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).

Ashfield Parish Council Vacancies

Earl Soham Parish Council News

Ashfield’s Gentlemen’s Night Out

Cretingham Poppy Collection 2006

Combined Service with Charsfield Benefice in February

Friends of St. Peter’s Cretingham - Walk

Ashfield Ladies Group

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

St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota

RIP - Audrey Isobel Skelton

See also letters from the ministry team.


Ashfield Parish Council Vacancies arising in April 2006

What does Ashfield Parish Council do?  Parish Councils are an essential part of the structure of local democracy and have a vital role in acting on behalf of the communities they represent.  They -

  • give views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish;
  • undertake projects and schemes that benefit local residents;
  • work in partnership with other bodies to achieve benefits for the parish;
  • alert relevant authorities to problems that arise or work that needs to be undertaken; and
  • help the other tiers of local government keep in touch with their local communities. 

Here in Ashfield, the Parish Council (which meets 4 times a year) has in recent years actively worked to represent village residents in a number of areas including: -

  • planning applications, including achieving changes to proposals in the interests of the village
  • assisting resolution of neighbour disputes
  • limiting of HGV traffic through our village

What is the membership of Ashfield Parish Council?  
A maximum of 7 elected unpaid Councillors (elections are held every 4 years) and a paid part-time Clerk. 

What vacancies are there?
With effect from April 2007, planned resignations will leave vacancies for up to 3 Councillors.  Residents of Ashfield are invited to consider becoming a Councillor and make a contribution to our community.
In addition, the position of Clerk will become vacant and the Council is seeking applications from those interested in the position.  The salary will be £1,224 per annum for 3 hours per week, increasing annually in accordance with a standard scale.

How can I find out more?
Contact the Clerk, Susan Hansen, on 01728 685738 or speak to any of the councillors: Dorothy Brenton, Simon Garrett, Robert Grimsey, Myles Hansen, Sue Henney & Brian Lennon.

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Earl Soham Parish Council News

In view of concerns over the speed of traffic outside the school, the Parish Council has asked the County Council to include Earl Soham in the “20s Plenty” scheme.  This request has been added to a waiting list.  The County Council can only implement a few requests each year because of the cost.

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

The following plans have received planning permission:

  • 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.
  • Erection of two-storey extension at Albert Cottage, Low Road.

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.

The Parish Plan highlighted problems with TV reception in the village.  Bayfields have offered the following information that residents may find useful:

“TV aerials in Earl Soham are usually directed to either the Norwich or Sudbury transmitters.
In the highest parts of the village, heading up and out towards Framlingham, there is the possibility of receiving Digital Terrestrial services.  Lower down, in the centre of the village, including The Street, Brandeston Road, Low Road and the village end of Bedfield Road, these signals will be limited.
In the main part of the village we would generally recommend a High Gain, wideband TV aerial, mounted on tall mast, at the highest point of the property, and fitted with a Masthead Amplifier system.  Alternatively, Sky Digital (available as a subscription service or as ‘Freesat’ non-subscription) can be installed virtually anywhere in the village to provide high quality digital TV and radio (not DAB) reception.”

Bayfields will be happy to help residents with any TV reception issues they may be experiencing.

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.

There will be a vacancy for Parish Clerk from April 2007.  If you are interested in this position, please contact Ann Wybar on 685472.

Earl Soham Twin Bins

A big thank you comes from Councillor Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member of Suffolk Coastal District Council for Environment Natural & Built, to all residents served by the Twin Bin refuse collection service.

The service, which began in June, now has over 9000 households contributing to a very successful and well-received service. Due to the efforts of all residents using the Twin Bins together with their Brown Bin for composting, an average of 54% of waste collected from these households is now being diverted away from Landfill.

This has exceeded all of our expectations, so once again, thank you, and please keep up the good work.

For any further advice and guidance please ring our Customer hotline on 01394 444050.

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Ashfield’s Gentlemen’s Night Out

The annual evening out for the gentlemen of Ashfield and their friends will be on Friday 9th February 2007.  

For further details please contact Mike Brenton at Bull’s Barn, Ashfield. Telephone: 01728 685637, e-mail: mike-at-ashfield@bcs.org.uk

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Cretingham Poppy Collection 2006


The Bell

£27.00

The Golf Club

£32.60

The Post Office

£31.17

House-to-House

£174.49

Church Donation

£35.00

   

Total

£300.26

Thanks to all those who collected and to all who gave so generously.

Peter Mays

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Combined Service with Charsfield Benefice - Advance Notice

Our Benefice of Earl Soham, Cretingham and Ashfield has been warmly invited to share in the Eucharist Service on Sunday 4th February with the Charsfield Benefice. 

The Service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Letheringham, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  All are welcome. 

Assisted and joint travel arrangements can be made so that we are both kind to one another and the planet.  It would be helpful to make known to Churchwardens if you would appreciate a lift or can offer a lift to another. 

We look forward to the warmth of fellowship with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. 

Wendy Gourlay

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Friends of St. Peter’s Cretingham

Don’t forget the great WALK on Saturday 4th August 2007 for St Peter’s to St. Paul’s. Put the date in your diary and get the walking shoes ready!

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Ashfield Ladies Group


16th Jan

The Art of Theft

Richard Ellis

10th Feb

Hedgehogs

Carol Chittock

20th Mar

Caring for Children with Cancer

Karen Roberts

17th April

Amber

Robin Fournel

15th May

Defuelling and Decommissioning of Sizewell A

James Tott

19th June

AGM

 

17th July

Tour of Read Hall, Mickfield

 

21st Aug

Outing to a local hostelry

 

18th Sept

tba

 

16th Oct

The English Language Starts Here

John Pulham

20th Nov

Bosy Shop at Home

Louise Edwards

11th Dec

Christmas Meal

 

For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.

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


November

Mrs H Hinton

685232

Mrs J Rothery

685457

December

Mrs D Haines

685234

Mrs M Wade

685234

January

Mrs A Bloomfield

685270

Mrs I Elmore

685815

February

Mrs V Brumfitt

685408

 

 

If you are unable to do your flowers, please contact Margaret Buckland on 685329.

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St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota


December

Margaret & John Garrard

685038

January

Doreen Baxter

685617

February

Susan Hansen

685738

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

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RIP

Audrey Isobel Skelton

Audrey, a daughter of a grocer, was born and grew up in a mining village in Northumberland.  In the 2nd World War she was a signalwoman at a signal station in Scotland.  During that time through mutual friends she was introduced to Ernest who was serving abroad in the Royal Navy and they corresponded.  When he came home from the war, they met for the first time and he was smitten by this lovely and vivacious young lady.  He knew that she was the one!  They fell in love and married in 1951.  By the marriage they had two lovely children.  First Joan followed two years later by Bruce.

Audrey was a good mother and a clever needlewoman and made many fine things for the family and the home.  She was also an excellent cook.  She loved to sing about the house and joined the W.I. choir wherever she lived.  Audrey and Ernest moved to Earl Soham 12 years ago, to the outskirts of the village.  Some of you might have met and chatted with Audrey at the Mobile Library, others at W.I meetings.  More recently Audrey very much enjoyed the fellowship of the Senior Citizens group until too ill to attend.  Over the last two years Audrey put up a brave fight showing great strength of character and was able to smile even when she was seriously ill.

She loved her family and grandchildren who often came to stay at their home, especially Jonathan.  She is sorely and sadly missed by her husband, Ernest and by Joan and Bruce.

Wendy Gourlay

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