Welcome to the October issue of the Eye Magazine, I hope you love the cover of this month’s magazine.
own tail and a little behind. This months magazine I was definitely behind, but as you can see I got there in the end, I apologise for having to resort in this months Q&A
HThe talented Julian Banthorp kindly said we could use one of his fantastic paintings for the cover. You can read about Julian and see more of his paintings in the centre spread. I unfortunately was unable to go see Julian's exhibition but I’m sure you will agree there will be more exhibitions in the future for
eating is on, jumpers and coats out and November has definitely arrived. With it we have the beautiful autumn colours and sparkly, frosty morning and starry nights.
In this month’s very full Eye Magazine we have lots of lovely ‘save the dates’ coming up in December, ready for Christmas and lots on in Eye in November too.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Adrian Barnard who does the Nature notes each month and has also been writing articles for us, with fantastic photos to accompany them, including the pink tractor run and this month the British cycling race.
As life seems to get busier and busier, sometimes I’m ahead with each month’s magazine, other times I’m chasing my
Many thanks to all the regular contributors and those who have written in this issue. We have some really interesting articles for the lead up to Remembrance Day. Eye always has a great turn out for the Remembrance parade and church service, where we can all come together and we unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces Community
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from United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. We will remember them.
whole idea of promoting myself, anyone who knows me well will know it has pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Contents
Sunday 10th November
Hope you enjoy this months magazine, I’m cracking on with Novembers so hopefully no more getting behind!
Meet at fire station at 10.30am if in parade. Set off at 10.45am, march to town hall. Service at the memorial and last post and minutes silence at 11am. Then set off to the church for service till about 12pm.
Wendy
Aiken
EDITOR, EYE MAGAZINE editoreyemag@gmail.com
EVENTS AND EDITORIAL CONTENT
EVENTS AND EDITORIAL CONTENT
Please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com by 5 November for content to appear in the December / January issue. Entry to the regular events listing is free, don’t forget to include date, time, location, event description, contact information and a photo if you have one.
ADVERTISING
Please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com by 5 October for content to appear in the November issue. Entry to the regular events listing is free, don’t forget to include date, time, location, event description, contact information and a photo if you have one.
To book an advert please email our accounts department at acceyemagazine@gmail.com. For new adverts please ask for our Rate Card. All adverts must be paid for in advance. Advert artwork should be sent to advertisingeyemag@gmail.com by 5 November for content to appear in the December/January issue.
ADVERTISING
To book an advert please email our accounts department at acceyemagazine@gmail.com. For new adverts please ask for our Rate Card. All adverts must be paid for in advance. Advert artwork should be sent to advertisingeyemag@gmail.com by 5 October for content to appear in the November issue.
Tour de Eye
More usually found tucked away in a nettle-infested bush waiting for a passing hare or owl, I took a break from wildlife photography to capture the cyclists racing through Eye in this years Tour of Britain.
This year’s cycling Tour of Britain passed through Eye for the first time this year putting it on the world stage of an international cycling event.
An historic moment was marked, as it was the first time the race featured two stages in Suffolk in the same year. The second stage of the event began and ended in Stowmarket, weaving through the Mid Suffolk towns of Stonham Aspal, Debenham and
Stradbroke, with Eye proudly featured along the route.
While Eye hasn’t hosted a stage start or finish, its inclusion in the 2025 race brought international attention to the town and offered residents a front-row seat to Britain’s biggest cycling spectacle. I think the Eye speed limit of 20mph was well and truly broken by these athletes speeding through the narrow streets on their bicycles.
Olva Kooij (pictured) of team Visma/Lease a Bike, wearing the tour leaders green jersey won the stage.
The Tour of Britain is the UK’s premier professional cycling stage race, tracing its roots back to the mid-20th century. Its story begins in 1945 with the Victory Cycling Marathon, a five-stage race from Brighton to Glasgow, organised by the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC).
This was Britain’s first serious attempt at a multi-day road race, inspired by the grandeur of
the Tour de France.
In the following decades, the race evolved under various names and sponsors. The Milk Race (1958–1987), backed by the Milk Marketing Board, became a household name and a fixture in British cycling. It was followed by the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain (1987–1994), which brought increased media attention and international riders. The PruTour (1998–1999), sponsored by
Prudential, was the last iteration before a brief hiatus.
After a five-year absence, the race was revived in 2004 by SweetSpot Group and rebranded as the modern Tour of Britain. It joined the UCI Europe Tour and later the UCI ProSeries, attracting elite teams and riders from around the world. The race typically spans eight stages across England, Scotland, and Wales, showcasing a mix of flat sprints, rolling countryside, and challenging climbs.
British riders have had sporadic success. The golden era came in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with wins from Bill Bradley, Pete Chisman, and Les West. More recently, stars like Bradley Wiggins and Stephen Williams have claimed victory, helping to elevate the race’s profile globally.
The Tour of Britain has become more than just a race—it’s a celebration of cycling culture, local communities, and British landscapes. Each year, millions of spectators line the roads, and towns vie for the honour of hosting a stage start or finish.
Pictures and words by Adrian Barnard
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Sunday 10th November
Meet at fire station at 10.30am if in parade. Set off at 10.45am, march to town hall. Service at the memorial and last post and minutes silence at 11am. Then set off to the church for service till about 12pm.
Wendy Aiken
Ifeel really blessed to be able to share my photography in the magazine each month, and now to have this opportunity to share a bit about my business – Wendy Aiken Photography.
Q. Can you tell us about yourself and your family history in Eye?
My first job was at Castle Street Stores – also known as the 8 to 8. I was 13 and absolutely loved working for Mick and Glad Clarke. I really enjoyed retail, and over the years I worked at Fourbuoys the newsagent, the Co-op on Church Street (now also Cocoa Mama) – all in Eye.
In 2001 we had our son Charlie, in 2006 Ben and I got married, and in 2008 we had our daughter Willow.
Q. When did you start Wendy Aiken Photography, and when did your interest in photography begin?
Magazine design by Sharon Teague, Outflux | Printed by Healeys Print Group
EVENTS AND EDITORIAL CONTENT
A. My parents and 18-monthold sister moved to Eye in 1975. My father, John Lucas, bought 1 Church Street, where he started his estate agency, Partridge & Lucas, and they lived in the flat above. I was born in the Gilcrest maternity unit in Eye in 1978. We then moved to 6 Castleton Way. I went to Eye Primary School and then Hartismere High School.
A. I grew up in a family that loved taking photos. All my grandparents always had cameras with them, and my dad loved photography too. His best friend – my godfather, Paul Finnerty – was a professional photographer. I even have postcards of Eye from the 1970s
I have a large collection of cameras that belonged to my grandfather, dating back over 100 years – they’re incredible. One of them, the one my grandpa is using in a photo with his mother, is now on display in our living room. I really feel photography is in our blood – my sister takes fantastic photographs too.
Please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com by 5 November for content to appear in the December / January issue. Entry to the regular events listing is free, don’t forget to include date, time, location, event description, contact information and a photo if you have one.
ADVERTISING
When I was 12, I took a photograph that my dad had developed and showed to my godfather. They both agreed I had “the eye” for photography
To book an advert please email our accounts department at acceyemagazine@gmail.com. For new adverts please ask for our Rate Card. All adverts must be paid for in
Advert artwork should be sent to advertisingeyemag@gmail.com by 5 November for content to appear in the December/January issue.
– and that’s when my journey really began. From then on, I always had a camera with me.
At 15, we had to write a student statement in our Record of Achievement, imagining where we’d be in the future. I wrote that I wanted to be married with two children and have a successful photography business. Well –I’m married with two children and I do have a successful photography business… it just didn’t happen by the age of 25, and it was a real roller-coaster getting here!
I officially started Wendy Aiken
Photography in 2012, with the help of my Dad, who bought me two Nikon cameras, and my Mum, who got me my first MacBook Pro. I was all set up and ready to go.
Q. What do you love to photograph most, and what have been some of your favourite shoots?
A. I absolutely love candid photography – capturing people naturally, laughing, those special moments that bring the emotion flooding back when you look at the photo again.
I can honestly say I enjoy all the different types of photography I do – my work is so varied! One day I could be photographing for a company’s website, social media or print; the next day it might be a newborn baby; other days it’s weddings or large events.
One of my greatest joys is photographing family and friends – people I’ve watched grow up over the years. It always feels like such a privilege to be asked to be someone’s photographer.
It never feels like work when you do what you love – and I LOVE what I do.
Wendy Aiken
Council news
As many of you are aware, both in the news and social media, Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) are a hot topic of conversation.
Many of us either as students or starting a first job in a city or large town have lived in an HMO although they are often referred to as share houses or student accommodation. Both my children have lived in HMOs in London, Hitchen and Nottingham at various times.
National law considers three or more people from two or more households renting rooms with shared facilities (e.g., kitchen or bathroom or living room) an HMO.
We have a few HMOs in Eye and probably there will be more in the future. Indeed, it is up to a landlord's discretion whether to let to multiple tenants or a family. In Mid Suffolk you must obtain a license only if the HMO houses 5 or more unrelated residents with shared facilities. Planning permission is required only if there are six or more unrelated tenants.
At the time I am writing this, there are no licensed HMOs in the Eye area and no pending planning permissions for any.
However, there are certain regulations all HMOs must comply with. These include fire safety doors, smoke alarms, general maintenance, escape routes, and proper waste management among other stipulations.
Currently, ETC has informed Mid Suffolk Enforcement of eight occupied and suspected HMOs to make sure standards (and if necessary licensing requirements) are met.
If anyone is concerned regarding an HMO they should contact MSDC Enforcement at https://www.midsuffolk.gov. uk/w/planning-enforcement or tel: 03001234000
More information relating to HMOs can be found on the MSDC website: https://www. midsuffolk.gov.uk/w/houses-inmultiple-occupation
It links through to the Guidance for Landlords which sets out full details of safety standards, when planning permission is needed, when a license is needed and so on.
On another note, we have two upcoming events in Eye. Remembrance Sunday is 9 November and Eye favourite Late Night Shoping is 5 December.
MAKING IT EASIER TO RECYCLE ELECTRICAL ITEMS IN EYE
You may have noticed the bright pink bin that has appeared in Buckshorn Lane car park, Eye.
The bin is part of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council’s new scheme to make it easier to recycle broken electrical items. This includes things like broken coffee machines, kettles, mobile phones, tablets - anything smaller than a 4-slice toaster.
The new bins have been supported by a grant from the Material Focus' Electricals Recycling Fund - one of 60 UK projects helping communities to reduce electrical waste.
On average there are at least 30 electrical items tucked away in each UK home. That’s where the pink bins come in. When an item can’t be repaired, the materials can be reused, going back into the ‘circular economy.’ This has a really positive environmental impact – reducing pollution from e-waste, and cutting carbon emissions from the mining and transport of new materials.
I hope the ‘pink bin’ is a welcome new addition to Eye. If there are any questions or problems please do let me know.
You can also find out lots more about where to recycle many other items on this website: www.suffolkrecycling.org.uk/ what-to-do-with-a-z
For general information on bin collections and recycling in Mid Suffolk, please see: www. midsuffolk.gov.uk/bins-andrecycling
You can also pop in to Eye Library on a Friday morning to speak to someone from the Mid Suffolk Council Residents’ Services team – they can help you with your query.
For District Council issues, please contact me and I will try my best to help: email lucy.elkin@midsuffolk.gov.uk or phone 07928 512590 For news and updates, find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CllrLucy
See you soon, Lucy (District Councillor for Eye, Occold and Redlingfield)
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Nature Notes
Forever in Love
Many of us see these birds sitting on telegraph lines, close up to each other and nibbling each others necks in a show of affection. Wood pigeons are loyal birds, often staying with the same partner for life. UK birds rarely leave home, and each pair raises just two chicks at a time, feeding them with ‘crop milk’.
They’re smart too, remembering landmarks and learning from their flock. Unlike most birds, they sip water straight up without tilting their heads using their beak as a straw. The biggest pigeon in the UK, they’re veggie, speedy (up to 50 mph), and usually live around four years — though one was recorded reaching the age of 17!
Adrian Barnard | www.wildhaven.art
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Eye Town Moors Woodland Society
BY PHILLIP WILLCOX-MOORE & CHRIS WILLOUGHBY
The arrival of autumn signals the start of vital pond restoration work here in the woods. Those that visit us will know that we have three ponds and many ditches cris-crossing the site, which have unfortunately seen some better days.
So, with wildlife going into hibernation and the seasonal window for pond work now open, we’ve started planning restoration work that will strengthen our pond’s important role in our community.
The following article has been kindly authored by Chris Willoughby, our previous Chair, who has been involved in the town moors woodland project since the very beginning.
Town Moors ponds revisited
It is now over 30 years since Barry Day created the moat around the old rubbish tip area and dug three ponds in the Eye Town Moors Woodlands under
the creative wizardry of Ben Platts-Mils. The South Pond and the Pond of the Rising Sun were independent of the drainage system while the North Pond and the Moat were linked into the existing ditch system with a double objective of providing new habitats and to assist with flood control around Eye.
These ponds were constructed in the period shortly after the great storm of 1987 when there were few established trees to get in the way of the diggers and they could move around site with ease. The spoil dug out was used to build up the soil
area over the old town dump and create viewing mounds by the ponds.
Thirty years on the trees planted after the storm have now grown up, the pollarded willows have huge limbs which are starting to break off and the few surviving poplars are enormous. The trees are overshadowing the ponds which need more sunlight to keep them healthy. The ponds have also silted up: we estimate that there is about 5 feet depth of silt in the bottom of some areas of the moat and the dry summer means that the rays cut in the bottom of the Pond
of the Rising Sun are largely exposed for the first time in many years.
In consultation with various water and wildlife experts we are about to undertake a revitalisation programme to improve the habitat in the ponds and to create an area which will absorb excess water coming east off the fields and slow its passage down to the River Dove so protecting the low lying areas of southern Eye from potential flash floods.
So we have returned to Barry Day (and Son) as local digger experts to have another look at the site. Son (Tim) a young lad driving the dumper trucks last time is now in charge. The work will look messy as we need to create a 4 metre wide working area around the ponds and there will be masses of spoil to be spread about. But it will be worth it in the end.
The first stage will be to set a detailed specification of the work to be done, trees to be removed/pollarded, pond areas to be dug out and disposal of the soil/development of observation mounds. If all goes well, we hope that work on the Pond of the Rising Sun will start in November/December whilst the amphibians are hibernating out of the water.
Thank you Chris for sharing these insights.
While the months ahead will undoubtedly bring some temporary disruption, we are confident that the long-term benefits will be transformative, as this work is a tangible
investment in the future of the woods. The revitalised ponds will enrich local biodiversity, improve the visitor experience, and significantly advance Eye’s flood resilience, so please bear with us and perhaps get involved?
For information about joining our volunteer team or supporting our work, please contact Chris Willoughby (tollgate53@icloud. com) or Phillip Wilcox-Moore (philwilcox2@gmail.com) for more information. The Eye Town Moors Woodland Society meets at 10am, at the west side of the Community Centre car park, on the third Sunday of every month. Our next working party is scheduled for 19th October.
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My artistic journey
BY JULIAN BANTHORP
From an early age I had a reasonable ability to draw, having inherited artistic genes from mothers side of the family, spending time with my grandfather watching and learning from him as he painted landscapes
At Primary School age I loved drawing and compiling scenes with transfer books available in the 1970's. Once at Eye Modern School I took art as an option to O Level followed by Sixth Form A Level at Thomas Mills Framlingham. An offer of an apprenticeship to become an electrician led to a career in engineering instead of pursuing any artistic ambitions
Always taking a healthy interest in the arts and feeling inspired to sketch, take advantage of digital photography and make use of online imagery to invent and reinvent a burgeoning desire to be artistic, it wasn't until my daughter brought me a set of oil paints in 2015, I put brush to canvas with serious intent and immediately discovered a medium I could enjoy experimenting with: above all I found it provided a something to focus on to relax after work.
Having no formal tutoring painting oil, I have learned process and style from one painting to the next and endeavour to improve myself with each composition. Having by chance a chat with Peter Barter around 2020 and him insisting I show him some of my work, he encouraged
me to finally believe in myself offering the chance to hang a few paintings at an exhibition. Whilst finding it difficult to accept any plaudits for my paintings, Peter's mentoring and enthusiasm gave me the confidence to push my abilities further and produce original work without commercial pressure demanding no more than continuing the pleasure painting provides.
I have always taken interest in Fine Art and admire photo realistic artists like Charles Bell, Cottingham and, Audrey Flack. I am also inspired by photographer Haris Nukem, whose contemporary subject matter I love. Without access to studio and models to pose it has proved difficult to obtain original material to work with, realising the importance of copyright laws and authenticity, I found myself instead drawn to local 'landscapes' with the latest painting using a traditional palette reproducing my own photography. I imagine many would be artists feel as I do... admiration for the great masters from Turner to Raphael and those around you whilst suffering from imposter syndrome when regarding your own work. Now some 10years into this artistic journey, albeit as a part time amateur, the fact people are willing to purchase your art to hang on their walls at home is both surprising, but also satisfying.
Following my first solo exhibition at the Queens Head recently my intentions are to continue learning, improving and hopefully producing more work for the future. With a trip to Rome next month I aim to return with a full memory card and inspiration!!
by Marcus Gilbert
Two women have made new friendships and conquered rural isolation at a local health and fitness centre
Be Well Barn offers everything from discreet spa and fitness pods to group classes like yoga, spinning, kettle bells and strength training.
The centre near Eye has sparked a new lease of life for Vicki Chapman, from Wetheringsett, and Beverley Hermitage, of Worlingworth.
The pair admit they needed to improve their mental health and met in a spinning class while exercising at a rural barn near Eye where they saw barn owls flying past.
Vicki says her husband’s death and the new hybrid-style of working after Covid left her increasingly isolated and lonely. Breaking her shoulder on a run revealed a low bone density too.
‘‘Be Well Barn has given me the opportunity to work on my health and fitness, to expand my network of friends, and given me a sense of community and belonging.
‘‘I have vastly improved mental health, I am more enriched as a
person and I have a whole new circle of friends,’’ says Vicki.
Beverley has lost more than a stone in weight and found new friends too. This keeps her motivated to enjoy classes including spinning, kettlebell, core and stretch, and boxing circuits.
Beverley says: ‘‘I receive loads of emotional support from the Be Well Barn team and members.
I give most things a go – and I come out on a high.’’
Sarah Edwards, co-founder of Be Well Barn with her husband Will, says: ‘‘We offer a variety of memberships as well as pay as you go access.
“We have something for everyone and are confident people will feel happy and energized after a session with us.’’
For more details please call 01379 831565, email hello@ bewellbarn.co.uk or visit bewellbarn.co.uk. Please call in to meet us and enjoy our café and bar, open to non members 7 days a week.
Vicki Chapman and Beverley Hermitage at Be Well Barn. Picture courtesy of Ripple Public Relations Ltd and Keith Mindham
The Shiftwave™ System
LIKE MEDITATING ON A ROLLERCOASTER!
“Incredible.”
“Awesome.”
“Amazing.”
“You have to try it.”
These are some of the reactions of people who have just experienced the Shiftwave technology for the first time.
It’s a device designed to reset your nervous system and take you from a place of stress, tension and tiredness, to a place of regeneration, relaxation and focus.
What’s more, it’s about as simple as it gets to achieve these benefits; decide what you want or need for your mind and body, whether it’s improved sleep, mental clarity and resilience, quicker recovery after exercise, etc.
Relax in the zero-gravity recliner, select the desired protocol, put on the headphones and eye-mask and allow yourself to experience pulsed-pressure waves whilst being guided through breathwork techniques or simply listening to music or
the sounds of nature.
Throughout, you are in complete control of your sensory experience; you can increase or decrease both the strength of the waves and the audio to just the right level of comfort for you.
Users have reported improvements in pain relief, stress reduction, sleep quality, general vitality, circulation and muscle recovery, amongst others.
If you want to find out more about the research involved in the development of the system or read some of the many testimonials, visit the Shiftwave ™ website; if you want to try it for yourself, come and see us at Life&Sole, 1, Church Street, Eye, IP23 7BB, for a taster session and experience a different way of rebalancing yourself, or call us on 01379 870111 for more information.
We now print 1,600 magazines each month! Thanks to the amazing volunteers who distribute the magazines to every house in Eye, with the rest of them going to a number of pick up points, The Handyman, The Library, Caféye, David Dunnets Butchers, The Bank Arts Centre, Cocoa Mama, The Michael Burke Centre and Hartismere Place. With the new houses being built the number of magazines printed will increase. To advertise or volunteer please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com
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Dove River Church
MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL
Ilove the classic comedy series Fawlty Towers. I remember one episode in particular, ‘Gourmet night’. Basil Fawlty, the stressed out, over reactive Torquay hotel owner, has a problem with his car not starting. He gets more and more frustrated with it, then he disappears off screen and comes back carrying a branch of a tree and starts to give the car a good thrashing! John Cleese at his best, very funny. Sometimes however, real life can indeed be very stressful. I sometimes look at my calendar and think, ‘how did I get so busy!’ I spent many years of my life working full time, but now I am ‘retired’ it’s just crazy, life seems busier than ever! It can get very stressful even when I really don’t have anything to get worked up about. The pace of life seems to get quicker and quicker and it is hard to call a halt and take time out.
Another area which may make us feel stressed is when we look at the news. Things seem out of control, and we wonder what is going to happen next!
My husband and I recently went on holiday and for the first few days it seemed we were beset with a number of problems. A three-hour journey took seven hours, it appeared we had a problem with our house sitters, the friends we were visiting messaged us to say one of their children had chicken pox…I
felt like grabbing a branch and letting off steam, it was supposed to be a holiday after all!
I guess if things are really getting too much for us it’s time to share it with a friend or seek medical support. The Bible has many words to say about God knowing just what we are going through. In the Bible we read in Psalm 145 verse 18 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
One of the names of God’s Holy Spirit is The Comforter, one who draws alongside to help us. God promises to give the Holy Spirit to all believers.
Joe Aiken, who leads our worship team at Dove River Church, has written a beautiful song called ‘Meet Me In The Middle’. Look it up on YouTube or Spotify when you get a chance. Some of the words in the song can be a simple prayer; ‘In my mess, in my sin, in my brokenness, in my shame, in the pain, in the emptiness. O lord, meet me in the middle of it all.’
Invite God into your situation, surrender it to Him and let the comforter carry your burdens.
Merchandise
You can purchase the limited edition Eye Love merchandise from Eye Country Market at Eye Town Hall, we aim to be there on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from 10am-11.30am. Or email studio@outflux.co.uk to purchase at other times.
• Eye Love tote bags in 7 colours
• Eye Love coffee mugs
• Eye Love tea mugs
• Eye Love bamboo pens
• Eye Love pencils in 5 colours
• Eye Love bamboo pens
• Eye Love The Handyman A5 card
• Eye Love postcards x 8 designs
• Eye Love notepads
• Eye Love bookmarks
Get in touch to sell in your local shop!
COMPETITIONS
CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGN
Submit your design for the 2025 Eye Love Christmas card*
PHOTOGRAPHIC CALENDAR
Submit your best (landscape format) photograph of Eye through the seasons for inclusion in the 2026 Eye Love calendar*
*Deadline for submissions is Friday 10th October 2025
Email your image to studio@outflux.co.uk. Follow Eye Love on facebook & instagram
Eye residents with their Eye Love merchandise at the Launch event at Eye Town Hall in September
Eye Love
Love
Eye Love The Handyman A5 greetings card illustrated by Charlie Meyer
A unique experience on your doorstep
The top attraction on Tripadvisor for the whole Eye area is tucked away between the town and Stradbroke. Run by volunteers it is a unique experience that many visitors say is "like stepping back in time".
The Red Feather Club museum, operated and managed by the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association, is more than just a museum. Although, it is the official museum of the 95th and exclusively houses uniforms and memorabilia relating to the Bomb Group who flew out of Horham during WW2, it also has a bar, dance hall and hosts live music.
The former NCOs' club is open to the public on the last Sunday
of the month April to October 10am-4pm with free entry. On open days there is live music, food, the period-perfect Brad's bar, military vehicles, reenactors and more.
This year you still have the chance to experience a dance and the final open day of the year as well as, on Friday 5th December, carols with Diss Salvation Army Band from 7pm. On Saturday 25th October, there's the annual Redlingfield
Swing Dance with DJs AndyAV8 and The Mailman. Tickets are £10 (accompanied under 16s free) on the door but booking to reserve your tickets is advised. Contact Mike on 01379 678835 or mike@gn.apc.org. Sunday 26th October, is the final open day of the year, with vintage stalls as well as music, food and licensed bar.
Live bands are already booked for 2026 for dances on Saturday 25th April (Hotcha Paul & The Head Honchos), Saturday 27th June (The Casinos) and Saturday 26th September (the band to be confirmed). For tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk.
And if you want to really get in the swing you can learn to dance to music from the 1940s
and 1950s at classes at the Red Feather Club on Monday evenings. Classes are 7pm9.30pm and cost £2.50 per person and total beginners are welcome. More details from Duncan 07771 675351 or Natalie 07949 541079.
Open days for 2026 are on Sunday 26th April, 31st May, 28th June, 26th July, 30th August, 27th September and 25th October. Sunday 28th June is the annual Americana Day, an early 4th of July celebration, with even more happening than on other open days with more of everything.
The official UK home of the 95th is a living museum and monument to the only Eighth Air Force Bomb Group to receive the Distinguished Unit Citation three
times and the first to complete a daylight raid over Berlin.
The 95th flew more than 300 missions and, as well as strategic bombing sorties targeting harbours, industries, rail yards and cities, it dropped food and supplies to starving civilians and the resistance in occupied Europe, it supported the D-Day invasion and ended the conflict transporting liberated prisoners of war back to the UK.
US history professor Jared Frederick of YouTube channel
Reel History said after his visit: “One of the absolute
best World War II museums in the United Kingdom... The immersive qualities, the care to preservation, the quality and display of artifacts, the original social hall, and the functioning pub make this a landmark history buffs should place on their bucket lists.”
95th Bomb Group Heritage Association/Red Feather Club Museum (Charity No: 1119769), Horham Road, Denham, Coldhams Hill, Eye, IP21 5DG (what3words ///riot,different. paddock). Visit: www.95thbghorham.com. Contact: enquiries@95thbg-horham.com.
Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk can provide in depth advice on this issue and much more, including debt, finances, employment, benefits and family/ relationships.
You can contact them by phone on 01449 676060, visit in person at Milton House, 5 Milton Road South, Stowmarket IP14
1EZ or use the contact form at midsuffolkcab.org.uk/ contact-us
Opening hours are Monday-Thursday 9.30am –3.30pm and Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm.
I’ve seen lots of stories in the news about people being left out of pocket if events they’ve booked tickets for have been cancelled at the last minute. How can I get a refund if this happens to me?
Keep an eye on the organiser’s website and social media profiles for all the latest updates. You won’t be entitled to a refund if you change your mind about going or realise you can’t go anymore - but if an event is cancelled, your refund rights will depend on how you bought the ticket.
If you bought your ticket from an official seller and the organiser cancels, moves, or reschedules the event, you should get a refund. The official seller is the best point of contact to ask about how to get your money back. If you’re having no luck getting a refund, check to see if the seller is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR). If they are, you can use STAR’s complaints procedure. STAR members should receive a refund at face value if the event is cancelled and the organiser has agreed to refunds.
You’ll probably only get the face value of the ticket back - the amount printed on it. Some sellers might refund postage if, for example, the event is cancelled before the tickets are sent. If you had to pay any booking or card fees, you might not get those back. If the official seller isn’t a member of STAR, check how you can solve an ongoing consumer problem with a business seller. You may also be able to get your money back another way, such as through your credit card company.
If you bought your ticket from a ticket-reselling website, refunds would depend on the site's terms and conditions.
If you bought from a private seller and the event is cancelled or rescheduled, then it is unlikely you will be able to recover your money. We still recommend you contact the seller. Be aware of scams. Unfortunately, we’ve found that in these situations’ scammers can prey on those who are affected.
If your event is cancelled and people or companies get in touch to offer their services to try to recover money on your behalf, be alert and make sure that you're looking out for the signs of a potential scam. For more information on getting a refund, take a look at the Citizens Advice website.
• Door to door dial-a-ride service • Weekly members outings throughout the year • Group hires for not-forprofit organisations
BORDERHOPPA OUTINGS FOR OCTOBER 2025
Thurs 2nd Lunch at The Red Lion, Needham - £8
Mon 6th The Foundry Garden Centre, Tasburgh - £8
Mon 13th The Range and Lunch at The Copper Beech - £18
Mon 20th Stowmarket Town - £15
Thurs 23rd Lunch at The Black Horse, Thorndon - £8
Mon 27th Anglia Retail Park, Ipswich & Suffolk Food Hall - £20
Thurs 30th Attleborough Town (Market Day) and Wymondham Garden Centre - £18
To book or for more information please call 01379 854800 or visit our website www.borderhoppa.org
Looking after our wellbeing as the nights draw in
by Anne Beckett-Allen, Director of Rosedale Funeral Home and Mental health First Aid Instructor
At this time of year, it seems everyone is saying, “the nights are drawing in” or “summer’s over.” For some, that signals a time to get cosy, light the fire and dig out the woolly jumpers. For others, it can feel like the start of a long stretch of darkness.
For me, autumn has always felt a little bit magical. I have happy memories of going on nature walks with my mum scrunching through leaves and collecting conkers, and more recently creating memories with my own children and grandchildren, picking blackberries down Rapsy Tapsy Lane and gathering windfall apples to turn into a crumble for Sunday dinner. Simple rituals like pumpkin carving, toffee apples and sparklers around the bonfire can still bring that sense of seasonal joy and help us feel grounded. But for some people, shorter days bring more than a touch of nostalgia – they can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), sometimes called “winter depression.” Reduced daylight can affect melatonin (sleep), serotonin (mood) and the body’s internal clock. Symptoms include low mood, irritability,
sleeping more than usual and craving carbohydrates. Around 2–3% of people experience severe SAD, while up to 15% have a milder version often called the “winter blues.”
Even if you don’t have SAD, many of us notice a dip in energy and motivation when the days get shorter. Those after-work dog walks at The Pennings, gardening sessions or evenings on the patio suddenly disappear, and when it rains all weekend it can be hard not to retreat under a blanket.
This is where planning new routines can help. The darker months are perfect for trying indoor hobbies – borrowing a book from the Eye library, sorting out a cupboard, baking something to share with friends or starting a creative project. Having small things to look forward to can make a big difference.
It’s also important to make the most of the light we do have. There are still glorious sunsets, later sunrises and crisp, bright days that are perfect for short walks. Being outside, even briefly, can boost mood and regulate your body clock.
A few simple steps can support
your mental wellbeing through the season:
• Get outside every day. Aim for daylight exposure, even if it’s just a lunchtime walk.
• Stay active. Exercise lifts mood – try yoga, a class or dancing around the kitchen.
• Eat well. Balance winter carb cravings with fruit, vegetables and wholefoods. Consider vitamin D if you’re deficient.
• Connect with others. Arrange coffee dates or join a club –social contact is vital and there’s loads going on in Eye.
• Create cosy rituals. Light a candle, read a book or listen to music to make evenings feel comforting.
• Plan ahead. A weekend trip, theatre visit or film night in the diary can lift spirits.
Autumn and Winter can be seasons of renewal – a chance to slow down and gather strength for spring. With a little thought, they can become a time for creativity, connection and comfort, and even dark nights can hold their own kind of magic.
Saturday 4th October 7.30 pm JUDE KANE
Local Singer/Songwriter
Jude is renowned for his passionate and emotive performances. He blends folk,rock and blues into his unique style. He has worked with Gus Dudegeon who also produced David Bowie and Elton John. Jude will be performing material from his new album “ Something On My Mind”.
Our classic cinema series starts with Peter Halls 1974 film Akenfield based on Ronald Blythe’s book – Akenfield, portratit of an English Village. There is a pre film screening of a documentary about the making of the the film at 6pm.
Tickets £5 Online: wegottickets. com/event/672467
Wednesday 5th November 7.30pm
OpenSpace Theatre present VINCENT IN BRIXTON
by Nicholas Wright 7.30pm Its 1873 and the Young Vincent Van Gogh rents a room in London, he slowly becomes aware of the secrets lying below surface of everyday life in the house.
What’s on this October and November at Wingfield Barns
Saturday 8th November 7.30pm
Don’t Go Into The Cellar present THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!.. join us for a one man stage adaptation with all the suspense of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles Victorian gothic thriller.
East Anglian Traditional Music Trust STEP DANCE AND JIG DOLL AFTERNOON
Come and explore the tradition of Step Dancing ad Jig Dolls with live music and tuition.
£5 pp. Bar open, Tea/Coffee/ Lunch of soup and roll available. For more info www.eatmt.org.uk
Tuesday 18th November
7.30pm FLOOK – CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN 2025
We are delighted to welcome Flook the international folk band. Brilliant,dynamic and inventive their trademark sound is full of technical brilliance and bold adventurous imagination. NOT TO BE MISSED.
A fabulous night of show stoppers from Les Miserables, Wicked,Hamilton, Sweeney Todd, South Pacific, The Lion King plus a sprinkle of Christmas songs. You will be sure to leave humming those tunes and getting you into the festive spirit.
Tickets £15.00 Online: wegottickets.com/event/669898 or go to our website www. wingfieldbarns.com and follow the links: for more information contact office.manager@ wingfieldbarns.co.uk 01379 384505
Regular events
MONDAY
1st Eye Cub Scouts
Every Monday during term-time from 6.30-8pm for boys and girls aged 8-10½ years old at Scout Headquarters on Wellington Road. Juliet Grimes juliet@eyescouts.org.uk
Eye and District Cricket Club
Coaching young players (girls and boys) during the season at our ground in Ludgate Causeway. Mark Willowe 07927 286600
Ladies Fitness Football
6-7pm at Eye Community Centre. No need to know anything about football, just the ability to kick a ball and have fun. Any questions contact Kev Crispin on 07857662528
Multiple Sclerosis Society Coffee Mornings
Every second Monday in the month at the Michael Burke Centre 10.30am-1pm, £1. Just drop in. Share experiences and learn more about MS. Contact Sue.Childs@groups.mssociety.org.uk tel 07518 288378
Strength Training
At Eye Community Centre. 9.30am. Over 60s Strength Training. Contact Faye on 07885 659360.
TUESDAY
1st Eye Scouts
Every Tuesday during term-time from 7.30-9.15pm for boys and girls aged 10½-14 years at Scout Headquarters on Wellington Road. Juliet Grimes juliet@eyescouts.org.uk
Carers Café at Hartismere Place
Starting on the 7 January 2025. First Tuesday of the month from 11am-12.30pm. Free monthly support group to meet other carers in a relaxed and friendly environment, whilst enjoying complimentary refreshments including soup and a roll. For more information or to book a place please call Angela at the home on 01379 873950
Dove Social Club
Over 18s Tuesdays in term-time only come in for a chat and relaxing afternoon in the Dove Hall, Dove Lane from 2-4pm. Jonathan and Jenny Pooley 01379 870173 / 07816 090857
Elderflower Club
Last Tuesday of the month at Eye Community Centre 2-4pm. Time for chatting, laughter, tea and cake. All welcome - friends and helpers. Local lifts available. Tricia Brown 01379 871959
Eye Bridge Club
Weekly duplicate sessions on Tuesdays in Eye Town Hall. Please arrive by 1.15pm for a prompt 1.20pm start. Mike Barr 01379 870853
Eye District Badminton Club
Badminton at Hoxne Village Hall, Tuesday mornings 9.30-11.30am, for beginners/ intermediates & returners of all ages. John or Steph Dakin on 07904910284
Eye Garden Club
Every second Tuesday in the month at 2pm. The venues vary, but they are usually at the homes of our members. Tricia Brown, 01379 871959..
Little Doves Toddler Group
Baby and toddler group for parents/grandparents in term time 9.15-11.15am in Dove Hall
Sing for Wellbeing
1st Tuesday of the month, 7.30-9pm The Hexagon. 01379 678483, clare@theblossomcharity.co.uk
Teresa Marsh Dance Classes
For beginners at the Community Centre 8-9pm
Well-Being Walks (Onelife Suffolk)
First Tuesday each month 1½ hr easy pace walk. Meet 10.30am Pennings Nature Reserve, IP23 7NH. Book online: onelifesuffolk.co.uk search well-being walks. Maryanne Henderson. Email: outdoorseye@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY
1970s Music Club
Wednesday evenings at Eye Community Centre from 7.30pm-11pm. October 1st & 15th, November 5th & 19th, December 3rd & 17th.
1st Eye Beaver Scouts
Wednesday during term-time from 5.30-7pm for boys and girls aged 6-8 years old at Scout Headquarters on Wellington Road. Contact Juliet Grimes 01379 668088 or juliet@eyescouts.org.uk
1st Eye Brownies
Wednesday during term time from 6.15-7.30pm at
The Stoke Ash Centre. Helen Soper helenj.soper@talktalk.net
1st Eye Guides
Wednesday during term time 7.15-8.45pm at The Stoke Ash Centre. Louise Clifford eyeguidessuffolk@gmail.com
1st Eye Rangers
Wednesday during term time 7.15-8.45pm at The Stoke Ash Centre. Louise Clifford eyeguidessuffolk@gmail.com
2nd Eye Rainbows
Wednesday during term time from 5:30-6:30pm at The Stoke Ash Centre. Helen Soper helenj.soper@talktalk.net
Art Group at The Bank
Every Wednesday 10am-1pm. Weekly drop-in group. Bring your own materials and meet likeminded creatives!
Barclays Bank
Here to help at Eye Library 10am-4pm (no cash or print facility)
Box Fit by R Fitness
Wednesday 6.40pm (term time) at Dove Hall. Contact Richard Balaam 07970 328052.
Busy Bees Knit & Natter
Weekly on Wednesdays, alternating between The Bank Arts Centre 1.15pm-3.15pm and The Michael Burke Wellness Centre 10am-1pm. Friendly drop-in group. All abilities welcome. £2 per person. 07931 538548 busybeesknitandnatter@gmail.com
Every Wednesday in Eye Town Hall (excluding January), usual hours 10-11.30am. Everyone welcome. Sally Sparrow 01379 873315
Eye Karate and Fitness Club
All ages and abilities welcome. Juniors 6-7pm, adults 7-8pm
Eye Saints Community Boules Club
Come and join us on Wednesday and Sunday between 10am and 12noon on the playing fields at Eye Community Centre Contact. Ian 07528 907114 or Eira eirajane@btinternet.com 07974 420206
Families Together Suffolk
‘Chill, Chat and Play’ group in The Michael Burke Wellbeing Centre each week 1.30-3pm. This group supports parents to be and parents with young babies up to walking age. Free, register before
coming call Lauren on 07925 138383 or email lauren@familiestogethersuffolk.org.uk
Folk Night at The Bank
Monthly 2nd Wednesday 7.15-10pm. Bring your own instruments and take part, or enjoy listening. £3 contribution requested.
Kettlebell Training by R Fitness
Wednesday 9am at The Pennings. Contact Richard Balaam 07970 328052.
THURSDAY
Eye Arts Guild
Every Thursday at Eye Bowls Club 10am-12.30pm for practice and tutored sessions with outdoor sessions in summer. Contact Harriet Bowes hb.challinor@gmail.com
Eye Women’s Institute
2nd Thursday of month at 2pm, Eye Community Centre. Lynn Clark (Secretary) 07736 407195
Friendship Group
Every Thursday 10am-12pm. Michael Burke Centre. Contact Joan Gilbey 07855191741
Mat Pilates
Thursdays 6pm & 7pm at 1st Eye Scout Hut. £12. Contact Michaela on info@michaelawindsor.com
Pickleball
Ever wondered what Pickleball is all about? Why not give it a try on Thursdays 5.15-7.15pm, Hartismere School Dance studio. All ages welcome. First session is free. Contact John or Steph on 07904910284 / jsdakin@sky.com
Poetry Evening at The Bank
Monthly 3rd Thursday from 7pm ONLINE. Online meet up to enjoy poetry. Read, contribute or just listen along. Voluntary donation appreciated. Please book online.
Rest and Restore Relaxation Classes
Every Thursday at The Michael Burke Wellbeing Centre 2.30-3.30pm & 4.30-5.30pm. Gentle exercises to use at home. Small friendly group. £4 suggested donation. Booking essential. Janet 07951 714477.
FRIDAY
Cinema at Eye
4th Friday of each month except December. 7.30pm at Eye Community Centre.
Kit Brinkley 07947 414968
Citizen’s Advice Mid Suffolk
Face to Face Advice Sessions Drop-into Eye Library
Free every Friday morning 9.15am-12.30pm. 01449 676060 or advice@midsuffolkcab.org.uk
Regular events cont.
Dance with Jane
Dance! Stretch! Well-being! 2-3pm £5 Eye Town Hall. Please use back door. Enquiries 07714006470
Explorer Scout Unit
Every Friday during term time from 7.30-9.30pm for boys and girls aged 14-18 years old at Scout Headquarters on Wellington Road. Emma Tamsett emma@eyescouts.org.uk
Eye Archives
You are welcome to come to see the archives at the Michael Burke Wellbeing Centre on a Friday. Contact Anne Willoughby 01379 870298 for details.
Eye Bach Choir
Rehearsals every Fridays during term time 7.309.30pm. Eye Town Hall. New members welcome. Enquiries: membership@eyebachchoir.co.uk
Eye Cricket Club Seniors
Seniors nets Fridays from 6:15pm until dark starting on Friday, May 3 and subsequent Fridays. New members welcome to come along. Contact Ross Stannard 07590994001
Eye Karate and Fitness Club
All ages and abilities welcome. Juniors 6.307.30pm. Adults 7.30-8.30pm
Hartismere Hospital League of Friends
Coffee and Chat
2nd Friday in the month, 10am-12noon and 1-3pm.
Coffee, Craft and Chat
Last Friday of the month, from 1.30pm-3.30pm. The Michael Burke Well-being Centre. Beverley Goddard 01379 388682
Printmaking at The Bank
Learn collagraph polyblock printmaking with local artist Emily Procner. Booking required. Sessions are from 10-1pm. £13 for two hours, £16 for three hours. Contact: emilylady44@hotmail.com
TELL US ABOUT YOUR REGULAR EVENTS IN EYE
Please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com by 5th of the month, for content to appear in the following issue.
SUNDAY
Ballroom and Latin Dance
Eye Community Centre 7.30-10pm once a fortnight. Theresa 01379 308516 or mobile 07709565875
Bereavement & Support group
2nd Sunday of the month from 2-4pm at The Hexagon. Presented by Susan Whymark Funeral Services. 01379 871168.
Bootcamp by R Fitness
Sunday 9am at Eye Scout Hut. Contact Richard Balaam 07970 328052.
Eye Plodders Walking Group
3rd Sunday of the month. A well-established walking group that meets at 10.30am for a six mile walk in the surrounding countryside.
Ray Pattenden 01379 678432
Eye Saints Community Boules Club
Come and join us on Wednesday and Sunday between 10am-12noon on the playing fields at Eye Community Centre. Contact Ian 07528 907114 or Eira 07974 420206
Eye Town Moors Woodland Society
Volunteer Day 3rd Sundays at Eye Town Moors and Woodlands 10am-12noon. Meet by car park. Chris Willoughby 01379 870298.
Ss Peter & Paul Church
Sung Mass is held every Sunday at 10.45am at Church Street, Eye. Please check the website: www.eyeparishchurch.org for additional services.
Waveney Wanderers
First Sunday of each month usually setting off at 10.30am from a local meeting point and cycling at a fairly gentle pace, usually includes a pub lunch. Contact: georgie.lopham@gmail.com
EYE-TO-EYE: YOUR WHAT’S ON GUIDE VIA EMAIL
If you would like to be kept informed of additional events or changes to existing ones between magazine issues, sign up to receive Eye-to-Eye an email service that offers information about events or incidents of potential interest to residents of Eye and surrounding areas. To sign up email your name and postcode to join-eye-to-eye@outlook.com
