June 2009

NEWS

William Godell - 500 Years

Let the commemorations commence!
The commemorations of the 500th anniversary of William Godell’s bequest kicked off on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May with the Town Mayor formally dedicating the William Godell Rock in Nursemaids Green before going on to open the Southwold (Sole Bay) Lions’ Spring Bank Holiday Fete. Both were colourful, well-attended occasions, with the Southwold and Reydon Corps of Drums providing an enjoyable musical accompaniment. The special William Godell Ale was the only liquid that flowed at either event (being given out at the dedication of the Rock), there being not a drop of rain.

As both the Town Mayor and Cllr John Miller predicted good weather on that day in defiance of the washouts of the last two years, their soothsaying skills are impressive. Let’s hope the next big William Godell event, Beating the Bounds (see story further down this page), is equally fortunate!

For more pictures of the Bank Holiday celebrations see Extra Pictures

Address given by the Southwold Town Clerk, Mrs Jenny Hursell, on Mayor’s Sunday, 17th May 2009 in St Edmund’s Church.

Twenty years ago, in 1989, the late Alan Bottomley, Headmaster of Eversley School and local historian, addressed the congregation here in St Edmund’s at the Service held to mark the 500th anniversary of the granting of Southwold’s Charter. He began that address by quoting a text from St Matthew, Chapter 17, verse 4, which records the words of St Peter spoken, as Mr Bottomley put it, on an even more momentous occasion, ‘it is good for us to be here’, and those words, apt in relation to Charter Year, are equally as apt in relation to this year when we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the bequest to Southwold by William Godell of much of which this town holds most precious.

But 500 years is difficult to imagine, so let’s try to put Godell in some sort of context. We don’t know when he was born. We can only make assumptions based on fleeting historical records that his life spanned the middle and late 1400s and, of course, the early 1500s, but we can be sure that he lived through the tumult of the Wars of the Roses, that he came to prominence during the reign of King Henry VII, and that he died a month before Henry VIII came to the throne and roughly 55 years before Shakespeare was born. So, a long time ago. But this church was here then. William certainly worshipped here. As a prominent man, he would have sat somewhere in this area and he was buried here or hereabouts because he specified in his will that ‘my body be placed within the Church of St Edmund before the seat where I am bound to sit’.

Southwold’s 1489 Charter made it a town corporate of two bailiffs and the commonalty. The bailiffs were the elected leaders of the town and the first two bailiffs elected were Robert Bishop and William Godell. It is more than likely that they were instrumental in the town being granted its Charter in the first place. King Henry VII liked rich men and William Godell was a very rich man with a finger in every lucrative pie; the Alan Sugar of his day. There were two prime sources of income in the 15th century – wool and fish – and Godell was involved in both. His will refers to his fishing fleet – the Cecilly, the Andrew, the Platsole and ‘all mine other ships as well as those in Iceland’, and ‘all that fish that God shall send me out of Iceland’ and to ‘all my nets and ropes’. And he refers to his 400 sheep pasturing on the marshes. But he was more than a fish merchant and sheep farmer. He was involved in businesses associated with those trades as well. Fish was vital in a Catholic country, which, of course, this was then, so successive kings stationed ships in havens along the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, which protected the fishing fleet from pirates. Godell and Robert Bishop were involved in the provisioning of these ships, ‘wafting’ as it was known. Godell was also involved in that other essential commodity at the time, salt, which was used to preserve fish in the days before fridges and freezers. He refers in his will to ‘my houses at the Town’s end with all the salt and merchantdize within them’.

As for wool, Godell wasn’t one to waste money employing middlemen. At that time the wool market in Calais, called the Staple of Calais, had a monopoly of all the wool sales in Europe. It had a list of 400 registered traders or Staplers and Godell was on that list. His will refers not only to his sheep, but also to ‘all my wools in Calais’.

He was a considerable property owner – he mentions not only his houses at the Town’s end, but also ‘my house at Wood’s End’ and ‘my house called Skylmans, a house called Ordymers and various other tenements’. Ordeymers we don’t know, but the marshes west of the Carnsey Road are still called the Woods End marshes and we still have Skilman’s Hill. He had horses and cattle too, as well as land to pasture them or grow their fodder referring in his will to ‘all my corn growing in Southwold and Reydon’.

Very rich, then, and very useful to a king like Henry VII who was strapped for cash. Rich men, though, usually want something in return and it would have been useful to Godell, whose boats used the Harbour, to be freed from paying taxes to Dunwich. Godell and Bishop are known to have gone to London in 1485 and 1487 in connection with the provisioning of the King’s ships and it does not require a huge stretch of the imagination to see him easing the passage of the Charter which freed Southwold boats from paying harbour dues. He benefited, of course, but the whole town did too.

We probably have Godell to thank, then, at least in part, for the Charter, but what of the bequest itself? Godell’s first instructions to his executors relate to his spiritual well being. They had to arrange for priests to sing for his soul in Rome and here in St Edmunds for 16 years, and, to pay for that, they were told to sell ships and wool, land and cattle. Godell’s next concern was his wife, Margaret. Provided that she, too, paid for a priest to sing here for 16 years, she was to be granted their main residence, Skylmans, the 400 sheep, all his corn growing in Southwold and Reydon, all his horses, carts and ploughs. . . and one cow. One cow – as Cllr John Miller said to me, it savours somewhat of Shakespeare leaving his wife his second-best bed.

On the death of Margaret, provided that the bailiffs and commonalty had also arranged for a priest to sing for 16 years, Godell decreed that ‘the said place called Skylmans with all the premises above rehearsed wholly remain to the said Town of Southwold for ever to give and sell’.
‘My place called Skylmans.’ It is generally taken to encompass land to the west of the High Street, the Common and the marshes bounded by Buss Creek. As the will allowed, the bailiffs and commonalty did sell some of the land to support the community and to allow the town to grow, but most of it was retained and used almost exclusively for pasture. Gradually, during the 20th century, whilst the marshes continued to be used for pasture as they are to this day, the Common became used increasingly for more recreational pursuits. In different ways, Godell’s bequest continues to meet the needs of Southwold’s inhabitants and provide the green spaces circling the town. Godell was not, of course, being solely philanthropic. He was a man of his age, and he believed not only that there was a Heaven, but also that there was a Hell. He was a successful businessman and successful businessmen have been known to cut corners. In drawing up his will, his first concern was the safe passage of his soul to God. Perhaps he was worried that he had cut too many corners. Perhaps the then vicar of Southwold, Sir Thomas Lane, who is listed on the board of Perpetual Curates over there and to whom Godell refers by name, took him to one side and said, ‘Now look, William, you’ve not been a bad man, but just to make sure. . .’. And so not only did he have priests sing for 16-year stretches for his soul, but he also left money to St Edmunds, to friaries, to a nunnery at Bruiseyard and to the churches at Reydon, Wangford, Uggeshall, Stoven, Brampton, Redisham, Frostenden, South Cove, Wrentham, Covehithe, Benacre, Blythburgh, Wenhaston, Kessingland, Walberswick, Blyford, Holton, Westhall and Sotherton. And, just in case that didn’t cover it, he left almost everything else to this town.

It is good that Godell was here and it is good for us to be here to commemorate and thank him. That the bequest was in part self-serving does not lessen its value. Let us hope that Godell was as blessed as he hoped to be because his gift to the town has certainly blessed all those subsequently who have had the privilege to enjoy it.

Southwold’s Beating the Bounds is back
This ancient custom, which was last carried out in 2000 to mark the Millennium Year, will take place on Friday, 26th June.

The custom in Southwold dates from 1836 and involves walking north and south of the town and pausing at several landmark stones in order to fix the knowledge of the boundaries in people’s heads. Traditionally, children taking part would be beaten on their bottoms by sticks – although certainly today with less vigour!

Beating the Bounds this year is linked with events to mark the 500th anniversary of William Godell’s bequest to the town and it will start at the William Godell Rock on Nursemaids Green.
The two groups – one led by the Town Mayor, Cllr Sue Doy, who will take the part by rowing boat over to Walberswick – will set off at 5 pm for the walk which could take up to an hour-and-a-half.

The finishing point will be the William Godell Sports Pavilion on the Common, where a barbecue and refreshments will be provided.

Residents are welcome to join in Beating the Bounds.
Cllr John Miller

Southwold Museum highly commended in national excellence awards

At a prestigious dinner and ceremony at Church House, Westminster on 13th May, the Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence were made.

These are judged annually for the whole of the United Kingdom in 12 different categories. They receive many hundreds of submissions from all kinds of museums ranging from the major national to the small local.
In the Permanent Category, Southwold Museum was highly commended for its modernisation project, which the judges described as ‘. . . an excellent case study for a small museum that just gets it absolutely right. . .’.

This was the only ‘highly commended’ award in this category and beat off competition from such museums as National Museums Liverpool, the Royal Institution, Stockwood Discovery Centre, the Wedgewood Museum and Ballymena Civic Centre.

This was recognition of the hard work, flair, vision and commitment which has gone into the Museum to give it a future fit for the 21st century and ensure that it continues to tell the real story of Southwold in a lively and interesting way for all ages of visitor.

The companies involved, Duncans of Southwold Ltd (construction) and Setout llp of Banbury (exhibition design and fit out), together with all the volunteers, can be justifiably proud of what has been achieved.

More about those tankers

Cllr Simon Tobin has asked that the below letter he has received be included in the next issue of the Organ, as many people have been concerned about the seven tankers seen in the distance from Southwold seafront:

‘Dear Simon,
‘Ship to ship transfers of oil (bunker fuel and cargo) have been occurring at two main sites within UK territorial waters and have been successfully managed by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCGA) for a number of years, despite there being no relevant legislation to control them as yet. The sites concerned are within the UK 12-mile territorial limits (generally at seven to eight miles) off Southwold, Suffolk and Lyme Bay, Dorset. Both these sites offer relative shelter from prevailing winds together with water deep enough to accommodate oil tankers of a size and draught which precludes their carrying out such operations within the confines of a harbour. Current legislation exists (ie the Merchant Shipping (OPRC) Regulations 1998) to regulate and safeguard transfers within UK harbours and draft regulations (ie the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2008), based upon successful good practice so far, are currently in the post-consultation analysis phase. Full details can be found on the following MCGA website link: www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/shipsandcargoes/consultations/mcga-currentconsultations/consultations-sts.htm.

‘I have found that the “Draft Impact Assessment” document (pages 1 and 3–10 especially) is most useful in explaining the background to this process.

‘Further information can be obtained from the MCGA as indicated on the relevant web page.
On average, there is approximately one ship-to-ship transfer event off Southwold per week, although each may involve several ships and take up to three or four days to complete. Every one is managed and monitored by Gt Yarmouth Coastguard who notify shore-based response agencies, including District Councils, up to 72 hours in advance. There has been no problem with any of these properly supervised transfers, either at Southwold or Lyme Bay, over the last ten years or so.

Taking a positive perspective, I would suggest that it is safer and preferable to have supervised or regulated operations at agreed sites rather than unsupervised and unregulated ones at random and unknown locations along the coastline.

‘I hope this helps.
‘Mike Topliss, District Emergency Planning Officer, Suffolk East’

Sweating for a good cause

On Saturday, 13th June, members of the St Felix Gym will be involved in a 12-hour sponsored cycle ride and run. The aim is to keep the gym exercise cycle and treadmill going from 8 am to 8 pm, with members taking it in turns throughout the day for a minimum of 15 minutes. Half the funds raised will go to new equipment for the gym, the other half to a community project, which this year will be for the Southwold Town Sign. Councillors Melanie Tucker and Simon Tobin will be among those participating. The Town Mayor, Cllr Sue Doy, will open the event at 10 am. Please give this your support as it is for a good cause. Good luck to all!

A gym on your doorstep
How is this possible without having to travel much further afield? Answer: because St Felix’s Health and Fitness Centre has a fully equipped gymnasium. And that is not all, the Centre also has two squash courts. The range of facilities means it can offer personal training, squash and badminton as a result. It is open all year round to the general public.

The gym is open 7 am–9 am and 5 pm–10 pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 7 am–9 am and 5 pm–8 pm Wednesdays; 5 pm–10 pm Fridays; and 9 am–3 pm Saturdays. The squash courts are available during the Fitness Suite opening hours. There is badminton coaching on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and an adult badminton club on Wednesday evening.
Jo Copestake-Cox manages the Centre. She is an ex-England Badminton international, and a fully qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer with over ten years’ experience. She uses her expertise to provide a wide range of tailor-made programmes to meet members’ needs and goals (ie losing weight, toning up, building up or training for a specific sport), whatever their age or fitness level.

She also runs a NHS doctor referral scheme – patients referred by their doctor are helped by her to get back to better health. For more information, ask at your local GP surgery.
Weekly passes are also available that allow unlimited use of the fitness suite and squash, which are suitable for holidaymakers.

Special offer for non-members
If you join before 30th June 2009, there will be a 10% discount on your initial fees and training tickets. There are no monthly contracts and each workout will cost no more than £3.50. Call 07834 838120 to book your induction.

For more information, call 07834 838120 or 01502 727018.

Can you help?

• Sometime between mid March and mid April a fishing boat at Southwold Harbour was vandalised. It was an unusual crime because the offender drained away the engine oil. At the time, the boat was out of the water. It was put into the water for a test run and the engine and gearbox suffered damage which could cost as much as £5,000 to repair. Enquiries made indicate that the engine oil was deliberately drained away and this did not happen accidentally. If anyone has any information about this crime, could they contact staff at Southwold Police Station on 01986 835300.

• Vandalism of the fence outside the Scout Hut in Mights Road – it is believed that, during the evening of Sunday 3rd May or the early hours of Monday 4th May, offender(s) kicked the panels to the fence. Six panels were kicked over and, unfortunately, three were broken. The cost of repair is approximately £50, which is money that the Scout Group would have liked to put to better use. If you have any information about this crime – perhaps you saw it happen or have since heard who did it – please contact Police Constable Chris Sadler at Southwold Police Station on 01986 835300. Ask to be put through to his radio.
PC Chris Sadler

Community Emergency Group for Southwold and Reydon

‘EMERGENCY – anything which endangers or threatens the well-being of people and the environment, or requires the implementation of special arrangements by one or more of the emergency services, the NHS or the local authority.’

National government set out to enhance and update the resilience of the UK to the disruptive challenges of the 21st century by formulating the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This legislation provides a single framework for civil protection. At a local level, all parish and town councils are encouraged to prepare for dealing with an emergency or loss of services.

During the last year, Simon Tobin, a Waveney District Councillor, has been working at forming a working group to prepare an EMERGENCY STRATEGY PLAN for Southwold and Reydon. The COMMUNITY EMERGENCY GROUP consists of members of the community working at putting plans in place to give advice on how to prepare ourselves in the event of an emergency. The Plan will focus specifically on the safety and welfare of the residents in the immediate aftermath of an emergency and on assisting the emergency and utility services, and the Environment Agency. When the document is completed, it will be circulated to all relevant bodies and copies will be held at the Library and in the Town Hall.

In this area, we are all very aware of the effects of severe weather and other incidents where our communities are subject to loss of power, damage to personal property, personal stress and loss of life. The purpose of this document and the Community Emergency Group is to be as prepared as we can be to reduce as far as possible the level of destruction caused and to make sure local residents have a place of safety to go to in the immediate aftermath of an event.

EMERGENCY RECEPTION CENTRES
An Emergency Reception Centre is a temporary rest shelter for those who have been moved out of their home due to an emergency, such as flooding, fire or explosion risk.

The proposed Emergency Reception Centres in our community are:
ST EDMUND’S HALL, Cumberland Road, Southwold
UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, High Street, Southwold
STELLA PESKETT MILLENNIUM HALL, Mights Road, Southwold
METHODIST HALL, East Green, Southwold
SPORTS PAVILION, The Common, Southwold
REYDON VILLAGE HALL, Lowestoft Road, Reydon.

• Centres will be manned by volunteers who will take a register of people coming into the Centre (for the Police to answer enquiries about missing relatives, etc).
• Refreshments will be provided.
• Help will be given with health problems, clothing, pet care, welfare and comfort.
• Information from the Emergency Services will be updated regularly at these Centres.

EMERGENCY SERVICES
If an emergency occurs in our community, it may take some time before external emergency services can arrive or they may be prevented from access (eg an incident on Mights Bridge).
The Community Emergency Group (CEG) will support the emergency services by providing a safe place for members of the community to shelter until such help can reach them.
The Police Force’s priority is the saving and protection of life, and to safeguard evidence at the scene for subsequent investigation.

The Fire Service’s primary role is rescue of people trapped by fire, wreckage or debris. They deal with chemicals and contaminants and exclusion zones.
The Ambulance Service does all it can to sustain life through effective emergency treatment at the scene and co-ordinates the NHS response.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN AN EMERGENCY
• The Police will generally recommend whether or not to evacuate and they will define the area of evacuation after taking advice from the Fire and Rescue Services. The CEG will be alerted and assist as necessary.
• If you are asked to leave your home, please go to an Emergency Reception Centre, where you will be looked after. Please take any medication you need with you.
• If you require assistance to leave your home to get to a Centre, please contact 07766 366609 or 07508 039404
• Do not let people without official identification into your house and keep your valuables safe.
• Do keep your radio tuned to the local radio station – updates will be broadcast continually.
You will be contacted in due course with an Emergency Questionnaire
Finally, please do not lose sleep about this. Such an emergency may never happen. We are simply trying to cover all eventualities.

If you have any worries, please contact Simon Tobin on 07766 366609 or 01502 725153.
If you are interested in contributing to your community come along to our next meeting on Wednesday, 17th June 2009, at 7.30 pm at the Randolph Hotel, Reydon. You will be made most welcome.

If you are unable to help physically, would you consider sponsoring a safety box, of which CEG requires ten strategically placed around Reydon and Southwold? These boxes will be kept safely in the halls in the case of emergency, but they will be invaluable if required.

Join the festivities at the Summer Theatre Fete

The Southwold and Aldeburgh Summer Theatre season kicks off on Sunday, 28th June with the opening by Lady Freud of the traditional Walberswick fund-raising fete organised by the Registered Charity Friends of East Suffolk Performing Arts (FESPA). It’s in the fabulous setting of Westons, the Freud family home, whose grounds, barns and paddocks have once again been generously opened up for the occasion.

With its strong emphasis on family entertainment, this has always been more than just another summer fete and, this year, the organisers are hoping to have even more on offer – with a visit by the brilliant Lowestoft Signing Choir, a youth brass band, the fete’s much-loved ‘trademark’ clowns, Beato and Uncle Fred, and other surprises. For children, there’s masses to do, from games to face painting, crafts and lucky dip, a bouncy castle and rides on the ponies supervised by Westons’ own experienced stable staff. . . plus the big finale of the Children’s Dog Show.
The fete is famous for its superb cake shop and excellent teas. This year, strawberries and cream are on the menu!

Other perennially popular attractions are the Pictures and Paintings Gallery, Book Browsery, Garden Centre and a lucky draw to beat them all.

This is FESPA’s biggest fund-raising event of the year. Proceeds go not only to subsidising the Summer Theatres, particularly the children’s shows and lunchtime performances, but also to encouraging the development of the performing arts generally throughout the East Suffolk area. The charity awards a number of bursaries each year to local young people embarking on courses in the performing arts, as well as sponsoring local theatre initiatives.

The Westons gate opens at 1 pm for a 1.30 pm official opening. It closes at 4.30 pm. Entry on foot is 50p. There is on-site parking at £3 for the day, which includes fete entry for all car occupants. Early comers may park their cars in the grounds from 11 am.

Pictures are from the 2008 Theatre Fete

The Festival of the Sea comes to Southwold

For the first time in its 25-year history, the Festival of the Sea is to be held on Southwold Pier. Organisers of the three-day event in June, which, at its previous location in Lowestoft, saw crowds of up to 12,000, see the Pier as an ideal location for the family festival.

From Friday, 19th June, the stage will be set for a celebration of the sea, including ‘World of Fish’ stalls, lessons in filleting and expert talks on the UK fishing industry.

Attractions at the Festival, in aid of the Fishermen’s Mission, will also include coastal trips, an RNLI demonstration and a race by Southwold Yacht Club – there will even be a Sunday service on the Pier.

Southwold Pier MD Stephen Bournes said: ‘The Festival of the Sea will be a celebration of everything that’s great about the region. It promises to be a wonderful three day event with something for all the family.’

Children can enjoy beach trails, where they can learn more about wildlife, join in competitions – and there’s even Caron Cantor’s children’s variety show to enjoy on Friday evening.
A full programme will include music hall entertainment from variety act Kenny Cantor and live music from the Capstan Full-Strength Shanty Band.

The Fishermen’s Mission was founded in Gorleston in 1881 and is now a national charity. Patron Rick Stein said: ‘Working as a fisherman is a dangerous and lonely job that very few people comprehend. The Fishermen’s Mission makes sure it knows the hardship fishermen and their families face and therefore exactly how to help them’.

The Mission provides much-needed support, care and compassion to working, retired and injured fisherman and their families. It is funded completely by contributions.
For full details, visit www.suffolkcoast-festivalofthesea.co.uk.

Local businesses bare all ‘AGAIN’ for Christmas Lights

Further to the huge success of the 2008 charity calendar, ‘Not alot on in Southwold and Reydon’, which raised £3,200 for local charities, Georgie Hammett, one of the members from the newly formed Southwold Christmas Lights Committee, has been in discussions with Kerry Wilmot and a new calendar for 2010 is now in the making.

Eleven local businesses made almost instant decisions to be part of the new fund-raising mission with a surprise in store for December! And this time, it’s both the men and ladies taking part. The calendars will be on sale in our shops from the first week of July.

All proceeds will be for the 2009 Christmas Lights Fund and it is hoped sales will exceed numbers reached by the previous calendar. Local businesses and services are invited to contact the Christmas Lights Committee or Kerry Wilmot on 07990 753698 by 10th June if they wish to advertise in the calendar and help raise the much-needed funding required to provide a magical Christmas Lights display this year.

Kerry Wilmot

Popular photographer returns to Southwold

‘Good news. . . Brilliant. . . We are so pleased. . . A real asset to the Town’. These are the heartfelt comments received from many local residents and businesses of Southwold.

Just walking through the town has been such a pleasure for photographer Nick Catling, who, following such a warm welcome and numerous requests, has decided to relocate his photography profession and settle back to this amiable town.

Nick is delighted to offer an extensive array of bespoke services, specialising in reportage-style black-and-white wedding photography, contemporary portraiture held at the studio or on location, and landscape and commercial photography. Plus, unique to the area, he offers photography courses held along the Southwold and Walberswick coastline; these workshops are available for half- or full-day sessions. In addition, and to enhance the learning experience, an informative boat trip combined with Nick’s expert photography tuition is available.

Nick is looking forward to re-acquainting himself with his past customers and meeting new ones. His much-admired award-winning images are available to purchase and exhibitions will be hosted within the town.

Please feel free to ring the studios for a chat, advice or, alternatively, to book any of the above choices on 01502 722880, e-mail nickcatling@btconnect.co.uk or view the website at www.nickcatling.co.uk.

Blyth Valley Community Radio news

Launch day is on its way
Exciting news – we now have, provisionally, details of our frequency and launch date. However, OFCOM had informed us that all is subject to change, so please bear in mind we may be giving different details in our next update! However, it is certain that we will be on the air in the next few months. We would like to extend thanks to all our supporters, broadcasters, sponsors and advertisers; we could not have done it without you all!

A new frequency to tune in to!
Currently, we have been told that our frequency will be 105 FM. We are hoping this will not be changed, since we think ‘The Blyth on 105’ sounds very catchy! OFCOM permitting, we are due to start test broadcasts mid June and have provisionally planned the official launch day for 4th July. Get ready to re-tune your radios!!

Test transmissions
Test transmissions will consist of a random mix of music interspersed with short announcements, and anyone can tune in. This will not be particularly indicative of our normal output – regular listeners will know what a varied range of programmes we have – but it will help OFCOM and ourselves to check that we are broadcasting efficiently and not interfering with any other frequencies. We have been awarded 25 watts of power, which, all being well, should allow us to reach all parts of the Blyth Valley and possibly a little further. Our transmitter will be at St Felix School, close to the studio. If you are interested in the technical side of things, please do contact us and our technical experts will give you more information.

Your community – your station
Once on FM, we will be reached by many more local people. So. . . what do YOU want to hear? What can we offer that other radio stations can’t? We aim to provide a voice for the whole community and wish to represent as many local groups, individuals, talents and opinions as we can. Might one of them be yours?

Always happy to hear from you!
Please feel free to contact us if you have any views, requests or suggestions, or would like to get involved with the station, advertise or become a sponsor or simply visit the studio and see what goes on! We have an answerphone in the studio, so you can leave a message or e-mail us any time.

Finding out more
Contact us at: The Bunker, St Felix School, Halesworth Road, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6SD, tel: 01502 723900, e-mail: studio@bvcr.co.uk, web: www.blythvalleycommunityradio.co.uk.

Weekly programme schedule

Monday
12.00 pm Sylvie’s Snippets, including birthdays, children’s story and local interviews – sponsored by the Pit Stop Café, Southwold
2.30 pm The Big Band Show with Muriel
3.00 pm Music with Alan
5.00 pm Station close

Tuesday
12.00 pm The Lee Johnson Show
2.00 pm Classical music
3.00 pm The News and What’s On
3.05 pm Jazz programme
4.00 pm Poetry with Oonagh
4.30 pm The Steve Moyse Show – sponsored by the Angel Inn, Wangford
6.30 pm Station close

Wednesday
12.00 pm Listen Again with Sylvie
1.00 pm The Country Show with Bill
3.00 pm Sue’s Sandwich – sponsored by the Red Lion, Southwold
5.00 pm Station close

Thursday
12.00 pm Caledonian Connections with Neville
2.00 pm Local History Tales with Alan and John
2.30 pm Oonagh’s Tales from Argentina
3.00 pm Sidi Scott Entertains
4.00 pm Music and chat with Theresa
5.00 pm Station close

Friday
12.00 pm Music with Norman
1.00 pm The Ed Darragh Show
3.00 pm Children’s story by Oonagh and Amanda – sponsored by St Felix School
3.15 pm Winston’s Salsa Show
4.00 pm Benson's Bit with Peter
5.00 pm Station close

Saturday
12.00 pm New Music with various presenters
2.00 pm The Vince Steger Show
4.00 pm Station close

Sunday
12.00 pm Bill’s Music Collection
3.00 pm Big Al’s Country Show
5.00 pm Station close

Reasons for amateur artists in Suffolk to be cheerful. . .

For the first time in Suffolk, a new gallery is offering amateur artists not only the opportunity to hone their skills under the expert tuition of a top local painter. . . but also the chance to have their paintings exhibited and possibly sold alongside the work of recognised professional artists.

The Westleton Gallery was once the village Co-op, but has now been lovingly transformed into a modern, airy and bright space where artists will be inspired and visitors will be relaxed while they view artwork mirroring the surroundings of the Heritage Coast.

While news stories are currently all about shop and pub closures in the county, this enterprising idea breathes new life into a village community resource and creates Westleton’s first-ever official gallery.

Pupils will study under the guidance of Suffolk painter Christopher Humphries who knows just how important it is to have an inspirational and flamboyant teacher.

Christopher’s art mentor was the musician and zany celebrity Ian Dury.

Chrisopher grew up in Australia and studied illustration at a Bedfordshire art college where he studied art under Ian Dury (of Blockheads fame) in the days before he recorded hits such as ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ and ‘Reasons To Be Cheerful’.

Christopher said: ‘I am really looking forward to teaching art students at this wonderful new gallery set in the beautiful village of Westleton. I want artists to be inspired by their surroundings and to develop their skills in small and friendly classes. I enjoy teaching in acrylics, oils and watercolours. It will be an exciting adventure for me and for them and some of the best work will be put on display. We think that’s a first for Suffolk.’

Ian Dury was in 30s when his path crossed with Christopher’s. Later Dury would update Christopher on his soon-to-explode music career.

‘It was great fun. He would tell stories about his antics and would dress up in different costumes. He was very talented.’

Later, he met Mick Jagger and other famous pop stars while working for Decca Records in London, but Suffolk, and in particular its big skies and light, was too much of an allure.
‘I wanted the space to move into the serious side of painting and I love inspiring amateur artists to challenge themselves.’

Christopher lives in Yoxford.

The Westleton Gallery opened on 1st May.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside…

Gallery Thea’s hand-painted ceramic designs capture the nostalgic mood of an old-fashioned seaside holiday in Britain. Depicting traditional beach activities such as rock-pooling and crab fishing, Thea Cutting’s designs have a bright and uplifting feel.

And best of all, items can be personalised with a name or message. This makes for a truly individual, one-off item and a fantastically thoughtful gift.

The nursery mugs (shown above) can be commissioned for £15.

Other favourite nautical designs portray ice-cream-coloured beach huts for which Southwold is famous.

For more details, phone Thea on 01502 722 433 or 07879 402207 or e-mail info@gallerythea.co.uk, or order online at www.gallerythea.co.uk.