December 2011

Reports

Southwold and Reydon Society

The Society has been a firm supporter in principle of the proposed new health centre in Reydon. Our last open meeting on this was held in Reydon in April 2010, following our AGM, and we are pleased that a further meeting has now been arranged.

The Society, in conjunction with NHS Norfolk and Waveney, is holding a public meeting at St Edmund’s Church Hall on Thursday, 5th January at 6 pm. The event will launch a three-month engagement programme allowing local people to find out more about the plans for the new ‘Healthy Living Centre’ in Reydon, and all are welcome.

There will be a panel of speakers, which we hope will include:

• Andrew Morgan, Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney
• Dr Andrew Eastaugh, Southwold Surgery
• Dr John Stammers, Chairman, Health East
• Kate Gill, Director of Operations, Health East CIC
• Sean Perry, Capital Estates Project Manager, NHS Norfolk and Waveney
• Jeremy O’Rourke, LSI Architects.

During the meeting, there will be an opportunity to ask the panel questions about the proposals. These can be asked on the night or can be sent in advance, either to our website (www.southwoldandreydonsoc.org.uk) or to me (telephone 725104, e-mail jps17@btinternet.com) and I will pass them on.

For further details about the engagement programme, please contact Natalie Williams, NHS Norfolk and Waveney on 01502 719582.

Housing in Southwold has also been making the headlines recently with claims an ‘affordable home’ in Tibby’s Triangle intended for local people who could not afford a house of their own was bought on a shared-ownership basis for £180,000 and then put on the open market for £500,000.

The matter was raised by local councillor Simon Tobin, and reported on BBC radio and in The Daily Telegraph. The Society has taken up the matter with the Flagship Housing Association asking what restrictions they put in place to prevent the homes being sold off to the highest bidder or to ‘outsiders’.

In its answer, Flagship has admitted that it and Waveney Council agreed not to impose any restrictions because of the recession in the housing market. There are nine other affordable homes in Tibby’s Triangle, all of which technically could now go the same way!

Ironically, the Society has just completed a comprehensive report on housing in Southwold and Reydon, which, among other things, reveals there is shortage of social housing and that that second/holiday homes could shortly account for almost half of all homes in Southwold. Copies of the report can be downloaded from the Society’s website or by phoning the Secretary John Perkins on 07850 958215.

Finally, we are keeping an eye on the situation in Reydon, where owners of houses at Easton Bavents, which are threatened with coastal erosion, may be offered green-belt land on which to build new homes

John Stewart, Chairman

Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in Southwold and Reydon

The annual Poppy Appeal collection in Southwold and Reydon broke yet another record this year. Over £9,500 has been raised by a team of loyal and dedicated collectors who go out whatever the weather selling poppies house to house and in the street. We are also extremely grateful to the many shops and businesses in Southwold and Reydon which have a supported us by having a collecting tin on their premises. St Edmund’s Church in Southwold and St Margaret’s Church in Reydon donate the collection at the Remembrance Service, with many people using gift aid to donate their collection, which gives a further amount to the Appeal.

We are most grateful to you all and we shall be contacting you again next year!

Jack and Ann Robins, honorary Poppy Appeal organisers

‘Palm Court Tea’ in aid of Help for Heroes

A grand total of £1,460 was raised for Help for Heroes at the Palm Court Tea held in St Edmund’s Hall on Thursday, 17th November 2011.

The event was well attended by 80 people, who enjoyed a tea of sandwiches, scones and a selection of cakes, all generously donated by a group of ladies from Reydon and Southwold, whilst being entertained by a string quartet playing familiar tunes and adding to the atmosphere of the Palm Court Teas of a former age.

Brigadier Johnny Walker OBE, DL was present to give details of how the funds will be used for H4H, and we thank him for giving up his time to come and join us. Thanks should also be given to all those who so generously donated their time and resources to this event, including World of Fish, David’s Monday Market Stall, Robert of Highfield Nurseries, Adnams, Hutsons, and many other local businesses.

Note: Anybody who lost a bracelet whilst attending the Tea should contact Gill Gilbert on 01502 724160.

Purple Poppies

Thank you very much to all who contributed to the Purple Poppy Collection for Animals in War in Southwold on 29th October. £64.36 was raised and the concern to remember the millions of animals which have served, suffered and died in human conflicts was overwhelming. Thank you, too, to Howells and Jolley who kindly had the purple poppies, alongside the red, on the counter and raised £33.49.

The purple poppy can be worn alongside the red poppy to commemorate the animals used as messengers, beasts of burden, for detection, scouting and rescue, and on the front line in war zones. They have their own magnificent Memorial in Park Lane, London, unveiled in 2004, where wreaths are laid at a service on 11th November. An inscription reads, ‘They had no choice’.

Changing of the guard at Southwold Golf Club

Southwold Golf Club, like others around the country, marks its annual change of captaincy with a traditional ‘Drive-in’. For this year’s ceremony, on 19th November, the 18th hole was chosen, affording members a good view of proceedings without straying far from the comfort of the club-house bar!

Incoming Club Captain Alan Bagley was joined for his Drive-in by new Ladies’ Captain Vivien Hunt and Club President Mick Heil. Each was to play three balls on the short par-three hole, with members paying to forecast distance from the hole where each participant’s best shot would finish.

With a good luck omen of beautiful Indian-summer weather, the new captain’s ‘reign’ certainly looked set to fair when he stepped onto the tee-box and launched his first shot onto the green. Moreover, when all had played their three shots the Captain’s first ball was still nearest the pin. Unhappily for him, the rules of the competition specified that, as the ‘ceremonial’ shot, it didn’t count! Club Pro Robin Mann had shown a lamentable lack of confidence in forecasting the Captain’s best effort at between 25 and 27 feet from the pin: if he’d halved that, he’d have been close with the first one, but your correspondent’s grasp of where the others went is somewhat hazy! Viv Hunt brought a touch of dignity to the proceedings with shots well within the scope of the measurer’s tape, without showing up the others. President Mick Heil was nearest, but he’d probably have missed the birdie putt (and the one after that?).

Speaking afterwards in the club-house, where members retired for a buffet lunch, Alan Bagley recalled that the Drive-in tradition began when the Prince of Wales became Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1863. Some clubs still held this as a ‘Captain-only’ event, but, in this day and age, it was appropriate to involve members more widely, Alan felt. Indeed, some clubs include not only the Ladies’ Captain but also Juniors’ (and sometimes Seniors’) Captains in their Drive-in. Expressing enthusiasm for facing the challenges of the year ahead, Alan drew particular attention to Captains’ Year fund-raising activities. His chosen charity would be the Lowestoft-based ‘Thursday Club’, providing support for the mentally handicapped and adults with disabilities and special learning difficulties. Viv Hunt had selected Cancer Research as her charity. The proceeds from forecasting the day’s drive-in results had made a good contribution to these causes, and the new Captain wished all members a successful and enjoyable year’s golf.

Keith May

Left to right: Alan Bagley (Club Captain), Vivien Hunt (Ladies’ Captain) and Mick Heil (Club President)

‘Bus 4 Us’ campaign update

Thank you to everybody who took part in the above campaign.

As mentioned in our last report, a meeting took place with Guy McGregor (Suffolk County Council Portfolio Holder for Passenger Transport). As a result, the ‘Going Green’ project has been drawn up to address the issues raised.

At a subsequent meeting with SCC’s Leader of Passenger Transport, Sally Harper, and the Senior Network Planning Officer, Gemma Deeks, the project was discussed – to look for ways forward for finding solutions to the concerns that have been raised.

This included improving integration between different bus services, and between buses and trains, the timing of buses for students and workers, shopping and social needs, and for hospital appointments.

Promotion of public transport needs to be addressed by working together with SCC and the bus and train service providers.

With funding a major issue, we are investigating other sources to help the situation.

We will continue to provide updates in this publication.

Submitted by the Going Green Partnership, which is dedicated to improving public transport for Halesworth, Southwold, and the Blyth Valley villages.

James Hewett, Vice Chair

Cats Protection (Waveney Branch)

The 11th Christmas Fair in Southwold raised a record £1,876.47 on Saturday, 12th November.

This money will be used to feed and for vet’s bills for cats in our care and for contributions to people on low incomes to have their cats neutered.

Thanks must be given to all who generously contributed and to the loyal band of helpers who manned the stalls.

We are always pleased to receive clothes, books and bric-a-brac for our shop in Beccles.

Lesley Fisher (tel: 01502 724638)

Crick Court Social Club news

Here are the results of the November Whist Drive:

• First: Mrs L Ford and Mrs D White.
• Second: Mrs P Walker and Mrs P Martin.
• Third: Mrs P Hurren and Mrs M Edwards.
• Fourth: Mrs M Doughty and Mrs J Pratley.

Thanks to all who supported us and for the raffle prizes.

Future events:

• 1st December – Whist Drive.
• 14th December – Xmas Lunch Club for Residents and Social Club at 2 pm, followed by a musical evening.
• 21st December – Xmas Bingo.

We all at Crick Court wish all our friends and neighbours a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Mrs Mary Edwards

Durrants Holiday Lettings

Kathleen and her team would like to wish all our owners, tenants, maintenance and cleaning teams a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thinking ahead to next year, why not suggest to family and friends to hire one of our lovely holiday homes or beach chalets and be in Southwold to catch a glimpse of the Olympic Torch as it passes by on Thursday, 5th July 2012?

To be added to our mailing list for our 2012 brochure or any enquires, contact us on 01502 723292 (Option 2).

Lighthouse Ladies Reydon

November’s guest speaker at the Lighthouse Ladies social group was Mischa from the flower shop Foxtail Lily in Southwold.

She chose to demonstrate arrangements with a Christmas theme, using mainly foliage that could be found in a garden or surrounding countryside.

Her first piece was a deceptively simple door wreath which used ivy, holly, evergreen and the vital component, floristry tape. It was finished off with glitzy red and gold twigs and a beautiful red bow made from three different types of material. This took her only 20 minutes, but the result was stunning. She said the ladies could all achieve this. . . mmm – yes.

Her next arrangement was more formal, but equally simple. It used a glass bowl, white gravel, three plants and some moss. Again, the result was amazing. All the time Mischa was working on her creations, she was giving out handy hints and tips about how to be successful when arranging flowers.

The last piece she regaled us with was a beautiful table decoration which relied on a glass vase, chipped glass, some oasis, greenery and small flowers. Mischa kept on insisting that the Ladies would be able to produce arrangements like this and even children should be encouraged to help.

Mischa was certainly an inspiration and, while the Ladies were taking refreshments, she made yet another decoration to be included as a raffle prize along with the door wreath. These were greatly appreciated.

Many questions were asked and Mischa replied in detail to every one.

There is no formal meeting next month, as the Ladies will be holding their Christmas party. So to all readers, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Lighthouse Ladies.

Celia Eldridge

News from Southwold Primary School

November has been a busy month at Southwold Primary School.

On Remembrance Day, the children joined with Southwold Town Council and other local residents to observe the two minutes’ silence at the War Memorial. The children had made their own wreath, which they laid on the War Memorial and it was an honour for them to be able to take part in this solemn occasion.

On Tuesdays, the children go during one of their play times to enjoy the play equipment on Tibby’s Green, and so it was fitting that they were able to join with the Town Mayor and be present at the official opening of the new equipment which they all love playing on.

The children organised and ran a week of lunch-time activities to raise money for Children in Need. They did a fantastic job, and raised £202.61, which is an impressive amount.

The Friends of Southwold Primary School continue to be active in their fundraising, and following the success of our fantastic 1940s Dance Party Night last February, we will be hosting another one on March 10th. Once again this will be in St Edmund’s Hall and tickets are available now from Jennie Jones Estate Agents and Southwold Primary School priced at £8 in advance or £10 on the door. A cash bar will be available along with a fabulous raffle and music will be provided by the Little Swing Band who entertained us so brilliantly last year. It is definitely an evening not to be missed and last year it sold out, so put the date on your calendar and get those tickets booked!

Friends of Southwold Primary School

Scrabble Group

The winner of the November meeting was Alva Semple with a total score over two games of 775 points. Bonus words were SITTING (Miriam Bennett), ROMANCER (Maureen Peake) and OPINING (Elizabeth Arkieson).

The Scrabble Group meets on the first Monday of the month in Reydon Church Room at 2 pm. The next meetings will be on Monday, December 5th and Monday, January 9th (due to the Bank Holiday).

New members welcome. For further information, ring 01502 722483.

Miriam Bennett

Sole Bay Bowls Club

Halesworth Road, Reydon

All indoor leagues are well underway and here are the current leaders of the various leagues:

• Bird League – Ladies’ 3 wood triples – Kestrels
• Football League – Men’s 3 wood triples Division 1 – jointly Sunderland & Norwich Division 2 Cambridge
• Sole Bay League – Mixed 2 rink 3 wood triples – Reydon Gold
• Animal League – Mixed 2 wood Foursomes – Beavers
• Car League – Mixed 4 wood Pairs – Austin
• Aussie Pairs – Mixed 4 wood Pairs – Ayres Rock.

The Junior section of the Club now meets on a Thursday afternoon at 3.30 pm and is becoming quite popular; if you are interested in joining this, then contact Paula as below.

The County Leagues have started, but our results could be better as the ladies are well down in the Joey Taylor League, although we have a match in hand. In the Men’s League, we lost our opening match against Lowestoft Railway by two shots 67–69, a result that might have been reversed with better communications between the away and home teams, and we are yet to play in the Mixed League. Unfortunately, we have also been knocked out of all Cup competitions.

If you are interested in playing bowls (non-members are most welcome) or possibly joining the Bowls Club, then contact Paula Gooch on 01502 722683 or come and see us at Halesworth Road. Games are available for all levels of experience from beginners through local leagues to entries for county competitions. We are joined by members of a number of local outdoor clubs in the winter to play on the indoor arena with many club leagues in the evenings and roll-ups most mornings.

Ray Skitt

Southwold Art Circle

Eve King

Eve was a constant and loyal member of Southwold Art Circle over many years, freely giving her time, knowledge and energy. We shall always remember her outstanding lectures – the memories of people she knew in the world of art and her insight of art history. She will be sadly missed not only by her family, but also by the many people in and around Southwold who had the privilege to meet her and attend her art lectures.

Vincent Austin, Chairman, Southwold Art Circle

Southwold District of the British Red Cross

At the Annual Meeting in November, we welcomed as guest speaker, past President, Lady Somerleyton, three staff, members and friends. We remembered with affection those who have died this year and those who have moved away.

Despite our disapproval and discussions with Head Office the Direct Debit ‘Door to Door’ fundraising is the method which Head Office finds most cost effective and necessary. However, we will continue with local fundraising which we find more appealing and successful.

Lady Somerleyton awarded three members their five-, ten- or 20-year badge. She thanked the Barrett Jenkins Trust for funding the Centre refurbishment and told a little of the services given by the family to the Red Cross from 1910 until 1959. We learned some of Lady Somerleyton’ s Red Cross activities between 1965, when she took charge at Lowestoft, and 1997, when she retired as President for Suffolk. There was constant change throughout these years in the services given, the uniforms, job titles and training, and she said: ‘It has continued to change massively, but it is still a wonderful society of which we are all proud to be members.’

The Area Admin Manager reiterated the thanks to the Barrett Jenkins Trust and gave an overview of recent activities in the East Anglian Area, detailing the last three months when 1,610 volunteers provided services to 10,661 people.

Thanks were given to the medical loans team who work in the Centre four mornings a week. The Gorleston van service has reduced the number of loans from the Centre, but ‘holiday trade’ remains high.

We welcomed our newly trained therapeutic care member and noted the need for more volunteers in this service to provide hand care and massage for those in St Barnabas, Pitches View and Southwold Hospital. The Therapeutic Care Co-ordinator is anxious to help support new volunteers, as money, from the weekly coffee mornings, is available for training. The Home from Hospital Scheme is also short of volunteers to provide care, which includes the administration of eye drops following cataract operations, Lucentis care for those with macular degeneration and regular changing of TED socks. If you are interested in any of these volunteering roles, please contact Christine Fells on 01502 724973.

The Treasurer thanked all who work to raise funds and especially the family of Eve King, who had asked for donations in her memory to made to the Red Cross, as she was a life-long supporter. We are grateful to all the flag day collectors. The first fundraising event of 2012 will be on January 21st, when ‘Company D’ will be performing an afternoon of 40s and 50s songs. There will be a raffle and cake, and it will be in the Cardinal Newman RC Hall. Please ask for tickets (£8) at Daddy Long Legs in the High Street. Open Gardens is planned for Saturday, 16th June. Thanks to eight local owners of lovely gardens.

Please make a note of these dates in your diary and join us.

Southwold Suffolk Wildlife Trust

The Wildlife of Alberta in Canada was the subject of the illustrated talk given in mid November by Derek Moore to a large audience of the Southwold Group of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. He explained that the province had a wide range of habitats ranging from prairie to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, most of which he had visited last year with his son and his family from their home in the city of Calgary. Possibly due to the low population, most birds showed no fear of humans, so he was able to photograph many varied species close up from the car window. The audience enjoyed his many studies of colourful species and everyone was amazed that two kinds of humming bird migrated so far north, both arriving from the south of USA before the snows had melted in spring.

Derek explained that his visit was too early for wild flowers and while he was there very few were out. However, he was extremely fortunate in seeing many different mammals with close up shots of genuinely wild black bear and grey wolf beside the road.

As a former director of the Trust now living in west Wales, Derek Moore has always been a popular and informative speaker, and this wonderful talk was no exception.

There will be no talk in December, so our next meeting will be on Thursday, 12th January, when Matt Gooch will talk about the Suffolk Broads.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust Christmas cards continue to be on sale at Boydens in Reydon, and at the Angling Centre, Pets for All and Cards for Good Causes in Southwold.

Peter Lawson

Southwold and District Tennis Club news

Come along to Southwold & District Tennis Club (Hotson Road, Southwold, IP18 6BS) – despite the winter weather the tennis continues on our courts. Enquiries are welcome from anyone of any age or ability. See our website at www.southwoldtennisclub.org.uk for more details or contact me at mg.sdtc@btinternet.com. You may try up to three club sessions at £3 per time to help you decide if you would like to join us (any £3 fees paid will be refunded from membership fee on joining). Club sessions from now until the end of March are on Sundays from 10 am to 12 noon. Also from now until the end of March, you can take advantage of our reduced price subscriptions.

On 8th November, we held our Annual General Meeting and are pleased to have Matthew Horwood back in the Chair for another season and also to welcome Nigel Brown to the Committee in the position of Honorary Treasurer. Special thanks at this time must go to outgoing Treasurer David Jenkins, who has been an invaluable member of the Committee for many years, also having been Secretary in the past and having played an integral role in all aspects of Club life; from being a keen Club and team player, to maintenance of the courts, buildings and grounds, to fund raising, to gaining charity status for the Club; all this on top of his Committee role. It is without doubt that I can say that the Club would not be where it is now without his tireless work and that the Committee will miss him, but wish him all the best.

Our Licensed LTA Club Coach Mark Websdale can be contacted directly (tel: 07939 526333) for information regarding private or organised coaching sessions. The club runs an extensive junior coaching programme in Lowestoft and Southwold:

• Mini Tennis Red – both sessions indoors (age eight and under) at Kirkley High School Fridays 5.30 pm–6.30pm and St Felix School Saturdays 11 am–12 noon.
• Mini Tennis Orange (age seven to ten) – Kirkley High School Wednesdays 6 pm–7pm and Southwold 1.30 pm–2.30 pm.
• Mini Tennis Green (age ten to 11) – Kirkley High School Wednesdays 6 pm–7pm and Southwold 1.30 pm–2.30 pm.
• Teen Tennis (age 12–18) – Kirkley High School 6 pm–7pm and Southwold 2.30 pm–3.30 pm.

These sessions are open to all and lead to extra performance groups for those extra keen or talented.

Southwold also has the following adult coaching groups:

• Beginners/Improvers – Mondays 9.30 am–11 am.
• Improvers to Advanced – Thursdays 9.30 am–11 am.
• Cardio Tennis (tennis aerobics to music) – Wednesdays 10 am–11 am.

A court is available for hire by non members on an hourly basis, excluding Sundays and when in use for Club events. Go to the Southwold Angling Centre on Station Road to book.

Why not join our fund-raising 100 Club? – £12 per unit per year for the chance of winning cash prizes each quarter (amount won dependent on the number of people in the 100 Club). You need NOT be a Tennis Club member to take part. For more information or an application form, contact Matthew Horwood on horwoodmgc@tiscali.co.uk.

Mary Gregson, Honorary Secretary and Press Officer

Southwold Women’s Institute

The weather being kind, a good portion of our membership gathered for our

November meeting, which incorporated our AGM. With no new nominations received, the present Committee indicated their willingness to stand again, and were re-elected en bloc. Mrs J Austin gave the Annual Report for the Committee, and Mrs P Tobin followed up with her President’s Address. A new

President was chosen in a written vote by members, and will be Mrs P Tobin for another year. Miss A Ainscough presented the Financial Report and was thanked for her excellent work by Mrs S Oldman. With formal business complete, our attention could return to matters in hand. Our recent jumble sale had raised £157 for funds, thanks going to Mrs M Rose for organising.

We are looking forward to our Christmas Party, which this year will be a lunch at which we hope to entertain members from other Group 15 Institutes. Our activity groups – Reading, Gardening, Lunch and Walking – are all busy and looking forward to a variety of seasonal celebrations. Unfortunately, our booked speaker had to cancel at the last minute, but our Programme Secretary, Mrs M Rose, had managed to find an excellent replacement for us.

Mr John Greenacre gave a most interesting talk on ‘War Graves in the Waveney District’. After 24 years in the Army, he now acts as a tour guide for visits to battlefields in Belgium and France, whilst lecturing part time. Mr Greenacre gave us a brief history of the way bodies were treated prior to 1917, when the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was founded. Since 1947, this function has been assumed by the Ministry of Defence. Mr Greenacre illustrated the background information to be found on headstones in our local churchyards and cemeteries. Mrs V Beckett moved the vote of thanks for an excellent and unexpectedly fascinating talk.

Our next formal meeting will be on Thursday, January 19th 2012 at 7 pm in the Methodist Church Room, when Mr Mark Mitchell will speak on the ‘The Lost City of Dunwich’.