™ © ™ © Skiphire www.collins-skiphire.co.uk For a fast, efficient & price friendly local In Touch service with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary 01206 230053 Volume 7 • Issue No. 11 • SEPTEMBER 2020 [email protected] Image by Nigel Paul LANDLORDS! Do you have a property to let? The Letting Department Our appraisal service is free! We tailor our fees and Suffolk and North Essex service to suit your requirements We list your property on all major digital portals: 01473 372 222 1 Market Place, Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 5DL [email protected] Part of Investeq Holdings Limited **CALL 01473 372 222 FOR DETAILS** YOUR LOCAL PERSONAL INJURY SPECIALISTS Our experienced personal injury lawyers handle accident claims arising out of incidents at work, home, on the roads, on holiday or in a public place in the UK or abroad. We provide personal, dedicated and professional support from the moment that you contact us through to the conclusion of your case. We deal with claims on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that whether or not your case is successful, you will not be responsible for our fees. Call us on 01473 232121 or email at [email protected] Elm House, 25 Elm Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2AD @Prettys_Law @PrettysSolicitors Prettys www.prettys.co.uk 2 In Touch online: A WORD FROM THE EDITOR NEWS My social life has been turned upside down in the last few months. I used to walk CAN YOU HELP SHAPE into town on Saturday morning, list in hand, to visit the shops and the market stalls, meet with friends for coffee and wander home in time for lunch. Now I SCOUTING IN BRANTHAM? walk into town on Saturday afternoon when it’s likely to be quieter and wave st at friends from a distance. I know this isn’t what most of you might define as a 1 Brantham Scout Group (covering East Bergholt) is looking for a new Group ‘social life’ (and I must admit it looks pretty sad now I see it in writing) but I’ve Scout Leader (GSL) as the previous GSL has stood down after many years of been ‘off the scene’ for many years and happy to be so. Of course I like to paint sterling service to the Group. the town red (crimson rather than fire engine) on occasion but it’s been a while The Group Scout Leader role is a management position and the GSL’s since my weekends were spent in pubs and clubs, never knowing what might responsibility is to support the leaders in running a challenging and varied happen. Or who I might meet! programme for the young people in the group (currently we have about fifty I did meet my husband in a packed pub back home in Ballinasloe (yes, Guinness children in the group, aged six to fourteen, and 16 uniformed leaders), and was involved!), so for the sake of those who do enjoy an active social life or who to work as part of the group executive committee to manage the group’s haven’t yet met Mr or Mrs Right, I’m delighted the pubs are open again, making finances and meeting place. an extraordinary effort to adhere to guidelines and ensure the safety of staff and patrons. Restaurants too; eating a meal I haven’t had to cook myself and not Specific tasks include: ensuring that the group has an adequate team of having to clear up afterwards is a thrilling (yes, thrilling) prospect right now. In leaders; providing those leaders with support and undertaking regular fact we’ve booked a table at the new Italian restaurant in town and I’ve already reviews and meetings with them; providing direction and setting objectives decided what I’m having. I start from the back, with dessert, and work upwards for the group; ensuring that the group follows the policies and rules of The and shall be enjoying vanilla pannacotta with wood-roasted apricots at about Scout Association. 9pm on Saturday evening. There’s no need to have any previous Scouting experience: there is a Live performance is making a comeback too, which is wonderful news for comprehensive training scheme and you will be mentored by the deputy venues, artists and audiences. It will be interesting to see if performers and writers have been inspired by their lockdown experience. In fact, if you haven’t district commissioner and training adviser for as long as you need. It is more already watched Staged, a BBC comedy starring David Tennant and Michael important that you understand the needs of volunteers, can work as part of a Sheen, find it now on BBC iPlayer. It’s a wonderful treat. team, are able to provide management and support to the leaders, are happy to learn new skills, can use basic computer software and have a few hours If there is anything positive to take from our experience of Covid-19, it must spare every week. This is a uniformed position: you will be expected to accept be that it has taught us to be kind and caring. We know we can pull together the values of Scouting and undertake a criminal records check. when needs must and now we must use our spending power to support our local economy and attempt to stave off further job losses. Every penny you As children’s lives become ever more cloistered, shut indoors with a computer, spend locally will help to secure the future of a local business and its employees, we feel that Scouting, with its emphasis on getting outside and teamwork, is possibly even people you know. increasingly important for young people’s development. Through Scouting Enjoy your freedom safely, consider the safety of others and together we can they can learn skills for life; please join us and help young people realise their make this ‘new normal’ work in everyone’s best interests. full potential. Julie Price, Chair Brantham Scout & Guide Group Published by: Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd, 20 Wharfedale Road, Ipswich IP1 4JP [email protected] EDITOR: Sharon Jenkins In Touch Titles T: 01473 400380 • Stowmarket & Stowupland Send editorial copy to: • Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew [email protected] Readers are invited to submit articles, illustrations and • Melton & Woodbridge photographs for publication. The publishers reserve • Manningtree, Brantham, Lawford & Mistley the right to amend such submissions and cannot • Hadleigh, Chattisham, Hintlesham, accept responsibility for any loss. Holton St Mary, Layham & Raydon ADVERTISING • Ipswich East, Ravenswood, Broke Hall T: 01473 400380 & Warren Heath MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING E: [email protected] • Elmswell, Beyton, Drinkstone, Haughley, DISTRIBUTION Hessett, Norton, Tostock, Wetherden AT THE CASE IS ALTERED & Woolpit Tree Martin: 01473 400380 We’re delighted to tell you that we plan to hold our annual coffee morning E: [email protected] • Needham Market & The Creetings • Shotley, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care this year. It will be a little different this year PRINTING Harkstead, Holbrook, Pin Mill, Stutton as we may still to have to observe distancing and hygiene rules, but we’re ColourPlan Print: 01473 400379 & Woolverstone sure everyone will accept the necessary limitations not only to support this E: [email protected] • Martlesham super charity, which needs funds more than ever at the moment, but to come Disclaimer: • Claydon, Barham, Henley & Whitton The views expressed by contributors are not together to eat cake! necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort is • East Bergholt, Dedham, Flatford taken to ensure that the contents of this magazine & Stratford St Mary The date for your diaries is Saturday 26 September from 10am to 1pm. are accurate but the publisher cannot assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. • Bramford, Offton, Somersham & Willisham Unless things change, we will be in the garden, so fingers and toes crossed While reasonable care is taken when accepting • Capel St Mary (Capel Capers) advertisements or editorial, the publisher/editor for a sunny day. will not accept responsibility for any unsatisfactory • Copdock, Belstead, Bentley, Tattingstone transactions and also reserves the right to refuse to & Washbrook include advertising or editorial. They will, however In the past you’ve been fantastically generous with donations of cake and immediately investigate any written complaints. • Gt & Lt Blakenham, Baylham & Nettlestead savouries, and we hope this year will be no different. If you would like to © Mansion House Publishing (UK) Ltd. • Westerfield, Ashbocking, Tuddenham No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used offer your baking skills, let me know at [email protected], or just turn in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part, St Martin & Witnesham up on the day. Your bakes can be dropped off at the pub garden from 9am without the prior written permission of the publisher. • Sproughton & Burstall on the day. © In Touch with Dedham, East Bergholt, Flatford & Stratford St Mary is published by Mansion House We also publish Spotlight on Felixstowe Publishing (UK) Ltd As well as cakes and savouries, there will be tea and coffee, and the bar will be open (serving from the door as we do now) from noon. Any cakes can be Thurs 10 September bought to take away, and there’s a chance to win a luxury hamper. is the advertising and editorial deadline for We can only accept cash so please bring plenty to donate to this very Printed on gloss paper from FSC certified sources worthwhile cause. Please recycle. the October edition All are welcome – see you there! www.keepingintouchwith.com/eastbergholt 3 NEWS THE CHURCH ROOF REFURBISHMENT PROJECT The COVID pandemic has been very stressful for many people, and has caused all sorts of medical and economic heartache for families, and will continue to do so for some time to come – especially if a second wave occurs.