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with Melton, Rendlesham & Woodbridge Volume 8 • Issue No. 11 • MARCH 2019
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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
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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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 Melton & Woodbridge 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 • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon
NEWS
On Friday, March 27 at 7pm, Transition Woodbridge and Rubbish Walks present a free screening of Tapped, a documentary that examines the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution and our reliance on oil. Directed by Stephanie Soechtig, the 76-minute long documentary investigates all aspects of bottled water: the manufacture of the bottles, where the water comes from, what is really in it, how the extraction has affected local communities and what actually happens to the bottle after we have finished drinking it. Despite being filmed in 2009 in America, we fear little has changed today. In fact, it could be worse. Tapped looks at the frightening health risks of PET and Bisphenol-A (BPA), two common ingredients in the plastic of water bottles, which independent studies have proven to cause cancer, birth defects, obesity and other horrors. The film will make you mad, and rightly so – this is the feeling we need to inspire change! It highlights how easy it is to stop all this – don’t buy bottled water! Transition Woodbridge is keen to show the film to as many people as possible, to continue the REFILL campaign we started with Jason Alexander in 2018 to make Woodbridge and Melton Refill towns and lead the way for Suffolk to become a Refill county. Refill is a national, practical tap water campaign that aims to make refilling your bottle as easy, convenient and cheap as possible by introducing refill points on every street and of which we have many in Woodbridge and Melton. If you run a business in Woodbridge or Melton and would like to join Refill, please do get in touch with us: ttwoodbridge@gmail.com The Tapped screening will start at 7.30pm with doors opening at 7pm at The Longshed, Tidemill Way, Woodbridge. There will be time for a discussion afterwards about local actions and refreshments will be available for a donation, which will be shared between The Longshed and Transition Woodbridge. We look forward to seeing you there! Transition Woodbridge is a community-led group that aims to strengthen the local economy, reduce the cost of living and prepare for a future withless oil and a changing climate. Find us and ‘like us on Facebook or on Twitter: @transitionWDB www.transitionwoodbridge.onesuffolk.net
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NEWS WOODBRIDGE ON SHOW II – Celebrating local volunteer community activity Have you ever wondered what goes on in Woodbridge? Are you new to the area and want to know how to get involved? Now is the time to find out.
FLY A FLAG FOR THE COMMONWEALTH The Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor David Mortimer will be reading out the Commonwealth Affirmation and raising the Commonwealth Flag for Commonwealth Day at Elmhurst Park on Monday, March 11 at 10am. All welcome to attend.
GRANTS FROM WOODBRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL Each year Woodbridge Town Council awards grants to charities and voluntary organisations that contribute to the well-being of Woodbridge or promote the image of the town. Funds are limited therefore however well deserving, county and national charities and organisations are unlikely to receive grant funding unless they can demonstrate that any funds granted will directly benefit Woodbridge and its inhabitants. Grants are awarded by the town council at its July meeting. Applications for those awards should be received by the town clerk at Shire Hall, Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP by 31 May 2019. Follow the link to our grants page on our website: www.woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk/about-us/grant-scheme
COMPANY OF FOUR PRESENT £633 TO PARKINSON’S UK
Following the success of the original Woodbridge on Show in April 2017, when over 50 organisations and many local people filled the community hall to celebrate local volunteer community activity, Woodbridge Town Council are delighted announce it will again be hosting this event on Saturday, April 6. Members of the public are welcome to join us at the community hall from 9.30am onwards, so if you are interested in joining a sports club, looking for volunteering opportunities or maybe are new to the area and interested to see what the many and varied groups within the town have to offer, please come along and have a chat with the people already involved. The Mayor of Woodbridge, Councillor David Mortimer said: “I hope both residents and visitors to the town are able to attend this fantastic community event. As a member of a number of local groups we are always keen to meet potential new members and would love to see as many people on the day as possible.” Woodbridge Community Hall kitchen will also be open and will be serving tea, coffee and cakes with all proceeds going toward Woodbridge Country Market. Invitations to attend have been sent to all local groups, but there are still limited places available should any charity, club or organisation wish to join us on the day. For more information please contact the deputy town clerk Mr Greg Diaper: 01394 383599
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.
The Company of Four Musical Theatre group from Woodbridge were pleased to present a cheque for £633.75 to Marion Brown, chairperson of the Ipswich & East Suffolk Branch of Parkinson’s UK. The donation was raised in honour and memory of Cof4 Life President Mr Don Spall by holding an audience bucket collection during their production of A Christmas Tale in December 2018. The gathering was also joined by Don’s wife, Lyn, who has raised well over £6,500 for the charity since Don’s sad passing.
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.
Mr Oliver Fosker, director and writer of the Christmas production, presented the cheque saying: “I am overwhelmed by the very kind response by our audiences and thank them enormously for their very wonderful donation to such a well worthy cause.”
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 non-members, are available from the Ipswich Institute.
The cast of A Christmas Tale are pictured with Marion Brown and Lyn Spall.
www.ipswichinstitute.org.uk / 01473 253992
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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT UPDATE ON JETTY LANE By the time that you read this, we’re hoping that Jetty Lane will have been granted planning permission. It feels like it’s been a long time coming as we submitted our pre-application for planning back in March last year and then our application for full planning – pages and pages long – went in last August. Understandably, concerns and objections have been lodged from various neighbours who are worried about Jetty Lane generating a lot of traffic (although 70 per cent of those surveyed said they will be travelling to Jetty Lane on foot), or a lot of noise (although we have had a professional noise impact survey done that shows that Jetty Lane is likely to make a negligible amount of noise). We’ve taken the concerns expressed seriously and made some changes to the design, such as making the windows that face towards houses narrower and higher. This will mean that no one will normally be able to overlook anyone’s house or garden. While we realise that some may have genuine concerns about a large new building going up in their vicinity (even one that replaces a previous building which was used for a similar purpose), we find it hard to understand why anyone would go to the lengths of employing a – presumably very expensive – consultant in London to go through our application line by line and raise any and every conceivable objection. That’s what happened and it’s even stranger that the persons who employed the consultant are anonymous, describing themselves as ‘a number of local interests’. On the other hand, we’ve been very heartened by the letters of support that were written to support the planning application and by the donations that keep trickling in. It’s clear that we have the backing of very many groups, clubs and individuals in the community who are very keen indeed for the building to go up soon so that they can start using it! The planning committee meets on February 21 and we’ll know soon after if that particular hurdle has been surmounted. Our other main news is that Jetty Lane is currently working hard on our application to become a charity and hopefully in the spring this will happen. Once we have charitable status and planning agreed it will be full steam ahead for bids for funding. Larking Gowen Chartered Accountants, who are helping us with the process of transitioning to proper charity status, have been fantastically helpful. (We were introduced to Larking Gowen via Suffolk ProHelp, a countywide network of businesses which provides professional and strategic support free of charge to voluntary organisations. We heartily endorse this service!) Jetty Lane directors had a most agreeable Saturday morning recently when we had a photoshoot! We had realised that our publicity was getting a little out of date as we had no group photos which included the new directors. When local resident and photographer extraordinaire Charmian Berry agreed to take the pictures we leapt at the chance. We’re very proud to be on the front cover of the magazine this month and hope you like the photos. Jetty Lane Project Manager Cordelia Richman: cordelia@jettylane.com Photos by Charmian Berry
WOODBRIDGE ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY Woodbridge Orchestral Society presents a programme of light classical music at Woodbridge Methodist Church (IP12 1ED) on Monday, April 1 at 7.30pm. Tickets £7 (includes light refreshments) from Helen Lewis (01394 411232), Anne Stevenson (01394 385728) or at the door. Proceeds for the work of the church.
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ROWING – GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM Mothers love to sing the song ‘Row, row, row the boat’ as they play with their babies and who knows what the long-term affect might be? A group of people apparently still under the spell of the traditional song are striving to recapture the sensation by building their own rowing boat in the Woodbridge Riverside Trust’s Longshed on the waterfront in Woodbridge. The skiff has been released from its building frame, turned the right way up and is now having the interior fitted out. The St Ayles skiff project uses a plywood kit based on a traditional Fair Isle craft designed by Ian Oughtred. These kits are used by many groups throughout the UK and abroad. The 22ft clinker-built, coxed, four-oared skiffs are constructed and rowed by people of all ages and gender. The current craft is being assembled by a small group of local enthusiasts, one of whom has already built a scale model of the boat. Woodbridge Riverside Trust projects are as inclusive as possible, so that anyone with an interest in woodworking has the opportunity to take part, experienced or not. Later skiff builds will include both young and older people, potentially working as mixed-ability teams. The benefits of team working, learning about boat designing and construction can apply to anyone who takes part. ‘Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily’ aptly describes the atmosphere of the skiff builders. Their community activity is more than just skiff building. A new Woodbridge Coastal Rowing Club has been set up for people who want to row the new skiff on the River Deben. The new club joins an established network of coastal rowing clubs in Norfolk, Essex and around much of the UK coast as well as a recognised programme of local and national competitions. WRT is very pleased that Suffolk Coastal District Council is supporting these projects through the Enabling Communities Exemplar Grant Programme and a generous donation from the makers of the Life on the Deben video. Anyone wishing to join a build team for the next skiff can find details on the WRT website. When this skiff slides down the slipway, it will be the first rowed craft wholly constructed on the old Whisstocks site for about 50 years. The verse of the song concludes ‘Life is but a dream’, but for a dedicated group of people, the launching will confirm that retaining the traditional use of this historic Woodbridge site has become a dream fulfilled. www.WoodbridgeRiversideTrust.org. /www.LifeontheDeben.com Picture by Carolyn Gibbins
LIVE MUSIC AT WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY The well-established tradition of live music at lunchtime in Woodbridge Library continues on Tuesday, March 19 with a recital of Songs through the Ages. Sopranos Joy Bounds (a regular with Trianon) and Diana Minter (a member of the St Mary’s Church Choir) will be accompanied on the piano by Gillian Barella. The trio perform regularly at Grove Court where the residents look forward to their visits. As the title suggests, the programme will be very varied and will include songs by Handel, Purcell and Arne, great English composers of the 17th and 18th centuries, 19th century German songs by Clara (pictured) and Robert Schumann and some classics from 20th century America in the form of Jerome Kern and George Gershwin. And there will be more! The concert is free and begins at 12.45pm. Donations in aid of the work of the Friends of Woodbridge Library will be welcome.
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OUT & ABOUT COUNCILLOR CAROLINE’S COLUMN As you may know, for the last eight years I’ve held a monthly ‘surgery’ so that people can come along and tell their problems or concerns to their county councillor. It is interesting to notice what people are most concerned about – and how this has changed over the years. I have to say that over the entire time, the people of Woodbridge have been most concerned about where to park and how fast people drive. Unsurprising, maybe, in a medieval town with medieval streets – most of which cannot be widened – created by medieval builders who failed to think of garages! Particularly as cars seem to be getting bigger and wider and every house seems to need more of them. Increasingly however, people are concerned about planning and housing. And these issues have not only become more common but have changed in nature during my ten years as a county councillor. Why should this be? What has happened?
THE HUB COMMUNITY CAFE The Hub Community Cafe will be open every Monday from 10am-noon at St John’s Church. We will serve hot drinks and fresh cakes. To make those who may come on their own more comfortable, there will be tables with newspapers to read, games or knitting projects where they can join others. We hope it becomes a hub for the community where friends can meet up and new friendships can be made.
WOODBRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKETS
One reason is that people have become suspicious of ‘developers’. Although we all know houses are needed, we’re increasingly suspicious of those who seek out land in order to put up housing. Does that housing meet the needs of the community? Not often. Additionally, houses have become much more expensive in this last ten years, although salaries have remained fairly constant, particularly the salaries of younger people and most particularly those younger people who do the kinds of jobs which are most valuable to society and which we really rely on. I am talking here of teachers, nurses, fire fighters, paramedics, care workers, cleaners, shop assistants and hairdressers. People we need, but we don’t remunerate. When we have a planning system which does not consider the actual needs of our society – or where these needs can be overlooked – we end up, as happens so often, with a small town jammed with expensive houses. One that is excluding all the people we rely on most for our daily needs. We have priced them out, but when they drive in (to service our needs) we complain that they clog the roads and make it hard for us to park. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot. You know, I’m sufficiently childish to wish sometimes that I had a magic wand. But as I can’t have that, I do the Euromillions every week instead. If (when) I win that jackpot, I won’t have any difficulty knowing how best to use it! Developing the old Suffolk Coastal office site at Melton Hill as a ‘community land trust’ (making it impossible to sell the housing via ‘right to buy’) could provide Woodbridge with a lot of much needed long-term homes at truly affordable rents, right in the centre of town. Workers and schoolchildren could walk and the streets could become less clogged. What a magnificent legacy for the future! I’ve bought my lottery ticket already. Keep your fingers crossed. Councillor Caroline Page
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 month’s markets will be held on March 9 and 23 at Woodbridge Community Hall from 9am to 12.30pm. Wonderpost Compost, which is home-produced in the Suffolk countryside, will be joining us for the start of the growing season. They sell fertiliser and soil improver as well as compost. Our regulars include: Newbourne Farm fresh vegetables, High House with their apples and own apple juice (maybe rhubarb too), Sutton Hoo free range chicken, Wild Meat Company, Doodle Donuts with a range of flavours, some of which are vegan, Pinewood Catering with a range of bakes including quiches, cake and cheese biscuits, Quince Tree with preserves, pickles, marmalade and fudge, Best Farm with ethically reared lamb and beef (they now accept payments by card and have great discounts if buying in bulk), Old Felixstowe Brewing Company with an array of beers and an increasing stock of ingenious and delicious items made with spent grain, Artizan bread and pasties. On Saturday 9 we’ll also have Leaping Hare preserves, samosas and sausage rolls, plus Not Just Tarts with individual cakes and bakes, some of which are gluten free. All our stallholders are based in Suffolk, all produce in small quantities and all with care and attention. Shop Local! woodbridgefarmersmarket@gmail.com
WOODBRIDGE CHORAL SOCIETY The society’s upcoming concert, A Celebration of Song on Saturday, March 30 at 7.30pm in St Mary’s Church, will explore new ground for this venerable community choir. Instead of the society’s tradition of performing the great sacred and secular choral works, sometimes modified a bit in its Christmas concerts, this event will feature a couple of dozen short works. The range is broad, from grand opera choruses to sweet songs, and from Broadway musical theatre hits to American spirituals arranged by conductor Andrew Leach. The programme will feature settings of British folk songs in John Rutter’s song cycle The Sprig of Thyme, excerpts from Jana Rowland’s Woodbridge-based opera The King’s River, and much more.
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.
The concert will be conducted by the society’s music director Andrew Leach and accompanied by Peter Willsher at the church’s splendid Bluthner grand piano.
For further information about this event and the music fund please contact the Burrows family on 01473 625196 or visit: www.rogerdavidburrows.co.uk
Tickets are available at Browsers bookshop in The Thoroughfare, from choir members and at (booking fee applies): www.woodbridgechoralsociety.org
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OUT & ABOUT WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY Active Lives Singing Group: Fridays 1, 15 & 29, 10.30am-12.15pm. For more information visit: www.activlives.org.uk ArtLib Exhibition of Paintings by Gillian Wakefield: March 1-31 Sale of Donated Stock: From Saturday, March 1 The Power of Mindfulness: Mondays 4, 18 & 25, 11.15am-12.45pm. Enquiries to: debrawoodbridge@gmail.com / 01394 450066 Realise Futures Walk-In Advice & Guidance Session: Tuesday, March 12, 10am-noon. For people with a learning disability and/or autism. 07753 447607 / info@realisefutures.org Book Group: Meets the first Thursday of the month at 2pm. On March 7 we will be discussing Midwinter by Fiona Melrose. Talk by Well-being Coach & Three Principles Practitioner Mia Philips: Saturday, March 9, 10.15-11.45am & Tuesday, March 19, 4.15-5.45pm (for children, young people and parents/carers). For more information visit: www.facebook.com/SC3PC County Councillor Caroline Page: Saturday, March 16, 9-11am Songs Through The Ages: Lunchtime concert by Gillian Barella and Friends, Tuesday, March 19, 12.45-1.30pm. Free IT help and advice: Available on Monday and Thursday mornings. Book your session at the desk or call: 01394 446510 Friends of Woodbridge Library: If you’re enthusiastic about libraries, would enjoy helping to organise library events and are willing to help with our fundraising activities, please ask a member of staff for more details. Friends of Woodbridge Library Goodies: Show your support for your local library by carrying a cotton shopping bag bearing the Friends logo. It’s only £3. There is also a magnetic bookmark for £1. Meeting room and display boards available for hire • Community, charity, private groups: £10 per hour • Commercial, statutory groups: £15 per hour • Display boards: £10 per week • Staffed table display in the main library: £10 per half day Woodbridge Novelists: Meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 10am-noon. This is a reciprocal critiquing group for novel-writers who are working towards publication. For more information email: jane@bakwon.com Citizens Advice Bureau: Someone from the CAB is available for help and advice every Monday from 10am-noon.
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
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Writers’ Workshop: Meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 5.30-7.30pm. If you like to write for pleasure, love words and have imagination, have you thought of joining Writers’ Workshop at Woodbridge Library? The group does homework on one fortnight and structure (plot, characterisation, etc) on the other. You can attend one or both sessions, but it is not a course – you are not taught to write. The workshop is free. Interested? To open doors to creative writing please email: jeannie@butterwicks.com Creative Writing for All: Meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 2-4pm. For more details contact: jeannie@butterwicks.com Knitting Club: Every Friday at 2pm. For all types of knitters, expert to beginner, come and share your knowledge or pick up some tips. Arts and Crafts Group: Meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 10am. Enables older people and their carers to take part in activities such as collage, card making, printing and modelling. Play Reading: Meets on the third Thursday of the month at 2pm. Come to listen or join in for an afternoon of light-hearted drama, comedy or mystery. Games Club: Meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2pm. Now includes dominoes. Improve your vocabulary and exercise your mind muscles with Scrabble or practise strategy or balance with dominoes. Woodbridge Area Gamers: Meets on the second Saturday of each month from 1-5pm. For more information contact nigel@foden.me.uk / 07740 173091 or visit: www.boardgamegeek.com/guild/1150 NAS Ipswich Lego Group: Adult group meets every fourth Saturday from 1-3pm ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN BOOKSTART Baby Bounce: Wednesday, 10.30-10.50am Tot Rock Rhyme and Rhythm: Wednesday 11.15-11.45am Story and Rhyme Time: Friday 10.30-11am Kid’s Club Craft Activities Every Sunday from 10.30am-noon Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult NAS Ipswich Lego Group Every second Saturday from 1-3pm All children must be supervised by an adult www.IpswichLego@nas.org.uk
WOODBRIDGE & DISTRICT LIONS CLUB Woodbridge Lions Club will be running a number of community and fundraising events over the coming months. Our monthly Quay Time sessions enable people to meet over tea (or coffee) and cakes to enjoy each other’s company. These afternoons may feature quizzes, board games or visiting speakers and offer an opportunity to arrange social activities throughout the year. Sessions are held on the third Wednesday of each month in Woodbridge Quay Church, which is fully accessible. Transport can be provided for anyone who may otherwise have difficulty attending. For details, please call Lion Stella Benton on 01728 561379 or visit: www.woodbridgelions.org.uk Future fundraising events coming up are a charity Pig Race night on Saturday, May 11 and another of our popular Art Show and Sales on Saturday, May 18. Pop these dates in your diary and watch out for further details and announcements about these events here and on our website over the coming months.
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OUT & ABOUT CAMBRIDGE BAND STUMPY OAK AT DANCE FOLKUS We are excited to announce that Cambridge band Stumpy Oak are playing as a guest band for the barn dance/ceilidh at Woodbridge Community Hall on Friday, March 1, starting at 7.30pm.
HIGHLANDS QUIZ EVENING Friday, April 5 at 7pm Tables of four, £5 per person Refreshments and Raffle Bring your own wine or beer Contact Ruth: 01394 382125
Stumpy Oak is a young, exciting, vibrant band who play fiddle, accordion, guitar, flute, concertina and bodhran. They play English and Celtic traditional music in a lively style and are popular at weddings, parties, balls, festivals and functions throughout the UK. They have played at many folk festivals and their band members Barry Watson, Erin Brown and Daren Biddle are well known in their own right through membership of various other bands. Their caller, Sarah Petts will navigate the dancers through this lively evening. Check them out at: www.stumpyoak.co.uk The taster song spot will feature the well-known local Suffolk group Harbour Lights Trio. They play a variety of instruments including concertinas, cello, banjo, melodeon, guitar and harmonica. They sing light-hearted, mainly East Anglian, traditional and music hall songs. They have performed at many festivals, concerts, folk clubs and local events. They recently released their first CD, Good Company. A key member of the group is Alvar Smith, a retired gamekeeper, whose stories and strong Suffolk accent always prove popular
AROUND THE WORLD IN SONG Come on a journey of song with a choir of Woodbridge singers created specially for this concert. Joining them will be guests Scunsulata from Norfolk. These two groups will present a concert of exquisite and enchanting harmony singing. Local choirmaster Chris Rowbury has taken 50 local singers on a Singing Safari. They have been gathering songs from across the globe. The group have polished these songs and are now ready for a performance. The concert will be at St Mary’s Church on Saturday, March 23 at 7.30pm. The performance will draw on musical traditions from around the world. Thrill to rhythmic songs from Africa and uplifting gospel from the US. Sink into sumptuous harmonies from Eastern Europe. Swoon to the sweet exotic sounds of the Pacific. This promises to be an evening of singing to stir the soul and warm the heart. Tickets are now on sale. “I enjoyed every minute of our rehearsals and the performance. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It’s hard to explain to people how one person can get an eclectic mix of people singing beautiful music in next to no time!” Singing Safari member The concert starts at 7.30pm. For tickets (£8 / £3) call Chris on 01394 610486 or visit www.chrisrowbury.com. Some tickets may be available on the door. There will be a retiring collection for WaterAid.
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
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This dance is likely to be well attended so advance booking is recommended. 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 £7). Students or children are £3 at the door. 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.
WOODBRIDGE PROBUS In February Edward Rees from Scottish Power renewables gave us a fascinating insight in the soon to be completed East Anglia One, a huge array of 102 windmills which will generate 760 megawatts of power enough to supply some 400,000 homes with electricity. Edward works on the onshore side and described some of the techniques of tunnel boring which will be large enough to accommodate the cabling for the next planned wind farm. It’s marvellous that the trenches will all be filled in and the land restored to its original condition. Such is the gallop of technology, including the new battery storage facilities, that I personally hope that Sizewell C could be redundant. On March 4 the speaker will be Steve Chalkley from Ipswich Makerspace. Steve will be talking to us about personal manufacturing which is about designing a product yourself, making some prototypes, making a few changes and then repeating the process. When satisfied you then make a few dozen, a few hundred or a few thousand. You can then start selling the product. You don’t need to commit to minimum volumes or even a long-term business plan. Modern technology such as laser cutting and 3D printing has made this possible. Woodbridge Probus is a leisure club for retired and semi-retired professionals, a chance to enjoy a drink, a good lunch and a fascinating speaker and outings to interesting places. We meet on the first Monday of each month at Woodbridge Golf Club. You’ll find all the information you need online or contact our secretary Ray Hooper at 07512 792454. We look forward to meeting you. www.woodbridgeprobus.org.uk
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OUT & ABOUT ORWELL DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY 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.
INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE District Chairman Linda Fellas joined us at our February meeting. Linda first joined Inner Wheel when her husband became a Rotarian. She later took a break to study sociology at university, followed by full-time work before re-joining after retirement. Linda was presented with a cheque for her chosen charity, Asperger’s East Anglia, which provides help and support people living with Asperger’s as for their families.
The talks throughout the year cover a broad spectrum of art. If this is something which appeals to you please come and meet us.
The club was also very pleased to welcome a new member, Lynda Pearce, pictured receiving her badge from Linda Fellas.
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.
Members have been busy fundraising; a collection of unwanted trinkets and jewellery is to be sent to Jessie’s Fund along with a £50 donation, and a soup lunch held on Inner Wheel Day raised £122 for Shelterbox.
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
Our next event will be our quiz night on March 8, followed by an afternoon tea on April 1. For more information, visit: www.woodbridgeinnerwheel.co.uk
WOODBRIDGE ART CLUB Members of Woodbridge Art Club started off the year with a social evening, a fiendish quiz accompanied by plenty of mulled wine. Both seemed to go down well. The regular Wednesday evening meetings leading up to Easter offer a varied selection of events, with talks on culture in Ethiopia and Suffolk’s place in the history of art, and several demonstrations on different painting methods, followed a week later by a workshop to put into practice the techniques learned. The second taster course for those wanting to try different arts and crafts to see if they wanted to take things any further was, again, fully subscribed. This looks as if it might become a regular feature in the club calendar. Further details of club activities can be found on our Facebook page or website where you can also find a membership application form should you wish to join. The 51st summer exhibition begins on Good Friday, April 19, in the club gallery in Tidemill Way, and will be open from 10am to 5pm. We look forward to seeing you there. www.woodbridgeartclub.com
DEBEN ROTARY SEEKS YOUNG LEADERS The Rotary Club of Woodbridge Deben is seeking a young person between the ages of 18 and 26 who would be interested in being sponsored to attend a national youth leadership training scheme. The East Anglian course will run at Graffham Water between August 31 and September 7. The Rotary Young Leadership Awards scheme, known as RYLA, is now in its 24th year and is a seven-day intensive fully residential course. It is run by professional tutors, instructors and lecturers and is designed to develop qualities of self-confidence, leadership, teamwork and communication. These skills are developed through a range of physical activities, team building exercises and business projects. Candidates receive certificates of attendance and continuous professional development detailing the week and hours spent on each discipline. The course is open to young people from any background, either in employment or job seeking. If you are interested in this opportunity, or are an employer who has an employee you think may benefit from it, please contact Rotarian Monty Guest at: rmguest74@gmail.com / 01473 625838 For more information about RYLA visit: www.district1080.ryla.co.uk
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MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Monday, April 8: Sutton Hoo by Sally Sibley Sarah is a volunteer at Sutton Hoo. Using a combination of slides, commentary and replica objects she will cover information about the site, some of the more influential characters in its history, its links with neighbouring sites and the specifics of the excavations carried out during the 20th century, revealing previously unknown details about the Anglo-Saxon period. There will also be an opportunity to hear about the project to develop the site during the winter of 2018-19 to further visitors’ knowledge and understanding of this extraordinary necropolis. Meetings are held in Martlesham Heath Pavilion and start at 7.30pm. Admission is £2.50 and meetings are open to all.
WHO LET THE DADS OUT? Who Let The Dads Out? (WLTDO) is a new outreach event starting at St John’s church, Woodbridge in March. It will be a safe space for dads, father figures, carers and their children to enjoy time together and be encouraged to take part in activities together. All dads, father figures, carers and their children are welcome. The sessions will be on the first Saturday of each month between 10am and noon. For more information visit: www.wholetthedadsout.org.uk/directory/wltdo-st-john-woodbridge
CRAFTERS UNLIMITED Happy New Year to all our crafting members past and present. Crafters Unlimited is a craft club for people who like to try different crafts in a light hearted atmosphere with refreshments. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month in Rushmere Village Hall from 7.30-10pm. Thursday February 28: Rolling Penny Card (Emma) Thursday March 28: Yo Yo Chicks Thursday, April 25: 5D Diamond Pictures Thursday, May 30: Tic Tac Boxes New members are always welcome. For more details contact Emma: 01787 373850
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OUT & ABOUT SPRING PROGRAMME FOCUSES ON PIONEERS
MELTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Wednesday, March 6: Victorian and Edwardian Ipswich We are fortunate to have local historian, author and well-respected former teacher Paul Fincham giving an illustrated presentation showing the development of Ipswich during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Paul was born and spent his formative years in Ipswich where his family ran a local business.
As we head towards spring, U3A members in East Suffolk can look forward to a varied and interesting range of topics to stimulate and excite the brain cells! The programme is wide ranging, as always, and includes talks about pioneering individuals like explorer Mary Kingsley, Dr Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and plant hunter Joseph Hooker. Thursday, March 4, 10.30am at Felixstowe Salvation Army Hall Field Marshall Earl Haig: Lion or Donkey? by John Lilley An examination of the facts surrounding a rather controversial First World War leader Thursday, March 14, 2pm at Saxmundham Market Hall Meet Mary Kingsley by Louise Reed The life of an explorer who travelled alone in the 1890s to West Africa Friday, March 15, 10.30am at Woodbridge Community Hall Perils of a Plant Hunter by Geoff Hales Joseph Hooker’s career as a plant hunter in the Antarctic and the jungles of Sikkim Monday, March 25, 2pm at Kesgrave Community Centre Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and her Circle by Jennifer Jones The story of a pioneering doctor and other enterprising women of her time Thursday, April 4, 10.30am at Felixstowe Salvation Army Hall The Shipping Forecast by Tony Diamond Thursday, April 11, 2pm at Saxmundham Market Hall Being a Woman Racing Driver and Racing at Le Mans by Celia Stevens U3A promises a warm welcome to existing and potential members. All details of membership are available on the website. Alternatively call the membership secretary on 0300 123 3913. Occasionally U3A may have to make last minute changes so please see the website for the most up-to-date information: www.a3aeastsuffolk.org.uk
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED
This will be a fascinating and at times light hearted study of the development of our county town Doors open 7.45pm for an 8pm at Burness Parish Rooms, 38 The Street, Melton IP12 1PW. All welcome – members free, visitors £3. For further information email mlhs.sec@aol.com or visit: www.mlhs.btck.co.uk
WOODBRIDGE SOCIETY As the town’s civic society one of the most important roles that Woodbridge Society performs is to keep a keen eye on how the town develops. It does this by monitoring all planning applications with a view to commenting in ways that will ensure that Woodbridge’s built environment retains its character. The society’s first talk this spring is all about getting the best out of the planning system. The talk will be given by Bob Kindred, a planning expert, who will ask the question: Are You Being Served? How to Influence the Planning System. The meeting will be on Wednesday, March 6 at 7.30pm in the Abbey School Hall (access from Cumberland Street). It will be preceded by the society’s Annual General Meeting. A month later we present a talk will the fascinating title Brainy Dogs. It will be given by Helen Fairweather who is the chief executive of Felixstowe-based charity Headway Suffolk. The charity works with prisoners at Hollesley Bay to train dogs to work with people who suffer from head injury and brain damage. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 7.30pm, again in the Abbey School Hall. Visitors will be very welcome to both meetings.
IPSWICH PHILATELIC SOCIETY
New Horizons are urgently seeking additional volunteer drivers to transport members to and from the club on Mondays or Thursdays. We are a not-forprofit organisation that meets in St Mary’s Hall in Woodbridge, providing a day out, activities and lunch for active older people in Woodbridge and surrounding villages. You will need to be available between 9.15-10.15am and 2.15-3.15pm on a regular basis, either weekly or fortnightly. This is a very rewarding occupation and is very much appreciated by our members who have difficulty getting out and about. They can feel quite isolated. You get to know the members and they are really pleased to see you each week. They get a day out, have the opportunity to make new friends, join in activities and have a superb home cooked lunch. If you think that you can help please contact Brenda for further details: 07514 36752
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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. For further information contact Mike Smith: michaelsmith1949@gmail.com / 01473 403904 www.ipswichphilatelic.uk
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OUT & ABOUT 1ST RENDLESHAM SCOUT GROUP WE NEED YOU!
Since being formed in 2012, Rendlesham Scout Group has grown to over 80 youth members across Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers benefitting from the adventures and learning the #skillsforlife that Scouting offers. Over the last year alone our Scouts have had the opportunity to take part in activities as wide ranging as raft racing, cooking and air rifle competitions, a London Monopoly Run, climbing Scafell Pike, BCU Kayaking course, Thorpness Meare Day, survival camp and spending over two weeks of the year camping under canvas. We also have three Explorers heading off to the World Scout Jamboree this summer, visiting New York, West Virginia, Washington DC and Canada, and another seven young people hoping to attend the European Jamboree in Gdansk Poland in 2020. All of these opportunities would not be possible without our amazing adult volunteers, but we need more! At the moment we have a waiting list of more than 30 local children who would like to join 1st Rendlesham, but we are unable to offer them a place. The only way we can solve this problem is with more adult helpers. You don’t need to have a lot of time to offer, or even want to work with our youth members. We also need help with fundraising, looking after equipment and people willing to join our executive committee. Whatever time or skills you have to offer, Rendlesham Scout Group would love to hear from you.
For more information please contact Group Scout Leader Keith Gleen: 07944 297184 / info@rendleshamscouts.org.uk Scouts (10-14) and Explorers (14-18) Winter Camp 2019 While most people were still recovering from New Year, the Scouts and Explorers were off on their first camp of 2019 at Gilwell Park. All of our Scouts, from the youngest to the oldest, were able to enjoy a fantastic weekend of activities ranging from horse-riding to white water rafting and skating to skittles, all with the obligatory funfair rides, disco, cinema or campfire in the evenings!
SUFFOLK ORCHID SOCIETY Suffolk Orchid Society will be holding its spring show on Saturday, March 30 at St Michael’s Church Centre, (near Douglas Bader Public House), Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL, between 10am and 4pm. In addition to a magnificent display of our member’s orchids there will be first class orchids for sale, re-potting demonstrations and advice on the cultivation of orchids including solving problems that may be encountered in their care. Refreshments including light lunches will be available during the day. Admission is £1.
LEISTON & DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY The society will meet on Wednesday, March 27 from 7.15pm in the hall of the United Church, High Street, Leiston. The main part of the evening will be the second of two talks and displays on GB Slogan Postmarks by John Harvey. Membership to the society is £5 annually (50p for students up to 18 years), payable in September. Refreshments are available. This is a good opportunity to meet with fellow philatelists in a friendly environment. Why not give it a try?
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WOODBRIDGE WILDLIFE GROUP Thursday, March 21: Suffolk’s Butterflies There’s an opportunity to learn more about butterflies when Peter Maddison gives a talk on the subject at Woodbridge Community Hall on Thursday, March 21 at 7.30pm. The talk has been organised by Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Woodbridge Wildlife Group. Chairman Phil Smith said: “We have 35 species of butterfly occurring naturally in Suffolk and it’s going to be extremely interesting to hear more about them from Peter, who is chair of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation.” Admission is £3 for adults, with children under 16 free. There will be a raffle and light refreshments served during the evening. For information contact: 01473 625630 / swtwoodbridge@outlook.com EVENTS AT FOXBURROM FARM
Saturday, March 16, 10am-noon Young Wardens Practical Conservation Activities Unaccompanied 11-16 year olds / £3 Saturday, March 16, 2-4pm Family Forest Schools Afternoon Children (18 months+) £4 / Adults £2 Tuesday, March 19, 10am-2pm Go Wild in the Week for Home Educated Children Unaccompanied 6-11 year olds / £7 Booking essential: 01473 890089 / www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events Foxburrow Farm, Saddlemakers Lane, Melton, Woodbridge IP12 1NA
BAWDSEY BIRD CLUB ANNUAL ILLUSTRATED TALK This year’s public illustrated talk, Saving Our Suffolk Swifts, will be given by Edward Jackson and takes place in Sutton Memorial Hall, Old Post Office Lane, Sutton, Nr Woodbridge IP12 3JQ on Saturday, March 30 at 7.30pm. Our Swifts are in real trouble! Across the UK, we’ve lost over half of these iconic birds of summer in just over 20 years. Join Edward from the Save Our Suffolk Swifts project for an informative and inspiring evening. You’ll learn about Swift life stories, the reasons for the rapid population declines and most importantly what we can all do to help these amazing birds by recording and protecting existing nest sites and installing nest boxes to create new ones. Edward’s amazing enthusiasm for, and knowledge of how best to protect and encourage our Swifts to nest in Suffolk will enhance what promises to be an evening not to be missed, so why not join us? Everyone is welcome and light refreshments will be available during the interval. Admission is £3 for adults and £1.50 for under-18s. There is ample free parking. For directions and further information please contact: wa@sandlings.co.uk / 01394 411422
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OUT & ABOUT
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS UNDER THE SAME NAME AND OWNERS
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”.
Blooms, Bressingham, DISS Wyevale Garden Centre, WOODBRIDGE Homebase, LOWESTOFT Head Office, Norwich Rd, HALESWORTH
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. Nighttime Ipswich is nothing like Ipswich in the daytime. Young and notquite 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 highrise 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 selfcondemnation. 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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OUT & ABOUT TO WOODBRIDGE TOWN OF FAIR RENOWN
ANOTHER TASTE OF FLOWER ARRANGING
A delightful and deliciously daft ditty dedicated to world famous poet and tea drinker extraordinaire Mr Edward FitzGerald and Jules Button, the empress of Woodbridge Emporium.
Deben Flower Club is offering you the opportunity to learn the wonderful skill of flower arranging at another of our very popular free workshops on Saturday, March 30 in Kirton Church Hall, Church Lane, Kirton IP10 0PU.
Oh… Rosie Lee, how we love thee You charming, warming cheeky Persian tea Refreshing, renewing – mmm smell her brewing! All the way down to Woodbridge Quay
This will be a fun and relaxed day and you will learn how to arrange a spring basket and make a unique decoration to attach to a wine bottle, giving your gift an attractive and individual touch.
So, a yo ho ho & a he he he A yummy little number we guarantee! A Rosy up your nosey – ‘Perfume La Infinity’ Poetry in a pot… ocean’s primordial motion, more dazzling potions of femininity!
No experience is needed and our expert tutor will guide you step by step throughout the day. All you will need to do is bring along your flowers and a basket. There will be floral foam, dishes and the bottle arrangement holder available to purchase on the day should you not have them already. The cost of all three would be approximately £5.
Then, ‘DRINK’ as Father Jack does wink Nice! Voila!! Mein Leben!!! And rolly ole row While the tide be so Out to sea by dear Old Deben…
Tea and coffee will be available but you will need to bring a packed lunch. The class will run from 10/10.30am to approximately 3pm.
So let Destiny flow… Old Mother Mill Grind as She will… Enrich this glorious nation Shire will power sail us soundly there Thorough fair b’our inspiration.
We hope this unique offer will then inspire you to join Deben Flower Club and learn more. The club meets in Kirton Church Hall on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm. Visitors are always welcome to come along and see what we do.
“TastE is the Feminine of Genius” E.F.G
Booking is essential and full instructions and a list of required flowers with directions will be sent when you book your place.
If you are interested in booking or would like more information, please contact Wendy: wa@sandlings.co.uk / 01394 411422
©har-les Mugleston – total tea tippler of the green varietea in this our year Two Thousand and Ninetean
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 manages Start Right. She 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.
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OUT & ABOUT / SPORT IPSWICH FLOWER CLUB WELCOMES NATIONAL DEMONSTRATORS
MELTON BOWLS CLUB The 2019 outdoor season begins on Sunday April 14 at 1.30pm. The first bowl to officially open the club’s bowls green for the new season will be delivered by the club president Robin Prior. This will be followed by a drive for club members, weather and green condition permitting. Anyone interested finding out about playing bowls is welcome to come along on the day.
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
BRIGHT STARS Fun activity sessions for pre-school aged children with parents, grandparents, friends, family and/or carers on the second and fourth Mondays of each month during term times from 10.30amnoon at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. Sessions are free and usually based on a theme. They normally include singing, games, crafts and Bible stories. We started the spring term with the Wise Men and made colourful crowns to wear. Other sessions included creating pictures of ourselves and doing songs and stories with lots of actions to join in with. After each session we have refreshments, when the adults can chat and the children can play until approximately noon. The next session dates are March 11 and 25. You are welcome to come along to any of our mornings; just turn up, no need to let us know in advance.
The club has a full programme of events arranged for the season, having entered six mixed leagues, one men’s league, several county and national cup competitions as well as having club competitions, friendly games and social events. Entries are now being taken for the club’s four invitation tournaments to be held on Sundays, June 2 (D Sharp Landscapes), August 4 (Woodbridge Cake Shop), September 1 (Happy Haddock) and September 22 (Greenkeeper). Contact Peter Moyes on 07720 756911 for further information. There will be an open day on Saturday, April 27 at the clubhouse in Dock Lane from 10am to noon. Coffee and tea will be available, together with tombola, a cake stall and a raffle. Everybody is welcome to come along to try their hand at playing on the club green, free of charge (equipment and coaching will be provided). All abilities catered for and beginners are very welcome. For more information please visit the Melton Bowls Club Facebook page or contact Ray Andrews: 07933 241576
For further information please contact Sonya and Maureen Burrows: 01473 625196
WORLD CLASS REFEREE CELEBRATES WOODBRIDGE RUGBY CLUB’S 50 YEARS Nigel Owens MBE, Welsh international referee and world record holder for the most test matches refereed, was guest speaker at Woodbridge Rugby Club’s 50th anniversary dinner in January. Nigel regaled 160 diners with stories from his many Six Nations and World Cup experiences in a talk that gave an insight into his early progress towards a life behind the whistle, as well as being hilariously entertaining. This year Woodbridge Rugby Club is celebrating 50 years of providing community rugby and three of the players in its first ever match against Woodbridge School staff in 1969 were present. Honorary Life President Mike Lubbock, who founded the club, was joined by Timmy Johnson and Edward Fletcher who scored the club’s first try in that match. Many former players were present from the 50 years alongside current Woodbridge Warriors 1XV players and coaching staff, past and present Woodbridge Amazons ladies rugby players, youth coaches and parents as well as volunteers. Rob Simpson, current chairman, commented: “There is so much to celebrate this year, from the continuity of having so many veteran players still associated to the club through to the strong number of male and female players in every age category we currently have, recent expansions into wheelchair rugby and of our pitches, clubhouse and changing facilities. Having Nigel Owens – a living legend to all of us here – come and kick off celebrations for our half century year was a fitting start and unanimously popular. He’s known for his occasional dry humour on the pitch and he didn’t disappoint!” Woodbridge Rugby Club will continue to celebrate its half century year with a summer ball and other entertainments planned.
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DEBEN YACHT CLUB Club activities continue even with boats put away for the winter months. We kicked off the talks programme with an adventure story set in the summer of 1939, just before the outbreak of war. Julia Jones told her father’s account of how he was unexpectantly invited on a sailing holiday to the Baltic. But did the cruise have an ulterior motive? The sense of mystery gripped the audience and led to a lively question and answer session. The story has been published by Julia in a book called The Cruise of the Naromis. The next club talk, given by members Lawrence and Lorna Baker about their work with the oil industry, will be on Thursday, March 21. The walks programme has also kicked off with walks to Ufford and Waldringfield. Both were well supported by members and dogs. The walks give members a chance to get some exercise on Saturday mornings, have a chat and share a pub meal. The next one will be on March 16 at Shottisham. Although there is club racing in the winter, some determined members take their boats to Alton Water and join in the Frostbite Series sponsored by Foxes Chandlery. Weather conditions have varied wildly over the weeks with some days so windy that they were virtually unsailable and others almost windless. In spite of the cold weather, the series attracts sailors from a number of sailing clubs including the Royal Harwich, Waldringfield, Brightlingsea, Harwich, Shotley and Orford. DYC Commodore Graham Seabrook with crew Charlotte Norrbom sailing a Laser Vago, have had some good results and Ben Alexander with crew Elspeth Orme sailing a RS200 were pleased to get a first in a race in February against very strong competition. With as many as 60 boats taking part on a Sunday morning, it gives our sailors a great opportunity to socialise with other club members as well as having some great racing.
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SPORT WOODBRIDGE CRUISING CLUB Four years ago past Commodore Ted Evans gave a well-received Sunday talk to a capacity audience on cruising the canals and rivers of Holland. Since then he and his wife Diana have spent several years on The Broads in their motor boat, Unicorn, and they now ‘Cruise the Ouse’. Indeed Ted and his wife Diana are fast becoming the club’s answer to Timothy West and Prunella Scales (as long as Ted doesn’t copy Michael Portillo’s wardrobe!).
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On February 3 Ted gave a follow-up to that first talk with an account of their exploits from their new base in the fenland city of Ely. The Ouse dominated network of rivers extends for over 140 miles from Denver Sluice, near Kings Lynn, in the north, as far as Bedford and Cambridge in the south, quiet waters in a peaceful landscape. Moorings are plentiful and many of the locks are electrically powered. The only problem last year was to find a stretch of bank with some trees for mooring in the shade. Sunday talks remain very popular, maybe because the bar opens immediately afterwards, and John Carrington recently painted a vivid picture with his history of the Tidemill from its origin in 1170 to the present day and a step through the looking glass to outline hopes and plans for the future. The twice daily flow of the tide must be one of the most cost effective ways of harnessing renewable energy, but it doesn’t seem to attract much interest from the powers that be. Food is another great interest of club members and gourmets, especially those with a taste for strong flavours who were spoiled by Graham Card’s Spice Night. When there’s food on offer there’s always a good crowd and this was no exception. A wide selection of dishes was provided and not much was left so the event’s popularity was not in doubt. John Harrison introduced the latest film night showing, Inherit the Wind starring Gene Kelly and Spencer Tracey, a very moving account of the trial of a teacher charged with blasphemy for introducing his students to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. A relation of John’s was that teacher and John had photographs and newspaper cuttings of the day which really ‘brought the injustices home’. Upcoming events include a race night, giving members a chance to win or lose their sailing budgets, and a talk by archivist Barbara Jones who is cataloguing the records of Lloyds Shipping. And then boats will start going into the water and folk will be seen in the streets of Woodbridge with streaks of red or blue antifoul in their hair and on their overalls. What joy! Another sailing season is just around the corner and full details of the planned cruises will be revealed at the meeting on March 17 at 12.30pm. John Warwick
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