In Touch News with Woodbridge – April 2017

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Volume 6 • Issue No. 12 • APRIL 2017

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Woodbridge

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR On a number of recent occasions I’ve been surprised by how people have reacted to fairly typical situations which would normally go relatively unnoticed or produce no more than a raised eyebrow. Just this morning I struggled to make room on a narrow road for a rather large car coming in the opposite direction. I pulled in as far as I could, trying not to go into the brook running alongside, but the other driver was incensed, waving his arms at me, his face ugly with anger. Thank goodness I couldn’t hear what he was saying. He got by a little slower than he obviously wanted, but I sat there for a moment in stunned silence.

At the weekend I found myself queuing behind a man who gave a shop assistant a right telling off because she had given him the wrong change. He practically accused her of trying to steal 10p from him. I asked her if she was OK after he’d left and she shrugged it off as if it was a common occurrence, which I fear it might very well be.

We may all be feeling pressure just now not knowing how things will turn out (even the weather is disagreeable), but if we lose all self-restraint and can’t even treat those we meet in everyday life with respect I dread to think of the long-term impact. Thankfully we’re not there yet and I’ve had many more instances of people being helpful, kind, thoughtful and understanding in recent weeks (clearly evidenced in the pages of this magazine) than I’ve had of people being rude, judgemental and arrogant. Admittedly a little self-analysis may be necessary now and then, but I’m determined to offset rude drivers and hateful behaviour by doing the exact opposite.

By making a little extra effort to be kind to each other, I’m convinced we can make the world a little bit more pleasant for everyone. A smile, a polite ‘good morning’, a wave when another driver makes way (and especially when they don’t!), may initially have little impact on how others behave, but it can’t hurt.

Happy Easter from everyone at Mansion House Publishing

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

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: woodbridge@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

ADVERTISING Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 DISTRIBUTION Tree Martin Email: tree@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 PRINTING Colourplan Print Email: steve@colourplan.co.uk

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

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NEWS

Woodbridge Town Council are organising the first Woodbridge on Show event which is taking place on Saturday, April 1 at the community hall. The event is being organised to showcase the huge variety of activities on offer in Woodbridge and includes exhibits from local branches of national charities, sports clubs, specialist interest groups, religious organisations and health clubs. It is an opportunity for charities and volunteer groups to show their level of activity, friendliness and community spirit while at the same time recruiting new members.

People can drop in during the day and chat with these groups and enquire what they do and see if it is of interest.

Town Mayor, Councillor Stephen Attwell said that he was hoping the event would receive the support of the people of Woodbridge and in the future grow to emulate the success of Sudbury on Show, which now has more than 100 organisations attending. Stephen added that it is important that our voluntary groups and activities flourish in the town.

Woodbridge Town Council will produce a free booklet with information about clubs and activities, including those not represented.

It’s free to enter so please come along to the community hall on Station Road from 9.30am and see what is going on in the town.

TESCO BAGS OF HELP Bags of Help is Tesco’s exciting local community grant scheme where the money raised from the 5p carrier bag charge is being used to fund thousands of local projects in communities across the UK. Projects that bring benefits to their community will be considered; these range from improving buildings and outdoor spaces to buying new equipment, training coaches or volunteers and hosting community events.

If you have a project in mind or know someone in the local community who has, then why not apply for a grant? To apply, visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp and complete an application.

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NEWS WALK TOWARDS A CURE FOR PARKINSON’S IN SUFFOLK

HELPING ADULTS TO BECOME CONFIDENT READERS Do you know anyone who might like some one-to-one support to help them become a confident reader?

As many as one in six adults may feel that way – it’s much more common than you might think.

Whether you know someone who’d like to start right back at the beginning with reading, or who just wants some time to ask questions and brush up on skills to build confidence, it may be that a Got to Read volunteer can help. Got to Read volunteers and students meet one-toone at least weekly, in welcoming, confidential spaces.

People in Suffolk are being asked to pick up the pace against Parkinson’s this year at Walk for Parkinson’s – Glemham Hall on Sunday, July 9, one of a series of walk events to be held across the UK for Parkinson’s UK during 2017.

Walk for Parkinson’s offers the opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in a fun and active day out, while helping the charity step ever closer to a cure.

There are a range of distances on offer to suit everyone, with a 1.5 mile, 3.5 mile and 5.5 mile walk to choose from.

It is the first time the charity has hosted a Walk for Parkinson’s at Glemham Hall. Previous walks in the region have seen more than 200 local people take part, so the charity hopes to involve even more walkers with the new and exciting venue.

The registration fee is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Everyone who registers will receive a free Parkinson’s UK t-shirt, fundraising pack and at the end of the walk, a finishers medal.

The charity is hoping to raise over £400,000 from the 32 events, so suggests walkers aim to raise at least £50.

All money raised from Walk for Parkinson’s – Glemham Hall will help Parkinson’s UK’s work to provide support and information for people affected by Parkinson’s and to help find better treatments, and ultimately a cure.

As well as walkers, the charity is on the lookout for volunteers to help register people at the start/finish area or to be a walk marshal at various points on the route during the day.

To find out more and to sign up to walk or volunteer contact: 0207 963 9367 / fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk or visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkglemhamhall

There aren’t any exams. Every student gets to say what it is that they need. Their volunteer guides them and helps to find ways to get there, using whatever methods and resources suit the student best. Examples of what we can help to build confidence with include: • Learning or re-learning the alphabet and sounds to make words and then build sentences (phonics) • Everyday reading and writing tasks like shopping lists, recipes, understanding bills and medical records • Supporting children and being involved with their reading and learning • Getting ready to try something new – a job, a hobby, being a parent or grandparent, formal learning • Reading for pleasure, getting to the stage where you can relax, understand and enjoy what you read • Asking all those questions about punctuation and grammar that you think everyone but you knows about We can offer support in the Woodbridge and Ipswich areas. If you would like to know more, please contact 07528 147654 / info@gottoread.org.uk or visit: www.gottoread.org.uk It’s likely that someone who would enjoy trying this support might not be able to read many of these details, so please do pass the message along if you can.

FREE PROSTATE CANCER TESTS East Suffolk Prostate Cancer Support Group will be holding its fifth PSA test event for men between the ages of 45 (40 for men with a close relative who has prostate or breast cancer) and 75 at Greshams Sports and Social Club, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich, on April 27 between 6.30 and 8.30pm.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men but it can be successfully treated if detected in time. Eleven thousand men die every year in the UK because their prostate cancer was detected too late. If there is a history of prostate cancer or breast cancer in your direct family blood line there is an increased possibility of you getting prostate cancer.

A small blood sample will be taken from your arm by a trained phlebotomist. The sample will be analysed in an NHS laboratory and the urologist will write to you to explain your result and advise whether you should take any further action.

East Suffolk Prostate Cancer Support Group wishes to thank the Lions Club of Ipswich for their very generous donation to help support this event.

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NEWS WOODBRIDGE MAYOR’S MUSINGS

COUNCILLOR CAROLINE’S COLUMN

I had the pleasure of again visiting the New Horizon Club at St Mary’s Hall and presenting this year’s Potter’s Cup to its leader, Brenda Jackson.

The Potter Cup is given each year by Woodbridge Town Council to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the life of Woodbridge during the year. I hadn’t realised that this is the second time that Brenda has won the cup. New Horizons is obviously a very happy and well supported group and provides a valuable community service, bringing together elderly residents who might not otherwise get out and meet people. They also serve an excellent lunch.

Most of us like to drive and even those of us who don’t (me for example) would be foolish not to recognise that the car is absolutely invaluable to people, particularly those in rural areas. However, like many things the car is a good servant and a bad master.

I also attended the unveiling of a Woodbridge Society Blue Plaque at the office of Notcutts in Woodbridge to recognise the founding of this important local firm 120 years ago by Roger Crompton Notcutt. Notcutts has grown in that time and now has 18 blossoming garden centres across the UK. It was interesting to meet the family and see that they are still involved in the management and future development of the firm. I hope Notcutts continues to have a major presence in the heart of Woodbridge.

The garden centre is an important employer and a big attraction to locals and visitors to the town.

As a coincidence, an application came before the council’s planning committee from Notcutts to build a block of apartments at the rear of their site. This was a renewal submission as their previously approved application had time lapsed. Councillors were concerned with access to the site and the addition of balconies on a building that will be at the top of a hill and so have a significant impact on the area. On another planning application, the housing development at Woodbridge School, a site visit has been arranged for the district councillors who sit on their planning committee. The district council has final say on all planning applications.

I must now report failure with my Celebrate Woodbridge Summer 2017 programme of events. The number of events reported to WTC and Choose Woodbridge were too few to justify a publication. WTC will of course continue to promote any event organised in the town through our website and social media so please contact Shire Hall with details of things happening in the town.

Woodbridge on Show: Saturday, April 1 I have had more success with Woodbridge on Show – A Celebration of Local Voluntary Community Activity which is going ahead. This is being staged at Woodbridge Community Hall on Saturday, April 1, 9.30am-3pm.

This is a great opportunity to meet many local organisations to discuss what they do and hope you will want to become involved. So please come along and support this event as our many organisations and clubs are an important part in the health of Woodbridge and its residents. The WTC will have a table and you can talk to me and other councillors about the work we do, the responsibilities we have and the sites we manage.

Mayor Stephen Attwell, Woodbridge Town Council

If the petrol driven motor didn’t exist, the life of the Woodbridge county councillor (again, me) would be a whole lot easier. This is because so many of the concerns that reach me with have to do – in some way – with traffic and roads. In Woodbridge, we have problems with speeding, with parking and with potholes. We also have the problem of inappropriately sized vehicles trying to make their way along our narrow medieval streets and getting stuck, or actually hitting and damaging houses. St John’s Hill is particularly unfortunate. We have recognised for years the clash between parking, speeding and pedestrians in the Thoroughfare, and how difficult it is to enforce the current rules. It seems that everywhere in Woodbridge there’s a conflict between those wishing to cycle on the roads, walk along them, or cross them, and those who want to drive along them.

We live in an historic market town with a thriving retail centre. The larger part of it is within a conservation area. Woodbridge is a focus for visitors for shopping, walking, history and ambience, and to visit Sutton Hoo. There shouldn’t be any reason for traffic to drive through Woodbridge except to visit us and enjoy our facilities.

Yet for years, 40-50% of cars driving through the town are actually ‘through traffic’ that doesn’t stop anywhere in the town. This traffic is increasing yearly; changing trading patterns have brought more lorries on a daily basis along this route.

After years of complaints and concerns raised by residents, councillors and interested groups at all levels, I have taken the matter to Suffolk’s Speed Panel and have managed to agree 20mph zoning for Woodbridge to ensure that: • the historic centre of Woodbridge is calmed • heavy traffic is discouraged • (often elderly) residents and visitors have easier access between the heart of the town and the riverside area • children can walk and cycle safely to school It will also help solve longstanding and persistent problems of heavy traffic in the Thoroughfare and surrounding streets, such as St John’s Hill, and assist in dealing with continuing traffic-related air quality problems at Melton Hill.

This is only the beginning. Residents and users will be consulted about every road to make sure that the outcome is fit for purpose and suits the majority of people. It’s very exciting. Watch this space!

Caroline Page

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NEWS

Model patterns by Chris Jamieson

SINGING OF CRAFT AND CUBS AND KINGS

ARTIST TO DONATE PROCEEDS OF EXHIBITION TO REFUGEE CHARITY THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE – THE LIVES OF OTHERS An exhibition of new artwork by Susie Mendelsson, May 3-27 Frame Workshop and Gallery, 22 St Nicholas Street, Ipswich IP1 1T

Sae Wylfing, the 45ft Anglo-Saxon ship replica belonging to Woodbridge Riverside Trust, together with its supporting Ealdfeader re-enactors may soon take to the water near Woodbridge. Following this her next public outing will be at Snape Maltings at the King’s People event on April 9.

After a recent presentation by Woodbridge Riverside Trust, the Cubs of the 5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts enthusiastically tackled their construction of a ‘ship’. Not the actual 27 metres of the real Sutton Hoo ship, but a sizeable scale-model of the Sae Wylfing.

This was part of the trust’s heritage resource programme that is aimed at involving the community in appreciating the importance of our unique local history. Scissors and pencils were the tools being wielded on patterns provided by the trust.

There was a job for every Cub shipwright and their combined efforts were assembled into a model they can be proud of. Cub leader Jacquie Tricker called it a brilliant and inspiring session. Other local groups of young people might possibly like a similar opportunity to be educated and inspired?

Some of the Cubs will participate in The King’s River community musical production which will celebrate the approaching opening of the community space and Longshed formerly known as Whisstock’s Boatyard.

The first part of the performance in the Waterfront Square tells the story of King Raedwald’s funeral and part two stages Mrs Pretty’s Dream in the Riverside Theatre. The performance dates will be July 11-16.

Arts Council funding plus the generosity of SCDC, private and business sponsorship from Barretts of Woodbridge and the Whisstocks Development Project have enabled the trust to appoint an outstanding artistic team of superb professionals to create a truly spectacular theatrical experience for the performers and audience.

Auditions, workshops and rehearsals have been taking place to find young singers and dancers locally. For a preview of The King’s River cantata there will be a performance by Woodbridge Choral Society at Snape Maltings on April 9 at 6.30pm with 100 or more singers involved.

For further information about remaining opportunities for young King’s River performers please email: sammy.s@woodbridgeriversidetrust.org You can also find our more by visting the following online: The Kings River, Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge Waterfront, Woodbridge Riverside Trust, Woodbridge Choral Society and Snape Maltings..

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

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Susie Mendelsson was born in London to Jewish parents who both fled Germany because of the war. She has decided to donate the proceeds of her latest solo exhibition, There but for fortune, to Suffolk Refugee Support. Her exhibition of paintings and models of the human figure takes place at the Frame Workshop and Gallery, Ipswich from May 3-27.

As an artist Susie has always been intrigued by representations of the human figure and she is particularly drawn to the work of outsider artists.

Though the sources of her imagery are often autobiographical, her work communicates universal concerns and emotions. Despite herself, an element of humour often makes an appearance in her work.

Although she began as a painter, since moving to Woodbridge in 2010 Susie has worked exclusively in three-dimensions using paper, wood, wire and recycled materials. One phase of her work used coloured sugar wrappers to create large crowds of people in a variety of settings. More recently she has been collecting used and discarded dolls which she then dismembers and reassembles, placing them in new configurations.

“Most of the materials I use in my work have been discarded: unwanted dolls, magazines that have been read, items from second-hand shops, lost toys. These objects embody their own past and private history which has been abandoned by their owners. I then enhance and draw this past out by reconfiguration and distortion. Perhaps it is this act which allows me to take back control – something that I had very little of as a child.”

Rather than make a conscious effort to arrive at a particular end-product, the process has become more the focus of Susie’s work so the act of ‘play’ has become a priority. This seems to her to be a more valuable and honest way to work. Susie’s journey into the unknown ends up being an investigation into what makes us human.

The overarching theme of her latest solo exhibition is the idea that bad things only happen to ‘others’, never ‘us’. Yet we are all born under a single sky and these scenes from the lives of others could just as well be scenes from our own lives … “there but for fortune may go you or I.” Susie completed an MA in Art in 2001 and has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally. Recently she has exhibited in London in an Outsider Art group show and The Art of Caring at St Pancras Hospital.

You can see much of Susie’s work at: www.susiemendelsson.co.uk The Frame Workshop and Gallery is open Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm (Mondays opens 10am / Saturdays closes 4.30pm)

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY Woodbridge Library will be closed for Easter on Good Friday (April 14), Easter Sunday (April 16) and Easter Monday (April 17).

Saturday, April 1, 9am-5pm / Sunday, April 2, 10am-4pm: Sale of donated children’s books All proceeds go to the Friends of Woodbridge Library.

Saturday, April 1-Saturday, April 29: Display about Sae Wyfing See the developments leading towards the construction of the full-size replica of the ship that was buried at Sutton Hoo in AD 625.

April 1-30: ArtLib exhibition of work by Dick Dolan Wednesday, April 12, 2-3.30pm: Visit by Woodbridge & District Safer Neighbourhood Team Come along to the mobile police surgery and talk to members of the local Safer Neighbourhood Team about any concerns you have. They will also be happy to give advice on crime reduction.

Saturday, April 15, 9-11am: County Councillor Caroline Page holds her surgery Thursday, April 20, 7pm: Friends of Woodbridge Library (FOWL) AGM For anyone who is interested in becoming a Friend of Woodbridge Library. Find out how the Friends help the library with events, activities and fundraising. Caroline Page, County Councillor for Woodbridge, will be our guest speaker. For more information please either come along, email Kellie Dimmock at kellie.dimmock@suffolklibraries.co.uk or contact Woodbridge Library on 01394 446510.

Saturday, April 22, 10.15-11.45am: Talk on Effortless Decision Making by Mia Philips To book (£5), please email Mia at: mia.p@hotmail.co.uk Wednesday, April 26, 7pm: World Book Night Quiz (see page 16) Mondays, April 17 and 24, 11.15am-12.45pm: Mindfulness and Meditation Learn to relax and unwind, to combat stress, anxiety and worry through the practices of mindfulness and meditation. Sessions are run on a dropin basis. £10 per session. All very welcome.

Enquiries to: debrawoodbridge@gmail.com / 01394 450066 / www.harnessinghappiness.co.uk Booked Out The book and film review show hosted by Woodbridge Library staff is available on the Suffolk Libraries’ website and SoundCloud. This month we will be discussing comic books. If you’d like to get involved, come on the show and talk about a book or film you’ve borrowed, or have a suggestion for a future theme, please contact the library or leave a comment on our Facebook page.

Book Group Meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2pm. On April 6 we will be discussing One by Sarah Crossan. This group is led by a member of staff.

Please come along if you have read this title and would like to join in.

Woodbridge Novelists Meets fortnightly on Wednesday mornings. This is a reciprocal critiquing group for novel-writers who are working towards publication. For more details and contact information please visit: https://sites.google.com/ site/woodbridgenovelists/home Costa Coffee book sale Costa Coffee on The Thoroughfare now have a book shelf selling donated fiction. All titles are 50p and 100% of the money raised goes to support Woodbridge Library. Drink coffee and support your local library.

Friends of Woodbridge library goodies Show your support for your library by carrying a cotton shopping bag bearing the Friends logo. It’s only £3. There is also a bookmark for £1.

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Meeting room and display boards available for hire • Community, charity, private groups: £10 an hour (minimum two) • Commercial, statutory groups: £15 an hour (minimum two) • Display boards: £10 a week • Staffed table display in the main library: £10 a half day Free computer help and advice Contact the library to book a session or to find out more.

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

Citizens Advice Bureau: every Tuesday, 10am-noon.

Flagship: every Tuesday, 10am-noon.

Writers’ Workshop Meets once a month on Tuesdays at 5.30pm. Interested? Please email jeannie@butterwicks.com to open doors to creative writing.

Creative Writing for All Meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 2-4pm. For more details contact: jeannie@butterwicks.com Knitting Club Every Friday at 2pm. For all types of knitters, expert to beginner, come and share your knowledge or pick up some tips.

Drawing Group Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 10am. Each month this group explores a different aspect of drawing. No experience necessary but numbers are limited and this group is currently full. A voluntary contribution of £2 goes towards the Friends of Woodbridge Library.

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

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

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

Woodbridge Area Gamers Meets on the second Saturday of each month from 1-5pm in the library meeting room. This group plays modern strategy board games (Carcassonne, Powergrid, Caylus, 7 Wonders, Hey! That’s My Fish, Blokus and many more). For more information contact nigel@foden.me.uk / 07740 173091 or visit: www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/1150 ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Every Wednesday 10.30-10.50am: Bookstart Baby Bounce – soothing songs and gentle nursery rhymes for babies and their grown-ups.

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

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

Kid’s Club Craft Activities: Every Sunday, 10.30am-noon April 2: Bunny Pots April 9: Activity Sheet Fun April 16: Library closed for Easter Sunday April 23: Activity Sheet Fun April 30: Craft to be confirmed

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11

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE MUSEUM TALKS The speaker for the Friends of Woodbridge Museum talk in February was Jane Bradbury. She told a packed audience about the history of Woodbridge Old Cemetery. Utilising and extending land that had been used for the barracks burial ground at the beginning of the 19th century, the cemetery was used for about 100 years until the new cemetery was needed in the middle of the 20th century.

We heard about the concept and design of Victorian cemeteries, the area being divided into Anglican and ‘others’, about the collection of specimen trees and met some of the characters buried there. Everyone found it an informative and enjoyable talk.

FUTURE TALKS Friday, April 21: Simper’s Sitting on the Deben Friday, May 19: Woodbridge Tide Mill All talks take place in Woodbridge Community Hall at 2.30pm. Entry for Friends of the Museum is £2.50 and visitors £3.50. Enquiries to Anne Merrett: 01394 385572

HASKETON’S JAZZ BBQ Hasketon’s Jazz BBQ has been a popular fixture for some 20 years.

It continues, but now as a bring your own picnic following the retirement of Gordon and Molly Smith who have been the prime movers throughout.

This year’s Jazz Picnic with the six piece Mike Barry and the Uptown Gang band takes place on Sunday, June 25 at Shrubbery Farm, Hasketon from 12.30-4pm. Tickets are £12 from 01394 383106 or 01473 735 579. Drinks will be available to purchase.

DANCE FOLKUS More than 90 people attended the March dance at the new venue of Woodbridge Community Centre. They were treated to a great evening led by caller Jocelyn Armitage and Proper English played some lively dance tunes.

There was much more room to dance and there was plenty of parking nearby so access to the hall was easier. Tin River gave us a fine song spot and featured some good close harmony singing as well as well as accompanying themselves on melodeon, guitar and whistle. We will return to the community hall in May and the evening will feature a special dance spot by Pretty Grim, a Welsh Border Morris side based in Blaxhall.

Our next dance is on Friday, April 7, 7.30-10.30pm, at the more intimate Burness Parish Rooms in Melton. Our resident caller, Helen Howe, will be teaching the dances. Dance Folkus Come All Ye Band will be the live band. We welcome new instrumental players to join in (book in advance please).

DEBEN ROTARY GOLF DAY Deben Rotary are hosting a Charity Golf Day in association with St Audry’s Golf Club on Thursday, July 27. Teams of four will consist of two pairs playing Greensomes, competing for the Marie Hunt Shield plus individual and team prizes. Tee times will be 8am, noon and 4pm, and entry is £20 per player. All proceeds will go to Riding for the Disabled and local Rotary supported charities.

For further details please contact Rotarian Peter Rowbottom on 01473 626376 or visit: www.debenrotary.org.uk The Memory Cafe, run in conjunction with Woodbridge Rotary Club and Woodbridge Inner Wheel, continues to flourish and we were delighted to welcome some new visitors to our last session. As ever sufferers from all forms of memory loss and their carers are welcome at Woodbridge Football Club on the last Wednesday of every month from 10.30am-noon.

Refreshments are available and there is no charge. For further details of the Memory Cafe please contact Rotarian Martin Kenyon: 01394 386933

THE LIONS’ CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE & DISTRICT With the days lengthening we look forward to a busy summer programme. Highlights are: • Monday, May 1 when we will be assisting with car parking and litter picking at Woodbridge Horse Show • Woodbridge Regatta on Sunday, July 16 (note revised date) • Martlesham 10k, 5k and Fun Run on Sunday, October 8, for the first time included in the Suffolk County Athletics Association Suffolk Grand Prix, so we are anticipating a record number of participants While we continue to fundraise locally and offer support in the local community, there is a wider perspective to the Lions’ movement. The Lions’ Clubs International Foundation supports a number of projects worldwide addressing preventable and treatable blindness. Measles in childhood can result in blindness and the LCIF programme of vaccination against measles has passed the astonishing milestone of 65 million children now protected against this disease. Not sitting back, the programme is set to continue through the next few years.

For more about what we do and who we are, please call 0845 8332820 for a no-strings chat or visit www.woodbridgelions.org.uk

Jack Vaughan (Darsham Jack), a local singer with some great amusing songs, will be entertaining us in the song spot. Some people have likened his voice to the Norfolk folk singer Peter Bellamy.

We will not be able to accommodate everyone who attended the March dance so please book by email to ensure you get a place. There is at least a £1 discount for booking by email: Dancefolkus@aol.com (no advance payment needed). Tickets at the door are £5. For more information contact Rob: 01473 610951 Another local event well worth a visit is the Halesworth Foolish Day of Dance on April 1. It runs from 10am-4pm and features 15 dance sides performing throughout the town with a procession through the town at 11am. The day culminates with an open ceilidh (7pm start) at Chinny’s Sports Bar with Harbour Lights Band and caller Jill Parson. Tickets can be booked from Dance Folkus.

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OUT & ABOUT EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of, or a volunteer for, the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you.

We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave IP5 1JF at 7.15pm.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday, April 25 when Horry Parsons will be talking about the construction of the Millennium Tower at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, featuring the installation of the vaulted ceiling. Horry has appeared on national television as a building techniques expert and, as many will remember, is a very entertaining speaker. This promises to be an interesting talk.

On Tuesday, May 16 Anthony Cobbold will talk about one of Suffolk’s best known families, the Cobbolds, and their contribution to Suffolk life. Anthony founded the Cobbold Family Trust and will be delving into the family history which, as we will see, consists of more than beer and football.

Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome. The entrance fee is £3. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 per year (£12 per couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events.

For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

CHARITY GIN FUNDRAISER IS JUST THE TONIC Gin lovers of Suffolk will be treated to a special tutored masterclass organised to help raise valuable funds for a charity that supports deaf people.

Local award winning hearing care specialists, The Hearing Care Centre have teamed up with Suffolk’s own Gin Lord, an enthusiast and connoisseur of all things gin, to hold an evening of appreciation for this much loved spirit.

The event which is being hosted at the Shire Hall in Woodbridge, takes place on Thursday, April 27 and starts at 7pm. All proceeds from the event are being donated to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

During the evening, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy five of The Gin Lord’s favourite gins, paired with premium tonics and a selection of nibbles, ranging from smaller ‘craft’ distilleries to more well-known brands. A talk will accompany the tasting to help understand what gin actually is, its history, how’s it’s made and how to pick out key botanicals.

The Hearing Care Centre, which has 23 centres across Suffolk and Norfolk, is run by Managing Director Karen Finch. “It has been known for me to enjoy a gin and tonic or two at the weekends, but like so many of us, I’ve never really appreciated what goes into making these drinks,” said Karen. “We are very lucky to have the Gin Lord giving up his time to support such a wonderful cause and we hope that many of you will join us for a fantastic evening.”

The award winning company managed to raise more than £10,000 for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People last year, which was enough to sponsor a brand new Hearing Dog puppy.

Tickets for this event are £20, which includes all drinks and nibbles. There will also be a fantastic raffle. To book tickets call The Hearing Care Centre on 01473 230330 or visit: www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk/gin

WOODBRIDGE ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY Woodbridge Orchestral Society presents a programme of light classical music at Woodbridge Methodist Church on St John’s Street on Monday, April 3 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £6 including light refreshments and can be bought from Helen Lewis (01394 411232), Anne Stevenson (01394 385728) or at the door.

Proceeds for the work of the church.

RANSOMES AND RAPIER ANNUAL REUNION Sunday, April 2 at Kesgrave Social Club Ex-employees, families and friends of Ransomes and Rapier are welcomed from 12.30-5pm.

Come and see fascinating artefacts, documents and videos. Meet up with old friends at a really enjoyable event. See what new stories and pictures have surfaced.

Admission £2 with reasonably priced refreshments available to purchase.

For more information call Elizabeth: 01206 734581

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WE’RE BRINGING NEW IDEAS TO WOODBRIDGE! Integrated Ideas is delighted to now call Woodbridge our new home.

We moved just before Christmas, but since we’re such a busy hive of creative activity, it’s taken us a little while to unpack that final box!

For our team members who are new to Woodbridge, they are loving and embracing their new work-life balance.

From its unique boutique shops to the national high street retailers, along with the many local amenities, markets, and the beauty of the River Deben, we feel we are really part of something special.

Our move to Woodbridge has enabled us to be part of this great community, both socially and through business. Whilst we have national and international clients, we also pride ourselves on providing a fantastic local service; guiding clients through each project – from our first conversation to completion.

We’re passionate about what we do – our energetic approach means we like bringing ideas to the table, integrating your marketing and online solutions.

So, why not pop in for a coffee, or a stay little longer and we’ll stir up a few new ideas together?

Your local heating, plumbing & gas specialist.

We offer a wide range of services, including: • • • • • • • • •

Gas Boiler Installation, Service & Repair Oil Boiler Installation, Service & Repair Gas Safety Check & Landlord Certificates Full Bathroom Installation Full Heating Systems installed Pressurised Hot Water Systems Power Flushing All other Plumbing & Heating Services Renewable Energy (Biomass Boilers/Air Source/Heat Pumps)

01394 460187 | 07932 438155 info@jf-plumbing.co.uk | jasonfinbra@btinternet.com www.jf-plumbing.co.uk www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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OUT & ABOUT ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY At our March meeting a full hall heard an entrancing talk by Antony Penrose about his family and their friends.

His parents Roland Penrose and Lee Miller gathered an amazing circle of artistic greats around them including the Surrealist painter Max Ernst, the American art photographer Man Ray and Pablo Picasso, arguably the greatest 20th century artist.

Antony led us through their amazing stories intertwined with his father, a famous artist himself, and his mother, one-time fashion model, artist muse, photographer and war correspondent. It was a wonderful lecture full of great stories and incredible artistic talent.

On Wednesday, April 5, Doug Gillen will present a talk entitled Hidden Canvasses: Street Art and the City. Doug is a specialist on street art and will offer a real insight into this world.

So why not come along and enjoy good company and an interesting talk?

We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months.

Meetings begin at 2.05pm and last about an hour. Guests and nonmembers are welcome provided we have available space. Exceptionally popular lectures will have a guest/visitor limit of 20 so please contact Wendy Robbins in advance on 01394 823807 to check if there is available space.

For the latest events and news visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk

IPSWICH & DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB Every night television brings the suffering of the Syrian people right into our homes. Like most others we are left feeling helpless. One small thing we thought we could do was to find out about the Syrians who have been taken in by Ipswich.

Our March speaker, Abby Grace, is the co-ordinator of the local Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme. Our government’s response to the refugee crisis was to agree to take in 20,000 Syrians over five years, selected from those living in camps in neighbouring countries, not those already on the road. There had to be one family member with a particular vulnerability.

Ipswich has taken in 53 people in 11 families. All must spend several hours a week learning English. The children are soon chattering away. They are in local schools with special help provided by the programme. The adults are allowed to work from the start, unlike some other categories of refugees. A tailor and an interpreter already have jobs. A farmer is involved in the People’s Community Garden. Few women have worked outside the home, but some are discussing starting a business to do with food.

Syrian food is, said Abby, deliciously irresistible. She knows from the group’s weekly lunch! Otherwise her team gives intensive support for three months, less for the rest of the year and then assumes that people can be independent. They are allowed to stay for five years, when it is hoped they can safely return home.

This is obviously a well-funded scheme run by a committed team, hopefully with lifesaving outcomes for this group. But, against the background of the crisis we see daily, we still felt uneasy. There remain so many questions to answer.

Please call Jackie on 01473 659314 for more information about Soroptimism.

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WOODBRIDGE CAMERA CLUB Song titles competition Congratulations to Sarah Bynom for winning our song titles print competition with this image titled I’ve Got My Eye on You. Judge Phil Chatfield, whose comments on all 38 images presented to him were both constructive and entertaining, awarded second place to Sue Garrod for The Boat That I Row and third to Sheila Fitzpatrick for Shadow Dancing.

April 18: Granville Foulger Trophy competition hosted by East Ipswich Camera Club. The club have been invited to enter six prints and six PDIs. ​ pril 25: Photoshoot at Broadwings Birds of Prey Centre at Swann’s A Nursery, Eyke. They will be flying two birds for us to photograph, most likely a falcon and a Harris hawk, for about one hour starting at 7pm.

We’ll probably adjourn to a local hostelry afterwards. ​May 16: PDI competition Architecture. Judge Nigel Rea ARPS. Guests welcome (members £2, guests £5) at the meeting room in Woodbridge Quay Church at 7.30pm. For more information please visit: www.woodbridgecameraclub.co.uk

QUIZZING, READING AND A FUN EVENING Reading for pleasure is a globally recognised indicator in a huge range of social issues from poverty to mental health. That’s one of the reasons why Woodbridge Library works so hard to inspire more and more people – from the youngest children upwards – to read. At any one time about 10,000 books are out on loan from our library, in the homes and hands of many of the area’s 25,000 library users.

World Book Night is an international event to encourage people to share their love of reading and celebrate the difference that reading makes to people’s lives. It takes place in April each year. It’s similar to the very successful World Book Day for children that happens in March when many children dress up in the costume of their favourite book character.

This year Woodbridge Library is celebrating with a World Book Night Quiz on Wednesday, April 26. It’s a quiz with a difference, testing your knowledge of things like sport, food, film and television but with a bookish slant. The librarians have got together to create the questions and members of the Friends of Woodbridge Library will be running the evening. (The librarians are not allowed to enter a team!) Proceeds will go towards the work of the Friends. Their current aim is to equip the library with mobile shelving.

The quiz will start at 7.30pm, with the library doors opening half an hour beforehand to enable teams to get together, have a snack or a drink and prepare themselves for the evening ahead. Teams should be no more than six people. The entry fee is £3 per person and teams should bring their own refreshments. To book a table please phone the library (01394 446510) or call in. You will be asked to provide a team name (make it as memorable as possible) and some contact details.

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

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE ART CLUB Easter is nearly upon us once again which means the start of another summer exhibition at Woodbridge Art Club. We open on Good Friday, April 14 and then every weekend and bank holiday Monday till the end of September.

TREATS GALORE AT THE WOODBRIDGE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

Opening hours at the club gallery on Tide Mill Way are 10am-5pm when you can browse around a great variety of paintings and pottery.

There is also a selection of lace items and individual greetings cards, and if you are short of something to read there is a shelf of bargain books to choose from.

This summer the club is planning to run a Grand Painting Competition, just for fun and to help celebrate the opening of the new Whisstocks site which is right opposite the club.

We can’t tell you much about it at present as we are just beginning to toss ideas around but broadly speaking it will be open to anyone and everyone, from novice to addict and the theme will be Woodbridge and its surroundings.

There will be modest prizes and all entries will be exhibited. More details will be published when we’ve sorted it all out, so watch this space!

MELTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY We had an excellent, well attended talk from Ray Whitehand on March 1 on his journey into local history and the Wickham Area Archive Centre.

Our next event is on Wednesday, April 5 when we are very fortunate to have Paul Fincham coming to talk to us. Paul is a local historian and author whose books include the authoritative account of Suffolk’s history, The Suffolk We Live In. Paul is a long term resident of both Shinglestreet and Woodbridge and will be sharing his research on The Martello Towers with us by way of an illustrated talk.

Choose Woodbridge, Woodbridge’s business and tourism association, has announced the date for this year’s Easter Egg Trail in Elmhurst Park.

The Easter Egg Trail will take place on Saturday, April 15 from 10am to noon and thanks again to the sponsorship of East of England Co-Op and the support of The Cake Shop, there are 500 Easter eggs to give away along with an Easter biscuit.

Building on last year’s success, the event will take place across the whole of Elmhurst Park with children following a series of clues to complete the trail. There are two levels of difficulty, so children of all ages can take part.

There is no charge for the hunt, although the goodies will be handed out on a first come first served basis.

On Wednesday, May 3 we look forward to a fascinating talk by auctioneer Geoffrey Barfoot, the centre manager at Campsea Ashe Auction Centre, sharing with us his years of experience in auctioning Suffolk items and property in a talk titled The Auctioneer’s Lot.

As well as the trail, a refreshment stall is being run by the 1st Woodbridge Scout Group as part of their fundraising, so the adults can grab a coffee and bacon roll and support a local charity. There might also be a visit from Millie the Tide Mill Mouse (pictured)!

Both events will be held at Melton Chapel, The Street, Melton. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. As ever, all are welcome. Members free, visitors £3. For further details contact: mlhs.sec@aol.com

Geoff Holdcroft, Director of Choose Woodbridge, said: “We’re extremely grateful to the volunteers who help us to deliver the fantastic programme of events in Woodbridge, starting this year with the Easter Egg Hunt.

This is a popular even , bringing 300 or so families into the town and we run it as a free event to as a big thank you from the businesses to the local community. We are very pleased that the East Of England Co-op has sponsored the eggs and this, coupled with the support of The Cake Shop providing their biscuit treats, should put big smiles on the children’s faces.”

IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY Our last meeting was a very informative evening when Norman Emeny displayed a very large collection depicting Astronomy and Archaeology.

This varied from the people involved and the equipment used to the buildings that were built for the work. Norman presented material from many countries, covering Greek Gods to the most powerful telescope in the world today.

On April 5 we will be holding our annual auction were we sell stamps and philatelic material. There will be approximately 500 lots to bid for.

Viewing is on the evening from about 4pm, with the auction starting at 6.45pm sharp. Put the date in your diary if you would like to improve your collection or make a start in a new hobby. You don’t have to be a member to buy at the auction.

On April 19 Andy Soutar will present a display and talk entitled German Inflation Following the Great War. This will be very interesting as the cost of postage did not stay the same for very long during this traumatic period, at times only staying the same for a few days.

Christian Bone, Head of Member and Community Services at East of England Co-Op, added: “We’re really pleased to be once again supporting the Woodbridge Easter Egg Hunt. It’s a great opportunity for the local community to come together each year for a fun activity that all the family can enjoy.”

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

On May 3 Dane Garrod presents 10 Collections: 1 Collector.

Thursday, April 27: Waterfall Card (Emma)

Meetings are held at Cedarwood Primary School, Wilkinson Drive, Kesgrave, 7 for 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For further information contact Mike Smith: 01473 403904

There are always other projects available with assistance from the committee and other members. New members are always welcome. For more details contact Jill (01473 713534) or Emma (01787 373850).

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‘Little Willows is a bright, spacious, openplan nursery staffed with a team of highly-experienced and dedicated staff.

The purpose-built environment is designed to foster independence and creativity while gently introducing children to life at school.

Preparing children for full-time education is part of our ethos and because Little Willows is an integral part of a school, our nursery children are able to glimpse what ‘Big’ school is like. In addition to participating in routine school events from time to time, Little Willows children visit the school hall for their own weekly PE session, explore the school grounds during their woodland nursery session, rehearse and take part in a Christmas performance and go on their first school trip!

We cover all areas of the Early Years Foundation Curriculum, but it is the children’s own interests and questions that fuel our learning themes. We encourage each child to pursue their own lines of enquiry within structured activities, allowing the children to move naturally between the nursery and garden environments to take part in a daily dough-disco, share a snack with their friends and listen to the daily stories.

There is nothing the children love more than to show their parents their new found friends, learning and independence, so every term we invite parents along to join us for one of our Stay’n’Play sessions.

Stay’n’Play is an opportunity for parents to spend some time in the nursery playing and learning alongside their child.

If you and your child would like to experience what life at Little Willows Nursery is like, why not join us on one of our open days?’

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE INNER WHEEL SILLY SOCKS FOR BEAT! The week of February 27-March 5 was Eating Disorders Awareness Week and some of our members wore silly socks for a day for Beat, the charity which tackles myths and misunderstandings surrounding these serious mental illnesses.

Continuing the theme of mental health, members learned about Victorian workhouses and asylums in a talk given

by David Phelan (pictured left with club president Lesley Deas) at our March meeting.

David focused on St Audry’s at Melton, a workhouse built in 1764 to provide indoor relief for the poor of the parish.

APRIL SHOWERS SAY COME AND SHINE WITH U3A Time to forget about March winds as members of the University of the Third Age in East Suffolk are all set to go with the warmer spring sun. Light evenings mean more time to spend on outdoor hobbies with friends or to plan holidays abroad if you are in one of the U3A language groups.

But don’t forget the talks in our four campuses if you can make time from your U3A groups. As members have remarked to me recently, they wish there were more days in the week so that they can join more U3A activities, especially now that the committee are making plans to add new groups to the 2017/18 handbook.

Visitors as well as members are welcome to attend one of our talks before applying to become a full member. The campus coordinator or volunteers at each venue will be delighted to give further details of applying for membership on the day.

Kesgrave Community Centre at 2pm • Monday, April 24: The Sound of Science by Dr Stephen Ashworth, how we hear, the concept of resonance and how musical instruments work Saxmundham Market Hall at 2pm • Thursday, April 13: The Brave Men of Suffolk in the First World War by Dave Empson, their stories told through the medals they received.

• Thursday, May 11: Building the Tower of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, an account by the construction team leader Horry Parsons Felixstowe Salvation Army Hall at 10.30am

Despite appalling conditions, workhouses were better than living on the streets and families entered them voluntarily. Once inside, they were separated into men, women, boys and girls. There was basic medical care and children received three hours of education a day. When it was found to be losing money, St Audry’s closed in 1826. It was reopened in 1829 as an asylum for pauper lunatics.

Conditions inside were inhumane until 1832 when John Kirkman became its first medical officer. He believed in ‘moral treatment’, treating patients with kindness and healthy exercise outdoors to restore their sanity. In 1958 the development of the first psychiatric drugs meant people could be treated at home, and in 1993 St Audry’s was closed.

With increasing awareness of mental health issues, this was a most interesting and informative evening.

A vote of thanks was given by Anne Barratt.

SPEAK EASY AT MARTLESHAM You’ve been asked to give an important speech or presentation. Perhaps you’ve moved into a new job or taken on a voluntary role where you’re going to have to give a number of speeches or presentations. You want to do your best.

Let Speak Easy At Martlesham, your friendly neighbourhood speakers’ club, help you improve your public speaking in 2017.

Speak Easy is a Toastmasters International club (www.toastmasters.org).

TI has spent over 90 years devising and refining the best ways for us all to develop our public speaking. Improving your public speaking also boosts your confidence and puts you on the track to becoming a better leader.

Toastmasters recognise this. There are leadership projects and opportunities, as well as speaking projects, within its educational ’tracks’.

The tracks are all supported by books and other materials that guide and challenge you. It’s always up to you how far and how fast you progress.

We meet every Thursday fortnight at the Richards Room in Martlesham (alongside Felixstowe Road, behind Tesco). Our meetings are structured to include impromptu speaking, formal speaking and evaluation.

Evaluation is a vital part of how Toastmasters’ clubs operate. When you evaluate someone else speaking you not only help them, you also – through empathy and understanding – help your own speaking. It’s also a very cost effective way to learn!

For further details or queries, please call our VP Membership on 07968 372563 or select Contact Us from the main menu on our website: www.speak-easy.org.uk

• Thursday, April 6: A Year in the Life by Eve Regelous, looking back at a 25-year career as a theatrical agent • Thursday, May 4: The Greatest Show Not on Earth, from eclipses to distant black holes by Paul Whiting Woodbridge Community Hall at 2.30pm • Monday, April 3: Giles & Ipswich, the life of the famous cartoonist by John Field • No meeting planned for May Please put these dates in your diary and visitors please consider joining U3A this spring. If you are unable to attend one of our talks please visit www.u3aeastsuffolk.org.uk or call 03001 233913 for further details of what U3A in East Suffolk is all about.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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OUT & ABOUT 1ST RENDLESHAM SCOUT GROUP

WOODBRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET

BEAVERS – GUIDE DOG VISIT During a recent meeting the Beavers had a visit from some very special guests, Sylvia and threeyear-old golden retriever guide dog Yara, who spent the evening teaching the children all about their amazing work. The Beavers were a credit to the group, asking amazing questions, listening intently to all the information they were given and even enjoyed standing still for once pretending to be trees while Sylvia and Yara made a path round them to show how a guide dog helps its owner negotiate even the most difficult of environments.

Saturdays, April 8 and 22, 9am-12.30pm, at Woodbridge Community Hall

CUBS AND SCOUTS – NIGHT HIKE

SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST, WOODBRIDGE WILDLIFE GROUP

We have a friendly cafe selling hot and cold drinks, bacon and egg butties and home-made cakes. Our stalls have great local produce including pies, pasties, cakes and bakes, sweet and savoury treats, marmalade and preserves, juice, eggs, various meats and fruit and veg. Admission is free.

To receive our popular e-bulletin contact Cordelia at: woodbridgefarmersmarket@gmail.com

A special reserve near the Suffolk coast There will be a chance to find out more about the Sizewell Belts SSSI reserve and wider estate when reserve warden Dayne West gives a talk at Woodbridge Community Hall on Thursday, April 20 at 7.30pm.

The talk has been organised by Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Woodbridge Wildlife Group, and chairman Phil Smith said: “This reserve is a wonderful mix of grazing marsh intersected by dykes, with reed beds and wet woodland.

It is one of the best wetlands in East Anglia for wildflowers, with the wild flower meadows being maintained by cattle and sheep grazing. It’s going to be fascinating to hear more about the wildlife that can be found on the reserve and I hope that our talk will inspire our audience to visit the reserve, which is open all year round. This talk also acts as a ‘taster’ for a guided walk that our group are organising around the reserve in June.”

As the Beavers enjoyed themselves indoors the Cubs and Scouts were very much outdoors with their first night away of the year with a night hike on Sutton Heath.

Admission is £2.50 for adults, with children under 16 free. There will be a raffle and light refreshments during the evening. For further information please contact: 01473 625630 / swtwoodbridge@outlook.com

After meeting up at the Alan Crompton Hall and sorting out their kit, the Cubs and Scouts were split into groups, issued with their maps and compasses and set off into the night.

EVENTS AT FOXBURROW FARM

The Cubs had a slightly shorter route and were back to the hall at around midnight. The Scouts however took on a full eight mile hike and returned at around 2am tired but still in high spirits after a successful expedition.

Spring Safari, family morning Tuesday, April 4, 10.30am-12.30pm. Hunt for meadow mini-beasts and become animal detectives. Children £4, adults £2.

MEMBERSHIP We currently have spaces for Beavers (six-eight years) and Cubs (eight-10 years). Scouts (10-14 years) currently have a waiting list but we are always happy to hear from any child interested in joining any section of the troop. So please don’t hesitate to contact us via our website, on Facebook or via Acting Group Scout Leader Keith Gleen: 07944 297184 / info@rendleshamscouts.org.uk

Wild Art, family morning Wednesday, April 5, 10.30am-12.30pm. Make a journal and nature crafts.

Children £4, adults £2.

www.rendleshamscouts.org.uk

Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Melton near Woodbridge IP12 1NA

Wild in the Garden, activity day Friday, April 7, 10am-2pm. Build bug homes, sow seeds and find animals hiding in the shrubbery. Children £7.

Easter Eggstavaganza Tuesday, April 11, 10.30am-3.30pm. Easter trails, crafts and activities.

Children £4, adults £2.

Easter Eggstavaganza Wednesday, April 12, 10.30am-12.30pm. Easter trails, crafts and activities. Children £4, adults £2.

A YEAR AROUND THE NURSERY

By Susanna Davies of Katie’s Garden Monday, April 24 at 7.30pm St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL Light refreshments and a raffle. Admission £4 at the door The venue is fully accessible with adjacent free parking

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Young Wardens Thursday, April 13, 10.30am-3.30pm. Practical conservation for 10-16 year olds. Children £5.

Activity day for home educated children Tuesday, April 18, 10am-2pm. Children £7.

Wild Tots for under fives and their carers Wednesday, April 19, 10.30am-noon. Children £4, adults free.

Book online: www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org Telephone: 01473 890089

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO: • Make improvements to your home?

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Independent financial advice for Equity Release and lifetime mortgages.

Michael Hodgetts CeMAP CeRER T: 01473 730 999 E: mike@lighthouseplatinum.com 4 Constable Court, The Street, Belstead, Ipswich, IP8 3LY www.lighthouseplatinum.com

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To understand the features and risks of an Equity Release scheme please ask for a personalised illustration. Equity Release may not be right for everyone. It may affect your entitlement to state benefits and will reduce the value of your estate. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home or want your family to inherit it.

Lighthouse Platinum Wealth Management Ltd is an appointed representative of Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE FLOWER CLUB WOODBRIDGE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Tom Hart Dyke talks to us about his plant passions

The demonstrator for our March meeting was Ann Colby from Norwich, who chose the title All Good Things. Ann announced that her arrangements would have the theme of a trip down memory lane, with every design being based on a decade from 1950 to 2000.

We are proud to announce this fantastic opportunity as TV gardening presenter, plant hunter and horticulturalist Tom Hart Dyke explores his plant passions with us at our meeting on Thursday, April 13.

The intrepid plant hunter and creator of Lullingstone World Garden in Eyndsfod will talk to us about his boyhood and his love of orchids.

In 2000 Tom was on a plant hunting expedition in the Columbian jungle trekking through the Darien Gap with a companion, Paul Winder.

This dangerous area is home to warring guerrilla factions and it wasn’t long before the two were kidnapped and held captive for nine months. Their ordeal has been the subject of books and televisions programmes.

Tom regales his audiences with fantastic stories from his boyhood at Lullingstone Castle and his great passion for plants, particularly orchids, that led him into the Darien Gap. Tom’s eccentric enthusiasm is infectious and compelling in equal measure and his experiences entirely unique!

Tom’s World Garden at Lullingstone Castle was opened in 2002.

The garden, now world famous, won the prestigious British Guild of Travel Writers UK Tourism Award 2005.

Join us in Woodbridge Community Hall on Thursday, April 13 at 7.30pm, Tickets are £6 for members and £8 for non-members.

For tickets, please either call Linda Weeks (01473 737117) or send cheques to The Brambles, Manor Road, Clopton, Woodbridge IP13 6SH. On sale now – limited availability.

CALLING ALL GARDEN LOVERS 165 YEARS ALL OUT? Woodbridge Horticultural Society was established in 1852, but unless new members come forward to continue running it, this will be its last year.

Various suggestions have been made, such as changing its name to Woodbridge Garden Club, meeting during the daytime in winter, to have only a dozen events a year, including talks, visits and social events. All great ideas but it needs people to run it.

Here is an organisation with its own sound system, digital projector and screen, catering equipment, show vases, tables, et al. Most people on the present committee have done more than their time and are in their late 70s and 80s. We need those recently retired or even younger.

Her first arrangement formed the carriage for the coronation. We were told that at that time only eight in every 100 homes had a television and that there were no emissions between 5 and 7pm. While arranging the flowers, Ann spoke of her childhood memories and also gave us some historical facts.

For the swinging 60s Ann chose a modern arrangement using bright flowers, while for the 70s she made a design based on her favourite pair of platform shoes. Both arrangements used brightly coloured flowers with a variety of foliage.

The 80s were described as the era of new romantics and yuppies. Ann made an arrangement using a silver urn with conifer at the base and eucalyptus in the middle for height. She then added pink rosebuds, pink roses, carnations and alstromeria. Ann talked about cheaper travel in the 90s and some of her earlier holidays abroad.

Ann was thanked for an interesting talk. Members then had tea and coffee before Ann’s beautiful arrangements were raffled. Our next meeting will be on April 5 at Martlesham Village Hall. There will also be a competition for members, A Design for Easter, an arrangement with accessories.

SUMMER AT BRIGHT STARS If you are a baby, toddler or pre-schooler who would like a fun start to your week, we would love you to come along with your parents, grandparents, friends, family and/or carers to join us at Bright Stars. Creation and Easter were two of the themes we enjoyed learning more about last term along with singing, Bible stories, games and making crafts to take home. We are an informal and friendly group who meet at 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 play until approximately noon, while the adults enjoy a chat!

Why not come and visit us? You are welcome to just turn up on the day, but if you would like any further information please contact us on the numbers below. We look forward to welcoming you!

Can you help please?

Our session dates for the summer term 2017 are April 24, May 8 and 22, June 12 and 26 and July 10.

Contact me at 28 Christchurch Drive, Woodbridge IP12 4TJ 01394 382087 / ruth.e3.ingham@gmail.com

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

www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge

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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS WOODBRIDGE CRUISING CLUB

IPSWICH RAVENS VOLLEYBALL If you read last month’s report, you will know that February was a fantastic month for us and I used up all the superlatives I know, which is a great pity because March was even better. Our two teams at the monthly indoor six-a-side tournament, held as always at Maidenhall LC, both achieved their best ever placements with the First team finishing second in Division 1 and the second team overall winners in Division 2.

Both divisions were extremely close with exciting volleyball throughout, but we managed to win the key points at vital moments in our games to come out on top.

After all the years of waiting The Whisstock Project is nearing fruition and work will soon start in the ‘Long Shed’ on the construction of a full-size replica of the Anglo-Saxon burial ship discovered at Sutton Hoo. Paul Constantine, who will manage the project, explained to a capacity audience at a recent Sunday talk the enormity of the task and the detail involved in sourcing materials and methods which would have been used in building the original.

It promises to be more enthralling than any dark Scandinavian TV thriller and without the need for subtitles. But there is a Scandinavian connection and help has come from a Danish village where a similar venture has already been completed. Fortunately they made a video of the work which will be a valuable reference.

Extracts showed timbers being painstakingly cut and shaped with axes and joints bound up with twine rather than glued and screwed as we would do today. The building work is likely to take two-three years and there will be opportunities for the public not only to watch progress but also volunteer for some hard labour, in the interest of traditional integrity! The club donated £200 towards the project and it’s probable several members will want to get hands-on.

Earlier in the month Peter Willis gave a talk on the boats of Arthur Ransome which although much smaller and more recent nonetheless are classics of their time, the early 20th century, and of course feature in many of his books. He was clearly not a man to get stuck in a rut and he commissioned, built, sold and bought back several boats during the course of his life.

DIVISION 1 RESULTS Pool phase Ipswich II 23-25 Ipswich Ravens Ipswich Ravens 21-25 Diss Diss 16-25 Ipswich II Ravens qualified for top play-off pool on points difference Play-offs for top three places Ipswich I 25-22 Ipswich II Ipswich II 16-25 Ipswich Ravens Ipswich Ravens 23-25 Ipswich I Ravens placed second overall with one good win and a narrow defeat DIVISION 2 RESULTS Ipswich Ravens 21-19 Stingers Stow Aces 20-21 Ipswich Ravens Bury II 11-21 Ipswich Ravens Ipswich Ravens 16-21 Diss Asters Ravens were placed first having scored three wins out of four and having a points total one ahead of Diss Asters and Fil Suffolk Smashers But the best part of the month was still to come as we were delighted to find that no fewer than six new juniors came along to join the club.

We’re always delighted to take new players of any age and standard, but we are especially pleased to see that volleyball is growing in popularity with under-18s as they are at an ideal age to learn the game quickly and achieve their full potential in the sport.

At Ravens we are well equipped to help juniors to develop, with several qualified coaches who run sessions with a combination of training drills to introduce and improve new skills and friendly practice games to try them out.

Volleyball is a fast and exciting sport, it’s perfect to help build fitness, and being non-contact it is largely free from injuries. Word is gradually getting around and we couldn’t be more pleased.

Peter now spends much of his time restoring and maintaining the Nancy Blacket which was originally built in Pin Mill on the Orwell but was neglected and became derelict before being restored at great expense.

But the work is ongoing and having acquired the boat about 20 years ago the Nancy Blacket Trust is currently making a new mast.

Ravens meet at St Alban’s School in Rushmere on Saturdays from 2-4pm and Tuesdays from 7-9pm. If you are interested in joining us, call/text 07508 351875 or visit: www.ipswichravens.org.uk

The trust has now owned her for longer than Arthur Ransome ever did and she has become something of a local celebrity, posing for this year’s Harwich Harbourguide and adopted for promotions by Visit England. She has sailed to Holland and the West Country and you can be sure that as long as there are admirers prepared to spend money and time on her she will carry on sailing.

WATCHNIGHT SERVICE

John White, the Felixstowe Ferry Harbourmaster, spoke briefly to members to warn that the Deben Entrance is becoming blocked and it is probable that there will be a new channel into the river this year. It’s been threatening for some time and John is hoping to produce a new chartlet before Easter showing a channel across the shingle on the Bawdsey side.

Let’s hope we don’t have too many more storms like Doris as otherwise further shifting could occur. www.woodbridgecruisingclub.org

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So Holy Week is over, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday have happened and we wait as the friends of Jesus waited. We wait, feeling the loss that the early disciples felt and we wait as they did. The difference is that we know what happened sometime early in the morning on that first Easter Day. Come and wait with us and experience a profound silence punctuated very occasionally with some Taize chants and pithy, short readings.

We begin the ‘Watch’ at 9pm and we finish when the last person has left, whenever that may be. You are invited to drop in and out to suit your other plans that evening. We will be in St Michael’s Church, Woolverstone on Saturday, April 15 from 9pm. For more information email Jane Gould: jane.gould@btinternet.com

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ON THE GRAPEVINE JOIN EACH VOLUNTEER FRIENDS IN FELIXSTOWE AND WOODBRIDGE

QUESTIONS ON CASH With Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb Harold and Audrey from Woodbridge sent me a copy of their wills. They ask: “We have changed ownership of our house to common ownership so that we each own half our house and we have also made wills incorporating special trusts. As I understood it, this would save Inheritance Tax on half of the house, but a friend who has made similar plans tells me that my trust will not save tax. What do you think?”

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is appealing for more folk to join its Felixstowe and Woodbridge friends groups. The charity has 12 volunteer-led support networks across the region that get together on a regular basis to have fun whilst raising funds.

Cyril Nunn is an original Felixstowe friend, having supported the group since it formed five years ago, and helped EACH in Ipswich prior to that.

He said: “My granddaughter used to go to Copleston High School and EACH had a Halloween walk there.

“I said I’d take her round, then I got talking to a fundraiser, one thing led to another and before I knew it I was volunteering here, there and everywhere – I was hooked! I don’t mind doing it because when I was a child I spent nine months in hospital, so it’s my way of giving back.”

Cyril, whose wife Lesley is also a Felixstowe friend, says the group is proud to be raising thousands of pounds for EACH and that the key element is fun: “We’re doing a coffee morning in about a month’s time, a Halloween walk along the front in October and a craft fair in November, among other things.

“We’ve raised quite a bit of money here, about £6,000 or £7,000 last year. I enjoy it. It keeps me up and about. Why not come and join us?

Come and have some fun!”

EACH provides care for children with life-threatening conditions across the region, including 114 from The Treehouse, its hospice in Ipswich, and supports their families. For those accessing care and those who have been bereaved, the charity is a lifeline at an unimaginably difficult time.

Natasha Brame, EACH Suffolk Volunteer & Fundraising Coordinator, said: “We really value the support of our friends groups. They provide a vital link to the community and help raise the profile of EACH. “Their work ranges from arranging fundraising events to organising public collections in towns and supermarkets, placing and maintain collection boxes, and circulating leaflets and awareness posters. Of course, the more people involved, the more vital money we can raise and the more we can spread the word of our service.”

EACH encourages anyone interested in becoming a friends group member to attend an information evening from 5.30pm on Thursday, April 20 at The Treehouse. Guests will be able to learn more about EACH and the activities of its friends groups, have a chat with current friends and take a tour of the hospice. Anyone planning to attend is asked to let Natasha know: 01473 276196 / natasha.brame@each.org.uk Pictured above from left, Tracy Stephens, David Gould, Lesley Nunn, Cyril Nunn, Sue West, Natasha Brame and Peter West.

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Unfortunately, I think your friend is right. Severing the joint tenancy on your main residence and using this asset in conjunction with a trust in your wills can be an effective Inheritance Tax planning tool, but only with the right kind of trust. The trust should be a Discretionary Will Trust. With this type of trust, as the name implies, you give complete discretion to your trustees over who can benefit from the trust, and what assets can be placed in the trust after your death.

However, your wills contain a property trust. The trust wording in your will states that the asset to be used is “the half share of my residential property situated at….” This is a specified asset.

Also, the beneficiary is named as “my wife Audrey Smith…”

This is a specified beneficiary. This makes the trust specific as opposed to discretionary. Also, when the will specifies that your spouse is to be granted the right to occupy the house for the remainder of her lifetime, this creates a life interest or interest in possession, which means that the trust assets would form part of the estate of the life tenant (your wife) for Inheritance Tax purposes.

Only a Discretionary Will Trust can be used to save Inheritance Tax. For this to be effective, it must be correctly drafted, and if residential property is to be a trust asset, the trusts should include an IOU or debt charge clause. The trustees must also be seen to exercise their discretion in the management of the trust, and should never grant an exclusive life interest to a surviving spouse to the exclusion of any other discretionary beneficiaries.

To ensure that your wills and trusts are correctly prepared, take professional advice. Appointing a professional executor or trustee can also help to ensure that your trustees are correctly advised and the trust is correctly managed after your death. If you get it wrong now, it could cost your children thousands of pounds later.

Nick Plumb is an independent financial adviser and practice principal at Plumb Financial Services of Baylham in Suffolk. The information within this column is provided only as a general guide and does not constitute personal financial advice. If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary meeting to talk over your options for your own investments, pensions or general financial planning you can contact Nick at nick@ plumbfs.co.uk or by calling the office on 01473 830301. Plumb Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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