Halesworth & Southwold Community News - May 2025 by Countrywide Publications

Communit y News

Sue and Jane with the Easter-themed stall

Halesworth

The hall looking lovely with the spring ﬂowers and Tesco's Beccles for providing milk, bread, mushrooms, hash browns and general groceries. The support we received from these businesses makes a massive difference to us and we can't thank them enough.

table decorations.

We're so grateful for your generosity at our events. We're delighted to say that we raised a fantastic £1,585.98 for the vital work undertaken by Cancer Research.

We have to say a huge thank you to the following businesses for providing the excellent quality items for the breakfast: Allen's Butchers Halesworth, Clarke's Bramﬁeld and Mills & Sons Butchers Southwold for providing the bacon and sausages and thank you to Melons Halesworth for donating the free range eggs. Please go along and visit these independent businesses and see their excellent products.

Thank you also to Co-op Halesworth, Spar Halesworth

Also, thank you to St. Peter's Brewery for donating a rafﬂe prize. Congratulations to everyone who won a rafﬂe prize and thank you all for taking part. Thank you to everyone who baked cakes or savouries for our cake stall.

Our next event is our Spring Fair on May 17th from 10:30am2pm in Holton Village Hall. If you haven't been to one of our events before please come and join us as we extend a warm welcome to all.

We'll be serving light lunches and delicious desserts as usual from 11:30am so after browsing what our stalls have to offer, please stay and enjoy a meal with us. We'll have tea, coffee and biscuits available from 10:30am. Please continue to support us as we raise funds for Cancer Research. Thank you! For more information, please contact Dawn Davis on: 01986 873640.

Bob Farrow

In quiet moments, time stands still A year has gone,and yet we feel, The echo of your laughter's song, A melody where we belong.

Though absence weaves it's silent thread, And whispers softly of what's ﬂed, We hold your joy like morning light, A becon through the longest night.

Amid the tears,your stories bloom, Filling each corner of every room, And in our hearts,your presence stays, A gentle guide through all our days.

Love you always Bob/Dad Mary, Justin, Tracey and Michelle

Halesworth Library

Starting to plan your summer?

Halesworth Library can help!

We have lots of gardening, travel, and recipe books for summertime inspiration, not forgetting all our ﬁction books that are perfect for outdoor reading.

We also have some fun things planned for summer and throughout the month of May.

Starting off by celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 10th, alongside the Town Council's Street Party. Pop into the library for themed activities and crafts.

Then, join us on May 27th, 11:30am-12:30pm for a fun halfterm crafting session. If you're unable to join any of our timed sessions, don't worry as we have a range of activities and board games to enjoy every day, we're open!

Our usual programme of events will continue throughout the month, so bring your little ones along every Tuesday 10am-11:30am for our free Rhyme Time & Play session to sing fun songs followed by free play with our toys. We also

hold a Time Out group for older people every Wednesday at 10am to make new friends and chat over a cup of tea. Lego Club is still on every Saturday 12pm-1pm and Family Board Games Club is on May 11th and 25th from 10:3011:30am. There will also be a session of Sociable Sundays on May 4th and 18th from 10:30am12:30pm and Board Games Café on May 19th from 2pm-4:30pm, both hosted and run by volunteers of the Friends of Halesworth Library. You can ﬁnd advice dropins from East Suffolk Council Customer Services every Tuesday from 10am-4pm and Barclays Bank on Wednesdays from 9am-5pm. Citizens Advice have a drop-in every other Tuesday from 10am-12pm, please ask a member of staff for future dates.

Did you know that the library can deliver books to your home? If you're unable to visit us at the library, one of our volunteers can come to you. Please contact us on 01986 875095 for further information.

Darsham Country Centre trustees need you!

Darsham Country Centre

is a charity afﬁliated with the Woodcraft Folk which is an educational charity aimed at children and young people providing affordable accommodation for any voluntary and charitable groups of up to 30 people and is situated in the old station buildings at Darsham Station. We're seeking a Maintenance

& Buildings Trustee, a Social Media & Marketing Trustee & a Projects & Fundraising Trustee. Do you have up to six hours available each month and would like to join our committee of Trustees and Directors? Contact us now at: darsham@woodcraft. org.uk for more details of what each role involves. View our website: darshamcountrycentre.org.uk

The newly acquired 19th century pistol.

Gun fires off Halesworth Museum research

A pocket pistol (a small handgun probably made in Birmingham in around 1840-1850) will soon be on display at Halesworth & District Museum.

reads 'Riches - Halesworth' and brewer. He died prematurely in Ipswich, age 39.

As soon as it arrived, it posed an intriguing conundrum for our Researcher, Alison Whale. She was intrigued by the words engraved on the side of the gun 'Riches - Halesworth'.

She says: "There are no gun makers/suppliers listed under the name of 'Riches' in the Halesworth Museum archive. But there are two individuals with the surname Riches who lived in Halesworth in the mid-19th century. Perhaps one of them owned the pistol and had their name engraved on it?" Alison found out more about these two potential owners of the pocket pistol. Gabriel Riches traded brieﬂy as a watchmaker in the Thoroughfare until around 1850. Joseph Alfred Riches was an agent for the National Provincial Bank of England in 1839. By 1841, Alfred had extended his interests and is described in 1846 as a banker's agent, maltster, coal and corn merchant, lime burner

The newly acquired pocket pistol has a 44mm long barrel, diameter 10mm, and a walnut stock.

Having sought technical advice, Alison explains how it would have been used: "Before loading, one would typically first fire off a couple of percussion caps to dry out any residual moisture contained at the base of the barrel, to prevent a misfire. Then, after removing the remains of the last cap, the barrel would be unscrewed using a special tool. A small amount of powder would be poured into the exposed aperture, after which the lead ball was placed on top. When the barrel was finally screwed back on, it was ready to fire. It could be set at half-cock and secured in this position using the locking catch. The convoluted nature of reloading would suggest its use would probably have been reserved for self defence."

The pocket pistol will be on display in Halesworth Museum later this year.

The Historic Chapels Trust (HCT) are pleased to announce that funding has been found to start a ﬁrst phase of repair works to Walpole Old Chapel, near Halesworth. The Grade II listed building is on the 'Heritage at Risk' register, meaning work is needed urgently to save the building.

Converted from dwellings in the late 17th century, the chapel is an incredibly intact, rare surviving example of an early non-conformist place of worship.

HCT have been undertaking a series of urgent repair projects across the 19 nationally and internationally important chapels it owns, supported by funding from the UK government's Cultural Assets Fund which was distributed by the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Up to £374,400 has been allocated from this project towards a ﬁrst phase of works to repair the timber frame and render to two elevations of the building.

The funding is part of a £3,689,000 investment awarded in 2022 to Historic Chapels Trust by the Memorial Fund from the UK government's Cultural Assets Fund to support urgent conservation works for Walpole Old Chapel and seven other Grade I and Grade II listed chapels in England, all on Historic England's 'Heritage at Risk' register. The repairs are a key milestone for Historic Chapels Trust to ﬁnd

suitable long-term owners for the chapels and secure their futures.

Hard hat tours will be offered between April and October for interested members of the public to view the specialist conservation repairs as they happen.

The works will be led by a conservation architect from Ptolemy Dene Architects and carried out by conservation contractor, Cliveden Conservation. Support for these works are provided by the Churches Conservation Trust who have over 50 years of experience looking after important historic places of worship.

Friends of Walpole Old Chapel (FWOC) have been leading investigation works to understand the extent of the repairs needed with funding secured from Historic England in 2022. FWOC have been champions of the building for years, raising awareness of its history, opening the building to visits and running performance events in the chapel each year. They plan to take on ownership of the building next year and are leading on securing further funding to fully repair the building and get it taken off the 'Heritage at Risk' register.

Chris Smith (Chair of Trustees for HCT) said: "We're extremely pleased that it's proved possible, with the focussed, thoughtful and generous support of our key funders and partners, to allocate a signiﬁcant sum to the ﬁrst phase

Work to save historic chapel begins

of the long-awaited and critically important render and structure repairs at Walpole Old Chapel. We look ahead with conﬁdence to both the completion of the whole project and to this wonderful chapel's long-term future in the sure hands of FWOC.

Simon Weeks (Secretary, FWOC) said: "This is fantastic news. We'd like to thank all the people and organisations who have donated so generously and worked to hard to get us to this point. This project has been 10 years in development, so it's very exciting to see it ﬁnally getting off the ground."

For further information, email: info@walpoleoldchapel.org

Walpole Old Chapel

Halesworth & District Museum

Engraving

Wenhaston Flower Club

Blyth Woods Annual Meeting

Wenhaston Village Hall

The Blyth Woods Group, based in Wenhaston, is passionate about planting and maintaining woods and hedges in Wenhaston and the Blyth Valley. This year, they have managed to acquire more land (St. Peter's Pightle) which they have been busy planting up with new trees and hedges.

On May 22nd, their Annual Meeting will take place at Wenhaston Village Hall from 7pm-8:30pm. Entrance is free and anyone interested is welcome.

The speakers will be the Suffolk Tree Wardens, Richard Frost and David Appleton (David is an expert on black poplars), and it promises to be a fascinating talk. The bar will be open and there will be delicious free homemade nibbles to entice you. Do come and learn more about the work of the group. For further information, email: blythwoods1@gmail.com or visit: blythwoods.org

Payable on the evening which includes tea/coffee and biscuits. For more information, please contact Jackie Chenery: 01502 478401.

'New Leaf Reydon & Southwold', the local volunteer group has been busy enhancing the area's natural beauty with a series of community-led monthly projects and general maintenance of the area , including regular litter picks.

Email: sharmangary4@gmail.com

LOW ROAD, BRAMFIELD

LARGE BBQ PACKS: £49.99

The group recently completed a signiﬁcant makeover of Mights Bridge in Southwold. This involved a much-needed repainting of the bridge in 2024, followed by a dedicated effort to remove invasive plants like Alexander's and green aconite that were choking out native species.

the local environment by erecting bird boxes throughout the area.

These will provide safe nesting sites for a variety of bird species, further enriching the local ecosystem.

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To encourage biodiversity, the volunteers have replaced the invasive plants with a vibrant array of native bulbs. This includes cheerful daffodils, enchanting foxgloves, delicate winter aconite, graceful snowdrops, fragrant lavender, colourful poppies, and a touch of bluebells, among others.

In late March, the group took another step towards enhancing

Looking ahead, New Leaf Reydon & Southwold have ambitious plans to create a thriving bluebell wood. This exciting project will not only enhance the visual appeal of the area but also provide a valuable habitat for local wildlife.

"We're incredibly proud of the work our volunteers have accomplished," said Patrick

Halesworth & District

All barbecue meat available loose including... Fresh Flavoured Ribs, Chicken & Burgers Also Salads, Pickles and Sauces

6oz STEAK BURGERS: £2.00 each

Traditionally reared local beef lamb pork and poultry

Traditionally-reared local beef, lamb, pork and poultry, home-cooked hams and home-cured gammons

OPENING HOURS Mon-Fri 7am-5pm & Sat 7am-1pm (Option 1) 01986 784244

Huggins, Creator of the New Leaf Reydon & Southwold volunteer group. "These projects are a testament to the power of community action in creating a more beautiful and sustainable environment for everyone to enjoy. We've received an agreement from Southwold Millennium Foundation to ﬁnance £250 worth of bluebell bulbs and their permission to use the land to create a bluebell wood next to the Stella Peskett Millenium Hall." New Leaf Reydon & Southwold encourage anyone interested in joining their volunteering efforts to text: 07881 503529. We also welcome donations: www. shorturl.at/f1NQn. You can also ﬁnd the group on Facebook / newleafreydon. Thank you to everyone who has supported this initiative, in particular Reydon Parish Council and Suffolk Wildlife. There are many others who have supported, but too many to mention. It's been very encouraging for the team of volunteers A massive thanks, to Ann from the Pitstop in Southwold who has been so incredibly generous in supplying us with her bacon or egg rolls.

Claire Guppy - 07769

LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY

NICK THE PLUMBER

BANS up and rolling on the green

And they're off!

Early April saw the ﬁrst of many weekly sessions to come of this brand-new supportedcycling project. Bike Active North Suffolk (BANS) will be running three one-hour sessions on Tuesday mornings this summer for adults who'd like to ride a bike but who have some obstacle preventing or restricting them from cycling independently.

One long-term volunteer on the green tried out her ﬁrst bike ride eight weeks after her hip operation and said, "It was great to ride on the side-by-side bike with Phil. He was totally positive and calm, it gave me the conﬁdence to get pedalling again,

knowing I couldn't fall off."

BANS say: "We provide our service users here with safe cycling on trafﬁc-free cycle paths. We give one-to-one supervision on a range of standard and adapted cycles matched to individual needs. We remove barriers and provide support so any adult in and around North Suffolk can access recreational cycling as a part of a group and enjoy the many beneﬁts it brings: Physical, mental health, wellbeing, and social identity. Our service users are adults, 18 years and older, who have any type of obstacle preventing/ restricting them from cycling independently. This includes

Halesworth Pumas Cricket Club celebrate 20 years of H.O.O.G.O

Firstly, H.O.O.G.O stands for "Hit out or get out" which has always been the mantra of our pub team, a team formed by a group of mates, sitting in a pub talking about playing cricket, in 2005. Now I know the maths suggests that this is our 21st year, but we didn't form until 2006 ofﬁcially.

We are the Pumas, one of three local pub teams formed in the early 2000s to help get us all active and enjoying the sport. Sadly, the other two teams have since fell away, but Pumas adopted some players from each and have continued to play good, fun cricket with the emphasis on fun ever since.

We moved around a lot in the early years, playing wherever we could get a pitch, but for the last few years, we've been lucky enough to call Rumburgh our home, and the community has accepted us as their own, which we can be eternally grateful for, of course. Last year, we received a generous donation from a wellwisher, and we intend to dedicate a bench at our ground in his honour. More of that to follow when details can be conﬁrmed.

We play evening matches against similarly minded teams

across north Suffolk and south Norfolk, in either a T20 or Hundred format, with occasional longer games on weekends. Every time a game is played, we ﬁnish in the pub to enjoy a good natured recounting of the nights action, which will have included a "duck helmet" and "Gloria" (a tabard handed around to players making silly errors. It's often said you've not really played for Pumas if you haven't worn Gloria). This year, we intend to start pitch maintenance in April and the season will begin in May, with most weeks having games right through until mid-September, where we intend to ﬁnish on a Sunday with a charity day/BBQ. Fixtures will be published on our Facebook group, on other social media platforms, and hopefully in this publication.

If you'd like to be involved in our own brand of shenanigans, you're most welcome to come along, meet the team, (and photographer, manager, grounds-folk, general wellwishers etc) and get involved. Feel free to message Al Jeffries on WhatsApp: 07900 583147, remember to include your name, or email: halesworthpumascc@ hotmail.co.uk

Here's to a great

season!

(but is not limited to): physical disabilities, mental health, those recovering from an operation, illness or accident, those wanting to build conﬁdence, balance or strength." Find them on Facebook and get in touch. Summer jobs are building up on the green. If work parties are not for you, you can still be immensely helpful. Email: thegreen@halesworth.net to arrange a get-together to see if your skills can ﬁt our needs. No-one is ever left alone on any project, and you might even have an idea for solving a problem or making an impact that hasn't occurred to any of the current volunteers yet.

If you do feel like putting on your boots and picking up a tool, weekly Wednesday morning work-parties start at 9:30am until approximately 11:30am, usually starting at the containers at the Blyth Industrial Estate entrance to the green. We provide gloves and tools, you just need to bring a drink and nibble for the break. Have a browse: millenniumgreen.halesworth. net or contact the green at the email above.

Halesworth Angel Bowls Club news

Halesworth Angel Bowls Club ﬁnished off its out-of-season social programme with a ﬂourish!

We had a wonderful afternoon of blues music, being entertained by the Blyth River Blues Band and enjoying champ and bangers and proﬁteroles. There was a full attendance by members and we welcomed bowlers from the Halesworth U3A.

We're in the process of

completing preparations for the 2025 season which starts in earnest from the end of April.

After a serious programme of tender loving care, our green is looking really inviting. All done with the help of volunteer members.

We have a full schedule of playing in four leagues this season. We have two open days, on April 19th and 26th, starting at 2pm. You'd be very welcome to

We smashed it!

join us on either of those days or both. Our clubhouse is at the top of Dairy Hill, just past the football ground. Come and have a cup of tea and a biscuit and see what the game is all about and have a go! There's a common conception that bowls is for the oldies but whatever your age, you'll ﬁnd it challenging. It'll improve your ﬁtness, coordination and your connection with members will make life seem a lot easier.

Revitalised community asset through tennis court resurfacing

We at Halesworth Tennis Club would like to showcase our beautiful new courts at our Open Day on May 18th.

Not only will you be able to play tennis, but we've now introduced a Pickleball court.

We'd like to invite everyone to pop along anytime between 10am-1pm to try out either tennis or pickleball or indeed both, chat to current members and enjoy our very pleasant surroundings. Equipment will be provided and light refreshments will also be on offer.

You'll always ﬁnd a warm and friendly welcome at the club and the courts are available and accessible for use by all abilities. Whether your racket or paddle is currently in use or left abandoned in a dusty corner or you've never yet made it on to a tennis or pickleball court, you're all welcome to come along and have a go. Our LTA accredited coach, Gary, will be on hand and runs individual and group coaching. Our courts are open 365 days a year and the ﬂoodlights make evening play possible all the year round. As a member, you can book a court online whenever you like and, if it's something that

suits you, we have regular playing groups at different times in the week. As usual, we're offering discounted rates for new members joining on the Open Day and our full programme of activities can be found on: halesworthtennisclub.co.uk

The social side of the club is important, but we also embrace more competitive play and enter a team into the Lowestoft & District Tennis League as well as hosting internal friendly competitions. So, please come and join us on May 18th, between 10am-1pm to have a go on our immaculate new courts and ﬁnd out more!

Halesworth Tennis Club

APRIL 26TH

Produce & Craft Market

Wenhaston Village Hall

10am-12:30pm. A lovely variety of handmade cards, jewellery, handbags, crackers for all occasions, knitted items, homemade jams, Dexter beef, local author Ruth Leigh & other plant/food produce on sale & more. Café open for tea/coffee/ homemade savouries & cakes.

We're always looking for new stallholders to come & join our friendly crowd, especially: cheese makers, pork butchers, fresh bread makers, also fresh fruit & veg. Everyone's welcome, come & join us. We're a friendly crowd. For further details, email Carol at: caz-mike@outlook.com

MAY 1ST

Halesworth Business Connections Breakfast Meeting

The Angel, IP19 8AH

7:30am-9am. If you're in/around Halesworth & looking to grow your business, meet new people, all whilst enjoying a delicious cooked breakfast, then why not come along! £15pp. Topic of the day: 'Spring Statement & the implications for your business'.

To know more/conﬁrm your attendance, email: mail@halesworthbusiness.org.uk

MAY 1ST, 8TH, 15TH, 22ND & 29TH

MAY 7TH

MAY 10TH

MAY 2ND

The Dresser

Southwold Arts Centre 7:30pm. Presented by Circle 67. Sir (the last of a great, but dying breed of English actor-managers) is in a very bad way tonight. As his dresser tries valiantly to prepare him for another performance of King Lear, Sir's having great difficulty remembering who & where he is, let alone his lines. A wickedly funny & deeply moving story of friendship & loyalty as Sir reflects on his lifelong accomplishments & seeks to reconcile his turbulent friendships before the final curtain. Tickets: £12pp.

MAY 2ND

Southwold Town Mayor's Charity Concert St. Edmund's Church, Southwold 7pm. In aid of Southwold Music Trust. Performed by local musicians, incl. young people, adult amateurs & community groups. The audience will be amazed at what high-level & varied music will be performed, all by members of our own community! Tickets (from £7pp£20pp, under 16s free) can be purchased now at: ticketsource. co.uk/southwoldmusictrust or call: 0333 666 4466. Booking quickly's strongly recommended. Support music within Southwold! southwoldmusictrust.co.uk

Tour of Holy Trinity Church Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh 11am. Taking place regularly on Thurs mornings. Popular general interest tours provided by local resident. Children welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult throughout the tour. To join a tour, just turn up. Free event, no booking required. More info, contact Colin on: 07508 888460.

MAY 2ND - 5TH

Young Artists' Show Halesworth Gallery

11am-4pm. Taking place daily. Feat. artwork made by pupils from local primary schools. Admission free. More info, contact: 01986 873064.

MAY 3RD Car Boot Sale

Holton Church Paddock

10am-1pm. Refreshments/BBQ. Pitches: £6 in adv. £8 on the day. To book, call: 07944 267733 or 01986 872467.

MAY 3RD

Zephyr Baroque Concert Sibton Church, IP17 2LX 3pm-4pm. Baroque music on period instruments: A magical

experience in Sibton's medieval nave. Liz (recorders), Karen (baroque bassoon) & Geraldine (harpsichord). £15pp at the door or from Weavers Tearoom & Peasenhall General Store (cash only). Followed by tea & cake. Ample free off-road parking. Organised by the Friends of St. Peter's. Proceeds to the continuing repair & restoration of the church building.

MAY 3RD

Not the Rolling Stones Southwold Arts Centre

7:30pm. A truly international tribute act, in demand all over Europe! Mick & Keith (backed by a superb group of professional musicians) convey their enthusiasm for the work of the world's greatest rock & roll band. Not to be missed! Tickets: £20pp.

MAY 4TH

See a Steam Train!

Halesworth Train Station

9am-5pm. The Great Britain XVII working steam train will be chugging its way through Halesworth Station as part of a UK tour. Although sadly not stopping at Halesworth Station, it'll be a sight to behold. Timings are released 7 days prior to the event, so please check: railwaytouring.net/uk-tours

MAY 4TH

Spring Makers Market

Old Hall Café, Southwold 10am-3pm. Free entry. 55+ stall holders under the cover of our big barn. Live music. On-site café. Free parking.

MAY 4TH

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsal

The Cut, Halesworth

10:30am-12:30pm. Come along for a free taster session. No experience necessary, everything taught by ear & you'll receive a warm welcome. Further details, email: halesworth.harmony @gmail.com

MAY 4TH

Diss Guitar Ensemble with Colibri Guitar Duo, Rod Faulkner & Daniel Larwood St. Mary's Church, Halesworth 2:30pm. Fundraising concert for Ukraine Aid (Retiring Collection). Refreshments available after the concert. More info, call Rod: 07760 875528 or email: 7rodfaulkner@gmail.com

Calling all Golfers! Golf Competition Halesworth Golf Club Event by Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund. If you'd like to take part & enter a team, we'd love to hear from you! Full details can be obtained from Sara Higgins: 01986 875567 or email: hgl@ gmail.com, or call John Giles on: 07789 991046. John would also like to hear from you if you'd like to be a sponsor.

MAY 8TH

Blyth Valley Parkinson's Support Group Annual Coffee Morning Wenhaston Village Hall

10:30am-12pm. Entrance: £2pp incl. coffee & biscuits. Rafﬂe & bring-&-buy stall. This is the only fundraiser, so we hope to get good support! We usually meet in Holton Village Hall, on the 2nd Thurs of the month from 10:30-12pm. Anyone wishing to join our meetings will be made very welcome, just turn up, or let us know if you like. Margaret: 01502 478502, margaret@wrush.plus.com or Gail: 01502 817004, aandgattﬁeld@btinternet.com

MAY 8TH

'Wild Flower Meadow' talk

Rifle Hall, Halesworth 7:30pm start. Halesworth & District Gardeners' Society meeting. Tony Brown will be talking about the wonders of the wild flower meadow. Wild flower meadows have declined by 90% in the last 30yrs, much needs to be done in order to preserve them. All welcome.

MAY 9TH

Opening Party

Halesworth Gallery

6pm-8pm. All welcome to this evening's event ahead of the Gallery's Open Show, an exhibition in any medium by any artist, 10th May-4th June. More info: 01986 873064.

MAY 9TH

Stand Up in Southwold Southwold Arts Centre

Doors open 6pm, show starts 6:45pm. Presented by WCB Comedy. Headline act: Simon Brodkin (Lee Nelson), also feat. MC Justin Panks, Danny Posthill & Bobby Mair, more acts to be announced. Tickets: £22pp.

Viking Optical Spring Fair

Old Hall Café, Southwold, IP18 6SG

9:30am-4pm. Hosted by Viking Optical. Test & compare the highest quality optics at an exceptional Suffolk location. Optics demos, bird care, artists & crafts, food & drink, beautiful on-site café, ample free parking. vikingopticalcentres.co.uk

MAY 10TH

Young Peoples Repair Café

The Cut, Halesworth From 10am. Young people encouraged to bring clothes & toys that need mending. Learn the skills you need. You'll be able to make cards for special occasions & make your own 3D Totoro model (see the ﬁlm at 2pm at The Cut). You can even have a go on a hand-cranked sewing machine. This all ﬁts well with the VE Day anniversary, remembering how people had to "make do & mend" in wartime. As well as saving money, choosing to repair things has come right back into fashion, not just on TV! A great way to avoid waste & support our natural environment.

MAY 10TH

VE Day Church Service St. Mary's Church, Halesworth 11am. Welcoming guests from the Halesworth Royal British Legion.

MAY 10TH

VE Day Street Party Halesworth Thoroughfare 12pm-3pm. Join us in the Thoroughfare! Tables provided, BYO chairs. 1940s theme with prize for the best dressed. Buy lunch from one of our fab local eateries or BYO. Live music & sing-a-longs from The Offcut Singers & Vetta Wise, The Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band & The Station House Strummers. Colouring, street games & children's activities & crafts at the library. WWII display from Halesworth Museum & Holton Airﬁeld Museum, incl. Rationing kits, helmets to try on, air raid siren, WWII Jeep & much more! Prize for best shop window display.

MAY 10TH

My Neighbour Totoro (U) The Cut, Halesworth 2pm. Halesworth ASH: The next in our series of climate-related ﬁlms. A beautiful Japanese anime ﬁlm from Studio Ghibli. It'll have

special appeal to children & young people. Tickets available in adv. from The Cut online: thecut. org.uk (£3pp or £10 for a family of 4). You can also pay on the day. This will form part of a weekend of events which will incl. a young peoples repair café.

MAY 10TH - JUNE 4TH

Open Show

Halesworth Gallery

11am-4pm. Open Show of work made by local amateur/ professional artists in any medium (incl. sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography). Admission free. More info: 01986 873064.

MAY 11TH

Viking Optical Spring Fair

Old Hall Café, Southwold, IP18 6SG 9:30am-3pm. Hosted by Viking Optical. Test & compare the highest quality optics at an exceptional Suffolk location. Optics demos, bird care, artists & crafts, food & drink, beautiful on-site café, ample free parking. vikingopticalcentres.co.uk

MAY 11TH Open Day

Blythburgh Station 10am-4pm. Free entry, free tea/coffee/cake. See progress in the unearthing & restoration of this unique narrow gauge station. Parking's signposted. Demonstration goods train will be "hauled through the power of the sun" as the 89-year-old battery-electric locomotive is now charged by solar panels. Reinstated main line track, platform & goods sidings. Narrow-gauge goods wagons. Award-winning restored original Goods Shed.

Landscaped live steam model railway. Artefact & heritage railway display, book sale & railway ﬁlms in the Village Hall. For more info, contact: 07379 789665 or 01986 874240. halesworthtosouthwold railway@gmail.com

MAY 11TH

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsal

The Hub, Huntingﬁeld 10:30am-12:30pm. Come along for a free taster session. No experience necessary, everything taught by ear & you'll receive a warm welcome. Further details, email: halesworth.harmony @gmail.com

MAY 11TH

Halesworth Open Space

the town park, keep on past the skate park to meet at the newlyrestored White Bridge at 2:30pm. Activities incl. storytelling in the 'Willow Wherry', time at the 'sit spot' to engage with nature, pond dipping, willow weaving & crafting.

MAY 12TH

Capturing Spring: A OneDay Watercolour Workshop with Andrew Pitt Old Hall Café, Southwold, IP18 6SG 9am-4pm. Renowned local artist Andrew Pitt leads a one-day watercolour workshop. Tickets: £75pp, incl. breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea.

MAY 13TH

All About London Underground St. Edmund's Hall, Southwold 2pm. Presented by The Arts Society, Southwold. With lecturer Mark Ovenden (broadcaster & author who's sold 250K books & appeared on many TV & radio programmes). Lecture covers surprising attempts to create some graphic unity, even in the 1860s & 70s, Underground expansion & the need to create cohesion between operating companies, Leslie Green's architecture & the Arts & Crafts movement, Frank Pick, Edward Johnston's typeface, Charles Holden's architecture & the Streamline Moderne/ Art Deco movement, the New Works Programme, post war austerity/design, Victoria Line, loss of Johnston & rescue by Kono, Jubilee Line Extension/ architecture, creation of TfL, recent schemes & future works. Tickets: £10pp. Email: tassouthwold@gmail.com

MAY 17TH

Spring Fair Holton Village Hall 10:30am-2pm. A fundraising event for the Halesworth Branch of Cancer Research UK. Feat. usual stalls, today incl. garden stall. Serving light lunches & delicious desserts from 11:30am. MAY 17TH

Wenhaston Wilder Open Churchyard St. Peter's Church, Wenhaston 11am-3pm. All welcome. Learn about churchyard maintenance & how we support biodiversity & wildlife. Children's & family activities, refreshments & cake. Free event, no booking required.

Sonic Wave

Namvula & Sunda Arc (Double Bill)

The Cut Sonic Wave is an exciting new concert series debuting on June 13th at The Cut with a double-bill: Zambian-Scottish singer/songwriter Namvula and Norwich duo Sunda Arc (twothird of the well-known jazzinﬂuenced Mammal Hands).

• Namvula: Described as a "true original" by The Guardian, Namvula weaves global soundworlds, taking inspiration from the deep grooves of Africa, the lyrical sensibility of folk, soul, and the freedom of jazz to create musical tapestries that enchant audiences with

evocative lyricism and heartfelt melodies!

• Sunda Arc: Lauded for their Mammal Hands jazz project, the brothers have now carved out their riveting project Sunda Arc on Gondwana Records, seamlessly blending digital soundscapes with live instrumentation. Bringing their recent performance at London's Roundhouse to The Cut, expect neo-classical, electronica and post-rock fused by analogue synths, saxophones, bass clarinet, piano and custom software patches to create their

rich and expansive sound. Namvula will perform ﬁrst, with Sunda Arc performing second.

Tickets: £10pp early-bird tickets (limited number) £12pp (students, under 25s) / £15pp full price. Book tickets now at: www.shorturl.at/8U0Fi

Halesworth Millennium Green 2:30pm. Free event for families on Millennium Green, Halesworth's wonderful open space, managed entirely by volunteers. From

MAY 17TH

FESPA Showbiz Quiz

Reydon Sports & Community Centre

6:45pm/7pm. Book now! Max of 6 per team. Book as a team or individually. Tickets: £15 incl. supper. Call: 07973 287768 or email: fespafriends@outlook.com

MAY 17TH

Starlight 10km Charity Walk

Old Hall Café, Southwold Walk starts 7pm. Registration from 6pm. BBQ & bar open from 6pm. In aid of Sole Bay Care Fund & Dementia UK. A Blyth Valley Rotary event. Registration: £15pp in adv. £20pp on the day. For more info/to register, visit: blythvalleyrotary.co.uk /starlight-walk

MAY 17TH

Plant Sale

The Hub, Village Hall, Huntingﬁeld, IP19 0QH 10am. Last year's sale proved so popular that all 1,200 plants were snatched up in the ﬁrst couple hours! (So if you have any spare plants you could donate, it'd be much appreciated!)

MAY 18TH

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsal

The Cut, Halesworth

10:30am-12:30pm. Come along for a free taster session. No experience necessary, everything taught by ear & you'll receive a

warm welcome. Further details, email: halesworth.harmony @gmail.com

MAY 20TH

Benjamin Britten & Peter Pears at the Red House

The Cut, Halesworth

2:30pm-4:30pm. Halesworth U3A talk. All welcome. Christopher Hilton will talk about composer Benjamin Britten; his partner, singer Peter Pears; the life they shared at home in Aldeburgh, the Red House; & the collections they've left us. Along the way, he'll tell stories that we ﬁnd in the archive, feat. tales of young men & fast cars, post-war reconciliation coming into conﬂict with Soviet bureaucracy, & appearance from Queen Elizabeth II. Tickets: Free to members, non-members £4pp.

MAY 21ST - 26TH

Russells International Circus The Common, IP18 6TB Roll up, roll up, as Russells Circus makes a special 1st time visit to Southwold! Showtimes: Weekdays 6pm only, Sat 3pm & 6pm, Sun 12pm & 3pm, Bank Hol. Mon 12pm only. Brand new show for 2025! The breathtaking 2hr performance is jam-packed with mesmerising aerial displays, jaw-dropping stunts, world-class comedy & much more.

PRODUCE MARKET

Saturday 10th May

The Riﬂe Hall, Halesworth, IP19 8LR 2nd SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH

stall enquiries, please contact Pam on 01986 781382

Sat 3 May, 7:30pm

Tickets £18 THE MUSIC OF CAT STEPHENS Keith James presents an honest & loving reﬂection of the timeless & insightful music of Yusuf - Cat Stevens. Proceeds & audience donations from this tour of concerts will go to the UNICEF UK Syrian Children’s appeal...

MAY 22ND

Blyth Woods Annual Meeting

Wenhaston Village Hall

7pm-8:30pm. The Blyth Woods Group is passionate about planting & maintaining woods & hedges in Wenhaston & the Blyth Valley. Speakers at the meeting will be Suffolk Tree Wardens, Richard Frost & David Appleton. Free entrance. All welcome. Learn more about the work of the group: blythwoods.org

MAY 23RD

The Friday Night Wind Down with Eric Sedge Old Hall Café, Southwold

7pm-10:30pm. Folk hero & founding member of The Broadside Boys, Eric joins us on the Suffolk leg of his 2025 national tour. Original acoustic music, pizzas & tipples. £7pp.

MAY 24TH

Plant Sale

Walberswick Village Hall

10am-1pm. Seedlings for sale, organised by the Walberswick Horticultural Committee, raising funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. The stall is outside Walberswick Village Hall. Cash only.

MAY 24TH

Halesworth Town Council's Annual Parish Meeting

Halesworth Town Park,

IP19 8RT

3pm-8pm. Open to everyone!

Live music, food, drink, facepainting & stalls. APM meeting starts at 6pm & will give all Halesworth residents a chance to ask questions. Questions can also be written down & submitted during the event & will be replied to after the meeting.

MAY 24TH

Voxcetera Chamber Choir: Spring's Sweet Voice Holy Trinity Church, Blythburgh

7:30pm-9:30pm. An evening of beautiful choral music in the spectacular 'Cathedral of the Marshes', Holy Trinity Church, feat. music by Mozart, Brahms, Byrd, Elgar, & even Burt Bacharach. Tickets: £15pp (under 18s £7.50pp) voxcetera.co.uk

MAY 24TH - 26TH

The Sibton Mighty Books & Bric-a-Brac Sale

Sibton Church

10:30am-4:30pm. Established & always popular event. All proceeds going to urgently needed church repairs. Everything on sale is good quality & second-hand: Books (ﬁction & non-ﬁction), clothing, collectibles, bric-abrac, LPs, DVDs, CDs, children's books & toys, plants. All items individually priced. Refreshments

served all day. Parking next to the churchyard (IP17 2LX). Admission free.

MAY 25TH

'Come to the Fair' Concert St. Mary's Church, Halesworth 3pm. We welcome back Malcolm & Elizabeth of Chanters Jigge for an afternoon concert. Tickets: £10pp on the door.

MAY 25TH

Mumford & Sons' Story Thorington Theatre, IP17 3RB 7pm-8:55pm. Presented by The Production Garden. Suitable for all. Recreating the incredible tale of the ﬂoor-stomping folk-rock band that took the world by storm in 2009. Celebrating the best of Mumford & Sons' iconic music & their explosive rise to fame. Tickets: from £20pp. info@thoringtontheatre.co.uk

MAY 26TH

Doggy Fest!

Reydon Sports & Community Centre

& Sports Field, IP18 6PA 11am-4pm. Celebration of man's best friend by Eastern Events. Free entry. Feat. an array of doggy-related stalls & stands, supplies & accessories. Doggy competitions, 'have-a-go' mini agility, doggy photo shoots, doggy ice creams, mobile groomer, professional advisors. Plus Makers Market, Bakers Bar, confectionary, beauty stalls & food & drink vans.

MAY 27TH

Halesworth Repair Café The Cut 2pm-4pm. Meeting once a month, our vision is to work together, reduce waste, share skills & to strengthen our community. We hope to be able to show you how to ﬁx your item, or even get you to do it while we advise!

MAY 30TH

Blythburgh Mini Market & Café

Blythburgh Church, IP19 9LL 10:30am-12pm. Last Fri of the

month from March-Oct. Stalls selling a variety of items, incl. homemade cakes, cards, gifts, jewellery, honey, etc. Tea, coffee & homemade cakes. Large free car park, 5 mins from Southwold, everyone welcome!

MAY 31ST

The Montségur Quartet Rumburgh Church, IP19 0NJ 7:30pm. Young professional singers from London conservatoires & Oxbridge choirs present a programme of renaissance & romantic partsongs, folksong & arrangements of popular classics. Tickets: £15pp on the door. Interval refreshments incl. Proceeds to the Church restoration fund

Got an event you'd like to promote to our thousands of monthly readers? If so, please email the details over to: edit@micropress.co.uk to be included in our 'What's on?' section.

Fri 9 May, 7:30pm

Tickets £12 THE DRESSER BY RONALD HARWOOD

Presented by Circle 67. Sir, the last of a great but dying breed of English actor-managers, is in a bad way. As his dresser tries to prepare him for a performance of King Lear, Sir is having great difﬁculty remembering who & where he is, let alone his lines...

Sat 10 May, 2pm

Tickets £10 family of 4 / £3 single tickets MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

A beautiful, classic, Japanese animation from director Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli, regarded as one of their best productions. Part of the Tortoro Nature Weekend...

Sun 11 May, 3pm

Tickets £15 LEVI ANDREASSEN

Presented by Cratﬁeld Young Artists. Awardwinning American double bassist Levi Andreassen is an avid soloist & chamber musician, studying at the Royal College of Music as a Neville Wathan Full Scholar...

Thu 15 May, 2pm Tickets £8

‘Art Not Words! Women’s Sufferage: How Art & Design Helped the Cause” Presented by Viv Lawes. This lecture focuses on the use of art & design to promote the aims of the Suffragettes...

Set in the aftermath

Wed 7 May, 7:30pm A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (15)

In 1961, an unknown Bob Dylan arrives in New York City and forges relationships with musical icons on his meteoric rise, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates around the world...

Wed 14 May, 7:30pm NOSFERATU (15)

A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman (Lily-Rose Depp) and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her (Bill Skarsgård), causing untold horror in its wake...

Wed 28 May, 7:30pm HER (15)

In the near future, a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need...

HOOKER HOUSE

DENTAL PRACTICE

Serving the community

• Professional and Caring

• NHS and Private Treatment for Adults and Children

• Cosmetic Dentistry

• Dental Implants

Quay Street, Halesworth 01986 872113

Daniel F M Evans B.D.S., M.F.G.D.P.

Neat Feet

Angela Moore Dip FH MCF HP (surgical) MAFAP (Footcare)

MVR

News from The Pear Tree Fund

This month, we welcome our new Chair, Dr. Duncan Empey. Duncan is a retired consultant physician, academic and medical director with a wealth of medical experience. Living in a village near Halesworth, Duncan is conscious of the issues relating to rural living.

Karen Prime and Rachel Plant competed in the Southwold Half Marathon and are well on their way to raising their £1,000 target. Next up is the Southwold Roubaix, followed by the gruelling Outlaw Triathlon on July 27th. To

sponsor these gutsy ladies, visit JustGiving.com and search 'Karen and Rachel's Full Triathlon'.

The Queen's Head at Bramﬁeld raised a staggering £2,001 at their Big Charity Pop-up Bookshop. It was a fabulous event, with over 3,000 books, games, jigsaws and cake too. A massive thank you to Kate, Kev and everyone who donated/bought books.

Rebecca Leonard and Michelle Cheesbrough share the success of our eight-week Healthy Lifestyle Programme, funded by Annette

News from Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund

Dementia Awareness Roadshow:

• Private indoor pool, exclusive use

• Always warm, min. 30˚C

• Booking flexibility (subject to T +C)

• Minimum 4 sessions

• Discount for more sessions

• Ideal exercise, hydrotherapy or relaxation

• Only1 mile from Halesworth View video at www.valleyfarmholton.co.uk

Details: 01986 874521 mail@valleyfarmholton.co.uk

Dunning from Suffolk County Council. Participants made meaningful lifestyle changes and peer support played a key role in sustaining motivation. We're inspired by their progress and grateful for this opportunity. We wish the Halesworth Dolphins and Paralympic gold medallist, Jordan Catchpole good luck in their gruelling 24 hour Swimming Relay in aid of the Pear Tree Fund and the swimming club.

Upcoming events:

• April 25th: Charity Race Night at The Queen's Head, Bramﬁeld.

• April 30th: Plant Stall at Halesworth Train Station.

• May 22nd: Open Information & Support Day at the Pear Tree Centre, 11am-1pm.

• May 24th: Stall at the Halesworth Annual Parish Meeting at Halesworth Town Park.

Banderas and Ben Wishaw.

As usual, the ﬁlm will be shown at The Cut, with doors opening at 1:30pm and admission is by £5 donation.

• June 18th: Ladies Lunch at the Wentworth Hotel, Aldeburgh.

100+ Club:

The winning numbers drawn in March were: 28 (£100), 76 (£75), 147 (£50) and 109 (£25). If you'd like to be included in future draws, please contact Anna: 07721 842802.

This event (being staged jointly by Connect, East Suffolk Council, Alzheimer's Society and Christies Care) will be held at Yoxford Village Hall on April 23rd from 10am-1pm. The aim is to raise awareness and provide support to people affected by dementia and people with memory problems. Among other things, the roadshow will provide information, advice, and guidance on support groups, care options, beneﬁts, and legal advice. Admission to the roadshow is free, and if you'd like further information, please email: corinne.longland malam@alzheimers.org.uk

May Film:

Our next film will be shown on Wednesday 21st, and will be 'Paddington in Peru'. The film has a magnificent cast, featuring Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Olivia Colman, Antonio

Golf Day: Preparations are now well in hand for this great day, to be held at Halesworth Golf Club on May 7th. If you'd like to be a sponsor, please call John Giles: 07789 991046, or if you'd like to enter a team, please call Sara Higgins: 01986 875567.

And ﬁnally: If you'd like to contact HDCF for any reason, please call: 07990 199632, visit or Facebook page or email: info@halesworthdementia.co.uk

Beccles Food & Drink Festival 2025

Prepare for mouthwatering treats as Beccles Food & Drink Festival makes a highly anticipated return in 2025, providing an entertaining and affordable day out for both foodies and families!

Celebrating the ﬁnest artisan food and drink from the local area and wider East Anglia, the free-to-attend event (celebrating it's 10th year) is scheduled for May 24th. With over 60 stalls based in the centre of the vibrant market town, the event runs from 10am-4pm and will also include sumptuous world street food, music and children's entertainment. Already scheduled to attend are: The Tea Lady (selling jam, chutney and

marmalade), Rough Stuff Oak (with their oak serving boards), Chet Valley Vineyard (bringing their award-winning wines), Syms Pantry (with their unique bacon jams and mayonnaise) and luxury chocolatier, Woodrow.

Hungry visitors are set to feast on wood ﬁred pizza, paella, hog roast, jumbo hotdogs, venison burgers and street food from Turkey, India and Vietnam. The Local Flavours mobile cookery theatre will be making a welcome return to offer aspiring cooks and bakers culinary inspiration from students of main sponsor East Coast College in Lowestoft. Joining them will be French Chef, Loic Malfait of Satiate Artisan Cookery School showing his skills and

Julian Stoyel of Red Oak Deer Services with his 'All about Venison' demonstration.

A free Park & Ride shuttle service will run throughout the event from Beccles Quay, where additional parking will be available to supplement the ample town centre car parks. Lead Organiser and Festival Founder, Paul Parravani commented: "The event has grown and evolved since inception but has still retained it's artisan feel. We're looking forward to introducing some extra features to mark our 10th festival." Updates will be posted on the festival website and social media at regular intervals. www.becclesfoodfestival.co.uk

Samantha Mattocks demonstrating her culinary skills in the cookery theatre

Jackson

Seaside strolls, country air, and cosy pubs, your East Anglian staycation awaits!

your taste buds to artisan cheeses and local ales.

off to exotic locations might seem like the ultimate dream. However, have you ever considered the charms that lie right on your doorstep? Yes, we're talking about staycations, and if you're in East Anglia, you're in for a treat!

First off, let's talk about the budget-friendly aspect of staycations. No need to splurge on ﬂights or worry about accommodation costs skyrocketing. In Suffolk and Norfolk, you can ﬁnd cosy cottages, charming B&Bs, camping and glamping, luxurious hotels and even boating holidays, all without breaking the bank. Plus, think about all the money you'll save on transport, more pennies for that extra scoop of ice cream at the beach!

Now, let's dive into the heart of this region's allure - its picturesque landscapes. From the beaches of Southwold and tranquil Suffolk countryside, to the serene Norfolk Broads, our corner of the world is a haven for nature lovers. Imagine strolling along the Suffolk Heritage Coast, breathing in the salty sea air, or cycling through lush green meadows, surrounded by nothing but the symphony of birds chirping. It's the perfect recipe for rejuvenation!

But wait, there's more! East Anglia isn't just about scenic views; it's a treasure trove of history and culture. Explore impressive castles like Framlingham or delve into the rich maritime heritage at the Ipswich Waterfront. Take a leisurely walk through quaint villages dotted with thatched cottages and ancient churches, each telling a story of times gone by. And let's not forget about the culinary delights - indulge in freshly caught seafood or treat

One of the best things about staycations is the ﬂexibility they offer. No need to stick to a rigid itinerary or rush from one attraction to another. Take your time to savour each moment, whether it's lounging on the beach with a good book or exploring hidden pathways in the countryside. And if the unpredictable British weather decides to play its part, fear not! There are plenty of indoor activities, from museum hopping to cosying up in a traditional pub with a G&T or pint of ale. Last but not least, there's the

undeniable sense of pride that comes with exploring your own backyard. You'll come away with a newfound appreciation for the place you call home, discovering gems you never knew existed and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

So, the next time you're craving a getaway, why not consider a local break? With its blend of natural beauty, rich history, and laid-back charm, East Anglia is the perfect destination to unwind, recharge, and reconnect with what truly matters. Who needs far-ﬂung destinations when paradise is right on your doorstep?

Don't forget! Here at the Community News, we don't just do newspapers! We also have a whole host of handy Town Guides covering an array of towns and villages all across Norfolk & Suffolk, showcasing all that these wonderful places have to offer!

So when you're planning your next staycation, make sure to check our website or scan the below QR code to view our handy Town Guides!

Southwold Beach Huts

Aerial view of Thurne Windmill, Norfolk Broads

WHAT’S ON AT THE SAIL LOFT?

Summer 2025:

Welcome to the Sail Loft

Here you’ll ﬁnd all the exciting things we will have going on this Spring/Summer

May 9th, 10th & 11th: The Sail Loft’s very own Annual Beer & Burger Festival with live music, exciting speciality burger selection, cask ales and cider at £4.50/pint.

Father’s Day – Sunday 15th June

Introducing our new Diners Loyalty Card. Simply collect 10 stamps for every 2 courses you enjoy with us & receive a bottle of wine on your next visit (T&C’s apply)

Steak Night*: Every Thursday evening as of Thursday 27th March.

Pan seared minute steak, fries, dressed rocket with a brandy & peppercorn sauce £21.95 incl. house glass of wine or pint of lager

Food focus of the month: Come & join us each month where you’ll ﬁnd a different food focus as we go through each season

Wine Evening: Thursday 16th October (Wine supplied by Jeroboam Wines)

2 for £15 Menu*: Starts after October half term, date TBC. Enjoy 2 courses from our pre-set menu for just £15, available Monday-Friday, between 12pm-3pm

Lunch Club: Starting Winter 2025

A different themed 2-course lunch with coffee, talk from our Chef about the dishes served and a full recipe card.

* NOT AVAILABLE DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

FOOD FOCUS OF THE MONTH

April: Lamb

May: Asparagus

June: East Coast Lobster

July: Summer BBQ

August: East Coast Fish

September: Mussels

Halesworth Area Sustainability Hub seeks Energy Champion

Halesworth Area Sustainability

Hub (ASH) are looking for one/ more volunteers to join them to help them strengthen their focus on energy issues, both energy efﬁciency and low carbon sources.

Perhaps you have an engineering/energy background and would have some spare time to help Halesworth move closer to net zero? Perhaps you're a householder with knowledge and experience of energy saving measures and technologies which you'd be willing to share with others? Or perhaps you're passionate about renewables,

and would like to explore the feasibility of a community energy project for the Halesworth area?

Estimate half a day a week:

• Help householders to navigate the maze of energy initiatives on offer and ﬁnd solutions ﬁt for purpose (e.g. Practical advice on solar, air sourced, insulation) through public-facing engagement and potentially holding open surgeries at the library etc.

• Working with Halesworth ASH to develop a 'Community Energy Project' in Halesworth.

• Work with developers and planners to get the best results

for our local area from new energy projects. Training will be available and we're currently seeking funding, so there may be scope to develop this into a paid role in the future. If you think you may be able to help, or would like to ﬁnd out more, please email: halesworthash@gmail.com to ﬁx up a chat. Halesworth ASH is the umbrella working group which brings together Halesworth Town Council and Blyth Valley Churches to work together to address the climate emergency at a local and practical level. halesworthash.com

Beccles Got Talent

Local stars invited to compete for 2025 title!

Norfolk and Suffolk's best entertainers are being invited to take part in Beccles' search for the biggest stars!

Applications are now open for Beccles Got Talent ahead of a grand ﬁnal on August 16th at Beccles Carnival.

Following last year's success, Beccles Carnival (August 16th and 17th at Beccles Quay) are hosting Beccles Got Talent 2025.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of each age category which has kindly been sponsored by Hales Group.

such a rich vein of performance talent, amateur musicians, dancers, comedians, and other artists. The competition will be judged by a distinguished panel of local independent assessors. The competition will be judged in two categories '5 to 17 years' and '18 and over'."

To enter, you'll need to preregister and attend one of our audition days on June 8th or 22nd at Hungate Hall, Beccles. Applications for the auditions are available by emailing: becclesgottalent@outlook.com

of goodwill to support us to keep our services running.

Fortunately, we do have clear footage of the break-in, but this will not help us in replacing the stolen property, at much greater cost than it can be sold on as stolen goods. Nor will it help with the cost of replacing the door of the shed, which as you can see was badly damaged during the break-in.

Needless to say, we've sent the video footage to

the police and no doubt, they'll follow this up and charge the offender. Hopefully, this will deter anyone else who feels that it's acceptable to steal from a much-needed charitable service.

On a more positive note, we're happy to share information from a group of parents who take out a Community Hire and run a regular school bus run to and from Thomas High School in Framlingham. The bus runs every school day from Halesworth Railway Station direct to Thomas Mills School via Walpole and Peasenhall.

There are places available from the beginning of term in September if you're interested in your child using the bus to get to and from school.

To ﬁnd out more you will need to email: tmhoppa@gmail.com.

Please do not contact the HACT ofﬁce about the school bus as this is a Community Hire and is run as a separate activity from the normal Hoppa schedule.

Annette Tackley (one of the organisers) said: "Beccles enjoys

The closing date for applications is 5pm on May 31st.

Image credit: Lizz Kingshot Photography

BOOK NOW

Evenings 7:30pm. Matinees 4pm on Thursdays & Saturdays. Tickets £16 or £22. Book DIRECT to avoid booking fees - Call 01728 343344 now to secure your ﬁrst choice of dates/seats! FREE interval ice cream for the ﬁrst 25 bookings recieved - Just quote ‘CNews25’

THE NATIONAL GRID ENERGY ONSLAUGHT IS NOT A DONE DEAL!

National Grid PLC an international company, with mainly American investors, not a British government body has yet to receive approval for its proposed onshore energy infrastructure along the Suffolk coast.

These plans threaten to industrialise our unique Heritage Coast, destroying landscapes, communities and biodiversity. But the good news is:

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO ACT

A BETTER, SMARTER ALTERNATIVE EXISTS

Other North Sea countries have developed a cheaper, faster, less destructive offshore grid alternative.

This is our best chance to oppose the unnecessary onshore developments proposed for Friston, Saxmundham, and surrounding areas. Over 80 football pitches of concrete structures up to 26 m high are proposed along with multiple cable trenches criss-crossing the countryside WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

Please sign up as an Interested Party (IP) from 24 April or thereabouts.

Once the Inspectors have formally approved the application ready for examination. We have only four weeks to sign up from the announcement date.

At the Development Consent Order (DCO) Examination, independent Inspectors will scrutinise the merits of the application and we will have the right to object Your help ensure our voices are heard

This year marks a signiﬁcant milestone for Halesworth Volunteers, who are celebrating 40 years of providing essential services to the local community.

individuals who may be at risk of loneliness, particularly older adults or those living alone.

What began as a simple yet vital service (a community car to help people get to and from appointments, shops, and other essential destinations) has grown into a wide-ranging network of support that continues to make a profound impact on the lives of local residents.

A lifeline from the start:

Halesworth Volunteers began with the introduction of the community car service, designed to assist people (particularly the elderly or those with mobility challenges) in accessing vital services.

Over the years, this service has remained a cornerstone of the organisation's efforts, offering transport for medical appointments, shopping trips, and essential outings. Today, it continues to be as important as ever, helping individuals stay connected, maintain their independence, and ensure they are able to meet their everyday needs.

Isolation Busters:

Combatting Loneliness & Building Friendships:

As the needs of the community grew, so too did the services offered by Halesworth Volunteers. One such service, Isolation Busters, was created to address the growing issue of social isolation.

This befriending service aims to support

Isolation Busters goes beyond offering a friendly face, it's about building meaningful connections. Volunteers help by spending time with individuals, whether it's walking a dog, playing cards, enjoying a cup of coffee, or simply having a chat. For many, these visits may be the only social contact they have throughout the day, and the volunteers often become a crucial lifeline, providing both companionship and emotional support. The service also arranges social days out, community lunches, and regular get-togethers, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation.

The Community Larder: Meeting Growing Needs: Another vital service run by Halesworth Volunteers is the Community Larder, in partnership with St. Mary's Church. With the rising cost of living and increasing pressures on household budgets, the Community Larder has become more important than ever. The

service offers a valuable food resource to those who need it, providing essential supplies to individuals and families who may be struggling ﬁnancially.

The Community Larder is open to all and not only helps address immediate food insecurity, but also creates a welcoming space where people can meet, chat, and support one another. It's always been generously supported by the local community, with businesses and individuals alike contributing to its success.

shop or a visit from a volunteer is about much more than ﬁlling their cupboards, it's an opportunity to connect with others and feel part of a community. This works both ways, the volunteers will tell you they get as much out of this as the people they serve.

The Larder is a symbol of the community's spirit, highlighting the power of coming together in times of need.

As Halesworth Volunteers celebrates 40 years of service, the organisation remains as vital as ever in supporting those who need it most. From transportation and companionship to food security, Halesworth Volunteers are an integral part of this fabulous little town.

More than just services: At the heart of Halesworth Volunteers' work is the commitment to connecting people and reinforcing a sense of community. Whether through the Community Car Service, Isolation Busters, or the Community Larder, Halesworth Volunteers provide more than just practical support... They offer companionship, emotional care, and a sense of belonging. For many, a simple trip to the

Here's to the next 40 years of care, kindness, and community spirit!

cancer

Organiser

cause. Entries are starting to come in for this year's run and I'm getting a lot of enquiries from new ladies which is very

encouraging!"

Each year, thousands of people line the route, cheering on the Pink Ladies in towns, villages, laybys and gardens. Houses and businesses are bedecked in pink bunting, banners and ﬂags and many supporters dress in headto-toe pink.

News from Dee's Den

With the wonderful sunny weather, we've launched our 'Spring & Summer Collections'. Come and browse for that special outﬁt! We also have some bargain jackets and coats on sale for that cool easterly wind! Our extensive clothing covers all ages, sizes and styles at reasonable prices.

We have some sensational dresses for the Prom celebrations, matched with jewellery, handbags and beautiful shoes to complete your outﬁt. We also have evening wear for the young men.

We have a huge variety of toys, books, puzzles and games for the children, for indoor and outdoor play. There are books on every subject, from 50p-£2, children's books only 20p! This week, we have an excellent quality children's buggy, disability equipment and small pieces of furniture. Our stock changes daily, come and take a look.

A fantastic selection of homeware awaits, including bedding, curtains, bric-a-brac, glass and kitchenware, pictures

and photo frames. We also have plants and Jenny's delicious homemade marmalade. Donations of clean saleable items are welcomed at the shop during opening hours. For more than a couple of bags or boxes, please let us know and deliver on Monday/Thursday mornings to the sorting end of the shop. Unable to deliver? We can collect. We don't accept used electrical items, only new and boxed. Our amazing shop volunteers make a huge impact at the same time as having fun, making new friends and learning new skills. If you're interested in volunteering, do call in or phone Nikki for a chat. We're a very happy team!

Thank you all for your continued support of buying and donating lovely goods, we really appreciate you helping the charity to provide a range of services both in the community and at the Pear Tree Centre. We look forward to seeing you! Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-1pm. To contact us, phone Nikki: 07733 668221.

The route starts at Thorpe Abbotts airfield before heading through Thorpe Abbotts, Brockdish and Upper Weybread, arriving in Harleston at about 12:30pm, before stopping for lunch between 1pm and 3pm at Gawdy Hall Meadow, Redenhall to which everyone's invited to bring a picnic lunch. The route back to Thorpe Abbotts airfield heads through Pulham St. Mary, Rushall, Langmere Green and back to the airfield.

Each year, about a quarter of the ladies taking part are new to the event with many having never driven a tractor before.

This year, Amy Hoddy from Stradbroke will be taking part for the ﬁrst time. She said: "My husband and son run the Mariners Galley Café in Rushall and I've watched the Pink Ladies Tractor Run pass the café for the past two years and kept saying I'd love to take part. At Christmas, the café did a rafﬂe to raise money for the Pink Ladies and we made almost £500. During this time, I expressed my wishes to the

organiser, Annie, about taking part. But I don't own a tractor and have never driven one. Annie found a tractor for me to drive and I am being loaned a 1958 Massey Ferguson 35x. I'm absolutely blown away that I'm going to be a pink lady. Everyone talks about what an incredible event it is and to take part is a real honour. I already have plans to have some driving practice before hand and am already looking for all things pink and glittery for both my tractor and self. Fundraising's already underway with friends and family already sponsoring me."

Donations for this year's event can be made via: www.shorturl. at/hqYnw.

Entry forms can be downloaded off the Pink Ladies Tractor Run website: ladiestractorroadrun. co.uk or can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to: Annie Chapman, Boundary Farm, Garlic Street, Pulham St. Mary, Diss, Norfolk, IP21 4RL.

If you're unable to participate but would like to send a donation, please send a cheque payable to 'Cancer Research UK' to the address above. For enquiries, please call 01379 676324. Entries close on May 17th. For more information about the event, please visit: ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk

Halesworth WI report

We were impressed by the wide variety of items at our craft display that were made by members at our recent Show & Tell meeting. We saw paintings in various mediums, items made in wool by knitting and crochet, a lovely scene in marquetry, soft toys and embroidery. We then took time to chat and plan our future events, a quiz, summer outing and afternoon literary tea party in July. The Kurling group continues to meet regularly at the Riﬂe Hall for a fun afternoon game.

Smooth Sailing

A thrilling start to the cruising season

The cruising season has got off to a ﬂying start as boats (motor and sail) are back in the water. But at the time of writing, the inaugural 'cruise' of the hotlycontested model boat challenge on Woodbridge boating lake may not proceed due to lack of water in the pond, but some form of event will take place.

The ﬁrst cruise with actual yachts is the Deben Discovery in May, led by Clive and Barbara. This delightful cruise is on the waters of the River Deben with a timed passage from the Woodbridge Haven buoy to Washington buoy and back over 4.8NM, a club meal, and SADs (safe arrival drinks) at the club house. This will be the ﬁrst passage over the bar for many sailors this year, but thanks to a recent club talk, members are

aware of the shifting sandbanks and positions of the buoys.

The Ore & Alde cruise is always fully booked, with cruise leader Brian having a delightful programme cruising Orford, Aldeburgh, Iken, Snape and Butley, with SADS and convivial meals at local yacht clubs and pubs.

The ultimate on-shore

Thursday walk was a stroll around the byways of Framlingham countryside led by William. Members and dogs greatly enjoy these strolls, always ending in a pub lunch, but they stop for the sailing season.

Club members enjoyed a visit to the Longshed to see the reconstruction of the Sutton Hoo ship, preceded by a fascinating talk on the ship build.

Although the much-enjoyed Wednesday suppers have ceased until autumn, they're replaced by the Wednesday BBQs, a delightful way to spend an evening in the pleasant garden of the riverside clubhouse.

The weekend bar's a lovely place to spend a lunchtime, catching up with friends and enjoying a drink with possibly the best view in Woodbridge, and a special delight in summer, when you can sit on the balcony.

The club is looking forward to the Woodbridge Regatta and details will be announced soon.

If you have a genuine interest in sailing and the sea, have a look at our programme of maritime related events on our website: woodbridgecruisingclub.org

New members always welcome.

Beccles & District Museum opens for the 2025 season

The Beccles & District Museum was founded in 1976. In 1996, it moved to its current location in the Grade 1 listed Leman House in Ballygate, Beccles. The Museum collection consists of over 15,000 items, many of which are on permanent display. Much of the collection dates from Victorian times. There are also archaeological artefacts and a small number of items from the Roman, Medieval, Tudor and subsequent periods, as well as some items from the early 20th century. In addition to the physical collection, the museum has a large amount of information that details the history of the town, the people who have lived in it, the businesses and many of the organisations who have operated in the town and its 29 surrounding local villages. The museum has a large collection of photographs covering local subjects including buildings, people, industry and activities.

In addition to the permanent displays, the museum produces three special exhibitions each year featuring local topics of interest. The ﬁrst event for the 2025 season is celebrating the '75th Anniversary of the Beccles Rotary Club'.

Beccles & District Museum is a voluntary run, Arts Council accredited Museum that's free to enter. Donations are welcome to help fund the running of the museum. The museum opens

National drive-it day Pit Stop at Wrentham Chapel

Drivers and passengers of classic vehicles, taking to the roads on April 27th, are welcome to make a pitstop at Wrentham Chapel (open 10am-4pm) to enjoy complementary refreshments and other facilities.

Other visitors are also welcome to call in to look at the vehicles on display and at the Chapel itself.

A short, informal act of worship, with a transport-linked theme will take place at 3pm and all are welcome to attend.

New podcast for Waveney

April sees the launch of a new podcast for the Waveney region.

A positive and uplifting antidote to the negativity of the 24-hour news cycle, the podcast captures conversations with interesting people living in the region. Whether they be artists, historians, people whose families have lived here for generations or people shaping the future of the region, they all have an interesting story to tell.

The creator of the podcast (local Freelance Journalist Jez Donaldson) said "The Waveney region is a goldmine of interesting people and stories just waiting to be unearthed. I do the digging. All you have to do is listen in."

The podcast is available now, with the ﬁrst four episodes. Just

search for 'Waveney Life' on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

"There will be many more episodes, so follow the podcast and enable notiﬁcations for your podcast app," said Donaldson, "so you get to hear about new episodes as they drop."

Meet super slimmer Sue

Now 7 stone lighter!

four afternoons a week starting on April 1st, 2025 until the end of October 2025. The museum is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1:45pm to 4:30pm. Group visits and requests for help with local research are welcome. Please email: museummanager@btinternet. com to discuss how we may be able to help. Full details can be found on our website: www.becclesmuseum.org.uk

Sue had realised something had to change... She had difﬁculty walking any distance without aching joints and being out of breath but her asthma review conﬁrmed that things had to change! Fortunately, as Sue had been following our Halesworth Slimming Groups on social media for three years, she knew where to get the help and support she needed and walked through our doors.

She was surprised to ﬁnd that with a few changes, she could still enjoy her favourite foods, that nothing's forbidden, and that she could still entertain family and friends using Slimming World recipes! Her favourites include lasagne, curries and One Pan Chicken Orzo and she always receives compliments!

Since joining our group, Sue's become more active and now enjoys long country walks and yoga (something she would never have tried when overweight!) She's no longer in pain and (in her words) has a renewed zest for life!

A word from Rosedale

Here at Rosedale, when we run our bereavement support groups, week three can be quite a difﬁcult week for participants.

We ask them to bring in a photograph of their loved one and talk for about 5-10 minutes about them. Most people feel trepidation about doing this as they worry they'll get upset or freeze. For some, even bringing in a photograph is a major milestone as they may not have been able to look at photos since their bereavement.

Just for this week, we ask that participants focus on the life of their loved one, rather than their illness or the circumstances of their death. In this way, we're trying to see the big picture and understand that their death is a small part of who they are and the full life they've lived. Everyone's different but being with someone as they died can be a mixed blessing. We may feel grateful we were with them as they passed away but also be traumatised by the experience. Some ﬁnd that their mind keeps replaying unpleasant memories they'd rather forget. Sharing photographs is about re-framing what's happened and putting their

Ensors Accountants LLP

death into the much bigger context of their life.

In reality, as is true with so many things, the build-up and anticipation is usually worse than doing the thing itself. As they recall how they met, special moments, holidays or their funny quirks, there are often tears and usually lots of laughter. Almost without exception, most participants ﬁnd that talking about their loved one's life offers a therapeutic release and an opportunity to recall and appreciate the happy times they shared. As facilitators, It's always lovely to see the group members bonding together as they reach a deeper level of empathy. Memories can be bittersweet and we may get upset, but crying is a normal response to grief. Our loved ones will always be part of us. We are the person we are today, partly because of them. They live on in us.

Talking to others who are also grieving can be very supportive. Rosedale's groups are free and open to everyone. Call: 01379 640810 to reserve your place.

Written by Sarah Howard, Rosedale Funeral Home Bereavement Support Group Facilitator

VAT Flat Rate Scheme

For small VAT-registered businesses, the requirement to accurately calculate the VAT element on every transaction can be onerous and complicated.

The ﬂat rate scheme was introduced by HMRC as a method of simpliﬁcation for small businesses and is often overlooked.

The underlying principles are to simply apply a ﬁxed percentage to your total gross sales, and that becomes the amount payable to HMRC.

What percentage would apply?

If your business is classed as a Limited Cost Trader, a rate of 16.5% will apply. A limited cost trader is a business that spends less than either 2% of your turnover or £1,000 a year on qualifying goods. Qualifying Goods are moveable items or materials used exclusively in the business, including goods for resale (except where this isn't the main business activity), stationary, materials provided by a subcontractor, and utilities used exclusively by the business.

Before losing weight, clothes shopping was something that didn't really happen - Now, she can't walk past a clothes shop without checking it out and has ditched black for bright colours too! No longer does she make excuses for meeting up with friends because she was embarrassed about gaining weight.

Sue loves coming to group each week, she calls it her weekly booster, saying: "It's full of lovely like-minded people who support and encourage but never judge. You cannot fail to be motivated to lose weight!" She's a real inspiration to us all!

If you're reading this and would like to get started, join us at our new venue; Halesworth Day Centre, The Old Courthouse, London Road, IP19 8LW. We're there every Tuesday from 9:30am, 5:30pm and 7pm. For further information, contact Bev Hansey on: 07912 849995. We're a friendly bunch and welcome new and returning members every week.

The alternative standard approach requires businesses to identify the separate VAT amounts payable on each item of income and expenditure. The difference between the sales VAT and purchase VAT is then payable to HMRC.

Where VAT is charged by your suppliers it could be at 20% or 5%, and you don't have an automatic right to reclaim thisin certain situations VAT recovery can be blocked or restricted. Use of the ﬂat rate scheme removes this uncertainty.

Who can use the scheme?

The scheme is aimed at small businesses, so your expected turnover in the next 12 months must be below £150,000 to join. After joining, you can continue using the scheme until your gross annual turnover exceeds £230,000. There are some exclusions, including if you left the scheme in the last 12 months.

The VAT payable under the scheme is calculated as percentage of turnover, so if your business is regularly in a VAT refund position, the ﬂat rate scheme would not be the right choice.

For other businesses, HMRC publish a list of rates determined by business type, for example 6.5% for pubs, 11% for agricultural services, 9% for packaging, and 9% for food manufacturing.

If you use the flat rate scheme within the first 12 months of VAT registration, you get a 1% discount on the published rates. Finally, it's important to remember that the flat rate percentage should be applied to your total VAT inclusive income for the period.

By Liz Lockwood, Director, Ensors

Accountants LLP

This information is given by way of general guidance only, and no action should be taken based solely on the information contained herein. No liability is accepted by the ﬁrm for any actions taken without seeking appropriate professional advice.

Rosedale

Waveney Life

Halesworth Slimming World

Before After

Woodbridge Cruising Club

Thank you from Jayne Yates

Firstly, thank you to the Holton couple who have once again cleared leaves and dirt from the Beccles Road pavement. It looks so much cleaner, and is obviously safer for pedestrians.

I'm afraid I don't know your names, but your hard work is much appreciated.

Secondly, a few weeks ago, I lost my brown glove somewhere on the footpath next to the cemetery. Brown glove on brown leaves, I searched most days with no joy, then on Sunday I saw that someone had found it and left it where it could be found more easily. Thank you very much.

Halesworth Volunteers

News from Halesworth Volunteers.

Pacing to Paget:

Shaun will be raising funds for Halesworth Volunteers on April 23rd when he walks 40km around Halesworth to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. If you'd like to sponsor Shaun, you can visit our website (halesworthvolunteers. org) or our JustGiving site: justgiving.com/campaign/p2p.

You can also scan the QR code on our 40th Anniversary feature on page 17.

Ink Festival at the Larder Palladium:

We're so delighted that the Ink Festival will be using Halesworth Community Larder as one of its venues this year. Do book your tickets and come and see ﬁve fantastic short plays. Ink have kindly asked that you donate some food items too.

The Larder will be closed on April 21st and 28th. We're open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between 10am-11:30am at St. Mary's Church Hall.

for the last few years. We wish them well in the future. Thanks to Cleo and Simon at the Angel for letting us use the Stables in April. Wonderful quiz master Nigel, is currently working to ﬁnd our quiz a more permanent home.

And ﬁnally, Emma writes: "As some of you will be aware, I'll be retiring on April 30th. I'd like to thank all the wonderful volunteers, the fantastic staff team and our trustees for all the support they've given me over the years. It's been a privilege and an absolute joy to work for Halesworth Volunteers and I'll really miss everyone.

Huge thanks to all the people who have used our services, your stories and fascinating life experiences are truly inspiring and I'm so glad that Halesworth Volunteers are there to help should you need us.

Community Car Service: We must apologise. On April 7th, we discovered there was a problem with our phone messaging system. We're so sorry that some of you may have left messages that we never picked up. Rest assured that our phones are now working properly. If you want to book a car, please call: 01986 874290 between 9am-1pm.

Monthly Quiz:

We'd like to thank Vicky and the team at the White Hart for supporting our monthly quizzes

St. Mary's Handbell Ringers, Halesworth

Recent engagements at Kessingland WI and Depperhaugh Nursing Home (near Stradbroke) were wellreceived, with enthusiastic audiences. As is usually the case, the opportunity to 'have a go' gave us and participants a great deal of pleasure.

As per our previous report, we're looking to increase team numbers. If you like being part of a team, enjoy music and meeting people, why not come along to one or more of our practices, listen to us, talk to members and consider signing up?

We meet on Tuesday

afternoons in the Catholic Church Hall in Halesworth from 2pm-3pm and you'd be guaranteed a warm welcome. No musical experience necessary. We're particularly excited to welcome Benhall Handbell Ringers to our world. They've helped us when we've been short of ringers and this now looks like a regular, fulﬁlling partnership. Thank you Michael and team.

If you want to ﬁnd out more regarding booking us or attending one of our weekly rehearsals, please email Linda: l.sherman654@btinternet.com or text: 07789 365229.

Edgar Sewter Playschool and Out of School Club

Edgar Sewter Playschool is independently run and is open Monday to Friday during term time for funded and non-funded children from two years old.

We currently have limited spaces for the summer term and welcome new registrations for September as some of our current children will move into the school nursery class.

Club between 3:30pm and 6pm during term time.

Holiday Club is open during May half term and during the summer holidays. We welcome children from all schools.

For further details email: esplayschool@gmail.com or call 07796 044277 to register, arrange a visit or book a place.

Police to storm the stage at Leiston Film Theatre!

The UK's number one tribute to Sting and The Police will be making a special appearance at Leiston Film Theatre in May.

The Rozzers have been entertaining audiences with their acclaimed tribute to Sting and The Police for over a decade, fronted by renowned Sting look and sound-a-like Owen James, who's performed at countless festivals, cruise ships and now Suffolk, as they embark on their latest UK theatre tour.

The Police were arguably the biggest band on the planet between 1977 and 1983, achieving ﬁve number one hits on both sides of the Atlantic, with hits including 'Don't Stand So Close to Me', 'Every Breathe

You Take', 'Every Little Thing She Does is Magic', 'Message in a Bottle', 'Roxanne' and 'Walking on the Moon'.

Together, Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland and Sting enjoyed huge success, winning countless awards including six Grammy's, two Brit's and in 2003, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Four of their five studio albums appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the '500 Greatest Albums of All Time'. Sting then went on to be one of most acclaimed solo songwriters of his generation, with hit songs including 'Fields of Gold' and 'Englishman in New York'. The show, appearing at the Leiston Film Theatre on May 3rd, not only features the many hits of The Police, but also a selection of Sting's solo successes, all reproduced with stunning authenticity and vocal accuracy. The show really does feature something for everyone, in two hours of fine entertainment. Tickets are now available from the Box Office on 01728 830549 and via: leistonfilmtheatre.co.uk

Halesworth Volunteers is just a small part of the fantastic group of charities and voluntary groups that support Halesworth and surrounding rural communities. Local businesses too are always so helpful and supportive. Thank you to all of you for the support you provide.

I'm really pleased to be leaving Halesworth Volunteers in the safest of hands. Karen Kerridge will be our new Director, ably supported by Helen and Kay and we hope a new person will be joining the team soon.

Thanks to all of you for supporting our work. I will miss you and this wonderful community."

For children from four years and over, we run our Breakfast Club from 8am and After School

For help with childcare costs visit: childcarechoices.gov.uk Hayley, Anthea, Yvonne & Stacey

“Thank

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

We specialise in low cost repair options to buildings and can assist you with any building problem

SUFFOLK OFFICE

Brunel House, Norwich Road, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8HX • 01986 875651

Busy Brownies: Birdwatching, badges & baking for charity!

Since our last report, we've been up to lots!

We've welcomed Daisy, Isabelle and Layla to Brownies. We hope you enjoy your time with us!

In January, we spent a Saturday afternoon at St. Peter's Church, Holton for the Big Garden Birdwatch. We all had a great time, looking for birds, joining in with lots of fun craft activities, and enjoying the lovely refreshments.

This term, we've been working towards our 'Zero Waste' badge, which has included the Brownies ﬁnding out ways to save water and reduce food waste. We've also started our 'Charities' badge. This has involved ﬁnding out about different charities and how

they help people. We've chosen Halesworth Volunteers as our charity to support, and will be organising a cake stall to raise funds for them early next term.

We had an evening in which we learnt about World Thinking Day. We made cards to send to 6th Herne Bay Brownies in Kent and we received some lovely cards back. We wore green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, when we also learnt about the other saints and made hats.

We enjoyed pancake games and sampling pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday and decorating trinket boxes for Mother's Day. To ﬁnish off the term, we did some Easter crafts! Shelia, Karen and Sarah

• 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

• Ramps & hand rails designed, built & installed

• Doorways widened

•

A heartwarming community lunch

On March 25th, our school was thrilled to host our third annual Community Lunch, and what a wonderful success it was! This event (a whole-school design technology activity) brought together children of all ages to create a truly memorable meal.

Our Saplings (Year 3 and 4) and Oak Class (Year 5 and 6) children showcased their culinary skills by preparing three delicious, warming soups, perfect for a late March afternoon.

The Seedlings children (Year 1 and 2), with their tiny hands and big enthusiasm and support from Rebecca from The Next Loaf, baked batches of fresh bread rolls and our Acorns (Reception) children, not to be outdone, whipped up batches of delightful biscuits that were a sweet treat for all our guests.

Our Oak Class children (Year 5 and 6) stepped into the role of hosts with grace and

professionalism, serving our 32 guests with smiles and efﬁciency. They ensured everyone was well looked after, contributing to the warm and welcoming atmosphere.

This event wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of our local community.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Co-op for their generous donations, to the Black Dog Deli for providing the delicious cheese, to Heathside Stores for supplying essential ingredients for the deserts, and to local grower, Nat Bacon of Ward Farming Ltd for their fresh produce. Their contributions were invaluable and helped make this lunch a truly special occasion.

We're so pleased to see the children and community come together, and we hope everyone enjoyed the afternoon as much as we did. We look forward to welcoming local residents again next year.

HANDY TEAM

• All types of roof repairs • Ridge replacement • Lead ﬂashing • Flat rooﬁng

& Decking

BBQ areas

Garden planting schemes designed & built • Specialised topiary supplied & planted

• Brickweave & Block paving

• Turf

• Chimney repairs, re-pointing & removal

2nd Halesworth Brownies

Wenhaston Primary School

Our Clients Think Of Us...

“The whole experience was excellent from start to finish. Roberta handled my purchase in an efficient and friendly manner. Well done Durrants, would not hesitate to recommend you again.”

“Excellent team and company. Roberta and Imogen were incredible to deal with. Imogen, who met us at the property, was professional and knowledgeable. Thank you!”

Picture left: Roberta and Imogen were absolutely delighted to receive some beautiful and thoughtful gifts from a recent owner who sold their property and purchased through Durrants. The generous gesture was a wonderful surprise and truly appreciated. It’s always such a pleasure to see the positive relationships and connections that are formed throughout the property journey, and this thoughtful act of kindness is a testament to the exceptional service and care that Durrants provides to every client. Roberta and Imogen are grateful for the opportunity to help make the buying and selling process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, and it’s moments like these that make the experience even more rewarding.