Volume 11 • Issue No. 3 • FEBRUARY 2021 Your free local community magazine: essential local news, services & information delivered through your door every month Capel Capers™© In Touch with Capel St Mary www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk Get to know your Parish Councillors See page 6 A special treat from Capel Ladies Club See page 13 THANKS TO THE NHS AND ALL OUR KEY WORKERS HERE’S TO MOVING FORWARD IN 2021 Residential sales Residential lettings 01473 310907 Property management www.upstix.biz www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/capelcapers 1 2 In Touch online: Published by: A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP We find ourselves living in lockdown once more and the threat is a little closer to home this time round. For the first time since the pandemic started, I fear one of our magazines will be delivered to a home where someone has lost EDITOR: Sharon Jenkins their life to Covid-19 or maybe knows someone who has. I hope it’s not the case but if you have been bereaved or T: 01473 400380 are separated from a loved one who is ill, our hearts go out to you and your family. Send editorial copy to: For so long we have felt safe when other parts of the country have seen case numbers spike. Now we’re told to [email protected] assume that we may unknowingly carry the virus and infect others, even though we remain asymptomatic. It’s a Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and photographs for publication. The publishers reserve the terrifying and primitive notion but perfectly straightforward too: assume the worst and act accordingly. It’s not right to amend such submissions and cannot accept forever and this really is a life and death situation. responsibility for any loss. Thankfully, support systems are in place to help us get through this and those listed below may be a useful place ADVERTISING T: 01473 400380 to start. A more extensive directory of organisations offering guidance is available on our website. Of course, there E: [email protected] are local support hubs too; you simply have to ask. DISTRIBUTION I realise I’m sending mixed messages here. I want everyone to be nervous of the virus but we really don’t need to Tree Martin: 01473 400380 worry about how we get through this, not when we know our friends, neighbours, local businesses, community E: [email protected] groups and others will be there for us if we need them. PRINTING Who could have predicted the ways in which our local businesses would respond? Many introduced delivery ColourPlan Print: 01473 400379 services while others changed their business model entirely. Pubs, cafes and restaurants turned into takeaways E: [email protected] and staff at DIY shops became telephone consultants. Somehow, Chris at my local hardware shop worked out what Disclaimer: I needed when I told him the ‘pipe thingy’ at the end of the ‘twisty thing’ was broken. He even went in on a Sunday The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is morning to get it for me and that’s why he’s going to be my go-to guy from now on! taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any Finding out who is open is getting easier too. Obviously, this magazine provide a head start but there are several responsibility for errors or omissions. online directories, including our own at www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/directory, where it’s easy to find what you While reasonable care is taken when accepting need and where businesses can have a free listing. If you do need help to promote your business, sign up today and advertisements or editorial, the publisher/ give us a call to discuss what we can do to help. editor will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory transactions and also reserves the Those who have lost jobs over the course of the last year will be hard hit by this new lockdown and this obviously right to refuse to include advertising or editorial. They will, however immediately investigate any affects entire families who find themselves struggling to make ends meet through no fault of their own. Foodbanks written complaints. experienced an unprecedented surge in demand last year and this is likely to continue. Those of us who get to © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. supermarkets can pop items in food bins but did you know you can donate online too? If you’re serious about No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly helping, consider supporting your local foodbank, The Salvation Army, Families in Need or any one of the multiple or in part, without the prior written permission of charities working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable members of our society. the publisher. © In Touch with Stowmarket & Stowupland is I am in awe of those working on the frontline who must be utterly exhausted at this point. The best way to show published by Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd our respect for them right now is to adhere to the guidelines. To do otherwise potentially puts more pressure on a service which is already breaking at the seams. Stay at home. Stay Safe. Protect the NHS. Ask for help if you need it and give it if you can. Printed on gloss paper from FSC certified sources HEALTH, WELLBEING AND SAFETY DIRECTORY Please recycle. IN TOUCH TITLES • Suffolk Covid-19 vaccination website with a wealth of information about the vaccination programme: • Stowmarket & Stowupland www.sneevaccine.org.uk • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew • Latest information on coronavirus: www.gov.uk/coronavirus • Melton & Woodbridge • NHS information on coronavirus: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley • Suffolk Resilience Covid-19 Resource Centre:www.suffolkresilience.com/covid-19/covid-19-resource-centre • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, • Useful Suffolk County Council inks to services including Home, But But Alone, Single Point Access, Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon benefits and housing, food banks, Suffolk InfoLink and The Warm Handover: • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall & Warren Heath www.suffolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/suffolk-advice-and-support-service • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, • Suffolk County Council Support in your Area: Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden www.suffolk.gov.uk/care-and-support-for-adults/keep-well-and-active/find-support-in-your-area & Woolpit • Suffolk Family Carers:Working together to ensure family carers are visible, valued, supported and connected • Needham Market & The Creetings – Covid-19 information, guidance and support. https://suffolkfamilycarers.org/covid-19 • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harkstead, • Home-Start in Suffolk: Helpful links for families and volunteers. www.homestartinsuffolk.org/supportforfamilies Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton & Woolverstone • Martlesham • Anxiety UK: Offers a range of useful information, resources and support for helping you understand how to deal • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton with your anxiety during these difficult times. www.anxietyuk.org.uk/coronanxiety-support-resources • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford • Lighthouse Women’s Aid: A charitable organisation providing emotional support to women, young people & Stratford St Mary and children experiencing domestic abuse in their personal or family relationships: http://lighthousewa.org.uk • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham • Samaritans: Call 116 123 for free / www.samaritans.org • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) • Respect advice line: The helpline for male victims of domestic abuse. https://mensadviceline.org.uk • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone & Washbrook • Childline: Call 0800 1111 / www.childline.org.uk • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead We’ve posted a more comprehensive downloadable directory online at: www.keepingintouch.co.uk • Westerfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham St Martin & Witnesham • Sproughton & Burstall KEEPING IN TOUCH We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe keepingintouchwith.co.uk / spotlightmagazine.co.uk / vanilla-magazine.co.uk Wed 10 February Twitter: @InTouchEast / @vanillamagazine is the advertising and Instagram: @mansionhousepublishing / @vanilla.magazine editorial deadline for Facebook: @mansionhousepublishing / @vanillamagazinesuffolk the March edition www.keepingintouchwith.co.uk/capelcapers 3 NEWS CAPEL ST MARY PARISH COUNCIL Report from the parish council meeting held on Monday 11 January. GET TO KNOW YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS Present were Councillors Bishop, Bonfield, Cowgill, Dimond, Fenn, Harris, Councillor Stephanie Bonfield Hole, Matthews, O’Galligan, Rogers (chairman), Ross, Thomas, Weaver, County Councillor Jones, District Councillor Carpendale and Julie Lawes Where were you born? Ipswich Hospital (the parish council clerk). How long have you lived in the village? The parish council recommended approval to Babergh District Council 16 years, I grew up In Leiston and moved to for planning applications: 20 Bushey Close – Conversion of car port and Wenham when I was 16. My father grew up in new roof to garage to provide additional living accommodation; 14 Days Bentley and has many family members from the Green – Erection of a two-storey side extension and single-storey rear village and surrounding villages. We moved back extension. to his place of birth once I had finished my high school education. I then moved to Capel with Persimmon Homes are still in negotiations with the landowner. Once my now husband in 2004. complete, development will commence without delay. How long have you been a parish councillor? Since July 2020. The East Bergholt Surgery has been approved as a hub to administer Covid-19 vaccinations with this to commence immediately. What made you want to become a parish councillor? A want to make our community stay the wonderful place it currently is and The annual parish meeting is to take place Wednesday 24 March at the realisation that the village needs representation of all demographics.