Dennington News Issue 22: October-December 2020 www.denningtonvillagehall -sportsclub.org The Dennington Queen After a tough 2020 so far, we are open again and looking forward to welcoming old and new friends back through our door. We have created a very safe environment, both adhering to Government guidelines as well as going that little bit further, for example by taking temperature checks of staff and customers upon arrival. Your safety is our priority. We will be offering our usual Christmas menu from 1st December (maximum of 6 per table unless the rules change again!) and the log fires will be lit sooner rather than later! We look forward to seeing you soon! For bookings please call us on 01728 638241. Jon & Lorna Reeves EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION Well - what a year it has been so far, and what a lot of tumultuous times we have been through. As always, it has been fantastic to see the way in which people in the village look out for each other, but don’t forget you can contact your local Parish Councillor if you need anything. And a reminder that if anyone needs a little extra help this Christmas, Dennington’s Charity gives grants - see page 33. We also have a report from those intrepid cyclists who took part in this year’s Ride & Stride in aid of the Historic Churches Trust (page 18), a tremendously interesting village personality in Bill Ablett (page 10), and updates from all the usual clubs and societies that take place in Dennington - though, sadly many not operating at the moment with the current situation. However - the pub is open, The Neathouse is doing great business, some church services are going ahead and pupils are back at school, so life is beginning to feel more normal - for now at least! Don’t forget if you have any photos of Dennington to submit for the calendar to raise funds for the Village Hall, please do that now (see page 29). And finally, if you have a glut of tomatoes we have two great recipes for you (pages 21 and 30). My email is [email protected] and my phone numbers are 01728 638795 or 07979 600442 if you need to get in touch. Jo Denton, Editor ADVERTISING Advertise your business in the Dennington News to over 600 people! The rates are only: ¼ page - £12 / ½ page £17.50 / full page £28 Please contact us for further details on [email protected] Please support our advertisers—without them we would not be able to publish the Dennington News www.denningtonvillagehall-sportsclub.org Page 3 Framlingham 12 Fore Street T A X I Framlingham IP13 9DY Service Tel: (01728) 724799 Mobile: 07768 561654 GARDEN MACHINERY SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR GERRY GRADY COLLECTION SERVICE AVAILABLE Proprietor We have a selection of second hand lawnmowers and ride ons in our showroom 6A MEADOW WORKS BUSINESS PARK Long and short journeys, free DEBENHAM IP14 6RP quotes, fully insured, registered TEL 01728 860330 with Suffolk C.D.C., parcel delivery service, waiting room facilities www.bootsnblades.co.uk Dennington Village Hall This pandemic is likely to be with us for at least another year, possibly longer, so we must factor that in to all our future activities. We receive new regulations regularly from Government and these are updated on our website, so keep a check to see what is allowable before you book. Currently, events with up to 30 people can take place in the main hall, provided they don't come in groups of more than six at one time. This will change, so keep a good look at the website. In the meantime, we await the fitting of the large curtains and the setting up of a new website and booking system. The new website will look stunning and will really help to market the Hall. Thanks so much to Mary and Neil Hannon for looking after the flowers in the flower pots so well. They look gorgeous. We will, in the near future, be considering ways of using the hall as a venue for activities which you can attend either in person or online. This will be a new development which we hope will allow you to participate, without risk, in events. We will keep you updated. And if any of you have good ideas to help with this in mind, please let us know ASAP. Cheers!! James Maberly dennington.suffolk.cloud Page 5 DENNINGTON PARISH COUNCIL The Annual Parish Meeting was held in July, and following the meeting Robert Wardley stood down after 22 years as the Chairman of the Parish Council. Robert continues to serve on the Council as Vice-Chairman and will celebrate 50 years on the Parish Council in 2022. I look forward to working with Robert, Nick, Mary, Doris, John, Sam and Lydia in my new role as Chairman. Following Ken Hoyle’s resignation earlier in the year, I am pleased to announce that the vacancy has been filled by the co-option of Tom Mountain. Tom works for a local agricultural machinery supplier and has lived in the village with his young family for 5 years. We look forward to working with Tom. However, we now have another vacancy to fill. The Code of Conduct for Councillors requires their attendance at a meeting at least once every six months, otherwise they automatically forfeit their position on the council. Due to work commitments and then the infrequency of meetings due to Coronavirus, I regret to report that Rebecca Smith has been required to forfeit her position due to this rule. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rebecca for her 20 years of service to the Council and the village. The vacancy has been advertised on the website and notice boards. If ten electors petition East Suffolk Council for a by-election by the 8th of October, the vacancy will remain unfilled until the local council elections in May 2021 (assuming that Government doesn’t postpone these elections again). If no petition is received, the vacancy will be filled by co-option after the 8th of October 2020. If anyone wishes to find out more about becoming a councillor, please do not hesitate to contact me. The focus of the Council's activities during the autumn will be the submission of applications to install/replace new posts for the Vehicle Activated Speed sign that was purchased in response to villagers’ concerns about speeding, with a grant from our County Councillor Stephan Burroughes. It is proposed that some existing posts will be replaced on the Laxfield and Saxtead Roads and new posts installed on The Street/Badingham Road. The sign will then be moved around the village to remind drivers of the speed limit. There are a number of constraints that must be satisfied with respect to the siting of these posts. These include being at least 100m inside the 30mph zone, having at least 100m clear line of sight for the radar to work, and to have sufficient physical clearances around the sign to prevent damage by passing vehicles. As a result of these constraints, finding a suitable site along The Street/Badingham Road is particularly difficult. If you receive a letter asking for permission to erect a post outside your property, I would be grateful if you would respond in agreement. Without your positive response, the application cannot be submitted and the safety sign cannot be used. Finally, the Parish Council can apply for grants of trees to plant around the village. If residents have any suitable locations to suggest, please can they let us know. Matt Lunn, Chair Southwold Harbour (abstract) mixed media Jillifar Amor 01728 638213 www.denningtonvillagehall-sportsclub.org Page 7 E. B. Button & Sons Ltd. Brothers Colin and Stephen Moore, together with their sister Kate Eagle, took over the running of the company when their parents, Janet and Derek Moore, retired in the late 1990s. Colin, Stephen and Kate have many years’ experience and can offer help and guidance through all the funeral arrangements, providing the highest standards of service and care to families during their time of grief. Please contact us on 01394 382160 (24 hours) for support and information on our services. 24 St. John's Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1EB Email: [email protected] THE NEATHOUSE - AN APPRECIATION! Having a shop in any village is a valuable asset and huge advantage to everyone who lives there, whether you need emergency groceries, a friendly chat or are selling your house!! To have a café and shop is even better. I was thrilled when The Neathouse came to Dennington as I live alone and being visually impaired can’t easily run to the shops in Framlingham if I have run out of something. Vashti has worked The Neathouse tirelessly to meet our needs whilst providing superb cakes, breakfasts, lunches and after- noon teas all at very competitive prices. The cafe became the village hub where many of us could meet with friends and chat over a cup of tea/coffee and maybe something delicious! Then COVID-19 came and lockdown happened, but throughout that period Vashti has worked tirelessly, always with a smile on her face, to meet our needs. She had to close the cafe but kept going as a shop despite an anxious time with her own family and moving home. She ordered or went to pick up items we needed and delivered to those who were shielding, myself included, often not getting home until after 9pm. I don’t know where she gets her energy from and now she is offering “take-away” refreshments, still with that lovely smile and enthusiasm.