In Touch News with Ipswich East – June 2016

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with Broke Hall, Ipswich East, Ravenswood & Warren Heath

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Volume 6 • Issue No. 8 • JUNE 2016

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I’m gotten to know the lollipop lady outside Jack’s school quite well over the years. We have talked about her daughter, who is in high school, her son, who is in college, the fact that she’s been on a diet and her yellow coat is now far too big… Now you may wonder when we have time to chat and rather surprisingly it’s as we stand waiting for cars to stop each morning. She holds her lollipop aloft, arm outstretched to prevent eager children from running across the road, and we wait, and wait, and wait as driver after driver pretends not to see us, gaze focused directly ahead, determined to get to somewhere awfully special (I assume). Occasionally they will wave as if to say “I acknowledge your existence but you must realise how incredibly busy and important I am so I’m going to ignore your request”. And we carry on waiting. Just the other morning a driver stopped, forcing the driver coming from the other direction to reluctantly (there are some words it’s rather easy to lip read!) to do the same thing. Just as the lollipop lady set off another car overtook one of the stopped cars, forcing her to jump back onto the footpath. What was he thinking? If the prospect of being 30 seconds late is so appalling then get up earlier or take a different route.

NEWS CHARITY LUNCH IS SET TO BE A BESTSELLER

Best-selling author Peter James is set to thrill the audience at a new fundraising lunch near Ipswich in aid of children’s charity Action Medical Research. The author of the Roy Grace murder mystery novels will host an exciting new event, organised by the Ipswich Group for Action Medical Research, at Kesgrave Hall on Friday, June 17.

If you are driving past a school please be sensible and respectful and let’s show those impressionable boys and girls waiting to cross how it should be done.

On the subject of responsibility, we just got two rabbits, yet unnamed but very cute. I’ve been telling Jack it’s his responsibility to look after them, stressing time and time again how important it is to make sure the hutch is properly closed. As we came downstairs this morning he shouted “the rabbits are running around the garden” – and so they were! And who was the last person to visit the hutch. Me!! By the time we got to school Jack had told eight people what I’d done, including the lollipop lady. My authority has been completely undermined, but I’ve come up with a way to make this work to my benefit. Clearly I’m not up to the task so Jack really has to take over in order to keep those rabbits safe!

In Touch

with Broke Hall, Ipswich East, Ravenswood & Warren Heath

In Touch with Broke Hall, Ipswich East, Ravenswood & Warren Heath is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins We also publish Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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IN TOUCH WITH . . .

• Hadleigh • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • East Bergholt, Dedham & Flatford • Needham Market, Creeting St Mary & Creeting St Peter • Sproughton & Burstall • Claydon, Barham & Henley • Manningtree, Mistley, Lawford & Brantham • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • Kesgrave & Rushmere • Woodbridge & Melton • Gt. & Lt. Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Witnesham & Tuddenham St. Martin • Bramford, Somersham & Offton • Copdock, Washbrook, Belstead, Bentley & Tattingstone • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Pin Mill, Holbrook, Woolverstone & Erwarton

IN TOUCH WITH . . .

JULY DEADLINE 10 JUNE 2016 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy

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Tickets are already selling fast for the lunch where guests will enjoy a two-course meal followed by a talk by Peter on the world of crime writing. “We’re so thrilled that Peter James will be hosting this lunch for crime fiction fans in Ipswich for the first time and we can’t wait to hear about what inspires him,” says Lucy Hynes, Action Medical Research’s Community Fundraising Manager for the region.

“Guests are guaranteed a fantastic afternoon with the chance to hear from an internationally renowned author and they’ll also be helping to save and change the lives of babies and children.

“Medical research for children is underfunded in the UK. For every project Action funds there’s another one we have to turn away – simply because of a lack of funds. That’s why we’re so grateful that Peter has lent his support to fund vital research to develop new treatments and cures for sick babies and children.”

Peter, a long-term supporter of Action Medical Research, has helped to raise more than £70,000 for the charity with the popular Peter James Golf Classic in East Sussex which has been running for seven years. This is his first event for Action Medical Research in Suffolk – though hopefully it will have many sequels!

The Ipswich branch of Waterstones will be selling Peter’s books at the event and he will be happy to sign them. His latest novel, Love You Dead, will be on sale and pre-orders for his upcoming book, Death Comes Knocking: Policing Roy Grace’s Brighton, co-written with Graham Bartlett and due out in July, can also be taken. Waterstones has pledged a donation from all book sales.

For more than 60 years Action Medical Research has helped pioneer treatments and ways to prevent disease that have benefited millions of people in the UK and across the world. Research it has funded has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths. The charity is currently funding research into premature birth, meningitis, Down syndrome and epilepsy, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.

Tickets for the Dine with Crime Writer Peter James lunch are £38.50 and are available from: www.action.org.uk/dine-crime-writer-peter-james

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NEWS ORWELL WALK ORGANISERS CELEBRATE 40 YEARS BY LAUNCHING A TRAIL RUN Ipswich East Rotary Club, organisers of this year’s Orwell Walk & Cycle Ride are celebrating their 40th year by adding a brand new trail running event – The Orwell Run. The Orwell Walk, and in the past three years the Orwell Cycle Ride, have provided people with a great opportunity to come together with family and friends to raise money for their chosen charities while exploring the beautiful Suffolk countryside by either walking or cycling up to 26 miles along the Orwell Estuary. The event is Suffolk’s largest, multi-charity fundraiser and takes place this year on Sunday, June 26.

The walkers, runners and cyclists all begin from Gainsborough Sports Centre and the different routes take in some of the most picturesque parts of the landscape around the River Orwell, including some private land which is kindly opened by the land owners specifically for this annual event.

Nick Collinson ran the course in 2015 when there wasn’t an official Orwell Run and as a seasoned trail runner he was able to provide valuable feedback to the organisers to launch the Orwell Run this year. The most attractive part of this day is that participants only have to walk, cycle or run the distance they feel comfortable with as there are regular, manned checkpoints, marshalled by Rotarians throughout the journey, with refreshments and live entertainment too. The marshals can also provide transport by minibus back to HQ at Gainsborough Sports Centre.

For more details, incuding the three routes, and to sign up for this year’s event go to: www.orwellwalk.co.uk Registration is just £15 (£10 for children). As Ipswich East Rotary Club is a registered charity you can also claim Gift Aid, giving the maximum value for your chosen charity.

You can also find out more by following them on Twitter and Facebook @TheOrwellWalk, @TheOrwellCycle, @TheOrwellRun

STRAWBERRY FAYRE

GIPPESWYK SINGERS’ IN CONCERT

The Salvation Army Priory centre in Queensway, Ipswich are having a Strawberry Fayre on Friday, June 10, 11am2pm.

There will be a variety of stalls including gifts, toys and toiletries. Our café will be serving strawberries and cream, bacon butties and a mix of other snacks and drinks.

Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

SOMERSHAM SUPPORT GROUP COFFEE MORNING Coffee morning and sale on behalf of patients in Ipswich Hospital.

Saturday, June 25, 10am-noon, at Rushmere Church Hall.

All welcome.

LEARN TO DANCE Wednesday dance classes continue to waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep around the dance floor at Sidegate Lane Community Centre. Cha-cha, rhumba and samba dancers can be seen too. Refreshers class 7-8pm, improvers 8-10pm. Park easily and come inside for a warm and friendly welcome. £3 per person.

For more information visit: www.sidegatelanecommunitycentre.org.uk/ballroomdance 4

Gippeswyk Singers will perform a lovely programme of English choral music ranging from 16th century madrigals to the present day, including a popular music hall medley, at the Salvation Army Citadel in Felixstowe at 7.30pm on Saturday, July 2. The accompanist will be Jane Van Tilborg.

Tickets are £10 with profits going to support local charities Got to Read and Home-Start.

Tickets will be available at the door or in advance from Phil Speirs, 2 Treetops, Felixstowe IP11 9ER (please send a SAE with a cheque payable to ‘Gippeswyk Singers’).

Come along and enjoy a delightful summer evening of beautiful music. www.gippeswyksingers.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO FIND AT IPSWICH COUNTRY MARKET? We are a cooperative market that sells genuinely home produced foods, plants and crafts.

Our gardeners have fresh seasonal fruit, vegetables, plants and cut flowers.

Country markets are famous for their homemade preserves, traditionally made with real fruit. You will also find local honey from local bees.

Our cooks produce real cooking without preservatives: quiche, sausage rolls, meat pies and other individual meals. They bake genuinely homemade cookies, scones, flapjacks, bread, fruit pies, cakes and more, including a selection of gluten free items. You can place orders in advance too for collection as you require.

Our local crafters are very skilled and have a wide range of items on offer including imaginative beadwork, beautiful bags, practical sewn items, cross stitch greeting cards, sun hats in all sizes and every kind of knitwear and are happy to make items to your individual requirements.

This month we will be coming together with other markets in East Suffolk for the Suffolk Show, so there won’t be a market on Thursday, June 2 (or at all during that week). Do come and say hello if you are at the Suffolk Show.

We will be opposite the WI tent. Come early for savoury bakes as they always sell fast. And there isn’t a market on June 23 due to national voting so the market will be on Friday 24 instead.

We will also once again be at St Peters Church on Ipswich waterfront on Saturday, June 4 for the second of their monthly craft and gift fairs where we will showcase a mixed selection of what our market has to offer, with crafts, baking, preserves and pickles. So if you can’t make our normal Thursday market you can come and see us there.

You can find more information about the market on our Facebook page and at: www.ipswichcountrymarket.co.uk We, are open on Thursday mornings from 10.15-11.30am at Rushmere Village Hall on Humber Doucy Lane. Free parking, a warm welcome, and home baked refreshments await you with a free tea or coffee on your first visit. Do come and see us soon!

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY

IPSWICH HOSPITAL BAND 40th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Saturday, July 9 at 7pm at St Peter’s by the Waterfront If you, or someone you know who was a past member, would like you to join us at this celebration tickets are £8 and available from: 40@ipswichhospitalband.org / 01473 225269 We look forward to hearing from you.

THE ORWELL SINGERS The Orwell Singers Summer Concert takes place on Saturday, June 4 at 7.30pm at St Michael and All Angel’s Church, Martlesham Heath with guest performer Mary Armitage on saxophone, accompanied on the piano by her father, Jonathan.

The theme for this year’s concert is a musical pot-pourri. There will be a salute to the Queen’s 90th year with Edward German’s Long Live Elizabeth, followed by music from the four regions of the British Isles.

On Monday, June 13, Mark Mower will present a talk entitled Zeppelins over Suffolk.

The first half will finish with some lively pieces from Vivaldi’s Gloria. The second half will feature songs by the Beatles and some of the choir’s favourite pieces.

Did you know that a Zeppelin bombed Martlesham in 1917? If not then come along and find out more about the remarkable story of the destruction of a German airship over East Anglia in 1917.

Entry at the door will be £8 for adults and 50p for accompanied children and will include light refreshments. For more information please contact: 01473 635955 / d.sharman@btinternet.com

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

MARTLESHAM BRASS

CITY & GUILDS STITCHED TEXTILES GRADUATE SHOW 2016

Making music fun in East Anglia

Saturday, June 25 & Sunday 26, 10am-5pm Wickham Market Village Hall (IP13 0HE) hosts this annual exhibition to celebrate the achievements of the latest City & Guilds students. The work on show represents the culmination of two years of study in patchwork, quilting and machine embroidery.

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 feel that you would like to come along and meet us, please contact us via the website or using the contact details below.

There will be an exhibition by Out of the Fold and traders include Art Van Go, Eye Fabric Shop and Creative Stitch Suffolk. Sales table, tombola, raffle and refreshments, entrance £2.

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Hopefully the sun will be shining in June as Martlesham Brass are busy playing at school fetes and sports days!

Publicity Officer Liz Howard: e_m_howard@talk21.com / 01473 625617 www.martleshambrass..co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY MALE VOICE CHOIR Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir (SCMVC) is opening a new chapter in its 48year history in the appointment of Steven Blomfield as their new musical director.

In a sequence of events which chairman Dougie Paine said “could not have been scripted”, Steven has taken over from Colin Edgar BEM who was the choir’s musical director for 46 years.

When Colin, a former teacher at Kesgrave High School, retired the choir began their search for a new musical director. Many years earlier Colin had inspired a love of music in one of his pupils, a young Steven Blomfield.

Steven went on to study music theatre at Mountview Academy and music at Colchester Institute, returning to Suffolk to take up his own career as a music teacher.

Steven had always felt a great debt of gratitude to Colin and he decided to seek him out just to say thank you. He remembered Colin often talking about his involvement with a male voice choir.

Through the SCMVC website he tracked Colin down. It was then he learnt the choir were seeking a new MD. He needed little persuading to accept the role. He has said: “I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to take over from Colin and carry on the proud traditions of the Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir.”

Under Steven’s leadership the choir is once again buzzing and looking for new members.

Members of the choir are drawn from male serving or retired police officers, serving or retired support staff or people who are just happy to be a friend of the Suffolk Constabulary and support the choir. No previous experience of singing or music is required, and no one is auditioned. Everyone can sing and it’s never too late to learn.

If you think you would enjoy singing and would like to try, we are holding a Come Sing with Us afternoon on Saturday, June 4, starting at 2pm at High Hall, Kesgrave Scout Hall, Twelve Acre Approach IP5 1JF.

ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY The society has its final meeting of the season on Wednesday, June 1.

The society AGM will start at 1.45pm, preceeding a talk by Oliver Everett entitled George IV – the Greatest Royal Collector of Art. Oliver is Emeritus Librarian at the Royal Library in Windsor Castle.

On a warm May afternoon the meeting heard from Tobias Capwell, Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection. With many beautiful illustrations Tobias showed how the great Italian Renaissance artists like Donatello portrayed knights like St George in a style resembling Roman and Classical heroes.

Tobias is an expert on medieval armour and he illustrated the many details of this ‘heroic-style armour’ seen clearly on many medieval tapestries, paintings and sculptures. A very interesting and informative lecture. 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

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New comers will be given the opportunity to listen to the choir practising and to join in themselves.

If you are interested in joining but can’t make it on June 4 please contact our secretary, Stephen Wade, for more information: 01449 672600 / scmvc@scwade.eclipse.co.uk

U3A WELCOMES THE SUMMER SUN U3A talks will be missed by members and visitors alike for the next few months, apart from Woodbridge on June 6.

The campus co-ordinators would like to wish you a happy summer break and look forward to seeing you again when the talks recommence in September.

U3A members are reminded that our Annual General Meeting takes place at 2pm on Monday, June 13 at Kesgrave Community Centre. Please remember to bring your green membership card on the day.

The other date for your diary is our open day on the morning of Friday, September 2, again at Kesgrave Community Centre. We also hope to see many of our newly interested guests and visitors there to learn about some of the great variety of groups and subjects U3A can offer for the coming academic year.

On Monday, June 6 the last talk of the season will take place at Woodbridge Community Hall at 10.30am. Refreshments will be available from 10am.

David Cleveland will be showing a selection of clips from the East Anglian Film Archive featuring life in East Suffolk from the 1930s to the 1960s including farming ways, wartime activities, changing transport, industry and home life.

If you would like more information on The University of the Third Age please visit www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk or telephone the secretary on 03001 233913.

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OUT & ABOUT BROKE HALL WI Friday, June 10: Small Collectables – valuations of items by Sheila Bullard (one per person) Friday, July 8: Hearing Dogs for the Deaf – talk and demonstration by Malcolm Taylor Friday, September 9: The Mary Rose – a talk by Philip Roberts We meet at 7.30pm at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. New and former members are welcome. For more information contact Sue (414746) or Chris (713546).

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Our next event, a coach excursion to the Great Western Society at Didcot, is on Saturday, July 9, departing from Ipswich Transport Museum at 8am.

The total cost is £40 which includes coach travel, entrance to Didcot and a two-course early evening meal. For further details visit: www.idhts.co.uk This excursion is open to non-members but must be booked in advance.

Contact Pat Caddick (01473 402152) or Martyn Hunt (01473 422145).

SUFFOLK WRITERS GROUP Bridge Wood in Early Summer Blackbirds watch from high up branches Robins hop on quiet benches Insects hum in sunlit glades Dogs run happy in the shade Green moss blooms on fallen trees Echoing laughter on the breeze.

Water turns silver in the sunlight Oaks are golden, birches bright white Overhead the skylark sings Down on earth – the crawling things The holiday season is nearly upon us and there’s no better time to do a bit of creative writing.

Do you remember writing acrostic poems at school? They’re the sort of poems where the first letter of every line spells out a word. In this case, I’ve spelled out ‘Bridge Wood’. We’re so lucky having such a beautiful place right on our doorstep that I thought it would make a great subject for a poem.

I’d love to receive some of your nature-based poems by email. I’ll try to put all your work on my website and choose one to go in next month’s In Touch magazine.

If you have pictures to accompany your work, please send them as jpegs. If you don’t have access to a computer, please post your poem to Mai Black, 23 Damselfly Road, Ipswich IP3 9TS. For more information about Suffolk Writer’s Group, contact: 01473 711639 / maielizabethblack@gmail.com www.suffolkwritersgroup.com

HOW TO SPEAK SO PEOPLE LISTEN Wedding speeches, phone calls, dinner parties, meeting your partner’s parents, advising a new work colleague, taking your pet to the vet, explaining to your new boss, chairing a meeting, launching a product, reading a bed-time story or telling a good joke.

These are all situations where speaking with confidence, humour, understanding, authority, sympathy, distinction, sincerity, enthusiasm, clearly and positively gets the right message across.

The best speeches are short and memorable, often using humour to help communicate their key points.

TED speeches – those from the world famous Technology, Education, Design conferences – are only 18 minutes long yet they pack in powerful life-changing ideas and inspire people from all backgrounds to challenge 8

themselves, develop their skills and work towards being more satisfied with what they achieve in their lives.

Speak Easy at Martlesham is a friendly supportive group which holds fortnightly meetings where we practise speaking.

What do we talk about? We talk about anything and everything: it’s how we speak, tell, describe, explain, present, persuade that’s important.

If you’re giving speeches all the time come along to Speak Easy and find out what makes a good speech great, how to touch an audience’s heart and practise speaking so people listen. This month we meet on Thursdays 2, 16 and 30 at the Richards Room, Martlesham Community Centre, near Woodbridge, IP12 4PB. Find us on Facebook and at www.speak-easy.org. uk or call Sonya Burrows for more information: 07968 372563

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OUT & ABOUT CRAFTERS UNLIMITED

SUFFOLK AVIATION HERITAGE MUSEUM

A craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall, 7.30-10pm. Our next meeting is on Thursday, May 26: AGM plus magic pull card. There is no meeting June because the hall is needed for EURO voting.

The administrating charity of Suffolk Aviation Heritage Museum on Foxhall Road has received an offer from site owners Grainger Plc to purchase a 125 year leasehold on the former RAF/USAF communications base.

New members always welcome. For more details contact Jill (01473 713534) or Emma (01787 373850).

EXTENDED HOURS AT RECYCLING CENTRES From Wednesday, June 1, the opening hours at Suffolk’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) will be changing to offer site users extended hours on Sundays, bank holidays, and on a Thursday evening during the summer months, reflecting the times when the sites are most used and needed by residents.

The busiest times of the week for these sites are weekends and bank holidays.

The quietest day of the week is consistently a Wednesday. Consequently, all sites will close on Wednesdays.

The new opening times for Suffolk’s Household Waste Recycling Centres are as follows: April-September Monday: 9am-5pm Tuesday: 9am-5pm Wednesday: Closed* Thursday: 9am-5pm (late night opening until 7pm during May-August)* Friday: 9am-5pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 9am-5pm* October-March Monday: 9am-4pm Tuesday: 9am-4pm Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 9am-4pm Friday: 9am-4pm Saturday: 9am-4pm Sunday: 9am-4pm *From June 1 All sites are closed December 25, 26 and January 1

All relevant site signage is being updated ready for the new operating timetable which begins on June 1.

A new leaflet will be available at every site for people to take away, including a handy business card with the new opening times.

You can recycle a wide range of materials at the recycling centres; further details can be found at: www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk

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Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group is currently nearing the end of a year long feasibility study into a scheme that could potentially see all extant buildings on the site utilised within an expanded museum project, including an aviation related education centre in the current museum building and an exhibition and public hire venue.

The site itself includes an extremely rare prewar RAF Wireless Telegraphy building, only discovered when the charity took up residence in 2005.

This was the hub of a series of buildings erected on the site up to the late 1980s which, collectively, represent a unique surviving aspect of Cold War history.

The site project would also provide floor space to enable the museum to collect and display a limited number of aircraft.

Currently, under the museum’s own strict collecting policy, aircraft can only be collected if facility exists to display them indoors.

The project study, which has included exploratory discussions with the Heritage

Image by Ian Pope Group

Lottery Fund, is currently awaiting pre-planning advice from Suffolk Coastal District Council and, subject to outcome, it is hoped that a dedicated major fundraising campaign will be launched in the summer.

TRADITIONAL CAR BOOT SALES ARE PROVING POPULAR The next traditional car boot sale is on Sunday, June 26 and, as always, is open to genuine car booters and fundraising groups.

The sale opens to sellers from 8.30am and to buyers from 9.30am. For further details visit: www.suffolkaviationheritage.org.uk

CHANTRY WALLED GARDEN SUMMER PLANT SALE Please come and browse our fabulous range of plants on Tuesday, August 18 from 10-3pm, all at great prices. Tea, coffee and homemade cakes will be available at Nursery Cottage.

Come and see how our new garden is progressing: we are designing a wheelchairfriendly space especially for older people and people with mobility issues, and hope to plant it with drought-resistant plants that attract birds, butterflies and bees.

All proceeds will help develop our growing projects at ActivGardens.

Access: Please park in public car park near to Sue Ryder mansion (turn into main gates of Chantry Park off Hadleigh Road and turn right and right again into car park.

Exit on foot and follow path around brick wall through orchard gate and turn right through gate into site.

For disabled access, please use service road past main park entrance and park directly opposite cottage.

For further information, please call ActivLives on 01473 345350.

ORWELL PROBUS CLUB We meet at Rushmere Golf Club on the second Thursday of each month for lunch followed by a speaker. Our speaker’s subject in June is Motoring for Seniors.

Some Probus clubs are for men only, as we are, others are for ladies and some mixed.

What is Probus?

We have social events, outings, the last being a very interesting visit to Greene King Brewery at Bury St Edmunds, and holidays which, of course, include spouses, partners and friends.

Probus clubs provide an opportunity for active retired or semi-retired gentlemen to attend regular meetings and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded people with similar interests.

If you think Orwell Probus Club could be for you, please contact our secretary, Graham Balfe, for further details: 01473 729012 / grahambalfe@tiscali.co.uk 11

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SPORT KESGRAVE & NORTHGATE KARATE NEWS It has been an incredibly busy couple of months for Kesgrave, Northgate and Associated Clubs.

At the EKF Nationals at Ponds Ford in Sheffield on the weekend of April 16/17, Georgie Lawson won gold in individual and open weight making her a six times consecutive English champion!

Oscar Hunt won silver in team with Brandon Hodgson and James bronze in 14-15 individual open weight and silver in -70 weight category. Thanks to Chris Stott and Paul Harris for coaching them.

Sunday, April 24 saw the team at Tilbury in Essex for the SRK Open Karate Competition. Well done to everyone who fought. Special commendation went to Sienna Lawton who won her first fight, but lost her second to an experienced fighter who went on to win gold. Her reverse punch is excellent and will win her many fights in the future. Matt Standring deserved silver, but went out on hantei to the winner in the first round.

Temuri Turner fought well but came across the European silver medalist in the first round while Tayler Evans came second to the world number seven and landed some fabulous reverse punches on her way to the final.

Callum Evans, Ruby Hunt and Sophia Standring fought well but struggled with either difficult decisions or tough opponents but overall, Northgate held their own. Thanks to Justin Hunt for the report and all his support to the team.

ST CLEMENTS GOLF CLUB: LADIES SECTION Val Hall, St Clements Golf Club Ladies Captain for 2015, recently presented a cheque for £190 to the Suffolk Punch Horses Trust. Our charity this year will be L’Arche supporting people with learning disabilities.

IPSWICH WANDERERS FC Former Cambridge United full back Shane Wardley has been appointed first team manager. He replaces Glenn Read who retired at the end of the season.

Shane will be busy during the summer assembling his squad for next season. It is expected that most of last season’s players will stay with the club and that Shane will strengthen his team with some pre-season signings.

Then the May Bank Holiday weekend saw excitement of a different sort with a large party of club members and their families travelling to Arras, France to train with Roger Menant and his amazing squad at the RC Arras Karaté-Do. The group studied three different Japanese katas – Kanku-Dai, Jitté and Unsu – and attempted to apply the bunkai over three training sessions on the Saturday and Sunday. There was also a visit to the caves beneath the town and an aperitif in the town hall afterwards.

It was an amazing experience not only for those who trained but also for all the families and friends who came to support and help make the weekend so enjoyable.

The club would like to thank the team who spent time and effort making the trip not just possible but run so smoothly – Bill Williams, Gilliam Wreford, Rik Barnes, Matt Standring and Chris Clow. We would also like to thank our club sponsors who so generously subsidised the trip: I.S Electrical, M+C Diesel Services and Chris Clow.

Meanwhile, back in Weston Super Mare on Sunday, May 1, there was a bronze medal for Oscar Hunt and teammates Brandon Hodgson and Ethan Day in the boys 13-15 year old team category at the WKU Karate Championship.

The experienced Wardley has been playing at left back for Wanderers under Glenn Read and, at 36, has now hung his boots up. Shane’s is a popular appointment with the club and its supporters and he will want to build on the achievements of his predecessor.

The Ipswich Wanderers Academy side played its first match against an Ipswich Town School of Excellence side on a Wednesday in May. A crowd of more than 100 were in attendance to see the young academy players in action.

Academy director Tom Page was very pleased with the performance and is looking forward to the new academic year as the students settle into their studies and their football.

The reserve side will also be run by Tom Page next season. The team will be playing in the Essex and Suffolk Border League and will cater for promising members of our under 18s, senior players and some academy students. They will play at home on Saturdays when the first team are away.

Ipswich Wanderers are looking for a new clubhouse manager. The responsibilities involve looking after the clubhouse and managing the bar for match days, functions and other events. This, like all posts at The Doucy, is a volunteer role but, like all other posts at our club, extremely rewarding. If you are interested please contact me on 07734 321259.

That is definitely all I can fit in so apologies if your news didn’t make it this time. Check out the new website or the Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest news and class timings.

Once again, Ipswich Town will be preparing our main pitch before, and during, the new season. We are very grateful for the excellent playing surface that the ITFC ground staff provided for us last year and we believe that it is the best in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League.

Eleanor Legg www.northgate-karate.co.uk

Thank you, Ipswich Town.

Keith Lloyd

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SCHOOLS / ON THE GRAPEVINE BRIGHT STARS All pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies are welcome to come and join us at Bright Stars, along with their parents, grandparents and/or carers.

Each of our sessions is full of fun activities, for example singing and Bible stories for children, plus crafts and games.

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.

The remaining session dates for the summer term are June 13 and 27 and July 11.

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

GIVE VOLLEYBALL A TRY THIS SUMMER

Volleyball is loads of fun and a very friendly game. It’s the only highenergy, no-contact mixed team sport you can play indoors and outdoors – whatever your ability.

It’s energetic enough to help with your fitness but without placing high demands on your body, and good teamwork is important as well as individual skill.

This summer is the perfect time to give volleyball a go and find out why it is one of the top three most-played sports in the world!

The sport is thriving in Suffolk thanks to the support of Volleyball England’s Go-Spike campaign. tthere are clubs in Ipswich and Stowmarket with members of mixed abilities, male and female, and all ages from teenagers to their grandparents.

COULD YOU GIVE A ‘SENIOR PET-IZEN’ A SPECIAL RETIREMENT HOME? Blue Cross pet charity in Suffolk is appealing for happy retirement homes for some of its Old Age Pets (OAPs) who are getting overlooked in favour of their younger counterparts.

Almost 30 per cent of pets at the new Blue Cross rehoming centre in Wherstead, which opened its doors in January this year, are over eightyears-old and are struggling to find families to give them a second chance.

Cat Missy is just one of the charity’s 50 residents waiting for a family to take her home. The 12-year-old moggie arrived at the centre in January because her owner could no longer care for her. She has been waiting 75 days for a new home – almost three times the average stay for cats of just 28 days.

Andrew Gillon, centre manager at Blue Cross Suffolk, explains: “We have some lovely older pets looking for loving new homes but sadly they get overlooked for younger pets. But taking on an older pet can be very rewarding and more mature pets have lots of advantages. They are often more settled, have some good training in place, don’t demand as much time and attention as puppies and kittens, and their character and temperament has already formed so you know what you’re going to get.”

Another one of the centre’s long stay golden oldies is Tia, a 14-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier who has been waiting for a home since March after his Tia, above, and Missy, below previous owners had a change in circumstances.

Andrew adds: “If anyone is thinking about taking on a new pet, please think about visiting your local rehoming centre. We’ve got lots of deserving dogs and cats waiting for someone to love them.”

To find out more call 0300 777 1480, email Suffolk@bluecross.org.uk or visit: www.bluecross.org.uk

The clubs will all give a warm welcome to prospective new players whether experienced or complete beginners, and you can go along to join a session and play some friendly games at a park near you this summer.

Ipswich Ravens and Ipswich Volleyball Club play in Christchurch Park (near the Westerfield Road entrance) on Saturday afternoons, while Stowmarket VC play on the Recreation Ground on Tuesday and Sunday evenings (all sessions are subject to weather and other fixtures). All sessions are completely free!

The clubs are happy to accommodate people who want to play either competitively or at a more recreational level.

All sessions are organised by a qualified coach who also gives playing advice to each individual. So why not go along and take a look?

If you like what you see please introduce yourself and you will be very welcome to participate in a session under no obligation.

To find out more, visit: www.suffolkvolleyball.org.uk 14

In Touch online:

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ON THE GRAPEVINE MAKE A NEW FRIEND AND CHANGE A VULNERABLE PERSON’S LIFE! The Befriending Scheme is looking for volunteers, aged 16+,​ to become One-to-One Befrienders for vulnerable people in Suffolk.

POP CHORUS FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE Contemporary local choir Pop Chorus are delighted to announce that they have become community partners with St Elizabeth Hospice.

Over the coming months and years, the choir hopes to raise lots of money towards this very valuable service, starting on Sunday, July 10 at 7.30pm with a fundraising concert at the Seckford Theatre in Woodbridge.

More than 100 singers will be taking to the stage to perform songs from The Beatles to Beyoncé, arranged in glorious harmony by their director, Yula Andrews.

The Suffolk-based feel-good singing groups are for adults of all abilities, unashamedly singing great pop songs in harmony to backing tracks.

There’s no audition and members don’t need to read music or have any experience. With evening groups in Framlingham and Ipswich and a daytime choir in Kesgrave, members come from all walks of life and are a very friendly and warm bunch of people!

For concert tickets and more information about Pop Chorus contact sing@popchorus.org / 07788 585441 or visit: www.popchorus.org

Our members may have a learning disability, be rurally isolated, elderly or suffer with mild mental health illness. You might share shopping trips,​ a coffee, mutual hobbies ​or simply have a chat about your favourite things.

There are over 130 people in our county, some in your area, who would love to find a​friend, but the right person hasn’t yet come forward.

One success story is Duncan, who became a Befriender last year. From helping at a Hub group each week, he formed a friendship with David, agreeing to become his One-to-One link.

They regularly enjoy socialising together and there has been a big improvement in his David’s quality of life, with support being provided

by The Befriending Scheme to help manage changes to his life to improve wellbeing and ensure the help needed from social care is now being received.

Duncan has played a crucial role in supporting his friend too. He said: “Befriending is one of the most rewarding ways to give your time, making a connection and a difference in someone’s life day to day and since I have been here I have seen how life changing that is.

“It’s important to understand that you are not there to help cook, clean or tidy up, just as a friend. Like any friendship there challenges, but you get through them together. Each small victory is one that you can both enjoy and every obstacle is a challenge you can both overcome. I’d encourage anyone to get involved with befriending because you get just as much from it as your new friend does.”

For more information about St Elizabeth Hospice visit: stelizabethhospice.org.uk

We match every link to make sure the right friends meet and are supported. There are no fixed times, just what is mutually convenient between you and your link.

PARACHUTE PARTY IN AID OF HOSPICE

If you would like to find out more or to become a Befriender, please contact Rob Taylor: 01787 371333 / info@thebefriendingscheme.org.uk

Adrenaline junkies are invited to join the Parachute Party this July in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice. The local charity is looking for groups of people to join them and dozens of other supporters to skydive on Saturday, July 16 at Beccles Airfield. The hospice is hoping to have a record number of people in St Elizabeth Hospice history jumping – all in one day.

FOSTERING TEENAGERS

Joanne Rodger, St Elizabeth Hospice’s events and challenges fundraiser, said: “This year we are holding our first Parachute Party and we are looking for groups of friends, colleagues and families to enjoy the exhilarating experience of jumping out of a plane 10,000ft above ground – on the same day.”

Suffolk County Council is urgently looking for new foster carers, in particular for teenagers. Over half of the children in care are aged 11 or over, yet fewer people come forward to offer care for them.

Where possible, groups will be able to go up in the plane together, and skydive one after the other. Each skydiver is asked to pay a £50 deposit and to raise a minimum of £300 for the hospice.

Miss Rodger added: “We are hoping to have a record number of people in the hospice’s history jumping on the same day, all in aid of the hospice.

All the money raised from the skydives will go towards improving life for people living with a progressive illness such as cancer, motor neurone disease and heart failure in East Suffolk.

“We already have 15 signed up, but if we have 50 people skydiving, we can raise thousands of pounds which would help make a huge difference to our patients and their families.”

For more information and to sign up visit: www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/parachuteparty, call 01473 723600 or email fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

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Do you have a spare bedroom and experience in caring for children – have you ever thought about fostering?

Therefore many teenagers may not be living with Suffolk carers, and will be away from friends, school and their local community. This is where you come in!

In return, the county council provide a highly competitive payment scheme, where you can receive up to £606 per week per child. The scheme allows career opportunities as you develop as a foster carer, recognising your skills, experience and the type of fostering you are offering.

If you think you could become a foster carer, come along to an information drop-in session, visit: www.fosterandadopt.suffolk.gov.uk or call: 01473 264800.

If you’re currently registered with another Fostering Provider, the county council would love to hear from you too as there are many benefits of moving to their Fostering Service.

More information is available on their website.

17

ON THE GRAPEVINE / CHURCH NEWS QUESTIONS ON CASH

With independent financial advisor Nick Plumb A platform for investment success?

Allan from Ipswich wrote to me to ask about investment platforms. He asked: “Our financial adviser is suggesting that my wife and I should move our existing investments onto a platform with Novia. We have ISAs with different companies and Investment Bonds with Aviva and Prudential. Surely we would be better to keep these spread between several different companies rather than having all our eggs in the same basket?”

Investment platforms have become very popular in the last few years, for a number of reasons. Primarily, the main attraction of these platforms is investment choice. An investment platform will usually offer access to a range of investment wrappers, such as ISAs, collective investments, bonds and pensions, within which investors will have access to hundreds and in some cases, thousands of individual investment funds, and in particular, to managed portfolios, where a professional fund manager actively manages a portfolio of investments for you in line with your chosen risk profile.

No single fund manager will ever be top in all investment sectors and most fund managers have a specialist area in which they are known to have particular knowledge or ability. That is where a ‘portfolio’ manager will come into their own, as they can pick the very best investment managers and funds from each sector, thus giving you as an investor access to a wide choice of the best funds, rather than a range of funds that are ‘jack of all trades but master of none’.

You can also save money on charges by using a platform, particularly when you have older investments with high ongoing management charges, or if you currently have your ISAs with a lot of different fund managers. For example, in the case of Novia, our clients can access their platform for just 0.40% per annum with no initial charges deducted when you invest.

Most platform managers will also have negotiated discounted initial and ongoing charges with many top fund managers, so you can often end up paying less to access those funds through the Novia platform than you would by investing direct with the individual fund or portfolio managers.

Having all your investments on a platform is not really a case of ‘having all your eggs in the same basket’, as the platform manager would not actually hold your money. Your investments would actually be held by each of the fund or portfolio managers that your money would be invested with, so your exposure to any one company will be greatly reduced as your investments are likely to be spread across several different investment managers and funds.

A final benefit of using a platform is simplicity and ease of access to information. Although you can hold many different investments on the same platform, you will receive just one statement from the platform provider, showing all your individual investments and their values. You can also access your account online at any time and get up-to-date investment valuations in between your usual statement dates, arrange a withdrawal or income payment, and even conduct investment fund switches if you wish to.

All in all, a platform can be a good way to simplify your current investment arrangements, and reduce your ongoing charges.

Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services. Post your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email nickplumb@aol.com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301.

Nick’s answers to reader’s questions in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice.

Any readers who require advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial consultation to discuss their own position.

18

VOLUNTEERS’ VITAL ROLE IN HOSPICE WORLD Currently St Helena Hospice has approximately 800 volunteers of all ages giving their time to support the hospice in lots of different ways, whether on a regular basis or every so often to help at events for example.

All of its volunteers play a vital part in the work that it does, and as its services expand, so does it need its volunteer team to. Volunteering is a great way to increase confidence and make new friends, learn new skills, gain experience in a work environment and most importantly make a difference. By donating your precious time and valuable skills you could save the hospice money which it can use to support patients and their families and carers.

The hospice recently spoke to Bev Adams, one of its volunteers who works on the reception desk at its Inpatient Unit, Myland Hall, about what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering: “Do it. You would get so much satisfaction and you would know you’re helping to support people in your community. Those few hours from your day could make a huge difference to someone else’s.”

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer for St Helena Hospice like Bev please contact the volunteer team: 01206 931466 / volunteer@sthelenahospice.org.uk For all current volunteer and paid roles visit: sthelenahospice.org.uk/vacancies

the

ARK church

In our Bible studies on Wednesday nights we are looking at Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and having some serious fun learning what it takes to become a follower of Jesus. As we sit and drink our tea, coffee or hot chocolate the study often takes us off at tangents, but always within the theme of the session. It’s all about being real and honest with God and ourselves. Some people seem to know how to play the ‘Church Game’ in doing all the right things, but for the wrong reason. It should be about the heart and giving our best to God, not our left-overs, learning what your true purpose is.

Want to know more then come along. The study starts at 8pm usually finishing around 9pm.

THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK Most of you will have realised that the football premiership was won this year by Leicester City. To all football pundits this is being heralded as an extraordinary event as they have spent so much less than the top teams around them.

I think that the reason for their success is down to teamwork both on and off the pitch. They would not have achieved this without everybody at the club doing their specified jobs to the best of their abilities.

This principle applies across all areas of life. In the Bible we read about how the body has many parts and all these parts are needed for the body to function correctly, both the public ones and the more private ones.

At the Boiler House we welcome everybody and accept everyone just as they are because we are all needed for the church to function.

Why not come along and see us any Sunday morning at 10.30am in Heath School, Bell Lane, Kesgrave? We assure you of a friendly welcome.

In Touch online:

March Accounting & Taxation Services Ian Coombes FCCA MBA

• FREE initial consultation to discuss any tax, accounting and general business issues • Payroll, Auto Enrolment,VAT, Self Assessment, and full accounting service • Personable and professional tailored support • Fees agreed in advance • Out of office hours service available Individuals, self employed and limited companies

Please call Ian on: 01449 740285 / 07939 837939 E: ian@marchconsultingltd.co.uk

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GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE We offer the following services all year round: Grass cutting • Garden clearance Fences & Gates • Patios & Paths Hedge Cutting • Tree Cutting Sheds • Summer Houses Digger & Dumper work

For a free quotation please call Nigel Coton 01449 721025 or 07801 515505

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call John Burch: 07870 347486

Tel: 01449 721441

To advertise in this section, which appears in 17 magazines in areas accross Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

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19

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