In Touch
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with Ashbocking, Swilland, Tuddenham, Westerfield & Witnesham Volume 9 • Issue No. 3 • FEBRUARY 2019
Ashbocking church bench restoration – see p4
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
NEWS
My husband believes there are two kinds of people; those who see the positives in almost everything, and those who always see the negatives. If opposites attract, we must be the perfect couple, so when Daniel played this song by Kacey Musgraves I’m pretty sure he was making a point. It’s called Miserable. Your heart’s as heavy as the stones you throw Can’t see the flowers for the weeds you grow You blow your bubbles just to watch ‘em burst For you it’s always bad to worse And you can’t win unless you lose You try to tell me you want happiness But you ain’t happy unless You’re miserable Your neighbor’s dirty laundry’s cleaner And the wolf at your door’s always meaner The sky’s still grey when the sun’s around But you can’t set sail if your anchor’s down And you can’t win unless you lose You try to tell me you want happiness But you ain’t happy unless You’re miserable I’m miserable Can’t liven up for the both of us We have enough for the whole of us If misery loves company Then I can’t keep you company no more He got me good! I don’t think I’m this miserable, but when life is going well, I live in dread of what’s bound to come, and it’s bound to be bad! I think it’s an inherited trait, but it’s not one I want to pass on. Is it possible to change? I sure hope so because my New Year’s resolution is to prove Daniel wrong!
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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Send editorial copy to: westerfield@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Ashbocking, Swilland, Tuddenham, Westerfield & Witnesham is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.
We also publish In Touch with... •B eyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •B ramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham •C apel St Mary •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton •B elstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead • I pswich East •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham •N eedham Market & The Creetings •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone •B urstall & Sproughton •S towmarket & Stowupland •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon •M elton & Woodbridge
BOXING DAY WALK 2018 Last year’s Boxing Day walk organised by Jerry Hindle saw approximately 60 people and eight dogs take part in this traditional event which has run for many years. The walk started and finished at The Moon and Mushroom, winding around the local footpath network on a fine crisp Christmas morning. Afterwards we enjoyed drinks and nibbles and an opportunity to catch up with old friends and new alongside log fires and some fine ales. Thanks go to the landlady Nikki Gavin and her staff at the pub, Jerry for organising and all who attended to make this such an enjoyable event.
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL The combined collection from the villages of Otley, Swilland, Tuddenham, Westerfield and Witnesham raised just over £2,800. This is magnificent and a huge thank you from everyone at the Royal British Legion. We are always on the lookout for help, which I promise you is not too onerous, with the door-to-door collections which takes place during a two-week period in the run-up to Remembrance Day each year. If you have recently moved into one of the villages or now find you have some time on your hands and would like to help, we would love to hear from you! Many thanks again, Alexander Raven (01473 787050)
IPSWICH SCOUT POST We’re still waiting for the final tally across Ipswich and Felixstowe, but 1st Westerfield Scouts collected over 1,300 and delivered over 1,200, raising over £1,000! We’d like to thank the local businesses that supported us by hosting a post box: The Swan, The Railway, The Barley Mow, The Greyhound, Ipswich Sports Club, Fynn Valley, Swiss Farm, Westerfield Business Centre, Christchurch Vets and Kersey’s Solicitors.
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DEMENTIA Together Call Free 08081 688 000 email: SRYC. DementiaTogether@nhs.net visit: www.dementia-together.com 3
NEWS ASHBOCKING NEWS
FROM THE ASHBOCKING ARCHIVES
This month I’m including forthcoming dates for various events taking place in the parish. I’m hoping these dates will be transferred to diaries, phones and calendars so that we get great turn outs.
Canon Maurice Byles Cowell was vicar of All Saints Church, Ashbocking from 1862 to 1919. He died at the age of 83 on 19 January 1919 and was by far the longest ever serving vicar at All Saints Church.
On February 4 the Neighbourhood Plan meeting will take place. Attending will be those who replied to Tony Gilbert, wishing to be involved, and Paul Bryant from Mid Suffolk District Council.
He left money in his will to set up three parish charities, The Children’s School Treat Trust, the Coals Trust and the Cowell Graves Trust. A sum of £100 was invested in 3.5 per cent War Stock for the Cowell Graves Trust with the interest to be used for “the repair and the keeping in good order of the Cowell family tombs and memorial stones in Ashbocking churchyard”.
By early February those folk who are on the Witnesham telephone exchange, will have the opportunity to connect to fast broadband. (Yes, the green cabinet at the crossroads will become ‘live’.) Make sure you contact your provider to sort your connection. It’s been a long time coming! Looking further ahead, please put June 15 in your diary for a village event for parishioners and their friends. It will be an evening event with a band, fish and chips, a bar, probably a raffle and loads of fun. The venue, of course, is Manor Farm. A Knit and Chat group takes place at Hawthorns on the first Monday of each month from 10am-noon. Also coffee mornings have started up again this year, taking place on the first Friday of each month. Please contact Linda Pollard for venues. Church members will be holding a Christmas Festival again this year; date yet to be announced. Please save bric-a-bac, books, good quality clothes, unwanted jewellery, etc. We would be particularly interested in a piece of art work that we could auction. Thank you. Also, by popular request, we will be holding a quiz evening at the church again. The date has yet to be decided. Further good news is that water is soon to be connected to the church boundary, the first stage to getting a loo and kitchen. It’s still early days for all of that, but without a water supply, those facilities would be impossible. At least the people who sort the beautiful flower arrangements and provide teas and coffees at services won’t have to carry the water to the church each time! At this point I would like, on behalf of all those who visit All Saints Church for whatever purpose, to give our sincere thanks to Linda Ellis for the years she has arranged flowers in our beautiful church. Not to mention all the aftercare and clearing up of dead material! Linda has decided to retire, but she has inspired so many others, that there is now a team of people who really enjoy arranging flowers to decorate our church. Thank you Linda from all of us.
As 2019 is the centenary of Cannon Cowell’s death, the trustees have allocated the sum of £200 towards the cost of restoring the family graves and memorial stones in the churchyard. This work has now been completed. Cannon Cowell, Vicar at All Saints Ashbocking for 57 years, was also the last incumbent to live at Ashbocking Rectory. On two separate occasions during his long residence, Cannon Cowell ran a private school at the vicarage and the 1881 census recorded 23 boys at the school. Over the years pupils included Viscount Allenby, the conqueror of Jerusalem, two boys from Ireland, another from India and several members of the Ipswich families of Fisons and Ransomes. His wife, Anna Maria Cowell, ran a free lending library at the vicarage in the late 1890s when there were books for adults and children. Following the death of Cannon Cowell, the property was sold to Mr and Mrs E Cazelet in 1920. They lived at Ashbocking House until 1946 when Professor Denys Harding and Mrs Jessie Harding, retired child psychiatrists, bought the house and called it The Old Vicarage. Professor Harding died in 1993 and after standing empty for a while, it was sold for £275,000 in 1994 when the Old vicarage became Ashbocking House again. Brian Bell
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MOON AND MUSHROOM The Moon and Mushroom in Swilland was recently voted one of the 100 cosiest pubs in the UK by The Mail on Sunday. This is quite an accolade for a Suffolk pub tucked away in the countryside. There is obviously a lot of competition when you consider the number of ‘cosy pubs’ we have in the whole of the UK, so it really is something for The Moon and Mushroom to shout about. The pub was found to be welcoming with great food and a good choice of ales and wine so is well worth a look. Nikki and her team look forward to welcoming everyone to come and experience their cosy pub.
More care when parking If you take the village circular walk, which passes the church, you will notice a ‘new’ bench by the church. This has been restored by Jonathan Bell. It was the bench by the crossroads which was replaced with a new one. The old church bench will also be restored by Jonathan and will be placed on the walk behind Walnut Tree Farm. Many of us walk in that area, linking up Ashbocking with Swilland and Otley, so in future there will be an opportunity to take a rest and admire the view. Special thanks to Jon Bell, John Pollard, Andrew and David Gaught, Steve Stegman and Kevin and Adine Balaam. Lots of positive things, I hope, during these cold and somewhat darker days.
I have received a very polite request from a resident on Weyland Road in Witnesham asking residents to take more care when parking as it’s often difficult to access properties at the far end. Obviously this can be frustrating and the risk of damage to cars is heightened, but access for emergency vehicles is of most concern. Difficulty gaining access can delay or even prohibit paramedics or first responders when minutes, if not seconds, are vital. Fire engines are even bigger, but here too time is critical. Simply taking a few extra seconds to park more carefully will make an enormous difference. Lead by example and you and your fellow residents will be safer in the long term. A New Year’s resolution perhaps?
Liz Stegman
4
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NEWS DIARY DATES FOR WITNESHAM, SWILLAND & ASHBOCKING Events take place in the village hall unless indicated otherwise. Booking clerk: Mrs Anne Debenham, 01473 785798 It is always advisable to check availability of the hall with Anne. Parish clerk: Mr Steve Barron, 07719 176917 / swill-witpc@outlook.com WEEKLY EVENTS Mondays Pilates Class from 7-8pm Tuesdays • Post Office at Witnesham Baptist Church, 12.30-4pm
Witnesham Village Hall Friday, February 22 at 7.30pm Just £6 to include a Ploughman’s Supper Bring your own drinks For tickets contact Christine on 01473 785138
• Carpet Bowls Club from 7pm. Contact Peter Elmy: 785754 Wednesdays Coffee, Conversation & Cake at Witnesham Baptist Church, 9.3011.30am. Donations welcome to cover the cost of refreshments. Thursdays • Post Office at Witnesham Baptist Church, 9am-12.30pm • Carpet Bowls from 2pm • Tai Chi Classes from 5.45pm. Contact Marc: 07860 471748 Fridays • Mums and Toddlers Group in Witnesham Baptist Church, 9.1511.15am in term time. For details 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 EVENTS IN FEBRUARY Monday 4: Ashbocking residents are encouraged to meet with parish council members at SWT HQ at 7.30pm to discuss the next steps for the Neighbourhood Plan. You are asked to email the parish clerk if you wish to attend: clerk.ashbocking@btinternet.com Thursday 7: Village Voices meet in Witnesham Baptist Church Room at 7.30pm. Contact Christine Laughlin for details: 01473 785138 / christinelaughlin4@gmail.com Wednesday 13: WI meets for a talk on Hats and the Art of Flower Making by Magdaleine Snowden, 7.30pm Thursday 14: Mobile Library visits the Green, Ashbocking, 12.15-12.25pm Thursday 21: • Mobile Library visits Weyland Road, Witnesham (9.50-10.20am), The Moon & Mushroom, Swilland (10.25-10.40am) and Sunset Cottage (10.45-10.55am) • Village Voices meet in Witnesham Baptist Church Room, 7.30pm Friday 22: Macmillan Quiz for teams of up to eight people. The cost is £6 to include a ploughman’s, but bring your own drinks. Quiz to start promptly at 7.30pm. Further details from Christine Laughlin: 01473 785138 Examination Congratulations Congratulations to Mrs Karen Lagden from Swilland who graduated in October with a BA (Hons) in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. She is now working in Adult Community Services for Suffolk County Council before starting a Masters Degree in Social Work.
6
TALITHA KOUM A very happy New Year to you all and grateful thanks from staff and trustees for the wonderful ways so many of you have supported us with your interest, your prayers and your giving. As I write, we expect to receive another lady to the centre which will mean that we are now at capacity with all seven bedrooms occupied. Residents organised a Christmas Fete at the Hope Centre on December 8 and we welcomed a good number of people, supporters, friends and family. Residents worked really hard to prepare a range of beautiful craft Christmas items and refreshments, giving people the opportunity to see what’s happening at the centre and to support the ladies. We raised around £750, which was a very encouraging result. We also thank those who were able to attend our Carol Service at Whitton Baptist Church, and the minister, Stuart Balmer, and the church family there. Talitha Koum is a charity with a Christian ethos, providing services to vulnerable women in Suffolk. We do this through supported housing at our Hope Centre in an attractive rural location and in our three Women Together community-based recovery groups, which meet weekly in different parts of Ipswich to support women with addiction issues.
ROGER DAVID BURROWS MUSIC FUND Monday, March 11: A New View Down the River Deben Valley – Prehistoric, Roman and Saxon Archaeology along the East Anglia One Cable Route by archaeologist Andy Peachey Andy is an archaeologist who has been working across East Anglia for the last 15 years and over the last two years on a major project, the East Anglia One cable route. This is a corridor excavated along the Deben Valley, through the northern part of Martlesham, before passing over Ipswich to connect the new wind farm to the National Grid. He will talk about the amazing finds discovered during work for these wind farm cables. Earlier last year there was a lot in the press about the interesting and unexpected things unearthed by archaeologists, especially on a site close to Martlesham. These included an exciting array of new settlement evidence, including Roman and Saxon buildings, and an exceptional prehistoric monument, trackway and artefacts that may coincide with the earliest settlements and agriculture in the region approximately 4,000 years BC. Many very unexpected finds were discovered close to Martlesham and were featured on BBC4’s Digging for Britain on 12 December 2018
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This fascinating talk will be on Monday, March 11, 7.30pm at St Michaels Church Centre, The Drift, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. The venue is fully accessible with adjacent free parking. Light refreshments will be available. For further information about this event and the music fund please contact the Burrows family on 01473 625196 or visit: www.rogerdavidburrows.co.uk
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OUT & ABOUT WESTERFIELD CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS Art Class Alternate Tuesdays at Westerfield Village Hall, 9.15am-12.15pm. 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. Our teams compete in local leagues as well as playing friendly games against other clubs. For further information contact Tony Baker: 01473 411347 Village Coffee Mornings 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, starting at 7.15pm. • February 6: Bats with Anne and Dennis Kell of Suffolk Bat Group • March 6: A Complete Guide to Clematis by Peter Skeggs-Gooch of Thorncraft Clematis Everyone is welcome. For further details contact Michele Doick (01473 252330) or Barry Reeve (01473 251843). Beavers, Cubs & Scouts 1st Westerfield Scout Group was founded in 1955. Using the village hall as its headquarters the group consists of: Beaver Colony Thursday, 5.45-6.45pm Boys and girls, 6-8 years old Beaver Leader Jenny Kent: 01473 218501 / jennyk.kent1@gmail.com Cub Pack Tuesday, 6.45-8pm Boys and girls, 8-10½ years Cub Leader Joan Gibson: 01473 785510 / gibsonjoan785@gmail.com Scout Troop Friday, 6.50-9pm Boys and girls, 10½-14 years. Scout Leader Peter Runnacles: 01473 785298 / peter@runnacles.plus.com 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. The membership is 42 at present. • February 14: Summer Flowers by Sonia Burrows. Competition: Necklace Made of Sweets • March 14: The Hervey Women by David Lilley. Competition: Paperweight New members and visitors are always welcome. For further details 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 7.159pm. £12 per class, suitable for all ages. 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. Contact Caroline Glason: caroline@still-yoga.co.uk / 01473 464204 / 07746 860380 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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EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of, or a volunteer for, the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you. We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF at 7.15pm. Our next meeting is on February 19 when Marcia Whiting, Curatorial Associate of the Munnings Museum, will speak on the life and works of Sir Alfred Munnings. Sir Alfred, born and educated in Suffolk, is famous for being one of England’s finest painters of horses. Possibly less well known, he was also a significant artist of the Great War. In her talk Marcia will be paying particular attention to his collection at the Munnings Museum in Dedham. On March 19 Nick Collinson, General Manager for East Suffolk National Trust, will talk about the properties in East Suffolk, with particular reference to Sutton Hoo. The meeting will be preceded by a short AGM Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome; the entrance fee is £3. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 per year (£12 per couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events. For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary at: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk
IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY Our January meeting was held at Kesgrave Community Centre where our member Roger Swindells displayed and talked about his thematic collections and winning competition entries. Afterwards we were able to purchase material from Roger`s extensive stock as he is also a dealer who attends local stamp fairs. During February we have two competition nights and also a visit to Stampex in London. Lynn Roberts will be our speaker at Cedarwood School on the evening of March 6. Lynn will display and discuss her collection of Albania. On March 20 we have another afternoon meeting at Kesgrave Community Centre with Graham Booth who will talk about Cayman Island Postal History. The hall will be open from 1pm. Looking forward to April, we have two big events. On Wednesday 17 we have our annual auction, and on Saturday 27 we have a stamp fair at the community centre. This year we are also hosting Spring Stamp Essex so you will be able to view competition entries from across Suffolk and Essex as well as buy and sell with quality dealers. For further information contact Mike Smith: 01473 403904 / michaelsmith1949@gmail.com www.ipswichphilatelic.uk
IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, February 27: Lost Railways of Suffolk by Nathan Dodd Wednesday, March 28: Zeppelin Raids over East Anglia by Ian Mclachlan 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
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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Thursday, February 28 at 7.15pm Cure or Care? The Contribution of Medicine to the Decline of Mortality in Ipswich 1851-1911 by Anne Folan A general population study with Anne using available medical records and Census Records to outline a fascinating study of interest not only to Ipswich residents but to family history researchers generally. We meet at the Co-op Education Centre where the pedestrian entrance is at 11 Fore Street, Ipswich IP4 1JW, and the car park entrance is in Waterworks Street IP4 1JG. Admission is £2 for society members and £2.50 for non-members, who are warmly welcomed. You can join the society at the meeting if you wish. Tickets are not required, just turn up and pay on the door. For more information contact Howard on 01473 274300 or visit: www.suffolkfhs.org.uk
ORWELL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY Our first next lecture of the new year will be on Wednesday, February 6 when Andrew Spira will deliver what we are sure will be a fascinating talk entitled The Art and Architecture of St Petersburg. On Wednesday, March 6, Doug Gillen will give a talk entitled Hidden Canvasses: Street Art and the City. So why not join us and enjoy good company and interesting talks? We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew IP4 5SU on the first Wednesday of most months. Talks last about an hour, commencing promptly at 2.15pm, with tea and coffee served from 1.30-2pm. Guests and non-members are welcome provided we have enough space. Exceptionally popular lectures will have a visitor limit of 20 spaces. Please contact Wendy Robbins before the day on 01394 823807 to check if there is available space. For the latest events and news please visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk
HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL We are getting ready to explore Chinese New Year through food tasting, books and crafts and Valentine’s Day by cooking for someone special.
OTLEY & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Patron: Matthew Tanton-Brown We meet at 7.30pm on the first Monday of the month at Otley Village Hall, Otley. 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).
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. We started back on January 9 and though few in number had an enjoyable Beetle Drive in the afternoon. Our programme for the first half of the year is: February 13: February 27: March 13: March 27: April 10: April 24: May 8: May 22: June 12: June 26: July 10: July 24:
The History of Valentine’s Day Social Afternoon On this Day The History of Mother’s Day Spring Raffle and Bring-and-Buy Celebrating the Queen’s Reign Games Afternoon Social Afternoon with Brenda TBC TBC Social Afternoon with Sandra Summer Party
New members are always welcome so if you would like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you. Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690
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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 in term time only from 9am to 3pm. For further information please call 01473 833848 during session time (9am-3pm) or email Bridget Wyatt, our manager, at: enquiries@henleypreschool.com Bridget and the team
WITNESHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL Happy New Year from all of us at Witnesham Primary School. We all hope that you enjoyed the festivities last term and that those of you who were lucky enough to hear the schoolchildren singing and performing in December were thoroughly entertained. We really enjoyed visiting the local community and appreciate the constant support offered by everyone from the surrounding area. This includes the Open The Book team from the local church who continue to enthral us with their dramatic storytelling and Christian messages, which was especially important during December. Thank you to all involved for helping our children understand the meaning of Christmas in a fun and exciting way. The new term has started well after the Christmas break. The elections for this year’s school Eco Team have been completed, and the new team members are looking forward to working with each other, learning about the challenges faced by our planet and doing our best to support the fauna and flora in our local area. We continue to raise money to create a healthy living / science classroom in the school grounds so that the children can explore their educational development in the outdoors. We are looking forward to an exciting term and hope you will enjoy working with us during the next few months. If you would like to join us, we are looking for someone to help our caretaker to keep our school clean. We are able to pay £8 per hour and are looking for just two hours a day. If you are interested, please contact the school: 01473 785252 / ad.witnesham@owfed.co.uk
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SCHOOLS THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE NURSERY The children are all back at nursery as we welcome new children to enjoy all the benefits of our lovely rural setting. We have made the most of exploring our surroundings by taking a walk down to the Framsden Playing Field so the children could run, chase, jump and use all the equipment as we heard lots of squeals of delight. We continue to offer a breakfast club to all the primary school and nursery children at Helmingham with drop off anytime between 8 and 9am with breakfast served at 8.30am. This is proving popular with parents who are working or have an appointment. No booking is necessary. This term we are taking part in the Big Garden Bird Watch as we hang out the Cheerio bird feeders we have made and listen to hear the different bird songs – somewhat difficult at times with children! We are using all sorts of different materials to encourage mark making –
dry sand being a favourite. Our ‘Finger Gym’ has also been popular. It helps children’s fine motor control – again an aid to first writing skills. At the time of writing we are still waiting for some snow and have been reading and acting out The Snowman using snow cloud dough and practising our writing on snowballs! We are experimenting with ice painting and have made penguins out of cotton wool. The opportunity to choose a hot school dinner is providing popular in these colder months and is an enjoyable time as we all eat and chat together over lunch time. Visit our website for a copy of our new term newsletter or give us a ring on 01473 890950 to come and visit. www.theoldschoolhousenursery.com
CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL The spring term has started in earnest with Year 11 students undertaking internal exams in preparation for the real thing in the summer. It can be a stressful time, but lots of support is offered, especially in the form of after school revision sessions. Later this month they will take part in a Revision Bootcamp on Mersea Island in Essex. As well as learning some useful revision strategies they will attempt some challenging physical activities including high ropes and a climbing wall to build confidence and prove to themselves that if they have a go they will succeed! Hopefully in addition to returning home cold, tired and muddy they will feel more confident moving towards their exam season. Elsewhere in school, having successfully impressed the judges to beat Ipswich School in the first round of the English Speaking Union’s Schools’ Mace Competition, our debating team are preparing to battle it out against St Benedict’s High School and The Royal Hospital School in the next stage of the competition to be held at Langley School in Norfolk. In the following week they will also take part in a public speaking competition hosted by Youth Speaks; we wish them the very best of luck! This month we have two overseas trips taking place. Two students have been chosen to represent our school on the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, a national programme funded by the government. Accompanied by a teacher, students will visit battlefield
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sites in Belgium and France, participate in remembrance ceremonies and record, reflect and share their own experiences. In addition to this, we will continue to run our annual Battlefields trip (open to students in Years 9 and 10) in July, offering them the same experiences with an additional focus on the history and English curriculum as well as keeping the memory and legacy of this war alive for future generations. In half-term, 40 students will travel by ferry and coach to Obertauern in Austria for our bi-annual ski trip. This seven-day trip will include daily ski lessons, exploring the local area and organised evening entertainment. As well as the physical challenge, this trip will allow students to try something new, experience the wider world and develop independence, resilience and confidence. This term will remain busy into March as we look forward to a number of activities and events including a rock band workshop, art exhibition, Globe Theatre trip and a return visit from our Spanish exchange students. If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Thursday, February 14. Please telephone my PA, Ms J Saunders, on 01473 836110 to book a place. Headteacher Maéve Taylor
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ON THE GRAPEVINE QUESTIONS ON CASH Your questions answered by Independent Financial Adviser Nick Plumb Paul from Stowupland is just one of many people who has contacted me to ask what can be done about poor performing ISA funds. He writes: “I have around £60,000 in a stocks and shares ISA with Legal & General and a cash ISA with Barclays Bank. The stocks and shares ISAs have lost over £4,000 in the last six months and have never produced any significant growth, and the rates I am getting on the cash ISA, is awful. I wondered if I could move them?” Yes. If you are unhappy with your stocks and shares ISA investments, you can move them to another fund manager while keeping the money within a taxefficient ISA wrapper. To do this, you instruct a financial adviser to effect an ISA transfer. You can also move a cash ISA into a stocks and shares wrapper, by the same ISA to ISA transfer process.
MINDING THE GAP KICK STARTS YOUNG PEOPLES’ FUTURES The New Year is a time of resolutions and looking to the future, and Minding the Gap is making that future brighter for hundreds of young people in Suffolk. The project has helped hundreds of Suffolk based youngsters (aged 15-24) already but they want to do even more and are looking for more people in need of support. They provide free targeted and intensive support to help Suffolk’s young people gain and sustain employment and education. The people we support can be unemployed, economically inactive, facing significant challenges to accessing employment or currently experiencing or are at risk of social isolation.
However, before you rush out to do this, you should first investigate whether you could make an internal fund switch into other funds within your existing ISA provider’s range. Legal & General offer quite a wide choice of investment funds within their ISA range, and this would normally be the most costeffective way of changing the investment funds within your ISA. However, this may not be an option if you are invested in a structured product ISA or if your ISA does not have access to the full fund range. It may therefore be just as cost effective to switch to a new fund manager altogether. If you do wish to transfer, then you may wish to consider using an investment platform to hold your ISAs on. An investment platform is an online service that allows you to hold, manage, and track all of your investments in one place. Using a platform means that you only have to give one instruction to one provider and you only receive one statement. You can use a platform to buy new investments, or to consolidate a number of different plans that you already hold into new wrappers. There can also be savings in charges when you have your investments all held on the same investment platform. Platforms also allow you to invest in a wide range of investment funds from many different providers which ensures a wider spread of assets and less volatility, and less dependence upon a single fund manager. A platform will usually provide access to a range of managed portfolios and multi-asset or multi-manager investment funds, which give you access to a wide spread of investment in line with your identified attitude to risk, with the bonus of professional investment management of the fund at a competitive cost. At the moment, I would suggest that a good combination would be to access the Brewin Dolphin Managed Portfolio Service or MPS through a platform such as Novia Financial. The Novia platform has very competitive charges and gives you online access to your investments 24/7, and the Brewin Dolphin Managed Portfolios have a good track record over the last five years, with a low annual management charge of 0.36 per cent per annum, including VAT. They are available to investors with a risk profile of anywhere between cautious and high risk and there are no initial or entry charges for people transferring ISAs into the Brewin Dolphin MPS when it is held on the Novia platform. So, if you are unhappy with the performance of your existing ISAs, an ISA to ISA transfer could be the answer – but remember to take independent advice first. Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser. Send your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email them to nickplumb@aol.com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301. Nick’s answers to reader questions in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice. Any readers who require specific advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial meeting to discuss their own position and requirements.
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Minding the Gap programme manager Emma McConville said: “We help young people who are struggling with getting a job or getting back into education. Sometimes they just need a small kick start to get them back on track. This is where we come into our own. “We offer free 1-1 tailored support to all our participants. They tell us what help they need and we then provide them with that help. It could, for instance, be help with CV’s, job searches or interview techniques. Or it could be support in gaining confidence, experience and new skills to enter the world of work. “Last year 57 per cent of the participants who finished the project from July to September got back into education and 24 per cent of them got a job. The numbers speak for themselves. So, get in touch, if you are in this situation or know someone who is. We want to help, that’s why we’re here, and we can make that difference.” Led by Community Action Suffolk, Minding the Gap works with Suffolk based partners and they are funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery, though the Big Lottery Fund. If you think you are eligible for support, know someone who could be, or would just like some more information you can contact Minding the Gap at: 01473 345352 / mindingthegap@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk
WILL YOU OPEN YOUR GARDEN IN 2019? Help us to raise £2.5m to build a new breast care centre at Ipswich Hospital. We are looking for people to open their gardens in 2019 to raise money for the Blossom Appeal. Our vision is for every breast care patient to have the best possible experience when they come to Ipswich Hospital. All types and size of garden are very welcome. You choose when to open. Simply ask visitors for a donation to view your garden. Sell refreshments, plants or crafts to boost your fundraising. To help us to blossom, register your garden at: www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/opengardens Or for more information contact: charity@esneft.nhs.uk / 0300 770 1369
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CHURCH NEWS CHURCH NEWS FROM SWILLAND & ASHBOCKING PRISON MINISTRY PART 1 Prisons have always existed. In the Old Testament we read in Genesis 31 about Joseph being in prison in Egypt. In the New Testament we find a number of people spend time in prison including Paul and Silas in Acts 16. Often prisons were where people waited until they were executed. It was also the place where debtors and their whole family were put until they paid what they owed. Remember Jesus’ parable of the two debtors. Charles Dickens’ father in 1824 was sent to debtors’ prison because he owed £40.That was the same amount that Edward in Little Dorrit also owed and was sent to debtors’ prison. Prison regimes were very different from the current models. Prison chaplains (always Anglican) worked in very difficult conditions. They with the governor and the doctor were the three most important people in a prison. Conditions were dirty, and disease ridden and in the 1800s prisoners would work on treadmills. Now a treadmill is something people use to keep fit; it’s a form of exercise. The first treadmill was used in the early 1800s at Bury St Edmunds goal to cure idleness and they remained in use for over 100 years. Just think about walking up endless stairs for hours on end and going nowhere! There were many people who worked hard to reform prisons including John Howard (Howard League for Penal Reform) and Elizabeth Fry (Quaker). In the 1890s Prison Chaplain William Morrison played an important part in the campaign to improve the poor conditions and the result was sweeping reform. The purpose of prison came to be officially seen as both deterrence and reform of a person. Up until the 1960s it was still compulsory for very prisoner to attend chapel, although today it is still a popular activity. Today prison chaplains are from all Christian denominations, as well as all major faiths. Should someone come into the prison from a faith which a particular prison does not have, the prison will do what they can to help that prisoner have contact with one of their leaders. Chaplains of all faith share the same statutory duties, including responsibility for pastoral care of prisoners, staff and visitors alike. In this sense they form a very practical interfaith community, where shared objectives and practical outcomes take precedence over any dialogue about differences and similarities between faiths. The managing chaplain is appointed for every prison and is responsible for managing rotas to ensure that someone is available for inmates of every religion. The religion of every prisoner, or their preference to declare no religion, is recorded when they arrive in prison and they can attend appropriate religious services and groups. They may also convert, and many people find prison affords an opportunity to think about their spirituality and faith. Chaplains have an important responsibility to accompany prisoners on their spiritual journeys. Former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitkin said he found faith while serving his sentence. He said that while in prison he became part of a prayer group which included an armed robber, a blower (someone who cracks safes), a kiter (a cheque forger) and a couple of murders. In June last year he was ordained and now plans to work as an unpaid prison chaplain. A prisoner’s relationship with God is often intertwined with getting to know themselves and gaining a deeper understanding of their human relationships as well as their relationship with God. Chaplains often say that it is a privilege to work with people in this unique situation, when opportunities for great change are there for those who want them. Regular services, groups and one-to-one sessions are all part of the work that chaplains do, to enable and encourage prisoners to move forward in their lives. Part 2 of Prison Ministry will follow later in the year. Jane Woods SERVICES THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY Sunday, February 10: 11am Holy Communion, Ashbocking Sunday, February 17: 11am Holy Communion, Swilland
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WHAT’S ON IN FEBRUARY Sunday 3: Grundisburgh Christingle Service, 11am at St Mary’s Church Monday 4: Midweek Communion, 9.30am at Hasketon Monday 4: Knit and Stitch, 10am at the home of Linda and John Pollard of Hawthorns, The Green, Ashbocking Tuesday 5: Baby Café, 9-10.30am at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms Wednesday 6: Midweek Communion at 9.30am, followed by SWAPSHOP from 10-11am at Grundisburgh Parish Room Saturday 9: Burgh Soup Lunch, noon-1.30pm at Burgh Schoolroom, Drabbs Lane, IP13 6QA. Homemade soups and rustic bread £4, dessert £2, free tea and coffee. Sunday 10 & 24: Grundisburgh Sunday Club and Discovery Club, 10.45am in the Parish Rooms, Grundisburgh Tuesday 12: Boulge PCC, 2pm Tuesday 12: Hasketon and Grundisburgh PCC, Grundisburgh School, 7.30pm Thursday 14: Midweek Communion at 9.30am, followed by Otley Coffee Morning at the home of Karin Upson of 16 Spring Park, Otley Sunday 17: Burgh PCC meets at Burgh School Room Sunday 24: Big Brew, St Mary’s Church, Grundisburgh, 10.15am Sunday 24: Messy Church at Otley Village Hall, 3-4.30pm Monday, February 24 –Sunday, March 10: Fairtrade Fortnight Thursday 28: Midweek Communion at 11.30am, followed by Hasketon Community Lunch at 12.15pm. Contact Claire Harrington: 01394 380644 Thursday 28: COSA PCC meets in Clopton Village Hall, 7.30pm CARLFORD SOCIAL GROUPS Hobbies Group: February 6, 10am, Clopton Tiddlywinks: February 14 & 28, 2.30pm, Grundisburgh Grundisburgh Sunday Club and Discovery Club: Februayr 10 & 24, 10.45am PRAYER AND STUDY GROUPS Ashbocking House Group: February 13 & 27, 7.30pm, Ashbocking Going Deeper: February 6 & 20, 10am, Ashbocking Monday House Group: February 18, 7.30pm, Grundisburgh Otley House Group: February 11 & 25, 1.45pm, Otley COMMUNITY LUNCHES Otley & Hasketon: Both February 28 at 12.30pm BEYOND BELIEF, SPRING 2019 Fortnightly sessions at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms, 10.30am-noon from Monday, February 25 for six sessions (with a break for Easter). Enquiries to Paul: paulwiffen222@btinternet.com / 01473 738474 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 March 5 at 10.30am when we will discuss Jesus and The Gospel Women by Joanna Collicutt McGrath. Why not get a copy and start reading now? We would be very pleased to have you come along. Enquiries to Paul: 01473 738474 / paulwiffen222@btinternet.com. Please let us know if you will be joining us, FANCY A COFFEE? Ashbocking: Friday 1 at the home of Noreen and Ken Petherbridge of Feoffee Farm, Ashbocking, 10.30am-noon Swilland: Saturday 2 at the home of Gill Reidy, 1 Church Lane, Swilland from 10am Grundisburgh: Saturday 2 from 10.30am and then SWAPSHOP on Wednesday 6 from 10am, both at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms Burgh: No coffee morning this month but please come to our Soup Lunch on February 9, noon-1.30pm at Burgh School Rooms Otley: Thursday 14, 10am at the home of Karin Upson of 16 Spring Park Clopton: Wednesday 20 at the village hall, 10am-noon
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CHURCH NEWS
LOCAL SERVICES
WITNESHAM BAPTIST CHURCH Do the Hokey Cokey, in, out, shake it all about, do the hokey cokey and you turn around! As you read this, the parliament vote on the Brexit deal will have taken place. Deal or No Deal – sounds like a TV programme, but without the fun! Over recent months, and I’m sure it will continue for many more months ahead, it has been are we still in or are we out or should we shake it all about and see what happens (as per the Hokey Cokey). Well, whatever the answer is (or will be), I don’t suppose much had changed when you woke up this morning, at least not noticeably. So why all the worry? I remember back on the cusp of changing from 1999 to 2000 there were predictions of computer/internet meltdown with crashing financial systems. As you know, that didn’t happen. I may be wrong, but however things turn out, life will go on and things will not be as bad as the scaremongers suggest. For me it comes down to who or what I rely on?
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As readers over the past few years may have picked up, I don’t rely on the temporary things of this world, but on the eternal God and His Truth. Trusting in Jesus means that I take seriously His promises and word as found in the Bible. One day Jesus was talking to a very large crowd and said: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Readings such words is easy, following through with them is tough. It is natural to worry, especially when you don’t have much and you’re scraping by. I appreciate that there are many who struggle and rely on things like the FIND Food Bank, but there remains strength and security in trusting Jesus to help us through tough times. Worrying changes little and has a detrimental effect on our health, especially mental health. So maybe, as we continue through this year and all the squabbling goes on in parliament, give a thought to asking Jesus to be part of your life and give the worry over to Him. Shalom, Pastor Andrew DIARY DATES FOR FEBRUARY Morning Services begin at 11am (except when stated otherwise) Sunday, February 3: Morning Service including Holy Communion, Pastor Andrew Sunday, February 10: Morning Service, Pastor Andrew Sunday, February 17: Morning Service, Team Ministry Sunday, February 24: Morning Service Family Time Together: every Sunday from 9.30-10.15am All families, parents with children, are welcome for a special time together with craft, singing and stories. Monday, February 4: The Munch Bunch Lunch Club, 12.30pm Please contact Heather for details: 01473 785321 Tuesday, February 5: Tuesday Craft Corner, 2pm Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning
Tuesdays at 7.30pm: Open House Topical Discussion Group Every Wednesday; 3Cs Café, 9.30-11.30am Fridays at 9.15am: Mums and Toddlers Group (not February 22) Wednesday, February 13: Prayer Fellowship, 11.30am Wednesday, February 27: Bible Study, 11.30am In the church we have a collection box for FIND (Families in Need). Nonperishable food is very welcome. Thank you.
Dry Carpet Cleaning
Outside the church there is a clothes bank on behalf of the Salvation Army. We have bags you can use (please ask) or you can use your own. Thank you.
For a FREE no obligation quotation
The post office is in our conservatory on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Please use this service to help keep it in the village.
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Professional Local Service call John Burch: 07870 347486
Tel: 01449 721441
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The Churches of the United Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham
In Touch with WTW ‘Of your own do we give you…’
Why do we give? In our churches giving is not just about helping maintain the building and the work that each church does. Generosity overflows when we are caught up in God's extravagant love and self-giving.
Giving to a need or needing to give? Christians don’t just give to a need, we need to give because our giving is the overflow of God’s gift to us in Jesus: ‘you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich’ (2 Corinthians 8:9). St Paul who wrote these words is so sure about this not once does he use the normal Greek word for ‘money’ but instead talks about ‘grace’ and that’s the heart of giving for Christians.
In the Old Testament there’s a story about a farmer who brings the first fruits of his crops to the priest to set before the altar. The land that produces his crops and feeds his herds is given by God. It is owned by God but promised and gifted to his people. The farm is a rich land, flowing with milk and honey and our farmer is to ‘rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given…’ (Deut. 26:11; Psalm 104). That is why Paul tells us that God has given stuff for us to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17). That is why in church, as we present our offering we say, ‘all things come from you and of your own do we give you’ (1 Chron. 29:14).
Remembering Giving is one way in which we remember and celebrate that what we have actually belongs to God and is entrusted to our care.
Giver, then what we give must be serious, generous and meaningful because we cannot give to God that which costs us nothing (2 Sam. 24:24). Money today is the means by which we secure just about all our goods and services. We, our society, our churches will not be able to function with only love and goodwill. Our churches are not subsidised by the national church—money is raised locally. The world is changing; people are more often being paid monthly, and directly to bank accounts. We now have internet banking and plastic cards. The way we give to our church is also changing.
Grateful giving is, as the Bible says, a gift in proportion to what God has given to us (2 Cor. 8:7).
On the next page you can read about a new, efficient and easy giving method called the Parish Giving Scheme which has already been adopted by a lot of people in our villages to support their local church.
If giving is to help us remember the
Could you help too?
CHURCH SERVICES February—March Day / Date
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St Martin’s Tuddenham St Martin
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
St Mary Magdalene’s Westerfield
5th Sunday before Lent 3rd February
9.30am Family Communion
10am All-age Worship
4th Sunday before Lent 10th February
9.30am All-Age Worship
10am Family Communion
3rd Sunday before Lent 17th February
9.30am Family Communion
10am Morning Worship
11am Family Communion
2nd Sunday before Lent 24th February
8am Holy Communion 9.30am Morning Worship
10am Family Communion
11am Morning Worship
9.30am Family Communion
10am All-age Worship
11am Family Communion
Sunday before Lent 3rd March
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11am Family Communion 8am Holy Communion 11am All-Age Worship
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In Touch with WTW
The Churches of the United Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham
Church Diary—February
Who’s Who:
Mothers’ Union—Thursday 7th February when popular speaker and local author Pip Wright will talk about “Whistlecraft” the true story of the poachers of Rickinghall Ͳ 2pm in Westerfield Church Room (visitors welcome—contact Branch Leader Revd Catherine Forsdike 252904).
MINISTRY TEAM:
Benefice Youth Group—meet on Wednesdays 6th and 21st February at 6.15pm (contact Julia 785497 for more details) Village Voices—meet on Thursday 7th and 21st February at 7.30pm in Witnesham Baptist Church (contact Christine Laughlin 01473 785138) Kingdom Kids—meet on Sunday 10th February at 10am in the church at Witnesham (contact Gill Thorley 890821) [Wednesday Prayers—please note that the weekly Morning Prayer at 9.30am on Wednesdays in Westerfield Church Room is in abeyance.]
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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 Julia Farmer
Need to Give or Give to a Need… continued from p1...
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 Derek Austin Derek@wtandw.org.uk
The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) which is a new, streamlined way for you to support your church and makes it simpler for us to collect Gift Aid, the government’s tax refund scheme.
Regular monthly donations direct from the bank (standing orders)
£28,535
40%
Fetes
£7,282
10%
Witnesham 01473 785673
Gift Days
£7,398
10%
KINGDOM KIDS—WITNESHAM
If you already give directly from your bank account you’ll be familiar with the process and the slight change to the way you give will be explained. If you would like to begin giving in this way, PGS is your opportunity to start.
Gift Aid reclaimed
£8,503
12%
Collections
£4,403
6%
Just 6% of the money given to the churches comes from the collections on Sundays. The biggest part of the income (40%) comes directly from donors’ bank accounts and we are very grateful. Sums vary from £5 a month to £150 a month.
Fees
£3,337
5%
One-off donations
£2,899
4%
Other income
£9,537 £71,894
TOTAL INCOME
13%
Last financial year, between them, the three PCCs raised over £70,000 made up like this...
When you join the scheme, your details are safely kept and you have the opportunity to review your giving every year—nothing happens without your permission. If you still like to put something in the bag on a Sunday you can use a token we provide instead. If you’d like to join the scheme, contact Rev Alan (alan@wtandw.org.uk or your local church treasurer or pick up a pack from church. Thank you in advance.
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Gill Thorley 01473 890821
Gill@wtandw.org.uk
BENEFICE YOUTH GROUP Julia Farmer
01473 785497 Julia@wtandw.org.uk
Website: www.wtandw.org.uk Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wtandw/
Church Floodlighting Could you sponsor the church floodlighting? The money helps the church to maintain and run the lights which really make our churches stand out in the community. At St Mary Magdalene Westerfield, sponsorship is £7.50 for a week. Ring Judy on 230188 or email Judy@wtandw.org.uk Sponsorship at St Martin’s Tuddenham is £5 for a weekend. Ring Jim on 785296 or email Jim@wtandw.org.uk
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