News items

We are thrilled to welcome our new Minister Gill Lee and her husband Graham to church this month. At the time of writing the paper work is going through for a rented property in Framlingham, though it is their intention, if a suitable property comes up, to live in Earl Soham in the future. The church would be very interested to hear of any three or four bedroom properties that may become available for renting in the future. Contact Sue or Tony Hutt on 01728 860173 or sue@hutt.co.uk

Geoffrey Pickup dec’d

Jane, Alison, Michael and family would like to thank all those who attend the funeral on September 14^th at St. Michael’s Framlingham; it was a splendid send off. We would also wish to thank all those who sent kind words and letters of sympathy and for the donations to The Framlingham Volunteer Centre and the Community Centre in his name.

Alison

Suffolk Historic Churches Trust

The day of the 25^th sponsored bicycle ride was one of blue skies and sunshine - quite a change from last year's event!
I should like to express my grateful thanks to the cyclists and the recorders in both of the Earl Soham Churches. Thank you also to their generous sponsors - half the sum raised by the cyclists will go to St Mary's and the other half to the Trust; the exact amount raised will be published in next month's magazine.

Val Brumfitt (Organiser for Earl Soham)

Cretingham 100 Club

The sixty-seventh draw took place at the Post Office on Saturday 7^th October.
Congratulations to:

Miss N.Egan £25
Mr. G.Ralli £15
Mrs. A.Forsberg £10

The sixty-eighth draw will be held at the Post Office at noon on Saturday 28^th October 2006.

Peter Markland (685796)

Wenhaston Men’s Choir - postponed

The Wenhaston Men's Choir were dute to be singing on Friday 17^th November, 7.30pm at Earl Soham Baptist Church with Soup Supper. This has been postponed until 2007, at a date to be arranged. Sorry for the change.

Tickets £8.50 in aid of church funds.

The Wenhaston Scholars are a talented, all male, a capella singing group whose repertoire includes songs from contemporary to classical, blues to pop songs. Popular Songs, Gospel, Classic Barbershop, Blues, Swing, Spirituals, Humorous... what more could you want as you eat and drink? Their web site: www.wenhastonscholars.com

More details from Prue Gibbons 723599 or Sue Hutt 860173

Earl Soham Christmas Craft & Gift Fair

This will be held on Saturday 18^th November 2006, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Earl Soham Village Hall.

Unusual and traditional gifts, refreshments, cakes and raffle, in aid of the Village Hall.

Earl Soham W.I.

After a successful Open Meeting in October when members of the public were invited to join us for a talk on “Volcanoes and Earthquakes” we are now looking forward to our Annual Meeting in the Village Hall on Thursday 23^rd November at 7:30 p.m.

The reports, financial statement and election of Committee and President will be followed by a fashion parade! Several of our members have been mothers of the bride or groom during the last year and our meeting will be enlivened by these ladies modelling outfits worn on the happy occasion! We look forward to this with great anticipation!

Visitors and new members will be most welcome.

For further information about Earl Soham W.I. and their activities, please contact Brenda Reason (Secretary) 01473 890115

Piano recital

Earl Soham Bowls Club – Beetle Drive

On Saturday, 25^th November at 7.30 pm in Earl Soham Village Hall. Tickets £5 (Juniors £3) to include Ploughman’s Supper & Coffee/Tea are available from 01728 723671 or 01728 685385. There will be a raffle.

Please bring your own drinks & glasses

In aid of Bowls Club Funds.

ESPreSchool

Friends of St Peter’s Cretingham

In the October issue of the Magazine I announced that Mr John Fixon, a prominent retired consultant orthopaedic surgeon, would be giving a talk at Cretingham Golf Club on 2^nd December next. His talk was to be about his experiences on taking medical aid to Afghanistan. Unfortunately the date of his next trip has been changed such that he will be in Afghanistan on the 2^nd December. His visit to us has therefore been postponed until the 10^th February 2007.

John was formally a consultant at St Bartholomew’s and Great Ormand Street hospitals specialising in children’s orthopaedic problems. He has visited Afghanistan regularly, on behalf of the Sandy Gall Charity, treating and advising on the care of children and adults. His talk will be an up to date account of conditions there and I hope that many residents in Cretingham and beyond will make a note of the new date in their diaries.

The precise details will be circulated later, but note the date Saturday 10^th February, 2007.

Alan Lettin, Chairman

Christmas parcels - St Mary’s Earl Soham

Knowing how much our Harvest gifts were appreciated, we are planning to take some parcels to the Robert Milne Centre for Christmas. These parcels can contain Christmas gifts for the children or the mothers or could be Christmas fare (which does not need to be wrapped). They should be brought to the Carol Service on Sunday 17^th December at 6:30pm. The wrapped parcels should be labelled with the age it is suitable for and whether for a boy or girl. Do support this effort to help these needy families and share some of our joy at Christmas.

Mary Vellacott

Harvest Gifts – St. Mary’s Earl Soham

A letter from the Robert Milne Family Centre in Ipswich has sent a letter and card to the church to thank us for the Harvest Gifts.

“Our families were able to help themselves to the various fruit, vegetables and tin/dried foods. These gifts were very much appreciated by the families and in return they have made you a Thank You card. We would like to thank you all for the Harvest Gifts.”

Mary Vellacott

Ashfield Ladies Group

21^st Nov	Titanic – A Tale of Ignorance & Arrogance	Myles Hansen
12^th Dec	Christmas Meal

For further information contact Susan Hansen on 01728 685738.

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

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

St Mary’s Ashfield - Flower & Cleaning Rota

November	Alison Garrett	685489
December	Margaret & John Garrard	685038

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

Basil Herbert Fairweather RIP

Sadly we read of the death of Basil Fairweather aged 86 years on 16^th September 2006 at the Ipswich Hospice. Basil was born in Ashfield on 11^th June 1920, the youngest of five children with four older sisters. He served in the army from 1940 – 1946 in the Royal Artillery based in Dover and Austria. In 1953, he and Cissie were married in Stowmarket and lived on the Low Road, Earl Soham for 34 years. Michael was born in 1953 and Carol in 1958. Basil loved his work for Geoffrey Clarke at Windwhistle Farm, Earl Soham where he was employed for 40 years. In 1987 he retired and they moved to Witnesham. He loved to work on his big garden and also gardened for another couple. On his retirement, due to ill heath, he was presented with an engraved glass bowl with the words ‘To a real gentleman who cherished our garden’. He was indeed a gentleman and a wonderful husband to Cissie, father to Michael and Carol and a much loved grandfather to 5 grand children and 7 great-grandchildren. A very faithful man in all aspects of his life, nothing was too much trouble. We thank God for his life and send our sympathy to Cissie, Michael and Carol and all the family and pray that they may know God’s comfort and peace. May he rest in peace.

Graham Vellacott

From the November 06 Magazine