Wickham Skeith Newsletter March 2022 Feb2022
~ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY ~
All meetings & events in Village Hall unless stated otherwise and subject to Covid guidance at the time.
March 2022 Monday 7th Tuesday 8th Wednesday 9th Thursday 10th Saturday 12th Wed 16th Saturday 19th Monday 21st Tuesday 22nd Friday 25th
Parish Council meeting 8pm All Welcome Hilltop Women’s Group – quilting talk 7.45pm Lunch Club 12 for 12.30 Advance Bookings Please Mobile Library Van Two stops at 9.45 and 10.05am Crafternoon 2-4pm Videos from the Village Film Archive – Alistair Govan 7.45 pm Curry Evening 7pm Village Hall Committee AGM 7.30pm All Welcome Gardening Club – National Daffodil Collection 7.30pm Coffee Morning for Flower Festival 10-12 noon
~VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE NEWS ~
Village Hall Update Recent events: the Plum Pudding walk, which was postponed due to inclement weather, was successfully held and around 20 people enjoyed the walk planned by Simon-thanks to him. Also great thanks to the soup makers which were all very tasty. Perhaps we could have regular footpath walks followed by soup? Future Events: we have a few things in the pipeline for the community to come along to and support. Firstly, a Curry Evening-these have been very successful in the past and we hope for a good crowd to enjoy our offerings. There should be four or five options with rice, bhajis etc to enjoy. The date is Saturday 19th March from 7pm and cost is £7.50 per person. Bookings should be made with Nigel 766222 please. On Saturday 23rd April we will be holding the Table Tennis Tournament-those with trophies please ensure they are polished and in the hall for that evening. We do not have a set starting time yet as that depends upon the number of entries-they should go to Nigel 766222. But there will be a bar and food available during the evening. So that people can get in some practice the hall will open on Friday 22nd April from 5pm until 8pm with the tables up. Come along for an early warm up. The bar will also be open if that encourages you! September 10th is pencilled in for Music on the Green more details to follow in subsequent Newsletters. A suggestion for a ceilidh was made so we are looking for a good group and caller to do that for us. anybody have any contacts we could approach? The fete is on Saturday 18th June as always ideas, help, encouragement and time are all needed! The Village Hall AGM is on Monday 21st March from 7:30 to 8pm. This will be followed by the usual business meeting when the new chairperson will be elected. Please come along if you are able-nobody will be strong armed onto the committee but more willing volunteers are welcome! Keep safe everybody
~ N E W S F R O M T H E C L U B S~
Lunch Club In February a wonderful meal of chicken casserole followed by pear and almond tart was enjoyed by us all. Our thanks go to our cooks Karen Cleave and Margaret Jones Evans. A vegetarian option was provided and of course we make adaptations for all those with dietary needs, such as gluten intolerance or diabetes. In March we will meet on Wednesday the 9 th of March. We invite you to join us at 12 o’clock and a 2-course meal will be served at 12.30 and the charge is £4 per person. If you wish to join us you will need to make a booking by the 4 th March. We have started a bring and buy jigsaw table, so bring along a good quality jigsaw you no longer want, and a little cash to make a purchase! All proceeds go to the Lunch Club. Our raffle will continue as normal. Please contact me by phone, text or email, contact details below. Jenny Elphick; Tel 01449 766885, Mobile 07745416091 or email jenny.elphick@sim.org
History Group On Wed 16th March Alistair Govan will be showing more of his Wickham Skeith Village Vidoes. Will you be able to spot the faces, places and historical traces of yesteryear? The evening will include clips of the Audio-Visual Show, “Memories” of 1978, and video clips of village life and activities filmed in 1986 and beyond. All are welcome so do join us in the Village Hall at 7.45pm on Wed 16 Mar. Entry Fee £2 (children under 16 free) including tea/coffee and biscuits. Contact: Pete Davidson 766622 or pjdavidson42@gmail.com
~ N E W S F R O M T H E C L U B S~
Hilltop Women’s Group Thank you to all who came and enjoyed a Rose Cottage Flowers demonstration in February. Good to be using spring flowers and bulbs. On Tuesday 8th March, Jocelyn Bryant will be talking about her experience as a quilter, with beautiful exhibits and ideas about what to do with your fabric scraps! Come along at 7:45 pm in the village hall. Enquiries: Margaret Knights 767708 (rosecottageflowers@hotmail.co.uk) or Sue Merriam 766222
Gardening Club This month we are pleased to welcome back Anne Tweedle from Suffolk Plant Heritage. Anne will be talking to us about the National Daffodil collection which is in part looked after by various of their members. We do hope you can join us at the Wickham Skeith village hall on Tuesday 22nd March. As always, we start at 7.30pm Everyone is welcome. Non-member’s entrance £2.
‘Crafternoon’ on Saturday 12th March 2-4pm Whatever your art or craft bring along your current project. Share skills, ideas, tips and techniques. Inspire and be inspired in the company of other creative people. If you have an ‘arty’ or ‘crafty’ friend then bring them too. Surplus art/craft items & books to sell? Bring them for the bring and buy table. Entry: £2.00 per person (inc. tea/coffee/biscuits).
~NEWS FROM THE CLUBS & OTHER EVENTS~
Flower Festival - Coffee Morning Our apologies for the postponement of the Coffee Morning in February but we're trying again on: Friday 25th March in the Village Hall from 10-12noon. With a raffle but no Bring and Buy Please come along and support this pre-Flower Festival fundraiser if you can. We will be pleased to see you Margaret Knights rosecottageflowers@hotmail.co.uk 01449767708
Jubilee Meeting in the Village Hall The meeting was attended by four people-myself included-so nothing was planned. Perhaps everybody has ideas about what they will be doing for those days already. A suggestion was made that anybody who would like to should meet up on the Village Green on Sunday 5th June from 12 noon with their own picnic and drinks and any games they might like to play (rounders, etc) and we'll see what happens! Tables and chairs could be used from the village hall so some will be put out ready. Thanks for reading this Kevin
59 Club Recent winning numbers: Jan – 46. Feb – 48, 49, 26.
~OTHER EVENTS~
Village Green Working Party On Saturday 26th February a team of volunteers cleared the fallen willow from the West end of the Green. It was all over quite quickly in fact. Thanks to Seb for starting us off during his half term break and also to Nigel, Mark, Tim, Simon Pyke and Tom. Our apologies if anybody was adversely affected by the smoke-if anybody wants to help themselves to the wood ash for the garden please do so. Apparently, it can be beneficial to the soil. Also, the diminishing log pile is available if anybody wishes to help themselves-it is willow though so not the best wood for a house fire and it is quite wet inside. The remainder of the standing trunk was pollarded and we think it stands a good chance of regrowing to make a new willow pollard. The main part of the fallen trunk was moved to a position where there is a good view of the Grimmer-use it as a 'leaning post' rather than a seat perhaps. It is clear of the water so the mower can go round but please watch your children if they are playing on or around it. It also borders what may become a lovely wildflower meadow in the next few years with some encouragement. Thanks to everyone involved – a good example of our local community in action. Kevin
All bookings of the Village Hall and its equipment should go to: Gill Colchester Telephone 01379 788040 or Mobile 07850 641233 Email. gillyano@live.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 conditions.
~C O M M U N I T Y N E W S ~
Oil Syndicate The next oil order deadline is 31st March. If you need any please email jerrybassett@icloud.com or, if you don’t have access to email, ring 765908.
Sad News Harvey, dear son of Anna Lawrence and grandson of John & Mary Ede, died suddenly on February 20th. He was 17 years old. His family and many friends will remember him with love and admiration for his bravery and courage.
Mobile Library Van The Suffolk Mobile Library van calls every four weeks. Its first stop is the lay-by outside the chalet bungalows, from 9.45 to 10am. The second stop is outside Haymead House in The Street from 10.05 to 10.20. Next visits - 10th March and 7th April.
Village Website For information about Wickham Skeith, the Parish Council, and updates on events, visit the village website at https://wickhamskeith.suffolk.cloud/
~ S T. A N D R E W ’ S C H U R C H ~ Church of England, Wickham Skeith Facebook: @bactonbenefice Rector: The Revd Carl Melville, The Rectory, Bacton, IP14 4LJ 01449 781650, email: carlmelville@hotmail.com Wardens: Liz Davidson 766622 and Margaret Jones-Evans 767121 Services in March 2022 All services at 9.30am in church unless otherwise stated 2nd March, Wednesday 7.30pm Ash Wednesday Communion, Cotton th 4 March, Friday 2pm World Day of Prayer, Old Newton 6th March 9.30am All Age Communion 13th March 9.30am Café Church 20th March 9.30am Holy Communion 27th March 9.30am Mothering Sunday All Age Service 3rd April 9.30am All Age Communion For other benefice services, please view our Facebook page. Ash Wednesday – Ashing and Communion will be held at Cotton Church at 7.30pm on Weds 2nd March. World Day of Prayer – this will take place at St Mary’s on Friday March 4 th at 2:00 pm. All are very welcome to the service which, this year, is focussing on the countries of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information, please contact Mary Paine. Lent Course – every Thursday evening in March, starting 3rd March, 7.30pm in Bacton Church to watch and study the film: The Greatest Showman. Bring popcorn! Healing Services – will be held at Bacton Church on Wednesdays 9th, 23rd, 30th March in the run up to Easter. This includes the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. Good Friday Children’s Workshops – especially for families, the workshops will include crafts, singing and hot cross buns. Good Friday, Bacton Church, 10.30am11.30am. Weekly Email and News – if you’d like to sign up to receive our weekly news email, please contact the Rector.
~ S T. A N D R E W ’ S C H U R C H ~ Flower & Cleaning Rota March 6th Miss R Elsden & Mrs J Keable 13th & 20th Mrs J Bryant & Mrs L Reinders 27th & April 3rd Mr & Mrs P Paine
Rector’s Ramblings During Lent this year we are studying the film ‘The Greatest Showman’. It is a dramatic and colourful film about a circus, but we explore issues of faith, hope and redemption and how we overcome doubt, temptation and prejudice in order to be the people God made us to be. The Passion and Easter story is all about overcoming darkness, good over evil, love over hate, life over death. We know that. But we often forget that it starts with us. If we say ‘Jesus died for me’ and then fail to allow his death to change and transform us, he died in vain. If we say ‘Jesus loves me’ yet fail to love others, it’s not God’s love. Lent is a time to look at ourselves – we all love doing that! But as we look at ourselves, we find we have to change, adapt and allow ourselves to be transformed in order to be the centre of God’s great Easter story. Jesus died for you. Jesus rose from the dead for you. Jesus loves you. This Lent and Easter, why don’t you journey with us as we learn to accept what this really means for each of us? Revd Carl
~WICKHAM SKEITH PARISH COUNCIL~ Members of Wickham Skeith Parish Council are hereby summoned to attend the next meeting of the Council, to be held at the Village Hall on Monday, 7th March 2022 at 8.00 pm. At the Village Forum agenda item, the public will be invited to give their views/questions to the Parish Council on issues on the agenda, or raise issues for inclusion at future meetings. This item will be generally limited to 15 mins. duration and will be followed by any County/District Councillors’ or Police reports. Signed Huw Roberts Proper Officer
AGENDA (DRAFT) 1. Chairman’s Welcome (to include apologies and approval of absences) 2. a). To receive members’ Declarations of Interest on Agenda items b). To consider requests for dispensations. 3. To resolve that the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 10th January 2022 are accurate. 4. Village Forum: an opportunity for the public to raise any relevant issues to the Council. 5. To receive reports from County and District Councillors, Police, Parish Clerk and Parish Councillors: 5.1. SCC: Cllr Stringer 5.2. MSDC: Cllr Warboys 5.3. Suffolk Police 5.4. Parish Clerk 5.5. Parish Councillors, including: 5.5.1. Community Speed Watch 5.5.2. General Data Protection Regulation 5.5.3. Community Emergency Plan 5.5.4. Defibrillator 6. Correspondence Received 7. Finance: 7.1. RFO update, including financial position as of 28 th February 2022 7.2. To review and approve the Internal Accounts Audit and Control Document for the current financial year, and to agree to submit the Certification of Exemption for External Audit. 7.3. To consider and agree the appointment of the Internal Auditor for the upcoming audit. 7.4. To review and agree the Risk Assessment for the next financial year (2022/23). 7.5. Invoices for Approval 8. Planning Matters: to consider planning applications and note planning decisions received. 8.1. DC/22/00518 - Application for outline planning permission - Erection of 1no. detached dwelling. Location: 124 - 126 The Green, Wickham Skeith, Suffolk, IP23 8LX. Deadline for council comments: 8th March 2022. 8.2. DC/22/00448 - Application for reserved matters previously approved under DC/20/00849) Appearance; Layout; Scale and Landscaping in relation to the erection of 2 detached dwellings with cartlodges on land with outline permission. Location: Land Adjacent To Bumbledown, Grange Road, Wickham Skeith, IP23 8NF. Deadline for council comments: 15 th March 2022. 9. Working Parties: Village Green and the Grimmer 10. Matters for next agenda 9th May 2022 11. Staff Matters
~ NOTICES ~ Come and visit Street Forge Workshops We are a small charity established in 1987 and based in the centre of Thornham Magna. All of our products are made by adults with a range of disabilities and we are an accredited day care service by both Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils. We offer woodwork, wood turning, arts and crafts and horticultural opportunities to our clients some of whom have been attending for many years. The social side of our service is also very important with a Summer BBQ, Christmas meal and some trips out, Covid permitting. We make high quality bird boxes ranging from blue tits to barn owls, hedgehog houses, bat and bee boxes, wellie boot holders, garden planters, wood turning products and many more items. We also make one off orders such as a seat for Thornham Parva to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We have a shop on site and we would welcome visitors to buy, browse or generally have a look round. We are open between the hours of 09.00 – 16.00 Monday to Friday. If you would like details of our products or a price list, please ring 01379 678543 or email us on info@streetforge.org. We would love to hear from you.
Look Out for Toads In March, as the weather warms up, we expect to see the migration of toads from their winter hibernation spots to the Grimmer for breeding. As usual we have organised a toad patrol to come out at dusk and remove toads from the road, helping then to cross into the water and avoid being squashed. Once night-time temperatures rise to 5 or 6 degrees, and particularly if the weather is damp, the toads should begin to move. Please take care as you drive round the village on such evenings and look out for our patrol members too. We have a few gaps in the patrol – one evening a week each – due to illness or people leaving the village. If you would like to volunteer pleas let Melinda (see back page for contact details) know asap. All you need are a good torch, a bucket, some gloves and a high viz jacket. And be happy walking round at dusk, collecting toads off the road and lowering them into the pond.
~ ADVERTISEMENTS ~
***** 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. The Playgroup is following government guidelines so please check with us for opening arrangements. Please visit our website www.gislinghamplaygroup.com or phone us on 01379 788934
Cross-back Apron Workshop Thank you to everyone who supported the Cross-back Apron Workshop. We were 8 in total, enjoyed a busy afternoon, cutting out and stitching and had tea and cake half way through to keep us going. £70 will now be given to the Blossom Charity at Ipswich Hospital.
OLD GARDENING MAGAZINES Before I throw them away, I have about three years’ worth of Amateur Gardening magazines. If anyone would like some, please give me a ring. Ann (767717)
~ 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 ~
TREE SERVICES AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE BASED IN WORTHAM, WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE PROVISION OF EXCELLENCE IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR CRAFT. ALL OF OUR STAFF ARE FULLY TRAINED AND INSURED, RELIABLE AND PROFESSIONAL. ALL WORK IS CARRIED OUT RESPECTFULLY AND TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD.
CROWN LIFTING, TREE FELLING, DISMANTLING, REDUCTIONS, PRUNING, THINNING, STUMP GRINDING, HEDGE TRIMMING, FIREWOOD FOR A FREE ESTIMATE PLEASE CALL LEE GARWOOD
Tel: 01379 890617 / 07880 528142 GARWOODSOFSUFFOLK@YAHOO.COM
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 ~
FREE RANGE, HIGH WELFARE, WICKHAM SKEITH REARED MEAT! Leg of pork boneless rolled and scored for perfect crackling £10kg Belly pork Joints £8kg, Pork Mince £8.60 kg, Tenderloin £9.60kg, Ribs £5kg Sausages plain £8.60 kg - packs of 8 , Sausage Meat G/F) £8.60kg GOURMET SAUSAGES £9.40kg Stokes Red onion marmalade & Mature Cheddar, Port & Stilton, Pork & Apple, Lincolnshire, Cumberland Chipolatas (G/F) BACK BACON UNSMOKED in 8 rasher packs £16.50kg SUFFOLK ALE & BLACK TREACLE SLOW CURED BACK BACON £19.87kg SMOKED STREAKY BACON £14.50 kg ORGANIC GRASS-FED FREE-RANGE HALF LAMB BOXES 4-5kg Fresh Frozen Vacuum packed and labelled £15kg Individual cuts from £18kg HOGGITT & MUTTON Ideal for slower cooking LEG, SHOULDER, CHOPS & TENDERLOIN £15k MINCE £10kg BONELESS CUBED FOR STEWING/CURRY £16kg Sam at TAS Animal Care & Poultry at Knoll Farm, Wickham Skeith Mobile: 077424 50908 Landline: 01449 768620 LOOKING AFTER YOUR ANIMALS WHEN YOU CAN’T www.tasanimalandpoultry.co.uk 🐾🐾🐾🐾
This newsletter is produced by Wickham Skeith Village Hall Committee
And finally... Please send all your village news and adverts for next month’s newsletter to: melinda.appleby@mypostoffice.co.uk or call 01449 766879 By 25th March 2022
Newsletter printed by CopyDiss, 42a Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AG Tel: 01379 644567 www.copydiss.co.uk