In Touch
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with Ashbocking, Swilland, Tuddenham, Westerfield & Witnesham Volume 9 • Issue No. 1 • DECEMBER 2018
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I hate winter! There, I’ve said it. I’ve tried to appreciate the positives but I spend every long dark evening longing for spring, which for me starts on February 11. For this reason I love Christmas; it gives us something to look forward to and brings family and friends together with time to relax. Of course it can be an expensive time and requires a huge amount of planning, but somehow it’s always worth it. So bring it on I say! Let’s embrace this time to relax and to enjoy the company of those we may not see as regularly as we’d like. This year I’m determined to make Auntie Mary smile, even if I have to spend all day working on it. I’m going to find the perfect non-gift for the impossible aunt who says she doesn’t want or need anything, until she doesn’t get anything of course. I’m going to make the bread sauce nobody eats just so my brother can’t complain that it’s not the same without it! I’m going to discuss the timings with absolutely everyone so nobody comes to the table saying ‘I wish I’d known we were eating this early as I wouldn’t have had that fifth mince pie for breakfast’. I’m going to serve custard, brandy butter, ice cream and cream with the Christmas pudding so mum, my husband, my brother and my nephew have no cause to complain, and for those who always say ‘I don’t really like Christmas pudding’ I shall be serving chocolate mousse. My approach to Christmas present shopping has changed over the years. Where once I might have spent hours online looking for something unusual or quirky, this year I’m focused on finding more thoughtful gifts; this requires a hands-on approach so it’s local shops and markets for me this year. I’m taking the same approach with my son. We’ve been influenced by TV ads for the latest gadgets and plastic monstrosities in the past; recent mistakes include Boom Boom Balloon Game, Chippies Robot Dog, Zoomer Dino Robot Dinosaur and Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage. This year I’m determined to find things I know he will enjoy well into 2019 and I’ll be having a word with Father Christmas too. I hope this month doesn’t cause unnecessary stress in your home. Please do support local businesses and local markets in the coming weeks and together we can look forward to a Happy New Year.
InTouch
with Ashbocking, Swilland, Tuddenham, Westerfield & Witnesham
Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
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NEWS WITNESHAM REMEMBERS Like most villages, Witnesham commemorated the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day on Sunday, November 11. The annual ceremony took place at the War Memorial at 10am, where the names of each of the 13 men from Witnesham who made the ultimate sacrifice were read out, and an individual cross placed to remember them, before the sound of the Last Post rang out. At 10.45am a service was held at St Mary’s Church, conducted by the Reverend Catherine Forsdike, which included a two-minute silence at 11am. The church had been decorated with flowers and a montage was created which stood on the font. The centre-piece was a representation of a First World War soldier, looking mournfully away from the plaque on the wall bearing the names of his fallen colleagues. He was surrounded by flowers which told a moving story. They started with yellow, representing friendship, because so many young men joined with their friends, red representing courage and remembrance, and white signifying purity and peace, and when conjoined, unity. An image of Lord Kitchener lies beneath them, his thoughts being with the men in the trenches. These bright times were behind him, and moving to the front were flowers of purple which signifies mourning and where lay a horse shoe, not for luck, but to remember the contribution made, and the price paid, by animals during the conflict. Upon the sandbags were poppies reflecting eternal sleep, with fallen leaves for sadness. At the foot of the font lay two wreaths, red representing the soldiers and purple representing their animals. On a nearby table bedecked with the Armistice flag were two trees of willow, surrounded by moss, to reflect eternal love, one bearing the names of the men of Witnesham, and the other for people to write names or messages to remember their loved ones.
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL I am writing this in the middle of the Poppy Appeal collection period and thought that the following comment from the national chairman of the Royal British Legion encapsulates the position as we draw near to Armistice Day and remember the end of the First World War precisely 100 years ago. “Wherever you look, in every village, town and city in the UK, volunteer fundraisers are out in all weathers making a success of this year's Poppy Appeal. It is a vital period which will go a long way towards funding the Royal British Legion's important work in 2019 and beyond.” May I therefore, sincerely thank everyone involved in our collecting effort in our villages, whether it be our group of door-to-door fundraisers, the churches, clubs, pubs, shops and WCP School who kindly collect through static boxes and, most importantly, all of you who so generously give your own voluntary donation. I would like also to especially thank the Witnesham Village Historian and Recorder Steve Henley, as along with his fascinating insights in In Touch, he has been a volunteer fundraiser for the Royal British Legion for 40 years – a magnificent and wonderful achievement. We will report the amounts raised in a future edition. Alexander Raven
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OUT & ABOUT LOTS TO ENJOY IN WITNESHAM ON DECEMBER 8 There's a lot going on in Witnesham on Saturday, December 8 so why not spend the day here and enjoy it all? First, there is the Christmas Market at the village hall from 10am until noon. This is a chance to buy unique Christmas presents and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and cake in good company.
NOVEMBER 25 – DECEMBER 11 Each card costs only 25p regardless of size
Just around the corner is the Christmas Fete at Talitha Koum Hope Centre from 11am until 2pm. Enjoy hot soup, a variety of stalls and raffle, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Hope Centre on Wash Lane.
To use this service place your cards and payment in the collection boxes.
At 2pm there is Messy Church at the Baptist Church. Families are invited to come and play games, make crafts and learn more about the meaning of Christmas.
Deliveries will be made in the following districts:
ASHBOCKING NEWS Sunshine in October/November is special and precious. For me it means getting out in the garden and sorting 'things'. I'm trying to leave seed heads for winter bird food, but it is tempting to cut everything back to make the garden look tidy. However, food for our garden birds through the cold months of winter is far more important. Halloween is over. Thanks to all the children, and their parents, who walked the village and scared parishioners. All the children looked stunning and so many smiling faces. Mind you, one parent scared me more than any of the children! It will be early December when you read this so I can provide some dates and places for some village events. Brenda Forster will be holding the December Coffee Morning at 'Chimneys’ from 10.30am until 12.30pm on December 7. All welcome. The Carol Service at the church will be on Sunday, December 16 at 4pm. It would be lovely to see lots of children helping to boost the singing. It's very much a time to get together and at least have a good sing. In addition, it gives you a great feeling of being part of a community. Apart from that, the more folk we have in the church, the warmer we will all feel! Carol singing in the village also seems to be an annual event. As I go to press, the date for that is December 1 and rumour has it that we will finish up at a lovely family’s home with mulled wine and hot sausage rolls and an opportunity to get warm again. I'm hoping the bell ringing group will have had at least one session before 2018 finishes. Perhaps we will even ring the year out and 2019 in. Please contact me (01473 785592) if you would like to be in this group. As far as I know at this time (November 2), training will be on Wednesday evenings around 6.30pm. It's unlikely that classes will be held each Wednesday, but probably fortnightly. So far we have a group of eight folk interested, but the more the better! At 10am on the first Monday of each month a knitting and craft group meets at Linda Pollard's, 'The Hawthorns’. It's an opportunity to finish that item you started months ago in the company of others, and a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee/tea. Failing that, it's an opportunity to enjoy a chat or, indeed, learn a new skill. There are plenty of talented people who will be more than happy to provide assistance. I’m sure by now many of you have bought your Christmas cards and probably some presents. I wonder who will be first to put up lights in the village? Anyway, I think it’s safe to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and some special family time. Liz Stegman
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SCOUT CHRISTMAS POST
Please state the postcode wherever possible and keep cards and money together in a sealed bag or envelope.
Ipswich postcodes IP1-IP5, Barham, Claydon, Great and Little Bealings, Great Blakenham, Grundisburgh, Henley, Kesgrave, Martlesham Heath, Pinewood, Playford, Rushmere, Tuddenham, Westerfield, Witnesham, Felixstowe and Kirton. Please note we cannot deliver to any other location. www.scoutspostipswich.org.uk
BARLEY MOW FIREWORKS It was advertised as ‘bigger than Christchurch Park’. Well it was the first firework display put on at the Barley Mow under new landlords Neil and Michael and who can argue with that statement? To say it was spectacular wouldn’t be an exaggeration. The road was crammed with parked cars as the recreation ground was full to overflowing with more than 400 people for the display which started a little later than normal at 8.15pm on Monday, November 5. The queue for food was long by 6.15pm and was still long when the show began with Michael doing his best to keep up with demand. The bar was packed as people tried to get their drinks in before the fun began. It was over by 8.45pm and my guess was that both Neil and Michael were surprised at the turnout which was great to see and confirmed that Witnesham can support such events. Let’s hope it continues and villagers come out and enjoy themselves at all village events as well as supporting their local pub. Village Recorder Steve Henley
WITNESHAM & SWILLAND BOXING DAY WALK This year the annual family Boxing Day Walk will start at the school car park by the Moon & Mushroom pub at 11am. Everyone welcome, including dogs on leads, to come along and join in an approximate 2-3 mile circular walk, getting back around 12.30pm. Please make sure you wear suitable footwear. Any queries, don’t hesitate to ring Jerry Hindle on 01473 785669.
VACANT ALLOTMENTS There are vacant allotment plots in Coopers Close, Witnesham IP6 9ES. The cost for leasing one of these is currently £10 per year. Please contact Swilland and Witnesham Parish Clerk if you would like to consider leasing a spare allotment plot and we can arrange a viewing. swill-witpc@outlook.com / 07719 176917
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT CHRISTMAS WISHES FROM THE HOPE CENTRE Warm wishes to all this Christmas from The Hope Centre in Wash Lane, Witnesham. Our little community of staff, tenants and volunteers are really enjoying this year’s seasonal colour changes. It’s such a beautiful village with great walks which we are busy discovering on Friday mornings. We have begun to build the compost bins and hope to get our recycled greenhouse up before the worst of the weather. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon with the Mothers’ Union last week hearing about the ancient art of calligraphy. Many, many thanks to those of you from local churches who kindly shared your provisions with us at harvest. They were very much enjoyed. Looking forward to seeing some of you at our Christmas Fete on Saturday, December 8, 11am-2pm.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
swilland’s LUCY TURMEL SHORTLISTED FOR ONE-TO-WATCH AWARD
Following my notes on Witnesham as published by Arthur Mee in the October and November edition of In Touch, I now turn to Swilland and hope the information is of interest to readers.
From playing in an opera house to beating some of the world’s best, 2018 has certainly been a year to remember for Swilland squash starlet Lucy Turmel. Now, after being nominated for SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award, the 19-year-old’s nascent career could be set to scale even greater heights.
Mee talks about the sight of a little windmill on arrival in Swilland, perfect in its detail, which the children from the local school had made. It had caused people to stop and view, its white sails turning, set in a delightful roadside garden with a dovecot, a rockery, tiny pools connected by bridges, and borders bright with flowers, everything in miniature and all charming.
The One-to-Watch Award was launched in 2006 with double Olympic medallist Tom Daley the inaugural winner. Paralympic champion Hollie Arnold MBE claimed the accolade in 2008 with para-athlete Sally Brown, hockey player Harry Martin, heptathlete Morgan Lake and sprinter Jodie Williams among the previous victors.
Swilland was the manor belonging to Edith, wife of the Confessor, and her church was here when the Normans came and built their own in place of it. In a modern porch is the splendid doorway with its finely carved arch. The 19th century tower of unusual design, its top timbered and gabled, its leadsheathed spire rising from an ornamental platform.
Lucy is now in-line to join such illustrious company as one of 10 nominees selected from around 1,000 rising British stars supported by SportsAid across more than 60 different sports. With ESF European Junior Championships gold proudly on her honours board this season, the year will already go down as one close to perfection regardless of what’s still to come. Not that Lucy is keen to stop any time soon.
It crowns a church made new some 600 years ago, still with the old dial which told the time of mass. The painted font has an elegant wood cover, the fine Jacobean pulpit has arcaded panels, and a canopy with red hangings and carved poppyhead beautify the modern benches. Finely carved in wood are the arms of Queen Anne. Above the altar table, which has a rich frontal, is a reredos (a screen behind the altar) glowing in colour, with three tiers of angels, apostles and saints, all in gold against a blue background, and a crucifixion with three canopied figures, 29 figures in all. Below the crucifixion stands a beautiful Russian icon of the Madonna and child in gold and silver, gift of a Russian friend. A tablet in enamel and inlay to Ethel Mary Edwardes, who died in 1900, shows a woman teaching a child. In a nave window is a fine mitred St Richard, and another window has Felix with a crozier and Edmund with the arrows of his martyrdom, above it are fragments of ancient glass in which is noted maple leaves. Village Historian and Recorder Steve Henley
CHRISTMAS MARKET AT WITNESHAM VILLAGE HALL Saturday, December 8, 10am-noon Tea, coffee and cake, art, crafts, toys, books and more! The perfect place to find unique Christmas presents. We still have some tables available at £5 each. If you are interested call Anne: 01473 785798 There is still time to fill out the village hall survey. An online version can be found on the village website or contact Rose on 01473 785068 to get a paper copy.
“My goal is to be world number one, world champion one day – it’s a long process and it’s something pretty much everyone aspires to but I want to be able to reach my potential,” said Lucy on the eve of her latest trip to Canada for a double-header of tournaments. “The key for me is seeing how far I can get with the work I put in, then making the most of that. It’s been a busy year, I played a tournament in France and went into it unseeded but managed to make the semi-finals, beating the world No.30 and No.32 on the way. They’re my biggest two wins to date, I’d been training really hard in the build-up to it so for that to be rewarded was a really big deal for me. The competition was in an opera house, the venue was absolutely amazing and I was able to feel so relaxed there, I had a really good time and ended up playing my best squash.” With her mum and dad fitness instructors at a club and both her brothers playing the game, Lucy was all-but born into a cradle of squash. Previously a keen gymnast, the teenager elected to throw all her eggs into the squash basket – a move that is seemingly paying off her as she makes waves in the junior game. Professional sport doesn’t come without its hardships however, with Lucy receiving backing from SportsAid, who offer funding and recognition to young athletes at a crucial, early stage in their careers. And the Suffolk sportswoman knows a career in the game would be a near-impossible task without the help of SportsAid. “The funding makes a big difference; it’s allowed me to go full-time with squash and with flights, hotels and travelling, the costs all add up,” said Lucy, whose support from SportsAid comes through the Backing The Best scheme with Sport England. “Funding makes a massive contribution – I wouldn’t be able to compete without it – so it’s a big thing in my development and helping me get better. As an athlete you do the hard work, but to get the recognition obviously means a lot – knowing that someone like Tom Daley has won the award is a really big thing. To hear I’d been nominated was such a proud feeling and gives you a lot of confidence.” Photo by Tony Hart
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OUT & ABOUT WESTERFIELD CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS Art Class Starting at Westerfield Village Hall on Tuesday, January 16, 10am-noon. This will be a weekly class for newcomers and improvers, covering oils, pastel and watercolour, plus some mixed media, over three terms. The first class is free, £100 for the 12-week course or £10 drop-in. To book a place or for more information contact Lisa Ann Puhlhofer: 01473 878734 / 07834 280287 Westerfield Bowls Club The club has more than 50 members who enjoy playing outdoors from April through to the end of September. For information contact Tony Baker: 01473 411347 Village Coffee Mornings Held in the village hall every Wednesday at 10am. Everyone is welcome. Westerfield & District Gardening Club The gardening club meets at Westerfield Village Hall on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.15pm. • December 5: An Eccentric Look at Suffolk by Charles Haylock and a Christmas buffet • January: No meeting Everyone is welcome; for further details contact Barbara Bell (01473 231411), Michele Doick (01473 252330) or Barry Reeve (01473 251843). Beavers, Cubs & Scouts The 1st Westerfield Scout Group was founded in 1955. Using the village hall as its headquarters the group consists of:
Upstairs Mow by THE BARLEY PLAYERS I am pleased to record that following on from The Ghost of Witnesham Hall, Cripps, Cripps and Cripps and lately The Great Exhibition of Witnesham 1851 (pictured), the next production, Upstairs Mow, is close to completion and I am pleased to announce that the read-through is planned for Monday, January 7 at 8pm in Witnesham Village Hall. The play deals with the little known ‘fact’ that William Shakespeare came to Witnesham in 1594 in search of his uncle Henry (Red) Shakespeare who he understood was staying upstairs in the Barley Mow. The production will take place on dates that fit in with the cast, but are likely to be at the end of May. Full details of the read-through and rehearsals will be agreed in the weeks leading up to January and for people interested in auditioning please contact me at: henleysteve@btinternet.com / 01473 785707 Village Recorder Steve Henley
Beaver Colony Thursday, 5.45-6.45pm Boys and girls, 6-8 years old Beaver Leader Jenny Kent: 01473 218501 / jennyk.kent1@gmail.com
WHAT’S ON: FYNN VALLEY CAFÉ TERRACE
Cub Pack Tuesday, 6.45-8pm Boys and girls, 8-10½ years Cub Leader Joan Gibson: 01473 785510 / gibsonjoan785@gmail.com
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop: Tuesday, November 27. £25 includes fizz, mince pie and all you need to make a wreath. Book at the Café Terrace.
Scout Troop Friday, 6.50-9pm Boys and girls, 10½-14 years Scout Leader Peter Runnacles: 01473 785298 / peter@runnacles.plus.com
The Serious Hat Band: Friday, November 30. Free entry, live entertainment, drinks and dancing to one of the UK’s top function bands. No booking required, just come along for a great night out.
If your child is interested in joining us please use the contact form on our website from where your enquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate leader: www.westerfieldscouts.org.uk Westerfield WI Lively meetings on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the village hall with different speakers on a variety of topics. • December 13: Christmas Party • January 10: My Year in the Falklands with Stephen Hope New members and visitors are always welcome. For further details please contact Janet Phillimore: 01473 415749 Pilates Westerfield Village Hall on Mondays from 10.30-11.30am and Wednesdays from 6-7pm. Beginners welcome and equipment provided. Please contact Kat: 07804 909083 / katspilates@live.com Chi Kung Westerfield Village Hall on Tuesdays from 2.15-4pm and Thursdays from 7.15-9pm. £12 per class, suitable for all ages. If you are interested please contact Sally Askew: 01394 384013 / sally_askew@hotmail.com Yoga Westerfield Village Hall on Thursdays from 9.40-11am. Eighty minutes of yoga stretches and relaxation for all. Caroline Glason: 01473 464204 / 07746 860380 / caroline@still-yoga.co.uk / www.still-yoga.co.uk Please note that there is now an online calendar to check availability of the village hall. For more information visit: www.westerfield-village.co.uk
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Pilates: every Thursday from 8-9am and 9.30-10.30am. Book with Tracy Hardy: 07999 875699
Christmas Gift Fayre: Wednesday, November 28. Entry £2.50, includes a glass of mulled wine. Profits to Suffolk 4YP.
Sleeping Beauty: Tuesday, December 11, 6-8pm. Adults £10, children £5. Fun for all the family from Touring Pantos! Tickets available from the Café Terrace. Planning your own event for the festive season or 2019? Contact us to find out more about holding it in our brand new venue: jenny@fynn-valley.co.uk / 01473 785267 / www.fynnvalleyterrace.co.uk
GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50s CLUB Open to anyone over-50 living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm in Great Blakenham Parish Room (opposite the Chequers PH) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The building is fully accessible. The cost per meeting is £2 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and the raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. At our October meetings we had a social afternoon with a picture quiz entitled What on Earth is That? and a visit from the Rural Coffee Caravan with up-to-date information and leaflets including activities taking place and health and welfare information. In November we will be having a visit from Wiltshire Farm Foods and Sandra will be hosting a Call my Bluff afternoon. This brings us to the end of this year’s programme, but we will reconvene on January 9 (weather permitting). New members are always welcome; if you would like to come along to see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690
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OUT & ABOUT DIARY DATES FOR WITNESHAM, SWILLAND AND ASHBOCKING Events take place in the village hall unless indicated otherwise. Booking Clerk Mrs Anne Debenham: 01473 785798 It is always advisable to check with Anne to see if the village hall is available. Parish Clerk Mr Steve Barron: 07719 176917 / swill-witpc@outlook.com WEEKLY EVENTS Monday Pilates Class starting in January 2019 from 7-8pm Tuesday • Post Office at Witnesham Baptist Church, 12.30-4pm • Carpet Bowls Club from 7pm. Contact Peter Elmy: 785754 Wednesday Coffee, Conversation and Cake at Witnesham Baptist Church, 9.30-11.30am. Donations welcome to cover the cost of refreshments. Thursday • Post Office at Witnesham Baptist Church, 9am-12.30pm • Carpet Bowls from 2pm. Contact Peter Elmy: 785754 • Tai Chi Classes from 5.45pm. Other established ones follow on after this relatively new class. Contact Marc: 07860 471748 Friday • Mums and Toddlers Group in Witnesham Baptist Church, 9.15-11.15am. The group will only meet in term time. Contact Jean Pearson: 785478 • Pilates Class, 9.45-10.45am. Contact Kat: 07804 909083 / katspilates@live.com • Bums and Tums from 11.30am-12.30pm IN DECEMBER Saturday 1: Cabaret Night featuring Silbury Hill, Village Voices and other local musicians, 7pm. Free entry, but donations to the Alzheimer’s Society welcome. Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Tuesday 4: Tuesday Craft Corner for all at Witnesham Baptist Church, 2-4pm Thursday 6: Village Voices meet in Witnesham Baptist Church Room, 7.30pm Saturday 8 • Christmas Market – craft stalls, light refreshments, 10am-noon • Messy Church for children, their families and friends, 2-4.30pm at Witnesham Baptist Church with friends from St Mary’s. Free tea included. See posters and fliers for more details.
ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Applications for a grant are welcome from individuals and from groups. Application forms should be submitted to the address below by January 1. Grants will generally be of up to £150, e.g. towards the cost of instruments, music, music related equipment and musical activities. Further information and grant application forms can be obtained from: www. rogerdavidburrows.co.uk The Roger David Burrows Music Fund, c/o The Burrows family, 17 Squires Lane, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich IP5 3UG / 01473 625196 Our next even: Monday, March 11 Archaeologist Andy Peachey will be talking about the amazing finds discovered during work for the wind farm cables which are going through the northern part of Martlesham. Earlier in the year there was a lot in the press about the interesting and unexpected things unearthed by archaeologists, especially on a site close to Martlesham, and Andy will be telling us more about what was discovered here and elsewhere on the cable route. This talk will be held at 7.30pm in St Michael’s Church Centre; more details will be published in the January edition.
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• Witnesham Nursing Home Christmas Fayre with various stalls, a tombola and draw, 2.30-4pm at the home. Light refreshments including mulled wine available. This is organised by the Friends to raise funds for entertainments, crafts, gifts and outings for the residents. Wednesday 12: WI meets for a fused glass demonstration by Alison Mayston, 7.30pm Saturday 15 • Swilland Church Christmas Draw from noon, when home made soup and filled rolls will be available. Various stalls. The draw will be held at 1pm. • Hope Centre Christmas Fete, 11am-2pm Tuesday 18: Community Carol Singing by members of the Baptist Church and friends at the Barley Mow, 7pm Thursday 20 • Mobile Library visits The Green, Ashbocking from 12.15-12.35pm • Members of Village Voices and of St Mary’s Church invite you to join them singing carols at the nursing home around 6pm and at the Moon & Mushroom around 8pm Friday 21: Carol Service at St Mary’s Church, 6.30pm Sunday 23: Carols by Candlelight at Witnesham Baptist Church, 4pm Thursday 27: Mobile Library visits Weyland Road, Witnesham (9.50-10.20am), the Moon & Mushroom at Swilland (10.25-10.40am) and Sunset Cottage (10.45-10.55am) NURSING HOME FUNDRAISING THANKS Statt at Witnesham Nursing Home those villagers who helped them to raise funds for two charities recently. The raised £95 for the Alzheimer’s Society from their sale of cakes in September and £160 with their Wheelchair Walk from the home to the Moon and Mushroom and back in October. The welcome and support at the Swilland pub was especially good. FIND’s CHRISTMAS HAMPERS If you would still like to support Families in Need’s work in our local communities it’s not too late to let me have some of the extra gifts we put in the Christmas hampers. Such goods as larger boxes or tins of biscuits and chocolates would be very welcome. Please get them to me at 5 Coopers Close, Witnesham (01473 785464) by December 4 at the latest so that they can be packed and distributed in good time by our volunteers. Thank you, Heather Cade (FIND Trustee)
ASHBOCKING, SWILLAND & WITNESHAM WI December brings the official start of the new WI year following our November annual meeting. We look forward to a brand new calendar of events to tempt you along to a meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm in Witnesham Village Hall. Corncraft at Monks Eleigh is the destination for our Christmas afternoon tea on Friday, December 7, with time to browse the Bridge Farm Gallery for those last minute and/or unusual gifts. Non-members are welcome to join us. The price is £13.50. Please contact Pat: 01473 785370 WI ladies will be serving tea/coffee and cakes at the Table Top Sale on Saturday, December 8 in the village hall, 10am-noon. Come along to Witnesham Village Hall to do some shopping, have a chat and enjoy coffee and a treat. Alison Mayston will present a fused glass demonstration at our meeting on Wednesday, December 12.
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OUT & ABOUT MEN’S GROUP AT THE MOON & MUSHROOM
CABARET NIGHT IS BACK!
We are really pleased to be able to offer a special Christmas evening on Monday, December 3 at 6.30pm with a meal and fun quiz. The two-course meal (choice on the night) will be £16. To book please email Mark Cresswell at least a week before so we know numbers: mark@cresswell.onl
IPSWICH & DISTRICT SOROPTIMIST CLUB One thing we planned to do this year was to raise our own awareness of what life is like for different women in Ipswich. Two recent speakers made a big impression on us and led us to think how we might make even a small difference. In October each year we mark International Day of the Girl Child by writing to our MPs (we happen to have club members in four constituencies). Remembering the talk by Maureen Reynel of Families in Need, we used the opportunity this year to urge them to press for free sanitary products for girls up to 18. This would save many from missing school. Linda Pepper, Director of the Oasis English Language School, talked about their work with students from 27 countries, many wanting to learn English in order to integrate into society here. We decided to make a grant from our Education Bursary Fund to buy course books. For Ipswich women the highlight of the year was the Women’s Voices, Women’s Vote celebration. One of our members was involved in organising the short story competition, another was included in the list of 100 special women featured in the countdown to the event and on the day we raffled a quilt on our stall in aid of Lighthouse. It will be an honour to welcome the Mayor of Ipswich to our next meeting. Meanwhile we haven’t forgotten that we are a worldwide organisation. Our delegate has just returned from our annual international conference with reports of discussions on climate change and mental health issues for women with a call for action from Soroptimist clubs. Something to get our teeth into in 2019!
Saturday, December 1 at 7pm Join us at Witnesham Village Hall for an evening of light music and entertainment. Featuring folk group Silbury Hill and many talented local musicians. We are still looking for anyone who would like to perform music, song, poetry or storytelling. If you have a talent and would like to join us please phone Christine Laughlin: 01473 785138 Free entry – donations to the Alzheimer’s Society. Bring your own drinks and nibbles; see you there!
IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY After December 5 we don’t meet again until January 16 for another afternoon meeting at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre from 1.306pm. Roger Swindells, one of our members and a dealer, will display and give advice on how to create a thematic collection. There will be four displays and an opportunity to purchase material from Roger who is going to bring along a great deal of his stock for us to purchase if we wish. This is an ideal opportunity to find out more about a different and novel way to collect stamps. Visitors are welcome; for further information contact Mike Smith: 01473 403904 / michaelsmith1949@gmail.com Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. www.ipswichphilatelic.uk
If you would like to know more please contact Joyce: 01394 615659
OTLEY & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Patron: Matthew Tanton-Brown We meet at 7.30pm on the first Monday of the month at Otley Village Hall. Monday, March 4: Butterfly Gardening with Dr Ian Bedford. Compare gardening notes over tea/coffee and biscuits. All welcome. Admission is £1.50 for members and £4 for non-members. To find out more, contact Alan Trevelyan (01473 890563) or Isabel Lincoln (01473 890826).
IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, January 23: The Massey Shaw Fireboat, an illustrated talk by Tony Roome We meet at 7.30pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich; entrance via the rear car park, visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments. 01473 422145 / www.idhts.co.uk
3C@W.B.C.
TUESDAY CRAFT CORNER
Do you feel isolated or alone? Do you feel it would be good to meet up with others? Parents, do you want somewhere to chat about life?
Why not join an informal group of people who enjoy crafts?
Well pop along to Witnesham Baptist Church where in an informal, relaxed style you can enjoy: *Coffee / Conversation / Cake (Children’s Corner) Perhaps read a magazine, have a game of chess, dominoes or cards.
Knitting, crochet, felting, quilling, painting, origami, card making, calligraphy, jewellery… Whatever your craft, come along and while crafting have a cuppa and share what you’re doing or help others. We meet at Witnesham Baptist Church from 2-4pm on the first Tuesday.
Donations of a £1 per morning welcome towards cost of drink/cake. Every Wednesday morning between 9.30 and 11.30am. *tea or a cold drink
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SCHOOLS WITNESHAM & OTLEY PRIMARY SCHOOLS
STONHAM ASPAL CEVAP SCHOOL
Our schools have been so busy since the last edition of In Touch.
We’ve been very busy as you will see below.
Roger Osborne joined many members of the community for the grand opening of our new school hall at Otley, and the children have been using this wonderful new facility for their gymnastics lessons and drama work.
Girls Football Tournament
Children at both schools took part in a wide variety of activities woven around Remembrance and the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. At Witnesham, Class 4 enjoyed a visit to Duxford, and the First World War Day organised by staff was a great success. At Otley, Class 3 put on a wonderful production of Bombs and Blackberries, and used the flagpole to create an evocative waterfall of poppies. The older children of both schools created Anderson Shelters and Second World War displays as part of their topic work. As autumn flowed towards winter, our children continued to enjoy the benefits of outdoor learning in a variety of different subjects. At Witnesham, the youngest children were particularly excited with blackberry picking and creating art using natural materials in the woodland area, and Suffolk Wildlife Trust visited Otley to lead an inspiring assembly and donated a beautiful book for the school library.
We travelled to Framlingham to attend the High Suffolk Girls Football Tournament on October 4. Our team competed really successfully, showing great team work, creativity and perseverance to win the tournament. The children were so pleased. They shared their achievements in our celebration assembly and showed the school the medals and certificates that they had received. Well done to the whole team and thank you to Mrs Corsie for organising the team. Bawdsey Manor Residential A great time was had by all on our residential visit to PGL Bawdsey Manor. The children did a wide range of activities in a beautiful venue with predominantly super weather. They tried hard to work well together as a team and to be independent and resilient, and were often complimented for their good listening behaviour. History Day
The children of Witnesham were thrilled to watch the M&M touring theatre company production of Oliver Twist. Staff and children alike were amazed by the actors’ abilities to play so many parts brilliantly, and everybody enjoyed the audience participation and songs. As part of their education relating to British values, children in Class 3 at Otley visited the Crown Court for a mock trial. So much packed into one month, but there is so much more to come as November slips away and we start to look forward to Christmas. Renowned children’s author Nick Butterworth will be visiting both schools, and there are art days and Christmas fairs, trips to the theatre, nativity plays and carol singing to look forward to. As the next edition of In Touch will be published after Christmas, we take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas.
Miss Ruddock, our history coordinator organised a visit from Portals to the Past on October 31 to help the children understand more about Remembrance and how special this year is. Our visitor was fabulous. He brought a wide range of artefacts with him to share with the children and kept them enthralled for the whole of their session. Thank you to all the parents, carers and children for supporting this day by dressing up as a child from the time of the First World War.
If you are deciding which school you should send your child to, we think you would choose our school. We are extremely proud of what we achieve. We have been recognised by the diocese as ‘Outstanding’ and by OFSTED as a ‘Good School’. Please feel free to contact the school office to book a visit at a time that is convenient to you. www.stonhamaspal.suffolk.sch.uk
THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE NURSERY
HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL
The children have been mixing colours in cauldrons, hammering golf tees into pumpkins (brilliant for hand to eye co-ordination) with real hammers and held a playday all around Room on a Broom at half term. Bats have featured high on our list this autumn as we had our roof space inspected by an official gentleman all dressed in overalls, helmet and head lamp. The result of this means our transfer to the academy with Helmingham School is being delayed as we await a ‘dawn to dusk’ report which can only be done in the spring.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Children in Need saw all the children dressed in spots while doing lots of ‘bear’ activities, also bringing their favourite bear in from home. This nicely linked into a whole week of enjoying the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt as we acted out ‘not being scared’ and ‘it’s a beautiful day’ as we made our way towards the cave. Lots of squeals as we felt for the bear! We have had a fabulous visit from local farmer Ben Styles who caused great excitement when he visited with his very big red tractor. All the children were able to climb inside and take turns ‘driving’ as well as sitting in the wheels and marvelling at the size of the tractor. Rehearsals are well underway for our performance of the traditional nativity to be held at Framsden Baptist Church. We have been singing, learning our actions and playing our instruments. All the costumes are ready to be sorted and Baby Jesus is already in the manger! www.theoldschoolhousenursery.com
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We look forward to a visit from The Rev Carl Merville who will be sharing the Christmas story with the children, and a trip to the New Wolsey Theatre to see The Ballard of Rudy. The children have been practising Christmas songs along with Makaton which they will be singing to the parents/carers at our Christmas performance, and of course we finish with a visit from Santa. We are a small, rural and friendly setting based at Henley Community Centre. We pride ourselves on high levels of staff to children ratios and therefore providing the maximum care and learning for the children. All staff are highly trained and continue with regular training to build their knowledge further. We provide an extensive range of resources and activities to suit all ages and abilities, ensuring all levels of development and play within the EYFS are explored. Parents play the most important role in children’s lives so we work closely together to ensure we work in partnership. We also hold stay and play sessions each term that are very well supported by parents/carers. Session places are currently available. We accept eligible 30-hour funded children plus two and three-year-old funded. We are open term time only. For further information please call 01473 833848 during session time (9am-3pm) or email Bridget Wyatt at: enquiries@henleypreschool.com Bridget and the team
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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB Winter Tennis, Year Round Sport: #GOHITIT We’ve been busy at the club with court cleaning, fence and floodlight repairs, all essential to allow us to continue to play all year around. We’ve also just renewed our LTA venue registration so new joiners will be eligible to enter the club ballot for Wimbledon tickets for 2019. It’s great to see our courts still in consistent use even at this time of year for winter league matches, mini tennis squads, adult cardio squads and ladies tennis. We’ve come a long way since just over a year ago when we only had nine members left, we now have almost 70 members! As you can see there’s still a lot going on at Bramford Tennis Club over the winter so why not come along and have a go yourself? For Juniors (Monster Smash & Mini Tennis) We held a Monster Smash parent and child doubles competition on Saturday, October 27 and, despite the freezing cold weather, we had a good turnout with parents and kids having a great time. We saw some excellent serving and rallies along the way (mainly from the kids). Our Mini Tennis squads have now resumed; Mini Tennis RED (ages 5-7) runs on Mondays at 4.30pm
and Mini Tennis ORANGE (ages 7-11) runs on Tuesdays at 4.30pm. We are also pleased to say that a group of our kids have been invited to attend the National Tennis Centre for an event, but more on that next time. For more information about junior coaching get in touch with Carl on 07553 966380. For Adults Winter league matches are now underway so if you are interested in some team tennis please contact Graham, or team captain, on 07981 842517 to discuss. Our Tennis Tuesday’s ladies group (6.30pm every Tuesday) continues to go from strength to strength. Skills are picking up so much that our coach, Carl Douglas, has even started letting them loose with yellow tennis balls and is setting up a fun tournament for them based on the Fast4 Tennis format. Come along and have a go; it’s a really friendly welcoming group. Cardio Tennis classes are also proving very popular, if not a little exhausting. They run on Thursdays at 7pm so get in touch with Carl on 07553 966380 for further details. To find out more at about any of the items mentioned above please visit: • www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/BramfordTennisClub • www.facebook.com/BramfordTennisClub • Monster Smash: www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/CarlDouglasCoaching/Events
WITNESHAM BAPTIST CHURCH This is another busy month in the life of the Church and also retail, business and family life. The days leading up to Christmas are known as Advent. Many will have bought Advent Calendars with windows to open each day; the vast majority of these calendars not only have chocolate in them but pictures of winter scenes. A few have pictures relating to the Christian Christmas story; donkeys, stable, stars, angels and mother and baby. After a break of a few years we are hosting Experience Christmas on Monday, December 17 when the children from Witnesham School will be coming to spend a little time walking through the story and pausing at different points to consider what we can we learn. On Sunday 16 our Family Time Together and general congregation will be meeting together to ‘Walk through the Christmas Journey’. Why not join us to remember why we actually have Christmas? We are thankful to the new landlords of the Barley Mow for allowing us again this year to join in Community Carol Singing on Tuesday 18 from 7pm. Do come along to sing all those carols you remember from years past. Of course, we also welcome all to come to our Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 23 at 4pm, with refreshments afterwards, followed on Tuesday 25 at 10.30am by a birthday celebration. Yes, we celebrate Jesus’ Birthday. So, how is your Christmas planning coming along? Present buying list gradually being ticked off or even completed? Sorted out where and who you will be staying with or seeing over the Christmas time? Well, as you think of the Christmas story remember that while God the Father, Creator had it planned, the earthly parents – Mary and Joseph – hadn’t got it all together. The surprised pregnancy outside of marriage; the long journey over a number of days to a town where they hadn’t lived; no pre-booked overnight stay or maternity ward; a smelly animal enclosure that became the maternity ward; strangers visiting within hours of the birth just to see the baby. It was some considerable time before the significance of the gifts received from strangers by the new family was realised in the life and death of the child. So Jesus, The Son of God was born into the world, later to be crucified in order to release us from our being bound to our sin (our wrong doing and denying of God). Mary and Joseph trusted God through a tough time of family shame, of after birth being refugees in a foreign land then for Mary watching her son being put to a violent death. For most of us this Christmas will be less traumatic, but I encourage you to trust God through this season and beyond if you are going through a tough time, whatever that may be for you. Try in your planning to put aside time to think about Christ’s birth, time to celebrate and rejoice on His birthday. Pastor Andrew
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DIARY DATES DECEMBER 2018 Morning Services begin at 11am (except when stated otherwise) Sunday, December 2: Morning Service with Communion – Shane Hughes Sunday, December 9: Morning Service – Pastor Andrew Sunday, December 16: 10am Family Time Together Experience Christmas – All-Age Service Sunday, December 23: Morning Service Sunday, December 23: 4pm Carols by Candlelight Service followed by tea and cakes Christmas Day: 10.30am Short Happy Birthday Jesus Service Sunday, December 31: Morning Service – Rev John Riddell Sunday, January 6: Morning Service with Communion – Pastor Andrew EVENTS Monday, December 3: The Munch Bunch Lunch Club at The Barley Mow, 12.30pm. Please contact Heather for details: 01473 785321 Tuesday, December 4: Tuesday Craft Corner, 2pm Tuesday, December 4: Messy Church Prayer Walk Tuesday, December 4: Open House Topical Discussion Group, 7.30pm Every Wednesday: 3Cs Café, 9.30-11.30am Fridays, December 7 & 14: Mums and Toddlers Group, 9.15am Saturday, December 8: Messy Church, 2-4.30pm Wednesday, December 12: Prayer Fellowship, 11.30am Saturday, December 15: Mums and Toddlers Christmas Party, 3-5pm Monday, December 17: Experience Christmas Witnesham School Visit Tuesday, December 18: Community Carol Singing at The Barley Mow, 7pm; do come and join us. In the church we have a collection box for FIND and welcome any donations of non-perishable food to help families in need locally. We now also have a clothes bank in our grounds on behalf of the Salvation Army. We have plenty of bags which can be picked up from our back room for you to use, or you can use your own bags. Pastor: Andrew Croft, 07851 060482 Secretary: Anne Camp, 01473 785448 www.witneshambaptist.org.uk
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CHURCH NEWS CHURCH NEWS FROM SWILLAND & ASHBOCKING SEND/RECEIVE For those of you who use computers and Email, the Send/Receive button is one you will be familiar with, facilitating the arrival and departure of correspondence, connecting you at high speed, with those who could be thousands of miles away, friend or stranger with the click of a button.
Tuesday 11: Otley School Christingle in Otley Church, 2pm
I was struck by the significance of the Send/Receive button when I received an email from Richard Rohr, a RC Franciscan friar in New Mexico who writes extensively about living the Christian faith in contemporary society. In addition to writing books and lecturing worldwide, he produces a daily meditation which pings onto my screen at breakfast every morning. In one of these emails, he drew our attention to a Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practice of Tonglen. Tonglen is a meditative practice which is based on breathing and arouses a sense of oneness with others. Simply put, it advocates as we pray, to breathe in that which is unpleasant, that which we try to avoid, such as our sadness and anger (and suffering) and breathe out – send out – that which is pleasing, enjoyable and brings life.
Saturday 15: Messy Church does Christmas, 10am-3pm at Grundisburgh Village Hall
The word tonglen is Tibetan for ‘sending and receiving’. It refers to our willingness to take on the pain of others we know are hurting and extend to them whatever we feel will ease their pain. Practising tonglen awakens our natural empathy, our innate ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes. Caring about people when they’re scared or sad or angry or arrogant can be a challenge; it confronts us with our own pain and fear, with the places where we’re stuck. But if we can stay with those unwanted feelings, we can use them as stepping-stones to understanding the pain and fear of others. Tonglen allows us to acknowledge where we are in the moment and, at the same time, cultivate a sense of kinship with others. When painful feelings arise, we breathe them in, opening to our own suffering and the suffering of everyone else who is feeling the same way. What struck me as I read this, is that the theology, the understanding of God that lies at the heart of Christmas and the mystery of the incarnation, is that God seeing, knowing the pain of the world, sends his son to become “one with us – Emmanuel”. He embraces the human condition and enables us to enter into a living and dynamic relationship with him and in living the human life Christ offers us transformation. He offers us his very life if we are open and prepared to receive him – to welcome him into our lives. Then we, in turn, are sent (the word in Latin is ‘missio’, which gives us the word ‘mission’). Through the mystery of the incarnation – God becoming human – we are received into the life of God, made one with him, and we are sent, commissioned to live his life in the service of others. Our mission is to Grow in God – in depth and in service – to live more and more in a deepening relationship with him. Christmas is not just one day, it is every day, daily receiving from the love of God and being sent out in his name to serve others. We wish you a very Happy Christmas, The Rev Clare Sanders WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER (ALSO SEE PAGE 17) Monday 3: Midweek Communion, 9.30am at Hasketon Wednesday 5: Midweek Communion at 9.30am followed by SWAPSHOP 10.15am-11.30am Parish Room, Grundisburgh Friday 7: Christmas Upbeat Concert, 7.30pm at Grundisburgh Church Tickets £8. Supporting two charities: Guide Dogs for the Blind and FIND (Families in Need). There will be carols for the audience to sing and a quiz with small prizes throughout the evening. Mince pies and drinks will be served during the interval. The Children’s Choir from Grundisburgh School will be joining Upbeat. This year’s concert will include new repertoire from The Greatest Showman, La La Land and Mamma Mia! Saturday 8: Otley Christmas Draw; doors open at 10am with the draw at 11am. For tickets contact Ruth Farnhill: 01473 890543
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Thursday 13: Midweek Communion at 9.30am followed by Otley Coffee Morning (see below) Thursday 13: Grundisburgh School Carol Service, 6pm at Grundisburgh Church
Saturday 15: Burgh Church School Room Soup Lunch in aid of Ipswich Night Shelter, noon-1.30pm Saturday 15: Swilland Christmas Draw at Witnesham Village Hall. Soup and filled rolls, tea and coffee from noon. with the draw taking place about 1pm. Tickets 50p each with £50 first prize and lots of other festive goodies as prizes. Produce and book stalls also on the day. Sunday 16: A festive event to help Traidcraft Exchange, 10.15am in Grundisburgh Thursday 20: Midweek Communion at 11.30am followed by the Hasketon Community Lunch at 12.15pm; contact Claire Harrington: 01394 380644 CARLFORD SOCIAL GROUPS Gardening Club: December 3, 7.30pm Otley Baby Café: December 4, 9am Grundisburgh Hobbies Group: December 5, 10am Clopton Swapshop: December 5, 10.15am Grundisburgh Church Tiddlywinks: December 13, 2.30pm Grundisburgh CARLFORD PRAYER AND STUDY GROUPS Beyond Belief: December 3, 10.30am Grundisburgh Going Deeper: December 5 & 19, 10am Ashbocking Grundisburgh Sunday Club: December 9, 10.45am Grundisburgh Otley House Group: December 10, 1.45pm Otley BBC: December 11, 10.30am Grundisburgh Ashbocking House Group: December 12, 7.30pm Ashbocking Monday House Group: December 17, 7.30pm Grundisburgh BBC: Bible Book Club A small group – those of faith, agnostics and atheists – interested in the historical context of Christian literature. We meet in Grundisburgh on just four Tuesday mornings each year. Our next meeting is on December 11 at 10.30am and we will be discussing The Meaning in the Miracles by Jeffrey John. Why not get a copy and start reading now? We would be very pleased to have you come along. Please let us know if you will be joining us: paulwiffen222@btinternet.com / 01473 738474 Beyond Belief A small group which gives us the opportunity to discuss areas of Christian Faith at six meetings held at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms, 10.30am–noon. The final session is on Monday, December 3. Enquiries to Paul: 01473 738474 / paulwiffen222@btinternet.com FANCY A COFFEE? Grundisburgh: Saturday 1, 10-11am and SWAPSHOP on Wednesday 5, 10.15-11.30am, both at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms Ashbocking: Friday 7, 10.30am-noon Otley: Thursday 13, 10am at the home of Geoff and Anne Robinson of South View, Chapel Road, Otley Burgh: No coffee morning this month but please come to our Soup Lunch and Raffle on December 15 from noon Swilland: No coffee morning this month, but please do come to our Christmas Draw on December 15 from noon where there will be soup, filled rolls, mince pies, tea and coffee Clopton: Wednesday 19 at the village hall, 10am-noon
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local services
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Self-help recovery groups for all women, regardless of their addiction or life problem, which are facilitated by women in recovery themselves and people who have supported others in their journey to freedom. We provide an environment where women can talk openly and honestly in a safe place about their daily struggles, share their experiences, strength and hope. They can be with others who share a common desire to overcome addictive behaviour. It’s somewhere women can seek healing for one another. WT wants women to regain the self-confidence, self-belief and self-worth that addiction has stolen from them. Meetings are listed below. For more information please visit the Women Together Recovery Group Ipswich Facebook page or contact us at: womentogether@talithakoum.org.uk / 07503 416576
www.keepingintouchwith.com/westerfield
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In Touch with WTW Saturday, 8th December sees two events taking place in Witnesham.
The Churches of the United Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham
The initial plan was that it would be a therapeutic facility offering a short-term residential programme to help women out of addictions, but government funding for this has dried up (a number of facilities offering this particular service have been forced to close). The centre is now a supported housing provider. The tenants have been carefully and prayerfully selected from those referred to the centre with a view to their benefiting from living in community. Each tenant has her own en-suite bedroom and shares the kitchen, dining and lounge facilities. The Hope Centre is set up to provide emotional, mental and spiritual support from a team of workers under the leadership of Marlene.
One is a Christmas Market at the Village Hall (9am-12noon). The other event (slightly overlapping in time 11am-12noon), is a Christmas Fete at The Hope Centre in Wash Lane, down the road opposite to that which leads to the village hall. The Hope Centre offers supported housing to a number of tenants. Tenancy periods may vary according to individual needs, but could be described as medium term, with a view to seeing people moving on towards supporting themselves. The Hope Centre has been for some a wellspring of worry, fear and upset over the many years since the land was offered and secured for the Talitha Koum (usually known as TK) charity. Some residents have welcomed the development, sometimes with reservations. For those involved with TK, praying, seeking funding and spreading the message about TK and The Hope Centre, it has been a long time coming.
Day / Date
Why not make it to both events? Both the Village Hall Management Committee and those who are involved with Hope Centre will be pleased to see you. Like our companion villages of Westerfield and Tuddenham, Witnesham Village Hall is a community resource that’s offered at special rates to local people. It hosts a number of regular groups, both local and from outside. The Village Hall Management Committee has had a number of new members and they are working hard to advertise our hall. Have you thought what you, perhaps with the help of a few friends, could put on as an event for the community?
Advent Coffee Morning
St Martin’s Tuddenham St Martin
Tuddenham Village Hall Saturday 1st Dec 10am—12 noon Stalls, Raffle and Refreshments
This information was correct at the time of going to press (early last month) occasionally it can be necessary to make changes—please cross reference with our website for the most up-to-date information at www.wtandw.org.uk
St Mary’s Witnesham
Sun 2nd December Advent Sunday
9.30am Family Communion
10am Morning Worship
Sun 9th December Advent 2
9.30am All-age Worship
10am Family Communion
Sun 16th December Advent 3 Fri 21st December Sun 23rd December Advent 4
Mon 24th December Christmas Eve
Tuesday 25th Dec Christmas Day Sun 30th December First Sunday of Christmas Sun 6th January ’19 Baptism of Christ
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also might benefit the tenants could take place.
You may want to take this opportunity to see The Hope Centre for yourself and find out about it and the wider work of TK’s Women Together groups that meet in Ipswich. The centre does have some space which could be used for community purposes, not in opposition to the village hall, but as a resource where activities which
CHURCH SERVICES December—January
8am Holy Communion 6.30pm Candlelit Carol Service —no services 3.30pm Children’s Christmas Celebration 11.30pm “Midnight Communion” 9.30am Christmas Family Service with shortened Communion
no services
9.30am Family Communion
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10am Advent All-Age Worship 6.30pm Carol Service 11am Family Communion
—-
10am Christmas Family Service with shortened Communion
no services
10am Morning Worship
St Mary Magdalene’s Westerfield 11am Family Communion 8am Holy Communion 11am All-age Worship 3.30pm Carol Service
—no services
—-
11am Christmas Family Service with shortened Communion 11am Joint Service to close the Old and greet the New Year 11am Family Communion
In Touch online:
In Touch with WTW
The Churches of the United Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham
Church Diary—December
Who’s Who:
Mothers’ Union— Thursday 6th December—we welcome everyone to our Annual “Christmas Readings (secular and sacred) and Carols followed by Christmas Tea” Ͳ 2pm in Westerfield Church Room (Branch Leader Revd Catherine Forsdike 252904).
MINISTRY TEAM:
Benefice Youth Group—meet on Wednesday 12th December at 6.15pm (contact Julia 785497 for more details) Village Voices—rehearse on Thursdays 6th December, 17th & 31st January 7.30pm in Witnesham Baptist Church (contact Christine Laughlin 01473 785138) Kingdom Kids—meet on Sunday 16th December at 10am in the church at Witnesham (contact Gill Thorley 890821) Wednesday Prayers—said Morning Prayer in Westerfield Church Room each week at 9.30am (Holy Communion is said on the first week of each month— except Aug)
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NON-STIPENDIARY PRIEST-IN-CHARGE: REV’D ALAN FORSDIKE t: 01473 252904 e: Alan@wtandw.org.uk NON-STIPENDIARY ASSOCIATE PRIEST: REV’D CATHERINE FORSDIKE t: 01473 252904 e: Catherine@wtandw.org.uk To enquire about Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, telephone or email Rev’ds Alan & Catherine Forsdike. READERS: Paul Laughlin
01473 785138 Paul@wtandw.org.uk
Carol Rivett
01473 717404 Carol@wtandw.org.uk
ELDER
We have 200 copies of this beautiful booklet to give away at our Carol Services. Each contains a short reflection for every day of the traditional 12 Days of Christmas.
Village Voices will be leading Carol Singing in Witnesham on Tuesday 20th December 6pm-ish at the Nursing Home and from 8.15pm at the Moon & Mushroom ...and of course at the Carol Service on Friday 21st Dec at 6.30pm in the church
Don’t forget to get yours!
Julia Farmer
01473 785497 Julia@wtandw.org.uk
CHURCHWARDENS: Tuddenham 01473 785296
Jim Punton Jim@wtandw.org.uk
Tuddenham 01473 784545
Monica Pipe Monica@wtandw.org.uk
Westerfield 01473 230188
Judy Northfield Judy@wtandw.org.uk
Westerfield 01473 713285
Mary Scholey Mary@wtandw.org.uk
Witnesham 01473 785673
Derek Austin Derek@wtandw.org.uk
KINGDOM KIDS—WITNESHAM Gill Thorley 01473 890821
Gill@wtandw.org.uk
BENEFICE YOUTH GROUP Julia Farmer
01473 785497 Julia@wtandw.org.uk
Website: www.wtandw.org.uk
You can “Follow The Star” at our Advent and Christmas Services. Full details are on our first page. If you live in Westerfield, Tuddenham St Martin or Witnesham, you’ll be receiving a Christmas Card through your door very soon with a personal invitation and full details.
After all our Christmas Carol Services, mulled wine, spiced apple juice and other seasonal treats will be served.
www.keepingintouchwith.com/westerfield
Tuddenham St Martin Church Gift Day Remembrance Sunday was made all the more poignant this year with the commemoration of the Centenary of Armistice Day signalling the end of the First World War. Over 50 of us held an outdoor service at Witnesham War Memorial with the local branch of the Royal British Legion in attendance and then held services in the three churches. During those services stories of some of those who died we read aloud. Rev Catherine has been researching the stories of the 40 men from our three villages who fell in the First World War.
A table groaning with produce enticed many people to come and make their donations to the church and stock up on preserves or treat themselves to some splendid home-made cakes. We had a good number of plants to sell too. Thank you to everyone who helped and donated. The interim total (excluding Gift Aid) of £2,165 is very welcome and gratefully received. Special thanks to Jackie Lugo for her bake-off which got us off to a good start and also raised £200
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