In Touch News with Stowmarket November 2019 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

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& Stowupland Vol. 19 • Issue No. 2 • NOVEMBER 2013

Volume 25 • Issue No. 2 • RESIDENTS November 2019 FREE to STOWMARKET & STOWUPLAND 50p where sold

Tel: 01449 721763

Quality - Ser vice - Reliability We supply and fit carpet, wood, laminate and vinyl flooring. We have over 100 ranges of carpet, with over 1,000 carpet samples in store. Come and browse our shop on Needham Market High Street. We have a range of other products including curtains and rugs. Lee Simpson from L.S. Flooring brings a wealth of experience of installing wood and laminate flooring. The showroom incorporates displays of high end

Kersaint Cobb and Quick Step floors.You will benefit from Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge and fitting expertise. www.ls-flooring.co.uk Simon Fitch from Fine Blinds provides a supply and fit service on all types of blinds and shutters in store. Simon offers free, no obligation measuring and estimating. www.fine-blinds-needhammarket.co.uk

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR There’s an elderly gent I see almost every day walking very, very slowly from the local supermarket carrying the same small plastic bag. I say ‘gent’ because he’s always ‘properly’ dressed in a suit and tie. I like to think he would have worn a hat in his younger days. I wish he still did. His clothes may have seen better days, but there’s a curious dignity about him. He doesn’t appear to make any effort to engage with others, barely lifting his gaze from the path as he proceeds. Nobody stops to speak to him and, despite my curiosity, neither have I. I’ve smiled and mumbled good morning on one or two occasions, but he has never responded. It may be that he didn’t hear me, but it seems more deliberate than that, as if he’s either totally focused on the task in hand or is holding the world at arm’s length for some reason. If this is the case, and my instinct tells me it is, I respect his right to privacy. However, I have created a whole lifestory for him. I think of him as Robert. His wife Celia died several years ago and since then he has been brokenhearted and alone, locking out the world because the pain of her loss is his most precious possession. Celia is with him in everything he does, walking by his side each morning and straightening his tie before he leaves the house. I worry about him too. If I don’t see him for a day or two, I start to panic. I have no idea where he lives or if he has anyone to look out for him. Thankfully he always turns up, but one day he won’t and he’ll never know how much I miss seeing him. Isn’t it odd how strangers find their way into our hearts! Of course, many of us admire, even love movie stars, musicians and football players and look up to people we respect for one reason or another. We are often inspired by the actions of someone we may never meet, Greta Thunberg being a perfect example. It’s important, especially for children, to have role models but I don’t think we have to look very far to find them. Every older person is just someone who was born before us, done most things before us in fact. Everyone has a story. All we have to do is stop to listen. I’m going to make one more attempt with Robert. Perhaps you can find someone who deserves a moment of your time.

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NEWS SCHOOL SITE TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO AFFORDABLE HOMES

Planning permission has been granted to transform the former Stowmarket Middle School site into 38 much-needed affordable homes for the town. The properties offer a mix of affordable housing – to be offered either as shared ownership, or as social or affordable housing, where rent is calculated below the private market rate, in order to help households on low to moderate incomes. The development will also include a scheme of sustainability measures such as electric car charging points across the site. Councillor Suzie Morley, Mid Suffolk District Council’s Cabinet Member for Assets and Investments said: “When the county moved to a two-tier education system and the school site became redundant, we realised there was an opportunity to buy it as a brownfield site in order to help meet the town’s housing need. I’m delighted that we’re now able to breathe new life into this town centre site.” Councillor Julie Flatman, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “We have a pressing housing need in Mid Suffolk, particularly for affordable housing, and we are constantly looking at the best ways to use our own resources and also team up with others to free up sites which are suitable for redevelopment. I’m very pleased that we could take this opportunity to regenerate and redevelop the former school in order to develop muchneeded homes for the town.” The plans were drawn up by Norwich-based Ingleton Wood. Ingleton Wood planner Hannah Northrop said: “We look forward to supporting Mid Suffolk District Council in delivering this stunning development in the town centre to help meet rising demand for affordable homes, while giving a new lease of life to the former middle school site.”

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

CHRISTMAS POST SERVICE 1 & 3 Stowmarket (Phoenix) Scouts st

Let us deliver your Christmas cards in Stowmarket (inc. Combs Ford), Stowupland and Onehouse and you will be supporting a local youth group. Post your cards together with just 30p per card into one of our collection boxes and we will make sure they are delivered in time for Christmas. You can find our post boxes from Friday, November 22 at: Stowmarket Library / Stowmarket Rugby Club Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre / StowHealth Baldwins / M&M Butchers (Stowupland) Combs Surgery / ZarKeys (Meadow Centre) / Hughes Tesco / Co-operative (Combs Ford) Cedars Park Community Centre The last date for posting is Wednesday, December 11.

Sun 10 November

Please remember to fully address your cards. We will not deliver to addresses outside the areas indicated above.

is the advertising and editorial deadline for the December edition

For more details of our service, or if you would like us to collect cards specifically from your organisation, please contact Dave Newbery: 01449 672344 / 07889 137783

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NEWS HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILL? Having a will in place is one of the most important things you can do to make your wishes clear on how you want to provide for your loved ones and the charities you hold close to your heart and want to support. Leaving a gift to the hospice really is one of the most valuable and lasting ways you can support us. It’s a common myth that only the rich and famous leave money to charity when they die. The reality is that everyone, from any walk of life, can leave a gift, and no matter the size of the gift, big or small, it all contributes to helping the hospice continue to care for our patients. Very often people who are thinking about leaving a gift in their will believe that the amount they are able to leave is too small to consider, however this is not the case as we do very much rely on the combined power of many more modest sums. We are really appreciative for any gift, as they really do make a difference to us and allow us to continue our work in the local community. Currently one in four of our patients are helped by the hospice each year, thanks to those who leave gifts to us in their will. Leaving a gift in your will is a highly personal and special gift. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you inform us of your gift, but it would be wonderful to know so we can thank you properly and also so that we can plan for our future. Please contact us at: 01473 723600 / giftinwills@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

Dear Editor, We recently ran some research with YouGov which showed that a fifth of over-55s in Great Britain go for at least six months without being socially active. We were saddened to discover this, because we firmly believe that enjoying the regular company of friends is essential to living a happier life. Friends are not just there to socialise with, they provide support and comfort in times of need. It takes a lot of courage to meet new people, even for the most confident, and often as we get older, there are fewer opportunities to socialise. If any of your readers are looking to meet other friendly and caring people who live nearby, we offer a warm welcome at our friendship group. We’re based in Stowmarket, and we run regular social events across the region. It was wonderful to welcome new faces as part of our tenth annual Friendship Month celebrations in September, but there is and always will be space at the table for more. Should anybody like to give us a try, come and play your cards right with Mike Coppins at 7pm on Monday 11 November; it’s going to be a fun evening with prizes for those who beat the cards. Or join us on Wednesday 20 November at 1pm when Liz Huxley presents an illustrated talk on The Nature of Scotland. This promises to be an interesting afternoon where we will see nature at her most beautiful. Both meetings take place at Red Gables on Ipswich Road, Stowmarket IP14 1B.

PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE SPACES FOR 469 NEW SUFFOLK SCOUTS Community Action Suffolk (CAS) and Suffolk Scouts are joining forces to find more adult volunteers in order to enable more young people to learn skills for life. CAS will offer an updated, easy to use website to help potential volunteers. Although we have many great teams in Suffolk already running everything from youth sections, finances, web masters, marketing, training courses and many more, to support our growth we need more volunteers. Many skills that you may have can apply to Scouting too – accountants to treasurers, teachers and trainers to leaders and construction workers to activity centre managers – or you may feel you want to put you hand to something new. Joining together with CAS enables Suffolk Scouts to reach a wider audience than existing parents and supporters, and aims to attract new volunteers to the movement. In the first move of its kind in Suffolk Scouting’s 112-year history, flexible volunteering is an option for those who want to help but cannot commit to every week. Volunteers gain valuable skills as well as the reward of seeing young people in their community gain the skills they need for life. Over 90 per cent of our volunteers believe that the skills and experiences they have gained through Scouting have helped them in their working or personal lives. Plus adults get to have fun and make new friends too! Mark Pearson, the new County Commissioner for Suffolk Scouts, says: “No matter who you are, we would love you to be part of Suffolk Scouting, joining a dedicated, positive team of individuals and made to feel part of the Scouting movement. It will change your life and the lives of many more young people in Suffolk.” Andy Simpson from CAS added: “Community Action Suffolk is very excited to be working in partnership with an organisation as well established as the Scouting Association. Together we can promote the flexible and diverse range of volunteering opportunities within the Scouts to businesses, community groups and individuals across the county. With the award winning training available to volunteers we see this as a real win-win volunteering opportunity.” To see what opportunities will suit your life, visit: www.volunteersuffolk.org.uk

ROTARY CHRISTMAS COLLECTION On December 12, 13 and 14, members of Stowmarket and Gipping Valley Rotary Clubs will collect outside Tesco in Stowmarket. They will be accompanied by a barrel organ playing festive music. The money collected will be distributed in the community.

For a copy of our upcoming schedule or to find out more about us, please contact me at: 07854 553966 / Zoe.Lynch@Oddfellows.co.uk Yours in friendship Zoe Lynch, Social Coordinator Gipping Branch

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01/09/2019 17:59

NEWS DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT: October 2019 Councillors Rachel Eburne and Keith Welham, Haughley, Wetherden and Stowupland Ward Climate Change, Biodiversity and Trees Despite agreeing to a Climate Emergency and action on biodiversity, the administration voted down a motion taking practical steps towards this. It was aimed at supporting parish tree wardens, planting more trees and ensuring planning applications took this into consideration. Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) As at September 1, government has changed how CIL is reported and spent. CIL is the levy that developers pay towards infrastructure. In our area it is set at £115/m2 and Stowupland Parish Council gets to keep 25 per cent of all CIL paid in the parish. The district council is reviewing the list that details what CIL can be spent on. There is also a possibility that the amount available for community projects will be reduced. Draft Joint Local Plan Consultation The consultation on the draft Joint Local Plan has ended. It is expected that it will take some months for the officers to get through all the responses. The next stage will be a technical consultation (Regulation 19) before being examined in public by an inspector with a view to the plan becoming ‘made’ in summer/autumn 2020. We note, however, that this timetable has changed a lot since the first draft and has been put back by many months. Traffic and Parking Near Schools A request for a PCSO to witness the drop-off and pick-up at school start and finish times was made and a visit has taken place. Rachel and Keith have recently met with the PCSOs and we have asked for further visits during the autumn term, and we have asked to be contacted in advance so that one of us can be present.

Citizens Advice We have expressed our concern about the future funding of Citizens Advice. A Task and Finish Group of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which is chaired by Keith, is about to commence a review of how the service is delivered across Suffolk, with the aim of securing longer term funding. Treasury Management Report Full council discussed the half year treasury management report at last month’s meeting. To March 2019, CIFCO Ltd (the investment company set up by Mid Suffolk and Babergh Councils) made a loss of £4.6m (split evenly across both councils). This is mainly due to the downward valuation of the company’s investment properties. MSDC also made a loss of £1.5m on the Gateway 14 project; this is still in the early stages of development and has yet to start generating income. Locality Budget A reminder that we each have £7,350 to allocate to community projects and groups in our ward – Haughley, Old Newton, Stowupland and Wetherden. We would like to receive applications or expressions of interest as soon as possible. Any community group wishing to apply for funding should contact one of us. The minimum award amount is £250 and any grant awarded must meet one of the council’s strategic objectives. Development of Needham Lake Visitor Facilities MSDC has plans to create a new visitor centre at Needham Lakes. There was a public consultation event at Needham Market Community Centre on October 10. It is hoped that the new facility will encourage more visitors to the lake, and the council are seeking tenders for the management of the facility. Keith Welham: keith.welham@midsuffolk.gov.uk Rachel Eburne: rachel.eburne@midsuffolk.gov.uk

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFE LINE Christmas Chocolate Bingo We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our Christmas themed Chocolate Bingo event on December 7 at Needham Market Community Centre. Tickets (adults £5, under-10s £4) are available from our Charity Shop in Needham Market or by calling 01449 760343 / 07974 424374. The ticket price will include a hot supper and dessert. We will also have our free ‘Guess the…’ competition, one for adults and one for children. All this together with our giant raffle with over 30 prizes makes it a great family night out. New for this year A selection of very unusual LED Bottle Lights will be on sale in our Charity Shop from November 1 and will make great gifts for everyone. All are handmade so no two bottles will be the same and personalised items

may be available for a small surcharge. Prices will start from as little as £3.99. Photos of different examples will be on our Facebook page. Do you have a mobile phone you no longer use? We are looking for secondhand phones to take out to Belarus when we visit on the Father Frost Program immediately after Christmas. Phones that are unlocked are preferred, but all are welcome as we may be able to get them unlocked. Basic phones with big buttons are gratefully received by older people and more up to date internet enabled phones are great for the children who come over to the UK on group visits so they can keep in touch with their host families and new friends. Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / enquiries@ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk www.ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk

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Behind our hospice are people like you “

The reason I decided to leave the hospice a gift in my Will is because of the wonderful care the nursing team provided for Dad. ” - Robin

Currently one in five of our patients receive care that is funded from gifts in Wills Find out more by calling 01473 723600 or visit: stelizabethhospice.org.uk/giftsinwills www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

NEWS CARE HOME RESIDENTS RECEIVE DONKEY VISITORS! Residents at two Stowcare homes in Stowmarket – Woodfield Court on Temple Road and Chilton Court on Gainsborough Road – had a special treat in September when they received a visit from Minidonks – Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing, a charity run by Sarah McPearson in Long Stratton. Residents adored the donkeys that even came inside to see those who were unable to visit with them outside. It was clear that the donkeys loved their work and they were so well behaved, not one little present on the carpet! It is widely thought that seeing and stroking animals has great benefits, especially for those living with dementia, and being able to get close to animals such as these was a unique opportunity for many residents who are unable to leave the home for various reasons. It was a truly memorable day for all and we will definitely be inviting them back to the home soon. To add to the excitement of our Donkey Day, Anglia TV filmed us for an advert that was shown in a Britain’s Got Talent commercial break on September 21. Sarah featured in a National Lottery Big Surprise, a 90-second ITV slot which celebrates people who have made a difference to the lives of others with the help of lottery funding. The idea of being on TV (even if very briefly) was very pleasing to many residents!

PACT – PARENTS AND CARERS TOGETHER The organisation to help support Parents and Carers Do you have concerns regarding your child or young person’s mental wellbeing? Are you struggling to know where to turn and which direction to go in? If so, then PACT can help. PACT was established in 2013 by two parents who realised they shared the same concerns for children and young people experiencing mental health issues in Suffolk. With their shared knowledge and first hand experiences, they began to build a safe and confidential environment for parents and carers to obtain advice and guidance. PACT offers a whole range of support for many mental health issues including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, ADHD, Asperger’s and eating disorders.

We are delighted to announce that work on our ailing tower is going to commence in 2020 thanks to an award of £95,100 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the project. The bells at St Peter and St Mary’s Church in Stowmarket will be augmented from a ring of eight, to one of ten by adding two new lighter bells. This will enable newcomers to the tradition of campanology to learn the art locally on bells which are much easier to ring. The work will take some months to complete, but once everything is in place, we plan to run a year-long programme of events for all ages and abilities. Other organisations that have very kindly supported our project include The Sapphire Fund, The Alfred Williams Trust, The Lord Belstead Charitable Settlement, the Ganzoni Trust and The Suffolk Guild of Ringers. Additionally, district and town councillors have assisted with locality awards. Grateful thanks to all of the above and to everyone who supported our events and made generous donations over the past two years. Without your help our project would have taken much, much longer to reach this stage. In the meantime, come and join us for a fun night out at our prize bingo at Hillside Community Centre in Stowmarket on Saturday 9 November. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Bring your own drinks (and glasses) and your own nibbles. It’s £5 per book with additional books available at £3 each. You can book via stowmarketbellsproject@gmail.com or by calling Susan on 07960 963888.

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Friday 1 November, 10am-noon: Coffee and Networking Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market Friday 15 November, 6.45am: Breakfast The Mix Stowmarket, Suffolk To book online, follow the link at: https://stowmarketchamber.co.uk/networking-events/

THE PICKEREL PROJECT

There is a fabulous resource library available as well as signposting to relevant departments and professionals, and regular meet-ups in local towns such as Ipswich, Stowmarket and Lowestoft where parents and carers can go for a friendly cuppa and an informal chat. Guest speakers are frequently invited to give professional advice on sensitive issues, or to update parents on upcoming changes.

The Pickerel Project continues to collect rubbish alongside the River Gipping embankment. The number of volunteers has increased this year which may be why we have collected nearly 700 kilos of litter in the year ending August 2019. The total for 2018 was just above 400 kilos. When you consider that we only weigh the lightweight items such as bottles, cans and general rubbish, it’s a frightening amount. We also collected shopping trolleys, traffic signs and cones, a barbecue and many other household items!

PACT are committed to reaching as many parents and carers across Suffolk as they can and appreciate just how isolating it can be when you are caring for a child with mental health issues. They also recognise how confusing it can be trying to locate the appropriate bodies to help address issues.

Councillor Keith Scarff chairs the group and said: “I would like to thank all the volunteers who turn out in all weathers to help us. In four years of recording the amounts collected we have cleared 1.6 tonnes of rubbish, an incredible total. In volume this would probably fill an articulated lorry! We recycle the cans and bottles each month as well.”

If you need any help or guidance, you can find PACT on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and at: www.parentsandcarerstogether.co.uk

If you would like to help us, we also carry out invertebrate surveys, clear pathways and plant trees! The Pickerel Project meets on the first Sunday of each month at the carpark outside Wharfside House (near to the railway station) at 10am. A warm welcome is extended to anyone who comes.

Come join us, so together we can build a better future for our children!

STOWMARKET BELLS UPDATE

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STOWMARKET CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL 2019 November 22 – January 4: Over 450 Christmas Trees in Stowmarket Town Centre for you to enjoy NOVEMBER PROGRAMME

St Peter and St Mary’s

Abbot’s Hall

Stowmarket Library

Red Gables

The grounds are open all day so you are welcome to visit and enjoy the decorated trees and the gardens.

Parish Church

Fri 22 Nov

5.45pm Doors Open for Opening Ceremony at 6pm. Christmas Tree lights switched on by a very special guest. Drinks and mince pies served. Town lights switched on in the Market Place at 7.30pm.

5-7.30pm Drop in and meet Santa in Abbot’s Hall, say hello to his reindeer and send a letter to the North Pole. For details visit: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

8.30am-6.30pm Open to see the Christmas Trees and use the library 4-6pm: Christmas Crafts organised by The Friends of the Library. Coffee available.

Sat 23 Nov

9am-noon: Indoor Boot Sale (see p13) 10am-4pm Open to see the Christmas trees. Refreshments served. Noon-4pm A variety of music including bell ringing from 2-3pm. 7.30pm: Festival Concert with Stowmarket Concert Band, The Kettle Girls and Stowmarket Combined Churches Choir. Interval with wine and mince pies. Tickets £10/£2.

10am-4pm: Open to see the Christmas trees and museum exhibitions.

8.30am-4pm: Open to see the trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Sun 24 Nov

10am: Festival Communion Service. 10am-noon: Messy Church with games, cooking, crafts, stories and singing for ages 3+ and their families. Noon: Open to see the trees. Christmas cake and mince pies served. 1-4pm: Live songs and music.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees and museum exhibitions.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Mon 25 Nov

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

Tue 26 Nov

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees, museum exhibitions, family trails and activities. For more information or to book Santa at Home visit: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

8.30am-4pm: Open to see the trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Wed 27 Nov

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees, museum exhibitions, family trails and activities. Book Santa at Home at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

8.30am-5.45pm: Open to see the Christmas trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Thurs 28 Nov

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees, museum exhibitions, family trails and activities. Book Santa at Home at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

8.30am-5.45pm: Open to see the trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Fri 29 Nov

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees, museum exhibitions, family trails and activities. Book Santa at Home at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

8.30am-6.30pm: Open to see the trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Sat 30 Nov

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees, museum exhibitions, family trails and activities. Book Santa at Home at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

8.30am-4pm: Open to see the trees and use the library. Coffee available.

Throughout December

10am-4pm Open to see the trees. Refreshments served.

10am-4pm: Open to see the trees, museum exhibitions, family trails and activities. Book Santa at Home at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

Tuesday-Sunday: Open each day to see the trees and use the library.

If visiting after dark, please bring a torch. The decorative lights will be turned off mid-evening.

See next month’s edition for the December programme. For more information: www.stowmarketparishchurch.co.uk / 01449 774652/678623

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

OUT & ABOUT WHAT’S ON IN STOWUPLAND? Friday 15 November: Community Quiz Stowupland Village Hall at 7.30pm; £2 each, teams of up to six. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Please register in advance with Cathy: 01449 673185 Saturday 23 November: Barn Dance Following the success of the barn dance in April, the Community Events Committee has organised another to be held in Stowupland Village Hall on November 23 from 7.30pm onwards and, as before, will feature the following: • Snapdragon Ceilidh Band – with caller • M&M Butchers delicious hog roast (with vegetarian option) • Licensed bar and soft drinks available Please come along and support this village event. Details from Cathy: 01449 673185 Friday 29 November: Bingo Stowupland Village Hall; doors open at 7pm, eyes down at 7.30pm. Over-14s only.

AUTUMN BAZAAR AT WOOLPIT VILLAGE HALL The evenings are drawing in pretty fast now, so it’s obviously time for another great autumn bazaar to brighten up your day. Please make a note in your diary for Saturday 2 November from 10.30am to 2pm when Woolpit Village Hall will become a welcoming, bustling marketplace full of friends and brilliant stalls offering jewellery, puzzles, games, toys, giftware, Fairtrade, bric-a-brac, decorations, books and much more. Have a browse and start a little light Christmas shopping. The cafe will have tea, coffee, soup and home-made cakes on offer for lunch. All proceeds are in aid of St Mary’s Church.

MUSEUM OF EAST ANGLIAN LIFE Bonfire Night Make your Bonfire night go off with a bang! Join the crowd for our annual Bonfire Night celebrations on Saturday 2 November. Enjoy fairground amusements and keep toasty by the bonfire.

Cancer stirs up a whole host of emotions. The statistics of cancer are on the rise, the number of people living with cancer has increased by over a million since 2010. There are about 200 different types of cancer, many of which are still trying to be understood and causes identified. To combat these different forms of cancer modern medicine can offer many treatments, with many new methods of treatment being developed. The aim of treatment is to provide a cure or long term remission. Treatments are constantly evolving. Cancer treatment can be invasive and comes with many side effects which can include fatigue, pain, nerve pain, memory loss, concentration problems, issues with sleep and joint stiffness to name a few. Complimentary therapies such as massage, exercise, yoga, aromatherapy, diet and nutrition are now becoming widely adopted in helping maintain a patient’s quality of life working alongside their medical treatment to alleviate side effects, reduce stress and worry. Complementary therapy can’t cure cancer but may be used to support a patient through their cancer journey to help reduce side effects of medication, reduce stress and worry and provide a coping mechanism for the emotional impacts a cancer diagnosis can create. There has been a long held belief that massage would cause cancer to spread, that massage would cause overloading of the lymph system if nodes have been removed or that massage would increase the effects of strong cancer medication. However, with the advances into cancer research there is no evidence to support that massage would play a negative role. Massage is now becoming a common modality in reducing some of the negative side effects of cancer and its treatment. Fatigue feels like something that must be endured, impacting the patient’s quality of life. It was reported in studies that sleep was one of the top ten things improved by massage. When coming for a massage appointment, the patient should experience an in-depth consultation leading to a tailored treatment, being correctly adjusted to meet their needs. The pressure is generally slower and gentler than a normal massage.

Gates open from 6pm and food and refreshments will be available to buy throughout the evening. The bonfire is lit at 7pm and fireworks start at 7.30pm.

Massage has a powerful restorative action and can aid recovery helping aid the process of recovery post treatment. Improving functionality of the body, decreasing pain, improving energy levels and helping the patient return to a sense of normality.

Tickets (£6/£4) are available or from the museum shop or online at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

Massage not only has numerous benefits for the patient but can also benefit the patient’s care givers for they too can suffer with stress, anxiety and depression, fatigue and sleep disturbance. Massage is wonderful at reducing stress and improving energy levels. It can also be used when managing feelings of grief.

Santa at Home Meet Santa at the Museum of East Anglian Life this winter. Step inside Santa’s living room and receive a personalised gift from the man himself. Each child will receive a gift from Santa, can take part in a hunt for the elves in Abbot’s Hall and write a letter to the North Pole. Weekend dates: 30 November & 1 December, 7 & 8 December, 14 & 15 December and 21 & 22 December. Children are £6 you can add an additional child to the same timeslot for £4. Please answer the name and age questions so we can personalise the experience. Tickets are available from the museum shop or online at: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE FOR CANCER PATIENTS

Before embarking on massage it is worth speaking to a consultant or GP to check they are happy for you to receive treatment. Prevention with all things is better than cure. Reducing the risk factors that have been associated with developing cancer can help: these include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, improvement to diet and weight management. Obesity is the second biggest cause of preventable cancer after tobacco. Sam Crockett Sports Massage Therapist and Personal Trainer PhysioFixx Physiotherapy Clinic

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Are you in pain? Chiropractic may help with many problems including lower back pain, neck pain and related headaches as well as arm and leg pain.

Providing Health Care to the Community for over 35 years.

STOWMARKET CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CLINIC ALLERGY THERAPIST at Woolpit

(Brickfields Business Park) Testing for food, environmental and chemical sensitivities – as well which can cause unpleasant symptoms and illnesses.

Michael T E Bailey Doctor of Chiropractic Registered with the General Chiropractic Council

7 Stowupland Rd Stowmarket IP14 5AG

Tel/Fax 01449 612620 www.michaelbailey.net

For an appointment contact Helen Parsons Dip Allergy Therapy, Food Studies Cert.Ed, B.I.A.E.T.

Tel: 01531 670746

March Accounting & Taxation Services Ian Coombes FCCA MBA

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

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

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Phoenix Counselling Practice professionals you can trust We match clients to one of our many qualified and experienced counsellors, meeting individual needs in a relaxed and comfortable environment Fees are negotiable for those on a low income To talk to a counsellor or make an appointment please call

Tel: 01449 675974 or visit our website www.phoenix-counsellingpractice.com

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENT

Saturday 16 November 10 am to 12:30 pm Stowmarket Community Centre Hillside, Stowmarket, IP14 2DB

All proceeds in aid of

SUFFOLK SIGHT Your local sight loss charity

2 cou

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Â£18

.95

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OUT & ABOUT MENDLESHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL FIREWORKS TO MUSIC Sunday 3 November, 6 for 6.30pm Playing Field, Station Road Mendlesham IP14 5RT Hot food, hot & cold drinks Adults £4, U16s £2 NO PRIVATE SPARKLERS OR FIREWORKS Fireworks by Thunder Burst Events

NEEDHAM MARKET SOCIETY September was our Annual General Meeting with a good turnout of members. The chairperson and the committee were all reelected and an invitation extended for others to join the committee. Andrea, our chairperson, gave an account of our year’s activities and the work behind the scenes. The treasurer, Rob McDermott, gave an explanation of the year’s accounts, which remain healthy. Thanks were expressed to Gordon Crosby who keeps the society up-to-date with planning developments in the town, and to Averil Robbins who manages the refreshments at each meeting. Pip Wright was our follow-on speaker. Dressed for the part, he entered into the character of the evening’s topic, The Rickinghall Poachers. We were all left aghast at these dastardly doings during the last century, even though the chief rogue finally turned from poacher and criminal to gamekeeper. Our next meeting is on 20 November when Dr Nick Sign will provide insight into Suffolk schooling in the past in a talk entitled That’ll Larn’em. Our meetings are usually held once every two months in the Burton Room at Needham Market Community Centre at 7.30pm. Annual membership is £7.50 and visitors, for whom the entrance fee is £5, are always welcome. For further details, please phone Andrea: 01449 721056

INDOOR BOOT SALES The dates for the next season of Indoor Boot Sales in St Peter’s Hall (between the library and the John Peel Centre) from 9am-noon are November 2, November 23 (the launch weekend of Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival), February 1 and March 7. Refreshments will be served.

ROTARY CLUB OF STOWMARKET GIPPING VALLEY The Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley is presenting its popular third annual concert on Friday 29 November at the United Reformed Church at 7.30pm. Proceeds are in aid of the British Heart Foundation. The concert will consist of an evening of acapella and barbershop music performed by two groups, Stellar Acappellar and The VIPS. Tickets are £10 and will be available from the British Heart Foundation shop on Ipswich Street. Although tickets will be available at the door on the night, you are advised to get them prior to the event to avoid disappointment. Refreshment will be available. The Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley is a member of Rotary’s District 1080 which broadly covers the whole of East Anglia. The club has recently become the number one lender from all the Rotary clubs belonging to the district. A remarkable achievement for what is a fairly small club. The Rotary Club meets every other Thursday evening at the Cedars Hotel, Stowmarket. If you want a taster of what they are about, whether you be young or old, male or female, you would be very welcome. Just contact Richard Tingey for more information: richard@tingeys.co.uk

At 7.30pm on Saturday 30 November, Stowmarket’s long-established choir Stowmarket Chorale will assemble on the stage at The United Reformed Church to perform highlights from the marvellous Bach Christmas Oratorio. The choir rehearses every Wednesday at Combs Ford Primary School under the expert leadership of Tom Appleton and pianist William Baldry. As the skies darken and autumn changes into winter, the enthusiasm of the singers sparkles as they prepare this concert to bring us nearer to the festive season. The evening promises to be a joyful occasion. Tickets are £15 (free for children and students) and can be purchased online or ordered from: 07901 758009 www.stowmarketchorale.org.uk

To book a table (£5) phone: 01449 678623

Who died first? A recent and, in many ways, rather sad case has illustrated an interesting point of law. This case involved a dispute between stepsiblings following the death of a husband and wife. The case was unusual because the coroner in the course of the inquest could not make a determination based on the medical evidence before him as to which of the husband and wife had died first. They had both died of hypothermia at home. Why was this important? Well, where a property is held as joint tenants (which in this case it was), on the death of the first owner, it passes automatically to the survivor. In this case, it made a real difference – because the property passed different ways, depending on whether it was part of the estate of the husband, or the wife. If the property passed to the wife, then her estate went to her children, and if it passed to the husband, then it was dealt with very differently.

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There is a law that deals with this sort of situation. The Law of Property Act from 1925 states that where two people die together and it cannot be determined who died first, then the younger is deemed to have survived the elder. In the case the wife was younger and was deemed to have survived the husband – which was enough to ensure that the property passed automatically to her. It then formed part of her estate – not his – and therefore passed to her children.

Buttermarket, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1ED Telephone: 01449 613101 • Fax: 01449 615087 Email: info@gudgeons-prentice.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT THE REGAL IN NOVEMBER

STOWMARKET CRAFT MARKET

Pantomime season is fast approaching and we’re very excited about our staging of Little Red Riding Hood from December 3-8 (see page 17).

The October market was a busy one with lots of our crafters offering beautiful Halloween and Christmas items, as well as their usual creations. We welcomed back Stowmarket High School students, helping them with their Peter Jones enterprise program and once again giving them valuable experience and, of course, custom for their wooden creations. We were pleased to see many customers supporting the boys and we really wish them good luck in the future.

After a record breaking run with Downton Abbey, we’re very pleased to be screening Judy, Maleficent 2 and Last Christmas in November, all of which are expected to be popular at the Regal. Judy: Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts. Renée Zellweger’s performance has made her the current favourite to win Best Actress at the Oscars. Gemini Man: An elite assassin becomes the target of a mysterious operative who can seemingly predict his every move. To his horror, he soon learns that the man who’s trying to kill him is a younger and faster version of himself. Mrs Lowry & Son: Back by popular demand, a portrait of the artist L.S. Lowry and the relationship with his mother, who tries to dissuade him from pursuing his passion. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil: Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the complex family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play. Terminator: Dark Fate: Sarah Connor and a hybrid cyborg human must protect a young girl from a newly modified liquid Terminator from the future. Abominable: After discovering a Yeti on the roof of their apartment building, three friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family. Last Christmas: Written by and starring Emma Thompson, featuring the music of George Michael and Wham. A young woman, who has been continuously unlucky, accepts a job as a department store elf during the festive season. November is fantastic for live shows. We have country music with Stephen Smyth, Christmas nostalgia with Neil Sands and the best local dancing talent with Cara-Lea’s End of Year Showcase.

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO TRY LIFE DRAWING? The monthly life drawing group at Stowmarket Community Centre, Hillside welcomes all levels. The sessions last for two hours including a short break and the models vary month to month. The cost per session is £8, please bring your own materials. Get in touch for upcoming dates at: lifedrawingstowmarket@gmail.com

This month’s market offers the busiest and fullest market yet this year. With 20 stalls booked, it will be an event not to miss. We will have crafters with woodwork, jam, book art, knitted and crocheted cuddly items, needle felting, metal work, books, textile crafts, macrame, glassware, decorative items and so much more. There really is something for everyone. In order to give more local crafters an opportunity to sell to the local community, each month has a different range of stalls, so it’s worth visiting us on both November 2 and December 7. Our markets will begin again next April. Keep a look out for our adverts in the new year. Our Facebook page is another great way to keep updated about our events and our stallholders. We also post directions and other important information. You can find our page by searching ‘Stowmarket Craft Market’ on Facebook. Doors open at 10am and entry is free. Refreshments provided by the Scouts and seating is available. For more information please email Sherilee at: stowmarketartisanmarket@gmail.com

CASTLETON BRASS Based in Stoke Ash, Castleton Brass has members from various towns and villages including Stowmarket, Woodbridge, Bramford, Stradbroke and Framlingham and is looking forward to performing concerts and carolling in the run-up to Christmas. Following the band’s performance at Sandringham Christmas and Craft Market on Sunday 17 November, the band swings into full Christmas mode with a concert at St John the Baptist Church, Needham Market on December 1 at 3.30pm. This is followed by a concert at Brockdish Village Hall on December 3 and a concert with Eye Bach Choir at Eye Town Hall on December 13. In between, the band will be playing carols in Saxmundham and Framlingham.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, STOWUPLAND CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Saturday 16 November, 10am-5pm Stowupland Village Hall IP14 4BQ Entry and car parking free. There will be a good variety of craft stalls, Tombola, Name the Bear, Grand Christmas Hamper Draw and, of course, Father Christmas will be welcoming young visitors to his grotto with a free gift between 2pm and 4pm. Hot food and refreshments will be available all day.

The band currently has vacancies for soprano and principal/solo cornets. For more information contact Steve Lovett: 07885186353 / info@castletonbrass.org.uk www.castletonbrass.org.uk

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the friends of the church of preston st mary present a one-off

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ALL PROCEEDS GO TO MAINTAIN THE CHURCH FABRIC

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OUT & ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL CONCERT Presented by The Combined Churches Choir with Stowmarket Concert Band and The Kettle Girls Saturday 24 November at 7.30pm St Peter and St Mary’s Parish Church, Stowmarket Tickets: adults £10, children £2

Stowupland Village Hall Saturday 23 November from 2pm Cakes, draw, bric-a-brac, tombola, books and refreshments Admission 20p Proceeds to Stowupland Chapel

SODS’ 2019 PANTO Tickets are selling fast for SODS’ 2019 pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood, so don’t hang about. We have a special offer for the opening night (all tickets £10) but they won’t be around for long! Will true love prevail for Jack and Penelope? Can the Squire’s daughter escape the advances of the devious Professor Lupus? Will Red and her gang make it through the Professor’s eerie museum? Will Frank and Stein get anything right? And will Granny Smith ever have a successful date? Find out the answer to all these questions – and more – at the Regal Theatre from Tuesday 3 to Sunday 8 December. Tickets can be purchased from: 01449 612825 / www.regalstowmarket.co.uk

WOOLPIT DRAMA CLUB Woolpit Drama Club presents a revue show called Fright & Frivolity, two spooky nights of jumps and frights with thrills and laughter, at Woolpit Village Hall on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November Curtain up at 7.30pm, doors open from 7pm. Full bar available. Tickets (adults £12, under-16s £7) are available from The Old Bakery, Woolpit (in person only), The Bull Inn, Woolpit on 01359 240393 or from: www.wegottickets.com www.woolpitdrama.co.uk

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB Monday 11 November: Wildlife Photography by Steve Plume Monday 25 November: Open Competition No. 2 As agreed at the AGM, entries are limited to one monochrome print, one colour print and two PDIs. Judge: George Buxton Monday 9 December: Ray Giffin Trophy (Wildlife) / Judge: Nigel Rea New members are always very welcome. You don’t have to be an expert photographer; all you need is a camera and a real interest in using it. Regular meetings are held at Stowmarket Community Centre, usually on the second and fourth Monday of the month between September and June. We start arriving at around 7pm for a 7.30pm start. We’d love to see you there, so why not join us? www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net

FUNDRAISING BINGO NIGHTS Stowmarket Community Centre, Hill Side, Stowmarket IP14 2BD Saturdays 2 November & 7 December at 7pm www.stowmarketcarnival.org.uk We will be selling soft drinks and snacks, but please feel free to bring your own alcoholic drinks.

1 MID SUFFOLK BOYS BRIGADE AND GIRLS ASSOCIATION st

We’re back in full swing after the summer break. We’ve played games, baked buns, made pizza, learnt how our heart works and that’s just a snippet of the fun activities we’ve already done. We have lots more planned, including a star search, litter pick and Road Safety Week. If you have a child aged 5-18 and would like to find out more please email: bb1stmidsuffolk@yahoo.co.uk We meet on Wednesday evenings at the BB Hall in Combs Lane.

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CAROLS FOR ALL The Salvation Army, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket IP14 1NE Wednesday 4 December at 7pm We are once again holding our annual Carols for All event, which has been very popular and well attended over the years. TAKING PART THIS YEAR Stowmarket Salvation Army Band & Choir Abigail Johnson (vocal) Anna Lamplough (saxophone) Great Finborough CEVC Primary School Choir Free hot chocolate from the Emergency Unit This year’s proceeds will go towards Stowmarket Foodbank & Christmas Present Appeal Ticket are available from: Style at Stow, 15 Bury Street, Stowmarket Jenny on 01449 614133

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OUT & ABOUT

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT REMEMBRANCE PARADE The details of this year’s Remembrance Commemorations are as follows: Fri 1 Nov: Armistice Dinner in the RBL Club on Tavern Street. Tickets are £17 (slight change to that reported last month) and can be purchased at the bar. Sat 9 Nov: Remembrance Festival at the Salvation Army building on Violet Holl Road in Stowmarket. The festival is supported by the Cara Lea School of Dance and Stowmarket Concert Band. Doors open at 12.30pm for a 1pm start. Tickets are £9 and are on sale through the Regal Theatre. Sun 10 Nov: (slight change to the timings previously reported) Parade participants meet at Red Cables at 9.45am, ready to march off at 10am. The parade will march through the town and arrive at the church at 10.15am, ready for the service. The church service will start at 10.45am and will conclude by 11.45am. Following the church service, the parade will form up in the Market Place and march off to the Memorial Gates where the Wreath Laying Ceremony will take place. The Wreath Laying Ceremony is expected to conclude at 12.50pm. Mon 11 Nov: There will be a small service at the Memorial Clock in town. Meet at the RBL Club at 10.30am to make our way to the clock at 10.45am, when the service will begin. The service will conclude by the playing of the Last Post at 11am. Remembrance Weekend is an opportunity for the RBL and associations to come together to join the people of the town in remembering those who have fallen and to provide help and support to those still with us. POPPY APPEAL EJD59 Stowmarket – Charity Number 219279 At the time of writing, Viv and I are in deep with the preparations and early expectations are that it will be an eventful year; we have more volunteers and expect a busy collecting period. As reported last month, the Poppy Appeal launch takes place at ASDA on October 26 at 10.30am and all are welcome. As well as a fortnight of collections at major supermarkets, other retail, business and community outlets, the Suffolk Military Vehicles Trust will be out with their vehicles in the town square on Sunday 3 November from 10am. Please give them your support as they collect for the appeal. There’s still time to join in and lend your support in a two-hour collecting slot. I look forward to reporting on your successes in January’s edition. Thank you, as always, in anticipation.

ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION It’s hard to believe we are writing now for the November issue of In Touch. September was an extremely busy month for our members with various fundraising events for the annual Wings Appeal. We had Brew for the Few in the United Reform Church Hall in Stowmarket, with numerous stalls, tea, coffee and cake and ploughman’s lunches which proved very popular. Members carried out a street collection in Stowmarket and in some local villages along with shop collections at Tesco, Stowmarket and Morrisons at Ipswich and Hadleigh. These events raised a considerable amount of money and we would like to thank the general public for their generosity. All money raised goes towards the welfare work carried out by the association, supporting serving and ex-service personnel and their families in their own homes, in sheltered housing or in one of the RAFA convalescent homes. The anniversary of the Battle of Britain is an important date in our calendar and we held a dinner to mark the occasion. We were honoured to welcome Stowmarket Town Mayor, Paul Ekpenyong and his wife Annette as guests of honour. The same weekend we had a Commemoration Service in the parish church when several standards were paraded by local ex-military associations and 1331 Squadron, Stowmarket Air Cadets. We meet on the first Wednesday in the month at the Royal British Legion. If you would like further information, please contact our secretary on 01449 676871. STOWMARKET OCA Last month we had our summer outing to Oulton Broad where we had an excellent meal at The Wherry. We should have then gone on to Southwold, but as the rain was so heavy we spent the afternoon in Flixton and the outing ended earlier than planned. Fifteen members attended the September meeting. We had received invitations from the Royal British Legion to the Remembrance Day Commemorations and the Festival of Remembrance at the Salvation Army Hall, and from Ipswich OCA to their annual dinner. In October we enjoyed a fish ‘n’ chip night. Our next meeting is at Royal British Legion Club on November 27 at 8pm. Anyone who has served in the army would be most welcome to join us.

Rachel Oakley: rachel@oakleyvillas.co.uk

For more information contact D King: 01449 675318

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WOMEN SECTION (STOWMARKET) We held our Harvest Supper at the club on September 18 when we welcomed our new pastor, Canon Pauline Higham, and eight ladies from Bury St Edmund’s branch RBLWS. Sue gave a short summary of upcoming events and Rachel Oakley also gave a quick mention of forthcoming dates for the Remembrance period. A very enjoyable supper was provided by Kelly and her team. A raffle was then held and in addition to our normal raffle there were prizes of a vegetable and fruit hamper, a fruit hamper and a rose plant. Thanks to Maureen who prints all the names with the menus and the table plan and to her and Carole for setting up the tables which looked lovely. The evening went very well and we look forward to seeing members at our meeting on November 20 when David Marsh give a talk about the History of the Regal.

RBL CLUB We have several events coming up, including hosting personnel following the Remembrance Parade. There is always something going on for you to enjoy. Upcoming events for your diary are as follows:

We held our jumble sale at Hillside on September 28 and as the weather was favourable, we had more buyers than normal. There was a very successful raffle and tombola and the other stalls did well, as did the refreshments and cake stall. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped on the day.

Mon 23 Dec: Christmas Disco and buffet for people with additional needs and their support workers

For further information please contact the chairperson, Sue Priest: 07709 287816

For more information on these and other activities please visit: http://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/stowmarket

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Sat 30 Nov: Turkey and Tinsel Christmas Dinner with live music from G&T Tue 10 Dec: Christmas Bingo – eyes down at 12.30pm Thu 12 Dec: Christmas Luncheon Fri 20 Dec: Christmas Party and grand Christmas draw with buffet and disco

Tue 31 Dec: New Year’s Eve Party with live music from Tyler Kemp Don’t forget we also have a pool and snooker table.

OUT & ABOUT STOWMARKET IN STITCH CRAFT CLUB

STOWMARKET RAMBLERS

Each year Stowmarket In Stitch Craft Club supports a charity. This year our charity is Bobby Bears. We knitted over 50 bears in a variety of sizes to give to the police, who in turn will give one children who have suffered some form of trauma.

Sunday, November 3: 5 mile walk in Needham, Barking and Darmsden. Park and meet at Needham Market Railway Station at 10am / GR. TM 091548. Leader: 01449 674763 Sunday, November 10: 7 mile walk around Norton and Stowlangtoft. Park and meet at Norton Village Hall at 10am / GR. TL 957659. Leader: 01359 232096 Sunday, November 17: 5.5 mile walk by Knettishall and Riddlesworth School. Park and meet at the free car park on Knettishall Heath at 10.30am / GR. TL 956807. Leader: 07519 164931

The police carry the bears in their cars. They are then able to give one to each child as and when needed. If you would like to support Bobby Bears, you can take them to Stowmarket Library. They are then taken to Ipswich Police Station and distributed around the county.

STOWMARKET BRIDGE CLUB Are you interested in playing bridge in a friendly and welcoming environment? If so, you’d receive a warm welcome at Stowmarket Bridge Club. We play at St Mary’s Hall (IP14 1LS), Stowmarket, which is at the junction of Silverdale Avenue and Lydgate Road, close to Wolsey Road Post Office. There’s plenty of parking available nearby. We meet on Wednesdays (6.45 for 7pm) and Fridays (2 for 2.15pm). Come along with a partner or contact Arthur Winchester (01449 612105) who will help to find one for you. We have players of all abilities. To find out more, contact Arthur or visit: www.bridgewebs.com/stowmarket

STOWUPLAND LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Wednesday 6 November: A Life in Churches by Roy Tricker Roy Tricker really needs no introduction. For many years he has been a champion of Suffolk Churches, originally as a regional officer with The Churches Conservation Trust. He has written countless church guides as well as contributing to books on the subject. He was recently awarded a well-deserved B.E.M. for his work. Some of our members will recall his tour of Gipping Chapel with our group a few years ago. Tonight he talks about his passion for the county’s churches. Wednesday 4 December: Round Tower Churches by Stuart Bowell There are a variety of theories as to why some churches have round towers, but it’s known that these are very early structures, some predating the Norman conquest. The vast majority of these towers are found in Suffolk and Norfolk. Stuart is a member of the Round Tower Church Society. We meet at 7.30pm in Stowupland Village Hall IP14 4BQ. Visitors are always welcome and refreshments are available. Admission is £1 for members, £3 for non-members. For more information, please contact Judy Clarke: 01449 615386

STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT TREFOIL GUILD We celebrated our 40th anniversary in August with afternoon tea attended The Deputy Mayor, Mr Keith Welham and his consort and other guests and former members. We had fun looking back at photos take over the years and took part in two quizzes. Before tea was served, the cake was cut by the deputy mayor and Mrs Janet Beaumont, a founder member.

Sunday, November 24: 5.5 mile walk in Gallowsfield Wood and Haughley area. Park and meet at picnic site/car park at wood (located a short distance from Quarries Cross staggered road junction on the road from Tothill to Haughley New Street) at 10am / GR. TM 022617. Leader: 01449 257349

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT MONDAY CLUB We have settled in well after the summer break. Members had a really good day at Bressingham Gardens and were very lucky with the weather. Activities continue with a Scattegories quiz followed by an evening making Guys for the bonfire and a pumpkin evening in preparation for Halloween. The following week we will have a Halloween dance with music provided by our old friends Yesterday. This is an opportunity for members to come in their spooky outfits and have a great time. We are a club for adults with learning difficulties and meet each Monday from 7.30-9.30pm at the Community Hub in Crown Street, Stowmarket. We are run entirely by volunteers and new members and helpers are always very welcome. If you would like further information, please contact me on 01449 672123 or just come along on a Monday evening. Lilian Fidler

STOWMARKET LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Monday 18 November: Sutton Hoo by David Phelan This presentation takes us through the changes over time and explains the relevance of what was found in the great ship and why we now know it to be the burial place of England’s first King, King Raedwald AD625. The talk is fully illustrated. The speaker was a burial mound guide, an exhibition hall speaker and National Trust appointed speaker for Sutton Hoo before retiring from the post. Monday 16 December: A play Wot Annette wrote Performed by the committee, this is a comical play based on a theme chosen by Annette and acted by us. Our amateur status and inability to learn the lines in time are likely to makes it even funnier. The play will be followed by our usual Christmas refreshments, when we ask that those attending bring a small plate of food to share. Meetings are held at 7.30pm at Hillside Community Centre, Stowmarket IP14 2BD. Members £1, non-members £3.30. For further details contact Jeannette Baldry: 01449 675271 www.stowmarket-history.co.uk

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT FLOWER CLUB Our November meeting will be an open meeting at Needham Market Community Centre, when David Thomson will present a demonstration titled Christmas My Way. As always, there will be stalls selling plants, jewellery, handbags, scarves, and there will be refreshments after the demonstration. Tickets are £7 for members and £10 for non-members. Everyone welcome.

We meet from 2-4pm on the first Wednesday of the month at the Scout Centre on Milton Road and would welcome new members.

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Karen Finch RHAD FSHAA FRSA

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OUT & ABOUT / schools EXTINCTION REBELLION – PRACTICAL ACTION AT ORCHARD BARN

WOOD LEY COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL Wow! What a fun-packed start to the year we’ve had at Wood Ley! Only a few weeks into the new school year and we’ve already had visitors, trips, author visits and a residential trip. Our Year 6 children had an amazing time on their annual residential trip to Thorpe Woodlands where they cycled, went caving and jumped out of trees! It’s so lovely to see then having a great time, and making lifelong memories too.

Climate change is with us and with it an urgent need to change our consumption habits. While we’ve seen a big shift in our reduction of singleuse plastic, there’s a way to go. What about the materials our homes are built from? Can they be recycled or reused? Can we source more locally, and undertake small scale building ourselves? Our ancestors knew a thing or two about sourcing building materials as close to home as possible. At Orchard Barn we are all about helping visitors, volunteers and trainees reduce their carbon footprint by taking small steps towards living more sustainable lives. We are intentionally ‘off-grid’ and source our trees and earth for building within a 10-mile radius. While this makes everything that much slower, it does make us think about where everything comes from, and where things go at the end of their life. There is no Planet B. Collectively we have to learn to live more lightly on Planet A. With that in mind, where did your home come from? And where will it go at the end of its life? Now it might be a radical thought that we could be building houses that will ultimately come from the landscape and ultimately return to the earth and leave no trace, but at Orchard Barn during the last month we have worked with surveyors, county council employees and local homeowners on just that subject – natural building from the local landscape. Thanks to the younger generation and Extinction Rebellion for leading the way. There is a paradigm shift of awareness happening, and that can only be a good thing. If you’d like to find out how you can get involved at Orchard Barn, please check out our website or drop in between 10am and 4pm on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, or whenever our gate is open (IP14 2LY). We have the venue and infrastructure to reach more people, but need your help to step up our environmental education objectives that are embedded in low carbon action. www.orchardbarn.org.uk

Kimmy’s Zoo brought in a range of exotic animals such as a tarantula, a skunk, a possum and a snake. We were given lots of great information which really supports our learning.

We had an exciting visit from SteamCo when we learnt all about creativity and working together. The children learnt about forces and made rockets which they launched 100 feet into the sky. We had a dramatic launch of a real rocket at the end of the school day which flew 500 feet into the sky. It’s a day the children won’t forget for a long time. The whole school enjoyed a visit from author Rachel Jane who read her stories about camper vans and told the children all about being a writer, a great way to inspire our children to write. We have packed so much in already and we’re only four weeks into the new school year. We can’t wait to see what the next month brings! www.woodley.suffolk.sch.uk

ST PETER & ST MARY’S PRE-SCHOOL The autumn term is upon us and we are still enjoying playing in a sunny garden amongst the autumn colours which are starting to appear. We are planning an autumn walk to collect crunchy leaves, shiny conkers and pine cones to add to our garden tray. We are also enjoying lots of new challenges .We have been building with our steps, crates and boards to create a range of different walkways to negotiate using a variety of techniques to get from one side to the other. Sometimes we walk the plank as pirates and then go inside to play with the pirate boats.

STOWMARKET WILDLIFE GROUP Wednesday 27 November, 7.30pm at Stowupland Village Hall

If you would like to join us we still have spaces. We accept children from two to five years and accept Golden Tickets or Universal Funding. Contact: 07803 290272 / stpeters.stmarys.preschool@gmail.com

An illustrated talk on glow-worms with Tim Gardiner plus a wildlife quiz and raffle. The glow-worm is not actually a worm, but a beetle. Males look like typical beetles, but the nightly glow of a female is unmistakable. It is one of Britain’s most adored yet mysterious insects. Glow-worms face many modernday threats and challenges affecting their future existence. Admission is £2.50 including refreshments. A hearing loop is available on request. John Thompson: 01449 676471 / swtstowmarket@gmail.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

SPORT SCORPION ACADEMY

STOWMARKET TENNIS CLUB British summertime doesn’t end until late in October but it certainly feels like it’s happened already. We’ve been playing outside for almost seven months now and have enjoyed some glorious sunny days down at the club. The transition into autumn has been somewhat abrupt but we’ve lost very little court time to the weather. Our winter dome was due to be installed on Tuesday 8 October but had to be postponed due to excessive wind speed. Hopefully we’ll have it up and running by the time this reaches you or very soon afterwards. Once the dome is up we can play throughout the winter in lovely dry, frost free conditions.

A fantastic turn out of more than 80 juniors and seniors took part in the recent interclub sparring tournaments. We saw absolutely fantastic fighting skills and taking part counts towards achieving a blackbelt. We have many ongoing events including coloured belt exams, Nerf gun training sessions, a Halloween party, interclub tournaments and the BTA and UFKKWA British Championships. Next year is our 30th anniversary and we plan to celebrate this milestone at the annual multi-style training camp held in May at Caister-on-sea. This is where top masters and grandmasters gather to teach and demonstrate their unique skills. We run karate and kickboxing classes throughout the week and offer one month of free training to all new members. For further details please contact Mark Jr Trent: scorpion.ufkkwa@gmail.com / 07708 644162

ELMSWELL BOWLS CLUB Playing at Stowupland Bowls Green Our season ended on 22 September with a visit by the East Anglia Kit Car Club. The weather on the day was kind and better than forecast, but as wet conditions were expected not as many vehicles were on display as was hoped. However, there was a good gathering of interested people enjoying a BBQ (with a permanent queue throughout the afternoon) as much as the cars themselves and members of the car club participated in bowling. Some proved they had the potential to become worthy bowlers! We held our club competition finals the weekend before and the results are: Targets Ladies winner: Brenda Begg / Runner-up: Pam Riches Mens winner: Dave Hollings / Runner-up: Graham Newman Brenda’s score of 26 was the highest overall. Ladies Singles Winner: Linda Waspe / Runner-up: Pam Riches Mens Singles Winner: Nick Chamberlin Runner-up: Ian Tullett Mixed Pairs Winners: Joan Davies and Ian Tullett Runners-up: Dave Hollings and David Begg We hold our AGM in October and November will see us enjoying our annual dinner at Bury Golf Club. Should this be our final article until next March, we take this opportunity to wish everyone, particularly in Stowupland a happy, safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year. Finally, our sincere thanks to those in Stowupland who extended advice and friendship to us throughout the past season. David Begg

Activity at the club actually increases at this time of year as our various winter league teams begin their annual campaign against many other clubs from within the county. It’s great to see some new, improving players getting involved in this essentially friendly competition. The coaching program is also set to run throughout the winter with the most obvious difference being considerably more layers to be worn and slightly colder parents faithfully watching from the sidelines. I’m not sure who deserves more credit – the active juniors or the dedicated adults baring the cold. There are many different entry points into the tennis club, whether you’re looking for playing or coaching or both. Sessions run all week and the club has activity every day. If you’d like to get started, or receive some more information, drop me a line. See you on court! Senior Club Coach Chris Cunningham chris@chriscoaching.plus.com / 07761 142372

NEEDHAM MARKET BOWLS CLUB The Stowmarket League outdoor season has now finished and NMBC picked up two trophies at the end of season dinner. Congratulations to John Milliard and his Monday night two-wood team and David Hindley’s Wednesday triples team. Three wins in three years, a great hat-trick. May I also say a big thank you to all our bowlers? The atmosphere in the club has been great and I hope you all enjoyed your bowling. Not forgetting the supporters and non-bowling members who have helped to make bowls nights so enjoyable. This year we played our club pairs and triples competitions over the season rather than having finals days. Congratulation to the winners you were: Pairs: Joyce Walton and Brian Locksmith Triples: Pat Hadden, Rita Robertson and Henry Gooderham At this time there are no dates for the winter socials so keep your eyes open for an email from Pat Hadden and for the next article. We have received a lot of praise from opposing teams about our green which has been maintained to a very high standard all season. Thanks go to John Cook, Trevor Harvey, Mike Suffling, Alistair Bailie and everyone who helped out. The green has now been put to bed but the work continues over the winter to make sure it’s in the best possible condition for the 2020 season. The indoor season at the Meadlands, where we have over 30 members bowling, is now in full swing. Anyone wanting information about indoor bowling should contact David Hindley: 01449 613144 / 07717 940270 Meet and Greet days will commence again in April 2020. Anyone who would like to try bowling can just turn up, talk to members and enjoy tea/coffee and a biscuit. The actual dates will be announced later. To discuss any aspect of NMBC, contact Alistair Bailie (01449 720759) or Pat Hadden (01473 831308).

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Sport / church News AIKIDO SEMINAR WITH SENSEI BROWN On Saturday 5 October, Inori Aikikai Aikido Dojo had the great pleasure of hosting a one-day seminar in Woolpit with Peter Brown Shihan. Now more than 50 years old, Sensei Brown has been training in Aikido since the age of nine. He is attaining the rank of 6th Dan, being the chief instructor of Kyu Shin Kan Omeikai. The overriding theme of this seminar was body movement. We’ve learnt how to use the power generated by the hips, with a focus on foot work, good posture, central line and absorbing a partner’s energy in an economic way. The first half of the day was spent on Bokken (sword) and Jo (4’ staff) practise as most Aikido techniques are rooted in the Japanese samurai weapons work. In the afternoon we switched to empty-hand defence, keeping in mind the relationship with the sword and staff. Toward the end of the day we revisited weapons practice, this time increasing moves complexity and speed.

STOWMARKET CRICKET CLUB Newly promoted to Division 3 of the Two Counties league and after losing their first six matches, Stowmarket 1st X1 recovered to achieve an excellent mid-table position, in the process completing the double over league winner Copdock. In Division 9, our 2nd X1 finished a creditable sixth. This was pleasing, bearing in mind youngsters are given the opportunity play a full part in the team’s achievements. Individual performances will be published after our awards evening, this year to be held at Stowmarket Golf Club, where members past and present will gather to enjoy a meal and reminisce about the many years of cricket played at Stowmarket, one of the oldest clubs in the world, having been formed in 1753.

We had a good turn-out on the day and would like to thank everyone who came along – existing members and visitors from other local martial clubs, including our friends from Taipan Combat. Particular thanks to everyone that helped to make it such a successful day.

We have been delighted to welcome so many visitors to each of our churches for Harvest Services over the past two months. In addition to our regular Sunday services, Great Finborough and Combs Churches were both filled with children and their generously given harvest produce at the school Harvest Services. This, plus the produce from other Harvest Services has been delivered to Stowmarket Foodbank.

Sensei Brown is a very good teacher who pays attention to every detail. His seminars are always extremely rewarding and therefore we look forward to see him again in Woolpit next October.

As our thoughts turn to winter and the approach of Advent, please look out for the #FollowTheStar events, services and opportunities for private reflection taking place at our churches.

If you have never tried Aikido, it’s a dynamic Japanese Martial Art suitable for men and women of any age, size and build. Regular classes run at Woolpit Village Hall on Thursday nights and are taught by sensei Adrian Munteanu, 4th Dan Aikikai, Fukushidoin. Sensei Adrian is Coach Level 1 & 2 qualified, DBS checked and first aid qualified.

Remembrance Sunday Services of Remembrance will be held at Great Finborough, Buxhall and Combs at 10.50am on Sunday 10 November. Buxhall will be supported by Stowmarket Concert Band.

Sensei Adrian: 07793 658748 / inoridojo@yahoo.com Facebook: @Inori Dojo / www.inoridojo.wixsite.com/aikidosuffolk

THE SALVATION ARMY Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket Sunday, November 3 Wednesday, November 6 Sunday, November 10 Saturday, November 16 Sunday, November 17 Sunday, November 24 Sunday, December 1 Wednesday, December 4

11am Service / 4pm Messy Church 7.30pm Live Lounge at Costa, Stowmarket 11am Remembrance Service 5.30pm Civic Service 10am Coffee Morning 11am & 5.30pm Services 11am Service / 4pm Café Church 11am Service only 6pm Parish Church – Advent Service 7pm Carols for All (see p17)

WEEKLY EVENTS Monday 9.30-11.30am

Funky Monkeys (Parent & Toddler Group)

Tuesday 10am

CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other)

Tuesday 2pm

Over Sixties Club

Wednesday 5.45pm

Kidz Club (ages five plus)

Wednesday 7.30pm

Live Lounge at Costa Coffee (first in month)

Saturday 10am-noon

Coffee Morning (third Saturday in month)

We have interesting and varied activities during the week and well attended Sunday Services. For more information, please ring Jenny: 01449 614133

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For more details about these, or any of our services please contact Revd Chris Childs: 01449 673280 / revcchilds@aol.com Onehouse Church Christmas Coffee Morning Saturday 30 November, 10am at Trinity Hall, OnehouseIP14 3EP For more details about this, or any of our services please contact Revd Canon Pauline Higham: 01449 771791 Combs Christmas Fayre St Mary’s Church Combs in conjunction with Trinity (CEVAP) School Saturday 30 November, 2-4.30pm at Trinity School, Lavenham Way, Combs IP14 2PE Visit Father Christmas and see Stowmarket Concert Training Band in action. Enjoy the fun with festive stalls, cakes, games and raffle. Harleston Church Christmas Coffee Morning Monday 2 December, 10am at Dapple Light, Harleston IP14 3HP For more details about this, or any of our services please contact Revd Canon Pauline Higham: 01449 771791 Light and Laughter Thursday 31 October. 4-6pm at St Andrew’s Church Great Finborough (IP14 3AD) A party for primary aged children. Come and join the fun! For more details please contact Revd Canon Pauline Higham (01449 771791) or Irene Leech (01449 676567). Friday 1 November, 3pm at St Andrew’s Church, Great Finborough All children welcome with an accompanying adult. Please stay for tea after our Messy service and activities. For more information please contact Revd Canon Pauline Higham: paulinehigham@googlemail.com

church News STOWMARKET URC It was great to welcome so many cyclists and walkers to our premises during the annual Suffolk Historic Churches Ride and Stride event. Corresponding with our Men’s Breakfast and the coffee morning held on the second Saturday of the month, the church was jam-packed with visitors, many taking advantage of the mouth-watering array of cakes available. This month’s event is on Saturday 9 November is in aid of the Bible Society and we’re open between 10.30am and 12.30pm. CHRISTMAS FAYRE One of the highlights of our year for the past 60 years has been our annual Christmas Fayre. This free to enter, much looked forward to occasion is on Saturday 16 November from 10am. Our very popular cake and preserves tables will be surrounded by a variety of other stalls selling a wide range of Christmas items. This year more space has been allocated for the enjoyment of refreshments which will be available throughout the day with light lunches served from noon. I am able to finish with the exciting news that Revd Robert Sheard has accepted the call from this church and from Debenham URC to become our minister from July 2020. Watch this space to see what’s on at the URC.

Did you know that there is a church that meets on the Cedars Park estate? Cedars Church has been going for 11 years and meets every Sunday at 10.30am at Cedars Park Primary School. Our services are contemporary in style and involve singing and listening to a talk based on the Bible. During the service we have vibrant groups for children and we end our time with refreshments. We would love for you to join us sometime. We also have youth groups on Friday nights at the school. These groups are free and include games, crafts and a short talk. The groups meet at the following times: School Years 1-3: 5.30-6.30pm School Years 4-6: 6.45-7.45pm School Years 7-10: 8-9pm For more information please visit our website: or contact us at: www.cedarschurch.com / info@cedarschurch.com

CHRISTCHURCH, NEEDHAM MARKET Methodist/United Reformed Church, High Street, Needham Market IP6 8AP Minister: The Rev Rita Carr (Methodist) 01449 612619 Christchurch had its Harvest Festival Service at the end of September. The main theme of a Harvest Festival is to say ‘thank you’ for all the good things that the earth produces. The church was decorated with autumn plants and flowers, fresh produce such as apples and carrots, and lots of tins and packets of food items. The children enjoyed finding out where food items came from before they were sold in supermarkets. They then challenged the congregation to see how much they knew! This is a bit different from Harvest Festivals we had when I was much younger when we took baskets of fresh produce to church which was shared out after the service and taken to elderly residents of the town or village. We still said thank you for all the good things to eat and the sun and rain that helped them to grow. This year the tins and packets were taken to the Foodbank in Stowmarket which helps to feed people and families who are finding it difficult to buy enough food for themselves. This is a local charity which is constantly finding increasing demands for its services. As well as giving thanks for the food, we also need to give thanks for all the volunteers who work in this charity, organising and delivering food parcels to families in crisis. The people we must never forget to say thank you for are the farmers who still manage to grow the food for us despite constantly changing economic and climatic conditions. So, let us be thankful for the earth’s resources and try our best not to destroy them. SN November 10: We join in the Remembrance Service at St John’s Parish Church (no service at Christchurch) We hope you can join us for some of our Christmas events: December 1: Following our morning service, we will be open for refreshments and children’s activities, joining in with Needham Market Street Fayre. December 12: Crib Service at 5pm December 22: Carol Service at 4pm December 25: Christmas Service at 11am

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is January 18-25 with a United Service at Christchurch on January 19 at 10.30am. Regular Services Sunday Morning Worship: 10.30am (including crèche and Sunday Club) Service of Holy Communion: Second Sunday WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES IN CHRISTCHURCH HALLS Tiddlers: For mums and babies up to four years, Monday from 9.3011.15am in term time. Contact Victoria: 07725 037026 Scrabble Club: Monday from 2-4pm. New players please contact Sheila Norris: 01449 720871 Knit for Peace: First Wednesday, 2.30-4pm. Contact Sheila Norris: 01449 720871 Christians Together: 10am-noon. Contact Tony Leigh Pollitt: 01449 403105 Coffee Morning: Second Saturday, 10am-noon, always with a selection of cakes for sale. OTHER REGULAR BOOKINGS Weight Watchers: Saturday 8-10am Yoga: Monday 6.45-8.45pm / Wednesday 9.15-11.15am Moo Born Baby Massage: Monday 12.30-2.30pm Moosical Moo for ages 0-5: Tuesday 9.15am-noon in term time Osteo Stretch & Exercise: Tuesday 12.30-1.30pm Over Power Body Transformations Fitness Class: Wednesday 5.30-8pm Rainbow Guides: Thursday 5.30-6.30pm (term time) Brownies: Thursday 6.30-7.30pm (term time) Exercise Classes: Friday 9-10.30am HALL LETTINGS: There are spaces available for hire. To arrange a visit to view or for further information ring: 07851 742847 CHURCH CONTACT: Lindsey Gomez, 01449 722418 www.christchurchneedhammarket.co.uk

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