In touch news with stowmarket may18

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Vol. 19 • Issue No. 2 • NOVEMBER 2013

FREE to STOWMARKET STOWUPLAND 50p where sold Volume 23 • &Issue No.RESIDENTS 8 • MAY 2018

Stowmarket Remembers Schools Project, image by Sue Priest (p6)

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I’m sitting at my desk with aching limbs after an unexpectedly adventurous morning. At approximately 7.30am I heard by son shout “Oh my God” from the sitting room. I could tell it wasn’t a normal ‘I’ve just spilt my cereal on the sofa’ howl so I ran to him. I found him staring at what can only be described as a flash flood running through the garden. We both ran to the front door and sure enough it was there too, rushing down our neighbour’s drive, into our garage and garden, and a short time later, into my kitchen.

I’ve often wondered how I would cope in an emergency situation and now I know. I shout very loudly! “We have an emergency down here,” I roared to Daniel as I grabbed my wellies and coat and went to investigate. When Daniel arrived on the scene I was waist deep in the ditch with a garden hoe, having assumed the culvert where it goes underground was blocked.

On further anaylsis we realised the problem lay elsewhere and Daniel set off to find the source.

I won’t go into the details here, but while others tried to fix the cause we set about trying to divert the flow away from the house and outbuildings using everything we could lay our hands on. Meanwhile Jack used every towel he could find (even the good ones we keep for guests!) to mop up in the kitchen. It was quite a team effort (practically a ‘meitheal’ as we might say in Ireland) and soon others, including neighbours, joined in and a pump was set up to divert water into the brook.

I left them to it at this point (it was deadline day after all) but I’m not sure I want to go home tonight! Just imagine how many towel washes I’ll have to do? And grandma’s garden hoe is still firmly lodged in the ditch!

Thank goodness better weather is predicated for next week and summer is on its way. And there’s still plenty of Easter chocolate in the cupboard! Perhaps the one positive I can focus on is the satisfaction of working together with others which I highly recommend. You’ll find many opportunities in the following pages.

Stowmarket In Touch with & Stowupland Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: stowmarket@intouchnews.co.uk Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss.

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NEWS STOWMARKET CELEBRATES FIFTH YEAR OF ANNUAL FESTIVAL STOWFIESTA Stowmarket’s annual free music festival, StowFiesta, organised by Stowmarket Town Council, will return for the fifth year on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June when some of the best covers and original bands in the region will be descending on Chilton Fields. The festival was originally launched in 2007 as StowFest before evolving into the more family orientated StowFiesta in 2014.

StowFiesta, sponsored by Total Driving and supported by Mid Suffolk District Council and Stowmarket Rugby Club, has always tried to bring some great bands from further afield to play alongside the cream of local talent. This year will see rock band Doctor Victor from the Czech Republic play on the Saturday alongside the likes of excellent Suffolk based bands Stretch Soul Gang, Lucky Number 7 and Talk of the Town. On the Sunday, Italian ska/punk band Manovalanza will be joined by top local acts, including Back Porch, Motherfvnker and The Blaggers.

As well as live music there will be various free family activities including a climbing wall, circus skills workshop and a bouncy castle.

There are 15 free pitches up for grabs for charities and not for profit organisations. For more details interested groups should email: stephaniee@stowmarket.org David Marsh, Events and Theatre Manager at Stowmarket Town Council, said: “We’re really excited about this year’s event. There’s some great local acts lined up to play, and we’re really pleased to be able to bring something different to the event with a couple of bands on tour from Europe confirmed on the line-up – and we pride ourselves on the free family entertainment which is always so popular.”

For more information on StowFiesta, please visit: www.stowfiesta.co.uk / www.facebook.com/stowfiesta

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2018: MAY 13-19 Christian Aid is a very well-respected charity, based in the UK and working to alleviate poverty and bring hope to some of the world’s poorest people of all faiths and none.

Members of Churches Together in Stowmarket will be holding a street collection in Stowmarket on Thursday, May 17, during Christian Aid Week 2018. As there will be no house-to-house collection in the town this year, if you would like to support this worthwhile cause, please look out for collectors in the town centre on that day with their red buckets and tabards.

Every penny will make a difference.

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NEWS CHURCH SERVICE TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY LIFE IN STOWUPLAND

LIONS MEMORIAL CHARITY BOXING DINNER RAISES £10,000

Planning for the church service to celebrate the community of Stowupland is under way. It will be on Sunday, May 20 at 10.30am in the URC Chapel and will be an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for everything that contributes to the life of our community.

Cameron Elvin of Eastgate Amateur Boxing Club was voted overall boxer of the night at the 27th Lions Charity Boxing Dinner on Friday, March 23 which raised well over £10,000 for local Lions charities.

Rachel Featherstone, daughter of Lion Ernie Pearce, and Lion President Tony Wass are pictured presenting Cameron with his award.

The service will be followed by an opportunity to enjoy refreshments with people who help to make Stowupland a friendly and lively community. We would love to see as many from the community as possible, including members of clubs, groups and organisations, representatives of business based in the village and county, district and parish councillors.

Please come, and bring others; make it an occasion to remember and celebrate community life in Stowupland.

JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS AT CHARRINGTONS Charringtons Furnishings is celebrating this month – and you can join the party with 10% off across the store over the Bank Holiday Weekend May 5-7.

With a huge range of quality and affordable stock, ranging from sofas and armchairs to beds and mattresses, carpets and vinyl, accessories and gifts.

You’re sure to be inspired if you’re looking to give your home a boost.

And if that wasn’t enough, one lucky customer during the weekend will win a £50 cash prize.

This month marks the second anniversary of Cameron Kerr taking ownership of the established Stowmarket store, based near the railway gates on Stowupland Road, and he’s keen to show everyone the changes that his team has made.

“In common with other town centre traders, we’ve faced a number of challenges over the last couple of years, but we offer a real alternative to the impersonality of the out-of-town furniture outlets,” he said.

“We can compete because we pride ourselves on excellent customer service as well as offering an exciting range of traditional quality items alongside fun, contemporary touches and statement pieces for every home. We know we’re getting it right because of the number of loyal customers we have who come back time after time, but people who haven’t been to see us for a while will be surprised.”

The personal touch offered by Charringtons includes expert advice, a free measuring service and no obligation quotes, with most products available for collection or same day delivery from the store. And with Charringtons now able to offer interest free credit (subject to status), customers have even more choice over purchasing quality items at competitive prices.

All customers can enjoy 10% off across the store over the weekend of May 5-7, with everyone making a purchase going into a special draw. One lucky customer will then win £50 cash.

“It’s our way of saying thank you to everyone – old and new – for their custom over the last couple of years,” Cameron added. “We look forward to seeing old friends and new faces and sharing the celebrations with everyone.”

You can find out more about Charringtons by following them on Facebook and Instagram or by visiting them at www.charringtonfurnishings.co.uk.

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IMAGE: By Rob Hale

It was a great night of boxing put together by Dale Robertson of Eastgate Amateur Boxing Club based at Rougham Airfield, Bury St Edmunds. Dale Robertson who heads up training at the club was also matchmaker for the black-tie Lion Ernie Pearce Memorial Charity Boxing Dinner.

Stowmarket Lions President Tony Wass paid tribute to Ernie who founded this key event for Stowmarket Lions. Two fellow Stowmarket Lions, Andrew Ward and Stuart Jefferies, had taken over from Ernie in arranging the charity boxing dinner which continues to be a winner all round, and if anything is growing in popularity. It serves as a great showcase for the boxers to show their skills in front of a large audience. The auction allows Eastgate Amateur Boxing Club to also gain some funding for the development of their club. Add to that great food, wine and service and you have a winning formula.

For Stowmarket Lions it is the 27th charity boxing dinner and has delivered well over £250,000 for local Lions charities which means the proceeds go straight back to serve the local community.

STOW RELIEF TRUST & STOW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION In the 16th century, the poor of Stowmarket were helped by the more well-off residents of the town with the donation of a woollen coat, perhaps some wood for the fire and a few pennies for bread. The first legacy given to Stowmarket for the relief of the poor was by Lady Margaret Gowle in 1523. Other legacies followed and, with astute investment by our predecessors, we are still able to help local people. Some 500 years later, there are people living in the Stowmarket area who are struggling to make ends meet. Their needs have changed and, today, our grants take the form of white goods, beds, carpets, furniture, school uniform, educational grants, rent or utility arrears and Debt Relief Order fees.

We have also become involved in providing counselling for homeless young people, making a contribution to the Dial-a-Ride scheme and supporting the Benefits and Maximisation Project run by Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice.

Potential clients cannot self-refer to the charities. Instead they need to get in contact with Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice, the food bank, their health visitor, family support worker or social worker who will complete an application form on their behalf.

Find out more about how you can get involved on page 13.

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March Accounting & Taxation Services Ian Coombes FCCA MBA

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NEWS NEW MAPLE TREES ON CHILTON WAY Local electrician Bob Taylor is a man who makes things happen. Having walked by two empty tree sites on Chilton Way for over three years, Bob decided it was time to do something to restore the environment.

As one of his 2018 community projects, Bob purchased two maple trees from Nareys Garden Centre and invited Councillors Dave Muller (pictured) and Barry Humphreys the Mayor of Stowmarket (pictured with Bob), to plant them.

The trees are dedicated to the hard working staff of the East of England Ambulance Service, Stowmarket Station.

“As a surprise for our mayor I asked ex-Air Ambulance pilot Prince William to the dedication, but sadly he could not attend,” said Bob.

STOWMARKET POPPY APPEAL Stowmarket Remembers Schools Project

Trinity CEVA (pictured above and on the cover, taken by Sue Priest) and Combs Ford Primary Schools (pictured below, taken by Angela Coaster) have both held workshops on this project. These were supported by Stowmarket Town Mayor, Councillor Dave Muller and his Consort Lois as well as the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Linda Baxter (pictured with pupils and teaching assistant Julie Taylor). The collection of arts, crafts and literary pieces produced from the project will be displayed at an exhibition to be held from October 13 until November 10 at Stowmarket Library and the Museum of East Anglian Life.

HELP NEEDED TO IDENTIFY MEN LISTED ON THE PARISH CHURCH MEMORIAL As part of the town’s commemorations of 100 years since the end of the First World War, St Peter & St Mary’s Church, Stowmarket is trying to find out more about the names on the First World War memorial in the church. We hope to set up a display detailing each man.

At the moment we have a surname, initial and regiment for each Stowmarket man listed on the memorial. It would be so lovely to be able to find out a little more about these men. How old were they?

Where did they live? Did they leave a family behind? Are any of their family still living in or around Stowmarket?

If you had a family member die in the First World War please take a few minutes to go into St Peter and St Mary’s Church which is open from 10am to 3pm Monday to Saturday. Look at the memorial in the right hand chapel and see if you recognise any names there.

Our research so far has shown that Roland Boast enlisted when he was 15 and we have found the letter written from his parents telling the War Office he “ought to be at home where he is looked after as he is not old enough to understand anything yet”.

Frank Balls joined the Suffolk Regiment, but was seconded to the Royal Air Force and died of pneumonia during a mission in Egypt in July 1918. He must have been one of the first men in the RAF as it is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

This research is fascinating and it is wonderful to see these names coming back to life.

If you have any information which could help us to bring some depth to these names please contact Mary Porter at the church office: 01449 774652 / stowmarket.parish@btconnect.com.

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Across the nation, the Royal British Legion is known as the custodian of remembrance and a major focus of the centenary years is to promote the safeguarding of the memory of those who fought and died in conflict. By providing a positive focus to young people during their formative years it is intended to foster the importance of national commemorations for future generations.

The two workshops were excellent and our thanks go to the teaching staff involved who have gone to great lengths to prepare and ensure that the pupils gain a lasting benefit. Wood Ley Primary School will be holding a workshop in April followed by Abbots Hall and Stowupland Primary Schools.

Knit to Remember Work on the Poppy Curtain has begun in earnest by Stowmarket residents. In turn many local contacts have spread the word and we now have a national network of contributions including some from the Scottish Highlands. The demand for red wool in Stowmarket outlets is high. Please keep knitting as we need about 5,000 poppies for our curtain. Drop off points are Baldwins Department Store, Wool Street Shop and the Royal British Legion Club. Lesley on the wool stall in the market place in Stowmarket (near ASDA) has also kindly agreed to be a drop off point as has St Peter & St Mary’s Parish Church. We prefer you to drop off your contributions at least monthly, if possible, rather than in one go, so that we can gauge requirements and we can report on progress. However, for information, the closing date for collections is September 1. More news about the construction of the Poppy Curtain will be published over the coming months.

A couple of corrections to the pattern, the needles are 4mm and ‘P.S.S.C’ should read ‘P.S.S.O’.

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Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service.

Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number

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Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Hadleigh, Stowmarket & surrounding areas and manager Andy Kerridge agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing

a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’

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Wills month May 2018 What will you do today for the future?

Start planning for your future and make an appointment to create a will with one of our friendly solicitors or will writers. They will write your will and invite you to make a suggested donation. All you have to do is choose from the list below and book an appointment between 1 and 31 May 2018.

Your gift could blossom into a vital legacy for the hospice, helping local people now and in the future.

Suggested donation Single will

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Choose your local solicitor or will writer from the list below and book direct Attwells 01473 229881 Barker Gotelee 01473 611211 Blocks 01473 230033 Christchurch 01473 355160

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NEWS YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU! I’ve only moved five times in my adult life, with a few more during childhood, but it’s the latter moves which leave a lasting image in my mind. Moving home has always been hard work, the disposal of hoarded but unused items, the logistics of packing and a subsequent inability to find important documents. But of one thing I’m clear; every move has resulted in an even better lifestyle than its predecessor. And this simple fact has never been truer since moving to Cedars Park.

I’ve retired now so I’m enjoying the benefits of cycle paths, nearby countryside, excellent infrastructure and easy access to the nation’s trunk roads. So what’s not to like? I’m hesitant to answer for fear of sounding like a grumpy old granny, but I know that I’m not alone in feeling that our homes and our environment aren’t enhanced by a litter of broken bottles, sweet and fast food packaging, with the occasional car wheel dumped alongside bagged kitchen waste and shrubs decorated with decaying dog poo bags. There’s no one age group to blame for such disregard of our estate, the evidence of detritus incriminates them all.

But what to do? While it’s easy to complain about a problem, and even easier to ignore it, a group of us has combined to ‘make a difference’. We’ve organised a community litter pick to take place on Friday, May 11, starting at 11am outside Cedars Park Community Centre. We’re providing litter picking grabbers, waste bags, luminous safety jackets, waste disposal and gloves where required, along with a hot drink and refreshments for volunteers.

We’d like the event to be a social activity so that everyone leaves with a smile. All you have to do is to come along wearing suitable clothing and stout shoes.

Our endeavours are supported and sponsored by Cedars Park Residents Association, Cedars Park Community Centre, the town council and mayor and Paul Wright’s Estate Agents.

Jenny Davidson To find out more contact cedars.litter@icloud.com / 07864 928696 or visit: www.cedarsparkcommunitycentre.co.uk/events

STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Friday, May 4, 10am-noon: Coffee and Networking Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market

WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE 2019 – WEST VIRGINIA, USA Our names are Fred and Stan Allsop, and we have lived in The Old Police Station, Stowupland for 12 years (we’re now 14 and 12, respectively). We moved here after our parents left the army, both coming back home to Suffolk, each after 22 years of service; it was inevitable we would do something similar and we are both in the Scouts.

Every four years, the organisation holds a jamboree, where tens of thousands of Scouts from all over the world come together in one place for a once in a lifetime adventure to broaden their experiences and make new memories. It is an honour to be chosen as you have to be able to represent your country, and there is a long selection process, which only a small percentage of young people get through. However, we were both lucky enough to be chosen for the Suffolk contingents, and will be going to West Virginia in 2019; the difficult part now is raising the money – nearly £4,000 each.

I (Fred) am putting my paper round money towards it, and we are also offering our services doing car washing and other odd jobs, for small donations. Our family are making several craft items for Christmas and summer fayres. We are bag packing at supermarkets, having a film screening at the Regal for Father’s Day and have many other ventures and ideas in the pipeline over the next year.

We have a link on a site called Easy Fund-Raising. This raises money for us through small donations made by more than 3,000 companies, who give a small percentage of their profits once you buy something with them. This doesn’t cost you anything!

Amazon, eBay, booking.com, Next, confused.com, EE, Asda, John Lewis and even Tesco Direct do it, so you would be helping us just by doing your normal shopping online. We’d be very grateful if you looked at our link by searching for World Scout Jamboree 2019 – Fred and Stan Allsop on www.easyfundraising.org.uk or www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/fredandstanallsop The other website we are using is called crowdfunder, where you can just donate to our cause if you’d prefer and maybe don’t shop online. Anything you are able to give would be greatly appreciated, you can pledge from just a pound so please have a look at our page by searching for World Scout Jamboree 2019 on www.crowdfunder.co.uk/world-scout-jamboree-2019-3.

Friday, May 18, 6.45am: Breakfast Finborough Hall, Great Finborough, Stowmarket IP14 3EF

If you have any jobs you’d like us to do, please let us know for us to arrange a suitable time for you. Our home number is 01449 777099.

To book online, follow the link on: https://stowmarketchamber.co.uk/networking-events

Thank you for reading; we look forward to helping you to help us reach our targets.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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ALLERGY THERAPIST at Woolpit

(Brickfields Business Park) Testing for food, environmental and chemical sensitivities – as well which can cause unpleasant symptoms and illnesses.

For an appointment contact Helen Parsons Dip Allergy Therapy, Food Studies Cert.Ed, B.I.A.E.T.

Tel: 01531 670746

STOWE SCHOOL OF DANCE RAD Ballet, ISTD Ballet,

ISTD Modern, ISTD Tap For enquiries please contact

Fiona Drew on 01449 616623.

RAD TeAching DiplomA, AiSTD

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Michael T E Bailey Doctor of Chiropractic Registered with the General Chiropractic Council

7 Stowupland Rd Stowmarket IP14 5AG

Tel/Fax 01449 612620 www.michaelbailey.net

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NEWS MAYDAY SOS HELP ME I’M INJURED

Now the weather is improving people might start getting out and enjoying the garden, doing some DIY or playing some summer sports.

That does mean that a few unfortunates will push their body tissues beyond the level they are happy to take and end up with an injury.

If you feel you have just injured yourself the best thing to do is to stop the activity you were doing. Trying to ‘run-off’ the injury may sometimes work but you risk damaging a lot more tissue if it goes wrong.

The application of some cooling as soon as possible helps to reduce the bleeding around an injured area. Cooling limits the bleeding, inflammation and swelling which creates pain and limits movements.

Blood supplies our body tissues with all the nutrients it needs to live and takes away waste products. When we injure an area we damage the blood vessels in the vicinity. This can lead to healthy tissue which wasn’t injured not getting enough blood and in turn can cause that tissue problems. Applying cold to an injured area reduces the blood demands of those tissues which can reduce further damage. If you damage less tissue after an injury you have less tissue to repair to get you back to normal. Cooling also helps with reducing the pain felt after an injury.

The best application of cooling is with something like a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a damp towel for five minutes every half an hour during the daytime over the first 48 hours after injury. Leaving on for longer can lead to a painful ice burn and after five to ten minutes of cooling your blood vessels can open up allowing more blood into the area – leading to potentially more bleeding which we are trying to avoid.

Some relative rest for a few days after an injury allows the tissue time to settle and heal itself. Movement though is key to stimulating the tissues to get better, so it’s best not to put the feet up for too long after being injured. Some gentle activity may help you get better quicker.

If there are things which are good then there are things which are detrimental to healing rates. Alcohol opens up blood vessels which in turn can lead to more bleeding around an injured area giving rise to more pain, swelling and reduced movement and longer recovery times. Heating an area within the first 48-hours after injury will also have a similar effect. So that hot bath and drink in the bar after an injury might not be helping your injured area.

CHERNOBYL CHILDREN’S LIFELINE We are busy preparing for an extremely busy year ahead.

In June two children will arrive for a two-week visit and on the day we return them to the airport we will collect the 15 children who are coming for the month-long summer group visit. They return to Belarus at the end of July and two weeks later we will welcome a family of four to stay with us. This family is rather special to us as we will see the return of Nastia, now 19, who, at seven years of age was the very first child we hosted and the beginning of this CCLL Link. If we are able to obtain the visas required we are hoping to bring her with her sister and parents for a two-week visit. When they return to Belarus at the end of August we will also be taking 13 people from Mid Suffolk to join with people from other Links for a week’s goodwill visit to Belarus. So, a very busy time indeed!

As always we are appealing for donations of clothing to cover the complete age range of children we support and for siblings at home, so from birth to 18 are always welcome together with good quality second-hand footwear.

Also required are basic medicines and for each child. We try to collect the following items: Lemsip, decongestant capsules or drops, vapour rub, menthol nasal sticks, Immodium (or similar), menthol crystals, Sudacrem cream, oil of cloves or similar, digital thermometer, cold sore cream, Iglue mouth ulcer cream, paracetamol or ibuprofen tablets.

We would like to thank Stowmarket Football Club who have kindly allowed us to base our group activities at the club and this is where the children will meet throughout the summer to take part in the various events and activities that have been organised for them.

Charity Shop The CCLL Charity Shop in Needham Market provides a great focal point for us and helps to raise awareness for our work. Although we have Links across the country we are not a national chain of shops. All staff is volunteers, we don’t pay for any management and neither do we buy in any of the goods on sale. Everything is donated to help support the children. We really do need people who are able to offer a few hours a week to help out covering for holidays and sickness. Each session is only three hours so if you think you could be available to help with ‘spot cover’ we would love to hear from you; no experience is necessary and you’re never on your own. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming.

We are now pleased to announce that we can accept payment with all major credit and debit card issuers.

So little can mean so very much – and thank you for remembering us.

Link Chair Elizabeth Parker 01449 760343 / 07771 550868

Smoking also reduces the oxygen and nutrients which the blood carries to the tissues which can limit your healing rates. Cutting back after an injury may speed up your healing.

If you are struggling to put weight through an injured area after a few hours of your injury it’s worth a visit to A&E to check there are no bones broken. Should the pain, limited movement and swelling not settle within a few days of your injury it is certainly worth a visit to a healthcare professional to have them assess it and advise you on the best way forwards. What you do over the first 48-hours after an injury will dictate how quickly you will recover over the next six weeks, so don’t delay in getting the treatment started after an injury.

Bob Grainger MSc MCSP HCPC CSCS Practice Principal PhysioFixx Physiotherapy Clinic Sports Physiotherapist

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

STOWUPLAND FLOWER FESTIVAL AND CRAFT FAIR Saturday 5 to Monday 7 May, 10am-5pm Beautiful flowers in the church and lots of lovely stalls in the church hall.

Plenty of free parking, free entry, scrumptious refreshments.

For more information please contact: anndoubtfire1@gmail.com

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT

REPORT FROM KEITH WELHAM: APRIL 2018 District Councillor for Stowupland Ward Planning: Porch Application for 18 homes opposite Holy Trinity Church Re-consultation on the revised highway proposals and car park for use

by Freeman School commenced on April 4 so any comments need to be sent to MSDC as soon as possible. The application should be determined by committee at a meeting in May. This is an outline application. If this is approved, an application for approval of details will be needed.

Planning: Co-op Site The concerns here are in respect of traffic and road safety issues, especially the safety hazards when crossing the road, bearing in mind the larger store is likely to attract more customers than the present store. There is currently no date for determination by committee.

Planning: Bloor Phase 2 Planning committee on March 28 approved the detailed matters application relating to appearance, landscaping, layout and scale. Some other detailed matters have been approved by officers and there are still others remaining to be approved.

Planning: Oak Gates, Church Road This application for a detached dwelling in the grounds of the existing dwelling has been refused on environmental grounds.

Planning: Land west of Thorney Green Road The appeal hearing is planned to start on April 24 at Cedars Hotel and is likely to last between two and four days.

Planning: Land at Elm House The new owners have submitted an application (DC/18/01265) for three detached dwellings on land alongside Mill Street. Two of the dwellings would take access direct from Mill Street, the other would be accessed from B1115 Stowmarket Road. Any comments need to be with MSDC

by May 2. Planning officers are aiming for determination by May 19.

Building Control work on the Bloor site I am very pleased that Bloor has appointed MSDC Building Control Officers to provide building control services throughout the whole of the site – Phases 1 and 2. Because of government decisions regarding competition for these services, the MSDC team are required to bid for work. There is a clear advantage in the work being carried out by the MSDC team as they can work closely with MSDC Planning Officers.

Stowmarket Chorale and Dorian Singers combine for a pair of concerts in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK, Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo by Michael Flanders and Joseph Horowitz, and Songs of the Fleet (by Charles Villiers Stanford).

Saturday, June 23, 7.30pm at Trinity Methodist Church, Hamilton Road, Felixstowe IP11 7AN. Tickets £12 including refreshments.

Saturday, July 7, 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1AD. Tickets £12 including refreshments.

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Proposals to merge Mid Suffolk and Babergh District Councils Colin Noble (leader of SCC) has appointed consultants to consider alternative local government structures for Suffolk including disbanding all district and borough councils within the county and setting up unitary authorities (or a single county-wide unitary). This has caused the proposal to join MSDC with BDC to be called into question. However, district council leaders across Suffolk have asked Colin Noble to halt the work of the consultants to allow a collaborative review involving all district councils, the police authority and the health sector as well as the county council.

Have you read the letter from the Leader of MSDC which came with your Council Tax demand?

If you have, did you think that his assertion that the move to Endeavour House had saved MSDC Council Tax payers £5.8million was just too good to be true? That’s because it is too good to be true. That figure is for both Mid Suffolk and Babergh – so only around £2.9million each or £290,000 per year and that’s for both capital and running costs. And it isn’t saving we will see. MSDC moved its headquarters out of the district area and into Ipswich and so did Babergh. If the councils hadn’t moved to Ipswich they would have retained only one office as a head office so the true ‘saving’ is even less.

As I’ve written in earlier reports, MSDC has consistently not spent its budget (underspending on average £700,000 for each of the last seven years). Over roughly the same period of time, they have been squirrelling away about £10million from government grants received for getting homes built (New Homes Bonus).

I hope that our council leader will be more accurate and transparent about savings in the future and reflect the true costs to our community, such as the amount of staff experience lost (nearly 100 left last year – not to mention those off sick), the loss of business to shops and food outlets in Needham Market and the extra cost of attending meetings when travel time and cost and parking fees are taken into account.

Keith Welham Keith.Welham@midsuffolk.gov.uk

Stowmarket Chorale take part in Ipswich Music Day on Sunday, July 1. Further details available soon.

On Saturday, November 3 we perform Handel’s Messiah at St Peter and St Mary’s Church in Stowmarket. We would welcome guest singers to join us for the autumn term at our weekly rehearsals to sing this marvelous work.

Further details available soon. www.stowmarketchorale.org.uk

In Touch online:

OUR NEW JOINERY SHOWROOM IS NOW OPEN BUILDBASE STOWMARKET Pop in today for quality windows, doors and stairs from big credible brands, with expert advice from Ian and his Stowmarket team.

VISIT: Stowmarket Business Park, Stowmarket, IP14 2ED CALL: 01449 778444 EMAIL: stowmarket@buildbase.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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OUT & ABOUT THE REGAL IN MAY

bRAVO! SCHOOL OF ROCK

Easter has been and gone with no doubt many chocolates consumed! Now, we welcome in May at The Regal Theatre, and this month includes a fantastic selection of films, ranging from comedies to dramas in the coming weeks

bRAVO! School of Rock is a new music school opening in Stowmarket in May 2018.

Blockers: US comedy starring John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz in which three concerned parents set out to stop their daughters from losing their virginities on prom night.

The Leisure Seeker: comedy adventure starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland. A runaway couple go on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker, traveling from Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West. They recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the very end.

Love, Simon: drama starring Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel. Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends, and all of his classmates: he’s gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.

Isle Of Dogs: animation voiced by Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, and many more! From the director of Fantastic Mr Fox, Wes Anderson’s latest animation follows a boy’s odyssey of searching for his lost dog. It has been sent to an island to which all dogs have been forced to go after a ‘dog flu’ outbreak and he hopes to be reunited with his pet.

A Quiet Place: horror thriller, starring Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: war drama starring Lily James, Matthew Goode, Penlope Wilton and Tom Courtney. A writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of Guernsey Island in the aftermath of the Second World War when she decides to write a book about their experiences during the war.

Live on stage we have Stowmarket Operatic and Dramatic Society performing musical Made In Dagenham from Wednesday, May 9 to Saturday 12.

One of the UK’s best ELO tribute bands, ELO Encounter – Blue Sky Tour, perform on Sunday, May 13. We also have two evenings of live country music on May 14 and 21 with The Indians and Shawn Cuddy respectively.

Our Event Cinema screenings this month include Macbeth on Sunday, May 13, An American In Paris on Wednesday, May 16, The Dam Busters celebrating its 75th anniversary on Thursday, May 17, and finally The Skid Row Marathon on Sunday, May 20.

bRAVO! Theatre Workshops has been an active part of the community in Stowmarket and the surrounding areas for nearly six years. Teaching singing, dancing and drama, we have outstanding feedback from customers past and present. bRAVO! School of Rock will follow the same ideologies. We aim to inspire students though music so that they can gain confidence and social skills. We want our students to have fun while learning the art of music in a safe environment.

Each week the students will spend the first hour in a small group learning their chosen instrument. They can choose from guitar, drums, bass and singing tuition. Small classes enable us to meet each students needs by focusing on their different learning styles.

During the second hour (plug and play) the students will perform the songs they have learned during the first hour. They will form bands and ensembles based on their mixed abilities and will perform rock and pop based tunes.

We accept students of all levels and abilities. Our tutors are experienced and fully qualified musicians who teach to very high standards and all have studio and live experience on professional stages. Principal Diego Damigella has been playing bass and double bass for 27 years. He has worked as a professional musician since the age of 17, on tours, TV and theatre. His impressive and extensive experience includes working with Natalie Imbruglia, Lily Allen and the Monte Carlo Royal Orchestra.

If you would like to join bRAVO! School of Rock, please contact us and we will send you a form.

Take advantage of our open day on May 19; come along, see the environment/ location, meet the teachers and have a jam with us! ​07936 910873 / 01449 675395 / bravomusicschool@hotmail.com

SALVATION ARMY CHARITY MOTORBIKE RIDE Fifty-mile round trip through beautiful Suffolk countryside on Saturday, May 26: 10am: Meet at Stowmarket Salvation Army Corps 11am: Ride starts 12.30pm: Finish time back at the Corps Tea, coffee and hot snacks available at the beginning and a barbeque at the end. Suggested £5 donation please.

Money raised will go to the Stowmarket Salvation Army Youth Ministries and Stowmarket Town Pastors.

Please contact Jenny: 07940 364028 / jenny.johnson@salvationarmy.org.uk Stowmarket Salvation Army, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket IP14 1NE Please note: There will only be parking available at the venue for bikes with ample parking nearby at ASDA for cars.

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In Touch online:

DO YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT? DO YOU ALREADY PLAY AN INSTRUMENT? DO YOU WANT TO PLAY IN A BAND? JOIN STOWMARKET’S...

F O L O O H RAVO! SCCK RO GUITAR, BASS, DRUMS, SINGING FROM THE AGE OF 7 TO 18

WE ALSO OFFER SINGING SONGWRITING LESSONS

T: 07936 910873 – 01449 675395 E:bravomusicschool@hotmail.com W:https://www.bravotheatreworkshops.co.uk/ bravo-school-of-rock

We’re Walking for Parkinson’s Join us

dge Glemham Hall, Woodbri Sunday 10 June

hamintouch

parkinsons.org.uk/glem

0207 963 3912

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www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket ParkinsonsUK_WalkAdvert_63x132mm.indd 1

09/04/2018 13:02

OUT & ABOUT MENDLESHAM STREET FAYRE On Bank Holiday, Monday, May 7 the village of Mendlesham will be holding its 38th annual Street Fayre. The fayre will start at noon with a procession of May Princess and the May Queen accompanied by Stowmarket Boys Brigade Band.

Old Market Street will be closed to traffic and full of stalls selling crafts, bric-a-brac, plants, jewellery and tickets for our grand draw. Throughout the afternoon there will be live music on stage from the The Emmatones, Suffolk School of Samba with dancers, dancing from East Suffolk Morris Men, clog dancing from the Haughley Hoofers and the Tricky Twister to entertain the children.

Visit Wings Elite Birds of Prey and the craft fayre in the community hall and the famous armoury in St Mary’s Church will be open. This year The Mix in Stowmarket will be bringing their portable skate park for you to try with instruction for children and adults. You will find plenty of refreshments including a hog roast, hot dogs, teas, sandwiches and cakes, all provided by village charities. Not forgetting the bygone farm machinery.

Entry is by £3 programme for adults with under-16s free and a free car park.

To book a space in the street contact Angela on 01473 766483 (no food outlets needed).

The event is run by Mendlesham Community Council and the money raised each year goes to help support village charities, the school and the community.

Annual PLANT SALE The annual plant sale will take place outside the parish church in the centre of Stowmarket on Saturday, May 12 from 9am. There will be vegetables, shrubs, herbs, trees, house plants, seed trays and more at very good prices so do come along and stock up your garden.

We also have room for some table top spaces on the path so if you are interested in selling please contact 01449 678623 to book your spot for £5. If wet we will go indoors.

SUMMER ART EXHIBITION & SALE Stowmarket Art Club’s 2018 summer exhibition and sale of art will run from May 31 to June 2 at the United Reformed Church on Ipswich Street which is open daily from 10am-4pm.

Admission is free and there are two large car parks in close proximity. Wheelchair access is available.

STOWMARKET ARTISAN MARKET Saturday, April 7 was the first market of the 2018 season and it was good to see many of our regular customers again. One of our new stallholders, Nana’s Pantry, was an outstanding success with orders placed and customers saying they will attend earlier to buy the sausage rolls. I can personally vouch for the cauliflower, broccoli and stilton quiche! Having talked to many of our customers it was good to see an appreciation of one-off and individually crafted products.

Next month the market will be on the bank holiday weekend, Saturday, May 5. We welcome the return of Gemma’s Curiosities (taxidermy) and Hattrix (steam punk hats, etc.), plus a couple of new stalls, Tempting Treats with cupcakes and fancies and I Love the 70s one-off designs (all things macrame).

There will of course be the usual stalls of jewellery, textiles, knitting, upcycling, book craft and woodcraft. Hence we look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 5 at the Scout Centre, Milton Road North, Stowmarket. Doors open at 10am and refreshments will be provided by the Scout Fund Raising Team (bacon butty and a mug of tea for £2).

Sue Delf: 01449 613224 / Facebook: Stowmarket Artisan Market

CHOIRS SING FOR CHILDREN’S WARD VivaVoices community choirs in Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Wymondham raised £1,420 for West Suffolk Hospital Children’s Rainbow Ward in a series of Easter concerts.

“The Rainbow Ward is a cause particularly close to my heart,” says choir leader Graeme Hopson. “My son Theo, who was born over Christmas, became ill and required care on the ward for a week before making a full recovery.

During that difficult time my wife and I were impressed by the kindness and dedication of the staff and the quality of care he received. Raising money for the Rainbow Ward is our way of thanking the staff and helping other babies and children, and I’m delighted by how much our concerts have raised.”

VivaVoices meets from 7.30-9pm on Mondays at the United Reformed Church with rehearsals starting on April 23. For more information call 01284 700286 or visit: www.vivavoices.com

BAND ACADEMY AT THE MIX Here at The Mix HQ, we are really pleased to extend a warm welcome to Band Academy who have taken over the operation of the Vorpal Music Studio. Both Adam and Jake of Band Academy are experienced youth workers and have been involved with The Mix for some time, but they are also extremely talented musicians. Jake said: “We are delighted to announce the re-opening of Vorpal Studio at The Mix. We’re extremely excited to get to work and are pleased to be able to offer a range of new services, focusing our efforts towards young people with an interest in music and media.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to Ryan at The Mix for his incredible and tireless commitment to the studio over the last four years and to The Mix team for their trust, belief and support in allowing us to take sole ownership.

We aim to continue the amazing work they do by enabling the immeasurable potential every single young person has, through the four walls of our recording studio.

“What are we offering? Besides being accessible during the regular dropin services currently provided, we will also be offering one-to-one or oneto-band coaching in music and videography, viral-style videos for bands/ singers wanting to reach more people with their music and bespoke projects co-ordinated with partnered charities and schools.

“We’ve already seen the positive impact music has on the young people we currently work with through Band Academy and cannot wait to see Vorpal Studio develop their skills and continue offering an alternative outlet for music and media.”

Please contact us at info@vorpalstudio.com or visit: vorpalstudio.com Good luck Adam and Jake; we are really looking forward to seeing the results of all your hard work and the benefits it will bring to our young people.

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In Touch online:

visit Gladwells Pet & Country Store Unit 6, The Lodge Works, Stowmarket Road, Old Newton, IP14 4EE • 01449 673806

gladwells.stowmarket@copdockmill.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8:30am - 5:30pm www.copdockmill.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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OUT & ABOUT HULLABALOO DELIGHTS! FREE ENTRY TO OUR ANNUAL FUN DAY! Saturday, June 16, 1-5pm Earl Stonham Recreation Ground (on the A1120 at IP14 5HJ) Live music and brass band, Morris Dancers, Birds of Prey, Bouncy Castle Hedgehog Rescue Centre, farm machinery, plants, cakes, burgers and beer Fire engine, games for kids and fab draw prizes Helping to raise funds to refurbish East Stonham Village Hall

2018 WOOLPIT STEAM RALLY The 2018 Woolpit Steam Rally will be taking place over the weekend of June 2 and 3 at Warren Farm, Wetherden IP14 3JX by kind permission of R & P Baker. This follows on from the hugely successful 30th anniversary show last year which saw £19,800 donated to local charities and community groups.

What makes Woolpit Steam different from many other shows is the organisers desire to present to the public historic and rare machinery not normally seen on display. This encourages the true enthusiast to travel from all parts of the country, but equally captures the imagination of the casual visitor.

Woolpit Steam is probably best known for its selection of rare and unusual veteran tractors and this year is no exception with around 20 pre-1930 tractors anticipated. This is also to be complemented by a one off gathering of very early commercial vehicles and an expanded display of steam engines.

If you are looking for a gift or that elusive spare part then there are over 50 craft, trade and auto jumble stalls to tempt you. There is also hot and cold food, a licensed bar and ice creams. A traditional fun fair including electric yachts, dodgems and side stalls, together with Punch & Judy and a full ring programme on both days will help keep the family entertained.

Gates are open from 9am to 5pm on both days and admission is adults £5 on Saturday / £6 on Sunday, and children £2 on either day. Car parking is free and the show is easily accessible from Junction 47a on the A14 eastbound, or Junction 49 west bound.

For further information contact David Seeley on 01449 737443 (after 7.30pm) or via: www.woolpit-steam.org.uk

PAKENHAM WATER MILL Another season started at your local historic, picturesque water mill on March 31.

Do come and visit this special mill which is the last working water mill in Suffolk and owned by the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust. We depend on public support and it is a little gem right on your doorstep. The mill is administered and maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Tours of the mill are available at weekends and Thursdays (when you can usually see the mill in action, producing fine wholemeal, rye and spelt flour).

The tearoom is open for coffee and cakes, light lunches or afternoon tea, using scones with a high proportion of mill flour and other local produce. Our website gives details of all opening times.

Private tours are available for groups (minimum 15) followed by refreshments on afternoons or evenings when the mill is not open to the public. We would be happy to hear from any groups, including art or photography groups that would enjoy the special surroundings of the mill.

We can also cater for private parties at lunchtime or on evenings when the mill is closed to the public.

This summer we are planning to cater for children’s traditional birthday parties where the special surroundings of the mill and the quality of the food offered will appeal to so many parents.

Keep a look out for all our other periodic special events advertised on our website.

In the warmer weather there is little more relaxing than sitting by the mill pond with your tea and cake. Dogs are welcome in the outside area, and they will enjoy our circular walk around the pond and beyond. Other attractions include our heritage orchard and wildlife area.

For updates please like our Facebook page or visit: www.pakenhamwatermill.org.uk Please come as a visitor, but why not also think about becoming a volunteer.

RAK N ROLL DAYER Music festival to remember Luke Jarvis: Saturday, June 2 at Stowmarket Football Club

Refreshments will be available in two of the open gardens. In addition there will be plant stalls in some gardens and two showings (11am and 2pm) of the film Bygone Years of Old Newton in the Church Institute (IP14 4ED)

At the end of 2016 Stowmarket lost a one of a kind by the name of Luke Jarvis. Luke left a big hole in the lives of many of his friends and family with his outgoing personality and talent on a skateboard. Wherever he went he put a smile on people’s faces. After his passing one of his friends, Luke Irons, and his father Andrew decided to create a music festival in his honour. This took place last June at Stowmarket Football Club: with limited time to organise, they got together a variety of rock tribute bands to play and also a skateboard ramp which they held skate jams on while the bands played. The whole event was a roaring success with approximately 800 people attending.

Standing on guard in many of the gardens and elsewhere around the village will be scarecrows made in response to the theme Weddings/Marriages, topical in that there will have been a very recent Royal Wedding. You will have the chance to vote for the best scarecrow.

This year with more time to arrange and organise they are hoping to expand on the event. It will be again be held at Stowmarket Football Club with some of the best tribute rock bands in the country playing, including Dirty/Dc and Guns to Roses and a return of local band Renegade Twelve.

OLD NEWTON OPEN GARDENS Sunday, June 10, 11am-5pm Old Newton’s gardens are to be open on June 10 between 11am and 5pm.

About 15 gardens will open, ranging from cottage, wild-life friendly to ones more formal in style. In addition the village allotments will be on show.

The gardens can be found on a circular route around the village: Church Street, Chapel Road, Brown Street, Silver Street and Station Road. Each open garden will be identified by a sunflower sign and number.

Parking is available at the village hall (IP14 4ED) where there will be a large map of the route. Entry is by programme (£4), available at any of the open gardens. Children are free when accompanied by an adult.

The day concludes with a Songs of Praise at 6pm in St Mary’s Church (IP14 4PP). Funds raised will go towards the upkeep of this ancient church.

For further information contact: Mrs Brooks: familybrooks@btinternet.com / 01449 775334

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Alongside the stage there will be a bigger skateboard ramp with skate competitions for the under and over-16s with cash prizes and product from the sponsors. There will also be a BMX demo from local rider Ash Finlay.

There will be a licensed bar and BBQ at the club house, food vendors sited around the pitch including a hog roast, noodle bar, retro sweet shop and ice cream van. They’ll be side attractions as well including a rodeo bull, sumo suits, bouncy castle and slide. They are hoping to build on this year after year to become a permanent fixture in Luke’s memory.

So put the date in your diary, Saturday, June 2, noon-11pm. Tickets in advance £12 for adults, £5 for ages 12 and under. www.raknrolldayer.bigcartel.com

In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT STOWUPLAND LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Wednesday, May 2: Haughley Castle by Edward Martin

HAUGHLEY VILLAGE FETE Saturday, June 9, noon-4pm Book a stall for £15 Contact: acsargent48@gmail.com All proceeds to Haughley Royal British Legion

WOMEN’S SECTION ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Twenty-six members attended our meeting on March 21 which Hazel opened with the exhortation and silent tribute. She thanked everybody, especially the committee, for their help with the recent jumble sale. We had some new helpers this time and also thank Maggie’s granddaughters for their help. The weather wasn’t very nice with light snow falling and we didn’t get quite as many customers as usual, but we did make a good amount. Audrey gave the minutes of the last meeting and Maggie the accounts held. A few members were unwell and we wish them well.

Our speaker was Liza Jones who presented a talk entitled Behind the Bathroom Door. She brought numerous soaps, hair products, shampoos and some weird looking torturous curling tongs, which we all remembered our mums using on us. So different to today’s electrical hair products as if the tongs were too hot our hair got singed! It was an eye opener to hear her say what hygiene products we had in our bathrooms, also that you need to read the labels as some soaps and shampoos are basically detergents! Liza displayed photos of old toilets and baths and it made us all laugh to learn that going to the toilet used to be a social event with lines of boxes where you could sit and chat! Thank you Liza for a very entertaining talk.

Shirley gave her a vote of thanks and then read out a couple of humorous poems. Liza judged the competition, which was a bar of soap; first Liz, second Maureen E and third Maggie. We had a lot of entries for this competition.

After the draw Hazel closed the meeting with the National Anthem.

The subject of our meeting on May 16 is The History of the Fan and the competition is a fan.

The motte and bailey of the 11th century Haughley Castle (picture by Geoff Pleasance) is still a big landscape feature in the village. The motte rises behind the church and the inner bailey is now the village duck pond. Edward Martin, a former county archaeologist, is an author and speaker on wide ranging areas of Suffolk’s history.

Wednesday, June 6: AGM and Ipswich Suffragettes by Joy Bounds This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act which granted women (over 30) the right to vote for the first time. Joy will look at the long campaign which led to this in Suffolk and especially Ipswich women who were involved. She has covered the subject of Ipswich suffragettes in her book A Song of their Own. A very short AGM, starting at 7.30pm, will precede the talk.

Wednesday, July 4: A Virtual Tour of The Green by Group Members Last summer we led a walk around Thorney Green looking at its role in the life of the parish. Houses and cottages around The Green were often built from clay dug on site, the resulting pits becoming ponds that were at one time the only water supply. The Green was undoubtedly a busy place with commoners exercising their right to graze animals along with traffic between shops, windmills, beer houses and the surrounding farms. We shall revisit the stories of The Green in this illustrated talk.

We meet at 7.30pm in Stowupland Village Hall IP14 4BQ where there is an ample car park. Visitors are always welcome and refreshments are available.

Admission is £1 for members, £3 for non-members.

For more information, please contact Judy Clarke: 01449 615386

STOWMARKET RAMBLERS Sunday, May 13: 4.5 mile walk around Nacton and Levington. Park and meet at Nacton Picnic Site at 10.30am / GRTM220391. Leader: 07736 573243 Sunday, May 20: 5 mile walk in the Sudbury valley. Park and meet at Sudbury Railway Station / Leisure Centre car park at 10.30am / GRTL877410. Leader: 01449 673690 or 07519 164931 Sunday, May 27: 5 mile walk around Bedfield. Park and meet on grass in front of Bedfield Church at 10.30am / GRTM226663. Leader: 01449 673131

CONTRACTS – IMPLIED TERMS It is usually the case that where two parties enter into a contract, all of the terms agreed between them are set out clearly. If a term is not set out in a contract, then it becomes much more difficult for one party to rely on it. If nothing is in writing, then it is difficult to be clear what has been agreed, and disputes will arise where each party has a different recollection of what was said. If there is nothing in writing, then it all becomes much more difficult to prove.

Sometimes, a court will imply a term into a written contract. The court will be reluctant to do so, on the basis that if the parties had intended to include a term, then they should have done so.

and be capable of clear expression. Overall, any implied term must not contradict any express term of the contract.

In looking at what to imply, the court will carry out an objective assessment of the intention of the parties. This means it will look at what reasonable people in the position of the parties at the time would have agreed – it does not look at the actual intention of the individual parties.

In an individual case, of course, it is much more difficult to relate the facts of the case to these principles.

It is much better all round for express terms to be clearly set out.

If a court is going to imply a term into a contract at, say, the request of one of the parties, then certain criteria will need to be fulfilled.

It must be reasonable to do so, and it must be necessary to give business efficacy to the contract – so that if the term isn’t implied, then the contract might not make sense. The term implied should be obvious –

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

Buttermarket, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1ED Telephone: 01449 613101 • Fax: 01449 615087 Email: info@gudgeons-prentice.co.uk

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In Touch online:

OUT & ABOUT WOOLPIT AND DISTRICT MUSEUM Open from 2-4.30pm every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until the end of September and Wednesday afternoons in August from 1-3.30pm Visitors to the museum usually enjoy looking out over the historic village centre and on the window ledge we have some models and information about the buildings that can be seen. Almost opposite is Hill House. Part of the roof structure of this building dates back to the 14th century, indicating that it is probably the oldest house in the village. Because it has been faced with Woolpit white bricks this can come as a surprise, but if the bricks were removed the underlying timber structure would be apparent.

Hill House is now a family home, but it has had many other uses over the years. Anyone who remembers Woolpit in the 1980s and before will also remember the kitchen and bathroom business run by the Hayward family.

Some older residents may remember the sweet shop run by Miss Ella Snell from one of the front rooms; the earliest reference we can find to this is a trade directory of 1929. James Snell is listed in the same directory as a harness maker, also operating from Hill House, and his business had been running there for many years, probably since 1885.

in 1856 by Robert French, assisted by his younger brother William. Robert sadly died in 1858 but his wife Sarah stayed on in Hill House and William continued to run the school. It is described variously as ‘academy’, ‘classical and commercial school’ and ‘day school’ and seems to have been a private boy’s school for both boarders and day pupils. William French married and raised a large family at Hill House and he was also an accomplished artist.

However, when his sister-in-law Sarah died in 1884 William and family moved to Colchester and it is likely that this is when the Snell family acquired the building.

It would be interesting to find out what was happening at Hill House before 1856 and if any reader has more information we would love to hear from them. Contact details can be found in the Woolpit Diary or at: www.woolpit.org/museum

Prior to this a school was based in the building. This was started in Woolpit

If you would like to find out more about our lovely village then why not pay us a visit this summer?

STOWMARKET STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

ROTARY CLUB OF STOWMARKET GIPPING VALLEY

Come and join us at our 10th Anniversary Celebration with coffee and homemade cakes at the United Reform Church Hall, Stowmarket on Saturday, May 19 from 10am to 12.30pm.

The Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley raised over £2,000 for local and international causes with two recent events.

Everyone welcome.

The first was their annual charity quiz night which was held at the Cedars Hotel in Stowmarket. Fourteen teams took part. The three top winning teams were given cash amounts to be used for charities of their choice, with £30 going to Ipswich Hospital Blossom Appeal, £50 to Suffolk Artlink and £100 to Macmillan Cancer Support. The winning team also had six bottles of wine to share. In total £934 was raised of which £485 was profit which was donated to Rotary charities.

Our group meets weekly to support local people of all ages who have had a stroke.

For further information please contact Mrs Anne Helliwell: 01449 673237 “Together we can conquer stroke”

STOWMARKET LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Monday, May 21: AGM followed by a talk by Neil Langridge entitled Extracts from Stowmarket Diarists, including The Freeman Family Meetings are held at 7.30pm at The Salvation Army Hall; members £1, non-members £3.

For further details contact Jeannette Baldry: 01449 675271 www.stowmarket-history.co.uk

The second was also a regular annual fundraiser in which giant Easter eggs are distributed to local businesses for their customers to have a chance to win in a draw held just before Easter. The photo shows Rotary members Martin Hall and Tony Pickering at Alder Carr Farm.

The Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley is always looking for new members (both male and female) who are interested in good fellowship and service within the local community. They meet at the Cedars Hotel on Thursday evenings and if you would like to give them a try please contact membership secretary Margaret Woollam: 07836 371500 / margaretwoollam@yahoo.co.uk www.gippingvalleyrotary.org / Facebook

STOWMARKET & DISTRICT MONDAY CLUB GREAT WAR IN STOWMARKET BOOK STOWMARKET LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Was a family member involved in the war?

Information appeal, drop-in sessions at Stowmarket Library on Milton Road: Saturday, May 12, 10am-noon Saturday, May 26, 10am-noon Contact Jeanette Baldry: 01449 675271 www.stowmarket-history.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

We recently enjoyed a craft evening led by Linda. Members made Easter cards and also decorated polystyrene eggs complete with ribbon to hang them up. This was something new for us and really enjoyed.

The following week we held an Easter dance with our favourite group, Yesterday, supplying the music. The Easter bonnet parade was very well supported, showing great imagination and enthusiasm.

After Easter we look forward to a beetle drive and a bowls evening – always popular.

We are a club for adults with learning difficulties and meet each Monday from 7.30-9.30pm at the Community Hub in Crown Street. We are run entirely by volunteers and new members and helpers are always very welcome. If you would like further information, please contact us on 01449 672123 or just come along on a Monday evening.

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OUT & ABOUT THE NEEDHAM MARKET SOCIETY Once again we had a team of two excellent speakers, Anne and Dennis Kell from Suffolk Bat Group, for our ‘Batty Evening’ in March. Probably few of us realised just how many species of bats there were in Britain, eighteen, ranging from the tiny pipistrelle – no bigger than a 20p piece and weighing only 5grams – to the noctule bat with a tiny body but whose wingspan is 16 inches!

Although it is possible to see bats roosting, or occasionally in flight, we can rarely hear their high pitched calls. But our speakers brought along a gadget which enhances their squeaks which we all found fascinating to hear. You may even have bats roosting in your roof tiles and cladding!

The talk was illustrated with excellent screen images, and we were impressed with the knowledge and dedication of Mr and Mrs Kell to this interesting furry mammal.

Our next meeting is on May 23 with Countryside Warden Dave Hughes coming to trace the history of Needham Market Lake, leading up to the present time.

No doubt a great deal has changed in the life of our lake since its creation.

In addition, our High Street ‘Open House Day’ is taking place in the afternoon and evening of July 11 when members will have the opportunity of seeing from the inside several of the Grade 2 listed properties in the High Street, thanks to hosting by the generous owners. This is a £5 ticketed event for members, but we welcome you to join the society if you wish to participate.

Evening meetings are held at 7.30pm in the Burton Room at Needham Market Community Centre. Visitors are always welcome (£3 entrance fee).

Membership for 2017/18 is presently £5. New members are welcome.

For further details please contact Andrea Davies: 01449 721 056 Woolpit Nurseries_Bury Golf Club_200x138mm_PRINT.pdf 1 15/12/2016 10:02:38

OPEN Mon-Sat 9 till 5 & Sunday 10 till 4

01359 240370

If you’re looking to be spoilt for choice when it comes to your garden then come and see us The majority of our bedding plants are grown here at Woolpit Nurseries.

We grow 90% of our plants on site so we are able to focus on producing only the finest quality products.

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We have over an acre of growing greenhouses, plus half an acre of outside growing space and a large net sided poly tunnel.

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We are specialists in hanging baskets with over 2000 produced every spring.

We offer a large range of plants including seasonal bedding, a range of structural Italian plants, structural shrubs, small trees & ‘instant gardens’ with ready-to-go pre-planted hanging baskets and containers.

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Ever expanding, we also offer a wide range of gardening products including stoneware, pots & baskets, plus fertilizers, plant foods and grit and a variety of composts.

With a qualified horticulturist on site we are able to provide professional & friendly advice to gardeners in need.

www.woolpitnurseries.co.uk

Old Stowmarket Road, Woolpit, Suffolk, IP30 9QS

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Mike Cowling returned to the club on March 12 to judge our Open 4 competition. As usual he gave constructive comments and appropriate marks to the entries. We only found this new judge last year, but unfortunately he will not be available on Monday nights for the next season due to his other obsession of bell ringing. We will miss him.

On March 26 club member Jo Honour gave a talk on high speed photography which was enjoyed by the members despite some technical difficulties at the start. Thank you Jo and Jonathan, a fellow club member, for your help in sorting out the technical issues.

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STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB

NEXT MEETINGS Monday, May 14: Lecture 4: Landscape by Justin Minns Monday, June 11: Open 5 competition to be judged by George Buxton Monday, June 25: End of season photoshoot – venue TBA Monday, September 10: The new season starts with this ‘no charge’ meeting when we welcome prospective new members and catch up with existing members.

New members are always very welcome. All you need is a camera – any camera – and a real interest in using it. Our members use DSLRs, mirrorless, compacts and bridge cameras. Regular meetings are held at Stowmarket Community Centre, Hillside, Stowmarket IP14 2BD, usually on the second and fourth Mondays of the month between September and June. We start arriving at around 7pm for a 7.30pm start. We’d love to see you there, so why not join us?

For more information visit: www.stowmarketanddistrictcameraclub.onesuffolk.net

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OUT & ABOUT STRONG BODIES STAY YOUNG

PICKEREL PROJECT UPDATE

Every Friday at 1.30pm there is an exercise class at Red Gables on Ipswich Road which is aimed at men and women (45 plus) who would like to improve their overall strength, become better co-ordinated and supple as well as maintaining postural stability.

Sessions are varied; we do circuits, mat work and use free weights. We are a friendly group and always finish with a cuppa and a chat.

After an appalling week of snow and ice, the Pickerel Project embarked upon its March clear-up alongside the banks of the River Gipping in Stowmarket. As part of the Great British Spring Clean-up by Keep Britain Tidy in conjunction with River Care (our sponsors) we cleared 51kg of general rubbish along with 7kg of bottles and cans. Also, rather sadly we collected four shopping trolleys, an MSDC brown bin, a traffic sign, a traffic cone and, after all the snow, a wooden sledge!

If you would like to discuss the class in more detail contact: 01787 211822 / 07840 689995

STOWMARKET BRANCH

Councillor Keith Scarff, chairman of the Pickerel Project says: “This is not untypical of the kind of rubbish that our volunteers collect each month on our regular clear-ups. As part of our extra effort this weekend we also went to clear the embankments alongside the stream at Lavenham Way. Here we collected 25kg of rubbish, a traffic cone and, unbelievably, a sun lounger! It was a sterling effort and a big thank you to all who participated. If you are interested we meet on the first Sunday of each month at Wharfside House car park at 10am. Come and join us soon!”

By the time you read this, hopefully, there will be blue skies and sunshine.

Our Annual General Meeting was held in March and the existing committee members were all willing to continue for a further year. After reports from the chairman, secretary, treasurer, welfare officer, social co-ordinator and Wings Appeal organiser we watched part of a DVD about the history of RAF Wattisham. The part we watched dealt mainly with the Cold War, a time familiar to many of our members.

At the end of March we held a party to celebrate the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force. A very nice meal was enjoyed and music was provided by local duo G&T. In April, we had a talk about the work of The Cinnamon Trust, a countrywide organisation which helps mainly elderly people. For example, if a person is unwell and unable to walk their dog, a volunteer will come and do it as and when required. Likewise, if a person has to be admitted to hospital, someone will give the dog a temporary home. This arrangement would, also cover cats and other pets. For further details of the charity and their work contact: 01736 757900

I WAS WAITING FOR A HIP REPLACEMENT About a year ago I started to have a really persistent, grinding pain in my groin. The pain was constant. Sometimes it was in my back as well and sometimes it would shoot down to my knee.

Painkillers took off the pain but the effects didn’t last long, especially at night when I would toss and turn because I couldn’t get comfortable.

This was when I started to see Annya for some pain relief acupuncture. Amazingly the needles helped reduce the discomfort and made getting in and out of bed much easier. Annya also encouraged me to see my doctor as she thought the location of the pain suggested I might need a hip replacement.

You may or may not know that the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is planning to produce a Poppy Curtain for the Remembrance Commemorations this year. More than 5,000 poppies will be needed. Several members of our branch are already taking part in the knitting and, if anyone else is interested, the patterns are available from The Royal British Legion Club, the library, the parish church, Wool Street Shop in Station Road and the wool stall on the market.

It turns out she was right! After having an X-Ray the doctor confirmed that there was wear and tear in my hip. I went onto a waiting list for about two months and kept on having the acupuncture. Annya lent me a microcurrent machine to use daily at home as well. I would put the pads on and run the microcurrent for about an hour a day and the two types of treatment got me through to my operation without the pain becoming unbearable.

We are always pleased to welcome any prospective new members; we meet on the first Wednesday in the month at the Royal British Legion Club in Stowmarket at 7.30pm.

If you want to ask if Annya can help you, phone or email. It will cost you nothing to find out.

For further information, contact our secretary on 01449 676871.

07841 203412 / annya@annya-stoddart.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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OUT & ABOUT NEWS FROM RED GABLES At the end of March the manager of Red Gables, Martyn Burnside, picked up a cheque for £4,000 from Tesco as part of their Bags of Help scheme in association with Groundwork. The funding for the Red Gables Garden Project will help to create a garden for drought resistant plants, to purchase much needed new equipment and training for the members of the project. Work on the drought garden has already started (see picture). The project would like to thank all of those who have supported it through the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

There is still time to vote for our Healthy Eating project which is in the Stowmarket store until the end of April.

Now that spring has finally arrived the Garden Project volunteers have been out in force. Over the past three years they have planted over 5,000 bulbs and plants, 1,800 of which have gone in since this January. Some shrubs and new trees, but the bulk has been tulips, crocuses, snowdrops, aliums, anemones and wild garlic.

There is a new cooker in the Redwoods kitchen and this has been funded by the Dulverton Trust through Suffolk Community Foundation. This is a welcome bonus to the lunch clubs as it will give greater control to the users and provide two additional ovens to the existing ones which are already built in.

Volunteering Our weekly volunteering sessions have changed their time. They are now held from 10.30am to 12.30pm every Thursday. We have lots of opportunities to work with a variety of local charities, so there is something for everyone. For more information please contact Sue at Red Gables: 01449 673947 / sue.redgables@gmail.com You can also find us at: www.facebook.com/volunteerredgables Robert Horn, Assistant Manager

KEEPING UP FRIENDSHIP WITH THE ODDFELLOWS Following the introduction of our new membership scheme on January 1 we have lots of friendship-themed events planned for the year ahead. The local friendship society wants to remind people that its doors are always open to welcome new and existing members with a friendly smile.

David Randall, secretary of the Oddfellows Gipping Branch, said: “It is always wonderful to say hello to new members, we are pleased that we are able to offer our mew membership package together with a programme of activities for them to enjoy.

“We’ve put together a programme of daytime and evening activities for the coming months, which includes regular social get-together every second Monday each month at 7.15pm and the third Wednesday afternoon at 1.15pm at Red Gables Centre on Ipswich Road. Everyone’s welcome and you don’t need to come along bring a friend. We’ve a warm welcome waiting.”

Among the entertainment we have this May and June are The Stowmarket Strummers and a talk by David Webb who performed in the hit TV show HI-DI-HI in the 70s and 80s. On June 13 we will be joining with British Heart Foundation in their campaign to raise awareness for a healthier lifestyle when we will be running New Age Kurling at St Peter’s Church Hall from 2-4pm.

Based in Stowmarket, but with events across the county, the society’s members regularly get together to enjoy social events such as talks and trips out, lunches and coffee afternoons.

For more information about Gipping Oddfellows’ contact David Randall: 01206 330962 / david.randall@oddfellows.co.uk www.oddfellows.co.uk

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STOWMARKET AND DISTRICT FLOWER CLUB David Wright from Norwich will present a demonstration entitled It’s an Education on May 23. Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except August and December, at Woolpit Village Hall at 7.30pm. New members and visitors are always welcome.

For further information, please contact our chairman, Vicki Hease: 01449 77090

COURSES, WORKSHOPS AND VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES In 2018, Orchard Barn continues to offer a fascinating range of courses and workshops, all focused on rural crafts, natural living and traditional building skills. Over the next few months these include: April 30 to May 4: Timber Frame Restoration Skills May 2: Introduction to Using Lime May 2: Compost Workshop (free) May 10: Wattle and Daub May 26 and June 9: Making Your Own Footstool June 15: Saw Fest Workshops including restoration and sharpening of handsaws June 16: Saw Fest Demonstrations of many types of saws (free) To find out more or to apply to join a course or workshop, please visit: www.orchardbarn.org.uk We welcome your suggestions about other courses or workshops that we could run.

As well as providing courses, Orchard Barn also offers opportunities for volunteers to experience and develop skills in a peaceful rural setting. Currently these are held on: Tuesdays: Organic Gardening Wednesdays: Working on the Orchard Barn Site, including the orchard and pond Thursdays: Woodwork, using greenwood Some volunteers attend regularly every week, others come only when they can. If you would like to know more, or if there are other skills that you would like to offer to Orchard Barn as a volunteer, then please email: sarah@orchardbarn.org.uk

STOWMARKET SUGARCRAFT CLUB The April meeting, which was our AGM, was well attended and the business of the meeting was soon completed.

This was our 23rd AGM and Glenda, our chairman, opened the meeting with apologies for absence and a formal reading of the minutes of last year’s meeting which we agreed were accurate and duly signed. Her chairman’s report briefly outlined last year’s club activity and noted that our membership is fairly stable. She gave thanks to all our members because, as she said, “without members we wouldn’t have a club”.

Jane, our treasurer, then gave her financial report and didn’t feel it necessary to increase our yearly subscription. She noted that it has been much easier to manage the accounts since we started paying just once at the beginning of the financial year. There was no change to the positions of chairman, secretary and treasurer.

After a discussion about activities and speakers for the coming year the meeting adjourned to the important and more social part of the evening – supper.

Our meeting in May is what we refer to as our ‘non-sugar evening’ when our demonstrator will be a florist showing us how to use and arrange fresh flowers on our cakes. This should be an interesting evening.

If you would like to join us or get more information, give Glenda a ring on 01449 615382 or visit: www.stowmarketsugarcraft.co.uk.

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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SPORT ELMSWELL BOWLS CLUB AT STOWUPLAND

SCORPION ACADEMY With our first coloured belt and assessment exams of 2018 the technical standard and spirit demonstrated by everyone was simply superb and a testament that hard training pays off. Well over 100 juniors and seniors graded in kickboxing and universal karate/TKD.

Our bowls club held a Meet and Greet Open Day at Stowupland on April 7 and it proved to be an excellent event.

Twenty-five existing club members were present together with a mixture of Elmswell and Stowupland folk which included many former Stowupland bowlers. The weather was kind which enabled everyone to have a good look around the facilities before enjoying a friendly chat over lunch.

Our league bowling season will commence on April 24 with a home game against Needham Market B and the result of this and other matches will be published in future issues.

We have recently received a lot of anger and support from both non playing Elmswell residents and our members (who number considerably more than was intimated in the April edition of a local newsletter) for the omission of our submitted and acknowledged article in said publication. So much for democracy and fair play!

Graham Newman and David Begg

AWARD ABROAD FOR NEEDHAM MARKET PHOENIX FC Needham Market Phoenix FC Under-18s have just returned from a prestigious Easter football tournament in the Netherlands.

Competing a year up against top quality Under-19 teams from Denmark, Germany and the host nation (including Dutch professional second division side FC Oss), Needham Phoenix successfully qualified for finals day, only to narrowly lose the final game 2-1. In addition, the team were delighted to win the tournament Fair Play Award for which officials and organisers commended and congratulated Phoenix for their outstanding sportsmanship and conduct throughout the weekend.

The team is made up from players based in Needham Market and Stowmarket. They are the current Under-18 champions of the Ipswich & Suffolk Youth League, and this season is their final season together. The team will disband as players move into adulthood and on to new chapters in their lives, with many leaving the area to go into university studies. In recognition of the squad’s commitment and passion in serving the club, the parents and coaches agreed it would be wonderful to bring their time together to a close with the reward of this trip. All costs were met by the families of the players and through various fundraising activities of many of the parents.

Team manager and parent Simon Saunders said: “What an adventure! The lads were fantastic, and carved out memories that will last a lifetime. The support in the stands from the parents was amazing too, and the Fair Play Award is richly deserved recognition of the way we conduct ourselves both on and off the pitch. I am very proud.”

The team now have three massive league games left to play, which will determine whether they retain their league title in their final season together.

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Just prior to the exams Grandmaster Mark JR Trent and Senior Coach Dave Fell travelled to Messingham in North Lincolnshire in order to grade six students to their blackbelts in kickboxing and a further 17 in tae kwon do. This was a very special day for Dave as he was also on the floor to take his fourth dan master blackbelt in universal karate/TKD. The exam panel was made up of four grandmasters and more than ten senior masters so for anyone to pass their blackbelt this was an amazing experience.

On Sunday, April 8 we held the 10-mile run that forms part of the syllabus to become a blackbelt in the art of kickboxing. This gruelling run from Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre to Needham Market Lake and back tests both fitness and spirit. We include this run in the syllabus because it’s a massive challenge and requires dedication to complete.

A huge well done to Jamie Gilson (first to finish), Gerry Murphy, Damien Murphy, Dave Fell and to Alex Utteridge for doing such an amazing job to finish this very tough challenge. Many thanks to Russell Langley and Will Ribbons who ran with them, to Mel Walmsley and Sean Murphy who cycled along as support, and also to Hayley Langley for vehicle support.

Since the Scorpion Academy was started by Mark JR Trent in 1990, five students have achieved the level of master. This takes many years of training, teaching and loyalty. The five masters are Hannah Povah (universal karate), Andy Lewis (universal karate and kickboxing), Bernard Dyer (kickboxing), Matthew Biginton (kickboxing) and Dave Fell (universal karate).

The academy has many events planned throughout the year including demonstration at Combs Fete, Stowmarket Carnival, Striders Golden Mile Run, Nerf Gun Sundays, exams, tournaments, seminars, social events and much more.

We specialise in teaching children and by training with us your child will gain self-confidence, team building, make friends, achieve, get fit, learn self-defence and anti-bully techniques.

The academy will be holding another of its free ladies self-defence courses soon. These are designed to show you easy to learn, but highly effective moves that actually work should the need ever arise.

Please note that everyone has the right to know how to defend themselves and their loved ones within the law and our courses cover all angles.

All lessons are taught by Grandmaster Mark JR Trent, 8th dan blackbelt in kickboxing, universal karate, tae kwon do, arjan (master) level in muay thai, former three times kickboxing champion and with over 40 years in the martial arts and 30 in the security industry you will be taught techniques and knowledge that will enhance your own training.

Please contact Mark – scorpionacademy@live.co.uk / 07708 644162 – for further information and we look forward to meeting and training with you. Remember all new members receive one month of free training. www.ufkkwa.webs.com / Facebook and Twitter

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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS FINBOROUGH LADIES NETBALL CLUB

STOWMARKET CRICKET CLUB

League Positions after Week 22 Team Division Position Kestrels 1 Fifth Hawks 1 Tenth Eagles 2 Fifth Swans 3 Third Swifts 5 First Wrens 5 Fourth Robins 5 Sixth Doves 6 Second Cygnets Junior Tenth

Places are still available for boys and girls to sign up for junior cricket coaching at Chilton Fields on Monday evenings at 6.15pm. Our first youth matches are all against local friends, Stowupland, with under-13s at Stowupland and under-11s at Chilton Fields on May 8, and under-9s at Stowupland on May 13.

Senior nets take place on Thursdays at 6pm. Our first senior home game is on Saturday, April 21 at 1pm versus Halstead in the Two Counties League.

For full details of fixtures and results, pay us a visit and collect your handbook or visit: www.stowmarketcc.co.uk / Facebook: Stowmarket Cricket Club

All our teams are doing well in their respective leagues; quite a tussle going on in Division 5 with three teams fighting it out for top spots.

We are pleased to have agreed an exciting sponsorship deal with Andrew Bingham Independent Funeral Services. Our door is always open for new players of all ages and abilities. To find our more contact Clive Witherly: 01359 240019 / wigg51@btinternet.com

Across the club, we’ve suffered a lot this season with injuries and many players being asked to play up for higher teams – good experience for those girls!

THE SALVATION ARMY

We held a mixed netball evening in March which was great fun and we managed to raise £80 for the club.

I’m delighted to say that we have a new website up and running which gives a lot of information about our club and introduces the coaches, team managers and committee. Give it a look at: http://finborough-netball.com Membership and Publicity Secretary Helen Cape

STOWMARKET TENNIS CLUB As I write the drizzle is coming down and a stiff breeze is blowing. Luckily for us at the tennis club the dome is still up and looks to stay right where it is for another week or so. Many clubs have taken or are about to take theirs down because they rely on the specialists to do all the work for them. At Stow we are a very ‘hands on’ group and decide for ourselves when the dome is put away for the summer and have always sorted it ourselves. We all get a bit grubby, but it saves the club a huge sum.

So, what can we look forward to at the moment? The winter league is all finished with the final tables to be released. All is looking very positive for the Stowmarket pairs with promotion in the air for several players. It’s been a long campaign with the deadline extended to allow for the rotten, snowy weather that caused several fixtures to be postponed. Summer league teams are being finalised right now with squads of six players taking on other teams from the Ipswich & District area. We have entered two ladies, three men’s and three mixed teams this year so there is a lot of scope for members to get some match tennis this season. Fixtures usually begin in early April and run through to the end of July.

Easter camp will have been completed by the time you read this and fingers are tightly crossed for another fun week of essentially starter tennis with the U12 players. Numbers, as ever, are limited to provide an appropriate teaching environment so well done to those of you that secured a place. Those of you that couldn’t get into the Easter camp may be lucky with the summer camp weeks that will be here before you know it.

Saturday mornings have undergone a reshuffle with an additional disco tennis class from 9-10am. This is a great way for non-tennis players to get on court and enjoy chasing a few balls around while burning away lots of calories. That’s what we’re all looking for after a little bit too much choccy over Easter. The existing fun sessions have moved a whole hour later so the possibility of a Saturday lie-in is definitely on the cards.

Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket Wednesday, May 2 Sunday, May 6 Sunday, May13 Saturday, May 19 Sunday, May 20 Saturday, May 26 Sunday, May 27 Friday, June 1 Sunday, June 3

7.30pm Live Lounge at Costa 11am & 5.30pm Services 11am Service / 4pm Messy Church 10am Coffee Morning – Christian Aid 11am & 5.30pm Services / Sunday School Anniversary 10am Annual Motor Cycle Charity Ride 11am Service / 4pm Café Church 11am Salvation Army Emergency Team 40th Anniversary 11am & 5.30pm Services

WEEKLY EVENTS Mondays 9.30-11.30am: First Steps Parent & Toddler Group Tuesdays 10am: CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other)

2pm: Over Sixties Club Wednesdays 5.45pm: Kidz Club (ages five plus) 7.30pm: Live Lounge at Costa Coffee (first in month) Fridays 7-9.30pm: Café at the Rec Saturdays 10am-noon: Coffee Morning (third Saturday in month) We have interesting and varied activities during the week, and well attended Sunday Services. For more information, please ring Jenny: 01449 614133

NEWS FROM THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Our church in Ipswich Street was tastefully decorated with spring flowers and crosses for our Easter Day Service, led this year by William Glass. The Festival of Crosses held during Holy Week had been well received by visitors. Our Palm Sunday Service started at the front doors where worshipers were joined by Tiger, the donkey (shown here with John Webb – picture by Linda Baxter), as they processed into church. John and Tiger returned in time for the conclusion of the service having been a wonderful advert in letting Sunday shoppers know of the day’s true Christian meaning as they walked up and down the main street. He also made a visit to the Messy Church being held by our friends at St Peter and St Mary’s.

A very meaningful, reflective Good Friday service preceded members joining the town’s Walk of Witness.

See you on court!

We look forward to welcoming you to our popular weekly coffee mornings each Thursday from 10am until noon. Tea, bacon rolls and toasted tea cakes are always available. On the second Saturday of each month we hold an additional coffee morning with delicious cakes which is free to attend with donations being made to support our charity of the month.

Senior Club Coach Chris Cunningham chris@chriscoaching.plus.com

With meetings for children, gentlemen and ladies going on each month, check out our noticeboards or the website so see what’s on at the URC.

If you’d like any more information on coaching or how to get started then get in contact.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/stowmarket

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CHURCH NEWS

1st Combs Scout Group

OLD NEWTON METHODIST CHURCH CHRISTIAN AID LUNCH

Tuesday, May 8, 12.15-1.30pm in the Chapel Hall This will be a hot two-course lunch followed by tea or coffee. There will be no set price. Please come, enjoy lunch and make as generous a donation as you are able to help the poorest of God’s children.

No need to book – just turn up hungry!

Duck Race

Sat 9th June 2018 2pm

Pikes Meadow Combs Ford All are welcome to our Messy Church Service on Sunday, May 6 at St Mary’s Church, Combs. This month’s theme is New Life and Healing, Matthew 9:1826 (the message).

We will be making pizzas and playing a Time in the Day game.

If this sounds like fun we’d love you to join us. The service starts at 11am with bacon rolls and tea, coffee and juice served from 10.45am.

Rides, Refreshments, Stalls, Games, Entertainment for all the family 1st Combs Scout Group is a registered Charity 1018301

GOSPEL HALL STOWMARKET As I write my little piece this month we are in the middle of our Easter Holiday Bible Club.

We have a great group of children who are enjoying the singing, stories and crafts. They are promising to keep coming and to bring their friends. There’s a lot we can all learn from the stories of Peter and how he followed the Lord Jesus.

We are also starting a new venture for an even younger age group. It’s called Tea and Play and will be held on Thursday mornings during term time starting on May 3. It’s for all babies and pre-schoolers for play, stories and nursery rhymes and, of course, tea and chat for the grown-ups. See Facebook @teaandplaystowmarket or visit: www.stowmarketgospelhall.org.uk Our other activities continue with Trailblazers for ages five to 12 on Saturday, May 12 at 10.30am.

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To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380

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In Touch online:

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