In Touch with Claydon - February 17

In Touch

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with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural

Volume 7 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2017

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR The oldest member of my family died just before Christmas. Kathleen, my great-aunt and surrogate ‘godfather’ since the death of her husband Jimmy when I was 15, died at the remarkable age of 97. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews (including my dad).

Despite her age, Kathleen maintained an aura of quiet authority which I’ve always admired. She wasn’t scary or aloof, as often those we defer to can be, but somehow demanded respect from all who knew her. She always had time to chat, putting the kettle on before you’d even sat down. The fact that she was tall and had a very distinctive voice made her standout from the other women I knew as a child. I was never afraid of her, but I would never have wanted to be in her bad books either.

Kathleen’s death has inspired me to do a little research into my family tree. I don’t plan to take it too seriously just yet, but just want to get the last couple of generations in place so I know who’s who. It has been fascinating. My dad helped with his side of the family and we did quite well, though he knows very little of his American cousins and nothing of all about their families. Most of my mum’s family still live in Ireland so that side of the tree is a bit more complete.

They had big families back then. My dad had 15 aunts and uncles! One child, as I have, would have been a complete anomaly. And the same names came up again and again. I know my parents had intended to call me Elizabeth after my grandmother, but my dad decided he didn’t want my life to be as difficult as hers so broke with tradition and found a name which made its first appearance in the Burke family tree (to some astonishment) in 1969. Elizabeth is my second name.

I now wish I knew more about the people who are my family, however distant, and also wonder how I will be perceived when my name is added to a family tree in years to come, perhaps by my great-grandniece. Mostly I wish I could spend time with my long-lost grandparents to talk about their lives. I have so many question. If you can do so, make the most of every opportunity to know those who can still share their lives with you.

I also hope I’ll be doing The Times crossword every day when I’m 97, just as Kathleen did.

In Touch

with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural

In Touch with Barham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton Rural is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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10 FEBRUARY 2017 is the final date for both advertising & editorial copy

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CAN YOU HELP A LOCAL CHARITY? Suffolk Family Carers is based on Hill View Business Park in Claydon. We provide information, advice, guidance and support for anyone who is caring for a friend, family member or neighbour. The person that they are caring for may be ill, have a disability, a mental health issue or be elderly and frail.

How can you help?

By calling a family carer each week, either from your own home or from our Claydon office, offering emotional support, a listening ear and a friendly chat.

What do we offer?

Training and support for your volunteer role, out-of-pocket expenses and the opportunity to meet new people and to make a real difference to the lives of family carers.

Who do I contact?

If you are interested and would like to find out more, please contact the volunteer team: 01473 835450 / volunteer@suffolkfamilycarers.org

NORWICH ROAD, BARHAM – WATER MAIN WORKS COMMENCING MARCH 2017 Details are not yet available, but starting in early March the installation of a major water main will take place in Norwich Road, Barham starting at the A140 junction and working towards Claydon taking about threefour months.

This will involve some road closures and single line working and will affect the 113/114 Ipswich – Diss bus service. Hopefully further details will be available for the March issue of In Touch.

Barry Moore, Transport Representative Claydon and Whitton PC

FLOODLIGHTING SCHEME AT ST PETER’S CHURCH, HENLEY Would you like to mark a day which is important to you and your family? Do you want to celebrate a birthday or an anniversary, or remember a loved one? You could light up our church for an evening.

It’s a great way to remember a special day and bring light to the village.

Why not support your local church and celebrate your particular day by joining our Floodlighting Sponsorship Scheme. It’s easy to do – just collect a sponsorship form from the church porch or contact the organiser, Chris Dawkins: 01473 831423 / cdawks@gmail.com The Hornsby family would like to thank all friends and neighbours for their kindness after Arnold’s death. We have been overwhelmed by all your cards, messages and support.

We are truly fortunate to live in a village like Henley.

Thank you very much once again.

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NEWS COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT JOHN FIELD’S REPORT TO GIPPING VALLEY: JANUARY 2017 The Latest Budget Situation The local government settlement is now with us. It is essentially in line with the predictions although the county can now bring forward the social care ‘precept’ or council tax, making it 3% per year for the next two years rather 2% per year for three years.

This precept yielded £5.4m in 2016-17 and will rise to £24m in 201920. An improved Better Care Fund of £0.9m in 2017-18, rising to £20.3 in 2019-20, will be diverted from the New Homes Bonus that district councils receive. These changes will help the county cope with a reduction in its Revenue Support Grant from £68.3m in 201617 to £16.3m in 2019-20. However, you can see the size of the cuts even before the increasing need is considered.

The problems funding social care and the knock-on effect on the NHS that we all hear about continually will continue. This is a service where some grown-up discussions about funding are required.

Highways Scrutiny of highways revealed much hope that the contract can be made to work, but not a lot of evidence that progress is being made.

However, the backlog of schemes funded from councillors’ highways locality budgets is reducing quite significantly and the allocation of a budget to flooding issues is resulting in action. An issue at the end of Pest House Lane in Barham has been fixed.

We were told that the Highway Maintenance Operational Plan (HMOP) was either ill-defined or not followed and it has been replaced with a more focused document. The plan to move away from reactive work to the less costly preventative maintenance work has led to the number of reactive repairs (pothole fixes, etc.) falling from 2,123 in July 2015 to 1,361 in July 2016.

A trial of a ‘temporary closure 15-minute delay’ sign as an alternative to a full road closure was successful. In many instances, roads were not carrying traffic at the time work was to be done and traffic could be safely steered past the site without any delay. This process will be used widely with substantial savings in time spent on diversion routes and in cost to the county.

The integration of the county and Kier highways teams continues and I hope improvement will accelerate. Overall, this contract has been a rather disastrous move from the in-house Suffolk County Council highways teams to Kier, but is now perhaps heading in the right direction.

In a considerable list of recommendations, we insisted that communication with councillors, parish councils and communities should be improved.

Roads Mud covers some roads in Somersham and Great Blakenham. I am pressing for action, but as with the schemes for bollards and yellow lining the current turmoil in highways is causing delays.

Park and Ride Changes planned for the Ipswich Park and Ride are dependent on a number of road improvements. The total estimate for these exceeded £2m, a sum the administration thought impossible to provide. The county will therefore transfer the service back to First who believe that it can be run as it is, without a subsidy but with buses at 15-minute intervals. As no other similar service runs without a subsidy, it will be interesting to see how long this continues.

Planning-Kingfisher Drive At the planning meeting on January 11, we agreed to allow MSDC to convert 11 of the 23 affordable houses to shared ownership. They intended to offer these to local people for just one month before release on a wider market. This appeared ridiculously short: local people need time to react. I asked for an increase and three months was agreed.

One good point was that the money from this development for the Zebra Crossing is still in place. With the first houses ready for occupation soon this could be released in the next couple of months.

We may see the zebra in place by the summer.

District Council Financial Forecasts The changes to the New Homes Bonus have been firmed up in local government settlement. This bonus gives a sum equivalent to the council tax to the district council for a number of years for each home built in the district. Where expansion is over 0.4% the reward will be paid for five years in 2017-18 then for four years. This will cost Mid Suffolk £450k in 2017-18 and £855k in 2018-19. This shows how important house building and the New Homes Bonus is to the district council.

Executive or Cabinet Mid Suffolk and Babergh are to change from the current system where a cross party executive is in ultimate political control to a single party cabinet. This is a strange decision given the current problem where large numbers of people feel their opinions are never heard.

If you have queries please call me on 01473 831306 (you will need to say your name and press #) or email: john.field@suffolk.gov.uk www.john.field@suffolk.libdems.org

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NEWS COMMUNITY TRUST WELCOMES APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS Claydon and Barham Local Community Trust welcomes applications from local community groups within Claydon and Barham catchment area for small grants. Please supply a brief description of what the funding is required for. Also please inform us of when the funds are required and how it will benefit the community.

All applications to be emailed to info@candbcc.co.uk or a letter sent to Claydon and Barham Community Centre, Church Lane Claydon IP6 0EG to arrive no later than Sunday, March 5.

All applications will be considered by the trust committee and those volunteers who deliver your magazines at a meeting in April.

It is now six years since Claydon and Barham Local Community Trust Ltd took over managing the distribution of your In Touch magazines, for which we receive financial remuneration. During this time we have been able to disseminate funds to a number of worthy causes, and are again in a position to accept funding applications for 2017. We have ÂŁ1,000 to distribute.

We take this opportunity to publically thank everyone who, month after month, in rain and sunshine, deliver more than 1,700 magazines, including those who help sort the magazines into 35 routes. Without everyone working together magazines would never reach your door.

We are always looking for more volunteers to help and currently have two vacancies, one for Station Road and another for York Crescent.

Magazines are delivered to your door during the last week of each month and you are asked to deliver them to a set group of properties by the end of the month at your convenience. If interested please contract Gail Cornish on 07932 478878 or Peter Avis on 07921 864042.

BARHAM PARISH COUNCIL (BPC) Proposed housing scheme, Barham Church Lane Pigeon Investment Management Ltd are currently finalising preparations of their planning application, including meeting with representatives of the community centre and church in the first week in January 2017.

Therefore, they envisage submitting the planning application to Mid Suffolk District Council towards the end of January.

February 27 and March 1 are provisional dates for a public meeting at Claydon High School if the planning application is received by Mid Suffolk District Council and sent out for consultation for the parish council to comment. For the latest information regarding the application visit: http://claydonandbarham.onesuffolk.net Finance The parish council has considered the budget for 2017/18 and it was agreed to set the precept figure request from MSDC at ÂŁ24,692, an increase of 2%.

Other planning matters Following approval by the Secretary of State for the SnOasis development, Mid Suffolk District Council has now received the application for the reserved matters to be considered and is asking all local parish councils for their views. The parish councils will join together as SnOasis Parish Alliance to make their recommendations to MSDC (see page 13).

FUTURE MEETINGS Monday, February 6 at 7pm in Claydon and Barham Village Hall Monday, March 6 at 7pm in Claydon and Barham Village Hall If you would like a specific topic discussed as an agenda item, please contact the parish clerk Claire Anderson: barhampc@outlook.com / 01473 839784 YOUR COUNCILLORS Stephen Carr (chairman) 831122; Gordon Musson (vice chairman) 830759; Neil Cooper 01449 760493; Jeremy Lea 07956 149905; Darren Millward 830891; Claire Webb 832622; Phil Usher 830168.

WHERE THE HOLIDAY FUN STARTS CYCP (Claydon Youth Community Project) runs holiday activities for young people aged nine-16 years. It is open to all young people, their siblings, family and friends in the local area.

Activities run for two days in October and February half term, four days at Easter and eight days during the summer holiday. Most of the activities take place at Claydon High School, however we do have activities off-site in the local area.

The cost for each activity is subsidised by the generous funding and donations we receive, including from the local parish councils, Suffolk Foundation, lottery and locality funding. This makes them affordable to you and gives the young people a chance to try something new and maybe find a new hobby or interest, or even a career.

Activities have included scuba diving, karting, drama, decopatch, ceramics, mosaics, cookery, trampolining, tennis, archery, football, street running, climbing, golf and much, much more.

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This February we have some exciting new activities lined up on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 14 and 15, including quad biking, as well as some of the old favourites, trampolining, mosaics and ceramics.

Keep an eye out for the booklets that are distributed via the local schools, or check out the programme at www.cycp.org and contact us to book.

You can also keep up to date by following us on Facebook: @CYCPclaydonyouthcommunityproject1 We are always looking for new ideas for activities and sponsors, so please get in contact if you think you can help in any way: 01728 860125 / cycp_bookings@yahoo.co.uk

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NEWS CLAYDON & WHITTON PARISH COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 2017

Parish Councillors During recent months there have been a number of changes to the membership of the parish council. A list of current councillors is shown below. However, there are still vacancies for councillors that we would like to fill as soon as possible. No formal qualifications are required, but prospective councillors should live in Claydon or Whitton Rural and must be prepared to attend bi-monthly parish council meetings. Although not obligatory, councillors are also encouraged to become members of the finance and/or planning and amenities committees or represent the council at meetings of village organisations and other outside bodies in which they may have a particular interest.

New councillors are also required to attend a short training course that takes place at the offices of Suffolk Association of Local Authorities at Hill View Business Park on Old Norwich Road. Parish councils are the third tier of local government but are non-political. The work of the parish council is almost exclusively related to matters within the Claydon and Whitton Rural areas. It has a statutory right to carry out certain functions which include, for example, being consulted by Mid Suffolk District Council on all planning applications made in respect of land and buildings within the parish boundaries. In addition it has input into the provision of highways and other services provided by Suffolk County Council and Mid Suffolk District council. It is required to set an annual budget and precept (council tax) which is then used exclusively for the benefit of the parish. If you care for, and are interested in, the present and future shape of your community and local environment, and have a few hours to spare each month, why not consider becoming a parish councillor? Please contact our parish clerk for an informal chat or further details, with no obligation, if you are interested. Your current parish councillors are: CHAIRMAN Cllr Chris Studd, Valley View, Church Lane, Claydon IP6 0EG / 831816 VICE-CHAIRMAN Cllr Gavin Wood, 56 Edinburgh Gardens, Claydon IP6 / 832047 MEMBERS Cllr Peter Avis, 5 Back Lane, Claydon IP6 0EB / 831553 Cllr Gail Cornish, 4 Alasdair Place, Drury Road, Claydon IP6 0ET / 834035 Cllr Anne Dunford, 30 Newell Rise, Claydon IP6 0AQ / 831846 Cllr Nigel Gutteridge, 54 Thornhill Road, Claydon IP6 0DZ / 830072 Cllr Mary Le-May, 813 Old Norwich Road, Ipswich IP1 6LH / 462072 Cllr Glenn Risbridger, Fieldview Cottage, 7 The Slade, Claydon IP6 0EX / 832590 Cllr John Whitehead, 9 Highfield Drive, Claydon IP6 0EY / 833279 Cllr John Williams, Tregona, Station Road, Claydon IP6 0HT / 830698

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFE LINE In December we hosted a small group of seven children. The girls came from the same school as the summer group, but the difference this time was that we invited children aged 12-14 years of age. These children are usually outside of the selection criteria and as such would not normally be included on the program. This was a very special trip for them. Not only was it their first time in the UK, but they also got to experience a British Christmas which is so very different from their own which takes place on January 7 where a child may receive a packet of sweets or, as western influences start to trickle through, a present as well. Despite not having the summer weather to rely on, the group were still able to enjoy a range of activities for the first two weeks of the visit and then spend the second two weeks enjoying family life over the Christmas period.

We are now looking towards the summer group visit and would appeal to anyone interested in supporting us get in touch now as we have already started preparations for the children’s visit. We are asking for donations of good quality second-hand clothing for the summer group for age range seven to 11 years. The children arrive with only the clothes they are wearing so both summer and winter clothes are appreciated.

We do have a list of essential items that we would like to provide for them to take home; please get in touch and we will be happy to provide further details.

For further information about our program or to donate clothes for the children please email or call me and I will be happy to provide further details CHOCOLATE BINGO IS BACK Saturday, March 25 at Needham Market Community Centre Adults £6, children under 10 half price. A great family night out with an Easter theme and lots and lots of chocolate. Please call for information.

We are very aware that there are now more charitable causes than ever all needing support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supports us, you may think you only do a little but without you we could not survive.

Link Chair Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / enquiries@ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk www.ccllmidsuffolk.org.uk

Meetings in February The next Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, February 27 at 7.30pm at the offices of Suffolk Association of Local Councils.

Members of the community are very welcome to attend and opportunity will be given at the beginning of the meeting for them to speak on items included on the agenda or other issues about which they have concerns.

Agendas will be available prior to the meeting from our parish clerk, Mrs S Eagle: 01473 687384 (answer machine available) / claywhit@btinternet. com / 7 Leicester Close, Ipswich IP2 9EX For the very latest news and information about village life and other items of interest please visit: www.claydonandbarham.onesuffolk.net / Twitter @claywhitpc

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

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NEWS FOUR COMMUNITIES ACTION GROUP

HENLEY PARISH COUNCIL NEWS

The Four Communities Action Group (4CAG) was created in 2010 by members of the churches of Barham, Claydon, Great Blakenham and Henley, Age UK (Suffolk) and interested members of the wider community. Its aim is to work together as four parishes to develop new activities and support networks, especially for those in need, and to provide spiritual support and encouragement with a view to enhancing the lives of all members of the community. We have welcomed our new priest-in-charge, The Rev Carl Melville, to the community and we will look forward to him chairing our AGM in February.

Dogs… We are a village of dog-lovers, there’s no mistaking that.

Sometimes the route round the fields is like a procession. Even your clerk is occasionally seen being taken for a walk by Poppy.

The group currently supports five organisations: • 4Ever Young Men’s Group meeting at the Crown, Claydon on the third Wednesday of each month (see page 18) • Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club at the Parish Rooms, Great Blakenham on the first Friday of each month (see page 18) • Gipping Valley Art Society meets at the Parish Rooms, Great Blakenham every Tuesday afternoon • The Book Club is an informal group which meets at the Crown, Claydon on the last Thursday of the month • The Knitting Group is a relaxed and friendly group meeting at Alasdair Place, Claydon on the first Thursday of the month Our aim is to increase awareness of these groups, plan future projects and also to attract like-minded people in the community to join us. The Crown at Claydon has always offered us a venue for some of our group meetings, coffee and the chance to stay for a bite to eat afterwards, and we would like to thank the team there for their support.

If you would like to know any more about our work, pop along to one of our activities or email: 4CAG@bigvax.co.uk We would love to hear from you.

Which is all fine, except when it comes to what dogs do.

You will have noticed signs at the entrance to the community centre car park saying No Dogs; I’ve seen them myself and yes, I might as well admit to the fact that I have occasionally ignored them.

But – and this is important – the signs are there for good reason. There is a children’s playground beside the car park and a well-used football pitch.

The whole point about playgrounds and football pitches is that they need to be as safe as possible and in addition to being frankly nasty, dog poo is also dangerous. Small children can mistake it for mud and it can too easily get spread around and passed from shoe or boot to hand to mouth – and that causes disease.

More than once football referees have threatened to cancel games on our pitch because of dog mess. More than once children have come home smelling of something which is clearly not just mud.

So it’s genuinely important not to let dogs run around on the football pitch or the grass area around it, and not to let them near the play area. That’s why there are No Dogs signs, and that’s why they should be respected. By everyone.

The community centre has rather good CCTV so we can see which humans and dogs are misbehaving. Of course, there would be no need for these rules if everyone was responsible and cleaned up after their dog every time. But they don’t, so there are rules, so please observe them.

On a more cheerful note, the Christmas Fair this year raised £840, which has been donated in full to Brooke’s Wish to Walk. This charity is a great cause which many people work for tirelessly, and we all hope the donation will help.

If you are not on our village email list and would like to be, just send a simple request to henleyparishcouncil@gmail.com or rodcaird@yahoo. co.uk and we will sort it out. And don’t forget to keep an eye from time to time on our own website where we publish all sorts of useful (we hope!) information and contacts: www.henley.onesuffolk.net Rod Caird, clerk 07785 331217

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 5 Route 5

Town/village

Location

Time

MIP/5A

Sproughton

Church Lane

9.10-9.25am

MIP/5B

Sproughton

Wild Man

9.30-9.45am

MIP/5C

Bramford

St Mary’s Close

9.50-10.05am

MIP/5D

Bramford

Paper Mill Lane

10.10-10.25am

MIP/5E

Great Blakenham, Chequers

10.35-1055am

MIP/5F

Great Blakenham, Blue Leighs Mobile Home Park,

11-11.15am

MIP/5G

Baylham

Post Box

11.25-11.45am

MIP/5H

Claydon

Crown

11.55am-1pm

MIP/5I

Claydon

Edinburgh Gardens 2.05-2.20pm

MIP/5J

Barham

Bacon Road

2.25-3.50pm

MIP/5K

Bramford

Packard Place

4-4.30pm

2017 DATES: February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 6, July 4, August 1, August 29, September 26, October 24, November 21, December 19

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www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

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In Touch online:

NEWS / OUT & ABOUT SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

SnOasis PARISH ALLIANCE (SPA)

Firstly, welcome from all the Hadleigh Safer Neighbourhood Team. Just to confirm that, although the police station is not open to the public, the SNT is still based at Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD.

If you live in the area around the proposed SnOasis development in Great Blakenham, you may be aware that the developer, Onslow Suffolk, have put in an application to Mid Suffolk District Council for SnOasis Reserved Matters to be considered – Planning Application no. 4494/16.

Just a reminder when to call the police: Emergency: please dial 999 Non-emergency: please call 101.

Road accidents: need to be reported to the police if unable to exchange details at the time of the incident within 24 hours.

Burglary in progress: please phone 999 Theft or burglary has occurred: call Suffolk police on 101 Incident at school: please ask the school to deal with this Fly tipping, abandoned vehicles, noise nuisance and stray dogs: report to the local council Witness drug use and have information about drugs: telephone Suffolk police on 101 or crime stoppers on 0800 555111 Lost mobile phone: report to the phone company and IMMOBILISE website: www.immobilise.com Lost credit cards: report to the bank or company Fraud: contact Action Fraud on 03001 232040 You, the public, are our eyes and ears when we are not around, so please report anything suspicious.

If you have ever been a victim of crime you will understand the importance of witnesses. Please phone 999 if you witness anything suspicious.

If you are organising an event or work in the community and would like the police or PCSOs to attend, please contact us in plenty of time so we can arrange to attend: hadleigh.snt@suffolk.pnn.police.uk Finally, an update about recent anti-social behaviour committed in the Hadleigh area by local youths. All youths have been interviewed at the police station under caution and as a result all youths have been placed on diversion courses and also assisting with community work as punishment for their behaviour.

This is not a renewal of the original planning approval, which still stands, but is the detail of the following matters: design, appearance, transport, drainage, ecological mitigation, etc. Full details can be found on the Mid Suffolk District Council website at: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-andbuilding/planning/snoasis/ Claydon and Whitton, Barham, Great Blakenham, Somersham and Little Blakenham Parish Councils, along with Nettlestead and Baylham Parish Meetings have agreed to form the Snoasis Parish Alliance, a group to work together to consider the details of the SnOasis Reserved Matters and to exert more influence than we can as individual organisations. An invitation to join us has been sent to all the other Councils who are being consulted by Mid Suffolk District Council over Reserved Matters and we are expecting membership of the SPA to increase.

Individual councils will still be making their own responses to Mid Suffolk District Council, but we believe that sharing both expertise and the workload will benefit both councils and residents.

We are committed to working with Mid Suffolk District Council to obtain the information necessary for councils to be able to make informed and constructive comments. It is also intended that existing expertise amongst the councils will be used to analyse and comment on the vast amount of very detailed (and sometimes very technical) information that we are expecting the developer to provide. As more information still has to be provided by the developer it is anticipated that the process of commenting on Reserved Matters will continue for several months.

The SPA has also set up a web page to inform residents of what is happening. It is hosted on the Great Blakenham Parish Council website: http://greatblakenham.onesuffolk.net/snoasis-parish-alliance/

Thank you for working together with the police to make our area a safer and nicer place to live.

For further information, please email Janet Gobey, the clerk to the SPA: snoasispa@icloud.com

Keep safe, PC 167 Diane PORTER

Steve Plume Chairman SnOasis Parish Alliance

Hadleigh SNT, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD

SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs by James Barry will be Needham Market Entertainment Company’s 20th pantomime. Join us at Needham Market Community Centre for this fun filled family community production on Friday, February 17 at 7.30pm or Saturday, February 18 at 1pm and 5pm.

Tickets (adults £7 / senior and junior citizens £5) available at Elton House or from: 01449 723171

MAMMOTH BOOK SALE Saturday, February 11, 11am-2pm St Mary’s Church Room, Ship Lane, Bramford Paperbacks 20p, hardbacks from 30p.

Proceeds towards the upkeep of our historic church.

Stewart McGinty, Friends of Bramford Church

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

EAST ANGLIA POTATO DAY Saturday, February 11, 9.30am-1.30pm, at Mid-Suffolk Showground Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, nr Stowmarket IP14 6AT Potato Day is a gardening event with all our customers and volunteers being gardeners who grow spuds, be it on an allotment, smallholding, garden or in pots on the patio.

As well as more than 80 varieties of seed potato available to buy per tuber, we also have onion sets and various stall-holders including Rougham Nurseries, King Seeds, master composters, chip tasting, seed swap, Hedgehog Rescue, tools, Suffolk Smallholders Association, bird boxes from Street Forge Workshops and advice from NSALG. For more details visit: www.eapd.btck.c.uk Previous visitors over the years will remember a very cold barn with canvas walls and a clinker floor, but recent building works have now transformed the barn into a solid building that has doubled in size with heating, carpet, space for a proper seating area for refreshments and the luxury of indoor toilets.

2017 will be the 22nd year and is a joint venture by members of three organic gardening groups: Suffolk Organic Gardeners, Norfolk Organic Group and Ipswich Organic Gardeners Group. Admission is £1.50.

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OUT & ABOUT CLAYDON & BARHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE

CLAYDON AND BARHAM VILLAGE HALL

Church Lane, Claydon IP6 0EG

Thursday 2

Silver Surfers Slimming World

11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm

Friday 3

Stowe School of Dance Private hire

4-5.30pm 6-10.30pm

Monday 6

Craft Addicts Barham PC Meeting

1-4pm 7-10pm

Tuesday 7

Mums and Tots Claydon Table Tennis

1.15-3pm 7.15-10.30pm

Thursday 9

Young Families Silver Surfers Slimming World

9.30-11.30am 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm

Friday 10

Stowe School of Dance

4-6pm

Saturday 11

Afternoon Tea Dance

1.30-5.30pm

Sunday 12

Private hire

1.30-5.30pm

Tuesday 14

Women’s Institute

7.30-10pm

Thursday 16

Sunshine Service Silver Surfers Slimming World

10am–noon 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm

Sunday 19

Private hire

9am-1pm

Monday 20

Craft Addicts CDC Streetdance Claydon PC Meeting

1-4pm 4.45-6.45pm 7-9pm

Tuesday 21

Claydon Table Tennis

7.15-10.30pm

Thursday 23

Young Families Silver Surfers Slimming World

9.30-11.30am 11.30am-2pm 5.30 & 7.30pm

Friday 24

Stowe School of Dance

4-6pm

Sunday 26

Private hire

1-5pm

Monday 27

CDC Streetdance Claydon PC Meeting

4.45-6.45pm 7.30-8.30pm

Santa visited with great success on his busy schedule and parents and children enjoyed the evening. The New Year’s Eve dance was well supported and all had a chance to shake themselves on the dance floor.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the community centre; we look forward to your continuing involvement in 2017.

FUTURE EVENTS Saturday, February 18: Valentine Celebrations with music supplied by Curt ‘n’ Rod, 7.30pm Saturday, February 25: Barham Athletic Race Night (see page 17) Wednesday, March 22: Pre-School Fundraiser (see page 10) Friday, April 7: Dan Poulter Surgery We have a wide and varied range of draft and bottled ales, ciders and lagers. Guinness and mild are also available and our premium lager, San Miguel, is now on tap. Pints of bitter start from just £2.50 and lager from just £2.90.

The Community Café is proving to be extremely popular and their high teas are particularly worth indulging as a special treat. www.candbcc.com / 01473 831805 Facebook: Claydon Community Centre

HENLEY PLAYERS The Henley Players completed their sixth annual pantomime, Dick Whittington, last month to rapturous applause and fantastic social media feedback. Well done to all the cast, backstage crew and everybody who is connected in any way to the players.

More than 500 people attended the four shows. Thanks once again to Henley Community Centre for providing the facilities to stage such a large production. It’s great to see the show come together since we started rehearsals way back in September last year. This year we had a record cast of 30 plus, from two years to mature!

Our next event on February 24 is a murder mystery evening written by Tom Hitchcock and performed by Henley Players. The price includes a three-course Italian dinner and the chance to become ‘detective’ to solve the mystery! Tables of up to eight, £15 per person. To book email: henleyplayersboxoffice@gmail.com

Dates for February

For more information on village hall activities visit the Claydon and Barham website and follow the links. Hall bookings now only online.

Henley Players Presents….

Junior Summer Show Friday 2nd Sat 3rd June 2017

henleyplayersboxoffice@gmail.com

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In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

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We are a local charity on your doorstep with our office located in Martlesham Heath and we are focused on supporting vulnerable young people and adults across the county.

We are looking for volunteers to become Appropriate Adults (AAs) to support young people or vulnerable adults when detained in custody at a time when they need it most. As an AA you would be present to ensure that all questioning is carried out as it should be and that the wellbeing of the vulnerable person has been addressed. AAs are independent of the police, social care or solicitors and in 2015 ACT responded to 2018 callouts.

It’s easy to fit this role around other commitments as the AA Service operates across Suffolk seven days a week on a rota basis. You are able to choose a fortnightly four-hour slot that is convenient for you.

If you have some spare time and would like to support a young person over a longer period of time, then becoming an Independent Visitor may be for you. For young people living in care homes, acting as Independent Visitors, volunteers meet with the young person, act as a positive role model, offer support and opportunity to participate in meaningful, fun activity. This is a monthly commitment of approximately four hours.

Our volunteer team comes from a range of backgrounds: retired police inspectors, nurses, social workers, criminology students, parents and people with varied life experiences. We welcome all applications and even if you have no professional experience we can support you through valuable training, shadowing and supervision. We have recently employed two of our AAs: a criminology student volunteering as an AA now works full time supporting homeless offenders to resettle in the community and another of our AA volunteers now works full time in our domestic abuse refuge. This role has opened many doors for our volunteers.

Contact Lisa Miles: 01473 622888 / LisaMiles@angliacaretrust.org.uk

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OUT & ABOUT LIONS CLUB OF STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT

SPEND AN EVENING WITH THE POET AND PERFORMER HOLLIE MCNISH Hollie McNish will be appearing at the Ipswich Institute, 15 Tavern Street, Ipswich IP1 3AA on Wednesday, February 22 as part of Suffolk Book League’s 2017 programme of events.

2017 ART SHOW & SALE Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March At The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts, Stowmarket Admission £1 / under 16s accompanied by an adult free Opening times: Saturday 10am-5pm / Sunday 10am-2pm A cheese and wine preview at 7.30pm on March 3 is also available at a cost of £5 which includes the first drink (wine or a soft drink).

Entry is by ticket. Tickets can be purchased from the Stowmarket Lions Club by ringing 08458 335114.

Thank you to our show sponsor: Purbeck and Co, residential estate agents and valuers

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, January 25, 7pm: The Sad Story of Airship 101 We meet at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich – entrance via rear car park. Visitors welcome – £3.50 at door including tea/coffee.

Details from: 01473 414746/422145 www.idhts.co.uk

In Nobody Told Me, published in 2016, Hollie writes about poetry and parenthood. Her poems are personal, touching and funny.

They are brilliant to read, but hearing her perform them lends them a whole other dimension. If you want to hear how great she is there are clips of her performances on YouTube and you can check her out on: www.holliepoetry.com Doors open at 7pm with the event starting at 7.30pm. The entrance fee is £4 for members of Suffolk Book League and £8 for non-members.

Students are free on production of a valid student card. Tickets can be paid for on the door or if you want to book in advance please email: enquire@sbl.org.uk Suffolk Book League, established in 1982, is a quite unique organisation which provides what is essentially a year-long literary festival. Further information about the league, including the benefits of membership, can be found at: www.sbl.org.uk

ALL AGES EVENT

BARHAM ATHLETIC FC

ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY

Barham Athletic Football Club Are Holding A Family Video Horse Racing Evening

INCLUDES SUPPER

Adults £6 Children (u12s) £4

Jumbo Sausage & Chips

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SPONSOR A RACE FOR £50 Includes: ·

Two Adult Tickets

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Two Free Drinks

Claydon Community Centre

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Sponsors Table

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Name The Horse

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Business Card Handout

Church Ln, Claydon, Ipswich, IP6 0EG

·

ALL PROCEEDS RAISED FROM THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT GO DIRECTLY BACK IN TO THE CLUB TO ASSIST IN ITS DEVELOPMENT NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

FOR TICKETS

WHERE:

Company Logo On Our Website

Contact STUART on 07796 785961

WWW.BARHAMATHLETICFC.CO.UK www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

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OUT & ABOUT

IPSWICH & DISTRICT SUPPORT GROUP The next open meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9 at St Augustine’s Church Hall on Bucklesham Road at 7pm. The main speaker will be Jenefer Roberts who will give a talk about her book Can I Eat That?, a nutritional guide for Type 2 diabetics. Our sponsor, Martin from Silver Lining Estate Planning Ltd, will also give a short talk on estate planning, power of attorney and wills.

This is a social gathering of people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to source information on diabetes and talk to other people in similar situations. Refreshments will be available free of charge, plus we hold a draw. There is no admission or joining fee.

Caroline Sagar from Diabetes UK will give a short talk on our aims for 2017 when we meet on March 9.

For more information email: dsgipswichduk@gmail.com www.ipswich.diabetesukgroup.org / Facebook DSGroupIpswich

MEET ‘N’ EAT LUNCH CLUB The Meet ‘n’ Eat Lunch Club meets at noon on the first Friday of each month at the Parish Rooms in Great Blakenham. Our regular meetings will continue throughout 2017 where for only £4 we serve a choice of soup with a roll and butter, home-made puddings with cream or custard and a cup of tea or coffee. In February, we are also offering a jacket potato with a choice of filling; a straw poll at the last meeting suggested they will be a sell-out.

In addition, we offer the chance to sit and chat with old friends, make new friends, play a game of bingo, win the raffle and have a bit of fun.

We have recently registered the club with Babergh and MidSuffolk District Council’s Food and Safety Team, who are helping us to comply with current regulations and to work towards a ‘Very Good’ food hygiene rating.

A quick diary date – our first Friday in April will in fact be on March 31!

We’ll keep reminding you.

If you need more information, please contact Mike on 07805 507497 or just come along on the first Friday of the month with your friends. You will be very welcome.

4EVER YOUNG MEN’S CLUB The 4Ever Young Men’s Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 10.30am in the Crown at Claydon. Our Christmas lunch was a great success – good food, good company and a quiz that tested our memory because we used a lot of questions from the year before!

We’re working hard to put together a timetable for 2017. Some good ideas came up at our last meeting which we’ll be trying to incorporate.

We’re always looking for members and speakers, but if we don’t get the members, we can’t afford to pay for the speakers, so if you fit the bill (Forever Young) please come along to listen or talk, or both.

EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of, or a volunteer for, the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you. We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre at 7.15pm.

Our next meeting is on February 21 when we are delighted to welcome Ben Cowell. Ben, formerly regional director of the East of England National Trust, will be talking about his first year as director general of the Historic Houses Association and the challenges that face historic houses in private ownership.

On March 21 Paul Forecast, the new regional director for the East of England National Trust, will be setting out his plans for the next 10 years and, in particular, how the trust will play a more active role in saving nature. The talk will be preceded by a short AGM. Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome. The entrance fee is £3. National Trust members/volunteers can join us for £8 per year (£12 per couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events.

For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary (membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761) or visit: www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

HENLEY SENIOR CITIZENS I apologise for missing the earlier deadline for last month’s issue, but I’m sure it’s not too late to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

Our 2016 programme ended with a successful result for the chocolate stall and hamper draw at Henley Christmas Fayre. We would like to thank everyone who donated items and supported us on the day. We are always grateful for the kindness shown to us. The hamper this year was won by Doreen Harvey and the bottle of whisky by John Clements , both of Henley, the bottle of Prosecco by David Powell of Ipswich, and the bottle of wine by one of the stall-holders.

On Sunday, December 4 we once again enjoyed a tasty Christmas Lunch cooked by the ‘Henley Chefs’ and our sincere thanks to Robert, Jim and Mike for all their hard work, and to Barbara Harris and Doreen Harvey for their waitressing services and support to the chefs. We were entertained by members of the Suffolk Academy of Dance and Performing Arts. They were great and brought a smile to many faces as some of them were very young, but very professional.

Sadly our year ended with the sudden death of Bernie Rushbrook (alias Father Christmas at the fayre). He was a jovial and willing person and will be greatly missed by us all.

BRAMFORD TREFOIL GUILD We met in Bramford Scout and Guide Hut on Monday, January 9, our first meeting of 2017. Despite the weather, the meeting was very well attended.

The Crown at Claydon very kindly accommodates us and provides coffee for our meeting, and a number of us stay for a spot of lunch afterwards.

The meetings give us the chance to sit and chat with old friends, meet new friends and learn of new interests and ideas.

It was our annual meeting, which saw us vote Pat in again as chairman.

We are lucky to have her and wish her a good 2017. In her report for 2016 she gave thanks for support received during the year. After the business part of the proceedings we went into groups and played board games which members had brought along, some more complicated than others.

For more information, contact Mike Biddle on 07805 507497 or just turn up on the third Wednesday of the month. You will be very welcome.

Our meeting on February 6 will be a craft afternoon. Please bring scissors and sellotape, with a dispenser if you have one.

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In Touch online:

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ClaydonTiling Ltd CERAMIC TILER Shaun Richardson 4 Rowan Close, Claydon, Suffolk IP6 0RD

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OUT & ABOUT GREAT BLAKENHAM OVER 50S CLUB CLAYDON & BARHAM WI We welcomed Pat Nightingale and her guide dog Maisie on January 10. Pat lives at St Peter’s Court and was a WI member some years ago in a different part of the country. It was lovely to have them both with us, and also good for us all to be together again after the Christmas break.

Jane Sago, president of the Eastern Region WI, gave us some tips on how to present and exhibit our entries for the competitions we enter in the Suffolk Show.

Great Blakenham Over 50s Club is open to anyone of that age living not just in Great Blakenham, but anywhere in the surrounding area. We meet from 2-4pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month in the Parish Room on Stowmarket Road in Great Blakenham. The cost per meeting is £1.50 which includes whatever activity is programmed for the afternoon, refreshments and raffle. On afternoons when we may play a couple of games of bingo the tickets are £1 each. Members take it in turns to make the tea.

The Parish Room is the building with a green door more or less opposite the Chequers Public House. There is a parking area at the rear and the building is fully accessible and has disabled facilities within.

January 27: Lunch at the Sorrel Horse

Our programme for 2017 is still being worked on, but we will meet on February 8 and 22 (weather permitting). New members are always welcome, but if you would just like to come along and see what goes on we will be pleased to see you.

January 30: Book club at the Community Centre Cafe

Jackie Durrant, 01449 672690

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

February 10: Walk around Holywells Park March 7: SEFWI Federation meeting at Trinity Park The competition for the most quirky Christmas gift received was won by Jill, second Barbara.

Next month Mike Garland, accompanied by a musician, will speak about Morris Dancing. The competition will be for a decorated Morris dancing stick.

Happy New Year to all. If you wish to get in touch, please contact Barbara on 832330. It will be good to hear from you.

SOMERSHAM AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB Peter Maddison will present a talk on Suffolk butterflies when we meet on Monday, February 13 at 7.30pm. All our meetings are held in Offton and Willisham Village Hall.

For further information or directions please contact: 01473 2549421 / 01473 830600 Happy New Year, Christine Barrell, secretary

J O I NT H EA D V EN T U R E L e ade rs and H e l pe R e q uire d J O I N T H ErsA D V EN T U R E L e ade rs and H e l pe rs R e q uire d Every year we help over 450,000 young people in the UK enjoy new adventures; to experience the outdoors, interact with others, gain confidence and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. And it’s not just young people can get in onpeople the action. our Every year we help overwho 450,000 young in theWorking UK enjoyalongside new youth members are thousands of adult volunteers, with a huge variety of adventures; to experience the outdoors, interact with others, gain roles and opportunities confidence and have theavailable. opportunity to reach their full potential. And it’s not just young people who can get in on the action. Working alongside our youth members are thousands of adult volunteers, with a huge variety of roles and opportunities available.

1 stC l ay do n Be av e rs |C ub s |Sc o ut s 1 stC l ay do n Be av e rs |C ub s |Sc o ut s www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

Join a successful and growing group and make a real impact in the lives of young people. No previous experience is necessary we will train and guide you every step of the way.

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Contact: you every step of the way.

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C A NY O UI N SPI R E? C A NY O UI N SPI R E?

© Copyright The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101/SC038437. 1st Claydon Charity No: 293366

© Copyright The Scout Association Registered Charity number 306101/SC038437. 1st Claydon Charity No: 293366

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SCHOOLS HENLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL

After what seemed like a very brief Christmas break, we welcomed the children back on a chilly January morning. Everyone was excited to share their tales of Santa’s bounty, but soon settled down to work including new IPC themes.

Well the term is already off to a flying start and the children are having a great time. We are all waiting for the warmer weather to arrive now.

December had been extremely busy particularly on the performance front. First up was the final show of the Everlasting Light programme.

A packed Spa Pavilion at Felixstowe hosted the show featuring about 20 Henley School pupils who sang their hearts out for the Tearfund charity.

We were privileged to have been invited to take part in an experience that will stay with the children for a long time.

We also have an evening with Ryan Gooding Psychic Medium on Wednesday, March 22, starting at 7.30pm at Claydon and Barham Community Centre (see page 10). Tickets can be purchased from Claydon Pre-school, the community centre or by calling/texting: 07856 845163

Our KS2 children also had a carol service at Henley Church. The performance included snippets from the Everlasting Light plus the usual perennial favourites. As usual the service was well attended and the children had a great time.

Our KS1 children practiced hard and turned our two fantastic nativity performances of Hey Ewe! It was a lively play, packed full of songs and super costumes. The children had a wonderful time and certainly did themselves and us proud.

Our last day culminated in the annual Henley Does Strictly dance competition. The children had been practising their routines for several weeks and it had been a tough decision to whittle them down to the talented finalists. Even harder decisions lay ahead for our intrepid panel of judges. The children danced their socks off, but both of our winners from KS1 and KS2 stood out for their incredibly brave and well-rehearsed individual performances. Well done girls.

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There are lots of exciting things coming up for the children to take part in and lots of items to create and take home.

The pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 9am-3.30pm during term time. Children can start from the age of two until they go to reception. Session fees are £9.60 and we offer a lunch club (noon12.30pm) for £1.60. We are happy to accept childcare vouchers and we offer two year funded places for any eligible children.

If you would like more information regarding any of the above events or just to find out more about Claydon Pre-school, please contact the administrator, Lisa Read: admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk / 01473 831648

SUFFOLK DEMENTIA HELPLINE 01473 353350 We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The helpline can provide a listening ear as well as information and signposting to services that can help. The Suffolk Dementia Helpline can support anyone who needs to talk.

In Touch online:

SCHOOLS CLAYDON PRE-SCHOOL 100 CLUB December prizewinners No. 41 Katie Lee, £17.10 No. 66 Alex Radcliffe, £8.55 No. 25 Bridget Wyatt, £2.85 New members are welcome at any time. Entry is just £1 a month and the draw takes place on the last Friday of each month from September through to July. The more entries we get the greater the prize money and all money raised is used to enhance the lives of our children within the pre-school.

For an entry form please contact Nadine Harrison: 01473 831857 / admin@claydonpreschool.co.uk

CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL

CLAYDON AND BARHAM YOUNG FAMILIES Claydon and Barham Young Families is a Mothers’ Union project which has been run by Mothers’ Union members and supporters for 25 years. We welcome, mums, dads, carers and grandparents from Claydon, Barham, Great Blakenham and the surrounding villages with babies or children under five. Entry is just £1.50 per family.

This month we meet on February 9 and 23 from 9.30-11.30am in Claydon and Barham Village Hall.

At our regular sessions we welcome anyone with babies or children under five for imaginative play, song time and lots of fun.

Families can enjoy a different craft activity with a theme where children can be creative and try out different materials to produce an individual masterpiece. Playdough and all sorts of toys that encourage children’s imaginative play and physical and social development are available. We also share song time for a bit of noise. It’s s a good opportunity for parents/carers to meet others with pre-school children or babies. There is also a prize draw for the children.

Why not come along and join in the fun, you can make friends and enjoy some valuable play. Hope to see you there.

For more information contact me on 01473 833788 or check our listing on Netmums.com.

We would like to introduce you to our newly appointed Student Leadership Team.

Michelle

Nick Borrett – Head Boy Favourite Book: The Harry Potter series of books by JK Rowling Favourite Film: Deadpool Favourite School Subject: All the science subjects because I find them very interesting and demanding.

Hobbies: Sports (I swim competitively for Stowmarket) and going to the cinema.

Career Aspiration: I would like to become a doctor.

Grace Linford-Wood – Head Girl Favourite Book: My favourite book is Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. I enjoy this book because I find it gripping and intense.

Favourite Film: Insurgent from the Divergent series of films.

Favourite School Subject: My favourite subjects include maths and science because I like to challenge myself.

Hobbies: My hobbies include athletics (I train for a local club), cross country and ballet.

Career Aspiration: I would like to work in medicine.

James Shipp – Deputy Head Boy Favourite Book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It’s a real page turner as it contains action and suspense throughout.

Favourite Film: Doctor Strange Favourite School Subject: Computing – I love to be able to create something from scratch because it gives you the freedom to be able to make it exactly how you want it to be.

Hobbies: Rugby, tennis, golf, computing and playing the guitar.

Career Aspiration: I would like to program useful apps/software for big companies like BT. Emma Fraser-Mills – Deputy Head Girl Favourite Book: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It’s one of the most intriguing books I’ve ever read.

Favourite Film: The Notebook Favourite School Subject: Chemistry – it’s very interesting.

Hobbies: Dance – mainly ballet.

Career Aspiration: To work in a medical science area like pharmacology.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/claydon

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ON THE GRAPEVINE / SPORT DR DAN POULTER, YOUR LOCAL MP, REPORTS BACK It seems hard to believe that Christmas and New Year are already behind us, but with all the planning, shopping and cooking, and the huge anticipation leading up to the big day itself, it’s no wonder that many of us succumb to the post-Christmas blues as things seem to settle back down into normal day to day life.

I certainly enjoyed making the most of my time here in Suffolk without the pressures of the daily routine over the Christmas and New Year period and I’m sure most of us have eaten and drunk more than usual as we relaxed and enjoyed catching up with friends and family. Only recently new figures were announced confirming that a staggering eight in every 10 adults aged between 40 and 60 in England are overweight, drink too much alcohol or get too little exercise.

So what better time to get motivated and kick start a healthier New Year than by getting out in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and enjoying all that is on offer right here on our doorsteps.

At this time of year, with magazine and television advertisements encouraging us to make commitments which many will struggle to maintain, it’s all too easy to be lured into costly gym memberships and expensive holidays or leisure activities, but walking is something which we can all enjoy with minimum or no cost involved, no specialist equipment required and the opportunity to meet new and likeminded people. Walking isn’t competitive, yet it brings with it a raft of recognised health benefits, not to mention being affordable and accessible to all.

Simple things can quickly add up – taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walking instead of hopping in the car for short journeys. I’m lucky that I have two dogs to exercise and they don’t let me forget that I need to get outdoors into the fresh air every day, but for many, it’s easy to become complacent and to not make the effort. Walking to fulfil the recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate physical exercise every week can make a huge difference – it’s estimated that it could save up to 37,000 lives every year and could also lead to almost 300,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes.

Aside from the physical benefits, walking brings with it a whole range of other benefits. We feel more connected to our natural environment – for families with young children perhaps a competition for them to spot wildlife tracks or collect 10 different types of leaves might turn what they deem to be a dull activity in something far more engaging. When experiencing times of stress or anxiety, walking can help us to clear our heads and regain some order in our busy lives. It’s the perfect tonic for a busy and hectic lifestyle, helping to fight depression and reduce anxiety and boosting our mood and psychological wellbeing.

Suffolk lends itself perfectly to walking, with plenty of easy terrain, but also more challenging routes for those who are more able. For year round information on walking, there is a huge range of information at: www.discoversuffolk.org.uk

CLAYDON FC Coming through the Christmas period and into the New Year it has been a bit of a landmark year for Claydon Football Club.

The club has secured the lease on Blue Circle, though we have yet to sign the contract. This has enabled us to refurbish the main pavilion and we can now provide after-match refreshments on Saturday afternoons. Under the terms of the lease the club will receive funding for improvements around the perimeter of the ground and car park area with further opportunity to complete phase 2 of the pavilion, changing rooms and showers. The ground is ‘Senior Status’ compliant owing to the work and investment we put in when the men’s team was promoted in 2014. When we do get to senior football the club is ready to face the SIL top flight again.

December was the first year anniversary of the Claydon FC Café serving refreshments to the youth and senior games at Blue Circle on Saturdays.

We have received numerous compliments from away supporters who now enjoy bacon rolls and hot drinks on Saturday mornings and afternoons.

The new senior coaching team has settled in and are now officially past their ‘honeymoon’ period which has seen the First team at the top end of the table for most of it. The Reserves are beginning to shape up after an ‘all new’ start with practically all new players. However, it’s early days yet and we are very conscious of maintaining the momentum so no complacency here.

The executive team have again been very busy with the day-to-day machinations, but also with the provision of extra-curricular activities for young players and running the Christmas draw. Our thanks go out to all those who have helped the club with any event thus far.

Players and parents, look out for the Claydon FC Race Night at the Community Centre on March 18.

The pitches are still looking great and again this is down to the relentless hard work of our groundsman and the support he receives. The club will once again enter the Groundsman of the Year competition, this year run

by Suffolk FA. Any club in this day and age requires support through sponsorship and we are privileged to have the senior squad’s kit sponsored by Haxley & Ruffles and Coggins Transport respectively, along with tracksuit tops and polo shirts from our very own First team coach’s company Care to Educate. This applies to youth teams especially and I offer my personal thanks to sponsors, coaches, assistants, volunteers, parents and, of course, players of Claydon FC. We are hopeful of completing the very long saga of the lease and funding for Blue Circle, but it does seem that it will continue for a while as yet.

The public sector machinations in this instance has been, to say the very least, exasperating!

In amongst all of this we have the lease for Barham Picnic Site with the continuing objective of converting it into football pitches. Claydon FC is a big ‘junior’ club and even with all the voluntary support it receives there is always something else we can do, such as the conversion project at Barham Picnic Site. Unfortunately the club had a setback a couple of years ago and it continue to be in ‘mothballs’ while we work through our priorities in other areas. However, the club remains committed to getting football down there and it is certainly required as we are over capacity at Blue Circle.

Tim, Claydon FC Chairman

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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS TALES FROM THE 19TH HOLE

OLD THINGS MADE NEW

Following the AGM in late January, Keith is working hard to compile the HOGS programme for 2017, with the first event likely be in early spring.

In 2014, a sinkhole opened up under the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky, swallowing eight irreplaceable, vintage Chevrolet Corvette sports cars. The automobiles were severely damaged, some beyond repair.

Rounding up the 2016 season, the final event, the ‘Christmas Bash’, was held at Seckford Golf Club on December 27. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect with a stillness to the breeze and after a mild early frost, temperatures soon rose to a comfortable nine degrees with bright sunshine.

This was the fifth year playing for the Neil Gerrard Trophy in honour of our society’s founder captain, a ‘Texas Scramble’ competition. Competitions director Steve Brock had been desperately trying to locate the trophy just days before the event, but with a little help from yours truly he was able to establish who had won the competition last year and narrow his search. Alan, Darryn and Keith had all forgotten their success last year; fortunately Paul G confirmed that the trophy resided at his abode and duly brought the trophy with him. The smart money would have been on Paul collecting the trophy again having been on the winning side every year that it has been competed for. Had a bookmaker been setting odds, Paul’s would have been shorter than one of Snow White’s housemates!

Odd numbers meant that there were three teams of three and one team of four (who received an immediate penalty of two shots to even things up). A traditional toast on the first tee to members past and present and the competition was underway. With all teams playing well there was little delay in locating stray balls and the added bonus that, unlike last year, flashlights were not required for the last few holes and all were back in the clubhouse well before the sun dipped below the horizon.

Members were joined for the post-match meal by wives and girlfriends including the guest of honour, Margaret Gerrard, who would once again be presenting the prizes. The competition was close with just one point separating the runners-up from the third and fourth teams. The clear winners however, despite the penalty imposed before they even hit a ball, were the four-ball combo of Darryn Nunn, James Hughes, Peter Cleave and, for the fifth year running, Paul Gerrard. Apparently, over a beer in the clubhouse, it had transpired that the winning team had employed ‘tactics’ – the others were astonished by this ‘out if the box’ approach, something that was unheard of in previous events. How could small torpedo shaped sweets improve your score?

Other winners were Brian Shaw winning the Longest Drive and Terry securing the Nearest the Pin prize. Finally, there is a nearly new Taylor Made driver for sale, one careful owner and currently abandoned in the garage of Tim Clarke. Apparently it would suit a player with a tendency to hook the ball (source: Bandit Bill).

BRAMFORD TENNIS CLUB Greetings guff lovers and a Happy New Year to you all.

A new year often brings changes to the old order, a new dawning and a fresh start, a chance to throw out the old and bring in the new. In the last fixture before the Christmas break, Nick and Graham were beaten by Adam and Matt (Graham’s sons) in the local derby. This changing of the Old Guard has been on the cards for a while, and the young pretenders new tactic of swapping their dads’ Sanatogen tonic wine for Ribena (other brands are available) would have had an effect on Graham’s stamina, meaning that he would have run out of steam just after bending down to tie up his trainer laces. Similarly, Nick was struggling for fitness following an unfortunate accident on his exercise bike when the stabilisers fell off the back wheel. However, Matt and Adam fully deserved their victory and even graciously praised their opponents play, saying that they had to get out of their deckchairs a couple of times during rallies so it was quite hard fought!

The other news from the winter sides is not as surprising (there is no news – nothing surprising there then). The floodlit side have had mixed fortunes, winning and losing in equal measure, and have been relatively

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One car in particular received a lot of attention. The one-millionth Corvette which had rolled off the assembly line in 1992 was the most valuable in the collection. What happened to that smashed up gem after it was pulled from the sinkhole is fascinating.

Experts restored the car to absolute mint condition, mainly by using and repairing its original parts. Although this little beauty was broken and in terrible shape, it now looked as good as it did the day it was built. The old and damaged was made new.

Perhaps you feel that life hasn’t gone as you’d planned or that you’ve made some choices that you regret. If that’s you, there is good news: God is a God of redemption and restoration. However low you may have sunk God is able to lift you up and make you new again.

That Corvette was special because it was the one-millionth off the production line. Well there are more than seven billion people on the planet today and the Bible says that God cares for everyone: “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to a knowledge of the truth”.

For those in need of restoration, He promises that He is able and willing to restore wasted years.

The greatest act of redemption and the best second chance of all is offered to us through His son Jesus Christ. However we’ve failed or spoiled our lives by doing wrong things, Jesus is able to wipe that all away and begin the work of restoration in our lives.

Ultimately the Bible says that He will make all things new and that even creation itself will one day be restored to how it ought to be. “…and he who was seated on the throne said, ‘behold I am making all things new’.” Revelation 2.5 WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesday: Weekly Prayer Meeting, 9.30-10.30am Wednesday: Home Group, 10-11.45am Thursday: Home Group, 7.45-9.30pm Friday: Children’s Club (primary school age), 6.30-7.30pm Sunday Morning Service: 10.45am-noon For more information contact: info@blakenhambaptist.org.uk / 01449 720357 www.blakenhambaptist.org.uk

lucky with the winter weather so far, though January and February are usually marked by more usual conditions (anyone who has seen The Revenant might, if you look very carefully, see our players in the very far distance when they watch the blizzard scene with the buffalo herd – it was shot on location at Felixstowe in February). The winter leagues should, if on schedule, be completing in March so it gives all participants a chance to get the chilblains and frostbite healed nicely in readiness for the deluges that accompany the summer season kicking off in May(ish).

This year we are hoping for the support of the RNLI as they were so helpful with rescuing some of our players stranded on the courts amid rising floodwater following the customary cloudburst that marked the opening home fixture last year.

JOKE OF THE MONTH In a small village in Scotland, Sandy is on his deathbed and his wife Jean is anxiously by his side. “Can I get you anything Sandy?” asks Jean tenderly.

“Aye, could I have a wee bit o’ yon boiled ham over there?” wheezes Sandy. Jean shakes her head and says: “Oh Sandy, I’m sorry I can’t, you know that ham is there for the funeral supper!”

More guff next month.

Mick Russ

25

CHURCH NEWS THE CLAYDON GROUP OF CHURCHES The Church of England in Claydon and Barham, Henley and Great Blakenham We offer you a warm welcome to all our events and services.

Enquiries about baptisms, weddings and funerals Priest-in-Charge: The Rev Carl Melville, Claydon Rectory 01473 833542 / carlmelville@hotmaill.com Or visit: www.claydonchurches.com HALL BOOKINGS Barham Church Hall: Zoe Groom, 831804 Gt Blakenham Parish Room: Paul Corbett, 830201 Henley Church Vestry: Margaret Gerrard, 831463 SERVICES IN FEBRUARY Barham Church: every Sunday at 10am Henley Church: every Sunday at 10am Gt Blakenham Church: every Sunday at 11am Sunday, February 5: Candlemas 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham 6pm Prayer and Praise

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Gt Blakenham

Sunday, February 12: Third before Lent 8am Holy Communion Barham 10am Holy Communion Barham 10am family@henley Henley 11am Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Sunday, February 19: Second before Lent 8am Holy Communion Barham 10am family@barham Barham 10am Holy Communion Henley 11am Holy Communion Gt Blakenham Sunday, February 26: Sunday before Lent 8am Holy Communion Barham 10am Holy Communion Barham 10am Café Church Henley 11am Elevenses@GB Gt Blakenham 4.30pm families@4.30 Barham 6.30pm Evensong Henley Wednesday, March 1: Ash Wednesday 7pm Holy Communion Henley Sunday, March 5: Lent 1 8am Holy Communion 10am Holy Communion 10am Quiet Communion 11am family@blakenham 6pm Prayer and Praise

Barham Church Barham Church Henley Church Gt Blakenham Gt Blakenham

Further services can be found on the website.

FAMILY AND ALL AGE SERVICES Our All Age Worship is suitable for families, couples and individuals of any age. There is an engaging activity, hymns and songs and plenty of fellowship. Come along in February when we’ll be thinking about all things LIGHT! family@blakenham is on Sunday, February 5 (every first Sunday) at 11am. Come early for refreshments. family@henley is on Sunday, February 12 (every second Sunday) at 10am and family@barham is on Sunday, February 19 (every third Sunday) at 10am, followed by bacon butties.

DEPARTED We offer our sympathy, love and prayers to the families and friends of those who have recently died, including Bernard Rushbrook (Akenham), Arnold Hornsby (Henley) and Christine Last (Claydon).

26

NEWS Gt Blakenham Church is now open during daylight hours for quiet time, prayer or just to visit our beautiful church. You are welcome to visit and if you do please sign our visitors’ book.

Families@4.30: The next families@4.30 takes place on Sunday, February 26 at Barham Church. Families are welcome to come along for games, crafts and food, which will have a Lent theme this month. For more details and to book, please contact: rogercolthorpe@aol.com / 01473 831079 Lent is approaching fast. There will be a Service of Holy Communion at Henley Church on Wednesday, March 1 at 7pm in which we’ll be marked with black ash on our foreheads to help us prepare for Easter.

Elevenses@GB: a new style of church taking place on the fourth Sunday of every month (February 26, March 26) at St Mary’s, Gt Blakenham at 11am. Come along for bacon butties and some worship in a relaxed environment – suitable for all the family.

Café Church: a new venture at Henley Church on the fourth Sunday of every month (February 26, March 26) at 10am. Church like never before – pop in for a coffee and breakfast treats, a prayer and some informal worship.

Wedding Festival: over the weekend of May 27-29 we’re holding a Wedding Festival at St Mary’s, Gt Blakenham. We’re asking couples who have married at St Mary’s to display their wedding dress or photographs in the church. There will be exhibitors in the parish room. In addition we’re looking for couples who wish to renew their wedding vows on Sunday 28 in a special service with favourite wedding hymns. For more information, contact Wendy: 01473 846642 OTHER SERVICES AND EVENTS Thursday, February 9 Young Families, Claydon Village Hall, 9.30am Friday, February 10 Puzzle Evening, Henley Community Centre Saturday, February 11 Coffee Morning, GB Parish Room, 10am Thursday, February 16 Sunshine Service, Claydon Village Hall, 10am Saturday, February 18 Vestry Café, 10am-1pm Henley Church Thursday, February 23 Young Families, Claydon Village Hall, 9.30am Wednesday, March 1 Ash Wednesday Service, 7pm, Henley LETTER FROM THE VICAR With Valentine’s Day, February is the month of love! On Saturday, February 25, Barham Church will welcome all the couples who wish to be married in our three churches over this coming year. Of course, the Church of England does the best weddings, but we also celebrate all sorts of relationships. Whatever relationship you’re in, why not think about celebrating it with us at church this month?

Love is not always easy, particularly the love we have for those no longer with us. Over the past month the church community has lost a few of its key members. We had to say goodbye to Bernard Rushbrook and Arnold Hornsby, whom we still love very dear. I know there have been other significant losses in our communities recently. For us, Jesus makes it possible for our love to continue even beyond death and beyond the grave. Jesus tells us that love is the winner, not death.

That is why we as Christians are always talking about love. Love is not merely an emotion, a crush, or a nice ‘feeling’. Love is about who God is – God is love. Love is worth celebrating. Whatever type of relationship you’re in and wherever you are at in your relationship, why not celebrate with us?

The Rev Carl Melville www.claydonchurches.com

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