What's here
Fairtrade Diocese - including Fashion Show
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
Earl Soham Village Hall A.G.M.
Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham
Debenham Players - advanced notice
Age Concern's Independent Advisor Service
For events see also Services and Events.
Fairtrade Diocese
The diocese has recently pledged to support and promote Trade Justice and specifically to work towards becoming a Fairtrade Diocese. Earl Soham PCC has agreed to make a commitment to use fairly traded tea and coffee at all church meetings and events, including the Fete and village green stalls.
Using fairly traded products sends a message… the Church cares about poverty and justice. By choosing goods with the Fairtrade mark, we ensure that the producer gets a fair wage, helping to eradicate poverty in the developing world.
The fields of the poor may produce abundant food but injustice sweeps it away (Proverbs 13 v 23)
Fashion Show
There is to be a Fashion Show on Sunday 24th April at the Red Lion, Debenham.
Tearfund week of prayer
Join Tearfund in a week of 24/7 prayer for trade justice: 10th-16th April. A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away. (Prov 13:23).
From 10th-16th April people throughout the world will unite in a Global Week of Action for Trade Justice. Tearfund is inviting supporters and partner organisations to pray for one hour for trade justice. During this time, the aim is that somebody, somewhere, will be praying for justice in trade every hour of every day during the week.
We have taken the slot 9 - 10 am on Friday 15th April and ask that if you are able, you take this time to pray for trade justice, either as in individual, quietly alone, or in a small group. Prayer points and other material can be found on Tearfund's website www.Tearfund.org.
Justice is at the heart of the character of God. God hates oppression, poverty, exploitation and injustice - they have no place in his Kingdom. Therefore when we try to challenge and end these things, we enter into a spiritual battle and prayer is a vital weapon. Without prayer, our actions are futile.
Ashfield Ladies Group
19th April |
Optical Illusions |
Kim Shaw |
17th May |
Routes to Advice Project |
Shelagh Smith |
For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
March/April |
Mrs C Abbott |
685210 |
Mrs N Calver |
685698 |
If you are unable to do your flowers, please contact Margaret Buckland on 685329.
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
March |
Margaret & John Garrard |
685038 |
April |
Jill Robinson |
685084 |
May |
Alison Bowman |
685489 |
If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.
Earl Soham Village Hall A.G.M.
The A.G.M. of the village hall will be held on Tuesday, 5th April 2005 at 7:30 pm. when we would welcome nominations for the Chairman, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer, Hall Manager and Booking Secretary as they are all due to election.
We particularly wish for nominations for the Hall Managers position as this will become vacant at the A.G.M. All proposed names should be given to the Hon Secretary Mrs Dale on 685608.
Earl Soham WI
At the January meeting, members heard a moving talk by a volunteer from ‘Make a Wish’, a charity that aims to grant the special wishes of children aged 3 - 18 who have life-threatening illnesses. Some are thrilled to be given a laptop, while others have favoured an adventure, like whale watching or a trip to Disneyworld. Further details can be seen on the website, make-a-wish.org.uk.
The WI meets every fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in Earl Soham village hall, with the exception of the March meeting, which will be held at Ashfield village hall on Thurs 17th. New members are always welcomed to these lively, friendly gatherings, and to the other activities, which include book discussion, bridge, needlework, scrabble, croquet and country walking. More information may be obtained from the Hon Secretary, Debbie Sharman, on 01728 724544
Earl Soham Parish Council
The Annual Parish Meeting for Earl Soham will be held on Tuesday 19th April at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.
Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham
The next fund-raising event arranged is a talk on Thursday 28th April at the Church by Moira Coleman about Helmingham Hall entitled ‘From Still Room to Tea Room: the park and gardens at Helmingham Hall.’
Entrance is £6, which includes a glass of wine, and tickets can be pre-ordered at Cretingham Post Office or are available at the door.
The event starts at 7.00 p.m. This talk will be followed up by a field trip to Helmingham Hall in the company of Moira Coleman on Sunday 5th June. Further details to follow or available from Pamela Pinner on 01728 685 406. This talk, one of a series put on by the Friends over the year, will be followed up by a field trip to Helmingham Hall in the company of Moira Coleman on the 5th June. Full details will be announced at the talk and here on the web site.
Two further event reminders - the Charity Golf Day at Cretingham Golf Club is on July 14th and the Puddings Evening will now take place in Mid August. Full details will follow in due course.
Thank you for your continued support.
Tony Whitmarsh Chairman Forge Cottage
Age Concern Suffolk launches a new Independence Advisors Service
Age Concern Suffolk’s latest project to help older people living at home provides trained, friendly Independence Advisors across Suffolk who will visit anyone over the age of 65 in their home.
Are you concerned about your ability to remain independent at home?
Would you like an Independence Advisor to have a chat with you at home and give you advice and information about the range of help that may be available in your area?
If we can help you or any older person that you know, please call or write to:
Marsha Janssens (Service Manager)
Tel: (01473) 288048
Age Concern Suffolk
8 Northgate Street,
Ipswich IP1 3BZ
Pentecost Ale
Earl Soham is a fortunate village in having its own brewery. This year in conjunction with The Friends of St. Mary’s, Earl Soham, the ancient tradition of brewing Pentecost Ale, is being revived.
Pentecost was originally a Jewish festival, celebrating the first fruits of the harvest. Within the Christian tradition, Pentecost is a celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit, in flames of fire, and the birthday of the Church. For many Pentecost is better known as Whitsun, and the occasion for a bank holiday, now transferred to the last Saturday in May. The bank holiday tradition grew out of a medieval celebration, which included feasting (roast goose, with apple, sage and onion stuffing) dancing (especially by Morris Men) and the brewing of special ale. Houses would have been decorated with branches of newly budded beech; church floors scattered with rose petals, and it was a time for constructing love bowers and mazes. In one Cotswold village there is a cheese rolling contest, and many villages in times gone by, would have gathered to watch a mystery play. As part of the festivities a Lord and Lady of the Ale, would be chosen, and attended by a retinue of servants. The Puritans naturally didn’t approve of these frivolities and banned the making of ale and Whitsun festivities in 1603, but Charles 2nd, perhaps because he was born on a Whit Monday restored the celebrations on his return to the throne.
In Earl Soham on Saturday May 14th at 12.00noon, we are launching and blessing Pentecost Ale, courtesy of Earl Soham Brewery, and enjoying a BBQ (flames being the most appropriate form of cooking at a festival to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit). There will be a troupe of Morris Men to entertain us, and involvement from the village school with activities to entertain children.
(Family tickets are £20; Adults £8 and children £4 – to be confirmed) and can be obtained on 01728 685778
Contact for further details Revd Canon Clare Sanders on 01728 685778 or e-mail: claresanders@suffolkonline.net.
Debenham Players
RIP
Joyce Rogers
The funeral of Joyce Rogers took place at Earl Soham Church on Feb 28th. We extend to her husband Swyn, her daughters Daemon and Jane, and her son Swynford our deepest sympathy in their loss.
Joyce came to Suffolk during the war years as a Land girl, her home being in Leicester, while in Suffolk she met Swyn and they made their family home here. Joyce was a great gardener, no scraps ever escaped her compost bin, nothing was ever wasted. She worked hard to re-open many of the footpaths around Earl Soham, and was always happiest out of doors. She worked in adult education, and through her dedication taught many adults to read and write, thus setting them on a path to independence. She had a good singing voice, and loved her time with the Framlingham Ladies Choir, where she sang alto. She and Swyn were a devoted couple, and she was a much loved mother to her children, and friend to many in the village.
Margaret Murrell
The funeral of Margaret Murrell took place on March 8th ar Earl Soham Church. we extend our sympathy to her husband Neal, and her children William, Lucy, Laura and Martin in their sudden loss.
Margaret was born in Kenya, the daughter of an adventurous Ulster Protestant father and a nursing mother. Her father's death ay an early age, brought her back to England, where she grew up in Amersham. At 17, she went to London to study in Sth. Kensington, and qualified as a Personal Assistant. During the war years she joined the RAF, and such was the quality of her service, that she was mentioned in dispatches. Her RAF career culminated in working for Air Marshall Sholto Douglas. On leaving the RAF her release includes the words "... has proved... outstanding...invaluable assistant... her demeanour and personality inspires confidence.... is held in high esteem"
In 1946 she re-joined Unilever and became PA to the Managing Director, in this she went twice round the world, travelling in a converted bomber or a Dakota, landing on a sandbank in the middle of a river in China, and on another occasion the aircraft ran off the runway and became bogged down, several hundred local men were summonsed, they stood under the wings, picked it up and put it back on the runway passengers and all.!!
Neal and she married in Earl Soham shortly after the war, and Margaret devoted her life to home and family. She maintained her wide ranging interests in geology, the stars, football, racing, wildlife, her garden, local history and local churches. Most notably she was a talented poet, and her letters were appreciated by many for the quality and the way in which they were crafted. Her kitchen was always a place of welcome, for people of all ages. Her life touched many lives, and those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, are the richer for it. May she rest in peace.