Beccles & Bungay Community News - February 2024

Community News

FREE monthly newspaper for Beccles, Bungay & surrounding villages February 2024

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Contact us today for a FREE quote BUSINESS - 01986 784513 PERSONAL - 07392 148344 charlottefrankallen@gmail.com

Tim 01986 873494 or 07540 450811 Jack Perkins 07398 584539 Email: teepee1066@gmail.com 190229

Tyre & Wheel Tracking Service

12 Scales Street, Bungay, Suffolk, LEADWORD • ROOFING REPAIRS • GUTTERING NR35 1EA 01502OFFERED 714226 / 07941 052641 Tel: 01986 892173 TREATMENTS INCLUDE:

BERS BERS

TREATMENTS OFFERED INCLUDE: New patient exam £80 (Denplan £40) New patient exam £80 (Denplan £40)

KITCHENSENSE

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Routine exam £50 (Denplan - included) Routine exam £50 (Denplan - included)

of Harleston

TREATMENTS OFFERED INCLUDE: Please send any

Hygienist: £60 for 30 minutes (Denplan - included) Hygienist: £60 for 30 minutes (Denplan - included)

editorial from your local groups, clubs White fillings from £125 (Denplan £100) New patient exam £80 (Denplan £40) White fillings from £125 (Denplan £100) and events for the Acrylic dentures from £495 (Denplan £396) Routine exam £50 (Denplan - included) paper to Acrylic dentures from £495 (Denplan £396)

62 London Road, Harleston, edit@micropress.co.uk Chrome dentures from £750 (Denplan £600) Hygienist: £60 for 30 minutes (Denplan - included) dentures from £750 (Denplan £600) Norfolk IP20 9BZ Chrome Thanks White fillings from £125 (Denplan £100) Zirconia crowns £595 (Denplan £476) Zirconia crowns £595 (Denplan £476)

Acrylic dentures£796) from £495 (Denplan £396) Zirconia implant crowns £995 (Denplan Zirconia implant crowns £995 (Denplan £796)

dentures £280) from £750 (Denplan £600) Root canal treatment fromChrome £350 (Denplan Root canal treatment from £350 (Denplan £280)

crowns £595 (Denplan £476) Full mouth whitening £295 Zirconia (Denplan £236) LIMITED Full mouth whitening £295 (Denplan £236)

Tel: 01502 471900

Zirconia implant crowns £995 (Denplan £796)

Dr. Chris Kelly BDS (Sheffield 2003), Dentist, GDC: 82366

Root canal treatment from £350 (Denplan £280)

Miss Victoria Hough FDSC (Essex 2021), RDH, RDN, Dental Hygienist, GDC: 200727

Full mouth whitening £295 (Denplan £236)

at a realistic price

GDC: 200727 FDSC (with GDC: 200727 FDSC (with distinction) RDN RDH distinction) RDN RDH (University of Essex 2021) istopher J Kelly Victoria Hough Fitted Kitchen (University of Essex 2021)

LEISTONDENTAL DENTALCARE CARE LEISTON 98 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk, IP1601502 4BZ TEL: 471781

98 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4BZ Specialists KITCHEN • BATHROOM • BEDROOM reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk

LEISTON DENTAL CARE

•TYRES • WHEEL ALIGNMENT & BALANCING GDC: 200727 SPECIALIST FDSC ASSOCIATION (with reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk distinction) RDN RDH Call Us: 01728 561873 • PUNCTURE REPAIRS Call Us: 01728 561873 (University of Essex 2021) ALL WEATHER TYRESSuffolk, AVAILABLE Opening Hours Monday -• Friday 9.30am - 5pm 98 High Street, Leiston, IP16 4BZ

Tel: (01379) 852592 Opening Hours Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm ABLEQUALITY QUALITY Fax: (01379) 854411 The practice will be closed for lunch reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk between 1pm and 2pm ABLE The practice will be closed forwww.cbfservicecentre.co.uk lunch between 1pm and 2pm web site: www.kitchen-sense.co.uk Call Us: 01728 561873 03134862

NAND ANDCARE CARE email: staff@kitchen-sense.co.uk N

ROVIDING AFFORDABLE QUALITY

In this months WITH COMPASSION ANDissue: CARE Beccles Hospital marks its 100th anniversary (pg 2)

01728 561873 www.leistondentalcare.co.uk reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk Monday - Friday 9:30am-5pm Closed for lunch between 1pm-2pm 98 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4BZ

AFFORDABLEQUALITY QUALITY AFFORDABLE WITHCOMPASSION COMPASSION& &CARE CARE WITH

Units1-3, George Westwood Beccles, Opening Hours Monday Way, - Friday 9.30am -NR34 5pm 9EJ

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2366 BDS (2003, sity of Sheffield)

Dr. Hossain Faghany DDS (Aarhus, Denmark 1998) Dentist, GDC: 78378

The practice will be closed for lunch between 1pm and 2pm

Next Issue - March Stay in touch Deadline Date: 07/02/2024 01502 725 837 edit@micropress.co.uk Publication Date: 16/02/2024 www.yourcommunitynews.co.uk

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Victoria Hough Victoria Hough Quality and Service

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Howsham Howsham Memorials

2 - February 2024 - Beccles & Bungay Community News 158885

East Coast Community Healthcare

Memorials

NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN! NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPEN!

Local independent memorial specialist to

Local independent memorial areas specialist to Beccles and surrounding Beccles BROCHURE and surrounding areas COLOUR AVAILABLE 11 Hungate, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9TT The Women's Ward, 1924 COLOUR BROCHURE AVAILABLE

Beccles Hospital marks its 100th anniversary

11 Hungate, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9TT

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01502 219300

For the last century, Beccles of the hospital today.

On the exact anniversary of the War Memorial Hospital has provided care and support to opening ceremony (Saturday 24th the local community and now February) a commemoration a special celebration service is event will be held in the hospital being held to mark its 100th reception and foyer area. Mr. Elliott's great grandchildren anniversary.

The hospital opened in 1924 have been invited as special having cost £12,000 to build. guests, along with the town's The town's residents had donated mayor Cllr. Christine Wheeler. £7,000 following appeal Industrial and The hospital's League of Friends BlythanRoad Estate, this was boosted by a gift from will also be attending as well as IP19 8EN from East Coast Alexander Elliott of Halesworth, a stretch of representatives land between St. Mary's Road and Community Healthcare (ECCH), Priory Road, which is still the site which runs the hospital, and

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Beccles Medical Centre, which Since 2019, ECCH has shares the site. provided a specialist palliative A display of historical care service on Minsmere Ward photographs, books and artefacts in partnership with St. Elizabeth will inform visitors of the role the Hospice, and in 2022 the ward hospital has had in the community replaced traditional paper patient and how it has adapted and records with a pioneering digital changed over the years. When the monitoring system linked directly hospital was opened by Major- to patients' GPs, ensuring that the General Sir Anthony Bowlby, ward is at the forefront of modern commanding officer of the 54th medical care.

East Anglian Division, it had 24 The centenary display will be beds and for many years, boasted open to the public from 3pm to its own operating theatre.

5pm on Saturday 24th February In 2017, £1.65 million was and again from 10am to 5pm on spent transforming it into an Sunday 25th February. Signed intermediate care unit with copies of the book 'Beccles and in-patient facilities for those its Hospital - a Century of Caring' requiring medical care but not (pictured), which was written needing acute support in a general by former nurses Pam Hardman hospital. A new day room was and Maureen Saunders, will be created at the same time, thanks auctioned with proceeds going BlythtoRoad Industrial to the League of Friends. the League of Friends. Estate,

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Beccles & Bungay Community News - February 2024 - 3 191900

Harleston Choral Society Members of both clubs enjoying entertainment provided by jazz musicians Ray Simmons and Tim Densham

Inner Wheel Day

visibility during your journeys.

Check lights and indicators: Ensure all lights and indicators are in working order. With shorter days and longer nights, proper visibility is crucial for your safety and the safety of other road users.

Invest in winter wiper blades: Consider replacing your regular wiper blades with winterspecific ones designed to handle snow and ice. These blades can significantly improve visibility during heavy precipitation.

Slow down and increase following distance: Winter road conditions can be unpredictable. Reduce your speed and increase the following distance to allow for safe braking, especially on slippery surfaces.

Carry an Emergency Kit: Prepare for the unexpected by keeping an emergency kit in your car. This kit should include essentials such as a blanket, torch, first aid supplies, water and nonperishable snacks.

Plan your journeys: Before setting out, check weather forecasts and road conditions. Plan your routes in advance, allowing for potential delays due to weather-related issues.

Be aware of potholes: Wet and cold weather causes the emergence of the dreaded pothole. There are plenty on our roads and you will be aware of any that are on your regular routes.

Keep an eye on the road as hitting a pothole can cause significant damage to your vehicle.

By following these simple yet effective tips, you can ensure your vehicle is well-prepared to handle the challenges of winter. Stay safe on the roads and enjoy a worryfree winter behind the wheel.

A day for service to the local community On January 10th, Inner Wheel Clubs all over the world celebrate Inner Wheel Day...

A day which is dedicated to serving the local community.

This year is particularly special as it marks the centenary of the Inner Wheel movement. There are clubs in over 100 countries and a membership of 100,000. The Beccles Club is thriving with 35 members.

Beccles Inner Wheel chose once again to support the Beccles and Bungay branch of Suffolk Sight, a community-based sight loss charity. The branch meets once a month in Blyburgate Hall where members enjoy afternoon tea with entertainment or they are taken out to lunch. This month, members were treated to a delicious afternoon tea prepared and served by the Inner Wheel as their service to the community.

The event was attended by a total of 40 people with entertainment

provided by two first-class local jazz musicians, Ray Simmons on the keyboard and Tim Densham on clarinet. Their programme of well-known tunes included a tribute to Acker Bilk as well as a sing-a-long to popular numbers at the end.

Another highlight of the event was the drawing of an Inner Wheel raffle, the prize for which was a helicopter flight for three from Beccles Heliport. The raffle was in support of the East Suffolk Air Ambulance, which was chosen by this year's President Gail Harris as her charity, and raised the incredible sum of just over £1,500. The winning ticket was drawn by Ray Simmons and the lucky recipient was Gill Parker.

If anyone is interested in either of these clubs, Suffolk Sight or Inner Wheel, please telephone: 01502 712067 for further information.

SLIPPERY PATH / DECKING? DIRTY DRIVEWAY / PATIO? Call Jeremy for a FREE no-obligation quote

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“Thank you Rosedale, your support and guidance made this difficult time a little more bearable.”

01502 714445 01986 892790 01986 875588 01379 853999 www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

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ST MARY’S STREET DENTAL PRACTICE Serving the community

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6 St Mary’s Street, Bungay 01986 893899 Daniel F M Evans B.D.S., M.F.G.D.P.

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Please send any editorial from your local groups, clubs and events for the paper to edit@micropress.co.uk

Thanks

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As winter settles in, it's crucial to ensure your vehicle is prepared for the challenging conditions that colder temperatures, icy roads, and inclement weather bring. Here are some essential tips to help you maintain your car and navigate safely through winter: Check your antifreeze levels: Ensure your vehicle's antifreeze levels are sufficient to prevent the engine coolant from freezing. A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is typically recommended to keep the engine running smoothly in cold temperatures.

Inspect your battery: Cold weather can significantly impact your car's battery. Make sure it's in good condition by checking the terminals for corrosion and ensuring a secure connection. Consider replacing an older battery to avoid unexpected breakdowns.

Check your tyres: In our climate, you're unlikely to need to switch to winter tyres.

However, you'll not want to be driving on wet, icy and snowcovered road with tyres that have little tread left. Getting new tyres will provide better grip and can significantly improve your vehicle's performance during adverse weather conditions. Also keep an eye on tyre pressure, cold temperatures can cause a decrease in tyre pressure. Ensure your tyres are properly inflated to maintain optimal traction and fuel efficiency.

Top-up windscreen washer fluid: Use a winter-grade windscreen washer fluid that won't freeze in colder temperatures. Keep the reservoir topped up to ensure clear

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Essential tips

Parking is available in The Original Factory Shop, almost opposite the church.

Further information about the choir is on our website www.harlestonchoralsoc.org. uk or from Stella Brownsea at: heidihouse@btinternet.com.

You might also like to have a look at Harleston & District U3A's website (www.U3Asites. org.uk/harleston) for information about another thriving local organisation and the monthly talk on February 21st titled 'The Silk Road Cities of Uzbekistan'.

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Winter car care

Our Spring term began on January 8th, but it's not too late to join us. We're rehearsing Saint-Saëns Requiem and Dvořák Mass in D Major for our Summer Concert on June 29th.

We welcome everyone (especially Altos, Tenors and Basses), even if you've never sung in a choir before. There are no auditions, and music is provided for free. Practices are on Monday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm in The London Road Church, Harleston, IP20 9BH.

4 - February 2024 - Beccles & Bungay Community News

Walk the Way of the Cross with the Blyth Valley Churches this Easter!

This spring, the churches of the Blyth Valley are giving you the opportunity to visit the Holy Land without leaving Suffolk!

Across their 14 churches, they're presenting an exhibition of original paintings by nationally acclaimed, local, religious artist Iain McKillop. These Stations of The Cross focus the attention of visitors on the last known movements of Jesus, among them: his mock trial, him meeting women in the crowds and his execution.

During the Crusades, Europeans visited the Holy Land and discovered the actual places they had previously only read about in accounts of Jesus' final hours. This was such a moving experience that upon their return the practice of Stations of the Cross arose. It involves the setting up of images anticlockwise around a building, so that worshippers may travel virtually with these early pilgrims and their saviour.

The Blyth Valley Stations of the Cross 2024 will open with Bishop Mike Harrison leading a full set of reflections for a seated

congregation at All Saints, Blyford, at 7:30pm on March 15th. The Queen's Head, Blyford, will be open afterwards so people may stay and buy refreshments.

A copy of each of the images will be prayerfully presented in each of the fourteen churches of the benefices for the following week. From 7:30pm on March 22nd, the artist Iain McKillop will talk about his creative encounters with the Stations concept. Again, refreshments may be purchased at the Queens Head afterwards.

The Eighth Station: Jesus Helped by Simon of Cyrene

On March 23rd, Team Rector Dominic Doble and colleagues will lead a pilgrimage presenting a short contemplation at each parish church in the benefices.

"It's always a joy and a challenge to be confronted by beautiful art work that explores difficult aspects of life" writes Bishop Mike. "I'm so grateful to Iain for his remarkable Stations of the Cross sequence. He says he "looks forward to offering some thoughts alongside these images to honour the injustice, isolation and pain of our own experiences."

Iain McKillop said: "It's been special creating a new passion series for my local parishes, hoping that neighbours can find through them, meaning in Christ's self-offering, which reaches into their own lives and the world in which we live today."

All 14 churches in the Blyth Valley are open during daylight hours. There's no charge for any of these events. However, our church committees are grateful for your generosity towards maintaining the parochial ministry that underpins events such as this.

Places & Faces Magazine

Apple & Hazelnut Cake As featured in Places & Faces Magazine. To subscribe to Places&Faces (THE luxury lifestyle magazine for Norfolk & Suffolk) delivered straight to your door, visit their website: www.placesandfaces.co.uk Recipe by Rebecca Bishop, The Next Loaf, www.thenextloaf.co.uk This spiced autumnal cake is delicious with morning coffee, as an afternoon pick-me-up or warmed gently and served with a dollop of double cream for the perfect pud. Plus, it includes one of your five-a-day! You could substitute half the nuts for almonds if you prefer.

Ingredients: (Serves 6) Streusel: • 90g wholemeal flour (I used Hodemedods Einkorn) • 50g light brown sugar

• 1 tsp sweet spice mix • ¼ tsp baking powder • 60g unsalted butter, melted • 80g hazelnuts, toasted then ground • 1/8th tsp fine sea salt Fruit layer: • 4 tasty eating apples (whatever tastes good) Cake: • x2 whole eggs • 90g light brown sugar • 60g wholemeal flour (I used Hodemedods Einkorn) • 3/4 tsp baking powder • 2 tsp sweet spice mix • 240g hazelnut, toasted then ground • 180g sour cream Sweet spice mix: • x 2tsp ground cinnamon

w.t he

nex

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f.co

the cake preheat the oven to 175˚C. - Grease and line an 8 inch loose bottom cake tin.

- Beat the eggs and sugar together in your stand mixer until pale and thick.

- In a separate bowl, combine the toasted ground nuts, flour, baking powder, salt and spice mix.

- Fold into the egg mix in three additions.

- Fold in the sour cream until mixed thoroughly.

- Place the cake mix in the tin and level. Spread the apple mix on top. Crumble the streusel over the surface in irregular chunks then push some of the streusel mix down through the apple into the cake mix so you get lots of streusel texture all the way through.

- Bake the cake for 30-45 minutes until a knife inserted in the cake layer comes out clean. You may need to cover the cake towards the end of the bake to stop it getting too dark.

- Dust with icing sugar to serve.

.uk

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ww

• 1 tsp ground ginger • ¼ tsp ground clove (approx. 4 cloves) • 1 tsp ground nutmeg Method: - Make the streusel and apple mix a couple of hours before you start the cake.

- To make the streusel, combine all the ingredients and press the mix together. Wrap in paper and chill in the fridge for a couple of hours before using.

- Chop the apples into 1cm cubes (leave the skin on) and place in a lidded pan.

- Gently cook over a low heat until the apples soften slightly (approximately 5 minutes) then leave to cool.

- When you're ready to make

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VACANCIES

Community News - February 2024 - 5

C J DUNLOP

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6 - February 2024 - Community News

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BecBun 7 & Hales 11 Community News - February 2024 201966

February 2024 - BecBun 8 & Hales 12 Community News

Greens impose unique zero carbon condition on incinerator

Crafting your perfect Suffolk wedding From venues to local flair... A guide to creating unforgettable moments Planning a wedding in our part of the world can be a wonderful experience. With beautiful countryside, historic towns and villages, and stunning coastal views, Suffolk offers a wealth of picturesque venues and settings for your special day.

One of the first things to consider when planning your wedding is your venue. Whether you're looking for a grand country house, a charming village church, or a beachside location, there are plenty of options to choose from.

When it comes to choosing your wedding suppliers, it's always a good idea to use local suppliers where possible. Not

only will you be supporting local businesses, but you'll also be able to tap into their local knowledge and expertise. For example, if you're looking for a florist, consider choosing one based in the area as they will know the best local blooms and how to create beautiful, seasonal arrangements.

With catering in mind, you will not be short of options here in Suffolk. Work with your caterer to create a menu that is tailored to your tastes and budget. For example, some caterers may specialise in traditional English fare, while others might offer a more contemporary, international menu.

New Beginnings Florists of Distinction Wedding Packages & Valentines Flowers Available! www.newbeginningsflorist.co.uk 32-34 Earsham Street, Bungay, NR35 1AQ

203139

01986 896404 or 07903 782681

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest decisions with any wedding is choosing your dress.

Make time to visit the local bridal shops, they will all offer something a little bit different and it's important to find the right dress and service whether it is an 'off the peg' dress or a bespoke made-to-measure option you go for.

All this planning and effort deserves great photography.

Choose a photographer who is familiar with the area and can capture the beauty of your wedding day. Local photographers will also have a wealth of experience and will know the best places to take your wedding photos as they will most likely have worked at the venue or location you choose.

How are you going to get to the church or venue? Many taxi firms have luxury vehicles specifically for weddings or there are lots of specialist companies who provide a range of vehicles to suit your needs or personality.

From classic cars and vintage buses, to horse-drawn carriages and limousines... You really can have whatever you want!

Something that is always a nice touch is to consider choosing local products that reflect the character of the area when looking at favours. For example, you could choose locally-made chocolates, or bottles of local wine as a thank you to your guests.

Last but not least, entertainment! This is a day of celebration and every wedding you have ever been to always ends with dancing! There are a huge array of bands or musicians who can provide a range of styles to suit your tastes. From traditional folk music to contemporary pop, there's something for everyone.

But this is your day and so make sure you pick what you want.

Finally, remember to enjoy the planning process and take it all in. This is a special time in your life, and it's important to make the most of it. Remember that things may not always go according to plan, but as long as you're surrounded by the people you love, your wedding day will be perfect. With these tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to planning a memorable and beautiful wedding!

Credit: Paul Elilo Credit: Phil Halls Credit: Phil Halls

Phil Halls of Grain Brewery with Buster Grant, SIBA Technical Director

A Grain Brewery brew

A flight of Grain Brewery beers

Local brewery takes top award... again!

A local brewery's smoked porter has won Overall Champion at the SIBA East of England Keg Beer competition.

Grain Brewery's 'Slate' took the top award, beating over 56 other beers from breweries across the East of England. The accolade comes after their cask version of the same dark, rich porter won Overall East of England SIBA Champion Cask Beer in September last year.

The popular beer is brewed with Norfolk barley and oaksmoked malt from Bamberg, Germany and was entered in the Speciality Beer category where it won gold before going through to the final round of judging.

The brewery, which produces its traditional dark porter from its base in Alburgh, South Norfolk, was up against 16 other breweries from Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Phil Halls (owner of Grain Brewery) said: "I was delighted to have such wonderful news to kick

off 2024. When the organisers announced that Slate had won the Overall Champion of East of England, I was surprised because of the great beers it was up against.

To win the big award for both cask and keg makes me so proud of the hard work the brewery team put into perfecting our beers. It's not always easy, so recognition like this makes the huge effort of the brewers, worth it. There was some celebration the night of the award."

Entering four beers, Grain Brewery was only one of three Norfolk breweries in the competition and the only Norfolk brewer to take home a gold.

Okapi, Grain Brewery's hazy IPA also won runner up in the Pale Ale category. With a zesty orange flavour, the beer is a regular at the brewery's pub in Norwich, The Plough, and at their Taproom in South Norfolk.

The well-respected industry awards, run by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), are judged by around 30 beer

experts in blind tastings and are seen very much as the brewers' choice awards in the industry.

The awards took place at Legra Tap and Kitchen in Leigh-onSea, Essex and the gold winners will now go on to compete in the National Competition in Liverpool on March 14th, joining four of Grain's cask beers in the competition which were all gold winners in the regional cask finals back in September last year.

As dark beers continue to grow in popularity, Grain Brewery are putting their success down to Norfolk-grown barley and our region's hard, chalky water. With light and sandy soils, warm and dry weather and salty sea breezes, Norfolk is famed for growing some of the best malting barley in the world.

Coupled with the county's hard water which is packed full of calcium and magnesium (perfect for darker profiles in beer) it's no wonder Norfolk's dark beers are scooping up awards.

Phil Halls said: "Our water in

Norfolk is very hard, making it dreadful for many things. It scales up your kettle, and leaves stains on your car after you've washed it, but fortunately it is good for brewing dark beer. Norfolk's ground is full of calcium carbonate, in other words, chalk, which is why buses mysteriously disappear into deep sink holes in the road, but the chalk provides the barley and yeast what it needs to brew good beer, and also gives the beer a full flavour on the palate. After all, beer is mostly water, so our water is very important."

Grain Brewery's taproom reopens in February and is open every Friday and Saturday 12pm7pm. To find out more, visit: www.grainbrewery.co.uk

In what it believes to be an unprecedented legal move, Green-led East Suffolk Council has insisted that the developers of a controversial new incinerator in Suffolk will only be able to operate it if they can show it doesn't contribute to climate change.

It's thought to be the first time that a council has put such a condition onto the environmental permit of an incinerator developer.

Waste management company VC Cooke, already has planning permission to build the incinerator at Ellough Industrial Estate, near Beccles - granted when the council was still under Conservative control. But without an environmental permit, the company can not legally operate the plant.

Leader of East Suffolk Council Caroline Topping said: "There have been about hundreds of local objections to this plant with very real concern about both carbon and other emissions from its chimney and from the lorries supplying it."

Adrian Ramsay (Green Party co-leader, and MP candidate for Waveney Valley constituency which includes the site of the plant) said: "I fully support East Suffolk Council's action.

Unfortunately the decision to allow it to be built has already been made by the Conservative controlled county council. All the Greens at East Suffolk can do is put firm conditions on the permit.

There is a lot of local concern about the emissions from this plant, from residents and from nearby businesses. A massive new housing estate is being planned

right next door. Incinerators are often called 'energy from waste plants' but their carbon intensity can be significantly greater than the energy produced through conventional fossil fuels sources such as gas. The country is building more and more, while the government has allowed recycling to stagnate. As a result, in Britain, emissions from waste have been rising since 2014. That's according to the Government's official adviser on such matters.

I'm proud that a Green-led council is the first in the country to use its right to grant an environmental permit to take a stand on the new scourge of polluting incinerators.

This could become a test case to change the law nationally. The way to cut pollution from waste is to cut the amount of waste we produce in the first place. With a bit of political will, it's perfectly possible for the government to use all the many levers at its disposal to reduce packaging, encourage increased reuse of materials and to bolster recycling."

Contact: • Adrian Ramsay: 07971 598917 • Toby Hammond (Green councillor for the Bungay ward): 07717 314171 • Anthony Speca (Green councillor for the Bungay ward): 07789 645685

Adrian Ramsay, Green Party co-leader, and MP candidate for Waveney Valley constituency

BecBun 9 & Hales 13 Community News - February 2024

Greetings from Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund

Community vigilance urged after New Year's Eve vandalism in Southwold

Happy New Year from Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund! (HDCF) The new Family Carers Support Group has got off to a great start. Designed to give support to people who have family members with dementia, and in conjunction with the Pear Tree Fund, it meets every Friday in the Coop Community Room from 2pm to 3:30pm.

A new group which we are hoping to start on February 9th is Seated Tap Dancing.

Led by dance teacher Garth, and again in conjunction with the Pear Tree Fund, it will be every Friday in the Coop Community Room from 11:30am to 12:30pm.

For details of all our groups please call 01986 874442 or email: info@ halesworthdementia.co.uk.

In addition to the groups mentioned above, we are still running our Seated Movement to Music Group every Monday at Holton Village Hall from 11am to 12:15pm, Memory Café every Tuesday in the Community Café from 2pm to 3:30pm, and Singing

We hope that we find you well as we welcome the new year.

However, it is with regret that we report an incident of criminal damage that occurred on New Year's Eve in Southwold, specifically at North Parade.

The public toilets on Kilcock Cliff fell victim to an act of criminal damage, rendering them unusable. As a result, we regret to inform you that the facilities have been temporarily closed while we await repairs. We understand the importance of these facilities to our community, especially during peak times and for the benefit of both residents and visitors.

We want to assure you that efforts are already underway to assess the extent of the damage and initiate the necessary repairs promptly. However, we encourage anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist in the investigation. Your cooperation is vital in helping us hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

We understand the inconvenience this closure may cause, and we appreciate your understanding and patience during this time. We will keep you informed of the progress and

With Friends every other Wednesday at Holton Village Hall from 2pm to 3:30pm.

These groups are all open to helping people with memory problems and their family carers.

Film Shows: We shall continue to hold our bi-monthly film shows at The Cut. These are held on the third Wednesday of the month and are in January, March, May, July, September and November.

100+ Club: This now stands at 118 members, and prizes of £100, £70 and £30 are drawn monthly. The winning numbers for January are 36, 66 and 17. If we get to 125 members, we will be able to increase the monthly prize allocation, so if you would like to join us, please contact Anna on 07721 842802.

John Wood

reopening of the public toilets.

On the same evening between 10:45pm and 11:15pm on Sunday, December 31st, three male youths were observed throwing several picnic benches over railings onto the beach. This resulted in damage to 10 benches, creating a sense of concern within our peaceful community.

You can assist the police investigations by providing information through the following channels: • Email: ccc@suffolk.police.uk • Website: Suffolk Police Online Reporting • Phone: Call 101 Remember, your contribution matters, and your identity can be kept confidential. Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or submit information anonymously through their online form.

We urge all residents to remain vigilant and play an active role in maintaining the safety and integrity of our town. If you have any information related to these incidents, witnessed the events, or noticed anything suspicious during that timeframe, we encourage you to please come forward.

New Year update from Halesworth Volunteers Our next Community Soup and Sandwich Lunch will be on the last Wednesday of the month, thanks to the Coop for their support.

So what next for 2024?

Huge thanks to the Coop who will be supporting more tea parties and events for older people. If you know someone who'd benefit from joining us for one of our lovely tea parties or community lunches, please just ring the office on 875600.

The Community Larder will open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 11:30am, do come and see us.

Our Community Car Service is there to help anyone who cannot travel independently.

We are focusing on ensuring that people can get to their Hospital appointments and medical appointments but we will always try our best to get you to the events and social gatherings that mean the most to you. Our volunteer drivers are amazing.

If you or someone you know needs help with shopping, our

team are there to help you get the food you need and we can collect your prescriptions too.

With so much Covid, colds and flu around, just ring the office if you need some help.

Don't miss our lovely events!

The Well-being lunch takes place on the first Tuesday of the month at Chinny's. The Community Lunch in partnership with St. Mary's Church takes place at St. Mary's on the last Wednesday of every month from 12:30pm. Don't forget Nigel's brilliant quiz on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the White Hart.

Finally, at this time of year, we always remember our absent friends. Lovely passengers, trustees and friends who we have lost this year. This year we particularly remember Andy Nichols, Marj Heap, Maureen Holzer and Ron Goodson. They did so much to make Halesworth Volunteers the organisation that it is today. We remember them with pride and send love and condolences to their families.

Bramfield's ice experiment

Bramfield, Ringsfield and Brampton Primary Schools activities The children at Brampton and Ringsfield enjoyed listening to the story 'Lost and Found' by Oliver Jeffers. We discussed why the boat was able to float on the water and what materials it was made from. We decided it would be fun to investigate different materials to see if they would be good to make a boat for the boy and the penguin. The children found out that cork and wood were buoyant and the junk plastic was too if it had no holes! They found it funny to see the brick sink and cardboard go soggy so decided they were not the best material to make a boat.

At Brampton the children decided that they would make a wooden boat. We used our work bench and tools to construct a boat and added a sail. We then tested whether our boats floated! The

fennel seed heads and bright red winter berries and used these tiny treasures to decorate the base of a shallow dish which we then filled with water. We left the trays outside overnight and the children were so excited to find them frozen solid the next day. We hung the ice ornaments from trees and watched as they melted away throughout the day.

This simple art project sparked lots of further ice exploration and discussions about our favourite kinds of weather.

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children were fantastic, curious learners and really enjoyed this experiment!

At Ringsfield, we did some research on different boats and as a class, we decided to make rafts.

We found some sticks and then weaved some twine to fix them together. It was very exciting to see that they floated on the water.

The children were very engaged and super investigators!

This month, the colder weather gives us the opportunity to explore the wonder of a frosty morning, when you can breathe like a dragon and see spider webs sparkle in the sun. The children in reception at Bramfield have been making the most of the freezing temperatures by making their own frozen sun catchers. First, we searched the school grounds for natural objects like spiky

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Ringsfield testing the raft to see if it floats

Brampton testing their boat

AFTER

Co-op and Morrisons, Beccles.

We also had some wonderful gifts at Christmas from Sizewell, the Spar, Waitrose Saxmundham and Edgar Sewter School. We would also like to thank Suffolk Community Foundation for their continued support. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Larder this year. You are amazing.

Gifts for Caryl: We were also able to give out beautifully wrapped Christmas presents as part of our Gifts for Caryl in memory of Caryl Coomer and some lovely and very generous Goodie Bags gifted by Knit and Natter.

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed.

Christmas at St Mary's: It was also lovely to support Rev Gini at the lovely All Access Carol Service and the St Stephen's Day Lunch. We were able to provide delicious Ginger Refresher thanks to our friends at James White and volunteers also provided delicious teas and lunches for both events.

BEFORE

What a Christmas! Huge thanks to Jackie and the Warm Room team and the amazing volunteers who made Christmas Day so special.

Over 60 meals were enjoyed by people at the Day Centre and in their own homes. We couldn't have done it without the generosity of so many local businesses, charities and local people who donated so generously. You know who you are but THANK YOU! An amazing year at the Community Larder: Thank you to all the people who have supported the Larder over the last 12 months. We continue to see increasing numbers visiting our Larder and the Larder continues to be a space where everyone is welcome, can make a contribution and get food and household supplies if they are struggling. So many people give so generously. We'd be lost without the support of local businesses like Melons, Berry Farm, Low Farm Eggs, the Peasenhall Village Shop, the

Ringsfield making a raft

202861

February 2024 - BecBun 10 & Hales 14 Community News

BecBun & LFW 11 & Hales 19 Community News - February 2024

Alde & Blyth Community (ABC) Radio

News from Leiston & District Philatelic Society Eyes (and ears) down After a successful 2023 followed on April 24th by Kevin for Music Bingo! (culminating in the annual Christmas Social on December 13th, attended by the Chair of Leiston Town Council, Cllr.

Lesley Hill), members are looking forward to an exciting programme of monthly meetings in 2024.

On January 24th, members showed several displays from their own collections covering a wide selection of different countries' philatelic history.

An afternoon meeting is planned for February 28th, when members will be invited to submit up to 10 sheets of stamps on any subject for a members competition.

Reverting to evening meetings, on March 27th, there will be a talk and exhibition of 'Local Posts and New Zealand' given

by Ed Hitchings, and this will be

May, who will talk about 'Suffolk Postal History' and illustrate his talk with examples from his collection.

May 22nd will be the Society's Annual General Meeting followed by a one sheet competition, and the season will conclude on June 26th with a display and talk on 'The stamps and postal history of British Forces in Egypt, 19321951', given by Mick Carter.

Society meetings will recommence in September 2024 after the Summer break. All meetings are held in the Leiston United Church Hall, Leiston High Street.

For further information about the meetings or about the Society, please email the Secretary: andy.soutar@btinternet.com or the Vice Chairman: alanmartin42@btinternet.com

If you're looking for some postChristmas fun, then make sure you're part of the Music Bingo event at Sizewell Sports and Social Club on February 23rd.

Tickets are only £2.50 in advance (£3.50 on the door) and the event is being held to raise funds for Alde and Blyth Community (ABC) Radio, who have recently completed a major refurbishment of their new premises and are now hoping to introduce an outside broadcast service.

Music Bingo is a fun and exciting take on the classic game of Bingo, with songs replacing the numbers on a Bingo card. The host plays music and if you have that song listed on your card, you tick it off. The same rules apply as regular bingo, get a line, call

Bingo!

Bingo cards cost only £1 per game on the night and there are some great prizes to be won.

Limited tickets are now available from the Sizewell Sports and Social Club and online at: www.sizewellclub.co.uk ABC Radio was founded in April 2021, serving the 'coastal corridor' between Orford and Southwold and currently broadcasts every weekend from 4:30pm on a Friday until midnight on a Sunday, with plans to extend into weekday evenings from Easter 2024. You can find ABC Radio online at: www.abcradio. co.uk, via the ABC Radio app and by asking Alexa to "play ABC Radio". The varied programme schedule is available on the station's website.

Thomas Comber Griffith

Members' Stories III: Skeleton in my Cupboard, and DNA Surprises In December, the Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group held the third of our occasional series of Members' Stories events.

Maggie Strutt shared the story of 'A skeleton in her cupboard', and Jane Evans gave us helpful clarification of the usefulness of DNA profiling, using her researches for members Sheila and Peter Bush as an example. 30 members and one visiting nonmember attended in person at the Fromus Centre in Saxmundham, and around 10 members attended over Zoom.

'I found a skeleton in my family cupboard' by Maggie Strutt Maggie started by warning the audience that she was passing on facts that may upset some people, and was making no moral judgment. She then recounted the history of her great-grandfather, Henry Thomas Griffith (pictured above), a Norfolk country parson.

He was the only son, with eight sisters, of Thomas (also a cleric) and Charlotte, who were first cousins. Aged 23 in 1852, Henry was already Curate at St Stephens in Hull. Then in 1856, he and his wife Ann Elizabeth Bryan (daughter of a Hull mariner and his wife, who was (at least, in 1871) a charwoman) moved to Norfolk, where all their eight children were born. The eldest, Thomas Comber Griffith (pictured above) was, according to family records, adopted. The youngest, Charlotte, was to become Maggie's grandmother.

Within a tiny area of Norfolk (Hanworth, Sustead, North

Walsham and Felmingham) Henry progressed over four decades from lowly curate to rector, for 16 years, of Smallburgh, where he died in 1897. He had turned blind for his last few years, the peculiar blindness which results from inbreeding (with three firstcousin marriages in his ancestry, including his own parents) so he learnt the Lesson, Epistle and Gospel by heart, every Saturday, and recited them from memory on Sunday. In the early 1870s, son Thomas and his younger brother Wandy had gone out to Brazil, some years later to be joined by their sisters Emma and Charlotte, where the latter married Arthur Bell in Pernambuco (now called Recife) in 1899. So Maggie's father, his brothers and their cousins were all born in Brazil, which Maggie visited in 2008 for her family researches.

To return to Henry and Ann, family records suggest Maggie's great-grandparents married in 1855, but the marriage certificate is dated May 1856, with Henry aged 27 and Ann 16. However, her birth certificate shows her as only 15, quite legal, as it was only in 1929 that the minimum age of legal marriage in the UK was raised to 16 (from 12 for girls and 14 for boys), but still much younger than Henry. Normally, couples marry in the bride's parish, especially where Henry was also the curate, but they did so in Selby, 40 miles away and then, only two months later, he resigned his curacy in Hull to move, without promotion, to Hanworth. Maggie then discovered that Thomas, the

Can't get to church anymore?

We can help you stay connected For health or mobility reasons, some people struggle to get to church. During winter months, some people find they can't cope with the cold in some of our churches. Other people can't get to church because they are working or caring for a family member.

Blyth Valley Churches offer several ways you can continue to worship with us.

Online worship: Our Sunday morning services and our Wednesday midweek Holy Communion services can be watched online on YouTube: www.youtube. com/@halesworthparish. There

are regular services most days of the week.

• Monday and Sunday evenings at 9:30pm there is a night prayer / Compline on the Blyth Valley Churches Facebook page (blythvalleychurchessuffolk).

• Tuesdays to Saturdays, there is morning and evening prayer from St. Mary's Church, Halesworth in person, or you can join via Zoom.

8am: Morning Prayer Zoom Meeting ID: 883 5778 9092 Passcode: 607673 6pm: Evening Prayer Zoom Meeting ID: 850 0997 6304 Passcode: 825686

Café Church via Zoom: Enjoy friendship and support with our regular online congregation every Tuesday at 10am. The service is simple and reflective. Contact Rev Alison to be added to our contact list: alisonalder@hotmail.co.uk Holy Communion at home and home visits: A member of our Ministry Team or Pastoral Ministry Group can bring Holy Communion or visit someone on a regular basis, for a chat or prayers. Please contact Rev Alison for more details on: 01502 478855 or 07584 416277.

Financial focus on...

Hobbies and "Side-Hustles"

Alde Valley Suffolk Family History Group

Henry Thomas Griffith

Blyth Valley Churches

so-believed "adopted" eldest son, was in fact born to Ann and Henry in September 1856, just four and a half months after their marriage, and on the day after Ann's 16th birthday.

Maggie ended by saying that it's been suggested that maybe Henry exploited or abused Ann, or that they were pressurised by family to get married to avoid scandal, all supposition, we'll never know, but she'd like to think they did so for love, something that didn't always happen in Victorian times.

(We cannot judge the past against the standards, conventions and laws of today.

Also, maybe just one rash act at Christmastime should not mark a person for life, and Henry certainly "did the right thing" by Ann, when he could have paid her off and hidden behind his higher 'rank' or assumed respectability.

Also, they were together many years raising a large family, and respected enough for Henry to gain promotions within his little corner of Norfolk.)

'DNA Surprises'

by Jane Evans Without notes, but with some excellently clear and explanatory visual material, Jane gave a jargon-free exposé of DNA profiling applied to family history research. First of all, she outlined why the technique is used, and why people might want to take a DNA test, including: • You may have hit a brick wall in your family tree.

• Trying to find an unknown ancestor.

• You can use DNA evidence to back up your tree research.

• Ethnicity can provide insight into your ancestral origins.

• You may be able to help others find their family.

You can choose whether to allow your samples to participate in research, including the gathering of statistics, which subsequently helps the service providers estimate how closely related potential relatives might be (such as second, third, fourth cousins, etc). As half of each of the father's and mother's DNA is passed to the child, the genes it receives are similar to cutting from a deck of cards, though some DNA may not be passed down at all.

Peter was expecting Essex and the South-West to feature in his ethnicity results, perhaps some Scottish and maybe a bit of Italian?

Sheila was expecting her ethnicity to be largely based in Essex, and so it proved, but the surprise to her was that there were also traces from "Germanic Europe".

However, 6% of the UK population carries Viking DNA, only a little less than the 10% in Sweden. A useful book on this subject is titled 'The River Kings' by bioarchaeologist Cat Jarman.

The databank of DNA results is ever growing, and Peter already has over 23,000 DNA matches!

The Family History Federation have produced a four-page guide which you can download here: www.familyhistoryfederation. com/resources-dna

To ensure "side hustles" pay income tax correctly, HMRC announced that they are obtaining information from online selling platforms like eBay. This immediately caused a nine-fold increase in online searches for "eBay tax" and similar.

Firstly, let's put things in perspective - the rules have not changed.

If you are an infrequent user of a car boot or an online auction site in order to sell off personal items that you no longer want, you are not trading and have nothing to fear from HMRC. (You should take separate capital gains tax advice if your selling high value items, e.g: paintings or furniture).

Complexities arise where you may have a partially or selffunding hobby. If you purchase a box of figurines purely to obtain one model for your collection before reselling the others, you may be recycling your collection in order to improve it. Instead, if you purchased the job lot knowing the value of the whole but without

knowing the existence of the rarity, then that is a trade.

Anytime you purchase an item (even a single item) to resell somewhere else at a higher price that is a trade.

To simplify having to declare occasional sundry trading activities, HMRC allow you an annual £1,000 trading allowance. The allowance is given automatically. If your turnover is under £1,000, you need not tell HMRC or include it on your Tax Return, although if you do file a Return annually for other reasons, a "white-space note" may be prudent. The trading allowance is also available against more traditional sources of selfemployment.

If your turnover exceeds £1,000, you do have to tell HMRC, although the trading allowance may then be used as an alternative to declaring your actual trading expenses. You can also choose not to claim the trading allowance. The trading allowance cannot be used to create or augment a tax loss.

VAT, however, is a different issue. Whilst the VAT turnover registration threshold is currently £85,000, if you are already VAT registered, you need to charge VAT on any income or goods sold through your "side-hustle" as well, irrespective of claiming the £1,000 allowance.

Hope this helps!

For further information, please contact Robin Beadle (pictured) via email: robin.beadle@ensors. co.uk.

Disclaimer: Specialist advice should always be sought prior to taking any action on matters discussed in this article.

Woodbridge Cruising Club Woodbridge Cruising Club members are looking forward to the start of the sailing season, and are preparing boats for the first cruise.

On-shore activities are continuing apace, with the Burn's Night supper a highlight.

Wednesday suppers are a convivial evening, with delicious home-cooked food and the chance to socialise, and the fortnightly Thursday walks are enjoyed by members and dogs, and finish with a welcome meal at a local pub. The ultimate walk of 2023

was a stroll around Sutton Heath Sandlings and a meal at the Plough, and the New Year's Day walk was a gentle stroll around Woodbridge, and finishing with homemade soup at the clubhouse on a perfect sunny winter's day.

Future Sunday talks include a talk by Felixstowe Coast Patrol.

If you want to brush up on your navigation skills or need the DAC Radio Licence, Woodbridge Cruising Club operates courses open to the general public in spring 2024. The RYA Day Skipper course runs February

weekends, and the DSC radio course is March. It is a legal requirement in order to operate a DSC radio, you need the current course and not the old style VHF. Although the official cruising season is over this year, the club still has a thriving spring social scene. If you have a genuine interest in sailing and the sea, have a look at our programme of maritime related events on our website: www. woodbridgecruisingclub.org.

New members are always welcome.

February 2024 - BecBun & LFW 12 & Hales 20 Community News

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If its made of wood call Jonathan on: 01986 896930 or 07780 508872

Telephone: 01986 895991 or 0781 8898738 FREE ESTIMATES

ROBERT SMITH

Removes burnt on carbon deposits, grease and fat All cleaning products are non-corrosive, non caustic, free of fumes and biodegradable

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Beccles & Bungay Community News - February 2024 - 13

PROUD TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS

Covering the following local areas: HALESWORTH • SOUTHWOLD • BECCLES • BUNGAY • HARLESTON • LEISTON • SAXMUNDHAM • ALDEBURGH • FRAMLINGHAM • WICKHAM MARKET • DEBENHAM • WOODBRIDGE • MELTON www.yourcommunitynews.co.uk

Follow us on socials to keep up-to-date with everything we do as well as local news and events: /yourcommunitynews

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14 - February 2024 - Beccles & Bungay Community News

'Somerleyton Hall' in IR by Bob Taylor

'Moored' by David Penrose

Bungay Camera Club Annuals and Presentation Evening Report 2023

Peter Nixon with his winning image, 'Reflections and Light (Norwich Cathedral)'

to have the time to closely study and find my favourite images to award them their various marks and placings was very enjoyable.

Bungay Club members have produced some lovely and varied photos to choose from."

Mr. Lloyd took the time to give comments and reasons why he'd given the scores to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed images along with those awarded Highly Commended and Commended.

Following the conclusion of the meal and well-supported raffle draw, the presentation of club trophies and certificates of merit were made to the deserving club members.

Bringing the evening to a close, club chairman Richard Roberts gave thanks to Mike Lloyd for giving his time to judge and critique all of the top awarded images. He also thanked all club members for submitting their images, without which, there would not have been such an enjoyable club event.

Trophy & Certificate Winners: Annuals Colour Prints: • 1st place: 'Reflections and Light, Norwich Cathedral' by Peter Nixon.

• 2nd place: 'Honey Fungus' by

Andy Wilson.

• 3rd place: 'Marsh Gallop' by Jane Murphy.

Highly Commended and Commended Certificates awarded to: David Penrose, Andy Wilson, Peter Nixon, Sue Grief, Rosie Pickering, Bob Taylor and Ken Warne.

Annuals Mono Prints: • 1st place: 'Girl Power' by Adrian Muttitt.

• 2nd place: 'Church of the Marshes' by Jerry Keeble.

• 3rd place: 'Lisianthus Dance' by Andy Wilson.

Highly Commended and Commended Certificate awarded to: Bob Taylor, Andy Wilson, Jerry Keeble, Adrian Muttitt,

Jane Murphy and David Penrose.

Annuals PDI's: • 1st place: 'As the Sun goes Down' by Jane Murphy.

• 2nd place: 'Caitlyn in Fungiland'

by Andy Wilson.

• 3rd place: 'Primary Colours' by David Penrose.

Highly Commended and Commended Certificates awarded to: Peter Nixon, Jane Murphy, Andy Wilson, Sue Grief, Jerry Keeble and Ian Bundey.

Themed Competition Winners: Colour Print Images: • 1st place: Bob Taylor.

• 2nd place: Peter Nixon.

• 3rd place: David Penrose.

Mono Print Images: • 1st place: David Penrose & Andy Wilson.

• 2nd place: Bob Taylor.

• 3rd place: Victor Schwanberg.

PDI images: • 1st place: David Penrose.

• 2nd place: Andy Wilson.

• 3rd place: Edward Pond.

Anyone wishing to learn more about

Bungay Camera Club can do so on: www.bungaycameraclub. co.uk. Or please come along to one of the meetings in the new year, at Broome Village Hall on either the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Doors open at 7pm and everyone of any ability will be made most welcome.

'Marsh Gallop' by Jane Murphy 203179

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

The World Land Trust GREENGROCERS

Home delivery service available 6 Market Street, Beccles • Tel: 01502 717524

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of November 27th.

A good attendance of club members and guests had the opportunity to view the large number of printed colour and mono images and projected digital images before enjoying the evening meal.

The judge for this competition was Mike Lloyd, a member of local neighbouring Beccles Camera Club. He was able to view the 93 images at leisure at his home. Mr. Lloyd commented: "Having the prints and images in my possession and

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Bungay Camera Club held its years end 'Annuals Competition', chip supper and presentation evening at Broome Village Hall on the evening

The January meeting of the Blyth Valley and Southwold branch of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust welcomed Dan Bradbury, from the World Land Trust (WLT).

You may have noticed their office in Halesworth, but their work crosses the globe. Founded in 1989, its aim is to protect land threatened by loss of habitat, by buying areas vulnerable to destruction, 'real acres in real places'.

What made the Trust different then, and does to this day, is that they don't organise the conservation themselves as outsiders, but empower the local people to do so. The work started in Belize, Central America, where loss of tropical forest was becoming rampant.

Partner organisations were set up, and the 'Buy an Acre' scheme proved so successful that it's still in use today. The success of that first operation led to others across the world.

Habitat loss takes many forms, from logging, cattle ranching and agriculture, to mining and illegal poaching. Climate change is another major factor. Managing and protecting the growing reserves and wildlife corridors requires considerable resources,

and the Trust raises funds, both here and in those countries, through individual and business donors, to train and employ local Rangers. The Rangers engage with the neighbouring communities, working with schools and villages, involving them in the process. The aim is for the reserves to become self-sufficient, both in growing their own regeneration plants, and by creating jobs, such as eco-tourism, for local people.

The Trust also works towards carbon balancing, by encouraging businesses to offset their carbon emissions in a meaningful way.

Dan spoke with energy and dedication, and we all came away with a deep appreciation of the far-reaching conservation work of the WLT. Our next meeting is on February 8th, at 7:30pm, in Southwold Arts Centre, IP18 6JP. Michael Strand will be talking about the Martlesham Wilds Nature Reserve. Admission is £4, including refreshments. Under 25's free. All are welcome. For more information, please contact us at: swtblythvalley@gmail.com

Beccles & Bungay Community News - February 2024 - 15

Congratulations to all ICENI Taekwon-do students on a fantastic Seminar Grading Well done everyone! All the practice and hard work really paid off!

The seminar took place at the Venue, Beccles on December 11th. Sixth Dan Regional Examiner Mr Gillett and ICENI instructors, Mr and Mrs

Bedingfield, led a large group of students through a twohour session of traditional ITF Taekwon-do training, which included: Repetitive Technique Drills, Patterns, Sparring, Knife Defence and Destruction.

New members are always

welcome, and can start on any Monday or Thursday with four free sessions. ICENI students ages range from six to 60+, so individuals and family groups can book sessions on the club website at: www.iceniTKD.uk

Sunday 18th February

SNOWDROP DAY at Gable House, Redisham, Beccles, NR34 8NE Open for: The National Gardens Scheme 11am-4pm, Admission £5 Soup lunches, tea and cake Snowdrops, aconites crocus, cyclamen

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FEBRUARY 18TH SNOWDROP DAY Gable House, Redisham, NR34 8NE Gable House, Redisham is open for The National Gardens Scheme from 11am-4pm on February 18th. Admission is £5 and there will be soup lunches, tea and cake. For more information, please call 01502 575298.

FEBRUARY 21ST 'THE SILK ROADS CITIES OF UZBEKISTAN' TALK St. John's Church, Harleston Harleston & District U3A welcomes you to our monthly talk, 'The Silk Roads Cities of Uzbekistan', on February 21st at 2pm in St John's Church, Harleston IP20 9AZ. It will be given by Pat Alker, based on her wide travels in that area, with lots of photos of the stunning architecture, and with reference to the current revival of the concept of linking Europe with the Far East, and (as she says) "with all places in between".

FEBRUARY 23RD MUSIC BINGO! Sizewell Sports & Social Club If you're looking for some post-Christmas fun, then make sure you're part of the Music Bingo event at Sizewell Sports and Social Club on February 23rd. Tickets are only £2.50 in advance (£3.50 on the door) and the event is being held to raise funds for Alde and Blyth Community (ABC) Radio.Limited tickets are now available from the Sizewell Sports and Social Club and online at: www.sizewellclub. co.uk

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FEBRUARY 8TH MARTLESHAM WILDS NATURE RESERVE TALK Southwold Arts Centre In the next meeting of the Blyth Valley& Southwold branch of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Michael Strand will be talking about the Martlesham Wilds Nature Reserve. Admission is £4, including refreshments. Under 25's free. All are welcome. For more information, please contact us at: swtblythvalley@gmail.com FEBRUARY 10TH CANCER RESEARCH UK JUMBLE SALE Holton Village Hall We have a quiet month in January but are looking forward to starting our 2024 events in February with our very popular Jumble Sale on February 10th from 10am-12pm. We will be serving our usual delicious cakes and teas and coffees, (please see our advert on page X). We are always very grateful for good quality items of ladies, men's and children's clothes, household linens, bric-a-brac, shoes and accessories, toys, jigsaws and books. We are very sorry but we are not allowed to take any electrical items. We also have no facilities to take large items such as furniture etc.

If you have any items that you'd like to donate, please get in touch.

Call: 07810 888 889

01502 575298

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www.simonds.co.uk Roswald House, Oak Drive, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4GX Pick-ups in: South Norfolk and North Suffolk (home collection

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Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens The Stitch Festival: Business Design Centre, London 29th Mar Southwold & Aldeburgh 1st April Cotswolds in Springtime 4th April Sandringham House & Gardens, Hunstanton 25th April London Show - TINA The Tine Turner Musical 25th May RHS Chelsea Flower Show 6th July RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 15th Aug Downton Abbey - Highclere Castle & Gardens 17th Aug Abba Voyage - Matinee

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A good pollinator plant for February flowering is Pussy Willow (Salix Caprea)

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Preparing your garden for spring February can be one of the coldest months of the year, even though it is full of the promise of spring with shoots of bulbs pushing through and song birds being heard.

There's still plenty to do in the garden now in preparations for the months ahead. Winter maintenance continues and there is gentle pruning and cutting back of shrubs and hedges to do. Make sure when cutting back that you don't disturb wildlife that will still be hibernating.

If you want to know what to do with your pruning trimmings, then one simple solution is to create a 'twiggery'... A twiggery is a habitat tucked away in a quiet spot at the end of the garden or allotment or under a hedge. Cut prunings into lengths of one to two metres and make a low pile in a shady place. Small mammals will use this and hedgehogs may even nest there. Birds that don't mind nesting close to the ground such as Blackbirds and Dunnocks may also use it as a nest site.

You can also think about giving a bird a home during National Nest Box Week, which

THE HANDY TEAM YOUR LOCAL, PROFESSIONAL, QUALIFIED HANDYTEAM SERVICE BUILDING:

PLUMBING:

• Emergency repairs • Re-pointing • Subsidence & cracks • Lead flashing • Chimney repairs, removal & re-lining • Roof repairs • General building works/repairs • Stud walls • Garden walls & Patio works • Gates & Driveways • Damp proofing

• Kitchens • Bathrooms & wet rooms • Toilet repairs & replacements • Shower repairs & replacements • Disability access installs • Unblocking • Loft tanks repairs & replacements • Ball valve repairs • Cylinder repairs • Immersion thermostat & element

DISABLED WORKS:

• General DIY • Hanging frames/mirrors etc.

• Flatpack furniture put together • Wall mount TVs • Installation of bath screens • Silicone showers & baths • Tiling • Lifting & shifting furniture • Small jobs • Whether it’s a general tidy up or complete house clearance, we can help with both!

• Toilet & tap repairs and replacements

CARPENTRY:

• Windows repaired & replaced • Hanging doors • Wood flooring & panelling • Kitchen flatpacks • Boxing in

gardeners this month include: • Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover. Knowing which vegetables to sow where, when and how means you can maintain constant supplies throughout the season.

• Chit potato tubers. It's important with earlies, and a good idea with maincrops, to 'chit' the seed potatoes before planting.

This means allowing them to start sprouting shoots.

• Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches. Most top fruit and soft fruit are very hardy but once they start growing in spring, flowers and buds are especially vulnerable to frost and may need protection to crop well.

Here's what the experts say: "This month there are signs of the approaching spring, with bulbs appearing and wildlife waking up as light levels and temperatures increase. There's plenty to do indoors this month to prepare for the season ahead.

Outdoors, as the garden comes to life again, it's time to prune shrubs and climbers, such as Wisteria as

well as evergreen hedges."

- RHS "February can be a very mixed month weather-wise, from sunshine warm enough to take your coat off, to snow or heavy freezing rain. On good days, take time to get out in to the garden to work and look around.

If the ground isn't too frozen or waterlogged, you can dig the soil over, or turn any compost that you have. Tidy up any debris on beds and the lawn, if it isn't too wet or frozen to walk on. Get organised and start sourcing the seeds and compost that you are going to need for the coming months."

- Sarah Raven "The shortest month of the year, February marks the final month of the winter season and heralds the dawning of spring. It can also start to feel noticeably lighter each day which is always a boost after shorter daylight hours.

This extra light makes heading for walks to spot wildlife such as beautiful waxwing birds or common spawning frogs a little easier, as nature stirs after its winter hibernation."

- BBC Countryfile

Help made easy GARDENING & LANDSCAPING:

• Summer tidy ups • Hedges & bushes trimmed • Sheds & greenhouses supplied, installed and repaired • Fences, Patios & Decking • BBQ areas • Garden planting schemes designed & built • Specialised topiary supplied & planted • Brickweave & Block paving • Turf

DRAINAGE:

• High-pressure jetting • Block drains • CCTV surveys & investigation • Treatment plants • Soakaways • Grease traps • Gullies • Guttering • Land drains • Full drainage installations

ROOFING:

• All types of roof repairs • Ridge replacement • Lead flashing • Flat roofing • Chimney repairs, re-pointing & removal

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ward or f g n i k o o L l! to your cal 196891

• Ramps & hand rails designed, built & installed • Doorways widened • Disabled doors supplied & installed & Stair rails fitted • Safe & accessible toilet & wet rooms supplied & installed • Full home re-design & refurbishment service to suit your needs • Non-slip surfaces, paths & walkways

HANDYMAN:

TOILET & TAPS:

runs from February 14th to 21st, by simply putting up a bird nest box in your garden. As our gardens and parklands become tidier, natural nest sites are rapidly disappearing. Caring for our feathered friends by feeding, providing water and putting up nest boxes, to give them a safe space to raise chicks, has never been more important. You can find out where to put up a nest box and which kind to put up at: www.nestboxweek.com.

Attracting insects into your garden for birds and to pollinate plants is also important. A good pollinator plant for February flowering is Pussy Willow (Salix Caprea). This native deciduous tree prefers deep soils that don't dry out and has broader leaves than most willows. In late winter, it produces furry catkins that not only contain nectar but also accessible pollen that turns the male catkins from silvery-grey to bright yellow and attracts big queen bumblebees and several species of solitary bees.

In addition to stocking your garden with wildlife friendly plants, other top jobs for

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Published, originated and printed by Micropress Printers Ltd., Reydon Business Park, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk. Tel: (01502) 725 800 © Community News 2024. All rights reserved.