to wrap up their boats and get ahead with winter projects before the inevitable bad weather arrives.

Planning has already started for next season’s cruise programme and anyone interested in running or helping with a cruise should contact Mark Richardson at the club. A meeting to outline the programme will be held at the club on Saturday, March 5 at 11am.

Details of all forthcoming events are available at: www.woodbridgecruisingclub.org

MELTON BOWLS CLUB Melton Bowls Club will officially open the green for the 2016 season on Sunday, April 17 at 1.30pm.

Entry forms have now been sent out for the club’s four invitation tournaments which are to be held on Sunday, May 22 (Colin Carter, three bowl Federation pairs), July 31 (Woodbridge Cake Shop, Australian rules four bowl pairs), August 28 (Happy Haddock, three bowl federation triples) and September 18 (Greenkeeper, three bowl federation triples).

These events are very popular and fill up quickly so get your entries in early.

If you haven’t received your entry forms or are interested in entering please contact the tournament organiser, Peter Moyes: 07720 756911 For more information on the club, see the Melton Bowls Club Facebook page or contact Ray Andrews: 01394 450725

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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ON THE GRAPEVINE / CHURCH NEWS

QUESTIONS ON CASH

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, MELTON

with Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb

From the back of the darkened church came the voice of sevenyear-old Elena singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City, always a heart stopping start to the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

David and Karen from Ipswich ask: “We were considering a buy to let property as a way of generating income, but the increase in stamp duty that was announced in the Autumn Statement in November has put us off. We understand that the stock market is rather low at the moment. Does that mean now would be a good time to invest some spare capital? There seem to be a lot of investment ‘opportunities’ around right now and we would appreciate your views.”

Investing profitably and safely has never been easy. My 10 basic investment rules should help point you in the right direction, but always seek professional advice on your own personal situation.

Rule 1: Don’t expect miracles. Newspapers may feature tales of lucky investors who have trebled their money in a couple of years by picking the right shares, but the odds against such a return over the short-term are about as long as winning the National Lottery.

Rule 2: High potential rewards mean a greater potential risk of losses.

Unless you specifically want a high risk investment, a good financial adviser is likely to suggest an investment portfolio that is broadly spread and designed to outperform cash by a few percentage points on average over the longer term.

Rule 3: Don’t look for a ‘get rich quick’ scheme. All non-cash investments should be viewed as a medium to long-term commitment (over at least five to 10 years). The steady sensible ‘tortoise’ usually beats the volatile ‘hare’.

Rule 4: Remember a cash reserve and adequate insurance. It is important to ensure your family would be well provided for financially if you died or suffered ill health and that your income in your retirement years will be comfortable, before making other investments.

Rule 5: Know what you want to invest for. It could be for a regular income now or to build up a capital sum with some future project in mind. Have a clear goal or objective.

Rule 6: Make sure your investment is as tax efficient as possible.

Your tax position and that of your spouse will affect what kind of investment is recommended. Make use of ISA allowances to build up a fund that can produce tax free income or capital withdrawals.

Rule 7: Avoid putting all your investment eggs in one basket. Consider managed collective investments or risk-managed portfolios which spread your money across a wide range of assets in accordance with your risk tolerance.

Rule 8: Never deal with brokers who email or phone you. These people are probably not authorised by the FCA and all of your money could be at risk. Never trust someone who cold calls you out of the blue, regardless of what they say or where they are based.

Rule 9: Never lock money away in a long-term plan if you may need it tomorrow. Although interest rates at banks are currently very low, you should keep a healthy and accessible cash reserve of around six months income before considering longer-term investments.

Rule 10: Review everything on a regular basis together with your financial adviser. Changes in your circumstances or changes in tax law may affect your position, and it may be necessary to change or adapt your investments.

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 call Nick on 01473 830301. Nick’s opinions and views 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 and requirements. Plumb Financial Services is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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Elena led us in procession up the aisle and the candles and lights blazed in their full glory, the windowsills full of wonderful Christmas decorations. A full church, so many people who come only at this time of the year, but so welcome.

The choir sang the opening chorus of Vivaldi’s Gloria and the musicians played the haunting melody of Sucepit Israel from Bach’s Magnificat. The Nine Lessons followed, interspersed with familiar carols and wine and mince pies speed us on our way.

However busy people are on Christmas Eve, however far they may have come, there is always a full church for the crib service. This year we had to put out extra chairs to seat those who were, as they say in Suffolk, ‘on the drag’ due to parking problems. How good it was to see people back from their various universities and places of work. Good too to see quite a few new babies and toddlers with their proud parents.

As always the musicians made a wonderful sound as they played a variety of music and set the mood for the service. We are so grateful that John and Margaret come each year from Yorkshire with a variety of brass instruments to enhance the service.

Thanks also, but never least, our own inimitable Val Shelley who brings her own magic to the music, Christmas notwithstanding.

The Christmas figures had been taken to the area around the font, and the children had the name of the figures which they were taking to the crib. The stage was set, Paul our rector appeared and soon had the congregation feeling comfortable and at ease with his welcoming manner. The carols were sung, the figures were taken at the right time and our crib was then blessed by Paul.

All of us were privileged to share in this special service, for whether we are from near or far, wherever we are on our own journey, the baby born in a stable will light our way with his love for us all.

Our Midnight Eucharist (11.30pm) is a service which brings so many families to church at this special time of the year. After all these years it’s a service which gives me a feeling of the completion of the year. Christ is born, let us make a new beginning, peace on earth goodwill toward man. We depart wishing each a Merry Christmas and dipping our hand into the large tin of chocolates proffered by Paul.

And so we go to The Feast of Epiphany, commemorating the visitation of the Magi bearing their gifts and on to Candlemas on Sunday, January 31 when we will hold our Christingle Service beloved by children.

If you do read this in time please come with the children. The orange as round as the world, the candles the light of Christ blazing in the darkened church, the red ribbon and the fruits of the earth impaled on toothpicks, but of course they always turn out to be sweets.

A happy and we hope Peaceful New Year to you all with love from us all at St Andrew’s.

To find out what’s going on at St Andrew’s please visit: www.standrewsmelton.org.uk

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