News items
There are a number of events in the coming months not listed on this page, so do look in the Events page (not forgetting the Services above the events).
Concert – Charity Quin and Band
St. Elizabeth Hospice - Tea at Three
Memorial concert for Noel Mander MBE FSA
The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes
St Peter's Cretingham Patronal Festival & Lunch
Dr Norton’s Retirement Gift Fund
The Henchman & Clubbe Educational Trust
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota
See also letters from the ministry team.
Christian Aid Week 14th – 20th May
As you may be aware it is Christian Aid week from 14th May. In the magazine you will find a donation envelope (or ask Jo Reed, 01728 685794).
Please give generously towards this important work. If you are able to complete the Gift Aid declaration, please do so as this significantly increases the value of your donation without any extra cost to you.
Envelopes will be collected at the end of the week. If you are unable to be around for the collection, do contact a member of your PCC to make an alternative arrangement.
Alison Bowman
Walk and Picnic
Sunday 4th June
You are invited to enjoy a walk of about an hour in the countryside surrounding Ashfield, to celebrate Pentecost. Weather permitting, to be followed by a picnic. (Please bring your own picnic!)
Meet at 11.45 am (following the Benefice Eucharist Service) in Ashfield Village Hall Car Park.
All are welcome.
Sensible clothing and footwear advisable! All dogs and people under control please.
The Ministry Team
Concert – Charity Quin and Band
Saturday 10th June, 7.30pm - St Michael’s Church, Framlingham
A new album has been released called The Patience of the Fisherman and is a collection of mainly original songs in the folk/celtic style inspired by the sea, sky, water, sand and air and the Sussex Downs.
In aid of the Community Centre. £10/£7.50 Tel 01728 723489
See also www.charityquin.com or www.myspace.com/charityquin
St. Elizabeth Hospice
"Tea at Three"
Friday June 16th in aid of st. Elizabeth Hospice, 2.30 - 4.30 pm. at Terrace House, Earl Soham (by kind permission of Jo & Tom Rothery)
Open garden,teas, plant stall,raffle. All contributions gratefully received.
Admission £2.00,to include a delicious homemade tea.
Please come and support this occasion, in aid of your local hospice,and bring your friends. Any inquiries or offers of help, please ring Judy Rowell on 01728 685393.
East Anglian Academy
Memorial concert for Noel Mander MBE FSA
Saturday 17th June 8.00 p.m. at St Michael's Church, Framlingham
Malcolm Russell – organ, music by Sweelinck, Handel, J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, S.S.Wesley
Tickets £12.00 Students £5.00
The Academy acknowledges the support of Bishop and Son, Organ Builders for this Memorial Concert.
Noel Mander - first patron of the Academy and founder of Mander Organs
The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes
Sorry - this has had to be cancelled.
On Saturday 24th June Mike Fuller will be presenting “The Entire Story of the Bible in 50 Minutes”, with a meal and entertainment. Details from Prue Gibbons, tel 01728 723599, or Sue Hutt, 01728 860173.
“A fast-moving presentation with over 140 slides, giving the big picture of the wonderful message of the Bible”. See www.mikefuller.org.uk.
St Peter's Church Cretingham - Patronal Festival & Lunch
Sunday 2nd July
A Benefice Eucharist at 10.00 am followed by an open-air lunch to which everyone is invited.
To assist with catering please call 685335 or 685520 before 1st July.
Recycling at ES
A reminder: there are recycling skips beside the Village Hall at Earl Soham for newspapers, cans and bottles. This raises money which is used to support the village hall.
1st Earl Soham Scout Group – Annual Duck Race
Friday 7th July starting at 6.00 pm
Come and have a quacking good time and support your local Beaver, Cubs and Scouts. Our annual Duck Race is at the Brandeston Bridge halfway between Brandeston and Cretingham.
Beer tent (sponsored by the Earl Soham Brewery), stalls, games, football pitch and of course a Duck Race, etc, etc.
Everyone is welcome
Earl Soham Village Fete
Saturday 5th 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
Earl Soham W.I.
Members of our W.I. have had a busy programme of late. We hosted a most enjoyable social evening with friends from our W.I. Group and at a later date staged a successful and entertaining fashion show. With models of varying sizes from our W.I., a packed audience admired clothes from Echos of Bedingfield.
At our May meeting we will be discussing what important issues we think the W.I. should promote, and this will be followed by a cheese and wine supper.
Earl Soham W.I. meets every fourth Thursday of the month and is always pleased to welcome new members and guests. For further information, please contact our President: Enid Bazire on 01728 724649 or Secretary: Brenda Reason on 01473 890115.
Earl Soham Village Hall
The Coffee Morning held recently at Falcon House, the home of the Clement family, raised over £500 in aid of the Village Hall Fund. A big thank you to all of those who worked or supported the event. The next Coffee Morning will be held at a different venue, sometime in October or November - so watch this space!
Jo Rothery
Cretingham Village Sign
Apart from a name on the map the village of Cretingham was unidentifiable and in 1976, it was felt that a village sign depicting the origin and meaning of the name, would be informative as well as decorative.
The earliest spellings of the village name are Gretingeham or Gretincgeham. The ham is Old English meaning home. The first part of the name is based on Greotingas, meaning folk living in a gritty or sandy district, which describes the land close to the river. This being so, the name would be identical with the Gothic affinities and could mean Cretingham may have been founded by a Goth as early as the 5th or 6th centuries A.D. It is the only place in Great Britain of that name and possibly anywhere in the world. The sign depicts, on one side a typical agricultural scene, with a family at work using the tools of the day. In all probability there were Viking raids and battles and the other side of the sign shows them sailing up the river (Deben?) with existing dwellers fleeing in terror.
The sign is unusual in that it is a mosaic of traditional cut tesserae that is set in a wrought iron frame mounted on a 12ft long overall oak post, cut at Shrubland Park saw mill. The panel was designed and made by Jessica Costello of Kelsale and the wrought iron frame by Hector Moore of Brandeston.
On the May Bank Holiday 1981 Mr Tom Ramsey, the oldest inhabitant born in the Parish, unveiled the sign on Oak Corner, before a large crowd. This was followed by Morris dancing, Maypole dancing, sideshows and competitions made all the merrier by the New Bell Inn staying open.
For the record; the unusual construction of the sign was chosen for durability and minimum maintenance. The total cost was £800.
Some 21 years on the tesserae (vitrious glass) tiles were as good as new, but weather (and the occasional football) had caused serious deterioration to the marine ply on which they were mounted. To save further damage the sign and frame were removed from the post during 2002. Initial inspection concluded it would be impractical to reconstruct and it was stored away in a barn. The post quickly assumed the nickname of the ‘Cretingham stump’.
Early in 2004 Eric Brown and Michael Pinner took a close look at the remains and concluded that with a great deal of patience it would be possible to carry out a reconstruction. Several months were spent in selecting and trialling materials and adhesives to meet exacting specifications for the long-term survival of the sign.
Eventually during 2005 the original sign was painstakingly taken apart and the illustrations faithfully transferred this time to two panels made of fibreglass. A total of 225 hours was spent on putting 6217 mosaic pieces in place. The total cost was £590.
On the May Bank Holiday 2006 and exactly 25 years to the day the sign was once again unveiled but on this occasion by Mrs Constance (Connie) Ransome, the oldest person to be born and living in the Parish. The ceremony was attended by a good-sized crowd, who went on to enjoy much merrymaking including Maypole dancing, competitions and delicious food.
Eric Brown
Dr Norton’s Retirement Gift Fund
After 33 years Dr Stephen Norton is retiring from the partnership of the Framingham Medical Practice in the autumn. Patients will still be able to see him as he intends to continue to work on a part-time basis and to become locum tenens for the practice as and when required.
Dr Norton arrived in Framlingham in 1973 when he replaced Dr Allen and joined Dr Edmundson as a partner in the Fore Street Surgery. The Surgery moved to Pembroke Road in 1982 and since then Dr Norton has been instrumental in developing the practice to six doctors, four nurses and with many others working and supporting the medical team.
Many patients and former patients who have appreciated his exceptional care and support may wish to contribute to the Dr S C Norton Retirement Gift Fund which has been set up to receive donations. In consultation with his wife it is hoped to buy Dr Norton a gift with the money and to present it to him when he retires from the partnership. An account has been opened at Barclays Bank in Framlingham, sort code number: 20-44-51 account number: 30468088 where anyone can make a donation.
If you wish to know any more details please contact either Mrs Patsy Hunt on 01728 723314 or Alastair Douglas on 01728 723188
The Henchman & Clubbe Educational Trust
Are you planning to go on to Further Education later this year? If you are under 21 and live in Earl Soham, why not apply to the Henchman and Clubbe for a Grant?
For those who permanently reside in the Parish of Earl Soham
The Trustees of the Henchman & Clubbe Educational Foundation have limited funds available each year for distribution as Grant Aid.
The Trustees invite application from young persons (under 21 years of age), whose permanent residence is in the Parish of EARL SOHAM and who are pursuing a full-time course in Further or Higher education, for grants to assist in the purchase of books, equipment and other necessary materials.
Application forms may be obtained from Mrs. T. Rothery, Clerk to the Trustees, Terrace House, The Street, Earl Soham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 7SA, to whom a stamped A4 sized envelope should be sent.
Application forms, when completed should be returned to The Clerk by 30th September 2006, enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Cretingham 100 Club AGM
The sixty-second draw took place at the May Day event on Monday 1st May.
Congratulations to:
- Mrs. M. Snell - £25
- Mrs. W. Gourlay - £15
- Mrs. L. Ralli - £10
The sixty-third draw will be held at the Post Office on Saturday 3rd June 2006.
Peter Markland (685796)
Ashfield Ladies Group
20th June |
AGM |
18th July |
A visit to Police Headquarters |
For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.
Earl Soham - Rota for Altar & Roll of Honour Flowers & Brasses
June |
Mrs A Weightman |
684825 |
Mrs A Wybar |
685472 |
July |
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
June |
Jane Davidson |
685332 |
July |
Doreen Baxter |
685617 |
If you are unable to do your month please contact another person on the list to arrange a swap.