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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I hate winter! There, I’ve said it. I’ve tried to appreciate the positives but I spend every long dark evening longing for spring, which for me starts on February 11. For this reason I love Christmas; it gives us something to look forward to and brings family and friends together with time to relax. Of course it can be an expensive time and requires a huge amount of planning, but somehow it’s always worth it. So bring it on I say! Let’s embrace this time to relax and to enjoy the company of those we may not see as regularly as we’d like. This year I’m determined to make Auntie Mary smile, even if I have to spend all day working on it. I’m going to find the perfect non-gift for the impossible aunt who says she doesn’t want or need anything, until she doesn’t get anything of course. I’m going to make the bread sauce nobody eats just so my brother can’t complain that it’s not the same without it! I’m going to discuss the timings with absolutely everyone so nobody comes to the table saying ‘I wish I’d known we were eating this early as I wouldn’t have had that fifth mince pie for breakfast’. I’m going to serve custard, brandy butter, ice cream and cream with the Christmas pudding so mum, my husband, my brother and my nephew have no cause to complain, and for those who always say ‘I don’t really like Christmas pudding’ I shall be serving chocolate mousse. My approach to Christmas present shopping has changed over the years. Where once I might have spent hours online looking for something unusual or quirky, this year I’m focused on finding more thoughtful gifts; this requires a hands-on approach so it’s local shops and markets for me this year. I’m taking the same approach with my son. We’ve been influenced by TV ads for the latest gadgets and plastic monstrosities in the past; recent mistakes include Boom Boom Balloon Game, Chippies Robot Dog, Zoomer Dino Robot Dinosaur and Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage. This year I’m determined to find things I know he will enjoy well into 2019 and I’ll be having a word with Father Christmas too. I hope this month doesn’t cause unnecessary stress in your home. Please do support local businesses and local markets in the coming weeks and together we can look forward to a Happy New Year.
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NEWS 24-HOUR ACCESS DEFIBRILLATOR AT RAVENSWOOD After the tragic loss of life due to a sudden cardiac arrest in Ravenswood earlier this year, it became apparent that there was a need for a 24-hour access defibrillator. Ravenswood Residents Association member Sam Murray decided to take the lead on a new initiative to get one installed on the development. According to the British Heart Foundation, there are approximately 60,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest in the UK per year. Sadly, only a small proportion of people survive. A major factor for the low survival rate is the limited access to a defibrillator in time, ideally within the first few minutes. With each minute that goes by the chances of survival are reduced by seven to ten per cent. While Ravenswood Residents Association Chairperson Bryan Patterson worked on securing a possible location, Sam Murray investigated funding and a supplier. Dorothy Heng, resident and company director of Eastravel Limited, approached Sam to offer her the funding. Dorothy said: “Budget remained in this year’s Eastravel charity project; so we decided to support this life-saving cause.” After further investigation Sam Murray then found Heart2Heart to supply the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and offered advice each step of the way. The Residents Association approached many local sites to see if they would house the defibrillator with some knock backs, but determined to not miss this opportunity Sam Murray approached the Ravenswood McDonald’s. In the meantime, Bryan Patterson managed to secure an alternative location, Ravenswood Co-Operative, putting the Residents Association in a strong position to house the unit in the best location. Following attendance at the Residents Association’s AGM, Carol Rogerson, franchisee of the Ravenswood McDonald’s, offered to have this lifesaving piece of equipment on their building. It was decided that due to its extra security provisions and offering to cover all the on-going costs including battery, insurance and electricity, the Ravenswood McDonald’s would be the best location for the defibrillator. There was also an additional security factor in that McDonald’s is open 24 hours per day. The defibrillator has now been fitted and is ready to use. This has been a huge win for the residents of Ravenswood and Ravenswood Residents Association are now working on arranging CPR and defibrillator training for residents, McDonald’s staff and any other Ravenswood based business that would like to participate. Sam said: “I hope that we can empower people to realise that they will be able to save a life.”
SAMARITAN BOOKSHOP When you find after Christmas that you have no more room on those bookshelves to accommodate all those generous gifts, and you need to do a cull of the shelves, the Samaritan Bookshop will be pleased to receive your unwanted books. Collections can be arranged for larger amounts of books. To arrange a collection ring Janice on 01473 287727 and we will find a date and time to suit you. If, however, you are searching for a sequel, or looking for fresh inspiration visit the Aladdin’s Cave, otherwise known as the lower floor of the Samaritan’s Shop in Carr Street, Ipswich, where you’ll find a veritable treasure house of books on almost any subject.
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NEWS CALLING ALL WOMEN – GET CREATIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
OVER £1,000 OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS IN LOCAL CHRISTMAS PRIZE DRAW
Come and join a fun, relaxed creative Christmas wreath-making session at Chantry Walled Garden on Thursday, December 6, 10am to 12.30pm.
One local family run hearing care company has announced details of a charity Christmas Prize Draw, giving the local community the chance to win one of twelve prizes with a combined value of over £1,000.
The workshop, which is absolutely free, is part of ActivGardens’ Women’s Skills Exhange project to encourage women to learn and share their knowledge on gardening, crafts, the environment, cooking from scratch and other skills. In this session in our glasshouses, we will be using greenery, flower heads, dried chillies and other items from the garden to make a festive wreath or table decoration to take home or to contribute to our Christmas market. The sessions are designed to be fun, accessible and sociable – but places are limited, so please book. Supervised children are very welcome. Further sessions will give women a chance to try their hand at woodworking at our ActivSheds project – Take up Tools on Tuesday, February 26 – and beginner beekeeping in Get Buzzing for Spring on Thursday, March 28. These free sessions are designed to be fun, accessible and sociable – but places are limited, so please book. Supervised children are very welcome. The project will bring women together in an active way to learn and share skills and improve their health and wellbeing in a welcoming environment. Women will be able to engage and develop at a pace to suit them, fitting around responsibilities of home and children, and doing as much as they are able. The project, funded through Suffolk Community Foundation, will involve women of all ages, abilities and ethnicities in learning and sharing skills and developing new opportunities for themselves. It will bring older and younger women together in a spirit of sharing and co-operation. Existing volunteers will act as ‘Garden Companions’ to help newcomers settle in and learn horticultural skills. To book a place, or if you have a skill you would like to learn or share, please get in touch with ActivLives on 01473 345350 or project co-ordinator Lesley Hartley at: lesley@activlives.org.uk / 07496 762093
The Hearing Care Centre, which has 26 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk including two locally at Upper Brook Street and Two Rivers Medical Centre in Ipswich, is holding its annual Christmas Draw in aid of deafness charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, with the winners being declared on Wednesday, December 19. The charity delivers expert training for Hearing Dogs which provides invaluable emotional support to their deaf recipient. New found owners gain confidence, independence and companionship. This year to celebrate their 20th anniversary, The Hearing Care Centre have pledged to raise £20,000 for the charity, with many fundraising initiatives having taken place this year, including quiz nights, a pudding club and a huge drive to collect 20 pence pieces. The prize draw has received generous support from local businesses including Fred Olsen Travel, Theatre Royal Norwich, Archant and Coes Department Stores. On offer in the draw is a luxury break at The Swan Hotel in Southwold, a fivecourse tasting menu at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze Restaurant in London, a giant festive hamper, Hotel Chocolat goodies, travel vouchers and more. Tickets cost only £1 and can be purchased online at www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk/draw or in person at the company’s practice at 11 Upper Brook Street, Ipswich.
IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET This month our tables are brimming with artisan produce and locally made arts and crafts to fill stockings and pile up under the tree. We are taking orders for Christmas items, which you can have individually or as part of a hamper, prepared to your own requirements. Special dietary needs can also be catered for. Hampers make ideal gifts for friends or relatives at Christmas. To order you can visit us during opening hours or telephone Janet Pearse, our market manager, on 01473 725263. The last date for ordering sausage rolls and mince pies is December 13, for collection at the market on December 20. Why not purchase some special chutney for your Christmas table and celebrations? We have a large variety to choose from: apple, peach, pear and walnut, courgette, red, green or spicy tomato. We also have special Christmas chutney with cranberry, red wine, port and red onion and Boxing Day chutney with a brandy base! These are also offered gift packaged. Producers pride themselves on the quality of their produce and the friendliness of the market, so come and have a festive morning out and find some extra special Christmas treats with us. The market is open on Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.30am at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane IP4 3PB. There is plenty of free parking and home baked refreshments with a free tea or coffee on your first visit. On the first Thursday of the month we sell bacon rolls for only £1.20! This month you can also find us supporting the Friends of Holywells Park at their Christmas Fayre on Saturday 8 from 11am to 2.30pm. We will be closed for two weeks over Christmas (December 27 and January 3), returning on January 10. You can find out more about our market on our Facebook page – Ipswich Country Market – or at: www.ipswichcountrymarket.co.uk
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NEWS GARDEN PROJECT PROMISES COMMUNITY CHEER AT FESTIVE MARKET
MARTLESHAM BRASS
A wonderful selection of crafts, plants, seasonal wreath and produce will be on offer at our festive market, all made or grown by participants of ActivGardens.
We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
CRESS Community Market and Café, Friday, December 7, 10am-12.30pm at the CRESS Pavilion, Halifax Road, Ipswich IP2 8RE Students of Chantry Academy will be behind the serving hatch, with an offer of seasonal goodies they have made, while Ipswich Academy is preparing some fun Christmas games for you to play. There will be winter greens to keep you healthy through winter, alongside other produce from our community garden. Pansies grown at Chantry Walled Garden will be available to brighten up your garden and pots, together with hanging baskets, tubs, and Christmas wreaths. ActivSheds are busy making hedgehog homes, bird boxes and bird feeders as gifts to help our wildlife. So why not come and join us and pick up some original gifts for a greener Christmas? All proceeds will go towards supporting our work at ActivGardens with young people, older people with Dementia and other conditions, longterm unemployed, people with disabilities, and members of minority ethnic communities. For further details, please contact ActivLives on 01473 345350 or Susannah on: 07530 407302 / susannah@activlives.org.uk
A DATE FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS DIARY Ipswich Community Wind Band, in association with Ipswich Cats Protection, presents a concert of popular Christmas music at St Matthew’s Church, Portman Road IP1 2BP on Saturday, December 1 from 7.30-9.30pm. Tickets (£7, concessions £5) are available on the door or from Janette on 07395 560906. Interval refreshments, raffle and free home-cooked mince pies! Please join us for an evening of music and song, all ages welcome.
Making music fun in East Anglia
December is the busiest month of the year for Martlesham Brass; you will often find us playing Christmas Carols outside supermarkets, both in Martlesham and Ipswich, raising money for charities nominated by our band members. This year we are raising funds for The Stroke Association, Tiffers – the Bus Shelter Ipswich CIC and Martlesham Community Responders. Please join us for Coffee and Carols on Saturday, December 1 at 10am at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath, when you can hear our intermediate band playing your favourite Christmas music. There will be refreshments, various stalls and a raffle and admission is free. Our Christmas Concert is on Saturday, December 15 at 7pm, also at St Michael’s Church Centre. Tickets are £3.50 (primary school children free). You can get your tickets by phoning 07544 962205, online at www. martleshambrass.co.uk or they will be available on the door. This concert is often a sell-out, so please get your tickets early. On Wednesday, December 19 we will be playing for Carols in the Square on Martlesham Heath at 7pm. We would love to hear from new players, young and old, with or without experience. Our aim is to encourage anyone who feels they would like to play in a brass band to come and have a go! If you would like to join us, or if you already play or have previously played a brass instrument and would like to come along and meet us, please contact us via the website or use the contact details below. Publicity Officer Liz Howard: e_m_howard@talk21.com / 01473 625617 www.martleshambrass.co.uk
CEREMONY OF CAROLS Gippeswyk Singers New Year Concert with Martlesham Brass Gippeswyk Singers are welcoming in the New Year with special guests Martlesham Brass in a concert at St Michael & All Angels Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL on Sunday, January 6 at 7.30pm. Come and enjoy an uplifting evening of beautiful music from the choir including Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Brian Latchem’s An Abundance of Blessings conducted by Gippeswyk Singers’ inspirational musical director, Geoff Lavery and accompanied by the talented young professional harpist, Anna Wynne. Martlesham Brass are featured performing on their own as well as joining the singers for a wonderful medley from The Sound of Music which will have the whole audience singing along! Tickets are £5 at the door and in advance from choir members or: paulgalley@btinternet.com Gippeswyk Singers are supporting local charities FIND (Families in Need/Food Bank Ipswich) and ICSRE (Suffolk Law Centre). 2019 Spring Concert Verdi’s Requiem concert tickets are already selling for a special collaboration between Gippeswyk Singers, Beccles Choral Society, Phoenix Singers, Lambeth Orchestra and four outstanding international soloists at Snape Maltings on May 11. Conducted by Geoff Lavery, the massed chorus and full orchestra will have more than 250 musicians filling the concert hall stage at Snape for this magnificent work. Tickets are available from choir members, by emailing cherylcoutts468@btinternet.com or from Snape Box Office: 01728 687110 www.gippeswyksingers.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT BROKE HALL WI We would be pleased to meet any new ladies who would like to come and see what we do and maybe join in. We meet at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) on the second Friday of the month at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. We also have monthly clubs, walks, meals out, darts, crafts, theatre trips, outing and visits. Friday, December 14: Medieval Poetry by Richard Langridge Friday, January 11: Quick and Easy Supper Dishes with Jane Sago Friday, February 8: Suffolk Lavender Farm by Karen Orchard Friday, March 8: Pearly Kings and Queens by Gerry Baxter For more information contact Sue (01473 414746) or Cynthia (01473 726068).
THE ORWELL CHALLENGE – FUNDRAISING THE EASY WAY Do you need to raise funds for a charity, good cause, sport’s club or youth organisation? The ready-made answer is the Orwell Challenge. Just enter and arrange your own sponsorship and the Rotary club will organise the event for you. The Orwell Challenge, previously known as the Orwell Walk, has been organised for the last 42 years by Ipswich East Rotary Club and has enabled £3 million to be raised for local good causes. The next event will be held on Sunday 23 June 2019. Each entrant pays an entrance fee to take part in the event and then raises sponsorship for their charity or good cause. Entrants can book their place in the event by registering on the Ipswich East Rotary Club website. There is a discount for early registration. The annual event ranges over private land between Ipswich and Felixstowe which is not usually open to the public. The event has become known as the ‘Happy Walk’ because Rotarians go the extra mile to be welcoming and encouraging to all the entrants. You can walk between three and 25 miles, or run distances up to a full marathon. Rotary provides check points, toilets, ice cream vans, food stalls and a rescue service to ferry walkers and runners back to the start when difficulties occur. Sign up now to raise funds for your good cause: www.ipswicheastrotaryclub.co.uk
IPSWICH AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB Probus clubs are for retired or semi-retired business gentlemen. We meet monthly at the Masonic Hall in Soane Street, Ipswich on the last Wednesday of each month for lunch, followed by talks and lectures on a variety of subjects. In addition we hold social events including outside visits when we invite our spouses, partners and friends to join us. If membership appeals to you, please contact our secretary, Ken Stanley, for further details: 01473 274898 / probus174@gmail.com
IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY After December 5 we don’t meet again until January 16 for another afternoon meeting at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre from 1.30-6pm. Roger Swindells, one of our members and a dealer, will display and give advice on how to create a thematic collection. There will be four displays and an opportunity to purchase material from Roger who is going to bring along a great deal of his stock for us to purchase if we wish. This is an ideal opportunity to find out more about a different and novel way to collect stamps. Visitors are welcome; for further information contact Mike Smith – 01473 403904 / michaelsmith1949@gmail.com – or visit: www.ipswichphilatelic.uk Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.
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THE ORWELL SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT The Orwell Singers will be holding their Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 1 at 7.30pm at St Michael and All Angel’s Church, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. Admission at the door will be £8 for adults and free for accompanied children and will include sherry and mince pies. The choir’s guest this year will be tenor Ian France. For details contact: 01473 635955 / d.sharman@btinternet.com
IPSWICH AND KESGRAVE BRIDGE CLUB CELEBRATES 60 YEARS Two thousand and eighteen was the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Ipswich Bridge Club. Since 1958 the club has had a number of homes including the Great White Horse and Westerfield House. We now play at Kesgrave Community Centre which explains our slightly longer name. To celebrate the diamond jubilee the club staged two special events. The first (in July) was a play and learn session, with lunch, when we were joined by two world champions, Sally Horton and Kate McCallum. Club members played against the experts and after lunch our visitors gave us great insights using the hands we had played in the morning. For the second (in September) we held our largest Swiss pairs event for which we had 60 pairs enter – it attracted people from all over East Anglia including a couple who have played for the England Senior Team. Everyone who attended agreed that both events were great fun and enjoyed the fantastic food. If you are a Bridge player and this sounds like the sort of club you would like to join, you can find out more by visiting or website or contacting Chris Green at: greencj06@hotmail.co.uk www.bridgewebs.com/ipswich
ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Applications for a grant are welcome from individuals and from groups. Application forms should be submitted to the address below by January 1. Grants will generally be of up to £150, e.g. towards the cost of instruments, music, music related equipment and musical activities. Further information and grant application forms can be obtained from: www. rogerdavidburrows.co.uk The Roger David Burrows Music Fund, c/o The Burrows family, 17 Squires Lane, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich IP5 3UG / 01473 625196 Our next even: Monday, March 11 Archaeologist Andy Peachey will be talking about the amazing finds discovered during work for the wind farm cables which are going through the northern part of Martlesham. Earlier in the year there was a lot in the press about the interesting and unexpected things unearthed by archaeologists, especially on a site close to Martlesham, and Andy will be telling us more about what was discovered here and elsewhere on the cable route. This talk will be held at 7.30pm in St Michael’s Church Centre; more details will be published in the January edition.
LEUKAEMIA CHARITY DANCE The local committee wish to thank Liz and Peter Woodmass who organised a wonderful fundraising dance for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research at the Orwell Hotel in Felixstowe. A record sum of £2,834 was made on the night. This is the 44th year we have had a charity dance.
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OUT & ABOUT ORWELL DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY
GRIFF RHYS JONES RETURNs TO SUFFOLK FOR CHARITY event
Join us at 2.15pm on Wednesday, December 5 when Libby Hornet will give a fascinating multi-media talk entitled Bread & Circuses – Fun, Frolics and Freak Shows.
Griff Rhys Jones is returning to Suffolk for another performance in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Libby, a well-known freelance art historian, curator, film producer, lecturer and writers, will combine art (Laura Wright, Georges Roualt) songs, music, photographs and quotes from writers and poets in her presentation.
Fresh from his tour of Australia, the comedian is to take the floor at Ipswich Town’s Sir Bobby Robson suite on Sunday, December 16.
We hope to meet you at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew. Entrance by donation / £6.
His 90-minute set will feature a new mix of tales, stand-up and anecdotes ready for Christmas and the New Year. Topics will include voluntary work, royalty, family Christmases past and present, plus Suffolk and Essex.
For the latest events and news please visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk
CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere with refreshments, we meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall from 7.30-10pm. Note Please: No meeting in December Emma and Irene wish all club members a Happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to seeing you all on Thursday, January 24. New members are always welcome. For details contact Emma: 01787 373850
IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, January 23: The Massey Shaw Fireboat, an illustrated talk by Tony Roome
Griff said: “It’s a time for giving and this will be a wonderful way of helping EACH, right in the heart of Ipswich, on the eve of Christmas.” Georgia Memory, EACH Suffolk Fundraising Assistant, said: “This promises to be a great evening of festive laughter. I know last year’s show at Ufford Park Hotel went down very well, so we’re really excited Griff’s supporting us once again.” Griff has previously praised staff of EACH for their “remarkable, inspired and very difficult work” to support children with life-threatening conditions and their families. The evening at Ipswich Town will begin at 6pm, with welcome drinks and canapés. Griff will start performing at 7pm. There will be theatre-style seating. Tickets are £29.50 and available online from www.each.org.uk/comedy until Friday, December 14 or until sold out. For further information, contact: 01473 917965 / treehouse@each.org.uk Photo by Steve Ullathorne
We meet at 7.30pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich; entrance via the rear car park, visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments. 01473 422145 / www.idhts.co.uk
MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Monday, February 11: The History of the Catholic Church in Kesgrave by The Rev Chris Brighten I’m sure many of you will have passed the small Catholic Church in Kesgrave on your way into Ipswich. But are you aware of the story of two exceptional families and a tragic accident that resulted in the building of the church? The church, which is still in private ownership, has some of the most amazing stained glass windows made by an artist who was one of the finest stained glass designers of the Arts and Craft Movement in the first half of the 20th century. Come along and find out more! Meetings are held in Martlesham Heath Pavilion at 7.30pm. Admission is £2.50 and meetings are open to all.
MARTLESHAM HEATH AVIATION SOCIETY Friday, December 7, 7.30-10pm: Paul Smiddy presents A Passion for Speed The story The Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce (Mildred), a record-breaking British racing motorist, speedboat racer and aviator in the 1920s and 1930s, a lady whose story deserves to be told to a much wider audience. Entry is £3 for members, £4 for non-members – pay on arrival on the night. You can join the society on the night.
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FREE YOUR FINANCES WITH EQUITY RELEASE? Our local team has over 60 year’s combined experience in equity release matters. Unlike many national equity release firms, we have full in house financial planning capability. All our staff are based at our office in central Ipswich enabling us to fully support you through the whole process from initial consultation (always at our expense), through a thorough viability assessment and then application and processing to a successful completion. Williams Farrall Woodward Priority House, 8 Turret Lane, Ipswich IP4 1DL 01473 231644 equityrelease@wfw.co.uk • Cash or Income from an Equity Release scheme could restrict the borrowers’ eligibility for State Benefits. • Equity released will reduce the value of the estate and could leave nothing to pass on as an inheritance. • Home Reversion plans and Lifetime Mortgages are complex products. To understand the features and risk, please ask for a personalised illustration. • Williams Farrall Woodward is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – FCA 175614.
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CALL FOR ARTISTS 2019 Suffolk Open Studios have launched their 2019 Call for Artists, inviting artists and galleries living and working across Suffolk to join next year’s programme. Earlier this year, more than 100 artists opened their studios to the public and enjoyed the many advantages of taking part, including reaching new audiences and showing their work in the comfort of their own studio; receiving valuable feedback by interacting directly with potential clients; and the chance to meet and collaborate with fellow artists in their area. Artists and galleries also benefit from valuable publicity through their profile on the Suffolk Open Studios website and Facebook page, and inclusion in the printed directory, distributed free of charge to tourist centres, art venues and visitor attractions throughout the county. Members are also guaranteed a place in the annual Suffolk Open Studios Annual Showcase Exhibition at the Apex Centre in Bury St Edmunds, running from 25 February – 1 April 2019. This year’s show proved extremely popular and drew favourable comments from across the art community. Run by volunteers, Suffolk Open Studios is open to all Suffolk artists and galleries regardless of the media in which they practise. Members open their studios free of charge to the public from 11am-5pm over the first five weekends of June, choosing to open on as many or few weekends as they wish. Many join together to form their own local artists’ trails; anyone unable to include their own studio can still take part by renting space with other artists and forming their own artists’ hub. For more details visit: www.suffolkopenstudios.org Cally James, Suffolk Open Studios Chair, commented: “This year’s programme was a great success. In many cases, visitors travelled significant distances both within and from outside the county; several make it regular date in their diary to see what their favourite artists are working on now. Suffolk is rightly celebrated for the depth and breadth of its artistic heritage and it’s a pleasure to be making the talent and achievements of our resident artists available once again to the public.” Artists and galleries wishing to take part in next year’s programme can do so by completing the online membership form at: www.suffolkopenstudios.org/membership Early applications are encouraged in order to guarantee a place in the printed directory.
DEMENTIA Together Call Free 08081 688 000 Information and support for people who are curious, concerned about or living with dementia, their carers, and health and social care professionals in Suffolk, excluding Waveney.
email: SRYC. DementiaTogether@nhs.net visit: www.dementia-together.com Mon to Fri: 9am - 6pm / Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays: 10am - 4pm
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OUT & ABOUT / CHURCH NEWS IPSWICH RSPB LOCAL GROUP Ipswich RSPB Local Group extends a warm welcome to any new members or visitors who wish to join us for our December meeting. We have a customary ‘bring and share’ supper with festive punch to accompany a talk from our group leader, Tim Kenny, who has also promised a quiz. The group meets at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month between September and April and invariably have a very enjoyable evening with a wide range of speakers offering interesting illustrated talks primarily focused on birds but also covering other wildlife, conservation and travel. All are welcome, whether RSPB members or not, for a very reasonable entrance fee. At our November meeting we enjoyed a very interesting talk by Martin Tickler on House Martins and coming up in 2019 we have Wildlife in Dedham Vale and the Issues it Faces with Darren Tansley from Essex Wildlife Trust (January) and in February, Nature Our Way from photographers Jim and Fred Price. Now the darker evenings are with us our some of our evening walks have moved to the weekends. Walks coming up include Manningtree and Mistley, Levington Creek and the River Orwell, and Holywells and Chantry Parks. www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ipswich Twitter: @IpswichRSPB / Facebook: RSPB Ipswich Local Group
ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING Join us ar St John’s URC Hall, Cowper Street, Ipswich on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8pm. For more information contact: Helen at howefamily96@yahoo.co.uk / 01473 717979 John at johnaadams1942@gmail.com / 01473 710406
IPSWICH & DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB
HEATH PRIMARY SCHOOL RECEPTION INTAKE 2019 The window to apply for Reception places for September, 2019 is now open. Heath Primary School offers a broad and rich curriculum with a particular focus on outdoor learning. We are lucky to have extensive grounds that include a dedicated Forest Schools area and a separate wildlife area featuring a pond with dipping platform. We are also proud of our school garden that includes an orchard, allotment and an enclosure for our chickens and rabbits. At Heath, we have a dedicated team of highly-skilled and experienced Reception teachers and a committed team of support staff who work together to ensure that every child has the best possible start to school life. For those who require childcare outside of the school day, our popular before and after school club, ‘Jigsaw’, is available. There are also a number of reputable childminders in our area. For information or an application form, contact the school office on 01473 622806. If you would like to look around the school, then please call to arrange an appointment for a guided tour at a time that is convenient to you. Co-Head Teachers Sue Bowditch and David Whatley
BRIGHT STARS Fun activity sessions for pre-school aged children with parents, grandparents, friends, family and/or carers on the second and fourth Mondays of each month during term times from 10.30am-noon at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. Sessions are free and usually based on a theme. They normally include singing, games, crafts and Bible stories, followed by refreshments and more play. Just turn up; no need to book. We look forward to seeing you during this festive season and wish Happy Christmas to everyone from all at Bright Stars. This month we meet on December 10 and the first two sessions of the spring term are on January 14 and 28. For further information please contact Sonya and Maureen Burrows: 01473 625196
One thing we planned to do this year was to raise our own awareness of what life is like for different women in Ipswich. Two recent speakers made a big impression on us and led us to think how we might make even a small difference. In October each year we mark International Day of the Girl Child by writing to our MPs (we happen to have club members in four constituencies). Remembering the talk by Maureen Reynel of Families in Need, we used the opportunity this year to urge them to press for free sanitary products for girls up to 18. This would save many from missing school. Linda Pepper, Director of the Oasis English Language School, talked about their work with students from 27 countries, many wanting to learn English in order to integrate into society here. We decided to make a grant from our Education Bursary Fund to buy course books. For Ipswich women the highlight of the year was the Women’s Voices, Women’s Vote celebration. One of our members was involved in organising the short story competition, another was included in the list of 100 special women featured in the countdown to the event and on the day we raffled a quilt on our stall in aid of Lighthouse. It will be an honour to welcome the Mayor of Ipswich to our next meeting. Meanwhile we haven’t forgotten that we are a worldwide organisation. Our delegate has just returned from our annual international conference with reports of discussions on climate change and mental health issues for women with a call for action from Soroptimist clubs. Something to get our teeth into in 2019! If you would like to know more about us please contact Joyce: 01394 615659
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As we see another year draw to a close I, for one, wonder where the time has gone. It seems like only a few short weeks ago we were celebrating the New Year and now another is looming. For Christians the birth of Jesus is a major event in the church calendar. A child born in lowly circumstances, growing up just as other children, becoming an adult, but then going on to change the world. He was just like us and knew the sorrows of humanity but rose above it to show us the way to a better, more fulfilled life. It is well known that Jesus was not actually born on December 25, but scholars are unsure whether it was spring, summer, but more probably autumn. Even the exact year is not known, but could be up to seven years earlier in 7BC. Whatever the actual date was, celebrating the birth of the One who came to save us should be a daily activity. Come and join us on Sunday, December 16 for our Christmas Service at 11am (no Sunday Schools); you’ll be more than welcome! SEE YOU ON SUNDAY! Join us on Sunday mornings at 11.30am (Adult and Children’s Sunday Schools 10.30am) at The Ark Church, The Drift, Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9QR. You can contact us via email at arkipswichuk@gmail.com. We can also be found on Facebook and on Twitter @arkipswich or online at www.arkipswich.co.uk where you will find up-to-date information on what’s happening at the Ark each week.
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CHURCH NEWS BIXLEY FARM CHURCH AT TOWER HALL: SUNDAY@4 As autumn heads towards winter we have several events and activities planned, before, dare we mention the word… Christmas! Each year it seems to come around more quickly. Together with our partner MIE churches, we support the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal. Its mission is to show God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the good news of Jesus Christ. As you read this, thousands of boxes will have been filled across Suffolk and are making their way to different countries where children, many who are living in grinding poverty, running for their lives from war or living with the effects of natural disaster, will have something to cheer about in the midst of troubled lives. To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380
We are also excited to be working alongside St Augustine’s Church to organise the Broke Hall Carols on the Green on Saturday, December 8 at 3pm by Penshurst Road shops. This is an event that has been running for several years and has proved very popular with the local community. If you enjoy carolling then come and join us around Bixley Farm on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 13 December. It’s great fun and lovely to see children and families come to watch. Please feel free to join in the singing and enjoy some mulled wine afterwards. We try to visit different areas of Bixley Farm, but always start at 7.30pm from Tower Hall. For further details please contact the MIE office as below. Our Carol Service will be on Sunday, December 16 at 4pm and our Nativity Service on Sunday 23, also at 4pm. Christmas means different things to people depending on their circumstances. It can spark the happiest of memories or the saddest. It can also feel very lonely. At this time of great political uncertainty and change, come along and join us and be reminded that God’s love for us never changes. As always, everyone is welcome to join us each Sunday for our regular weekly service at Tower Hall from 4-5pm. There are opportunities to speak to clergy or other members of the church, with time for personal prayer at the end. Holy Communion is celebrated every other Sunday. Bixley Farm Church (CofE) was initiated by St John’s, Cauldwell Hall Road and St Andrew’s, Britannia Road (collectively called Mission Ipswich East). For further information/questions visit www.mie.org/bixley or contact: office@mie.org.uk / 01473 270978
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