Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 
What's here
Scrap Book evening - change of date
Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
Cretingham Mystery Meal Saturday 29th January 2005
Earl Soham Parish Council News
For events see also Services and Events.
Phone scam warning was a hoax
We published here a warning, apparently from the Police, which was passed to us from the Diocese (who asked us to publish it). This concerned phone scams involving premium rate numbers (numbers starting 09). Apparently the warning was a hoax. The scams revolved around premium rate numbers costing up to £50 per minute. ICSTIS, the regulator for premium rate calls, has asked people to correct the stories about these scams. Apparently the highest premium rate number cost is £1.50 per minute.
So if you are ripped off by a premium rate number, you can blame ICSTIS (http://www.icstis.org.uk/icstis2002/default.asp?node=-1) who say it can't happen.
Scrap-booking - note: change of date
Would you like to give it a try? We have formed a scrap-booking group in Ashfield. We meet once a month in Ashfield Village Hall for a pleasant social evening, tea, coffee, chat and gossip as well as having fun making albums from the great piles of photographs most of us have hidden away in boxes!! It is a convivial way to convert those old photos into an attractive souvenir of ones life/special occasions/holidays etc. No prior ability or knowledge is required. Come along and have fun – advice is freely(!) given.(Supplies are available for purchase if required.) The evening costs £1.00 to cover the Hall hire cost. Bring your photos with you.
The next meeting was to have been on Jan 13th, and this date is in the Magazine. Unfortunately Wendy has had to cancel that. Please call Wendy Jephcote on 01728 685690 for the new date.
Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham
The AGM on the 8th November was well attended and the Annual Report and the Accounts were adopted unanimously. The Chairman highlighted the fact that the Friends had raised almost £51k over the past 8 years towards the preservation/improvement to St Peter’s, an incredible effort.
This last year had been one of consolidation as well as innovation: consolidation in respect of the funds and innovation in respect of the fund raising projects whereby a Classic Cars display was added to the previously successful Open Gardens event. This had brought almost a thousand people to the village on a glorious Sunday in June and raised over £15oo on the day. Special mention was given to Susanne Bache and Michael Pinner who were the prime movers in this very successful event. That success was measured in terms of the raffle prize-winners - one came from Southend and another from distant Middlesborough.
There were two guest speakers during the year, in November Canon David Pitcher talked about ‘The Framlingham Branch Line’ and in April, Dr Sam Newton enlightened members on ‘Sutton Hoo and the Early History of the Deben Valley.’
In respect of the latter, a follow up field trip was arranged in July to explore parts of the Sutton Hoo site. To the 30 or so members who attended, the sight of a leather clad Dr Newton ‘resting’ in a burial position on that beautiful summer’s evening would always be a savoured memory.
There had been no major items of expenditure this year and the bank balance currently stands at £17845. In recent years, the Friends have made major financial contributions in endeavouring to solve the damp problems experienced in the Church. Those problems have not been resolved and until such time as they are, the work in the interior decorations cannot be fulfilled. In view of the projects currently under review, the funds in hand would certainly be required and, as has been indicated previously, the Friends will need to continue activities to raise money, to meet its future financial obligations.
In respect of the monies raised from recycling activities (over £400 p.a.) villagers are asked to put their waste paper and glass in the containers at ‘The Bell.’ Besides providing this invaluable source of income for the Friends it also helps to improve the UK’s lamentable performance in the European Recycling league. We currently recycle 14.5% whereas in most other European countries it is around 50% (and in Austria, so clean a country, it is 65%)
As a final comment on the AGM, the serving officers and members of the Committee were re-elected unanimously.
At the Committee meeting on 3rd December 2004 it was confirmed that a ‘Charity Golf Day’ (14/7/05) and a Puddings Evening (11/6/05) would be the two major fund raising events for the year as well as the ongoing programme of informative talks. It is hoped the village will support this mix of events in the year 2005.
Tony Whitmarsh, Chairman, Forge Cottage
Cretingham Poppy Collection
The magnificent sum of £305.91 was donated to the Poppy Appeal. Many thanks to those who collected (as under) and all who gave so generously.
The Bell |
£30.17 |
The Golf Club |
£35.23 |
The Post Office |
£39.44 |
House-to-house |
£176.07 |
Church Donations |
£25.00 |
Total |
£305.91 |
P J Mays
Ashfield Ladies Group
7th December |
Christmas Meal |
|
For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
Dec |
Mrs M Simpson |
685301 |
Mrs A Whybar |
685472 |
Jan |
Mrs N Cotton |
685240 |
Mrs M Kerridge |
685700 |
If you are unable to do your flowers, please contact Margaret Buckland on 685329.
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
December |
Jane Davidson |
685332 |
January |
Doreen Baxter |
685617 |
February |
Susan Hansen |
685738 |
March |
Margaret & John Garrard |
685038 |
April |
Jill Robinson |
685084 |
If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.
Cretingham Mystery Meal Saturday 29th January 2005
This is an annual village evening when there is an opportunity to meet old and new friends whilst travelling around the village for a three course meal and finish up having coffee altogether. Each couple participating will provide one of the courses and travel to another venue for the other two courses. Apart from knowing which course you are to provide the rest of the evening remains a mystery until you open an envelope just before each course. It is great fun so please make a note of the date in your diary now. There will be a flier in January’s issue of the magazine but you can book a place now if you wish by ringing Eric Brown on 01728 685520.
Earl Soham WI
Meetings are held in a lively and friendly atmosphere on the fourth Thursday of each month, at 7-30pm in Earl Soham village hall. There is usually a speaker on some subject of topical or general interest, and always, social time with delicious refreshments. Other activities on variable days/evenings during the month include:
- Book discussion group
- Bridge
- Croquet
- Darts
- Scrabble
- Sewing
- Walks
We welcome new members, especially those who are new to the area, and would like to meet the locals and have some fun. Further information may be obtained from the Hon Sec., Debbie Sharman, 01728 724544
Earl Soham Parish Council News
The audit for 2003/04 has been completed.
At the request of the Auditor, the Parish Council has adopted financial regulations and standing orders.
Planning Permission has been received for the change of use of farm buildings to Class B1 Business Use at Earl Soham Lodge.
The bus service 119 will be improved. The route will complement service 118 to provide an hourly service. The service should now provide better opportunities for travel to work in Ipswich with arrival around 0830 and departure at 1730.
The Parish Council is concerned that some residents are not recycling their paper. The Village Hall receives over £500 per annum from recycling and the Parish Council encourages residents to use these facilities. If, however, you are unable to use the Village Hall paper-bank please use the green boxes provided by SCDC for collection from the kerbside. Paper should never be thrown away in black plastic sacks.
The dates for Parish Council meetings in 2005 are as follows:
17th January
14th March
23rd May
4th July
19th September
21st November
All meetings are held in the Village Hall and start at 7.45 p.m. Members of the public are very welcome at Parish Council Meetings.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Tuesday 19th April at 7.30 p.m.
Letter from the Samaritans
“I am sure you know of the Samaritans; providing confidential support to people from all walks of life, who are despairing or suicidal. We provide a service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through 100 trained Volunteers in our Centre in St. Helen’s Street, Ipswich. All our work is voluntary, but still costs us approximately £50,000 a year to run our centre. That is nearly £1,000 a week or £140 per day. We should be extremely grateful for any help that you can give.”
If anyone wishes to make a donation to the Samaritans, they can send a cheque payable to ‘Ipswich Samaritans’ and sent to Ipswich Samaritans, 140 St Helen’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 2LE.
St Elizabeth Hospice
A cheque for over £500 was sent to the Hospice following the Christmas Sale at Oakhill, Earl Soham in November. Very many thanks to all who contributed.
A date for your diary: Christmas Sale next year: November 9th 2005
Traidcraft
Thank you to everybody who supported the event held on 20th November at Chestnuts in Cretingham. The turnout was a little disappointing but with the donations and 10% of the Traidcraft sales the sum of £40 was raised to be split between Friends of St. Peter’s and Traidcraft Exchange.
Mary Corrall