Wickham Skeith Newsletter March 2020
~ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ~ Don’t forget - Hot Puddings Evening on Saturday 29 th February @ 7.30 pm. All meetings in Village Hall unless stated otherwise
March 2020 Monday 2nd Monday Morning Lent Group 10.15 for 10.30am rd Tuesday 3 FOSA Bingo 7.30pm th Wednesday 4 Afternoon Tea & Chat 2-4pm th Monday 9 Monday Morning Lent Group 10.15 for 10.30am th Monday 9 Parish Council All Welcome 8pm th Tuesday 10 Hilltop Women’s group talk - River Pilot 7.45pm th Wednesday 11 Lunch Club 12 for 12.30 Advance Bookings Please Thursday 12th Mobile Library @ Chalet bungs 9.45 then The Street 10.05am Saturday 14th Crafternoon 2-4pm Saturday 14th Village Quiz for St Andrews Church 7.30pm Monday 16th Monday Morning Lent Group 10.15 for 10.30am th Monday 16 Village Hall AGM All Welcome 7.30pm th Wednesday 18 Afternoon Tea & Chat 2-4pm Wednesday 18th History Group: Healing Power of the Medieval Garden. 7.45 pm Friday 20th Junior Table Tennis competition 6-8pm st Saturday 21 Junior Final & Adult Table Tennis Tournament 6pm start rd Monday 23 Monday Morning Lent Group 10.15 for 10.30am th Tuesday 24 Gardening Club talk – Daffodils 7:30pm th Wednesday 25 Afternoon Tea & Chat 2-4pm Saturday 28th Coffee morning/book sale 10 – 11.30am @ 1 The Broadway th Monday 30 Monday Morning Lent Group 10.15 for 10.30am Wednesday 29th April Vestry Meeting & PCC AGM 7.30pm
~VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE NEWS ~
We have had a very quiet start to the year but it is terrific to see the number of bookings in the Village Hall with many groups based in the community making good and regular use of the facilities. We have an outside booking in May for another election! Apparently we need to elect a new Suffolk PCC. What's one of those I hear many asking. Well Google says... Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) are elected representatives who oversee how crime is tackled in a police force area. Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure the police force is effective Best use your vote carefully!! (These sort of hirings are quite lucrative for the Village Hall) On Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March we have the Table Tennis Tournaments. Friday from 6-8pm is the Junior competition with school years 3 to 11 being eligible to enter. There will also be a handicapping system in place in an effort to even up any age disadvantages. Entry is free, snacks will be available and the Bar open. If tables are empty then adults may practise for the main event the following evening. Saturday from 6pm the Junior Final will be played and then the adult competition will follow on immediately. Again the bar is open; sausage rolls, pizza slices and other bar snacks will be available. Please phone Nigel 766222 to register your entry for either event. This is quite important as it makes planning the games a great deal easier! Good luck to everybody...and as always all events are better by having an appreciative audience so come along to watch if you're not playing! In April we are holding the Garage Sales again and there is more news on this elsewhere in the Newsletter. But please note that if you feel a bit 'out on a limb' we are offering the chance to have car boot sales in the Village Hall car park at the same price of ÂŁ5 a pitch. This will be the width of your car!! Saturday 20th June is the Village fete-Midsummer Madness! More details following but please put it in your calendar as soon as possible. And finally the Village Hall AGM is coming up on Monday 16th March at 7:30pm. Your opportunity to hear what has gone on, the finances and to ask any questions you may have about the Village Hall. We hope to open the discussion on the next stage of the development of the Hall with improvements to the kitchen and cooking facilities. A rough estimate of ÂŁ40,000 is currently likely so we desperately need the input from the community to ensure that we get it right, it is needed and we have YOUR support in raising this sort of sum of money. YOU WILL NOT be badgered into joining the committee-although more members are always welcome-but as one of my bosses once said to me 'I don't know unless you tell me!' so please do tell us your thoughts.
~NEWS FROM THE CLUBS~ Hilltop Women’s Group We welcomed Alan Edwards, a metal detectorist, to our February meeting. He brought magnifying glasses, a selection of found 'treasures' and answer sheets and divided us into little teams to have a go at being detectives. It was great fun. He was a fascinating speaker and we felt involved and intrigued by all the exhibits. Thanks go to the lovely Libby for this suggestion. We loved it. We are hoping, at long last, to welcome Jane Stone, our river pilot, to the next meeting on Tuesday 10th March at 7:45pm. She had to cancel last year so we are eagerly awaiting this visit. Do come along if you haven't been for a while, or are new to the village. £3 for visitors, tea and biscuits included and a raffle. The competition is 'something beginning with 'C''. Any enquiries to Margaret Knights 767708 or Sue Merriam 766222 or any other committee members.
History & Film Group This month we welcome back Joy Hawkins from UEA who will be giving a talk on “ A Balm for Body and Soul: The Healing Power of the Medieval Garden” News articles regularly highlight the health benefits of parks and green spaces in our busy twenty-first century life. This is not new knowledge. Throughout the medieval period medical writers and theologians emphasised the importance of gardens, extolling their virtues especially during times of plague. This talk will explain how gazing on green grass restored poor sight and the close relationship between gardens and a person's physical and spiritual health. All are welcome so do join us in the Village Hall at 7.45pm on Wed 18 Mar. Entry Fee £2, including tea/coffee and biscuits. Advance notice – on Wed 15 April we will be holding a WWII evening to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the war. Do you have any items of interest you would like to bring or stories you would like to share? Contact: Pete Davidson 766622 or pjdavidson42@gmail.com
Village Afternoon Tea and Chat An informal gathering for tea and biscuits. Open to all, young and old; dogs welcome too. Afternoon tea at the village hall happens every Wednesday from 2-4pm except Lunch Club days. As much tea/coffee as you can drink for only £1.
~NEWS FROM THE CLUBS~ Lunch Club In February we enjoyed a lovely lunch of Sausage Pie with masses of healthy vegetables followed by a very tasty apple and banana crumble with custard and cream. Thanks to our cooks Romaine Elsden and Jenny Harvey and their support team of Annie Matthews, Ann Munns and Dave Challinor. It was such a friendly and relaxed afternoon and so good to see new members from our village joining us and enjoying the food and the chat. If you are 60 years old or over, please come and join us at Lunch Club in March. You will enjoy a substantial two course meal with coffee, in a friendly and fun environment; all for the amazing price of £3.50! Next lunch club is on Wednesday, 11th March. Just let Jenny Elphick know if you wish to book a place 01449 766885 or 07745416091.
Crafternoon Saturday 14 March 2020 2-4pm Come and join us if you (or would like to) paint, draw, collage, felt, print, sculpt, make stained glass, knit, sew, embroider, patchwork & quilt - in fact whatever your art or craft bring what you're working on at present. Share skills, ideas, techniques and tips. Inspire and be inspired in the company of other creative people. If you have a 'crafty' friend, bring them along too!
Entry £2.00 per person.
Wickham Skeith GardeninG club All Meetings Held In Wickham Skeith Village Hall Unless Indicated Otherwise TUESDAY 24 MARCH 2020 7:30PM The return of a popular speaker – Ann Tweddle from Suffolk Plant Heritage will tell us about their Daffodil Collection. Members £1/Non-members £3. TUESDAY 28 APRIL 2020 7:30PM John Hewson will be speaking about one of our favourite plants, the Sweet Pea. Members £1/Non-members £3.
~NEWS FROM THE CLUBS & OTHER EVENTS~
Lent Lunches at the Village Hall You are invited to sample a simple soup and bread lunch at the Village Hall on Thursdays in March; any time between noon and 1.30pm. All welcome including wellbehaved dogs. Lunches are on 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of March. We will also offer tea and coffee. There is no charge, just come along to chat and enjoy the soup. If you want to contribute in some way, please phone me. There will be two donation plates in aid of two good causes. The first is a fund to care for and educate Syrian child refugees (via Embrace the Middle East). The second will be in support of UK flood victims – if you can suggest a named fund for this please let me know; I’m hoping something may pop up on the Internet. We are so very fortunate that homes in our own area have not been flooded. This venture is an attempt to think of others during the period of Lent and I’m hoping those who give our soup-and-bread a try will meet friends and have a good chat – maybe meet new neighbours too. Many thanks, Sheila Wright 01449 768644
Mobile Library Service Don’t forget the Suffolk Library Mobile service has its new scheduled stop by the Chalet Bungalows. The timetable is: Layby Chalet Bungalows from 9.45-10am and outside Haymead House, The Street from 10.05 to 10.20. Next Visit: 12 March.
49/59 Club This month’s winning numbers are: 54 21 18 17.
~ S T. A N D R E W ’ S C H U R C H ~ Rural Dean: Rev Canon Diane Williams 720316, mobile 07714016554 diane.rev@btinternet.com Readers: Helen Matter 780379, Elaine Miller 770337, Sheila Wright 768644 Elders: Peter Paine 767897, Janice Shea 781263, Jean Willoughby 766621 Services for March 2020 Every Sunday morning at 9.30am unless otherwise stated 1st – Lent 1, Holy Communion – Rev Canon Barbara Bilston 6th, Friday 2pm – World Day of Prayer Service at Stowupland Church 8th – Lent 2, Morning Worship - ‘The Home Team’ 15th – Lent 3, 10am Benefice Family Communion at Cotton – Ven John Cox 22nd – Mothering Sunday, Family Service – ‘The Home Team’ 29th – Lent 5, Extended Holy Communion - Peter Paine April 2nd, Thursday 7.30pm, Bacton Church – Licensing of Revd. Carl Melville as Rector of the Bacton Benefice As usual there will be a World Day of Prayer service in our area on the first Friday in March. Note that the heading has changed to acknowledge more clearly that the service is for everyone. It is now known as “World Day of Prayer: a women led, global, ecumenical movement”. Each year the service is planned by women in a different country of the world. This year the service is entitled ‘Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk’ and has been prepared by the women of Zimbabwe. If you would like to know more about the service or would like a lift, please speak to Mary P or Liz D. It is always an enjoyable service & lifts will be available. Bishop Mike will come to Bacton church on Thursday 2 nd April at 7.30pm for the licensing of Rev. Carl Melville as our new Rector for the Bacton Benefice. Parking and refreshments after the service will be at Bacton Primary School. We look forward to welcoming Carl. Please let your churchwardens know if you are interested in attending the service. The Monday Morning Group will become our Lent Group, meeting weekly until Easter. We always welcome new participants, of any faith or no faith, to join our discussion so do consider coming along. The Vestry meeting to elect churchwardens for the coming year, followed by the PCC AGM for reports on the PCC’s work in the last year and to elect PCC members for the coming year will take place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 29th April. Only those on the Electoral Roll are entitled to vote at the AGM, although all parishioners can vote at the Vestry meeting. Nominations for PCC members and churchwardens should be made on the forms available from Mary Paine – elections without proper nominations are irregular and to be avoided. Margaret Jones-Evans has to check the Electoral Roll ready for the Annual Meeting so if you would like to be included please speak to her in church or phone 01449 767121 to ask for a form.
Flower & Cleaning Rota 1st & 8th Mr & Mrs I Hempstead 15th & 22nd Mr & Mrs P Paine 29th & April 5th Mrs J Homan & Mrs J Willoughby
~ F U N D R A I S I N G for S T. A N D R E W ’ S C H U R C H ~
Heating: The Chancellor of the Diocese has granted a Faculty for the new heating system so the contractor has ordered the new radiators and should be able to start work soon. In spite of the intense cold in the church volunteers have cleaned and we have had congregations each weekend – thank you to all of you! The wind howling around the church recently has made it feel almost cosy. Fundraising: To raise the money for the new heating system we have several fundraising events that we hope you will support and enjoy: Hot Puddings Evening on Saturday 29th February At 7.30 pm in the Village Hall. Admission £5 payable at the door if you haven’t already bought a ticket. There will be more than 12 puddings for you to sample as many as you can, with recipes available too plus a raffle, tea and coffee. No need to book – please turn up. Quiz on Saturday 14th March At 7.30pm in the Village Hall. Pete Davidson has prepared another of his brilliant quizzes. We’ll have tables of eight, Quiches and salad with French bread at half time with tea and coffee and the bar will be open all evening. No problem if you’d like to come on your own – there will be lots of spaces available and you’ll be very welcome. To book please phone Pete on 01449 766622 Book Sale and Coffee Morning on Saturday 28th March 10am to 11.30am at Margaret’s – Highbanks, 1, Broadway. Lots of excellent fiction and non-fiction books for sale at 3 for £1 and the refreshments will be as good as usual – cakes, sausage rolls, cheese scones and lots of tea and fresh coffee. Good raffle too. Just arrive – you’ll be very welcome. Thank you to everyone who supports these events. The church is the oldest building in the village and needs all our support. Margaret Jones-Evans 767121 Churchwarden, Fundraising Group Liz Davidson 766622 Churchwarden, Fundraising Group
~ANNUAL GARAGE SALES~ WHEN? WHERE? are unable to
Saturday 25th April 2020 Your own garage; front lawn; drive etc. For those who hold their sale at home, car boot facilities will be
available at the Village Hall Car Park. Please indicate on your slip if you wish to have a table/car somewhere else. WHAT TIME?
9am - 2pm
HOW MUCH?
£5 per garage
Involve all your family NOW!! Sort out the loft; spring clean, blitz the garage and shed; check those cupboards and drawers; Get rid of unwanted gifts, clothes, toys, videos, books, jewellery. Convert unused household and garden equipment into cash!! Make some money for yourself, the village hall, your village group or a charity of your choice. All you have to do is: Register your sale in advance by filling in the tear off slip at the bottom of this sheet. Enclose £5.00 cash or a cheque made payable to Wickham Skeith Village Hall. Please give to Margaret Horne at The Twynings (pink house opposite the back of The Green) or place in the red box at the gate, or through letter box in the back door (entrance in The Entry) no later than……...
Saturday 18th April. This is important if you wish to be included in the map. It will be well advertised and posters will go up in the surrounding villages. If you would like a poster to display please contact Margaret 01449 766398 margaret.horne1234@btinternet.com . The Village Hall will be open all day for location maps, toilet facilities and refreshment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cut this strip off here or photocopy Name ………………………………………………………. Address ……………………………………………………. Tel No. …………………….
I enclose ÂŁ5 cash/I enclose a cheque for ÂŁ5 (delete as appropriate) The Village Hall Committee cannot be held responsible for any theft or damage to your property during this event. Please hand this slip to Margaret Horne at The Twynings no later than 18th April.
~COMMUNITY NEWS ~
Toad Patrol Once the weather warms up again, after this cold snap, toads should begin to emerge from hibernation and make their hazardous journey back to their spawning ponds. Toads usually move after dark when the temperature is above 6°C on damp evenings. Once again we have organised a Toad Patrol to go out at dusk and lift toads across the road. If you see someone walking round in a high viz jacket, carrying a torch and a bucket – that’s us. The warning signs will go up once we hear that toads are on the move. Please take care when driving round the green - toads crawl slowly across the road and, inconveniently, sit in puddles. If you would like to volunteer to go out on one night each week once toads are on the move, buckets and torches ready, please contact Melinda on mappleby@tiscali.co.uk.
Introducing the New Rector of The Bacton Benefice Hello! I am The Revd Carl Melville and I’ll be licensed to the benefice in April. I am very much looking forward to moving to Bacton and being part of the six communities which I will serve. I’m no stranger to this part of Suffolk. I grew up in Old Newton and spent many hours cycling from village to village ringing the church bells of Cotton, Bacton and Wickham Skeith. I attended Bacton Middle School too! My large family are still local to Stowmarket, so I know the area well. I trained for the priesthood at Trinity College, Bristol. I moved with my two dogs, who, although loud when you first meet them, are in fact very lovable and friendly. I very much look forward to working alongside the churches to continue to make sure they are safe spaces for the whole community and fun and engaging for families. If you see me out walking the dogs (Labradors, one yellow, one black) do say hello. I can be contacted by email: carlmelville@hotmail.com. I don’t officially start duties until Thursday 2nd April, when I will be licensed by the Bishop, at 7.30pm at Bacton Church. I very much look forward to sharing in village life with you over the coming years.
~ W I C K HAM S K E I T H PAR I S H C O U N C I L ~
I hereby give you notice that a meeting of Wickham Skeith Parish Council will be held at the Village Hall on Monday, 9 March 2020 at 8.00 pm. The public and press are invited to attend. Parish Clerk, Huw Roberts. For further information contact Huw on wickhamskeithpc@hotmail.com or 0777 180 8677. Items for the agenda will include: Internal Accounts and Audit review, Reports from SCC: Cllr Stringer, MSDC: Cllr Warboys, Suffolk Police, Parish Clerk and Parish Councillors and, as always, the Open Village Forum.
Spring Clean Suffolk 2020 Look out for announcements of our Annual Litter Pick which usually takes place towards the end of March or early April. Can you spare an hour or two to help keep our village tidy? 20 March – 13 April is the national Great British Spring Clean – see keepbritaintidy.org for more details. ******************************************************************************************************************************
Business Adverts Adverts are £5.00 per month, £25 for 6 months and £50 for one year. Cash or cheque (payable to “Wickham Skeith Village Hall”) to Melinda Appleby at Haymead House, The Street, in advance of the advert being placed please.
~ ADVERTISEMENTS ~
Thornham Film nights A special extra film for spring - Friday 6th March at 7.30pm FIVE SEASONS: THE GARDENS OF PIET OUDOLF A documentary on the world's most celebrated garden designer, who has made gardens become art. For this film only, tickets are ÂŁ7.50 and booking is essential and on a different number. Please phone Tina on 01379 788207. Friday 20th March at 7.30pm GOOD LIAR cert 15 Despite starring Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen this film contains some strong language. Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/ljKzFGpPHhw Tickets ÂŁ5, please reserve by text or voicemail to 07858 934440 More details: www.thornhamvillagehall.co.uk
~ ADVERTISEMENTS ~
Thornham Hall, Thornham Magna IP23 8HA Curry Buffet, Saturday 7th March Our popular curry night is back, come and enjoy a selection of homemade curries, rice and sides. It is amazing value at £19.95 per adult and £10 per child. Mothers Day Weekend Saturday 21st March we will be having a Mother’s Day afternoon tea with unlimited tea refills for £13.50 per guest. Sunday 22nd March, Mothering Sunday lunch - 2 courses £19.95 and 3 courses £23.95! Telephone: 01379 783373 Mob: 07376374633 Email: contact@thornhamcoachhouse.com
***** GISLINGHAM PLAYGROUP ***** We provide a safe, warm, friendly and caring setting for children aged 2-5 years, in a brand new purpose built building on the same site as Gislingham CEVCP School, with whom we work closely to provide an excellent education. Breakfast Club 8.00am - 8.45am Morning 8.45am to 11.45am, Lunch Club 11.45am to 12.45pm Afternoon 12.45pm to 3.45pm Please visit our website www.gislinghamplaygroup.com or phone us on 01379 788934
~ ADVERTISEMENTS ~
GRAHAM MOORE ELECTRICAL LTD Blacksmiths Cottage, Silver Street, Old Newton IP14 4HF
For all your electrical needs For a friendly and efficient service Call Graham on Tel: 01449 616946 Mobile: 07867 560357 *FREE ESTIMATES * ALL WORK GUARANTEED *
~ ADVERTISEMENTS ~
Ed Batram GARDEN SERVICES Clearance, design, planting, aftercare for your garden… Trees, hedging, fencing, log splitting & chainsaw work… Ground clearance, paths, patios, brickwork and paving… All aspects of conservation work undertaken. FREE ESTIMATES Tel: 01379 898203, mob: 07950 923696 Email: edwardbatram@icloud.com
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~ ADVERTISEMENTS ~
High welfare, Free Range, Rare Breed Oxford Sandy & Black Pork now available all year round from my slow raised pigs. Butchered by M & M Stowupland, vacuum packed and fast frozen for highest quality meat AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND Leg, shoulder and loin joints £10kg-joints available in 1.5-2.5kg cuts Loin chops £8 kg - 2 per pack Pork steaks £9kg Boneless Pork Belly £8kg Sausages M&M Special recipe or Hubbard’s £8.60 kg - packs of 8 Chipolatas G\F £9.40 kg Pork & Apple, Pork & Apricot, Cumberland G/F £9.40 kg - packs of 8 SAUSAGE MULTIPACK SPECIAL 5 packs of your choosing for £20 Pork mince £8 kg - 1/2 kg Sausage meat £8.60kg Black Back bacon, Treacle & Ale cured £19.87kg - packs of 8, Unsmoked £16.57kg Black Streaky bacon, Treacle & Ale slow cured £16.57, Cured Streaky £12kg Please contact Sam at TAS Animal Care & Poultry c/o Knoll Farm, Wickham Skeith FOR ALL YOUR PET & LIVESTOCK CARE, LIVESTOCK, POULTRY & PET FEED 077424 50908 or 01449 768620 www.tasanimalandpoultry.co.uk
This newsletter is kindly sponsored by Richard and Alice Palmer. It is produced by the Village Hall Committee.
All bookings of the Village Hall and its equipment should go to: Denise Carle, 9, Grange Road, IP23 8NE. Telephone 01449 767838 or Email denise.alexander63@yahoo.co.uk Hourly rate: £8.00 The rate is per hour or part thereof. Minimum booking period 2 hrs. Day rate (24 hour period): £85.00. 25% reduction in rate for Wickham Skeith residents and Wickham Skeith village groups and organisations. Official bodies (e.g. elections): £200.00 per day. A 30 minute "warming up" period will be allowed in cold weather.
And finally... Please send all your village news and adverts for next month’s newsletter to Melinda: mappleby@tiscali.co.uk or call 01449 766879 By 25th March 2020
Newsletter printed by CopyDiss, 42a Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AG Tel: 01379 644567 www.copydiss.co.uk