In Touch News with Sproughton February 2019

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Volume 9 • Issue No. 4 • FEBRUARY 2019

Don’t Forget About Me, by Georgina May

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NEWS

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR My husband believes there are two kinds of people; those who see the positives in almost everything, and those who always see the negatives.

If opposites attract, we must be the perfect couple, so when Daniel played this song by Kacey Musgraves I’m pretty sure he was making a point.

It’s called Miserable.

Your heart’s as heavy as the stones you throw Can’t see the flowers for the weeds you grow You blow your bubbles just to watch ‘em burst For you it’s always bad to worse And you can’t win unless you lose You try to tell me you want happiness But you ain’t happy unless You’re miserable Your neighbor’s dirty laundry’s cleaner And the wolf at your door’s always meaner The sky’s still grey when the sun’s around But you can’t set sail if your anchor’s down And you can’t win unless you lose You try to tell me you want happiness But you ain’t happy unless You’re miserable I’m miserable Can’t liven up for the both of us We have enough for the whole of us If misery loves company Then I can’t keep you company no more He got me good! I don’t think I’m this miserable, but when life is going well, I live in dread of what’s bound to come, and it’s bound to be bad! I think it’s an inherited trait, but it’s not one I want to pass on. Is it possible to change?

I sure hope so because my New Year’s resolution is to prove Daniel wrong!

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MARCH DEADLINE

10 FEBRUARY 2019

is the final date for both advertising and editorial copy

www.keepingintouchwith.com/sproughton

SPROUGHTON MORNING MARKET Please note that this will now be every three months or so.

The next market will be at 10am on April 13. Any help in running these events would be much appreciated.

Please contact Heather or Michael: 01473 742766

FREE FIREWOOD ON THE GREEN Readers may have noticed that there is a further supply of willow wood and chippings on the Millennium Green following recent tree surgery.

This wood and the chippings are both free for local people to collect and use for their personal use as they see fit. The wood is in a large pile in the far left-hand corner of the Green when viewed from the millstone.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Sproughton Millennium Green Limited will not be held liable for any damage to property or personal injury caused by persons lifting, moving or cutting wood on the Millennium Green. If you take or cut any wood, it is entirely at your own risk. Please take great care and wear appropriate safety clothing and footwear.

The wood is free and for Sproughton residents only, but if you’d like to make a donation to our funds to help offset the cost of the recent tree surgery, that would be much appreciated. Please call me on 07578 552324 and I’ll tell you how you can make a donation.

Chairman Ken Seager

PRESENTS SURGE BY JAYNE LINDILL East Coast, January 31, 2018. A huge storm is brewing. Forecasters are predicting conditions not seen since the catastrophic night of January 31, 1953, when a storm surge and floods killed more than 300 people and made thousands homeless.

Steve Drury, born in the middle of that tempestuous night 65 years ago, is facing his own crisis. As his wife, Annie, organises a party to celebrate his milestone birthday and his retirement, he’s trying to come to terms with a future without the job that he loves and which has defined his very existence. But the real cause of his anxiety is his older sister, Maggie.

Rendered mute by the trauma of that terrible night in 1953, she’s deeply disturbed by the arrival of this new storm. It arouses memories and emotions that have been submerged for a lifetime, and threatens to split open the past, revealing long held secrets and unleashing feelings of guilt, grief and loss with devastating consequences.

Jayne Lindill, who was born and brought up in Suffolk and now lives in Felixstowe, wrote Surge as an original piece of drama for Horizon to perform at Ferry Fest Felixstowe 2018. It received great acclaim, and the company is now touring the play to towns and villages in February, at the time of year when the floods devastated the Suffolk coast.

The evening starts at 7.15pm with welcome drinks and acoustic music performed by cast members, and an exhibition about the floods compiled

by Jean Macpherson and Bev Boyce, Felixstowe residents who are writing a book to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the floods. Jean and Bev are interested to hear from people who have memories and information about the floods. The play starts at 7.45pm and lasts approximately 80 minutes.

Performance Schedule February 7: Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club February 8: Shotley Village Hall February 13: Ansell Centre, Hadleigh February 14: Waldringfield Village Hall February 15: Church Hall, Lower Road, Sproughton Tickets £5 on the door or from: 07864 084423 / jaynelindill2@btinternet.com

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NEWS SPROUGHTON’S SPITFIRE PILOT AND SQUADRON LEADER John Bates has lived in Church Crescent since the 1 January 1972. At the time, he was a serving officer in the Royal Air Force from which he retired in late 1983.

His ambition to join the RAF and become a Spitfire pilot probably began when, at the age of eleven, he watched dogfights between German and British aircraft in the skies above Kent. For John, ambition started to become reality when he was old enough to volunteer for the RAF as aircrew in late 1946. He was accepted and was placed on the RAF Volunteer Reserves to await training, but he was called up as a National Serviceman, enlisting in January 1947. He first flew solo on 30 July 1947 in a Tiger Moth and was immediately chosen for further training in Southern Rhodesia.

Such was his success that the RAF recommended he be trained as a fighter pilot and as a result joined the last Spitfire course at RAF Stradishall in Suffolk, flying TE 184. Soon he was posted to 80 Fighter Squadron flying Spitfires in Hong Kong, practising ground attacks, interceptions and low flying.

His vast experience as a pilot included Sunderland flying boats operating from Japan in support of the Korean War, becoming an aerobatic ace and a flying instructor, conversion to jets such as Vampire, Provost, Canberra and Valiant, and time with an air-refuelling squadron. He flew in Germany, Denmark, Italy and France.

During his thirty-six years in the RAF, John held eleven ranks, from humble AC to Squadron Leader at Strike Command and Flight Commander. At his most senior level he was asked to fly a Victor to Singapore via Canada, the USA and the Pacific, and then to fly back to the UK via the Indian Ocean, Aden and Cyprus thus completing a circuit of the globe. That same Victor is now at Duxford undergoing complete restoration, which brings me to the point of this article.

For his recent ninetieth birthday, John’s family told him to get ready for a day out and to wear his RAF tie. He assumed he would be visiting Biggin Hill where there are usually a dozen or so Spitfires on site, but soon realised that Duxford was their destination. His second assumption was that they were going to see the Victor which he had flown round the world all those decades ago. Wrong again!

While they were standing near the runway, a Spitfire appeared overhead and performed a few aerobatics before landing. To John’s surprise, the aeroplane taxied along the runway and then turned towards them. At that point he realised that the Spitfire in front of him was TE 184, the very same plane that he had flown from RAF Stradishall nearly seventy years previously. His daughter Susan and sons David, Tony and Martin had not only arranged for the Spitfire’s owner, Stephen Stead, to fly in to Duxford as a birthday celebration, but they also managed to keep it secret from their father until the very last moment.

Ken Sheppard (neighbour)

FROM THE ARCHIVES From the magazine published in December 1917 we read that the schoolchildren had made garments for the soldiers from Sproughton who were serving in the First World War. December 1917 was the last month that the local magazine was issued as the number of people receiving it in the village had dropped, so it wasn’t financially possible to print it. It was suggested that perhaps they could have the deanery magazine.

D Bradbury

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SPROUGHTON’S KOREAN VETERAN AND MIDDLE-DISTANCE RUNNER Terry Smith has lived in Beech Close, at the end of Church Crescent, since 1964. He bought the bungalow as a shell with the roof on and completed the interior fixings himself with a little help from friends.

He was born in 1932 and attended Tower Ramparts Secondary School in Ipswich.

He left school in 1946 to join a local building firm with whom he signed on for a five-year apprenticeship. In 1950 he was eligible for call-up and should have started his two years National Service in the army. His stint in the military was deferred for two years in view of his partially completed apprenticeship.

He had hoped his building experience would have qualified him to join an engineering corps, but the army had other ideas: he became an infantryman.

After a few weeks basic training in Bury St Edmunds, he was posted to Germany and then to Korea to join the Commonwealth Forces. His battalion moved straight up to the front line where new defences were being built.

Fortunately, Terry’s arrival in the war zone coincided with the ceasefire.

The conflict had cost 1.2 million lives, probably a lot more if all the civilian casualties had been added to the total. For a year Terry’s unit lived in tents in an area where rivers froze solid in winter, but were warm enough to swim in during the summer.

It was while he was serving in Korea that Terry took up running. This was not a choice. The officers said the troops would take part in cross-country running, so they did. It quickly became apparent that Terry was a natural distance runner and he was very successful in the inter-unit events, winning trophies in the one-mile and three-mile races. That was in 1954. The officers impressed upon him that he should continue with the sport after life in the army.

Once back in Ipswich, Terry rejoined the building firm where he had served his apprenticeship and soon became a member of Ipswich Harriers, taking part in middle distance events on track, road and cross country.

There followed a ten-year period of extraordinary success at county level.

He was the Suffolk 10-mile champion seven times; 6-mile champion three times; cross-country champion seven times. He was the county 3-mile track champion for ten years in succession 1957 to 1966. At international level he represented England in a cross-country event against France in Lille, and England against Switzerland in the 10,000 metres at Wimbledon Park.

Having given up serious competitive running, Terry concentrated on keeping fit. He did, however, enter the Ipswich Marathon at the age of 50. Despite knee trouble, he came third in the astonishingly fast time of under 2 hours 34 minutes. The recognised average time for a marathon is 4 hours 22 minutes!

The top knee specialist at St Thomas’s Hospital in London quickly diagnosed the problem and promptly told Terry to stop running. So he did.

Terry has never given up his interest in Korea. His tenth return visit was for a week in May 2018 as a member of the Korean Veterans Association, and many Koreans have visited him at his home in Sproughton.

Ken Sheppard

BURSTALL JAZZ AND JACKETS Dixieland Jazz Concert with two course supper Saturday, March 16 at 7.30pm Burstall Village Hall IP8 3DP Tickets £12 from Gillian on 07985 558014 BYO drinks In aid of St Mary’s Church

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NEWS / OUT & ABOUT SPROUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL

LENT SOUP LUNCHES

Leaving After 20 years’ service to the parish, Simon Curl, the parish council chair, has decided to step down. The parish council and the entire village will miss his experience and guidance. Helen Davies, vice-chair, has now been elected as chair.

Once again during Lent you are warmly invited to Soup Lunches taking place in Sproughton Church Hall on Thursdays between noon and 1.15pm. They start on Thursday, March 7 and continue every Thursday until April 11. On each occasion there will be a cake stall (contributions are invited), and the proceeds from this and the lunches will go to World Vision.

Sue Frankis, who has served the community so well as our parish clerk for many years, has also decided that this is an appropriate time for her to leave.

Her resignation will create a vacancy for the position in February. Details of the job vacancy are below.

World Vision is a Christian organisation currently helping more than 100 million people in nearly 100 countries in their struggle against poverty, hunger and injustice, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

VACANCY FOR PARISH CLERK Spoughton Parish Council now has a vacancy for a Parish Clerk / Responsible Financial Officer.

Applications are invited for the post which is ideal for anyone interested in taking an active role in the running of our parish community.

The successful applicant will be responsible for the administration of the parish council and also act as its Responsible Financial Officer.

They must be proficient in MS Word and Excel and will keep/use the parish council computer and records.

Previous experience is desirable, however training will be offered for the right candidate who must be able to attend evening meetings of the parish council (26 evenings per year).

Salary: Paid hourly/commensurate with experience as per the National Agreement.

Come and enjoy a bowl of soup (home-made whenever possible) and a roll, buy a cake for your neighbour and have fellowship with others, knowing that your money is helping some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

MELFORD HALL INVITES YOU We are holding another of our popular open days in March as we need to recruit more volunteer room guides. Why not come along and see how volunteering could add to your life in 2019? You will have the opportunity to chat with some of the volunteer room guides, as well as having a look around the hall. You will be able to hear first-hand what is entailed in the role as well as what can be gained out of it. If you have some spare time on your hands, are perhaps a little lonely, or want to meet people and chat, make new friends and have new experiences, come along and find out more.

The role will involve talking to our visitors, answering their questions and sharing the stories of this wonderful family home.

The open day is on Saturday, March 9 from 10am-1pm. To find out more, please contact us at: 01787 379228 / melford@nationaltrust.org.uk

Hours: Estimated at 16hrs per week dependent on roles and responsibilities undertaken (but flexibility will be required).

For a job description and further information contact: pc@sproughton.suffolk.gov.uk / 07486 509238 Application Deadline: 18 February 2019 The Houses Sproughton Really Needs Sproughton Parish Council has been given a grant to undertake a Local Housing Survey. This will be delivered to all homes in the parish sometime in the next few months and will be run independently by Community Action Suffolk. The survey questions have been constructed by CAS in conjunction with Babergh.

Please look out for it and don’t throw it in the bin with all the junk mail.

This survey will produce anonymous data to identify the housing needs of the parish community and their expanding families.

This is a real opportunity to shape the future of our parish, what we as a community need or don’t need and what we can afford.

You can complete the survey online using the code/link that will be provided.

Or complete the paper copy which comes with an SAE and other options to return it.

This survey is being organised by your parish council to provide evidence we can use to support your parish community. Our district council must use the results of the survey when considering planning applications in our parish.

Grant Reminder Sproughton Parish Council awards grants, at its discretion, to organisations which can demonstrate a clear need for financial support to achieve an objective which is within the boundaries of the legal constraints imposed on parish council grants and will benefit the parish. All applications and supporting documentation must be received by the end March or September each year as grants are considered at two points in the financial year – April and October Application forms are available from: pc@sproughton.gov.uk / 07486 509238

Q&A WITH IPSWICH CANINE CRECHE – LUXURY DOG DAY CARE You have been open almost one year already. I bet that’s gone quick?

It sure has! We opened on Farthing Road Industrial Estate in Sproughton in February 2018 and we are amazed how well we have done. Our luxury five-star rated dog crèche has proved very popular and we are still growing. We have a large custom designed 4,500-square-foot unit where dogs run freely as one happy pack. We have toys, stimulation games, Wendy houses, climbing frames and even comfy sofas for snoozing!

Sounds great, how do you keep the dogs safe?

Safety is paramount. All dogs have to be registered and pass a temperament test, and not every dog is right, or would be happy to attend. This ensures every dog is suitable and maintains the high standards of safety and wellbeing.

Wow, what’s a typical day look like?

No two days are the same, however we do follow a routine. On arrival we get the pooches arranged into the correct groups for age, energy and size. We then progress to free play, with mental and physical games, enrichment toys and activities. We have a break at lunch and a power nap. Afternoons are more varied, followed by storytime. Yes, we read to them! Then home, tired and content to their family who have had a guilt free day, knowing their pups have had the best day.

So how can I arrange to bring my dog?

We are open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and offer both full and half days. We take dog of all ages, from puppies to golden oldies.

Ipswich Canine Creche, Unit 7, The Sterling Complex, Farthing Road Industrial Estate, Ipswich IP1 5AP

www.sproughton.onesuffolk.net/parish-council/grants-policy

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NEWS SPROUGHTON COMMUNITY SHOP: Something for Everyone All our bills are paid, and we started 2019 on an upbeat note. Yes, our turnover has grown a bit. Thank goodness after the alarming drop in turnover in 2016/17. Perhaps as people are becoming more aware of the need for food security our fortunes will continue to improve. The many local products we stock are in no danger from Brexit, although we may have shortages in such things as Korean Chilli Crackers and Wasabi peas!

Our volunteers did us proud with the monumental tasks of the stocktake, and many hours of spring cleaning, I calculated about 24 hours in all. We re-opened on January 5 clean and decent, with a good supply of new fresh winter vegetables. Stock taking makes you realise how incredible the amount and variety of stock we have really is.

For instance: Check out our spice, girls!

Rosalind Lavington, www.sproughtonshop.co.uk / enquiryatsproughtonshop@mail.com / 01473 747769

VALENTINE CASSEROLE FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS It’s that time of year when a young man’s fancy – we are told – turns to thoughts of love. It’s also said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And so, with a tip of the hat to St Valentine, this might be just the recipe for that perfect match.

During the Renaissance, the wife of King Henry II of France reputedly ate artichokes so voraciously the people were scandalised. However, science has yet to prove any raised levels of desire or activity through its influence, but perhaps there has not been enough testing. I shall leave that to you.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE CASSEROLE 1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, drained 1 can or jar marinated artichokes or artichoke hearts cut into pieces, drained 1 small (170 gm) pkg cream cheese 150 g grated parmesan cheese (set aside some for topping) 2oz butter 9” x 9” baking pan or suitable ovenware

Spinach, on the other hand, is good for the heart, as are so many other leafy green vegetables, so one way or the other this seems to be a good month to take care of your heart and its yearnings. I hope I’ve helped. If not, eat with total abandon purely for your own degustation. Enjoy!

Butter the baking dish. Arrange artichokes on the bottom. Layer the spinach over that. Mix parmesan (except the reserved bit) into the cream cheese and spread on top. Dot butter over this and sprinkle the reserved parmesan on top. Cover and bake at 180℃ / gas mark 4 for 10 minutes, then uncover and finish baking for 30 more minutes.

Mary Bright Basan

Questions or comments? Email me: mbb.101@hotmail.com

COUNTRY RAMBLES

IPSWICH & DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB

The weather hasn’t been great recently so we have only walked on Sunday afternoon in Chantry Park.

Probus clubs are for retired or semi-retired gentlemen. We meet monthly at the Masonic Hall in Soane Street, Ipswich on the last Wednesday of each month for lunch, followed by talks and lectures on a variety of subjects.

Weather permitting we hope to walk on Sunday, February 10, meeting at the church at 2pm. This will be a local walk.

The midweek ramble will be on Tuesday, February 19, meeting at the church at 10am. Again weather permitting, destination not yet decided upon.

D Bradbury

www.keepingintouchwith.com/sproughton

In addition we hold social events including outside visits when we invite our spouses, partners and friends to join us.

If membership appeals to you, please contact our secretary, Ken Stanley, for further details: 01473 274898 / probus174@gmail.com

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OUT & ABOUT SUFFOLK ENERGY-FROM-WASTE

SPROUGHTON SENIOR CITIZENS

A free educational resource for schools, colleges and clubs In 2018, almost half of all visits to the Suffolk energy-from-waste facility were educational visits from schools, colleges and clubs. We provide age appropriate educational activities for all visitors from age seven and up and have been awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge for our commitment to sustaining high quality learning outside of the classroom.

I hope you all had a good Christmas. We started 2019 with our usual Wednesday meeting on January 9 and a meal at the Wild Man on January 16.

We would like to encourage these visits even more; it’s a great opportunity to see first-hand what happens to non-recyclable waste in Suffolk as well as learning about reducing, reusing and recycling. If you know of any groups that would be interested in a visit to the energy-from-waste facility, we host visits five days a week for schools, colleges and universities, and in the evenings for clubs.

BURSTALL WI

For all enquiries please contact us at: 01473 839149 / suffolkefw.uk@suez.com We’re on Twitter Did you know that Suffolk’s energy-from-waste facility is on social media?

For more frequent facility updates, fun facts and all the handy tips you could ever need about rubbish, recycling, and food waste, follow us on Twitter: @suffolkefw Any questions?

If you have any queries about our operations, please to contact the facility at: 01473 839149 / suffolkefw.uk@suez.com OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS Environment Agency: 0800 807 060 SUEZ Communities Trust: 01454 262910

GREAT BLAKENHAM CRAFT CLUB Open to anyone living in Great Blakenham and the surrounding areas, the club meets every Monday other than bank holidays in Great Blakenham Parish Room (opposite the Chequers PH) from 2-4pm. The building is fully accessible. Members pay £2 per meeting to cover hall hire, refreshments, the monthly workshop goody bag and weekly raffle prizes. Alternatively you may wish to bring your own project and enjoy our company and make new friends. Members take it in turns to make the tea.

OUR PROGRAMME FOR 2019 February 4: New Year New Life March 4: Seaside April 1: Fact and Fantasy May 13: Village Life and Little Mice June 3: Summer Sewing July 1: A Bit of Bling August 5: Autumn’s Coming September 2: Take Heart October 7: Fabric Cards November 4: Christmas Cards with a Twist December 2: AGM There is currently room for new members so please get in touch if you would like to join us. Although the club is all ladies at present, gentlemen who would like to learn crafts are welcome. Unfortunately I can’t accommodate children.

Jackie Durrant: 01449 672690

BRAMFORD COMPUTER CLUB In February the club will meet between 10am and noon every Wednesday except February 20 which is during the school half-term break. Membership, payable in September, is £1, plus £3 for each two-hour session. All meetings are held in the upstairs room at Bramford Methodist Church where refreshments and broadband (‘Ultra+’ has recently been installed) are available. We have no set programme, but are here to help you to get the most out of your computer. Why not give us a try?

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We’re not arranging much other than our usual Wednesday meetings in February as the weather can sometimes be too bad to travel.

More information next month on any future entertainment.

Eunice

Burstall WI members thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas supper party. The food, as you would expect, was excellent and the atmosphere convivial. The main courses were made by the committee and the ‘to die for’ desserts were produced by the members. After the meal and a couple of glasses of wine, there was an origami challenge to create a Christmas tree decoration. Some turned out better than others!

One of our members is a teacher at Stowupland School and we agreed to support her students in collecting everyday consumables for The Sick Children’s Trust. The picture shows Aimee delivering the goodies that we had donated and the £200 raised by the students.

The first meeting of this year was a very relaxed affair. Our very own Jane Sago (ex-WI Federation Chairman and TV’s Super Scrimper cookery expert) was the star turn. She gave an extremely competent cookery demonstration of quick super dishes which (a further highlight) we were all able to sample.

This year is the centenary of Suffolk East Federation of WIs, and with over 100 branches in the federation it will be celebrated in style across the county. Lots of events are planned and we decided what we would like to participate in. We are definitely going to be part of the Windmill Trail; Aimee is already constructing our windmill, which will go on display shortly in the village hall window. We reckon that we can compete in all the classes in the Suffolk Show competition and our allocation of tickets for the annual meeting at Trinity Park were snapped up when it was announced that the keynote speaker is to be Kevin Clifford of Strictly fame! Eight members will be attending.

For Burstall members, Lynn has planned a new-look programme with lots of interesting activities. This month we will be making fascinators. There’s a lot to look forward to and enjoy in 2019.

If you would like to know more about Burstall WI please email: annfday@gmail.com

WILL YOU OPEN YOUR GARDEN IN 2019?

Help us to raise £2.5m to build a new breast care centre at Ipswich Hospital. We are looking for people to open their gardens in 2019 to raise money for the Blossom Appeal. Our vision is for every breast care patient to have the best possible experience when they come to Ipswich Hospital.

All types and size of garden are very welcome. You choose when to open.

Simply ask visitors for a donation to view your garden. Sell refreshments, plants or crafts to boost your fundraising.

To help us to blossom, register your garden at: www.colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk/opengardens Or for more information contact: charity@esneft.nhs.uk / 0300 770 1369

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OUT & ABOUT / CHURCH NEWS CLAYDON HIGH SCHOOL

CLAYDON & DISTRICT BADMINTON CLUB

The spring term has started in earnest with Year 11 students undertaking internal exams in preparation for the real thing in the summer. It can be a stressful time, but lots of support is offered, especially in the form of after school revision sessions.

It’s still not too late to get your exercise regime back on track. Why not get back into badminton right on your doorstep here at Claydon High School?

Later this month they will take part in a Revision Bootcamp on Mersea Island in Essex. As well as learning some useful revision strategies they will attempt some challenging physical activities including high ropes and a climbing wall to build confidence and prove to themselves that if they have a go they will succeed! Hopefully in addition to returning home cold, tired and muddy they will feel more confident moving towards their exam season.

Elsewhere in school, having successfully impressed the judges to beat Ipswich School in the first round of the English Speaking Union’s Schools’ Mace Competition, our debating team are preparing to battle it out against St Benedict’s High School and The Royal Hospital School in the next stage of the competition to be held at Langley School in Norfolk. In the following week they will also take part in a public speaking competition hosted by Youth Speaks; we wish them the very best of luck!

This month we have two overseas trips taking place. Two students have been chosen to represent our school on the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, a national programme funded by the government.

Accompanied by a teacher, students will visit battlefield sites in Belgium and France, participate in remembrance ceremonies and record, reflect and share their own experiences.

Claydon & District Badminton Club is a social badminton club which meets on Monday nights from 7-9pm during school term time in Claydon High School Sports Hall. Although we are a popular club we have some space and you would be very welcome.

If you fancy a game you can have a free taster session. Come along to meet us and have a few games at the Sports Hall on any Monday night during school term.

For more information visit our website or get in touch with C&DBC chairman Dik Langan: 01473 831692 / claydonbadminton@dnacomputing.co.uk www.claydonbadminton.wordpress.com

SOMERSHAM BAPTIST CHURCH Love. It was what we were made for. Not just for Valentine’s with flowers and chocolates. We were made for love, every minute of our lives. The love of parents, siblings and friends as well as lovers. Love puts a spring in our step, a smile on our face. It transforms our environment, benefits our health. Most of all we are meant to enjoy love and to know and experience the love of God.

In addition to this, we will continue to run our annual Battlefields trip (open to students in Years 9 and 10) in July, offering them the same experiences with an additional focus on the history and English curriculum as well as keeping the memory and legacy of this war alive for future generations.

But love is beyond us. We spoil, test and fail love. Love does not last. It is because we find ourselves estranged from his love, no longer experiencing the love of God that God seems distant and stern. Amazingly we are not beyond his love. Love was the motive for sending his Son, Jesus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In half-term, 40 students will travel by ferry and coach to Obertauern in Austria for our bi-annual ski trip. This seven-day trip will include daily ski lessons, exploring the local area and organised evening entertainment.

As well as the physical challenge, this trip will allow students to try something new, experience the wider world and develop independence, resilience and confidence.

The result of faith in Jesus is love. Love for God and love enough for others.

The Christian is called to a life of love, drawing on the love of God to help us to love others. Albeit true some people are harder to love than others, but it is also true that none of us are very loving. Love is provoked in the Christian with God’s love for us, the unlovely. And the power of his love is channelled to us by his Spirit. All because “God is love”.

This term will remain busy into March as we look forward to a number of activities and events including a rock band workshop, art exhibition, Globe Theatre trip and a return visit from our Spanish exchange students.

Christianity Explored @ The Duke We are delighted to be back in the pub every Thursday night in February for another video and discussion course, this time Christianity Explored. Over seven Thursday nights we will explore Mark’s Gospel, finding out who Jesus is, why he came and what it means to follow him. If you wish to eat, come at 7pm (order at the bar, prices from £5.50), or for the start of the video at 7.45pm, with discussion finishing at 8.45pm.

OPEN MORNING If you would like to visit the school and see us in action, please come along to one of our open mornings. The next one is on Thursday, February 14. Please telephone my PA, Ms J Saunders, on 01473 836110 to book a place.

Headteacher Maéve Taylor

BURSTALL CARPET BOWLS CLUB We finished 2018 on a winning streak, beating Old Felixstowe 7-3 at home to end the year in the top half of the table. Let’s hope we can maintain this during the second half of the year.

A delicious Christmas lunch at Hintlesham Hall was enjoyed by members to round off the year.

Burstall Carpet Bowls Club meets every Monday and Friday at the village hall at 7.30pm and would welcome new members.

You don’t have to play in matches, just come along and see how you get on. No equipment required. Why not give it a try rather than sitting at home in the winter evenings?

For further information contact Richard Sago: 01473 742468

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We have an alternative Sunday at the chapel planned for February 24, designed to complement the Christianity Explored course. There will be three videos and a time to reflect upon what we have heard of Jesus and to eat and relax in each other’s company, 10am-3.30pm with lunch in between.

You are welcome to join our regular meetings of worship and fellowship: Sunday 10-10.30am: Prayer and Share 10.45-11.15am: Bible Study (Communion on the first Sunday) 11.30am-12.30pm: Worship Service Refreshments are served between meetings; come and go as you wish.

Weekdays at the Chapel Lunch and Listen: Thursday, February 7 at noon Friends and Neighbours: Monday, February 18, 7.45pm CONTACTS Mark Newcombe, Pastor 01473 831940 / 07958 830103 m.newcombe940@btinternet.com Edwin Mayhew: 01473 658100 WORSHIPPING AND FOLLOWING JESUS TOGETHER

In Touch online:

www.keepingintouchwith.com/sproughton

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CHURCH NEWS THE NORTH SAMFORD BENEFICE Sproughton with Burstall, Copdock with Washbrook and Belstead & Bentley with Tattingstone For parish queries please contact: The Rev Annette Shannon The Rectory, Glebe Close, Sproughton IP8 3BQ revannettes@aol.co.uk / 01473 807674 Friends, We are now a whole month into 2019 and although the weather may not be getting any warmer just yet, we can at least expect lighter mornings and evenings. I often find February can be a hard month to get through.

All the excitement of a new start in January has worn away, and yet the warmth and anticipation of spring can still seem far off.

However, if you look hard enough, there are signs that spring is coming.

There are flowers beginning to bloom; you may have already noticed snowdrops, but as we move into February we are likely to be greeted with daffodils, lesser celandine and, if we have a mild February, we may even see some blossom.

February also brings us the beautiful sound of the dawn chorus, sights of buzzards in the sky and maybe even frogspawn! So although it may feel dark, cold and that we are still in the depths of winter, the sights and sounds of spring are all there. We just have to look for them.

Occasionally, we can feel like our own lives are like the days of winter: bleak, cold, lonely and miserable, perhaps because we are experiencing troubled or uncertain times or because we are suffering pain or illness.

Perhaps because of the loss of someone we love. All these things can make us feel very down. And sometimes it can feel like the hardness of these experiences is lasting forever. There is no sign of change – just darkness ahead.

Like the warmth that spring can bring to a dark winter, we too can experience freedom from the darkness by having a relationship with God. Having faith in Jesus that there are greater things to come can help us get through times of real difficulty. The Bible tells us that the Lord has plans to prosper, not harm us. Plans to give us a future filled with hope. So even when we can’t see any positivity ahead, we can have faith that God’s future plans for us are warm, peaceful and full of hope. Just like there are glimpses of spring in the dark winter months, we too can always find signs of Jesus, willing us to invite Him into our lives. Just have a look and welcome Him in.

On the first Sunday of every month at Sproughton church we have a Families@Church Service at 11am. We welcome everyone; all ages are encouraged to come and join us in our family friendly service. If you have young children, don’t be alarmed if they won’t stay seated. My own twoyear-old son regularly joins me at the front of the service and my fouryear-old daughter enjoys participating as long as I hold her hand!

There are many other family friendly services across our benefice; do look in the In touch magazine for future services or on our Facebook page (North Samford Benefice).

Blessings, Ellie Wepener North Samford Churches Baby and Toddler Group 9.30-11.30am at Sproughton Church Hall on Mondays in term time.

Suggested donation £2 per family. Leaders: The Rev Annette Shannon (01473 807674) / Doreen (01473 311122) Wedding Preparation Day: Bentley Village Hall IP9 2DW on Saturday, February 2. We start promptly at 10am and will finish by 3pm.

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FROM THE REGISTERS Burial of Ashes Ivan Gooch – Belstead Mabel Hunter – Bentley Sidney George – Sproughton Annette Clare Forsdike - Sproughton FEBRUARY Saturday 2 Saturday 2 Wednesday 6 Thursday 7 Thursday 7 Saturday 9 Wednesday 13 Wednesday 20 Wednesday 20 Thursday 21 Saturday 23 Wednesday 27

Copdock Morning Market, 10am Wedding Preparation Day, 10am at Bentley Village Hall Bentley Home Communions, 10am Bentley Coffee & Company, 10am Burstall Community Lunch, 12.30pm Sproughton Monthly Market, 10am Joint PCC meeting Copdock Home Communions, 10am Burstall Adoption of Accounts Burstall Messy Church Sproughton Beetle Drive, 7.30pm Tattingstone PCC

SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE Sunday, February 3 8am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

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

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

Croissant Church Family Service Holy Communion Holy Communion Evening Prayer

Sunday, February 17 9.30am Burstall 10am Copdock 10am Bentley 3.30pm Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

Holy Communion Simply Sunday Morning Prayer Family@Church Holy Communion

Sunday, February 24 8am Sproughton 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Belstead 6pm Tattingstone

Holy Communion Matins Holy Communion Holy Communion Morning Celebration Holy Communion

Sunday, March 3 8am Copdock 9.30am Burstall 10am Bentley 10am Copdock 10am Tattingstone 11am Sproughton

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

Burstall Messy Church: Thursday, February 21 at Burstall Village Hall

Ash Wednesday, March 6 7.30pm Sproughton Holy Communion

Trad Jazz Concert at Burstall Village Hall: Saturday, March 16 at 7.30pm.

Includes a two course supper. Tickets £12 from Gillian: 07985 558014

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

In Touch online:

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A play inspired by the 1953 East Coast Floods

by Jayne Lindill & Horizon Theatre

An evening of local entertainment and original drama Feb 7: Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club Feb 8: Shotley Village Hall Feb 13: Ansell Centre, Hadleigh Feb 14: Waldringfield Village Hall Feb 15: Church Hall, Lower Road, Sproughton Welcome drinks, live acoustic music from 7.15pm Tickets: £5 on the door or call 07864084423 email:jaynelindill2@btinternet.com

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