In Touch News with Woodbridge – July 2016

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Volume 6 • Issue No. 3 • JULY 2016

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Sport is fiercely important in small town, rural Ireland. Every town and village has a team and every boy and girl plays hurling and/or Gaelic football at school, but it’s senior hurling which generates the real passion and rivalry, particularly at county level competing for the national title at Croke Park, the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). I still remember Galway winning the All-Ireland in 1980 and captain Joe Connolly’s acceptance speech is regarded as one of the best GAA moments ever.

In an unscripted speech, Connolly claimed that day was like a spiritual re-awakening for a population that had been severely impacted by a famine in the 1800s and followed by mass emigration in the 1900s.

He then passed the microphone to Galway player Joe McDonagh who solidified that day as being one of Galway’s best with a rendition of the song The West’s Awake. We celebrated for weeks, car horns blazing, flag waving… the sense of pride was palpable. It changed everything.

On Monday, May 30 my little family and I went to see AFC Wimbledon play Plymouth Argyle in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

Daniel has supported Wimbledon FC since way back when and was one of many who objected to the Football Association’s decision to allow the team to be relocated to Milton Keynes in 2002, where they are now called Milton Keynes Dons. The fans formed AFC Wimbledon in 2003 and in its short history the club has been hugely successful. Having beaten Plymouth 2-0 they will play in League One with MK Dons next season.

Close on 60,000 attended the Wembley game but the sense of togetherness and passion at the Wimbledon end took me back to 1980.

Perhaps it’s the same at all games, but 30,000 fans singing “I can’t help falling in love with you” is right up there with McDonagh’s The West’s Awake and will stay with me for a long time.

Belonging to something, being part of a community whether it’s local, regional or national, whether it’s sport or fundraising for the church roof, is profoundly satisfying – and good for the soul. Join in. You won’t regret it.

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

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01473 400379 Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial.They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

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NEWS MAYOR OF WOODBRIDGE 2016-17 Councillor Stephen Attwell was elected Mayor of Woodbridge for the Civic Year 2016-17 at Woodbridge Town Council AGM on Tuesday, May 10.

Born in 1950 in Reading, Stephen joined what was to become BT as an apprentice technician on leaving school. After three years of practical training and study he went on to read applied sciences at the University of Sussex. On graduating Stephen rejoined BT as a manager in the regional office in Brighton. He also married and chose to live in nearby Lewes, a county town not unlike Woodbridge.

Over the following years Stephen kept an interest in continuing his education and took a year out to gain an M.Sc in management science, again at the University of Sussex.

Stephen transferred to Suffolk and BT Martlesham 35 years ago with his family. They lived in Felixstowe where their three children attended local schools. When the children finally went away to university and to begin their careers in London, Stephen also opted for a job change. He took early retirement from BT and joined a rapidly growing local solicitor to implement and maintain their IT systems. Divorce unfortunately came and he chose then to move to Woodbridge. Still working full-time Stephen decided that he wanted to give something back to the community and so joined a number of local voluntary organisations. After 10 years in Woodbridge Stephen is chairman of Woodbridge Bowls Club and the local Conservative Association Branch, a member of the art club and secretary of the Woodbridge Community Hall Management Committee.

Such responsibilities have convinced Stephen of the benefit of working with the local council to help improve the facilities and services available for the people in the area.

Stephen continues to work full-time and is now IT and finance manager at his son’s legal firm, Attwells Solicitors in Ipswich. At the same time he was persuaded to stand for election to Woodbridge Town Council and was successful after a couple of defeats! Stephen is proud to become mayor and looks forward to the challenges of representing Woodbridge and the work of the council and its people.

Stephen has chosen the Coastal Accessible Transport Services as his chosen charity. A similar service called ReadiBus operates in Reading where his mother still lives. He has seen first hand his mother benefiting hugely by using the services of such an organisation to maintain her independence, continue her social life and attend her hobby groups after becoming unable to drive. In these difficult financial times Stephen wants to take this opportunity to give something back to such a useful voluntary organisation.

The deputy mayor for the Civic Year 2016/17 is Councillor Clare Perkins.

MELTON OLD CHURCH OPEN AFTERNOON Sunday, July 17, 2-5pm VILLAGE ARCHIVES / TEAS PROCEEDS TO MELTON OLD CHURCH FUNDS 3

NEWS NEW TRUSTEES AT TIDE MILL Woodbridge Tide Mill Trust is pleased to welcome two new trustees on board.

Lady Caroline Blois and Clare Perkins were recently nominated

by Woodbridge Town Council. Nigel Barratt said: “Having completed the restoration, with the help of many volunteers, the next stage is to consolidate all our hard work.” He went on: “Our ambition is to make the mill as self-sustaining as is possible, and a strengthened trust with these new trustees is a key element in this aim.”

Lady Caroline Blois has been active in public life as a member of East Suffolk Health Authority and chairman of the managers of St Audry’s.

She is in her fifth year as a town councillor and currently chairman of its amenities committee. Clare Perkins has lived in and around Woodbridge for 12 years, runs a successful local business and this year is deputy mayor. Both will be taking an active role in helping to manage the tide mill and maintain its attraction, which will make a significant contribution to its long term future.

REMEMBERING COMMUNITY CHAMPION FRED REYNOLDS It was with great sadness the trustees and volunteers of Woodbridge Tide Mill learned of the death of Fred Reynolds. Fred was an inspiration to Woodbridge and in his many projects, often almost single-handed, contributed a huge amount to the well-being of the community.

He was tireless in support of the community hall and the WI markets held there, the Fred Reynolds Centre was a major project for the Kyson community, and as a town councillor for many years his hard work and dedication to the town of Woodbridge ensured he was one of the early Freeman of Woodbridge after that honour was introduced.

But the trust remembers him for his last two projects. It was his energy and commitment that renovated the Tide Mill Quay, and he went on to kick start the tide mill renovation.

Nigel Barratt, chairman of the Tide Mill Trust said: “I have always acknowledged that without the fantastic effort that Fred put in to developing the project in the first place, it probably would never have happened. When Fred pulled out after not succeeding in obtaining a Heritage Lottery Grant I was amazed at the amount of work he put in, and we were able to build on that foundation and ultimately succeed.”

“If all Fred is remembered by is Tide Mill Quay and the tide mill, then that will be a lot more than many will be,” Nigel continued, “but those of us lucky enough to have known and worked with Fred and knew his dedication to Woodbridge, know he should, and hopefully will be, remembered for a lot, lot more.”

The trust hopes the community of Woodbridge duly honours Fred for his services to the town over many years.

DATES CONFIRMED FOR WOODBRIDGE SHUCK SHELLFISH FESTIVAL The fifth annual Woodbridge Shuck Shellfish Festival returns from September 30 to October 2, with the East of England Co-op leading a growing group of sponsors including Simpers of Suffolk, The Tea Hut, Somerleyton Estates, The Crown at Woodbridge, Infotex and Woodbridge Tide Mill.

The festival brings together an exciting programme of events over three days. On Friday 30 and Saturday 1, the hugely popular Shuck Shack popup restaurant is back at Woodbridge Tide Mill. On Saturday, October 1 and Sunday 2 there will be a fun, relaxed community food fest with live music and children’s entertainment at the Tea Hut. On Sunday 2, in the evening, there will a Safari Supper in Woodbridge where diners move between restaurants having one delicious locally sourced course in each.

The pubs and restaurants in and around Woodbridge will again support local shellfish and the Shuck by having their own Shuck Specials throughout the festival.

For the latest news you can follow the festival on Twitter @ShuckFestival or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ShuckFestival For more information please visit: www.thewoodbridgeshuck.org.uk The Woodbridge Shuck Shellfish Festival is an official Fringe Event of the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival.

ILLUMINATI CONCERT Illuminati presents a concert of unaccompanied choral music at Woodbridge Methodist Church, St John’s Street IP12 1ED on Saturday, July 16 at 7.30pm.

Tickets £8 (including light refreshments) from Anne Stevenson: 01394 385728 Proceeds for the work of the church.

NATIONAL TRUST IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON ORFORD NESS Did you work on or for Orford Ness?

Do you know someone who worked on Orford Ness or was associated with it?

If so can you please help?

The National Trust has established an audio archive to collect recordings of those involved in the testing and development work carried out on the Ness. I have been tasked by the National Trust to gather memories and artefacts from those who worked on the Ness or who provided wideranging services to its military testing operations.

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I want to meet people who worked directly for AWRE, RAE, RAF (including flight crew based at Martlesham Heath) and Cobra Mist, and also those who built, equipped or maintained the various test labs and other buildings. I hope to record vital memories of this important site in the UK’s military history before they are lost forever. If you have any information please contact me and I will be pleased to discuss it with you.

David Warren, Volunteer Ranger at Orford Ness 01394 450900 / dwarren@warrenconsult.co.uk

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NEWS WOODBRIDGE BRANCH OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION On Saturday, June 11 The Woodbridge Branch Of The Royal British Legion was presented with the Freedom of The Town of Woodbridge. This is what the Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor Stephen Attwell said on that occasion.

The branch organising team

Legion Standards by General Lord Allenby and the subsequent march through the centre of Woodbridge, something that the Branch have tried to replicate here today.

The freedom of a town is not something that is lightly given and it has had to be earned. Over the past 94 years the branch has been instrumental in providing welfare support to those men and women and their dependants who have served in the Armed Forces.

As most people here are aware, the organising committees are all volunteers so to raise the funds needed to continue this welfare work they have been putting on free admission events each year both here in Elmhurst Park and on Kingston Field.

The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading Armed Forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations. Members get together through the network of branches and clubs all over the country and overseas to participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities.

The British Legion was formed on May 15, 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-Servicemen who had established themselves after the First World War. The Woodbridge Branch was formed on August 26, 1922 and we celebrated our 90th birthday here on Elmhurst Park on August 26, 2012 in the presence of the late Charles Nottcutt the town mayor.

On July 7, 1929 the British Pathe News broadcast the inspection of British

Some will remember the Flame of Remembrance Event on Kingston Field and the helicopter fly by. The Flame of Remembrance now resides in the Memorial Garden in Nottcutts Nursery, but it will be making an appearance at the Cenotaph on the Market Hill for the 100 years of the Somme Vigil from June 29 to 30.

Also the launch of the annual Poppy Appeal and Parade on the last Saturday in October. This year so far £19,107 has been raised.

On behalf of the Town of Woodbridge I would like to present Roy Bilby, the chairman of The Woodbridge Branch of the Royal British Legion, with this award.

UK’S BEST LOVED STORYTELLERS AT EAST ANGLIAN STORYTELLING FESTIVAL Some of the UK’s best loved storytellers will be taking part in the threeday East Anglian Storytelling Festival in Blaxhall from Friday, July 22 to Sunday 24. Festival’s patron Taffy Thomas MBE, the UKs first storytelling laureate, will be joined by Shonaleigh Cumbers, a Jewish Drut’syla with more than 5,000 stories to share. Other nationally acclaimed tellers include Giles Abbott, Abbie Palache and the prolific John Row, a firm favourite on the festival scene.

The festival takes place at Blaxhall Village Hall and playing field and at The Blaxhall Ship. Storytellers from across the UK will be telling stories to delight and entertain children of all ages at the marquee on the playing field each afternoon.

In addition, these family story sessions will feature new local legends created especially for the festival by school children at special workshops

in schools across East Anglia. Story Rounds, where anyone can share a story, will be also taking place, giving everyone a chance to tell a story of their own, be they adults, children, professional or amateur.

At The Ship, there will be a Story Table for the whole afternoon with big name tellers and locals all dropping by to share a tale or two – and perhaps even some members of the public too. For those who want to know more about storytelling, the village hall will play host to professional development workshops and Spotlight on Storytelling sessions where all your questions can be answered. All the daytime sessions are free to attend although the age old tradition of ‘passing the hat’ will allow visitors to show their appreciation and help raise additional funds.

In the evening there are ticketed performances at the village hall for only £5 per session featuring longer performances from all of the storytelling stars. The early evening sessions from 6-8pm are suitable for families.

The late evening sessions from 8.30-10.30pm are just for adults, with tales not for the smallest of ears! Meanwhile at The Blaxhall Ship, diners will be treated to Tales at Table, with two professional storytellers entertaining individual tables of diners each evening.

The full line up can be found at www.eastanglianstorytellingfestival.co.uk and includes Andy Jennings, Sarah Walker, Barrie de Lara, Shonaleigh Cumbers, Liam Carroll, Glenys Newton, Paul Jackson, John Row, Baden Prince, Taffy Thomas MBE, Justine de Mierre, Peter Optical, Tilly the Talespinner, Marion Leeper, Simon Heywood, Carl Merry, Abbie Palache, Suzanne Arnold and Giles Abbott.

Taffy Thomas MBE, left, and John Row

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Tickets for all the performances are on sale now at www.wegottickets. com, as well as tickets for camping pitches which are only £25 per tent or caravan for the weekend. Tickets can also be purchased and collected locally by emailing: justine@sowhatsthestory.co.uk

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NEWS BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR WOODBRIDGE’S SHAKESPEARE 400 Woodbridge resident and literature enthusiast, Tim Cornford, pictured, is organising a celebration of Shakespeare this summer in Woodbridge to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death. Shakespeare inspired drama, music and art have taken place throughout May, June and there’s still time to get involved this July.

Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 June at 8pm: An open-air performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost on Woodbridge Scholl Chapel Lawn. Bring a cushion, blanket or folding chair. If wet the play will move into Seckford Theatre.

Tickets free of charge from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/seckfordtheatre Thursday, July 28, 7pm: A talk by Mark Mitchels entitled Shakespeare’s

WOODBRIDGE DRAMA FESTIVAL Woodbridge Drama Festival has run its course for 2016 and all who participated, on both sides of the curtain, said how much they enjoyed the week. The shame of it is that the numbers who turned up to see the plays was pitifully small. So much so that it is questionable whether we can afford to have a festival in 2017.

So why was it so poorly supported? It couldn’t have been the ticket price.

We offered a discounted season ticket of £28 for the week, equivalent to £7 per show, and this is in a theatre. A village hall charges more these days. Perhaps it’s the venue. The Seckford is a modern, air-conditioned, state of the art theatre with all the facilities you would expect to be provided. It has a large foyer with a bar, ice cream sales, disabled access, clean toilets and comfortable seating.

Maybe it’s the wrong time of year? We chose the bank holiday week to help the groups who have to work weekdays and/or had to travel a distance to compete. We thought it might make life a little bit easier for them and their fans to come and join in.

Did we advertise enough? We had a leaflet drop, flyers distributed, five banners up in and around Woodbridge, posters everywhere, displays in the library, we’re on Facebook, Twitter, Streetlife and a variety of other listing sites. I gave an interview on BBC Suffolk Radio and emailed almost every Amdram group in the area to come along and support this very local national project.

I think it’s fair to say most failed to step up to the plate. So is there an appetite for a drama festival? I would be glad to receive you input.

Especially as we must make some decisions in the next few weeks about our future. Do we carry on?

2016 RESULTS The adjudicator’s award went to Rushmere Players for their imaginative lighting plan, projection and sound effects in The Lady Killers. The team acting and audience award were both won by the Deben Players for Noises Off The runners-up award went to Viva Arts and Community Ormiston Sudbury Academy with Group for Educating Rita and adjudicator Anna Beaney the winners were Ormiston Sudbury Academy with a new work called Immigration… What Does It Mean To You? This was a collaborative venture by the Year 13 group and their teacher. It was relevant to the issues of today and very thought provoking. A worthy winner and well received.

George Holmes, geoliz@btinternet.com

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Globe: A Groundling’s View at Woodbridge Library. The talk will take you into the experience of a theatre-goer in Shakespeare’s day, detailing what it was like to be present at one of the great man’s plays in the original Globe Theatre. To reserve a free place contact: 01394 446510 / Helen.Scrivener@suffolklibraries.co.uk There are still spaces available for the free drama workshops for seven-11 year olds (10am-12.30pm) and 12-13 year olds (1-3.30pm) on Saturday, July 16 at Farlingaye. Students will work in groups to bring to life some scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream culminating in brief presentations to parents. Places can be booked by emailing: rlansdowne@farlingaye.suffolk.sch.uk Visit www.choosewoodbridge.co.uk/events for more information and booking contacts.

GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF CONTESTANT IN VISIT TO WOODBRIDGE The BBC television series The Great British Bake Off has achieved phenomenal success and its contestants quickly become much loved, familiar faces nationwide.

On July 15, a quarter-finalist from the 2014 series will be visiting Woodbridge to talk about the experience and to introduce her first cookbook.

Martha Collison was the youngest contestant to appear on the programme and was hugely popular with viewers. She was 17 and in the middle of taking her A levels as she progressed through the competition. Since the programme aired, she has taken time out from her studies to work for Tearfund, raising money and profile for the charity through events and presentations about baking.

Now with her own cookbook, she will be launching the title with Browsers Bookshop at a very special event at Woodhall Manor in Sutton on the afternoon of Friday, July 15. The book is called Twist and presents well loved cakes and pastries with Martha’s own ‘twist’ on the recipes.

Guests attending the event will be able to enjoy the beautiful house and gardens at Woodhall Manor from 2pm before entering the ballroom for tea and cake and to hear Martha speak from 3-4pm. At each place setting will be a small gift courtesy of the Woodbridge Kitchen Company who will also have a display of the new range of Paul Hollywood baking equipment at the event.

As Martha talks about creating her recipes for the book, guests will be able to sample some of the cakes and breads. These will be made for the event by the team at The Cake Shop, Woodbridge. David and Lindsay Wright are the third generation of this family business which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and they are themselves TV baking stars having won ITV’s Britain’s Best Bakery competition in 2014.

It is a perfect opportunity to become immersed in the Great British Bake Off experience, as well as delighting in all that Woodbridge has to offer anyone who loves baking, and eating cake.

Tickets are £12 and available from Browsers Bookshop, Woodbridge: 01394 388890

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

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE YOUTH CHARITY JUST42 ‘MUST BE SUPPORTED’ TO STAY IN SITU

WOODBRIDGE FARMER’S MARKET June has been a busy month at Woodbridge Farmer’s Market with a successful relaunch held on June 11.

In a bolt from the blue, popular Woodbridge youth and children’s work charity, Just42, was told recently of the imminent closure of Woodbridge Youth Centre, its home for the last 10 years. There has been a youth club held at the Woodbridge site ever since it was built in the early 70s.

According to Just42 Manager Caroline Rutherford: “The reasons Suffolk County Council has given us are that the building is well beyond its design life and they are concerned over potential health and safety risks in the future.” Caroline was “not entirely surprised” that the building will eventually have to close but is “terribly shocked to be told that we have to vacate the building by the end of August or indeed sooner”.

The charity supports more than 2,000 children and young people in the Woodbridge area through a range of clubs, projects and a mentoring scheme. Caroline Page, County Councillor for Woodbridge and long-time supporter of Just42 says: “I’m very concerned that we manage to rehouse Just42 immediately in temporary accommodation so that there is no break in their valuable services. It’s also important that we start fundraising at once so that we can rebuild the youth centre on its present site as soon as possible!”

Councillor Page, who celebrated her last election by walking from Felixstowe to Lowestoft to raise funds for Just42, points out: “Just42 is exceptional! From the hub in the youth centre Just42 engages over 2,000 different young people per year through weekly clubs, sports coaching, mentoring groups and school assemblies. Just42 gives support, advice and help to encourage young people 10-18 to succeed and fulfil their potential. And Just42 is not only doing this well and effectively, it’s doing it on a shoestring!

Suffolk Cheese Stall by Yasmine Moll

Home Meadow Stall by Theo Harrup

Our new patron, artist Michael Coulter, kindly opened the market and the stalls were full of the freshest and best of local produce.

The winning entrants to our Kids’ Drawing Competition were presented with prizes and their drawings were displayed.

Markets will be held on July 9 and 23 as always from 9am-12.30pm at Woodbridge Community Hall.

We’re excited to present our new stall, Maykit Food, which sells curry and sausage rolls.

Chocolate Studio Stall by Elsa Moll

Our popular café sells hot and cold drinks and handmade snacks and our stalls have a range of local flavours and familiar faces.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR HOME-START Paella & Bingo Night The White Lion, Ufford presents a paella and bingo evening on Friday, July 15 in aid of local family support charity Home Start Suffolk: East Ipswich & Coastal. The comperes for the evening are Alex Brigginshaw and Russell Stowe.

Tickets are £20 per person, which includes seeing an authentic paella being cooked on a wood fire by Nina, Stephan and Hamish followed by the enjoyment of eating it! Then there will be an extraordinary game of bingo – you will be thoroughly entertained by Alex and Russell and will spend the evening laughing and hopefully winning a game or two!

The evening starts at 7pm for food, with bingo kicking off at 8pm. To book your tickets contact Home-Start on 01473 621104 or the White Lion pub on 01394 460770.

(l-r) Kevin Woods, Just42 youth work manager; County Councillor Caroline Page; Milly Wright, Just42 youth work apprentice; Ellie, youth club member; Sarah Smith, Just42 administrator; Ruth Blunt, Just42 children’s work manager; Caroline Rutherford, Just42 charity manager “After austerity, Just42 remains the only such group left in our part of Suffolk and its irreplaceable work is funded entirely by donations. We cannot allow this valuable asset to be lost to Woodbridge .”

Woodbridge Deputy Mayor Clare Perkins, who is hoping to become a Just42 mentor, is emphatic that the youth centre is rebuilt in situ: “The centre is ideally sited for access, privacy and recreation for the wide range of groups who use it. We are very short of space in Woodbridge – there is nowhere else that offers this perfect combination. Let us all work together as a community to make this happen!”

Caroline Rutherford is also concerned about the many other regular hall hirers at the centre: “This decision will have a far reaching impact on the people of Woodbridge. The Gateway club for example, run for adults with additional needs, has met here for 35 years.”

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Scavenger Hunt Come along with family and friends and enjoy Home-Start’s first scavenger hunt! You will be challenged to find as many items as possible in two-and-a-half hours from a given list. All participants will be on foot and find the answers in and around Woodbridge. There will be a prize for the winning team.

The event is being hosted by The Cherry Tree Pub, Cumberland Street, Woodbridge, on Saturday, July 16. Registration will be at 2pm and teams will set off at 2.30pm. All teams must return to the Cherry Tree by 5pm where results and the winners will be announced. There will be a BBQ where hot dogs and burgers will be available to purchase.

Tickets are £10 a team (all ages welcome) and are available from HomeStart on 01473 621104 or from the Cherry Tree. Any queries please contact Home-start: 01473 621104 All monies raised from the events will go to the charity Home-Start Suffolk: East Ipswich & Coastal which will support over 150 families in the East of Ipswich or Suffolk Coastal areas this year. These families will receive one-to-one or group support from trained volunteers because for them the pressures of family life have become too much to cope with alone. This can be for a variety of reasons such as illness, disability, mental health problems, bereavement, isolation and multiple births.

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OUT & ABOUT BELLA SICILIA! This was the chant adopted by Woodbridge Choral Society’s conductor Andrew Leach as a way of training his singers to sound ‘Italiano’ enough to sing Verdi opera choruses in Palermo!

Forty-four members of the 85-strong WCS have just returned from a hugely successful five-day trip to the Sicilian capital city which was initiated by choir member Will Richards of Alderton, and arranged as a result of his tireless efforts together with those of his wife Val and the choir’s energetic chairman, Colin Palmer.

It may not be widely known, but Sicily has a longstanding English connection dating back to 1805 which arose through the invention and marketing of Marsala wine by Will’s ancestors, the Whitakers and the Inghams. The Richards family is still very much involved in the Marsala region of north western Scilly, and inevitably in Palermo as well, although nowadays they concentrate on growing olives for very high quality olive oil which they bottle at what Val refers to as their ‘real home’ in Alderton and sell under the Racalia label.

To find an English family with a greater knowledge and experience of Sicily would be extremely difficult and the WCS visitors were fortunate to be able to benefit from this together with Will and Val’s wonderful help and hospitality.

WOODBRIDGE MUSEUM Now that summer is here the museum will be open Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm until the end of October, and every day during the school holidays. Admission is £1 for adults and 30p for children.

Among the many exhibits I should like to draw your attention to one in particular. It’s a dulcimer, a stringed musical instrument played rather like a xylophone which was donated by the family of Len Pearce, a Woodbridge resident. When Len was 14-years-old he saw a man playing a dulcimer outside the Chequers Inn and decided to make one himself. He couldn’t read a note of music, but taught himself to play by memorising the tunes he heard at concerts or on the radio. His big moment came when he was asked to appear on the Have a Go programme with Wilfred (Give him the money Barney) Pickles after which he was asked to play at various clubs and institutions.

I hope you will look for Len’s dulcimer which is above the Second World War exhibit.

On a more personal note, I must mention that our curator, Mr John Hampton, is setting out on July 29 to walk from Woodbridge to Southwold, a distance of 50 miles (phew) to raise funds for the museum.

I hope you will sponsor him for this worthy cause. You can contact him on: 01394 380910 Merwyn Cunliffe

BINGO NIGHTS AT WOODBRIDGE TOWN FC July 3, 16 and 30 from 7.30pm. 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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

In addition to opera choruses the choir sang a variety of short pieces ranging from early English church music through Handel, Mozart and Elgar to Andrew Leach’s own lovely arrangements of spirituals Andrew was thrilled with the outcome of the visit which he said had fused the choir together both musically and socially, as well as giving the singers the unique opportunity to sing in several of Palermo’s wonderful old oratories, churches and the world heritage Monreale Cathedral.

Chairman Colin Palmer, who back in 2007 pioneered the choir’s now annual concert at Snape Maltings, was equally thrilled with the success of the visit.

He said: “This was our first ever trip abroad and the benefits are already evident. It was a ‘win-win’ event and it brings a whole new range of possibilities onto the radar screen!”

The WCS’s next concert will be on Saturday, December 3 at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge and features Britten’s St Nicolas and Schubert’s Mass in G. Then on Sunday, April 9 2017 they will appear once again at Snape Maltings in a programme to include a band new secular cantata by local composer Jana Rowland as part of the special 2017 celebrations sponsored by Woodbridge Riverside Trust. It will be called King Raedwald’s Return.

The WCS is always looking for new members, especially tenors. We don’t require auditions – just come along and see if you like us. We resume rehearsals in September.

Find out more at: www.woodbridgechoralsociety.org

PACK MORE INTO YOUR HOLIDAYS THIS SUMMER WITH SUFFOLK MUSEUMS Looking for last minute holiday ideas? Suffolk museums have got you and your family covered!

Throughout the school summer holidays (July 22 to August 31), museums across the county will offer a jam-packed line-up of exciting events, activities, workshops and trails for the whole family to enjoy together. From arts and crafts to archeological digs, science workshops to giant craft fairs, amazing collections and discovery trails galore there’s something for everyone to enjoy in museums this summer.

Highlights include the range of family fun days, from live music and train rides at Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Museum to amazing living history events at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village or swing dancing and spitfires at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. Budding scientists can take part in hands-on experiments at The Long Shop Museum’s Workshop Wednesdays or release their inner archaeologist and unearth real finds at Dunwich Museum’s Dig Dunwich event. Creative activities can be found at Ipswich Museum’s regular Art Skills workshops or the Museum of East Anglian Life’s popular Mud, Bugs and Baking sessions. Or why not check out the all new Summer Discovery Club at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, the National Horseracing Museum and Gainsborough’s House?

This three-day creative arts and crafts club for children aged seven-11 will explore each museum’s unique collections with a chance to complete an Arts Award Discover Level.

Most museums and activities are either low-cost or absolutely free.

Many sites offer free parking, locally sourced refreshments or a chance to unwind with a family picnic in the sun.

You can download your free Summer in Suffolk Museums event program at: www.suffolkmuseums.org Or, to keep up to date with all the latest information and family-friendly event news, like our Facebook page at: summerinsuffolkmuseums.com

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OUT & ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE DO YOU NEED URGENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE? The Rotary Club of Woodbridge has a small amount of money which it can allocate to individuals who can demonstrate an urgent need for financial assistance if they live in Woodbridge or the surrounding area.

The full criteria and application form can be found at: www.woodbridgerotary.org.uk Simply download the form, complete it in full and submit it to The Rotary Club of Woodbridge, C/O The Bull Hotel, Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LR marked for the attention of Mr R J Pivett.

If you don’t have internet access, ask someone to download a copy for you or write to the above address to request an application form.

MY LIFE IN THE KITCHEN Friday, May 13 was a special day for the club as Peter Senior from Deben Club presented a talk entitled My Life in the Kitchen. Peter spoke of his early career in The Great Eastern Hotel in London and later at Gleneagles Hotel, Lochalsh Hotel, The Riviera Hotel in Sidmouth, a college in Bermuda and finishing in the Crown Hotel in Woodbridge. He included stories of some of the highs and the lows that occurred during his time as head chef and was then asked to be a judge for the District Rotary Club’s Find a Young Chef competition. The vote of thanks was given by Rotarian Bertie Hirst.

THE TORWOOD WHEELERS STAND UP TO EUROPEAN COMPETITION John, James and Konrad from Ipswich based Torwood Wheelers joined us on Thursday, May 26 to demonstrate the art of exercise using an exercise wheel. The Torwood Wheelers represent the UK in Europe where the sport is already popular. It’s popularity is

growing in Britain and enthusiasts are keen to encourage new members to get involved. Our braver members tried out the wheels and found it to be good fun, but felt they were too old to take it seriously. However the experience was one they would remember. Find our more about this fun form of exercise at: www.rhoenrad.co.uk A YEAR AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE IN NEPAL Roger Bailey returned to Kathmandu to report on the state of repairs since the earthquake, joining up with the family he had stayed with on his last visit. Roger reported that there was still a large amount of work to complete the rebuilding of the homes that were so badly damaged, plus clearing all the rubble without the help of heavy equipment in Roger Bailey and Nigel Barratt inaccessible mountaineous areas.

There is still a long way to go and these friendly people hope to be remembered. The vote of thanks was given by Rotarian Jeremy Harrold.

SUFFOLK WALKING FESTIVAL The club organised three charity walks as part of this year’s Suffolk Walking Festival. The Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor Stephen Attwell, club president Nigel Barrett and senior vice-president Bertie Hirst saw the first walkers off on Sunday, May 29 on a walk in aid of the Macmillan Wollverstone Appeal. Walks in aid of Hollesly Riding for the Disabled and Guide Dogs for the Blind too place on Monday, May 30.

Woodbridge Town Council is working toward being the first Walkers are Welcome town in Suffolk and these charity walks from part of their plan to achieve this. A petition to support the council was available at the registration desk.

CHILDS PLAY AT DEBEN ROTARY The Rotary Club of Woodbridge Deben is pleased to have been able to support the new Specialist Support Centre Outdoor Area at Gorseland School. Members of the club recently visited the school and were impressed by the work they are doing with children with a wide variety of special needs. A donation by Deben Rotary of £575 has enabled the centre to equip the new outdoor area with a variety of suitable equipment. A further donation of £200 was made by Woodbridge 41 Club.

As we walked through the bluebell woods, I thought he’d like this

The May session of the Memory Cafe was another enjoyable affair as guests were entertained by the ukulele band Wot No Cake?

Thankfully once again the ladies of Inner Wheel ensured that there was a plentiful supply of cake and hot drinks for guests and entertainers alike.

The Memory Cafe meets at Woodbridge Football Club on the last Wednesday of every month from 10.30am-noon, and we welcome people with all forms of memory loss and their carers.

The next sessions, for which there is no charge, are on June 29 and July 27. If you would like to know more about the Memory Cafe or any other aspect of Rotary please contact Rotarian Martin Kenyon on 01394 386933.

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY Friday, July 1, 9-10am: Friends of Woodbridge Library group meeting For anyone who is interested in becoming an active member of our new events group, FOWL-Eggs.

We meet once a month to discuss new ways to raise funds for the library. For more information please either come along, email Kellie Dimmock at kellie.dimmock@suffolklibraries.co.uk or contact the library on 01394 446510.

Saturday, July 2, 9am-5pm / Sunday, July 3, 10am-4pm: Sale of withdrawn children’s books, fiction and non-fiction.

All books only 10p each so come and pick up a bargain in time for the summer holidays.

Friday, July 8, 6-7pm: Open Book Club We will be discussing one of the Brave New Read titles, The Illusion of Separateness by Simon Van Booy, in the library meeting room.

Please join us if you have read this title, everyone is welcome.

Thursday, July 14, 7-9pm (approx): Poetry Evening Specialist poetry publisher Grey Hen Press is releasing a new anthology and to celebrate we present an evening of poetry reading with Sylvia Fairley, Kate Foley and Vee Singleton.

Tickets are £5 (to include refreshments) and proceeds will go to the Friends of Woodbridge Library.

To book a place, please contact: 01394 446510 / woodbridge.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk Saturday, July 16, 9-11am: County Councillor Caroline Page Tuesday, July 19, 7.30-8.30pm: Meet Benjamin Johncock, author of The Last Pilot Tickets £2. Book your place on 01394 446510 or at: www.bravenewreads.org Thursday, July 21, 7 for 7.30pm: Rosy Thornton will launch her short story collection Sandlands Rosy will speak about the book and Louise Fryer of BBC Radio 3 will read one of the stories. Admission is free and refreshments will be available courtesy of Sandstone Press.

Tickets are not required, but if you plan to attend please let Suffolk Book League know by emailing: tickets@sbl.org.uk Friday, July 22, 6-7pm: Open Book Club Discussing Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, another Brave New Read title.

Wednesday, July 27, 10.30am-12.30pm: Healthwatch Suffolk Information Point Session An opportunity to share your views and experiences about health and social care services.

Thursday, July 28, 7.30-9pm: Shakespeare’s Globe: A Groundling’s View A talk by Mark Mitchels to mark the 400th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare.

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To reserve a free place contact: 01394 446510 / woodbridge.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Tuesday of the month from 2-4pm. For more details contact: jeannie@butterwicks.com

July 1-31: ArtLib Photographs by the East Anglian regional group of The Royal Photographic Society.

Knitting Club Every Friday at 2pm. For all types of knitters, expert to beginner, come and share your knowledge or pick up some tips.

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

This month we will be discussing what to watch when you’re not watching Game of Thrones, the best of the box sets including The Walking Dead and Flowers.

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: first Thursday of the month at 2pm On July 7 we will be discussing The Last Pilot

by Benjamin Johncock. 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.

Borrow an eReader!

You can now borrow an eReader for up to three weeks from Woodbridge Library and access our collection of over 7,000 eBooks. Please see a member of staff or call us on 01394 446510 for more details or to make an appointment to borrow.

Free computer help and advice Contact the library to book a session or to find out more.

SNAP (Support & Advice Project) A SNAP support worker will be available every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10am-noon for advice on all housing related issues, rent payments, arrears, budgeting and benefit changes.

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.

The Friends of Woodbridge Library If you’re enthusiastic about libraries, would enjoy helping to organise library events and are willing to help with our fundraising activities, please ask a member of staff for more details.

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

Interested? To open doors to creative writing email: jeannie@butterwicks.com Creative Writing for All: meets on the second

Drawing Group Meets on 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 on the 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 visit: 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

In Touch online:

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Help & Tuition with a wide range of PC & iPad problems: Windows 10 - iOS (iPad) - Routers/Broadband Connecting to Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Email and word processing Internet searches - Virus checkers - Slow PC Setting up printers/devices Contact:

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In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE At our recent AGM club president Kay Hirst thanked Inner Wheel members for their support throughout her year in office. She remarked how quickly the time had gone since her inaugural duty as Good Queen Bess on the Rotary carnival float on a hot day last July.

During her year in office club members had been entertained by various speakers, learning about the East of England Co-op, The Life of a Vet and Codes, Ciphers and Enigmas to name but a few. Members have enjoyed social events such as coffee mornings, a soup lunch, cinema trips and an outing to Suffolk Farmhouse Cheeses.

Two major fundraising events – a fashion show and a charity quiz – raised £2,125 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance who have already received part of this amount. The remainder will be presented when five members visit the EAAA in Cambridge on June 23.

Our club has also made donations to Parkinson’s UK, the association president’s chosen charity, The Cumbria Flood Appeal, MIND and School in a Bag, which are both district charities, as well as smaller amounts to speaker’s charities.

At our monthly meetings we have supported Lighthouse Women’s Refuge by collecting donations of foodstuffs. We have currently raised £95 for this worthy cause which is celebrating 40 years of providing safe refuge and support and hope to add to this later this month with the proceeds from a garden party, part of their anniversary tea party initiative.

Bearing in mind Inner Wheel is also an international organisation we have collected knitted hats and balaclavas for the Felixstowe Seafarers Centre and postage stamps for sale in support of Oxfam. A collection of haberdashery items has been delivered to TWAM (Tools with a Mission) to help families and small new businesses in impoverished areas such as Uganda and Zambia. Proceeds from a book sale held at the AGM have been donated to assist with postage costs.

LIONS CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE AND DISTRICT July 1 marks the start of a new year for the Lions, with a handover to a new set of club officers. Lion John Wood succeeds Pat Carter as president, Roy Benton takes over from John as club secretary and Ian Gander continues as treasurer.

Looking back on the past year, the art sales, Woodbridge Regatta and Martlesham Heath 10k, 5k and Fun Run stand out as fundraising events. Other activities included litter picking at Bawdsey and helping at Woodbridge Horse Show. On the community service front, the Christmas parcels project continues to be a major undertaking. We contributed to the costs of young people working abroad on educational and community projects and enjoyed some impressive presentations when they came to the club to talk about their experiences.

We can never forget the devastating effect that both natural and manmade disasters have on communities and we continue to contribute to the Lions’ Clubs International Foundation, a unique disaster relief fund that works closely alongside the Red Cross and Red Crescent to provide aid closest to where it is needed without the bureaucracy that can arise from the involvement of governments. The social side isn’t neglected and we enjoyed a full programme of evening meals, theatre visits and visiting speakers.

Next year marks the centenary of the Lions’ movement and the 35th anniversary of the Lions Club of Woodbridge & District. Looking forward to a busy year, incoming president John Wood said he hoped to mark the anniversaries with an increase in the club’s engagement in the community in Woodbridge and the surrounding area.

For more on what we do and who we are, please contact: www.woodbridgelions.org / 0845 8312820 for a no obligation chat.

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY The society had its AGM and final meeting of the season on June 1. Oliver Everett, our guest lecturer, brightened up a gloomy, chilly afternoon with a wonderful talk on King George IV. He told us how George, as Prince Regent, then as king, gathered an enormous collection of art, porcelain, gold and silver objects and furniture. He also commissioned major re-designs at Windsor Castle nd Buckingham Palace and built the famous Brighton Pavilion. Despite this, he was never a popular figure with the public. A lovely talk with beautiful illustrations.

The society now takes a summer break, returning on Wednesday, September 7 with a talk by Tony Faber about his family company Faber & Faber, its designs and history.

Why not come along and enjoy some good company and an interesting talk? We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months and we also organise interesting day visits.

The wonderfully illustrated lectures are presented by national and international lecturers and start at 2.15pm. A 2pm arrival is advised. Guests and non-members are welcome, provided we have available space. A £5 donation is asked.

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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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OUT & ABOUT MELTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

WOODBRIDGE RNLI BRANCH

If you weren’t able to be with us June 1 you missed a real treat when Robert Blake told us the inside story of Thomas Churchyard, the Melton/ Woodbridge artist. Apart from the splendid illustrations we were able to admire Robert’s own collection of pictures and gain insight into the ways in which 19th century artists worked and developed.

The Woodbridge RNLI Branch would like to thank the customers of Tesco at Martlesham who helped raise £823.20 for the RNLI. Tony Wilman, chairman of the branch, said: “I would like to thank everyone who generously donated and our volunteers for giving up their time and special thanks to Stormy Stan, the RNLI mascot, for coming along and supporting us.”

And next…

Steam’s up, in more ways than one. On July 6 we are starting with refreshments, so the kettle will be steaming away at 7pm in our new venue – Melton Chapel, The Street, Melton (just by the bus stop).

Once we have refuelled Bob Webb will begin, at 7.30pm, to fire up our minds with the story of the East Suffolk Railway Line which brought the steam train to Melton and beyond, potentially changing the scope of agriculture and industry, commerce and business investment.

Do come and join us. Make some new friends and, perhaps, learn something new, and old.

All welcome. Members free, visitors £3.

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Local author Pip Wright will present a talk entitled The Class of ‘63 at our next meeting on Monday, August 15.

The class of ’63 was composed of just eight poor boys who came together in 1763 to be taught at Earl Stonham Charity School by Thomas Warren. It would be a defining moment in all their lives, as this story shows.

Using a wealth of archived material, Pip has drawn upon what history has left behind to tell the remarkable story of these boys and their families.

Meetings are held at Martlesham Heath Pavilion IP5 3SQ and start at 7.30pm. The admission fee is £2.50 and meetings are open to all.

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED

On Sunday, June 26 you will find us at Woodbridge Regatta and Riverside Fair near the Caravan Café. We have a selection of RNLI branded goods, from bags to burgees and something for the children, so why not pop along and meet the team and help to raise funds for a great cause.

U3A IN SUMMER SEASON The University of the Third Age (U3A) might seem to be quieter for members, visitors and guests in July, but I know that the committee, campus and group co-ordinators and group leaders are busy planning talks, programmes and activities for the new season starting in September.

Not all groups continue during the summer months as many retired and semi-retired members have holidays to look forward to, and there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy. That’s why In Touch comes in handy to tell you what’s going on in your area.

U3A’s annual general meeting has already taken place and members will shortly be sent their 2016-17 handbook. This will give details of the monthly talks in Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Saxmundham and Felixstowe. It will also include the current interest groups, from questing to quizzing and poetry to petanque.

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

The place to find out more is our open day at Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acres Approach, Bell Lane, Kesgrave IP5 1JF on the morning of Friday, September 2. Please put the date in your diary and come along for an interesting morning to see what’s on offer.

Thursday, July 28: Sun Catchers with Jill Thursday August 25: Magic Pull Cards with Emma

If you need more information U3A in the meantime please visit www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk or contact the secretary on 03001 233913.

There are always other projects available. New members are welcome.

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

Whatever you are doing for the summer, U3A in East Suffolk wishes you sun and fun.

IPSWICH AND DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB May was marked as membership month throughout our federation with the punchline ‘Ask me why I’m a Soroptimist’. We wore it on t-shirts, distributed it on leaflets, pinned it up on posters. One poster quoted some of the responses individual members have given: I’m helping women and girls all over the world; I want to contribute to my local community; I want to make friends and have fun; Awareness of local and global issues is one thing – doing something about it is something else. That’s why I am a Soroptimist.

At our June meeting we had a particularly interesting talk about Wateraid.

We explored how closely our aims and values match. Wateraid’s mission to bring clean water and sanitation to poor communities has a huge impact on the lives of women and girls, giving back their childhood to the girls and making it possible for them to attend school. It echoes our own core aim of helping girls to achieve their full potential through practical and sustainable projects.

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In contrast we shall be focussing on issues in our own community at our meeting on July 10. Bal Kaur Howard will be telling us about a local charity called Addictions and about developments in safeguarding training. She is always an inspiring speaker and visitors are welcome to come and hear her.

Otherwise there is a lot in the pipeline for the summer: a fundraising garden party in the region, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the New Wolsey, a beauty demonstration by an ex-member, choice of the title for our annual book reading and plans for a weekend for the Soroptimist clubs in France and Denmark with which we are twinned.

If you would like to know more about Soroptimism or would like to visit us please call Jackie: 01473 659314

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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What’s a typical day at Mills Meadow?

Baking cupcakes with friends

Feeding the birds

Coffee and a catch-up

Spending time with Sinatra

When you know you’re getting the best care, you can relax and live life the way you want. At Mills Meadow, our purpose-built care home in Framlingham, we offer a full range of services, from residential care to specialist dementia care, and support residents to enjoy the hobbies they love - from the typical to the not-so-typical. Call us to find out more.

Family fun dog show Saturday 23rd July 2016, 2pm to 4.30pm

Free event

Join us at Mills Meadow for a fun-filled afternoon including barbecue, raffle, stalls and dog show. Bring your dog along and enter on the day at £1.50 per class entry (registration starts at 1.30pm). Judging will take place by children’s television presenter, Peter Purves.

For more information call 01728 885564 - or pop along on the day.

Mills Meadow, Fore Street, Framlingham IP13 9DF 01728 885564 careuk.com/mills-meadow 22

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS NEW HORIZONS

FARLINGAYE HIGH SCHOOL

New Horizons, the club for older people in the area, continues to grow and thrive. After arriving to a welcoming cup (or two) of coffee or tea with biscuits, many of the members join in with activities such as art, scrabble, dominos or a game of cards.

JAMIE’S FOOD REVOLUTION

Some just enjoy a good chat or might chose to read the newspapers or a magazine. Several appreciate the opportunity to ask volunteer shoppers to purchase something they need – or maybe they just fancy a treat.

Of course, everyone looks forward to the delicious home-cooked two course meal followed by more coffee or tea. Anyone who wishes can also join in with the armchair exercises which are fun as well as beneficial.

The club recently received a donation from the district council’s enabling fund, thanks to our local representatives Patti Mulcahy and Geoff Holdcroft.

The funds have paid for more games such as bingo, carpet bowls and skittles. We are very grateful for this contribution and the local support we have received since reforming last October.

New Horizons meets weekly on Thursdays from 10am-2pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, 11 Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP. The cost for the day is £8 with an additional fee if you require transport.

People over the age of 55 are invited to come along and join us.

For more information and to make arrangements, please phone 07514 364752 and speak to one of our leaders.

MOTH TRAPS AT FEN MEADOW There will be a chance to learn more about moths when Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Woodbridge Wildlife Group open a moth trap in Fen Meadow, Woodbridge at 8am on Sunday, July 10.

“This event has been organised in partnership with the Friends of Fen Meadow and we will be setting up the trap the previous evening,” said Phil Smith, chairman of the Woodbridge Wildlife Group.

“We are fortunate to have local expert Matthew Deans joining us again this year to help us identify the moths trapped, and I think that this will be a very interesting early morning event. Visitors will find us at the top end of the park near the gate to the cemetery.”

Booking is not required for this event, and all are welcome. The event is free but donations to Suffolk Wildlife Trust are welcomed.

Visitors coming by car are advised to park in Portland Crescent and walk through to the park from there.

For further information please contact: 01473 625630 / swtwoodbridge@outlook.com

EVENTS AT FOXBURROW FARM Tuesday, July 26, 2-4pm Brambly Hedge and friends: family afternoon exploring the hedgerow with the Woodmouse family, adults £2, children £4.

Thursday, July 28, 10.30am-12.30pm Young wardens: practical conservation for 10-16 year olds, £5 Foxburrow Farm, Melton near Woodbridge IP12 1N Book online at: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org Telephone enquiries: 01473 890089

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Students at Farlingaye High School participated in Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution on May 18. They learnt to prepare a recipe that was cooked by people all over the world as part of the event. The Year 7 Food Technology students were helped in this task by Luke Bailey, former head chef at the Crown in Woodbridge and the Food Revolution Ambassador for this area. He is currently training students at the North Suffolk Skills Academy at Halesworth.

Food Revolution Day is an annual global day of action that celebrates good, fresh, real food. It’s a day to shout about the benefits of cooking from scratch and ultimately to show people that not only is fresh food tastier, changing their food choices can also make them healthier and happier. This year Food Revolution Day is, above all, about sharing the power of cooking!

COURT WIN A 16-strong team of Year 9 students from the school are celebrating qualifying for the national finals of the National Magistrates Court Mock Trials competition.

The National Magistrates Court Mock Trial competition pits students against students from other schools, taking on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, court officials and magistrates. The students from Farlingaye performed extremely well, demonstrating great team work, analytical and public speaking skills to win the regional finals in Chelmsford.

The national final will take place on June 18 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where the Farlingaye team will be up against the best teams from the rest of the country.

BRIGHT STARS The summer term has been a fun, informal, activity filled time for us all at Bright Stars, doing crafts such as creating self-portraits and making fish, singing, hearing Bible stories and playing games.

All pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies are welcome to come and join us along with their parents, grandparents and/or carers.

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 further information please contact us on the phone numbers below. We look forward to welcoming you.

Our last session for the summer term is on July 11. Look out for our autumn term dates in future issues and on local noticeboards.

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

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SPORT DEBEN YACHT CLUB

WOODBRIDGE CRUISING CLUB

Living near the lovely River Deben just makes people want to get out there and sail. This was obvious when 50 people turned up for our Try Sailing Day on June 4.

The club’s cruise to Walton Backwaters was more like Pilgrim’s Progress, with each of the participants having a different story to tell, than the planned Cruise in Company. The weather was awful with very strong winds from a cold northerly direction.

Fortunately we had a warm day with just a whiff of a breeze to blow the Wayfarers down river and back. Our experienced volunteers took parties of three or four out in the boats to experience the joys of sailing.

Pilgrim ‘Steff’ didn’t leave the Orwell, while Pilgrim ‘Chef’ set off and made it out of the Deben to Shotley but had serious rig problems and had to return to Methersgate under engine to repair a jammed foresail furler.

Pilgrim ‘Scribe’ also made it to Shotley but stayed for only an hour before learning of an adverse weather forecast and returning from whence he had come. Similarly Pilgrim ‘Segret’ returned to the Deben a day later along with two other wind weary pilgrims.

But Pilgrims ‘Innkeeper’ and ‘Carpenter’ did make it to Titchmarsh where they feasted merrily until the early hours in the company of other pilgrims who had travelled by car. The weather though continued to be bad for some time and it was several days before these brave pilgrims could bring their boats home to their resting places in the local rivers.

Several of those who attended expressed an interest in our beginner’s dinghy course planned for August 16-19. This is a repeat of the very popular summer training session which Neptune Sailing provided for us last year and is open to all members over 10 years.

An innovation this season which proved very popular was a canoeing trip on the River Stour. So popular was it that a second trip had to be arranged and, despite perhaps finding it a bit more physically demanding than they had anticipated, the happy band of paddlers all agreed that it was a great success.

For details contact John Prevett: 01394 385236 / ryatcprincipal@debenyachtclub.co.uk Activities coming up include a coffee morning in aid of Cruise Bereavement Care on July 14 from 10am-noon and we will be holding a Junior Regatta on the weekend July 9/10. There will be lots of shore-based activities as well as sailing and a novel ‘build a topper’ competition. It is open to members of other clubs and should be a really fun weekend.

Lazy Sailing, Dinghy Flotilla Trips and racing continue throughout the month so now the nice weather (as I write this) is here, why not come and join us?

For more information visit: www.debenyachtclub.co.uk

They had enjoyed lovely late spring weather, a river at its glorious best, prolific birdlife and welcoming local pubs so no wonder there’s talk of a repeat event next year. Thanks go to David and Carol Steptoe for having the idea and organising it through The Stour Boating Trust.

Work on the river wall continues to restrict access to the club but it hasn’t prevented a number of Wednesday barbecues being held although the abnormally cold and windy conditions have restricted even these popular functions. No doubt the weather gods are saving the best for last and we can look forward to a blissful mid and late summer.

The club will again be teaching RYA Day Skipper and Yachtmaster courses this winter and enrolment will be at the clubhouse on September 5.

Further details of this and other club activities can be found at: www.woodbridgecruisingclub.org

MELTON BOWLS CLUB Richard Parker and George Hickinbotham finally won the Melton Bowls Club Invitation EBF Three Bowl Pairs Tournament, sponsored

by Colin Carter, after having to settle for second in the previous two years. Parker and Hickinbotham from the Alderton Bowls Club carded 63 points, a single point ahead of Colin Calver and Bernard Keeley in second with Maureen Frost and Ann West in third place on 61 points.

The event, played on Melton’s fast running green, attracted a full complement of 28 pairs and was played in excellent bowling conditions.

With one game remaining for each team, five pairs from the two sections had won all their games and were still in contention to take the trophy.

Calver and Keeley together with Mel Saggers and Eric Titshall jointly led section one with 46 points. Calver and Keeley had a good last game against K Wright, only dropping five points and setting a target for the field of 63 points.

Saggers and Titshall narrowly lost their game against D Kersey, but only managed to pick up

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(l-r) Bernard Keeley, Colin Calver, Peter Moyes, Gavin Abbott, Richard Parker and George Hickinbotham five points to finish back in fifth place with 51 points.

Section two was headed by Parker and Hickinbotham on 45 points with Frost and West on 43 points and Ray Andrews and Darrell Howard on 42 points. Parker and Hickinbotham had a good last win over G Knights picking up 19 points and enabling them to overhaul the

section one leaders by a single point. Frost and West had to play Andrews and Howard in their last game and despite winning were only able to secure sufficient points for third place.

After the games were completed, club president Gavin Abbott and tournament organiser Peter Moyes presented the trophy and prizes to the first, second and third placed pairs.

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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS WOODBRIDGE BOWLS CLUB The anticipation at the start of the new season was tempered by the arrival of a spell of extremely cold weather. A chill north-easterly wind swept across the region and sweaters, warm up jackets and even the odd piece of thermal underwear was the chosen uniform for most players.

This spell lasted right through May and was only broken in early June. In fact it was June 3 when the sun finally put in an appearance and players in the Bert Edwards Cup were able to enjoy some warm weather. For the club, this warmth was added to by victory over near rivals Melton in the Bert Edwards Cup. June also saw the Queen’s official birthday when the club organised a special drive with uniforms augmented with union flags and other bunting. A cream tea was also arranged.

Club nights take place each Thursday evening at around 6.30pm. This provides an opportunity for members to meet, play and improve their skills without the tensions of league or cup games.

It’s also an opportunity for those interested in finding out more about the club and wanting to try their hand at the sport to come along and see what we are all about.

Further details of the club can be found at: www.woodbridgebowlsclub.co.uk Or you can contact me, Anthony Bynom at: malfrazy@yahoo.com Picture by Sarah Bynom

I look forward to hearing from you.

ST ANDREW’S, MELTON We give gratitude for the life of Marjorie Joan Eagle whose funeral was at St Andrew’s on May 27. Marjorie was born and brought up in Melton and married at St Andrew’s. We heard many tributes of her life, the love of her home and the incredible meals she cooked.

Elizabeth’s Hospice choirs came together to make music for a summer’s afternoon. Martelsham Brass Band was formed in 1996 and since then has grown to over 100 players in four groups, an opportunity for people to play a brass instrument as part of an enthusiastic and friendly family.

Her apple pies were renowned far and wide and were shared with others. There was never a shortage of guests at her table, attested to by Brian Bartlett who sang a Song of Farewell when the coffin was borne from the church.

St Elizabeth’s Hospice choir was formed some seven years ago by the hospice music therapist who wanted a singing hospice. Anyone who contributes to the hospice in any way is welcome to join.

David Warren’s funeral was on May 23. My memory of him is Remembrance Sunday each year, on parade with his service medals, the last couple of years in a wheelchair. He would say Binyon’s words for the fallen with the priest. A lovely smile when you greeted him and when we sang O Valiant Heart, it included two verses which he had rewritten. David, with his late wife Bobbie worshipped at and supported St Andrew’s over many years.

At the Benefice Service at St Mary’s, Ufford, the Chaplain of Felixstowe College spoke to us about the Tearfund working in Africa. With a beautifully woven basket of many colours, he illustrated life for a widow with four children surviving the famine in Malawi.

Five days labour making this basket buys the family two meals when she sells it at the market, while the rest of the time they subsist on gleaned grains of corn and seeds boiled together. We hear this kind of story on the news each day and it passes us by. The way he told it really impacted on us and made us think more deeply about this dreadful famine ignored by the international community.

Part of Tearfund’s work is providing sanitation and St Andrew’s had raised enough money to sponsor four toilets. We were given framed pictures of each, in Liberia, Nepal, Chad and Kenya. The idea is to hang one behind the door of each church toilet, a facility which we take for granted as part of everyday life, something to stir your thoughts as you sit there.

On Sunday, June 5, Martlesham Brass Band and St Andrew’s and St

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The choir is seen as an ambassador for the hospice, highlighting and promoting the amazing work carried out by them. It is the first hospice choir in the country and is shown as an example to others.

There was a scrumptious strawberry tea afterwards and the event raised more than £1,000. It was conducted and masterminded by Angela Connolly, to whom our grateful thanks.

A whistle used to signal the advance at the commencement of the Battle of the Somme will be used again at St Andrew’s at 7.30am on Friday, July 1 when we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle.

There will be an exhibition of the Men of Melton at the Somme at the church from July 1-4. Do come and see it, and from 2-5pm on Sunday, July 3 there is an open afternoon and poppy walk at Melton Old Church, a self guided walk through the countryside between the two churches to see the First World War battlefield crosses, while at 9.30am there is a Parish Communion and Act of Remembrance at St Andrew’s.

Our next Messy Church is on Saturday, July 9 from 11am-1pm, when there will be a family picnic and games. Do bring the family and enjoy this morning leading up to the summer break. If you would like to come, please email: moira.davies@ymail.com A happy summer to you all, Jim Colthup www.standrewsmelton.org.uk

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