June 2010

Reports

Razzle Dazzle dazzled

Performance of Razzle Dazzle by Cantor’s Theatre Schools at St Edmunds Hall, Southwold on 24th and 25th April 2010.

Opening to a packed house, the buzz was really high as the audience streamed in and took their seats. The lights dimmed and the overture struck up with that great piece of music ‘Razzle Dazzle’ – the house tabs opened to reveal around 24 young people singing and dancing their way through all the ‘roof’ songs – ‘Up on the Roof’, ‘Chim Chiminey’, ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’ etc. All in all, there were 80-odd young people on stage, although not all at once, but it was so quickfire with different groups that it took the breath away. The audience were so enthusiastic. On came another group who did a ‘swing’ version of the Petula Clark’s song ‘Downtown’. The Red Team did their version of ‘Reach for the Gun’ and, to be honest, it was tremendous; they all excelled themselves, which was reflected in the reaction of the audience. The organisation with over 140 students is, as one may imagine, so very disciplined and precise that it has to be like clockwork, otherwise it would be an absolute nightmare.

The next segment was devoted to the ‘littlies’ three year olds with hairy scary spider, leading into the next age group up with the ‘Addams Family’ with ghosts, spiders, ghouls – the audience had not taken a breath yet! Quickly followed by students singing and dancing their way through so many diversely different songs and scenarios until it came to our own ‘Billy Elliott’ Max James. He stole the first half with his ‘electricity’

The interval was a well-earned rest for the audience who all trouped out to the bar saying things like, ‘how can they top that?’. Well, they most certainly did, with Shani Cantor singing ‘All that Jazz’ – brought the house down. The Adult Team with Michael Davis did a very funny bit fully of ingenuity about girls’ names and the place went absolutely wild. So, all in all, it was an excellent evening, culminating in Shani’s Singing Academy presenting their award-winning choral ensemble with the final rendering of ‘Amazing Grace’ – not a dry eye in the house and a standing ovation. What more can be said? And they say variety is dead, well not in this instance. It is well and truly alive and living at Cantor’s Theatre Schools. You cannot beat it.

Kenny Cantor

(The accompanying photos were very kindly supplied by Cantor’s Theatre Schools.)

Southwold and Reydon Society

At a time when Waveney District Council (WDC) is submitting aspects of its Local Development Plan Framework to the Secretary of State for independent examination by a Planning Inspector, the Society has received a response from Go-East, the government office for the east of England, following a letter that was sent to the Secretary of State concerning Waveney’s decision to approve the planning application for the development of Southwold Pier.

The thrust of the Society’s argument was not that it objected to change per se, but rather that the scale of the development will be inappropriate for the town and that the decision to grant permission flew in the face of local opinion, which, to a woman and man, appeared to be united in its objections to the scheme.

One could, perhaps, have anticipated the response. The District Council’s Development Control Committee, after due diligence, had approved the application last December and issued a decision letter to the applicant by way of a Christmas present, a week later. This established, ‘there is no set procedure by which the Secretary of State can now intervene’.

There would, presumably, be recourse to legal processes, but the cost of this would preclude all but the wealthiest in the land and a clear democratic process has been progressed. Well it has but somewhat dependent on one’s understanding of the word ‘democratic’ and its operation.

The Society’s view is, and always has been, that local knowledge informs and that local opinion should define the actions of legislators when it is based clearly on common sense and pragmatism. This, in turn, is reflected in the Society’s Planning Manifesto, a working document that was published last November and circulated to 360 Members; copies are now more widely available and may be obtained by sending an e-mail request to the Society.

Returning to WDC’s Strategic Planning Consultations, to which the Society has contributed in some detail, all comments should have been available online from the end of May. Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.consult.waveney.gov.uk and there will be a public hearing on the proposals; this anticipated in October 2010.

Ian R Bradbury, Hon Secretary (e-mail: southwoldandreydonsociety@gmail.com)

The May Whist Drive had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. However, we wish people who were ill and unable to attend a speedy recovery. I hope to see us back to normal at our June Whist Drive on the 3rd.

Mrs Mary Edwards

Quiz Night at the Randolph April 2010

The final quiz of the season was very well attended, with seven teams competing to have their names on the trophy for the whole of the summer until we start later on again this year. Questions were compiled thanks to our resident quiz mistress Mrs Jackie Martin and included Food and Drink, Pot Luck, According to Callum (Palmer), Picture round, Stage and Screen and, finally, Science and Technology.

And the winners were. . . Shaneless with 118¹/₂ points, beating Quizzy Rascals by just 2 ¹/₂ points, but enough to see their names on the trophy for the second summer season. My congratulations to them.

On the night, £219 was raised, which is all being donated to the Voluntary Help Centre (VHC).

This brings our charitable quiz total this season to a massive £1,851. This really is a phenomenal amount of money to be raised from our fun quizzes and special thanks must go to Jackie for organising the quizzes, her husband Colin for his patience, Barrie Remblance for keeping the scores, Nick and Amanda for giving Jackie a break, and the Randolph chefs for providing the buffet every month out of their budgets! Finally, a huge thank you to the quiz teams who have contributed their £5 in the name of fun each month. Nicky Wright organised a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the Quizzers to thank Jackie and we add our personal thanks as well.

Donations this season

October 2009: £250 – Worlingham Middle School

November 2009: £260 – Southwold and Reydon First Responders

December 2009: £186 Reydon Churchyard Appeal

January 2010: £483 – Jo Woolnough and Amanda Humphrey (London Marathon)

February 2010: £244 – Southwold Scout Group

March 2010: £209 – St John’s Housing Trust, Lowestoft

April 2010: £219 – Southwold Voluntary Help Centre (VHC)

David and Donna, The Randolph

Royal British Legion Wenhaston and District Branch report

Meeting opened with exhortation and silent tribute.

Chairman John Levey welcomed everyone to the meeting, and minutes were read, approved and signed,

Matters arising were dealt with. The County Newsletter was passed round. Also accounts from national.

Financial statement: £590 General Fund, £792 Benevolent Fund.

Twenty quizzes from county have been sold, and county raffle tickets also sold.

We were told at the group meeting the County Chairman had resigned. We have a new County Secretary, but, at time of writing, no County Treasurer. Four of our branch attended the group meeting at Halesworth.

The Poppy Appeal Conference held at Warwick University was attended by the Group Secretary. He said it was well worthwhile. He explained the reason why they spend money on the publicity to gain so much more back these days.

We sent a nomination for County Vice Chairman from the Beccles Branch, proposed by Lowestoft and seconded by Wenhaston.

Caseworkers were told to check if they were asked to fill in Home Shield Plus forms that they had not already been filled in by another organisation to save duplication.

We are having a Fun Day on Saturday, 3rd July, 12 pm to 4 pm, at Brook Farm, Wenhaston by kind permission of our President Marjory Onyett, in aid of the RBL Benevolent Fund. There will be a licensed bar, barbecue, tombola, books, golf game, bowling, brick-a-brac, teas and coffees etc.

We hope the village and surrounding area will support us for this very good cause. No charge for entrance, but there will be a bucket collection.

We floated the idea about having meetings in the afternoon in the winter.

Dates for the diaries

Suffolk Show Standards Parade: Wednesday, 2nd June.

County Rally: Sunday, 11th July at Woodbridge.

County Standard Bearers Competition: Saturday, 11th September, 9.30 am at Needham Market.

Next branch meeting at Star Inn: Monday, 21st June, 7.30 pm.

Sue Doy

Seven years of fun

STOMP Pre-school Music and Movement Group has just celebrated seven years of fun this week. Each session lasts about 35 minutes and involves artistically conceived songs, rhythms and movement activities, which include mime, dance and singing. STOMP also uses a small amount of Makaton sign language, which helps parents and carers to communicate with babies and children from a very early age; also, it has shown to be very benefical for children with special needs including Down’s Syndrome. There are two sessions a week on a Monday, one at 9.30 am and the other 10.30 am. They are held at the United Reformed Church Hall, High Street, Southwold, and cost just £4.00 for both parent and child, refreshments are included. Great fun for all and an excellent way of introducing your child to the joys of music. For further details, contact STOMP on 07960 006479.

We thank Geoffrey Munn for the brilliant talk he gave on this most extraordinary jeweller. We were impressed with not just the goldsmith’s skill, the originality of the designs and the wonderful colours of the enamelling, but also the amazing variety of the items Fabergé produced, and the slides and talk illuminated all of those qualities.

Everyone who spoke to me after the talk, on 8th May, said how much they had enjoyed the afternoon and how glad they were to have got tickets, for we were truly sold out; people had come from Diss, Aldeburgh and London. We are delighted that the result of the whole afternoon, including the tickets, raffle and donations, for us to send up to our HQ in Bury St Edmunds is £1,000. This money will be used for the services we provide in Suffolk. We are so very grateful to everyone who helped or contributed in any way to the success of the afternoon on Red Cross Day.

Here in Southwold & District Red Cross, our three main services are medical loans, therapeutic care and care in the home, including Home from Hospital. Now we are looking for volunteers to help especially with our medical loans service. The other ML outlets are in Woodbridge and Gorleston, so you can see that our Centre in Gardner Road is much in demand. Please, if you have an hour you could give regularly, phone 01502 723526 and Pat will give you more details. This is a very valuable service for a wide local community and for many holiday makers who borrow our equipment instead of having to fill the car boot or, alternatively, get no holiday at all.

Christine Fells