February 2021

Coronavirus Village Helpline See page 13.

LAWSHALL February 2021 www.lawshallvillagehall.co.uk

This magazine is published by

Lawshall Village Hall Management Committee.

We reserve the right to edit, shorten or refuse any item submitted for publication and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of any claims made by advertisers. Copy deadline for March 2021 magazine 6pm Friday 19th February - earlier welcome! Copy should be emailed to the editor, Jenna Kitchen at [email protected] Telephone 01284 830022 or delivered to Country Lodge, Lambs Lane, Lawshall (first house on the left, across the crossroads when going from direction of village hall)

To place an advertisement in this magazine please contact Leanne Hornby at [email protected] Telephone 01284 830895 or at Hills Farm, Bury Road, IP29 4PJ

Black and White Adverts

Quarter page £6 per issue Half page £10 per issue Full page £20 per issue Back cover £30 per issue

Wanted / For Sale - £2 per entry; Lost or Found items - Free of charge Welcome to the Village - free of charge, just let the editor know.

Check out our website at http://www.lawshallvillagehall.co.uk To discuss anything about the website please contact Jenna Kitchen on 01284 830022 The proceeds from this magazine will go towards the upkeep and improvement of Lawshall Village Hall, registered charity number 304911

VILLAGE HALL HIRE CHARGES Lawshall residents... £14 per hour Other users..... £17 per hour Charges for Groups regularly using the hall are: Weekly users.. £11 per hour Monthly users.. £14 /hour (+ 10% reduction if paid 3 months in advance) Bi-monthly users. £14 /hr (+5% reduction if paid 3 months in advance)

There are set fees for children’s2 parties available upon request.

Editorial. It was such a grey and dull day yesterday, drizzly, then windy overnight, and today skudding clouds, with occasional patches of blue sky and even sunshine. Turbulent weather in turbulent times. Malcolm gives us his annual weather summary—page 36. I love to see the flowers starting to emerge— snowdrops and primroses in my garden as well as the over winter flowers— viburnum and winter honeysuckle with it’s lemony scent winter flowering clematis— freckles. What gives you joy in these strange times? I had a long tailed tit in the garden—I’ve not seen one for ages even though they are common and yesterday I also saw a green woodpecker. Such treats! There are few events for the diary this month. Yet behind the scenes volunteers are still getting on with helping the village to run. Whether active as is the village hall committee , church council, parent teacher association, Lawshall community Woodlands or in the background waiting as Lawshall Ladies, Tuesday club, garden club and others. Thank you to all of you. Contributions to the magazine are welcome from all of you. Even if you “can’t write” (you could phone me and tell me about something). A photo a drawing, a discovery, a poem, a joke, an observation—all are welcome. A big thank you to those who continue to write for R&A, sometimes with many other pressures. If anyone needs a lift to get to a Covid Vaccination appointment—do let someone know—the coronavirus helpline is still there. Lets hope we will be in a very different situation in a few months time. Roll on spring! Jenna, Editor

Contents 22-3 Further Travels through Assam part 6 5 What’s On 7 Village Hall News 25 Community Woodlands-FOC

9 Parish Council News , MP 26-7 From the Archives 11 Planning ; DCs p22 29 Village Hall Booking/ Pre School

13 Helplines & Support 30 Lottery draw results 15 Suffolk Help 31 Book Club/ Lawshall Ladies

17 Bird Notes 32-3 Garden Club 19 Tuesday Club, Litter 21 Potholes, Foodbank 36-7 Weather December and whole of 2020

The Swan Inn SEW WHAT...... ? Lawshall Tel 01284 828477 Alterations to Curtains www.swaninnlawshall.com and Clothes Our Takeaway Service Continues: Pre-order for all items and arrange Dressmaking collection times to reduce crowding. by request Collection times are Friday and Saturday 5 -8; Sunday 12 -2pm No job too Keep a look out for Sunday morning small treats –sausage rolls, brownies and specials - Order in advance Free Collection Dessert boxes available & Delivery Order the day before

Email: [email protected] For a Fast and Friendly service WhatsApp 07548 315134

Laura and Lawrence Ring Joy on 01284 789581

What’s On in Lawshall in February 2021

This Month: Tuesday 9th Parish Council Meeting (2nd Tues) Weekly Regulars:

TUESDAY 5-7:30pm Fish N Chip van - village hall car park

WEDNESDAYS, 10.30HRS – 12.00HRS Outside Lawshall Village Hall

** Stall Of Fresh Fruit, Berries, Vegetables and Salad, Eggs ** Fresh Meat Van ** The Cheese and Pie man

Please keep using these stalls—if we use them they will stay.

Please avoid driving or parking on the grass while it is so soft after all the rain we have had.

Neighbourhood Watch If you are a resident and would like to join please find us on Facebook under “Lawshall Neighbourhood watch “ Lots of useful ideas are being posted on the Facebook group—thank you to all those who are involved in helping our village and villagers.

The Long Melford Practice Tel 01787 378226 website : http://www.mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/ppg.aspx?p=D83014 Long Melford Opening Hours:W Lavenham Opening Hours: Weekdays 8.00 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. Weekdays: 8.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Address: Cordell Road, 2.00 p.m.—6.30 p.m.

Long Melford Sudbury CO10 9EP Address: 36 Church Street, Dispensary Opening Times Lavenham, Sudbury CO10 9SA

Monday – Friday 8.30 am - 1.00 pm Thank you for your patience and and 2.00pm - 6.30 pm understanding throughout these extraordinary times. All flu appointments must be booked by calling reception on 01787 378226. To protect our vulnerable patients and ensure social distancing, patients will be allocated a time slot for their vaccination. First clinics will be prioritised for our most vulnerable patient groups. Please do not attend outside of your time slot. Later in the year the flu vaccine may be given to people aged 50 to 64. But if you are aged 50-64 and in at-risk group, you should not delay having your flu vaccine. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/ for further information.

LAWSHALL VILLAGE HALL

– for you to use and enjoy

www.lawshallvillagehall.co.uk

You can view or download a copy of R&A from the website. Village Hall News:

While our village hall car park is being used for the Wednesday market, we still need to take care of the building and the grounds. Some updates and repairs are needed. Our hot water system is being updated—thanks to Julian for organsing this.

The front frieze needs replastering, and while we tried to arrange it last year we couldn't find someone to do it at the right time. We will look again this year. I hope this year we can see some flowers in the planters, if not the baskets. The daffodils could be emerging soon.

As we move forwards through the year, we would love to hear from you what you would like to see happening at the village hall. How you would like to use the hall, and what would support the community.

Please consider getting involved. Do get in touch

Jenna, for VHMC

GREENLINE TRAVEL Tel: 07754 298690 Email: [email protected]

24 hour 7 days a week service to & from airports, ports and local area. Please call us for a competitive quote. Service includes from and to: Stansted £58.00 Gatwick £115.00 Heathrow £110 .00 All Sea Ports Luton £80.00 London City £90.00Tel: 07754 298690 Friendly, reliable and fully licensed 6 seater car.

Kevin Seggie Electrical Services Bury Road, Lawshall Tel 01284 830 786 Mobile: 07768108157

Email: [email protected]

Testing & Inspection Portable Appliance Testing Rewires; New Build New Consumer Units, CCTV

Parish Council Report for December 2020 www.lawshall.suffolk.gov.uk

The Agendas for all meetings are placed on the P.C. website and in the no- tice boards. The Draft Minutes, for any meetings are always placed on the

P.C. website by the end of the month of the meeting.

Babergh Local Plan: The P.C. comments have been sent to Babergh D.C. for the Local Plan. Details on on the P.C. website.

Neighbourhood Plan: The funding has been received and the NHP update will be reviewed in the near future.

Message from Ccllr. R. Kemp: I am very proud of how our communities continue working together to make sure the lonely feel connected and that those who need additional help have received the support they need. To everyone who has helped in 2020 and who continues to help in 2021, by offering emotional, mental and physical support, I extend my sincere vote of thanks to you all, you are all amazing! Stay safe, know you are not alone!

Precept for 2021-2022: This was discussed at the P.C. meeting on the 12th January, 2021. Precept to be £8838.00 a 3% rise on 2020-2021. The forms will be signed and returned to Babergh D.C.

Crime report as per the Police website: reported November 2020: 1 crime Bury Road: violence and sexual offences.

Appeal Ref: APP/D3505/W/3261326: Land North of The Street: erection of 5 dwellings: Full report is available on the Babergh D.C. website.

BE AWARE OF SCAM: For Corona Virus vaccinations offered for a pay- ment: You will receive notification of when you can make an appointment for this vaccination, and they are FREE OF CHARGE.

Dorothy Griggs - Parish Clerk 01284 830813

To Contact our Local MP: especially in regard to covid –19 issues [email protected] Telephone 020 7219 4875 Website www.jamescartlidge.com/covid-19

W A T E R S O N Plumbing & Heating All Domestic Plumbing Work Undertaken Full Bathroom Installation and Tiling Service Oil Appliance Commissioning, Servicing, Repair / Replacement Domestic & Non-domestic Oil Storage and Supply Installation Central Heating Installations Unvented Cylinders Installed References Available on Request OFTEC Registered Technician No. 28970 Home 01359 760528 Mobile: 07828639138 Email: [email protected]

Planning Applications: ALL PLANNING APPLICATIONS ARE NOW VIEWED BY COUNCILLORS ON LINE: COMMENTS WILL BE SENT TO BABERGH D.C. ON LINE. PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED: Application No. DC/20/05276: Plot 1, Lambs Lane: Use of land for temporary siting of a residential caravan for the duration of construction of Plot 1, Lambs Lane: Application was discussed and there were no objections, application supported.

Application No. DC/00142 (received 8/1/21 added to agenda to comply with return date:) Land at Coopers Farm, accessed by Hartest Lane: To determine if prior approval is required for a proposed erection, extension or alteration of a building for agricultural or forestry use. Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 as amended in Schedule 2, Part 6. Erection of agricultural building for hay and straw. Application discussed and there were 4 no objections, 2 objections, therefore overall majority application is supported.

Application No. DC/20/05892: DISCHARGE OF CONDITIONS Application No. DC/17/06174: Land South West of Harrow Green: Condition 5 (Provision of Roads and Footpaths.)

Application No. DC/20/05905: NON-MATERIAL AMENDMENT Application No. DC/17/06174: Land South West of Harrow Green: Substitute parking and turning layout drawing 751-07F in condition 6 of the outline consent for 162/2020/01 as submitted with the Reserved Matters application.

APPROVAL OF RESERVED MATTERS: DC/20/02885: Harrow Green site, Harrow Green: Application for approved matters following grant of outline planning permission DC/17/06174: Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale for erection of 5 dwellings.

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED:

DC/20/05387: 5 Windsor Close: erection of single storey rear extension. DC/20/05132: Plot 4 Lambs Lane: application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act for DC/19/04659 for the variation of condition 2 (Approved plans and documents.) The application was discussed and there were 6 No objections, 1 Objection. Therefore, the application is supported. Application No. DC/20/05190: Plot 3 Lambs Lane: application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act for DC/19/04660 for variation of Condition 2 (Approved plans and documents.)

DC/20/05190: Plot 3 Lambs Lane: application under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act for DC/19/04660 for variation of Condition 2 (Approved plans and documents.)

Dorothy Griggs, Parish Clerk 01284 830813.

JP Services

Sleepers – Timber

Scaffold Boards

Oftec oil boiler service Oak Barrels Smart heating installation Plumbing works Water storage and heating Supplied Appliance installation Emergency plumbing 07970 559251 Heating system installation / maintenance www.jp-services.info Commercial and domestic

Helplines and Support

The Village Help Group has been offering practical support to people in the village e.g. help with shopping and collecting medicines if you are self isolating. Call Laura on 01284 828 477 & Food bank

If you are worried about someone's safety call CustomerFirst (the Suffolk Safeguarding Partner- ship) 0808 800 4005. NHS Volunteer Responders 0808 196 3646 nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk Domestic Violence 24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 2000246 Bury Women’s Aid (Bury Refuge) – 01284 753085 [email protected]

Are you hurting the ones you love? Choose to stop. For support go to https://respectphoneline.org.uk or call the Freephone no: 0808 8024040

If you or someone else is in immediate danger Make an Emergency Call: 999.

Financial Help National Debt Helpline: 0808 808 4000 https://www.nationaldebtline.org/Pages/coronavirus-and-your-money.aspx

Farmers Help https://www.farminghelp.co.uk/ 03000 111 999

Worried about your mental health? First Response is a new 24/7 helpline offering immediate advice, support and signposting for people with mental health difficulties in Suffolk. If you are experiencing something that makes you feel un- safe, distressed or worried about your mental health you can now call the helpline on 0808 196 3494. https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Find-help/Pages/Helpline.aspx

If you are having thoughts of suicide call The Samaritans on 116 123 24/7

Daily Hope phone line for hymns, reflections, prayers 0800 804 8044

At Lawshall Village Hall Car Park

Every Tuesday 5 to 7.30pm James POLLARD

FRUIT and VEGETABLES

WEDNESDAYS 10.30HRS – 12.00HRS

Stall Of Fresh Fruit, and Berries, Vegetables and Salad, Eggs

The Fresh meat Cheese Van and Pie Lee Gaught man

Wednesdays 10.30 to 12.00 At British Grass fed beef and lamb Lawshall on Wednesday Mornings Free range chicken and pork range of local, British and Plus Meat Seasonings from continental cheeses. around the world Fantastic, award-winning local pies, using all free range, local ingredients, Meat boxes where the taste is the most important Delivery possible ingredient! https://www.meatandgreetbse.co.uk/ Seasonal specialities

https://www.thecheeseandpieman.co.uk/ 14

HOME BUT NOT ALONE freephone phoneline 0800 876 6926 staffed from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Call handlers use resources and information from across many Suffolk organisations and specialist providers, which are tailored to individual needs. helping the critically vulnerable or those self isolating gain access to medication or food Help to stay healthy - http://healthysuffolk.org.uk

I have been to the end of the

Our genius is to earth, I have been to the end of understand and stand the waters, I have been to the beneath the set of stars end of the sky, I have been to present at our birth, and from that place, to seek the end of the mountains, I have the hidden single star, found none that are not my over the night horizon, we friends. did not know we were

following. - David Whyte - - Navajo Proverbs -

We are continuing

to print the magazine

so if your enterprise

might benefit from

advertising with us

please contact Leanne

Details inside front cover.

Bird Notes by Cliff Cooper January 2021 As the lockdown continues I have not been out of the village for any birding at all, but nevertheless there is always something to see when you are out for a walk or exercising your dogs. For example, we were taking our dogs for a run in the Coldham area of the village when we came across several buzzards in a field. They were pecking at the ground then half flying to a new spot before repeating the operation. I assume they were finding a few worms to supplement their diet. I thought I ought to check out each individual as this was the area where I had seen my rough legged buzzard previously. I followed one with my binoculars when it flew into a tree about a hundred yards from me. As it landed in the tree, my eyes automatically picked up another bird already perched in the tree. I swung my vi- sion back to this bird, thinking it would be a woodpigeon, and there sat a peregrine. He just stayed there quietly and still for about five minutes before gliding gently and effortlessly towards Frithy wood. I would never have seen this if I hadn’t bothered to check out the buzzard, which was just a common buzzard Just a week or so ago, we had walked round the Waspe’s large field and were returning home without seeing much when a rare burst of sunshine caught the pale wings of a flock of birds flying over a field further away. Again the binoculars came in handy as I was able to identify them as golden plovers. They circled lower and lower before disappearing from sight, probably landing to feed somewhere nearby. On this occasion they numbered about twenty five, but we saw them again two days later when I counted only about fifteen- I hope the rest had separated from the group and were safely feeding elsewhere.

Do you need an accountant? I am a professional fully qualified accountant Available for Limited Companies & sole traders Can do all accounts work monthly quarterly, annually for HMRC taxation, VAT, Corporation Tax, Payroll

I charge hourly for the work done not a fixed fee.

1st Consultation is free. Linda Claydon Phone 01449 737087 e-mail:- [email protected]

Tuesday club Hi everyone. I was hoping to give you some good news about starting in March but, as I write this looks increasingly unlikely. Hopefully, though, we will be able to start up again in the not too distant future. I am pleased to hear from the few I have spoken to, that you are missing getting together. I must admit it is getting increasingly more difficult being stuck at home and not seeing friends and relatives. One piece of good news is that I have been told that I can have the 'jab' on Sunday morning at 9.25am, so by the time you read this I would have been 'done' first time. Hopefully some of you would have been as fortunate as I. Marion, however, who is much younger has to wait still. As soon as we are able to meet I will be in touch. Our summer programme may still be allowed to run, let's hope so. John Payne

Litter Lout in Lawshall My small team of litter collectors have been active throughout the months of the pandemic keeping our village as clean as possible. On behalf of the Parish Council we give them all our grateful thanks. Some areas are still not regularly covered so if you feel able to help please contact me.

One very negative problem is that we have a litter lout dumping rubbish by the water pump station in Bury Road. It started with piles of garden rubbish and then increased to fence panels, fence posts and other 'odd job type' rubbish. This creates a real eyesore and needs to be stopped. I wonder have you had a small fencing job done over the past month or so. Did the wooden posts have metal covers at top and bottom? I guess it would be easy for you to identify them and you would know that your rubbish was not disposed of properly. Steps are being taken to stop this and cameras will be fitted in the near future by the land owner. Anglian water state they will definitely prosecute any person identified. I understand from the environmental officers at Babergh Council that the fine is usually £1,000. So is it really worthwhile taking the chance? Any information would be gratefully received. John

Community Café Lawshall Village Hall This Open Weds from 10.30am – 12.30pm Eat in or take-away The following will be available:  Various teas, coffee & hot chocolate  Veggie and sausage rolls  A selection of home-made cakes and cupcakes *The food choices will grow as the popularity increases*

Covid update

The café will open again once the current government restrictions allow cafes and restaurants to re-open.

For your safety and confidence:

A one-way system is in place. Please wear masks until seated. There is a sanitising station on entry to the hall and you will be asked for a contact name and number in line with ‘track and trace’. All tables and chairs are sanitised after usage.

We would love to grow this Community Café into a thriving hub that will benefit the local community well into the future. This will only be possible if you come along and support us. There is endless potential for this great venue, please come and use it!!! Come and support us and let us know what you think. If you would like to get involved, volunteer or have any ideas then please contact me: Lindsay Bennett: 07827323711 [email protected] Cakes and savouries available to order any time

Pothole reporting—is really easy. I’ve just reported this pothole in Donkey Lane near to Rookwood Hall, Stanningfield, which seems to be deepening and expanding rapidly. https://highwaysreporting.suffolk.gov.uk/ Though as it is a on small, country road it may not take priority despite its rapid progress and threat to take over the whole road!

Food bank update!

We have lots of canned items including, tomato, mushroom soup and chopped tomatoes. Other items include tea, coffee, pasta, rice, pea- nuts, longlife milk, toilet rolls, dog food, childrens canned food, self raising flour and soap.

As always we are here anytime anyone needs anything.

Please let people know that the food bank is here to help people.

Please call the pub on 01284828477 to arrange items to be delivered. If we need extra items donated I will message on the village whatsapp and post on Facebook—Lawshall Neighbourhood Watch.

Thank you, Laura

PASSAGE THROUGH ASSAM AND BEYOND part 6 by Leanne Hornby I would say that the whole trip was interesting and educational. India could be described as chaotic, colourful and filthy – no refuse collection and rubbish is dumped at the side of the road or at the edge of the river for the buffalo, dogs, goats, pigs, cows, rats, children and beggars to pick through. Kolkata Flower Market. Most of the flowers are for festivals which regularly happen.

A siesta with a couple of friends after lunch!!!!! The poverty is dreadful, so many people, especially children and women sleep on the pave- ments. It is so difficult to pass for the debris and stall sellers, that many people use the road where they face a precarious journey competing with the suicidal motorists. The pavement is not just a passageway, but a place where life is lived. Being a woman out there is definitely dangerous. I expect you already know this but when a woman marries in India she becomes the slave of her husband’s family. She moves into the home of her husband and becomes a skivvy to the rest of the family. If she has the misfor- tune to become a widow she and her children are thrown out on to the street, one rea- son why there are so many

widows with their children living on the streets. Every day in the local paper there would be news of a rape, and several tourists were raped when we were out there. Although Peter and Ahmed always kept close to me I can’t say that I ever felt safe in public except when we were in the army compound buildings. I was harassed by one young male, but fortunately I have very pointed elbows which he felt. At the Oberoi Hotel there were several soldiers complete with machine guns and automatic rifles protecting the hotel courtyard as there had been an insurrection some two weeks before we returned to Kolkata from Secunderabad. Their presence made us feel a good deal safer.

The caste system is still very predominant in the country. The higher castes have replaced the British in their attitude towards the lower castes. We were pretty horrified at the manner in which those in the military and managerial hierarchy addressed their subordinates. To say that they were talked to and treated as though they were lower than animals would not be an exaggeration. We found their attitude offensive but were not in a position to say anything.

India is an incredibly noisy country. I expect that has a lot to do with it being overpopulated. The only time we experienced peace and quiet was on the Brahmaputra. Kolkata, Secunderabad and Hyderabad were horrendously busy, noisy and chaotic. The traffic has to be seen to be believed – no such thing as holding a licence to drive a car – and it shows. You don’t drive your- self you have a driver and if you saw the condition of the roads and the driving skills involved you would see why. The traffic goes all over the road, blowing their horns all the time without ceasing. If a vehicle decides to travel on the other side of the road it will do so and it is up to you to avoid it. Pass- ing another car is something around which night- mares revolve. Travelling in a tuk tuk (3 wheeler taxi) is taking your life in your hands but it was fun if you like living danger- ously. There is no such thing as any form of trans- port being overloaded in India.

SICKLESMERE STORES AND District Councillors POST OFFICE NEWS update for Chadacre Ward: NEWSPAPERS available for delivery

Mobile Post Office Tuesday mornings Stephen Plumb. email: 09.30 to 11 am [email protected] and The builders are still here and will be for another 2 weeks. Michael Holt. email: Mi- [email protected] Hopefully by then we will have a better idea when we will be able to re-open again. Dcllr Stephen Plumb holds a Ward Surgery in Glemsford every 3rd Friday and everyone is welcome to attend with Technical issues will need to be any queries or questions. addressed soon, and re-installing all the equipment, so fingers Cllr. Plumb is willing to hold a Surgery in Lawshall if there are enough people crossed for the end of February! interested in this. If you would like this to start in Lawshall please contact Caroline & Daryn the Parish Clerk. Dorothy Griggs 01284 830183

Excelan Chauffeur Services

01284 789503 & 07816663542

www.excelan.co.uk

Quality and affordable travel Providingservice a Quality & Affordable Travel Service in a Jaguar XJ Sovereign Long wheel base Vehicles include the BMW , Audi & Mercedes Benz

Airport Transfers * AirportSeaports Transfers * Euro Star * Seaports Terminals * Euro Star Terminals Weddings * Corporate Travel * Social & Sporting Events * Weddings * Bespoke journeys

Lawshall to StanstedLawshall £70 *to: Stansted £60 * Heathrow £110 * Gatwick £120 * Luton £79 Heathrow £120 * LondonLuton £90. £115 + congestion * First hour waiting free & £18 per hr thereafter.

London £125. Credit & debit cards are free of any transaction charges. Credit & debit cards are free of 01284 706133 * 07816 663542 * www.excelan.co.uk transaction charges.

Licensed by St.Edmundsbury Licensed by St. Edmundsbury Council

& enhanced CRB (criminal records bureau check). Council & enhanced criminal

records bureau check Member British Chauffeurs Guild & Federation of Small Businesses 24

Lawshall Community Woodlands

Forest for Our Children

February in Golden Wood We are all well aware that life continues to be far from normal, but it is en- couraging to see people out enjoying Golden Wood for their daily exercise. The days are still short, and the weather has been anything but pleasant, so ground conditions continue to be very muddy. Care is required when walking the slippery rides. The benefit of short days is that wonderful sunsets can be enjoyed if the weather decides to be fine, and it was great to see a photograph of one such sunset, with Alfie the dog and owner taken on the Hauswin, in the local paper. Despite the lack of Sunday work parties taking place some management continues. Those visiting the wood may have noticed a little hedge- laying going on. This work was started a year ago but had to be suspended because of the first lockdown. It seems quite incredible that we are still deep in the grip of the pandemic al- most a year on. Solo working is the only safe way to carry out any tasks, so progress is limited and slow, but time is not in short supply. In addition to the hedge work, bird boxes have been cleaned out and old and decayed ones replaced with new ones. More will be put up within the next few weeks. This will allow some of the birds that feed in the woodland to nest among the areas of young trees that are still very many years away from forming natural cavities that birds can take advantage of. Visit our Facebook page for more news and pictures. 25

‘From the Archives’ February 2021

Last month I met some newcomers to the village and they asked if there was a book about the history of the village. Sadly the answer is no, just various articles in odd publications, and of course the internet with Wikipedia (https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawshall) being the main source. Another enquiry about the school history has really made me realize how good it would if someone, who has the time and interest, could start working on a definitive history of the village and All Saints’ school and the three churches in the village. Some of you may not know that we have a book about Frithy Wood which was compiled by my husband Grenville in 2017. It includes a wealth of information from many contributors. I have written the chapter on Cultural and Social History and maybe I could include some of the sections in this newsletter. I know that many villagers do not know about this book. If you would like a copy they are £10 and I have copies. The chapters cover flora, birds, butterflies, bats, archaeology and much more. The school head Clare Lamb and other local people have contributed. It’s a real eye opener as to the im- portance of this ancient woodland and the book reflects the many hours of research that went into compiling this important document. There are some significant trees in the wood including two Wych Elms which are about 200 years old. There is a 75 year old crab apple. The most impressive tree is the Hornbeam. It’s a single coppice stool which could possibly be up to 450 years old.

There are maps of Frithy Wood in the book. 1611, 1752 and the one on the right is 1884 and shows all the standard trees in the wood at the time. The trees mentioned above will be on this map! 26

While I was ‘digging’ out documents for the school I thought I’d share the photos below. They were taken of the school when it had a bell tower. The water pump was just by the school gate and the photo was taken by Mrs Nancy Lay, her husband was the head teacher in the 1930’s. The caption for the photo is ‘The Pump, sometimes it does, sometimes it don’t!’ There were also stocks in the school grounds, but hopefully they were not used for the children! The first school was built in 1820 on the site of the workhouse, the workhouse is shown on a map of 1752. What remains of the present ‘old’ school building and school house was built in about 1871 for 150 children at a cost of £1,117. The drawing below is dated 1871.

If any of you have photos of the school or information that we could copy for the archives please let me know Elizabeth Clarke – Lawshall Archives Group & Local History Recorder 01284 827275 [email protected] 27

Alexander Technique for everyday life

With Andrea Walsh MSTAT

Alexander Technique helps About me you regain the poise, balance I live and work in Whepstead. I teach the and alertness needed to tackle Alexander Technique both one-to-one the business of living your life. and in groups. I undertook a full time, It improves posture and pain 3-year training course, in order to qualify. and stiffness in the body which I have been teaching the AT for 11 are often caused by habitual ways of bending, sitting, years. It is my sole occupation. I am a standing, walking, running etc. member of STAT (Society for Teachers Once those habits are of the Alexander Technique). I am fully addressed and ‘unlearned’, insured. everyday movement become I offer a 20-minute online meeting (or easier and lighter. a chat on the phone) to answer any

questions you may have or to find out more, without any obligation. Jack Stern, Spinal Neurosurgeon: ‘97% of people with back pain could benefit from learning the AT – it is only a very small minority that require medical intervention such as surgery.

How might learning the AT Sessions available by Zoom. ameliorate back, joint pain Gift vouchers available. and other musculo-skeletal Tel: 01284 736807 07949 083629 issues? http:// It has helped millions of people www.alexandertechniqueworks.co.uk world-wide to overcome back, [email protected] neck and joint pain; muscle tension and stiffness; poor https://www.facebook.com/ alexandertechniqueworks/ posture; breathing and vocal problems; anxiety and stress- related conditions. 28

Village Hall Booking: For meetings, classes, gatherings of no more than 30 people under Covid guidance Specific conditions apply Let’s hope we can soon start using the hall again for meetings, small gatherings and the community café— socially distanced of course. Hiring Charges: £14per hour for Lawshall Residents: £17 per hour for non residents * projector available on request * WiFi now available

Please contact booking secretary: Sharon Marshall on 01284 830182 email: [email protected]

We had to wait a little longer than planned to return to Pre-School for the start of the Spring Term but some of us are now back at Pre-School (for three days a week for the time being).

Mother Nature had left a present for us in the Pre-School garden – the water at the top of our outdoor sandpit had frozen into a solid sheet including bubbles and leaves. Our small world penguins and polar bears loved playing in their new habitat and we loved painting the larg- est piece of ice with our poster paints and seeing how the colours mixed together to make new colours.

If anyone at home would like to make their own ice decoration then you will need to collect some leaves (from your garden or when you go on your daily walk) and put them in a shallow dish with some cold water. Leave the dish outside on a cold night or ask your adult to put the dish in the freezer. Don’t forget to put one end of a piece of string in first if you want to hang your ice decoration up! ( feel free to send pictures of your ice sculptures for the magazine, we’d love to see them, Editor)

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has already donated to the Pre-School GoFundMe page. Pre-School is a self-funded organisation and charity, and our Pre-School committee has been unable to carry out any fundraising events to support the Pre-School and our curriculum during the current Pandemic. If you would like to help us, the link to our page is –

https://gofund.me/f7e154ae

If you would like any further information about the Pre-School please feel free to contact us on 01284 827588 (please leave us a message if we are having too much fun to hear the phone) or e-mail us on [email protected]

Lawshall Village Hall Draw Results January 2021

First Prize £50: 78 Suzanne Ricketts Second Prize £20: 382 Wendy Harris Third Prize £10: 262 Ursula Matheson Fourth Prize £10: 426 Colin Smith Fifth Prize £10: 253 Mrs H Bird If you would like to support your Village Hall lottery please contact John Chappell on 01284 830530 or download the application form from the village hall website at http://lawshallvillagehall.co.uk/lottery-2/

Two people who would have won in August missed out as they hadn't paid, so make sure you can take part.

Firewood Logs:

£7.50 per bag or truckload of 1.25cubic me- tres £85 Larger loads available. Out of season and unseasoned firewood at a discount. Call for details. Free delivery within 5 miles of Lawshall

Digger Hire: Driveways, paths and flowerbeds.

Ponds dug or cleared. Grass cutting. Pad- dock maintenance.

Groundwork & footings. Ray Debenham, Coopers Farm, Lawshall. Tel 07908 656098 01284 830262 [email protected]

Lawshall Ladies Book Club

In December we managed to hold a zoom meeting with just four of us able to participate. It was nice to catch up and have our two penneth on the Covid restraints.

We did also discuss the book, Once Upon a River as far as we were able given that I seem to be the only one with too much time on my hands to have finished the book. However, comments were very favourable in that the book was well written and a good story. It was set in the late eighteen hundreds on a country stretch of the River Thames.

The main feature was a Country Inn which was famed for its customers abilities to tell stories. On one particular night, a man turned up at the Inn soaked to the skin and in a very poor state. He was carrying what was initially thought to have been a dummy but turned out to be otherwise. The story evolved to include several different characters whose lives had been touched by the river in various ways. There was also myth and superstition regarding the Ferryman as well as social history relating to the lives of the various characters and also some racism which at that time must have been quite unusual in a rural area.

I had not initially thought that I would enjoy the book but I did. It was again not a book that I would have chosen which again reiterates the joy of a book club taking you out of your comfort zone.

January's book is Zigzag by Ben Macintyre. This is a true story set in the War about a spy. The lady who chose this book has a family member who new the main character so this obviously adds a little more interest for her.

Lawshall Ladies still remains a hope in the distant future - who knows?

Rosemary

GARDEN CLUB

.I often find that February is a miserable month. We have all had enough of winter and just want spring to arrive. It may be the shortest month, but it seems to go on forever. I often use this month to start planning a border or bed and there is a lot to think about before introducing your plants of choice. If you are building or replanting a border, the first thing to consider is the aspect. By this I mean which way does the border face. The direction it faces plays a big part in deciding which plants will thrive through the seasons. For instance, an east facing border gets early morning sunshine. A fruit tree or a camellia for example would not work here. If there is an overnight frost followed by early morning sunshine, any blossom on the fruit trees and the buds on the camellia will scorch and fall off which means extraordinarily little likelihood of fruit or flowers. So, it is not just a case of creating a bed and throwing your favourite plants in. You must do your research first. Another thing to bear in mind is the type of soil that you have. Is it Acid, Alkaline or neutral? There are numerous testing kits that you can buy to test the alkalin- ity of the soil, but you can often test the soil simply by looking around other gar- dens nearby. If there is an abundance of healthy Azaleas, Camellias and Rho- dodendrons about, then you can safely assume that the soil in that area is acidic as these particular plants thrive in acidic soil. You also need to see what type of soil you have. Is it clay, sandy, chalky or good loam? Again, plants can be fussy when it comes to soil types. You can change the make up of the soil by adding good compost, well-rotted manure and lots of grit etc so that it best suits your plants of choice. It is far more difficult however to change the acid levels. How much sun does your border or bed get and what level of protection does it have from prevailing winds? You can create shelter with your planting, even creating micro-climates with simple addition of hedging, walls, trees and shrubs. If you have the patience, take time on a sunny day to watch the area around the border to see how the sun hits it and when. So, we have chosen our spot and dug out the border. Perhaps we have treated the soil in readiness for planting and now we just have to choose what to plant and when. There are so many different planting styles that I could not even be- gin to list them all but there are rules that are best followed. What plants do you want? Are you looking for colour, scent, movement, structure or even a mixture of them all? Some colour schemes work and some simply do not. White can be a difficult colour to include in a border unless you are looking specifically for a white border. Some pastel colours and32 blues will mix well with white but other

deeper colours will not work well and your border would look disjointed and awkward. Purples work well with yellows and oranges or you may want a hot border incorporating reds, yellows and oranges. However, rules can be bro- ken, and you may choose a whole array of clashing colours. The choice is yours, but I would suggest separating those that clash with a good splash of green provided by evergreens and foliage plants. Other things to consider are shapes and sizes. Not only shapes of the plant itself but also the shapes of the foliage and the flowers. If you plant a range of plants that all grow to the same size and shape, then your border will appear a little boring. What size will your plant reach once it has fully matured? This is important to consider when setting out your planting design. We would all love an instant garden but buying fully grown and healthy plants can prove awfully expensive indeed. Read up on the expected plant size and mark off an area that size in your border to allow for it to grow to its full potential. Of course, this may leave your border looking a little sparse when first planted but you can always fill the gaps with annuals in the meantime. Most borders benefit from having a main specimen plant or shrub as the focal point and this would normally be a larger plant. Everything else can then be planned around it. This could be a tree or large shrub or evergreen. It could also not be a plant at all, but a sculpture of some type. Larger plants are gen- erally best placed towards the rear of a border or centrally in an island bed so as not to block out sight of other plants. The final thing to look at is timing. Your border will change with the seasons and careful planning will help in making sure that you have year-round interest. Some people are happy to have a border that looks fabulous all summer but lays bare during the winter months. That is fine as at the end of the day, this border is yours to do with what you will. Timing also means when it is best to plant certain plants. For example, roses are best planted as bare root plants during the winter and to do so can also prove much cheaper. Summer planted roses need much more care and attention to survive. So, the do’s and don’ts of creating a border are as follows: Do choose plants to suit your soil, aspect and situation Do place plants in threes where you can for best effect. Do consider colour plans Do try to create a theme to run through the border for added interest. Don’t choose plants with identical shapes, sizes and plant growth. Don’t create a border with lots of sharp bends or acute angles Finally, don’t be afraid of getting it wrong. Plants can be repositioned if neces- sary and some will probably fail and die. That is part of gardening and it hap- pens to the absolute best gardeners all the time. This all sounds like a lot to take on board but it is February after all! Happy gardening Dave Henderson 33

DKC PLUMBING Oil Boiler Specialists Oil Fired Boilers Servicing. Boiler Breakdowns. Boiler Installations and Repairs. Oil Tank Installations. Radiator Power Flush. General Plumbing. Heating Systems. Domestic and Commercial. 24 hour call out. Fully insured. OFTEC REGISTERED. Call: 07740 272791

Lawshall Weather Summary 2020 December

This month was both colder and wetter than this time last year. Rainfall was 35% higher, covering 3 more days than in 2019.

Total Rainfall: 122mm in 17 days; 2019 was 90mm in 14 days

Stowmarket 10 year average is 52mm in 11 days

Daytime average temperature: 7.1 2019 was 8.3

Stowmarket 10 year average is 6.9

Highest temperature: 12.1 2019 was 11.2

Night-time average temperature: 3.2 2019 was 3.5

Stowmarket 10 year average is 1.6

Lowest temperature: -1.3 2019 was -0.4

All temperature figures are shown in ºC

Storm Bella hit the UK on the 26th and 27th December causing most dis- ruption in the North of UK but creating rain and freezing temperatures here in East Anglia. A twelve month comparative summary of our weather appears on a separate page of this magazine. From next month I will be using figures from Brooms Barn Met Office – 6 miles from Bury St Edmunds – as indicators of the East Anglian average taken over the last 20 years.

Malcolm Edgar

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

- Martin Luther King Jr. -

Lawshall Annual Weather Summary – 2020

Av. Day Temp Highest Temp Av. Night Temp Low Temp Rainfall mm

All temperatures shown below are in ºC

January 8.7 (6.6) 12.2 (10.8) 4.8 (1.9) 0.7 (-2.7) 55 (21)

February 9.8 (11.4) 13.8 (18.0) 3.6 (3.8) 1.0 (-1.6) 89 (25)

March 11.8 (13.3) 16.1 (19.3) 3.5 (5.4) 0.7 (2.1) 21 (43)

April 18.9 (16.9) 25.8 (26.4) 6.7 (5.4) 3.3 (1.1) 23 ( 5)

May 21.9 (19.1) 29.7 (25.4) 9.3 (8.9) 3.1 (3.6) 2 (13)

June 22.4 (20.9) 30.9 (31.1) 12.4 (12.7) 6.9 (9.1) 101 (98)

July 22.4 (24.8) 33.0 (37.0)* 13.5 (15.2) 10.1 (11.1) 62 (40)

Aug. 24.5 (25.4) 35.4 (33.1) 15.1 (14.4) 9.4 (11.7) 146 (36)

Sept. 20.1 (21.3) 28.4 (25.6) 11.3 (11.7) 6.6 ( 8.1) 43 (50)

Oct. 13.4 (14.2) 16.6 (18.6) 8.5 ( 7.9) 5.9 ( 3.4) 105 (100)

Nov. 11.5 ( 9.3) 16.3 (13.6) 6.4 ( 4.7) 1.4 (-0.1) 37 ( 89)

Dec. 7.1 (8.3) 12.1 (11.2) 3.2 (3.5) -1.3 ( -0.4) 122 (90)

* Highest temperature ever recorded by the Met Office in East Anglia

Average Day Temp.16.0 (15.9) Average Night Temp 8.2 (8.2) Stowmarket Av. 13.7 Stowmarket Av. 6.1

Total Rainfall in mm 806 (649) Stowmarket Av. 614 All figures in brackets represent 2019

Temperatures are about the same as 2019 but rainfall increased by 24%

Sponsors: Adam Kemp BA Hons DipPFS Cert.CII (MP&ER)

Richard Kemp AMAS Investments Ltd (Director) County Councillor Please contact for free financial 01787 378149 and mortgage advice 01284 724013 opt7 07988 961240 [email protected]

DK Domestic Appliances Ltd ~ Your local independent retailer

Stocking New and Reconditioned Appliances.

Fast and Guaranteed repair service for all makes of domestic appliances. ¤ Washing machines Large showroom at Finbows Yard, ¤ Tumble Dryers Bacton. Stowmarket IP14 4NH

¤ Dishwashers Open Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 10-2 ¤ Electric cookers

¤ Fridges/Freezers Tel: 01449 780398

Based in Lawshall

Contact Tim Cox on:

M 07776205346 T 01284 831042

[email protected] www.angliapestmanagement.co.uk

USEFUL VILLAGE CONTACTS & INFORMATION

Village Hall Management Committee Chairman: rotation through committee Secretary: Rosemary Riches. 830757 [email protected] Treasurer: Leanne Hornby 830895 [email protected] Caretaker & Booking Secretary: Sharon Marshall 830182 [email protected] Committee Members: Ian Carrington 830497, Ian Copping 830430, John Chappell 830530, Julian Delefortrie 830544, Jenna Kitchen 830022

Lawshall Parish Council www.lawshall.suffolk.gov.uk/ Chairman: Andrew Irish 827500 Vice-Chairman: Trevor Elmer 830870 Clerk: Dorothy Griggs 830813 Councillors: Ray Debenham 07908 656098 David Griggs 830813 David Page 830968

Laura Williams 828477 Karen Whordley 830316

District Clllrs : Stephen Plumb. email: [email protected] and Michael Holt. email: [email protected] County Cllr :Richard Kemp 01787 378149

Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator Mrs Pamela Pope 830716 Contacts: Ros Debenham 830640 Dorothy Griggs 830813

Village Clubs and Organisations—held in the Village Hall Lawshall & District Carpet Bowls: every 2nd and 4th Mon 2-4pm ; info 830693 Tuesday Club: 2-4pm every week, info John Payne 830466 Lawshall Ladies : 2nd Weds of month, 7.30pm Table Tennis last Friday of month, Contact Julian on 830544

Not in VH: Coldham Hall FC / Cricket - Contact Chris Toole; [email protected] or Ben Atkinson on 07921 837296 www.hartestandcoldhamcc.blogspot.co.uk

Lawshall Postal Collections Coldham, Mon-Fri 4pm, Sat 7.30am. The Glebe, Mon - Fri 4.30pm, Sat 11.30am. Lambs Lane/Rectory Corner, Mon - Fri 9am; Sat 7am Donkey Lane, Mon-Fri 4pm, Sat 11am. School/The Street, Mon-Fri 4.30pm; Sat 11.30am. NO Sunday collections.

Chambers Bus Times route 375 ~ Lawshall to Bury: Alternate Weds June 10th on

From Sudbury bus stn 09.30, Lawshall School 10.12, arriving BSE Bus stn 10.39 Return from Bury Bus Stn 13.00, arr Lawshall school 13.27, Sudbury bus stn 14.10

Felix Sudbury Bus Timetable (Thursday only) Leaving The Street at 9.40am & return trip leaving Sudbury bus station at 12.45pm.

Library Van Email: [email protected] Tel 01473 351249 Route 7: Thursday 11 February, 11 March Free Church 9.50 ~ 10.20am, Swanfields 10.25am ~ 10.40am & Village Hall car park 10.45am ~ 11.25am. Route 10: Melons Green, Tuesdays 16 February, 16 March, 13 April 12.50-1.05 Refuse Collection Early every Monday or Friday morning alternating weekly with blue bin & black bin (Tuesday/Saturday morning collection39 in week following a bank holiday).

HANDY LOCAL NUMBERS

All Saints’ Primary School 828223 * Pre-School 827588 All Saints’ Church Revd Jeremy Parsons 846166 Catholic Church 01284 754358 * Free Church, Paul Mitchell 828694 Village Hall Lottery Co-ordinator: John Chappell 830530 Local History Recorder, Lawshall Archives Group: Elizabeth Clarke 827275 Willows Residential Care Home 830665 Green Light Trust Office 830829 * Lawshall Community Woodlands - Forest For Our Children - Debbie Thomas 827470

The Swan Public House 828477 Newspaper delivery - Sicklesmere Stores Ltd 01284 386303

Excelan Chauffeur Services 01284 789503 / 07816 663 542 A1 Cars 24 hr Taxi 01284 766777 Greenline Travel 07754 298690 Traveline 0871 200 22 33

Anglian Water emergencies / enquiries 0845 7145145 UK Power Networks Emergency number: 105 EDF Electricity emergencies 0800 7838838 Babergh District Council Helpline 0300 123 4000 Suffolk County Council 0345 606 6067

Police: Bury Police Station 774100 Crime Stoppers 0800 555111 Police HQ main switchboard (non-emergency) 01473 613500 contact [email protected] Tel 101 or 999 for emergency Suffolk Fire Service 01473 260588 e-mail : [email protected]

Citizens Advice Bureau 01284 753675 Samaritans 116123 (Freephone) Bury Train Station Customer Service 0845 600 7245 BBC Radio Suffolk 0800 1412121 Tourist Information 01284 764667 Bury Leisure Centre 01284 753496 Bury Library 01284 732255

Local Doctors: Glemsford Practice 01787 280484 Long Melford Practice 01787 378226 Mount Farm Surgery, Moreton Hall, Bury 01284 769643 NHS Direct 111 for urgent (non-emergency ) medical help West Suffolk Hospital switchboard 713000, A & E 713333 St Nicholas’ Hospice 766133. Patients’ Line 725700

Local Vets: Swayne & Partners (BSE) 701444, (Melford) 01787 370773 Eastgate Vet Group (BSE) 753961 Moreton Hall (BSE) Vets 747000