212496
180163
Community News MOTs & Retests • Recovery • Servicing/Welding • Tyres • Batteries Tyre & Wheel Tracking Service
SAME DAY MOT SLOTS AVAILABLE
01502 711 118
198152
www.becclesmotcentre.co.uk mot@becclesmotcentre.co.uk
12 Scales Street, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 1EA Tel: 01986 892173
Unit 4 Excalibur Hall Est., Beccles
191900
223585
FREE monthly newspaper for Beccles, Bungay & surrounding villages November 2026
Authentic, tasty, home-cooked, Indian food delivered ready for home heating
BECCLES MOT CENTRE
Scan the above QR code for our weekly changing menu
SIMONS
www.pinktiffin.co.uk
01986 896096
LANDSCAPING
223121
@ThePinkTiffin
206965
See Facebook and Instagram:
LTD.
Patios • Driveways • Paths • Walls • Tarmac • Lawns laid • Hot Tar & Shingle • Earthworks • Indian Sandstone & Porcelain • Surfacings • Tennis Courts • Resin Paving • Fencing 080529
807113
TREATMENTS OFFERED INCLUDE: Unit 15, Halesworth Business Park, Halesworth IP19 8QJ 212262
New patient exam £80 (Denplan £40) D.L. FULLER ROOFING
KITCHENSENSE Routine exam £50 (Denplan - included)
LEISTON
Tile
TREATMENTS OFFERED INCLUDE: TEAM MEMBERS Slate of Harleston Hygienist: £60 for 30 minutes (Denplan - included) 211592
225879
Flat Roofs
62 London Road, New patient exam £80 (Denplan £40) All aspects of Roofing 01508 WhiteHarleston, fillings from £125 (Denplan £100) Routine exam £50 (Denplan - included) LEADWORK • ROOFING REPAIRS • GUTTERING 470674 Hygienist: £60 for 30 minutes (Denplan - included) Norfolk IP20 9BZ Acrylic dentures from £495 (Denplan £396)
New Patient Examination Only £55! (Includes intra-oral X-rays)
01502 714226 / 07941 052641 One call does it all! White fillings from £125 (Denplan £100)
Chrome dentures from £750 (Denplan £600)
Acrylic dentures from £495 (Denplan £396) Chrome dentures from £750 (Denplan £600)
Zirconia crowns £595 (Denplan £476)
Zirconia crowns £595 (Denplan £476)
Zirconia implant crowns £995 (Denplan £796)
LIMITED
Zirconia implant crowns £995 (Denplan £796)
Tel: 01502 471900
Root canal treatment from £350 (Denplan £280)
Root canal treatment from £350 (Denplan £280) Full mouth whitening £295 (Denplan £236)
Full mouth whitening £295 (Denplan £236) Servicing • Diagnostics • Repairs • Cambelts • Air-Con • Exhausts • Batteries • Brakes • Clutches • All makes & models incl electric/hybrid • Bike & Car MOTs
Quality and Service Dr. Christopher J Kelly at a realistic priceVictoria Hough
03134862
Tel: (01379) 852592 Fax: (01379) 854411 QUALITY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE
LEISTON DENTAL CARE
with new pétanque pitch (pg 14)
Call Us: 01728 561873
Monday to Friday 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm AFFORDABLE QUALITY 98 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4BZ
The practice will be closed for lunch between 1pm and 2pm
98 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4BZ A little piece of France arrives at Beccles Quay reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk
www.leistondentalcare.co.uk reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk
Opening Hours Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm
www.cbfservicecentre.co.uk web site: www.kitchen-sense.co.uk WITH COMPASSION AND CARE Units1-3, George Westwood Way, Beccles, NR34 9EJ email: staff@kitchen-sense.co.uk In this months issue:
01728 561873
225924
SPECIALIST ASSOCIATION
LEISTON DENTAL CARE
TEL: 01502 471781 98 High Street, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4BZ •TYRES • WHEEL ALIGNMENT & BALANCING reception@leistondentalcare.co.uk • PUNCTURE REPAIRS Call Us: 01728 561873 • ALL WEATHER TYRES AVAILABLE
201035
Fitted Kitchen GDC: 200727 FDSC (with distinction) RDN RDH Specialists KITCHEN •(University of Essex 2021) BATHROOM • BEDROOM
GDC: 82366 BDS (2003, University of Sheffield)
Next Issue - Dec 2026 Stay in touch Deadline Date: 11/11/2026 01502 725 837 - edit@micropress.co.uk Publication Date: 20/11/2026 www.yourcommunitynews.co.uk
Opening Hours Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm
WITH COMPASSION & CAR
Denplan from £15.95 per month
Find us on Socials /yourcommunitynews
@yourcommunitynews_
AFFORDABLE QUALITY
2 - November 2026 - Beccles & Bungay Community News 208566
Waveney Valley Community Archaeology Group news
Refurbished Laptop Sales PC, Laptop, Tablet & Console Repairs Consumables & Accessories
01986 895545 07774 695527 www.bungaycomputers.co.uk 2A Earsham Street, Bungay, NR35 1AG 214161
BPW Services
Reliable House Clearance Service
- Same/Next Day Clearances - Outside Sheds & Barn Clearances - Demolition of Outside Buildings/Barns etc. - 7 Days a Week! - Suffolk & East Anglia - Free Estimates - Call Joe Bennett today!
233037
Local-sourced Pork, Beef, Lamb & Poultry Homemade Sausages Fresh Baked Goods & Deli Counter
179151
01502 712188
On November 14th, we'll be visited by Dr. James Wright, FSA, who is an award-winning buildings archaeologist, author, lecturer, and broadcaster. A specialist in Medieval and early modern architecture in Britain, James will be talking to us as part of his national book tour promoting his new book, The Buildings Archaeologist. James has travelled the length and breadth of the country to unearth these historic spaces; this is the first book in over a quarter of a century to offer clues for discovering the secrets of
Britain's ancient structures and explore how historic architecture has been observed, studied, and conserved. James is also well known for his work on investigating historic building myths and has appeared as an expert on TV shows such as The Great British Dig Dig. We meet in Needham Village Hall, 52 High Road, Needham, Harleston, IP20 9LB, and the talk will start at 2pm. Tickets are £8. As we expect high demand, tickets must be booked in advance via TicketSource: ticketsource.com/ waveney-valley-communityarchaeology-group
Successful Covehithe Plough Day raises thousands for charity
01379 831919 - 07960 969118
9 Hungate, Beccles, NR34 9TT
Beccles Society of Artists
Blyth Valley Rotary, in collaboration with Graham and Christine Scriven, organised the Covehithe Plough Day on October 4th. This annual community event took place on a beautiful field generously provided by Lady Gooch of the Benacre Estate in Covehithe, near Southwold, (NR34 7JP). Thank you to the Community First Responders for attending; it was lovely to see you again. We are pleased to announce that we raised an impressive £3,294 profit. The day was full of excitement, featuring a vintage
tractor ploughing competition, tractor display, traditional BBQ, refreshment stall, cake stall, tombola, raffle, and various craft stalls. Lamarti's Ice Cream was particularly popular! 16 entrants competed in the ploughing competition, where Mick Debenham won the Ann Balls Trophy, with Jack Miller as runner-up. We were fortunate to have great weather and sunshine all day, which led to a wonderful turnout. All profits will be donated to the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) and its vital emergency response services.
CASUAL JAPANESE RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY
Call: 07810 888 889
221354
Bungay Computers
Additionally, YANA (You Are Not Alone) was present, offering essential mental health support to rural communities. The day was truly full of fun, food, and community spirit, all while supporting these important causes. We extend a huge thank you to the public for their support, and a special shout-out to Graham and Christine Scriven for their tireless work in the community! Thank you, Steven Seager, President, on behalf of Blyth Valley Rotary
Exploring the magic of Gouache with Julia Tooley The Beccles Society of Artists met on September 16th at The Club, 2 London Road. Julia Tooley demonstrated the medium of gouache, a waterbased paint that produces a thick, smooth, velvet-like finish robust enough to layer. She finds it ideal for still life, as high-contrast, dramatic effects can easily be achieved. It is, she says, important to make the subject interesting and entertaining. Julia's joy in using this medium is evident. She has her favourite colours and has even been known to pick grapes based on their exact shade - Perylene Maroon seems to hit the spot! The feel and look of gouache brought back memories of my 12th birthday, when I was given a box of delicious-looking poster paints, complete with bright little jars of silver and gold. My favourite subjects back then were ballet dancers and fashion designs.
Julia loves to paint food, choosing a bottle of wine with a glass and grapes for her demonstration. I was surprised to learn that after arranging her display, she photographs it, alters the composition digitally using Photoshop, and paints from the image. This certainly helps if there is no space to leave a display out to go bad, or be eaten by a hungry child! Examples of her finished work on display included a pizza, flowers, and large Liquorice Allsorts. Julia added that enjoying a meal out comes with a bonus: the chance to take a quick photo of the dish on her phone for future inspiration. You can view Julia's work by contacting her at: juliatooleyart@gmail.com. Join us at The Club on October 21st for our next meeting. Details are available on our website: becclesartists.co.uk. Report by Sandra Crome
Beccles Town Council
211987
Sushi events held regularly Usual menu + £25 sharing menu for groups Takeaways available! Open: Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm
01379 852288 • momijijapanese.co.uk
The Cherry Tree, 74 London Road, Harleston, IP20 9BZ
Find us on socials to keep up-to-date with lots of local news and events
Follow us on Instagram @yourcommunitynews_
218453
231415
Like us on Facebook /yourcommunitynews
Julian Drake - 07855 760025 www.jdtimbergates.co.uk julian@jdtimbergates.co.uk
(L to R): Joe Athorn (Beccles Mayor), with Jade and her colleague Alison Foreman and Chris Cox (County Councillor).
Call today to arrange collection of 3 boxes or 5 standard sacks of confidential papers for £54 (certificate of shredding supplied)
We cover all aspects of...
✓ Overgrown gardens cleared & tidied ✓ All rubbish cleared & removed ✓ Locally based ✓ Fully guaranteed work
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTE
07983 653930
sgtreeandgardenservices@yahoo.com www.sgtreeandgardenservices.co.uk
221390
✓ Landscaping ✓ Fencing & Repairs ✓ Trees & Hedging ✓ Patios & Pathways ✓ Turfıng ✓ Shed Bases
King's Head Hotel raises money for Beccles Soapbox Derby Beccles Town Council are very grateful to the staff at The King's Head Hotel in New Market for their hard work fundraising for the Beccles Soapbox Derby 2026 event. Jade Hales (Manager of The King's Head Hotel) and her staff together raised £900 for the event through a quiz evening and regular tombola's over the last few weeks. The above photo shows Mayor Joe Athorn with Jade and her colleague Alison Foreman and County Councillor Chris Cox, who has himself donated £1,000 towards the event form his County Council Locality budget. The third Beccles Soapbox Derby event took place on September 27th. You can read more about this years' Soapbox Race Read more about the Soapbox Race on page 9 on page 9.
Beccles & Bungay Community News - November 2026 - 3 234487
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
Late summer heat Beccles marks its third-warmest September on record
2023 recording higher mean temperatures. This marks the 8th consecutive month of above-average temperatures in 2026. There were also several warm nights, 11 of which did not fall below 14.0°C. The mildest occurred overnight on the 14th/15th (18.0°C). This figure has been equalled or exceeded during 4 of the last 5 Septembers, whereas it was previously exceeded only once in the preceding fifty-four years. The second-mildest night (17.2°C) was recorded late in the month over the overnight period of the 29th/30th. Are these events further indications of climate change? During the latter part of the month, only 2 nights fell below 10.0°C. Overall, the average minimum temperature was approximately 2.5°C above the long-term average, mirroring the increase seen in the average maximum. Most of the month's rainfall occurred by the 13th, including the 2 highest daily totals: 0.28" on the 8th and 0.25" on the 3rd, which together accounted for almost half of the 1.11-inch total. After the 13th, high pressure generally dominated our region, allowing only minimal rainfall on 4 further days (a combined total of 0.08"). The "dregs" from eroding weather fronts on the 17th, 18th, 28th, and 30th mainly impacted northern and western areas of the British Isles. This dry spell included 9 consecutive dry days from the 19th to the 27th inclusive. This was the driest September since 2021 (following 4 wetter-thanaverage Septembers from 2022 to 2025). It also continued a dry spell that has persisted since March 2026 (with the exception of June). Notably, 51% of the 12.63inch rainfall total recorded up to 30th September fell in January and February alone. This is the lowest 9-month total recorded since 1997, when just 11.08" had fallen by this point in the year. As I write on October 2nd, these benign conditions continue: both days so far have exceeded 21°C alongside long hours of sunshine. Let's hope the remainder of autumn and winter treat us kindly, ideally bringing some much-needed rainfall.
Tree time in the garden November is all about preparing for winter and making compost. Clearing leaves and dead growth gives you the perfect ingredients for a homemade batch. It's also a great month for planting trees and shrubs, and good planting needs good mulch. With more autumn leaves around than a standard compost bin can deal with, you have the perfect material to hand. Leaves don't need the heat of a compost bin to rot down; you can compost them by filling up bags with leaves to make really good garden mulch. The best way is to fill biodegradable sacks, then place them somewhere in the garden where they will be rained on… and wait. Come spring next year, you'll have a bag full of nutritious leaf mould compost. Plant trees now before the ground freezes. They suit any soil, come in diverse shapes and sizes, and offer year-round interest - from spring blossoms to rich autumn colour. Whether used for privacy, structure, or as statement features, planting trees enhances both your garden and the environment. In addition to tree planting, if there's one job to be done this month, it's to plant up seasonal containers that you have emptied of spent annuals and edible crops. Potted plants provide colour when little else is growing in the garden, and can be placed around patios
W A V E N E Y
STOVES & FIREPLACES 01508 518863
and paths where they can be easily seen. Clean pots and fill them with compost, then add autumn and winter bedding plants such as cineraria, ornamental brassicas, and violas. Cram the plants close together for an instant 'full bloom' effect and water well. For fruit and vegetable growers, now is the time to plant new fruit trees and bushes, but only if the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. You can also cover weeds with a double layer of cardboard topped with homemade garden compost to keep growing areas weed-free. It's also a good time to stake any Brussels sprout stalks that look leggy and vulnerable to wind-rock, and clean and store bamboo canes in a shed or dry place so they're ready for next year. Garden jobs for November: • Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging • Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year • Prune roses to prevent wind-rock • Plant out winter bedding • Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem • Insulate outdoor containers from frost • Sow some sweet peas indoors • Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden • Clear up fallen leaves, especially from ponds, lawns, and beds • Don't burn woody waste compost it or recycle into dead hedges or log piles
Wood, multifuel, gas & electric stoves & fires
Showroom open Tue - Sat! 123 Old Yarmouth Rd,
Bungay NR35 2PG 01508 518863 Fireplace surrounds, Ellingham, www.waveneystoves.co.uk hearths & accessories Gas, electric and solid fuel-fires and stoves
Chimney lining & fireplace alterations We guarantee:
• Friendly and efficient service • Expert technical advice • Competitive prices • The best products • A large showroom • Hetas approved installations Come in any time to have a chat or simply browse our showroom.
Waveney Range Cookers
Oil, Gas, Electric & Woodburning Range Cookers
01508 486923
waveneystoves.co.uk • waveneyrangecookers.co.uk 123a Old Yarmouth Road, Ellingham (nr Bungay), NR35 2PG
Add value and extra living space to your property
231394
Same name, same owners...
225362
for over 50 years
• Windows • Conservatories • Doors • Roofline • Porches • Cladding • Guardian Warm Roofs • and more!
01986 874241
Head Office: Norwich Road, Halesworth Bressingham Garden Centre, Diss | Dobbies Garden Centre, Woodbridge
109585
This summary is compiled from the records of Stephen Bartholomew of Beccles. September 2026 • Maximum temp: 26.0°C (78°F) on the 22nd, compared with 25.1°C (77°F) in September 2025. • Minimum temp: 8.0°C (46°F) on the 26th, compared with 6.0°C (42°F) in September 2025. • Average maximum temp: 22.00°C (71°F) in 2026, 19.70°C (67°F) in 2025, 19.49°C (67°F) on average • Average minimum temp: 13.16°C (55°F) in 2026, 10.49°C (50°F) in 2025, 10.75°C (51°F) on average • Mean temp: 17.58°C (63°F) in 2026, 15.10°C (59°F) - 2025, 15.12°C (59°F) on average • Rainfall Total: 1.11" compared with 2.99" in September 2025 (30-year average: 1.99"). 2026 total: 56% of average. • Most rainfall on one day: 0.28" on the 8th. • Wind direction, mainly from the south-west (11 days), south (6 days), west (5 days), and north-west (4 days). September 2026 was another month of consistent warmth following an outstanding summer season. It also continued the drier-thanaverage trend. Although temperatures could not reach some of the peak heights of the season just passed, there are years in the past when this month's average maximum temperature would have been acceptable during peak summer months. Analysis of my 59 years of records shows that June has reached 22°C on only 7 occasions, July on 38, and August on 39. Values reached 20°C or higher on all but 3 days during the month. There were 19 consecutive days (9th to the 27th) when this figure was achieved-the 2nd-best such run of any September on my record, surpassed only by September 2023 with 20 consecutive days. This month, just one day failed to achieve the long-term average maximum of 19.0°C: the 8th, with 16.0°C (which was also the wettest day). Reaching 26.0°C on the 22nd (one of three days to exceed 25.0°C) made it the warmest September day since 11/09/2023. It was the 3rd-warmest September in my records (dating back to at least 1968), with only 2006 and
195718
4 - November 2026 - Beccles & Bungay Community News 233629
East Suffolk Council
Dementia friendly cinema to reopen its curtains in Bungay A dementia friendly cinema is reopening in Bungay's Fisher Theatre this autumn thanks to funding provided by East Suffolk Council. Starting in October, the Fisher Theatre on Broad Street will be running relaxed and accessible matinee screenings once a month for people and carers of anyone living with dementia. Support for the Dementia Cinema has been provided by East Suffolk Council's Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership which provided £2,336 in funding, along with funding given by councillors Toby Hammond and Anthony Speca who provided £2,536 in funding from their Enabling Communities Budgets. The funding will help the theatre to run the Dementia Cinema for free over the next 12 months. On the first Tuesday along of every month a different film will be shown, and visitors can enjoy a light lunch that includes a soup and a sandwich. Cllr Caroline Topping (Leader of East Suffolk Council and Chair of the Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages
Find us on socials to keep up-to-date with lots of local news and events
Like us on Facebook /yourcommunitynews
Follow us on Instagram @yourcommunitynews_
Community Partnership) said: "We were delighted to support the Fisher Theatre in bringing back their popular Dementia Cinema to the community. These special screenings offer anyone living with a dementia along with their carers an opportunity to enjoy their favourite films in a relaxing, safe and supportive environment, while also helping them to connect with others who may be experiencing similar challenges." Frances Betts (Trustee of the Fisher Theatre) said: "It's really great to revive the Dementia Cinema. We've got three films planned for October, November, and December so far and everyone can enjoy a light lunch beforehand. When we've run the Dementia Cinema in the past, we've found music to be a brilliant way of bringing back a person's short-term memory, so we're focusing on showing musicals and classic films that have simple storylines that everyone can follow. We have researched how other Dementia Cinemas are run, so we'll reduce our seating for 30-40 people, to give people plenty of space. We'll also keep
We undertake all aspects of home improvements:
• Windows • Doors • Conservatories • Porches • Bays • Bi-folds • Heritage
“Supportive, inclusive, ambitious” — ISI Report, November 2025
the lights and the sound down to create a relaxed atmosphere, and all our volunteers have been given dementia awareness training. We hope the events will also give carers a chance to get out and about and chat together, be safe and enjoy a film. The Dementia Cinema isn't purely limited to people living with dementia, but anyone who has a mental health
issue is welcome to join us." The next dementia cinema will feature the Jungle Book on November 3rd and White Christmas on December 1st. Tickets are free but advance booking is essential to help the theatre plan catering requirements. Book your free tickets online at: fishertheatre.org, or call the box office on: 01986 897130.
Blyth Valley Parkinson's Support Group The October meeting on the 8th will be a greet and chat meeting as we've had to postpone our 'Life Cycle of a Bee' meeting until November 12th. It will be a very interesting talk and I do encourage you to attend. On December 10th, we'll all meet at Wrentham Five Bells for Christmas Lunch. We need to choose our food choices beforehand, so please let Gail know asap. The group will subsidise the lunch as we've had a generous donation from Blyth Valley Rotary for which we're very grateful.
We run a support group for people with Parkinsons and their partners/carers, which is a friendly meeting on the second Thursday of most months, in Holton Village Hall from 10:30am to 12pm. We normally have a speaker on some relevant subject and time to chat and share experiences over a cup of coffee or tea. Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings. For further information, please contact either Margaret: 07719 389240, margaret@wrush.plus. com or Gail: 01502 817004, aandgattfield@btinternet.com
234785
07595 929475 07943 951433
GROUNDTECH GARDENING SERVICE
FAMILY RUN WITH 40 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE 232997
Let’s see who you are…
All aspects of Gardening • Fencing • Turfing • Patios • Slab Laying • Site Clearance • Pressure Washing • Tarmac, Resin, Hot Tar & Bonded Gravel Driveways
01379 740476 • 07949 820963 • 07359 744731 k70tat@gmail.com ENQUIRIES VIA EMAIL WELCOME. NO DEPOSIT TAKEN BEFORE WORK COMMENCES
REGISTER FOR OUR 5TH AND 6TH FEBRUARY OPEN MORNINGS OR BOOK A PRIVATE VISIT SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE 234430
EXTENSIVE SCHOOL BUS ROUTES ACROSS EAST ANGLIA
Day, Flexi, Weekly & Full Boarding School NURSERY
222742
homefrontwdws@gmail.com www.homefrontwindowssuffolk.com
SCAN TO REGISTER
• PREP • SENIOR • SIXTH FORM 233041
Framlingham College | Suffolk | IP13 9EY
206355
Fully qualified and insured arborists Free onsite quotations 197556
All aspects of tree work carried out
058088
Call David on 07786 21 21 30 www.mccarthytreeservices.co.uk
178651
Competitive prices
aters WayneilW d er
CARPENTRY & CONSTRUCTION
EXTENSIONS LOFT CONVERSIONS REPLACEMENT WINDOWS RENOVATIONS
All aspects of work undertaken including Roofing work Specialising in Barn & Loft Conversions Building Refurbishments Alterations & Extensions Bespoke & Listed Kitchens Planned & Fitted
Mobile: 07786 263075 Email: waynewaters68@hotmail.co.uk
For your FREE quote, call Kevin on 01986 948 200 or 07919 177 837
Tel: Westhall (01502) 575 970 0153853
NICK THE PLUMBER
Dan Sampson
07868 311504
Loves small jobs
D. SAMPSON ROOFING
dan.sampson1996@gmail.com
07803 396879
42 Broad Street, Bungay, NR35 1EF
197588
Free quotes and advice for all types of work, ranging from small repairs to full roof replacements. 234724 0587638
C.W.Ellis (Halesworth)Ltd
STUART FOSTER General Builder
Est 2000
C & G Qualified Tree Surgeon Fully Insured
Tree Surgery & Precision Felling • Hedge Cutting • Stump Grinding • Free Quotes
01502 575921 07899 713953
152343
212591
Tree pruning • Felling • Stump grinding • Wood chips supplied • Fully insured
www.hawthornhardlandscape.co.uk Over 30 years experience in the service, maintenance and repair of OIL FIRED DOMESTIC boilers. With an extensively stocked van and a comprehensive selection of spares, so most breakdown calls can be completed on the first visit. call
Paramount Heating
01986 782301 07771 658647
209001
187659
For all your oil fired boiler service or breakdown needs.
Karl Whight
PAINTING AND DECORATING 07967 802762
k.whight258@btinternet.com k.whight258@btinternet.com
All Types of Fencing Shed Bases Patios Driveways General Landscaping Groundworks
• Kitchen & bathroom fitting • Interior & exterior decorating • Carpentry • General building work • Clean and efficient • All work guaranteed
Interior & exterior Modern and period properties 01728 802762 688300 07967
07709536813 or 01986 875914
Fencing & Landscapes
PETE BERRY BUILDERS
147433
Free delivery to Halesworth and surrounding areas
01986 875596 (Halesworth) or 07831 878834 (mobile)
233767
SEASONED FIREWOOD
on
For a free no obligation quote Telephone
028538
Mob: 07908 262114
195110
• Gas and oil boiler installation and servicing. • Complete central heating system design and installation. • Landlord Certification. • Boiler breakdown and repairs. • Bathroom modifications and installation. • Heat pump installation
12 Silver Ley, Redisham, Beccles, NR34 8LX
086654
Extensions, Renovations, Plastering Free quotations Tel: 07826 766375 or 01986 469692
Tim Harrison’s Tree Services
Beccles, Suffolk
Mob: 07717176384 Email: peteberrybuilders@gmail.com
209605
Courteous, attentive, reliable New York | Paris | Beccles
213216
Bu
K.J. DIXON
165908
LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
Community News - November 2026 - 5
6 - November 2026 - Community News
213337
COOPER & DENNY Ltd
• DIGITAL TV AERIAL SPECIALIST • DATA POINTS FITTED • TV/SATELLITE MULTIPOINTS • TV AERIALS/ REPAIRS • FM/DAB AERIALS INSTALLED • SUPPLIED & INSTALLED 225405
info@waveneyheatpumps.co.uk
SKY APPROVED INSTALLER, TRUSTED & RELIABLE. 20+ YRS LOCAL EXPERIENCE. APPOINTMENTS TO SUIT YOU
01502 715234 • 07803 614410
0143685
191353
INSTALLATION • REWIRES • PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING CONSUMER UNIT UPGRADES ADDITIONAL POINTS • PHONE/DATA CABLING
Peter Wright
01986 948432
07919 026284 01986 875302
jamesmillerelectrical@gmail.com
Middleton Garage
HALESWORTH
General Plumbing, Maintenance and Emergencies
FULLY QUALIFIED PEUGEOT & BMW TRAINED TECHNICIANS WITH 50 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE
Gas Boiler Installs • Solar Thermal Systems Underfloor & Conventional Radiator Systems Thermal Imaging of Underfloor & Radiator Systems for Faults Power Flushing of Problems Systems
SERVICING • OVERHAULS • MOT TESTING & PREPARATION
MCS Registration No: APH 47349 for Boiler Upgrades Scheme
All jobs considered, large or small FREE ESTIMATES
simon@maunderplumbing.co.uk
01728 648859
Tel: 01986 873479 Mob: 07825 686006
230487
MOT TESTING & PREPARATION
190432
Air Conditioning Service Available (Re-Gassing) All makes & models catered for
07793 055099
FOSTER NICK ROUSE DANIEL PLUMBING & HEATING
Heating Engineer
Complete Heating Solutions
E. B. Button & Sons Ltd. Est. 1875
Directors: S.J. Moore, K.J. Eagle, C.S. Moore Dip.F.D. BTEC Independent, family-run Funeral Directors providing pre-paid funeral plan options
Please send any
24 St. John’s Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1EB
editorial from your local groups,
191977
Tel: 01394 382160 (24 hours) Email: info@ebbutton.co.uk www.ebbutton.co.uk
clubs and events
Tel: 01986 872882
Email: mail@mgcservices.org www.halesworthplumbingandheating.com
Plumbing & Heating
for the paper to
Cleaning Services Windows, Gutters, Soffitts, Facias & Solar Panels 229251
New Boilers, Complete Heating Systems, Servicing (Natural Gas & LPG), Landlords Gas Safety Records, Legionella Risk Assessments, Showers, Bathrooms & General Plumbing, Project Management
201949
40
213242
Exterior and Interior Property Maintenance
191559
07825622477
edit@micropress.co.uk
Thanks
499150
0184341
01986874926
JAMES MILLER ELECTRICAL
PAINTING AND DECORATING
517219
S G AERIAL & SATELLITES
City & Guilds Qualified 25 Years Experience Interior & Exterior Free Estimates
HALESWORTH
Simon Maunder
07982 709742
Painter & Decorator
The sign of building quality
26 Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon IP18 6SZ Tel: 01502 723366. Fax: 01502 724866 e: info@cooperdenny.com www.cooperdennybuilders.com
Gas Safe Registered
192462
Karl Andrews
Building Contractors
152407
07734 559790
Email: dunlop142@yahoo.com
07793 055099
07788 850762
All work guaranteed • Free Estimates
Extensions and listed buildings
Maintenance • Installation Air & Ground Source Solar Thermal Underf loor Heating Specialist
For control of Rats, Mice & Wasps
Plastering, Artex, Coving Guttering Replacement & Repairs Brickwork & Lime Work Pointing & Rendering
BUILDING REPAIRS/ALTERATIONS
All carpentry/plumbing/brickwork/decorating etc...
heat pumps
M. Daniels (Sid)
established over 60 years Full professional service
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
BUILDERS
WAVENEY
PEST CONTROL
Registered house builder
C J DUNLOP
159613
Tel. 07858 912558
ANDY HALLS
234555
Supply of aa range rangeofoffencing. fencing. Supplyand and Installation installation of We verity of Wealso also offer offer a variety of landscaping landscaping services. all services.Based BasedininSaxmundham Saxmundhamserving serving surrounding areas. all surrounding areas. Free quotation and professional advice.
180089
LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
Mallard Fencing
BecBun 7 & Hales 11 Community News - November 2026 234363
November 2026 - BecBun 8 & Hales 12 Community News
234265
Get festive ready
Plan your Christmas get-togethers As November approaches, the days are getting shorter and chilly evenings are setting in. Time to pull out the jumpers, coats, and scarves - Christmas is fast approaching! One of the real highlights of the festive season is the chance to spend time with the people who matter most. Whether it's family, friends, neighbours or work colleagues, there's something special about getting together, dressing up for the occasion and enjoying great food, good company and perhaps a favourite festive drink or two. Throughout December, local pubs, restaurants, cafés and hotels will be serving up seasonal menus, festive specials and Christmasthemed events. It's the perfect excuse to organise that long-
awaited get-together and make the most of the celebrations. We're lucky to have such a fantastic range of venues right on our doorstep, offering warm welcomes, excellent hospitality and plenty of delicious food and drink. With so many great options to choose from, you'll find plenty of inspiration in this edition of the Community News. If you're planning a festive gathering, it's well worth booking early, particularly if you're arranging a larger group. So why not get the group chat started, compare diaries, choose a date and decide whether to return to a trusted favourite or try somewhere new this year? After all, when it comes to Christmas celebrations, it's never too early to start making plans!
WE’RE OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY!
12pm - 4pm only £49.95 per person Children under 12 £39.95 per person Any Starter • Any Main • Any Side • Rice or Naan From our special set menu
Please call us for more information and booking We’ll be open: December 23rd, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 29th, 30th as well as New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
Tel: 01379 854559 • 01379 853587 20-24 Broad Street, Harleston, IP20 9AZ
Christmas Party Menu 2026
234657
STARTERS
Roast Celeriac & Thyme Soup (VG) (GFA)
Sprinkled with crispy pancetta and herb oil, served with warm ciabatta 234651
Chicken Liver Parfait (GFA)
Served with spiced winter chutney, toasts and dressed rocket salad
Kiln Smoked Salmon Salad (GF)
Tossed with balsamic beetroot, cucumber, spring onion and mixed leaves in lemon, herb and mustard dressing, topped with toasted pinenuts
Rumburgh Buck
Garlic Field Mushroom (VGA)
Mill Road, Rumburgh, Halesworth, IP19 0NT
Stuffed with sun-blush tomato, olive, Gorgonzola and fresh basil, served with dressed leaf salad and balsamic glaze
MAIN COURSES
Pre-booked 2-Course Christmas Lunch Special Incl. Mince Pie & Coffee £22.50. Served Tuesday, Thursday & Friday lunchtimes from December 1st-24th
Roast Turkey (GF)
Served with pigs in blankets, chestnut stuffing, roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips and gravy
Nut & Vegetable Roast (VG) (GF)
Various days available for parties of 12+
Served with roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips and gravy
Christmas Party Full Menu also available throughout December.
Served with apple and sage compôte, creamed potatoes, crackling and pan-gravy
Please phone to book:
Slow Cooked Pork Belly (GF)
(All of the above served with Brussels sprouts with toasted pecan nuts, broccoli and braised red cabbage)
01986 785257
www.rumburghbuck.co.uk
Pan Roasted Salmon Fillet (GF)
Served with rich spinach, sun-blush tomato and parmesan cream, crushed new potatoes and greens
Suffolk’s CAMRA Award Winner
Creamy Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper Gnocchi (VG)
Drizzled with basil oil and sprinkled with pangritata, served with warm ciabatta and a fresh rocket, olive and tomato salad
2 courses £26.95
DESSERTS
Traditional Christmas Pudding (VGA) (GFA)
Served with brandy butter and pouring cream
Dark Chocolate Ganache Torte (GF)
Served with pistachio praline and vanilla ice-cream
3 courses £34.95
Apple & Cinnamon Bread & Butter Pudding Served with pouring cream
Vanilla Pannacotta (GF)
Served with caramelised oranges and a chewy lemon cookie
01986 873365 • www.angel-halesworth.co.uk The Angel, Thoroughfare, Halesworth, IP19 8AH 234798
234776
234795
234693
Coffee & Chocolate Mints
VIEW OUR NEW WINTER MENU HERE!
BecBun 9 & Hales 13 Community News - November 2026
Phoenix Singers
4 ACRE SECURE DOG FIELD Up to 6 dogs: 25 mins £7 or 55 mins £12 – Book online
223201
07767 167821 • wissettdogfield.co.uk wissettdogfield@gmail.com Wissett, Suffolk IP19 0JF
231932
Phoenix Singers in Framlingham College Chapel
Beccles Soapbox Derby draws huge crowds for 2026 event! The third Beccles Soapbox Derby event on Sunday, 27th September was a great day, with large crowds lining the track on Station Road. This year's winners were Broadwater Boys, representing Broadwater Mouldings. The Public Choice winners were Shoreline Bathrooms, and the Mayor's Choice for bestlooking kart was the Jurassic Park-themed 'Life, Uh, Find a Way'. Town Mayor Cllr Joe Athorn said: "Like so many people I've spoken to throughout the year, our annual Soapbox Derby is something I've very much been
looking forward to, and this year did not disappoint. Expanding the event and working with the Sunday Market meant the track was lined with spectators and our town centre was enjoyed by all - it was heaving and so incredible to see! Thank you to all the participants, event sponsors, and spectators for your support. I would also like to add an extra special thank you to the amazing volunteers. This event, and every smiling face and precious memory made, could not happen without you." We look forward to the 2027 Soapbox Derby!
Our Jubilee!
Celebrate 50 years of music making with Phoenix Singers 2026 sees Phoenix Singers celebrating 50 years of music making in and around Framlingham with a performance of the Mozart's ever popular Mass in C Minor, one of the most exciting works in the repertoire, combining forceful choral passages with soaring solos of operatic intensity, and a fitting choice for the choir to showcase its renowned energy and choral brilliance. Phoenix Singers will be joined by long time collaborators, Kingfisher Sinfonietta, and vocal soloists Christina Johnston and
Katherine MacRae (soprano), Richard Edgar-Wilson (tenor), Rob Gildon (bass), and conducted by our newly appointed musical director, Tom Appleton. The evening's programme also includes pieces by Bach, Pitoni and Purcell, reflecting the musical passions of the choir's founder, Malcolm Russell. Join us for this joyous evening on December 12th, at 7pm at Framlingham College Chapel and celebrate with us at our Jubilee reception following the concert. For further details, visit: phoenixsingers.org.uk
Open Friday,Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm
wickhammarketantiques.co.uk
01728 746700
Unit 5 Riverside View Industrial Estate, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 0TA
Spindler Self Storage Based in Metfield, convenient Harleston, Bungay and Halesworth
Old Hall, Southwold
Individual 20ft containers, 33.1 Cubic metres of space Full cctv and owner resident on site Container delivery to your premises if preferred New build and secondhand shipping containers always available for sale and hire
01986 785335 www.uktruckspares.co.uk spindlers@btconnect.com
Find us on socials to keep up-to-date with lots of local news and events Entry is free, and visitors can pick their pumpkin directly from the patch.
A warm summer has resulted in a bumper crop of pumpkins. Like us on Facebook /yourcommunitynews
Record year for Southwold Pumpkin Patch The usual selection of barrows and carts will be available to help visitors find the perfect pumpkin, as well as a variety of family photo opportunities. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead, and Will advises wearing sensible shoes as it is a real pumpkin patch where visitors pick from the vines in the field. While the pumpkin patch is open during every weekend in October, with the Antiques & Vintage Fair returning to the big barn on October 18th, half term week (24th-31st October) provides a wider range of ticketed Halloween activities, including the play park with double zip lines, jumping pillows and much more, ghoulish go-karts and Boodle the Ghost's Trick or Treat Stamp Trail. Over in the big barn, there will be Halloween games and activities, and visitors can avoid taking the mess home by carving their pumpkin at the carving
station, with tools provided. The Golden Pumpkin Hunt will also return during half term; each day, two golden pumpkins will be hidden - one within the pumpkin patch, and one within the play park - with prizes up for grabs. From summer maize maze tickets to a pumpkin of choice free of charge, the prize will vary each day. "We're excited to welcome families and visitors of all ages to our unique pumpkin patch on the Suffolk coast once again," says Will. "There's certainly plenty of pumpkins to choose from, and we have some exciting new photo opportunities and Halloween themed activities this year too!" Entry to the pumpkin patch is free, with pumpkins priced according to size, ranging from £2 - £15, with free on-site parking. Tickets for the half term activities are available online in advance, and on the gate on the day (adults 226056
228706
• Gas Central Heating • Supply, Installation & Servicing of Gas & LPG Boilers, Fires, Heaters, & Cookers • Landlord Safety Certificates • Emergency Repairs • Hot Water Cylinders
07577 635651
The picturesque patch overlooks the Blyth Estuary £3 and children £8 online, adults £4 and children £10 on the gate, under twos are free). Southwold Pumpkin Patch is open 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th and 24th-31st October (half term), 9:30am-4pm. The on-site café, which is now run by Tudor Bakehouse, will be offering a seasonal menu, including pumpkin spice lattes, soups and hot chocolates. For more information and to book half term activity tickets, visit: southwoldmaizemaze. co.uk/pumpkin-patch
Vintage Clicks
CAMERA OR LENS TO SELL?
We are interested in purchasing good quality secondhand SLR and Medium Format Cameras, also Lenses
Tel: 0792 9340709 pturnerphotographics@gmail.com
230759
to provide water down to the marshes along the Blyth Estuary, which are grazed by cattle during the summer months" explains Will Hall, who runs the summer maize maze attraction, pumpkin patch and events business at Old Hall Southwold alongside his mum Bella. "It's been really useful this year for making sure our pumpkins haven't withered away in the heat, and it's paid off, as this year's pumpkin patch is our best yet in terms of quantity of pumpkins produced, there's more pumpkins than we've ever seen!" This year, Southwold Pumpkin Patch boasts over 15 varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds covering all shapes, sizes and colours, from the medium Mellow Yellow, to the large white Polar Bear variety, as well as the more traditional round orange varieties perfect for carving, and the edible Crown Prince and Red October squash.
09135876
A warm summer has resulted in a bumper crop of pumpkins on the picturesque patch overlooking the Blyth Estuary. With the return of Autumn comes a fresh appetite for family days out, and the team at Southwold Maize Maze have been busy preparing Southwold Pumpkin Patch for visitors throughout October. Open every weekend during October, and the whole of halfterm, Old Hall Farm in Southwold opens the gates of Southwold Pumpkin Patch, welcoming visitors of all ages to explore the patch and pick their own pumpkins. Over 15 pumpkin varieties were hand planted in May and, after a very warm summer, the one-acre pumpkin patch is thriving, thanks to an on-site bore hole, which has kept the crop well-watered during the heatwave. "The bore hole is mostly used
Follow us on Instagram @yourcommunitynews_
180833
Easy access, park right up to the doors to unload
November 2026 - BecBun 10 & Hales 14 Community News
Halesworth branch of Cancer Research UK
Southwold & Blyth Valley Wildlife Group
Community fundraising highlights and Christmas Fair date! As mentioned in the last edition of The Community News, we can now let you know that The Maze by Torchlight event raised a fantastic £1,366.30. We are very grateful to Bella and Will from The Old Hall Café for supporting us again; it's so very generous of them to donate all ticket sales to Cancer Research. Some of the committee and volunteers who helped on the night met up with Bella and Will to receive the cheque and present Bella with some flowers as a thank-you. We're also very fortunate to have the support of the Wenhaston Flower Club at their annual Charity Night, which always takes place at their October meeting. This year, we'd like to thank Jackie and Jane for organising a wonderful evening. Jenny was the demonstrator this year, and the £10 ticket price included a lovely plate of food, along with tea and coffee. Thank you to the ladies in the kitchen (we know that at any event, the kitchen is always
the busiest place) and thank you to everyone who provided the food. Thank you also to Sue for putting together all the lovely hampers for the raffle, and congratulations to everyone who won a prize! Our next event, our very popular Jumble Sale, will have taken place by the time this edition goes out, so we'll let you know how we got on in the next edition of Community News. It seems to have come round so quickly, but please make a note of our Christmas Fair date: November 21st, 10:30am-2pm in Holton Village Hall (see our advert on the What's On page). This is one of our big events of the year where we serve lunches. On the menu will be homemade soup, a choice of two mains, and a variety of delicious desserts, served from 11:30am. We'll also be serving tea, coffee, and traditional mince pies from 10:30am. Our priority, of course, is raising funds for Cancer Research, but we also
want it to be a community event where people can meet up with friends and neighbours. We try to keep the price of our meals as low as possible so that it's affordable for everyone, so please stay for lunch if you can! We'll also have our usual stalls, so if anyone would like to bake for our cake stall or donate a raffle prize, we'd be extremely grateful. We'll have our very popular tombola, as well as Debbie and Sue's Christmas stall featuring homemade preserves, Christmas puddings, and more. It's also the perfect opportunity to stock up on books and jigsaws for those long winter nights. We know this is unusual in this day and age, and we apologise for the inconvenience, but please note that our events are still cash only. Please continue to support our events, every penny really does make a difference. Thank you, Dawn Davis, 01986 873640
Get help at home where you’re comfortable
The Marine Life of Scotland's West Coast The October meeting of the Southwold & Blyth Valley Wildlife Group welcomed Rob Spray, a volunteer with Seasearch, to talk about the range of wildlife to be found in some of Scotland's western sea lochs. Rob and his diving companions explore this area in winter, and although they must be fully equipped with drysuits and warm clothing, the water temperatures in fact are not as cold as they are here. They moved from Loch Long around to Loch Creran, recording the marine flora and fauna found there. The lochs are clear and generally calm, but also deep and dark, and lamps are used when necessary, lighting up the brilliant colours of the creatures found. The rare firework anemone has
a spectacular display of long white tentacles up to 30cm long. Beautiful sessile sea squirts come in a wide range of colours. There are small-spotted catsharks, lion's mane jellyfish, and starfish. Octopus and cuttlefish are present. Loch Creran is known for its serpulid worms, beautiful marine tubeworms with pink and orange feathery tentacles that grow to create reefs that host many other animals. Seaweeds vary in each loch, from huge, tough beds of bladderwrack to fields of waving kelp. The quiet Loch Sween has maerl beds, red seaweeds that form hard, twig-like lumps that grow and intertwine, creating spiky beds that are ideal nurseries for a range of species. They are very slow to grow and can take hundreds, or even
thousands, of years to form. This is a beautiful area, home to many different and sometimes rare creatures, but Rob drew our attention to the two main factors that can damage this environment: fishing with dredges, and the large amount of rubbish found everywhere in the lochs. The photography was spellbinding, and we all enjoyed the rich diversity on display for us. Our next meeting will be at 7:30pm on Thursday, November 12th, at the Southwold Arts Centre. Alex Bass will talk on the Wildlife of the Brecks. Entry is £5 per person, to include refreshments; under 25s free. All are welcome. For more information, contact us at: southwoldandblyth valleywg@gmail.com - Penny Mansfield
Time to Thrive
West Suffolk - 01284 834483 (Ipswich, Stowmarket & Bury) Suffolk Coastal - 01728 666232 (Southwold, Saxmundham, Halesworth & Aldeburgh)
233910
Norwich - 01603 551444 sarah@walfinch.com www.walfinch.com
BecBun & Leiston 11 & Hales 19 Community News - November 2026
Azets
East Suffolk Council
Financial focus on...
Free parking for Remembrance events
The Let Property Campaign Introduced in 2013, the HMRC's Let Property Campaign (LPC) continues to be a valuable way for taxpayers with rental income to correct their affairs. One of only three tax "amnesty" schemes currently running (the others are concerned with offshore income and card payments), the LPC enables landlords to declare historic irregularities or omissions with the advantage that other omissions (e.g. failure to notify capital gains) can sometimes be included simultaneously - often with a lower penalty regime (but provided you tell them before they contact you about it). To access the LPC, you (or a tax advisor on your behalf) will need to contact HMRC to advise them of your intention to declare under the LPC. This starts a 90-day clock to provide details of the missing/corrected rental information and calculate the tax due on the formal declaration itself. Penalties and interest under are "SelfAssessed" although HMRC do give very strong guidance as to what rates of penalty they will
consider acceptable. Once you have notified HMRC of your intention to use the LPC, HMRC are then prevented from making a discovery into your affairs. Of course, if HMRC send you a letter inviting you to call and discuss a declaration under the LPC, it is no longer deemed voluntary and is now a prompted disclosure. If the issue is classed as a "careless mistake" (for example mis-claiming relief on an improvement instead of a repair), you may only need to go back six years and any penalty may be negligible. If, however, the issue is that you never told HMRC in the first place, the full 20 years may be appropriate and the penalty higher. Higher penalties exist for prompted disclosures compared to voluntary ones and whether the omission/error was "Careless", "Deliberate but not Concealed" or "Deliberate and Concealed". Discounts on the penalties can be obtained for volunteering information, being helpful and providing access to HMRC. Occasional landlords may ultimately not need the LPC. With the annual £1,000 rental
allowance, or the £7,500 Renta-Room allowance (available only if any period of letting of your main home overlaps in full or in part with your own occupancy) there may not ultimately be any tax due. However, you should still notify HMRC of the rental income as it is up to HMRC to allow you not to file Tax Returns - not for you to arbitrarily decide not to tell them in the first place. Professional advice is essential. Hope this helps. For further information please contact Robin Beadle (pictured) via email: robin.beadle@azets.co.uk. Disclaimer: Specialist advice should always be sought prior to taking any action on matters discussed in this article.
Parking charges will once again be lifted for Remembrance Sunday events in communities across East Suffolk. As in previous years, free parking will be provided in many East Suffolk Council car parks to support commemorations on November 8th. Parking charges will be suspended for a period of five hours, either between 8am-1pm, or 1pm-6pm, depending on the preference of participating town and parish councils. • Aldeburgh: 8am-1pm • Beccles: 1pm-6pm • Bungay: 1pm-6pm • Felixstowe: 8am-1pm • Framlingham: 8am-1pm • Halesworth: 1pm-6pm • Leiston: 8am-1pm • Lowestoft: 8am-1pm • Oulton Broad: 8am-1pm • Saxmundham: 1pm-6pm • Southwold: 8am-1pm • Wickham Market: 8am-1pm • Woodbridge: 8am-1pm Cllr Paul Ashton (Deputy Leader of East Suffolk Council and cabinet member with responsibility for Corporate Services) said: "We're pleased to once again offer free parking for Remembrance Sunday events across East Suffolk. Parking charges will be temporarily suspended in selected car parks to support public commemorations, but we also encourage people to consider alternative methods of transport where possible, such as walking, cycling, or using public transport."
Christmas Market on The Hill at Wickham Market Get into the festive spirit at the Christmas Market on The Hill in Wickham Market on Saturday 28th November, from 9am until 2pm. With over 40 stalls, there will be plenty to browse, buy and enjoy, with the chance to meet the makers and discover a wonderful selection of artisan gifts, festive treats and delicious hot food. There will be plenty of Christmas magic too, live music
and a special performance from the school choir. Whether you're looking for special Christmas presents, something delicious to eat, or simply want to enjoy a lovely morning in the village, the Christmas Market on The Hill promises to be a wonderful way to start the Christmas season. Everyone is warmly welcome, parking is free, come along and join in the festive fun!
Leiston & District Philatelic Society news The new season of monthly meetings of the Leiston & District Philatelic Society commenced on September 23rd with a display by member Alan Starkey titled 'British Bank Notes'. Alan's comprehensive and detailed collection covered a period from the early 19th century to the present day. It included early notes issued by regional banks in Norwich and Great Yarmouth, Treasury notes, and Bank of England notes spanning both World Wars up to the current issue bearing the head of King Charles III.
Common Ground Theatre Company
Alan's considerable knowledge made for a most interesting and enjoyable presentation appreciated by all present. To commemorate the occasion, Andy Soutar (Secretary) presented Alan with a certificate. Future society activities will feature a display of 'Railway Art' at the meeting on October 29th, starting at 7:30pm. This will be followed on November 25th by the Society's annual auction, featuring around 300 lots of stamps, albums, and philatelic ephemera. Anyone interested is welcome to attend, as this event
is not restricted to members. Postal and phone bidding will be available, so watch out for some surprises! Viewing begins at 6:30pm, with bidding commencing at 7:30pm. On December 9th, the annual Christmas Social & Quiz will take place from 2pm-4pm at the usual venue (see below), where the Society will welcome the Mayor and members of Leiston Town Council to celebrate the festive season. The New Year will open with an afternoon meeting on January 27th (2pm-4pm) featuring a display of members' collections.
This will be followed by the annual competition on February 24th, where members compete for the coveted winner's cup, awarded by secret ballot. Meetings from March through to June are already arranged. Anyone interested in learning more about the society's activities can email: alanmartin42@btinternet.com or andy.soutar@btinternet. com. Membership costs just £5 per annum, and all meetings are held at the United Church Hall, Leiston High Street. New members are assured of a warm welcome!
Suffolk County Council
Dick Mainwaring and Julian Harries in Sherlock Holmes Smells Evil!
Common Ground Theatre Company present their annual Christmas caper! Fear in the Funhouse! Terror in the Tunnel of Love! Shivers in the Shooting Gallery! On the trail of stolen artifacts, Brown faces a motley crew of churls and showgirls, led by Mozzarelli, the big cheese. For those who fancy a bonkers, surreal, and hilarious alternative to panto, book now for Common Ground Theatre Company's everpopular Christmas spoof! They've been tickling East Anglian funny bones for many years now with their hugely popular mix of classic stories and hilarious, surreal comedies and spoofs "madcap comedy gold", as The Stage put it. With their unique brand of music theatre, they've been described by Libby Purves as "one of the best things on the road in East Anglia right now... A proper treat." This Christmas/New Year, after the sweet-scented delights of last year's Sherlock Holmes Smells Evil!, they return in full bonkers mode with their traditional festive comedy caper, which this year will be Father Brown & The Carnival of Fear! A haul of recently unearthed
Roman gold and silverware, the Hiddenham Hoard, has been stolen whilst in transit to the British Museum! Maud Fiveways of the Hiddenham Archaeology Society asks her old flame Father Brown for help, but his investigations are disrupted by the arrival of Mozzarelli's Carnival! How will he find the culprit before the precious Hoard is sold off on the black market? A classic Yuletide mystery with all the Common Ground trimmings; sparkling wit, ingenious staging, hilarious songs, and surreal flights of festive fancy. Dick Mainwaring and Julian Harries star as Brown and Flambeau. Julian is known to East Anglian audiences from his many performances at the New Wolsey, Mercury Colchester, Eastern Angles, and Southwold/ Aldeburgh summer theatre, and to wider audiences from his TV appearances in EastEnders, Detectorists, Father Brown, and Mary & George. Don't miss this classic comedy mystery peppered with Common Ground's trademark sparkling wit,
ingenious staging, and hilarious songs, created by the team well known for their many Christmas shows both for Common Ground and Eastern Angles. Suitable for ages 8+. Touring to: • Hadleigh Old School (8th-10th Dec) • Seckford Theatre, Woodbridge (11th-13th Dec) • Harkstead Village Hall (16th Dec) • John Peel Centre, Stowmarket (18th-20th Dec) • Laxfield Village Hall (23rd Dec) • St. Mary's Hall, Walton (27th-29th Dec) • Southwold Arts Centre (30th Dec) • Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall (1st-3rd Jan) • Diss Corn Hall (5th-6th Jan) • Headgate Theatre, Colchester (7th-10th Jan) • Tithe Barn, Bardwell (12th Jan) • Gallery Studio Theatre, Ipswich (13th-23rd Jan) The full tour schedule is available on their website: commongroundtc.co.uk.
Up to 3,000 learners to gain engineering and construction skills A new project will support up to 3,000 learners, over five years, to gain engineering and construction skills needed to deliver Sizewell C and other Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP's). The Lound Civil Campus project at East Coast College, will establish a dynamic training hub in collaboration with regional employers, focused on addressing current and future skills needs in the civil and construction trades. The project will be funded by £2.1m from the Asset Skills Enhancement and Capability (ASEC) Fund, a £7.8 million pot secured through the planning process for Sizewell C and managed and allocated by Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council and Sizewell C in partnership to enhance the supply of skills related to Sizewell C, alongside regional needs and aspirations. The campus will deliver a wide range of training opportunities, to boost skills and support workforce development across the sector. It will cater to new entrants, career changers, and existing
workers seeking to up-skill, ensuring inclusive access to highquality vocational education. Cllr Vicky Armstrong (Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for finance, economic development and efficiency) said: "The Lound Civil Campus will open doors for Suffolk learners, providing them with the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to take their first steps into construction and engineering. From gaining entry-level skills to developing and up-skilling throughout their careers, the campus will help create clear pathways into exciting and rewarding careers across the sector. By investing in people and developing the skills our region needs now and for the future, the project will leave a lasting legacy for Suffolk. It will support the growth of opportunities around Sizewell and beyond, helping to position Suffolk as a leading place to live, learn, work and invest for future Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects." Rachel Bunn (Exec Skills Director at East Coast College) said: "The ASEC funding has provided us with the unique opportunity to develop a regional training facility to help
current and future individuals to receive training linked to job opportunities. The funding will allow us to create and deliver courses for new entrants as well as skilled workers." Cllr Tom Daly (East Suffolk Council's Cabinet Member for Energy Projects) said: "When skills and workforce are locally based, it provides a genuine legacy for East Suffolk, and the Loud Civil Campus is a huge step in that direction. This is not just in relation to SzC but for the many renewable energy projects that are currently operating and organisations that are being attracted, for example, to the Lowestoft Power Park development. It's essential that young people from all backgrounds have access to the training and experience that will make them players in the decarbonisation energy revolution that East Suffolk is playing such a major part in hosting." Chris Young (Head of Sizewell C's Employment Affairs Unit) said: "It's a national as well as a regional imperative to create more opportunities and build the skilled workforce we need for the future. This new campus at East Coast College is an important
part of how our region is responding to this need - and we are delighted to provide the funding to make it happen. We want to leave a lasting legacy of skills, employment, and opportunity in the East of England, and our relationship with East Coast College is central to that ambition: our partnership has already led to the creation of Nucleus, an on-campus employability hub, and the Lound Civil Campus is another significant investment in skills and job opportunities for communities here. We can't wait to see the impact it will have for thousands of people in our region." The project has been designed to be delivered in multiple phases. The £2.1m ASEC funding has supported Phase 2 of the project, the implementation of a Technical Operators area. Work to deliver this site is already underway. Phase 3, which includes the partial refurbishment of the previous site infrastructure to provide a new training area for construction-specific learning, is expected to commence within six months of the start of the previous phase.
November 2026 - BecBun & Leiston 12 & Hales 20 Community News
Painting & Decorating
C J DUNLOP BUILDERS
Property Maintenance
BUILDING REPAIRS/ALTERATIONS All Carpentry/Plumbing/Brickwork/Decorating etc... Extensions and listed buildings
tom Solo
162864
J C WOODPRODUCTS
Painters and Decorators
For all Sheds, Summer Houses, Fencing, Decking, Stables etc.
• Domestic and Commercial • Interior and Exterior • Free estimates
If its made of wood call Jonathan on: 01986 896930 or 07780 508872
Tel 01986 785281 Mobile 07944 647553 5 The Green, Chediston, Halesworth IP19 0BB
221770
ROBERT SMITH
A.R. MITCHAM LANDSCAPES
All aspects of Hard & Soft Landscaping Undertaken
CITY AND GUILDS QUALIFIED
Private & Commercial Maintenance
QUALITY PAINTER & DECORATOR WORLINGHAM INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
PAINTING SERVICES INTERIOR – EXTERIOR
For a GOOD RELIABLE SERVICE
Free No Obligation Estimates For a Friendly & Professional Service
Telephone: 01986 895991 or 0781 8898738
0325897
Phone:
Shaun Wright Tree Services
(01502) 716519
02134615
- Est 1996
Tree Surgery Specialists All ASpecTS of TRee WoRk undeRTAken 24/7 free estimates emergency Service
SAND • BALLAST SHINGLE • TOPSOIL CRUSHED CONCRETE MOT TYPE 1 Road Plannings
01728 440308 / 07792872480
fully insured • fully Qualified firelogs • Sawn Timber • Woodchip Mulch npTc. lantra A.R.T. c&G 10124087 10124087
045016
WOOLNOUGH
Tel: 01502 478894 Mobile: 07702 139291 www.woolnoughcontractors.co.uk
D.L. FULLER ROOFING
25 years experience
Can plaster and renovate walls to a high standard
195961
LEADWORD • ROOFING REPAIRS • GUTTERING
01502 714226 / 07941 052641
Call for a free quote
186211
Tile Slate Flat Roofs All aspects of Roofing
07766 944565
Dan Barber 07738 675549 01502 710830
Extra sockets and lighting LED lighting specialists TV points and data cabling Landlord’s certification New installations/rewires Consumer units and earthing upgrades Ventilation and corecutting 152015
KITCHENS & BATHROOMS • INSTALLATION • SUPPLIED & FITTED • MAINTENANCE
Tevola’s Painting & Decorating Interior & Exterior
D. B Electrical
HEATING & PLUMBING
176211
471801
07583 873959
Tel: 01394 411677 Mob: 07795 634947
D&G ATKINS
- Tree Maintenance - Tree Removal - Stump Grinding - Garden Maintenance - Hedge & Lawn Cutting - Turfing - Fencing - Soft Landscaping
35 years experience
For a friendly & quality service call Andy Mitcham for free advice and a quote! Covering Woodbridge and surrounding areas 180645
OF BUNGAY
• BATHS-SHOWERS • WATER SOFTENERS • REPAIRS
01986 835847 07596 932246 dg.atkins@hotmail.com
C. E. RUTH LTD Surface Dressing Service
Local contractors in Hot Bitumen and Pea Shingle Driveways, Parking Areas and Garden Footpaths. We have many years of experience. Old concrete covered. Please call Carl Ruth for a free estimate on Mobile: 07989 383248 (available 7 days) Tel Eve: 01728 652909 Curlew Green, Kelsale, Saxmundham
WANT TO REACH OVER
80,000 LOCAL PEOPLE?
TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS ON OUR SERVICES PAGES,
271563
Call Karen on
01502 725836
130314
Ted Meadows
FREE ESTIMATES
706807
01295802
Email: enquiries@ickingltd.co.uk www.ickingltd.co.uk
202920
LOCAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
captain.solo72@gmail.com
215211
07713 275221
01728 724987 • 07734 559790 dunlop142@yahoo.com
WHATS ON?
OCTOBER 29TH Ghostly Goings On Beccles & District Museum 3pm-5pm. Held in the Leman House, Grade 1 listed building, you're invited to spooky stories, ghostly sightings, witches & more. Free entry, donations welcome. NOVEMBER 1ST Differential Green Dragon, Bungay 2:30pm. Live music. NOVEMBER 1ST Human Nature - A Tribute to the King of Pop Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. Bringing the ultimate Michael Jackson tribute to the stage, feat. premier impersonator Edward Jackson, 3-piece live band, & professional dancers performing the King of Pop's greatest hits. £25pp. NOVEMBER 2ND Introduction to Acrylics Walrus Studios at Earsham Hall, Bungay 10:30am-1pm. Join Sarah Long Art for a 5-week acrylic painting course designed to take beginners from basic techniques & colour theory to completing a final canvas landscape. Running over 5 weekly 2.5hr sessions, this handson workshop incl. all materials & refreshments, with participants advised to wear old clothing/ apron. Spaces limited. Advance booking required: bookwhen. com/sarahlongart NOVEMBER 2ND, 9TH, 16TH & 23RD (Every Monday) Bingo (18+) Beccles Caxton Club 7:30pm-9:30pm. Entry is free for members to use the facilities. Non-members welcome, at £2pp, & must be signed in on the door by a full member. Bingo is restricted to 18+ only. If you're fortunate enough to look younger than you are, please bring suitable ID. Your Membership Card will not be accepted as a proof of age. NOVEMBER 4TH, 11TH, 18TH & 25TH (Every Wednesday) Bungay Scottish Dancers Mettingham Village Hall 7pm-9pm. Join Bungay Scottish Dancers for a fun, sociable way to keep your mind & body active through lively jigs, energetic reels, & traditional strathspeys. All experience levels welcome, just turn up & join in the fun! £4pp. NOVEMBER 4TH Meat Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. A bold, thoughtprovoking historical drama uncovering the secret 17thcentury relationship between a Norfolk tailor & his apprentice. £15pp/£17pp. NOVEMBER 5TH Folk Music, A Cappella Singing St. Mary's Church, Bungay 1pm-1:45pm (tea & coffee from 12:15pm). Lunchtime recital presented by Sound Tradition. Entry by donation.
NOVEMBER 5TH The Lover & Landscape Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. The Lover & Landscape pairs 2 classic Harold Pinter plays, serving up a hilarious, quirky comedy of marital capers alongside a poignant study on the failure of communication. £12.50pp. NOVEMBER 6TH - 8TH 14th Autumn Beccles Beer Festival Beccles Public Hall & Theatre Fri 6th: 4pm-11pm. Sat 7th: 12pm-11pm. Sun 8th: 12pm6pm. The 14th Autumn Beccles Beer Festival feat. free admission, 50+ real ales, ciders, & lagers, alongside local food & daily live music from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. A cashless token system is in operation on entry, & £4 refundable souvenir glasses are required for drinks. Raising Funds for Beccles Lido Limited. NOVEMBER 6TH The Vibetes Sing for Victory A Wartime Songbook Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. An uplifting wartime show packed with up-tempo swing beats, patriotic sing-alongs, & nostalgic hits from Vera Lynn & The Andrews Sisters. £12pp/£14pp. NOVEMBER 7TH Christmas Craft Fair Bungay Community Centre 9am-3pm. Discover delightful festive gifts & treats! NOVEMBER 7TH Landscape Palette Knife Oil Painting Workshop Fisher Theatre, Bungay 10:30am. Workshop with local landscape artist Jo Shepherd offering a hands-on guide to expressive palette-knife painting. All materials provided. All skill levels welcome. £30pp. NOVEMBER 7TH Peanutz Party - Going Back to Our Rootz 2026 Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. A high-energy night of nostalgia feat. full live band performing iconic 1970s & 80s soul, disco, & funk classics. £12pp/£15pp. NOVEMBER 7TH Henry Parker Canopy Theatre, Hungate Church, Beccles 8pm. Henry Parker brings his acclaimed 1970s-influenced finger-style guitar picking, original songs, & reimagined traditional folk tunes to the Canopy Theatre for an intimate live performance. £14pp. NOVEMBER 8TH The Sugar Beatniks Green Dragon, Bungay 2:30pm. Live music. Vintage Americana in all its glory! NOVEMBER 9TH Folk Night Green Dragon, Bungay 7pm. Live music. NOVEMBER 11TH The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. The silent movie masterpiece with a brand-new live score by renowned musician, Chris Green. £15pp.
NOVEMBER 12TH Cello & Piano St. Mary's Church, Bungay 1pm-1:45pm (tea & coffee from 12:15pm). Lunchtime recital presented by Will Bass & Will Fergusson. Incl. music by Bach, Brahms & Britten. Entry by donation. NOVEMBER 12TH Guy Fawkes' Mother Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. A compelling solo drama written & performed by Heather Leech, exploring the pain & silenced voice of an outlawed Roman Catholic woman during a time of fierce national division. £14pp. NOVEMBER 12TH Stella Goodey & Phil Brooke Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. Take Love Easy feat. acclaimed UK jazz guitarist Phil Brooke & powerhouse blues vocalist Stella Goodey performing a soulful live homage to the iconic Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass album. £15pp. NOVEMBER 13TH Fisher Book Fair Fisher Theatre, Bungay 10am-3pm. Hundreds of topquality pre-loved books for £2 or less, with fresh stock added weekly to raise vital funds for the theatre. NOVEMBER 13TH Quiz & Chilli Evening Mettingham Village Hall, NR35 1TJ 7pm for 7:30pm start. £10pp. To incl. a meal of chilli & rice (vegetarian option available), plus dessert. BYO drinks. Call: 07787 112280 to book your table. Organised by Mettingham Village Hall Association to raise funds for planned hall improvements. NOVEMBER 13TH Purple Jimi: A Hendrix Tribute Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. Paying homage to Jimi Hendrix, their refreshingly energetic & unpretentious live show is not to be missed! From £13.50pp. NOVEMBER 13TH Two Pianos: An Evening of Rock 'n' Roll Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. Two Pianos takes audiences on an electrifying musical journey through the golden age of Rock 'n' Roll, delivering high-energy hits by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, & more. £18pp/£20pp. NOVEMBER 14TH Art Exhibition: Denton Art Group Denton Village Hall 10am-3pm. Free entry. Some paintings on sale. Refreshments available. NOVEMBER 14TH 'The Buildings Archaeologist' Talk Needham Village Hall, IP20 9LB 2pm. Award-winning buildings archaeologist, author, & TV expert Dr. James Wright (FSA) gives a talk to Waveney Valley Community Archaeology Group on British architectural history as part of his national book tour. Tickets £8pp. Booking essential via TicketSource: ticketsource. com/waveney-valleycommunity-archaeology-group
Beccles & Bungay Community News - November 2026 - 13
NOVEMBER 14TH The Dave Thomas Blues Band Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. Dave Thomas, a decorated British blues veteran of over 50yrs, delivers a powerful live set of authentic, guitardriven blues honed alongside international legends in this fundraising concert in aid of Clinks Care Farm. From £15pp. NOVEMBER 14TH The Don Williams Experience Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. The Tulsa Time Band returns for their 10th anniversary show, celebrating the country music legend with classic hits & newly discovered songs from his latest release. £17pp/£19.50pp. NOVEMBER 15TH Quiz at the Hall Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. Gather friends & family & come test your general knowledge at our friendly & competitive quiz evening. Teams up to 6 people. £6.50pp. NOVEMBER 18TH The Searchers & Hollies Experience Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. Experience the unforgettable sound of 2 legendary harmony bands united in one sensational tribute show. From £16pp. NOVEMBER 19TH Piano - Duets & Single Pieces St. Mary's Church, Bungay 1pm-1:45pm (tea & coffee from 12:15pm). Lunchtime recital presented by Veronica Wilson & Rachel Warren. Incl. music by Debussy & Chopin. Entry by donation. NOVEMBER 19TH Billy Fury Meets Elvis Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. A fantastic, 2-man show paying tribute to Billy Fury & Elvis Presley. £15pp. NOVEMBER 19TH Sixties Explosion Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. Bringing the swinging 60's to life with top-class musicians authentically performing the decade's biggest number-one hits for an unforgettable night of music nostalgia. £20pp. NOVEMBER 20TH Ben Langley Live! Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. Ben Langley, the beloved pantomime legend & BGT sensation, brings his madcap variety act & signature eccentric humour to Beccles for a one-night-only comedy event. From £10.50pp. NOVEMBER 20TH The Seagull Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. The Seagull comes to life in RoughCast's fast-moving production, bringing out all the bittersweet humour, romantic entanglements, & poignancy of Chekhov's enduring masterpiece. £7pp/£13pp. NOVEMBER 21ST Ways with Watercolour: Winter Fisher Theatre, Bungay 10:30am. Watercolour painting workshop with local artist Richard Nichols offers friendly, practical guidance & expert techniques to help painters of all skill levels capture local natural landscapes & atmospheric scenes. £38pp.
NOVEMBER 21ST Chai & Chat Broome Mosque, Sun Road, NR35 2RW 2pm-3pm. Join us each month for Chai & Chat, where strong relationships brew, diverse voices connect, & our community grows together. Free event, open to all. Authentic spiced milk tea with traditional Pakistani cookies. For more info, contact: 07792 184465. NOVEMBER 21ST Auction of Promises Fisher Theatre, Bungay 3:30pm. 20th Anniversary Auction of Promises offers a fun afternoon to bid on unique gifts & experiences suitable for every budget, with free entry & all-day refreshments. No need to book. NOVEMBER 21ST Crazy Bingo Wortwell Community Centre 7:45pm (doors open at 7pm)11:30pm. A festive night of fun as Crazy Bingo returns to Wortwell Community Centre! Strictly 18+ (valid physical ID required). Advance booking recommended due to limited parking. 01986 788189. NOVEMBER 21ST Haydn's Creation St Michael's Church, Beccles 7pm. Beccles Choral Society with Kingfisher Sinfonietta & 3 professional soloists join forces to perform Haydn's best-known & most popular choral masterpiece, celebrating the creation of the world. £20pp, U16's free. Tickets from Beccles Books, Marian Fox: 07586 959326 & via email: ticketsbeccleschoral@gmail.com NOVEMBER 21ST Paranormal Investigation Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Bungay 7pm-12pm. Paranormal investigation with Ghosted UK, East Anglia paranormal team. £25pp, all proceeds to the museum. For tickets, visit: facebook.com/GhostedUKteam NOVEMBER 21ST Katie Spencer Canopy Theatre, Hungate Church, Beccles 8pm. An intimate live performance of 1970s-inspired folk & jazz-tinged songs, showcasing her acclaimed fingerstyle guitar picking, warm vocals, & poetic songwriting. £15pp. NOVEMBER 22ND Silhouette Stage School Winter Wonderland Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 2:30pm. The Silhouette Stage School presents Winter Wonderland, its vibrant annual winter showcase celebrating the talent & passion of the East Coast's rising young performers. Audiences will enjoy an actionpacked afternoon feat. everything from breathtaking acrobatics to graceful ballet. £14.50pp. NOVEMBER 24TH Café Neuro The Club @ 2 London Road, Beccles 2pm-3:30pm. Do you/someone you know have a neurological condition? Would you like to meet up with others? Drop in for a chat & coffee on the 4th Tuesday each month.
NOVEMBER 25TH Quiz Night Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. Inviting teams up to six to test their general knowledge with host Joe Edwards-Gill for a fun, competitive evening of brainteasers, half-time nibbles, & prizes in support of the theatre. £9pp. NOVEMBER 26TH Woodwind Quartet St. Mary's Church, Bungay 1pm-1:45pm (tea & coffee from 12:15pm). Lunchtime recital presented by Divertimento. Classic pieces & ballroom melodies. Entry by donation. NOVEMBER 26TH The Ed Sheeran Experience Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. The world's leading Ed Sheeran tribute! From £16.50pp. NOVEMBER 26TH Fright Christmas Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. A spine-chilling evening, presented by Raconteur Theatre Company, of 4 new Yuletide ghost & monster stories written by acclaimed local playwright Richard Melchior. £12.50pp. NOVEMBER 28TH Christmas Wreath Making Workshop Waveney House Hotel, Beccles Get into the festive spirit with a hands-on Christmas Wreath Making Workshop, offered in both afternoon (1:30pm-4:30pm) and evening (6:30pm-9:30pm) sessions. £45pp, incl. step-by-
step guidance, all fresh foliage & decorations, & your handmade wreath to take home. Advance booking essential, places strictly limited to 20 per session. 01502 715713. NOVEMBER 28TH The Mayor's Charity Ball Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 7:30pm. The Beccles Mayor's Charity Ball returns for an elegant black-tie evening feat. live entertainment & charity auction to raise vital funds for the 2026 Beccles Quay improvement project. £15pp (standing), £20pp (seated). NOVEMBER 28TH British Rock Experience Fisher Theatre, Bungay 7:30pm. A high-octane celebration of psychedelic 60s & stadium 70s rock classics from Led Zeppelin, Queen, & The Who, complete with stunning visuals & retro style. £12.50pp/£15pp. NOVEMBER 29TH Great Yarmouth Brass: Christmas Musical Extravaganza Beccles Public Hall & Theatre 2:30pm. An afternoon of festive songs & music to get you in the Christmas spirit! £13pp (incl. mulled wine & mince pie). All event details are correct to the best of our knowledge at time of printing; however, we recommend checking with organisers before you travel to confirm the latest info.
14 - November 2026 - Beccles & Bungay Community News
Vitality Fitness
Beccles Twinning Association
Exercise: The best medicine you don't need a prescription for reported feeling stronger, more flexible, in less pain and far more confident. She's now using her walking frame less often, and her posture and mobility have both improved. Her story is proof that it's never too late to start. The takeaway Exercise isn't about becoming an athlete, it's about giving yourself the best chance of staying healthy, mobile and independent for years to come. Whether you're 40, 60, 80 or beyond, every step, every stretch and every strengthening exercise is an investment in your future health. The best medicine doesn't always come in a bottle. Sometimes, it simply starts with moving more today. - Lou Savill, Registered Nurse | Personal Trainer Helping people of all ages improve their health, build strength and maintain independence through safe, evidence-based exercise.
References 1. NHS Digital. Health Survey for England 2016: Physical Activity in Adults. Leeds: NHS Digital, 2017. 2. Chau JY, van der Ploeg HP, Merom D, et al. Cross-sectional associations between occupational and leisure-time sitting, physical activity and obesity in working adults. Preventive Medicine. 2012;54:195-200. 3. Pedersen BK, Saltin B. Exercise as medicine - evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2015;25(S3):172. 4. Professor Chris Whitty. There is no situation, no age and no condition where exercise is not a good thing. Video statement, 17th April 2020. 5. American Geriatrics Society/British Geriatrics Society. Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in Older Persons. 2010.
What is Pétanque? Pétanque is a traditional French boules sport played on hard dirt or gravel, where players stand inside a drawn circle with both feet on the ground to throw or roll metal balls as close as possible to a small target ball (the jack/cochonnet) or to knock opponents' balls out of the way.
Willow Tree Landscapes & Design measuring the new pitch location
A little piece of France arrives at Beccles Quay with new pétanque pitch A new purpose-built pétanque pitch is under construction at Beccles Quay, bringing a little piece of France to the town and creating a permanent leisure facility for residents and visitors to enjoy. Led by the Beccles Twinning Association, the project celebrates the town's long-standing friendship with Petit-Couronne in Normandy and will provide a dedicated space for the popular French game of pétanque, also known as boules. Work on the new pitch began on October 12th, just days before a group from PetitCouronne arrived in Beccles for this year's twinning visit. Visitors can see the new facility during their stay, with a special moment planned for October 24th, when the Mayor of Beccles will plant the first Escallonia 'Red Dream' alongside the new pitch to mark the occasion. Beccles has been twinned with PetitCouronne since 1978, and generations of residents from both towns have forged friendships through regular visits and exchanges. Pétanque has become part of that relationship. In 2019, Beccles Town Council granted the Twinning Association permission to use a tarmac area at the end of Beccles Quay for games. In 2022, the town of PetitCouronne presented Beccles with several sets of boules. However, the existing playing area has become increasingly vulnerable to flooding and flood damage, prompting the Twinning Association to develop plans for a sustainable, purpose-built pitch. Michelle Golding of Beccles Twinning Association said: "Pétanque is the perfect blend of competition and camaraderie, and, importantly, it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It has long been part of our friendship with Petit-Couronne, so we've wanted to create a proper, sustainable place for people to play in Beccles." "We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make the new pitch possible. It feels especially fitting that our friends from
Petit-Couronne will be here to see the finishing touches during their visit in October. We hope the pitch will be another reason for people to enjoy the wonderful space at Beccles Quay, whether they're experienced pétanque players or simply fancy a go." The project has been supported by a National Lottery-funded Sport England Movement Fund Award and 'Enabling Communities' grants from East Suffolk District Council, with additional support from Beccles Townlands Trust, Waveney and Yare Housing Association, a Suffolk County Council community grant, and a grant from Beccles Helping Hands. The project has also received support from Beccles U3A, along with numerous other Beccles organisations and individuals who have helped the Twinning Association bring the plans to fruition. Beccles Town Council funded the plans and surveys for the new pitch, and the Broads Authority has also supported the project. The new pitch will add to the range of things to see and do at Beccles Quay, offering another activity in one of the town's most popular leisure areas. Paul Cunningham of Beccles Town Council said: "The new pétanque pitch will be a welcome addition to the facilities at Beccles Quay. The area is already a popular leisure space for residents and visitors, and the new pitch will offer another reason to come and enjoy this unique part of Beccles." "It's great to be working with the Beccles Twinning Association on a project that will further enhance the Quay and provide another facility for the local community to enjoy." Local company Willow Tree Landscapes and Design will construct the pitch. Creating a purpose-built pétanque surface involves preparing and levelling the ground, then building up the appropriate layers and finishing with a granular playing surface. Proper compaction helps ensure the pitch plays well and remains durable over time. Craig Andrews of Willow Tree Landscapes
Chiropody
232730
Fully insured & registered with 16 years medical experience
We come to you, at no extra cost! Contact Sue: 07392 398810
234078
• Athletes Foot • Corns • Reflexology • Callus • Verrucas • Ingrown Toenails • Nail Cutting & Reducing
234296
(England's Chief Medical Officer) put it simply: "There is no situation, no age and no condition where exercise is not a good thing." You don't need to run marathons or lift heavy weights. If you've been inactive for years, start small. A short walk, chairbased exercises or simply standing up from your chair a few extra times each day can make a real difference. Stay strong, stay independent As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and strength, a process known as sarcopenia. From around the age of 50, muscle declines by around 0.5-1% each year, affecting balance, mobility and everyday activities. Without regular strength training, many people have lost 40-50% of their muscle strength by the age of 70. The encouraging news is that this decline is not inevitable. Strength and balance exercises can significantly reduce the risk of falls while helping people remain active and independent for longer. As both a Registered Nurse and Personal Trainer, I've seen these benefits first-hand. One of my clients is 90 years old. When we first met, she was largely housebound, relied heavily on a walking frame and had lost confidence because she feared falling. After just six weeks of tailored strength and mobility exercises in her own home, she
231038
When we think of medicine, we often picture tablets or prescriptions. Yet one of the most powerful treatments available doesn't come from a pharmacy at all. It's free, accessible to almost everyone, and backed by decades of scientific research. It's called exercise. Regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways to improve health, maintain independence and reduce the risk of falls as we age. Yet more than one in three adults in England are active for less than 30 minutes each week.¹ Why is sitting so harmful? Our bodies were designed to move, but modern life often keeps us sitting for hours at a time. Prolonged sitting doesn't just weaken muscles and joints, it also slows our metabolism, making it harder to regulate blood sugar and increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and other long-term health conditions.² The good news? You don't need to spend hours in the gym. Every movement counts. Exercise really is medicine Research shows that regular physical activity can help prevent, treat or improve more than 25 chronic health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and even some cancers, such as breast and bowel cancer.³ Exercise also improves memory, mood, sleep and overall quality of life. As Albert Einstein famously said: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." "I'm too old to exercise" One of the biggest myths I hear is that people are too old, too frail or too breathless to exercise. In reality, once a medical condition is stable, physical activity is one of the safest and most effective ways to improve health. The benefits of becoming more active almost always outweigh the risks.³ Professor Chris Whitty
and Design said: "We're really pleased to have been asked to build the new pétanque pitch at Beccles Quay. It's a slightly different project for us, and it's been great to be involved in creating a permanent facility for the local community to enjoy. Projects like this are especially rewarding because we're not just creating a garden or landscape for one client; we're helping to create a space that the wider community will enjoy for years to come." The Mayor of Beccles, Cllr Joe Athorn, said: "We're delighted to welcome our friends from Petit-Couronne to Beccles once again and to celebrate the enduring bond between our two towns. Pétanque reflects our French connection perfectly, and this new facility at Beccles Quay will stand as a lasting symbol of the friendship between Beccles and PetitCouronne. I'd like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make the project possible, and I look forward to seeing people from across our community enjoying the new pitch." As part of the October twinning visit, residents are also invited to enjoy 'A Taste of France in New Market' at the Beccles Friday Market on October 23rd, from 8am-1pm. Visitors will be able to meet twinners from Beccles and Petit-Couronne, buy produce from Petit-Couronne, and learn more about the town's twinning relationship and the new pétanque pitch. And the October visit will mark only the start of celebrations around the new facility. Plans are already underway for La Fête de Beccles, a French-themed community celebration at Beccles Quay in April 2027, when the whole town will be invited to come together to celebrate the new pétanque pitch and Beccles' friendship with Petit-Couronne. The event aims to bring a taste of France to the Quay, with pétanque games and opportunities to have a go, French music and food, Frenchinspired picnic boxes, and other activities for all ages. Further details about La Fête de Beccles will be announced in the new year.
Beccles & Bungay Community News - November 2026 - 15
WEYBRIDGE
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
F RE E
BUNGAY WATTON HITCHIN
Town Guide 2026/27
Town Guide
Town Guide 2026/27
bro
t to you by
h ug
brought to you by
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
Pick me up, I’m
SOUTHWOLD Town Guide 2024
History of Southwold
bro u
Exploring Southwold
gh
t to
you by
F RE E
EPPING
Town Guide 2026
Pick me up, I’m
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
2026/27
F RE E
FAVERSHAM
Town Guide 2025
gh
NEWMARKET Town G ide 2025
t to you by
Horseracing • Shopping & Eating • Events • Town Map • Local Information & Contacts • Places to Stay and so much more...
Pick me up, I’m
F RE E
WOODBRIDGE
Town Guide 2025
History, heritage, food & walks
gh
t to
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
Pick me up, I’m
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
F RE E
SUDBURY STRATFORD Town Guide
bro u
F RE E
t to you by
History of Holt • Shopping and eating • Things to see and do • The Holt Owl Trail • Town map • Annual events and so much more...
bro u
Pick me up, I’m
h ug
Pick me up, I’m
with
bro u
History of Watton • Things to see and do • Supporting local businesses • Town Map • Loch Neaton • Places to stay & so much more!
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
Town Guide
Town Guides
History of Bungay • Annual Events • Walk, Cycle, Discover! Eating & Drinking in Bungay • Town Map • and so much more!
F RE E
SOUTHWOLD
Town Guide 2026/27
Town Guide 2026/27
t to you by
in collaboration
History of Weybridge • Things to See & Do • Walk, Cycle, Discover • Local Contact Information • Places to Stay • Town Map & More!
Pick me up, I’m
You can find all our
2026/27 h ug
F RE E
HOLT Pick me up, I’m
bro
Pick me up, I’m
gh
t to
you by
UPON-AVON Town Guide 2026
2024
you by
bro
F RE E
bro
Pick me up, I’m
h ug
t to you by
HOLT Pick me up, I’m
Town Guide 2024
bro u
Town map, events & more!
gh
t to
online at:
you by
Town Map
yourcommunitynews.co.uk
bro u
gh
t to
you by
gh
t to
you by
Village Guide 2025
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
DOWNHAM MARKET Town Guide 2025
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
and so much more!
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
F RE E
Pick me up, I’m
BANBURY ABINGDON SUDBURY WATTON ON-THAMES Town Guide Town Guide Town Guide 2025
gh
you by t to
gh
you by t to
Town Guide 2025
h ug
bro u
HADDENHAM
Pick me up, I’m
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
t to you by
t to
you by
bro u
gh
t to
you by
2026/27
As well as a whole host of other publications brought to you by the Community News team gh
bro u
Town Guide 2025
F RE E
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
bro u
HALESWORTH
Pick me up, I’m
bro u
F RE E
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
bro
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
Shopping and eating in Holt
Making the most of your visit
Shopping and eating in Woodbridge • Things to see and do • Town Map • Useful Information • Places to Stay and so much more...
Pick me up, I’m
History of Holt Things to see and do!
A town for all seasons
The Talbot Trail
Explore Sudbury
A town for all seasons
Places to stay
Things to see and do!
History of Haddenham
History of Abingdon
History of Watton
Shopping in Abingdon
Local information
Useful village information
Out and about in Haddenham Stay a while?
All the information you’ll need to explore this special village
Pick me up, I’m
F RE E
NGAY BnU w Guide
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
SCAN HERE
bro u
2026/27 t to
Pick me up, I’m
you by
, Discover! ts • Walk, Cycle more! ay • Annual Even p • and so much History of Bung Ma n Tow • ay ing in Bung Eating & Drink cial town explore this spe on you’ll need to All the informati
All the informati
on you’ll need to
To be included in any of our expansive Town Guides, or for any further information on the publications we produce, please contact the team:
01502 725837
F RE E
SOUTHWOLD Town Guide
2026/27
To
gh
Town Map
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
bro
All the information you’ll need to explore this special town
info@yourcommunitynews.co.uk
explore this spe
cial town
ht ug
to you b y
Bungay Primary School
COME VISIT US AT OUR BRAND NEW SHOWROOM!
We're so lucky to have a dedicated Outdoor Learning area for all of the children to use at our school. Each class has their own dedicated patch of land to grow and care for plants. We also use these spaces as natural art displays. Each week, classes explore nature and the seasons we're in. Year 3 recently made rainbow art with the natural resources found.
Common Lane North, Beccles (Opposite Lidl)
Previously Beccles Carpet Centre & Beccles Home Interiors Shop
Serving the community
here at Beccles Home & Flooring
01502 714008
beccleshomeandflooring.co.uk 215939
Beccles Museum calls time, gentleman and ladies please!
1 Common Lane North, Beccles, NR34 9BN
• Professional and Caring • NHS and Private Treatment for Adults and Children • Cosmetic Dentistry • Dental Implants
6 St Mary’s Street, Bungay 01986 893899 Daniel F M Evans B.D.S., M.F.G.D.P.
571963
Flooring Living Dining Bedroom Home Accessories & so much more!
ST MARY’S STREET DENTAL PRACTICE
The current special exhibition, Beccles Pubs & Breweries ends on the 31st October 2026. The exhibition and display have been a great success with record numbers of visitors during the summer months. The addition of a Sunday opening has proven to be popular, as many visitors to the Sunday market held in the Town centre have also supported the museum.
THE HANDY TEAM YOUR LOCAL, PROFESSIONAL, QUALIFIED HANDYTEAM SERVICE
From emergency repairs to full home refurbishments — we do it all! Whether it's a leaking tap, a garden makeover, or a complete bathroom install, The Handy Team is here to help! BUILDING & ROOFING
• General building works • Re-pointing, subsidence & crack repairs • Chimney & roof repairs, flat roofing, lead flashing GARDENING & LANDSCAPING
213610
• Garden tidy-ups, hedges & planting • Decking, patios, BBQ areas & fencing • Sheds & greenhouses installed/repaired • Brickweave & turfing
PLUMBING & BATHROOMS
• Kitchens, bathrooms & wet rooms • Toilet, shower & tap repairs/replacements • Cylinder & immersion heater repairs • Unblocking & drainage work CARPENTRY & DIY
• Windows, doors, flooring & kitchen units • Flatpack assembly, wall-mounting & general DIY • Interior redecoration & small jobs
Visitors have the opportunity to see photographs and history of the many pubs which served the townspeople, some no longer exist as pubs, but many house new businesses or have been re-purposed into family homes. On October 29th, between 3pm-5pm, you're invited to Ghostly Goings On. Spooky stories, ghostly sightings, witches and more.
The museum is a voluntary run Arts Council accredited museum which is free to enter. Donations are welcome to help fund the running of the museum. We're open 1:45pm to 4:30pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 11am-2pm on Sundays. Full details can be found on: becclesmuseum.org.uk
Help made easy! LOCAL TO YOU
Looking forward to your call!
ACCESSIBILITY & DISABILITY ADAPTATIONS
• Ramps, handrails & widened doorways • Safe, accessible wet rooms & non-slip surfaces • Full home redesign to suit mobility needs DRAINAGE & GUTTERING
• Blocked drains, high-pressure jetting • CCTV drain surveys • Full drainage installations & repairs
Give The Handy Team a call today on
CARD PAYMENTS ACCEPTED
01986 477000 • 01502 385031
Published, originated and printed by Micropress Printers Ltd., Reydon Business Park, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk. Tel: 01502 725837 © Community News 2026. All rights reserved.