Volume 10 • Issue No. 12 • DECEMBER 2020 Your free local community magazine: essential local news, services & information delivered through your door every month ™©

Inwith Touchwww.keepingintouchwith.co.uk

Digital Support for Small Businesses See page 4

Introducing Martlesham Climate Action See page 9

New dates for Santa’s Sleigh tour See page 14 2 In Touch online: Published by: A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, IP1 4JP I can’t end this gruelling year without expressing how proud I am to live in this little corner of the planet where I’ve witnessed such remarkable generosity and reported on extraordinary achievements. I’m not ashamed to EDITOR: Sharon Jenkins admit I have been reduced to tears on several occasions. The speed at which people responded when the first T: 01473 400380 lockdown was accounced was astonishing. Groups formed almost overnight to provide practical assistance and Send editorial copy to: emotional support, not knowing how long they would be needed or the extent of the need. We’ve done our best [email protected] to assist all the support group by sharing information in print and online articles and promoting fundraising and Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and food collection schemes, but it’s the people on the ground, making it happen every day, taking calls into the night, photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the checking in on people who would otherwise be totally isolated who we must thank. While I hope we never have right to amend such submissions and cannot accept responsibility for any loss. to deal with another crisis such as this, we’ve clearly proven we can and will step up to protect, care for and wrap ADVERTISING a (social distanced) loving arm around those in most need. T: 01473 400380 Yes, it has been a truly annus horribilis, but it is important to focus on what we have learned about society and E: [email protected] about ourselves. I hope you feel more secure now because now you know there are amazing people in your local DISTRIBUTION community who will respond when you ask for help; you simply have to ask! Isn’t it wonderfully reassuring to know Tree Martin: 01473 400380 that the true essence of community, a concept which many no longer believed in, is stronger than ever. Place has E: [email protected] meaning because it makes us part of something which is bigger and stronger than we are alone and now we must PRINTING ensure we not only retain the new connections we have formed but also work to strengthen them. ColourPlan Print: 01473 400379 We can do this by engaging more, by supporting and caring about where we live and doing our bit to support E: [email protected] and care for others. We also do this by supporting our local businesses, the very backbone of local community. Disclaimer: If we want access to the products and services our local businesses provide, we must support them now. They The views expressed by contributors are not deserve our love as without them our towns and villages lose that which make them a viable, interesting and necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine unique place to live and raise our families. are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. Let’s show our love by resolving to shop local, and not just for Christmas, though wouldn’t it be wonderful to While reasonable care is taken when accepting present local gifts to friends and family this year, acknowledging in a very real way why our community is so very, advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ very important to us all. editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the I wish you good health and happiness for Christmas and the New Year but also send my right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any regards to those who have suffered ill health or the loss of a loved one in the last year. written complaints. Merry Christmas from everyone at Mansion House Publishing © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. IN TOUCH NEWS © In Touch with & Stowupland is published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd This month I’m focusing on our office supplies arm, Boswell Office Supplies. Boswell joined with Mansion House Group several years ago and it has been fascinating to get to know this highly competitive industry a little better. Jon and Mark are the resident experts and there’s nothing they don’t know about pens, folders, paper, screens, first aid kits, cleaning equipment, catering supplies…. well, it’s a long list but I’m sure you get the picture! However, you may be surprised to know that ‘office supplies’ also includes office furniture and we’re not just Printed on gloss paper from FSC certified sources talking about filing cabinets and storage units, though both are available. With so many people working remotely, Please recycle. the demand for aesthetically pleasing desks, flexible work units and comfortable chairs, Boswell has introduced IN TOUCH TITLES a new range of competitively priced home office furniture and seating which look good in any and every space. • Stowmarket & Stowupland Desks come in every shape and size and a vast range of colours and finishes too. I have my eye on a ‘mid-century •  & style compact desk in grand walnut finish and black accent panels and frame’. Sounds rather grand doesn’t it but • Melton & Woodbridge it’s quite a modern little desk so Jon, if you need me to test it for you, I’m happy to be your guinea pig! There’s a • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley lovely little black desk lamp on my wishlist too. • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon You can see and order the full range online and Boswell will deliver to your home address. The Boswell delivery van • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall is out and about five days a week, travelling throughout East Anglia to business premises and homes, so whether & Warren Heath it’s a one-off order for that special desk or badly needed ergonomic chair or something you need regularly, our • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, man in a van is happy to oblige. Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden & Woolpit The Boswell website site is a treat if you have a specific requirement (everything is carefully categorised so it’s •  & The Creetings easy to search) but Jon and Mark are also available on the phone if you need assistance or advice before placing • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, an order. Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton & Woolverstone • Martlesham Boswell Office Supplies is basically a shop on wheels so don’t get caught out… and yes,that’s covered too! • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford & Stratford St Mary • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead • , Ashbocking, & • Sproughton & Burstall KEEPING IN TOUCH We also publish Spotlight on keepingintouchwith.co.uk / spotlightmagazine.co.uk / vanillamagazine.co.uk Friday 4 December Twitter: @InTouchEast / @vanillazine is the advertising and Instagram: @mansionhousepublishing / @vanilla.magazine editorial deadline for Facebook: @mansionhousepublishing / @vanillamagazinesuffolk the January edition www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 3 NEWS

MARTLESHAM HEATH HOUSEHOLDERS Christmas Greetings We know this Christmas may not be how we would all choose to enjoy it, but we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Stay safe: remember to wear your mask, keep your distance from others and DIGITAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR keep washing your hands. Hopefully, with a vaccine on the horizon, things can eventually get back to some form of normality in the new year. SMALL BUSINESSES New Director Small businesses in East are to be offered advice and support on digital We welcome Mr David Boswell as the new parish council nominated director adaptations and interventions to help during the challenges of Covid-19. to join the board at Householders Limited. He has replaced John Kelso as the PC representative, but we are pleased to say the John has East Suffolk Council has launched a free-to-use Digital Advice Service which stayed on as a director. will offer small businesses, especially those in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, with an opportunity to get digital advice and diagnostics. Annual Maintenance Surcharge Unfortunately, any member who had not paid their 2020/2021 Annual The service will offer extensive digital business support, a personalised Maintenance Charge by 1 December 2020 has reluctantly been charged a session with a business growth coach, access to digital growth workshops £10 surcharge. Chasing outstanding fees is time consuming and the surcharge and group coaching sessions, as well as signposting to other forms of support (as agreed at the March 2020 AGM) is there as an incentive for members to including a small grant scheme. East Suffolk businesses are urged to sign up pay their fee on time. for the service by emailing: [email protected] Revetments at the Control Tower Car Park The service has been developed by the council in response to the business Repairs are underway at the revetments next to the Control Tower car park. hardship created by Covid-19 and to support town centre businesses who are The repairs were essential as part of the revetment wall had become unstable. struggling with local economic challenges. A VILLAGE OF VISION? (PART 1 OF 6 ) Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development said: “The Digital Advice Service is being provided Gillian Darley (AJ Information Library, September 1979) by East Suffolk Council to assist businesses with the challenges they currently The qualities of a village are notoriously hard to define. The only certainty is face. We want the service to support our work to revitalise our high streets that the physical and social mesh of the village, that most subtle thing, is slow and support our businesses in adapting to the challenges of Covid-19. It will to evolve, slower still to dissolve. be a real opportunity to both assess your business’s current digital profile and customer reach and learn of new digital skills or products to support your The difference between Martlesham Heath and the next private development business’s survival and growth.” is that its promoters call it a village. Not a ‘New Town’, not a housing estate or neighbourhood, but clearly and distinctly a village. Their stance implies that, The council is working with a team of experts from the Business Growth first, a village can be created on a green field site within perhaps 10 years Coaches Network (BGCN) who will deliver the advice service on the Council’s and, second, that the developers themselves know what a village is. However, behalf. BGCN brings together highly experienced coaches and mentors from reading the sales brochure one finds no definition, merely an evocative quote around the country to support SMEs and their businesses. from Crabbe: 'Thy walks are ever pleasant; every scene is rich in beauty, lively, Peter Basford, founder of the Business Growth Coaches Network, said: “I’m or serene'. The Bradford Property Trust has had the wisdom to confine itself really excited to be working with East Suffolk Council to help understand the to a list of the features 'for a new kind of living': village green, pub, shops – digital challenges that retail and leisure businesses face and then to help not much new there – and 12 hamlets of assorted sizes. them succeed in these unusual times with our practical digital advice and If then, Martlesham Heath is to be a village, it seems reasonable to ask why. guidance through workshops and one-to-ones.” Is it a sales ploy, a planning gambit or a more idealistic aspiration to create Business groups have welcomed the news of the Digital Advice Service. Didy a place just a little bit superior to the norm? I have set this study against the Ward, jewellery maker and chair of Events and Business Association background that, whether or not it is possible to create a village overnight, the said: “This is welcome news for many small local businesses. So many of us process has a historic precedent stretching back for almost three centuries. are having to adapt to lockdowns and social distancing, and we need clear Planned villages have been growing up at the gates of country mansions, advice and support especially around digital adaptions so we can improve around the mill and factory or out in the countryside since at least 1700. web presence and marketing. We are keen for as many of our businesses as Our self-consciousness about the village is a 19th-century phenomenon; possible to sign up” increasingly we have romanticised both its fabric and its people to the extent that the idea of founding a village has never seemed as unreasonable, or as The service is also working as a business support pilot for the East Suffolk impossible as it does today. ‘Smart Towns’ project. The project has a core theme of ‘digital place-making’ and aims to support town centres across East Suffolk with the installation of In many respects, of course, it is an impracticable notion. The cost and free-to-use public Wi-Fi and anonymised visitor monitoring technology with exigencies of planning requirements, the pressures of the market and its accompanying analytics. In addition, the project aims to deliver an ambitious dogged conservatism, together with the extraordinary resilience of the business and town support ’springboard’ programme which will offer further buying public to existence in drab environments combine to make the idea digital diagnostics, workshops and funding for businesses and town councils of building a village a distinctly oddball notion. Plenty of developers have across East Suffolk. This ambitious programme has been funded by the New dignified the most desolate housing estates with flowery names; 'parks', Anglia LEP’s Innovative Projects Fund, the Getting Building Fund andEast 'groves' and 'villages' abound. If the notion was merely a sales ploy, a far less Suffolk Council internal funding. conscientious approach would have done quite well, and a lot of expense could have been spared. Cllr Stephen Burroughes, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Customer Services, Operational Partnerships and Digital Transformation, said: “We are Contact and further Information doing all we can to support our high streets and town centres which have If there are any issues that you feel that need attention please do not hesitate been adversely affected by the pandemic. Once the current restrictions have to contact Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd by leaving a voicemail on eased and businesses can reopen safely, our Smart Towns project will bring a 01473 612207, email to [email protected] or by new vibrancy to our town centres by providing an intelligent and innovative post to Martlesham Heath Householders Ltd, PO Box 897, Martlesham Heath, approach to supporting communities and businesses.” Ipswich IP1 9PB. 4 In Touch online: advertorial Has Your Double Glazing Steamed Up?

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MARTLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Coronavirus Update noticeboard, made containers for our circular walk leaflets and ensured they At the time of writing (9 November 2020) the second national lockdown is never ran out. He played a significant role in looking after our parish. only a few days in but by the time you read this it should be almost over. We We are extremely grateful to Margaret too, not only for supporting John but will all be wondering what will happen next, particularly regarding Christmas. also for her practical and active participation in the life of the community. The parish council wishes all its parishioners a safe, healthy and happy Christmas whatever the circumstances. Please continue to look after one Through the Spinney, we are marking the outstanding contribution that John another and follow government guidelines to protect yourselves and others. and Margaret have made to the parish of Martlesham. This time play areas could remain open, but government guidance meant Harry Higgins Play Area that our trim trail equipment and the bike trails had to close. We hope that The parish council is very pleased to support the Pavilion Management we can safely open these again in December. Remember to observe the rules Committee’s project to replace the play equipment with funding of £35k. The on social distancing and hand washing which are so important to stop the council was aware of the local desire for enhanced play equipment which spread of the virus. came out of Martlesham Neighbourhood Plan consultations. The funding, which will come from an earmarked reserve and Community Infrastructure For the latest information on coronavirus and how to stay safe, please visit: Levy funding, was unanimously agreed at the council meeting on November www.gov.uk/coronavirus 4. We very much look forward to the project coming to fruition next year. Resignation of Jane Drummond Martlesham Common Local Nature Reserve We sadly accepted the resignation of Jane Drummond in October 2020, We hope that you’ve noticed the three new information boards installed however we are pleased that Jane will continue as a member of our around the Common. If not, please take a look! They are part of improvements Community Orchard and Wildflower Project working groups. We thank her to the site which we hope will raise the profile of this Local Nature Reserve. for her input to council work and support for these groups and look forward You will also see improved footpaths, framed entrances and new site to continuing to work with her. Electors will have had the opportunity to call name signs. a by-election during November but, if there has been no such demand, we anticipate being able to fill Jane’s vacancy by co-option (i.e. no election– Parish Council Chairman Mike Williamson existing councillors appoint new councillors) in January 2021. Councillor Vacancies Despite lockdown, there is still a lot going on in our parish. We deal with such a variety of topics and projects, e.g. improvements to play and recreational facilities, land management, climate emergency, planning, traffic and public transport issues, as well as the financial and policy aspects of running a parish council. We don’t expect our councillors to be interested in everything or to be experts in any particular field (although that can help of course!). We are looking for people who are keen to look after our parish and its quality of life. Our full council meeting on Wednesday 20 January 2020 will be the next opportunity for council members to co-opt any new candidates. We have an The information boards were a collaboration between the council and the existing vacancy in the Martlesham West ward and expect to have another Greenways Project and cover the nature found on the site, some history and one in the Martlesham ward (see above re Jane’s resignation). If you would site management. The unveiling of the boards by our chairman in October like more details, please contact the clerk as below. was a quiet, socially distanced affair but it allowed us to thank Tesco for a generous £1,000 towards the cost of the signs through the Tesco Bags of Help Christmas Office Hours Scheme, and James Baker of the Greenways Project and his volunteers. The second national lockdown means that staff are mostly working from home again. You can still contact us via email (recommended), our Facebook VIRTUAL MEETINGS page or by leaving a message on our answer machine. Wednesday 2 December, 7.30pm: Finance & General Purposes Committee Over the Christmas period we currently expect the ‘office’ to be closed from Wednesday 13 January, 7.30pm: Recreation & Amenities Committee 3pm on Thursday 24 December until 9am on Monday 4 January 2021, but Wednesday 20 January, 7.30pm: Parish Council Meeting (please note please check our website and Facebook page for any change to this. that this is a change to our normal schedule and the meeting will focus on Council meetings will continue to take place virtually. agreeing the budget and precept for 2021/22) Wednesday 3 February, 7.30pm: Parish Council Meeting Forbes’ Spinney The council very much wished to pay tribute to former councillor John Forbes Members of the public are welcome to observe and participate in the who retired at the beginning of the year, so this autumn we will be planting public forum. Forbes’ Spinney at the Recreation Ground, The Street. A mixture of nine To join any of these meetings, please contact the clerk (see below) no later British grown trees, with varied blossoms, berries and seeds, and suitable than 5pm the day before the meeting to receive an invitation or see our for the location, will be planted to provide a diversity of habitats. We had website or noticeboards for further details. hoped that the trees would be planted by community volunteers but, due to the pandemic, we will be instructing our contractor to undertake the work. CONTACTING THE COUNCIL John Forbes spent 28 active years as a parish councillor. During his period of Clerk to Martlesham Parish Council, Parish Room, Felixstowe Road, service, he was our tree warden, carrying out bi-annual checks on the trees on Martlesham IP12 4PB council land, providing reports and recommendations for work. He was our Telephone: 01473 612632 – please leave a message if no reply and we will rights of way liaison officer, organising the walking of our parish footpaths by get back to you as necessary volunteers and subsequently preparing action plans which involved John and his wife, Margaret, often maintaining footpaths and waymarkers themselves. Email: [email protected] He also represented us on the Deben Estuary Access Group. He participated in Website: http://martlesham.onesuffolk.net working parties and litter picks, advised on planning applications, promoted Please follow us on our Facebook page which is @Martlesham Parish. The full green issues and represented us on the Greenprint Forum. He looked after a address is: www.facebook.com/MartleshamParish 6 In Touch online: Anti-Slip Solutions for Outdoor Floors

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www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 7 The KBB Centre is a family-run business based in Ipswich, designing, supplying unit on Elton Road Business Park. As the company grew, they moved to Lion and installing beautifully designed kitchens, bathrooms and fitted bedrooms. Barn Industrial Estate in Needham Market and finally to Dales Road, where Owned and managed by brothers Roger and Patrick Peck, with over 60 years in 2009, Ipswich Town footballer Fabian Wilnis officially opened the new KBB combined industry knowledge they have built up the business over the last showroom. 16 years with hard work, long hours, determination and an eye for detail. The KBB Centre is now one of the largest independent kitchen and bathroom retailers in the area. KBB’s stunning showroom has over 5,000 square feet of kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms on display. Using in-house plumbers, plasterers and electricians, and boasting a wealth of essential building knowledge, KBB can offer a unique, fully managed service. The KBB team prides itself on its customer service and believes that the best form of advertising is word of mouth.

The brothers have followed closely in the footsteps of their family tradition. The story of KBB began in the early 1970s with Roger and Patrick’s late father, Alan Peck who opened his first home improvement business in Ipswich. Star Lines sold a variety of home improvement furnishings, eventually specialising in kitchens and bathrooms, AND will always be remembered for its catchy advertising jingle, with many locals singing ‘Let’s go down to Star Lines’ to the The brothers are passionate about Suffolk and the community that they tune of Mike Oldfield’s In Dulce Jublio. live in. Heavily involved in local grassroots sports, they are well known for sponsoring youth teams and grassroots festivals throughout the county and Both Roger and Patrick worked at Star Lines during their youth, and although enjoy encouraging children to partake in sports and helping them reach their they went on to do other things in the industry throughout the years, they potential. They believe that grassroots festivals are a great way to get children came back to their roots and established KBB in 2003, working out of a small either doing what they already love or trying something new, especially in this day and age of computer games and technology. Carrying on their family tradition the brothers strive to encourage people to shop local and support their independent businesses. They say: “The kitchen and bathroom industry has changed immensely since the Star Lines days. There is now so much competition from chain stores and online shopping. We believe buying locally from local people is so important. Our knowledge and our personal customer service is from people who really care and have been in the local industry for many years. It makes a huge difference to where and how you shop”

Thank you to all our customers, staff and suppliers. We could not have made it through 2020 without you. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

8 In Touch online: NEWS

MARTLESHAM PARISH COUNCIL CLIMATE EMERGENCY DECLARATION: WHAT NEXT?

Along with many other parish councils, Martlesham has declared a • Run a community ‘carbon reduction forum’. Teach and share how ‘climate emergency’. What does this mean and what can/should we be our lives cause carbon dioxide emissions (transport, food, heating, doing about it? Here are some first thoughts and steps on creating a fashion, etc.) and share ideas on how we can reduce carbon community response to the climate emergency. emissions that we cause (e.g. switching our electricity tariff to 100% Climate Change renewable, installation of more insulation, installation of solar panels This refers to the overwhelming body of scientific evidence gathered over and heat pumps, re-use and fix rather than chuck and replace, several decades that the world’s climate is changing due to increasing consume less, source more locally, consider dietary changes, travel average global temperatures caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide less by plane and car… (and other greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere predominately as a direct • Give nature a helping hand (protect and enhance biodiversity) result of burning fossil fuels. Oil, gas and coal have been locked away in through tree planting (e.g. the new Bright’s Orchard), ‘re-wilding’ the Earth for millennia, but since the industrial revolution, humans have gardens and verges (e.g. MHHL wildflower verge initiative), been extracting them and using them to power our modern economies. protecting our woods (Portal Woods Conservation Group), protecting Indeed, fossil fuels have delivered substantial improvements in food, health and general wealth for much of an increasing world population. our SSSI (Martlesham Conservation Group). Consider putting this However, it is increasingly obvious that this has come at a terrible cost to under the ‘WildEast’ banner targeting 20% of land including gardens the Earth’s environment (animals, plants, soil, pollution, water, air, etc.). to be re-wilded. Even worse, the Earth’s climate is changing as a direct consequence of • Run a Martlesham Repair Café. humans burning fossil fuels, threatening our very civilisation built on the back of those fossil fuels. Climate change is impacting lives across the • Embrace the ‘Plastic Action Champion’ initiative from East Suffolk globe now. For the sake of our children, our grandchildren and ourselves, Council by appointing champions in the parish (links to litter picking now is the time for action. activities around the parish). What can I do? • Lobby local and national politicians for better public transport and It all seems insurmountable, but the biggest threat to humanity is that cycle lanes. we ignore the threat and individually do nothing hoping someone else will fix it. To quote Sir David Attenborough, “what happens next is up to • Pledge not to use peat in compost, reduce/stop flying, use the bus for all of us”. It will be a hard slog to change our comfortable fossil fuel-based that shopping trip rather than jumping in the car. ways of life but a combination of government policies nudging us into the If you are interested in getting involved in one or more of these areas right behaviors and grassroots initiatives can give us hope. (e.g. sharing your experiences of reducing your carbon emissions, So, what can we do as individuals and as a parish? becoming a ‘Plastic Action Champion’, helping to create a ‘WildEast 1. We have set up ‘Martlesham Climate Action’, a Martlesham Parish Martlesham’ building on current conservation projects), please contact Council ‘Climate Emergency Working Group’ to act as a catalyst to us at: [email protected]. help promote, support and extend existing initiatives and drive new ones with a focus on reducing carbon footprints and protecting and Our meetings are on Zoom with the next one scheduled for December 14 enhancing biodiversity. at 7.30pm. We are also planning to arrange a special Martlesham Climate Summit next year when we can meet up again. 2. Here are some ideas some of which are already being undertaken by our parish and other communities: Dave Green & Paul Whitby, co-chairs of Martlesham Climate Action

POP-UP SHOP IPSWICH SCOUT CHRISTMAS POST St Michael & All Angels Church IS CANCELLED The Green, Martlesham Heath We are sorry to announce that due to the Covid-19 situation and the Every second Sunday of the month from 1-2pm restrictions required, it has been decided this year’s operation of the Ipswich Scout Christmas Post is cancelled. Finding food bills a challenge? We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but we look forward to Come and fill one of our carrier bags for either £1 or £2 serving you again in 2021. 13 December 2020 / 10 January, 14 February 2021 More information about the service can be found at: www.scoutpostipswich.org.uk

www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 9 NEWS

GREAT NEWS ABOUT THE HARRY HIGGINS PLAY AREA Many of you will know that we have been fundraising to replace the play equipment next to Martlesham Heath Pavilion. The Pavilion Management Committee had been putting some money towards this project for afew years, but we had too big a gap to fill on our own. Now we know that it will go ahead thanks to Martlesham Parish Council. At their council meeting on November 4, councillors unanimously agreed to support this project with a substantial contribution and our thanks go to them. We are also grateful to our county and district councillors who also offered grants from their community enabling budgets. We already have estimates for an initial design – you may have seen the posters on the Pavilion’s windows. We now need to analyse the results of the play area survey and get firm quotes that best meet those needs and ST aspirations, and which can be afforded by the funds we have available. Thank 1 MARTLESHAM SCOUT GROUP you to all those who took the time to complete the survey. SCOUT CHRISTMAS POST 2020 MARTLESHAM ONLY Thank you also to those who have already donated via our Just Giving appeal Postage is 20p per card (www.martlesham.org.uk/pavilion). We are leaving this open and would Postage should be placed in a separate envelope encourage anyone who would like to be part of creating a fun play experience and social hub for children (up to age 12) and their parents, grandparents and Please include your post code and house name/number on the back other carers to please donate. Nothing will be wasted as we don’t yet know of each envelope. Thank you. the final costs plus there are always extras we could purchase such as play Please note we will only deliver to the following areas: panels, maybe a picnic table – depending on how well we do. Whatever we manage to achieve, it will be something positive to look forward to – by next all roads within Martlesham and Martlesham Heath including summer, hopefully! Falcon Park & Mill Heath We wish you all good health and a happy Christmas. There will be Christmas post boxes in Duncan’s Bakery, Black Tiles Post Office and J’s Fish and Chip Shop at Crown Point from 25 Prue, Andrea and Andrew, Play area sub-committee November until 14 December. Last posting date Monday 14 December Delivered by local Scout groups by 24 December Save money and help the local Scout Group: your support for this local community venture is much appreciated If you have any questions, please call: 01473 610437 Please note that the Ipswich Scout Christmas Post service which covers MARTLESHAM COMMUNITY HALL Ipswich Central and other surrounding areas is cancelled this year. - AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE! Having reopened again on September 1, we had to close the community hall and Richards Room again on November 5 in line with USED STAMPS AND COINS APPEAL FOR the latest Covid-19 lockdown rules. ST ELIZABETH HOSPICE After discussing the developments at our recent management Christmas is the time of year when we receive more post than the rest of committee meeting, our current plan is to reopen on Monday 4 the entire year, by way of Christmas cards and letters from our loved ones. January at the earliest. We’ll review the situation at our next meeting When you have opened the envelopes please don’t just throw them away; in mid-December. the used stamps on there are worth money to our local charity. St Elizabeth Hospice in Foxhall Road, Ipswich sells them in bulk. They are sorted and sold We’re very sorry for the current extended closure. However, we must online, ending up in stamp collections around the world. Just remember carefully balance our outgoings against our hire income when open. please to leave a 1cm border around the stamps to avoid damage to the We had no income for over five months when we were closed. Since perforated edge. we reopened at the start of September our hire income is significantly down as there are only a limited number of hirers who can currently If you’ve had a sort-out recently and have discovered some old foreign use the venue for ’permitted activities’. A number of those returning currency left over from your travels, British pre-decimal money or some of hirers have now said they won’t be back until the New Year regardless. the more recently phased out coinage, please consider donating them as they can also help the hospice to raise funds. We’ll keep our new website updated with any significant changes. You can contact us via the website or at mchall.org.uk/contact / 01473 623203 if By dropping them through my letterbox you would be really helping the you prefer. hospice. Don’t worry that you don’t have many stamps; all the used stamps pushed through my letterbox combine to make a great deal for the hospice. If you’ve been attending a group or activity run by one of our regular Remember – every little helps! hirers this autumn, please contact them for further details. A very happy Christmas to you all and a big thank-you for your continued www.mchall.org.uk support. Bev Read, 15 Demesne Gardens, Martlesham Heath / 01473 622721 10 In Touch online: www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 11 Life | Land | Business

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12 In Touch online: NEWS / OUT & ABOUT

MARTLESHAM HEATH PAVILION FOR PATIENTS OF MARTLESHAM HEATH – VOLUNTEER NEEDED AND THE BIRCHES SURGERIES Have you found yourself at more of a loose end than usual? Would you like My last news item flagged up a forthcoming joint patient survey, which to do something to help the local community? Do you bank online and can we had hoped to publish in December editions of local magazines and on you use a spreadsheet? If so, this opportunity could be yours for the asking! surgery websites. Unfortunately, just as we were approaching the publication The treasurer of Martlesham Heath Pavilion is standing down after almost deadlines, we are now back in lockdown and regrettably, we must postpone four years’ service, so we are looking for someone to take over. We have a very this. We will review the situation and get the survey out to you as soon as experienced and efficient bookkeeper, who handles all day-to-day financial possible in the new year. transactions and updating the accounts spreadsheet, so the treasurer’s role is primarily one of oversight and advising on financial decisions. As treasurer, Both surgeries are participating in a programme called Connect for Health, you would: which is designed to support patients in finding non-clinical solutions to improve their health and wellbeing. People who could benefit from this • countersign expenditure transactions via online banking service could be referred by their GP, a nurse, a carer or self-referral. This • submit monthly PAYE returns and issue an annual P60 equivalent service aims to support patients who: • support the booking secretary/bookkeeper with any financial queries • have one or more long-term conditions • ensure essential services such as utilities, insurance, etc. are reviewed • need support with mental health and renewed when required • are lonely or isolated • advise and report to the management committee on financial matters • have complex social needs affecting their wellbeing (meetings normally quarterly) • prepare an end-of-year report for audit, report to the AGM and upload This is what to expect: “Our community connectors can spend time with you totals to the Charity Commission. exploring what activities or what support could help improve your health and wellbeing. You can talk to them in confidence and they will be able to give This is not a very time-consuming role and can easily be fitted around other practical, helpful, non-judgemental advice on a whole host of issues.” interests, commitments and holidays away. We are looking for someone with the right skills who is interested in being involved in maintaining our very During the current pandemic, all appointments are telephone-based. popular community hall. To contact a Connect for Health link worker, please call Jasmine Ross on Could that be you? If so, please contact Prue for a chat about the role: 07967 395985 or Dominique Dale 07790 922228. They work for the Shaw [email protected] Trust, which is the organisation providing this service for our two practices (as well as practices in Woodbridge, Wickham Market and Alderton). As always, patients of Martlesham Heath surgery are welcome to send me their views at [email protected] about any general issues to do with the surgery (not personal health issues please, which are confidential and we are not qualified to comment on). We wish you all good health and a happy Christmas. MARTLESHAM HEATH COUNTRY MARKET Prue, Chair of Martlesham Heath PPG Plans can go awry, although this isn’t news to anyone who’s been on this In collaboration with the chair of The Birches PPG planet during 2020! A benefit of planning is that you have set and shared your objectives and can work towards achieving them. When Lockdown 2 came along and the Country Market had to close again, we put our heads together and decided that we can offer our lovely customers a Bake and MARTLESHAM BRASS Deliver service. All at Martlesham Brass would like to wish you a Happy Christmas. At the The service includes treats like cakes and generous afternoon teas and can time of writing, band activities are again suspended. The band is following provide a welcome break from daily cooking for you, your family, friends and government guidelines and taking the advice of Brass Bands neighbours. Order a full meal, a cake or a Tea for Two (or more). Imagine your own or a friend’s delight on opening the door for a lovely home-baked regarding the restarting of rehearsals and ensuring that everyone stays safe. delivery? In normal times, the band would be preparing for their busiest time of the Lone auntie’s birthday – what about a Tea for One? year, rehearsing for Christmas concerts and playing Christmas carols outside A neighbour’s done a kind favour – what about a Thank You cake? local supermarkets while raising money for local charities. Much of this is not possible this year, but the band still wants to raise as much money as possible Send a meal to your friend and family as a treat or for a rest from cooking? for local charities. We can provide generous ready-made afternoon teas for one person and more, wholesome varied meals to suit almost any occasion, delicious cakes They have nominated just two charities this year for birthdays and any days – all freshly made by our approved bakers and – FIND (Families in Need) in Ipswich and The Bus cooks. Hampers are under discussion too, so keep up to date. Shelter Ipswich CIC – and, government restrictions permitting, we hope to play at Kesgrave Market on How to order: Phone Margaret Gayfer on 01473 623849 with the details of your order and the name and address of the lucky recipient. It’s even possible December 19 and in The Square, Martlesham Heath to pay electronically. on some Saturdays in December. You will be able to donate by card or cash and online at our website. Keep in touch We plan to be at future Kesgrave Community Markets, as normal, and When band activities fully resume, we will be happy to hear from anyone shall be opening the Country Market at Martlesham Pavilion on the interested in joining us. Tuesday morning after lockdown, regulations allowing. Find our new blog – martleshamheathcountrymarket.blogspot.com – or follow us on Facebook: Publicity Officer Liz Howard www.facebook.com/martleshamheathcountrymarket [email protected] / 01473 625617 Take care! www.martleshambrass.co.uk / www.facebook.com/MartleshamBrass www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 13 OUT & ABOUT

VW CRUISE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR 4YP SANTA’S SLEIGH IS ON THE WAY! Andrew and Rosie Wilcox have been running Suffolk Due to the second lockdown, the Deben Rotary Club Burgs, a friendly Volkswagen owners club which aims to of Woodbridge has altered the dates of the Sleigh get v-dubbers in Suffolk and surrounding areas together to Run. Three points to note: new dates for all the have fun, make friends and gain valuable contacts in the runs on Martlesham Heath (see below); a lot may VW scene, since 2005. still happen to upset the applecart in the meantime; Members meet throughout the year and Andrew and Rosie arrange club to this end we will constantly update our website camps, including camping at VW shows throughout the year. (see below) and also try and do the same with Martlesham Parish Council. Now they have turned their attention to helping a local charity and have organised a Christmas Lights Cruise to raise money for 4YP (Suffolk Young We will collect money but will not be knocking on doors. A few Rotarians People’s Health Project), an Ipswich-based charity which provides and co- will accompany the sleigh carrying collecting buckets and a card payment ordinates services that improve the social, emotional and physical health and machine. All the money we collect will go towards our supported charities wellbeing of young people aged 12-25. via our charitable trust, which is sadly depleted this year as we haven’t been able to do any fundraising events. 4YP offers an amazing service for young people from one-to-one support, counselling, groups and activities, shower and food supplies. They also go As we will not be able to collect letters as we go around, we have a dedicated into schools to support young people in need. email address for Letters to Santa: [email protected] The Christmas Lights Cruise will take place on Friday 11 December (or Saturday All the Rotary movement hope you have a Happy Christmas and much 2 January if lockdown is extended), meeting from 7pm at Anglia Retail Park, better New Year. Bury Road, Ipswich IP1 5QP to depart at 7.15pm. The plan is to cruise through Ipswich and several other villages, ending on Felixstowe Sea Front. Street Collection on The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge: Saturday 12 December, 10am-2.30pm Participants (and anyone keen to support 4YP) are asked to donate £10 to As in other years, we park Santa’s Sleigh in the layby outside the HSBC Bank take part and can donate via: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/suffolkbugrs and collect between Rook Street and the entrance to the Turban Centre. So put the date in your diary now and remember to keep a lookout for what’s SLEIGH ROUTES sure to be a wonderful sight. All sleigh routes start at approx. 5.45pm www.suffolkbugrs.co.uk Melton: Tuesday 15 December Hall Farm Road and Close, Manthorp Close, Churchman Close, Houses on Woods Lane backing on Hall Farm Road, St Andrews Place and Close & DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY MARTLESHAM TOURS DATES Although we cannot meet face to face, our Zoom meetings have been quite Wednesday 16 December successful. Twelve people have now taken part in meetings, with eight being Blacktiles Lane, Carol Avenue, Angela Close, Chandos Drive and Close, the most at any one time, to date. Although it has had to be postponed due Ravens Way, Green Lane, Buckingham Close, Alban Square, Crown Close, to Lockdown 2, the sales packet is continuing to function and there will be Viking Heights/Close a postal auction of nearly 250 lots in January. The quarterly newsletter has Thursday 17 December: been brought forward and was issued during the November lockdown. Birch Grove, York Road, Lancaster Drive, Coopers Road Avocet Lane, The club is always ready to welcome new members so, if you are not already a Swan Close, Lark Rise, Burgess Place member and would like to join, please email our membership and programme Friday 18 December secretary, Andy Soutar: [email protected] Forest Lane, Harvesters Way, Pine Bank, Holly End, The Oaks, Heathfield, Heathfield Mews, Heather and Digby Close, Mayfield and Mayfield Lane MARTLESHAM HEATH AVIATION Monday 21 December Squires Lane, Park Place, Peel Yard, Demesne Gardens, The Grove, Parkers SOCIETY & CONTROL TOWER MUSEUM Place, West Lands, Warren Lane, Broomfield and Whinfield and Mewses The society’s last held was in February but we continue to keep in touch with Tuesday 22 December our members with monthly newsletters and our quarterlyRunway 22 journal. Farriers Close, Stable Court, Hunters Ride, The Chase, DeBrink on the Green, Valiant Way, Saddlers Place, Carlford Close and Manor Road The Control Tower Museum may appear to be slumbering but work continues with the recent completion of a major project to improve the lighting in our IN OTHER ROTARY NEWS display cabinets. By the time this is published we will have completed our Zoom quiz, so we In addition to details of the American Squadrons based at RAF Martlesham thank all those who took part. Heath during the Second World War, we now have full copies of all the One of our disappointments is that we have had to suspend our Memory Café, Operational Record Books for all the British Squadrons. much loved by all who attend. Live music was often a very much appreciated This information ties in nicely with our current major project which museum part of the morning. We will be back as soon as we can. volunteers will work on at home, which is to complete the records on all those With no formal Armistice Service this year, we are pleased to have laid a who died at RAF Martlesham Heath from its foundation in 1917 until it closed wreath by the memorial in Woodbridge. in 1963. This will include all who flew in the RAF but were from elsewhere in Our community services committee is open to requests from local charitable the Commonwealth or came from other countries overrun by the Nazis in the organisations. A short introductory email to us via our website or directly to Second World War. If any reader has relevant information, please contact us. [email protected] would be welcome. Once able to do so, we will welcome (for a small fee) small pre-booked If you would l like to find out more about what Deben Rotary gets up to in group visits to the tower (subject to Covid-19 rules at the time). To book a Kesgrave, Martlesham, Woodbridge and Melton, please visit our website. visit please contact our museum manager: [email protected] / 07707 711104 Club President Rtn Richard Boother www.mhas.org.uk www.debenrotary.org.uk 14 In Touch online: OUT & ABOUT

SPEAK EASY AT MARTLESHAM IPSWICH & DISTRICT PHILATELIC SOCIETY After a successful trial return to its home in Martlesham, Speak Easy will As with most clubs, Ipswich & District Philatelic Society has not been able to resume online meetings using Zoom. hold in-person meetings for several months. As we use Cedarwood Primary Speak Easy, which is part of Toastmasters International, offers public speaking School for most of our meetings, it could be some time before they resume. opportunities, providing a fun and supportive forum to speak and to evaluate. In the meantime, we are still producing a newsletter, with contributions from Our online format is effective for members and guests. In fact, with the members, which has been sent to all members via email and posted on our increasing use of video conferencing for business and recreation, the format website. is helping develop even more useful skills. All the usual fairs, in-person auctions and national exhibitions, such as Guests are welcome to join us to see what we have to offer and to take part Stampex, have been cancelled. However, several have managed to go online, if you would like. We hope you will choose to become a member, whether with many members using this facility to keep up with the hobby and using to overcome nerves about speaking in public, develop your abilities, enter precious time at home to catch up on neglected areas, such as writing up competitions, or even to help run the club! displays or sorting through their boxes of forgotten stamps. If you would like to attend one of our online meetings please contact Adam Philately is a great indoor hobby, so most collectors have been busy over the Green, who will send you an invite. last few months. It’s also great to get children involved and there’s a special organisation to help do just that. You’ll find a vast amount of information to Speak Easy is an inclusive and diverse community club open to anyone 18 help you and your children get collecting by visiting: www.stampactive.co.uk years or over. One stamp magazine has started a new online conference Meetings are held on alternate Thursdays (November 12 and 26) from programme aimed at collectors of GB stamps. Details can be found at: 7.15/7.30-9.30pm. www.allaboutstamps.co.uk/news/gb-stamps-collectors-conference. If you would like any further information, please contact Adam Green: If you receive this magazine, are interested in stamp collection or other [email protected] aspects of philately, such as postal history, then visit our website for more information. www.speak-easy.org.uk / Facebook: Speak Easy Martlesham https://ipswichphilatelic.uk INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WOODBRIDGE Snakes in a coffin – in the living room! As those who have watched All SOROPTIMIST CLUB OF Creatures Great and Small will know the life of a vet is varied and interesting and, at our Zoom meeting in November, members were greatly entertained IPSWICH & DISTRICT by Brian Faulkner on his varied career in his chosen profession as a vet. As Please, Sir (or Ma’am), I want some more! well as snakes in a coffin (he provided sage advice to their owner), there was Well, unlike poor Oliver, we are not asking for more gruel, but for more an interesting anecdote about a tortoise whose back legs had been impaired material to continue making syringe driver bags for the end of life and and had been successfully replaced by Lego wheels, secured in place by a palliative care patients at Ipswich Hospital. Kind readers donated some lovely form of super glue! materials when we asked in spring 2019 and since then we have made over Brian is a much-qualified veterinary surgeon and has had a varied career over 300 bags. They are always gratefully received. the last 25 years. He moved to Suffolk in 2002 and has had four practices in Our stock of material is running low, hence this plea for more. So, if you can various places during that time. He was PetPlan UK Vet of the Year in 2008 and is Associate Honorary Professor in Veterinary Business at Nottingham spare any new, washable material that would make a bag (a small tote bag University. He is also the founder of Colourful CPD, an online CPD provider size) we would be very pleased to have it. Just contact Joyce: 01394 615656 / of veterinary training all around the world. Furthermore, Brian is physically [email protected] very fit and in August he ran 31 marathons in 31 days from John O’Groats to Our use of Zoom is expanding rapidly. An amazing 1,000 Soroptimists Lands’ End (www.jogle2020.co.uk) to raise £10,000 for a charity called Street registered for our recent annual conference. We expect to join with a Vet which attends to the dogs of the homeless. record number of members from clubs across the region for our celebration It was a delight to have Brian as our guest speaker and members were of Human Rights Day. The speaker will be Dame Vera Baird, the Victims’ grateful to him for giving us his time, not only because he is an internationally Commissioner for England and Wales. Dame Vera is a Soroptimist herself and renowned speaker (having in the previous week spoken at online conferences a good friend of this club. in the USA, Malaysia and Australia) but because the very next morning he was opening a new practice in . And with all our new expertise in operating virtually, we shall be celebrating Christmas with a gin tasting. An improvement on gruel any day! Inner Wheel members throughout the world strive to uphold their ideals of friendship, fostering international understanding and providing service to their local communities. Woodbridge Inner Wheel members are furiously knitting hats and blankets for premature babies at Ipswich Hospital. Due to MARTLESHAM CARPET BOWLS Covid-19, baby hats and blankets must be sent home with the new-borns and therefore an ongoing supply is needed. Just recently 23 adult hats were The club held a committee meeting outdoors in July on the edge ofthe provided to the Seafarers Mission in Felixstowe and nine knitted blankets community hall car park. It was agreed to hold a special general meeting for have been completed ready to be sent overseas. members on September 1, the day the hall was expected to re-open. Those who attended were unwilling to begin playing again because nearly all of us A Christmas quiz has been devised that will be sent to friends and family to are above the age of 70. raise funds for our president’s (Jan Whitaker) charity, SERV, whose volunteers transport urgent medical supplies by motorbike between various locations in However, it was agreed that further consideration would take place on Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Tuesday 5 January. Obviously, we don’t know what the regulations will be in January and how they could affect the opening of the hall and public Maintaining and promoting friendship is certainly no problem! Now, in the meetings. second lockdown, members will stay in touch by phone, FaceTime and Skype, and, of course, walking with one other is allowed, and will take place. Meanwhile, I hope members and their families are keeping well and will have as happy a Christmas as possible in the circumstances. If you would like to know more about Woodbridge Inner Wheel, please visit: www.woodbridgeinnerwheel.org.uk Vic Harrup www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 15 OUT & ABOUT

WOODBRIDGE & DISTRICT LIONS CLUB Like most charities, the Lions Club has found it extremely KESGRAVE WI difficult to function effectively this year. Withmany There is very little to report this month as, like other organisations, we members or their partners in vulnerable groups, it was have been unable to resume our normal meetings due to the Covid-19 difficult to lend hands-on support to the community to restrictions at the community centre. any great degree which, of course, is the main purpose of Lions Clubs. We did make a significant financial contribution to Woodbridge Plant a Tree in 2020 We hope to be able to plant our Rowan tree in Pergola Piece, just off Salvation Army Food Bank during the first national lockdown to support their Finborough’s Walk in early December if lockdown allows. This is part work to meet the rising demand. of East Suffolk Women’s Institute’s plan for as many Suffolk WIsas Over the last couple of months, we have been holding club meetings online, possible to plant a tree in their local area to improve the environment. only to have any tentative plans for fundraising events further put on hold by Unable to hold our annual meeting in November due to the virus, the latest lockdown or due to the Covid-19 restrictions around such events. the committee has agreed to continue in post for the next year when Plans are now in place to give further support to the Salvation Army by we hope life will be back to as near normal as it can be. All members providing 100 festive food parcels for delivery just before Christmas. We were consulted about this proposal and were all in agreement. Copies are also making contributions to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and of our usual reports were hand-delivered to all members giving the Lighthouse Women’s Aid. committee an ideal opportunity to check that they were all safe or in need of assistance. The club has recently lost one of its longest-standing members, Carol We look forward to the future when we all can meet again in our Malpass, who sadly lost her long fight against illness. Our thoughts go out normal format and hopefully welcome some new members to join us. to her husband David, family and friends. Carol was a much-loved member For any information regarding Kesgrave WI, please contact Di Chilver: of the club and was the driving force behind many of the projects to support 01473 611415. the local community over the years. Indeed, for many years Carol led the Christmas parcels appeal, and it is therefore fitting that we are continuing to support the project this year even in such difficult times. We all hope that as the year draws to a close, we can look forward to a more normal year in 2021. If you would like to know more about what we do or would be interested in finding out more about becoming a Lion, please visit: www.woodbridgelions.org.uk

PORTAL WOODLANDS CONSERVATION GROUP At the end of October, a small volunteer team ventured out to fit our new noticeboard. The noticeboard has been erected in memory of one ofour volunteers, Katie Webb, who so sadly passed in 2015 at the young age of 21. We thank East Suffolk Council for their grant to purchase the sign and John Kelso who supported our request for funding from the Enabling Communities Fund. We will hold an official unveiling at a suitable time when Covid-19 restrictions allow. Autumn is a great time to explore the woods and enjoy the seasonal colours. Visitors might have noticed an unusual black fungus growing on a rotting felled tree trunk by the perimeter track. This is called black bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans) and is thought to be a new species in our woods. Again this year, the nationally uncommon wrinkled peach (Rhodotus palmatus) has been seen. Please send us your photos of any interesting fungi or other sightings you discover in Portal Woodlands. Dates for the Diary Unfortunately, all upcoming events have been cancelled due to the coronavirus. However, if you would like to sign up or get in touch, we are always pleased to welcome new faces. New volunteers of all ages and abilities are always welcome. No experience is needed. For further information, please contact us at [email protected] / 01473 612632, visit our website or join our members’ Facebook Group by messaging Duncan Sweeting. Chairman Stephen Corley pwcg.onesuffolk.net 16 In Touch online: OUT & ABOUT / SCHOOLS

MARTLESHAM LADIES CLUB HEDGEHOG NURSERY This month we will look back and remember some of the charities we have Hedgehog Nursery exploded, popped, whizzed, and banged its way to the supported over the years. We choose a local charity each year and raise money fifth of November with colour mixing, firework painting and making our own in many ways. Charities we have suported include St Elizabeth Hospice, EACH, edible fireworks. We had to dribble icing onto breadsticks and quickly sprinkle Age UK Suffolk, Martlesham Community Responders and Ipswich Hospital on stars; they were delicious! We also slowed down, became peaceful, and Tumour Ablation Dept. We have also helped the East Anglian Sailing Trust and learned how important the poppy is. We made poppies in lots of ways Global Development Delay in Children. As many of our members are animal through cutting and sticking, using loose parts and with paint. lovers, we have supported the local Blue Cross, the RSPCA and Suffolk Search The hedgehogs have been busy making up their own stories and performing and Rescue with Dogs. with puppets. We have used stories we already know to help us, like the classic We’re Going on A Dinosaur Hunt! for example. In the summer we hold a coffee morning, usually in members’ gardens. For many years it was held in the beautiful garden of Rita and Robert Dunnett and Our Christmas songs are progressing well, and we cannot wait for our families more recently in Doreen Boar’s pretty garden. We have usually been blessed to see the video of us performing them! with good weather! There is a large raffle with donated prizes, various stalls Here at Hedgehog Nursery, we provide a learning atmosphere where and a tombola. Coffee and cakes are served throughout the morning. children can explore and investigate in a safe, stimulating, and challenging During the year we have a book exchange at our environment. We capitalise on the children’s interests to springboard them meetings when we put 20p in the pink pig money box. into learning experiences that extend what they can already do, developing There is also an annual bring-and-buy sale and raffles. the ‘thinkers and doers’ of the future. We shall not be able to restart meetings while present If you are curious and have a three or four-year-old, please don’t hesitate to restrictions are in place because only 15 people are get in touch with the school office on 01473 623790 for further details. permitted in the Richards Room and we usually average at least 25 members. GORSELAND PRIMARY SCHOOL All that remains is to wish everyone a peaceful and healthy Christmas and For families with children looking to join us in Reception next September, pray for a Happy New Year. please remember that the deadline for making applications is Friday 15 For more information contact Doreen Boar: 01473 622768 January 2021. Please apply under School Places on the Suffolk County Council website. As we enter the month of December, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and MARTLESHAM PRE-SCHOOL Happy New Year. Here at Martlesham Pre-school, we are full of festive cheer! We could not wait to get started, and we’re not too sure who is more excited, the staff or children! The children are busily decorating the rooms with paper chains and beautiful handmade wreaths and covering the tree in wonderful creations. While the staff are dreaming up fun learning opportunities based around one CEDARWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL of our favourite times of the year. Glitter is most certainly in the air! Although we were unable to attend The children have been creating special letters to send to the North Pole, and this year’s Remembrance Service as our home corner has become an elf workshop, creating the most wonderful a school, our pupils commemorated junk models. This Christmas, as always, we will be holding our children’s Armistice Day with a special parties in the last week of term. The children would usually attend one party assembly at Kesgrave War Memorial and perform a nativity. However, this year we cannot welcome visitors into led by Reverend Robin Spittle. the setting. Therefore, parties will take place in usual session time, and means we get to party four times in a week. How exciting! All the children paid their respects with a period of silent reflection and It goes without saying that things are a little different this year, but inside the impressed us with their empathy walls of our pre-school, we are doing all we can to keep life feeling normal for and understanding. Older pupils the children and their families. produced some moving wartime As a charity, fundraising plays a vital part in poetry and created beautiful allowing us to maintain our provision and provide wreaths to be laid at the memorial. wonderful new resources. We have had to be We are looking forward to Christmas and excitedly preparing for our creative with our fundraising in these challenging school celebrations, including the very precious Foundation and Key times and have joined Easyfundraising. Easy fundraising allows users to shop via their app/website and earn valuable funds for the pre-school as they do Stage 1 nativities. so. It is totally free to sign up to, adds no cost to the price of your purchase Children starting school in September 2021 and really does make a difference. If you wish to support the pre-school, We very much enjoyed meeting families at our recent open evening tours. please sign up and save us as your chosen cause at: www.easyfundraising. If you have a child starting school in September 2021 and would like to meet org.uk the teachers and headteacher, please call the school office to arrange January will see the arrival of more new children to the setting, and we a virtual tour and meeting. cannot wait to welcome them and their families. We also have some places in other year groups. Please contact us for any further information: 01473 625986 / If you would like to enquire about these, please [email protected] contact Sarah Linsell: 01473 612981 / [email protected] You can also find us on Facebook, where you will find our virtual tour and Headteacher Tina Shute further information. Janine Highclere-Milne www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 17 SCHOOLS / CHURCH NEWS

HEATH PRIMARY SCHOOL A group of our children visited OLIVER CROMWELL, COVID AND Kesgrave War Memorial to place two wreaths as part of THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS. Remembrance. This is an event I write this on day five of lockdown and, as with many people, I am that the school participates in each wondering whether the promised end at the start of December will year and normally sees all our Year really happen. And will we be able to celebrate Christmas together 2 and Year 6 children attending. with our friends and family? Hopefully by the time you read this all has With there being no formal been made clear. ceremony this year, we felt that it was important that representatives But actually, there is precedent for not having Christmas. When Oliver from both Year 2 and Year 6 still Cromwell was Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, paid their respects on behalf of the Scotland and Ireland (1653-58), stricter laws were passed to catch anyone holding or attending a special Christmas church service. In school community. January 1645, Parliament produced a new Directory for Public Worship The children laying the wreaths that made clear that festival days, including Christmas, were not to be were accompanied by a team from celebrated but spent in respectful contemplation. Happily, things have Heath News, a student-led digital moved on since then! newspaper that is formed of a team But I wonder whether this is a year to forgo Christmas, a year when we of reporters and technical assistants. The team filmed the placement of the don’t want to be reminded of difficult happenings. wreaths and reported on the events, ready for the children back at school to watch. Heath News has been a great success since its launch two years Why would we want to be reminded of a government imposing travel ago and has gained some prominent fans, which has resulted in them being restrictions on people – such as happened to Mary and Joseph who invited to film reports at Radio Suffolk and the Houses of Parliament! were forced to leave their homes and travel about 70 miles to register for a census? Reception Places 2021 and our ‘Outdoor Growing Project’ Surely there is merit in not celebrating the difficulty of finding We are delighted to announce that we are starting a new project in our somewhere to spend the night away from home – as the Holy Family Early Years garden. We will be creating an allotment area, complete with found when they reached Bethlehem? a polytunnel and raised beds, a mud-kitchen, imaginary play areas and a wildlife area. We will also be creating a separate growing area for each of With the news being filled with the challenges of refugees and their the other year groups. We are very excited about this enterprise project, and dangerous journeys as they flee from their homes to escape oppressive we are looking forward to being able to provide fresh food parcels to the regimes, do we want to hear of another family leaving in the middle of more vulnerable members of our local community using the produce that we the night to escape to another country, running in fear of their lives – grow. We would like to thank our PFA, SPARK, the Ropes Trust and our local as Joseph was told by God to do, in order to escape King Herod. councillors for making this project possible. Or maybe this is exactly what we need. A chance to see the hope that You can view our plans for our Early Years Garden whilst looking around our Jesus coming to earth brought then and still brings today. Maybe the outstanding outdoor facilities, and also find out how our ratio of one adult for similarities to our present situation remind us that God is involved and does understand our situation. Maybe, like the Grinch who stole every ten children will give your child the best possible start to their school Christmas, we can come to realise that even when the trimmings are life by booking a personal tour of the school. removed, Christmas can still happen. It may be different, we may All families, including those who don’t live in Kesgrave, are welcome to make have to make some new traditions for our families, but at the heart an appointment to view the school by phoning 01473 622806. Alternatively, of Christmas is still the fact that God loves us and shows us thisin you can visit our fantastic website where we have a page dedicated to sending Jesus. prospective parents. I pray you will have a peaceful, fun filled, Christmas and that, however www.heathprimary.co.uk it happens, you will be aware of God’s love this Christmas time. Revd Toby Tate E: [email protected] BRIGHT STARS Martlesham Benefice Bright Stars normally runs free fun activity sessions for pre-school aged children with their parents, grandparents, friends, family and/or carers at St Michael’s Church Centre, Martlesham Heath on the second and fourth Monday mornings of each month during term time. They usually involve Jesus Christ can bring you joy and singing, games, making crafts to take home and telling stories from the Bible. peace, even in a time of sorrow. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, we are unfortunately not able to meet in person at present, but we are keeping in touch remotely We can't meet at the moment for the time being. We are sending out activity sheets by email for the children but you might find some help on the links below: to enjoy doing with their family and/or carers. We have been celebrating harvest by thinking of all the different fruit that we eat and creating a display www.enjoyyourbible.com to show how wheat grows! We also enjoyed making autumn leaves to bring for free bible courses the colourful autumnal season indoors. www.crosspaint.tv If you have or look after a child/children of pre-school age and would like for videos with simple bible explanations to receive our sheets, please give us a call on the telephone number below. or contact us with any questions at [email protected] Wishing everyone best wishes at Christmas from all at Bright Stars. Jesus said: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, If you would like further information, please contact Sonya & Maureen but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17 Burrows: 01473 625196 18 In Touch online: To advertise in this section, which appears in 18 magazines in areas across Suffolk and Essex, please contact a member of our sales team on 01473 400380 a member of our sales contact please and Essex, advertise in this section, which appears 18 magazines areas across Suffolk To www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/martlesham 19 Quality blinds, shutters and awnings from your local Suffolk specialist. No matter the shape or size of your windows.

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