Issuu

y News

D.C. Patrick

4 Market Hill, Framlingham Has taken over Grange News

D.C. Patrick

NEWSAGENTS

4 Market Hill, Framlingham Has taken over Grange News

NEWSAGENTS

Following

4 Market Hill, Framlingham saH taken over ngeraG News

4 Market Hill, Framlingham Has taken over Grange News

Following Bob s retirement, David is taking on the rounds covered by Grange news

David has over 40 years experience and runs newsagents in Halesworth and Framlingham.

Following Bob s retirement David is taking on the rounds covered by Grange news

Bob

Bob s son Craig will continue to manage the service and will be delivering 7 days a to all the same locations.

hope you will continue to support the ase e any q ound Woodbridge and the surrounding villages.

David has over 40 years experience and runs newsagents in Halesworth and Framlingham. aig wi the service and will be delivering 7 days a to all the same locations. hope you will continue to support the an h deliveries in and around Woodbridge and the surrounding villages.

Tel: 01986 874 305 & 07907 223 715

•

New Writing, Fresh Voices, Bold Ideas

INK Festival 2026

What's the most unusual thing you can do this spring? You'll have eaten the chocolate eggs, tortured the family pet, hidden the children's iPhones, and survived the Easter weekend... Why not try INK?

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WINTER WARMER PACK 1: £43.99

'Our FamOus barbecue packs' £39.99

Casserole packs for those cold evenings

x2 1lb minced beef, x2 1lb diced beef, x2 1lb diced pork, x2 1lb sausages, x2 1lb minced pork

4lb Flavoured Ribs

4lb

4lb Flavoured Chicken

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4lb Sausages

Between April 16th-19th, the INK Festival turns the town of Halesworth, Suffolk, into a giant stage. Over four actionpacked days the curtain rises on 70 brand new short plays performed in pubs, theatres, barns, the food bank, bowling club, town square and even on the local bus. In the evenings, the famous Cut Theatre welcomes stars such as Hugh Bonneville, and comedy impressions from Alistair McGowan, Jan Ravens

and Jon Culshaw. It's like a mini Edinburgh festival except it's a whole lot nearer, much cheaper and far more fun. Because these plays are short, you never get bored. That doesn't mean they lack ambition, wit, talent and twists. Famous writers such as Richard Curtis (Blackadder, Four Weddings & a Funeral) and Esther Freud (Hideous Kinky, My Sister and Other Lovers) have short plays on this year. And ﬁrebrand performance poets like Luke Wright are on show. What makes INK so unique is the magic mix of performers and art. There really is something for everyone.

An entire day of free events is organised on stages and tents

on Sunday in the town square and a host of activities including workshops are available throughout the festival for young and old. Learn the secrets of how the sex scenes are shot in Bridgerton with an Intimacy Coordinator, find out what a Voiceover Artist actually looks like, or how to write a play, or take a trip into the 17th century with the Witchfinder General at the railway museum, or enjoy the future of film in a special selection of the best of Suffolk Shorts. With so many curios on offer for the price of a day ticket you will not be disappointed! For further information and tickets please visit www.inkfestival.org

Festive lights 2025 Bedingfield Crescent

With much appreciation, we would like to thank all the people of Halesworth and the surrounding areas who donated so kindly to our chosen charity, the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). We have raised the wonderful amount of £500.

We know you have many choices when it comes to donating, and we're so grateful that you chose to support our charity in such a positive manner. A very special thanks must go to

the Community Hoppa Team; they do such a great job for our community.

Cathy and I get so much joy warming and lighting a time of year which can be so dark for some. Once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your outstanding donations and for being so generous during these hard times.

Yours gratefully, Cathy and Bob Judd, of Bedingﬁeld Crescent, Halesworth

Bramfield, Ringsfield and Brampton Primary Schools activities

At Bramﬁeld, Oak Class had another action-packed half term. A highlight was taking part in the RSPB Big Schools' Birdwatch. In the lead-up to our designated watch, the children made bird feeders and placed them in calm, quiet parts of our school grounds.

4lb

WINTER WARMER PACK 2: £58.99 Slow roast joint pack x2 1kg shoulder of pork, x2 1kg shoulder of lamb, x2 1kg brisket slow roast

10 Beef Burgers

5 Pork and Apple Burgers

They also watched a video of street celebrations and were fascinated to discover that the dragon is moved by people underneath it. Inspired by this, they decided to make their own dragon. The children painted the dragon's head red (learning that this colour symbolises good luck) and decorated the body using oil pastels before adding vibrant Brusho paint over the top. Once it was dry, we attached the head and performed our very own dragon dance outside. The children fully

embraced the experience! At Ringsﬁeld, our Nursery and Reception children have been learning about the polar regions. They have especially enjoyed researching the animals and discovering amazing facts - did you know that penguins actually have knees?

Honey, bees, and the WI

Small Barbecue Packs £9.99

Small Barbecue Packs

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All barbecue meat available loose including...

All barbecue meat available loose including... Fresh Flavoured Ribs, Chicken & Burgers

1kg shoulder pork joint, 1kg shoulder of lamb joint, 1kg brisket, slow roast, x2 1lb mince, x1 1lb diced beef, x1 1lb sausages

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Also Salads, Pickles and Sauces

24 HOURS NOTICE APPRECIATED

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Traditionally-reared local beef, lamb, pork and poultry, home-cooked hams and home-cured gammons OPENING HOURS

Mon-Fri 7am-5pm & Sat 7am-1pm

The children created pieces of bird-inspired artwork, using oil pastels to produce observational drawings of British garden birds. The best part was carrying out the bird watch itself. We did this in two locations: our outdoor area, where we saw four wood pigeons, two blackbirds, and a blue tit; and Castle Meadow, where we were lucky enough to spot ﬁve blue tits, a buzzard, three blackbirds, and four wood pigeons. We are looking forward to what the next half term brings!

At Brampton, the children have been learning about Chinese New Year. They learned how this special celebration is marked and explored the traditions associated with it. The children made lanterns and created lucky red envelopes with "money" inside to gift to their families.

Following this interest, we enjoyed a visit from a parent who worked for the Canadian government on Bafﬁn Island. He told the children all about the extreme environment, explaining that temperatures can drop to an incredible -30°C. We explained to the children how this is much colder than the recent cold spells we have experienced. The highlight of the visit was seeing the special clothing he brought along, including heavy boots, goggles, and a thick coat. The children loved trying them on; it was a wonderful opportunity to learn about life in such an icy part of the world.

Members recently enjoyed a very interesting talk with slides given by Catherine on 'Bees & Beekeeping' at our last meeting.

We were fascinated to learn that there are 250 species of bees, and that they communicate through vibrations, dancing, and smell. Each hive has a Queen bee who lays up to 2,000 eggs per day and can live between two and ﬁve years. We were amazed to learn that a single bee produces less than a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. They have an acute sense of smell, ﬁve eyes, six legs, and two pairs of wings.

The female worker bees clean the hives, feed the young, and build the honeycomb. We all sympathised with the fact that the females do all the "housework" while the male drones' only role is to mate - though we learned

drones only live for about six weeks! Each hive has about 50,000 bees in the summer, with numbers dropping during the winter months. Beekeepers look after their hives and provide feed if there isn't enough to sustain the colony through the cold. Honey never expires; it's one food that can be eaten even if it's hundreds of years old, and edible samples have even been found in the tombs of the Pharaohs. As one-third of the food we eat is pollinated by bees, the world would be in serious trouble if we allowed them to die out. We then had an opportunity to purchase Suffolk honey and taste a honey cake that Catherine had made - never let it be said that the WI hesitates to eat cake! Catherine also makes cosmetics and candles out of beeswax, selling her produce at the local farmers' market.

Halesworth WI

Honeybee feeding on English Lavender

Men's Shed member's sky dive raises £2,000 for local charity

A member of Halesworth Men's Shed has raised over £2,000 for local charity Halesworth Volunteers by leaping out of a plane at 13,000 feet, over the Suffolk countryside.

Ricky Hardy of Halesworth, raised the funds with help from local residents and businesses.

Halesworth Men's Shed will contribute £400 towards the total. The amount raised is more than double the £1,000 target originally set for the event.

Ricky is a member of both Halesworth Men's Shed (where he helps with furniture repairs) and Halesworth Volunteers (where he helps members of the local community with various tasks they're no longer able to do themselves, such as dog walking).

Karen Kerridge (Director at Halesworth Volunteers) talked of how the skydive has helped Halesworth Volunteers: "It's been brilliant," she said, "local businesses have been supportive... It's helped to raise awareness and we're very grateful to Ricky for being brave enough to do it"

All the funds raised will support the projects that Halesworth Volunteers do in the local area.

Day of Dance returns to Halesworth

On March 28th, the Day of Dance returns to Halesworth for another spectacular day of entertainment.

The event will showcase 26 national dance groups from across the UK and their traditional dancing styles and music. The event starts at 11am in the Market Place with the procession heading up the

Thoroughfare shortly after with massed dances. Dancing spots are spread across Halesworth and include the white Swan on London Road, St. Mary's Church who will be hosting the Folk Orchestra and a Cèilidh in the Riﬂe Hall in the evening.

The Day of Dance brings much joy, music, colour and dancing to Halesworth and we

hope you will turn out to enjoy this fantastic and unique event! The full programme of events will be available shortly.

There is a dramatic video available of the skydive, showing Ricky hurtling towards the ground at 120mph, the wind pressing his cheeks into his face. This is available on the Halesworth Men's Shed website, along with an audio interview of Karen and Ricky, after the event.

Of the skydive, Ricky said he wasn't afraid until the moment before he jumped, and would do it again. "I had to crawl along on my bum, to get to the door," he said, "there's no room to stand up".

The JustGiving page is still open for more donations. Donors can find it by searching for Halesworth Volunteers on JustGiving, where they'll find Ricky's 'Falling for Funds' page. Donations are also accepted at the Halesworth Volunteers office, at the Patrick Stead Day Centre, near the Rifle Hall.

The Volunteers Centre, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is keen to recruit new volunteers. If you're interested, please call: 01986 875600 or email: info@ halesworthvolunteers.org.

Halesworth Men's Shed can be contacted on: 01986 835905 or by email: shedhalesworth@gmail.com

It's March already and we're almost ready to start bowling outdoors. Weather permitting, we open the green for members on April 11th. There will be two Open Days on April 25th and May 2nd. We hope to recruit some new members on those days. It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about the sport; believe it or not, the majority of our bowlers started within the last three years. We will happily show you what it's all about and you can have a go.

We're aware that many people think bowls is an "old person's" sport. We're not ashamed of this. Bowls is a low-impact sport that helps reduce injury risk, boost cognitive health, and combat social isolation. We were happy to receive a grant from the Pargiter Trust, whose mission is to ensure older people have the support they need to maintain independence and live healthy, happy lives. Bowling is a fun and social way

to stay active, involving moderate physical activity and walking. Halesworth Angel Bowls Club prides itself on being a fantastic social club.

At the same time, we're keen to spread the word wider. With the aid of a grant from Halesworth Town Council, we're supporting the introduction of bowls into the PE curriculum of our two local primary schools, Edgar Sewter and Holton St. Peter. Each school is being given a kit specially designed for children. We hope to see them competing on our green at the top of Dairy Hill soon.

We know that we could not perform unless our green is in good condition. Nick Gardener and his team have done an excellent job improving it over the winter. It's essential that we keep it well-watered, and recently the Country Fair Trust helped us with a grant to improve our irrigation system. Thank you, Heveningham Hall!

Details: 01986 874521

mail@valleyfarmholton.co.uk

Halesworth Angels Bowls Club

Ricky Hardy with Karen Kerridge, Director of Halesworth Volunteers Photo credit: Jez Donaldson

Halesworth Town Council

News from Dee's Den for the Pear Tree Fund

As we recover from our mammoth jumble sale held in January (where items were sold at £1 and 50p) we're thrilled to announce we raised an astonishing £369.50! We also cleared a great deal of stock to make way for new bargains.

- Same/Next Day Clearances

a worldwide modiﬁcation to passport design and why for one person the passport itself turned into a killer!

This promises to be an exciting edge-of-the-seat talk so make sure you put the date in your diaries and come along. The talk is free to current Halesworth and District U3A members and for non-members, tickets are available at £4 in advance, or on the door at The Cut. Before our event, why not enjoy a delicious lunch in The Cut Café and make it more of an occasion?

- Outside Sheds & Barn Clearances

- Demolition of Outside Buildings/Barns etc.

- 7 Days a Week!

- Su olk & East Anglia

- Free Estimates - Call Joe Bennett today!

ANGLIAN FASCIA & GUTTERING

Reliable Rooﬂine Professionals. A family-run business with over 40 years experience 07947 320568 enquiries@eafgltd.com www.eastanglianfasciaandgutteringltd.com

Learn more about your house, your business premises, your street or your forebears with our new History Map

Halesworth Museum as you've never seen it before!

Winter is more or less gone, and Halesworth & District Museum certainly has a spring in its step! The volunteers have been beavering away through the cold months, and March 28th will see a new-look museum open and ready for visitors.

Brand-new and revamped displays, extended visitor space, an expanded talks schedule and a completely rejuvenated lobby area will be just some of the surprises in 2026.

One of the biggest changes is taking place in the Local History Room, which will now house the Halesworth History Map. This unique online resource pulls together information about local people, places and businesses in Halesworth. It uses public domain information such as

census returns, birth, marriage and death registrations, and trade directories. But the mix also includes ﬁndings by the U3A Local History group, including several 'people portraits', records from the cemetery and the membership of the Freemasons of Lodge of Prudence. This exciting resource will be available to museum visitors on a public-access computer in the Local History Room. Users will be able to explore details of nearly 600 buildings, around 250 businesses and more than 4,400 people. A printed user guide will be available to help people ﬁnd their way through the map, and we hope to run sessions to demonstrate the new tool. By the time the museum reopens, we hope to have linked

many of the images held in the museum collection to people and places in the History Map, and to have expanded into some of the surrounding villages. We also aim to make oral history interviews and transcripts available via the resource.

Visitors wishing to explore the Halesworth History Map are advised to book a day and time via: curator@halesworthmuseum.org. uk. In addition, for those of us who feel we might need a helping hand before we plunge into using the tool, the map's developer Simon Parker and local historian Kevin Wooldridge are hoping to run some demonstration sessions at the museum. If you're interested, please get in touch by emailing: halesworth.history. map@gmail.com

Thank you to all who came and supported us. A big thank you to everyone involved in setting up and working on the day; our volunteers are just amazing. We hope to have another sale later in the year.

There's plenty of new stock in the shop, including winter items and the debut of our spring wardrobe. We have a wide variety of accessories to complete any look as well as our nightwear and casual wear, which remains very popular. We also have children's clothes, games, toys, and books, all reasonably priced. Come and have a look in time for half term!

Our books suit all readers across every subject and a wide range of authors, priced at only 50p, £1, and £2. Don't forget

the CDs and DVDs for all ages at only 50p. We have new stock of bedding, curtains, bric-a-brac, glassware, kitchenware, pictures, and photo frames, as well as several small pieces of furniture. We even have plants and delicious homemade marmalade made by Jenny, one of our volunteers. Everyone is welcome at Dee's Den. We have our regular discounted £1 rail of adults' clothes, with an extra £1 trouser sale for women and men running for the next few weeks. If you can't see what you are looking for in the shop, please ask; it may be in the stock room or storage shed! Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:30am-1pm.

We welcome donations of clean, saleable clothes, bric-abrac, toys, games, and small pieces of furniture. Please drop these off at the shop during opening hours. On Monday and Thursday mornings, we have more staff available to help with sorting. If you're unable to deliver, we can collect. Please note we only accept new and boxed electrical items. We also recycle items that aren't sold, which provides extra income for the charity.

We're always looking for more volunteers. If you're interested, please call in to leave your details and pick up an application form. Thank you all for your continued support in buying and donating; we truly appreciate it. To contact Dee's Den, please phone Nikki: 07733 668221.

Mallard Fencing

Kinda Willow Dome

What began as the gift of a woodland hut has evolved into a Willow Dome, a willow alley, and a desire to weave with willow at Kinda Forest School in Holton.

Rachel, the landowner, explained: "I offered my woodland cabin as a rafﬂe gift to raise funds for Thorington Church. The person who won the prize turned out to be Lin Carter, whom I now know as a great weaver of beautiful objects. "Willow," I said to her. "I am interested in willow and creating a willow patch to grow willow to weave with. Come and help me harvest," she said to me this time last year.

Planted as an alley on the agroforestry part of the land, willow varieties with wonderful names were set out last February: Britzensis (yellow), Daphnoides, Whissender, Black Marl, Dicky Meadows, Dark Dicks, Green Dicks, Packing Twine, and Welsh White. It was a tough year (the year of the drought) but some have survived.

Undeterred, Louise (a creative Kinda Education facilitator) took up the baton this January and has led this second willow project: a willow dome. The willow she needed was tall (too overgrown for standard weaving willow) which she sourced from the top ﬁeld of Peters in Chediston. It was planted, no doubt, by his father-inlaw, the veritable willow weaver Wil Berry. Wil Berry was the husband of Jan Berry, who has a bench in her memory in the town park and after whom we will be planting an orchard on the land. With the children and facilitators from Home Ed on Wednesday, we planted 25 stems in a circle. They went into the wet clay earth easily. Each child added a name to their stem. A duck

joined us, enjoying the weather.

Our next stage is to weave in the diagonals. If you'd like to be involved in our creation, come along to explore the joy of willow. Forest Family School is open to all ages, and children are also welcome on other days too (details below).

While many of us may long for the rain to end and the mud to ease, the willow loves it.

• Home Education: Wednesdays.

• Family Forest School: once a month on Saturdays.

• Alternative Provision: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays. kindaeducation.org.uk

Kinda Forest School, Kaliwoods, Holton, IP19 8NQ

What's on at Southwold Library?

Whether you're looking for a brush with stardom, a bit of friendly competition, or simply a warm place to enjoy a cup of soup, Southwold Library has curated a packed spring calendar that proves it is much more than just a place to borrow books.

A Season of Stars & Stories

The highlight of the season arrives on March 7th at 3pm at Reydon Village Hall. Sitcom legend Jeffrey Holland (best known as Spike Dixon in HiDe-Hi!) will be in conversation with comedy historian Robert Ross. From Dad's Army to You Rang, M'Lord?, Jeffrey will share behind-the-scenes tales of a golden era of British comedy. Tickets are £12, which includes a full afternoon tea and a book signing of his new memoir.

For those who prefer their stories on the big screen, the Southwold Community Cinema at the Arts Centre has two poignant screenings lined up. On March 25th, see the fantasy drama

The Life of Chuck, followed by WWI choral drama The Choral on April 29th. Both screenings start at 3pm, with tickets at just £5 including refreshments.

Community Spirit & Friendly Competition

Dust off your thinking caps for the Friends of Southwold Library Quiz Night on March 14th (7pm) at Cardinal Newman Hall. It's just £3 per person for teams of four - remember to bring your own snacks and drinks! If you prefer a slower pace, the library's 100 Club offers a chance to turn £1 into a £25 prize while supporting local facilities.

For the tacticians, the Chess Club are meeting at 4:30pm on March 27th and April 24th , offering free play and coaching for ages seven to adult. If words or tiles are more your style, the Scrabble Club meets on the second Thursday of the month (March 12th), and the Mah-jong Group gathers on the 2nd and 4th Fridays (March 13th & 27th). Warm Welcomes & Creative Pursuits

The library continues its commitment to being a hub of comfort with the East Suffolk Warm Welcomes initiative. Every weekday from 2:15pm, the library offers free hot drinks, soup, and fruit. These afternoons are themed with activities: • Tuesdays: Card Games

Halesworth Music Collective (est. 2004) is a non-proﬁt team of music enthusiasts who organise regular events at The Cut Arts Centre in Halesworth.

The 2026 season features ﬁve standout sessions exploring artists and eras that shaped modern music; from Mark Knopﬂer's narrative guitar craft and the raw energy of Grunge's Big 5 to Bob Dylan's poetic legacy, the vibrant soundscape of 80s Part 2, and the winter lit world of Nick Drake. Thoughtfully curated and culturally rich, each event offers an engaging journey for music lovers across Suffolk.

Visit The Cut website for details and tickets.

• Wednesdays: Crochet & Craft Club (with expert help from Barbara)

• Thursdays: Rummikub (1st & 3rd) and Board Games (4th)

• Fridays: Poetry with the "Blyth Poets" (1st) and Mah-jong (2nd & 4th) For Families & Little Ones Younger visitors have plenty to look forward to this spring.

Lego Club runs every Sunday (12:15pm) with a "Wonderful Wildlife" theme. As Easter approaches, join the free Easter Craft sessions on March 31st and April 7th at 11am and 2pm to make bunnies and chicks. For the very youngest residents, Baby Bounce & Tot Rock continues every Sunday and Tuesday morning (10:30am), and the library remains a convenient spot to weigh your baby with scales available Tuesday through Sunday during opening hours.

Practical Support

If the digital world feels daunting, the Get Connected drop-in sessions every Wednesday (10am-12pm) provide free help with everything from smartphones and social media to avoiding online scams.

Book-Keeper/Accountant Role

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, flexible person to join our small but growing and ambitious team within a global company. They will support the Operations Director in all accounting activities across the business.

Key responsibilities will include: Preparation & Submission of VAT Returns, Prepayments & Accrual Journals, Fixed Assets & Depreciation, Purchase Ledger, Sales Ledger & Credit Control, Payroll, Bank, Foreign Exchange Account & Petty Cash Reconciliation.

We are ideally looking for someone at AAT level 3 or above, or demonstrable equivalent experience, with good communications skills and excellent attention to detail. Must be flexible and able to work independently but still be a good team player.

Based in Halesworth at our new premises at Halesworth Business Centre. Ideally working 1-1½ days per week, with some flexibility in working hours possible, for example to fit in with caring responsibilities (details to be discussed and agreed).

Closing date: Monday 2nd March 2026

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sue Innes on 01986 798120

Helping House Martins

'House Martins' was a popular topic for the February meeting of our local Suffolk Wildlife Trust group, and Martin Tickler brought his expertise to explain how we can support the declining numbers of these charismatic birds.

The reasons for the reduction of house martins are many and complex: the dangers of migration, habitat loss, lack of invertebrate food, and most particularly, changes in house building design. They are a summer visitor to the UK, arriving from Africa in late April, and leaving again in September. They choose sheltered spots, under the eaves of buildings, and their mud nests require a rough surface for secure attachment.

Martin offered suggestions that can help. House martins need wet, sticky mud, and in droughts this can be a challenge, so in some places, an area of mud can be kept watered for the birds to use. The prevalent use of PVC fascias and sofﬁts are unsuitable for nests, and Martin brought examples of nest cups made from sustainable material, that can be ﬁxed in place under eaves. House martins are quite sociable, and there are often numbers of nests close to each other, with birds repairing or adding to old sites. They will

adapt an artiﬁcial nest if need be, adding mud to make the entrance smaller, hoping to keep unwanted visitors out. There are dangers. Sparrows are known to invade and evict resident birds and chicks. Great spotted woodpeckers can rapidly destroy many nests, searching for food. Predators such as hobbies and sparrowhawks can snatch the unwary.

In a good season, house martins will have two, and sometimes three, broods a year, with two to six chicks. Both parents raise the young, helping them to ﬂedge, and juveniles can be seen feeding younger chicks, so it is very much a family affair. It was an entertaining and informative talk, and for those wishing to learn more, House Martin Support Suffolk can be found at www.suffolkbirdgroup. org. The details for our next meeting are a little different. We will be at Wenhaston Village Hall, IP19 9EQ, on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:30pm. Steve Aylward, from the SWT, will be taking us on a Botanical Tour of SWT reserves. The cost is £5, to include refreshments, under 25's free. Everyone is welcome. swtblythvalley@gmail.com

Penny Mansﬁeld

Kinda Forest School

MARCH 2ND - 7TH

British Pie Week

The Queen's Head, Bramﬁeld

Aah, the Great British Pie! This week, you can enjoy a handmade pie & mash with a pint (or other drink) for £16.

MARCH 5TH

World Book Day

Halesworth Library

3:15pm-5pm: Join us in your World Book Day costumes!

Children's crafts/snacks kindly provided by Friends of Halesworth County Library. Run in collab. with The Halesworth Bookshop who will be providing free World Book Day books! Free entry.

MARCH 6TH

Elvira Madigan (PG)

Electric Picture Palace, Southwold

7pm. 1967 romance/drama ﬁlm.

A married army ofﬁcer falls in love with a circus trapeze artiste.

Danish/Swedish with subtitles. *

MARCH 6TH

Master & Commander (15)

Electric Picture Palace, Southwold

7pm. 2003 adventure/war ﬁlm.

Russell Crowe plays Aubrey in this very authentic portrayal of a naval ﬁghting ship of the early 19th century. Cinema member, Viktor Wyld (step-grandson of Patrick O'Brian, author of the Jack Aubrey books) will introduce the ﬁlm. *

MARCH 7TH & 8TH

Daffodil Festival

St. Mary's, Henstead, NR34 7LD

10am-4pm. Come enjoy delicious refreshments or buy Easter or Mothering Sunday presents from our craft stall whilst admiring many daffodil displays. There will be a rafﬂe. Cash only please.

MARCH 7TH

Cut Sessions:Solana

The Cut, Halesworth 7:30pm. Brilliant 5-piece band encompassing folk, jazz & experimental grooves. £20pp.

MARCH 8TH

Southwold Daffodil Walk Meet on Southwold Common, near the Water Towers on York Road

10am-2:30pm. Circular 16.1km walk from Southwold to Dunwich then onto Hinton & back to Southwold with the Waveney group of Suffolk Ramblers. Picnic lunch. No dogs (registered assistance dogs welcome by arrangement). More info, Graham: 07986 184716.

MARCH 8TH

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsal

The Cut, Halesworth 10:30am-12:30pm. Come for a free taster session - no experience necessary, everything taught by ear. You'll receive a warm welcome. For further details, email: halesworth.harmony@ gmail.com

MARCH 12TH

Café Acoustic: Will Silver & ATOM

MARCH 13TH

Road to Perdition (15)

Electric Picture Palace, Southwold

7pm. 2002 Oscar-award-winning crime/thriller ﬁlm. Paul Newman, Tom Hanks, Daniel Craig & Jude Law in excellent action ﬁlm set in 1930s Illinois wherein a mob enforcer's son witnesses a murder & goes on the run with his father. *

MARCH 14TH

Spring Craft Fair

United Reformed Church, Southwold High Street

10am-4pm. Southwold Happy Rabbit Crafts. Handcrafted items on offer, all designed & made by local artisans & crafters. Shop local & pick up that bespoke gift for someone special this springtime. (Also on the 28th)

MARCH 14TH

Amadeus (PG)

Electric Picture Palace, Southwold

7pm. 1984 Oscar-award-winning musical/drama ﬁlm. The life & work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart seen through the eyes of his contemporary & rival, Antonio Salieri. *

MARCH 14TH

Sonic Wave:

Immigration Ofﬁcer Martin Lloyd shares these gripping tales of intrigue & danger. Free for U3A members, £4pp for non-members. All welcome.

MARCH 19TH

Book Talk

Halesworth Library

2:30pm. Carsten Clovelly will be the speaker. He's working on the ﬁnal book of a trilogy, having published 'The Importance of Being Peter' & 'After the Peter'. As well as telling us about his books, he'll be investigating the art & science of creating a novel, & the publishing options & their complexities. Free talk, donations appreciated.

MARCH 19TH

Cædmon Evening

Wrentham Chapel 7pm. First Cædmon evening of the year. 'Younger Than Springtime' celebrates all things seasonal with a programme of music, word & song feat. audience members who bring items to perform on the night. Interval with light buffet, wine & fruit juice. Free, donations welcome.

MARCH 19TH

20 per session, try as many as you like). 9:15am-10am: Zumba by Laura Dawson. 10:30am11:15am: Pilates by Helen Pybus. 12pm-12:45pm: Yoga by Sarah Lewis. 1:15pm-2pm: Exercise by Barbara Warren. To join a taster, wear casual ﬁtness clothes & trainers. For pilates/yoga, BYO ﬂoor mats. For more info, contact Charlotte: 07715 388916 or email: frogclock@hotmail.com

MARCH 20TH

The Secret in Their Eyes (15) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 7pm. 2009 Oscar-award-winning thriller/crime ﬁlm. A retired legal counsellor writes a novel hoping to ﬁnd closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases & for his un-reciprocated love with his superior. Spanish with subtitles. *

MARCH 20TH

Charity Music Bingo

performances by Rough Cast: A Separate Peace (approx. 30 mins): A man checks himself into a nursing home despite being perfectly healthy. As the staff grows suspicious of his cash and his past, his true secrets begin to unravel. The Real Inspector Hound (approx. 80 mins): A chaotic, farcical send-up of Agatha Christie. £7pp/£13pp.

MARCH 22ND

The Saints Walk

MARCH 27TH

Mini Film Festival: The Lavender Hill Mob (U) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold

7:30pm. 1951 black & white Oscar-winning comedy/crime ﬁlm. A meek blank clerk & an eccentric confederate plan a gold bullion heist. With an uncredited Audrey Hepburn. *

MARCH 28TH

Wenhaston Produce & Craft Market

Meet at St. James Village Hall, South Elmham, Halesworth 10am-2:45pm. A 17.7km countryside walk of moderate difﬁculty with the Waveney Ramblers around the Saints in South Elmham. Mainly tracks & footpaths will take us to several of the churches in the South Elmhams area. No dogs (registered assistance dogs welcome by arrangement). Please bring a picnic lunch. Car parking available £1 per car. More info, Debbie: 07905 948884.

MARCH 22ND

Halesworth Harmony Rehearsal

Wenhaston Village Hall 10am-12:30pm. First market of the year feat. Dexter beef, plants, honey, preserves, cakes, handmade jewellery, cards, textiles & woodwork. Enjoy homemade savouries & refreshments. New stalls are welcome. Contact Carol at: caz-mike@outlook.com. Please park considerately to maintain emergency access along Narrow Way.

MARCH 28TH

Spring Craft Fair

Anna Mudeka & Jesse Barrett Trio (Double Bill) The Cut, Halesworth 7pm. For the ﬁrst Sonic Wave night of 2026, we bring you a double bill of African songs with Anna Mudeka followed by the Jesse Barrett Trio - the new project of expanding jazz from the former Mammal Hands drummer. Tickets from: £15pp.

MARCH 15TH

Mother's Day

Halesworth branch of Sat 21st March

The Cut, Halesworth 7:30pm. Café Acoustic is a new ad-hoc event feat. under the radar & up-&-coming acoustic musicians. Will Silver (a collection of moving acoustic songs from the heart, with a touch of wry humour) & ATOM (Suffolk folk duo Nat Booth & Tom Potter, known for their mix of traditional & not-so-trad. folk songs). £10pp.

Saturday 14th March

The Queen's Head, Bramﬁeld

Our special Mother's Day menu is here! Book soon for the most in demand Sunday of the year.

MARCH 17TH

'Passports, Assassins, Traitors & Spies' talk by Martin Lloyd The Cut, Halesworth 2pm. Presented by Halesworth & District U3A. Explore how 3 passports changed history; from an assassination attempt that tightened global regulations to a spy's capture that redesigned the document itself. Former

Halesworth Music Collective: Mark Knopfler - Life After Dire Straits The Cut, Halesworth 7pm. After disbanding Dire Straits in 1995, Mark Knopfler embarked on a successful solo career, releasing 10 solo albums, 2 collab albums & composing numerous film scores, showcasing his distinctive fingerstyle guitar technique & storytelling prowess. Presented by John Griffin. £5pp in adv./£6pp OTD.

MARCH 20TH

Community Coffee Morning & Lunch & Free Exercise Tasters for Village Halls Week Reydon Village Hall 9am-2pm: Tea/coffee & toast (pastries when available). 11am-12:30pm: Soup & bread (& takeaway soup, BYO container). Reydon Village Hall Management Committee in conjunction with Reydon & Southwold Community Fridge & Pantry. Plus free exercise tasters for Village Halls Week 9:15am2pm (ﬁrst come ﬁrst served, max

The Queen's Head, Bramﬁeld 7:30pm. 'Feeling Good' theme. Songs that make you smile, feel happy, tap your feet & maybe even a few comedy numbers to make you giggle! Music Bingo replaces numbers with song clips. Listen, sing along & mark off as you hear them! Raising funds for The Pear Tree Fund.

MARCH 21ST Big Breakfast Holton Village Hall 9:30am-1pm. See advert to left. In aid of Cancer Research UK.

MARCH 21ST

Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund Cèilidh Reydon Village Hall 7pm-10pm. Cèilidh with the Once Bittern Ceilidh Band. £15pp incl. meat or vegetarian chilli. BYO alcohol. Soft drinks & snacks available. Book tickets in adv. with Charlotte: 07715 388916, email: frogclock@hotmail. com or online: ticketsource. co.uk/reydonvillagehall. All funds towards the RVH Golden Anniversary Appeal Fund to repair, renovate and reﬁt the hall.

MARCH 21ST

The Choral (15) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 7pm. 2025 music ﬁlm. A choral society's male members enlist in WWI, leaving the demanding Dr. Guthrie to recruit teenagers. Together, they experience the joy of singing. *

MARCH 21ST

Rough Cast present: 2 Plays by Tom Stoppard The Cut, Halesworth 7:30pm. Experience an evening of mystery & wit with 2 captivating

MARCH 25TH

The Life of Chuck (15) Southwold Arts Centre 3pm. Southwold Community Cinema. Drama/Fantasy. From childhood to adulthood, Charles "Chuck" Krantz experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, & the multitudes contained in all of us. £5pp (incl. refreshments). Book at: southwoldartscentre. co.uk or 01502 722572.

MARCH 27TH

Mini Film Festival:

The Ladykillers (U) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 2:30pm. 1955 dark comedy/crime ﬁlm. 5 oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they're classical musicians. *

MARCH 27TH

Mini Film Festival: Whisky Galore (U) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 5pm. 1949 comedy/crime ﬁlm. Scottish islanders try to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship. *

United Reformed Church, Southwold High Street 10am-4pm. Southwold Happy Rabbit Crafts. Handcrafted items on offer, all designed & made by local artisans & crafters. Shop local & pick up that bespoke gift for someone special this springtime. (Also on the 14th).

MARCH 28TH Day of Dance

Halesworth Market Place

11am. The spectacular Day of Dance returns to Halesworth this March, bringing together 26 national dance groups for a vibrant celebration of traditional music & movement. The festivities begin at 11am in the Market Place with a lively procession heading up the Thoroughfare for massed dancing, followed by performances at various locations incl. The White Swan and St. Mary's Church. After a day ﬁlled with colour & joy, the event concludes with an evening Cèilidh at the Riﬂe Hall. This unique event is free to attend.

MARCH 28TH

Mini Film Festival: Passport to Pimlico (U) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 2:30pm. 1949 black & white comedy/drama ﬁlm. Part of the London neighbourhood of Pimlico is discovered to be foreign territory when an old treaty is found. *

MARCH 28TH

Mini Film Festival: Carry On Up The Khyber (PG) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 5pm. 1968 slapstick/adventure/ comedy ﬁlm. Classic Carry On adventure with the usual gang as the Khasi of Kalabar. *

MARCH 28TH

Mini Film Festival: I'm All Right

Jack (U) Electric Picture Palace, Southwold 7:30pm. 1959 comedy/satire BAFTA-award-winning ﬁlm. A naive, dimwitted young man of aristocratic background in search of a career becomes caught up in the struggles between his proﬁtminded uncle & an aggressive labour union. *

MARCH 28TH

Cut Sessions: Soft Machine The Cut, Halesworth 7:30pm. One of the greatest UK avant/jazz-rock bands of all time.

John Etheridge (Guitar), Theo Travis (Woodwind & Keys), Asaf Sirkis (Drums) & Fred Thelonious Baker (Bass). £25pp.

MARCH 29TH

Westhall Charity FC Match

Benhall, IP17 1HE 1pm kick off (12pm meet). Raising funds for MND. If you'd like to get involved, contact Will on 07970 639860. Player match fees £10. Bar will be open.

*To book tickets at Southwold's Electric Picture Palace, please email: boxofﬁce@ southwoldcinema.co.uk

March at Halesworth Library

Celebrate the National Year of Reading with us here at Halesworth Library and spring into a new book! Did you know that the library can deliver books and audiobooks straight to your door? If you're unable to visit the library, one of our friendly volunteers can come to you. Please contact us on 01986 506062 for more details.

Courtesy of The Friends of Halesworth County Library and East Suffolk Council, we're still offering you a very warm welcome! We provide a warm space with hot drinks and snacks available, alongside hygiene products on request. The library also hosts regular activities and drop-ins. Come and join us every Tuesday from 10am-11:30am for a free Rhyme

Time & Play session to sing fun songs, followed by free play with our toys. Refreshments are also provided for parents!

On Wednesdays from 10am, our Time Out sociable group for older people meets for tea and biscuits. The Knit & Natter group meets on alternate Tuesdays from 2pm-4pm. Lego Club runs every Saturday, 11am-12pm, and Family Fun Time every Sunday, 10:30am-11:30am. You can also drop in for advice from the East Suffolk Council customer services team every Tuesday, 10am-4pm, and Citizens Advice is here alternate Tuesdays, 10am12pm. Please ask a member of staff for more details.

With World Book Day on the way, come and join us at the library on March 5th, from

3:15pm-5pm for some afterschool fun! We'd love to see you there in your World Book Day costumes. Children's crafts and snacks are kindly provided by the Friends of Halesworth County Library. This event is run in collaboration with The Halesworth Bookshop, which will be providing your free World Book Day books!

The Friends of Halesworth Library are inviting you to join us for Sociable Sundays on 8th and 22nd March: meet new people and enjoy a chat over cake and a cuppa in the library! Pop in anytime between 10:30am and 12:30pm. Join the Friends for their Board Games Café on 30th March, 2pm-4:30pm. There are plenty of games to choose from, or feel free to bring along

Formed in Valencia and now a staple of Bristol’s music scene, Solana is a virtuosic ﬁve-piece band (Tamsin Elliott, Rowan Elliott, Peter Collins, Elio Arauz de Marcos and Henry Edmonds) that weaves folk, jazz, and experimental grooves into an inventive sonic tapestry ranging from the contemplative to the euphoric.

your own favourites. Join us to have a fun afternoon, meet new friends, and enjoy tea and cake! We suggest a donation of £1 to the Friends of the Library, who kindly volunteer to run these events.

The Friends will also be hosting a book talk on March 19th at 2:30pm. The speaker is Carsten Clovelly, who is working on the ﬁnal book of a trilogy, having published The Importance of Being Peter and After the Peter. As well as telling us about his books, he'll be investigating the art and science of creating a novel, alongside publishing options and their complexities. He describes his books as "a one-man campaign to bring back whimsy. Think Jeeves and Wooster - if Jeeves was a wolfhound."

This new adhoc event in The Cut Concourse showcases exceptional under-the-radar acoustic talent.

Veteran songwriter Will Silver performs moving, wryly humorous selections from his recent album ‘Love Blues’ alongside a new tribute to the River Waveney, while Suffolk folk duo ATOM brings a fresh, experimental edge to traditional and contemporary sounds.

A unique opportunity to catch 2 acts fresh from the Folk East Festival circuit in an intimate local setting.

Kick off Sonic Wave 2026 with a global double bill featuring Zimbabwean polymath Anna Mudeka and the virtuosic, jazz-fusion sounds of the Jesse Barrett Trio.

This immersive evening begins at 6pm with an optional vegetarian feast and a performance by the Halesworth Harmony Choir, followed by the main theatre concerts at 7:30pm. Free entry for under-18s and special meal-inclusive packages available for advance bookers.

Former immigration ofﬁcer Martin Lloyd explores the thrilling and often lethal history of travel documents, revealing how assassination attempts and espionage have shaped passport design over the decades.

This gripping talk uncovers the hidden stories of three speciﬁc passports that altered the course of history, including one that ultimately turned into a killer. All are welcome to attend.

After disbanding Dire Straits in 1995, Mark Knopfler embarked on a successful solo career, releasing 10 solo albums, 2 collaborative albums and composing numerous film scores, showcasing his distinctive finger-style guitar technique and storytelling prowess. Presented by John Griffin.

A witty Tom Stoppard double bill featuring the mysterious ‘A Separate Peace’ and the riotous murder-mystery farce ‘The Real Inspector Hound’. From a healthy man checking himself into a nursing home to theatre critics getting sucked into a chaotic stage play of mistaken identities, this evening offers a master-class in satire and suspense. The performance runs approx. 2 hours, incl. interval

Experience an evocative night of words, music, and food featuring world-renowned Palestinian composer and oud player Saied Silbak. Silbak blends Arabic traditions with jazz and classical inﬂuences to create a sophisticated global sound in support of the Palestine Trauma Centre (UK) and The Olive Harvest Trust. This fundraising event offers a unique opportunity to enjoy boundaryblurring music while contributing to vital humanitarian causes.

Legendary avant-jazz-rock pioneers Soft Machine bring their genre-defying sound to The Cut, spanning everything from 1960s psychedelia to modern progressive fusion. Featuring guitar great John Etheridge alongside Theo Travis, Asaf Sirkis, and Fred Thelonious Baker, the band continues to push boundaries with a masterful mix of ambient loops and free improvisation. A rare opportunity to witness one of Europe’s most inﬂuential and atmospheric experimental groups live.

Neat Feet

“PROFeSSIONaL FOOt caRe” in your own home

Angela Moore Dip FH MCF HP (surgical) MAFAP (Footcare) MVR Reg.No. 24490 FHP tel: 07900 506611

VICTOR’S BARBER SHOP

48b Thoroughfare, Halesworth IP19 8AR Telephone: 01986 899846

Victor & Layla welcome you! Find us on Facebook!

HOOKER HOUSE DENTAL PRACTICE

Serving the community

• Professional and Caring

• NHS and Private Treatment for Adults and Children

• Cosmetic Dentistry

• Dental Implants

Quay Street, Halesworth 01986 872113

Daniel F M Evans B.D.S., M.F.G.D.P.

Hair Lounge Lucille’s

To advertise in Community News, call Karen on 01502 725 836

Oaklands House Care Home Lowestoft Road, Southwold, IP18 6RY

Later life can be enjoyed in style at our hotel-style care home, where a happy and homely atmosphere prevails. Our warm and experienced care team always put residents’ wellbeing at the heart of everything they do.

Call 01502 447722 healthcarehomes.co.uk

Jumping, Driving, and Dining

Supporting our community together

News from Halesworth Volunteers (HV). Falling for Funds

local businesses, and individual donations.

Thank you to our superhero, Ricky Hardy, who courageously jumped from an aeroplane at 13,000 feet to raise funds for HV. Total respect to you for your incredible bravery, Ricky! 'Falling for Funds' has now raised the staggering sum of £2,200. Special thanks to our sponsors, E&E Hurren Builders, and to the local businesses and organisations that have supported; including Halesworth Men's Shed, Allen's Butchers, Mark Carter Accountancy, The Tap Room, Hetty's Little Copy Shop, and David Patrick's Newsagents. Finally, thank you to all who made a donation; your generosity has been truly heartwarming.

Community Car Service

A very warm welcome to our new volunteer drivers. Our Community Car Service offers transport for medical appointments, shopping trips, and essential outings, ensuring people remain independent, stay connected, and are able to meet their everyday needs. Our drivers support mostly older people, vulnerable adults, and those with mobility challenges. Our dedicated volunteers go above and beyond to ensure people get to their destinations on time and home again safely. If you're interested in joining us, or to enquire about using the service, please call: 01986 874290.

Halesworth Community Larder

Five years on, this summer will mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Halesworth Community Larder. Set up at the height of the pandemic by the Church in partnership with Halesworth Volunteers, it provided a safe space for the most vulnerable members of our community to shop and find support. Initially, the shelves were stocked with donated government food boxes; however, as the financial impact of the lockdown became clear, we were generously supported by government grants,

Thankfully, those dark days are behind us, but the Larder remains a much-valued community facility. Its core value (being a welcoming space for any member of the community) still stands. Our "bring and share" ethos remains vital, and during the summer we receive fantastic donations of fresh fruit and vegetables from local professional growers and gardeners alike. Each week, Halesworth Co-op and Tudor Bakehouse generously donate unsold bread and pastries, and we also subscribe to FareShare to receive regular supplies of surplus food.

Over the last year, we've focused on projects designed to help those struggling with food poverty eat as healthily as possible.

We held an open day for families featuring a visit from Norfolk mini therapy donkeys, a healthy picnic lunch, and a delicious low-cost chilli prepared by one of our volunteers to demonstrate nutritious cooking on a budget.

This same volunteer has also produced a larder recipe book, available in local shops and on Amazon. Having refurbished the hall kitchen, we're now looking to batch-cook fresh meals and offer further cookery demos by local professional chefs.

Keeping shelves stocked with basics is a constant challenge. We're very grateful for donations of tinned food, toiletries, and household essentials. We now ask shoppers for a minimum donation of £3 as we buy the majority of our stock ourselves. This is because most tinned and ambient products no longer carry "best before" dates and are not routinely donated by supermarkets.

Donations can be dropped off at the Larder or the HV Ofﬁce at the Patrick Stead Centre, London Road, Halesworth. There's also donation boxes in Wenhaston, Bramﬁeld, and Spexhall churches, and on The Street in Rumburgh.

We're also looking for new volunteers to serve shoppers or

Slimming World

My members are really enjoying the new group format and the changes to Food Optimising! With spring on the way and thoughts of summer not far behind, now could be the perfect time to come and find out how, just by making a few changes, you can enjoy family friendly food and lose weight beautifully! Imagine trying on your summer wardrobe and finding it fits perfectly because you joined one of my friendly Halesworth groups (much easier than having to buy a new summer wardrobe a size bigger!) Summer won't wait - now is the time to get started! Members who decide to commit to six or

12 weeks of support, not only save money but will also get a copy of our brand new cookbook 'Ultimate Fakeaways' absolutely free! Featuring 70+ recipes, I know this is going to be so popular with all my members and runs until March 3rd, so don't delay.

I'll look forward to meeting and supporting you. As always, please feel free to get in touch if you need any further information or just come alongno appointment needed! Find us at Halesworth Day Centre, The Old Courthouse, London Road, Halesworth, IP18 9LW on Tuesdays 9:30am, 5:30pm and 7pm. Contact me, Bev Hansey on 07912 849995.

help with food-based activities. The Larder's open every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 10am-11:30am. You'll be warmly welcomed! For more info, email: larder@halesworth volunteers.org

Isolation Busters

Our programme provides social support to isolated older and vulnerable people. Isolation Busting is about bringing people together (whether through intergenerational befriending or group activities like lunches, afternoon teas, and trips) to build lasting friendships.

Our team of volunteer shoppers continues to support those who struggle to shop independently. A big thank you to Gabrielle Maughan for her help over the last six years. We wish Gabrielle well with her upcoming move, we'll miss you!

We were disappointed to learn the contract for NHS Talking Therapies Socials & Peer Support ended last month. Steve Warner started the 'Chinny's Coffee & Chat' social approx. eight years ago, and we've worked in partnership since the pandemic. Coffee & Chat is a relaxed opportunity to connect with likeminded people. We're pleased to announce that HV will continue these socials on the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month. Our next date is March 3rd at Chinny's from 12pm-2pm. To learn more about Isolation Busters, befriending, or shopping support, call: 01986 875600 or email: info@halesworthvolunteers.org

Volunteer Recruitment Campaign

We're excited to be working with Halesworth Town Council, supported by the East Suffolk Community Partnership, on a new campaign to boost local volunteering. All local voluntary organisations, including those in surrounding villages, are invited to join. The campaign will launch at the Annual Parish Meeting in May. If you represent an organisation and would like to be involved, please get in touch. Quiz

Our next fundraising quiz nights will be March 18th. Join us for an 8pm start in The Stables at The Angel. Entry is £2 per person (ideally, teams of four). There are prizes for the winners and nibbles served at the interval. 40th Anniversary Celebrations

This year, HV celebrates its 40th anniversary! For four decades, we've helped vulnerable and isolated people in Halesworth and the surrounding rural communities. Everything we do is powered by the dedication of our wonderful volunteers. We have many events planned, including a Volunteer Celebration Party, Kingsley's Reverse London Marathon, Shaun's 'Pacing to Paget 2gether', a Gardeners' Question Time, and an 80s-themed evening at the Westhall Racehorse. We'll keep you updated on dates for what promises to be an exciting year! Karen Kerridge, Director

Halesworth Volunteers

Brampton & District Bowls Club

Brampton & District Bowls Club enjoyed its annual dinner on January 23rd at the Huntsman & Hounds, where trophies were presented to many players to mark achievements during the 2025 season. At the dinner, our current president, Maurice Howland, reminded us that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the club's founding.

It was back in 1976 that a piece of land on the corner of a ﬁeld in Station Road, Brampton, was acquired and the club was born. Initially, there was only room for four rinks (a pond on the land prevented it from being any larger) but the green was laid and membership began.

Lord Prior of Brampton became the (non-playing) President, and membership began to grow.

For all your bookkeeping and payroll requirements

Contact: 07879 424222

Initial matches were strictly inter-club, but after a while, the club joined ofﬁcial leagues and began to see success. It was soon realised that six rinks were needed to compete properly, so a plan to extend the green was hatched. The pond was subsequently ﬁlled in using tons of soil, and two extra rinks were eventually added. To this day, the groundsmen must regularly level the area because it still has a tendency to settle where the pond used to be.

The club progressed rapidly, winning various tournaments and trophies over the years.

However, by 2011, with dwindling numbers, the club came very close to closing down.

An urgent recruitment campaign ensued, which kept the club aﬂoat. In more recent years, a number of new players have joined, boosting membership.

Improvements have also been

made, including the installation of a sprinkler system and the refurbishment of the clubhouse.

Consequently, 2025 was the club's most successful season yet: it was promoted to the first division of all three leagues it plays in, having won one league for the third time in five years and finishing second in the other two.

As we enter our 50th year, we look forward to continued success - and who knows, we may even celebrate with a ﬁrst

division title or two! The Club hopes to hold a celebratory event early in the season, as well as several fundraising events throughout the year, so please watch for further announcements. If you're interested in "having a go" to see if bowls is for you, we'll be opening the green for the season in late April. We hold regular roll-ups on Saturday evenings, so do come and join us. We're a friendly bunch, and you'll be made very welcome.

Transform Smart, stylish and sustainable

Our homes are more than just places to live-they're reﬂections of who we are and how we want to feel day to day. As we step further into 2026, the focus on comfort, efﬁciency and personal style has never been stronger.

Whether you're planning a full renovation or a few strategic tweaks, the right upgrades can transform your space in ways that truly matter.

Maximising Space & Functionality

Making the most of every inch is still at the heart of great home design. Open-plan living remains popular for bringing light and ﬂow into the home, but zoning is becoming increasingly important - think ﬂexible partitions, sliding screens and clever room dividers. Bespoke storage and multifunctional furniture continue to shine, and in 2026, modular designs are more advanced than ever, allowing rooms to shift purpose effortlessly throughout the day.

Energy Efﬁciency & Sustainability

With environmental awareness and energy costs both on the rise, sustainable home improvements have stepped ﬁrmly into the spotlight. High-performance insulation, triple glazing and intelligent heating systems are quickly becoming standard rather

than optional. Solar panels are now more efﬁcient and visually discreet, while heat pumpsboth air and ground sourceare increasingly accessible. These upgrades don't just cut bills; they create a warmer, more comfortable home that's future-proofed for years to come.

Enhancing Kerb Appeal A home's exterior sets the tone before anyone even steps inside. A fresh paint palette, updated windows and a well-kept garden can completely elevate ﬁrst impressions. Outdoor lighting is becoming smarter and more design-led, while contemporary house numbers and letterboxes are small touches that add real character.

Kitchen & Bathroom Upgrades Kitchens and bathrooms continue to offer the biggest return on investment. For 2026, expect bolder colour choices, textured materials and statement lighting. Energy-efficient appliances blend style with sustainability, and bathrooms are leaning even further into spa-inspired luxurythink rainfall showers, heated flooring and calming natural finishes.

Smarter Living Smart home technology is no longer a novelty-it's becoming a seamless part of everyday life. From AI-driven home automation

Bathrooms are leaning even further into spa-inspired luxury

Solar panels don't just cut bills; they create a warmer, more comfortable home that's future-proofed for years to come

Smart blinds are now staples in modern homes

From the stunning coastlines of Norfolk and Suffolk to the rolling hills of Warwickshire, we help you uncover the very best of where you are with our Town & Village Guides.

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Heveningham

Hall Country Fair

Trust awards £20,000 grant to Halesworth Dementia Carers' Fund

Halesworth Dementia Carers' Fund (HDCF) is thrilled and deeply grateful to announce that we've been awarded a generous £20,000 grant from the Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust, whose continued support is making an extraordinary difference to families across our community who are living with dementia.

This signiﬁcant funding will enable us to expand and strengthen our services, ensuring that people affected by memory loss throughout Halesworth and the surrounding villages can access support, meaningful activities, and vital respite care.

The grant will directly contribute towards the running of our Friday Day Centre at the Patrick Stead building, a safe, welcoming and stimulating space where people living with dementia can enjoy companionship, engaging activities, and freshly prepared lunches, while their carers are able to rest, recharge, or simply take some much-needed time for themselves.

It will also help sustain our wider programme of weekly groups and services, including our Memory Café, Singing with Friends, carers' support groups, and up to four hours per week of in-home respite care with trained dementia carers. Together, these services reduce isolation, build conﬁdence, and provide reassurance and continuity at every stage of the dementia journey.

As a small, independent charity run by volunteers, support from organisations such as the Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust is essential to everything we do.

Nicky Kelly, Chair of HDCF, said: "We simply couldn't provide the level of care and support we do without the generosity of the

Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust. Their continued belief in our work means local families facing dementia know they're not alone. This funding allows us to keep our services accessible, welcoming and communityfocused, something we care deeply about. We're enormously thankful for their kindness and ongoing commitment to our community."

One family member whose partner attends the Day Centre shared: "It's enormously helpful to me to have this time to reset on a regular basis, it's a tough and often isolating experience to care for someone with dementia. I feel like I'm much better able to cope for the following few days.

To know that [their partner] is being cared for in such a caring environment and with lots of humour and patience is so reassuring. The day centre run by Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund is a life-saver from which we both beneﬁt, and I feel very lucky to have found you."

The impact of this support goes far beyond ﬁnancial help. It brings

comfort, dignity, friendship and peace of mind to some of the most vulnerable people in our area.

Everyone at HDCF, our members, carers, volunteers and trustees, extends heartfelt thanks to the Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust for helping us continue to grow and serve our community with compassion and care.

HDCF is also deeply grateful to the trustees of the Henham Steam Rally for donating £4,167 to us following the steam rally in September, and to Tinkers who ran a dinner dance at Holton in December and very generously donated the proceeds of £705 to us. It's thanks to the great kindness of people like this that we are able to continue our work.

Golf Day

We shall be holding another Golf Competition at Halesworth Golf Club on 6th May. If you'd like more information on this please contact John Giles on 07789 991046.

For more information about Halesworth Dementia Carers' Fund or to get involved, visit: halesworthdementia.co.uk

Wenhaston Flower Club

After our January break and our post-Christmas meal at The Randolph, Reydon in February, we're looking forward to starting our 2026 programme of demonstrations and workshops which are always on the ﬁrst Tuesday in the month.

Our ﬁrst meeting this year is in our usual venue, Wenhaston Village Hall on March 3rd at 7:30pm, where we will be delighted to welcome Sheila

from Callendars Florists in Framlingham. Sheila will be demonstrating 'A Spring Wedding'.

The price remains the same £5 on the night which includes tea/ coffee and biscuits. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back as we begin our new year.

For more information, please contact Jackie Chenery on: 01502 478401.

Halesworth in Bloom

Nicki and Kevin Finan, Joyce

Moseley (Town Council Chair), Alan Witherby, Rachel Kellet and Liz Wooster. Image credit: Stephanie Hammond.

The East Anglian Game & Country Fair

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th April 2026

Euston Estate, IP24 2QH

The 22nd East Anglian Game & Country Fair will take place on Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th

April 2026 at the prestigious Euston Estate, home to The Duke & Duchess of Grafton, just off the A11 at Elveden, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.

This two-day event welcomes world class attractions each year!

Main Arena displays

conﬁrmed for the 2026 show

include the world famous JCB Dancing Diggers - an iconic live performance team, often described as a down-to-earth

version of the Red Arrows. They have curtsied for royalty, pirouetted for TV and thrilled thousands all over the world!

The team will also be available after each performance to meet the crowd and have photos taken. AND returning due to popular demand, the Horseboarding UK Championships; where speed, agility and bravery are all required! Audience participation is encouraged to spur on the competitors and provides great entertainment for all the family. Don't miss the Waveney &

Norfolk Harriers 'White Woofers' Hound Parade - a spectacle not to be missed!

We have a fantastic line up of more free events to watch in the Main Arena and across the show including the much-loved Mid Norfolk Gun Dog displays, Fens Falconry birds of prey displays, ﬁshing demonstrations with World Champion Fly Caster Hywel Morgan, the hilarious Sheep Show, traditional ferreting demonstrations with Simon Whitehead, live craft demonstrations and much more!

Join in and 'have a go' at a range of country activities from clay shooting with John Bidwell's High Lodge instructors (or enter the 40-bird shooting competition for men, women and juniors). There's also a dedicated clay shoot car park closer to the clay line and Gunmakers Row. Visitors can try their hand at ﬂy ﬁshing on the Black Bourn River.

Archery, axe throwing and the air riﬂe range can also be enjoyed. Breckland Land Rover Club will be running an exciting woodland off-road 4X4 course. Choose from a classic Land Rover or competition car and enjoy being driven round the course by one of the team!

If your family's best friend likes the water, then why not enter them into the 'Have a Go' or the competition at the K9 Aqua Sports pool, (long jump into water for dogs!)

The Family Fun Pet Dog Show is also a favourite with our visitors and the vast array of dogs that love to come to the show (so many classes to enter!)

There are over 300 shopping stands with a wide variety of products from fashion and footwear to gun makers and ﬁshing products. BASC will be among a number of national organisations on hand to discuss conservation, countryside pursuits and memberships. There are also many children's activities, a bushcraft area, carriage rides, traditional fun fair, food and drink hall with Game Fair Country Kitchen, where talented chefs

from across the East Anglian region showcase their culinary skills. Craft and gift marquees and much more.

If you're interested in exhibiting with us, trade stand application forms can be downloaded from our website.

Don't forget to bring your dog to enjoy all of this on the Norfolk/ Suffolk border!

Advance discounted 2026 tickets are frozen at the 2025 ticket prices and available to buy online at: www.ukgamefair.co.uk or by calling the ticket hotline number 01263 735 828. Adult £23, Children (aged between 5-16 years-old) £8 and Family Tickets (2 Adults & 2 Children) £59. (Discounted ticket offer valid until midday 20/04/26) After this time, tickets are available to buy on the gate at the 2026 on-the-day rates. (A small booking fee applies to phone orders and Eventbrite booking fees apply to all). Under 5's are free and car parking is free for all.

VIP Memberships and Camping Weekend Tickets are also available at discounted rates if booked in advance. Visit our website for more information.

COMPETITION!

WIN a family ticket to this years' East Anglian Game & Country Fair!

We at the Community News have teamed up with the East Anglian Game & Country Fair to give three lucky readers the chance to win a family one-day admission ticket (valid for two adults and two children) for a day of your choice! Whether you want to witness the iconic JCB Dancing Diggers or let your dog take the plunge with K9 Aqua Sports, it's a brilliant day out for all ages!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply email the answer to the below question to: info@yourcommunitynews.co.uk

The world famous Dancing Diggers will be appearing in the Main Arena at this years' show, but what make are the diggers? a) JCB b) John Deere c) Massey Fergusson

in with a chance of winning, simply email the answer to the below question to: info@yourcommunitynews.co.uk

The world famous Dancing Diggers will be appearing in the Main Arena at this years’ show, but what make are the diggers? a) JCB b) John Deere c) Massey Fergusson

The competition closes at 5pm on Wednesday 1st April 2026. Good luck! /EastAnglianGameFair

Celebrate the UK's first summer sunrise with First Light Festival

There's nowhere more appropriate to mark the start of summer, and festival season, than First Light Festival!

Taking place on Lowestoft's South Beach on June 20th and 21st, the multi-arts festival will mark being the ﬁrst place in the UK to see the sunrise and mark the summer solstice with a celebration of music, culture and arts.

Now in its sixth year, the beachfront festival welcomes visitors for a weekend full of live music, dance, storytelling, art, science, workshops, wellbeing sessions and family friendly activities. First names to be announced are; 6Music DJ, broadcaster and music label

owner Jamz Supernova; folk singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Seth Lakeman and sound artist, nature beatboxer, composer and DJ Jason Singh. Comedian and character actor Simon Day (The Fast Show, King Gary, Pennyworth) will be performing his show as part of the festival's Sundown events programme at The Seagull Theatre.

Genevieve Christie (Festival Director) said: "First Light Festival is about sharing culture in extraordinary moments and places - bringing people together at the UK's most easterly place to experience art, music and ideas in the open air. There's

something incredibly powerful about welcoming the summer solstice at sunrise, and our Dawn Celebration captures everything the festival stands for: connection, creativity, and the simple joy of beginning the longest day of the year together."

The solstice celebrations will continue in Lowestoft with yoga, a ﬁsh feast and Jason Singh's raga Suraj (Punjabi for 'Sun'). This immersive, long-form soundscape designed for deep listening weaves together nature ﬁeld recordings and live vocalized percussion to celebrate the breaking dawn. Inspired by the morning raga Bhairav, the piece serves as a meditative bridge between inner

reﬂection and the natural world, fostering a space for profound focus and contemplation.

In a new co-commission between Aldeburgh Festival and First Light Festival, Turkish-born singer-songwriter, composer, and interdisciplinary artist Tendertwin will create a new work for the summer solstice that connects the birthplace and ﬁnal home of Benjamin Britten in this 50th anniversary year of his death. This new work for small ensemble with participatory elements, will consider the cycles of life and existence, drawing on inspiration from lunar and tidal energy and the patterns of nature. First Light also offers the

unique prospect of camping on Lowestoft's South Beach during the festival. Only possible that weekend and making this the only opportunity to camp on a beach anywhere in England, this wild camping option puts guests a stone's throw from the festival site while those in campervans will be able to take in the view from a special cliff top parking area. New for 2026 is a new camping option staying in your own, fully kitted out VW campervan. The full festival programme will be announced in March. First Light is free and unticketed with the exception of certain events on Saturday night once the free beach programme ﬁnishes at 9:30pm.

Laxfield

A friendly slice of rural England

Tucked away in the Suffolk countryside, Laxﬁeld is one of those villages that instantly feels like home.

Offering a warm, genuine community spirit to residents and visitors alike, Laxﬁeld is a mix of those looking for a piece of rural Suffolk, living alongside families who have lived here for generations.

Laxfield's history goes way back - right to Saxon times, in fact. The village appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, and its medieval All Saints' Church (largely built in the 14th century) still dominates the centre today. Throughout the centuries it grew as a farming settlement, with traders, smiths and shoemakers supporting the busy agricultural life. One of its more dramatic historical footnotes is John Noyes, a local shoemaker who was executed during the reign of Mary Tudor, his story is remembered on a plaque at the Baptist Chapel. But Laxfield isn't just about looking back. Today, it's a thriving village with handy amenities: a Co-op, a primary school, two well-loved pubs; including the famous 'Low House' (where beer is served straight from the casks) and a fantastic village hall at its heart. The village also boasts one of the largest playing fields in Suffolk, perfect for sporty types or

Halesworth Area Community Transport (HACT)

Springing forward with the Hoppa

By the time you read this, we should be seeing the start of spring again - a great time of year promising new beginnings and warmer days.

At the Hoppa, we've been enjoying news of better days too, thanks to fantastic ﬁnancial support from the Patrick Stead Day Care Centre. This is speciﬁcally to help fund the replacement of one of our aging buses, so passengers should see a newer vehicle in service before the end of February. We have also received a very generous donation from Central England Co-op. The Co-op has been a tremendous supporter of the Hoppa for many years, and we cannot thank them enough.

We're very pleased to have been asked to take up the reins to transport GCSE students from Bungay High School back to Halesworth and Holton after revision sessions finish at 4:20pm. This service is due to run for two months and is being supported by Halesworth United Charities to help fund the transport. Finally, we'd like to remind readers that we're totally selffunded. If it wasn't for the kindness of local organisations like the Co-op and Patrick Stead Day Care, as well as our individual supporters, we wouldn't be able to keep the wheels turning. If you'd like to help us with funding or are considering leaving a legacy, we'd be truly grateful. To find out more, please contact the HACT office on: 01986 875900 or email: office@hactbus.co.uk

families wanting space to roam. Living in Laxﬁeld means enjoying peaceful rural surroundings without feeling cut off. The countryside is perfect for walking, cycling and soaking up Suffolk's big-sky views, and you're only a short drive from towns like Halesworth and Framlingham, or even the coast when you fancy a day out. There's

a strong sense of community too, with regular markets, local events and a friendly "everyone knows everyone" vibe.

In short, Laxﬁeld blends deep history with everyday charm. It's the kind of place where the past is part of the scenery, the countryside is your playground, and life just feels that little bit simpler.

Upcoming Westhall Charity FC events

We have three amazing events this year, having raised £9,350 over the last 14 matches for various different charities.

March 29th:

Raising funds for MND

Venue: Benhall

Clubhouse bar will be open

Kick off: 1pm

May 17th:

Raising funds for The Pear Tree Fund

Venue: Leiston (LTAA)

BBQ & Bar: from 2.30

Kick off: 3pm

Quiz & Auction: 6pm

August 16th:

Charity TBC

Venue: Spexhall

Kick off TBC

We hope to see plenty of you supporting us at each of these matches.

May is our main event and should be fantastic. The quiz is £3pp, teams of three or four.

Should you wish to get involved, please contact us via Facebook or pick up a team entry form at The Pear Tree Centre, Halesworth.

All payments for the events and donations are via the JustGiving pages for each charity on socials or to the JustGiving page or Pear Tree directly for the quiz. There will be lots of great items for auction and quiz prizes so we hope to see plenty of you getting involved.

However, If anyone can support in extra auction items or quiz prizes we'd be very grateful. We'd love to make this a huge success.

Lastly, we want to thank all of our sponsors and all of these fantastic venues who kindly support us on every event. We couldn't do it without you all. Thank you. Will, Lauren and all of Westhall Charity FC

www.lescottoncontractors.co.uk

mail@lescottoncontractors.co.uk Fax: 01986 798889

Image: Gavin Butler

Image: Mykola Romanovsky

Andy Sheffield

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax

Where are we now?

With the final 2024/25 Tax Returns having been filed, attention can turn to the upcoming introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax SelfAssessment (ITSA). After several false starts and delays the first wave, being self-employed individuals and landlords with income over £50,000 annually, will fall under the new requirements from April 2026. Those earning between £30,000 and £50,000 will be brought into the system from April 2027, and eventually, those earning over £20,000 will be included from April 2028.

Income is deﬁned as gross self-employment income plus gross rental income before

expenses as shown on your tax return for the year ended 5 April 2025.

Those affected by the rules will need to keep income and expense records digitally and use MTD-compatible software to submit quarterly updates to HMRC.

If you're already using accounting software and keeping your records neat and tidy, you're likely in a good position. But if your current bookkeeping involves a shoebox full of receipts and a once-a-year panic, it's time to think about going digital or hiring someone who can help.

Modern accounting software doesn't have to be intimidating. Many platforms are built speciﬁcally for non-accountants, featuring intuitive dashboards, mobile access, and helpful reminders to keep you on track. With regular use, you'll not only stay compliant but also gain a better handle on your business ﬁnances. Keeping on top of your numbers throughout the year can help you avoid any surprise tax bills. Plus, it will give you a realtime view of how your business is performing so you can make informed decisions.

Recent Developments

HMRC have recently announced some additional exemptions, those affected will automatically be exempt from MTD until April 2027, giving

a one-year deferral. These included an exemption if your 2024/25 tax return included proﬁts qualifying for averaging (for example, farmers or creative artists), or Qualifying Care Relief (for example you are a foster carer).

Timing Is Key

For those individuals that leave their record keeping to after the end of the tax-year, this will mean a signiﬁcant change in practises; by April 2026 you will need to be up to date with the 2025/26 records, so that you can begin recording for 2026/27.

When combined with the potential for selecting and becoming familiar with new software, its important not to leave this change until the last minute.

The introduction of Making Tax Digital represents a signiﬁcant change from the traditional annual tax return but with the right tools and a bit of guidance, it could be less of a tax headache and more of a fresh start for your ﬁnances.

By Liz Lockwood, Director, Ensors Accountants LLP

This information is given by way of general guidance only, and no action should be taken based solely on the information contained herein. No liability is accepted by the ﬁrm for any actions taken without seeking appropriate professional advice.

Show donates thousands to local good causes

Following a successful event in 2025, the organisers of the Henham Steam & Country Show have been able to provide an incredible £50,000 to six local charities.

Held in September at Henham Park near Southwold, the Henham Steam & Country Show is organised by volunteers from Blyth Valley Rotary, Wangford Community Council, and the Parochial Church Councils of Sotherton, Uggeshall and Wangford-cum-Henham and many other individuals. Each of these three organisations received a donation in exchange for the tremendous amount of hard work done by their volunteers throughout the year.

Every year, the show's organising committee also chooses local charities to support, and in 2025, these were the Apollo Youth Centre in Halesworth, the Halesworth Dementia Carers Fund and the Hemsby Lifeboat and Inshore Rescue Service.

At an event in January, the show organisers presented these three nominated charities

with donations and heard from representatives from each organisation about how their work is beneﬁtting local people. The event was also an opportunity to thank the many volunteers who give up their time throughout the year to make the show possible.

Chair Helen Walker said: "Our 49th show was another successful event, and we were pleased to see so many visitors and exhibitors enjoying their weekend. From its earliest days, the event has raised money to support local good causes, and we are delighted to still be able to do this, as well as providing our popular educational day which was enjoyed by 200 local children.

As always, I'd like to thank our committee and volunteers who work so hard behind the scenes throughout the year to make the event as successful as possible. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Henham Park on September 19th and 20th as we celebrate our 50th anniversary."

For the latest news, please visit: henhamsteam.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Masters of Swing at The Fisher Theatre

The glamour, panache and irresistible rhythm of the golden age of Swing return to TheFisher Theatre, Bungay this spring as 'Masters of Swing' takes to the stage once again.

Following several sold-out performances in previous years, the much-loved show is back with an updated production and a renewed celebration of the Great American Songbook.

Audiences can expect an unforgettable evening of timeless classics, toe-tapping tunes and plenty of laughter in this fastpaced tribute to the swing era. Featuring a sparkling selection of the ﬁnest songs of the period, Masters of Swing honours the music (and the legendary voices) that deﬁned a generation.

Stephen, Paul and Natalie lead the show, bringing with them experience from performing for the Queen, appearing on BBC Radio 2, and gracing some of the UK's premier venues. Together, they guide audiences on a musical journey through the work of icons

such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin and Matt Monro, among many others.

With its winning blend of wit, warmth, audience participation and old-school glamour, Masters of Swing is guaranteed to leave audiences smiling, swaying and singing along from their seats.

Classic favourites featured in the show include Fly Me to the Moon, I've Got You Under My Skin, That's Life, Ain't That a Kick in the Head, Let There Be Love, The Lady Is a Tramp and New York, New York - plus many more beloved standards.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday 30th April, 7:30pm

• Venue: The Fisher Theatre, Bungay

• Tickets: £14 full / £12 concessions

• Box Ofﬁce: 01986 897130 or online at: ﬁshertheatre.org

Early booking is strongly recommended.

New local clothing brand making you look and feel good at the same time

Norfolk-based online retailer, simple.panda have set their sights on putting East Anglia on the map for locally-sourced and manufactured fashion.

Liam Brown and Luke Plane, neither with any real experience from the fashion industry, are the latest entrepreneurs looking to crack the competitive fashion industry, with a keen focus on local-ﬁrst fashion.

simple.panda was just a business idea Liam had that many of us do, but with the help of his now business partner Luke, they've brought what was just an idea to reality. The online brand is proud of their local network, with its manufacturers in Great Yarmouth and aims of exploring retail opportunities locally ﬁrst before branching out. The pair are sport lovers and were keen on showcasing the incredible talent we have around East Anglia - with several ambassadors already part of their growing embarrassment, such as;

Natasha Thomas (ITFC Women), Millie Daviss (NCFC Women) and Lilyella Craw-Seaman (professional boxer). The brand currently sells a range of timeless colours in their current collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies which are all made with quality and sustainable materials.

simple.panda is looking to provide a fresh alternative to everyday clothing, with garments not looking to ﬁght for your attention with ﬂashy graphics and fancy logo's, but instead quietly with simple design (pun intended!) and excellence in how the clothes feel.

Furthermore, the feelings they have for animals (panda's especially) is hard to match. With every purchase across the site, they are donating a percentage to the WWF-UK to help fund the fantastic work the charity does on protecting and ensuring endangered and vulnerable animals don't go extinct. They also provide giveaways which

Community Speedwatch call for volunteers

Beccles Town Council have set up a Community Speedwatch group in Beccles, in conjunction with Suffolk Police, to help monitor and hopefully reduce the speeding issue in parts of the town.

We have a small group of active volunteers and six approved sites where we can monitor trafﬁc, and verify and record the registration numbers of vehicles seen to be breaking

the speed limit. We need more volunteers to help the group to ﬂourish! If you'd like to volunteer to take part in the Speedwatch scheme, please call 01502 712109, email Paul Cunningham (Clerk at Beccles Town Council) via: paul.cunningham@ becclestowncouncil.gov.uk, pop into the Town Hall in person or contact us by post to: Town Hall, The Walk, Beccles, NR34 9AJ.

Edgar Sewter Playschool and Out of School Club

Our independent Playschool runs from Monday to Friday during term time.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance to enable children to grow socially and emotionally through play in our cosy, nurturing environment. Ofsted rated 'Good' October 2024. We currently have some availability for children aged two years and up.

For eligibility check for funding: beststartinlife.gov.uk

Alongside our Playschool, we run breakfast club from 8am and after school club from 3:30pm6pm for children from four years and up. Our holiday club runs during half term, Easter and Summer holidays with ﬂexible hours to suit individual needs

and we welcome children from all schools.

The Food Friends book has now been published and many of the out of school club children had their designs included. Well done!

Our Playschool and Out of School provision is based at Edgar Sewter School and is managed independently. We are a volunteer, committee led registered charity which has been established for over 25 years with a team of experienced, qualiﬁed early years practitioners.

For further details, please call 07796 044277 or email: esplayschool@gmail.com to register, book a place or arrange a visit.

Hayley, Anthea, Yvonne and Stacey

A word from Sarah at Rosedale Bereavement Support

For many, the new year can be an opportunity for a fresh start.

We can put the old year, with all its ups and downs, behind us and look forward to what the next 12 months might bring.

I'm far too long in the tooth to bother with new year's resolutions.

I'm wise enough to know that the cold, wet month of January is the worst time to go on a radical diet. I just can't bring myself to eat a cold salad when my body is begging me for warm comfort food!

include an 'adopt a panda' gift from the WWF which lucky winners receive as well as the minimum £60 donation going to the charity.

Speaking with Liam, "I am beyond words to describe how it feels in seeing what was just an idea I used to share with people now being real. Seeing our website, the garments, people wearing it - it's a pinch me moment every single time. We're incredibly grateful to everyone so far who has ordered, followed, liked our content - it means the world and I would love more people to join our embarrassment and the fun we have. We're still very small, but dream of making it as big as we can and want to be able to offer in the future more ranges of clothes with their names on it."

For more information on the brand, be sure to follow their socials @simple.pandaUK and check out their website: simpleclothing.co.uk

I take my lead from the natural world: several animals hibernate or migrate to warmer locations during the winter, and many trees and plants remain dormant until the weather warms. Far better to start a new healthy eating and exercise regime when the days are longer and sunnier. Better still, rather than setting unachievable goals that I'm guaranteed to fail at, I try to aim for consistent, year-round gentle exercise and moderation in all things edible (with the occasional indulgence!)

I've noticed that some magazines are moving away from the "New Year, New You!" narrative - about time! The year may have changed, but we are still who we are. Far better to accept and learn to love what we've been given, while continuing to nurture our wellbeing, growth, and development.

For many who are bereaved, the year may have changed but the grief remains. However, that doesn't mean we have to remain stuck in the past and can't still enjoy the life we have now. Practising self-care and putting things in the diary to look forward to can be a way of developing hope and a forward-facing mindset. We shouldn't feel guilty about this. It doesn't mean we're forgetting loved ones or leaving them behind. Rather, we continue to hold them close but also move forward with life. We can grieve and fully live at the same time.

Guilt is not a helpful emotion and is often present for those who are grieving. It keeps us locked in a cycle of self-recrimination. We may ask, "Why did I say that?" or "Why didn't I do that?" Often, when it comes to someone we love, we wish we'd done better. We have to accept that we did all we could do with the information and capability we had at the time. It's not helpful to blame ourselves for things that are only known with the beneﬁt of hindsight. The truth is, no one's perfect. Being human means we make mistakes. Punishing ourselves will not bring our loved one back. Practising acceptance and forgiveness is a much healthier approach. It frees us to stop ﬁghting circumstances and the things we can't change. When we let go of the questions we may never know the answers to, we can freely live, making the best of what we have left.

This sentiment is summed up in the well-known Serenity Prayer, which is often used in recovery programmes. Whether God is our "cup of tea" or not, we can all acknowledge our need for serenity, courage, and wisdom: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

If you've recently had a bereavement (or at any time) and would like to talk to others in a similar position, call: 01379 640 810 to reserve your free place on our next Bereavement Group. Rosedale's Bereavement Support Groups are safe, conﬁdential, and local to Norfolk and Suffolk. More info about support following a bereavement can also be found at www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

- written by Sarah Howard, Rosedale Funeral Home Bereavement Support Group Facilitator

Henham Steam & Country Show

Helen Walker and representatives from Parochial Church Councils, Blyth Valley Rotary and Wangford Community Council

Liz Lockwood

Warm your home and cut costs with Halesworth ASH

ﬁlling out the form or measuring your space, let us know-we are here to support you.

reduce bills, and lower carbon footprints.

While the old ECO4 Grants are ending, the Government's 'Warm Homes Plan' is coming online this year. This plan, with £15m in funding, seeks to support communities in upgrading their homes, helping families cut energy bills and tackling fuel poverty. We'll know more about this in April; however, we can prepare now! Our Energy Champion, William, has already held several public surgeries in Halesworth (at the Library and Co-op Community Space) which have led to a number of home visits. If you need help or advice, please contact Halesworth ASH (details at the bottom). Here are some other ways you can take action:

• Insulation Discount: There's a current discount scheme for insulation rolls which has been improved to offer excellent value. Insulation is a vital ﬁrst step, so please take advantage of this scheme. If you need help

• Retrofit Assessment: You can get a Retrofit Assessment for your home. The Warm Homes Plan has dedicated contractors to carry out these evaluations. This is an in-depth look at your property's energy performance, physical condition, and occupancy patterns, conducted by a qualified Assessor. Information's available on the Suffolk Warm Homes website: suffolkenergyassessment.co.uk.

• EPC Checks: Halesworth ASH has made a valiant effort to contact all homes on our Opergy* list that have poor Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) of F or G by delivering leaflets. However, many homes in Halesworth have no EPC, either because they haven't changed hands recently or the property is listed. You can check your EPC here: gov.uk/find-energy-certificate.

*Opergy is the energy ﬁrm commissioned by Halesworth ASH to report on our town's energy use and help us identify how to work collectively to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

All information is available on the Halesworth ASH website: halesworthash.com

RSPB bird count on Millennium Green

After days of rain, we could hardly believe our luck; yes, the sun was really shining!

It was a Saturday in late January and the beginning of the RSPB bird-count weekend. 16 or so keen Millennium Green birdwatchers (including members of the U3A bird group) gathered on White Bridge ready to identify as many species as possible.

We checked our watches then, splitting into four groups to cover the Green within the onehour time limit, we set off. The birds were singing all around us, but where were they? It was not long before we spotted a tree full of pigeons. Well... It was a start!

Soon our list grew to include a Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Jackdaw, Wren, and a Stock Dove. Then, to our excitement, a Sparrowhawk appeared, and then another. We held our breath, willing them to land (for that is the rule) and they did. Further on, two Buzzards also obliged by landing in a tall tree.

We were in bird-spotting heaven!

Altogether, the four groups counted 29 species, including

Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Moorhen, Longtailed Tit, Redwing, Goldﬁnch, and Goldcrest. We could not count the Red Kite, Redpoll, or Snipe, as they remained in the sky. Of course, our local owl population stayed away; they are not early risers.

It was a rewarding morning discovering and recording so many bird species that call our Green home. Of course, that's not the whole story, because later we can look forward to our summer visitors.

All this is made possible by the volunteers who work hard to maintain a rich diversity of habitats to encourage all wildlife. You will always be made welcome if you join them on a Wednesday morning.

No, we did not spot the Marsh Harrier in the picture. That was taken by a family member last year ﬂying above the River Ouse in Ely. We would love to know if anyone has seen one ﬂying over the Green. Email: thegreen@halesworth.net

We specialise in low cost repair options to buildings and can assist you with any building problem

SUFFOLK OFFICE

Halesworth

Halesworth Millennium Green

"Er, what's this that's landed on my beach?"

Photo: JC

Readers Photo

Christine and Linda's Headshave WE DID IT!

A thank you from Christine Jeffery and Linda Hopkins, following their charity headshave in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Thank you to Tash from Twiggy's Hair Cabin and Aimee from Cabello for shaving our heads. We'd also like to thank Brenda and Alan for allowing us to use the I-Chameleon shop and the wonderful Halesworth Ukulele Band for playing in The Thoroughfare and starting

the money ﬂowing into the collecting bucket. Thank you to everyone who came out on a cold January day to support us and who gave so generously, we raised £1,244 on the day, which was added to our Cancer Research UK giving page currently standing at £4,499.13. To donate, please scan the QR code or visit: fundraise. cancerresearchuk.org/page/ lindas-giving-page-3169

Brave head shave raises over £4,000 for Cancer Research

January is a quiet month for us as we don't have any events; however, two very brave ladies did organise a fundraising event which we were very happy to go along to and support.

Christine and Linda hired the I-Chameleon pop-up shop for their head shave on January 17th. They had a cake stall and a tombola, and the Ukulele Band played for the large crowd that came to watch. After the head shave, we presented Christine and Linda with beanie hats so, hopefully, they won't feel the cold quite so much!

As of February 9th, the two ladies have raised an incredible £4,499.13 for Cancer Research. We were so pleased that their hard

work in organising this event was so successful, and on behalf of Cancer Research, we would like to thank everyone involved. Other news:

We'll have completed our ﬁrst event of the year by the time you read this, and I'll let everyone know how we got on at our Jumble Sale on February 14th in the next edition.

Our next event will be our Big Breakfast on March 21st, in Holton Village Hall from 9:30am to 1pm (see our advert on the 'What's On' page). We'll be serving a full English breakfast with fruit juice, tea, coffee, and toast, as well as bacon baps, sausage baps, or beans on toast. We'll also have a cake stall, a rafﬂe, and a gift/Easter

stall. Please note that all our events are cash only; we apologize for any inconvenience.

We now have a date for our AGM, which is March 5th, from 2pm to 4pm in the meeting room at Halesworth Co-op. Everyone is very welcome to come along to meet us and see what we do.

Please continue to support our events as we raise funds for the incredible work carried out by Cancer Research UK. We can't do it without you all. Thank you. For more information, please contact Dawn Davis at 01986 873640.

finances. Afterward, there was a general chat and exchange of experiences, which is always helpful. In February, we had a talk by a representative of Angel Podiatry, which should be interesting. On March 12th, one of our members, Ros Curteis, will show us some of her craft hobbies, possibly supported by a member of her family. We welcome anyone interested to our meetings, so please feel free to turn up! We run a support group for people with Parkinson's and their partners/carers. Our friendly meetings are held on the second Thursday of most months in Holton Village Hall, from 10:30am to 12pm. We normally have a speaker on a relevant subject, followed by time to chat and share experiences over a cup of coffee or tea. Everyone is welcome; if you'd like further information, please contact Margaret Bloomfield on 01502 478502 (margaret@wrush.plus.com) or Gail Attfield on 01502 817004 (aandgattfield@ btinternet.com)

THE HANDY TEAM

Full drainage installations & repairs

Halesworth branch of Cancer Research UK