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with Melton, Rendlesham & Woodbridge Volume 9 • Issue No. 3 • JULY 2019
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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Mother Nature is having quite an impact on my life right now, mostly positive, but not entirely! I’m looking after grandma’s chickens for a few days while she’s away. It’s not difficult: put them in, let them out, give them some grain… job done. Except not this time! Last night one of them went missing and I found myself clucking around the garden for about an hour in torrential rain trying to find her. I can only image how ridiculous I looked but I most certainly wasn’t laughing. Of course I didn’t find her so spent a restless night wondering how to tell grandma that Blossom was done for. When I went to let the others out this morning, there she was waiting for me in all her glory, perfectly dry, well-rested and seemingly happy. A bit too happy for my liking! Meanwhile, back at home a mummy blackbird (I’ve called her Maralyn because she’s very beautiful) has taken up residence under the roof of our little outdoor lean-to, a place I like to sit with a book when the weather allows. She’s busily feeding four babies, constantly flying back and forth all day long. I must say I admire/envy her energy and it is a rather beautiful thing to see, but she’s making my garden a no-go area as every time I open the door she abandons her chicks and sits on the wall until I leave. I imagine she’s sitting there muttering “here she comes again… what is it this time… can’t she see I’m busy… what is she wearing?”. I end up feeling guilty for invading ‘her’ space so I retreat indoors and leave her to it. I haven’t even put the bins out this week because I’m afraid to scare her away. How would I cope with four baby blackbirds? Not very well I suspect. I don’t suppose she and her babies will be there for very long and despite the inconvenience (and the mess, but let’s not go there right now) I’m glad we have given them a safe place to hatch. I do love living in the countryside. Even those of us who live in Suffolk towns and villages are never far from a wide open space and a big sky view. We really are incredibly lucky and when better weather lands, as surely it must, I hope you have the opportunity and the means to get about to explore or simply admire our surroundings. You may not have to go very far, unless your garden is out of bounds too!
Melton In Touch with & Woodbridge Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk
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NEWS
DEBEN MACMILLAN CHALLENGE ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO GET ACTIVE Suffolk businesses, schools and community associations have come together to challenge residents to get active on and around the River Deben in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support between 24 August and 8 September. The launch of the Deben Macmillan Challenge was announced at the Longshed in Woodbridge with renowned broadcaster and presenter of the film Life on the Deben, John McCarthy OBE as a principal speaker. More than 100 people attended the event including the Mayor of Woodbridge Eamonn O’Nolan, Mayor of Felixstowe Nick Barber as well as representatives from Deben Rowing Club and headline sponsor Ufford Park. With a fundraising target of £25,000, the Deben Macmillan Challenge is set to attract families, friends and sports club members to walk, run, cycle, swim, sail or paddle on or around the River Deben during the fortnight. Suffolk residents are being encouraged to set a challenge of their choice and will be able to collect stamps from cafes and inns in the local area using a Deben Macmillan Challenge passport booklet. Businesses involved in the stamp scheme include Ufford Park Hotel and 15 other local cafes and inns. The passport booklet will be available free of charge in each location and participants who collect all 16 stamps will be able to enter a prize draw. In addition to the headline sponsorship provided by Ufford Park, the Deben Macmillan Challenge is being supported by AMS (Outsourcing) Services, Spirit Yachts, East Suffolk Council, This is Suffolk, Meadow Lodges, East of England Co-op, Fenn Wright, Ipswich Building Society, M&C Engineering and The Anchor Woodbridge. John McCarthy OBE said: “This is such a brilliant project and a way for people not only to raise money for a vital charity, but also to get out and enjoy fun and exciting activities in, on and around the beautiful River Deben.” Every year, almost 5,000 people in Suffolk find out they have cancer and there are at least 28,300 people living with cancer in the county. From the moment people hear the news they have cancer, Macmillan is there. Cancer can affect every part of someone’s life, not just their health. Macmillan receives no government funding and relies on generous donations from the public. Do something amazing today – donate or volunteer for Macmillan. For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit: www.macmillan.org.uk Suffolk residents can find out more about the Deben Macmillan Challenge at: justgiving.com/campaign/debenmacmillanchallenge
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NEWS PATIENTS PARTICIPATION GROUP NEEDS NEW MEMBERS
COUNCILLOR CAROLINE’S COLUMN I took a few days off in Norway and what a very different country it is to ours in so many ways. Of course, in midsummer one can’t get over the light. You look at the time, thinking its early evening and find it’s nearly midnight. And then there’s the rocky, dramatic, forested seascapes, and the red and white painted all-wooden housing nestling in the valleys. My aunt Gine lives on an island in the Oslo fjord. From her windows she can look out over rocks and sea, and set her fitbit by the Tonsberg ferry. If she has the time, that is! For a woman midway between 80 and 90 she is perpetually on the go.
Do you know about Patient Participation Groups? The PPG at Framfield House Surgery PPG in Woodbridge works closely with members of the practice team, including general practitioners as part of the group. We are not a forum for moaners, nor are we a doctor’s fan club! But we are critical friends and can inform the practice on what matters most to patients and help identify solutions to problems. We think about the wider patient interest and have initiated several important projects. Last year we held a well-attended tea party for the 70th anniversary of the NHS (pictured). Framfield House Surgery PPG now has a few vacancies. We are particularly keen to involve parents in our work. You do have to be a patient at Framfield House to join us so if you are registered at Little St John’s Street Practice and are interested in being on a PPG you should enquire there. We hold our meetings every few months usually at noon or 6.30pm for around an hour. We feel that we are really making a difference. You can choose the level of involvement by attending our meetings or just helping out once in a while – every contribution is appreciated and valued. If you think this is for you please contact the surgery to set up an appointment to have a chat with us: 01394 615500
WOODBRIDGE CAMERA CLUB Magnificent in Monochrome
Tunstall Rays
Love My Tender
Suffolk Barn
Members enjoyed a busy evening at the Quay Church Meeting Room with 58 entries for our recent competition. Judge Nigel Rea ARPS from Felixstowe Photographic Society held back 17 of the best images before selecting Tunstall Rays by Sue Garrod with Love My Tender by Barrie Henderson and Suffolk Barn by John James as runners-up. With 30 members attending from our role of 50, an entertaining evening was enjoyed by all. Members look forward to an outdoor shoot in June and our next competition is Up Close in July. Our annual exhibition on the weekend of 9 August will be at the Longshed on Woodbridge Waterfront
www.woodbridgecameraclub.co.uk
DEMENTIA TOGETHER CALL FREE 08081 688 000 email: SRYC. DementiaTogether@nhs.net visit: www.dementia-together.com 4
She grows her own vegetables, goes for long country walks to buy eggs and is on the board of various committees. She is buying an electric car (59 per cent of Norwegian new car registrations in 2018 were electric). She’s vehemently against single use plastics, recycles everything religiously and buys everything as locally as possible. And yet she’d never consider herself Green. (Indeed she once stood as a Conservative councillor). People define themselves differently. In the local shop two things stood out. Firstly, how easy it was to recycle awkward things. A container in the foyer separated out your used lightbulbs, batteries and cables. All you had to do was remember to take them along when shopping, and no juggling about in draughty supermarket car parks in the rain. Next to it, a machine took empty bottles and cans – and paid you for them. Win, win. Many of us are old enough to remember bottle deposit when we were children, how we earned pocket money by finding and returning empties. How come it became ‘impractical’ and ‘uneconomic’ when it’s still going strong in Scandinavia? How can it be better to smash bottles in a bottle bank and leave them to be incorporated in road surfaces rather than reusing them? Also, while I’d remembered Norway as expensive, in the shops it was only things that are bad for you – tobacco, alcohol and sweets – that were really pricey. Norway is the third most expensive place in the world to buy spirits. The answer is simple: lay off them. People look healthier for it. Yes, people in Norway seem rich to us Brits – and they are. Median personal income is a massive £12,000 more than it is in Britain. However, it gets better. Norwegians at the bottom end of the pay scale earn a lot more than us – but people at the top earn less. While Norway must host the highest paid McDonald’s workers in the world, their senior executives are paid less than the eye-wateringly impossible sums Britain thinks necessary ‘to retain key personnel’. In a word, the country is one that is economically fairer than ours, and it is kept fairer by high taxation, which nobody avoids because everyone’s tax is on public record and available online. Fancy a Norwegian option anyone? County Councillor Caroline Page
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES Footsteps continue to be busy counselling young people from our centre in Woodbridge. We’re very aware of the privilege it is to share in the lives of young people, and it is so heartwarming when we see problems resolved and young people thriving. A parent told us recently: “This has made a huge difference to us a family.” (quoted with permission) We are now coming up to a summer of events including Martlesham Village Fete and our Multicultural Banquet at St Michael’s Church on Saturday, September 14. Tickets are £10 for adults and available from Christine Pinder or Jo Ashton or by emailing us at: info@footstepswalkingwithyou.org.uk Do get in touch if you have any questions or are interested in some counselling. Our counselling is open to anyone aged 11 to 25 and we don’t make a fixed charge, although we welcome donations towards the cost of counselling.
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NEWS FAREWELL TO MICHAEL BOOTH A large congregation at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge, recently said goodbye to Michael Booth, a former headmaster of the Abbey School and a much-loved lay reader at the church. An extrovert and inspiring character, Michael was warmly applauded for his long service to the church, and to education locally, as part of a presentation at the end of the service. An engaging public speaker, he was also a member of the local synod. He and his wife Susan moved to Woodbridge in 1986 when Michael became headmaster of the Abbey, where Susan also taught. They have left Woodbridge to live on the Isle of Wight where they have family connections. Michael is pictured (right) with Rector Canon Kevan McCormack.
A TRUE PIONEER May 21 marked a very special anniversary for The Rev Siw Carlsson. Exactly 25 years ago, she was among the very first women to be ordained priest in the Church of England. The Rt Revd Roy Williamson, Bishop of Southwark, conducted the ceremony, a day that Siw (and apparently he) will never forget. Siw then served in various London parishes, before working as a chaplain at Ipswich Hospital. Now retired, she is a much-loved assistant priest at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge. Siw marked her special day as celebrant at the Parish Eucharist on Pentecost Sunday. It was a truly joyous occasion. Afterwards, she was presented with two bouquets, followed by a barbecue for everyone in her honour. A huge cake had been made, decorated with icing cotton-reels, embroidery frames and stitches, reflecting her hobby of sewing and knitting, and her original career as an occupational therapist. With typical thoughtfulness, Siw had also made a large tray-bake for those at the party to enjoy. Congratulations to a true pioneer! Photograph by Janice Poulson
WOODBRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET Woodbridge Farmers’ Market will be held on Saturdays 13 and 27 July, 9am-12.30pm at Woodbridge Community Hall. All our food is very local, fresh and seasonal – and it tastes delicious! E: woodbridgefarmersmarket@gmail.com
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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE ROTARY ART AND CRAFT FAIR
WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY Don’t forget that the Summer Reading Challenge starts on Saturday 13 July and runs until 7 September! Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the theme is Space Chase, an out-of-this-world adventure inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Children taking part in the challenge will join our super space family, The Rockets, for a thrilling mission to track down books nabbed by mischievous aliens! Space Chase will feature bespoke artwork from top children’s illustrator, Adam Stower, and will celebrate adventure, exploration, reading and fun!
One of our members, Cliff Longman, is opening his house to host an art and craft fair on Saturday 24 August. He says: “My father died with Alzheimer’s and I have wanted do something to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society which does an incredible job supporting sufferers and carers, such as my mother, and they are instrumental in efforts to find a cure for all forms of dementia. “Now our children are all grown up, leaving us rattling around in the School House, I thought it would be a good opportunity to throw open the gate and hold a summer fair to raise funds and do our bit to keep the Alzheimer’s Society going. Some time ago, Chillesford village held an open gardens event with sculptures from local artists on display in the gardens and I thought this format would be a good basis to start from. I decided to hold a summer fair with an eclectic mix of professional and amateur work to showcase Suffolk’s art scene. “Charitable fundraising like this fits in well with the objectives of Woodbridge Rotary so on Saturday 24 August, Woodbridge Rotary will hold an Art and Craft Fair at the Old School House in Chillesford. Fifty professional and amateur Suffolk artists will display their work in the form of a sculpture trail in the grounds, with further sculptures in the house and paintings in the exhibition hall. Crafts such as wood and slate work, soft furnishings and quilts, up-cycled wine crate products, pottery and a huge plant sale will be included. “There will be well over 100 works of art, and refreshments including cake to keep visitors going. Absolutely everything is up for sale and all proceeds will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Society. “We are hoping to make it a great day out for all, raise a lot of money for Alzheimer’s and, as the date coincides with the 100th year of the Orford Flower Show just down the road, visitors with stamina could do both.” Photo of The Old School House by David Mortimer
WOODBRIDGE COMPUTER CLUB Is this you when it comes to information technology? Would you like to know more about computers, smartphones and the like? Want to keep up with your kids/grandkids? The computer club provides a drop-in facility for Woodbridge residents who would like help or support using their computers or smart devices for hobbies or family purposes. It is also a space to meet, in an informal relaxed environment, likeminded people to share knowledge, learn from each other and support each other as much as possible. We meet from 10.30am-noon on Saturday mornings at Woodbridge Methodist Church, St Johns Street IP12 1ED. Completely free but tea and coffee is available at cost. For further information contact: woodbridge.computerclub@gmail.com / 07889 512216
The Summer Reading Challenge takes place every year during the summer holidays. You can sign up at your local library, then read at least six library books of your choice to collect special stickers and other incentives along the way – all for free. There’s a website to add to the fun too! Throughout July: Sale of withdrawn children’s library books. 1-31 July: ArtLib Exhibition of work by Suffolk Creative Photographic Group Thursdays 4 & 11 July, 10-11am or 11am-noon: ABC You and Me Give your child a confident and fun start to learning the alphabet with you. Email jenny@abc-youandme.com for one free trial place then it’s £30 for six sessions or drop in for £6 if space available. Book Group: Meets on the first Thursday of the month at 2pm. On 4 July we will be discussing At The Edge of The Orchard by Tracy Chevalier. Thursday 4 July, 7.30pm: Mark Mitchels on Classic Comic Novels. Tickets are £8, which includes a welcome drink for which the doors will open at 7pm. Book your place in person at Woodbridge Library or phone 01394 330855. Fridays 5 & 19 July, 10.30am-12.30pm: Active Lives Singing Group. £5 per session. For more information call 01473 345350 or visit: wwwactivlives.org.uk Tuesday 9 July, 10am-noon: Realise Futures walk-in advice and guidance session for people with a learning disability and/or autism. Contact Realise Futures to find out more about this service: 07753 447607 / info@realisefutures.org / www.realisefutures.org Saturday 13 July, 10.15-11.45am: Well-being Coach & Three Principles Practitioner Mia Philips presents an informal talk on How to Holiday! £7 on the door. For more information please visit: www.facebook.com/SC3PC Tuesday 16 July: St Elizabeth Care Agency Stand. St Elizabeth Care Agency gives personal and practical domestic help at home for anyone over the age of 18. The agency encourages its clients to remain as independent as they can possibly be. Saturday 20 July, 9-11am: Caroline Page, County Councillor for Woodbridge, will be holding her surgery at the library. www.suffolklibraries.co.uk/libraries/woodbridge-library
ORWELL DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY Our talks throughout the year cover a broad spectrum of art and are delivered within a relaxed and welcoming environment. Our guest speaker on June 5 was musician and broadcaster Sandy Burnett who set toes tapping with a musical journey into The Age of Jazz. Talks resume on September 4 when Anne Haworth presents Porcelain for the Chinese Emperors, preceded by our Annual General Meeting We meet at Tower Hall, Broadlands Way, Rushmere St Andrew on the first Wednesday of most months. The meeting begins at 2.05pm and lasts about an hour with tea and coffee are available from 1.30pm. For the latest events and news please visit: www.orwelldfas.org.uk
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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE ART CLUB The exhibition is still ongoing with new pieces added, so there’s something new to see! All work is created by club members and is for sale. The club is open from 10am-5pm at weekends. At other times, if you see club members present, you can ask to have a look at the work on display.
RIVERSIDE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS SHOWSTOPPER FAVOURITES The Riverside Musical Theatre Company (RMTC), formally known as the R100 Choir, was formed following the 100th birthday celebration show of the Riverside Theatre in 2015. Afterwards the ‘choir’ decided that they would like to continue to sing together with a view to putting on more musical theatre concerts.
Recently, the club has had some interesting talks and workshops at its weekly Wednesday sessions. Mark Mitchells gave a talk entitled A Brief History of Suffolk Landscapes, a historical insight into how Suffolk came to have its unique geography.
In early 2016 producer Mike Warden learned that St Mary’s Church was looking to raise a considerable amount of funding for a major refurbishment project. This in turn led to a conversation with The Rev Canon Kevan McCormack about the possibility of RMTC joining forces with the Friends of St Mary’s to put on a fundraising concert.
A workshop evening with tutor Stuart Dalton on Painting Wildlife in Loose Watercolour was enjoyed by all who participated, and a selection of the resulting work is pictured here.
With all choir members eager to sing together again their very first musical theatre concert was performed in April 2016 in St Mary’s Church. The concert was a tremendous success and the church was full to the brim.
We welcome new members; it’s good value for money at £55 per year, providing a space in which to create pieces of art and a weekly workshop or talk, as mentioned above.
Four years on and the Riverside Musical Theatre Company (RMTC) has performed further concerts at St Mary’s, along with brand new Showstopper concerts at The Riverside Theatre in the summer and at Christmas, and have also been the invited guests at Brass on the Grass in Bredfield for the past three years, all in aid of raising money for charity and local causes.
If you would like to find out more about this friendly club, please visit our website or drop in to see us at 15 Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge IP12 1BY. www.woodbridgeartclub.org
SECOND FRIDAY IN JULY FOR DANCE FOLKUS The last dance of the 2018/19 English Social Dance Season is on July 12 which is the second Friday. Usually we have all our sessions on the first Friday. We particularly want to welcome ceilidh and social dance beginners. We intend covering some of the well-known figures and a few new ones. Most people have heard of do-si-do and right and left hand star, but do you know how to rant, to poussette, to strip the willow, duck the oyster, make a basket, perform a grand or ladies’ chain or dance a reel or hey? If not come along and have a go. Get there early as the dances will start easy and gradually get a little harder. Our live resident Come All Ye Band led by Harbour Lights will be there and one of the band members, Rob Neal, will be stepping up to call the dances. As usual we have an enjoyable taster song spot booked for our tea/coffee break. In July, it’s a local band Shingle Street Folk (pictured) who are well known for their tight-knit harmonies and instrumental accompaniment on guitars, violin, accordion and tabor. Shingle Street came together in early 2015 when three members of a highly regarded Suffolk choir decided to indulge their love of folk music and talent for blending harmonies. They are now a four-piece group and have performed at many events in the area. There will be no Dance Folkus event in August as we will be taking a break for the folk festival season. Maybe you can catch our band musicians at Ely, Sidmouth or FolkEast Festivals. Dance Folkus will return on Friday, September 6. New dancers wanting to attend can book a discounted place by emailing dancefolkus@aol.com (no payment in advance) or you can simply come along on the night. Entry is £7 or £3 for students or children. Bring your own drinks! Telephone Rob on 01473 610951 if you need further information. Visitors to Woodbridge and new first-time dancers are always very welcome to attend our dances at Woodbridge Community Hall in Station Road IP12 4AU from 7.30pm.
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RMTC will be bringing their brand-new production, Showstopper Favourites, back to St Mary’s Church on Saturday 20 July for one night only, once again in support of the Friends of St Mary’s. With selections from all of their favourite musical theatre songs and a sprinkling of surprises thrown in, it promises to be a fabulous night for all ages. Selections include Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, The Greatest Showman, The Wizard of Oz and many, many more. Michael Warden says: “At the End of the Day on The Sunny Side of the Street we promise you a Million Dreams with all the Colours of the Wind just Over the Rainbow in a Castle on a Cloud.” Tickets for this concert are £12.50 and can be bought from St Mary’s Church shop or by calling 01394 383000.
WOODBRIDGE PROBUS As we found out from Peter Youngs, our entertaining June speaker, water for food is not as simple as it seems. We learnt about the method of irrigation, how when it’s too dry, potatoes and carrots think the growing season is over and form a protective skin which ruins their taste. Of the post in the ground in the middle of a field that sends a signal to the computer in the farm office; give us some water. Of the huge reels of piping slowly unrolling as the water jet travels between the rows, the outspread arms of a gantry watering a dozen rows at a time, the pumps bringing water to the well heads from the aquifers deep under the earth. The legislation seems a nightmare, abstraction licences, how much can you use before the level drops too low and where will the water come from in the future? As Peter pointed out, to maintain the present level of food production, and the anticipated future increase we will need and additional 40/50 per cent more water in the next ten years. Are you talking about desalination someone asked? Well Israel has had to do it so watch this space. Our next meeting on July 1 is the lovely occasion of our ladies summer lunch. Our August speaker will be Peter Wain telling us about the long lost port of Gosford at the mouth of the Deben. Our venue on the first Monday of each month is Woodbridge Golf Club, where we enjoy a social get-together, a delicious lunch and a fascinating speaker. Have a look at our website – you will be fascinated. www.woodbridgeprobus.org.uk
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OUT & ABOUT NEW HORIZONS CLUB SUMMER BUTTERFLY WALK IN BONNY WOOD Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Woodbridge Wildlife Group invites you to join them for a butterfly walk to the ancient Bonny Wood near Barking on Sunday 14 July at 2pm. “We are meeting at Barking Tye Village Hall from where we will take the 1520 minute walk along public footpaths to this delightful reserve,” said Phil Smith, chairman of the SWT Woodbridge Wildlife Group. “Bonny Wood is part of Barking Tye Woods, a site of special scientific interest, and, weather permitting, is a good place to spot a range of butterflies. We’ll also be on the lookout for woodland flowers and birds.” The walk starts from Barking Tye Village Hall Car Park, IP6 8HP (TM 076524). Participants should wear strong, waterproof footwear as this reserve can be wet and muddy. The walk is free but donations to Suffolk Wildlife Trust are appreciated. There’s no need to book, but for further information please contact us at: 01473 625630 / swtwoodbridge@outlook.com EVENTS AT FOXBURROW FARM Foxburrow Farm, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1NA
New Horizons is very grateful to East Suffolk Council for a very generous grant of £1,200 from the Enabling Communities Budget. We have used the money to purchase a wide range of art and craft materials for our members to enjoy. On April 8 members and several volunteers went to Felixstowe for their annual visit to The Hut. We were very lucky with the weather and everyone enjoyed a fun day. Several volunteers went for walks along the prom with some of the members, while others enjoyed sitting in the sun and chatting. It is so fascinating for the volunteers to hear member’s life stories. What a wealth of experience and service they have in their history. After tea and scones had been enjoyed by all, the raffle was drawn. The table was crammed full of generously donated prizes and most people won something to take home. Our future plans include an afternoon tea dance with Nick Raison providing the music and our fabulous cooks preparing a sumptuous selection of sandwiches and cakes. A midsummer celebration is also planned, as well as an outing to Flora’s Teashop in Dunwich for fish and chips.
Wednesdays 5 June to 17 July, 10.30am-noon Weekly Wild Tots for ages one-four and their carers
New Horizons is a not-for-profit organisation for active older people, open on Mondays and Thursdays (except bank holidays) from 10am-2.30pm in St Mary’s Hall. For more information or to arrange a visit, contact us at: 07514 364752 / newhorizons912@gmail.com
Saturday 6 July, 10am-4pm Weave a Willow Running Hare with Jo Hammond £45 / adults only
WOODBRIDGE FLOWER CLUB
Saturday 13 July, 10am-noon Young Wardens; practical conservation activities for ages 11-16 Saturday 13 July, 2-4pm Family Forest Schools Afternoon, 18 months+ Wednesday 24 July, 10.30am-noon Wild Tots and Family, 18 months+ Friday 26 July, 10am-3pm Wildlife Homes Family Course Tuesday 30 July, 2-4pm Dragons and Damsels Family Event Wednesday 31 July, 10.30am-noon Wild Tots and Family, 18 months+ Friday 2 August, 7.30-9.30pm Night Walk Family Event For details and to book: 01473 890089 / www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events
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A change to our program for the June meeting brought us David Wright (pictured) from Norfolk. David made beautiful arrangements using a variety of unusual props, taking us on A Broadlands Tour while regaling us with many stories. This multi-talented man, who does nothing by halves, gave us a very entertaining afternoon. The arrangements were taken home by the lucky raffle prize winners. We also saw pictures and part of the club’s floral display entered at the Suffolk Show. This spectacular exhibit, staged by Jenny Harris and Veronica Jobson, was titled 5th November and earned a fourth place. Our next session at Martlesham Village Hall on Wednesday 3 July will be an open meeting with Julia Knights. The cost to visitors is £15 (members £10) and includes afternoon tea. Tickets must be ordered by 25 June from Jenny Harris (01394 548513) or Helen Kidwell (01394 384468). Doors open at noon.
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OUT & ABOUT / SPORT FLOWER ARRANGING WORKSHOP
MELTON BOWLS CLUB
Deben Flower Club is holding another flower arranging workshop on Saturday 27 July in Kirton Church Hall, Church Lane, Kirton IP10 0PU.
Mel Saggers and Eric Titshall, last year’s winners of the D Sharp Landscapes Invitation Pairs Tournament, managed to win the trophy again this year by a very narrow margin. They carded 56 points, just ahead of Owen and Mary Brown in second on 54 points, with David Austin and Mary Gillam in third with 50 points.
This will be a fun and relaxed day and you will learn how to arrange a long low table decoration and make alternative mechanics for your second arrangement, thus eliminating the need for floral foam. No experience is needed and our expert tutor will guide you step by step throughout the day. All you will need to bring are your flowers, foliage and a bowl for your second arrangement. There will be floral foam and trays available to purchase on the day should you not have them already. Tea and coffee will be available, but you will need to bring a packed lunch. The class will run from 10am for 10.30am to approximately 3pm. Booking is essential and full instructions, a list of the required flowers and directions will be sent when you book your place. There will be a £5 charge to help cover the cost of the hall. If you are interested in booking or would like more information, please contact Wendy: wa@sandlings.co.uk / 01394 411422
WOODBRIDGE IN BLOOM – SUMMER IS HERE!
Eric and Mel are pictured with the trophy, flanked by tournament organiser Peter Moyes on the left and sponsor Derrick Sharp on the right The EBF Three Bowl Pairs Tournament was, played this year in perfect conditions on Melton Bowls Club fast running green and attracted a full complement of 28 pairs. With one game remaining for each team, Saggers and Titshall were one of only three pairs, from the two sections, who had won all their games. They had 38 points and were in third place behind R Manning on 42 and L Coles on 40 points. Their final game was against the leaders and resulted in a good win over R Manning to set the field a target of 56 points. L Coles failed to get the win they needed to take the trophy, narrowly losing to A Glassock. Owen and Mary Brown, who had lost one game, secured a 19 point win in their last game against C Calver, which was enough to secure second place with 54 points. David Austin and Mary Gillam also lost one game but finished strongly, dropping only one point in their last game against W Moss. They finished equal on 50 points with A Glassock but took the third spot by having a better shots total.
On June 4 our hanging baskets were put up along Limekiln Quay Road, Quayside, Thoroughfare and Ipswich Road. Geaters of Leiston have done a good job in providing plenty of colour and East Suffolk Norse have already started watering (for which we have to pay). We hope you will enjoy them. Also, as promised in our last newsletter, we have purchased two ‘fountain’ planters for the Turban Centre as shown in the picture. This was made possible thanks to a grant from East Suffolk Council who had funds earmarked for community projects for which we successfully applied. The fountain planters were filled with young plants at the end of May by our team plus seven volunteers from the community. Their help made all the difference and we thank them. The new planters and the existing ones at the station, in Market Square and around the town are now looking lovely. Our committee will do their best to keep them watered, but if anyone who lives or works near our floral displays could help with the watering we would be very grateful. Or how about carrying a bottle of water with you each time you go shopping? Fingers crossed now for a good summer! Barbara Dann
After the games were completed, tournament sponsor Derrick Sharp and event organiser Peter Moyes presented the trophy and prizes to the first, second and third placed pairs.
WOODBRIDGE CRUISING CLUB Winds were very light for the club’s opening Deben Discovery Cruise and although 10 boats attended only four were tempted to take part in the timed passage to the Washington buoy and back. Much depended on getting the tide right so as not to spend too much time actually rounding the buoy. Star-Ven’s skipper timed his run to perfection, just getting home ahead of Amy after the official handicapper had had his say. After safe arrival drinks alongside Nauka, crews enjoyed a meal in the Ramsholt Arms and the cruise organiser returned to her boat to wipe up the tin of varnish she’d knocked over earlier, claiming it was to create the uber fashionable ‘distressed’ look. Commodore Freeman Lynn’s trip to the Channel Islands and Northern France came a bit soon in the season for most crews, or perhaps it was fears over Brexit, red diesel and the Tory leadership elections that kept them at home. Undeterred, Freeman spliced his main brace, pulled on his oilskins and proudly flew the red ensign for his own D-Day tribute along the Normandy beaches ahead of the more formal armada carrying the few remaining veterans of the actual event. Coming up in the next few weeks will be cruises to Dover to inspect the castle, Lowestoft for the summer solstice. Southwold for the beer, and along the south coast to Portsmouth, presumably to inspect our defences in the event of a no-deal Brexit. For more information about the club and its activities please visit: www.woodbridgecruisingclub.org John Warwick
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