In Touch News with Westerfield March 2019 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

In Touch

™ ™©©

with Ashbocking, Swilland, Tuddenham, Westerfield & Witnesham Volume 9 • Issue No.4 • MARCH 2019

Red Deer Stag by David Schenck See Ipswich & District Photographic Society Exhibition, p4

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I hope you value the fact that we aim to produce a monthly magazine with a balance of advertising and editorial content, providing essential information about products and services we all require and supporting local business in doing so, while also providing relevant local news which enables residents to engage with the local community and keep in touch with local news and events. As editor I juggle this rather delicate balance very carefully and encourage readers to support the advertisers who enable Mansion House Publishing (MHP) to design, print and deliver the magazine every month and to support an enormous range of fundraising activities and charities. You’ll find quite a few in this edition and I hope you can support the efforts of those who make them happen. One which I’d like to highlight this month, and which we have made a commitment to support until the project has been completed, is The Blossom Appeal, a Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals charity set up to develop a £2.5 million Breast Centre at Ipswich Hospital. The new centre will bring all elements of breast care at Ipswich Hospital under one roof and provide an environment where patients can be imaged, biopsied where necessary, and see their clinician in one appointment without the need to get dressed and undressed several times. There will also be new dedicated clinics for men and young people. We’ll provide regular updates, promote fundraising events and let you know how you can help. Right now they are looking for people to open their gardens in 2019. All types and size of garden are welcome. You choose when to open. Simply ask visitors for a donation to view your garden and sell refreshments, plants or crafts to boost your fundraising. Register your garden at www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/opengardens or for more information contact: charity@esneft.nhs.uk / 0300 770 1369 To find out more about The Blossom Appeal please visit: www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/breast

In Touch

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

01473 400380 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.

ADVERTISING Email: advertising@intouchnews.co.uk

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

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

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

NEWS NEW ANGLE PRIZE FOR LITERATURE Entries have now been received for the fifth biennial New Angle Prize for Literature, awarded to celebrate and encourage excellence in the regional literature of East Anglia. The competition is organised by the Ipswich Institute and sponsored by Gotelee Solicitors and Scrutton Bland accountants. With a prize of £2,000 and £500 for the runner-up, the award is for recently published books of literary merit associated with or influenced by East Anglia. The judges for 2019 are: Julia Blackburn: Poet and author of fiction and non-fiction, Her most recent book, Threads, won the East Anglian Book of the Year Award in 2015 and the 2017 New Angle Prize. Julia lives in Suffolk and sometimes in Italy. Andrew Burton: Writer and teacher of playwriting and radio drama at University of Essex. Andrew has been on judging panels for playwriting and literature and also managed writer development programmes for Essex Book Festival. Amanda Hodgkinson: An award winning, internationally bestselling novelist, journalist and lecturer. Her novel 22 Britannia Road won the Waterstone Award for best debut novel and the New Angle Prize EADT Readers Award in 2013. Amanda grew up on the Blackwater estuary in Essex and now lectures in creative writing at University of Suffolk. Authors of the six short-listed books will attend a showcase book-reading event to be held at the Ipswich Institute on Wednesday, May 1 and prizewinners will be announced at a special awards dinner at Hintlesham Golf Club on Wednesday, July 3. Tickets for these events, which are open to nonmembers, are available from the Ipswich Institute. www.ipswichinstitute.org.uk / 01473 253992

RANSOMES & RAPIER ANNUAL REUNION Sunday, March 31 at Kesgrave Social Club, Edmonton Road, Kesgrave IP5 1EE All ex-employees, families and friends are welcomed from 12.30 to 5pm. Come and see fascinating artefacts, documents and videos and meet up with old friends at a really enjoyable event. See what new stories and pictures have surfaced. Food and drinks will be available to buy at very reasonable cost. Admission is only £2.50. For more information contact: 07910 659219 / derek@dclarke.me.uk

VACANT ALLOTMENTS There are vacant allotment plots in Coopers Close, Witnesham IP6 9ES The cost for leasing an allotment 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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APRIL DEADLINE 10 MARCH 2019

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NEWS THE ASHBOCKING HERD AT GREENACRES In 2017 I was working in child protection as a qualified social worker, a single mother of two daughters. My eldest daughter was studying at Aberystwyth University and my youngest was working full time. My contract with my employer was coming to an end and I needed to find work. Ten years of frontline practice had taken its toll and I needed a change. In April 2017 I was given seven pigs, in September my seven pigs became 17 and by October I had 23. I now have a herd of 50, some of which are small black pigs with prick ears and snub noses, similar to the Suffolk Small Black (now extinct). As the herd grew, I decided to work full time at growing the business with a little help from a PPI pay-out and from Andrew, my partner. From the internet I learnt how to butcher a pig, I took online courses in catering and in March 2018 was given a five-star rating for butchery. I started trading in June. I’m now regularly trading at three farmers’ markets across Suffolk, sell to the Barley Mow and have a stall there once a month. I’m a real traditionalist at heart and have developed my butchery to reflect this. When the pig is butchered, half goes fresh to the market and the other half is either cured or made into sausages and faggots. I’m really looking forward to developing the business and, hopefully, bring back the Suffolk pig. I couldn’t have done this without Andrew’s support so I’m very grateful to him. Jo Henderson See page 13 for market dates and contact information

FROM THE ARCHIVES TUDDENHAM ST MARTIN, PART 2 In the January addition of In Touch I focused on the findings of Arthur Mee back in the 1940s. I now complete those findings. In the chancel Arthur found a wall-tablet with painted shields to John Sickleman and his wife, the 17th century owners of the manor, and a second tablet has the painted arms of Richard Kebel of Cromwell’s day. The east window (in which Noah is receiving the dove with two little fishes swimming near and Joshua is crossing Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant) is to Alexander Paton, the midshipman son of a rector who met with a tragic death at sea, being blown from a mast in a gale off the Cape of Good Hope during the first voyage of the Alnwick Castle in 1860. A Kempe window has three richly robed saints: Edmund with mace and arrows, Martin with sword and crozier and Felix with a model of a cathedral. In another is the serial story of the Prodigal Son, in which Mee noticed toadstools, gentians, harebells, violets and primroses, the colour charming and the whole effect delightful. Well that appears to be the total of Mee’s observations during his visit to Tuddenham, which I hope locals, and indeed those of you in surrounding villages, found of interest and perhaps will give you a reason and a wish to visit the church and seek out some of his findings. Take a child with you and see how many you can spot. Next time I intend to look at the findings of Mee when he paid a visit to Ashbocking. Village Historian and Recorder Steve Henley

IPSWICH & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNUAL EXHIBITION Ipswich & District PS stages its 2019 Annual Exhibition in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Cornhill Ipswich IP1 1DH from Tuesday 5 to Saturday, March 16, 10am-5pm each day (closed Sundays and Monday, March 11 and at 4pm on Saturday 16). Entrance is free and visitors are very welcome. There will be prize draw for visitors to win a framed image of their choice.

WOMEN TOGETHER RECOVERY GROUP (WT) Meetings are self-help recovery groups for all women regardless of their addiction or life problem. They are facilitated by women who are in recovery themselves and people who have supported others in their journey to freedom. We provide an environment where women can talk about their daily struggles, share their experiences, strength and hope openly and honestly in a safe place. 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, selfbelief and self-worth that addiction has stolen from them. Meetings are held on Monday at 10.30am at Whitton Baptist Church, 209 Highfield Road, Ipswich IP1 6DH, on Monday evenings at 7.45pm at Shepherd Drive Baptist Church, Shepherd Drive, Pinewood, Ipswich IP8 3SL and on Thursdays at 1.1 pm at Ipswich Community Church, Clarkson Street, Ipswich IP1 2JL For more information please visit the Women Together Recovery Group Ipswich Facebook page, or contact us at: 07503 416576 / womentogether@talithakoum.org.uk

Nearly 300 prints and 250 digital images (on wide screen TV) will be on display covering a wide range of genres including monochrome and colour, landscape, pictorial, creative, record, photojournalism, sport, record, portraiture and natural history. In all some 40 members of the society will have their work exhibited. IDPS has an impressive collection of silverware to be presented for the best image in each of the genres. The trophies and awards will be presented by the Worshipful the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Jane Riley at the society’s annual awards dinner at the Ipswich and Suffolk Club. This will include the Mayor’s Cup for the image selected personally by the mayor as the Best in Exhibition at a preview on Tuesday, March 5 at 3.30pm. IDPS continues to be one of the largest photographic societies in East Anglia and one of the leading photographic clubs in the country. The society meets at Burlington Baptist Church Centre, London Road, Ipswich IP1 2EZ. Meetings are on Mondays at 7.30pm. For further information visit www.idps.org.uk and for membership enquiries email: membership@idps.org.uk The IDPS programme includes lectures, competitions and practical meetings including evenings when new members can get help and advice. IDPS particularly welcomes new members whatever their photographic experience. Exhibition Secretary David Robinson ARPS

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NEWS SWILLAND AND WITNESHAM GROUPED PARISH COUNCIL Clerk: Mr Steven Barron 07719 176917 / swill-witpc@outlook.com

of the planned improvements and agree the expenditure based on the estimate supplied. Seconded by Dr Nicol and carried.

Report from the parish council meeting held on January 16

Gibraltar Crossroads SCC Highways estimate £3,185.87 Chair again informed the meeting of the huge amount of time, correspondence and meetings he had spent to try and get the 40mph limit on the B1078 extended to cover the Gibraltar Crossroads junction. Sadly the County Highways team had again re affirmed that this would not be supported, but have suggested and costed a list of proposed safety measures as an alternative.

Present: Mr Rush (Chair), Mr Templeman, Mr Everett, Mrs Shaw, Dr Nicol, Mr Hindle and three members of the public. Police Report Mrs Shaw had attended the January SNT meeting at Woodbridge Police Station. There have been issues with motorcycling along the village footpaths to the rear of Weyland Road and late night problems in the school car park including on one occasion, people sleeping in a vehicle until the early hours. Police were aware of both of these issues and had responded. Issues with fly-tipping and burning rubbish in the Rec Ground car park were also discussed along with vehicles speeding through the villages. Planning Mr Hindle reported on recent applications, whether supported or objected to by the PC, which included: • 1 Mill Lane (Rose Cottage): Objected to, refused by SCDC • Barn Cottage, Hall Lane: Listed Building Consent, permitted by SCDC • Street Farm: Was not objected to, awaiting decision by SCDC

Footpaths Mr Hindle reported that the use of off-road motorcycles on FP21 behind Weyland Road, Witnesham seemed to have stopped after the SNT issued an ASB warning. Anti-slip strips had been requested for the footbridge in the marshes crossing towards Cockfield Hall, but had not been fitted yet.

• Fynn Valley Golf Club: Variation of conditions on a previously approved application had no objections, decision awaited by SCDC

Recreation Ground Dr Nicol reported that there had been issues with discarded take-away food packaging, carrier bags and cardboard boxes used to deliver glass to the bottle banks which had all been left on the ground beside the bottle banks and not emptied into the banks themselves as they were clearly full.

A new planning application was published by SCDC on January 14 for Newton Hall Equitation Centre. This would be an agenda item at the next parish council planning meeting in February, but a member of the public who had wrongly assumed it would be an agenda item on January 16 explained his concerns and advised that there was a great deal of local concern.

It was acknowledged that Christmas was a busy period and it seemed people from other local villages, as well as passers-by were dumping their bottles on the ground rather than taking them away or finding an alternative bottle bank elsewhere. Volunteers had fortunately cleared the rubbish and extra bottles, but the clerk would contact the bin supplier for more frequent collection.

The chairman advised that all comments should be sent to the district planning team who will be dealing with it, but was happy for copies to be sent to the parish clerk for review at the forthcoming planning meeting. A sample of a flyer intended to be sent to all residents of Swilland was submitted to the chair for information.

Dr Nicol had obtained a quote for a litter bin of £226 plus VAT and £250 for some signage for the bottle bank and general area to warn of littering and not to leave bottles in bags and boxes for collection which Mrs Shaw proposed should be approved. Seconded by Mr Everett and carried.

• Listed barn conversion, Strugglers Lane: supported, awaiting decision by SCDC

Homeland House: apart from mini-bus operations on the site, all other stop notice elements were being complied with. SCDC had written to the mini-bus company and a response was awaited. HIGHWAYS Speed Initiatives SCC Highways estimate £2,785.55 The chair provided an update on some speed initiatives that he has been requesting for some time and now SCC Highways have provided an estimate of £2,785.55 (inc. VAT) for works to improve speed limit signage including painting 30mph speed roundels at regular intervals throughout the villages of Witnesham and Swilland in response to the many concerns of residents about speeding in the villages. Mr Hindle proposed that council agree to proceed with the implementation

These were listed by the chair and included improved high visibility signage, additional road markings from all directions and a bold white line through the kerb line on both sides of the B1078 across the junction. Again the parish council were asked to pay for the works and Mr Everett proposed council should proceed to order the work based on the estimate received. Seconded by Mr Templeman and carried.

VHMC Mrs Shaw reported that estimates for new curtains in the hall had been received to help with improving the acoustics. Dr Nicol advised that council had fixed budgets set for the village hall for this year and next. Clerk would send details of the amounts to Mrs Shaw for VHMC’s information. There had been recent bookings where hirers had left the hall in an unclean state and had run on significantly beyond the agreement deadlines. Mrs Shaw advised the deposit amounts set would be reviewed by the VHMC. Dr Nicol reminded the meeting, as per the November minutes, that council had requested VHMC to obtain a quote or suggest a solution for between six and 10 tables which could be made available for the village show, church fete and other general uses along with any storage implications.

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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 Mondays Pilates Class, 7-8pm Tuesdays • Post Office at Witnesham Baptist Church, 12.30-4pm • Carpet Bowls from 7pm. Contact Peter Elmy: 785754 Wednesdays Coffee, Conversation & Cake at Witnesham Baptist Church, 9.30-11.30am. Thursdays • Post Office at Witnesham Baptist Church, 9am-12.30pm • Carpet Bowls from 2pm. Contact Peter Elmy: 785754 • Tai Chi Classes from 5.45pm. A new beginners’ class starts on April 4. Contact Marc: 07860 471748 Fridays • Mums & Toddlers Group, Witnesham Baptist Church, 9.15-11.15am (term time only). Contact Jean Pearson: 785478 • Pilates Class, 9.45-10.45am. Contact Kat: 07804 909083 / katspilates@live.com • Bums & Tums, 11.30am-12.30pm MARCH Monday 4: Ashbocking Parish Council Meeting at SWT, 7.30pm Thursday 7: Village Voices rehearsal, Witnesham Baptist Church Room, 7.30pm. Contact Christine Laughlin: 01473 785138 / christinelaughlin4@gmail.com Wednesday 13: WI meets for a talk entitled My Year in the Falklands by Stephen Hope, 7.30pm Thursday 14: Mobile Library visits the Green, Ashbocking, 12.15-12.25pm Wednesday 20: Swilland and Witnesham Parish Council Meeting, 7.30pm Thursday 21: Mobile Library visits Weyland Road, Witnesham (9.5010.20am), the Moon & Mushroom at Swilland (10.25-10.40am) and Sunset Cottage (10.45-10.55am) Thursday 21: Village Voices rehearsal, Witnesham Baptist Church Room, 7.30pm FUTURE DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES Saturday, June 23, 2.30pm: Witnesham St Mary’s Church Fete on Manor Farm Meadow and at the village hall

MEN’S BREAKFAST ON MARCH 9 The Churches of Witnesahm Baptist and St Mary’s invite you to a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, March 9, 9-10.30am at Witnesham Baptist Church. Enjoy a bacon butty, croissant and coffee followed by a Thought for the Day by Mick Reynolds. To help with catering please let us know by Tuesday, March 5 if you’re coming. Andrew Croft: 07851 060482 / andrew.croft06@btinternet.com Paul Laughlin: 07587 150203 / paul@wtandw.org.uk

WESTERFIELD CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS Art Class A weekly class for newcomers and improvers. First class free, £100 for the course of 12 weeks or £10 drop-in. Contact Lisa Ann Puhlhofer: 01473 878734 / 07834 280287 Westerfield Bowls Club Members 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 Coffee mornings are held in the village hall every Wednesday at 10am. Everyone is welcome. Westerfield & District Gardening Club Meets at Westerfield Village Hall on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.15pm. • March 6: A Complete Guide to Clematis by Peter Skeggs-Gooch, Director of Thorncraft Clematis • April 3: A Year in the Life of Pellys (Pelargoniums) by Bernard Revans from Ipswich Geranium Society 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. • March 14:The Hervey Women, Ickworth with David Lilley. Competition: Paperweight • April 11: Trek for Life with Tina Oldfield. Competition: Item Letter C New members and visitors are always welcome. 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. Contact Sally Askew: 01394 384013 / sally_askew@hotmail.com Yoga Westerfield Village Hall on Thursday from 9.40-11am. Eighty minutes of yoga stretches and relaxation for all. Contact Caroline Glason: caroline@still-yoga.co.uk / 01473 464204 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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OUT & ABOUT WESTERFIELD & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB In December 2018, for our Christmas meeting, we were wonderfully entertained by Charlie Haylock, who had to battle his way cross-country to get to us due to traffic diversions around Ipswich. His knowledge of words, language, speech and so much more is incredible. In February, we had our first presentation of 2019, an excellent talk on bats and the work of the Suffolk Bat Group. Anne Kell is a fine champion for these little mammals and, along with her husband and other volunteers in the group, keeps track of bat populations and their ‘homes’ around the county. There are many different British species in Suffolk. The meeting was very wellattended and we feel we have got off to a really successful start to the year’s programme. We have talks planned for the year on such topics as clematis, pelargoniums, fuchsias, salvias and, later in the year, squash. We have outings planned to see the wonderful displays of azaleas and rhododendrons at Stody Lodge Gardens in May and to the Hyde Hall Flower Show in August. We have our summer barbecue planned and our Christmas ‘horticultural’ entertainment. We even have a couple of plant growing competitions.

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 Over the last two years archaeologist Andy Peachey has been working on the East Anglia One cable route. He will talk about the amazing and unexpected finds discovered during this work, some close to Martlesham, including an exciting array of new settlement evidence and artefacts that may coincide with the earliest settlements and agriculture in the region approximately 4,000 years BC, some of which were featured on BBC4’s Digging for Britain last year and in the local press. 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

Meetings are held in Westerfield Village Hall on the first Wednesday of the month from February to June and September to December, 7.15 for 7.30pm. Visitors welcome for just £4, which includes refreshments and raffle. Adjacent parking. This year’s programme of events was planned in collaboration with Barbara Bell. Barbara led our admin group for some five years, but tragically has not survived to enjoy it with us. We are determined that the club will continue to thrive in her memory and in recognition of the great enthusiasm for the club that she brought out in us all. Barbara, and her sunny smile, are sadly missed and very fondly remembered

SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Thursday, March 28 at 7.15pm: A Suffolk Bevin Boy

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).

Barbara Mcelroy tells the story of her father who, with thousands of others, expected to go into the forces but was instead conscripted by ballot to go down the mines in the Second World War, no excuses allowed. The talk looks at the reasons for the schedule, the conditions down the mines and subsequent problems. We meet at the Co-op Education Centre. 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. Just turn up and pay on the door. For more information contact Howard on 01473 274300 or visit: www.suffolkfhs.org.uk Picture published with permission from the Imperial War Museum

IPSWICH FLOWER CLUB WELCOMES NATIONAL DEMONSTRATORS We would like to invite you to our meeting on March 11 when David Thomson, an experienced NAFAS demonstrator, presents Flowers My Way. The meeting starts at 2pm at St Augustine’s Church Hall on Bucklesham Road. The cost for visitors is £5 which includes tea and biscuits. You will be warmly welcomed if you just turn up, but for more information please contact Janet: 01473 415749 The flower club meets regularly on the second Monday afternoon of the month. We also have six Friday afternoon workshops during the year which are suitable for all standards of flower arrangers. The workshop on March 29 will be a cascade arrangement and will be tutored by Anne Bell, a NAFAS demonstrator and teacher. A cascade arrangement is made in a tall container with plant material flowing down one side. If you are interested in the workshop, which will cost £12, please contact Stella: 01473 711946

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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, March 28: Zeppelin Raids Over East Anglia by Ian Mclachlan Wednesday, April 24: The Steam Tug by Janet Hall 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

IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY Our last meeting was a member’s display evening where members brought along items to display from their own collections. As usual it turned out to be very entertaining. We were treated to exhibits of early fiscal stamps and informed how they were made and where the money raised went – to finance the ten year war with France. We were also shown some very early penny blacks on covers from our local area and some Channel Island issues from the Second World War. April is a busy month as we have Richard Hall talking about Apartheid & Cape of Good Hope on Wednesday 3 and our annual auction is at Cedarwood School on April 17 with viewing from 5pm and the auction starting at 6.45pm. It’s the perfect opportunity to buy more stamps or to start a collection. On Saturday 27 we have our Stamp Fair at Kesgrave Community Centre from 10am to 4pm. At this event we are also hosting STAMPESSEX which will give you the opportunity to buy and sell stamps from a number of dealers and also to view the spring competition entries from across Essex and South Suffolk. This event is a great opportunity to find out more about philately/stamp collecting.

ASHBOCKING, SWILLAND & WITNESHAM WI The Suffolk East Federation of Women’s Institutes is celebrating its 100th year. The highlights at the annual meeting on March 5 at Trinity Park will be welcoming the National Federation Chair, Lynne Stubbings and Kevin Clifton, winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2018! Back in Witnesham, we look forward to hearing Stephen Hope telling us about his year in the Falklands. You are invited to come along to experience this WI meeting on Wednesday, March 13 at 7.30pm in Witnesham Village Hall. Following on from a great local walk in January, we plan to trek all the way to Tuddenham, stopping at the café of course, before a choice of two routes back. Join us on Friday, March 1, meeting at the recreation ground in Witnesham at 10.30am. In April local broadcaster Lynne Mortimer is joining us to celebrate the WI birthday

ORWELL DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY Our 2019 program started with an interesting talk from Andrew Spira who took us on a fascinating journey through St Petersburg using examples of art and architecture. In a change to our previously published program, on Wednesday, March 6, we are delighted to welcome Christopher Garibaldi as our guest speaker. His subject is Treasures of the Turf; The Fine and Decorative Arts of Horse Racing. On April 3 our guest speaker is Simon Inglis with a talk entitled Beer and Skittles.

For further information contact Mike Smith: 01473 403904 / michaelsmith1949@gmail.com

The talks throughout the year cover a broad spectrum of art. If this is something which appeals to you please come and meet us.

www.ipswichphilatelic.uk

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.

GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50’S 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. On January 23 we enjoyed quizzes and bingo. Our remaining programme for the first half of the year is: March 13

On This Day

March 27

The History of Mother’s Day

April 10

Spring Raffle and Bring-and-Buy

April 24

Celebrating the Queen’s Reign

May 8

Games Afternoon

May 22

Social Afternoon with Brenda

June 12

TBC

June 26

TBC

July 10

Social Afternoon with Sandra

July 24

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

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

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 March 19 when Nick Collinson, general manager for East Suffolk National Trust, will talk about the National Trust properties in East Suffolk. He will be placing particular emphasis on Sutton Hoo where major changes across the site have transformed the way in which the stories of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time are presented to the public. The meeting will be preceded by a short AGM. On April 16 an ambassador from Trinity House will talk about the lighthouses around our coast. 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

In Touch online:

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horse riding in suffolk Newton Hall Equitation Ltd. Premier Equestrian Experiences in the heart of Suffolk Bring a guest for

free When you Book a ride*

*Valid Tues - Sun on all 30 min semi private lessons for you and one guest. Valid until 31-3-19

www.newtonhall-suffolk.com

office@newtonhall-suffolk.com | +44 (0) 1473 785 616

COFFEE WITH TOFFEE THE PONY Pa r e n t & t o d d l e r g r o u P Parents with babies and toddlers are invited to join us at The Gallery Kitchen at Newton Hall for a morning of Coffee, Tea, Cake and Ponies! Cosy indoor cafe with plenty of toys and entertainment.

ÂŁ5 per ride - non riders welcome! Tuesdays - 11am t o f f e e l o o k s f o rWa r d to Welcoming you!

www.newtonhall-suffolk.com

office@newtonhall-suffolk.com | +44 (0) 1473 785 616 14

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OUT & ABOUT A NIGHT OUT WITH IPSWICH TOWN PASTORS Town Pastors is a voluntary organisation that operates in a number of towns in Suffolk and beyond. Visible in their yellow hi-viz jackets with the Town Pastor Logo and baseball cap (woolly hat in winter), they patrol in pairs on Friday and Saturday nights, late into the night, looking out for people who have had a little too much to drink, lost their friends, or who may just need some water or a bit of chocolate. Over the past twelve years we have become known and respected by late-night revellers, often with a remark such as “You saved my brother from a night in the cells”, or “You looked after my mate when she was blind drunk”. The night-time economy – bars, clubs, fast food outlets and taxi services – that operate until up to four in the morning (and the police presence required to cover it) is something of which most of us are totally unaware. At night a different animal walks the town. Night-time Ipswich is nothing like Ipswich in the daytime. Young and not-quite so young people come into the town centre in groups to have a good time. The main flow of pedestrian traffic is between the Cattle Market and Cardinal Park. At two in the morning Silent Street is not particularly silent as alcohol seems to make people think everyone else is hard of hearing. The atmosphere is largely friendly and safe. In our early days it was more like the Wild West, with tension and fighting going on all around, but things have settled remarkably over the years. Our work is often with people who have become casualties of drink, and sometime people who’ve been taking other substances. We’ll stay with them, give them water, help to sober them up, and eventually get them to a taxi. Taxi drivers do not take anyone who looks drunk in case they throw up in the taxi. Sometimes we’re able to call mum or dad, or hubby-at-home, and they’ll come out to fetch their loved ones. We meet and assist many people celebrating their eighteenth birthday who have seriously miscalibrated their capacity for alcohol. We sometimes come across people who are by themselves. One young lady had been ditched by her friends because she’d got too drunk, and they left her on a bench by herself and went off to the next club venue without her. Another had been in an abusive relationship and we spent time listening to what she’d been through and how her partner’s manipulative treatment of her left her with no self-worth. One young man asked us where the nearest car park was. He didn’t look like he’d be safe driving a car. He was actually looking for a high-rise building so that he could throw himself off it. We tried to get him to talk, but he marched off at speed. Town Pastors are recruited from churches, so prayer is one of our tools in situations like these. We did just that, praying that he’d find a couple of police officers who could assess and refer him. We tried to keep up, but lost him. As we came out into the Cattle Market he was nowhere to be seen. We looked back and realised we’d walked straight past him, flanked safely by two police officers. A young lady poured out to us the story of her abortion a few months ago. She was overcome by guilt and shame, and said she didn’t deserve to be alive. Her friends, mother and the boyfriend had pushed her to get rid of the baby, and now she was filled with grief and self-condemnation. Our offer to pray for her was taken up, and she joined us in a prayer for forgiveness, and accepting that she was loved. Homelessness is a problem in all our towns. We meet people who are clearly living rough, but we are also aware of people who, even though they have somewhere to live, will still come out to beg. Some of our homeless are casualties of their poor mental health, unable to meet the expectations of housing and other rehabilitation agencies. Have you considered joining us? Take a look at our website and Facebook page to find out more: www.ipswichtownpastors.org.uk

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YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS FOR RIVER CRUISING In November 2018, 15 Fred Olsen Travel staff members travelled to Paris for the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) River Cruise Conference. During the weekend, staff were able to get insight and knowledge from a whole host of industry and river cruise experts in this fast growing sector. At Fred Olsen Travel, we have been working hard over the past 12 months to make sure we are ‘the specialists’ in river cruise and have grown our river business by over 100 per cent in 2018. Our hard work paid off, as we were incredibly proud to pick up the award for Best Overall Performance as a River Cruise Agent in the whole of the south of England at the conference. This recognition against much larger competition enhances our own opinion that we have the most knowledgeable river cruise agents going, and with ongoing training, ship visits and marketing, we will be going all out to further promote this area of travel in 2019. With many staff now having experienced various companies, ships, rivers and itineraries, we are confident that, if you need any advice or expertise on whether a river cruise should be your next holiday, staff at your local Fred Olsen Travel Agents are definitely the people to talk to. We have also just been advised that we are shortlisted for another award in the TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies in the River Cruise Category. We will find out if we have won on April 25. Find you nearest branch at: www.travelwithfredolsen.co.uk

MENTA’S START RIGHT PROGRAMME Since 2016 MENTA, the business support organisation established in 1984, has been providing free business start-up training to people living in Suffolk or Norfolk, under its Start Right programme. This support enables people to prepare and gain business skills, knowledge and information to give their new enterprise every chance of success. So far, 276 people have started their businesses across the two counties in the last three years as a result of MENTA’s Start Right support. Five hundred delegates have completed MENTA’s Start Right programme of three, four hour, fun and friendly workshops which cover subjects such as business planning, marketing, book keeping and self-assessment. Jo Garden who manages Start Right commented: “It’s great to see the ambition and entrepreneurial ideas delegates have and to see them become confident in their abilities to launch their business.” “At MENTA we continue to support new start-ups as they become established and grow. Our monthly networking events, Coffee Means Business, business masterclasses and seminars and business advice and mentoring services help local businesses expand helping the local economy to prosper.” The Start Right Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and MENTA’s expert trainers hold regular training sessions in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Beccles in Suffolk; and Norwich, Dereham and North Walsham in Norfolk. To attend the three, free, fully funded workshops you must live in Norfolk or Suffolk, and be thinking of starting a business or have done so in the last 12 months. For full details go to www.menta.org.uk or call 01284 760206.

Join our MESSY PALMS at

Witnesham Village Hall All ages welcome

Fun for The whole family,

An all age experience for the young at heart

You are invited to Messy Palms Saturday 6 April from 2.00 'til 4.30 Please don't wear your best clothes

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Come as a family, all are welcome! No Charge, Free finger buffet provided. Arts, crafts, games and activities for all. This event is organised by Christian friends from St Mary's and Witnesham Baptist Church

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SCHOOLS WITNESHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL

THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE NURSERY

The spring term may be the shortest term of the year, but that doesn’t make it any less busy. There have been a wide range of artistic, cultural and outdoor activities so far this term.

The children rushed outside recently when we had a few flakes of snow, using this as an opportunity to make a snowman out of a box and use big white pompoms as snowballs!

Our youngest children in Class 1 performed their assembly to parents and it was very well received. The children were able to show how well they could perform in a mature and professional manner. Well done Class 1! Meantime, children from Class 3 visited Otley, our federated school, to watch the New Wolsey Theatre perform their touring show Based on a True Story. It was lovely to see children from both schools working together to enjoy a piece of thought-provoking theatre. We also enjoyed a visit from children’s author, James Campbell. James presented an assembly about his writing club for children, where he teaches lots of different writing techniques and shows children how to improve on their ideas. At Witnesham, we love to embrace learning about different cultures. Chinese New year saw us dragon dancing, making lanterns, tasting foods including fortune cookies and learning how to write our names in Chinese. We were also delighted to welcome Delphine Savary-Leblanc to our school. A trainee teacher from the University of Lille, Delphine visited our schools to learn about our educational system and teaching practices and to improve her foreign language skills. She spent the week helping to teach French across both schools as well as offering advice to our staff members. One of the key threads that runs through the school’s ethos is the focus on outdoor learning and healthy living, and as we approached half term, there were two events that are closely tied to that ethos. The first was the school’s annual participation in RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch. The children of the Eco team understand that this annual count is vital to understanding how the birds in the UK are faring. They filled the bird feeders and in two shifts peered through binoculars, identifying and counting the birds that they saw. They then reported back to the rest of the school. The other event was our annual sports and healthy living event, which was introduced this year by Ipswich Town football captain Luke Chambers. The children saw what a healthy heart and an unhealthy heart looked like, and Luke talked to the children about the healthy diet and exercise regime that the football club used as part of their training. During the day, the children scanned every day food items to see how much sugar and fat they contained, and tried out a wide range of healthy foods. The younger children took part in a cross-country run, while the older children undertook sprinting exercises. Our children take part in a wide range of sporting activities outside of school, and arrived in school wearing their sporting outfits to help to raise money for the charity CRY (Cadiac Risk in the Young) which raises awareness of SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome) in local communities. We are delighted that the children managed to raise £95 for this worthy cause.

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Our regular visit to our woodland walk area was very muddy this term. We found a slug, built a den and had a mud slide – resulting in a good hose down before going back into nursery! Our results from our Big Schools’ Birdwatch saw us off up the fields with our homemade binoculars where we saw a robin, blackbird, pigeon, rook, heron (which flew above us and the children all gasped as we surprised it on the ponds!) plus a very speedy hare accelerating away from us across the drilled field. We followed this up by making bird feeders for the children to take home so they can tell us which birds visit their gardens. We have introduced a Maths Mastery programme into the nursery where we use the children’s interests (small cars, shiny jewels, etc.) to count and group items together. The children are then encouraged to check their findings. It is proving very popular with those children getting ready for ‘big’ school. Another initiative is Finger Gym as we warm our fingers up with a piece of playdough which we pull, pat and twist to strengthen those little fingers. This helps with doing up buttons, holding our pens and all sorts of mark marking and is done to the tune of Pharrell William’s Happy song – just right for this cold weather, really gets us moving. This month should see us complete the transfer to join Helmingham Primary School as part of the Consortium Academy which brings exciting times ahead for the nursery. So do please give us a ring and come for a play and visit. Visit our website for a copy of our newsletter. www.theoldschoolhousenursery.com / 01473 890950

SCHOOLS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL Despite last half term being short, we have been busy with various trips, visits and activities including, our bi-annual ski trip to Austria, GCSE Bootcamp at Mersea Island, indoor rock climbing as well as some successful sporting achievements in cross-country and basketball. We recently enjoyed hosting students and staff from schools in Shanghai, China. These students joined us to experience lessons in an English school, but the cultural exchange has been both ways. Year 7 students have been taught some basic Mandarin phrases, how to count to ten on one hand and to write some basic characters using traditional calligraphy. Our Year 10 mathematicians worked alongside the students from China to deliver some Maths Mastery lessons to students in Year 7 and also to students at Claydon Primary School. We are looking to explore a future fuller exchange visit with some of the people we have met. On February 4 a group of students were joined by a fantastic local band called Gemma and the Night Jars and a team from I.E.M. (Industry Education in Music) to take part in a rock band workshop and concert. Students from across all year groups split into groups to form nine separate ’bands’ and spent the day composing original pop music from scratch. With a very tight deadline, this was a huge challenge but our talented students worked extremely hard, using advice and guidance from the professionals to come up with some impressive and original material that was performed at a concert on the very same evening! Elsewhere in the school, auditions for this year’s production of We Will Rock You have taken place and the cast will soon be busy rehearsing the popular songs by Queen as we look forward to staging another fantastic musical. Our Duke of Edinburgh students are busy planning to undertake their expeditions, doing a test run first a bit closer to home where they can practise their walking, map reading, cooking and camping skills. Donations of unwanted, good quality two/three man tents will be gratefully received. Please contact Mr Davenport at gdavenport@claydonhigh.com for more information. We are also currently painting our baby ‘Elmer the Elephant’ who will form part of Elmer’s Big Parade and be on display at the Suffolk Show in May to raise money for St Elizabeth Hospice. As I write this article, we still have so much to look forward to including an art exhibition featuring work from our feeder primary school students alongside Years 7-9, BBC School Report Day, a visit by students from the Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria Alixar on the return leg of our Spanish Exchange programme and our PTA Quiz Night on Thursday, March 21 at 7pm. If you would like to join us for this fun and popular evening, please contact Lisa on: admin@claydonhigh.com 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, March 7. Please telephone my PA, Ms J Saunders, on 01473 836110 to book a place. Headteacher Maéve Taylor

WITNESHAM PRE-SCHOOL We are excited to be able to use our new larger garden area as the weather improves. We are looking forward to spotting signs of spring, such as the ducklings a parent brought in to show us last week. We are also planning an Easter Egg Hunt which will take place during the Easter holidays. This will be a community event open to children of all ages. More details to follow in the next issue. Witnesham Pre-school is a friendly rural pre-school with a secure fenced outdoor play area and garden. We are open Monday-Friday from 8.30am3pm to children aged between two and five years. We accept the 15/30 hours government funding. If you would like to get in touch please call Annette on 01473 784934.

HENLEY PRE-SCHOOL Our Quiz and Curry night was other great event raising a grand total of £1,100 which will go towards a trip to Jimmy’s Farm later in the year and other new resources. Thank you to all who supported this event and look forward to it next year. The beginning of March celebrates National Book Week and the children will be dressing as their favourite characters and bringing along their books from home to share. We have our Stay and Play sessions in the week commencing March 25 and the children will be planting daffodils for Mother’s Day gifts and will be out in the garden planting vegetable and flowers. 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. We have a well-supported Facebook page that provides lots of information and you can see what the children have been doing. It’s also another way to contact the setting directly. For further information please call 01473 833848 during session time (9am3pm) or email Bridget Wyatt: enquiries@henleypreschool.com Bridget and the team www.henleypreschool.com

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SPORT WITNESHAM CARPET BOWLS CLUB winners, Brenda Brace, Eric Brett and Peter Elmy, winning all three games. Our thanks go to Mel Brinkley (captain), Jacqui Lucas (chairlady) and Joan Ford (treasurer) for organising another successful day. We would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone that would like to join us at our friendly active social club. All equipment is supplied by the club and help is given to new bowlers. Don’t sit in watching the TV. Come out, make new friends and enjoy a friendly club. Get active! We meet on Tuesday evenings at 7pm and Thursday afternoons at 2pm. On Sunday, February 17 Witnesham Carpet Bowls Club held their Valentine’s Triples Competition at Witnesham Village Hall with eight teams of three competing.All ladies were given a red rose and a glass of Prosecco at the start of the competition. The competition was keenly fought with the eventual

Membership is £2.50 and the playing fee £2. Your first taster games are free so you have nothing to lose.

MEADLANDS INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

SPRING IS IN THE AIR – IT’S TIME TO PLAY TENNIS!

This is my first article about MIDC and is mainly aimed at outdoor bowlers who haven’t tried indoor bowling and anyone who would like to try bowling, especially those looking for a sport/pastime in which to participate, bowls being an ideal sport for everyone whatever their age. So who and where are we? We are the bowls section of Stowmarket Meadlands Recreation Club and our three lane rink is situated on Needham Road, Stowmarket (next to the Cedars Hotel). It is open seven days a week all year round from 10am to 10pm.

Contact Peter Elmy: 01473 785754

Spring is just around the corner and at Bramford Tennis Club we hope you are getting ready to get outdoors as the weather improves and will join us at your local community tennis club. We aim to have lots on offer for all ages and abilities. Our AGM is set for Sunday, March 24 and Carl, the tennis coach, will return with some great coaching offers and fun events including:

Daytime and evening league matches are played between September and April at the following times: • Birdie League, 3-wood Triples: Monday to Friday mornings, 10am-noon • Rivers League, 3-wood Triples: Monday and Friday afternoons, 2-4pm • Herbert Rampling Mixed Pairs (one male one female), 4-wood: Tuesday afternoons, 2-4pm • Alan Pile Mixed Pairs (any combination), 4-wood: Thursday afternoons, 2-4pm • Roll-ups (social bowling): Mondays at noon, Wednesdays at 2pm and Thursdays at 6pm • Freddie Dew (Drawn 3-wood Triples): Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 6-8pm, September to December • Ken Wright (Drawn 3-wood Triples): Monday, Tuesday & Friday, 6-8pm, January to April • Freedom League (Drawn Triples): Wednesday at 7pm. A relaxed format league played either 14 ends with 3-woods or 18 ends with 2-woods. A point is awarded for hitting the jack and team formations can be changed at any time. This is a very popular league. • Village League (team of up to 9), 3-wood triples: Any evening, 8-10pm All free slots (daytime and evenings Monday to Friday and at weekends) can be booked via a diary located in the bowls hall. We are open all year round and a summer league runs on Wednesdays from 10am-noon. All other slots are free to be booked by any member. For further details, such as membership costs and rink fees, contact David: 01449 613144 / 07717 940270 I hope all this talk of leagues and formats hasn’t put you off as we are really just a very friendly bunch of people who enjoy bowling, so why not come and join us? Our next article will be for our current bowlers with all the up-to-date league positions and any other interesting news. David Hindley

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Quorn Family Cup: Saturday, April 6 at 2pm Fun doubles parent/child competition based on the mini tennis format, using soft balls and short rackets. Road to Wimbledon: Saturday, May 4 at 2pm Fun singles tournament for kids 14 and under (14U) with the winner going on to represent the club at regional finals and possibly going all the way to Wimbledon! Tennis for Kids 2019 The LTA’s flagship Tennis for Kids programme will return in the spring for beginner players in the 5-7 or 8-11 age brackets. TFK is a great way to introduce your kids to the fantastic sport of tennis and each six-week course includes a racket, t-shirt and set of balls. Mini Tennis Mini Tennis RED (5-7) and Mini Tennis Orange (8-11) squads will return to the club after the Easter break and are a great way for kids to continue to build their tennis skills after Tennis for Kids. Tennis 3’s One for the adults and older kids, a fast paced and fun version of tennis played as a team. This one will get your pulse racing and help develop your skills, reaction levels and tactical awareness. Cardio Tennis Cardio Tennis is a high energy fitness activity that combines the best features of the sport of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, delivering the ultimate, full body, calorie burning aerobic workout. No prior playing experience required and all equipment is provided. To sign up or express interest in any of the above please contact our coach, Carl Douglas: 07553 966380 / carl.douglas@talk21.com To find out more at about any of the items mentioned above please visit: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BramfordTennisClub

The Churches of the United Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham

In Touch with WTW Aren’t we fortunate? Read this sobering fact about everyday life in Africa for a pastor...

Robert is a priest in the parish of Mkarehe in Kagera. Mkarehe is a remote and very hilly parish, and his only means of getting around is to walk – as much as five miles from one church to another, or to visit a parishioner. Many of his parishioners are illiterate, so they can't read the Bible to their children. Robert's dream is to be able to run literacy classes – but he would need funds for materials.

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The Bishops’ Lent Challenge this year is to raise money to help our fellow Christians in Kagera in Tanzania so we are going to Swap the Hike for a Bike because we want to raise money to buy bicycles for the Kagera clergy.

If you’d like to do some fundraising yourself, ask Revs Alan or Catherine for a sponsorship form. It’s quite legitimate to do your miles on foot too. Perhaps go for a walk with friends, the dog, the pram – it all counts.

It’s 4,178 miles from Tuddenham St Martin to Kagera. Revs Catherine and Alan are joining with others to do some of those miles – and get sponsored for them during Lent (from Ash Wed to Easter Sunday).

Cycling not your thing?

If you’d like to sponsor them, they will be pleased to hear from you.

Want to help but cycling’s not your thing. How about donating money for some Kagera bike accessories? £2 would buy a bell, £10 a pump and £20 a basic helmet and so on.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Members of Tuddenham Church Council read this statement and were moved to act. For over 20 years churches in the Ipswich & Bury St Edmunds area have been linked with churches in the Kagera area, Tanzania. This year, there’s something we’d like your help with. It’s our 2019 Lent Challenge!

CHURCH SERVICES March-April Day / Date Sunday before Lent 3rd March

9.30am Family Communion

St Mary’s Witnesham 10am All-age Worship

St Mary Magdalene’s Westerfield 11am Family Communion

Wed 6th March Ash Wednesday

First Sunday of Lent 10th March

9.30am All-Age Worship

10am Family Communion

8am Holy Communion 11am All-Age Worship

9.30am Family Communion

10am Morning Worship

11am Family Communion

Second Sunday of Lent 17th March

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

8am Holy Communion

9.30am Ash Wednesday Service

Third Sunday of Lent 24th March

9.30am Morning Worship

10am Family Communion

11am Morning Worship

Mothering Sunday 31st March

9.30am Mothering Sunday Service

10am Mothering Sunday Service

8am Holy Comm’n 11am Mothering Sunday Service

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In Touch with WTW

The Churches of the United Benefice of Westerfield and Tuddenham St Martin with Witnesham

Church Diary—March

Who’s Who:

Mothers’ Union—Thursday 7th March : Lent Communion followed by tea in the church room 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 20th March at 6.15pm (contact Julia 785497 for more details) Village Voices—meet on Thursday 7th and 21st March at 7.30pm in Witnesham Baptist Church (contact Christine Laughlin 01473 785138) Kingdom Kids—meet on Sunday 17th March at 10am in the church at Witnesham (contact Gill Thorley 890821) They’ll also help on at 20th March with preparing posies for Mothering Sunday 31st March.

Coffee Morning

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

To give our Kagera Lent Challenge Swap the Hike for a Bike total a boost we’re having a mega-cyclesession on Saturday 30th March in Tuddenham Village Hall from 9.30am – 12noon.

Julia Farmer

We’ll have exercise bikes you can hop on and show off your lovely lycra (or your old jeans). We’ll have the kettle on for a cup tea, coffee, or squash afterwards, along with a biscuit or even a piece of cake.

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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 Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wtandw/

Or you can sit and watch others do the work and cheer them along!

Church Floodlighting

Although we’re raising money for bicycles, it might turn out that the Kagera clergy decide that there’s something even more important to spend the money on – and of course that’s their decision

The money helps the church to maintain and run the lights which really make our churches stand out in the community.

Men’s Breakfast in Witnesham Saturday 9th March 9-10.30am at Witnesham Baptist Church with “Thought for the Day” from Mick Reynolds, former minister Ipswich International Church Bacon Rolls, Croissants, Coffee, Tea, Orange Juice Please let Christine Laughlin know if you wish to attend—01473 785138

www.keepingintouchwith.com/westerfield

Could you sponsor the church floodlighting?

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

CHURCH NEWS CHURCH NEWS FROM SWILLAND & ASHBOCKING LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS Kagera is ‘an Anglican diocese in Western Tanzania. Think of a beautiful Savanah country bordering on Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi with rolling hills, rich soil, few towns and no cities (the size of Wales). Think of a million people leading a subsistence lifestyle, each family surviving on less than £1 a day growing their crops on allotment style patches of rich soil. A family is rich if they own a cow. Think of a country growing ever dependant on foreign aid as the effect of global warming brings the twin disasters of flooding and drought. Traditional farming practice is no longer working. Think loss of hope in families where HIV/Aids is a growing problem Think again – the vision for the church in Kagera is: ‘Life in all its Fullness’. John 10.10 Kagera may be poor in many of the resources which we ourselves take for granted, but the Anglican Church in Kagera is growing and Christians are lifting many communities out of poverty. This is a diocese where priests are known as pastors. Pastors lead the people in both spirituality and practical ways. For twenty-five years there have been good links between Suffolk and Kagera. We have learnt how the church and community are linked in a process encouraging self-sufficiency. Money raised in Suffolk has gone directly to train pastors who teach new farming methods and introduce new crops. Global warming has made rainfall less predictable and like Suffolk allotment holders are learning to try new crops and use more mulch. Pastors in Kagera are paid by the local church. A village church is doing well to raise £4 a week and the Pastor may receive less than £1. His or her allotment provides the food the family will eat. The church in Suffolk helps sixty pastors and nearly three hundred lay evangelists by prayer and generous giving. Canon John and Frida Buchanimanza recently wrote: “Frida and I would like to record our sincere vote of thanks to you and the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich for the help of school fees for our children Robert, Sarah and Marimu. May God bless you always?” Bishops Martin and Bishop Mike are asking the whole Diocese to pray and give generously to Kagera this Lent. If you enjoy a challenge please consider the Kagera Lent challenge where we can learn more, pray for our brothers and sisters and raise money to help them improve their lives. Some of the challenges are interesting. See Friday, March 8, International Women’s Day: Give 50p if you have a female priest in your church, give £1 if you haven’t. Thank you, or as they say in Kagra, Asante sana! Clare has saved you 50p already.

Bill Herbert SERVICES THROUGHOUT MARCH Sunday, March 10: 11am Family Service, Ashbocking Sunday, March 17: 11am APCM Service followed by Meeting, Swilland WHAT’S ON IN MARCH Saturday 2: Grundisburgh Fairtrade Fortnight Coffee Morning, Grundisburgh Parish Rooms, 10.30am Monday 4: Midweek Communion, Hasketon, 9.30am Tuesday 5: Commissioning of Judith Bignell Pepper and Roger Ackerley as Elders at Grundisburgh Church, 2pm Wednesday 6: Ash Wednesday Midweek Communion, 9.30am at Grundisburgh followed by SWAPSHOP Fridays 8, 15, 22 & 29: Lent Group meets at 12 Spring Park, Otley at 10am Fridays 8, 15, 22 & 29: Lent Group meets at Countryside, Gibraltar Road, Otley, 7.30pm Monday 11: Beyond Belief, Grundisburgh Parish Rooms, 10.30am-noon Mondays 1, 18 & 25: Lent Group meets in the Upper Room, Grundisburgh at 2pm and again at 7.30pm Wednesdays 13 & 27: Lent Group, lunch in Burgh School Room at noon Thursday 14: Midweek Communion at 9.30am Saturday 16: Burgh Soup Lunch in aid of Burgh Church Fabric Fund, noon

Saturday 16: Wedding of Charles Parkes and Tanya Russell at Swilland, 2pm Sunday 17: APCM Burgh, 9.30am Sunday 17: APCM Swilland, 11am Friday 22: Visiting U3A Groups at Grundisburgh and Burgh Sunday 24: APCM Clopton, 9.30am Sunday 24: Messy Church, Clopton Village Hall, 3-4.30pm Thursday 28: Midweek Communion at 11.30am, followed by the Hasketon Community Lunch (see below) at 12.15pm Saturday 30: Wedding of Edward Quantrill and Hannah Girling at Otley, 1pm CARLFORD SOCIAL GROUPS Hobbies Group: March 6, 10am, Clopton Tiddlywinks: March 14 & 28, 2.30pm, Grundisburgh Grundisburgh Sunday Club and Discovery Club: March 10 & 24, 10.45am, Baby Café: March 5, 9am, Grundisburgh Knit & Stitch: March 4, 10am, Grundisburgh PRAYER AND STUDY GROUPS Ashbocking House Group: March 13 & 27, 7.30pm, Ashbocking Going Deeper: March 6 & 20, 10am, Ashbocking Monday House Group: March 18, 7.30pm, Grundisburgh Otley House Group: March 11 & 25, 1.45pm, Otley COMMUNITY LUNCHES Otley: March 28, 12.30pm, Otley Hasketon: March 28 12.30pm, Hasketon. Contact Claire Harrington: 01394 380644 BEYOND BELIEF, SPRING 2019 Six fortnightly sessions at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms, 10.30am-noon. Enquiries to Paul: 01473 738474 / paulwiffen222@btinternet.com FANCY A COFFEE? March 1: Ashbocking Coffee Morning from 10.30am at the home of Brenda & Bernard Mitchell of Knowle House, Church Lane, Claydon IP6 0EN March 2: Swilland Coffee Morning from 10am at the home of Ann Kent of Red Court, Swilland March 2: Grundisburgh Fairtrade Fortnight Coffee Morning from 10.30am at Grundisburgh Parish Rooms March 14: Otley Coffee Morning from 10am at the home of Philip & Berry David, 15 Spring Park March 20: Clopton Coffee Morning in the village hall from 10am-noon No coffee morning in Burgh this month, but please join us for Soup Lunch from noon on Saturday, March 16 at Burgh Schoolroom BISHOP’S LENT APPEAL FOR KAGERA This coming Lent, Martin and I are asking you to consider joining in a diocesan Lent appeal on behalf of the diocese of Kagera. We have been linked with Kagera for 23 years and many have been enriched by our partnership in discipleship. Times are especially difficult in Kagera this year because of climate change and the consequent loss of reliable rains for crops, which has had a particularly devastating effect on two districts but is affecting all parts with reduced crop yields and income. Bishop Aaron has written: “Brothers and sisters in the Lord, I am writing to you to appeal for an emergency support for our people.” The international link that St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese has with Kagera Diocese is a gift that enriches, inspires and challenges us as brothers and sisters in Christ across hugely different contexts, I commend it to you. We are asking every church to engage in this Lent appeal and there are resources for imaginative ways of doing so on the diocesan website. Bishop Mike

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CHURCH NEWS

LOCAL SERVICES

WITNESHAM BAPTIST CHURCH March 2019 Morning Services begin at 11am (except when stated otherwise) Sunday, March 3: Morning Service & Holy Communion, Pastor Andrew Sunday, March 10: Morning Service, Pastor Andrew Sunday, March 17: Morning Service, Team Ministry Sunday, March 24: Mr Paul Rivett Family Time Together: Every Sunday from 9.30-10.15am Families and parents with children are welcome for a special time together with craft, singing and stories. Monday, March 4: The Munch Bunch Lunch Club, 12.30pm. Please contact Heather for details: 01473 785321 Tuesday, March 5, 2pm: Tuesday Craft Corner To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

Tuesdays, 7.30pm: Open House Topical Discussion Group Saturday, March 9, 9-10.30am: Men’s Breakfast Every Wednesday: 3Cs Café, 9.30-11.30am Fridays, 9.15am: Mums and Toddlers Group Wednesday, March 13, 11.30am: Prayer Fellowship Wednesday, March 27, 11.30am: Bible Study Saturday, April 6, 2pm: Messy Church We have a collection box for FIND (Families in Need) in the church. Non-perishable food is very welcome. Outside 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. The post office is in our conservatory on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Please use this service to help keep it in the village. Easter is late this year, being the third weekend in April. However, many people use the 40 days prior to Easter, known as Lent (which starts on March 6, Ash Wednesday) as a period of thoughtfulness and preparation and abstinence from some of our daily activities or habits. In today’s culture it is suggested that we give up something so that we might improve our personal health. Cutting out alcohol, chocolate, crisps, fast food or cigarettes so that we loose weight or reduce the possibility of heart attacks or the like. While these things are good, they are a little bit self-centred which is, unfortunately, a sign of the times we live in. If you do participate in abstinence of anything during Lent, can I suggest and encourage you to do two things: first the money you save from not buying whatever you give to a charity to benefit others: secondly use the time you would have been eating, drinking or smoking to think (meditate or pray) about Jesus, killed and resurrected to give us hope of new life and eternal life with God. We can consider what blocks our relationship with God. Do we even want a relationship with God? Does God exist? As always I would welcome the opportunity to talk these things over with you. I’m a phonecall away or usually at the chapel on Tuesday and Wednesdays. Coming up this month we are having another Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, March 9 from 9-10.30am. All men are invited; just let me know if you’re coming by March 5 to make sure there is enough bacon to go round! It’s an informal time with a short Thought for the Day, this time given by Mick Reynolds.

Dry Foam Upholstery Cleaning

Mothering Sunday/Mothers’ Day is on Sunday, March 31 when we will be holding a service reflecting on this. As it’s the fifth Sunday of the month, we would usually meet with the Benefice churches, but agreed to do our own thing as it’s Mothering Sunday. So mums and families are welcome to our service at 11am.

Dry Carpet Cleaning

Enjoy this spring month even if you struggle to abstain from something.

call John Burch: 07870 347486

Pastor Andrew

www.keepingintouchwith.com/westerfield

Professional Local Service For a FREE no obligation quotation

Tel: 01449 721441