August
2010
REPORTS
The Mayor’s Civic Sunday thanks
The weather was wonderful on the Mayor’s Civic Sunday last month, and I wish to thank all those who helped to make it such a special day not only for Southwold, but for myself too.
Thank you to all those involved in the Church Service – the Rev Peter Trendall, Joan Goldsmith, the Organist and the Choir.
Thanks also go to the Southwold and Reydon Corps of Drums and Steve Wright, to Frank Mortlock and Dougie Block for keeping the parade in order, John Barber the Bellman and Paul Denny the Mace Bearer. I wish to thank the Red Lion for providing the food, especially Derek’s Mum, Pat, as Head Chef, Derek for running the bar and Gemma for keeping guard over the Town silver whilst we were all in Church.
My thanks go to Jenny Hursell, the Town Clerk, for her direction and help.
Lastly, I wish to thank Francis Guildea and The Swan staff for coming to our last-minute rescue and allowing the Town Council the use of the Cygnet Room for the Reception after the Council Chamber ceiling fell down two days beforehand.
If I’ve missed anyone out, I apologise.
My daughter Vanessa, who is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in September, would like to thank all those who kindly donated to Diabetes UK at the end of the Service.
Sue Allen, Southwold Town Mayor
Reydon Parish Council
Notice to all residents
Over the past several years, this Council has sent floral gifts to residents celebrating special anniversaries and birthdays.
We have recently discovered that parish councils have no power to use public funds, our main source of income, for this purpose.
Therefore, with immediate effect, we regret to announce that we have to suspend this practice.
Southwold and Reydon Society
Caution is being thrown to the wind this month and the piece below comes with a health warning; namely that it will upset some people – possibly to the point of outrage. As ever, though, the views and opinions expressed are not those of the Society, except where explicitly stated, and the Executive Committee may not have discussed matters chosen for an airing within these pages.
Traffic, whether either volume or flow, has been a matter for discussion from the outset of the Society over 45 years ago and, at the current rate of expansion, the subject will continue to exercise the minds of many who live, work and visit Southwold, for years to come. The town was not designed to cater for large volumes of traffic nor to accommodate huge vehicles, although one suspects that driver insensitivity was a feature of life in the past, though perhaps not so unashamedly as this summer.
Countless initiatives have been suggested, but each has failed to satisfy a sufficient number of people to warrant adoption, and pressure groups established merely to resist change have had a significant impact on decision making. So why should the latest ideas succeed where previous attempts to effect change have faltered? Many fear they will not, while others delight in the chaos and confusion that results while the few adopt the mantra, Something simply has to be tried.
One suspects that the Police Service has an interest in finding a solution, perhaps in prosecuting a particular scheme, and the bus companies, one of which is able to navigate by routes of convenience dictated by itself, have already decided on what suits them. There is not a great deal of flexibility for manoeuvre and, with so much at stake, tensions and feuds that have long been contained are going to be released.
A one-way route along High Street is being suggested, but whether this follows a clockwise or anti-clockwise flow, it will have to operate to the south of the High Street in purely navigable terms. And, yes, there will be a debate about navigability with pressure points at the junction of York Road and Godyll Road and Queen Street with Lorne Road or Park Lane.
Without ignoring heartfelt views held by the permanent residents of Lorne Road and Park Lane, major concerns remain with the extensive use of Godyll Road, particularly at the St Barnabus’ bend, and York Road, specifically in the vicinity of the doctors’ surgery.
Parking along one side of High Street would be retained, even possibly transferred, but one has to say that, if parking were banned in the High Street, and particularly in the Market Place, many of current problems would evaporate. All right, local businesses would rebel and Market Days would disappear, so the suggestion is brainless. Is there a theme developing here?
It’s difficult to say, especially as there is so much remaining to explore, but a sense of impenetrability is becoming palpable.
Our buses are too big for the roads on which they operate, and navigating the Pump is not possible on Market Days and only with difficulty for much of the working week even if parking were banned in the Market Place. And bus drivers are reluctant to reverse since this contravenes instructions and probably health-and-safety directives too.
There is an irony associated with this discussion: the suggestion to have the bus stop opposite The Crown Hotel moved to the rear of what is now Fat Face may have worked and triangulation around the King’s Head/Fat Face triangle could have created its own unique footprint, but one wonders how may people currently opposed to the current proposals rejected the simplicity of this proposal on the grounds that it was too far to walk?
Disingenuous or not, there isn’t really sufficient space available for such a change and one is left with the possibilities of increasing parking availability and reducing the number of vehicles entering Town at some point between Might’s Bridge and the Market Place. Should we examine Park and Ride revisited?
Ian R Bradbury, Hon Secretary (e-mail: southwoldandreydonsociety@gmail.com)
No hope? 11 am on Friday, 23rd July
Crick Court Social Club news
Here are the results of the 1st July Whist Drive:
First: Mrs P Hurren and Mrs M Edwards.
Second: Mr R Wafer and Mrs J Prattley.
Joint Third: Mr D Tomlinson and Mrs H Walters; Mrs D White and Miss L Allen.
Fourth: Mrs P Walker and Mrs M Robinson.
There are no events through August apart from Bingo, which will be on each Friday at 2.30 pm.
The next Whist Drive is on 2nd September, and Lunch Club on 29th September. We look forward to seeing you all then.
Mrs Mary Edwards
Southwold Library members meet local author
Cynthia Carter Eagles, well known for her Morland Dynasty series of books, plus the Bill Slider police procedural (with friendly believable cops and their families) PLUS more than 30 other novels came to Southwold, where the old postal sorting office accommodated several dozen ‘fans’, who got a chance to listen to her and throw friendly questions (There were some local writers in the audience, too.)
Fans had a chance to buy copies of her recent books (duly autographed) and Charlotte, our ‘Town Librarian’, is to be congratulated on the event.
John Courtis
Royal British Legion Wenhaston and District Branch report
The meeting opened with exhortation and silent tribute.
Chairman John Levy thanked everyone for all their help at the Fun Day. It was held in our President’s garden at Brook Hall Farm. Thank you Marjory. Also thanks to Jimmy and Mrs Butler, Carl and Virginia at The Star, Teresa and Derek at The Red Lion, Jean and Lillian Spindler, Patrick Goldsmith, Mrs David Smith and Mrs Eileen Manning. They were non members. We appreciated your help.
Also thanks to the members who supported us on the day.
We would also like to thank the public who supported us. £170 was raised for the Benevolent Fund.
The winner of the bowling was Mrs Havard.
Two members attended the County Rally at Woodbridge.
The County Newsletter was read out. The Wenhaston Branch is hosting the G Group Rally at the Church rooms on Wednesday, 4th August at 7.30 pm. We hope members will support this, as there are issues to discuss and the County Chairman Colin Hawkins has accepted our invitation to attend.
The County Standard Bearer is taking the Union flag to the Glemham Hall Weekend.
The next Branch meeting is at The Star Inn on Monday, 20th September at 7.30 pm. (There is no meeting in August.)
The AGM of the Branch will be held on Monday, 11th October.
I wish good summer holidays to you all.
Sue Doy
Southwold Theatre and Music Group news
The Southwold Theatre and Music Group are coming to the end of their theatrical year. Some of the dramatic high spots were ‘Waiting for Godot’ with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, ‘Pitmen Painters’ and ‘The History Boys.’ The ballets ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Peter Pan’ were also greatly enjoyed. There were opera performances, the Lloyd Webber musical ‘Evita,’ – we could go on. But now we are looking forward to the next season, after the summer. For ballet fans, the new programme includes Matthew Bourne’s production of ‘Swan Lake’ and the Northern Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’. There will be tickets for the autumn concerts by the Royal Philharmonic at Lowestoft, Glyndebourne Touring Opera’s new production of ‘La Cenerentola’ and plays at the Maddermarket Theatre. These are Alan Aykbourn’s ‘Snake in the Grass’ and Graham Greene’s ‘Travels with my Aunt’. There are two visits to Aldeburgh Cinema for their ‘Live at the Met,’ showings and, in the new year, the musical ‘Hairspray’ will obviously be another ‘highlight’ for members.
If you would like to join us, membership is only £5.00 per person or £8.00 per couple. To get more details of the group, contact Christine Obern, 01502 723437.
