News items

Earl Soham Baptist Church has called Rev Gill Lee to be minister of the church, and she has accepted. She and husband Graham are currently in Erith, North Kent, but are not strangers to East Anglia, having lived in Boxford and Cambridge some years ago. See more about Gill here.

Gill will be starting at Earl Soham in November, and we need a 3-bedroomed house to rent in or near Earl Soham. Any information will be gratefully received - phone Pam Hembra on 01728 726157 (day) or 01473 737655 (evening).

Earl Soham Village Fete

Saturday 5^th August 2006, 2:00 p.m. Earl Soham Village Green

A Date for your Diary

Please come and support your fete. This is the one occasion when the whole village can come together just as it has done for hundreds of years.

As usual we will be around collecting any contributions you may wish to make to the stalls about a week before the fete. Books, bottles, unwanted gifts, toys, homemade jam and preserves – in fact anything would be much appreciated. The exact date and time of the collection will be in the next magazine

28^th Royal British Legion (Earl Soham Branch)

Art Exhibition & Sale

This year the Royal British Legion celebrates its 85^th anniversary. For 85 years the Legion has led the nation in remembering those who served their country. This year we remember a whole generation of young men who sacrificed their lives during the Battle of the Somme. Few families were left untouched by death or injury and yet many, on their return home, found that their bravery seemed forgotten and opportunities scarce. It was in reaction to this that the Legion came to exist.

Today, 90 years later, the need for the Legion’s services is still as relevant. There are 10.5 million ex-Service men and women and their dependants who are eligible for the Legion’s support.

The Earl Soham Branch of the Legion is proud to announce its 28^th Art Exhibition and Sale to be held on August 26^th, 27^th and 28^th in the Rowley Hall at Framlingham College Junior School, Brandeston Hall by kind permission of Mrs. Gwen Randall, Head of Framlingham College and Mr. Nigel Woolnough, Master of Brandeston Hall.

The exhibition will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the first two days and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, 28^th

This annual event offers a chance to demonstrate just how prolific and gifted many people are. Some 400 paintings, drawings and prints will be on view and for sale and each artist contributes a percentage of their sale price to help the vital work of the Royal British Legion.

The money raised is used to support local ex-Service personnel or their surviving spouses. Though veterans of the two World Wars are becoming fewer, there are those from more recent and, indeed, contemporary conflicts who need and deserve our thanks and support.

Rev. Michael Vipond

Suffolk Historic Churches Trust - 25^th Sponsored Bike Ride

Saturday 9^th September 2006, 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

This event is now in its 25th year. It's an opportunity to get out on your bike visiting churches and other places of worship, and by way of sponsorship raise money for your parish church and for SHCT. Details and sponsorship forms available from your parish organiser or from Robert Grimsey, 01728 685203

Last year Simon Garrett narrowly failed to reach every church in the Deanery (claiming bad weather) - this year he aims to finish. Just over 40 churches and around 70 miles. All offers of sponsorship gratefully accepted (email or 01728 685 489).

Earl Soham Parish Council News

The Parish Council is investigating the 20s Plenty Scheme for outside the school.

Peter Bellfield, County Councillor, would like to hear from individuals who are being adversely affected by the savings in adult care.

The Parish Council has considered the following plans:

New vehicular access at Moat Farm
Use of existing garage for an elderly parent annexe to be used for rented holiday accommodation at Boundary Farm.
Two storey rear and side extensions at Barn House.

The Parish Plan indicated an interest in a Gardening Club in the village. Please contact Ann Wybar (685472) if you are an enthusiastic gardener who would like to run such a club.

Would the resident who left a letter for the Parish Council at the Village Hall please contact a Parish Councillor direct to go over the points raised in their letter.

Christian Aid Week

A big thank you to all who helped with the door to door collections for Christian Aid Week for all 3 villages. As organiser, I am indebted to those who give their time and to those who so generously donated.

The funds raised amounted to:

Well done everybody.

Jo Reed

Earl Soham Village Hall

The next coffee morning arrived much earlier than expected - at Soham House on 24^th June when £215.37 was raised.

This will go towards the cost of a replacement mower. Our grateful thanks to Mary Vellacott and of course Graham, together with her helpers and those who gave their generous support

Brian Whittaker

Connect 4

“Was the rain coming or not”, was our thought at 6:15 p.m. on Friday evening as we arrived at Brandeston for the Deanery Rounders Tournament, but the sky brightened and the children arrived, enthusiastic for the games. Those who took part for Earl Soham were, Charlie Lock (Captain), James and Alex Bickford George Johnson, Mimi and Charlie O’Neill, Sam Crimp, Jacob Reed and Robbie Long. There were only 4 teams taking part and by our third match our team were playing a good game, working together, with some excellent fielding and good batting and a very good partnership between the bowler and backstop and some excellent deep fielding. Congratulations on coming second in the tournament.

We had to say “goodbye” to Kevin at the last session of Club. He has worked with us for three years and given much to the running of the Club. We thank him very much for all he has done and wish him and the family well as they settle into their new life in Framlingham. The only problem is that he may produce a rival team from Framlingham at next years rounders!!

See you all on 7th September at the Village Hall, 7:30 p.m!

Mary Vellacott

St Elizabeth’s Hospice

At St Elizabeth Hospice we provide expert palliative care for the people of East Suffolk living with life-limiting illness and offer support and comfort to their families and friends.

To continue providing this vital care without charge to those that need it, we must raise £1.7 million this year - that equates to 6p every second!

Help the Hospice using the information superhighway!

There are a whole host of new and innovative ways that fundraisers can support their favourite charity in the 21st century. Via the information superhighway - or the Internet as its more commonly known - we have access to new ways of giving that are fun and simple to use. Two new websites enable you to help our Hospice whilst ‘online’ - they are www.buy.at/stelizabethhospice and www.justgiving.com. or support one of the events

Events Calendar

Sat 5^th Aug	All day	Kesgrave Music Festival	Kesgrave
Sunday 6^th Aug	All Day	It’s a Knockout	St. Jospeh’s College
Sunday 27^th Aug	10:00 – 5:00	Moon Fest	Moon & Mushroom Swilland
2^nd – 3^rd Sept	All day	Sky diving	Old Buckenham Airfield

Dr S C Norton Retirement Gift Fund

It has been announced that Dr Norton will cease to be a partner in the Framlingham Medical Practice at the end of August. The Fund account at Barclays in Framlingham (Dr S C Norton Retirement Gift Fund, sort code 20-44-51 account number 30468088) will close at the end of September 2006 after which donations will no longer be able to be accepted. A date and venue for the presentation of the gift to Dr Norton will be announced in the press.

Songs of Praise

Vernon & Nella would like to thank everyone who attended this special service to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Also our most grateful thanks for your generous donations amounting to £446 which were given to the Friends of St. Mary’s Church Fund

Vernon & Nella

Cretingham 100 Club AGM

The sixty-fourth draw took place at the Church Fete on Saturday 8^th July. This was the first of our two Jackpot Draws for this year.

Congratulations to:

Mr. L.Bosman - £100
Mr. R.Burch - £50
Mr. E.Brown - £20

The sixty-fifth draw will be held at the Post Office at noon on Saturday 5^th August 2006.

Peter Markland (685796)

Ashfield Ladies Group

15^th Aug	Visit to Local Hostelry
19^th Sept	Beadcraft by Eileen Leadley

For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.

Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses

July	Mrs N Cotton	685240	Mrs M Kerridge	685700
August	Miss J Cornelius	685753	Mrs L Tinkler	685278
September	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

July	Doreen Baxter	685617
August	Susan Hansen	685738
September	Jane Davidson	685332

If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.

Earl Soham Tennis Club

Would the person who removed two brooms from the tennis court kindly return them please.

Nella Cotton

RIP

Daisy May Ramsey, aged 91

Daisy (nee Ashford) was born and brought up in Earl Soham. She had a sister Vera and a brother always known as ‘spotty Ashford’. She married Montague Fredrick Ramsey at St Mary’s Earl Soham and lived in one of the 4 cottages now known as ‘The Bell Inn’. She was in domestic service and her husband worked on the land for Mr. Wilson. They moved to Hoo Green where they lived for 40 years until her husband died and she moved to a bungalow Wickham Market and then to a retirement home in Leiston. There she died on 11^th June 2006. They were childless and had no living relatives but are remembered as being faithful hard working church people who spent a great deal of their time in Hoo.

Her husband is buried in Cretingham churchyard and Daisy’s ashes have also been buried there.

We thank God for their lives, their example and their undoubted faithfulness. May Daisy rest in peace.

Graham Vellacott

From the August 06 Magazine