1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 1 Village Voices The local magazine for Hollesley, Boyton, Alderton, Shingle Street and Capel April 2020 1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 2 DDDates f or your March diary please email [email protected] April 2020 diary with updates to this information We have had notification that unfortunately most events including regular events, have been postponed or cancelled. We will publish details of rescheduled events in future issues. RRegularegular EEventsvents Day Time Activity Where Who Monday 2 - 4pm Meet Up Mondays Shepherd & Dog Helen 411232 Monday 6.30/7.40pm Pilates Hollesley VH Sandy 410530 Tuesday 2pm Welcome Club Hollesley VH Marian C 411262 CANCELLEDPeninsula Soc. Club Tuesday Wk 2&4 2 - 4pm Hollesley VH Alan 420092 Tuesday Wk 2&4 2 - 2.45 Glebe House Choir Glebe House Cheryl 411376 Wednesday 2 - 4pm Indoor Bowls Hollesley VH June 411172 Wednesday 9.45&11am Pilates Hollesley VH Sandy 410530 Wednesday 6.30-8.30 Just42 Youth Club Hollesley VH Wednesday 10-11.30 Meet Up Weds Alderton VH Thursday 1.30-3.00 Knit and Natter Liz 411426 Thursday After school EVNU All Saints’ Ruth 412052 Thursday Tai Chi eies Hollesley VH lia Thursday Week 2 7.30pm Hollesley WI Hollesley Jenny 412019 glyn.chaplin@b Thursday 5.45-7.15 (6.45 Karate Hollesley VH every 2nd Thurs) internet.com Cathie 01728 Friday 9.30-11.00 Yoga Hollesley VH 747001 Friday 11.00am Coffee morning Shepherd and Dog Friday 7.00pm Whist Drive Hollesley VH Les 411642 Ist Saturday 10.30-12.00 Coffee morning Boyton VH Isobel 411409 d(l) h hhd d Page 4 April 2020 www.villagevoices.org.uk 1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 3 From the Editor Cheryl Gray Beautiful grey heron Hello everyone, This month’s magazine has been changing daily as we heard of events being postponed and cancelled while we take in the impact of the way we are now living our lives. Future dates given through the magazine articles are obviously likely to change. Check out page 13 for details from Helen Lewis at Good Neighbours of how to get local help and also how to volunteer. We wish everybody well and please do look out for updates on the Grapevine and locally and pass them on to any family, friends or neighbours who may not be on the internet. Stay safe. Cover photo by Cheryl Gray: Unveiling the new Hollesley village sign Editorial copy Advertising Editors: Cheryl, Nick, Diane Gerry Bathe [email protected] [email protected] Copy on paper to Laurie Forsyth 1 Rectory Road, 11a Parsons Hill Hollesley, IP12 3JS Hollesley IP12 3RB Tel: 01394 411376 If you do not receive your copy of Village Voices, contact Laurie Forsyth on 01394 411727 Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the editorial team. Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. www.villagevoices.org.uk Page 3 April 2020 1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 4 A Blacksmith’s Duty Hollesley’s Blacksmith, Andy Stebbens, tells the story behind the new Hollesley Village Sign: I’ve been a Blacksmith since leaving school and after my apprenticeship had a forge at Rushmere St Andrew for a time, before moving to Hollesley in 1989 and starting a small workshop in Boyton Road. After moving to Run Cottage and expanding the business, some 20 years ago I approached the Parish Council Chairman, Dennis Driver, about making a sign for the village. Most village Blacksmiths always seem to make the church gates and the village sign but with one thing and another it never got done! Ironically the company I did my apprenticeship with made the Hollesley Church gates just after the war and then a few years ago, when we had a huge deer problem, I was asked to make the gates for the new cemetery. heryl Gray In 2016 it was suggested we C Dennis Driver and the wayward cover needed a new village sign and despite being retired from my blacksmith business and now just running the caravan site, I was more than happy to help; so you could say it’s taken over 20 years, but we got there in the end! But how did it all start? After initial talks, the Parish Council asked residents for ideas of subjects that could be included in the January 2016 Village Voices. Many ideas came forward, including a design from Mrs Barbara Stammers that included the two Suffolk Punch horses. Soon other items became very important: the rising sun that so many of us are lucky to see daily, the water and ship (based on the Hollesley Primary School logo), the 8 special bells Page 4 April 2020 www.villagevoices.org.uk 1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 5 housed in Hollesley Church and a nod to modern agriculture with the tractor. We wanted to ensure all the special things about Hollesley were on the sign but that it wasn’t too crowded. All the ideas were passed to a company in Thetford, ‘The Village Sign People’ who put them together to come up with a final design. With the design in place the fundraising started and very soon surpassed the target. Amazingly over £1,200 was donated by local residents and farms, over £800 was donated from special fundraising events, including a concert and the Community Café and the remaining funds were allocated by the Parish Council over a 3-year period. Contributed The physical making of the Andy Stebbens making the metal frame sign was delayed as the company were so busy, but finally in July 2018 we picked it up and once it was home, I could start work on the metal surround. It had to be something to complement the design of the central panel, not too busy and being up high the light would shine through it. It had to be quite organic as we live in a rural area. So after a few rough sketches on paper, the whole design was first drawn out full size on a sheet of ply board and then material cut and and measured to fit. All scroll work had to be hand forged before finally being assembled and fitted to the oak post. We were almost there … when the planning permission was in place (thank you East Suffolk Council!) the foundations and brick plinth could be built. I turned to local bricklayer, Roy Clarke who donated all his time, expertise and enthusiasm to building the magnificent plinth. He has done a fabulous job! heryl Gray C Andy with bricklayer Roy Clarke Andy Stebbens www.villagevoices.org.uk Page 5 April 2020 1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 6 Dear friends, As many of you will know, I have been appointed to the role of Team Rector of the Wilford Benefice, a role that I am very excited about. My licensing is to take place on Tuesday 28th April at 7.30pm at All Saints, Hollesley, and I hope to see many of you there. So, a bit about myself ... I was born and grew up on the Hertfordshire-Essex border. After graduating from The University of Leeds with a degree in Economics I spent around 15 years working in Human Resources consultancy, working for clients in the UK, Europe and Middle East, so I am someone who has become a Priest later in life. I trained part-time on the Eastern Region Ministry Course based in Cambridge whilst still working as a Director in the HR Consultancy practice of a Global Professional Services firm based in London. After being ordained, I served as Curate and then as an Assistant Priest in the Diocese of Chelmsford, before serving as Team Rector responsible for six churches in the St Albans Diocese. We then moved to Shropshire where I have been Rector for a multi-church Benefice and Rural Dean for the last four years. I am married to Sara, who is an English teacher. In our spare time we enjoy walking and we are looking forward to exploring the beautiful walks on the Wilford Peninsula with our whippet-lurcher ‘Reggie’. One of our favourite walks is from Snape Maltings along the River Alde to St Botolph’s Iken. We also both enjoy gardening in our spare time and we both have a love of music and opera. I have been a follower of Leyton Orient Football Club since boyhood, which usually causes much mirth and incredulity amongst school children when I tell them! It is a tremendous privilege for me to serve you as your Team Rector in the Wilford Benefice, and we are excited about moving to Orford and getting to know the different church congregations and communities across the Benefice. So please do come and say ‘hello’ if you see us around, or when I am walking my dog, or alternatively telephone or email me if you would like a chat. My official contact details are: Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01394 450610 (after 15 April) Wishing you all a very happy and joyous Easter. With all blessings Giles Page 6 April 2020 www.villagevoices.org.uk 1-20 April 2020 template_vv 20/03/2020 20:55 Page 8 Coronavirus and Church Services A message from the Church Lay Elders... Following the recent announcement from the Bishops of Canterbury and York, sadly there will be no church services for the foreseeable future.