January 2012
REPORTS
Southwold and Reydon Society
Last year was one of the most eventful in the Society’s history and this year looks set to be just as challenging, with the new GP surgery in Reydon and the bus and coach ban in Southwold High Street likely to top the agenda.
We predict there will also be continued concern over the fate of the recycling centre in Blyth Road, the mix of shops in Southwold, the number of holiday lets and second homes in the area, and the way our library will be funded.
As ever, the Society will be at the centre of discussions on these issues and any others which arise during the year. It will also be actively involved in helping to devise a Town Plan for Southwold which will provide a framework for how the town develops in the coming years.
Last year began with the controversy over ship-to-ship oil transfers and, although we failed to persuade the Government to ban the practice, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of tankers off shore – much to the relief of people working in the tourist industry on which the area depends. One notable achievement on the way was to force the Government into an unprecedented u-turn and re-open its consultation process.
Our Housing Report was finally published and shed some valuable light on the population and housing trends in the area. The main findings were that the resident populations of Southwold and Reydon were falling while the percentage of homes owned by outsiders was rising (approaching 50% in the case of Southwold, whose static population now verges on less than 1,000)). Social housing accounted for just 10% of the housing stock in both Southwold and Reydon.
Coincidentally, at about the same time the BBC and The Daily Telegraph ran a story about an affordable home for local people in Tibby’s Triangle being offered for sale on the open market for a reported £500,000 – twice the original purchase price. We have since discovered that few, if any, restrictions were placed on the re-sale of these homes, which could now all technically go the same way and be sold to people who don’t live or work in Southwold.
The Society took this up with Waveney Council since it seemed to us to defeat the whole object of affordable homes for local people. They have told us that their policy now is to impose a 30/70 ratio of shared ownership homes to homes for rent on new developments. Too late for Tibby’s Triangle, but at the Hopkins Homes development in Nightingale Avenue in Reydon, of the 13 affordable homes under construction – just four will be offered on a shared ownership basis. We have also asked the Housing Association involved for restrictions to be put in place in future to stop affordable homes being sold off to the highest bidder.
Finally a reminder that on January 5th, you will have an opportunity to hear the latest progress report on the new GP surgery. The Society has organised a public meeting together with NHS Norfolk and Waveney which will take place at St Edmund’s Hall, starting at 6 pm.
John Perkins, Secretary
Reydon round-up
The Reydon Marguerite Club
The Club recently enjoyed a Christmas Lunch at the Boardwalk Restaurant on Southwold Pier. Following a glass of sherry, 51 members and friends sat down to a superb meal of turkey, fish or vegetarian tart with all the trimmings accompanying each choice, followed by Christmas pudding, chocolate torte or mince tart. Father Christmas visited us – not with snow, but with glorious sunshine streaming through the windows, adding extra warmth to what was a most friendly and enjoyable occasion.
The Royal British Legion Women’s Section
At the recent Whist Drive, £122 was raised for the Royal British Legion Women’s Section, Southwold and Reydon Branch.
Prize winners were: Mr and Mrs C Freeman, Mrs D Shore and Mrs E Steward, Mr and Mrs J Robins, Miss P Ballard and Mrs A Honeybourne, and Mrs R Snowden and Mr R Wafer.
The members of the Women’s Section are grateful to all those who played whist, gave prizes and donations, and helped in any way.
Sole Bay Bowls Club
Last September, a junior section was started at the Sole Bay Bowls Club. The club bowls were too large for very small hands, so the Reydon Carpet Bowls Club stepped in to lend us some of their bowls.
Eight very enthusiastic youngsters joined and have been playing on a weekly basis since September.
As they were so eager to learn, a grant was applied for to get junior bowls for them from the County locality budget through Cllr Goldsmith.
At the last session for this year, these youngsters were overjoyed to be presented with eight sets of very colourful junior bowls by Cllr Goldsmith, and certificates and pens from the club President John Ansdell and presents from past President Yvonne Fussell.
The New Year Junior Season starts on Thursday, 5th January at 3.30 pm. If you are interested, then please come along or telephone the club on 01502 722683.
Coaching is available for all age groups and everyone is welcome to come to the Club and have a try. Please contact Paula Gooch at the Club for further details.
The County matches this month have had mixed fortunes, with the Men’s Team beating Felixstowe 74–69 by winning on two rinks, drawing on one and losing on one, but the Mixed Team lost to Lowestoft Rail 74–82, despite winning on three rinks because of a disaster on the fourth rink.
Ray Skitt
The recently formed junior bowlers pictured with coach Sheila Self and Indoor Chairman Ron Davis being presented with new bowls from Cllr John Goldsmith at the Sole Bay Bowls Club
Durrants Holiday Lettings
With all the Festivities behind us, we have already been busy taking reservations for this year for our holiday homes.
We also have a number of beach chalets on our books that we let out on behalf of the owners during the holiday period, but demand always exceeds availability. If you have a beach chalet you are considering letting out, if only for a few weeks of the year, call into our office and have an informal chat with Durrants Holiday Manager Kathleen Stammers or call 01502 723292 (option 2).
Southwold Christmas Lights
Thank you to all who helped towards the success and enjoyment of the switch on night in December.
The visit from ‘Grandpa’ James Bolam with Aunt Loretta (Susan Jameson) from the hugely popular CBeebies show ‘Grandpa in my pocket’ and Father Christmas was a great success.
So many people, too numerous to mention, work very hard behind the scenes for this event each year, which is very much appreciated, and it couldn’t be done without them or the support and sponsorship from the local businesses.
The Fancy Dress Competition was won by the Tourist Information Centre and The Best Window went to Mumfords.
The Committee is always looking for new ideas and suggestions. We also need new members or if you would like just run an event on our behalf.
The AGM will be held at the Town Hall on Thursday, 9th February at 7.30 pm and everyone is welcome.
Southwold Christmas Lights
Christmas Stall for Animals
Thank you very much to all our customers who helped raise £479.48 for animals in need at Christmas. The Stall had a splendid array of bric-a-brac and gifts, as well as good-quality decorations for the Festive Season, all supplied by Valerie Game from Aldeburgh, who works tirelessly throughout the year attending craft fairs and boot sales to raise funds for animal charities.
The proceeds from this Stall will be shared between WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals), IAR (International Animal Rescue), Hillside Animal Sanctuary, the Humane Research Trust (giving grants to the increasing number of scientists researching for cures without the use of animal experiments) and to Celia Hammond’s work in collecting, neutering and re-homing cats, especially helping with the number of feral cats abandoned in the new Olympic Stadium and surrounds.
A Happy New Year to all who have helped us to help so many animals with their generosity, concern and compassion.
Valerie, Sue, Brenda and Lucy
A New Year’s resolution suggestion
What’s already on your 2011 resolution list? Eat less chocolate? Get fit? Give up smoking? In a nutshell, the desire to look after one’s self better?
So, if you have become aware that your hearing has deteriorated, getting it checked should also be at the top of your list!
Over 119,000 in Suffolk have hearing problems and only a third actually seek professional help for this. These figures are bad enough in themselves, but when you realise that only a third of people who would benefit from a hearing aid, have one, you begin to see the size of the problem facing the hearing care professionals – and to be brutally honest, the families of those people too.
There is plenty of evidence that people with uncorrected hearing loss have a worse quality of life than those with normal hearing, and there is also evidence that untreated hearing loss can lead to people suffering from serious social or psychological problems.
People with hearing loss tend to get left out of family discussions and decision-making, and for many, this will have been highlighted over the festive period. There are frequent misunderstandings, relationships can become difficult, marriages strained and the unimpaired partner can suffer stress, fatigue, anger and guilt.
January is a very busy month for my team and I, but also a most satisfying one; meeting patients determined to improve their hearing and being ready to enjoy more of life in the coming year.
Karen’s words of wisdom for 2012 – It’s time to take a routine hearing check!
Karen Finch RHAD FSHAA FRSA, Hearing Aid Audiologist and Managing Director of the Hearing Care Centre (tel: 01473 230330, web: www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk)
Local centres in: Attleborough, Botesdale, Bury St Edmunds, Dereham, Eye, Felixstowe, Framlingham, Hadleigh, Halesworth, Harleston, Ipswich, Needham Market, Newmarket, Southwold, Stowmarket, Woodbridge and Wymondham
Latest from the Omega Jazzmen
Thank you all for your support in 2011. We have experienced another very successful year, culminating in two superb gigs in September. The first was a return visit to the Grand Henham Steam Rally, followed closely by a session for the Norwich Branch Coldstream Guards Reunion Party. Several bookings are already in the Omega Jazzmen diary for 2012, including a return concert in Wissett Church and another chance to play for those Coldstream Guards.
With the full band still ongoing, and having already used a three-piece in the past, we have now established within the band the Omega Dixie Trio, who will continue to present ‘hot jazz from New Orleans to Chicago’. This unit will comprise trumpet, clarinet doubling tenor saxophone, and banjo doubling guitar/vocals.
A trio such as I have described will be ideal for the public house where space is a limited, weddings, celebrations, parties, clubs, hotel bars etc, and, of course, will be more cost effective for any venue that books us.
To discuss your ideas and requirements, call 01502 562994.
We look forward to your company in 2012 and wish all you jazz lovers a wonderful New Year.
Brian Farrington
Quiz night at The Randolph round up
November 2011
The second quiz of the new Season was held on Friday, 25th November and six teams had pre-registered to play.
Quiz questions as usual were compiled by our resident quizmistress Mrs Jackie Martin and were themed on BEN, Twos and Threes. Two Words – Same Initial, PICTURE, Sport and Lambs. Scores on the doors were calculated by Mr Barrie Remblance.
The winning team was The ‘TALLY Ho’s’, with a score of 110 (with two points more than ‘What no Broadside!’ had last month! Team ‘Quizzie Rascals’ came second with 108. Our resident losing team, ‘Dun Thinkin’, didn’t play this month – however, joint last this month was a team called ‘Past Caring’ with a score of 86 (some three points ahead of last month’s losers). It was noted that this team looked very familiar and just a team name change couldn’t disguise their ‘real’ team identity of ‘Dun Thinkin’. Nice try Celia.
In total, £221 was raised on the night, which was donated to Kessingland Community Players, bringing this season’s total to £409.
It was also decided that the Randolph Bonus Ball 10% Fund would be donated to Sole Bay Football Club to help purchase some more floodlights. We are delighted to send them £100. Thank you to Jackie Martin for administrating this each week.
Finally, thanks as always to everyone who helped and who attended on the night, Roll on next month!
December 2011
The third quiz of the new Season was held on Friday 16th December and six teams had pre-registered to play.
Quiz questions as usual were compiled by our resident quiz mistress Mrs Jackie Martin and were themed on Time for a Run, Famous People, Ships and the Sea, Picture Round, TV Comedy, and Last Orders. Scores on the doors were calculated by Mr Barrie Remblance.
This month’s results were full of surprises! The winning team was 6OTB with 120 points, having won last time about 3 years ago! Perhaps something to do with a new quiz member? Well done Dr Seaton (and Ann)! Another surprise was that the normal losers had changed their quiz name yet again! Only helping them slightly this month with a joint fourth position! The final surprise of the evening was that Barrie didn’t win a raffle prize this month! And we all weren’t expecting that!
In total, £220 was raised on the night, which was donated to Southwold VHC, bringing this season’s total to £629 in just three months.
Finally, thanks as always to everyone who helped and who attended on the night, Roll on January’s THE BIG QUIZ – 13 teams and fully booked already; we are raising money for Reydon Primary School’s new music room.
David and Donna, Adnams Community Pub of The Year 2010
Scrabble Group
The winner of the December meeting was Alva Semple with a total score over two games of 788 points. Bonus words were: NOTIONS (Miriam Bennett), SHINING (Gill Simpson), OBSERVER (Alva Semple), and FLICKER and RESIDUE (Liz Slater).
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, January 9th (due to the Bank Holiday) and Monday, February 6th.
New members welcome. For further information, ring 01502 722483.
Miriam Bennett
Sports desk
Rugby
Southwold RFC Charity Boxing Day Game
A good crowd was treated to an entertaining charity rugby match on a balmy Boxing Day on Southwold Common.
The Under 30s began the game by fizzing the ball around the pitch, scoring free-flowing tries at will, before Phil Anthony, the eagle-eyed referee, picked up on their numerous errors, chief of which was to run far too much for the Overs liking.
The Overs started to exert their strength and experience, and played champagne rugby in a ten-yard corridor of opportunity. The Under 30s defended well, but, after consultation with the Stephenson scoring system, it was found that the Over 30s had once again vanquished the valiant Under 30s side.
More importantly the day raised over £500 in memory of ex-player Glynn Alexander, the sum being donated to Leukaemia Research. A big thank you to all the players and supporters of Southwold RFC.
Roger Felton
Made in Britain. . .
Green Logs from DT Energy for a cheaper, cleaner and greener, heating alternative
As winter temperatures arrive, have you considered your alternatives for saving on your heating bills? You could save more than 50% by using our Green Logs rather than regular firewood, coal, gas, oil or electricity. The Green Log from DT Energy is an eco-friendly and carbon-neutral alternative to other sources of heating. Our logs are made from a minimum of 90% rapeseed meal, being a residue left when the oil is pressed out of oilseed rape. The remaining 10% is a similar biomass material, such as straw.
Its unique production process is based on a British invention that generates a spun log rather than one using hydraulic compaction techniques. The result is a denser and cleaner product that provides up to three times the heat and three times the burn time of your regular firewood. And, if burned correctly, they produce virtually no soot.
Our Green Logs can be used in open fireplaces and in all solid-fuel appliances, such as wood and multi-fuel stoves. The Green Logs from DT Energy should not be confused with compressed sawdust briquettes, which tend to expand and smother your fire – our logs burn in a similar way to coal, without the pollution.
Green Logs from DT Energy. Made from British ingredients, using a British production process. Made in Britain. 100%.
We wish to thank all our customers for their support, and wish you all a warm New Year.
Durrant Tobin Energy, Southwold, www.durranttobin.co.uk
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