In Touch News with Kesgrave January 2020

In Touch

™© ™©

with Kesgrave & Rushmere

Volume 10 • Issue No. 3 • JANUARY 2020

Fabulous Frosty Mornings by Sheila Sawers

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR I am utterly addicted to and obsessed by Leonard Cohen, so you can imagine how excited I was to discover a new album was to be released three years after his death. Thanks for the Dance has been arranged by Leonard’s son Adam and features various collaborators and previously unheard material. Every line is a masterpiece, all the more poignant because it was written and recorded when he was “Waiting for the miracle to come”. Death and dying have always been key themes of his work, but is it fair to refer to the man who said “The older I get, the surer I am that I’m not running the show” as ‘the grandfather of gloom’?

I go to one or other of his albums for inspiration, comfort, reassurance, hope and even humour. Tonight Will Be Fine always makes me smile: Sometimes I find I get to thinking of the past.

We swore to each other then that our love would surely last.

You kept right on loving, I went on a fast, Now I am too thin and your love is too vast.

And the ultimate love song must surely be If I Didn’t Have Your Love: If the sun would lose its light And we lived an endless night And there was nothing left That you could feel That’s how it would be My life would seem to me If I didn’t have your love To make it real I can’t imagine a world without music (it doesn’t have to be Leonard Cohen all the time), but for others it might be art or theatre, movies or even long walks in the countryside which provide the indefinable something which makes life better. Whatever it may be, I hope you find time and space to indulge in it this year. Maybe we can help you find it if hou haven’t already!

And when you’re having a bad day…

“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.”

Leonard Cohen

Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins T: 01473 400380 Send editorial copy to: sharon@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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In Touch Titles • Stowmarket & Stowupland • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew • Melton & Woodbridge • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall & Warren Heath • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit • Needham Market & The Creetings • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton & Woolverstone • Martlesham • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • Westerfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin & Witnesham • Sproughton & Burstall

NEWS SUFFOLK-BASED MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CHARITY SET FOR NEW YEAR’S ReLAUNCH Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre was formed over 35 years ago as the Suffolk Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre to provide oxygen therapy and support to those living with the disease. Since then, the charity has grown to support people living with many other conditions and now undertakes more than 3,000 therapy sessions per year.

In the last year, the charity has made a number of alterations to its existing building which has allowed it to start developing a complementary therapy service and provided us with the room for power-assisted exercise chairs.

In February 2020 the centre is launching these new services and invites health professionals and the public to visit the centre during the open week: Monday 3 (10.30am-2pm & 3-6pm) to Thursday 6 (Tue-Thu 10.30am-2.30pm) February.

Centre Manager Victoria Barber is keen for as many people as possible to come along and see for themselves the good work that the charity does: “We’re always happy for people to pay us a visit, but this is a good chance for people to come along and enjoy a cuppa and have a chat, meet some of our members, volunteers, staff and trustees and learn about oxygen therapy. It will also be an opportunity to try our power assisted exercise chairs and learn more about the other therapies on offer.”

For more information in advance contact Victoria at: 01473 830359 / victoria@suffolkoxygentherapy.co.uk Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre (SOTC) receives no state funding and relies entirely on donations, legacies and fundraisers to function, with any fundraising put towards service development and improvement. The public self-refer for therapy at the centre, which is staffed by fully trained operators and supported by a team of willing volunteers. Victoria is clear that the charity has capacity to help more people: “This launch will raise the profile of this wonderful charity and we hope that local businesses and organisations will want to help us to reach more people living with long term and chronic disease and life limiting conditions. We have many events coming up in 2020 such as a Race Night on 3 April at Felixstowe Trades & Labour Club, Open Gardens in May and a James Bond Ball at Ufford Park on 10 October. We hope local businesses may wish to support us with these in addition to corporate sponsorship, being chosen as charity of the year and match funding to name a few.”

The charity’s longer term goal is to fundraise for a new centre, including the purchase of its own oxygen generation facilities, which will bring long term cost efficiencies by reducing both ongoing costs of oxygen delivery and the carbon footprint, thus protecting its future as a sustainable charity. The charity is in the early stages with its appointed architect, but early indication is that it will take approximately 10 years from now to fund this in its entirety.

For more about the centre, visit: www.suffolkoxygentherapy.co.uk

We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe

Friday 10 January Printed on gloss paper from FSC certified sources

Please recycle.

is the advertising and editorial deadline for the February edition

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NEWS KESGRAVE TOWN COUNCIL Happy New Year Everyone!

We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable Christmas. After our busy December with the Christmas tree lights switch-on, ice skating and an evening of reflection, we are now ready to start planning our community events for 2020. Please keep a look out in In Touch for what’s happening in your town for the forthcoming year. If you have any ideas on events you would like to see in the town, please contact the Kesgrave Town Council office (details below).

Now is the ideal time to trim back overgrown hedges and trees that may be overhanging from your gardens onto footpaths and cycle lanes.

The next Kesgrave Market is on Saturday 18 January at the Scout Hall, Rupert Fison Square from 9am-12.30pm.

Kesgrave Town Council Meetings for January 2020 Planning & Development: Mondays 6 & 20 January at 6.15pm Finance & General Purposes: Monday 13 January at 7.15pm Kesgrave Town Council: Monday 20 January at 7.15pm Kesgrave Town Council 01473 625179 / enquiry@kesgravetowncouncil.org.uk Office Opening Days and Hours Monday: 9am-1pm Tuesday: 9am-1pm Wednesday: 9am-3pm Thursday: Not open Friday: 9am-1pm

Join the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group The parish council is looking to form a working group made up of community volunteers, parish councillors and employed staff to start work on creating a neighbourhood plan for Rushmere St Andrew. We are inviting your support!

The time commitment is just two hours per month.

What is a neighbourhood plan?

Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They can choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead.

Many parishes in surrounding parishes have developed neighbourhood plans and we intend to learn from them to make the process as simple as possible.

Why is this important?

Parishes that have a neighbourhood plan have more influence about planning applications than those without. We believe having a neighbourhood plan will give a greater voice to the needs of our community.

As part of the working group you will get the opportunity to meet new people, learn more about our parish and make a real difference.

To find out more or to volunteer please contact: sylvia.stannard@rushmere-st-andrew.org.uk

MARTLESHAM SURGERY (PPG) News First we would like to wish all Martlesham Surgery patients and their carers a very happy and healthy New Year.

The PPG has been busy during 2019 working on patient communications. To this end, we are in the process of updating our PPG page on the website and creating some useful patient leaflets, which will be available in the waiting room and on the website.

The exercise and education programmes for patients at risk of falling is continuing and, at the time of writing, we have a few places left for the programme starting in February. Please contact Lynne Marsh at the surgery if you’d like a place. This is a PPG initiative and it may be possible to get further funding to continue the programme if there is sufficient demand.

There’s a new social prescribing service called Connect for Health and our practice is one of those taking part. It is designed to provide support to adult patients who are facing a range of non-medical challenges which affect their wellbeing and to reduce social isolation. Patients can self-refer or be referred by a health or social care provider, such as their doctor.

Referral forms are available at the surgery or you can call 07967 395985 or 07790 922228.

PPG Chair

KESGRAVE DEMENTIA CAFÉ As from January 2020 the Dementia Cafe is moving to Kesgrave Bowls Pavilion which is located next to Kesgrave Community Centre, Twelve Acre Approach.

The first session at the new venue will be Wednesday 15 January and from then on it will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 10am until 12.30pm.

If you are experiencing problems with your memory or have dementia, please come and join in the various activities and games on offer, and meet the team of very helpful and supportive staff. Members will be made most welcome, but must be accompanied by a carer.

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Book your place now on this free Cardiac Arrest Response Seminar and help save a life.

Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council and Rushmere Baptist Church have teamed up to offer anyone living in Rushmere St Andrew Parish or who attends Rushmere Baptist Church the opportunity to book a place on this defibrillator awareness, cardiac arrest response seminar delivered by the community heartbeat trust.

It will take place on Saturday 29 February, 10.30am-12.30pm at Rushmere Baptist Church, The Street, Rushmere St Andrew IP5 1DF and will include: What is sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA): Five minutes to save a life, physiology of the heart and how to recognise a SCA How to dial 999: What to expect and the questions you will be asked.

How to do CPR and why, practical demonstration, how to use a defibrillator (there is one situated on the outside wall of Rushmere Baptist Church and another on the outside wall of the Jaipur Restaurant, Penshurst Road), recovery position/turning a patient, handover to the paramedics.

This is not a formal classroom course but designed specifically to answer questions, give basic instruction, be interactive and create confidence.

To book your place please email your full name and contact details to the assistant clerk sarah.jenkins@rushmere-st-andrew.org.uk or telephone 01473 711509.

Spaces are limited and booking is essential.

You can contact Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council on 01473 711509 or email the clerk at sylvia.stannard@rushmere-st-andrew.org.uk or the assistant clerk at sarah.jenkins@rushmere-st-andrew.org.uk.

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT BUS NOTES FOR JANUARY 2020 First seem to have a very poor opinion of their passengers: they simply do not reply to letters of complaint. I now have four unanswered letters, the latest reporting a minor incident in which I was thrown to the floor of a bus. But not a word of apology have I received.

Actually, I wonder if anybody is employed nowadays to correspond with the public. Maybe they think that if they ignore us we will just go away, which unfortunately is what seems to be happening. Other bus companies are finding passenger numbers increasing, but not First.

MARTLESHAM BRASS Making Music Fun in East Anglia Everyone in Martlesham Brass would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

A very big thank you to all who supported us over the Christmas season by donating towards our chosen charities; Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity – The Cancer Centre Campaign, Evelina London Children’s Healthcare – Guys & St Thomas’ Charity and Footsteps Walking With You – counselling for 11-25 year olds. In next month’s article we will report back on the final amount raised.

Our main band is performing in a joint concert, Last Night of the Christmas Proms, with the Gippeswyk Singers on Sunday 5 January at 7pm at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3SL. Tickets are £5 and available in advance from Michael Dawe, Flocky Cottage Hacheston IP13 0DB (send SAE and a cheque payable to Gippeswyk Singers) or on the door.

We would love to hear from new players, young and old, with or without experience. Our aim is to encourage anyone who feels they would like to play in a brass band to have a go! If you would like to join us, or if you already play or have previously played a brass instrument and would like to come along and meet us, please email join@martleshambrass.co.uk or use the contact details below.

Publicity Officer Liz Howard e_m_howard@talk21.com / 01473 625617 www.martleshambrass.co.uk

The staff and trustees at Kesgrave Community and Conference Centre would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

A New Year, A New You! There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to exercising, but walking, climbing stairs and armchair-exercises, such as lifting yourself out of a chair several times, or just daily chores such as gardening are a great way to stay active.

We have a full range of activities to suit people of all ages and abilities from weekly bite-size core strength fitness sessions to the popular active adult classes and yoga. It’s never too late to get active!

Active Adults Monday from 9-11am and Friday from 9.30-11.30am, designed to improve health and well-being. Participate in a one hour low-level instructor-led session of physical activity, with an opportunity to socialise before and afterwards. Just £3 per session including tea and coffee.

Please take a look at our sessions and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can help us to improve our offer by calling 01473 612648.

EVENTS IN 2020 Monthly Networking: Second Tuesday of the month Pop-Up Chinwag Kesgrave: Free monthly social friendship group for people aged 65 and over organised and hosted by Age UK Suffolk. Third Friday of the month from 2-4pm with afternoon tea and entertainment provided.

Also quiz and curry evenings, school holiday activities, Jess Fest, fashion shows, Christmas shopping evening and Christmas party nights. Please visit our website for more events and regular updates.

If you need further information about KWMCC activities and events, or wish to book a function room, please contact the centre on 01473 612648. www.kwmcc.co.uk

EAST SUFFOLK NATIONAL TRUST ASSOCIATION If you are a member of, or a volunteer for, the National Trust, we invite you to get more out of your membership by joining our association where a warm welcome awaits you.

Our next meeting is on January 21 when Chris Parfitt will be giving an illustrated talk on Hidden Bhutan, focusing on the eastern area and the less visited valleys. Chris has travelled extensively around the world and has built up a collection of interesting and informative talks. This promises to be no exception, especially as this area is one of his favourites.

On February 18 Brian Dyes, a founder member and past chairman of Ipswich Transport Museum, will be giving a talk about the museum.

We meet at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre IP5 1JF at 7.15pm.

Visitors (even if not National Trust members) are welcome; the entrance fee is £3. National Trust members and volunteers can join us for £8 per year (£12 per couple at same address). We publish three newsletters a year for members and enjoy interesting day outings and other events.

For more information, including details of future events and outings, contact our membership secretary: membershipesnta@gmail.com / 01473 723761

SPRINGFIELD FOLLIES PANTO MOTHER GOOSE Follies will be performing Mother Goose at Kesgrave Community Centre on Saturday 25 January at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, on Friday 31 January at 7.30pm and on Saturday 1 February at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets – adults £8, children £5, family (2A, 3C, free programme) £28 – are available on 07780 344247 / www.springfieldfollies.org, from the 2nd Stop Charity Shop on Ropes Drive or on the door if not sold out.

For group discounts please phone the hotline number.

A fun filled show for all ages.

Come along and support us in our 72nd year and help us raise money for local charities.

www.membershipesnta.btck.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING Join us ar St John’s URC Hall, Cowper Street, Ipswich on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 8pm. For more information contact: Helen at howefamily96@yahoo.co.uk / 01473 717979 John at johnaadams1942@gmail.com / 01473 710406

MARTLESHAM HISTORY SOCIETY Monday 10 February: The Treasure of Ipswich by John Field Did you know that Ipswich is full of architectural treasures of historical importance? If not, come along and find out about the town’s mediaeval churches, mansions and halls, its important legacy of Victorian buildings, nationally and locally listed buildings and the many features and artefacts of local, national (and even some of international) importance.

MARTLESHAM HEATH AVIATION SOCIETY Friday 3 January: Great Days of Martlesham Heath Flying

by Tom Tyler Friday 7 February: Air and Water – The Story of the MAEE (Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment)

by Chris Turland We meet from 7.30-10pm at Martlesham Heath Community Centre on Felixstowe Road. Entry is £3 for members and £4 for non-members; pay on arrival.

01473 274300 / www.mhas.org.uk

Meetings are held in Martlesham Heath Pavilion and start at 7.30pm.

Admission is £2.50 and meetings are open to all.

SPEAK EASY AT MARTLESHAM Speak Easy at Martlesham celebrated its 15 anniversary in December.

The club was founded fifteen years ago by Teresa Dukes and Jeff Bartrop and quickly attracted enough members to be chartered with Toastmasters’ International, a global speakers’ club organisation founded over 90 years ago.

Several of those original members, including Teresa, are still members today. th

If you are 18 years or over and would like to improve your confidence, public speaking or leadership skills, why not come along to Speak Easy at Martlesham Speakers’ Club yourself? Each meeting provides opportunities for members to take on roles and give short speeches, as well as be informed, challenged, entertained and inspired by the wide variety of subjects you will hear about in members’ speeches – all within a friendly and supportive atmosphere.

Meetings are held on alternate Thursdays, 7.15-9.30pm at The Richards Room, Martlesham Community Hall, Felixstowe Road IP12 4PB (behind Tesco). The next meetings are on January 9 and 23, February 6 and 20 and March 5 and 19, and subsequent dates fortnightly. Guests are always welcome to attend; we look forward to seeing you.

If you would like further information please contact Margaret Stanway: 07979 373934 / president@speak-easy.org.uk www.speak-easy.org.uk Facebook: @SpeakEasyMartlesham

THAT AFTER-CHRISTMAS FEELING Are you feeling jaded, stuffed full of too much turkey, tofu or toffee?

Spent all your pennies? Come and have a friendly chat and an uplifting cuppa, browse our lovely edibles and wearables and givables and admire our Country Marketeers’ talented products. Artisan cakes and baked goodies; cookies and sweet treats; savouries, deserts and mains are all available and, even better, they can be commissioned to suit your dietary preferences. What a great idea to get over that “what shall we give the guests?” nagging question at the back of your mind when you have too much to do and the relatives, neighbours or book club members are coming this evening and the freezer is empty and you’ve no time to get to the shops. Oh, and auntie’s birthday is coming up – get a card and a pleasing pressie – there’s lots of choice! Just ask: we can do it.

Now it’s 2020 and time for keeping those well-intentioned resolutions.

Why not resolve to support local businesses and suppliers in the new year? You’ll help save food miles and keep the local economy alive and thriving – every £1 spent with local businesses means that an extra 70p recirculates at home instead of being siphoned off to far-away big business headquarters and their shareholders. Whatever your politics, that’s got to be a good thing?

Make your commission, place your orders and stock up every Tuesday from 9.15-11am at Martlesham Heath Pavilion. We resume normal service on January 7.

We hope all our customers have enjoyed a warm and convivial festive season and look forward to meeting you again in the new year. Thank you for your support in 2019. Come and say hello again!

FRIENDS ON FRIDAY St Michael’s and All Angels Church, The Drift, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL Every Friday from 10am to noon We are a friendly community group who enjoy coming together to share in chat, puzzles, table games and table tennis and snooker.

Everyone is welcome even if it’s just for a refreshments and a chat.

IPSWICH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL TRANSPORT SOCIETY Wednesday 29 January: Through the Eye of the Camera – First World War Photography, an illustrated talk by Vicky Gunnell We meet at 7.30pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich; entrance via the rear car park, visitors £3.50, members £1.50 including refreshments.

01473 422145 / www.idhts.co.uk

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OUT & ABOUT SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Thursday 23 January: Red Sails on the Orwell – The R.W. Paul Story From 1806 to the late 1970s, R.W. Paul had a huge presence in Ipswich with pubs, maltings and large barges on the Orwell.

They helped shape today’s docks. The fascinating tale is presented by a master storyteller.

We meet at 7.15pm at the Co-op Education Centre where the pedestrian entrance is at 11 Fore Street, Ipswich IP4 1JW, and the car park entrance is in Waterworks Street IP4 1JG. Admission is £2 for society members and £2.50 for non-members, who are warmly welcomed. You can join the society at the meeting if you wish. Tickets are not required, just turn up and pay on the door.

For more information contact Howard on 01473 274300 or visit: www.suffolkfhs.org.uk

ORWELL PROBUS CLUB We meet for lunch at Ipswich Sports Club on Henley Road on the second Thursday of each month, usually followed by an entertaining speaker.

Probus clubs provide an opportunity for active retired or semi-retired gentlemen to attend regular meetings and enjoy the camaraderie of likeminded people who appreciate similar interests. We have social events, outings and holidays which, of course, include spouses, partners and friends.

If you think Orwell Probus Club could be for you, please contact our secretary, Chris Flint, for further details: 01473 226996 / mailto@1878.me.uk

MARTLESHAM LADIES CLUB We wish a happy and healthy New Year to all our members.

Our first meeting of 2020 will be on January 16 when we are having a return visit from Eric Punaks. This promises to be another entertaining evening with more comic verse and songs.

Helen Fairweather will talk about the work of Headway on January 30.

Headway a Suffolk group which gives support to those suffering from head injuries or dementia.

Make a New Year resolution to join us and enjoy interesting evenings in friendly company. Meetings are held on alternate Thursday evenings at 7.15pm in the Richards Room.

To find out more ring Doreen Boar: 01473 622768

KESGRAVE CO-OP WOMEN’S GUILD Our speaker on 12 November was Claire Mucklestone from Bourne Garden Centre. She bought a huge selection of plants to show how it’s possible to have a beautiful garden throughout the winter with evergreen shrubs, trailing pansies in baskets and hardy herbaceous plants in containers. Pruning was explained and Claire was horrified by the wild ‘cutting back’ by some of our members. Claire’s talks are great fun and very informative.

On 26 November four scouts (Federico, Bella, Daniel and Jude) from Kesgrave gave a wonderfully illustrated talk on their trip to the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, USA. They were selected in 2017 and had to organise fundraising activities to pay for their trip. The Guild had been able to donate £500 to them. They flew to New York and spent time sightseeing before going on to the huge jamboree site where 45,000 scouts from 150 countries were able to choose from nearly 50 activities, such as whitewater rafting, zip lining, rock climbing, skateboarding and mountain biking. They met and made lasting friendships with many of the foreign scouts, swapping shirts, bags and badges to keep as mementos of their adventures.

U3A’S JANUARY PROGRAMME

We will be holding our Christmas lunch at Hintlesham Hall Golf Club on Friday 6 December and our Christmas meeting on Tuesday 10 December with the Phoenix Bell Ringers.

There’s something to suit all tastes – history, hauntings, sports and science – in U3A East Suffolk’s programme for the New Year.

Details of the 2020 programme were shared and Barbara Noble was thanked for organising such a brilliant selection of speakers and activities.

U3A is aimed at older people who want to get as much as possible out of life.

There are no entry qualifications, no barriers to joining and lots of activities to get involved in and to contribute to.

Tuesday 7 January: The first meeting of the new year will be a social evening playing Bag Beetle. Please bring a bag with two items costing approximately £1 with you.

If you are interested, please come along and find out what U3A can offer.

Tuesday 21 January: AGM and a talk by Steve and Karen Wilkes from Silver Lining Estate Planning, formed in 2004 because they felt the legal profession didn’t take wills seriously, with many consumers getting poor service and little value for money. Steve will talk about wills and estate planning.

Thursday 2 January 10.30am-12.30pm at Felixstowe Salvation Army Hall Televising the Olympics by David Burrowes; how the Olympic organisation gets live TV and radio to 200 countries for three weeks continuously.

Thursday 9 January, 2-4pm at Saxmundham Market Hall A Royal Progress by Hexachordia; an account of Elizabeth I’s 11-week visit to East Anglia in 1578 using a range of contemporary and secondary sources.

Monday 20 January, 10.30am-12.30pm at Woodbridge Football Club Forensic Science and Firearms – In Search of the Smoking Gun by Brian Heard Monday 27 January, 2-4pm at Kesgrave Community Centre Suffolk Ghosts and Hauntings by Robert Halliday; a stimulating selection of ghost stories, haunted houses and frightening apparitions.

U3A promises a warm welcome to existing and potential members.

For membership details visit: www.a3aeastsuffolk.org.uk Occasionally U3A may have to make last minute changes so please see the website for up to date information.

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Tuesday 4 February: Easter Island by Stephen Hope. After university Stephen worked for Pinewood Studios. He has worked as a journalist for BBC and ITV and now works for BT at Martlesham. His talk this evening is about Easter Island, an island in the south eastern Pacific Ocean which is most famous for its nearly 1,000 large statues.

We welcome new members who can visit for two meetings before joining.

The annual membership is £15 and we charge £2.50 per meeting to include refreshments and raffle tickets. Meetings start at 7.30pm in Kesgrave Community Centre.

For more information contact Gloria Everett: 01473 614991 The 2020 programme can now be found at: www.kesgravecoopwomensguild.onesuffolk.net

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OUT & ABOUT

BROKE HALL WI Friday 10 January: Call the Midwife by Jane Lane Friday 14 February: The Amazing Story of a Suffolk Gypsy by Pip Wright Friday 13 March: Pearly Kings and Queens by Gerry Baxter We meet at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) on the second Friday of the month at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich IP3 8TH. For more information contact Sue (01473 414746) or Cynthia (01473 726068).

IPSWICH & DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY Our last meeting of 2019 was held on Wednesday 4 December. The meeting featured a local dealer, Sarah Brooks, who brought along a vast amount of her stock for us to peruse and purchase.

With enough entries to start a bookshop, our Book Titles competition was very popular with 73 entries. Local judge Mike Cowling ARPS worked quickly and confidently through the images, selecting six with a top score of 20/20.

He was torn between two images, both by Sue Garrod, finally deciding on Arachnophobia (below left) as first place and Alice through the Looking Glass (below centre) as a runner-up. Her husband Robin left once again as another runner-up with Great Expectations, along with Gathering Prey by Ann Stammers, The House on the Loch (below right) by Julie Caton and The Shape of Water by Richard Brown.

Our next meeting at the Quay Church in Woodbridge is at 7.30pm on January 21 and will feature an illustrated talk, Give a Child a Camera, by Norfolk photographer Julian Claxton. Members will be donating cameras to help with the charity’s work in Africa.

Our January meeting will be held at Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre on 15 January from 1-5pm. Society member and local dealer Roger Swindells will be available with his stock for you to add to your collections and a static display from one of his own collections. Refreshments will be available, so why not come and join us?

Information can be found online or by contacting our secretary, Mike Smith: 01473 403904 / michaelsmith1949@gmail.com www.ipswichphilatelic.uk

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE The Memory Café goes from strength to strength. Our club provides the refreshments for this monthly event, run jointly by the two Rotary clubs in Woodbridge. The October meeting was the busiest yet with 60 people attending. They were entertained by Peter from Woodbridge Museum who brought along some memorabilia. In November we were entertained by a ukulele band. There was singing and even some dancing. It’s wonderful to see everyone having a good time.

If you are interested in the Memory Café for people with all forms of dementia (and their carers), we meet at Woodbridge Town Football Club on the last Wednesday of every month. For more information, please contact Martin on 01394 386933.

Of course (at the time of writing) Christmas is almost upon us and it’s time to enjoy all that Christmas brings. Members of the club and friends will be enjoying a Christmas lunch together, and trying not to worry too much about those extra calories. That can be taken care of by our New Year’s resolutions!

We are also planning a visit to Stowmarket Christmas Tree Festival.

The next big thing on the horizon is our annual charity quiz on Friday 28 February in Woodbridge Community Hall. Proceeds will go to The Eve Appeal and Over the Rainbow. We will welcome teams of four to six at £6 per person. This will be our eighteenth quiz and to date it has raised in excess of £15,000 for local charities. To reserve your table, please contact Deirdre on 07711 103610.

KESGRAVE CANASTA CLUB Meets at the Royal British Legion Hall on Ropes Drive at 7.30pm and welcomes new players.

This month we meet on Wednesday 15 and the dates for 2020 are: Wednesdays 19 February, 18 March, 15 April, 20 May, 17 June, 15 July, 19 August, 16 September, 21 October, 18 November and 16 December.

For more information contact Barbara Rose: 01473 622017

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP Thanks to all those volunteers who arrived for a very pleasant autumn morning of clearing the southern Bronze Age burial mound. We’ve made great progress, but more work needs to be done (as I suspect there always will be!).

Now is the time to check your bird boxes to make sure that they are in good repair and to clear out the old nests.

Although the birds won’t be nesting until the spring, the boxes will offer a cosy place for birds to shelter and roost on the cold winter days and nights.

We will be returning to the woods after celebrating 20 years of the group. Why not celebrate with us by coming along and taking action in the community? If only for an hour, it will be greatly appreciated by the users of the woodlands, human or otherwise.

It just remains for me to say Happy New Year and here’s to the next 20 years!

DATES FOR THE DIARY Volunteer Work Morning (all ages) Saturday 18 January, 10am-noon Meet at the Education Area Tools, training and light refreshments provided All welcome – no need to book Nature Explorers (ages 11-18) Saturday 18 January, 9-11am Please book a place via our email address below.

New volunteers of all ages and abilities are always welcome. No experience needed. For further information, please contact us at pwcg.martlesham@gmail.com / 01473 612632, visit our website or join our members’ Facebook group by messaging Duncan Sweeting.

Nature Explorer and Young George Pennick www.pwcg.onesuffolk.net

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OUT & ABOUT IPSWICH TRANSPORT SOCIETY

KESGRAVE LIBRARY

Monday 20 January: Grey’s Coaches from Ely – 70+ years of Service, from the Beginning by Richard Grey

Happy New Year to all our customers. Thank you for all your support during 2019. We look forward to seeing you in 2020.

Monday 17 February: Annual General Meeting followed A 1982 Summer in New York (Shipping) by Ron Davies

Sunday Crafts (10am-noon) in January

Monday 16 March: Bahamas Locomotive Society – The Story So Far by John Hillier

Sunday 5: It’s Jumpstart January in all the libraries this month. Create your own wellbeing bird and draw on its feathers what makes you happy.

Sunday 12: It’s wintertime. Create a snowman picture to brighten up your room.

Monday 20 April: City of Norwich Aviation Museum – The Collection & the Story by Trevor Eady

Sunday 19: Yesterday was Winnie the Pooh Day. Pop along and make your own Winnie the Pooh to celebrate.

All meetings take place at Greenfinch Church Hall, Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich at 7.30pm. Refreshments available.

Sunday 26: Design a lion mask. How loud can you roar?

Activities are free. Parents must stay with under eights. There’s no need to book – just turn up and have a go.

Free Wordplay Sessions – every Thursday Tot Rock: 9.45-10.15am / BabyBounce: 10.30-11am Free Story Time Sessions – every Friday 9.45-10.15am (term time only) This session combines stories and rhymes. All welcome. Why not pop along?

OTHER LIBRARY EVENTS FOR JANUARY Lego Club: Every Tuesday afternoon in term time from 3.45-4.45pm. Parents must stay with under eights. The themes this month are Monsters, Snowmen, Winnie the Pooh and Friends and What Makes you Happy. No need to book.

Just pop along! This is a free activity.

Season’s greetings to you all and very best wishes for 2020.

January is the coldest and quietest month on the allotment with very little to do except check the plot is tidy and ready for the year ahead, and check any winter vegetables to make sure they’re not rotten. Fleece and cloches are very helpful protection for over-winter vegetables but do allow air and good ventilation too.

You can still harvest sprouts, cabbage, leeks and parsnips and towards the end of the month sow onions, lettuce, peas, broad beans, radishes and early carrots under cover.

You can force rhubarb at the end of the month by digging up roots and leaving them out in the frost for a few days before planting. Cover them with a bucket or pot and you may be enjoying fresh crumble in February!

Our Annual General Meeting is on January 29 at Cedarwood Primary School, Grange Farm at 7.30pm. Do pop along if you’re interested in finding out about us and taking on a plot in the future. We have three plots becoming available in the new year.

Alternatively, please contact our membership secretary, Angela Brown: 01473 612283 / membership@kesgrave-allotments.org.uk Sally Peckham

Knit and Natter: Wednesdays 8 & 22, 2.30pm. Just £1 with tea and coffee provided. Welcome to all new members.

Afternoon Book Group: Thursday 2, 2.45pm. Currently reading Secrets of the Homefront Girls by Kate Thompson.

Evening Book Group: Thursday 23, 7pm. Currently reading Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh.

Evening Book Group: Love reading but always read the same authors and genres? Why not try something different in the new year? We currently have spaces in our evening book group which meets on one Thursday evening a month at 7pm to discuss their current read and chose a new book for the next month. If you are interested, please contact the library.

Jump Start January: All through this month, the library will have a wellbeing and mindfulness display, a jigsaw to complete while in the library and colouring for customers to take part in.

Sutton Hoo Road Show: We are also hoping that Sutton Hoo will be coming along to the library during January. They will be bringing along some of their amazing artefacts for customers to view. Please look out for posters, as the date still needs to be confirmed.

Congratulations to Kesgrave Library Congratulations to Kesgrave Library Community Group (KLCG) on winning the Volunteer Team Award 2019 presented by Suffolk Libraries at a special People’s Champions award ceremony. The award was given ‘for the exceptional contribution to the range of services and activities provided by the library, making a significant impact on the local community’.

And the winner of the Innovation Award is Gemma Southwood, a parent at the kibrary and a member of KLCG who as a busy mum conceived of the idea of a Reading Challenge for grown-ups to coincide with the Summer Reading Challenge 2019. Aims included making time for oneself as well as being a good role model for children; a clever, simple and successful idea.

Maggie Lusher, Kesgrave Library Manager, Kinsey House, Kays Close, Kesgrave Tel: 01473 626103 www.suffolklibraries.co.uk NORMAL OPENING TIMES Monday: 9am-noon / Tuesday: 9am-noon, 2.30-5pm Wednesday: 2.30-6pm / Thursday: 2.30-8pm / Friday: 9am-noon & 2.30-6pm Saturday: 10am-5pm / Sunday: 10am-3pm

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OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS SUFFOLK INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY

CEDARWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Wednesday 8 January The Trinity House (Lighthouse) Story by Capt Karl Lumbers Wednesday 12 February Colchester Tramways by Peter Jones All meetings take place at Ipswich Transport Museum, Cobham Road, Ipswich, starting at 7.30pm.

IPSWICH RSPB LOCAL GROUP Our 2020 indoor meetings begin in January with a talk about Rural & Wildlife Crime with Lee Andrews-Pearce, a Suffolk Police Rural and Wildlife Crime Officer. This is followed in February with Liz Huxley, a wildlife photographer, sharing her Suffolk Diary.

Indoor meetings take place at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in Rushmere St Andrews Church Hall, The Street, Rushmere IP5 1DH. You don’t need to be a member of either the national organisation or the local group. The attendance fee, which includes refreshments, is £5 for nonmembers and £2.50/£2.30 for members of the local group. Under-18s (who must be accompanied) are free.

Walks, which are free, continue with Manningtree and Mistley, a visit to Shotley, and Holywells and Chantry Parks. Walks are expertly led and there is always someone willing to help those less experienced with bird identification. For details of all walks including dates, times, meeting places (we always use map references for these to avoid confusion) and suitable clothing, contact us in any of the ways set out below.

01394 809236 / www.rspb.org.uk/groups/ipswich Twitter: @IpswichRSPB / Facebook: RSPB Ipswich Local Group

Foundation Admissions September 2020 We have an open evening on Wednesday 8 January at 7pm for prospective parents who would like to come and meet our staff, find out about our fantastic induction arrangements and have a tour of the school. The closing date for parents to apply for their child’s Suffolk County Council primary school place is January 15. Catchment is only one criteria considered in the admissions process and we have a number of children in our school who come from outside of Kesgrave. There’s no need to book, just pop along to see us.

If you would like to see our school in action through the day, please contact the office on 01473 612981 to arrange a tour of the school at a time convenient to you.

Headteachers Tina Shute & Doug Stroud Facebook / Twitter / www.cedarwood.eschools.co.uk

SPRING TERM AT BRIGHT STARS Fun activity sessions for pre-school aged children with parents, grandparents, friends, family and/or carers on the second and fourth Monday of each month during term times from 10.30am-noon at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath IP5 3PL. Sessions are free and usually based on a theme. They normally include singing, games, crafts and Bible stories. After each session we have refreshments, when the adults can chat and the children can play until approximately noon.

The spring season dates are 13 and 27 January, 10 and 24 February, 9 and 23 March. Just turn up, there’s no need to let us know in advance.

For further information please contact Sonya and Maureen Burrows: 01473 625196

GORSELAND PRIMARY SCHOOL AN AMAZING TERM AT HEATH SCHOOL This term, with the help of our outdoor learning assistants, every class in the school managed to spend time exploring the wide range of habitats we have in our wildlife area. This included pond dipping and mini-beast hunting.

Reception and KS1 have also had great fun enjoying weekly sessions in our forest area, no matter what the weather tried to throw at them!

Elsewhere in the school, we welcomed Circus Ferrel and we all had great fun learning circus skills in the Big Top! Year 3 enjoyed an entertaining visit from a caveman as part of their Stone Age topic, while Year 4 had a great time exploring the newly revamped resources at Sutton Hoo. Year 5 had a fantastic experience when they visited the Regent theatre to watch the Horrible Histories show, and Year 6 had an amazing time visiting the Harry Potter studios in London. It has been a wonderfully busy term, and as we prepare for our end of term festivities and our nativity performances, we are all looking forward to what will undoubtedly be an equally exciting spring term.

Is your child due to start reception in September 2020?

If you have children who were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016, and you would like to find out more about what Heath has to offer, we are offering individual guided tours of the school with one of our headteachers at a time that is convenient to you. Everyone is welcome, including families living outside our catchment area. Just contact the school office on 01473 622806 to make an appointment.

Our website is a great source of information for prospective parents/carers: www.heathprimary.co.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.com/kesgrave

Is your child due to start primary school in September 2020? We would love to see you at our open morning on Tuesday 7 January at 9.30am. School applications should be via the Suffolk County Council website by Wednesday 15 January.

HEDGEHOG NURSERY AT GORSELAND PRIMARY Hedgehog Nursery had a great end of term Christmas celebration with our Wriggly Nativity, which had everyone wriggling in their seats!

The new year has brought some new friends to join us. We have been getting to know each other and playing lots of friendship games to help the new Hoglets feel welcome as they make new friends. We are looking forward to thinking about our wishes for ourselves and for our families, all secretly wishing for lots of lovely snow to explore and investigate!

Our Secret Reader starts this term when we invite a parent of one of the children to come and share a story, but the twist is that we keep it a secret!

The excitement and build up to our story time adds to our enthusiasm for these sessions.

If you are curious about what we do and would like to come to see us in action, please contact the school office on 01473 623790 and you will be warmly welcomed!

Nursery Lead Teacher Mrs T Haig Hedgehog Nursery is open from 8.30am-3.15pm Monday to Friday for three and four year olds. In addition, we offer wrap-around care from 7.30am6pm every week day. If you would like more information, please visit www. gorseland.net or contact the school office.

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SPORT / CHURCH NEWS KESGRAVE & ASSOCIATED KARATE CLUBS 2019 was certainly an amazing year for the club. Lots of new students, lots of new belts being worn after successful gradings, lots of medals and trophies being won by our competition squad, visit to a fire station, race nights, presentation evenings, trips overseas and squad members being selected for England!

One of our own, Ruby Hunt, fought her way to fifth in the world, proving that she belongs at the top table in her sport and as part of the national team. Thursday 24 October 2019 was the day she made the world stand up and take notice in Chile. Ruby then went on to win Young Sports Personality of the Year 2019 at the Suffolk Sports Awards. Well done Ruby – huge accomplishments.

Thank you so much to all of our club members and wonderful sponsors for all of your support in 2019. We couldn’t have achieved all that we have without you all. Now onwards and upwards for 2020!

If you’ve resolved to get fit this year why not give karate a go? We are a family friendly karate club and welcome new members. Karate is a great way to make new friends and there are always rewarding opportunities available. Regular practise has continual benefits, both physically and mentally. It increases fitness and stamina, strength and tone, flexibility, balance, self-confidence, self-control, mental awareness and co-ordination. We offer a free trial lesson, so you’ve got no excuse not to give it a go.

For details of the various classes we hold for adults and children in Kesgrave and Ipswich, as well as other locations in Suffolk, please visit: www.northgate-karate.co.uk

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East Minnie Louise Haskin At the beginning of each new year it’s good to remind ourselves that God will lead us, whatever our circumstances may be. 2019 was a busy year for us in lots of ways. We completed our Alpha Course which was well-attended once again, our usual activities continued and the Children’s Holiday Club was wellattended and enjoyed by all. We collected more than 100 shoeboxes which will go to children in Romania under the charity Cry in the Dark. On Sunday 26 January we shall celebrate our church anniversary and the speaker at the morning service will be Graeme Ross, our regional minister.

OUR USUAL SERVICES & EVENTS Sunday

10.45am & 6.30pm

Monday 6.15-7.30pm: FFaF Children’s Club for School Years 2-6

7.15pm: Spring for young teens Wednesday 2.30pm: Friendship Hour on the second Wednesday of each month 2pm: Rag Tag Club on the first Wednesday of each month To find out more please ring Myrna: 01473 728361 7pm: Art & Craft Group Thursday

12.30pm: Luncheon Club (every week)

Friday

9.15am: Rushmere Ducklings for Babies & Tots (every week)

Saturday

10.30am-noon: Meeting Point Coffee Morning on the fourth Saturday

Minister: The Rev Heather Marsden / Secretary: Mrs Jean Cutting Church Number: 01473 721455 / www.rushmerebaptist.org.uk / Facebook

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BIXLEY FARM CHURCH AT TOWER HALL December was a busy month for us at Bixley Farm Church. In addition to our usual Sunday@4 Services we did one evening of carolling in the street, followed by the big community sing-along, Carols on the Green, in front of Broke Hall shops. The Woodbridge Excelsior Band and St Augustine’s Puppet Team were simply fantastic and many stayed back for the seasonal refreshments afterwards. We also had our carol and nativity services, with many families joining us for both. The children enjoyed dressing up and everyone enjoyed the singing and worship, followed by the mince pies and mulled wine.

Little Lambs, our parent and toddler group, will resume on Friday 10 January at 9.15am at Tower Hall. Homegroups and prayer meetings will also resume in early January and our first Sunday@4 Service will be on January 5 at 4pm in Tower Hall. This year all three churches in MIE are going to read through the whole Bible as a challenge.

The end of one year can sometime seem rather gloomy just as the start of the new tends to make us feel positive; full of resolve that the new year will be different. But will it? Can we be honest with ourselves and admit the possibility that 2020 might be no different to 2019 as far as our personal circumstances are concerned? And that despite our best efforts we find we are stuck in a treadmill of old habits and fears. Join us in reading the Bible and discover its ability to breathe new life into tired hearts and minds.

Whatever your circumstances, we hope you had a Happy Christmas and wish you and your family a Happy New Year in 2020. www.mie.org/bixley / office@mie.org.uk / 01473 270978

DID YOU HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS? How many times will we hear this question over the next month when meeting up again with family, friends and colleagues after the Christmas festivities?

But how do you define ‘good’? Lots of parties, presents, time off work, being with family and friends, eating too much? Christmas is a Christian feast and so is about God and the birth of His Son Jesus.

So we could ask instead: ‘Did you have a God Christmas?’ When we have used all the bath bombs and drank the whisky we received as presents, forgotten about tinsel and turkey, the parties and arguments about what to watch on TV, what are we left with? We are left with the Christmas story of Jesus. This is what we are left with, this is what we take with us into the New Year – this is the real gift of Christmas... the love of God. Among the festivities remembering His birth at Christmas is good, but we need to follow up the story of His life and what He came into the world to say and do. Throughout the year there are church services, feasts and festivals based on Jesus’ life, so how about putting those dates in your new diary and joining us to hear about why He came to live among us?

I wish you love and joy throughout this coming year, Reverend Sue Foster, Vicar of Rushmere St Andrew

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