In Touch News with Copdock, January 2019

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with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook Volume 9 • Issue No. 2 • January 2019

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St Mary’s Church, Washbrook by Adrian Hutchings

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Recently I spent time with an friend who is caring for her elderly dad. Sarah is exhausted, sad, stressed and worried, worn out from sleeping on chairs next to her dad’s hospital bed. She talked about the ongoing struggle to get the support they both need, the ever-changing nature of her dad’s condition and her fears for the future, but also of the people she calls ‘Angels’ who she has encountered along this difficult journey.

These ‘Angels’ are few in number, but they stand out because they are so remarkable. One she particularly remembers is Sam. He operates the overnight tea trolley in A&E at their local hospital. A&E is never a pleasant place to be, particularly so at 3am, but when Sam arrived, pushing his tea trolley quietly so as not to disturb or agitate patients, my friend was amazed by his smile and the gentle manner in which he approached people. She watched him make his away around the room and was astonished by the effect he had. People returned his smile, grateful to have a hot drink and to chat for a moment to someone who actually looked happy to be there.

As he approached, my friend prepared herself to speak for her dad, but Sam spoke directly to him. He said: “I have a cup of tea for you and something tells me you’d like it with sugar.” Her dad hadn’t said a word for hours, but to Sarah’s surprise he replied and he and Sam had a brief chat. When Sam departed with a smile and a wave, Sarah’s dad continued to chat into the morning. This one brief encounter had lifted his spirits and for a short time Sarah and her dad chatted about all and sundry. For this Sarah will forever be grateful to the ‘Angel’ with the tea trolley.

I share this story because it has had such an impact on me. I have never been, and will never be, an ‘Angel’. I try to be positive, I really do, but it doesn’t come to me naturally. If I had to push a tea trolley around A&E at 3am I’d be more likely to leave a trail of despair. I dread to think what my work colleagues might have to say!

When I’m feeling sorry for myself I think of Sam and my friend’s tears as she recalled her all to brief encounter with him. January is a difficult month for many people for many different reasons. Do you have the capacity to be an ‘Angel’ in someone’s life for a brief moment? I hope I do!

InTouch

with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook

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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Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any written complaints. © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Belstead, Bentley, Copdock, Tattingstone & Washbrook is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd as part of the “In Touch with . . . ” series of magazines.

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•B eyton, Drinkstone, Elmswell, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit •B ramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham •C apel St Mary •B arham, Claydon, Henley & Whitton •D edham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary •B aylham, Gt & Lt Blakenham & Nettlestead • I pswich East •K esgrave & Rushmere St Andrew •B rantham, Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley •M artlesham Heath & Old Martlesham •N eedham Market & The Creetings •C helmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone •B urstall & Sproughton •S towmarket & Stowupland • Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin, Westerfield & Witnesham •C hattisham, Hadleigh, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon •M elton & Woodbridge

NEWS VICTORY DANCE AT BENTLEY VILLAGE HALL On Saturday, November 10 a `Victory Dance` was held in the village hall to commemorate the end of the First World War. A capacity crowd thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were greeted on arrival with First World War recordings of the time. The evening then commenced with a delicious meal comprising a hot baked potato served with grated cheese, tuna, baked beans and salad. To follow, peaches and cream completed the refreshments. We then had the draw with some 40 prizes – with grateful thanks to everyone who donated prizes on the night.

Before the evening continued we had five minutes of reflection with a rendition of the moving tribute to The Fallen. The evening then continued with everyone enjoying the G.R. Disco. Thanks must go to all the organisers and helpers and to our M.C. on the night, Ray Savage. The evening concluded with the singing of Land of Hope and Glory with many flags being waved.

After all expenses, a magnificent £600 was raised which has been donated to the local branch of The Royal British Legion.

ST MARY’S CHURCH, BELSTEAD We would like to thank all those who have supported St Mary’s in 2018 in any way.

We are very grateful and enjoy seeing our many friends at our services and events.

We hope you will continue to support us in 2019.

St Mary’s PCC See TABLE TOP SALE on page 10

TATTINGSTONE REMEMBERS I have the greatest of pleasure in telling you that my book, Tattingstone Remembers – The Fallen of World War One, sold very well raising over £1,000 for the Royal British Legion.

The book was very much about Tattingstone in commemorating the men from the village who died in the First World War together with an idea of village life at that time and also a little about the returned soldiers and their families.

Without the effort, contributions and support of the people of Tattingstone the book I’m taking the credit for simply wouldn’t have happened. Too many names to name here, but I thank them all wholeheartedly! And beyond Tattingstone too I’d like to thank those who have contributed, bought my book or helped sell copies. It’s been a great all round team effort!

By the way, there are a few copies left should anyone like one.

Tattingstone Village Recorder Jane Kirk 01473 328328 / tattingstonehistory@gmail.com

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February DEADLINE 10 January 2019

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NEWS BABBLINGS FROM THE BROOK

THANK YOU

From Charlie, Cat and baby Bear

A big thank you to everyone who helped during the Copdock & Washbrook Autumn Village Tidy-Up in November. It was a really well supported day with 32 volunteers working hard to collect over 37 sacks of rubbish, cut back overhanging vegetation, clear blocked gutters of leaves and clean road signs.

By the time our readers see January’s Babblings from The Brook, it will be nearing the end of December and we will have been proud landlord and landlady (and baby) at The Brook Inn for almost five months. The time has just flown past and we can’t believe that it has all passed so quickly! We have been made to feel so welcome by all the regulars at the pub and the whole village community has made our time here so special. From knitted Halloween pumpkin hats for baby Bear, delivering us a brace or two of pheasant and providing such kind help with restoring some of the pub furniture (amongst many other acts of kindness), we have been well and truly welcomed into our new home and special thanks to you all from the three of us.

Hope to see you all again for our next litter pick in the spring of 2019!

We have more music nights planned for the pub, with the ever-popular Open Mic night due again in December and we will be announcing the January and February dates very soon.

Once Christmas and New Year celebrations are past, we will be looking at hosting another Quiz Night – date to be announced but coming very soon. As usual, a prize for the winning team and a prize for the team that comes last.

Come down and join in with our Sunday evening of trivia.

Charlie and the two chefs will be cooking up something special after the holiday celebrations are over and we will be bringing on more of our special dishes for you to try – we are pretty sure that you will have loved all the Christmas specials (especially the melt-in-the-mouth shortbread and the chocolate orange bread and butter pudding) and we promise more of the same quality and variety to keep you entertained in 2019!

We hope to see you soon! www.thebrookinnwashbrook.co.uk www.facebook.com/thebrookinnwashbrook Instagram - thebrookinn_washbrook

SOUND ON – IPSWICH & DISTRICT TALKING NEWSPAPER We are in need of more volunteers to run this vital service to keep people with sight loss in touch with their community.

Do you have a couple of hours free on a Thursday once every six or seven weeks? There are a variety of jobs involved in the production of the weekly news such as packing, unpacking and sorting address labels, reading, editing and recording the news to go out to more than 300 listeners on memory sticks delivered free by Royal Mail.

We are based in the centre of Ipswich. If you think you can help please contact Pam Pelling on 01473 684601 for more details. Your help would be welcome and much appreciated.

HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY PLANNING We remain in a quiet period; as this is being written in early December nothing of substance has emanated from either Babergh or Suffolk County Council. The latter will release their decision to either scrap or continue with the proposed second river crossing of the Orwell with a bridge over Ipswich Docks, but that decision still has to be issued. The estimated cost of the project has increased from nearly £97m to £139m.

From our own village perspective, an Ipswich northern by-pass remains the only project that would assist in reducing heavy traffic congestion at the Copdock Interchange; doubly so when the Orwell Bridge is closed as has recently been the case.

GP and Staff Training Our next training afternoon is Wednesday, February 13. The practice will be open for patients to come in to collect/drop off prescriptions, book appointments and make enquiries at reception. However, there will be no clinical staff on site and our telephone lines will be switched over to the out of hours’ service. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999.

Blood pressure machines owned by the practice Please could these be returned to the practice for calibration and electrical testing before January 23? This is an essential part of our maintenance and we are grateful for your help with this so we can continue to loan them out to patients.

Free Adult Weight Management and Diabetes Education Course For those living on Shotley peninsula, a programme has been put together to prevent diabetes and lose weight too! It starts on Wednesday, January 9 at 6pm at Holbrook Sports Centre – booking is essential. For more information call 01473 718193 or email info@onelifesuffolk.co.uk and quote ‘Shotley Community Connector’.

We hope 2019 will bring a more settled and productive year and a big thank you to In Touch for giving us such a prominent position within this magazine over the past year. For once, it really is a true statement that it wouldn’t have happened without such a level of support.

Community Connector Bus Our Community Connector Bus is going from strength to strength and supporting a number of patients who are in social isolation or needing help.

Posters are up at both surgeries showing where the bus is located each week so please pop in to see Sheila and Pete if you are around. The bus has been so successful that it is now at a number of different sites and has spread to Brantham to be more accessible to those at the edge of the practice area. It may soon expand into East Bergholt but will continue to service the peninsula until at least the end of March 2019. A number of additional services are also provided with this scheme including some training events and a minibus from Stutton to Manningtree Co-op which is supported by the Stutton Good Neighbour Scheme. This enables patients to shop themselves when they would otherwise have to rely on others to shop for them.

Colin Hinkins: colinhinkins@gmail.com

Practice Manager Julia Smith

Increased speeding through our villages, a proposed new quarry on our doorstep, out of proportion draft new housing issues and Babergh decamping from Hadleigh only to return to Ipswich after 44 years has made 2018 a very challenging one.

We are still fighting our corner: financial influence is certainly not in our favour but we’ll not give up in pressing our case with influential policy makers in SCC, Babergh and (via James Cartlidge) the daily A12 congestion of the Copdock Interchange.

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NEWS BENTLEY VILLAGE HALL AGM The Bentley Village Hall AGM takes place on Monday, January 21 at7.30am.

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR JOHN HINTON REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD Well I hope you all had a good Christmas and may I wish you a very safe and healthy new year.

Local politics seem a trivial matter alongside the chaos at national level. I think that everyone should sit down and consider what ‘democracy’ means for them.

Perhaps some reflection on the significance of the 100-year anniversary of the First World War Armistice and the community efforts that went into the various events would make us more considerate.

Planning is still a controversial subject. At the time of writing there is still no news on the Judicial Review in East Bergholt; perhaps the delay is an encouraging sign. Time will tell.

Mind you, if the Governor of the Bank of England is correct in his comments on the effects of a no deal Brexit, most new home development will stop as it would be unprofitable and unsalable!

Highways England are going to reinstate some of the signage at the Four Sisters in the new year, not bad after nearly five years, but apparently it was delayed when it should have been done in May 2018. I wonder if the accidents in November had anything to do with it, although “due to police investigation” they cannot say what the causes were! I think anyone using the junction could tell them in one ‘colourful’ sentence. I am still working on getting the last sign reinstated. It’s frustrating when you have to fight for each part of what should be a complete package. “No fatalities since the average speed cameras were installed” apparently means there is not a problem.

Budgets will now be on the agenda so watch out for Council Tax increases as somehow the spending spree in the west of the district has to be funded until any ‘income’ from the ‘investment’ starts to come in. From May there will be fewer councillors to keep an eye on the costs associated with ‘Democratic implementation’.

Having come full circle back to the ‘D’ word, take care and keep an eye on neighbours as the winter develops and temperatures fall, and for the opportunistic actions of the criminal elements as the police are and will be thin on the ground.

Councillor John Hinton john.hinton@babergh.gov.uk / 01206 298309

COPDOCK & WASHBROOK PARISH COUNCIL A casual vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council.

The vacancy may be filled by co-option and anyone interested in applying for the vacant seat should contact the parish clerk giving a short resume of why you would like to be a parish councillor giving brief details about yourself, experience/work and any skills you believe would be useful to the council.

All parish council seats will be up for election on 2 May 2019.

Hence any person now appointed to the parish council will only be in office until that date, but may be nominated for re-election at the 2019 elections.

Copdock & Washbrook Parish Council would like to wish all residents and businesses a healthy and prosperous New Year.

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CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Sharing Your Medical Record Your medical record is highly confidential, but sometimes the practice needs to share it with other health professionals, such as hospital clinicians, community nurses and out-of-hours GPs, to ensure your treatment is safe and appropriate. However, the practice will only share your record with your consent.

There are two ways sharing can happen. First, a Summary Care Record has basic information that is useful for NHS clinicians. It shows if you have allergies and it lists your medications. Including ‘Additional Information’ will add your illnesses and any health problems, vaccinations, operations and information on how you would like to be treated.

Second, your full electronic health record held by your GP surgery can also be made available to health and social care staff if they are involved in your direct care. Staff must still ask for your permission before they look at your record. This also allows your surgery to see what other staff are doing to support and treat you. If there are certain parts of your record that you wish to keep private, your surgery can do this.

It is important to note that your record can only be seen by staff who are currently involved in your direct care, have a need to see it and have asked for your permission. The only exception to this is in case of an emergency. For instance, if you were taken to hospital unconscious, a doctor could look at your record without your permission.

Please ask the surgery for a form to give consent to share your record or let the clinician know the next time you visit the practice. If you change your mind at a later date just tell us and we will update your record.

Flu Vaccinations Despite the complexities of delivering our flu vaccination programme this year, including the introduction of an additional vaccine for over 65s and phased vaccine deliveries, our main flu clinics were a great success. At the time of writing, official NHS figures suggest the practice has vaccinated over 73 per cent of over 65s. That’s the fourth highest achievement across all 40 GP practices in Suffolk! We also raised over £250 for the British Heart Foundation and £600 for Ormiston Families, so thank you for your generosity However, many patients have yet to be vaccinated, including under 65s and children. If you have received a letter inviting you or your child for a flu vaccination, simply contact the practice and we will arrange an appointment.

If you’re not sure about eligibility we can quickly check it for you. It’s not too late and we have plenty of vaccines.

Training Days A reminder that the practice will be closed from 1pm on Wednesday, February 13 for staff training. The Capel St Mary building will be open to enable access to the pharmacy, but the practice reception will be closed. East Bergholt reception will be open.

Please note that there will be no clinicians at either building after 1pm as they will be attending training off-site. If you phone the practice the recorded message will ask you to ring 111 for medical assistance if your problem cannot wait until the next day.

Practice Manager Pete Keeble

DEATH CAFÉ The next Peninsula Death Café will be on Sunday, January 6 in The Compasses, Main Road, Holbrook.

We meet for an hour and a half from 10.30am. We are very grateful to The Compasses for allowing us to use their lounge where we were made very welcome in November with tea, coffee, fresh scones and muffins.

For more information about the Death Café contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777 / jane.gould@btinternet.com

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT NOTES FROM THE CASE

CAPEL LIBRARY

Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub

Advance Closure Notice: We shall close at 5pm on Friday 11 and at 12.30pm on Saturday 12 to enable our friends the Orchard Players needing the space to change for their pantomime. If you are returning books you can use the letterbox in the wall and they will be dealt with when we are next open.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

A warm welcome to 2019 – may it be a happy and healthy year for us all.

We are pleased that at last the renovations are in hand to replace the bay windows at the front of the pub. This will make it all much cosier and smarter too, and we hope it can be done with a minimum of disturbance. The pub will remain open while the work is being carried out so do join us. Here are some dates for your diary.

Open Mic Night: A week later on Tuesday, January 8 because of New Year’s Day.

January is the time we spend more time indoors and that means we can get into planning mode for the coming year. Whether it’s travel to a new and different country or a new garden or allotment space, there is a book for it.

Browse the library catalogue at www.suffolklibraries.co.uk and reserve the books of your choice to be delivered to the library of your choice. You will be notified when the book is received.

Quiz Night: The January quiz will be on Saturday 26. There will be a curry supper provided by Esther of Esther’s Best, who already produces our popular Sunday lunches. We expect high demand, so booking for the curry is essential.

Did you miss the block buster when it was in the cinema? DVD releases of these films come soon after general release. Premier or new release DVDs cost £3 per weekly hire, other general release titles are just £1 per weekly hire. Do not miss out. This represents good value.

Games Evenings: This month sees the resumption of our winter games evenings, starting on Saturday, January 12. Come with a friend or on your own – there will be plenty of groups to join. Games are provided, but if you have a favourite, bring it along!

You can renew your books online for a further three weeks providing no-one else has reserved the title.

Moroccan Evening: Following our very successful Italian Evening in November, we are hosting another themed meal on Saturday, January 19. Demand for this is likely to be high, so book early to ensure your place. Check the website and Facebook for details.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Annual Members’ Meeting: We are holding our AMM at The Case on Monday, January 28. This is where we update our shareholders on progress throughout the year, and also elect the management committee for the coming year. This year we will have at least three vacancies, so if you are a shareholder and would like to be considered for election, please write to the chairman at: savethecasebentley@gmail.com

Minecraft: Meets on Sundays 13 and 27 between 10.30am and 12.30pm.

Under-eights are to be accompanied by an adult. No charge for this event.

Fifth Anniversary Celebrations On Wednesday, April 17 it will be five years since The Case reopened its doors as Suffolk’s first community pub and we will be holding a weekend of events to celebrate this landmark occasion. In addition, we are hoping to put together an album of photographs taken over the last five years of the events that have helped to make The Case such an important part of our wonderful community. If you have one or two photographs showing an event held at The Case that you are happy to share, please email these to the chairman to arrive no later than January 31: savethecasebentley@gmail.com

Capel Library Book Group: Friday 18 at 2.30pm. Come and join in with this lovely, small group to discuss the latest book.

Even if you’re not a shareholder, why not support your pub by volunteering for one of the many duties around the pub? It doesn’t have to be bar work – there are many behind-the-scenes jobs which need doing. Ask at the pub for details.

01473 805575 / www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk www.facebook.com/TheCaseBentley

RAPUNZEL, THE PANTOMIME Presented by The Orchard Players As a baby, Rapunzel was stolen from her parents by the evil Witch Gothel and imprisoned in a tower.

Will she ever escape and be reunited with her family?

Will the spoilt, high-life living Prince ever discover his true self?

Will King Geoffrey ever grow a backbone?

Will Dame Trixie ever find her missing daughter?

Get ‘tangled’ up in our pantomime adventure Running at Capel Community Centre from Thursday, January 10 to Saturday 12 with performances at 7.30pm each evening and at 2.30pm on Saturday 12 Box Office: 07793 820215

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Please inform the staff of any change of address, email or telephone number changes so that we can keep your records up to date.

Baby Bounce: restarts on Tuesday 8 at 2pm with lots of shaking of instruments and singing, progressing to finger rhymes. Open to all under-fives and their parents/carers, this activity is free of charge.

Capel Creators: Saturday 18 between 10.30am and-12.30pm. A small charge of 50p to cover refreshments is made. Suitable for all children; under-eights to be accompanied by an adult.

OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm & 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm Contact: 01473 311699

PEN PIX A bunch of middle-aged men splashing around, making patterns in a pond! This is our February film at Peninsular Pix in a nutshell, or rather in a swimming pool.

Swimming with Men is another of those delightful Brit films where we make fun of ourselves and go home with a really good feelgood feeling. Rob Brydon (from Gavin and Stacey), Charlotte Riley, Jim Carter and other home-grown stars gather to assist a man going through a middle-age crisis. The boys (not Charlotte of course) form an unlikely team to compete in the world synchronised swimming championships.

It’s similar to The Full Monty except they don’t take off their Speedos at the end (which might be a disappointment to some in our audience).

All right, mermen they’re not. In fact they’re all a bit paunchy and jowly, but I’m sure you won’t go home after the movie thinking the money would have been better spent on fish and chips, especially after our interval glass of smooth, crisp Merlot or Chardonnay shipped over the channel at great expense straight from the heart of the French vineyards.

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OUT & ABOUT FRIENDS OF CAPEL LIBRARY Well here we go again with another New Year, let’s hope it’s a good one!

I’m sure everyone will have read about the planned library closures in Essex.

Fortunately, at the current time, Suffolk Libraries are not going down this route, however this is not to say that it will not happen in the future. Our libraries are an important community resource and once lost will not return.

Any closure will be based largely on usage, so please, please use them as much as possible. Don’t leave it until it’s too late – use it or risk losing it!

Our AGM is being held in the library at 4pm on Saturday, January 26. Please come along if you would like to find out more about what we have been doing during the last year and what our plans are going forward. Our trustees do a sterling job of arranging events both for the community and to enable us to raise funds to support the continued renewal and upgrading of equipment and facilities within the library. We meet bi-monthly and spend no more than an hour a week working on projects. If you would be interested in assisting or becoming a trustee, please attend the meeting or contact us via the library.

Can I also remind everyone that membership of the Friends Group is now due for renewal? Membership is £1 a year; if you are renewing or would like to become a member please pick up an application form in the library. As a member you may also like to join the 100 Club for a cost of £12 a year, giving you the chance to win a cash prize in our monthly draw.

Our first film of the New Year is The Bromley Boys and will be screened on Tuesday, January 15 at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Tickets are now on sale at the library. Returning to our popular run of true stories, this film is about: “A boy, a girl and the worst football team in Britain – you can’t choose who you fall in love with. The Bromley Boys is a funny yet touching coming of age football memoir played out to the sights and sounds of late 60s Britain.

Based on the hilarious novel by Dave Roberts, it recounts the author’s highs and the lows supporting the worst football team in the country at the time, Bromley FC.” Happy New Year.

Trevor Stevenson

ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, January 12, 9am-12.30pm.

All your favourite market stalls selling fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which make ideal presents.

East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier.

If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month. Their number for orders is 01206 392190.

Come along to mingle with your friends, have a cup of coffee and a bacon buttie and enjoy the lovely venue.

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

BENTLEY TODDLER GROUP Thank you to everyone who helped and supported our latest jumble sale and made it a great success. If you missed this last sale, there will be another in April/May so watch this space! Please save all your goodies but, if this is a problem, we can collect sooner.

Pam Rament

BRANTHAM AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY Presenting Off to Treasure Island, a swashbuckling adventure

by Lisa Butley, at Brantham Village Hall from February 20-23 with evening performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets (£9 / children £6) available from December 1 at Bakes & Blossoms and at: www.ticketcource.co.uk

EAST BERGHOLT HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

TABLE TOP SALE

INDOOR CAR BOOT SALE

Saturday, February 16, 2-4pm at Belstead Village Hall

East Bergholt High School

Tables £10: contact Zandra (730371) or Valerie (730268) to book.

Sunday, February 24, 10am-noon Admission 50p / Refreshments Available Free Car Park

St Mary’s will be having a bric-a-brac stall and would be grateful for any donations.

Refreshments will be available.

Tables £5 in advance, £7.50 on the day Doors open 9am to set up

BEGINNER ENSEMBLES

( 07776 291445

IPSWICH MOBILE LIBRARY ROUTE 15 Route 15

Town/village

Location

Time

MIP/15A

Washbrook

Pearson’s Way

9.50-10.40

MIP/15B

Washbrook

Brook Inn Car Park

10.45-11.15

MIP/15C

Washbrook

Fenn View

11.20-11.40

MIP/15D

Burstall

Telephone Kiosk

11.50-12.15

MIP/15E

Elmsett

Rose and Crown

12.40-13.05

MIP/15F

Whatfield

Wheatfields

14.05-14.50

MIP/15G

Hintlesham

Timperleys

15.05-16.00

DATES: January 2 & 30

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Fun music groups created especially for children in Key Stage 2 Is your child in Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6)? Are they in their first year of learning to play an instrument?

Starting from 8 January 2019, Suffolk County Music Service is hosting Beginner Ensembles across Suffolk. Created especially for young musicians in KS2, children are invited to join an ensemble to develop their skills, make progress, play as a group, learn new music and have fun!

Ensembles meet weekly during term-time, either after school or on Saturday mornings. Please visit our website for locations and times: http://bit.ly/ks2beginner Free membership is available for those pupils learning with Suffolk County Music Service. The usual termly charge applies for those not learning with the Music Service. Further details are on the website or you can contact us for more information: 01473 263400 / county.musicservice@suffolk.gov.uk

In Touch online:

Burns’ Night Supper at the

Marquis.

Friday 25th January 7pm - 11pm Experience a memorable evening of food and music.

Come along with friends and enjoy a traditional Burns’ Night supper complete with a piper to pipe in the haggis.

MENU Poached Scottish langoustine black pudding, leek texture Whisky cured salmon quail egg, beetroot pickle Roast saddle of Suffolk venison haggis neeps and tatties, redcurrant jus Whisky soaked savarin wild Scottish raspberries, toasted oats Chocolate and Drambuie truffles

£60 per person or £70 per person with triple whisky flight Booking Required Tel: +44 (0)1473 377 977 Email: info@themarquissuffolk.co.uk www.themarquissuffolk.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock Marquis - In touch mag Jan 2019V2.indd 1

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13/12/2018 11:58

BE YOUR OWN BOSS START YOUR BUSINESS WITH MENTA FREE BUSINESS TRAINING START RIGHT WORKSHOPS

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MENTA’s three, free ‘Start Right’ workshops are designed to be fun and informative.

You’ll find out about legal structures, business plans, successful marketing, bookkeeping and tax.

With multiple dates and workshop locations, book your free training soon and ‘Start Right’.

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mentabusiness

mentabusiness

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE LINK CLUB

ALTON BELLES

Wednesday, January 9, 10am in Tattingstone Village Hall: Rumour – A Suffolk Scandal

Alton Belles’ Christmas meeting was very different this year as we welcomed a local bluegrass band to Tattingstone Village Hall. Business was short and everyone enjoyed socialising over a potluck supper provided by all the members.

Our aim is to bring communities together and over the years we have attracted members, all ages, male and female, from many villages. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am-noon. I would like to welcome former members and to see new members from all local villages at our meetings, either as visitors or members in readiness for our 25th celebration.

Chairman Linda Evans: 01473 311262

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB On December 5 Peter Parfitt presented Reflections on The Scilly Isles and our December 19 meeting featured Brantham’s famous quizmaster Paul Oliver who presented his now very famous Christmas quiz.

John Hammond will explain the skill of will writing at our meeting on January 16 and we hold our New Year Lunch at the popular Haywain, Little Bromley, on February 6 when our spouses and Probus widows join us for what will be an enjoyable event and a tasty meal.

Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed.

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact speaker secretary Dave Carman: 01255 880202

DEDHAM FOOTPATH GROUP Enjoy walking, meeting new people?

Then why not come along to walks organised by Dedham Footpath Group?

We walk 4-5 miles on the first Sunday morning of each month from various locations.

This month’s walk will be on Sunday, January 6 at 10.30am. Meet at the War Memorial, High Street Dedham CO7 6DE for a New Year ramble in and around the village of Dedham for approximately two hours. There are many options for lunch or refreshments on our return.

The group welcomes all walkers and those with well-behaved dogs, kept on leads at all times, are welcome to join us.

For more information email: Dedhamfg@gmail.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

January sees the beginning of a new year of interesting programmes. At January’s meeting we will discuss the new resolutions that have been put forward for 2019. Each year WI members vote on a resolution to carry forward to the national AGM and to work on. Some notable resolutions include loneliness, bees and plastic soup, all of which have been in the news.

We welcome a variety of speakers throughout the year. We are a democratic, social and educational organisation for women, giving them the opportunity to work and learn together to improve the quality of life in the community.

If you want to hear more about how you could get involved in our vibrant and forward-looking WI, but feel nervous about coming along, contact either Tamzin (328670) or Jane (327865) and we will make sure you are looked after.

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, Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 1JF at 7.15pm.

Our next meeting is on January 15 when Mark Mitchels, arguably our most popular speaker, will be talking about the River Deben. Rivers were the old highways of England and along their banks stood the towns and villages which form the earliest settlements in our history.

Mark will be taking us on a trip along one off the country’s most beautiful rivers, a journey through history showing how the landscape changed to support the needs of the people.

On February 19 Marcia Whiting will speak on the life and works of Alfred Munnings.

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 at: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761 www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday, January 23: The Massey Shaw Fireboat by Tony Roome Wednesday, February 27: Zeppelin Raids Over East Anglia by Ian Mclachlan We meet at 7.30pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich; entrance via the rear car park, visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments.

01473 422145 www.idhts.co.uk

STOUR VALLEY U3A We don’t have a speaker meeting in December but held our popular Christmas Lunch this time at the Best Western Hotel, Copdock on Wednesday, December 5. This is always a very popular event and was enjoyed by all who attended.

On Wednesday, January 9 Sally Dearman will present Woman Can Fly. This is the story of one women’s journey from jumping out of a landing window, then out of planes, to becoming a civil pilot and the first women through the RAF’s fast-jet flying trains system.

An Afternoon with Joyce Grenfell by Gillain Grinham is the subject for our meeting on February 13. Gillian is an author, former teacher and a director of plays and musicals. She will perform a series of monologues and songs from Joyce’s repertoire, interspersed with details of her much loved entertainer’s life.

Family historians and authors Toni Neobard and Kate Broad will present For Better or For Worse on March 13. This will be a light-hearted look at marriage and relationships through the eyes of Victorians. What happened if they didn’t marry and what if you did but weren’t happy with your choice? It will be a glimpse at bizarre goings-on showing wedded bliss wasn’t always so!

Each month The Coffee Grinders meet at The Lambe School, Gaston Street, East Bergholt CO7 6SD from 10am to noon. This meeting especially welcomes new members and gives all members the opportunity to meet the activity group leaders and the committee while enjoying a cup of coffee. The next meeting is on Friday, Janaury 25..

Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking and computer studies and groups that visit gardens, churches and historic buildings. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust, have over 260 members and 21 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Gillian Gibbs may be contacted.

We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 which entitles members to attend meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, except in December.

KNIT ‘N’ STITCH If you can sew, knit or crochet, or like to make or create in any other medium and fancy working alongside others with a creative streak, come along to our new club. Bring your own project or get inspiration to start a new one.

We meet at Belstead Village Hall every Tuesday afternoon from 1-3pm.

Refreshments available. For more information contact Diane: 07981 335859

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CAMEO Our 2018 get-togethers have generally been well attended, and I think enjoyable for catching up with neighbours, particularly those who we don’t see so regularly during the winter months. We have the Coffee Caravan visiting us three times in 2019; I am always optimistic of sitting outside in the summer and we are planning on arranging a few other optional activities at meetings through the year.

The aim of Belstead CAMEO (Come And Meet Every One) is to provide an opportunity for residents to meet each other for tea, coffee, refreshments and chat on a drop-in basis. The club is not-for-profit and there is no charge, but a small donation towards refreshments is much appreciated. (Nonresidents are very welcome at a charge of £1.)

Belstead is a friendly village and we want to increase this community spirit, both on personal and business levels. We aim to promote all types of local interests and have notice boards showing events, along with information on businesses and charities. You would be amazed at the wealth of talent and scope of business in our small village! It’s always good to know that somebody in the village has recommended the businesses whose cards and information we display.

We meet at Belstead Village Hall, on the second Monday of the month (excluding July and August) between 2.30pm and 4pm and our next get together is on January 21. We wish everyone a healthy and happy new year.

Sandra Howard

COPDOCK AND WASHBROOK WI During the last year we have had a variety of talks from Silver and Gem Stones, Neanderthals Met Humans, Transcendental Meditation to name a few. We have also had our strawberry tea and enjoyed a social evening with games on the field during the summer.

Our whist and book groups are well supported, especially through the winter months. We also had entries in the Suffolk Show this year.

In February 2019 we will be celebrating our centenary and are busy making plans for that. So far we have also put together another interesting list of speakers for the year along with a visit to a garden and afternoon tea.

There are many good reasons to join the WI. We enjoy a wide variety of interests and outings and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with campaigns supported by the WI. Why not come along to the meetings for companionship and interesting speakers? You can come to three meetings as a visitor to see what goes on before deciding if you would like to join and you will be warmly welcomed.

We meet on the third Tuesday of each month (excluding August) at Copdock Village Hall. Please arrive around 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start.

BENTLEY TUESDAY CLUB Our afternoon club runs in Bentley Village Hall from January to December on a fortnightly basis. We have had an interesting year of varied speakers, entertainment, sessions of chair aerobics and two summer outings – a Deben river cruise in June and our annual visit to Dunwich for a fish and chip lunch in September.

We concluded our year with Christmas Lunch at Beth Chatto Gardens, followed later in the month by our Christmas Party, with afternoon tea and entertainment provided by Judy and Glynis playing a selection of carols and Christmas music on their accordions.

We recommence on January 15 when Moira Usher will be giving us an illustrated talk on Baltic Capital Cities, and on January 29 we will have a session of chair aerobics` followed by our Annual General Meeting. Both meetings start at 2pm. You are very welcome to join us.

For information contact Margaret Blackmore: 01473 310655

In Touch online:

YOU invitatR iOn

Protecting your legacy Inheritance Tax and Trusts Ensuring that you have the right legal, tax and financial advice is important when making decisions regarding your wealth. Careful planning and informed decisions can help protect your own financial future and those of the people you care about.

Scrutton Bland and Ashtons Legal have come together to deliver a presentation designed to help you understand the options available to you and explain how you can protect your legacy. In this seminar we will cover: When: Wednesday 27th February 2019 Time: 4.30pm - 6.00pm Where: Suffolk Food Hall, Wherstead, Ipswich IP9 2AB

– Using trusts to save tax – What tax is due?

– Non-trust alternatives

To book your place please email events@scruttonbland.co.uk or phone 0330 058 6559 Scrutton Bland Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Ashtons Legal is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA No. 45826.

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In Touch online:

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OUT & ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH HOME-START

CRAFTERS UNLIMITED

Home-Start met Lauren and her family shortly after their new baby was diagnosed with brain damage. Lauren and her husband were completely overwhelmed with the emotional and practical demands of caring for a baby suffering with multiple seizures and being unsettled day and night, while also trying to juggle the needs of their other children.

A craft club which meets on the first Monday of the month (except for bank holidays when it’s the following Monday). Saturday workshops (10am4pm) and Monday meetings (7.30-10pm) are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms.

Life was turned upside down for the family with hospital appointments, admissions and the worry of an unknown future. Their Health Visitor referred them to Home-Start Suffolk, who introduced them to Ruth, a trained HomeStart volunteer. Ruth visits Lauren and the children once a week, providing support when Lauren’s husband works late.

Monday, February 4: Cardboard Trug (Jill)

Having Ruth there to share the load enables all of the children to get vital one-on -ne attention: reading, playing or doing school work. Mum or Ruth cook dinner and they all sit together while Ruth holds or sings to the baby.

Lauren’s evenings are less chaotic and easier to manage with Ruth’s help.

Lauren says she felt “immediately at ease” with Ruth and found it easy to talk to her when she was having a difficult week. Although the family’s situation is the same, her visits have allowed the family time to adjust and explore what ongoing support is needed and available to them.

Home-Start in Suffolk has family support volunteering opportunities all across Suffolk. Although we value parenting experience, you don’t have to have children or grandchildren of your own to help. You just need a little time and a willingness to make a difference. By joining our team, you will receive accredited training, ongoing support and friendship. Our volunteers support a family on a weekly basis for between two and four hours.

If you think you could give some of your time to support a Suffolk family, please contact Fiona on 01473 621104. By giving the gift of time, you will help to change the lives of families in Suffolk.

COULD YOU BE A YOUNG SHADOW TRUSTEE? Community Action Suffolk has launched an appeal to identify a new Young Shadow Trustee who will have a pivotal post in contributing to how the organisation is run, and how it portrays the county’s youth contingent.

It’s the first time CAS has chosen to include a dedicated Young Shadow Trustee on their board, and comes as part of the organisation’s desire to reflect more diversity.

A Suffolk-based programme to support young trustees has been in place since last year, led by CAS, and now sees a total of 10 younger persons in place with the region’s charities. Charities in Suffolk with an existing Young Shadow Trustee include the University of Suffolk Students’ Union, Suffolk Mind, Suffolk Artlink and St Elizabeth Hospice.

Monday, January 7: Floral Embroidery (Debbie) Monday, March 4: Clock (Debbie) Monday, April 1: Easter Table Decoration (Anita & Mary) Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS VALENTINE BY LEAVING AN EVERLASTING GIFT The Leave an Everlasting Valentine Gift Will Month is being supported by Jackamans Solicitors (Ipswich), Ross Coates Solicitors (Ipswich) and Norton Peskett Solicitors (Halesworth), who have kindly offered their services to offer people the opportunity to make a basic single or mirror will in return for a suggested donation to Cancer Campaign in Suffolk. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of making a Will, as well as highlighting the work of the charity, and is a special way to make a difference and celebrate Valentine’s Day in February.

Around 60 per cent of people in the UK do not have a will and planning for later life is essential!

People are living longer and with ever-changing family lives; second marriages, extended families, civil partnerships, long-term care needs, lasting power of attorney, funeral costs, inheritance tax… Choosing who you want to leave your gifts to is ever more important so your wishes are fulfilled as complications can arise which can become costly.

Making a will gives peace of mind and ensures families and loved ones are cared for in the future. It also gives people the opportunity to leave a lasting gift to a charity that will make a difference to others as well as reduce the inheritance tax bill for the beneficiaries.

Karen Hare, Chief Executive of Cancer Campaign in Suffolk, said: “We are delighted that Jackamans Solicitors, Ross Coates Solicitors and Norton Peskett are supporting the Leave an Everlasting Valentine’s Gift scheme by giving their time and offering a will writing service for a donation to our charity. All the monies raised stays in Suffolk to help before, during and after cancer.”

For more information contact CCiS on 01473 211884 / fundraiser@cancercampaigninsuffolk.co.uk or visit: ww.ccisuffolk.org

The person for the newly created Community Action Suffolk role will need to be between 18 and 25, and will be prepared to offer around four hours per month. They will not be able to vote in their position, but will develop leadership skills, increased knowledge in business and finance, and will receive training and mentoring. Meetings are mainly held in Ipswich and travel expenses should be covered.

Janet Perry, Youth Volunteering Development Officer for Community Action Suffolk, said: “Since Community Action Suffolk has been leading the Suffolk Young Trustee Programme in the county, we’ve received such great feedback from charities about the benefits of having a clear youth perspective as part of their team.”

If you are interested in this or other young trustee placements contact janet.perry@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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SCHOOLS COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL Staff, governors and pupils at Bentley School are pleased to announce the outcome of our recent OFSTED inspection.

Bentley continues to be a GOOD school and has many strengths to celebrate!

As a school we work hard to make the most of all learning experiences and it was great to see this recognised in the report.

“Leaders provide strong and effective leadership that is focused on their desire to provide pupils with the best possible opportunities.” We were especially pleased to see all members of our school community celebrated in the report; most importantly the children. “Pupils behave well and have very positive attitudes to learning. Pupils’ overall progress in writing is improving across all year groups.”

BENTLEY & COPDOCK PRIMARY SCHOOLS Here we are starting our second term of the academic year! Happy New Year to everyone from both our schools. Having spent much of last term thinking about and preparing for Christmas with singing, tree services, decoration making, church services, assemblies, performances, lunches, fayres and fun, we are all refreshed and very excited about starting the new term and the upcoming season.

We are extremely proud of our school and know from parent and community comments that you are too. With continued partnership we can only go from strength to strength so we look forward to working with you all on the next stage of our journey.

Thank you to all for the support and kind words.

Full report available at: www.bentley.suffolk.sch.uk

ROBIN’S NEWS Baby Bears The Baby Bears have enjoyed cooking and exploring different tastes and textures. We made banana cupcakes, chocolate rice crispy cakes and iced biscuits! We have also had a week focused on sensory activities and treasure baskets where we have played with shaving foam, jelly, popcorn, Rice Krispies and many more resources. Our treasure baskets have contained a variety of everyday household objects for the children to freely explore. These included light switches, recycled objects, pinecones and a variety of different fabrics and materials Toddling Tigers The Tigers turned our garden into a ‘road’ to play traffic light games with their toy cars and the ride-on cars and bikes. They listened to each other, followed instructions, built on their role play acting out police and ambulance services. During Forest School the Tigers have spent time bird watching, balanced over a beam to avoid the ‘crocodiles, learnt how to safely use a hammer and made ‘soup surprise’ in the mud. The Tigers have built an awareness of the Forest School boundaries and their team building skills working together to push and pull the trollies over to the field.

Gruffalos The Gruffalos have loved cutting and making Christmas decorations at Forest School. We have learnt how to fix it all together with elastic bands to create a tree. We have had sausages, bread, popcorn and hot chocolate from the fire. Even the office staff joined us! Our nativity went like a dream; all the children loved dressing up and performing. We would like to thank all the parents/carers who attended and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

For nursery care, pre-school, before and after school care or our holiday club activities please contact us: 01473 310767 / info@robinschildcare.co.uk

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While last term was mainly focussed on Christmas events, we still managed to participate in some other things. Key Stage 2 children had trips to the cinema to see Goosebumps 2 or Rock Dog and Foxes class had a trip to Framlingham College to watch their Year 7/8 pupils put on a play about evacuees. We took part in a tag rugby festival and came together for a day in Copdock Village Hall to explore a multicultural experience. We had a special day on Children in Need Friday when everyone came to school dressed in coloured clothes supporting the themes of diversity, equality and respect. Pupils baked cakes as part of the Great Rainbow Vegan Bake-off – these were entered into a national competition and auctioned off at the end of the day. Together we raised £217 for Children in Need.

Last term our after school clubs included a Christmas Cake Making Club which was again an enormous success. Our Lego Club at Copdock resulted in us hitting top spot in the national competition held via the company Kids with Bricks who organise the club. Our rocket was the best! The children have enjoyed it so much that we are continuing into the spring.

Bentley pupils have been taking part in a Wednesday Walking Bus meeting at the War Memorial to try to relieve some of the parking difficulties outside school.

The Sports Council requested that we had an after-school club to develop a federation football team. We responded with training together throughout the term. We hope to have some fixtures over the coming months to explore how well we are developing together.

At Copdock we have raised money through the PTA to have an outdoor gym installed. This should be available for the pupils to use on their return to school with their New Year’s resolutions still fresh in their thoughts.

Maybe some of the staff may be keen to try it out too! Bentley are keen to install an outdoor gym soon and will be crowd-funding and offering a sponsorship opportunity to raise funds for it. Look out for this in the new year.

This month we have some first aid training lined up for our older children, and a whole federation trip to the New Wolsey Theatre to see Cinderella. Excitement is already brewing.

For more news and up-to-date information about the schools, please visit: www.copdock.suffolk.sch.uk

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

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Fu ll, p a rt-tim e a n d s e s s io n a l c a re fo r c h ild re n a g e d 3 m o n th s to 11 ye a rs .

Fo re s t S c h o o l

Ofs te d Re g is te re d

Gra n t

Fu n d in g Te le p h o n e : 01473 310767 Ag e 2, 3 a n d in fo @ro b in s c h ild c a re .c o .u k 4 ye a rs www.ro b in s c h ild c a re .c o .u k Th e S t r e e t , C a p e l S t Ma r y 30 Ho u rs Ip s w i c h , S u f f o l k Gra n t IP 9 2 E G Fu n d in g

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In Touch online:

SPORT

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FC November started in great fashion for the First Team with a great 3-1 victory over near neighbours Capel Plough. However, disappointingly, that was followed by two narrow defeats (the second on penalties) in both the Bob Coleman and Suffolk Senior Cups which ended First Team interest in the cup competitions for this season.

The club is running 19 teams this season, which includes 15 youth sides. The four adult sides include an over-35 team known as the Veterans with their side containing some very experienced players, some of whom used to play in the Eastern Counties League. They play in the Norfolk and Suffolk League and recent results include a 4-2 defeat against Felixstowe Town with goals from Archie Arnold and Wayne Pannell. A 2-2 draw against Bury Town in the League Cup followed with midfield dynamo Ross Dorward scoring one and making the other which was turned into the net by a defender, with the side winning the penalty shootout 5-4 to go through to the next round.

Our Sunday morning team drew 0-0 with Playford in their League Cup, but once again the Ploughmen won on penalties by 4-2 to progress in the competiton, but lost 5-1 to Walton Wanderers in the league with Oliver Blew scoring our goal.

Our Saturday Reserves are having a tough season in the Senior Reserve League and recently lost 4-1 to league leaders Claydon, while our Saturday First team had a poor November, being knocked out of the Senior Cup 5-4 at Haverhill Borough despite a hat trick from Sean Gunn, before losing 4-2 to Stanton in the Bob Coleman Cup with our scorers being Gunn and Jack Reddington.

They were also beaten 3-1 in the local derby against East Bergholt in front of a crowd of 100 spectators, with Danny Garrard our scorer, and were then knocked off the top of the Senior League after losing at home 5-0 to second place Henley Athletic.

Finally, I will finish by wishing all the club’s players, officials and supporters a Happy New Year. Enjoy your football. Up the Plough!

BOB THE PLOUGHMAN

The Reserves had only one fixture, which ended in a defeat to high flying Coplestonians, but remain mid-table with games in hand.

The A Team had a disappointing month with a reverse in League C and exiting both the Club Colours Cup and the Suffolk Primary Cup. UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st Team: Senior Division Sat, Dec 22: Claydon (H) Sat, Dec 29: Leiston St Margarets (A) Sat, Jan 5: Bramford Utd (H) Sat, Jan 12: Crane Sports (A) Sat, Jan 19: Grundisburgh (H) Sat, Jan 26: Henley Athletic (A) Reserves: League A Sat, Jan 5: Bramford Utd Res (A) Sat, Jan 12: Framlingham Town Res (H) Sat, Jan 19: Achilles Res (A) Sat, Jan 26: Sporting 87 Res (H) A Team: League C Sat, Jan 5: Somersham Res (H) Sat, Jan 19: Kesgrave Kestrels (H) Fixtures are subject to change. To confirm visit: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069 Ladies and Juniors We are looking for new teams, boys or girls, of any age group to come and join us as we look to grow the club. If you are interested please contact David George: davidgeorge5000@hotmail.com Darts Competition Night: January 5 Please contact us for more details.

DEMENTIA Together Call Free 08081 688 000 email: SRYC. DementiaTogether@nhs.net visit: www.dementia-together.com

www.keepingintouchwith.com/copdock

We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. Club strips, dugouts, banners or boards on matchdays are potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation.

Steve Butcher: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

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CHURCH NEWS

HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB

Parish Priest: Fr Peter Raj 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 www.stmarksparish.org.uk SERVICES FOR JANUARY Tuesday 1: Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 6: The Epiphany of The Lord 9am Mass Tuesday 8 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 13: Baptism of The Lord 9am Mass Tuesday 15 9.30am Morning prayer 10am Mass Sunday 20: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 22 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 27: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 9am Mass Tuesday 29 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass The weekly newsletter, with weekly mass times, is always displayed in the cabinet by the front door.

negative; 9) Don’t try to convert somebody, respect others’ beliefs; 10) Work for peace.

Events & Diary Dates The 100 Club draw took place on Sunday, December 23 at Holy Family when three lucky winners shared a £157 prize pot. The club, set up to support the life and mission of our parish, has grown from strength to strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, that includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or online at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv & Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR from 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for a new carpet for the parish room and all are very welcome to join us. The next is on Thursday, February 28.

Supporting our Local Hospice All parishioners are asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas, and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice.

The Sick & Homebound Please let Fr Peter know of anyone who is ill at home or homebound so that they can receive appropriate pastoral care. If you or someone you know is going into Ipswich Hospital and would like the ministrations of the church while there please inform Fr Peter or leave a message on Deacon Clive’s answerphone on 01206 396319.

All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services; it’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic faith are always welcome.

Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic.

Catholic Commentary Many people make resolutions at the start of a New Year and it can be difficult to consider what they should be. So a review of Pope Francis’ Top 10 Secrets To Happiness can provide many ideas. 1) Live and let live; 2) Be giving of yourself to others; 3) Proceed calmly in life; 4) A healthy sense of leisure; 5) Sundays should be holidays; 6) Create dignified jobs for young people; 7) Respect and take care of nature; 8) Stop being

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CHURCH NEWS

Shimmy, Shake, Wiggle & Giggle Dance Fitness for sdultes (no partnering)

CAPEL & HOLBROOK METHODIST CHURCHES (UN)CERTAINTIES IN THE NEW YEAR As I write, there are still four weeks to the new year when this will be published. What will the new year look like? How will the vote go in parliament over the Brexit plan?

Will Theresa May still be prime minister?

Are we going to have a peoples’ vote? What will be the plan for leaving the EU? I can’t remember a time when there was so much uncertainty as we enter a new year. By the time you are reading this there may be some answers to some of these questions.

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Two and a half years ago, the country made a binary choice and chose Brexit.

The route has raised all sorts of questions marks along the route. Those questions still abound and there is a huge amount of uncertainty along the route. We are going into unchartered waters.

I’m not going to provide the answers, because I just do not know how things will turn out. One thing I sometimes say at funerals is that there are many uncertainties in life, but one thing is certain – we will all die one day. What will happen after you die depends on decisions you have made before you die. If you agree with God that you have done some wrong and selfish things, then you can choose to ask him to forgive you. When you realise that the cost of your forgiveness was the death of Jesus on a cross, you will want to get to know this Jesus better because he has shown you love when you don’t deserve it. You will discover an unfolding plan for your life and you can choose to follow his amazing plan.

There will still be some uncertainties in that life, but you will know that the eternal destination is heaven (not because you deserve it or have earned it, but because it is the promise and gift of Jesus). There will be twists and turns along the route and even storms, but Christmas means God is with us.

Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, was crucified outside Jerusalem for the sins of the world. He rose from the dead and offered the kingdom of heaven to all who would believe in him. That’s enough certainty for me to enter the new year with hope and a sense of expectancy, despite the turbulence of our times. Brexit can’t change my eternal destination.

The Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Capel & Holbrook Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 AT CAPEL Home Groups on various days and times – contact the Minister Sunday 6 10.30am Worship with Mr Jim Ross

6.30pm Prayer Sunday 13 10.30am Worship with Rev Sue King

6.30pm Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey Saturday 19 3.30pm Messy Church Sunday 20 10.30am Worship with Mr Guy Fairweather Sunday 27 10.30am Covenant service with Rev Andrew Sankey

6.30pm United Service for Week of Prayer, St Mary’s SERVICES AT HOLBROOK What’s on in January (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Mondays 2.30-4pm: Tea and Chat (HCT) Home Groups: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 7.30pm Saturday 5 10-11.30am Coffee Morning Sunday 6 10am Worship with Mr Colin Westren Sunday 13 10am Worship with Mr Brian Clow Friday 18 3.30pm Messy Church (HCT) Sunday 20 10am United Covenant Service with Rev Sankey Sunday 27 10am Worship with Dr Liz Cope

6.30pm Something Different Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in January For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live (HCT) contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 831120

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CHURCH NEWS THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook and Belstead & Bentley with Tattingstone For parish queries please contact: The Rev Annette Shannon The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674

North Samford Churches Baby and Toddler Group 9.30-11.30am at Sproughton Church Hall on Mondays in term time. Suggested donation £2 per family.

Leaders: Doreen (01473 311122) & The Rev Annette Shannon (01473 807674)

NEW YEAR, NEW DECISIONS It’s January again! I hope you feel better about life in this New Year than the singer of this song: “The sun comes up and the sun goes down The hands on the clock keep a-goin’ ‘round I just get up and it’s time to lay down Life gets tee-jus, don’t it, hmm Grief and misery, pains and woes Debts and taxes, yea, so it goes I think I’m gettin’ a cold in my nose Life gets tee-just don’t it?...

Once upon a time this old country and western song was among the popular favourites (Walter Brennan 1948 Life Gets Tee-Jus’ on YouTube). There are lots of other verses in the same vein, a litany of boredom, apathy and irritation at the apparent annoying futility of life. We can do better than that, I think!

How about these more modern sentiments: “Sun comes up, sun goes down Every day all the year round Planet Earth, human race Living in a perfectly beautiful place” (Peter Combe) What a contrast! The same repeating days and nights, but seen as beautiful, a cause for rejoicing and, later in the song a cause for concern: “We know about the dangers, know there must be changes The future is in our hands” As a Christian I would qualify that last line: the future is in God’s hands. That is not just surrender to fate, ‘que sera sera, whatever will be will be’ (Doris Day 1958). Instead it’s a recognition that we are not alone, lost in space on a small blue planet. Neither are we just little performers in a puppet show universe run by a god who works like a master chess player.

The reality I believe to be a paradox: God leaves the decisions and their consequences to us, yet God is working his purpose out as year succeeds year. So every day of this new year we will be making the decisions for better, for worse. Where should we look for guidance? When driving around, some of us (I confess!) are like the man in another old country and western style number, Three Wheels on My Wagon (Burt Bacharach/Bob Hilliard). He’s being chased by fierce savages, but is convinced he is on the right road to a hiding place. His family are not so sure. His wife protests but he won’t listen.

In the end it all comes to grief because he wouldn’t consider whether he really knew the right way to go. Nowadays we might advise him to use a Sat Nav, but they are not infallible! There is no infallible human means to know how we should take all our decisions.

God leaves them to our intelligence and judgement. But God does not abandon us. God is with us. God will help us and guide us. Praying to God is not our last resort; it should be our default mode. When we feel spiritually and emotionally lost we can do the same as King David, the writer of many of the songs in the Bible, the Psalms. In Psalm 143 David says he is dismayed at heart. He is in trouble. So he paused and prayed to God: “Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life”. This new year, let us do the same as King David, pray to God, trust God and take our decisions for better or for worse.

With my prayers and best wishes for us all in 2019, Don Mehen

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Sproughton Burns Night: Saturday, January 19, 7.30pm Wedding Preparation Day: Bentley Village Hall IP9 2DW on Saturday, February 2. We start promptly at 10am and will finish by 3pm.

Burstall Messy Church: Thursday, February 21 at Burstall Village Hall FROM THE REGISTERS Funerals Mike Cross – Copdock Burial of Ashes Mabel Crowfoot – Bentley Rita Wood – Tattingstone JANUARY Wednesday 2 Thursday 3 Thursday 3 Saturday 12 Tuesday 15

Saturday 19 Tuesday 22 Wednesday 23 Saturday 26 Saturday 26

Bentley Home Communions, 10am Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Sproughton Morning Market, 10am Churchwarden’s & Treasurer’s Meeting, 10am at Sproughton Church Hall Sproughton Burns Night, 7.30pm Ministry Meeting, noon Burstall Approval of Accounts Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Copdock PCC, 7.30pm

SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE Sunday, January 6 8.30am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Tattingstone 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Prayer Family Service Family@Church

Sunday, January 13 9.30am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 6pm Tattingstone

Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evening Prayer

Sunday, January 20 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 3.30pm Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Simply Sunday Family Service Family@Church Holy Communion

Sunday, January 27 8am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Belstead 6pm Tattingstone

Holy Communion Matins Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Celebration Holy Communion

Please submit church letters and copy for the February edition of In Touch to Hayley Purnell by January 4: northsamfordbenefice@gmail.com

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