In Touch with East Bergholt - April 2016 by steve@intouchnews.co.uk

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with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary Volume 3 • Issue No. 7 • APRIL 2016

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR In a month when many of us will celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday I will also be thinking about another wonderful lady who has had an incredible impact on those who have known and loved her, my husband’s Grandma Ida. Sadly she is no longer with us but I think of her often and invariably find myself smiling when I do.

FOG CELEBRATION LUNCH FOG (Friends of Guiding), which began as Babergh Vale District Girl Guides Local Association, met for the first time on February 23, 1976. Its function was to help commissioners and guiders with outside administration work and responsibilities and to take an interest in and support the work of the local units, including Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, bearing in mind that it had no responsibility for their running. The name was changed to Babergh Friends of Guiding (FOG) in May 1991.

Ida wasn’t just a perfect grandma, she was the life and soul of the party. There are too many stories to recount here, but Daniel often talks about playing Sardines with his then 83-year-old grandma who deviously abandoned the search and hid herself away in the shower, patiently waiting for her grandchildren to realise the game had taken an unexpected turn! Ida was the first older person I ever developed a genuine relationship with and I can honestly say she changed me for the better. She stirred both my curiosity and my respect. Meeting someone who was born 70, 80 or 90 years ago can be fascinating if you take the time to get to know them. In doing so you too will come to appreciate the fact that age in itself is a mark of achievement! Just imagine how many challenges and changes an 80-year-old has encountered and overcome, how many moments of despair and possibly even heartbreak they may have endured. The technological revolution is one of the most significant challenges my generation has encountered. Ida faced and overcame far more serious challenges and still had a twinkle in her eye at 90. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves now and again just how lucky we are (most of the time) and to acknowledge that a lack of interest in or respect for older people speaks volumes about our own character. Enjoy the celebrations and take a moment to consider how you might like to be treated when you ‘are old and grey and full of sleep’ (WB Yeats).

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Currently FOG raises money to support local guiding units, subsidising guiders’ uniform costs and helping units when they need extra money for special activities. On this, the 40th anniversary of the very first FOG meeting, 23 ladies, all past or current members, met in the Benneworth Lounge at East Bergholt for a celebration, where they enjoyed lunch provided by the present FOG committee. Some reminisced about their own guiding days and even sang a few guiding songs, remembering the words and actions from many years ago. Margaret Wheatley, one of the longest serving members of the committee, cut the special birthday cake as they enjoyed a glass of fizz. Here’s to the next 40 years! The FOG AGM will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at The Red Lion, East Bergholt at 7pm. If you are interested in helping to support local guiding please come and join us then. We have only three committee meetings a year and an annual ploughman’s lunch in November to raise funds. For further information contact Elaine Wright: 01473 311009

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IN TOUCH WITH . . .

• Hadleigh NEW • Stowmarket • Capel St Mary • Bramford, Somersham & Offton • Needham Market, Creeting St Mary & Creeting St Peter • Sproughton & Burstall • Claydon, Barham & Henley • Manningtree, Mistley, Lawford & Brantham • Martlesham Heath & Old Martlesham • Kesgrave & Rushmere • Woodbridge & Melton • Gt. & Lt. Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Witnesham & Tuddenham St. Martin • Copdock, Washbrook, Belstead, Bentley & Tattingstone • Ipswich East, Broke Hall, Ravenswood & Warren Heath • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Pin Mill, Holbrook, Woolverstone & Erwarton

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Is anyone interested in cycling to the Imperial War Museum for breakfast on July 3 as part of the 2016 Hero Ride? A group of us are leaving in the ‘wee small hours’ to be part of this Help for Heroes fundraiser. As things stand at the moment we have a van and driver to return with the bikes (no cycling back unless you want to!) and some of the team are organising a return coach. This is not a race but a social cycle with a few laughs chucked in along the way I’m sure, and regular grub stops to keep everyone fully fuelled. Please contact me if you fancy the idea. It’s a special year for me as its 25 years since I was involved in the first Gulf War so I know what a difference organisations like Help for Heroes make. Andy White 01473 830135 / 07854 876722 / wandywhite216@aol.com

NEWS NOTES FROM THE CASE: Suffolk’s first Co-operative Pub! Suffolk Community Foundation Working Together Award In February, Bentley Community Pub Ltd was honoured to receive the Working Together Award from Suffolk Community Foundation. This award was given in recognition of achieving “outstanding outcomes through collaboration and partnership working”.

STRATFORD ST MARY ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Do you love Stratford St Mary? Do you have opinions about how your parish council should run the village? Do you want to know more about what is happening? Monday, April 25 at 7.30pm The Institute Hall, Higham Road, Stratford St Mary Guest speaker: Andrew Ravasio, PPG representative from Constable Country Medical Practice There will be brief reports from village organisations including: Stratford St Mary Community Speedwatch Community First Responders VillageLife Committee The Primary School

The award includes a cheque for £5,000, which will be allocated towards our ongoing refurbishment. Indeed, most of this money has already been put to good use paying for the removal of a step near the main entrance by raising the floor in the front and rear bar areas (along with a new carpet to cover it). So now anybody with walking difficulties can get to all areas of the pub. Coming up at The Case Saturday, April 2: Music from Blue Folk We’re delighted to welcome back Bentley’s very own John Campbell and guest for an evening of folk and blues. Saturday, April 30: Quiz Night Food will be served 6-8pm on the above occasions, with the events starting at 9pm. For more information please visit: www.thecasepubbentley.co.uk Contact The Case on: 01473 805575 (during opening hours) / savethecase.bentley@gmail.com www.facebook.com/SaveTheCaseBentley

EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL Matters at the February 2016 meeting

Stratford St Mary Welfare Trust Refreshments will be served after the meeting If you have any views or comments about how you would like to see the village move forward, this is your chance to put your ideas forward. We look forward to welcoming you. Stratford St Mary Parish Council

REPORT TO PARISHES: DODNASH WARD District Councillor John Hinton

We have now set the budget for 2016/17. It will be a challenge, but not as great a one as the budgets due in the next couple of years as central government’s support grant gradually disappears completely and councils have to ‘earn’ their funding from their communities. It will or should create a different way of working, but any fans of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister will know that change is not always something welcomed by departments! Nobody likes change. It’s the uncertainty that worries us, as with the EU Referendum, but given the facts I believe that the electorate are perfectly capable of making a decision. Right or wrong will depend on what side you are on, but the decision has to be respected by all. Scare tactics and lack of facts will help no-one. We all have an opinion and should reinforce it with the appropriate information. Then we can accept the decision.

• Four members of public attended for planning applications on the agenda • Six planning applications considered: three approval recommended, two refusal recommended and one no comment • Parish council successful in short listing for Tesco Bags of Help grant dependant on shoppers votes could be awarded £12,000, £10,000 or £8,000 towards play equipment for Gandish Road • Co-op proposed new signage for village shop approved • Work on extension of Conservation Area commenced • Inspector for EB Neighbourhood Plan selected • Working group formed to look into forming a Community Land Trust • Window design for Sports Pavilion approved; grants obtained towards costs • New trees to be planted on banking on Foxhall Fields side of B1070, licence with Suffolk County Council signed • Highways England to be invited to East Bergholt to consider A12/ B1070 junctions • Councillor Woodcock to lead on Clean for the Queen events

Planning decisions continue with some would say ‘indecent haste’, possibly to avoid the CIL charges which come into force in April. Planning has always been a controversial subject, not helped by government changes (it’s that word again), but its main problem is that everyone interprets it differently. It’s never black and white but various shades of grey and like the law of this country we have to be able to interpret it respecting all views and hopefully make a decision that is in effect a compromise everyone can live with.

Valerie Ayton, parish clerk

Councillor John Hinton

The challenge for this region is to balance housing growth with infrastructure. All planning should be according to government and local policies should be jobs led. However some think that jobs in London justify homes in Babergh. That is where our creaky infrastructure comes in. Roads, rail, schools, doctors, broadband, mobile phone signals, plus energy and services, all have a part to play, but unfortunately we often forget them. Playing catch up is the hardest thing and is something that we should never consider. Get it right at the start and it will be better for everyone. I hope you enjoy Easter although it might be a bit chilly. Stay warm and safe.

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NEWS

REPORT TO PARISHES, MID-SAMFORD WARD: MARCH 2016 BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR, SUE CARPENDALE Safe Partnership Working with Babergh and Mid Suffolk, the Safe Partnership charity has secured a one-off grant from the Suffolk Community Fund that could help enable victims of domestic abuse and their families to remain in their homes by providing free, and immediate, home security measures. This national charity has been assisting victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence since 1987. By securing their homes, victims and their families can stay safely and securely without the additional trauma and financial burden of being re-housed. A grant of £6,000 will assist those at high risk across Babergh, Mid Suffolk, Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury as part of a Sanctuary Scheme. This funding could help up to 30 families across the districts. An extra 20 victims will be funded by the four councils.

effectively been given for 630 new homes on the Ipswich fringe, plus a 65-bed care home, a primary school and a commercial zone accessed from the A1214.

Recent planning decisions I mentioned in my last report that the application for the Wolsey Grange edge-of-Ipswich development was to be re-heard. Controversy remains over the need for the re-hearing and over the change in decision. In essence, at the November 2015 meeting, a folded note was handed to a committee member. The note was declared to the chairman and not read, but the monitoring officer felt that the decision by the committee to refuse could be subject to legal challenge as there had allegedly been a breach of procedure. A completely different committee of substitute members was constituted for a re-run. There was also a different decision, one of approval. This large, strategic site is identified in Babergh’s adopted local plan. It was originally designated for approximately 350 homes together with other mixed uses. Approval was given for a total of 475 homes – 145 of which were approved for phase one. Including the recent Belstead development, a ‘windfall’ site, approval has now

Babergh Business Evening – April 20 At the Delphi Centre, Sudbury, 5-7pm, key organisations and services who facilitate support for local business will be on hand to discuss skills, regulatory matters, energy and waste management, economic development, tourism, health and safety, and employment law.

Babergh’s call for more sites A report of the outcomes from the call for sites should be published this spring. All councils must ensure a rolling five-year land supply for development. It is very likely that the 10 core villages – and maybe some of the smaller hinterland villages – will find that there are sites identified locally for potential development. Logic suggests that areas alongside key routes such as the A12 and the A14 will feature. We await the results and the report with interest.

To book email: neil.lennon@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk Babergh’s Building Control Team has moved The integrated Babergh and Mid Suffolk Building Control team is now located at the council offices in Needham Market. However, a satellite office will be maintained at the Hadleigh HQ with services for Babergh customers. sue.carpendale@babergh.gov.uk

BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCILLOR FENELLA SWAN A council meeting was held on February 23 for councillors to approve the budget for the coming year ensuring that the council has the resources available to achieve the priorities set out in the Joint strategic plan. In recent years the government has been reducing core funding for local government as part of its deficit reduction strategy and increasingly incentivising funding to councils to deliver local economic and housing growth and to facilitate strong, safe, healthy and self-sufficient communities. Encouraging and supporting both business and housing growth is essential to the financial future of the council. Funding arrangements for councils have changed significantly with the Revenue Support Grant being substantially withdrawn over the next two to three years and councils becoming reliant on business rates income and incentivised funding such as the New Homes Bonus. Business rates and new homes growth will, therefore, be the main sources of income if there is to be a sustainable budget in the years ahead. Right to Buy sales have exceeded projections in business plans. In 2014/15 Babergh sold 23 against original projections of five sales. The money received from RTB sales can only be used as 30% towards the cost of a replacement home. The remaining 70% of the replacement cost has to be found from other housing revenue account resources. The Welfare Reform and Work Bill included a requirement for all social landlords to reduce rents by 1% each year from 2016 to 2019. This threatens to make finding the 70% match funding for Right to Buy receipts unsustainable. This could be further exacerbated by the requirement to charge higher rents for tenants with incomes over £30,000 per annum

which has the potential to lead affected tenants to exercise their Right to Buy. There has been a focused management review to ensure the council has the right skills and capacity to support the medium term financial strategy. Finance has worked closely with corporate managers to identify savings from their budgets with a view to achieving approximately 10% savings. There are savings to be made from sharing services and staff resources with Mid Suffolk. Councillors have had to take the difficult decision to increase council tax for the first time in four years. This will enable us to maintain essential services and put us in a better position to face the financial challenges of the next three years. The increase at £5 for the year for a Band D property is less than 10p per week. For the largest properties in our district this will still only be a £10 increase and for those with the smallest properties it will be just £3.33. It does mean that Babergh will be able to maintain its council tax reduction scheme so that those residents most in need only have to pay 8.5% of their bill. Babergh is actively exploring alternative ways of generating income to replace the core funding from government and is also looking at different ways of investing to earn a better return. One million pounds has recently been made available through Funding Circle for loans to both local and national businesses. This type of innovative project is vitally important, not only to ensure the future financial sustainability of Babergh, but also to protect the services that are important to communities. fenella.swan@babergh.gov.uk

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NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG) Thanks once again to everyone who has contacted us personally by phone, email or using the comments cards in the waiting rooms. Our email address is: constablecountryppg@gmail.com Contact details for PPG members are on display in both waiting rooms and on parish council noticeboards. We always do our best to deal with your queries and complaints. Minutes of our meetings are available on the practice website: www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk/ppg.aspx A number of issues have been raised with us recently: • Text message reminders We are aware that people are getting these sometimes weeks in advance of their appointment instead of the day before. This is a computer software issue and the practice has raised this with the software suppliers. • Difficulty with booking online appointments This issue has been logged with the practice manager, Pete Keeble, who is trying to sort it out. • Ongoing problems getting local phlebotomy appointments As mentioned previously other staff are taking blood samples, but some patients are having to go to the Riverside Clinic in Ipswich for urgent blood tests. We will give you an update when we have any more news. • Overhead displays in waiting rooms We are aware that people who have sight problems can’t read their name on the overhead displays when they are being called for an appointment. Please tell the receptionist so that either the doctor can come and collect the patient or the receptionist can make them aware that they are being called. Do you have trouble getting to appointments? A reminder that if you live in East Bergholt or Brantham there is a voluntary car service. Please let the receptionist know at the time of booking if you need a lift to an appointment. A service will also be available soon in Capel St Mary. Thanks to Chris Yule for organising this. Please get in touch if you have any ideas for ways in which the PPG can better engage with patients in the practice. Members of the group continue to attend coffee mornings and other events in the practice area. If there is a particular meeting you would like us to attend please get in touch. Kathy Pollard, 01473 311384

HEARTWATCH RACE NIGHT UPDATE We are delighted to be able to report back to our local supporters that we managed to raise a massive £1,538 at our recent charity fundraising race night. Grateful thanks from us to all those who sponsored races, bought horses, gave donations and to the ‘race goers’ – we could not have done it without you! It was a very successful night, great fun and very friendly. Whether winners or losers, all our supporters left smiling. We would also like to thank the volunteers who ran the bar for us and all the community first responders who provided the food. Please be assured that the money will be used towards the purchase of new equipment, plus the on-going training of our current and new community first responders and to improve our services to the local area. On behalf of the Heartwatch Team, thank you all again for your support, it is very much appreciated. Heartwatch Committee

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VENTURE CENTRE 2000 Saturday, April 2: Purple Feather Events Well-being MBS Fair Therapies to include reflexology, Indian head massage and reiki, also oneto-one psychic readings, a variety of retail stalls including crystals and body products, fresh cooked food, cake and drinks. Free workshops all day. £2.50 entry, everyone welcome. Supporting The Robin Cancer Trust. www.purplefeatherevents.co.uk / Facebook Monday, April 4, 7.30-9pm: Little Acorn Spiritual Friends A demonstration of clairvoyance by Mark Came www.little-acorn-csc.com / Facebook Wednesday, April 6: Flower club demonstration with Barbara Collins, 1.45pm Sunday, April 10, 7-9pm (doors open 6.30pm): Healing Sound Journey Sound healing meditation using sacred sound vibrations of harmonic instruments from around the world, including symphonic gongs, didgeridoos, Native American flutes and overtone and throat singing. Seating is available but if you wish to lie down please bring your mat, pillow and a blanket for your comfort. www.ramivana.com Thursday, April 14: Blood donor day / Singing 4 the Brain, 2pm Saturday, April 16, 10am-4pm: Simple Events Spring Craft Fair with more than 30 handcrafted gift stalls. Entrance free. Sunday 17: Link Line meeting Regular classes Monday: table tennis, quilting, patchwork classes, Active 4 Life keep fit, Debbie Millar Dance Exercise, Tuesday: yoga, art classes, choir Wednesday: Weight Watchers, body conditioning and pilates for beginners and improvers Thursday: Self-help upholstery, Jo Jingles, Slimming World Friday: Active 4 Life and pilates, Boogie Shoes Saturday: Ashtanga yoga / available for private hire Sunday: Fortnightly Link Line meetings / available for private hire Sunday: Come and join us in our new fellowship – everyone is welcome. Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus with our lively worship and service with refreshments afterwards. We meet Every Sunday morning at 11am. For further information on times and contact details visit: www.venturecentre2000.co.uk Reptile exhibition The Essex Reptiles & Amphibians Club together with Snakes Alive are holding an exhibition of member’s animals at the Venture Centre on Sunday, May 22, 11am-3pm. You will be able to see and handle a wide range of these fascinating animals. The day will also offer the opportunity for help and advice on keeping reptiles in captivity. Open to the general public: adults £2, concessions £1 (under 5s free). Also see 1st Lawford Guides on page 19.

STOUR CHORAL SOCIETY Stour Choral Society present an afternoon concert in Frinton Parish Church at 3pm on Saturday, April 23 with Brahms German Requiem, Handel’s Organ Concerto in B Flat and pieces to celebrate St George’s Day. The soloists are soprano Susanna Hyman and baritone Gary Griffiths, accompanied by Stephen Smith on concert organ, all under the baton of Duncan Archard. Tickets for this popular programme are £10 (under 18 free) and are now on sale from St Mary’s Frinton Parish Church (Mon-Fri 9.30am-12.30pm) or 01255 679164/395263. The society will be welcoming the Kantorei from Frankenberg, Germany at the end of May and giving a concert in Old Hall, East Bergholt, featuring songs from The Sound of Music, at the end of June.

NEWS BATS JUNE PRODUCTION: HOLIDAY SNAP We are pleased to announce our June production of Holiday Snap, a comedy by Michael Pertwee and John Chapman. The play can be seen from Thursday, June 9 to Saturday 11 at 7.30pm in Brantham Village Hall. This tale of comic predicament and mistaken identity unfolds with real wit and style. A Portuguese time-share villa has been double-booked, unknown to the company rep, the myopic tippler Commander “Chitto” Chittenden. When Mary and Henry arrive shortly after Eve and Leslie, Chitto manages to remain unaware that there is more than one couple on the scene. Watch the confusion compound with the missing housekeeper and her husband. How will the arrival of Henry’s mother-in-law cause even more problems? Who is the real Sir Piers? Answer these questions by coming along to see this hilarious play. Tickets (on sale from May 1) will cost £7 from Bakes & Blossoms Café at Acacia Court, 01026 396674 or (text) 07891 974844.

EAST BERGHOLT CINEMA Friday, April 1: The Lady in the Van (12) Starring Maggie Smith and based on real events, this is the story of a lady who lived in her van which she parked for 15 years in the playwright Alan Bennett’s driveway. Friday, May 6: Carol (15) Set in 1950s Manhattan, a young department store clerk and a wealthy married woman embark on a relationship with complicated consequences. Cate Blanchett was nominated for an Oscar for the leading role. The Telegraph has nothing but praise for the film’s director who “has turned Patricia Highsmith’s novel of lesbian love in Fifties New York into an exceptionally beautiful film, with a career-best performance from Cate Blanchett”.

East Bergholt High School Association

All films start at 8pm. Bar and refreshments available from 7.30pm. All shows at the Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt.

Registered Charity no. 1017476

Advance tickets from the Fountain House Tearoom, East Bergholt or call 01206 299774 to reserve tickets. Adults £4; under 18s £2.

Sunday, May 22

EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY PRESENT

In the grounds of the high school 9.30am-noon Admission 50p – free car parking PITCHES In advance: cars £5, cars with trailers £7, domestic vans £10 On the day: £1 extra NO TRADERS Gates open 8.30am for sellers, 9.30am for buyers To book please phone: 01206 298122

EAST BERGHOLT DRAMATIC SOCIETY Old Actors Never Die… They Simply Lose the Plot by Lynn Brittney The Mount Home for Retired Theatricals is more like posh hotel than a home for the elderly and the residents are very happy at being waited on hand and foot. When Walter Neville (veteran of over 200 films) arrives, he’s delighted to find his best friends living there and looks forward to many enjoyable hours living in peace and harmony. But when the serial womaniser ex-husband of three of the ladies (Mrs Sullivan 1, 2 and 3) goes missing – apparently on the run from the Russian Mafia – the peace is about to be shattered. Come and enjoy this very funny play which is full of wonderful characters ranging from the dramatically eccentric to the downright scary at The Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 14-16 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 in advance (£7 on the door if any left!) from Fountain House Café and from 01206 396674 / 07891 974844.

(They simply lose the plot) BY

Lynn Brittney 7.30 pm Thursday - Saturday

THE CONSTABLE HALL, EAST BERGHOLT Tickets £6 in advance

Call 01206 396674 or text 07891974844 or from The Fountain

House Tearoom, East Bergholt or £7 on the door if there are any tickets left

This play is performed with kind permission of playsforadults.com

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OUT & ABOUT NEWS FROM CAPEL LIBRARY A month of April showers and warmish sunshine, a good combination to start things growing in the greenhouse or garden – come and get some inspiration from books or take a look at the Gardeners’ World magazine that we keep on the table in the nonfiction section. We have this magazine every month, albeit a couple of copies behind the latest, as it circulates around other libraries. Alternatively look at the Zinio section on the elibraries page on the website for a free download of the latest Amateur Gardening magazine. www.suffolklibraries.co.uk Please note that there is no Baby Bounce on April 5 due to school Easter holiday. It re-starts on Tuesday, April 12 at 2pm. We are a small group but have been joined by some new mums and grandparents recently. We enjoy singing and playing/rattling musical instruments for about 30 minutes. It is open to all under five years old and it is free. The Library Book Group meets on Friday, April 15 at 2.30pm. Come along and listen to the discussions on the latest book and perhaps suggest another that you may have read and enjoyed. The group is open to suggestions. Donations: We are looking for donations of ribbons, lace and small amounts of fabric for a craft activity to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. We shall be telling the story of The Queen’s Knickers on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, and making some knickers to hang on a washing line. More details on timings will be in next month’s edition. Any donation gratefully received. Message from Katharine and Ali: “A big thank you to everyone who sponsored us to complete the Colchester Half Marathon. Once all monies have been counted we will let you know the total. The sponsorship form is still available at the library if you still wish to donate.” We sell books of first and second class stamps, book tokens in any denomination and have a book sale trolley with books starting from 30p each. Do come and browse the selections available. OPENING TIMES Monday: Closed Tuesday: 9.30am-12.30pm and 2-5.30pm Wednesday: 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm Friday: 2-5pm and 5.30-7.30pm Saturday: 9am-3pm Sunday: 10am-3pm

EAST BERGHOLT OPEN GARDENS Sunday, June 5 This summer gardens will be open to visitors in East Bergholt. This is the ninth open garden event in the village and garden owners and organisers are busy getting ready and looking forward to welcoming visitors on June 5. There will be free parking at the high school and a free hop-on hop-off bus to take visitors round the village. The gardens, three tea venues and an art show/sale will be open from 11am to 5pm. Entry price is £6, accompanied children free. Entry tickets and programme/guide with lucky draw entry (£1) will be available on the day from the high school car park, gardens, tea venues and East of England Co-Op store in the centre of the village. Money raised is for St Mary’s Church East Bergholt Preservation Society to support the maintenance of the historic parish church and its unique bell cage. Enquiries to Val Ayton, secretary: 01206 298692 / ebchurchpres@gmail.com

1st LAWFORD GUIDES QUIZ NIGHT 1st Lawford Guides are hosting a quiz night on Saturday, May 7, 7 for 7.30pm, at the Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford, Essex CO11 2JE. All are welcome – guides, parents, friends, members of the public and anyone else who would like to support 1st Lawford Guides. Maximum six per team, £6 a person which includes a cheese ploughman’s platter to share. Drinks available to buy from the bar (please do not bring your own). To book a table contact: 07826 527150 / michellestimpson@rocketmail.com

DEDHAM FILMS The Assembly Rooms, Dedham Wednesday, April 20, 7.30pm: Bridge of Spies, 2016 Director Stephen Spielberg

Contact: 01473 311699

CLEAR THE CLUTTER − BAG A BARGAIN Bentley Toddler Group is holding a Jumble Sale to raise funds on Saturday, April 30 from 2pm at Bentley Village Hall. If you have anything you wish to donate to our sale, please bring it along to the hall from 9am on April 28 or call Pam (01473 310283) or Aimée (01473 311311), and we will arrange to collect it from you. If you would like to come to our sale, the hall will be open from 2pm. Tea and coffee will also be available. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

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Tickets £4 from Shakespeare House Gallery, Dedham High Street or online at: www.dedhamfilms.co.uk Dedham Films LIVE Wednesday, April 27, 7pm: Hangmen from the National Theatre Director Matthew Dunster Tickets £10 from Shakespeare House Gallery or online at: www.dedhamfilms.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE CELEBRATES SHAKESPEARE’S 400th Residents of Manningtree are planning to celebrate their distinction of being the only town in this part of Eastern England to feature in one of Shakespeare’s plays by organising two events to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on April 23, which was also the date of his birth. The town’s fame in the time of William Shakespeare comes from its mention in Henry IV Part 1 (Act 2, Scene 4) where Falstaff is described as: “that roasted Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly.” The Rotary Club of Manningtree Stour Valley honoured this connection in the year of the millennium by erecting a metal sculpture of an ox high on a wall in the centre of the town, with a lighted globe inside it to represent the pudding.

On the evening of the anniversary itself, a street gathering will be held in the centre of the town adjacent to the ox sculpture in order to make a world record attempt for the most people reciting Henry V’s famous St Crispin’s Day speech. On Sunday, April 24 a concert of music, speeches and entertainment, ending with the speech featuring the Manningtree Ox, will be held in Manningtree Methodist Church at 7pm. Rob Sharratt, president of the Rotary Club of Manningtree Stour Valley, said: “We are delighted to help organise these two events which will emphasise the town’s links with William Shakespeare. The sculpture of the ox was designed and made by a member of our club to mark the millennium so we feel a real connection to it. It was officially unveiled for us by the actor Warren Mitchell of Alf Garnett fame, a personal friend of its creator. “We hope that as many people as possible will come along and support these events, both of which are free. We need a really good turnout for the world record attempt and hope that people will be excited about the chance to be part of it. Anyone interested should assemble in the lower section of South Street, adjacent to the ox, from 5pm on the Saturday afternoon.”

DEDHAM FOOTPATH GROUP

Sunday, April 3: Meet in the car park of The Case is Altered PH, Bentley, Suffolk at 2.30pm for a two-hour walk. Leader: John Osborn, 07919 521607 Sunday, April 17: Meet in the car park opposite Lawford Church at 10.30am for a five-mile stroll Leader: Ian Chapman, 07914 749520 Sunday, May 15: Meet at Stutton Community Hall at 10.15am for a 6½mile walk. Leaders: Jan Jukes, 07283 276367 and Helen Edevane, 01206 395265 Wednesday, May 18: Meet at Salary Close Bromley Road Colchester at 6.30pm for a walk of 4½ miles. Leader: Margaret Smith, 01206 822797 Sunday, June 17: Meet at public car park at Pin Mill at 6.30pm for a four to five-mile walk. Leader: Sheila Beeton, 01206 322171

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OUT & ABOUT ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE DEVELOPING WORLD PROJECTS

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB

St Joseph’s College’s Developing World Projects continue to flourish. The college has established an ongoing partnership with Osiligi Obaya School in Kenya, a school for the most needy children living in the Maasai. Each summer staff and students visit the school so that over a sustained period of time the college family can follow the development of the children, the school and its community.

On March 2 Richard Walker presented When Pirates Ruled the Waves, a very local issue a few decades back, and we held our annual general meeting on Wednesday, March 16 when Graeme Forsyth stepped down after his year as president. On April 6 David Carman will interview our new president Hew Naylor in his Desert Island Discs in what promises to be a most interesting meeting. At our second meeting of the month on April 20 Phil Hadwen will speak about the life of Edith Cavell, a British nurse who saved the lives of soldiers from both sides, without discrimination, and helped some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War. We meet at the convenient St John Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB.

This summer five sixth form students will spend two weeks running a summer school for these children accompanied by staff from the college. Every child attends. Not only because the learning activities are fabulous, but also because each child receives a mid-morning meal of porridge and tea, as well as a wholesome lunch. It is likely that this will be their only solid meal of the day. In addition, the school needs culturally relevant learning resources: English, mathematics and science equipment, teachers’ resources, thinking activities and games, art and design materials; musical instruments; consumerables (pens/paper, etc) and construction equipment. Dr Hine, head of the prep school at St Joseph’s College, also works regularly with Osiligi’s headteacher and all the school’s teaching staff on their school development plan. This is really taking shape and a new set of locally sourced reading books will be in situ in the coming weeks. HORN FACTORY FUNDRAISING CONCERT Friday, April 22 at St Joseph’s College, Belstead Road IP2 9DR If you would like to support the staff and the fabulous-five St Joseph’s College students who will be travelling to the Maasai during summer 2016, please join with the incredible Horn Factory Band (featuring Steve Stone from Mansion House Publishing!) in concert at St Joseph’s College on Friday, April 22, 7.30-10pm. For tickets (£14 / under 16s £7 – including nibbles) please visit: www.redrosechain.com For further details or to make a donation to enable the purchase of practical equipment from local Kenyan sources for these worthy children please contact Martin Hine: M.hine@stjos.co.uk

SPRING SALE AND COFFEE MORNING The Friends of the historic Lambe School in East Bergholt warmly invite you to their popular Spring Sale and Coffee Morning on Saturday, April 23, 10amnoon, at the school on Gaston Street. Attractions include cake and plant stalls, a raffle, a bucket raffle, cards, Blind Lucky Dip, Name the Bear, children’s toys, toiletries, bric-a-brac and books. Entrance £1 including coffee and biscuits. Children free!

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Our club endeavours to be simple in structure, free of the constraints and obligations of service clubs and involve members at minimal cost. The club is directed primarily to providing fellowship between members who are compatible with each other and the opportunity for development of acquaintances. New members are welcomed. We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month in Manningtree at 10.30am. For further details please contact secretary Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, March 9 Charlotte Harding presented An Introduction to Warner & Sons, a talk on the 120 years of textile design and manufacture in London and Braintree, highlighting the company’s royal connections. On Wednesday, April 13 Rebecca Parry BSc, Director of Conservation, Education & Research, will talk on Zoos and Conservation. Her talk will include the history of zoological collections, including Colchester Zoo, the zoo’s current modern roles, its breeding programmes and conservation projects in the wild. We meet at Constable Hall, Gandish Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TP at 2.15pm. Annual membership is £12 and this entitles members to attend the meetings that take place on the second Wednesday of each month. Our main purpose is to encourage lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full time employment and emphasis is always placed on making learning active and fun as well as helping in developing friendships. We have a wide range of groups including language study, country walking, computer studies and gardens, churches and historic buildings visits. In the main, membership is drawn from communities in the lower Stour Valley and adjacent areas including Brantham, Capel St Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt, Holbrook, Lawford, Manningtree, Raydon and Stratford St Mary. We are affiliated to the ThirdAge Trust and have more than 200 members and 18 groups. For further information please visit www.stourvalleyu3a.org.uk where membership secretary Val Pretty can be contacted. It’s never too late to learn. Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

OUT & ABOUT MANNINGTREE & DISTRICT PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

EAST BERGHOLT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

In the age of the ‘selfie’ it could be argued that portrait photography has never been more popular. Indoors it’s not so easy, especially in artificial light and in the company of what seems like our very own good humoured ‘paparazzi’.

Spring will hopefully have well and truly sprung by the time you read this.

Nevertheless our studio workshop evening in February, ably led by George Fossey from the Harwich Club, proved to be a busy yet rewarding event. We are indebted to Dave for helping to organise the evening, including supplying the necessary studio lighting, and to Danielle for kindly acting as a model. This is a demanding role requiring a number of scene changes which was much appreciated by all present. In a review of the results later in the month, Sharon Smith’s portrait, shown here, was acclaimed as one of the best. FUTURE MEETINGS March 31: Secrets of the Digital Darkroom by Phillip Shaw, a change from the previously published programme April 14: Open Colour Competition / Judge Gill Adams April 28: Group photographic walkabout in Colchester

This month we have our members Spring Supper on Saturday, April 16 at the Lambe School. We will be having a delicious hot meal but you will need to bring you own drinks (glasses provided) and tickets are available from The Fountain House Tea Rooms in East Bergholt and priced at £15 each. Please may we take this opportunity to thank Mary and her team at the Fountain House Tea Rooms for selling tickets on our behalf for our events. It is very much appreciated. I do hope you all stay for a cuppa and a piece of cake. The schedule for our annual show on Saturday, September 3 is now available. Call Louise on 01206 298122 if you are not a member and would like details. There are plenty of classes for everyone – flowers, vegetables, fruit, flower arranging, cookery, handicraft, photography and children’s classes. Remember all our events and plenty more information is available on our regularly updated website – do take a look. You can also have a look on our noticeboard on the wall outside the Red Lion. www.eastbergholthorticulturalsociety.onesuffolk.net / ebhs@btinternet.com

New members are welcome to join the society or may attend initially as a visitor (£3). Meetings are held at the St John’s Centre, Station Road at 7.30pm.

PLANT SALE: Saturday, May 21, Lambe School, 9am-noon. If you are able to donate any plants (vegetable and flowers) or shrubs please contact James on 392520 or bring along on the day – thank you.

For further details contact our secretary, Margaret (01206 396958 / madps@post.com) or visit: www.manningtreeanddistrictphotographicsociety.co.uk

East Bergholt Horticultural Society

SPRING SUPPER (members only)

Saturday, April 16 Lambe School 7.30pm

Explorer Scouts are young people aged between 14 and 18 years old, and Cattawade Unit meets on the second Friday of each month in Cattawade with other meetings on the fourth Friday of each month or as agreed as outdoor activity meetings or weekend events.

Bring your own drinks

The unit has recently recruited an additional leader to support the scout and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programmes with those registered for the award programmes increasing each month.

Tickets available from the Fountain House Tea Room

Most of the Explorers have recently completed our ‘out of season’ winter/spring expedition training programme and are now preparing for practice expeditions for DofE Bronze and Silver in Suffolk and DofE Gold expeditions in the Peak District and Snowdonia. Several unit members have signed up for this year’s ocean going offshore sailing organised by Suffolk Scouts or the international events being run in the UK and overseas. We also have a limited number of places available for young people aged 14 to 24 who wish to complete their DofE or Queen’s Scout Awards especially those who have been unable to complete their expedition section with their local organisation.

CAPEL COUNTRYSIDE CLUB We had a lively and entertaining visit from Speak Easy at Martlesham in March. Five of their members attended and were introduced by Sonya Burrows who then gave them a subject relating to the countryside, ranging from favourite countryside walk to technology and the most dangerous thing in the countryside. They were given one and a half minutes to talk on the subject and it really was off the cuff. One of the members also gave a short informative talk on carriage driving with some good slides which prompted questions from members.

If you are a holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and would like to help more young people achieve theirs too, or wish to know more, please contact Roger for an informal chat.

Next meetings

Cattawade Explorer Scout Roger S Dann, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Leader: 01206 395285 / 07778 463172 / catt-explorers@outlook.com

Visitors are very welcome to join us in the lounge of the Methodist Church Capel at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of the month, refreshments are provided after the talk.

April 12: A talk and slides on Suffolk estuaries and wildlife by Alex Bass May 10: A talk on Ipswich Waterfront by Ann Day

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Looking for high-quality plastering work that adds strength to your walls and helps you prepare for decorating? Gatehouse Ipswich Ltd have the experience and expertise to handle all your internal and external plastering requirements. You can be sure of a smooth finish when you choose us. Our services range from traditional plastering to external rendering, specialising in ornamental plastering, mouldings, cornice and heritage plastering including lime work, chalk and hair, lathwork and hydraulic lime/sand. We have over 35 yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience in the industry and welcome enquiries from both commercial and private customers.

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SCHOOLS NEWS FROM BENTLEY CEVC

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL

This month has been another whirlwind of activity here at Bentley. World Book Day was ‘wild’ as we dressed up as something from the wild in honour of the book Where The Wild Things Are. We had a professional dance company come in and deliver dance workshops based on the theme and we even designed out own ‘wild places’.

School announced Apple Regional Training Centre The Royal Hospital School has been announced an Apple-approved Regional Training Centre (RTC) providing teachers and technical staff from schools and colleges all over the region with an opportunity to come together to access expertise, training and best practice to support their use of Apple technology in the classroom.

Our rather fantastic basketball team had a huge success at the recent basketball competition held at East Bergholt High School; they saw off all the competition to make it to the final, coming second overall. This really is a big achievement for a team coming from such a small school as ours and we are very proud of all the pupils who took part. They were praised for their excellent behaviour and sportsmanship by adults who attended the event and were super ambassadors for the school. Easter Egg Club has been as popular as ever this year, chocolate has featured most highly on the agenda! The children have been making beautiful chocolate eggs and other Easter goodies to take home in their own special Easter basket. As well as the Easter Egg Club, we are looking at the true meaning of Easter and are preparing for and looking forward to a special Easter assembly at the church. The Worship Group (a group of children in the school who organise special events and write prayers for the classes) are involved in the planning and we can’t wait to see what they have come up with this year. As well as the importance of the Easter story, we will be having our annual Easter Bonnet Parade – always an eye opener; some parents have a very artistic flare. Adders and Badgers Class

We have started a topic on the Anglo-Saxons and are looking at how life in England then compares to life now, and what similarities there are. We are looking forward to our planned trip to West Stow AngloSaxon village later in the month and learning about the houses, animals and tools that were common place in that time. If you have any useful artefacts about this topic that you wouldn’t mind lending to us for a short while, we would love to hear from you. We are looking at the topic of Africa. We have looked at where it is in the world, what plants, animals and land features there are and how different cultures have developed across the continent. We have been looking at the book Handa’s Surprise to help us find out about how life differs in an African culture to our own, including different foods that are eaten. As with above, if you have any items that you could lend us that would help our learning it would be lovely to hear from you. Finally, thank you ever so much for all the newspaper we have had in, the community has rallied to the call again!

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Apple has been promoting RTCs since 2005 with a focus on pedagogy, for sharing best practice and gaining skills. According to Apple, RTCs exist to introduce planned, effective, digital solutions to schools using Mac and iPad; to train teachers to use Apple’s tools to help enable active and transformative teaching and learning within the classroom. Dr Jonathan Allday, director of information and academic systems at the Royal Hospital School, said: “We are delighted to be announced as an Apple Regional Training Centre. The school has mobile technology well embedded into its teaching and learning, a process that started in 2012 when all of our teachers were provided with an iPad alongside two years of intensive training. By September 2015 every pupil in the school was using an iPad in the classroom and for planning, access to resources and communication. Our recognition as an RTC is a result of this well-planned and considered approach to incorporating technology into our teaching and learning and the enthusiastic support provided by our innovative IT solutions providers, XMA.” Pupils mark Fairtrade Fortnight The geography club, eco committee and catering team at the Royal Hospital School joined up to promote International Fairtrade Fortnight, as well as to contribute towards the school’s efforts to achieve the Carbon Charter Gold Award. Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual promotional campaign, co-ordinated by the Fairtrade Foundation, when everyone from commercial partners to schoolchildren, producers to politicians, come together to talk about and raise awareness of Fairtrade. Fairtrade Fortnight at the Royal Hospital School kicked off with the geography club delivering an excellent chapel talk all about the benefits of Fairtrade and the unveiling of the geography corridor which had been transformed into a rainforest complete with rainforest noises. Each break and lunchtime throughout the fortnight, Year 8 pupils led activities to promote Fairtrade. These included Fairtrade chocolate tasting, guess the product, match the produce to the country, a QR treasure hunt around the school, Fairtrade milkshake, films, poetry competitions and an afternoon conserving the trees at Princes Wood. The campaign culminated in a whole-school quiz where 14 teams battled it out for first place, using the knowledge gained throughout the Fairtrade Fortnight activities. Pupils were also invited to pledge their promise to the rainforest and eco-commitments by writing on a ‘leaf’ and adding this to the geography rainforest. Staff also joined in the celebration drinking only Fairtrade tea and coffee in the common room, pledging their own promises and cheering on their houses in the Fairtrade quiz. The catering department encouraged the purchase of Fairtrade products in the school café and labelled every meal served at breakfast, lunch and supper with the origins and associated food miles. www.royalhospitalschool.org

SCHOOLS / SPORT ROBIN’S NEWS

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB THE LAST MONTH As we entered March, and the final stages of the campaign, the 1st team were still heading the table in the Senior Division having taken seven points from a possible nine through February. Unfortunately, injuries had mounted up and a weakened team exited the Bob Coleman Cup at the quarter-final stage. The Reserves had a storming February, collecting a maximum 12 points and scoring 23 goals in the process. This leaves them with a reasonable chance of achieving a third place finish in the league. The A team had a mixed month with two wins and two losses, but remain well placed in third position in the table. As you will see from their fixture list their season will be almost over as we move into April. The players and officials are now wearing their smart new team wear with pride. This has been generously sponsored by TravelPlus Tours.

Baby Bears World Book Day was such fun and we chose a different That’s Not My Book each day. These are a selection of books which the Bears love looking at. We have been busy with a wide range of activities from monkey cupcakes, threading princess jewellery with cheerios, a teddy bears’ picnic and footprint butterflies for our Mother’s Day celebrations.

You can follow the progress of our teams at http://touchlinesil.co.uk, referring to the Fixtures and Results tab and selecting the appropriate date(s) and competitions. Upcoming fixtures and events Fixtures

We have been trying to promote independence including the ability to make choices. The bears have enjoyed choosing the different fruit they would like for snack, the toys they would like to play with and finding their own juice cup and bringing it to the table at meal times.

DATE

Toddling Tigers We have been celebrating World Book Day by exploring our favourite stories, dressing up as our favourite characters and talking about them.

Sat, Apr 2

Circle time has been welcomed by the Tigers into their morning and afternoon routine. During this time all the Tigers sit together in our cushioned area and we talk about which Tigers are here, we count how many Tigers we have and we talk to the Tigers to let them know the plans for the day. We also sing action songs and read stories together to promote the children’s communication and language. This time helps to support the children’s personal, emotional and social development. This is also the time where the Tigers will talk about their interests and what they have been up to with their family time. Gruffalos We celebrated World Book Day with great enthusiasm. The children and staff all dressed up as storybook characters with the grown up Gruffalos all being a character from Little Red Riding Hood. The children loved the live re-enactment of the story. Throughout the day we shared our favourite stories, made our own story books, made Gruffalo headbands and created a huge pirate ship outside while singing along to our favourite pirate story, Portside Pirates. We also had a guest storyteller come in to Squash and Squeeze, the funny voices made us giggle lots. It was a lovely day celebrating the importance of books and stories. If you would like moreinformation about Robin’s Childcare please contact Vicki on 01473 310767, visit www.robinschildcare.co.uk or follow us on Twitter / Facebook.

1st TEAM Senior Division

RESERVES Intermediate A

A Team Intermediate C

Wenhaston Utd Res

Somersham Res

Capel Plough Res

Bacton United 89 Res

Achilles Res

Coplestonians Res

Thu, Apr 21

Achilles Res

Sat, Apr 23

Westerfield Utd Res

Sat, Mar 26 Mon, Mar 28

Wed, Apr 6

Capel Plough Westerfield Utd Ipswich Athletic

H A H

Sat, Apr 9 Sat, Apr 16

Wickham Market

Wed, Apr 20

Leiston St Margarets

Haughley Utd

Capel Plough Res

Thu, Apr 28 Sat, Apr 30

Grundisburgh

Ipswich Valley Rangers Res

A H

Fixtures subject to change. Please refer to http://tinyurl.com/hlv54p6 and chose the appropriate competition to confirm. Events: Awards Dinner, May 21 We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether on the playing side or just in the background. If you would like to sponsor the club in some capacity we would also be delighted to hear from you. EBUFC is a community club with very strong village traditions. The majority of the players either live in, or have links to, the village. Please come along and give us a look sometime. Steve Butcher, secretary: stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

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WATCHDOG SEEKS VIEWS ON DIABETIC FOOT CARE SERVICES IN SUFFOLK Healthwatch Suffolk is working with a leading Consultant Physician of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust Diabetic Centre to explore local experiences of using diabetic foot care services in Suffolk. Good foot care is essential for people living with diabetes because it can prevent complications caused by high blood glucose levels including damage to nerves and blood vessels. In fact, active foot disease is a leading cause of amputation in the UK. That is why Healthwatch is keen to explore whether people at high risk of developing foot disease in Suffolk are receiving appropriate care. It is interested in your experiences about the full range of services that may care for your feet and this includes those accessed in GP practices, hospitals and in the community. Andy Yacoub, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Suffolk, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our aim is to ensure that these essential services are shaped by the experiences of people using them. This survey will help us to independently check that patients are receiving the right messages to help them manage their condition and that there is fair and appropriate access to foot care services across the county. If you have diabetes or know someone that does, please take part. It only takes a moment and your views could make a positive difference to care in Suffolk.â&#x20AC;? To take part, visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/suffolkdiabetes You can also contact Healthwatch Suffolk on 01449 703949 or by email to info@healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk to request a hard copy survey. This survey will close on April 30, 2016.

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SPORT / ON THE GRAPEVINE EAST BERGHOLT BOWLS CLUB The carpet team are currently sitting in fifth position with three more matches to be played. Promotion is not out of the question but we would have to win all matches convincingly to have any chance. Mick Lomax has done well to nearly always get a full team of 16 players out for every match, but it would be good to get a few more regulars playing. If you fancy playing just come along on club nights on Monday evenings at Holton St Mary Village Hall, starting at 7pm. These roll ups continue throughout the summer. The outdoor green opens on Saturday, April 16 with a members friendly match, the president’s team versus the chairman’s team. Roll ups take place on Sunday mornings starting at 10am and on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm. All newcomers are welcome to have a bowl and try out the sport. Bowls provided, just wear a pair of flat shoes. The club holds a number of social events throughout the year such as coffee mornings, a treasure hunt, a fun day, a barbecue, bingo, a quiz and fish and chip suppers. We are hoping to run a village cup this summer with other associations in the village participating in a round robin event at the bowls green on a Sunday morning. Details still to be worked out but if your organisation feels like taking part, can you please let me know by email. Melvyn Powell, secretary: melpowell46@gmail.com

CAPEL PLOUGH FOOTBALL CLUB The First team were beaten 2-1 by Crane Sports in the Bob Coleman Cup after a close game in which a well-taken goal from Nick Middlebrook gave us an interval lead but we conceded two goals after the break to go out of the competition. In the Senior League the team beat Ipswich Valley Rangers 3-1 with goals from Lloyd Dodsworth, Shaun Webb and Lee Barrett, but then lost 1-0 to Bramford United , a defeat which saw the lads slip to fifth place in the league − the lowest position that the side had been in all season. The Reserves moved off the bottom of the Senior Reserve League after beating Mendlesham 3-2 thanks to goals from leading scorer Joe Bigmore and a brace from new signing Keiron Dilloway, but were beaten 4-1 by Sporting 87 and then lost 2-0 in the return game against Mendlesham. Several teenagers from the village play for the team with Oliver Miller playing well in defence, Daniel Dixon putting in some good performances in midfield and Harry Taylor, who scored our goal against Sporting 87, showing his class and speed up front. (That’s a pint you owe me Harry!) Our Sunday side played one game in February, beating Worlingworth away 2-0 with goals from Abdul Kaium and Andy MacDonald while our Veteran side (over 35) had all their games called off due to unfit pitches. The club continues to run nine youth sides with ages ranging from seven to 16 with the youngsters enjoying their football under the watchful eyes of our qualified coaches. Bob the ploughman

OPEN DAY at Mistley & Manningtree Bowls Club New Road, Mistley CO11 1ER (next to the church) Saturday, April 30, 10am-4pm Come and try bowling and see what fun it can be! All you need are flat-soled shoes or trainers. FREE TUITION TARGET BOWLS Free tea, coffee and soft drinks Light refreshments also available For further information contact: 01206 230996 / 395856 If you can’t make it on April 30 a second open day is scheduled for Saturday, May 7

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QUESTIONS ON CASH With Independent Financial Adviser, Nick Plumb John from Haughley asks: “My wife and I each have a 15-year term life insurance policy with Legal & General each with a sum assured of £200,000. What would happen to these funds if we both died together and would our children end up paying inheritance tax on the money?” If you and your wife died together, the policy proceeds would form part of your individual estates. If you died first, the proceeds of your policy would be inherited by your wife. If she died at the same time or a short time later, it would then form part of her estate, along with the proceeds of her own policy. If, when added to the rest of her assets and your joint assets, the total was above £650,000, (the combined total of your two Nil Rate Bands for Inheritance Tax), your children would pay inheritance tax on the excess. To reduce the effects of the tax, you should write these policies under trust to each other with the children as default beneficiaries. A flexible family trust is ideal as the beneficiaries can be changed by the settlor, (the person who declares the trust) at a later date. This can be useful if you want to add grandchildren to the list of potential beneficiaries later on. Having the policy in a trust will ensure that the proceeds are paid outside of the policy-holder’s estate. This means that if you died first, while your wife would still receive the money from your policy, when she died the money from her policy would be paid from the trust to your children. As the sum assured would be paid from the trust it would not form part of your wife’s estate, and the money from her policy would therefore not be subject to Inheritance Tax. That would take £200,000 out of her estate and reduce the overall effects of inheritance tax. If you have other life insurance policies, you might want to check with your financial adviser about putting those in trust too. Although it is easier to write a policy in trust at the time of making the application, most policies can also be written in trust after they have been placed on-risk. Nick Plumb is an Independent Financial Adviser and Practice Principal at Plumb Financial Services. Post your questions to Nick at Plumb Financial Services, Baylham Business Centre, Lower Street, Baylham, Suffolk IP6 8JP, email nickplumb@aol.com, or telephone Nick on 01473 830301. Nick’s answers to reader’s questions in this column are provided only as a general guide and do not constitute personal financial advice. Any readers who require advice should contact Nick to arrange a complimentary initial consultation to discuss their own position. Plumb Financial Services are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

ON THE GRAPEVINE

The 2016 Suffolk Walking Festival kicks off on Saturday, May 14 and continues for three weeks until Sunday, June 5. The varied programme of 77 themed walks across the county range in length from a gentle stroll of one mile, to a challenging 60 miles in 24 hours and will take place along Suffolk’s glorious coast, through scenic, gently undulating countryside and around our medieval towns and villages. The annual walking festival is a partnership project supported by all of Suffolk’s local authorities and is spearheaded by the Discover Suffolk project at Suffolk County Council. This year’s festival launch, which is sponsored by Suffolk Coastal District Council, takes place at RSPB Minsmere on the Suffolk coast. The event will also mark the launch of Suffolk’s Year of Walking, which starts in May 2016 and ends in May 2017. “The Year of Walking will be celebrating two of my very favourite things: walking and Suffolk,” says Lesley Dolphin from BBC Radio Suffolk and patron of the festival. “The aim is to inspire people to build more walking into their everyday lives and to discover what fun it is!” “We are delighted that this year’s walking festival marks the beginning of Suffolk’s Year of Walking,” adds Councillor Goldson, cabinet member for health at Suffolk County Council. “The purpose of the initiative is to celebrate walking in the county, promote walking events and encourage new walking opportunities. The festival does a wonderful job of demonstrating how easy and inclusive walking is, and what a fantastic county Suffolk is to walk in. It is making a very positive contribution to our ambition of becoming the most active county in England.” There are three lots of challenge walks planned, which have been sponsored by the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Mega Challenge, for the ultra fit, is a walk which will be undertaken over a 24-hour period, covering 60 miles from Lowestoft to Felixstowe. The Classic Challenge, a firm favourite among regular festival goers, is made up of five walks of between 11 and 14 miles each. As with The Mega Challenge, the route goes from Lowestoft to Felixstowe, but will be at a rather more sedate pace and spread over five days. The Mini Challenge consists of three walks of around nine miles each: Oulton Broad to Beccles, the ‘Trimley Loop’ and a walk ending with refreshments at the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge. Other walks include two stress-relieving mindfulness walks, a ‘prambling’ walk for parents with prams, photography, birdwatching and Pilates walks, a gentle stroll for sufferers of dementia and their carers which includes views of early marsh orchids, a speed-dating ramble and the ever-popular Horrible History For Families in Ipswich. Some include a cream tea or other refreshments and all are an informal and sociable way to explore the county, meet like-minded people and to indulge in a leisure activity which benefits both body and soul. To view the full walks programme and book tickets, visit: www.suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk

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ON THE GRAPEVINE

As spring unfolds across the county, one local fundraiser is making a heartfelt thanks to communities across Suffolk who are supporting a local appeal to build the Woolverstone Macmillan Cancer Centre at Ipswich Hospital. Helen Glenholmes from Macmillan Cancer Support has been working on the appeal to raise funds for the £4.7million centre, which will see the outdated and overcrowded cancer facilities at Ipswich Hospital transformed. So Much More Than a Dance Class Any Age & Ability Very Welcome No Partners Required

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With more than 27,000 people living with or beyond cancer in Suffolk, and more than 4,000 new cases each year, the new centre will provide state of the art outpatient chemotherapy, oncology and haematology services. The staff in the unit are admired for their skill, hard work and compassion, but it is the lack of space that means patients don’t always have the privacy and comfort they deserve. The new centre will more than double the size of current facilities allowing for 30 patients to be treated at any one time, with enough space for loved ones to join them during treatment. There will also be new consulting rooms and quiet rooms so patients can discuss their case in private and with dignity.

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The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust has contributed the first £1million to the new centre, including all donations previously raised by the Woolverstone Wish fundraising group. A new appeal was launched last year to raise the additional £3.7million which is now needed to complete the centre later this year. Helen adds: “The support we have received from the public has been overwhelming – people across the county have been inspired to make a real difference to the lives of people affected by cancer and I would encourage everyone to get involved. As well as sponsored runs and coffee mornings we’ve had fashion shows and even men posing in their pants for a charity calendar! We’ve come a long way already, but we still desperately need the help of groups, businesses and individuals to make this much-needed centre a reality. Sadly, almost one in two of us will now face a cancer diagnosis in our lifetimes and we need your support to make sure that our local services are ready for the future.” If you’re interested in holding a fundraising event or would like to choose Macmillan as a charity partner, please contact Helen on hglenholmes@ macmillan.org.uk or call the Fundraising Support Line on 0300 1000 200. For more ideas and ways to help visit: www.macmillan.org.uk

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CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, BRANTHAM Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Services for April Sunday 3 9am

Second Sunday of Easter Mass

Tuesday 5 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 10 9am

Third Sunday of Easter Mass

Tuesday 12 9.20am Eucharistic Adoration 10am Mass Sunday 17 9am

Fourth Sunday of Easter Mass: Children’s Liturgy

Tuesday 19 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Sunday 24 9am

Fifth Sunday of Easter Mass

Tuesday 26 9.30am Morning Prayer 10am Mass Catholic Commentary The Pope’s Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ (the Care of our Common Home) was an important influence at the Climate Change Conference in

Paris. The Encyclical demonstrates the church’s commitment and awareness of the challenge faced by humanity over a range of ecological issues. There were strong words too on the need for the richer countries to help poorer ones to make the transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable forms as individuals and at parish level.

Minor Basilica status has been granted to the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady, known as England’s Nazareth, at Walsingham in North Norfolk by Pope Francis. This rare designation is given by the Holy Father to places of worship which are of particular historical significance. Tens of thousands of pilgrims make their journey to the shrine every year.

In January members of local churches met at St Michael the Archangel Church, Brantham for the annual Unity Service and it was good to note how harmonious the relations between the different churches are now. In February at another level, the very top, we saw a meeting of Pope Francis with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. The meeting took place in an airport lounge in Havana, Cuba when they spoke about their respective churches, the situation in the world, wars, orthodoxy − all matters of pastoral concern for the two leaders.

Diary Dates Every last Thursday of the month a bring and buy coffee morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR from 10.30am to noon. We are raising funds for the Parish Room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, April 28.

Pope Francis had touched down in Cuba on his way to visit Mexico which has the second largest number of Catholics after Brazil. We hear much of the problems of Mexico but little about the people and institutions that give Mexico its pride and distinctive culture. As a Latin American himself the Pope was well versed to speak to and mingle with the people of this country. In spite of all the problems there are, we must never lose the sense of what is normal and good about people and the beauty and giftedness of the world we have been given. Christian hope is real and always carries through.

Supporting our local hospice All parishioners are being asked to collect used postage stamps, all year, not just at Christmas, and place them in the box at the rear of the church to help support the outstanding work of our local hospice. Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please phone him if you or a Catholic is in or due to go into hospital and requires his services. All are very welcome at Holy Family, Brantham All are very welcome to attend Holy Family services. It’s not necessary to be a Catholic and enquiries about the Catholic faith are always welcome. Please contact the presbytery, as above, or a local person whom you know is a Catholic.

CAPEL ST MARY & BRANTHAM METHODIST CHURCHES “YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN” Do you ever remember odd lyrics from a song but can’t remember the rest? It increasingly happens to me, but Google often helps to alleviate my frustration. In this instance at least three songs – by Alabama, the Bee Gees and New Song – came up, all using the line: “You can’t keep a good man down.” I remember an inflatable toy that was all the rage a few years ago, a bear about four foot high when inflated which could be punched or knocked over, but would immediately right itself for another blow. You could knock it over as hard and as often as you wanted but: “You can’t keep a good man down.” I’ve ‘Amazoned’ the toy and they are still available now as Despicable Me minions! The song by New Song told the story of the death of Jesus on a cross, how he was put in a tomb but how 36 hours later – despite a guard on the tomb – Jesus was alive. The enemies of Jesus thought they had won when they had got the Roman government to crucify him. He was cut down from the cross late on Friday afternoon, his body limp and lifeless. He was laid in the tomb and this was sealed with a huge stone. To ensure no deception Roman soldiers guarded the tomb, but by early Sunday morning the tomb was empty, and Jesus began to appear to his friends. “You can’t keep a good man down.” An eminent lawyer in the 20th century didn’t believe the story and set out to write a book rubbishing all the so-called sightings of Jesus after his crucifixion. As he examined all the evidence meticulously as a lawyer, he became convinced of its truth and the book he wrote was so different from the one he had planned to write. The New Song lyrics say “You can close your eyes, you can say it’s a lie, You can stick your head in the sand, You can turn away, even try to

explain, He was just another man”, but all the evidence was that “You can’t keep a good man down”, and I and many others will tell you of the reality of the presence of Jesus still today in our lives. We are each faced with choices, either we convince ourselves against all the evidence that he didn’t come back to life or we believe. Hatred had done its worst, but the love of God could not be kept down. Christ is Risen – we are Easter People. The Rev Andrew Sankey Minister at Capel and Brantham Methodist Churches 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07726 299968 AT CAPEL METHODIST Sunday 3 10.30am 6.30pm Sunday 10 10.30am 6.30pm Sunday 17 10.30am Sunday 24 10.30am 7.30pm

Worship led by The Rev Kathy Flynn Prayer Stations Worship with Mr Rod Stone Worship with The Rev Andrew Sankey Worship with Mr Eddie Vass Worship and Communion with The Rev Sankey United Prayer Time at St Mary’s (CoE)

AT BRANTHAM METHODIST Sunday 3 11am Sunday 10 11am Sunday 17 11am Sunday 24 11am

Worship with Mr Paul Walker Worship with The Rev Andrew Sankey Worship with Mr Richard Brooks Worship and Communion with The Rev Michael Ayden

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CHURCH NEWS BENEFICE OF EAST BERGHOLT AND BRANTHAM Good Friday 10am 2pm

Family Service, Brantham At the foot of the cross, East Bergholt

Easter Saturday 7.30pm

Easter Vigil and lighting of the fire, East Bergholt

Easter 8am 10am 11am

Resurrection BCP Communion, East Bergholt Communion Service, East Bergholt Communion Service, East Bergholt

APRIL Sunday 3 8am 11am

Easter 2 BCP Communion, East Bergholt Benefice Communion, Brantham

Wednesday 6 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Sunday 10 8am 10am 11am

Easter 3 BCP Communion, East Bergholt Communion Service, East Bergholt Family Service, Brantham

Sunday 17 8am 10am 11am

Easter 4 BCP Communion, East Bergholt Baptism of Sophie Slade, East Bergholt Communion Service, Brantham

Sunday 24 8am 10am 11am

Easter 5 BCP Communion, East Bergholt Choral Matins, East Bergholt Informal Service, Brantham

MAY Sunday 1 8am

Easter 6 BCP Communion, East Bergholt

Wednesday 4 9.30am BCP Communion, East Bergholt Thursday 5 9.30am

Ascension BCP Communion, East Bergholt

Sunday 8 8am 10am 11am

Easter 7 BCP Communion, East Bergholt Communion Service, East Bergholt Family Service, Brantham

This schedule may change without notice if needed.

KEY TO LOVE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Where Jesus is Love and love is Jesus COME AND JOIN US IN OUR NEW FELLOWSHIP – EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

RAMBLING RECTOR One of the gentlemen on my guide dog training course had been tragically blinded in a winter head-on car accident. He lost his sight, the other driver lost his life. During the course there was time to sit and chat to the other trainees while the instructors were busy with individuals. One day he and I were sitting chatting over a cup of coffee and he said to me: “If I could win the lottery and have anything I wanted for one minute, I would ask to see my daughter’s face. She is 35 and I have never seen her.” I found that very moving, but it got me thinking. If I could win the lottery and have anything I wanted for one minute, what would it be? Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on Easter Day expecting to find the body of her Lord. She had seen him die, she knew he was dead. The last thing in the world she expected to see was the empty tomb, never mind an angel! And while she was struggling to get to grips with what these things meant, she saw Jesus who spoke her name. The gospels record that Jesus appeared to his disciples on many occasions before he ascended to heaven. Paul records that he appeared to 500 people gathered together at one time. No hallucination this! Christians believe that Jesus is still calling us by name to follow him. He called my name in 1968 when I was 15. I didn’t see him but I certainly felt him. A blast of fiery heat filled me from top to toe with an assurance of his presence and his love for me and purpose for my life. For almost 50 years I have been trying to help people to experience the risen Lord Jesus too. I have found him to be a faithful friend who has been prepared to forgive my lapses and failures. And during my ministry I have seen lives changed when people find Jesus for themselves. May you find him unexpectedly this Easter. The Lord is risen. Happy Easter. The Rev Steph Thank you very much for your kind welcome of Coco. If she is in harness, she is working. Please ignore her all together as otherwise she may abandon me and come to you asking to have her ears tickled. Guide dogs are on a very strict diet and may not be given treats however imploringly they look at you. She is adjusting very well to church life and was not overwhelmed by the bevy of bishops at Bishop Mike’s installation. In fact she was the best behaved of the lot. BUILDING WORK HAS BEGIN The long awaited work on our toilet and kitchen at St Michael’s has begun and we hope to have it functional by Easter, or at least very soon afterwards. LETTICE DYKES FOUNDATION TRUST FOR EAST BERGHOLT Applications are invited from students and pupils in East Bergholt younger than 25 for small grants to help towards their education or maintenance while studying. A letter of application may be submitted to the clerk Mrs Britt Evans at Rookery, Gaston Street, East Bergholt CO7 6SF for consideration by the trustees.

Hear the teachings of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, with our lively worship and service. Refreshments served afterwards. Every Sunday morning at 11am in The Ivell Suite at Venture Centre 2000, Bromley Road, Lawford CO11 2JE. If you or someone you know needs prayer for anything, please contact us. David and Rosie Rhule: 07787 572977 / 01206 397533 / info@thekeytoloveministries.co.uk www.thekeytoloveministries.co.uk

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