Tickets £5 in advance from the Handyman or pay (cash only) on the door. Film trailers and more information can be found on the website: www.cinema-at-eye.org.uk
Sponsored by Caféye
Part of registered charity no. 1012697
Friday 27 April 2026, 7.30pm
Friday 24 April 2026, 7.30pm
As World War I rages on, Dr. Henry Guthrie takes over a British choral society that’s lost most of its men to the army. The community soon discovers that the best response to the chaos of war is to make beautiful music together.
OPENING TIMES 9am-1pm Tuesday 9am-3pm Wednesday-Saturday
Serving tea, coffee, cakes and hot chocolate in our courtyard, heated barn or takeaway
Welcome to the April issue of The Eye Magazine, I've been really looking forward to the centre spread in this issue.
HSteve Sherwood is a part of The Eye Archive and Heritage Group and kindly researched and wrote the article about the Mill. We also had help from two descendants of the Mortimer family, John Mortimer who lives in Canada and Tessa Reeves who still lives in Suffolk. Thank goodness for the archives in Eye and all the volunteers who work so tirelessly to keep the records updated and organised.
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.
myself and the residents of Eye. It's so important to recognise and celebrate good people, in a world that seems to have gone mad with so much intolerance, hate and darkness, be the light.
from United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. We will remember them.
Sunday 10th November
Many thanks to Mike Barr for all his support delivering the Eye Magazine, wishing Mike and Kathy all the best.
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.
Wishing you all a Happy Easter and April, till next month, take care of yourselves.
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.
We celebrate another unsung hero in this issue - Adrian Beatty. Adrian has given so much of his own time to starting and running "Eye to Eye" Who, What and where in Eye and surrounding communities for many years and I'd like to personally thank him from
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
Please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com by 5 April for content to appear in the May 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.
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
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 November for content to appear in the December/January issue.
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 April for content to appear in the May issue.
Photography by Wendy Aiken | Magazine design by Sharon Teague, Outflux | Printed
courtesy of Clive Stevens
Photography by Wendy Aiken | Magazine design by Sharon Teague, Outflux |
Unsung hero - Adrian
Nothing lasts for ever. But some things have lasted so long it is hard to remember when they began.
Not that one can compare the Eye-to-Eye column that appeared regularly on our personal screens with the world we live in, which will never end and even more bizarrely never began either. But we can say for certain that our lives were made easier during the lifetime of the Eye-to Eye service and we were able to attend more events as a result which we would either have arrived late at or missed altogether.
Consequently, the community spirit for which Eye residents are renowned was much enhanced, friendships were formed between neighbours and relationships flourished from one corner of our circular town [so to speak] to the other.
The Eye-to-Eye service announced the weekly and monthly entertainments taking place in the town and its immediate vicinity. Nothing of legitimate concern was omitted which the organiser of a local event wished to circulate. Strictly impartial editorial rules ensured that everyone subscribing to this uniquely generous service could be assured of equally fair treatment.
And all this came free. It is hard to believe that such a service could be offered at no charge. At least no charge to the subscriber. But, giving it some realistic thought, there are such things as overheads: there is the
“Thanks to a special Eye resident for presenting his truly invaluable service in his characteristic and philanthropic way for so many years.”
time spent by the provider. There is expertise required: there is a selfless personality needed to devise the system, set it up, offer it to the public without strings and work and manage the service for a sequence of years.
Expanding on the first sentence above, all good things come an end. Retirement kicks in. And the time comes to express our own thanks to a special Eye resident for presenting his truly invaluable service in his characteristic and philanthropic
way for so many years.
And so it is to Adrian Beatty that we extend our thanks.
Adrian, all those of your wave of subscribers will feel bereft for a while but will also recognise the way you have helped and enlightened them for so long.
You deserve every grain of our thanks and admiration: and our Best Wishes to you, Adrian, in your future ventures. THANK YOU.
Charles Michell
The Eye-to-Eye service announced the weekly and monthly entertainments taking place in the town and its immediate vicinity.
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Unacceptable flood risk from Eye Airfield residential development
Yes we as a community have a major flood risk issue from the Castleton Grange development. I became aware of this about a year ago and put forward a detailed objection to the phase two planning application. This was subsequently passed by Mid Suffolk (as the Local Planning Authority) because Suffolk CC as the flood consultant had prematurely approved the design without vital topography details. An enforcement case was opened, and closed soon after, when Suffolk County Council visited site on 23rd June 2025 and stated ‘there were no significant departures from
the approved scheme’. Two complaints and a whole lot of evidence gathering later and Suffolk County Council are still in denial!
So what is the problem?
New development applications are based upon an ever increasing amount of rules and regulations, but the basic premise is that there should be no increased risk of offsite flooding from the development. In fact it goes further, ‘betterment’ is usually on offer as a carrot to overcome resistance to planning approval. Sadly the reality is a routine failure of the system to protect
people and property off site.
In 2012 as a consequence of major flooding in 2007, a new national surface water drainage strategy was unveiled known as SuDS (Sustainablle Urban Drainage Systems). In laymen’s terms a huge hole is dug in the ground and all rainwater is collected there. More importantly when there is failure of the system, a blockage or very heavy rainfall, that hole fills up. Over time, usually a few days, the stored water is slowly released so as to meet the approved details that there will be no increased flow off site. Hence the situation remains
unchanged from that which existed prior to development.
Unfortunately for us Suffolk CC is failing in its duty of care to protect our community from offsite flooding. If we were in Norfolk or Essex the matter would be given the attention it deserves. The problem we have (and it’s a simple one), is called gravity and if you have a sloping site, let’s call it a hill, then the conditions have been met and the water flows down hill! For the SuDS system to work the big hole in the ground needs to get in the way of the water flowing down the hill, if that happens all should be fine and nobody gets flooded offsite.
At Eye Airfield the design fails on three counts, it was approved by Suffolk CC before all the relevant documents had been lodged, secondly the design has been ignored on site and finally Suffolk CC refuse to accept that the rainfall must be contained
on site. This is an almighty mess that we the community either have to come to terms with or take appropriate action to have the matter corrected.
We are not alone most other communities in vulnerable flood areas including Framlingham, Witnesham, Debenham and Easton have similar issues with a common denominator namely Suffolk County Council failing as Lead Local Flood Authority. This is totally unacceptable, the evidence is compelling yet the Flood Reports produced for each community by Suffolk County Council have yet to acknowledge or address these failings.
A forty page report on the failings at Eye and these other communities was delivered to Mathew Hicks Leader of Suffolk County Council on 23rd February 2026. A response is awaited.
It is very important to
understand that all of the above communities would have been flooded during Storm Babet. However the increased flood risk from new developments is exacerbating the issue and escalating the problem rather than the ‘betterment’ promised. Worryingly the situation has deteriorated since Babet with unacceptable flood risk from approved details at Eye Airfield in the last 12 months.
If you are as concerned as I am about this truly shocking state of affairs let me know via email and I will endeavour to keep you appraised of how the matter is progressing. If anyone has any photos of flooding around Lambsey Beck and the Fire Station, Lambseth Street, Castleton Way, Haygate, Highfield Approach or the detention basins on site in the winter of 2023-24 these would be most helpful as evidence.
Stephen Neave
Council news
During the works on the Town Hall clock tower, the bell was temporarily removed. Contrary to legend, there is no crack in the bell. Also, why the prevailing history is that the bell originated from the Priory, there is also a story that the bell was gifted by the Church. Of course it could be both. Anyway, the bell was weighed and only one person knows what the weight is! ETC decided it might be fun to hold a ‘guess the weight of the bell’ lotto. Pop into the Handyman pay £1 and have a guess. Winner(s) takes all. HINT: Weight is in kilos. Competition opens 1 April (and this is definitely not an April fool).
ETC has councillor vacancies. Whether it is environment, traffic, planning, the neighbourhood plan or something new and different, please contact the Clerk who will guide you through the process. You must be 18, have lived within the Parish for a year or have a business here. All councillors are volunteers.
In May, ETC holds the Annual Town Meeting. It is at this time the council hands out the Civic Awards. Do you know someone who gives volunteer time and/or knowledge to help someone or others? They don’t necessarily have to live within the Parish but provide their time to the town or its residents. We want to know! Please contact the Clerk with your nomination!
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CHANGES TO RECYCLING AND WASTE COLLECTIONS
Starting in June, we’ll be able to recycle more items from home.
The previous government brought in a requirement for all local Councils to collect more items for recycling, including food waste, starting this year. Mid Suffolk District Council has been busy preparing for this, and the new bins are now being delivered around the District, including in Eye.
o We will all have a new food-waste bin, plus a small ‘caddy’ for the kitchen. Food waste bins will be emptied every week. Food waste includes things like peelings, fruit cores and teabags, as well as unwanted leftovers. (If you currently compost your food waste at home, there’s no need to change!)
o The green-lidded bin will be for paper, cardboard and shredded paper.
o The new blue-lidded bin will be for glass bottles and jars, metal tins and cans, drinks cartons (tetra-pak), plastic bottles, tubs and trays and plastic bags, wrappings and films.
Whatever is left will continue to go in the residual waste bin (the black bin). This should have a lot less in it, and so will be collected every three weeks. However, more regular collections can still be arranged when needed (such as for households with medical waste, for example.)
Overall, there will be more frequent collections, with food waste plus one other bin being collected every week.
The extra bins will take up a bit more room, but smaller bins or sacks can be provided for households that don’t have space, such as some blocks of flats.
The new collections will start in June, so please don’t start putting out the new bins just yet! For now, we can all continue with the system we are used to.
Where to find out more
o Leaflets with full details will be sent out before the collections start.
o This website has detailed information, including what can be put in each bin: www.suffolkrecycling.org. uk/recycling-composting/ better-recycling
o Suffolk’s Food Savvy website has information and recipes to help reduce food waste: www.foodsavvy.org.uk/
Just a reminder - surplus, unused food items that are in date can also be donated to the Eye Community Fridge, located just inside in Eye Library.
These changes will meet government policy, as well as increasing the amount and quality of recycled materials, helping to reduce waste.
If you have problems or questions, please do let me know so we can try to sort things out before the new collections start.
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)
Nature Notes
A touch of spice
Love them or loathe them, muntjacs are here to stay. Native to China, the Reeves's muntjac, as it is less commonly known, was first brought to Britain in 1839 by tea inspector John Russell Reeves. Larger numbers arrived around 1900 for the exotic deer collection of the 11th Duke of Bedford at Woburn Park, for ornamental purposes. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some escaped and then others were deliberately released. Thanks to their adaptability and year-round breeding, feral populations spread rapidly across southern and central England, bolstered by further releases beyond East Anglia. Today, muntjacs are the most widely distributed deer in Suffolk after the native roe deer.
Adrian Barnard | www.wildhaven.art
Eye,Diss,Harleston and surrounding areas
‘The
Bruised Initiate’
by Martyn H. Taylor
‘The Bruised Initiate’ is a psychological novel set in Norfolk in the early 80s – a time of great transition for men. The lives of Marcus, Wayne, Malcolm and Oliver intertwine as they go through many challenging experiences. Taboo questions are posed –does male friendship always contain an element of male toxicity, and what is a ‘real man?’ Every reader will have their own unique perspective.
Available now from Amazon in paperback and Kindle Contact: Martyn H. Taylor
Community updateThe Eye Town Moors Woodland Society
PHILLIP WILCOX-MOORE, CHAIR, EYE TOWN MOORS WOODLAND SOCIETY
Spring is well underway, and the woods are looking great in my opinion.
After a productive volunteer session in March, there is plenty to report, and plenty of reasons to come and see the results of our hard work for yourself. The longer days and warmer temperatures make this a fantastic time of year to take a walk in the woods, and the combination of spring growth and recent volunteer work means they are in good shape as we head into the main growing season of the year.
The most notable job last month was restoring the aquatic planting in the pond of the rising sun. As you know from my previous updates, this pond has undergone significant work over recent months to restore it as a functioning habitat, and
the next step was reinstating aquatic plants around the margins and shallows. To do this properly, volunteers used a small boat to move across the pond and place plants at the right locations rather than working only from the bank. Positioning these plants carefully across the pond rather than concentrating them in one area gives the best chance of establishing a balanced and ecologically diverse water habitat. The pond is already looking much improved, and the planting should establish well through the spring and summer, providing cover and food sources for invertebrates, amphibians and the dragonflies and damselflies we hope to see in greater numbers as the season progresses.
Volunteers also carried out a thorough litter pick across the whole site. It is a straightforward task but an important one, and the difference to the overall appearance of the woodland is noticeable. A well-maintained site hopefully encourages people to treat it with respect, and keeping on top of litter is part of how we ensure the woods remain a welcoming space for everyone who uses it.
As well as the litter pick, coppicing continued on some of the larger hazels on the island above the amphitheatre. Regular coppicing is one of the most effective things we can do for the long-term health of the woodland. It encourages vigorous regrowth from the base of the tree, improves light levels on the woodland floor, and supports a wide range
of insects, birds and other wildlife that depend on the varied structure that coppiced woodland creates. The hazels on the island have responded well to previous coppicing work and the stools cut this season should be producing strong new growth within weeks.
Work on the dragonfly pond bridge is also finally nearing completion, thank goodness. We expect to finish it at the
next volunteer session, which will be a satisfying conclusion to what has been a worthwhile project. Once complete, the new bridge will improve access to this part of the woods and make the dragonfly pond and its tributaries more accessible for visitors of all ages.
Finally, I’d like to thank the members of the community
who take the time to say hello and speak to volunteers whilst we are working. The positive feedback about the woods and the work being done here is genuinely appreciated. This is a community asset, and it’s good to know our work is valued. So if you haven’t visited recently, we’d encourage you to come and take a look.
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 April.
Nick Bobby Tree Services
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New business hub opens in the heart of Eye
Apreviously empty office building on Cross Street has been given a new lease of life as the Eye Love Business Hub, bringing a number of local businesses together under one roof.
Located next to the Queen’s Head pub and Eye Library, the hub provides a base for small businesses in the centre of town. The building, owned by Mid Suffolk District Council, had been waiting for suitable tenants, and is now beginning to fill with a mix of creative and professional services.
The property is being managed by Joe Wood Property Team, who have taken one of the offices themselves while
overseeing the remaining spaces. Joining them are Sasa Marketing, PKing Media, and Outflux Graphic Design, creating a collaborative environment for creative and professional services in the town.
Joe Wood, Director of Joe Wood Property Team, said the move to Eye marks an exciting new chapter for the business.
“We’re incredibly excited to be opening an office here in Eye and becoming part of the local business community. From our new base on Cross Street we’ll be offering both property sales and lettings services, while also managing the hub itself. It’s a fantastic building and we’re
looking forward to seeing it filled with thriving local businesses.”
For Cat Bowyer, Director of Sasa Marketing, the move also brings work closer to home.
“I moved to Eye last year and really love living here, so being able to base the business in town as well feels like the perfect fit. The hub creates a brilliant opportunity for local businesses to work alongside each other, share ideas and support the local economy.”
Another new arrival is PKing Media, run by Perran King, who is creating a dedicated creative space within the building.
“The studio will allow us to
pkingmedia.com
offer a full multimedia service right in the centre of Eye. We’ll be providing photography, videography and podcast production, giving businesses and organisations access to professional content creation without having to travel further afield.”
Outflux Graphic Design, led by local designer Sharon Teague, is also delighted to see the building finally being used as intended.
“As a long-standing resident of Eye, it’s wonderful to see these offices being put to the good use they were always intended for. The hub is also now home to the production of Eye Magazine and serves as the headquarters for Eye Love, so people are very
welcome to pop in for a chat, share ideas for the town, or find out more about Eye Love merchandise. It’s great to see the building becoming a place where businesses and the community can connect.”
With several businesses now settled in, there are still three offices available for other entrepreneurs or smaller organisations looking for a base in Eye. Small offices are available from £250 per month, with larger spaces starting from £300 per month. Currently there is a conference room available for private hire - either for meetings or as a hot desk. Simply email joe.wood@kwuk.com for details and availability.
AN OPEN DAY FOR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE SPACE WILL TAKE PLACE IN APRIL
Anyone interested in finding out more about the available offices or attending the open day can contact Joe Wood Property Team by emailing joe.wood@kwuk.com.
The Eye Love Business Hub is already beginning to build a small but vibrant business community in the centre of town, and with more spaces still available, there is plenty of opportunity for others to join it.
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The Mill
Although Eye is a small homely town, back when corn was king and East Anglian really was the bread basket of England, Eye was somewhat a power house in the processing of corn and grain for both human and animal foodstuffs.”
There were three working mills in the town alone as well as in the surrounding area all geared to maximum production especially at harvest time.
Although the mill on the castle mound was gone by the late 1700's parts had been used in other mills notably the one at
Cranley Grange.
This and it's "sister" known as the Victoria Mill were both post mills. This design enabled the whole top part of the mill to turn always into the wind to be of maximum productivity. Imagine the carts all down Castleton Way queuing to have the corn processed and while the wind mill turned production did not stop. Unfortunately though some of the same elements eventually did for both these mills being damaged in storms and falling into disrepair.
The last owner of Victoria Mill was the Mortimer family.
They were a prodigious family of corn merchants, hauliers and maltsters in our part of Suffolk having quay side warehouses in Ipswich and mills about the county. In the Eye Archives we have photographic records of the decline and fall of the Victoria mill from it's inception in 1799 to the final stages of removal in the 1950's and 60's. As the timbers and grinding machinery were bespoke many parts of the structure went on to have a rebirth replacing elements in both Framsden and Thrigby post mills. The spirit lives on!
Our own Wendy Aiken suggested this piece after attending to photograph a friends wedding in Sheffield. There she met a relative of the Mortimers and was able later to invite them to the town to discover relations in the church and an old family cottage in Buckshorn Lane. An Oscar Mortimer, a true son of Eye is mentioned on the War Memorial.
In the very recent past the Town Council, Persimmons and Mid Suffolk Council have ensured that the remaining round brick base has been copped and made safe. There has been a clean up of the site with new hedges planted the old ones trimmed and a new sign board installed relating the history.
The area is also home to some amazing orchids and wild flowers, a fitting situation for a retired old part of the industrial revolution after many long years of service to our town.
I am grateful to the Eye Archive for the access to their records.
By Steve Sherwood
Charlie and Tessa Reeves
John Mortimer
Mr. Mortimer at the door of Mill House 1925-1930
Stanley Foster Mortimer 1927 Cottage Buckshorn Lane
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What is faith?
The last time you sat on a chair, did you first question if it could take your weight?
When you stepped into an aeroplane, did you wonder if the weight of the plane, plus the passengers and cargo would defy gravity? No, because you trust that the chair will hold you up, you trust the plane will stay in the air.
You are willing to put what you believe, that trust, into action. That is faith.
Perhaps when the first plane was invented, people did question the possibility of air travel, they would have had to “see it, to believe it,” or known someone else who had successfully flown over the seas. But we can’t create faith in our own minds, it can only exist through trust in something.
You believe that a new washing machine will eliminate all dirt and stains and leave your clothes as good as new, but that is only trust in what the sales pitch tells you.
Your faith in something is only established when the outcome you hoped for comes true. The chair you trustfully sit on, doesn’t break. The person you entrust a secret to, doesn’t then gossip behind your back.
As a Christian, we can’t summon up faith in God, we have to ask for it. Romans 10:17 says “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the good news about Christ”
To believe in anything, you have to hear about it first, then you have to learn to trust it.
So, how to find a faith in God? First you have to trust him. How do I trust him, I hear you ask? By getting to know him. Maybe by reading about him in the bible, searching through the stories to explore his character, chatting with him, praying to him, asking him to open your eyes to see him, maybe when you are looking at the beauty of his creation. It is said you can often get to know an artist from their work.
In any relationship, you have to trust that other person, that they will remain faithful to you. To trust someone you have to get to know them, you don’t confide
in a stranger, but to someone who you know won’t share your secrets with anyone else.
There are many stories in the bible about what God has done. In the Old Testament he led the Israelites through the wilderness providing them with commandments and teaching them how to live. Jesus’ life in the New Testament shows God’s love and connection with us, ultimately dying on the cross and coming back from the grave so that all who believe in him will spend eternity with him. But it’s only through hearing these stories and getting to know the character of God that you can learn to trust Him. We can lose faith in someone, or even God, when we don’t get the outcome we hoped for. Maybe we prayed to God for a particular need, but didn’t get the answer we wanted. We have to put our hope in the one we’re praying to, rather than the thing we are praying for. Even Jesus asked God for a different outcome, the night He was captured and turned over to the Romans to be crucified, but he still trusted in God’s plan.
Faith is trusting in God’s character even when the outcome hurts. Perhaps we’ll get to look back and see that this trust goes beyond our own needs and desires and is all about God’s good and eternal plan. Want to find out more? Visit Dove River Church on Friday or Sunday mornings! Easter Service 5th April 10:30am
By Jemma Aiken
by Marcus Gilbert
I bought a doll for my child recently. I thought it was manufactured by a wellknown brand, but I suspect it might be counterfeit. How can I be sure and what are my rights?
You’re right to seek advice about this issue, because counterfeit goods aren’t only illegal, they can be dangerous. Fake children’s toys in particular, including dolls, often don’t meet safety standards and can pose choking hazards - poor manufacturing can mean small parts are easily detachable. Counterfeit goods are fake products designed to mimic the authentic ones sold by genuine brands. Sometimes it’s easy to spot a knock-off, other times it can be harder to tell.
To advertise or volunteer with deliveries, please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.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.
It’s not just toys and games - things like clothing, footwear, e-cigarettes, perfumes and media devices can also be counterfeit. Things to watch out for include strangely low prices from well-known brands and signs of poor quality - like missing security seals, bad or non-existent packaging, blurry logos and poor stitching. You may also spot some spelling mistakes in the advert or on the packaging.
Looking at photos from official sellers can help when making comparisons, and it’s important to only buy products from reputable sellers. If you have purchased a counterfeit item, there are some steps you can take to try and get your money back. You’re legally entitled to a full refund on fake goods within 30 days of your purchase. If it’s been over 30 days since you paid, but less than six months, the seller can provide you with a real version of the item first. If they can't, then they’re legally required to give you a full refund.
If you paid more than six months ago, you’re only entitled to a part-refund based on how much you’ve used the item and how long you’ve had it. Sometimes sellers might refuse to refund you, and argue the items were obviously fake because they were very cheap, but they’re breaking the law by selling them and your legal rights still apply.
If this happens and you paid by debit card, contact your bank and ask to use the ‘chargeback scheme’. If you paid by credit card and the item cost less than £100, you can ask to use the same scheme.
If you paid by credit card and the item cost between £100 and £30,000, tell your credit card company you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim to get your money back. To report counterfeit goods or get help getting your money back, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. You can also report a seller to Trading Standards, which investigates criminal activity.
Eye New Age Kurling Club
We are an aged group of players who would benefit from an extra member or two. We play on a polished floor (not ice!) and it is possible to play from a wheelchair. The social side of our morning is as important as our variable skill although we have been known to get competitive occasionally.
Because of the rental cost and insurance cover we need to pay to play, we do need a level of regular commitment and our membership fee is therefore payable in advance every six months.
We play for two hours in the Town Hall from 10am every Tuesday, so, if you are aged 70+, feel free to come and meet us for a free session or two.”
Wendy, any thoughts you have on the best way you consider might help us to attract a small extra number of players will be most gratefully appreciated. If you wish to discuss anything with us, please feel free to pop into one of our Tuesday morning sessions or drop me an email, or telephone for a chat.
Pam Cooke, Secretary, Eye New Age Kurling Club. Home tel: 01379 678100. Mobile:
Why “enough” is harder than it sounds
Irecently finished reading a book called Not Needing New - A Practical Guide to Finding the Joy of Enough.
The book wasn’t about going without or denying ourselves pleasure. More so, about noticing how easily we fall into the belief that happiness lies just beyond the next purchase, the next improvement, the next challenge or the next version of ourselves.
It made me think about how often our mental wellbeing becomes tangled up with that sense of “not quite enough”.
I’m not really a shopaholic, but the bit about the next challenge resonated with me,
by Anne Beckett-Allen, founding funeral director of Rosedale and Mental health First Aid Instructor
as those who know me will know most years will involve a new fitness challenge, climbing a mountain, running a marathon or completing an ironman.
Modern life gives us plenty of opportunities to compare. And comparison, as most of us know, can be surprisingly hard on the mind.
Social media has amplified that effect enormously. It is almost impossible to scroll through a feed without seeing someone who appears to be living slightly better than we are. Someone running faster, travelling further, decorating more beautifully, or somehow managing to look calm and organised while doing all of the above.
Of course we know, rationally, that social media shows a carefully edited version of life. We are rarely seeing the messy kitchen, the argument before the photograph was taken, or the exhaustion that comes after the big achievement.
But even when we know that, comparison can still quietly chip away at our sense of contentment.
Psychologists have long recognised something called social comparison. Humans naturally measure themselves against others in order to understand where they fit in the world. It is a normal part of being human.
The challenge now is that instead of comparing ourselves with a small circle of neighbours or colleagues, we can suddenly find ourselves measuring our lives against hundreds of people every day.
That can be exhausting for the mind.
When we start to believe that everyone else is doing better, achieving more, or living more exciting lives, it becomes very easy for the quiet voice of “not enough” to creep in.
Not successful enough. Not fit enough.
Not organised enough. Not happy enough.
Over time that kind of thinking can quietly drain our mental reserves.
What the book suggests is that contentment often begins when we interrupt that pattern. Instead
“Humans naturally measure themselves against others in order to understand where they fit in the world.”
of constantly asking what we should add to our lives, we occasionally pause and ask a different question.
What, right now, is already enough?
It is a simple question, but it can be surprisingly powerful. Enough might look like a peaceful cup of tea before the day begins. A conversation with a friend that leaves you feeling
lighter. A walk where your mind finally slows down. A day that contains no great achievement but also no particular crisis. These moments rarely appear on social media feeds. They are not dramatic or particularly photogenic. Yet they are often the moments where our nervous system settles and our mental health quietly benefits.
Recognising “enough” does not mean giving up on ambition or improvement. It simply means remembering that our wellbeing does not always depend on having more, doing more, or becoming more.
Sometimes it grows when we notice what is already here. And occasionally, in the middle of ordinary life, that can be more than enough.
Sean’s food stories
This month I have been with Barbara Walker cooking up her favourite version of a classic Buttery Kedgeree.
Before moving to Eye in 1999 Barbara, alongside her husband Bernard, were the proud proprietors of The Flitch of Bacon pub in the small village of Little Dunmow, Essex. A woman after my own heart Barbara would lovingly prepare traditional British fayre. Including such dishes as Steak & kidney pudding and locally sourced Ham, egg & chips. Among the many various delights on the menu Kedgeree was one of the most popular; and a dish that brings back fond memories of her time at the 16th century Inn. “We would prepare a big pot in advance, which would make for a quick and easy lunch service” she explained. “Also, the pub had 3 guest rooms. So, in the morning, the Kedgeree would feature as a popular breakfast item.”
Barbara’s Kedgeree is a dish she still prepares for herself regularly and when she speaks
of it, she does so with great enthusiasm and a warm smile on her face. “I still get my fish delivery once a week from my local supplier Bradley of Spens Fish. He delivers wonderful smoked haddock straight to my front door every Wednesday”
In the late 19th century, British colonial officers returned from India with a Breakfast staple which would rapidly become a fashionable favorite and a regular feature on the tables of Victorian Britain. Evolving from a rice and lentil dish known as Kicthri. This Anglo-Indian fusion typically incorporated smoked haddock, rice, curry powder and hard-boiled eggs.
“This Anglo-Indian fusion typically incorporated smoked haddock, rice, curry powder and hard-boiled eggs.”
Serves 4-6
INGREDIENTS
225ml level in a measuring jug long grain rice
700g Smoked haddock
110g Butter
1 large Onion (peeled and diced)
4/5 Hard-boiled eggs (peeled and quartered)
¾ tsp curry powder
3 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to season
METHOD
Place the haddock in a medium sized saucepan and pour over 500ml of cold water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 8 –10 minutes. Once the fish is just done and flakes easily, drain off to cool, reserving the cooking liquid. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and cook the onion over a low heat for 5 minutes until well softened, stirring occasionally. Add the curry powder and cook for a further 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the rice and pour in the
reserved cooking liquid. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once cooked, flake in the haddock (keeping an eye out for any bones) stir in the lemon juice and eggs. Season to taste. Finish off with a sprinkling of the fresh parsley.
If you have a recipe that has a story to tell and would like to feature. I would love to hear from you. Please contact the Editor or Pop along to the Bank Arts Centre and share your food story with me.
Regular events
MONDAY
1st Eye Cub Scouts
Every Monday during term-time from 6.45-8.15pm for boys and girls aged 8-10½ years old at Scout Headquarters on Wellington Road. Juliet Grimes juliet@eyescouts.org.uk
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 6-7.30pm and 7.30-9.15pm for boys and girls aged 10½-14 years at Scout Headquarters on Wellington Road. Juliet Grimes juliet@eyescouts.org.uk
1st Eye Squirrel Scouts
Every Tuesday during term-time from 4.455.30pm for boys and girls aged 4-6 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 be seated by 12:45 for 1pm start. Mike Barr 01379 870853
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
Tea Dances
At Eye Community Centre 2-4pm on the first three Tuesdays of the month. Contact Teresa 01379 308516 / 07709565875.
Teresa Marsh Dance Classes
Mixed ability class at the Community Centre Tuesdays 8-9pm. Contact Teresa 01379 308516 / 07709565875.
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
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!
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
Wednesdays from January 2026. Simple stretch and dance for all ages and abilities 2-3pm in Town Hall Eye. £5 drop in. Please use back door. Call 07714006470 for info or just turn up!
Eye Country Market
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
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
Regular events cont.
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
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, 10am-12pm. 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. The Michael Burke Well-being Centre. Beverley
Goddard 01379 388682
Open Church
Dove River Church. You are welcome to pop in 9:30-11:30 on Fridays, in term time for tea/coffee and a chat. Toys are available for little ones.
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 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
Please email the editor at editoreyemag@gmail.com by 5th of the month, for content to appear in the following issue.
I bought a doll for my child recently. I thought it was manufactured by a wellknown brand, but I suspect it might be counterfeit. How can I be sure and what are my rights?
You’re right to seek advice about this issue, because counterfeit goods aren’t only illegal, they can be dangerous.
Fake children’s toys, including dolls, often don’t meet safety standards and can pose choking hazards - poor manufacturing can mean small parts are easily detachable.
Counterfeit goods are fake products designed to mimic the authentic ones sold by genuine brands. Sometimes it’s easy to spot a knock-off, other times it can be harder to tell.
• Door to door dial-a-ride service • Weekly members outings throughout the year • Group hires for not-for-profit organisations
It’s not just toys and games - things like clothing, footwear, e-cigarettes, perfumes and media devices can also be counterfeit.
BORDERHOPPA OUTINGS FOR APRIL 2026
Thurs 2nd Peter Beales Roses: £15
Thurs 9th Thorpeness and Aldeburgh: £20
Things to watch out for include strangely low prices from well-known brands and signs of poor quality - like missing security seals, bad or non-existent packaging, blurry logos and poor stitching. You may also spot some spelling mistakes in the advert or on the packaging.
Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk can provide in depth advice on this issue and much more, including debt, finances, employment, benefits and family/ relationships.
Thurs 16th Tea & Cakes at Dutch Barn Nursery, Blo Norton: Dial-a-Ride
Looking at photos from official sellers can help when making comparisons, and it’s important to only buy products from reputable sellers.
Mon 20th Southwold: £20
Mon 27th The Four Horseshoes, Thornham: Dial-a-Ride
If you have purchased a counterfeit item, there are some steps you can take to try and get your money back. You’re legally entitled to a full refund on fake goods within 30 days of your purchase.
To book or for more information please call 01379 854800 or visit our website www.borderhoppa.org
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
If it’s been over 30 days since you paid, but less than six months, the seller can provide you with a real version of the item first. If they can't, then they’re legally required to give you a full refund. If you paid more than six months ago, you’re only entitled to a part-refund based on how much you’ve used the item and how long you’ve had it.
Sometimes sellers might refuse to refund you, and argue the items were obviously fake because they were very cheap, but they’re breaking the law by selling them and your legal rights still apply.
We print 1,600 magazines each month
If this happens and you paid by debit card, contact your bank and ask to use the ‘chargeback scheme’. If you paid by credit card and the item cost less than £100, you can ask to use the same scheme.
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 Dunnett's 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
Opening hours are Monday-Thursday 9.30am –3.30pm and Friday 9.30am – 12.30pm.
If you paid by credit card and the item cost between £100 and £30,000, tell your credit card company you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim to get your money back. To report counterfeit goods or get help getting your money back, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. You can also report a seller to Trading Standards, which investigates criminal activity.
The Eye-to-Eye Directory
An updated version of the Eye-to-Eye Directory is now available, and can be obtained by emailing mail@eye-to-eye.co.uk
It contains details of local clubs, societies, charities and services available in our community
Fun activitiesGuardian quick cryptic crossword
Eclipse publicised party (5) 4 Convener cold, then hot before broadcast (5)
7 Boring type with female, flipping idler (7)
1 It lubricates socials on a regular basis (3) 2 Note German, one marked with stripes? (5) 3 Gemstone not pearl? The odds are nonexistent (4)
(7)
8 Decline in talk kept back (3) 9 On reflection, hidden danger in role (4)
Eclipse publicised party (5)
Convener cold, then hot before broadcast (5)
Boring type with female, flipping idler (7) 8 Decline in talk kept back (3) 9 On reflection, hidden danger in role (4) 10 Particular deal? It is corrupt (6) 12 Clerics in six estates, maybe (6) 14 Retreat for dull poet (4) 17 Sticky stuff at fair at intervals (3) 18 Scapegoat following everyone given ridicule (4,3) 20 Curves in cylindrical device given backing (5)
Particular deal? It is corrupt (6) 12 Clerics in six estates, maybe (6) 14 Retreat for dull poet (4) 17 Sticky stuff at fair at intervals (3)
18 Scapegoat following everyone given ridicule (4,3)
20 Curves in cylindrical device given backing (5) 21 Reckon gout eases on and off (5)
Reckon
1 It lubricates socials on a regular basis (3)
(5) 15 Glean shifting point of view (5) 16 Market sport on a course when given lift (4) 19 Positive response by Jesse intermittently (3)
