News items
As well as events below (and see also links on the left), do look in the Events page (not forgetting the Services above the events).
Connect 4 - Planning the Future
Summer Pudds at the Ten Bells Stonham Aspal
The parish council of Cretingham, Monewden and Hoo - vacancy
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
RIP - Margaret Brandram
RIP - Enid Mander
See also letters from the ministry team.
Earl Soham Fete
Saturday 4th August 2007 2:00 p.m. on the Village Green
In Aid of St. Mary’s Church Fabric Fund
We hope that everyone will come and support this annual event. If you feel you could help in any way; from arranging everything in the morning, manning the games and stalls in the afternoon or baking a cake, please contact Margaret Buckland (685329) or Irene Elmore (685814).
As in previous years we will be around before the fete to collect any contributions you may wish to make to the stalls. Date and time will be in next month’s magazine and website.
The Earl Soham Church Events Committee
Connect 4 - Planning the Future
There will be a meeting held on Tuesday 7th August 7:00pm at Soham House, Mary Vellacott’s house, to discuss the future of the club and to find additional helpers for next year. This meeting is open to anyone who is interested in the future of the club whether or not they feel able to give help with the actual running of the club, and if you are able to help but you have not got children in the club you are equally welcome. If you want this club to continue do support us and if you are unable to come to the meeting, do contact Mary to discuss what part you can play. With the arrival of a new vicar, we hope that he will be able to encourage support and help from the wider benefice, so we hope that the club will be in action and viable from the 6th September with a programme planned for the Autumn.
Mary Vellacott 684 423
Ashfield Ladies Group
21st Aug |
Outing to a local hostelry |
|
18th Sep |
Garnett’s Gardens |
talk & demonstration |
For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.
Summer Pudds at the Ten Bells Stonham Aspal
Wed 22nd August - 7.15pm for 7.30pm start, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
Pampered Chef Cooking Show: Delicious simple to prepare recipes.
Free Tasters – Great chance to order quality products to make cooking quicker and easier.
All welcome. Visit the web site for more details: www.pamperedchef.biz/carolynsmith or ring 01449 711219.
Carolyn Smith
Earl Soham Bank Holiday Stall
Our usual Bank Holiday stall will be held on Saturday 25th August when we hope that summer will have arrived! Do please remember us and make something for our cake stall, and come to the green for a coffee, ploughman’s lunch, and cream tea. See you there!
Mary Vellacott
Sponsored Cycle Ride
This annual event takes place this year on Saturday 8thSeptember from 10am-6pm and as usual Ashfield Church will be manned during that time to receive cyclists. In recent years I have manned the church myself for the duration however this year now being the owner of a bicycle I am planning to ride. I shall be very grateful for any offers to sit in the church either for an odd hour during the day or for the whole period, telephone; 01728 685203 (answer phone) or email; grimsey@rgrimsey.freeserve.co.uk.
If there are any other budding cyclists who would like to take part and raise money for Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and Ashfield Church 50/50 split, sponsor forms are available in the back of the church or from myself. Donations or sponsorship may also be made by these means.
Robert Grimsey Local Organiser for Ashfield.
Suffolk Animal Rescue
Fun Dog and Agility Show at the Pet Dog Training Centre
At Stonham Barns on 16th September. Entries from 11.30 a.m. Judging at 12 midday.
Fun classes for all dogs no matter what age (puppies must be 6 months to enter), shape, colour or type! ‘Have a go’ – try out agility - great fun and good exercise too (dogs must be 12 months +)
Refreshments stalls – great fun day out for all the family and your furry friends!!
Further information ring Carolyn 01449 711219
East Anglian Academy
Sunday 16th September 3 pm
The Church of the Assumption, Redenhall
“Rococo to Romantic”
Handel, Mendlssohn, Wesley etc
Music for choral ensemble and organ
“Octave” – vocal ensemble
Malcolm Russell – organ
Tickets £10 ( £8 prebooked), Students £4
Full season’s program and details of how to book: see here.
Earl Soham WI
There will be no meeting in August. On 27th September our speaker will be Louise Brundell on “Hearing Dogs for Deaf People”. On 25th October Mark Murphy is coming to talk to us about BBC Radio Suffolk. Everybody welcome.
Our other activities include Book Club, Bridge Club, Craft, Croquet, Darts, Scrabble, Sewing, Walks. Details from Brenda Reason on 01473 890115.
Anne Fraser
The parish council of Cretingham, Monewden and Hoo - vacancy
Have you thought of becoming involved in your local community? If so, this could be your opportunity
The parish council of Cretingham, Monewden and Hoo has a vacancy for a Parish Councillor. It is not too time consuming or onerous… there are just four Council Meetings per year plus extra planning meetings as required.
If you would like to know more please contact:
Chairman: George Ralli (01728 685237) or Clerk: Carol A Smy (01379 384679), clerkcmh@thesmys.com
Open Garden – Corner View
Despite at times quite appalling weather I am pleased to record that almost £200 was raised for the funds of Ashfield Church. In addition to those who were able to visit before the torrential rain arrived I received several generous donations from people who didn’t make it to see the garden. Thank you to all of you.
I am hoping that next year it will be possible to hold an open event mid-late May when most of the Chestnuts Aesculus, should be in flower watch this space!
Robert Grimsey
Cretingham Fete 2007
The St. Peter’s Cretingham Church Fete was held on Saturday 7th July and raised the magnificent sum of £800!
On behalf of the P.C.C., I would like to thank all those who undertook to bake such delicious cakes and other goodies, those who donated bottles, books, bric-a-brac and other items for sale and those who willingly gave their time to assist with the erection and dismantling of tents and with the administration and organisation of the event over a good many months.
Many thanks indeed to all of you in the village and beyond who supported us and enabled us to achieve a wonderful success.
Peter Markland, St. Peter’s Cretingham Treasurer.
Charity Abseil
Joshua Reed successfully abseiled down the Maternity Block at Ipswich Hospital (where he was born!) on Saturday 7th July – just before his 16th birthday.
With many thanks to all our friends in Earl Soham who kindly sponsored him, he raised a total of £130 for Cancer Campaign in Suffolk – a local charity which helps so many families in our county.
Well done, Josh!
Jo Reed
Cretingham 100 Plus Club
The seventy-fifth draw took place at the Post Office on Saturday 7th July. Congratulations to:
- Susan Massey - £100
- Liz Jackson - £50
- Norman Cobley - £25
- Marilyn Snell - £15
The seventy-seventh draw will take place at the Post Office on Saturday 4th August.
Peter Markland (685796)
Coffee Morning thanks
A warm thank you to those who joined me on June 20th for The Children’s Society second national coffee morning, especially friends venturing from the Charsfield Benefice. Besides enjoying a relaxed chat over coffee and cake, and uniting with everyone nationally in saying a prayer we also raised a total of £50 for the work of the Children’s Society. Sincere thanks.
Wendy Gourlay
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
June |
Mrs A Bloomfield |
685270 |
Mrs I Elmore |
685814 |
| July |
Mrs Abbott |
685210 |
Mrs Calver |
685698 |
If you are unable to do your flowers, please contact Margaret Buckland on 685329.
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
| May |
The Garrards |
|
| June |
Doreen Baxter |
685617 |
If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.
RIP
Margaret Anne Brandram 82 years
We all loved Margaret & she loved us, whether we lived in Cretingham, Framlingham or beyond. Being so much part of both communities it was fitting to echo this spirit with a collaborative service of Thanksgiving for her Life.
Margaret had warmth, compassion, approachability & eccentricity: always being ‘in a bit of a muddle!’ Born on 12th May 1925 the second daughter of Reverend Brandram & his wife, she grew up in the vicarage at Snape before moving in 1934 to St Augustines, Ipswich. Margaret recognised Jesus as a personal Saviour & shared many insights with us in Bible Study & Alpha groups. She was a longstanding PCC member, served as Church Warden at St Peter’s Cretingham & led Sunday School, always making learning of God a vibrant, happy experience. Margaret constantly put her faith into action, helping others in countless ways yet with typical humility she was sometimes troubled feeling she’d not done enough for others & sought comfort in Christ through prayer. Maybe not consistent in ‘daily living’ she was consistent in ‘spiritual living’.
When Hill House became difficult to manage Margaret & Sparkey, the cat, moved to Framlingham. In her cosy flat, with fewer possessions to mislay, she lived life to the full & having a bus stop right outside her front door meant trips out of town remained feasible. However, even Beeston’s bus drivers hoped Margaret would remember all her belongings: shopping-bag, keys, walking stick, umbrella.
Although Margaret never married, as a teenager she did fall in love with a young soldier but when he went to war he was sadly killed. She decided nursing was her career & worked for a while as Matron at a boys school before becoming a District Nurse locally. She cared deeply for her family, brother John, niece Diane & great niece Caroline, & always loved children. She enjoyed finding special presents for g/great nephews Sam & Charlie & putting a tent up for them, perhaps recalling memories of her own youth as a girl-guide & ranger. She had camping trips in France & Spain & travelled to Africa, Ireland, & Belgium. At home she liked pottering in the garden, selling the glut of apples & giving the proceeds to Christian Aid, photography, painting, finding a bargain in charity shops, wearing bright colours, writing thank you letters, going to the theatre with close friends, & telling us all some great jokes.
Perhaps she was happiest in company, getting to know the ins & out of life, sometimes getting the wrong end of the stick but always with the best intention. Faith, hope & love were all abundantly visible in the life of Margaret.
We miss her dearly.
Wendy Gourlay
Enid Mander, 29th November 1921 – 8th April 2007
My mother officially gave up nursing before marrying my father, but she never ceased to practice. At the Organ Works, she was nurse in residence. Every cut and bruise was brought to her and tended with professional skill and kindness - with firmness, too, on occasions:“There was no need to faint,” she remarked after one casualty had departed, “It was only a scratch.”
The same combination of cherishing and discipline characterised her nursing during childhood illnesses. Returning from school with a temperature, we’d be tucked up in bed plied with lemon and honey and tended with care. Then one morning, just as this blissful existence began to seem an attractive long term alternative to the rigours of childhood, Mummy would come in with her smart step, draw open the curtains and pronounce the dreaded words, ‘You’re well enough to get up today.’
As we grew more independent, local school children provided my mother with a fresh outlet for her caring qualities. First she attended medicals. These she found an eye-opener, despite her many unsheltered years in Bethnal Green. Later, she was asked to give special attention to deprived pupils. I think she was expected to read to them and take them to the local park. Not she. She took them to the Science and Natural History Museums and to their own Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. We all know that a deprived child can for understandable reasons — be a difficult child, yet there were no ‘behavioural problems’ as she drove her young charges around London or took them on the underground and buses. Sometimes a little group came home with her and was set to making bread (after a good deal of supervised hand scrubbing), or playing ‘Memory’ in that big, light warm kitchen which was the heart of the home.
My mother could be firm and did not mince her words. There will be few friends who have not suffered the odd rebuke. But we all know, too, that there was no limit to her warmth and generosity. Many have told me how they and their dear ones benefited from her nursing care in Earl Soham. It was a natural channel for her love.
Another channel was entertaining, from cooking for the family to giving dinner parties or receiving friends for musical evenings. Coming together to break bread with family and sometimes friends is one of the oldest ways of celebrating unity. Yes, there was plenty of diversity to liven up the unity of family meals, but even that was better shared than nibbled over in solitude.
In her last illness, I had the privilege of being very close, to my mother. In the cherishing, supportive atmosphere of Foxearth Nursing Home, the preoccupations of day—to-day living fell away from her. She took what came to her and responded with gratitude. As we struggle through the ups and downs of life, we are all slaves, to an extent, of our own fears and anxieties. As her illness advanced, my mother was relieved of these tensions. ‘Self’ was no longer a concern. Listening to music became more important to her than ever. She would light up and smile at a familiar phrase or unexpected cadence. She opened her heart and we shared love as we shared the music.
This was a greater thing than motherly love. My mother was a living testament to the power of love to survive when all else has faded. At the end, her love was not the kind that is focussed on an individual. She had become that which we all aspire to become: a channel for divine love.
My mother’s passing was not unique, nor even unusual, but because of the way the flesh retired and the spirit grew, we were allowed to see with wonderful clarity that love which binds us to God and through which He finally draws us to Himself.
Polly Mander