In Touch with...™ © ™ © Skiphire www.collins-skiphire.co.uk For a fast, efficient & price friendly local service CAPEL 01473 327596 CAPERS [email protected] Volume 10 • Issue No. 10 • SEPTEMBER 2020 VJ Day 75 in Capel St Mary, p6 Image by Jolanta Putnina www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/capelcapers 1 guess who’s back? bigger. better. stronger. Vanilla YOUR MUST-HAVE GUIDE TO EAST COAST LIVING We've missed you! www.vanilla-magazine.co.uk 2 In Touch online: A WORD FROM THE EDITOR NEWS My social life has been turned upside down in the last few months. I used to walk into town on Saturday morning, list in hand, to visit the shops and the market stalls, meet with friends for coffee and wander home in time for lunch. Now I walk into town on Saturday afternoon when it’s likely to be quieter and wave at friends from a distance. I know this isn’t what most of you might define as a ‘social life’ (and I must admit it looks pretty sad now I see it in writing) but I’ve CAPEL ST MARY COMMUNITY CENTRE been ‘off the scene’ for many years and happy to be so. Of course I like to paint the town red (crimson rather than fire engine) on occasion but it’s been a while We are gradually re-opening the centre after lockdown with some groups since my weekends were spent in pubs and clubs, never knowing what might beginning to meet again. At the present time, we are only hiring out the happen. Or who I might meet! main hall with a COVID-19 secure policy and guidelines in place. I did meet my husband in a packed pub back home in Ballinasloe (yes, Guinness Please bear with us during these unprecedented times. We do, of course, was involved!), so for the sake of those who do enjoy an active social life or who want to support the village while ensuring everybody remains safe. haven’t yet met Mr or Mrs Right, I’m delighted the pubs are open again, making an extraordinary effort to adhere to guidelines and ensure the safety of staff and For more information and enquires please contact Carolyn: patrons. Restaurants too; eating a meal I haven’t had to cook myself and not 07732 025676 / [email protected] having to clear up afterwards is a thrilling (yes, thrilling) prospect right now. In fact we’ve booked a table at the new Italian restaurant in town and I’ve already decided what I’m having. I start from the back, with dessert, and work upwards and shall be enjoying vanilla pannacotta with wood-roasted apricots at about 9pm on Saturday evening. Live performance is making a comeback too, which is wonderful news for venues, artists and audiences. It will be interesting to see if performers and writers have been inspired by their lockdown experience. In fact, if you haven’t already watched Staged, a BBC comedy starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen, find it now on BBC iPlayer. It’s a wonderful treat. If there is anything positive to take from our experience of Covid-19, it must be that it has taught us to be kind and caring. We know we can pull together when needs must and now we must use our spending power to support our local economy and attempt to stave off further job losses. Every penny you spend locally will help to secure the future of a local business and its employees, DOVE CLOSE KNITTING CHALLENGE possibly even people you know. Eight ladies at Dove Close would like to thank everyone who donated Enjoy your freedom safely, consider the safety of others and together we can the wool which enabled them to knit 28 blankets, 61 jumpers and 20 make this ‘new normal’ work in everyone’s best interests. pairs of gloves for the refugee children in Eastern Europe. Chris Fox from European Partners in Christ collected all the items at the Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, end of July and hopes to deliver them in October. However, owing to 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP the present situation across the world, she may have to wait until 2021 EDITOR: Sharon Jenkins In Touch Titles when, no doubt, we will have more to donate. T: 01473 400380 • Stowmarket & Stowupland Send editorial copy to: • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew Once again, many, many thanks to you all for your donations. [email protected] Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and • Melton & Woodbridge photographs for publication. The publishers reserve • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley the right to amend such submissions and cannot • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, accept responsibility for any loss. RED LANE DEVELOPMENT VOTE Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon We thank all those who have already voted on the likely ADVERTISING • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall T: 01473 400380 & Warren Heath Red Lane development of 550 dwellings. E: [email protected] • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, If this edition reaches you before the deadline of August 31 DISTRIBUTION Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit and you haven’t already voted, please do so by completing Tree Martin: 01473 400380 the form which has already been delivered to all households. E: [email protected] • Needham Market & The Creetings • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, We need as many responses as possible to help the PRINTING Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton parish council represent the views of residents. ColourPlan Print: 01473 400379 & Woolverstone E: [email protected] • Martlesham Many thanks, Capel St Mary Parish Councillor Michael Hole Disclaimer: • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine & Stratford St Mary are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham While reasonable care is taken when accepting • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) advertisements or editorial, the publisher/editor • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to & Washbrook include advertising or editorial. They will, however • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead immediately investigate any written complaints. • Westerfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used St Martin & Witnesham in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, • Sproughton & Burstall without the prior written permission of the publisher. © In Touch with Capel Capers is published by We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd Thurs 10 September is the advertising and editorial deadline for Printed on gloss paper from FSC certified sources Please recycle. the October edition www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/capelcapers 3 NEWS CONSTABLE COUNTRY MEDICAL PRACTICE Coronavirus Update As we head into autumn, it is vital that we continue with the measures which have been in place for the last few months to protect both staff and patients from COVID-19. SHOP LOCAL AND HELP BENEFIT Our primary objective at the practice is to minimise the need for patients to come to the practice at all, and to minimise risk if they need LOCAL ECONOMY BY UP TO £19M to. Here is a summary of the measures we have put in place: High Streets across Babergh and Mid Suffolk could benefit from almost £19m of additional income over the next six months, if all adults spent an extra £5 by shopping local every week. With just under 150,000 adults aged over 18 in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, an extra £5 spent could equate to over £730,000 per week being generated in • If possible, submit any medical or admin query via our online local high streets and villages across the districts, equating to a whopping eConsult service. We aim to respond to all eConsults within two £18,980,000 over the next six months. working days. The figure was announced during Shop Local Week (10-16 August), part of • If you cannot use eConsult or if your need is urgent, our receptionists the government’s Enjoy Summer Safely campaign, which set out to celebrate will place you on a triage list and one of our doctors or nurse the importance of local and independent stores and the benefits they bring practitioners will call you back. to the whole community and local economy. • If you need to come to the practice, the clinician will ask you to wait Throughout lockdown, local shops and markets have played a crucial role in your car with your mobile. The clinician will call you when they in supporting the local community to buy food and supplies in a safe and are ready to see you. easy way without having to travel too far. Many businesses have diversified • You must tell us if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms their offer to make shopping for essentials simple and supporting those who such as fever, a new cough, or loss of taste and smell. needed to shield. New services like deliveries, online ordering and even additional market days have provided a lifeline for many local residents. • Please wear a mask or wrap a scarf around you face when you come to the practice, and sanitise your hands. With many lockdown measures starting to ease, Shop Local Week aimed to encourage people to keep visiting to their local high street and not return to Please be assured that you can contact us if you feel you need to speak pre-COVID habits of out of town and online shopping.