In Touch with Shotley - February 17

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with Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone Volume 7 • Issue No. 3 • FEBRUARY 2017

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A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

NEWS

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

FIVE-FIGURE BOOST FOR PIER PROJECT

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

The Co-op’s Power to Change Community Share Booster Programme is prepared to match every pound raised by the Shotley Heritage Charitable Community Benefit Society, known informally as Shotley Pier Group, up to £100,000, and have also awarded them a £5,000 development grant to help put together the share issue.

Kathleen’s death has inspired me to do a little research into my family tree.

I don’t plan to take it too seriously just yet, but just want to get the last couple of generations in place so I know who’s who. It has been fascinating.

My dad helped with his side of the family and we did quite well, though he knows very little of his American cousins and nothing of all about their families. Most of my mum’s family still live in Ireland so that side of the tree is a bit more complete.

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

Elizabeth is my second name.

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

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

In Touch

with Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Shotley, Stutton & Woolverstone In Touch with Shotley, Pin Mill & Woolverstone is published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP Editor: Sharon Jenkins Email: sharon@intouchnews.co.uk

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

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A community group’s bid to buy the 122-year-old Shotley Pier has been given a £105,000 boost.

Put simply it means every £25 community share (or multiples thereof) bought by an investor will be matched by the booster programme up to £100k.

The combined total of £200k would go a long way to achieving the group’s eventual target of £400k to buy, repair and renovate the Victorian pier opposite the Bristol Arms at Shotley Gate.

A community share issue prospective, priced at £25 per share, will be sent out early in the New Year. Meanwhile people interested in owning part of the pier can make a pledge by going online at www.shotleypier.co.uk or by filling in a #PledgePier form which are in the Shipwreck, Shotley Sailing Club, Bristol Arms, The Rose, Manish’s Post Office and Stores, Lasan, Corner Garage and other places on the peninsula.

Considerable interest has already been shown in acquiring the pier from current owner East Anglian Properties and the project is being supported

by Babergh District Councillor Derek Davis, who is a founder member, while the district council’s community team has been instrumental in securing funding.

The match shares will be held by Co-operatives UK, a partner in the Community Shares Unit, and will be subject to the same terms and conditions as other Shotley Heritage members, except for its right to withdraw share capital, which will be restricted to a pro-rata amount.

Originally built by the Marquis of Bristol as a home for the ferry between Shotley with Harwich, and to help postal deliveries between Essex and Suffolk, the pier has been used to ferry munitions and take on sailors from the original HMS Ganges training ship.

Plans for the future use of the pier include kiosks on the shore side, fishing opportunities at the far end and a walkway along the pier which will be restored in a Victorian style, looking out over fabulous views up and down the River Stour.

Interest has already been shown with pledges of more than £30,000 already given, with the booster fund making it more than £60,000.

For more information email shotleypier@gmail.co.uk or call Sally (780052) or Derek (787375).

HMS GANGES Thousands of people from all across the world visited HMS Ganges Museum last year and we are expecting another record breaking year ahead.

Many of the volunteers who man the museum each weekend from Easter until the end of October are ex-Ganges boys, but we are also delighted to have civilians on board helping out too, especially the crew living on the peninsula.

We are holding a training/open day for volunteers old and new on Saturday, March 18 at the museum. Our AGM will be held at Shotley Sailing Club on Saturday, April 8, and the museum opens officially to the public on Good Friday, April 14.

If you would like to join our happy band of volunteers, please get in touch with Derek: chairman@hmsgangesmuseum.com / 01473 787375

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NEWS 20 YEARS AFLOAT AND SAILING ON

HAVE YOU WORKED ON ORFORD NESS? It’s a strange place. Nobody lives there. It’s a place of contrasts.

It’s called an Island, but it’s not.

If you like wide-open views, our lovely Suffolk skies, nature’s silence, rare plants and wildlife – then you will love it. And if, while walking amongst iconic buildings located in this wonderful landscape, you can imagine the noise of bombs being dropped, of atomic bombs being vibrated or fired into a concrete wall at 150mph, and you can understand the huge commitment of local people to apply cutting-edge technology to improve the effectiveness of various military weapons used in our defense – then you will also love it. Nowhere else in the UK can you visit such laboratories, learn about the technology used, or hear about the people who worked there in such a unique environment. This place is Orford Ness.

Opened by National Trust as a National Nature Reserve in 1995, Orford Ness has been the site of military testing and development from the beginning of the 20th century, initially with the development of the aircraft as a military weapon, until 1973 when Cobra Mist, an ‘over the horizon’ Radar system used to detect distant military activities in the Cold War, was shut down.In between those dates, Orford Ness became Watson-Watt’s base for the early development of radar (before he moved his experiments to Bawdsey). Much work was done on improving the accuracy of conventional bombing (working with Martlesham-based flight-crews) and improvements in the aerodynamics of Blue Danube (Britain’s first atomic bomb) took place there.

After this research work stopped, bomb disposal engineers spent more than 15 years clearing the Island of unexploded ordinance, including destroying the Bloodhound missile rockets formerly located at Bawdsey.

Working in such an exposed environment could be lovely in the summer, but brutal when travelling between test sites in the bitter winter winds.

In 1963 the River Ore was so frozen that the landing craft used to carry staff to the Island could not do so.

In the race to protect the UK from known and significant enemies, none of this testing and development would have taken place without access to a highly skilled and dedicated workforce: they created and used the innovative methods and engineering facilities for this purpose.

We are looking to meet people who worked for the military or for one of the scientific agencies and companies involved, and also those who built, equipped or maintained the various test labs and many other buildings located on ‘The Island’. Were you – or do you know someone who was – involved in this highly secret and complex work?

Please contact us if so, because we at National Trust have created an audio archive of the work experiences and memories of those who did.

We are keen to record their memories of such an important site in the UK’s military history before they are lost forever.

Lead Ranger David Mason 01394 450900 / david.mason@nationaltrust.org.uk

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This year the East Anglian Sailing Trust (EAST) will celebrate 20 years of providing sailing opportunities on the River Orwell for disabled East Anglians and their carers. To deliver those opportunities, EAST owns and maintains a fleet of keelboats and two support boats. Last season, the EAST keelboats took to the water in more than 100 sessions, more than in any previous season. And this coming 21st season looks likely to be just as busy as the demand continues to grow.

EAST also provides two weekend cruises and a week-long cruise where visually impaired sailors from all over the country live aboard a yacht and get a hands-on sailing experience with convivial, communal social evenings. The yachts are privately owned and this cruising in company programme depends entirely on the generosity of their owner/skippers.

The joy that this brings to our ‘customers’ is clear from the feedback.

Here are just a couple of examples.

“You know how much we appreciate you and your marvellous team of volunteers, however I just have to thank you all once again for being so accommodating and delivering another fantastic session. Do not underestimate the difference you all made to those families yesterday. The families were absolutely buzzing afterwards and want to continue to access your services.”

Email from St Elizabeth Hospice “I am registered blind and was given the opportunity last Friday, May 20 to go for a taster sail with EAST. I love sailing, but for various reasons, have not done so for over 25 years. I was therefore delighted to have been given this opportunity and cannot thank your charity enough for arranging the day. Ian and Barbara made us so welcome and let Katy and myself steer the yacht the whole time it was under sail. I cannot thank them enough for their hospitality, for sharing their knowledge and for all the fun we shared together.

It was truly a wonderful day and the weather was on our side too.

“Although I’m visually impaired and have a brain tumour, I also do lots of voluntary work and care for my 90-year-old father, so it was marvellous to have a day to myself and go sailing with such a friendly group of people. I hope I can come again sometime in the future.”

Email from Graham Thompson EAST relies totally on its volunteers both on and off the water (nobody gets paid). There’s not much sailing right now in the depths of winter, but there is still plenty of maintenance work to be done getting ready for the start of the new season. If you can sail or would like to learn, have a yacht or can help with admin, catering or maintenance and want to take part in this rewarding work, please get in touch.

The East Anglian Sailing Trust is based at EAST Waterside Community Centre at Suffolk Yacht Harbour in Levington and it is a Royal Yachting Association (Sailability) Centre of Excellence.

Contact EAST via www.east-anglian-sailing-trust.org.uk or phone 0333 088 3278.

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NEWS SHOTLEY PENINSULA GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEMES A HELPING HAND WHEN NEEDED The Shotley Peninsula Good Neighbour Schemes are an important support network in our villages. They are run by volunteers under the umbrella of Community Action Suffolk. They can be contacted for assistance over a range of activities, including shopping, pet care, trips to hospitals and surgeries and collecting prescriptions.

We are supported by parish councils and voluntary donations.

All volunteers have been DBS and reference checked and are simply people in the community who don’t mind being asked for a helping hand. The contact phone is held by a rota of volunteers who ask volunteers in turn if they are free to help with a particular task.

It is for all to use – all of us at some point are glad to be able to call on a neighbour for help.

Please contact the Good Neighbour Scheme for your village: Chelmondiston and Pin Mill: 780408 Harkstead and Lower Holbrook: 328326 Shotley and Erwarton: 07799 873881 Stutton Support Network: 327753 Tattingstone: 07895 052086

NEWS FROM HOLBROOK AND SHOTLEY SURGERY Training days Our next training afternoons will be on Thursday, February 9 and Thursday, March 23 when we will be shut from 1pm. Please ring 111 for advice if your query cannot wait until the following day. In an emergency, dial 999.

Peninsula Patient Network Our patient group has been active over the last few months and preparing to relaunch this year. They are holding an awareness week from February 20-24 so please pop in and meet our core representatives to see what they’ve been up to and how you can help.

OLD ENGLISH AND FOREIGN COINS AND NOTES If you have any tucked away in drawers and cupboards that you no longer require please donate them to the Shoreline Benefice so that they can be sold and the money will go into the Fill the Gap fund for the benefice.

I can collect so please give me a call: 01473 780084 Shirley

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR DEREK DAVIS – BERNERS WARD Shotley, Erwarton, Chelmondiston, Woolverstone and Freston Losing a wheelie bin can be a pain, fly-tipping is anti-social – never mind illegal, rats coming into your house from allotments is extremely unpleasant… the breadth of issues Babergh deal with are wide, varied and sometimes complex.

Arguably though, the most contentious issue we deal with comes within planning. Many applications go through barely unnoticed, they are dealt with under delegated powers to highly trained officers under the watchful eye of qualified managers and legal beagles.

We need more housing to cater for a growing and ageing population; for youngsters who want to live on the peninsula, those looking to downsize or keen to move to one of the most desirable parts of the country.

However, there are times when something your neighbours would like to do, or which developers apply for, which has wider reaching implications and that is when you as a member of the public will want to react, comment or even get your ward member involved.

The first thing to do is comment online at: www.babergh.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning Or you can write to: Planning Department, Cork Lane, Hadleigh IP7 6SJ You can also contact your parish council so they are aware of your concerns, or support, for an application. Your PC will give their representation to Babergh but they do not decide on planning issues – that is done by the planning department under delegated powers or called to the planning committee where 14 district councillors will decide.

Some applications may go to committee for a variety of legal reasons, others can be called to committee by a ward member, but there have to be sound planning reasons for doing so.

If you would like to be contacted with small surveys or to answer questions on an occasional basis, please email peninsulapatientnetwork@gmail. com or drop your details into the practice.

These can include the controversial nature of the application, suspected loss of amenity, going against a local plan or core strategy or the National Planning Policy Framework.

Patient Feedback Thank you to all who completed feedback using the Friends and Family Test. We are delighted to report that out of 222 responses so far, 184 would be extremely likely and 21 would be likely to recommend our practice to friends and family. That’s over 92% positive feedback!

Shotley peninsula is covered by the green team at Babergh and you can contact them at: 01473 825748 / planninggreen@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Our aim is always to provide the best possible service that we can to our patients. However, we recognise that we can always improve and that occasionally we can get it wrong. If you do need to complain, please write to the practice manager at the surgery. All complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and independently. We will give a full written explanation, an apology and we will learn from any mistakes.

We will endeavour to continue with the same high standards in 2017.

Practice Manager Julia Smith

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Community funding One of the most pleasurable things we do at Babergh is helping various community groups achieve things. Our community team, lead in this area by Kate Lowe, offer tremendous support for people getting things done. This can come in the form of practical help and advice or pointing towards funding streams.

I’m sure you will have seen many projects getting off the ground recently and if you would like to get involved, or have an idea of your own, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If you have an issue you would like to discuss please get in touch: derek.davis@babergh.gov.uk / 01473 787375 / 07824 167196

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

of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle.

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

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

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NEWS HOLBROOK PARISH COUNCIL Key points from the December parish council meeting Reade Field Improvement Project Update Councillor Ambrose informed the meeting that an electrical inspection of the pavilion, including the supply and portable appliance testing, had been carried out and had passed.

The Scouts are bidding for a £100k donation for a new scout hut and have been working with the clerk to include community information in their bid.

Road names for possible future use in the parish Babergh District Council has requested a list of names which they can use in future, rather than having to ask on each occasion. It was agreed that the theme of local family names would continue and so Rose, Page, Nunn, Godbold and Suckling will be proposed.

Councillor Meekings’ resignation Councillor Meekings’ resignation was acknowledged with regret. Councillor Ambrose thanked him for his considerable contribution to the parish over 11 years, particularly recently with the Alton Green pond project. Councillor Meekings also represents the parish council on the Alton Water User Group, is the village hall liaison rep and is responsible for the emergency plan and streetlights, as well as being the vice chair. Councillor Ashlee commented that Councillor Meekings would be sorely missed and that there really wouldn’t have been a council without him over the years. Councillor Meekings’ responsibilities will be included in the next agenda.

Speeding on Ipswich Road The chairman invited a local resident to state his concerns over speeding on Ipswich Road, particularly at Arnold’s Corner. Following a discussion about realistic options, it was agreed that the clerk would write to Councillor Wood to request a survey so that the data collected could inform future decisions.

Budget 2017/18 Councillor Ambrose presented the report of the Budget Working Party.

Councillors approved the budget proposed, which includes a small increase to the precept. They noted that there would not be a referendum on any increase this year and that even a standstill budget would have increased the cost per property as the tax base had decreased slightly since last year.

Full minutes of this and all other meetings can be found at: www.holbrook.onesuffolk.net Following the meeting there was a presentation to the outgoing chairman, Mr Simon Page, who has served on the parish council for many years and worked hard in the role of chairman for more than eight years. The council thanked him for his hard work and commitment to the parish, in particular for his leadership during the Ipswich Road development application process, and wished him well for the future.

Questions or comments about parish council matters should be addressed in the first instance to the clerk, Mrs Ferial Rolfe: holbrookparishclerk@ outlook.com / or leave a message on 07999 583017

SHOTLEY OPEN SPACES LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE Since our change of name and re-brand in December 2016 – from the ‘Shotley Stour Footpath Renovation Group’ – we are delighted to have set up our SOS website, which also incorporates the Walkers are Welcome (WaW) initiative. The website can be found at: www.shotleyopenspaces.co.uk As well as providing lots of information about who we are and what we do, it shows examples of some of the work we have done. Many who have visited Shotley Gate on a Sunday may well have seen some of us working in Shotley Heritage Park. We have a ‘Maintenance Page’ which details the work schedule for around the Heritage Park during 2017.

The Walkers are Welcome page is a must see for casual ramblers, Sunday strollers or serious hikers. If you fancy a great day out there are many superb walks easily accessible from bus stops in Shotley. If travelling by car there are loads of parking areas, either at the local pubs, Shotley Marina or the village hall.

Perhaps the most valuable bit on the site is the contact page. This is where you can send information to our committee member contact (Tony LawfordRandall) so that he can feed it into SOS for action.

Please have a look at our website; it’s new, we’re human, we make mistakes so if you find any let Tony know and we’ll sort it!

Gary Richens, Shotley Open Spaces

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION Join us once again to celebrate International Women’s Day in Stutton Community Hall on Sunday, March 12.

This will be our fifth year of celebrating this annual event, with a programme of music, film, feasting, talks and displays.

We are happy to report that Stutton Primary School will join us again this year, with a display of their work on Inspirational Women and songs.

We will start at 12.30pm with lunch, begin the programme at 1.30pm and take a pause mid-afternoon for tea and homemade cakes.

Look out for a rash of Blue Plaques in Stutton shortly beforehand, marking the contributions of our very own local women to the community.

A collection will be held for Ipswich Lighthouse Women’s Aid. Full wheelchair access and hearing loop system.

Everyone welcome!

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT CHELMONDISTON PARISH COUNCIL Parish Footpaths Keith Cooper has been working with the parish council for many, many years as a valued tree warden and ‘footpaths cutter’ but has now decided to retire.

We would like to thank him for all that he has done. It has been greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Caroline Chicken who helped us out this year, but unfortunately she is unable to continue next season. So now we are looking for two people to help with the parish footpaths for the next season.

For further information please contact the parish clerk: clerk@chelmondistonpc.info www.chelmondiston.suffolk.gov.uk

SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM Firstly, welcome from all the Hadleigh Safer Neighbourhood Team. Just to confirm that, although the police station is not open to the public, the SNT is still based at Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD. Just a reminder when to call the police: Emergency: please dial 999 Non-emergency: please call 101.

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

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

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

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

SEEDY SATURDAY AT HARKSTEAD FARMERS MARKET Come to the first Seed Exchange at Harkstead Farmers Market on Saturday, February 18. It is proposed to make this an annual event.

Bring your saved seeds and swap for others (Not F1). Come and see what happens. This is the time of year when us gardeners are planning our season of flowers and vegetables. Share planting and growing tips to encourage local biodiversity, preserve and distribute heritage varieties, as well as spreading permaculture ideals.

For more information contact Paula McCann: 01473 780300 / phm4t8r@gmail.com Visit the Eden Project website which provided the inspiration: www.edenproject.com

HARKSTEAD VILLAGE HALL We have two events coming up in early April, so please put these dates in your diary. Full details will be published next month.

Harkstead Village Auction Our spring auction will be on Saturday, April 1. If you would like more information or to book items in for sale, please email: harksteadauction@btinternet.com Eastern Angles We are pleased to welcome back Eastern Angles on Thursday, April 6 when they will be putting on a performance of their latest touring production. Inspired by the Border Ballads, it is David Grieg’s acclaimed play The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. The director is Hal Chambers who directed Ragnarok at the Hush House.

Contact Tony (328687 / tleeson@lineone.net) or Margaret (328657 / harward@btinternet.com) to book your tickets. The availability of seats is limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

ST MICHAEL’S MONTHLY MARKET The next monthly market at St Michael’s, The Church on the Park, Woolverstone is on Saturday, February 11, 9am-12.30pm, just in time to get that vital St Valentine’s gift to show your partner you care.

Fruit, vegetables, cakes, bread, meat and an interesting range of handcrafted items which helps present buying.

East End Butchers are pleased to be the market’s resident meat supplier. If you would like to place on order with them it can be collected at the market each month.

Their number for orders is 01206 392190.

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

New stalls welcome. Contact Jane Gould: 01473 780777

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

Keep safe, PC 167 Diane PORTER Hadleigh SNT, Hadleigh Police Station, Magdalen Road, Hadleigh IP7 5AD

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OUT & ABOUT HOLBROOK SOCIETY EVENTS Friday, February 24: Launch of the Holbrook First World War Commemorative Project at Holbrook Primary School, 7.30pm Holbrook Primary School has won a Heritage Lottery Grant to research and commemorate those who went to war in 1914. Headteacher Annie Hookway will explain what they are aiming to do and how Holbrook Society will be involved. Sam Lanier will tell us about some of the fascinating stories and facts she has unearthed so far in her parallel research at University College Suffolk. There will also be an opportunity to see the first stage of the children’s programme in an imaginative artwork centred on the memorial plaque.

Friday, April 21: Frolic, Fervour & Fornication, an Alternative History of Suffolk by Pip Wright at Holbrook Village Hall, 7.30pm The registers and papers that once lay in the parish chests of Suffolk villages contain all kinds of items that could so easily have been thrown away or never written at all. The surprises they reveal about the people of Suffolk in past centuries are remarkable. This talk is all about the things you never expected to find written in the parish records of Suffolk.

Monday, May 8: Visit to The Houses Of Parliament Coach from Holbrook at approximately 7am (times to be confirmed).

Guided tours of both Houses including a meeting with James Cartlidge, our local MP. We also have an invitation to visit Jewel Tower which we are exploring. Cost: max £25 depending on numbers. Group limit: 24 persons – early booking is essential. Please contact Suzanne by email or phone: 01473 327166 Sunday, June 18: Open Gardens We are delighted that several generous souls have agreed to open their gardens, but we would welcome anyone else who feels they could share their garden. Please call Suzanne on 01473 327166 if you would like more information. Proceeds (we made £3,500 last time) will be divided between three good causes: St Elizabeth Hospice, Friends of All Saints and Holbrook Methodist Church.

STOUR VALLEY ARTS AND MUSIC Friday, February 10 at 8pm: Love and Loss – The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice in Art and Music, illustrated lecture by Dr Lois Oliver at Constable Hall, East Bergholt Telling how the legendary singer lost his lover through a single glance. This tragic story has inspired much great music including the first masterpiece of opera, Monteverdi’s Orfeo. Tickets £10, students £5.

Sunday, February 26 at 4pm: Vanbrugh String Quartet at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt / sponsored by Birkett Long Solicitors The legendary Vanbrugh Quartet was a regular fixture for SVAM during the 1990s and there is great excitement that they have agreed to find time to come back to play a wonderful programme including Beethoven’s String Quartet no 11 in F minor op 95. Tickets £14, students £7, 16 and under free with paying adult.

Sunday, March 5: Young Musician’s Concert, Constable Hall, East Bergholt Sunday, March 19 at 4pm: Kammerphilharmonie Europa at St Mary’s Church, East Bergholt Box office and information: www.svam.org.uk / 01206 298426 / svamtickets@btinternet.

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FASHION SHOW Shotley and Erwarton WI are hosting a fashion show at their meeting on Wednesday, March 22 at 7.15pm to which visitors are most welcome. Come alone or bring a friend; you will be assured of a warm welcome.

SHOTLEY WHIST DRIVE This month’s whist drive is on Thursday, February 9, 1.50-4pm. We are a very friendly group and we always have an enjoyable afternoon.

We play 12 games of whist before we have refreshments, usually homemade cakes, and then we play 12 more. The whole afternoon costs just £2.

I do have some lovely people who will help if needed; just turn up at the village hall and see how you get on. For lifts or information please contact Norman or Eileen: 01473 787358.

MU SHOTLEY PENINSULA BRANCH We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 2pm in Chelmondiston Church Room.

MU seeks to actively support family life both in the UK and worldwide. This year our theme is Faith in Action and our 2017 speakers reflect this. Nonmembers are always most welcome; you are warmly invited to drop in. We open with prayer and end with tea and home baking.

To find out more visit: www.musuffolk.co.uk Anne Hurcum tells us about the work of the Salvation Army at our next meeting on February 1 at 2pm in St Andrew’s Church Room.

On Friday, March 3 we will attend the Women’s World Day of Prayer Service at Chelmondiston Methodist Church, 2pm.

THE SHOTLEY CEILIDH IS BACK It’s time to get your glad rags on!

Back by popular demand, dinner and dancing to The Caledonian Reelers In aid of Action Medical Research For Children Saturday, March 18, 7 for 7.30pm Four course dinner with dancing, tickets £25 Contact Karen Smith on 01473 787731 HURRY: Tickets will sell out fast

VINTAGE COFFEE MORNING Do come, oh do come, it’ll be such fun.

Shotley and Erwarton WI are holding a Vintage Coffee Morning to raise funds for Shotley Village Hall. It will be held on Saturday, May 6 at Shotley Village Hall.

There’ll be tea and coffee and homemade cakes and the ladies are planning on dressing up all fancy to serve you. Everyone welcome, old, young, children and babies.

We look forward to welcoming you.

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OUT & ABOUT SHOTLEY SOCIAL CLUB

SHOTLEY & ERWARTON WI

This month we meet on Thursdays, February 2 and 16, 1.50-4pm.

The hall was filled with chatter and laughter at the first meeting of the New Year. The overall winner of the competitions throughout last year was announced.

Lin Howell came first and Group B were the overall winners. More fiddle mats were requested for dementia sufferers and items to start the collection for our Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

We had a very successful year last year with daytrips, a concert and Christmas outings. I do have some ideas for this year and all being well we should have nine very varied occasions.

We are always looking for new members who will be made very welcome indeed. When the panto is at the village hall, we have lunch at The Rose followed by our meeting.

As we have been on so many different outings over the years it’s getting a bit difficult to find new places to go, and some of our members would not be able to cope. If anyone has any ideas I would be grateful if you would let me know.

We have a busy year ahead with the group meeting on March 22 where we are holding an open meeting with a fashion show, a coffee morning on May 6 to raise funds for the village hall, a tombola at a table top sale in Holbrook on May 20 and Jo Lee will host an afternoon cream tea in her garden on July 8.

For other information or lifts please contact Norman or Eileen: 01473 787358

After our business had been completed we enjoyed hearing from Lyn Caitling about her adventures in Kefalonia as a tour guide right at the start of tourism there in the 1970s.

SHOTLEY WALKING CLUB

Our next meeting is on February 22 when our speaker from the Iceni project will give us a talk on issues relating to drug abuse. The competition is a homemade Valentine’s Card.

On January 8, six adults did a 4.5 mile walk around Shotley. Chris joined us for the first time and he really enjoyed the walk. We walked down the Brickyard to Shotley Gate and through the Heritage Park. The weather was very good, dry and quite mild, a bit muddy under foot. We went round the marina and back, coming up to Gate Farm on the new laid path and back to the village hall where we started.

New faces are welcome to join us on our next walk on Sunday, February 12. Another local walk starts at 2pm from the village hall car park. We will walk to Erwarton.

Twenty-three years ago we did our first walk with the club. It costs nothing to walk with us. Give me a ring or just turn up on the day.

Jill Nunn, 01473 787504

SHOTLEY CHURCH HERITAGE 700 CLUB DECEMBER DRAW WINNER 1

£25

112

Mrs G Nunn

2

£20

064

Mrs J Catchpole

3

£15

119

Mrs M de Boltz

4

£8

058

Mrs D Bacon

5

£7

124

Mrs J Richards

New members are always welcome. It’s just £1 a month to join which can be paid at three, six or 12 monthly intervals. Contact Norman: 787358 Norwich trip This trip, organised by Suffolk Norse, has been arranged for Wednesday, February 15, leaving Shotley Gate at 8.50am and Norwich at 4pm. The fare is £9 payable on booking with Norman: 787358 Father Christmas This year’s delivery raised approximately £120 for Kidzone. Our sincere thanks to everyone who participated.

We welcome visitors and new members; come alone or with a friend – you will be assured of a warm greeting.

1st SHOTLEY SCOUTS Can you believe it?

By the time people read this the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will have been back in session for a month. How time flies when you’re having fun!

Beavers back to basics The Beavers have been learning some basic scouting skills. They have been trying to perfect the reef knot and learning the clove hitch. They are also working towards their Global Issues badge; this will include learning about endangered animals.

Cubs co-operate Cubs will have a couple of joint sessions, one with the Beavers and the other with Scouts. We try to encourage these joint sessions so that when children move into the new sections they are familiar with other children and leaders, this makes for an easier transition. They are also going to be working towards their My Faith badge.

Scouts slice, stir and sauté This term the scouts are going to be planning, preparing and serving a meal to their parents so that they can achieve their chef’s badge. The Scouts are also having a trip out to Flux.

We are always looking for help and it can come in many forms, from teaching a new skill to helping set up camp. If you think you could spare a little bit of time, please contact Jane: 01473 787416

TABLE TOP SALE East Bergholt High School Sunday, February 26, 10am-noon Admission 50p, refreshments available, free car park Tables £5 in advance, £7.50 on the day ( 01206 298122

Shotley auction Our next auction will take place on Saturday, March 4 (note new date) from 9.30am (doors open 8.30am). Refreshments will be available. Lots must be booked with Jim Catling (788499 / james.catling@yahoo.co.uk) or Norman Bugg (787358).

Lots cost £1 to enter and can be delivered on Thursday, March 2, 10amnoon and 4-7pm. Viewing takes place on Friday, March 3, 10am-noon and 2-7pm. Bids start at £2.

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CRAFTERS UNLIMITED Monday, February 6: Air Dry Clay Monday, March 6: Flower Brooch (Debbie) Samples of each project are displayed the month before and other projects are available.

Saturday workshops and Monday meetings are held in Wherstead Village Hall Meeting Rooms. Contacts: Ann 01473 780298 / Jill 01473 713534

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OUT & ABOUT 1st SAMFORD VALLEY SCOUT GROUP (HOLBROOK) Our big adventure in January was winter camp. Adrian, one of our Scout leaders, bravely volunteered to spend a weekend up to his ankles in mud: “A group of 11 Scouts and two leaders headed off to the winter camp held at Gilwell (UK Scout HQ) on January 6.

Arriving at the site around 6pm on the Friday night, the equipment was transported down to the site by an offroad vehicle. Once they had arrived at their designated area, the Scouts set to work putting up their tents and stowing their gear. The weather wasn’t great; rain was falling so they worked feverishly to work out how their tents went together.

“Once their accommodation was sorted, the Scouts could go off and explore the facilities while the two leaders set about getting everything organised. Supper was prepared for the Scouts by the leaders. Hotdogs were the order of the day. Once fed, they all disappeared back to the amusements until 11.30pm.

“After a cold and wet night, the Scouts were woken about 8am on Saturday and given a cooked breakfast before being let loose to go off and enjoy the activities on the site. There was plenty for them to do and by lunchtime when they returned, most of them were covered in mud, but still smiling.

“After lunch, they were off again to continue their adventures, getting even muddier in the process until the early evening when some of the activities closed for the night. Returning for dinner, exhausted but still in good spirits, they were fed and watered before heading off into the darkness to make use of the night time activities and facilities.

“The rain eased off late on Saturday night and Sunday started off dry and milder. Once breakfast was done, the Scouts were sent off to enjoy themselves before everything closed at 1pm. Meanwhile, the leaders commenced with packing the kit away and loading the trailer. After lunch, the remaining kit was stowed and the Scouts packed their kit and headed for their meeting point, ready to be picked up.

“Everyone enjoyed themselves, heading home very muddy and totally exhausted. Apologies to the parents for the state we sent their children home in and hope their washing machines coped with the dirty clothes.”

If you have a son or daughter (aged six to 14) who would like to join us on our adventures, please get in touch with us via: www.samfordvalley.suffolkscouts.org.uk

CHELMONDISTON OVER 60s We had a quiet start to the New Year on January 5 as we were low on numbers due to a number of our members suffering from bad chesty colds. This year we will have a slight change of emphasis with more inhouse entertainment.

We cater for the over 60s, providing somewhere for those who have reached that milestone go on Thursday afternoons for a couple of hours to have a chat, a cup of tea and a cake and perhaps a game of cards, dominoes or Scrabble. If you are free with time on your hands, come and meet a very friendly bunch. We will be very happy to show you around.

Mike and Michele Rutherford, 01473 780718

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CHELMO WI In December we partied with a delicious buffet and entertainment from the wonderful Vivo choir.

Jane invited us to sing along and we did pretty well, hot punch helping the vocal chords, but nothing compared to our own local Canterbury choirboy and his lovely voice. Caroline’s crazy games involving quite a lot of running and mad clothes were really good fun. We all went home with a nice Secret Santa gift.

Our Christmas charity this year was the WI sponsored ACWW which helps specific projects for women all over the world. This year it will help an Indian women’s group. The last very successfully funded project in India was a pickle factory which is still going strong and giving employment and independence to many women. We collected £70 and our wonderful entertainers donated their fee, which meant that we were able to send £100 to this very worthy cause.

After hearing the BBC Radio Suffolk appeal for socks and pants for the homeless of Ipswich our members are all busily getting a big parcel together. January brings a craft card-making evening and our February speaker is Jonathan Webb who will tell us all about the rebuilding of his beautiful Thames barge Melissa.

We meet on the second Tuesday of each month in the village hall at 7.30pm and welcome new members.

STOUR VALLEY U3A On Wednesday, January 11, Dr Geoffrey Kay, former lecturer at Norwich School of Art and Anglia Ruskin University, spoke on Drugs, Sex & Death – The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In the mid-19th century a group of young artists began to sign their work with the initials PRB. For a short time gallery visitors were baffled. Dr Kay informed us what united these artists and how and why they were determined to alter the course of British art for the next 50 years.

On Wednesday, February 8, Prof John Midwinter FRAE, FRS, formerly at BT and UCL, will speak on The Truth About Climate Change. His lecture will explore evidence that we are changing the climate of our planet, probably irreversibly, and this will be linked to a discussion of what this probably portends and why we should be very concerned.

On Wednesday, March 8, Mark Mitchels will speak on The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial. This will be an illustrated lecture that attempts to recreate the moment. It will tell the story of the excavation and when a remarkable people sent their leader on his final voyage. This was one of the greatest treasures ever found on English soil.

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

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

It’s never too late to learn! Join the 361,477 members across 969 U3As throughout the UK today.

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OUT & ABOUT VILLAGE LINK CLUB

HOLBROOK BROWNIES

For our December meeting we were entertained by Harry and Sue Parsons with a number of short sketches from pantomimes they have performed in over a number of years.

It was lovely to see our Brownies back after the festive break and to welcome new faces.

Alicea Holmes will present ta talk entitled The Chaplain of the Methodist Homes when we meet on February 8. Future talks will be: Wolves, Dogs and Us, Easter Parade and The Building of Bury Tower.

Meetings are held at 10am on the second Wednesday of every month in Tattingstone Village Hall. Following the speaker we have refreshments (when there is time for a chat with other members) and a raffle.

New members and visitors are welcome to join us. After the August and February meetings, we normally hold a members’ lunch – funds permitting.

Roger Felgate, 01473 311684

STOUR VALLEY MEN’S PROBUS CLUB Our only January meeting was on Wednesday 18 when Tom Tyler talked about When Motoring Was Fun. This sentimental journey reminded us all of many happy memories.

On Wednesday, February 1 Peter Gant will talk on 100 Years of Postcards and on February 15 Dudley Chignell will present The Four Seasons in East Anglia. On Wednesday, March 1 Joyce Kimber speaks on Ciphers & Enigma and the Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 15.

As it was chilly outside, we began the term playing a few winter games like Penguins on an Iceberg and Sock Snowball. We then transformed paperback books into very cute hedgehogs. Who would have guessed that folding paperbacks would be such a hit! Thank you to everyone who donated books.

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 also began preparations for our Chinese New Year celebrations, creating dragons, lanterns and writing our name in Chinese on our lucky red envelopes.

We meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at St John’s Ambulance HQ, Manningtree CO11 1EB at 10.30am. For further details please contact Brian Rolfe: 01206 393665

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

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

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

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

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Continuing with our Friends to Animals and Wildlife Explorer badges, our Brownies have a very exciting term to look forward to, visiting pets waiting for a home and a vet to see how our pets are cared for when they are poorly. We will then be able to pet some unusual animals when we have a zoo visiting us! In between we will be playing animal themed games and creating cosy bug homes, cheeky woodland animals from pine cones and jungle animal desk tidies.

At Holbrook Brownies we encourage fun, friendship and for girls ‘to discover the best in themselves’. Brownies is for girls aged seven-10.

Register your daughter at: www.Girlguiding UK Alison Swallow

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Out & ABOUT THIS WINTER AT FLATFORD WILDLIFE GARDEN

By Shirley Sampson, warden Sun shining? Crisp chill in the air? If you feel like a bit of fresh air, or somewhere to give the kids a run for an hour or two, why not visit Flatford Wildlife Garden? We’re open for the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, namely January 28/29, 10.30am-3.30pm, with fun family activities. We’ll be making bird feeders to take home, taking a closer look at the birds visiting the garden, and doing a fun nature trail around the wintery garden.

In February we will be running two Snowdrop Weekends on 11/12 and 18/19. The garden is full of drifts of lovely snowdrops to enjoy at this time of year… We’ll also have potted snowdrops for sale, and seasonal advice on wildlife gardening for you to take home.

After a bracing stroll in the garden or along the river, repair to the National Trust tearoom for a well-earned cuppa and to warm up! Park at the National Trust car park at Flatford (£4 per day).

The garden at Flatford is designed to inspire people to help wildlife in their own gardens. Many people don’t realise that they could very easily be helping conserve local wildlife by thinking differently about their gardens. For creatures like honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, and many birds, gardens can allow them to travel across the landscape with access to food and shelter, which is vital to their survival. Gardens are no less important for creatures without wings – many gardens offer ideal habitat for hedgehogs, provided that the gardens are all connected.

Surprisingly, hedgehogs need to travel up to two miles per night in order to find sufficient food, and therefore they not only need to be able to get INTO your garden, but also into your neighbours’ gardens from there…

Once they’re in, apart from being charming in their own right, they will munch on your slugs and snails!

SHOTLEY GARDENING CLUB By the time this reaches you we will have enjoyed our Christmas and New Year feasting and will be looking forward to a return to our speaker programme. On February 6, a break from our usual meeting night of the second Monday of the month to make way for the pantomime, Simon Leatherdale will present a talk entitled Maritime Trees. The competition will be a photographic portrait of a tree taken by a member.

FUTURE TALKS March 13: a seasonal topic not yet specified by the speaker April 10: Plants under Siege Meetings are open to non-members for a guest fee of £2. Details from Karen Smith (787731) or June Edwards (787422). We would love to welcome you.

June Edwards

CHELMONDISTON AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY If you missed our first meeting of the year, which was membership night, all is not lost. You can join up at our meeting on February 28. This meeting is the first of the year’s speaking engagements and we have a not to be missed speaker to start us off.

Martin Sandford has been with us before and was fascinating and so this new talk about hedgerow medicines comes with a strong recommendation.

Annual membership is just £7.50, but if you want to try before you buy, you are welcome as a visitor for just £1. Who knows, Martin might alert to you to fact that that weed growing at the bottom of your garden might just be the thing to cure your next cold! Meetings start at 7.30pm in the village hall.

Here are some ideas to transform your winter garden into a mini-nature reserve: Safe and warm in winter…

Don’t cut back the summer’s growth come autumn, but be patient and leave the summer’s bounty until spring. The dead plant material and autumn leaves will create an insulating blanket over the soil’s surface, creating a warm, dry haven for many small creatures hibernating away the winter months. You may then be lucky enough to have songthrushes and other hungry insect eaters rummaging in the leaf litter, searching for insect food in the depths of the winter. You can then have a satisfying tidy-up in early spring, once the worst of the winter is over.

So mulch more…

Mulch your borders – choose something with an organic origin – homemade compost, well-rotted woodchips or bark chippings. This mulch not only nourishes the soil and plants, but also provides a source of food for soil invertebrates. Healthy populations of earthworms and other invertebrates have real benefits for the soil, and hence the plants, but will also provide food for a long list of carnivorous garden friends, such as hedgehogs, all the amphibians, song thrushes, blackbirds, robins, and many more.

Winter hibernation sites Train a dense evergreen up your walls or fences, it will provide a safe haven for birds to nest, or butterflies to hibernate in winter. The five common garden butterflies, namely the comma, the small tortoiseshell, brimstone, peacock, and increasingly the red admiral, all overwinter by hibernating as adult butterflies, and need somewhere dry and insulated to shelter. In many cases, a thick evergreen climber such as ivy up against a fence or wall, provides an ideal hibernating place.

More information at: www.rspb.org.uk/flatford

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SCHOOLS / SPORT CHELMONDISTON CEVC PRIMARY SCHOOL It doesn’t seem possible that the Christmas celebrations are over and we are heading for the spring. This term is usually a quieter one and gives an opportunity for the children to consolidate the knowledge and skills that they have learnt in the first term. However, that doesn’t mean that we haven’t got excitement to the fore.

We always aim to have a wide variety of different clubs available for the children and this term has seen two new ones arrive. First of all we have the film club. This gives the children an opportunity to plan and make films following a variety of formats.

All of the children will have an opportunity to be actors, directors and sound recorders as well as camera people. The whole school is really looking forward to seeing the fruits of their labours and enjoying the films they produce. It is quite possible that the next Michael Caine or Nicole Kidman could currently be studying at Chelmondiston CEVC Primary School.

The children in Key Stage Two will also have an opportunity to learn French. We are very lucky to have a parent who is a French national and she has offered to teach the children after school each week.

It’s wonderful to have a native for the children to listen to and to learn from first-hand.

You may have seen in the local press that our school has been lucky enough to receive some more playtime equipment. I am pleased to say that there is more on the horizon. We were lucky enough to be accepted for a grant to have a climbing wall and a tyre park. This will make playtime more exciting and stimulating for the children. It will also be an all year round resource as it is positioned adjacent to the playground.

We have also been fortunate to have an extension to our wicker wigwam and we now have a wicker tunnel on the school grounds. Many thanks to Mrs Wright who has given her time and materials to build this growing sculpture in our school grounds.

Our choir is going to be busy again this term. They are taking part in a concert at the O2 in London. They have been practising a rock medley that takes me back to my youth. When I tell the children that I know that song they say it’s not possible as the song is completely new!

There are two parent forums this term, both focusing on English. The first is going to look at the teaching of reading and phonics, while the second will look at grammar and writing. We hope that lots of parents can attend so that they can support their children effectively in their work.

The PTA are also going to busy this term. We have a Beetle Drive on January 27 where the children can build beetles and enjoy a fun evening. Later in the term we are planning discos for the children as well as our infamous Easter raffle.

The website is the place to look for details of all the events mentioned.

We have recently upgraded this so that it can be easily read on both tablets and mobile phones. There is also an interactive calendar which can be linked with your own. Please have a look at our news and events tab to see this new innovation.

Headteacher Sean Cornish

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STUTTON CEVCP PRIMARY SCHOOL If you have a child who will be four by August 31, 2017, you will need to apply for a primary school place. The deadline was actually January 15, but applications can be made after this date. The online application website will give you all the details you need: www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools If you haven’t had time to make your mind up about where to send you child, please feel free to come and have a look around at Stutton School – you and your children will be most welcome.

We are delighted to welcome Ms Emma Laflin this term as our interim headteacher. Emma comes with a wealth of experience and we are very much enjoying working with her and exploiting her expertise.

Our chickens continue to provide us with eggs, although they are very grumpy about having to be kept in the chicken coop as a result of the recent threat of bird flu. The children are looking forward to being able to take a more active part once more in their daily care when the threat is lifted.

Our term got off to bright start with the children and their families travelling by coach to London to sing with hundreds of other children in a Young Voices concert at the O2.

We are committed to providing a high quality education for our children with enrichment opportunities. This term the children are working with local writer Andrew Holland to develop a story which will be woven into a community walk later in the spring which will be led by the children.

This activity has been supported by a grant from Babergh District Council as part of The Year of Walking. We hope you can join us on our walk – we will publish the chosen date once fixed.

As our willow dome has gone slightly wild, we are seeking help from Realise Futures to bring it back to a manageable size. The children love playing in it and it provides them with valuable shade in the summer. We hope the children can use the unwanted willow to weave into a variety of interesting creations.

01473 328531 / admin@stutton.suffolk.sch.uk www.stutton.suffolk.sch.uk

PIN MILL SAILING CLUB The club welcomed in the New Year with a 1970s theme. Members turned up in a most interesting variety of costumes and fondue, vol au vents, ’70s music and lots of prosecco added to the sense of nostalgia.

This was the final fling after a Christmas of carol singing in the club on Christmas Eve, which raised £360 for Hand in Hand for Syria, and more carol singing with the Morris Men on Boxing Day, a beautiful sunny day which brought out the crowds.

As we move into February and the call to get back on to the water can be heard, Tom Branton of Sailmedic will be giving some advice on sails and how to get the best out of your boat. This talk is complimented by another a week later from Teamac, manufacturers of marine paints, an event the club is holding with the Old Gaffers Association and which will include food and entertainment.

Following the nostalgia theme, a tribute night featuring music from David Bowie, George Michael, Prince and Leonard Cohen will also happen in February.

Watch this space for more action and entertainment: www.pmsc.org.uk / Facebook: PMSCSocial

In Touch online:

SCHOOLS / SPORT HOLBROOK PRIMARY DONATES PUMP TO VILLAGE IN BANGLADESH

EAST BERGHOLT UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB The last month was mixed for the First Team, with them registering one victory, one draw and one defeat, and thereby maintaining a mid-table position.

The Reserves continued their impressive form. They had three matches in December with three wins and 15 goals scored. This saw them end 2016 at the top of League A, albeit that the teams immediately below them had games in hand.

The A Team’s struggles continued in December. They failed to pick up a point in League B and consequently slipped to 11th place.

UPCOMING FIXTURES 1st TEAM Senior Division Sat, Jan 28 Trimley Red Devils Bob Coleman Cup (A) Sat, Feb 4 Henley Athletic (A) Sat, Feb 11 Grundisburgh (H) Sat, Feb 25 Bramford Utd (A) Sat, Mar 4 Ransomes Sports (H)

As our main charity project, many villagers, staff and parents of Holbrook Primary School, plus a handful of children, attended a fundraising evening last spring at Holbrook Village Hall to provide a much needed supply of fresh drinking water to a small, remote village in Bangladesh.

The food was supplied by Ipswich Jorna restaurant whose owner, Mr Bosher Ali, established the Al Tazid charity in memory of his father who was keen to ensure people in his homeland could enjoy some of the things that we, in Britain, take for granted.

RESERVES League A Sat, Jan 28 Sporting ’87 Res (H) Sat, Feb 4 AFC Hoxne Res (H) Sat, Feb 18 Coplestonians Res (H) Sat, Feb 25 Mendlesham Res (H) Sat, Mar 4 Achilles Res (A) A Team League B Sat, Jan 28 Sat, Feb 4 Sat, Feb 11 Sat, Feb 18 Sat, Feb 25 Sat, Mar 4

Stonham Aspal Res (A) Haughley Utd Res (H) Henley Athletic Res (A) Capel Plough Res (H) Trimley Athletic Res (A) Stowupland Falcons Res (A)

Fixtures are subject to change. To confirm please refer to: http://fulltime.thefa.com/Index.do?league=4358069

Months of rain held back drilling, but work finally started on this vital, lifesaving equipment. The drill had to go to the staggering depth of 600 feet, but eventually they reached water and we are proud to show you the result of their hard work and your generosity.

We are always looking for people who can help the club as committee members, whether it be on the playing side or just in the background.

As you can see, a replica of the primary school flag is overseeing the work and a plaque has been placed beside the pump as a permanent reminder to the people of Sylmet that residents in another village care about their welfare.

Club strips, dugouts, banners or boards on matchdays are all potential exposure for your business while supporting a local organisation.

Thank you once again to everyone who helped, donated and ate at this event.

www.keepingintouchwith.com/shotley

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.

Secretary Steve Butcher stevebutcher55@btinternet.com

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SPORT / CHRUCH NEWS IPSWICH RAVENS VOLLEYBALL January saw another big entry in the popular Suffolk six-a-side series at Maidenhall Sports Centre with seven teams in each of Division 1 and Division 2. However, it wasn’t such a successful tournament for Ipswich Ravens due to many of our players suffering from seasonal flu. Our first team in Division 1 was particularly badly affected and we lost all four of our games, two of them against sides we beat comfortably in December.

Diss II and Suffolk University both entered teams for the first time in Division 2 as well as Ipswich Ravens Women, showing how this popular sport is growing in our region. In Division 1 the Ravens continued our improvement from last month with a solid performance. Three wins and one defeat left us in a creditable third place out of the seven teams.

Captain Chris Giles said: “Our performance was much improved from last month. We really earned our three wins with some sublime hitting from chief hitter Ugis backed up by good all round teamwork.”

However, our spirits were lifted by our improving ladies team in Division 2 who finished a very creditable fourth out of seven teams, including two wins and the narrowest of defeats by a single point. This was a fantastic

TWO RIVERS BENEFICE ST PETER’S, STUTTON Sunday 5

8am 10.30am

Holy Communion Worship for All (School).

Sunday 12

9.30am

Holy Communion

Sunday 19

9.30am

Holy Communion

Sunday 26

11am

Informal Service

ALL SAINTS, HOLBROOK Sunday 5

10.30am

Holy Communion

Sunday 12

10.30am

Matins

Sunday 19 8am Holy Communion 10.30am Informal Service Sunday 26

9.30am

Holy Communion

ST MARY’S, WHERSTEAD Sunday 5 Sunday 12

No Service

11am

Sunday 19

No Service

Sunday 26

11am

Holy Communion Morning Prayer

ST PETER’S, FRESTON Sunday 5 Sunday 12

11am

Matins

No Service

Sunday 19

11am

Sunday 26

No Service

Holy Communion

performance as it was only the second time the ladies have entered the tournament. It was a result which reflected fairly on the hard work they have been putting in at our weekly practice sessions under the guidance of their dedicated coach.

January 11 was the third anniversary of the date when Ravens was first formed. We’re delighted with the progress we have made since then.

The club is thriving and competing with other volleyball clubs throughout Suffolk who are much more established. We’re looking forward to growing the club further during 2017 and getting more people to learn what a great sport volleyball is.

Ipswich Ravens hold club practice sessions every Saturday from 2-4pm at St Alban’s School, Rushmere. We are actively seeking new members and will welcome anyone, male or female, experienced or complete beginner, and any age from 13 upwards. We have qualified coaches who run the sessions with a mixture of training drills and friendly games, making them very enjoyable while helping participants to improve their skills and fitness.

If you are interested in joining this growing sport, call/text 07508 351875 or visit: www.ipswichravens.org.uk

SHORELINE BENEFICE ST ANDREW’S, CHELMONDISTON February 5 9.15am Holy Communion and Dedication

Festival Service 60th Anniversary

4pm 60th Anniversary Songs of Praise February 8 10am Midweek communion in the church room February 12

February 19 9.30am Benefice Holy Communion at Harkstead February 28

Sunday 5 11am Café Church

9.30am Family Service

ST MARY’S, ERWARTON February 5

11am

Matins

February 12

11am

Family Service

February 19 9.30am Benefice Holy Communion at Harkstead February 26

11am

Holy Communion

ST MARY’S, HARKSTEAD February 5

9.30am Holy Communion

February 12

9.30am Morning Prayer

February 19 9.30am Benefice Holy Communion

/ Education Sunday February 26

ST MICHAEL’S, WOOLVERSTONE

9.15am Holy Communion

9.30am Holy Communion

ST MARY’S, SHOTLEY February 5

10.45am Family Service / Candlemas

February 12

10.45am Holy Communion

Sunday 11

9am-12.30pm

Monthly Market

Sunday 12

11am

Worship the Woolverstone Way

Sunday 19

11am

Morning Prayers

February 19 9.30am Benefice Holy Communion at Harkstead

Sunday 26

11am

Holy Communion

February 26

Stutton Church

Please check the website or the church noticeboards for any change to the service times and places.

March 1, Ash Wednesday 10.30am

10.45am Holy Communion

7.30pm Holbrook Church

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In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/shotley

25

CHURCH NEWS HOLBROOK AND CHELMONDISTON METHODIST CHURCHES How do you feel about yourself?

We hope that most of the time we feel reasonably good about ourselves.

There will be times when we have made a mistake or done something wrong, on purpose or in error, and we will feel bad about ourselves. If we are someone who is living under constant criticism our self-esteem might be low and depression might weigh us down.

I count myself privileged to have grown up in a loving family, to have had the option of a good education, to have had people who have inspired and encouraged me, to have had employment all my working life, to have a wife and growing family (grandchildren), to have friends, to have faith and to be content with life.

Last month I wrote under the heading Done and Undone! and invited you to one of our Covenant Services. I am part way through sharing these in my five churches. I found a contemporary version of the Covenant Service on the internet and will happily send a copy to anyone who asks.

It includes a prayer which suggests things for which we might want to say sorry.

As implied at the beginning of this article, I feel reasonably good about myself and I think most of my friends wouldn’t call me wicked (but they would also certainly agree that I’m not perfect either). As I have led this prayer, I have felt uncomfortable at some of the areas mentioned and have to agree that I am guilty of some of these wrong attitudes, thoughts and actions. I feel unclean, dirty and ashamed. I could easily end up feeling depressed.

But every time the service lifts that guilt, we ask God to create a clean heart, to renew a right spirit within and to give us the joy of his help.

There is a freedom and a joy. I am glad I will have prayed this prayer five times in January and experienced the joy and release that come from being in the presence of Jesus who forgives, cleanses and renews.

Probably by the time this is published I will have completed the series, but I would always welcome an opportunity to talk and pray with you if you would like to invite me.

Rev Andrew Sankey, Minister at Holbrook and Chelmondiston Methodist Churches, 8 Roundridge Road, Capel St Mary IP9 2UG apsankey@gmail.com / 01473 311178 / 07966 187216 AT CHELMONDISTON METHODIST Tuesday 9-11.30am: Toddler Group Wednesday 7.30pm: Bible Study

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Sunday 5

10.45am Worship with Mrs Jane Patterson 6.15pm Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey

Sunday 12

10.45am Worship with Rev Yvonne Haye 6.15pm Local Arrangement

Sunday 19

10.45am Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey 6.15pm Worship with Mr William Glasse

Sunday 26

10.45am Worship with Mrs Carole Almond 6.15pm Worship with Rev Michael Allen

AT HOLBROOK METHODIST What’s on in January (HCT Holbrook Churches Together) Monday, 2.30-4pm: Tea and Chat (HCT) Thursday 2 2pm

Fellowship Meeting at 16 Ipswich Road, Holbrook

Friday 3

9am

Tiddlers / 10am Family Live (HCT)

Saturday 4

10-11.30am Coffee morning

Sunday 5

10am

Wednesday 8

7.30pm Conversations Meeting

Sunday 12

10am

Wednesday 15

10am-4pm Knit in at the Chapel

Worship with Mr Chris Finbow

Worship with Rev Andrew Sankey

Thursday 16 2pm

Fellowship Meeting at 16 Ipswich Road, Holbrook

Sunday 19 10am

Family Friendly Worship with Rev Jo Jacobs

Friday 24

Tiddlers / 10am Family Live (HCT)

9am

Sunday 26 10am

6.30pm

Monday 27

Worship and Communion with Rev Michael Ayden Something Different with Rev Andrew Sankey

7.30pm Conversations Meeting

Please see the noticeboard on the front of the chapel for all events in February.

For more information about Messy Church, Tiddlers and Family Live contact Alicia Holmes: ajnholmes@gmail.com / 01473 658478

In Touch online:

CHURCH NEWS HOLY FAMILY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Ipswich Road, Brantham CO11 1TB Parish Priest: Fr Christopher Smith, 180 Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich IP2 0QQ / 01473 684963 We are part of St Mark’s RC Parish, Ipswich. For all up-to-date information please visit: www.stmarksparish.org.uk The weekly newsletter is displayed in the cabinet alongside the front door.

SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY 2017 Sunday 5 9am

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 7 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 12 9am

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 14 9.20am 10am

Eucharistic Adoration Mass

Sunday 19 9am

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 21 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Sunday 26 9am

EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mass

Tuesday 28 9.30am 10am

Morning Prayer Mass

Catholic Commentary Where do such principles as human dignity and freedom, the common good, solidarity and subsidiarity, from a Christian standpoint, come from? These fundamental ideas are expressed in the teaching of the church and are found in her Encyclicals (Letters to the Church) and other documents including the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Scriptures, the long history or tradition of the church and human intelligence and reason are all factors that contribute to her teachings. More specifically there is Catholic Social Teaching based on a series of Encyclicals issued by

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Popes starting with Rerum Novarum (Of New Things) in 1891 through to Laudato Si (the Care of our Common Home) in 2015. These elaborate a set of moral principles or guidelines for action which are proposed by the church as part of her dialogue with people and the problems of human society.

It is worth bearing in mind that if we value variety and diversity in nature then we ought also to value religious freedom and the avoidance of extremes in the conduct of human affairs. Unfortunately there is growing alarm and dismay at the persecution and oppression of minorities (including Christians) in many countries. On Tuesdays at 10.30am during Lent we will be running a study group at Holy Family, Brantham on Catholic Social Teaching to which all are welcome.

Events and Diary Dates The Parish Epiphany was much enjoyed by all on Thursday, January 5 at The Ipswich Hotel. This lunch followed 11.30am mass at St Mark’s.

The 100 Club Draw took place on Sunday, January 22 when three lucky winners shared £144. The next draw takes place on Sunday, February 26. The club has grown from strength-to-strength since its launch. New members are always very welcome and the newsletter, that includes an application form, can be found at the rear of the church or at: www.stmarksparish.org.uk Every last Thursday of the month a Bring & Buy Coffee Morning takes place at Viv and Wyn’s home, Paddock Gate, Whitehorse Road, East Bergholt CO7 6TR, 10.30am-noon. We are raising funds for the Parish Room refurbishment and all are very welcome to join us. The next event is on Thursday, February 23.

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

Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital Fr Adrian Gates is the Catholic Chaplain at Ipswich Hospital (01473 726701). Please contact 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 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.

27

ON THE GRAPEVINE ENTER THE PLAYFUL WORLD OF CASSON & FRIENDS AND DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF THEATRE

By Alicia Clarke

QUESTIONS ON CASH With Nick Plumb This month, I have responded to two questions from In Touch readers that landed in my email in-basket over the Christmas period.

Alan from Ipswich asks: “I have just started receiving my state pension and a company pension of £14,000 a year from the old GEC scheme. The state pension is paid to me gross with no tax deducted, but my GEC pension has income tax deducted and is paid to me net of that tax. Why is there a difference, and should I be paying tax at all?”

Yes, you will pay a certain amount of tax on both pensions, as your total pension income is above your annual personal income tax allowance of £11,000, which is what you are allowed to earn before income tax is deducted at basic rate (currently 20%).

Pension income (from state or private pensions) is classed as ‘earned’ income and is therefore taxable above £11,000 a year.

Under the direction of Tim Casson, Casson & Friends is an exciting dance theatre company that creates engaging interactive performances with a focus on collaboration, interaction and joy. Night at the Theatre will be at the Jerwood DanceHouse on Saturday, February 4 and promises to be a fantastic introduction to dance and theatre for young people, with just a hint of audience participation.

Night at the Theatre combines a mixture of dance theatre, audiodescription and imaginative storytelling. When three friends become trapped in an abandoned theatre, little do they know that they will soon become the stars of their own show… Perfect for those who love an adventure, Night at the Theatre will be an immersive dance theatre experience where you can let your imagination go wild.

The company works with a diverse range of collaborators from filmmakers and musicians to computer programmers and psychologists, but most often collaborates with the public, inviting them to engage with dance and performance in exciting and accessible ways.

With a passion for bringing dance to people in new and unusual contexts, Casson & Friends’ work to date has been presented in a range of settings including shopping centres, libraries, hotels, pubs, offices and football stadiums. The company has also presented its work across the UK and internationally including at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Glastonbury Festival, Brighton Digital Festival, bOing International Family Festival, The Lyon Biennale and Downtown Dance Festival in New York.

“Casson has created a hybrid story that has the wit of the physical and the playfulness of the imagination, a brand of theatre that comes from the heart as well as the head,” Nicholas Minns, writingaboutdance.com on Night at the Theatre Discover the magic of theatre at DanceEast with Casson & Friends on Saturday, February 4, a perfect weekend treat for the whole family. The Jerwood DanceHouse is family friendly, completely accessible and has been awarded the Family Arts Standards. There is plenty of parking nearby, a family friendly café with toys and books, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks for all ages, space for pushchairs, a lift to all floors and accessible toilets with baby-change facilities.

Performances at 1.30pm and 4.30pm. To book (£10, £7 concessions, £30 family ticket) call 01473 295230 or visit: www.danceeast.co.uk

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Although your state pension is paid to you gross, this does not mean that you don’t pay tax on it. The tax is actually collected by an adjustment to your tax code. Check your last notice of coding, and you will see that your tax code is different to when you were working. The pension system would not be able to cope with working out everyone’s individual income tax, so they leave the tax to HMRC, who alter your tax code to compensate.

The GEC pension is taxed at source, and tax is deducted by the company pension administrators before the pension is paid to you. However, it is important to check that you have been put on the correct tax code as I have seen many examples of people paying too much tax on their company pensions over the years.

Peter from Needham Market asks: “I am the director of a limited company employing 12 members of staff. I would like to introduce a free life insurance scheme that pays out a lump sum to the staff member’s family if they died. What is the best way to do this through the company?”

A ‘death in service’ scheme for a group of employees is usually arranged as a Group Life Insurance scheme, which falls under the ‘tax approved’ rules that also apply to group pension schemes.

Such schemes offer various tax advantages for you as the employer and for your employees.

The premiums the company pays are tax-deductible as a business expense and the premiums are not treated as a ‘benefit in kind’ for your employees, so they will not suffer a tax charge on them.

Any Lump-sum death benefit paid on the death of an employee would be paid free of income tax and, if it is paid out under a discretionary trust, it will not normally be liable for inheritance tax when paid to the beneficiaries of the deceased staff member.

Nick Plumb is an independent financial adviser and practice principal at Plumb Financial Services of Baylham in Suffolk. The information within this column is provided only as a general guide and does not constitute personal financial advice. If you would like to take advantage of a complimentary meeting to talk over your options for your own investments or financial planning you can contact Nick by email at nick@plumbfs.co.uk or by calling the office on 01473 830301. Plumb Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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ON THE GRAPEVINE FIREWALK… ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH? The Lions Club of Ipswich is a not for profit organisation which is run entirely by volunteers. The club helps fund and support various good causes and charities in the local area, helping out when required in whichever way they can. This could be buying a vital piece of equipment, offering manpower or with help and support when required.

By taking part in this firewalk you will also be helping the Lions Club of Ipswich continue to do the work that they do in the community. This work really does change lives.

The firewalk will be 20 feet in length and, the coals can reach temperatures of 1200°F – more than hot enough to barbecue on!

Do you fancy taking part in the world’s shortest sponsored walk… on fire? If so, then The Lions Club of Ipswich has just the thing for you.

The Lions Club of Ipswich are hosting a firewalk on Thursday, March 9 at The Avenue Theatre, Gippeswyk Avenue, Ipswich IP2 9AF and would love for you to get involved and risk your feet for charity!

This year Lions Club of Ipswich is working in partnership with the Red Rose Chain Community Project.

The money raised at this amazing event will fund equipment to enable the Red Rose Chain Community Project to continue with their great work in the local area and also to support the Lions Club of Ipswich charity projects.

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More than 30 people aare taking part in the walk and members of the public are invited to come along on the evening and offer their support. Gates open at 6.30pm and there will be entertainment to keep spectators amused, plus, a licensed bar and food for those that get peckish!

If you would like to take part in this unique sponsored walk then it’s just £25 (and a pledge to raise £150) to enter so sign up now!

For more information and to secure your place, contact Lion Neil Bowles: suffolkfirewalk@sky.com / 01394 210377 The money raised by the firewalk will be split between the Red Rose Chain Community Project and the Lions Club of Ipswich.

29

ON THE GRAPEVINE THE BUS SHELTER IPSWICH HELP RAISE £5,000 FOR AN EMERGENCY NIGHT SHELTER IN IPSWICH It all started with a single thought of helping the homeless in these cold months. My partner Sarah and I started a Facebook page – Keeping Ipswich Homeless Warmer – where we asked the people of Ipswich for donations of warm clothing, sleeping bags and pillows and the response was overwhelming. We were going out every Tuesday and Thursday evening (more frequently when the weather deteriorated), offering warm clothes, sleeping bags, socks and a coffee, just making sure people had what they needed to survive on the streets. We soon came to realise that something extra is needed for the homeless in Ipswich and we think a branch of the growing The Bus Shelter UK network is the answer.

After seeing an article about The Shelter on the Isle of Wight where Kevin Newton had converted a double decker bus into a hostel for the homeless, we decided that was what we were going to do. We have spoken with Kevin who has agreed we can use the the Bus Shelter branding and we are gaining help and advice from him and his team. We are hoping to have our bus and the conversion completed by March 2017, which is when the night shelter closes its doors for another year and many homeless return to the streets.

Ninety percent of the conversion will be completed by myself with hopefully local companies and tradesman donating time and materials to help complete the project as cost effectively as possible. The bus

will be designed to accommodate 16 to 18 rough sleepers and two volunteer watchers.

Each bed will be equipped with a USB charging point, LED lighting and privacy curtains, as well as a PO Box number for each guest to receive mail for interviews, appointments and benefits. The bus will also be fitted with a functional kitchen, chill out area and hopefully a private room for counselling or treatment. There will be a programme that each guest must sign up to which will include any rehab required, whether it be drink or drugs misuse, and a plan for volunteer work at least one day a week within the local community.

We have called the project TIFFERS after our 15-year-old daughter Tiffani who has been an inspiration throughout our journey to help the homeless. She has been with us every evening we have been out and enjoys chatting to the men and women we help. She is as dedicated to the project as we are.

We have a few meetings lined up in the new year with some big organisations who really want to help get the project up and running.

Their advice and motivation is going to be very helpful. You can find our more by visiting our Facebook page where you will find links to our justgiving fundraising page: www.facebook.com/tiffersbus Your donation, however small, will help us to get the homeless off the street to somewhere warm, dry and safe. Anything that you can afford to give will be very much appreciated.

Gareth Brenland

GET UP AND GLOW FOR HOSPICE However, this year’s Midnight Walk will have a few alterations, with a brand new start and finish location – the Cornhill in Ipswich town centre.

There are also two brand new routes – a six mile and a 12 mile – both of which will pass the hospice on Foxhall Road so all walkers will have the opportunity to hang a personalised tag on the Tree of Remembrance.

Catherine Sheppard, St Elizabeth Hospice’s events and challenges fundraiser, said: “We are very excited to launch the Midnight Walk 2017 and we hope it will be as successful as 2016 which raised an incredible £220,000 for the hospice, making a huge difference to our patients and their families.

“The neon theme proved very popular. It was fantastic to watch Ipswich glow last year and we wanted to bring that back again to the town.”

All participants will receive an exclusive Midnight Walk 2017 T-shirt, medal and a hot chocolate at the finish line.

St Elizabeth Hospice’s biggest event of the year, the Midnight Walk, is back for its 11th birthday event and if you sign up before the end of January you can save £5.

The hugely popular event, which saw a record-number of people taking part in May earlier this year, will return on May 20, 2017 and back by popular demand is the neon theme.

30

You can save £5 and register for just £10 with the early bird offer before January 31, 2017. From February 1 registration will be £15.

Be part of Suffolk’s biggest celebration of life and sign up now at: www.midnightwalkipswich.co.uk To request a paper form contact: 01473 707043 / midnightwalk@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

In Touch online:

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31

SWING LEGENDS

BBC BIG BAND

WITH MATTHEW FORD Barry Forgie, conductor

SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 7PM, ASSEMBLY HALL Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Ipswich, IP9 2RX

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