In Touch
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with Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone Volume 9 • Issue No. 10 • SepTember 2019
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I’ve just been home to see my family in Ireland and to spend some time on the farm with mum and dad. We had an influx of cousins which, despite the constant cooking, was a lot of fun. It was lovely to see all our children playing together, with the occasional squabble as I suspect there might have been when we were young. Back then, my cousin Eilish and I spent many long summers torturing my older brother with water balloons and nettles (don’t ask!). We even carved his name and the name of a certain girl on a roadside tree for all to see. Needless to say that didn’t go down very well, with either of them! Things have changed a lot since then and what struck me most this time was how quiet everywhere seemed to be. Our local town used to be a thriving metropolis (at least in my mind) but now it’s a bit downtrodden with a few too many boarded-up shops. A number of big employers have either closed down or moved elsewhere in recent years and where jobs go, people are forced to follow, in many cases moving abroad to Australia and Canada. I don’t know exactly when things started to slide so badly, but I’ve returned to Suffolk with renewed determination to support local producers, local manufacturers, local shops and bars and restaurants and local events. Without our support they simply can’t survive and thrive and ultimately we all lose out. We are forced to travel further to shop, we struggle to find employment close to home, our children leave to find jobs elsewhere and, as in my home town, a general lack of ‘vitality’ sets in which may be difficult to overcome. We may not know what the future holds, but we all have spending power and how and where we choose to spend our money will impact the local economy. Every penny we spend locally is an investment in our community, in our children’s future, in the look and feel of our towns and villages… I know I’d rather spend time in a bustling town or village with a mix of shops and cafes and restaurants, where activities are well attended, where people are confident about the future and where ‘community’, the natural outcome when residents and neighbours enjoy where they live, is strong. It’s in our hands to make it so and I’m proud to edit a series of magazines which celebrate community and enable local employers to share their wares. I also believe it’s important to know what’s happening in our local communities, to keep abreast of local developments and to know what’s what and who’s who. So make a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy.
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins T: 01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
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In Touch Titles • Stowmarket & Stowupland • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew • Melton & Woodbridge • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall & Warren Heath • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit • Needham Market & The Creetings • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton & Woolverstone • Martlesham • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin & Witnesham • Sproughton & Burstall We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe
Tue 10 September is the advertising and editorial deadline for the October edition
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NEWS AN EVENING WITH ROY TRICKER Friends of All Saints invite you to An Evening with Roy Tricker on Saturday 7 September at 7.30pm. Roy believes that the love of churches is absorbing and infectious for people of all religions, and of none, and that every old church is interesting because of it’s unique character. Roy will talk about the history of All Saints Church on what is sure to be an interesting and entertaining evening. Tickets are £8 with wine and cheese, cash bar and a raffle. We will be drawing a special raffle to go towards refurbishing the church loo. Book ahead on 01473 328814 / 328940 / 327379 or at the door
Common Ground Theatre Company are presenting A Sidecar Named Despair, a farce by Pat Whymark and Julian Harries, at Harkstead Village Hall on Friday 13 September at 7.30pm. Take a ride up the comedy freeway with a tale of mobsters, missing gems and a mashed-up motorbike. Dick’s quiet suburban life is shattered when his brother Julian returns suddenly from The States for ‘health’ reasons. But his shady American ‘associates’ have unfinished business with him, putting both their health at risk. Their dad’s old bike and sidecar, which Dick has been doing up, might come in handy as their getaway vehicle! A black comedy with original music by Pat Whymark and Julian Harries and starring Julian and Dick Mainwaring – reprising the characters they created for Common Ground’s 2013 comedy, Stuff In The Attic. Tickets £10/£7 from: 07807 341364 / www.commongroundtc.co.uk
SHOTLEY PIER UPDATE
We love hearing about history around the pier, and this super photo created a stir when we saw it. This was taken on 22 April 1916 and shows seaplane tests in Harwich Haven area from Shotley side. Submarine E22 was being used in training exercises with Sopwith Schneiders being loaded after flying around the bay. You can see Landguard Fort in the background. Sadly, Submarine E22 was lost in action the following week in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth. If you have any interesting photos of the pier or of activity in the bay, do send to us at shotleypier@gmail.com as we can share them in our newsletters and we intend to have photos on display when we eventually get a visitor centre Our fundraising coffee mornings continue to please, with a tea or coffee and homemade cake for only £5 per person. We are so grateful to Mandy and Dougie at the Red Lion, Main Road, Chelmondiston for their ongoing huge support as they don’t charge us to hold the event and so every penny collected is a contribution to pier funds. It’s a great opportunity to showcase local artists, and also for a catch-up with pier news. The next coffee morning dates are September 4 and October 2, 10.30amnoon at the Michelin-listed Red Lion, Main Road, Chelmondiston IP9 1DX.
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NEWS BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JANE GOULD Orwell Ward: Belstead, Chelmondiston, Freston, Tattingstone, Wherstead and Woolverstone Thank you for the warm welcome that I have received at parish council meetings throughout the Orwell Ward. The Babergh and Mid-Suffolk Draft Joint Local Plan is now out for consultation. This will affect the future of all our villages. You have until September 30 to comment via the Babergh website or at one of the drop-in events being held throughout Babergh and Mid-Suffolk, including one at Shotley Village Hall on September 18 from 3-7pm. On the environmental front, September sees the annual Great British Beach Clean organised by the Marine Conservation Society. If you want to get involved, visit www.mcsuk.org and click on ‘beach cleans’ to find a beach near you.
Since the launch of our Family Activities and Walks leaflet in July we are seeing increased numbers of people enjoying what the peninsula has to offer. For the first time we have listed all of the public play areas along with a brief summary of the equipment available, from the five-a side pitch and basketball court at Shotley to the zip wires at Brantham and Chelmondiston. Our thanks go to our funding supporters who contributed to the costs – Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB team, Councillor David Wood for Suffolk County Council and Babergh District Council Communities team. Thanks also to District Councillor Derek Davis for his help promoting our good work within the community. If you have any family members who have done the Shotley walks, download the certificate from our website; it’s a great way to recognise the achievement. If you haven’t got a leaflet, pick one up for free from many of the places on the peninsula, or download from our website. Coming soon is a new bench that we are purchasing and installing in the grass verge at the top of Bristol Hill, Shotley Gate. Having seen people standing around for the bus, or needing a rest after walking up Bristol Hill (who says Suffolk is flat?), we would like to thank Suffolk County Councillor David Wood for contributing to the cost from his locality budget. Thanks to money raised from last year’s SOS Calendar sales we are able to provide this helpful facility for our residents and visitors. It’s great to see such positive support for what we are doing within the community. As we move from summer into autumn, out of the nesting season, we are able to pick up the pace on pathway maintenance for the popular circular walks around the village. Keep your eyes peeled for our volunteers in their hi-vis vests; we do try to stay safe and be visible while we work. Look out for our Facebook posts about where we are next working. It would be great to see some new faces join us, if only for a coffee and a chat. Finally, our stunning 2020 wall calendar will soon be for sale. Yet again Marian Pugh has done a first class job in putting together the calendar from the many photographs sent in for consideration. The theme is Around and About Shotley, and really does showcase the lovely area in which we live. Every pound of profit made goes back into our community through the work that we do, so please support us by purchasing one or more. If you have any queries about the work of Shotley Open Spaces contact Geraint Pugh (g.pugh1@btinternet.com), Gary Richens (gary.richens.583@btinternet.com) or Tony Lawford-Randall (keyworker@hotmail.co.uk). Report by Gary Richens
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HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY Changes to GPs Dr Jane Midforth will sadly be retiring at the end of September after working at the practice for more than 22 years. She has been our senior partner for the last six months and will be missed by staff and patients alike. We wish her a very happy and healthy retirement! Dr Felicity Bezant will be joining us from October 1 and has a wealth of experience to bring to the practice. She will be working two mornings at Holbrook and one afternoon at Shotley, as well as visiting the Royal Hospital School. GP and Staff Training Afternoons Our next training afternoon will be on Wednesday 11 September. The practice will be open for patients to come in to collect/drop off prescriptions and book appointments or make enquiries at reception. However, there will be no clinical staff on site and our telephone lines will be switched over to the out of hours’ service on these afternoons to allow for staff training. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999. Building Work Update Those of you who have been to Shotley since July 15 will be aware that building work has started. The initial work will involve reutilisation of the loft area to provide a conference room and two offices upstairs. Office space downstairs will be converted to clinical rooms and we will have other upgrades to the building including automatic doors, replacement windows, CCTV and some air conditioning. We are working with the builders to keep noise and disruption to a minimum but some element of this is inevitable, for which we apologise. Flu Days We have been notified that our vaccines have been delayed again this year and we have now tentatively set dates for our flu days. Due to the staggered delivery dates from the suppliers, these are: • Thursday 26 September, 2-6.30pm at Shotley (over 65s only) • Wednesday 2 October, 2-6.30pm at Holbrook (over 65s only) • Tuesday 15 October, 2-6.30pm at Holbrook (over 65s and at risk patients) • Thursday 24 October, 2-6.30pm at Shotley (over 65s and at risk patients) Please book these dates into your diary and we will keep you updated over any possible changes. Self-referral for Physio and Podiatry Did you know that you can save time by self-referring to these services? There’s no need to wait to see the doctor and you can discuss your symptoms and concerns directly with the service so they can more effectively triage you. The two services will assess your problem and be able to directly refer for further care if needed. The link for physio is https://ahpsuffolk.co.uk and for podiatry it’s https://podiatryreferrals.co.uk Practice Manager Julia Smith
Shotley Rose, every Tuesday from 11.30am-1pm Do you feel like the weekend has dragged? Are you fed up with your own company or new to the area? Come along and enjoy a free cuppa and some friendly chat. #dontbeonyourown Meet Up Mondays Suffolk @meetupmondaysSu www.meetupmondays.org.uk
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NEWS BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR DEREK DAVIS Ganges Ward: Shotley & Erwarton As part of our collective responsibility to do its bit for the environment, Babergh is looking to introduce a Trees for Life project. This will involve parents of every child born within the district being given a free tree sapling to plant as a gift to their baby. This is part of our endeavours to make Babergh carbon neutral by 2030, as outlined in the Climate Policy passed at our full council meeting in July. You can find that on YouTube, along with all the other meetings, including planning committee and cabinet meeting, which are now live streamed for even greater transparency. Look out for more details on the Trees for Life project once it is finalised. Bin Collections I would like to thank all our residents for their patience and flexibility during the initial stages of our changes to the waste collection days. It’s fair to say that, although the vast majority of bins were collected as planned on the new days (Tuesday or Thursday in Shotley, Wednesday in Erwarton) not everything went to plan. On behalf of Babergh, I apologise to anyone inconvenienced or disrupted due to these teething problems. I took many calls and emails on this and understand your frustrations, but also appreciate your understanding as we dealt with reports of missed bins. I would also add my thanks to the crews who worked in incredibly hot temperatures and difficult conditions to complete their routes and rectify any issues. The date changes are due to a large increase in new homes in the districts and the need to redesign routes. Consultations Having your say is an important part of local democracy and to that end I would urge you to take a look at the consultation documents for both our Joint Local Plan and the Northern Bypass proposals, and to add your views. You can find both on the Babergh website. Council Responsibilities One of the more confusing aspects for residents is knowing exactly which council is responsible for what. For example, Babergh is responsible for dealing with all planning applications, waste collection, council housing, collecting council tax and business rates, and many aspects of community grant funding, health and well-being and safeguarding issues. Suffolk County Council has a broader remit, and this includes education, social care, social services, trading standards and, importantly, highway matters. This includes traffic management, pot holes, road markings, signage and setting speed limits on our rural roads. Parish councils are the third tier of local government and while it has very limited powers and responsibilities, it can be a good place to start and in Shotley it is responsible for the public toilets, some open green spaces and the two play areas. If you have an issue you would like to discuss, please contact me at: derek.davis@babergh.gov.uk / 07824 167196
BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR MARY MCLAREN Stour Ward: Harkstead, Holbrook & Stutton How quickly the weeks go by and I hope that whether you had a staycation or an exotic location holiday that you are feeling refreshed and ready to start the autumn with enthusiasm. The last meeting of Babergh District Council was on July 23 and the following decision is important for all of us. Babergh District Council support for 2030 Carbon Neutral Ambitions At the full council meeting BDC pledged to set up a task force in September in partnership with other public sector partners, taking a step forward in becoming carbon neutral by 2030. BDC and MSDC have recognised there is a climate emergency, building on their work as part of the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership which is already aiming to reduce the environmental impacts of our services and encourage local businesses to show case their green projects. In Stour Ward our countryside is so important to all our villages that every effort by the council, parish councils and each individual needs to be made to ensure we have a legacy of ‘a green and pleasant land’ to pass on to future generations. The New Academic Year Across our villages, many of our young people are taking the next step in their life journey and each step is as important as the others. Starting school for the first time through to going to university or a new job is exciting, but scary for parents as well as the young people. So we wish them all well as they move forward and tackle the new challenges that lie ahead. I visited Holbrook Primary School just before the holidays and met some very impressive Year Six students hosting a tea party for school volunteers. I hope to contact schools and youth groups in Stour Ward in the near future to introduce myself and to help me understand the practical difficulties rather than the academic ones that face teachers and families outside of education. Joint Local Plan I hope you have had a chance to look at the Joint Local Plan online or seen a hard copy (parish councils have a hard copy). There is still time to have your say; the closing date is September 30: www.babergh.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/new-joint-local-plan Mary.McLaren@babergh.gov.uk
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH The wave of support that our family have received for Louise during her latest brush with cancer has been incredible.
numerous welcome visitors offering friendship and support during her recovery.
First £1,000 was quickly raised to give Louise a top-notch pair of crutches which have eliminated a lot of nerve pain and discomfort caused by the NHS crutches. An astonishing £17,000 for a specialist wheelchair has been raised mostly by friends, neighbours and generous strangers from across the peninsula. You’ll soon see her whizzing around on it; it’s a life enhancing piece of kit.
So many of you have helped in so many different ways; we can’t thank everyone personally but we are wholeheartedly grateful to each one of you. A special thank you must be given to Jacqui Martin who has dedicated so much of her time and skills to the fundraising effort, as well as being a total rock. Also thank you Michael Elvis at The Baker’s Arms for your enduring fundraising efforts and moral support.
The excess funds will go towards a wheelchair hoist for the car and any further equipment costs. Our dogs have been cared for, we’ve been given food, events have been held and Louise has had
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What an amazing community! Thank you from The Harwards
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OUT & ABOUT CHELMONDISTON PARISH COUNCIL
SHOTLEY VILLAGE HALL
Notes from meeting held on July 2 The Planning Committee met on June 18 and supported the Reserved Matters of the Woodlands Development. During the next few weeks, Anglia Water will be installing a new mains pipe to the residents of Pin Mill. This will require them to excavate areas of the common and the road. They assure us that any inconvenience will be kept to a minimum and they will fully restore the common once they have finished their work. Further discussions are still taking place in relation to a bus shelter at the Red Lion Pub. The Community Payback team will be working in the parish on a permanent basis one day per month, starting from the end of September The parish council is researching options to reduce speed within the parish. A parishioner requested that parish council declare a climate and wildlife emergency. The council will discuss this topic at the meeting in August. The next parish meetings will be on Tuesdays, September 3 and October 1. All members of the public are welcomed.
Our next auction is on Saturday 14 September. Lots cost £1 to enter and must be booked with Jim Catling – 01473 788499 / jimcatling@icloud.com – or Norman Bugg – 01473 787358. Lots can be delivered to the hall between 10am and 6pm on Thursday 12 September (other times by arrangement). Viewing takes place on Friday 13 September from 10am to 6pm, when programmes can be purchased, paddles booked and bids left. Doors open at 8.30am on Saturday 14 September for extra viewing and refreshments can be obtained. The auction begins at 9.30am. Flower and Vegetable Show Our 41st Flower and Vegetable Show takes place in the village hall on Saturday 7 September. Entries are 20p per exhibit and must be in the hall by 10.30am on the day. Entry schedules are available from Norman Bugg: 01473 787358
HOLBROOK PARISH COUNCIL Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils Joint Local Plan Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have requested that we share details with our residents of the Joint Local Plan. The plan will relate to the area covered by Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council and will set out planning policies for the two districts up to 2036. It will identify the amount of development required and allocate sites for development. To view the consultation and the Joint Local Plan Preferred Options Document (July 2019), visit: www.babergh.gov.uk/jointlocalplan The consultation period ends on 30 September 2019. Anglian Water Planned Mains Water Work Anglian Water kindly attended the August parish council meeting, providing details on the planned works and taking questions from residents. They will be working with the parish council to be involved with community activities during the time they are working in Holbrook, for example community cleanups and tree planting. Councillor Vacancy The parish council currently has one vacancy; in particular there is a need for representation from Lower Holbrook. If you are interested in applying, please contact the clerk for further information. Full minutes of all meetings are available online or by contacting the clerk: holbrookparishclerk@outlook.com / 07999 583017 ST MARY’S CHURCH, SHOTLEY Future meetings: September 16, October 21 and November 18
BINGO & RAFFLE
www.holbrook.suffolk.cloud
STOUR VALLEY ARTS & MUSIC CONCERT SERIES 2019-2020 Sunday 20 October, 4pm: Aurora Ensemble Wind Quintet St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt / £15 The Aurora Ensemble, a traditional wind quintet which also expands to work with piano and strings, as well as exploring the repertoire for wind octet, was formed in 1996. All members have worked regularly with some of the country’s leading orchestras and chamber ensembles. They are prize-winners at the European Chamber Music Competition and have broadcast for BBC Radio 3 as well as having performed at numerous festivals and at venues such as the Purcell Room and the Wigmore Hall. Tickets: svamtickets@btinternet.com / 01206 298426 / www.svam.org.uk The season continues with: Sunday 10 November, 4pm: Trio con Brio Copenhagen, St Mary’s Church. East Bergholt Sunday 24 Nov, 5pm: Talk by William Clegg QC, author of Under the Wig, Assembly Rooms, Dedham Sun 26 January, 4pm: Jamal Aliyev Cello & Maria Tarasewicz Piano, Constable Hall, East Bergholt
ST MARY’S CHURCH, SHOTLEY SATURDAY 10th AUGUST Starting: forDRAW 7.30pm BINGO &7pm GRAND Shotley Village Hall Saturday 7 September, 7 for 7.30pm Shotley Village Hall EVERYONE WELCOME
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Sunday 9 Febreuary, 4pm: Young Musicians Concert, Constable Hall, East Bergholt Sunday 8 March, 4pm: Carducci Quartet, St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Sunday 29 March, 4pm: Kammerphilharmonie Europa, St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt For more details visit www.svam.org.uk or collect a leaflet from Grier & Partners, East Bergholt.
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OUT & ABOUT POETRY WORKSHOP Do you like poetry? Do you write poetry? A 10-week poetry workshop will begin on September 11 in St Andrew’s Church Room, Chelmondiston. Running from 7-9pm, it’s just £3 per session. Reserve a place by emailing re.verse@icloud.com or register on the night. Bring paper and a pen!
WOOLVERSTONE PUNCH & PIE CHRISTMAS FAIR Saturday 30 November, 10am-3.30pm Christmas themed table tops and festive food and drinks in Berner’s Hall, Main Road, Woolverstone All are invited by the Friends of Woolverstone. Meet friends old and new, enjoy the festivities and shop for Christmas gifts. Stallholders will be selling silver jewellery, cosmetics, woodcraft, Oriental hand-bags, purses and ornaments, Christmas cards and paintings.
Suffolk Libraries and Barker Gotelee Solicitors will be hosting an informal drop-in session with tea or coffee and cakes on Monday 7 October from 1.30pm onwards at the Suffolk Libraries Local at Shotley Village Hall (which opens from 1-5pm). Come along to discuss any legal matters such as wills, power of attorney or care fees issues, and to find out more about your local library and what exciting events and information are available. The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome. For more information or enquiries please contact Kellie Dimmock, Information for Living Librarian: 07783 162808 / kellie.dimmock@suffolklibraries.co.uk www.suffolklibraries.co.uk
Parking in hall car park with overflow parking nearby. If you would like to book a table please contact Elspeth: ciskander@aol.com / 01473 780751
THEATRE TRIPS THE EASY WAY The next theatre trip from the peninsula is on Monday 4 November to see The Book of Mormon in the West End. Coach and theatre will be £65. We’ll be seeing an evening performance, 7.30pm and leaving the peninsula at around 1.30pm so there will be some free time in London. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who came on the last theatre trip because I was able to give £714 to Blind Veteran’s UK, for which they are really grateful. Any profit from this next trip will also go to the same charity. Please let me know if you would like to reserve tickets and I will get back to you when payment is needed: jane.gould@btinternet.com / 01473 780777
PEN PIX
Jane Gould
I usually try to make my articles jokey, but the film being shown by Peninsular Pix in September is Green Book and it’s a bit inappropriate to make fun of a movie about racism. Mahershala Ali plays Don Shirley, an African-American jazz musician being driven around the deep south of the USA by Viggo Mortensen’s character, Tony Vallelonga. Vallelonga is an ex-nightclub bouncer and a racist.
SHOTLEY WHIST DRIVE Our next whist drives are on Thursday 5 and 19 September, and Thursday 3 October, all 1.50-4pm. We meet in the village hall. Everyone is welcome. For information or lifts, contact Norman and Eileen: 01473 787358
HOLBROOK TODDLERS & BABY GROUP Holbrook Toddler Group runs every Thursday morning from 9-11.30am at Holbrook Village hall. We have a lovely, friendly and welcoming group and always enjoy meeting new families. We offer a free taster session for your first visit.
It’s the photo-negative of the film Driving Miss Daisy. The actual Green Book contains a list of those restaurants and hotels in the South which will accommodate black people. There’s a lot of warmth in the film as the two characters – Don, an emotionally rigid snob, and Tony, initially a racist and ignorant – get to know and like each other, and in doing so knock the edges off their individual flaws. This is a real-life story. There are dramatic moments when the KKK try to assert their belief in their superiority over an African-American, and also when Don Shirley insists on using the bathrooms set aside for Only-White-Folks. The dialogue between the two men while in their car almost matches the brilliant exchanges between the chairman of Pen Pix and his vice when they take turns to drive each other to Seckford Golf Course twice a week! We hope to see you on September 5 at Tattingstone Village Hall for our 8pm screening. This is our annual memorial evening for Peter Ward, and the film was chosen by his wife, Janet.
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We have had great fun exploring sensory activities this term. This included the children getting intertwined with rainbow coloured spaghetti and seeing if they could find the gruesome creepy crawlies! We also used dumper trucks to transport ice cubes, enabling role play and using our amazing sensory skills to feel the ice melting. We love encouraging the children to get as messy as possible within our setting, including digging in a big tray of soil and making our own plants, as we know it’s not as easy at home! In some really exciting news, we were given a grant by Suffolk County Council to update our toys and equipment. Smyths toy superstore very kindly donated some new equipment as a goodwill gesture. This means we will have updated our vehicles (including an amazing dumper truck), our role play area, baby area and much more for the new academic year. On September 26 we have a Macmillan Coffee Morning planned and would like to welcome all, with or without children, to enjoy yummy homemade cakes and hot drinks to raise money for a great cause. Our sessions are £2.50 per family, including a generous healthy snack and unlimited hot drinks for mums, dads and carers. We look forward to welcoming you!
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OUT & ABOUT SHOTLEY & ERWARTON WI The highlight of July was without doubt our garden party, held in Jo Lee’s beautiful garden. One of our members came up with the idea of wearing hats so there we were, dressed up in our finery eating a cream tea and drinking out of china teacups. For last month’s meeting we went on an outing. After some delicious tea and cakes we were shown around Sycamore Farm Sleep Studio where we thoroughly tested the mattresses, duvets and pillows. Bob Wilden, the owner, discovered that sheep fleece could be made into a bedding range with natural fibres including alpaca and cotton and has never looked back. After waking some of our members up, we returned home having spent a very enjoyable evening. Be sure to join us at Shotley Village Hall on September 27 from 10am-noon when we be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support by serving drinks and delicious cakes for only £3. Our next meeting will be on September 18 in Shotley Village Hall at 7.15pm. Our speaker will be Antonia Hockton talking about stone carving and restoration. We are always looking for new members so if you think our WI might be just the thing for you, give us a try. Come as a guest, with no commitment to join that night and we will give you a warm welcome. For more information contact Jo Lee: 01473 787311
1st HOLBROOK SCOUT GROUP A lot has happened since our last report in July, the obvious one being the name change. By the time you read this, our group name will have changed from 1st Samford Valley to 1st Holbrook. This is to reflect where we are in the county; you won’t find Samford Valley on any maps. The reason for that is that it is actually underneath the water at Alton Water reservoir! New shoulder flashes are being made as we speak to reflect the new name and fresh start. Our executive committee is busy sorting out the changes in the background so we are ready for the relaunch when the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts return for the next term in September. The Beavers have relocated to Stutton school from September; the times will remain the same, 5.15-6.30pm on Wednesday evenings to allow the Beaver leaders to assist with the Cubs from 6.30-8pm. Scouts return on September 13, still at Freston from 7-8.45pm on Friday evenings. The group AGM will take place on Reade Field on Wednesday 18 September from 6pm. There will be a barbecue provided; if you wish to bring your own drinks, feel free! In other news, the Scout leaders, ably assisted by parents, undertook a canoeing trip with 11 Scouts. Starting from Sudbury, they entered the water in three-man canoes and paddled their way down the river to the overnight stop at Nayland. From there, everyone returned to the campsite at Bures before returning to Nayland on Sunday morning to start the next leg of the journey. Eventually, the group made it to Dedham, very exhausted. The original plan had been to carry on to Cattawade, but the amount of weed and obstacles along the route had taken its toll on everyone. It was decided to end it at Dedham and arrangements were made for the Scouts to be picked up. Our next big camp will be the annual Winter Camp at Gilwell. This takes place from January 10-12. More details will be circulated in the coming months. If you have a child who would like to join us here at 1st Holbrook, you’ll find our contact details at: www.holbrookscouts.co.uk
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Out & ABOUT SHOTLEY SOCIAL CLUB (OVER 60s) STOUR VALLEY U3A On August 14 we welcomed Terry Waite with a talk entitled Survival in Solitude. As a former hostage negotiator and hostage himself, he spoke of his experiences working for the release of innocent people across the world and he described his own experiences in captivity in Beirut. The theme of our meeting on September 11 is Great Composers of Film Music. Steve Johnson, a film enthusiast, will recall the history of music in film from the beginnings of sound, with emphasis on specific composers who have made significant contributions to music in film. Jenny Gibbs will talk to us on An Englishwoman’s Life in Rural Turkey on Wednesday 9 October. Her stories capture a simple, serene, pastoral way of life in a Turkish mountain village unchanged for centuries, from the day she first arrived there 25 years ago to today. On November 13 Magistrate Graham Higgins will talk of Tales From The Bench. He will look at our legal heritage, particularly the part played by Suffolk. He will relate how the role of magistrates and local events have played a part in this history and will bring us up to date with an opportunity to decide how a defendant should be sentenced by briefly outlining a case. He will also include some of his unusual experiences on the bench. We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. Each month The Coffee Grinders meet at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt CO7 6SD from 10am to noon. This meeting especially welcomes new members and gives all members the opportunity to meet the activity group leaders and the committee while enjoying a cup of coffee. The next meeting is on Friday 27 September.
We meet in the village hall and our forthcoming dates are Thursdays 12 and 26 September, and Thursday 10 October, all from 1.50-4pm. Norman and I are on holiday for September 26, but the members will still meet. We are a thriving club, but new members are very welcome. We also have some enjoyable outings, and a concert to look forward to on Thursday 24 October. Why not just come once to our meetings and see whether our club is for you? A member of our committee will look after you. For information or lifts, contact Norman and Eileen: 01473 787358
CHELMONDISTON WI Karen Kenny made our July meeting very enjoyable. She is a very knowledgeable and entertaining lady. Her talk, The Mystery of Herbs, covered both garden and wild varieties. All today’s medicines are based on derivatives of ancient remedies. Members were amused by some of the uses and plants we heard about such as tussymussies, sweet Cecily and lads-love to name a few. We tasted nasturtiums and heard stories of eldertrees and their witch connections. Tuesday 3 September is the Centenary Fair at Trinity Park from 11am-8pm, with lots of things to see and do. On September 10 we welcome Amanda Haskell with her chair exercises. This will be a taster session that covers fall prevention, strength and coordination. On October 8 Mike Garland from Suffolk Morris Men will visit for another musical evening. Please do join us on the second Tuesday of each month; it’s a great chance to meet up with old and new friends. For further information contact: pat@gilpat.co.uk / 01473 780358
SOCIAL SEW-AND-SO’S 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. After our summer break we recommence on September 17 when Roger Hermiston will give a talk entitled Churchill – Myth and Reality in the Second World. Roger, a writer of contemporary history books, will examine how Churchill, arguably this country’s greatest ever leader, led the country to one of its greatest triumphs, and, in doing so, distinguish the truth from the popular fiction surrounding him. We continue the Second World War theme on October 15 with a talk by Russell Bowes entitled Digging for Victory, when beautiful flower gardens were transformed into vegetable patches. We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre IP5 1JF at 7.15pm. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome; the entrance fee is £3. National Trust members and 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
Cushion covers, knitted fidget blankets and all sorts of animal crochet has continued over the summer. Future dates for the diary are Saturdays 7 September, 5 October, 9 November and 7 December at Harkstead Village Hall, doors open at 9am. Bring any craft or a new project.
ORWELL DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY Our talks cover a broad spectrum of art and are delivered within a relaxed and welcoming environment. Meetings usually begin at 2.15pm, with refreshments available from 1.30-2pm. However, on September 4 we celebrate our 20th anniversary with tea, coffee and cake from 1.30pm, our AGM at 2pm, and a talk by Anne Haworth, a lecturer at the V&A, entitled Porcelain for the Chinese Emperors at 2.30pm. Scheduled talks up to the Christmas break October 2: Archaeological Adventures in Albania with Louise Schofield November 6: The Hitler Emigrés; their impact on British Artistic and Cultural Life with Daniel Snowman December 4: Pantomime: A Very British Treat with Giles Ramsay We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months. With the exception of September 4, meetings begin at 2.15pm and last about an hour, with refreshments available from 1.30pm. Guests and non-members are welcome provided we have available space. Exceptionally popular lectures will have a visitor limit of 20 so please contact Wendy Robbins in advance to check if there is available space: 01394 823807 For the latest events and news please visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk
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OUT & ABOUT CRAFTERS UNLIMITED A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms. Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available. We had a most enjoyable workshop on Saturday 3 August learning more advanced parchment craft. On Monday 5 Debbie showed us how to make a felt stuffed bird. My favourite is the puffin. Monday 2 September: Lava Bracelet (Janet & Jill) Plus our AGM and our 10year anniversary celebration with refreshments and cake. Monday 7 October: Jill will show us how to use knitting lace Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534
SCOUTS JET OFF FOR ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Unit 18 Iceni and Unit 19 Teagulls, both from Suffolk left on 20 July to fly off to the World Scout Jamboree in North America. The Scouts from Suffolk joined 5,000 others from across the UK, and 40,000 more from nearly every country in the world, for two weeks of activities and skills development, while, best of all, making new friends at one of the most truly international events on the planet. The UK Scouts flew to New York for 24 hours in the Big Apple. The city was taken over by the Scouts getting to know each other, seeing the sights and learning to navigate the big city, before they travelled to the Jamboree site in wild and wonderful West Virginia. The World Scout Jamboree includes opportunities for Scouts to learn new skills with other young people from across the globe. They will experience high adventure in a community of new residents from nearly every country in the world.
SHOTLEY PENINSULA BRANCH Our next meeting is on Wednesday 4 September at 2pm in St Andrew’s Church Room, Chelmondiston. Our speaker is Monica McDonald from HOMESTART. It will be interesting to hear what this organisation does to support children and families. We would like to use this opportunity to invite some younger parents to come along. Our members would extend a warm welcome to you. In brief, we start our meetings with a song or hymn and a short time of prayer, and then we enjoy listening to our chosen speaker. Our meeting ends with refreshments and time for chat. Should you have school age children, we end by 3.30-4pm, but feel free to leave when you need to pick-up from school. MU supports Lighthouse and is involved with the current issue of modern slavery as it affects lives in the eastern region. Discover more about our support of family life both worldwide and in Suffolk. Patterns for the new balaclava favoured by the Seafarers Centre will be available for keen knitters. Our garden cream tea raised an amazing £60 for the MU Summer of Hope appeal. Should you require further details please take a moment to contact Christine (780621) or Pam (780796), likewise if you’d appreciate a lift to the September meeting. It will be a delight should you decide to give us a try. Pam Ross
STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB
Ollie Smith, Unit 19 Leader, said: “I can’t believe we are actually here about to jump on the plane, the airport is full of Scouts. I have been counting down the days until we leave and finished packing two weeks ago. The people I am going with have become my closest friends and I can’t wait to make friends with Scouts from all over the world! We have skills to share food to taste. It’s going to be awesome.” As well as being a fantastic opportunity for young people, the event is an amazing chance for adult volunteers such as me to take part in activities and learn new skills that they can use in other aspects of their life. Groups from Wolsey District include 26th and 32nd Ipswich and Castle Hill Cobras. Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: “Scouts from Suffolk have travelled 3,800 miles to wild and wonderful West Virginia, USA for the 24th World Scout Jamboree. These are some of our brightest and best and every one of them will be an ambassador for the Scouts, the UK’s largest mixed movement, helping prepare girls and boys with skills for life. “World Scout Jamborees only happen every four years and tens of thousands of Scouts attend each one. They are incredible festivals of peace, friendship and adventure. Young people will make friends for life with people from over 150 countries, experience different food, language and culture while learning new skills. It will be the journey of a lifetime. “The 2019 Jamboree, jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, is set to be one of the biggest and most exciting yet. The theme is Unlock A New World – focusing especially on how we can create a sustainable world together.” Mark Pearson
Our speaker on September 4 is Mervyn Linford who will introducing us to the river from Cattawade Bridge to Ha’Penny Pier. Ted Wheatley will return on September 18 with a talk entitled Speakers’ Corner. On October 2 David Prynn will talk of China, Past and Present and two weeks later on October 16 Cherry Mullins will present Confessions of a Tour Manager. Andy Malcolm will talk about the good work undertaken by The Fishermen’s Mission on November 6 and on November 20 Sara Waterston of local Hunnable Funeral Directors will talk on The Humourist Side of Funerals. Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB, 10 for 10.30am. For further details please contact speaker secretary Dave Carman: 01255 880202
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OUT & ABOUT ALTON BELLES They say variety is the spice of life. When it comes to the WI that is certainly what we have. As you may have read, June saw us learning how to make the perfect scone. In July we welcomed Simon Leatherdale to talk about the Trees and Woods of the Shotley Peninsula. Simon opened his talk with a newspaper cutting showing row upon row of surrendered German submarines that were stored on the River Stour until they could be scrapped. Many trees were felled for the war effort during the two wars and the Forestry Commission was established to record woods in the UK over two hectares (five acres). Simon made us aware that although Shotley Peninsula doesn’t have many woods over five acres, we do have a lot of ancient trees, many of enormous girth. Ancient woodland is any wood that has been continuously forested since 1600. Simon was full of interesting facts. Such as during the ice age, the United Kingdom was covered in a deep layer of ice which pressed the land mass down. As the ice melted the land slowly began to rise. It has become obvious that Scotland has lifted, resulting in the south of the country dipping. At the same time global warming is causing the seas to rise, eroding the coast, river banks and estuaries. Trees near the water’s edge are suffering as salt water begins to wash their roots. For centuries trees have been imported. The Romans introduced the sweet chestnut, now an honorary native. This month our president will talk about the History of the Ballet Shoe. If you are interested in joining our vibrant and forward-looking WI, but feel nervous about coming along, contact our secretary Sheila Paxman on 01473 327319 and she will make sure you are looked after.
SHOTLEY CHURCH HERITAGE 700 CLUB July Draw Winners £25 Mrs T Butler (067) £20 Mr K Cocksedge (063) £15 Mrs S Mower (109) £5 Mr M Suckling (077) £5 Mrs K Blunt (106) We welcome new members. The cost of £1 a month can be paid at three, six or 12 month intervals. To join, contact Norman: 01473 787358
EAST SUFFOLK ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND An independent and voluntary charitable organisation promoting the welfare of blind and visually impaired people in East Suffolk since 1914. Membership is free. We also hold a social on the last Wednesday of every month at Stutton Community Hall from 2-4pm when we provide entertainment, afternoon tea and a raffle, and twice a year we have a lunch at a local hotel. If you would like to join us, contact Ian, our community support worker, for more information: 01473 788380 We are always in need of volunteer drivers to assist us with our monthly social event. If interested please contact Barbara McDonald: 01473 328907
CHELMONDISTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The July mini-show proved very successful. The entries were up and the quality has improved over last year. The hall was expectant as members filed in to see the judges’ results. The class winners were Alan, Linda, Lucy, Claire, John Williams and Jo. Congratulations to all and all the individual winners. Everyone enjoyed the cake and tea afterwards. Thanks to the committee and to the judges. Why don’t you enter next year? It can be fun if a little stressful.
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on the grapevine SUFFOLK LIBRARIES LAUNCH THE FIRST EVER CELEBRATION OF THE COUNTY’S LIBRARY SERVICE Suffolk Libraries is a charity which was launched to run Suffolk’s library service in August 2012. Seven years on and all 44 libraries continue to be focal points for the local community. Highlighting this, over the past four years the number and range of events and activities in libraries has increased with the number of people attending them rising by 29 per cent. Suffolk Libraries also runs a mobile library service, two pop-up library services and the county’s prison libraries. Bruce added: “Our success story is down to the hard work of our staff and people in the community who continue to support us and champion our libraries. Suffolk Libraries Day will raise awareness that we are a charity and need to raise more income as we’re likely to face many challenges in the future. We’ve had some great support for the Book Journey already and there’ll be lots of opportunities for local people to get involved in Suffolk Libraries Day events so if you have any ideas or want to support us please get in touch.” Pamela Holmes, author of the Huntingfield Paintress, added:
Suffolk Libraries has officially launched a day of celebration to generate support for the county’s library service. The first ever Suffolk Libraries Day will take place on Saturday 12 October, at the end of National Libraries Week. Suffolk Libraries Day will see special events take place at all 44 libraries with the aim of showcasing everything libraries have to offer the community. The day will also raise funds to support the county’s library service. During the week leading up to Suffolk Libraries Day a Book Journey Challenge will also take place with Suffolk businesses coming together to get the book from Bungay to Haverhill, visiting all the county’s libraries in between. The book will cover a total distance of 323.9 miles with companies sponsoring each leg and transporting the book in a range of quirky and inventive ways including an American muscle car, a tractor, tandem and vintage coach. Many major Suffolk companies have signed up so far including Adnams, Ipswich Buses, Hughes, Care UK, EO, East of England Co-Op, Exterion Media, Scarlett and Mustard, Ryan’s insurance and Realise Futures. The chosen book for the Book Journey is The Huntingfield Paintress a historical fiction novel by Pamela Holmes which is set in Suffolk. Bruce Leeke, CEO of Suffolk Libraries, said: “Suffolk Libraries Day will be a fantastic opportunity to highlight the huge impact our libraries have on making Suffolk such a great place to live. All our libraries are thriving community hubs that are there for everyone. The exciting diversity of our offer continues to drive people to our sites, especially for events and activities.”
“I was thrilled that my book was chosen to be part of the Book Journey. I went to school in Suffolk and have given talks in several of the lovely local libraries in the county so I’m very proud to support this campaign to highlight the value of libraries to their communities.” Ashley Shorey-Mills, General Manager of Hughes Smart, said: “Hughes are supporting the Suffolk Libraries Day book journey, because we feel as a Suffolk company who started out in Lowestoft nearly 100 years ago, we need to support our local services. The work Suffolk Libraries do in engaging with their local communities and offering services that go way beyond just books is fantastic, and so when we heard about this event, we knew we wanted to be involved as much as we could. Suffolk is an incredible place, and it’s going to amazing to see the support from the people of Suffolk as this book travels across the county.” Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams PLC, added: “The writer Sidney Sheldon once wrote that ‘Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life.’ We totally agree and this is why we are proud to support Suffolk Libraries Day and the other great initiatives that support learning through our Adnams Community Trust.” On Suffolk Libraries Day itself there will be a wide range of activities taking place in libraries with the mobile library service joining in too. Activities across the county confirmed so far include a sponsored readathon at a local school, a children’s disco, a sponsored walk/bike ride between the three libraries in Saxmundham, Leiston and Aldeburgh, a photography competition, LEGO building session and a battle of the bands event.
CHELMSFORD’S FAMILY FUN RUN AND MARATHON On Sunday 20 October, The J’s Hospice is holding its first Chelmsford 3K Fun Run. This family-friendly event is suitable for all ages and abilities – you can walk, jog or run the 3K course and prams and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. The route starts and finishes in Central Park, taking in some of the city’s beautiful parks, and everyone who takes part will be given a medal when they cross the finish line. The 3K Family Fun Run is raising money for The J’s Hospice which is part of Havens Hospices. The J’s supports young adults with life-limiting conditions and their families across Essex, providing specialist care in the comfort of their own homes and in the community. It only costs £5 per person to take part and children under five can join in for free. It’s a great, fun way to get the whole family exercising together while raising money for a local hospice charity. To sign-up online, go to: www.havenshospices.org.uk/chelmsfordfunrun
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If you’re looking for a greater sporting challenge, The J’s Hospice, Chelmsford Marathon is also on Sunday 20 October. The 26.2 mile course is on road and tarmac paths that take you through the city and out into the nearby countryside before returning to Central Park to finish. Online registration is open now at: www.havenshospices.org.uk/chelmsfordmarathon The J’s Hospice is looking for volunteers to help make both events a big success. If you can help with the pre-event organisation or you can volunteer on 20 October (e.g. at a water station, as a marshal or helping with baggage, t-shirts and at the finish funnel) please contact Lucy: lucy.burgess@thejshospice.org.uk / 01245 475474 Thank you to the Chelmsford office of Aon, the professional services firm, which is kindly sponsoring both events.
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Schools / SPORT CHELMONDISTON PRIMARY SCHOOL The last year was so exciting at Chelmondiston C of E Primary School. We are very proud to have received a ‘Good’ rating from our SIAMS church school inspection. As well as this, all the children have had the opportunity to go swimming, to have specialised PE training – which we are hoping to get the bronze sports award for – and the younger classes have had Forest School sessions. Year 5 children also raised enough money to go to London for a tour of the sites that they had been learning about in class. The older children also went on a trip to France and on a residential trip to Hilltop. All the children had safety sessions in IT and then on scooters, bikes and with horses. These latter events were led by our Junior Road Safety Officers and we received silver for our efforts this year. The PTA has been very kind raising money for us. With the help of local benefactors, they now have built us an outside learning space, which will be officially opened next term. The PTA also funded a circus skills day where the children learnt about forces and developed their motor skills. We sadly said a very fond farewell to Sheila Page as she retires after being a teaching assistant at the school for almost 45 years – she will be greatly missed. We would just like to say a big thank-you for all the support we receive from the parents, carers and local community and hope you will be able to join us for our coffee mornings and other events this year. Headteacher Katie Butler
A GOOD YEAR FOR SHOTLEY ROSE BOWLS CLUB As our season draws to a close (three more League matches to go) Shotley Rose Bowls Club can look back on the season with pride. Currently the Monday Samford League side has played 13, won five, lost eight and has gained 40 points. However, many of these games have been close and the shot differences are small. Our Wednesday Triples League side is in a strong position. They have played 10, won five, drawn one and lost four and gained 35.5 points. Again, we have had some very close games, but a substantial win over Copdock was very gratifying (6-1 win). However, the most satisfying aspect of the season is the continual success despite losing the services of established players due to members moving away, taking holidays or ill health. The club has welcomed three new members, two ex-players returning and a visiting player (Jimmy) who has brought expertise and a vibrant personality. We are very grateful to the club captain, Martin Stiff, who has managed and manouvered players to ensure competitive games and a lot of fun. Shotley Rose Bowls green has seen considerable improvements at the hands of our new greenkeeper, although there’s still a long way to go to reach the standard we would like. However, progress is being made. Any help, both physically and financially would be gratefully received. Our club still has three teams in County Cup competitions – the mixed doubles, the over-55 doubles and the Millennium Cup. It’s a great feather in our cap to be in the semi-finals of some of these cup competitions and hopefully we can reach the finals, and might even win one! Finally, we would like to extend our thanks to Sarah at the Shotley Rose for providing tea, coffee and biscuits to our visiting teams, and for always being such a good hostess and encouraging our teams.
Every sport needs to produce a steady supply of trainers, so our summer season began with our dinghy instructor course. As previously, the course soon filled to capacity, even after doubling the number of places. We were assisted yet again by Year 6 students from Chelmondiston Primary School, who clearly enjoyed themselves, with the weather playing an important part in the day. In the event our instructor pass rate was more than 90 per cent with all likely to complete their qualification in the next couple of months. We are always looking to support our local schools, so please think of us if you would like to arrange a special event for your students. Summer courses have ensured that we have been very busy, with most of our early holiday courses fully booked. Even poor weather, with very strong winds, doesn’t seem to dampen spirits and many of our students are keen to come back for more. We aim to move youngsters through the RYA stages and parents regard this as an important part of education for the outdoors, valuing the time spent learning new skills. In the autumn term, will be welcoming back students from several of our local schools who are keen to sail as late as the autumn mid-term holiday. Continuing to sail regularly is key to improving skills and moving on from one RYA stage to the higher stages. The enthusiasm we see from these students is infectious and the progress is so rewarding to our team and school staff. We are making an important change to the way our youth groups operate this year. We will not be running evening sessions in the autumn, when the light fades away too soon, but will be running four Saturday OnBoard sessions during September. These will be open to all and will be a low cost activity. This will help local youngsters who want to continue their sailing a little longer and we hope to see summer course students come back to practise newly learned skills. As always our instructor team will be there to help with tuition as well as supervision. Watch out for further details on our website and get OnBoard.
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Please get in touch if you would like to try bowls and meet up with a friendly bunch of villagers while enjoying a relaxing but competitive sport. Simon Whitney Contacts Secretary Andrew Coulson: 01473 787304 Treasurer Norman Bugg: 01473 787358 Club Captain Martin Stiff: 01473 787042
EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FC Preparations continued for the new season with healthy numbers attending pre-season training including a number of juniors looking to make the step up. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts, banners and boards on matchdays are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation. We are looking for new teams, boys or girls, of any age group to join us as we look for the club to grow. Also ladies who would like to join are welcome. If you are interested please contact David George at: davidgeorge5000@hotmail.com This upcoming season is the 125th anniversary of the club and there will be special events to mark this momentous achievement. We are looking to get in touch with as many former players and officials as possible. Please let us have your details by replying to the secretary or on our Facebook page. The FIFA tournament will be repeated and is open to all-comers so keep an eye out for the next one. It is also anticipated that the darts tournament will become a regular event and will be open to all, so darts players, look out for the next event. Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com
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Jennie Kingham
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We will be at the following village halls: Chelmondiston Village Hall Main Road, Chelmondiston, IP9 1DX
27th September 2019 9.30am-12.30pm
Holbrook Village Hall The Street, Holbrook, Ipswich, IP9 2PZ
4th October 2019 9.30am-12.00pm
For more information call 01473 556900 or email enquiries@ellisonssolicitors.com www.ellisonssolicitors.com
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CHURCH NEWS
HOLBROOK & CHELMONDISTON METHODIST CHURCHES Grains of Sand I’ve just returned from a four-day break on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. We went to Rhossili with a lovely three mile stretch of sandy beach and I wondered how many grains of sand were there. I Googled it when I got back and one estimate is that in all the sandy beaches and desert areas on the planet there are 7x1018 grains of sand (for nonmathematicians that is seven with 18 zeros after it – a very big number). I have been to dark sky areas in the Brecon Beacons and the Lake District and you can look up and see the millions of stars. The Hubble Telescope can see even more that the naked eye – one estimate is that there are 7x1022 (i.e. seven with 22 zeros after it). What a huge universe we live in – the mind can scarcely conceive it. What do these figures do for you? From the walk along to Worms Head at Rhossili we looked down at the people on the beach and they looked no bigger than insects. King David, a king in Palestine 2,500 years ago, looked at the amazing universe as he saw it and asked in a song he wrote “What are humans that God should think of them?”. If we find it difficult to grasp these numbers, let’s go the other way. Water contains molecules of H20. If you were to count the number of molecules in 10 drops of water you would get a number equal to all the stars in the universe. If you were to count the number of atoms in an average human body there would 100,000 times the number of stars in the universe (7v1027). King David indicated that God knows the exact number, not the estimates that we grasp after. In a healthy body the bone marrow releases 2.5 million new red blood cells every second into the blood stream. No wonder David said “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and it led him to worship God. Dr Philip Bland served with The Leprosy Mission in India where performing surgery for people suffering from Leprosy. He too quoted David in describing the human body as “fearfully and wonderfully made by God”. The vastness and the intimate details all point to a wonderful God who created us in his image. The scale is too great for us to fully comprehend. Doctors, scientists, mathematicians and astro-physicists all give us a greater understanding of the amazing world and the amazing human body, and I praise and thank God for all the insights they bring, but I am
just thankful that he knows everything about me and still loves me and wants to work in and with me and with all who will acknowledge him. The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Capel, Chelmondiston & Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 AT HOLBROOK METHODIST What’s on in September / (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Tea and Chat: Mondays 2.30-4pm (HCT) Home Groups: Second & fourth Tuesdays at 7.30pm Sunday 1 10am Saturday 7 10-11.30am Sunday 8 10am Sunday 15 10am Sunday 22 10am 6.30pm Sunday 29 10am
Communion with Rev Michael Allen Coffee Morning HCT Village Film show at Methodist Church Family Friendly Worship with Mrs Marilyn Watsham Worship with Mrs Alyson Ellis Something Different Harvest Worship with Mr Ted Jack
Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in September. For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live (HCT) contact Gerald Laws: geraldolaws@aol.com / 01473 328507 AT CHELMONDISTON METHODIST Sunday 1 10.4aam Communion with Rev Andrew Saankey 6.15pm Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey Sunday 8 10.45am Worship with Mr Jim Ross 6.15pm Worship with Rev Diane Smith Sunday 15 10.45am Worship with Mr Roger Fern 6.15pm Worship with Rev Joan Pell Sunday 22 10.45am Worship with Mr William Glasse 6.15pm Worship with Mr Martin Ellis Friday 27 3.30pm Messy Church Sunday 29 10.45am Harvest Festival with Rev Andrew Sankey 6.15pm Harvest Songs of Praise with Rev Andrew Sankey
SHORELINE BENEFICE, SEPTEMBER 2019 You are warmly invited to join in with our worship and fellowship.
Sunday 29 11am
Holy Communion BCP, The Rev D Newton
St Andrew’s, Chelmondiston Sunday 1 9.15am Sung Holy Communion, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Sunday 8 9.15am Holy Communion, The Rev T Crosbie Tuesday 10 10am Tuesday Midweek Communion, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Sunday 15 10.45am Benefice Service at Shotley, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Sunday 22 9.30am All-Age Family Worship, Mrs C Ward Sunday 29 9.15am Holy Communion, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof
St Mary’s, Harkstead Sunday 1 9.30am Sunday 8 9.30am Sunday 15 10.45am Sunday 22 9.30am Sunday 29 11am
Holy Communion, The Rev Canon C Chapman Family Service & Baptism, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Benefice Service at Shotley, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Holy Communion, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Harvest Service & Lunch, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof
St Mary’s, Shotley Sunday 1 10.45am Sunday 8 10.45am Sunday 15 10.45am Sunday 22 10.45am Sunday 29 10.45am
Shotley Family@Church, Mr A Coulson Holy Communion, The Rev T Crosbie Benefice Holy Communion, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Holy Communion, The Rev T Crosbie Worship For All, Mr A Coulson
St Mary’s, Erwarton Sunday 1 4pm Sunday 8 11am Sunday 15 10.45am Sunday 22 11am
Celtic Evening Prayer, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Family Service, Mr A Coulson Benefice Service at Shotley, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof Harvest Festival Service, The Rev Canon L Oosterhof
www.keepingintouchwith.com/shotley
Please check church website and noticeboards for any changes to services
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CHURCH NEWS
HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB
Parish Priest: Fr Peter Raj 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 www.stmarksparish.org.uk SERVICES FOR SEPTEMBER Sunday 1 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 3 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 8 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 10 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 1 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 17 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 22 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 24 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 29 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass CATHOLIC COMMENTARY The excluded, especially migrants and refugees, are the ones who ultimately pay the price for humanity’s greed, Pope Francis said recently. He warned: “Today’s world is increasingly becoming more elitist and cruel toward the excluded. Those who pay the price are always the little ones, the poor, the most vulnerable, who are prevented from sitting at the table and are left with the crumbs of the banquet.” The message for
the World Day of Migrants and Refugees offered reflections, insights and resources for the promotion of pastoral activities. Reflecting on the theme: “It’s not just about migrants; it’s about not excluding anyone,” the Pope lamented the exploitation of natural and human resources in developing countries “for the benefit of a few privileged markets”. He also called out countries that foment war through arms sales while closing their doors to innocent men, women and children escaping violence. “Wars only affect some regions of the world,” Pope Francis said, “yet weapons of war are produced and sold in other regions, which then refuse to accept the refugees produced by these conflicts.” Pope Francis concluded that the church must take the initiative and seek “those who have fallen away”. The Catholic Church should “stand at the crossroads and welcome the outcast whom we ourselves as a society are excluding,” he explained. “Real development is fruitful and inclusive, oriented toward the future.” EVENTS AND DIARY DATES
100 club
The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday 25 August at Holy Family when three lucky winners shared a record £165 prize pot. The next draw takes place on Sunday 22 September at Holy Family, Brantham. The club, set up to support the life and mission of our parish, has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, that includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: website www.stmarksparish.org.uk
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Bring Buy Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR from 10.30am to noon. We are raising funds for the new carpet in the Parish Room and all are very welcome to join us. The next event will be on Thursday 26 September.
The weekly newsletter, with all the parish mass times, is displayed in the cabinet alongside the front door of the church.
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CHURCH NEWS TWO RIVERS BENEFICE, SEPTEMBER 2019 We have two special events during September. The first is the retirement of The Rev Dr Marian Carter. We will be saying goodbye and thank-you to Marian at St Peter’s, Stutton on Sunday 8 September at 11am with a service followed by lunch. Please do join us and stay for a bring-and-share lunch. Our second event is the installation of The Rev Jenny Seggar. Please do come and join us to welcome Jenny and her family on Wednesday 25 September at 7.30pm at All Saints, Holbrook. You will be most welcome. The event will be followed by refreshments.
All Saints, Holbrook Sunday 1 4pm Sunday 8 11am Sunday 15 10am Wednesday 18 3pm Sunday 22 9.30am Wednesday 25 7.30pm Sunday 29 11am
Afternoon Tea Stutton – Marian’s Retirement Service Informal Service Comfort Corner Holy Communion Rev Chris Chapman The Rev Jenny Seggar Licensing Wherstead – Benefice Harvest Holy Communion, Rev Jenny
St Mary’s, Wherstead Sunday 8 11am Sunday 29 11am
Stutton – Marian’s Retirement Service Benefice Harvest Holy Communion, Rev Jenny
St Peter’s, Freston Sunday 1 11am Sunday 8 11am Sunday 15 11am Saturday 21 3pm Sunday 29 11am
Matins Stutton – Marian’s Retirement Service Holy Communion, The Rev Chris Chapman Wedding Wherstead – Benefice Harvest Holy Communion, Rev Jenny
St Michael’s, Woolverstone Sunday 1 10am BCP Communion, The Rev Anthony Lury 11am Café Church Sunday 8 11am Stutton – Marian’s Retirement Service Sunday 15 4pm Harvest Songs of Praise, followed by barbecue Sunday 22 11am Holly Communion, The Rev David Newton Sunday 29 11am Wherstead – Benefice Harvest Holy Communion, Rev Jenny Please check Two Rivers Facebook page for changes to services.
THE PENINSULA BAPTIST CHURCH Pin Mill Road, Chelmondiston IP9 1JE
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St Peter’s, Stutton Sunday 1 10.30am Worship for All at Stutton School Sunday 8 11am Benefice Holy Communion – Marian’s Retirement Lunch Sunday 15 9.30am Holy Communion Sunday 22 11am Informal Service Sunday 29 11am Wherstead – Benefice Harvest Holy Communion, Rev Jenny
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We invite you to join us on Sunday morning at 10.30am. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Contact Dave Kelland: 01473 788441 / 07970 312705
www.keepingintouchwith.com/shotley
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